short but thought you guys deserved an update, hope you enjoy lovelies, hope it doesn't bore you guys :)

Punk sighed as he lay on the bed of his luxury tour bus, legs, butt, chest, stomach, arms, head pounded like hell, he had his sock covered feet propped up against one of the windows listening to Colt's latest Art of Wrestling podcast. He occasionally looked down at his tattooed hand, shaping it into a fist remembering that fist had pummelled Phoebe to the ground. Smackdown tapings would start soon and Punk was only scheduled to record a message to Jericho, which was fine by Punk. He had not heard from Jericho and from what he had heard, no one had – which was getting Punk strangely suspicious. Maybe Phoebe, Stephanie and Jericho were secretly conspiring behind his back, he didn't know. He didn't want to know. He had been laying low for the past few weeks, just because he felt exhausted with everyone, and he felt, he knew people were exhausted with him. Sure he was restless and bored out of his mind but and he had a lot on his plate. Kofi no longer travelled with Punk, that had ended a while ago when he decided to travel with R-Truth, Kofi assured him it was nothing personal and he just wanted to keep Truth company for a while but Punk wasn't stupid. Kofi was getting frustrated with Punk, who wasn't?

Punk was feeling even more frustrated with Nick being around Phoebe 24/7 – what was his deal? He had a girlfriend, Punk couldn't fathom why the bleached, blonde bastard couldn't just leave Phoebe alone. Sure they were friends but, staying with her all night at the hospital? Punk had virtually giving up trying to get to know Phoebe, that time at the hospital was the last time he thought he'd ever apologise. He was sorry for who he used to be and he was sorry for breaking her heart and treating her like dirt. Not knowing how she had coped during this time when he was torturing her only fuelled his insanity. Probably Nick. Of course he knew she was never going to forgive him, he just felt awful about hurting her, mentally and physically - just one more thing added to the guilt that was consuming him.

Stephanie had been continuing to send memo's all day, assistants of hers had been banging on his bus door, apparently she had found Jericho and she wanted to set up a meeting but he had to bail. He was too angry, a beast inside of him was about to be released and he just didn't have the physical strength at that time. There was still an hour or so before everyone had to be at the arena. Punk knew a lot of the guys and girls in the locker room and backstage staff were already inside but he just couldn't deal with the "have you seen Phoebe yet?" or "have you seen Jericho yet?" or "how're you holding up Punk? This must be so hard for you" bullshit spiel. So he had kept himself to himself, feeling sorry for himself, brooding with his dark thoughts all alone on the bus that had become his place to hide out and block the world.

The podcast had ended and Punk removed his headphones, suddenly everything was silent. Just how he liked it lately. No screaming fans, or screaming middle aged men yelling abuse at him. Jericho's words burning into him. Grabbing a few things, he decided to go for a run, until he heard someone knocking softly at his door.

Punk chose to ignore it but the knocking continued.

A few moments later the knocking hadn't stopped. Punk groaned inwardly, rolling his eyes assuming it was one of Stephanie's or Vince's assistants nagging him about something irrelevant or about the meeting with Jericho. No doubt Phoebe would be there.

"Fuck off, I already told one of your other damn suit slaves to piss off, Tell dear Stephanie that I'll come when I want to. Got it?!"

Another knock banged.

"For fuck's sake," Punk mumbled to himself as he got up. " LISTEN , I HAVE ALREADY TOLD YOU GUYS THAT -"

He stomped to the front of the bus and fiercely flung the doors to the tour bus open.

"I DON'T CA - " he began in a threatening tone but stopped as soon as he realised who was at the door. Shock and surprise rushed over him as his eyes trailed down to see a petite woman standing in a strappy rouge red dress, a purple bruise that had tainted her beautiful face imperfectly.

"Punk," her voice was weak, but she spoke with confidence.

He still stood there in disbelief, suddenly the feeling of ache and discomfort in his body had vanished, the bruising in her face made his insides quiver with unease and guilt but at the end of the day, she was still … flawless. He had no idea she was here, she had never even been in his bus, he had never let her. He had wanted to speak to her and have a conversation that lasted for hours, just so he could look at her and the way her lips moved shaping every single word with perfect, pink lips. He knew for definite that this wasn't why she was here.

"What are you doing here?"

Phoebe tried keeping her gaze as cold as she could, she was not here to apologize, she had nothing to apologize for her. It clicked somewhere in her head that Punk must think that her and Jericho were behind this whole need to disrespect Punk and his family. Phoebe would never stoop that low, she understood good TV, but there was a definite line she knew not to cross.

"Because if you're here to yell at me, and tell me that my apology meant nothing. Or if you're here because they can't cut the story line like I asked politely yesterday, OR if you're here to get me to do something else with Jericho then you can just leave. I'm tired and sore, and I can't deal with this bullshit anymore."

"I'm here to tell you I talked to Stephanie and Jericho, they're cutting the storyline. They agreed that things had gotten way too personal and way out of line, and they apologize."

Punk raised an eyebrow. "They send you, to apologize on their behalf? Wow, I feel so much better now, how considerate of them."

Phoebe smirked at the sarcasm dripping from his voice. "Yeah, they're real friendly. I didn't get a chance to ask Jericho why he did what he did but he didn't look like he wanted to talk to me. I'm not sure I wanted to talk to him either, he was completely disrespectful, I was truly disgusted. And I know you didn't mean to punch me intentionally, you were provoked, and I knew you're not looking for sympathy but I truly am sorry. That was some pretty dark shit you know, and just everything about your past. I just never knew."

"I hope you're not apologizing just because you heard about what happened when I was a kid. Because that is in fact sympathy and you're only doing it because you pity me. I really don't want it, and I don't want to talk about that either right now."

"Really? Because last time I checked you apologized to me because you realised I was right about you and Amy and – "

"Stop bring her up. You always bring her up. I'm done with her!"

"You know exactly what I mean. Stop being a hypocrite. I don't pity you Punk, we're just worried about you and - "

"Who's we?"

"People in the locker room," Punk scoffed but Phoebe still continued, "Stephanie and the creative team, they feel responsible."

He had the urge to ask if she was worried about him too but it was still on the tip of his tongue and decided against it.

"How's your eye?" Punk asked concerned, changing the subject.

"Sore, but I can live with it. Tried putting foundation on it but it just stung so goddamn much. I feel like a zombie with no make up on."

"You don't need make up, you're beautiful, you know?" Punk's eyes widened, realising he had just said that out loud.

"Actually I don't know. Anyway, that's all I wanted to tell you. It's not been some contest of wanting to get back at you. You and I both know you treated me badly but I'd never hurt you intentionally like you. I don't want to ever get back at you, Punk. If anything I just want to forget it ever happened, it's just hard seeing you every day. I want to forgive you but I can't bring myself to do it. You have to understand. It's so hard."

"Believe it or not, I still respect what you do on TV and in the ring. I don't pity you, everything that's happened in your life has made you who you are today and you shouldn't be sorry for that. I just never will understand why you acted the way you did towards me. I respected you and liked you for who you were. Anyway, I know you didn't mean this. I saw the look on your face. You look liked you had ran over a puppy or something.

"I'm still pissed off. But we've been through a lot throughout the past year. I just couldn't let it go Punk. You've apologised so many times and I just wasn't having it. I don't know why because you were so genuine about it. I know I wrote your storylines and I was surprised you even trusted me and – "

"But you're here, what's changed, I don't get it." he asked.

"I don't think I can ignore you after your apology that you gave me in the hospital. I've been trying to ignore you for so long because I was just so stubborn Punk. I was really touched by what you said to me and you know I knew you meant every single word. I'm still hurt Punk, I can never forget that."

Punk swallowed, turning away with shame.

"You know what you did, you know what you said and you know how you treated me. You knew I didn't deserve it. But that doesn't mean they weren't unforgiveable, look Punk, what I'm saying is that everybody deserves a second chance. I guess you can't like everybody and you just dealt with it a completely different way. I know you're not going to do that anymore. At least I hope you're not. You made it really hard for me to come to work every day. This was is my dream job, Punk – but I know you've changed. I guess you knocking me out literally proved that, ironically but you're right. You do write my storylines and we do have to work with each other. We're going to need to communicate and I don't want it to be awkward. We're going to be cutting the storylines and we have some great things lined up, so what I'm saying is, I don't want there to be tension between us. I want to forget everything and have a fresh start."

Punk couldn't believe his ears. "You're serious, right?"

"I am. I never thought I'd be here, in front of your bus saying these things, I didn't think I could ever work with you ever again but everything at the hospital you know. It meant so much that you cared enough to come to see me. I mean, it surprised me. I didn't expect you to and I knew then that you didn't mean it. All this hatred is exhausting. I know how sorry you are, you've been through so much Punk. You've compensated."

"I just, I remember when you used to visit me in the hospital after a match when I was seriously injured. You were so caring and you just wanted to see if I was okay, it was sweet and I never realised it at the time, I owed you I guess. I don't know why I was a dick Phoebe, I really don't. You know one thing?"

"What?"

"I wasn't at all surprised that Amy was cheating on me. It was like I saw it coming. Not because you cared enough to warn me, but it was because we were having problems and I thought marrying her would solve them. It doesn't matter now, I'm over it. I'm just glad you want to start over Phoebe."

"Same," Phoebe smiled a genuine smile at Punk. "I don't want you to think we're like best friends Punk. I mean, this is professionally friendly, just so you should know."

Punk thought he had gotten more than enough from Phoebe, "I know, I mean I can't believe you're even hear to forgive me, I don't want to influence you but I don't think I could ever find the strength to forgive someone like that. Thank you. So much."

Phoebe nodded, "Not everyone can Punk. I mean I'm stubborn, it took me 6 months to forgive you, you know."

"Yeah, I get that." Their eyes locked and then quickly looked away, anywhere other than each other.

"Thanks for stopping by. I really appreciated this."

"It's great, I really liked getting this out." Punk chuckled nervously, playing with the back of his hair. It wasn't at all styled and he suddenly felt self-conscious, a curtain fringe had formed by his forehead.

"We cool, Punk?" Phoebe grinned a mega-watt smile.

"Sure thing," Punk returned the smile and watched her walk back towards the arena until she was a beautiful blur. Punk closed the door to his bus, leaning against it as his encounter with Phoebe ran through his head. She had forgiven him. She wanted to move on. She knows I hurt her and she still wanted to forgive me. Punk didn't know Phoebe all that well, but he had now realised what kind of a woman she was. She cared so much for others, she always put others ahead of herself, she was so vulnerable and delicate at times but she was a strong woman who never broke when she was at her lowest point.

Punk gathered his belongings and decided to follow Phoebe through the parking lot into the arena. Punk couldn't get rid of the smile that was etched all over his face, after so long, after 6 long months things were suddenly looking up for him.