#braxton is a fucking champ

[casapazzo]

Residents in a small Alabama town will be able to vote in their own municipal elections for the first time in decades after a four-year legal battle.

A proposed settlement has been reached in the town’s voting rights case, allowing Newbern, a predominantly Black town with 133 residents, to hold its first legitimate elections in more than 60 years. The town’s next elections will be held in 2025.

. . .For decades, white officials appointed Newbern’s mayor and council members in lieu of holding elections. Most residents weren’t even aware that there were supposed to be elections for these positions.

. . .[Patrick] Braxton was the only candidate who filed qualifying paperwork with the county clerk in 2020, so he won the mayoral race by default. The incumbent, Haywood “Woody” Stokes III, hadn’t even bothered to fill out the paperwork to run again. Haywood Stokes Jr., his father, had previously been mayor of the rural Black Belt town.

After Braxton assumed office, he faced several obstacles. He discovered the locks to the town hall had been changed, and that the town council had held a secret special election in which they simply reelected themselves. They then reappointed Stokes III as mayor of Newbern in 2021. He has been acting as mayor ever since.

. . .Braxton, who was born in Newbern and described himself as a “handyman for the community,” hasn’t been able to access town funds since Stokes was appointed as mayor four years ago. He has used his own money to provide residents with COVID-19 supplies, as well as to host food drives and other events, according to The Guardian.

[artssslut2]

Champ

Summary: Arts wife goes into labor during one of his most important matches and Patrick is caught in the middle.

Art Donaldson x Reader

Okay it’s a little long but I like the way it turned out! Please send requests in!

It was July, it was hot and you were heavily pregnant. The combo did not go well, you were so uncomfortable and anyone around you longer than ten minutes knew it especially Art. Art felt terrible he didn’t know how to help, you were so irritated most of the times he felt like it was his fault. But if he acted like it was his fault you would cry and think your a bad wife so he just kept to himself and did the best he could, doing whatever he could for you.

You and Art had been back at home for a few months and were able to get the nursery all set up and were ready to welcome your baby girl. However Art had one last match before you planned to give birth. The U.S open. Luckily it was right by your house this year so you didn’t have to travel. You were doing your best to support his prep but you were kind of pre occupied.

It was the day before the match, Art was off because he always took the day off before a match to rest and reset,

“Can I get you anything babe?” Art asked you standing up from the outdoor lounge bed. It was a painfully hot day and your air conditioning had broke in your house so you and Art were outside relaxing

“No Art sit down. I should be getting you stuff you have the most important-“ Art cut you off while you tried sitting up

“Hey hey stop, it’s okay just relax, you have something big coming up too so let me take care of you” he said making you lay back down

“Art I’m such a bad wife” you started to cry, you felt pathetic, Art knew the drill

“Baby stop your the greatest wife you know that” Art knew what would make you feel better even if it would make him feel worse “can you… get me some water?” He offered more for you than him. You stopped crying and started to stand up and grab his some water,

“It is so fucking hot!” You yelled aggressively handing your husband your water, “I just need this baby to get the fuck out! My back hurts my feet hurt I’m huge and it’s so fucking hot!” You continued on your hormonal rampage Art stood up letting you finish which he learned was best. He walked up to you and wrapped His arms around you, you slowly gave in Art waited a minute before saying soemthing

“You know it’s so amazing what your doing for our little girl, I’m sorry it’s so hot out. But it two weeks we will get to see Lily, and hold her and I will never let her forget all that you did to bring her into the world.” He softly told you. You loved him so much he always knew what to do

“ I love you Art. thank you I’m sorry I’m such a wreck.” You said into his chest

“You’re allowed to be my love… want me to give you a back massage?” He offered, you just looked up at him smiling already going inside.

“I’ll text Patrick and tell him to bring over all of his fans.” Art said picking up his phone

The rest of the night you spent relaxing as did Art, doing some minor prep things for his huge match tomorrow. You knew he was nervous this is the first open of his career. Patrick had brought over four fans which helped but not much.

Throughout the night you couldn’t sleep which wasn’t unusual for you lately but this was different you were having some pain in your stomach and back. You have had Braxton hicks before but these felt different, you were pretty sure they were real contractions. This couldn’t be happening not now before your husbands big match. You tried to stay calm mabye it would pass and you were just over reacting. You decided not to say anything to Art, he needed to focus. If he knew that anything was wrong he would not play as well. Besides the contraction we’re very far apart and not frequent enough to worry anyways.

You picked out Arts outfit like you always did. Art was leaving before you to warm up and get ready.

“Patrick is gonna pick up in a half an hour, I don’t want you to have to drive right now” he told you, you rolled your eyes playfully at his over protectiveness. You may have protested but you didn’t think it was a good idea to drive either.

“Go get ‘em champ” you whispered before kissing him with your arms around his shoulders, he gave you a nervous smile then leaned down to your bump

“Hey Lily girl wish your daddy luck today, okay?“ he kissed your belly making you smile, she definitely was wishing him luck. Art kissed you once more before leaving. You finished getting ready, you had only felt one contraction since he left about fifteens ago. They were starting to get more intense, you wished Art was here to support you.

Patrick came though the front door as you were leaned over clutching the counter top in the middle of a contraction.

“Fuck y/n are you okay what’s going on!?” He rushed over to you putting his hand on your back, the contraction ended after about 40 seconds

“Yeah I’m fine. I’m just… I’m fine” you stuttered. Patrick looked at you knowing you were lying. He looked terrified “I think I’m in labor” you continued. Patrick’s mouth opened wider

“Well should I call Art?!” He panicked already grabbing his phone

“No! Don’t call him!” Patrick looked at you very confused “he can’t know this is the most important match of his Career he can’t miss it or be distracted. He can’t” you had tears in your eyes because of how terrible you felt that this was happening today.

“Y/n you gotta call him it will be fine” Patrick tried convincing you

“No Patrick! It’s fine the contractions are far apart and spontaneous, it might not even be real, and if it is we’ve got a lot of time so we are going to the fucking match and we are going to support my husband and not take this away from him! So get in the damn car right now so we aren’t late!” You ordered, Patrick hesitated then decided to listen to you. You took a deep breath and headed out to the car as well.

The drive to the stadium you had one more contraction only lasting 30 seconds this made you feel better because you knew they should be one minute before thinking about going to the hospital.

You and Patrick sat in the stands, Patrick keeping a very close eye on you. He was scared shitless and it was obvious. The coin toss just happened art was serving first he saw you in the stands and gave you a smile and a quick wave. You did your best to not look freaked out.

The match was going well art won the first set and they were on to the second it had taken about an hour and you had three more contractions but they weren’t too intense. The two player just started the second set when you felt another one hit you like a train this time in your back too, you gasped grabbing Patrick’s forearm tightly. You looked at you,

“Y/n, Y/n is that another one? Y/n”

“Just shut up” you said through gritted teeth squeezing his arm so tight.

“Pat you gotta do me a favor and time them okay? How far apart they are and how long they last, please” you asked him letting go of his arm.

“Of course. But we really gotta go I think we should at least tell someone on Arts team or-“

“No! It’s almost done he needs to win this I’m fine, my water didn’t even break yet” you interrupted him trying to believe your own words, but as the day progresses you started to panic more. You knew it was the real thing now.

It had only been about an hour but it felt like a lifetime. Art lost the second set so now they had to play a third. Contractions had really started to pick up and you didn’t know how much longer you could last.

“Y/n that’s eight minutes apart. Stop this you have to go.” Patrick told you trying to be firm

“Don’t you want him to win!?” You said in a whisper yell,

“I don’t want you to have his kid in the stands!” He whisper yelled back. A few people around you probably cougt on but you didn’t care.

“It’s almost over. Your supposed to go to the hospital at five minute and eight minutes is not five minutes Patrick” you said clearly not budging on your plan. Patrick put his head in his hands, he was a mess, sweating pale you’d think he was the one in labor.

It had been another hour and the match wasn’t over. Luckily things hadn’t progressed to much probably because you were just sitting this whole time. Contractions were six minutes apart. You were in so much pain you couldn’t believe it. You were trying to hide it from everyone but it was becoming harder. Patrick was bouncing his leg nervously and it was driving you insane.

“Patrick stop.” You said glaring at him

“I’m nervous okay. This is crazy”

“I know it is. But can you just stop being so annoying because I’m nervous too. I’m about to give birth on live television at my husbands tennis match.” You told him, he looked at you realizing he should stop being a baby

“You’re right y/n I’m sorry. It shouldn’t be too much longer now. Can I get you anything a water?” He offered putting his hand on your knee.

“Yes please thank you” you patted his hand but before he could stand up the crowd went wild. To be honest you or Patrick weren’t paying attention to the match at all. You looked down at the court. Art had won. You totally forgot about how much pain you were in for a second seeing the confetti fall down to the courts

“Oh my god Patrick!” You smiled Pulling Patrick in for a hug

“He won he fucking won! He’s won the US open!” Patrick cheered, everything felt unreal until another contraction came crashing through ruining the moment

“Fuck Patrick get Art we gotta go now” you said clutching him to help keep you standing, he held you up until it was over

“Okay I’m going just hold on” he said helping you sit down, Patrick ran down the stairs leaning over the edge to motion art towards him art had just finished shaking his opponents hand than ran over to him while simultaneously looking for you in the crowd. You couldn’t hear what Patrick said you just saw arts face go into shock as he was frozen then Patrick hit his arm and art leaped over the bar into the stands. People were still cheering like crazy. Art found you in the stands and bolted towards you kneeling in front of where you were sitting

“Hey baby what’s going on?” Art said out of breath and panicked

“I’m definitely having this baby now” you said feeling another contraction come on Patrick was right behind Art. Now the three of you had caught some attention. Art looked shocked and confused

“Oh my good um okay I’ll- i um- I don’t hav e my car here fuck” Art stuttered looking like a mess still sweaty from his match and in shock that he’s about to have a baby

“We can take mine come on!” Patrick said both boys helped you up out of the seat. The crowd was still cheering and arts coach’s and team were looking for him, he would explain later. He didn’t care about giving a speech or doing interviews or any of that all he cared about was you.

You all piled into the car after making your way through all the people, people were shouting at Art cheering for him asking for autographs but be totally blocked it all out. Art sat in the back you were in the front,

“How long have your been in labor?” He asked leaning over the seat from the middle

“Since this morning, we’ll kind of last night” you admitted feeling guilty all of the sudden

“What!? Why didn’t you tell me y/n!?”

“I couldnt! You had to play, you couldn’t miss this match Art!”

“Well I can’t miss the birth of our child either!”

“Well you didn’t! And I knew if you knew I was having contractions you wouldn’t play as well, and I haven’t had her yet and you won so we are all winners!”

“Guys! Mabye you should focus on the big picture?” Patrick shouted interrupting you and arts disagreement

“Your right I’m sorry baby, I’m just surprised. Are you okay how do you feel?” Art asked shifting to a calming compassionate tone that instantly made you feel more comfortable.

“I’ve been better. I’m just happy you’re here now. I was starting to freak out I thought the match would never end” you reached grabbing his hand looking back at him he looked at you and smiled

“We’re having a baby y/n” he laughed kissing you. Just then you felt something pop, your legs became wet. Fuck.

“Shit I think my water just broke” you cursed looking at Art terrified, you saw Patrick grimace probably worried about his car seat

“Uh um. It’s okay baby we’re almost there just take deep breaths” Art said stroking your arm. Art was terrified but he knew you were too. He didn’t have time to freak out and he needed to be there for you in case you freaked out.

“Fuck I’m scared Art.” You whimpered you hadn’t even realized how scared you were because you were so focused on trying to get through the match.

“I know. Me too. But your already doing so great. I can’t believe you were doing this all alone”

“I mean I was there too” Patrick chimed in but you both ignored him

“Your gonna be such a good mom y/n I’m so proud of you my love” you spoke softly cupping your face. Another contraction ripped through you the worst one you’ve had yet you let out a gutteral moan grabbing Arts hand, you could hardly breath. You couldn’t talk through it, it was much more intense now.

“Patrick how far away are we?” Art asked trying to stay calm

“ like ten minutes but we’re stuck in traffic so I don’t know” he said also trying to stay calm

“I don’t want to have a baby in Patrick’s car” you cried as you felt the contraction coming to an end

“You’re not baby it’s okay we will be there soon” Art reassured but was terrified you might actually have a baby in his best friends car.

You had been sitting traffic for ten minutes and your contractions were now four minutes apart. You were arched off the seat grabbing your stomach trying to get through the contraction, Art looked like he was about to cry from seeing you in so much pain. Patrick looked angry that there was so much traffic.

“Your doing so good y/n/n, just keep breathing okay?” He said stroking your hair.

“Art what do we do?” You asked scared that the traffic wouldn’t let up

“We um we-“

“Finally!” Patrick yelled seeing the traffic break. Everyone sighed with relief.

You had finally made it to the hospital and were settled in a room laying down with Art kneeling by your head stroking your hair. Art sent Patrick back to let his team know why he left and make sure everything was okay. Your labor seemed to be at a stand still, no progress had been made since you arrived.

“Hey I never told you how proud I was of you champ.” You said facing your husband smiling putting a hand on his face

“Well you were kind of busy” he laughed kissing your nose

“Sorry we couldn’t celebrate”

“This is a pretty good way to celebrate are you kidding?” He chuckled

“We’re gonna be parents. Like tonight” you whispered sweetly to him he had tears in his eyes

“Thank you for going through this all baby I owe you everything” he kissed you.

It had been another hour. Very little progress had been made you were so frustrated and just wanted to get your baby girl out and hold her. They suggested walking around to help move the process along which was the last thing you wanted to do. But here you were walking around with Art right by your side. Another contraction came on and you helped in pain, your arms were around arts shoulders as you leaned down in pain. He held you up and swayed you back and fourth.

“I can’t do this anymore” you cried grabbing your husband for dear life.

“What can I do for you y/n how can I help you babe” he asked wholeheartedly

“Can you help me walk, I gotta hurry this up” you said breathlessly. Art came behind you and wrapped his arms under your armpits and walked with you, pretty much for you. You couldn’t ask for a better father of your child. He was the most supportive guy you’d ever seen. He would do this for hours for you.

Now you were settled back in bed exhausted. It felt like an eternity had gone by but then the nurse came in to check you.

“Alright your ready to push I’ll call the doctor in” she smiled. You were shocked and scared. You looked at Art

“What? I don’t I can’t I’m not ready I can’t-“yes you can y/n. I know you can. Your the strongest person I know you’ve made it this far I’ll be here the whole time.” He instructed you. You looked up at him with tears nodding.

It had been half an hour and you were still pushing not making much progress. Everyone could tell you were exhausted.

“Y/n cmon you have to push harder we gotta get this baby out” the doctor said

“I can’t … I can’t do it anymore” you cried feeling lifeless. Art didn’t say anything he just climbed in bed behind you and straddled you holding you up with his body.

“Now y/n push” the doctor told you again

“Baby look at me just look at me. You can do it only a few more than you’ll be able to hold Lily. Okay? You got this champ” he told you tears in his eyes too. You let your head fall back on his shoulder as you screamed in pain pushing as hard as you could. Art was holding you legs back with his arms around you.

“Good good, just one more y/n” the doctor told you

“Your doing so good darling just one more” art was in tears you couldn’t see but you knew. You have one more push before hearing a very loud cry

“Oh my god” you cried as they Laid your daughter on your chest

“Congratulations you have a little girl. “ the doctor smiled. Art was speechless and balling, he couldn’t believe his baby was here he was holding the love of his life who was holding the other love of his life that you two created together, it was a perfect moment.

“We gotta have more Art she’s so cute” you said crying harder every second, everyone in the room laughed,

“I can’t believe it y/n. Thank you so much thank you so so much” he said crying into your hair. He reached his arm around to the baby who grabbed his finger with her tiny hand. You both cried with joy

“Oh my god look at her fingernails” Art said still in disbelief “there so tiny”

“Art we have a daughter” you said to him as he kissed your cheek multiple times

“Does she have a name?” The doctor asked

“Lily” you both said at the same time smiling. You and Art decided on her middle name a few weeks ago

“Hi Lily Jane” you whispered kissing her head. You were so content with your family. All the pain and tears were 100% worth it.

Later on that night Lily was cleaned and wrapped up in a cute little blanket with a hat on in her dads arms next to the hospital bed asleep. Art was smiling down at her still teary eyed. After examining all your babies features you decided she was a clone of her father. She had your lips but his everything else. Even a little speck of brown in her blue eyes that made your heart swell. You had never been more tired but you also had never been happier.

“She’s so beautiful” Art whispered trying not to wake her up “I could look at her for hours.” He smiled

“She looks just like you baby” you told him, he looked at you then her and smiled

“ I don’t know I see you a lot in her too” he told you. Just then you heard a knock at the door and saw Patrick’s head poke through, he was carrying the trophy Art had won

“Hey I thought I’d bring this by” he said quietly “is now a good time?” He asked softly, you nodded and he came into the room

“Wow.” He said carefully walking over to Art staring at the baby in his arms “She’s uh wow she’s-“

“I know.” You finished knowing his was mezmorized by his niece.

“I’m so proud of you guys” he said speaking from the heart

“You wanna hold her?” Art looked up at his best friend

“Oh I don’t know she looks pretty comfortable”

“Oh come on she’s gotta meet her uncle.” Art said standing up and handing him the tiny baby. Patrick took a deep breath staring at her

“Jesus Art she’s your twin” he laughed “Let’s hope she doesn’t get your ears” he teased

“Yeah Pat your one to talk” he he teased back.

Patrick didn’t stay long it was getting pretty late. You and Art decided to announce it on his social media to fill everyone in on why he rushed out of there after winning. He posted a picture you took of him holding Lily in one arm and his trophy from that day in the other. He captioned the picture with

@ArtDondson:

I didn’t think my day could get any better… but it did. Welcome to the world sweet Lily Jane, she’s already our little champ🤍

Of course the post blew up and many people commented and reporters contacted him but he ignored it. At least for now. He had never been so happy with his life than in this moment. This day would go down in history for the Donaldson family.

[coffee-n-bagels-comic-universe]

Disqualifications or Needed Rest

Quick Tag List: @kuruumiya @spacelizardtrashboys @stupidbluegirl @enigmaticandunstable @nattinngrst

This Passage Contains Potentially: swearing, violence, blood, angst, whump, fluff and smutty content. Chapter-specific warning: This chapter contains mention of pregnancy symptoms such as morning sickness, and Braxton Hicks contractions.

Summary: Snuka goes after both Roddy and Kirby, causing Rod and Snuka to get disqualifications and into actual fights.

Kirby's POV:

We were in the Boston Garden. I was sat next to the announcers desk and Snuka started yelling at me and then pulled me out of my chair and I fell backwards, over my own feet after trying to get away from a very pissed Snuka. Rod exited the ring, helping me up.

"Ya alright Kirbs?"

"I'm fine, Roddy, I fell over my own feet."

Rod quickly got back in the ring, followed quickly by an angered Snuka, holding a chair.

WHACK

"Roddy!"

I couldn't help the scream that escaped my lips when Rod's chest hit the mat.

I helped Rod to the back and stayed close to him, I turned my back to the locker room door for a few minutes as I leant against the wall, talking to Billie about Tito Santana.

"He's nice to me, hermana."

"So, you went out on a date?"

"Si, y'know, for a guy who's catchphrase is 'Arriba' I think he'd rather be 'debajo de mí'?"

"Billie, what does 'debajo de mí' mean?"

"Below me."

I felt a hand on the back of my arm and before I even realised who it was I had them in a sleeper hold. Upon realising who it was I swiftly let them go.

"I have never been in ma own sleeper hold, but I guess there truly is a first time for everything."

"Sorry, Roddy. I didn't realise it was you and I was just trying to protect mys-"

Rod cut me off with a gentle kiss.

"You're okay baby, if I were you, I would've done the same thing."

"I'll leave you two lovebirds alone, adios."

"Adios, hermana."

"I didn't know you could speak Spanish."

"I can only speak a little Spanish, Rod. I'm not gonna brag about something I'm not good at."

"What else can you do that I don't know about?"

"I speak a little French, a little German, some Norwegian, Irish Gaelic, Scots Gaelic and I speak Welsh fluently."

"How did ya learn to do the sleeper hold?"

"I watched you do it."

"So, you learnt from the best?"

"I guess I did, Roddy, I guess I did."

The next day I was at ringside for another Roddy vs Snuka bout.

After Snuka tossed Roddy back into the ring and cost himself the match he went after me.

Roddy got up just before Snuka started yelling insults in my direction.

Snuka started walking up to me as Roddy went to climb out of the ring.

The moment Rod's feet touched the floor, Snuka slapped me with the back of his hand right to my jaw, sending me sprawling to the floor.

Tony Colon, Jose Luis Rivera, Salvatore Bellomo and SD Jones had to run out to keep Snuka from attacking both me and Rod.

Rod kept going for Snuka until Orndorff, SD Jones and André held him back, with André helping me up.

McMahon gave Roddy three days to cool of, his next match being on the nineteenth and his next fight with Snuka being on the twentieth.

"That fucking asshole."

"Rod, focus on me, forget Snuka for the next three days, focus on me."

"He could have seriously hurt you, or worse…"

"I know," I mumbled out, putting a hand on my stomach, "Let's just get to Ohio and forget about all this shit."

"I'll treat ya, hon. What d'ya want to eat?"

"Burgers, then ice cream with maple syrup and blueberries."

"Ice cream and maple syrup?"

"Don't question a pregnant woman's cravings, boyo."

On the nineteenth, Roddy won against Rocky Johnson.

On the Twentieth Roddy and Snuka had a Fijian Strap match and Rod lost.

On the twenty-first Rod won against Salvatore Bellomo. On the twenty-second Rod won against B. Brian Blair. On the twenty-third Rod won against B. Brian Blair again, and again on the twenty-fourth.

On the Twenty-Sixth Rod lost by disqualification to Snuka.

On the Twenty-Seventh Rod, Adrian and Murdoch won against Snuka and the Samoans and After the show Rod and I hung out with the Tag Champs, Adrian and Murdoch as well as Ventura.

Ventura and me talked about Vickie for a short while and it seemed like Ventura was intrigued by her.

On the Twenty-Eighth in the Landover, Capital Centre. Rod defeated Snuka by Count-out, but they continued to brawl until myself and several others had to hold the two apart. Myself, Valentine, Orndorff and Orton held Roddy back so Snuka could get to the back, without Rod tearing him limb from limb.

On the Twenty-Ninth, Rod once again beat Snuka, after the Show Myself and Rod hung out with Orton and Orndorff.

On the Thirtieth, Rod had another bout with Snuka.

On the First of August, Rod won by count-out against Snuka, following the event we hung out with Ventura, Orton and Adonis.

I started to feel like thee days are blending together or repeating with only minor details changing, like the date and what exactly happens that day.

On the Second of August, Rod won against Snuka by count-out, again.

Again, on the Third, Rod, Adrian and Murdoch won against the Samoans and Snuka.

On the Fourth, Roddy won against Jimmy Snuka, again.

I drove home that night while Rod boarded a flight to Toronto, spending the fifth and sixth on my own.

I decided to spend a couple more days at home, until the Sixteenth.

On the Sixteenth, Rod, once again, had a bout with Snuka, which I was at ringside for.

On Friday the Seventeenth, Snuka noticed me at ringside after getting himself counted out and began yelling at me until the referee pulled him back and admonished him for doing so.

After the show we hung out with David (Schultz), Bobby (Orton) and Paul (Orndorff).

On the Saturday, myself and Bobby were backstage as Piper interviewed Sgt Slaughter.

On Monday, the twentieth Rod had yet another bout with Snuka and I decided to go back home to Salem for some well needed time to myself.

I didn't tell Rod, knowing he would try and stop me from leaving, I just left a note stating 'Need some time off, love you, will be in Salem.'

I reached the house by the Twenty-Third, answering the phone as it rung, right as I entered the kitchen.

"Hello?"

"Hi my love, did ya get home alright?"

"I got back fine, Roddy."

"When are ya gonna be back?"

"I'll be back on the first of September, alright, I'll meet you at the Philadelphia Spectrum, okay?"

"Okay."

I spent the following week, relaxing at home before driving back to see Roddy.

As I walked to ringside the crowd erupted into cheers and shouts of my name as well as 'Piper'.

The crowd continued to cheer as Rod climbed out of the ring and rushed up to me, pulling me into a loving embrace and pulling down my mask to plant a kiss on my lips, whilst the ref counted him out.

André and the crowd didn't seem to care about the fact that I had gotten Rod counted out of the bout, they only seemed to care that the Rowdy one had his right hand woman (or left, if Bob Orton was his right hand man) back by his side.

By the morning of the Seventh, Rod had noticed a subtle change in the way I dressed and I could tell that all throughout the day he was trying to pinpoint what was different about me.

That night, Roddy, Paul and Bobby took turns guessing what was different.

"Ya hair's different?" Orton started

"No."

"You got another tattoo?" Orndorff guessed

"No, although, that does sound like a good idea."

"Ya, uh " Rod paused, scanning from my boots to my hair before a wave of realisation hit him, "Ya finally look pregnant."

"What do you mean, Roderick?"

"The belly, you've got a slight bump."

"You're right, I dislike that I look slightly fat, but you're right."

"You're not fat, ya with child, there's a big difference."

It took another week for Rod to tell everyone.

It took another three weeks for Rod to get jealous of anyone paying me more attention than what seemed necessary.

By the Twelfth of October, I had started getting backache, the occasional passing faint feeling, as well as having some difficulty sleeping and 'Baby Brain' (aka forgetting very obvious things at random times). The morning sickness had gone away by this point.

But, the worst thing I started feeling was Braxton Hicks contractions.

The first time any of this really impacted me was after Rod had filmed a Piper's Pit segment with Tonga Kid on the Sunday.

"Ya alright Kirbs," Rod lifted my chin up, looking me in the eyes before lifting me out of my chair and walking me to the first aiders room.

I was checked out and let go, Rod's confusion when I entered the room quickly becoming anger at what I believe was the perceived notion that they refused to help me.

I grabbed Rod by the collar and planted a passionate kiss on his lips.

"I'm fine, Rod. Braxton Hicks. False contractions."

On the Seventeenth I had to lean on André for support backstage, right after he had pinned Roddy, making Rod justifiably both angry and jealous.

"That motherfucker."

"Roderick. He's my friend, anyway I felt faint and he's taller than me."

"Ya my wife."

"Don't get possessive, Rod."

"I'm sorry, I just, I don't like seeing you in the arms of another guy."

"Don't blame me, if anything, blame the universe."

"Why?"

"Because I'm a giant. Plus, you got me pregnant, right after we got married, which was in June. It's October, I'm due to give birth in February, And … oww."

"You alright, baby."

"Mmn, I'm fine, fucker kicked me."

"As in, the baby?"

"Yeah."

"Is that the first time it's happened?"

"Yeah."

"Did it hurt?"

"It surprised me more than anything."

I grabbed Roddy's wrist, pressing his hand against my stomach as the baby kicked again.

"Oh … my … God."

"Strong baby."

"Strong parents can make a strong baby."

"If I slap you, would the baby kick me?"

"Kirbs, don't you dare."

We started laughing to ourselves over the absurdity of the moment.

We had the Eighteenth off and Rod decided to invite Bret over.

A knock at the hotel room door signified Hart's arrival.

"Hey, Cousin."

"Hi Roddy. Hi Missus Piper."

"Oh, Bret. You know you can call me Kirby."

Both Myself and Roddy had seniority over Bret but we didn't really care much about that, to us he's family, and family comes first.

We spent the day chatting and relaxing with Bret in a café, going over things such as giving Bret advice on how to get the crowd behind him and Rod insisted on him doing promos.

I hadn't realised that Roddy had his hand on my stomach all day until Bret brought it up.

"Rod, why's your hand permanently on Kirby's stomach?"

"Because, Bret, yesterday something very important happened and I'm not missing it again."

"Kirby, what does Roddy mean by that?"

"The baby kicked for the first time yesterday. Rod's just making sure he feels it when the baby kicks or punches."

We were right back to work the following day. The days blended together in my mind up until the Twenty-Eighth, where I remember being backstage whilst Rod did a Piper's Pit segment with Valentine and Captain Lou.

The next day I remember is the Thirtieth, when Rod lost by DQ to Hogan. The only reason I remember this is because I yelled 'Fuck him' when Piper brought up Hogan being the champ after the bout, back at the hotel.

The days blended together for another short while until the Third of November, Making a fuss while Rod was working as Moolah had taken it upon herself to piss me off.

After the show had finished Moolah had taken to questioning me about both my status as a wrestler and if Rod was truly the father of my child.

Rod had to hurl me over his shoulder to stop me from jumping on Moolah and beating her to a pulp.

On the Seventh, Rod made sure I stayed backstage during his match, he did the same on the Eighth, making sure that Schultz, Valentine and Orndorff had me protected.

On the Tenth, Rod made sure I was protected by Orton for the whole show, after both Rod's bout with Hogan and the Piper's Pit segment, we went back to the hotel with Schultz, Valentine and Orton.

On the Eleventh, Rod brought me to ringside with him, but lost to Hogan. Once again, we hung out with Orton, Schultz and Valentine that night.

Between the night of the Eleventh and the morning of the Seventeenth, Rod let me stay at the hotels instead of being with him for shows.

END OF DISQUALIFICATIONS or NEEDED REST

[crue-sixx]

You’re Having My Baby (Theodore “Ted” Logan Imagine)

This was requested.

Summary: You go into labor and Ted may or may not be freaking out.

You were in the kitchen, making yourself something to eat. Ice cream with potato chips crumbled on top was basically your go-to snack. It sounded odd, but it was absolutely delicious to you. The blend of salty and sweet was just right to satisfy your craving. Your husband, Ted, thought it was weird until he tried it one day. Since then, he preferred his ice cream with potato chips.

Your husband was locked away in the basement with his best friend and bandmate, Bill. Ted had the basement renovated into a sort of music studio so him and Bill could practice their music. It was soundproofed so it worked.

You grabbed the whip cream can and sprayed some of it onto your ice cream. You also sprayed some in your mouth for good measure. After you finished fixing your snack, you grabbed a spoon and dug into it. You moaned at how good it tasted.

“That hits the spot,” you said after you swallowed the bite that you had taken.

You continued eating your concoction, happily. It had been an uneventful day thus far. You’d been feeling sort of weird, but that was expected since you were nine months pregnant. You were actually several days over due. Baby Logan was supposed to make his appearance four days ago, but still nothing. You were ready for him to get out of you already. You were ready to meet him, yes, but you were also ready to feel like a normal person again. The weird cravings, the swollen ankles, and the back pain was growing old real fast. You were happy to be having a baby, but it was so hard.

You were just about to take another bite of the ice cream until you felt a weird pain in your stomach. You groaned as you looked down at your stomach. You’d been feeling that same feeling off and on all day, but you’d only suspected that it was Braxton Hicks. Wouldn’t be the first time it happened.

“Chill out in there, little man,” you said to your stomach as you rubbed it. “Mommy’s trying to enjoy her snack. I’ve earned it.”

Moments later, there was another sharp pain that had you dropping the spoon in your hand as you bent over the counter. Okay, that one had been more intense than any of the others you had felt. You weren’t sure what was going on until you felt a weird sensation then something running down your legs. Your eyes widened as you looked down, finding a puddle of water at your feet.

“Oh shit,” you mumbled out. “Ted!”

You facepalmed when you remembered he was in the basement, which was soundproofed. He wouldn’t be able to hear you. You took a breath and carefully maneuvered yourself from the water, walking to the basement door as carefully as you could. You opened it and was suddenly blasted with the sound of loud guitars.

“Ted!” You called out from above the stairs of the basement. You were worried about trying to walk down them. “THEODORE LOGAN!”

The guitars suddenly stopped and you heard footsteps. You soon saw Ted at the foot of the stairs, his guitar still around him as he looked up at you.

“Did you call for me, babe?” He asked.

“Ted, it’s time.”

“Time for what?” Ted asked with a confused look on his face. “Time for dinner? It’s only like 3:30.”

“No, it’s fucking time, Ted!” You yelled out as another contraction hit you. “As in your son is coming! My water broke!”

Ted’s eyes widened, comically, as he pulled his guitar off of himself. He looked around himself for a few moments as if he were lost before he put it down finally.

“Bill, little dude is coming!” Ted yelled out to his best friend.

“No way, dude!” Bill exclaimed as he came into view.

“Yes way,” Ted replied.

“Excellent!” They both exclaimed and did their whole air guitar bit that was anything but amusing to you at the moment.

“Theodore Logan, if you don’t get up here and take me to the hospital right now, I’m going to shove my foot so far up your-”

“Oh right!” Ted said as he rushed up the stairs with Bill following him. “Shit...sorry, babe. I’m here.”

Ted was able to help you into a fresh pair of sweatpants as Bill ran upstairs to grab the hospital bag. You groaned as another contraction hit after Ted had you changed.

“Does it hurt, babe?” He asked you.

“No, it feels wonderful,” you told him, sarcastically.

Bill came back down with the bag and he followed the two of you out to the car. Ted helped you inside as Bill threw the bag in the backseat. He told Ted he would meet up with you both at the hospital. Ted jumped into the car and started it, but just sat there.

“Ted, what are you doing?” You asked him as you looked over at him.

“You’re having a baby,” Ted said, more to himself than to you. “You’re having my baby.”

“Yeah, that’s usually how it works, babe,” you told him.

“We’re having a baby, Y/N,” Ted said as he turned to look at you. “Are you sure we’re ready for this?”

You gave him a look as your brow raised. “Well, it’s a little late to be changing our minds, Ted.”

“No, it’s just...what if I’m not a good father for the little dude?” Ted asked. “What if I mess him up or something? I’m not a very smart dude so what if he ends up dumb like me?”

“Ted, don’t you dare say that about yourself,” you said, feeling your heart break at his words. “You are going to be an amazing father! You’re not going to mess him up and you most certainly are not dumb. You’re the most excellent person I know.”

Ted was looking at you and smiled as you spoke. He leaned over and kissed you before you pulled away from him, groaning in pain as another contraction hit you.

“Can we please go to the hospital now?” You asked as you did your breathing exercises.

“Yes, let’s meet the little dude already,” he said as he finally started driving.

————

“Theodore Logan, you are never touching me again!” You yelled out in pain as you were trying to push the baby out of you.

Ted was stood right beside you, holding your hand through the whole thing as he cheered you on. You felt like you’d been pushing for hours and didn’t think you had anymore energy left in you to continue. Also, the pain was intense and all you could do was squeeze Ted’s hand for any sort of comfort. Granted, Ted was taking it like a champ even though he was sure his pinky was broken.

“Come on, babe,” Ted said before he swept your hair from your damp forehead and kissed it. “You’re doing a most excellent job. I’m so proud of you!”

“You’re doing great, Mrs. Logan,” the doctor said from her spot. “We can see the head.”

“Really?!” Ted took a glance for himself and his eyes looked as if they were going to pop out of his head while his face went pale. “Woah!”

“Ted, please don’t pass out on me,” you told him, noticing how weird he was looking. “I really need you right now.”

“I’m here, babe,” Ted said after he took some deep breaths and shook his head. “I’m right here.”

He took hold of your hand again and you went back to pushing. He encouraged you and praised you the whole time, which was really helpful. Ted knew exactly what he was doing.

Finally, a cry was heard sometime later and the doctor was announcing the arrival of your son. You and Ted were both in such awe. He cut the umbilical cord before they wrapped him and let you hold him. You had tears in your eyes as you held your tiny son and Ted had the biggest smile on his face. They soon took him to check him out and to clean him up as they finished up with you.

You and Ted were waiting in your room for some time before a nurse brought your son back to you. She handed him off to you and you looked down at him, able to see him better since he was cleaned up. He had a bit of hair that was dark and you smiled as you already noticed some of Ted’s features on him.

“I’m so proud of you, babe,” Ted said as he looked at you both.

“I’m proud of you too,” you told him as you looked up at him. “You really helped me in there.”

Ted smiled at you and then looked at the baby for a few minutes. “What are we going to name him?”

“We should name him after you,” you told him with a smile.

Ted looked at you, seeming a bit shocked. “Me?”

“Yeah,” you told him, “because you’re an amazing man and I think he would be proud to be named after you.”

Ted smiled at that and leaned down to kiss you, softly. He then looked down at little Ted and kissed his head. You handed him to his father and he whined a bit before he settled down, cuddling into him. Ted looked like a complete natural. He also looked the happiest your ever seen him.

“I think Bill’s still out there and some of our family,” Ted said. “Can I go introduce little Ted?”

“Of course, babe,” you told him and nodded.

Ted smiled and walked out of the room. You rested back against the bed and sighed in content. You were so happy and so lucky. You had a wonderful husband and now a wonderful baby boy.

“Excellent!” You heard from outside and rolled your eyes as you giggled.

[thedeviltohisangel]

You Say It Softly//6//We Worked Too Hard For This

The birth of Jim & Leah’s son.

warnings associated with labor and delivery scenes.

in honor of @langdonslove birthday!

masterlist in bio, send any requests for these two my way!

Leah could barely find the energy to get out of bed most mornings now. Her stomach had swelled to an impossible size and with it had gone her will to do the most mundane of things. Part of her felt bad for Jim. She would wake up, curse his name for putting his spawn inside of her and caging her to this life of immobility. He would make her breakfast of nutella on toast and extra crispy bacon and no matter how badly she wanted to devour the whole thing, his baby was taking up all the room and she could only muster a small portion.

“I hate you.” The frustrated tears always came next. Everything bothered her on such a large scale and it was mainly the fact that their baby was two weeks late. Two extra weeks of feeling like a beached whale. Two extra weeks of kicking Jim out of bed because he was too warm and she was sweating and she couldn’t breathe. Two extra weeks of psychological warfare over how good of a mother she would or would not be.

“I know, baby. When little one comes it will all be worth it, right?” She looked at Jim skeptically from where he knelt next to her side of the bed.

“Only if they have your blue eyes. If they don’t, I want a refund.”

“Okay, baby, I’m sure we can arrange that.” Jim had never been in the business of disagreeing with her but recently he had made it his life mission to always be on her side. He was indeed partially responsible for the state she found herself in so he shoulder all her irritability like a champ. His shoulders were strong enough to carry any burdens she needed to shed. He was made to be that for her, he thinks.

“When you get back from your sister’s, can we go out to dinner tonight? I feel like the house is suffocating me.” His lips pressed themselves gently up her arms in an agreeable and hopefully soothing manner.

“What’re you craving?”

“Everything. I can’t even put a name to it, Sprinkles.”

“I’m sorry you’re feeling so miserable, Sugar. You know I wish I could make it go away and if you think of anything I can do…”

“I’ll tell you. I promise.” She winced slightly as a tight pain rippled through the underside of her baby bump. “These stupid Braxton-Hicks.” Jim lent her the warmth of his palm on the spot where he knew the pain was. The false labor pains had been coming and going and he knew exactly where she needed her muscles to be eased and soothed.

“No chance they’re real, Sugar?”

“No they feel exactly the same as they have been. My doctor thinks I’ll be able to tell the difference.” Leah had taken the time away from work with her maternity leave to refocus her mind and become more in tune with her own body. She had started going to a meditation group and doing yoga and testing healthy juice recipes. Jim hadn’t been the biggest fan of that phase of exploration.

“You sure you’ll be okay while I’m with Medina? I’ll stay home if you want me to. Need me to. No shame in asking.”

“I’ll be fine. I want you two to go to that beach. You’ve been gushing about the waves for months. Women have had babies in caves. I’ll be okay.” He watched her for a few more moments to make sure she was being honest with him before he stood and pressed a kiss to the center of her forehead. As soon as Leah heard the front door shut from him leaving, she felt lonely. She had run out of things to do but had seen the twinkle in Jim’s eye when discussing this surfing day trip that he had been planning with Medina and nothing was going to make her happier than watching him go on it and have fun. They didn’t know how much time they’d have to do things like that once the baby came so she wanted him to take all the opportunities he could while it was still them. Leah also knew that his relationship with his sister was beyond important to him so she wanted to make sure he kept nurturing that as well. Medina was never in California for too long, taking her freedom to travel around the world and never be in the same place for too long. Leah and Jim hadn’t planned on fully settling down at this point in their lives but the surprise addition to their family had required it and they were more than happy to oblige.

When Leah finally found the wherewithal to swing her legs over the side of her bed and stand on her feet, a flashing shot of pain ripped its way through her lower back. She fell to the floor with a silent cry at the feeling. “Oh my God, fuck.” She kneaded the heel of her hand into the spot in the hopes it would go away and it didn’t. A piece of her mind was remembering the conversation she had had with her doctor the last time she went about back labor. How Leah’s back muscles seemed to carry a lot more tension in them than her abdominal muscles did. And her next thought followed that she had promised Jim she would call if the pain felt different. And the pain was feeling way way different and way way worse. She grimaced as she grabbed her phone from the nightstand and dialed his number, rubbing her bump with a grimace as she waited.

“Hey, this is Jim, leave a message and I’ll call you back.”

“Hi Jimmy, it’s me,” she paused and let out a gasp of pain as the next wave overtook her, “I think the baby is coming...Like really actually. Call me when you get this so I know how long it will take you to get home. If I don’t hear back from you within an hour, I’m going to try and get myself to the hospital...I love you, Jim, and I can’t wait to start this new chapter with you so hurry home.” She hung up and sat staring at her phone for a few minutes in the hopes Jim would immediately get back to her. 10 minutes passed. 20 minutes passed. Her screen stayed black. No doubt he was out in the waves and his phone had been left on the beach. There was no telling when he would get her message.

It was then that the panic began to set in. What if Jim didn’t even get her message in time to make it to the hospital for the birth of their child? What if she had to do all of it alone? The stress she and her unborn child were putting her under was beginning to make her dizzy. It was then that she was starting to get concerned. The room was refusing to stay still and it felt as though her whole body was spinning around with it. Phone. Call. Doctor. Those were the three words that began to ring through her mind. Something was wrong and she needed help. She was scared of being alone and feeling so out of control of her body. For a brief moment she thinks this was what Jim must have felt like. The night on the beach when he was dying. As if the whole world was going to keep on spinning without you knowing about it. Without caring how you felt or how it happened. Maybe Jim would come and save her the way she had saved him so many times before but wishing and hoping was futile, she had to act. Leah closed her eyes and took a couple of deep breaths in the name of readying herself to get up. Part of her thinks it was her new maternal instinct kicking in. She had to get somewhere safe for her baby. Lying on the floor of her bedroom was not safe for her baby and that needed to change.

Her fingers finally found purchase on her phone and she quickly went into her contacts to reach her doctor.

“Dr. Khalilah’s office how-”

“It’s Leah Mason. I’m, oh shit fuck,” she couldn’t even finish her sentence as the next contraction wrapped around from her back to her stomach and weaved down her legs.

“Let me get the Doctor, Mrs. Mason, hold on.” She was vaguely aware of the muffled sounds of voices on the other end of the line but was too preoccupied with fighting the nausea rising up her throat to try and decipher what they were saying.

“Leah? Tell me what’s going on.”

“I’m in active labor. My back hurts like someone is driving a hot stake into and ripping it around my skin and I’m going to throw up and I’m so dizzy.”

“Okay, okay. I need you to breathe for me, first and foremost. Calmly, I want you to get your husband and get in the car and head to the hospital, okay? I’ll meet you there.”

“I can’t find Jim! That’s the fucking problem, Doctor, pardon my language. I can’t drive myself...What do I do?” Her breaths had turned into pants. The sweat was beginning to become ever present on her skin and she was trying to remind herself that she was strong and capable and that her and Jim were so badly looking forward to this baby so she had to pull through for all their sakes. Part of her felt a little stupid at her pleas, she was a doctor herself after all and had thought she’d be able to handle something like this with a clear and level head. With absolute ease. That was the kind of person she had always been. People always came to Leah with their problems knowing they could talk her into thinking everything was okay and to approach the problem with a clear head and steady heart. All of that had been part of the birth plan she had meticulously written out with Jim but now it was all being thrown out the window.

“Leah, I’m going to send a midwife to your house to assess the situation and help you from there okay?” She looked down at the wet patch forming on her carpet.

“Please hurry...I think my water just broke.”

----

“Medina she’s not fucking answering! Fucking hell move you idiot!” Jim leaned over from the passenger side and wailed on the horn.

“Jim! Calm down, okay? This is why I told you that you couldn’t drive.”

“If I miss the birth of my child because that Honda can’t step on the gas, I will kill them.” He dialed his wife’s phone again and got her voicemail...again. Jim had listened to her message on the beach with a racing heart and broad smile. For a moment he let himself breathe it in. That by the end of the day he was going to be a father. He was going to start on the right foot with his child and fix all the mistakes his parents had made with him. He was going to make sure his child never felt the way he felt, that they always knew they were loved and cherished and irreplaceable. That his child knew they always had a home in his arms. It was when he looked at the time stamp and realized it had been almost two hours since her one hour time limit that he began to panic. He yelled for his sister and began to shove all his belongings back into his bag and sprint towards the car.

“We’ll be at the hospital in...twenty minutes.”

“I’m letting her down. Fuck, Medina, she does so much for me and why am I constantly letting her down?”

“You’re not. I promise you that she doesn’t think that. First babies take so long to come. You’ll make it in plenty of time to hold her hand and feed her ice chips.” The car was quiet for a moment before Jim spoke again.

“I’m gonna be a dad. My whole life is going to change.”

“It’s a good change, Jimmy. The happiest of changes we could ever hope for.” Medina rubbed at his thigh in a comforting manner with a smile on her face. She was so proud of her brother and where he had gotten. If Leah was able to make him so happy she could only imagine the effect their baby would have on him. In her mind, Jim deserved the absolute world and she couldn’t be happier that he was finally getting it.

Medina let him run out of the car as soon as they pulled up to the hospital, assuring Jim she would find a place to park. He made his way to the Labor and Delivery section of the hospital within record timing and was breathing like he had ran a marathon by the time he reached the receptionists desk.

“My wife, Leah Mason, she’s here giving birth. I need to be with her.”

“Can I see your ID?” His hands were shaking as he pulled his wallet from his pocket and handed the plastic over to the women. “We have no one here by that name.”

“I’m sorry-”

“Jim!” He turned to look at his sister running out from the elevator with her phone extended towards him. “It’s Leah.” Jim grabbed the phone from her hands and held it to his ear like a lifeline.

“Leah? I’m at the hospital what’s your room number? Are you okay? How are you feeling? Please tell me the baby hasn’t come yet.”

“Come home I’m-” she heard a pained moan come out of her mouth and the sounds of a woman’s voice coaching her through the contraction. “There’s been a change of plans. We’re having a home birth.”

“Fuck okay I’ll be there as soon as I can.”

“Please hurry. I don’t think I can do this without you.” It was only on rare occasions that Jim heard Leah’s voice get small.

“You won’t have to. I love you so much and I can’t wait to be with you and our baby.”

----

He didn’t even let Medina come to a full stop in his driveway before he was out of his car and taking his front steps like a gazelle. “Leah!” Jim tripped in his haste to get up the stairs but didn’t even register the burning in his shins as his wife crying out in pain reached his ears.

“Oh, you’re here.” Leah cried with the relief at the sight of Jim, her Jim, stumbling into their bedroom. He kicked off his shoes and crawled into bed with her, pressing anxious kisses over every inch of her face and running his hands all over her stomach to see if anything had changed since this morning. “Jimmy it hurts so bad.”

“I know, my love, I know. But I’m here now and I’m going to try and share in as much of the pain as possible, okay?” She nodded and tucked her head into his shoulder, biting down on his skin as the next wave came. Jim bit back the expletives that wanted to fall from his mouth because she needed him to be strong and take some of the pain off her shoulders. She was birthing his child, the least he could do was keep his mouth shut. “How does everything look?” The midwife was peering between his wife’s legs.

“Only a couple more centimeters to go and I think she will be ready to start pushing.”

“We had...We had discussed a water birth. Is that still possible to do at home?” Jim took the washcloth the woman handed to him and began to dab gently at Leah’s forehead. The two had been lying in bed one night talking about how the beach and the water had been where all the important moments in their life had taken place. It only seemed fitting for the water to welcome their child into the world.

“Of course. You’ve got her so I can go get your tub ready?” He looked down at his wife; beat red in the face, hair matted to her forehead and pained moans falling from her mouth in a steady stream. If there was anytime she needed him, it was now.

“Yeah I’ve got her.” And he always would. They were partners and soulmates and every other word that meant you could not have one without the other.

“Jim? Can I tell you something?” He adjusted himself so her back was resting against his chest, Leah grabbing his collar so her lips were right up against his ear. “You ever put your dick inside me without a condom again and I’ll cut it off.”

“Okay, Sugar.” He knew it was the pain talking because she had told him numerous times that she wanted the largest possible family her ovaries and uterus would allow. Jim knew that when it was all said and done and they were holding their baby, she’d be thinking differently. It might have been crazy but Jim already couldn’t wait to do it all over again.

----

After two more hours of Leah writhing in pain, she started to feel the urge to push. The midwife and Jim helped her into the tub, a groan of somewhat relief washing over her as the warm water lapped at her skin.

“Alright, Mrs. Mason, put your legs over the sides and let me get a good glimpse of what it happening down there.” Jim held her hand and moved down so he could look at the same view as the midwife. “That little brown fuzz? Can you see it?”

“Yeah,” the word came out of his mouth in awe. That was his baby. Jim was inches away from meeting his child.

“Leah you’ll be crowning in a few more pushes, you’ll feel burning but it’s okay and normal.”

“Jim...in the tub.” He nodded frantically and undressed down to his underwear so he could slip in behind her. “Oh God!” The burning she had been warned about started encroaching and it showed no signs of reaching it’s peak.

“Stop pushing for just one moment dear. Let yourself stretch for the head and shoulders.”

“You got this, baby, you’re so strong and I’m right here with you and I love you so much,” Jim whispered into her ear. She had a death grip on his hands and nodded along to all of his words of encouragement, absorbing them and letting them help her power through the arrival of their child.

“Dad, why don’t you lean forward so you can get ready to catch your baby.” It took Jim a moment to realize that she was talking to him, that he was a dad now, he was someone’s dad now. His hands rubbed soothingly at Leah’s inner thighs as he placed his hands where their child was appearing slowly but surely. The head slipped into Jim’s cupped hands, their shoulders coming with a particularly loud groan from Leah before Jim was cradling his child and pulling them out of the water.

“It’s a boy!” Jim called as the baby, his son, began to wail at this newfound environment, at the loss of his cozy home inside his mother. Tears were streaming down his face as he brought his arms forward so the squirming boy could meet his mother.

“Oh look at you...look at him, Jim. He’s the most beautiful thing in the whole world. The most beautiful thing I have ever seen.” Leah was sobbing with happiness and tiredness but she could feel no pain. All of the discomfort and agony that had been there only moments before was gone as she cradled her newborn son against her chest. He had quieted down slightly and opened his eyes, the tears falling down Jim’s cheeks faster as he looked into the eyes of his son.

“Hi,” he cooed as his finger traced over his son’s silken cheeks. “We’ve waited so long to meet you my little baby.”

“You want to come with me Dad to cut the cord and while I make sure everything is okay with your beautiful little boy?” Leah handed the baby to the midwife as Jim stood up behind her and wrapped himself in a towel.

“He’s here, Sprinkles,” Leah whispered with excitement as Jim bent down next to her, kissing her soundly on the lips.

“I’m so proud of you, Sugar. I didn’t think it was possible to love you more but watching how strong you were…” Jim took the scissors from the midwife as she offered them and cut the umbilical cord cleanly.

“Go be with our son. Make sure everything’s okay.” He kissed her once again before going to peer over the midwife’s shoulder as she performed the Apgar test, their little boy passing with flying colors.

“Let’s get mama out of the bath so she can cuddle you probably...maybe try feeding him?” Leah nodded eagerly, Jim holding their son against his chest as the women helped her stand and wrapped her in a fluffy robe. He followed closely behind as she sank down onto her side of the bed, wiggling her fingers towards her little baby. He fell quiet as the sound of his mother’s heartbeat entered his ears. The one thing in this crazy new world that was the same as his old world.  “Have you two thought of a name?”

“William. William James Mason.”

----

Jim looked down at his son who was resting against his shirtless chest as Leah traced over the shell of his ear.

“He looks like you when he’s asleep,” she murmured. She was barely keeping her eyes open but didn’t want to miss a moment of time with her new son.

“Definitely got your nose though.” Leah smiled up at Jim.

“Only us would have our child come into the world in such a nutso way...I’m glad Medina got to meet him already.” Once the midwife had left and Jim had helped Leah change into her comfiest pajamas and settle back under the covers with William, Jim had Medina come upstairs from where she had been lounging around in their living room. She had cried at the first sight of her nephew. If anyone knew how far Jim had come and how much he deserved the happiness that he was feeling it was Medina. She hugged Jim and they both cried in celebration of how their lives had turned out exactly the way that had always dreamed they would. Medina sat down next to Leah and carefully held her nephew for this first time, his newborn smell making her smile.

“Welcome to the tribe, little buddy,” she had whispered against his wrinkled forehead.

“Did you call your mom?” Leah asked as Jim pressed his lips onto his son’s head.

“Yeah and my dad. My dad is in Paris so he can’t come by for a week or so anyways. Mom...Mom is going through another spell where she can’t leave her house so I don’t know when we’ll see her.”

“If it’s important to you, Jim, then we can go see her.”

“It’s not that important to me.” Sandy had made herself very clear ever since she had known Leah was in her son’s life that she didn’t like her and wanted her to leave. Jim wanted none of that toxic energy anywhere near his son. He would be kept a pure ball of light and love as long as Jim could help it. “What about your parents?”

“They were happy...they both made a comment about if you were actually there or not but I’ll have them come by when you’re not here or I’ll go to there house by myself this week.” Leah’s parents harbored a resentment towards Jim and his past substance abuse. No matter how many times it was displayed or told that he was a changed man, they refused to let go of their grudge. Leah had went on to be a doctor in order to prove that she still could even with Jim in her life.

“Why are our parents like this?”

“Doesn’t matter because we won’t be anything like them. William will always be loved and accepted by us. He’ll never have to worry that we aren’t there to catch him when he falls.” The two of them closed the distance between their lips so they could kiss again. Something about becoming parents had made it so they couldn’t keep their hands off of each other. “I love you, Jim Mason, let’s have another baby.”

“I’ll start the six week countdown.” They both laughed, freezing when the baby began to stir on his father’s chest. He let out the beginnings of a wail and Jim promptly sat up. “It’s okay, little one, mama and dada are here. You’re okay.” He stepped carefully off the bed so he could could sway his hips and walk around the room, the rocking motion having comforted his son back to sleep only a couple hours earlier.

“He might be hungry. Let me try to feed him.” The first time with the midwife hadn’t been that successful. William had rooted around her nipple but refused to latch. It was when Leah started tearing up with frustration that the midwife had recommended they try again some other time.

“Remember, Sugar, it’s okay if he doesn’t latch. We can still get him nutrients elsewhere.” That had been her initial attack of panic when the midwife had taken William from her and offered a bottle instead. That if he wouldn’t or couldn’t latch and get access to her breastmilk, he would somehow suffer.

“I know. I just read so much about what a bond it is for a woman and her child...I want that feeling.” Jim had already seen the natural connection between his wife and son, noticed the way William’s eyes seemed to be constantly looking for his mother and the way his face turned to her instantly when her voice reached his ears. But he didn’t want to discount her feelings or deny her of all the things she had been dreaming about for the past nine months. Jim helped her get William settled in the crook of her arm and watched as her hand gently guiding his lips towards her nipple. “Mommy doesn’t want you to be hungry and uncomfortable my love. Let Mommy help you fill your little tummy.” Jim held his breath as his son continued to root around before finally finding purchase, latching on and sucking his mother’s milk into his mouth with ease.

“Is he doing it?” Jim wanted to make sure his eyes weren’t deceiving him but when Leah looked up from their son with tearful eyes and a nod he knew it was everything she had ever dreamed it could be.

“It’s ticklish. But I feel like all the pieces of the puzzle are fitting together.” It was then that William opened his eyes and looked at his mother as he continued to pull milk into his empty stomach. “I’ve never been happier, Jim. Thank you for giving him to me.” Jim kissed the exposed skin of her shoulder from where she had opened her top up to give William access to food.

“Thank you, Leah. For the life you’ve given me the opportunity to build. For the family we’ve started together. For putting the smile back on my face all those years ago.” She smiled and turned back to watch her son. Jim couldn’t stop the smile that spread across his face as he watched the two most important in the world to him interact. His heart was at peace. The two people he loved the most were warm and happy and safe and with him. Jim Mason doesn’t think life got any better than this and he doesn’t know who to thank for giving him such a beautiful second chance but he knew this time he wouldn’t screw it up. He had two things worth living for and nothing could take them away from him. Not even the ocean could keep him from his tribe. For the first time in a long time, Jim Mason was home.

Tags:

@avesatanormalpeoplescareme

@aveiangdon

@tickled--pinkmoodpoisoning

@langdvn

[closetofanxiety]

Show Review: NXT Presents, A Beyond Wrestling Reunion

It had been a long time since Mark and I had seen an NXT show, since the not-so-great experience in Amherst. Would this experience be different? Well, Io Shirai was there, so yes. But how was the show overall?

The show was held at the Ryan Center on the campus of the University of Rhode Island, which is in Kingston. I’m going to be charitable: Kingston is “pastoral.” It has “rustic charm.” It is “in the middle of nowhere.” We struggled to find a restaurant after the show, and ended up at some grab-n-go sandwich place heated entirely by those infrared space heaters that don’t work. The venue was nice, though, and it was crowded. I’d guess there were around 3,500 or so people there, and they were very excited about the show. 

Once again, we ran afoul of NXT’s erratic and unpredictable policy on cameras. The website said “personal cameras” were fine, but the security guards did not. The security guards are going to win that every time. During the show we saw another fan with a camera exactly like the one Mark had been prohibited from bringing in. The camera policy is about as consistently enforced as the rules of tag team wrestling, folks,,,,,,

Anyway, the show:

Matt Riddle vs. Dominik Dijakovic

This was a real Beyond Wrestling matchup, something that would be a theme running through the evening. The former Donovan Dijak seems like he got hired just before they started letting people keep their names, and so he ends up with the Shelbyville version of his name. This was a good match, with the crowd being extremely excited for Riddle. He’s already got a t-shirt, and people love chanting “Bro! Bro! Bro!” at him. He is a Star In The Making.

Marcel Barthel and Fabian Aichner vs. Oney Lorcan and Danny Burch

Barcel and Aichner are two wXW stalwarts recently signed to NXT, working the “evil foreigner” gimmick as cold, arrogant Germans. Lorcan and Burch are both Beyond Wrestling veterans. It was surreal, throughout the night, seeing people familiar from nights in tiny bars getting huge ovations from thousands of people in a basketball gym. I was particularly happy for the “Let’s go Danny” chants for Burch. The dude is pushing 40 and came up during the lean years of British wrestling, and now he’s finally getting the rewards for his labors. Lorcan and Burch win. GO BACK TO GERMANIA, GERMANS. I think Aichner is technically Italian, actually. He’s from South Tyrol, though, which has a lot of ethnic Germans. Italy’s a surprisingly (to me, anyway) heterogeneous country like that: there are Greek-speaking parts of the country, German-speaking parts, Albanian-speaking parts, etc. The more you know.

Deonna Purrazzo vs. Bianca Belair

The Beyond/WWR alumni parade rolls on with Purrazzo, who is now sporting an extremely ill-advised blonde dyejob and ring gear that makes her look like a background character in “Barbarella”:

This match was not great. I’m not exactly in the Sam Roberts camp on Belair, but she looked slow and clunky. The crowd really liked her, though, and in wrestling, that’s a big deal. 

Mansoor vs. Jackson Ryker

The only match of the night that would not feature a Beyond Wrestling alum. I am not familiar with Mansoor. Ryker is part of that faction they created, The Forgotten Sons, whose gimmick is like, “We’re the leftover guys.” The WWE loves doing this. Remember the Social Outcasts? “Hey, we have a great gimmick for you guys - you’re the Factory Seconds. You’re the Day-Old Baked Goods. You’re the Sucky Guys Who Suck. You’re the Fucking Losers. Get that over with the fans, and maybe you’ll get a t-shirt.” This was kind of a showcase for Ryker, who won.

War Raiders vs. The Forgotten Sons

After Jackson Ryker’s big win, his pals in the Overlooked Nobodies UNWISELY run their mouths about the NXT tag champs, who then come out with a hilariously over-the-top Viking entrance. You’re in for it now, Expendable Generic Male Wrestlers! This should have been a squash for the War Raiders, who were insanely popular with the crowd. They should have come out and stomped a mudhole in the Afterthought Gents. Instead, for some reason, this turned into a 15-minute back and forth. It was fine, and the crowd really came to life during the home stretch, when the War Raiders got to go berserk, but this was more than I needed to see.

INTERMISSION

Kayla Braxton came out to promote an EVOLVE show in Melrose, Mass. next month. Behind her on the jumbotron was the poster for the event, so for a few brief moments, Darby Allin and Priscilla Kelly were being promoted to a WWE audience on WWE resources. What a time to be alive. I haven’t watched an EVOLVE show since the FloSlam fiasco. Is it any good these days?

Kassius Ohno vs. Ricochet sort of

The former Chris Hero, a Beyond Wrestling mainstay, comes out to berate the crowd. He is mad that we are roasting him online for losing to Matt Riddle in six seconds at the last Takeover. Well, the Knockout Artist is not going to lose in six seconds again, you can bet! He issues an open challenge. Ricochet comes out and beats Ohno immediately after the bell with a roll-up. Kassius Ohno has become a figure of fun.

The Sky Pirates (Io Shirai and Kairi Sane) vs. Jessamyn Duke and Marina Shafir w/Shayna Baszler 

YES DAMN IT YES. Finally a chance to see Io Shirai in action. This is the reason I bought a ticket to this show. I was not disappointed. I mean, it was a tag match and the Two Horsewomen are still pretty green (although not nearly as bad as some people like to say), so it wasn’t like watching a Stardom match or anything, but it was fun. The crowd was madly in love with Kairi, properly annoyed at the Horsewomen, and jazzed for Io, especially when she broke out some of her signature stuff. Some doofus tried to start a “U-S-A!” chant, because there are two wrestlers from Japan in the ring. Another doofus tried to start a “You can’t wrestle!” chant at Duke. Two doofuses (doofi?) in the night, calling out to one another, in the dark of a crowded gym. 

Johnny Gargano vs. Velveteen Dream

This was great. Gargano has a legitimate claim to being the best in-ring performer currently in the WWE and Dream is now wrestling at a level that justifies the hype he had when he started on TV. The crowd LOVED him. There was one near-fall toward the end that looked like he might win, and the place almost came unglued. Ciampa ran in to help Gargano and the bad guys eventually won, after a ref bump and an overbooked finish that, nevertheless, did not lose the crowd. I once saw Johnny Gargano wrestle in front of maybe 50 people in Stratford, Conn., and he put as much effort into that as he did wrestling in front of 3,500 people last night. 

[bbycal]

Rules: List 10 songs you’re currently obsessed with and then tag 10 people.

tagged by @wantyoubackcashton and @calumscereal 💘

🔅: the whole Youngblood album by 5SOS

🔅: Static Space Lover by Foster the People

🔅: Criminal by State Champs

🔅: Tambourine by Mr. Gabriel

🔅: Honest by Mali-Koa

🔅: Fallin’ all in you by Shawn Mendes

🔅: Speechless by Dan + Shay

🔅: 8 days a week by The Beatles

🔅: Drive by Incubus

🔅: Un-break my heart by Toni Braxton

i tag : @micaelclifford @buritoluke @fuck-off-lucas and whoever else wants to share music!

[redpandahappypanda]

Guys

Seriously, I got Simon to take me and Bean over to my mother in law's home to swim in the pool this evening. And no joke, I feel ten thousand times better. That buoyancy, man. It pulled so much pressure off my pelvis, off my back. I feel way less tired and gross and giant.

I'm a little achy now, but over all I feel SO MUCH better.

I am really wishing I had pushed my insurance to cover one of those giant labor tubs for when I go to deliver, because I can see that being like. THE thing that keeps me sane and not begging for a spinal. Oh well. Live and learn, I suppose.

Last night I started having contractions every five minutes, for thirty seconds apiece, for over an hour. That's the standard that you want to meet in order to start making your way to the hospital to start having your baby. Typically by that point your cervix is open to six centimeters (or more!) and you're in active labor. Fantastic right?

They whisked me into triage right quick, checked my cervix...And Nothing. No changes to my cervix from my last exam. Three centimeters dialated, 60% effaced, absolutely not anywhere NEAR where I needed to be for admission. Not even after another two hours of regular contractions. I was slated for discharge after another NST, just to be on the safe side and see how productive my contractions actually were.

Survey says: not very. Even with the strength and frequency of contractions, I am still being termed as being in "prodromal labor". These are somewhere on the line between "real labor" (See: they fucking suck but cause you to progress), and Braxton-Hicks (which are typically painless and do nothing).

I was CRUSHED. On the bright side, Alfred is tolerating things very well. Better than I am! He's beautiful. He tolerates contractions like a champ. He also moves an approximate fuck ton and has a kick hard enough that he pushes the fetal monitors off my belly.

Unfortunately the poor triage nurse had to physically hold the fetal monitor on my belly for close to two hours before she got the results that were needed for us to be discharged safely.

We went in at 2200, and didn't leave until close to 0430. Eight hours in triage total. Sucks, but again, the staff at L and D were AWESOME. Both bedside nurses and the new resident were very attentive and great overall. They treated me with respect, dignity, and good humor. Wonderful, wonderful people.

[mrs-hbk-blog]

Impact Wrestling Review 3/9/2017

So the show starts with Eddie Edward and Davey Richards fighting GB in the stands. They're broken up by security. The first match is the DCC facing a tag team we've never seen, part of there name is Scum lol, and they are tag champs somewhere BC they brought their belts with them and holy fuck they beat DCC who seemed to be bickering amongst themselves. Jeremy Borash came out and is now apart of the announce team and words went back n forth between Jeremy n Josh. Next the was a 4 way match that Braxton Sutter won and Allie was with him. Laurel came out in the wedding dress again crying. (YAWN) Sienna took on the debuting Rachel Ellering (daughter of infamous manager Paul Ellering. But of course Sienna won but it was an OK match. Interesting to note they are still showing Hardy promos. Bruce Prichard comes to the ring. He says the TNA today isn't what it is now. He said TNA is dead and it's only Impact Wrestling. He rambles on for a bit and then calls Lashley the best they have and Lashley comes out. He kisses Lashley's ass and says no one in the locker room then Alberto El Patron debuts. He tells Lashley he hasn't beaten him then EC3 interrupts. He says Alberto needs to earn a championship match n challenges Lashley for the title n is shot down. Bruce Prichard makes the match Lashley vs El Patron as the main event. EC3 got nothing. Eddie Edwards is interviewed and Angelina Love showed up and slapped him. Next Cody Rhodes keeps looking for Moose and JB let's him know Moose is in Japan. He says he's not leaving until Moose comes out. Then he leaves through the crowd. Have no clue what that segment was about. It was stupid AF. JB announces there's a legend in back who's coming out soon. Dutch Mantel aka Zeb Colter comes out in a motorized wheelchair. It's his first time on Impact Wrestling. He says last time he was there Impact was great and mentions a lot of talent that are all now apart of the WWE. He said the guys told him there was a lack of leadership, respect and lack of vision of where the company is headed. Then says the fans left as well. He said they need to give the company back to the fans. They break in to another Hardy video where they fight the kangaroo. This makes no since BC Matt n Jeff left Impact before this episode was taped it's very confusing. They teleport and Decay delete them and take the tag titles. JB says 7/7/2017 will be live for their 15th Slammiversay. Josh Matthews is having a problem that JB made that announcement in the ring. Alberto El Patron comes out as does Lashley for their Impact World Title match and Josh Matthews is still bickering and whining that JB is not on the announcement team. The match goes back n forth. There are two referees BC the first one went down and so did the 2nd. Using the title Alberto hit Lashley and actually won the Impact World Championship!!!!! After the match Lashley was livid and 3 agents also came out to talk to the referees. Show ends with El Patron up on the ramp holding the belt celebrating. So Rockstar spud was the ring announcer all night, least he's not being a servant to Rex lol. I feel Josh Matthews kept going on n on n on about JB on the announce team. OK for 2 hours that's almost ALL he talked about. Also who is this Scum tag team n in their debut they beat the DCC WTF? The o e dude with a mohawk n beard is either attempting to mimic Sheamus or he's just very strange. The whole storyline within some of the knockout division will now definitely change since Maria is no gone from the company as is Jade. My opinion all in all is that there was a lot more talking than wrestling and no one really mentioned who exactly is in charge I mean we seen agents and a creative Dutch Mantel but who is actually in charge? Bruce Prichard said it wasn't him so who? I doubt we will see the actual person in charge