Hey everybody I'm back. I know that I haven't been on here since forever but I've been extremely busy and have no time for any fun. I kind of lost my rough draft of my other story 10 Ways To Get Over a Break Up and forgot where I was going with it. Should I finish it? What do you guys think? Also, I want to get this story here published. I have most of it done. I just need it to be edited and finely tuned before sending it in. I have converted it into a Jorish story but the one I am sending in will have different character names. Still the same basic story though. Anyway, I'd like constructive criticism on this story and let me know what you guys think. Thanks for reading :) Sorry I haven't updated at all but hopefully I will have time to add chapters on this story a lot. Thanks :)

Chapter 1

Withered and tired, the old man puts the final period in his journal and sighs triumphantly. All his life he worked on this journal and knowing he would be passing soon he found he needed to add one more important tidbit of information. He adjusts his thick glasses and rolls the pen in his wrinkled finger tips. He turns and looks at the gray-haired woman lying in bed.

Old Man: Dear, what is the date?

Old Woman: It's October 11th, 2067.

Old Man: Ah great! Thank-you. (He turns back around and scribbles the date at the bottom of the page. He leans back in the brittle wooden chair and rubs his right hand in pain. He's been writing all day and the arthritis in his frail bones ache something terrible.)

Old Woman: Dear, may I ask what you have been writing about? The whole time I've known you, been married to you, you're scribbling in that book. Is it your diary? (The old man turns to face his beloved wife and the dark, deep creases in his face rise. He shows his teeth, or lack-there-of, to her in a not-so-toothy grin.)

Old Man: It's my journal, honey. And I've been working on this since I was young. Since I was incarcerated. Being behind bars that long makes a man bored, you know? And so I filled my days will writing an auto-biography. So when I'm gone people, like Tim, for instance, can know what I've been through. What we've been through. How I think and lived. How my life was, you know? How you and I met, how we fell in love. I want people coming after me to know what true love is like, how it consumes one. How having a soul mate is forever. You're the greatest joy in my life and I want people to know that long after I pass. (His wife's eyes light up in pure joy and she grins as big as she could.)

Old Woman: We've been married 65 years and you still take my breathe away. Always the romantic aren't you, Mr. Cena? (Another smile radiates from his worn down face as he uses is arms to brace himself to stand. Due to old age, his back cracks and twinges.)

Old Man: Mrs. Cena, you have no idea. (Shuffling slowly towards the bed, Mr. Cena makes his way over to the bed.)

Old Man: Shall we cuddle now my beautiful wife? (Mrs. Cena quickly throws down the comforter inviting her husband into bed with her. He carefully climbs into bed and slides in as close to her as he could. Wrapping his feeble arm around her, she snuggles up against him and rests her head on his chest.)

Old Man: You are as beautiful as always, deary. I love you. (His queen looks up into his aged, blue eyes and beams.)

Old Woman: You are as handsome as ever, hun. I love you, too. (Wrapped up and warm, the happily married couple falls asleep together for the last time.

Timothy Cena wipes tears from his eyes as he enters in to what used to be his grandparents' bedroom. Eying the room up and down, a wave of emotions hits him and he can feel it. The love. The love those two shared. It was the 8th wonder of the world. True love. Soul mate love. Love so powerful that time, distance, age, and hardship couldn't extinguish it. He stifles more tears and glances back at his pregnant wife, Rebecca. She presses her lips in a hard line and places a supportive hand on his shoulder.

Rebecca: Tim, it's gonna be fine. They passed together. That speaks volumes, don't you think? Their love for each other was unbreakable. And this proves that soul mates exist. (Tim places his hand on top of her hand and sighs.)

Tim: You're right, Bec. I'm just gonna miss em', you know? They've been my role models since I was born.

Rebecca: It's hard now but it'll get easier. (Tim nods in understanding. He knew this was true. He rubs the knuckles of his wife before he takes a step forward. A notebook on the desk catches his eye. Rebecca watches him as he reaches down and grabs it. "Hey, chances are you're seeing this after I've passed. Don't be sad. Read this for me. Do not forget who I am. Love you, Gramps." Tim's face turns white as he flips through the pages. Rebecca furrows her brows in concern.)

Rebecca: What is it?

Tim: It's Gramps, he wants us to read this. It must be... It's an auto-biography. (He turns in excitement.)

Tim: Bec, do you understand what a huge find this is? I mean, it's his life. In his own words. This is just... incredible. He's told us stories but nothing like this. I mean, look how big it is. (He turns the journal over in his hand feeling the thickness of it. He opens to the first page.)

Tim: The date on this is June 9th, 1995. This is just... (He quickly skims the first few lines. He opens his eyes and mouth in awe.)

Tim: Wow. Bec, he wrote this while he was in jail. It says right here "So I'm sitting in this damned cell. I'm going insane. I can't possibly deal with this for 5 years. And Claire is dead. I killed a man. What the fuck is wrong with me? Why me? Why? What did I do so horrible to end up with this life? All I've ever done is help people and this so-called God takes my daughter away. My poor Claire. I'll never see her again. Hear her laugh. I should just kill myself now." (Shocked, Tim looks up at his stunned wife.)

Rebecca: Wow, your grandfather was in jail? And killed someone?

Tim: I know! I never knew any of this. I only knew that he had a daughter before he met Grammy but I didn't know what happened to her. I figured she just died or something but murder? Not what I expected. Becky, I need to read this. I do. (He clutches the notebook close to his chest and shakes his head in pure disbelief.)

Tim: I'm just blown away. Man. (He closes his eyes trying to bring himself into reality.

Squirting some body wash on a loofah, John Cena starts to wash his well-toned body. "Work has been ridiculous lately. These people out here don't know how to act. I should just start locking everybody up. Enough with being nice. Screw that. These people don't respect the police. They don't respect themselves or they wouldn't be doing these damn drugs." He sighs. "I need a girlfriend, wife, something. Somebody to talk to after work and wind down. Jessie..." He scoffs. "What a piece of work she was. A real piece of shi..." A knock at the bathroom door brings him back to reality and out of his thoughts.

John: Yeah, Claire?

Claire: Daddy, I have to pee. Hurry up! (He chuckles at his 10 year old daughter. He wanted a girlfriend but right now Claire was all he needed. She is the only girl in his life and she will always have that special place in his heart.)

John: I'll be done in a minute, sweetie. (He can hear her tiny footsteps recede down the hall. He uses the loofah to start scrubbing his legs. "That girl is crazy but I love her." A smile spreads across his chiseled jaw. Would he ever love another female? John hangs his head in contemplation as the soap melts off his body under the boiling water. After ten years of no dating or potential dates John has pretty much given up on finding love. He needed to focus on getting Claire to college and see where his life led him after that. Perhaps he'd find love after Claire was grown and on her own. But one could wish.)

He shuts off the shower and steps out of the tub quickly throwing a towel around his waist. He opens the bathroom door to a dancing Claire. He gets startled by her sudden appearance and jumps back.

John: Jesus, Claire. You trying to scare me to death? (She hops from foot to foot doing the 'potty dance'.)

Claire: Dad, move. I have to go! (She pushes him out of her way and rushes into the bathroom. She slams the door and John gawks at the door in shock.)

John: Excuse me would've been fine, thank-you. (He hears Claire chuckling on the other side of the door as he makes his way down the hall to his bedroom. He sits on his king size bed and takes his towel off exposing himself. He looks down at the bed that is too big for a single man. Sighing and reminiscing about the past, his thoughts wander away from him again.)

Raising Claire all on his own since birth, John was not very fond of his ex-wife anymore. At one time he was completely smitten. Awed by her perfection and beauty. But all of that was quickly swept out from under his feet the day they brought Claire back from the hospital. Jessica had abandoned her family because she wasn't ready to 'settle down'.

He scoffs arrogantly at the idea. "Seriously, why did it take her 2 years of dating, a year of marriage, and a pregnancy to realize she wasn't ready to settle down?"

Her sudden absence made him sad of course. Crushed even. Jessica was the only woman he ever loved and when they had Claire it was the best moment in his entire life. Watching her give birth to his daughter only made that affection grow. He never really understood what a woman had to go through but witnessing her show that great display of strength and courage during labor and delivery the realization had finally set in. Women endured a brutal amount of pain giving birth and they should be respected to the fullest for it. He had grown an increased amount of respect, admiration, and love for his wife when they became a family. He thought that he could never live without her. But those feelings quickly vanquished. The hurt grew to anger and loneliness to independence

It's been 10 years since he's been single. Without even a talk to settle things Jessie was gone. John was in sheer shock. He was a guy after all and had absolutely no experience in raising a puppy let alone a human infant. She would need to be fed and he preferred the natural path. Breast feeding. As a man he was unable to do this. He knew he would forever be stuck in an uphill battle trying to raise her but he knew he could do it. He believed in himself to the fullest. He was 29 and had his whole life ahead of him. His mother was single while she raised him and he was going to make her proud. He was going to raise Claire on his own if he needed to. His mother didn't give up on him and he wasn't going to give up on Claire.

Jessica left a note for him before she left.

"John,

I can't do this. I'm not ready for a family. I never wanted to have kids but accidents happen. I can't handle the responsibility. And to be honest with you and myself I fell out of love with you a long time ago. It took the reality of being with you forever with a daughter to make me realize it. I can't bare the thought of spending a lifetime with you let alone another day. I know we made a baby but I just don't want to deal with that right now. I'm sorry but I don't love you and I'm not being a family. I appreciate all that you've given me and for providing for me. I wish you the best.

-Jessie"

He bites his lower lip in anger as he remembers her harsh words. "I wish you the best my ass. She didn't give a damn about me. She left me and Claire without even a goodbye."

John still remembered the pain his chest felt when he read that letter. His heart sunk and didn't rise again for weeks. He'd devoted so much of his time and love in her and their life together he couldn't believe it. His world was turned inside out and upside down. She didn't even have the respect for him to tell him herself. She hid behind a piece of paper. Something that wasn't even worth a penny got the attention he deserved. The attention he craved and yearned for. He knew what he was worth to her now. Nothing. If a paper was the way she broke off the marriage he knew exactly how she felt about him. And he wasn't sure if he thought any fondly of her now either.

But that was just fine. If she wanted to leave then she could. He wasn't going to stop her. Sure it hurt but he got over it. He was able to bounce back better than ever. Being more emotionally mature, he knew what kind of woman he wanted now. The next woman he fell in love with would be his soul mate. His one true love. He'd prove to her that he could be her knight in shining armor. He knew that he'd find the one. He wanted a good woman who was independent, smart, beautiful, caring, and affectionate. She was going to be perfect for him.

Laughter floating through the hallway rendered him from his daydream. Somewhere along the line Claire had finished in the bathroom and went to watch TV in the living room. John stands to his feet and rummages through his dresser for boxers and shorts. He heads down the stairs and enters the living room just as the end credits roll.

John: Claire, honey, it's 9. Ready for bed? (She turns around and peers over the top of the couch.)

Claire: Yeah, I'm pretty sleepy.

John: Okay, sweetie, come on. We'll head up to bed. (He waits for his daughter to walk past him and he puts his hand on her shoulder as they head up to bed. Claire climbs into her bed and her father tucks her in.)

John: Goodnight. I love you. (He gives her a big hug.)

Claire: I love you too, daddy. (John stands up preparing to leave her room.)

Claire: Daddy?

John: Yeah?

Claire: Today in school some kids were talking about cops. And they said that since you are a cop that you were going to die. (John looks at his daughter shocked.)

John: They were huh?

Claire: Yeah, Micheal's dad is a cop in New York and he got shot yesterday. He didn't die yet but he's hurt. And we all think he's gonna die. So now everyone thinks you're going to get shot too and die. (John smirks and sits back down on the edge of her bed and grabs her tiny hand. "Kids really know how to make a man feel loved. Saying I'm gonna die? So compassionate of them." He chuckles at the thought.)

John: You're pretty mature for your age so I'll be honest with you. Being a police officer I do run a high risk of, you know, getting hurt on the job. But in reality, the chance of that is very slim. We have thousands of cops in America. We don't get shot as often as people think. It barely happens. It only gets on the news because it's rare and a good news story. It's a huge rating booster, believe me. Cop gets shot and the whole world stops. But trust me, honey, we don't get shot very often. I'm strong, I'll be fine. (Claire nods and John smiles.)

John: Don't worry about your old man, now. You're young and these... (He flexes his muscles playfully.)

John: These will keep Daddy safe. (Claire chuckles and he pulls the quilt up to her chin.)

John: I love you, Claire. (He kisses her on the forehead and stands up.)

John: Goodnight.

Claire: Goodnight, Daddy. (John leaves her room and closes the door behind him. He goes to his room and relaxes on the bed. A short while later he's fast asleep. John jumps up frightened. "Glass"? He sits straight up in bed and listens carefully. "Is somebody in my house?" The sound of the back door opening raises his suspicions.)

Claire: AHHH!

John: Claire! (John jumps out of bed and flies down the stairs. He rushes around the corner to the kitchen and halts. The gun aimed at his head causes John to freeze up. He stares across the room at his daughter who is wrapped up in the intruder's arms; restrained and muffled.)

Man: You have a nice house here, dude. I never ripped off a place like this before. What expensive stuff you got? You got a TV? DVD player? (Claire struggles to free herself but he has a tight grip on her.)

Man: You know, I robbed a lot of places and never once got caught by the person who lived there. This is new for me. You're gonna show me your valuables if you want this to go smoothly. (John's head is in a jumbled mess and he has no clue what to do.)

John: Claire...

Man: Don't worry about her. I ain't gon' hurt her. Not a pretty little thing like her. No-sir-re. Maybe I'll take her with me when I leave.

John: Look, I have a gun upstairs and...

Man: What are you gonna do? Shoot me? With your daughter here to witness it? That's not very smart. Where's your wife at? I'm guessing she's gon' be comin' down them steps any second now tryna shoot me.

John: I'm not married. (The man erupts into a fit of laughter.)

Man: A single-Daddy! Hahahahaha! That's just 'bout the funniest thing I ever heard of. (John scrunches his eyes and brows in anger, offended by the man's laughter.)

John: What the hell do you think is so funny? Men can raise kids too...

Man: Not very good, no they can't.

John: I think I've done a good job, excuse me. If you have to know my wife abandoned us when Claire was born. So don't you try and say men can't raise kids.

Man: Argh, this ain't one of them day time talk shows. I don't give a damn 'bout your marital problems. (John sighs and shakes his head.)

John: Just let her go. You can have whatever you want.

Man: It's good to hear you wanna comply. (The man looks around.)

Man: Nice place ya got here. (He looks back at John and squints.)

Man: I can't help thinkin' I know you from somewhere. What's your name, son? (John remains silent. The man gets agitated and thrashes his arm about viciously rattling Claire like a doll.)

Man: Don't ignore me, boy!

John: Sir, please. I'm begging you. Let her go. I'll give you whatever you want. I'll give you my account number to my bank, everything. Just, please, let her go. Don't hurt her. (The man laughs at John's bargaining.)

Man: You think I'm that dumb? I know you'll call the cops on me. I know you'll close your account out first thing tomorra' mornin'. I ain't no fool, 'sir'. Them cops; they gonna be knockin' on my door tommora' and that ain't gon' fly by me. (John stares at Claire in distress trying to figure out a solution to fix this problem. The intruder abruptly bursts into a fit of laughter once again.)

John: What? (Without meaning to, John snaps angrily at the man who just finishes his laugh and smirks. He points at John and wags his finger.)

Man: I know you. You're that cop fella that busted me last year.

John: I don't know what you're talking about. I've never seen you in my life.

Man: Bullshit, Copper. Last year, I was robbin' that little ghetto mart downtown. You and your cop buddies interrupted and arrested me.

John: Robbing a store is a good reason then, Sir. That isn't my fault, it's yours and apparently you haven't learned your lesson. Breaking into my house tonight, you're committing a whole handful of crimes at once. It'd be wise of you to just leave now and I'll let it slide. What happened in the past happened. There's no changing that. But you can walk away now and stop this. This life of crime you got going on is no good. Come on, what do you say? (John stares at the man eagerly anticipating his reaction and holds out his hand to shake the man's hand. The man looks at John's hand and spits at it in disrespect.)

Man: Don't you try touchin' me! I wasted 300 days in that hell hole thanks to you. Because of you my girlfriend has complete custody of my son. I can never see him again.

John: Look, I'm not going to do this with you. Just take what you want and leave.

Man: Yeah right. You know who I am. You'll just file a warrant tomorra' and I'll go back in lock-up. I'm ain't stupid.

John: I'm not saying you're stupid. You'll be free. You have my word. Just take what you want and leave. (The man stares at John for what seems like centuries and nods his head slowly.)

Man: Take what I want huh? What if I say I want her?

John: My daughter? No. Leave her out of this. Take the TV or something. Come on, now. Don't be stupid.

Man: You took away my son, officer. It's only fair. (Realizing that this situation is quickly escalating, John has to think fast. The light bulb goes off in his head. He'd always hidden a firearm on the top of the fridge for a reason just like this. He hurriedly pulls the gun down from the top of the fridge and draws it at the man who in turn laughs at him.)

John: I'm telling you, leave her alone. Touch one hair on her head and I'll blow your brains out.

Man: You're so dumb, I tell ya what. I got my gun aimed right at your head. I had plenty of time to shoot ya while you was up there fishin' for that gun. But I'm a gentlemen, ya see. And I won't do that in front of this young lady. So I'll just take her with me and nobody gets shot. (The man begins to back up and John cocks the gun.)

John: I'm not telling you again. Let her go or I will shoot you.

Man: Do it! (John fights the urge to shoot because he knows that he runs the risk of accidentally hitting Claire.)

Man: That's exactly what I thought. Now if you don't mind, I'll get going. I got what I want. (He pulls Claire along with him as he starts to back up towards the back door. John takes a step closer and the criminal shoots towards John. John ducks and covers his head in sheer terror. The man bursts out laughing and after a moment John realizes that the man shot in an attempt to scare him.)

Mann: Ain't so tough now are you, Officer? (John takes a deep breath and sighs as he slowly stands back up.)

John: Alright look, I'm sorry about what happened to your son. But if you let my daughter go I'll pull some strings and get you custody rights. Okay, just relax and don't shoot.

Man: Drop your gun. (John just stares at him.)

Man: I said drop your gun. I don't trust your kind too much. (The man puts the gun right up against Claire's head.)

John: Okay, okay, just relax and stay calm. (Knowing that now his daughter's life was greatly at risk he abides by the criminal's commands. John slowly lowers his gun and places it on the floor.)

Man: Kick it towards me. (John kicks it towards the man as instructed.)

John: Now let her go. I did what you wanted. (The man sneers.)

Man: You're stupid. I ain't giving her back. She's mine now. (The man starts to head towards the door and Claire quickly kicks him hard in the shin giving her an opportunity for escape. John quickly grabs the man's hand to gain control of the gun. Claire falls to the floor after she kicks the man and struggles to get up but she is shaken up. She begins to frantically crawl towards the living room and to safety. John and the crook fight over control of the gun when it accidentally goes off. John gets startled by the loud bang and loses the battle. The man regains complete control of the gun as another loud thud shakes the floor. John turns around and watches his daughter writhe on the floor in pain. She was shot in the back.)

John: Claire! (John falls to the floor on his knees next to her and lifts her up into his arms. The world around John collapses and time stops.)

John: Oh my God... What did you do! (The man is himself in shock because he was never expecting to hurt anyone.)

John: You shot her! (Claire coughs more and blood squirts out of her small mouth. John clutches her tightly.)

John: It's alright, sweetie. Daddy is gonna make this better. Just stay with me. (The man watches them in shock and panic. John turns around and looks at the man. Claire is breathing heavy and a wave of rage takes over John.)

John: I'll kill you, you son-of-a-bitch! Look what you did! (Tears stream down his face as John stretches out to reach his gun on the floor and quickly nabs it. John aims the gun at the man with blurry vision from the tears.)

BANG!

John opens his mouth in an 'O' as the pain impales him. The bullet penetrates John's chest as blood squirts out of his mouth. The man is surprised by his actions and quickly flees out of the door he entered. John grunts in pain with Claire still in his arms. His grip on Claire weakens as the lightning-strength pain rages through his entire being. Taking one last glance down at the wheezing Claire, blackness falls over him.