Title: Ride Of Your Life
Author: Adrian Jade
Summary: One day you wake up and realize that everything you thought mattered to you doesn't. John Cena has a girlfriend who he thinks he loves and a best friend who he knows he will always love. What happens when on a random pit stop to a Walmart they find something that could change all of their lives. John needs to choose where his heart belongs.
Disclaimer: I own all the people that you don't recognize. Everyone else own themselves and their characters belong to the WWE.
Chapter 25: Just to See You Smile
"I can't believe me are really doing this again" Ashley couldn't seem to contain her giddy excitement any longer. She had a feeling that this new baby was going to be the one thing that she and John needed to make their lives complete ... well that and maybe significant others. Although Ashley wasn't really looking for love in her life right now after the way everything ended with Shane, she wasn't ready to just throw in the towel just yet.
She looked over at John to see that he was sound asleep. His head was slumped over just a little and his mouth was slightly open. His chest rose and fell in a slow relaxed manner. She smiled and rested her head against his shoulder closing her eyes as well. John opened his eyes when he felt her rest her head on his shoulder, a smile of contentment crossed his lips as he drifted off once again to the land of dreams. A flight attendant happened to be walking by, she stopped a took in the sight before her. She couldn't help but be awed at such a cute sight. She didn't know anything about the two individuals before her but she could sense the love between them. By the end of the flight Ashley was about ready to jump out of her skin with excitement. But she was also a little nervous as well ... were they doing the right thing by taking in another baby. She shook her head fiercely, there was nothing they could do about it now. John took his eyes off the road for a second to look over to see her sucking on her bottom lip, a habit she only had when she was worried or nervous.
"Everything is gonna be alright" he took her hand in his own and brought it to his lips. He kissed her hand softly and then just held it.
"I know everything is going to be ok I just can't help this nervous anticipation" she replied with a sigh.
"I'm kinda surprised that you allowed me to pick out the kid's name" John said trying to change the subject a little bit.
"Hey I named Phinnigan so I figured it was only fair ... what did you end up choosing?"
After 3 agonizing nights of reading the baby name books and looking over various baby name websites he picked out what he believed to be the two perfect names for each gender. He had grumbled to himself quite a lot as he did so, he still couldn't understand why Ashley wouldn't just let the nun tell them what gender the baby was.
"I still don't see why we couldn't find out if the baby was a girl or boy" he decided now was a well enough time to complain.
"Some people go 9 months without knowing I think we are more than capable of waiting 3 days ... besides not knowing makes this all the more fun" she said.
"Fun for you maybe" he muttered.
"So what did you pick out?" she asked once again.
He grinned as an idea formed in his mind "It's a surprise ... remember not knowing is fun"
She turned her head in his direction and shot him a look. He returned her look with a short look of his own. Once he returned his attention back to the road Ashley let her eyes take in John. He was wearing a dark gray t-shirt and a pair of jeans. Nothing special but for some reason John made it look so sexy. He wore his camouflage Red Sox hat backwards and much to Ashley's distaste he donned a pair of sunglasses that looked as if he stole them from one of the officers from the old television series Chips.
"Remind me why you are in my life"
"I have come to the conclusion that I am your comedic relief that and well I'm really hot so that helps out too"
"I love me ... who do you love?" she asked remembering her mother used to say that to her father whenever he got a little too full of himself.
"Hmm I'll get back to ya on that one"
Rolling her eyes she put her visor down so she could use the mirror to fix her hair. She pulled her shoulder length chestnut locks out of the ponytail in was in. Using her hands she smoothed down her hair before pulling the hair into a tight bun.'
"Does that hurt when you do that?" John asked.
"Every once and a while I get a headache from it" she replied "I think you need to take the next exit"
"I remember how to get to the place thank you" he got annoyed when people tried to give him directions "I drove the last time we went too remember"
"Geez I was trying to help you ... what the hell" she sunk back in her chair and crossed her arms over her chest.
"Sorry I'm just a little on edge" he apologized.
"About the baby?" she asked.
"No this is about me" he replied "I'm working through something right now and I just don't know how to deal"
"Are you alright ... do you want to talk about it?"
"Not yet"
"I'm here for you" she said leaning over to give him a comforting kiss on the cheek.
He gave her a small smile before turning his complete attention to the road. Before they knew it they were at the orphanage. Everything was in slow motion to John. He felt as if he was watching himself and Ashley walk into the building. Ashley was holding his hand, he could feel the warmth of her hand but even that didn't help with the floaty feeling he seemed to be experiencing.
"You ok?" he could hear Ashley asking him the question but when he opened his mouth nothing came out so he closed it again.
Ashley gave her friend a perplexed look and placed the palm of her hand on his cheek to see if maybe he wasn't feeling well and had a fever. But he didn't have a fever, his skin was cool to the touch. That in itself worried Ashley because they were in North Carolina during the worst heat wave of the year.
"I'm worried about you" she said.
"I'll be fine ... my mind is just all over the place right now" he tried his best to assure her.
The moment they entered the building all the kids seemed to come out of the woodwork. They all wanted to meet John. He did his best to give all the children equal amounts of his time. All the kids were asking him questions and wanting for him to sign things. Ashley smiled as she stood off to the side of the room and watched as he interacted with all his young fans. The nuns had come out of the office upon hearing all the commotion.
"Ashley, how long have you and John been here" Sister Michelle asked "I must apologize for keeping you guys waiting"
"Don't worry we have been here 7 minutes tops and I think John is enjoying himself more than he is willing to admit"
John was smiling as he gave a little girl his autograph. She little blond haired girl hugged him and then ran off to put her autograph somewhere safe.
"Ok children John needs to come with me now" Sister Michelle said.
There was a chorus of kids complaining. John stood up from the couch he had just recently taken a seat in.
"I'll sign more autographs later I promise" he told the kids. An eruption of cheers emitted from all the children.
"I'm sorry about that John but it's not everyday the kids get to meet someone they watch on television" Sister Michelle said once they were in the office at the back of the building.
"It's alright I enjoyed making the kids happy" he replied.
"Where is Sister Agnes?" Ashley asked.
"Today just happens to be her day off ... once a month we each get one day to go out and have fun so to speak"
"We brought you guys a few pictures of Phinnigan and Dean so you can see how big they have gotten" she reached into her pocket and pulled out the pictures she had brought with her.
"Wow look at Dean, he looks so happy" Sister Michelle smiled as she looked the pictures over.
"He just started school this year and from what I have been told he loves it" Ashley said.
"That is very good to hear Dean was one of our favorites and I'm sure everyone here will be happy to know he is doing so well"
"So where is the baby" John asked in an almost aggravated tone.
"Excuse him Sister he suffers from what I would like to call Jackass syndrome" Ashley said giving John an incredibly dirty look.
"Well the baby is still with the birth family so we just have to wait for them to get here so you can meet your new child"
"So do you know right now if the baby is a boy or a girl?" John asked.
"You weren't informed?" Sister Michelle replied confused.
"I asked not to be told" Ashley informed her "I don't want to know till the baby gets here"
Sister Michelle looked out the window and grinned "Looks like your wait is over the mother and baby are here"
"Well let's get this thing started" John said standing up. It was then Ashley noticed he seemed to be trying not to put too much weight on his left leg.
Ashley stood up as well and all 3 adults met with Alexandria in the foyer of the building. The young mother looked exhausted.
"I want to thank you for raising both children together" Alexandria said upon seeing Ashley and John "I know my children are in good hands"
She handed the blanket wrapped baby over to Ashley. Ashley removed the blanket away from the baby's face so she could get a better look at the newborn. The baby was wearing a pink outfit so this ruled out any possibility of her being a boy. She had a full head of dark hair.
"It's a girl John" she informed her friend.
John walked over to where Ashley and the baby were. He too took a good look at the baby that would soon be his daughter. His breath caught in his throat as he took in the infants beauty. Although he would never admit it out loud he was hoping the baby would be a girl. Now he had his son to follow in his footsteps and he had a little girl also.
"Mariah ... Mariah Emmaline Faith" John whispered. Only Ashley had heard him, tears welled up in her eyes as she heard the name John had picked out. Emmaline was her mother's name.
"So what's Phinnigan's little sister's name?" Sister Michelle asked.
"Mariah Emmaline Faith" John grinned broadly "but we'll call her Faith"
"I think that name suits her" Alexandria agreed "and before I get a lecture about making the same mistake twice you'll be happy to hear that Sean and I broke up and I don't plan on having any more children any time soon"
Ashley handed the baby to John.
"I think we should take a walk" Ashley suggested to Alexandria.
"John and I will draw up the paperwork for when you two get back"
Both young women stepped outside the confines of what had once been an old school. It looked as it had seen better days but all that mattered was the children inside it's walls were happy. They didn't walk very far there was a park up the street with a big stone wall out in front. Ashley hopped up onto the wall and had a seat Alexandria did the same thing.
"You look like you needed to talk I know you don't know me but I will listen if you need to talk"
"I just feel like the scum of the earth ... who just leaves their newborn baby in a parking lot" Alexandria said breaking down a little.
"You were young and scared and you panicked" Ashley did her best to comfort the young woman.
"I never wanted to be pregnant so young and then to do the same thing again it's just pure stupidity"
"We all make mistakes Alex it's a part of life how you learn from your mistakes that is what is important"
"I just keep thinking what would have happened if you had never found Phinnigan"
"Well you will never have to know because we did find Phinnigan who by the way is doing fine ... the other day he leg dropped his father from one of the living room chairs"
"I never wanted to take Phinnigan away from you my parents were the ones who insisted on suing for custody" she admitted.
"I'm just lucky that you decided to end things when you did because I don't think I could have lived without that little boy in my life, he's my whole world"
Ashley gray eyes brightened as she thought about her son. "He's loud and he breaks things and he makes a huge mess wherever he goes but all he has to do is come in and go I love you mommy and it's all over I could be mad as hell at him for breaking a window in the living room but he just has to smile and I forget everything"
"Sounds like you really love him" Alexandria smiled.
"I really do it's so hard to explain"
"So if you don't mind me asking what is going on with you and John?"
"Believe me when I figure it out I'll let you know I would describe us as people who share the same living space ... I guess you could say we are friends I mean we share a son and I don't think there is any other person who knows me better than John and maybe my other best friend Randy but me and John have done the dating thing and it never seems to work out"
"Damn girl he's hot enough to make the risk"
"Yeah he is but sometimes people need more" Ashley mused.
"So what about you?" Ashley asked "how did you and Sean end?"
"Well he wanted to keep Faith and all I wanted to do was be a normal girl my age I want to go to collage and make something of myself before I want to settle down and have a family and Sean couldn't understand that it was my body and I was the one who needed to make the decisions"
"Which is totally understandable" Ashley agreed.
"How is it that I have known Sean all my life and I've known you for like 2 seconds and you get me in a way he never could"
"I'm a woman I get these things"
"I'm glad someone does cause I feel like my whole entire family thinks I am nothing but some whore who can't do anything right"
"Don't let them get to you because the only person who can bring you down is you"
"I wish I had half of the purpose you possess" Alexandria remarked.
"Believe me when I was your age I had no idea what I wanted to do with my life but it comes with time a life experience. I have dealt with my own demons and I don't even pretend to be perfect but like I said what you take away from your mistakes means more than anything else in life"
"I think we should start heading back now John is probably wondering if we stranded him with the baby and went off to Vegas"
"Vegas that sounds nice right about now"
"Hey you are a mother of 2 now Vegas is completely out of the question"
"That's what we pay babysitters for maybe in a little while I can convince that cranky man I live with to relax and have some fun"
"I didn't want to say anything because I really don't know John but he seemed to either be in a lot of pain that he is trying to hide or really really angry"
"That's a toss up because he is kinda a hothead" then Ashley realized what she had just said "never around Phinnigan though mainly when he is in the ring"
"Oh that reminds me do you think I could get a picture and a couple of autographs I have these two cousins, Jackson and David who don't believe me when I say that John Cena adopted my son"
"Bragging rights huh" Ashley smirked "I'm sure John will be happy to I mean you did give birth to his daughter who I'm sure he's trying to think of ways to keep boys away from as we speak"
"I'm sure that she'll benefit from it in the long run"
"Oh I'm sure she will but you know how guys get"
Laughing as they went they began the journey back to the orphanage. They seemed to have bonded in the short time they had talked. Ashley owed this young woman so much more than she could ever repay.
"You know if I had the time and the room I'd take all these kids home"
"I'm sure John wouldn't care too much for that"
"You are probably right" she sighed "he likes kids well enough but he seems to like them even more when they leave"
"Well as long as he likes the two he's raising you can't really ask much more from him"
"Very true ... I have to admit though he has changed so much from the person he was 2 years ago I never thought that he would really want to be in Phinnigan's life and I was prepared to raise him on my own but John proved me wrong and I am glad to admit that"
John and Faith were sitting on the front steps waiting for them when they came back.
"John Cena it's hotter than hell out here bring that baby back inside" Ashley scolded him.
"Relax we have been out here for like 2 seconds I was just showing the baby the amazing scenery around here" he handed Faith to her mother and walked slowly back into the building.
"Men" Ashley huffed entering the building herself.
John was more than happy to sign the autographs for Alexandria and also take the picture.
"I have an idea" Ashley said "Sister Michelle can you take a picture of all of us together"
"Sure"
Ashley and Faith joined John and Alexandria for what would turn out to be one of the all time favorite photos for everyone involved.
"Say cheese everyone"
They all had smiles on their faces as the picture was snapped. Ashley and Alexandria traded all their information. Ash promised to send tons of pictures of both kids and the girl planned a get together in the near future.
"We want you to be a part of the kid's lives" Ashley had said.
"I'd love that" Alexandria replied deeply touched.
As they parted ways a new bond was formed. Alexandria would become a bigger part of the family than anyone could ever guess.