Chapter 37

The night had been rough for both AJ and Punk. She was a lot more shaken then Punk had originally thought. He held her close the entire night. She would curl further into him as the night went on in an attempt to feel safe, protected. Eventually she had fallen asleep with her cheeks still wet from tears and eyes swollen. Punk on the other hand didn't sleep one wink. On nights like these he would go for a run to clear his head but not last night. He had stayed in the same position for the night careful not to disturb AJ from her sleep. Occasionally he would hear either his phone or hers vibrate. He was sure word had gotten around to everyone on what went down but he wasn't ready to talk about it. And we could he even say? He wasn't there and that's what was really killing him. His inability to protect his wife once again and now his own child. But he couldn't let AJ see how torn up about this he really was, he wanted her to move on from this and he would help in anyway possible even if it meant swallowing his own feelings. He saw the sun creeping through the curtains of the hotel room and was relieved AJ was still sleeping. They had nowhere to be not that he cared because he wasn't waking her up for anything. After a few more hours he felt her stir in his arms but he kept his grip. She lazily opened her eyes and smiled up at him.

"Did you sleep at all?" she asked in a quiet voice as she fought to keep her eyes open

"Yea" he muttered looking down at her

"You're a terrible liar" she smirked as she felt him run one of his hands through her hair "What time is it?" she asked him

"Don't know, doesn't matter" Punk told her plainly "Sleep as long as you want"

"I'd love that" she smiled "But your daughter has other plans, she's hungry and wants me to get up and pee" she pulled herself away from Punk and stretched before slipping out of the bed and heading to the bathroom. Punk took the opportunity to pick up his phone. He had 22 missed phone calls and 18 messages. He didn't even bother to check any of them before placing his phone back down. A few minutes later AJ emerged.

"Feeling better?" He asked her

"Yea a little" she shrugged and forced a smile "What about you?"

"Me? I'm fine" He said to her as she tilted her head

"Give me a little bit more credit then that Phillip" she scolded using his full name to prove she meant business

"Really I'm fine" Punk promised

"I don't think I could stand it if you blamed yourself for any of this" AJ said biting her lower lip "This is not your fault, any of it"

"AJ-" Punk started but AJ wasn't finished yet.

"This is on me. This is my past that came back to bite me in the ass and you're the innocent bystander not the other way around" AJ said pointing at him "And if anyone in this entire mess should be sorry it's me. And most importantly you shouldn't hide your feelings about it. If you're mad like I know you are then get mad! I'm not going to break or anything I can take it."

"You think I'm mad at you?" Punk asked pointing at her

"I sure as hell would be" AJ shot back at him placing her hands on her hips "I can't travel with you all clamed up like this so if you something to say I want you to say it"

"April" Phil warned narrowing his eyes "Now isn't the time" he really didn't want to push this any further. He was angry and frustrated and AJ knew it and she also knew all the right buttons to push.

"No Phil let it out!" AJ yelled "Tell me how you feel about Scott attacking me on our bus! The bus that we spend more time in then our own home! Tell me how mad you are that you jumped the gun and married a weak woman who couldn't defend herself as a child and still can't to this day! Tell me how mad you are that you got me pregnant and now there's nowhere to go!"

"I'm not mad at you!" Punk shouted which quickly stopped AJ's rant "I'm mad at me and you know why!" he said hopping out of the bed and pointing at her "I'm mad that I have this tough guy persona but yet hasn't been able to protect his wife once!" He said holding up one finger "I'm mad that I failed you and before this kid is even out of the womb I failed her as well because no matter how many promises I make and no matter how much I mean it I still can't follow through! We've been married for months now and I still haven't done one thing right! I'm going to be a bigger disappointment then my own parents were!" he was right in her face letting it all out, just like she had hoped and she had taken in every word.

"You're not a disappointment" AJ told him sternly "And you're certainly not going to be a disappointment to our daughter because you are better then that and you damn well know it"

"Maybe you don't know me as well as you think you do" Punk said in a softer tone

"Or maybe I know you a lot better then you think" she countered folding her arms and arching a brow

"I don't want to fight" Punk sighed running his hand over his head

"What do you want?" she asked stepping towards him looking up at him with innocent eyes. He cupped her face and pulled her into a soft kiss. At least it started off soft but both had a lot of tension and frustration that had been building for days now. Both used each other to forget.

A few hours later they were getting ready to leave the hotel. Packing up what few things they had bought up with them. They were both feeling better but Punk still had a ton of regrets he was mulling over through his head. A knock at the door jolted AJ, which didn't go unnoticed by Punk who walked towards the door and peeked through the peephole. He opened the door to reveal the police officer on the other side.

"Can I help you?" Punk questioned not really wanting to deal with any more cops. He has had more then his fill these last two weeks.

"Mr. Brooks" The officer replied politely stepping in "Mrs. Brooks"

"Is everything alright?" AJ questioned folding her arms and waited as Punk walked over and took a protective stance next to her

"Yes but we need you to come back down to the station" he told her and AJ instantly felt her blood pressure rise

"What for?" Punk spoke up "She said what she had to say it's done"

"We have a few more questions" the officer insisted trying to keep his cool but Punk's tone wasn't helping much

"She's pregnant and tired" Punk shot back at him "You have what you need so go do your job"

"Phil" AJ mumbled trying to ease the situation "We'll be back down there as soon as possible" Punk sighed with annoyance

"Very well" the officer smiled at her then walked to the door and Punk followed

"You couldn't have just called?" Punk questioned not willing to let this go

"Tried to, both your phones went to voicemail" the officer shrugged then left the room.

"It's fine" AJ insisted to Punk "It won't take long"

"Yea" Punk mumbled

At the Police station AJ was taken into a Detectives office while Punk lounged around the waiting area.

"Hey you're CM Punk!" a younger officer shouted filled with excitement "I'm a huge fan"

"Yea" Punk mumbled, not really in the mood for any of this "Nice to meet you" he forced out shaking the younger man's hand

"I heard about that craziness last night but didn't believe it until I saw you here! And that guy from the show in lock up" the officer whose tag read Diaz

"He still here?" Punk asked him raising an eyebrow

"Yea they're about to transfer him to county though" Diaz informed him

"Can I see him?" Punk asked as Diaz immediately looked uncomfortable

"I don't know if that's a good idea" Diaz stated scratching the back of his head "We were told no one but his attorney could see him and if I let you in there and he gets hurt it will be on me"

"I wouldn't do that" Punk assured the nervous rookie "I just want to talk to him" he told him simply. Punk watched as the young man looked around the squad room.

"You promise?" Diaz asked clearly not wanting to disappoint his idol

"You have my word" Punk promised. He then followed Diaz as he waked over to a small office and watched him open the door

"They need you upstairs to sign off on his transfer papers" Diaz told the other officer who was with Scott Page "I'll stay with him"

"Sure" the officer said leaving the office not noticing Punk tucked off to the side. Diaz nodded his head for Punk to follow him in.

"I can't leave you alone with him" Diaz told him sternly and Punk just nodded. With his words Scott Page looked up and let out a sigh seeing Punk enter the office. He was handcuffed to the table and took a seat across from him at the table. If he didn't feel so much anger towards this man Punk would have laughed at him. He looked absolutely miserable.

"What do you want?" Scott said letting out a breath

"What do I want?" Punk questioned narrowing his eyes at the man sitting across from him "You attacked my family and you want to know what I want?"

"I didn't touch her" Scott's tone was pretty dull and empty, he just didn't seem to care "The clumsy bitch fell"

"Did she fall into your hands? I saw the bruises!" Punk shouted

"I just wanted an apology- this has all been blown way out of proportion" Scott insisted

"You wanted AJ to apologize to you? For what?" Punk asked but wouldn't let Scott answer "For basically keeping you as a prisoner when you were young and alone? Abusing you mentally and physically for a year? Attacking you repeatedly at live events? Sending you gifts and approaching your friends? Cornering you on a bus and scaring you to death? Oh wait that was just some of the torture you inflicted on her- silly me"

"Look you don't know her" Scott said slowly "She did this on purpose! If I would have gotten a new contract elsewhere I could have forgiven her for everything but she went on national TV and humiliated me and attacked my character. I couldn't even get a job at a fast food chain!"

"Well don't worry because people will be lining up to give you a job once they read how you attacked a young pregnant women" Punk scoffed

"I didn't touch her!" Scott shouted standing up, his chair hitting the floor in the process but Punk didn't even blink "I never touched her! All these lies are ruining me!"

"You really do have some anger management issues don't you?" Punk asked with half a smirk "That's alright so do I" the last line was delivered in a low and dangerous tone that sent shivers up Scott Page spine "Difference between us is I know where to direct it. And if for some extremely lucky reason you get to walk on this I'm going to be directing a lot of anger towards you. If you send her flowers, a card, a note- I don't care what it is I'm going to find you" Punk and Scott were both looking each other dead in the eyes "Unlike you I've learned from my mistakes and letting you get near her again is never going to happen. When we fought at the pay-per view that was work but I promise you meeting me outside of the ring is going to be the worst thing you have ever done. I will break bones you didn't even know you had"

"I can take you" Scott smirked

"I doubt that" Punk shot back "I've got a lot to fight for. Like my wife and child and you have nothing and with this latest stunt I'm assuming you will have even less"

"You don't scare me" Scott replied simply as Punk shot up out of his seat and leaned across the table to be eye level with Page

"I should" he seethed out but before anything could happen Diaz tugged on his shoulder

"You need to leave now before the my superior comes in" he pleaded with Punk who kept his eyes cast on Scott's cold empty ones for another moment then turned and stormed out of the office

After another fifteen minutes AJ smiled as she walked towards Punk.

"All done?" he asked and she nodded

"All done" She confirmed grabbing his hand "You ok? You seem a bit tense"

"I just don't like police stations" He shrugged then turned towards officer Diaz and handed him a slip of paper "Next time we're in the area call this number and they'll set you up with some tickets, just tell them I gave you the number ok?"

"No that's alright" Officer Diaz smiled handing it back to him but Punk wouldn't accept it

"Keep it" Punk said giving him a nod then lead AJ out of the station

"What was that about?" she questioned

"He's a fan" Punk shrugged

A week went by and Monday was right around the corner. Vince had offered to give them the week but AJ insisted on coming back and starting this new story line before she started to show. It almost felt weird to her to be back because the halls of the WWE had been her safe place for so long and last week that was violated. Deep down she knew she was safe with Scott Page safely locked away but she was still shaky. The one thing Punk wasn't looking forward to was all the questions and stars they would be receiving so they made sure to arrive early enough to avoid most people and stay in the locker room it also helped that his return tonight was supposed to be a huge surprise and only the highest ranking officials knew about it.

To say AJ was nervous was an understatement. The news of the arrest was kept pretty quiet. The media picked up on Scott Page's arrest but the police didn't release details or AJ herself in the report. Obviously there had been rumors floating around about her involvement but no one had commented. She tried to rid her mind of all these thoughts as she watched at the curtain for her music. She clutched her Diva's championship belt that she would be surrendering Sunday at PayBack. Her task for the night was to go down to the ring and plead with Dolph who would then come out with Big E and insult AJ, all leading to Punk attacking Dolph during his main event at the end of the night. AJ wasn't the only one who felt uneasy about the show tonight, so did Dolph who really wasn't comfortable going out there and cutting a harsh promo on his pregnant friend who was just attacked last week but AJ assured him she'd be fine.

As her music played the crowd began to cheer for her which caught her by surprise. Maybe they did know? She thought to herself. The WWE universe never ceased to amaze her. No matter how hard Vince had tried they just couldn't pull the wool over their eyes. They knew the truth and they were showing her respect. She signaled for the microphone and before speaking to in the crowd's chants for just another moment. She smiled slightly then spoke.

"Thank you everyone" she said admiring the crowd "I really needed that" she smirked letting them know she was appreciative of the reception "After the week I had getting dumped by my Ziggy I have just been a wreck" she added shortly after to stay on script "I know I've made a lot of mistakes I've made in my many relationships I finally thought that I had found the right man" she admitted sadly "As you all witnessed last week Dolph broke my heart and-" before she could finish another voice chimed in

"Please stop!" the voice of Paul Heyman ringing through the arena. AJ stared at the man disbelievingly, was he really going to do this again? She watched as he entered the ring and smirked as the crowd booed him "I get you all hate me" Paul said annoyed to the rowdy crowd

"Paul this is my time" AJ shot at him

"Yes and I wanted to stop you before you did something stupid because I feel I at least owe you that much" Paul said looking at her "Can we really just forget the script for a minute? Break the fourth wall as Punk affectionately calls it?"

"Paul-" AJ started

"Please" Paul pleaded "I have sat back and watched this train wreck long enough!"

"What are you talking about?" AJ asked

"This thing with you and Dolph and Punk" Paul said tilting his head "It isn't as it seems"

"A lot of what's gone on these last few months are exactly how it seems" AJ said inching closer to Heyman "My hatred of you hasn't diminished at all over time. You are still a spotlight-stealing weasel! Now get out of my ring before I throw you out of it!"

"If I didn't know what I already know I would actually be mildly intimated" Paul smirked "Just put it out there AJ-" he started but was cut off by Dolph Ziggler's music. He wasn't supposed to come out until AJ had her promo but obviously creative didn't want Paul out here. Dolph headed down the ramp and into the ring and signaled for his own microphone.

"Paul if you don't mind I'd like to have a conversation with AJ" the Show off said to Heyman

"Don't mind me" Paul shrugged still standing in the ring.

"I mind you- very much" AJ said with anger growing in her voice

"AJ please" Paul pleaded with the younger diva "Think of your child" and with that the audience was silent "Oh I guess they didn't know"

AJ was reeling, another part of her personal life she wanted to keep to herself blurted out in front of a live audience on national TV with millions watching at home "What did you just say?" she questioned

Dolph didn't know how to handle the situation but knew he had to defuse the situation quickly "Look Paul I don't know what you think you have heard-"
"Shut it" Paul said waving off Dolph's attempts "This has nothing to do with you"

AJ looked at Dolph who was now also starting to turn red "It's fine" AJ insisted to Dolph lightly pushing him away from Paul

"AJ you have an entire universe waiting for you to explain" Paul said to her "Tell everyone how you are with child and better yet tell them who the father is"

AJ bit her bottom lip holding in a breath. Part of her was hoping the music would hit and someone would come down who could shut Heyman up but nothing ever played and she was on the spot. It was Dolph who spoke up before anyone else "Let's be clear here on what is what" he said with a nervous laugh "I've been with AJ for months now. So if she is pregnant it would obviously be mine" he smirked as the crowd booed

Paul squinted his eyes at the heavyweight champion, part of him proud for trying to help out another part annoyed at him for interfering. "So who is it AJ? Is CM Punk the father of this child or could it possibly be your now ex Dolph Ziggler or another ex Scott Page?"

The mention of Scott Page's name sent shivers down her spine, she would in now way play the part of the possibility of Scott Page being the father of her child "How dare you!" AJ shouted dropping her microphone then stepped over to Paul and slapped him as hard as she possibly could. Paul stumbled to the floor rubbing his jaw, AJ went to go after him again as Dolph gingerly grabbed her around her hips and tugged her away. While doing that the familiar static played and CM Punk headed down the ramp. The crowd was thrilled, the 'CM Punk' chants could be heard from the outside. He stepped into the ring and headed towards Paul Heyman who quickly rolled out of the ring and ran to the back area. Punk watched as Paul ran away then turned to AJ and Dolph. They still had a story tell and they wouldn't let Paul ruin it. Punk grabbed Dolph's arm when he wasn't looking and quickly lifted him in the GTS and dropped him to the mat. He looked at AJ and then left without saying a word.

Punk was backstage as fast as possible and searching around the area for Paul Heyman.

"Punk" Triple H said walking towards him

"Where is he?" was all Punk asked

"He left" Triple H told him as Punk picked up a chair and threw into a wall

"Why is it you have absolutely no control over him?" Punk questioned "You rely on his scouting abilities so much that you let him run free?"

"He scouted you didn't he?" Triple H questioned raising an eyebrow

Punk sucked in a breath trying to clam himself down knowing with Paul already gone there wasn't much he could do at the moment. "We didn't want people to know yet, we wanted this kept to ourselves. Our entire relationship has been played out on TV like some soap opera. Then he has the nerve to suggest that Scott Page- the animal who assaulted my wife just last week could be the father of our child?"

"I would want to throw him threw a wall myself" Triple told him coolly "Any you'll get your chance I promise you"

Before Punk could respond AJ's angry voice erupted in the back "Where is he!" she screamed in almost the same manner as Punk. Triple H couldn't help but smile. Where they always this similar? He questioned to himself

"He left" Punk told her and AJ just shook her head

"I wish I could say I was surprised by this but I guess the only surprising thing is that it had taken this long for him to open his big mouth" AJ huffed folding her arms in displeasure "What are we going to do?"

"We'll work it" was all Triple H promised but even he wasn't sure what to do. What was done could not be undone now.

"You know when I spoke to Paul before the tour he seemed genuinely upset about this Scott Page thing and I bought into it thinking maybe just maybe he still had a heart but this just throws it all away" AJ said shaking her head, angry at herself for being so foolish

"AJ!" the voice of Kaitlyn shouted heading towards them "What the hell?"

AJ gave Kaitlyn a glance and knew she wouldn't get out of this. She turned and gave Punk a weak smile "I should go talk to her" she said to him.

"Go ahead" He said nodding towards Kaitlyn and AJ turned and met her down the hall

"We'll figure this out" Triple H assured the former champion "We'll make it right- better yet I'll see to it that I personally make this right for you"

"Heard that before" Punk muttered when Cena walked towards them

"Hey dad" Cena said casually earning a glare from Punk but all Cena could do was smile "I wasn't sure it was true but guessing by all this noise out here I guess it is. Congratulations" John extended his hand and Punk accepted "I like to pride myself as the person who helped you two make it official so I'm understandably insulted that I had to hear about it on TV" Cena teased

"We were planning on waiting a few more weeks" Punk sighed "It's bad luck to say anything now"

"Gotchya" John said with a nod "Leave it to Heyman. Oh by the way Kofi has been texting me. He wants to talk to you, said something about being on speed dial and this is the second time-"

Punk rolled his eyes. He forgot how mad Kofi was when he and AJ eloped and wasn't properly notified. He made a promise to one of his best friends right then and there he would be the first to hear of any other big news. "I'll take care of it" Punk told him

Punk and AJ decided to head out for some dinner with Kaitlyn and Seth. Both men still not thrilled with being in the same company of one another decided to go to appease the women in their lives. They found a quiet dinner where they were sure they wouldn't be bothered. The three of them ordered their modest food and watched in awe as AJ ordered hers

"I'm going to have an order of nacho's with cheese" She said running her finger over the menu then smiled "Then I'm going to have an order of chicken fingers and fries and a hamburger" she said then flipped the menu over. Punk's eyes widened with amusement when he realized she still wasn't done ordering "And for dessert I'd like to have a hot chocolate sundae with extra ice cream" she finished with a smile then handed the menu over to the waitress

"That it?" Punk teased

"I'm hungry" AJ defended "I'm feeding your child now, don't forget it"

"You ate like that before pregnancy don't use that poor baby as an excuse" Kaitlyn shot at her as AJ laughed "So be honest have you thought of any names yet?"

"Names? We just found out!" AJ said choking on the water she was sipping

"Like two weeks ago" Kaitlyn said to her "Seriously you've had to have given it some thought"

"Of course" AJ said with a smirk as Punk looked over at her

"Oh have you now?" Punk questioned. AJ hadn't mentioned any names to him

"I'm still really early into the pregnancy I don't want to jinx anything more then Paul Heyman already has" AJ muttered

"Don't let that idiot ruin your excitement" Kaitlyn smiled "Come on out with them"

"I was thinking Jean or Marie" AJ said as Punk let out a laugh

"What about Jubalee or Storm?" Punk said as AJ glared at him. He let out a laugh then continued "We're not naming our child after an x-men"

"First of all Jean and Marie are very common names" AJ reminded him

"They're also X-men" Punk said with a slow nod

"At least I went with Marie instead of Rogue which was my first choice" AJ informed him

"If it's a boy can we name him Gambit?" Punk teased

"She's not a boy so we don't even have to waste our time on that" AJ told him firmly

"You already know what you're having?" Seth asked surprised

"No she's guessing" Punk told him as AJ slapped his arm

"A mother knows" AJ scolded

"I don't know when my brother's wife was pregnant she swore it was going to be a girl. Didn't need or want the doctor to tell her differently. She went ahead and painted the nursery purple and filled it with dolls and butterflies and then when she gave birth guess what?" Seth asked AJ who already didn't like where this story was going

"It was a boy" Punk answered

"Yup" Seth nodded. "Had to change everything and think of a name last minute"

"Well I'm not her" AJ told Seth folding her arms "This in here" she said pointing to her still flat stomach "Is a little girl"

"We'll see" Punk smirked picking up his cup and taking a sip of his soda

"Let's bet on it then" AJ smirked wickedly at him "If she comes out as I know she will a perfect baby girl then you have to change all the diapers for the first week"

"And if I'm right?" Punk asked intrigued

"I'll let you pick the name if she happens to be a he" AJ offered. Punk extended his hand and she took it

"You've got a deal" Punk smiled

A/N: Hope you all liked it! Thanks to everyone who has reviewed so far! It's nice to know people are actually enjoying the story :)