Expect the Unexpected
I was nearing the last month of my pregnancy. I could no longer see my feet, not that I would want to anyway. They had swelled up to the point tying my shoes was a waste of effort and time. My hands also became too chubby to wear the ring that my mother gave me at the age of fifteen. I had trouble typing at work. Before it got any worse, I took my maternity leave.
Now all I do is sit at home, watch tv, and decorate the baby's room. In fact I have been so bored that it is almost completed. When I finally do finish it, I have no clue what I will do with my time.
It gets to the point that the highlight of my day is talking to Adam. Hearing about all that has been going on behind the scenes with all my favorite wrestlers has become almost an obsession for me. Some times it is almost as if I am part of the "family" though I feel that way only through Adam's retelling of all the stories.
The last day of my seventh month was a Lamaze Wednesday. Layla and I were attending one of the final classes. This just happened to be the one where they show the birth. I swear at that moment, I did not want to go through childbirth. Oh why had modern medicine not yet found a way to alleviate either the pain or the entire process of natural childbirth. I could not wait to tease Adam with all the pain that he had helped to put me through in a month.
Well that was my plan, at least, to tell him all about the process. I figured he would want to know how our child was going to come into this world. Then much to my surprise, okay not surprise, pure and utter shock, he did not call me. I stayed up way past the point of exhaustion just to make sure that I would not miss it. The baby kept kicking me because I was playing music loudly on the DVD player to take my mind off Adam not calling.
'He never missed a day. There had not been even one day where he did not call me since the time he suggested the arrangement. What did this mean? Was he rethinking supporting me?' I believe I paced the living room floor enough to put a hole in the rug. Hours later I collapsed on the couch. The little sleep that I had gotten was fitful.
Sunshine pouring in the picture window is what woke me up the next morning. I lazily rubbed sleep out of my eyes and looked at my surroundings. Seeing the living room instead of my bedroom reminded me of the events of the previous hours. My immediate thought was to check my cell phone. Still no missed call or message.
I ate a light breakfast. My stomach was too nervous to eat much more than two pieces of toast and a mug of mint tea. I decided a relaxing hot bath was just what I needed to take all the stress out of my body. The baby also agreed because when I stepped into the warm water the kicking ceased.
After the nice bath I checked the phone again. There was not anything telling me that I had missed Adam's call.
'This is not like him. He always does what he says he will. Something must have happened. Alight, Analei, let's not panic here.' Then a thought popped into my head, maybe I should call him even though he said he would be busy and he would call me because I won't have to worry about him not being able to talk when I called.
This idea now in my mind, I reached for my cell phone and dialed the number I had come to know by heart. Adam picked up on the fourth ring.
"Oh my gosh!" Just to hear him say hello was a relief to me. "Where are you? I have been worrying all night and day. You didn't call yesterday."
I must have sounded frantic and obsessive to him. Adam laughed before he responded. "I am just fine Ana. Yesterday was jam packed with activities for me. I didn't get to spend much time at home and it was my day off. Right now I am around. Hey, in a minute or so your doorbell is going to ring. Make sure you answer it."
That was one of the strangest things I have ever been told to do. Sure enough, though, a minute later my doorbell rang. Adam had hung up with me saying that someone was at his door, probably Chris Jericho or Christian since they both live down the street from him in Tampa.
I put the phone on the kitchen counter and waddled my way over to the front door. Without looking through the peephole I turned the doorknob. I stood back a little to open the door fully.
"Good after…" I started to say, but then my eyes feel on the broad chest of a fairly tall, lanky man. Upon scanning up to his long blonde hair and handsome face, I nearly fainted.
There stood Adam Copeland in front of my apartment, a duffle bag hanging off each shoulder. He had the biggest "I got you grin" on his face. I saw his eyes widen, as he slowly looked me over.
"This is real," he whispered staring at my giant belly. He smiled again before dropping the bags and pulling me into a sweet hug. He kissed my cheek as he backed away.
I shook my head. "No Adam. This is so unreal. You are not supposed to be standing in front of me. This is like a dream." I know I must have had this dazed look on my face. I felt awestruck all over again. Adam and I had not seen each other since we said good-bye, and through all that has happened we have not even talked about seeing the other. It was as if I was meeting him again for the first time and this time it was strange because I am pregnant with his child.
"Well then this dream has come true, because here I am standing at your door." He stressed the words standing and door. I invited him in and went to take his bags into the guest room.
"What are you doing? Those are heavy. Put them down and just tell me where to take them." He snatched them from the floor before I could even begin to lift them. I walked with him back the hallway. He was muttering about how pregnant women should not lift heavy things especially women carrying his child. Then he added that since he was here I would not have to do anything anymore.
Back in the living room, we sat on the couch. I sat there in silence, just stunned that Adam was here live and in the flesh. I was at a loss for words so he started the conversation.
"I can tell you are still a little upset that I had not called last night. For that I am sorry, but I had so many travel arrangements to make sure were in order and then I had to pack enough of belongings to last me a month. Now before you ask me anything, let me explain. I felt left out of this pregnancy. You were experiencing everything first hand and I was living it through you. This is my first child. I would like to be here for all the firsts he or she will have. I at least want to be present at the birth, its only fair to me. So with that being said, I know that women can go into labor at anytime in the last month. I didn't want to get a phone call that you were going into the hospital because I would never make it up to Pittsburgh from wherever I happened to be. I talked it over with Vince and he granted me time off to be with you and the baby." He finished his little speech with the softest expression I had ever seen on his face. He truly wanted to be here, to be with his unborn child. It made my heart melt.
"You do not know how happy it makes me to hear that from you. It has been hard to go this alone. On a brighter note, now I have someone to put together all the furniture in the nursery." A tiny laugh escaped my lips. Laughing was something that I had not done in a few days.
Adam's eyes lit up. "You have a nursery room already started? May I see?"
I stood up and led him back the hall. My room was at the end of the hallway and the nursery was opposite my bedroom door. I let him walk in the room first so that he could see all that I had done in the past few months. The carpet was a soft, baby yellow and plush enough that it felt like cotton on the floor. Layla and I had painted the walls a cream color and wallpapered a boarder of teddy bears around the top and middle of the wall. The rocker was in the one corner with a bookshelf still in all its pieces beside it. What would eventually be a crib was in a pile by the wall on the right. The changing table was the only furniture already assembled and that was only because Layla had come over the weekend before stating that it needed to be done soon. In the other corner were all the boxes, baskets, and bags from the baby shower and recent shopping endeavors.
Adam ran his hand over the wallpaper and smiled. His eyes scanned the pile of gifts. I could tell he was curious to see all that I had so I nodded for him to go over to it. He sifted through a few of boxes, lifting up tiny outfits or baby rattles. He went to the changing table and pulled open the drawers. They were all full of diapers and creams, even some baby medical supplies. Then he looked at the things still not assembled.
"Are you psychic or something? Did you instinctively know that I had planned on coming and deliberately left me all the construction jobs? Where are the tools and instructions?"
I laughed for the second time since his appearance on my doorstep and went to fetch him the tools he would need. Adam is quite handy for a professional wrestler. He had the crib together in record time and the bookcase was a piece of cake for him. Afterwards I offered him a tempting meal. His eyes showed his hunger and he followed me into the kitchen.
I had made pasta and Chicken Parmesan. We continued talking all through dinner. Again he started the conversation.
"So how are doctor visits?"
"They are going good. I have one next week actually. You may accompany me if you wish." I said anticipating his next question.
"I would like that very much. One other thing, may I feel the baby kick?"
"Since you have arrived the baby's movements have stopped, but I will let you know when he decides to be active again."
Adam suddenly perked up. "He? You know the sex of the child?"
"No I don't know the sex. I have decided to keep that a mystery. It will be one more reason to push harder." We finished eating and I went to fix his room up. Adam went into the living room.
I was laying the comforter on the bed when he came into the room. I felt a hand on my shoulder and jumped slightly.
"You know it's not kind to scare a pregnant woman." I turned around to come face to chest with him. I doubt I will ever get used to his height. I had to lift my chin to look him in his face.
"You know it's not kind to leave a guest all alone in the living room." Adam answered me, almost mockingly. He reached for my hand. "Come on, enough of this housework stuff. I came here to spend time with you and my baby. So lets go and chill."
That trademark grin spread across his face. That was it. I couldn't say no to that. He pulled me into the living room. As soon as I entered I knew something was up because he had dimmed the lights and one of my favorite songs was playing on the DVD player. I don't know how he knew "Trade It All" by Fabulous was one that I absolutely loved, but he had it on. He drew me to him and placed his arms around my back, because of my big belly, we were touching in the middle. He started to move slowly, dancing in a tiny circle. I leaned forward to rest my head on his broad chest.
We were relaxed, listening to music and dancing in the soft light given off from the track lighting on the ceiling. Slow song after slow song came out of the player. Sometime during the middle of the sixth song the baby kicked. Adam felt it because he stopped the dancing.
"Was that the baby?" He asked in the quietest voice I had ever heard come out of a man so big. It was as if he himself was a child asking a question that he was not so sure of.
As I nodded he dropped to his knees and pressed his cheek to my belly. I suppressed the giggle that wanted to escape at the sight of this picture. He spoke softly to my stomach, "Hi inside there. I am your father. You don't know my voice, but you know my theme song. Your mother doesn't know this; I have a name for you. I call you Tiger." He kissed my belly as the newly named 'Tiger' gave a little kick. It made Adam laugh and seeing him laugh at that made me laugh. Soon the two of us were lying on the floor laughing like crazy. Still in the middle of the laughing fit, Adam reached for my hand and squeezed it.
That night he tucked me in bed saying that I needed to be pampered. He kissed the tip of my nose and patted my belly before turning out the light and closing the door.
My head was spinning from all the excitement of the day's events. Never in a million years had I expected Adam to fly to Pittsburgh from Tampa to be with me. He would be taking time off his burgeoning career to be there for his child. That to me was pure love. I only hope his being here will be positive and he will not get attached to anything.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * *
The days went by quickly. Maybe it was because they were filled with so much fun. Adam and I spent plenty of time talking and laughing. He had become pretty protective of me and that took a bit of time getting used to. The Tuesday after he arrived, I had my prenatal care check up.
Adam went with me to the doctor's office. The whole way there he fired questions at me. When we finally arrived I could physically see his nerves were on end. I reached for his hand and stroked the back of it with my thumb.
"I see you brought a friend. A male friend at that, too." Dr. Moore chuckled and shook Adam's hand. "You the father? If you don't mind my asking."
"Yes I am. Adam Copeland, sir." Adam returned the handshake.
We walked into the examination room. Adam's uneasiness grew when he saw all the equipment. I squeezed his arm as he sat on the chair beside the table. I then proceed to climb onto the table as I had always done. Looking over to my right I gave him a smile. He returned the smile.
Dr. Moore sat down on the stool and wheeled himself over to the table. He put jelly on the sonogram instrument and spread some on my exposed belly. The handle glided right over the slick surface. Seconds later a fuzzy black and white picture appeared on the screen.
"Okay here we have the baby's head. Those there are arms and those are legs. Your baby is looking very healthy. Would you like me to try and determine the sex of the baby?"
My gaze shifted from the doctor to Adam. Our eyes locked on each other. I knew what he was thinking.
I looked back to Dr. Moore. "No thank you. I would rather be held in suspense."
He nodded and turned back to the monitor. "Would you like to hear the heartbeat?"
Adam answered before I could. "Yes that would be great." He sounded like a little boy that someone had asked if he'd like some chocolate.
Dr. Moore turned the sound up on the audio equipment. The sound of my child's heartbeat filled the room. It was slow and rhythmic. I saw Adam close his eyes. He seemed serine, finally relaxed around all the instruments. The doctor removed the sonogram from my belly and whipped me clean.
"Time for the boring measurements Analei." He retrieved a measuring tape from a drawer. Stretching it lengthwise down my belly, he wrote some numbers in my chart.
"Good, good. Right on track. Let's check that weight now."
I shifted off the examination table. Fixed my shirt and walked to the scale. Stepping on it I groaned. I hated this part. Even though I knew another life was growing inside me, I never enjoyed watching my weight climb to numbers I never thought it could reach.
Dr. Moore messed with the balances until it was even. Then he wrote the figure in my chart.
"Your weight is a little high, but that's alright. It's probably just some water retention. Well your visit is over now. Unless you feel something abnormal or go into premature labor, this is the last time I will see you until the birth. I would suggest going to the maternity ward sometime this week to take a tour and get everything set up for your arrival."
He reached over and gave me a quick hug. Then he and Adam shock hands again. "Good luck with everything." With that we were out the door and in my car, heading for the hospital.
Once there the nurse informed me that I had many papers to fill out. She handed me a stack two inches wide. This was insane. What more did they want to know about me except my personal information, insurance information and the fact that I was pregnant and in labor? As I read through the stack I realized they wanted to know almost my entire life story and half way down the pile they wanted the father's life story too. That was the point in which I handed it over to Adam. I grinned and he groaned.
'Boy am I glad now that he showed up on my doorstep. I do not think I could have begun to fill out the things about him.' The last thought made me stop. It finally dawned on me and I didn't know how I missed it, maybe because I have so much else to think about lately. I haven't a clue as to who Adam Copeland really is, I don't know anything about the person who fathered my child. That scared me.
The same evening as the hospital visit and my awakening to the fact I didn't know Adam very well, I decided to bring this up at dinner. We had made reservations at The Carlton in Downtown Pittsburgh. Over appetizers I asked my first question.
"Adam, I realized today at the hospital that if I had to fill out those papers, I couldn't have done it. I know nothing of your childhood, not even anything that is going on in your life right now."
He sighed and put down his spoon. "Ana you and the baby are my life right now. My childhood was pretty normal, except that I grew up in Canada. In short, I lived with my parents who are still married. I have an older sister and a younger brother. I met Jay when I was in second or third grade. I played hockey as a kid, but knew the moment I saw my first match that I wanted to be a wrestler. From that point on I did everything in my power to ensure wrestling as my career. The rest of my history you know. Everybody knows for that matter. I became a professional wrestler. There is not much else to know. I was a boring, normal, long blonde haired Canadian boy."
Our conversation was serious that night. Maybe it was the atmosphere of a classy restaurant, but sat and spoke to each other like most adults would on a first date. I learned a lot about the man everyone knows as Edge. Along with the questions I asked, he had a few for me.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * *
The rest of our days continued in a very structured form. Adam would wake me with breakfast in bed. He is a pretty talented cook and it was a good thing to have him around. As days past, he started to eat breakfast in bed with me. He claimed he was lonely at the table by himself. When I suggested that I eat with him out in the kitchen, he stated that he would have none of that. I guess this is what he meant when he said I needed to be pampered.
We filled the days with shopping, organizing and plenty of tv watching. Once or twice we went for a walk in the late afternoon. Summer was beginning to take hold in Pittsburgh and the days were becoming long and hot.
I was very jittery the last week of my pregnancy. The thought that any moment I could go into labor made me want to stay in the house. Adam, on the other hand, wanted me to get out and breathe fresh air.
June 25, I awoke to the most perfect day of summer so far. There was not a cloud in the sky. Every bird had a song to sing. It was like a postcard outside my bedroom window.
"Good morning, Beautiful," Adam announced as he walked into the room. He set the tray of food on my lap and opened the curtains. Bright sunlight flooded in and chased away the shadows. He came over to the bed and sat cross-legged opposite me. We ate the meal of cornflakes with bananas, toast, and apple juice.
Then I decided to take it easy. I wanted to make sure the nursery was all in order. So for the millionth time, Adam and I sat in the living room in front of the tv organizing the baby's things.
Layla came over for lunch, which we had on the patio because it was such a nice day. I prepared cold cut sandwiches with coleslaw. We were almost done eating when I felt the most incredible pain shoot across my torso. At once I was doubled over in agony. It didn't take either of them very long to guess what was going on.
After the pain subsided I glanced up. A look of panic was evident on both their faces.
Layla spoke first. "Was that a contraction?"
"Uh yeah. I think so." Calmly I stood up. My legs were shaky from the shock of the contraction. Two pairs of arms reached for me. Adam was on my right and his grip was very tight, so tight it almost hurt. Layla had moved to my left side to even out the support. I had no idea what they were trying to hold me up for, but before I knew it I was in the living room lying on the couch.
I thought their behavior was odd with the first contraction, but it was nothing compared to the second one. As pain gripped me again, all hell broke loose inside my two friends.
"Ana what should I do? Where is the hospital bag? Is it time to go yet?" Adam fired questions at me. It was clearly visible that he was shaken and anxious.
Meanwhile, Layla stood in the doorway to the living room and shouted, "We need to boil water!" With the end of every exclamation for the need to boil water she became louder. Soon she was screaming so loud I had to cover my ears.
Another contraction brought pain to my body again. It made her stop and she looked concerned once more. When the pain ceased Adam and I just stared at her. Before she could start shouting about water again I asked her why we needed to do it.
"It's what they do in the movies and on tv shows," she spoke to me as if I was an idiot. "That's just what you do. So let's stop wasting time and start boiling some water." She turned around and headed into the kitchen.
My voice became loud when I tried to bring her to her senses. "Layla, Layla! Lay! Will you get back here and listen to me? Both of you are usually so calm. Now you are the ones freaking out. I need everyone to keep a level head. So stop ranting about boiling fricking water. That will do us no good, Lay. Movies are not always true to real life." Her face fell at my chastising. I didn't have the time to worry about how hurt she felt. I continued to with my speech to get them to help the situation.
"What does need to be done is getting me to the hospital. My bag is packed and in the car. Adam your job is to safely drive the baby and me there. I will call the doctor to inform him that I am in the early stages of labor. Layla you go back to work. If you decide to take the rest of the day off, just tell the desk nurse you are my coach. She will direct you to my room. I am probably a good number of hours from delivery anyway. I don't know how I am the sane one here, but you two need to get it together. Now let's get going before I have this baby on my couch."
That being said I stood up. Immediately they were at my side again. I pushed them slightly to let them know I could walk on my own.
I dialed the doctor's number and let him know we were on our way. He told me to have him paged when my contractions were ten minutes apart. I could not image the pain I would be in at that point. At the present moment, the contractions were a good fifteen minutes apart and only lasted about one minute.
The drive to the hospital was a short distance, although there were many traffic lights that kept us from getting there quickly. Monday during lunch hour was not a good time to be traveling in the city. Traffic was so slow I experienced another contraction in the car. I think my howling frightened many other people on the road.
When we finally did arrive at Presbyterian Hospital my contractions had become more intense and were lasting for longer periods of time. I was wheeled directly to the maternity ward and into my own private room. Adam wanted it that way so that he was not recognized and mobbed during the moment he had been looking forward to for so long.
I was set up with an IV drip and got comfortable in bed. A nurse came in to check on my progress. She said that I was doing nicely for a first time mother. The contractions remained the same for the next six hours. I had called Layla and told her not to come in till after work. Pain was beginning to take its toll on me. I could no longer relax. Adam was by my side the whole time. He kept pulling my russet colored hair behind my ears and stroking the long strands down my back. Then I began to feel nauseas. The nurse warned me that I might get this way. Again Adam stayed there. He massaged my back because that is where the pain was most persistent.
Time passed every slowly. Layla arrived a little after six thirty. She walked around the bed and gave me a kiss. Then she apologized for being so crazy earlier.
"I am so sorry, Ana. I don't know what got into me. I guess I am just nervous."
The weak smile on my face told her what my voice couldn't. I was too tired to speak. Constant waves of contractions were wearing me down. I drifted in and out of sleep. So far I had been in labor for almost ten hours. This was about the time that they started to come more frequently, less than eight minutes apart and they were the most intense things I had ever felt.
Adam was caressing my hand when the first one of this nature ripped through my body. I clutched his hand so tightly I screamed in pain along with me. After the contraction was over he slowly removed his battered hand.
"If you are going to continue to do that I will have to get into wrestler mode so it doesn't hurt so much," Adam simply said. I could tell he was not entirely joking about it either. At this point the doctor was paged and came into the room to see how dilated I was.
"By the looks of it, if you keep at this steady pace of contractions, you will have this baby in four or five hours," Dr. Moore told me with a small smile.
'Oh boy, four or five hours. That is just peachy. Never mind how much pain I might be in. Why can't this process be sped up and I have the baby now?'
As I had thought the contractions became even worse. Dr. Moore examined me once more before declaring that I was ready to deliver. The room that had been calm for so long now was animated. Three nurses were by my bed, all doing various medical things. Another nurse was prepping the doctor. Adam was still sitting on my right.
My bed was cracked up until I was in a sitting position. One of the nurses pulled my knees up and placed my feet flat on the bed. Adam stood up as the doctor pulled a chair up to the foot of the bed.
I was instructed to push with the next contraction. Adam's job was to count down from ten to one. Then I was to breathe a little and push for another ten count before the contraction ended.
Active labor continued for a good twenty-five minutes. I was beyond agony and fatigue. It was good that Adam was there to coach me.
"Ana, come one, you can do it," he spoke softly in my ear. "Just a few more to go through. Then Tiger will be here."
The sound of his pet name for his baby gave me a surge of extra strength. Adrenaline flowed through my veins. When the next contraction hit, I pushed the hardest and longest of all.
"There's the head!" Layla cried out. She was standing near Dr. Moore, camera in hand for the big moment.
Adam helped prop my head so I could see. We looked at each other and smiled.
The next push and my baby, our baby, was born. The doctor congratulated us on our baby boy. He placed the tiny infant on my chest. I would have loved to hold him and enjoy his presence, but right away nurses started to clean him off and do what they need to do.
The doctor got up and went over to give my son a quick check before leaving. Then a scream escaped my mouth. Adam's happy eyes grew dark.
"What is it? Why are you screaming again?"
"I feel I need to push again." The nurse attending me assured me that was normal and just to push slightly and the afterbirth would come out. I conceded and lay back on the pillow.
The feeling did not go away and four minutes later Layla jumped to her feet.
Alarm written all over her face, she exclaimed, "Oh my! That looks like a head!"
Dr. Moore had one foot outside the door. Her statement and my yelling made him step back inside. He and the nurses glanced at my figure and noticed another head.
Once again I went through the birthing process. And suddenly I had another son. This time I did collapse after the nurse took him away. There was no more feeling like I had to push. Out of the corner of my eye I saw a lot of commotion going on. Layla was switching from video camera and the disposable she had purchased on her way to the hospital. A nurse had hurried to get a second a second bassinet while the others were cleaning the two tiny babies. Adam just stood there, mouth hanging open. He looked down and a huge smile spread across his face. I could see tears in his eyes.
That was the last image I saw before passing out from exhaustion. I had the most wonderful dream. My twin sons were playing in a large backyard. I was standing on a deck in the sunshine. A tall man was on my right. He leaned down and whispered into my long dark hair, "I love you Analei."
* * * * * * * * * * * * * *
When I awoke there was no more equipment in the room. In fact it was quite bare. It was just I in the bed, and Adam in a chair on his cell phone.
I could hear his voice, but it was like listening through a funnel. I could only make out every couple of words.
"Isn't it exciting, Mom? Now I have two sons. I do not believe I have ever been happier in my life. I guess I will stay a little longer now than I planned. Analei is going to need help taking care of two tiny babies. Oh you should see them, Mom. Okay, okay, put Dad on now. I will talk to you soon."
The mention of mother sent my mind reeling. I had yet to tell my own mother anything that had happened. I do have my reasons for not speaking to her though. She would absolutely kill me knowing I was now a mother, and twins at that. Just thinking of her ranting sent a shudder down my spine. I groaned out loud at the thought.
"She's up. I'll call you later, Dad," Adam finished talking and hung up his phone. He moved slowly over to the bed. Placing a kiss on my forehead, he sat on the edge of the bed.
"Well look who's finally up," he chuckled. "How are you feeling Ana?"
"Best I can feel for just giving birth to twins. I am tired that's all." I pulled my hand out from under the light blanket and patted his hand, letting him know everything was okay.
Adam smiled quickly. Then is face took a more serious look to it.
"I had planned to stay a month after the baby was born. You know, to help out with adjusting to life with another life to take care of. But I see that things can change, so has my plan. I called Vince to let him know I need an additional two months. Lucky you get my services for three months now." He then beamed with the announcement of his brilliant idea.
It was my turn to look serious. That was not what I wanted. He should not be staying with me at all. I needed to tell him that.
"Listen, Adam, that's very sweet of you. But I don't want to hold you back. Your career was getting a huge push before you left to stay with me. So much time has already been wasted. You need to get back to being a wrestler."
He shook his head. "No Ana I am staying with you. It's the least I can do."
Anger and hot tears flooded my eyes. "You being here will just leave me less prepared for life on my own. The longer you stay, the more dependent on another person I will become."
"I don't want that to happen. Face it, Ana, you are going to need help. I have already scheduled time off. So no matter how much you fight me, my home for the next three months is here in Pittsburgh. Besides, they are my sons too."
He said this so matter of factly that I shut up. I saw there was no point arguing with him anymore. Anyway, why was I apposed to spending more time with Adam? After all he was still, and probably always will be, my favorite superstar.
Adam playfully glared at me to break the tension. I decided to declare war and stare back. It became a game of sorts to see who could make the other break the hold.
A soft knock at the door disturbed our fun. I welcomed the person inside the room. Adam and I were both stifling giggles. The interruption had come from a floor nurse.
"I am glad to see that you awake and peppy, Analei. Now I have an important question for you. Would you like to hold you sons?"
I squealed at the suggestion. She and another nurse rolled in two plastic basinets. Adam hopped off the bed to help bring them to me. One of the nurses bent down to hand me one of my sons when Adam stopped her. He reached and lifted on of his sons gently into his arms. He cradled the tiny boy until I could situate myself.
Now, for the first time, I was holding a little life that I brought into this world. Looking at his face, the peaceful way he slept brought joyous tears to trickle down my cheeks.
A soft hand wiped the tears off my face. I looked up to see Adam, the same tear trails leaving his eyes, also. Our other sleeping son was lying in his arms.
I noticed how identical my sons were. Granted they were only a few hours old, but everything was mirrored in their appearance. Suddenly a thought crossed my mind that up until this point had yet to enter my mind. I had not chosen even one name.
"Oh Adam. I am already a poor mother. They don't have names. I can't even think of any at the moment."
With his free hand, Adam reached into a bag on the swinging tray. He produced a small compact book.
"Layla thought of this for you." He opened it. "Half the book is out of question. There is no need for female names. Now we have to narrow down the remaining names from about thirty pages." The nurses left laughing, saying they would be back for the boys in a couple of hours.
Adam settled either child at my sides. Then he retrieved a pen and paper from the same plastic bag as the book had come out of. He started reading male names out loud. Most I wrinkled my nose at. The ones that passed the speaking test were written down. The resulting list contained roughly forty-three names. At this point I started to pair two names together to get a good combination for first and middle names.
"Now remember, Adam, a good child's name has to sound good when you scream it," I laughed remembering how my mother used to yell my full name whenever I was mischievous. The sound of Analei Rebecca Chasez still sent shivers up my spine.
Either Adam or I announced names such as Christopher, Thomas, Benjamin, Sean, and Kyle. Each set of names had at least one name that I didn't like or that Adam cringed at. Finally I came up with a set of four names that we both agreed upon.
"Reed, Bryce, Joseph, and Nicholas. What would be the best combinations with those?" We stopped and thought a moment.
Adam was the first to speak with something that he liked. "Bryce Joseph has a nice ring to it. That should be Baby number one's name." He sat up proudly with his announcement. I was glad he had chosen that specific combination because I had been rolling Nicholas Reed over and over in my mind.
It was decided our sons' names would be Bryce Joseph, who was born first, and Nicholas Reed who was our surprise baby. They were both eighteen inches long and six pounds, four ounces. The hospital stay for all three of us was only four days. When I was preparing to leave Dr. Moore stopped in to see how I was doing. The he explained why we had not known about Nicholas. It seemed that throughout my entire pregnancy Nicholas was completely covered by Bryce, and they were indeed fraternal twins.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Our homecoming was nice because it felt good to be in my own house. The boys adjusted well to the change in environment. For now the one crib would do fine, but Adam went to the baby furniture store soon after we were home, just to be prepared.
Daily life consisted of multiple feedings and diaper changes. I became very used to getting up at one am and four am, then getting up to start the day at seven am. It was tiring, but well worth it. Nick and Bryce were perfect babies.
Adam was beginning to love his role in my apartment and their lives. He had nicknamed Bryce Tiger, because that is whom he had named Tiger to begin with, but now that Nick was here he needed a nickname, too. Adam nicknamed Nick Pumpkin. I could see he was attached already. That is what I feared would happen. I only hope that he can leave them when his three-month stay is up and he has to go back to traveling.
Before we knew it, those three months had gone by us. Now a week before Adam was set to return to a regular work schedule with the WWE, we met up with the Smackdown! crew in Columbus, Ohio. Adam needed to speak with the creative team and Vince to figure out where his character Edge was going in terms of storylines. The twins and I tagged along, partly because Adam wanted everyone to see his sons. It would be Bryce and Nick's first time outside of Pittsburgh and Pennsylvania.
Adam and I pulled up to the arena and parked in the back lot where all the wrestlers have their rentals. It was very weird being on the opposite side from the fans. As soon as they saw Adam, the girls went crazy. Shouts of "Edge, I love you!" rang out all around us. He picked up the car seats that convert into carrying cradles. The gasp that came from all the fans when they saw he had a girl with him and then that he was carrying two babies was audible from thirty yards away. We quickly ushered into the arena.
Once inside, I was directed to one of the female's locker room. Adam said that he would be around in an hour or two. He left to conduct his business. I walked where I was told to go and on the way passing wrestler after wrestler. I was a little awestruck and I tried very hard not to let it show. Many of them gave me a funny look as if to say, "What are you doing back here?"
When I got to my destination most of the female wrestlers had already begun to unpack their equipment. Someone must have informed them of my coming because no one really was bothered by my appearance. I set the boys down on a bench and checked my watch. They would be crying for food soon.
"Hi," I heard a voice from behind me. I turned around and saw Torrie Wilson standing before me. She stretched her neck around my back to look at the twins.
"They are cute. And identical." She gave that giggle she always gave when she was being friendly and cute.
"Thanks," I replied. "My name is Analei."
She gave me a sweet smile and spoke again. "I know who you are. I also know those twin boys are Adam Copeland's. He talked about it non stop before he left."
By this time the other women had looked up to see just who had entered their space. I saw Dawn Marie start walking towards us. Nidia turned her head, but continued with what she was doing.
Dawn and Torrie started asking questions about my sons. They wanted to know their names, how old they were, and other little things like that. I willingly gave them all the information that they wanted and we had a very nice conversation. I realized that these women were just normal, everyday people. Sometimes I forget that whom I see on tv is just a character.
While the three of us were discussing children a knock sounded on the door. I heard a familiar male voice ask if everyone was decent. When the door opened I saw why I had recognized the voice. It was Vince McMahon. Once again I was floored at the famous person addressing me like any other person.
"Analei, its nice to finally meet you," Vince's voice resounded off the cement walls of the arena. He held is hand for me to shake. "I would very much like you to feel at home here tonight. I would also please ask that Adam, you and the babies stay for the program tonight. Now speaking of the little ones, may I see them?"
"Oh sure, Mr. McMahon." I stepped to the side so that he could see the boys.
He bent down on his hunches and peered in the cradles at them. "Please call me Vince, Analei." Then he tugged the blankets away from their faces. "Identical. They are cute boys. I am glad to see that Adam has taken good care of you, Nick and Bryce. Now which one is which?"
Again I was off talking about my newborns. I am sure that this was just the beginning of all the explaining that I would have to do that night. Vince left after cooing with the babies and Dawn and Nidia excused themselves saying that they had to prepare for the night's events.
Torrie announced that she was meeting Billy Kidman, her husband, for lunch in the room where the caterer was set up. She invited Adam and I to join her. So I picked Nick up and Adam took a hold of Bryce's carrier and we headed down the hallway to a big dinning room that had been set up for the wrestlers and crew. The room was empty except for a few lights and sounds guys and Billy. Torrie immediately walked straight towards him and introduced me.
The catered meal was excellent. The couple of Billy and Torrie, who had been married for a little over eight months now, were very nice and down to earth. Nick and Bryce behaved for the most part. Near the end of our lunch I decided that they needed to be changed and started to get up to do it. Torrie stopped me and asked if she could help me. We took off to the nearest empty room. On the way back she was holding Nick. All the while she was glowing so radiantly and exclaiming how much she wanted a little one to care after. Upon our return to the dinning area, Billy asked if he could hold Bryce. I passed him, thankful for the break. The two of them stood there relishing the joy of the tiny lives. They also kept giving each other little knowing glances. It was apparent that they both wanted children.
"Torrie, when are you going to be satisfied with the length of your wrestling career and settle down with a family?" Billy asked his wife.
She sighed and looked down at Nick. I could tell that was a difficult question for her, as her career just became a more wrestling oriented on and focused less on the valet she had always been. Billy realized that asking the question was not fair so instead of continuing with it he turned his attention to Adam.
"So how is it?"
Adam looked confused for a second. "What do you mean? How is what?"
"Fatherhood? I mean isn't it the best feeling in the whole world?"
"Yes it is. I can't even begin to describe the way it feels when you see the little life you helped create. It is really indescribable." The sweet smile that I had come to recognize on Adam's face crept up as he was relaying this all to his friend.
"Wow, man. You are the luckiest guy in the world." Then Billy leaned over and gave Torrie a kiss, telling her whenever she was ready so was he.
Adam got up from the dinning chair he was sitting in and approached me. I looked into his perfect, blue eyes. I was expecting a kiss, for some reason. He had become more affectionate, something more than friends, since the boys were born. I never had thought much of it. I mean he was going back on the road in a week, why get wrapped up in him now? Then hearing the emotions he had just poured out, it stirred a feeling in me that I had yet to experience in all my life.
He was just inches from me now. His gaze so penetrating I wanted to look away, but couldn't. His hand searched for mine and grasped it tightly.
"Analei," he started. "In the past three months I have become quite attached to Bryce and Nicholas. I want to be a part of their lives."
Still looking up at him I replied, "Sure. I can understand that you want to be involved as their father. I would never, nor could never, take that away from you."
The small shake of his head told me that was not what was on his mind. He took a step back from me. While still holding my hand, he continued with his thoughts.
"See that's just it. I love being a father. It is absolutely the best experience in my life so far. That's all I am though, a father. Now don't get me wrong, as I just said I love being a father. But the thing is I would rather be a daddy."
With those last words, Adam dropped to one knee. A small black ring box was in his other hand. He opened the box, took the beautiful ring out and placed it on my finger. Then he uttered the question I never thought I would hear, especially not from Adam Copeland, even in my most fantasized dreams.
"Analei Chasez, will you marry me?"
I was in total shock. Tears came before my voice did. The surprise of the question left me at a loss for words. Even a simple yes was not in my vocabulary. And at that moment yes was all I wanted to say. I wanted to scream it at the top of my lungs, let everyone know of my happiness. The tears were shaking me enough that Adam got to his feet and pulled me into a hug.
Feeling his strong arms around me, knowing that I would have that feeling all to myself for the rest of our lives helped me find the syllables that I had been searching for.
"Yes, Adam. Yes!" He pulled back from me enough to give me the best kiss of my life so far.