Where did all the people go?
They got scared when the lights went low.
I'll get you through it nice and slow,
When the world's spinning out of control.
"You can do this." Punk coached himself. He hopped from one foot to the other. "You can do this." He said again.
"You ready to go out there and kick some ass?" Lex asked as she leaned in the doorway.
Phil looked up at her surprised. "You aren't supposed to be in here. No one outside of the wrestlers is supposed to be in the locker room."
"I know but what Vince doesn't know won't hurt anyone." she walked up to him. She placed her hands on the ends of his hood and pulled it up over his face. "I just wanted to wish you luck. Not that you need it."
"Thanks none the less."
"Go out there and have fun but also be careful." she urged him.
"I will. I promise."
–
Afraid of what they might lose
Might get scraped or they might get bruised.
You could beg them, what's the use?
That's why it's called a moment of truth
Earlier that day …
"I wish I could go out and wrestle tonight." Nick said as he watched Phil lay out all of his ring gear.
"You're a little too young Nick." Phil told him. "But who knows maybe one day you will be out in that ring wrestling."
"No, Mommy says I am not allowed to wrestle." Nick remarked.
"If you want to be a wrestler Nick then nobody has the right to tell you that you cannot be one." Phil stopped what he was doing and bent down so he was the same size as the boy. "You can be whatever you want to be."
"I wanna be like you Phil." Phil was stunned silent. For two very good reasons, first he didn't think Nick knew his real name, and two here was a boy looking up at him with such bright hopeful eyes telling him that he wanted to be like him, Phil felt his throat constrict a little.
"Come on." he ruffled Nick's short hair a little. "No you don't. You want to be yourself."
"Nope, I wanna be like you. Phil you are cooler than Batman." Phil had to choke back a sob he felt coming.
"Cooler than Batman really?"
"Yes because you let me hang out with you." Nick explained. "My dad can't be bothered."
Lex had explained to Phil that the twins father was an older man. He was well in his seventies when they were born. By the time he had met Lex's aunt he had already raised five sons to adulthood. But Lex's aunt had really wanted children so he went along with it. She had told Phil that her uncle did try and be there for the twins but it was hard for him. He was literally old enough to be their great-grandfather.
"Your dad loves you Nick. He's just older."
"I know." The six-year-old said. "That is what Lexie tells me all the time. But still it sucks."
"Hey watch the language." Nick rolled his eyes.
"You are lucky though. You have your mom and you have Lexie. And guess what you have me too. I may be on the road a lot but you can always call and talk to me. Maybe if I am nearby we can try to go to a Bruins game or something."
Nick's whole face lit up. "Really?"
"Of course." he threw his arms around Phil.
"See this is why you are cooler than Batman."
"Thanks kid. Now come on I have to get to the gym. You can tag along if you want. We might as well start showing you what to do now if you want to be a WWE champion someday." Nick grinned at Phil showing him that all his front teeth were gone.
"I am gonna be the best WWE champion ever." Nick proclaimed.
"Those are some big words kid." But he had no doubt that with some proper teaching and hard work on Nick's part the young boy very well could be an amazing future champion.
–
I'll get it if you need it,
I'll search if you don't see it,
You're thirsty, I'll be rain,
You get hurt, I'll take your pain.
"I hope Nick isn't driving Phil crazy." Lisa remarked to Alexia. The two grown women and Makenzie were currently getting manicures and pedicures. Lex had never been much of what people would call a girly girl but she did enjoy having her nails and toes done.
"Believe me he would bring him back if he was." Lex remarked. "But I honestly think he has a soft spot for the twins. Mak especially, that little girl has that man wrapped around her little finger."
"How are your nails coming Makie?" Lex called out to the girl who was sitting a few chairs down.
"Good." The young girl replied. "Lexie is John Cena gonna be there tonight?"
"Of course he is."
"Do you think I can meet him?" Makenzie asked hopefully. "He's my favorite."
"I thought Phil was your favorite." Lisa said.
"He's my other favorite Mommy." Makenzie stated matter of factly.
"Excuse me." Lisa laughed.
"Mak, I think Phil is gonna be a little sad to find out that he is tied with John Cena." Lex said trying her best to keep a straight face.
"Well then don't tell him." Both women cracked up.
–
I know you don't believe it,
But I said it and I still mean it,
When you heard what I told you,
When you get worried I'll be your soldier.
"Don't you ladies look pretty." Phil remarked when the group met up again in the lobby. "Mak you look so grown up with your nails all painted."
"Look Uncle Punk they have stars on them like the ones you wear on your trunks." Makenzie held out her small hands for Phil to see.
"So they do."
"Mommy look at my muscles." Nick flexed both of his tiny little arms. "I got to lift weights at the gym today." Lisa shot Phil a look.
"They were only one pound weights." he explained. "But he dominated them."
"Uncle Punk says that if I keep it up I could be a world champion someday." Nick beamed.
"Oh did he." Lisa gave Phil another less than pleased look.
"You very well could be one day Cowboy." Lex agreed to get some of the heat off of Phil. He appreciated her all the more for it. "Come on guys let's all take showers and then get dressed and head over to the arena."
Phil looked at his phone. He sighed they had to leave in like ten minutes and Lex was still not ready. "What are you doing in there you crazy woman?" he asked lightly banging on the bathroom door.
She opened the door and looked at him very annoyed. She stood before him wearing a black Affliction baby doll tee and jeans, with a pair of black Converse All Stars on her feet. She just had one more strand of hair to curl.
"Give me like two seconds." Phil rolled his eyes before leaning against the door frame.
"If you are going to stand there could you at least be useful and hand me my eyeliner?" she shot at him.
He grabbed the eyeliner and placed it into her outstretched hand. She unplugged the curling iron and left it resting on the toilet seat as it was still hot. With a few flicks of her wrist her eyeliner was on. She turned to face him. "All ready." She announced.
"That was more than two seconds." She stuck her tongue out at him before patting him on the cheek in a patronizing manner as she walked past him.
Phil followed closely behind her. "So who do you want to win tonight?" He asked already knowing the answer. She smirked at him, it made him slightly uneasy. He knew from her face something very sarcastic was going to come out of her mouth.
"Well isn't it obvious? I want Berto to crush you." she let out a small chuckle at the frown that crossed over his face. "I want you to win your Crazy man. I always want you to win." It warmed his heart to hear those words.
–
Funny when times get hard,
At the last moment when you're supposed to charge,
Always on the longest yard,
Oh, they feel their feet getting cold.
"Well there is the whole clan." Randy smiled at the small group as they made their way towards him. "Hey Kids what's going on?"
Both kids started speaking at once, telling Randy everything that had happened to them that day. He shot Lex a look letting her know he needed help.
"Guys slow down. Now one at a time you can tell Randy what's going on." Lex told the twins. She placed her hands on each one of Nick's shoulders. He started off, he told the Legend Killer what he had for breakfast, and then he told him all about the conversation with Phil. Lex raised a brow at the Voice of the Voiceless when she heard the comment about him being cooler than Batman. Phil just shrugged but there was a huge smile on his face.
–
The pay per view was about to start. The whole group had been sitting at a table in catering until that point. As they had made their way down to get something to eat they were joined by Nattie and Beth. Once seated they were also joined by, much to Nick's delight, Matt "Zack Ryder" Cardona, and Mike Mizanin. They were all sitting around laughing, it was amazing and Lex could clearly see now why Phil and Beth and Randy loved their job so much.
"Alright guys I think it's time to head to our seats." Lisa said looking at her watch. "The show is going to start in like twenty minutes."
"Do we have to Mommy?" Nick asked. "I wanna talk to Zack Ryder some more." Matt couldn't help but laugh.
"I promise you can ask me as many questions as you want after the show Nick." Matt made sure to promise. Then he took the headband he happened to be wearing off his head and placed it on Nick's. The young blonde boy's face lit up like a Christmas tree.
"You coming Lexie?" Lisa asked as she stood from the table. Both twins on either side of her. Lex looked at her and then over at Phil, who was currently in an in depth conversation with Randy about the X-men.
"Nah, I think I am going to hang back here. But have fun and take lots of pictures." Lisa sent Lex a knowing smile before ushering the kids off. Lex continued to watch Phil, he was now red faced, arguing with Randy over some trivial point. Lex couldn't help but smile.
"Isn't that right Lex?" Phil was now looking at her. She blinked and shook her head, she hadn't been listening.
"Sorry, can you repeat the question. I guess I zoned out." Both Beth and Nattie exchanged glances. Nattie smiled at the two friends who were sitting across from her. Beth on the other hand wore a small frown.
Phil chuckled and slung his arm around Lex's shoulders. He scooted her chair a little closer to his. "I said that Wolverine was so much more badass than Cyclops"
Lex shrugged. "I guess so. I always liked Logan more than Scott."
Phil sent a wink in her direction before returning his attention to Randy. "See that is why she's my girl." he told The St. Louis native with a laugh.
–
Hiding here, hiding there,
Find them underneath the stairs,
People hiding everywhere,
Trying to be still like a stone.
Silence, the locker room was now empty. Phil closed his eyes and enjoyed the quiet while he could. It also gave him time to think. He went over the match layout in his head one more time. He was going out there to steal the show. But then his thoughts slowly drifted to Lex. By the same time tomorrow she would be sitting in her living room probably watching Raw.
He could clearly see her sitting cross-legged on her couch, clad in her favorite pair of seats and his best in the world t-shirt, with a bowl of grapes, as those were her Raw watching snack of choice. He image made his chest hurt slightly.
He forced the image and the thoughts from his mind. He needed to focus, he had a match in a matter of moments. He needed to keep his head in the game. There was no room for errors. He placed his head in his hands for a moment, taking a few deep breaths he picked his head back up before standing.
He rotated his neck and sighed when he heard it crack. Next he rolled his shoulders. "This is your time Punk." he bounced a little on his toes.
"You can do this. You are the best in the world."
–
My aim is so true,
I wanna show you,
I'll try forever,
I'm never gonna say "surrender"
"Well I will leave you to your last minute things you need to do." she kissed his cheek before turning to leave. But he made a sudden grab for her arm.
"Walk with me?" he asked hoping she would agree. She gave him a smile before nodding. They started walking but then Lex stopped. She grinned at her best friend. He stopped as well before rasing a brow at her.
"Gimme a piggy-back ride to the gorilla." she suggested to him. Shaking his head he bent down so that she could climb onto his back.
"Hold on Speed Racer." he told her before taking off into a sprint.
Lex's laughter was music to his ears. He stopped just before the curtain. She climbed off of his back, she was still laughing. "Once again good luck out there Punkers."
"Luck is for losers." he remarked giving her a playful grin.
"Go before I actually decide to cheer for Berto." Phil let out a snort before his music began to play.
"That's my cue." With one more wink he left her standing by the curtain. She shook her head when she clearly heard him yell it's clobberin time. What a nerd he truly was. She went off to find Randy.
–
I'll get it if you need it,
I'll search if you can't see it,
You're thirsty, I'll be rain,
You get hurt, I'll take your pain.
"Come on Punk." Lex cheered. Randy was standing next to her watching the match as well. He rolled his eyes.
"Are you telling me that you honestly do not know the outcome?" he asked rather surprised. He was sure that Phil would have told her that he was going to win back the title.
"No and it you tell me I will make your wife a widow." she retorted completely serious. She did not want to know the outcome until it happened. She winced as Punk took what looked like a particularly nasty bump.
"Oh my God!" Both Lex and Randy were now staring at Phil's bare ass. Lex's face turned bright red. It was very brief Punk fixed his trunks right away but some things just could not be unseen. Randy didn't know whose face was better Lex's or Punk's. While Lex's face was red as a tomato, Phil's mock shocked expression was just as great. Randy did not know if that was supposed to happen or if it was an accident but what he did know was that was something that Lex was totally not expecting. He laughed a little at her expense.
Lex scowled at the third generation wrestler. "Well that was interesting."
"Like you did not absolutely love it." Randy shot back at her. She opened her mouth to say something but closed it again. That only made Randy burst into much harder hysterical laughter. He couldn't help himself.
"Shut up so I can finish watching the match." Lex elbowed him in the ribs for good measure.
–
"The winner and NEW WWE Champion CM Punk!" Lex threw her arms around Randy in celebration. She was elated that Phil had won the title again. She was even more glad that she had made sure it had stayed a surprise. They watched as Phil celebrated with the fans. Lex grabbed Randy's hand and they quickly made their way over to the gorilla.
Lex very quickly took a peek out. "Phil's is just starting up the ramp now." She told Randy. An idea popped into The Viper's mind. He was still a little annoyed by the fact she had elbowed him in the ribs. Soon he was behind her. He used enough strength to shove her forward through the curtain.
A very surprised Lex stumbled a little but was able to catch herself. Her eyes were wide as she now found herself at the top of the ramp. Thousands of fans were now staring at her. Phil looked up and was surprised to see her standing there. But his face broke into a huge grin and he quickly made his way up to her.
She couldn't help but smile as she began running to meet him in the middle. She jumped into his open arms. "Oh my god I cannot believe you won. Well I can. By the way I am going to kill Randy!" she was just so excited for her friend at the moment. Acting strictly on impulse she brought her lips crashing down onto his.
The surprise caught him a little off guard and he swayed a little bit but managed to keep them both steady. Lex pulled away looking shocked. "Phil I am so sorry. I just got caught-" she didn't finish her sentence because it was him this time who initiated a kiss.
When they pulled apart both were wearing huge smiles. "You smell like sweat and taste like blood." Lex told the new WWE Champion. He let out a hearty laugh and shook his head a little. He was not bothered at all by her words because he knew she didn't mind. He placed her on her feet once again and wrapped an arm around her waist and they both made their way up the ramp and through the curtain. Leaving thousands of confused fans in their wake.
I know you don't believe it,
But I said it and I still mean it,
When you heard what I told you,
When you get worried I'll be your soldier.
I'll be your soldier
Well I'll be, oh I'll be your soldier
I'll be your soldier
I'll be your soldier