All I want For Christmas...
A few weeks had passed and it was finally Christmas week. Punk was excited to have a normal Christmas again but he wanted the perfect gifts.
"Why are you hiding their presents here?" Bailey asked as Punk placed some bags in his closet.
"Because she snoops. She wants to know what I got her." Punk groaned.
"She's just a kid, put it on a high shelf and Gracie won't be able to reach it." Bailey suggested.
"I'm talking about AJ." Punk said and Bailey laughed. "But you're right about the high shelf. She's short."
"What did you get her?" Bailey asked.
"It wasn't easy. I mean we've been dating a couple of months so I wasn't sure if I get her jewelry or something more useful that she can use everyday...so I got both." He forced out. "I got her a Playstation and a necklace."
"And you're going to give her both?" Bailey asked.
"It's too much?" Punk questioned. "Do you think it's too much?"
"No." Bailey laughed. "I mean, as long as you're serious about her."
"I'm serious about her." Punk told him sternly.
"Then I think the two gifts are good." Bailey shrugged. "What did you get Gracie?"
"Ah, I got Gracie a baseball bat." Punk informed him.
"That wasn't on AJ's list." Bailey frowned.
AJ knew the new men in Gracie's life were very wealthy. She did NOT want Gracie spoiled and gave them a list of things she had asked for and they were allowed to pick ONE item off the list. Benny complained the most about it.
"It's autographed by the entire Cubs team." Punk grinned proudly.
"How did you get that?" Bailey asked narrowing his eyes at him.
"I have an in, a few of the guys still remember me from the UFC." Punk shrugged. "I also offered a few of the guys free gym days."
"Of course you did." Bailey scoffed.
"Relax, I got her something off the list too." Punk said to him.
"So you got her two presents and I only get to give her one?" Bailey asked.
"I have to make a better impression. I am dating her mother." Punk defended.
"I'm getting her something else than." Bailey scoffed. "So, how are you feeling? You're not going to run out Christmas night are you?"
"Fuck off." Punk scoffed. "AJ told you about that, huh?"
"She did." Bailey shrugged. "She defended you like crazy."
"She's a good woman." Punk said.
"Look, you two are serious and you're in her life and Gracie's and they're my family- don't hurt them." Bailey said to him. "All of you have lost enough in your lives."
"Last thing I want to do is hurt anyone, especially them." Punk assured him. "Don't worry."
"I do worry." Bailey said to him. "Not just for them but you as well."
"We're all good." Punk told him. "Relax." he laughed. "I feel good. I haven't felt this good in a long time."
"So, I told Benny I would co-coach the little league team Gracie is joining with him." Bailey told him and Punk let out a laugh.
"A lot of little ankle bitters." Punk warned him.
"You should do it too." Bailey suggested.
"No." Punk said to him. "I'll go watch the games, I won't be participating. My time is divided enough as it is."
Three days before Christmas AJ was at the receptionist desk and looked up when she saw a huge floral delivery.
"Who is it for?" She asked the familiar delivery man who was in and out of the gym often.
"These are for you, AJ." The man smirked. "Have a Merry Christmas."
"Thank you." She grinned standing up and plucking the card out.
"Those are nice flowers." Punk noted walking over and leaning over the desk to inspect the flowers.
"Jealous?" AJ asked teasingly.
"Me?" He asked innocently. "Insanely. Who sent them because I know it wasn't me and they're super tacky and over the top."
"They're from a man." She said to him and he narrowed his eyes at her. "Benny." She smirked. "He's just really excited I'm hosting Christmas this year. He hasn't had a home cooked holiday meal since he was a kid."
"Yea, his staff usually caters it." Punk smirked. "I think he may be buttering you up because he ignored your one gift rule for Gracie."
"Oh, no." AJ sighed shaking her head. "She deserves it all but that doesn't mean she should have it all."
"Benny means well." Punk shrugged.
"So, I know you've never spent the night but I think, if you're up for it you can stay over Christmas eve?" She asked. "You can sleep on the couch though. But I know Gracie would want you there Christmas morning."
"I'll stay. Larry will love it too." Punk said to her. "But the couch?"
"I don't want her seeing we sleep in the same bed." She said shaking her head.
"No, you're right." Punk agreed. "She might think that's acceptable behavior when she's older and dating and you don't want to give her that idea."
"I don't." AJ said cringing. "She's real excited. She made everyone their own Christmas gifts."
"I'm excited to see if she likes what I got her." Punk said to her.
"I hope it was just one gift." She warned and he didn't say anything. "Phil..."
"I have to impress extra because I'm dating her mom." Punk shrugged.
"You can give her an empty box and she'd love it because you're her favorite." AJ teased.
"I know." Punk remarked smugly.
"Speaking of presents, don't forget to bring her presents over while she's at school tomorrow. I think I still have a few more to wrap." She told him.
"I wrapped them for you." Punk told her.
"I was hoping you would." She smiled relieved.
"April Mendez?" a man asked.
"Yes." She said standing up and he passed her a envelope.
"You've just been served." He informed her and her eyes widened. "Have a nice holiday." he waved then walked out of the gym.
"What the hell is that?" Punk asked and AJ ripped the envelope open and read the legal paperwork.
"Oh my god." She whispered.
"What is it?" Punk asked.
"Randy's parents are suing me for visitation rights." AJ said in disbelief. "I don't even know these people!"
"What? Give me that." he said snatching the paperwork from her.
"They are strangers to Gracie and they live in another state." AJ stammered. "How can they do this? Randy wants nothing to do with her why are they doing this?"
"Relax." Punk said reading the paperwork carefully.
"Phil." She nearly cried.
"Call Benny." He told her.
"What? Why?" She asked.
"Because Benny has the best attorney in Illinois on retainer." Punk said to her.
"What if they get her?" AJ asked frantically.
"They don't want custody of her." Punk said reading the papers. "They just want visitation but she'd have to go to New Jersey-"
"Over my dead body." AJ stated angrily.
"Relax, they don't have a legal leg to stand on." Punk told her.
"They must if they have an attorney and paperwork." She insisted.
"These people didn't even flinch when Gracie got sick." Punk reminded her. "No judge is going to go for this."
"You don't know that." She said to him. "What if I'm an unfit mother?"
"You're not." He said amused.
"I let my daughter get sick, I picked up and moved out of state-" She began to ramble off. "And when she was three fell in the park and broke her arm." She told him and he tried not to laugh.
"You're not a bad mother." Punk assured her. "Kids get sick and you caught Gracie being sick so early on. You moved to another state to escape from Randy who is a violent ex-convict and you now have a full-time job, health insurance, your daughter is in school and you live in a safe neighborhood."
"This is crazy." AJ said shaking her head. "I can't believe this."
"Don't let it ruin your Christmas." Punk urged and she glared at him.
"Am I being unfair?" She asked. "Do they have a right to see her?"
"No." Punk answered quickly. "Fuck them. They knew you were pregnant and didn't lift a finger to help you. Their son is a criminal who should never be allowed to breathe the same air as Gracie."
"What if he wants to see her next? He'll be there if she's with his parents. What if he-" She began.
"Stop with the what if's." Punk told her. "Call Benny. Let him put his money and big mouth to good use."
"Ok" AJ said grabbing her cellphone. "Just say it out loud one more time."
"I promise you that no one is getting near Gracie." he reassured her. "I won't let them."
"Thank you." She whispered then walked off.
Christmas Eve night had arrived and it was just Punk, AJ and Gracie. Tomorrow would be Bailey and his date and Benny. AJ was really out of it since she couldn't get the legal documents she was served with out of her mind.
"Mommy you have to help us." Gracie sighed.
"Oh, I'm sorry." AJ said walking over to her and Punk in the living room building a gingerbread house. "You two are doing a great job though."
"She's sad." Gracie said to Punk with a frown.
"Nah, she just has a lot on her mind. Making sure the house looks clean for Santa and all." Punk said to her.
"I think it's clean. If it's not, will he not leave her any presents?" Gracie asked worriedly.
"She'll get presents." Punk assured her. "The building is collapsing." he said as the gingerbread house fell and Gracie giggled.
"You put too much candy on the roof." She scolded eating the candy. "We can still eat it." she grinned.
"Good." Punk said grabbing a piece of frosted cover candy himself.
"Here Larry." Gracie said giving him a piece of the cracker. "You want some, mommy?"
"I'm not hungry." AJ said to her with a faint smile.
"I know what will cheer mommy up." Gracie whispered to Punk then ran off into her room.
"Babe, you're killing the part vibe." Punk said walking over to her.
"I know. I suck." She groaned. "I'm worried."
"Benny said this will be taken care of but it's Christmas so things are slowed up a bit." Punk said to her.
"Am I doing the right thing?" AJ asked him.
"I think you are but it's your decision." Punk shrugged. "I mean, these are people who could have reached out while their son was in prison. They waited for you to leave."
"Yea." AJ admitted. "I just wish they would have left me alone."
"They won't be a problem for long." Punk promised her and kissed her.
"Mommy! I want you to have your present." Gracie cheered running to her with a modest sized bag.
"Oh, honey we should wait until tomorrow." AJ smiled and she shook her head.
"No. You should have it now it will make you smile." Gracie said passing her the bag and AJ reached in and pulled out a mug that was clearly hand painted with her own hand print.
"Home is where my mom is, Merry Christmas." AJ read the inscription and cried.
"Get it? Because we moved." Gracie smiled.
"I love it so much." AJ said hugging her.
"They wanted to make glasses for their parents but I told my teacher my mommy drinks coffee all of the time and she got me the cup special and helped me write it." Gracie nodded proudly.
"You're a little artist." Punk smirked.
"Your present is in there too." Gracie said pointing at the bag and Punk reached in and pulled out something wrapped in red tissue paper.
It was a hand painted plastic picture frame. It was covered in glitter and Cubs written all around the sides and a picture of him and Gracie from the last game they went to.
"Do you like it?" She asked.
"No." He said then looked at her. "I LOVE it." He said and she jumped into his arms and hugged him.
"Are you going to hang it up at home?" Gracie asked cutely.
"Of course I am." he said proudly. "Right in my living room so everyone can see it as they walk in."
"I think Larry feels left out. I forgot to make him a present." Gracie frowned.
"Larry would just eat it." Punk smirked and kissed her cheek and then put her down. "Besides, I think Santa will bring him something."
"I hope so." Gracie said petting the dog.
"I have to walk him." Punk said.
"Can I come?" Gracie pleaded. "I'll hold the least really tight."
"It's really late." Punk sighed.
"I think we should all go." AJ announced. "Fresh air will do all some good."
"Yay! I'll get my jacket!" She shouted running to her room.
"I should have gotten her a dog." AJ teased.
"That would break Larry's heart." Punk warned her. "Gracie is #1 to him."
"That's right. That's why he gets away with peeing all over my apartment." She said looking at the dog.
"He loves you too." Punk assured her. "Not as much as I love you but you're up there."
"How much?" She asked.
"I mean, he loves you more than Bailey that's for sure." he said and she pinched his arm.
"How much do you love me?" She asked cutely.
"I'll show you how much tonight after the kid goes to sleep and Santa arrives" He smirked nipping at her lips.
"I may or may not have something special for this evening once the lights go out." She teased lightly.
"Yea?" He asked arching a brow and she nodded biting on her bottom lip.
"It's red and lacy with white trimming but it's not Santa's suit...his hat possibly." She teased and he moaned.
"We should put Gracie to bed as soon as we get back." Punk said to her and she laughed.
"It's 6." She giggled. "Don't worry, we'll have all night." She assured him.
"I'm ready." Gracie announced.
"Hat and gloves" AJ reminded her.
"Almost ready." Gracie groaned and walked back to her room.
Punk and AJ were holding hands as Gracie was a bit in front holding Larry's leash. It was lightly snowing but there had been snow on the ground for a while now. The roads were icy and it was freezing out.
"Do not cross that street." AJ warned as they approached.
"I know, wait for you." Gracie said to her.
"I'm feeling better." AJ announced. "I'm not going to let this Randy stuff get to me."
"Good." Punk said to her as his phone rang.
"Your shoelace is untied." AJ said letting go of Punk's hand and running up to Gracie before she slipped on the ice.
"Yea." Punk answered into the phone.
"I couldn't tie it because I was holding Larry's leash." Gracie shrugged.
"Well, let me tie it for you."A J said kneeling down and began to tie her shoe lace.
Punk peered over to them as he was a few feet away and listened to his friend babble on about something. Punk's head jerked when he heard a car screech driving over ice and he dropped his phone and ran as fast as he could to AJ and Gracie and tackled them to the ground as the car just narrowly missed hitting them and Larry.
This was literally Punk's worst nightmare. This was exactly what happened to his family and he knew if he was there he would have prevented it. His body was heavy and crushed the two under him but he didn't move until the car hit into the tree that was in the park they were in front of.
"I'm squished!" Gracie yelled from under Punk and he sat up carefully to make sure no other car was coming.
"Are you ok?" He asked Gracie as he sat her up. "Did I hurt you?"
"No." She sniffled. "Just scared."
"Are you ok?" AJ asked Punk sitting up as well.
"Yea." He said still in a bit of shock. "You?" he asked.
"I think I fell funny on my arm." AJ admitted but didn't want to make a big deal out of it.
"Oh, no!" Gracie gasped.
"I'm sorry." Punk said frantically pulling the sleeve up on her jacket.
"Hey, you just saved our lives." AJ said to him seriously. "A bruised arm is better than the alternative."
"I didn't even let go of Larry's leash." Gracie pointed out proudly.
"Are you guys ok?" a stranger asked running over. "That car almost took you all out."
"We're ok." AJ assured him.
"Just wait here, there's an ambulance coming." the man told them.
"Fuck." Punk muttered to himself and fell back and sat on the sidewalk, still in shock.
"Are you hurt?" Gracie frowned as she inspected Punk's face.
"No, honey I'm fine." Punk said quietly. "Are you sure you're ok." He asked inspecting her face. "You have a scratch. She can't get an infection she's just getting over sepsis." he told AJ and she nodded.
"We'll wait for the ambulance." AJ said to him and looked at Gracie. "Does it hurt, baby?"
"No." Gracie said shaking her head.
"It's just a scrape." AJ said to her then looked at Punk. "Thank you." She said to him holding back her own tears. She couldn't imagine what was going through his head right now. He just nodded at her as multiple ambulances pulled up.
"Is Larry ok?" Gracie asked bending over to check on Larry and pet him. "Punk?" she asked.
"Yea, let me see." Punk said grabbing Larry and he licked his face. "He's fine. He smells."
"So he's normal." Gracie said relieved. "I'm sorry." She said to Punk.
"You did nothing wrong. You were just standing there and he..." He trailed off as he glared at the man crawling out of his car and stood up.
"Phil, the road was icy." AJ insisted jumping up as well and standing in his way.
"He almost killed you two!" Punk yelled.
"Phil! It was an accident!" AJ said pressing her hands to his chest as he tried to get to the guy. "It was an accident." She repeated again in a softer voice.
"AJ-" He began and she wrapped her arms around him tightly.
"We're ok." She whispered into his ear and she could hear him sobbing into her neck.
Later that night the three of them were looked over by EMT's and Punk made sure the medics cleaned Gracie's little cut well. She couldn't afford any form of infection, no matter how small the cut was. They made it back and Gracie hurried off the bed so she could get up extra early tomorrow. AJ made the couch up for Punk because after their plans of private time he had to move out to the couch but AJ wasn't sure tonight was the night for her sexy Christmas show.
"Here." AJ said passing Punk a cup of coffee and curling next to him with her own.
"That bruise looks bad." Punk frowned seeing the mark on her arm.
"It's just a bruise." AJ shrugged. "Are you alright?"
"Yea." He said to her. "I just can't shake it, you know?"
"I know." She frowned. "You're our hero." she said to him and he just nodded. "I mean it." She said to him.
"I knew if I was there that night I could have done exactly that." Punk said to her.
"You do not know that." She said shaking her head. "Don't beat yourself up on Christmas after you just did something amazing."
"It's hard." He admitted.
"Gracie was telling the EMT how you saved her." AJ smirked. "She said you were like Superman. Fast and strong and she was so proud of you."
"She did?" Punk asked and she nodded.
"Then she told the EMT we kiss a lot." She smirked.
"Well, we do." He had to smile. "Gracie is going to flip in the morning." He noted looking at the packed tree.
"Yea, and that's not even the gifts from Benny and Bailey." AJ told him admiring the close to thirty gifts from 'Santa'. "She doesn't really remember her earlier Christmas's but Christian and I didn't have much and last year without him I had nothing. She only got a couple of gifts and most of them were from this charity that would give you presents to give your child. We couldn't even get a tree."
"I didn't realize you two had it so bad." Punk frowned. "There was no money at all?"
"Nope." AJ said to him. "Which is why I had come to Benny when I was running. I mean, Christmas was rough but she didn't know any better. She was thrilled with her doll and fire truck."
"Fire truck?" He asked.
"That's all they had." She shrugged. "We were always happy just being together and we did make cookies and stuff. I think I went overboard with gifts this year to make up for the last one."
"She's a really good kid. She has a good soul she deserves this." He said to her. "I vaguely recall you mentioning part of my gift before we left..."
"Yea? Are you up for it?" She asked and he nodded eagerly. "Ok, wait here." she said jumping off the couch.
Punk stood up and made sure his gifts to AJ were under the tree and waited a few minutes for her to come out.
"My god." He moaned as she appeared in a red teddy and a Santa hat.
"I was just-" She began but he tossed her over his shoulder and ran into the bedroom and locked the door.
Punk was sleeping on the couch when he heard a noise.
"Psst." a little voice hissed. "PSSST." it was louder now and Punk opened one eye and saw Gracie with a big smile.
"Santa came." She whispered.
"Oh, wow." Punk said sitting up. "I guess he did."
"There's so many presents." She nearly cried. "But mommy is still sleeping."
"I'm sure she wouldn't mind you waking her-" He began.
"Mommy!" She screamed so loud that Larry began to bark.
A moment later AJ was rushing out of the bedroom tying her robe.
"What happened?" AJ asked scared.
"It's Christmas!" Gracie cheered and AJ sighed.
"You scared me." AJ frowned.
"Sorry." Gracie giggled and AJ kissed the top of her head. "Can I open my presents now?"
"Sure." AJ smiled and Gracie ran under the tree.
The first box Gracie grabbed, Punk gently took it from her hands.
"This is for your mom actually." Punk told her.
"She's too old to get gifts from Santa. So that's for me." Gracie explained to him sweetly.
"Hey." AJ pouted.
"You're absolutely right." Punk laughed a bit. "But this is from me to your mom." he said passing AJ the large box.
"Oh, that makes more sense." Gracie said and AJ had to laugh. "Is this mine?" she asked.
"I'm pretty sure the rest is yours." Punk laughed and she began to tare into her presents.
"Phil." AJ gasped unwrapping her present. "This is too much."
"It's just a Playstation." He shrugged.
"It's a Playstation pro." AJ corrected. "These are almost four hundred dollars."
"Just say thank you and kiss me." He said to her.
"Ok, thank you and kiss me." She teased cutely and he leaned over to kiss her.
"Oh, wow!" Gracie cheered with every present she opened.
"I have something else for you." Punk said to AJ and stood up and walked over to his jacket and pulled out a slender wrapped box from his inside jacket pocket.
"Phil." She sighed as she took the gift. "I can already tell this is too much. The Playstation was too much."
"Just open it." He said and she unwrapped it and revealed a lighting bolt gold necklace.
"Oh." She gasped. "This is beautiful." She smiled taking the chain out of the box.
"You saw it in the window of the shop and I remembered." Punk told her proudly.
"Phil, we saw this months ago before we were even dating. It was when I first moved here and was apartment shopping." She pointed out.
"I have good memory." He shrugged.
"Help me put it on." She said passing him the necklace and moving her hair to the side. "It's perfect."
"This is from you!" Gracie said pointing at the heavy box.
"Hold on." Punk said jogging over. "That's really heavy."
"What is it? Is it a car?" She asked.
"You have about thirteen more years before you can ask that question." AJ teased and sat on the couch as Punk helped Gracie open the present.
"Woah." Gracie awed as Punk pulled the paper off.
The signed bat was in a glass case. She pressed her face to it, it wasn't tremendous it would fit on her wall nicely.
"That is-" He began.
"Kris Bryant signed this!" Gracie cheered and AJ was so impressed by how much she loved the Cubs. "And Mike Trout!" she screamed. "Uncle Punk, everyone signed this!"
"I know." Punk smirked. "And this bat was used in game 7 of the world series."
"This is really for me?" Gracie asked Punk in shock and he had to laugh.
"I did. And look, they wrote your name on it just so you know for sure it's meant to be yours." he pointed.
Gracie threw her arms around Punk and nearly cried.
"This is the best present ever!" she said holding him tight. "Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!"
"You're welcome." Punk laughed. "I'll hang this up in your room. It's important to keep the bat in the case because we don't want it to get damaged." he told her and she nodded.
"Did you see it mommy? Come look!" Gracie said waving her over and AJ looked at it.
"That's a pretty incredible present." AJ smiled.
"I know you can't really play with the bat so there's something else for you under there from me." He told her.
"This is all I needed." Gracie insisted. "Can you believe it mommy?" She asked her anxiously.
"I do." AJ smirked. "You just made her entire year let alone Christmas." she whispered to Punk. "Thank you." She said kissing his cheek. "Gracie, where's our present for Uncle Punk?"
"I hid it in my room." Gracie remembered and jumped up.
"I love my frame." Punk told her.
"Don't be silly. Our gift won't be as extravagant as yours to us but we tried. And it was Gracie's idea." she told him.
"Then I already love it." he said and Gracie came back and passed him a small wrapped box.
"I wrapped it myself." Gracie told him proudly.
"It's beautiful." He smirked at the poorly wrapped gift but knew she tried her best so therefor it was the best wrapped present he had ever received. Gracie leaned against his arm as he kneeled down to open the present.
"Not fast enough." Gracie scolded and ripped the paper off the box.
"Gracie." AJ warned.
"I can't help it! I need to open all presents." Gracie sighed and Punk laughed.
"Thank you." Punk said to her still laughing. "What's this?" he asked opening the box.
"Front row center ice!" Gracie cheered. "I don't know what that means, mommy?"
"I don't either but the guy who sold me the tickets said they were the best seats anyone could get." She told him as he looked at the Hawks tickets.
"Three tickets. I wants to get a ticket for Larry too but mommy said he couldn't come with us." She shrugged.
"You two are willing to sit through a hockey game with me?" He asked amused.
"Gracie really wants to go. She likes when the players fight on the ice, I'm willing to sit there and play on my phone." AJ told him.
"Thank you." He said kissing Gracie's cheek.
"Do you really like it?" Gracie asked.
"I love it. I haven't been able to get to a game this season yet." Punk told her.
"You've been so busy helping me at the hospital and then making up for missed work, we just wanted to give you a nice night." AJ said and he kissed her lips.
"Thank you. I'm looking forward to it."
"It's tomorrow." Gracie pointed proudly. "They're playing New Jersey."
"Chicago and New Jersey, seems fitting." He said to them.