*Thank-you for the reviews on the last chapter. They were greatly appreciated. Thank-you all so much and yes I will be keeping this story going till the end*
Joe and I drive down a countryside back road surrounded by trees and wooded area on a dirt road. I have never seen a dirt road before, not one like this as we drive through our future home city and my hometown, it has been a while since I have been in Texas let alone in Houston. Joe stops our brand new SUV so that deer can cross the road in front of us. I smile as I watch a Doe run with her two fawns behind her. "Oh the good old countryside of Texas," I smile as we are sitting waiting for them to run to the other side of the woods as an armadillo saunters across the road. "Oh my God," I say with a smile. "I haven't seen an armadillo for years; gators and sand cranes yes but armadillos no. I am home."
"I never saw an armadillo in my life. Do they hurt people?" he asks as he holds my hand with our fingers laced together. "Are they a threat to humans and animals?"
"Well, not usually, they won't attack you unless they feel threatened but they are dangerous should they attack you. They carry leprosy which can infect humans but they are very destructive animals. They dig out gardens and flower beds. They take residence under sheds and houses. They are a nuisance to say the least. The last thing you want is for an armadillo to be on your property."
"I see," he says as he starts to drive down the old dirt road in the middle of nowhere. "Nature is beautiful out here," he says. "It's so quiet too."
"And private," I respond with a smile, "No one will ever find us out here."
"That's the point," he smiles as he looks at me with his dark brown eyes. "I want the privacy for our family."
"Me too," I respond, "but you do know this far out in nature we're probably going to have a run in with deer and armadillos on the daily right?"
"Yeah but I am all right with that as long as armadillos don't live on our property."
"You have no idea about the countryside," I smile. "No idea but I like it. I think this is going to be a great place to raise our family and live our lives. I can't wait to build everything from the Ground Up with you, Mr. Anoa'i."
"Same here, Mrs. Anoa'i," he smiles at me. "Speaking of which, when do you plan on taking my last name? It's been almost a year and you're still Willow Calaway. When do you plan to be Willow Anoa'i?" he asks me.
"I don't know," I say honestly.
"Come on, Willow, you're my wife. You should have my last name. It's not like it's some big secret you know? Everyone already knows we're married. I'm sure more people are wondering why you're still using your maiden name. Do you not want to take my last name?"
"I do," I say, "but I don't know what I want to do yet."
"Well, we're about to have two girls in a few months. You should probably figure it out. I mean really. What are you trying to figure out?"
"If I want to do Willow Calaway-Anoa'i or just Willow Anoa'i and change my middle name to Calaway. I haven't decided yet."
"Like I said it has been almost a year. You should have had the decision made Willow."
"I know," I say. "Please don't be upset. You know I am your wife and you know I am an Anoa'i by marriage so I don't see the rush."
"It means a lot to me that you carry the last name Anoa'i whether you hyphenate it or not it means a lot to me that you show me and my family that you're proud to be part of our family and that you're happy to be married."
"I don't think that shows pride or happiness, I think the pride and happiness show in the heart rather than the last name."
"You know how much my culture and my family name mean to me. There's a lot of history in the family name," he says as he continues to drive up the dirt road. "It's important to me and our children are going to be part of that legacy."
"And you know how important the Calaway name is to me," I say. "There's just as much legacy in my name as in yours. Our kids are carrying on the legacy of two different families. I'm not sure how I want to go about the last name thing. I think it's important that Kalea and Leinani carry both last names as they are the legacy for both families. My family is just as important as yours is."
"And I am fine with that. I never questioned our children's last names. I'm questioning you and what you want to do," he says. "I think it's time you made the decision, Willow."
"I don't know yet. I have to think more about it, Joe."
"You have until Wrestlemania to figure it out, Willow. You're either a Calaway, an Anoa'i or a Calaway-Anoa'i. Just make a decision," he says.
"Okay," I say and I am not sure why he is pushing so hard on the last name issue. I never even knew it bothered him until right now and on this car ride to see our new home in the process of it being built while we are in Texas for the Royal Rumble. I'll figure it out I am sure I just don't want anyone to be offended by my choice.
"Are you even happy that we're married?" he asks out of the blue as he pulls up to what will be our house when they finally finish it.
"What? Joe, where did that even come from? Of course I am happy that we're married. Marrying you was the best day of my life. I wouldn't trade it for the world. I love our life together and I am ready to have this life together for the rest of our lives. Why does a last name make up whether I am happy with you or not. You're my husband, my best friend of course I am happy we are married. It's not always about paper and names Joe is about the heart. I love you I wouldn't want to spend the rest of my life with anyone else but you."
"Okay," he says as he parks the car in what will eventually be our driveway someday soon in the next few months. He got out of the car and walked around to help me out of the car as the struggle has begun with my pregnancy. I'm so big it's hard to do anything. He takes my hand and helps me out of passenger's seat. "I'm sorry, Baby."
"It's okay," I say with a small smile as my green eyes sparkle in Texas sun. I look up at him and say, "I'm happy."
"Me too," he says with a smile as he leans down and kisses my lips softly. "Let's check everything out."
"Okay," I say with a smile as we walk to what will be our house. We walk up the front porch steps that will be wooden and walk into the house. They have the structure together it's just a matter of putting up walls, laying down flooring and installing things like cupboards, toilets, tubs and such. It's probably bigger than the house I grew up in. There are at least going to be 6 bedrooms and a very huge master bedroom and bathroom. There are at least 5 bathrooms in the house. They have so much work to do yet but they have come so far in just a little time. We walk through the house checking it out and we're happy with everything they have done so far. "So when will they begin the rest?"
"Monday," he says, "and by the end of May it should all be finished and we'll have our new home ready to move into right after the babies are born."
"I can't wait," I say as we make our way down the stairs. "It looks like it's going to be great."
"I agree," he says with a smile. "Do you want to walk around the property and talk about some things?"
"Sure," I say with a smile.
We walk out of the house and walk around what will be our backyard. I love the location, it's private and out of the public eye as well in the middle of nowhere. The property is larger than I could ever imagine. "I thought we could put in a swing set for the girls right over here," he says pointing to a spot, "and of course we'll have an in-ground pool put in as well with a hot tub and whirl pool."
"I like that," I say with a smile as we continue to walk the property.
"And back there," he says as we head toward the wooded area. "There is a beautiful pond. I thought I could take the girls walking through the woods and we could see the beautiful pond." We walk into the woods and not too far in I see the beautiful pond he's talking about. "Isn't it beautiful?" he asks of the pond surrounded by rocks and flowers as well as grass.
"It's beautiful." I say.
"And the girls and I can sit on that rock right there and toss stones into the pond. If there are fish which I doubt there are we can do some fishing. What do you think?" he asks.
"I think you have it all planned out, Babe," I say with a smile. "I think the whole property is beautiful and quiet. I love the sound of nature, Joe. I just love this land altogether. It's perfect and just think Kalea and Leinani could take their first steps in this grass. I can't wait to raise our family here. I think we need a lot of kids."
"A lot of kids?" he asks. "How many kids are you thinking?"
"Maybe 3 more after the twins," he smiles. "I never thought I wanted this life of kids and marriage and then I met you. Then I wanted it all but only with you. I love you," I say before I reach up and kiss his lips.
"Mmm, I love you," he says with a smile against my lips before we share a soft passionate kiss on the property we will raise our family on and make many memories. "What do you think of having horses?"
"Horses?" I ask walking back to the car. "I don't know who wants horses?"
"Alani wants a horse. I thought the land was big enough that we could get a horse for her maybe a couple horses. We can make stables too. The land is big enough for all of that."
"I'm all right with that, we can get some chickens too so that we can have our own eggs rather than buying them from the grocery store and I want a pygmy goat okay maybe a couple pygmy goats and a couple dogs," I smile at him. "I mean our kids should have a wide variety of pets."
"I agree. You're my farm girl," he smiles as he opens my car door for me.
"I guess, I am going to teach the beach boy what farm living and country living is all about," I promise him.
"I'm looking forward to it," he says before he shuts my door.
ROMAN's POINT OF VIEW:
After spending the afternoon checking out our new home in Texas Willow and I went to the arena hosting the Royal Rumble. We spent time visiting her friends and my friends while I prepared for my championship match against Kevin Owens. I started off the show against Kevin for my later participation in the Royal Rumble which no one in the WWE universe really knows about. I haven't had the best luck with Royal Rumble matches to say the least. In 2014 everyone wanted me to win but I lost to Batista, in 2015 when I returned back to the ring after having hernia surgery I won the Royal Rumble and the entire arena nearly rioted at my victory. The boos were so loud and so disheartening, it really hurt which ruined the special moment between Dwayne and myself. Last year in 2016 I had to put my championship on the line in the Rumble match of course I lost and lost my championship. I haven't had much luck with the Rumble or the fans to be honest. This year Vince thought it would be a good idea for me to be the surprise entrant in the Rumble and enter at number 30. I was okay with the idea but I'm not sure how the fans are going to react. I don't think it's going to go over well.
I am sitting in my locker room during the show after my match against Kevin Owens and my defeat against him preparing myself for the Rumble match. I'm not feeling good about it. I text Willow to tell her I am nervous about the match and how maybe it isn't a good idea for me to come out at number 30. She tries to encourage me by saying everything will be fine and not be nervous. This is taking a big step in my career. Just as I am ready to text her back there's a knock on my door. "Come in," I call out hoping that it's Willow. The door opens and instead of seeing my beautiful wife it's my father-in-law. "Hey, Mark," I say with a smile.
"Hey," he says as he walks in. "I hear you've been talking to Willow."
"Yeah," I say as I tighten my boots.
"Mind if I take a seat?" he asks.
"No go ahead," I say.
He takes a seat across from me and says, "what are you nervous about? What has you worried about going out there tonight as number 30?"
"Um, the fans hate me. They don't want to see me in the Rumble and they surely don't want to see me eliminate you from the Rumble. They are going to crucify me."
He lets out a deep breath and says, "Look here, Son. You're going to have those fans that hate you and the fans that love you. It's part of the business. They pay their money to come to the shows to boo and cheer. You can't let them get in your head. I know they have been rough on you. I see it and hear it every week. I'm not even sure where all the hate began."
"That makes two of us," I say, "I don't know if we should have this match at Mania and I shouldn't retire you."
"You deserve that match over anyone and not because you're married to my daughter but because you're a hard worker. You give this business everything you've got. You work hard day in and day out. You deserve this. The last 4 years you have been non-stop in this business the only thing that held you back was your hernia but other than that you have given it your all. You took classes to help your acting, help your promos and you trained a little more so you could be better in the ring. People aren't happy unless they are complaining. You can't let their opinions get to you and make you feel like you don't deserve something. Don't let their opinions take away from your hard work and your dedication to this business. You could be like any of these other guys out there that focus on their game systems, going out partying or whatever but you're not. You go to work, you do your job, you work on ways to get better. You work out in the gym and your nights are spent talking to my daughter on skype after a show. She tells me all about it. You're one of the good ones. You're one of the best. You are one of the only guys that can actually keep a marriage together on the road and you're invested in your personal life as much as you are your professional life. That's what makes me see you the way I do and I feel you deserve this honor. I wouldn't choose anyone else," he says. "You are a good guy and you give the world your all and these people can't take away what you deserve or take away your special moments especially the moments where your wife or your daughter are in the front row cheering you on. The moments your father is watching his son carrying on the family legacy, no one can take that away from you or when your mom is cheering you on in the front row, your biggest fans, your biggest cheering section are the people that love you. You may not see what I see in you but you're a wonderful guy, you're a great athlete and you're hardworking not one of those fans can take that away from you. You're making a name for yourself in this business. It's better to be booed than to not have any reaction at all. You can rise about all this hate and all these negative opinions because that's the kind of guy you are. You're going to go out there tonight, with your head held high and you're going to enter that ring, eliminate me and stand tall after you do it. Be proud of yourself because damn it Joe I'm proud as hell of you and I know my daughter is just as proud of you. She's your number one fan other than your daughter and your two other daughters. You've got this Joe don't give that crowd one thought, take your moment and live in it. Okay?"
"Okay," I say with a smile. He made me feel special, he made me feel better about my match and my participation in the Rumble. He stands up and I stand up with him. "Thanks, Mark."
"You're welcome, Son," he says as he pulls me in for a hug. "And call me Dad."
"Okay, Dad," I smile as I hug him back. I can't think of a better moment between my father-in-law and me. It is one of those moments I am going to cherish the rest of my life. I'll look back on this moment years from now and remember it, keeping his advice in mind as I deliver the same advice to a newbie or an upcoming superstar.
I take Mark's advice to heart as I am standing behind the curtain waiting for my music to hit so I can enter in at number 30. I take a sip of water before pouring it over my head as I hear the fans countdown to my entrance. I take a deep breath just as my music cues and come out into a crowd of boos from the fans. I make my way to the ring with my head held high. I climb into the ring and start fighting, start eliminating people as the arena chants that I suck or chant bullshit. I come to the pivotal moment in my career and I eliminate my father in law when he least expects it. I send him over the top rope and the crowd erupts in boos and Roman sucks once again as I look into the familiar green eyes of my father in law as he looks at me from outside the ring. It is in that moment that I feel it, I feel the specialness of my Wrestlemania match, how it will change my career and be the most important match of my life yet the fans boos don't take that away from me. I earned it and they can't take that away from me. It's special. When I'm finished with the match I walk over to Willow who's sitting front row and she smiles at me. "Congratulations," she whispers as I hug her.
"I didn't win," I say as I hug her back.
"Not the match but my father's respect and one of the biggest matches of your career. I am so happy for you, Baby."
"I love you," I say before I kiss her lips softly before I make my way to the back with a smile on my face, the entire arena can boo me but it doesn't matter because my wife being proud of me means more to me than anything.
*A/N: What did you think of Joe and Willow going to visit their new property? Do you think the privacy is the best thing for them? What do you think on the debate over the last name? What do you think Willow should do? Do you understand why Joe is so upset by it? What do you think of Willow telling Joe that before him she didn't want marriage or kids but when she met him she wanted it all with him? What did you think of the special moment between Mark and Joe? What did you think of Mark's words to Joe? How do you think he handled the end of the Rumble? Please review and thank-you for reading.