• Post Christmas 2005
• John questions Carrie
• Carrie lets something important slip
• Mike jumps to conclusions
• Dave is able to help his friend
• Short and sweet chapter
• This one’s working title was Mistake
• Thanks, as always to Nan for the graphic!

Feedback: always appreciated!  In other words, yes please. 

“Baby,” he asked, reaching for her hand.  They were both sitting on the couch in her condo, watching a basketball game supposedly.  She hated basketball, but stayed to keep him company.  Mike had run to the store for some dinner items, leaving the two behind. 

“Yes, John” she answered.   

She'd noticed he had something on his mind when he arrived this evening so she wasn’t surprised that he waited until Mike was gone until he tackled it.  He held her small hand in his and put both of their hands on her tiny bump of a tummy.  He kept his hand still for a moment as he waited.  He waited in case there was some movement that he was desperate to feel.  But also to give him a chance to figure out how to say what he wanted to say.   

“They’re sleeping, honey,” she grinned in response to his hand on her bump.  She'd felt some twinges, but nothing that she could say for certain were the boys and not indigestion. 

He let her hand go but he kept his on her belly and rubbed in a gentle circular pattern.  He stayed quiet, watching his large hand stroke her tiny belly.  He was amazed thinking about the fact that the tiny woman next to him, the tiny bump under his hand was keeping those babies safe.  He didn’t normally get to touch her so familiarly any more.  She didn’t ever tell him no, but he was pretty sure Mike would get pissed about it.  He missed their contact, their quiet friendly touches.  Most of them weren’t sexual, they were just two friends maintaining contact and he missed it. 

“Baby, you don’t think this is a mistake, do you,” he asked, continuing to rub her.  Neither of them heard the door open quietly behind them. 

“John, I told you I think any child that gets stuck with me for a parent will be screwed up, so yeah, I think it’s a mistake.  I’m sure I’m not very suitable.  Lucky for everyone, I can afford the years of therapy they'll need.  But do I think me having a baby is a mistake, really?  No,” she said, feeling the kids shift under his hands.  She silently reached for his hand, moving it to where some movement was, so he could feel and be a part of it. 

"Carrie, you're going to make a great mom.  You know that.  Mike and I know it, too.  Hell, I think we're both worried that we'll suck so bad that you'll toss us both out." he said feeling life stir under his hand.   

He knew she'd be a great mom, she mothered her nieces and nephews.  Hell, he'd even seen her mother Dave on the road and from some of the stories from Triple H and Ric, she mothered them too.  She shook her head and smiled sadly at him, waiting for him to come out with whatever was bothering him.  Several quiet minutes passed without him asking anything more.  Carrie hunched her shoulders forward, ducking her head and waving her splayed hand in front of her face. 

“Yo, S’up,” she asked, hoping to get him to open up.  John’s eyes widened in astonishment.  She’d never teased him about his ring persona.  He couldn’t help it, he laughed at her. 

“That’s funny, Baby.  I see a future for you in front of the camera,” he chuckled. 

“No you don’t.  I can’t think of anything I’d like to do less except maybe a root canal,” she teased.  John silently shook his head.  He let the matter drop, bringing his other worry back to the fore front.  Several more quiet minutes passed. 

“Do you think we were a mistake,” he finally asked.   

She knew instantly that was what had been eating away at him by the way he directed his question.  He usually looked her in the eye when they talked, but not this time. 

“No, never,” she said quietly.   

She saw his eyes lift up, looking directly into her own, widening at her words.  It was obvious he had been afraid she had thought their time together was a mistake.  It was easily the most intense relationship for him and he was relieved that she didn’t think it was a mistake. 

“Even Vancouver,” he asked quietly, rubbing her tummy again, relief at her admission obvious. 

“Even Vancouver,” she responded quietly. 

“Why Baby?  Why didn’t we work,” he asked her quietly. 

“Me,” she said simply.  “Don’t think I didn’t want it to, because I did, but I didn’t want to drag you down, honey.  You know that.  You’ve got way too much going on right now to be saddled with someone like me,” she said, leaning over placing a soft kiss on his cheek.   

He reached over and put his large hand around the back of her neck, bringing her head back in, resting his forehead against hers. 

“I love you baby, I don’t know what else to say,” he said quietly.  She blinked back tears, but stayed quiet for several long seconds. 

"John, I love you too," she said quietly.  He pulled his face away from hers with his blue eyes wide. 

"That's the first time you've told me you loved me, Carrie," he whispered, trying to keep his voice from breaking.  She frowned. 

"It can't be," she said quietly.  He nodded silently into her surprised green gaze and continued his pattern of caressing the babies.   

"I'm sorry I didn't say it sooner, John.  I guess I really am screwed up if I forgot to tell you that," she said quietly.   

He stayed quiet, because he was still shocked that she said she loved him.  He never thought he'd hear those words from her, so he wanted to savor the words, the feel of hearing them, the sound of her voice as she said them.  He was far away, lost in the moment. 

“Wrong time, wrong place,” she said finally as he raised his eyes to her with an unspoken question.  He stayed quiet for several moments. 

“Right place for me in Vancouver.  Three blissful days Baby, that I will never forget,” he said, punctuating his meaning by placing a soft kiss on her cheek.   

He lifted his hand from her rounded tummy, touching her cheek, brushing a tear away.  She nodded, but stayed quiet collecting her composure again. 

“No mistakes, no regrets,” she said to him as he started rubbing her tummy again. 

“No Baby, never,” he agreed quickly, looking away.     

She wrapped her arms around his neck, hugging him.  She missed him more than she realized until now.  His gentle tummy touches reminded her how much she missed him.  He held her tight for a few seconds then released her regretfully. 

“Can I use you for a pillow, Franchise,” she asked.   

She had fallen asleep on him numerous times months ago, but wanted to ask before she drifted off on his comfortable shoulder; now that things were different. 

“Always,” he said smiling and relaxing as she leaned into him, resting her head against his shoulder and closing her eyes without another word.  He pressed a gentle kiss on the top of her head. 

Mike had stopped just inside the door, arms full of groceries.  He'd witnessed most of it and had a hard time maintaining his silence as he watched.  But he wasn’t really surprised at their comments, except three days?  Three fuckin' days in Vancouver?  Holy shit, no wonder Cena was probably the father.  He had worried numerous times that if he left them alone together he’d come back to find them screwing each others brains out.  That hadn’t happened yet, but he wasn’t really prepared to hear today’s conversation either.  He could have announced his presence, but for some reason chose not to.  Dumb shit. 

He walked into the kitchen quietly, setting the plastic bags of groceries down on the counter.  He unloaded all the bags, tucking away what wasn’t needed and pulled other things out that he was planning on using for dinner.  Once he was finished, he walked into the living area where they were on the couch with a game on. 

“Hey,” he said quietly since he knew she was sleeping.   

John looked up from the game and smiled at him.  He had one hand around the back of the couch as she rested her head on his shoulder.  It was obvious to Mike that she was out already. 

“How long she been sleeping,” Mike asked the other man, even though he already knew the answer. 

“Just a couple of minutes,” John answered truthfully. 

Mike looked at the man and couldn’t get past the three days in Vancouver.  He clenched his jaw.  He nodded at him and walked away without another word.  He clenched his fists walking back into the kitchen.  Without pausing he put away the food that he had left out.  He knew he couldn’t do it, not now.  He couldn’t get the vision of Cena and Carrie naked together out of his head.  Three days?  Damn it!   

He walked past them on the couch, heading straight up to their room to grab his gym bag in silence.  He had to hit something and he needed to leave soon or he’d end up doing something stupid, that much he knew.  As he walked back down with his gym bag in hand, he looked at them on the couch.  He saw that she had slid down from Cena's shoulder and her head was now resting in his lap.  His private hellish vision reappeared with a vengeance.  Damn it. 

John looked up at his descent with a frown.  He thought Mike went to the store so he could make something for dinner.  Not that he cared, he could always eat whatever was handy, but Mike had got into the habit of making dinner when he was visiting.  It was definitely something he appreciated because sometimes it was the only healthy meal he ate all week. 

“I, um, I gotta go to the gym,” Mike muttered walking past them on the couch.  Mike refused to turn around and look to see if John had heard or understood him.  He just needed to leave, now. 

John nodded without a word, sensing the other man’s anger, but confused about the cause.   He leaned back and tried to watch the game, his thoughts drifting back to the words she had said to him finally.  It didn’t matter they were late in coming, all that mattered was that she did love him, even if she didn’t think it was enough to want to stay with him or share more of their lives together.  Those little words gave him hope and let him know he wasn't the only one to feel deeply in their relationship.  In spite of her constant protestations, she did have a heart and she did care.  Now he'd even heard her say it.  He had worried that he was going to go through his whole life without hearing those words from her.  He had no idea how long he sat in front of the TV with the game long finished, but she finally stirred and opened her eyes in confusion. 

“Feel better,” he asked quietly, watching her rub her eyes and stretch with feline grace.   

Her 'just woke up' look reminded him of his nephew as he woke up.  She looked just as young and fresh….and confused, he chuckled to himself. 

“Yeah, what time is it?  How long did I sleep,” she asked, looking around to get a sense of time.  She thought she would have woken up long ago if dinner was ready.  The smell usually woke her, if nothing else.   

“Mike here,” she asked. 

He shook his head, “Nah, Baby.  He came back, but he said he had to go to the gym.”   

She looked at John with a frown.  The gym?  What the hell? He’d already been to the gym today. 

“Okay,” she said as unease started.  Her head was already beginning to throb with worry.   

She got up from the couch and went to the kitchen to see if she could find his reason for needing to go to the gym twice in one day.  That was highly unusual, even for him.  She didn’t see any note.  Opening the fridge, he had gone to the store and bought the things he had said, but other than that she didn’t know what the hell was up. 

“John?” 

“Yeah, Baby,” he said getting up from the couch and walking toward the kitchen, stretching his neck as he did so. 

“Did you say anything to him?  Did he seemed pissed off or tense,” she asked, raking her hair.  That was what usually caused him to go to the gym, or at least stay at the gym longer than normal for him. 

“Now that you mention it,” he rubbed his chin in thought.  “He did seem pissed.  He went in and out of the kitchen a couple of times and in and out of the room too.  I thought he was acting like a damn yo-yo.  But a pissed yo-yo,” he finished as he remembered the man’s face as he said he was going to the gym.  Definitely the face of someone who was pissed off. 

“Shit, now what?  Damn it.  He’s worse than a damn teenage girl on prom night, I swear,” she said putting her hands on her hips, blowing her hair away from her face in frustration.   

John grinned.  She looked adorable with her hands on her hips and her hair loose.  He knew she was getting upset, but he also thought it was funny that she’d compare Mike to a girl.  He knew the other man would not appreciate the comparison. 

“Baby, do you compare all the men you know to women,” he smiled at her serious expression. 

“What,” she asked quickly.  Then she stopped as she replayed what he’d said.  “As a matter of fact, I do.  Some of you more than others, believe me.  You’ve all got girlie names, too,” she giggled in spite of herself. 

“Don’t tell me my name, I don’t want to know,” he chuckled.  A thought struck him.  “Does Triple H get a girlie name, Baby?” 

“Shit yes!  He’s worse than most of you,” she admitted.   

She was smiling at the silly conversation they were having.  Discussing the fact that she privately called some of the biggest men she knew girlie names when they were behaving like petulant children. 

“C’mon, you gotta tell me,” he pleaded with her.  She shook her head. 

“No.  Not going there.  Suffice to say, it’s pretty damn girlie.  Goes with his pretty blond hair.”   

At her words, his brows went up and he shut his mouth as he tried to think of a particularly prissy name for Triple H, the Cerebral Assassin.

*** 

Mike was surprised as he pulled into the parking lot seeing David’s H2 parked out front.  David had equipment at home so Mike wasn’t sure why he was at the gym tonight instead of being home and busting his ass in comfort. 

As he walked through the doors, he couldn't miss David directly in front of him, working on some lat pulls.  Now he knew why he was at the gym, his wife would kick his ass if she saw what he was training today. 

“Hey, surprised to see you here,” Mike said.   

David nodded and continued on with his set.  Mike walked to the locker room and quickly changed into his gym clothes for the second time.  He’d already decided to work on his legs since he’d done chest and arms earlier.  He could never work on his legs enough anyway, and they were good to get out aggression with. As he set the weights on the first leg press, David walked up to him. 

“Didn’t you tell me you already did your workout,” David asked as he drank down some water.   

Mike nodded, but didn’t trust himself to tell his buddy the real reason he was there.  David saw the set of his long time friend’s shoulders and knew something had seriously pissed him off.  Did he dare ask him about it?  Nah.  He’d wait for Mike to burn some of his anger away first, then ask him.  He hadn’t seen that intensity of anger since Lisa.  He hoped like hell she wasn’t back stirring up more shit. 

Mike watched David walk away, blowing out his breath in relief.  He was glad he didn’t have to talk about it.  He was just so damned pissed he could barely see straight and when he closed his eyes, all he could see was his hellish vision of Cena laying naked with Carrie for three days, fucking like rabbits the entire time.  He started his sets slow and steady, making sure his movements were controlled.  After the first set was completed, he knew he needed to up the weight considerably or he wouldn’t get a damn thing out of the extra work out tonight. 

David watched his friend select significantly higher weights for his next set and frowned.  Mike wasn’t usually reckless, so he decided to watch and wait.  Wait for the inevitable outburst.  They’d both been through this kind of stuff before.  He was finished with his workout anyway.  He just needed to stay away for a few more hours until the slumber party settled in for the night.  He loved his daughter to distraction but the thought of all those giggling girls squealing in the den was enough to keep him at the gym all damn night if needed. 

He watched as the other man cranked out the movement with his thighs, baring his teeth as he did so.  Hearing his loud exhale on ever rep, he knew he wouldn’t have long to wait.  Just be patient.  After the tenth rep of lifting too damn much weight, Mike roared his frustration.  Frustration at his body, frustration at himself, frustration at whatever it was that had pissed him off, David didn’t know, but he did know Mike needed to test himself to his limits to be able to vent his anger. 

Watching from a safe distance, he saw Mike start on the next set with the same ridiculous weight.  He saw his legs quiver with the strain, saw the sweat pour off him but he continued his movement.  With each rep, Mike was now groaning and exhaling loudly, but David also noticed his lips were moving.  Almost like he was talking to himself.  Mike was famous for talking to himself out loud, but he didn’t usually do it during workouts.  He wasn’t sure how many more sets he’d attempt, but he’d try and stop his buddy before he hurt himself soon.   

As he stepped up to him, Mike’s eyes focused on him and he gritted out, “Three fuckin’ days.”  David stayed quiet but Mike said it again on the next exhale, “three fuckin’ days”.   

David had no idea what his buddy was talking about, but he was sure pissed about it.  Mike finally stopped his abuse with a loud groan and sat still as sweat poured from him and his heart pounded.  David handed Mike his water and waited for a moment. 

“You finished killing yourself,” David finally asked. 

“I fuckin’ doubt it,” Mike said as he eyed the next piece of equipment. 

“No, not tonight buddy.  You’re in no shape to train tonight,” David said quickly.   

Mike looked at his friend’s concern and clenched his fists in frustration.  Okay, if Dave wasn’t going to let him beat on himself with weights, he’d just beat the shit out of the bag.  Yeah, that’d feel better anyway, because he could picture someone's face on it.  Yeah, good idea.  He stood up without a word, walking to the bag tethered from the ceiling. 

David watched Mike get up from the leg curls and walk towards the bag.  His intention was clear.  He needed to beat the shit out of something, obviously.  David walked over and held the bag in place without a word.  Mike met his eyes briefly and nodded his thanks. 

Three god damned days ran through his head as he punched the bag.  Three damn days, he continued his rhythmic pounding, first left, then right, the twice right, then twice left.  It was so automatic he didn’t even think about his actions.  They were together for three damn days!  What an idiot he was.  Why did he think she even gave a shit about him?  What had he been thinking all this time?  They just had a friendly fuck in the elevator and called it good?  Yeah, damn it, that was exactly what he had thought or at least hoped.  Now he knew he was wrong.  Why was she staying with him if she loved Cena?  That didn’t make sense to him other than to be nice to Cena.  That’s what she said, said he didn’t need someone like her.  Oh, but it was okay for him, was it?  Damn.  He knew.  He knew it was too good to be true.  Damn.  And all this time he had tried to be the nice guy and invite Cena into their home.  Correct that, her home.  Damn.  How could he have been so blind?  Damn.  What was he going to do?  Damn.  There was no way to fix it this time.  Damn.  His thoughts were interrupted by Dave’s voice. 

“Mike.  Mike,” David finally bellowed to get the other’s attention.  Mike looked at him vaguely.  “You need to stop buddy.  Look at your hands.  You’re not taped, you’re not wearing gloves.  You need to stop.”   

Mike looked down at his hands like they were disconnected from him.  He was surprised to see them bloodied.  He hadn’t felt it.  Mike opened his fists, slowly flexing his fingers, watching the blood drip from his damaged knuckles.  David watched as Mike absorbed the sight of his damaged hands.  He saw his friend’s confusion.  He’d guessed right that Mike had shut out the world as he pounded on the bag. 

“Buddy, time to stop.  Really,” David said seriously.   

Mike looked at him and slowly nodded as his brain started to kick in again.  Suddenly, Mike was so exhausted he started to sway.  David saw the movement and reached to grab him.  Mike looked confused at David’s hand on his arm.  He looked even more confused as David guided him to the bench to sit down.  Mike plunked down onto the bench and looked at his buddy in confusion.  Where did all his strength go?  Why did he feel like such a wet noodle?  He was so exhausted, he could barely think. 

David was relieved that he had been at the gym tonight for his buddy.  He shuddered to think of the damage he might have done to himself if he hadn’t stopped him.  David walked over and grabbed both their water bottles and handed Mike’s to him.  He waited for a couple of minutes before he said anything.  He still was in the dark about the outburst. 

“You ready to call it a night,” David asked quietly.   

Mike nodded on the bench next to him and tried to stand up.  David reached for him as he stumbled and steadied him.   

“Whoa.  I think you are definitely done.” 

“Yeah, stick a fuckin’ fork in me,” Mike said quietly and shook off his friend’s helping hand as he slowly made his way to the locker room.   

David continued to watch out for his buddy in the locker room, making sure he was okay and not going to pass out on him.  He still hadn’t said what had set him off tonight and he wasn’t sure if he’d find out.  Mike had gone quiet and that was never a good sign. 

As they were both finishing up and putting their gym crap back in their bags and lacing their street shoes up, David asked, “Hey, want to join me for a beer?  I got ten giggling teenage girls at my house and I need to stay away for a couple more hours.” 

“Sure,” Mike said fatalistically.  He didn’t have any where to go. 

“Great.  You going to let me beat your ass at pool, too,” David teased him. 

“You wish.  I’ll let you think you can beat my ass,” Mike responded.  He was still exhausted but was starting to feel better after a shower and several full bottles of water. 

“I’ll drive,” David offered knowing that Mike probably shouldn’t drive yet. 

“Sounds good if you’ll go through someplace so I can get something to eat.  It doesn’t even have to be dead yet, I'm starving,” Mike chuckled.   

David chuckled with him, it was a running sick joke that sometimes they were so hungry they could eat a whole cow, even if she was still mooing. 

“Let’s grab something there, sound good,” David asked.   

Mike nodded and followed him out.  Mike detoured to his truck and dropped his bag off but retrieved his keys, wallet and phone, because of habit. 

Thirty minutes later, they were seated at a bar with a huge plate of nachos in front of them as the appetizer.  Their main order would be out in a few.  Both had a beer and a pitcher of water.  David let Mike eat most of the nachos, because he knew how hungry he was and it gave him a chance to think for a few minutes. 

“How are you doing now, buddy,” David asked, deliberately vague.  Mike could choose what he wanted to answer, for now. 

“Better, now there’s food in front of me,” he said as he stuffed another handful of chips loaded in salsa and cheese in his mouth with a grin.   

David shook his head.  So he wasn’t ready to talk yet.  He would, he never could hold anything in, even when they were kids.  Mike used to get their asses into so much trouble because he couldn’t even tell a tiny fib to save their asses. 

Once dinner arrived, talk shifted to work related things because they didn’t get much of a chance to talk face to face any more.  Mike told him of some of the changes in the marketing strategy and how that was working out.  He also updated him on how his money was growing.  David relaxed as he listened to Mike talk about his money.  He knew that his life’s savings were safe in his buddy’s care.  He would never do anything reckless to jeopardize his family’s future. 

David let Mike ramble on about money all through dinner.  Let him get out all the stuff they didn't normally have time for with his hectic schedule.  He waited until their dinner plates had been cleared away and he ordered a beer for both of them without checking that Mike wanted another one. 

Mike raised his brow at his buddy's high handed actions.  He glared at his buddy once he realized his intent.  Damn, why couldn't he just let him alone to think it out by himself? 

"You ready to tell me what that shit was all about," David asked as he sipped his beer.   

Mike's lips snarled at his buddy.  He grabbed his beer and took a long swallow before attempting to say anything. 

"No, but I get the feeling you're not gonna stop bugging me until I do," Mike said sourly.   

David smiled and nodded at his buddy's perception.  David lifted his beer to take another swallow and as he set it down he shot a questioning look at his friend, urging him to talk. 

"Damn," Mike said, rubbing his face with his battered hands.  David stayed quiet, knowing he'd work his way around to it eventually. 

"Three fucking days, Dave.  She was with Cena for three fuckin' days in Vancouver," Mike finally blurted out.  David stayed quiet, only his eyes gave away his surprise at the news.   

"And she's still in love with him," Mike said slowly.  He swallowed his beer to give himself a chance to think. 

"You sure about that Mike?  I don't think she's-" was all David got out before Mike cut him off. 

"God damn it, I heard it with my own ears and saw them together," Mike admitted. 

"What?  Did you walk in on them doing the deed or what," David asked.   

He seriously doubted that Lil' Sis was in love with Cena, no matter what his buddy thought.  Kris and he had talked about that very subject months ago and she assured him that Carrie had never been in love with him to start with so how could she still be? 

"Kind of.  They weren't naked if that's what you're asking me.  I went to the store to get some dinner shit and left them alone."  Mike paused to swig some more beer.  He might need another at this rate.  "Yeah, I know stupid of me."   

David didn't think anything like that, he thought it was pretty normal if not everyone needed to go to the store. 

"I came back and they were on the couch talking.  That's when Cena said something about three fuckin' days in Vancouver.  No, wait.  He said blissful, that was his word," Mike said in disgust. 

"Did you think they just ran into each other and had a quickie?"  David seriously doubted his buddy gave it much thought after the initial shock wore off. 

"Damn it, yes," Mike admitted.  David shook his head and knew he needed to choose his words carefully. 

"You ever talk to her about Lisa?"  At Mike's stunned look, David pressed on.  "Does Lil' Sis ever ask you about her or how long you were together?"   

Mike frowned, shaking his head.  He didn't see where his buddy was going or what that bitch had to do with anything.   

"Does Lil' Sis ever ask you about her or your time together," David pressed him. 

"No, not at all," Mike admitted. 

"She knows you were with psycho bitch for years and she doesn't hold it against you, does she," David asked quietly. 

"I don't see what the fuck that has to do with anything," Mike snarled. 

"Buddy, they're all tied together.  You two didn't come together without baggage.  You ever ask her about any of her time with 'Taker?"  David could see his answer by Mike's frown.  "You should, you might learn something."   

David watched and waited as his friend waded through what he'd said.  He finished off his beer and waited for Mike to say something. 

"So you think I should just ignore it," Mike asked his buddy. 

"It's up to you, but you're not lily white either," David said quietly.  He saw Mike's jaw clench at the reminder, but let it slide.  "You told me she said that she thought you were getting married when she ran, right?"  Mike nodded.   

"So, is it surprising that she ended up with Cena? You were out of the picture from her perspective and he was right there, ready, willing and able."  David held up his hand before his buddy could say anything else stupid and forged ahead.  

"You might be surprised to learn, if you ever got enough balls to ask her, that she was the one that called a halt to the thing with Cena, not him.  She told me that they both knew what they were getting into, but he lost sight of that and she felt somehow responsible."  David didn't tell his friend that it had taken several weeks of on again off again conversations with her to get any information out of her.  They didn't normally have long conversations about personal matters, particularly hers.  He knew there was more to it, but gave up trying to get anything else out of her about the situation weeks ago. 

David sat quietly and watched the emotions play across Mike's face as he struggled to shift his thinking.  It was obvious Mike had been so damn sure of his interpretation of today’s overheard conversation and was trying to see if anything else made sense. 

"Mike, if you're not sure what I told you about her breaking it off, ask Cena.  He'll tell ya.  He told me.  He wasn't happy about it and still isn't, is my guess.  Does that make his words make more sense?" 

Mike scrubbed his hands over his face and let out a deep breath. 

"Damn it.  Why does this shit have to be so damn complicated?  Does it ever get easier," he asked his long married friend. 

"Sometimes, but don't let that fool ya.  It's work, but it's worth it," David said.   

He wanted to grip Mike by the shoulders and shake some sense into him but knew it wouldn't work.  Besides he had his own problems to deal with and he wasn’t sure where to start since he didn’t know exactly what it was. 

“You know you’re gonna have to talk to her about it.  She won’t.  She’s as bad as me, I think.  It’s one of the reasons we get along so well when we travel.”   

At Mike’s questioning look, David expounded.   

“Both Lil’ Sis and I are happy with silence.  Comfortable in quiet.  I know you’re not, never have been.  I think that’s why you talk to yourself sometimes.  We can go for hours without saying a word to each other, not because we’re pissed but because we’re comfortable.  She was quiet even when she was traveling with all four of us assholes.”   

Seeing he had his buddy’s attention, he added more to hopefully get his point across. 

“Kris tells me that living with me is like living with a mute sometimes.  It frustrates the shit out of her, but she knows I don’t just talk to make noise.  Lil’ Sis is the same.  She is not one of those ladies that sits and has hours and hours of conversations on the phone every damn day, unlike the teenager in my house.”  David smiled at his buddy as he thought of his daughter and how much she was like Kris, luckily. 

“So,” Mike narrowed his gaze at his friend as he set his empty beer down and waved the waiter over for another.   

“I am over reacting and I just need to grow the fuck up.  Is that what you’re telling me?”   

David knew his answer wasn’t required, Mike usually asked rhetorical questions while he thought shit through.   

“And,” he smiled.  “I need to nail her feet to floor and get her to talk to me about shit.  Tell her about the shitty years I spent with Lisa?  Why, I’m still working on that one.  I haven’t figured your reasons out for that yet.”  He drank from his new beer and set it back down quietly. 

“Any idea how I get her to talk,” Mike asked. 

“Uh, I don’t know.  But I think you should start simple.  Don’t jump on her about the Cena thing.  Ask her about ‘Taker or something.  She’ll probably tell you some of that.  She was pretty damned funny, from what I've heard.  Maybe you could play it safe and ask her how they met and see where that leads.  I don’t know buddy!  You’re inventive, give it a try.  It’s can’t be worse than what you thought earlier tonight.”   

David watched his buddy turn his words over in his head thinking hard as he drank more of his beer.  David had finished his beer but had switched to water, since he knew he had a busy week coming up and he needed to be rested and hydrated. 

“I’m not sure I even want to know about Cena.  I don’t think I,” was all Mike said as he stared off into space without finishing his sentence.  His gaze switched back to David with an intensity as he asked, “You ever talk to Kris about any of your exes?” 

“Oh yeah, buddy.  I didn’t want any of those ladies,” David emphasized the word, “to ruin the good thing we had going.  I wasn’t perfect when I met her and she knew that straight up.  The best part of telling her all that stupid shit was she heard the worst about me and still loved me anyway.”   

Mike frowned at his buddy.  He wasn’t sure Carrie would want to hear the worst about him and some of the reckless and irresponsible shit he used to do.  He didn’t want to think about it, but if he wanted to shake the hold that Lisa had on him, he knew Dave was right. 

“You did tell me it gets easier, right,” Mike suddenly grinned at his friend.  David nodded with a smirk.  “Good, because I’m not used to this whole relationship thing and actually giving a shit about anything.”   

David was surprised that Mike admitted to that, but knew it was true.  He’d seen him with Lisa long enough to know that they seemed to live to antagonize each other.  Mike picked up his beer and drained the glass in one long drink.  He sat it back down and looked over at his long time friend. 

"Thanks, Dave.  I didn't want to talk about it, but you made me anyway.  Thanks," Mike said, standing up slowly, his abuse in the gym making itself known.   

David smiled as he reached for the other's hand.  He pulled him in for a quick hug and backslap. 

"That's what friends are for.  To tell us when we're being a dumb shit even when we don't want to hear it.  You did it to me often enough, years ago," David smiled.

"Yeah, but that shit was different," Mike protested. 

"Maybe, but you still had your head up your ass tonight," David reminded his friend, walking out after signing for their food. 

***

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