The Story Of Us

A few weeks later AJ popped up out of bed. Punk's side of the bed was cold which meant he was long at work and grinned. The closer she got to her due date the more smothering Punk became. He was on red alert every second of every day and she found it endearing but also irritating. She got dressed and headed down the stairs slowly which wasn't a choice, she was just moving slower these days. She made it to the front door and was about to open it when she froze.

"Where are you going?" Dean asked from the living room. How could he even see her? He was in a completely different room and what in the hell was he doing there? She opted to ignore him and open the door anyway quietly.

"Really? You're going to make me get up?" Dean yelled from the living room and AJ closed the door and groaned.

"Hi, Dean." She forced out walking into the living room. "How much does Phil pay you to babysit?"

"I do it free of charge." Dean grinned keeping his eyes on the TV. "Oh! You stupid son of a bitch that's low balling!" He yelled at the contestant on the Price Is Right.

"I have to walk Larry." AJ defended.

"Interesting since he's sitting here next to me." Dean remarked.

"You know what? I'm and adult woman I don't need permission to leave my house." AJ scoffed and turned around and headed to the door and Dean came up behind her.

"Why? What's out there you need?" Dean asked annoyed.

"Fresh air." AJ stated.

"You have a porch." He pointed out. "But it's also very cold out. Can't you just stay put?"

"No." She said simply and began to open the door and Dean closed it.

"Please? Please just stay here Punk will kill me." Dean pleaded.

"Why?" She asked.

"The roads are all icy, you're about to pop any minute, Punk just wants you in one place so it's easy to get to you." Dean pleaded. "Do you need something? I can go get it."

"I wanted to check in on Peyton at the office." AJ told him.

"She's fine!" Dean laughed leading her away from the door. "Let's go up to the nursery and make sure you have everything."

"I know I do." She groaned taking her jacket off. "I'm bored." She complained walking into the living room with him.

"Enjoy it now because soon you'll never have a moment alone again." Dean warned.

"I thought Phil was on leave." AJ noted.

"He's tying up some loose ends." Dean shrugged.

"He'll never get Dickie before the baby is born." AJ told him. "I know that's what he's trying to do."

"Let him try." Dean said watching her slowly sink into the couch. "So when is this baby popping out?"

"I don't now. I'm beginning to worry she's stubborn." AJ said seriously. "I don't know where she'd get that from."

"Oh no me either." Dean remarked with a role of his eyes.

"You think I can be a mom?" She asked him and he laughed.

"Are you kidding me? You'll be the best mom." Dean said to her. "You had a great teacher."

"I don't think I can sit inside all day." She sighed and he bit on his bottom lip. "I'm bored."

"Price is Right is on." Dean insisted. "You used to love this show."

"Yea when I was home sick in first grade." She scoffed looking towards the TV. "He's being safe, right?"

"Of course he is." Dean said to her.

"You have his back?" She asked.

"Of course I do." He said looking at her. "But you are aware he's been a cop longer than me. He knows how to do his job."

"I know but I feel like I'm this close to having it all and also this close to it all falling apart." AJ remarked.

"You have to stop feeling that way. The baby feels that." Dean warned. "You want her to come out to a positive world."

"I want her to live in a positive world." AJ corrected. "What if he takes her from me?"

"Who?" Dean asked.

"Dickie." She clarified. "I love her already so much and I haven't even met her and if he takes her from me I don't think I'd survive."

"He's not getting her." Dean told her. "He's not getting anyone. You're driving yourself crazy for no reason. You're only worry should be the fear of labor."

"Yea." She agreed then frowned. "What do you mean?"

"I mean labor is painful." Dean pointed out. "My mom used to remind me of that everyday of my life. Renee said her sister fractured her coccyx during labor and said it was like her entire body was on fire."

"Why are you telling me this?" AJ asked horrified.

"I'm just trying to point out that there's something more important to worry about than Dickie McCall." Dean reasoned. "And you're tiny. It's gonna hurt."

"Dean!" She yelled.

"I'm sorry!" He yelled back. "But it's just something to keep in mind." He defended quietly. "I wouldn't worry. You have a high tolerance of pain."

"Yea when I fell off my bike when I was seven." She argued. "I'm pushing a person out of my body!"

"It's going to hurt." Dean pointed out again and she pinched his hard as hard she could until he let out a scream.

"What the hell is going on?" Punk asked walking into the house.

"Dean is awful." AJ defended.

"I think you broke the skin." Dean said rubbing his arm.

"Ape I told you that your pinching hurts." Punk said to him and Dean stood up.

"I need ice." Dean scoffed and stormed out.

"He scared me. He told me how painful birth is going to be." AJ sighed.

"You're strong. And the end result will be holding your daughter." Punk pointed out.

"That is true." AJ agreed. "See? I need you around these few days before she gets here you're the only one who knows how to talk to me."

"Well I'm home now." He told her removing his jacket. "You're all dressed up."

"Relax I didn't go anywhere." She remarked bitterly. "I can't really sneak around with your daughter in my stomach. I also don't fit out windows."

"Comforting." Punk smirked. "Since you're all dressed up you want to go out to dinner tonight?"

"Really?" She grinned.

"Uh-huh." He told her.

"I have a stretchy dress that could pass for maternity to wear." She noted.

"You can wear whatever you want." He told her.

"One last date night just the two of us." She smiled.

"For a while." He corrected. "We'll still have you and me time."

"Yea." She agreed.

"I'm leaving." Dean announced grabbing his jacket.

"I hardly pinched you." AJ remarked.

"Daria told you when you were 12 you weren't allowed to do that shit anymore." Dean said annoyed. "I hope your daughter isn't a pincher." He said to Punk.

"Thanks." Punk said walking him to the door.

"I wasn't trying to scare her. She was talking about Dickie I just wanted to get her mind off of it." Dean whispered.

"I appreciate it." Punk said to him.

Later that night Punk was waiting downstairs fully dressed in a pair of dress pants and a button down shirt. The first few buttons were opened so you can see some of the colorful tattoo on his chest and he looked at the time.

"Ape!" He yelled up.

"I promise one more minute!" She yelled back down and Punk looked at Larry who looked up at him.

"Women." Punk scoffed. "They always make you wait."

AJ appeared at the top of the stairs in a tight black dress. Her hair was wavy and she had on blood red lipstick.

"Worth the wait." Punk grinned licking his lips and watched her come down the stairs.

"I don't disgust you?" She asked running her hand over her stomach.

"No." He said without hesitation. "I want to skip dinner and eat you instead." He told her and she instantly blushed.

"I really wanted to have this great dinner with you." AJ said with a sad smile.

"Oh, do you have other plans?" He teased.

"Yea." She nodded. "I'm going to have your baby." She informed him. "My water broke."

"Your what?" He asked stunned.

"About twenty minutes ago but I was so close to finishing getting ready." She said to him and he dropped her hands and ran for their go bag.

"You should have told me the MINUTE your water broke!" He scolded coming out with the bags.

"I don't feel contractions." She said to him. "I have some time. Maybe we can even do dinner-"

"Ape, you're having our daughter." Punk reminded her as if she was crazy. "You're going to do this."

"We're going to do this." She corrected.

"Do you want to change?" He asked.

"No. Maybe she'll come quick and when she first looks up at me she'll think I'm pretty." AJ insisted.

"You're always pretty." He said helping her put her jacket on.

"You think she's going to be pretty? Or are we going to be those parents who thinks our daughter is the cutest baby but she's really not?" She asked anxiously.

"I love you." Punk had to laugh and kissed her. "Stop worrying. It's going to be alright."

"I believe you." She said to him. "Can you call Dean? He'll want to know."

"I'll call him when we get to the hospital." He assured her leading her to the door.

"Larry!" AJ cheered as he ran to the door to follow them. "When we come back you're going to be a big brother." She said trying to kneel down but couldn't.

"He's super excited." Punk remarked holding their bags and pushing her out the door.

Dean was in the waiting room alone watching the clock. He didn't know why he was so nervous but AJ was his only family as far he was concerned and now Punk was part of that family by default and this new baby was his family. He sat nervously when he felt someone put their hand on his shoulder and he looked up.

"Is she here yet?" Renee asked holding balloons.

"No. They went into delivery an hour ago." Dean said nervously.

"I'm sure she's fine." She said sitting next to him.

"She was in labor for like eight hours and now is the part where she pushes why is it taking that long?" Dean asked.

"I'm sure it's fine." Renee smiled a bit. "It's cute you're so nervous."

"She's my sister in every sense of the word. I need her to be ok." Dean explained.

"I know that." Renee said to him with a smile. "Did you see her before she went in?"

"No I got here as she was going in. I had to wrap up a case." Dean said shaking his head. "I'm her only family I should have been here."

"Punk is her family too." Renee reminded him. "You'll be here when she gets out."

"What if she broke something like your sister?" He asked nervously. "I teased her about it earlier but what if she did?"

"Then she'll be fine." Renee had to laugh. "Relax."

"I can't relax." He said annoyed.

"I've never seen you so worked up." Renee said to him. "It's really sweet actually."

"I worry about her is all." Dean said to her. "AJ took me into her family and shared her mother with me. I promised her and Daria I'd always look out for her."

"What did she just take you home one day?" Renee teased and Dean thought about it.

"Yea actually." He smirked.

7 year old AJ was outside in her yard throwing a ball up in the air when it went over the neighbors fence.

"I'm going to keep this." Nine year old Dean informed her over the fence and AJ marched over to the fence.

"No you're not!" AJ shouted. "That's MY ball and I will beat you up."

"Please." Dean scoffed. "You're just a girl."

AJ climbed over the small wood fence and went nose to nose with the boy in dirty clothes and they didn't break eye contact as she reached and pinched his arm so hard her dropped the ball and she smiled and picked up the ball.

"Ow!" Dean yelled rubbing his arm. "You can't just pinch people!"

"Well you can't just steal balls!" AJ yelled back.

"What is this yelling?" A man asked stumbling out into the yard.

"You need to go." Dean said pushing her down and facing his father.

"What did I say about making noise?" His father asked grabbing him by his arm.

"I'm sorry dad, I'm so sorry!" Dean pleaded and AJ heard a thud and froze in fear behind the bush she was pushed in.

"Hey." AJ whispered after a few minutes of silence and peeked over and saw Dean laying on the ground holding his cheek. "Are you ok?"

"Just go away. You got me in trouble." Dean said rubbing his cheek.

"Why don't you come play with me?" AJ offered stepping out from the bushes.

"I don't play with girls." Dean snorted.

"You should. I'm a lot of fun." She informed him smugly.

"I doubt it." Dean remarked quietly.

"Is that you dad?" AJ asked and he nodded. "He seems like a jerk."

"He's just a mean old man." Dean said standing up.

"AJ dinner!" She could hear her mom yell from the backdoor.

"Coming!" AJ yelled back. "Do you want dinner?" She asked Dean.

"No." He scoffed. "Just go away before you get me in trouble again."

"My mom made tacos." AJ told him. "She makes them the BEST!"

"I've never had that." Dean said to her. "But I can't come over."

"What are you having for dinner? Maybe we can trade!" AJ suggested excitedly.

"I don't know." Dean shrugged. "Just go home and leave me alone."

"Fine." AJ said climbing over the fence.

When AJ was in the kitchen she looked out the backdoor while she ate and saw Dean out there the whole time. He never went in for dinner and it was getting dark.

"What's wrong baby?" Daria asked AJ.

"That boy next door." AJ said to her. "I don't think he had dinner and even though he stole my ball I think he should have dinner."

"I think you're right." Daria said with a light smile.

"That family is trouble since they moved in." Robert said putting on his jacket. "Stay away from that house." He told AJ.

"He's hungry." AJ told him.

"I have to go back to work, don't wait up." He said kissing AJ's head then Daria's cheek who watched him leave.

"Why don't you bring him some leftovers." Daria said pulling a container out and putting in a few tacos for him.

"Ok, mommy." AJ smiled and took the container and put on her jacket.

AJ made her away across the yard and saw Dean digging in his yard.

"Psst." AJ whispered to not get him in trouble. "Hey, mean boy!" She hissed now and he looked oer to the fence and rolled his eyes.

"What do you want now?" He asked walking over to the fence and she presented the container.

"My mommy made them and said to give you some." She said and Dean could see Daria waving from the window.

"Did you put dirt in it?" He asked taking the container from her.

"No." She scoffed and watched him open it and scoff them down.

"Thanks." Dean forced out and gave back the container.

"You're welcome." AJ smiled. "We can be secret friends if you want."

"I guess." He said to her.

The next night they were expecting snow. AJ was tossing and turning in bed but when she heard yelling from next door she ran over to her window and looked out it. She could see Dean setting up his tent in his pajamas. She gasped at this and ran to her mothers room but when she approached she heard her parents fighting and decided to grab her jacket and find out why Dean was camping outside herself.

"Hey, mean boy." AJ hissed as the snow began to fall.

"Ugh." Dean groaned. "Go away."

"Why are you out here? It's cold. You should be under blankets." AJ insisted.

"I have a blanket in my tent." Dean pointed.

"Why don't you go inside?" She asked curiously.

"My parents are fighting again. They don't like when I get in the way." Dean shrugged.

"You can sleep in my house." AJ offered kindly. "We have a couch and blankets."

"No I have my tent." Dean said reluctantly as he shivered.

"We have hot chocolate too." AJ added with a toothy smile.

"Really?" He asked intrigued and AJ nodded. "Come on mean boy."

"My name is Dean." He said climbing over the fence.

"I'm AJ." She told him.

"That's a boy name." Dean laughed.

"Is not." AJ defended sneaking them in through her backdoor.

"Wow." Dean marveled. "You have a cool house."

"It's just a house." AJ shrugged locking the door.

"April Jeanette Mendez what did I say about-" Daria began and stopped when she saw Dean who was literally turning blue.

"He has to live with us." AJ told her mother. "He lives in his yard and he's cold and he needs hot chocolate."

"I told you not to leave the house." Daria scolded AJ as she grabbed Dean by the hand and lead him into the living room.

"Please don't hit me." Dean pleaded.

"I'm not going to hit you." Daria remarked sadly and lead him over to the fire. "You have to warm up." She said grabbing a blanket off the couch and wrapping it around him and sat him by the fire.

"I had to get him. His name is Dean." AJ explained to her mother. "Can we keep him? I'll take good care of him!"

"He's not a dog, April." Daria sighed as AJ followed her back into the kitchen and looked for hot chocolate mix.

"He lives in the yard, mama." April pointed out. "Like a dog!"

"We'll get warm and cleaned up and he can stay the night but he's not a pet for us to keep. He's in trouble so we're going to help him." Daria told her.

"Ok." AJ shrugged. "Do I get hot chocolate?" She asked with a grin.

"No you get to go up to bed because you snuck out of the house. No matter how good your intentions were it was wrong." She scolded.

"Aw man." AJ groaned.

"I would go over there every time my parents would fight or they drank too much which was often." Dean explained to Renee. "When I turned thirteen I just never went back home. Daria made sure I had clean clothes and new shoes, she went to parent teacher conferences for me and she had Robert build me a little room in the attic and it was awesome." He smiled. "AJ saved my life."

"She was a smart little girl." Renee noted.

"Yea." Dean smiled a bit. "Daria would have loved to be here. She'd be so happy to be a grandmother."

"She's here in spirit." Renee said rubbing his back.

Dean looked up when he saw Punk coming down the hall in hospital scrubs.

"Well?" Dean asked anxiously standing up with Renee.

"Hartley Elizabeth Brooks was born at 1:23am weighing 7lbs 11 oz and 19 inches long." Punk announced and Renee hugged him.

"How is AJ?" Dean asked.

"She's good. She's so happy." Punk smiled wide and Dean pulled him into a hug. "They're just cleaning up and you can come in." He told them.

"I don't want to get in the way." Dean insisted. "I just wanted to make sure it went well."

"You're family." Punk said confused. "You have to meet your goddaughter."

"Yea, I do." Dean agreed thinking about it.

Dean walked into the hospital room before Renee and Punk so the two could have a moment.

"Hey, it's Uncle Dean." AJ smiled looking up.

"How did you give birth and look like that?" He asked her.

"I was on my way out to dinner and dressed up." AJ smirked looking down at her daughter. "I don't want to sound biased but I think she's the prettiest baby I've ever seen in my life and I know you'll be honest and either confirm or deny this." She said as he walked over. "Hold her." AJ said and he cleaned his hands off and took the baby from her.

"Wow." Dean in awe of the tiny girl.

"Right?" AJ asked near tears.

"She's the prettiest baby to ever exist." Dean confirmed not taking his eyes off of her. "She's you." He marveled. "Sleeping, pretty and one eyebrow."

"She does not have one eyebrow." AJ laughed.

"She will." Dean smirked. "Holy cow you made a baby."

"I did." AJ smiled. "And you have a niece."

"I'm going to make sure you never date ever." Dean promised the little girl and AJ glared at him.

"Phil said the same thing." AJ said to him.

"I'm going to look out for you and when your mom and dad tell you no to something you just come see me." He told his niece.

"Awesome." AJ remarked sarcastically.

"She's perfect." Dean said looking over to AJ.

"Right?" AJ grinned. "She seems pretty pleasant. I was worried she'd be crabby."

"You're insane." He laughed. "She'd be worth breaking a bone for."

"I'll have you know I broke nothing and felt nothing because I was drugged up." She told him smugly. "I need you to promise me something." She said to him and he looked over to her as he held Hartley.

"Smart to ask me while I'm holding the baby." Dean said to her.

"If anything happens to me you'll make sure she's ok." AJ said to him and he looked over to her.

"Why would you say that now?" He asked her. "Don't ruin the moment."

"I mean it Dean." AJ warned. "If something happens to me Phil will be a mess you have to take care of both of them."

"I'm not promising anything nothing is happening to you let it go." Dean warned her.

"I mean it Dean." She said in a serious voice.

"You're not going anywhere." Dean repeated. "But I love this kid already I'll always have her back."

"Good." AJ said relieved.

"Stop thinking that way." Dean warned her. "This is the happiest moment of your life." He said placing the baby back in her arms.

"I love her. She has mom's button nose." AJ smiled looking down at her.

"I have coffee." Punk announced walking in with a tray of coffees.

"Good." AJ said relieved.

"You did good." Dean told Punk.

"I did, didn't I?" Punk asked proudly.

"She hears you." AJ said as the baby stirred when Punk spoke near.

"Hear." Punk said taking her from AJ. "I think she likes me best."

"Of course she does. I carried her around for what felt like twenty months, gave up coffee and sushi and you who did nothing is the favorite." AJ remarked sarcastically.

"I did something." Punk defended.

"Being too caught up in the moment and not pulling out doesn't count as doing something." AJ scoffed sipping her coffee and Dean glared at her.

"Really?" Dean asked.

"There's a baby in the room." Punk scolded. "And I meant I built her entire room."

"Oh, yea." AJ smiled a bit. "You did do that."

"And she is half me." Punk defended looking down at his beautiful daughter. "She has my uh." He said eyeing the girl and Dean looked over his shoulder.

"I don't think you're the father." Dean whispered.

"She's young." AJ laughed. "She'll have something of yours."

"She looks like a mini PI." Punk frowned. "I mean I guess it's a blessing she doesn't look like me."

"Or a curse." Dean mumbled.

"True." Punk agreed. "No one is ever going to be good enough for you." He told his sleeping daughter and kissed the top of her head gently.