Bonding Time
AJ woke up the next morning feeling kisses on her shoulder.
"I know why you have to wake up early. I don't know why you have to wake me up with you." AJ grinned rolling onto her back to face her husband.
"I have a lot of media to do today and some training." He warned her.
"I figured." She said to him. "I know the drill."
"I did want to spend some time with you and Lily though." He said to her. "I want to tell her about the baby."
"We should wait until we go to the doctor." She told him. "Let's just make sure everything is ok before she gets really excited or really disappointed."
"It just hit me that my time is going to be divided away from her now." He frowned.
"She's getting bigger. She doesn't need us to watch her 24/7 anymore." She reminded him.
"Oh no, I definitely think she needs us to watch her constantly." He said seriously and she laughed. "She's going to be the one that gives us the most trouble."
"Stop." She said still laughing.
"The fact that she's so smart is a gift and a curse." He warned her. "We can't let her slip away."
"We won't." AJ assured him. "Stop worrying about this. But speaking of children after this one, are we done?"
"Do you want to be done?" he asked curiously.
"I only imagined two or three." She shrugged.
"But I want a boy." He grinned. "And this one is not a boy." He said laying his hand over her stomach.
"Why do you say that?" she asked curiously.
"Because I just know." He said simply.
"What if we have eight more children and they're all girls?" she teased.
"Then I hope number nine is a boy. I'd also probably have to start fighting again to pay all of that college." He joked.
"What time are you leaving." She asked grabbing his face and kissing him.
"Soon." He said only pulling away briefly.
"We've already broken your fight week rule." AJ noted.
"Yes, I know so I think we should break it a few more times." He suggested gently hovering over her and kissing her but that's when their door pushed open.
"I'm up!" Lily announced as she freely walking into the room.
"Great." Punk muttered rolling back to his side of the bed and AJ sat up as Lily climbed onto their bed.
"I missed you last night." Lily said to Punk.
By the time him and AJ were finished, AJ went back to the room and Punk went off and trained for a few hours and missed Lily completely.
"That's always nice to hear." Punk teased. "Were you good for Paul?" and she nodded.
"Are you mad at him?" Lily asked curiously.
"No." Punk said to her. "When I get upset sometimes I take it out on the wrong person and I did that with Paul."
"And mommy." Lily added.
"You are too smart." Punk said almost annoyed and she laughed. "I apologized to your mommy."
"Did he?" Lily asked AJ who nodded as Lily crawled in-between them. "Did he mean it?"
"He did." AJ laughed kissing the top of her head. "How does your arm feel?"
"It's itchy." She frowned. "But I can't scratch it."
"No you can not." Punk confirmed getting out of the bed.
"You're leaving again!" Lily yelled. Punk immediately felt bad and looked over to AJ.
"You know daddy is here for work." AJ reminded her.
"But-" She started.
"You know how it is Lil." AJ again reminded her.
"I'll take you to breakfast." Punk said to her. "That sounds good right? Me, you and your mom."
"I don't want to." Lily said carefully climbing off the bed and leaving their room.
"Don't feel bad." AJ warned Punk.
"But she-" He started.
"She does this every time." AJ reminded him now. "She knows you can't stay and play with her all day. She'll get over it."
"She shouldn't have to get over it." Punk said angry with himself.
"Take her for breakfast she'll go." AJ said laying back down. "I'm too tired."
"You have to eat." He scolded.
"I will but not this early, I'm going to get sick." She reminded him. "Take your princess out for a bit."
"Ok." he said walking over and kissing AJ first. "Rest."
"I think I will." She teased closing her eyes.
"You know I have to work when we come here." Punk said sitting across from Lily who was playing with her cast while Punk cut up her pancakes.
"I know." She said to him. "I just miss you." She said sweetly.
"I miss you too." He said to her. "But work is important too. I need to work so I have money so we can live in our house and buy food."
"But mommy works too." Lily pointed out.
"It's not fair to just make mommy work is it?" He teased putting the dish in front of her face.
"Women can work." Lily said narrowing her eyes at her dad and he was nervous now.
"I didn't mean they can't-" He began.
"What did you mean?" Lily quizzed.
"How old are you? And why do you make me so nervous when we talk?" He asked annoyed and she giggled. "Of course women can work. I just mean it's not fair for just mommy to do it."
"Oh." Lily said simply using her good hand to pick up her fork.
"You're truly just like your mom, do you know that?" Punk asked in awe of it.
"Thank you." Lily grinned and he laughed.
"I know I've been working a lot lately but I promise it's almost over." Punk said to her.
"You said that last time." Lily pointed out.
"I mean it this time. I'm not going to promise I'm never going to work again because I'll still work with Uncle Dean and do some things where I have to travel once in a while but not like this."
"Good. Because I miss school." She informed him.
"Yea? You really like it there don't you?" he asked and she nodded.
"I really do daddy. I like all the kids and my teacher." She told him. "And I have so much fun!"
"Good. I'm glad you're excited about school." he said honestly.
"I love school." She said as her eyes lit up. "Not as much as dance though."
"Of course." Punk grinned.
"Why didn't mom come with us?" Lily asked.
"Mommy was tired and not feeling too well." Punk told her and Lily frowned.
"Why?" Lily asked.
"I don't know." Punk said looking at his egg whites on his dish avoiding his daughters eyes.
"Really?" Lily questioned.
"I'm the parent I give the third degree not you." He tried to scold but Lily just laughed.
"We should buy her a present since she feels sick." Lily told him. "Uncle Paul got me a giant teddy bear when I broke my arm." she told Punk.
"Yea, maybe we'll pick something up for her before we go back upstairs." Punk said to her.
"This is cute." A voice said and Punk looked up slowly and saw Eric.
"Hi." Lily greeted.
"Hi there sweetheart." Eric smiled shaking her good hand. "What happened there?"
"I was jumping on the bed." Lily told him honestly.
"Don't talk to strangers sweetheart." Punk said shooting Lily a smile.
"I'm not a stranger." Eric chuckled.
"You're a stranger." Punk corrected. "I also suggest you go finish your breakfast and let me and my daughter finish ours."
"I just wanted to apologize for yesterday. I would have done it yesterday but you and your wife ran out so quickly." Eric remarked smugly. "Where is your lovely, beautiful wife?"
"She is beautiful." Lily agreed.
"Smart kid." Eric smirked nodding towards Lily but keeping his eyes on Punk.
"My wife isn't your business." Punk said smiling, not wanting to upset Lily. "And I suggest you keep my wife's name out of your mouth from here on out and stop smearing her."
"She smeared herself." Eric said simply.
"What's smear mean?" Lily asked confused.
"Just eat Princess." Punk said smiling at his daughter.
"I was just making sure I didn't cause any friction between the two of you." Eric shrugged.
"You're really having this conversation in front of my kid?" Punk asked in disbelief.
"She's a kid." Eric shrugged.
"She's smart." Punk corrected.
"I go to a gifted school." Lily informed him casually.
"Yea?" Eric asked surprised.
"Yes. And no you did not cause any friction but you're really pissing me off now so why don't you leave us be?" Punk suggested.
"I just-" Eric began and Punk stood up from his seat. "I was just leaving. It was nice meeting you." He said to Lily who's mouth was full so she gave him a thumbs up instead.
"He's nice." Lily said to Punk who kept his eyes on Eric to make sure he left before sitting back down.
"Sure." Punk said with a forced smile.
"He called you a liar." Lily remembered.
"Yes he did." Punk nodded. "But that's just how this job works. We yell at each other over stupid things then shake hands after it's all over."
"That's crazy!" Lily said astonished.
"It's the art of what I do." he told her.
"I wish I could watch you fight." Lily said to him.
"You know you're still just a little too young." Punk said to her and she pouted. "In a few years you can watch the fights on TV."
"But I'll never see you actually do it." Lily pointed out. "Why can't I go?"
"I just said you were too young." Punk smirked.
"It's not fair." Lily argued. "I want to be there. I'm good luck." she encouraged. "I can help."
"You can't help." He laughed.
"Sure I can! I can help you fight!" she insisted.
"With a bad arm?" Punk teased. "I fight so you don't have to."
"Why can't I fight? You do." Lily asked.
"You're full of questions this morning, huh?" Punk asked exhausted.
"I am." Lily confirmed.
"If when you get older want to do what I do I won't stop you." Punk said to her. "But you're way too young to fight and you're a dancer." He reminded her.
"Why can't I do both?" Lily asked.
"A dancing fighter." Punk laughed. "That's a cute gimmick actually."
"I want to watch." Lily repeated.
"No." Punk said sternly.
"Why?" She asked and Punk threw his head back in annoyance. This was going to be a long breakfast...
"But if you're going to win I want to watch." AJ heard Lily say as she and Punk walked in the door.
"I told you that you can watch when you're older." Punk groaned.
"But why when I'm older?" Lily asked titling her head looking up at him.
"She's been asking me why for an hour." Punk said to AJ who let out a laugh.
"How was breakfast?" AJ asked as Lily ran to her and gave her a hug.
"It was good mommy." Lily told her.
"You're all sticky." AJ frowned.
"Pancake syrup." Lily grinned. "We got you a present too!"
"Yes. These are for you." Punk said giving her flowers.
"Oh thank you." AJ said kissing Lily's cheek. "Go wash up."
"Ok." Lily said running to the bathroom.
"I paid for them." Punk frowned.
"Thank you." She smiled cupping his face and kissing him. "So what's going on with our daughter?"
"She wants to know why she can't watch me fight." Punk said to her.
"Yea, I had a feeling she'd be tough with this one. She's older now and is curious." AJ noted.
"I don't want her watching me fight." Punk said sternly.
"She won't. But maybe-" AJ began.
"No." Punk said cutting her off.
"Let's just let her come for your walkout at least. I'll have Paul take her out and back up here before the fight starts." AJ said to him. "This is your last fight and she should experience some part of it. She can wait backstage with me until the fight then she'll leave."
"I don't know." Punk said shaking his head.
"Just let her get a feel of it. It will also end her curiosity." she told him.
"I don't think anything could end her curiosity." He said almost fearfully. "I mean she's full of questions about everything today. Why you're not feeling well, why she can't watch me fight, why she's too young, why she can't be a ballerina and a fighter, why I think women shouldn't work- which I didn't even say by the way." He said and she let out a loud laugh.
"She's so cute." AJ said proudly.
"A handful, she's going to be a huge handful." He warned her. "Eric was there eating too."
"Oh great." she remarked.
"I didn't bite the bait though even when he spoke to Lily." Punk told her proudly.
"Good boy." She teased. "You have a good time?"
"I did until I felt I was being interrogated." He said and AJ just laughed. "We might not have a future ballerina or fight she might be a lawyer or a judge."
"That would be awesome." AJ grinned.
"I wonder what this baby will be." He said wrapping his arms around her waist.
"A veterinarian." AJ hoped.
"Or the first ever female hockey player in the NHL." He suggested and AJ narrowed her eyes at him.
"It's possible." Punk defended.
"It is but maybe she'll be just like Lily." AJ said to him.
"Oh god, two of them." He shivered.
"What baby?" Lily asked and the two jumped apart.
"No baby." Punk laughed nervously.
"You said I wonder what this baby will be." Lily corrected. "Don't lie daddy, that's bad."
"We'll talk about it later." AJ told her and Lily just shrugged and walked into her room.
"If I would have said that she would have quizzed me for an hour." Punk whispered and AJ laughed. "I have to go meet Paul." he said giving her a kiss. "What are your plans today?"
"I wanted to take her by the pool but she has her cast." AJ frowned. "Maybe we'll go shopping. I'll get her some dresses for school."
"Boring." He mocked.
"Or we'll go sight seeing." She said to him.
"Good. Don't get lost." He warned her.
"I did used to live here." AJ reminded him.
"That's right." Punk smiled remembering.
"You can take Larry for a walk before you go." AJ said to him and he whistled for Larry. They saw Lily open her door on a crack and Larry ran out.
"I used to be your favorite." Punk reminded Larry.
"I like this one." Lily said pointing at a dress in one of the shops they were in.
"Oh yea, no." AJ said looking at it. "Your daddy would have a heart attack if you wore something like that, that's more for big girls."
"Ok." She shrugged holding onto AJ's hand.
"So you asked your dad about watching him fight?" AJ asked.
"He said I'm too young." Lily frowned. "I don't think I'm too young."
"I agree with your dad." AJ said to her and Lily rolled her eyes. "But I think we can meet in the middle and compromise."
"What's compromise?" Lily asked.
"It's when we both disagree but will agree a bit." AJ said unsurely. "Anyway, you can't watch him fight but if you want you can watch him walk out and hang out with him before the fight."
"Can I?" She asked excitedly.
"You can. You're old enough for that. But you can't stay for the fight. Uncle Paul will take you back to the room." AJ told her. "You have to promise you'll go and not argue with Uncle Paul."
"I promise." Lily promised. "Thank you, thank you, thank you!" she cheered hugging AJ.
"You're welcome." She smiled.
"Can I get a new dress?" Lily asked pointing at more. "I want a new dress to wear."
"Ok." AJ said and walked Lily over to some more age appropriate dresses.
"Red is daddy's favorite color." She said pointing at one. "I want to wear it."
"That's so sweet of you." AJ smiled looking for Lily's size and pulled it out.
"It's perfect!" Lily cheered.
"I'll tell you what, I'm going to have someone do my hair and makeup and I'll have them do your hair too." She told Lily who's eyes lit up. This was going to be her way of bonding with Lily. Punk had his moments and now she was making her own.
"Makeup to?" Lily asked excitedly and AJ laughed.
"No." She said amused. "But nice try."
AJ turned her head and it was just fate that there were tons of infant onsie's behind her. She smiled looking at them. Vegas was notorious for UFC fights so it was no surprise there was a 'My daddy is a fighter' onsie she quickly picked up. She of course wanted to confirm with her doctor but it was too cute to pass up.
"I don't think you'll fit in that mommy." Lily told her mom.
"Gee, ya think?" AJ laughed. "Let's try on the dress then we'll go get our nails done."
"Really!?" Lily asked jumping up and down.
"Yes. A total laid back girls day." AJ smiled.
"But my arm." She frowned.
"We can still paint your nails. And your feet." AJ winked.
Punk walked into the hotel at around five and frowned when he only found Larry. He checked each room for his wife and daughter and it was empty. Just as he was reaching for his phone the door opened and Lily ran in holding a bag.
"There you are." Punk said as Lily didn't stop running and ran right to him so he lifted her. "Were you out partying?"
"Yes!" Lily laughed.
"Really?" Punk frowned.
"No." AJ said walking in next and closing the door.
"I got a dress to wear to your fight." Lily told him. "But you can't look at it until Saturday." she said as she squirmed out of Punk's arms.
"Fight?" Punk asked nervously and looked at AJ.
"She's just going to watch you walk out. Paul said he'll take her up before she sees anything." She told him.
"And I got my nails done." Lily showed off.
"Wow. Those are pretty." He said to her. "Black, just like your mommy's nails always are."
"Uh-huh." Lily nodded.
"What are you doing here?" AJ asked as Lily ran into her room and Larry chased after her.
"Just a short break. Wanted to see you two." He said to her. "You ok?"
"Yes." She said to him. "I'm starving actually."
"Eat." He said simply and she laughed.
"You know running after your daughter is no easy task." She teased.
"I'd imagine it's not." He agreed. "No lunch?"
"Lily wanted a hot dog from a vendor on the street." AJ cringed. "The thought of it makes me sick."
"That used to be your favorite meal." Punk remembered grinning.
"That was all we could afford." AJ corrected. "It just didn't agree with me."
"What does agree with you? I'll go get it or order it. Whatever you want." He said to her.
"Steak." She told him.
"Ok." He said to her reaching for his cellphone again.
"And a baked potato." She added. "No sour cream- just butter, a lot of butter." She said to him as her eyes lit up.
"Steak, potato- easy peasy." Punk said to her.
"And bread." She told him and he eyed her. "I need bread on the side. Garlic bread to be exact."
"You're making my mouth water now." Punk said to her. "Anything else?"
"No but ask Lily what she wants, she ate a while ago." She told Punk.
"Lil!" Punk yelled and she poked her head out of her door. "What do you want for dinner?"
"Steak!" she cheered and Punk looked at her then back to AJ.
"She's my kid. No DNA test required." AJ smirked.
"You want to go out? Take her for that nice dinner? Or I can order it up." He suggested.
"We'll do the nice dinner together. My feet are killing me we did so much walking." She said plopping on the couch. "You can't eat?"
"Tomorrow I can." Punk smirked. "And I am going to eat everything." he warned.
"Oh god." She groaned.
"No, no I want a big steak, I want ice cream." he named off. "I'm going to eat you all night-"
"Phil." She blushed and whispered.
"I'm a starving man." He said simply and kissed her.
"Are you kissing or getting dinner?" Lily asked from her room with the door opened.
"Wow." Punk remarked turning to face at her. "You really are killing me today."
"How?" Lily asked.
"You're too young understand." He said to her and she groaned in annoyance.
"You always say that." She mumbled.
"I'll order you guys dinner before I go." Punk said dialing on his phone.
"How should I do my hair tomorrow?" Lily asked AJ, she was very excited to be pampered.
"Oh I don't know. You have some time to decide. But I think a cute little bun would like nice." AJ said to her.
"Bun's are boring. I wear that for dance." Lily told her.
"It looks so cute though." AJ insisted as Punk spoke on the phone.
"I want sexy hair." Lily announced and AJ could hear Punk's heart drop as he quickly finished his order.
"That's an awfully grown up word." AJ said to Lily amused.
"A bad word too." Punk added. "You're six. No sexy hair- no sexy anything."
"It's not a bad word it's just not a word you should use." AJ told her.
"Where did you hear that?" Punk asked.
"You said it." Lily said to Punk and he nearly fainted.
"Oh really?" AJ asked amused looking up at Punk.
"He says it a lot." Lily confirmed and now AJ was glaring at Punk.
"Who are you calling sexy?" She asked Punk.
"He said you have sexy hair last time we were here." Lily told her. "And he said to Uncle Paul when you're angry you're sexy." she told her honestly.
"I didn't know you were listening." Punk laughed nervously and rubbed the back of his neck.
"What does it mean?" Lily asked.
"You're too young to know." Punk said to her. "And no sexy hair, you're six you can have cute baby hair."
"Daddy." She groaned.
"Get over it." Punk said plainly.
"Your hair will look very nice tomorrow, all grown up." AJ promised.
"Good." Lily said relieved.
"You have to watch what you say." AJ warned Punk.
"She's literally everywhere listening." Punk defended.
"She's like a sponge at this age. She's going to repeat everything." AJ warned him.
"Then we're in big fucking trouble." Punk warned her right back.
"I want to show you something before you go." She said remembering what she bought and grabbed his hand and dragged him into their bedroom.
"I only have like five minutes." He said loosening his belt.
"Stop." She laughed slapping his arm playfully. "First of all, Lily is awake."
"Rats." he mumbled. "She's been blocking me all day with you."
"She's six." AJ reminded him grinning as she fished into her shopping bag.
"Smart six year old." He muttered.
"Look." She said pulling out the onsie she bought earlier.
"My daddy is a fighter." He grinned proudly.
"I know it's early but I couldn't resist." She said to him.
"I won't be a fighter by the time she's born." Punk reminded her almost sadly.
"You'll always be a fighter." She reminded him. "It's not what you do it's part of who you are."
"It is." He had to agree. "I love this."
"I thought you would." She said to him. "You should get going now." She said taking the clothing from him.
"This is the stuff I can't wait for to end. Missing dinner with my girls." Punk said to her.
"It's just one dinner." She told him.
"It's been countless dinners." He corrected. "I won't miss one with the new baby."
"You will." She said to him. "So will I, because as much as we want to be present constantly we can't be. And our kids will understand that."
"What are you going to do with work?" He asked her.
"What do you mean?" She questioned. "The same I did with Lily I'll take maternity then go back."
"Not that I don't think you should work." He defended quickly remembering Lily jumping all over him over the comment earlier. "But two kids is a lot and-"
"Good thing you're going to be around so much more." AJ smirked.
"I just don't want you to run yourself into the ground. You're working until midnight some nights. You're going to have to hire extra help even if it's out of pocket." Punk warned her.
"I'll take your concerns into consideration." She laughed. "You need to start educating yourself on the birds and the bees in the meantime."
"Oh, I think I've aced that subject." He grinned.
"I mean for Lily." she said and his face dropped. "She's going to have questions once we tell her about the baby. She'll ask where baby's comes from. She's at the age where she questions everything."
"Why do I have to explain it?" He asked.
"Because she hangs on every word you say. She trusts you." She told him.
"Can't we just tell her she's too young to know like we do with everything else?" He asked her and she laughed.
"No Phil we can not." She warned him.
"I don't know if I'm more nervous for my fight or that conversation." He said to her.
"She's just a kid. Relax." AJ laughed.
"Oh Daddy!" Lily yelled as if on cue and Punk walked out of the bedroom. "I think Larry needs the bathroom." She said pointing to the mess Larry made.
"I think you're a day late and a dollar short with that information." Punk mocked grabbing paper towels and cleaner.
"I think Larry wants a friend." Lily told Punk.
"Yea? Well I think you're Larry's best friend." Punk said to her.
"But I'm at school all of the time. We need a new dog." She informed her dad.
"Oh god." He groaned.
"Why not?" Lily asked. "Oh! Can I have a new pet?"
"You are driving me a bit crazy today." Punk smirked kneeling down in front of her.
"Is that bad?" Lily frowned.
"Never." he grinned and her face lit up. "I love you princess."
"I love you more." Lily announced proudly and kissed his nose. "Stay for dinner?"
"Dad has to work." AJ reminded Lily walking out of the bedroom now.
"I can stay for a bit." Punk said simply.
"Good I missed you." She said hugging him and he lifted her up and carried her over to the kitchen area. "Can I get a pet?"
"Larry would be jealous." AJ answered before Punk caved.
"I want a lizard." Lily told them.
"You are so strange." Punk said to his daughter who giggled.
"You can play with the lizards at my store." AJ told her.
"Ok." Lily shrugged.
"How come when your mom says something you don't question or argue it but when I do you don't stop?" He asked Lily genuinely curious.
"Because you say yes." Lily told him honestly.
"Sap." AJ muttered under her breath.
"I'm not a sap." Punk defended. "Am I?" He asked more himself.
"A total sap." AJ confirmed. "You're going to have to work on that."