Raya lay back in her bed ready to sleep. The day had been a long and exhausting one. First she'd gone to school and had five tests then she'd had that rollercoaster of an encounter with Paul, then a night full of dinner, and now she was happily ready to drift off into sleep. Her phone rang, she rolled her eyes sliding it open.

"Ray! What'd they say?" Rolling her eyes again, she made her voice high.

"Oh my gosh you'll never believe this, they said yes!"

"Oh my gosh, really?"

"Pfft, nope. They said exactly what I told you they'd say…no." Ally deflated.

"Oh."

"Yeah." There was a silence between them. It seemed that neither one of them wanted to face the realities of what Paul and Steph's decision meant…permanent exile.

"This was our once chance to be in." Ally blew out a breath. "I've been trying to get in for years." Raya sighed, she didn't want to cause her friend grief.

"I'm sorry," she said slowly, weighing the impact of her inability to enjoy the sleepover. "You know you can always go without me." Ally scoffed.

"Yeah sure, and do what? Be the oddball out, no thank you. Um, how about we have a sleepover of our own, I mean your parents shouldn't mind that too much should they?" Raya thought for a moment, her parents? That was the first time someone had said that. Of course she'd thought it before, but never had anyone else said it. She sighed…they were her parents, well as close as she'd get in this life. "Ray?"

"Oh, uh yeah, sorry. Actually, Paul decided to take me to the concert himself."

"Oh." Raya sensing her friend's sadness acted quickly.

"How about this, um you come to the concert with us? I'm sure Paul won't mind."

"Paul doesn't mind that, but someone being up after he sent them to bed two hours ago, he does mind." Raya closed her eyes tightly. Oh man. She turned around and gave a sheepish smile to Paul who was looking at her with a mix of amusement and irritation. "Hang up the phone." Raya nodded.

"Uh Ally I'll-" Ally cut her friend off.

"Talk to me tomorrow? Please do."

"Bye."

"Oh, uh don't get hit with a sledgehammer. It looks painful!" Raya quickly shut the phone smirking to herself…idiot. Paul smiled and extended his hand. Raya sighed and handed him her phone. This had happened a couple of times before, but this time was the dreaded third strike. Here comes the hammer.

"I thought we agreed that you wouldn't do this again."

"We, didn't exactly agree, per se." Paul shot her a look. "Well, maybe we did." Paul smiled and shook his head.

"Come here." Raya smiled crossed the room and wrapped her arms around Paul's waist in a hug. "I love you, kiddo," he said rubbing her back. Raya sighed rolling her eyes. They always get mushy when they're punishing you.

"You too." Paul wouldn't admit it, but he yearned to hear those words felt good coming out of her mouth. Just one simple four letter word would make his heart tremble in joy. He'd feel like he was walking on clouds. Raya pulled back and smiled. "Um, I didn't mean to be up this late, I just had some homework to finish and then Ally called and uh you know." Paul nodded.

"Uh huh, sure." Raya sighed. "Anyway, you're grounded until the concert." Raya groaned.

"But Paul…" Paul held his finger up.

"Ahta-ta-ta, I don't want to hear it, I've warned you before and personally I think two and a half days is a bit weak."

"No, no it's plenty." Paul rolled his eyes.

"Anyway, no phone, no computer, no fun. School, office, in your room, got it?"

"Yes." Paul nodded.

"Good, now go to sleep." Raya sighed.

"Night Paul."

"Night, Raya…again." Haha. Raya flopped down onto her bed and sighed. Paul wasn't even her father and he could love her…stupid Randy. She just got under the covers and reached for the light switch. The door opened slightly and an arm flipped into the room as a cell phone hit the bed. She looked up and saw Steph winking at her before the door closed. Raya turned over and smiled, this was such a good night. Raya set her phone on the nightstand smiling. For some reason her mind drifted back to one of the last conversations she'd had with her mom.

Raya sat in the chair with her head buried in her hands as she silently prayed. There were so many things that were running through her mind. She wanted her daddy…why did she have to go through this alone? Both she and her mother kept calling him and his parents but he wouldn't respond. She was beginning to lose hope…the one thing she had left.

Lizzy Bradley opened her eyes to see her ten year old daughter with her head in her hands. She winced as she tried to sit up. Raya's head popped up at the movement in the bed before her. She hoped that her prayers had worked, maybe Mama was healed.

"Hey Sweetie." Raya's hopes were dashed, her mother still had that same small voice.

"Hi Mama," she said weakly. Lizzy took a deep breath, her child was trying so hard not to break down. This was going to be hard all around.

"Come here." Raya stood up and climbed into the bed carefully not to hurt her mother. They'd done this a few times before, but not since the trip to the hospital before this one. This was the last one. Raya adjusted herself into her mother's embrace and took a deep breath, she felt at peace. The two sat like that for a long while, as Raya listened to her mother's heartbeat, God that was so comforting.

Lizzy continued to stroke her daughter's hair. She'd been dreading this conversation for a long time. Lord, knows she didn't want her daughter to have to face this alone. Why didn't Randy answer the phone? She took a deep breath. "Ray?"

"Yes Mama?"

"I taught you how to love, didn't I?"

"Yes ma'am."

"I want you to never forget how to use it, ok? You're a big girl, with lots of attitude and a big heart. I know you can do that for me." Lizzy paused. "I want you to hold onto the memories of me and you, ok? If you ever forget what love is, remember how we were." Lizzy knew Raya was crying but she continued, she had to get this out. "Family isn't about blood, all that does is make you look the same. See, family is about love. Love, baby. Me and you, we're a family because of love, you and Randy you were family because of love. Love makes you a family not blood. There's nothing more powerful that love, it can change the world." Raya's tears were flowing freely. "So, promise me this, ok? If you find someone to love you, you'll love them with everything you've got. Don't hold back because of fear or life. Give love everything you've got, because at the end of the day, that's all you have." Lizzy squeezed her daughter's heaving shoulders. "Do you understand me?" Raya nodded silently. Lizzy took a deep breath as she comforted her child. She had to tell her, now, if she didn't it might be too late. "Raya, sweetie, look at me." Raya did with tears in her eyes. "I'm going to be leaving you soon, you know that, right?" Raya squeezed her eyes tight, she was trying not to break down. "Raya, open your eyes, baby." Raya did so. "Sweetie, Mama loves you with everything I have. I never wanted it to be this way, but it is. Know that I love you, ok?" The little girl nodded. "Don't less this scar you, love with everything you have." Raya nodded and lowered her head. "Ssh, ssh now. Come on, let's take a nap." Raya nodded and snuggled into her mother's embrace further. After a few moments she spoke.

"Mama?"

"Yes Baby?"

"Will you be here when I wake up?" Lizzy's heart lurched, she pulled her daughter closer to her chest.

"Yes, I'll be here."

"Promise?" LIzzy started to nod, but spoke when she saw the expectancy in her daughter's big green saucers.

"I promise." Raya nodded and was soon asleep. It was clear by the bags under her eyes that she was exhausted. The poor kid should've never had to go through this. Lizzy fought her own exhaustion knowing that very soon, she'd never get to hold her daughter in her arms again. So she sat there, lovingly stroking her daughter's hair as she listened to the clock tick her life away.

Raya wiped a tear from her eyes at the memory. Man, she loved her mother so much. Raya took a deep breath, she'd made a promise to love with everything, if only it were that easy. She sighed, Paul and Steph were so good to her, and she was shortchanging them because of what happened with her mom and Randy. She grunted. That name…Randy. She'd had to go through that whole ordeal alone because he was a butt-flame. Her body consumed with pure rage. Whatta jerk! She shook her head and rolled over. In her mind, Randy was dead, just like her mother.

An hour later Raya heard her phone vibrate. Grunting she pulled the phone to her face. "Hello," she said tiredly.

"Rae-Bear." Raya grunted now wide awake.

"Ugh."

"Baby, it's so good to hear your voice."

"How are you?"

"Tired," she stayed in a disinterested tone.

"Really?" Randy looked at his watch. "Oh yeah, sorry I forgot that the time changed."

"Yep." Randy just listened to her breath, God, he hated how much he'd hurt her. "Look, what do you want Randy?" Randy's heart lurched…Randy?

"Whoa, hey I thought I was Daddy?" Raya rolled her eyes.

"You lost that privilege when you used me." Randy sighed.

"Ray…."

"Don't Ray me. Mama loved you, I don't anymore."

"Raya…"

"Why are you calling me?" Ray grunted as she got a text message...from Paul.

Raya ANN GET OFF OF THE PHONE NOW!

Raya sighed. "I've got to go, my dad is making me go to bed. Night Randy." She clicked the phone and closed it. She hadn't meant to refer to Paul as her dad, but man did it feel good to get Randy's goat.

Raya yawned at the breakfast table. Man she was so tired. Stephanie placed a plate of pancakes and sausage. "Late night?" Raya sighed and nodded.

"Yeah."

"So I heard you had a late night phone call." Raya sighed, those two told each other everything.

"Yes ma'am."

"Who was it?"

"Stupid Randy." Steph opened her mouth, but Paul walked into the kitchen kissing his wife on the cheek.

"So that's who it was that on the phone?" Raya grunted, she knew she was going to be in trouble.

"Yes sir." Paul stopped dead in his tracks in his pursuit of food.

"What'd he want?" She shrugged.

"I don't know, to talk to me. He didn't say much other than he missed me." Paul sighed.

"Alright." Raya nodded and put pancakes onto her fork then into her mouth. The rest of breakfast was a mixture of grunts and Raya pushing around her food around her plate….she wasn't really in the mood to talk.

The car ride was long and tiring. Raya wanted so badly to doze off but Paul would talk to her every time she got close. Apparently, he wasn't pleased with her actions last night. She sighed, she wasn't really fond of having him angry at her. She took a deep breath.

"Um, I'm sorry I disobeyed you." Paul took his eyes off of the road momentarily, he smiled.

"You're special, you know that?" Raya smiled in confusion.

"Huh?"

"Seriously, you're really special. I love having you around." Raya smiled at him.

"Thanks." Paul shook his head.

"No problem, kiddo. And don't worry about last night, everyone gets a reprieve every once in a while." Raya nodded, having no idea what he meant. Paul sighed. "In other words you're off the hook."

"Oh," Raya smiled with an epiphany. "Thanks." She smiled happily through her yawning. Paul shook his head getting an idea.

"How about this, instead of you going to school and sleeping through all of your classes, you come to the office with me?" Raya looked at Paul knowing there was a catch. "Relax, there's no hidden agenda, I just can't bear to see you drooling all over that prep school's thousand dollar desks." Raya sighed, she was really tired.

"No catch?"

"No catch." Raya nodded.

"Thank you," she yawned. Paul smiled at her and rubbed her cheek with his hand.

"Why don't you go to sleep, I'll wake you when we get there." Raya didn't have to be told twice, within seconds she was out. Paul smiled at the little girl in the passenger seat, who knew she'd be able to steal his heart?

Raya was totally refreshed, once they'd gotten to the office Paul had carried her in allowing her to sleep until her heart was content. She was well rested and ready to take on the headquarters. She grunted, it was now just after lunch time, well for everybody else for the McMahons. Raya rolled her eyes, it was like one o'clock. She grunted and decided to walk around the office, being stuck in Paul's office was bringing back too many bad memories. She opened the door and peaked around the office. The coast was clear. Let's see what we can find. She walked down the hallway carefully avoiding open doors and executives who knew her face. As she walked down the hallway she realized how boring this place was, everybody was…working. How boring. She shook her head and kept walking. "Raya." Raya turned and saw Michael Cole looking at her, disdainfully. She did what any teenager would do…she bolted. You'd think she'd head for Paul's office where she was supposed to be, but no…she ran right into the first door she quickly opened the closed the door hiding safely behind the wood. She took a deep breath, that was a close one.

"Must we always meet this way?" Raya groaned, no freaking way. She turned around to see The Undertaker staring back at her. As she glanced around the room she noticed Big Paul along with Glen were in there too.

"Hey guys." They all started laughing.

"Good ole Raya, staying in trouble." She shrugged.

"Well you know, I do try." She walked around giving them all hugs. She was cool with all of them. After their initial encounter she'd discovered Mark wasn't so bad. After all, he was there when Paul couldn't be. She pulled up a chair and started to talk with them. They asked about school and life, typical teenager stuff. "So what are you guys doing here?"

"We're here to see the big man." Raya nodded, Vince. She smiled, happy amongst friends. The door opened revealing a slightly agitated Paul.

"Oh that can't be Raya, she's supposed to be in my office, away from here." Raya started whistling and stood up.

"Yeah, about that." She took off out of the door and headed back to where she belonged, she was almost there when she hit a wall…no wait a person. She sighed seeing who it was. "Hi." The person grabbed her by her arm and inspected her.

"Are you ok?" She nodded.

"Sorry, Vince." Vince nodded and wrapped his arm around her shoulders.

"So, what were you doing?" Raya sighed.

"Running in the halls," she said sullenly. He nodded.

"Right, and what's the penalty for that?" Raya sighed, apparently she hadn't learned yet.

"Shredding papers." Vince nodded and pointed to a stack of papers in the corner.

"Get started."

"Yes sir," she grumbled. This sucked.

Raya sighed as she lay on the living room floor. It had been a bit of a hang out night for Paul and his wrestling friends while Raya had been washing the dishes and cleaning the kitchen. How gross. She should be upset, but honestly she was happy that she hadn't been forced to go to school. Raya's thoughts were broken into by ridicule.

"Aww, Steph, look our baby is exhausted." Raya frowned ignoring them.

"Yeah, poor kid, she probably feels like she's been put through a shredder."

"Ha, a shredder, good one Steph." Raya sat up…corny joke havin' old people.

"Really funny guys. I mean, honestly, I see why you guys ruled cable TV." The two adults dropped their smile and the teen's grew. Oh yeah, she'd won that one. The couple sat on the couch in a loving hug.

"So Raya, you should probably go to bed soon, you've gotta be up early for school." Raya sighed…it was seven o'clock.

"Um, I think I'm going to just go sit in my room and stare at the ceiling, its really fulfilling, you know." Steph chuckled and Paul playfully glared at her.

"Get going sneak." Raya rolled her eyes. "Besides, you're going to need all of your energy to meet Skillet on Friday." Raya smiled, not really feeling down anymore.

"Ok." She gave Paul and Steph a hug, sensing the reason for them wanting to be alone. After all, there was plenty she could do in her room….count ceiling tiles, stare at lint, you know the usual. She started walking up the stairs when she turned around, she needed to say this now.

"Paul, Steph, um I know this is going to sound kind of weird, but um I want to say thank you for agreeing to be my parents." The couple stared intently at the young girl in front of them. I mean you guys didn't have to do all of this for me and yet you did. So, er um thanks." Raya awkwardly turned back around to go back up the stairs. She sighed, she knew she was dumb for saying that. Paul and Steph just looked at each other smiling, it was all our pleasure.

"Raya, wait." Raya stopped in her tracks. "We love you." Raya nodded and smiled as she continued walking up the stairs. When she got to the top she spoke.

"I love you guys too."

A/N: Whatta dosy! Don't forget about the poll on my page and lemme know what you think!

Shoutouts to Mattaggot, Sonib89, and NCJazzKnights…chick has some FUNNy reviews.