Missing

Unwelcome Home

"Here's your winner and still WWE Heavyweight Champion...Dean Ambrose!!"

I winced and grabbed my ribs as the ref raised my arm. I quickly grabbed my title belt and rolled out of the ring walking gingerly to the back holding my side. There was nothing that was going to stop me from making a bee line to the shower

"Hey Ambrose! Great match"

.....except for HHH. He shook my hand and pat my back and I put on my best fake smile.

"Thank you sir"

"That landing on that table...how's the ribs?"

"Eh they're alright. Just sore."

"So listen I know you haven't been home in 2 weeks and your wife is expecting and you're probably exhausted, but there's going to be another media storm heading into Battleground. With you being the face of the company I'm going to need you to be ready to make the rounds."

Ignoring the pain I stood up straighter and gave a half smile and nervously scratched the back of my neck thinking about Jennifer. She was already overwhelmed and upset with me for being gone this long. I promised her I'd try to cut back a little and be around more because she's freaking out about raising 3 kids alone, but she also knew that this was going to happen. Obviously he wasn't asking me to do it...he was telling me I was going to be doing it and here was my fair warning.

"Does that start today or..?"

"Take your two days off and when you get back we'll get things set up. Go get those ribs looked at before you hit the locker room"

"Thank you."

I waited for him to make his way to another superstar before groaning and heading for the trainers office. Great....Jenn is going to kill me. The trainer ran a bunch of tests and sent me on my way. Rest and taking it easy...yeah right. My phone vibrated in my bag as I threw my gear over the top of it and made my way to the shower. I put my hands on the wall and closed my eyes putting my head down as the hot water ran over me. It was nice to just relax and not have to do anything for even just a minute. The idea of going home felt almost more stressful than staying on the road and doing a non stop media tour. I loved my family and my home, but this pregnancy has made my wife...unbearable.

"Hey man, sorry about that landing on the table."

I stood up and opened my eyes looking behind me feeling someone tap my shoulder as they walk by

"Don't worry about it. Just bruised ribs and shit. I'll be pissing blood for a week, but I've had worse"

"You know you were off your game though right? Tired?"

I sighed deeply and groaned "Yeah. It's been rough and Jenn hasn't been helping"

"What's wrong now?"

"I dunno Colby...this time she is just a nightmare with hormones and shit. I can't take it. And she's taking it out on JJ and Sierra...it's annoying. Won't let me hire a nanny or someone to help her. She insists she can do it alone, but then calls me 50 times a day in tears that she can't take it."

"I told you not to marry her. Hell...I told you not to sleep with her that night and now look at you married to her with a third kid on the way."

"Yeah relationship advice from the guy whose penis was all over the internet and was caught cheating. Besides I love my wife and my family. She's just being a pest right now."

"Bring her back on the road then. Dude you have that big ass bus you travel in. There's plenty of room."

"I know. But she doesn't want to go back on the road with me. She hated it and complained constantly. And I don't want to take Jon out of school for that. Homeschooling is just one more thing Jenn would have to do. I don't know. We'll figure it out. In the meantime I'm headed home"

I turned off the water and grabbed my towel. I did a double take looking in the mirror as I walked by. You could see the exhaustion on my face. I couldn't wait to get home and just relax and breathe. I quickly got dressed and made my way out to the rental car while scrolling through my phone. Ugh Jenn called at least a dozen times.

"I'll be home soon!! Jesus!!"

I yelled at my phone in annoyance as I tossed it on the seat and drove to the airport. The drive was short and it felt like the plane ride was shorter. The nap on the plane was amazing!! The cab driver threw my bags in the trunk and I sank into the back seat and put my head back closing my eyes.

The cab jerked to a stop in front of my house and I groaned opening one eye and turning to look at the house. It was after 10:30pm and every light in the house was on. Some how I knew everyone was still awake and it wasn't because they were excitedly waiting for me. I paid the cab driver and winced in pain pulling my bags out of the trunk. Dragging the bag behind me up the driveway I could hear the screeching from inside the house and I sighed in annoyance that JJ and Sierra were still up.

Slowly I opened the door and closed it quietly leaving my bag by the door and leaned against the wall of the family room watching the two of them fight and argue over a Lego playset. I surveyed the room and of course Jenn was no where in sight.

"STOOOOOOOOOP!!!! NOOOOOOOO!!!! SIERRA THAT PIECE DOESN'T GO THERE!!!"

"LEAVE ME ALONE!!!!"

"GIVE IT TO ME!!!!"

"DON'T TOUCH ME JJ!!!"

"I'M TELLING!!! YOU SPIT ON ME!!!! MOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMM!!!"

Sighing deeply I walked in and grabbed the Lego in question and stood watching as they both looked up at me. I didn't have to say anything. They both knew they were in trouble for various reasons. Jon opened his mouth to speak and I folded my arms across my chest and raised my eyebrow. Normally that was all that I had to do, but he decided to keep going

"Dad....Sierra kept trying to put that piece where it doesn't go and it's mine and she spit on me..."

"Nuhhh he pushed me!!"

"I DID NOT!!!"

"YOU DID TOO!!"

I put my hand up and and sighed "Just stop...I saw the whole thing. Jon, Sierra is three and you're six and you know how to share. So what if she puts the piece there. You don't need to push her"

"But..."

"No, you don't need to push. And you don't need to tattle either. No one likes a tattle tale. We've talked about this."

"But dad..."

"If you but dad me one more time JJ. Why are you still up?"

"Mom said we could"

"Well, I'm saying you can't...bed...now..."

Sierra looked up at me with her bright blue eyes and it was hard for me not to smile. She was my little princess and had me wrapped around her little finger. It was very hard for me to stay mad at her for long. Ignoring the pain I bent down and picked her up and hugged her tight as she wrapped her arms around my neck. At least someone missed me and was happy to see me. I set her down and tossed the Lego on the table as she watched. I held my breath and winced kneeling down in front of her

"Sierra, is it OK to spit on JJ?"

She watched me and picked up a Lego and started trying to play; ignoring my question. I grabbed her arm and gently pulled her in front of me taking away the block and looked at her. Jenn wanted her to be a little prissy girl, but she was anything but. She'll let you do her hair or put her in a dress, but she'd rather play in the dirt and roll around with the boys. Sierra was adorable and sweet, but very independent and stubborn.

"Answer my question Sierra. Are you allowed to spit?"

"No" she answered proud of herself

"No more spitting on your brother. Got it? Lets get to bed. It's late"

She nodded excitedly and grabbed my hand trying to drag me towards her room. I chuckled quietly and carefully stood up. I followed her down the hall with her curly blonde hair bouncing behind her.

"Get into bed and I'll come say goodnight in a few minutes."

Passing by JJ's room down the hall I heard muffled sniffles and I sighed. Jon was the sensitive one. He whined a lot and was constantly looking for my approval. I guess maybe I was always a bit too hard on him and maybe expected too much. I poked my head in the door and looked around

"Hey. Did you want to talk?"

"LEAVE ME ALONE!!"

He screamed and suddenly the door was slammed in my face. I closed my eyes completely irritated and sighed deeply grumbling. We'll talk about this in the morning. I turned back to Sierra's room and tucked her into bed before heading into the master bedroom. I walked in and quietly closed the door. Jenn was sitting on the edge of the bed completely tired and stressed out. She looked up and rushed to me warpping her arms around me and hugged me tight. I gasped in pain and closed my eyes as I hugged her back.

"Ow" I whispered and cleared my throat "What's wrong?"

"Nothing. I just really missed you. I needed you"

"Jennifer, if you need the help please let me hire someone. You know it's only going to get harder."

She pulled away slightly looking at me confused

"What do you mean? You said you were going to try to take a little more time off to be here."

"Yeah I know, but I can't Jenn. You know what it's like when I had the belt last time. They want me to do a big media tour for the next pay per view. That's going to mean more time away from here. You're going to need the help"

Angrily she pushed away from me and started to cry. I sighed trying to keep from losing my temper. A lot of what she was feeling she couldn't help and I was trying to be understanding, but my patience with her was wearing thin

"Jon you promised me! You promised!"

"I know...I'm sorry. I shouldn't make promises like that when I know I can't keep them. I will do my best Jennifer, but you knew this was my job when you married me"

"You only married me because I was pregnant"

"That's not true and you know it. Knock the shit off Jennifer. I'm trying really hard to keep from yelling and getting pissed. I know you have a lot going on so I'm trying to be understanding, but you're starting to cross the line so think long and hard before you open your mouth."

I watched as she sat on the edge of the bed sobbing. All of this was completely annoying and aggravating, but I had to just ignore it. I knew she didn't mean anything she was saying. It wasn't all her fault. Ignoring the pain once again I knelt in front of her, wiped the tears from cheeks and held her hands smiling at her.

"Hey...it's going to be OK. We'll work it out. I love you Jennifer. I don't like being away either. I'd rather be here with you and the kids. But for right now things are busy. But I will do everything I can to be here when I can. Please don't cry. The stress isn't good for you two."

"I'm sorry" she mumbled

"I know you are. I'm really tired. Lets get to bed. I need to go to the mall in the morning...if you want...I need a few things. We can shop for the little guy. What do you think?"

She smiled and nodded. I kissed her cheek and stood up carefully and changed for bed. The pain was awful as I climbed into bed and I was just hoping to sleep it off. Jenn cuddled close and I pulled her closer, kissed her head and smiled

"I love you Jon"

"I love you too, Jenn. Very much. Goodnight"