co-written by RatedrKjErIcHo


Melody stood in the kitchen at 3:30 that Sunday afternoon and got the burgers together. She'd seen the recipe on the Food Network and decided to try it. She'd made regular hamburgers for the kids. She'd called Mike and he'd agreed to bring Ryann with him when he showed up.

"Grill is ready, babe." John said walking in from the patio.

"Great. The burgers are ready to go." She smiled.

"So what type of burgers did you make us?"

"Bacon blue cheese cheeseburgers. But the smaller ones in this plate is for the kids." She said handing him the plate with the kids burgers and then the plate with the others.

"Alright." He said taking the plates and headed outside just as Randy and Jamie walked in with Brandon.

"Aunt Melody." Brandon said coming in the kitchen.

"Hey, there little one. Alden is playing out back with her dad." He hugged her and headed outside.

"I think I will join the kids and John." Randy said before kissing Jamie and hugging Melody. He then headed outside.

"So are they coming?" Jamie asked as she helped wrap the veggies for the grill.

"Yeah. Mike said he'd bring her with him when he showed up." Melody said. Jamie smiled." We promised him no pushing."

"I know you Mel. You want to push. At least a little. And she's awesome. And he deserves it. He really needs to be more like the old Mike again."

"I agree but we don't want to push too hard and it hurt her or him."

"You're right." She said as the doorbell rang. "I'll get it."

She headed to the door and opened. "Mike, Ryann, glad you came." Jamie said. "The kids and the guys are out back. Melody and I are in the kitchen."

They followed Jamie into the kitchen. Melody turned to them. "Welcome guys. Ryann, I'm glad you came."

"Thanks for the invite. I brought cupcakes. I hope that's okay."

"Are you kidding? You just made Alden's day. All I've heard is how great they are and how mine aren't as good." Melody laughed. "I hope burgers are okay? I found a great recipe on Food Network."

"Burgers are good." Ryann smiled.

"Did you make your potato salad to go with it?" Mike asked. He looked over at Ryann. "She makes this amazing potato salad." He said smiling at her.

"Do we ever have hamburgers without it ?" Melody asked. Mike smiled and shook his head. Melody laughed and looked at Ryann. "What kind of cupcakes did you bring?"

"Red Velvet and Dark Chocolate with raspberry filling. Cream cheese buttercream on the Red Velvet and Blueberry buttercream on the Dark Chocolate."

"You made Red Velvet cupcakes?" Mike asked. Ryann nodded. Mike smiled.

"Those are my favorite."

"Well I hope you like them."

"If they're anything like that tiramisu you made the other night, I'm going to make myself sick on them." Jamie and Melody looked at each other.

"Ryann, why don't you go out and say hi to the kids and meet John and Randy? Mike, could you help us in the kitchen?"

"Sure." He said. He turned to Ryann. "Would you be okay?"

"Yeah. I will go see the kids and meet the guys." She smiled and walked to the door and out to the patio. She smiled when she saw Alden and Brandon playing.

"Miss Ryann." Alden said running up.

"Well, hello, Alden." Ryann smiled.

"I take it you're Mike's friend." Randy said walking up with John from the grill.

"And you're Randy Orton. Nice to meet you."

"My daughter has gone on and on about you. And after the other day at the bakery, so has my wife." John said. Ryann laughed.

"They're both awesome." She said. "And so are Jamie and Brandon."

"You own a bakery?" Randy asked. Ryann nodded. Randy hugged her." Welcome to the family."

John laughed. "Forgive Randy. The man loves cupcakes and muffins."

"I'll remember that." Ryann smiled.

"Miss Ryann, come play with us." Alden said to her.

"I see my fan club is calling." She smiled as she walked over to where Alden and Brandon were.

"I definitely think she's a keeper." Randy said to John.

"I agree. The kids love her. Jamie and Melody love. I think so." He replied.

Jamie and Melody looked at Mike as they were in the kitchen getting things ready. "So, Ryann is nice." Melody said to him.

"Yeah she is."

"You had dinner with her?"

"It was a thank you for helping her out. She got mugged on the way home from work and I called the cops for her. No big deal."

"Well, that's nice that you called them." Jamie replied.

"It's no big deal. We should join them outside" He didn't say more as he walked out. He had to smile when he saw Ryann playing with Alden and Brandon.

"It's about time you got out here." John said to him. "Mel and Jamie finish questioning you?"

"I felt like I was on trial." Mike said as he grabbed a beer. He looked over at Ryann as she played with the kids and smiled.

"She's pretty awesome." John said. "The kids love her."

"She owns a bakery. I love her." Randy said.

"You and your sweet tooth." Mike laughed. "She is nice. But there is nothing but friendship between us despite what the two matchmakers think."

John laughed. "I know they come on strong but they love you."

"Yeah I know." He smiled. "Well, let's enjoy this and forget about all of that." He said as the girls came out of the kitchen with the other stuff.

"How's the burgers coming?" Melody asked her husband.

"They are almost done." he said going back to the grill.

Ryann walked up after playing with the kids. "They have tons of energy."

"I know it's amazing how hyper they can be." Melody said. "You're great with them."

"Kids are easy. They don't question things. They just know usually when they like someone and that's it."

"That's true." Jamie replied.

"Burgers done." John said putting them on the table. "Alden, Brandon, come eat."

Everyone was soon sat around the table. "I hope you like everything Ryann. I didn't know if you were allergic to anything."

"Just wasps." She said smiling.

"Okay. I'm glad you don't have food allergies." Melody smiled as she made Alden a plate.

Everyone was soon eating. "Oh, my god, this potato salad is amazing. Can I get the recipe?" Ryann asked.

"Good luck. She guards that thing." John replied.

"Its easy but the secret is I use four different types of potatoes."

"Oh My God! You got her to tell you the secret."

"It's not like its a matter of national security. It's just potato salad." Melody laughed looking at Mike. "And that's not the only secret of it."

"Really?"

"Yep. You have sweet pickles in it, boiled egg, mayo, cheese, and if you want, bacon."

"So what's the secret" Ryann asked.

"Oh, besides the four different types of potatoes. You use a dash of cheyenne pepper."

"You're my hero right now." Mike said to Ryann.

"Why is that?" She laughed.

"Because Melody has guarded that secret for as long as I have known her. And you know her just a little bit and she spills."

Melody and Jamie looked at each other. They could see that Ryann and Mike were getting closer and it was nice to see. Friends was the first step and it was great that Mike was taking it.

"Ms. Ryann?" Brandon said. "We have dessert now?"

"That's a good idea buddy. Anybody else ready for dessert?"

"Oh My God! Yes!" Randy said. Everyone looked at him.

"Don't ever do that again." Jamie said to her husband. "It's scary."

He laughed and kissed her. "I promise. But I want some dessert."

Ryann walked out of the kitchen with the cupcakes while Melody brought coffee and milk. Everyone grabbed a cupcake and were soon enjoying the dessert and the company.

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