A/N: Here's a preview to my new story! It's a little different than anything I've written which I'm excited about, get ready for regular updates of it once I finish with Lips of an Angel. Enjoy, review and tweet ;)
Summary: Married right out of high school, Punk and AJ thought they had it all figured it out but one tragedy drove them apart but is also the one thing keeping them together. Five years later they're living separate lives but are unwilling to let each other go.
p.s- I own nothing and Rated M.
Separate Ways
Punk's eyes slowly opened as the sun hit his face and he groaned. Leave it to his wife to leave the curtains open, of course it didn't bother her since she was always up at ungodly hours to work out. He looked at the time and saw it was only 8am and rolled back over into bed and grabbed a pillow to shield his face from the sun. It was useless though he was already up and was going to have to accept he was only getting four hours of sleep.
Punk threw on a pair on sweats and headed down the stairs of his lavish Chicago townhouse and into the kitchen. He was definitely going to need coffee. He walked in and saw his petite wife behind the counter in workout clothes sipping coffee and reading the paper.
"Morning." He greeted gruffly.
"Morning." She responded only briefly looking up at him. "Coffee?"
"Yea ok." He said sitting at the stool and grabbing her paper, pulling out the sports section that he knew she didn't read.
AJ placed a batman mug in front of him and he tasted it, it was exactly the way he liked.
"Thanks." He replied reading the paper. "You left the curtains open in the bedroom."
"I don't go into your room." April reminded him. "Must have been Janice." she said referring to their cleaning lady.
"Well can you tell her not to do that anymore?" He asked.
"I don't know how you can sleep the day away anyway." She said simply as she continued reading.
"And I don't know how you can get up at 5am to go running." Punk noted.
"I was up at 4:30 actually." she informed him as she sat on a stool away sipping her coffee.
"Don't you think that's a little too early to go running? Who knows what kind of weirdos are wandering around at that time." He said looking over to her and she laughed to herself.
"Since when do you care?" she asked not even picking her eyes off of the paper.
Punk choose not to respond to the remark but instead went back to reading his paper.
"You're usually coming in at that time." She pointed out.
"Exactly. Weirdos." Punk said to her.
Punk and AJ finished their coffee's without saying another word to each other then she left for work while he headed into his media room and played video games. The silence was something both were used to...
AJ arrived to work at the gym at nine sharp and began to warm up with her best friend Eve. She had been working there for three years now and work was the only thing that had kept her sane.
"He's doing it again." Eve whispered to her and AJ looked over to see the man who had joined the gym upon meeting AJ at a Starbucks three weeks ago. She gave him a small wave and cute smile then went back to focusing on the leg press she was using. "He's requested you as his personal trainer."
"I'm all booked up." AJ told her as she continued to move the press.
"You can make time." Eve smiled. "He seems really nice, clearly has money and knows how to treat a lady."
"I'm married." AJ reminded her and Eve rolled her eyes.
"You still call your roommate your husband?" Eve asked her mockingly. "You both may be legally married but let's be real. He's out with different women every night, you sleep in separate bedrooms, neither of you wear your rings, it's been over for a long time and besides don't act like you've been 'faithful'. I still don't know why you both won't just divorce already."
"I didn't sign a pre-nup." AJ reminded her. "His parents think I'll take half of their money." she snorted. "I told him I didn't want it but you know how his parents are."
"I don't know why they'd want their son to be miserable." Eve noted.
"He's not miserable and neither am I." AJ said to her. "We're still friends."
"But do you like living with him? Are you going to stay married to him forever? What if you meet someone else like mister rich and gullible over there." Eve suggested then waved at the man who waved back. "He's cute."
"He's not my type." AJ said to her.
"What is your type? Tattooed bad boys who don't give a shit about you? If that's the case stay married to Punk." Eve said to her.
"We shared something." AJ told her.
"I know I was friends with you in high school I remember, you got pregnant senior year. He was older your parents threw you out, his parents wanted you to have an abortion and you both responded by childishly getting married at the court house." Eve said remembering the dramatic tale. "You lost the baby."
"I did not." AJ reminded her coldly. "I carried him for nine months, we bought him home and he was with us for five months." she reminded her feeling her eyes begin to water. "He was perfect."
"He died." Eve reminded her sadly. "It was so sad and I know you both were devastated but it's also what tore you two apart and it's also the reason you're both still married. Both of you are afraid to leave each other and why?"
"Why are you pushing me on this?" AJ asked jumping out of her seat. "You know I don't like to talk about this."
"It's been five years AJ." Eve reminded her. "SIDS isn't anyone's fault and you should stuff forcing yourself to suffer because of it!"
"I'm not suffering!" AJ argued. "I like my life! I have a big home, good friends, a job I love-"
"No family and no man." Eve added.
"I don't need those things." AJ reminded her. "And I'm not alone so stop trying to make me feel bad again I remind you that I am married."
"I love Punk you know that." Eve sighed. "But you two aren't in love anymore. I know you both shared PJ and you'll always have that bond and I have no doubt he'd jump in front of a bullet for you but you're not in love AJ." She reminded her. "You both go out with other people, you sleep with other people! It's not a healthy marriage it's not even a marriage!"
"It's good enough for me." AJ said to her. "You don't know the first thing about my relationship with Phil so stop it. We live separate lives and we're fine with it so it shouldn't bother you." she grabbed her towel and gym bag then stormed off.
Punk heard the media room door open and looked over to see Colt and Cliff walk inside.
"You're up early." Colt whistled impressed.
"Yea." Punk grumbled watching the TV screen.
"Hawks game tomorrow night?" Cliff asked him.
"Yea but I've only got two tickets." Punk said to him. "I was going to bring Maria."
"Oh here I thought you'd bring me." Cliff frowned.
"Or your wife." Colt teased.
"AJ hates hockey." Punk said simply.
"Your wife does but your girlfriend doesn't." Cliff laughed.
"Maria doesn't like it either but she puts up with it." Punk said to them as he concentrated on his game.
"You should get four tickets so your wife could attend and bring her boyfriend." Colt teased and Punk looked back at him finally.
"She's seeing someone?" Punk asked him.
"How the fuck should I know?" Colt laughed. "I just assumed that was the arrangement."
"There's no arrangement it's just the way things are." Punk said simply.
"So I can have a go at her?" Cliff asked.
"Why would you want to?" Punk asked him.
"Have you not seen her body?" Cliff laughed. "I was here last week when she came in from a run and she had on a sports bra and shorts and damn her abs are insane, her legs are insane- her entire body is ridiculous." Punk just rolled his eyes and went back to his game.
"She really is fit." Colt agreed. "Have you not noticed?"
"I don't look at her like that." Punk shrugged.
"When was the last time you two fucked?" Colt asked seriously.
"Years ago." Punk admitted. "Maybe three possibly four."
"What a fucking waste." Cliff snorted.
"You don't know the first thing about AJ or our marriage so butt the fuck out." Punk scolded.
"It's not a marriage." Cliff laughed.
"It really isn't." Colt agreed. "I mean does she know about Maria?"
"I'm sure she does." Punk said to them. "We have an understanding. We do what we want but we don't bring it home."
"And are you going to stay married to her forever?" Cliff asked him. "What if you want to get remarried?"
"I'm never getting married again." Punk said seriously.
"What if she meets someone and wants to get married?" Cliff asked now.
"She feels the same way I do." Punk said to them.
"So she never wants to remarry or try for more kids?" Colt asked him. "That doesn't seem like AJ."
"I didn't realize you and AJ were so close." Punk remarked sarcastically.
"I've known her for as long as you two have been dating." Colt pointed out. "I see her at the gym all of the time, we do talk."
"She talks about more kids?" Punk asked him surprised.
"No but she's young." Colt shrugged. "Why shouldn't she try to have a real family. You're really going to let your parents keep her from that? I know you love AJ on some level and want her happy."
"If AJ came to me and said she met someone and wants to get married and move on then we'll work something out." Punk shrugged. "Whether my parents approve or not."
"They don't even like AJ you think they'd be happy she was out of the family." Cliff noted.
"My mother hates her but my dad and sister adore her." Punk corrected. "It has nothing to do with liking AJ anyway it's about the money."
"It's always about money with them." Colt groaned.
"We've been like this for years and we're both perfectly happy with it." Punk said to them. "So mind your own business."
AJ was panting and sweating in the passenger side of her car as the man sitting beneath her thrust up into her body. She was already a sweaty mess from a full 12 hour work day but there was no other way she liked ending a long grueling day. His mouth was latched onto one of her nipples as her hips continued to move and her breathing became heavier. Fifteen minutes in, AJ could have cried when it was over. She didn't let him leave her body as she collapsed her head onto his shoulder.
"Good thing it's raining." The man noted pulling her sports bra back down over her breasts. "Otherwise we definitely would have gotten caught today."
"I like sneaking around." AJ grinned and kissed his lips. "I like the risk of getting caught even though I'm not afraid of it."
"Says the married woman." The man laughed.
"You're married too." AJ noted.
"I don't have an open marriage like you do." He smirked pushing her off of him. "I also don't know how Punk would feel about it."
"You and Punk aren't even close anymore." AJ scoffed pulling her tight work pants up her legs. "He doesn't care who or what I do."
"Still, keep this quiet." He said lighting a cigarette.
"Ugh you know I hate when you smoke in my car." She groaned rolling the windows down.
"Please." the two toned hair man snorted. "You want a pull?"
"No." AJ said breathing in the rainy air.
"It might help with your stress." Seth suggested.
"I'm not stressed." AJ defended closing her eyes and resting in her seat.
"You think you can get away Saturday?" Seth asked him. "I thought we'd stay at hotel Saturday into Sunday, I want you stretched out underneath me for a change. This hiding out in your car is hot and all but there's so much more I want to do to you."
"How about next weekend?" AJ suggested. "It's my sister-in-laws birthday Saturday and I can't miss it."
"I don't get your marriage." Seth laughed blowing the smoke out of his mouth. "Why do you have to attend a family party?"
"I just do besides I love Phil's sister." AJ shrugged.
"His mother hates you, you know." Seth informed her.
"Yes I'm well aware, another reason I attend family gatherings." She smirked. "I like to see her squirm."
"Whatever AJ." Seth said to her.
"At least blow the smoke outside of the window, Phil is taking my car in to get inspected tomorrow morning." She said to him.
"Mister straight edge hates smoke." Seth snorted rolling his window on a crack but AJ used the automatic button to roll it down more. "It's your car who cares if you smoke in it?"
"Technically Phil got me this car for my birthday last year so it's his car." She said to him.
"You two live together, you're married, he buys you things yet you both don't fuck?" Seth asked her skeptically.
"Why? Would you be jealous if we did?" AJ teased.
"No I'm just wrapping my mind around your warped relationship." Seth said to her. "Denise would cut my dick off she knew I was with you."
"Phil and I are friends, we always will be. The marriage thing is strictly for legal and money purposes." AJ told him.
"He was nuts about you when you both first got hitched." Seth remembered.
"We had a baby on the way." AJ reminded him. "And once he died so did our marriage."
"So why can't I sleep at your place?" Seth asked seriously. "Why have we been fucking in our cars for the last six months?"
"Because Phil and I don't bring that home." AJ told him simply.
"He's been fucking Maria you know." Seth told her and AJ's face fell slightly. "For a year now."
"I know." AJ confirmed quietly.
"Wasn't she your high school friend?" Seth asked her.
"Why are you trying to upset me?" AJ asked annoyed.
"Why are you so upset if your marriage is just for legal and money purposes?" Seth shot back at her.
AJ didn't respond but looked at the pouring rain hitting her dashboard then back over to Seth over who was pulling something out of his pocket.
"No fucking way." AJ said grabbing his wrist. "No drugs in my car."
"You're such a fucking do-gooder." Seth snorted. "Maybe you should try some."
"Maybe you should go." AJ said annoyed unlocking the doors.
"Or maybe you need another ride." Seth grinned leaning over and kissing her neck.
"Don't you have to go in and work out?" AJ asked not fighting him off as his hand planted between her thighs and rubbed her.
"I'm meeting the guys in twenty minutes, I need ten." Seth said sucking on her earlobe and then biting down hard.
"Ow! Fuck!" AJ yelled jerking away but before she could protest his lips were on hers again...
AJ walked into the house and was surprised Punk was still home.
"Me and the guys ordered pizza earlier I left you some." Punk told her as he slipped on his sneakers.
"Thanks." She said closing the door behind her and kicked off her own shoes.
"You alright?" Punk asked looking up at her.
"Yea I'm ok." AJ said removing her jacket and sitting on the couch next to him. She grabbed the TV controller and went right into the DVR. Punk began to sniff the air and looked at her.
"Were you smoking?" Punk asked her.
"No." AJ said to him. "A few of the girls at the gym were smoking around me. Are we still going to your sisters birthday on Saturday?"
"Yea, why do you have plans?" he asked standing up.
"No." She said shaking her head and he nodded. "Will you be home tonight?"
"Why?" He asked her wondering if Colt and Cliff were right and maybe she was seeing someone.
"If you're going to stay at Maria's I'd like to put the bolt on the door you know I hate being here alone by myself." AJ shrugged.
"Maria?" Punk asked and AJ rolled her eyes as she looked at the TV.
"I'm not stupid Phil." AJ reminded him. "I'm not trying to pick a fight I'm just wondering if you'll be home tonight."
"I'm working tonight I won't be back until the morning anyway." Punk said to her. "Put the bolt up."
"Ok." AJ said to him.
"Can I take your car?" He asked her. "I'll drop it off right after work in the morning."
"Yea sure." She said and watched as he stuck his hand into her purse and pulled her keys out. "Thanks for taking it by the way."
"Yea." Punk said quietly. "Night." he then walked out the door and AJ stood up to take a shower.
The drive over to the gym all Punk could smell was the smoke that filled the car. It was freezing out yet he drove all the way there with the windows down. Punk walked into the gym that his wife worked out during the day and thankfully it was a 24 hour gym and he could show up after she was already gone.
"Aren't you working tonight?" Colt asked him as Punk approached.
"Yea but I can get an hour in here." Punk shrugged then noticed Seth, a former friend.
"Hey man." Seth nodded and Punk just gave him a sarcastic smile.
"You reek of smoke." Cliff said to him.
"It's AJ's car." Punk said to them and Seth froze. "It reeks of it and so does she."
"AJ is smoking?" Colt asked.
"I guess." Punk shrugged.
"Disgusting habit." Seth added joining the conversation.
"Don't you smoke?" Punk asked him. "And snort? And inject?" he added coldly.
"We can't all be as saint like as you." Seth remarked. "I want to rent out your place by the way."
"For some drugged up rave? No." Punk laughed.
"It's a birthday party for Denise." Seth said to him.
"Fine." Punk said bitterly. "But if you your buddies start shooting up in my bathroom again I'll call the cops." he threatened.
"Relax." Seth said to him. "You know we used to be good friends." he reminded him.
"Used to." Punk agreed. "I'm heading to the weights." he told them and walked off.
"What is his problem?" Seth asked Colt and Cliff. "I fucking try with him."
"You're just not his type of person anymore don't take it personally." Colt shrugged.
"Or maybe he never got over you hitting on his wife." Cliff laughed.
"Why the fuck does he even care?" Seth asked them. "It was a year ago and they're not even seriously married."
"Doesn't matter." Colt said to him. "First of all poor timing, the anniversary of their sons death?"
"I didn't even know." Seth defended.
"It doesn't matter. No matter what Punk says or does the love his life is AJ." Colt said to him. "You mess with her in anyway you're on the shit list for life. There's a reason he hasn't divorced her."
"I thought it was legal reasons." Seth noted.
"We all know it's because after PJ died he blamed himself." Colt said to him. "And he swears AJ blames him too. He doesn't think he's good enough for her. It's one thing to stay legally married but he buys her things, takes care of her when she's sick-"
"They're friends." Seth defended.
"Nah he's still into her." Cliff agreed. "Always will be."
"He has Maria." Seth pointed out.
"Since when are you such an expert on Punk's marriage and personal life?" Colt asked him.
"I see AJ at the gym sometimes." Seth shrugged. "We talk once in a while."
"You talk to her after Punk flipped out when you grabbed her ass?" Colt asked laughing. "Brave soul."
"I was drunk." Seth reminded them. "And I'm married, I was just messing around."
"Punk was so pissed. He'll never forgive you for it." Cliff added laughing as well.
"Well he needs to." Seth said simply. "He runs his dad's club, people drink at clubs, I was drinking." he defended. "I didn't know AJ was there grieving she wasn't dressed like she was grieving that's for shit sure."
"Shh with that shit man." Colt hushed him making sure Punk wasn't around. "No matter what either of the same or do it doesn't change the fact that they're both in love with each other. There's no other reason AJ stays in that house."
Punk was setting up his weights when Eve walked over and greeted him with a kiss on the cheek.
"You just missed your wife." Eve noted.
"Yea I caught her at home." Punk said to her.
"How are you doing? It's been a while." Eve said to him.
"Good I've been around." Punk shrugged. "You?"
"Getting married." She beamed holding her left hand up.
"AJ mentioned it, congrats." He smiled at AJ's oldest friend.
"She did?" Eve asked surprised.
"We do speak daily." Punk smirked.
"I don't know what you two do to be honest." Eve admitted. "But it's not my business."
"It's not." Punk agreed.
"Hey Eve." A man greeted, the same man who was looking at AJ earlier greeted. "Is AJ still here?"
"No Peter she's off for the night." Eve grinned.
"I told her I'd be back after work." Peter frowned.
"She'll be back tomorrow morning." Eve laughed placing her hand on his shoulder.
"Why are you looking for my wife?" Punk asked the man and Eve rolled her eyes.
"Wife?" Peter asked and Punk nodded.
"That's what I said isn't it?" Punk asked coldly.
"I had no idea she was married." Peter defended. "Sorry." He said seriously then backed away.
"Why is it ok for you to have another woman in your life and not ok for AJ to find a little happiness?" Eve asked placing her hands on her hips.
"What did I say? I just asked him a question." Punk defended.
"She doesn't interfere with your affairs." Even reminded him.
"And I wasn't interfering with hers." Punk pointed out. "I was just asking a question."
"Right." Eve said annoyed. "Maybe you both would be happier if you just ended for good." she said then walked off.
April was all ready for bed and looked at the pictures she had on her vanity in her room. She picked up one of her favorite pictures of her, Phil and PJ (Phillip Junior) and smiled. It was taken three days before PJ passed away. At the time the photo was taken even though she was so young she was sure they would be a family forever. She put the photo down and picked up the framed photo next to it which was taken the night of her prom. AJ didn't attend prom since Punk was five years older than her and couldn't escort her so he threw her a mock prom in his small apartment. It was the night they conceived PJ as well.
"You didn't have to do all of this." AJ smiled as she held onto Punk as they swayed to soft music.
"It's not exactly prom but it's close." Punk said kissing the top of her head. "You could have went you know?"
"I know but it wouldn't have been the same without you." AJ said looking up at him.
"Where do your parents think you are?" Punk asked her.
"Actually at prom then staying in a hotel with some friends." She smirked.
"Oh so I'm too old and a bad influence for you but your dad is ok with you sleeping out on prom night?" Punk snorted.
"You know how he is." AJ sighed resting her head against his chest as they swayed. "Yea, I know he hates me." Punk said to her.
"He doesn't know you." AJ reminded him. "He won't give you the chance."
"Your mom isn't fond of me either." Punk added.
"I could say the same for your mom." AJ said to him.
"My mom is a bitch." Punk shrugged then smirked. "We both know that."
"I am glad you're old enough to be out with me now without fear of your dad calling the cops on me." Punk admitted.
"He would never actually do that." AJ laughed. "He doesn't know how good you are to me." she said happily. "Or how much we love each other. All he sees is a few tattoos, piercings and long hair."
"I only care what you see." Punk said and AJ pulled away. "I promised you a night of dancing." He teased.
"And I promised you me." AJ reminded him. "You've been so patient."
"Mostly out of fear of jail." Punk admitted.
"I want to be with you tonight." AJ said reaching for the zipper on the back of her dress.
"We have all night AJ we don't have to rush." He reminded her.
"I've wanted you too." AJ admitted. "I just want to be whole with you." She whispered and kissed him.
"Ok." he said and lifted her up and carried her bridal style into his bedroom and kicked the door closed behind him with his foot.
AJ looked at the picture and opened her underwear drawer and buried it inside of there. She couldn't live in the past anymore. She loved Punk more than anything in the world but for some reason they just weren't meant to last. Sure hearing about him with Maria was painful but so was feeling she was too young to be a mother and costing him his child. While Punk blamed himself completely, AJ blamed herself and the two were never the same. She was afraid if they legalized the divorced and she moved it she'd never see him again and that was something she wasn't ready for yet.
After the gym Punk was at one of his dad's clubs that he managed. He never wanted to take money from his family, he wanted to be a wrestler or a fighter of some kind but the minute AJ announced she was pregnant that all changed.
Punk was sitting next to AJ on the couch of his parents home after telling them that she was pregnant. They were at her house first but that conversation only lasted a half an hour since she was thrown out. She had nowhere else to go but to Punk's and he knew with the small amount of money he was making at a local gas station he wouldn't be able to provide financially for a child let alone AJ as well.
"So let me get this straight." His mother began as she put down her third glass of wine. "You knocked her up and married her?"
"We're in love." AJ whispered nervously.
"Oh please." His mother mocked. "You love his money!"
"Don't do that." Punk warned her standing up. "Don't talk to her like that!"
"Alright, alright." His father who was always the wisest interjected.
"Did you at least sign a prenup?" His mother asked them.
"We don't need one." Punk said to her.
"Oh for gods sake." His mother groaned. "How stupid are you?"
"Enough!" Punk's father shouted.
"We're having a baby." Punk reminded them. "AJ isn't going anywhere so you're going to have to get used to it."
"She's a child." His mother insisted. "Look at her! Is she even old enough to get married?"
"I turned 18 in March." AJ told her looking down at her hands.
"I'm not here for approval I'm here because I thought you'd like to know that you're having a grandchild." he said to them.
"Don't play us for fools." His mother snorted a laugh. "You're here for money."
"That too." Punk admitted. "I need help."
"You should have thought of that before you had sex." His mother said simply.
"We're a family." His father reminded her. "AJ is carrying our grandchild of course we'll help."
"Why not just go to her family?" His mother asked.
"My family doesn't have money." AJ admitted.
"Of course they don't." His mother remarked coldly. "They threw her out." Punk told them.
"Good." His mother said sipping her wine. "If you didn't already not live here I'd throw you out too."
"I'll get you a good job." His father told Punk. "We'll help with money and anything else."
"Are you insane?" His mother asked him.
"Don't you want to make sure our grandchild is getting the best medical attention and the mother of our grandchild?" he asked her. "Our son came to us because he needed help and we will help him."
"You'll help him, I won't be involved." His mother said grabbing her glass and leaving the room.
"I'm sorry." AJ whispered looking at Punk's father.
"Don't worry about her." he smiled at her. "You're going to take a job at my new club." he told Punk who didn't seem happy but was willing to do anything.
"And you're going to get a monthly allowance up until you're 25 when you can get your inheritance. It will be more than enough to help you out. And I'll help you find a proper home for you and your family."
"Thank you." Punk said relieved. "I don't know what we would have done."
"You would have figured it out but lucky for you, you don't have to." His father stated and gave him a hug. "It's going to be ok."
Punk opened his top his desk drawer and there was a picture of AJ. The same picture he had framed the minute he started working here. She was four months pregnant at the time and was smiling down by the lake. He loved her so much that it pained him half of the time. He smiled at the picture then looked up when his door opened.
"Hi baby." Maria greeted as she skipped over to him and jumped into his lap as he sat on his chair.
"Hi." he grinned and kissed her.
"I've missed you." Maria pouted.
"It hasn't even been a day." Punk smirked.
"Almost a full day." Maria noted kissing his neck rapidly and running her fingers through his short hair.
"You want to go to a game with me tomorrow?" He asked as she pulled her shirt up over her head.
"I'll go anywhere with you baby." Maria smiled and felt his lips begin to kiss her bare torso. "You first." Maria said sliding off of his lap and onto her knees before him.
Punk couldn't keep his eyes off of AJ's picture as Maria took him into her mouth under the desk...
A/N: So clearly they're going to find their way back but just how long will it take and how bumpy will the road be?
