Greetings old and new readers! This is the first thing I've posted here in five years or so, but the story idea was kicking around for a while. Anyway, I hope you guys enjoy reading and perhaps leave a review. I own Lucy, Leah, their family and friends. Everybody else belongs to themselves. xxx

The brilliant St. Louis sunshine filtered through the stained glass windows of the church, painting rainbow patterns across the wooden pews, and making the diamante details of the floral arrangements shimmer in every direction. It was late summer, August to be exact. The weather report had warned of rain that weekend, and a few of the guests were arriving with umbrellas in tow, apparently unwilling to trust the glorious midday rays. As the guests began to take to the empty pews, the groom was outside, standing behind the church, feeling the warmth of the sunshine against the back of his tuxedo jacket.

Randy Orton lit up a cigarette with shaky hands as he attempted to calm his nerves. The sound of the church bells echoed in his ears, only upping his anxiety over his upcoming nuptials. He shouldn't be this nervous. At least that was the thought running through the mind of the Missouri native as he exhaled a cloud of smoke. He had done far more intimidating things than getting married. As a WWE superstar he risked his life in the ring, night after night, city after city, all over the world.

Perhaps, he thought, he was simply anxious to ensure the day went perfectly for his bride. After all, she had spent the past eight months planning every aspect of the big day, from finding the perfect flavour for every tier of cake, to the hymns sung during the church ceremony. Night after night she had consulted her wedding folder, a silver binder that was bursting at the seams with magazine clippings, fabric swatches, and the contact details of every florist, hairstylist, cake decorator, and car hire company in the St. Louis area. The only number she didn't have noted down was that of a dressmaker, due to the fact that her sister was a talented seamstress.

From the moment he first saw Leah Winters, Randy knew that he would end up proposing to her. She was gorgeous, with tanned skin, olive green eyes, and caramel brown hair that fell down past her shoulders. She was a model, and it showed, from the way she walked to the way she dressed. Her personality was a little assertive, sometimes coming across as insensitive, but he liked that she challenged him. What attracted him to Leah the most though, was her smile. Her wide grin, with her pearly white teeth and dimpled cheeks, could soften even the hardest heart.

Dropping his cigarette to the ground and putting it out with the heel of his dress shoe, Randy popped a breath mint into his mouth, attempting to disguise the fact that he had been for a last minute smoke. As he entered the church he saw that all of the pews were filled, full of family, friends, and colleagues. He offered a nod and a quick wave to the congregation as he made his way to the front of the church, taking his place in front of the minister, and beside his best man. For all of their on-screen rivalries over the years, John Cena had become one of Randy's best friends within the WWE, and the Massachusetts native had been the groom's first choice of best man.

"Relax. It's practically mandatory for the bride to show up late." John told his friend, offering a reassuring pat on the back as he caught Randy eyeing the clock.

It was ten minutes since the ceremony had been due to start. But ten minutes turned into twenty, and then thirty. As the clock hit the forty minute mark, the minister took Randy to one side, addressing him away from the restless and confused guests.

"I'm terribly sorry, but I do have another ceremony in just over an hour. If Leah doesn't show up in the next five minutes, I'm afraid we'll be forced to postpone your wedding."

At that moment, John approached the two men, his face wearing a frown. He was closely followed by Donna Winters, the mother of the bride. She too wore a frown, and was visibly distressed. The best man placed a reassuring hand on the woman's shoulder, motioning for her to speak.

"Max just called." Donna explained, referring to her husband, Leah's father.

"Did something happen? Please tell me they're ok." Randy fretted, searching the woman's face for answers.

"They're both ok, but..."

"But what?" Randy pressed.

"I'm so sorry, Randy. But Leah isn't coming. She doesn't want to marry you." Donna replied, refusing to meet his gaze.

The WWE superstar stood there, shock paralyzing him as his blue eyes pierced those of the woman. John stood between the two, his own eyes scanning the scene that was unfolding in front of him. He watched as the groom's mouth opened and closed, wanting to speak but apparently not able to find the words. After what seemed like an eternity, the silence was broken as Randy took a deep breath, before offering a low chuckle and addressing Donna.

"This is a joke, right? A sick joke." the Missouri native shook his head.

"I'm sorry." the mother of the bride shrugged, unable to offer more of an explanation.

Suddenly the church felt claustrophobic. Randy could feel the weight of every guest's stare as they looked on, mumbling amongst themselves as they shared their own theories as to why the bride had failed to show up. He unfastened the top button of his dress shirt and ran a hand anxiously through his short hair. This couldn't be real. It had to be a bad dream. He closed his eyes and willed himself to wake up, to escape from this nightmare.

"You ok, Randy?" John's voice sounded, his tone noticeably concerned.

"I'm so sorry." Donna added, dabbing at her teary eyes with a tissue.

Randy opened his eyes, suddenly knowing what he had to do.

"Whoa! Where are you off to?" John exclaimed as the groom pushed past him.

"To talk to my fiancée." Randy replied, disappearing down the aisle and out of the church doors.

Randy had a thousand questions swimming in his head as he brought his truck to an abrupt stop outside of the home he shared with Leah, the woman he had been due to marry today, the woman he would be married to right now if she hadn't abandoned him on the most important day of their lives, in front of everybody they held dear. Slamming the door of the truck behind him, the WWE superstar jogged up the several steps to the door of the St. Louis property. Upon entering the house, he found it empty, with no sign of his fiancée to be seen, save for a few of her possessions. The bedroom drawers and wardrobe had been emptied of the majority of Leah's clothes.

The St. Louis native growled in frustration, aiming a clenched fist at the nearest wall, before sighing as he took a seat at the foot of the bed. Randy held his head in his hands, unsure of what to do next. He desperately wanted answers, yet that was becoming less likely by the minute. He wanted to stare into her face as he asked her why. Why had she jilted him? Where had she gone? Was their relationship over for good? She could have gone anywhere. As a model, Leah had plenty of friends and contacts in different countries, any of which she could be staying with.

Randy Orton had never been a patient man, but that was what he'd have to be for now. Patient.

After several minutes of sitting there lost in his thoughts, the sound of heels clicking on the hardwood floors alerted him to another presence in the house. It looked as if Leah had returned home. Perhaps he would have his answers after all. The footsteps continued, echoing in the hallway as they approached the bedroom, causing Randy to look towards the doorway in anticipation. It was not his fiancée who appeared in the doorway though, it was her sister.

"She's not here?" asked Lucy, although it was more of a statement than a question.

"No." Randy replied, shaking his head slowly.

"I'm sorry."

"What for? You're not the one who jilted me." the WWE superstar smirked, attempting to hide his vulnerable side.

"No, but I guess you're feeling pretty rough right now. I would be." the younger Winters sister shrugged.

"Why are you here, Lucy?"

The woman chewed on her bottom lip, apparently thinking something through in her head, before entering the bedroom and taking a seat on the stool in front of Leah's vanity table. The two sisters were not alike. Lucy was a couple of inches shorter than her elder sister, with strawberry blonde hair and lighter green eyes.

"I wanted to say something to you, but it seems kind of awkward now." she admitted.

"Say it anyway." Randy shrugged.

"Well, I know you're not going to want a lot of attention after today, and it would be difficult to avoid, living in the city. So I guess what I'm saying is, you're welcome to stay at my place for a while. Maybe just a couple of days, or maybe until this dies down." Lucy's gaze dropped to the floor as she awaited his reply.

She was right. Being in the city would mean being surrounded by family, friends, and fans, all of whom would be asking questions and offering their condolences. He didn't want or need that. Lucy lived in a small house away from the city, surrounded by woodland and fields. The man liked the prospect of avoiding prying eyes, of being able to clear his head and to figure out his next move. Staying there was just what he needed right now. Yes, she was his fiancée's sister, but neither of them had any romantic intentions, despite what people would think when they discovered where he had disappeared to. It was ideal.

"That sounds great." the WWE superstar nodded his head upon considering the offer.

"Really?" the strawberry blonde raised a brow, visibly surprised.

"Yeah." Randy replied.

Lucy nodded and offered a small smile. "Well, I'll be setting off now. I'll set up the guest room and see you later."

The WWE Superstar gave a nod and offered a small smile as he grabbed his suitcase and began to pack. His blue eyes fell upon a photograph on the dresser, one taken the night of his engagement. Leah wore her dimpled grin, flashing the diamond ring on her left hand as Randy kissed her temple and snaked his tattooed arms around her waist. It had been the happiest day of his life, while today had been his worst. He would recover though, he thought determinedly. He had been given three weeks off from work for his wedding and honeymoon; a wedding that never happened and a honeymoon that he couldn't take without Leah by his side. It had been intended as the beginning of their married life, and now that ideal was shattered thanks to the woman who looked so happy in that photograph.

He would focus, think things through, figure out a plan. And he had three weeks to do so.