Separate Ways


Punk and AJ were at the Smackdown tapings now after getting through the next few days with ease. Punk may not have handled AJ's situation the best but her leaving him at the arena really snapped him back to reality. His anger and resentment wasn't because they were married- all of his stress was caused by a stranger or possibly a ghost from AJ's past and that's where his focus was going to have to go. No matter how scared he was and how much pride he had to not want to leave his home he needed to put AJ first because she wasn't just scared she was terrified.

He wasn't sure what he was going to do after Smackdown and maybe going home wasn't an option at the moment but he had his big match with The Rock in a week and kind of wanted to focus on training and relax. But he realized he'd never be able to relax until this matter was taken care of.

"Hey man." Kofi said finding Punk walking out of a meeting with creative.

"Hey." Punk greeted with a nod.

"I didn't get a chance to see you yesterday you were holed up with AJ the entire night but I just wanted to check in and see how you were feeling." Kofi said eyeing his friend carefully.

"I'm ok." Punk said to him. "It's been a rough few weeks that all."

"Want to tell me about it?" Kofi asked him. "I'm a good listener and can keep my mouth shut."

"Yea I know." Punk said lightly. "AJ has a stalker."

"Not surprising." Kofi smirked. "Her fans are very passionate."

"I don't think it's a fan and it's gone far beyond anything we've seen." Punk admitted quietly. "This guy has been in my house." Kofi's eyes widened at the comment. "He's stolen some stuff and has private photos of AJ- he had a camera in my house to watch her."

"Holy shit." Kofi said shivering slightly. "That's some scary stuff. Did you call the police?"

"Yea of course but they don't know who it is or have any proof. This guy hasn't stolen anything of real value so it's not really on their priority list." Punk remarked.

"But putting a camera in your house that's got to be illegal." Kofi noted.

"It was connection from AJ's laptop at least that's what I think and it's gone now anyway." Punk said to him. "He left photos from the video taped to my front door so he's really close."

"How close do you think he is? Like in Chicago?" he asked Punk concerned.

"Yea in Chicago and a few feet from my place. We were walking the dog and gone maybe five minutes and that was on my door."

"Take the pictures to the police." Kofi said seriously.

"I promised AJ I wouldn't." Punk said to him.

"What? Are you crazy? You need to report this! They can maybe get fingerprints off of the pictures or something." Kofi argued.

"I promised her I wouldn't and since I've been failing as a husband I intend to keep this promise. The pictures are….very private." He noted. "She doesn't want them to leak online or anything."

"I get wanting to appease her but this is dangerous stuff. You need to go to the police and she'll get over it-" Kofi began.

"No." Punk snapped glaring towards his friend. "I made a promise."

"You also promised to love, honor and protect her didn't you?" Kofi asked him. "Saving her life is more important than some pictures. I mean what are you going to do? Are you going to go home? She doesn't work anymore I don't think her staying there alone is an option-"

"I know all of this and no I have no fucking idea what I'm doing." Punk admitted. "All I know whatever I was doing was wrong because after I spoke to you she took off to the airport thinking I didn't want to be married to her."

"You need to put all of this childish stuff aside and do right by her and that means bringing whatever you have to the police." Kofi said sternly.

"I don't have anything. The pictures are gone because AJ destroyed them and the laptop the flowers I got rid of-" Punk rambled.

"What flowers?" Kofi asked.

"He sent her flowers before we got married." Punk said to him. "And text messages."

"How long has this been going on?" Kofi asked him.

"A few months since her sisters wedding probably." Punk said to him. "I think it's her sisters husband actually I fucking know it's him."

"Why? How well does he even know her?" Kofi asked.

"AJ's known him since she was kid but I can't get into that." Punk said to him. "Just do me a favor and keep this between us."

"Yea ok but I think you're making a mistake." Kofi sighed.

"No before I was making a mistake now I think I'm doing the right thing." Punk insisted.

"Are you going to go home?" Kofi asked him. "I mean is that the safest thing? What if he's there waiting for AJ and jumps at her?"

"I'll be there." Punk said to him. "No one is jumping at her or touching her especially in my own fucking house." He said bitterly.

"So she never gets to be alone again?" Kofi asked. "You're home is supposed to be your safe place and now it's been taken away from not just her but you and if you think ignoring this will help your marriage you're wrong."


When Punk walked into his locker room AJ was lying on the couch reading a comic as Keith slept in his little bed. He walked over to her and she lifted her legs so he could sit then draped them over his lap.

"Are you wrestling tonight?" she asked peeking up from her comic.

"No just a promo." He said to her. "We'll be back in Chicago by tomorrow morning."

"Ok." She said casually but he knew it worried her.

"Are you ok to go home?" He asked her.

"Yea I mean what other choice do we have? You're right we can't just leave our home." She said reading the comic but not looking at him.

"If you want we'll stay at a hotel." He offered and she closed her comic.

"You don't want to stay at a hotel." She frowned.

"No I don't but I also want you to have piece of mind, I want piece of mind maybe it's not a bad idea." He admitted.

"Then when will it be ok to go back? Never? I don't want leave home forever." She admitted. "Let's go home and just be extra careful."

"Alright." He said relieved. He lived in hotels through out most of his wrestling career he wanted to be in his home.

A producer walked into the locker room and passed Punk a small vase of colored roses.

"What's this?" Punk asked him.

"They're for your wife." He said nodding towards AJ who frowned then left the room.

"I don't suppose you got them for me." AJ muttered.

"No I didn't." He said plucking the card and reading it aloud. "Missing you these last few days, come home soon April."

"Of course." AJ sighed. "Well he'll be relieved to know that we'll be home tomorrow." She teased lightly.

"I'll get you a hotel room." Punk said looking at her putting the vase down on the table.

"No." she said with wide eyes. "I want to be with you."

"I'll stay with you but I'm going to go home and get some of our stuff and have a look around first." Punk said to her. "You were right I don't want you sitting there with a target on your back. He's waiting and watching and I'm not going to feed his perverse fantasies anymore."

"So we just move into a hotel room?" She asked him.

"I don't know- no." He said trying to wing it. "Maybe we'll move."

"I love our home just as much as you do and I know how much you love that place." She argued.

"Well I love you more so if I have to sell that place in order to keep you out of the prying eyes of whatever psychopath is stalking you I'll do it without hesitation." Punk said to her.

"He'll know if we move." She pointed out. "He's obviously very good at this and clearly has money if we move he'll just follow us. Maybe we should just go back home and deal with it."

"So we just accept the fact that we have no privacy ever again and you continue to get up every half hour to check the locks on the door?" Punk asked her. "No that's not an option AJ." He said shaking his head.

"Maybe I should go to Texas." She suggested and he tensed up.

"You want to leave me?" He asked her. "I apologized-"

"No not leaving you." She assured him. "Just for a few weeks so we throw him off slightly and you can fly out to Texas to see me." She said pointed out.

"No." he said firmly. "I don't want you in a strange state without me."

"I'll be with family." She reminded him. "And whoever this is I'm sure doesn't even know I have family in Texas."

"I'm sure Ricky knows were your sister-in-law lives." Punk remarked.

"But he'll be in Chicago waiting for me." She said to him. "Maybe if I'm gone for a little bit he'll get bored or move on."

"He's wanted you since you were 14 and hasn't given up." Punk pointed out.

"But he only started to obsess over me again when he saw him again. He went years without even thinking about me." AJ argued. "I think it's for the best and you know it too."

"I just don't know if I like you being Texas and I'm in Chicago." Punk admitted.

"It will only be for a few days and I'll still go on the road with you." AJ assured him.

"So you'll get on a plane by yourself?" Punk asked her "I don't like that either."

"I'll be fine on the plane." She said to him. "Let's do it this way." She encouraged.

"You'll stay in the house with your family?" Punk asked her and she nodded. "If something feels wrong you'll call me?" he questioned and again she nodded. "Alright." He agreed reluctantly. "Are you taking Keith or am I?"

"Maybe you should." AJ said to him. "I hate leaving him but I don't want him in a little cage while I'm traveling in the air so often. He's pooped from this trip alone and he's been on the bus the entire time."

"Alright." Punk agreed. "I don't like this." He admitted.

"I know me either." She said sitting up and wrapping her arms around his one large one and rested her chin on his shoulder so she could look into his eyes.

"When we got married I thought the whole not getting to see you anymore wouldn't be an issue anymore." Punk confided.

"It's not forever it's only temporary." She reminded him. "It's for the best and you can stay in Texas with me whenever you want." She pointed out.

"Yea I know." He said to her. "I just think he'll expect you to go there and then you'll be on your own."

"He's expecting me back home." She said nodding towards the flowers. "But I want you to be extra careful." She insisted. "He sees you as a threat."

"Good because I am." Punk said to her.


The next morning the bus dropped AJ off at the airport and he spend the rest of the ride back to Chicago with Keith. He kept checking his phone waiting to hear from AJ that she had landed and was on her way to her sister-in-law's house. The amount of anxiety he was feeling was new to him and he was more worried than he had originally thought. AJ did call him in the taxi on her way to the house and he could sense in her voice that she was feeling better than before and that eased his fears slightly but not his anxiety. He was really starting to question separating.

When Punk got to Chicago he first took Keith for a walk before going back home. Eventually he made back into the house and everything seemed normal so the locks probably worked. Punk let Keith run around as he headed up the stairs and as soon as he reached the top of the stairs he noticed some clothes scattered down the hallway leading to their bedroom.

Punk quietly walked to the bedroom in case the intruder was still inside and pushed the door open as quietly as possible. Punk stepped inside and saw clothes thrown all over their floor and bed and narrowed his eyes at the scene. He headed towards the huge closet that was mostly AJ's since she had more clothes than he had and saw it was completely ransacked. His side of the closet was seemingly untouched but AJ's stuff was everywhere.

Punk was reaching for his phone to alert authorities even thought he was again not sure what could be done but his movements halted when he heard Keith barking. Keith was usually a good dog and didn't bark often. He jetted down the stairs and saw Keith at the front door barking like crazy.

"What's wrong?" Punk asked the dog even though he knew the dog couldn't respond. Punk pushed Keith aside and stepped outside the door but there was nothing there, no one was around. Was someone in the house when he came in? Or was someone trying to get in? Either one was possible but he was just happy AJ wasn't here.


AJ was sitting on the huge patio at around ten at night just taking in the warmth and stars. Punk had called her to tell her about her clothing but he wasn't sure what was missing from it. Coming to Texas was a good idea but she missed Punk terribly. She had gotten way too used to being around him and falling asleep next to him she was also scared that whoever it was would break into their home and kill him.

"Here's some tea." AJ's sister in law Samantha said passing her a cup.

"Thank you." She said blowing into the hot mug. "Thank you again for letting me stay here."

"Of course." Sam smiled warmly. "I know you didn't want me to tell Robbie because you didn't want him to worry but the girls told him you were staying with us when he called earlier. They were too excited."

"So you told him everything?" AJ asked and she nodded.

"He's really worried about you." Sam said to him. "He also thinks that Punk is right and it's Ricky."

"Ricky is in Puerto Rico." AJ reminded her. "This is a fan."

"Your sister and Ricky had a huge fight after your wedding after Robbie spoke to her and he left the house and no one has seen or heard from him since." Sam confided. "I'm not saying he's not in Puerto Rico but I'm also not saying he couldn't be in Chicago."

"I just don't get it." AJ admitted. "I don't know what he wants from me."

"Robbie never liked him." Sam said to her. "He never liked the way Ricky looked you after you told him the story. He thought a lot of it was maybe in his head because of what you told him but now he's convinced he was right."

"Why won't he leave me alone?" she asked Sam.

"Some people have very bad mental illnesses." Sam said to her. "I know it's not an answer but it's all I can think of."

"It's putting such a strain on my life and marriage." AJ admitted. "Phil doesn't know how to handle it and I know he's mad at me because I bought this all into his life."

"I'm sure that's not the case." Sam said shaking her head.

"I can't blame him." AJ laughed. "I mean the guy had this great life and then I convince him or basically push him into being with me and now he has all these problems. He can't concentrate at work, he doesn't sleep, he doesn't go to games he barely laughs anymore and now…." She trailed off.

"What is it?" Sam asked.

"It's really embarrassing." AJ admitted.

"Tell me it's ok." Sam encouraged.

"I'm having issues having sex." AJ mumbled under her breath. "It takes me so long to get in the mood now because I'm afraid I'm being watched and sex was something that had always come natural to us. He used to be able to just look at me from across the room and I'd be ready for him but now I just don't feel comfortable."

"You can't let this man take everything away from you like that." Sam scolded. "Do not let him ruin your marriage."

"I don't know how to feel better." AJ shrugged. "And now he's across the country and I just can't help but feel like this isn't how marriage is supposed to be."

"Your brother and I have done just fine." Sam pointed out.

"He's even offering to move." AJ said to her. "And he loves that home maybe more than he loves me even I can't ask him to do that."

"If he loved the home more than you he wouldn't have suggested to move in the first place." Sam said to her.

"All I know is I miss him and it hasn't even been a day." AJ sighed.

"Your marriage is going to be fine." Sam assured her with a smile. "And trust me a few days away from him is going to change your sex problems as well."

"I hope so." AJ said sipping on her tea.


A few days later AJ was already at the hotel waiting for Punk to arrive with his bus. It was Friday and he had an event tomorrow and the Rumble on Sunday. She knew how upset he was about that and vowed to keep his mind clear and happy these next few days. When she heard the door open she watched him walk into the room with slung shoulders and baggy eyes and frowned. She was actually feeling refreshed while Punk looked exhausted.

"Hi honey." She greeted giving him a sweet kiss. "Are you ok?"

"Yea I just woke up." He said to her. "I passed out on the bus for a few hours."

"That's probably the most sleep you got all week." She frowned examining his sleep deprived face.

"No I'm ok." He insisted. "You look good."

"Gee thanks." She teased.

"I mean you always look good but you seem happier." Punk said to her.

"I slept for the last two days." AJ said to him. "I wasn't happy I missed you. And I've been thinking about it and I'm going to go back to Chicago with you."

"No." He said to her quickly.

"You don't want me to come home?" she asked hurt.

"Of course I want you home AJ, but not until I can figure out how to keep this lunatic out of our house." Punk said to her.

"What did the police say?" AJ asked him.

"Nothing useful." Punk said collapsing onto the bed. "I know you wanted to see Keith but I couldn't muster up the energy to bring him along but I left him with my mom."

"It's fine." She said crawling onto the bed and resting her head against his chest. Punk dropped his arm around her waist to hold her close as he rested his eyes.

"Come back to Texas with me." She suggested.

"I need to be home in case he comes back." Punk said with his eyes still closed.

"And have you thought about what you would do if he came into the house?" AJ asked him.

"I'd subdue him and call the police." Punk said with a yawn.

"So you're just going to sit at home by yourself watching the front door?" AJ asked him.

"If that's what it takes." Punk said to her.

"I'm going home with you." She informed him.

"AJ you didn't want to be home before you fought for this." Punk reminded her. "I'm agreeing with you."

"And now I'm agreeing with you. If you're going to sit inside the house and wait for someone you'll do it with me sitting next to you." AJ said firmly.

"Can we discuss this in a few days?" he asked tiredly. "I'm too tired to fight with you right now."

"Ok." She said feeling like she had already won the argument.

Punk closed his eyes tightly but was having trouble falling to sleep. He was still pretty wired but having AJ in his arms made him feel better. AJ could tell he wasn't sleeping by his rapid heart beat and smiled to herself as the hand that was resting on his stomach slipped lower until her hand slipped under his shorts and boxers and gripped him in her small palm. She looked at his face and saw his eyes were still closed and began to stroke him lovingly. She was sure he wasn't sleeping but she was definitely sure he was awake when he moved his hips.

"Why are you fake sleeping?" she asked with a laugh and his eyes popped open and looked towards her.

"I thought you were sleeping and I didn't want to stop you or wake you." Punk admitted and she giggled.

"Is this something I usually do when I'm sleeping?" she asked amused.

"No but one could hope this is a new sleeping habit you picked up." He smirked. "You don't have to do this." He assured her.

"I really missed you. It was only two days and I dreamt of having you in my hands again." She admitted in a whisper.

"You haven't really been in the mood AJ and I get it." He assured her.

"I'm in the mood now." She said moving to straddle him while continuing to stroke him. "And I inspected the place to make sure there's no cameras." She teased. "Do you want me to stop?" she questioned adding her other hand into the mix.

"No!" he almost cried out. "Don't stop."

AJ continued to play with him until she could feel him literally begin to twitch in her hands and that's when she removed her hands and lowered her mouth and slowly took him into it.

"That feels so good AJ." He groaned arching his hips into her mouth.

Punk's hands moved to her hair and brushed it out of her face so he could he watch everything she did to him. He loved being in her this way, he loved how she knew how to work his body perfectly and he loved her. His fingers tangled in her hair as he helped increase her movements because he was so damn close now.

"I'm right there babe." He warned gruffly but AJ didn't stop or slow down until he poured his seed deep down her throat. AJ sat up casually and used two fingers to wipe around her mouth and gave him a devilish smile.

"I'd really like to return the favor." Punk said catching his breath watching his wife as she was now again straddled around his waist. "But I know you've had some issues with….you know…."

"Do you know how bad I want you right now?" she asked him as she crossed her arms and pulled her t-shirt off of her body.

"Are you wet?" he asked snapping the spandex around her leggings.

"Why don't you find out?" she suggested and he sat up but wrapped his arm around her waist to keep her close.

They were both sitting up and AJ moved her legs so they wrapped around him and he pulled his t-shirt off over his head now as well. Punk eagerly pushed his hands into her pants and she let out a slight hiss since his hand was cold. She closed her eyes slowly and arched into his hand as he palmed her almost pushing her breasts into his face.

"Oh baby." He cooed as if she was a child. "You're soaking for me."

"Don't make me wait." She said opening her eyes and cupping his face to kiss him.

"I was beginning to think I lost my touch." He admitted as he pushed a finger into her waiting and excited body.

"Never." She said to him as she moved her hips to match him. "Never, never, ever." She said wrapping her arms around his neck and nuzzling her face into his neck as he slipped another finger into her. "I was scared and now I'm not."

"What changed?" he couldn't help but ask. He didn't want to have a deep life conversation as he was fondling her but he did want to know.

"I'm more scared without you." AJ admitted. "I just needed those few days to realize it." She told him honestly and that's when he laid her across the bed keeping his fingers inside of her and using his free hand to tug her pants down just past her hips.

"I'll take care of you I swear." He promised kissing her lips again while his thumb massaged her clit causing her to peek. She bit down on his bottom lip as she did so, she didn't yell out or cry but moaned so beautifully that he grew hard just at the sound of it.

"Oh Phil." She sighed happily. She had the goofiest smile on but Punk just pulled her pants down the rest of the way so they were on equal nude footing.

Punk moved in-between her legs, which just came so natural to him, but she used the palms of her head to push him causing him to lie across the bed.

"No it's my turn." She said to him happily.

"Go right ahead." He said placing his hands behind his bed and waited for her to take charge.

AJ moved into position so her back was to him and dropped her hips onto his hardness. He really wasn't a fan of the position because he loved looking at her face but it did feel good. He sat up so his back was pressed into her chest and his hands roamed her body freely as he cupped her breasts and rested his chin on her shoulder as he watched her move over him.

"Look." She said nodding towards the mirror that was facing the bed.

"You really are so beautiful." He said kissing her neck while she arched backwards and let out the sweetest sounds. AJ opened her eyes slightly and watched as he made love to her. It truly was a beautiful sight and it sent her rapidly into her second orgasm.

"Phil." She moaned as her breaths became heavier.

"You're gripping me so hard I'm going to blow." He said pushing his hips into her as hard as he could.

"Do it." She begged. "Please Phil harder." She said as he gave her one hard thrust sending her into her orgasm. She rested her back against his chest as he kept moving until he joined her in bliss.

Punk and AJ both fell into their first peaceful sleep in weeks. Punk had a protective grip around AJ as her bareback was pressed into his chest and her hair was sprawled out tickling his face but as much as that used to annoy him he found it oddly comforting now. He ignored when his the first time his phone buzzed but after a second buzz he was agitated and ready to shut his phone off. He carefully and reluctantly rolled away from his wife and grabbed his phone and as he was about to shut off his phone he saw he had two messages from an unknown number and curiosity got the best of him and he read them.

Bring her home or I will.

The message was clearly directed towards AJ but it didn't bother him as much as the second message did.

I will cut you into small pieces if you come home without her again. I'll kill your dog, I'll kill your friends and your entire fucking family.

Punk swallowed the lump in his throat as he stared at the message for ten minutes before finally shutting down his phone. He ran his hand over his face and looked over towards AJ and realized she in more trouble than he had thought.