In Love

"Well… another successful Christmas done and dusted." AJ smiled triumphantly, walking into the kitchen to help her husband tidy up after their family had all gone home at the time of 3am.

"Yeah." Punk smiled, collecting some empty glasses for the dishwasher.

"It was good that Dean and Renee came over later on with the girls. Chrissy looks great. And she made short work of our leftovers." AJ nodded proudly.

"Fat babies are the cutest." Punk nodded, "She's got the right idea."

"Who was the heaviest out of the girls?" AJ tried to think, "Jude."

"Yeah, Jude." Punk nodded, "Then Thea. Then Cassie."

"Are you alright?" AJ asked, noticing he was very distant and unlike himself. With all the family being over, she hadn't actually spoke with him much all day, busying herself with playing with the kids and chatting with Renee. Now that it was just the two of them, he seemed to be acting out of character.

"Yeah, I'm fine." Punk nodded, "Just hate this part where we gotta clean up." He smiled to her as she folded her arms.

"What is wrong and who does it concern?" AJ raised a brow as Punk scoffed, turning away and shaking his head, "I'll get it out of you. You know I will." She said as Punk washed his hands, drying them on a kitchen towel.

"Well I'm not supposed to tell you, or anyone, but… well, me and you come as a package deal, don't we?" He nodded.

"Damn right we do." AJ nodded.

"Jude has met someone else." He told her as AJ looked across at him, trying to figure out if what he said was what she was thinking.

"As in… she's met… another man?" AJ questioned.

"Yes." Punk nodded, "From work."

"A work crush?" AJ wondered.

"Don't think so." Punk shook his head, "And look, I'm sceptical about it too because she's only known the guy for three months but… this isn't something Jude would mess around with. We know that." He said, "I told her she needs to speak with Sean about it."

"I did not expect this." AJ admitted as Punk nodded, "Are her and Sean having a bad time? I really thought they were doing ok."

"Well she said they are. But that things are just different. Not how they used to be. I'm not sure if she means because of the cheating or what but… she can't stop thinking about this other guy." Punk said.

"God, I thought if her and Sean could get over all of that stuff then they'd be… together forever." AJ shook her head.

"I guess something breaks in a marriage when cheating happens. It's not the same anymore and… maybe your heart opens up more to other people." Punk shrugged.

"Didn't happen for us." She looked over at him.

"We were kids." Punk grumbled, "And people, couples react to things differently."

"So she's gonna talk to Sean?" AJ asked.

"Yeah. I told her she has to. She can't keep living in a lie and if she really does have genuine feelings for this other guy then… she has to be honest about that." Punk nodded.

"I wonder what this other guy is like." AJ wondered, "Her and Sean have been together for so long that… I just can't imagine her with someone else."

"Well she's not thrilled about it. In fact she's really upset. It's like she doesn't want to have feelings for this guy. Of course she's probably thinking about Mirren and Leela, not wanting to hurt Sean-"

"So she deprives herself of potential happiness?" AJ asked.

"No." Punk shook his head, "She shouldn't. But Sean is her husband, and they have children, and so they need to discuss things."

"Spoken like a responsible papa." AJ smiled as Punk nodded, "She's not… I mean, her and this guy haven't-"

"I didn't ask." Punk rolled his eyes, "But it's Jude. She wouldn't cheat." He said.

"No. No, of course not." AJ nodded, "I just want her to be happy." She sighed as Punk nodded.

"Yeah, me too." Punk said, "I told Sean it'd be the biggest mistake he'd make. I told all three of them." He shook his head, "But I can't say that I don't feel for him. I thought I would be happy about this. I thought it would be a… well that's what you get for screwing up, moment." He said, "But I'm sad for them." He admitted.

"Me too." AJ nodded, "But he'll always be family. And Jude is smart enough and… she's got a good heart to remind him of that." She said as Punk nodded.

"It's just not what you want your kid to be dealing with." Punk sighed.

"I'll get these ones to bed." Dominic nodded, holding a sleeping Sam in his arms whilst holding Sofia's hand, heading upstairs with them after getting home from AJ and Punk's.

Thea took her scarf off, watching James attempting to head upstairs, "No, you stay right there." She said with authority as James turned around.

"It's three in the morning." James shook his head, "I wanna go to bed."

"Oh, don't worry. It won't take long. Go to the kitchen." Thea told him as James looked at her, "Hey, either me and you can have this conversation, or you can have this conversation with your father."

"Fine, I'm going." James shook his head, walking off to the kitchen as Thea followed, "I just wanted a sip and you overreacted. Like you always do."

"You're thirteen years old." Thea said, "I'd maybe consider letting you have a sip when your sixteen. Maybe." She said, "But you are a child."

"I'm almost fourteen. All my friends are allowed at school-"

"I really don't care." Thea nodded, "And believe me, I know that just because I am an alcoholic doesn't mean you will be. But because I am an alcoholic, and because no one was there to stop me when I was your age… that is why I say no." She said, "If that makes me the big evil bitchy mom of you and your friend group then so be it. But it's not happening, and you don't get to talk to me like how you did tonight."

"Alright." James shook his head, "Didn't Papa and Nana A try and stop you from drinking and becoming an alcoholic?" He questioned.

"It's not a simple question like that when it comes to me." Thea said.

"Well, what about dad? Is it because he had no parents?" James asked.

"Alcoholics come to be through all different reasons." Thea said, "I can't protect you and baby you all your life. I know that. Doing that would probably just make you want to rebel. I just want you to know my reasons and why I'm saying no."

"That's fair." James shrugged, "Maybe I'll be like papa and I just won't drink at all."

"Maybe." Thea smiled a little.

"Can I go to bed now?" He asked.

"Hug first." Thea nodded, watching as he walked over and hugged her, "I love you." She said, kissing his head full of hair.

"Love you too." James said before pulling back and disappearing upstairs.

"What do you mean you've met someone else?" Sean shook his head, standing across the bed from Jude in their bedroom.

"It means how it sounds." Jude said, watching him trying to digest the information. She knew if it didn't come out tonight then she would just keep delaying it and delaying it.

"Someone else?" Sean shook his head, "Who? Is it someone I know?"

"No, it's not." Jude said, "He's from work." She said, "Look, that's not really the important part. The important part is that… clearly we're not… clearly the fact that I feel this way about someone else means that you and I aren't…"

"We're not what, Jude?" Sean said, "It's news to me that our relationship isn't working. We've been fine."

"Well maybe we needed to reconcile for us to… move on from what happened." Jude nodded.

"You told me you forgave me? Is this… is this you getting back at me or something? Trying to hurt me?" He asked.

"No, of course it isn't. Do you think I would do that to you?" She walked around the bed towards him, "Believe me, the worst part about all of this is the fact that it's gonna hurt you. But I can't lie to you."

"Have you slept with this guy?" He looked down at her.

"No." Jude said, "There was a kiss but I pushed him away and that was it."

"I mean, I know I ain't got a leg to stand on when it comes to being unfaithful but-"

"This isn't me trying to get back at you, Sean. I promise it isn't." She said, "I have feelings for someone else. To me that means that you and I aren't working anymore-"

"What part of us isn't working, Jude? We've been happy here. The four of us. It's been great. Have you just been faking it?" He questioned, walking away from her around the bed.

"No, I have not been faking it." Jude said, "I have been happy here. And I have been happy with you. But I'm also happy with someone else."

"I don't even wanna hear this." He shook his head.

"Well, you have to!" Jude shouted, "I won't ignore how I feel just because I'm scared that no one else will understand me like you do." She said as he turned around to him.

"No one will understand you like I do." He nodded, "You're right that about that."

"No. Not if I don't give someone else the chance." She said, "You will never know the pain I was in when you told me you cheated on me. You won't understand what that felt like. And deep down you know that it's broken us. Yeah, maybe we've worked through a lot but… I don't think we'll ever work through it fully. You were the one that broke my heart. It isn't my fault that someone else is healing it."

"I need some air." Sean shook his head.

"Sean, we need to talk about this." Jude walked after him out of the bedroom.

"I've heard enough." Sean said.

"Sean." Jude called.

"No, you've been playing me like a fool this entire time!" He yelled, "I thought we were good. I thought we'd worked past all that shit that happened. All this time you knew you weren't in love with me. And what? You were just waiting for someone else to catch your eye?"

"That is not true." Jude said angrily, "I do love you. I will always love you and you know that. But it's not the same love as we used to have and you know that too. Maybe… I don't know, maybe I was just hoping that we'd eventually get it back but it's clear we're not going to."

"You should have just divorced me back then when you wanted to." Sean shook his head, "And I should have just let you."

"Sean." Jude sobbed a little.

"And you're not taking my kids away from me!" He yelled, standing in the hallway with her.

"I never said I would!" Jude yelled back, "I would never!"

"Mommy." Leela crept out of her room behind them as they both turned around, "Why are you and daddy yelling?" She asked sleepily with worry.

"Hey, can I help you?" A young woman opened up the door to the house which Jude had just knocked on, looking at her with puffy eyes.

"Uh…" Jude paused, looking down at her phone to make sure she had the right address, "I might have the wrong address." She mumbled as the girl watched her.

"Taylor?" Miles called from in the house as Jude looked up, "Is that Jude?"

"Oh, right." Taylor realised as Miles came to the door.

"I told you she was coming." Miles shook his head.

"Well I don't know what she looks like." Taylor shrugged.

"And who else would be at the door at 4am?" Miles scoffed whilst Jude stood awkwardly at the door, "Sorry." Miles turned to her, noticing her teary eyes.

"I… I can go somewhere else, actually." Jude shook her head, feeling like nothing but a burden on this poor man.

"No." Miles said, "No, get your ass in here." He nodded as Jude looked at him, walking into the house.

"I'm Taylor, by the way." Taylor said, "Miles' little sister."

"Who should have left hours ago." Miles shook his head.

"I need to piss first." Taylor announced, heading for the stairs, mouthing "she's hot" to Miles on her way up as he rolled his eyes.

"Sorry on behalf of my sister." Miles said, "She refuses to spend Christmas with our parents so she crashes here when I get home and we have our own Christmas dinner." He explained.

"You have two Christmas dinners?" Jude asked.

"Yeah." Miles shrugged as she smiled a little, walking through to the kitchen with him.

"I'm sorry to show up here but… I didn't really want to face my parents." She rolled her eyes, "I told Sean… he didn't take it particularly well."

"Didn't think he would." Miles nodded, "You need a coffee? Or alcohol?"

"Throw a shot of vodka in a coffee." Jude said, sitting down at the island in the kitchen.

"Coming up." Miles chuckled a little.

"Your place is really nice." She observed.

"It looked like this when I moved in. I've done nothing to it." He admitted.

"It's nice." She nodded, "How come your sister doesn't spend Christmas with your parents?" She asked.

"Because I'm a lesbian and they're homophobic assholes." Taylor walked into the kitchen as Jude turned around, "I'll get going." She announced, putting her coat on.

"S-Sorry, I didn't… I totally didn't need to ask why." Jude shook her head.

"It's fine." Taylor smiled, "It was nice to meet you. Miles hasn't shut up about you for three months." She nodded.

"Ok, can you just go?" Miles said as Taylor smiled.

"I'm going." Taylor nodded, walking over and planting a kiss on his cheek before leaving the kitchen and heading out of the house.

"Sorry, I was totally being nosey." Jude shook her head.

"It's fine." Miles nodded, sitting the coffee down for her and pouring some vodka in it, "I hope you don't think I hang out with my homophobic parents by choice, by the way. They would harass the hell out of me if I didn't show up for Christmas."

"I… it's not my business what you do." Jude shook her head, rubbing under her eyes as he watched her.

"What happened?" He asked her.

"I told him the truth. That… it wasn't working for us anymore. And that I couldn't be scared to open up to other people." Jude nodded, "I realise that it's a lot for him to take in… and maybe he feels like it's all out of the blue but… then he started going on about me taking the kids away from him and…" She leaned her elbows on the table, placing her hands over her face, "Why would he think I would do that?"

"He's probably just emotional and upset. Realising he's losing the best thing in his life. Gotta be rough." Miles nodded, "He'll calm down, I'm sure. But… I don't think you should feel bad about being honest and telling him you aren't happy."

"I don't think that's the part that is hurting him the most." Jude said, "I think it's more to do with the being in love with someone else." She nodded, looking up at him as he swallowed his nerves.

"In love?" He asked as she nodded.

"Yeah." She whispered, shaking her head and running her hand through her hair, "I just feel like the biggest fuck up ever." She said as he walked around to her, standing closely in front of her as she looked up at him.

"I love you too." He nodded, "I think you're… the most incredible person I've ever met." He admitted as she swallowed the lump in her throat, feeling him cup her cheeks as he pressed his lips against hers softly.