John was sitting in his hotel room normally he would be in the gym right now but his heart wasn't in it right now. There was a knock on the door, John sighed as he got up to answer it. He was surprised to see Hulk Hogan standing on the other side.
"Terry man what's up?" John asked.
"Ash called me it seems she is really concerned about you" he replied. "she asked me to talk to you"
"I figured she would have someone try to talk to me but honestly she took longer than I expected" John admitted.
"So Cenamania brother what seems to be the problem?" Hulk asked. He could see the confusion and fear in the younger man's eyes. He knew now that Ashley had ever right to worry.
John ran his hand through his hair and began to pace for a few minutes. He was trying to figure out what to say.
"I'm pulling my hair out man" he said.
Hulk looked as if he was about to say something but didn't he sat quiet waiting for John to continue.
"It's been killing me to keep this inside but I don't know what else to do but I have to tell someone or I'll go crazy" John said still pacing. "a few days ago my ex-girlfriend told me that she has a kid and that she is mine"
"Oh" was all Hulk could say.
"I've been killing myself since I found out in one way Ash can't be mad because it was during collage and I didn't know her back then but she ain't going to be jumping for joy either"
"If it helps Ashley doesn't seem like the wicked stepmother type" Hulk said.
"I just always pictured my first daughter being with Ashley" John said sadly.
"I think what you need to do is think about what you are going to do if she is yours" Hulk suggested.
"No question about it if she is mine then I will be there for her just like I am with my sons, I won't let her grow up the way Ashley did" John replied.
"I have no doubt in that" Hulk said "you are a good man John,you just get yourself into trouble"
"How do I fell her?" John asked.
"You need to just sit her down and tell her the truth" Hulk said. "like you said she can't be mad at you because this was before you knew her and you only found out about her existence a few days ago, but she'll be mad you didn't tell her before this"
"I'm just afraid she'll feel this is too much and leave" John said.
"You and I both know Ashley better than that but if she did then she isn't worth your time" Hulk said.
"What about if this girl hates me I mean if I am her father I missed 9 years of her life" John said.
"I'm not going to say that it is impossible that what you said would happen but I think that if you show her you love her then it should be ok" Hulk replied.
"I might have a daughter and I don't even know what she looks like how sad is that" John said.
"It's not your fault you didn't know" Hulk said.
"I guess you are right by the way where are Ashley and the boys?"
"Ashley and Brooke are shopping and I believe the boys are with either Matt or Amy" Hulk answered.
"Man your daughter and my fiancée love to spend our money don't they" John said.
"You know it brother" Hulk said.
"Terry man thanks for listening to me" John said.
"Hey that is what friends are for" Hulk said "but like I said tell her sooner rather than later and also don't expect her to warm up to the situation right away she will probably need some time to think about this"
"Ok I'm willing to give her that" John replied.
"Like I said before Ashley isn't the evil stepmother type"
"I know she isn't" John said. "Terry do you think I am a bad person because part of me doesn't want this kid to be mine?"
"No it doesn't" he said "you have a good life and you are afraid this little girl could ruin it all but then again she could be just what you needed in your life and never even knew it"
"How do you know all this?" John asked.
"I've been married for a long time" Hulk said.
"Yeah well when I do get married I hope it last for a long time but then way mine and Ash's relationship goes somehow I always end up messing it up somehow"
"It does get easier" Hulk said.
"Yeah when?" John asked. He really didn't believe what Hulk was saying was true.
" When the kids are in collage and there is finally peace in the house" Hulk quipped.
"So you are still waiting then" John remarked.
"Yeah but I'm a lot closer to it then you are" he retorted.
"Yeah but my kids are still little enough to think I am their hero" John said.
"You'll always be their hero no matter how old they are because you are their dad" Hulk said.
"I think my dad told me the same thing after we officially adopted Talon" John said.
"Then your dad is a smart man" Hulk said.
"Yeah he is" John replied.
"Well I should go you have some serious thinking to do" Hulk said.
"Don't I know it" John said.
After Hulk left John called Amy and asked if she could watch the kids that night because he had something important to talk to Ashley about. She agreed because she too knew that Ashley was really worried about John. They hung up with each other and John began planning a romantic dinner for himself and Ashley.
"Well if I'm going to tell her I should at least let her know that this doesn't change anything" he thought.
Ashley came home she was tired from shopping. She collapsed on the couch and fell asleep. A short while later she woke up when she felt John kiss her.
"Well that has to be the best way to wake up" she said.
"I'm sure it was" he said
She looked around and noticed a table with candles and stuff like that.
"Aw honey you cooked" she teased knowing perfectly well that he couldn't even make toast.
"Yep that's right it was hard too I mean picking up the phone and ordering room service, I hope I never have to do it again" he said giving her one of his lopsided grins that made him look like a little kid.
"Don't worry John I'll order room service from now on" she said with a smile of her own.
"Well I'm hungry so why don't we eat and talk" John suggested.
"Ok" Ashley agreed.
They ate and talked about general things like the weather and their sons. John knew he had to tell her and that now would be the best time.
"Baby remember the other night when I said I ran into someone and we were talking?" John asked.
"Yeah vaguely" she replied.
"Well what I didn't tell you was she was my ex from collage and that she told me that she has a daughter and that she says I'm the father" John blurted out.
John watched Ashley's face for any signs of anger but he couldn't see any. He stayed quiet waiting for her to speak.
"So that is what has been bothering you" she said.
"You aren't mad?" he asked.
"It's not like we were together then so I can't really be mad but I am a little irritated that you waited so long to tell me" she replied.
"I was so afraid that you were going to leave or something like that" he said.
"John I love you and if this little girl is yours I will lover her because she is yours" Ashley said.
"Thanks for being so supportive Shel" he said.
"Did you really expect me to be any other way?" she asked.
"I really didn't know what to expect" he answered.
"Just one thing I want to meet this chick " Ashley said.
"Why do I have a feeling I'm not going to like that?" John asked.
"I'll behave myself I just want to get my point across" she said.
"Ok fine" John said.
"So what is her name?" she asked.
"Well my ex's name is Madison and her daughter's name is Gracie" John replied.
"Did she show you any pictures?" Ashley asked.
"No" John said.
"So you have no idea what this little girl looks like?" Ashley asked.
"All I know is her name is Gracie and that she just turned 9" John said.
"John to be honest this doesn't sound right I mean some ex comes up to you and tells you she has your kid you'd think she'd have the kid with her or at least show you a picture, I think she is just after your money and she isn't getting a dime until we know this kid is yours" Ashley said.
"I agree with you this does sound weird but if she is mine then I'm going to take care of her like I do our sons" he said.
"I wouldn't think that you would do anything less but the lawyer in me still thinks there is something seriously wrong with this whole situation" she said.
"Are you sure it is the lawyer and not the fiancée?" John asked.
Ashley gave him a look and then answered that is was definitely the lawyer. They ended up watching a movie and then going to bed. John felt bad that he had to put Ashley through this but he was relieved that he told her.