Back to Basics

A/N: Thank you all for the fabulous reviews as always! Means a lot that you guys are still interested and keeping up with the story.

"Hey, I wanted to come see if you were ok." Punk said after knocking on Shiv's door later on after he finished closing up the shop with Finn.

"I'm fine." Shiv said, "Well… actually I might get arrested." She nodded, "But yeah, I'm fine." She nodded, walking away into her apartment as Punk followed with confusion and concern.

"Uh… arrested?" He followed her into the living room. He immediately thought about what AJ had told him the other night. That Shiv was the one who really shot Craig.

"Yeah, I went to my parents house earlier and I smashed up their car." Shiv nodded, "It was really fun." She added as Punk looked at her with worry.

"Why did you do that?" He shook his head.

"Because I hate them." Shiv shrugged, "And they deserved it. They deserve more than a smashed-up car." She said, "I don't know… I wasn't thinking. But I don't regret it. I've stayed quiet with them for too long."

"Where is Brianna?" Punk asked, noticing the apartment seemed quiet.

"Carol picked her up from pre-k." Shiv said.

"You've had quite a big day then." Punk said as Shiv nodded, sitting down on the sofa.

"Yeah, lots going on." Shiv agreed.

"I wanted to apologise." Punk said, sitting down beside her, "I thought maybe… with Daryl back, things could start going how they used to. It's like the team is back together again, and I thought maybe joining up the shops for the Summer Fair would ease some tension between you two. It has before." He said, "It was never about us wanting to cause drama or use your situation as entertainment. That's… that's absurd. Especially when you and Daryl have been through so much." He said.

"I just wasn't having a good morning, anyway." She told him, "He's pushing me away. Just like he always does." She said.

"Give it some time." Punk nodded, "Are you ok?" He asked again as she nodded, "Odds are you're not getting arrested. They would have been knocking at your door by now." He said.

"I would have thought they'd jump on the opportunity to make my life more miserable than they already have." Shiv shook her head.

"You know I… I didn't have a good relationship with my parents." He told her as she turned to him, "My dad was an alcoholic. He was never there, and when he was, he was drunk. My mom put all her time and energy into my brother. She never showed up for me. It was like I was invisible." He said, "It took me a while to work through it all, but with time I realised that I was better off without them, and the years of mistreatment… that's on their conscience, not mine." He said.

"Still hurts." She said quietly.

"Yeah… I think deep down it'll always hurt." He nodded, "But you know that quote that says… you don't choose your family?" He said.

"Yeah?" She waited.

"I disagree. I think you do. I have my family. My wife and kids. My friends. You." He nodded, "You got loads of people who love you, Shiv. It's just a shame your parents fumbled so bad with such a brilliant daughter." He said as she smiled softly.

"Thanks." She said with a lump in her throat.

"And I really hope you aren't quitting your job for real." He said, "I really need you. Today was a fuck-up." He said.

"Was it?" She asked curiously.

"Yeah. It was." He nodded truthfully, "You don't have to work the Summer Fair. In fact… I want you to take it off. Spend the day with Brianna and take her around all the stalls." He suggested.

"I wasn't really going to quit." She admitted, "I just… I had a bad morning. I spoke with Daryl and he was just so standoffish and distant. Told me that we should just stay away from each other, basically." She shook her head, "And I thought things were going pretty well for us."

"Maybe that's why he's pushing you away." Punk said, "Maybe he's scared he'll mess it up. He's still dealing with a lot."

"I know, but why can't he just talk to me?" She asked.

"It's hard to be vulnerable with the people we love." He nodded, "But it'll come."

"I know it's bad. Whatever he's been through." She said, "Maybe part of me doesn't want him to talk about it. Maybe it is just easier if we move on with our lives. Separately." She shrugged, "Sorry, you don't wanna hear me complaining like this." She rolled her eyes, not used to having heart to hearts with Punk, although she'd always considered him as the older brother she never had.

"I don't mind." He smiled, "But hey… I have a suggestion." He said, "Will you hear me out?" He asked her.

"Yeah. Go on." Shiv nodded.

"Welcome back!" Lyla yelled, popping a party popper whilst Becca blew on a party blower.

"Oh, you guys didn't have to do this." Shiv laughed a little, walking into The Brewberry where there were balloons behind the counter and a welcome home banner above the coffee machine.

"Are you kidding? We've been waiting on this day." Becca said, "The band is back together."

"And you don't feel bad for basically kicking Daryl out?" Shiv asked.

"We didn't kick him out." AJ said, "I spoke with him. He was happy to go back to his boys across the road."

Last night, after Punk had told AJ about his suggestion, she'd called Daryl and had a long chat. First and foremost, she just wanted to check in with him, clearly sensing he'd had a rough day. But also, to see what he thought about working with Punk and Finn again. He seemed delighted by the idea, but quickly reassured AJ he would miss her, thanking her for giving him the job in the first place.

It felt like the right time.

"And what's this I hear about you smashing up your mom's car?" Lyla asked.

"I've still not been arrested which is good." Shiv nodded.

It felt slightly strange to be back in The Brewberry, but a part of her felt like she'd never really left.

"Are you ok?" AJ asked, "If you need to take the day off, I get it." She nodded.

"No, I'd rather stay busy." Shiv said, "It was therapeutic. Should have done it a long time ago, honestly." She said.

"Who are you and what have you done with our little baby Shiv?" Becca chuckled as Shiv just smiled.

"I guess we all break at some point." Shiv nodded, "Man, I really did miss this place." She said, looking around and feeling at peace. The fairy lights, the dried flowers, the bookshelf and the framed pictures. It instantly made her feel happy.

"And this place missed you." Lyla said, "We're so glad you're back."

"You're sure Daryl was fine with it?" Shiv asked AJ, "I think he liked working here."

"He was fine." AJ assured her, "I think we were starting to annoy him, honestly."

"Wrong. Becca was annoying him." Lyla said, making coffee in a take-away cup at the machine.

"Not surprised." Shiv smiled.

"Uh… I am not annoying." Becca said, "I am honest, and I like a good chit chat. He liked the book of sex, he just didn't want to admit it."

"Jesus, what were you guys doing to him?" Shiv asked with confusion.

"Get to know." Becca said, taking the book out from below and putting it on the counter as Shiv looked at it, opening it up and tilting her head at the illustrations.

"Interesting." Shiv nodded, not realising until now how much she had missed her eccentric and wonderfully weird friends.

"And just for the record, you don't have to work the Summer Fair." AJ added.

"Yeah, Phil said." Shiv nodded, "I think I'm gonna take Brianna. Enjoy the Fair as a customer for once." She said as AJ smiled.

"Whatever works for you." AJ emphasised.

"Thanks." Shiv nodded.

"Ok, I will be back in five minutes." Lyla announced, taking the coffee she'd made and putting a lid on it.

"Where are you going?" AJ asked with a smile, knowing fine well where she was going.

"Just… vape break." Lyla shrugged, "Won't be long!" She called before leaving the shop.

"That little minx." Becca shook her head.

"What? What is she doing?" Shiv asked curiously, making her way behind the counter and taking her coat off.

"She's giving coffee to Cole." Becca filled her in.

"Phil's friend? The one who's doing the house?" Shiv asked.

"Yeah." AJ nodded.

"She's pretending she doesn't like him." Becca added, "But she's a smitten kitten."

"Oh, good for her." Shiv said, putting her new apron on, "She's been a little unlucky in love."

"I'll say." Becca said.

"Do you think they blew up balloons for Daryl over there?" Shiv asked, smiling a little as Becca just scoffed.

"Is it or is it not stale?" Finn asked, putting his hands on his hips and forcing Daryl to eat a ciabatta roll.

"It's fine." Daryl said with a mouthful of bread, "I mean… it's dry. But that's cause it's got nothing on it."

"There's no crackle." Finn said, "Listen." He said, taking another ciabatta and putting it up to Daryl's ear.

"Get away from me." Daryl chuckled, backing up.

"What are you two doing?" Punk asked, walking into the kitchen.

"He's shoving bread in my ear." Daryl shook his head, dusting his shoulder from the crumbs as Finn just chuckled.

"I don't want to hear the word stale come out of your mouth." Punk pointed his pen at Finn.

"God forbid a man cares about the quality of his work." Finn shook his head.

"Everything is exactly as it was before I left." Daryl realised after spending a shamefully long time going around the shop and inspecting everything.

Although he was slightly surprised, he was happy to take up AJ's suggestion of him going back to work with Punk and Finn. As much as he was grateful to work with AJ, he felt himself constantly missing Brewks. It was a place that had come into his life and given him purpose when he had nothing. For that, it would always remain special and sacred in his heart.

"Nothing needs changed." Punk shrugged, "And I thought you should know, Shiv's taking the Summer Fair off. She's going to take Brianna to the Fair." He said as Daryl just nodded, "I'm sorry if you felt like we were joining back up on purpose just to make things difficult for you and Shiv. If anything… we thought it would help."

"I get it." Daryl nodded, "And I appreciate you guys trying to help but… don't?" He said as gently as he could, which made Punk and Finn chuckle.

"Noted." Punk nodded, "You think you'll remember where everything is?" He asked.

"Could find things in here with my eyes closed." Daryl nodded.

"So tell us really… what was it like working at The Brewberry?" Finn asked, intrigued.

"It was fine." Daryl shrugged, "Apart from them talking about periods and sex and ovulation discharge… yeah, it was fine."

"Please don't say discharge under this roof ever again." Punk nodded to him.

"It was fun. But it just… it never felt right." Daryl said on a more honest note, "Being back here… it makes me feel as close to normal as I've felt since getting out of prison." He admitted.

"It's good to have you back." Finn smiled sincerely.

"Yeah." Punk nodded to him, "Shiv was great. Like… she's a hard ass worker." He emphasised, "But I've really missed my right-hand man." He said as Daryl smiled.

"Yeah, I've missed annoying the shit out of you." Daryl grinned, wrapping his arms around Punk who hugged him tightly.

He'd done his best to try and let Daryl figure things out for himself since getting out, but the truth was, he was so grateful the kid was back in his life again. That kid who wore sweats and a baseball cap for his interview to work for him.

"Can I come in?" Finn asked, feeling left out of the hug.

"Yeah." Punk chuckled, opening an arm up and bringing Finn into the hug.

"We are so back." Finn said as Daryl chuckled, punching Finn playfully in the gut whilst Finn put him in a headlock, ruining the hug as Punk stepped back and watched them messing around with each other.