Part XII: Wrestelmania Moment
AJ looked over the clock and now she was only fifteen minutes away from heading down the aisle. Looking back at everything it was almost as if things fell into place for them over the past year. Everything that had happened to one of them lead them to this moment. The weekend of Wrestlemania was the last week they'd be apart and it was probably the most challenging for her.
AJ had spent most of the Wrestelmania weekend in her room and waited on her mother to fly down. She didn't really hang out with rest of the roster but had mad plans with Celeste who would be in town doing a convention. She also volunteered to do a signing during the Hall of Fame specifically to avoid Amy Dumas aka Lita. She wasn't sure what Amy's feelings were towards her or how her and Punk and left off. AJ and Punk had gotten together so quickly after he broke up with Amy people had insisted he cheated on her, which wasn't technically true. The first time they slept together her and Punk were on a break but they did share that one kiss at the beach while they were still official but that wasn't really cheating, was it?
AJ decided to head down to the hotel gym to kill some time and she knew it wouldn't be busy since most of the superstars were out for the evening. Once she arrived she inwardly cringed at the sight of the one person she was looking to avoid: Amy Dumas. She was there with a few guys working out. AJ would have turned around and left except she had already been spotted since the gym was empty. She offered a faint smile then headed over to the treadmill, which she hated to use, but Amy was occupying the weights.
"Hey AJ" Amy said walking over to her. The greeting was friendly but the tone was cold.
"Hi Amy" AJ forced a smile. She had known the woman pretty well but they were never really 'friends' "Congratulations on your induction"
"Thanks long overdue I think" Amy remarked "Better late than never I suppose"
"I agree" AJ said holding her smile
"I suppose I should be congratulating you as well" Amy said folding her arms and locking her eyes onto AJ's massive ring "I never thought Phil would bite the bullet"
"Thanks" AJ replied politely
"I have to ask because it's been eating at me since August- did Punk cheat on me with you?" Amy asked bluntly
"Amy-" AJ started
"Don't give me the bambi eyes AJ" Amy said cutting her off "I have a right to know"
"You do" AJ agreed "I just don't think this is the time and place for that"
"So I guess that answers my question" Amy said with a bitter smile and to AJ it looked like the older woman was holding back tears
"It wasn't like that" AJ insisted not wanting to upset her former idol
"What was it like?" Amy asked "You know I want him to be happy because I love him that much and if you make him happy then so be it but this is supposed to be my big weekend and I didn't want this thrown in my face"
"I'm sorry if this is upsetting to you" AJ offered, she wasn't sure what to really say to the woman
"I'm not going to claw your eyes out AJ because I'm an adult and I'm not perfect either" Amy said to her "Instead I am going to be the bigger person and wish you and Phil the best together"
"Thank you" AJ managed out nervously
"But I hope you'll understand that I don't want you at the Hall of Fame" Amy said to her. Of course AJ wouldn't be there anyway but the fact that Amy was insisting on her not being there stung a bit "I don't want people watching you, watching me. I don't want you or him associated with me anymore. I can barely go on my Twitter anymore because of it so please if you are going don't sit out there while I'm inducted"
"I wasn't planning on attending" AJ told her quietly "I wouldn't want to taint your night"
"Great" Amy said "Give Phil my best" she said to AJ then turned around
An hour later AJ was back up in her room waiting on room service when Punk had called her.
"How's it going shorty?" Punk asked her
"It's going" AJ said to him "I just bumped into Amy as a matter of fact"
"How did that go?" Punk asked not sure he even wanted to know
"She was ok" AJ said unsurely "She congratulated me, asked if you cheated on her with me then asked me not to attend the Hall of Fame"
"I'm sorry shorty" Punk sighed "She shouldn't have done that"
"It's fine I understand" AJ said to him "She sends you her best by the way"
"Gee thanks" Punk laughed "I'm kind of glad I'm not there"
"Thanks" AJ mocked "Maybe I'll luck out and bump into Beth and Maria too"
"Ah they're over it" Punk said brushing off her fears "So what are your plans for this evening"
"Room service" AJ smirked
"You're not meeting up with Celeste?" Punk asked
"Not tonight tomorrow" AJ said to him
"Colt and Cliff are down there too" Punk said to her
"Oh I don't think I'm going to have dinner with them" AJ laughed "They'll probably end up at a strip joint and get me in a lot of trouble"
"Good point" Punk said to her "Are you getting nervous yet?"
"Not at all." AJ said to him "I'm anxious and want it over with. I just want to be home in Chicago with you"
"Home and Chicago in one sentence coming from you, I like it" Punk said happily "Some of your stuff arrived by the way"
"Good" AJ sighed "By the way did you say something to Wade?"
"Who?" Punk asked innocently
"Punk" AJ warned
"When would I get a chance to see him?" Punk asked "Why? Is he giving you a hard time again?"
"Actually he's been avoiding me" AJ informed him "He turns away if I'm walking down the hall, he avoids all eye contact and I haven't received one snide comment from him in weeks"
"That's weird" Punk remarked "He must have realized he was acting like a jackass"
"Yea or someone told him he was" AJ offered
"I don't know what you're implying" Punk said to her casually "I've been behaving myself…but I did speak to Paul about him after your last encounter with him"
"Having people do your dirty work" AJ giggled
"If Paul repeated what I would hypothetically do to Wade if I heard he made any sort of sexual or rude comment to you I can't control that" Punk told her completely innocently
"And what would you do to him?" AJ was very curious as to what was said to Wade
"I really don't remember" Punk lied "Something about a show and a parking lot…a lot of blood- I really can't recall"
"You better hope he doesn't go to Hunter with this or worse the cops" AJ said. He couldn't just threaten people, especially since the company wouldn't be able to back him up.
"I'm not worried about any of that" Punk told her "When is your mother flying down?"
"Thursday" AJ told him "I have to keep her away from Nikki and Brie's mom she wants to tell her that her daughters should be nicer to me" she laughed
"They should be nicer" Punk said to her "Any other issues with that"
"Well none of them congratulated me" AJ shrugged "I wasn't expecting it so that's fine."
"They're just jealous" Punk said to her "You have the belt and you nailed down the hottest bachelor"
"Wow you're cocky tonight" AJ laughed "And what are you doing tonight?"
"Watching Hockey. All of my favorite people are in New Orleans so it's just me and your picture tonight" he told her seriously
"Eww" AJ laughed
"I told you I love that picture" Punk said to her
"Yea, yea" AJ muttered "I miss your face" she told him causing him to laugh
"You don't have any pictures of me?" Punk asked offended
"It's not the same" AJ sighed "I just want this week to fly"
"Try to enjoy it" Punk insisted "Just a few more days then you'll be back with me missing work"
"This place isn't the same" AJ admitted "I don't know if it's because you're gone or this Network launch…it's just all different now and to be honest I really wanted to see Warrior inducted on Saturday that was going to be my highlight of the week"
"Who cares what she thinks go" Punk insisted
"First of all I already agreed to do a signing at eight and second of all it's way too late to get a date" AJ teased
"You want me to fly down for the night?" Punk teased
"Oh yea I think Amy would rip my face off" AJ laughed
"I wouldn't let her get to you" Punk assured her "Even though she could probably take me out too"
"Yea you just stay in Chicago and watch Hockey" AJ said to him "Oh and start putting away some of my things" she added
"Anything else I could do for you honey?" Punk mocked lightly
"Make sure when you put my chucks away that they're in style order" AJ said to him seriously "But don't touch my action figures I have a system"
"Style order?" Punk asked
"You know the short tops, the high-tops" AJ informed him
"Oh of course" Punk laughed "I'll see what I can do"
"Alright go back to hockey so I can eat my food" AJ said to him "I'll call you first thing in the morning. I love you"
"I love you too shorty"
The week had gone very fast for AJ and she spent some of her free time with Celeste and her mother. Once Wrestlemania arrived AJ started to get more excited and realized she really was going to miss this. Being the first Diva to defend the Diva's title at Wrestlemania was a big deal no matter how ridiculous the match was. The Undertaker's match was still going on and depending on if his match went over her match might be entirely cut. She was now starting to freak out slightly in the hallways of the stadium but of course-as if he could read her mind- Punk called AJ.
"Hi" Punk said to her "How are you holding up?"
"I'm good" AJ said to him "Getting nervous"
"You'll do great" Punk insisted
"If I even get to go on" AJ said to him "Brock and Taker are still fighting"
"Yea" Punk said to her "Don't worry you'll have your match you guys might not get to have an entrance though"
"I just want to hold that belt above my head in front of thousands of people" AJ admitted
"Just hope they don't pull a fast once and have Brock take this match" Punk warned her "I'd hate to have to go on after that"
"Ugh they wouldn't do that" AJ groaned "Would they?"
"You never know" Punk said to her
"You're going to watch my match right?" AJ asked hopefully
"Are you insane?" he asked "Of course. I've watched this entire show so far waiting for you"
"I'm wearing red tonight" AJ informed him
"My favorite color" Punk clearly approved of the choice "And I assume you're wearing my shirt?"
"It's my shirt!" AJ argued lightly "It just looks similar to your old one"
"Almost identical but hey I don't mind" Punk told her "They knew what they were doing when they designed that shirt for you"
"They're so slick" AJ smirked
"They didn't warn you not to wear my favorite my color?" Punk questioned
"I don't really care. Red boots, red shorts, red thong and a red bra" AJ informed him and she heard him groan
"Why did you have to tell me all of that?" Punk sighed
"I thought you'd want to know" she replied innocently "They did actually imply I should change my color because my gimmick isn't 'all red everything'"
"Who's gimmick is that?" Punk asked seriously
"Never mind" AJ laughed "I have to go finish getting ready I'll call you after I'm done"
"Ok and be careful, good luck" Punk said to her
"Luck is for losers" she replied happily "Love you" then she hung up
The match had went well if you don't count one of the girls losing their top completely and the ref botching AJ's black widow on Trinity. But all in all she was proud of the match and was now just looking forward to handing the torch over to Paige. Speaking of which Hunter was right in selecting Paige because the crowd went nuts when she walked down the aisle and AJ challenged her. She just wished the match could have been longer but she understood time was short and it was a moment that would go down in history. Her remark about being the 'best diva in the world' was adlibbed herself and if Stephanie and Vince weren't happy about it she wouldn't know because neither commented on it. They either didn't care or realized they couldn't do anything about it. AJ packed up and left the arena without so much as saying goodbye to anyone since she hadn't told anyone she was taking off for a while. She had mentioned it to Tamina as she was half way out the door but that was it. She was now on her way to Chicago, her home to start her life.
Once she landed in Chicago she thought she would be exhausted but she was oddly energetic and excited to unpack her stuff and get better accustom to her new home. She had told Punk she was planning on taking a cab but he had insisted on picking her up and when she stepped outside he was leaning against his car waiting on her.
"Well, well if it isn't the best diva in the world" Punk grinned as she stepped over to him
"You liked that?" AJ smirked as he gave her a quick kiss
"I love it" Punk confirmed "I'm sure Vince and Hunter didn't" he smirked as he popped his trunk and started to load her bags into it
"They didn't say" AJ said to him "I didn't even see Vince before I left and Hunter and Stephanie told me to enjoy my time off"
"You ready?" Punk asked slamming the trunk closed "You want to stop to eat first?"
"No I want to go home" AJ said with a smile, loving that she was calling his home her home
"Ok" Punk smirked opening the door for her to get in then got into the car himself
"So on a scale of 1 to 10 how much did you miss me?" AJ asked him seriously as she buckled her seatbelt
"What's the scale?" Punk asked just as serious causing her to smirk
"1 being not at all 10 being a lot" AJ clarified
"Ok so I'd say it was a solid 6" Punk said as he started the car
"A 6!" she almost shouted
"I'm kidding" He laughed trying to lean in and kiss him but she jerked her head away "A 12" he said to her
"12 wasn't on the scale" AJ remarked in a childish voice
"I missed you a lot" Punk said seriously "One entire week was way too long. I can't wait to have you all to myself"
"What are we going to do?" AJ questioned
"We're going to get you settled, we're going to build some shelves because you have a lot more toys-"
"-action figures!" she corrected
"-right action figures then I first thought, we're going to go to Hockey games and Cubs games and I am going to show you all around Chicago" Punk told her "But just to remind you we have Eve and Rener's wedding on Saturday so we're going to be flying out this Saturday"
"Well I haven't flown enough these last few weeks…" AJ mutter then smirked "It's ok it will be worth it"
"Also my buddy Luke is getting married next month too" Punk said to her as he pulled away from the airport
"Wow we have a lot of weddings" AJ noted
"The most important one is in June" Punk reminded her
"Did you pick a date yet?" AJ asked him now realizing she had a lot more planning to do. She almost forgot their wedding would be in only a few weeks
"No I thought that we would should probably do that together" Punk laughed "Don't worry"
"I'm not worried it's just a lot of work" AJ sighed "I'm going to need your help I've never planned a wedding before"
"I kind of assumed you hadn't" Punk smirked "Unless you've been secretly married"
"It wouldn't be a secret if I told you" AJ teased back
"It will be fine" Punk repeated "We'll just pick a day and order food"
"Oh I know you're more romantic then that" AJ said to him seriously as she placed her hand behind his ear while he drove. She just needed to feel him again.
"Only with you" Punk said to her offering a quick smiled before turning his attention back on the road
"Well I have to start looking into dresses" AJ sighed "I'm suck at that"
"You can wear anything you want" Punk told her
"You'd marry me if I walked down the aisle wearing jeans and t-shirt?" AJ asked
"Absolutely" Punk told her
"I can do better than that" AJ said to him "I can't wait to see you in a suit"
"You've seen me in a suit" Punk mocked "I wore one to CJ's wedding"
"This is going to be a new, fresh suit. Not the same suit you've worn to the Hall of Fame and CJ's wedding" AJ said to him "And we need to get rings"
"We'll go next week and look at wedding bands" Punk said to her "We'll go where I got your ring"
"I can't believe this is all happening" AJ noted "We're both free to spend as much together as we want, we're getting married- it's insane I never imagined any of this"
"You never daydreamed of marrying me before?" Punk questioned
"Oh come on" AJ laughed "Are you telling me you have?"
"So you haven't?" Punk asked
"A little" AJ shrugged "I never wanted to get my hopes up" she admitted causing him to frown "Don't give me that face you made it very clear marriage was never in the cards for you that it was something for people to do years ago when they died young, how depressing is that by the way?"
"You read that huh?" Punk questioned but he didn't need her to confirm "Look I said in order to get married I needed to meet a woman that would cause me to stop everything and I wasn't sure existed obviously I was wrong"
"I really made you stop everything?" AJ questioned with an innocent smile
"Darling you made my entire world stop" Punk said seriously "I would barely let my exes into my house let alone move you into it. You are it for me shorty, I can't do any better than you"
"I have thought about it" AJ admitted "I actually used to think about it a lot but what you've done for me these last few months is beyond anything I could have ever imagined" her hand had been entwined with his and she lifted her arm to place a sweet kiss on the back of his hand "Thank you"