A/N: Damn these chapters are getting longer. Sadly my inspiration for AJPunk writing is going down. I blame WWE and their stupidity of the AJCena angle...BUT Cena's not dating AJ off-screen! Nope cause he's dating[possibly] Nikki of the Bella Twins. They actually look cute together so I hope it works out.
Punk sat up straight in the bed. Beads of sweat rolling down his body. He cursed beneath his breath. Once again having that dream. He looked at his hands envisioning them covered with blood. Still he had yet to figure out if the blood was his own or someone else's. He looked at the clock. He had taken a nap trying to get some rest before AJ arrived. The clock reading 11:32.
He guessed AJ would be arrive soon. He hoped so at least, but she probably was driving for hours by herself. He would not be surprised if he got a call telling him she was gonna rest at a hotel for the night and be there in the morning. Still he hoped she would come and drive away these nightmares.
Pancake jumped into his lap. "Mommy is coming." He assured giving a small pet to her head. "Let's make something to eat." He said getting up from the bed. He held Pancake with his arm as he walked with the small dog.
"How about pancakes?" Punk questioned looking at the dog. He felt a little stupid for asking a dog, but he knew she would answer. Pancake growled at him giving an unamused bark. He chuckled setting the small dog on the tile floor of the kitchen. "Pancake hates pancakes." He said with a mix of sigh and chuckle in his voice. "Waffles?" He suggested looking down at the dog's face.
If dogs could smile then Pancake did. Her tail raised in the air, her tongue hung out of her mouth eagerly, her eyes bright and wide. Punk let out a light laugh bending down he ruffled the top of the dog's head. "I really should have talked to AJ before naming you. She doesn't like pancakes either." Punk said reminded of the mistake.
Punk nervously held the tiny dog. Sweat dripped from his forehead as his nerves started to take over. His mind berating him already for not actually asking AJ if getting a new dog would be a good idea. Worst part was that if AJ did not want to replace Nacho then there was no way he could return the poor dog. He could ask some of his friends...Or maybe some of his fans...Damn he was desperate if it came to that.
Everyone passing him gave him a questionable look that only increased his worry. Though those looks might have just been because he had the dog around the catering. His leg moved up in down, bouncing his heel on the floor. He took in a deep breath before letting it go still not helping to calm his nerves
"Punk!" Sheamus found him. "What ya doing with this little thing?" Sheamus questioned gently the 'Great White' lifted the tiny dog up marveling the creature.
"I kinda got it for AJ...Ya know cause of Nacho?" Punk said even his voice uncharacteristically shaking as he spoke. Standing from his seat.
"I'm sure yer lass is gonna love her." Sheamus assured. He held the dog closer to his face getting his pale skin licked by the tiny's dog. "This little lass is a sweet-heart. Almost reminds me of AJ actually." Sheamus pulled the dog back from his face explaining the dark fur and big brown eyes.
"Maybe that's why I feel in love with her." Punk said knowing how corny the words sounded, but it was true. He reached out taking the dog back. "So how Kaitlyn?" Turning the conversation away as a distraction.
"Ready to pop. I hope she doesn't pop while on the road though." Sheamus sighed.
"Can't really control that. Nature of the business." Punk sighed.
"Yeah. I'll see ya around." The large man said. He waved his hand before heading off to ready himself for the show.
"Punk?"
His spine stiffened. His head turned around. He saw AJ giving him a curious look as she tried to see what was in his arms. He had not said a word before she was taking the tiny creature from his arms.
"Oh my, she's so cute." AJ cooed holding the dog up before snuggling it close to her chest. She got her face licked while she cuddled the tiny dog. AJ gave a tiny kiss to the dog's head in return. She sat down in the seat he had occupied letting the tiny dog take over her lap. "Who does she belong to?" AJ asked looking up at him.
Punk had been feeling more confident because of AJ's positive reaction to the dog's presence, but that still was not a guarantee. He pulled another chair over to sit facing her. "I was thinking...She could be ours." He confessed. Cursing himself once again the for corniness of the whole thing.
AJ's eyes glazed slightly making Punk's stomach drop. His mind going on a tirade as tears started to fall. He felt sick knowing he had not only hurt AJ, but the innocent dog as well. He had to fix this.
"I can call my friends, we can ask some other people. We don't have to keep her. I thought it would be a good idea, but I should have know it was too soon." Punk felt like he was rambling. Not even sure if his sentences were making any sense.
"No." AJ interjected. "I wanna keep her." She pulled the dog into a hug holding it to her chest. The dog licking at the tears on her cheeks. She released the hold moving on of her hands to remove the mix of tears and saliva. She looked at him giving a small smile. "What's her name?"
Still nervous he looked at the stains of tears on her cheeks and the light redness that had been caused from only mere seconds of tears. Part of him still worried that she might be forcing herself for the sake of the dog, but maye it would be better with time. "Pancake..." He answered.
AJ face changed into a pouting frown. "I hate pancakes." She grumbled.
Instantly the sick feeling in his gut increased.
AJ lifted the dog putting her and Pancake face-to-face. "Daddy is very bad with naming." AJ informed the small dog.
Punk's jaw almost dropped. He watched AJ stand from her seat with dog in arms skipping away from him. "What just happened?"
"You're just too much like your mother." Punk sighed as he pulled out ingredients.
Before he heard anything Pancake had run off. He heard the jingle of the keys going into the lock and the opening and closing of the door. "Pancake!" Her cheerful voice echoing through the rooms.
He continued his work in the kitchen. Even though he wanted to be running up to her just like Pancake had. "You hungry?!" He called out.
"Still can't sleep right?" AJ questioned walking into the room with Pancake cradled in her arms.
"I slept earlier." Punk said watching her as she moved around to take a seat on one of the stools in the kitchen.
"You took a nap? Are you feeling OK?" AJ questioned her eyes filled with worry for his odd behavior. "You keep calling me in the middle of the night too. Seriously Phil...is something wrong?"
"Nothing. Now how many waffles do you want?" Changing the topic. He knew she wasn't buying it, but at least she stopped asking. "How was the interview?"
"Good. Everyone asks me about you. You haven't done any interviews since you retired people are curious." AJ groaned.
"You should tell them not to ask. This interview is about you not me." He started mixing the batter together.
"Yeah well since you aren't answering I feel bad for your fans. Plus they were only asking if you regretted retiring." AJ said looking down to the small dog inside her lap.
"What'd you answer?" Punk questioned. Keeping his words to the minimum while he focused on his task.
"That you were happy and working with marvel. You're talking about making your comic idea right?" AJ asked.
"Yeah. Talking with some artists and stuff. Not sure how well it will sell though. If I put CM Punk as my name it might, but I'll probably be fighting with Vince just to use it." Punk rolled his eyes.
"Just use your name. If you use CM Punk then it'll just seem like your using it to get more sales. You don't want people buying it just because you wrote it. You want them to buy it because they like what you wrote." AJ said.
"Why do you always have to be right." Punk groaned. Still the small fear in his mind that no one would care what 'Phil Brooks' had to say; they wanted 'CM Punk'. "Now waffles, syrup?" He said giving her a plate with fresh made waffles rather than the frozen ones from the Eggo packs.
"Got whip cream?" AJ questioned looking at the food.
"Go check." Punk focused on getting his own waffles made.
AJ got up setting Pancake on the floor as she checked the fridge. She found one can of whip cream and also pulled out the strawberries. "Yes and strawberries. I'm surprised you have the whip cream though. Finally breaking away from the dieting?"
"A bit. Still think I'm gonna keep to it most of the time. But I think since I don't have to get my ass kicked daily I could splurg a little more. Plus I'm still working out." He explained. He glanced over to her as she started peeling the leaves off the top of the straw berries carefully cutting them into fours.
"At least you aren't a total health freak like before. Sometimes I thought I was dating Da-" AJ bit her lip before the sentence could finish.
Daniel Bryan would and always would be a taboo subject between them. Their whole relationship started because of Daniel and his abuse. AJ often wondered what would have happened if Punk had stopped himself. If he hadn't flown over the ropes and crashed into her. Would anyone would have realized what was being done? Even if they did see, would they have cared as much as him to do something about it?
When there relationship started officially Daniel was furious. He tried to break them up physically or by mentally getting inside their heads. He told AJ that he loved her and Punk was only with her as a charity case. He told Punk, that no matter what he did that AJ would never be over him. It worked well. They fought with each other and started distancing themselves, but then Daniel would do something terrible and they would run to one another for comfort.
It ended with Brie Bellla.
AJ did not know what to think with the strange call. Was it a trap? A joke? Still she had not breathed a word of the unsettling message to Punk or anyone else. She looked at her phone checking the time yet again. Whoever wanted to see her they were already twenty minutes late. She sighed, 'Maybe it was a joke after all.' She thought bitterly.
"AJ!" A feminine voice called to her.
AJ thought she was seeing these. Standing there was Brie Bella looking out of breath and exhausted.
"Thank god you're still here." Brie sighed with relief as she came closer. "I lost track of time. I thought you might already be gone."
"Why did you want to meet me?" AJ asked. She tightened the grip on her phone. She didn't know what to think of Brie's intentions, but if it meant she would have to attack Brie and run for it then she could do it.
"I wanted to talk about...Bryan."Brie said sounding nervous. Like she expected AJ to run as soon as she heard that name, she almost did.
"What about him?" AJ asked.
"Um, can we sit?" Brie asked motioning to the close by park with swings. Since it was late at night no one else was around. They sat on the swings rocking lightly in their seats. "I'm in love with Bryan." Brie confessed.
"I'm sorry." AJ didn't know why those were the first words she thought to say. But she just felt pity for a woman that actually had a foolish of a heart to love that man...Though she had been that foolish once.
"He's actually a great person." Brie mentioned a blush rising to her cheeks. "I'm not here to sing his praises or anything. But he's not like how he was before. I don't think you should give him a chance or anything, but I just wanted you to know that he's not the same guy who hurt you."
AJ had already heard enough. "Thank you...But I don't trust Daniel. I don't think you should either."
"I understand...I hope you stay happy with Punk."
AJ had not understood what Brie had been thinking when she called her out to tell her that. But she never told anyone about it. AJ did see a change in Daniel though. Once they decided to get rid of Punk and Daniel's feud they hardly spoke with him. He hardly bothered them. Their last encounter at Punk's retirement night had been one of the few outside passing by moments in the locker rooms. Recently she had heard that Daniel and Brie were engaged.
Still all that Daniel had done in the past had effected them, scarred them. She knew the worst insult she ever done was when she compared Punk and Daniel. She looked up at him with apologetic eyes. Her mouth not even able to form the word 'sorry'. Her breathing stopped as she studied his features. She swallowed the lump in her throat needing to apologize.
"I love you."
A/N: I'm actually not sure how much longer this story is gonna go. I'm thinking maybe up to 15 chapters...Probably under 20. I've been asked about adding in John, but that's not gonna happen here. Plus I have a few things to resolve with John-Eve-Zack angle I had from Crash and Burn which is the prequel to all this.