Our Place

Backstage AJ was now again back in Punk's locker room. Since the pregnancy wouldn't be a secret forever there was no point in hiding in their relationship anymore. Punk was pulling up his boots as he tried to get in the mindset for tonight since the last few days he's been all about AJ and on cloud nine over the baby.

"You look good." AJ said to him and he laughed.

"Yea? That's the most important part." Punk smirked. "How are you feeling?"

"My morning sickness is now strictly in the morning." She confirmed. "I feel really good. I could go out at least to ringside I don't know why they had to pull me off of TV."

"Because wrestling is messy and it's always possible someone could accidentally bump into you." Punk informed her and she rolled her eyes; which he caught. "I hope my dad is wrong." he mumbled under his breath.

"Wrong about what?" she asked curiously.

"He thinks you're going to have a girl." he said to her.

"Yea?" AJ asked cutely. "I think that would be cute. You wouldn't want a 'daddy's girl'?"

"I want anything that's healthy but a girl is going to roll her eyes at me just like you do." Punk pointed out.

"That would be cute." AJ confirmed. "So are you ready?"

"I was born to do this." Punk said standing up. "I'm not even getting in the ring with Jay tonight it's just going to be me and Paul talking and building this thing up."

"Alright." She said with a sigh. "It's just-" she started then stopped herself.

"What is it?" He asked her getting annoyed.

"When you do get in the ring with Jay he tends to be overzealous." She warned him.

"I've been warned about the guys he knocked around for acknowledging your existence." Punk told her. "I'll be fine and like I said I won't even be out there with him tonight."

"How are we going to explain taking off live events?" She asked him. "I know Vince is doing us the favor for these next few weeks but..."

"I told Kofi who asked me about it that we're going to be moving you to Chicago so Vince granted us some time to get it done." Punk shrugged.

"What about me being off of TV? People are going to wonder." She pointed out.

"They're revamping your character." Punk shrugged. "They do all of the time with talent."

"Ok." She said to him.

"Stop worrying about this insignificant crap." He urged her.

"Punk you're up!" A producer yelled from outside his door and Punk leaned over and gave her a kiss.

"Give them hell." She told him and he shot her a wink.

The second Punk was gone the locker room door opened and Jay walked in.

"What are you doing here?" AJ asked him.

"We had a long history." Jay pointed out. "I mean we were engaged, we worked together, we loved each other so we meant something to each other."

"What is the point of this?" AJ asked him growing annoyed.

"You owe me the truth." Jay said to her sternly. "Are you pregnant?"

"I don't owe you anything." AJ informed him standing up and folding her arms. "And I want you to leave."

"You really are pregnant." He said stunned. "How could you be so careless? You can't even take care of yourself you can't take care of a child." he scolded.

"I'm not discussing anything with you." AJ snapped. "I want you out!"

"I'm just here to help you." Jay reasoned.

"Help me?" AJ asked stunned "Help with what?"

"How far along are you?" He asked. "If you're still early on-"

"Don't you dare." AJ hissed.

"You don't know Punk!" Jay yelled. "I know Punk! He's the guy who left you standing on stage in New York, he didn't even call after your father died-"

"He didn't know!" AJ yelled.

"He gets bored and he moves on." Jay told her. "You're going to sacrifice your entire career so you can sit at home changing diapers while he's out fucking any female that has a pulse!"

"He loves me!" AJ argued. "He truly loves me and he wants this baby which is more than I could say for you!"

"It's just so surreal." Jay said to himself. "I always thought it would end up being us in the end. I won't raise his kid." he warned her and AJ couldn't believe him.

"There will never be an 'us' ever again." AJ informed him calmly. "You were a rebound, a mistake, a one night stand that went for too long! Phil treats me with respect, he doesn't mooch off of me-"

"Is that what he told you about me?" Jay chuckled.

"Is he wrong?" AJ asked folding arms. "You lived with me and didn't pay rent, you made me pay for classes and that house in Tampa you're living in was bought and paid for by me!"

"He's that threatened by me that he brainwashed you against me." Jay said shaking his head and stormed out of the room.

That's when it hit AJ as to where he was going and walked out of the locker room and towards a TV monitor where Punk and Paul were talking in the ring. Jay ran down the ramp and slid into the wrong without Punk even knowing before it was too late. AJ cringed as he started punching Punk anywhere he could get a shot.

AJ cringed as she saw blood and knew Punk's face was cut up pretty badly. She watched as Paul tried to get Jay off of him but pushed him to the ground and soon refs and security slid into the ring to pull him off of Punk who never recovered from the blindside. She watched as the ringside doctor and entered the ring once Jay was properly restrained and snuck out from behind the curtain and walked down the ramp towards the ring herself. She passed Jay as he was being pulled to the back and he studied her as she crawled into the ring and dropped to her knees and leaned over Punk.

"Get out of the ring." Punk said to her. "I'm fine."

"You're covered in blood." She practically cried.

Punk sat up with the help of the doctor and cleaned off his face. He looked to the ramp and saw Jay watching AJ.

"He came into the locker room the minute you left." she whispered to Punk and he looked at her concerned. "He knew. I don't know how-"

"It's alright." Punk assured her then looked back towards Jay and narrowed his eyes at him.

"Let's get you to the back." Doc said helping Punk stand up but he jerked his arm away.

"I don't need help." Punk grumbled and held the bottom rope up for AJ so she could leave the ring first.

Before going to the locker room Punk was pulled into a closed door meeting with Vince, Hunter and Mark. She knew what it was about and prayed that Jay would just be fired over his actions tonight. She paced outside the door nervously when Kofi joined her.

"How is he?" Kofi asked her.

"He's banged up but ok." AJ said to him and Kofi pulled her into a hug.

"Are you ok?" Kofi questioned.

"Yea I'm fine." AJ said to him pulling away. "Have you seen Jay?"

"No." Kofi said to her. "I'm assuming he's in there or he's been asked to leave."

"I can't believe he did that." AJ said to Kofi shaking her head. "He's going to be fired right?"

"I don't know it depends on what Punk says I guess." Kofi said to her. "I heard you were pulled from TV and live events I was starting to wonder if you got fired."

"No." AJ said shaking her head. "Nothing like that. I still work here."

"AJ." Punk said walking out of the office. "I need her." He said to Kofi who just nodded as Punk took her hand and led her away from people.

"You should let the doctor look at you." she frowned running her hand over his cheek.

"Don't worry about that." Punk said gently pushing her hand away. "What happened in that locker room?"

"He knew I was pregnant and told me I shouldn't have it that you'd get bored and then he said you brainwashed him against me." AJ told him.

"He didn't hurt you?" Punk asked looking her directly in the eyes.

"No of course not. He's a jerk but he's not that bad." AJ said to him. "Why? Are they firing him?"

"No because he was supposed to come out I was told two seconds before I went out there he just came out early." Punk said to her.

"He really nailed you." AJ frowned running her thumb over the cut above his eye.

"I would have expected it if I had known he was coming out early." Punk groaned.

"I knew this would happen." She whispered. "How did he know? Did you tell anyone?"

"No, of course not." He said to her. "Paul probably put two and two together and told him." he said to her.

"Are you ok to work this story with him?" she asked him.

"I'll tell you what I told Vince just now, I'm not going to be the problem." He assured her.

"You keep telling me it's going to be ok and it's fine but he blindsided you tonight and busted your nose." AJ argued.

"I mean it AJ." He assured her. "I just don't know why he cares so much."

"He's just jealous." AJ said as they walked back to his locker room. "I've seen him get like that before. I've lived with that for years."

"That's insane." He scoffed holding the door open for her. "I mean don't get me wrong, I'd feel stupid losing you too if I was him but come on."

"If a fan even looked at me for too long he'd say something." AJ sighed remembering.

"That's because he knew you were too good for him." Punk snorted. "Let's just get the hell out of here and get to New York and start packing up your stuff."

"I would feel better if you got checked out first." AJ frowned. "What if you have a concussion?"

"I've had many concussions in my long career and trust me when I say I don't have one now." He said to her. "Let's just get out of here before I bump into Lethal."

Back in New York Punk was packing up AJ's DVD's while she packed her clothes into boxes. Someone knocking at the door stopped Punk and clearly AJ didn't hear it so he walked to the door and checked to see her mother and opened the door.

"Phil." Janet smiled and gave him a hug.

"Mrs. Men-" He stopped himself realizing that wasn't her last name anymore.

"Just call me Janet." she smiled walking inside removing her long navy french coat. "Where is that daughter of mine?"

"Janet?" AJ asked scrunching up her face as she held a box.

"That's mom to you." Janet corrected and shook her head at AJ as Punk took the box from her. "Are you moving in Phil?"

"No." Punk said and he looked towards AJ. "You didn't tell her?"

"Tell me what?" Janet questioned.

"I'm moving to Chicago with Phil." AJ told her and Janet just smirked. "What?"

"It's nothing." Janet said to her trying not to laugh.

"Say it." AJ insisted as Punk tried to busy himself.

"It's just you move a lot to appease the men in your life and before you say it, no that is not a dig at Phil." Janet told her.

"No it's a dig at me." AJ said with a sarcastic smile.

"Don't you think after the last relationship where you moved the guy right in and it ended that maybe you should take sometime to find yourself?" Janet asked her as Punk tried not to listen.

"First of all Jay and I were over for a while before I began dating Phil, a year actually." AJ informed her. "And second of all you're one to talk. Dad wasn't even cold before you moved on."

"Don't do this April." Janet sighed. "I don't want to fight."

"Why are you here?" AJ asked annoyed moving into the kitchen with an empty box.

"I haven't seen or heard from you since the wedding, I haven't seen you on TV so I got concerned." Janet said to her sadly. "You won't even answer my calls."

"I've been out of the country." AJ shrugged and caught Punk's pleading eyes. She knew he wanted her to tell her mother about the baby.

"Are you sick?" Janet asked concerned.

"No I'm not sick." AJ said shaking her head then looked at her. "I'm having a baby."

"What?" Janet asked stunned.

"Phil and I are having a baby. I found out two weeks ago." AJ told her.

"Another grandbaby." Janet smiled and wrapped her arms around her but AJ barely hugged her back. "This is wonderful but-"

"But what?" AJ asked her knowing she had something to say.

"You're moving to Chicago?" Janet questioned. "When will I see the baby?"

"You can come to Chicago and stay in a hotel." AJ shrugged.

"You'll need help." Janet insisted. "Why don't you both stay here?" she asked looking at Punk. "I can stay with the baby all of the time and you both could work without any worries-"

"Phil has a bigger home and I agreed to move in with him even before I knew about the baby." AJ told her.

"But what are you going to do about work? I mean Phil works all week you're going to need help." Janet told her.

"I'm going to help." Punk added and AJ gave him a sweet smile.

"Of course you are." Janet smiled.

"It's funny because when we told Phil's father I was having a baby he offered to move to New York with us to help." AJ said to her.

"I can't just uproot." Janet frowned. "But I respect your decision."

"Gee thanks." she said sarcastically.

"I wish you would have told me. Your first pregnancy is such an emotional thing." she told AJ who looked away from her and began packing up dishes. "Your body is going to change."

"I know what's going to happen." AJ snapped.

"At least let me help you pack." Janet offered.

"Not necessary." AJ said simply as she taped up a box.

"Did you put the apartment on the market?" Janet asked.

"I'm not selling." AJ told her and Janet nodded.

"That's good thinking." Janet agreed but it peeked Punk's interest.

"Why not?" he asked her.

"It's a great apartment." AJ pointed out.

"But you won't be here anymore. Why would you want to waste money here?" He asked her curiously. "Is this like a 'backup' place for you?"

"That's not what she meant." Janet smiled at him.

"Don't help me." AJ said to her mother then looked at Punk. "I do plan on visiting Phil, I have friends here and this way we won't need to get a hotel that's all. It's not a backup."

Punk just gave her a sarcastic smirk and carried a box into the bedroom.

"Phil." She sighed watching him walk away.

"I think you're doing the right thing." Janet whispered.

"It's not a backup!" AJ argued. "I just didn't want to sell I've lived her for so long and daddy-"

"Bought it for you." Janet finished for her. "So why didn't you just explain that to him?

"You can go." AJ said walking over to the door and opening it.

"I want to be part of my grandchild's life April." Janet said to her sadly. "Even if I have to fly out to Chicago every weekend you're going to have to accept the fact that I love you and I'm not going anywhere." she told her then walked out and AJ slammed the door after her.

AJ walked into the bedroom and saw him laying on the bed and looking at his phone.

"It's not a backup." AJ said to him.

"It feels like it to me." Punk responded not even looking at her.

"My dad got me this when I turned 18. It's the last great gift I have ever gotten from him." She said crawling onto the bed. "There's a piece of him here." She said then frowned when he didn't respond. "I'll put it on the market though if that will make you feel better."

Punk dropped his phone and looked over to her.

"You'd do that?" He asked her.

"My dad is gone." AJ said with a sad smile. "He wouldn't want me to risk my future over my past."

"Keep the apartment AJ." Punk said to her.

"No I'm going to sell." She said to him. "I need to move on."

"It's just the idea of you having a place that you can run off too and you're not alone. You and the kid are kind of a package deal." He pointed out and she gave him half a smile. "You're it. Your little self is my entire world and I don't want you sneaking out I want you with me."

"I'm not going anywhere." She promised him. "I would never take your child from you either. You're going to be such an amazing father."

"Yea? I mean I don't know how to be one but we'll see." He admitted.

"I don't know how to be a mother." She pointed out.

"It comes naturally to women. You get to bond with that baby for nine months I start from scratch." He pointed out.

"Not all women are cut out to be mothers." AJ reasoned.

"You are." He said to her.

"I think we'll be a solid team." She said to him positively placing her hand over her still flat stomach. "I'm still worried about you wrestling Jay."

"AJ-" he began in an annoyed voice.

"Phil it's not just about you anymore." She reminded him. "If you get hurt remember you have me and a baby on the way."

"It's all I think about now AJ." He argued.

"Really think about it." She insisted. "If he drops you the wrong way you could be seriously hurt. And I assume you want to be able to walk around with your child, pick her up, dance with her at her wedding-"

"I get it AJ." He groaned.

"No I don't think you do. Worst of all he could actually kill you if he wanted to." She said to him and he rolled his eyes. "Don't do that because the first thing you told me when I stepped into the ring eight years ago that my opponent is putting their life into my hands."

"I believe I said freakishly small hands." Punk corrected.

"I need you around." She said to him.

"I'm going to have my will changed-" Punk began and she slapped his arm. "Ow! The fuck AJ?"

"You know it's not about money." She argued. "I have plenty of money it's about you. I need you and this baby needs you. Promise me that you'll take this week and really think this over before you put your life into Jay and Paul's hands."

"It's just wrestling." Punk reminded her.

"You need someone in your corner." AJ insisted. "And I think I know the perfect person."

"Who?" he asked curiously and she smiled broadly and he let out a big laugh. "You?"

"Why not?" She pouted.

"Because you're pregnant and if something were to happen you even accidentally at the hands of one of those two I will be gone, I'll be in prison." He informed her seriously.

"Just promise me you'll think this over?" she pleaded.

"I'll think it over." He promised and watched as she got up and began to move around the room.

"No sex." She warned him and he narrowed his eyes. "I want to pack."

"That's not what I was thinking." He defended. "I was thinking of how much you've grown up."

"I didn't get any taller." she teased.

"It's just...I don't know." he said eyeing her and smiling.

"Well I'm not nineteen anymore." She said to him. "Or this baby thing would be awkward. Did you ever think we'd end up together all of these years later?"

"I knew I'd see you again." he said to her. "I thought about you a lot the last few years."

"Really?" She asked and he nodded. "You were thinking about the club?"

"I was actually wondering what you were doing." Punk confided. "I used to follow you on your college Facebook account until you deleted it. I thought I'd see you in a play or something. I never thought you were wrestling. I would have been around if I had known."

"Why only if you knew I was wrestling?" she asked him.

"I never felt good enough for you." Punk told her and she frowned. "I mean you were- and still are- this beautiful woman with an amazing family, money, brains, personality, I just felt you deserved a guy who worked a 9-5 and made his living in an office somewhere."

"That's insane." she said shaking her head.

"I didn't belong in your world." He said to her.

"You always belonged." She said to him. "I told you none of that stuff mattered to me."

"It did to me." He said to her. "It was a pride thing and that's why I didn't stay in New York for your show."

"I thought you left because you realized I wasn't good enough for you." She admitted sitting on the edge of the bed.

"Are you kidding?" he asked with a laugh.

"I was young and naive and an attention seeker." she pointed out with a laugh. "My dad spoiled me and it wasn't until he was gone that I truly had to learn to take care of myself. I didn't even know how to pay my credit cards." She laughed. "You were so grown up and you protected me." she whispered. "The way you stood up for me after Kip hit me knowing you'd lose your job I didn't just love you but you were my hero."

"I'm sorry I couldn't be your hero after that." he admitted sadly sitting up and moving next to her.

"You've always been my hero." She said to him. "I watched all of your stuff and saw you climb to the top in a company that clearly didn't want you and it was inspiring."

"I'm not talking about work." Punk frowned.

"I had to grow up at some point." she reasoned with a shrug.

"You're not alone anymore." He reminded her and kissed her shoulder then neck.

"I want to pack." She groaned knowing where this was going. "I want to be in Chicago next week."

"We're almost done packing." He reasoned pulling her so she'd lay on the bed.

"I can't wait to do this when we're officially living together at your place." She said as he carefully kept his weight off of her but hovered over her body.

"Our place." he corrected before pressing his lips against hers.