Finally Peyton's uncle is revealed! You guys have had some interesting theories as to who it is. So this is the longest chapter yet, hope you all like it :)
In our family portrait we look pretty happy
We look pretty normal, let's go back to that
In our family portrait, we look pretty happy
Let's play pretend, act like it goes naturally
In our family portrait we look pretty happy
(Can we work it out? Can we be a family?)
We look pretty normal, let's go back to thats
(I promise I'll be better, Mommy I'll do anything)
In our family portrait we look pretty happy
We look pretty normal, let's go back to that
Let's play pretend, act lime it goes naturally
(I promise I'll be better, Daddy please don't leave)
Never knowin what love could be, well I've seen
I don't want love to destroy me like it did my family
"Where the fuck are my car keys?" Peyton muttered to herself as she walked around the hotel room looking for her car keys. Between being worried something was going to happen between her uncle and Joe, trying to make last minute changes to the script for Undertakers' return Monday and waiting for David Kapoor, who had returned the day before and was being weirdly pleasant to her, to return to his usual misogynistic, shit-stirring self. Peyton was feeling a little stressed. Not to mention the nerves she was feeling for the Shield's match against the Wyatt's the following night at Elimination Chamber.
"Have you checked your bag?" her uncle answered, knowing what Peyton was like when it came to misplacing things.
"No, why would I look in the most obvious place?" Peyton sarcastically replied, looking under a bunch of scripts on the coffee table in the sitting room in her suite.
And there was the Peyton everyone knew and loved, he thought. As much as she tried to hide it, especially as a teenager, her uncle and his family had always been able to tell when Peyton was upset or ill. If there was no feisty or sarcastic comment; none of her usual passion, as much as she would try to cover it up, they could always tell. He would always remember the battle he and his wife had faced trying to get Peyton to open up about how she was feeling when she first moved in with them. While they had known things were bad with her parents, they hadn't realised how bad until Michelle had gone to see her niece, planning to take her out for the day when she had realised Peyton had been left alone whilst Debbie went on her honeymoon.
"Alright, trouble, less of the sarcasm with your uncle," Her uncle grinned.
"Less of the stupid questions," Peyton smirked. "Anyway, we all know where I get it from. Along with determination, stubbornness and my strong will."
"Yep, guilty."
"Found them," Peyton smiled, finding the keys under one of the scripts.
"I know what you said earlier, but you are going to have to tell Joe at some point. It's not something you can hide forever."
Peyton sighed, "I know, and I will. Just not right now. We've only just got on good terms at the moment and-"
"And he knows what it's like having a wrestling family; look at his whole family. I don't think he's going to react as badly as you seem to think."
"It's not so much that I think he'll react badly, it just changes things. I'm not just going to be Peyton the writer anymore; I'm going to be Peyton, the niece of a Hall of Famer. Peyton who knows a lot more than the business than people think; whose uncle inspires her promo writing. And once he knows, he'll have to tell Colby and Jon. He won't be able to stop himself, they tell each other everything. And I know how Colby will be; remember how excited he was when you was last down and met them? Then there's the talk I know you'll be having with Joe."
Peyton's uncle walked over to her, placing his hands on her shoulders and smiling. "Stop worrying so much, everything will be fine. Things are already going to change between you and Joe; you're having his child. That changed things, it already has, you're getting on so much better now. One thing that will never change though; how I see you. You're always just going to be Peyton to me. Not some hot shot writer, or the niece of a hall of famer. Just my strong-willed, sarcastic, Peyton, who's like a daughter to me. As for Colby, when the time comes I'll manage his fan girling. And I won't go too hard on Joe."
Peyton could feel the tears in her eyes, damn hormones! "You know you've always been like a dad to me, and you're basically going to have another grandchild with this baby."
Peyton's uncle pulled her into a warm hug, feeling slightly emotional himself. "That means a lot to me," he whispered.
Peyton met her uncle at the back entrance of the arena they were in for the last house show before Elimination Chamber the following day. Having left a few hours before him, having to be at the arena early for a creative meeting, he'd text her to say he was there. Stephanie and Paul, knowing it was Peyton's uncle, already knew Peyton would be the official WWE employee to meet the visiting ex wrestler and bring him to their office today, instead of their assistant that usually met with visiting former superstars.
"Hey, Stephanie and Paul are looking forward to seeing you before the show starts. You know they love it when retired wrestlers come to the shows, and it's always good for current superstars."
"And what a beautiful welcome party they sent me," her uncle smiled.
"Only the best for you. Plus, Steph's new assistant, Oliver, lovely guy. But still like an excited puppy around big people. You should have seen him last week when Foley was here, literally speechless for the first twenty minutes. And he's a big fan of you, probably going to piss his pants when he sees you."
Her uncle chuckled, "Even after all these years, I still love seeing fans like that. And from what you've said and from what I remember, Colby is still going to be that way with me." Her uncle smiled, remembering what Colby had been like the first time he had met all the Shield boys, soaking up as much information as he could.
Peyton smiled; "Colby's a big fan, it's kinda adorable though. Don't ever tell him I said that though."
Walking down the corridors to Stephanie's office, Peyton couldn't help but smile every time a superstar stopped her uncle to say hi. Most of the older ones were used to retired superstars being backstage at shows and therefore would normally just say hi, unless it was someone they were actually friends with in which they would usually have an actual conversation. That was usually when it was diva's visiting or some of the more recent retired wrestlers like Edge visiting. Then there was the more excited rookies that normally tried to engage in conversation and take in as much information as they could.
Peyton audibly groaned, rolling her eyes when she saw Kapoor walking down the corridor towards them. More importantly, towards her uncle; that's who Peyton knew he was interested in. Always one to try impress and make himself seem more important than he actually was in front of respected, retired wrestlers who were visiting, like her uncle.
"Roddy Piper, great to see you," Kapoor exclaimed, walking straight up to the pair. "It's always a great time when we have a Hall of Famer like you backstage."
Peyton rolled her eyes at Kapoor trying to kiss ass with her uncle. She knew her uncle wasn't falling for anything, knowing all about what Kapoor had been up to. Roddy just stood there, eyes on Kapoor, trying not to teach the guy a lesson like he wanted to. A dozen other superstars around or not, if it wasn't for Peyton begging him not to do anything beforehand, Kapoor would be on the floor by now.
Kapoor noticed Peyton's eye roll, turning his attention to her. "I'm sorry Miss Morey, are we boring you here. Somewhere else you would rather be? I think you've done enough, I can take things from here with Mr Piper." Roddy was really fighting the urge now, not liking one bit how Kapoor was talking to Peyton.
"Nope, I'm good. As kind as that is of you to offer, Stephanie asked me to escort Mr Piper to her office, not you. I'm sure you've got plenty to be getting on with anyway, doesn't Paul have you getting his coffee these days?" Peyton mocked, smirking. "Hey guys, I've got some scripts for you later," Peyton smiled as she spoke to Joe, Jon and Colby who were walking up the corridor at that point. They all nodded before walking past Peyton, though she noticed Colby smiling at having seen Roddy Piper.
A smirk curved Kapoor's lips as the Shield walked past him, turning his body to body to completely face Peyton, pulling her to the side. "Oh how sweet, so nice to see you getting on with your favourite guys these days. Though I suppose you do get on exceptionally well with Joe, having his baby and all. Why don't you run along and give those guys some of your extra special treatment and I'll take Mr Piper to Stephanie's office."
"So sorry about that, Mr-" Kapoor started to say as he turned back around to face Roddy Piper, only to find himself being shoved roughly into the wall behind him by Roddy, a forearm across his throat.
Roddy Piper was furious, unable to hold back from doing anything any longer, breaking his promise to Peyton. He wasn't about to have anyone touching or saying stuff like that to his niece! "Lay a hand or say one more bad thing to my niece and it'll be the last thing you ever do," Piper spoke through gritted teeth, venom dripping off every word. "I have no problem breaking every bone in your body. Understand?" Piper slightly loosened his forearm against Kapoor's throat, allowing him to respond.
Peyton watched, frozen where she was standing, eyes wide. She wasn't the only one watching the scene in front of her unfold, along with a few of the other superstars that were in the corridor, Joe, Jon and Colby stood watching. Having heard what Kapoor had said as they had walked past them, they had turned around themselves to do something, to find Piper already had him pinned against the wall with a forearm to the throat. Their eyes going from Roddy to Peyton and back again.
"Y-yes," Kapoor gasped out, eyes wide.
"That's yes, Mr Piper," Piper instructed.
"Yes, Mr Piper. I'm sorry. So sorry."
"I'm not the one you need to be apologising to."
David looked at Peyton. "I'm sorry, Peyton."
"I think we can do better than that," Piper stated, using his other hand to stroke his chin. "Repeat after me," he stated, grabbing Kapoor by the shoulder and moving him to stand in front of Peyton. "I'm sorry Peyton, for being a pathetic excuse of a man and taking my failings as a man out on you. I fully accept that you're a better writer than me and the jealousy and games stop now. I won't cause any more trouble. Please accept my apology."
Jon and Colby couldn't wipe the grins off their faces watching David squirm under Roddy's hold on him and what he forced the man to say. They were shocked, like everyone down that corridor, to find out Roddy Piper was Peyton's uncle, but too amused at what he was doing to Kapoor at that moment to really take in what they had just found out. Joe on the other hand, was more concerned as to if he would be receiving the same treatment from Roddy Piper. He knew either way, it wouldn't be good. Peyton had already told him her uncle wasn't his biggest fan after how he had acted, now he had just found out her uncle was Hall of Famer Roddy Piper. He was in big trouble!
"Oh shit," Joe found himself saying as they stood there.
"Yeah oh shit. You're dead, bro," an amused Jon said.
"Nice knowing you, man," Colby added.
After Kapoor's apology, Peyton remembered how to use her feet. Looking around her to see who was actually in the corridor, who now knew her secret, she wasn't expecting to see Joe, Jon and Colby still standing there. She thought they had gone. Unable to stand there anymore, especially after locking eyes with Joe, Peyton took off, walking in the opposite direction.
For added measure, Piper kneed Kapoor in the balls, letting him slump to the floor in pain. The cloud of anger was slowly diminishing, looking around Piper saw Peyton had taken off. He also saw Joe standing there. Maybe his little talk with Joe was going to happen sooner than expected. He knew from experience, it was best to give Peyton some time before finding her; let her think things through.
"We need to talk. This way," Piper said to Joe, leaving no room for argument, standing in front of the Shield now.
Joe followed him down the corridor and into an empty room.
For the first five minutes he just stood there, silent as Roddy just stood opposite him, staring. While a lot of people would have felt intimidated being in a room, or anywhere, with Piper whilst he said nothing just staring intently, scrutinizing your every move, Joe wasn't. He stood his ground, his eyes locked on Roddy, ready for anything Peyton's uncle was going to say or do.
Eventually Piper spoke. "No need with the formalities, we both know who each other is. I'm Peyton's uncle and you're the guy who got her pregnant and spent weeks acting like a jackass about it. What I want to know, how serious you really are about being a part of your child's life? No crap, man to man. Straight talk."
Part of Joe couldn't get his head around Peyton being Roddy Piper's niece. Yet another, bigger part, standing here now, talking to the man, could see it. She clearly took after her uncle when it came to her feisty, stubborn, taking no crap attitude, that much was obvious. "I'm the first to admit, when I first found out, I acted like the biggest jackass. I was scared and not ready to take responsibility for my actions. That was the past though. I'm here now and I'm not going anywhere. I want to be a part of my child's life."
Piper carried on staring at Joe. "Sweet little speech. Did you practice that in front of the mirror?"
Joe knew what Piper was doing. Testing him. Watching his every move. He still had to prove himself to the retired wrestler, and he would. "I get it, you don't trust me. Fair play. You want what's best for Peyton. When it comes to my baby, I want what's best too. Peyton's included in that."
"You really have changed your tune, grown a pair. Stepping up now, I see. But what happens when things get tough? Still going to stick around then?"
"Haven't we been through this with Nick keeping tabs on me, trying to push my buttons?"
Piper chuckled; "That was nothing. That was when you didn't know who I was. Peyton has her reasons for not telling you, I respected that by not flying out and kicking your ass when you were a disrespectful little fucker towards her. Trust me though, you hurt her again, do another disappearing act and I won't hesitate to remind you why they called me Hot Rod."
"I get that you're not my biggest fan, but you need to understand that I'm a part of Peyton's life now, she's having my baby. You're going to have to learn to trust me because I'm not going anywhere."
Roddy admitted to himself that he was impressed with the kid, he was standing his ground, not backing down. He was passing Roddy's test, so far.
Roddy moved right in front of Joe, his eyes locked on Joe. "Am I know? Do you think I've ever let some arrogant little shit tell me what I've got to do? No, and I'm not about to start now. So let's get something clear. I call the shots here, not you. Don't forget that, kid." Standing there, Joe was even more convinced now that the ex -brawler in the ring was going to actually kick his ass. However, despite what he was thinking, Joe still stood there, refusing to back down.
Joe was even more surprised when Piper just started laughing. He was seriously convinced he was about to get a beating.
"I'll give it to you, Kid, you've got some balls. Most guys have normally shit themselves by now." Joe just stared at Piper, confused. "You passed the test."
Joe just stood there, "That was all a test? You're not going to kill me?"
"Mostly a test. I'm still not happy with how you acted, but I'm convinced now for the most part that you're in this for the long run. You stood your ground just now, you didn't back down. Most people do," Piper noticed the look Joe gave him when he said that. "My family mean the world to me, Peyton is like a daughter. I won't allow anyone to just come in and upset or hurt my family," Piper further explained.
Peyton, who had ran into Nick had told him everything that had happened. How everyone was now going to know who her uncle was. How Joe, Jon and Colby had seen the whole thing. Nick, his typical self, had joked about he always missed the good stuff, making Peyton laugh. After talking things through with Nick, she was ready to go face reality and find Joe. She knew she couldn't avoid him forever.
She found the guys in their locker room. Jon was the first to smile at her when she walked in.
"I'm sorry," she started.
"I get it. Roddy Piper's your uncle," Joe said. He wasn't angry, rather, oddly, he was more hurt at how much Peyton seemed to have gone too to keep her secret from him. Only a few days ago, by the pool, they had been talking about her uncle when she told him her uncle was busy and he wouldn't get to meet him for a while. That was obviously a lie.
"I know what you're thinking."
"No you don't," Joe replied, not even looking at Peyton as he taped his wrists. Joe wasn't running away from Peyton and the baby again, he just needed to be alone before the Shield's match. Get his head clear before he went to the ring.
"I didn't get my job because of him. The McMahon's didn't know who I was until six months after I got the job. I didn't want anyone to know. I liked just being Peyton here, not Peyton, Roddy Piper's niece like it's going to be now. Not Peyton, Debbie's neglected girl or Peyton, the alcoholic's girl. Not that girl Peyton, who was always in trouble at school. Just Peyton," Peyton explained.
"I told you, I get it," Joe said finally standing up. "I'm going to get a bottle of water. I'll be back before our match," Joe declared before walking out of the door.
Ten minutes later, Peyton found Joe sat out the back of the arena on a production crate.
"I'm not mad and I'm not going anywhere. I guess I'm just disappointed you felt you couldn't tell me, especially after talking about him the other night by the pool. I know what it's like growing up in a wrestling family, you could have talked to me."
Sitting next to him on the crate, Peyton knew she was going to have to do something she hadn't done since she become best friends with Nick. Something she didn't particularly want to do, but something that was needed. She had to open up and tell Joe, properly, about her relationship with her parents. She needed him to trust her and understand why she hadn't told him about who her uncle was.
"Don't hug me or say some stupid Dr Phil bullshit." Joe said nothing, looking at Peyton, confused.
"I don't really have any happy memories of days out with my parents or anything like that," Peyton looked straight ahead as she spoke. She couldn't be looking at him as she opened up, baring herself to him. "I was an accident and they soon realised having a child was hard work. I'm pretty sure the only reason my dad stuck around so long was because of my mom. They never hit me or anything like that. They just weren't interested, in anything I did, no matter how hard I tried. They just didn't care. I thought there was something wrong with me, maybe I was doing something wrong. I thought, maybe if I was really good and acted like a big girl, they would be happy with me. I thought if I was good at school they, would be proud, if I was clever." Peyton let out a humourless laugh. Joe sat there, listening to Peyton talk about her childhood with her parents. A lot started to make sense to him now about Peyton and how she was. Their childhoods had been completely different. A lot now made sense about how she had been with the pregnancy. Joe could tell Peyton was never going to let their child feel like she had; unloved and unwanted. Tonight was opening his eyes to a lot.
"I got into writing when I was young, it was like an escape from the real world. I would write these silly little stories of a girl whose parents loved her and took her to the beach and built sand castles with her and bought her ice cream. All the things I wanted my family to do with me. I guess, really, they weren't stories, but a wish list. I soon realised my parents were happier when I acted like I wasn't there; if I was invisible to them. Not that they cared how I acted, too busy arguing, living their own lives. My mum was always looking for a better life and my dad was always drinking. All I really remember of my dad is him drinking and finding any excuse to get out of looking after me or really spending any time with me. He finally left when I was seven. He just left. He was supposed to be looking after me, he just packed his bags in front of me and walked out of the door. I thought I had done something wrong.I never saw him again until I was twelve, he was at my uncle's wanting money. He's pop up every few years, when he needed money."
Joe couldn't stop himself, the words out before he realised he'd broken one of the rules Peyton had stated when she first sat next to him on the crate. "You didn't do anything wrong, Pey. You can't blame yourself for your parent's mistakes."
"Thanks for that, Dr Phil," Peyton quickly replied, attempting mockery. But Joe noticed the undertone, her usual spark wasn't there. There was uncertainty in her voice, something that gave Joe an unusual feeling, something he wasn't sure about. Something that felt different to when Jon had opened up about his childhood. "Long story short, seeing as you decided to break the no speaking bullshit rule. I'm a disappointment to my parents. When I was thirteen, my mum left me home alone, again. For a month this time while she went on her honeymoon. Roddy found out and went berserk. I ended up moving in with him and his family, until I went to college. And there you have it. Now I'm going to go do some work or anything else really, before you try and hug me and make this even more awkward."
Joe watched as Peyton hopped down from the crate, walking back into the arena. He didn't think she could make it any more obvious that what she had just told him was something she didn't often, if ever, speak about and wasn't something they would be speaking about anytime soon. As much as she tried to hide it, Joe could feel the hurt radiate off her as she had opened up to him and she was clearly someone that didn't like being anything other than strong around anyone. Apart from when she had been rushed to hospital, he had never seen her vulnerable or ask for help. She always had her guard up. He had a feeling her uncle was the only person who ever saw her when it was down. She had been right though, Joe thought to himself. If she had stayed, he would have pulled her into a hug.
"What's the damage?" Roddy asked, walking into the office Peyton was sat in.
Peyton smiled, she wasn't angry with her uncle. She was shocked at everything that happened earlier, but she wasn't mad. She knew why he had done it. "I'm not mad. Kapoor got what he deserves. I guess I should be thanking you."
Roddy smiled, relieved he was still in his niece's good books. "I had a talk with Joe."
"You did the creepy staring thing with him didn't you? Pushed him to see how much he would take too, I'm guessing?" Peyton knew all her uncle's tactics.
"You know me too well, Pey. He passed, didn't even flinch. Stood his ground, kid's got balls."
"So does this mean you're going to give him a chance?"
"I am. He knows what happens if he messes up though. Have you spoken to him yet?"
Peyton nodded. "I told him everything basically." Piper was surprised to hear how much Peyton had opened up to Joe.
Walking into the Shield's locker room later that night to speak to them before their match and give them scripts for Monday's raw, Peyton knew there would be questions.
She couldn't help but smile at Colby's face when he saw her, looking like an excited puppy, she knew he was going to bombard her with questions.
"I know you're excited, Colby. But, please just for tonight, can we hold off on the questions?"
"Yeah, Piper will take a picture with you later," Jon teased. Though Peyton knew he was a big fan of Piper too and knew he had loved their segment on Old School Raw the month before.
Waiting until she handed him the script, Joe smiled. "I know what you said earlier, but I already broke the other rule, so," he said before hugging her. Leaning down a little, "I'm not going to abandon you and our baby, I promise," he whispered. He could feel her nod against him before she pulled away.
"I'll let you off tonight, but break my rules again and I'll kick your ass," Peyton grinned at Joe. Colby and Jon smirking at each other as they watched Joe and Peyton.
There you have it! Piper's the uncle! Well done to who got it straight away :) I know I had quite a few of you thinking it was Undertaker with calling Peyton's aunt Michelle :p
Let me know what you think!