"April… c'mon open up." Punk stood outside the bathroom door in their bedroom, knocking at it continuously as AJ stayed silent on the other side, "You can't stay in there all day." He said.
She'd been in there for around half an hour, just in complete silence. He knew she wasn't having the best couple of days. But he was trying his best. This was his life. She accepted it. He told her and told her at the beginning, that he couldn't ever pull away from this. It was all he knew, and she understood. He was unsure why she had changed her mind now.
"April. C'mon stop being stupid and open the door." He knocked as she opened the door, looking up at him, for once in the relationship having blood on her hands, presenting them to him in fear as he looked in confusion.
"You-You have to take me to the hospital." She told him, "I'm bleeding." Her voice turned to a whisper.
Punk paced up and down the hospital corridor, going into late dinner time, not being able to sit from complete in-denial. He hadn't got a chance to ask AJ if she was ok, how long she had bled for, if she was in pain. He just put on the nearest clothes and whisked her straight off to the hospital.
He couldn't understand how he was so worried about something he hadn't even met, or had barely even developed. He'd be completely crushed if anything were to happen.
"Mr Brooks." A young woman emmerged from an examination room, walking over to him as he lifted his head from the ground and nodded quickly to the nurse.
"Is everything ok? Is the baby ok?" He asked.
"The baby is fine." She smiled, "I think April gave herself a fright that wasn't necessary. Sometimes blood spotting at this stage in pregnancy is normal. It's nothing we haven't seen before." The nurse smiled as Punk sighed with relief. He'd never heard more joyous news.
"Can I see her?" Punk asked as the nurse nodded.
"Of course you can." The nurse smiled, "I just… I'd like to ask you about something."
"What?" Punk shook his head, desperate to see AJ. She'd clearly gotten a scare, and he felt like he didn't do much to help her.
"April has very low blood sugars. Is she eating plenty?" The nurse asked as Punk nodded.
"Yeah. She is." Punk said without thinking about the actual question being asked. Come to think about it. These past few days had been hectic. AJ was barely eating and sleeping, and clearly it was effecting the growth and development of their baby.
"Ok." The nurse nodded, "Just keep an eye on her. Plenty rest and nutrients is all that baby needs from her." She said as Punk just nodded.
"It's been a hard couple of days. She'll be back to normal in no time." Punk assured the nurse who nodded.
"Ok. Well she's in the room just across the hall. She was just putting on her clothes when I left. Once she's filled out a few things, you can take her home." She said as Punk nodded.
"Thank you." He said gratefully, walking over to the room he was directed to, walking in and looking on at AJ sitting on the edge of the bed, having just finished putting on her clothes and filling out a few forms. She was still breathing heavily like she was on the car journey here. She still looked pale white and terrified, even though their baby was ok.
"Hey, you ok?" He asked her as she shook her head, holding back her tears from him as he walked further into the room, crouching down in front of her, "Please don't cry. The baby is ok." He assured her.
"I thought I'd lost it." She cried uncontrollably, "I-I seen all the blood and I thought-"
"Shh… shh… it's ok." He stood up and sat beside her, wrapping his arm around her as she leaned her head in against his shoulder, "It's ok." He kissed her head repeatedly, listening to her violent, terrified sobs. He'd never heard anything more painful.
He didn't realise how painful this had turned out to be for her. Because the baby was here it had caused her to think towards the future. Their future. And in their future, she clearly didn't want him working for his father or at the club doing his rounds. He wasn't quite sure what he was supposed to do or say. No. He knew fine well what to do and say, it was just the harder option. But there was no excuses anymore. This was the woman he loved and his future baby boy or girl.
"I'm gonna make this all right, sweetheart. I promise." He kissed her head as she clung to him tightly. She was mad but so relieved he was here. Who else did she have?
He wasn't so cold as to leave her heartbreaking and her sanity untact. He had to do something, even if it was just temporary during her pregnancy. He loved her too much to see her break down and danger their baby through no fault of her own.
Five months later…
"Hey, baby… you nearly finished?" AJ questioned whilst waddling through the living room where Punk was lying up on the sofa with a pen and paper.
"Nearly." Punk nodded.
"Dinner is nearly ready." She announced to him as he nodded, flicking his wrist back and forth that gripped a sharpened- yet blunt on the paper- pencil.
They'd moved away. All part of Punk's genius plan. It seemed to be the only thing he really could have thought of to prevent himself facing his father and asking to be let go from the job. He told AJ this was the only way, and she had managed to settle with it.
They had moved out of country. They hadn't even moved out of state. They'd just left everything they knew and loved behind, and were now living in a bungalow cabin, tucked away from the city and the most known parts of Chicago.
Punk promised himself he had to do better for his family now. He loved AJ so much, he really was willing to up and leave his job and way of life, just to make sure she was content, along with their baby.
It turned out, it was the best decision he'd ever made. After moving into their small but cosy home, AJ suggested he went to college, to which he laughed of the idea at first. He questioned who would accept him in college? He had no grades from school. He didn't actually have any records from school. The times he did show up, he'd normally have wound up in a fight and got suspended.
He'd discovered new passions for things however. Such as drawing. It began one night when AJ was at the store. He was just casually reading the paper and began scribbling on the sports section. One thing led to another, and here he was, in college, studying art and design to aspire being a tattoo artist. It made sense when taking one glimpse of him. He'd always loved art. And he knew AJ was a big fan of art. She sometimes just sat and watched him draw all night. He'd never really realised his talents until now, and one of them was sketching out some really cool drawings.
"I'll finish it later." Punk announced, placing the pad and pen on the coffee table and walking through into the small kitchen that smelt great. It normally always did, "How are my girls?" Punk asked with a relaxed smile, wrapping his arms around AJ from behind, his hands resting on her eight month along bump, round and full.
"We're fine." AJ smiled, "Although she has been kicking me all day." AJ announced, turning around and pressing her own hand on her stomach, acknowledging their growing, baby girl.
They'd found out the sex of the baby a few months ago, and to Punks dismay (he was hoping and thought it was a boy) they were told to expect a little girl. Nonetheless, they were both ecstatic about the revelation of having a baby girl. They couldn't wait, and they'd both already developed such a bond and closeness with their daughter.
They still kept in touch with Elise, but asked her not to mention that she knew where they were. Punk knew everything had to be kept a secret, or else his father would find him in a quick second, and have him back in Invictus.
Although very relaxed and content here with AJ, he knew at one point, he would have to return, but they were at peace for just now, until their baby girl arrived that was.
"She's a Brooks." Punk smiled, "I'd be worried if she was kicking up a storm in there." He chuckled, walking over and helping her with carrying the plates over to the table, letting her go take a seat, to save her being on her feet for any longer than she already had been.
He found it so peaceful tucked away like this. He wished he could have just lived like this forever. No worries. No fears. But something just told him it wouldn't last. They'd even discussed going back after their daughter was born. AJ wanted to return to her studio, which she was running via email with the teacher who had taken over during her maternity leave. And she knew that when they returned, Jack would come looking for Punk and swallow him back into his sick world.
She was so proud of Punk. He was finding what he was good at. He hadn't had a chance to do that in his life. Like she found ballet, he'd never found his quote on quote, talent. She was proud of him for plucking up the courage and going to college, despite his age and lack of education. She was amazed by his drawings, and it really frustrated her that he hadn't gotten a chance to pursue this talent earlier.
"One month left today." She smiled across to him as he smiled, "It's gone in so fast." She admitted.
She was truly thankful for his sacrifice. She knew it was a lot of risk for him to just up and leave through the night like they had, but they were better off for it. She felt safe here, and warm.
"I can't believe how fast it's gone in." Punk agreed with her.
They hadn't been at each other's throats anymore like before. They were relaxed and calm, both feeling secure with the promise of a new light in a months time.
She knew it was exactly what they both needed. To welcome their daughter into a happy environment. And they'd also got to spend more time together.
"How long are we gonna wait until we have to discuss going back?" AJ asked. It wasn't like they could stay here forever. She had to get back to the studio, and she knew Elise was desperate to be an active auntie to her first niece. She knew from the start that this was just a detox and long vacation they were taking to relax and reconnect during her pregnancy. She knew just as well as him that they had to go back fairly soon.
"It isn't going to be as scary as you think, Ape." Punk shrugged, "We go back. Our house is still there. It's not like we'll be homeless. We settle down with the baby. I go visit my dad and explain-"
"And you go back to working with him?" She asked.
"Yeah." Punk nodded, "Hopefully with the new baby, it will distract him from being angry." Punk shrugged.
"I think we both established that he isn't going near her." AJ reminded him, "I'm hoping that when we go back, he just… he doesn't need you or something." She shrugged as he chuckled lightly.
"I doubt that will happen." He admitted, "Look, let's just enjoy this next month or two. We've established we're gonna be ok. I'll carry on my college course when we go back, if that's what you're worried about." He said.
"I just enjoy seeing you do something for you for once." She smiled across at him, "And you're so good at it. It seems stupid not to continue with it." She said.
"My dad will just laugh in my face when he finds out. Unless he's punched it first." Punk rolled his eyes.
"Who cares what he thinks." AJ rolled her eyes, "You're finally focusing on you. That's all that matters." She smiled.
"Well, me and my girls." He said as she smiled to herself. He was already the worlds greatest dad in her mind. He'd really evolved into the fatherhood position. He'd stay up all night talking to their daughter, he'd even enjoyed picking out pink baby grows and outfits, although it did emasculate him just a little bit. Nevertheless, this break away from everything had really helped them reconnect and prepare for their daughter. They both knew exactly what they wanted, and nothing was going to get in the way. Not even Jack Brooks…