A/N – Hello all! I still haven't fully recovered from my busy schedule have only just regained some sweet freedom :) I hope you are all well and hopefully you enjoy this chapter…
Haley smiled as she watched Jess walking around the room less than 24 hours after surgery.
"I guess she really wants to get out of here" the nurse smiled as the watched Jess sit down on the bed again after her third lap around the room.
"She's got her mother's strength" Jon said to the nurse.
"It's a Bautista trait" Dave said from behind Jon, who jumped.
"Dave" Jon greeted awkwardly.
"Asshole" Dave greeted, completely ignoring Jon as he started to walk over to his niece.
"Dave, don't" Haley warned. Dave looked to his younger sister and shook his head.
"Why are you defending him?" Dave asked in frustration.
"Because I gave him a chance to explain and his explanation was pretty good" Haley yelled back.
"All it takes is one bullshit explanation huh?" Dave snapped.
"Stop it Uncle Dave. They're my parents" Jess told Dave, making everyone turn to her and Dave realised that his fighting was causing her pain.
"Sorry Jessie, I just want you and your Mum to be happy" Dave said.
"Well Jon is family for better or for worse. It was in the vows" Haley reminded Dave as she picked up Braxton from his carrier because he was fussing.
"So was fidelity" Dave grumbled which earned him a glare from Haley. "I didn't just come here to check on Jess. I wanted to make sure that when Mum tells you her little secret, you don't get mad" Dave said and Haley waited for him to continue but instead Donna came into the room with Grayson.
"Why are you here Grayson?" Jon asked.
"To check on my daughter" Grayson replied, but quickly realised his mistake and waited for Jon to snap at him.
"She's not yours anymore, you signed your rights away. Remember?" Jon asked, taking a step towards him but Donna stopped him.
"Grayson is the reason Haley believed you" Donna told him, making Jon look Grayson in the eye.
"Why would you do that?" Jon asked Grayson in confusion.
"For your daughter" Grayson replied, looking at Jess who smiled thankfully.
"He was in town that night because I felt that he should still know his daughter. I've been keeping in touch with him, showing him photos and telling him about her" Donna told them and Haley looked to her mother in shock.
"So when we all agreed that he should be out of our lives, you kept him in the loop about my daughter?" Haley asked.
"After your mother left that night, I saw Jon come into the bar. I was still going through photos and drinking away my sorrows" Grayson said.
"When you told me you wanted a divorce from Jon I called Grayson's hotel and asked if he'd seen Jon that night and if Grayson had seen anything. When he told me he'd witnessed the whole thing I told him to talk to you. That's why he showed up" Donna explained.
"So he's not here to win Haley back?" Jon asked Donna.
"No" Grayson replied for himself.
"But you said you still love her" Jon said confused.
"And Haley and Jess both chose YOU. I just want to bring your family back together" Grayson said, turning to Haley. "It's my way of apologising for before, for everything I did and said" Grayson told her.
Raw; January 12th
Dean and Haley walked into the office of the Authority to see the Usos being spoken to by Stephanie.
"Oh good, you're here. Thankyou for joining us Mr Ambrose" Steph greeted. "And Haley, welcome back" Steph smiled. Dean nodded to the Usos in greeting and Haley waved to the twins.
"Hey" Haley smiled at them.
"I'm glad you're all here. I wanted to address what happened on Smackdown. Some things that were said" Stephanie started to the Usos. "And some actions that took place" Steph said to Dean.
"Jimmy, Jey-" Steph started.
"I'm Jey" Jey corrected.
"I'm Jimmy" Jimmy said.
"Whatever. I know you guys are harbouring feelings against the Authority for what happened to Dolph Ziggler, Ryback and Erick Rowan but I think after watching the show earlier tonight you understand that it's really the responsibility of John Cena, and it has nothing to do with the Authority" Stephanie said. "DO you understand?" Steph asked. Jey looked confused.
"Is that it?" Jey asked.
"Yes" Steph replied.
"So there's no other punishment?" Jimmy asked. "Nothing?" he continued.
"No, God. What kind of monster do you think I am?" Stephanie asked with a smile.
"You want an honest answer?" Haley mumbled about Stephanie to Dean who chuckled quietly.
"But just one other thing" Stephanie said as the Usos started to walk away. "If you could please tell your wife Naomi, I know how much she loves competition, tonight she's going to compete with her hand tied behind her back. Thankyou, you're dismissed" Stephanie told them then they left and Stephanie turned to Dean and Haley who were having their own conversation. "And as for you Dean, I understand that when you were taken to the hospital last week after Smackdown that you were unruly, you had erratic behaviour and then you checked yourself out of the hospital. Therefore I deem you a threat not only to yourself, but to others" Steph said causing Dean and Haley to stare at her in shock and confusion.
"Dean's not a threat to anyone. You just want him out of your way" Haley snapped.
"I'll get to you in a moment Haley. But Dean, because of your instability we have Dr Corbitt here who's a doctor in abnormal psychology and he will be evaluating you tonight Dean. And if you don't pass that evaluation then you will not be competing in the Royal Rumble match" Stephanie informed him. Dean was furious and Haley glared at her.
"You can't do that" Haley said.
"I just did" Steph told her. "Now Dr Corbitt, your office is set up right next door" Stephanie smiled at Dean.
"Dean, come with me" Dr Corbitt requested and turned to leave.
"Haley, you'll be in a match tonight. It'll be against Paige" Stephanie said and Haley nodded.
"With my hand tied behind my back because my husband's been a naughty widdle boy and you want to teach him a lesson?" Haley guessed.
"No. You didn't let me finish. You'll be facing Paige and Alicia Fox and Nikki Bella with Brie at ringside" Stephanie finished. Haley looked to Dean, then back at Stephanie.
"Fine" Haley grumbled.
"Dean, Dr Corbitt is waiting" Stephanie smiled and Dean kissed Haley's forehead before following the psychologist.
Haley vs. Paige, Alicia Fox and Nikki Bella w/Brie Bella
The bell rang and Haley was quickly running to the ropes to keep Foxy away from her.
"Back her up" Haley told the referee who complied and Haley ducked back through the ropes and into the ring.
"Come on Hales, you can't wrestle without your husband's help?" Foxy taunted. Haley shook her head in disbelief and speared Alicia before laying in the punches until the referee pulled her off.
"You have to let her up or I'll disqualify you" the referee warned her. Alicia scrambled to her corner and tagged in Paige.
"You really think you can win?" Paige asked Haley.
"I know that if I go down, I'm taking as many of you down with me as I can" Haley replied. Paige and Haley locked up and Haley put Paige in a headlock but Paige pushed Haley to the ropes and Haley came back with a harsh clothesline. The crowd cheered for Haley as Paige got back to her feet. Haley smirked and Paige was furious. "What's the matter Paige?" Haley asked and slapped Paige in the face. "Can't take me?" Haley taunted. She had a plan; Stephanie wanted the girls to beat her down and take her out, but if Haley cut this short by a disqualification then she could get out of here with a win. Paige saw red and ran at Haley who ran to the ropes and heard the referee begin the count but Paige didn't let herself get disqualified. Haley came back out of the corner and ran at Alicia to slap her and Alicia ran into the ring but Brie used the distraction to jump on the apron and pull Haley down by her hair and Paige took advantage and put Haley in the PTO but Haley got her arm free and grabbed to rope in front of her. Paige let go at the count of 4 and Haley rolled to the apron. She rolled back in and slapped Paige again, then kicked Nikki in the gut which knocked her off the apron and Nikki ran back in and Paige and Nikki both moved to attack her but ended up nose-to-nose with each other. Haley got to her feet and smiled. These two hated each other and Haley decided to play off it by shoving Paige into Nikki and then watched as the two fought to the outside where Paige was counted out and Haley won.
"Your winner by countout, Haley" Lillian Garcia announced and Haley's theme song played but was replaced by Stephanie's. The Billion Dollar Princess came to the ring and demanded the referee restart the match as the Bella Twins vs. Haley in a street-fight before leaving to ringside while Alicia and Paige headed to the back. The bell rang and Haley quickly rolled outside and looked under the apron for a chair and found one. Brie and Nikki were right beside her though and Nikki pulled the chair from Haley's hands but then Dean ran down to ringside and Brie and Nikki took off towards the announce table. Dean glared at the Bellas and then checked on Haley who smiled.
"No disqualification right?" Dean smiled and Haley nodded. The two walked around the ring at opposite sides but Stephanie blocked Haley's way and slapped her but Haley smiled and slapped her back.
"Stay out of my way, bitch" Haley warned and then shoved Stephanie on her ass. Nikki and Brie ran into the ring and grabbed the referee, telling him that they forfeit and then scrambling to the back while Lillian declared Haley the winner.
Backstage (Offscreen)
Haley sighed as she shook out her damp hair after her shower and then began to brush it out.
"You did great considering you only just got back" Brie told Haley.
"Thanks Brie" Haley smiled.
"Who's watching bub?" Brie asked.
"Braxton is with his father in catering or the men's locker room" Haley replied.
"Have you two sorted everything out yet?" Nikki asked.
"Mostly. I think Jon and I will be okay" Haley let herself smile a little.
"You two deserve to be happy" Trinity said.
"Thanks" Haley said and then zipped up her suitcase and headed to Jon's locker room where she saw Jon bouncing a smiling Braxton on his knee. She knocked on the door and Joe opened it for her.
"Hey babygirl" Joe greeted her.
"Hi Joe" Haley returned and then knelt in front of Braxton. "Hey baby boy" Haley smiled and let Braxton grab her finger and shake it happily. Jon watched Haley and she met his eyes and he could see the light back in her eyes again.
"Joe, could you take Braxton for a few minutes?" Jon asked and Joe nodded. Haley stood up and Jon led her to the old Shield promo spot so they could talk.
"Jon, what's going on?" Haley asked.
"I love you Hales, I'm going to explain that to Dave…again" Jon told Haley and she looked worried.
"He's pissed at you. You know that, so why would you go?" Haley asked.
"Because I want my family to be whole again" Jon replied honestly and Haley let him pull her in and wrap his arms around her.
"I love you Jon" Haley said into his shoulder.
Jon knocked on the front door of Dave's house and waited for him to answer. Jon knew Haley hadn't picked up Jess yet and Dave would never hurt him in front of Jess. The door opened and Jon stared at his brother-in-law.
"Hi Dave" Jon greeted. "Can I come in?" Jon asked. When Dave didn't answer Jon sighed. "Or not, that's fine" Jon said and then waited for Dave to say something.
"I don't owe you jack shit Jonathan. You took advantage of my sister's kindness and I understand that Grayson says you didn't willingly cheat but he's as much of a liar as you are. I don't want my sister hurt again and the only way to stop her from being hurt again is to make sure you stay away from her. For good" Dave said.
"If you just give me half a second to explain-" Jon started but was cut off by a fist to his jaw.
"Uncle Dave" Jess yelled and both men looked to the little girl who was standing next to the couch with a horrified expression on her face.
"Don't tell your mother or she'll blow a gasket and start another fight with me" Dave told Jess who looked furious.
"Don't tell her what to do" Jon said to Dave while he held his jaw.
"You want a broken jaw?" Dave asked.
"Do you?" Jon returned. "I came back to fix things, not to be beaten up in front of my daughter and watch her Uncle tell her to keep her mouth shut. If this family falls apart, it's on you" Jon said to Dave and turned to leave but Dave shoved him.
"Stay away from my sister" Dave warned and Jon just kept walking.
A/N – I really hope you haven't given up on me! I hope to do regular updates again now. I love all of you who have stuck to this story…
NEXT CHAPTER – Haley confronts Dave after Jess tells her what happened, Haley apologised to Jon about her brother and they come to a decision when it comes to reconnecting the family