Long Distance
Punk used to envision whisking AJ off somewhere tropical on vacations. But here he was having trouble falling asleep in his hotel room in Disney World. Disney World, where they took their first born daughter to celebrate her 7th birthday yesterday, the last place he thought he would enjoy as an adult but Lily was thrilled and even though Jade was young she was enjoying seeing all the characters around the park. He knew right after this they were flying right to Vegas to start his fight week. He had trouble falling asleep realizing this was his last fight. Would he be embarrassed? His opponent was eleven years younger, stronger and faster. Would the horrible things that happened on the last trip happen again? Would Eric push him so far over the edge by attacking his family that he would blow this fight for good?
He looked over to his right and AJ was fast asleep, facing the side crib that Jade was also snoring in. He laughed every time he heard his daughter snore. Lily used to lightly snore but Jade was just a loud snorer. He didn't want to get out of the bed and risk waking AJ who he knew was exhausted from chasing Lily around the park all day but when he heard a voice in the living room he had to inspect it. He looked at the time and saw it was two in the morning and the voice he heard wasn't unfamiliar, it was Lily and she was rambling on to someone and had to investigate.
Punk walked out of the bedroom and quietly closed door and the closer he got to Lily's room he could hear her more clearly. He frowned realizing nobody else was with them and there shouldn't be anyone she was talking to at this time of night, she should be sleeping. He didn't even knock, just opened the door and saw her laying backwards on the bed twirling her hair as she yapped into her birthday gift, a cellphone.
"Lily." Punk announced when she didn't notice him.
"Hi daddy." Lily whispered with a smile then listened into the phone. She gasped when Punk took the phone from her.
"Who the hell are you talking to?" He demanded.
"Daddy, it's Louis!" Lily scolded taking her phone back.
"Louis?" Punk asked confused. "It's two in the morning, hang up."
"Fine." She groaned. "I have to go, daddy is here. I love you too!" then she hung up and his face dropped.
"How does he have your number?" Punk asked her.
"I called him." Lily said putting her phone away.
"He's back home?" Punk asked confused.
"No. He lives in Italy." Lily told him.
"I know he-" Punk stopped then glared at her. "You called Italy on your phone?"
"Yes." Lily smiled.
"That costs money Lils." Punk told her and she made a shocked face. "That's a dollar a minute. How many minutes were you on the phone with him for?"
"I don't know." Lily shrugged innocently. "Sorry daddy. I was telling him about my new school and Joseph."
"Joseph." Punk said disgusted to himself. "It's fine. But no more calls at this time and when you want to call out of the country we have to set a time limit."
"Ok daddy." Lily said sitting up on her bed.
"What did you mean when you said 'I love you too' to him?" Punk asked curiously.
"Can't sleep?" Lily asked her father cutely.
"No I couldn't. I heard you on the phone." He said to her.
"I got a new dress for your fight." Lily told him happily. "You have to wait for your fight though to see it."
"You sure you still want to go?" Punk asked nervously and she nodded.
"I'm seven now. I'm a big girl." Lily reminded him and he just nodded. "Are you scared?"
"Not really." He said to her and she stood up on the bed.
"You're the best fighter in the world." Lily reminded him sternly. "You're going to win."
"I'd like to win but if I don't I don't want you to be scared or-" he began.
"I'll still love you." Lily shrugged. "You're still going to be the best fighter to me." she told him proudly.
"I really needed to hear that." Punk smiled kissing her cheek then placing her back into bed and tucking her in. "No more late night phone calls."
"But we live in different times." Lily pouted.
"If he really likes you, he'll stay up and call you and let his dad pay for the call." Punk remarked sarcastically. "And stop telling him you love him."
"He told me first." Lily said to him and he groaned.
"You're too young to love boys." He informed her.
"I am?" Lily asked and he nodded. "He's my best friend."
"So you love him as a friend and nothing more?" Punk asked eyeing her carefully and she nodded happily. "Ok, that's fine then." He smirked and kissed her forehead. "Get some sleep you have another big day tomorrow."
"I'm too excited to sleep." Lily grinned. "More rides! This is the best birthday ever!"
"Yea?" Punk asked and she nodded again with a big smile.
"I'm very lucky." Lily told him happily and hearing that from his daughter, knowing he was doing a good job raising his brilliant daughter made him feel better.
"You deserve it, you're a good girl." He told her. "Goodnight."
"Night daddy." Lily waved as he walked out of the room.
"Was she on the phone?" AJ asked walking out of the bathroom.
"She was. She called Louis in Italy." Punk told her bitterly.
"That's not cheap, is it?" AJ asked nervously.
"No. But I can afford it." He said simply. "She can do whatever she wants."
"You always let her butter you up." AJ smirked walking to the kitchen.
"She's my baby." Punk shrugged. "She was so cute! She said it's the best birthday ever."
"She's going to do this when she's older too." AJ warned.
"That's fine. You'll be bad cop and I'll be good cop." He said simply.
"Oh, that's fair." AJ laughed grabbing a glass of water.
"Why are you up? Did I wake you?" He asked.
"No. Believe it or not Jade's snoring woke me." She laughed to herself.
"That's also really cute." Punk grinned.
"It is." AJ had to agree. "But is it healthy it's that loud?"
"The doctor said it was." He said taking the glass of water from her and sipping it.
"You're thinking about your fight?" She asked him.
"I'm nervous." He admitted.
"That's not like you." AJ frowned. "Do you think you haven't trained enough?"
"No I know I've done everything I can do. I just don't know if it's enough anymore. I'm afraid Lily is going to see me lose." Punk admitted.
"If having Lily watch is going to make you this nervous then she won't watch." AJ told him simply. "I'll talk to her."
"No. She's too excited. Besides she said she'd still love me if I lost." Punk told her with a half smile.
"Of course she will." AJ smiled.
"It's not even the fact it's my last fight. It's the fact that it's Colton and Eric." He admitted. "I really let them get under my skin."
"That was there plan." She reminded him. "You clearly can't let that stuff go-"
"-no fucking way." he said shaking his head.
"So use it to your advantage." She suggested. "Remember your first fight in Vegas?"
"The quickest knockout of my career." He smirked.
"Why was that?" she asked.
"I was pissed at you and Paul." He remembered. "I was mad over the pictures. But when it came to Tommy-"
"Tommy wasn't personal." She said waving it off. "So what if he made a pass at me to annoy me? He was just the better man that night. You didn't want to kill him. He was a guy you trained with day in an day out and no matter what bad blood you two have had he's always been a friend. He comes to our family parties, he watches our daughter who adores him. Would you trust Colton or Eric with Jade or Lily?"
"I won't even entertain that question." He laughed. "Colton put his hands on our daughter and shoved her. Eric-" he began but he became so angry. "I want to kill him."
"Hurt him where it will count." She said to him. "Embarrass Colton next week. Make it so no one will ever take either of them seriously again. I know you're older but this has been who you are for your entire life. You've got this. I know you do."
"Promise me you'll be on the look out for either one of them." He pleaded. "I'm going to be running around all week-"
"I've got this." AJ promised him. "I was slacking last year-"
"You were not the problem." He reminded her sternly. "I was. I underestimated them. It's an unwritten rule that you don't involve kids. Having Lily and Jade has completely changed my perspective on everything in life including this job."
"I hope in a good way." She teased.
"The most amazing way." He smiled. "It's just I look at things differently. The way I even carry myself in interviews- I've got two little daughters who are going to look back at this stuff one day, you know what I mean?"
"I do." She said to him. "But I don't know why you're nervous. Everything you've done and said you should be proud of. I'm proud of you everyday. I've been proud of you since before you even asked me out and I know our girls are going to look back at your career and be proud and Lily is already so proud of you."
"You think so?" He asked. "I never thought I'd be so nervous to fight in front of a baby before."
"She's not a baby." She reminded him.
"I know." He sighed. "I went in there and she was like a little teenager already."
"She was so proud of you when we went dress shopping. She told the lady at the shop that this special dress was for you UFC fight and the woman said she wasn't a fan of the sport and Lily said and I quote, 'no reason to be snooty. My daddy is the best fighter in the world and I love him', she told everyone in the store actually." AJ laughed remembering the shopping trip.
"My girl." Punk said proudly.
"She talked the lady into promising her she'll get your fight." AJ added. "She's your second biggest fan."
"Second?" he questioned.
"I'm number one." She told him proudly, wrapping her arms around his waist and kissing his chin. "Win or lose, you're coming home to me and your daughters. You have nothing to lose."
"You've been nothing but supportive of me since the day we met. You've been to every single fight, every event, you have taken more shit than any other spouse to a fighter as well. I'm going to make this up to you." he promised her.
"You don't owe me a thing." She told him shaking her head.
"I do." He said to her. "We said we were going to travel and now Jade is still so young-"
"I don't need to travel the world." She insisted. "You just got us a beautiful home."
"I'm going to pay you back.." was all he said. "And not just for icing my back, picking me ego up off the floor but for being an incredible full-time mom while balancing your own business that I know you stepped away from a bit for me and the girls. None of this is possible without you, you know that right?"
"You say that before every fight." She smirked.
"Because I mean it." He said seriously. "I truly believe that I wouldn't have had this success without you. I wouldn't have stayed grounded."
"Just thank me by not getting hurt." She said to him.
The next day at the park, AJ hung back at the room since she was so exhausted. He set it up so she could have a complete spa day. AJ argued he wouldn't be able to handle both girls in the park alone but he was thrilled to prove her wrong. Jade was strapped to his chest and Lily was glued to his hand. Lily picked going to the hall of presidents. Punk was absolutely fascinated by how interested she was in this.
"Did you know George Washington-" Lily began.
"Was the first president? Yea smarty pants, I knew that." Punk remarked childishly and Lily glared at him.
"I was going to say he had false teeth so he spoke slower." Lily corrected.
"How could you possibly know that?" Punk asked googling it for himself.
"Because I know everything." Lily remarked smugly.
"Before we even get to it, who was the twentieth president?" Punk asked Lily.
"James Garfield." Lily told him and he narrowed his eyes at her then quickly looked it up on his phone. "I know all of the presidents, daddy. Maybe I'll be president one day."
"I think you should be." He agreed. "You'll let me live in the white house with you?"
"Of course." Lily smiled as she looked around the small museum. "You and mommy and Jadey and Uncle Paul and Uncle Dean and Aunt Celeste and Pop and Uncle Mike-"
"You're going to let us all live there? You're awesome." He smirked holding onto her hand.
"Who is your favorite President?" Punk asked her curiously.
"Teddy Roosevelt." Lily informed him without hesitation.
"Really? Why?" He asked curiously.
"Because he was a cowboy." Lily told him. "So I can be a ballerina AND the President." she told him and he nodded along. "He was also shot but didn't even stop talking! He was really tough."
"He was." Punk agreed. "What number president was he?"
"Number twenty-six." Lily told him confidentially.
"I had no idea you knew all of this." Punk said in awe of her. "You really are a brilliant kid."
"We're learning about all of the presidents in school." She told him. "I'm going to be the school president when I'm older."
"You have my vote." He assured her. "You always have my vote."
"I knew I could count on you daddy." She smiled looking up at him. "Oh!" She announced stopping short and he eyed her.
"What's wrong?" He asked.
"I have to use the bathroom." She told him pointing.
"Oh." Punk said not letting go of her hand.
"Daddy I really have to go." Lily insisted.
"But you're mom isn't here to take you." Punk frowned. "I don't want you going in there alone."
"I'm seven." Lily sighed blowing out a puff of hot air.
"I know how old you are." He mocked and looked around. "It's so crowded."
"Daddy." Lily whined.
"I have a plan." Punk smiled happily and walked over to the men's room.
"Daddy!" she gasped. "I can't go in there!"
"Sure you can." He said placing his hand over her eyes while making sure Jade was secured in her chest carrier. He kept one hand over Lily's eyes until he made it to a stall and let her walk in and closed the door. "Just tell me when you're done!" Punk yelled outside the stall. "I'll cover your eyes back up.
"Ok daddy!" she yelled back.
"What are you looking at?" Punk asked a man who eyed him strangely.
"Daddy! I'm ready!" she yelled knocking on the stall and Punk opened the door and placed his hand over her eyes. "I have to wash my hands!" She reminded Punk before he left the room and ran back to the sink, pushing the men out of the way.
"Be patient, ladies first." Punk told the men who were annoyed Punk cut the line. Lily held her hands out and Punk put soap in it then placed them under the water all the while keeping her eyes covered.
"Dry!" Lily ordered and Punk walked her over to the dryer and turned it on for her. "Door!" she ordered next and Punk took her outside.
"That was easy." Punk remarked smugly. "This is easy! I don't know why your mom doubted me."
"You're doing a good job daddy." Lily told him giving him two thumbs up.
"Thank you. What do you think Jade?" he asked his daughter Jade was sucking on her pacifier.
"When she's quiet, she's happy." Lily told her father who nodded in agreement.
"What's next?" He asked.
At almost seven, Punk, Lily and Jade walked into the hotel room.
"There you are. I was about to send out a search party." AJ said and Lily ran to her. "You have fun?"
"Best day ever!" Lily cheered. "We want to the museum of presidents and I got all of this stuff!" She said holding up her bag. And then me, daddy and Jade went on a train ride! And we ate with Disney characters! Then I used the men's bathroom twice!" she said holding up two fingers and AJ eyed Punk.
"I covered her eyes." Punk defended.
"Go wash up." AJ told Lily who nodded and ran off. "Come here baby." AJ said walking over to Punk.
"I'm right here." Punk smiled but AJ unhooked Jade out of her carrier and took her into her arms.
"Are you tired?" She asked kissing Jade's cheek.
"No. She slept for like an hour and a half in the restaurant after her bottle. And she wasn't out in the heat, we were indoors." Punk said taking the carrier off of himself. "She's been changed and fed as well."
"Wow. Mr. Mom." AJ teased. "I'm sorry I doubted you."
"Now you know." Punk shrugged innocently then collapsed on the couch.
"Wasn't as easy as you thought?" AJ asked amused as he kicked off his shoes and placed his feet on the table to stretch out.
"No babe it wasn't." Punk said defensively. "My back is achy from carrying Jade but I rented a stroller and after her nap she cried until I carried her again. She loves to be in my arms." he said to her. "And every time I blinked Lily was taking off. I don't know how you do it." he confided.
"You spoil them." AJ remarked with a smile. "You have to stop that."
"That's not happening obviously." He remarked annoyed.
"Is your back messed up?" She asked concerned.
"No." He said brushing it off. "But now I think I need a spa day." AJ let out a laugh as she bounced Jade around.
"You missed mommy." AJ grinned smiling at her happy daughter.
"I missed you too." he remarked childishly.
"I missed you too." AJ said to him teasingly.
"How was your spa day?" He asked.
"Oh my god it was glorious." AJ moaned. "My whole body was massaged, I soaked in a mud bath then a hot tub, I drank fruity drinks, sat in a sauna, got my nails done while someone massaged my temple. It was just the most relaxing day I've had since before I had Lily."
"Must be nice." He remarked bitterly. "I didn't even get to eat."
"No?" She asked and he shook his head.
"Lily decided she had to have something fancy. So she ordered fish." He told her.
"Oh no." AJ sighed knowing where this was going.
"But she ordered lobster and the lobster still had eyes." Punk told her. "So she cried."
"Oh god." AJ said trying not to laugh.
"She was horrified. So I gave her my food which was a salad." Punk informed her. "She then named the lobster 'lobster Lily' and said her mommy and daddy were probably so sad she was gone and then guilt me into not eating it."
"And you had to pay for the lobster?" She asked.
"Yup." Punk said to her. "And by that time I didn't want to wait for more food."
"Why did you let her order lobster?" AJ asked amused. "You had to have known she wouldn't eat it."
"I told her that but she looked right at me and said 'please daddy, it's what I really, really, really want and I promise to eat it'." Punk told her and she let out a laugh. "She wasn't expecting her dinner to be looking at her. She said she's never having fish again."
"It had eyes!" Lily explained as she walked to her mom. "How can I eat something that has eyes! Poor baby lobster." she frowned. "So sad."
"Aww." AJ cooed trying not to laugh.
"It's food." Punk insisted.
"I think you would be SUPER sad if someone cooked me in the oven then tried to feed me to someone else." Lily informed her father.
"I think he would be." AJ agreed.
"You're not a fish!" Punk argued with a laugh.
"But what if I was?" Lily challenged. "You would be sad someone took me, wouldn't you be?"
"Of course but it's different-" He began.
"That lobster had a mommy and daddy that loved her a lot." Lily told him cutting him off.
"You win." Punk said exhausted and Lily smiled.
"I always win." Lily remarked smugly. "I missed you today." she said looking up at Lily.
"That's always nice to hear." AJ smiled.
"So did Jade." Lily told her. "And daddy."
"I think we did just fine." Punk said to Lily who just shrugged. "Did you know she's like a Presidential encyclopedia?" he asked AJ.
"Oh, yea. She was studying that last week in school." AJ told him. "Roosevelt is her favorite."
"You knew that?" Punk frowned and AJ just nodded.
"Can I call Louis?" Lily asked Punk.
"Five minutes." Punk warned and she smiled and ran into her room.
"This is the stuff I miss out on." Punk said to AJ..
"I knew because I was helping her study." AJ said placing Jade in her playpen.
"I want to help her study." Punk argued. "She's getting older and older and I feel like every time we hang out I learn something I never knew."
"It's always going to be like that." AJ informed him. "She's a little girl and she's going to change and grow every single day."
"I just want to retire." Punk said to his wife honestly. "Do all the fun stuff."
"It's really not fun when she starts correcting you and she's right." AJ told him seriously and he let out a laugh.
"Are you going to be like that?" Punk asked looking at Jade who was clapping her little hand together.
"I think she is." AJ warned him.
"Good. We'll have a ton of kids. Lily is now going to be a ballerina President, Jade can be a doctor and our son can be a lawyer. We'll be so well taken care of when we're older." Punk said thinking about it.
"Sounds like a plan." AJ agreed. "Alright I'm going to get Lily off the phone in four more minutes. During that time I will get Jade changed and in bed then I'm going to massage your back for you."
"Really?" He asked with a tired smile.
"Yes." She said cupping his face and kissing him. "You deserve it after such a hard day."
"I feel like you're mocking me, but I'm going to take it because I want a massage." He said to her. "You know what I really REALLY needed massaged?" he asked in a low voice.
"Nothing inappropriate I'm sure since we have a roommate." She said pointing at Jade in the playpen and Punk glared at the baby. "Do not look at her like that." AJ laughed.
"She's staying in Lily's room in Vegas." Punk told AJ seriously and Jade made a noise. "Yea, you kid." he informed his daughter. "I need mommy time too."
"Stop." she laughed picking Jade up. "Three minutes!" AJ warned walking past Lily's room and Lily stuck her head out the door and looked at Punk with a sad face and bottom lip stuck out.
"You are killing me." Punk said to his daughter but she didn't budge as she held her phone to her ear. "Fine. Five more minutes." he caved and Lily blew him a kiss and ran back in her room.
"Don't bitch to me when you get the phone bill." AJ warned sticking her head out of her bedroom door.
"I can't say no to any of you." Punk argued mostly with himself as AJ walked back in the room.
When AJ finally got Jade into bed then pried the phone away from Lily and got her tucked in and ready for bed she headed out to find Punk so she could convince him to eat something and rest in bed. She knew he hadn't slept in the last few days so when she saw him sleeping soundly on the couch she didn't want to move him. It was big enough where it wouldn't bother his back and even though she would be happier with him in their bed she didn't dare wake him. She grabbed a blanket and placed it over him and kissed his cheek.
