One Step At A Time

"She just freaked out." Punk shook his head, sitting on his couch the next day where Dean was sat already having a beer even at 11am. Punk was telling him about what had happened the previous night with he and AJ, "I felt guilty after it, is that bad?"

"Yeah, it's bad." Dean said, "Don't feel guilty. You were getting it on and she changed her mind. It's not like you kept going." Dean shrugged, "Or did you?"

"No, of course not. I got off as soon as she told me to. But… it wasn't like she just asked me if we could stop, she just snapped, like she saw red." Punk sighed, "Starting to wonder if it's me that's the problem." He said.

"Of course it's not." Dean said, "She's obviously having some problems with letting people back in again. She's probably not spoke to anyone in the past five years let alone got it on with anyone." He said as Punk rolled his eyes, "If you're interested in her like you say you are then things will work out itself and it might just take a little longer. At least she'll know you really do care." He nodded.

"I do. I really do." Punk nodded, "She's great, and she's hilarious. She's got my kind of humour, you know?"

"Shit humour?" Dean asked him.

"Fuck off." Punk shook his head as Dean chuckled, "You know what I mean." He said, "And she's gorgeous and she doesn't know it."

"I do give her an A plus for looks." Dean nodded, "Latinas got me feeling some type of way." He said, watching the TV as Punk just rolled his eyes.

"I don't know when to go see her." He sighed, "I don't want her to avoid me." He said.

"Maybe you should wait until she comes to you. Give her some time." Dean said, "Think about what she's been through, right. She's practically an ex drug dealer." He shook his head.

"Don't say that." Punk warned angrily.

"Well, no offence, Phil, but she is." Dean nodded, "She rolled with the worst of the worst. Gotta have some psychological effect on her." He shrugged as Punk sighed. Dean knew about AJ's past but Punk didn't mention anything about why AJ had really left New Jersey. He'd never tell that information to anyone behind her back, not even to his closest friend.

"There's more to her than her past. She's moving on." Punk said, "It's just gonna take a little bit of time." He said as Dean nodded.

"You're a patient boy, you can wait." Dean said, "Maybe all this… getting to know one another first is gonna help her open up easier. Personally, I just skip that part but… you know-"

"Obviously you do." Punk shook his head.

"Hey, I'm just glad Kat is out of the picture." Dean said, "I liked her, don't get me wrong, and I know you guys had a hard time at one point, but she was just the bearer of bad news every time you walked into a fucking room." He said, "And she belittled everyone who was in front of her… even though she worked in a fucking bank." He shook his head and screwed his face up.

"I'm not thinking about Kat." Punk said to his own surprise. All his focus and thoughts had only been on AJ recently. She really was all he thought about, and getting to know her more, he thought about her more.

"Good." Dean nodded just as there was a knock at the door.

Punk got up from the couch, kicking Dean's feet off from resting on his coffee table and heading over to the door, opening it up as he saw AJ standing.

"Hi." Punk said with surprise.

"Hey." AJ smiled softly, looking up at him as he gulped a little, "We were on our way to the park. Bonnie has gone ahead with Kace. I said I would catch up." She said as Punk nodded, "I wanted to just stop by and apologise."

"You don't have to apologise, April." Punk shook his head. He didn't want her to feel guilty just because she wasn't ready for any next steps. That was the last thing he wanted, "Come in." He said as AJ smiled and stepped into the apartment, noticing his blonde friend sitting over on the couch, "Dean." Punk whistled as Dean turned his head.

"Did you just whistle at me?" Dean tilted his head as AJ smiled to herself and had a silent giggle.

"Yeah, I did. Fuck off out to the kitchen." He nodded as Dean just shook his head.

"Not even introducing me." Dean scoffed, standing up and walking over to them, "You must be April." He said, extending his hand to AJ who smiled and nodded.

"Dean, right?" AJ said, shaking his hand.

"The one and only." Dean smiled as Punk rolled his eyes.

"Ok, go away." Punk pushed him away as Dean sang his way out to the kitchen and closed the door over, "Sorry about him." He shook his head as AJ just smiled.

"He seems fun." AJ smiled.

"Yeah, sometimes." Punk nodded, "Look, I don't want you to feel guilty about last night." He told her.

"I didn't mean to snap like that and scare you or anything. I hope you didn't think it was you." She said as he stayed silent, "Trust me, this was me. I just saw red and I really like you and the last thing I wanted to do was mess it up. I'm scared to mess this up." She told him truthfully, "It's the one good thing that's happened to be in the past five years." She shook her head.

"I get it." Punk nodded, "I don't wanna mess it up either, and I don't want you to force yourself into anything. I'd rather you were comfortable with me."

"I am comfortable with you." AJ nodded, "That's the annoying thing." She said, "I just remember that night and it was just… too much. It was going too fast for me." She told him as he nodded, "I should never have snapped and ran out like that without saying so much as goodnight." She said, "That was wrong of me."

"You have nothing to feel bad about." Punk said, "I get that it's not easy for you but… I want you to know I'd never hurt you and… we can just take it slow for now. The time will come and it'll be right." He nodded as she smiled.

"Thank you for being so understanding." She nodded. She couldn't believe just how wonderful and patient he was. She felt blessed to have met him and although she kept feeling overwhelmed, she never wanted to stop what was going on with them.

"How about I drop by tonight? I'll bring a pizza up?" He asked her as she smiled and nodded.

"Yeah, that'd be nice." AJ smiled, walking over to the door as he walked with her, "I'll see you tonight then." She said as he nodded, watching as she leaned up and pressed a kiss on his cheek as he smiled, watching her leave as he shut the door and smiled to himself.

"You really are just a big soft teddy bear, aren't you?" Dean emerged with a bag of chips, heading back to the couch as Punk just groaned, "You almost had me crying in there." He shook his head, collapsing back down on the couch as Punk wandered over.

"Can you not go annoy someone else today?" Punk asked him.

"No." Dean said, "Seth is coming over in half an hour for the game. Don't get cranky with me because your dick is dry." He pointed a finger at him as Punk grabbed a cushion and threw it at him, "Watch the chips!" Dean shouted with his mouth full, protecting his bag of chips.

AJ finally caught up with Bonnie and Kace at the park. Bonnie had slept over at AJ's. She came to the apartment last night and was upset by the events that had taken place. Not upset by what had happened necessarily but how she had reacted and how her anxiety had got the better of her. Bonnie calmed her down and was the best friend she needed her to be. She felt like she was eighteen and depending on her high school friend to help her with her crush.

They had breakfast and Kace was eager to go out and do something so AJ had suggested the park and that's where they were.

"So he was ok?" Bonnie asked, sitting on the bench with AJ whilst Kace was playing around in the park.

"He was fine." AJ nodded, feeling better that she'd spoken to Punk, "He was totally understanding." She said, "Made me feel a lot better." She said, "I really don't want to be afraid of being with him just because I'm scared something bad will happen."

"Look, you're bound to have negative thoughts, especially after everything that went on in New Jersey but… I can tell my brother likes you, and I know you like him. He'd never hurt you or do anything to upset you. Not purposely anyway." She teased as AJ smiled, "You are safe here, April." She nodded, "You and Kace. You've let us in so that means we're gonna look out for you. Me. Phil. Phil's stupid friends. Despite how annoying they are they have morals and codes. They look out for one another and that means you as well." She nodded.

"Feels nice to be a part of something again." AJ smiled and nodded.

"You and Phil… the time will come. The right time. I don't want details." She warned, "But it'll happen when it's supposed to, and you'll want it to happen." She nodded, "God, I really hate being your friend and his sister." She groaned a little, "Feel a little sick thinking about it." She placed her hand over his mouth, "I am really trying here."

"I appreciate it." AJ smiled and laughed, "I really like him, Bonnie, and I don't wanna mess it up with him or give him the wrong impression. I just need a bit of time to get used to letting someone in again." She nodded, "I just want a good life for me and my son." She nodded, looking over at Kace, smiling at how happy he was, probably the happiest they'd both been in a long time, "He makes me happy." She turned to Bonnie and nodded as Bonnie smiled.

"Then don't be afraid of him." Bonnie smiled, "He's a good kid." She nodded, "And he'd do right about you, and Kace." She said as AJ smiled.

"He's coming over tonight for pizza." AJ said as Bonnie smiled.

"Good. One step at a time, right?" She nudged AJ playfully and AJ nodded and smiled.

Meanwhile, across the park, are car was parked, eyes behind the tinted window watching on closely.

A/N: Thanks for the reviews! I know it seems like their relationship is dragging out but I didn't want to rush this one. Hope you guys are enjoying. Review and let me know what you think!