Chapter 39: Love of your life

When Punk made it back to the locker room he noticed AJ was already gone along with her bag. He quickly got changed and headed to his bus in search of her.

"Did AJ come on yet?" Punk asked the driver

"About twenty minutes ago" the driver nodded. Twenty minutes? How long was he talking to Maria for?

"Great we can go" Punk said to him as he tossed his bag and headed to the back bedroom. "Hey" he said finding his wife lying in bed with the lights off already which was not like her.

"Hey" she said calmly

"What's wrong?" he asked sitting on the bed and she opened her large eyes at him.

"I'm just beat" she said to him "And I have a headache"

"Probably because you need to eat" Punk said to her

"I can't eat right now" AJ said to him and gave him a smile "But you should have something"

"I know tonight was rough on you" Punk said softly "It'll get better"

"Yea" AJ agreed lightly "So how did it go with Maria?"

"She was visiting with Stephanie" Punk told her

"She wants her job back doesn't she?" AJ asked

"It's what she's hoping for" Punk said to her

"And what did she want from you?" AJ asked curiously

"She wants me to put in a good word for her" Punk told her honestly

"I think that's nice" AJ said to him

"I'm not doing it" Punk told her "And I told her I wouldn't"

"You should" AJ said to him

"If Maria wants to come back she has to do it on her own" Punk said to her

"Would it bother you if she came back?" AJ asked

"It wouldn't bother me if she did or didn't" Punk shrugged

"She was the love of your life" AJ reminded him

"No I loved her" Punk corrected "If she was the love of my life I would have married her"

"She's really pretty" AJ noted "Even more so in person"

"She is pretty" Punk agreed "But you're beautiful" he added skimming his fingers down her cheek

"You don't have to pacify me" AJ said to him "And if you want to help Maria do it. Don't stop on my account"

"It's not just about you" Punk said to her "I just don't want to go out of my way to help someone who I haven't spoken to in years. She's using our past to try to get favors, I'm no chump"

"Randy seemed happy to see her" AJ noted

"Of course he did" Punk remarked "Don't give her a second thought" he said to her "Oh the person who threw the soda at you was kicked out of the building by the way"

"Great" AJ said to him "I have a feeling this going to become a running thing now. Who's going to toss AJ with a refreshment this week?" she mocked

"Well that's not going to happen" Punk said to her "They'll start arresting people if this keeps up. Your safety is a priority"

"I'm hated by the fans and I'm a face" AJ mumbled "I feel like John" Punk couldn't help but laugh

"You're not on that level don't worry" Punk assured her

"Not yet" AJ muttered

"Hey it was a bad night, I've had tons of those" Punk said firmly "It always gets better"

"It's just a lot" she admitted "I think I really just need sleep"

"Ok" Punk said kicking off his shoes

"You're never going to sleep at this time" AJ noted as she felt Punk wrap his arms around her waist and tug her back against his chest

"I'll sleep if you do" Punk said to her and kissed the side of her head

"I love you" she whispered

"I love you too" Punk responded.

The next day Punk and AJ were at Smackdown. They were both sitting in catering with Kofi chatting about games coming out and Wrestlemania.

"What's wrong short stuff?" Kofi asked AJ noticing she hadn't touched her food "Feel sick?"

"No just not hungry" AJ said folding her arms

"You haven't eaten in almost 24 hours" Punk said to her almost scolding "Eat" he demanded

"I told you I'm not that hungry" she said pushing her dish away

"I-" Punk started but Joey Mercury one of his good friends walked over

"Hey sorry to interrupt" Joey smiled "But Hunter wants to see you in his office" he said to Punk

"I'm busy" Punk said to him

"Why?" AJ asked

"Something about a scuffle last night" Joey shrugged "Did you really walk into the men's locker room and clock Ryback?" he laughed

"He really wants to see me over that?" Punk asked annoyed and stood up "I'll just get it over with I suppose"

"Be nice" AJ warned

"Eat" he responded back pointing to her food then walking out with Joey

"So what's the deal?" Kofi asked AJ "You and I have been friends for a long time and I know when something is eating at you"

"It's Maria" AJ admitted

"What about her?" Kofi asked

"She was at the show last night looking for Phil" AJ told him

"She's ancient history" Kofi assured her "You have nothing to worry about"

"I'm not like her" AJ reminded him "She's so beautiful and bubbly and I'm just flat and morbid"

"You are not flat and morbid" Kofi laughed "Is that why you're not eating? Hey you're the size of my pinky" he said holding it up

"His face lit up when he saw her" AJ noted

"I doubt that" Kofi laughed again "If it lit up I'm sure it was fiery red and not very affectionate"

"If she hadn't broken up with him I think they would still be together" AJ said to him "What if she wants him back?"

"I was friends with Punk when he was with her and he was no where near as happy as he was with her then he is with you" Kofi told her seriously "Honestly he had been so miserable the last few months before you two got more serious"

"He still loves her" AJ said to him

"He may still feel some sort of love for her" Kofi agreed "Because you and I both know when he loves, he loves deeply. But he isn't in love with her. He'd be really upset if he knew how much this was bothering you"

"With everything going on with Amy and the fans turning on me Maria just picked the worst time ever to show up again" AJ said to him

"It's been a rough week I'll give you that" Kofi smirked "But you'll have better ones"

AJ and Randy were participating in a mixed gender tag match tonight. They were going to be wrestling Naomi and Brodus Clay.

"You ok?" Randy asked her

"Yea" AJ said brushing it off.

"You look pale" Randy frowned

"I said I was fine!" AJ yelled back annoyed

"Wow" Randy smirked "Someone is testy tonight"

"Shut up" AJ groaned

"Is that about Maria?" Randy asked "Did Punky not come home last night?" he teased

"That isn't funny" AJ warned

"I'm just saying" Randy laughed and that's when his music hit "Come on now" he said gesturing for her to follow him out.

Punk was watching the match from his locker room with Paul sitting next to him.

"So I heard a rumor Maria was around last night" Paul noted casually

"Yea she was backstage" Punk confirmed "Nothing happened"

"Well I'm sure of that" Paul smirked "But how are you doing?"

"What do you mean?" Punk asked keeping his eyes on the screen "She seems off" he said watching AJ in the ring with Naomi "She seem off to you?"

"No" Paul said quickly looking at the match then back at Punk "Maria crushed you"

"Yea she did- years ago. I'm married now" Punk reminded him "I don't even acknowledge other women"

"Alright" Paul sighed "But if you want to talk about it-"

"I don't want to talk about it" Punk said cutting him off "Maria is irrelevant to me and don't bring her up again because I know AJ is a little on edge with her being back"

"You two have so much drama" Paul chuckled

"Tell me about it" Punk groaned and watched as AJ made a quick tag to Orton. "Something is defiantly off with her tonight"

"Has she been feeling under the weather? Pregnant?" Paul teased

"Do you think if she was pregnant she would be in the ring right now?" Punk asked "And she's defiantly not so that's not the problem"

"Have you two discussed children?" Paul asked him

"Yea we plan on kids after we're both done wrestling" Punk told him "She wants two I want eight" he laughed lightly but frowned when he saw AJ grabbing her head and then falling off the ring.

"That's not good" Paul frowned standing up

"What are they doing?" Punk asked noticing the ref throwing up the X but going back to the match. Punk walked out of his locker room with full intentions of walking right out to ringside.

"Where are you going?" Joey asked jumping in front of him

"Where do you think?" Punk asked trying to brush his friend

"You can't" Joey instructed "The match is still going on"

"Fuck that" Punk spat

"The medics are out there" Joey said to him and Punk looked towards the monitor and was now more alarmed when he noticed she hadn't woken up yet.

"Something is wrong" Punk said to him "You're going to step out of my way or I'm going to push you out of it" he threatened

"Let him go" Paul insisted "It'll look great for the story"

"Just don't-" Joey didn't even finish his sentence Punk was already passed the curtain. He jogged towards AJ who was still out cold. Randy was now at her side as well.

"What happened!" Punk demanded

"I don't know, she got knocked in the head maybe she took it harder then I thought" Randy reasoned

"Why isn't she waking up" Punk asked the medic but at that moment the smelling salts he placed by her nose caused AJ's eyes to shoot open

"How are you feeling?" the medic asked her as he helped her sit up

"I'm fine" AJ said weakly

"Babe you ok?" Punk asked with a voice laced with concern

"My head hurts" AJ moaned

"Let's help her up" Randy suggested. The medic and Randy raised AJ to her feet and she was met with 'Lita' chants from the fans.

"This is hell isn't it?" AJ asked her husband and using his arm for balance

"Just keep your head down and I'll get you to the back" he assured her

Once they made it to the back doc was waiting for her.

"Come on AJ" he said waving for her to follow

"I'll go with you" Punk said to her

"You have to go on" Joey said to Punk

"What is your deal man?" Punk asked with a frustrated laugh

"Phil it's fine you have a match" AJ said to him

"I'm not leaving you by yourself" Punk said to her

"I'll stay with her" Joey offered "But we can't push your back match"

"The show is pre-recorded" Punk argued

"Just go have your stupid match" Randy said to him "I'll sit with AJ until you get back"

"Comforting" Punk remarked sarcastically

"Just go" AJ insisted "I'll be fine"

"Alright" Punk said letting her go "I won't be long" he promised

"Come on little one" Randy said helping her into Doc's office. Punk watched and waited for Randy to take AJ into the room.

"We're waiting on you Punk" Joey said to him quickly

"You're really starting to piss me off" Punk warned his friend then headed to the curtain.

Ten minutes later Randy was sitting next to AJ as the doctor took her blood pressure.

"So what's the word? Is she pregnant?" Randy asked and AJ rolled her eyes

"You're an idiot" AJ shot at him "I can't get pregnant right now it's physically impossible and do you really think I'd wrestle if there was any chance I'd be pregnant?"

"I'm just teasing" Randy smirked "Besides everyone is going to think that anyway"

"No she's not pregnant but her pressure is low" The doctor stated. "When was the last time you ate?"

"Yesterday" AJ said to him honestly

"Yesterday?" Randy asked

"You can leave now" she said to him

"I promised your hubby I'd hang out with you" Randy said to her with a shrug

"You're dehydrated" the doctor frowned "You know what a physical toll this job takes on the body and you should know how important it is to eat"

"I know" AJ said feeling embarrassed "I just haven't had an appetite"

"If this was a live taped show you would have been in a lot of trouble" the Doctor noted

"I know" AJ agreed

"Maria makes me lose my appetite too" Randy smirked

"Ugh" AJ groaned

"Is that what this is about?" Randy teased "Starving yourself so you can look like her? Newsflash you're skinner then her if anything you should put on some weight to you could at least have some sort of a figure"

"I really am starting to hate you" AJ shot at him "And I wasn't starving myself or trying to look like her"

"So what was it then?" Randy asked "Punk is looking husky is he eating all of your food?"

"Stop teasing her" the doctor warned

"Yea" AJ scolded "As a matter of fact you can get out"

"I'm just trying to help" Randy defended

"Hey" John Cena said entering the room. Now AJ felt worse, she spent most of last night and tonight avoiding him.

"John boy" Randy grinned

"I saw what happened" John said to them "How are you feeling?"

"I'm fine" AJ assured him "I'm just a little dehydrated"

"Can I have minute with her?" John asked Randy

"Take as many minutes as you want" Randy said standing up and walking out of the room

"I'll be right back" Doc said walking out of the room as well

"You've been avoiding me" John noted

"Yea I thought it would be easier until I mustered up the courage to apologize" AJ said to him and frowned

"Apologize for what?" John questioned

"For the Amy interview" AJ said to him "I know Nikki is mad and she has every right to be. It's one thing for her to last at me but dragging you down too is just wrong"

"I don't care about the interview" John said to her brushing it off "I'm worried about you"

"I'm fine its just words and I've been told it will die down" AJ smirked lightly

"It will" John confirmed with a smile "Look I know you've been going through a lot lately and I haven't been a very good friend to you"

"It's fine" AJ said to him

"No it's not" John corrected letting out a sigh "We became really close for a while there"

"We did" AJ agreed "But you began dating Nikki and I-"

"Began sneaking around with Punk" John finished for her

"You think I had this coming don't you?" AJ asked "It's ok I think it too"

"No AJ" John said shaking his head "You don't deserve any of this. You're human and so is Punk. Obviously you two were meant to be"

"You really think that?" AJ asked with a shy smile

"Yea I do" He chuckled "You two fit perfectly together. I'm just surprised it took so long"

"I really am sorry you were dragged into this" AJ apologized again

"Hey I feel bad for you because there's nothing embarrassing about people thinking I slept with you" John flirted lightly "I know Punk hates it"

"He'd like to think I was celibate before him" AJ giggled "But he knows nothing ever happened between us"

"Well I wouldn't say nothing" John said quietly "You really helped me through some of the rough times" he said to her "And if it were up to me we would have taken that leap"

"You were emotional" AJ reminded him "I wouldn't have taken advantage of that"

"I know. That's just one of the many reasons you're a good person" John said to her

"Hope I'm not interrupting" Punk said making his presence known

"Not at all" John said to him but Punk didn't seem too pleased at the moment "I was just checking in"

"You done now?" Punk asked coldly

"Yea" John smiled "I'll see you soon AJ, Phil" he then walked out of the room

"What's wrong?" AJ asked him

"How are you feeling?" Punk asked avoiding her question

"I'm dehydrated" AJ said to him and he nodded

"I figured as much" Punk said to her "We're going back to the bus and I'm feeding you until you put on ten pounds"

"Fun" AJ mocked

"So John seemed concerned" Punk noted

"Yea he's a good guy" AJ said and Punk smiled bitterly

Once they were on the bus Punk made the driver stop at a local McDonalds and ordered AJ some cheeseburgers and fries.

"I don't know how you don't eat meat" AJ said as she took a bite out of her burger "You have no idea what you are missing" Punk just smiled at her and watched as she ate. "What is your problem?" she asked him

"No problem here" Punk remarked

"I know you a little better than that" AJ said to him "Is this about Maria?"

"No" He said surprised "Why would I care about her? Is that what this is about?"

"No" AJ said shaking her head

"I told you last night you have nothing to worry about" Punk said to her "Do you want to talk about it?" he asked

"No" she said to him and he seemed relieved "It's just if the love of my life walked back into my life it would effect me"

"Maria isn't the love of my life" Punk said to her "And who is yours now that you mention it?"

"You of course" AJ said to him and he smiled lightly "If we were to break up and out of no where you stepped back into my life I'd be reconsidering everything"

"I thought Maria was the love of my life" Punk said to her "Until I met you. And if I wasn't with you and I saw her last night I probably would have told her off, not run back into her arms. But when I'm with you no one else matters I don't feel anger towards her anymore or love- it just feels bland"

"Really?" AJ asked hopefully

"Really and truly" He assured her "So you can stop this insane jealousy thing even though you jealous is hot"

"Glad I could do it for you" AJ mocked "So I confessed my issue tell me what yours is?"

"What did Cena mean?" Punk asked bluntly "If it were up to him you two would have been together? All those nights helping me out- how did you help him out AJ?"

"You were eavesdropping?" AJ questioned surprised

"Yes" Punk said honestly

"John was going through his divorce" AJ reminded him "He was really sad and emotional and I was his shoulder to lean on"

"How so?" Punk questioned

"We didn't have sex" AJ clarified

"Good" Punk said to her "But did anything else go on between the two of you?"

"We kissed one night" AJ admitted "He came into my hotel room after getting a message from Elizabeth and he was so upset. He kissed me and wanted to progress further but I told him no and he stopped and that was that"

"Saint Cena" Punk remarked bitterly "Why did you stop it?"

"You really want to know?" AJ asked him

"Yea I do" Punk said to her

"Because he wasn't you" AJ told him honestly "John is a really wonderful guy but he's not you."

"We weren't together during that time" Punk reminded her

"I remember" AJ said to him "Doesn't mean I didn't want you and it doesn't mean seeing you with Amy didn't kill me on the inside constantly"

"I'm sorry" Punk said to her "I'm sure it wasn't easy to see me with her backstage"

"It sucked" AJ admitted "But hey it worked for me in the end"

"Look at all its cost you" Punk said to her "A brutal beating, forced storylines-"

"And it all lead me to you" AJ said cutting him off "I wouldn't change a thing. All that matters is you not work, not Amy- just you. As long as I have you I'll be ok"

"You're damn right" Punk said firmly "You're not alone in this"

"I know" she said to him softly "You're always on my team. But that doesn't mean you have to beat everyone up that speaks to me"

"The Ryback thing?" Punk asked innocently "I didn't beat him up I spoke to him about saying inappropriate things to you."

"Yea?" AJ asked amused

"Yea and he responded with an inappropriate comment about you" Punk defended "He wanted me to punch him repeatedly"

"They're going to do that you know" AJ said to him "My sex life has become the talk of the locker room" Punk just shivered at the comment "You can't let everyone get under your skin and I shouldn't either."

"Your sex life is my sex life and I don't appreciate being talked about" Punk informed her

"We need to be mature about this" AJ warned

"You're right" Punk agreed "I'll work on it"

"Good" AJ said to him "So tomorrow could we go to the gym and work on my moves? Maybe show me some things?"

"Yea" Punk said to her "Cliff is going to be in town too so he might drop by"

"Good the more the merrier" AJ said to him "I want to learn from everyone"

"And you will and by the time you step back in that ring for the title you'll be confidant and ready" he assured her

"I want to leave a mark" AJ said to him seriously "I want to get into that ring and get on that microphone and prove to everyone I'm here because I'm good"

"And you will" Punk said to her "And you won't be good you'll be great"