Change is Good

"Phil?" Lyla said with confusion, sticking her head out of the pizza place where she had been waiting on her order, noticing Punk walking past.

"Yeah? Oh, hey." Punk noticed it was Lyla.

"Jesus, aren't you freezing?" Lyla shook her head. The temperatures had really dropped as of late, and he was only standing in some shorts and t-shirt, with wet hair.

"No, I'm ok." Punk shrugged, not having thought about how cold it was.

"Are you alright?" Lyla asked. She put one and one together and figured AJ had told him about the pregnancy. It was the only explanation for why he looked so dazed and far away.

"Yeah. Yeah, I'm fine." Punk nodded to her, "Just wanted some fresh air."

"It's fresh alright." Lyla smiled a little, "I'm just assuming AJ told you about being pregnant." She said.

"You know?" He asked.

"Yeah, me and the girls were with her when she took the test." Lyla nodded, "You guys didn't have a fight or anything, right?" She wondered.

"No." Punk shook his head, "No, we… we didn't talk much about it, actually. I came out here." Punk said, as if only realising now that he was outside.

"You just walked out?" Lyla asked.

"Yeah, I'm realising now that it probably wasn't the best thing to do." He sighed, rubbing his forehead stressfully as Lyla looked at him.

"How do you feel about it all?" Lyla asked, "I know it's obviously a big shock."

"Yeah, it's a big shock." Punk nodded, "I don't really know what I feel. It just… doesn't seem to be sinking in."

"Do you want to come inside and take a seat?" Lyla asked him as he nodded, following her into the pizza place and taking a seat at the waiting area with her.

"I thought I'd have time to prepare, you know? For being a dad." He said.

"You won't ever be prepared for this." Lyla scoffed, "I think the important question right now is… do you love AJ?" She asked.

"Yes, of course I do." Punk said, offended by the question, "I love her more than anything in the world." He shook his head, "I feel like a better person just by knowing her. Moving here is the best decision I've ever made." He nodded as Lyla looked at him.

"And I know she feels the same about you." Lyla nodded, "A baby is a big responsibility. But if you love each other enough… you'll see it through, and I don't doubt you'll both be great parents."

"It's just so fast." Punk said.

"It's life. It throws you curveballs sometimes." Lyla said, "Are you going to leave her because of this?" She asked bluntly.

"What? No, of course not." Punk said.

"Then all you have to do is go back home and tell her everything will be ok. That's all she wants to hear right now." Lyla said.

"God, I just walked out on her." Punk shook his head, mad at himself, "I just left her standing there."

"You were in shock. I'm sure she'll forgive you." Lyla said, "She's been through so much in her life. You know that." She said as Punk nodded, "But ever since you've came into her life you've lit her up. You make her so happy. I've never seen two people so compatible and right for one another. A baby won't change any of that. It'll only bring you closer together. Whether it's fast or not." Lyla said as Punk nodded along, listening to her closely and appreciating her words.

"Was she upset when she found out?" Punk asked Lyla.

"No, I don't think she was upset. Just scared and unsure about everything." Lyla said, "Which is normal. Even if you did everything as society expects… get married, get a house, then have a baby… you'd still be just as scared."

"Yeah, I guess you're right." Punk nodded, "I should go back and see her." He said, standing up from the table.

"You'll both be fine." Lyla nodded to him.

"Thanks, Lyla." Punk said, appreciating the time she had given him and the support. He saw so much of her that he regarded her as a good friend now.

"That baby is really lucky." Lyla nodded to him, standing up from the table and giving him a hug as he hugged her back.

"Thank you." He said.

Punk got home to the apartment after wandering around the town and his conversation with Lyla. He didn't feel any less terrified, but definitely more assured by Lyla's words that he and AJ could do this. They loved one another so deeply, it felt like they could really face anything. He was just so in shock that his body had just froze when he told her. Like he didn't know what to do with himself.

He walked into the completely dark apartment. He wished he hadn't walked out. It wasn't anything to do with AJ or the fact he couldn't face it. He just had no clue what the right thing to say was.

He made his way through the living room and over to the bedroom, opening up the door where he saw AJ lying in bed with her eyes closed. He couldn't imagine how she was feeling, given the fact she was the one physically having the baby and no doubt about to go through such a massive change. He knew all he wanted to do was support her. Through everything.

He made his way around the bed, stripping his t-shirt and shorts off, getting into the bed and thankfully under the covers after braving a walk in the very cold night.

He placed his hand on AJ's hip, looking on at her where she had her back facing him, lying on her side.

"You're freezing." AJ said quietly.

"Sorry, did I wake you?" Punk said, removing his hand.

"No, I was awake." AJ said.

"I'm sorry I just wandered off." Punk said, "I didn't know what to say. I didn't know the right thing to say." He said as she eventually turned around to face him, lying facing each other in the dark bedroom with just the streetlights from outside illuminating their features.

"I don't know what to say either." AJ admitted, "You really should have put a jacket on, though." She said with concern, feeling his arm which was freezing cold.

"Yeah, I didn't really think it all through." He said quietly, "I have no idea how to be a dad, April. Like… no clue. Mine was drunk and absent for most of my life. But… I love you and I'm sure we can figure it all out together. I never really thought much about my future before but… ever since being with you, I know that I need you to be in it." He nodded.

"I don't want to trap you." She whispered, stroking his cheek, "It's so soon. We've barely had any time together, just the two of us. Our life is going to completely change." She said.

"It will change but… it'll be a good change." He nodded, "You're not trapping me. Don't ever think that. I'm going to love this baby just as much as I love you. I have no doubt about that."

"I'm so scared." She admitted.

"Me too." Punk said, cupping her cheek softly, "But everything will be fine. We'll make it work. And I'll be here for you for everything. You're never going to be alone." He made clear as AJ nodded, feeling a tear run down her cheek.

"We're going to have a baby." She whispered, not believing the words coming out of her mouth.

"I know." Punk smiled, stroking her cheek lovingly, "And we'll love it so much."

"Yeah." AJ smiled, placing her hand over the one he had resting on her cheek.

"You're the best thing that has ever happened to me. You know that, right?" Punk said.

"I feel the same." AJ said, "For such a long time I barely even wanted to wake up in the morning. I just felt like a shell of the person I used to be. Nothing mattered to me. But you've made my life so much more fun and happier. I couldn't imagine doing life without you." She realised.

Finding out she was pregnant wasn't only a shock for the obvious reasons, but it made her realise just how much this man meant to her. She realised she couldn't imagine living without him. Without waking up next to him, enjoying their morning coffee together, smiling at the notes he left her in the bathroom after he showered, hearing him yell at the TV on a Sunday night as he caught up on his sports teams, holding his hand in public and people watching with him in the park. She felt tied to him. Not just because of the baby now, but because she just loved him that much.

"You don't have to do life without me." Punk assured her, "You never will." He said as she smiled, shuffling closer to him and pressing her lips against his as he wrapped his arms around her waist.

"Make love to me." She whispered into his neck as he nodded, rolling them over so she was on his back, and he was hovering on top of her.

He moved his hand between them, burying them into her shorts and panties, parting her folds and stroking her softly at first as she moaned. He did this whilst kissing her neck and pushing her tank top up to free her breasts for him to use his mouth on.

Nothing was rushed or desperate, it was soft and firm, just what the doctor ordered as they both felt vulnerable and scared upon this pregnancy news.

"Fuck." AJ whispered, cupping the back of his head as he swirled his tongue around her hard nipples, all the while stroking her clit in a steady rhythm, coaxing up a release inside her that she was desperately needing.

Once feeling she was wet and ready, Punk pushed his boxers down and lined himself up with her entrance, her legs immediately opening up for him as he pushed himself inside of her.

"Fuck." Punk moaned, resting his head between her breasts whilst she played with the back of his hair.

He balanced his hands on either side of her head, beginning to thrust himself back and forth inside of her, watching her closely as she moaned and rolled her head back, placing her hands on either side of his torso.

"That feels so good." She cried, enjoying the feeling of him so deep. His thrusts were steady but deep and all they could do was look into each other's eyes, their foreheads resting against each other as they whispered sweet nothings.

Punk tangled his hand back down between them, stroking her clit a little faster to spur her orgasm on whilst he continued thrusting into her.

"Fuck, I'm going to come." AJ said, panting heavily now as Punk nodded in agreement, feeling his own orgasm just seconds away too.

He felt her go rigid after just a few more thrusts, her back arching as she breathed heavily and moaned. Her walls tightened around him as she came which ultimately led to his own release.

"Fuck." Punk grunted, burying his face into her neck as he left spurts of himself inside of her.

They both stayed like that for a while, breathing heavily with Punk hovering over her, his face buried into her neck whilst she traced her fingertips up and down his back.

They felt like nothing else was needed to be said. They knew this was forever, and whatever life threw at them, they'd faced together.