So this chapter I did something a little different...I incorporated song lyrics to add to it and I'm considering doing it again with Gabby in a later chapter...this song "You Could be Happy" by Snow Patrol played into Punk's situation well, so I figured I'd give it a go...

Thanks for the continued support :) Enjoy!

You could be happy and I won't know
But you weren't happy the day I watched you go

Punk ran his thumb over his phone screen looking at the text Adam had sent earlier in the week. Adam had been true to his word texting Punk to let him know that Gabby was doing well and loved Atlanta. As much as he wanted to be happy hearing that news and tried to picture her bright smile, all he saw was the lonely blonde standing alone with mascara tears streaking her face.

And all the things that I wished I had not said
Are played in loops 'till it's madness in my head

Is it too late to remind you how we were
But not our last days of silence, screaming, blur

Punk shut off his phone putting it on the nightstand and turning off the light. He had managed to get a few days off and was planning on spending most of his time in bed seeing he was going on very little sleep. Laying on his stomach, he threw his arm over a random pillow and took a deep breath instantly smelling the sweet scent that was Gabby's shampoo. Punk let out a deep sigh as he sat up in bed rubbing his hands over his head. Getting up he walked down the hall with the intentions of grabbing extra pillows from the linen closet, but stopped at the site of the open door to the guest room, Gabby's room. He peaked in once again seeing it empty before closing the door and heading back to the linen closet. After grabbing two pillows, he headed back to his room, but still found it impossible to sleep instead deciding to turn on the TV settling for Breaking Bad re-runs.

You could be happy, I hope you are
You made me happier than I'd been by far
Somehow everything I own smells of you
And for the tiniest moment it's all not true

Despite his best efforts to distract himself, Punk couldn't stop thinking about his last moments with Gabby. He wasn't a man that had regrets, but laying in bed he regretted pushing her away, making her go to Atlanta, but in the same instance he realized that was what was best for her. She was young, had the world at her fingertips and didn't need the distraction of a relationship, especially not one as serious as theirs had become.

Do the things that you always wanted to
Without me there to hold you back, don't think, just do

As much as he tried to convince himself that Gabby was better off, a small part of his heart told him otherwise. He wanted to go to her, talk to her, apologize for everything and there were shows scheduled in Georgia over the next month, but everything told him not to go there. Gabby was doing well on her own, Adam wouldn't lie about that. If he went to see her it would turn her world upside down and the outcome wouldn't necessarily be what he wanted. Besides she was where she needed to be, doing what she needed to do; Atlanta wasn't her last stop, Gabby was going places.

More than anything I want to see you, girl
Take a glorious bite out of the whole world

Punk managed to sleep for a few hours before waking up to start his day. As he was tying his sneakers to head to the gym, there was a knock at the door. Opening it he was surprised to see a UPS man, especially since he hadn't ordered anything, but he signed for the small package and felt his heart sink when he saw it was from Atlanta. Opening the box he found the house key he'd given Gabby still attached to a Chicago Cubs keychain he'd bought her to commemorate their first trip to Wrigley. Punk regretted opening the box even more so as he read the post-it: Phil, I forgot to give this to Kat and Carla, but I wanted to make sure it got back to you. Gabby

As if Adam's text wasn't an indication that she was moving on, the house key and post-it note sealed the deal. Gabby was moving on to bigger and better things, and as hard as that was to accept, he only had himself to blame.

It was mid-February, and since Adam had banned her from listening to Adele, Gabby was doing well. Things at work were going well, her column was popular among readers and she'd even began to pick up a few small news and feature stories to help out and keep herself busy. As for Adam, he still hadn't left her condo, and while most days she didn't mind, others she wished for some alone time. However, her big brother had truly been her savior; he'd supplied her with endless pints of Ben and Jerry's, comforted her when she cried and supported her decision to make drastic changes. When Gabby came home from the salon with her curly, blonde, shoulder length locks dyed brown, straightened and cut into a bob, he'd been the first person to compliment her. Gabby had never done anything drastic with her hair, but looking at the same sad person in the mirror everyday wasn't helping her recovery. She tried new clothes and shoes to cover the pain, but the drastic hair change was just what she needed to boost her confidence.

Gabby pulled into the driveway and headed into the house with a bag of groceries humming as she walked into the living room only to be caught off guard by what she saw. Adam and Beth were sitting on her couch in a passionate embrace, which was interrupted by Gabby dropping the bag of groceries sending peppers and tomatoes rolling across the hard wood floor. Gabby quickly turned around feeling embarassed only to laugh thinking how Adam felt.

"I'm sorry guys, wasn't aware Beth was here, but I'll just be in my room…" Gabby quickly escaped to her room laying back on her bed hoping the awkward feeling would disappear sooner rather then later.

She couldn't deny she was happy for her brother; in the past month and a half he'd been in Atlanta with her, she'd seen how hurt he was by his break-up with Beth. She really felt badly when she found out his treatment of her was one of the main reasons for it, but at the same time Adam was kind of asking for it. However, as happy as she wanted to feel, there was a tiny part of her that was jealous.

Though she put on the front that everything was great, and she truly was trying to move on, she hoped Punk would just show up on her doorstep and sweep her away, make it like this nightmare had never existed. However, the real world wasn't a fairy tale, and from the few questions she'd asked Kat, Punk was doing just fine without her. He'd been spending more time with Colt, Ted, Carla, Kat and unfortunately Amy; Gabby still didn't trust Amy as far as she could throw her, but seeing she wasn't apart of Punk's life anymore, she didn't have much say. Her thoughts were interrupted by a knock at the door followed up by Adam poking his head in.

"Hey, uh, I'm sorry about that. It was honestly just a kiss, but I'm sure it was just as awkward for you to witness it as it was for me to see you witness it."

"It's not a big deal Adam, but you're right, I was definitely taken by surprise. Does this mean you and Beth are back together?" Adam smirked as he sat next to Gabby on her bed.

"Yeah, I think so, well I don't think I know we are. She's in town for the Smackdown show and she texted me to see if we could talk. I'm happy to say we worked through everything, very happy. Beth makes me a better person, and I'm glad she dumped my ass the first time, it made me realize how big of a jerk I'd been to you."

"Well I'm happy to see that you're both happy. Does this mean you'll be vacating my condo?" Adam laughed wrapping his arm around Gabby's shoulder.

"I believe it does…I realized the other day I have worn out my welcome here, sorry about that Gab."

"It's okay; I'll admit I've been frustrated with you on several occasions, mostly with the messes that you leave behind, but I'm glad you've been here. It's helped out with things…"

"You have come a long way and I want you to know that even though I'm going back to North Carolina, if you need me for anything, no matter what time of day it is, all you have to do is call me. Promise me you'll do that…"

"I promise…"

"Pinky promise?" Gabby laughed remembering their secret keeping tactic from when they were kids. Holding up her pinky, she linked it with his before they each kissed their own thumbs. Gabby smiled pulling her brother in for a hug.

"I love you Adam, even if you are a jerk sometimes, you're a great big brother."

"It's easy to be a great big brother when you have a kick ass little sister. I love you too Gabby; make sure you call and keep in touch. Also keep in mind I'll be back in April."

"For what?"

"Wrestlemania duh!" Gabby raised her eyebrows giving him a small smile hoping he wouldn't notice her surprised reaction.

"Of course, I so knew that…the guest room will be open for you and Beth to stay." Adam gave her another smile before he reached over rubbing his hand over her head messing up her hair, but she didn't care. Her biggest concern was finding a way to avoid anything and everything Wrestlemania related because running into Punk wouldn't have the best outcome.

Chapt 42 preview: Punk slowly starts to move on, but questions himself on it while Gabby gets a surprising offer...