Donuts

A/N: Thank you for all the reviews. You have no idea how much I enjoy reading them.

"Listen to this… I'm walking to work just now, and I see Phil leaving his apartment building with that chick we saw. You know the one with the fancy car. Had sunglasses on. Really hot." Shiv said, barely getting a chance to take her jacket off before filling the girls in.

"I remember her." Lyla nodded whilst AJ put out the fresh pastries for the morning.

"Maybe it's his sister." Becca said, massaging her jaw where her mouth was still sore after recently getting her tooth out.

"No. Definitely not." Shiv shook her head, hanging her jacket up on the hanger behind the counter, "She looked dick happy."

"Excuse me, young girl." Lyla scoffed, "Watch your mouth." She tutted.

"What would you know about being dick happy?" Becca rolled her eyes.

"I'm a young woman. I know." Shiv shook her head, "I'm not a child."

"Guys, I need help bringing these pastries in." AJ said to them all, wishing to swiftly move on from the conversation. She wasn't sure why she didn't want to participate in the conversation. She liked gossip as much as the next person, but thinking about Punk spending the night with a woman made her feel strange. She didn't like it.

"Didn't you hear me?" Shiv said, "What if he brings his lady friend here? What if she becomes the Lady Diana of this town? I mean… everyone loves him so they're gonna love her." Shiv nodded.

"Do you ever listen to yourself?" Lyla turned to her.

"What?" Shiv shrugged.

"Pastries, guys. Come on. We open in five." AJ shook her head, watching Becca and Shiv make their way into the kitchen in the back whilst Lyla looked over at her.

"You alright?" Lyla asked.

"Yeah, why wouldn't I be?" AJ turned to her.

"Just checking." Lyla smiled, not convinced by her friend's fake smile.

"Thank you for letting me stay." Sophie nodded, standing by her car which was parked outside Punk's coffee shop, "It was… probably a bad idea but… it was nice to have your company again."

"Yeah." Punk nodded.

Last night he had definitely let loneliness and need get to him. He promised himself he would stay on the couch. That he was just being a good person letting Sophie stay with him. Before he knew it those thoughts were out the window, and they were in bed together. After all the pleasure faded, he immediately regretted it and wished he hadn't thought purely with his dick.

"This isn't the part where I ask you to get back together with me." Sophie assured him, "I don't think I fit into your life anymore, actually."

"My life is here now. Yours isn't." Punk nodded, "We shouldn't have… it just confuses things."

"No, it doesn't." Sophie said, "We've been lonely. I've missed you, honestly."

"Was this why you stopped by?" Punk asked.

"To get laid?" Sophie asked as he nodded, "Is it why you came into the bedroom last night?"

"To get laid?" Punk asked her as she nodded, "Yeah." He said honestly.

"Then that's all it is." Sophie nodded, "I'm not going to move here and leave my job, and you're not going to be a lawyer again and move back to the city so… that's it." She said.

"I thought we both knew that anyway." Punk said.

"Yeah, we did." Sophie nodded, "I've just struggled moving on with another guy… and I've missed the sex, honestly." She scoffed as he laughed a little.

"Are you going to open this place?!" Daryl yelled, standing outside the coffee shop waiting on Punk who was now late for opening, which was a first.

"I'm coming!" Punk yelled to him with annoyance as Daryl rolled his eyes.

"Thanks for the company." Sophie smiled, "I hope all of this works out for you."

"I hope you can move on and find happiness with someone." Punk replied, "But if you wanna stop by on your way to your sister's again… I'm happy to oblige to your needs." He smirked.

"Idiot." Sophie shook her head, opening her car door, "Goodbye, Phil." She said, getting into her car as Punk closed the door over for her, watching her drive off before eventually turning around and approaching Daryl.

"You had sex." Daryl said, standing with folded arms.

"What do you know about sex?" Punk scoffed, rolling up the shutters to the shop and unlocking the door.

"I know that sex with an ex isn't healthy." Daryl shook his head.

"Jesus, you're like an eighty-year-old sometimes." Punk shook his head, walking into the shop as Daryl followed.

"You could have just found someone in the town to screw." Daryl said.

"I'm not going to have sex with someone I don't know." Punk shook his head.

"Oh, what a gentleman." Daryl remarked.

"It's been a while for me and I…" Punk turned to him, "No. I'm not doing this with you. You're a child."

"I'm not a child. I'm just not an old man like you." Daryl said, "If you get horny, never call an ex… it's a disaster waiting to happen."

"First, I wasn't horny. Second, she came to me. What was I supposed to do?" Punk shrugged innocently.

"Have some will power." Daryl shook his head.

"What do you know about exes anyway? I ain't ever heard you talk about girlfriends." Punk said. Even though he remembered AJ mentioning something about him and Shiv that had gone on. He wouldn't bring it up and betray AJ's trust.

"Better to keep distance. That's all I'm saying." Daryl said.

"Me and Sophie have plenty of distance." Punk said, "It's never going to work out. We both know that. I don't think either of us even want it to work out. Last night was just…"

"Horny?" Daryl nodded.

"Stop saying that word." Punk groaned.

"Ok. You were erotically charged." Daryl nodded as Punk glared at him. He knew fine well Daryl enjoyed getting under his skin.

"Go get to work. We're done talking." Punk said.

"Are you still going to ask AJ how to make donuts?" Daryl asked him, changing the subject.

"I think so." Punk nodded.

"How do you know she makes them anyway?" Daryl asked with confusion.

"I've just… saw them. On her social media page or whatever." Punk shrugged. For some reason, he didn't want to tell Daryl about he and AJ's lengthy conversation the other night during the storm.

"You're stalking her on social media?" Daryl laughed.

"No. The Brewberry Café social media page." Punk corrected.

"Yeah, I think Shiv runs it." Daryl rolled his eyes a little as Punk noticed.

"You don't like Shiv?" Punk asked, "Didn't you go to high school with her?" He asked. He knew it was evil to pretend he didn't know more than he did. He just wanted to see what Daryl was opening to admitting.

"We were cool in high school." Daryl nodded, "Just… don't really speak any more."

"Right." Punk said, noticing his deflection and unwillingness to speak about it, "Well let's get this place opened."

AJ got home later that night from the coffee shop after a busy day. Of course, she was always extremely grateful whenever they had a non-stop busy day, but it didn't stop her from whining about her aching feet and legs.

She got into her small but cosy apartment, made some comfort spaghetti which she ate on the living room floor in front of the coffee table whilst Gilmore Girls played on the TV for background noise.

She washed up her dishes once she was finished and then hopped into the shower, tumbling into bed in clean pyjamas at the late time of 8pm. She picked her up book on her nightstand, her usual ritual before falling asleep every night, but she just couldn't focus.

She hated the fact she couldn't stop thinking about Punk. She couldn't understand why this man she thought she hated, was now always on her mind since their conversation the other night. And after hearing Shiv telling them about a woman coming out of his apartment with him this morning, he was on her mind even more.

She wasn't completely numb to her feelings. She did get sexually attracted to men sometimes, and she did wish for some kind of closeness or intimacy with a man. It was safer to think about it than to actually go through with it, though. And she hated that she was thinking of that kind of closeness with Punk.

She shut her book with frustration and sat it on her nightstand, reaching into her drawer and pulling her vibrator out, hoping to squash these excited feelings quickly.

She turned it on, pushing her pyjama shorts and panties down, fixing the vibrator near that sweet spot, and thought about him. What he must have got up to with that woman last night. Wondering what it would have been like to be in her position. She gave herself just this moment to allow herself to think about him like this, trying her best to ignore what it all meant and why she was feeling this way about him. An older man who had tormented her for weeks.

Just as she was reaching that climax, she heard a loud knock at the door, breaking her focus. She turned the vibrator off, throwing it into her drawer and groaning unhappily. She was going to kill Lyla for interrupting such an important part of her night.

She got out of bed, stomping her way out of the bedroom and towards the front door, swinging it open.

"Hi." Punk said, putting his hands in his pockets awkwardly. He tried his best to avoid her bare legs and the very obvious fact she didn't have a bra on, but it was difficult, and he failed, allowing himself a short glance.

"What are you doing here?" AJ shook her head, closing the door a little to hide behind, noticing with slight excitement that he was staring at all the places he shouldn't have been staring at.

"I was just wondering if you'd show me how to make donuts." Punk nodded.

"Right now?" AJ screwed her face up, "It's time for bed."

"It's 8pm." Punk shook his head.

"Yeah and I wake up at 5." AJ said, "How did you even get into the building?" She questioned. You either needed a key or had to be buzzed in by a resident.

"Someone was leaving as I was coming in. They kept the door open for me." Punk shrugged, "I… also asked her which one your apartment was."

"Well that's completely ethical. Let me guess… Judy on the bottom floor?"

"She was older. White curly hair." Punk nodded.

"She's just asking to get robbed at this point." AJ shook her head.

"I can… come back another time. I'm sorry, I should have asked before showing up." He nodded, realising how abrupt his appearance was. He hadn't really thought it through, he supposed.

"No, it's fine. I couldn't sleep anyway and… you're here now." AJ shrugged, opening up the door wider to let him in.

"You sure?" He asked.

"Yeah." AJ nodded. She'd never let a man into her apartment during the five years she'd lived here. Not one single man.

"Ok." Punk said, walking into the apartment as she shut the door over behind him.

"Just… wait here. I need to change." She said as he noticed a slight flush to her cheeks, watching her run over to what he supposed was her bedroom and slam the door shut.

It gave him an opportunity to look around her apartment briefly. It was extremely cosy. A cream corner sofa in front of a TV with the kitchen at the back. Different little ornaments and personal touches on the cabinets and coffee table, including some comic books which he noticed with admiration.

"You like comics?" He pointed to the coffee table once AJ came back out in sweats and an oversized hoodie.

"Yeah, have done since I was a kid." AJ nodded, "I keep those ones on display because they're my favourite." She said.

"Jean Grey?" Punk looked closer.

"My beloved." AJ nodded seriously as he smiled a little, "You like them?"

"Love them." Punk nodded.

"I think I should have all the ingredients for the donuts." AJ said, making her way to the kitchen as Punk followed, watching her look in cupboards and the fridge to get the ingredients out.

"I'll pay you for whatever you use." Punk said.

"It's fine." AJ shook her head, "These do take a little bit of time to make, though." She told him.

"I've got time. If it's ok with you." Punk said.

"Sure." AJ said, "We can start just with a simple glazed donut." She nodded.

"Simple, she says." Punk scoffed.

"Alright, we gotta make the dough first." She nodded. As soon as she got the ingredients out, she became focused solely on the task at hand. Like every other time she baked, she could silence her thoughts and disappear into a world of concentration and perfection.

An hour or so went by where Punk watched her every move, watching her long slim fingers knead the dough for the donuts, shaping them and preparing the glaze whilst getting the oil hot enough to fry them.

She was so focused and still so relaxed. He was mesmerised by her. It was clear to see this was her domain and her happy place.

They'd barely spoken about anything other than the task at hand. AJ had helped him shape his own donuts as his were a little on the wonky side which did make her laugh.

"You really can't do this baking thing, huh?" AJ realised.

"I wasn't kidding." Punk nodded.

"Just shape it out evenly after you take the cutter away." She showed him as he watched.

"Yeah, but you make it look easy." Punk rolled his eyes as she smiled.

They had time to kill for the dough to rise before frying them. AJ wasn't sure what to do with herself. Did she offer him a drink? A seat on her sofa? She was completely out of her comfort zone once it became apparent that they had to make conversation. Luckily, he made the opening gesture.

"You got a nice place here." Punk said, drying his hands after washing them.

"It's small but… it's perfect for me." AJ shrugged, "Do you live far from your shop?"

"No, I'm literally just a block away." He told her.

"Oh, right." AJ said, opening the fridge and taking two sparkling waters out, walking over to the kitchen table and sitting down which made Punk feel welcomed into the other chair, "So, Shiv said she saw you with a woman today. Walking to work." AJ said. She wasn't sure why she'd said that. Maybe she wanted to know what was going on with him. Was he even single? He hadn't mentioned dating anyone, only that he'd broken up with his girlfriend through his disbarment.

"Shiv is nosey, isn't she?" Punk scoffed.

"Her best talent." AJ nodded.

"It was… just my ex." Punk shook his head, "Needed a place to crash whilst she was travelling back to Chicago.

"And you normally let exes stay with you overnight?" AJ asked with confusion.

"No." Punk made a face at her as she smiled, "Guess I just wanted the company for the night. Sometimes I love how quiet it is here, and other times I can't stand it." He said, "Do you feel the same?" He asked her.

"No. I love it. I'm not really a social butterfly so this is literally my perfect setup." AJ admitted.

"I'm not a social butterfly but… there's barely anything to do here." Punk said.

"There is. Just not for old men, I guess." AJ nodded as he tilted his head a little.

"Old men?" Punk questioned with an offended chuckle.

"I mean… you are old." AJ nodded, "A fossil."

"I'm only thirty-seven. I'm still in my prime." Punk scoffed.

"Ok." AJ nodded along with teasing smile.

"Anyway… you totally are a social butterfly. You're great with customers. People love you." Punk said.

"Yeah, but that's at work. When I come home I like to just… be home. Cook and read. Spend the night in." AJ shrugged.

"I guess I was used to going out most nights after work with people from my firm." Punk nodded, taking a sip from his can.

"What kind of firm was it? I mean… what kind of lawyer were you?" AJ asked.

"Criminal defence." Punk said, "Not entirely pleasant at times." He admitted, looking down at the table.

"So you… you defended criminals?" AJ asked with concern.

"The worst of the worst." Punk nodded as AJ stared at him, "Honestly, you just had to shut off from it all. Make yourself believe they were truly innocent and go in for the kill." Punk said as AJ swallowed the lump in her throat.

She'd been in court. She'd had a criminal defence lawyer rip her to shreds on the stand as she discussed in detail how she had been violently attacked and raped. He'd probably done the same to another woman just like her.

"I uh… I think you should go." AJ stood up immediately, feeling her skin crawling, "It's late." She said.

"We've not finished them." Punk stood up.

"Well, you got the general idea of how to make them." AJ said, "I should be getting to bed."

"Are you ok?" Punk asked, noticing she looked a little panicked, "Is it the lawyer thing?" He wondered, "I get how it sounds but…"

"No, I just want you to leave now. Please." AJ said, a little more forcefully as he stopped talking and looked across at her.

"Ok." Punk nodded. It was that same look she had in her eyes when he'd found her that night, crying her heart out on the street. He couldn't stand being the one to make her look like that.

"Go." AJ said, keeping her distance from him as Punk nodded.

"I'm sorry… if I upset you." Punk said, a little confused, trying his best to figure her out. He guessed he didn't know her well enough to figure her out yet.

"Just go." AJ nodded, watching as he headed for her door, opening it up and closing it behind him as she quickly ran towards it and locked it, putting the chain on and stepping back, taking deep breaths to calm herself down.