Okay, so this story started out with Drew McIntyre as the main character and a different name for the child. I totally shouldn't have even started this, but it's already finished. No joke. This is the first story I've finished, all the way, before posting. And it hasn't been beta'd. I also kind of feel bad, because my beta, butterflydance21, is working on a CM Punk story too and I don't want to feel like I'm competing with her for the 'best Punk story' or whatever. Her Punk story is really, really great and I really enjoy it.
So, as I said, this story came to me when McIntyre got traded back to SmackDown and Teddy Long was giving him a hard time. It quickly became a Punk story, just because I am totally in love with CM Punk and his character at the moment. I seriously switch my favorites pretty much every day. Ummm, I don't know, I'll post every fewish days. I don't think there will be a sequel to this, I like where I ended it. I hope you all enjoy it!
Part 1
"Is daddy gonna be grumpy again?" a sullen seven year old asked from his spot on the couch beside his mother.
The two were sitting alone, in the designated family room, watching the taping on the monitor. And even though Halyn was almost positive her husband would be in a foul mood, she couldn't tell their son that. It was her job to remain in good spirits. She was the mother, and she was a rock.
"I don't know, babe. But I'm sure Daddy doesn't mean to be grumpy with you, Jackson. He just has a lot going on with work stuff, he's trying to be the best he can be," Halyn responded, pulling the dark haired boy close to her body.
"He looks really mad and mean when he's on TV, I don't really like it," Jax responded, "I don't like when daddy is scary."
Halyn smiled at her son and whispered, "I don't like when Daddy is scary either. You just need to remember that, when he's on TV he's only acting. It's his work and he's really good at what he does, yeah?"
The little version of his dad nodded and leaned back against his mother. It was late, and he was tired but he wanted to see his dad's match. He loved watching him fight and he especially loved it when he won. If he won, it meant he wouldn't be so grumpy. Having a grumpy daddy wasn't any fun.
"Why do we get to see Auntie tomorrow but we can't see Aunt Shalene?" Jax asked his mom.
"Well, that's because Daddy and Aunt Shalene grew up in Chicago. Remember, I grew up in a small town in Ohio," Halyn laughed, "So, when we're in Ohio we can see my sister but not Dad's sister."
"Wait, so if Daddy lived in Chicago and you lived in Ohio, how did you get together?"
"Jax, we've been over that before," Halyn reminded her son
"I know, but I like to hear the story. It makes me happy," Jax smiled, "And it makes you happy."
"Well, I went to college in Michigan. And I met Uncle Scotty there, and we became really good friends. One day Daddy came to visit and Uncle Scotty introduced us. I think I feel in love with him the first time I saw him," Halyn reminisced.
"And then you had me?"
"Well, then we dated for a while and then we got married. I was 21 when we got married and you came along four years later. And you are just the best thing since sliced bread," she smiled.
"Oh mommy," the little boy rolled his eyes.
"Look, daddy is on TV," Halyn said, pointing to the screen in front of them.
"But he looks angry," Jax frowned, "I don't like when he gets that look on his face. He looks at you like that sometimes, it makes me really sad."
The two watched on in silence as the man they loved grew frustrated over the match. They watched as others got involved and the ref got distracted. When he was pinned by Dolph Ziggler, Jayme's heart dropped to her stomach. She knew it was scripted, even if he never told her the official outcome of any match. The whole thing wouldn't have been so gut-wrenching if Phil hadn't been in such a down mood lately. He criticized himself, telling himself he could do so much better, reminding himself that he had done so much better. Halyn was convinced that he only needed a new, different storyline and that would be the pick-me-up she'd been waiting for.
Phil however, wasn't convinced. He was sure that he would keep being screwed over by the 'higher ups' and that was really stressing him out. And when Phil was stressed, he got angry.
XXX
"So, Jax said me something that kind of upset me today," Halyn said slowly, unsure of how to bring up this discussion with her husband.
"His name is Jackson, Halyn, I wish you'd use it properly," Phil snapped, his voice thickening with anger.
Halyn sighed, not wanting to argue with him. It felt like all they ever did was argue anymore, over anything and everything. "Phil, will you please look at me? I'm trying to have a serious conversation with you, but when you're face is glued to the television it's kind of hard."
Jax had fallen asleep a little after seeing his dad's match and as soon as Phil was done with his after-show meetings, the family headed to the hotel. With Jax settled in his bed, Halyn thought it would be a good time to confront her husband about his recent attitude problems. When she rejoined Phil in the main room, though, she could see the distance on his face. There didn't ever seem a good time to talk to him lately.
"I'd rather watch these stupid infomercials than listen to you nag me," he replied.
"This isn't about me," she said, biting back tears, "And it isn't about you either. It's about our son and how your attitude lately is affecting him."
"What is wrong with my attitude lately?" Phil asked, turning his head to look at his wife of nearly 11 years.
"You've just been really short with everyone. Look, I understand that you're stressed with work, I get that. I've dealt with that for so long now, but you're so quick to anger and Jackson mentioned it today too," Halyn said quickly.
"Oh, you get that, do you?" he questioned in an almost sarcastic tone, "The woman who hasn't worked in almost six years gets it. That's great."
"Please don't do that. Don't patronize me; we made the decision together that I would stay home with Jackson. I wanted to work, Phil. When I got my degree and Jackson got older, but you said you'd rather have us traveling with you. That's why he's being homeschooled by me and we're living out of hotel rooms, rental cars, and airplanes more than we are at our actual home," Halyn told him.
"So, I'm the bad guy for wanting my wife and son around me as much as I can get?" Phil asked, "Would you rather be home alone for most of the week with Jackson? Have our son not see me every day and not wake us up the way he does now?"
"That's not what I'm saying, Phil. Please, I don't want to argue. It's just that your upside down attitude is hurting our son. We're both walking around on egg shells with you because we don't want to upset you," Halyn sighed and sat down in a chair across from where her husband was sitting on their hotel bed.
"What do you want me to do, Hail? I'm working my ass off right now and there's just too much going on," he said.
"I don't know. I just don't want Jax seeing you upset and angry all the time," Halyn shrugged.
"Damn it, Halyn. His name is not Jax," Phil shouted, "its Jackson Michael Brooks, and you really piss me off when you call him Jax."
"Um, I'm going to bed. Are you going to stay up for a while?" Halyn asked after a few minutes of shocked silence.
"Yeah."
"Okay, well, I love you," she said, kissing him on the cheek.
"Love you," he murmured absently without looking at her.
