Late nights & Early mornings
The day Punk and AJ got back from the cabin he was literally whistling while working. Nothing was going to rain on his parade today. He had an amazing night away with AJ and it wasn't just the sex which was the best he could remember but it was the fun they had. She was so excited to learn new things and anxious for him to teach her. She had such an appreciation for life that he admired. She was sure she'd keep him young.
"Are you really whistling?" Jason asked amused from across the shop.
"Am I?" Punk asked with a grin.
"Fishing went well?" Jason asked and Punk just nodded. "AJ fishing must have been amusing."
"She caught like ten fish but refused to let me cook them. I had to throw them all back except for one that was just dead when she pulled it in. She actually tried to convince me to give it CPR." he laughed.
"She's a big animal lover." Jason remembered. "So what did you do with it?"
"We buried it." Punk said to him and Jason let out a loud laugh. "A little fish funeral. It made her happy so whatever."
"What did you guys eat?" Jason asked amused.
"She packed crackers which she graciously shared with me." Punk mocked. "We just had a great time."
"Convince her to quit her job and not pay Hector?" Jason asked.
"I told her to forget the Hector stuff." Punk said to him then looked at the time. "Actually I have to go meet him in a few."
"I'll go with you." Jason said to him.
"I don't want him to think this is a set up." Punk said to him. "I'll deal with it. As for the job? Nope. She's keeping it and I'm banned from sitting in there during her shifts."
"This Hector stuff is crazy." Jason said shaking his head. "Why wouldn't she at least tell me?"
"She has her reasons." Punk said quietly remembering the story AJ told him while they were away.
"Hey." AJ greeted skipping down the stairs in her work uniform. "I'm leaving for work and wanted to say goodbye."
"Yea ok." Punk said closing up her jacket for her so no one could see her uniform then leaned down to kiss her. "I'll pick you up tonight." He told her and she just nodded.
"You don't mind?" She asked and he shook his head.
"Jason could you check in on dad after dinner? He's really under the weather today." AJ asked her brother who nodded.
"Yea of course." Jason said to her.
"Night." She said then felt Punk tap her ass as she walked out the door and she blushed and giggled.
"Really dude?" Jason asked him.
"That wasn't that bad." Punk defended.
"You're having sex with her aren't you?" Jason asked.
"Do you really want me to answer that?" Punk asked seriously.
"Nope." Jason said disgusted. "The stuff with Maria though..."
"You and your sister both harp on Maria more than I do." Punk said annoyed. "I'm fucking over Maria I don't know how many more ways I can say it or prove it."
"It's just Kate and Maria are friends and she'll be at the wedding." Jason told him and Punk shrugged.
"Fuck it." Punk said brushing it off.
"She's going to be a bridesmaid." Jason told him and that bothered Punk since so was AJ.
"AJ is a bridesmaid." Punk reminded him and Jason didn't say a word. "Both of them?"
"Yea." Jason said to him. "I mean they don't really know each other so it shouldn't be too bad between them. I just hope you behave."
"You think I'm going to run off when I see Maria?" Punk asked Jason who just shrugged. "Your sister and I connect in a way that I can't even describe. I'm not going anywhere."
"Alright." Jason said warily.
"I've gotta go." Punk said cleaning off his hands.
"Are you sure you don't need me?" Jason asked him.
"Nah I've got this." Punk said to him.
Punk walked up the stairs and saw Hector waiting outside AJ's apartment door.
"She's not coming." Punk said and Hector looked behind himself.
"Are you talking to me?" Hector asked with a laugh.
"Yea I'm talking to you." Punk said to him. "AJ isn't giving you money so fuck off."
"Oh come on man don't mess around in my business." Hector said standing up straight.
"AJ is my business." Punk informed him.
"I thought she was Jason's rich prissy baby sister?" Hector asked him.
"She's Jason's sister but she's also with me." Punk told him. "Don't mess around with her anymore she didn't have anything to do with Shane getting locked up and she doesn't have the money to pay not that she would even if she did."
"Your best friends sister, huh?" Hector chuckled.
"I'm not here to discuss my personal life with you prick." Punk snapped.
"Does miss New Jersey know you used to roll with me?" Hector asked him.
"What did I say about what I'm not discussing with you?" Punk asked annoyed.
"I'm done doing you favors we're even." Hector said to him.
"Even?" Punk mocked. "You put a knife to my girls throat and you think we're even?"
"She has a big mouth." Hector noted. "Your dick must get lost in it."
Punk laughed at the remark and then grabbed Hector by his shirt and threw him up against the wall.
"I'm not saying it again." Punk threatened. "Get out of my fucking building or I swear the fear of the cops coming around which I promise you they will, will be the least of your problems."
"You were cooler when you were with Maria." Hector said pushing Punk off of himself. "Let me ask you something, does your new girl know what kind of man she's getting into bed with? You're no fucking better than me either is her brother. You both did some real hideous shit in your time."
"We grew up." Punk hissed. "Unlike you who still does the same shit from high school. Get the fuck out of here and if I even smell you smoking around my shop I'll break your fucking face."
"Whatever man." Hector said shaking his head.
"Problem?" David asked stepping outside with a bat in his hand.
"No Mr. Mendez." Hector said kindly. "I was just leaving."
"What are you doing with that bat?" Punk laughed as Hector left.
"I'll chase that thug just like I did when I caught him tagging the outside of my shop." David said to him. "Where's my daughter?"
"Work." Punk said to him.
"And you're not going to sit there and watch her?" David asked.
"She banned me." Punk shrugged and David smirked.
"Stubborn little thing, ain't she?" David asked proudly.
"Like you." Punk agreed.
"I don't know what is happening between the two of you but I need you too look after her and Jason when I'm gone." David said to him.
"Don't talk like that." Punk said to him.
"Three weeks." David told him.
"Three weeks?" Punk asked. "I thought you had months."
"It's getting bad." David admitted as Punk followed him into the apartment. "That's the wedding has been bumped up to next week."
"What can I do?" Punk asked him.
"I just told you. My kids are going to need someone to watch their backs." David said to him. "Jason is going to have Kate to depend on but AJ keeps it all in all of the time even when she was little she did that." he said shaking his head.
"Always looking to take on the world alone, too proud to ask for help or a shoulder to lean on."
"No kidding." Punk muttered and David gave him half a smile.
"When she was nine she was staying here and she burned her hand on the stove and didn't tell me for three days." David to him. "And only told me because it got infected. She didn't want to 'bother' me. I know her mother provided her with a good life but she doesn't know what it means to have a real family. She needs to open up more."
"She has been." Punk assured him. "She seems to like it here."
"She seems to like you." David teased. "This morning she was singing in the shower and I love my daughter to death but she can't hold a note. Don't break her heart, protect it." he told Punk seriously.
"I'll look after both of them." Punk promised.
"Even if this stuff with AJ goes south you need to check in on her. Jason will but she can lie to him, she can't lie to you." David said and Punk nodded.
"You don't have to worry about a thing." Punk said to him.
"Well there's something else I wanted to bring up to you. The shop." David began and Punk gave him his full attention.
"I'm leaving it to my children." he told Punk who figured he'd be cut out of the shop on the will once AJ returned but he didn't care. He'd still work there no matter what. "Jason, AJ and you."
"Me?" Punk asked.
"Did I not feed you for years? Let you sleep under my roof? Take you to games? Help you with homework?" David asked him.
"Yea but-" Punk started.
"You're as much my son as Jason is." David said to him. "I don't know what AJ is going to do with her share maybe you can teach her how to answer the phones or I assume she'll just sell it to one of you guys but I wanted her to have a piece of it too."
"I think she'd keep it." Punk said to him.
"I trust you with my shop." David told him. "And my daughter."
"I really don't want to have a conversation like this." Punk admitted.
"I understand it's a little morbid." David agreed. "Just don't give me a half assed funeral like you did for that poor fish AJ killed." Punk rolled his eyes, he couldn't believe AJ told David the story. "You give fish funerals now?"
"It made her happy." Punk defended seriously. "She also swore she wouldn't tell you."
"It made me laugh." David laughed. "I remember I bought a dog home once for a friend and slept down in the shop every night because you hated it so much."
"It hated me!" Punk defended as David continued to laugh. "It was always looking at my throat."
"AJ is a dog lover." David warned him. "She was asking me if dogs were allowed in the building."
"I hope you told her no." Punk said to him and David grinned.
"Oh, I told her yes." David said to him and Punk rolled his eyes. "Told her to get one if she wanted and she thinks a dog will help me as well."
"She's fucking crazy." Punk groaned.
"She must get that from her mother." David said seriously and Punk side eyed him.
Later that night when AJ stepped out of work and saw Punk sitting on the curb.
"Hey." She smiled and he jumped up and greeted her with a kiss.
"How was work?" He asked.
"Great! I only dropped one tray tonight and look!" She cheered pulling out a bundle of cash. "I made $300 in tips!"
"Woah." Punk said pushing her hand down. "Don't flash cash around like that at this time of night."
"Why?" She asked curiously putting the money in her purse as they walked.
"Because that's like drawing a target on your back." Punk said to her. "And I'm too tired to fight off a mugger."
"You do look exhausted." She frowned. "You don't have to get me every single night. It's only a few blocks over."
"I'm a gentleman." Punk reminded her. "At least the first few nights. I know you want to do things on your own but let me just pick you up a few times, ok?"
"Ok." She said simply and he grabbed her hand as they walked. "Did you see Hector?"
"I did and it's nothing for you to worry about." Punk said to her.
"Thanks." She practically forced out. "So, how well do you know him again?"
"Look." Punk started. "There's something you should know about me."
"Is there where you tell me you're married or a murderer?" She asked teasingly. "Or are you both? Did you kill your wife?"
"No." He smirked. "But I told you me, Jason and Hector were buddies- Shane too."
"Yea." She remembered.
"Well when I told you I did time in juvie that was true." He said to her. "I also got arrested for assault when I was an adult."
"You went to jail? Like real jail?" AJ asked him.
"No." Punk said to her. "Well I was arrested but I wasn't formally charged because the victim dropped the charges."
"Why would you beat someone up?" She asked him.
"It was my dad." He confided which surprised him. "I was 18."
"You never talk about your parents." She pointed out.
"There's not much to say." He shrugged. "I just told you I was arrested for beating my father and you're not running off?"
"No." She said simply. "I know you and I trust you and I trust you were only defending yourself."
"I was." Punk assured her. "Hector convinced my father to drop the chargers in a threatening matter."
"Oh." AJ said to him.
"I'm telling you because he might tell you and I don't want you to think I'm lying." He said to her. "But those few nights in lockup really shook me and that's when I cut ties with Hector. David also talked some sense into me and I just worked with him and Jason to keep busy 24/7. I'm not a monster or a criminal."
"I never thought you were." AJ said to him. "You are one of the three hardest working people that I have ever met."
"One of three?" He asked with a chuckle.
"David and Jason." she said to him and he had to agree.
"So what are you going to do with your first day pay?" Punk asked wanting to get off the Hector subject.
"I'm going to get a dog." She said happily and he rolled his eyes. "Relax I know you're an animal hater I'm not going to make you play with it or anything."
"I'm not an animal hater." Punk defended. "They just don't like me. So you're going to buy a dog?"
"I'm going to adopt a dog." She corrected. "There's adoption fees and I need to get food and stuff."
"Getting a dog means you just can't pack up and head back to Jersey. You're setting down roots now." Punk pointed out.
"I wasn't leaving regardless." She told him. "Besides the dog isn't the only thing that would keep me here."
"Really?" He asked. "Who else?"
"Jason and David duh." She said and he glared at her. "You're an added bonus." she added as they approached the building.
"So I think David is sleeping." Punk said to her as they walked up the few flights of stairs.
"Yea? I imagine he would be." AJ smirked as they reached their floor. "I really needed to shower and stuff but I don't want to wake him."
"Well you're in luck because I have a shower across the hall." He offered.
"Yea?" she teased and he nodded.
"And it just so happens I need to shower too." Punk told her as he opened his apartment door.
"Good. You can help clean my back." She said practically strutting into his apartment.
The next morning Jason walked into Punk's apartment with his tux for the wedding and saw his sister literally sleeping on top of Punk on the couch. She was wearing Punk's sweats and clearly drooling over him. Punk's arm was wrapped around her waist but he was out cold too. Jason slammed the door and both woke up instantly.
"Sorry." Jason smirked.
"What time is it?" AJ asked sitting up.
"Ow fuck." Punk hissed as AJ dug her elbow into his side.
"Sorry honey." She said climbing off of him. "I have to get back in before David wakes up." She said and gave Punk a quick kiss on the lips and as she passed Jason gave him a kiss on the cheek and ran out the door.
"Cute." Jason mocked.
"Fuck off." Punk groaned sitting up and rubbing his neck. "She fucking drooled on me." he said looking at his shirt.
"Bad night?" Jason asked.
"Actually no." Punk grinned happily. "Your sister made me a very happy man last night."
"What the fuck did I say about talking about my sister and sex?" Jason groaned.
"Whatever." Punk smirked. "A suit?" he asked.
"Tux." Jason corrected hanging it on the back of Punk's door. "Try it on and make sure it fits."
"Fine." Punk said running his hands over his tired face.
"How did things go with Hector?" Jason asked him.
"He's not going to be a problem." Punk told him and he nodded. "I told AJ about my arrest since Hector would love to jump at the chance to tell her."
"She didn't care?" Jason asked.
"She didn't even bat an eyelash." Punk shrugged. "Didn't ask for details just said she trusted me."
"Yet Maria broke it off with you for months and made you grovel. All that 'I'm scared of the man you are' crap." Jason scoffed.
"You can't blame her for being scared." Punk reasoned.
"Anyone who truly knows you knows that you'd never hurt anyone you love." Jason said to him. "You've been with AJ for what? A week? Two? And she already knows that."
"She's special." Punk said without even thinking about it. "There's just something about her. My whole life I never even looked at other women I was content with being with Maria we were just so similar I didn't think anyone would be more compatible with me but it turns out I was wrong."
"Yea a girl who is the polar opposite nonetheless." Jason smirked.
"It's crazy." Punk had to laugh.
"You're really into her." Jason noted.
"Now you fucking believe me?" Punk asked him.
"She's good for you." Jason said to him seriously.
"I know." He said to him with sincerity in his voice. "Alright let me see the tux." he said standing up.
"Kate picked them out." Jason said to him as Punk unzipped the bag.
"I'm not going to be comfortable." Punk said shaking his head. "Last time I wore something like this was for my grandmothers funeral when I was like eight."
"Suck it up. If I have to be uncomfortable so do you." Jason informed him. "Just try on the fucking thing."
"Fine." Punk said grabbing it off the hook. The minute he did someone knocked at the door and Punk was stunned to see Maria standing on the other side of the door.
"Morning." She greeted in a cheery voice. "Hope I didn't wake you."
"What are you doing here?" Punk asked surprised.
"I think we need to talk, I really need to talk actually." She told him.