Lucky Girl

Seven weeks had come and gone and Hartley still wasn't home but she was going to be home the next day. AJ was putting final touches on her nursery while Punk was back at the shop most days trying to work as much as he could while he and AJ spent most nights at the hospital visiting Hartley.

"Do you think this looks ok?" AJ asked Pricella who was in town to help AJ.

"The room is beautiful." Pricella smiled. The room was a dark pink and was decorated beautifully. "Your nursery was white." she told AJ.

"Yea well I want some color in her life. She's been in a hospital for the first two months of her life." AJ told her setting up her stuffed animals. "She won't be in here much anyway she's staying with me and Phil for a while."

"Is that wise? She might get too attached." Pricella warned her.

"She's a newborn." AJ scoffed.

"She's not though." Pricella corrected.

"I want her to be attached so does Phil. We have a bassinet set up our room so we can watch her closely. She is coming off of breathing tubes for the first time so we have to make sure she breathes through the night." AJ told her. "Now are you in town to judge my parenting choices or to help?" she snapped.

"Help." Pricella answered quickly. "I just want to help that's all honey."

"So be a little more supportive. We have two different parenting techniques clearly." AJ noted.

"Mine wasn't always wrong though." Pricella said to her. "Sometimes I feel like you make me out to be a monster."

"You weren't. It's just I want different for Hartley that's all." AJ shrugged. "I don't want her nose in the books all of the time, I don't want her across the house I want her with me."

"Fine." Pricella said to her. "What can I do?"

"I need to make sure everything is extra clean for her. She can't get sick." AJ told her.

"I called a cleaning service." Pricella told her. "They'll be here at five and I'll be here as well to make sure they don't take anything."

"Oh, mom." AJ sighed shaking her head.

"It's the best way to make sure everything is really clean" Pricella shrugged. "I don't clean April."

"I don't either." AJ admitted. "Phil cleans."

"You're very lucky." Pricella teased.

"Yea." AJ said with a soft smile. "He's been so great. He's taken care of everything and I haven't gotten a chance to thank you and Hugh for the money you gave us."

"Don't you dare." Pricella warned her. "We're family. It's what family does. Don't mention it again."

"Still, it means a lot. I don't know what we would have done without you guys." AJ told her sincerely.

"Money is something Hugh and I are very fortunate to have a lot of and there's no point in having any of it if we can't share with our family." Pricella told her.

"You were singing a different tune back when I first moved out here." AJ noted.

"That was different April." Pricella sighed sitting in a rocking chair located in the corner of the room. "I didn't want you to go. I did smother you a lot."

"You can't spell mother without smother." AJ remarked.

"I just wanted you to stay home with me forever." Pricella told her. "I thought I sheltered you so much that you wouldn't survive on your own but you proved me wrong. You put yourself through school, got a job, met a wonderful man and now you're a mom. You did it all right. I couldn't be prouder of you."

"Thanks mom." AJ smiled.

"David would be proud as well." Pricella smiled. "I do wish you were living in New Jersey so I could have more time with my granddaughter."

"You're welcome here anytime." AJ reminded her. "I have my brother and Kate here, Hartley is going to grow up with her cousins."

"That's nice." Pricella told her with a smile. "I always wish you had a cousin or sibling to grow up with it."

"I didn't know Hugh couldn't have children." AJ said to her.

"Doesn't matter, he loves as if you were his own blood." Pricella told her.

"You think I'll be a good mom?" AJ asked her and Pricella laughed.

"Of course dear, you have so much love to give." Pricella said to her.

"It's more than just loving her, it's raising her." AJ reminded her.

"It will come naturally." Pricella assured her.

"The extension is huge." Jason said approaching the outside of the shop.

Hugh and Punk went ahead on the investment to extend the shop into doing re-models and Hugh had a list of friends lined up and having their cars sent there the minute it opened.

"I know. We're going to make so much money." Punk said to Jason as they eyed the construction work. "It's crazy."

"David would be so happy." Jason smiled. "You've turned his old little shop into this high-end money making machine and you're still staying true to the roots by keeping the shop the same."

"I hope so." Punk said to him. "I don't know if he'd hate it or love it."

"He'd love it." Jason assured him. "When are you picking up the baby?"

"Tomorrow morning." Punk told him almost nervously.

"What are you so scared about?" Jason laughed. "She's doing great."

"I know she is and that's the most important thing now comes the part where AJ and I have to do it alone. No nurses to help us or check on her just us." Punk told him. "What if she stops breathing?"

"You took those CPR classes." Jason reminded him.

"I think I'd be too frozen in fear." Punk said to him.

"Nah, it's different. Once she's in the house with you it's like you morph into this protective dad." Jason told him. "I mean I have two boys and my reflexes are insane. I catch them before they fall, I can feel when they're up to no good- it's like a superpower. Speaking of them, they're real excited to meet their cousin. Well DJ is, Brian just shadows him. I figure we train the boys young to shadow Hartley."

"I'll need extra eyes on her in school." Punk said seriously. "Oh my god now I'm back to worrying about her growing up and dating." He groaned.

"So happy I didn't have a girl for that reason, so thanks a lot for putting the pressure on me by giving me a niece." Jason remarked.

"She looks more and more like AJ everyday. I keep asking her if I'm the father." Punk told him seriously and Jason laughed.

"I'm serious!" Punk said to him. "She's like this tiny Puerto Rican princess."

"She has your..." Jason trailed off.

"Nothing." Punk said to him. "Not one ugly gene in her body." he grumbled under his breath. "You'll have a girl next it's only fair."

"Oh no." Jason laughed. "Kate and I are done." he told him.

"Seriously?" Punk asked and Jason nodded.

"Two is more than enough for us." Jason said to him. "Kate was thinking about trying for a girl but since you and AJ produced one she's satisfied with spoiling her. You and AJ want more kids?"

"We haven't even gotten our first one home yet." Punk scoffed. "We'll talk about it in a year or so."

"You'll have all girls and I'll have all boys." Jason said to him.

"Don't say that." Punk groaned.

"Hey, when is future jail bait getting home?" Mike asked walking over to them and both glared at him.

"I told you to stop calling her that." Punk warned him.

"It's a joke." Mike laughed. "I wouldn't date your daughter even when she turns 18, don't worry."

"Shut up." Punk warned him. "And tomorrow morning."

"There's a bunch of crap at the apartment Maria got for the baby. Little dresses and shoes." Mike told him and Punk nodded.

"She already has more clothes than I do." Punk told them. "Who knew babies needed so much."

"It's not baby's." Jason corrected. "It's girls I'm telling ya, and it's only going to get worse the older she gets."

"You'll be building an extension on your house next." Mike teased.

"As long as she's healthy she can have anything she wants." Punk told them.

"He's already wrapped around her finger." Mike whispered to Jason who nodded in agreement.

"What was that?" Punk asked.

"We just have been saying since AJ has you wrapped her finger how long it will take for Hartley to have the same power." Mike shrugged.

"Please, you're one to talk." Punk scoffed at Jason.

The next night Hartley was finally home and sleeping in the middle of Punk and AJ's bed as both just looked at her.

"She's breathing right?" AJ asked in a whisper.

"Yup." Punk said eyeing his sleeping daughter carefully.

"You think she likes it here?" she asked quietly.

"I'm sure the bed is a lot more comfortable then what she's been sleeping in." Punk smirked. "She's so cute I can't stand it. She snores a little, like you."

"Larry is dying to see her." AJ said to him.

"She's too little and new here. We'll let him play with her soon." Punk promised. "He's just too rough right now and she's delicate."

"Very." AJ agreed. "I don't want to roll on her when I'm sleeping."

"I'll be up." Punk told her.

"You should sleep." She encouraged.

"I don't think I could even if I wanted to." He admitted. "I just can't keep my eyes off of her."

"You're such a great dad already." AJ smiled looking over to him.

"You think so?" he asked.

"Oh yea." AJ said surely. "You haven't stopped watching her since she got here. You're making sure she's ok. I should take Larry out."

"I'll take him, it's late." Punk told her.

"It's eight." She laughed getting out of the bed carefully.

"You're leaving me alone with her?" Punk asked her in shock.

"Yea I think you can handle it." She smirked putting on her sneakers.

"What if she starts crying?" He asked her. "You should stay."

"If she starts crying just pick her up." AJ said putting on her jacket. "You'll be fine. My mom is across the hall if you get desperate."

The second Punk heard the front door close Hartley's little eyes shot open and Punk froze.

"Don't." he whispered. "Please don't just wait-" he began but she started crying. "Are you hungry?" he asked his daughter. "Diaper change?" he kept asking her but she just kept crying.

Punk stood up and lifted Hartley off of the bed and held her in his arms and her crying got lower.

"Yea? You like being held?" Punk asked slightly bouncing her in his arms. "I can do this. This is easy."

AJ was letting Larry drag to all of his favorites to sniff before finding a spot to finally go to the bathroom.

"Hi AJ." A voice greeted and there she saw Alex.

"Hi Alex." AJ greeted with a a sad smile. "I haven't seen you in a few weeks."

"I know. I hated the way I behaved at the hospital." Alex said to her with a laugh. "I tried calling you a bunch of times."

"I know, you kept hanging up." AJ noted.

"It's just I didn't think you wanted me around anymore." Alex admitted.

"It's not that Alex." AJ said to her. "You just have to understand that I have a daughter now and a lot of my time and energy has to go to her."

"Well aren't you coming back to the center?" Alex frowned.

"No Alex I'm not." AJ told her. "I graduated and in a few months I'm going to get a job in my field."

"So that's it?" Alex asked hurt. "We're not friends anymore?"

"Of course we are." AJ said shaking her head. "I just won't see you as much."

"Sounds like the friendship is over to me." Alex said coldly. "Why are you part of an outreach program AJ? Was it to look good on applications?"

"Alex you need to hang out with different people." AJ told her. "I'm of course your friend but I have a life."

"And I don't?" Alex asked back insulted.

"That came out wrong." AJ said shaking her head.

"No I think you meant every word. I can't believe I ever considered you to be my friend. I wanted to be just like you. You're so pretty and smart and everyone loves you." Alex said eyeing her coldly.

"Alex don't go." AJ pleaded but she already turned and was headed down the street.

"What a whack job." Jack snorted coming up behind AJ.

"You scared me." AJ jumped startled.

"Sorry." He smiled. "I just got out of work and drove by to see if the lights were on and-"

"You want to see her." AJ smiled. "Come inside. She's sleeping but I'm sure she'll be up soon." She said tugging on Larry's leash and they walked back to the house.

"I got her this stuffed Disney princess." Jack said holding it up.

"The little Mermaid."AJ smiled. "One of my favorites."

"How is she?" Jack asked anxiously.

"She's doing great." AJ told him. "Phil it totally obsessed with her. Won't take his eyes off of her."

When they walked into the house Punk was holding Hartley in the kitchen as he prepared a bottle for her.

"She was crying." Punk told her.

"She seems happy now." AJ smirked leaning over as Larry scratched at his leg trying to get a look at the baby.

"I got her something." Jack said holding it up.

"You want to hold her?" AJ offered and Punk glared at her.

"I'm not going to hurt her." Jack huffed at Punk. "I just want to meet her. I didn't get to hold her at the hospital."

"Phil." AJ whispered.

"Alright." Punk agreed hesitantly and Jack sat down at a chair at the kitchen table. "Be careful with her she still very fragile."

"I've held a baby before." Jack scoffed holding his arms out and Punk carefully placed her into his arms. "Oh look at that." Jack grinned. "Hi Hartley I'm Jack."
AJ looked over to Punk who let out a sigh.

"Grandpa." Punk corrected.

"Really?" Jack asked jerking his head up to look at Punk.

"Yea. You've been by to see her at the hospital almost every single night, you helped us out and you've brought me a lot of business to my shop." Punk said to him. "You've earned the title."

"This is amazing." Jack grinned as a tear fell from his eye.

"Are you crying?" Punk asked stunned.

"I'm a grandpa." He said happily. "And I am going to spoil you so much." He promised looking down at Hartley.

"Great. That's what I need, more people to spoil her." AJ smirked.

"You're one to talk." Punk grinned.

"I didn't have uncles, aunts, two set grandparents." She pointed out.

"She's a lucky one." Jack grinned smiling down at her.

"I ran into Alex outside." AJ told Punk as he finished off Hartley's bottle.

"I don't like her." Punk said to her. "She's unstable and I get a single white female vibe off of her."

"She's really upset with me." AJ told him.

"What are you supposed to do? You just had a baby who has been in the hospital." Punk shrugged. "You can't worry about a needy little girl."

"That is my job though Phil." AJ insisted.

"No your job is to help people in need. Alex doesn't need anything but your undivided attention." Punk said to her.

"Can I feed her?" Jack asked holding his hand out for the bottle.

"I guess." He grumbled passing Jack the bottle.

"I think I should go by and see her tomorrow." AJ said to him.

"It's the baby's first day home you shouldn't be rushing around." Punk said to her. "Hartley needs you here."

"Yea I know."AJ sighed. "I just hate that she's so angry with me."

"She's insane." Jack scoffed.

"See? Even Jack agrees." Punk said to her. "Worry about you. You're still recovering yourself."

"I feel much better." AJ said brushing it off.

"Look at the way she's looking at me." Jack grinned. "I'm her favorite."

"She looks at everyone that way that feeds her." Punk scoffed. "If I could train Larry to feed her he'd be her favorite too."

"Don't take this moment from me." Jack warned him.

The next morning Punk was wide awake but exhausted. Hartley woke them up every three hours and he had finally gotten her down for sleep in her little chair that was set up in the living room while AJ slept in the bedroom. The doorbell ringing caused him to cringe and ran to it so they wouldn't do it again and risk waking up the baby.

"Damn you look like shit." Mike snorted walking inside.

"Shh." Punk hissed. "The baby is sleeping."

"Sorry." Mike whispered. "Anyway I wanted to let you know that I went by the shop late last night to make sure it was locked up after the construction guys left and I saw Shane and his buddies doing business right outside the building."

"Seriously?" Punk asked and Mike nodded.

"Could be why people stopped coming to the shop for a while. It's a good neighborhood they don't want deal with people like Shane dealing, it makes us look bad." Mike told him and Punk shook his head.

"I'll take care of it." Punk said to him.

"I'll just call the cops." Mike offered.

"Fuck that." Punk mumbled. "He's screwing up our business. None of the higher end clients are going to come to the shop for remodeling with him dealing outside the front door."

"I don't get what his problem is." Mike admitted.

"He's still pissed at me." Punk huffed.

"I don't know man we're not kids anymore." Mike reminded him. "As a matter of fact you have your own kid and Jason has two the last thing you should be doing is fucking around with a guy like Shane. You're off the next two weeks anyway I'll handle this."

"It's not you he's trying to piss off." Punk reminded him.

"I love that shop just as much as you and Jason." Mike told him. "I'll take care of it. By the time you get back things will be back to normal."

"You don't have to." Punk told him.

"But I'm going to." Jason shrugged then looked behind Punk. "Your dog is eating your baby's sock." he told Punk who turned his head and saw Larry tugging on the little sock on Hartley foot and as if on cue Hartley began to cry startling Larry.

"No Larry." Punk hissed running over to the baby. "That's Hartleys." He said picking up the baby and trying to reach for the sock in Larry's mouth but he ran off with it. "Son of a bitch." He mumbled.

"Seems like you've got your hands full." Mike remarked nervously backing towards the door.

"Larry!" Punk yelled but his loud voice caused Hartley to cry anymore. "I'm sorry baby." He cooed as Mike slipped out the front door. "Daddy isn't yelling at you."

"What is all the noise?" AJ asked walking out of the bedroom.

"Larry stole her sock and woke her up." Punk whined.

"Oh." AJ pouted holding her arms out and Punk passed the baby off to her. "Larry is just playing with you." She told her daughter who was still crying.

"I told you to get rid of that dog before the baby got home." Pricella remarked walking out of the guest room.

"Larry is part of the family he's not going anywhere." AJ told her.

"Give me my granddaughter." Pricella instructed holding her arms out and AJ passed her Hartley. "That's a girl." Pricella said as Hartley's cries began to dwindle.

"How are you doing that?" AJ asked shocked.

"You'll get it soon." Pricella assured her. "Why don't you two try to get some sleep and I'll take care of Hartley."

"It's ok." AJ said to her.

"I would really take these moments before I leave tomorrow." Pricella warned them.

"Good idea." Punk agreed grabbing AJ by the hand.

"But-"AJ began.

"Rare moments AJ." Punk reminded her and pulled her into the bedroom so they could get some sleep.

"They're going to do good by you." Pricella assured Hartley who was resting against her grandmother's chest. "You're a lucky little girl."