It had been 6 months since Taylin had started working with the WWE.
She had managed to tip toe around the rumors that were circling her about who her father was. It became harder and harder to hide it. She found herself going home a lot less. She couldn't be seen with him in public.
Work wasn't going any better. She found herself constantly caving to what others wanted. The vision she had come into the company with was diminished. She felt like she was falling into the comforts of safety. Bending and twisting to meet everyone's wants and needs. Everyone but her.
Her personal life was no better. She listened to Stephanie, and had pushed Colby as far away as she could, though he would have no part of it. No matter how many times she would distance herself, he would come right back. No matter how many times she turned down his invitations for dinner, he would keep asking. He had become someone she could lean on. The only one she could trust with her complaints, and the only person who would stand up to her and tell her how it was.

"I'm at a loss." Taylin said, throwing her hands up into the air.
Colby had been sitting next to her for over an hour. They were somewhere in the catacombs of whatever arena they were in. He took whatever time with her he could get. This had become routine for them. Arriving more than an hour before anyone else, then sitting, shoulder to shoulder. He enjoyed being alone with her. The softness of her skin as it barely touched his. The smell of her perfume filling his nose. He smiled, despite what he was about to say.

"Stop it, Tay." She turned her head towards him.
"Don't look at me like that. You knew I was going to say it. You have awesome ideas, but you let everyone walk over you. You give in to everyone instead of standing for what you think."

"Look what happened when I did, everyone hated me."

"Better hated than be a push over." Colby said. "But you know not everyone hated you. A lot of the girls drew strength from your confidence."

"I know I need to get back to it. It's just hard."

"It's going to take work, but I know you can do it." He smiled at her as he let his hand fall on her upper thigh.
"Come to dinner with me tonight."

"Who's going?" She asked.

"Just us." He was used to the look on her face. It was the same every time.
"Come on Tay, go out with me. What will one date hurt? See if we're meant to be."

"One date can end my career, Colby." Her phone buzzed in her pocket. She pulled it out to see her dad's name. She leaned over and kissed his cheek.
"I gotta take this. I'll find you in a bit." She got up and he watched her walk away.

Taylin had decided to take Colby's advice. She took the rest of the week off work, and went home to work on the script. Make it her way, the way it should have been all along. She was done being pushed around. Done bending for others. She was brought in to do a job, and it was about time she got it done. After a long talk with her dad, she found herself in her room, sitting on her bed. She turned on her laptop and sent the script, finally satisfied with it. She started to get up, but her computer buzzed. Her Skype had logged on. She smiled as she saw Colby's picture, and quickly accepted the call.

"Hey." She said, cheerfully.

"Hey. You sound good. Relaxed." He smiled as his screen popped up. The back ground was the basic of almost every motel they stayed at. She looked at the time on the bottom of the screen. Nearly midnight.

"Why aren't you out with the guys?" She asked.

"I missed you." He said, a shit eating grin plastered on his face. She knew he had already been out drinking.

"You just saw me two days ago. Besides you could have just called me."

"Yeah, I guess I could have, but I'd rather see you. And judging how you look, I'm going to have to skype you at midnight more often." He chuckled. She was ready for bed, even though she had been sitting on the back porch with her dad. Mid-summer, even in the middle of the night, the Texas air was hot and muggy. She had on a tight tank top and an old pair of cheer shorts from college.

"Oh, stop." Taylin giggled, slightly embarrassed.

"I'm serious. I thought you were hot in jeans and a t-shirt, but man Tay."

"What has the world come too? You no longer receive drunken calls, now it's skype." She laughed.

"Ok, I've had a couple drinks, but you know I would have said it anyway."
Just then there was a light tap on her opened bedroom door, and her dad stepped in the door way. She didn't have time to turn the computer.

"Tay, I'm heading to bed." He said.

"Shit, I was right!" Colby cheered. "You're dad is Stone Cold!"

"Yeah, let's just tell the world." Taylin snapped.

"Oh, come on. You know I won't tell anyone."
Steve stepped closer to her bed.

"Dad, Colby. Colby, Dad." She said softly.

"Sir, it's an honor to finally meet you. Well, I guess you could say meet. I mean it's not like we're meeting in person, but..."

"Shut up Colby." Taylin laughed. "You're rambling."

"I take it you're the boy after my baby girl?" Steve said.

"Yes sir. I'm trying." Colby confessed.

"Well, I would say safety first, but, hell, I guess this is about the safest sex there is." He laughed, stepping away before Taylin could hit him.

"DAD!"

"I'm off to bed. It was good talking to ya, son."

"You too sir." Colby said.

"Night kids." He smiled walking out her door.

"Your dad is awesome." Colby chimed in.

"Yeah, I'll decide about that after the red on my face goes away."

"Seriously, though, when are you coming back? I'm so bored with out you around."

"I'll be at RAW."

"That's still like 4 days away." He complained.

"You'll live. You can always come to Texas and see me." Taylin said.

"Is that an offer? You never know with me, I might take you up on it."

"Yeah, except you're stuck on the east coast this week with house shows." Taylin smiled.

"Sometimes I forget you know my whole schedule." Colby laughed. "Any chance you might come back earlier?"

"I just sent in the script, I guess it depends on how much they want to fight me on it. I may have to come and kick some ass."

"My ass is ready and waiting." He laughed.

"Very funny." At just that time, Dean and Roman walked into the motel room. They looked over his shoulder.

"Hey Taylin. Looking hot." Dean grinned. "Are we in time for the strip show?"

"Only in your dreams Ambrose." Taylin said, smiling at the look on Colby's face, as he pushed Dean away from him.

"Alright, Tay. I guess I should get off here, seems how I have no privacy now." Colby huffed.
"I'll call you tomorrow."

"You better." Taylin said.

"Good night, Doll." Colby said.

"GOOD NIGHT SWEET CHEEKS!" Dean yelled in the back ground.

"Night boys." She said louder so they could hear her.
"Good night Colby." She ended the call and closed her walked out to the kitchen to get a drink, meeting her dad.
"I thought you were going to bed?"

"Ah, this sandwich was calling my name."

"I don't know how you can eat this late." Taylin said, grabbing a bottle of water from the open frig.

"So, this Colby kid. He seems nice."

"Yeah he is."

"He seems to really have a thing for you." Steve grinned, making his daughter's cheeks flush.

"Yes, he does seem to."

"Give him a chance, Tay."

"What? Dad you're the one who said to stop it before it starts." Taylin said, surprised by her dad.

"I know, but that was damn near six months ago. And if the kid is still hanging on, with not even as much as a kiss, I'd say it's more than a crush." He kissed her cheek while walking by. He stopped and turned back to her.
"Taylin, life is way too short to live with regrets."