Chapter 13 Give Thanks
Disclaimer: I own everyone not recognizable
Carli was given an excellent prognosis and the only down side was her job. She had to lighten the load and all but eliminate stress. She was now susceptible to recurrences and she and John both agreed to never live that again. She seemed to have the same zest she had before her surgery. In the back of her mind she was always wondering if this would be her last day on Earth. Now she had a family to consider and she spent every waking moment with Joey.
She photographed and filmed his every milestone and made recordings of her reading stories for him in the event something ever happened. John found it morbid and almost as if she was willing it to happen. They'd had a few loud discussions about it but Carli felt she needed to do this so he would never forget her face or how much she loved him. He could always watch a video, look at the pictures, the scrapbooks, proof she was here and proof she loved him endlessly.
Carli didn't find out John had saved her life until after her six-month follow up. She couldn't believe how much he had given her and continued to give. She thought he was a little overprotective of her and Joey, but she didn't mind, it made her feel safe and secure. It did annoy her sometimes when he treated her as if she would break, but she took it in stride knowing they'd basically been knocking on death's door.
The amount of people at Joey's second birthday was phenomenal. John and Carli had to actually rent out a huge space to accommodate everyone. Jumping balloons, face painting, pony rides, every little boy's or little girl's dreams could be fulfilled in one day. Family members, coworkers, celebrities, their families, it was nothing short of spectacular. The party lasted so long Joey was able to take a nap and go right back to the party when he woke. Everyone commented on how wonderful he was, so happy and always laughing. Joey also had Carli's penchant for danger and tried several times to jump from the ponies. He was already an adrenaline junkie and would climb rock walls with his mom if he could.
The Michaels, Levesques, McMahons, Batistas, Calloways and Kidmans sat at a table and silently watched Carli and Joey. They were all thinking the same things. The bond between mother and son was undeniable. Joey did everything with his Mom and expected her to do everything with him. Sure John had a tight bond with his son also, but something unknown was between Carli and Joey. Something primal, instinctual almost a sixth sense was gluing them together. Like they both knew their worlds could change in the blink of an eye. The situation surrounding his birth and the consequences that occurred afterwards hung like a cloud over the three of them, an underlying current always in the backs of the adult's minds. Joey was never without Carli. If she couldn't take him somewhere she simply didn't go.
People always discussed Joey's looks and his future. He looked like his mother and was built like his father. He had big blue, doe eyes, full, pouty lips that he used to get what he wanted and used his dimples to his best advantage. At two years old he knew how to work a crowd and play to his audience. He was sought after to be on the covers of kid's magazines and model clothes, but advertisers and designers were always met with a firm no. The kind of no that told them to never ask again. Those close to Carli had teased her that Joey would never walk because she carried him everywhere, but she didn't care. She needed to touch him, feel him against her, like she wanted to make sure this was real and she wasn't going to wake up and find herself with nothing.
Their home was filled with family photos. If there was a flat surface with space, it had a picture on it. Carli's favorite was a black and white photo of John and Joey. Joey was three months old and sleeping against his father's chest. It was a black background and John and Joey were nude. Well, John had no shirt but Joey was in his natural glory. John's left hand held his son's head as he kissed it. Her boys. Her men. John's wedding band was visible in the picture and Carli always stared at it. They had sworn for years marriage and children were for other people. Kids were great, but for other people. Marriage looked like too much work and neither thought a relationship should be hard, therefore it was for other people. Carli always giggled when she thought back to that fateful day in the airport.
Not a care in the world, loved her free life. Nobody to report too, nobody trying to wedge themselves into her life, she did what she wanted when she wanted and that was the way she liked it. She didn't have the time or patience for men. She didn't even have the patience for a fuck buddy and eventually emotions always got involved anyway so why bother. Her friends always wondered if she'd ever allow herself to love again, but Carli refused to even discuss it.
She grew up in a broken home with a mother who drank and ignored her. Her father left her mother for a twenty something gold digger, but he always took care of Carli. Well, he thought he was. He bought her everything she wanted and lavished her with trips and material things, but never spent time with her. She grew up in a huge house in a gated community and had the world at her beck and call. Sadly the only thing she ever wanted was someone to love her and acknowledge her existence. She thought she found that in the form of Scott. To those on the outside it appeared he worshipped the ground she walked on, but to Carli, she eventually saw the darker side. It wasn't love or adoration; it was a twisted version of his own little world.
When she finally broke free from not only her maniacal boyfriend but her estranged parents, she set her life to be a certain way. Live it to the fullest and live everyday like it's your last. Until she saw him in baggage claim.
The crazy white guy who thinks he can rap. Always put his two cents in whether it was asked for or not. Always smiling and always laughing. John worked hard to become a professional wrestler and worked even harder to be on top of that world. He paid his dues when he lived on ramen and macaroni and cheese. Everything he'd done since junior high school was with the intent of becoming the WWE champion. He kept his body in top shape and molded his diet to meet his body's needs to maintain form. That and he wanted to look good for the ladies when the need to be naked arose.
He had a relationship through college and the early days of his career, but it took a drastic turn one day when he wanted to surprise his girlfriend of seven years. He flew home early to be with her an extra day and when he entered her apartment, he saw her sleeping. Next to her was not an empty spot waiting for him. He stood there watching her sleep with the arm of his college roommate draped over her naked body. He wasn't sure how long he stood there but he eventually removed her apartment key from his keyring and laid it on her dresser. John walked out of the apartment that day unsure of himself for the first time in years. Nothing had changed about his desire to be in the show, but he always thought she'd be there to share it with him.
John slept with every girl he could for the next six months. He never called Liz or returned her calls. She eventually got word from his cousin who explained to her what John saw. It took him awhile but he finally got his personal shit together and began living the dream. He got the call he'd be on Smackdown and would debut against Kurt Angle. From then on his life was in line and he was on the fast track to stardom. Then he saw her. A chance meeting in an airport in a town he'd been to once. That one time was to sign his WWE contract and on his second trip he met his future wife and the mother of his child.
"What are you thinking about?" He said as he wrapped his arms around his smiling wife. The wife he couldn't get enough of, the one woman who controlled his every thought. Carli relaxed in his strong arms and giggled as they stood in the doorway leading to the party.
"You. This life. Our life. That beautiful boy running around and having the time of his life." She was reminiscing and he knew it. He often caught her daydreaming and she still had nightmares. Sometimes she'd get that far away look in her eyes and he gave her the space to deal with her thoughts. "John, do you ever wonder where you'd be if we hadn't met?"
"No." He answered so fast Carli laughed.
"Take your time and think about it." She turned in his embrace and wrapped her arms around him.
"I don't want to think about it. I thank God everyday for the life he chose for me, why would I try to imagine it any other way? I'm exactly where I want to be professionally and personally. I could never imagine a day without you and that crazy boy in it every second." He watched his son as he ran from his grandparents to the tables filled with their friends. He was a born performer and already showed athletic prowess. John just hoped he didn't choose a dangerous sport. He also hoped his wife would be there to see her son grow up. "I love you, baby girl."
"I love you." They looked into eachother's eyes and forgot the world around them. John lowered his head slowly and gently kissed his wife. How did she always taste like fresh strawberries? He wished he could kiss her every minute of every day. He loved her lips and how they felt against his. He loved the way her tongue danced across his. She knew how to drive him to dizzying heights with a simple smile, gesture, a small touch, or a mind blowing kiss. His wife. The woman who changed his world inside and out. She was his and he was hers, nothing would change that. Ever.
They broke their kiss when they heard someone clearing his throat. The caterer said the cake was ready and his staff was carrying it into the hall. Cake and ice cream, just what an already energetic boy needs. John and Carli had one last lingering look at eachother and he kissed her nose. He held her hand as they walked back in and tried to wrangle their giggling son.
Joey was placed in a special gift made just for him on his birthday. Vince had made a few phone calls and got a custom made golf cart that had a removable food tray and convertible top. Paul and John lifted the cart and placed it on a raised platform so everyone could see him. Joey was so excited about the golf cart they had issues getting him to pay attention to his cake. A huge cake was brought in front of him and one miniature version he could dig his hands into all by himself. The larger cake was a wrestling ring and had a battle royal waged inside. All of Joey's favorites were in there. The caterer had taken the action figures and meticulously placed them in the squared circle cake. The miniature version had his dad and Joey looked at the second figure.
"It's me!" He yanked his own action figure from the cake and John pulled his out too. They began a wrestling match on the cake. Soon Joey had cake all over himself, the golf cart, John and those standing the closest. He couldn't get over his own image on an action figure. Paul and Steph made a few calls themselves and had the toy maker create a Joey figure. It was actually Joey's head placed on John's body, but the two year old thought it was the best thing ever. "Dad, I have my own action figure!"
Flashes went off and video cameras kept rolling as father and son shared cake and wrestled with their toys. The larger cake was such a sight to behold nobody wanted Carli to cut it, but she was dying for a piece so she agreed to only cut pieces from the outer areas.
This day couldn't possibly get any better. Carli stepped back and watched the party. Everyone in this room meant something to Carli. Each person invited was either a close personal friend of Carli's, John's, or both. Nobody was left out and no expense had been spared. She excused herself from the room and slowly walked around the building. She found a room far from the party and locked the door behind her. She took a deep breath and let the tears fall. Her life had been hell and she spent everyday running for it. Everyone at the party did everything they could to protect her and she was eternally grateful for their support and loyalty.
She felt overwhelmed and exhausted lately and just wanted five minutes to let go of herself. She sobbed and screamed and punched anything and everything. She was sick and tired of the phone calls, sick and tired of the stalking. Sick and tired of the overprotectiveness of her friends and family. She stayed with Joey constantly and her anxiety that he'd be taken from her was taking its toll. Her fears were controlling her life, something she fought so hard against. The nightmares, the panic attacks in public places, the terror of being alone and hurt again, or worse, something happening to Joey was catching up with her.
"Why can't I just be happy? Why can't I just live my life without the dread of something or someone lurking around every bend?" She said aloud to nobody.
She picked up a metal chair and began hitting it against the concrete wall. Using every ounce of strength to either hurt the concrete or the chair. Silly thing to do of course, but it made her feel better.
"Car?" John was looking everywhere for her and tried not to panic. She always told him if she was leaving the room. Even at their own home she told him where she was going and what she'd be doing. "Carli?" He began to look frantically. Stephanie had already said she wasn't in the bathroom and started looking for her with John. Soon others realized what was going on and began to look for Carli. Vince and Linda stayed glued to Joey along with John's parents. If this was what they'd all dreaded, nothing would happen to Joey without a fight.
Stephanie heard the commotion and tried to open the door. She banged on it yelling for Carli who eventually opened it. Steph couldn't believe what she saw and her jaw dropped. Carli looked like she'd been to war and yet she was the only one in the room. Her hands were bleeding, her eyes were bloodshot and swollen and she was breathing heavy. "Carli, what the fuck is going on in here?"
"I can't do this anymore." She replied as a fresh round of tears hit her.