*I'm snowed the hell in with yet another Northeast snow. I'm really bored...so I'm gifting you all with a new chapter. Thanks for sticking around to love this story, and trust, things are getting good. Enjoy!


"Wow," was all Punk could say as he finished hearing AJ finally explain her true motives for creating her comics and the success that came behind it. His reaction matched just about that of everyone else she ever told. "So it was really the bar fight that made you write a comic book?" he asked again in disbelief as she frankly shrugged, bundling herself up and looking out into the night sky.

"Yeah. It was," came her casual reply. Punk kept drinking his coffee while she talked. "Kaitlyn and I just started drawing the girl who attacked her in a drunken rage. I made her look the way I remembered her: scary, mean and nasty with a horrible sense of fashion and the ability to turn her head all the way around. I woke up the next morning with an obnoxious headache, a vow never ever to fight in public again, and an idea. The swelling in Kaitlyn's hand went away, but the story in my head did not."

"Wow," Punk said again for what had to be the 4th or 5th time. "You know, you might laugh at this but…I really did read all of them."

AJ merely giggled with a hand over her mouth as Punk chuckled shyly, rubbing his chin. She finished before somewhat asking, "Did you read it because you wanted to impress a woman or…?"

Punk chuckled at that, and continued to laugh with her as she shook her head "Well, I am a full-admitted comic book mark. Your books at first seemed like another lame bandwagon stack. But after paying attention to a lot of great reviews, I just had to grab the first copy to see for myself. Needless to say, I couldn't put it down."

"It was the look of the cover wasn't it?" she called out with a smirk.

Punk chortled nervously as he scratched his neck awkwardly. "Ah, um, well….the cover was very appealing." AJ barked out a laugh at that answer as Punk shrugged himself. "Hey, but the comic was good. I get credit for that at least. You did a great job with it," he praised

"Thanks. Chickbustin' ain't easy, you know," she joked.

"Not gonna fight you about that. I mean, women who fight crime? That's all kinds of kick ass awesomeness." AJ chuckled again as he continued. "So, the other comic book characters are based on your friends?"

"Yeah. Kaitlyn and I inspired one and two, and Layla and Alicia were added in three and four. My new series is a continuous without new characters. And I am also doing another graphic novel with Nattie Neidhart co-writing it with me."

"The Pin-Up Strong chick? I actually know her. She's a really good writer," Punk stated, with AJ nodding as a confirmed agreement..

"Yea. She kicks ass in her department, so what better way to use my skills with hers than to write a novel with her?"

"About?" he asked in an open-ended manner.

AJ sighed while looking around and Phil sipped his coffee, "It's about women who are beautiful, talented, famous and strong. They are from three different walks of life, and the story revolves around how their lives meet and how they make it to the top of their dreams and goals." Phil hummed with an intrigued nod. "Yeah, and Nattie's been coming up with the concept and doing research for years on this. After I sent all my research, she finally liked this idea and after a little brainstorming, we both agreed on naming the book Total Divas. We finished our draft so I'm going to complete the editing and publishing details with her when I get to Tampa this week, and we aren't leaving until we get a first draft out."

"How long do you think that will that take you?"

"Well, she wrote 'Pin-Up Strong' in a week and when been working on a chapter a day for the last two months, so I'd say that the book will be out after the fall, then I can publish Chickbusters #5, where my readers are gonna be seeing them fighting the evil Dr. Sir Cole, as well as this new group I've thought of: The Wyatt Family."

"You make those Wyatts sound so sick, twisted and creepy, so I can't wait to see how the girls deal with them in this one now that Gail's out on her own to find Melina and kill her." AJ looked really impressed and excited with how Punk spoke so fluently and detailed about her books and characters, as if he knew them like the back of his hand. "Oh, and having Steven R. discover Victoria's past as an assassin for hire? Very nice cliffhanger," he finished, making with hand the "OK" gesture as a stamp of approval.

"That's nothing. Just wait until you meet the new girl in five," AJ juicily hinted. "She's not exactly what you would call a team player."

"An anti-hero?' she nodded as he awed in revelation. "Nice touch. What happens when you run out of kick ass girls to work with?" he asked.

She snorted. "That will never happen."

"Honestly, I think it's great that you're ready to move up and on with your work," Punk said with a smile. "I mean, after what people have been saying…."

"Like what?" AJ shook her head with a light smile.

Punk cleared his though, and AJ could see his demeanor slightly change uncomfortably. This was becoming a normal trend for her now. People wanted to ask about it, but they just didn't really know how. Punk, being a person of the media, might have been merely asking for a story. Hopefully he was just being a friend. "I um... I've heard people say that uh…."

"That I'm unstable," AJ blurred out, trying not to show any signs of sadness or anger when she said it. Normally, she'd scratch an eye out when someone said it, but after recovery, she learned how that word did not apply to her. However, hearing it still hit hard on the nerves from time to time.

"No…well, I just…." Punk ran his hand over his head as she shook hers. "It's none of my business…I'm sorry."

"Its fine," she shrugged. "I left New York and moved to Florida to clear my mind. For me and one special person in my life. So if anyone ever asks you about me, tell them that my life is a journey to me." Punk just nodded as she continued. "I'm finding myself every day. So far, I'm good. Besides, I'm a Tri-State girl, and New York is my area. Nothing and no one is gonna truly run me out of here."

"It's a good city," he stated.

"It's a great city," AJ corrected with a bright smile.

"OK, OK. It's a great town." He laughed with her as she slipped her drink and glanced out into the sky again.

"Well, a lot of people are happy you're here, and the way your family supported you was pretty cool."

"Yeah, I know. I've come pretty far from being homeless. Growing up I didn't have much but, somehow I always had family. My own family stuck by me until they left for Puerto Rico, and during college, Kaitlyn and Layla roomed with me, just so I could have a place to sleep. Zack, Stephen, and Nick all came into my world during college and became my best friends also. They helped me work for what I have; I've seen the world and traveled with them by my side to inspire me. I fell in love with Nick and still even after his death, they all wanted what was best for me and didn't turn on me or abandon me, so I decided to work on myself. That way, they stay with me." She pushed her lips together before smiling at him. "That's what you call a real family."

"I completely agree with you."

"Yeah. I mean, even with Nick gone, I don't really feel lonely when I'm here."

"Well, you're okay here. The group of people stalking you looks hell bent on keeping you safe," Punk noted as he observed the nearby group that wasn't too far away from them. AJ snorted at the attention and hard time Kaitlyn gave them over leaving her alone.

"Yeah. They are. It's all love and I don't mind it…" she pressed he lips together and winced. "I'm also a bit protective of people close to me and at times, I'm one wild passionate sharp tongue sparkplug. I don't know why Nick ever wanted to be with me, either," she expressed a bit glumly

Punk, sensing her tone and mood, tried to keep her upbeat. "It could have been his great eyesight. Or the passion that you exerted for your goals and the people you cared about; that probably got his attention more than anything." After hearing him speak so positively about her once more, AJ blushed for what had to have been the tenth time that night. "You might be different, but that's a great thing. Normal is boring and bland as shit. You're appealing and interesting. It's pretty damn hard to find a girl like that these days."

That statement, which was better than what he called her the last time, made her heart flutter and caused another big smile to form. "Thanks."

"Don't mention it," came his reply.

After a brief moment of silence, Punk spoke up again.

"You never really explained to me why AJ Lee decided to make stories about girls that rock so much." She frowned, clearly confused. He lifted his head at her while leaning over. "Coming back here all after all that's happened, it shows strength. It's the most bad ass thing a person can do. It's brave and I know your kid sees that. It's great." She smiled shyly, making him do so as well. "After what you've been through, I think you should write a little bit more about yourself," he suggested.

"Ehh. Now who would want to read that?" AJ said in her familiar self-dismissive tone.

"I would," Punk quipped. Upon hearing that, AJ snapped her head back into his view, her eyes meeting with his and locking intensely. She gave herself one more shot at not giving into her emotional state by just blushing.

"You could just talk to me about it," she welcomed nervously. "Seriously. I'd rather confirm everything now than have you read the wrong things later."

"Okay…" he looked straight to think and she folded her arms calmly with a smile. "How about your little girl? Is she a spoiled Blair Waldorf copy in the making or is she going to save the world like the people in her mother's books? Potential X-Men mutant maybe?"

AJ giggled at the visual thought of that. "I prayed for her to have the powers to clean with a wave of one hand." They laughed together at that remark and she shook her head. "But, she's finally independent for a four year old. She'll be five in April and she's better than normal; she's healthy, strong, loves to dance, and loves to read, loves to talk," was the traits that she used to describe her sweet little one. "However, she is starting to show her powers in expressing and decoding sarcasm though," she admitted with some unfortunate guilt. "That's my fault."

"Ah, don't fret on it," Punk assured. "She's still young, AJ, as are you. I mean, it must have been hard to have your career with her around."

"I wanted a family after I started my career, but it happened a little earlier than I had expected," she expressed truthfully. "So in essence, raising Dulce made me mature, but she also helped me grow into a stronger woman, period." AJ sighed as she thought about her.

"I was terrified at first because I just started working, and Nick was always filming. I thought it was horrible timing. But Nick found out and he said he fell in love with her before he met her. Becoming a father so early didn't scare him because he knew he could make it work. He was just that confident. And he did by working his ass off while trying to help me follow my dreams as well. He didn't want anything to stop me from doing what I wanted and he wanted us to be a great family. He kept me going and helped me grow up to."

"It's great that you had that type of support. Like I said, I used to swear off marriage and children."

"I'll admit, when I first met you, I could kinda see why," she teased, getting a dark chuckle out of him. After that, Punk sighed and clapped his hands, ready to open up to her a little more. "Then again, your career is a big deal right now and Marco is a handful on his own. What are your plans for the show right now?" she pondered aloud.

"We still have a show with Fuse that's in production and since we signed, we're all headed out to promote it," he answered. "It's going to last until August. After that, I'll be back here with my son and the shows will take up my time. Comic Con tours and concerts will also."

"Oh, man, do I miss Comic Con tours," she moaned enviously with a somewhat playful pout. "Promoting with them were the best times when I was creating the series. I can't wait to return to it."

"Yeah, cause I'm so sure you loved the nerds that repeatedly got on their knees to propose to you with ring pops," Punk sniped sarcastically. All she could do was scoff and roll her eyes as he laughed. "And also, you do know guys whack off in your name, right?"

Merely hearing that outrageous statement caused AJ to burst out loud with a fit of raucous laughter, so hard and rapid that she started to cough and phlegm up in her throat as a result. She tried to keep her laugh down and placed her hand over her mouth, as Punk merely laughed along as she shook her head. "I try not to think about that sometimes," she muttered after another giggle.

"You kinda have to. It's a measure of your success," Punk reasoned. "I'm a big deal and I know it because of how people react to me or how they talk about me."

"Even if they hate you?" AJ asked.

"Especially if they hate me," Punk responded in an almost boastful manner. "I kinda like it. When I talked about John Cena the way I did on the show, things kinda blew up. And look, I have nothing against him personally, I like him as an athlete and think he's a great guy, but I was just so disappointed with his behavior and how he turned down New England."

"Why? I mean, I know it was his chance to go back to his home in Boston, but he had to have had his own reasons for coming here to the Giants," Aj explained with a tight smile.

"Hmm. If by reasons, you mean like after he dumped his wife, he dated air-headed model after air-headed model, turned his back on his home town, did movies for money and grew an ego bigger than China," Phil rattled off tartly and AJ groaned in discomfort. "What? You like him, too? Does he get your panties wet?"

"Ahh, not really." She gave him an attitude teasingly, which he returned with his own. "But I believe he has other reasons for doing this and I think you hurt his feelings when you said all that about him."

"Aww, I hurt wittle John-Boy's feewings?" Punk asked mockingly in a faked tone, which got a begrudged laugh out of AJ, even though she resented inwardly at herself for doing that. He continued. "Well boo-fucking-hoo. Anyway, the way I talked about him with such vigor, passion and fury had everyone's ears and eyes on me. Maria and I fighting about it was the highlight of our show because not only were we on two seperate pages, we're so vicious and passionate about it. We punch and slap each other around verbally. We love it and they love it on the show so it's a benefit."

"Maria's absolutely gorgeous," AJ acknowledged, feeling a pang of jealousy hit her gut. The way Punk was constantly surrounded by beautiful woman like Amy and Maria, and who ever Marco's mother is or was, she felt unsure and bewildered. With those girls around him, why was he hanging with, in her mind and some of her biggest detractors' minds as well, a teenage-looking squint like her?

"She's a hard ass at times," Punk admitted truthfully, "but she keeps us on our feet. She's very tough as well, so when you talk about kick ass woman, she's one of the first people to pop into my head. Amy, my sisters, and my friends from home: Colt, Maria, Daniel and Kofi fall in line also."

"You know them pretty well."

"Pretty well is an understatement." Now it was his turn to be self-deprecating. "The fact they even wanted to be friends with me after all still baffles me."

"After all? As in after dating them?" she questioned as he stopped smiling. "Amy and Maria are both your exes?"

"Yep." AJ looked shocked and cleared her throat, getting Phil to snicker at her change in posture. "Didn't think I could get a woman like that, huh?"

She instantly looked offended and rolled her eyes. "No, it's not that. But, they are really kick ass. And they are ridiculously beautiful," she muttered while tucking her hair back. "I can see you have a specific type."

"Actually, you're wrong," he informed her. "I don't really have a type. Any woman that can challenge me and keep me interested is the kind of woman I can fall for."

"I know that. But since Marco's without a mother, I just figured that relationships never worked out for you."

Phil exhaled as AJ waited for the answer. "I was known to be a better friend than a boyfriend. I've had women laugh with me, love me, then they see who I really am and then they hate me, slap me, key my car, and break my mirrors," he stated. "Marco's mother was that one woman that wanted to act like both the man and the woman in the relationship, and was the last one to ever turn on me," he reminisced ruefully. "But in that process, what she didn't realize is that she also turned on him, too," referring to Marco specifically that time. "But it was only because I wanted to take thing further."

"Does he know about that?" AJ asked curiously.

"No. But he's starting to ask questions now, and all I can do is tell him the truth," He admitted. "I try not to let it get to me when he's sad about it. I don't really know how to tell him that his mother walked away from him because she didn't want the whole deal. Why she didn't choose him over the life she has now or come back for him." He sighed out, looking at AJ with a tugged smile. "But I blame myself for that. I really accepted this whole parenting thing and devoted my life to him, but not so much her. And I made it my mission to give him a life that was better than mine because I'm very determined and ambitious when I have a goal I want to complete. Being a great dad became one of those goals."

"Well, if you ask me, I think that there's absolutely nothing wrong with that," AJ assured, trying to be supportive and bring up Punk's spirits.

"Yeah, but it cost us. She walked out on me, and very shortly thereafter, cut her ties with us." He looked at AJ now with passion in his eyes as she listened intently. "Now, I just want to surround my son with people who love him, truly love him," he emphasized. "He's my whole world, and I can't be a jerk all the time," he reasoned."

"So I'll just be a lovable one. Daniel and his wife Brie have a daughter that's about five now, and they are two peas in a pod. I see them as family. Maria decided to talk to me after a year of hating me, then she met Mike and tied the knot before coming to work with us. Now, we're closer than ever. Amy broke with me up mutually, and then found Adam. Kofi and Colt have been around whether they're happy, sad and/or sourly pissed with me," he listed off. "Them and other people back in Chicago; they truly love us. That is my family." After finally verbally expressing that burden, Punk exhaled.

"Does that mean a relationship is in the cards for you, now?" AJ asked. "I mean, I can understand if Marco makes you hesitant to start one. I should know. I think a relationship is harder to keep when you have a child."

"It Depends," Punk responded. "If I'm gonna settle down with a woman, I want her to be artistic, understanding and logical of me and my decisions. Beautiful on the inside and out, fun enough for my kid to love," he urged. "Abstract…meaning a little crazy."

"You mean like jumping in traffic and crying in a bar crazy?" she hinted while chuckling with him.

"Definitely. That's display of emotion. To me, that's hot to have a girl stand up and do what she feels."

"I'm sure you'll find her. I just hope she's someone that can relate to you."

"Something tells me I might have." he admitted, chuckling again with a nervous energy. "Guess we'll just have to wait and see."

AJ kept her eyes locked on his, and before she could say more, her phone alerted her with Kaitlyn's text across it. "Wow, time flies when fun is running the show. I should be going, now," she said as she looked at her phone, then noticed a text and missed call from someone that made her frown.

"Everything okay?" Phil asked.

"Yeah…I just got reminded of my plans for the morning," she expressed with a small smile. "Someone is hosting a party for my birthday."

"Cool. Family or friend?"

"Friend. My best friend, in fact. He's really close to me."

"Cool." He took his hat from his back pocket and put it on while looking at her. "Is that the only thing you're doing for your birthday?" AJ frowned and he quickly shook the question off. "I mean, I was hoping you weren't busy after."

"No," she answered very quickly. "I mean, I do have to write and work but that's about it. My nights are clear."

"Well, I'm leaving for Canada tomorrow and I'll be there for the next week. But I'm returning on Wednesday and I hang out with Marco. So I think it would be cool if you hung out with us sometime.…." He was tripping over his word nervously and she smiled at him, he added a chuckle before extending his hand out. "I don't know if you'd be interested in coming out with us…I mean… this doesn't scream "date night" or anything. In fact it's probably pretty lame and I don't know if you're available…"

"I am!" she squealed, but quickly stopped herself from losing her cool and cleared her throat while tucking her hair behind her ears. "I mean… yeah, I'd have to check to see but I'm sure I'm not doing anything so I am always up for that. Just let me know when you want to do it. We can have dinner after or something. I do believe you owe me a hero's celebration and I owe you a cupcake anyway," she reminded as he blinked, catching onto the reference. He snorted a little himself, happy to know she knew he was her secret neighbor.

Phil nodded to her in amusement as she just kept smiling at him. "Cool. We should exchange numbers officially so we can talk about it…and just to keep in touch as well."

"Of course. We are neighbors. You should have my number and I should have yours." She beamed and they kept walking down the stairs. She was mentally over the moon about this. She couldn't remember the last time she had a date or when she went out for fun. Hopefully, pity didn't play a part in this and he really was asking for someone who shared a common interest with him to come out.

Either way, AJ was looking forward to it with great excitement.


"Okay, he sent you cupcakes and invited you on a playdate. So what? I used to bring you food all the time, doesn't mean he's playing you."

AJ picked up her slice of pizza to eat and snapped in annoyance to everyone at the table. She really wanted to sleep for the day ahead, but since it was officially her birthday, people came by her house to wish her well with a cupcake and a box of the finest pepperoni pie in the city, just so she didn't feel alone. It turned into a recap of why she and Phil never returned to Colt's small party.

"Zack, I know you never sent me a tower of cupcakes," she objected while still. "It was him for sure. But why?"

"C'mon, you said he's sorry for freaking out on you and even asked you out...twice. You rejected him so maybe this was plan B."

"Since you are his neighbor, maybe he was being nice enough to send some treats," Layla guessed.

"Being nice is a dozen of crappy home baked cookies," Curt Hawkins laughed while eating. "That cupcake tower at work screams 'Let's pick the flavor on our favor on the wedding cake honey.' April's right, it's weird that they just saw each other again and he did this."

"Well, after our talk, he's actually seems like an okay guy," AJ admitted, catching everyone's attention with that remark. "He's a straight edge guy who keeps to himself, his business, his family and his friends. He's a no nonsense, respectful, forward man. At least from what I know."

"Straight Edge?" Stephen asked, needing to be informed on that term.

"It means someone doesn't drink, smoke, and engage in recreational drugs or promiscuous behavior. He lives a sober, drug-free lifestyle. Like me," AJ answered.

"So he's some God loving sobriety virgin with tons of tattoos that just sent cupcakes to a single mum," Layla deconstructed as AJ inhaled, not liking how the theory sounded. "So these are supposed to be charity cupcakes, then?"

"Oh, Jesus. You guys are so damn critical, you question why leaves would fall on the ground. It's pretty annoying at times," Zack said with a smile, taking the last silce off the table. "AJ…I know it's been three years since Nick passed on, but, we talked about this. If you're interested in another guy, even if he's just being friendly, it's perfectly fine to feel attracted to him. Dulce doesn't need to know him until you want her to."

Everyone soon spoke up after that, cutting others off and talking over each other to get in their own opinion, and AJ just sighed. Kaitlyn, noticing this, waved her hands and with a booming yell commanded everyone in the room to "SHUT UP!" They all jumped and got silent as she smiled in satisfaction. "Thank you. Now, we know he did this. Asking him it shouldn't be an issue. So, the next time someone he knows runs into the street into traffic and you save them, ask him. Or, I don't know, leave the house, walk down over there to his, or wait until you see him again and actually thank him for this," she suggested to her bestie.

"Kait's right, AJ. Maybe he was being nice," Curt added. "Just ask."

"Yeah, ask him why his eyes averted your giggly tasty cakes when we were at the bar," Layla blurted out and AJ gasped with a frown. "He did not."

"Oh yeah, he did," she volleyed back, smirking. "I don't blame him. It's not a normal booty for a woman your height and size height."

"I'd tap those Latino drums too if I had a stick," Kaitlyn went on as AJ shook her head, part annoyed and part embarrassed.

"screw you, guys. Just shut up and clean up. I have to be at the house early in the morning," she chuckled out and walked out the kitchen. Curt and Kaitlyn whistled jokingly as Layla turned around and pretended to act out a man smacked on AJ's bottom, by doing the act to Zack. "Shut up! I do not have a mini booty!" She laughed as she headed for her room.

"Man, that makes you wonder: what if he really does like her?" Zack asked with a worried frown. Everyone stood silent as Kaitlyn shook her head.

"We don't assume. We just have to wait to see what happens."