*Thank-you for the reviews on the last chapter they were greatly appreciated thank you all so much*
A COUPLE MONTHS LATER:
"Hey," I say as I take a seat next to Alani's mom Vanessa and her husband at Alani's end of the year school concert. "I'm sorry I'm late."
"It's okay," she says with a smile as she stands up to hug me. We get along well now as opposed to when Joe and I first started dating. She didn't like me that much and I wasn't too much of a fan of hers either but over the last few we have started talking and getting along. We want to be civil because of Alani and she is a sweet woman. I do adore her truly and I know she is a great mom to her daughter and the son she is holding in her arms. "Isn't Joe coming?" she asks as we take a seat.
"He's been pretty busy lately. I barely see him anymore. He is currently on his way home for a couple days before he heads back on the road. Alani and I planned a little birthday party for him if you want to come."
"No," she says, "you three have fun together. I just wish he would be here to see her program. She has a solo, her very first solo and she was very excited for him to see it. She's going to be disappointed if he doesn't show up."
"He told me to record it," I say feeling bad for Alani immediately. I know the sacrifices of being the daughter of a WWE superstar. It's not easy. When you want them to be there they can't necessarily be there. They miss games, birthdays, anniversaries and whatever event that may be scheduled on their time away. It is not fun but for some reason you end up getting used to it but it is still tough when you see everyone else's parents around but your parents aren't it is a major blow to your ego. I don't know if I want to put my child through that same pain if I return back on the road. One parent gone is bad enough but to have two parents gone is worse.
"Of course he did," she says shaking her head. "I appreciate you coming, Willow. Alani really likes you and she enjoys spending time with you. I just wish Joe would be around more and spend more time with her."
"I know it's been rough since he became the champion he's working a lot more, traveling a lot more. I think it's starting to take a toll on him. He isn't really his normal self. He's been acting weird lately," I say.
"What do you mean?" she asks as we wait for the program to begin. The auditorium filled with the voices of other parents and family members there to watch their child in their concert.
"He's just been acting weird lately. I don't know he's always so restless and he is not sleeping too much either. He is all over the place sometimes then other times he seems really short tempered and agitated. I'm sure that's because he isn't sleeping."
"He needs to sleep," she says. "How are you doing with the pregnancy and all? Still have morning sickness or getting sick?"
"No, the morning sickness finally went away. I'm happy that it did because it was bad. Did you have a lot of morning sickness when you were pregnant?"
"Not with Easton but with Alani I was very sick. I went to the hospital a couple of times because I was sick. It was a rough pregnancy but worth every minute of it when she was born," she says proudly.
"I can't wait to meet the baby," I say.
"You don't have too much time. You have what about 3 or 4 months?"
"Yeah and I know that summer is going to be hell. I'm already too hot in May. I can't wait for the humidity and 90 degree weather to kick in."
"I'm glad I had Easton already because I couldn't handle the heat either," she says with a smile as the principal comes out on stage to welcome everyone and introduce us to the choir. Alani walks out on stage finding her place in the mix of 2nd and 3rd graders on the risers. I can see her looking out for us. I know she's looking for Joe and I look at the empty seat next to me and I know she realizes her dad isn't there when she loses her smile. The music teacher follows the principal and introduces herself to the parents before talking about how proud of the kids she is. She tells us that they worked really hard to perform for us tonight and then starts them off on their first song. We are three songs in before Alani is introduced and handed a microphone. I pull my cell phone out and start recording as the music starts to play to the song she is singing. I smile as she starts singing the words and she sounds beautiful but not completely into the song. I can see her looking at us as I am recording and then the seat next to me is filled. I look over and see Joe sitting next to me dressed in a suit, his hair pulled up into a tight bun at the nape of his neck. He smiles at me before kissing my cheek softly as he keeps his attention on his baby girl. Alani's smile grows back as soon as she spots Joe next to me and her voice belts out the most beautiful tune taking everyone in the auditorium by surprise, such a powerful voice from such a small little girl. I can see the tears in Joe's eyes as he watches and listens to her sing. She ends to a standing ovation from the audience before she curtsies and finds her place again as they sing one more song before the end of the program.
"DADDY!" yells Alani as she comes running up to him outside as we are talking waiting for Vanessa to bring her outside. Joe smiles and scoops her up in his arms. "YOU CAME!" she said with excitement.
"Of course I came," he says with a smile before he kisses her cheek. "I wouldn't have missed it for the world."
"You almost did," she says. "I would have been sad."
"Hey," he says lifting her chin, "don't be sad, I made it and you did a wonderful job. It was the most beautiful song I have ever heard. I am so proud of you."
"Thank-you, Daddy," she says with a smile before she kisses his cheek. "I love you. When I go to your house again will you be there?"
"I'm going to try to be there," he says. "My schedule is just really hectic and busy lately. My boss has me traveling a lot and doing a lot of media appearances. I can't be there as much as I want to be but no matter where I am or what I am doing I am always doing it for you so that you have a better life and I am always here for you. You can call me and face time me as much as you want, whenever you want to."
"I miss you, Daddy," she says sadly and it makes my heart hurt.
"I miss you too," he says hugging her close to him and kissing the top of her head. "I promise next time you come over and I am home we are going to have daddy daughter time. We can do whatever you want to do."
"Even go to Build A Bear or have a princess tea party?" she asks.
"Anything," he says with a smile making her smile. "I promise."
"I can't wait, Daddy!" she says with excitement. "I can't wait for daddy daughter time. We're going to have so much fun."
"It's a date," he says with promise in his voice.
"Okay, Daddy," she says.
"Alani, it is time to go home. You'll see your daddy soon," Vanessa chimes in. "It's getting late and you're not quite done with school just yet."
"Can't I go home with Daddy tonight?" she asks as Joe puts her down on her feet.
"Not tonight," she answers. "Your daddy is probably tired. He had a long trip. He needs to get some rest."
"Please, Mama?" she asks. "Daddy, please?"
"Not tonight," says Vanessa.
"Please?" she begs.
"You know what, Alani," says Joe getting down to her level. "You should go home with your mama tonight. She's right I had a long trip and I'm just going to go home to rest. I promise."
"Okay, Daddy," disappointment in her voice.
"It's okay, Alani you will see me again before you know it, I promise."
"You make a lot of promises daddy and sometimes your promises are broken."
"I pinky promise, Alani," he says holding out his pinkie.
"You really pinky promise, Daddy?"
"Pinky promise," he smiles.
"Pinky promise," she says as they hook pinkies with a smile and nod.
"Okay, Alani," says Vanessa, "it's time to go home now."
"Okay, Mama." She wraps her arms around Joe and he wraps his arms around her and gives her a big kiss on the top of her head. "I love you, Daddy."
"I love you too," he says with a smile before he waves goodbye to her as she heads to the car with her mom. Joe and I take hands as we make our way to the car. He takes his car home and I drive my car home.
"I'm glad you made it tonight," I say as I am laying in our bed as he is sitting up on the bed. "You almost didn't make it."
"Willow, don't start that. You know I was going to make it. Have I ever missed anything important in Alani's life?"
"You nearly did miss it, Joe. I know you don't want to miss things but that's the life of a superstar sometimes you can't help sacrificing time with your family for the job. Your job is what puts the food on the table and pays the bills. I know you want to be there, Joe. I know that you do but I don't think you should make promises you don't know if you can keep or not."
"I don't break my promises, Willow," he snaps.
"What is wrong with you, Joe? Lately you have been so moody, restless and agitated. The simplest things set you off. What is going on with you?"
"Nothing is wrong, Willow. I'm putting in weeks of travel at a time barely making it home but once or twice a month. I miss my wife, I miss my daughter. I miss being home. I'm not sleeping on the road because when we leave one arena we drive off to the next town and we are getting 3 hours if that of sleep then we are up training and working out in the morning. It's a lot of work then you throw in media appearances. It's all so hectic. I'm not sure I was ready for this."
"Joe, that's the business. It is a hectic life. I wish that you would relax, take it easy while you're home. We only have a couple days together and I don't want to spend them fighting. You have all the time in the world to sleep now," I say. "so get some rest, Joe and you'll feel better in the morning."
"I don't know if I can sleep, Willow. I'm just not tired."
"I don't know how you're not tired," I say. "I'm exhausted and I have not done nearly as much as you."
"But you're carrying our child and that's a lot of work," he says with a smile. "That's enough to make you exhausted. You get some rest," he says pulling the covers over me. "I'm going to go downstairs and watch some TV so I don't disturb you."
"I think you should go to sleep with me," I say looking up at him as he stands up from the bed looking down at me. "Come on, Baby," I plead with him to join me.
"Not tonight, Willow, I'm really not tired. I'll be up later," he says.
"Okay," I say. "Goodnight."
"Goodnight," he says before he leans down and kisses my lips softly. "I'll see you soon," he says before he leaves the room and I drift off to sleep from exhaustion.
The next morning I wake up as the sun shines in the bedroom window. I look over at the clock on the stand next to the bed and see it is 12 in the afternoon. He let me sleep in. I look over onto his side of the bed and see that it hasn't been slept in. I get out of bed and use the bathroom before I make my way downstairs to the kitchen. "Yeah that's right," he says as I walk into the kitchen to get a glass of milk. "Yeah, I'll have that," he says. "Thank-you." He holds his arms open for me and I walk into them as he is on the phone. He wraps his arm around me and continues talking. "Yeah, that would be good. I can come in about 30 minutes. I have to get my daughter for the day afterwards but I can be there in about 30 minutes," he says as he strokes my back. "See you then," he says before hanging up the phone.
"Who was that?" I ask.
"It was just a friend. Did you have a good rest?"
"Yes I need it badly," I say. "Thank-you for allowing me to sleep in."
"Anytime," he says with a smile. "Are you hungry do you want anything to eat?"
"Not right now maybe later. So you're going somewhere?"
"Yeah, I just need to pick something up from a friend and then I'm going to pick Alani up for our daddy daughter time. She's off school for today so I'm taking advantage while I am home to spend some time with her. You're more than welcome to join us."
"No," I say. "It's daddy daughter time I want you two to have fun together. What are you doing?"
"I think we're going to see Finding Dory and then we are going to Build-A-Bear then we are probably going to get something to eat then I'll take her back to Vanessa's house."
"Sounds like a fun day. I'm going to do some work around the house. I have a baby shower to plan for. I have to get in touch with my mama sometime today to talk to her about plans. Remember we are aiming for the end of June for the baby shower and I really want you to be there since you are the father."
"I wouldn't miss it for the world," he says with a smile. "I want to show you something," he says.
"Show me what?" I ask.
"Follow me," he says taking my hand before leading me up the backstairs. I have no idea what is happening or what he wants to show me but he leads down the hall toward the room we decided would be the baby's nursery which is the room next to ours.
"What are you doing?" I ask.
"Close your eyes," he says with a smile.
"I'm not closing my eyes," I say, "what's going on Joe?" I ask as he opens the door to the nursery. Tears fill my eyes as I see the walls had been painted a light green and the white crib was set up in the room along with the rocking chair. The changing table is put together as well. Squishy's ultrasound pictures are hanging on the wall just above the crib. "You did this?" I ask knowing we are still waiting for our baby shower to get anything else but we bought the crib, dresser, changing table and rocking chair. "It's beautiful," I say with a smile.
"I know there is a lot more work to be done but I just wanted to get it started. You really like it?"
"I love it," I say with a smile.
"And I thought that we could put Emily or Calaway above the crib when Squishy is born. And I think we should do the Winnie The Pooh theme what do you think?"
"I think we should too," I say with a smile. "When did you do all this?"
"Last night when I couldn't sleep, I got busy and just started to put things together. I'm excited, Willow."
"I know you're excited but not sleeping until it gets here isn't going to help you, the baby or me. You need to get your rest. I need you to promise me that tonight you'll sleep after you're done with your day with Alani. Please, Baby."
"Okay, I promise," he says before looking at his watch. "Hey, I'll be back later. I have to go meet my friend then I'm picking up Alani."
"Now?"
"Yeah," he says. "I'll be back. I love you," he says restlessly before giving me a quick kiss and he disappears out the door.
*A/N: What do you think of Joe almost missing Alani's concert? Do you think he is in over his head with the wrestling career? Have you seen a change in him? What do you think is making him so agitated and restless? Is it because he isn't sleeping or is there something more to it? Who is he meeting and why is he meeting them? Do you agree with Willow he needs to sleep? What did you think of him working on the nursery? Where did he go? Please review and thank-you for reading.