Author's Note: Thanks to everyone who have tuned into this story. I really do appreciate it!
Hope you all enjoy..
Here's Chapter 3:
The rest of the show went well. There were no more signs of Joe and the Shield. Lexi tried her hardest to focus on what was going on, but she was still trying to put the pieces of the puzzles together. She wasn't the only one. Amelia cheered and booed all throughout the night. Towards the end during the TLC match between John Cena and Randy Orton, Lexi noticed Amelia was getting restful. Before the end of the match, Amelia had fallen to sleep on Lexi's shoulder. Lexi was pleased; it would be easy to get out of there quickly without being noticed.
Meanwhile..
Joe was in the training room with the doctors. They were checking on his eye to make sure it wasn't anything serious. No stitches needed, just some ice to lower the swelling, but for the most part he was okay. They sent him on his way. Punk stopped him outside the training room.
"Great match, dude," Punk replied taking a gulp of his water and heading down the hall. Joe limped his way back to the locker room where his teammates awaited.
"What happened dude. You seemed distraction tonight. You almost broke my damn ribs," Jon replied. Joe just shook his head. He had to admit he was distracted. He was still trying to put together the pieces to the puzzle. Why was Lexi there, who was the little girl, where did she go after all these years? All these questions roamed around his throbbing head. He wanted some answers. They still had about an hour and half left of the show. Joe wanted to be the first out in hopes to catch Lexi. He didn't care about the fans seeing him; he needed to get some answers from her and he wanted them now.
It seemed like Orton's music played forever once he won his match at TLC. Lexi was getting impatient. She wanted to get out of the arena as fast as possible without running into Joe. He wouldn't risk coming out where fans could see him after the match. Right? Just as Lexi was heading out into the lobby with Megan, who also carried a sleeping Kimberly; Amelia's head popped up from Lexi's shoulder. 'Damnit,' thought Lexi.
"Mommy where are we?" asked Amelia with a yawn and sleepy eyes. Lexi knew it was way past her bedtime and she was exhausted.
"Where leaving the arena. It's time to go home," Lexi replied. Lexi knew she wouldn't be able to get out the arena in peace.
"I don't want to go home," Amelia replied pouting and batting her big gray eyes. Lexi knew when Amelia was sleepy she got really fussy and this was not the place for this.
"Amelia, not now. We are going home, it's pass your bedtime," Lexi replied.
"No. I don't wanna," Amelia said as she squirmed out her mother's little arms. When Lexi tried to grab her hand, she pulled away. This made Lexi angry, she snatched Amelia's arm quickly.
"Amelia, you are not going to do this right here. Now you better straighten it up, and fix your face. Mommy doesn't like when you act like this. So cut it out". Lexi swatted down so only her daughter could hear her. Amelia was stubborn just like her father, and had a way of acting out when she didn't get her way. A now crying Amelia knew her mother wasn't joking so she wiped her now damp eyes with the sleeve of her cardigan. Megan noticed what was going on and offered to take Amelia to the bathroom. She knew her friend was obviously frustrated about something, but she left her alone. Lexi took a deep breath as she watched Megan holding Amelia's hand along with a now awoke Kimberly's, and lead them to the bathroom. Lexi headed out to the parking lot. This was one of the moments when she wished she still smoked because she needed a cigarette badly at this point. She felt a huge palm on her right shoulder as it squeezed her tattoo. She turned around quickly. The person she saw literally made the hairs on her back stand up and her knees weak.
Lexi could feel his hot-minted breath trail down her spine, causing a twitch in her spine. She turned around slowly to face him. His eyes still stony, but a look of confusion along with anger took the place of the coldness she saw early. He was wearing a pair of black sweats and black sneakers. He wore and a black hoodie, with the Shield logo stamped on the left side of his chest. His damp hair was pulled back in its usual ponytail. Lexi was frozen. Her legs wanted to run, but she couldn't move. It was like her feet were glued to the gravel painted parking lot.
"Hello Lexi," he replied. His facial expression never changed and his voice was low as he looked down at her.
"Hi Joe," she said nervously. She saw his eyes soften a little.
"Wow, you look really good, I hardly recognized you," he lied. Lexi had made some changes over the years. She was much thicker; in the right places. She still had her usual small waist and flat stomach, but her hips were much wider and her butt was a lot plumper. Her breast had also improved. They were no longer their regular B cup, but were now a C. Joe tried his best not to stare at her heart-shaped ass, it filled out perfectly in her fitted jeans. Her auburn hair now had dark brown highlights. But Joe knew her all too well. This surprised Lexi. She thought he would rag out in a pit of rage. She knew she had to return the compliment.
"Thanks. You don't look to bad yourself," she replied with a half-smile. He didn't look bad at all. Maybe even better than he did before, with his beautifully smooth tanned brown caramel, his muscles was visible through every piece of clothing he had on. Lexi tried her hardest not to stare. An awkward silence took place between them as Lexi rocked lightly back and forth. Joe stuffed his big hands into his pockets. So many questions filled both of their heads, but neither said anything. Joe always wondered what he would say to her if he ever saw her again. He knew first and for most, he had to apologize.
"Lex. I. Am. So sorry about what happened. I shouldn't have let what happened, happen. If I could go back and fix everything I.." he was cut off by the sound of a little girl's voice.
"Mommy, Mommy. Look what Aunt Meg bought me." Amelia ran up to her mother with a Daniel Bryan Mattel doll in hand.
Mommy?
Joe knew right away that looking at Amelia, that had to be his daughter.
"That's great baby. Did you say thank you?" Lexi looked in between Joe and Amelia nervously. 'Damn they look just alike,' thought Lexi. She hoped Joe wouldn't notice.
"Hey Mommy, you're talking to Roman Reigns without me. That's no fair. I sorry about what I did," Amelia said with a sad look on her face. Joe couldn't help but smile as Lexi lifted her up on her hip. She wiped away her daughter's baby tears with the back of her hand.
"Aw baby. It's okay. Mommy could never stay mad at you. By the way me and Mr. Reigns are old friends," replied Lexi.
"No way. Wait till I tell my friends about this," Amelia replied cheerfully, it followed up with a yawn.
"Be polite and say hi Mellie," Lexi replied.
"Hi. I'm Amelia," she replied nervously. Joe noticed her blushing. He couldn't help but laugh his own self.
"Well hello Amelia. What a nice name. I'm Joe," he replied. He motioned his hand for a high-five, and Amelia slapped it as hard as she could. Her small palm, fitted into the palm of Joe's large hand.
"But I thought you were Roman Reigns?" asked Amelia a little confused.
"Well yeah. But my friends call me Joe," he said.
"Can I call you Joe?" she asked. Lexi couldn't help but look down. 'If only they knew.'
"Of course. We are friends right?" Joe said as he pinched her chubby cheeks. Amelia yelled in excitement.
"Yay. But Mr. Joe, please don't beat up Daniel anymore," Amelia said.
"Okay. I promise I'll try not too," Joe replied chuckling.
"Wait till everyone find out I am friends with Roman Reigns. This is the best day ever," Amelia replied. Lexi placed her down back on her feet.
"Well come on Mellie. Let's let mom and Mr. Joe talk for a while. Megan looked at Lexi suspicious as she stood off to the side. Amelia nodded her head and ran towards Megan.
"Bye Mr. Joe," Amelia said with a wave and she headed to the car with Megan and Kimberly who had fallen back to sleep. Joe just waved back with a smile.
"Wow she is so beautiful. You're raising a lovely little girl," he responded still unaware the secret the Lexi had to tell him.
"Thanks. I try to do my best," Lexi replied. Another awkward silence approached them as they slowly walked together back off to the side, out the view of anyone who might want to eavesdrop.
"So is there someone special in your life?" he asked. Joe wasn't sure how to ask Lexi was that his daughter.
"Nope. Just Amelia," she replied. Joe stopped in his tracks and stood in front of Lexi.
"Lex how old is Amelia?" His face was serious and his voice was flat. Lexi stood frozen.
"She is 5,' Lexi took a deep breath. This was the moment of truth. She knew that this day would come, and she prayed it wouldn't. 'Just tell him the truth. He deserves to know.'
Lexi let out a deep sigh and kicked at the gravel on the ground with her chocolate leather-riding boots.
'Joe, there is something I have to tell you.." Lexi voice was extremely low and brittle. She never looked up to meet his glare, which she was sure was burning a hole in the top of her head.
"I already know Lexi. Is Amelia my daughter?" Joe felt his nostrils flare. He felt a burning sensation beating at his heart.
"Yes." Lexi's voice was low. She held her head down still kicking at the gravel on the ground nervously.
Joe felt his heart drop down to the pit of his stomach, he was furious. He kicked the empty garage can next to them, causing Lexi to flinch in fear. How could she not tell him?
"DAMNIT LEXI,' he replied as he fumed at the mouth. Lexi saw rage and anger and she feared what would happen next. She feared he would lose it right there in that parking lot. His back was now towards her as he held his fist to his mouth, trying to control his breathing. Her legs were weak, she wanted to run away and hide.
'Fuck. Why didn't you tell me? You let all this time past, and not once did you think to tell me I had a daughter. Hell you didn't even tell me you was pregnant," he said turning back to her. His eyes were bloodshot red and glossy.
"Joe I didn't know,' she took a deep breath as she felt a large lump form in her throat.
'The day I left, I didn't know I was pregnant. I found out 3 weeks later," she replied.
"Don't fucking lie to me Lexi. I found the pregnancy test you left. You knew something, and you didn't think to tell me that you thought you was pregnant. Everything could have been resolved then. NONE OF THIS WOULD HAVE HAPPENED." He was now shouting at her. His arms were spread out as if he wanted to box with the wind. Lexi didn't know what to say. She had forgotten all about the pregnancy test.
"I'm sorry Joe, I thought you would be.." Joe cut her off.
"That I would be what? Better off without you in my life?! You could have contacted me and say hey Joe, you're going to be a dad. I don't give a fuck what was going on between us. That is something you don't keep from someone," he said. He turned to walk away from her, but she grabbed his wrist.
"Joe I couldn't face you. I had no way of telling you. I was afraid." She was now sobbing.
"So after 5 years, you're just now telling me. I bet if I didn't see you tonight, you wouldn't have even made an effort to tell me that I had a child. All that bullshit that you was afraid is a sorry ass excuse. You could have told me. I have been all over the Internet and television for the pass year and a half, not once did you think to contact me," he snarled. He was so angry with her. All this time he missed in his daughter's life, all because her mother was being selfish. Lexi couldn't do this. She was now sobbing uncontrollable as his words hit her like sharp knives. She turned and started to walk away. He grabbed her by her hand pulling her close. She could feel his hot breath on her forehead as his chest heaved in and out with fury. Joe knew what he said was hurtful. He thought all his emotions for this woman was gone, but deep down he still loved her deeply.
"Lex, you could have told me," he said lowering his voice.
"And then what Joe? I'll expect you to stop your life and raise a baby with me! You couldn't even make up your mind on who you wanted to be with," Lexi replied pulling away from his grip. His cologne brought back feelings and emotions she didn't want to be bothered with. Joe knew she had a point.
"So what. I still would have been there." Joe couldn't believe he was standing off in a parking lot arguing with his potential baby mama.
"Oh really? How would you explain it to your pretty little perfect girlfriend and her family about this? I bet you two are still together and you're still being her and her family's little puppy,' she replied. It was her turn to be hateful. Joe just looked down at the ground with embarrassment. His jaw tightened in anger.
'My point exactly! I didn't want to raise my kid in that kind of craziness. Therefore I kept it to myself. I have been this fine without you Joe, and I'll be fine after," she replied. Once again trying to walk away but he grabbed her wrist.
"Oh no. You're not keeping her away from me. She is my daughter too and she deserves a father," he replied with rage in his eyes.
"I don't need you Joe," she replied.
"I DON'T GIVE A FUCK. THIS ISN'T ABOUT YOU; IT'S ABOUT AMELIA. WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO WHEN SHE STARTS ASKING YOU ABOUT WHERE IS HER FATHER? WHAT YOU GOING TO TELL HER, SHE DOESN'T HAVE ONE?" Joe yelled. Lexi looked away from Joe's glare. That was actually her greatest fear. What would she tell Amelia when she did ask about her dad? They both took a deep breath. The tension between the two was high. It was mixed with anger and years of built up emotion. Neither knew what to say next.
"Please Lex. I know I hurt you, but I'll never hurt Amelia," Joe replied lowering his voice. She sighed and looked into those gray eyes that she fell in love with over 6 years ago. She knew she still loved him deep down inside, but she hated him all at the same time. He pulled her into a hug and wrapped his arms around her. Lexi couldn't help but hug him back, she could feel the toning of his large back. His scent filled her nose.
"Joe I don't know how we are going to get through this. I can't let you back in Amelia's life, if we are going to argue like this. I don't want to raise her in this kind of atmosphere." She was right. Their relationship was toxic. They both realized that they had to put their differences aside, to raise Amelia.
"Listen to me Lexi. None of that matters now. We need to do what's best for Amelia, and that's for her to have BOTH her parents in her life. And I'm not living another minute, knowing I have a little princess out there, who doesn't even know I'm her father." Joe pulled away from Lexi's grip, in order to look into her hazel eyes that he fell for in the first place. He held tightly on to Lexi's shoulders. He gently kissed her forehead.
"We better come up with something quickly. I don't know how to tell her this." Lexi looked into Joe's eyes for the first time that night.
"I guess I'm her Christmas gift." This made them both smile, lightening up the mood. These two surely had a lot of unfinished business, but now it was about Amelia. They exchanged numbers, and parted ways. Both had a lot on their minds, and both walked away with their heavy hearts in the palm of their hands.
Lexi had reached her car. Megan was sitting in the passenger on her I-phone, while the two little girls sat in their car seats in the back. Kimberly was fast asleep, and Amelia looked to be drifting of her own self. Lexi got in; the night air blew through her straight auburn hair. Before she could get comfortable inside of her seat, Megan hit her with a mouthful of questions.
"Soo." Megan's eyes glistened in excitement to know how her friend knew such a hunk of a man, and never informed her. Megan was a slim woman with long dark hair and big brown eyes. She always wore Chanel square frame glasses, except when she wore her contacts. Lexi and Megan met once Lexi moved to Houston with Amelia. With them living next door, and Megan being a first grade teacher at the school their daughters went to. Similar to Lexi, Megan was a single mom in an escape from her horrible pass. It was only right Lexi found a friend in her.
"Soo what?" Lexi asked dryly. She pulled out the arena parking lot and into traffic. Megan turned in her seat, she was now facing Lexi and was in hopes that Lexi would share the inside scoop. Megan was always nosey.
"Don't play dumb Lex, how do you know Roman. I mean he is said to be the future of the WWE. And plus he is sexy as hell," Megan replied.
"We went to school together. That's all," Lexi replied never taking her eyes off the road.
"Come on Lex. There has to be more than that. I saw the way you two was looking at each other." Megan was now smiling from ear to ear. Lexi knew she wouldn't give up and this was a subject she wasn't comfortable talking about, especially not with Amelia in the backseat.
"Meg, I have nothing else to say. Can we please change the subject," Lexi replied. Megan could sense there was something more to the story and Lexi wasn't telling her. She shrugged never mind, and scooted down in her seat, pulling out her I- phone. The rest of the car ride was silence, except the quiet snores from the little girls in the backseat.
"Yo dude where the hell were you?" asked Colby. Both him and Jon were now in their street clothes, with suitcases in hand. They were ready to hit the road and head to the next city.
"I um, I had to take care of something," Joe replied nervously. He followed his teammates out of the arena and towards their rental car. They piled inside the car.
"Is everything okay?" asked Jon from the backseat. Joe just nodded his head yes. His focus now went back to Lexi and Amelia. 'I can't believe I'm a dad,' he thought. All these years, he had a kid and didn't even know about it. With Jessica suffering a miscarriage of their baby 6 years ago, he was relieved to know that when he did have a kid he would be ready. But little did he even know that he actually did have a kid on the way, and he wasn't there. He was mad at Lexi for not telling him, but was even angrier at the fact that he ran her away. The conversation between Colby and Jon caught Joe's attention, bringing him out of his inside thoughts.
"Did you see that babe in the 3rd row, with the brownish hair. Boy she was fine as hell," replied Colby. Joe cut his eye at him.
"Dude, there is plenty of brownish hair women in the audience, you gotta be specific," Jon replied.
"She had a kid with her. They wore matching Daniel Bryan shirts. Her hair was sorta dark red with like brown highlights. She was on the non-camera side, man she was smoking hot. I'll take a chance at that any day," Colby replied. Joe slowly started to grit his teeth in anger. He knew his friends didn't know that was his ex or the mother of his kid, but he played it cool.
"Oh yeah, her. I thought she was going to die, when Joe flipped over the table. Her eyes nearly popped out her head. But dude she has a kid, you don't want to get caught up with that," said Jon.
"Who's to say that's her kid? Joe did you see her?!" asked Colby.
"Nah man," Joe lied. He did see her, clear as day. But he wasn't about to let them know that. The conversation quickly changed gears and Joe was grateful for it. The fact his friends were drooling over his ex, sort of pissed him off. But he kept his mouth shut, and his eyes on the road.
Once Lexi parked her car, she carried Amelia into their house. Lexi lived in a townhouse in Harris County, TX. It was about 10 miles from downtown Houston. It had 3 bedrooms, 2 ½ bathrooms, and was three levels. On the bottom level was the garage that from the outside was situated under the living room balcony and gave access to the backyard. When you walk inside there was a short hallway that led to the upstairs and stairs towards the garage and backyard. Up eight stairs there was the living room, dining room, and kitchen that was all connected. By the kitchen were two more small flights that led to the third floor where the bedrooms were. Once Lexi had cleaned Amelia up and put her to bed, it was almost one in the morning. Lexi figured Amelia wouldn't be going to school the next day. She walked across the hall into her master bedroom, and checked her phone. Nothing. Deep down, she wanted Joe to call. She never stopped thinking about him, even after everything he did to her. She grabbed a book off her nightstand, and read for the rest of the night. She was sure she wouldn't be able to sleep.
The sound of Lexi's I-phone vibrating on the nightstand aside her bed woke her up. She looked at her alarm clock and it read 4:54 in the morning. 'Conflicting Hearts' lay opened and face down on her chest. 'Who the hell,' Lexi thought. She looked at her phone through squinted eyes, and saw Joe's number flash across the screen. The only light in the room was from her cell phone. With a bit of frustration she plopped her head back on her pillow, her hair matted to her head; she finally answered her phone.
"Do you know what time it is?" she asked hoarsely and annoyed.
"My bad. Did I wake you?" asked Joe chuckling. He sounded sleepy his own self.
"What do you want Joe?" Lexi was mad he woke her out of her good sleep.
"So can we talk now?" he replied with a yawn.
"At 5 o'clock in the morning, you want to talk? This can wait until another time Joe. A time when I'm not sleep." Lexi snapped.
"I'll call back later." Joe knew Lexi still had an attitude. He didn't feel like dealing with it. He had just checked into his hotel room in Dallas. Him and his stable mates had driven all night. He had his own attitude forming.
"No you woke me up to talk, let's talk then." Lexi sat up on her bed Indian style, with her phone rested on her shoulder. She still held her ear to it, her phone being held with her shoulder and ear.
There was silence on Joe's end of the phone.
"Can you bring Amelia to Pensacola….for Christmas?" Joe blurted out without thinking. He feared Lexi's reaction. Lexi paused for a minute. She parted her lips to say something, but closed them back. She never traveled on the holidays. For the past five years, her and Amelia spent every holiday there in Houston, just the two of them.
"Joe I don't know. I've never traveled with Amelia on the holidays." Lexi's voice was low. She bit at the inside of her cheek. She knew Joe wanted to make amends, but she was unsure.
"Please Lex. This would give me a chance to know her and we can tell her the truth. And plus she gets to spend it with my family. They could get to know her better as well," Joe replied. Lexi couldn't imagine Joe's family reaction to Amelia. She was sure they would be piss at her for keeping Amelia away.
"Joe give me some time to think about this." Lexi was at a crossroads. She wasn't sure of how to respond. She could hear Joe sighing from the other end of the phone.
"Okay Lex. If you say so," Joe replied with an attitude.
"Joe I gotta go. I don't want to wake Amelia. I'll call you soon."
"Yeah sure." Joe knew Lexi was back to being selfish. He didn't understand why she wanted to deny him of knowing his daughter. And with that they hung up the phone.
Hope you all enjoyed..
I'll update soon
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xoxo
