January 2018
Karen was staring at herself in the mirror. She had just finished her hair and make up for the evening. Today was Shane's birthday and she had gotten them reservations at his favorite Italian Restaurant.
The last several months had been difficult every time she would take a few steps forward it seemed she would take a few step back. Shane had been amazing husband he would reassure her and just be there for her. She would do the same for him. They had their good days and their bad days. They even had their first real marriage fight and it was over the smallest thing. Well in Shane's eyes it was a small thing he had went to Flight Club in New York City and spent almost $900 on 4 pairs of sneakers. To say Karen was mad was an under statement. She couldn't believe he would spend that kind of money with out talking to her first and on shoe's none the less. Shane explained to her that they were Jordan ones which was his shoe of choice and they weren't cheap. But after a few days she calmed down and realized it wasn't the fact they he had gotten the shoes at all it was she felt like he was back to his normal self while she was still grieving their loss. That hit Shane hard because that wasn't the case he was still grieving in his own way as well. They stayed up all night talking and being open and honest with each other about how they had been feeling over the last few months.
As she stood there looking at herself in the mirror wearing a black cold-shoulder keyhole long dress that had a slit up the right leg. She was finally starting to feel normal like herself again. Karen finished getting ready as she noticed the time and the car would soon be there to pick them up. Shane had gotten home from the office a little while ago while he was finishing getting ready so Karen went down stairs and text Dean.
"How are you today any pain?" She sent.
Karen wasn't to happy with her best friend either. He didn't tell her how much pain he had been dealing with last fall when it came to his elbow. She knew it was swore but no one really knew the extent of it until right after Thanksgiving when he was in so much pain he couldn't sleep or even bend his elbow. Dean under went surgery right before Christmas. Karen spent a few days with him in Birmingham then made sure he got settled in Vegas and had his Mom come out and stay with him.
"You really texting a one arm man?" Dean sent back with an emoji of the tongue stinking out.
"Clearly you can text just fine. Pain level 1 to 10!" She sent.
"6." He sent.
"Did you try to move it today?" She sent.
"Shut up."
"I will take that as a yes. You are suppose to be resting. So REST! I will call you tomorrow." She sent.
"You are not the boss of me!" He sent back.
"Yes I am! Just ask your mother." She sent.
"You suck you know that. You are my nagging wife but I don't get to see you naked." He sent.
Karen laughed at his comments. It's true she had been nagging him a lot lately but it was for his own good. She only wanted him to be healthy again.
"Maybe we should get you a wife then." Karen sent.
"Nah to much trouble you being my best friend is bad enough lol."
"I will call you tomorrow. REST!" She sent.
When Shane came into the living room.
"Wow you look amazing Brown Eyes." He said kissing her lips softly.
"You aren't looking to bad your self McMahon." She smiled playing with his tie.
"You know we could stay in tonight and you can give me my birthday present now." He smiled kissing her again and his hand cupped her butt.
"If I remember correctly I gave you that present this morning!" She smiled.
"That you did sweet heart. It was the perfect way to start the day." Shane grinned ear to ear remembering their romantic morning together. "You are getting really good at riding me." He stated.
"Shane Brandon! Oh My God." She laughed her face turning red. "Wait are you saying I was bad at first?"
Shane chuckled as he grabbed his wallet and phone.
"No I didn't say that I am just saying you are getting more adventurous and I am loving it." He smiled kissing her.
"Let's just go to dinner." She smiled shaking her head kissing him back.
When they got the restaurant they were taken to a nice little table for two. Shane had ordered a bottle of wine as they were looking at the menu.
"I never did thank you for sending the doughnuts to the office today." Shane said looking over his menu at his gorgeous wife.
"You're welcome did the guys enjoy them?" Karen asked wife a smile.
"They did and the singing dancing bear really?" He chuckled.
"Hey that was all Stephanie." Karen smiled.
Shane chuckled he loved his wife's smile he had missed her laugh it was nice that things were getting back to so called normal. They ordered their food as Shane reached his hand over and held Karen's in his as he rubbed her hand with his thumb.
"I love you Karen. I know these last few months haven't been easy but I just want you to know that you will always have my heart and I am the luckiest man in the world to call you my wife." He told her.
"Shane I love you too. You have my heart no one has ever made me feel the way you do. I am so blessed to call you my husband and you opened up your life to me. So Happy Birthday my dear husband." She smiled. "I love you now and always."
Shane leaned over and kissed her lips softly.
As they enjoyed their dinner they talked about this coming Saturday which was Rogan's 7th birthday and the same day as his party.
"You know I think it's kind of cool that you and Rogan have the same birthday month well I guess I should say birthday week." Karen said taking a bite of her pasta.
"It really is cool. I kind of thought that we would have the same birthday. I was convinced Marissa was gonna go into labor and we'd have the same birthday. But I guess Rogan wanted a special day on his own." Shane said.
"He does deserve a day all on his own." Karen said with a half smile taking a drink of her wine.
"I am an idiot." Shane said to himself as he looked at his wife. "Brown eyes I'm sorry I didn't ..." He began to say.
"Shane you have nothing to be sorry for. I know you have a past with Marissa you have three kids with her you have memories. it's OK to share them with me if you want to." Karen told him. "But speaking of birthdays Declan's is next month. I swear January, February, March you couldn't make it easy could you?"
Shane chuckled.
"But I thought we could get him Knicks tickets and take him to the game. Maybe he can bring a friend or something."
"That sounds like a great idea. I know he would love that." Shane smiled.
"Good." She smiled. "But today isn't really about their birthdays it's about yours. I had no idea what to get you because you can be the hardest person to shop for. So how about I will let you got to Flight club to get shoes. I promise not to yell for how much you spend this time. Just don't show me the receipt."
Shane laughed. "Sounds like a deal. Is that my only present?"
"You will just have to wait until we get home for the rest." She teased.
Later that night.
"Damn girl. I am getting to old for this." Shane joked catching his breath both their bodies glistening with sweat.
As they laid their next to one another on their now messy bed.
"So that means no round two?" She smiled running her fingers from his abs up to his chest.
"Hey I didn't say that. I am just gonna need a few or well 10 maybe 15 minutes." He laughed kissing her softly. He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her into him. She laid her head on his chest and she could hear his heart beating.
"Happy Birthday Lover." She said kissing his chest softly.
"Thank you sweet heart. It was a hell of a birthday." He grinned.
Karen giggled as she laid there thinking. Shane looked down at his wife and could see she was thinking about something he knew that look on her face.
"Penny for those thoughts?" He asked.
"Shane I think I want to start trying again." She said softly her finger making designs on his chest.
"You want to try and get pregnant?" He asked.
"Yes. I would like to have a baby. I talked with Dr. Jones and she said we could start trying whenever we are ready."
It was silent a few moments.
"Do you … do you not want to?" She asked looking up at her husband.
"I didn't say that. I just haven't thought about it. But honestly Karen maybe it's a little to soon. We're just getting back to being us again." He said.
"I guess it maybe to soon. It was just something I've been thinking about. I can call Dr. Jones' office in the morning and schedule an appointment to get back on birth control." She said softly as she felt Shane's lips kiss the side of her head. She laid there and watched as he drifted off to sleep.
Several Days Later Saturday.
They were all at Bounce N Play for Rogan's 8th birthday. Karen and Stephanie were off watching the kids playing on one of the bouncing things.
"How are you doing? I feel like we haven't been able to talk or see each other since New Years." Stephanie said.
"I am doing better thank you. I know things have just been so busy. It's royal rumble season and soon Mania." Karen said.
"Yes which just means no time for anything." Stephanie joked. "So I have to ask Shane told me that you aren't going back to work? I mean teaching?"
"Yeah. I worked a few days after Christmas break to get back into it. I was actually offered a job teaching 1st grade for the rest of the year but Shane and I talked about it. He didn't seem thrilled with me being full time. He made a good point if I did go back full time I wouldn't be able to travel with when ever I wanted. So I said I would take the rest of this school year off. We'll see about next year." Karen said looking over at the kids as Rogan was having so much fun with his friends and cousins.
"Are you happy with that choice?" Stephanie asked her sister in law.
"I am. It's nice to take some time off and just be home. It will be nice to just travel with him and not worry about work. But I told him I will help with the charities or anything you or anyone in the family needs." Karen told her.
"It's funny you say that. I was actually talking to Shane and my dad that I would love your help with Connors Cure and few others. Especially during Mania week." Stephanie said.
"Yeah just let me know what I can do." Karen smiled.
When Rogan, Murphy and a couple of his friends ran over to Karen and Stephanie.
"Mom this is the best party ever!" Rogan smiled.
"Best party ever." Karen smiled.
"We are gonna play over here on that big bounce house! Come with us!" Rogan said grabbing her hand and pulling her over to the big bounce house with the slide. While Vaughn was dragging Stephanie.
Marissa was over in the party area making sure every thing was set up with the food and drinks as she rolled her eyes seeing Karen with Rogan.
"You had to bring the little woman?" Marissa scoffed at Shane.
"I told you don't call her that. Also she is my wife so yes you wanted to do the party together so we could both see him on his birthday." Shane said as he counted out the batman cups.
"You're right sorry. I don't want to fight with you not today. It's still just weird that you remarried and to someone so young and just doe eyed for you. But that must explain it."
"What?" Shane asked.
"Oh Shane come on the way she looks at you she is so doe eye and naive. She'll do anything to make you happy. But I am sorry for the pain you both went through no woman should ever have to go through what she did." Marissa said.
"It was tough for awhile but we are finally getting back on track. I know Karen appreciated the card you sent her." Shane said.
"Like I said no woman should ever have to suffer the way she did. So I am trying to be the bigger person here." She said. "But I have to ask are you gonna have more kids? We were done Shane three boys we agreed so color me a bit surprised when Rogan tells me he is gonna be a big brother."
"I was surprised too. But sadly it seemed nature had other plans. I just I don't know about more kids." Shane said as he glanced over as saw Karen smiling playing a few of the games with Murphy, Aurora, Declan and Kenyon.
A little while later all the kids were sitting at the batman decorated tables enjoying their pizza. Shane was standing next to Karen as he was eating his slice of pizza.
"He's such a happy kid." Karen smiled. "His smile is just like yours."
"You think so?" Shane asked looking over at Rogan.
"Oh yes. So much like you. Declan has your stern face. You both get that serious look on your face. Kenyon he has your eyes for sure." Karen said.
"You've really noticed all that?" Shane asked his wife.
"Of course I have. They are amazing kids and I am lucky to have them in my life." She smiled but as much as she loved those three boys there was a part of her that wanted to have a child of her own with Shane.
Soon Shane and Marissa brought out the batman cake as everyone sang Happy Birthday to Rogan. He blew out his candles and made a wish.
"What did you wish for?" Marissa asked.
"Mom I can't tell you that because then it wont come true." Rogan smiled.
"Will you tell me? You can whisper it to me." Shane asked his youngest son.
"Dad I can't tell you either because I want it to come true." He said shaking his head at his dad.
After they enjoyed some cake they all took several family pictures as the party was coming to an end as Rogan was saying good bye to his little friends. Karen was helping clean up the party area when Declan and Kenyon ran in.
"Mom?" Declan asked.
"Yeah Mr. Man?" Karen asked as smiled knowing that look on his face because it was the same look Shane got when he wanted something.
"Can me and Kenyon stay at you and dads tonight?" He asked.
"Yeah please Mom. Rogan is having like 3 of this friends stay over and we don't want them to bug us." Kenyon added.
"It's totally fine with me just make sure it's ok with your Dad and mom first." Karen smiled as the boys both said yes as they ran to go talk to Marissa.
Later that night.
Declan was laying on the couch as Kenyon was sitting in his bean bag chair as they were watching The Sandlot. Karen's choice she said it was a classic all boys had to watch. She was sitting on the other end of the couch looking on Instagram. He heart melted when she saw pictures of Birdie Brie and Daniel's baby. Then she saw a picture of a pregnant Maryse. Karen liked both photos then went to Facebook. But it seemed her time line was flooded with her friends kids and a few of them expecting baby number two or three. She sat there thinking to herself that she she did really want to have a baby of her own. She looked over at Declan and Kenyon and loved them so much. Then she thought maybe Shane was right was it to soon to start trying for another baby. Did he want another baby? Could she really go through another loss. All these thoughts flooded her head. When Shane came in from the kitchen. He handed the boys their popcorn as he sat next to Karen as wrapped his arms around her.
"Dad are we going to Raw 25 next week?" Declan asked eating his popcorn.
"Yeah are we?" Kenyon asked too.
"Of course it's in New York so I don't see why not." Shane smiled glancing at Karen as she was looked at her phone then put it on the stand next to the couch.
"Everything alright brown eyes?" Shane asked.
"Yeah. Just been a long day. Oh I love this part. You're killing me smalls." Karen said right before the TV did.
Both boys laughed at their step mom.
"That's awesome. You know this movie." Kenyon smiled.
"It's a classic." Karen smiled at them.
Shane smiled at his wife.
"I love you." He said kissing her lips softly.
"I love you too." She said kissing him back.
Thank you Kinley Orton-McMchon , jjd022980 , Jenna, espeon44,jessica619 and wolfgirl2013 for you lovely comments and reviews.
Thank you to those who continue to support my writing and take the time to follow/read the story. From the bottom of my heart thank you.
Please forgive any mistakes you may find. I do my best when editing but I often miss things. So sorry for any mistakes you may find.