Perception is Key

Punk came home from work at close to 3 in the morning and was delighted to find AJ sleeping in his bed. He quickly undressed and crawled into the bed with her. He still felt it wasn't real when he wrapped his arms around her and held her while he drifted off to sleep. His peaceful sleep didn't last long when he heard her phone go off at 4:30 and he groaned loudly as she jumped out of bed.

"Sorry." She whispered and kissed his cheek.

"What are you doing?" he asked grabbing her pillow and hugging it in replacement of her.

"I go running and then I have to work." She reminded him. "You want to come with me?" she offered and he opened his eyes and that was her answer. "Sorry." She said trying not to giggle.

"Be careful." He yawned closing his eyes.

Of course Punk was unable to sleep and decided to jump in the shower. He had done without less sleep and he had things to do today anyway. By the time he was done showering and shaving AJ was already back and sitting in the kitchen with her coffee and the paper.

"Here." She said passing him the sport section.

"Thanks." He said taking it and watched as she prepared his coffee for him.

"I hope you don't mind that I was in your bed last night." She said to him and he almost laughed.

"Say that sentence again and really listen to yourself." he teased. "Any particular reason?"

"I don't know it felt weird I don't know if Billy did anything weird in there." She admitted and he nodded.

"Did you look around?" he asked her.

"I did but still." She said to him.

"It's fine." He said to her. "I don't blame you either." he agreed sipping his coffee. "I'm going to have the locks changed too." he said to her and she seemed relieved, it wasn't like AJ to let anyone get under her skin or frighten her so he was going to take this seriously.

"Good and I'm really sorry about this." she said to him and he waved it off.

"It's not your fault." Punk said to her.

"It is though." She admitted sitting next to him. "You warned me about his issues."

"That's only because Seth warned me about them." Punk pointed out. "But I do like to hear I'm right."

"I didn't use those words." She reminded him with a smile.

"You were thinking it." He teased back. "I already told you that I'll take care of that stuff so put it out of your mind."

"Are you sure?" She asked him.

"Yea." he laughed. "I've waited five years to see you smile again and I mean really smile I'm not going to let some Picasso wannabe fuck it up for you, for us."

"I barely dated him and he's not romantically interested in me it's like this weird art thing." AJ told him and he rolled his eyes.

"Were you two serious?" He asked her. "I just want to know so I have an idea of where his head is at."

"No we barely ever left his place." She told him and he just nodded and looked back to his paper. "I'm sorry." she said feeling bad.

"I asked." He shrugged.

"It wasn't serious." She told him. "He was obsessed with my ora or something he was more into art we never even discussed anything serious it was always weird shit."

"Do me a favor though after work go to the police station and report him being in the house." He requested. "I want every weird fucking thing documented."

"Fine." She said to him. "I don't think they can do much since he had a key though."

"That's fine just report it and I'll take care of the rest." He said to her.

"What do you mean by that?" AJ asked him.

"That I'll take care of it." he said simply.

"Alright I have to get to work." She said looking at the time. "Are you working tonight?"

"I'm not." He said to her. "I thought we can start working on PJ's room actually."

"If you're ready sure." She smiled and gave him a kiss. "I'll see you later."

"Bye." he smiled and watched her leave.

AJ walked into the police station and was waiting for an officer to come and take her statement.

"April." A voice announced and she looked up and saw her father and rolled her eyes. "I heard you're here to file a complaint."

"I am but not to you." She said looking down at her phone.

"It's either me or you wait for only god knows how long until someone can free up." Hector said to her. "The choice is yours."

"I can always come back after work." She said standing up with her purse.

"Around what? 5? Yeah it will be much less busier around that time." Hector remarked sarcastically.

"Fine." AJ groaned. "But I need to do this quick I really have to get to work." she said following her father over to a desk.

"So what happened?" He asked taking out his notepad.

"This guy broke into my house." AJ told him and his eyes widened.

"When?" Hector asked.

"Last night at around eight." she said to him.

"Why didn't you call the authorities last night when it happened?" he asked annoyed.

"Because I didn't. I wouldn't even be here right now if Phil didn't ask me to do this." AJ informed him.

"Where was your husband while your home was being robbed?" Hector asked coldly.

"He was working and my home wasn't robbed." AJ said to him stiffly.

"So he broke in and attacked you?" Hector asked cautiously.

"No." AJ said shaking her head.

"April what the hell happened?" Hector demanded growing impatient.

"He was just sitting in my room." AJ said to him and he frowned.

"Do you know this man?" Hector asked her.

"I do. He's an artist named Billy Fisher." AJ told him and he wrote it down.

"Why would he be in your home?" Hector asked. "Did you invite him into your bedroom?"

"If I invited him why would I be here reporting him?" AJ asked sarcastically.

"Maybe your husband caught you with him and you're looking to protect yourself." Hector suggested and AJ smiled.

"That's me." AJ laughed. "I always sneak strange men into my room right across the hall from where my husband sleeps."

"I can't believe you still even call him that." Hector snorted.

"What should I call Phil?" she asked calmly.

"Sugar daddy." Hector said to her and AJ nodded and smiled.

"Phil and I are actually giving our marriage a second try." AJ told him and he seemed surprised.

"Right." He smiled. "So anyway this artist, what was he doing in your home?"

"He's weird." AJ told him honestly.

"You're not giving me much to go on." Hector groaned.

"How about the fact that he was in my home for hours without permission?" AJ shot at him.

"How did he get in?" Her father asked looking back at his notepad.

"He had a key." AJ told him and he rolled his eyes.

"You gave him a key and now you're complaining about him entering your home?" Hector asked her.

"I never gave him a copy of my key." AJ scoffed.

"You two were friends? Or is he a friend of Phil's?" Hector asked.

"He's no ones friend." AJ said to him. "But I know you're thinking it so here's your confirmation- we were in a sexual relationship for a few weeks before that."

"Lovely." Hector forced out. "Do you give keys to all the men you fornicate with?"

"You know what? Forget it." AJ said standing up. "You're not willing to help me you've never been willing to help me so I'll just help myself like usual."

"Like you did when you got pregnant? I believe that was the Brooks family that helped you." He remarked.

"No they didn't help me, Phil helped me." AJ clarified. "He's always been the one to help me. He's the only man in my life who hasn't abandoned me."

"And you thank him by inviting strange men into his home?" Hector questioned seriously. "That's how we raised you?"

"I didn't invite him!" AJ yelled. "Weren't you listening at all? The man is bi-polar and he thinks I'm artwork or something and I'm here not as your daughter because I know you'd never actually help me you were always too busy helping strangers on the street but pretend I'm one of those, it shouldn't be that hard for you since I am a stranger."

"You were involved with him." Hector said to her. "I'll tell you like I tell every woman that comes in here crying about an ex, change your locks and call if he comes back."

"Gee thanks daddy." AJ smiled sarcastically.

"You've got Phil." Hector remarked closing his notepad book.

"Thank god for that." She laughed then walked away.

Billy walked into his apartment holding a paper bag filled with groceries at around 12 in the afternoon. He dropped his keys on the counter and looked into the living room and saw Punk casually sitting on his couch.

"Notice I didn't jump? I'm not even surprised." Billy chuckled. "Welcome to my home."

"I'm assuming you were expecting me since you left your door unlocked." Punk said to him.

"Well I was really expecting April but I thought your ego would get the best of you." Billy laughed unpacking his grocery bag unbothered by Punk's presence.

"Don't play that artsy crap with me." Punk laughed. "I know AJ find out to be interesting and probably thought you were intelligent but you're nothing more than a whacked out artist who saw a vulnerable woman at the bar one night and decided to take some pictures of her."

"AJ was my most talked about show." Billy told him as he moved around the kitchen. "And it's not just her beauty because although she is pretty she's basic. It's her eyes that people love."

"She's anything but basic." Punk said to him and Billy grinned.

"The husband who thinks he loves her because he thinks he has to would say that." Billy said and Punk stood up.

"Stop with that shit." Punk warned him. "Stop telling her she's not loved or that she never loved her son because nothing could be further from the truth. You don't know AJ as much as you think you do from a few pictures."

"I know AJ intimately." Billy reminded him. "It was right there on the couch you were sitting on that she took my hand and pushed it under her dress I mean she barely knew me why would she do that if she felt love?"

"Why do you fucking care?" Punk snapped.

"She's a tortured soul." Billy pointed out. "You've lived with her for five years you must see it. She self sabotages herself during intercourse she never wanted me to please her she wanted me to hurt her she's a sadist." he laughed. "You aren't though." he said eyeing the now furious man. "You're sensitive and you wear your heart on your sleeve literally she hides her pain and it keeps it locked behind her eyes."

"Alright." Punk announced angrily. "I'm done listening to your psycho babble and I'm just going to say that if you come into my house again I'll have you arrested, you come near my wife again I'll hurt you badly." he threatened. "I know all about you and your stints in psychiatric hospitals and how you go off your medicine and start acting out."

"You knew that from the first night I took your wife out with me yet you didn't stop her." Billy noted. "You just let her go."

"I'm not her keeper." Punk reminded him.

"If you loved her as much as you claim to why didn't you stop her from hanging around me?" Billy asked him. "Do you think it's possible that you wanted her to be hurt?"

"Get the fuck out of here." Punk snorted.

"Seriously, sit down and ask yourself why you her husband, the man of the house, the man who pays her bills didn't put his foot down? AJ respects you greatly she would have listened to you, is it possible that you wanted her to be involved with me because you thought she'd get what she deserved?" Billy asked him calmly.

Punk grabbed Billy by his shirt and he just laughed and showed no fear. He was very amused by Punk's reaction clearly.

"My wife deserves to be happy and I'll see to it that she does and if that means I have to go to prison for the rest of my life because I killed the bi-polar freak stalking her so be it." he hissed. "Can you see that in my fucking eyes?"

"I see it." Billy said trying not to laugh and Punk released him and walked to the door. "Do you think she even wants to be happy? You're wasting your time. Souls like ours are never satisfied with happiness we despair. She's portrayed an image of herself and in my art that she can't be forgotten she'll always be that one."

"The one what?" Punk asked turning his head to look at him.

"She knows." Billy said to him. "Feel free to drop by anytime friend."

"Fuck you." He spat and he walked out of the apartment.

A couple of hours later when AJ returned from work they began to box up some of PJ's things. Punk knew AJ wanted it done so they could move on but she barely made it half an hour before she needed a break. He walked into his bedroom and found her laying on the bed with wide eyes and sat with her. He placed her head in his lap and teased her long hair with his fingers and they laid in silence for almost an hour.

"I'm sorry, I thought I was ready." She said to him.

"We don't have to do it all today." Punk reasoned. "Not everything has to be ripped off like a band-aid. We can take our time and do a little bit every once in a while."

"That sounds good and we did get a lot done." She pointed out.

"Yea a couple of boxes. Colt is going to drop by in the morning and donate them to the children's hospital." Punk told her.

"That's nice." AJ said with a light smile. "I'm glad they'd go to good use."

"Yeah." Punk agreed. "I spoke to Billy." he informed her. "He's a very strange man."

"I was such an idiot." She groaned.

"If he comes around you again let me know." Punk said to her.

"Do you think he will?" She asked him.

"I hope not." Punk said to her. "I don't even understand half of what he says."

"I used to think that made him smart." She laughed.

"You're done with it now right?" He asked her.

"Done with him?" She asked rolling onto her back but her head was still in his lap. "Yea we're done." She laughed.

"No I mean with punishing yourself." He corrected. "The choice of men you picked were-"

"Bad?" she finished for him.

"Yea." he said to her. "I just am having a hard time understanding why you set yourself out to be with men like that? And I hope you're not looking for that with me."

"Of course not." She said sitting up now. "You believe the things he was saying don't you?"

"No but the pattern is there." He said to her. "I'm not angry I'm worried that if you can't hurt yourself this way you'll find another way."

"You think I'm crazy?" She asked.

"No! This is coming out all wrong." he sighed. "I'm just saying we rushed into this and our emotions are still both all over the place so I was thinking and we don't have to do this but maybe speaking to a professional would help us."

"You want me to see a therapist?" She gasped.

"No, well yes but not alone." he said to her. "With me. If we're serious about us and we really want this to work I think this could help and not just with us but with everything we both still have this intense grief over PJ."

"Ok." AJ said to him and he eyed her.

"You don't seem to like the idea." he noted.

"I don't but I like you." She smirked. "If you think it will help us then I'll go. I want to prove to you that I'm serious about us and that I'm not a psycho."

"I don't think you're psycho." He sighed.

"Really I'm on board with it." She assured him. "What could it hurt?"

"Good." He said happy she agreed and it proved she was really willing to put effort into the relationship. "How did it go down at the police station by the way?"

"I don't expect any help from the Chicago PD." She snorted and he squinted at her. "So let's just hope you scared him off."

"I think it'll take a lot more to scare that guy." Punk admitted. "What happened at the station?"

"Hector took the report." AJ said to him.

"Your dad wasn't willing to happen?" Punk asked her.

"Not so much. I think he feels that I welcomed Billy into my life so that gives him a free pass to come and go into our home as he pleases." AJ told him.

"Your dad just doesn't know how to talk to you." Punk said to her.

"He didn't care." she said to him. "Billy was right about that they never cared about me."

"I don't think that's true." Punk said to her. "I think they regretted pushing you away after you got pregnant and didn't know how to approach you again. They came to PJ's funeral."

"Only to ask me to come home." She said to him. "I know everyone thinks I'm cold and cruel but I'll never forgive them for never seeing him or acknowledging my son. Even your mother tried with PJ I saw my mother at the supermarket two years ago and she walked right by me and pretended she didn't know at least my dad will acknowledge me even if it's only when I'm in trouble."

"There's just one more thing I want to ask." He began shifting. "And believe me I never wanted to ask you something like this and I won't judge you but I have to know."

"Oh boy." She groaned dramatically falling onto the bed so she was laying on her back and her head was resting on a pillow. "Go ahead."

"Did you let them hurt you?" he asked her.

"Who?" she asked.

"The men you were with." He clarified. "Billy? Seth? Whoever else?"

"No." She almost laughed. "Is that what Billy told you?"

"I don't know he said a lot of shit." He said hovering of her body.

"I didn't want cuddle sessions or sweet words I just wanted to get it done and over with. I would never let anyone hurt me." she said to him. "I thought you would know me better than that."

"I do I just had to make sure." He said to her. "I hate that you went so long without feeling good or appreciated."

"You made me feel appreciated." She said to him. "Like taking my car into the shop for me or saving me dinner or picking up a comic for me- those moments made me feel good. I wasn't living in another world Phil I was happy I was just happiest here with you."

"So why didn't you talk to me about it?" He asked her.

"Why didn't you talk to me?" She questioned.

"Fair point." He agreed. "I was afraid I'd scare you off and you'd move out."

"I thought you'd leave or let me down gently and I couldn't stand that." She smirked. "We're very similar."

"You want me to take care of you tonight?" he offered cupping her face with one hand and she smiled and kissed the palm of his hand as she nodded.

Punk reached for her t-shirt and pulled it over her head and discarded it on the floor. He kissed her and pressed her into the mattress and kissed her neck and around her collarbone. While doing that one hand cupped a breast and his thumb rubbed over her bra. The hand at her breast slowly crept down her torso and slipped into her tight leggings. He cupped her and lazily began to draw circles around her core over her panties all the while he continued to kiss her neck.

"It's ok." AJ said to him and he looked up at her.

"Let yourself feel it." He encouraged her. "I know it's scary because you haven't trusted anyone to put you first but you know me." He reminded her. "I'll take good care of you and you'll love it."

AJ nervously nodded and he kissed her temple to reassure her. She decided to just lay back and let Punk take control, something else she hadn't let another man have. She felt his hand now push her panties to the side as he sucked on her pulse point. His thumb rubbed over her clit slowly and she gasped slightly and jerked her legs.

"Shhh." He cooed against her neck and went back to work.

"Phil." She gasped holding back tears.

His thumb picked up pace and she had a small orgasm which was enough to relax her. His lips never left her flesh as he kissed over her shoulder now and pushed her bra strap to the side and kissed her there then moved down her middle and spent extra time on her perfect abs. As he kissed down and reached the top of her pants he pulled them down her legs with her soaked panties and kissed over her there.

AJ felt Punk's hot tongue lick her lips that were swollen. His hands moved to her thighs and spread them apart so he was more comfortable and AJ didn't dare look at him as she felt him part her lips and and lick her most intimate area. It was like he was licking an ice cream cone and AJ was going mad. Her eyes were shut tight and she began to thrash against the bed but his strong hands now moved to keep her place. A finger slid into her core then a second joined as he flicked her button with his tongue. She was breathing heavier and muttering curses under her breath until he began to suck on the nub.

"Oh fuck." She cried out arching her hips. "Jesus Phil!"

Punk didn't stop until she came and came she did. She was already sweating as he moved his mouth off of her and his fingers out from inside of her. He removed his shirt so his bare chest would meet her skin and before kissing her slipped his two fingers that were inside of her into her mouth. He watched as her eyes opened and she sucked on them.

"Was that good for you?" He asked her.

"Yes." She said happily and ran her hands up over his bare chest until they reached the back of his neck and pulled him into a kiss.

The kiss was hot as AJ's hands moved down his sides until she reached his hips and began to pull at his gym shorts and pull them with his boxers over his hips. AJ arched up and he was already so hard. Her moist lips lubricated him as she kept teasing his shaft.

"I love you." She whispered pulling her lips away from his by only an inch. "Love me." she requested next.

"I'll always love you." He promised her.

Punk rolled onto his back and pulled AJ on top of himself so her back was laying on his chest. He teased her clit with his finger one last time before he entered her. AJ laid on top of him unsure of what to even do and he thrust his hips up into her. This position forced her legs open wider and with his hand gripping her by her nub it was the most amazing feeling to her. Her head was draped over his shoulder as he thrust into her hard and fast but not fast enough where it would end quickly.

"Oh my god!" she yelled out.

"You like that?" He asked her.

"Yes!" she screamed as she worked her hips to match his.

AJ used all of her strength to sit up so she was reversed straddling him and began to move up and down over him. She couldn't have all the fun. His eyes were planted on her perfectly toned ass as she moved her hips wildly. He knew she was close and when she climaxed she fell back but he was sitting up now as well and his chest caught her fall. He kept pushing up into her and couldn't stop until he came which was approaching. He came a few minutes later and both were spent as they fell back onto the bed.

"Wow." was all she could say.

"Wow is right." he agreed. "Best I've had since you." He admitted with a smirk.

"I was awful our first time." She smirked.

"You were amazing." He told her honestly as he laid on his side to admire her.

"We're going to be ok." She said out of nowhere. "I know it."

"Get some sleep." he said giving her a tender kiss and pulling the comforter up over her.