Friday, October 11th, 2019 – Las Vegas, Nevada

CJ walked into the arena filled with the pain of his injured ribs and his kidney. His concussion had wore off last week and even though, he was advised by the medical team to not be in attendance tonight, he was still here and he was ready for a fight. His body was telling him he wasn't but his mind was telling him to fight. One thing that his father used to tell him when he was little: "The true memory of a Champion is determined by his story as Champion". And tonight, he wanted the story to be a Champion who never backed down from a fight even if his body told him not to.

His body wasn't the only thing that was lacking tonight. His fashion sense was kinda lacking tonight. He was wearing black skinny jeans with black timberlands boots with a black leather jacket with one of his t-shirts on. He had his WWE Intercontinental Championship on his shoulder with his duffle bag. Underneath his shirt, his rips were tapped up and he was trying his best not to limp so that no one would notice what was wrong with him. But he couldn't do a very good to hide it because it caused him to walk a bit slower than he usually was.

"Aye, CJ, you good bro?" KC asked as he walked towards him. CJ took a deep breath making him groan before he shook his head.

"No, you not bro. I heard about last week, you ain't supposed to be here." GG said as he took the duffle bag off from CJ and carried it to help him out.

"Well, I am. So, deal with it and don't tell Paul. He'll send me home."

"That's really where your ass needs to be." KC said.

"Damn right." said a voice making CJ sigh. KC and GG both turned around slowly to see Paul looking on with an annoyed look.

"You two go take his stuff to the locker room; I'm going to have a talk with the Intercontinental Champion." KC and GG both walked away quickly as CJ turned groaning to talk to Paul.

"What the hell do you think you're doing here?"

"I'm here for a fight. I want a fight tonight with Corbin."

"You're in no condition for any in-ring action tonight. I'm not risking your career by putting you in a match tonight."

"It's not your call. It's mine. I have to take this match. I can't let his ass walk around flexing like a big shot 'cause he hurt me. Hell nah, I ain't letting his ass do that."

"You're wrong. It is my call. I would rather have you out for a few weeks then out for months. And if you go out there, then potentially you can cost us months. We have big plans for you at WrestleMania and I'm not gonna let you screw that up. I'm gonna allow you to go to the locker room and retrieve your things and security is gonna escort you to your car. And I don't want to see you in the builiding tonight. Or next week. You may not want to but your gonna take your full recovery." Paul said as CJ took a deep breath as he looked down at the ground before he looked back up at Paul and nodded.

"Fine. I'll leave. But trust me, I'm not done with him." CJ said as he walked away from Paul. Paul turned and watched as he walked away shaking his head.

"These young guys never understand that it's about the future and not just now." Paul said as he walked away.

(!)

CJ sat at the red light in his Ford F-150 with a frown on his face. He was a bit irritated since he had gotten kicked out of the building by Paul. He understood that Paul was just looking out for his career but still it felt a bit personal or like they were protecting Corbin. Last week, it wasn't supposed to go the way it did, he was supposed to get attacked but not injured and he broke the rules and did it his way.

His attention was cut off when he heard his phone ring making him pick the phone up to see it was Kala. She was probably calling to check up on him since that last time he had text her. He had told her that he was coming to the hotel a little bit early. He swiped to the right accepting the phone call.

"Hey baby. I'm on my way."

"CJ, My water broke!" She said into the phone.

"For real? That means-" He was saying btu she cut him off.

"The baby's coming!" She shouted.

"Alright hang tight, I'll be there in 5." He said as he then hung up the phone. He pulled around the car that in front of him and got into the turning lane. He waited until there were no cars that were gonna get in his way before he pressed on the gas and drove off.

(!)

It was few hours later as CJ stood in the waiting room pacing around. He had brought Kala in about 2 hours ago and so far the doctors were with her, every so often checking to see if she was dilated enough to have the baby.

He was pretty nervous. For months he had been preparing for this moment but there was something about today that made him question his ability to be a father. His phone starting to ring making him pick it up to answer the phone.

"Hello?"

"Hey son."

"Hey dad."

"I heard the news. How you feeling?"

"I don't know to be honest with you. I'm in pain from getting my ass kicked last week but the pain's fading when I think about this moment. I'm nervous as hell dad. I'm not ready to be a dad."

"I remember I said the something thing when Desiree when born but I remembered something."

"What?"

"I had a chance to rewrite the wrongs of my father and make a child that could embody everything that I ever wanted in my life. And I wasn't able to completelty be in her life because of her mother but when I had you, I could. Son, you're not alone on your journey. I'm gonna be here every step of the way."

"Thanks dad. My son is gonna be happy to have such a great grandfather."

"He better be. I'm gonna love his little ass." CJ chuckled as he looked down athe marble floors of the hospital.

"Excuse me sir, she's ready and she requested that you be there for the birth." A nurse said to CJ as he nodded along smiling.

"Dad, It's happening. I'll talk to you later."

"Okay love you son." Cedric Sr said as he hung up the phone. CJ sighed as he followed the nurse and walked through the doors to the mother of his child. After passing a few doors in the hallway, he made it to her while she laid on the bed. He looked at her and saw her face full of pain. He hated to see her like this but knew that it was a necessary part of the process.

He made a beeline towards her and kneeled next to her holding her hand as she moaned in pain.

"I'm so ready to get rid of this damn kid." She chuckled through the pain as he chuckled as well.

"It's gonna be alright. I'm here. I'm not letting you go through this alone." he said as he then kissed on her forehead.

"How did I get so lucky to have you?"

"I ask myself that about you everyday." He replied.

"Okay mom, you wanna give me a good push." The doctor said making CJ frown up as Kala then squeezed CJ's hand. She started to groan as more sweat came dripping down her face.

"Okay push a bit more. I'm starting to see the head." The doctor said as Kala then started to groan louder than before almost sounding like a scream of pain and agony. He started to squeeze her hand leeting her now that he was here and he was here for her.

"Good, Good, I just need one more push." The doctor said. Kala screamed out in agony as she pushed even more while squeezing CJ's hand even more while he looked on smiling as he heard the first cries of his new baby boy. Kala sighed in relief as a few tears started to come down her face while the nurse cut the umbilical cord while another nurse grabbed a blanket to wrap the little boy up in.

"Congratulations you two. You are the parents of a little boy. I'll give you guys a few minutes to think of a name." The nurse smiled as she handed the boy to Kala who cried as she held her son. The nurse then walked away and started to help the other nurse clean up.

"Oh my god, he's here. And he looks like you." Kala said looking down at her son with tears of joy.

"Look at my little boy, You did a good job baby."

"No, we both did." She said making him smile. He leaned down and gave her a peck on her lips.

"I want to name him after you." She said making him chuckle and smile.

"it would be my honor for him to carry my name."

"Do you want to hold him?" He nodded as she handed him his child. CJ cradled his childs head and looked down at him.

"Hey there little guy. I'm your dad."