Being A Dad
"They-They said I shouldn't be around you and that I'm… I'm ruining my life." AJ whispered, sitting on the bottom of the stairs as Punk stood across from her, "And my dad said I just want attention." She shook her head as Punk grunted a little, watching as the front door opened behind him where Julio and Toni walked in, immediately noticing AJ upset but trying to dry her tears.
"What happened?" Julio wondered worriedly.
"Sweetheart, are you alright?" Toni asked sadly.
"She told her mom and dad." Punk turned to Julio, "They kicked her out." He said as Julio and Toni shook their heads. They weren't surprised, most people kept to their area in Chicago, north were incredibly proud of their good reputation, so this no doubt was devastating, especially for people like Laurel and Rick, whom they both knew from high school.
"April, you stay here now, for as long as you need or like." Julio nodded, "Until your parents calm down." He said.
"I don't think they ever will." AJ shook her head, "They looked like they wanted to kill me." AJ said as Punk folded his arms.
"Hey, sweetie. They are not worth your time if they behave like this. If they can't be happy with you seeing Phil. You're both teenagers for crying out loud. It's not like you're getting married any time soon." She said, "Maybe they'll calm down in a few days but… for the mean time, you stay here, ok?" She said as AJ nodded and smiled.
"Thank you." AJ nodded to them both. They were the kindest people she knew yet their reputation seemed to paint them in such a dark light that she couldn't understand. They were pretty laid back parents of course. They let her sleep in the same bed with Punk, they let Dean drink and smoke even though he was underage, but they also had a great deal of love for their family and that was very proudly shown.
"Come on. Let's… let's get you upstairs." Punk nodded to AJ.
"If you need anything let us know." Julio said as AJ nodded, standing up and heading upstairs as Punk followed her, pausing when Julio pulled him back.
"If she needs to live here, that's ok." Julio said, "She's welcome. Make sure she knows that."
"I will." Punk nodded, "Thanks." He said, walking on upstairs to catch up with AJ, walking into his bedroom and waiting for her to come out of the bathroom, sitting down on the edge of his bed and waiting. He felt bad for AJ, incredibly bad, not just because he hated to see her upset but he knew what it was like to not get that love or support from your biological parents, that's why he believed they got each other on such an emotional level. He just wished it didn't have to be so difficult for her.
"You ok?" Punk asked, watching her walk into the bedroom and shut the door over behind her.
"I'm ok." AJ nodded, "I'm just glad no one is yelling at me anymore." She shook her head, walking over as she sat on his lap, wrapping her arms around his neck, "I don't think I want to go back there." She whispered truthfully, resting her head on his shoulder as he nodded.
"You don't have to, April." Punk reminded her, "You can stay here. I think my mom and dad want you to, for your own safety." He nodded, "I mean you've practically been living here for a year anyway." He said as she nodded.
"You wouldn't get fed up of me?" She smiled.
"You kidding?" He laughed, "Of course I wouldn't." He shook his head, "They… look if they can't be happy for you, where you're going, who you're with, then… they don't deserve you. I'd understand maybe if we were really bad people but we're not. We just… get labelled as it because we're a group." He said, "If you're in, that means we all got your back." He nodded.
"Will I have to get one of those tattoos?" She smiled a little.
"No one is gonna force you but… if that's what you want." He smirked. He never wanted to pressure her into this larger than life thing. He dind't care if she didn't want to be part of the group, because he still wanted to be with her regardless, and he wouldn't have gotten mad, but the fact she did, and the fact she felt safe enough with him made him feel all the more better.
"I'm gonna get it somewhere only you can see." AJ smiled to him as he raised his eyebrows.
"Yeah?" He smiled as she nodded, pressing her lips against his softly, falling back onto the bed with him. He instantly could make her feel better, and feel worth something again, where as her parents… it felt like they just wanted control over her and it hurt her. But she felt like she found her family, the way Punk had when he was younger, and she couldn't imagine not ever being with Punk. He was special, not just because he was her first ever everything, but he was like her best friend, her soul mate. Nothing could change that.
"Freddie! C'mon, get up. You're gonna be late." Punk knocked at her bedroom door the next week, trying to get her up for school.
"I don't wanna go." Freddie called back, still in bed as Punk walked into her messy room.
"Why not?" Punk asked her, looking over at her buried under the covers.
"I don't wanna get up." She shook her head.
"Why?" Punk asked her again, trying to grab the covers from her to pull them back as she held on tightly.
"Leave them alone." Freddie groaned, almost getting pulled out of bed herself as her father tugged on the covers.
"You can't just stay off cause you feel like it, Fred. C'mon." Punk shook his head.
"I don't feel well." Freddie told him as he raised a brow and put his hands on his hips, walking over to her and placing his hand on her head.
"Well you've got no temperature." He said.
"Just because I don't have a temperature doesn't mean I'm not well in other places." Fredide shook her head, "Just go to work I'll be fine." He told her.
"I've got the day off." Punk said, "Where do you feel not well?" Punk asked her.
"I got cramp. Is that good enough for you?" Freddie asked him as Punk folded his arms.
"You're just saying that so I won't ask anymore questions." Punk shook his head.
"No I'm not." Freddie said, "Go away or I'll start talking about all the fun period stuff." She threatened as Punk immediately turned around and walked out of the bedroom door.
Being a father had always been incredibly challenging, especially doing it alone, but he felt being a father to a daughter was extra challenging, there had been many talks which he was not equipped for in the slightest.
"Can I go play my game?" Twelve year old Freddie asked, sitting at the kitchen table as Punk looked across at her, "Why do you want to talk to me?"
"I want to talk to you because… we… we need to talk." He nodded. He wanted to stick pins in his eyes to stop the conversation already, "So technically I don't know much about this stuff, but Toni thinks it's important that I… have this conversation with you." He said as she looked at him and folded her arms. She still seemed so young for a conversation so… old.
"I'm listening." Freddie sat back on the chair.
"You know what a period is?" Punk chanced it, hoping that maybe by chance someone, where had already explained it to her.
"When a girl bleeds from her vagina." Freddie said as Punk stared at her and nodded slowly.
"Yeah, well… basically that's what it is." Punk nodded, "Who'd you know?"
"Lucy got hers and that's what her mom said but I don't… why does it bleed? Like does it mean there's something wrong?" She asked him as Punk's shaking hands clasped together.
"No it just happens. I'm a guy so… I don't… know much about it." He reminded her, "I think it might have something to do with the… the organs you need to have a baby, I think they must just… I don't know, bleed?" He said, as if asking her the questions as Freddie looked at him, "Anyway, the main thing to address is that you're not dying when it happens. Remember when we watched Carrie? And I told you she'd just cut herself in the shower?"
"Yeah." Freddie said with confusion.
"Not a cut, period." Punk said, "So don't be a Carrie and scream and get scared. It's a bit of blood. It goes away in like a few days." He nodded, "I think it can be a little sore sometimes, like you get a sore stomach or whatever… but apparently hot water bottles help so-"
"Do I need to tell you when I have it then?" She asked him as he looked at her.
"I'd prefer you didn't." Punk laughed a little as she stared at him, "I mean yeah when you first get it, fine. Cause I'll need to buy you things but… not every time, god no." He said.
"What things do you buy?" She asked him.
"Uh… those tampon things, or you can use pads I think… I… whatever is comfortable I guess." He said as Freddie raised a brow, "I get it, it's weird, stop looking at me like that." He said as she just shook her head.
"Wait does it bleed all the time?" Freddie asked.
"Every four weeks I think." Punk nodded.
"Jeez, I can't catch a break." Freddie rolled her eyes, "What happens if I don't get it then?" She asked.
"Some people get it later I guess, if you get it and then stop getting it, you're probably pregnant, which means me and you will never talk again." He smiled to her brightly as she leered at him.
"Well how do I get pregnant?" Freddie asked him as Punk sank his head down on the table, banging it off it a few times. He loved being a dad, he loved his daughter, and he'd do anything for her, but right now, right now he wanted to curl up in a ball and die.
"Alright, we might as well just go for the home run while we're here." Punk lifted his head, "Ok, you get a boy and girl, right?" He said as Freddie nodded, "Boy… puts his penis inside the girl's vagina, things happen, nine months letter a baby comes out." He said as Freddie shook her head.
"A baby happens every time?" Freddie asked.
"No, well… girls can get tablets they take it which stops any babies from happening, but technically the guy should always have protection." He said, "Look, the main idea is, it's a serious thing and you gotta be responsible with it." He said, "You're… still a kid so don't worry about any of this stuff. You kinda just learn as you go along you know?" He said as Freddie looked at him, "Can this conversation please be over now?" He wondered.
"You tell me." Freddie shrugged.
"Yes, I think it's over." Punk nodded, "Agree that we'll never have to sit down and talk about any of this stuff again?"
"Ok." Freddie nodded, "Why are you sweating?" She looked at his forehead as Punk wiped it.
"Cause it's hot in here." Punk remarked, "Go… go play or something, I'll put dinner on." He told her as she just shrugged and jumped off the chair, "And do your homework!" He called, making his way back into the kitchen, opening the freezer just to feel some cold air hit him, pouring himself a few glasses of water before he passed out from death by daughter.
