Chapter 34: The Vow

After only a few weeks of planning the wedding day had finally arrived. AJ was surprised by how at ease she was the morning of and instead Punk was the nervous one. He was up hours before running around and making phone calls while AJ opted to even sleep in late. They decided they wanted the ceremony to be held late at 8pm. The day was clear and it was to be a full moon on this Friday the 13th.

"You're making me nervous" AJ laughed from the bed as Punk texted away on his phone

"There's still so much to do" Punk said to her

"Like what?" she asked "Everything is at the hotel for us so just chill out and cuddle with me before we become an old married couple"

"We're not old" Punk scoffed

"Well I'm not" she teased causing him to shoot her a glare "Did you write your vows yet?"

"What?" Punk asked her and she laughed

"You are so cute" she said getting out of the bed. "Because I told you two weeks ago we were saying our own vows and you said 'no problem' so I know you're just messing with me"

"Of course" Punk smirked and she kissed his cheek

"I'm going to shower" she then headed into the bathroom and Punk's face fell and he dialed another number

"Colt it's me….no I don't have cold feet but I forgot to write vows" Punk informed him desperately "Wow really? Yes I know she told me weeks ago….I forgot ok so sue me! I'm going to need help writing them…what do you mean you can't help? What the hell am I supposed to say? You're useless" Punk informed him then hung up his phone "Shit" he muttered to himself he then looked for another number in his phone "Hey Paul!" Punk said happily "Good, good…yea looking forward to it- look you're really good with words right?"

AJ was getting her hair and makeup done by her sister in the hotel room she had rented out for the evening.

"That's too much" AJ scoffed referring to the amount of eye shadow on her

"No it's not stop being such a baby" Erica mocked "And stop moving I want it to be even"

"When is Robbie getting here?" AJ asked her

"His flight was delayed but he's on his way just relax" Erica assured her

"I can't walk down the aisle by myself" AJ said to her

"You could have asked Dad to do it" Erica chimed in quietly

"They've never showed up for anything important in my life why would they show up for this?" AJ asked her

"Did you ask?" Erica asked her

"Of course I did" AJ sighed "But they couldn't make it"

"What was the excuse this time?" Erica laughed lightly

"No excuses this time just an honest 'we can't fly down'" AJ shrugged "Whatever as long as I have you and Robbie I'm happy"

"They're just jealous" Erica said simply "You didn't need them. You told them you were going off to become a wrestler which most people would say is impossible and you did it- without them"

"Yea" AJ agreed as she watched her sister through the mirror

"And now you met a man and you're getting married" Erica grinned "He's a good guy too"

"He's the best" AJ agreed

"By the way I snuck downstairs and the place is beautiful" Erica informed her "You did a great job"

"Thanks" AJ said proudly

"But security almost tackled me to the ground" Erica informed her and AJ giggled

"Phil is in charge of security" AJ said to her

"Oh of course he is" Erica laughed "Ok makeup and hair is done it's time to get your dress on"

"So soon?" AJ asked

"It's almost seven" Erica said to her "I want to take some pictures before the wedding"

"But Robbie isn't here yet" AJ said to her standing up

"He'll be here any minute" Erica assured her "Now go get dressed" she demanded

"Ok, ok" AJ said rushing off

Punk was downstairs greeting people as they arrived.

"Looking sharp" Kofi Kingston laughed shaking Punk's hand "Never thought I'd see the day"

"I always look good" Punk replied smugly

"I meant the day you got married" Kofi laughed "And such a fancy wedding too" he said eyeing the place "This is a lot more than I expected- you did good"

"This was all AJ" Punk said gesturing the room "I just signed the checks"

"Smart man" Kofi chuckled "My wife is already saying 'how come we didn't have that- or that' so thanks for that"

"Any chance I get to make you look bad is good for me" Punk smirked

"But what is with security?" Kofi asked "You'd think the president was attending. I'm sorry they didn't ask me to remove my shoes"

"Don't be such a baby" Punk said to him "If it was up to AJ everyone would be walking in and out of here like it was an open house"

"Oh wow so I guess the president is coming" Kofi said looking towards the main entrance as Vince and Linda McMahon walked in. "You didn't tell me you invited them"

"I didn't invite anyone" Punk said to him "AJ handled everything"

"Well he must like you if he's dropping his busy plans to attend your wedding" Kofi said to him

"I'm honored" Punk remarked sarcastically as he watched Vince walk over to him.

"Phil" Vince said shaking his hand "Congratulations"

"Thanks" Punk said to him "And thanks for coming"

"I wouldn't miss it for the world" Vince said to him "Your wedding is right up there with hell freezing over"

"Why does everyone keep saying that?" Punk asked Kofi who let out a laugh

"You've dated or slept with almost every woman I have working" Vince said to him "This is a bit of shock. But April is a lovely woman and you're a very smart man to snatch her up"

"I agree with that" Punk said honestly

"Well try not to screw it up" Vince laughed slapping his arm and walking away

"What an asshole" Punk muttered to Kofi who just let out a laugh

"You two are like the same person" Kofi pointed out

"What? No we're not" Punk defended straightening his jacket "He's a way bigger asshole than I am"

"Sure" Kofi laughed "Speaking of how did the wedding vow writing go?"

"How did you know about that?" Punk asked

"I flew in with Paul and was with him when he told you that you were on your own" Kofi smirked

"I took care of it" Punk said confidently pulling out a folded piece of paper and handing it over to Kofi

"Wow" Kofi said reading the few lines "This is a joke right?"

"What?" Punk asked offended

"I love you very much and I'm going to love honor and protect you forever" Kofi said giving him an 'are you kidding me look'. "That's terrible!"

"AJ knows how I feel about her" Punk said to him

"I'm sure deep down you're a romantic guy behind closed doors" Kofi started

"Damn right I am" Punk said proudly

"Well you're going to have to break out of that little shell of yours and tell everyone who was basically stripped search to get in here why you're marrying her" Kofi said seriously "If you screw this up she will never ever let you live it down"

"She'll appreciate my words" Punk told him

"Doubt it" Kofi said to him "Bad enough you forgot the vows but your soon to be wife has probably been writing them for weeks and now you're going to make her look bad"

"That's not going to happen just go sit down and shut up" Punk said annoyed

"You're cooked man" Kofi laughed walking around

AJ was all dressed and ready to go. She was eyeing herself in the mirror and double-checking her look. A soft knock at the door pulled her from the mirror and was relieved to see her brother all dressed and ready to go.

"Wow" Robbie grinned pulling her into a hug "You look beautiful"

"Yea?" AJ asked unsurely

"Yea" he confirmed "I can't believe my baby sister is getting married"

"Erica keeps saying that too" AJ said to him

"She says it out of jealousy" Robbie joked "Are you sure about this?"

"Are you kidding?" AJ asked him "I love Phil I want to be with him forever"

"Ok I just had to ask" Robbie smirked "Are you ready? Erica told me they're just waiting on you"

"Yea" she said grabbing onto his arm and they walked towards the elevator.

"You're shaking" Robbie noted

"I'm nervous. What if he changes his mind?" AJ asked her brother seriously and he just laughed at her

"Trust me I passed him on my way in he didn't change his mind" Robbie assured her

"Why am I so nervous all of the sudden?" AJ asked her brother

"Marriage is a big step" Robbie said as they waited for the elevator to stop. "You'll be fine"

"What if I suck as a wife?" AJ asked him seriously "I don't know how to cook, clean or do laundry"

"How the hell have you survived on your own for so long?" Robbie asked seriously

"I'm serious Robbei" AJ scolded "What am I going to do?"

"Obviously Punk is well aware of all of this and still asked you to marry him" Robbie noted "Besides food and cleaning isn't what marriage is about, it' s about love"

Punk was waiting at the end of the aisle and he seemed mostly calm.

"Where is she?" Punk asked Colt

"She'll be here" Colt laughed

"What if she changed her mind and ran off?" Punk asked him horrified

"Than she's smarter then I thought" Colt said seriously as Punk glared at him "Too soon for wedding jokes? Relax she's waiting on her brother"

"Robbie got here half an hour ago" Punk said to him

"She didn't leave you" Colt said pointing as AJ entered the room with her brother "See you big idiot"

"Wow" Punk said completely frozen "She looks beautiful" AJ's dress was tight fitting until it hit the ground; the train was long and wide and a beautiful lace vale to match it. Her lips were red and she was holding a bouquet of red roses to match.

"You are a lucky son of a bitch" Colt whispered into his friends ear then walked back over to take his place. AJ looked nervous walking down the aisle and didn't like everyone's on her but she kept her eyes locked on Punk.

"Take care of her" Robbie said passing AJ off to him. Punk just nodded he wasn't even able to form a sentence.

"Do I look ok?" she asked him shyly "You're looking at me funny"

"You're the most beautiful woman I have ever seen" he admitted honestly

"Stop" she smiled cutely blushing slightly

"Seriously" Punk said eyeing her with determination "So beautiful" he said running his fingers down her cheek

"Are we set?" the officiator asked the two

"Yes" Punk said without hesitation

"We are gathered here today to join Phillip Jack Brooks and April Jeanette Mendez in matrimony" the judge started off "I was told the ceremony was to be short and sweet" he smiled "Phillip and April have written their own vows for this occasion so April, ladies first"

"I'm really nervous" AJ admitted as Erica passed her a sheet of paper "I wrote down all of these things I wanted to say…" she said looking over the paper and Punk just watched her admiringly "Well first of all I want to say I can't believe this is actually happening" she said with a laugh "When I signed with WWE finding you was the last thing I ever expected" she told him honestly and he offered her half a smile "You've been my friend and mentor since the day I walked into the company and I have loved you since the first time we met. I know a lot of people say they marry their best friends but I know I really am. I am going to be the best wife, one that you deserve. I am going to love you for the rest of my life" she then folded the paper and handed it back to Erica.

"Phillip?" the judge asked

"Um…" he said pulling out his paper "I forgot to write vows" he admitted and he could see Kofi sitting in his seat shaking his head. "So I wrote down a bunch of crap but I don't need the paper" he said tucking the paper away "Sorry" he smirked towards AJ "Most people are nervous on their wedding day, they're afraid of committing to just one person for the rest of their lives but I never had any doubt" he told her "You are the woman I was meant to be with. You get me like no one else does, you support and protect me and I've never been with a woman like you before. I can't imagine my life without you and I don't take your love for granted. I'm going to spend the rest of my life cherishing you and loving you" he then looked towards the judge "That's all I've got" he said bluntly and the judge smiled

"It was perfect" AJ assured him with a whisper

"Well I know you two aren't super traditional so let's get to the rings" The Judge said and Punk looked over to Colt who just shrugged.

"Kidding" Colt smirked passing him off the rings

"Idiot" Punk mumbled and AJ giggled

"I love that laugh" Punk said to her and passed her his band. He took her left hand and slowly slid the bad on her ring finger "I'm going to spend the rest of my life making you laugh"

"I know" AJ smiled and slid the ring over his left ring finger. "It's beautiful" she said looking at the band that was wrapped in small diamonds.

"Then it matches you perfectly" Punk smiled

"She already agreed to marry you, you can stop sucking up now" Colt chimed in

"Phillip, April you are now man and wife" the judge informed them "You can kiss your bride" he said to Punk. Punk leaned down and pulled AJ into a kiss.

Outside the hotel parked across the street Amy was sitting in her car. She was dressed in a red dress and her hair and makeup were done perfectly. A knock at her passenger door window caused her to roll her eyes and open the door.

"What are you doing here?" James asked getting into the car "You don't think you're going in there do you?"

"I would like to" Amy mumbled "I'm not on the invite list" she said then eyed him "And you seem to think you are" noting his suit

"AJ said if I was still in town I could attend the wedding" James told her and she laughed

"I'm sure Phil would love that" Amy snorted "You're as invited as I am"

"AJ is my friend" James defended

"Yea a friend you tried to have sex with while she was knocked out cold" Amy smirked "I wonder if Phil would be nicer to me if I shared that little tidbit with him" she said to herself tapping her chin

"That's not what happened!" James yelled and Amy smirked

"Sure" Amy laughed

"I bought her a present" James said to her

"Well take my word for it- Phil will kill you if you manage to get in" Amy said to him "You're an outsider looking in, just like me" she then glanced towards the hotel.

"I bet she looks amazing" James noted and Amy gave him a strange look.

"Are you having fun?" Punk asked pulling AJ away from some of the guests

"I am" she said firmly "You?"

"Yes but I miss you" Punk said to her "You've been talking to people all night"

"I have to say hello to everyone" AJ said to him

"No, tonight is about us" Punk said pulling her against him "I want some AJ time" he said leaning down and kissing her "I feel bad we're not heading off to our honeymoon"

"After Mania" AJ said to him "Just a few weeks away and at least we have the rest of the weekend off"

"Yea I kind of like being locked away in our house for forty-eight straight hours" Punk grinned "And by the way you did a great job this place looks amazing"

"Thanks" AJ said looking around the venue "I'm sure it cost a lot more then you wanted to spend"

"Probably but it was worth it" Punk said looking around himself "So do you feel any different?"

"Well I've been Mrs. Brooks for about two hours and I already feel strangely arrogant and cocky" AJ teased

"Cute" Punk remarked and she kissed him again

"Today has been so perfect thank you for making this happen" AJ said to him

"Well if you really want to thank me you'll dance with me" Punk said to her grabbing her hand

"I have a hard enough time walking" AJ warned "You know I can't dance"

"But its our wedding" Punk argued

"But I'll fall" she pouted

"You think I would let you fall?" Punk asked arching his brow causing her to smile "Come on I'll keep you on two feet or at least one" he promised