Casey unpacked her clothes and hung them in the huge walk in closet. Once she finished, she went to find her grandma, who was in the kitchen helping the cook.
They were laughing.
"Mrs. Styles, its so good to see you again", Mary said.
The sweet elderly woman had worked for AJ since he built the house for Casey. Her husband was the gardener.
"Mary, please call me Casey", she replied.
The sweet old woman laughed softly.
"By the way, I absolutely love your grandmother", she gushed.
Her grandma blushed.
"She's the sweetest", Casey replied.
She grabbed the keys from the hanger.
"Where are you off to, you just got here", her grandma said.
"The house. I want to try to pack up some of the last of our stuff.", Casey replied.
Her grandma nodded.
"Don't be back too late", her grandma said.
"Okay, can I look now?", Casey asked.
"Nope", he replied.
He had shown up to her school with a blindfold. Telling her to put it on because he had a surprise for her.
She hesitated before putting it on and AJ helped her into his car.
"So, I know I've been pretty busy these past couple of months. I'm sorry about that, but since we are newly established, we need our clients and men who followed our undivided attention", AJ explained.
"I know", she nodded.
He did take her out from time to time, but not as often as he and she would have liked. She hadn't been to the club either. He said for now, it was better if she stayed clear of the place.
"I also know that, I love you Casey. More than I have ever loved anyone.", he said.
She could feel her hear hammering in her chest. They hadn't said I love you to each other yet. She bit her lip.
"Babe, this would have been better if I could see you", she replied.
He reached over and squeezed her hand.
"In a few", he replied.
Finally she felt the car stop.
"Wait here", he said.
She nodded. She heard his car door open and then close. A few seconds later, her door opened and she felt AJ's hands on her, helping her off his car.
"Stop me, if you feel like we are moving too fast. Its just, in my heart I know you're the one", AJ said.
She swallowed. He removed her blindfold, she gasped as soon as she saw the finished house.
"AJ?", she said, stumbling back.
"I had it made for you. Without Hunter and Shawn taking more from our shares, well, I had some extra change", he shrugged.
She chuckled.
"Change? That is not change", she said.
He laughed.
"Do you like it?", he asked.
She met his eyes and nodded.
"I love you, Casey Rossi", AJ said.
She kissed him and pressed her forehead against his.
"I love you too", she whispered.
They had been dating only a few months. They hadn't even had sex yet. AJ never pushed her for more when they made out in his car.
He touched and she did too, but never more than that. He wanted to wait till she was ready.
"Is it safe to go in?", she asked, pulling on his hand.
He pulled out the key and let it hang from his finger, following her towards the front door. He unlocked it and they walked in. She stepped back and started undressing. He licked his lips.
"Casey", he exhaled.
She smiled, standing completely naked in front of him as his eyes ran over her.
"Are you just going to stare?", she asked.
He stepped over to her and kissed her. Her hands and his, removing his clothes.
He laid her back on their clothes, kissing down her body. She moaned and arched into his mouth as it moved lower.
He gently spread her legs before moving his mouth between her legs.
She moaned loudly and gripped his hair.
"AJ", she cried.
He lifted himself over her.
"Ready?", he asked.
She nodded and felt him push into her. She dug her nails into his arm.
"I love you", he whispered against her lips.
AJ made his way home after confirming Garcia and his daughters would come into town tomorrow morning.
He had to make sure Kenny kept Veronica out of sight and away from the club.
He stopped by the apartment. Seeing Kenny, Matt, and Nick. He gestured for Kenny to come over.
He did.
"Tomorrow, I need you to keep her busy. I don't care how you do it, just get it done. I or Finn will call you when her father leaves town", AJ said.
Kenny nodded.
"You will also be alone, I need Matt and Nick", he continued.
"Boss man, she's a lot to handle", Kenny said, rubbing the back of his neck.
"Are you saying you can't do it?", AJ asked, raising a brow.
"I can do it", Kenny replied quickly.
"Good. Have a good night", AJ said, before driving off.
Getting home, he walked in to hear laughter from the kitchen. Mrs. Rossi and Mary finishing up cooking.
"Its good to hear some laughter in this house", AJ said.
After Casey left, it was just too quiet. He thought about moving in her grandparents, but he knew her grandfather wouldn't have it.
Then he died, Mrs. Rossi had her husband cremated. He checked on her from time to time, but never spoke to her. That was till he found her walking to the supermarket.
"My wife?", he asked.
"She went back to my old house to pack up some more things for me.", her grandma replied.
"I should go help", he said, before grabbing his keys and leaving once again.
Casey had two boxes packed, but photos stopped her. So many of her grandfather as a young man and a few of her grandparents and her parents wedding.
"Case?", AJ called.
"In here", she shouted back.
He made his way down the hall and smiled as she sat surrounded by pictures.
"I was thinking…", she started.
He went and joined her, looking over the photos.
"What if we hang some of these in the huge family room in the back?", she asked.
He nodded.
"Sounds good", he replied.
"And we can hang some of yours", she continued.
He chuckled.
"Why would I want to hang photos of those assholes. No thanks, I prefer your family", he replied.
"Have you at least tried to speak to them?", she asked, setting her hand on his arm.
He kissed the side of her head.
"You and your grandmother are all the family I need", he replied, before standing and walking out.
She knew he didn't like talking about his family, ever since they found out what he did for a living. He tried helping them money wise, but they never took it.
Threw it back in his face once.
AJ had picked up Casey after she got out of school. She had only a few more months of Senior year before she graduated.
"Where are we going?", she asked, she had never been to this part of town before.
"I want you to meet my parents", he replied.
"But I thought you said you didn't speak to them", she said.
He shrugged.
"Maybe they'll open the door if they see me with you", he mumbled.
That broke her heart. He had told her how at the age of fifteen, he went to work for Vince, who ran DX.
His family needed the money, and the money he made working for Vince was good.
His mom had slapped him so hard when he brought in his first pay day.
"This is blood money", she yelled.
After his dad got home, she had told him what AJ had tried to do. He had dragged AJ to the back and turned on the torch.
"I'll teach you, to never take blood money again", his dad growled.
AJ was able to kick his dad hard enough to make him let go. He punched his dad a few times, his mom having to drag AJ off him.
He spit on the ground as his mom looked at him.
"Get out. You are no longer welcome here. Get out", she yelled.
AJ packed as much as he could fit into his duffle bag and left. Taking the money with him.
"Ungrateful", his dad had yelled at him as he walked out.
He had gone over to Karl's house, he lived with his dad only and he let him stay.
He knew what taking the money from Vince and Hunter meant, but he was trying to help his family.
If they didn't want it, then he didn't want them. He wasn't going to struggle the way they did. Sometimes they would go days without eating.
He wasn't going to do that to his kids. No, he was going to give his kids everything he never had.
AJ helped Casey put the last of the boxes.
"I can get the guys to get the bigger stuff tomorrow.", he said.
She nodded. They made their way home and unloaded the boxes. Leaving them in the living room and joining her grandma for dinner.
"Oh so you found the pictures. I have been looking for those everywhere.", her grandma said.
"AJ said we can hang some in the family room. Help me tomorrow?", she asked.
Her grandma nodded.
"Speaking of family. When are you two adding to this one?", she asked.
Casey blushed and AJ smirked before wiping his mouth with a napkin.
"Yeah, when are we adding a little human?", he asked.
"That's something we need to discuss", Casey said, eyes on her plate.
She didn't know if she wanted to bring kids into this life. Especially after what happened to her and Trish.
She pushed her food around, AJ gently tapped her foot with his. She looked up at him and smiled. He knew the kid question was bothering her.
"Now if you'll excuse me, I want to wash up and get to bed. Goodnight, and thank you so much AJ for opening your doors to me", Mrs. Rossi said.
AJ smiled.
"You're family, why wouldn't I open them. Goodnight", he said.
After she left, AJ cleared his throat.
"We don't have to have a baby right now, Casey. I know you need time to adjust back into this life and then everything with Trish, we can wait", he said.
She met his eyes.
"And what if I don't want to bring kids into this life? Our life?", she asked.
AJ's smile slipped.