Hard On Yourself


"Morning." Punk smiled, kissing AJ softly as she woke up, looking on at him sat on the edge of the bed, dressed for work, "Breakfast." He nodded, sitting down the brown paper bag on the bedside cabinet along with a coffee.

"I… I'll get dressed and leave. You should have woke me." AJ shook her head as Punk placed his hand on her arm.

"No, take your time. I stuck my head in next door, Alba is still sleeping." He said, "Here's a spare key I keep. Just lock the door on your way out." He said, sitting the key down by the breakfast as AJ looked at it.

"You didn't have to go out and get me breakfast." AJ shook her head but with a smile, sitting up against the headboard.

"I wanted to." Punk said, "I wish I could stay a little longer with you but… I gotta go." He said as AJ nodded, "Just lock up when you leave and… I'll speak to you later." He said, leaning forward and kissing her again.

He was taking every opportunity to remind himself that she was here with him and he was getting a second chance with this. He didn't want to mess it up.

AJ reached to the breakfast beside her, looking into the bag and smiling, "You got my favourite." She noticed with a smile.

"Yeah." Punk nodded, "And hey, there's stuff in my fridge, if you wanna fix something for Alba, I don't know what she eats so I didn't get her anything." He said, "But seriously, you don't have rush away." He said as she smiled softly.

"Thank you." AJ nodded, "Maybe I could… see you later?" She said as he nodded.

"Yeah, I'd like that." Punk said, "Enjoy." He said, standing up off the bed as AJ smiled, watching as he left the room and headed off to work.

She wondered if life would have felt as sweet as this if they stayed together. Being woken up with breakfast and a kiss from him. It seemed too good to be true. She didn't want to feel like some damsel in distress who needed saving for eight years, but having him around again brightened her day up ten full. And she saw how he was with Alba last night. He really embraced her being there and it was all AJ could have asked for in a partner.

She knew they were taking things one step at a time. Figuring things out slowly. But she knew this was always going to be inevitable. Even with the heartbreak he had caused her and all the pain and sadness she felt. She was confident for the first time that they could get through it.


"I didn't know you were taking Alba." Kerry said once AJ got home later on, "I got a fright last night when I came home and I didn't see you both." She said whilst AJ was folding up some clothes in her bedroom whilst Alba was fast asleep.

"We just ended up staying." AJ nodded.

"Mhm." Kerry said, folding her arms, "Moving quick, aren't we?" She raised a brow as AJ turned to her.

"You think so?" AJ questioned.

"Yeah well you hated him last week and now… now it's all sunshine and rainbows." Kerry said, "What's changed?"

"Nothing has changed. I never hated him." AJ said, "I was stuck on this idea that if I… got back with him, if I gave things a chance with us, that I would look weak and desperate." She shook her head, "But I don't and I don't care what other people think of me either." AJ shook her head, "I love him. I always have. Even after him leaving. I still loved him." She said as Kerry smiled, "And I'm never gonna find anyone better." She shook her head, "I'm not punishing myself anymore for still being in love with him."

"No of course not." Kerry said, "No one thinks you're weak for letting yourself go there with him again. You love him, there's nothing wrong with that." She said, "I just want to see you happy. Both of you." She nodded.

"I am… I'm happiest when I'm with him. I was trying so hard to avoid that. When he came back I thought all those feelings would have disappeared but they are… still very much there." She nodded as Kerry smiled.

"Do what you want to do. Go with your feelings and don't listen to what anyone else says." Kerry nodded as AJ smiled, "Were you off work today?" She asked.

"Yeah it was my day off." AJ nodded, "I was gonna see Phil later but… I have some work to do and I'm pretty exhausted. It's just a little more difficult now that we don't have all the time in the world." She admitted.

"Yes you do." Kerry nodded, "You do have time. You have busy lives but… I'm sure you'll figure it out. Don't talk yourself out of it. Take one step at a time like you said, and it'll fall into place." She said as AJ smiled and nodded.

"I hope so." AJ said, "I'm gonna go check on dinner." She said as she left the room.


Punk was in his office until late on. He'd got a text from AJ telling him she was going to pass on seeing him tonight as she had some work of her own to do, and he could only imagine the exhaustion she felt taking care of a one year old. He politely text back, not wanting to rush anything anyway, and said he would stop by later on in the week to see her.

He was glad he was getting this chance with her. She was almost like his escape. During this busy working life, knowing he could see her and all the stress he was under could just melt away was great. He'd missed her so much. He'd missed holding her, being able to talk to her, and he was glad he was getting this chance with her.

"How are things coming along?" Ted walked into the office.

"Uh… fine." Punk grumbled a little, "So I've spoken to those people that you gave me a list of. Some I met with, some on the phone… none of them saw anyone suspicious going into his office around the time of his death." Punk nodded, "So what if… what if they didn't have to come into his office to move the money?" He asked.

"They'd have to be really smart to hack the company's system. I'm talking… extremely smart." Ted said.

"Smart enough to carry out a murder and not get caught?" Punk questioned, "No one knew a thing." He sighed, starting to get frustrated, "What if it has nothing to do with the company? His death, I mean." He looked up at Ted.

"Your dad wouldn't have left that letter for you. He knew that money was being moved. He knew someone was in his files and tampering with stuff. Essentially trying to sabotage the company." Ted said, "It's gotta be connected." He nodded, "Have you spoke to Laura again?" He asked.

"Why would I speak to her again?" Punk asked.

"Well maybe now you know about the affair, she might open up more." Ted said, "I mean you said she was jumpy. Maybe there's a reason. If she was close with your dad, maybe he told her stuff." He said as Punk sighed.

"I highly doubt my dad's bit on the side is gonna know anything about this." Punk shook his head.

"She might very well." Ted said as Punk sighed and sat back on his chair, "Putting all of that aside for a second, I need you to go to the rooftop party next weekend. Macks Company is holding it, I want you to talk to some other traders and get the scope." Ted nodded.

"Why can't you go?" Punk whined a little, "I hate parties."

"I'm not the one running the damn place. You are." Ted said as Punk looked across at him, "It comes with the job. You could even take your new girl." He smiled as Punk laughed a little.

"I don't have a new girl." Punk scoffed.

"You're tired and cranky. I've seen your apartment. The only way you're not getting any sleep is if you have company all night." Ted said as Punk shook his head.

"It's none of your business, Theodore." Punk said with a smile, "I'll go to the party for an hour." He nodded, "Maybe." He shrugged.

"No, you will go." Ted said, "Charm people the way you're so disgustingly good at." He nodded as Punk just smiled, "And then you can resume with all of this stuff." He said.

"I'm afraid I'll lose my mind before I figure out who killed him." Punk admitted, "There's absolutely nothing to go by. Everything is the way it's supposed to be." He sighed to himself.

"Take it easy on yourself, kid." Ted nodded, "Don't overthink it all. One piece at a time." He said, "Don't work yourself into the ground."

"Yeah well I try not to." Punk sighed as Ted nodded.

"Yeah, I know you do." Ted said, "Still working on that anger? I don't have to make you see a therapist again, do I?"

"No." Punk said briefly, "I'm fine." He nodded to him, "You check in on me too much. You can always call."

"Yeah well I like to make sure you're ok with my own eyes. You're a young guy with a huge weight on your shoulders. It can't be easy. I don't want you to break." He said as Punk nodded.

"I'm fine." Punk assured him. Any time he did feel the pressure and the weight of the company on him, he thought of AJ. She was his stress relief. Being with her again made him feel like he could do anything. It healed him from any distress he was in. Any fear and worries he had, she made them all go away. She was his secret weapon at life, for sure.

"Good." Ted nodded, "I'll let you get to it. Don't be staying too late." He said whilst leaving the office as Punk just nodded, leaning back on his chair and yawning.


Later that night, Punk left the office and felt like stopping by to see his mom. It also meant he could see AJ of course.

"Hey, how are you?" Punk hugged his mother.

"Oh, I'm alright." Kerry smiled, "You? I hope that's not you just getting home from work." Kerry looked at the clock which read 11pm.

"Yeah, it is." Punk nodded, "It's not always like this. I've just been busy." Punk said as Kerry just hmmd, not happy at all, "AJ around?" He asked her.

"She's in bed." Kerry said, "She's been tired. Wanted to get an early night. The little one can be a handful at times." She nodded.

"Right." Punk nodded. He could only imagine how hard it was to balance working and being a full-time mom. She amazed him.

"You want me to tell her you dropped by?" Kerry asked him.

"Oh, no it's fine. I was coming to see you actually but I thought I'd say hello." He said.

"Say hello to your girlfriend." Kerry teased as Punk shook his head.

"I don't know about that just yet." Punk said, "We're not putting a label on things just yet."

"Oh, I know." Kerry said, "I'm just happy that you guys aren't fighting anymore. It killed me to see you both like that, especially when I know how much you care about each other." She nodded, "April is so hard on herself and her feelings. It's like she doesn't let herself feel things anymore." She shook her head.

"Yeah, I know." Punk nodded, "I guess it's down to what I did. Leaving. Not being there for her. She's allowed to feel that way. I know it's gonna take some time for us to… get back to the way we were." He said, "But… I'm already happy with her."

"She seems a lot happier too." Kerry nodded, "I just want the best for you both, honestly." She shook her head as Punk smiled.

"I know you do." Punk nodded, giving her a warm hug, just as Kerry's phone began to vibrate over on the kitchen counter.

"Oh. Who is that?" Kerry shook her head with confusion, walking over and seeing it was Renee, "Renee." She said, puzzled, answering the phone whilst Punk stood over by the door, "Hi, Renee." Kerry said, "Wait, slow down." She shook her head whilst Punk looked over.

He watched as the colour drained out of his mother's face, starting to get nervous as she looked like she didn't know what to say or do with herself.

"Uh… I'll… I'll be right there." Kerry shook her head, putting her phone down and placing her hand over her mouth.

"Mom, what is it?" Punk shook his head worriedly.

"Dean was in a car accident. He-He's in hospital." Kerry shook her head as Punk looked across at her.