The ringing of the doorbell stirred CJ from her sleep, and she opened her eyes to see Olivia laying in bed beside her. The infant was fast asleep, just like her father as he laid behind her. The sight made her smile, everything about it was just so adorable.
Until the ringing of their doorbell ruined the little moment.
"Are you gonna get that?" Dean mumbled into the pillow, opening one eye to see his unimpressed girlfriend. "I love your bed head."
"Stop trying to butter me up." She whined into her pillow, observing her tired boyfriend. He was smiling and his hair was sticking out in odd directions like it did every morning after a night of great sex and sleep. This was the Dean Ambrose she liked seeing; still innocent looking and in a pleasant mood. "You get the door."
"'M tired."
"You're already wearing pants."
"That's because I got Olive." Dean argued, propping himself up on one elbow to look at his girlfriend as she got out of bed. "I'll make breakfast later, just please get the door."
"You can't make breakfast, we have no pots or pans." She argued, picking up her bra and sliding it on as she walked into the bathroom.
"Then I'll buy breakfast before we go out to get them today."
"Ugh. I don't want to deal with these people." She complained, stepping out of the bathroom while brushing her hair. She then bent over to pick up her panties, tossing her brush onto the bed before slipping into them. "They're always so happy."
"Then I don't want to deal with them either." He complained with his eyes shut tight, not wanting to face the harsh reality that was suburban life with peppy neighbors. He didn't want to deal with it so early in the morning.
"They better not be inviting us to another potluck. That last one was awful."
"Did I ever thank you for faking pregnancy nausea to get us out of there?" Dean asked as he watched her slide his dress shirt on, bringing a smile back to her face at the memory.
"If I had to watch another three-legged-race I would've been nauseous."
"We are not meant for suburbia." He spoke with a smile as she buttoned a few of the middle buttons. "Are you going to put on pants?"
"I'm not even opening the door all the way." She reasoned before heading out their bedroom door. Dean gave it about five seconds before he picked up Olivia and followed, not wanting to take any chances with his girlfriend's safety. Just because they lived in a nice neighborhood didn't mean that there weren't crazies in the world. She either didn't notice or just elected to ignore him, and he was honestly fine with either. What mattered was the fact that he'd be able to protect her.
CJ opened the door with a smile, trying to look happy to speak to whoever was on the other side of her door. She kinda recognized who was at her door, they lived across the street, but when she saw the boy leaning on her doorbell and wanted to scream in frustration. But she kept her cool and looked to his parents with hope that they'd get the little shot off her doorbell.
"Good morning!" The woman chimed, making CJ want to gag at her pep so early in the morning. Sure, it wasn't that early, but she just woke up and wanted to go back to bed.
"Good morning. My infant is sleeping upstairs so can you get him off the bell?"
"Oh, I didn't even realize. Carter, please." The man requested, and CJ was surprised when the kid actually listened. "Have you heard about the new gate proposal, Mrs. Ambrose?"
CJ, too tired to even correct him, only shook her head as she scratched at the back of her head.
"You two don't attend HOA meetings?" The woman asked and CJ shook her head.
"I didn't even know that you had meetings." She murmured, silently turning the doorknob in her hand.
"Thursdays at eight. Anyways, crime rates are going up in the city and we proposed making our community a gated one. Mainly to keep the children safe and give us peace of mind while they're out playing." The woman explained, looking behind CJ as Dean carried a fussy Olivia to the door.
"I think she's hungry, babe, and the bottle warmer isn't working."
"Ten seconds in the microwave then test it. That's what Beth says to do." CJ instructed before turning back to the door. "Sorry."
"It's fine. We have five kids, so we definitely understand."
CJ really didn't know what to say to that. Five kids!? How did they manage? How were they even sane? CJ felt like she had three kids with Bear and Dean included, and she felt like pulling her hair out sometimes.
"Wow." She finally mumbled, eyes slightly wide. "We'll try our best to make the next meeting."
"Voting on the gate takes place next week."
"Alrighty. Well, thanks for bringing us up to speed with recent happenings."
"Not a problem. And if you need anything, we're right across the street."
"Alright, thanks." CJ spoke with her stage smile, shutting the door before locking it and going to Dean. "Can we go back to bed, baby?"
"How about we get dressed and go out to get the pots, pans, and plates, and then we go to bed?"
"Ugh." She huffed before smiling up at him. "You're so lucky that I love you."
"You ruined the cookware, which is why we have to go out."
"You broke the plates, which is why we can't wait."
"Where do you want to go for breakfast?" He asked, hoping that would make her more interested in leaving the house.
"I dunno, I'll think it over in the shower that I'll be taking alone." She quipped, unbuttoning his shirt as she started up the stairs.
"That hurts, Christina." He called after her, continuing to feed their daughter. "You're lucky I'm holding Olive or else I'd run upstairs and tackle your ass."
"I wish you would!"
"Don't tempt me!"
Seth stared straight ahead as he prepared for a match. He only had about two weeks before he was dealing with Dean and CJ being all lovey dovey on the road with their daughter- his daughter- and he wasn't sure that he was emotionally prepared for that.
Dean told him that they wouldn't be showing too much PDA, since that wasn't their thing, but Seth didn't know that he could believe that. Ever since Olivia had been born, they both had changed. Dean was softer, more open minded about things and himself, while CJ was almost a completely different woman. She was still emotionally challenged, but she was more open about her feelings and was less inclined to knee him in the family jewels for saying something out of line.
It just bothered him. Dean and CJ were perfect for each other and brought out the best in each other. He wanted to have that with somebody, anybody, but he really wanted it with CJ. What bothered him was that she was right all along. They were bad for each other and would only cause each other pain. If he hadn't of turned on Dean and Roman, if he hadn't of cheated on her, he would've found a way to hurt her eventually.
And that knowledge killed him on the inside.
All he wanted was to be able to love and protect her and make her happy. But all he managed to do was bring her pain and heartache. He pushed her further into Dean's arms and every time he tried to pull her back in he just ended up pushing her further away. But he couldn't give up. They were getting closer, texting more often(the conversations always started out baby related but eventually became a bit more personal). She still loved him, he had overheard her telling Dean that, which was a plus. But the question was if she was still in love with him or not.
And he was afraid he'd never know.
"Seth? Are you alive in there?" Stephanie called into the room, startling him out of his thoughts and feelings. "I didn't mean to startle you. Are you feeling alright?"
"It's uh- it's the withdrawals, y'know. I got meds for them and all the symptoms, but it only makes it all just a bit easier." He covered, not wanting Stephanie McMahon, of all people, knowing that he was still head over heels for CJ. Then she'd start questioning his loyalties and he didn't need that going into Dean's elaborate scheme to destroy The Authority. That would make everything so much more difficult.
"I can only imagine how difficult it is for you, Seth. But at least you've got medication for it." She spoke softly as she sat down beside him, gently pulling him into her side. "And I want you to know that I'm so proud of you for taking the biggest leap to recovery and following through with it."
"I wanted to thank you for giving me a second chance and not actually suspending me. It really means a lot to me."
"You're part of The Authority, and we take care of our own." She assured, placing a motherly kiss to his still dry hair. "Now let's go. Your tag match is coming up."
"When CJ and Dean are back on the road, you don't need to worry about having Mercury and Noble go back to following me around. I'm sure CJ will keep Dean close to her." Seth stated as he followed her out into the hallway, looking over to see her nodding in agreement.
"I think you're right. We've got other things for them to be doing, anyways."
Inwardly, Seth heaved a sigh of relief. Getting rid of Jamie Noble and Joey Mercury was his first task in phase one of Operation: Screw The Authority, and he honestly thought it would be a bit harder to prove to Stephanie and Hunter that he'd be fine without the two following his every move.
But he knew the rest wouldn't be nearly as easy.
"Those are hideous, babe." CJ mumbled, glancing up from the catalog in her hand to see the pot and skillet that Dean had held up for her opinion. It honestly looked like a kilt had been sewn onto the pot.
"It's plaid, though. You love plaid." He defended his selection, watching as CJ approached him with Olivia on her hip. "You really think it's hideous?"
"Honestly, yes. If our kitchen was in any other color scheme, the plaid would work well. But our kitchen is painted in earth tones."
"I actually want to redo the kitchen in black and white."
"I thought you wanted to do our bedroom in black and white?" She asked, tilting her head in slight confusion.
"I said black and white with splashes of dark blue."
"If we redo the kitchen then we have to redo the dining room in something that looks well with it because you can see the dining room from the kitchen and vis versa, and it'll look funny if the two don't mesh well." CJ rambled, adjusting Olivia as she set the catalog she was looking at onto the island counter in the kitchen display they were standing in. "Look at this, babe."
"Yeah," He mumbled as he looked at the sample kitchen/dining room themes. "Lets hold off on redoing the kitchen for now."
"So, stainless steel pots and plain pans?"
"Hopefully they come in non-stick." Dean playfully muttered under his breath, earning a giggle and swat to the chest from his girlfriend.
"I am never going to try to cook for you again, then. Ya big jerk." She playfully teased, speed-walking ahead of him towards the plates. He had caught up with her halfway down the walkway and wrapped his arms around her waist to pull her and Olivia to his chest. She allowed herself to temporarily forget that they were in public and just cuddled into his embrace, turning in his arms to rest her head on his arm.
"But I'm your big jerk and you love me for it." He whispered in her ear before kissing her head, smiling when she tried getting closer. He knew that this was just because she was tired, but he wouldn't have it any other way.
"I thought I loved you for the serious arm porn you're sporting, but I guess those guns are just a big bonus." He was mildly surprised by her response, but that didn't stop him from guiding her head up for a proper kiss.
"We should get one of those infant carrier things so we could make an Olive sandwich whenever I kiss you." He suggested with a small grin, showing off his dimples and making her smirk fade into a small smile.
"She's always an Olive sandwich when she's with us. Especially in public."
"Yeah." Dean agreed quietly, watching as both his Queen and his Princess yawned in unison. "Let's hurry this along so you two can take a nap."
"Gladly." CJ mumbled, adjusting Olivia before gently kissing the infant's cheek. "See, Olive? Sometimes Daddy has good ideas."
"Only sometimes?"
"Maybe eighty percent of the time." She gave him that, stepping back from him and giving a slight head tilt in the direction she felt they should be going. He nodded just before she turned around and wrapped his arm around her waist protectively, making it very clear that she was his and Olivia was theirs. "Babe, let's just get some plain white plates and call it good for today."
"Whatever you want, darlin'." He whispered in her ear, gently squeezing her. She wanted to melt into the embrace, she honestly did, but she knew that she had to stay on her feet so they could go home. "I'll take Olive."
"You're sure?"
"Positive. You walk slower when you hold her, anyways, and you really want to go home."
"I just really want to be with you, Dean. Doesn't matter where we are." CJ murmured as she handed Olivia to her father before continuing down the walkway.
"Is that the cardigan nana knitted you?"
"It is, actually. It's a bit tight around my upper arms, but I like to think that's because of all our working out."
"That's most likely it. You've got some guns now, babe." For emphasis, Dean used his free hand to gently squeeze her bicep. CJ couldn't help but grin and flex at his antics, to which Dean chuckled. "See? I'm gonna need tickets to the gun show."
"Play your cards right and I'll give you a ticket for free."
"Not just because I'm your sexy trainer?"
"That gets you a private show of your choosing." She whispered before turning to the plate display and picking up a couple plates.
"Are you suggesting what I think you're suggesting?"
The wink he got as a response from his girlfriend had to be the sexiest wink he had ever seen. Just thinking about the possibilities awaiting him at home once Olivia had been laid down for her nap made him walk just a bit faster towards the registers With excitement. He wasn't starved sexually or anything, but he knew that he'd always be ready to go for his girl.
Thank you, everyone, for your kind words, thoughts, and prayers throughout the week. It really made a huge difference in my "survival" throughout the week.
This update came a bit ealier than I was expecting, but I used a week of my vacation to sit in my apartment and I guess when I'm left to my own devices I write.
Thank you to everyone who read the hundreth episode extravaganza and special thanks to Sammie94, nattiebroskette, ChelleLew(who actually motivated me to get my ass out of my apartment), UntilNeverDawns, ArtisticLullaby, Sarcastic Nightmare, Damnitambrose, and ItReignsJustice-619 for reviewing the last chapter. I appreciate it so much!