Part XXV: Morning After
When Punk woke up the next morning he wasn't even sure how he ended up back in his bed with AJ. The last thing he remembered was AJ's clumsy interpretation of a striptease. He had to laugh at how she tripped over her own feet more than once. But she tried and her choice of red lacy lingerie she purchased was more than enough to turn him on. She rarely dressed like that ever….another thing he remembered was how the tables turned and he ended up showing AJ how it was done which he was pretty sure was her master plan all along. One thing led to another and they ended up 'christening' their brand new kitchen.
He glanced over to the woman who would be his wife in 24 hours and smiled at her small frame that was sleeping soundly. She even had a goofy smile on her face, one that he absolutely adored. He reached over and pulled the bed sheet up so it was covering her bare back and then carefully got out of the bed so he wouldn't wake her. He reached over and pulled on a pair of boxers and headed into the bathroom. He glanced into the mirror and frowned upon seeing his black eye he just remembered how he got it. Corey Graves showed up at his house to confront AJ. He was so glad he headed home early that night but wished he had left Colt and Cliff behind this way no one would have been able to break up their fight. Right then and there he decided to push Corey out of his mind at least for the rest of the weekend. He didn't want to taint his big weekend with AJ and would try as hard as he could to not bring Corey up to her.
After a long shower Punk stepped back into the bedroom and noticed AJ hadn't moved a muscle.
"Hi" she said in a sleepy voice causing him to grin as he looked over to her
"Good morning" He smiled "I thought you were still sleeping"
"I've been up for a little bit but my body is wrecked" AJ said to him a laugh "I don't think I can move"
"I would apologize but I wouldn't mean it" Punk smirked plopping down next to her
"Did you have a good night?" AJ asked
"Hell yea" Punk said firmly "It was amazing"
"My dance sucked" AJ pouted
"No it didn't" Punk assured her "It was everything I expected"
"Your dance was better" AJ noted "You must have more practice"
"No trust me you stole the show" Punk said giving her a kiss on top of her head
"Your eye looks awful" AJ noted running her hand down his cheek
"It's fine" Punk shrugged
"I can cover it for you" AJ said to him
"I'm not wearing makeup" Punk laughed
"You used to wear eyeliner" AJ pointed out
"I was young and stupid" Punk said seriously "And I'm a man I don't cover up my bruises"
"Ugh I don't even want to get out of bed" AJ said burying her head into her pillow "I am so tired"
"So stay in bed" Punk suggested "What do you have to do today anyway?"
"Um we're getting married tomorrow" AJ reminded him "I have to move some furniture around, set up outside-"
"I have that covered" Punk assured her
"You paid to have people fix up the place?" AJ questioned unsurely.
"No Colt and Cliff are going to do it" Punk said to her seriously
"Well if they're coming over we have to clean up the kitchen" AJ said to him "We really destroyed it last night"
"Did we?" Punk questioned causing AJ to let out a snort that's when the doorbell rang
"Are they here already?" AJ asked "what time is it?"
"Almost one" Punk said to her as she sat up quickly
"It's that late?" she asked frantically
"Relax there's nothing for you to do today just stay up here and take your time" Punk laughed standing up
Once Punk let his friends in they both mocked his eye.
"He really laid it on you, huh?" Cliff laughed poking Punk's bruised eye
"He's taking pills of course he got a good shot in" Punk defended slapping Cliff's hand away as Colt headed into the kitchen
"He hasn't stopped by again has he?" Cliff asked
"No he hasn't" Punk said bitterly "How did he even know where we lived?" he asked Cliff
"I didn't say a word" Cliff said to him
"Hey Punk I think someone broke into your kitchen" Colt said waving them into the kitchen
"Holy crap" Cliff said looking around the kitchen. Two kitchen chairs were knocked over, a few broken dishes, the table was out of place…it looked bad "You didn't hear this last night?"
"Oh" Punk said blushing slightly scratching the back of his head "I did this actually"
"You through a tantrum?" Colt asked stunned "I thought you grew out of that when you turned thirty"
"Wasn't really a tantrum" Punk said picking up a chair and stepping on some broken glass
"Ew" Cliff said picking something up off the floor "You dirty dog!" he said holding up a condom wrapper "You two had sex in here last night! This was angry sex!"
"Keep your voice down" Punk said snatching the wrapper from him "And no it wasn't, it was just regular sex" he muttered
"Oh you two consider this normal?" Colt laughed gesturing around the disheveled kitchen
"You are so lucky" Cliff said with a disgusted voice
"Things got a little out of hand we're really not normally like this" Punk said to them as he picked up the other chair
"Hello" Cliff grinned picking something else up off the floor
"No" Punk warned snatching as AJ's lingerie from his hands "Too far" Punk warned
"You left it out here in the open" Cliff defended lightly as Punk placed the garment into his pocket
"Are you two going to stand around and judge me or help me clean this?" Punk asked his friends
"You think we're going to help you clean up your after sex mess?" Colt asked seriously then lout a loud laugh "No way man. I agreed to help set up a bunch of wedding crap outside"
"I'll help" Cliff offered
"Don't want your help" Punk said shooting him a glare
"Another wrapper?" Colt asked pointing to the floor "How many times- you know what I don't want to know"
"Are you sure you really want to marry her?" Cliff asked Punk
"You two are starting to piss me off" Punk warned
"How could you be in a bad mood after the night you had last night?" Colt asked Punk seriously
"I don't know maybe its you two mocking me?" Punk questioned annoyed
"We're not mocking we're just jealous" Colt laughed
"Extremely" Cliff said emphasizing on it as he spoke "Where is AJ?"
"She's still in bed" Punk muttered picking up a mug that managed not to break
"I-" Cliff started
"Don't" Punk warned Cliff knowing where the comment was going
"Oh wow" AJ said entering the kitchen that looked like a tornado crashed through it
"Good morning" Colt smiled
"Hi AJ" Cliff waved blushing slightly
"Hi guys" AJ muttered trying to hide her embarrassment
"I'll take care of this you guys go set up the chairs outside or something" AJ suggested grabbing a broom to clean up some of the glass
"Are you sure?" Cliff asked
"Actually I'm more interested in hearing about Corey" Colt said causing Punk to roll his eyes "What did he say to you last night?"
"Weird stuff" AJ shrugged sweeping the floor "He was definitely off his rocker"
"By the way how did you two not hear them arguing?" Punk asked them
"We had the TV on loud" Cliff defended "Obviously if we heard anything we would have been outside"
"Yea seriously" Colt said firmly "Punk only heard you because he was upstairs by the window getting changed"
"It's fine" AJ said brushing it off "He did no harm…to me that is." She said looking at Punk's eye
"He got lucky!" Punk shouted to the room
"I'm actually really glad you were there" AJ said to him. Neither had discussed Corey since last night "He actually scared me. I really thought you weren't home"
"Good thing we skipped the strip club" Cliff said seriously
"So is the friendship officially over between you two now?" Colt asked. Punk was also curious to hear her response.
"I hate to say it but yes" AJ said to them "I'm not to fond of being called a bitch and chased into my house"
"He called you a bitch?" Cliff asked. He seemed more offended then AJ.
"Actually his exact words were 'don't walk away from me, bitch'" AJ quoted with a laugh but none of the guys saw the humor "It was ridiculous. He must have thought he was in some sort of a movie"
"He's seriously strung out" Colt said to her "And I don't think any of us need a reminder on how serious these kind of situations can turn"
"I'm pretty sure Punk scared him off" AJ said to them
"I don't know" Punk spoke up first "The fact that he even showed up here in the first place is very alarming."
"He's angry about his job and was venting- he got out of his system" AJ told them
"Sounds like he needs to get something else out of his system" Cliff muttered
"I'm actually really worried" Colt said to them "What are you doing about this?" he asked Punk "Do you think he'll show up here tomorrow?"
"No one knows we're getting married tomorrow" Punk reminded them "And if he shows up here I'll show him out again. It's that simple but I'm not going to think about that right now because right now we need to focus on our wedding and I'm not going to let Corey Graves cast a dark cloud over it" both Colt and Cliff exchanged odd looks.
"How very optimistic of you" Colt laughed
"Yea whatever AJ did to you last night really made you happy" Cliff smirked
"Actually he made me happy" AJ smirked over to Punk who loved the fact that AJ didn't seem embarrassed "Very happy in fact"
"It's more fun when we're teasing you and Punk. You kind of take away from it if you agree" Colt pointed out
"Sorry boys" AJ grinned
"Yea stop ganging up on me" Punk warned them "Or I'll sick her on you both"
"Promise?" Cliff asked with wide eyes. Punk went to lunge at Cliff but Colt stepped in front of him
"Play nice" AJ warned them "And stop wasting time and set up for my wedding before I uninvited you"
"Yes mom" Cliff mocked
"You're going to get hurt" Punk warned as Cliff walked by him
"I'll hit you right in your other eye, you'll be blind and I'd take you down like that" he said that snapping his fingers
"Enough" Colt said pushing Cliff outside into the yard
"I'll help you clean up in here" Punk offered
"No go supervise your friends" AJ said to him sweetly "I'd rather do this anyway since I caused most of the mess. The kitchen was my idea"
"It was a wonderful idea" Punk agreed giving her a kiss
"What is this?" she asked pulling something out of his pocket
"Cliff found it on the floor" Punk told her causing her to groan
"Sorry" AJ said innocently
"Yea, yea" Punk groaned kissing the top of her head
An hour later AJ was just about done cleaning up the kitchen. She looked outside and saw the three boys setting up a few chairs and laughing amongst each other. She couldn't hide the smile as Punk seemed to happy and free. Her phone ringing pulled her eyes away and she frowned when she didn't recognize the number but saw a Chicago area code
"Hello?" AJ asked
"AJ?" Corey asked "Please don't hang up!" he pleaded "I need help"
"Corey" AJ groaned "I can't do this right now" she said to him
"I got arrested last night" Corey said to her desperately "I need to get out of here please come bail me out"
"What were you arrested for?" AJ asked
"I fell asleep in my car and apparently that's against the law" Corey mocked
"It must have been more than that" AJ said to him "I can't Corey I'm sorry"
"AJ please don't leave me here" he pleaded "I get one phone call and you're it'
"You really scared me last night" AJ pointed out "And you said some terrible things"
"I don't have time to discuss your feelings right now AJ I'm in jail!" Corey shouted causing AJ to pull the phone away from her ear
"Maybe it will do you some good" AJ said to him bitterly "It will give you time to think about what you did and get off of whatever you're on"
"Please don't do this to me AJ" he pleaded desperately "I can't stay in here!"
"I'm sorry Corey" AJ said quickly then hung up
"Tell me I didn't just hear that" Punk said startling her as she turned to face him "Did he seriously just call you? And you answered?"
"I didn't recognize the number" AJ said to him "He got arrested last night"
"You're kidding" Punk mocked "For what?"
"He was sleeping in his car he said" AJ said to him
"He was probably too strung out to drive and pulled over" Punk said shaking his head "Did he really expect you to bail him out?"
"I guess so. He used me as his only phone call" AJ told him "Maybe-"
"No" Punk said firmly "Let him rot in there for all I care. You're not getting anymore involved"
"I was going to say maybe we should call a friend of his to go bail him out" AJ suggested
"And again no" Punk said in a stern voice "He got himself into this mess let him get himself out of it"
"He doesn't really know anyone in Chicago" AJ reminded him
"You just have this thing for helping strays don't you?" Punk said with a laugh "I love the fact that you're so generous and sweet but I am not going to let you dig yourself in deeper with this lunatic. He's an adult and he made his own choices so he can deal with the consequences"
"Ok" AJ agreed lightly "I wasn't going to go"
"Good" Punk said to her "Now come outside and look at the setup"
Later that night they were up watching a movie and eating Chinese food.
"I really don't think you should sleep here tonight" AJ said to him
"I told you I don't believe in those superstitions" Punk said not taking his eyes off of the TV "And I'm surprised you do"
"I don't but it just seems like something everyone does" AJ said with a shrug
"We're not everyone else" Punk reminded her shooting her a quick grin before going back to watch the TV
"You're at least going to stick to your side of the bed" AJ warned
"You're the one that always folds" Punk reminded her taking a bite out of his food "I'll be on my best behavior you on the other hand have issues keeping your hands to yourself"
"Oh please" AJ laughed
"You even do it in your sleep" Punk said looking at her and giving her a serious face
"Maybe I should sleep in the game room" AJ suggested
"Oh no you're sleeping in our bed next to me" Punk said firmly watching the movie intently "We'll just put a pillow in-between us or something"
"Could a pillow really keep us apart?" AJ asked him
"Oh not a chance but I'm just trying to pacify you" Punk said to her
"Well I'm going to go to bed first than" She said standing up putting her plate down "You can clean up"
"What? The movie isn't even over!" Punk said as his eyes followed her
"I need my beauty sleep" AJ informed him
"No you don't" Punk mocked "You're really ditching me?" he asked with a laugh
"Enjoy the rest of the movie" AJ smirked "And stick to your side of the bed" she warned
"You're cold" Punk remarked as AJ just laughed
"Ok fine I'll clean up" AJ said to him as she grabbed some dishes and placed them in the sink
"This is our pre-wedding night" Punk reminded her with a laugh. Neither noticed the figure in the backyard lurking around the chairs and flowers that were set up. It was way too dark. But Punk and AJ were crystal clear seeing as how the door to the yard was all glass.
"We got this out of our system last night" AJ laughed pulling away from him "At least I did"
"I can lay next to you all night and just hold you and be completely satisfied" he assured her tugging on her wrists and pulling her to his chest
"Prove it" AJ challenged
"Oh you know I love a challenge" Punk said with a grin as he kissed her cheek. The figure got closer to the door as it wandered around the yard. "The question is are you up for the same one?"
"Oh please" AJ mocked "I can resist you"
"Something every groom wants to hear the night before his wedding" Punk mocked
"You know I love you" she said giving him a kiss on the lips but pulled away quickly
"What?" Punk asked turning his head to see what she was looking at
"I thought I saw something in the yard" She said pulling away from him and flipping on the light switch for outside. The yard was pretty big and most of it wasn't lit up but if she had seen something she was sure it was close enough to be in the light
"What was it?" Punk asked opening the door and stepping outside letting the cold air hit him "Nothing is here, maybe it was animal?"
"They're going to destroy the chairs" AJ frowned stepping outside next to him rubbing her arms with her hands in an attempt to stay warm
"Look" Punk said pointing to a small cat that ran by "The cat won't do any damage to the chairs we're good"
"Oh it's so cold out here for her" AJ said making an attempt to step towards the cat
"No" Punk said tugging on her arm "You really do have this thing for stray's don't you?" he asked her seriously "Cats like that are outdoor cats they door better outside then inside"
"Can't we feed her something?" AJ asked
"Than she'll come back every night" Punk said to her "She probably belongs to someone, come on" he said tugging her back inside but before she could even get the door closed he threw her over his shoulders
"Oh no" AJ laughed as she watched him kick the door closed with his foot "You promised to behave"
"Once we got into bed yes I did promise" Punk agreed "But we're not there yet" he laughed as he led her out of the kitchen and with her free dangling hand she hit the light switch leaving the kitchen completely dark.
About ten minutes later the door that Punk kicked closed but not locked opened and in stepped Corey Graves…
A/N: TBC...