Christmas was spent very lowkey between both AJ and Punk. AJ had the twins for the morning, alongside her mom. It was the twins first Christmas where they were able to sit and unwrap the wrapping from their presents. Their last Christmas, which was their first, they were only months old.
AJ enjoyed her morning with her babies and mother. They enjoyed Christmas breakfast together, and although it wasn't such a big celebration as other families, it was warm and festive the way AJ liked.
However, she did have to drop the twins off at Sean's later on, as Punk had requested to see them. Especially on Christmas day. He said he had some presents for them, and he wanted them to stay with him for the night. He felt it was only fair, as he wasn't getting to wake up with them. She didn't refuse. She was happy to let him spend the night with them. She was just going to miss them that was all.
Since she never really got a free night these days, her mom had decided to take her out into town, just for some good food and festive cheer. Her mom knew she'd be thinking about the twins all night and missing them, so she decided to take her out.
"So where are we going?" AJ asked, having worn something a bit more dressier than jeans. It was Christmas after all.
"Just around the corner." Janine smiled as they walked down the street, turning the corner and into the small but busy bar, loud music and chatter filling the place.
It wasn't until AJ looked around where she seen her mom had lead her to a table in which her two best friends were sitting at. She hadn't seen them in months, and she was completely shocked they were here, especially on Christmas.
"You really thought I would have made you spend Christmas night with your old mom?" Janine smiled as AJ turned to her with a comforted smile. She was so glad her friends were here. It was just what she was needing right now, especially now that her babies were with their father, which she was totally ok with, she just missed them.
Janine stayed for one drink with AJ and her friends, but left to go back home where she was staying with AJ herself, giving her daughter some space with her friends.
"So… we heard Phil came back from the dead. What is that all about?" Paige asked curiously as they sat in a comfy booth, the lights mellow but bright around them with some festive music playing in the background. She always loved Christmas. Everyone was just so happy.
"I don't even know where to begin." AJ admitted with en exhausted sigh, "Just don't get with a cop. Promise me that." She said.
"Your mom said that… well she basically told us that you shoo'd him away when he came back. We've been trying to figure out why the full journey here." Sasha admitted as AJ laughed slightly.
"It's his job. It's just… it's too much." She said, "I mean, I was made to believe he was dead for a full year. I… I don't want to feel pain like that again. And I know he won't give the job up. He's too proud." She said, "It's easier just to… let him go. We'll still have to stay in contact obviously with the twins." She said.
"Which will make it ten times harder to let him go." Paige pointed out, "If he's always around you'll be back with him in no time. It only took him weeks of being your neighbour for him to trick you into his bed." She said as AJ rolled her eyes.
"He's ok with us going separate ways. I mean… he'd rather be with me. He hates that I'm pushing him away. But he's dealing with the full thing really well. I'm actually surprised." She said, "I think he just wants me to be happy."
Sasha just raised her eyebrows, "And are you happy?" She asked.
"To a certain extent." AJ shrugged, "Knowing I'm not in danger anymore. And knowing my babies aren't in danger makes me feel better. If Phil's past skeletons know that I have nothing to do with him anymore, they aren't going to come for me." She said, "It's why we parted. And he understands that." She said.
"Well it's good he isn't putting up a fight I suppose." Paige said, "And it's good that you're both putting aside your differences for the kids." She added.
"Yeah… I mean, this feels right. If it didn't I'd probably stop and rethink everything. But parting from him felt right." She said, "But I suppose it also feels really wrong." She shrugged.
"If I was dating a man and I loved him the way I know you love Phil, and he came back from being dead, I don't think I'd let him go again." Sasha laughed, "That's why we were both surprised when your mom told us you'd broke up. We were thinking you'd never let him out of your sight again." She said as Paige nodded in agreement.
"I thought that too. But when he got back, I just… I don't know. I just took into consideration, all the pain his work and his profession put me through, and I couldn't deal with anymore of it. And plus, I don't want the twins in danger. I know Phil would never let anything happen to them, or me for that matter… but, I just want to be safe again." She said, "And I..." She paused as a waiter came over to the table with three new drinks, drinks they hadn't asked for.
"These are from the three gentleman at the bar." The waiter put down the drinks.
Paige and Sasha immediately began to smile over to the men at the bar who had kindly bought them their next round of drinks. For AJ, it was rather strange. She was NEVER used to this. She'd been with Jamie for so long, and then she'd been with Punk. She'd never really been single before when it came down to it. It was strange to be preyed upon by someone she didn't know, but a part of her was excited for something new, even if it was meaningless.
She turned around with her friends, looking on at the men at the bar, smiling over and tucking her hair behind her ear. She had to move on one way or another.
"Kerry, I gotta give it to you. I think you've improved on your cooking skills." Punk admitted after cleaning his plate filled with turkey and all the trimmings. He thoroughly enjoyed being in a homely environment for Christmas, and even better, he had the twins from around 4pm all the way through to the next morning.
"I'm glad you think so." Kerry smiled across the table, "But the last time I cooked for you, besides this week, was probably when you were nineteen. Probably like a grilled cheese sandwich… you know, for your approval to date your little brother."
"Yeah, you suck at grilled cheese sandwiches." Punk said as she laughed.
They had dinner with Kerry's family, which really wasn't many people. Just her parents and sister, along with of course TJ, and the twins, but they had well fallen asleep and were upstairs in bed for the night.
He'd managed to scrape up some dollars as well as accessing his bank account to buy the twins some presents from him for Christmas. He sat with Harleen on his lap and Caleb at his feet whilst helping them open the presents earlier on in the day. And of course Sean and Kerry had gotten them some things too.
It was a great Christmas. He just wished AJ could have been with them. It felt pretty empty and hollow without her. But at least he had the twins.
"I'll do the dishes." Kerry's sister, Devlin volunteered, "You guys cooked everything." She said as Kerry smiled gratefully.
"I'll help." Punk smiled across the blonde, younger girl, standing up and gathering the plates in piles as Kerry glared at him, shaking her head whilst Sean kicking her under the table. They were both at war with each other. While Kerry was convinced Punk and AJ could work something out, Sean wanted his brother to just up and move on. He knew it would be less painful. Not that he was suggesting that he jump for Kerry's sister. But he just wanted him to try and forget about AJ.
"I'm gonna kill you." Kerry pointed her finger at Sean across the table after Punk and Devlin disappeared into the kitchen.
"Why?" Sean said defensively.
"First, she is my little sister. Second, why are you trying to get him over AJ so quickly?" She asked. Her parents had disappeared into the living room, which meant it was just her and her boyfriend in the dining area.
"What sort of influence have I given that suggests I want him to hook up with Devlin?" Sean asked, "He needs to move on, Kerry. He and AJ were together, it didn't work out, they'll move on, and the world will keep spinning. Ok?" He said.
"I know he's in love with her." Kerry said, raising her glass of wine to her lips as Sean just rolled his eyes.
"He probably is. But… just let him get over her. If he doesn't, he'll just be miserable all the time." Sean said, "C'mon… don't fight with me on Christmas. Especially about something that isn't even to do with us." He said as Kerry just sighed.
"I know." She nodded, "I'm sorry. I'll just stay out of it. It's not our problem." She nodded, standing up as Sean stood up to, walking round to her and wrapping his arm around her shoulder as they walked out of the room and into the living room.
Back in the kitchen, Punk was getting half way through the dishes with the help of Kerry's sister, who was rather gorgeous if he didn't mind saying so. She was blonde, with a heavily amount of make up on, but so much personality hidden behind the thick layer of foundation. She wasn't a typical dumb blonde. In fact, she was just in the midst of telling him she was training to be a lawyer. His mom always told him to never judge a book by its cover.
"Your kids are gorgeous." Devlin smiled to him. She was drying whilst he washed. She'd been staring at Punk throughout the full day. She didn't mean to, but she was immediately attracted to him. But she wasn't the type of girl to show her desperation. All she was getting on at, was that he was a handsome man, who she knew was clearly single.
"Thanks." Punk smiled, "I'm glad they got to be here." He admitted.
"You aren't… with their mom?" She asked him, which obviously she knew he wasn't.
"No. Not anymore." He shook his head, "Things just didn't work out." He told her, to save her wondering why he was a single father.
"Well, that's a shame." Devlin sighed, "Kerry mentioned you were a cop. I guess that must come in handy from time to time. I'm sure your kids are gonna grow up feeling safe." She smiled.
"Try tell that to their mom." Punk said, "I wouldn't let anything happen to them. They mean the world." He told her as she smiled.
"It's lovely to see you so connected to them." She smiled.
"It's lovely to have people notice." Punk smiled back to her as she paused in the midst of drying the plate she had a hold of, looking up at him with a smile as he smiled back down at her, turning away quickly once he noticed what was going on, dipping his hands back in the basin to finish off the dishes.
Not that he was looking for anything, but something told him that it was ok for him to move on. He couldn't put his life on hold and hope and pray forever that AJ would take him back. It was most likely not going to happen. Which meant he couldn't just sulk and mop around for the rest of his life. He had to move on. It was the best way to get over the love of his life as quickly as he could.
A/N; Hey guys! Hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas and enjoyed time with their family, friends and loved ones. Hope you enjoyed the chapter. Thanks for the support for the story so far. I appreciate all the reviews and everyone who reads. Thanks a bunch! -MySeLdomPhantom