The Story Of Us
Later that day the gym was packed. Bailey and Punk were open late and Benny was once again at the gym observing potential new clients. Benny made most of his money off fighters and he loved the fight business just as much as Bailey and Punk did. He looked like a kid on Christmas morning as he watched the new talent.
"That one is good." Benny said to Punk as they watched Bailey give instructions.
"Harper Cage." Punk told him nodded. "He's a kid, 20 and thirsty for a fight."
"Young and eager." Benny grinned.
"Don't say it like that." Punk groaned.
"You know what I mean." Benny said annoyed.
"Benjamin Lewis?" A voice asked behind him and he turned his head slightly.
There were two large men in black suits and Benny wasn't intimidated. He pissed off a lot of people in his career but Benny never backed down from a fight. He was in his mid sixties but still fit and ready to throw down if he had to.
"What about it?" Benny asked unimpressed.
Punk stood up straight and glared at the two men. Punk was someone who was ALWAYS itching for a fight.
"We need a word." The bald man stated.
"No." Benny said simply. "There's your word." he grinned sarcastically.
"April Mendez was in here last night." The man told him and Benny eyed him, clearly it caught his attention.
"Alright." Benny remarked amused. "You have my attention."
"Where are you hiding her?" The man asked.
"I heard about you. She didn't mention how ugly you were." Benny asked with a smile.
"We're old friends." The man told him and Punk tried to follow what exactly was happening.
"I'll be damned, she wasn't lying." Benny said almost proudly but quietly to himself, but Punk heard it.
"We need her location and we won't hurt you." The man told him and both Benny and Punk laughed.
"You walk into a gym filled with fighters and you think you can threaten me?" Benny asked. "I don't know that girl and I sent her on her way. Same as I'm going to send you."
"If you decide you get a fatherly urge we highly recommend you not help her." The bald one warned.
"Get the fuck out of my gym." Punk warned the man.
"It's alright, son." Benny assured Punk as he smiled. "If I decide to be fatherly I'll do whatever I damn well please. I'm Benny Lewis."
"We know exactly who you are." The man remarked. "And your name won't keep your bones from cracking if I find out you're assisting Ms. Mendez in anyway shape or form."
"Right." Benny grinned. "I'll keep that in mind." he winked.
"Get out or I'll throw you out." Punk now warned stepping closer to the man.
"He's a hot head." Benny warned the men. "I suggest you leave before you give him an excuse to put his hands on you."
"We're done here." The man said glaring at Benny then they left.
"What the fuck was that? What did you get mixed up in?" Punk asked.
"I have to find that girl." Benny said to him then walked into the office and Punk followed.
"Are you seriously fucking around with a married woman?" Punk asked him. "I mean, she's hot and all but she's not worth getting your ass beat over."
"Mendez." Benny said to himself. "She left her number on a card" he said picking up the small garbage can. "Thank god you two are slobs."
"Benny!" Punk yelled.
"What?" Benny asked.
"Is this woman worth this?" Punk asked. "Is she that good in bed?"
"What?" Benny asked almost horrified. "The girl was my daughter."
"The little girl." Punk said to him and Benny shook his head.
"The mother of her. She's April Mendez." Benny said as he pulled the card out of the garbage. "I used to have a thing with her mom when I had my business going in New Jersey. Beautiful thing." Benny remembered fondly. "Dianna Mendez." he said as his mouth basically watered. "I've been with a lot of women but I never forget her."
"That woman looked nothing like you." Punk argued. "She wants money-"
"She wanted safe haven." Benny corrected.
"You don't know if she's really yours." Punk insisted.
"I do." Benny told him sitting behind Punk's desk. "Dianna told me about her when she was pregnant. I blew her off."
"So, what's the problem?" Punk asked. "Why did she come to you out of the blue? And who is the kid?"
"The kid is hers." Benny told him then laughed. "I'm a Poppy."
"Not after you threw them out of here you're not." Punk remarked. "Who were those guys?"
"She told me she's on the run." Benny told him.
"From the law?" Punk whispered and Benny rolled his eyes.
"No, from her ex. I assumed she wanted some cash." Benny shrugged. "Those men just confirmed her story. She's staying here." Benny said passing him the card April had given him last night.
"Ok." Punk said confused. "What about it?"
"Talk to her for me, ask her to come here. Tell her I want to help now." Benny told him.
"These guys mean business." Punk warned him and Benny grinned.
"I love a good fight." Benny remarked happily. "I have to talk to Bailey about all of this before I bring her around."
"Alright." Punk said looking at the address. "This isn't far, it's the motel a few blocks over. What if she doesn't want to come?"
"Then tell her those men are going to find her." Benny told him.
Punk made it to the motel a half an hour later and peered around for her room number. She was on the ground floor right at the end. The motel was absolute crap and he knocked on the door. He wasn't surprised when she didn't answer or respond.
"April? My name is Punk I think we met earlier, your daughter played with my dog and I'm a friend of Benny's-" He began to explain and the door swung open.
"Stop putting my entire business out there for everyone here to hear." AJ hissed. "And it's AJ, not April."
"Right." Punk said to her. "Benny wants to see you."
"No thank you." AJ smiled and began to close the door but Punk put his foot in the door.
"He's not that bad." Punk told her. "Benny practically raised me."
"How many kids does he have?" AJ asked shaking her head and Punk laughed.
"I said raised me." Punk smirked. "I'm not his son by blood."
"Who is it mommy?" the little girl asked appearing next to her mother. "Is Larry here?"
"No, afraid not." Punk smiled at her. "But he had a lot of fun with you earlier."
"Really?" Gracie asked skeptically.
"Really. I can tell." Punk assured her. "He's at the gym though." he said to Gracie then looked up at AJ. "That's where Benny is too."
"Honey, go inside and finish watching your show." AJ instructed Gracie.
"I want to play with Larry." Gracie said looking up at AJ.
"Babe." AJ warned and Gracie groaned and walked inside. "That's not fair using your dog to lure us."
"Benny had a visit from a few men today, he wants to help you." Punk explained.
"Did they hurt him?" She asked worriedly.
"No." Punk laughed and she frowned. "It's hard to hurt a guy like Benny. He's tough he's also surrounded by a gym filled with fighters."
"Fighters?" She asked.
"UFC, MMA?" Punk asked and she gave him a blank stare.
"I like wrestling." AJ told him and he smirked.
"That was my backup plan." Punk told her. "Benny wants to help you, please let him. Or just hear him out. Your daughter can hang out with Larry in the meantime." Punk said quietly.
"I don't know you." AJ said to him. "I'm not going anywhere with you."
"You saw me at Benny's." Punk pointed out then pulled out his ID. "Phil Brooks. I'm a former lightweight champion, I co-own the gym Benny was in with his son Bailey."
"Son?" AJ asked.
"Yea." Punk nodded. "He's not like Benny, he's normal." He teased but AJ didn't see the humor in it. "I heard you tell your daughter you'd be here all weekend, you have the time and whoever is looking for you is onto you."
"Good point." AJ forced out. "Can I see your ID again?" she asked and he showed her and she took a picture on her cellphone.
"What was that for?" Punk asked.
"I'm sending it to my friend back home in case you kill me." She said and he laughed.
"I'm not a killer." Punk laughed. "Google me." he insisted.
"That's ok." She said and turned her head. "Gracie!"
"I'm already ready!" She cheered running over with her jacket on. "And hey, I said my name is Ivy today." she frowned as AJ kneeled down and buttoned her jacket for her. "Larry can play?"
"Yup." Punk smiled.
"Best day ever." Gracie grinned as AJ put a hat on her head.
Punk was in the back room watching Gracie play with Larry while AJ spoke with Bailey and Benny. He could see through the window and saw Bailey listening intently as well as Benny, for a change.
"How old is Larry?" Gracie asked curiously and Punk looked at her.
"He's five." Punk told her.
"Me too!" Gracie cheered.
"You have the better name." Punk told her.
"I have lots of names." Gracie informed him proudly. "Ivy, Harley, Jean, Rogue-"
"Superhero fan?" Punk asked and she nodded. "I was talking about your real name though."
"I'm named after my grandma Grace." She told Punk. "She was pretty."
"I'm sure she was." Punk said to her.
"She's with my daddy now. They watch over me." She told him and he nodded.
"Your dad-" He began.
"He went to heaven." Gracie shrugged. "Mommy says I can't call him."
"Yea." Punk said quietly. "I wish it was that easy."
"I just want to tell him I love him." Gracie shrugged.
"He knows." Punk told her nodding.
"He was going to get me a puppy." Gracie said playing with Larry. "But mommy said he was gone and then we left." she shrugged.
"I'm sorry." Punk said to her and she smiled at him. He knew how sad Gracie felt, someone she loved was gone forever and Punk felt that same pang of pain everyday.
"Me too." Gracie said to him. "He would have liked Larry."
"Larry seems to really like you." Punk smirked noting his happy dog.
Larry was a present for Punk's own daughter who only had a limited time with him, but he loved playing with her for that short amount of time. He was meant to be with children and real family, not some grouchy lonely old man like Punk.
"If you stay around here do you think you could spend some more time with him?" He asked and her eyes lit up.
"Really?" Gracie asked happily.
"It's up to your mom but Larry really likes you." Punk said to her. "You're really good with animals."
"My mommy works with animals." Gracie told him proudly. "I used to play with them all of the time!"
"Really?" Punk asked and Gracie nodded. "Whats your favorite animal?"
"Dog." Gracie giggled.
"I should have guessed." Punk smirked.
"Gracie?" AJ asked walking into the room.
"Mr. Punk wants me to come over and play with Larry all of the time!" Gracie informed her mother and AJ smiled.
"We'll see about that." AJ said to her.
"And call me Punk, Mr makes me sound old." Punk said to her and she eyes him carefully.
"You are old." Gracie noted seriously and AJ let out a laugh.
"I'm sorry." AJ said holding her hand out and Gracie ran to grab out.
"I'm hungry now." Gracie told AJ.
"Good. Because we're going out to a nice dinner." AJ told her and Gracie smiled. "You're going to meet two new people and for some reason, even though I warned them, they're taking us out to fancy place."
"With menus?" Gracie asked stunned and Punk laughed.
"Yea and more than one fork." She told her. "So remember we have to behave. No yelling if you see lobsters in a tank."
"But they're pet's not food." Gracie frowned.
"No running around." AJ added as she buttoned up her jacket. "And don't order anything you know you won't actually eat."
"I didn't know I ordered snail last time." Gracie pouted.
"I know, baby." AJ smiled at her.
"Are we all set?" Benny asked walking in the room.
"Hi mister." Gracie waved
"I didn't get a chance to really get a look at you last time you were here." Benny smiled kneeling down. "You must be Gracie."
"Ivy." Gracie corrected and AJ sighed. "But yes."
"Ok." Benny smiled. "We're going out to a nice dinner and then you and your mom are going to stay in this gigantic hotel room."
"Really? Doe the bed shake if I put quarters in them like the other place? That's so much fun!" Gracie said to her and Benny nearly fainted.
"No, dear. No family of mine stays in such places." Benny said shaking his head and Gracie shrugged.
"Are you coming to dinner, Punk?" Gracie asked looking up at him.
"Oh, no you go on." Punk said to her.
"No, join us." Benny said to Punk. "You're as much my son as Bailey."
"Who is Bailey?" Gracie asked and Benny took her hand.
"My son, I can't wait for you to meet him." He said taking her out of the room.
"What a turn around." AJ mumbled.
"Deep down Benny is a good guy." Punk reminded her.
"We'll see about that." AJ said watching as Benny introduced Bailey to Gracie.
"She mentioned her father passed away." Punk said to her. "I thought-"
"As far as she knows and will ever know, my husband was her father." AJ told him. "Her biological father-"
"Isn't worthy of being her father." Punk finished for her and she nodded.
"Something like that." AJ said to him.
"I'm sorry for you loss." He told her.
"Thank you." She said to him. "It's been almost a year and it feels like it just happened."
"It'll feel like that for a long time." He warned.
"You lost your wife?" AJ asked.
"Let's go!" Benny yelled. "We've got a hungry five year old out here!"
"What about Larry?" AJ asked as she walked out of the office.
"Larry is the gym mascot." Punk smirked.
"You really don't have to take us. I can just call a cab." AJ said to Punk as she packed up her's and Gracie's bags after dinner. Gracie was sleeping soundly in the bed and AJ was hesitant to wake her but Benny already reserved them a room across town, much closer to him and the gym.
"Don't be ridiculous. Besides, this isn't the type of neighborhood you want to be alone in." Punk told her simply.
"So, you and Benny and Bailey are awfully close." AJ noted.
"We are." Punk nodded. "Like I said, Benny took care of me when my parents couldn't."
"Amazing." She laughed a bit bitterly. "Never gave me a second thought but took in strange children."
"You didn't look for him or reach out until yesterday." Punk noted.
"My mom tried to." AJ noted. "He told her to scram and she was a proud woman."
"Like you." Punk noted.
"How proud am I? I came running to a man who didn't even acknowledge I existed my entire life because I was scared." She told him.
"You have a daughter." Punk noted. "You'll do anything to protect her. That's not you being weak, that's you being smart. And besides, Benny is already melting around Gracie."
"I don't want Gracie to get her hopes up with him or Bailey." AJ told Punk.
"Well, Bailey is in your life now whether you like it or not. He's protective and brilliant. You're his family. Benny seems to really enjoy Gracie's company." Punk said to her.
"My daughter has lost enough." She told him.
"I understand that." Punk said with a sad smile. "I don't know the story-"
"I got pregnant with Gracie when I was 20." AJ told him. "Her father was a man I met at the bar I used to waitress in. It was a stupid one night stand." she said disgusted with herself. "Actually, not stupid because Gracie is amazing and she's the one good thing I've ever done in my life."
"So, what happened?" Punk asked curiously.
"I got pregnant and I got scared. My best friend Christian went to the birthing classes with me, his mother threw me my baby shower his family practically held my hand when I had no one else to. I didn't have my mom or my dad." She admitted. "After Gracie was born we just bonded more and more and Christian took on the father role even though I never asked him to. He loved her like his own and we ended up dating for a few months then eloped." she told him. "He was a great man."
"Gracie speaks very highly of him." Punk noted. "If you don't mind me asking..."
"He passed last year." AJ told him. "He was a police officer and was killed during a high speed chase."
"Wow." Punk said quietly to himself. "That's...awful."
"Yea." She said sadly. "Then Gracie's biological father showed up a few months ago."
"Is he that bad?" Punk asked.
"He was in prison. I helped put him there." AJ told him. "Christian was the arresting officer. He used to run drugs through the bar I worked in. I was terrified he'd find out about Gracie he was so dangerous and-"
"You don't ow me an explanation." Punk assured her. "I get it."
"She's so innocent." AJ said looking over to her daughter.
"Does he know about Gracie?" Punk asked. "Well, I'm assuming he does since he's after you."
"He does. He found out at his trial when I testified against him when I was about seven months pregnant. Prosecutor accused me of a vendetta and announced he was the father." AJ told him. "He wants to spend time with his daughter but he can't, he still runs with the same criminals, he's violent, he's -"
"Again, you don't have to explain it to me." Punk told her. "But why not just go to the cops?"
"He hasn't directly approached me. It's his friends and they are literally everywhere. Union City is small and there was nowhere else I could go. They were showing up at Gracie's school, they were at the park, they were at my job- I felt backed into a corner. I came to Benny in hopes of him lending me some money so I can relocate further. But he seems to want me to stick around here." She explained.
"He'll take good care of you." Punk promised her. "He's a man of his word."
"Tell that to my mother." She muttered. "Although I suppose he kept his word when he said he wanted nothing to do with her or me."
"Benny really isn't all that bad." Punk assured her. "He's just hard to talk to at first once you're past that you're in for life."
"I don't want his money or him to even be my father. I want to keep my daughter safe." She told him. "I can't let her father find her."
"He has no legal claim on her." Punk pointed out.
"Legal claims don't stop me like him." She told him. "I just wish Christian was here because he'd know what to do."
"I think you're in the right spot." Punk told her. "It's not just Benny, you've inherited Bailey and me and a whole gym of fighters. And I don't want to brag, but before my UFC career took off I was a bodyguard."
"No kidding! For like celebrities?" She asked intrigued.
"Yes." He laughed a bit. "I didn't do it for long it kept me from home too much."
"You have a family?" She asked.
"We should get going." Punk said grabbing her bag and Gracie's.