Unhappy Birthday, AJ!

Punk was medically suspended for a twelve weeks and was going stir crazy. It was week seven and they were all moved in and Larry was happy in his new home. He was really going crazy since AJ was spending more and more time at work. He'd usually walk Larry and take him down to the shop to visit her and bring her coffee and in the meantime he was putting the finishing touches on the house and AJ's birthday dinner. Since he missed it the first year they were together he wanted to make up for it. He had planned a dinner at her favorite restaurant and invited Celeste, Paul and Dean.

Of course when it came to AJ's father Punk couldn't get in touch with him and had made it his mission to track him down. It wasn't easy since he never returned his calls and never told AJ were he was. He had been by the bar he knew he used to frequent and even his house but he never answered the door. Finally he got in touch with a friend of AJ's father and knew where to find him tonight.

Punk was leaning against his car with his arms folded outside the old church and watched as people left the building. He finally caught the eye of AJ's father. Punk could tell he let out a defeated breath but made his way over to Punk anyway.

"You're a hard man to track down." Punk noted.

"I like it that way." Robert responded. "Not hard enough for you clearly."

"I've had some free time." Punk shrugged.

"Yea I saw your last fight." Robert smirked. "What are you doing here kid?"

"I'm here about your kid." Punk said to him. "Why are you ignoring her?"

"I'm just not ready to see her yet." Robert said to him.

"She thinks you hate her." Punk noted.

"She's my baby girl how could I hate her?" Robert asked astonished.

"The blowing her off and refusing to see her could have given her that feeling." Punk remarked sarcastically. "She'd be happy to know you're going to meetings."

"I don't want to let her down again." Robert admitted. "I've done this so many times and let her down."

"From what I've heard you've been at this for nine months." Punk pointed out.

"It's the longest I've gone but I don't want to see her and fall off the wagon again." Robert said to him. "I hate seeing that disappointed look in her eyes and I hope you never see it either because it's painful."

"I'm throwing her a birthday dinner and I want you to come." Punk said to him. "It would make her so happy."

"I don't know-" Robert began.

"She's disappointed now in you because you won't reach out to her." Punk argued. "She'll have that disappointed look on her face all night if you don't come. It's tonight at ten I'll send for a cab for you."

"I don't-" Robert started again.

"I'm sending the cab and for your daughters sake you better get in it." Punk warned him then got into his own car.

Punk walked into the house and saw a huge bouquet of flowers sitting on the living room table. Punk scrunched up his face when he saw it because he also sent AJ flowers but they were nowhere near the size of these. He walked over to the table and picked up the card and rolled his eyes seeing they were from her boss.

"Can you believe this?" Punk asked Larry who was staring at the flowers wanting to knock them over. "I'll do you this one favor." he whispered to the dog and pushed the vase closer to the edge just enough for Larry to knock them on the floor and lick up the water.

"Larry!" AJ scolded.

"You know he likes to knock flowers over." Punk shrugged picking them up.

"Did the vase break?" She asked.

"No." He said slightly annoyed and glared at Larry who ran off then.

"Thank god." She said helping him clean up the mess.

"Who are they from?" He asked her innocently.

"Luis had them sent over as a birthday gift." She shrugged.

"That was so nice of him." Punk smiled.

"I thought so." She said pushing them back in the middle of the table.

"You look phenomenal." Punk said finally taking in that she was dressed in a cute tight black cocktail dress with the black diamond earrings on her ear.

"Why thank you." She blushed. "You better shower and shave."

"I will." He said to her.

"Unless you want to give me my present first?" She asked excitedly.

Punk had been hinting around to the fact that he had gotten her something she really wanted. She had subtly began dropping engagement hints the last couple of weeks and knew he would pick up on them. He wasn't even bashing marriage as much as he used to. All he kept saying to her since the suspension was how he could have never gotten over his loss without her and how he loved her more than anything. It was finally happen, AJ could feel it.

"That's after dinner." Punk said to her and she pouted. "Don't give me that cute little pout." He teased

"Well, I wouldn't want to ruin your surprise." She smiled knowing he probably something super romantic planned for her.

"You? Never!" He said dramatically then smirked. "Just a few more hours and you'll have everything you've ever wanted." he assured her.

"Oh how many seats did you reserve tonight?" She asked before he could walk up the stairs.

"Five." He told her.

"Good." She said relieved. "I thought I forgot to tell you Luis was coming." that stopped Punk in his tracks and he looked over to her.

"I didn't know he was coming. I didn't invite him." Punk pointed out.

"I did." She said looking through her purse.

"Why?" he asked her.

"Because he's a friend." She shrugged. "I don't have many." she pointed out with a laugh.

"I thought he was a boss." Punk smirked.

"Are you really going to do this tonight?" She asked looking over to him.

"Nope." He said agreeing to let it go. "I'll call and have it changed to six that's all." he said as if it was nothing.

"Who was the fifth chair for?" She asked him.

"That's part of your birthday present." He said to her and AJ seemed confused.

Punk and AJ walked into the restaurant hand in hand and were of course the last ones to arrive. Everyone else was already seated except for AJ's father who hadn't arrived yet or wasn't planning on coming at all.

"Should we order?" AJ asked Punk. "Or are we still waiting on your surprise?"

"Give it five more minutes." He said as he kept checking towards the door.

"You look lovely AJ." Paul smiled.

"Thank you the dress was a gift from Celeste." AJ said to him.

"I have great taste." Celeste announced proudly sipping her water.

"I got you a card." Dean said passing it to her. "It has a dumb dog on it."

"I appreciate it." She smiled. "Thank you Dean."

"Oh and here's my gift." Luis said pulling something out of his pocket.

"I thought those lovely flowers were your gift?" Punk asked with a forced smile.

"I'm not that cheap." Luis chuckled and Punk tried his best not to glare at him.

"Thank you." AJ said accepting the small velvet box. It was a huge diamond ring. "Oh my god." She gasped and Punk looked at he ring and bit on his lower lip. "I can't accept this-"

"Don't be silly." Luis said refusing to take it back. "It's also a thank you for all the hard work you've put in at the shop. Our sales spike everyday."

"It's beautiful." She smiled taking it out of the box and slipping it on her index finger.

"It's fantastic." Punk forced out sarcastically.

"I think it's a little flashy." Dean mumbled under his breath and Celeste kicked him from under the table.

"Sorry I'm late." Robert announced and AJ jerked her head up to see her father.

"Happy Birthday." Punk whispered into her ear.

"Dad." She gasped standing up and hugging him.

"I'm sorry I haven't been around baby." He said hugging her back. "Happy Birthday."

"Thank you for being here with me tonight." She said feeling her eyes water up.

"Thank him." Robert said taking a seat in the empty chair. "Punk made sure I came."

"Thank you." She said giving Punk a gentle kiss on the lips.

"Anything for you." he whispered back.

"Seriously the best birthday present I could ever ask for." She said to him. "He's sober." She whispered into his ear as everyone gave their order to the waitress.

"I know." He smirked.

At the end of dinner AJ stepped out of the bathroom as Luis was stepping out of the men's room across the way.

"Having a good birthday?" Luis asked her.

"I am and thank you again for my ring." She said touching it.

"You deserve a ring." Luis said to her. "I've really enjoyed getting to know you these last few weeks."

"Me too. I thought I'd hate you." She admitted with a laugh.

"I thought I'd have to fire you for being disrespectful." Luis quipped back.

"You still might." She warned him.

"Nah. I find your attitude charming." Luis teased. "You keep me on my toes. I can be the most powerful man in the City yet you make me feel like a regular guy."

"You are a regular guy." She shrugged. "I still feel funny accepting such an extravagant present."

"Don't, like I said you deserve it." Luis said to her.

"It's not the ring I was hoping for." She admitted and he eyed her. "That came out wrong-"

"I know what you meant." Luis said to her. "If Phil won't give you what you want I'm sure there are plenty of men in this world that would."

"I love Phil." AJ said to him with a smile. "He's my soul mate."

"Or maybe you just think that because you're not looking." Luis said to her.

"He's my first love." AJ reminded him.

"Doesn't mean he could be only your love." Luis noted.

"He is." She said to him.

"Does he know you want a real commitment and children? Does he know what you're sacrificing for him?" Luis questioned.

"I don't even know." She admitted. "It doesn't matter. I'd do anything for him."

"That kind of loyalty is rare." Luis smiled looking down at her. "It's a shame he's not willing to do the same for you."

"I'm happy." She said to him.

"What about five years down the road when all of your friends are having children?" Luis asked her. "Planning their weddings and you're a bridesmaid?"

"I only have like two friends." She teased with a shrug. "It'll be worth it but-" she started then stopped herself.

"What is it?" Luis asked.

"I think tonight might be the night. I have been dropping hints." She said to him. "I think he might ask me or I'm going to be really let down."

"I'd hate to see you let down." Luis frowned. "I hope you get what you want."

"Me too." She said happily then walked back to the table and he followed her.

After dinner Punk took AJ home and he kept her eyes covered as he guided her up the stairs.

"I'm really excited." AJ admitted as he let her lead up the stairs and down the hall with his hand still over her eyes and his chest pressed to her back.

"Your boss tried to upstage me with that gift but he forgot that no one knows you like I do and I know what you really want." Punk remarked smugly. "Keep your eyes closed." he insisted removing his hand and she kept her eyes shut tightly. "Alright open!" he yelled and she opened her eyes and saw she was in one of the spare bedrooms that was now converted into a game room. "There was every kind of game system, old and new and tons of games. It had recliners and game posters and he seemed so excited to present her with this.

"Phil." She said slowly looking around but he caught on to the fact that this wasn't what she was hoping for. That disappointed look that her father warned him about earlier was very present on her face and he was right- it was the worst thing ever.

"You don't like it." He said to her.

"No it's great." She said putting on a smile as she turned to face him and she had tears in her eyes. Now he recognized that face, the same when he gave her the earrings.

"You're lying." He said slowly. "Why are you lying?"

"I'm not lying I love it." She said as enthusiastically as possible.

"You didn't exactly leave me a list of things you wanted-" He began.

"I'm not ungrateful this is amazing." She assured him but he wasn't buying it.

"You were more excited over the gift from your boss." Punk pointed out. "Be honest with me here."

"Phil-" She started.

"AJ don't lie to me." He warned her. "If I fucked up with this tell me."

"You didn't! It's great I just thought it was going to be something different." She admitted.

"Now we're getting somewhere." Punk said to her. "Why don't you tell me what you were expecting so I can go get it for you?"

"It doesn't work like that. I really do love the room." She said to him.

"AJ don't make me beg." He pleaded. "Why are you so sad? What did you think this was?"

"A ring." She admitted quietly, so quietly he could barely hear her.

"What?" he asked inching closer.

"A ring!" She yelled finally snapping. "An engagement ring to be exact."

"Oh." he said slightly taken aback. "I didn't know that was something you wanted."

"I know." She sighed. "Maybe I haven't been as open as I should have been about the matter. I want a marriage and kids. I dropped some hints but I wasn't upfront about it."

"AJ you know how I feel about that." Punk reminded her softly. "It's not my thing."

"I know." She said brushing away the tear that escaped her eye. "I just don't understand why. Don't you love me?"

"Of course I do." He assured her. "I just don't know anyone whose marriages last."

"You don't believe in us?" She asked hurtfully.

"Of course I do." He said shaking his head. "But once you sign that marriage license it's like everything changes and I don't want to risk fucking this up."

"And no kids?" She asked him.

"I don't want to raise kids." Punk told her. "I like my life the way it is and I don't know I guess I'm a little too selfish for kids. I want to fight, retire then travel not take care of kids."

AJ just nodded and looked away from him to hide her tears as they fell rapidly from her eyes.

"Don't cry." he sighed tugging on her arm gently. "I thought you knew this AJ."

"I was hoping you'd change your mind." she admitted. "Pretty stupid."

"It's not stupid." Punk said to her. "You really want all of that?"

"I do." She admitted. "I always imagined having my dad walk me down the aisle, planning my daughters first birthday party, family vacations, big holidays."

"I travel a lot." He reminded her.

"I know." She nodded. "But when it's over? You can't fight forever."

"I plan on fighting until I'm too old for it and by that point I'll be too old for children. I'll just want to retire on a beach somewhere." Punk said to her.

"There's no changing your mind?" She asked him.

"I don't think so." He said to her. "Is there any changing your mind?"

"I don't think so." She responded sadly looking up at him. "I want a family."

"We are a family." He smiled sadly. "You, me and Larry are a big happy family."

"You know what I mean." She whispered looking back down at her feet.

"I can't stand to see you so upset." He sighed feeling his heart twist in his chest.

"I'll get over it." She said shaking her head.

"You shouldn't have to." Punk said to her. "If you want a family you should have one even if it's not with me."

The sweet words didn't have the desired effect on her that he thought they would. AJ slowly raised her head and narrowed her eyes at him.

"You mean that?" She asked him coldly.

"No- yea- I don't know AJ this is a lot for me to take in." He said a little nervously never seeing her so angry.

"It would be that easy for you to let me go?" She asked pushing him hard. "After everything I've done for you, everything I gave up for you- that's what you say to me? I tell you I'd give up everything I've ever wanted to stay with you and that's what you say to me?" She asked pushing him again.

"AJ-" He warned.

"No!" She yelled. "That's the worst thing you could have possibly said to me!"

"I don't want to see you miserable!" He yelled back.

"So you'd be ok if I walked out this door tonight, met a man, got married and had his children?" She asked him.

"I just want you to be happy!" Punk argued. "Even if that means I'm miserable! You're not the only one willing to make sacrifices!"

"You're willing to do it but you haven't." She pointed out. "You've taken good care of me financially and emotionally but I'm the one who was giving up my dreams for yours. I left my dad who needed me to be with you! I left my home for you!"

"I've given you everything you've ever wanted!" He yelled back. "Don't act like you're the only one who has put work into the relationship!"

"Yea some work." She mocked. "The minute I want you to do something for me you want me out the door!"

"I never said that!" He yelled back.

"Yes you did!" She sobbed. "I'm that meaningless where you couldn't even lie and say you'd think about it at least? Just to appease me?"

"I don't want to lie to you or appease you. I want you to have everything you want in life!" Punk shouted. "If I can't give you everything then you should want to leave!"

"I don't want to leave!" She cried then placed her hands over her face and sobbed into them. "I love you."

"I love you too." He insisted.

"Just not as much as I love you apparently." She said looking up at him then left the room.

"Where are you going?" He asked walking into the bedroom and saw her packing a small bag.

"I don't know." She sniffled. "A hotel maybe. I just need to clear my head."

"You can stay I'll go." He said to her.

"No this is your home." She reminded him.

"It's ours." He argued.

"No Phil it isn't." She said shaking her head. "I wanted it to be but it's not."

"Are you going to a hotel or to your boss's place?" He asked her and AJ shot her head up.

"What do you care?" She asked him throwing her clothes into a bag quickly. "You told me you wanted me to be happy with someone who will give me everything I want."

"And you think he'll do that for you?" Punk asked her coldly.

"He's the one who gave me a ring tonight." She remarked childishly. "He believes in marriage and children-."

"You've talked to him about this?" Punk asked her. "You've been bashing me to another guy?"

"No Phil he's my friends and he was able to pick up on things." AJ said zipping up her bag. "Maybe he knows me better than you do."

"If you wanted to go be with him you didn't have to create this shit tonight." Punk said to her. "You could have been fucking honest!"

"I don't want to be with him!" She yelled. "I don't want to be with anyone but you! But it's nice to know you wouldn't even fight for me. It's funny how you fight complete strangers for money and credibility but you won't even fight for me." She walked out of the room with her bag and he followed her down the stairs.

"It sounds to me that you've been looking for an excuse to get out." Punk said to her.

"To get out? You've made me so happy." She reminded him. "Why would I ever want to get out?"

"So why are you leaving than?" He asked feeling himself getting emotional.

"You told me to go." She reminded him.

"I never said that." he said to her. "We'll talk about this." he said taking her hand into his and she pulled it away as she cried. "I was really caught off guard-"

"I think a few nights apart is the healthiest thing for us." She said to him. "I think we both need to think."

"I don't need to think." He said as the fear seeped into his brain that she was really going to walk out this door tonight and never come back to him. "I want you here." he said trying to take her bag from her. "Please don't go." he said strongly. "We'll just-"

"We want two different things." AJ reminded him as she pulled her bag away from him and walked to the door.

"I just want you." he said following her right to the door as she opened it. "I'll sleep on the couch."

"We need a little bit more space than that. I need to clear my head." She said to him. "I need to- I just need to breathe." She said then walked out the door and down the steps.

He watched as she waved down a cab and he jogged down the stairs to stop her but she was already in the car and he was too late.