Girls Day
Punk walked in from an all day late night training session at the gym. It was almost midnight and he was a little upset he'd come home to find both AJ and Lily sleeping after not being able to not see them all day. To his surprise, he saw the kitchen light on and heard chatter and saw both wife and daughter at the counter making sandwich's.
"What's this?" Punk asked dropping his gym bag by the entrance to the kitchen.
"Oh, hi daddy!" Lily smiled and he gave her a kiss on the cheek.
"What's going on? Why is she still up?" Punk asked giving AJ a kiss next.
"You don't remember promising no bedtime?" AJ forced out with a smile but the tone was threatening.
"Oh crap." he whispered.
"We're feeding the Peter." Lily told him and he jerked his head to look at his daughter.
"Who the hell is Peter?" Punk asked.
"She named the homeless man who keeps coming by." AJ said to him wrapping a sandwich.
"We're not feeding him." Punk said to AJ as Lily packed the two sandwich's into a brown paper bag with a bottle of water.
"Don't be mean." Lily ordered him gently. "He needs to eat."
"If we feed him he'll coming back." Punk said to Lily who smiled.
"Cool!" Lily cheered.
"Not cool." Punk corrected. "I don't want you-" He said looking at Lily then AJ "or you approaching him."
"We're not. We're leaving it outside where he stands." AJ told him and he shook his head in annoyance.
"We help people who need it, you say that." Lily reminded him closing the bag up.
"Animals are going to eat this." Punk argued.
"Your daughter wants to help those who are less fortunate." AJ pointed out to him grabbing the bag. "Be proud."
"Yea daddy." Lily smiled as AJ walked down to the side door.
"I am proud. Very proud of you." He said to her. "You're an awesome, thoughtful kid."
"Thank you." Lily responded almost smugly.
"I just don't want you attracting rats to the house." Punk said to her.
"The man is hungry. We have to feed him." Lily sighed growing annoyed with Punk.
"I put it outside." AJ told Lily who smiled.
"I think I'll watch a movie." Lily said sliding off the stool.
"It's midnight." Punk said stopping her.
"You said no bedtime." Lily reminded him with a smile then skipped into the living room.
"Your rule, you stay up with her." AJ said to him and he nodded weakly.
"Seems only fair." Punk sighed sitting down.
"How was the gym?" She asked.
"I'm exhausted." He admitted. "Tweaked my neck." he said rubbing it.
"Oh no." She said walking over and rubbing his neck gently. "How bad?"
"Nothing a day off tomorrow won't cure." He said simply.
"I'll stay up tonight." AJ told him.
"No I will, it's my fault she doesn't have a bedtime." he sighed.
"But you worked all day and got hurt. I napped all day." She smiled giving him a kiss. "Go take a shower, get into bed and I'll bring you up something to eat."
"Yea?" Punk grinned.
"Yea." She confirmed. "We'll watch a movie together, she'll pass out any minute."
"Ok." He said standing up. "Did you really leave that sandwich outside?"
"Of course I did." AJ smirked. "I can't lie to her."
"He's not even real." Punk said to her.
"So what's the harm? It makes her feel good." AJ shrugged cleaning up. "And it just proves we're raising an amazing daughter."
"I already knew that." Punk remarked smugly as he walked out of the kitchen.
"Which one should I watch?" Lily asked holding up two movies.
"The Little Mermaid." He answered and kissed the top of her head. "Goodnight Princess."
"Good night daddy." Lily smiled then ran to put the movie in.
After his shower Punk decided to wander down the stairs and passed the couch and saw Lily was already out cold. When he walked into the kitchen he saw AJ preparing him a sandwich.
"Just the way you like." She told him proudly.
"Thank you." He said sitting at the table.
"I told you I'd bring it upstairs, go lay down." She said to him.
"Nah, I'm good here." He said taking a bite out of it.
"I'm going to bring her upstairs then-" She began.
"No you are not." Punk said cutting her off. "You're too pregnant to be carrying her around, I'll do it."
"Your neck is hurt." She pointed out.
"Tweaked." He corrected. "I can bring her upstairs."
"Thank you." She said to him. "I'm going to take a bath."
"You feeling ok?" He asked eyeing her.
"Yea I am." She said to him. "She's getting bigger everyday." She said placing her hand over her belly.
"That's a positive." He smirked and leaned over and kissed her ever growing belly. "Are you going to drive me crazy like your sister and mommy?" he asked her belly and she snorted a laugh.
"She will. It's in her blood." AJ teased. "You sure you don't want me to bring her up?"
"I'm sure." he said to her.
Punk leaned back in his chair and waited until AJ was up the stairs and out of sight before jumping up and running down the side stairs to open the door and bring in the food that he knew would attract animals. He was relieved to see the bag was untouched which meant there was no stranger wandering around his property. He leaned over and picked up the bag and frowned when he felt the bag was empty. He opened it and saw both sandwich's and water bottle were gone but the bag was closed just the way Lily left it.
"Are you fucking kidding me?" Punk muttered and walked down the side of the house and opened the gate and peered up and down the street.
Punk shook his head in annoyance and made sure to lock the gate again. When he made it back to the side door he jumped back being startled upon seeing an angry Lily standing there with her arms folded.
"What I do?" He asked nervously.
"I wanted the man to eat that!" Lily pouted.
"He did." Punk said holding the bag upside down. "I was just checking to see if he was still around."
"Oh good." Lily smiled snatching the bag from him and slowly walking back inside and he could hear her yawn. "Ok. I'm ready to party." She said in a tired voice as she yawned again.
"You're all partied already." He said lifting her up as he closed and locked the side door.
"I am not." She yawned again resting her tired head on his shoulder and he carried her up the stairs and Larry followed closely behind.
"You are so." He teased carrying her down the hall and opening her bedroom door and placed her on her bed and pulled up the covers.
"Did the man really eat the food or were you lying?" Lily asked as he turned on her night light.
"I would never lie to you." He said honestly and kissed the top of her head. "You know I'm proud of you right?" he asked and she shrugged. "I am." He said to her seriously. "You are so smart and generous and fearless and you're only six. Always stay this sweet little girl."
"I will daddy." She yawned again. "Also I picked my sisters name."
"Yea? What did you pick?" he asked intrigued.
"I'll tell you and mommy tomorrow." Lily said closing her eyes.
"Fine." He grunted and walked to her door.
"I love you, daddy." Lily said to him.
"I love you too, Princess." he smiled then was about to close her door but Larry ran just before he could.
"Don't breathe on me!" Lily yelled sitting up and pointing at him.
"I can take him out." Punk offered, as he did every night.
"No it's ok. I love Larry." She said laying back down as Larry ran right by her face and laid down. "Ugh. Brush your teeth." she groaned rolling over and Punk laughed and walked away.
Later that night Punk rolled onto his, catching his breath with a stupid grin on his face and AJ fell back onto her back next.
"Oh man." She said breathlessly. "That was good."
"Isn't it always?" He asked mockingly.
"Of course, but I really needed that tonight. I'm at the four month mark." She practically warned rolling halfway onto his body and kissing him then crawled off of him and off of the bed.
"Where are you going?" he asked enjoying watching her bend over for her clothes.
"Nowhere but I do need to get dressed. We do have a child in the house who loves to burst in." she teased tossing him a pair of sweats. "Put those on." She instructed and unlocked the door in case Lily needed to burst in.
"I'm putting a camera in on the side of the house." He said pulling his sweats up.
"Why?" AJ asked.
"That person came and ate that food." He said to her.
"That was the point." AJ laughed.
"It's not funny. I don't want some weirdo lurking around the house my six year old daughter sleeps in." He said seriously. "It's gated private property, homeless people don't just wander in."
"It makes Lily feels good." AJ pointed out.
"I'm glad it does." He said as AJ slipped into the bed. "And she fed him, it's nice but it stops now. I don't want to invite strangers near my family like that. I'm putting a camera and bigger and better gate."
"Whatever helps you sleep at night." She yawned.
"I have a test tomorrow." he said to her and she grinned.
"Need me to help you study?" She offered.
"Actually I do." He admitted. "I also need you to call Paul and Dean and tell them I'm too sick to make it in tomorrow."
"Why don't you just tell them you're taking night classes?" She asked.
"No fucking way. They'll never let me live it down." He laughed trying to get comfortable.
"What do you care what they think?" AJ asked.
"I don't. I just don't want their bullshit. Training and studying isn't easy." He pointed out.
"I'll cover for you." AJ promised kissing his chin. "I always will."
"I know that." He said wrapping his arm around her waist and tugging her close. "Lily picked a name by the way."
"I heard." she said closing her eyes and snuggling her face against his bare chest. "Dean helped pick it so beware."
"Oh fuck." Punk groaned.
"Let's be open minded." AJ laughed tiredly.
"He probably picked a stripper name to piss me off." Punk scoffed.
"Stop." She laughed.
"How's the pet store doing?" he asked.
"Same." She said. "It's picking up little by little."
"Can I help?" He asked seriously.
"Nope. Paul is looking into things for me. Focus on school and fighting." She told him. "And right now I just want to focus on sleep."
"I can take a hint." Punk laughed.
The next day while eating breakfast Lily walked over to the table and both her parents had their eyes on her.
"Larry did it." Lily blurted out.
"Did what?" Punk asked fearfully knowing she did something and she was using Larry to cover, as she always did.
"Whatever it is you and mommy are mad about." Lily said sitting down as AJ placed a dish of already cut up french toast in front of her.
"Nobody is mad. But you said you were going to tell us the baby's name." AJ smiled sitting down.
"Oh!" Lily smiled. "It's such a good name! It's a color!" she cheered.
"You want to name our daughter Pink, don't you?" Punk asked nervously.
"No!" Lily giggled. "She's also a superhero!" she said looking at AJ and she liked that.
"I already love it." AJ said proudly.
"Don't say that until we hear it." Punk warned his wife.
"Jade!" Lily told them.
"Jade?" Punk asked unsurely.
"Yes! It's a pretty color and my sister is going to be pretty. And Uncle Dean showed me a comic book and Jade is super pretty and she has the power of energy and plants and I'm Lily! I'm a plant!" she cheered.
"I don't know." Punk said thinking about it.
"I love it." AJ nearly cried. "She put so much thought into this." She said standing up and kissing Lily's cheek.
"I did think a lot about it." Lily admitted.
"It's different." She said to Punk who had to nod in agreement. "And it does connect to Lily's name."
"Don't you like it daddy?" Lily asked.
"No." he said with a straight face and her little face fell. She looked crushed. "I love it." he said seriously and she smiled brightly instantly.
"We can paint her room jade too." AJ suggested.
"Yay!" Lily cheered clapping her hands. "I did good?"
"You did amazing." AJ assured her. "We'll go to the paint store when you're done eating."
"I'll get my shoes!" She said jumping out of her chair.
"Don't I get to help pick a color?" Punk frowned.
"You have to study." She reminded him. "Take this as a small reprieve. The house will be empty and you can study uninterrupted."
"I guess." He sighed. "I didn't want to miss out time with you two though."
"You're not. It's paint color. We'll get a bunch of samples and you can help us pick before we officially decide." she promised.
"That's fair." He said almost childishly.
"Go up to my office and study." She told him. "Later tonight I'll help you."
"Ok." He said as Lily ran back into the kitchen.
"Eat first." AJ ordered pointing at her dish.
"Can we make more food tonight for Peter?" Lily asked.
"I don't think so Lil." AJ said knowing Punk wasn't a fan of it.
"But mommy-" Lily began to argue.
"I'll do it tonight." Punk said to her. "I'll help you make the food."
"Really?" Lily asked screwing her eyes at him.
"Really." he laughed sipping his coffee.
"Ok." Lily smiled. "But you can't cook."
"First of all it's a sandwich, anyone could do that." Punk mocked. "Second of all, I can cook."
"No you can't." Lily said sweetly as she ate her food.
"Babe?" Punk asked looking at AJ.
"I have to get my shoes." AJ said leaving the room quickly.
"That means she knows you can't cook." Lily giggled.
"I can cook." he defended. "I make great..." he said thinking about it. "Coffee."
"Oh! Can I have some?" Lily asked eagerly.
"No." He said quickly. "You like my macaroni and cheese."
"No I don't." She said honestly. "You burn the macaroni." she frowned.
"Sometimes it's ok to lie to not hurt my feelings." He mocked.
"I can lie?" she asked stunned.
"I was kidding." he said to her. "But you can try to not be so blunt."
"Leave her alone." AJ laughed walking back in the kitchen.
"She's mean to me." Punk said to her and Lily dropped her fork. "You are!"
"I love you daddy!" She yelled running to him.
"Yea, yea." He said and she hugged him tighter. "Ok I love you too." He said to her.
"I'm finished." Lily said running out of the kitchen.
"She barely at it." AJ sighed grabbing her dish.
"I'll clean." Punk said standing up and grabbing the dish from her. "Go have fun."
"Thank you." She said grabbing her purse. "And that's very nice of you to feed Peter for her."
"Oh yea." Punk smirked. "I'm going to leave the food out there and I'm going to be fucking waiting."
"Don't." AJ warned him.
"I want to know who is waving at my daughter and eating my food." Punk shrugged simply.
"Don't scare him or hurt him." AJ warned.
"I'll be an angel." He smiled sarcastically. "Bye." He said grabbing her face and kissing her. "Bye Jade." He said placing his hand over her belly. "I like it."
"Me too." AJ had to admit. "Do you think this one will be as smart as Lily?"
"God I hope not." He sighed and AJ slapped his arm playfully then walked out of the kitchen.
Just as Punk settled in AJ's office with his books opened he heard the doorbell and groaned before leaving her comfortable desk and wandering downstairs to see who it was.
"Robert." Punk greeted stepping aside to let in his father-in-law. "You just missed AJ and Lily."
"I know." Robert said nervously. "I'm here to talk to you."
"Oh." Punk said closing the door. "Everything ok?"
"Not really." Robert said and Punk lead him over to the couch. "I found out a few months ago I had cirrhosis of the liver."
"Liver failure?" Punk asked and Robert nodded. He remembered that Robert was an extremely heavy drinker for many years but it had been under control for years. "Have you still been drinking?"
"No." Robert said shaking his head. "But it wasn't just drinking. It was unhealthy eating and just bad luck."
"Why didn't you tell us sooner?" Punk asked him. "We could help you. You can stay here with us-"
"That's why I didn't tell you." Robert said to him with a weak smile.
"So you need a transplant?" Punk asked him. "Are you on the list-"
"I am, was." He corrected. "I'm stopping my medication."
"What? Why?" Punk asked.
"I did it to myself Phil." Robert sighed. "I miss my wife." he said sadly and Punk could relate to that. "I know you and AJ don't, but I believe in the afterlife, I believe she's waiting for me."
"You should talk to AJ about this." Punk insisted.
"I'm putting you in a bad position but I can't tell her." Robert said to him. "She'll cry and insist I stick it out but life long drunks aren't on the top of the list for transplants nor should I be. I can't let her down again." He said to Punk.
"So fight." Punk said simply. "Lily loves you so much. She's planning this big camping trip with you and-"
"I can't look into her sweet little eyes and break her heart. She reminds me so much of AJ." Robert said to him. "My only regret is that I won't get to meet my new granddaughter."
"How long are we talking?" Punk asked him.
"A couple of months if that." Robert said to him. "It's sever cirrhosis."
"Is there something I can do?" Punk asked. "Maybe I can find you a better doctor-"
"No." Robert said with a light laugh. "I've made peace with this."
"How am I going to tell her?" Punk asked him as he felt himself going pale.
"If you can't I understand." Robert said to him. "But I just don't think I can-"
"I'll do it." Punk said to him. "I'll talk to AJ."
"Thank you." Robert said to him.
"I'm real sorry." Punk wasn't sure what else to say.
"You of all people have nothing to be sorry for." Robert laughed lightly. "You have taken care of my daughter and made her happy, you gave me the most perfect granddaughter and another one who I'm sure will be just as perfect. And I know you're going to look after them."
"Of course." Punk said to him.
"I live this world in peace knowing you're in it and with them." Robert said genuinely. "Tell AJ I'll be by in a couple of days." He said standing up.
"You know she's going to show up at your place and demand you take your medication and start eating better." Punk warned standing up as well.
"Yea, I'm expecting it." Robert smirked. "She's taken care of me since her mother died. It's over now. I won't let her do it again."
"You're going to come by and see Lily right?" Punk asked. "I don't even know how to explain this to her-"
"I plan on spending most of my time with my daughter and granddaughter." Robert said to him.
"We have a room." Punk offered him. "We have plenty of rooms actually."
"It can get ugly towards the end and it happens fast. I don't want Lily to see that." Robert said to him. "But I appreciate it."
An hour later Lily and AJ walked through the door.
"Daddy we have paint!" Lily yelled from the bottom of the stairs and Punk came down the stairs.
"Yea? How much?" Punk asked.
"So much that mommy can't carry it." Lily said as AJ hung her keys up by the door.
"Yea we'll need you to get it from the car." AJ said to him with a laugh.
"That's what I'm here for." Punk forced out. "Lil's do me a favor, can you stay down here and keep an eye on Larry so I can talk to your mom? He's been eating out of the garbage again."
"I told you he doesn't have a brain." Lily groaned petting Larry. "I'll get you cookies." She said leading Larry into the kitchen.
"Dog cookies! Not my cookies!" AJ yelled after her.
"I have to talk to you." Punk said to her grabbing her hand and leading her up the stairs.
Lily was still downstairs playing with Larry but she was getting bored and decided to take Larry upstairs. Her parents had been up there a long time and she didn't think much of it. She had to pass their room in order to get to hers and their door was opened on a crack. She didn't mean to stop but she heard her mom crying and when she looked through the crack she saw AJ's head resting in Punk's lap as she wept. Lily frowned and decided her mother needed her and busted into the room.
"I'm here mommy." Lily said near tears, she did NOT like seeing her mother like this and felt she was the only one to fix her.
"Lily I'll be right down to talk to you just give your mom and I a few minutes-" He stopped when AJ sat up and held her arms out and Lily ran into her arms and let AJ crying into her hair.
"I'm here mommy, it's ok." Lily assured her.
Lily had no idea what upset AJ so much but she was sure she'd be able to fix it. Whenever Lily was upset AJ would say the same thing and it always worked for her.
"I love you." Lily said hugging her back.
"I have to go see him." AJ said looking over to Punk but not letting go of Lily.
"He said a few days." Punk whispered. "Your daughter needs you."
"No. I need her." AJ corrected holding her tighter.
"Stay here tonight and I promise tomorrow I'll go over to see him with you." He promised.
"Stay with me mommy." Lily said quietly snuggling against AJ. "I'll make you feel better. I promise."
"I know." AJ said trying not to smile but she couldn't help it.
"Mommy is sad." Lily said looking at Punk but not letting go of AJ. "We need pizza and the TV." She ordered Punk.
"Are you six or thirty?" He asked his daughter amused. Only she could make them smile at a time like this.
"I'm six." Lily said glaring at him. "Pizza and TV, please."
"Anything else?" he asked his daughter who actually thought about it.
"Larry." AJ added and Lily nodded.
"And me?" Punk asked hopefully.
"You have to study." AJ said to him.
"Oh come on-" He started.
"I've got Lily and Larry." AJ said calming down.
"And Jade!" Lily smiled lightly poking her belly.
"That's right." AJ smiled.
"You don't need me?" he asked a little offended.
"I do and I will." She said with sad eyes. "But that will be tonight when I can't sleep."
"Ok." He said kissing her and Lily scrunched up her face.
"Gross." Lily mumbled.
"Very gross." Punk agreed teasingly.
"Why are you sad mommy?" Lily asked cupping her face so she would look at her.
"I'll tell you all about it in a few days. Right now? I need you to watch TV and eat pizza with me and Larry." She said to her and Lily smiled.
"We should get in our PJ's already." Lily suggested climbing off of AJ.
"It's like one in the afternoon." Punk pointed out.
"I agree with Lily." AJ said to him standing up and trying to clean off her face. "Go get changed."
"Ok." Lily said running out of the room.
"I can take Lily for the day." Punk offered.
"No absolutely not. I need her." AJ said to him. "Just do me a favor, call me father and tell him not to even try to hide from me because I will be stopping in to see him tomorrow. Tonight I have to think about how I'm going to tell Lily or should I tell her? Maybe I should see my dad now-"
"He said a few days." Punk reminded her.
"He has until tomorrow." AJ said holding back tears. "Then I'm dragging his ass to his doctor and getting him fixed."
"He seems at peace with this AJ." Punk reasoned. "He thinks he'll see your mom again."
"I can't lose both of them." AJ said to him and his face fell. "I need my dad. He's literally the only family family I have."
"I beg to differ." Punk said cupping her face.
"You know what I mean." she said to him and he nodded.
"I do. And I'll support you bullying him but I want you to get into bed and rest with Lily because you have to remember you are almost five months pregnant and you need to take it easy." Punk reminded her.
"Mommy you're not in your Pjs." Lily frowned walking into the room with her stuffed starfish.
"She's about to get into them." Punk said to her.
"Extra cheese." Lily said hopping on the bed.
"What?" Punk asked.
"We want an extra cheese pizza." Lily ordered.
"Of course." Punk smirked.
"Then daddy has work to do." AJ told Lily. "We'll have a girls day."
"I can hold off on it. I really want to be with you two." Punk said but Lily jumped off the bed and pushed him towards the door with the little strength she had.
"I'll take care of mommy. You take care of the pizza." she said. "It's girls day, so no boys."
"Larry gets to stay." Punk argued.
"He doesn't have a brain." Lily said with a shrug.
"Hey." AJ said following him out of the room. "I love you." she said to him holding back tears again.
"I know." He said cupping her face and giving her a gentle kiss.
"I feel like I should be out there talking to him." She said to him.
"He wants a little time and you're upset and need a little time." Punk pointed out. "Hang out with your daughter and let me take care of everything."
"Have I mentioned I loved you?" She asked cupping his face but resting her head against his chest.
"Yes." He said kissing the top of her head.
"I love you too." Lily said appearing out of nowhere and hugging Punk's leg to feel included.
"My girls." Punk smirked.
"Study and I'll still help-" She offered.
"Don't be silly. Go have your girls day." He said lifting Lily up and AJ followed them. Punk dropped her on the bed causing her to bounce and giggle. "Don't get crumbs in the bed."
"I can't make that promise." Lily shrugged.
"I'm going to get changed." AJ said going in the bathroom.
"Is mommy sick?" Lily asked Punk.
"No she's ok." Punk said to her.
"Jade?" she asked.
"I know you have a million questions and I really do promise your mom and I will answer all your questions but right now you and I have to focus on your mommy." he told her. "Can you do that?"
"Yes." Lily promised.
"She's really sad and she can't talk about it right now so it's up to us and Larry to cheer her up." Punk said to her.
"I'll do my best." Lily told him proudly.
"You know I love you, right?" he asked Lily now. He couldn't imagine how painful it was for Robert to tell AJ and now understood why he asked Punk to do it. He'd never be able to break Lily's heart like that.
"I love you too." Lily said and kissed his cheek.
A/N: Thanks for the reviews! I'm trying to have some real family situations drag the story out a bit before the final fight. A lot of family hurdles and emotions. Such as having to explain things to Lily and whatnot. Thanks again everyone! Also, if you haven't read Faith I suggest you do so you can get some insight into Robert and his past problems.