Chapter XI: Morning Conversations
The next morning, Phil sat out on the deck looking out at the morning sunrise as he sipped his coffee. He hadn't been able to sleep for as long as he could remember, but there was something about the Mizanin household that just seemed to relax his entire body and allowed him to get some kind of rest. He didn't know if it was the music box Rayleigh played for Sophie every night since Mike was tone deaf and more often than not nowadays, she, herself, was exhausted or if it was the calmness that basically flowed through a person as soon as they walked in the front door.
"What are you doin' up so early," Rayleigh asked, looking at Phil as she came to stand next to him. Phil smiled at her before pointing at the sunrise.
"Couldn't miss a sunrise, even if I wanted to," Phil joked, before taking another sip of coffee. Rayleigh looked at the straight-edge superstar worriedly. For as long as she had known, Phil, he had problems with insomnia. It worried her that he was going to burn himself out again.
"Ray, stop," he said, seeing the worried look cross the former Diva's champion's face, "I sleep, just not when I'm travelling."
"And that's when you should be sleeping," Rayleigh said, "Did you ever go to that doctor that I suggested?" Phil grimaced. He knew the moment that Rayleigh suggested that they all come and visit, it was so she could make sure that they were healthy and taking care of themselves. If Mark Callaway was the leader of the locker room, she was the mother hen. She worried about everyone before she worried about herself.
"Ray, don't worry about it," Phil said, taking another sip of his coffee, "I'll be fine. I just have a lot on my mind and…" He trailed off, causing Rayleigh to narrow her eyes at him.
"Phil," she started, "What's wrong?" Phil sipped at his coffee again. Rayleigh was always a great person to talk to no matter what the issue. She could put all of your worries at ease, and since she became a mom, she had become a confidant for practically the entire Diva's roster as well as most of the Superstars. He didn't know how she did it.
"I think…I think April wants a baby," Phil admitted, before turning to look back at the sunrise, "And I don't know what to do."
"Have you talked to her about it," Rayleigh asked, leaning against the railing.
"No. I-I-I-I'm just not sure that I want kids," Phil told the older woman, "I had a crappy childhood, even crappier teenage years. The only reason I'm not completely messed up is because of Chez and her family and I-I-I don't even know if I'm going to be a good parent, Ray. What if I mess the kid up? What if I act like my dad?" I-I-I-I-"
"Phil," Rayleigh interrupted, "Breathe. Not everyone knows if they're going to be a good parent or not. Half the time, Mike and I are afraid that we're going to screw up somewhere down the line, but we try our best."
"You and Mike were meant to be parents," Phil said, "Me? The only really parental fixtures that I had in my life were horrible and I don't know if I could do that to my-"
"My dad ran out on my mom, Adam and me before I was born," Rayleigh said, "At least yours stuck around. He probably wasn't the greatest father and I don't blame you if you hate him, but Phil, you already have the makings to be a better parent than he ever was. You don't drink, you don't smoke and you don't do drugs. You'd never lay your hands on a child in any sort of malicious way. You think I'd let you near Sophie, if I thought you would." Phil looked at Rayleigh as she spoke to him, as she explained to him how he was leaps and bounds better as a man than his father ever was.
"Being afraid that you're going to screw up your child is normal, Phil," Rayleigh continued, "But, I can't tell you what to do. You need to talk to April about this, because you're considering putting a diamond on that finger-" Phil looked at Rayleigh with wide eyes, before an amused look replaced it. He should have known Rayleigh would figure out he wanted to propose sooner or later.
"And once you do, April is going to be your partner in everything you do," Rayleigh said, smiling as she twiddled the rings that sat on her fingers, "She needs to know how you're feeling and she'll be the one that can probably make all of those fears go away or put them in the right place." Phil nodded, as he thought about what she said.
"Now," Rayleigh said, clapping your hands, "You want to help me make breakfast for the motley crew that has made my normally beautiful home into a tacky bed and breakfast?"
Jon groaned as he woke up to the smell of bacon, eggs and coffee. The sun was shining in his eyes and he was fairly sure that when Mike and Phil had practically poured him into bed last night that they had shut the curtains to save him the headache in the morning. Rolling over to escape the bright lights, Jon came face to face with a sleeping Beth. Jon scratched the back of his head.
It was then everything came flooding back, the kiss, her confession, and the celebratory drinks that were pushed into their hands by John and Colby, but then pulled out of Beth's hands by Rayleigh. Jon scratched the back of his head again before wrapping an arm around Beth's waist and pulling her closer to him. Beth snuggled closer to her chest as she groaned from the bright light that was threatening to peak through her eye lids.
"I am never drinking again," she murmured before turning towards him and burrowing her head against his neck. Jon stilled. He had no idea how much Beth remembered, if she remembered anything at all. Jon made to move, so he could spare himself the embarrassment of her possibly not remembering a damn thing about last night, but she quickly grabbed his arm and pulled him back towards her.
"No," she whispered, "Jon, stay." Jon smiled. Beth obviously remembered something and maybe this was a good sign. She wasn't pushing him away or screaming bloody murder in his ear or running off to find some other guy, no, she was asking him to stay with her exactly like they were.
"Jon," she whispered again, "I can hear the wheels in your head turning and they're making the marching band in my head get even louder, so just stop thinking, close your eyes and go back to sleep. We'll talk when Rayleigh barges in here and drags us out of bed for breakfast."
"I don't think we have that long," he whispered back chuckling. The sound making his chest rumble causing Beth to try and move even closer towards him, "I already smell bacon, eggs and coffee. She probably wants her house back." Beth giggled softly.
"It has been overrun by several superstars and divas," Beth admitted, "I'm surprised, she didn't call everybody a taxi after Brie Mode started." Jon chuckled as he remembered a garbled version of last night's events that involved a certain Bella Twin getting up on Mike and Rayleigh hard wood dining room table and dancing until she fell into her waiting husband's arms.
"I think she knew Vince, Stephanie and Paul would come after her, if she let them all leave in that inebriated state."
"The McMahons or is the Levesques…nevermind," Beth started, "They'd never get mad at her…maybe everybody else, but Ray…nope." Jon chuckled as Beth giggled. It was nice. It was almost as if they had done this for months, maybe years. Beth lay her head on Jon's arm as she looked up at him. Jon pushed his free hand through Beth's slightly tangled hair, moving it from her face. Beth smiled up at him, and closed her eyes as Jon leaned forward.
"Knock, knock, everybody decent," called a voice that was entirely too cheery for Beth and Jon. Beth groaned and buried her head in Jon's shoulder again, as the door opened to reveal a short, psychotic Diva with a large smile on her face.
"April," Jon greeted, as she made her way into the room, "No offense, but you are entirely too cheery right now."
"Oh, you grumpy gus-"
"Really April? Grumpy gus," Beth interrupted, "Who, who are you, Mr…Mrs. Rogers?" April giggled, before walking over to the window, and throwing open the curtains even more. Jon and Beth groaned at the intrusion and tried to bury themselves under the blankets.
"Ah, ah, ah," April said, pulling the blankets straight off the bed and onto the floor, "I am under strict orders of the woman of the house to get the both of you out of bed and down into the kitchen for breakfast. Everybody else is already stuffing their faces full of food and Rayleigh isn't sure if she'll be able to keep your plates hidden for much longer." Jon and Beth groaned, but their complaints fell on deaf ears. April, not wanting to let the young mother down by letting the two of them go back to sleep, began tugging on Beth's arms trying to pry her out of Jon's.
"AJ," Beth groaned, finally leaving her comfortable position , "We're coming, we're coming."
"No," April corrected, "You're sitting, now get up off your butt and down those stairs."
Jon and Beth shuffled into the kitchen as April skipped behind them, before placing herself back on Phil's lap sipping at what seemed like her fifteenth cup of coffee for a majority of the guests that sat in the beautiful kitchen. April had been given the mission of waking up most of the guests since Phil and Rayleigh were busy making breakfast and Mike was taking care of his precious little girl.
"Don't give her any more coffee," Jon said, looking at Phil, as he sat across from him at the kitchen table, "She's got enough energy as it is." Rayleigh giggled as she placed Beth and Jon's plates in front of them and went back to eating her yogurt. April stuck her tongue out at the Shield member.
"Maybe, if you had gotten up like I told you too, I wouldn't have had to practically drag you down the-"
"What do you mean your mother's coming for a visit," Rayleigh shouted cutting across April, causing everyone else to go silent, as they looked towards the married couple.
"My mother wants to come with me for my consultation and-"
"And," Rayleigh prompted.
"And she thought that if she came early she could help around the house since we have Sophie," Mike answered, "I didn't have the heart to tell her, we have everything handled."
"Mike, we have a house full of superstars and divas," Rayleigh argued, "Most of which are probably still hung-over from the night before. I'm pretty sure, she'll think otherwise." Rayleigh sent a subtle look in the direction of the two Bella Twins were leaning against John and Bryan respectively as they tried to escape the brightness of the kitchen.
"Everything'll be okay," Mike explained to his already emotional wife, "She's not going to be here for a couple of more hours-"
"Hmph, more like she'll be here in an hour," Rayleigh said, running her hands through her brunette hair, "And you and I both know that all she's going to do is see a kitchen full of half naked men and think we're raising Sophie in some sort of brothel house for the roster."
"I'm pretty sure a brothel house, doesn't serve breakfast," Jon muttered, to Beth causing her to giggle.
"Rayleigh," Mike said, "Take a deep breath. All of the guys are going to go get dressed and then, they'll help clean up the house-" Several of the superstars looked to Mike like he was insane. They had come to visit for a relaxing vacation, maybe take advantage of the large pool the Mizanin's had and have a few good home cooked meals, they did not come to do housework.
"You and the girls, can go and get your nails done and we'll take of everything," Mike said, placing his hands on his wife's shoulder in an effort to get her to calm down, "By the time you all get back, the house will be spotless and everybody will be dressed and my mother will have no idea what happened here." Rayleigh took a few calming breaths before taking Sophie out of Colby's arms and walking out of the room.
"How much trouble are you in," Phil asked, as he took a sip from his fifth coffee cup that morning. Mike waited until Rayleigh was out of ear shot and turned towards his friend and grinned.
"None whatsoever."
"Okay," Nikki started, as she leaned back in the salon chair, "I'm going to say what we're all thinkin'. Beth, are you and Jon together now?" All of the women started giggling as they thought about what had happened the night before between the two. Beth shrugged in response.
"I don't know," she answered, "I mean, yeah, we kissed and we shared a bed last night, but nothing happened. I mean, Phil and Mike practically poured the both of us into bed last night and we were supposed to talk after breakfast, but then Mike's mother decided she should pay a visit and drive Ray up the wall-" The girls all started chuckling as Rayleigh let out an exasperated sigh.
"Oh, I can't wait until the rest of you are married and have to deal with crazy mother-in-laws-"
"Hey, I am married," Brie argued, from her spot beside her sister.
"Yeah, and how is it dealing with your mother-in-law," Rayleigh asked, not looking up from the pregnancy magazine that she had in her lap, "And don't lie to me, you said it yourself, she keeps everything that Bryan and his brother ever did."
"She wants me to use these stupid ceramic plates she made," Brie complained, throwing her free hand into the air, "Bryan doesn't have the heart to tell her they look absolutely atrocious, and I just want to throw them against the wall and make it look like an accident."
"See," Rayleigh said, looking at all of the unmarried women in their group, "You all laugh now, but I'm telling you the moment you marry their little boy, their mothers go bonkers. Granted, Mike's mother was already insane before I married him-"
"But, the two of you were practically married the moment you met her," April said, as she continued to look through the nail polish for a decent colour that didn't make her look the monster from the sunshine lagoon, "You told me that Mike introduced you as the love of his life." All of the women cooed, as Rayleigh's cheeks went red.
"He still does," she admitted, "When we met Dr. Cooper, he's the one that's going to take care of Mike's knee, he introduced me as the love of his life and his better half."
"I want that," Nikki complained, "I just don't get it. We all saw how John was with you when you were together, Ray. People were putting bets on when he would pop the question. What is it about me that makes John not want to get married?" Rayleigh looked over at the twin with a frown on her face.
"Nikki," Rayleigh said, "John and I were together for like seven years. Five of which we were more like friends than lovers. He wasn't going to propose and as much as I will always hate to admit it, Kaitlyn was a blessing in disguise. But, we are not gathered here to complain about our men, we are here to drill Beth on details in her relationship."
"There is no relationship to give details on," Beth argued, throwing both of her hands into the air, causing the salon attendant that was working on Beth's manicure to look at her slightly annoyed.
All of the men collapsed in the living room after rallying to clean the mess that had been left behind the night before. Mike was looking at them all shaking his head, while Sophie giggled chomping away on another kit kat that she had somehow managed to get her hands on.
"Oh, you are a bunch of babies," Mike said, cleaning up the melted chocolate that had somehow found its way onto his face, "It wasn't that much work." John, Jon, and Phil glared up at the Miz TV host.
"It would have been easier, if you had just let us clean the way we originally were," Phil said, before grabbing a pillow and lobbing it at the father. Mike caught it and placed it back on the couch beside him.
"If I had let you clean, the way your originally wanted to, my mother would have had Rayleigh's head and in return she would have had my head," Mike said, "And I'm not taking up residence on the couch for the next week because a few Superstars don't know how to clean a house."
"Have you and Rayleigh ever thought about hiring a maid," Colby suggested, as he lay on the floor looking up at the pristine white ceiling that he had just been busy dusting.
"No," Mike answered, "Rayleigh would just follow behind her and re-do every-" Mike was cut off by the doorbell ringing. Looking down at his watch, Mike knew that it wasn't his mother, it was much too early for her arrival. Placing his daughter down onto her godfather's chest, Mike made his way to the door.
"Hello, can I help you," Mike said, as he opened the door to see an elderly gentlemen standing there.
"Uh yes, is this the home of Rayleigh Copeland," the gentlemen asked. It had been years since Rayleigh had used her maiden name, but Mike nodded none the less.
"May I ask, who's asking for my wife," Mike said.
"I'm her father."
A/N: Just a bit of a filler chapter, but the next chapter will have the conversation you're all waiting for.
There's still time to vote on who should induct Hot Ray-Leigh into the Hall of Fame.
xo
