Chapter 2: Family Time

A couple of days later in Miami...

Felicia came home to her parents' house. As she walked to the front porch, she remembered how she used to be. She was only five years old when she realized what she wanted to do when she grew up. She told her parents she wanted to be a famous singer. They knew that she had the potential to do anything she set her mind and heart to do. So, if she wanted to be a singer, then that's what she was going to do. She began singing in her home church choir at the very tender age of ten. When she became a teenager in high school, she took all the necessary vocal training to improve her already beautiful voice. She would sing in all the talent shows at her school. Everywhere she could and to anybody who would listen, Felicia would sing to her heart's content.

It was when she turned twenty-three that she discovered something else - her first love. Her only brother, Dwayne, was a famous wrestler in the WWE. She watched him all the time while she was growing up. She always loved watching her big brother work a crowd with his many cliches. Felicia knew all of his friends, but there was one in particular who stayed on her mind. Enter Dave Bautista. She met him while they were on a tour of Florida. He and Dwayne had been best friends for a little over at year by that time. Felicia knew she was in love with him as soon as she locked eyes with his. The feeling she got from him was nothing she had ever felt before. And for a while, she was afraid of her feelings and the emotional attachment to him. Dave would look at her and see Dwayne's sister but also he would see her as beautiful woman - and his feelings developed for her. Dwayne saw the chemistry between Dave and his baby sister and he didn't much approve of the impending relationship. But with time and seeing how much they loved each other, big brother Dwayne allowed his sister and his best friend a chance at love and happiness. While she reflected back on her life, Felicia's mother came out of the house to greet her.

Diana Johnson was very happy to see her daughter. As they held each other, Diana began to cry. After the long embrace, Felicia looked at her mother and noticed the tears in her eyes.

"Mom, what's wrong?"

Diana looked at Felicia and took in a deep breath. "Nothing, baby...absolutely nothing. I'm just glad you are home."

She didn't like to see her mother cry - even if it was a happy occasion. "Where's Daddy?"

"He's in the house."

"Is Dewey here too?"

"Yes, he is. He called me this morning to let me know that he was back in town."

Diana took her daughter's hand and held it as they walked into the house together. As her mother led her into the house that her and Dwayne used to fight and argue in, Felicia saw her father, Fletcher Johnson, sitting in his favorite chair watching a local football game. She walked over quietly and placed her hands over his eyes.

"Guess who?"

"Do I know you?" Fletcher smiled brightly.

"Yes."

"How well?"

"Very well." Felicia giggled lightly at her dad.

"Are you related to me?"

"Yes."

"Prove it."

She knew exactly what he meant. So Felicia sung a few bars of a song she used to sing while in the choir. Upon hearing it, her father took her hands down and stood up and greeted his daughter by picking her up off the ground slightly.

"My babygirl." Fletcher was always happy to see one or both of children. Not since Felicia and Don's wedding had they seen thier daughter. Her homecoming was special indeed. Diana and Fletcher took their daughter into the living room - the place where they spent alot of their family time. They talked a while and caught up with Felicia and what going on with her. Felicia gave them a copy of her CD. She even signed it for them.

While they were still talking, the phone rang. Diana went into the nearest room to answer it. While she was gone, Fletcher and Felicia talked. While they were catching up on old times, Diana came back, took the CD off the table and placed it in the stereo system and played it. As they listened to it, her mother agreed with Felicia that it was some of her best work. While Fletcher thought it was good, he also thought that a few of the songs were racy and suggestive. But all in all, he couldn't do too much arguing, his daughter was successful and that's all that mattered.

"Who was on the phone Mom?" Felicia asked.

"Your brother." Diana answered.

"What did he say?"

"Nothing - he just wanted to know if you got home."

"Oh okay."

Fletcher shot his daughter a confused look. "Lisha, where's Don?"

"Oh, he is still on a business trip. But he should be here soon - maybe in a day or two."

"Where is he?" Diana wondered.

"He's in Japan."

"Oh Japan, huh?"

"Yeah, he went away on a emergency trip. He would have sent someone from his firm, but he felt that it needed his attention. He didn't want anybody else to deal with it."

"Must be nice to be married to a millionaire."

"Well, mom, it has it fallbacks."

"Why, sweetie, what's wrong?"

"Nothing, it's just that it's times like this, I miss him."

"I know. But you know that Don loves you and you love him and you will get through it. Does he go away alot?"

"No not really. But when he does, it's a while before I see him again."

"You know it could be because you and him now have different careers. And that can take a toll on a marriage." Fletcher said.

"Don and I always believe that we can get through anything."

"And you will get through this. You'll see." Diana winked.

Felicia sighed and continued talking with her parents. She always knew that she could tak to her parents about anything. It was their advice and their home training that made her the woman that she is today. They continued talking until there was a knock at the door. Felicia went to answer it. She opened the door to see her big brother, Dwayne standing before her.