A/N: I'm working on a new story with a different vibe. Still WWE related with a little AU tossed in. This is the prologue. Let me know what you think! I own no characters from the WWE! They own themselves and this is fiction!

Disclaimer: I own no character/person related to WWE. This entire story is fiction!

Prologue

The door closed quietly behind him. He strode confidently to the jet black '66 Ford Mustang awaiting him on the corner of the deserted street. With a quick glance of his watch he quickly climbed in and fired up the engine. A vibration on the dashboard caught his attention and the Mission Impossible theme cut the silence in the car.

His hand snaked out and grabbed the phone that was interrupting his getaway.

"What is it, my love?"

"We go on in one hour and you need to get ready. Vince is already wondering why you're taking so long."

"I'll be there in 5 minutes, John."

"Are you OK? Is it done?"

"Yeah, it's done. He won't be bothering our boy anymore."

"I love you, Ran. Now get your fine ass over here."

Randy Orton smiled and placed the phone back onto its holder. He reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out his favorite Smith and Wesson revolver. With a single scan of his finger, the passenger seat popped open to reveal its hidden compartment. He carefully laid his weapon inside and secured the seat back to the way it was.

Randy put his car into drive and after one quick glance back, sped towards the city's main road. In moments the Hollywood Bowl came into his sight and the blinking lights of the facade caught his eye and made him smile.

WWE RAW

Performing Tonight

Sold out

The sweat dripped of their bodies as they waved to their adoring fans. For those minutes they performed in the ring, they were free. Nothing about them mattered. Their blood, sweat and tears belonged to the fans and they gave it freely. Regardless of exhaustion, pain and whatever worries plagued them.

Randy Orton and John Cena walked silently to their dressing room backstage. Once inside they collapsed on the many chairs and sofas lining the walls of the room. Only the sound of their breathing was heard.

"That was a good match."

Randy looked up at John and smiled. He nodded emphatically and replied, "Yeah, it was great."

The door opened and a sweaty and exhausted Ted Dibiase and his partner, Cody Rhodes, walked in.

The four men exchanged pleasantries and low conversations began to emerge as everyone began talking about their favorite moment of the night's show. Randy looked around the room and felt at peace. He was surrounded by his family; his closest friends in the world.

His life read like a soap opera until almost three years ago. Famous Dad, who left him impossible shoes to fill, failed attempt at a military service career with an embarrassing end in jail, problems in the WWE ranging from drug use to sexual harassment charges and his failed marriage due to sexual confusion. Despite his troubles, he had managed to sneak in a few accomplishments. He excelled in school and extracurricular activities like wrestling, managed to beat his drug addiction on his own and become a star in the WWE, not to mention mend the friendships he had ruined, and out of the doomed marriage had come his greatest accomplishment; his 3 year old daughter.

Randy was snapped out of his thoughts as he felt a shift in the seat beside him. He looked over to his left and saw the smile that belonged to the man that made his heart stop; John. That represented another accomplishment. His relationship with John was completely accepted and normal to everyone else, except him. He still marveled at the fact that he and John were happily together after 2 years. Who would've known this man he met in WWE's training camp and became instant friends with would now be the man he loved more than anything?

"Are you OK? You look more worn out than any of us."

Randy smiled and bent to kiss the lips of the man he adored. "I'm fine, John. I just had more to take care of before the show than any of you."

John's features drooped as soon as the words came out of his mouth and his face was transformed by a frown. Worry darkened his blue eyes and he said, "You should have let me help you, or better yet, take care of it."

Randy shook his head and replied, "No, its fine. I wanted you here because I knew I could handle it on my own. If I needed you, I would have called you. This was an easy one. I've called you and the boys when I need you, right?"

John smiled and nodded. "I just worry about you. We all do this but when you go out there, my heart goes with you. My stomach, though, stays with me and grumbles all day long."

Randy laughed and kissed John's forehead.

5 years ago

The sky was all shades of red, orange and yellow as the sun descended over the backyard of his home in quiet High Ridge, Missouri. Randy sat on his porch nursing a cup of coffee and a cigarette as he awaited the return of his wife, Samantha. She called from the road to ensure he would be home. She had very exciting news, she said. Randy sighed as he looked up and down the road, knowing full well good news for Sam could be something as simple as a great shoe sale. He was dreading Sam's return for other reasons, as well. He couldn't take it anymore. It was time to tell her what he knew in his heart for over a year now. He wasn't meant to be with her or any other woman. He was meant to be with a man. A man named John. Namely, his best friend, John. He sighed and took a sip of coffee in an effort to prepare himself for the discussion which would require his undivided attention. The roaring of the engine made him lower the cup and he smiled at Sam as she drove the car into the driveway. She happily jumped out, her eyes sparkling and long brown hair flying behind her.

"Oh my God, do I have great news!"

Randy enveloped her in a tight hug and led her in the house. He closed the door behind them and turned to see Sam holding a piece of paper out to him. It looked like an x-ray of a peanut.

"What's this?"

Sam smiled and patted her stomach. "It's our baby! We're pregnant, Randy!"

Randy's mouth dropped open and he stared at the paper in his hand. "This is a sonogram? We're having a baby?"

Sam smiled and threw her arms around his neck in excitement. "Isn't it amazing? I'm 6 weeks along and had no idea!"

Randy gave her the paper and moved over to a seat. He shook his head and felt his head spin. God had a funny sense of humor when it came to him.

"This can't be happening, now, Sammy. I can't take this on top of everything else."

Samantha frowned and said, "Why? There's nothing on you now. You just bought a tour bus so I can travel with you wherever you go. Nothing major is gonna happen yet, except me getting bigger. You'll be there to feel the first kick and all the rest. By the time I'm ready to give birth, we'll have discussed it with Vince. I know he'll give you the time off. Then, we'll have some time to ourselves and our new baby. If you ask me, its perfect timing!"

Randy shook his head. "No, it's not perfect timing. You just found out you're pregnant and you'll remember this day as the day you also found out your husband is gay."

Samantha's eyes widened and she grabbed onto the edge of the counter to steady her. "That's not funny, Randy."

"You think I want this to be real? I would give anything if this was a funny joke. You just told me something that should make me the happiest guy in the world. I'm gonna be a father. I should feel nothing but joy. Instead, all I feel right now is fear. More fear than I felt before you walked in. I knew you would leave me when I told you, but now I have to fear that you'll take my child away from me, too."

Sam shook her head and tears began to run down her eyes.

"Sammy, I'm so sorry. I will never abandon you and our baby, but I can't lie to you or me any longer. I've known for awhile now and I tried everything I could to deny it from myself. It's impossible, though. I'm betraying and hurting you, something I swore I would never do. I know you must hate me."

Samantha sat beside him and shook her head. "I'll never hate you, Ran. You were the first love of my life and are the father of my child. Like it or not, we're now bonded for life."

She took a deep breath and said, "I always told you to tell me the truth. Whether you cheated, didn't love me anymore, or just had any other issue with our marriage. I never expected the gay announcement, though."

Randy shrugged. "I never expected to have to say it."

"How do you know you are?" Samantha shyly shrugged and added, "I don't know how to phrase it properly yet."

Randy smiled and shook his head. "I'm having feelings for another man that were like the feelings I had for you when we met. Sexual feelings. I feel emotionally connected to another man and I want to explore that feeling and hopefully have him return it."

"So, this other man…It's either John or a complete stranger."

"How do you figure its John?"

Sam smiled. "Come on; if you're gonna be gay with anyone, it's going to be with John. He's more on your level than the other boys. Is it him?"

"I feel weird talking about this with you, Sam."

"If I can do it, you can." She took his hand in hers. "Look, what's done is done. Our marriage is over and that fills me with sadness, but we still have to get along for this baby's sake. We can remain friends, even if I need some time to get used to this now. I'll be a friend to you, Randy. Always remember that."

Randy kissed her hand and held it tightly. "Thank you, Sammy. I don't know why I ever thought you would react differently. I know we'll find our true happiness some day."

"What are you thinking?"

Randy blinked once and looked down at John leaning on his shoulder. "About the moment that set me free. I refuse to be held captive again."

John got up and sighed. "He's gone now. Whenever someone threatens our family we take care of it. None of us will ever be captive again."

Randy nodded.

John winked at him and moved to the center of the room. "Guys, listen up. We need to talk about what happened today."

Three pairs of eyes focused on him. As the oldest member of the group, John had automatically been assigned leader of their activities outside the WWE. Not that the others remained quiet. It was a family where everyone had equal say so and everyone did their share of work.

He focused his eyes on Cody, the youngest member of their circle. Everyone had a soft spot for Cody. He was their surrogate little brother and was always protected more than the others. His kind heart and easy demeanor made him a target for scams and betrayals. No one suspected the fierceness that lay beneath and the fury that could control him.

"I know you wanted in on this one, Codes, but we took care of it."

Cody stared at him and clenched his jaw. "I should have been allowed to take him out. He screwed me over, not you. Why did you go for it without me?"

"Codes, calm down. We did what was best."

Cody whirled to look at Ted approach. Ted was the most reasonable of all of them. His need to protect his friends came from within with no explanation needed. If they ever expected a protest in a case they expected it would come from Ted.

"How can you say it was best, Teddy? That man hurt me so I should have had a chance to put a bullet in his brain!"

Ted patted Cody's shoulder and said, "It would have been too painful."

"He's right, Cody."

Cody looked at Randy and nodded. Randy was the one who could make it all seem better. His cocky, arrogant and evil persona was very real to most people besides those in his inner circle. Those people were privileged to see the Randy that was brilliant, funny, sweet and loving and completely devoted to his friends and family. To the world he remained cold, aloof and mysterious. No one knew what to expect from him and that's how he liked it.

"Cody, you have to know that Randy would never do anything to make you mad. He thought he was doing the right thing."

Cody looked at John and nodded. "I know Randy, or any of you, would never do anything to hurt me. I just wanted to be the one to kill him."

Cody sighed and slumped into a chair. "He hurt me more than anyone. He used my affections to play with my head. He raped me, guys. I would never wish that on my worst enemy. I wanted to rid the earth of him so he could never hurt anyone again. I wanted to cause him so much pain that he would beg and wish for death to save him."

Randy walked over and bent over him in the chair. He looked at him dead in the eye. "I made him suffer for you, Cody. His body will be found in pieces all around that lovely mansion. He begged for me to end it and I made sure I did it all in your name. He begged for your forgiveness before he died, Cody. When I couldn't stand his voice any longer, I put a bullet between his eyes. He'll never hurt anyone again."