"Mama, tell us a bedtime story," the children begged.
"Alright," she said with a sigh, as she sat down on the edge of the
bed.
"What would you like to hear?"
"The Princess and the Pea," the young lass requested.
"No, no, that's for girls, I want the Three Billy Goats Gruff," the
wee
boy demanded.
"How about," a deep voice interrupted, walking into the room, "a
story
about us."
"A story about you and Mom," the children questioned simultaneously,
more than just a little bit of disappointment showing on their faces.
"Our lives aren't that boring," their father protested. He put a hand
on his wife's shoulder, looking down at her tenderly, "in fact far from
it…"
Once upon a time, in a galaxy far, far away - Okay, in a not so distant
land, about six years back:
"I'm so excited honey, our first party together as newlyweds."
"I know, this ought to be fun," Matt said wrapping his arms around
Amy's waist. She turned in his arms, wrapping her arms around his neck, "I
felt the baby kick!"
"You're sure?" he asked excitedly
"Positive!" Matt leaned down and put his hand to her slightly extended
belly. He felt a light fluttering across her stomach. Matt was ecstatic,
"I felt it!" He beamed, feeling every bit the proud father, and the
baby
wasn't even born yet! Matt leaned forward and cupping Amy's cheek, drew her
in for a kiss.
"Aww geez guys, rent a room!" Jeff said, dropping the grocery bags on
the floor.
"Uh, if you haven't noticed little bro, this is our room, in our
house,"
Matt said, reluctantly removing his arm from around Amy's waist.
"Alright, alright," he said, unable to hide his smile. He reached over
to hug his big brother and sister-in-law. "So when's the baby due?"
"In six months," Amy said proudly.
"Good, I'm looking forward to teaching my nephew or niece the Swanton
bomb, the secret to having great hair…" Jeff laughed at the stern
look they
were giving him, "I'm kidding. They can learn that from me when they are
older," Jeff said with a wink as he headed out back to put up the plastic
pumpkin lights.
Matt shook his head and grinned, "Jeff is incorrigible. He's right
though, I can just picture it, she'll learn the Twist of Fate from me and the
Moonsault from you."
"Excuse me, a girl, I thought we agreed it would be a boy," Amy said
teasingly as the doorbell rang.
"I agreed that if it was a boy, he would have your eyes, while our
little girl has my nose," Matt corrected with a grin as he opened the door.
"Oh, hey Nora," Matt said casually, giving her a hug, "Where's
your costume?"
"Oh, I have it in the car, I'll put it on later as we get closer to
when the party starts. So, where is Jeffy?" Nora asked, grinning.
"He's out back, putting up the lights," Matt responded. Amy watched
out the kitchen window as Nora rushed over to Jeff and gave him a hug.
"They're almost never apart," Amy replied, turning back to Matt, a
small
smile on her face.
"Wrestling is a tough business - when you have to be apart from your
loved ones," Matt said thoughtfully, referring to Jeff and Nora's two week
separation due to scheduling and tours. "Which is why I can't wait till our
little one is born, two glorious months of having you all to myself will be
wonderful," Matt said wistfully.
"You forget the part about a crying child who wakes up in the middle of
the night because of a messy diaper," Amy pointed out practically.
"Our child will have to sleep sometime," Matt responded, a mischievous
gleam in his eye. Matt looked at his watch, "We'd better get moving."
Together, they started setting the food out on the picnic table. Jeff and
Nora had just finished stringing the lights, when the doorbell rang.
"Hey Jeff, could you get that?" Amy asked, looking up from the armload
of
paper plates and plastic utensils she was holding.
"Sure thing." He opened the door and saw Trish, dressed as Little Bo
Peep.
"What happened to the "Elvira" costume you were planning to
wear?"
"It got all washed up - literally. My roommate, Angie, put it in the
dryer, shrinking it."
"Since when is that a problem?" Jeff said with a smirk.
"If it doesn't cover my butt, I'm not wearing it," she said, giving
him a
playful smack on the arm, her knee-length skirt swishing from side-to-side as
she brushed past him.
"Remind me again, who else is coming?" Trish heard Matt ask Amy as
they
came back inside.
"Perry, Andrew, Glenn, Mark, Stephanie and Chris…"
Matt moaned, "Stephanie and Chris don't know that the other one is coming
do they? We'll have to keep them at opposite sides of the yard. I'm not
having anyone make any money off any fights tonight."
"Only if we make bets on who is going to start it first," Jeff
snickered.
The little girl's eyes widened, "Uncle Jeffy made bets on you?! What's a
bet?"
"We'll tell you when you are older Bridgett, now let Daddy continue,"
their mother admonished gently.
Back to the fairytale, I mean story :)
"Well, I don't think they hate each other at all, I think they're in
love," Nora stated firmly, walking through the patio entrance.
"Maybe," Jeff hedged, as Nora walked over to him, putting her arm
around
his waist. "But they sure have a funny way of showing it."
Quickly, Amy and Matt went upstairs to change into their daring-do
costumes.
"You look quite the handsome fellow with your mustache," Amy replied,
pressing it tightly on Matt's upper lip.
"And you, my dear, are breathtaking," Matt said in kind.
"Flattery will get you everywhere," Amy said, batting her eyelashes at
Matt.
"That's what I'm counting on," Matt said, an impish light glittering
in
his eyes.
"Later, Don Diego or should I say Don Juan," Amy said, laughing. She
grabbed a hold of his black, flowing cape and dragged him towards the stairs.
They had just reached the landing when the doorbell rang. Jeff opened it,
and was greeted by - Laurel and Hardy?
Jeff peered at them curiously for a minute. "Whoa, you had me going
there for a minute guys," he said with a chuckle.
"Thanks," Mark said, grinning. "We thought it would be quite an
unusual
twist, compared to our darker alter egos."
"Not half as much as the costume you are wearing," Glenn said, poking
at
his soft outfit. Jeff frowned, "It was Nora's idea, but I think it's kind
of cute, besides, skittles are my fav…"
"There is nothing wrong with being a skittle. See, Jeff's even dyed his
hair purple to match his outfit," Nora defended staunchly, coming to his
aid.
"While Nora is my delectable counterpart…"
"Let me guess, an orange M & M," a voice said dryly from behind
Glenn and
Mark. Glenn and Mark came inside followed by Chris Jericho. "You should
have been the sexy green one," Chris said, managing to keep a straight
face.
"Hey, that's a good idea!" Jeff cried, his face lighting up.
Nora smiled, "You always know how to make an entrance. If you'll excuse
me, I need to go help Amy with the drinks." She tried to hug Jeff but their
plump, bright bodysuits got in the way. Nora settled for just giving Jeff a
kiss instead, "Mmm, taste the rainbow," she muttered as she pulled
away from
Jeff, who was grinning from ear-to-ear.
"By the way, nice costume Chris," Nora smirked as she headed towards
the
patio. For the first time, Jeff noticed his outfit, a gaudy black, maroon
and yellow vest, with matching shirt and pants.
Eyes as round as saucers, Jeff stared at him, "You look like a…"
"Pimp," Chris said with a smirk, "that was the idea."
"Hey Chris," Amy said, carrying a tray full of drinks, "Wait
until
Stephanie sees you," she said with a laugh. As soon as the words slipped
out, she instantly regretted them.
Chris's face darkened, "She's coming?" Jeff gave Amy a hard look that
said, "see what you've done."
"What are you doing here?" an agitated voice replied from behind
Chris.
Chris stepped aside, bowing a mock curtsy, "Wouldn't want to get in your
way princess," he said crisply.
"Shut up Chris," Stephanie growled, "accidentally" grinding
her stiletto
heel into his boot.
Gritting his teeth from the pain, Chris eyed her slinky outfit. A tight,
black leather skirt, form-fitting red leather halter top and fishnet
stockings that wound around her long legs. Chris ground out, "Haven't had a
chance to put on your costume yet eh princess or are you practicing for your
up and coming profession," Chris said lazily.
Stephanie whirled around to face him. The room grew deathly quiet.
Everyone expected Stephanie to slap the Ayatollah of Rock-N-Rolla.
"The Ayatollah of what?" Brandon, the youngest child asked
confused.
"Of Rock-N-Rolla," his father said calmly. "Now what have I told
you
about interrupting," he said sternly.
"Yes Daddy, please continue."
"And you thought our lives were boring eh," he retorted, raising an
eyebrow. "Anyway, on with the story…"
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