That's What Friends are For

The last few years have been a whirlwind for Ellie, Colt, and their family.

Colt had been traveling the world, wrestling and acting whenever he could. After starting his school with Punk in Chicago and making a few TV appearances, promoters began clamoring to book him for their shows—after all, money is money. Ellie adjusted to his absences over time, but when the pandemic hit, everything changed. Colt was overseas when lockdowns began and couldn’t return home until restrictions were lifted, which took a little over a year. It was a challenging period for Ellie, especially as she juggled the kids, his parents and dealt with the worries of being alone and the pandemic in general. Thankfully, things improved, and he was finally able to come home, allowing them to reconnect.

The kids had grown a bit (but not too much—we don’t want them to be too grown up), and they were slightly less hyper these days. Maddie and Ajay were still their adorable selves, while Sophia was in the thick of her toddler phase, oscillating between good days and bad. Ellie felt relieved that her temper tantrums had become less frequent.

As for Ellie, while she loved the wrestling business, she decided to step back. For a while, she worked at Punk and Colt’s school, handling office tasks and show bookings, but she craved more stability. Ultimately, she chose a different path and became a certified physical therapist assistant, which suited her well. This role allowed her to be home with the kids after school, sparing them from long hours in daycare. It also gave her the chance to help Marcia with errands; Marcia was doing well after her stroke a few years ago but still needed occasional PT, which Ellie had learned a lot about during their appointments. She wanted to support her as much as possible. While Ellie still did signings and small appearances, it was mainly due to her Hardy last name and being Colt’s wife; her wrestling popularity wasn’t exactly soaring. At Punk’s shows, she helped out with tickets and other tasks, but overall, she embraced a more "normal" life.

Currently, Ellie found herself at a bar in Milwaukee. After shows resumed, Colt had been on the road for nearly five months. Everyone was eager to get back to work, and it was a busy time. Tomorrow, Colt would finally be coming home for a well-deserved break. Earlier that day, one of his wrestling friends, Alex, had called to say that Colt seemed a bit down. Although he was his usual self around friends, they could tell he missed his family, especially as their tour was winding down. They invited Ellie to join them for a post-show gathering to lift his spirits. Initially hesitant to interrupt their ritual, she realized they genuinely cared about Colt. Plus, she could use a night out too, and Milwaukee was only an hour and a half away. So, she agreed to join them.

After work, she went home to change into a casual outfit and grab a bite to eat before packing an overnight bag. Since she was only staying for one night, she dropped the kids off at Punk and Lacy’s, knowing they’d see Colt tomorrow. Upon arriving at the bar, she greeted Colt’s friends but noticed he wasn’t there yet.

“He’ll be back soon. The doofus forgot his wallet in his room and said he’d try to call you,” Alex explained.

“Got it,” she replied, stepping back after giving Alex a hug. “I hope he doesn’t wait around for me to call him back. I just really want him to be surprised to see me.”

“I think he will be; he misses you all so much,” he assured her. “Want a drink? The tab is open, so order whatever you like.”

“Sure, thank you!” she smiled, appreciating the offer, and walked over to the bar, ordering a beer while ensuring her back was turned so Colt wouldn’t see her when he returned.

When Colt finally came down, his friends would reveal their surprise.