~*~ In Cody's P.O.V. ~*~

Where did we go wrong? He... Was my other half.. I'm not afraid to admit that I'm nothing without him. We could have fixed this.. I could be snuggling in his arms right now on the couch, sipping on a glass of champagne, and talking about our day. Right now, he would be telling me about how a jerk at the gym got to the weight section before he did, and about how he could have easily RKO'd him through the floor. But no. I had to run my mouth to him about me cheating on him.. I guess... I did that to spite him.. Why did I have to tell him that I was cheating on him? There are thousands of alternatives to piss him off... And besides.. I was entirely too loyal to... Randy... To even consider cheating on him with anyone. So, now... Because of my blind ignorance and overwhelmingly quick reactions to being verbally assaultive.. I've literally, driven him out of my arms and out of my life... But... This dispute didn't just happen out of the blue. It had, in fact, been building up for a long time... I just wish that I could turn back time..Just enough to right a few wrongs...

~*~ Regular P.O.V. ~*~ *(Flashback: 2 Years ago...)*

"And there goes del Rio," shouted Michael Cole into his headset for the fans watching on television, "he's softening up Cody's arm for his patented cross-armbar!"

Alberto del Rio had done a form of DDT to Cody's arm. Cody, rolling onto his side, wrenched his arm towards his chest and held it tightly. Ricardo Rodriguez, del Rio's personal ring announcer, clambored up onto the apron and was speaking frantically to del Rio in Spanish. This bought Cody a bit of time. Cody managed to crawl into the corner and rest his spinning head against one of the turnbuckles. Behind Cody's tightly-shut eyes, he could see a vivid face. It was the rugged features of his best friend, Randy Orton.

"Remember Cody," the memory said, "no one can keep you down. No one can stop you from achieving your goals but you. I know you can beat del Rio. He can't hold a candle to you. Nor can anyone else back in that locker room. Not even I can! I just want you to know that, win or lose, I'm proud of you, Cody.. You're always a champ to me.. Now, get on out there and kick del Rio straight back to Mexico! And his little ass-man servant, too!"

Cody opened his eyes. Del Rio and Ricardo were still on the other side of the ring having a frantic, strategic conversation. The words of encouragement from Randy seemed to have given Cody new-found energy and strength. Cody shot up in the corner with ice in his soul and fire in his veins. Del Rio looked at Cody in astonishment. Almost as though he expected Cody to be whimpering on the floor, groveling for mercy. Del Rio pushed aside Ricardo and charged at Cody. Both of them exchanged blows. Cody managed to best del Rio in the close combat. He, Cody, ran back towards the ropes, jumped up on them, then perfectly executed his Beautiful Disaster kick to the side of del Rio's skull. Del Rio staggered back slightly, one hand covering a small portion of his face. The deafening roar of the crowd began to chant "Let's go Cody!" in a rhythmic style.

"If I'm not mistaken," stated commentator Jerry "The King" Lawler, "I'd say that Cody's preparing to set del Rio up for his patented 'Cross Rhodes'!"

Del Rio stood, his back facing Cody. He bent over slightly, his hands resting on his knees, and shook his head. Cody rushed him from behind and tucked del Rio under his arms, preparing to perform Cross Rhodes. But before Cody could, del Rio countered it by spinning around. He managed to keep a hold on Cody's left arm. He did another DDT to Cody's arm. Cody fell back to the floor, once again, while del Rio briefly paced the ring. Del Rio then grabbed Cody's arm and wrenched it back, locking in the Cross-Armbar.

"Is he gonna tap out?" screeched Michael Cole.

Cody tried tugging his arm out of del Rio's posession. But del Rio was too strong. And cody was forced to tap out.

"Here is your winner - " started Lilian Garcia, the ring announcer. Ricardo Rodriguez had came into the ring and snatched the microphone out of her hands.

"Alberto del Rio!" squawked Ricardo. "Alberto del Rio! Alberto del Rio! Alberto del Rio! ALBERTO DEEELLL RRRRIIIIOOOOOO!"

Del Rio stood in the center of the ring, Ricardo prancing around him. Cody looked up at them, shame beginning to fill him...

"I hear voices in my head... ~*~ "

Randy came running out, full speed towards the ring. He started pummeling del Rio, hit after hit, no-holds-barred, straight to the skull of del Rio. Ranty landed a punt kick to the abdomen of del Rio, causing the wind to be literally forced out of him, and for him to bend over slightly. Randy threw himself against the ropes, then was forced back towards del Rio, performing a running knee-lift to the chin of del Rio. Randy ran past him, once again, and started ricocheting off the ropes, landing clothesline after clothesline on del Rio. Del Rio attempted to attack Randy, but Randy had ducked out of the way and powerslammed del Rio to the ground. Randy got up, veins pulsing in his templees. He turned, facing del Rio. Just as del Rio had stood up and turned around, Randy nailed him with an RKO. The crowd was loving it. Cody, watching fromt he corner, began to see double. Randy rushed over to his side.

"Cody!" Randy said. "Cody! Are you okay? ... Cody? ... Cody! Answer me! ... - "

Cody awoke half an hour later to find himself back in his locker room. Someone was sponging off his forehead. It was Randy.

"Hello there, sleepyhead," Randy cooed.

"Randy... I'm sorry," Cody said, plainly.

"For what?" Randy asked. "From what I saw, you kicked the literal shit out of him!"

"You - you watched my match?" Cody asked.

"Are you kidding me? I wouldn't have missed it for anything in the world!" Randy said, leaning back to reveal a television, which was now tuned inot a match featuring The Miz vs. John Cena. "And.. I'm very proud of you.."

"Why?" Cody inquired. "I lost..."

Randy leaned down and placed a kiss on Cody's forehead.

"Yes you did," Randy stated. "In my eyes, you're always a winner..."

*(End of Flashback)*