Heart wants what the heart wants

The next day Punk was sitting around in his house, looking for jobs on the computer. He figured he needed a place he could go take his mind off things. He hadn't been working for a while now and not that money was an issue, he was getting a little fed up.

He was in the middle of filling in some application forms when there was a knock at the front door. He groaned and stood up. He just wanted a day to himself today. To think about things and go through what it was he actually wanted. He had a lot on his mind. It was a sweat pant kind of day and that's exactly what he was wearing, along with an old t-shirt, and his hair was all over the place.

"What are you doing here?" Punk groaned as he opened the door to his father.

"Well I was over this way to see Clara, thought I'd stop by to see you on my way home."

"Well you shouldn't have." Punk said. He had too much on his mind. The last thing he wanted to be doing was talking to his father, no offence to him.

Jack followed him into the house and closed the front door over behind him, "Job applications, huh?" He looked over at the laptop on the coffee table.

"Nosey, huh?" Punk said, closing down the laptop, "What do you want because I don't wanna argue with you." He said.

"Who said we had to argue?" Jack sat down on the couch as Punk sat across, looking over at him, "Clara said you and AJ are having problems." He said.

"Alright, since when did you even know her on a first name basis and second, doesn't concern you." He said.

"Your my son. It does concern me." Jack said.

"Why'd you ask her for coffee when I left?" Punk asked, "Don't pretend that you actually cared." He shook his head.

"She looked unwell and upset. I was just showing concern. I know you think I'm incapable of that, but I just wanted to make sure she was ok. I knew you cared about her… a lot."

"You didn't know a thing." Punk shook his head.

"I know she was pregnant." Jack said, "I never had the guts to ask her, but please… don't tell me you knew and that was the reason you left her." He shook his head as Punk just laughed.

"You're a fucking idiot." Punk shook his head.

"Hey, that's how it looked to me." He put his hands up.

"I found out she was pregnant when I left just a few weeks ago." Punk said, "Had I known, I would have stayed." He said.

"I knew you would." Jack said, "But I had to ask." He said, "I really thought she would have had it, you know." Jack said.

"Why?" Punk questioned.

"Well she clearly loved you." Jack said, "That was obvious."

"Didn't mean she should have had the kid." Punk said, "She was nineteen and at college. She done the right thing." Punk said.

"You could have been a father." Jack said.

"Yeah well what if I didn't want to be a father?" Punk shook his head, "I don't wanna be you." He spat.

"Is this what you're afraid of?" Jack asked, "Clara told me AJ is pregnant again and you don't know what to do." He said, "You're scared you'll turn out like me?"

"Yes, I'm fucking terrified." Punk admitted as Jack just watched him, "I don't wanna be you, and it's not just that, the kid isn't mine, what if I can't love it? What if it hates me because I'm not it's real dad? What if it's real dad wants to be in it's life and I just get pushed to the side-" He paused, "Why am I even talking to you about this? You don't get it."

"I know you don't want to talk to me about it. Maybe I don't understand, but I can try." He said, "I know you love this April girl, otherwise you wouldn't be getting so uptight about the full thing." He said.

Clara had informed him on everything that was going on with Punk and AJ.

"Why do you even care?" Punk shook his head.

"Because believe it or not, Phil, you are my son and whatever it is you might think of me, I still care about you and want you to be happy. I know I've never been the best father, and maybe that's the reason this is all so difficult to you, but do you wanna know why I wanted AJ to have that baby seven years ago so much? Do you wanna know what I said to her?" He said as Punk just listened, "I said you would be an amazing father. You'd work it out and you'd roll with it, just like you always do. Despite how you behave around me, I know there's a heart in there. You were always great with Clara and your cousins when you were younger."

"That's different." Punk sighed.

"I know it is but my point is, you can do anything you put your mind to. I know you haven't had a good role model to look up to in me, but I know you can do this." He said, "I know that she means a lot to you. Lets face it, you're gonna end up doing it anyway because you love her so much." He shrugged.

"Why are you being so nice to me?" Punk shook his head. It wasn't like his father to give good advice. It wasn't like his father to give any advice actually.

"Because believe it or not, I was your age at one point too." Jack stood up, "I know I've been a shit father, doesn't mean you have to be" Jack said, "But you do what you feel is right." He pointed to him, "And hey… you spelt your name wrong on that application form you were filling in." He said, walking off out the living room and out of the house as Punk shook his head, opening up the laptop and scowling to himself at his father's need to notice everything.

He changed Phillip Jack Books to Phillip Jack Brooks and sat the laptop over, thinking to himself about what it was he planned on doing. Maybe he was scared that he'd turn out like his father, a man who had no interest in his children, but he wasn't his father, maybe that's the point his dad tried to make just now. He cared too much. Clearly Clara had told him everything and obviously he'd spoken to AJ just after he left. He might not have paid attention but he knew two kids in love when he seen it.

Perhaps his advice would sway him into making a decision.

AJ had volunteered to spend her day off work looking after Lily whilst Paige and Dean headed out to look for a place to stay and also to look a rehab centres near by. She really didn't mind watching her for a few hours. She knew Dean and Paige felt really threatened by Paige's mother and were doing all they could to provide for their daughter. From what she could see, they were nothing short of amazing parents.

"And then this one goes here?" AJ asked, sitting around the coffee table in the living room, kneeling down beside Lily making jelly bracelets with her. She had a little kit in her backpack and was excited to show AJ how to make some.

"You cross that one." Lily told her as AJ nodded, trying her best to watch the little girl as she made hers.

"How are you so good at this?" AJ smiled.

"Daddy lets me make him some all the time. He never wears them outside though." She said as AJ smiled, "And mommy makes them with me… when they aren't away." She said as AJ nodded.

"Well you wanna know where your mommy and daddy are right now?" She asked, "They're out looking for a new place to live." AJ smiled, "Just the three of you." She said as Lily smiled.

"Really?" Lily smiled as AJ nodded. She was such a pretty little thing. Her blonde hair was all wispy over her face but so adorable, and her blue eyes were almost sparkling.

"Really." AJ nodded.

"Then can I come here and make more bracelets?" She asked innocently, "I like it here" She smiled as AJ nodded.

"You can come here any time you like." AJ nodded, "I knew your daddy when I was younger. He's been a good friend." She nodded.

"Daddy said he's my best friend." She said to AJ as AJ just smiled and nodded.

"I don't doubt that, sweetie." She smiled, "I really don't."

"Here." Lily announced having made one of her bracelets, "You have this and I'll just make more." She said as AJ took the made bracelet with a smile, placing it on her wrist with a smile.

"Well thank you." AJ said, looking at the bracelet with a smile. She had no idea how much good company a three year old could give her. It made her feel that little bit more positive about facing this pregnancy alone, that was… if Punk decided he didn't want any of this.

Just as she was adjusting her bracelet on her wrist and smiling upon it, there was a knock at the front door.

"You stay here." She told Lily who nodded, watching her walk off and turning back to making her next bracelet.

AJ headed out of the living room and down the hall to the front door, opening it up, surprised to see Punk standing.

"Hey." He smiled as she just nodded to him, wrapping her arms around her, the cold air hitting her hard, "Is now a bad time?" He wondered.

"No… no, come in." AJ nodded as he walked into the house with her, following her into the living room, raising his eyebrows when he seen a little girl kneeling down on the carpet at the coffee table.

"Did I just step into a time machine?" He asked, looking around as she laughed a little.

"No." AJ smiled, "This is Lily. Dean and Paige's daughter. I'm watching her whilst they're out looking for places to stay." She said as Punk just nodded.

"So you're Dean's kid, huh?" He smiled over to Lily who looked up at him.

"Can I make you a bracelet?" She asked as Punk just laughed a little.

"Uh… yeah, sure." He nodded, turning back to AJ who waved her wrist at him which had her made bracelet was.

"Very pretty." Punk nodded, "Can we talk?" He asked her as she nodded.

"I'm just in the kitchen, Lily." AJ announced as the three year old nodded.

Punk and AJ headed off into the kitchen, "Is everything ok?" She asked as Punk nodded.

"Yeah… well, I think so." He nodded as she just looked up at him, "Look, I don't know anything about raising a kid, I struggle to take care of myself some times, but I think I can do this. I wanna be here for you, for-for everything. What really is the difference if the kid is mine or not… I can- I can still be it's dad." Punk nodded.

"Phil, you don't have to-"

"I know. I know I don't have to. But I want to. Yeah, it'll be tough. Sometimes it might feel like I can't do it, but I know I will, because I love you, and just knowing that this kid is yours, regardless of it not being mine… I love it already." He told her as she smiled sweetly, "I'm not saying it's gonna be easy and I'm not saying I know what I'm doing, but I know it's worth trying." He told her, "I love you… and I know in a few years time I'm gonna look back at this being the greatest decision of my life." He nodded.

"You're sure?" She asked in disbelief. She was lost for words. She didn't expect him to want this. Not with how he'd reacted last night.

"Let's just say my mind got opened a little wider." He nodded, "We're gonna do this." He nodded to her, "I'll be there." He said as she just smiled.

She didn't know what to say. It was what she was hoping for. Him being here with her for it all. She wasn't expecting it, she didn't want to expect anything from him, but what he said was true, they loved one another, and they'd love this baby together.

"You're really sure?" She asked with an emotional smile.

"Really sure." Punk smiled, cupping her cheeks, "I love you." He whispered, pressing his lips against hers as she fell into him comfortably, falling into the kiss as he held her around the waist.

He loved her too much to let her go. Yeah it would be difficult and sometimes it would get tough, and maybe he wasn't fully prepared just yet, but he'd get prepared. He'd be here. This was his girl and the baby, that was their son or daughter. That's the way it was gonna be. That was what he wanted. What the heart wanted.

A/N: But will things go smoothly? More coming soon. REVIEW and let me know what you think!