Night Activities

"Do you think we should take him to the doctors?" AJ asked, leaning into Punk as they walked through the park the next evening. The twins were ahead on their bikes and racing each other to every park bench.

"No. Why?" Punk asked her.

"Cause he keeps having nightmares. And he keeps wetting the bed." AJ sighed, feeling helpless.

"He's four. It's completely normal." Punk assured her, "I had nightmares as a kid all the time."

"I know, you keep telling me that, but it doesn't make it any easier." AJ said, "What if he's subconsciously worrying about something? What if he's frightened of something and he's not telling us?" AJ worried.

Being a mother was wonderful, the best thing she'd ever done, but sometimes her anxiety hit through the roof with certain things.

"April, he's four. There's nothing he's worried about besides monsters under the bed." Punk said, "Remember when you freaked out about them starting to eat solid food? You thought they'd never chew properly. Well… they did." Punk reminded her.

"That's different." AJ said, "I'm sorry, I'm just worried about him. I don't want to see him scared."

"He'll grow out of it." Punk said, wrapping his arm around her and kissing her head.

"Am I overreacting? I feel like I'm not." AJ said.

"You're not overreacting. You're just a great mom who cares. It's not a bad thing." He smiled.

"God, I'm getting flashbacks to when they started walking. I was literally a fiend around them, making sure they didn't fall or hit their head." AJ remembered, "You were so calm."

"I had to be. Only one of us is allowed to freak out at the same time." He said, "They did fall a lot, though."

"Yeah, because they would push each other." AJ chuckled, "Double trouble."

"Yeah, that's for sure." Punk smiled, watching Rudy turn her bike and cycle towards them. They hadn't learned how to ride their bike without the stabilisers yet, but Punk promised he'd teach them in the Summer.

"Can we go see the house?" Rudy asked.

"Why? It's boring." Punk said.

"I just want to see it." Rudy shrugged.

"Can I take this off? I hate it." Thomas cycled over, trying to unclip his helmet.

"No, sir. It stays on whilst you're on the bike." AJ made clear as Thomas huffed.

After they'd closed their coffee shops, they'd took the twins out for a walk after dinner. Sometimes they got bad parent guilt for how much they spent working, they always made sure to do something fun in the evening with the twins.

"What if I don't like the new house?" Rudy asked.

"Tough." Punk said.

"But I like our house just now. Why do we have to have another house?" Rudy asked.

"Cause it's bigger and it's better." Punk explained, "Means we'll have room if you guys maybe get a little brother or sister one day."

"Oh, really?" AJ chuckled as Punk shrugged with a smile.

"I don't want another sister. I have one." Thomas said seriously.

"Well I don't want another brother." Rudy argued back.

"Look what you've started." AJ nudged Punk who just chuckled.

"I said maybe." Punk reminded them all, AJ especially who just smiled, "Anyway, don't you want to go for ice-cream? I thought that was the plan."

"Oh, yeah." Rudy nodded, "If I race Thomas to the next bench and win then I can have ice-cream and he can't. Can we do that?" Rudy asked excitedly as Thomas just rolled his eyes.

"No, you're both going to get ice-cream, sweetie." AJ smiled, "But you can still race."

"Ok!" Rudy grinned, riding away ahead whilst Thomas got back on his bike.

"I'm sick of her." Thomas tutted to his parents before riding away, causing them both to chuckle at the seriousness of him.

"They'll love each other one day, I'm sure." Punk nodded.

"How is the house doing, by the way?" AJ asked, "You've barely talked about it."

"Well, we've been so busy talking about Daryl and Shiv." Punk shrugged.

"Is it not going well?" AJ predicted.

"No." Punk turned to her dramatically, "Why would you think that?"

"Because there's been no progress on it in like… two months. I barely even see the guys there." AJ said, "I didn't want to ask incase it stressed you out."

"They're just… making sure it's done right." Punk shrugged as AJ looked up at him.

"Phil." She said as he looked down at her.

"Ok, it's not going as well as I'd hoped." Punk said, "And I got Cole's opinion on it when he came out to stay for the weekend. He's not entirely convinced they're doing a good job." He said.

"Ok, so… maybe we can look into hiring new people?" AJ asked, "They're contractors, they'll be used to moving around jobs."

"Cole said he'd be interested in helping with his company." Punk told her.

"He'd travel all the way here every day?" AJ asked, surprised.

"He said he'd maybe stay. Find a place here." Punk shrugged, "I don't think he's got any big projects in the city right now."

"I did tell you to ask him about it before getting contractors in." AJ hummed.

"I know but I didn't think he'd be available to do it." Punk said, "Honestly, I think he only wants to do it so he can see Lyla."

"Really?" AJ gasped, "Oh, you left that part out." She shoved his arm.

"Didn't you see him drooling all over her when you guys saw us outside the house?" He asked.

"No. I was too busy staring at my hot husband." AJ smiled as Punk nodded, accepting the answer, "Gosh, he still has the hots for her?"

"Apparently so." Punk said.

"You should call him. Take him up on the offer." AJ suggested.

"You're just saying that so you can play matchmaker with him and Lyla." Punk scoffed.

"No I'm not. Lyla is a grown woman." AJ said, "It just… might be interesting to see how it plays out." She shrugged.

"You love scandal, April Brooks." Punk said as she smiled, "Stealing my damn chocolate fountain."

"Oh, get over it." AJ chuckled.

"No, I'm still not happy." Punk shook his head defiantly, but with a smile.

"Really? Even after all the things I let you do with my body every night?" AJ asked.

"That does soften the blow." Punk nodded.

"Yeah, it better. I'm exhausted this week." She said as he chuckled.

"I still need to take you away for the weekend. We need a break." Punk said, kissing her cheek.

"A break for you to put my legs behind my head?" AJ asked.

"Precisely." Punk nodded as she chuckled.

"Wicked man." She smiled, leaning into him as they continued walking through the park, watching the twins having fun on their bikes ahead.

"Hey, sorry I'm a little late. I wanted to go home and have a shower first." Daryl said, a little out of breath as he stood outside Shiv's apartment.

"Did you run here?" She asked.

"Yeah, little bit." Daryl nodded.

"It's fine." Shiv smiled a little, "Come in." She nodded, opening up the door wider and letting him come into the apartment.

She couldn't describe the way she was feeling leading up to this. Allowing Daryl into her home. Her safe space she'd created for her and Brianna. She had a million and one things going through her head. Mostly she was still thinking about the letters, which she'd read and reread the past few days. The guilt weighed on her, from every angle.

"I'm going to order pizza for me and Brianna. You want in on it?" Daryl asked her.

"Oh, I'm ok. I'll just hang out in my room, let you have time alone with her." Shiv nodded.

"You don't have to do that." Daryl said, feeling slightly unnerved by the thought of her sitting in her room by herself.

"It's fine. I don't mind." Shiv nodded.

"Daddy!" Brianna appeared, running out from the living room.

"Hey!" Daryl matched her excitement, "How are you? How was pre-k?"

"I learned lots of stuff like you said." Brianna nodded.

"I knew you were clever." Daryl smiled.

"Mommy's going to take Laffy into her room for a little bit. I'll keep him company." Shiv told Brianna.

"But I want to show Laffy to daddy. Wait here." Brianna said, running away into the living room as Shiv just smiled to Daryl awkwardly, both of them standing in silence until Brianna appeared again, holding Laffy in her arms. He looked massive in her arms compared to her small size, and it made Daryl laugh to see the cat just putting up with Brianna carrying him.

"This is Laffy." Brianna showed him.

"Oh, he's sweet." Daryl smiled.

"Ok, mommy will take him with her before he scratches daddy's eyes out." Shiv nodded, taking Laffy from Brianna.

"He's heavy." Brianna huffed, shaking her little arms as Daryl chuckled.

"You thought about what pizza topping you want?" Daryl asked her.

"Yeah, pepperoni!" Brianna smiled, "Please."

"Alright, let's go order it." Daryl said as Brianna skipped into the living room.

"Just… shout if you need anything." Shiv nodded.

"Yeah. Ok." Daryl nodded, watching her as she walked off down the hall and into what he assumed was her bedroom.

He knew she wanted to give him time to spend with Brianna on his own, but part of him wished she'd stuck around. They'd yet to spend time with Brianna together. They'd yet to really feel like parents together. Everything still felt so separate.

"Who is this?" Daryl asked, sitting under the TP tent which Brianna had in the living room, amongst all her stuffed animals which she'd brought in with them.

"That is snuggles." Brianna told him, "But this is my favourite teddy bear. He's not a bear but he's a Caterpillar. See." She showed him the long snake like stuffed toy which was colourful and had a smiling face.

"What's his name?" Daryl took it from her.

"He's called Kevin." Brianna said.

"Kevin the Caterpillar." Daryl nodded with a smile, "I like him."

"We learned about bugs today at pre-k." Brianna said, "Do you know there are lady bugs but not man bugs?" She asked him as Daryl smiled. There was never a moment he wasn't smiling around her. Her smile and laugh were infectious, and he was desperate to know every little thing about her day.

"Why are there no man bugs?" Daryl asked.

"I don't know. There are just lady bugs." Brianna shrugged.

They'd had their pizza and Brianna had given Daryl a very thorough tour of her bedroom, showing him every inch of it and every toy, and piece of clothing she owned. He loved every second of it, and he was really starting to feel like he truly knew her. It still blew his mind sometimes when he looked at her and realised, she was his. Sometimes it still didn't feel real, but at times he also couldn't imagine a life without her now.

He'd helped Brianna into her pjs and they were now having a meeting under her tent in the living room.

"What other bugs did you learn about?" Daryl asked, handing her the caterpillar back as she sat him down carefully beside her other stuffed animals.

"Beetle." Brianna said, "And there's a rain beetle. If you stand on it, it will rain." Brianna told him.

"No way." Daryl said.

"Yes way. My teacher said." Brianna nodded, "And Caterpillars turn into butterflies. Did you know that?"

"I didn't." He played along, "That's pretty cool."

"Butterflies are pretty. I like them." Brianna said, "What is your favourite animal?"

"Oh, I don't know. I like chickens, I think they're funny." Daryl said.

"Aunt Becca has chickens." Brianna said.

"She does." Daryl nodded, "Maybe we could go visit them sometime. See the horses too."

"Yeah, I'd like that. I like animals." Brianna nodded, "Not really spiders, though." She said timidly.

"Mommy doesn't like spiders either." Daryl nodded.

"She hit one with her shoe before." Brianna said, "And one time Uncle Phil had to come get one out of the kitchen." She said as Daryl chuckled, imagining Shiv squealing, and running around trying to build up the courage to remove the spider, only to end up calling Punk in defeat.

"I don't mind spiders. I think they're misunderstood." Daryl said as Brianna looked at him with confusion. Sometimes he forgot he was talking to a near four-year-old, "I mean… they can't hurt you."

"I know but they're creepy." Brianna concluded, "I'm getting sleepy. Can I have my milk now?" She asked him.

"Sure. Yeah. Why don't you get comfy on the sofa and I'll bring it in." He said as she nodded, leaving the tent with her caterpillar as Daryl followed.

"Not too hot, please." Brianna reminded him.

"Yes, ma'am." Daryl saluted her, heading out to the kitchen to heat her up some milk.

By the time he'd heated it up in her cup and returned to the living room, she was fast asleep on the sofa with her caterpillar. He smiled at the sight. Her dark wispy hair over her face, the way she clutched to her favourite stuffed animal… she was truly an angel.

He wasn't entirely sure what to do and so he headed out of the living room and knocked lightly on Shiv's bedroom door.

"Shiv… it's me." Daryl said quietly as he heard movement behind the door, eventually watching Shiv open the door.

"Everything ok?" She asked, rubbing her eyes a little.

"Sorry, were you sleeping?" He asked.

"No." She said defensively.

"Ok." Daryl said, "Uh… Brianna has fell asleep on the sofa. I wasn't sure what to do. Can I… put her into bed?" He asked.

"Oh… yeah. Yeah, of course." Shiv nodded.

"Ok." Daryl nodded, wandering away into the living room, scooping Brianna up carefully into his arms, remembering to lift her Caterpillar.

He headed out across the hall and into Brianna's bedroom where Shiv was, peeling back the bed sheets for Daryl to put her in.

"She's usually out cold. Deep sleeper." Shiv said quietly as Daryl nodded.

"Yeah, she's out like a light." Daryl whispered, gently placing Brianna into her bed, making sure her head was on her pillow before tucking the sheets over her, whilst Shiv fixed her Caterpillar in beside her.

"Sweet dreams, baby girl." Shiv smiled, leaning down and kissing Brianna's head as Daryl watched with a smile.

"Insane that we made her." Daryl shook his head.

"I know." Shiv said with a lump in her throat, watching Daryl lean down and kiss Brianna's head. She'd only dreamed of moments like this, and she couldn't really believe it was happening now, right in front of her eyes, after so many years without him. After so many years of being on her own.

They left Brianna's bedroom, closing the door over a little and stood facing one another in the hallway.

"She's a chatty little thing." Daryl smiled, rubbing the back of his neck awkwardly as Shiv folded her arms over her body, being very aware of the fact she had no bra on under her pjs.

"Yeah, she got that from you." Shiv smiled.

"Probably." Daryl chuckled, "Thanks for letting me come by."

"It's ok." Shiv nodded, "I never wanted to keep her from you, Daryl. You know that, right?"

"You did keep her from me." Daryl said, "But I… I don't know what it was like for you. It must have been terrifying. Finding out you were pregnant. Your parents throwing you out. Dropping out of college and having to fend for yourself. I realise now that you made a decision that you thought was best at the time." He nodded, "I can't hold that against you."

"I wanted to tell you. More than anything." Shiv nodded to him, "I just… I didn't think you'd want to see me. Taking the blame for me. It was like you resented me from the minute you decided to take the fall."

"I didn't resent you." Daryl shook his head, "I could never let anything bad happen to you. And I should have protected us better that night. Maybe then you wouldn't have had to shoot him." He said, running his hand through his hair.

"No, it is not your fault." Shiv shook her head, "Maybe part of me just didn't want to face you… knowing it was my fault you were in prison." She said.

"It wasn't your fault." Daryl shook his head, "It was Craig's."

"It felt like my fault." Shiv said with a shaky voice as he just shook his head, "You're really great with Brianna." She smiled, desperately wanting the lump in her throat to go away.

"She's amazing." Daryl smiled, "Didn't think I could feel so much love for such a tiny little person."

"I know, right?" Shiv smiled.

"It's a reflection on you. As a mom." Daryl nodded, "I mean… she's just like you. Her energy. Her little laugh. It really is like a mini you."

"Yeah, your mom says that too." Shiv smiled.

"I am sorry for earlier on in the week. How I was acting." Daryl said, "It's just been a lot harder than I thought it'd be. Getting out of prison."

"I can't imagine it." Shiv nodded, "But I'm really glad you're talking to someone. It'll help." She assured him.

"Yeah, it is." Daryl said, "Are you going to the open-mic night next Saturday?" He asked.

"I don't know. Maybe." Shiv shrugged, still undecided, "Are you?" She asked.

"I was but if you want to go, I can sit it out." Daryl said.

"Daryl, we can be in the same room with each other. We can both go." Shiv nodded to him.

"I know. Just… a lot has happened. And I've been an ass to you since I got out. I just don't want you to be uncomfortable or anything." He said.

"I'd never be uncomfortable around you." She assured him, "It's fine."

"Ok." Daryl nodded, looking down at her as she looked up, their gaze holding for a few seconds as Shiv felt the hairs at the back of her neck stand up. She wanted desperately to tell him she'd read the letters, but she just couldn't get it out. She knew she'd definitely start crying.

"I'm probably going to head to bed." She admitted.

"Yeah." He nodded, breaking their stare, and looking down awkwardly. Being in her company, having a real conversation, looking at her standing there in her pjs, with no bra on which he'd noticed right away… he'd never wanted her so bad. This girl he'd loved all his life, who was now a woman, who was the mother of his child.

"I'll see you around." She said.

"Yeah… Yeah, see you around." Daryl nodded, "If you go to the open-mic night, will you sing?" He asked, feeling he had to make a joke to ease the tense staring they had just been doing.

"You know I can't sing." She walked with him to the door, "You're the singer."

"Yeah, right." Daryl scoffed, "I won't be going anywhere near that mic." He assured her.

"Sure." She smiled, opening the door and seeing him out, watching him head off down the stairs, shutting the door over and leaning against it, rolling her head back against the door and sighing.