Giving In
"Why aren't you talking to me, Phil?" AJ asked whilst walking into their bedroom after putting Malia into bed and making sure she was fast asleep, "I don't know anything that has happened here and I'm worried about you." She said as he walked out of their bathroom shirtless with a pair of basketball shorts on. His chest was covered in bruises. She could only imagine how they both collided.
"I don't wanna talk to you." Punk said, opening a drawer by his dresser to find a suitable t-shirt to wear, turning his back to AJ as she closed over their room door.
"Excuse me." AJ shook her head, "Have I done something?" AJ asked, unaware of why he was speaking to her like she was to blame for something.
"You slept with Tommy." Punk said as he pulled his t-shirt on and turned around to look across at her, "When he got back from the army. I know." He nodded as AJ glared at him like she'd never glared at him before.
"What?" AJ gritted her teeth.
"It's fine. You don't need to lie." Punk shrugged lifelessly.
"Ok, ok… let's just…" She put her hands up, "You think I cheated on you?" AJ asked.
"I know you did. Tommy told me." Punk said.
"And you believe a raging psychotic drug addict?" AJ questioned, "You think I would cheat on you?" She asked, extremely hurt by this accusation, "He's lying to you."
"He seemed pretty sure about it." Punk said, "Said that's why you didn't want him staying in the house." Punk said.
"You're just tired." AJ shook her head, "Just… go to bed and we'll talk in the morning." She told him with disbelief. It had clearly been a long night for him and now he was just talking crazy.
"No. You wanna talk. Let's talk." He said, standing across from her with nothing but the bed in between them, "Just come clean." He shrugged.
"I did not cheat on you!" AJ shouted, "Have you completely lost your mind? I would never… ever be with someone else, especially not him." AJ spat, "You know how much I loved you from the minute we got together, and how I didn't want Tommy anymore." She said, "You know this."
"He said you were all over him. You felt sorry for me so you went back to me." Punk shrugged.
"Do you really believe him?" AJ asked with shock, "You believe a killing, psychotic, drug addict, no good, thieving man over your own wife?" AJ asked.
"Drugs and alcohol is all about the truth coming out. People spill the beans." Punk shrugged, "Looks like he did." Punk said.
"I didn't cheat on you with him." AJ shook her head. She was offended that he was questioning her about this. She was hurt that he'd believe Tommy over her. After all they'd been through, the trust they had for one another, and suddenly he believed something so stupid like this. She would never hurt him like that, not just because she wouldn't want to hurt him but because she would never be with Tommy anyway. She loved her husband, and only her husband.
"I won't be mad." Punk said.
"You wouldn't be mad?" AJ asked with confusion as Punk just shook his head, "You wouldn't be mad that someone else was touching me and kissing me? Naked with me? Making love to me?" AJ asked as Punk's nostril twitched, "I didn't sleep with him. I didn't-I didn't go anywhere near him when he came back from the army. He stayed with you the entire time and then moved out to go with Hank." AJ said, "He's getting into your head, Phil. Don't you see?" AJ said as Punk just looked across at her.
"I'm going to sleep on the couch." Punk said as he lifted his pillow from his side of the bed, "I have to get up early tomorrow and go give a statement, and then I have to figure out a way to tell my daughter that her mother is dead." Punk said.
"Phil, please don't do this. Stop letting him win. I wasn't with him!" She almost cried, "You know I'd never do that to you. I love you." She whimpered as he just walked by her with the pillow in his hand, "Phil, please." She cried, but he just walked by her and left the bedroom, closing the door over behind him and travelling downstairs to sleep for the night, wanting to forget this day ever happened.
AJ woke up the next morning, having tossed and turned all night, walking downstairs and noticing that Punk had already gone. She knew he said he was going to give a statement, but it was 6am, she was sure it wasn't going to be that early.
She couldn't believe this was all happening. Couldn't they catch a break? She couldn't believe Rachel was dead. She was almost paranoid about the girl but she had never done anything significantly wrong, apart from attacking her in the kitchen, but they'd learned from that and her and Punk were working at co-parenting Malia. It was a sad thing and she knew that the worse thing for Punk about it was, that Malia no longer had her mother.
She called Dean round to the house, figuring he would be up since he worked night shifts. He only lived five minutes away and was there as quick as he could get there.
She explained everything to him that had happened, everything that she knew so far, and he was shocked to say the least.
"So where is Punk now?" Dean asked.
"At the station giving his statement." AJ said, "I don't know what to do, Dean. It's like he's just snapped and he's lost… all ability to be strong." She shook her head.
"He knew Rachel from when they were little kids." Dean said, "Must be rough on him."
"I'm trying to be there for him but he won't let me." AJ said, "He thinks I've cheated on him."
"What? Why?" Dean shook his head whilst following her into the kitchen.
"He said Tommy told him that I slept with him after he came back from the army when me and Punk were still dating." AJ said, "I don't know… I don't know what to do. He won't believe me." AJ shook her head, "He's getting inside his head."
"I'm sure his mind is just… all over the place right now, April." Dean said, "I mean… he's gonna have to prepare himself to tell Malia that… her mom is gone now." Dean said, "Give him some time."
"I will." AJ said, "But I won't be accused of cheating, Dean. When I haven't done anything." She said.
"I know you haven't. I believe you." Dean nodded, "And Punk will too once he cools down." Dean said, "C'mon, it's you and Punk. You'll work it out." Dean said as AJ just sighed.
"I'm going to… I'm going to go see Veronica. I was going to take Malia with me but she's still sleeping. She'll probably lie in late." AJ said, "You wouldn't mind-"
"Hey, I'm here." Dean nodded, "I'll keep an eye on her, if I can make myself some breakfast and chill on the couch." He said as AJ nodded with a smile.
"Make yourself comfortable." She nodded, "I shouldn't be long." She told him.
"Hey, take all the time you need." Dean said.
AJ got to the hospital later after showering and getting ready. She just needed some fresh air and to see her baby girl to shift all her worries away.
When she signed into the hospital however, she seen an unwanted name who had signed in before her, rushing her way up to the room where Veronica was in, looking over at her mother holding Veronica in her arms with her father standing beside her.
"What are you two doing here? How did they let you in?" AJ asked but in a hushed voice, giving other people in the room with their babies the respect.
"We're her grandparents." Pam smiled, "Oh, April she's just beautiful. She looks just like you did when you were born, doesn't she?" She turned to her father who nodded.
"She's a beauty." Martin agreed.
"I told you I didn't want her near you both. You don't deserve to be here." AJ said, "Give me her." She snapped, taking her daughter gently from Pam and cradling her in her arms softly, "I want you to leave."
"April, please. We want no trouble. Just let us see our granddaughter. She's our first grandchild." Pam said.
"I haven't forgotten what you said to me or my husband." AJ said.
"Speaking of." Martin said, "Where is the man of the hour? Better places to be than at the hospital to see his daughter?"
"He's been here morning, noon and night with me. Don't you dare." AJ spat, "He's… busy with family things right now." She said.
"Ah, so in other words, there's been some trouble you don't want to tell us." Martin said, "I know a dangerous man when I see one."
"Leave." AJ said.
"April, we want to continue seeing her." Pam said, "We'll leave you be just now but… I'd like to visit her when she gets home. We have some gifts."
"I don't want your gifts." AJ spat, "Don't come near me. I told you this and I mean it." She spat.
"Why are you always so aggressive with us, April?" Martin asked as AJ just took a seat with Veronica, going into silence as she just couldn't express anything else to say to them. She couldn't believe they had just come straight in here and were holding Veronica when they both knew she told them to never come near her or her family again.
AJ stayed silent which drove her parents to walk out of the room, leaving AJ deeply sighing as she looked down at her baby girl who was still a small little thing, but had grown and developed incredible amounts over the past month. She was on target to leave the hospital and come home next week and AJ couldn't wait, although she didn't want to bring her home to destruction.
AJ got home after staying at the hospital with Veronica and feeding her, finding that Punk still wasn't home yet, which made her worry.
She sent Dean on her way who was entertaining Malia with some games in the living room, even when he insisted he would stay and help out as much as she needed.
She began making Malia some lunch when she heard the front door open and close, assuming it was obviously Punk, listening as he walked upstairs immediately.
"Malia, I'll just be a few minutes, baby." She told Malia who nodded. The little girl wasn't quite sure what was going on and why things seemed so tense, but she was trying her best to ignore it. Even seeing her mom the way she did hadn't indicated to her that she had died or that she would never see her again. She was still just five years old.
AJ headed back upstairs and walked into their bedroom where Punk was, "How did it go?" AJ asked him immediately.
"Fine." Punk said, "Gave my statement. Identified the body with Judy. Good times." Punk nodded sarcastically, "They done a post mortem, it was instant death. Hit her head off the mantel when Tommy pushed her." Punk said, "I couldn't have done anything if I tried." He said.
"It's not your fault, Phil." AJ shook her head, "Is that what you think?" She asked as Punk just shrugged. He was in between thinking everything. He didn't know what he thought.
"You hated her anyway. Bet it worked out fine for you." He tested.
"I didn't have a problem with Rachel. We worked things out and I know she was a sweet girl." AJ spat, "Why are you doing this? Why are you trying to pick fights with me for no reason?" She asked, "Phil, look at me." She said firmly as he turned around and looked her in the eye, "Look me in the eye and tell me that you really, truly believe that I cheated on you." She said, "Because I can't do this with you. You have to believe me that I would never… ever cheat on you."
"I don't know what to believe." Punk shrugged, looking down at her, "I mean… you were with him first."
"But I didn't love him. I love you." She said, "I'm married to you. We have a daughter. Our own family here." She said, "I would never be disloyal to you!" She said with frustration, "He's trying to get into your head. He knew he was going down and he was trying to get the last laugh. Just like Hank did." AJ said, "It hurts me that you think I would actually cheat on you. I would… I would never believe if someone told me you cheated on me." She told him.
"That's because I would never cheat on you." Punk said.
"And I would never cheat on you either!" AJ yelled with frustration, "Let me be here for you. I know this is tough on you." She said as Punk just looked down at the ground and took a deep breath.
"I have to go… I have to go tell Malia." Punk told her, "Just give me a minute." He told her, heading for the door.
"We can do it together." AJ said.
"No, just… let me do it alone." Punk nodded as AJ watched him and grabbed his hand.
"Don't shut me out." AJ begged him, "Don't believe him over me. Don't do that to me." She said as he looked down at her, "Phil, I know you know I didn't cheat on you. Do you think I would ruin what we have?" She asked as he looked into her eyes, "I love you and you know I do. I wouldn't be with anyone else, certainly not Tommy." She said as he continued to stare at her, "I know you're hurting. Please… Please let me be there for you." She said. She didn't know if he was using this as an excuse to avoid her or what, but she could see in his eyes that he knew she would never cheat.
"I'm sorry." Punk whispered, "I'm sorry." He repeated as AJ just shook her head, wrapping her arms around him as he slowly wrapped his arms around her tightly. He had a hard time showing emotion, especially in front of his wife. He never wanted to seem weak, but he had no choice now. He felt emotionally and physically wrecked.
"I'm here for you." She said whilst hugging him tightly, pulling back a little and looking up at him, "We can get through this together." She said as he nodded, running his hand through her hair and cupping her cheeks.
"I'm sorry I doubted you." He shook his head. He felt like a crazy idiot for believing Tommy, but his head was so mixed up he didn't know what he was thinking. Of course his wife wouldn't cheat on him. This was AJ. He knew what they both had together. She would never cheat on him.
"It's ok." AJ nodded, "Let's… let's go down and talk to Malia together." She said as he nodded, taking a deep breath.
They walked downstairs together and called Malia into the living room as she came running in.
"I'm hungry, when is lunch?" Malia asked, sitting up on the couch.
"I'll finish it in a bit. We-We want to talk to you." AJ told her as Punk and AJ sat at either side of her.
"Have I been bad?" Malia asked worriedly.
"No." Punk said immediately, "No, of course not."
"Is it the baby? Is she coming home now?" She asked.
"Soon." AJ nodded, "It's-It's about your mom, sweetheart." AJ said, tucking a strand of Malia's hair behind her ear.
"What about her?" Malia asked as Punk looked across at AJ.
"Well, here's the thing, honey. Mommy… she's gone now." Punk said.
"For how long this time?" Malia huffed as she folded her arms.
"N-No… she's-she's not gonna back." Punk said as Malia looked up at him.
"Why not?" She frowned.
"She's… she's gone to sleep forever." Punk explained, "And… well she's with my mom now. I was like you. I lost my mom when I was just about your age. She went to sleep forever and she's with all the other… people who… go to sleep forever." Punk said.
"But why is she sleeping forever? That's a long time." Malia frowned.
"It'sjust… it's just the way it is." Punk said, "But she loved you very much, you know." Punk said sadly as Malia just looked down.
"Oh, but… can't I ever see her again?" Malia asked as she began to get upset, "Why can't she come back just for a little while?"
"She can't, baby. I'm sorry." Punk frowned.
"Are you gonna sleep forever?" She asked with fear.
"No." Punk shook his head, "No… I'm here." He said as Malia climbed up onto him and hugged him in tears, "I'm right here." He whispered, clutching onto her as AJ frowned sadly at the sight, shuffling over and leaning into Punk as he wrapped his free arm around her, holding them both close to him. He needed this. He needed them here with him or else it seemed like he was going to lose his mind.
