"Where'd you go last night?" AJ asked the next morning, tying her hair up in their bathroom whilst Punk changed Liesel into a clean diaper and baby grow. AJ was getting ready to go to the studio for her first full day back, and Punk was headed to college with Liesel to pick up some papers. He was studying for a final exam, and from balancing himself between Liesel, AJ and now his father, it sure was going to be hard to do his best, but he was determined to ace it.
"I went to see my dad." Punk said, lifting Liesel up into his arms and taking a seat on the edge of the bed, watching her walk into the bedroom with folded arms, "I just didn't tell you because I didn't want you to worry." He said.
"Well what did you say?" AJ asked curiously.
"I told him that I was back, and that with him is where I belong." Punk shrugged, "Had to say anything to make him believe me." He said as AJ nodded.
"So… you're going to be working for him now..." AJ nodded slowly as he sighed.
"I know you don't like it, but it's our only option." Punk said, "He said he would leave you and Liesel alone-"
"And you believe him?" AJ asked.
"Well if I'm working for him, why would he want to hurt you?" Punk said, shaking his head suddenly, "Look, you don't have to worry about any of it. Just leave it to me. As far as everyone is concerned, I'm back working with my father." He said as AJ nodded.
"So that means you're gonna be going out at night to do your quote on quote, jobs with him?" AJ glared at him as he groaned.
"April, I don't know what else you expect me to do here." Punk said, "It's all gonna be over soon, I promise." He nodded as she just walked by him, grabbing her bag from off the floor as well as her jacket.
"You didn't tell me you'd be going back out to kill people, Phil. I can't just… I can't just stand by and watch you-"
"Well you're gonna have to." Punk spat, "It's not permanent. Just until I can figure out what I'm doing. Don't worry about it." He shook his head.
"Well of course I'm going to worry about it." AJ spat.
"You were ok with this plan when I told you a few days ago on vacation." Punk said.
"Yeah, well I was happier then and you were fucking me every night, so I guess it slipped my mind." She shrugged whilst putting on her coat.
"Don't be like this, c'mon." Punk stood up with Liesel still in his arms, "I'm doing this so we can have a little freedom. So I can get out of my dad's chains and live my life." He said.
"I have to go to work." She said, avoiding the subject and slinging her bag over her shoulder, "I'll be home later." She told him, avoiding eye contact with him, but reaching up to plant a kiss on Liesel's cheek, "Bye, baby." She smiled, looking up at Punk where her smile faded.
"Oh, April. Stop it." Punk sighed at her child like behaviour.
"I'll see you when I get home." She glared at him, walking by him and out of he room, running down the stairs and straight out the door as he groaned to himself loudly.
Punk headed off to college with Liesel despite his dampened mood by his fiance who clearly was not keen on the idea of him returning to aid his father, but he really wasn't doing it out of the kindness of his heart. He needed his dad to believe he was back in the game with him for good, or else what was the point in trying to end him?
He didn't plan to stay long at college, he was really only in to collect some stuff. He couldn't help feel a little awkward walking to his class with Liesel in his arms. Although the class did have people of all ages in it, it was mostly older teens, and he sometimes stuck out like a sore thumb.
"Aren't you going to introduce to me to your friend?" A voice came from behind him as he stood at the front desk to the entrance of the college, about to leave after collecting his things, turning around and seeing a student in his class.
"What?" He shook his head.
"She's cute." The black haired girl smiled, "What is she, a sister or something?" The young girl asked as Punk laughed.
"Sister?" He chuckled, "No… no, she's my daughter." Punk smiled to the girl. He recognised her from his class. She was young, but probably one of the most talented artists in the class.
"Shut up. You aren't old enough to be a dad." She laughed as Punk nodded, "What's her name?" She smiled, stroking Liesel's hand with a smile.
"Liesel." Punk said, not sure how to accumulate this situation.
"She looks fresh out the packet." The young girl smiled.
"She is. Just a few weeks old." Punk smiled, "I was just in picking up some stuff for the final test." He told her as she nodded.
"How are you feeling about it? I know I'm petrified." She laughed nervously as he shrugged.
"I think I'll be ok. Just gotta keep looking over things." He said as she nodded.
"I'm sure you'll do fine." She smiled.
"Yeah." Punk nodded, "Well… I better shoot off." He said as she nodded.
"Duty calls, huh?" She smiled, "She's gorgeous. I had no idea you had her." She smiled as Punk just nodded. Why would he assume she knew anyway? He hadn't spoke to her in his life. In fact, he didn't even know her name. All he knew was she was the young, talented, black haired girl. That was it.
"Well, thanks." Punk smiled, "I didn't catch your name." He said, hoping that wouldn't come across as rude.
"Paige." The young girl smiled, "You're Phil, right?" She asked as he nodded, "I've seen a lot of your drawings. That one you drew of that woman… it was amazing." She smiled.
"Yeah, that was my fiance." He said as she gasped.
"Lucky you." She smiled, "I didn't take you for a family man." She admitted, looking up at him, "Listen, I'm going for coffee across the street. It's my lunch break. Do you fancy joining me? Maybe we could look over some things for this test coming up." She asked genuinely as he looked at the clock on the wall at the seated area in the corner of the ground floor. It was pretty early, and it wasn't like he had some place to be. April clearly was enjoying being out of his sight today.
"Yeah, ok." Punk nodded. He was allowed to have college friends. Wasn't he? And plus, she was a kid, eighteen if she was lucky, it wasn't a big deal. But he guessed the moment he had to convince himself it wasn't a big deal, was when it actually was a big deal, and he would later pay the price when his fiance found out.
AJ was in the middle of her own lunch break with her younger students, sitting with them whilst snacking on a sandwich she had bought on her way to the studio this morning. Sometimes it was easier to talk with the younger girls than the older ones. They made her smile and laugh more.
"Toni, where is your lunch?" AJ asked, looking over at Toni sitting with nothing in front of her.
"Dad forgot to make me it." Toni said as AJ frowned.
"Here, come share mine." AJ waved her over, not letting her niece go hungry, watching her come over and sit next to her just as Dean tumbled through the door, knocking some things down on his way, attracting all the girls attention as they laughed, including AJ.
"You stay here." AJ told Toni, standing up and walking over to Dean with a smile, "Little late." She laughed.
"I forgot to put it in her bag this morning." Dean admitted as AJ shook her head.
"Don't worry about it." AJ smiled, "Is Elise working?" She asked curiously.
"Yeah." Dean nodded, "I don't know how she ever managed to space herself between taking care of Toni, dropping her off here and remembering everything, as well as working."
"I think it's just a talent only mom's have." AJ smiled, "You're doing good though. I know Elise is really happy you're here now. And I think Toni likes having you around." She said as Dean looked over at Toni sitting with her friends.
"Yeah?" Dean smiled, "I don't know. Sometimes I think she hates me." He laughed.
"Don't be stupid." AJ said, "I don't suppose you know about Punk's plan?" She asked as he put his hands in his jean pockets after handing her over Toni's lunch.
"Elise told me." Dean nodded, "I mean… I think it's smart, but… Jack may be scum, but he's smart, and he definitely knows when he's being played." Dean said, "It's just a shit situation all around." Dean shrugged.
"I don't want Punk going out and doing these jobs for him. I just hate how much this man has control over my family. I wish there was simpler way." She sighed, running her hand through her hair.
"Maybe there is." Dean shrugged as AJ looked up at him.