Chapter 9: Squirt

"You gotta stop doing this." Jeremy shook his head as he walked into his place and saw Nic standing behind the kitchen counter.

"You and AJ seem like you are getting close, huh? Going to soccer games and shit." Nic ignored him.

"What, are you stalking me now?" Jeremy asked.

"Calm down. I was there for personal reasons." Nic clarified. "That's beside the point. You're getting really close to her."

"Isn't that what you wanted? Get close to her then kidnap the kid." Jeremy pointed out.

"That is what I wanted but it's becoming a problem when you aren't even attempting to finish the job." Nic said.

"It's easier said than done. She watches that girl like a hawk. Especially when I'm over. I need to gain her trust." He told Nic.

"Gain her trust? The whole foundation of which you met her is based on lies. There is no truth so there is no trust." Nic groaned. "What there is—pills. Why aren't you drugging her?"

"I did. The first night we hooked up. Well, she actually accidentally saw them in my pocket and voluntarily took a couple on her own." Jeremy nodded. "But it fucked her up so much that now she won't take any. She doesn't want them."

"Well aren't you just an angel for taking into consideration what she wants." Nic mocked, sarcastically. "Do I have to pull up my shirt and remind you that I have a fucking gun? I am also very trigger happy, don't tempt me. Drug her. I don't care if you have to slip it in her drink or force it down her throat."

"Fine, fine." Jeremy groaned. "What's with the urgency anyways?

"I saw Punk at the soccer game yesterday, and he's suspicious of me. And I know damn well he's suspicious of you just based off the fact you're dating his wife." Nic told him. "So, we need to speed up the process."

"You know, April is pretty cool. She likes me. Maybe... I don't know, if we just ask her for the money-" Jeremy was cut off by Nic laughter.

"You can't be serious, right?" Nic was hysterical. "Yeah, dude, you just go on and ask for 3 million, I'm sure she'll gladly wire it to you. Matter fact, why don't you just flat out tell her you are planning to kidnap her daughter. She'll probably give you an extra 5 for honesty."

"I'm just sayin-." Jeremy started but was cut off again.

"Am I working with a fucking idiot? You know what, I've been kind. I've been too kind. Just for that foolishness, I want you to kidnap the kid tonight." Nic demanded. "Drug her. Get the kid, and I'll text you were to meet at."

"Tonight?" Jeremy sighed.

"Yep, better hurry. If I have to take matters into my own hands, I won't be a happy camper." Nic told him. "Then I'll wanna shoot things. Maybe your your arms, or your legs. Not your head, though. I don't need the collateral damage that comes when you murder someone. I'll leave that up to your parents when they find out how much a of disappointment their son is-."

"I'll do it, okay? Tonight. But after we get the money, I don't want anything to do with you." Jeremy cut him off this time.

"I'm not planning on making friendship bracelets with you either, pal." Nic mocked. "Once we get the money, I'll be out of your hair."

"Good." Jeremy nodded, then grabbed his jacket and started to walk towards the front door.

"But if this plan somehow falls through, I will make your life a living hell." Nic yelled out to him, as Jeremy made his way out of the place. "That's a promise. Give AJ a kiss for me, will ya."

It was 3 days after Punk's fight, and Punk & AJ were cuddled up on the floor in the living room area of his apartment watching a film. He had told her all about the offer he got from the scout, and even though she said she was happy for him—he could tell that something was bothering her.

"Okay." Punk grabbed the remote and paused the movie which caused AJ to lift her head up and look at him.

"What?" She asked, confused.

"What's up with you? I feel like whenever we hang out lately, your mind is somewhere else." Punk said. "You're not even complaining that I've quoted this movie word for word."

"There is something on my mind, but it'll pass soon." AJ assured him.

"Now I'm intrigued. Is something up with your family? School? Oh, no. It's the UFC thing, isn't it? You're gonna break up with me, aren't you?" Punk asked with concerned. "I know that we haven't been in a relationship for very long, but I believe we can make this long-distance thing work out. You what they say, distance makes the heart grow fonder-."

"I'm pregnant." AJ blurted out, and Punk mouth fell slightly open.

"Oh." Punk said with a blank stare on his face.

"Don't worry, though. I already made an appointment for Friday. It'll fix things." AJ nodded.

"Okay... cool." Punk nodded then grabbed the remote and pressed play on the movie.

"That's it?" AJ raised her eyebrow. "We're not gonna talk about it?"

"I mean, you already made the appointment, there's really nothing to talk about." Punk turned back to her. "I support your decision. You have high school to finish up, and dreams to go to college. And with this opportunity, I'll be gone for so many months. Besides, we're way too young, and broke to raise a kid. You're making the right choice."

"Yeah, yeah I know." AJ nodded. "It's just... I don't know. Maybe I kind of thought about keeping it."

Punk screwed his eyes at her for second then started busting out laughing. AJ wasn't smiling, though. She was dead serious.

"You're not joking?" Punk's laughter faded. "April we can't raise a kid. Even if we did have the money and resources, we're practically kids ourselves. We just wouldn't be able to."

"I'm not saying I was ever planning on going through with it, I just thought about it. I made the appointment for a reason." AJ shut down. "I guess I just needed to hear exactly this. Get your reassurance that I'm doing the right thing."

"You are, and I'll be right there with you." Punk smiled. "Now let's get back to this movie."

"Actually, it's getting pretty late. I better go home." AJ told him as she stood up and walked over to the front door to put her shoes back on.

"Okay, um... let me go get my jacket really quick. Here's the keys if you wanna get the car warmed up." Punk threw the keys over to AJ and she caught them then nodded towards him and walked out the from door.

Once AJ closed the door, he let out a deep breath he was holding in. She was pregnant? He couldn't believe it. He tried to keep calm in-front of her but now he was freaking out.

"You can't be this clueless."

Punk looked over and saw Dean leaning up against the wall.

"AJ's-." Punk started but was cut off.

"Pregnant, I know. These walls are thin, and I'm just in the room next door." Dean pointed out. "You're just gonna let her go through with the abortion when it obvious that's not what she really wants?"

"What? She made the appointment before even talking to me, I think that's a big red flag she doesn't want this either." Punk raised an eyebrow.

"Or she made the appointment because she anticipated this reaction from her asshole boyfriend." Dean said.

"You act like I'm forcing her to do this." Punk was starting to get frustrated. "If she wants to keep it, I'm not gonna stop her."

"Yeah, you're just gonna say things that discourages her to even consider it." Dean said, and Punk just stared at him. "You talk about that you wanna start a family all the time."

"Yeah, 10 years from now. When I make it in the UFC and have an income that can afford me more than an two bedroom shity apartment with another person." Punk reasoned.

"Look, I wouldn't even be bothered to try and talk you out of this if I didn't think there's a part you that wants this." Dean sighed. "I think there's gonna be a part of you that will regret this."

"Dean, this is a once in a lifetime opportunity I just got. These opportunities don't just come every day. I think I know what I would regret more." Punk simply said then put his shoes on and walked to the front door.

"Fighting isn't gonna last forever." Dean told him as he had his back to him about to walk out the door. "So, putting it above everything and everyone, will only leave you with nothing once it's over."

Punk stood at the door with his hand on the knob for a second, thinking about what Dean said and even contemplating turning around and firing back. But instead, opened the front door and walked out.

Jeremy was lying next to a sleeping AJ, trying to come up with a plan on how he was gonna do this. He opted not to slip any drugs in her drink and decided to just wait until she fell asleep.

He quietly slipped out the bed, making sure he didn't make too much movement that would startle AJ. He grabbed his discarded pants and shirt and put them on.

When he reached for his shoes, it caused him to accidentally bump into the nightstand. He looked over to to AJ but she luckily, she as still fast asleep.

He slipped the shoes on and tiptoed out of the room. He walked down the hall and stopped in front of Dani's bedroom. He sighed as he looked at the front of her bedroom door. He got himself into some deep shit, and now he was about to get himself into some more shit. But he didn't really have a choice at this point.

Jeremy looked around before grabbing the handle of Dani's door and opening it. He looked in the room and was relieved to see that she was asleep.

"What the hell are you doing?" The voice caused Jeremy to jump and quickly shut her bedroom door.

"Nothing. I was just gonna head downstairs to get some water." Jeremy lied.

"You were looking in my daughter's room." AJ walked up to the room looked in it, and saw Dani was still asleep. Then she looked back over to Jeremy. "Get out."

"April I-." Jeremy tried to save himself but AJ wasn't having it.

"Get out!" She sternly said which caused Jeremy to mentally kick himself. He blew it. He obliged and walked down the stairs and to the door.

AJ followed after him to make sure he left the house and locked the door. She ran back upstairs and checked on Dani once again. But this time she walked into the room, and saw that her daughter was still asleep, cuddling up with the stuffed bear cub Punk got her at a Cubs game some years back.

She smiled then pulled up the covers, so they were fully covering her. She then slipped quietly back out of the room, and into her room to grab her phone.

Why the hell was Jeremy looking in Dani's room? Her mind automatically went to worst once she saw that. She was one who invited him to their house... their life. She felt sick to her stomach.

"Hey, if you're not busy, I need you to get over here right now. It's important." AJ frantically said into phone the moment the person she called answered.

"So.. he's a gambler?" Dean raised an eyebrow as he sat on his couch talking to Punk who seated in the chair adjacent to him. "Look, I don't like the guy either. But I don't think him being a gambler is such a bad thing."

Punk's apartment didn't have hot water, and it was gonna be like that for a couple days so Dean and Renee let him stay with them. Now, he was telling him all that he discovered about Jeremy.

"He's not just any gambler, Dean. He's one in some serious debt. He, also, gambles on fights. So, he knows who I am, yet he's been acting like he only knows me as April's husband." Punk explained.

"Whatever you're trying to get at, spit it out. I'm already a bit tipsy so I don't have the mental capacity to decode whatever you're saying." Dean rolled his eyes.

"What I'm saying is.. I think he's with AJ for her money." Punk concluded. "I mean, I'm sure it helps that she's sexy, smart, and can do that thing with her legs-."

"Dude." Dean groaned. "TMI, she's like my sister."

"Sorry. Point is, I think he's trying to get money to pay off his debt." Punk said.

"I mean, obviously I get that you're loaded but.. doesn't he work with AJ? She doesn't exactly make chump change." Dean pointed out.

"That's the thing, Dean. I investigated it more, he seems like an amateur in the screenwriting world. He hasn't even produced anything. I'm not even sure how he got spot of AJ's team." Punk told Dean.

"Now, that's strange." Dean nodded.

"You don't think I'm completely crazy for thinking this?" Punk asked.

"I would but I know something that may add fire to your fuel." Dean said then looked around to make sure they were alone. "I'm not supposed to be telling you this but.. Jeremy drugged AJ."

"What the hell?" Punk swiftly stood up from his seat.

"Sorry, not drugged. It was consensual." Dean put quotation marks around that sentence. "Sit back down."

"What do you mean consensual?" Punk asked as he sat back down in the chair.

"AJ apparently wanted to take the drugs. That's why she was so messed up that day. But why does he even have drugs like that on him if his intentions are pure?" Dean questioned.

"Drug her so she's whacked out of her mind then steal from her. It's all making sense now." Punk nodded. "Man, I gotta get her away from him. But if I say anything, I'm gonna look like the crazy husband. So..."

"Fine, I'll talk to her about it." Dean said and Punk stared at him.

"Thank you. I also need to ask you about something else." Punk said.

"Spill." Dean said.

"So, as you know I've kinda been a mess this past year but now I'm starting to feel like my old self again." Punk told him. "So, I was looking through my old bank statements just to see what crazy shit I have bought while I was not acting like myself."

"What did you find?" Dean chuckled.

"Nothing too crazy, luckily. But I did look in Ape and I's joint bank account as well and saw something interesting." Punk said, and Dean's smile faded. "About the time when I was preparing for my fight, she made a few doctor's appointments. Thing is, it wasn't our normal doctor."

"Oh." Dean was starting to get nervous about where this was heading.

"It's just that that I look into that doctor's office and they do everything that ours does. And if I'm being honest here, ours does it better." Punk said. "So, I'm not sure why she would make an appointment with a doctor that isn't ours?"

"I don't know, man." Dean lied. Feeling uncomfortable with having to lie to Punk.

"She must've wanted to hide something from me, right? What if she was sick or something?" Punk asked. "Are you sure you don't know anything, Dean? She didn't tell Renee anything either?"

"She didn't tell Renee about an appointment." Dean said. He didn't really lie about that.

"And you?" Punk continued to prod. "Did she tell you anything?"

Dean knew he couldn't tell him the reason why. No matter how horrible he felt about keeping this from him, he knew the truth would hurt him even more.

"She didn't." He replied.

"Okay." Punk nodded, believing that Dean didn't know anything about it. "Should I ask her about it?"

"No." Dean said a bit to quickly but luckily Punk didn't pay much mind to that. "What if she doesn't want to talk about it, you bring it up and it only further pisses her off at you?"

Punk thought about it for a second. Dean was right. Sometimes ignorance is bliss, and if AJ didn't want him to know then why bother. Besides, if it was something serious, she would've told him. Right?

"Fuck it. I'm sure it was nothing." Punk assured himself.

Dean nodded in agreement then his phone started to ring. He picked the phone from the coffee table and answered it.

"Your timing is impeccable, really." Dean said into the phone.

"Hey, if you're not busy, I need you to get over here right now. It's important." AJ sounded frantic, and Dean could sense how frightened she was.

"Um... I'm coming right now." Dean told her with an eyebrow raised as Punk looked on in concern.

"Okay, hurry. Please." AJ said then hung up the phone.

"Was that Ape? What the hell happened?" Punk asked when Dean put his phone down.

"Yeah, it was, and I don't think I've ever heard her so freaked." Dean noted then stood up. "The only time she's freaked about stuff is when it comes to-."

"Dani. Why wouldn't she call me?" Punk stood. "You stay here. I'm going."

"You sure? I can go, I don't mind." Dean said.

"No. My family, my responsibility." Punk asserted then walked out of the door.

Punk pulled up the abortion clinic with a visibly frightened AJ in the passenger seat.

"Scared?" Punk looked over to AJ after he parked the car in the parking lot.

"A little." AJ replied as she looked out the window. "I wonder if it's gonna hurt."

"Before we go in, I have to make a phone call." Punk told her, and she looked over him.

"Okay, I'll go in. You could the make the call." AJ shrugged.

"No, I want you here when I make this call." Punk said, and AJ was confused by that but she complied.

Punk pulled out his phone and dialed number then put it on speaker.

"Punk, my main man. I've been waiting for your call." Steve answered. "I'm assuming you have an answer for me."

"I do." Punk said then looked back over to AJ. "First off, I wanna thank you for this offer, but I can't accept it."

AJ's head jolted up, and her eye were wide. What was he doing?

"Excuse me? Did I hear you correctly?" Steve was taken a back.

"I can't accept it. My girlfriend and I are expecting, and I wanna be able to not only provide but here in Chicago for them both." Punk informed which caused AJ to open her eyes even wider.

"Phil." She whispered, and Punk just smiled at her then put his hand on hers.

"Even though what I'm getting paid for my fights right now isn't nearly enough—at least I'd be here in Chicago and we'd have help with this." Punk went on. "I just can't take the risk of fighting for a contract. Especially when it's over a thousand miles away from... from my family."

AJ was overwhelmed with emotions right now. Even though she was happy that Punk wanted to keep the baby, she still felt heartbroken for him that he has to give up this opportunity.

"Well, I will say that I'm not exactly happy you're declining this once and lifetime offer. But I have two daughters and a son of my own, so I understand." Steve told Punk. "With that being said, business must go on. You know this. I wish you the best of luck."

"Wait. Before you hang up." Punk stopped him. "You say you think I'm gonna be a star, and if you really believe that then give me a chance. Give me a guaranteed contract. Take that chance on me."

"Kid, I can't just give you a contract. You still have a lot to prove." Steve said.

"I understand. But I know I'm gonna be everything you said I am. Whether that be for the UFC or an opposing promotion." Punk clarified.

"Is that a threat?" Steve scoffed.

"No threat. I'm just telling it as it is." Punk replied, and AJ just looked on at him. She didn't know if this tactic he was pulling was gonna work. "Yes, being in the UFC has always been my dream, but they're so many more options now. Who knows, maybe Bellator will give me a shot."

Punk knew he was taking a huge risk right now, but he didn't have any other choice. What he's making is not nearly enough to take care of a baby. He needed this opportunity. Even if it met playing a bit of mind games.

"Anyways, I'm gonna let you go. I'm sure you have other important phone calls to make." Punk said.

"Yes, I do." Steve sighed. "Good luck, kid."

Then he hung up the phone.

"Phil.. what did you just do?" AJ frowned.

"I just bet on myself. Actually, I just bet on us." Punk corrected.

"This is your dream." AJ pointed out.

"It is, but I also have new dreams." He shrugged.

"But.. you said it yourself we don't have the money to raise a kid." She reasoned.

"I'm confused. Do you not want to have to this baby?" Punk questioned.

"I don't know, Phil. If I'm being honest, there's is a big part of me that does." AJ admitted. "I just... I just don't want you to resent me if you lose your dream because of this."

"I'm not gonna resent you. I want this." Punk interjected. "I know I didn't react the best to when you first told me, but I talked to Dean and he really made me realize that fighting is great, but it could be gone any second. But this... you... me... this kid is something I'll have for life."

"It's not gonna be easy. I haven't even told my parents I'm dating yet along I'm pregnant. You're sacrificing so much. And I'm gonna have to sacrifice school." AJ rambled.

"No, you aren't. You're so close to wrapping up high school, and I'm gonna do whatever I can to make sure you to get go to college too." Punk told her. "It's not gonna be the fancy college that you've wanted to go to, but you'll make it work. We'll cross every single one of those bridges when we get there."

"You really are down to do this?" AJ smiled. She was in awe. It's like he knew exactly what to say to her to assure her that everything would be alright.

"I've never been more down." He smiled back at her. "You trust me?"

"Yes." She replied without hesitation.

"Then you have nothing to worry about." Punk assured, and his then his phone started to ring. "And this is why."

AJ raised an eyebrow at him then Punk answered the phone and put it on speaker.

"Hello." He said.

"Four fights. That's it, kid. Four fight contract, and you have to deliver." Steve told Punk. "If you don't, you can cost yourself a once & a lifetime opportunity and me a job."

"Sounds... perfect." Punk smiled at AJ and she couldn't help but be impressed.

"You have to deliver. Show me what I saw in you last weekend. I truly do believe you have something special, but you gotta show the big boss man that, too." Steve firmly stated. "I understand that you're gonna have a lot on your plate, but I need you to put your all-in fighting."

"It's my number once source of income to take care of my child. Of course, I'm going to put my all in it." Punk told him. "I promise, I'll be everything you think I'll be and more."

"I believe you." Steve said. "I have to go, but I'll have sent more details to you soon. Welcome to the UFC, kid."

"Thank you.. thank you so much. I won't let you down." Punk promised.

"Yeah, don't tell me. Just show me, okay? Show me." Steve repeated then hung up the phone.

"Phil.. you're... you're in." AJ smiled excitedly at him.

"I know.. I know." Punk said in awe. He was speechless. What did I tell you? Trust me, Ape. We're gonna do this.. together. Now let's get the hell out of here and celebrate."

"Let's." AJ agreed.

"Any specific place you wanna go?" He asked.

"Anywhere. As long as I'm with you." She replied. "But I guess, and ice parlor will help too. That's what your kid wants."

"Ice cream parlor it is then." Punk smirked then started up the car. "You, me and squirt."

"Squirt?" AJ laughed.

"It'll stick. Just watch." He smiled. "We're going to be parents."

"We're going to be parents." AJ repeated then Punk gave her a huge smile and drove off from the clinic.