Nikki was surprised by how smooth the hearing went. Mark and her had gotten custody of Anna and she was glad, the old man William Benton had given her the creeps. Mark had told the judge they were going to stay in Texas a couple of months to give Anna time to adjust then we were heading back toward the road. The judge had expressed concern about the traveling life style, but Nikki had told the judge that all the wrestlers were like one big family that Anna would be loved and well taken care of. That seemed to satisfy him. The thing that impressed him most was the fact that the two seemed so in love. He thought Anna would be well loved and benefit from being with these two. Nikki hugged Mark when it was over. Now all they had to do was go pick up Anna, she had been staying in a group home the last few weeks.
Mark drove down the road thinking about Anna. He was really nervous. She was only two. What did he know about babies? Nikki had worked for two days straight to fix up a room for Anna. It was beautiful. Nikki had bought a small wooden toddler bed and all wooden child sized furniture. She had hand painted the walls with Care bears and clouds and rainbows. She had went out and bought tons of dolls and toys and put in shelves. The room was spectacular and mark knew any child would love it. He had almost cried when Nikki had showed him the finished room. That she would do all this work for him and his child touched his heart. He felt her hand squeeze his. Mark looked up at her.
"Don't worry its going to be fine." Nikki said smiling at him.
"I know she's only two, but what if she don't like me?" Mark asked.
Nikki scooted over beside him and wrapped her arm around him and gave him a kiss.
"How could anyone not like you?" Nikki asked.
"Well Darlin I hate to remind ya, but you hated me at first." Mark said chuckling.
"Oh I didn't hate you. You just kind of knocked me over with that special charm of yours." Nikki said laughing.
Mark laughed and pressed a quick kiss to her cheek.
"Really don't worry Mark, everything will be fine." Nikki said.
"Well here we are." Mark said pulling up into the drive way of a big white house. The place looked nice and well kept. They got out and walked up to the door. Mark knocked and a middle aged woman answered the door.
"Hi I'm Ellen Verdun, I guess you two are the Callaway's." She said smiling and opening the door. Mark and Nikki shook her hand and went in. They followed her to the kitchen and she poured them some coffee.
"I want to talk to you two before you meet Anna." Ellen said.
They all sat down at the table.
"I don't know how much you know about Anna's back ground, but she was pretty bruised up when she came here. She also seen her mother gunned down. From what I understand her mother hit quite a bit." Ellen said sadly.
Mark was angry. He didn't understand how anyone could abuse a little baby like that.
"Well we didn't know all the details but we know she was abused and neglected." Nikki said.
"Anna has some trust issues which you can understand after what she's been through. She is really smart, she has a good vocabulary for a two year old, when she chooses to talk which is not much right now. She's potty trained pretty much; she still has a few accidents which is normal at that age. She is scared of people she doesn't know, so don't be surprise if she is not too friendly. I just wanted to warn you. Mr. Callaway, I would like you to let your wife take the lead, she has a real fear of men in general, so you're going to have to be patient with her." Ellen said.
Mark nodded the last thing he wanted to do was scare the little girl.
"Well if you two are ready you can go up and meet her." Ellen said standing up. Mark and Nikki got up and followed her upstairs. They stopped outside a door.
"I told her all about you two, so she's expecting you. I told her that her daddy and her new mother were coming to take her home, I was trying to keep it simple." Ellen explained. Ellen opened the door. Nikki looked in and saw the little girl sitting on the bed looking at a book. He picture didn't do her justice. She was beautiful. She looked so tiny sitting on the bed. Anna looked up at them.
"Anna this is your daddy and his wife, who will be your new mommy." Ellen said.
"You two go ahead in and get to know her." Ellen said.
Mark and Nikki walked in and Ellen went back downstairs. Mark hung back, he seen the look of fear in Anna's eyes when she looked at him. Nikki went and sat down on the bed beside Anna.
"Hi Anna I'm Nikki." She said.
Anna peeked up at her shyly with Mark's green eyes and looked back down quickly. Nikki smiled. This was love at fist site. How could anyone not love this adorable little girl?
"Anna I brought someone to meet you." Nikki said pulling a teddy bear out of the bag she carried.
Anna looked up at the teddy bear.
"He's kind of lonely and scared and I thought maybe he could hang out with you, maybe you could make him feel better?" Nikki said.
Anna reached out a small hand to the teddy bear and Nikki placed it in her hand. Anna hugged it to her chest. Mark smiled; Nikki definitely had a way with her.
"What you reading?" Nikki asked.
Anna handed her the book.
"Goodnight moon, that's one of my favorites. In fact I think we got it at home." Nikki said.
Anna looked up at Nikki again, this time she smiled.
"You're very beautiful Anna, especially when you smile." Nikki said.
Anna smiled once again.
Nikki held out her arms to Anna and Mark was surprised when Anna climbed right into Nikki's lap.
"I got someone else I want you to meet Anna." Nikki said.
"Your daddy came a long way to get you. He wants you to go home with us." Nikki said.
Anna stared up at him and clung to Nikki, she looked scared to death of him. Mark came a little closer and bent down so he wasn't towering over Anna. Anna shrank back against Nikki.
"Anna I got a secret to tell you, not too many people know. Your daddy is just a big old teddy bear; I know he looks really big. I was kind of scared when I first met him. But when I got to know him I found out he was just a big old cuddly bear." Nikki said grinning.
Mark just shook his head and smiled, Nikki was something else.
Anna actually looked at him and smiled.
"Hi sweetheart." Mark said softly to Anna.
"I also heard that he gives great piggy back rides." Nikki whispered to Anna.
Anna giggled and looked up at Mark. He felt his heart melting into a puddle.
"I think your daddy would absolutely love a hug, after all that what teddy bears are for." Nikki said smiling.
Mark was shocked when Anna held out her arms for him. Mark gently lifted her in his arms and Anna wrapped her little arms around his neck. She was as light as a feather. Mark held her gently against him. Mark was overwhelmed by the feelings he had for this child. This was his baby. Nikki smiled at the picture the two of them made. They looked so much a like. Nikki stood up and Anna reached out for Nikki to take her. Nikki took her back in her arms.
"You ready to go home Anna?" Nikki asked.
Anna nodded. "Teddy bear." Anna said pointing to the bed.
Mark reached down and snagged the bear and handed it to Anna. Anna smiled at him.
"Teddy bear." Anna said pointing to Mark.
Nikki laughed. "Yes that's right, daddy's a teddy bear." Nikki said.
Mark couldn't help but laugh. He leaned over and kissed Nikki.
"Thank you Darlin." Mark said.
Nikki smiled up at him. "Let's go home." Nikki said.
Mark opened the door and they went downstairs. Ellen smiled at them as they came down the stairs.
"Well looks like you all made friends." Ellen said.
"Yes I think so." Nikki said.
"Well I wish you three nothing but happiness, if you need anything, just call me." Ellen said.
"Okay thank you." Nikki said.
Nikki took Anna outside and put her in the car seat and handed her the teddy bear. Mark and Nikki got in.
"Well daddy let's go." Nikki said smiling.
Mark leaned over and kissed Nikki.
"Teddy bear kiss." Anna said giggling.
Mark looked over his shoulder and smiled.
"Yea Anna, this teddy bear loves kissing." Mark said grinning.
They all three started laughing. Mark started the car and they headed for home.