CHAPTER 87:
A few more weeks had passed and it was now December 20th. AJ had just finished her 3rd day of being back at the gym as she and Roman entered home. "How was your day?" asked Sika. "It was extremely tiring" said AJ as she took a seat down. "I almost forgot that I had to start out slow again, but by February I should be completely back to my old self." "How much did you lose if you don't mind my asking?" asked Patricia as she entered into the living room.
"I lost all of my baby weight from the breastfeeding, minimum excising, eating right and simply from my metabolism" said AJ. "Now all I need to do is just tone up and practice some more, I should be good well before April". "Did they give you a comeback date yet?" asked Sika. "No, but the company definitely has me booked for April and beyond" said AJ. "AJ, I saw that you guys were on the front cover of "In Touch" said Patricia as she handed AJ the magazine cover. "When I was at the market earlier this morning I just had to pick myself up a copy." "Thank you" said AJ as she looked down at the cover which read:
"She's beautiful! WWE stars AJ Lee and Roman Reigns (whose real names are April Mendez and Leati Anoa'i) finally show off their adorable little princess, Alia Jiselle-Josephine Anoa'i. She was born last month on November 4th weighing in at a tiny 5lbs, 6oz". "She's just wonderful" said AJ. "And when I have to leave for work, I get sad" said Roman. "I have to admit". The WWE diva is set back to return sometime in April which is leaving many fans with a high anticipation for her long awaited comeback."
"Wow they sure do edit these things fast" said Roman. "Yeah we just took this photo two days ago" said AJ. "They sure do work very fast". "It doesn't matter" said Patricia. "Because she looks adorable with that little bow you had on her." "Yeah and with the money they gave us I can use it for her college fund" said AJ. "Yeah all $250,000" said Roman. "Good Lord do they really be paying that much for baby photos these days?" asked Sika. "Yes dad" said Roman. "They do." "I wonder how much Nikki's going to get on her photo of her kid" said AJ. "Probably a billion" said Roman. "Stop you're such a kidder" said AJ.
"I know" said Roman as he smiled. "So how did Alia do today?" "Wonderful" said Patricia. "She's in her room sleeping." "You know I really do feel bad about you guys having to sleep out here in this living room" said AJ. "I think that means I should call up that realtor again to see if she could give us some more options." "But honey I thought you were letting me handle things" said Roman. "Well I'm all healed up now" said AJ. "Besides it's going to be our house so we should be working together." "She's right dear" said Patricia. Roman nodded in agreement. "Ok we can dial up Jane in the morning" he said. "I agree" said AJ. "We've gotta get a house real soon." "Oh heavens April its ok" said Patricia. "After all it's only a short little drive we have to do, there's no need to rush". "Yeah a 3 hour drive that you guys do every other day" said AJ.
"I just hope that Ms. Grant has something out there that's at least halfway decent for us" said Roman. "Oh Leati have a little hope" said Sika. "There's plenty of houses out there on the market in Pensacola and they're a way more than halfway decent." Roman nodded as he finally sat down. "At least now we can finally relax. I'm beat." "Hey you're the one who's supposed to be in shape here" AJ teased as she poked his stomach. "I know but after 4 hours at the gym…I could use the sleep. Believe that" said Roman. "And believe in the shield!" AJ and Roman's parents said playfully. "Ha-ha very funny" Roman said. AJ wrapped her arms around him. "I guess it is true" she said. "Gemini's can't take a joke!" "Be niece little Miss Pisces" said Roman as he smiled. "Besides I think you've got the wrong astronomical sign." "Hmm" AJ said as she kissed him.
"Hey buddy your parents are still in this room!" Sika said jokingly with a Brooklyn accent. "Sorry pa" said Roman. "Ah Leati no! We'll never getting anymore grandchildren that way!" said Patricia. "What I ain't stopping them?" said Sika. "Come on let's go check on Alia" said AJ as she and Roman got up. "Hey you two behavior in there ok?" said Sika. This only caused AJ and Roman to snicker on their way to their bedroom.
Meanwhile, Nikki returned back from another session with Dr. Stewart. "Hey there Nicole, how's it going?" asked Bryan as he sat from his couch reading the newspaper. "I'm ok" said Nikki as she locked the door behind her. "She said that I'm still stable". "That's good" said Bryan. "Yeah" said Nikki as she took a seat next to him. "She said that I'm making a good amount of progress." "I'm proud of you" said Bryan. "Thank you" said Nikki. "So where's my clone?" "She's coming out any moment" said Bryan. "She wants to talk to you."
"What is she pregnant again or something?" asked Nikki. "No….well I have no clue" said Bryan. "But no that's not what she wants to talk to you about." "If it's about that "In Touch" article of AJ, Joe and their daughter on the cover of it then I already know" said Nikki. "Oh, you do?" asked Bryan as Brie walked out. "Hey Nikki, what did doc say?" "That I'm fine" said Nikki. "And there's no need for you to discuss the article of AJ and Joe's baby's first public photo." "How'd you know?" asked Brie. "Because I took a pit stop at the local Target to get a few things and that's where I saw it on the stand" said Nikki. "And they got a whopping $250,000 for it."
"Jeez" said Bryan. "Yep I know" said Nikki. "How does that make you feel?" asked Brie. "I mean I'm ok and everything" said Nikki. "Even though AJ and I aren't the best of friends, I'm ok about everything now. I've moved on with my life." "So don't you think she's adorable?" asked Brie. "Especially with that adorable little light pink dress and that hair bow?" "Yeah Brie, she looks just like them, the eyes and the olive skin tone as well" said Nikki. "You don't sound excited about it" said Bryan. "I'm not supposed to be" said Nikki. "Because Alia isn't my daughter."
"Speaking of your daughter, don't you think we should start trying to set up a nursery, now I know that you don't want a shower because it will give away the sex, but Nicole you haven't even brought a crib or anything yet" said Brie. Nikki sighed. "Fine, we can start tomorrow". Bryan got up to stretch. "Well Ima go walk Josie and I'll cook tonight" he said. "Nicole is there anything special you want tonight?" "Nope" said Nikki. "Not at all". Bryan got up and left the table, leaving the sisters alone. "So is there anything you wanna talk about?" Brie.
"No like what?" Nikki asked. "Like what exactly did you and Dr. Stewart talk about today?" Brie said. "Oh nothing really" said Nikki. "We just mostly talked about how I was feeling about the baby that's all." "And nothing about John?" asked Brie. Nikki got quiet. "It's ok. There's no need for you to tell me anything you don't want to tell me" she said. "It's just that I am so confused Brie" said Nikki. "What do you mean you're confused?" asked Brie. "It's just that sometimes I feel like I hate him but at the same time I still love him you know?" said Nikki. "But for some reason I just can't let it go. I just can't find it from within me to be able to let everything go."
"Nicole I don't understand what you mean" said Brie. "What are you trying to let go?" "The past" Nikki painfully said as she began playing with her necklace that was made from her engagement ring. "I…" tears started forming. "I…I just feel like the argument that we had a few weeks ago…it really opened me up to some things." "What argument?" Brie asked. "You never told me anything about anything about that." "Because I was just trying to put it all behind me I guess" said Nikki as she began wiping away her tears. "My God I am just so damn emotional." "Well baby you're pregnant" said Brie. "I know" said Nikki. "I just wish that it would all stop." "You wish that what would all stop?" asked Brie.
"The pain" said Nikki. "The confusion, the hoping and the denial." "Nicole…what are you denying?" asked Brie. "Please fill me in here a little bit because I'm starting to become confused here myself." Nikki painfully took a deep breath in before continuing, her hand clutching her necklace tightly. "I'm trying so hard to make myself believe that everything is ok in my life Brie" she said. "With the diagnosis and this whole baby situation I just feel like I've been completely blown out of this world. My heart has been ripped from inside of me by the man I once thought was my soul mate." "But sweetie he still is your soul mate" said Brie. "I really don't know anymore" said Nikki. "Well obviously there has to be something still there between you as you still have the ring he gave you last year" said Brie. "I just hope that at the end of this…that things will end up working out" said Nikki. "Between you and John?" asked Brie.
But Nikki didn't answer that particular question or even the question before that. Instead she went around it. "And so as I was sitting in Dr. Stewart's office earlier today I was telling her that I had few very choices to make" she said. "And I think I now know which one I'm going to make." "And what is that?" asked Brie. "That I'll let you know soon" said Nikki. "But for now I need some time to go over it and to make sure that it is the right one I need to make." "Well sweetie I just want to let you know that no matter what choice you do end up making that I'll be right here to fully support you" said Brie as she rubbed Nikki's back. "Thank you" Nikki said tearfully. Brie got up to give Nikki a box of tissues.
"I don't like seeing myself cry" she said, causing Nikki to chuckle. "I know" said Nikki. "Nicole can I just tell you one thing?" asked Brie. "Sure" said Nikki. "No matter what you decision you make, I know that it'll be the right one" said Brie. "And I know that you will heal and you will get through this." "I hope so" said Nikki. "I really do." She continued holding onto her necklace as her hands played with the exclusive one of a kind engagement ring that she has had so much trouble parting with. Only she knew the reason why she still had it and only she knew what she was going to do about it but of course whatever decision she ultimately decides to make will not come without its consequences.