Fresh Start


Punk left his mother's house and headed home shortly after their conversation. He felt much better after talking to her and seeking advice from her. He didn't think letting her in would make much of a difference now considering he was in his thirties and had seen the world for what it was. But having her there to talk to actually did make a difference.

He got home and headed into the living room, spotting AJ sitting with Bradley curled into her chest, fast asleep with his pacifier in. She looked equally as tired as his son and was slouched on the sofa sadly.

"Is he ok?" Punk asked as AJ nodded.

"He woke up when I tried to take him to his room. Dean had got Joni off to sleep, she never budged." AJ explained tiredly as Punk nodded. Perhaps Bradley being in the room was a good thing. It meant no shouting and no patience being broken.

"I'm sorry for shouting the way I did. I lost my temper with you and I shouldn't have." He said.

"No, I'm sorry." She said.

"And you saying that the first time should have been enough. I just… so much has been going on. Kirin, Chris, the letters, my mom." He sighed, "And I forgot that… none of it even matters, as long as I have you and I have the kids then I am always gonna be ok." He told her.

"I should never have lied to you." She said, "But I promise you, there is nothing going on. The letters have stopped. It was just a few written exchanged. I know it looks bad from where you stand, but I promise… I would never be unloyal to you. You should know that." She said quietly.

"I do know that. I just chose to forget it." He said, walking over to her and sitting down beside her, "I love you, and I shouldn't have shouted at you or patronised you. I should have let you explain and we should have talked it out. I just… any sign of you being with someone else makes me feel like I'm losing myself." He said, "I can't lose you."

"You won't lose me, baby." AJ whispered, "We've both done wrong. We can agree on that." She said as he nodded, "So let's just move on. A fresh start. No Kirin, no more letter talk, no Chris- a clean start." She said.

"Kirin said she was gonna stick around." Punk sighed.

"Do you honestly think she will? She'll get bored of seeing us happy and she'll leave again, and if not then whatever, she can stay. As long as she doesn't interfere in our relationship. She doesn't frighten me." She said truthfully as Punk smiled.

"She frightens me." Punk admitted truthfully, "Not as much as you do though." He said as she smiled.

"Well that's good then." She said, "What took you so long to get home?" She asked as Punk began stroking Bradley's cheek lovingly with a smile.

"I went to see my mom." Punk said as AJ turned to him, "She's actually real nice and… well, she's been through a lot. I don't see the point in barking down her throat for giving me away. She had her reasons."

"You said." AJ nodded, referring back to him telling her earlier in the middle of their fight, "Does she know anything about where your dad might be?" She asked.

"No. She doesn't even know his name. She wants it to stay like that and I respect that. I don't want to know him either." Punk said, "I'm still trying to come to terms with what actually happened." He admitted.

"She seems sweet enough." AJ said, "Probably just an innocent young girl." She sighed.

"Is it bad I feel guilty?" Punk asked.

"Yes it is. You shouldn't feel guilty. None of it was your fault." AJ said. How could he think he had anything to do with what happened to his mother.

"But I'm here to remind my mom everytime she sees me, of what happened to her."

"If she felt that way she wouldn't have come looking for you." AJ reminded him, "She's obviously realised she has a son out there and wants to be apart of your life. Our life." She said, "I know the kids have all the uncles they're ever gonna need, but maybe this is good they'll finally get to have a gran." She smiled.

"I was so against ever letting any of my parents back in after putting me in care." He admitted.

"Well that was before you knew the reasons behind the decisions." She said, "And you're also much more mature now." She smiled up at him as he laughed.

"Am I?" He smiled down at her as she laughed quietly, "Are we ok?" He asked nervously as she nodded.

"We're fine." AJ smiled tiredly, "Tired, but fine." She said, "Couples have fights, don't they?" She asked.

"I know but… I really feel bad about shouting and losing my cool." He said, "I love you and I shouldn't treat you like that."

"We can just move on. Forget about it. Forget about Kirin- she can stay here or she can go, it doesn't matter to us. We can forget about the letters- they weren't much of a thing in the first place anyway." She laughed a little, "And we can forget about Chris- I persuaded him not to press charges and he was actually quite sweet to me today."

"Sweet?" Punk raised his eyebrows, speaking a little louder now.

"Shh." AJ whispered, stroking Bradley's cheek, "Don't wake him." She said quietly.

"What do you mean Chris was being sweet?" Punk asked in a more quiet voice.

"Don't take that out of context." AJ rolled her eyes. As much as she did love him being over protective and possessive, she was getting tired of explaining herself, "I was just a little shook that you done that to his face and he just told me things would get better, of course he said it in a way which he tried persuading me to leave you, but… I think you scared him enough to not bother me anymore anyway." She said, "So stop with your need to know everything." She flicked his chin playfully, "I'm yours. I think you forget that sometimes."

"I know you're mine." Punk nodded, "I just don't like the thought of other guys swanning over you." He said.

"He knows what you're capable of if he tries anything." AJ said, "You don't have to worry." She said as Punk's mind was put at ease by that, for now anyway.

Punk watched as she yawned and smiled, "Tired?" He asked her.

"So tired." She nodded, "I just want to pretend today never happened. Wake up tomorrow with a new start." She said, standing up as Punk stood up to, cupping the back of Bradley's head and leaning down to kiss his little forehead as AJ smiled.

"Today is already forgotten." He said, leaning down and pressing a kiss against her lips.

Their fight ended up with mutual understanding. They'd both done wrong and both agreed, with the advice of Punk's mom that life was too short to be fighting. There was no more angst and no more need for fighting. They were caught up in everyone else who had wronged them, that they forgot their marriage was just about them two, and they always had one another. That was the way it was always gonna be. She was sure they'd go on to have many fights, but all they done was help them learn and grow stronger.

"So… on a scale from one to ten, how tired are you?" Punk asked, walking up the stairs behind her as she carried Bradley in her arms.

"Hmm." She smiled to herself, "Why don't you go on into our room and wait, and I'll decide whilst I put him down." She said, reaching the top of the stairs as he nodded, heading into their bedroom as AJ went on into Bradley's room to put his little sleeping body down into his cot.

His hand was tangled in her hair as she put him down, silently wincing as his little fingers pulled all the way through it until she was free.

She spent five minutes saying goodnight to him, tucking his blanket over him and making sure he was settled, and then she headed into her own room.

She full expected Punk to be sitting up waiting on her, but she in fact seen him lying on their bed in his boxers, fast asleep on his back. She smiled and walked over to him, brushing her hand over his hair as he suddenly awoke and gave her a fright as she gasped and put her hand on her heart.

"Punk!" She hissed.

"You think I'd fall asleep?" He laughed, swinging his legs around and pulling her into him, "Can't get out of it that easily." He smiled, pulling her into him as she laughed, pressing her lips against his, kissing down his body and dropping to her knees in front of him, pulling his boxers down as he lifted his hips to help her out.

"And here I was thinking I had that night off." She whispered, wrapping her hand around him and stroking him lovingly.

"You gotta go to work every night, baby." He smirked as she smiled, wrapping her mouth around him and bobbing her head up and down on him, "Fuck yeah, that feels good, babe." He moaned, placing his hand at the back of her head to guide her through his own needs, "Your mouth feels so good." He moaned.

She spent the next few minutes using her mouth on him until he pulled her up and stripped her clothes from her, pulling her back onto the bed with him on top of her as she fell atop of him and began kissing him again, their naked bodies touching happily as he began kissing her neck whilst she sat back up from him, straddling his hips and taking his length, lowering herself onto him as she sunk right down on him, collapsing over his body once she had full taken him in.

"Feels better every god damn time." Punk moaned, beginning to thrust up into her as she smirked, leaning her forehead against his and cupping his cheeks.

"I love you." Was all she could whisper whilst she enjoyed the pure bliss of him taking care of her like he always did.


A few weeks later things had calmed down and it was Punk's birthday. As far as his birthday went, he was working and probably coming home to a cake with a few candles and a big hug from his daughter and son. That was good enough for him, nothing could beat it. But what he didn't know, was while AJ was at home she was putting up banners and balloons and getting the place ready for the surprise birthday party she was throwing for Punk. Not that there were many people coming to make it an extravagent party, just their friends, Al, Punk's mom (who AJ was hesitant about asking but just went with what she felt was right) and a few other friends and neighbours.

She'd seen Punk this morning, served him up a birthday breakfast with Joni's help until Bradley's watchful eye, but she told him no presents until later on tonight, which he was completely ok with. He wasn't used to celebrating his birthday the way he had been with AJ the past few years, she made such a fuss over him and although he didn't find it necessary, he did enjoy it.

Punk got home that night around 6pm, walking in the door to their house and rolling his shoulders back. As much as you wouldn't think, the skate park lock up shift was a complete nightmare. He hung up his zipper on the edge of the stair banister and entered the living room with no thought, almost having a heart attack when a dozen faces jumped out at him, banners and balloons everywhere, Dean popping a streamer in his direction as he laughed.

"What the hell is all of this?" He laughed a little as Joni ran up to him, running into his arms as he lifted her up.

"It's a party for you." She said, "It's for your birthday!" She cheered as Punk smiled, kissing her cheek as AJ appeared with Bradley in her arms, swinging from her side.

"Happy birthday, babe." AJ smiled, as he wrapped his other arm around his wife and son, kissing her on the head.

"You didn't have to do this." He said.

"Yeah I did." AJ smiled, "We'll go get your presents." She said as Joni jumped down from her father's arms, allowing him to go socialise with friends who had came, getting hugs and presents from them all whilst AJ wandered off with Joni to get the presents. He spotted his mom sitting down on the couch at the edge, a gift bag at her feet and a glass of something in her hand. He was glad she came. Surprised at how glad he actually was.

"Hey." He said, walking over to her after greeting the rest of his friends, "I'm glad you came." He said, sitting down next to her whilst the rest of the people spoke with each other. The past few weeks they had just been having a few conversations per week, easing into their relationship slowly.

"I won't stay long. I don't want to be a burden to you and your friends." She said, "But AJ invited me, she let me come earlier actually so I could see Bradley and Joni. I gave them some presents too, I hope you don't mind." She said as he shook his head.

"I don't. But you didn't have to do that." He said, "That was sweet of you."

"I can't get enough of them. They're little darlings." She said, "Oh, before I forget." She said, lifting the bag and handing it to him, "I've missed a lot of these and I'm sorry, and I know that this won't make up for it but I'm hoping it will help." She said, handing him the bag as he opened it, taking out the envelope and opening it up.

"You… you didn't have to do this." He shook his head at the amount of cash she had put in his card, also noticing a bit of paper in the bag, reaching for it and seeing it was a confirmation letter for reservations at a hotel in Puerto Rico.

"AJ told me it was too much when I asked her a holiday that you'd like to go on. But I told her I'd missed way too many of them to be caring about the price. I want you to take your family on holiday and have a good time." She said as he smiled.

"I don't think I can accept this." Punk admitted. It was way too much for just an ordinary birthday.

"You can, and you will." Wendy said.

"Thank you." Punk smiled, "You really didn't have to give me all of this."

"I feel like I did." Wendy said, "We're doing ok, aren't we?" She asked. She was surprised at how well things were actually going, probably cause they were taking things slowly.

"Yeah, we're doing just fine." Punk said, watching a she smiled, leaning over and pressing a kiss on her cheek sweetly. He was really glad she was here, and completely overwhelmed by her generosity towards himself, his kids and his full family.

The party went on and presents were opened, especially the ones from Joni and AJ as well as his friends, there was also cake but above everything, he was at home with the people he loved and cared about. It was wonderful.


Eventually everyone did clear, and the kids were fast asleep in bed, leaving AJ and Punk in the living room themselves clearing up.

"So are you happy with all your presents?" AJ asked, holding a black trash bag as she put in empty paper plates and different rubbish lying around whilst Punk gathered up the bottles and glasses.

"Yeah, did you see how much money my mom put in my card? And the holiday?" He said.

"I know. I told her it was too much." AJ shook her head with a smile.

"So… are you two getting along?" He smiled.

"Yeah." AJ nodded with a smile, "She's really sweet. I asked her to come over earlier, to see the kids." AJ said, "She gave them presents too." She said.

"She said." Punk nodded, "I'm really glad she was here." He said as AJ smiled over to him.

"I do have one last present for you." She said, placing down the trash bag as he grinned.

"Oh, yeah?" He smirked, looking over at her as she rolled her eyes.

"Ok. Second last present." She said as he nodded, "Give me two minutes." She said, dashing away out of the living room as Punk waited eagerly. He was expecting her to come back in in her underwear or a sexy outfit or perhaps no clothes or underwear at all, but instead, she came back in holding a furry creature in her arms. He was so confused as to what it even was.

"AJ, what is that?" He pointed and backed away a little.

"It's a dog!" AJ cheered, "I rescued him from the pound. You always said you wanted a dog." She said, having had the dog in a little made up bed box in their bedroom for the past few hours. She'd been secretly checking on him every now and then throughout the party.

"Yeah. I said I wanted a dog not a bat. And… what's up with it's teeth?" Punk shook his head with horror.

"Punk!" AJ shouted, "You said you always wanted a dog when you were a kid. And he kept coming over to me when I went looking for some." She said, "His name is Larry and he's very friendly." She said, patting the dogs head as she held him like a baby.

"He's so ugly." Punk said, beginning to walk over to the dog who looked up at him with sad eyes, tearing his heart.

"He is not. He's going to be loved." She smiled, looking up at him and feeling like she'd got it wrong, "Oh, god… did you want a big dog? A white one? I don't know… I thought you'd like that he looked…. Abnormal." She smiled, "I can take him back and we can look for another one and-"

"No. Don't take him back." Punk said, scratching the dog behind his ear, "Larry, huh?" He looked down at the dog, "You're not so bad." He said as AJ smiled, "And I have always wanted a dog."

"I remember you said you always wanted one when you were out on the streets. So I figured he'd make a good birthday present." She said.

"Well… I think he'll fit into the family just fine." Punk smiled, coming round to the little dog the more and more he looked at it's little scrunched up, growling face.

"Yeah?" AJ smiled as Punk nodded, clapping the dog who happily curled up in AJ's arms. He did look a little on the scruffy side, but so did Punk. He sorta digged him. At first he got a fright and wondered why on earth he looked the way he did, but now he didn't want him to change. Maybe it wasn't love at first sight, but a few minutes after.


A/N: Let me know what you think!