CHAPTER 2:
3 more days had passed and it was now April 19th. AJ and Roman were driving their rental car through Rahway, New Jersey as they were on their way to their hotel room. "Why are you so smiley lately?" asked Roman. "Oh it's nothing" said AJ. "You're glad about working again, aren't you?" said Roman as he came to a stop. "Of course" said AJ. "And my fans are really crazy excited about it too." "You know what they're gonna be really excited for tomorrow?" asked Roman. "My new lightly touched violet-red hair?" asked AJ. "Yeah" said Roman as he continued driving.
"I just hope that no one confuses me with Eva" said AJ. "They're not" said Roman. "Besides I like your violet-red hair better." "You better!" AJ smiled. "All I know is that this is going to be one crazy year." "How so?" asked Roman. "Baby did you get your storyline email?" asked AJ. "No I did not" said Roman. "Oh. Well I'm sure yours is coming soon" said AJ. "You don't think Stephanie forgot about me as in I'm getting released do you?" asked Roman. "Leati don't be silly" said AJ. "You're one of the biggest names in the WWE right now. She won't do that to you, none of them would."
Roman nodded as he began to pull into the underground parking lot. "So what did they say?" he asked. "Oh that I'm in for a surprise when Nikki return's next month" said AJ. "That's all." "Oh right, when is she returning?" asked Roman. "May 25th" said AJ. "You're birthday." "Isn't that soon?" asked Roman as the security guard okayed his entrance. "She just had a baby what 2 months ago and she tore really badly." "Yeah well did you not see her body lately?" asked AJ. "April it's not like I'm trying to exactly do that anymore" said Roman. "Remember last year right?"
"Yeah of course" said AJ. "But still. She lost all of her baby weight within 3 weeks." "And how do you know all of this?" Roman asked as he continued looking for a spot. "I saw her on the cover of US Weekly showing her after baby look in a bikini. It's crazy! It took me a whole 2 ½ months to get my stomach flat again and that's with breastfeeding." "What she isn't breastfeeding?" as Roman. "No she can't" said AJ. "She has to take her meds, not to mention she has implants which sort of interfere with the whole process with some people."
"Well AJ, maybe she just has a very fast metabolism" said Roman as he began parking. "Or retouching" AJ thought. "Whatever it is, it's her business and let's just leave it at that." "Did you ever notice how she never in fact said thank you to you in person?" asked AJ. "She did to me, but not you?" "She has AJ" said Roman as he turned off the car. "When?" asked AJ. "Last week in the training center" said Roman. "And I'm telling you April, someone needs to accompany her or something because a lot of the guys are eyeballing her and its sick. Now I'm not saying that I should do it because you're the only girl I'm watching out for in there, but man ever since she left John…she's become meat on the table for a bunch of starving wild animals if you know what I mean."
"Yeah I do" said AJ as she unbuckled her seatbelt. "Come on we should get inside. It's kind of creepy down here." "Wait" said Roman. "Yeah?" asked AJ. "Just know that I only have eyes for you" said Roman. "I mean it." "Thank you" said AJ. "I really appreciate your words." "By the way, have you figured out a date yet? You know for our wedding?" asked Roman. "Nope" said AJ. "But it'll happen soon because I want it to happen before Alia's first birthday." Roman nodded as the two exited the car.
Meanwhile, Nikki was getting herself settled at her mother's house. "I kind of almost hate the how you left San Diego to come back all the way to Arizona" said Kathy as Nikki placed Johnnie in his crib. "Really, I was sort of thinking the same thing, instead of the hate part" said Nikki. "Don't get me wrong or anything sweetie because I do love you and my grandson but it's a bit more of a concern" said Kathy. "So yeah let me rephrase that. I kind of almost don't like how you had to come back home because of the situation at hand, you know? Getting ready to get back on the road with a child and you want a more stable environment for him to be in. Does that sound better?" Nikki nodded. "I know but I just had to get out of there" she said. "I've been living there for 11 months and I just thought that a little taste of my home roots will give me the strength that I need to get through this."
"Through what?" Kathy asked. "What you didn't know about John and I?" asked Nikki. "No I don't Nicole" said Kathy. Nikki sighed. "I sort of broke up with him" she said. "Officially." "Oh my God Nicole" said Kathy. "I'm so sorry". She walked up to give her daughter a hug. "Is everything ok? Are you taking your medication?" "What-of course" said Nikki. "My ending things with John has nothing to do with my illness." "Then what is it?" asked Kathy.
"I just can't be with someone who didn't want to stand up for me and be there for me" said Nikki. "I mean even though he kissed me last year and tried to I guess make things up or at least start that process, it was just too late for us you know?" Kathy sighed as she placed her hand on her daughter's arm. "Oh honey but what about Johnnie?" she said. "A boy needs his father." "It's not like I'm taking him away from him" said Nikki. "John still has rights to his son. It's just that I'm taking myself away from him." "But what happens when you see him at work?" asked Kathy.
"That's just the thing" said Nikki. "I'm working part time now. I'm just doing Sundays-Tuesdays. That way I'll can still do "Raw", "Smackdown" and the pay-per-views". "Ok but what about your realtor career?" Kathy asked. "Because you don't have a license for here." "Well I was actually in the process of trying to work for one in Florida when all hell broke loose last year so I'll guess I'll just focus on an Arizona one for now" said Nikki. "But if not I'll just ended up working in California. It's no big deal." "I just don't want you to overwork yourself" said Kathy. "Now that you're a mom, you need to be there for Johnnie especially since you have full custody." "I know but I'm also the main breadwinner for him" said Nikki. "Household wise."
"But isn't John paying child support?" asked Kathy. "Yes he is" said Nikki. "Well how much is it?" asked Kathy. "$42,000 a month" said Nikki. "It was 50 grand but that was if I resided in Florida." "That's ridiculous" said Kathy. "Well he's well taken care of by his father" said Nikki. "So I'm not worried about that." "Exactly" said Kathy. "So there's no need for you to still be wrestling anymore. I mean what if you get hurt now?" "Mom I'll do just fine" said Nikki. "But you got hurt before" said Kathy. "And if you got hurt again, it could keep from your other job or possibly hurt you to the point of no return."
"Mom. You're exaggerating" said Nikki. "Besides that was over 2 years ago and I'm fine now. I made a full recovery and everything." "Nicole that was when you were 29" said Kathy. "And in case you haven't notice, you're going to be 32 in November which mean you're getting older which means the older you are, the longer it is it'll take you to recover if something were to happen." "Mom please don't remind me" said Nikki. "I mean it's a real concern to John too" said Kathy. "Given that he's 38 in a few days. He's practically now officially pushing 40."
"Mom!" said Nikki. "You're over exaggerating now." "Oh sweetheart I'm just concerned about Johnathan that's all" said Kathy. "Besides mothers worry and you will find out one day soon." "Yeah hopefully by then I'll have a nice retirement check to live off of and that he doesn't go out to marry some bimbo" said Nikki. "He won't if you raise him with the right values" said Kathy. "Don't worry Johnnie won't end up marrying some loose bimbo" said Nikki. "John however I cannot say." "Well it's like you said" said Kathy. "He's no longer a part of your life, at least romantically that is." Her mother paused for a moment. "By the way…why is his nickname Johnnie?" she asked. "Because it'll be too confusing to call him John and Johnathan is such a long name to say so I decided that Johnnie would be cute for him, but it's also after one of my favorite wrestlers-Mae Young" said Nikki.
"I see" said Kathy and with that, she left Nikki alone in the nursery to reflect on their conversation. She knew that even though she wanted things to be over with John, that a part of her would still always love him, no matter what.
A/N: Oh Roman and his anxiety :-( Reviews are always welcomed :-)
