A/N: Wrote something to really close the story out. I find myself rereading this story often and really enjoyed it but felt bad we never got to see Punk interact with Jade or their yet to be born son. So this is a final goodbye and a glimpse into the future. Enjoy 14 pages of Punk and AJ as parents to teenage kids!


Epilogue Part II


Fifteen years later Punk was exactly where he wanted to be. He was working at the gym with Dean, still training fighters with Dean. He still traveled with UFC once in a while and did events and appearances but he was retired from that life. After his last fight he kept word and went out on top. He put his focus into his family. Lily was 21, Jade was 15 and their last child, finally a boy, was Robbie (for AJ's father Robert) and was 14. Robbie was born premature when AJ got an infection at six months pregnant and it was very touch and go. They practically lived at the hospital after Robbie was born since he spent three months there after birth. But remarkably, Robbie pulled through and was a strong athletic kid today. The fear and shock of almost losing their son cause AJ and Punk to agree that three was enough. And they were content with their family.

"What are you glaring at?" Dean asked coming up behind Punk who was staring out the front gym window.

"What is he doing with my daughter?" Punk asked keeping his eyes on his daughter and an older teen who was working out at the gym.

"Who?" Dean asked looking for himself. "Oh." He said nervously and stepped away.

"Well?" Punk asked Dean.

"They're friends." Dean shrugged.

"She's fifteen and he's seventeen." Punk spat eyeing his daughter Jade.

Punk was blessed (although he would call it cursed) with great looking kids. Lily was the perfect mix of him and AJ. She had AJ's dark hair and features but Jade took after someone he didn't know. She was almost exotic, she looked more Puerto Rican than AJ and Lily combined. Her eyes were dark which matched her naturally jet black hair. Robbie thankfully looked exactly like Punk and his father.

Jade also looked a lot older than she was. Punk knew she would be the most trouble and she truly was. She was his rebellious daughter and he didn't think anyone would be more rebellious than Lily was. But as Lily grew older she stopped her little antics of running off even though she was responsible for some nervous breakdowns such as when she stayed out all night when she was 16 after being allowed to go to a concert with friends, or when Punk and AJ found her boyfriend sneaking out her window. Louis Cortes didn't show his face for two months after that.

But Jade just loved to drive him and AJ nuts. She wasn't into academics like Lily was. She preferred drawing and art. And it wasn't just cute pictures in a book, she liked spray painting on walls. He never imagined he would be called to the police station for one of his kids but Jade was picked up when she was only 13 for graffiti. She skipped classes when she could but she still managed to pass her classes. She was also showing zero interest in college. She was their problem child but she was also the light of his and AJ's life. She wasn't like either Punk or AJ, Lily was an AJ clone and Robbie was a Punk clone but Jade stuck out and they admired her for that. He was EXTRA protective of his middle child.

"What are they doing?" Punk asked as Robbie walked over to the window.

"Oh." Robbie said to him and Punk eyed him.

"Do you know something I should know?" Punk asked his son.

"No." Robbie laughed nervously.

"If you do, you have to tell me because I'm the boss." Punk reminded him.

"You said the bond between siblings trumps everything." Robbie pointed out zipping up his gym bag.

Robbie spent a few nights at the gym doing some training. Robbie had been attending the gym and doing the kid classes since he was able to walk. He had his father's passion for fighting which terrified AJ to no end. She was always nervous with Robbie since he was so sick when he was first born. Punk had to beg AJ to let him spend more time at the gym. Punk felt the gym would be good for Robbie, he could work out and stay off the streets and wouldn't get in with the wrong crowd. Robbie although the youngest, was fiercely protective over both his older sisters.

"He's too old for her." Punk said looking out the window and glaring again. "She's too young to even date."

"She dates." Robbie laughed.

"Dates who?" Punk asked slowly in a cold voice. "Nobody I've ever met." he said to his son. "The rule is sixteen."

"She going to be sixteen." Robbie pointed out.

"But she's not yet." Punk said annoyed. "And that kid is fucking trouble." He said to Robbie and Dean who was standing near. "Why did you take him in? Does Celeste let you take in all strays you pick up?"

"I did the same for you." Dean reminded him.

Jason O'Connor walked into the gym last year and Dean swore he saw Punk in him. He was exactly like him. Ran away from an abusive foster home and just like Dean offered to Punk, Jason received a couch at Dean's and worked at the gym as a form of payment for being trained there. Jason was a remarkable fighter, Punk knew this kid would be huge one day. But just because he could fight it didn't mean that Punk wanted him him around his rebellious daughter. Jason was respectful to him and Dean and the other guys but he had seen Jason lose his temper with other guys in the gym and even just on the street. He would be the worst influence on Jade. And again, he was two years older than her.

"He is you." Dean laughed.

"No he really fucking isn't." Punk said peering out the window. "Why is she working at the store today anyway?"

"She's grounded, remember?" Robbie asked him. "She skipped school and went to that tree protest thing."

"Oh, right." Punk said remembering.

Although Jade was the rebellious one, she had one of the purest most loving hearts Punk had ever seen. She was a free spirited teen who wanted to fix all of the worlds problems through art. She gave Punk and AJ the most trouble out of the three but it was hard for them to ground her because she was always passionate about the things she did.

"Is your mom there?" Punk asked.

"No. I think Uncle Mike is." Robbie said and Punk scoffed.

"No way." Punk chuckled. "If he saw this deviant trying to get with his niece he'd chase Jason away."

Mike was still at the shop but he helped run it with AJ when Celeste stepped down to go back to her career. Mike and him (like their father) still bickered constantly but he was fantastic with Punk's kids. He looked out for all three of his children and Punk would forever be indebted to him for that.

"If you tell her she can't talk to him-" Robbie began to warn.

"Yes, I know." Punk said annoyed. "But I am her father and she's legally mine until she's 18 so I still make the rules."

"You make the rules and she loves to break them." Robbie laughed.

"It's not funny." Punk said to him.

"I like Jason." Robbie shrugged.

"They remind me of you and AJ." Dean teased and Punk shot him a deadly glare. "Come on, he sneaks over to talk to her while she stocks the shelves."

"She's fifteen." Punk reminded him. "AJ was much older when I went over there."

"But you're older than her." Dean shrugged.

"I don't get it. I'd rather be with an older chick." Robbie shrugged.

"If you want to live long enough to have a first date, don't call women 'chicks' around your mother." Punk warned then smirked. "Or tell her you'd prefer an older woman because that would drive her crazy."

"Daddy." A voice greeted from behind him and he turned around to his first born. His angelic sweet little Lily. The one he knew was ready to leave the nest but wasn't ready for her to yet. He convinced her to stay home for college but she was dying to travel and see the world.

Lily stayed with dance and her dance team even went to New York last year to perform for a week at Radio City and Punk went with her, the over protective father he still was. She was the only 21 year old to have a parent there but Punk was at every show, front row, taking pictures proudly.

"I know that voice." Punk forced out a laugh. "Why are you here so late?" he asked noting she was in her sweats which meant she was down the block at dance, where she had become an instructor. "How much is it going to cost me?"

"Nothing! That's the beautiful part of this." She said giving him a kiss on the cheek. "Hi, Uncle Dean." Lily greeted and kissed his cheek as well.

"If it's not costing you any money it's going to cost you some sleepless nights." Dean teased to Punk.

"She wants to leave the country." Robbie tattled and Lily glared at him.

"You are a rat." Lily accused pointing at him lunging for him but Punk jumped in front of Robbie to protect him. Robbie was beat up by his sisters a lot over the years.

"She knows she's not leaving the country and if she wanted to, I'd have to pay for it." Punk told Robbie smugly.

"Louis's family is going to Italy for vacation and I was invited." Lily told him hopefully.

Punk could never shake Louis, him and Lily remained insuperable their entire lives and honestly it was a blessing to Punk. He never worried about her being with a man who would hurt her because she was the boss in the relationship and Louis was respectful and spoiled Lily.

"No." Punk smirked then went back to looking at Jade and Jason. "They're gone." he said fearfully. "Where did they go?"

"Dad, please." Lily insisted and Punk looked at her. "Mom said I could go. And I technically don't even need permission."

"You don't need permission you're right. But you're a good daughter." Punk smiled.

"I think Louis is going to propose." Lily whispered with a big smile.

Punk's smile faded. He knew Louis was planning on proposing because he asked for Punk's blessing a few weeks ago. He sat down with both him and AJ and promised to love and protect and take care of Lily until the day he died and Punk believed him.

"Alright." Punk said quietly and Lily threw her arms around him.

"I love you, daddy." Lily smiled and Punk could swear he heard it as if she was a little girl.

"I'm giving you money though because I don't want Luis Cortes treating my daughter to anything." Punk said bitterly. "When are you going?"

"Next Thursday." She told him excitedly.

"You have your passport?" he asked and she nodded. "Alright, I'll have money for you before than. But you have to do something for me."

"What's that?" Lily asked amused knowing it had to be something AJ didn't know about.

"Your sister." Punk said pointing. "What is she up to?"

"You're too hard on her." Lily frowned shaking her head.

"You and her are best friends, you know what she's thinking." Punk said to her. "I didn't have this bad boyfriend trouble with you."

"So you admit it, you like Louis?" Lily asked with a smile.

"I liked him a lot more before I caught him sneaking out of your bedroom one morning." Punk said to her and Lily glared at him.

"We fell asleep studying!" Lily argued.

"Right." Punk scoffed. "Seriously, what is she doing with Jason?"

"They just talk." Lily assured him. "He understands her."

"I understand her." Punk insisted.

"No you're policing her life. You didn't do that with me and you don't do it with Robbie." Lily pointed out.

"She's a rebel without a cause." Punk said seriously and Lily laughed in the same exact way AJ laughed. "It's not funny."

"He's nice to her. He listens to her. He loves her art." Lily told him. "Just leave her be."

"I want him out of this gym." Punk told Dean who rolled his eyes.

"This from the same guy who tried to file a restraining around against Louis when he was 6 for stalking Lily." Dean teased.

"You what?" Lily asked angrily.

"I was very concerned with Louis when he was younger he was very strange." Punk defended.

"He's nothing like his father." Lily told him. "He's sweet and sensitive-"

"Yea, yea I get it." Punk groaned. "Is Luis nice to you?"

"Of course he is." Lily defended.

"Too nice?" Punk asked coldly and Lily glared at him.

"Don't be disgusting." Lily said to him. "That could be your future in-law." she teased and Punk's face fell.

"I'll never be rid of him." Punk said to Dean horrified who laughed.

"He always asks for you." Lily told Punk.

"Because he's afraid of me." Punk told her proudly and Lily eyed him. "He is! I bet he asks for your mom too."

"He does." Lily confirmed and Punk glared at her. "Not in that way. Stop."

"Are you sure you want to go out of the country with that family? Your mom and I are planning a vacation too." Punk grinned and Lily rolled her eyes.

"Just like when she was a little girl." Dean teased.

"Before speaking or walking you rolled your eyes at me." Punk said to her. "Seriously though, we're not going to Italy we were thinking Costa Rica."

"I've never been to Italy." Lily told him.

"But you've never been to Costa Rica either." Punk insisted. "And I'll even pay for Louis!"

"I'll be fine, dad." She promised and he eyed her with concern. "Really! I'm an adult."

"No you're my princess." He remarked smugly. "Always will be."

"Can I invite a friend to Costa Rica?" Robbie asked hopefully.

"No." Punk said annoyed. "Your friends live with us practically. I pay for their meals and cable so they get enough free shit from me. Part of the reason we're taking a vacation is to get away from them."

"Can Jade bring her boyfriend?" Robbie asked with a smirk just to annoy Punk.

"That's not her boyfriend." Lily said slapping Robbie upside the head.

"You know I'm a professional fighter, right?" Robbie asked his oldest sister. "I'll kick your ass."

"You can try." Lily challenged.

"Enough." Punk warned them and looked across the street. "Do you have your car?" He asked Lily who shook her head. "I'll give you a ride home. Just wait here." He told her and reached for the door.

"What are you doing?" Lily asked grabbing his arm.

"I'm going to give your sister a ride home." Punk told her.

"No you're going to butt in." Lily sighed. "Please don't embarrass her." she pleaded.

"I'm her father, it's my job to embarrass her." Punk reminded Lily with smile.


Punk walked across the street and walked into the pet shop as a man scurried out holding his stomach.

"Jade!" Punk yelled out concerned.

"I'm right here." Jade said appearing from the back office.

"What are you doing?" He asked spotting Jason and was about to grab him.

"Phillip." a voice warned and he froze and saw AJ behind the counter.

"Sweetheart." Punk smiled nervously. "I didn't realize you were here."

AJ still looked the same. Punk swore she drank from a fountain of youth. She was still as beautiful and youthful as the day he had met her.

"What happened?" Punk asked.

"That man who was in here was giving mom a hard time." Jade told him and Punk looked at AJ.

"About what?" Punk asked.

"He was hitting on her." Jade told her father and Punk narrowed his eyes. "He was drunk."

"That's not the reason he hit on me." AJ defended. "I'm still pretty."

"You are." Punk agreed with a smirk. "I can catch up to him."

"No." AJ said to him. "Jason was kind enough to show him the door."

"You?" Punk asked eyeing the troubled teen.

"No big deal." Jason shrugged.

"That man started with Jade first. I told him she was fifteen." AJ told Punk.

"I don't want her working here anymore." Punk told her and Jade rolled her eyes. "Same shit your sister just did to me."

"She was only working tonight because I'm here." AJ told him.

"I don't want you here anymore either this late. I feel like I've been arguing with about this since the day I met you." Punk said to his wife. "And I don't want pervs coming in here and eyeing up my not even legal daughter."

"Jason took care of it." AJ smiled. "You should thank him."

"Why are you here?" Punk asked looking at Jason and AJ glared at him.

"I was just talking to Jade." Jason shrugged.

"Thank him." AJ told Punk again.

"I'm driving you home." Punk told Jade. "Get your bag."

"I'm not a baby anymore." Jade snapped and stormed into the office.

"And you." He said glaring at Jason. "Get across the street and work." he ordered.

"Bye, Mrs. B." Jason said to AJ.

"You need to control your temper." AJ warned Punk. "You're going to push Jade away from us."

"He's too old for her AJ." Punk told her sternly. "He's too fucked up too."

"He is not." AJ argued. "He's been nothing but nice and really helped me tonight. You should be grateful. He's a little rough around the edges but so were you. She's going to be sixteen in a few weeks which means she can date."

"Not him." Punk said simply and AJ glared at him.

"You don't control my life!" Jade yelled and Punk turned to look at her. "As soon as I'm eighteen I'm moving out!"

"Over my dead body!" Punk yelled back.

"Phil!" AJ yelled.

"And I'm your father! You can't scream at me at least for no reason." He defended almost sadly.

"You give me reason too!" Jade yelled. "You're smothering me!"

"Lily never gave us trouble like this." Punk told AJ and Jade immediately began to cry.

"I'm not Lily! No matter how much you want me to be smart like her or as athletic as Robbie!" Jade cried and Punk's face fell. "I like other things! I like different people! I'm never going to fit your Lily mold!" she yelled then ran out of the store.

"I warned you not to compare her to Lily." AJ said shaking her head. "They're two entirely different girls."

"I know." Punk said already mentally kicking himself then followed Jade out of the store. "You're not walking home." He said jogging up to her. "I'm sorry, ok? But you're really tough on me and I don't know why."

"You don't love me." Jade announced crying even more. "Because I'm not like your Princess or your star fighter. I'm not who you wanted me to be."

"I love you so much." Punk said seriously. "How could you think that? I love everything you do! I just wish you went about it differently. I wish you just went to school and didn't get suspended for painting on the walls or skipping. You make me nervous and I'm afraid you're going to get hurt. I love you as much as I love Lily and Robbie."

"You have a funny way of showing it." Jade said folding her arms.

"My god, you're my pretty girl. I've called you that since I first laid eyes on you." Punk said to her. "I sat up with you every night when you were sick, I used to let you take your mom's lipstick and draw it all over my face- I would give my life for yours no questions asked. If I'm hard on you sometimes it's because I love you so much. You are me."

"What?" Jade asked.

"You have my 'I don't give a shit' attitude that I had at this exact age." Punk confided. "You're always angry at the world and so was I but I was angry because of my parents and they didn't care about me so I took off which is why I smother you because I don't want you to feel that way- ever." he told her sternly. "If I compare you to your sister too much I'm sorry I don't mean to. She's like your mom. Straight A's through school and always did everything by the rules but believe me she was a handful when she was younger too. She ran away constantly and used to drive me crazy."

"She did?" Jade asked with a sniffle.

"Yes! Once when you were first born you got sick and your mom and I stayed in the hospital with you. I sang to you all night and fed you until they would release you and Lily packed a bag of your stuff because she wanted to see you. Her and Louis ran away to Ohio when they were six!" Punk explained almost desperately. "But that's not the point." he said shaking his head.

"What is your point?" She asked.

"The point is I do love you for who you are." Punk insisted. "I've loved you since I first knew about you! Before you were even born and you were growing in your mom's stomach. We wanted you so bad." He told her honestly. "And we don't want perfect children either."

"Could have fooled me." Jade mocked clearing her eyes and rubbing her dark eyeliner in the process. "I'll never be as smart and pretty as Lily. I'll never like fighting like you and Robbie which means I don't fit in anywhere in this family."

"You fit in perfectly with us. We are a family of weirdos." He told her seriously. "We don't blend in, we stick out. And like I've told you, you're EXACTLY like me
when I was growing up except I acted up because of my parents and now that you're doing this I think you hate me like I hated my parents."

"I could never hate you." Jade said quietly.

"That's why I'm so crazy with you, that's why you get most of my attention because I relate to you the most." Punk argued.

"Really?" Jade asked and Punk nodded.

"I think your art is beautiful and if that's what you want to do with your life you know I'll support you. Same as I supported Lily with dancing, which she didn't get from me or your mom either." He pointed out.

"You spend so much time picking on me that Lily and Robbie get away with everything." Jade argued.

"Like what?" Punk asked curiously.

"I can't rat them out." Jade huffed folding her arms.

"Sure you can." Punk smiled. "What do they do?"

"It's not the point." Jade said to him. "You humiliated me in front of my friend tonight and you don't even care, it's like my feelings mean nothing to you."

"Jason?" Punk asked disgusted and Jade glared at him. "He's older than you."

"By barely a year! I'm going to be sixteen." Jade said to him. "And it's not romantic! Not everything is about sex!"

"Shh, don't say that word." Punk said quickly and Jade shook her head.

"He's just my friend and you're so mean to him which means Uncle Dean is going to be mean to him and he's the only person in my life who listens to me and really pays attention to my art." Jade argued.

"I don't like him because he reminds me of me too." Punk groaned.

"What's so bad about you?" Jade asked.

"You always want better for your kids." Punk sighed. "You know, when I started out at the gym I was the same age as you were." He told Jade as he sat on the curb and she joined him. "I was angry at everything. I was hot headed and I didn't give a shit about anybody."

"But you met mom." Jade pointed out.

"I did. She was my friend at first too." Punk said in a warning voice and Jade smiled a bit. "But it wasn't easy. We had no money and there were a lot of ups and downs. Do you have any idea how many times someone I was supposed to fight would try to bring your mom down to piss me off? I don't want that for you."

"He's just my friend, dad." Jade shrugged. "I like coming to the shop because I know he'll stop in and bring me coffee."

"You're too young for coffee." Punk groaned.

"He doesn't have an easy life. We just talk." Jade insisted. "He'll probably never talk to me again after tonight."

"I doubt that." Punk said annoyed. "If he's like how I think he is, he'll have no problem chatting you up."

"Good. I need someone to talk to." Jade said quietly.

"I'm here." Punk reminded her. "And before I get a lecture, believe me I know that you need friends to gossip about hair and makeup-"

"Do I look like I care about hair and makeup?" Jade asked in disbelief.

Although Jade was beautiful, she was naturally beautiful. She did her hair and makeup but she didn't obsesses over it like Lily did when she was finally able to wear makeup. Lily's hair was a big deal wot her by the age of five but Jade would just let it air dry and it would look professionally done.

"Fair." Punk admitted. "So, what do you two talk about?"

"It's private." Jade muttered.

"Ok." Punk said to her.

"We talk about school." Jade admitted.

"Why would you talk to him about it? Has ever been inside of a school?" Punk mocked.

"I wanted to drop out." Jade confessed and Punk's face fell. "He talked me out of it."
"Why in the hell would you want to drop out?" Punk asked her.

"I don't fit in there. Nothing interests me." Jade told him.

"Jade." Punk sighed rubbing his temple.

"Like I said, Jason told me to stick to school." she said annoyed. "Robbie likes it because he's a star athlete and he's only a freshmen. There's nothing there for me. We all weren't gifted like Lily to go to a fun school."

"You are gifted." Punk insisted. "Your art is amazing."

"There's a school for the arts out here. But-" Jade began.

"But what?" Punk asked. "If you want to do that you should have come to me and your mom and we would try to get you in."

"Really?" Jade asked skeptically.

"I want you be happy." Punk told her. "Your stuff is good you can get in anywhere."

"It's expensive." Jade warned.

"Do we not live in a mansion? You don't think I could afford it?" Punk asked amused.

"I don't want to burden you and mom." Jade shrugged.

"Nothing about you is a burden and certainly not your education." Punk told her. "Get some information on the school and we'll sit down with your mom then call your grandfather because he's still friends with the Chancellor out here." he told Jade who smiled.

"Jason told me I should talk to you about it." Jade said and Punk shook his head. "When that man came in here and hit on me he was ready to pounce but, you know-"

"Your mom pounced first." Punk smirked and Jade laughed.

"She's crazier than you." Jade laughed. "But that man was really scary and Jason protected mom too."

"What a prince." Punk mocked. "Look, if you want to hang around him that's fine. Just-"

"Just what?" Jade asked.

"Be careful." Punk told her. "And you know the dating rule."

"I'm too young for him." Jade told him and Punk grinned.

"You're very right." Punk agreed.

"He just sees me as a kid." Jade said brushing it off.

"As he should." Punk agreed.

"I'm not even pretty enough for him." Jade sighed.

"Oh god." Punk almost cried. "Your nickname isn't just a 'nickname' you were named pretty girl because you truly are. You're too pretty for him actually." he told his daughter who just rolled her eyes and stood up.

"Here." Punk said pulling his keys out of his pocket.

"Driving lesson?" Jade smiled.

"Um, no." Punk said trying not to laugh. "Let Lily drive you guys back in my car, I'll get a ride back with your mom later."

"Ok. And thanks daddy." Jade said kissing his cheek.


Punk walked back into the shop AJ shot him a smile.

"Very good job." AJ said proudly.

"You were eavesdropping?" Punk asked.

"Of course I was. I'm a mom, it's what I do." She said cleaning up.

"What do you think about the school thing?" he asked her.

"I think we should try to give her the kind of fun education Lily had." AJ told him simply. "You can afford it." she teased.

"I'll sell the house if it means she's happier." Punk told her honestly.

"She is happy. But she's a teenage girl and in one of those phases." AJ told him.

"I hate these teenage phases." Punk grumbled leaning against the counter. "You think Robbie will have one?"

"He will." She told him. "You actually have to talk to him because I heard him talking about getting a tattoo."

"We both have tattoos." Punk shrugged.

"He's fourteen." AJ hissed.

"Alright, I'll talk to him." Punk assured her.

"Jade is just like you." AJ agreed. "But you are a tad too protective when it comes to her."

"No such thing." Punk defended.

"She thinks you do it because you don't trust her judgment." AJ told him.

"Was Lily this difficult at this age?" Punk asked thinking about it.

"17 was her rough year." AJ reminded him. "Remember she stole your car and totaled it."

"Oh yea." Punk said thinking about it.

"She also came home drunk when she was 17." AJ pointed out.

"She threw up on me." Punk remembered disgusted.

"Jade is just moody." AJ told him. "Jason is sweet. When you apologize for being a dick and thank him for defending not just your wife's honor but your daughters, invite him over for dinner next week."

"No." Punk said to her. "I'm not apologizing or thanking him."

"Don't be like that. He's a good friend for her." AJ told him.

"I don't want Jade here alone." Punk told her.

"Um, she wasn't." AJ pointed out annoyed. "Me, her mother was here."

"I want a man here." Punk said and AJ glared at him. "Fucking dick had the nerve to come in here and make a pass at my wife daughter." he said disgusted.

"It's best you weren't here. You always go too far when a man looks at your daughters." AJ said as she continued to clean up then turned the store sign to closed.

"As I should be." Punk said to her.

"Remember when Lily and Louis came to that fight a few years ago?" AJ asked with a laugh.

"Yea. One of Eric's new fighters made a pass at her." Punk said shaking his head angrily.

"Then Louis tried to defend her honor." AJ laughed and Punk had to laugh himself.

"The fighter punched Louis right in the face." Punk laughed remembering. "There was blood everywhere!" he said with a bright smile.

"And while you were helping Louis who was out cold Lily was beating up the fighter for picking on her boyfriend." AJ smirked.

"How old was she then?" Punk asked.

"I think 19." AJ told him.

"By the time I was going to get to him, Lily already did the damage." Punk said proudly.

"Your girls don't need you or anyone else to defend them." AJ reminded him.

"I don't like Jade here late same as I don't like you here late. And Jade is half mine so I get a say." Punk insisted. "Put her on when Mike is here."

"Fine. But Jason offered to take Jade home anytime she works." AJ told him, rubbing it in.

"That's ok, she's MY daughter and I will drive MY daughter home." Punk said to her. "I gave Lily my keys so she can take the other two home..."

"We're not having sex in my office." AJ said and he sighed. "I need a shower. If you go across the street and do what I asked you to do with Jason then I will consider letting you wash my back when we get home."

"I don't want to wash your back." He scoffed and she eyed him then he grinned. "Ok, you win but blackmail isn't cool and I don't want you teaching that shit to our kids." he warned backing towards the door. "And then you have to wash MY back." He ordered and she arched a seductive brow at him. "With your tongue." he added placing his hand on the door.

"Anything else?" She asked.

"You know what I like." he said defensively.

"If you invite him to dinner so we can get to know him and at the same time bond with our daughter who has classic middle child syndrome, I will do that thing I never do." she told him.

"You mean-" He began and she nodded. "Lock this door behind me." He ordered her frantically. "And be ready in three minutes because that's all this is going to take. Then we're going right home up into the shower and I don't care if Lily and Jade are pulling out each others hair again or tied Robbie to the mailbox again outside." he told her seriously and she let out a laugh.

"They were so little when they did that." AJ said with a sad smile. "First time we let Lily baby-sit and we pulled up to the house and Robbie was tapped to the mailbox."

"Oh, no." Punk said shaking his head.

"What?" AJ asked.

"You're getting that look." He warned her.

"What look?" She asked.

"That look you get when you flirt with the idea of having another kid. No more kids." Punk told her. "I'm too old."

"Yea, yea I know." She sighed.

"Need I remind you how you almost bled out when you gave birth to Robbie? Or how he almost died?" He asked her.

"No, you don't." She told him. "No more kids." She sighed.

"Hey." He said walking to her and cupping her face. "They're almost grown and it's our time to relax." He reminded her and she smiled. "We can do that traveling we constantly talk about doing but never do."

"That is true." AJ smiled. "My clock is almost up anyway."

"I can't risk you again. The doctor said you carrying another kid could kill you." He told her. "I can't do this alone, I've always told you this."

"I know." She said with a light smile.

"You know I still get a little nervous coming in here to talk to you? Just like when we first met." he smirked.

"And that's why we're still happily married, we never lost that feeling." She said to him and he leaned down and kissed her tenderly.

"Let's go home." He smiled against her lips.

"Not until you go across the street." She ordered and he groaned and walked out the door.


Punk walked into the gym and saw Dean.

"Where's the kid?" Punk asked.

"You can't beat him up, it's illegal." Dean said reading over paperwork.

"I'm not going to beat him up." Punk said to him.

"He's in the back hitting the bag." Dean nodded and Punk made his way to the back.

"Hitting my face?" Punk asked walking into the room.

"Nope." Jason said as he still hit the bag.

"Thank you for looking out for my girls tonight." Punk forced out.

"I'd do it for any woman." Jason shrugged.

"So are you saying my daughter means nothing to you?" Punk asked offended.

"Your daughter is fifteen." Jason reminded him. "She's a pal."

"My daughter is going to be sixteen." Punk pointed out.

"Oh, yea. That only makes us a year apart. Good point." Jason smirked and Punk shook his head in annoyance.

"I fell right into that fucking trap." Punk mumbled to himself.

"I'm just kidding." Jason said to him as he removed his gloves. "She's a sweet kid and needs a friend, I need a friend."

"Friend as platonic?" Punk asked suspiciously.

"I know I'm not good enough for your daughter." Jason laughed grabbing his water bottle. "I have no family, no friends and I'm certainly not a Cortes."

"You not being a Cortes is the only positive thing about you." Punk told him honestly. "Louis is alright but I'd prefer Lily with someone who could actually protect her and not the other way around. My girls are tough as nails though. They don't need a protector."

"I've noticed." Jason chuckled.

"Look, this is my worst nightmare." Punk confided. "My wife would always joke one of our girls would meet a smart ass fighter for the gym and get close to them like she did with me."

"We're just friends." Jason repeated. "I wouldn't disrespect you like that."

"She needs you as a friend." Punk told him. "You can hang out with her."

"Cool." Jason smirked.

"And my wife wants you to come over for dinner next week to thank you." Punk told him.

"I can eat." Jason grinned.

"Great." Punk forced out annoyed. "You mess with my daughter in a way I don't like, your ass will be out on the curb." he warned. "You get that right? All of this will go away for you. Is this worth your career."

"I can be a friend and a fighter." Jason told him.

"Fine." Punk said to him. "I'll see you tomorrow."

"She loves you." Jason told him before he could leave. "She doesn't want to disappoint you and she thinks she does. That's all I'm going to say about it because she doesn't want to betray your confidence."

"Well, I'm glad you convinced her not to drop out of school." Punk told him.

"She's real smart." Jason nodded. "She's going to go places."

"She is." Punk agreed then left.


Punk dragged AJ out of the shop an hour later and when they got home they heard a lot of noise in the kitchen.

"No, let's just go shower." Punk practically cried.

"I want to see if they're destroying my kitchen." AJ said walking and Punk reluctantly followed. "And remember you said you'd talk to Robbie getting a tattoo."

"Right, right." he sighed and followed her inside of the kitchen.

"There's actual food." AJ said to her children who were each eating ice cream out of the carton with their own spoons. "And bowls."

"This is better." Lily smiled waggling her eyebrows, just like she did as a kid when she was doing something she knew she shouldn't have been doing.

"Did you dent my car on the way home?" Punk asked his daughter.

"She almost took out the mailbox." Robbie ratted.

"Too bad you weren't tied to it." Lily said slapping him upside his head.

"Be nice to your brother." AJ warned.

"Mama's boy." Jade laughed at Robbie.

"Why couldn't you have all boys? I'm sick of this assault on me due to my gender." Robbie stated and Punk nodded in agreement.

"Hey, for years I've dealt with it." Punk told Robbie. "I understand your pain."

"Can I borrow your suitcase?" Lily asked her mom.

"Yes." AJ told her. "I'll have your dad take out of the attic. Now you remember what I told you?"

"Call when I land, call when I stub my toe- got it." Lily teased and AJ glared at her. "Kidding. I'll call constantly, don't worry."

"I do worry." AJ said to her.

"I am in my twenties." Lily defended.

"Oh, I forgot that meant you weren't our kid anymore." Punk mocked.

"How come Lily gets to go out of the country with her boyfriend but you freak out if I talk to a guy?" Jade asked.

"Because Lily is older and I've known Louis for far too long." Punk said to her.

"And his parents." AJ added and Punk rolled his eyes.

"I have to get to bed." Lily said standing up.

"Lils." Punk said pulling her to the side before she went upstairs. "I won't you to have a good time on this trip." He said to her.

Lily and Punk truly did have a bond that could never be broken. She was his whole world for six years before Jade came along, she was his first born and his pride and joy. He knew she would be coming home engaged and this wasn't easy for him or AJ to accept.

"I will. I'll bring you back a present." Lily promised with a smile.

"I love you." He said hugging her and Lily eyed him but hugged him back.

"I love you too. Are you ok?" Lily asked concerned.

"It's just feels like yesterday that you used to fit into my arms. I remember moving in here with you." Punk told her.

"Yea. I wanted your room." Lily smirked. "You moved because I was afraid after that guy broke in."

"Yea." Punk remembered.

"I always felt safer with you." Lily told him honestly. "I'm always going to be your little Princess."

"Promise?" He asked hopefully.

"Yes." She laughed and kissed his cheek. "I still have a week before I leave."

"Right." Punk said and AJ walked over.

"You're going to give it away." AJ warned Punk.

"I shouldn't have told Louis yes." Punk hissed. "Why did I let you talk me into that?"

"Because we love our daughter and no matter what we have to let her have her own family." AJ reminded him. "Louis is a great guy."

"He's alright." Punk grunted and AJ laughed and kissed him.

"We raised an amazing girl, she's smart and she knows what makes her happy." AJ reminded him.

"Yea." Punk said sadly.

"She's not moving away." AJ laughed.

"Yet." Punk barked out.

"Go get my luggage out of the attic I don't want her packing last minute and forgetting anything." AJ told him.

"But...the shower..." He trailed off sadly.

"I know but I promised Jade to look at some of her photos." AJ told him.

"Ready?" Jade asked and Punk groaned realizing she'd soon be getting married and leaving the nest too. "What I do?"

"He's going through that empty nest syndrome thing." AJ told her and Jade laughed.

"Don't worry, I'm going to be here at least until I'm 18." Jade said to him and his face fell.

"18? Lily is 21 and still here." Punk laughed nervously. "It's always free to live here."

"I want a little studio." Jade told him. "I'll paint murals all the wall."

"You can do that here." Punk reasoned and AJ pulled Jade away. "Seriously!" he shouted but heard them laughing at him.

Punk then looked into the kitchen and saw his son and realized he'd be the one sticking around. Punk had a feeling that he'd be living in this house with Robbie, his wife and kids because he was far too comfortable here.

"You." Punk said and Robbie looked up from his phone. "What's this I hear about a tattoo?"

"I knew Lily would rat on me!" Robbie hissed slamming his fist against the table.

"You got a tattoo?" Punk asked slowly and in shock.

"If Lily didn't tell you that than no I didn't." Robbie said nervously and Punk shook his head in disbelief.

"Let me see it." Punk forced trying to contain his anger.

Robbie pulled up his pant leg and showed Punk the writing around his ankle.

"Space boy? Like mine?" Punk asked, suddenly proud of his son for wanting a tattoo like he had.

"Yea. It's all about not fitting in. I'd like to think I'm like you in that aspect." Robbie said to him.

"I'd be so flattered if I didn't know your mom was going to kill you and bury you in the yard once she sees it." Punk said to him unable to hide his smile.
"Where did you get that? You're only 14."

"My friend does tattoo's in his basement." Robbie told him and Punk shook his head and kneeled down to examine it. "It barely hurts."

"Yet. It's getting infected." Punk said annoyed standing up. "Why would you go to some idiot in a basement?"

"Because I'm 14." Robbie shrugged and Punk shook his head.

"You have to clean that." Punk warned him. "I've got unscented cream in my bathroom you can put on it."

"We can keep this between us, right?" Robbie asked nervously.

"Oh, no." Punk laughed. "You're going to tell your mother."

"She hates tattoos." Robbie groaned.

"She has tattoos." Punk scoffed. "She just didn't want you to stupidly get a tattoo before you were 18 and go somewhere dirty."

"His basement isn't that dirty." Robbie said seriously and Punk glared at him. "What?"

"Your mom is extra protective of you." Punk reminded him grabbing a spoon and taking a bite of the ice cream. "You are the baby of the family and you were born with complications."

"I like being babied by her." Robbie shrugged and Punk laughed.

"Oh, god." Punk said amused. "You're going to live here your whole life, aren't you?"

"I'm going to be able to afford an even bigger house than this once I get my big break." Robbie told him.

"Graduate first. That's not negotiable." Punk warned him.

"I know. But do you think I'll be able to fight like you?" Robbie asked.

"I'm not just saying this because you're my son, but you have the best instincts of anyone in your class. You're not going to fight like me though, you're going to do better than I ever did." Punk told him and Robbie smiled.

"Really?" Robbie asked.

"Yea." Punk confirmed. "I never won a belt." he pointed out. "A lot of my money came from my big fat mouth." he had to admit.

"You'll teach me how to trash talk?" Robbie asked.

"Please." Punk chuckled. "You are half me half your mom, trash talk is in your blood. The hardest part of fighting isn't taking a hit or throwing a punch it's navigating through the politics and I'm going to help you every step of the way."

"I can't wait." Robbie said to him.

"You're going to have to. Diploma first." Punk reminded him and Robbie nodded. "Don't do it late in life like I did."

"I'll get it done." Robbie said with a wave of his hand as if it was nothing.

"And tell your mom about that tattoo but fucking clean it first." Punk told him.

"I will, I will." Robbie laughed shaking his head.

"Good boy." Punk said kissing him on top of his head.


Punk was coming out of the attic with AJ's luggage almost an hour later. By the time he made it down the stairs he heard chatter going on in Lily's room.

"I can't believe you got a tattoo!" he heard AJ yell.

"It's not that bad." Lily reasoned.

"Yea." Jade pipped in agreeing.

Punk was blessed at the fact that even though they bickered constantly, his three children all had each others back.

"Why couldn't you just wait?" AJ asked her son and Punk leaned in the doorway.

"It's nice though, right?" Robbie asked.

"It is." Jade and Lily agreed at the same time.

"Oh shut up, he's not your son." AJ teased the girls in a serious voice. "It's infected!" She said looking at it closely.

"It's just fresh!" Robbie assured her.

"Ape." Punk greeted and she looked up.

"We have to take him to the doctor." AJ frowned.

"No we don't. He's cleaning it, right?" Punk asked Robbie walking into the room.

"Yes, yes." Robbie said to him. "I swear." He said looking at his mother.

"You got the luggage?" Lily asked and Punk nodded and passed it to her. "Thanks daddy." she said and opened it up and immediately put something in it.

"Larry?" Punk asked amused.

"Call me a baby but I feel better traveling with Larry." Lily defended proudly. Her stuffed starfish she got on her trip to the aquarium that Punk had taken her on when she was six, named affectionately after their family dog, Larry.

"There's nothing silly about it." AJ assured her.

"Oh, Jason is coming to dinner next week." Punk told AJ and Jade's face dropped.

"You invited him for dinner?" Jade asked stunned.

"To thank him for all of his help today." Punk forced out with a fake smile.

"I have the perfect dress for you to wear!" Lily smiled grabbing Jade's wrist and dragging her to the closet.

"Clean that again." AJ told Robbie.

"Yes mother." Robbie mocked and AJ kissed his cheek before he left the room.

"Is it shower time yet?" Punk asked AJ in a whisper and she let out a laugh.

"Mom!" Lily yelled from inside the closet.

"Ten minute." AJ told Punk who sighed.

"Fine." He said leaning against the wall and AJ eyed him. "What?"

"This is girl time now." AJ said pulling him up by his wrist and pushing him out of Lily's room.

"I hate when you say that. I have just as much right to-" Punk began but AJ closed the door in his face. "Girl time." Punk mocked. "I don't want to be part of girl time anyway." He added bitterly then walked away.


Punk decided to head into the shower and get a head start. Picking out a dress could take hours as far as Punk was concerned.

"You started without me." AJ gasped stepping into the shower of their private bathroom next.

"You could have taken hours." Punk said dramatically.

"No way." She laughed wrapping her arms around him and kissing in-between his shoulder blades.

"Yes way." Punk said turning around to be face to face with her.

"We raised three great kids. Even if one was dumb enough to get a tattoo from some fool in a basement." AJ said to him.

"They're all alright." Punk said to her. "But enough kid talk. We need Phil talk now."

"Aw." AJ mocked. "Feeling neglected?" She teased.

"Yea a bit." Punk said childishly.

"You know I always have time for you." She said wrapping her arms around his front now and kissing his chest. "My soul mate." she added.

"I love you more and more each passing day." He told her. "Three kids and 22 years of marriage later and you still make nervous."

"Good. I like keeping you on your toes." She teased. "I haven't bored you yet."

"You could call our marriage a lot of things, boring isn't one of them." He teased as he ran his finger down her cheek as the water hit them.