At Peace

"Hey, there's my girls." Jude smiled happily, crouching down and catching Mirren and Leela in a hug as they came running into the apartment with Sean following behind.

"Hi, mommy." Leela grinned happily, "Look how bad daddy is at doing my hair." She turned around to let Jude inspect her braid which was a little on the wonky side.

"Thanks, Lee." Sean nodded affectionately.

"But it's ok." Leela assured him sweetly.

"I don't think it looks so bad." Jude placed her hand on Leela's head.

"It's bad, mommy." Leela said sassily as Jude smiled.

"What did you do when we were gone?" Mirren asked curiously, taking her jacket off with Jude's help.

"Well, I went to work. And I spent some time with a friend. I saw Aunt Thea-"

"Aunt Thea!" Leela smiled happily, "Did you get to see Chance?"

"No, baby. He was with Sofia." Jude nodded, "Enough about me. What did you guys get up to? I want details." She smiled, glancing over at Sean who stood at the door, still holding the girls' bags. It was still very odd to be trading the girls between them both. She was sure it would take a very long time to get used to it.

"We got to ride in the police car." Mirren smiled.

"Oh, yeah." Leela nodded, "And we got to see the police doggies. They're dogs who have jobs." She told her mother.

"And did the doggies behave?" Jude asked.

"Yeah." Leela nodded, "I loved them." She told her mother sincerely as Jude smiled.

"I picked them up in the car cause I was running a bit late and didn't have time to change over." Sean explained.

"It's fine." Jude assured him with a smile.

"I wasn't taking them to work with me or anything." Sean clarified as Jude nodded.

"Then we saw a movie last night." Mirren explained.

"You've been busy girls." Jude smiled, "Why don't you go take your jackets into your room. And your bags." She said, watching them collect their things and head through to their room.

"I know they love the dogs. The K-9 unit were at the station for the day." Sean explained.

"It's fine, Sean." Jude assured him.

"I know you don't like them there, though." Sean said.

"I just don't like the idea of them being where there potentially could be criminals coming and going." Jude said, "I know they love the dogs."

"Yeah, they want one." Sean nodded, "I told them we had Rex. We can't get a dog. Leela said, Rex doesn't do anything he just eats lettuce and stares at us." He said as Jude smiled a little.

"She has a point." Jude laughed a little as Sean smiled, looking across at her and putting his hands in his pockets.

"How you been?" He asked.

"Yeah, I'm alright." Jude folded her arms, "You?"

"I'm fine." Sean nodded, although Jude was definitely not convinced, "You got this place looking nice."

"I'm trying my best with it." She nodded, "I uh… I had my lawyer on the phone this morning and she got the petition we filed." She explained, "She reckons, because it's an uncontested divorce, should take about four to six months to finalise it." She said as Sean nodded.

"Yeah, I got the same call." Sean said, "You been seeing your boyfriend?" He asked.

"Sean." Jude shook her head, unimpressed.

"Well, what am I supposed to call him?" Sean shrugged.

"Well, he's not my boyfriend." Jude said, "I've saw him once since we've split. For coffee."

"It's none of my business what you do, Jude. I've just gotta accept that." He nodded, "But… I'd rather you didn't introduce the girls to him any time soon. Maybe give it a bit more time. See if you actually like him for real, you know?" Sean said.

"Don't patronise me." Jude shook her head.

"I'm not patronising you." Sean said.

"You are." Jude nodded, "Treating me like I'm a fool. Like I'm gonna fall flat on my face."

"Well if you do, I'd rather you didn't take my daughters down with you." He nodded as she looked across at him angrily. She desperately wanted to give him the benefit of the doubt. She could see he was still hurting and she knew it would take time.

"You can go now." Jude told him calmly.

"I'll get them on Monday after school." Sean said.

"Ok." She nodded, watching him head to the girls room to say goodbye to them before walking past her and out of the apartment without another word.

"This was very nice of you." Thea nodded, sitting outside the hospital on her break with one of her favourite sandwiches her husband had dropped off for her.

"I'm a nice guy." Dominic said, lighting a cigarette with a cup of coffee between his legs.

"A nice guy who clearly wants something from me." Thea scoffed, "Blow job?" She turned to him.

"Thea, there are people around." He said sarcastically as she chuckled, "I can't bring my hard-working wife some lunch without her questioning if I want something out of it?"

"Normally you do." Thea nodded.

"Well, not this time." Dominic shook his head, "I mean… I wouldn't say no to a blow job later, though." He took a draw of his cigarette.

"I figured." Thea nodded, "It's a nightmare in there." She shook her head.

"No staff?" Dominic asked.

"Well, obviously. That never changes." Thea said, "But I'm sick of the abuse we take from people. People who think they know better." She shook her head, "Sometimes I feel like turning around and saying, you know what? You fucking take care of this entire ward of people. If you know so fucking much."

"You should." Dominic shrugged.

"I mean, I probably would get fired. But it would sure feel good." Thea nodded, "I get people can panic in hospitals, especially the ICU. But shouting and yelling at the people who are helping? What that does that accomplish?"

"Nothing." Dominic nodded, "You should have been an engineer, like me." He told her.

"I should have." Thea said, "You do more than engineering, though."

"I wear many hats." Dominic agreed.

"Good with your hands in many different ways." Thea nodded.

"That's me." Dominic nodded as she chuckled, "You heard from Cassie? Feels like they've been gone for a long time."

"Yeah, last night she called." Thea said, "Theo's brother showed up. And they smoked weed. And then she told me that apparently Theo used to smoke weed like every day."

"You know, he looks like a secret weed smoker." Dominic nodded.

"No, he absolutely doesn't. That's why it's so weird." Thea said, "I think tensions are pretty high. Cassie sounded tired. It's gotta be difficult. I think they're just sitting by his bed every day watching him, waiting for the inevitable. It's at the point where you kinda wish, for their sake, that it just happens. So they can process it and heal." Thea nodded, "I could not sit and watch my mom or dad like that. I just couldn't."

"It's an awful thing." Dominic nodded.

"Hey, how do you think Sofia is gonna get on with her glasses? Do you think she'll wear them? She hated her glasses before, remember." Thea said.

"It's different this time, though. I think they might help her feel more comfortable, actually. Hopefully they'll get rid of the headaches she's been having, too." Dominic nodded.

"I uh… before I took them to school and playgroup this morning, I was helping Sofia get ready…" Thea said, sitting her half-eaten sandwich down beside her on the paper wrapper, "I asked her what she wanted me to do with her hair, you know… braids, pony-tail, bun… whatever." Thea said, "She just said that it doesn't matter anyway, she can't see it." Thea said as Dominic rubbed his forehead.

"Yeah, I've noticed she's been getting a little… distant with a lot of things." Dominic nodded, taking a draw of his cigarette before putting it out.

"We gotta keep an eye on her." Thea said, "We're all so quick to say how well she's doing, how her spirit is still the same… but she's bound to have bad days. We just gotta make sure we can spot it and handle it the right way."

"Yeah, of course." Dominic nodded, taking her hand.

Thea got home later on after her shift, making her way into the noisy kitchen where the kids and Dominic were having dinner.

"Hey, what's on the menu tonight?" She asked, making her way round each child, planting a kiss on their heads, not forgetting Chance who lay beside Sofia's chair.

"Spaghetti." Sam told her mother, kneeling up on her chair, twirling her spaghetti around her fork, "It won't stay!" She yelled with frustration as James turned to her.

"Why can't you speak quietly?" James asked her seriously, "Indoor voice, like mom says."

"I'm mad at the spaghetti." Sam explained as James shook his head.

"You want help?" Dominic asked her.

"No, I can do it myself." Sam said stubbornly.

"The million-dollar question is, has homework been done? I'm looking at you, sir." Thea said, looking over at James.

"I did it when I got home." James nodded as Thea raised a suspicious brow, "Why do you never believe me?"

"Because you never do it." Thea chuckled a little.

"Papa helped me with mine." Sofia told her mother.

"Oh, that's good baby." Thea smiled, listening as there was a knock at the door.

"I'll get it. You get some food." Dominic stood up.

"No, you finish." Thea shook her head, already heading out of the kitchen.

"I'm sick of this spaghetti." Sam threw her fork down, folding her arms.

Thea made her way to the door, opening it up and spotting Sean standing, hands in his pockets.

"Hey." Thea said with confusion, "Is everything ok?" She immediately started to worry.

"Yeah, yeah you don't have to worry." Sean said as she nodded.

"Are you ok?" Thea wondered. It was very rare she got a visit from Sean, especially by himself.

"Yeah." Sean nodded, although she wasn't sure she believed him, "Yeah… sorry, I shouldn't have disturbed you… it's dinner time. You're just home from work." He noticed her still in her scrubs, "Sorry, I'll just go." He turned around.

"No, wait." Thea stepped outside, "You need someone to talk to? I got time." She nodded, "Just let me go tell Dom." She said.

"Thea, it's fine I was just passing by and-" He stopped talking as he watched her rush away back inside, emerging back two seconds later with her coat.

"You wanna walk? I like to walk." Thea nodded, walking past him as he nodded slowly.

"Ok." He said, catching up to her.

"So, you were just passing by and?" Thea waited, "Wanted to talk?"

"Figured you know Jude the best out of everyone." Sean said, "Is this… is this thing with this guy legit? Does she really love him?" He asked.

"I think so." Thea nodded, "Although, she couldn't have made it any clearer to me that she won't move forward with him until you guys have figured out what you need to figure out."

"I keep thinking she's gonna come back to me, you know?" Sean said.

"I think it's just raw right now. It'll take some time to get used to being separated." Thea said, "Don't think for a second that this is easy for her."

"I looked into this new guy she's seeing." He admitted.

"Sean." Thea scolded.

"There was nothing to see." Sean said quickly, "Guy is squeaky clean."

"And did you feel better after you looked him up?" Thea asked.

"Not particularly." Sean said, "Couldn't help myself, though."

"She's a big girl, Sean. She… She doesn't need you looking out for her. Maybe, in the past, she's needed you to take care of her but… not anymore." Thea said.

"I know it's my fault." Sean nodded, "If I hadn't cheated, she wouldn't have drifted so far away from me. And now…now she's gone." He shook his head, watching as Thea sat down on the kerb on the side of the road.

"You sound like a man who needs a cigarette." Thea nodded, holding her box of Marlboros up.

"I'm good." Sean shook his head, sitting down beside her.

"Suit yourself." Thea shrugged, lighting up her cigarette and putting the pack back in her pocket, "Look, I won't sit here and pretend I know how you feel. Cause I don't." She said, "But I think one thing we both have in common, one thing you and I have always had in common is… we love Jude, and we want the best for her."

"Yeah." Sean nodded.

"You're not the best for her anymore." Thea said as he turned to her, "You and her haven't been right for over a year. Even if she did forgive you, it just wasn't right… am I right?" She nodded to him.

"You're right." Sean agreed.

"So you gotta let her go. You gotta let her move on." Thea nodded, "In my opinion, she's always been the good one. The safe one." She said.

"What do you mean?" Sean asked.

"Growing up she was always terrified of asking for things. For giving her opinion. For saying how she really felt. She was quiet. She did what she was told. She didn't cause a fuss." Thea said, "Her walking away from you. Walking away from something she's so used to. A relationship that has meant so much to her… I know how difficult that had to be for her. Because I know how in love she was with you."

"Was." Sean nodded.

"You guys have the girls together. You'll always be a family. But…you need to move on. Don't make it difficult for her. Don't make her feel bad for being selfish for once in her life." Thea said.

"I'm not. I just… I just don't know what to do without her. Of course I want her to be happy. I just don't know how to live without her by my side." Sean said.

"You'll move on with time. It'll be weird and strange but… you both will. It's life. What you gonna do? Be miserable forever now?" Thea asked.

"Feels like I could be, yeah." Sean scoffed.

"You won't." Thea said, "It will get better."

"You think she'll be happy with this guy?" Sean asked her.

"I don't know him." Thea said, "But I'd like to think so, yeah." She nodded.

"I think I was pretty cold with her earlier when I dropped the girls off." Sean admitted, "I think it's just jealousy. Frustration. Knowing she's moving on with someone else. Her and this guy… they're gonna hang out with the kids like we used to do. It's just… I don't know, it's like surreal."

"No one is gonna replace you as Mirren and Leela's dad. That's the last thing Jude would ever want. She still wants you in her life, she still wants you guys to be parents together, because believe me, when the girls start hitting ten and above, you're gonna need each other's advice and help." Thea nodded.

"Just never imagined it coming to this." He shook his head, running his hands over his face as Thea looked at him. She'd known him for a pretty long time, and she had very rarely seen him emotional.

"Do you have friends?" Thea asked as Sean turned to her, "I'm being serious."

"Yes, I have friends, Thea." Sean shook his head.

"You… came to me?" Thea questioned, "I thought you didn't like me."

"Who came up with that narrative?" Sean asked, "That you and me don't like each other?"

"Everyone, when they see us in a room together." Thea nodded as Sean laughed a little.

"Ok, fair." Sean nodded, "I've never not liked you, Thea. I think you're a pretty remarkable person, actually." He said.

"I'll pretend that you didn't have such a tone of surprise when you said that." Thea nodded.

"I guess I came to you because I know I'd get honesty." Sean nodded, "And you know Jude better than anyone."

"Yeah." Thea nodded, "So trust me when I tell you, she still wants you in her life. It's gonna be difficult to watch her moving on. I can't imagine it, actually. But… honestly? I think you're still gonna be the person she goes to when she needs to feel safe." She said, "Going through what she went through… you never forget who was by your side through it all."

"I want her to be happy." Sean nodded, "And safe."

"Then you gotta let her go." Thea said as he turned to her, "You came for honesty." She shrugged, putting her cigarette out on the path beside her.

"Hey." Cassie said quietly, walking outside into the yard where Theo was sitting on the outdoor sofa.

"Hey." Theo looked up.

"You still want to be alone or…" Cassie hesitated.

"No, come here." Theo said as she made her way over to him, sitting down beside on the sofa and wrapping her arms around him tightly.

"It'd be dumb to ask how you are. And even dumber to tell you that I'm here for you, because you know that." Cassie said, "So I'll just hug you." She said as he chuckled a little and kissed her head.

"It's almost a relief." Theo admitted as Cassie sat back, "He stopped living a few weeks ago. He doesn't have to suffer any more."

"Of course." Cassie nodded.

His father had passed away a few hours ago with all of them by his bed. It was upsetting and devastating to watch, but there was peace in knowing he no longer had to lay there in pain or discomfort.

"I'm glad he got to see that Matt was here. Would have helped him go easier." Theo nodded.

"Yeah, I'm glad too." Cassie nodded, "For Matt also… at least he won't have the regret that he never came."

"Yeah." Theo nodded.

"I'll call my parents in the morning. No point in waking them up through the night." Cassie said as Theo nodded.

"Just gotta get through the funeral now." Theo said, "I'm worried about Kelise. When we leave."

"She's a real strong lady." Cassie said, "And we should visit her. And make it clear that she can always visit us whenever she wants."

"Yeah." Theo said, "Matt still in there with her?" He asked.

"Yeah, he was making them more tea. Did not take him for such a big tea drinker." Cassie said.

"He thinks he's fancy." Theo nodded as she smiled, "Gonna be a big funeral. Can't wait for people I barely know to be crying in my face."

"You want me to take them out when they approach you?" She asked him as he smiled.

"That would be great." He nodded.

"We'll get through the funeral. Don't worry so much." Cassie nodded, taking his hand and squeezing it, "And then we can get home to the babies."

"I miss them." Theo said.

"Me too." Cassie nodded, wincing a little as she rubbed her stomach.

"You alright?" Theo noticed.

"Yeah, just cramp." Cassie shook her head, "Hurts like a bitch right now."

"You need some pills?" He asked her as she shook her head stubbornly, "Chocolate?" He wondered.

"No, I'm fine. It passes." Cassie nodded.

"You sure?" Theo pressed.

"Positive." She said, "Sleep will help." She assured him. She didn't want to mention to him that she'd been in pain for quite some time.