A/N: Thanks for the reviews guys! I understand the frustration with the general similar plots to my stories and it actually annoys me a lot too lol but it's kind of just my writing style I guess. As for Petra, I'll be getting more into her character as the chapters go on and after this chapter the story takes a major shift. These few chapters could be considered almost as a 'prologue' to the real start of the story. I hope you all have a little patience with me and wait it out and continue reading. Thanks again everyone!

Time Will Tell

Petra wasn't very talkative during breakfast and the minute they got home she ran up to her room. AJ knew her close relationship with Punk was bothering her but she didn't think she would be taking it this bad.

"I really have to get back." Punk said to her as he waited by the door. "I hate leaving knowing she's mad at me."

"It's ok. I'll talk to her." She assured him. "She's going through a hard time."

"I don't want to make it worse for her AJ." He said seriously. "I'll back off for as long as it will take."

"I know you would." She smiled admiringly at him. "But you'll be gone fore a while anyway so that should be enough time."

"Petra I'm leaving!" Punk shouted up the stairs.

"Bye!" was all she yelled back and he frowned.

"You're taking this pretty hard." She said amazed by how much he wanted Petra to like him.

"I really don't like her being mad like that at me- you I get, but m?" He asked seriously and she slapped his arm. "Kidding." he laughed rubbing his arm. "Cliff got called in so it's just you two, you call Cliff or Colt-"

"I met Colt too he's very nice." AJ said to him. "We'll be ok, go and be extra safe." she kissed his lips briefly then looked up the stairs. "I don't want her to see anything."

"I get it." He said opening the door. "I'll see you soon." he promised grabbing her hand quickly and kissing the top of it. "Bye Petra!" he shouted again.

"Bye!" she yelled a little rougher now.

"Maybe I should talk to you." He whispered to AJ.

"It's ok. Don't worry about her, she's five going on six and just confused and I'm to blame for that. I'll handle it I promise." She assured him.

"Alright." He said hesitantly. "I used to be her hero." he whispered to her hurtfully.

"You still are." She smiled and kissed his cheek. "Go to work."

"I'm going." he said walking out the door.

As soon as Punk was gone Petra came down the stairs struggling with her suitcase.

"Going somewhere?" AJ laughed as she tried to balance the big suitcase down the stairs.

"Yes mommy." she said to her coldly. "I'm going home."

"Oh really?" AJ again laughed. "Need a ride?" she teased.

"Already have one thank you." She said making it to the bottom of the stairs.

"Yea? Whose picking you up? Do I know the person?" AJ asked playing along.

"It's daddy." She said to her and AJ's face dropped. "I called him and he's coming here."

"Petra are you joking?" AJ asked fearfully.

"Nope." she said to her. "You can stay here with your new boyfriend." she mocked. "I'm going to be with daddy."

"Petra, you told him where we were staying?" she asked horrified kneeling down to be eye-level.

"I found mail in Punk's office and read him our address." Petra said and AJ didn't even realize the tears were falling from her eyes.

She ran to the door hoping to catch Punk but he was gone and there was a different car in his spot and Seth was climbing out of the drivers seat.

"Oh my god." She said slamming the door and locking it. She grabbed Petra who kicked and screamed as she ran up the stairs. "Where did you put my phone?" she asked Petra.

"I'm not telling." Petra said folding her arms stubbornly. "I want to go home!"

"Petra please he's going to hurt us." She sobbed and heard noise downstairs assuming it was the door being kicked in. AJ ran to the bedroom and locked it then grabbed Petra and carried her into the huge dressing room/closet and locked those doors next.

"Da-!" Petra started to yell out but AJ clasped her hand over her mouth and silently prayed and looked up at the ceiling.

"Petra?" the chilling voice of Seth yelled out. "Daddy is here!"

Petra struggled against her mother but AJ wouldn't let her give up their location even though it was only a matter of time. He would go to the locked doors obviously and she heard the bedroom door being kicked in.

"I'm here baby!" Seth cheered. "Come on out Petra let's get you home."

"Oh my god." AJ whispered to herself and she heard him play with the doorknob to the closet.

A moment later the door was open and there he was. Petra's eyes lit up as did Seth's upon seeing his daughter.

"Alright April it's enough." he said prying her vice like grip off of Petra.

"No!" She screamed as he pushed her to the ground and lifted Petra into his arms and kissed her cheek.

"Daddy has missed you so much princess." He said holding her tightly and turned to walk out of the dressing room with her.

"No!" AJ screamed and jumped on is back forcing him to drop Petra. "You will not take her from me!" AJ was screaming, kicking, slapping anything she could do to keep him from leaving with her daughter.

"Like you did to me you unfaithful little bitch?" he snapped turning to face her and gabbed her by her hair and jerked her head back. "You want to stay here with your new boyfriend? Fine. Go fuck yourself but you're never going to see my daughter again." he threatened then punched her hard in the stomach causing her to drop to her knees.

Petra was horrified but she had just seen. She had hear noises before, yelling and had heard her mom say she was hit but never seen her dad do that before. She began to cry as Seth raised his arm and socked AJ right across the face.

"Daddy no!" Petra cried running to him as he now punched her stomach over and over. "Stop it!" she screamed as loud as she could and pulled at his hair.

Seth probably didn't even realize what he was doing when he shoved Petra to the ground behind him and continued attacking AJ. Petra was now fully crying not only from seeing her mom hit but her dad pushing her. AJ caught what he did and tried to fight back but she was no match for Seth's strength. He stood up once AJ stopped moving and seemed horrified himself. He leaned down to feel for a pulse and was relieved when he felt it.

"Come on Petra." Seth said turning around but she was gone. "Petra!" he yelled out looking around the room. "Oh fuck." he muttered. "Petra damn it! Get the fuck out here!"

Petra looked from the crack in the cabinet in the bedroom she was hiding in as Seth left the room. She knew he wasn't gone yet and watched as he paced passed the door yelling her name. She had never been so scared before. She kept her own hand over her mouth to stifle her cries as she hear loud banging and cursing from her father. Petra had AJ's phone in her pocket and texted Cliff while she waited for her father to leave, she decided she didn't want to go with him anymore.

Petra wasn't sure what was happening but she heard Seth curse and run down the hall and down the stairs. She pushed the little door open and crawled out all the way over to her mother who hadn't moved an inch.

"Mommy I'm sorry." Petra cried looking at her mothers bloodied face. "Please forgive me." She cried.

"Petra?" A different voice asked and she knew that one well.

"Cliff!" Petra yelled and Cliff walked into the dressing room and was taken back by the state AJ was in. "I just wanted to go home I didn't want him to hurt her." she sobbed.

"Alright why don't you go to your room for a few minutes?" Cliff suggested.

"But daddy is out there." she cried as Cliff dropped to his knees by AJ and searched for a pulse.

"He's gone." Cliff said to her then put a smile. "Your mom is fine and your dad is gone. Go into your room and lock the door while I help your mom."

"Can you tell her I'm sorry?" Petra asked crying still.

"Sure." Cliff assured. "Don't worry about it kid." He said shooting her wink then his face fell as he looked back to AJ.

Four days later AJ was feeling better but still bruised and soar. She refused to go to a hospital so Cliff called a friend to check her out just to make sure she was ok. She was sentenced to bed rest but that didn't really stick. She kept sneaking out of bed to check on Petra who was refused to go into her room and see her.

"It's been four days." AJ told Cliff.

"Yea and the doctor said a week." Cliff reminded her as he cleaned up her lunch plate that he bought up for her. "Four days doesn't even count as a work week."

"I have to talk to Petra." AJ said to him. "She won't talk to me she's still mad."

"She's not mad she's shaken up." Cliff said to her. "She feels guilty for calling Seth and she saw a side of him she never saw before."

"I want to talk to her and tell her it's ok." AJ insisted. "I don't want her guilt eating at her."

"She's a kid, she'll get over it." Cliff said simply.

"Shouldn't you be working?" AJ asked him.

"I got someone to cover my cases for the time being." Cliff said to her.

"It's not your fault or Petra's." AJ said to him.

"I should have been around." Cliff said. "I promised Punk I'd look out for you and you got your ass kicked."

"No real damage." AJ said him. "This was inevitable."

"He's back in Jersey by the way." Cliff said to her. "I think realizing he jumped you in a cop's house was going to get him into some serious trouble. I wish you'd let me press charges against him."

"No." AJ said shaking her head. "It will be a waste of time."

"In Jersey maybe but not here in Chicago." Cliff argued.

"Then everyone finds out I'm staying at Punk's house whose an undercover Detective then that gets blown for him too." She argued. "And he's already done so much."

"I wish you'd at least let me call him. He'd want to know." Colt said to her.

"Nope." AJ said simply. "Let him worry about his case."

"Hi mommy." Petra greeted from the door holding a piece of paper.

"Hey." she said relieved to see her daughter. "Come here." she waved and she raced over to the bed and climbed onto it and hugged her.

"I'll be downstairs." Cliff said excusing himself.

"What's this?" AJ asked as Petra passed her the paper.

"I made you a card." Petra said to her. "Cliff helped me."

"It's very pretty." AJ smiled looking at it.

"I'm sorry mommy." Petra said to her.

"Don't be sorry." AJ said to her. "I never wanted you to see that side of your dad."

"He pushed me too." Petra frowned. "He never did that before."

"I know." She said to her as Petra rested her head against AJ and laid with her.

"I don't like him anymore." Petra said to her.

"Everything I tried to do was to protect you because I love you." AJ said to her. "I know you're mad at Punk."

"I'm not." Petra insisted shaking her head. "I made him a card too."

"You didn't have to do that either." AJ smirked.

"He doesn't hit, does he?" Petra asked.

"No baby he doesn't." AJ said to her.

"So we can stay here with him forever?" Petra asked and AJ frowned.

"I don't think we'll be living here but I'm sure we'll stay close." AJ said to her. "You'll still get to see him if that's something you want."

"I do." Petra said to him. "When is he coming back?"

"I don't know." AJ said to her as she rested her head on top of Petra's. "I know this has sucked." she said to her daughter. "I'm going to make this up to you."

"It's ok." Petra said to her. "I just want to be here with you."

"You'll always be here with me." AJ said happily.

"Is it ok that I still miss daddy?" Petra asked her.

"Yea honey of course." AJ assured her.

"Does he hate me?" she asked AJ.

"No of course not!" AJ argued holding her tightly. "He loves you the same amount that you love him."

"Why does he do such mean things?" Petra asked.

"I don't really know." AJ admitted.

"Will I ever see him again?" Petra asked.

"Would you like to?" AJ asked her.

"Sometimes I do." She told her mother honestly.

"We'll see." AJ said putting on a smile.

The next day AJ convinced Cliff to let her and Petra go to the park with Cliff of course. She needed the fresh air and to run around with other kids. She sat at on the park bench while Cliff chased Petra and a few other kids. He was really great with her, much better than Dean or Roman ever were with her. AJ took in the fresh air and didn't mind the few people that eyed her oddly because of the bruises on her face but she caught eyes with someone she shouldn't. Two benches over was Punk in deep conversation with another man. He was clearly working his case and AJ had to get Petra before she spotted him and ran over to him.

"...it's not just hookers or homeless women." the man told Punk. "Boyle doesn't want that. He has people who do not look favorably on them. We pry on the vulnerable ones. The ones who look so lost that they'll do anything to get out of their life."

"I got that." Punk said never noticing AJ or Petra were in the park. "Why are we at a public park? Are you trying to be sought out? I don't like working with reckless people."

"We're at the park because it's the best place to scoop people out." the man known as Kevin said to him. "It's not just poor neighborhoods and the higher quality you bring to Boyle the higher you get paid."

"When do I meet him?" Punk asked. "It's been months now."

"You haven't bough much to the table." Kevin shrugged.

"I can't just go out and throw women into my trunk and put them into human trafficking." Punk said to him.

"Sure you can." Kevin laughed. "You just need to get your feet wet."

"At 2 in the afternoon?" Punk asked.

"It's about making a connection not kidnapping. Half the time they'll come willingly." Kevin said to him. "Sitting two benches from here is a woman with a busted lip and black eye. I'll bet you a thousand dollars she got that from her husband and wants a way out, you can offer that to her."

Punk turned his head and did a double take when he saw it was AJ. His face fell as he realized Seth must have found her and she quickly turned her head and put on her sunglasses. She stood up in an attempt to find Petra and Cliff who were too far to yell for.

"Talk to her." Kevin said. "I think she likes you. She's been look at you since we sat down."

"Nah." Punk said simply. "She's damaged goods by now."

"Fine, I'll do it." Kevin grinned standing up.

"No." Punk said jumping out of his seat. "I'll do it." he didn't give Kevin a chance to argue and walked over and sat on the bench and tugged AJ down by her wrist.

"I didn't know you'd be here." she whispered.

"What happened to your face?" he asked her.

"It's not important you're working." AJ said to him.

"AJ." He warned and glanced over to Kevin who gave him a head nod.

"Petra called Seth and gave him your address. He came and tried to leave with Petra." AJ said to him.

"Where was Cliff?" Punk asked keeping his body language relaxed.

"He was working. It happened right after you left." AJ said to him keeping her eyes on the children in the park. "He pushed Petra."

"Is she ok?" Punk asked concerned. "He didn't hurt her, did he?"

"No she's fine. She's just upset she called him." AJ said to him. "Go back to work."

"Yea that's what I'm doing. You need to get out of here." He said to her. "And I mean right now." he said giving her wide eyes so she would understand.

"Oh." She said quietly. "I'll grab Petra and Cliff and go."

"There's Cliff." Punk said looking into the park and saw Cliff helping a kid who fell of his bike.

"Petra?" AJ asked alarmed jumping up.

Punk looked around and spotted Petra...two benches over with his 'buddy' Kevin.

"That's so pretty." Kevin said tugging on the bow in her hair. "You're very pretty."

"Thank you." Petra responded shyly.

Punk was already racing over to Petra and the predator who he knew didn't have good intentions towards the small child. He lifted her right up into his arms and away from Kevin.

"Punk." Petra said stunned.

"You two know each other?" Kevin asked with a laugh standing up.

"Yea we were neighbors." Punk said hoping Petra wouldn't blow the whistle.

"That's her mom you were talking to." Kevin said to him as AJ walked over. "Introduce us."

"No." Punk said passing Petra right off to AJ.

"Come on man." Kevin laughed as Cliff walked over.

"Oh there you are." AJ said holding Petra who seemed very confused.

"Sorry I took so long." Cliff said very confused but recognized the man Punk was with. He wrapped his arm around AJ and kissed her cheek.

"You remember Punk right?" AJ asked Cliff. "He was our neighbor-"

"Of course." Cliff smirked. "Ready to go?"

"What?" Petra asked looking at AJ.

"Let me take her." Cliff said taking Petra. "Bad car accident." he said referring to AJ's cuts and bruises.

"She was just telling me." Punk said to him with a nod. "You should look out for her a little better. Make sure you check those breaks more often so this doesn't happen again, she might not get so lucky. Especially with a child in the car." he said not at all referring to a car accident but warning Cliff about Seth.

"Had the car checked almost everyday since and I'm sending it back to where I got it in New Jersey. It's going to stay there." Cliff responded playing along.

"It better." Punk said with a straight face.

"Say bye to Punk." AJ said to Petra.

"Bye Punk." She waved sadly and he gave her a sympathetic smile. "I miss you."

"Alright let's go." Cliff said walking off but Petra was waving at Punk over his shoulder.

"She's gorgeous." Kevin said to AJ. "One of the prettiest little girls I have ever seen."

"She sure is." AJ forced out trying to contain herself from killing the man.

"She clearly gets her looks from her mother." Kevin grinned.

"April has to go." Punk said standing in front of AJ and eyeing her to leave.

"I'll see you around." She said to him then walked off.

"Cute set." Kevin said to him. "Is that guy a boyfriend?"

"Husband." Punk lied quickly. "He's a cop too."

"Oh fuck." Kevin sighed shaking his head.

"I was trying to give you a heads up. I didn't recognize her until I got closer." Punk said to her.

"Good job Punk." Kevin laughed. "We both would have been fucked. They don't live in your building anymore right?"

"Nah they've been gone for a couple of months." Punk assured her.

"What a shame. We would have made a pretty penny off of the mother and kid." Kevin said disappointed.

"Yea real shame." Punk agreed forcefully but completely relieved.

At dinner Petra was playing with her food but not eating it.

"He's not mad at you Petra." AJ assured her.

"He didn't even talk to me." Petra frowned. "He hates me because I called daddy."

"Trust me he doesn't hate you." Cliff laughed.

"He didn't even say he me missed me." Petra pointed out.

"He was working." Cliff said to the child. "He had to pretend to be someone else. He shouldn't have even spoke to either of you."

"Why did he?" Petra asked.

"Because he thought someone was trying to hurt you." Cliff told her honestly. "And he's very protective of you and your mom. He'd do anything to keep you both out of harms way including almost blowing a case he's been on for about six months."

"I've got some good news for you." AJ said to Petra. "I'm going to sign you up for school."

"Really?" Petra asked and she nodded. "So we're staying?"

"Yea." AJ said to her. "Not in this house." She reminded Petra who frowned. "But near by. As long as you like it here." she said to her.

"I really like Cliff and Punk." Petra told her.

"I know that but how do you feel about staying in Chicago? If you're not ok with it we'll work something out." She said to her.

"I want to stay." Petra said to her mother. "I don't want to go back to daddy ever again."

"And you don't have to." AJ assured her.

"I'm all done may I be excused?" Petra asked politely.

"Sure." AJ said as Petra climbed off her chair and left the kitchen. "I just can't keep her happy."

"She's going through a lot." Cliff reminded her.

"She's so confused about Seth. I know she misses him but now I think she's afraid to even tell me." AJ said to him.

"Isn't that a good thing?" Cliff asked.

"I don't want her to be afraid to talk to me about anything. I didn't want her to ever have to see him like that. Hearing it I thought she'd forget as she got older but she'll never forget that." AJ said disgusted. "She loved Seth so much and he wasn't awful to her but I knew he would be. That's why we left when we did."

"Smart move." Cliff said to her.

"Not smart enough." AJ said to him.

"No you just got outsmarted by your brilliant daughter." Cliff smirked. "Seth is still in Jersey and back working."

"He's just laying low." AJ said to him. "He'll be back. I think he was shook up as well. Lashing out at Petra was new for him too."

"Fuck him." Cliff said disgusted. "I almost wish he was still here when I got here."

"It's best he left when he did." AJ said to him. "It does bother me he knows where I am."

"I think he's going to assume you moved out and on." Cliff said to her. "He wouldn't expect you to stay in the same place."

"I suppose." She agreed.

It was now going on four weeks since AJ had last seen Punk and to be honest she was getting worried even though Cliff and Colt (who was splitting duties) assured her he was fine and still checking in. She was now healed and less afraid. With every passing day she hadn't heard from Seth and Petra was moving on as well. She was about to start school and became good friends with the two children next door and she finally seemed normal and happy again.

AJ was watching late night HGTV when she heard the door jingle then open and Punk walked in with his bag. Her eyes lit up when she saw him and thought she was dreaming.

"You're up late." Punk noted but AJ was off the couch and jumped into his arms. "Missed me?" he teased.

"You have no idea." She said holding onto him for dear life. "You have a bag."

"Yea I'm done." He said to her and she let go of him and placed her feet on the floor.

"You arrested them?" she asked him.

"No." He said disappointed. "It's a long story but it turned out the FBI had their own UC and FBI gets first dibs apparently." he said annoyed tossing his bag. "Half a year flushed down the drain."

"I'm so sorry." She frowned. "I know you worked hard."

"I just wanted them arrested." Punk said to her. "Sick bastards are still out there and I was so fucking close."

"The FBI is at least handling it." she pointed out.

"Doesn't make me feel better." He sighed running a hand down his face then got a good look at her. He cupped her chin gently to inspect her face. "You're all healed."

"I am." She said with a faint smile. "It wasn't a big thing."

"I want to know what happened." He said to her.

"I told you that day at the park." she said to him.

"Where's Cliff? The guest room?" He asked.

"No he's home." AJ said to him and he frowned. "He couldn't live here and Seth is all over the news working some big case in Jersey."

"How's Petra?" he asked.

"Shes ok. She thinks you hate her." She warned him and he shook his head.

"I couldn't get into a big conversation at the park." Punk reminded her.

"I get that and so does she. But she's a little sensitive." AJ reminded him.

"I just don't want her to think I'm mad." He said to her. "I'll talk to her in the morning."

"She'd like that." she said to him. "She's about to start school too."

"No kidding?" he asked with a smile. "So you're staying?"

"In Chicago? Yes. Here? No." She said to him and he frowned.

"Why?" he asked.

"You're home now." she reminded him. "I don't want to be in your space with a kid."

"I like sharing my space with you." he teased.

"It's weird and I need to get Petra settled." She said to him. "You've done so much for us and I appreciate it but I still barely know you." she reminded him and he eyed her. "But I want to get to know you, properly that is." she added. "I don't want to move in here with you and if things don't work out what happens to Petra?"

"I get it." Punk had to admit. "You'll stay close though right?"

"I've been looking at places." She confided. "There's an apartment building on the corner and I can swing that. Has a doorman too so I'll feel better sleeping at night. I took Petra there a few days ago and she seemed to like it."

"Were you just going to move out without telling me?" He asked her.

"Of course not." she said placing her hand on his. "But I wanted to be ready. I want to feel normal again."

"What about work?" He asked her. "How are you paying for a place like that without income? I know you have money saved up but it'll run up fast on a place in this area."

"I did get a job." she said to him. "Cliff helped me. I'm going to be a secretary at the DA's office." Punk scrunched his face up and she smirked. "He warned me you hate the DA."

"I do. He sucks." Punk said to her. "But I'm sure he pays well."

"He does." AJ agreed. "You can come by and see the place tomorrow if you want?"

"I do." he said nodding in his head. "So I get the space thing, I really do but we can still...you know." he smirked.

"Oh yea." she said laughing. "You can take me upstairs whenever-" she started but she was already tossed over his shoulder and ran up the stairs with her.

The next morning Petra was up first as she usually was and in the living room brushing her dolls hair waiting patiently for her mom to wake up. Punk walked down the stairs and saw her on the couch and walked over to her.

"Hey kid." Punk greeted and she looked up. Clearly she was excited but also sad. "Can I sit with you?"

"Sure." She said with half a shrug as she continued to brush her dolls hair.

"You mad at me?" he asked her.

"No." she mumbled. "You're mad at me."

"I'm not mad at you." He said to her. "Why would I be?"

"I called daddy because I didn't want you to kiss mommy." Petra said to him. "Then he hurt her and me."

"Are you ok?" Punk asked tilting his head to look at her.

"Mommy helped me." she told him and Punk nodded.

"I'm not mad at you Petra. I know why you were upset I was with your mom and I should have talked to you about first." Punk admitted. "I really, really like you your mom." he said and she looked up at him. "I wouldn't hurt her."

"Promise?" Petra asked.

"I promise." he assured her. "I like you too and I would never- EVER hurt you either. I want you to be ok with me hanging out with your mom because I'm back now."

"If you're not mad why did you not talk to me at the park?" Petra asked. "It made me feel bad."

"I was working." He told her. "I'm a cop." He confided.

"Like daddy?" Petra asked.

"Sure." he forced out not wanting to be compared to Seth. "Except I pretend a lot with my job. I pretend to not be a cop to catch the bad guys and that's what I was doing at the park."

"Oh." Petra said to him. "Like under the covers?"

"Exactly." He said surprised. "Your dad taught you about that?"

"Yes." Petra said to him. "One day he took me to a carnival and I was riding all of these rides! It was awesome!" she explained as Punk tried to follow. "And this lady came over and he told her I was his little sister. Then told me it was because he was under the covers."

"You mean undercover." He corrected with a smirk.

"Right." Petra smiled.

"Speaking of the park, your mom has talked to you about not talking to strangers right?" He asked her. "That man talking to you was a very bad man."

"How bad?" Petra asked confused.

"Pretty bad." Punk said and her eyes widened. "You have to be more careful ok?"

"I will." Petra said to him. "Mommy said she doesn't know when I can see daddy again"

"That's really up to your mom." Punk said to her.

"But I need a new daddy now." Petra pointed out. "And I like you and you like mommy."

"Oh Petra." Punk sighed. "It's not like that."

"But what am I going to do without a daddy?" Petra asked. "Kimberly next door has a dad and he takes her to baseball games and out for ice cream."

"Your mom could do that." Punk said to her. "And I'll happily take you to a baseball game whenever you want."

"But you won't be my dad." she frowned.

"I'll do anything you think you need a dad for." He promised her. "But I don't know the future and I don't know what's going to happen between your mom and I and I won't make you a promise I can't keep."

"Do you not like me?" Petra asked.

"You're my favorite kid ever." Punk said seriously and her eyes lit up. "Seriously, hands down best kid I have ever met. And no matter what happens between your mom and myself I will always be there for you." he promised. "I'll always be there to help you no matter where you go in life."

"Can you keep that promise?" Petra asked.

"Yes I can." He smiled and she jumped up and hugged him.

AJ smiled from the top of the stairs. He really knew how to communicate with Petra in a way that Seth never could. She also admired how happy he made her and if she was going to bring a new man into her life it would be someone like Punk. Now she only hoped with him back and both could live normal lives since meeting that their relationship remained just a strong. A big part of her was almost afraid that once Seth was removed from the equation and his case was over the passion would be gone...only time would tell...