The Talk

Gracie was sitting up in her hospital bed four days later, doctors wanted to keep her seven days until they finished her medication but Gracie's room was comfortable and almost didn't even feel like a hospital. Benny made sure his granddaughter received excellent care. She was also able to enjoy every game in the world series so far and Benny and Bailey watched each one with her, along with Punk and AJ of course.

"Ok I've got the junk food." Bailey announced walking into her hospital room.

"Goodie." Gracie smiled as she put her Cubs jersey on over her hospital dress.

"Not too much." AJ warned.

"You two need to go get something to eat and do something outside of this hospital." Bailey ordered them.

"I'm not leaving this hospital until Gracie is leaving with me." AJ told him.

"She's fine, tell her." Bailey said to Gracie.

"I really am." Gracie smiled. "I go home really soon."

"Go get some real food. You can't eat this hospital crap all of the time." Bailey said to her.

"What if something happens while we're gone?" AJ asked.

"I'm ok." Gracie smiled. "Uncle Bailey is here and Grandpa Benny is coming too. He has a present for me he said."

"He's bought you something everyday. I think I have to rent a uhaul to put all your presents in." AJ teased.

"Cool." Gracie grinned.

"Let's go back home we can shower and change then grab a burger or something." Punk told her.

"I don't know." AJ said looking at Gracie.

"The game will be on." Gracie reminded her. "It's ok."

"Ok." AJ said kissing her cheek. "I'll be right back. Call me if anything happens."

"I will." Bailey told her. "But she's fine, tell her, kid."

"I really am." Gracie nodded.

"I love you." AJ said to Gracie who rolled her eyes.

"I love you too mommy." She said as AJ kissed her cheek again. "Mommy the game is coming on." she complained

"You probably want to watch the game." AJ said to Punk who looked exhausted himself.

"I prefer a shower and real food." Punk groaned.

"Alright." AJ said. "Not too much junk." she reminded them.

AJ walked out of the bathroom with wet hair and Punk following her, also equally wet.

"Your apartment is amazing." AJ noted. "Your shower is spacious."

"Too spacious." He frowned. "I barely touched you."

"You were inside of me that entire shower." AJ blushed.

"But if we were in a smaller place we could have cleaned off closer together." Punk frowned.

"I don't know how thank you." AJ said with sincerity looking up at him.

"I should be thanking you." Punk grinned smugly.

"Not for shower sex." She laughed slapping his stomach gently. "For being so amazing this last week with me and Gracie. You haven't left her side or mine and kept me sane."

"You don't have to thank me." Punk said seriously. "But while we're on the topic...I just want to again make it clear that no matter what happens between us that I want to be part of Gracie's life. I adore her and it's not just because she's your kid, she's just a great kid in general."

"I know." She smiled. "You'll always be important in her life. You and Benny and Bailey."

"She knows about us." Punk pointed out.

"Yea I think our secret is out. Even though she just sees us kissing she doesn't know it's anything more than that. She's five she doesn't know that kissing means anything more than friendship." She explained.

"You should have that talk with her before she starts kissing all of her little boy classmates like I kiss you." He warned and she laughed.

"You're right. We'll talk to her when she's out of the hospital." AJ agreed. "Before we do, are you still set on the idea of us?"

"Of course I am." he said without hesitation. "Are you?"

"I am." She said to him.

"So we'll sit Gracie down and explain things to her and take it day by day." Punk suggested and she nodded. "Did Randy ever call you back?"

"No." AJ said disgusted. "Gracie could have been on her deathbed and he didn't even return my call or messages. I do have to try to get her medical history from his family."

"He's a piece of shit." Punk said to her. "Who wouldn't want to know Gracie?"

"She's a great kid but he doesn't know that and he never will." AJ told him. "When I packed us up and ran off with her I promised myself he wouldn't get to her. Gracie kept asking me about him after he came by and I thought maybe down the road I'd tell her more about him or consider some form of communication but not after this. It's unforgivable."

"I agree." Punk said to her.

"Where is Larry?" AJ asked

"Someone from the gym took him since I knew I wouldn't be around." Punk said. "We have to stop at your place and feed Gracie's fish though."

"I forgot about the fish." AJ said slapping her head. "She'll be crushed if she comes home to a dead fish."

"We'll feed it or if it's dead- flush it- then quickly replace it before she even gets home." Punk shrugged. "But first I'm taking you for real food. You've barely eaten all week."

"I picked at stuff." She shrugged.

"Picking and eating are two different things." Punk said to her. "You need your energy."

"After that shower I do." She smirked.

Three days later and Gracie was finally home and AJ was elated. She responded well to medicine but had to keep a close eye on her.

"But why can't I go back to school tomorrow?" Gracie asked as Punk carried her into the apartment behind AJ.

"Because you just spent a whole week the hospital and I want to keep an eye on you for a few more days." AJ told her.

"I miss school." Gracie groaned. "We are supposed to be painting Christmas pictures now."

"You have a few more weeks before Christmas." Punk smirked placing her on the couch.

"Are you going to be here for Christmas?" Gracie asked Punk.

"Uh- yea I'd like to be." He said. Him and AJ hadn't really discussed holiday plans they were both so busy with work and Gracie it was the last thing on their minds.

"Honey, we want to talk to you." AJ said sitting next to her on the couch.

"Is this about you two kissing?" Gracie asked.

"Yes." AJ said to her. "You know Phil and I are friends." she told Gracie and she nodded.

"Uh-huh." Gracie nodded.

"Ok, I don't know what else to say." She said looking up at Punk who sat on the coffee table across from them.

"I really like your mom." Punk told Gracie who smiled.

"She really likes you too." Gracie whispered then smiled wider.

"Gracie." AJ blushed.

"I'd like to spend some time with her-" He began.

"Without me?" Gracie asked horrified.

"No! With you too of course." He assured her and she was relieved. "I love spending time with you, Gracie."

"Good." Gracie smiled. "Are you going to be mommy's boyfriend?"

"I want to be but I want you to be ok with it." Punk told her.

"I like you better than Peter." Gracie nodded seriously and he smiled. "Will you be my new daddy?"

"Gracie." AJ sighed. "That's not how these things work. You had an amazing father."

"He loved you very much." Punk added. "And I will help you in anyway that I can. Even if things don't work out with me and your mom, the three of us will always be best friends and I'll always be there for you."

"Ok." Gracie smiled.

"Do you have any questions?" She asked Gracie.

"Is Uncle Punk going to live with us?" Gracie asked.

"No." AJ laughed a bit.

"But I'm going to be around a lot." Punk warned her.

"That's good. I like when you're around." Gracie told him.

"Anything else?" She asked.

"Yes." She said seriously. "When can I play with Larry?"

"I'm going to go pick him up now and bring him over for a visit." Punk told her.

"Good. I've missed him." Gracie smiled climbing off the couch.

"Wait here, I want to set up your room properly." AJ told her and she shrugged and walked away.

Punk watched AJ walk away then turned his head and saw Gracie glaring at him.

"What's up?" Punk asked nervously.

"You're going to be nice to mommy, right?" Gracie asked.

"Of course." Punk told her.

"I love her very much." Gracie reminded her. "She's my best friend too and I don't like when she cries."

"I'm not going to make her cry." Punk promised her. "I love that you want to protect your mother though."

"You won't be mean to me like Peter was, right?" She asked.

"No." he laughed. "You know you're my buddy."

"Ok." Gracie said relieved.

"Are you sure you're ok with this?" he asked her.

"Yes." Gracie assured him. "I love you too, Uncle Punk." She said hugging him and his heart melted.

"Gracie!" AJ yelled from her room and she let go of Punk and ran to her room.

Punk was at a loss for words. This was hitting him really hard. He felt a panic attack coming on. A little girl who was his daughter's age when he lost her. He quickly ran for the door and ran right out.

"Phil, can you-" AJ stopped when she saw he was gone and frowned.

At midnight AJ heard a knock at the door and opened the door to Punk and Larry.

"She's sleeping." AJ said turning around and walking inside and he stepped inside with Larry. "I have to wake her up for medicine though and I know she'd like to sleep with Larry unless you need to run out for eight hours again."

"I'm sorry." Punk sighed taking Larry off his leash and ran right into Gracie's room. "She scared me."

"Who?" AJ asked.

"Gracie. She told me she loved me and I got scared." Punk groaned kicking himself.

"She's only five, Phil. She was upset you left without even saying goodbye. This stuff could scar her." AJ insisted.

"I know." Punk said. "It scared me. I shouldn't have run off."

"If you can't do this with me then I understand but you have to tell me before this goes too far." She warned him. "I'm falling for you and there's going to be no going back-"

"I want to do this." Punk said to her. "She caught me off guard."

"She's five, she loves with all of her heart." AJ told him proudly. "She doesn't know about your wife and daughter, she doesn't know saying something like that means something differently for you."

"I know. I fucked up by leaving it was dumb." He freely admitted. "I felt like I was about to have a panic attack."

"Phil-" She began.

"It won't happen again." He promised her. "I want to show you something." He said rushing over to the couch and sitting down and she joined him. "This was my my family." He said showing her the picture that was framed on his dresser."

"They were beautiful." AJ smiled sadly at the picture.

"I don't want this to hang over us." He said to her and AJ just nodded as she studied the picture.

"I understand you're torn." She said to him. "I know you feel like you're being pulled into two directions. You care about us but you feel like you're betraying them-"

"I don't." Punk said shaking his head. "I don't think I'm betraying them. It's just they were a part of my life and sometimes I get a bit spooked or bring them up I don't want you to feel bad-"

"I would never feel bad." AJ assured him. "I'm not looking to replace your wife and Gracie isn't trying to replace Elena."

"I know that." He said to her. "That's what it is about you. We connect and get each other like no one else. We're similar but still different."

"If you want to talk about them I want you to. I'm not going to get mad. I also wouldn't be mad if you were feeling bad on a certain day and didn't want to be around. I would never judge you." She told him.

"That's what I love about you." He said grabbing her hand and kissing it. "I don't have to hide what I'm feeling."

"Stop running." She said to him.

"I love you and I love Gracie." He told her without fear. "I want to be part of your lives. I want this to work."

"Me too." she said kissing him. "And not just the part about this working but the loving you because I do. It's impossible not to."
Punk kissed her deeply and they stood up without parting lips. Punk carried her down the hall to her room and kicked the door closed.

After a half an hour of AJ time she fell asleep and Punk got dressed and walked out of the bedroom but jumped when he saw Gracie and Larry.

"Hey, kid." Punk stammered nervously. "How long have you been standing out there?" he asked nervously.

"Just now. Larry and I have to go to the bathroom." She shrugged and watched as Larry followed her into the bathroom.

"She's up?" AJ asked sticking her head outside the door.

"She didn't hear us...well, you." He corrected and she glared at him as she came out with her robe on. "I'm quiet."

"No chance." AJ scoffed.

"It's true." He defended and they walked into the kitchen.

"Medicine!" AJ yelled as Gracie walked out of the bathroom.

"Ugh." Gracie groaned and her and Larry walked into the kitchen. "Yuck. Larry should have some."

"Larry is a dog." AJ reminded her.

"Where did you go?" Gracie asked Punk. "I thought you left without saying goodbye."

"I went to go get Larry." Punk said to her.

"Thank you." Gracie said relieved. "I thought you were mad at me."

"Why would I be mad?" He asked.

"You missed a lot of Cubs games." She said to him. "Game 7 is tomorrow and I really wanted to go."

"Since when are you such a baseball fanatic?" AJ asked amused as she gave her the liquid medicine.

"Oh!" Gracie yelled jumping off the chair and running into her room then running back out and gave her mom a flier.

"What's this?" AJ asked. "Baseball?"

"Softball." Gracie corrected and Punk smiled proudly. "I really want to play."

"Oh, I don't know." AJ said shaking her head.

"Uncle Punk, tell her I can do it." Gracie pleaded.

"I mean, sports is really good for kids." Punk shrugged innocently.

"She's sick." AJ corrected.

"She WAS sick." Punk corrected. "When does it start? It's not baseball season."

"Next April." Gracie told them.

"Oh, that's so far off." Punk chuckled.

"I'll be practically six by then." Gracie told AJ. "Please, mommy? I have to send in money now for it."

"Alright." AJ sighed and Gracie jumped up and down with excitement. "But I don't know anything about baseball." she warned her.

"That's ok, Uncle Punk will help me, right?" She asked Punk hopefully.

"Of course I will." he told her.

"See?" Gracie smiled. "Grandpa Benny gave this to me. He said if I did it he would coach."

"No way." Punk laughed.

"Yes way." Gracie argued.

"Benny isn't child friendly." Punk told her. "He's Gracie friendly but I can't imagine him spending his weekends with loud and screaming children."

"It's what he said." Gracie shrugged.

"Alright." AJ said signing the paper. "I'll give you the money tomorrow."

"Thank you." Gracie said hugging her. "Thanks Uncle Punk." She said hugging him next. "Time for bed, Larry." She ordered the dog and he followed her.

"He used to like me." Punk said glaring at Larry.

"Do you think baseball is ok for her?" AJ asked nervously.

"It's softball." Punk laughed. "And I think her wanting to get into sports is great. It keeps kids focused."

"I suppose." AJ sighed. "Why couldn't she just do dance like normal little girls?"

"Because she's not normal." Punk laughed. "She's unique."

"And that makes me so proud." AJ sighed. "Just scared."

"Wait until she's older." Punk warned.

"Don't bring that up." She warned him. "Let me just enjoy the fact that she's five and still under my control."

"Alright." he chuckled.

"Do you really think Benny is going to coach?" She asked.

"If Benny told her he'd coach than he's going to coach." Punk said to her. "But I'm going to have to watch that because Benny loves Gracie, I don't see him playing nice with other kids."

"Oh god." AJ groaned.

"It's sweet. He's trying to bond." Punk smirked.

"It is." AJ had to agree. "He's not as bad as I thought he was going to be."

"You're not going home to Jersey for Christmas, are you?" Punk asked.

"Jersey isn't home. This is. And no, there's nothing in Jersey for us anymore." She told him. "Are you running off this holiday?"

"Since I lost my family I used to go on vacation that week." Punk told her.

"Really?" she asked and he nodded.

"Last year was Mexico, year before was Florida, year before that was Ireland." He told her.

"Are you going this year?" She asked.

"Nah." He said to her and she was relieved. "I think I'll hang back with you two. Unless you want to go on vacation."

"No way. Christmas is Gracie's favorite holiday. We get a big tree and decorate it all crazy. We bake cookies and wrap presents." She rattled off in a dreamy voice. "I cook a big feast."

"Sounds like I actually want to be home for Christmas for a change." Punk noted happily.

"I mean, there's no fire place here and we usually toast marshmallows but we can use a candle." She said.

"I have a fire place." He offered.

"I'm sure Gracie would love that." AJ said. "I don't want to jinx it but with Gracie on the mend and you here I feel like this is going to be a Christmas we'll never forget."