We all head to the airport in the middle of the day Tuesday to fly out to our separate places for the family dinners of Mike and Alex.
"Have fun in Ohio." I say as we get to our gates which were right next to each other again.
"Have fun in DC." Aly replies.
We all disappear through the doorways heading to our planes, and we board them.
"So your family really wants to meet me?" I ask Alex as we find our seats.
"Yeah, they're all looking forward to it." Alex nods.
"Well that's good, can't wait to meet them either." I smile.
"I figured you'd be more nervous." He comments.
"Me nervous about it? No, I'm very much calm about it. I mean there's nothing to be nervous about."
"I stand corrected. You ramble when you're nervous." He says, raising an eyebrow.
"I do not ramble when I'm nervous."
"Yes you do." He replies.
"Babe, you have nothing to worry about, my family is going to love you."
"Well are you nervous about meeting my family Thursday? Cause they'll love you as well."
"Maybe a bit..." Alex trails off.
"Now you don't have to worry about anything. My dad may seem a little...well you know how fathers are. Other than that everything's going to be fine...promise."
"If you say so."
"And plus, we'll be meeting up with Mike and Aly when we get there, you know since her family and mine are so close, one big dinner...happens every year."
"Sounds interesting." He comments.
"But everything will be fine, you have nothing to worry about."
"Okay."
"We have a long flight so I think I'm going to get some rest in before we get to DC." I say, before settling into my seat to get comfortable enough to sleep.
Alex lifts the armrest between our seats.
"You can lay down on my lap if you want. I feel pretty awake for now." He offers.
"Good idea." I say, moving and laying down on his lap.
He chuckles and runs his fingers through my hair. Meanwhile Aly and Mike are on their plane in their seats and he can clearly see the nervous look on her face. She's sitting there, chewing on her lip and bouncing her leg while staring off into space when she feels a hand on her knee. She jumps a little and focuses, her eyes locking with Mike's.
"Hmm?"
"You don't need to be nervous you know."
"Can't help it. This is only the second time I've done the 'meet the parents/family' thing and I wasn't as in love with that guy as I am with you so I'm more worried now than I was the first time." She says, still chewing her lip.
"We've talked about this, they're going to love you don't worry...especially my mom."
"Why do you say that?"
"It's because ever since she found out that we were together, she's wanted to meet you."
"What does your dad think?" She asks curiously.
"The same thing, he's wanted to meet you since they found out about you."
"Hm..." She muses quietly and resumes chewing her bottom lip as the plane takes off.
"It'll be fine, trust me."
"If you say so." she says with her voice a bit muffled since she's pulled her lip between her
teeth.
She jerks a little in surprise when he lip is pulled out and she finds Mike staring at her calmly but somewhat amused.
"Quit doing that." He says, letting go of her lip.
"And what would you do if I don't?" She retorts, pulling her lip back between her teeth.
"I'll have to tickle you again." He teases.
She grabs his hands so he can't and continues chewing on her lip teasingly.
"Now what?" She giggles.
"You don't stop, you're not going to be kissing these lips for a while." He teases, referring to
his lips.
"Who is that supposed to torture, me or you?" She laughs.
"It'll torture us both haha."
"That defeats the purpose doesn't it?"
"Yeah, but it would stop you from chewing on your lip wouldn't it?"
"I think I'd survive for a while." She smirks and continues chewing on her lip just to drive him crazy.
"Okay, stop doing that."
"Nope." She giggles.
He manages to get one hand free after sitting there for a while and starts tickling her.
"Haha!" He laughs and triumph.
"Noooo." She squeals laughing.
"Yessss." He mocks.
She presses herself back against the window, trying to fend him off.
"Quiiit."
"Quit chewing your lip and I will." He laughs.
She actually manages to grab both his hands again and then she smirks. He starts struggling in her grasp.
"Let me go."
"What do I get if I do?" She challenges.
"That will be a surprise." He teases.
She eyes him warily, but lets go slowly. He leans down and kisses her, but it's longer than any other time he has kissed her before.
"Now if you would have done that in the first place, it would have worked." She says breathlessly in a quiet voice after he pulls back.
"I couldn't do that while you were chewing on your lip, I waited for the perfect moment where you had stopped and that was it." He smiles.
"Sneaky." She giggles quietly.
"I know I am, thanks for pointing it out."
"Very true." She kisses the corner of his mouth and laughs again.
"We have such a long flight ahead of us." He adds.
"I know, that's the worst thing about this." She sighs, scooching in her seat to get comfortable.
Mike does the same thing as Alex and lifts the armrest up.
"You can lay on me if you want."
"Yay teddy bear." She says, laying on him.
"Comfortable now?"
"Uh-huh."
"Good." He smiles.
She ends up falling asleep the rest of the way. When they land, it's dark out and Mike starts trying to wake her up. She whines quietly and turns away, mumbling.
"Lyssa, we've landed. Time to get up."
She grumbles but opens her eyes and slowly gets up, yawning.
"We'll have plenty of time to sleep when we get to my parent's place, if you're still tired then."
"Mmkay." She says sleepily, leaning against his side as they get off the plane.
They grab their things from baggage claim and then get a taxi and head off to his parents' place. By the time they get there, she's already fallen asleep again, causing Mike to chuckle and shake his head.
"Lyssa we're here. Have to get up again."
She groans and reluctantly stumbles out of the car, leaning against it while he gets their things. She yawns and burrows deeper into her jacket, hiding from the chill. He grabs his things and hers and they walk up to the door and he knocks. The door swings open and his parents are standing there, beaming excitedly.
"Mike! So happy to see you." His mother says, hugging him.
"Good to see you too mom." He laughs.
Aly stands behind him quietly, twirling her fingers.
"Come inside away from the cold you two." Mike's mother says, seeing her behind him.
Mike reaches behind him and pulls her inside with him as his dad shuts the door. They take their jackets off after they walk inside.
"Mom, dad...this is my girlfriend Alyssa." Mike introduces her.
"You can call me Aly if you'd like. It's nice to meet you both." She says, smiling shyly.
"It's nice to finally meet you Aly." His mother replies.
"Our son talks about you alot." His dad adds, grinning.
"Daaaaad." Mike groans.
"Aww." Aly giggles.
"Well you do, I can see why. She's beautiful Mike." His mother adds.
Mike agrees and Aly starts blushing.
"She's usually not this quiet though." He chuckles.
"Oh I know how it is meeting the parents of the person you're with, nerve racking. But you're
welcome here anytime, remember that." His mother says to Aly.
"Thank you." Aly smiles, her cheeks still red.
"Well I'm sure you two are tired from the flight, you should get some rest. Big day ahead
tomorrow."
Mike and Aly both nod. Mike recieves hugs from his parents and to Aly's surprise, they hug her as well.
"Night." Mike says as they take their things and he leads her to his room.
"See? Told you they'd love you." He says as they walk into his room.
"Okay okay so you were right but there's still the rest of your family tomorrow." She replies, picking out her pajamas.
"The rest will love you too, trust me."
"We'll see." She says, disappearing into the bathroom to change.
"They'll love you, I know it. None of them liked Maryse very much so that tells me that they're going to like you alot." Mike comments as Aly comes out and climbs into bed.
"Not many people are going to like Frenchie hun. She's a bitch." She points out.
"How well we all know haha."
"Unfortunately." She rolls her eyes, curling up against him.
"I can tell you're still tired, so go to sleep and maybe we can help with getting dinner
together tomorrow. If you're up for it anyway."
"Mmkay. Love you."
"Love you too." He says, then kissing her before getting comfortable himself to fall asleep.
"CareBear." Alex says shaking me gently.
"Wake up, we're here."
I slowly sit up, blink a few times and then stretch.
"Time just flew by while I was sleeping."
"I'm glad for you." He chuckles.
"You didn't fall asleep?"
"I did for a little bit." He replies.
"Well that's good." I say getting up, and we get off the plane and over to baggage claim to get our stuff, then getting into a taxi heading to Alex's parents' place.
The taxi pulls up to the big house and we both get out, Alex going to the back to get our stuff out. He gets everything and we head to the door and he knocks. His mother opens the door and she's all happy and everything.
"Kevin! So glad you could make it home." She says, engulfing him in a hug.
"Its good to be here Mom." He replies, hugging her.
Then he sees his dad and they do the usual man-hug thing.
"Its good to see you son." His dad says, grinning.
"Good to see you too dad. I'd like you two to meet someone." He says, after we're inside.
"This is my girlfriend Carly." He says, pulling me so I'm standing next to him.
"Oh Kevin she's just as pretty as you said." His mom gushes, hugging me.
"It's nice to meet you Mrs. Kiley." I respond, hugging back.
"Honey call me Gwen. It's so nice to finally meet you." She says.
"He talks about you alot." Kevin Sr. adds, hugging me as well.
"Does he now?" I laugh, looking back at Alex with a smile.
"Guilty." He shrugs, laughing.
"Just remember this, you're welcome here anytime you want to visit." Gwen adds.
"Thank you." I smile, stepping back beside Alex.
"Well, seeing as tomorrow is a very busy day you two will be needing all the rest you can get
tonight."
"Right, we'll see you in the morning then." Alex agrees.
Everyone exchanges hugs and alex grabs our things and shows me to his room.
"See, that wasn't so bad was it?" He asks.
"Not like I thought but there's still more family to meet tomorrow." I reply.
"I'm sure you'll be fine. I'll be there with you so it's not overwhelming."
I nod and kiss his cheek before going to change in the bathroom. I come out of the bathroom, and get into bed next to him, yawning.
"Better get some sleep love, busy day tomorrow." Alex says.
"I'm still tired from the plane ride so I won't have trouble falling asleep anyway." I say after nodding.
"Right. Night love." He says, and then kisses me.
"Night." I say before snuggling into him and slowly falling asleep.
The next morning, Aly woke up to the smell of food being cooked and also Mike was not in the room. But she could hear him talking downstairs so, she knew where he was. She stretches slowly, yawning a little and she rolls over onto her stomach. She looks over at the nightstand and sees a piece of paper sitting there. She tilts her head curiously and reaches for the paper, bringing it over so she can read it.
"My love, my heart, my soul is my gift to you. You're smile, your love is the only reward I would want. Precious like a gem made by angels to shine forever. Releasing the passion insdie me that burns for you. Intertwining our destinies, so that we two soul mates, now and forever, can live out our hopes and dreams. Creating our own bond of life, to overcome the challenges. Explore the mysteries, and to enjoy life as it should be. Sharing the peace and love, that everyone looks for. So in the end I want nothing, because I have everything I need." Aly reads quietly, a smile spreading across her face.
"So sweet." She smiles and sets the paper back on the nightstand before getting up to get dressed.
After she gets changed, she walks downstairs to see what's going on. As she steps into the kitchen, she sees Mike and his dad at the table eating breakfast and Mike's mom standing at the stove, waiting for the last of the breakfast foods to finish cooking.
"Morning everyone." She says.
"Morning." His parents reply.
"Morning Lys." Mike says.
She sits next to Mike and leans over, kissing his cheek.
"Thank you for the sweet poem. Clever way to say 'my princess' by the way." She says
quietly, smiling.
"Knew you'd like it." He smiles
"Charmer." She teases with a light giggle as she loads up her plate.
"You know it."
"He's always been a charmer." Mike's mom says as she places the remaining food on the table and sits down.
"I'm sure he has Mrs. Mizanin." Aly laughs.
"Oh please call me Carol."
"Carol it is. Yeah, he's been a charmer sicne we met." She says with an amused smile.
"Although I do have to thank Carly for introducing us." She adds.
"How did that happen?" Carol asks curiously.
She starts to explain what happened.
"...so we all went backstage when Mike and I got stopped by Maryse." She says.
"She started flirting with me in hopes that I would take her back since I was champion." Mike
adds, rolling his eyes.
"It sure didn't work, she's still trying to get him back to this day." Aly explains.
"I never did like that girl." Mike's dad snorts.
"Believe me, you aren't alone Mr. Mizanin." Aly says.
"Call me Greg." He replies.
"So what happened after she flirted with you?" Carol asks Mike.
"She and Aly here got into a fight, and that's when I realized that Aly really did like me."
Both Carol and Greg look at Aly with a little surprise.
"It really aggravated me that she was trying to get him back just because he was champion." She says with a small shrug.
"She likes to talk in French to throw people off so I returned the favor and told her off in Italian."
"But I get to kick her butt occasionally in the ring." She adds.
Mike snickers and his parents laugh.
"After she walked away and the cameras went off, your son finally asked me out and we've been together since." She finishes
"And of course Carly's dating his little apprentice there Alex Riley. He's the one who got them together."
"Playing matchmaker, eh son?"
"Just a bit, it was clear that they liked each other but neither one of them was going to make a move. So I set her up with a little challenge on NXT."
"What kind of challenge?" Carol asks.
"A kissing challenge." Aly laughs.
"And ever since then, well yeah I think you can guess."
"Where did they go for Thanksgiving?" Carol questions curiously.
"They went to DC to do dinner with his family today and then they're meeting us in Chicago to have dinner with mine and Carly's families." Aly answers.
"Sounds like that will be fun."
"Its always fun when our families get together." I laugh.
Soon everyone finishes breakfast.
"Alright, time to start cooking stuff for thanksgiving dinner. Would you like to help me Aly?"
Carol asks.
"Sure." Aly smiles.
"To the man cave Dad." Mike declares, pointing off in the distance.
"Dorkus." Aly laughs quietly.
"Love you too." He replies before he goes off with his dad.
Aly shakes her head and giggles, helping to clear the table before they get started. The whole time with making everything, all you can hear from the livingroom is the guys watching a football game.
"I'm glad the Bears aren't playing because otherwise I think I'd be invading the 'man cave'." Aly says amusedly, putting quotations around 'man cave'.
"Big football fan huh?" Carol asks, laughing.
"A decent one. Only for the Bears though." She giggles.
"I'm more of a hockey fan personally. I do watch some other sports too but mostly hockey."
"Ah I see."
"I haven't really been able to watch much tv since I got signed, we've been pretty busy." She adds.
"But I bet you enjoy these little vacations you get right?"
"Definately. I've traveled to so many new places in the past 2 months, it's crazy.
"I guess that's how it is in the wrestling business." Carol says and Aly nods in agreement.
"I'm glad I have some great people to spend my time with." She comments.
"That's always good."
"Mmhmm. If it wasn't for your son I would probably be miserable in the WWE since I'd probably forced to be with somebody I can't stand." Aly adds.
"Well ever since he's been with you, we've never seen him so happy."
Aly smiles and blushes a little.
"He makes me really happy too." She says softly, twisting her ring a little as they wait before
starting the next section.
Meanwhile, I wake up just like Aly did, smelling the food and hear talking coming from downstairs. I sit up and see Alex not in the room, but I see a piece of paper with writing on it on the nightstand. I pick it up and quietly read it to myself.
"You hold my hand, I caress your lips, you look into my eyes and my heart beat skips. I stroke your back skin so soft and smooth, I admire your face, every line, every groove. We move in a little closer, our bodies entwine, you touch my neck, it sends shivers down my spine. You whisper that you love me and I know it's true because I feel it in my heart and I love you too."
I put it back down, and go through my things and find clothes to change into before I have to get a bit dressed up later. After changing in the bathroom, I walk downstairs and see everyone standing in the doorway of the kitchen talking.
"Hey you." Alex smile when he sees me.
"Hey. I really liked that note you left for me." I say quietly, smiling.
"I'm glad." He smiles and squeezes me after I wrap my arms around his waist.
"So what's going on in here?" I ask.
"Just waiting for breakfast to be ready." Kevin Sr interjects.
"It smells good." I add.
Both Alex and his dad nod in agreement.
"So did you sleep well?" Gwen asks me.
"I slept great." I reply as everyone sits at the table.
"I'm more awake than I was when I got here last night." I add.
"You look like it." Kevin chuckles.
We all start filling up our plates with food and start eating.
"So Carly, how did you and Kevin get together?" Gwen questions curiously.
"Well see I've been traveling with Mike, you know him as Miz on Tv...for a long time. I met your son when he got onto the show NXT." I start off explaining.
"I was done for the moment I met her." Alex says with a wry grin.
"How we got together, well Mike actually did that for us. Because neither one of us was going to do anything about liking one another." I add.
"Mike? Oh he was behind you being on the kissing challenge then." Kevin says in realization.
"Yes he was. It was a surprise for me when my name was called to come out. Because well
at the time I wasn't a WWE diva so..."
"...he pulled some strings." Gwen finished, laughing.
"Yeah, after my moment on NXT during that challenge. I got a call from Vince McMahon and I went on Raw the next week and I got signed into the WWE and on Raw itself."
"Very lucky." Kevin comments.
"Of course I didn't have that much training to wrestle. I learned things as I went along."
"You really can't tell that you're fairly new, you have a lot of talent." Kevin says.
"Thank you."
Hours have passed and family is arriving as Mike and Aly get ready in his room.
"Ready to meet the rest of the family?" He asks.
Aly fidgets with the necklace he gave her and then she exhales deeply.
"As ready as I'll ever be."
"I'll be there with you when you meet each person, don't worry." He says, then kissing her quickly.
She nods a little and lets him grab her hand and pulls her downstairs. After a while, people greet them and he introduces her to them. She does manage to go through meeting everyone, becoming calmer each time. Everyone is sitting in the living room while the food finishes and all the seating is taken so she ends up on Mike's lap in one of the recliners.
"Aly dear would you mind helping me in here?" Carol asks, poking her head out from the kitchen.
"Not at all." Aly responds, sliding from Mike's lap and disappearing into the kitchen.
As she does, she hears Mike getting questions and comments thrown at him about her.
"What do you need help with?" You ask
"We need to carry these platters and things in and set them on the long dining room table against the wall." Carol explains.
Aly nods and helps them. Soon everything is set and everyone comes in to get their food, sitting at a big long table once they have their plates. After she gets herr food, she goes and she sits next to Mike.
"So how're you holding up with all these people?" He asks.
"Okay. Its a little overwhelming but not as bad as it was at first." She replies.
"Told you it wouldn't be that bad."
"I know but its just instinct to worry." She points out.
"I know, but you also know that I'm always going to be there for you. Even at times like these."
"I know." She smiles and kisses the corner of his mouth.
They then start eating their food. After everyone's done, some people leave, but some stick around for a little bit. Then as the day dragged on, they all were gone. She ended up laying on Mike in the recliner, the foot rest kicked up. He shoes are sitting on the floor, leaving her feet bare and she tucks then under Mike's legs to keep them warm.
"You look tired." He says, looking at her.
"Mmm...a little. Full, content, and somewhat sleepy."
"The turkey will do that to you, makes you sleepy."
"It isn't the turkey you goof, its all the food you eat." She snorts.
"Well the turkey is filling itself haha."
"I suppose." She concedes.
"If you're tired, you can go to sleep. When I'm ready to sleep, I'll carry you upstairs."
"Mmkay." She murmurs and then leans up, kissing him lightly.
"Love you."
"Love you too." He smiles.
She snuggles back into his chest and unawares to them , his mom is in the doorway going 'awww' quietly.
"I don't think I've ever seen him like this." Greg says to Carol in a whisper.
"Not this happy at least."
"It might not be for a while yet but I think we'll see a rock on that left hand." Greg adds while observing Mike and Aly all curled up together.
"Can't wait for that day."
"It'll be a good day to see."
They go back into the kitchen to wash the dishes, and Aly's starting to fall asleep. Meanhile, I'm finishing up getting ready in the bedroom.
"You look beautiful as always." Alex says while sitting on the bed, watching me.
"And you look handsome as always." I say, finally finishing and looking at him.
"Thanks babe." He gets up and comes over to me, kissing me.
"Now I have people to meet." I say, after pulling away.
"Right. You ready?"
"As ready as I'll ever be."
"I'll be right there with you."
He kisses me again for good measure and takes me downstairs to meet everyone. After a few minutes, people started coming up to us and of course Alex introduced me to them. They were all happy to finally meet me. I meet everyone and just sit around watching the tv until Gwen calls out that it's time to eat. Everyone goes over to a table and grabs a plate and start getting food, then sitting down at another table. Alex and I shortly follow.
"How are you doing so far?" Alex asks quietly.
"Pretty good. A lot calmer than I was earlier that's for sure."
"You seem like it. See, I told you it would be alright."
We sit at the table and eat, when we're done we go out into the livingroom to relax as people slowly start to leave.
"They're so cute." Gwen giggles as she and Kevin watch from the doorway.
"He looks so happy."
"I think this is the happiest we've seen him."
"I wouldn't be too surprised to see a ring on her left hand in a few months." Kevin adds.
"Maybe not that soon, but it would be nice to see that." Gwen says after.
"You never know honey, he told me they said I love you after about a month together so its gotten pretty serious fairly quick." Kevin points out.
"Well we'll just have to wait and see what happens."
He nods in agreement and they watch as I fall asleep on Alex and he carries me upstairs.
He goes to put me down but, I don't let go of him.
"Babe you gotta change and so do I." He chuckles.
I groan in protest, but I let go anyway. He gets his clothes and comes back to coax me into getting changed.
"Come on love."
"Give me a minute, got to wake up a little bit first."
"Alright but no falling back to sleep." He says amusedly.
He grabs his clothes and changes quickly in the bathroom. I got the energy while he was gone to get my pjs and change into them real quick and get into bed, trying to stay awake for him to come back. He comes out and I'm practically asleep as he slides into bed.
"Night love." He says quietly and kisses my forehead.
"Night." I manage to mumble.
Meanwhile, Mike was starting to fall asleep so he carefully got out of the recliner and carried Aly upstairs. She grumbles and burrows closer to him. Once he gets to his room, he tries to get her up so that they both can get ready to go to sleep. She whines, clinging to him.
"Come on Lyssa. You need to change for bed, and so do I."
She grumbles again but opens her eyes and he sets her down. She stumbles over to her bag and grabs a set of pjs, changing in the bathroom and flopping on the bed when she comes out. He coems back into the room from changing in the bathroom down the hall. He sees that she's falling asleep so he climbs in next to her, kissing her forehead.
"Night Lyssa." He says, heading to sleep himself.
She faintly mumbles her reply, curling up against him.