December 20, 2011
John dragged Punk all over Philadelphia buying gifts for his family members. Punk was glad he had such a small family so he didn't have to buy an extra suitcase like John to cart all his stuff home. He and John had agreed to spend the time together during their time off before Christmas; both men were flying home on Christmas Eve to spend the holiday with their families. They would meet up on Christmas night since Monday Night Raw on the 26th was in Chicago.
"Phil, you haven't bought anything."
"I usually only buy something for my mom."
"What do you define as "something?"
"Well, I usually get her a gift card."
"The woman bought you into the world and raised you, which I know wasn't an easy job and all you can manage is a gift card?"
"She has very low expectations."
"Well, this year you're going to do better than a gift card. I'm not putting my name on something as boring as a gift card," John said, pulling out his phone and tapping the keys. "Okay, it's nowhere near here; we'll have to take a cab."
They hailed a cab, John giving the driver the address. When they pulled up to their destination Punk tried to dive back into the cab but John grabbed his hand and pulled him toward the entrance.
"I can't go in there, I'm pretty sure I'm on a blacklist or something. I'm positive that I'll be the only one in there with a body full of ink."
"I seriously doubt they'll care. They care about money and your mom will be overjoyed."
"Yeah, so overjoyed that she'll have a heart attack."
"I've never been here either. I'm gay meaning this is not a store that I've had to frequent; it also saves me a ton of money on flowers and expensive champagne too."
"Fine, but I'm paying."
"You haven't seen the prices yet."
"Great, now I'll be the one having a heart attack."
Punk turned out to be correct that he got quite a few strange looks while in the store but they were more than happy when the authorization went through on his credit card.
They had just deposited John's gifts in their hotel room when John was pulling him out of the hotel room again.
"Where are we going now? I refuse to go to any more stores."
"It's part of your Christmas present."
Punk was completely confused when the cab pulled up at the hospital.
"What kind of fucked up present is this?"
"We're going to get your hand x-rayed again."
This time around Punk let John come with him into the examination room and waited for him patiently when Punk got his x-rays. The doctor entered the room with the films.
"You couldn't have broken your hand very badly, it looks good as new. You must be an extremely fast healer."
John smiled widely and dragged Punk out of the hospital. They returned to the hotel room and John pulled out his bags and started packing.
"Are we going somewhere?"
"Yep, we have to catch a flight to get to your Christmas present."
"Where are we going?"
"You'll just have to see."
Punk had no help to figure out where they were going because when they pulled up to the curb of the airport and was met by a man with a sign bearing their names meaning there were no tickets to find out their destination. Punk was shocked when they were lead across the walkway to a Gulfstream.
"A private jet, you're really going all out aren't you."
They boarded the jet and Punk was annoyed when the pilots and the stewardess refused to tell him their destination. Punk finally got some idea where they were when they landed and were surrounded by mountains.
"Where are we?"
"Steamboat, Colorado."
"And the x-rays?"
"I just wanted to make sure I could let you go barreling down a mountain before I got you here. I figured a trip with inherent danger would be more your speed, you like?"
"As far as gifts go this is pretty awesome, thank you," Punk said dropping a kiss on John's lips.
The car pulled up to a private cabin. Punk opened the door and immediately had his arms full of brunette.
"Merry Christmas, Phil!" and Melina jumped up wrapping her legs around Punk's waist. He looked over her shoulder to see John sitting on the sofa, shaking his head slightly at his uncharacteristically exuberant girlfriend.
They stayed up late into the night catching up. They were lucky that the cabin was stocked with food because there was no separating Punk and Melina. John's possessive instincts could be set off by the smallest thing but even he was surprised that seeing Punk with a lapful of Melina didn't bother him in the slightest, he was mostly just entertained as Melina and Punk had weeks of snark to catch up on.
The next morning after breakfast they headed out to the slopes. John was happy when everyone elected to snowboard meaning there was less equipment to worry about. He had no idea if Punk could ski or not but it didn't really matter because Punk just strapped in and was gone with Melina not far behind him.
"They're gonna be impossible all week aren't they," John asked watching his girlfriend take off down the mountain trying to overtake Punk.
"I just hope that I don't bring back the WWE Champion in pieces," following their significant others at a more sedate pace.
John fell behind everyone eventually meeting everyone at the bottom and showing up in a highly disheveled state.
"What happened to you?" Punk asked, as John was covered with snow.
"There was this tree, it came out of nowhere."
"Did the tree have evil intentions?" Punk asked, trying to hide his laughter.
"It did actually, it started talking and throwing snow at me, it was like the Wizard of Oz."
Punk burst out laughing and John didn't care that he had taken a header into the snow. Punk was relaxed and happy and that was all that really mattered.
They spent their days out in the snow, gradually working their way up to the intermediate rated runs, Melina eventually leaving them all behind in the dust. They spent their nights in front of the fire just hanging out, their shared profession barely coming up in conversation.
It was the day before they were heading home when Melina led them away from the usual runs they were frequenting to a chair lift they had never taken before and were met by an instructor.
"Melina, where are you taking us?" Punk asked confused, they were all far beyond instructors at this point, even if John had a few mishaps along the way.
"We're going to get your Christmas present silly but it's sort of my present too because I'm dying to try this. You guys can just tag along if you want."
They eventually found themselves standing on the edge of a mini half pipe.
"Okay, how about we start with…" the instructor struck dumb when Punk just dropped into the half pipe with no instruction whatsoever. Punk caught air on the other side of the pipe.
"I'm flying!"
John cracked up even though Punk had charged headfirst into danger with no thought for his safety which didn't really surprise him in the slightest. The last time he had heard Punk yell that was when Punk was flying at him after a springboard clothesline at Summerslam.
When Punk came back up the side, he barely made it onto the platform, stumbling into the railing.
"You're going to be a handful aren't you?"
"He always is," John replied to the instructor, smiling beside himself.
December 24, 2011
John had landed in Boston, happy that he sent Punk home to his mother in one piece. He immediately headed to his parent's house. The immediate family celebrated on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day being reserved for the children and the occasional in-law. He kissed his mother hello but refused to hug his father until he agreed to never appear on any WWE program ever again. His father tried to use the argument that if a legend like Mick Foley called you up and asked for something how could he say no? John was tempted to put his father in a headlock until he got a promise that he would never show up on TV again, even if Steve Austin were to call. One "This is Your Life," was one too many for a lifetime.
John joined his brothers in the living room who were watching the Hawaii Bowl. No one had a preference for either team, but it was football and they were a family made up almost entirely of men. His brother's wives and his parents were forced to corral the children with no help from their fathers. They were intently watching the game when one of his brothers turned to him.
"I have to know. Where did you get that interesting sunburn?"
"It's from the ski goggles; I was in Colorado for a few days."
"That must have been hilarious. We all know you aren't famous for your balance. There's a reason we don't see you on the top rope very often."
"Haha. There was almost an altercation with a tree but I escaped unscathed."
"So were you in Colorado alone?" John realized that no one was watching the game now, they were all watching him.
"No, not alone, do you really want to talk about this?" and to John's dismay they all seemed rather interested in his love life which was a change from the norm. He was happy that his brothers were comfortable enough to inquire about his love life but didn't count on them wanting to gossip like a bunch of schoolgirls.
"So you have someone new?"
"Not new exactly."
"And this is the first time we're hearing about this? It has to be someone from work, you're never away from there long enough to meet anyone else."
"Yes, it's someone from work; we've been together for about six months."
"Is it someone we would know?"
"Yes."
"Well…"
"How about we watch the game?" John said, wanting a subject change as soon as possible.
"You're not getting out of this that easily. You've got to tell us who."
"Fine. It's CM Punk," and the room fell into silence.
"Wait…wasn't he jumping a barricade with your title in hand six months ago?"
"Yeah…"
"No offense but he doesn't seem very nice."
"Obviously I'm an exception."
"There must be a helluva lot more to this story…"
"Which I will not be telling you. Let's just watch the game before Mom and Dad…"
"Your mother and I what…"
"John's got himself a boyfriend."
"You mean the Punk kid?" his Dad said. Neither his Dad nor his Mom seemed surprised in the least.
"How in the world do you know about that?"
"I was backstage at Raw for quite a while and you two didn't seem like the enemies you are supposed to be so I asked Randy…"
"Randy!"
"You should bring him by the house the next time you're in town for a show," his mother said.
John didn't know what was worse, his family avoiding the topic of his sexuality or them actually wanting to meet Punk. He could just imagine the look on Punk's face when he relayed his mother's invitation to meet the entire Cena clan.
December 25, 2011
Punk had gone out immediately after arriving home and had gotten John's Christmas present. He showed up at his Mom's house bright and early, still in his pajamas which the cab driver found hilarious and joined his Mom for their traditional Christmas morning breakfast. As usual his Mom had cooked far too much food.
They were lounging in the living room trading off Christmas movies. He endured "It's a Wonderful Life" and she was subjected to "Nightmare Before Christmas" which he knew she actually liked because he could see her mouthing the words to "Making Christmas."
"Do you want your Christmas present?"
His mom handed over a gift bag and Punk pulled out a gift card that was extremely familiar. Punk opened the card that bore his own writing.
"You're re-gifting your present from last year to the person who gave it to you in the first place?"
"You kept buying them so I guessed you had a preference for them."
"Do you know what will happen if I walk into a Wal-Mart."
"Yes, utter hilarity, you have to take me along when you go, that can be your gift to me."
"I actually got you a real present this year but I think you don't deserve it now, I'm going to take it back."
"If you actually went to the trouble to get me a real present I absolutely have to have it, it's not going to blow up or anything will it?"
"It's from both me and John, so no it's not lethal."
He handed the generic gift bag to his mother. She moved aside the tissue paper, "Oh My God."
"Oh don't get all weepy on me; you haven't even opened it yet."
His Mom pulled out the blue box with the white ribbon and just gawked at the box. She finally spoke, "They actually let you in Tiffany's. I'm surprised you weren't escorted out by security."
"I'm pretty sure that they considered it, open it, John picked them out, obviously."
She slid the ribbon free, opening the box and revealing the diamond studs set in platinum.
"I don't know what to say, they're beautiful…you know what, I do know what to say, thank god for John Cena, you need to keep that one on a short, very permanent leash."
"I plan to."
"If this is what you and John got for me, what did you give each other?"
"John took me to Colorado to go snowboarding with some of our friends."
"What did you get him?"
"I haven't given it to him yet. He's flying in tonight and I'm going to give it to him then. Don't even ask what it is, he should get it first before I go telling anyone else about it."
They continued to watch movies and eat breakfast again for lunch. It was getting later in the day and John would be at his apartment in a few hours. Punk returned home and waited for John to arrive, getting more and more worried that John wouldn't like his gift even though Punk thought it was perfect.
John eventually arrived, "Merry Christmas."
"Merry Christmas to you too. You need to open your present because you get half of it here but we have to go out to get the other half.
"What's open on Christmas night?"
"I had to pay a little extra, but no worries. It isn't a vacation or anything so open your present," Punk standing still and opening his arms wide.
"What?"
"You have to undress me to get it."
"You're giving me your naked body, that works for me."
John began undressing Punk but gasped when Punk's pants fell to the floor.
"Oh God, how in the hell did you hurt yourself," John staring at the bandage covering Punk's hip.
"Take off the bandage and see."
John removed the bandage and was dumbfounded. He couldn't stop staring at the ink that was etched into Punk's skin. He dropped to his knees to get a closer look.
"How did you even…that's my handwriting."
"I lifted your driver's license from your wallet while you were sleeping one night and brought it down to the concierge and got them to make a copy. They blew it up and there you go."
John still couldn't stop staring at "John" permanently affixed to Punk's skin. He lowered his mouth to Punk's lower hip, placing gentle kisses around the raised skin. John was highly disappointed when Punk pulled John's mouth away from his body.
"Hey, I was appreciating my Christmas present."
Punk started pulling on his clothes.
"You can't put the wrapping paper back on a present!"
"We need to go out to get the other half of your gift," they walked down the street a ways until Punk stopped at a storefront, "We're here."
"What…oh no," and John started to walk back to the apartment. Punk grabbed hold of John and dragged him back.
"It took a lot of begging to get him to come in tonight. Do you not want to…"
"No I want to, but you're going to have to hold my hand, I've heard it hurts like hell."
"You've felt worse pain before, it'll only take thirty minutes tops," and Punk led John into the shop. "John, this is Josh, Josh, John."
"Nice to meet you. Same place as Punk's?" John just nodded. "Get up on the table, unzip and lay back."
John did as directed but wasn't looking forward to what was about to transpire. He had been injured and worked with the normal aches and pains of the profession but this was the first time he would be willfully submitting to something that would be painful.
Josh handed Punk a marker and Punk pulled his boxers down on one side, signing "Phil" low on his hip where Punk had gotten his.
He grabbed Punk's hand as the needle made the contact with his skin. After the initial shock wore off it wasn't that bad. The artist was soon finished due to the simplicity of the tattoo. He would only submit himself to this for Punk though the idea of being marked as Punk's and the wide smile on Punk's face made it totally worth it.