"Phil, you've only been clear for three days. Please don't do that," AJ warned as Phil opened the door of their SUV, laughing as he scooped her up by the waist and under the knees, and carried her out the car. "Do you really have to pick me up like that every time I have to get out the car?" she asked with a giggle.
AJ knew how excited he was to be with her in Tampa and to finally move into the house they approved of a week prior. While she was on tour, he set everything up, partly with Amy and Colt's assistance, and moved their stuff in. He was happy to be able to get on a plane and fly out, without any bandages on his ribs or scars on his body from his injury. She's reviled his okay and calm demeanor and relaxed attitude. However, the amount of times he did heavy lifting and AJ lifting since he arrived in Florida really annoyed and entertained her.
"I thought this was on the perfect boyfriend list or something?" Phil wondered aloud playfully with feign innocence in his voice, carrying AJ up a walkway and placing her down, facing a front door with a smile.
"Then why did you put me down?" she asked shrugging, watching Phil pat himself down with a slight frown.
After digging around, he chuckled and took out a set of keys. He leaned over her head, jiggled them around and said, "To fetch the keys for our home, my dear."
"But we haven't finished moving in yet," she pointed out.
"That translates to our soon-to-be second home," he corrected, causing her to titter briefly. "But, it's our home nonetheless." He moaned happily as she stood up tall to kiss him. He took the keys, opened the door and modeled proudly with a "Ta-da!" as she stepped in, almost taken aback by the landscape of it.
"Wow, this is so huge… and it feels like a beach house," AJ teased.
"Told you," Phil agreed, walking with her as she slowly looked around. "The furniture's done and everything's all cleaned up. I brought all the utilities and food we need to survive, and the master bedroom, kitchen, bathrooms and the pool patio are all set up. So, all you have to do is move the rest of your stuff in," he explained.
She eyed everything in silence and with a smile. From the updated appliances, new furniture, and polished flooring, to the huge master bedroom and large bedrooms upstairs, the look of it all left her speechless. That made Phil nervous. She said yes a week ago, and signed the lease with her just a few short days thereafter. Due to the safety, the outside landscape, and the design, it was deemed the best pick for them. In general, this place was amazing for a newly built house. She had only been eying photos and videos and everyone who saw this house (mostly Nacho) loved the open environment.
As they reached outside and stood by the pool, which was shielded by a screened glass and gave a great view of tree filled backyard and a tall white fence, she finally nodded and squealed, "Yep, I still love it."
Phil just held his hands up, laughing as she hugged him tightly. "I mean, for a house in Tampa, Florida, surprisingly, this is nice. I can see myself relaxing here," he added, trying not to seem too excited about the place. "But yeah, this will work."
"It's home," she stated, almost sounding shocked over the idea. She was still in shock over him willing to move down into a house with her. But here he was, walking into one with her.
"Yep," was his short reply agreeing with her, as he pulled her close and kissing her gently, sealing the deal as she moaned thoughtfully. "So now, we're eighty percent complete and we can sleep in our new place tonight," Phil concluded.
"I cleaned up and dropped off the keys this morning so we should be okay. Kaitlyn picked up my last mail and I got rid all the stuff you called too 'girly'," she mentioned, air-quoting the aforementioned feminine word with her eyes rolled. "What are we doing with the space near the kitchen?"
"Well, that area can be a hangout with all our games, comics and movies to entertain guest, sort of like a man cave," Phil suggested as they kept walking around, holding hands casually. He then nodded to the huge space and called out hypothetically, "The bonus rooms can be the guest room; that way, Kofi and your brother can have more room to battle should they need too."
"Agreed," AJ hummed out with a smirk over the ensuing battles for supremacy Kofi and Robert would be having over the room in due time. "Oh, by the way, Nacho needs a bedroom."
Phil raised his brows at her skeptically with a laugh. "Seriously? He sleeps with you every night. Why does he need a room?"
"He's already upset that you're the other man in my life. Do you really want him to sleep in the bed with us now that you live here?" she volleyed back.
Phil just groaned at the thought of Nacho cock-blocking his sleep in time with AJ. Back then, he allowed it, but after this move, it's not gonna happen. If a bedroom for the other man in April's life would put a stop to it, then so be it. "Okay, we'll buy him a huge dog bed, a playhouse and tons of toys," he relented exasperatingly, causing AJ to bounce up and down happily, clapping her hands together in a giddy manner. Phil merely rolled his eyes, but couldn't help the smile that appeared on his face, no doubt caused by her infectious behavior. "Surely he won't miss you after I set up his royal lyre."
They continued to look around the house, getting a visual of what else they needed to place where and what to buy, and once they finally approached the last and fourth empty bedroom, a medium sized room with a small walk in closet and another bath attached to it, they stopped. Looking at the empty space, Phil looked down at AJ and thought of what she brought to his attention earlier.
"You know...this room would be pretty commendable to Nacho's needs," he murmured thoughtfully to AJ with his arms folded.
"Yeah, and Nacho doesn't really need a toilet or shower. He likes his baths the old bucket way," AJ agreed, twisting her lips to the side as he nodded. After tilting her head, she sighed. "You really don't mind if I do it, do you?"
He sighed as well. "No, I mean…I just know that I'm going to be the Scott Discik to your weirdo Kourtney and Khloe relationship."
"Oh, please, don't worry about that. You're not as douchy as he is…and I'm not having a baby anytime soon," she added as he agreed. "And she's not that crazy. She's really to herself, quiet, and she'll hardly be here since she's got friends and will have a job here. I just…I need her here right now. She's the other half. You are putting into this, so I'm asking you."
"Well, I mean, we do need a house sitter. And since she's an awesome cook that taught you well," Phil teased then smiled at AJ as she giggled. "Ask her and see what she says so we can put her on the paperwork."
AJ nodded, taking his hand as they headed downstairs. "So, we should call the crew and see where they are with the U-Haul," she suggested.
"Wow. Man...we're kinda…going forward with this, huh?" he asked, rubbing his neck with a nervous smile. "It's scary and awesome at the same time."
"You said it best. But at least were happy," AJ retorted, smiling as he just hugged her, picking her up and spinning her around in the foyer, making her squeal and laugh happily, and showing how happy they were about to be with this noteworthy step being taken with a huge leap of faith.
"So, you're happy about this house? It's quite lovely here and the neighborhood seems safe," Layla asked as she helped AJ unpack her clothing, hanging them, folding them, and setting up her Converses by carefully placing them on the shelves. AJ worked on Phil's closet space as Kaitlyn stood in the room, setting up the bed with new sheets and furnishings.
"Yeah. I was going to move out anyway, but now that Phil's around and bought this house, I'm not alone. I'm very happy."
"And you're sure you've thought this through?" Kaitlyn stressed, smiling as AJ rolled her eyes her way. "What? I'm a bestie. I have to annoy you with all the questions."
"I'm sure. And I know your couch is always free just in case I lose my temper," she teased, placing the last of his clothes in the closet as Layla laid the final pair of shoes down. Sighing deeply, her smile remained bright. "But hopefully, when this case is all done, we can move forward with our relationship positively," AJ assured as the girls agreed happily.
"It's already looking good. I mean, he's been making every man step up their love game." Kaitlyn complimented as she beamed with high shoulders. "Except for Stephen," she added in sneakily, making AJ giggle and Layla smile. "No one can beat Sheamus and his solid heart of gold."
"That's not the only 'solid' thing you love on him," AJ quipped with her smile wide, laughing with Layla as she dodged a pillow from Kaitlyn flying her way. "But I agree." AJ acknowledged. "After my last visit to Chicago, our relationship has shifted in a more…mature direction."
Layla gasped playfully as the smile on AJ's lips turned bashful. "Wait, that smile tells me you two lovebirds did way more than dinner and a movie. Tell me more," Layla interjected.
"No, nothing's happened with us doing that." AJ rejected, leaning over with a nonchalant frown. "But I do want to talk to you two about something that's really serious for us," AJ confessed, causing Kaitlyn to hum in interest as Layla inched closer to her, knowing she wanted to keep her busy out of the lurking sources ear.
Without looking at them, she sighed deeply, and spoke up. "I've been having these nightmares lately that me and all of you, someway or how, are in it. And in the end, I always see Drew," AJ whispered, clearing her throat as the thought of her last one came to mind. "He's not hurting me, or touching me. He doesn't even look my way in the dream this time."
The girls looked concerned and speechless as AJ just shook her head. "And in every dream, it ends with Drew asking me or begging me to talk to him."
"Talk to him?" Layla repeated, trying to get clarity of her thinking for the girls. "As in, 'go and talk to him' talk to him?"
"As in meeting with him face to face?" Kaitlyn asked, raising her eyebrows with wonder as AJ just shrugged. "You can't be serious."
"Phil said the same thing, but I told him I think it will help me move on if I did say something to him. Maybe if I do, no one would be so worried about us. Phil and I can start to live a little more fearlessly as well."
Kaitlyn scoffed at the logic. "Oh, I see; so seeing your attacker, the man that raped you and almost killed you, is what will determine your sanity?" she snapped.
"In a way…yes," AJ answered.
"That's not exactly a bad idea…" Layla started, raising her hand up once she saw Kaitlyn glare with attitude. "But I don't think you should try and do it alone."
"I know. I told Punk and he didn't really tell me no. So I'm going to talk to David and Meyers about what I can do," AJ responded.
Kaitlyn and Layla didn't want to go into any more detail over the news, but they were just as involved in it as AJ was. They were concerned over their friend's well-being, in more ways than one. "I don't think you should do it," Kaitlyn expressed with a stern look to her face.
AJ sighed as she sat back against her wall. "Kait, I think I should at least…write him and tell him how I feel, just like he did with the letter."
"I think you should tell him fuck off and burn in hell when he gets there." she snapped. "AJ, he's going to jail after he loses. That's it. Let it go and let him fucking rot in there. He doesn't deserve your kindness, especially after what he did to you."
"Don't you want me to move on?" AJ asked, feeling upset that the one person who should support her the most wasn't doing so.
"Yes, I do, you know that better than anyone. But I really don't want you to just back down on him or fall for his fake sympathy or sorrow or any of that bullshit."
"You don't think he's sorry at all, hun?" Layla queried.
Kaitlyn just rolled her eyes and stopped packing. "I know he is, but she doesn't need to see him to assure herself."
"No, she needs to communicate in the person who hurt her," AJ spoke in the third person as she cutted in, almost yelling as Layla tried to defuse it with a hush, mostly because of the other people in the house. "I'm not afraid of him. I just need to clear the bad energy in my life. I have a great career, awesome friends, a happy family and a kick ass love life. This is the final step of throwing everything bad away and you're being so naïve about it."
"Because you're trying to act like you forgive him!" Kaitlyn exclaimed in response.
AJ rubbed her lips together, looking Kaitlyn straight in the eyes as she whispered lowly, "…But I do."
"You…forgive him?" Layla asked, completely taken aback by it.
"Yes. I do forgive him." AJ repeated and agreed with a straight face.
Kaitlyn bit her lip as she looked away, and then waved her hands over her face before letting a tear fall. "Do what you want," she admonished with a crack in her voice.
"Why are you crying?" AJ asked as she tilted her head.
"You want to tell him that 'it's okay that you did this', when he basically hurt you in the worse way." Kaitlyn was officially crying as AJ just inched closer to her. "I…I walked in on that." Once she said that, AJ started frowning as well, pouting with tear bridging her eyes.
"I saw what he did to you and how much he hurt you. All the blood and your bandages and…your tears AJ. You hardly slept or ate because of what he did to you, and I had to sit by and deal with it with you and Punk." Kaitlyn sobbed, which caused AJ and Layla to start crying as well.
"Then I watched you leave us. You got on a plane and left. I saw how much it hurt Punk," she went on while shaking her head, her voice in a quivering shudder. "And watching him cry, actually cry, over you hurt the most. You not being here really broke my heart, April."
"I know that. And I missed you guys to death when I left. And it made my desire to come back grow even more," AJ retorted, letting more tears fall as Layla and Kaitlyn listened up. "Holding onto bad energy or the past will harm my future and I'll never be happy. Right now, I'm happier than I've ever been. I don't have a reason to hate him." Kaitlyn nodded as AJ just wiped her tears away smiling. "In a way, he made me stronger. And you guys kept me that way."
"I know. You're my little ass kicker," Kaitlyn joked, making the mood lighter and AJ chuckled. "You're my favorite person and I'm proud of you. It's just…Layla and I can't handle these snarky, lame, overly plastic fake bitches that aren't as awesome as you are. So, I'm just trying to keep you from leaving again. I want you to know you aren't alone in this."
"I know. I've know that since day one," AJ assured. "I love you guys so much, and I thank you for everything. But if you can just support me once more that would be great."
"I'll always support you and love you, Ape." Kaitlyn sniffled as she nodded with a smile. "You're my HBK."
"And you're my Triple H."
Layla frowned as they stopped crying, her face streaked with tears as well, but her heart warmed at the tender moment being displayed by two close. She then interjected by joking, "So does this make me Chyna, X Pac, Rodd Dogg or Billy Gunn?"
AJ and Kaitlyn laughed with her as she pouted with a smile. "No. This makes you Hornswoggle," AJ officially bestowed, causing her and Kaitlyn's laughter to rise a little more.
"Screw the both of you, OK?" Layla fired back, before ultimately breaking the ice and dissolving into a pile of giggles herself, laughing along with AJ and Kaitlyn before group hugging it out, not seeing Phil enter the room with Sheamus behind him.
"Hey, what's going on? We heard a lot of yelling." Stephen wondered aloud, frowning as Kaitlyn just wiped her eyes again. "What happened?"
"We just had a discussion about my idea. With the letter." AJ confessed, making room so the boys could join this on the floor. "I'm going to just write him. Not visit."
"You sure about it?" Phil asked as she nodded. "Well, I hope we get to hear it before you send it."
"Don't worry, you will," AJ assured as she wiped the rest of her tears away. "But enough about that. This room is officially set up."
"Are all of the Chucks fully together in the shoe section, my Converse Queen?" Phil quipped as AJ laughed. "Yes, my tattooed king, it is set up fine."
"Awesome," was his simple response. "We just finished up the loft and all the entertainment stuff is set. Cable guy is working on the triple package and the security system is up and running as well. Colt went with Rose and Amy to pick up some grub."
"And, we came up to give you the last of your mail. Looks like a special package that came in," Stephen said as he held up the long box. "I shook it a couple of times and…it sounded like a stack of something."
AJ gasped as she and Kaitlyn quickly grabbed the box. She looked around for something sharp as Phil just leaned over. Layla handed her a box cutter and she beamed, cutting it open and gasping at the contents. With the Blu-Ray case of WrestleMania 29 in her hand, AJ showed everyone the front and screamed, "I'm on the cover!"
"No way!" Layla gasped as she picked up the DVD. "Holy smokes, you're moonsault is on the back." she noticed, which in turn caused AJ to scream happily even louder.
"I'm on the cover too missy, just so you know," Phil sarcastically informed her as he took the case, smiling as she looked his way. "But you do look hotter in this one…and fearless."
"Just the way they like it," she admonished.
"We totally should watch this when everyone gets back," Kaitlyn suggested with a smile, watching Phil and AJ agree with it. "But on one condition: we have to wear the pajamas."
"Yes!" Layla beamed as AJ nodded. "We can totally have a first night housewarming!"
Stephen and Phil on the other hand didn't show excitement after that. "I'd rather sit around full monty naked than wear those pajamas," Stephen said with a chuckle.
Kaitlyn laughed and replied, "Come on, you know you love them. And we all know the Rock is your favorite person Punk." Kaitlyn chuckled out as AJ just laughed along.
"It was funny when I received it in the hospital, not now," Phil shrugged. "You'll have to bury me in those fucking pajamas to see me in them."
"Would you wear the skull body one I brought you instead? Pleeeaaase, baby?" AJ pleaded sheepishly, smiling bright as Phil just bowed his head.
"I'll think about it," he nodded with smile.
AJ leaned into Phil's arms, smiling around as Nacho barked up, looking at her and whimpering. "I know, Cheese. I'll miss the hole in the corner too." She picked him up and rested him on her lap with a smile. "But we have this new home with Phil and Rose. It's got a huge back yard and Phil is buying you a lot of stuff so you get your own room!" Nacho barked in excitement after that, hopping into Phil's lap as he snickered.
"Now I'm your favorite person, huh?" Phil groused, scratching the little chihuahua in his favorite ear as he rested calmly.
"Ready to call this home?" Phil asked AJ.
"You bet," she confirmed confidently.
As she looked around the new bedroom, she thought about the memories of her first arrival in Tampa. How Kaitlyn once slept on the couch and Aksana showed up with Nacho for her to adopt. She even remembered showing her family the place and how independent she was to be on her own, and the night Phil showed up, sleeping in bed with her for comfort and surprising her after she returned.
"Can't wait to make new memories here."
Phil smacked a loving kiss on her cheek before saying, "Same here doodle."
I hope you all understand why AJ would forgive Drew for all he did. If you're just as mad as Kaitlyn, tell me why in the review. But these next few chapters have got to be the most emotional chapters i've ever written. And I love it.
So they have a home together, what else will they do on the first night in? You'll have to read and find out. Thanks to Maize for helping me proofread this, and kimberly316, Raiden519 (where's my update for ND! lol), canadice, eva505, Red Foxie, xLifeFullOfLaughterx and DoubleDee068 I thank all you lovelies for reviewing.
With only 4 chapters left (error of last chapter, sorry) , AJ does things that prove her growth and recovery, all so she can finally enjoy her life with Punk and
Until Next time, Besos*