Chapter Seven: Six Weeks Later
John was able to have four weeks off to spend with Randy and Lily after being "fired" again. The two weeks he spent on the road away from his family had been an absolute nightmare but he would be home soon. After the appearance he was scheduled for in the morning he planned to take a flight so he could be with the two people he loved most in the world
"Well good morning Miss Lily. I have to dress you really pretty today because papa is coming home later." Randy dressed Lily then carried her down the hall to the master bedroom to get himself ready. He walked into his closet and looked around as Lily wriggled in his arms. "Don't be a squirmy worm and help daddy find something." Grabbing a dark pair of jeans and a V-neck t-shirt, Randy walked over to the bed and laid Lily down while he began to change. "Do you think papa will think I look okay?"
"I think you look just fine." Randy turned toward the door in shock
"John!" He grabbed the shirt and shoved it over his head
"In the flesh." John said striding across the room
"You said that you would be home later." Randy said smoothing out his clothes
"I know. I wanted to surprise you." John said picking Lily up and giving her a kiss. John leaned over to kiss Randy tugging on his shirt in the process. Randy hastily batted his hands away and John gave him a puzzled look but decided against saying anything. "How's your day babe?"
"Like all the others. Princess Lily woke me up just insisting that I change her diaper and feed her. She's cute but very demanding." Randy said smiling down at his daughter as John rocked her
"She's getting big."
"You saw her two weeks ago."
"And she's gotten bigger since."
"She makes spit bubbles too." John smiled
"That's my girl."
"How's the bus coming along?"
"Oh. I talked to Dave and he said that it would be ready by the time I have to go back so you and Lily can come with me." Randy smiled
"Good cause I miss you when you're gone."
"I miss you too…both of you." John leaned in and kissed Randy passionately, Randy's body automatically responding. John felt the response as Randy stepped closer
"Wanna fool around?" John said stepping away. Randy took Lily from his arms
"We can't because of Lily."
"She's sleeping."
"…well it's not her regular nap time so she won't sleep for long." John raised an eyebrow but said nothing. Something was off with Randy's behavior. Too tired to deal with it in that moment, he decided he'd ask later
Later That Night
"I'll give Lily a bath so you can get some rest, okay?" Randy chuckled
"Okay but she doesn't like baths so don't wear that shirt. She splashes." John laughed
"Thanks for the heads-up."
"I think I'll take a bath myself."
"Go ahead, you deserve some you time." Randy smiled and kissed John on his way upstairs. After bathing Lily John dressed her for bed then put her in the bassinet. He walked to the bathroom door and turned the knob only to realize that Randy had locked it. That is very unlike Randy. He knocked
"Randy?"
"I'll be out in a minute John."
"Why's the door locked?"
"I will be out in a minute John." A few moments later Randy emerged from the bathroom dressed in a full pajama set
"What the hell are you wearing?"
"Pajamas." He responded simply
"I have never in all the years we've known each other and been together seen you wear pajamas. I could never get you to keep your clothes on. What gives?" Randy stands there shifting on his feet and John pats the bed next to him. "Talk to me." He takes a seat and sighs
"I'm fat John and I don't want you to see me. I'm very uncomfortable."
"You had a baby. It's normal."
"I'm back to being Fat Randy. You know how hard I worked at my body. I had an eight pack for crying out loud."
"Is that why you had a salad, which you barely touched, for dinner?" He nods and John laughs a little
"You can be such a girl sometimes."
"John."
"You had Lily six weeks ago Ran, not having an eight pack at this particular point and time is perfectly fine. And you are not fat. Who are you trying to look good for anyway?"
"I want to look good for you. I know when you're on the road you have men and women throwing themselves at you so I don't want you to come home to a whale of a husband." John pulled Randy close and kissed him
"I don't want to be with anyone else Ran, that's why I married you. I could have stayed single and had all the sex I wanted with whomever I wanted,"
"Excuse me."
"You know what I mean, but I didn't want that. When I told you that you were it for me, I meant every word of it. For better for worse, sickness and in health, eight pack or no eight pack – I love you."
"Johnny." Randy said wiping his eyes
"Damn it."
"Sorry. I think its residual pregnancy hormones."
"Oh please, you would have cried anyway. You're such a baby." He sniffs
"Probably."
"Are you going to take your shirt off for me?"
"John."
"I want to see you."
"Not yet okay. I'm just not ready." John nods
"Well I'll be here when you are." Randy wrapped his arms around John and laid his head on his shoulder
"Thank you Johnny."
"You're welcome, love."
A Few Days Later
"You ready Ran? We have to get on the road."
"I lost Lily John!" He shakes his head
"I have her Randy, right here in the carrier." Randy breathes a sigh of relief. "Are you okay?"
"I'm fine."
"You don't seem fine. I mean, she can't walk so where could she have gone?"
"I don't know John. Let's just go." John shrugged and headed out the door
"Do you think us travelling with you was a good idea?"
"What? Of course I think it's a good idea. Why?"
"I don't know. I don't have a good feeling about this."
"We're already 200 miles from home and we're not turning back." Randy sighs. "Is this about everyone knowing you can have babies?"
"That's part of it."
"You're not the only one. When people found out that you were pregnant I had a few of the guys make confessions to me." That made Randy's ears perk up
"Really, who?"
"I was sworn to secrecy."
"John, I can make your life miserable."
"Swagger, Slater and Riley…oh, and Cole made an accidental confession. That was awkward to say the lease."
"What an odd group."
"What are your other concerns?"
"Huh?"
"You said the baby thing was part of it so what's the other part?"
"Oh, um, that was it mostly. I guess the other part is just going back and not looking my best." If Randy was going to lie, John wished he'd do a better job
