The Dress

A few weeks later AJ was in full wedding planning mode while working as many cases as she possibly could so she could save money towards the wedding. The wedding was going to be small but she wanted it to be perfect. She found the perfect dress for her wedding last week and she needed to work a bit more to afford it. She still wasn't sure where the wedding was going to be since Punk was looking at houses and she wasn't sure they'd be at the apartment much longer.

"So, did you buy the dress yet?" Peyton asked AJ in the office as they had coffee.

"No." AJ groaned. "I can't afford it yet. Why did I pick suck an expensive dress?"

"When you know it's right you know it's right." Peyton shrugged. "Why don't you tell Phil I'm sure he'll pay for it or at least go half."

"No way." AJ argued. "He's already buying me a house and I hate that as it is."

"That bastard." Peyton mocked.

"He's always hated my apartment. He's guilty me out by saying he doesn't want to live where he was shot." AJ said to her.

"The man took a bullet from my ex so I have to take his side." Peyton shrugged.

"Of course." AJ scoffed. "Maybe I should just pick a different dress." she reasoned to herself. "It's going to be a small wedding anyway why do I need such a expensive dress?"

"It's the most important day of your life." Peyton said to her. "You should have your dream dress."

"My mom used to tell me that when I picked the right person to marry that buying me my dress would be her gift. And we'd get to shop together and make a whole day out of it." AJ remembered.

"I'm sure looking at dresses alone wasn't easy." Peyton frowned.

"I didn't go alone. Renee came with me. Dean is kind of like my maid of honor." She told her. "Maid of honor, best man and he's going to have to give me away."

"I'm sure he doesn't mind." Peyton said to her. "You two are very close."

"He's my brother in every sense of the word. He's the only person of my childhood that hasn't abandoned me." AJ confided.

"I thought your dad was really trying to step up. Maybe he can help you get the dress?" Peyton asked.

"Oh, no." AJ laughed. "That man is lucky if I even invite him. He caused a lot of hurt in my life." AJ told her. "I can't just forgive him because he's been nice these last few weeks. I need to hope a really big case walks through our door or I can kiss my dream dress goodbye."

"I'd love to help-" Peyton began.

"I don't accept things from others. I know it sounds like I'm being a bitch but I'm just really proud." AJ said to her. "I've actually considered picking up a night job."

"A night job?" Peyton frowned.

"Yea waitressing. I used to make good tips in Jersey doing it." AJ shrugged. "It wouldn't be forever just a few weeks until I can at least pay half of it off."

"You're going to run yourself into the ground." Peyton warned. "I know your cases aren't huge but you do have a lot of them."

"And with your help I've been able to get them all done. I just might need you another night a week if possible-" AJ began.

"Of course." Peyton said to her. "Jack is doing well and settled and my parents love spending time with him as well."

"Just don't mention this to Phil." AJ said to her. "It's not just the dress but I want to pay for the whole wedding and I want to contribute when we move."

"I wish I was raised as independent as you were." Peyton smirked. "It's very honorable."

"I'm trying." AJ sighed.

A week later AJ was starting her new waitressing gig. She had told Punk she would be working a late case and he seemed to accept that. The diner was in the worst part of town but she wasn't scared. The streets were so busy unlike New Jersey, she was ok. She did NOT miss waitressing though.

"What are we doing here?" Dean asked sitting next to Punk in the car and he pointed at the diner. "Is that AJ?" Dean asked squinting his eyes.

"It is." Punk confirmed looking towards the diner. "Told me she was working late cases. I saw her name tag and apron at the apartment a few days ago."

"What is she doing?" Dean laughed. "I thought she was busy at work."

"She is." Punk nodded. "Just not rich enough clients at the moment. She's doing this because I want to buy her a house."

"She's a stubborn thing." Dean had to laugh sipping his coffee. "At least you know she's not with you for the money. Don't be mad at her for lying about it."

"How could I be? She's killing herself." Punk sighed shaking his head watching her from across the street. "She's working all day at her office and running around on cases then comes here and works until 2 in the morning and comes home and showers and sleeps and then is back at it in a few hours. It makes her feel good, I fucking hate it but I'm not Elliot I'm not going to tell her she can't work I just wish she wouldn't lie about it."

"You're not going to tell her you know?" Dean asked him.

"Nah." Punk said to her. "I'll guilt her until she comes clean." He teased. "At least this way I can have a little fun."

"How is the house hunt going?" Dean asked.

"She doesn't like anything." Punk remarked. "I can't buy a house if she doesn't like it. It's been great. She won't even tell me what kind of house she wants."

"When she was a kid she wanted a house that had a wrap around porch." Dean told him and Punks eyebrows lifted.

"Yea?" Punk asked and he nodded.

"Yea, I mean she was a kid at the time but she always wanted one. I used to have one and it was shitty but she never even had a front porch. She wanted a swing and a yard big enough to plant vegetables." Dean explained.

"What else?" Punk asked.

"You won't find a house like that in Chicago." Dean warned and Punk let out a laugh.

"I sure can." Punk remarked. "We don't have to live exactly in Chicago. We can live right outside. I'll find her the dream home she always wanted." Punk said looking back towards the diner.

"You're really going to let her keep working there?" Dean asked.

"What can I do?" Punk asked. "I don't like it either. I can't sleep until she gets home I hate it too. I hate seeing her so tired barely able to keep her eyes open I also hate that I've barely seen her but she feels she has to do this and I'm not going to tell her no. She's her own person. If there's one thing I've learned about her it's that she's independent."

"That's for shit sure." Dean remarked.

"We'll come back and follow her home." Punk said starting the car up.

"Awesome." Dean laughed.

A few days later AJ walked into the bridal shop with Peyton. She really did need another female to help her judge the dress and Peyton was becoming a good friend and had good taste as far as AJ could see.

"I can't wait to see the dress that has you working 24/7." Peyton teased.

"Speaking of, you didn't mention to Phil I picked up a waitress job did you?" AJ questioned.

"Of course not." Peyton assured her.

"Did he ask you about it?" AJ asked her.

"No." Peyton said to her. "Why?"

"He keeps bringing up how I used to waitress and how trust is everything and blah blah." AJ remarked. "I know he knows I just don't know how he knows."

"And you just won't tell him that you know he knows?" Peyton asked trying to follow.

"No chance." AJ said to her. "If I admit I'm doing this he's going to ask why and when I tell him its for a stupid dress I'll wear once he'll just try to buy it for me or talk me out of it."

"It's not stupid." Peyton disagreed. "Do you have enough for the dress?"

"No." AJ frowned. "But I put a few hundred down on it and I'll put a few more dollars down on it today. If I don't put it down on the dress I'll just spend it."

"Let's see it." Peyton smiled eagerly.

"Oh, Ms. Mendez." The owner of the small boutique greeted with a smile. "Are you here for a fitting? I must not have seen it-"

"No." AJ said shaking her head.

"So you're just picking the dress up now?" She asked reaching onto the rack and searching for her name.

"I don't have all the money today." AJ replied a little embarrassed. "I just wanted to put more money down and show my friend the dress."

"The dress was paid in full." The owner said pulling the tag off of it. "Yes, three days ago it was paid."

"How can that be?" AJ asked taking the receipt from her.

"A very handsome gentleman came in and paid for it." The woman smiled. "Charming as well."

"Phil must have figured it out." Peyton shrugged.

"Can't be, I didn't even tell him I looked at dresses let alone I picked one out." AJ said to her and skimmed the paper. "Oh my god." She said looking at the name. "He can't afford this, refund it." She said passing it back to her.

"He paid in cash." The owner told her.

"I know him and I know he can't afford this." AJ said to her.

"He seemed fine with it. I can't refund we don't do refunds." The owner told her and AJ groaned.

"Who paid it?" Peyton asked.

"Dean." AJ sighed. "Renee had to have told him. He doesn't have this kind of money to throw around. Are you sure we can't work out a refund?"

"I'm sorry." The owner frowned.

"Can I at least see the dress?" Peyton asked.

"You should try it on." The owner suggested.

"I can't enjoy it now." AJ groaned.

"The gentleman who came in and paid seemed very happy to do it." The owner told her.

"Just try it on." Peyton insisted.

"I guess." AJ sighed taking the dress from the owner. "I'll have to leave it here for now though my apartment is too small and my fiance is very nosy."

"Of course, dear." The owner smiled.

AJ arrived at the police station and walked into Dean and Punks office.

"Who's that?" Punk asked and Dean looked up. "I know it can't be my fiancee who I haven't seen in days. I wouldn't recognize her."

"I think it is her." Dean teased back.

"Hi." AJ smiled walking over to Punk who stood up and she kissed him deeply.

"Are you here to break me out of here and take the night off?" He asked her eagerly.

"I'd love that but I have a late case." She said to him.

"Right. That's like every night this week." Punk noted and she shrugged. "Well, you're going to have to make time for me because I want to show you a house tomorrow. Can you squeeze me in your very busy schedule?"

"Possibly." She smirked. "I'll move some things around I can clear out twenty minutes."

"It's going to take longer than that." Punk warned. "I'm going to need an hour."

"A whole hour?" She asked skeptically.

"It will be worth it, I swear." He assured her.

"Fine." She said to him. "Could you give me a minute? I need to speak to Dean." She asked and he eyed her.

"Seriously?" Punk asked with a laugh but she was serious. "Oh you look pissed, yea I can go for a few minutes." He said eagerly. "Good luck." He said to Dean and left the office.

"What?" Dean asked as she walked over to him and pulled money out of her purse. "What are you doing?" He laughed.

"I went to the dress shop today. I know you paid for my dress and can't afford it." AJ said holding her hand out with money. "It's only three hundred but I get tips every night-"

"AJ stop." He laughed. "I didn't pay for your dress and how could you possibly know what I can afford? You don't know my money situation."

"I saw your signature on the paperwork." She told him.

"Your mom paid for the dress. Well, half of it and I paid the other half." Dean told her and her face fell. "Your mom was saving for the dress and asked me to hold onto the cash. She would take a portion of her tips every night and every week she'd give it to me because you'd snoop. Even if you were going to marry Elliot she wanted you to have the dress of your dreams."

"She did?" AJ asked and Dean nodded. "She couldn't save for it all but she would have had she could. I paid the other half as a gift to you for your wedding because I'm your brother and I want to contribute so don't you dare fight me on it."

"Dean." She cried hugging him.

"We just wanted you to have everything you deserve." He told her hugging her back.

"That was really sneaky of her." AJ sniffled with a smile.

"Where do you think you got it from?" Dean asked with a laugh.

"You don't have to pay for half-" She began.

"AJ, it's my duty as big brother." He informed her stiffly. "This is what I want to do so don't piss me off about it."

"Thank you." She said kissing his cheek.

"Maybe now you don't have to worry so much about saving." Dean insisted subtly and AJ eyed at him.

"I know he knows I'm working at the diner." AJ said to him and his face fell. "And I'm sure he told you too. It's what I want to do."

"You don't have to." Dean insisted. "Focus on the work you love."

"I love Phil." AJ informed him. "That's who I'm focused on and I want to have the best wedding day ever because it won't be easy."

"I know it won't be easy to get married without your mom." Dean said to her. "But working yourself to the bone isn't what she wants for you. And you running around at all hours of the night has him running around all hours of the night and that's not fair to him either."

"What do you mean?" AJ asked.

"You think he doesn't park outside waiting for you to leave to make sure no one bothers you walking to your car then speeds home so you don't think he's spying on you. He's worried. Working late nights like this isn't safe and it's so far from your apartment now." Dean said to her.

"He does that?" AJ asked and Dean nodded.

"Why can't you two just say you know why is it always a game?" Dean asked annoyed. "It puts a lot of stress on me." He said annoyed sitting back down.

"Don't tell him I know he knows." AJ said and Dean shook his head annoyed.

"He won't say it so I will, quit the diner job." He demanded in a serious voice and AJ let out a loud laugh. "I'm not kidding as your family I'm telling you it ends."

"I love you." She said kissing his cheek. "You know that right? Oh I have to get going." She said looking at her watch. "I picked up an extra diner shift today. Tell Phil I love him and give him a kiss goodbye for me."

"No." Dean said seriously.

"And thank you." She said before stepping out of the office. "The dress means more to me than you know."

"I know it does. And don't thank me." He said to her. "Just quit the diner."

"Bye." She waved and left.

AJ was seven hours into her twelve hour shift and her feet were killing her. She wasn't used to being on her feet like this. It had been a long time since she waitressed long shifts like this. She was sitting at the counter on a short break and rubbing her feet subtly when she turned her head and saw her fiance's car parked across the street.

"I'll be back in ten." AJ told the owner who nodded and she walked outside and headed across the street.

She looked into the drivers side and saw Punk deep into reading police files and Larry in the passenger seat sleeping. She knocked on the window and Larry began to bark and she startled Punk.

"Hi, babe." Punk grinned. "Funny running into you here."

"Isn't it?" AJ asked with a sarcastic smile. "Why are you spying on me?"

"Why are you lying to me?" He asked back casually.

"You're going to sit here all night?" She asked.

"I have a lot of paperwork to fill out." Punk said holding up a police file. "And you know Larry loves the ride."

"I got the job to save for a dress." She told him and he frowned.

"Ape, why wouldn't just tell me?" He asked her closing his file.

"Because you'd offer to pay for it." She said to him.

"I love you to death I really do but you have to stop being so nuts about money." He warned her.

"Dean paid for my dress, my mother had been saving and so technically they paid half in half." She confided.

"That's really sweet." Punk said with a light smile. "You really have to be more open and honest with me when it comes to this stuff. I don't mind you working I encourage it. But working this much at two different jobs is insane."

"I wanted the dress." She shrugged. "It was stupid."

"Something that means that much to you isn't stupid." He insisted. "You've had a rough few years. You deserve to have the dress of your dreams. I just wish you weren't always so afraid to tell me things."

"I'm not afraid, I'm ashamed." She sighed leaning against his car and he stepped out now and closed the drivers side door.

"Ashamed of what?" He asked.

"Ashamed I can't contribute as much as you." She said to him. "I blew my savings on my business."

"You didn't blow it you invested." He corrected. "And it's paying off but you're just so impatient."

"How can I start a life with you when I don't have money?" She asked.

"I'm not a millionaire." Punk laughed. "I don't have a bank account like Elliot does and that makes me feel insecure."

"Do I strike you as someone who cares about that?" She asked sitting on the trunk of his car.

"Yea it does." He said to her. "You're sneaking around and working and it makes me feel like you can't depend on me at all. We're partners in life now it's not about who makes more money we are equal."

"I don't care about money I care about helping that's all I don't want you to feel bad." She insisted.

"Well I do and I really miss your face." He pouted and she cupped his face. "I don't see you ever anymore unless I'm parked outside your job and watch you from afar."

"It's just the waitressing job is more secure." AJ said to him.

"Is it though?" He asked tilting his head. "I see who goes in there and it's mostly drunks looking to keep warm and they can't be tipping you well. Please quit this place and come home. We both work crazy enough jobs as it is and barely see each other how can we get married and not spend time together? Larry doesn't even recognize you anymore."

"Stop." She laughed.

"It's true." He said to her. "Come home."

"Ok." She said giving him a kiss. "I mean it really was just to save for the dress."

"And it's all paid for right?" He asked and she nodded. "I want to have a healthy relationship with you and we can only do that if we spend more than just a morning shower together."

"You're right." She sighed.

"I'm what?" He asked curiously.

"Don't." She warned. "I don't say that very often and I don't like it."

"Can you go get your stuff so we can go home now? I'll pick up dinner and I promise after I'll set up one of those girly baths you love."

"Alright." She said giving him a kiss. "I can't wait to marry you." She smiled against his lips.

"I think if things go according to plan tomorrow that we can set an official date." He told her and she eyed him.

"Seriously?" She asked and he nodded.

"I've got a few tricks up my sleeve as well." He warned cutely.