Jon, Joe, and Claudio were used to being called into work early but they were surprised to find Colby already in Paul's office at 8 am. Colby was dressed in a t-shirt, jeans, and a Black and Brave hat, but one look into Colby's brown eyes, the boys knew something was wrong.
"Ah, gentlemen, we were just waiting for you," Paul said with a friendly smile "please, come in and have a seat."
"What going on?" Jon asked, as three men sat down. Joe glanced at Colby, who adverts his eyes."Colby in trouble or something?"
Paul looked between the four men currently in his office who have been traveling together for almost 7 years.
"Colby has requested some leave time to tend to a personal matter. He doesn't believe that he'll be gone long so we don't have to postpone the storyline, however, he doesn't want to leave today without talking to you guys"
"Colby, Look at us. What's going on?" Claudio asked and Colby stood up taking a breath before his eyes focus on the 3 men staring at him and he set his jaw. "I have a daughter."
"What!?" all 4 boys questioned. Of all the things that Colby could possibly say, they were not expecting that. "A daughter?" Jon said, wanting to make sure they'd heard right.
Yes. She was born...she was born a couple days ago." Colby confessed. "I'm taking her home tomorrow. She was jaundiced when she was born, they kept her longer than most babies. I need a couple weeks to get her settle in at home."
The men were still in shock so Paul started to talk "Colby will be taking a month and a half off so you will be doing some small matches by yourself till the child is old enough to travel." Paul said and The men nodded before Jon spoke.
"Of course Colby, you and the mother take all the time you need."
Colby's jaw twitched and his eyes flashed with anger for a second.
"There is no mother. She's gone. Her career in whatever she does was more important."
"Aw hell Colby," Joe said, softly, gazing at the younger man apologetically. "I'm sorry."
"It's isn't your fault guys," Colby said with a shrug.
Paul's desk phone buzzed and he pressed the button.
"Paul, they need you in conference room 1," the voice of his sectarian said over the intercom. He confirmed that he was in his way, but not before he reminded Colby that he could take as much time as was need to sort things out with his newborn daughter.
The boys waited until Paul was gone before Claudio spoke. "You sure you're alright with all of this?"
Colby pondered the question for a moment. Was he really alright? No, he didn't think so. Just a few days ago he's been happy, content, sitting on the sofa with Ashley, one arm around her shoulders, the other resting on her belly so he could rub her stomach, feel the baby move underneath his fingers. But now he was standing in Paul's office, heart broke into so many different pieces that he wasn't sure how he was going to put it back together this time. It may have started out as a fling, but when she told him she was pregnant with his baby and they'd agreed to try and make it work, he felt himself falling in love with her. For a while, they were a family eagerly awaiting the arrival of their newest little member. Now, Colby has been left alone to care for that little one.
And this made him feel incredibly cold inside. So, the answer to Max's question was, no, he was not alright. But, he had to be, for his daughter. He let out a slow breath and shook his head. "No, Guys. I'm not alright. But..what choice do I have? It not like I can drink my pain away like I did when Kenny died, now is it? Or eat the insane amount of junk food? Or hide behind jokes when I get hate. It's..it's different this time."
The boys felt their hearts break for their youngest friend. Hadn't he been through enough? And now the world was going to thrust the challenges of being a single father on him?
"Everything's gonna work out Colby, you'll see," Claudio said
"Guys, You'll...you'll help me right? Because...I know nothing about kids."
The men chuckled. "Yep, Colby we'll all help you," Joe said
Nathan sighed in relief which made the boys raise their eyes to look at Colby. Did he really think his teammates, his family was going to leave him alone to raise his daughter? Of course, Colby had so many insecurities that he hid well, The boys weren't surprised. "You haven't told us her name yet, man," Jon said
"Oh, well, we'd picked several before..."Colby said with a shrug. "But, um just the other day we decided...kind of ironic."
"Colby"
"Sorry. Kennedy Jo. Kennedy for..for Kendal and Jo is one we chose."
The men's hearted ached at Colby's best friend who died in a car crashed 2 years ago and it still hurt Colby.
"It's beautiful mate. she would probably be honored." Colby said
Colby looked at his shoes. "I'd rather have her here to meet her."
"Colby, you tell that little girl stories about the woman she's named after and she'll get to know her," Joe said
"She does like bedtimes stories...or...she likes to listen to me talk to her."
"Something she shares with you.-you love any story," Jon said, "Come on. let's go"
"Go? Go where?"
The men smiled at Colby before Jon spoke. "Did you think you were going to inform us that you have a daughter and just walk right out of here? We want to meet her. And we should probably get going, Colby. Because, after we see her, we're taking you out for dinner and you're going to come back to Hotel to get some sleep."
Colby was still confused. Perhaps it was his tired state. "I'm still not following, guys."
"Should get as much sleep as you can now," Joe said
"Huh?"
Joe smiled at him. "Once that baby gets home, you're going to be on a 3-hour feeding schedule."
Colby closed his eyes briefly. Yes, he knew all about newborns and their feeding habits. And it was true that he didn't get much sleep to begins with now, however the thought that he was completely on his own when it came to Kennedy latch its talons into his heart and he felt himself shattering but quickly hid it before smiling
"Ok let's go meet Kenny.
