Epilogue

"I got you a present." Six year Hartley announced running to her father's shop.

"For me?" Punk asked dropping his tools and kneeling down to his daughter and she nodded smiling with her hands behind her back then stretched her arm out and handed him a flower. "Oh, wow it's my favorite." He smirked. "I like these so much that I planted these in front of the shop." He teased knowing where she got it from. "Thank you." He said kissing her cheek.

"I have one for mommy too." She announced proudly.

"Hartley!" Brian, Jason and Kate's youngest son yelled who was the same age.

"I have to go. Hold it for me." She said passing Punk the flower and watched her run outside.

"Stay out of the street!" He yelled walking after her and saw she was with DJ and Brian. "None of you in the street and stay behind the fence." He said opening it.

Jason and Punk had almost like a yard put in the back of the shop with swings and jungle gyms so they could play safely.

"Ok Uncle Punk." DJ yelled running first then Brian and little Hartley who was so much like AJ, every time she'd take a step she'd tumble over because she was just as clumsy.

"Be careful." Punk warned her.

"I will daddy." She smiled then chased after her cousins.

"Full house today." Jack noted walking over to Punk.

"Isn't it always?" Punk mocked.

"I got ice cream for the kids." Jack said holding up a bag from a super market.

"You better give it to them before AJ or Kate see it." Punk warned opening the fence for his father who headed right to the back. Jack would come by a few times a week to hang out with Hartley and even the boys. He had become a somewhat of a surrogate fill-in for David, just as David was for Punk.

"Hi." AJ greeted as she got out of the car.

"This shop is like a revolving door." Punk smirked.

"I'm late." She pouted.

"You're not late. Jack is in the back spoiling their dinner anyway." Punk grinned and she gave him a kiss. "How was work?"

"Long." She sighed. "Did Jason and Kate get back yet?"

"No not yet." Punk said to her.

"They're finding out the sex today." AJ reminded him.

Jason and Kate had found themselves pregnant again, even though both had sworn never again.

"Yea I know." Punk said as AJ followed him into the shop. "It's not making you-"

"Hartley is a hand-full." AJ responded quickly and Punk let out a laugh. Both had agreed to keep Hartley an only child, she was growing up with her cousins anyway so she wasn't alone.

"My little princess? Bite your tongue." Punk teased. "She got me a flower." he said showing her the flower proudly.

"Wow, she plucked it right from the front garden." AJ mocked.

"Don't be jealous." Punk laughed.

"I'm not jealous." She smirked. "My parents are coming in this weekend by the way."

"I thought when your step-father retired him and your mom would be traveling the world." Punk sighed. Hugh had spent more time at the shop with Punk then enjoying his retirement.

"He is part owner." AJ pointed out.

"Yes but he doesn't come here for that, he wants to learn how to fix cars and watch the boys do their upgrades." Punk pointed out.

"He likes you." AJ informed him. "He may have been this brilliant doctor but you're this hands on guy's guy who is raising his daughter and making him a ton of money out of this shop. He admires you. I guess that's why they've been talking about getting a home out here."

"Wait, what?" Punk asked.

"They want to be closer to Hartley. Not for good, just so they have a place to stay when they visit." AJ reasoned.

"Hey, it's fine with me." Punk said to her. "Hartley likes having them around and she should have her grandparents near."

"I can't believe how well the shop is doing." AJ said admiring the pretty upscale shop. "David would be so proud."

"You think so?" Punk asked and she nodded.

"He'd love it. Having his grandchildren running around in a safe area at the shop." AJ smiled.

"Mommy!" Hartley announced running towards her with her mouth covered in ice cream.

"Oh baby." AJ laughed kneeling down and catching her and lifting her onto her hip. "Did you have ice cream?"

"No mommy." She lied shaking her head.

"Yea?" She laughed as Punk passed her wipe to clean her face. "What's all over your cute face?"

"Dirt." She lied and AJ let out a laugh again.

"You lie as well as your mother." Punk teased.

"Did you give mommy her flower?" Hartley asked.

"Flower?" Punk asked innocently.

"You jerk." AJ giggled looking over to Punk. "You tried to make me feel bad that she didn't get me one and you've been hiding it from me."

"Daddy." Hartley scolded jumping out of AJ's arm and running to the table for the flower. "For you, Mommy."

"Thank you." she said kissing Hartley's nose. "It's my favorite flower."

Two years later...

"What about this one?" AJ asked pointing to a cage.

After so many years, Larry had passed away and Hartley was crushed. After weeks of unable to get Hartley out of her funk Punk suggested another dog so they took her to the same shelter they had gotten Larry.

"Nope." Hartley said holding onto Punk's hand.

"Baby, you're not even looking." Punk sighed.

"I just want Larry back." Hartley whispered as a tear fell down her cheek.

"Larry would want you to be this sad." Punk said kneeling down. "He'd be so upset if he saw you right now."

"Why'd he have to die?" Hartley asked through sniffles, breaking Punk's heart.

"He was just really old and sick." AJ told her softly as she kneeled down as well. "He was feeling really bad."

"And now he's happy and running around in doggy heaven and I know he wouldn't want you to be crying over him." Punk said pinching her cheek gently and she gave him a tiny smile. "He'd want you to have a friend."

"But Larry was my friend." Hartley reminded him.

"And he always will be." AJ assured her. "But that doesn't mean you can't make new friends."

"Oh." Hartley said as something caught her eyes behind Punk.

Punk turned his head and saw a huge dog in a crate.

"Crap." Punk muttered. "Don't you want to look at the smaller ones?" he suggested hopefully but Hartley walked over to the cage and the dog licked her hand and she giggled.

"I want this one." Hartley announced not even looking back at her parents.

"Good thing we moved a year ago into a bigger house." AJ whispered to Punk.

"Too big AJ." Punk whispered back.

"Please daddy?" Hartley asked turning to him and sticking her bottom lip out.

"Please Phil?" AJ pleaded as well sticking her own bottom lip out.

"Don't do this to me." Punk groaned. "Don't double team it's not fair."

But both girls held their ground and Punk shook his head in annoyance.

"How is it going?" the shelter owner questioned.

"This one." Punk practically spat pointing at the crate.

"Ah, and here I thought you were looking for an older, smaller dog." The man smiled. "But a great choice. He's still young enough to train-"

"Young enough?" Punk spat. "This dog is huge!"

"He's only half grown. Lab's get a lot bigger especially boys." The man told him.

"AJ." Punk said to her shaking his head.

"Your dad is right." AJ said looking at Hartley who's face dropped. "He's just too big for us."

"But he loves me." Hartley insisted sticking her hand in the crate and the dog licked her.

"All of these dogs will love you." Punk assured her.

"Come on Hartley." AJ said holding her hand out for her.

"We're going to keep looking." Punk told the owner as AJ and Hartley walked ahead, Hartley kept turning to look back at the dog.

"It's alright, a lot of people don't want a big dog." The owner told him casually. "I mean we're a no-kill shelter but I do hope he gets adopted quickly because no one wants a big dog in such a tiny crate."

"Why would anyone give in a puppy anyway?" Punk asked eyeing the yellow lab.

"He was confiscated by the police. Some asshole kids were burning him. He still has some scars on his belly. Usually trauma like that messes with a dog's temperament but not this guy, he just wants to jump around and play and be loved." The man said smirking at the dog.

"Burned?" Punk asked.

"Yea." The man nodded. "Kids today." He scoffed and the man walked off.

Punk eyed the dog and began to walk away and heard the dog cry. Punk walked back over to the crate and kneeled down.

"Wait!" He yelled to the owner who stopped and looked back at him. "We'll take him."

"Are you sure?" The owner asked.

"Yea." Punk said getting a good feeling from this dog. "Hart!" he yelled out and Hartley came running.

"Have you changed your mind?" Hartley asked hopefully.

"Hartley." AJ warned, knowing he hadn't.

"Yes." Punk said surprising both AJ and Hartley.

"You're the best daddy ever!" She yelled hugging him.

"Are you sure?" AJ asked smiling.

"Yea, he needs a good home." Punk said eyeing the dog.

"I want to name him! Can I name him?" Hartley asked running to the crate. "Oscar! Oscar you're going to come home with us!"

"You really are the best dad ever." AJ smiled. "And husband." She added kissing his cheek.

Eight years later...

"Ok I'm going out bye!" Hartley shouted as she was about to step out the door.

"Stop!" Punk yelled from the living room and Hartley let out a sigh and walked into the living room where Punk, Jason, DJ and Brian were watching the Blackhawks game.

"Yes daddy?" Hartley asked sweetly and Punk laughed.

"That's your giveaway." Punk chuckled. "Anytime I know you're up to no good you use that voice."

"Me?" Hartley asked faking offense.

"You sound like AJ." Jason laughed.

"Where are you going?" Punk asked her.

"Out." Hartle shrugged.

"Care to add more?" Punk asked keeping his eyes on the game.

"To the movies." Hartley told him and Punk looked at her.

"Why are you so dressed up?" Punk asked.

"I'm not." Hartley scoffed.

"You're wearing a dress." DJ pointed out then yelled out at the TV.

"It's just a dress." Hartley shrugged. "It stops at my knees relax." She mocked.

"Who are you going with? How are you getting there? What are you going to see? And do you have plans afterwards?" Punk asked her giving her his full attention.

"Friend, friend, the new Bill King movie and yes, just to the diner for some food." Hartley said to him.

"You don't need any money?" Punk asked curiously. "Normally a night out like this costs me a few bucks."

"No I have money." She said patting her purse.

"Or is someone paying for you?" Punk asked.

"You rat." Hartley said glaring at Brian.

"Don't look at me." Brian defended. "I didn't tell them."

"Yes you did." Jason laughed ruffling his sons hair.

"You know the rules about dates." Punk reminded her. "I have to meet them and talk to them."

"Dad-" She began.

"You can either go out there and tell-" Punk began then looked at Brian.

"Kevin Ford." Brian told him and Punk nodded.

"-tell Kevin to come in here so I could meet him or you could tell him you won't be joining him tonight." Punk said simply.

"Can't you just go out to the car and say hi?" Hartley asked eyeing her Uncle and DJ. Going out was difficult with Punk as a father but Jason and her older cousin made it difficult as well, they were just as bad.

"We all would like to meet him." Jason shrugged and Hartley shook her head.

"Mom!" She yelled.

"Your mom is out." Punk smiled knowing AJ was always her out. "Go get Kevin for me honey."

"But-" she started.

"Are you ashamed of us or something?" DJ asked her.

"Yes!" She yelled and they laughed. "Fine but please be nice." She pleaded then walked out the door.

"He's a nice kid?" Punk asked Brian quickly who nodded.

"He plays on the baseball team." Brian told him. "Jock, but not a dick."

"Mouth." Jason scolded.

"Dad." Hartley announced as she led Kevin inside. "This is Kevin, Kevin this is my dad, Uncle, cousin DJ and you know my cousin Brian- night!"

"You have the game on?" Kevin asked in awe and Punk waved him over.

"Take a seat kid." Punk offered and Hartley shook her head in annoyance. "You play baseball from what I hear."

"I do but I play field hockey in the summer." Kevin told them and Punk liked that.

An hour later AJ and Kate walked in the house and were surprised to see Hartley at the kitchen table with her head in her hand.

"What happened to the hot date?" Kate asked removing her jacket.

"Don't tell me your dad ruined it." AJ feared.

"They all did!" Hartley yelled pointing into the living room where her date was still sitting with Punk and her cousins and Jason. "But don't worry, dad gave us permission to see a later movie so Kevin could stay and watch the game."

"Your dad must like him if he agreed to that." AJ smirked. "It's better they're this way."

Eight years later...

"Do I look ok?" Hartley asked her father hopefully. She was in a beautiful white gown and he was prepared to give away his daughter, something he was having trouble accepting.

"You're the most beautiful bride." Punk smiled. "Are you sure about this?" he asked her seriously and she rolled her eyes. "Don't you miss Kevin?

"Kevin?" Hartley asked with a laugh. "Kevin who I went out with twice in high school?"

"I liked Kevin." Punk confirmed.

"Do you not like Jeff?" Hartley sighed.

"No he's great." Punk had to admit. Jeff worked at Punk's shop since he was 16, he was a few years older than Hartley so he wasn't thrilled when they told Punk, or rather Punk walked in on them kissing in his shop.

"I really love him." Hartley insisted.

"I know you do." Punk said. "It's just giving you away isn't easy."

"I'm not going anywhere." Hartley giggled, the same giggle AJ had. "We got an apartment right down the street from the shop. I'm going to be around all of the time, my husband works with you!" She laughed.

"Yea I know." Punk said nodding. "It's a dad thing I guess."

"He takes care of me, he makes me smile." Hartley told him. "You always told me to not settle for someone who couldn't make me smile."

"I get it." Punk forced out. "He's a good guy otherwise he'd be dead."

"You did grab him and throw him into a wall when you saw us kissing." Hartley reminded him. "Then fired him."

"Then you ran away with him." Punk mocked remembering that time. "I overreacted."

"You did." Hartley agreed.

"You also lied to me." Punk added sternly. "Don't lie to me, you can tell me anything and even after your married. I'm here for you."

"I know you are." She smiled and then threw her arms around him. "I love you, I'll always be your little girl."

"I love you too." He said holding her tightly.

"What is taking so long?" AJ asked walking into the room. "You're not holding her captive are you?" she teased.

"No he's just being dad." Hartley smiled.

"We're really proud of you." AJ said to her with a bright smile.

"Thanks mom." she said giving her a hug.

"Ready to walk her down the aisle?" AJ asked Punk who looked down at his happy daughter.

"Yea, I finally am." He said with a genuine smile.

Eight years later...

"Let's get a boat and sail around the world." Punk suggested. Now in his fifties and working less as his son-in-law began to take over the business.

"I'd miss our daughter and grandchildren." AJ smirked.

"Yea I guess." Punk mumbled as AJ laughed. "I'm not enjoying being home as much as I should."

"Seriously Phil?" AJ asked shooting him a warning smile.

"No, of course I like being home with you." Punk told her nervously. "But I want to do something different."

"We can take a vacation." AJ said to him.

"We are. We're going to Disney with the entire family." He groaned.

"We can do something together." AJ pointed out. "I have an idea actually." She said closing the book she was reading.

"Yea?" Punk asked intrigued. "What are we doing?"

"It's a surprise." she grinned as he watched her stand up.

"I love that you're younger than me, I have such a hot wife even though I'm an old bastard." He said admiring her ass. AJ was in her late forties but she looked phenomenal, nobody believed she was her age or was even a grandmother.

"You don't look old. You look badass." she smirked and grabbed his hand and pulled him out the door.

Punk and AJ were in the high seats at Wrigley that they snuck into the first week AJ was in town and where Punk proposed to her.

"This is fun." Punk smiled watching the game. "Look at you, I did teach you a few things."

"You taught me a lot." AJ smiled. "Even in our old age we can still have fun."

"We're not that old." Punk scoffed.

"I was thinking that when we're Disney you and I can sneak off for a night together, go to where we got married, eat where we are right after." She suggested with a smile.

"I'd love that." He said nipping at her lips. "I love you." he added and she smiled.

"I love you too." She smiled and that's when she felt a hard hand clasp over her shoulder.

Punk shot up out of his seat but someone grabbed his shoulder.

"You two come with us." The Wrigley security guard ordered.

"Maybe we have gotten old." AJ whispered to Punk. "After all of these years they finally caught us."

Hartley was driving as both Punk and AJ sat in the backseat.

"What is wrong with you two?" Hartley scolded. "You should know better than to sneak into a baseball game."

"We used to do it all of the time." Punk defended and AJ elbowed him in his side.

"What if your grandsons saw this?" Hartley asked glaring at them through the rear view mirror.

"They'd probably think nothing of it since they're not even one." Punk scoffed referring to his twin grandsons. "When they're older I'll sneak them in with us."

"You will not." Hartley scolded with wide eyes.

"She's no fun." Punk said to AJ who let out her signature giggle. "Even your mother lived a little."

"Stop it." AJ said slapping Punk's knee while laughing.

Later that night AJ crawled into bed and Punk's eyes popped open.

"I thought you were sleeping." AJ smirked.

"I was but I sensed you." Punk grinned. "You're home late."

"Hartley needed help with the boys." AJ said to him.

"Where the fuck is her husband?" Punk snapped.

"He's been at the shop." AJ shrugged and grabbed Punk's arm before he could fully get out of the bed. "Do not involve yourself."

"I'll just go down to the shop and take over whatever it is he's doing and remind him that his wife and sons come first." Punk said angrily.

"It's her marriage, butt out." She warned him.

"She's my daughter and those are my grandsons." Punk snapped.

"I helped and he's just trying to provide. You remember how hard you worked?" AJ asked him.

"But I would be home when you needed me." Punk pointed out.

"There were plenty of nights you were working late and I wanted to pull my hair out or would secretly call Kate or Jason to come over and help me." AJ said to him and he narrowed his eyes.

"Why didn't you call me?" He asked her.

"Because I was embarrassed." she shrugged. "Just like you worked your ass off I wanted to do the same. I just needed some help."

"You should have told me." Punk said to her. "Hart should tell Jeff."

"She has me." AJ reminded him and he rolled his eyes. "Don't do that. I love that she still needs me sometimes."

"Fine." Punk grumbled getting back under the covers. "But he better get his shit together."

"He's providing for his family. Cut him some slack." AJ insisted. "They're just like us but with an extra baby."

"That is rough." Punk admitted. "That's Hartley's fault for marrying someone where twins run in their family."

"How about we stop talking about all of this and you take my clothes off?" She suggested and he raised an eyebrow.

"That's intriguing." He smirked eyeing her.

"What's the matter? Old age slowing-" She couldn't finish before shew as already lying on her back and laughing hysterically.

"Did you call me old?" He asked in a warning voice.

"No, no." She laughed and he kissed her passionately.

"I love you." he said to her. "Thank you for doing such a good job raising our little girl."

"I think you played a pretty big role in raising our awesome beautiful daughter" She smiled cupping his cheek gently. "I love you too." she whispered and he pressed his body to hers as he began to remove her clothing...

A/N: The End :)

It feels good to finally finish this. Thank you for all the support and love over the years. Not sure when I'll be back, you can follow me on Twitter and reach out. Thanks again everyone!