Standing Up
April didn't talk about work for the rest of the night or the entire next day. She was visibly upset and it was driving Punk crazy and he wasn't sure how she wanted to handle it so he decided he was just going to handle it himself. He knew Vince well enough to know where to hit him where it would hurt- his money and reputation. His first phone call was to his attorney and his next was to his best friend Colt.
"What's going on?" April asked walking down the stairs seeing Colt setting up some equipment in the living room.
"Hey honey" Punk smiled "I'm going to be doing Colt's podcast"
"Really?" April asked
"Yea I don't want to be bombarded by WWE related questions while promoting UFC so I'm just going to tell everyone everything" He said to her
"I guess that's a good idea" She said to him "It's not like they could get mad at me for it" she said almost bitterly.
"Speaking of WWE I mean isn't it illegal to suspend you because you're pregnant?" Colt asked
"They don't know that" April said to him "We wanted to keep it quiet but I guess I'll have to tell them it's just the thought of this getting out and all the negative comments and bad press-"
"I said I'd take care of it" Punk said cutting her off "And I am so don't worry"
"How?" April asked "Doing the podcast and further pissing them off isn't going to help me"
"The podcast is just for fun" Punk smirked "I'm already on the suspension thing just put your feet up and relax"
"I don't have to put my feet up" she chuckled "But I am curious as to how you're handling this situation"
"We're going to sue them" Punk said and she felt herself go pale
"What?" April asked stunned "You didn't discuss this with me first?"
"What's to discuss? They put you in an unsafe work environment, you took the time off you needed to heal and they want you back before you're fully healed" Punk said to her "There's nothing to discuss because this is what has to be done"
"Dude you didn't tell her?" Colt whispered to him
"Phil you can't just do that!" April argued
"I said we're going to sue them not that we currently are" Punk said to her and she felt herself calm down "Our lawyer just sent them a lovely 'formal warning' that's all"
"They don't know that I'm pregnant though" April reminded him "It's not their fault- technically I should be back at work by now"
"You were assaulted by a 300lb random piece of shit guy who hit you with a baseball bat" Punk reminded her slowly "If you didn't want to go back for three years they should be a little bit more understanding"
"That is true" Colt agreed "And you do have a great case for a lawsuit"
"As far as the police and WWE are concerned they aren't connected to this at all" April said to them "That guy who hit me claims Jason hired him, he denies it and WWE is backing them up or they'll look horrible. They're making it seem like this guy saw me getting out of my car and just decided to cap my knee"
"Well maybe this will be a little incentive for them to start taking this seriously" Punk shrugged "I know what I'm doing don't worry. I bet you any minute your phone will ring and it will be WWE calling to personally apologize and to tell you take as much time as you need"
"I think I'm just going to call them and set up a meeting and tell them I'm pregnant" April said to him and he rolled his eyes
"No" he said to her "Trust me I know what I'm doing and I'm not going to let them bully you anymore. You said I never took a interest well here I am taking an interest"
"There's a difference between taking an interest and completely taking over" April pointed out
"Not budging on this one" Punk said in a voice that April didn't hear too often but she knew he wasn't messing around there would be no sweet talking or arguing- he was dead set on this.
"Ok fine" she said simply "But when you get me fired and I have to go work for TNA and wrestle in even less clothing don't cry about it" she warned then headed into the kitchen
"I think she'd be great in TNA" Colt said to Punk who just glared at him
"They're going to fold" Punk snorted "They did with me"
"And then you went off and signed with the UFC and really pissed them off" Colt reminded him "They're not going to bend for you anymore"
"It's not for me it's for April" Punk said to him
"Oh please if it was anyone but April this happened to they would have given her as much time as she wanted but because she's married to you" Colt said to him
"Well that's a pretty stupid thing to do because I've been very kind to them out of respect to my wife but if they continue to push her I'm going to push them back" Punk said to him "I have to do something she was so upset last night"
"I'm sure she was" Colt said to him "This is her dream job and no one wants her there anymore. Poor thing is probably torn"
"What is that supposed to mean?" Punk asked
"All I'm saying you clearly don't want her there and now WWE doesn't want her there because she's a constant reminder of you" Colt told him "She's the only one that seems to want to be there anymore and the fans of course. She's fighting for a spot with no support"
"I fucking support her!" Punk shouted "I'm sick of hearing that shit!"
"Wow you are very sensitive here" Colt noted with a nervous laugh "Calm down man"
"I bought the fucking ring for her to train before I knew she was pregnant didn't I?" Punk asked
"Be real man" Colt laughed "You would be thrilled if she never went back to WWE I'm not even sure you want her in any professional sport"
"No" Punk said very seriously "I want her to do what she wants. Do I love the idea of her working there? No. I'd be thrilled if she wanted to go to a different promotion one where I could actually attend or where I knew she wanted be treated so badly. Do you have any idea how sick I get when I kiss her goodbye at the airport?" he asked Colt who remained silent "Because I know she's going to a place where people hate her and I know that's because of me. And it's not like she's going down the block and can just come home she's sometimes halfway across the globe! And I also know she gets it a lot worse then she tells me because Paul and Kofi keep me informed on how it is back there and I know she doesn't tell me because she doesn't want to make me feel bad and if I bring it up to her I'd make her feel bad so I just keep my mouth shut and watch as it slowly eats away at her!"
"Wow" Colt said quietly "I didn't know you felt so strongly about this"
"Of course I feel strongly about it she's my wife, my other half" Punk said to him "I hate that she's in this position and I hate that I'm the one that put her in it. If I could go back and redo any of it I would have left on better terms I wish I would have thought it out more before I just walked"
"Do you really think threatening a lawsuit is going to help her though?" Colt asked
"What else can I do?" Punk asked "I mean do you think I don't lay awake at night and know she would have never been hurt in the first place if I was still there working"
"You don't know that" Colt argued
"Oh please" Punk mocked "Who would go after her with me standing next to her?"
"A very stupid man…with a bat?" Colt suggested with a shrug
"Hey Colt can I have a minute?" April asked stepping back into the living room, clearly she had been eavesdropping.
"Yea I'm starving anyway" Colt said walking past her and into the kitchen
"Why are you beating yourself up?" April asked him "You couldn't have prevented my accident"
"It wasn't an accident and I hate that you call it that" Punk said bitterly
"I know you're trying" April said walking over to him "I'm sorry I've been giving you grief over all of this WWE stuff I know you support me the best way you can but you shouldn't feel guilty about walking"
"I do" Punk admitted
"But you're so happy" April reminded him with a smile
"You're not" Punk pointed out honestly "I hate that"
"I am happy" April sighed "It hasn't been easy and you know this accident really opened my eyes to a lot of things with the company and one thing I don't regret is my accident- sorry I mean assault. It may cost me my job but look what we got out of it" she said putting her hand over her stomach "I would have probably been working the night of your announcement and we never would have made this baby"
"That is true" Punk agreed "I never thought about it like that"
"And when it comes down to you and WWE you win every time" April said to him gabbing his hands "You always fight for me, you fight for what I want, WWE certainly doesn't. You're my guy" she said with a smile
"I feel like I'm living out my dream and you're not" Punk said to her
"Want to hear a secret?" she asked and he just smirked "I did want to be a wrestler and I did do it. I have four t-shirts out and a ton of other merchandise. I've performed in front of thousands people I did more in a year then most women in this profession get to do in their entire career. But my real dream was to have a family"
"You don't seem excited about having the baby" Punk pointed out
"I am" she assured him "But you have to understand that this has been a lot for me to take in. I've been through a lot these last few weeks. It's not just the baby it was facing Jewel again and seeing Jason, the assault, you signing to UFC it's been so much to take in" Punk just nodded "And now I'm suspended and suddenly it's not that important"
"It is important" Punk argued "I don't want them taking advantage of you"
"I know you won't let that happen" April said to him and he smiled. She always knew how to feed his ego.
"I'm sorry I didn't discuss the podcast or the lawyer with you but I know this is for the best. I know that company inside and out and I know how to hurt them" Punk said to her
"You're just trying to take care of me" April said to him "I get it" she reached up and kissed his cheek "Just remember what you say because I'm sure you're going to go in guns blazing and rip everything. Just try to remember it's not just us anymore we have a child coming" she pointed out
"That's all I'm thinking about" Punk said to her
"Just think before you speak" April insisted then walked over to her jacket and bag
"Where are you going? You don't want to stay and listen?" he asked
"I need to go the store" April said to him "I have to pick up my prescription and junk food. I know you're on this new strict diet but I need to indulge"
"Go for it" Punk encouraged leaning down and pecking her lips
"Have fun and remember what I said" she warned walking out the door.
April was at the local Walgreens and in her basket she had three different kinds of chocolate bars, a gallon of cookie dough ice cream and a bunch of gossip magazines.
"Mrs. Brooks?" the pharmacist asked "You're prescription is all set"
"Thank you" April smiled taking it from her
"Your knee doesn't look that bad" a voice said from behind her. She had to do a double take.
"Jason" April said trying not to sound too surprised "What are you doing here?"
"There's a live event tonight and Jewel is working it" Jason shrugged "So I heard your knee is still banged up"
"I have nothing to say to you" she said paying the woman and grabbing her bags
"Why not?" Jason asked following her all of the way out of the store "Come on at least let me walk you to your car you don't have a good track record" he teased
"You think this is funny?" April asked "Do you have any idea how much pain I was in?"
"I'm sure it was excruciating" he said with fake sympathy
"I know what you did" April said to him "I'm not just referring to the attack either. I know you had me mugged last year to pay off your loans"
"You're a very paranoid person do you get that from Punk?" Jason asked "You know I thought you'd be back by now trying to reclaim your title but it's probably for the best you don't since Jewel has become such a hit"
"It must really bother you" April smiled
"The fact that my wife is a wrestling goddess? No" Jason informed her "I'm not like Punk"
"I meant that it must bother you that I became such a sensation and now Jewel and you are still…well you" she shrugged "You're still just the man holding the purse"
"Don't be such a nasty bitch" Jason said to her "As soon as you left Tampa and started seeing CM Punk you became this uptight bitch who was suddenly too good for everyone"
"No Jason I just realized I was too good for you" April said to him "You may walk on all of this and WWE isn't too happy with me maybe I'll speak to the media and give them a rundown of our relationship. I'm sure they'd love to know how you used to beg me to sleep with you or how you used to rip me off for Wrestling classes, stole from my home while I was passed out from concussion, pawned valuable family items of mine, broke into my home and lived there, mugged me-"
"Don't push me April" Jason said annoyed "And you of all people shouldn't threaten me"
"Why? What's that supposed to mean?" April asked "I'm not at a WWE venue you can't touch me here because I'm not alone in Chicago"
"I didn't see your husband anywhere" Jason said looking around the parking lot
"You don't scare me" April said opening her car down but Jason slammed it shut surprising her and now she was slightly tense.
"Miss are you alright?" an elderly couple asked as they passed by. Jason was in her face glaring at her and she wasn't surprised it caught some attention.
"Yea my friend was just leaving" April said to them "Right?" she asked Jason
"Do you want us to get security from inside?" the older man asked
"Not necessary I was just leaving" Jason smiled backing away "Think about it April" he warned and then walked back into the store.
Later that night April was at the table with Punk and Colt eating dinner. He had cooked them a huge meal of pasta, bread and salad. He was on a strict diet and was eating a small-portioned protein meal.
"This is so good" April said happily with a full mouth
"Amazing man" Colt said seriously "Can I have seconds?"
"Knock yourself out" Punk said almost jealous passing him the dish that had the pasta
"Oh before I forget you should probably know I ran into Jason tonight" April said to him and both men looked over to her
"Where?" Punk asked her
"The store" She said as if it wasn't a big deal "He's still as arrogant as ever"
"What happened?" Colt asked
"He was just bragging that Jewel was this huge star" April shrugged
"Why was he there?" Punk asked her
"There's an event in Chicago tonight" April said to them
"No there isn't" Punk said to her "I just spoke to Kofi who is in Seattle and Paul is in Ohio"
"Weird" April said unsurely "Don't worry I didn't let him intimidate me" she said proudly
"So he tried to intimidate you?" Punk asked slowly
"I told him I knew he was behind the attack and if he didn't get the proper punishment I would go to the media about everything he's ever done to me" April said to them
"Good for you" Colt said proudly
"What did he say about that?" Punk asked
"He didn't really say much he just glared at me pretty much" April shrugged taking a bite out of her food "The baby loves this by the way you're going to have to cook all of the time"
"Yea" Punk said with a light smile and took a sip of his drink
"Don't worry about Jason" April said to him
"Whenever he's around he brings trouble" Punk reminded both Colt and April "Next time you see him call me and I'll be right there."
"Or me" Colt added "You know just in case Punk isn't around" he offered and Punk just smirked. He was keeping his promise as the 'back up'.
"I handled it all by myself" April said proudly. Punk couldn't help but flash back to the first time he was with April; so proud and independent he loved that quality about her even though it drove him nuts.
"He's such a piece of shit" Colt mumbled "What the hell is he doing in Chicago anyway?"
"Around the corner from my house" Punk added
"It's a small world I suppose" April said taking another bite of her food
"Very small" Punk agreed bitterly sipping on his water
"So getting off the Jason topic let's talk about the baby" Colt said trying to ease the tension. "By the way I call godfather"
"You can't call godfather" Punk said to him
"Sure I can. It works the same as calling shotgun- I am in view of the child" he said pointing to April sitting across from him. April just giggled while Punk shook his head.
"Oh! Before I forget I have a present for the baby" Colt said jumping out of his seat
"You here that you're first present" April said placing her hand over her stomach. Punk just smiled at her as Colt walked in with a small bag. April pulled out a small baby onsie and laughed "Look honey" she said showing Punk who glared at Colt.
"My mom is hot?" Punk asked Colt
"She is" Colt smiled and winked towards April
"I love it" April said to him
"I was thinking this could be the outfit you bring the baby home in and this outfit works for either a boy or a girl" Colt pointed out
"Wonderful" Punk said to him "I really hope it doesn't get misplaced from now and until the baby is born"
"It's ok I'll just get another one" Colt grinned
"You don't think I'm hot?" April asked Punk turning the tables on him
"Yea Punk?" Colt asked looking at him the same way April was
"Yes of course you're hot" Punk said to her "And it doesn't have to be printed on my child's clothing"
"Speaking of" Colt said changing the subject again "Boy or girl?" he questioned
"It's way too early to know that" April said to him "And Phil and I discussed it we're not going to know right away"
"What? How could you not want to know?" Colt demanded
"We like surprises Colt" Punk said annoyed
"But I want to know" Colt frowned
"So go out get a wife and have your own baby" Punk said to him
"Nah I'm just going to borrow your baby" Colt said to him
"Borrow my baby?" Punk asked looking for Colt to clarify
"Yea like let's say we all go out to eat and you two feel the need to I don't know…run into the bathroom and bang I can be in charge of the baby" Colt said to them. April almost spit her drink out of her mouth.
"Um what?" Punk asked in a low voice
"You two went out in the bathroom during my birthday" Colt said "And do not try to lie because I walked in"
"You what?" Punk asked demanded
"Don't worry unlike you I locked the door on the way out. And I didn't see much don't worry" Colt promised "Actually I saw more of your ass than I ever wanted to see" he said to Punk
"I could never see it enough" April said with a cheek grin to Punk who smiled back at her.
"Ew" Colt said standing up "I'm officially lost my appetite"
"You bought it up" Punk reminded him
"Yea I know I'm leaving now" Colt said grabbing his jacket "I'll send you the audio from the interview before I air it just in case there's things you want taken out"
"No I think I'm good" Punk said to him "Just put it all on there"
"Thank you for the gift" she said giving Colt a kiss goodbye
"Anytime" Colt smiled
"Later" Punk said and watched Colt leave.
"Oh so I called my mother by the way" she said to him
"You told her?" Punk asked and she nodded as she placed her dish in the sink "Well what did she say?" he asked picking up his and Colt's dishes and bringing them to the sink as well
"She's excited" April admitted "So excited she going to be coming in for a visit" she said in almost in a whisper
"What?" he asked "I didn't hear that last part" he really didn't hear it
"She's going to be stopping by for a visit" She said a little louder and his eyes widened "With your move to the UFC and my accident she wants to help for a little"
"How long is a little?" Punk asked warily
"You know a few days…weeks" she shrugged
"What!" He demanded stunned "She's going to stay here?"
"We have the room" she pointed out
"Your mother hates me" Punk reminded her
"She hates me too" April said with a laugh "But clearly she loves this baby I'm carrying"
"The last time we saw them when we were in Puerto Rico she called me Mr. Brooks the entire vacation" he reminded her
"It's respectful" April shrugged
"If we had never met but I'm married to her daughter for almost a year now" Punk said to her "Now it's just disrespectful. Is your dad coming? He likes me"
"No he loves you…probably more than me too" April sighed annoyed "And no he'll be down probably before the baby is born"
"Is your mother planning on staying throughout the entire pregnancy?" Punk asked alarmed
"I didn't get into details" April said to him "What was I supposed to say?"
"No" Punk said to her dramatically
"She didn't ask if she could come she informed me she would be coming" April said to him "I bet now you wish we would have made that last bedroom into a sex room because she never would have stayed here if that was the case"
"Fuck" Punk mumbled "When is she coming?"
"A few weeks I think" April said to him "She'll get bored and go home don't worry. She's never showed any interest in my life for longer than three days"
"She didn't even let us sleep in the same room when we stayed in their place" Punk said to her
"She can't separate us here" April said to him "And it didn't stop you from sneaking into my room every night" she reminded him
"She caught me" Punk reminded her back and she laughed "In my boxers" she let out a bigger laugh now remembering the moment
"And we packed up that night and stayed in that beautiful resort" she pointed out "Wasn't that nice?"
"Yes but we can't pack up this time and just leave" Punk said to her
"She'll be the one who packs and leaves trust me" she said kissing him "It will be fine"
"My mom plans on bringing over a bunch of my sisters old baby crap within the next few weeks so I hope they can remain friendly" Punk said wrapping his arms around her waist
"My mom is afraid of your mom" April smirked
"Funny because my mom is afraid of yours" Punk teased "Speaking of why did you agree to take my moms stuff? We can buy all new stuff for the baby"
"A lot of the older stuff is made so much better" April pointed out "We're not taking everything just a few things"
"Fine" Punk said to her "Anything you pick out just throw in the room upstairs"
"Ok" April said to him and then she felt him scoop her up into his arms "I have to clean up"
"I cooked and I'll clean right now I want to take you upstairs and get as much time with you in before your warden gets here" Punk teased carrying her towards the steps
"If we had the sex room we could have made it sound proof and wouldn't have to worry" April pointed out as he carried her up the stairs
"I thought you finished those books" Punk said annoyed
"I started a new series" She grinned as he carefully dropped her onto the bed "This one is just so-" she was cut off by Punk kissing her and pushing her against the mattress.