Houston, We Have a Problem

A/N: I just wanted to take a second to say something super quick. Though this story hasn't received as many reviews as some of my previous ones, I am super thankful and grateful to those of you who have been faithfully taking the time to let me know what you think of it. To Disco Inferno 1, Vera Roberts, and TakerTakeMe, thank you so much for your consistently thoughtful words. I appreciate your support and encouragement.

Enjoy!

"How you feelin', Peanut?" Jennifer asked as she walked into the living room.

Keegan's blue eyes never left the television as she shrugged her shoulders. "Fine," she answered easily.

"Are you sure? Your tummy doesn't hurt?" She lowered herself to the couch beside her daughter and ran a hand over the small girl's forehead. "I think you might have a fever."

Wiggling out of her mother's reach, Keegan gave Jennifer a look of pure irritation. "Stop asking me if I feel okay, Mommy. I'm fine," she insisted.

With a nod, Jennifer stood and smoothed her hands over her jeans. Of course she was fine. She couldn't get sick when Jennifer needed her to the most. I'm a terrible mother, she thought to herself as she went back into the kitchen to peruse her list of "house rules" one more time. I am hoping my daughter gets sick just to get out of this evening.

Everything will be fine, Jennifer. Relax! Even as she checked the emergency numbers again, she tried to force herself to chill. Dave was finishing his shower, and as soon as Trish arrived, they would be off for a romantic evening at a nearby bed and breakfast. It was the kind of evening she had always dreamed of having with a man that she loved.

What she hadn't dreamed of was having her daughter cared for by the man who had fathered her five years ago. There is nothing wrong with John. Would you just freakin' relax! It's going to be fine!

She didn't look up when Dave entered the kitchen as she scanned the contents of the refrigerator. "Should we get some frozen pizzas or something for Trish to make tonight?"

Snaking his arms around her waist, Dave pulled Jennifer close to his chest and breathed in the scent of her dark hair. "I already left money on the entry table for them to order in," he assured her, smiling as she moaned slightly in his arms. "What's on your mind, baby?"

Jennifer bit her lip. She couldn't tell him. He didn't need to know. It wasn't important. "I guess I'm just nervous about leaving Keegan," she responded with a vague honesty. "I mean, I've never left her with anyone before."

Dave cut her off with a tender kiss that sent an echo of a chill down her spine. His warm lips always had the sweetest way of melting all of her worries. At least for the moment. "Well, once we get to the hotel, I promise you won't even be thinking about Keegan."

"Oh, so you think you're so good you can make me forget about my own child?" Jennifer challenged, raising an eyebrow.

With a shrug, Dave held her cheeks in his hands and rested his forehead against hers. "Not all together. But I promise there will be hours where she won't cross your mind," he assured, dropping a quick peck on her lips. "I can't even tell you how excited I am for this little getaway, baby," he began to speak as he turned to the refrigerator and withdrew a bottle of water. "Just you and me? No interruptions?"

For a brief moment, Jennifer felt her heart leap into her throat. She could have sworn it did a somersault, too. The authoritative nature of his very presence turned her into a weak-kneed teeny bopper with a junior high crush. "Hours, huh?" she asked with a coy smile as she began to walk slowly toward him, holding his dark eyes with her own.

The moment was interrupted by the ringing of the doorbell, followed by an insistent knock. "I'LL GET IT!" Keegan yelled just before the sound of her little feet filled the room.

Dave placed another little kiss on Jennifer's forehead and ran toward the exuberant child, catching Keegan just before she threw the front door open. Sweeping her into his arms, he narrowed his eyes. "What's the rule, Keegan?"

She rolled her eyes. "I can answer the door, Dave. It's not a killer!"

He just shrugged and hugged her a little tighter. "How do you know, Smart Girl?" Keegan bit her lip, as though looking for the perfect answer to his question. "That's right. You don't," Dave interrupted her thoughts by kissing her cheek as he reached for the door.

"Hey, Party Girl!" Trish greeted enthusiastically as Dave opened the door for her. Stepping through the threshold of the house, she patted Keegan's leg and then smiled up at Dave. "You ready for a wet and wild evening, Mr. Batista?"

He just nodded and rubbed Keegan's back. She was playing shy, burying her face in Dave's neck as he greeted his friend. "What are you doing, Peanut?" he asked with a smile as he pulled Keegan away from his body to stare into her crystal eyes. "Why are you being shy?"

She just squirmed and blushed and clung tighter to Dave as she grunted something indescernible.

"Where's Jen?" Trish asked, undeterred by Keegan's reaction.

"Kitchen. John?"

Trish pointed out the front door as she moved on in search of the lady of the house. Turning back to Keegan, Dave whispered in a soothing voice to her. "You wanna step out on the porch and see who your other baby sitter is?" Keegan didn't answer.

With his head down, John pocketed the keys of his SUV and started toward the house. He had beaten himself up all week about how awkward this was going to be. But he had been in uncomfortable positions before, and he could get through this one without incident.

All he had to do was pretend he didn't know his own daughter. And, if he was honest, it wouldn't be too much of a stretch. Maybe she'll just be a fuckin' brat, John tried to calm himself.

But as he stepped onto the porch and looked up to shake Dave's hand, he felt his heart stop. She was beautiful. Absolutely beautiful.

For years, he had convinced himself that he not only needed to stay clear of Jennifer and Keegan, but that it would also be in everyone else's best interest. They were good without him - they didn't need him barging in. And he sure as hell wasn't ready to invite a toddler into his life. Not until he and Trish had one of their own to raise.

Dave led him back into the house, rocking Keegan back and forth in his arms, and John felt an unexpected jolt rush through him. Shaking it off, he told himself that he couldn't be jealous of Dave's obvious connection with his daughter. He had no right to be.

"So, this is the infamous Keegan, huh?" John asked, tapping her shoulder until she turned to face him. "I've heard a lot about you, Kiddo," he said, praying to God his smile looked more genuine than it felt.

Keegan's eyes grew wide as she began to process the identity of the man standing right in front of her. "Are you John Cena?" she asked suddenly, seemingly forgetting Dave's presence. John laughed and nodded as she motioned for Dave to put her on the floor.

Tilting her head to the side, Keegan looked up at her favorite wrestler, as if considering him. He had received a lot of similar looks in lifetime - he was used to being sized up. But this was different. And he hoped she couldn't see how badly he was sweating her scrutiny.

"That's so cool," Keegan giggled, moving to the coffee table to retrieve her coloring book. "Wanna color with me?" she offered, turning wide blue eyes to John.

"Go ahead, man," Dave patted his friend's back. "We've gotta get goin' anyway."

As he lowered himself to the floor beside his daughter, John bit his lip and tried his best not to feel like this was the greatest day of his life. He didn't know her. She didn't know him. They had absolutely no connection. He just needed to treat her like he would any other kid. There was no reason for him to feel this overwhelming sense of pride and love.

Stealing sidelong glances of Keegan as they colored a picture together, John swallowed the emotions that kept assaulting him. She is barely your daughter, on a technicality, dumb ass. Just because you know her favorite color is pink, and that she knows the entire soundtrack to the Lion King, and that she sleeps in a fairy princess bedroom that you helped pay for. . . Stop it! You do not have some spiritual connection to this child. She's just a kid.

"So, who wants pizza?" Trish asked, walking into the room once Dave and Jennifer were gone.

"I DO!" Keegan shrieked, jumping up from her place on the floor and rushing toward Trish. "John, do you want pizza, too?"

As he turned toward them, John nodded and put on yet another fake smile. Trish was holding Keegan on her lap. His soon-to-be wife, and his super-secret daughter were smiling at each other and arguing over whether there should be sausage on their dinner. And he made a decision.

He loved Trish more than anything in the world, and he couldn't tell her the truth. Losing her would be ten times more painful than forcing himself to keep his mouth shut over Keegan. Besides, he told himself, she's got Dave now. He'll be a great replacement. Hell, he's a better dad than I would be at this point anyway.

"John, tell Trish we don't need smelly sausages on our pizza. It's gross!" Keegan interrupted his thoughts, her tiny nose scrunched up in disgust.

His heart melted, but his mind was set. Standing, he grabbed Keegan from the couch and threw her into the air, catching her on his hip. Turning a look of mock firmness to Trish, he shrugged. "This is her house, baby," he pointed to Keegan. "If the lady says no sausage, there will be no sausage."

Clapping her pudgy hands, Keegan threw her arms around John's neck and kissed his cheek. "I'm so glad you're my favorite, John!" she exclaimed happily.

Squeezing her slightly, he pressed his lips to the side of her head. "Me, too," he answered honestly. Yeah, he was a hell of a lot more than her favorite wrestler. But she didn't need to know that. Nobody did.