A/N: Shout out to everyone who reviewed! Glad you all are giving the story a chance and are enjoying it. This chapter is a little rough but lighter times are to come.
Blue Comet
AJ ran down the hospital hall and stopped at the nurses station.
"I'm looking for Anthony Brooks." She said to the nurse.
"Are you family?" The nurse asked.
"I'm his daughter in law." She told her honestly.
"AJ." a sweet voice greeted behind her.
"Izzy." AJ frowned pulling Punk's sister into her arms. "How's your dad?"
"He's gone." She cried and AJ's face dropped. "He died." She sobbed as AJ held her.
"I'm sorry." AJ said holding her closely. She was only 17 today and she already lost her father.
"Izzy." Her mother announced in a cold voice. AJ looked up and saw Punk's mother who had clearly been crying. "We're leaving Izzy."
"Catherine, I'm so sorry." AJ said to her and Punk's mother just eyed the woman.
"He's outside Anthony's room." was all Catherine said as she pulled Izzy away from AJ and headed for the elevator.
AJ spotted Punk sitting on the floor with his head on his knees. She pulled herself together and wiped away the few tears she shed and walked towards him.
"I'm here Phil." She said putting her hand on his shoulder and kneeling down next to him.
"He died." Punk said picking his head up.
"I know Izzy told me." AJ frowned and kissed his tear stained cheek. "He's with PJ now."
"I wasn't ready." Punk admitted shaking his head. "He died right in front of me, we were talking then he fell-"
"Shh." AJ cooed wrapping her arms around him and resting her head on his broad shoulder. "You don't have to talk about it." she whispered.
"One second he was right there and I...I didn't even get to say goodbye." Punk whispered.
"He knew how much you loved him." AJ assured him. "He was an amazing man."
"He was." Punk agreed. "He loved you too you know."
"I loved him." AJ told him honestly. "He was always good to me and he loved PJ so much."
"He did." Punk remembered. "He was so proud of him when everyone else looked down on him. He still used to wear his 'worlds greatest grandpa' shirt." he smiled through the sadness.
"What can I do?" AJ asked him almost desperately. "Do you want me to call Maria? Colt?"
"No." He said shaking his head. "I shouldn't have even called you."
"You can always call me." She reminded him and kissed his cheek. "I'm always going to be here for you. Want me to take you home?" he didn't respond as he just looked straight ahead. "Or we can stay here." She assured him getting comfortable next to him on the floor.
"You don't have to stay I just thought you'd want to know." he said to her.
"There's nowhere else I'd be." She said to him. "I'm here for you no matter what." she reminded him.
An hour later AJ managed to get Punk home, the rain was pouring outside now and it only seemed fitting. Punk went right up into his bedroom and AJ wasn't sure what to do. She prepared him dinner and coffee and knocked on his bedroom door, when he didn't answer she walked in holding a tray and saw him looking out the window.
"I made some food." AJ announced putting the tray down on his table.
"I'm not hungry." He muttered.
"Coffee?" She suggested. "I made that too."
"I can't take anything in or I'll be sick." Punk admitted. "But thank you."
"How's your mom?" AJ asked him. "I saw her briefly but I didn't really talk to her."
"Fuck her." Punk muttered.
"Phil." She scolded lightly.
"She started this whole shit today." Punk said turning around and looking at her. "She pushed my buttons like she always does and I stormed out like I always do and he chased me down and tried to talk me down."
"What were you fighting about?" AJ asked him.
"What do you think?" Punk asked mockingly.
"I thought she'd be pleased I wasn't there." AJ said to him.
"You know there is no pleasing her." Punk snorted.
"Was it me or PJ she was bashing this time?" AJ asked him as she began to make his bed.
"It wasn't really bashing." Punk said to her. "You don't have to do that I'm just going to go into bed soon anyway."
"I know but you'll feel better in a freshly made bed." She said moving his pillows off the bed.
"Sorry I interrupted your weekend." Punk said to her.
"You didn't interrupt much, trust me." AJ practically laughed.
"Want to talk about it?" He asked.
"No." She said as she continued to make the bed.
"I could use the distraction." He admitted.
"Not that kind of distraction." She scoffed.
"I should go see Izzy." Punk said running his hands over his face.
"We'll both go see her tomorrow if you'd like." AJ offered. "I know your mom won't like it but Izzy and I have always been close."
"Of course, I'd really appreciate it." Punk said to her. "Thank you for coming tonight."
"Don't." She said with a faint smile and waved it off. "Get some sleep or try to. I'm across the hall if you need me."
Punk just nodded and AJ left the room. The minute she closed the door behind herself she was going to walk back in but knew better. Both were vulnerable and sad it was best to keep apart.
A couple of hours later AJ was using the bathroom and passed by his room thought she heard something so opened his door and saw him laying in bed and looking at a picture.
"Do you really think they're together?" Punk asked already knowing it was her.
AJ walked over and crawled onto the bed and looked at the picture of Anthony holding PJ the day he came from the hospital.
"Yea I do." She smiled leaning down and laying next to him to look at the picture. "I know you don't believe in that sort of thing but I still do."
"I'm kind of jealous if it's true and my dad is with him." Punk admitted.
"Me too." AJ agreed in a whisper resting against his arm and looking at the picture.
"You think about him a lot?" Punk asked.
"Almost every minute of every single day." She admitted almost ashamed. "He would have been five next month."
"I know." Punk said to her.
"You think about him?" she asked.
"Same amount you do." He admitted. "I can still smell him, is that weird?"
"No." she smiled still looking at the picture. "Sometimes at night I still go next door and check his nursery. I have these dreams of him and he's still here and I wake up to check on him."
"That sounds painful." Punk said sadly. "I didn't know you had dreams."
"Not as often as I used to and that scares me because I'm afraid that means I'm forgetting him." She said.
"Maybe it's your mind telling you to move on." Punk suggested.
"I don't want to. I like the dreams." She admitted. "They feel so real and right."
"Am I in them?" He asked.
"Sometimes." She told him honestly. "I wish I'd never wake up sometimes."
AJ had fallen asleep on Punk's shoulder and rather than move her Punk pulled the comforter up over the two of them and let her sleep on him. He hadn't felt this at peace since the last time they shared a bed together. He watched her sleep the entire night and wondered if she was dreaming of PJ and envying her for it. He wished he'd dream of PJ but his mind never allowed it.
A few days later at the wake everyone who was anyone was there. Punk's father was a prominent member of the community and business man who was beloved by many. AJ stood by Punk's side the entire evening greeting everyone as if she was truly part of the family and his wife. She was surprised when Seth and Denise arrived and when they came over to give Punk their condolences and AJ pretended to barely know them. What didn't surprise her was when Maria showed up. She walked right to Punk and leaned in to kiss his cheek but he barely acknowledged her and gave her his generic 'thank you for coming' response.
After two hours Punk stepped into the lobby of the funeral home for a breather. Maria followed him out and walked right over to him.
"I'm so sorry baby." Maria frowned wrapping her arms around him and he gave her a hug back. "I tried calling."
"I've had my head in the clouds." He admitted. "I do appreciate you coming."
"Anything you need baby." Maria said touching his cheek.
"Disgusting." Punk's mother announced walking over to them.
"Have you met my mother?" Punk asked Maria sarcastically.
"Oh we've met." She said coldly. "Weren't you my grandsons godmother?"
"I was." Maria said with a faint smile. "It's nice to see you again." she said extending her hand but his mother looked like she was going to slap Maria.
"Your wife is inside and you're out here fooling around with her friend?" His mother scolded. "Like your marriage isn't embarrassing enough?"
"Mind your own business." Punk warned her.
"You should also be ashamed." his mother said to Maria. "What are you even wearing?" she asked eyeing her short dress. "This is my husband funeral not a dance club."
"Enough!" Punk yelled at her.
"I'm going to go." Maria said to him.
"I hope by go you mean home because you're not welcome." she said to her.
"Just go inside." Punk said to Maria who seemed unsure what to do.
"I'll just go home." Maria said to him. "I'm sorry for your loss." she said to Catherine who rolled her eyes.
"Jesus Christ Phillip you could do better than her." His mother snorted.
"You won't like any woman I'm with." Punk said to her.
"Your father had a girlfriend for sometime too." Catherine reminded him. "Maybe that's where you get this from."
"You don't understand." Punk said shaking his head.
"I don't know who I respect less, you for allowing her here, your wife for allowing it or your father for supporting it." She said to him.
"You don't even like AJ." Punk reminded her.
"Doesn't mean you spit on marriage. You took vows start acting like it." Catherine scolded. "We don't divorce in this family and we don't parade our affairs so publicly."
"I'm not divorcing AJ." Punk said to her.
"You better not." his mother said to him. "Keep flaunting your relationship with her friend around like this she will divorce you and you won't stand a shot in hell in court." she warned him.
"It's always about the money to you." Punk scoffed. "Don't you care that dad is dead?"
"Of course I do but now I'm left alone to care for you and Isabella." Catherine reminded him. "I know you don't stay married to the girl because of money because for someone who has never earned a penny of money why would you care? You stay with her because you pity her."
"Not true." Punk said shaking his head.
"Oh it's true. You know she has nowhere to go. No family, clearly no friends and no money. You keep her in your home because you feel responsible for her because you're responsible for everything she has lost." Catherine said calmly.
"Are you fucking crazy?" Punk asked her. "I'm not-"
"You saw her against her parents wishes, got her pregnant, married her, lost your child, slept with her friend." His mother counted off. "You both have been toxic and ruined each others lives you both deserve to stay married to each other and live with your choices."
Punk was about to respond when he saw AJ walk outside and a minute later Seth followed her. His mother was still speaking when he followed them both outside.
"Do you have to smoke on top of me?" AJ asked waving the smoke away. "I came out for fresh air not lung cancer."
"So fucking dramatic." Seth laughed as Punk became visible. "Hey." Seth greeted nodding at him.
"Why don't you smoke a little further down and give my wife a break?" Punk suggested but was really demanding.
"Sure thing." Seth said walking away.
"He's always up your ass." Punk sneered watching Seth walk away.
"He's harmless." AJ assured him quietly. "How's your mom?"
"Not even this could show her human side." Punk remarked. "She threw Maria out."
"I'm not surprised." AJ said to him. "If you want to go after her I'll cover for you." She offered.
"No." He said shaking his head. "She'll be fine."
"How are you holding up?" She asked him.
"I'm ok. Better today than yesterday." He admitted and looked over to Seth who was looking at them.
"Why are you glaring at him?" AJ asked him.
"I don't like him." Punk said to her.
"Because he grabbed my ass like a year ago?" She asked him.
"Damn straight." he said still looking at Seth.
"I thought we were at places were jealousy wasn't an issue with us?" She asked him.
"We are but I'll always be at a place where I won't let anyone disrespect you." He said to her. "He's disgusting."
"Enough about him even though it was nice he came." AJ pointed out.
"Yea whatever." Punk said to her. "They're burying my dad right next to PJ."
"Your dad would have liked that." AJ smiled. "Your family plot is big enough."
"Yea and it's kind of morbid to even bring up but you're still on that." He reminded her.
"I know and I want to be with my son." AJ said to him. "I know you do too."
"I'll go on the other side." Punk shrugged.
"This is too morbid." AJ agreed quickly. "I don't want to think about losing anyone else."
"I'm just saying this all a lot to think about and going over the plots and everything the last few days I wanted to clear everything with you."
"I want to be with him." AJ said to him and he nodded. "Are you ready to go back inside?"
"No." Punk told her honestly. "But I suppose I have to, are you coming?"
"Yea of course." She said putting on a smile and walking ahead of him.
The next day was the funeral and AJ couldn't be around it anymore. She loved Anthony like her own father, he replaced her father as far as she was concerned but she didn't want her pain to get in the way of her supporting Phil. Right after the funeral Punk told her he was skipping the gathering and went right into work unable to deal with the pain himself and AJ headed off as well.
"Got your message." Seth said getting into AJ's parked car that was in an empty lot. "I thought I wouldn't hear from you for a while."
"I just needed to get away and forget." AJ whispered with her hands on the steering wheel and looking at the rain hitting her windshield. The car was off but she looked ready to drive away and never look back.
"I didn't realize you and Anthony were so close." Seth noted.
"He was great to me when no one else in Phil's family was." AJ remembered fondly. "He never forgot my birthday or PJ's, he always knew the right things to stay to me."
"He was pretty cool." Seth agreed.
"He was better than cool." AJ whispered.
"I'm sorry." Seth frowned placing his hand on her back but she brushed it off.
"I don't need comfort." She said looking at him. "I need to forget."
"I got you." Seth smiled reaching into his pocket and pulling out something and she rolled her eyes.
"No drugs." AJ said to him then grabbed his face and kissed him.
AJ climbed onto him and pulled his seat back as she straddled him. She lifted her black dress up just over her hips and grabbed his hand while he kissed her and pressed it over her core and began to massage herself with his hand.
"I don't need a map darling." Seth teased and took over from there. "Fuck." He groaned as she kissed over his neck and rubbed down against him. "Do you feel how hard you get me?"
"Yes, I like it." She whispered in his ear before biting down on it.
"Fucking hell AJ!" He yelled in pain then smiled. "Do it again." he grinned.
"You're sick." She said almost disgusted.
"You like it too." Seth reminded her. "You're a fucking wild animal that's always in heat."
"In pain." She corrected.
"Whatever gets you on my dick works for me." Seth grinned pulling at the top of her dress to release her breasts.
AJ lowered her body some so Seth's mouth could play with her breasts while his fingers entered her rapidly. She was gasping and thrusting into his three digits ready to blow.
"Wish you were more like this last weekend." He snorted. "You have a thing for cars I guess."
"Shut up." AJ groaned annoyed. "Just stop talking and do what I want."
"Yes boss." Seth smiled.
"Hi." Maria smiled timidly as she walked into Punk's office.
"Hey." He said in an empty voice.
"I'm sorry I didn't go today but I don't think you mother would have liked that." Maria said to him.
He didn't need Maria there nor did he even notice she wasn't but whenever his mother told AJ not to show up somewhere she always did, and did so proudly.
"It's fine it was for the best." Punk said to her as he loosened the tie around his neck.
"How are you holding up?" She asked stepping further into the office.
"I just really need to be alone." Punk said looking up at her.
"Oh." She said slightly hurt. "I just thought you'd want to be with someone."
"Not right now." Punk said to her. "But thanks anyway."
"If there's anything I can do for you just call me." Maria said to him.
"Thanks." He mumbled and didn't look when she left the office. He went back to his thoughts as he remembered his dad meeting his son...
"Thankfully he takes after his grandpa." Anthony smiled holding PJ proudly in the hospital room. "He's a very handsome boy."
"He is." AJ agreed smiling.
"He got his looks from me." Punk corrected and Anthony laughed.
"We both know that's not true right Phillip Junior?" Anthony asked the child. "This could have happened on better circumstances but I'm glad he's here." he said to them. "You both did good."
"Thank you Mr. Brooks." AJ smiled as Punk took her hand.
"None of that I told you to call me Anthony." He reminded AJ. "In a few years you'll be calling me dad."
"Ok." AJ smiled.
"AJ did a great job." Punk said kissing AJ's hand.
"Remarkable." Anthony agreed. "Strong woman you married there, she'd need to be to put up with you and a mini version of you."
"I'm prepared." AJ told him proudly.
"Good." Anthony grinned. "I don't want to give him back."
"You're going to have to." Punk smirked. "We'd like our son to ourselves."
"You'll have him your whole lives." Anthony said to them. "How much longer do I have?"
"Don't talk like that." Punk groaned. "You're the only sane one in this family."
"And PJ needs his grandpa." AJ told him. "I have a feeling you're going to outlive all of us."
"Don't say that." Anthony scoffed. "You think I'm the only sane one but you two, Izzy and now PJ are the only sane ones."
"So everyone but mom?" Punk asked him and Anthony gave him a knowing smile.
"I'm really proud of you son for stepping up." Anthony said to him. "Being a father is going to be the most important job you have and the best thing you could ever do."
"I know." Punk said to him. "I just hope I'm as good as you."
"You learned from the best." Anthony teased.
Punk shook his head and wiped his eyes. He decided he was done crying and done losing people he loved. He hoped AJ was right even though he didn't believe in the afterlife or anything like that but he hoped for the sake of his sanity that his dad found his son somewhere along the way. He almost felt selfish that since his father died he was mostly thinking about PJ. He grabbed his keys and headed home because being at work wasn't going to help him.
When Punk arrived home he headed to his room then stopped before entering and walked into the next room which was PJ's nursery. Punk pushed the door open and the room was the same, they never took anything out. The only time he had come in here was when AJ did the night the buried his son and broke down. She tossed things, broke them, screamed, cried and he just stood back until she let it all out. He held her on the floor for what felt like days as she cried in his arms. Being in here was painful but he wanted to feel close to someone and that someone was his son.
Punk reached into the crib and picked up his blanket and placed it to his face. He hoped it still smelled like him and faintly it did. AJ was passing the room to get to her own when she noticed it was open and peeked and saw Punk burying his face in PJ's blanket and immediately began to cry herself. Punk was so strong for her during that time that she often felt he was slowly building for a full breakdown and now with the loss of his father she knew it was approaching.
"Phil?" April asked sniffling.
"I just had to." Punk said lowering the blanket but keeping it close to his chest. "I'm sorry."
"Don't be." She said reluctantly stepping into the room that used to bring her so much joy.
"I miss him." Punk cried clutching the blanket and looking at it. "I miss them both but I miss PJ more, is that wrong?"
"No." She assured him wrapping her two arms around his one much larger one and burying her face there as she cried.
"I can't stop thinking about him since this happened." Punk admitted. "I feel like it's happening all over again."
"It's ok to feel." AJ assured him. "He's at peace now." she reminded him.
"But I'm not." he said barely able to look her in the eye.
"It wasn't your fault." AJ assured him knowing he carried the burden since it happened.
"Stop." he said shaking his head.
"It wasn't." AJ said in a stronger voice even though she was crying. "Stop blaming yourself. I wouldn't still be here if I blamed you, you remember what the doctor told us there was nothing you could have done. You need to stop carrying this tragedy around like this."
"You do." he pointed out.
"Not the same way you do." She whispered and grabbed his face. "No one blames you and they shouldn't. You loved him with your whole heart and he knew that." she said rubbing her thumb over his cheek.
AJ leaned up and pressed her lips to him then pulled away and hugged him. The kiss wasn't romantic and it wasn't something that either would give a second thought about. It was strictly a comforting gesture and both knew it and didn't want to push it. Punk instead held her tightly and breathed in the scent of her hair as she soothed him.
"You know I love you right?" He asked her not willing to let her go.
"I know." She assured him. "I love you too."
After the hug and mild breakdown AJ and Punk watched a couple of movies together and ordered a pizza. This was exactly what he needed, it was all he needed. AJ wasn't just his wife but she was still one of his best friends and she knew him better than even Colt and Cliff. He looked over and saw she was sleeping as her legs laid across his lap. He decided to carry her up into bed so she wouldn't be uncomfortable but when she turned her head he got a view of her neck and hidden by her hair was a large hicky. He would be the worlds biggest hypocrite if he complained about the mark so he just covered her hair over it so he wouldn't have to look at it and picked up a blanket and covered her with it rather than bringing her upstairs.
Punk grabbed his cellphone and headed into the kitchen and called up Maria.
"Hey." Punk greeted. "I hope its not too late but I want to stop by your place, that ok?"
"Yea of course." Maria said to him. "I'll leave the door unlocked just come into my room."
"I'll be there in ten." He said as he looked across the kitchen and into the living room where his wife was sleeping. "I'm sorry for blowing you off earlier."
"Don't be silly." Maria yawned. "Get her as soon as you can." she said to him then hung up.
Punk grabbed his jacket and opted to go out the backdoor so he wouldn't wake AJ. He didn't bother to leave a note or wake her to tell her was leaving. As much as the loved each other they clearly weren't 'in' love and didn't owe each other anything anymore.