“You and I, 
we are embers from the same fire, 
we are dust from the same star, 
we are echoes of the same love.”

●●●

It’s funny how life works, you expect certain things to happen but they don't. Sometimes you even expect your life to go downhill but it doesn't. That's what I had certainly thought when it felt like the world was turning on me and I was losing my person. I had felt hopeless, numb and angered, there was darkness in my life and all I had was Jojo. 

It felt like I couldn’t do anything right, when I felt on top in my career the world hated it and I had so many unresolved issues with the people I had once called family. For two years after my engagement with Galina ended I was stuck, I had good times with the people I loved and my career was moving forward. But deep down emotionally I knew that I hadn’t been moving forward, I would overthink things and wanted to protect everyone around me.

The Guy had been rising in the ranks but endlessly falling in life with nothing there to pull him back up. He had lost his Fearless Queen and been deceived by two of the people that had been the closest to him. 

He was angered and betrayed but deep down knew that he too had been at fault. His devotion to the Queen had led to The Man feeling betrayed, so he too was not innocent. He had always been blinded by his love for the Fearless Queen whether he knew the extent of it or not. That blinded him, made him turn into someone he didn’t like, not only had he come to be lonely at the top but there were times where all he had was his little girl to come home to.

He thought it was his fate to be unfulfilled and for awhile he accepted it because the love of his precious daughter could be enough. But his daughter’s love for the people that had become ghosts in his life made him realize how much he missed them in their absence. For the first time The Guy didn’t think of anyone else but himself and he took his Queen, he let her know how much he loved her even if it caused the world around them to crumble. If they had each other that was always all that mattered and the love they shared would always outweigh any other protests… 

In the last two years I learnt that sometimes you have to do what is best for you even if it doesn’t align with what you think the world wants from you. At the end of the day there would always be plenty of people that despised me, but the ones who mattered would always be there to drown it out.

It was my birthday today, a celebration of my life and I was surrounded by all the people that made me feel like it could be celebrated. Staring out into my backyard and seeing all the happy faces, hearing the laughter above the music it was hard to believe there was a time when I was celebrating it on my own.

“Can you believe a year ago I told you that I was pregnant and now my nipples are raw” Nicole’s voice broke my thoughts as I had just been standing in the doorway, having a grateful moment. 

I chuckled and glanced over my shoulder as she approached me and slid my arm around her waist while she placed a kiss into my neck.

“Is that why you wear lingerie to bed now? Cause I was used to you just stripping and pouncing me.”

“No, you just happen to be a test subject for any new BirdieBee lines”

I was an extremely proud husband and brother-in-law because their company was doing well. All I wanted was for Nicole to still feel fulfilled in her life even though she wasn’t as involved in wrestling as she used to be. They still did appearances here and there, and were featured by WWE so that was better than most people that were no longer with the business, they were still fortunate to be tied to it.

“I thought women didn’t dress for men” I teased as she had a whole rant earlier in the day with Jon, and had won the battle. I had hoped with both of them being parents they would be able to stop annoying each other but that would never end. It was entertaining though, especially when I was tired and didn’t have much to say of my own I could just listen to the two of them.

“We don’t but I also like to know that it does work its magic for the opposite sex on top of making me feel like a goddess” She shrugged.

“Well if you want to know what my opinion is then you look like a goddess as well, babe. And by this time next year your nipples will be loving life again”

“How do I always walk in on the weirdest conversations of you two” I heard a groan and we turned to see Colby accompanied by his now fiancé Charlotte. 

“Maybe if you didn’t arrive two hours late you would be out there with the rest of the tribe” I smirked as we hugged them.

“Hey, I need to get my workout in, man” He shrugged. “Where are the twins?”

“Napping and…”

“Uncle Colby!” Joelle’s voice was soon heard as she ran past me and launched into his arms.

“What do they feed you? You’re almost my height!” His eyes widened as it had been awhile since he had seen her and she definitely had a growth spurt. She laughed before dragging Charlotte out.

“You two should follow cause I feel like its time to bring out the cake. The twins should be up soon”

“I think they will wish they had stayed asleep once they hear all the tone-deaf voices” Colby chuckled before heading to the fridge to grab a beer.

“Speak for yourself!”

“Do you need help, babe?” I questioned as she moved down the hallway to their nursery.

“No. Brie is busy feeding Birdie so I’ll be good” She placed a brief kiss on my lips before disappearing.

“Do you think you find it easier to handle twins when you are a twin?” Colby asked as we made our way outside.

I thought about it and shrugged as I couldn’t be sure, “I don’t know but she sure makes it look easy”

“I think this baby belongs to you” I heard Jon as he held both Jasmine and Joey in his arms while Brie followed behind him with Birdie. Nicole wasn’t keen on Joey but ever since Jon started calling him that to distinguish between us, it sort of stuck.

“Finally I get to meet the babies” Colby laughed as he held Jasmine in his arms while I held Joey in mine.

Before I could say anything I heard the echos of happy birthday being started and realized Nicole was exiting the house holding a two-tier cake…

“Come on” I gestured for Jojo to stand in front of me as they sang so she could help me blow the candles out.

“Speech! Speech! Speech!”  I playfully glared at Sasha who had started the chant and the rest took off with it. 

“This is a birthday not a wedding, guys” I shook my head because everyone that knew me knew that I wasn’t the big speech kind of guy, unless it was really needed.

“Come on, technically it’s a special occasion. A lot of us aren’t on the road anymore so all of us being here at one location means a lot.” I heard Brie and rolled my eyes but stood up with my boy in my arms and pulled Jojo to my side.

"You need to raise your voice so everyone can hear you too” Jon added just as I opened my mouth to speak.

I briefly stared at him before focusing over the crowd that gathered around me filled with a sea of family and friends. “I have never been a birthday type of guy, I don’t hate it or anything. I honestly just hate the attention but like Brie said, sometimes it’s a great excuse just to have a reunion off the road and for you all to meet the newest additions to the tribe as well. Years ago, I honestly wouldn’t have pictured this would be my life, that I would be this happy not only with where I am at in my career but also my personal life. Yeah it took some hardwork, dedication and sucking up my pride but we are here. And I look at the people in front of me, especially my friends and one thing I can say is everyone here has had their cards dealt and they have risen above it. That’s what we do in our business, we keep climbing and especially in our personal lives. We have all taken a leap of faith and found partners within that business, its the reason we are all smiling like idiots today. I don’t know, I feel like I am rambling at this point but basically I am just beyond thankful for all of you, proud to call each and every one of you not just friends but part of my extended family… my tribe”

“And he says he’s not a talker” Jey rolled his eyes as everyone cheered while I shrugged.

“Now please have some cocktails and eat some cake because I don’t need all this temptation in our fridge” Nicole shouted out while Kathy cut the cake and my mom handed it out. They had always been friends but while helping the twins out with the kids I will say they had become closer. I guess it was good that I had no intention of ever leaving Nicole’s side because I am sure if that happened I would be disowned.

“I hope you know how thankful I am for you, Joe. The man of my dreams that has made my dreams come true.” She moved towards me with a piece of cake while the twins were busy being adored by the superstars along with Birdie.

“It’s a good thing our dreams align hey?” I smirked before wrapping my one arm around her and placing a kiss onto her forehead. 

“I love you, Joe” She whispered into my lips and I briefly kissed her before I nudged my nose over hers.

“I love you too, Nicole. Thanks for keeping your promise”

“Promise?” She frowned.

“Never Alone…” I whispered and her brown eyes lit up as she smiled.

“Never Alone.”

♥♥♥♥♥

THATS THE END!

I will do a thank you chapter soon just to sum up the book.
I hope you guys enjoyed the ending to their story💜