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"I think that's it." AJ said, looking around the sparkling clean coffee shop an hour or so later after she'd put Punk to work.

She wouldn't admit it, but she had him cleaning things she hadn't cleaned in months, pretending to him that she cleaned them every day. She wasn't sure if it was because she wanted to see him cleaning his little butt off, or because she wanted him to stick around longer.

"I'm sweating." Punk admitted, straightening his back out as AJ looked over at him with amusement, "What?"

"A little cleaning and you're exhausted? Really?" AJ asked.

"A little cleaning?" Punk said, "I've put Cinderella to shame right now." He said as AJ shook her head, turning away and smiling.

"It's a shame I can't offer you a coffee for helping me." She said, walking behind the counter as Punk watched her, putting his hands in his pockets.

"You got any cakes?" Punk asked curiously.

"Well since we closed early, I have tons that are probably gonna go to waste." AJ said sadly.

"Well I don't know about you but I've worked up an appetite." He said as AJ rolled her eyes.

"I'll go get them then." AJ nodded, walking through to the back of the shop whilst Punk made his way over to a table in the centre of the coffee shop.

It had gone dark outside now with afternoon turning into evening. The weather was still terrible. Thunder and lightning as well as torrential downpours. There wasn't a soul walking the streets, and with good reason.

Punk wasn't sure what made him offer up his inexperienced cleaning services to AJ. Apart from the fact he now didn't want to step foot inside in the rain, there was also a part of him that wanted to see more of the real AJ. The one he saw glimmers of at the open-mic night.

He'd watched her discretely whilst she mopped the floors and he cleaned the tables, noticing she hummed whilst she worked, even when there was no music. He also noticed she spoke to herself in an adorable way. He was also aware now that she hated spiders after she let out a murderous scream upon finding a tiny spider on the floor.

Being alone with her, ignoring all the petty drama they'd had over the past month or so, was actually enjoyable. After hearing from her the other night that she had felt threatened by him and his shop, he wanted to prove to her that she had no reason to feel threatened. That he would very much be an ally, if she wished for that.

"You didn't specify so… I brought them all." AJ said, walking out from the kitchen in the back with a plate of the leftover cakes.

"Jesus." Punk raised his brows, watching as she approached the table and sat the plate down, "And you bake all your own cakes?"

"Yeah. The girls help me of course but… it's most of my own recipes." She nodded. She hesitated on whether to sit down across from him, then sat down after short deliberation.

She was consciously aware that there where candles burning all around and they were the only two in the shop, sitting face-to-face at a table.

"Do you have bakers in your family or something?" Punk asked her.

"No. Not at all." AJ laughed a little, "I just taught myself. I have a massive sweet tooth and I find it therapeutic honestly. Google is a big help, of course."

"I've tried and I just never seem to get it right. I tried chocolate chip cookies one night and it just turned into a gigantic cookie." He shook his head.

"Doesn't sound so bad." AJ said.

"I'm not sure customers would agree." Punk said, picking up one of the cakes from the plate, "So what's this?" He asked.

"That one is a Reese's Blondie." She nodded, "I'll not tell you how much sugar is in that one." She said, watching him take a bite, nodding whilst eating it.

"Yeah, that's sweet." Punk agreed, laughing a little whilst AJ picked up a brownie to have, "And this one?" Punk pointed to a different cake.

"That is a chocolate swiss roll." AJ said, "It's basically just chocolate sponge with cream in the middle, rolled up." She said, watching him take a bite.

"Ok, now that one is my kind of cake." Punk nodded, "So you bake them all fresh every morning?"

"Yeah, most of them." AJ said.

"What time do you get here?" Punk laughed a little.

"Normally around 6. Gives me a few hours to bake and open up." She nodded, "Can I ask you something a little forward?"

"I'm sure you'll ask it anyway." Punk said as she made a face at him, "Go on."

"What made you want to open a coffee shop?" She asked.

"I like coffee." Punk shrugged, taking another bite of the swiss roll.

"That's not a real answer." AJ scoffed.

"You tell me why you wanted to open a coffee shop. Then I'll tell you why I did." Punk bargained.

"I asked first." AJ folded her arms as he just stared at her, "I wanted to get out of New Jersey. That's where I'm from." She explained, "I always loved to bake. Like I said, I've always found it therapeutic." She said, "And I needed a fresh start. Something to really sink my teeth into."

She wasn't sure what was happening right now. All she knew was the ease in which she felt when talking to him about something she wouldn't talk about with most people. It was surprising, considering she genuinely disliked the man since he had got here.

"Then I guess we're not so different." Punk nodded, "Clearly you know about… my past. What happened with my previous job." He said vaguely, "Being unemployed… I felt like I was living my life in coffee shops. It was about the only thing I'd do with my day. Then I broke up with my girlfriend and I just wanted out. I sold off my dead parents' house, managed to get a decent amount of money for it. That's when I got the idea to start my own business." He nodded, "Didn't want to do it in the city. Too much competition. Although, I didn't know I had picked a town with the fiercest coffee shop owner across from me." He said as AJ smiled.

"Does it feel like a fresh start? Being here?" AJ asked, picking at her brownie and taking small bites.

"Sometimes." Punk nodded, "Although it can get a bit lonely, I guess. Haven't made many friends here besides an eighteen-year-old kid." He shook his head.

"I'm lucky I had Lyla when I moved here. Otherwise, I would have been really lonely too." AJ nodded, understanding.

"Why did you both move?" He asked.

"Well we both dropped out of college at the same time." AJ said, "In our second year."

"Oh, right." Punk said, "What were you studying?" He asked.

"Film and media." AJ said as Punk looked at her with confusion, "I know, it doesn't really make sense on how I ended up here. I always loved writing and reading. Watching movies." She said, shaking her head as she remembered why she had dropped out of college, "It wasn't meant to be, I guess."

"Looks like everything worked out pretty well for you anyway." Punk nodded, noticing the change in her as she spoke about dropping out of college. A mix of shame and fear.

"Yeah, eventually." AJ nodded.

"Is this a donut?" Punk asked, pointing to one of the cakes.

"Well, it's round and has a hole in the middle." AJ nodded as Punk raised his brows a little, grinning childishly as she scoffed, "Childish."

"I didn't know you did donuts. They're my favourite." Punk said.

"Mine too." AJ nodded, "Took me a while to perfect them but… I think they're alright." She shrugged modestly, watching him bite into it.

"Ok." Punk nodded, sitting the donut back down and dusting his hands off from crumbs, "Now I know why everyone loves this place." He said.

It was just about the best thing he'd ever put in his mouth. He didn't want to say that out loud to her. He knew he'd get a strange look with a mirrored, childish grin of his own.

Time almost seemed to stand still for the next few hours where AJ and Punk sat at the table in the candle lit coffee shop, talking about everything and anything, without it getting too deep or personal. AJ hadn't brought up his past as a lawyer and Punk hadn't brought up her past in New Jersey. Somehow, they both knew it was things the other wasn't keen on talking about.

"So let me get this straight… there's a Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter Fair?" Punk asked, leaning back on his chair a little more comfily now as AJ nodded, taking a sip of her soda which, she'd gotten from the fridge in the back.

After eating a considerable number of cakes, she was relieved to find them some soda.

"That's right." AJ nodded, "The Fall one is my favourite. There's also a Halloween and Christmas Party at the community hall. Me and the girls here have catered there the past couple of years. It's always so much fun." She said.

"Wasn't it hard for you to adjust to the small town living?" Punk asked, "I mean… you came from a big city like me."

"It was hard at first but I guess I welcomed the peace and quiet. I moved to get away from all the noise. This was the perfect fit for me." AJ shrugged.

"Yeah, you look at home here." Punk nodded, "I'd never have guessed you were from someplace else."

"When I got this shop, there wasn't any other places for people to eat or sit down and have a coffee together. I think over the years the people here have become grateful to me for creating a space for them." She said, "At least that's what I hope."

"It's very obvious that you're loved by all here." Punk agreed with her.

"You're doing not so bad yourself." AJ nodded, "I didn't have the success you have when I'd just opened up. It was a really slow progress for me. You're doing… really great." She said sincerely as he nodded, looking across at her.

Taking out all the white noise around them, sitting here and talking with her like a normal person, he was completely bemused by her. Her cute, annoyed faces she'd make at his silly remarks. Her laugh which came from her toes all the way up. She was beautiful. He'd known that from day one when he first laid eyes on her, but being in such fierce competition, getting carried away, he hadn't gotten a chance to properly look at her. To get to know her.

"I'm trying." Punk nodded, "I really want it to work out. I'd hate to fail at another career." He laughed a little, rubbing the back of his neck awkwardly.

"It must have been difficult. Going through all of that." AJ said. Of course, he knew she was referring to him being disbarred.

"It was." Punk nodded bluntly, scratching his stubbly beard and looking across at her, "The other night… when I found you upset outside of here."

"Oh, let's not." AJ shook her head.

"It just… you seemed really frightened." Punk said, "I know we're not friends but if you need anything, I would help you. No questions asked." He assured her as she looked across at him. She could see in his eyes how genuine his statement was. She knew he would hold up on that promise.

"It's all just really embarrassing." AJ shook her head calmly, "I went on a date and it didn't go very well." She shrugged, trying to play it as cool as she could. He'd never understand the half of it.

"Oh." Punk nodded slowly, "Must have been a bad date." He said.

"It wasn't a good one." AJ said, "But it's fine. Such is life, right?" She shrugged.

"Right." Punk nodded. He knew the reason for her tears the other night was more than just a bad date. She was inconsolable when he found her. He just hoped she hadn't been hurt on her date. He didn't want to ask in fear of upsetting her.

"Do you think you'll do another open-mic night?" She asked.

"Maybe. Me and Daryl have been talking about it. Maybe doing one every month." Punk nodded, "I'd just worry that the first one was a flook."

"I don't think so. People loved it." AJ said, "Daryl was great." She laughed a little.

"Yeah, he's a good kid." Punk nodded.

"He's been through a lot. It's great to see him doing well." AJ said.

"Yeah I heard him mention about his dad at the open-mic night." Punk said, "Did something happen to him?"

"He had cancer. He fought it for a while, but it eventually got so bad… there was nothing they could do. He died about three years ago now. It was just awful seeing him deteriorate. He was a big part of the town. Always helping people out." AJ said.

"That sucks." Punk nodded, "Daryl is a tough kid."

"He is." AJ agreed, "Him and Shiv used to date in high school. Before he broke his leg."

"Really?" Punk asked with surprise.

"Well… they were always really good friends as far as I know, and then one day I just saw them kissing. I'm not sure they were serious about anything." She said, "Then he broke his leg and it all kinda fell apart."

"You don't get this kind of gossip in the city, that's for damn sure." Punk laughed a little.

"Oh God, am I gossiping?" AJ asked, "I don't even mean it. It's literally infectious in this place." She shook her head, feeling awful.

"You're fine. I won't say anything to Daryl. I promise. Or Shiv." Punk nodded, "It's nice, actually, getting to know this place through someone who is actually closer to my age." He said.

"What age are you, anyway?" AJ asked curiously.

"What age do you think I am?" He asked, leaning his arms on the table and staring at her intensely as she scoffed.

"Just tell me." She said impatiently.

"I'm a big, old thirty-seven." Punk said as AJ nodded.

"Oh." AJ said, "There's a whole decade between us then." She nodded.

"God, I still can't find anyone close to my age to talk to." Punk rolled his eyes as she chuckled.

"There you are." Lyla burst into the coffee shop, pausing a little as she looked on at Punk and AJ sitting at one of the tables. It was a very unlikely sight, that was for sure.

"Here I am." AJ shook her head, "What's up?"

"I've been calling you. I thought you were coming to sleepover?" Lyla shook her head, "It's 8pm."

"Shit, is it?" AJ raised her eyebrows. She really hadn't noticed the time passing. Neither had Punk.

"Yeah." Lyla said, looking at Punk, "It's cosy in here, isn't it?" She teased as AJ made a face at her.

"I'll get going." Punk stood up, "Let you finally get this place closed for the night." Punk nodded.

"Thank you… for your help." AJ nodded. She also wanted to thank him for the very relaxing and enjoyable chat, but she could see Lyla lapping up the sight. She didn't want to give her friend any more fuel to tease her.

"Yeah, anytime." Punk smiled, heading for the door and passing Lyla, "Lyla." He nodded to her politely.

"Phil." Lyla saluted him sarcastically before he left the shop, "Now what do we have here, Miss Mendez?" Lyla said, thrilled by the turn of events, "A little candle lit cake date?"

"No." AJ shook her head, heading to get her jacket and bag from behind the counter, "He was just checking that my power was off like his… and he offered to help me clean up." She shrugged, putting her coat on.

"How long has he been in here?" Lyla folded her arms.

"Uh… he came over just after you left." AJ shrugged.

"At 2pm?" Lyla questioned.

"We were just chatting, ok?" AJ said defensively, "Isn't it a good thing? Putting all the unnecessary drama to bed and just… being civil?"

"Yeah, it's great." Lyla said, "But there's being civil and then there's… him looking at you like you're a dog on heat."

"Stop." AJ shook her head, putting her bag on her shoulder, "Are we sleeping over at yours or not?"

"Yes, we are." Lyla said, "You can tell me what you guys talked about." Lyla clapped, heading for the door.

"Nothing exciting." AJ assured her. Although for some reason, it had felt exciting to her. It had felt new and warm. Like she had a protective shield around her whilst speaking with him. It was unusual and also wonderful.

A/N: Thank you for all the reviews! They're so appreciated.