Disclaimer: I DON'T own any WWE wrestlers; this is all from the mind of a brilliant scientist.
A/N: Because you guys are such good customers, here's a special two parter...enjoy!
Raya took a deep breath and smiled at herself as she looked at the image staring back at her in the mirror. She was wearing a long sleeved shirt, with a skillet T-Shirt on top of it with combat boots. Raya twirled around, she looked good. It was time to get going. She grabbed her camera and headed for the stairs.
"Paul, where are you?"
"I'm coming." Raya sighed, and rolled her eyes. For some reason he was the world's slowest dresser. How hard was it to dress for a concert?
"Prima donna," she grumbled. Raya looked down at her buzzing phone.
Why wasn't I invited?
Are you guys on your way? I wanna meet Skillet!
Raya rolled her eyes to the first one and ignored the second. Ally was her best friend, but man was she wound tight. The girl couldn't bear to be late over anything…not even lunch. Raya rolled her eyes remembering the day that they'd met. It was the first day of school and Raya was utterly lost. Then came Ally rocking out to a Skillet song and landed smack into her. Just like that a friendship was formed. The question was whether it was luck or fate...we'd never know, although Raya did wish that she could send the leprechaun back his charms.
She smiled…Jake. He was hands down too cool for school. That boy was the coolest kid in town, if he wasn't' a guy Raya would be over his house everyday. Every single day, that's just how cool he was. He was mysterious, the laid back one, he was the epitome of chill. She remembered when they'd first met, it was in music appreciation class. While everyone else was talking about rock he was focused on old jazz.
A thump crackled against Raya's skull and she turned around. "Ow." Paul was smiling at her evilly.
"What'd you call me earlier?" Raya looked at him innocently.
"What are you talking about?" Paul smiled.
"Yeah sure, uh huh. Tell Steph good bye and meet me in the car." Raya nodded. "And hurry up." Rolling her eyes Raya went back down the hall. Paul watched her go and smiled to himself. There was just something about her that made him happy. He loved that kid. Shaking his head and smiling he went out to his car.
Raya walked to Paul and Steph's room and knocked. It was a rule in the house that she didn't come into their room…ever. "Come in."
"You sure?"
"Just open the door. I want to show you something." Raya smiled and walked into the large room. "I'm in the closet." Raya was in awe. No wonder she couldn't come into this room. It was amazing, it made her room look like crap. There was a fish tank in the wall and a fire place…what? Shaking her head she followed Steph into the closet room. Once she was inside she flipped out…this was the closet? It was the size of half of her bedroom. Oh, man. Steph turned and smiled at Raya. "Wow, you look great."
"Thanks." Steph looked her up and down.
"I think you need just a little something more." Raya raised her eyebrow. Steph pulled out a hair pin with glitter on it and handed it to Raya. "When I was going on my first date I was so, nervous. So my mom went out and bought me this to be something to remember it by. She told me that when I got older, I could give it to my daughter. So hear ya, go." Raya stared at the pin. She didn't know what to say. She just looked from the pin back at Steph. Then again…and again. She shook her head and handed the pin back to Steph and took a step back.
"I-I can't take this." Steph smiled at Raya.
"Yes you can. Trust me." Raya shook her head and backed away.
"No." She walked out of the room then ran down the hallway and down the stairs. She burst through front door and tore off down the driveway.
"Raya!" Paul noticed Steph at the front door who was just behind Raya following her down the road. Paul hopped into his car and followed them. He didn't know what this was about but he had to be there.
Raya felt her heart pounding inside her chest. She'd ran until her lungs burned inside her chest. Her insides felt like they'd explode. She wasn't her daughter. She wasn't! Her body consumed in anger. Why couldn't she have been? Why couldn't her mom have been there? Why? Raya screamed in frustration…why?
Why was her life this way?
Why wasn't her mom here?
Why couldn't she be normal?
Why couldn't something go right for her?
…why couldn't anything go right for her?
"Raya…" Raya turned around and watched Paul stand in front of her. He knelt down in front of her in the grass. Raya felt herself be thrown into Paul's arms and him wrap her in a tight embrace. She buried her face in the crook of his neck. Paul just sighed. The poor kid could cry when she wanted to. He shook his head, he was going to have to work with her learning how to deal with her emotions, before they came out in a spew. "Ssh…baby ssh." Raya just shook her head and continued to cry.
Paul looked at his watch, he knew she wanted to go to the concert. He'd have to speed this up. He rubbed her back and gently pushed her away from him while keeping a firm grip on her arms. "Take a deep breath." Raya inhaled deeply and nodded. "Wanna tell me what's wrong?"
"She's not my mother." Paul understood immediately. Steph had told him what she'd planned. Paul nodded and picked Raya up like she was a small child. He supported all of her wait on his arms as he carried her away. Raya sighed she felt so at home in Paul's arms….like she used to feel with Randy. She shook her head….Randy.
Paul sat Raya on the hood of his car and let her cries turn to sniffles. He handed her a piece of tissue. "Take a deep breath." Raya did so, but as she did she realized her air was getting tighter and it was getting harder to breath. Paul moved quickly and pulled out her inhaler out of the glove box. Raya pumped the air into her lungs and regulated her breathing. "You ok?" Raya sighed and nodded.
"I'm sorry." Paul sighed and gave the girl a hug.
"You don't need to be sorry, Kiddo. No need." Paul rubbed his fingers through her hair gently.
"You sure?" Paul nodded.
"So, do you want to talk about it?" Raya looked at the ground. "Alright, how about this? I tell you something and you promise to listen, ok?" Raya nodded. "Raya, we love you. We really do. I want you to know that we may not have been there when you were born but we love you none the less, ok?" Raya nodded suddenly feeling guilty. She'd promised her mother that she wouldn't hinder her love.
"I'm sorry." Paul was growing frustrated.
"You don't need to be sorry," he said forcefully. "All you need to do is trust us, and give us a chance. We won't hurt you. We love you." Raya thought for a moment, she did like them and they'd been good to her. Much better than any other foster family. She twiddled her thumbs. In a moment of bravery she lifted her head.
"I love you guys too." Paul smiled staring into her green eyes.
"So we're good?" Raya smiled and nodded.
"Yeah." Paul nodded and glanced at his watch.
"If you still want to go, the concert doesn't start for another half hour." Raya smiled.
"We can still go?" Paul nodded.
"Yeah." Raya hopped off of the car and smiled.
"Yeah!" It was then that Raya noticed a distraught Steph sitting in the front seat. Raya immediately felt bad. Steph had been trying to make her feel special and bond with her and she'd freaked out. Way to ruin a moment. Steph got out of the car and approached Raya. Raya fidgeted uncomfortably. Steph gave the small girl a hug.
"I'm sorry, Sweetie." Raya shook her head.
"There's no need to be sorry. It's my fault."
"Raya…" Raya cut Steph off.
"No, its fine really." She looked at the floor. "Um, if you'd be willing, I'd like to wear your pin. I mean I know I'm not your daughter, but I'd appreciate it anyway." Steph smiled at the little girl trying so hard to be brave.
"Who says you're not my daughter?" Raya just shrugged. "I love you Raya Ann, that makes you mine, whether you like it or not. Not by blood, but by love. That's what holds us together." Raya stared at Steph with wide eyes…how'd she know that? Raya felt her locket that she'd gotten from her mother and smiled. This was a sign, she was home.
Four hours later
The show was over and Skillet had just walked off the stage. The two teen girls were beaming still in their front row seats. Paul was awesome. During the show he'd gotten them much better seats than Taylor's crew who were stuck in the nose bleeds. She smiled evilly at the thought of them squinting to see when she'd gotten blazed by pyro. Paul grabbed her hand and bent down to whisper in her ear.
"Have fun?" She smiled and nodded vigorously. "I've got something else to show you." Raya's eyes smiled. Paul felt his heart warm at her. "Come on." Paul released her hand and Raya pulled Ally towards the exit following Paul. Surprise? As soon as they stepped through the door Raya and Ally gasped, there standing in front of them was Skillet. Ally started to scream. Raya on the other hand couldn't stop smiling. Wow….she was happy. Truly happy.
Forty-five minutes later
Raya was still smiling as she began to drift off to sleep. Tonight had started off so crappy and yet it'd ended so well. They were still at least twenty minutes from home, but it didn't matter, tonight had been good.
"Have fun?" Raya nodded tiredly.
"More than you know," she yawned. Paul smiled and rubbed her cheek with the back of his hand.
"I'm glad." There was a silence as they continued to drift down the road. Raya wanted to get something off of her chest.
"Paul, um no one can ever take me away, right?" Paul turned and looked at the little girl.
"No, why do you ask?" Raya shrugged, sensing the uncomfortable nature of the conversation.
"No-no reason." Paul rolled his eyes.
"Why do you want to know Raya," he asked sternly. Raya sighed, he had no reason to force her to tell him her emotions. "Come on, kid, tell me what's going on in that skull." Raya smiled, Paul had this way of getting her to do exactly what she didn't want to do with a smile on her face. She shook her head.
"Um well, I've had other foster parents before and I've gotten attached before only to be ripped away. I just wanted to know if I was adopted or anything like that." Paul sighed, he seemed to continually feel for this child…his child. He blew out a breath.
"No, Baby we actually haven't tried to adopt you. Um, we're your legal guardians so unless the court says we can't take care of you or a relative comes forward, you're ours." Raya shifted.
"But what if?" Raya paused as her phone vibrated.
Raya, Ally called me…you met Skillet!
Yep, and she freaked out.
Did she drool on John Cooper?
No, but she knocked over his dinner.
Raya smiled, she loved Jake, although Ally was her best friend, she was way closer to Jake. He was a better ear and closer to her speed. Paul was growing impatient. He blew out a breath.. "Man, I wish I could talk to my daughter without interruptions, I guess I'm just not special enough." Raya rolled her eyes as she got another text.
Typical.
Totally, um I'll talk to you tom my dad is being melodramatic.
Chill.
Raya shook her head...Jake was so lame. She chuckled and put her phone away. Paul looked at her. "Finally."
"What's wrong, you're sensitive?" Paul ignored her, he had bigger things to worry about.
"Who's that?" Raya rolled her eyes…nosy.
"It's Ally."
"Liar…Ally's screams that stupid squeal she does, not vibrate." Raya looked at Paul hard. Why did he know that?
"Stalker."
"More like concerned father…who is it?"
"Its Jake."
"As in boy Jake…I think I should meet him."
"Um, no."
"Let's see, did you just say no to the man who gives you allowance and sets your bedtime?"
"No, I said no the man that Steph lets do all of that stuff."
"Hahaha."
"Hehehe." Raya and Paul chuckled as silence began to consume them again.
"Do you want us to adopt you?" Raya's world stopped…huh?
"Um." Paul smiled.
"Ray it's not that hard, do you want us to adopt you? I mean we could make it legal so you wouldn't have to worry anymore." Raya shifted and took a deep breath…Give love everything you've got, because at the end of the day, that's all you have." Raya took a deep and deliberate breath.
"W-would you?" Paul smiled.
"Definitely." Raya smiled, and looked into Paul's eyes with her own…thank you. Paul smiled at her. No, thank you.
Part 2
Three Weeks later
Raya and Paul sat in his office at the Smackdown show. She was so bored and he wouldn't let her out of his sight. She sighed, she didn't know that Cody Rhodes would need his dashing face mask. After all, his nose was healed. Paul had placed her on restriction for her actions…she was restricted to Paul's sight and his sight only. How fun.
"Paul, can I go see the guys, now?" Paul looked up from the set sheets he was working on and shook his head. "Please?" She interlocked her fingers and stuck out her lip…puppy dog look. Paul smiled knowing that she was wearing him down.
"Nope."
"But…"
"Raya Ann." Raya sat back and huffed. This wasn't fair. She sat there sulking for another twenty minutes before the door opened. It was the Undertaker.
"Hey Paul, Raya." Taker noticed the pout on the girl's face. "Hey, what'd you do to her?" Paul rolled his eyes.
"She's being punished for disobeying me…again." Taker laughed.
"What else is new?" Raya scowled and sprawled out onto the couch. Not fair. Mark and Paul continued their conversation in the midst of Raya's full blown pout. She was so angry. This wasn't fair.
"Raya, Mark and I have some business to take care of, I'll be back soon." Raya sat up.
"Can I go outside now, I promise I won't do anything stupid." Paul and Mark laughed, yeah right.
"No, you stay here."
"But…"
"No Raya." Raya flopped back down. What was the point of being at the show if she couldn't have fun? Paul grunted, he couldn't bear to see her sad. He sighed and walked towards the young girl. "Alright, give me your iPod." Raya sighed, and begrudgingly handed it to him. "Now, go and see what Rey's doing, he's been asking about you all night." Ray looked up smiling.
"You mean?"
"Yes, now go before I lose what's left of my dignity." Raya gave Paul a hug and smiled as she ran out the door. Mark shook his head.
"She's got you wrapped." Paul grunted…didn't he know it.
Raya sat in catering smiling. She loved hanging out with Rey and the boys. The door opened and Raya's smile faded…Chris Jericho.
"Hey guys." Raya shook her head, that's why she'd been dragged along. Not because Paul wanted to bond with her, but because Chris was here. She was angry. She stood up angrily and headed towards the door.
"Move."
"No, Raya we need to talk."
"I said move!" Raya grunted and punched Chris in his stomach as hard as she could.
"Do you know the pain you caused me?" She shook her head angrily. "Move!" Raya stormed down the hallway and headed towards Paul's office. She was going to rip him to shreds. "Paul!" Raya stormed into the office and threw the door open. "Who are you to make decisions about my life?" Paul stood up.
"Raya."
"No, Paul, you lied to me. You said this week was about me and you bonding, you lied!" Paul stood up.
"I didn't lie, its been great. Just me and you." Raya shook her head.
"No, you lied." She screamed in frustration. "To think I thought I was special enough to have a whole trip planned just for me. I was so stupid!" she shrieked. Paul pulled her into a hug as she struggled. He couldn't let her get away. He wouldn't let her run.
"Sweetie, I didn't lie. This was about you and me, I planned this weeks ago. I did." Paul grunted as she kicked him in the shin, "I just thought Chris's being here on the last night would be a good thing for you." Raya took a deep breath.
"You promise?" Paul nodded and Raya wrapped her arms around his neck. "I'm sorry." Paul shook his head.
"No, its my fault, I should have warned you." Paul took a deep breath, he hadn't meant to hurt her. The door opened slightly revealing Chris Jericho.
"Can I come in?" Raya looked at the ground as Paul nodded. Chris entered the room and knelt down in front of Raya. She wouldn't look at him. "Raya, I never meant for you to hear any of that. I just wanted Randy to come to his senses and realize how special you are." Raya wasn't buying it. "Sunshine, I mean it, I never meant to hurt you."
"Yeah, well you did."
"Raya."
"No shove it Chris. You're a self-centered prima donna who can get mule kicked for all I care." She pushed her hands against his chest and pushed him out of the way. Paul grabbed her arms trying to stop her from going out of the door. "Let me go, Paul," she said through gritted teeth. Paul shook his head.
"No Raya, no more running." Raya continued to struggle. "You're going to stay here and work this out. You wanna scream, you wanna yell go ahead, but you're not walking out of this room. You're running no more." Raya struggled harder.
"Let me go, you douche bag." Paul quickly tightened his grip on Raya's body immediately bringing her struggling to a halt.
"It's fine when you want to scream or yell, but don't you watch you talk to like that, do you understand?" Raya turned her glare to the floor and nodded. "Good. Now, I think you owe to Chris to at least hear him out. If it wasn't for him, you wouldn't even be here." Raya suddenly felt guilty. That was true. She turned to face Chris even though she was still staring at the floor. Chris knelt down in front of her again.
"Ray, you've gotta know that I'd never do anything like that to you on purpose. You're my little buddy. Remember all those ribs we used to pull?" Raya smiled, she had missed that. "Or how about the wrestling matches we used to have where I showed you submission holds?" Raya smiled again and nodded, one time he'd even gotten Bret "the Hitman" Hart to show her some. "Raya, I would have never done that if I'd known you had gotten hurt…never." Raya thought about it, before Paul and Steph, Chris had been all she had. "Forgive me?" Raya took a deep breath and nodded.
"Yeah." Chris wrapped her in a hug.
"I've missed you." Raya smiled.
"I've missed you too." Paul smiled as he watched the encounter. All seemed to be heading in the right direction for Raya, she was getting adopted, Chris was back in her corner, and she was happy. He couldn't help but smile. Times were good.
A/N II: Thanks for reading guys, I really enjoy your comments. Funny ones make me smile, consistent ones make me happy, and uber emotional ones make me laugh. I love em all! Thanks for any feedback you guys leave.
A/N III…I'm going on a slight sabbatical. I'll be updating maybe once or twice a week. I've got some things I'd like to focus on and these doggone stories keep stealing the show. :P So, I'll see you guys soon. Please answer the poll. Oh, I might update this one next because I have it planned out or FaR since its my smallest story. Ya never know! Thanks guys! Also…if you need me…MESSAGE! :P Thanks again guys!