Here I am with Chapter 11! This was pretty much written using the Notes app that was on the iPad I purchased at Sydney Airport (duty free!) in Australia on my way back to New Zealand last month after attending the WWE house show in Melbourne. Needless to say, I found out approximately a mere 9 hours after returning to my hotel that Alberto had been released which wasn't good but I'm glad that he is now able to wrestle wherever he wants. I know that the fic is about six months behind but I have started on a chapter that focuses on Alberto's release and I will get caught up eventually!

Anyway, enjoy.


Back in the safety of their hotel room, Renee was sitting on the bed, leaning against the headboard. Alberto was lying on his back on the bed, his head resting in Renee's lap. She was absent-mindedly running a hand through Alberto's hair, thinking about what had transpired between him and Batista earlier that evening at Raw when an idea came into her head. One she thought that Alberto would like.

"I've got an idea about your match at the pay-per-view. It involves the neck collar of Ricardo's that you used earlier."

Alberto had been facing away from Renee but upon hearing her words, he sat up to face her. She had an idea about his match? Then he definitely wanted to hear it.

"Lull him into a false sense of security by making him think that you're too injured to compete in the match. Go out there in your ring attire but have it covered by one of your track suits. Have the neck collar on and use a crutch to help you get out to the ring. Make sure you grimace as you make your way out there. I'm sure we could find a crutch somewhere. Get in the ring with him, tell him you can't compete and when he turns his back on you, smack him one with the crutch. God knows he deserves it. It may even get the fans on your side too."

The more he thought about it, the more Alberto liked the idea. Batista wasn't exactly popular with the fans, especially after he'd won the Royal Rumble and if Renee's idea meant he'd be getting cheered, then he was all for it.


Completing the final touches of Alberto's appearance, Renee stood back to admire her handiwork, just as Ricardo walked into the locker room.

She could see the look of confusion on the younger man's face as Alberto had decided that he wouldn't tell Ricardo about their plan until that very day but one glance at Alberto told her that he was going to tell Ricardo right then and there.

"What do you think, Ricardo? Do you think this will fool that perro Batista?"

For all intents and purposes, it did look as if Alberto was somewhat injured. The neck collar was securely around his neck and his trademark scarf around the neck collar. He was leaning on a crutch and grimacing as if he was in pain. The track suit he wore all but covered up the ring attire he wore also. The ring boots were another matter but the majority of them couldn't be seen.

"I think it will, El Patrón. This has to be one of your best ideas yet."

Alberto looked from the younger man to Renee before looking back at Ricardo.

"Ah, but that is where you are wrong, amigo. This wasn't my idea. Full credit for this goes to my little girl here."

Renee found herself blushing somewhat as Alberto heaped praise on her for the idea. Far from looking shocked from learning the whole thing was her idea, Ricardo actually looked pleased.

"In that case, Renee, congratulations. I think you've come up with an excellent plan. One that will definitely fool Batista."

In due course, Alberto made his way to the ring, grimacing as he did so, informing Batista that because of his actions, he wasn't fit enough to compete. Batista clearly looked disgusted at the news and it wasn't until Alberto had removed his jacket then hit him with the crutch that he'd realised he'd been tricked.

Renee watched as Alberto removed the neck collar before smiling, seemingly proud of his actions. She thought she had to be hearing things for it seemed that the crowd were cheering for Alberto – and indeed they were. Wow, this was going better than what she thought.

It wasn't until after the somewhat weak Batista bomb that he'd delivered to Alberto that she realised the match hadn't gone Alberto's way. Batista was the one getting the boos but Alberto had put up an impressive showing, proving that he could hold his own against the man known as The Animal.

Ruefully, Alberto made it back to his locker room. His back was hurting again and all he wanted at that time was to have a shower, get back to the hotel and spend the night with Renee.

To his relief, she had a small glass of wine waiting for him. He took it from her outstretched hand and knocked back the contents in one go before leaning down to kiss her.

"Despite the result of the match, I think that plan of yours came off pretty well."

"I think so too. We did successfully fool him which is what I hoped would happen."

Alberto placed the wine glass down on a chair before looking around for something to wear. He spotted the track suit he'd worn to the ring on top of his suitcase - how it had gotten there he didn't know and he couldn't be bothered asking - and quickly pulled it on, knowing that he wanted nothing more than to get back to the hotel and relax with Renee.

"Ricardo is waiting for us, little girl. And I have a feeling that Angela, my ex-wife, will be phoning on behalf of Joseph sooner rather than later."

Renee helped Alberto with his things and the two of them made their way out to the rental car Alberto was using. Alberto had laced his fingers with Renee's along the way, only letting go when it came to putting their bags in the car.

In due course, they'd reached their hotel room. Alberto had showered and Renee was in the process of massaging his shoulders when his cell phone rang. The ring tone was now recognisable to Renee and after Alberto had spoken with Angela for a few moments, he snuck in a kiss while waiting for Joseph to start speaking.

As was now habit, Renee spoke to Joseph also. She reassured him that she was taking great care of his beloved papa and that he would be fine the next time he saw him. He seemed happy about that and Alberto spoke to him some more before speaking to Angela again and hanging up.

Alberto placed the phone on the bedside table and looked at it for a few seconds before looking back at Renee.

"I am glad that I had a match at the pay-per-view, little girl, but I can't help but be somewhat frustrated with my position. Six months ago, I was the World Heavyweight Champion and now, I feel like I'm being fed to the dogs. That they don't care about me any more. That they don't care about the achievements I've made. I may have let my frustrations about that be known in the locker room so it'll be in the dirt sheets before too long.

"I just wanted to tell you first hand that I am thinking about not renewing my contract when it's up, which isn't for a while yet. If anyone asks you, just tell them that I was letting off some steam or something. Venting my frustrations as it were."

Renee nodded in agreement, knowing that if she was asked, she would say what Alberto asked her to say. He would make a decision in due course and let her know. She suspected that he was frustrated with where he now found himself in the company - going by some of his body language - and if she was him, she'd be frustrated also. Although if Alberto thought he had it bad, at least he wasn't Ricardo who still showed up, despite them not having a clue what to do with him. How he did that week in and week out, she didn't know. She had thought that the storyline break-up of their friendship hadn't been done as well as it could've been but of course, she kept those thoughts to herself. She was only a backstage interviewer. Her opinion or thoughts on what happened in the ring wouldn't count.

In due course, Alberto sat on the bed again and Renee started massaging his shoulders. Her touch would inevitably stray to his tattoos and although he had told her several times the reasons why he had gotten them, she couldn't help but ask him again. It was something that she could never get tired of hearing. It was something that he would never get tired of telling.

A few days after the pay-per-view, Alberto leaned against the doorframe of Joseph's room, content to watch his son and Renee play with some action figures. Belatedly, Alberto saw that the action figures they were playing with were both of him. It was a win-win situation. Renee and Joseph were getting along rather well and regardless of which action figure of him they were using, he was still going to win!

He hadn't expected to have Joseph staying with him for the night so when he got the phone call from his ex-wife, he happily agreed to her request that their son stay with him for the night. Once he'd gotten off the phone, Alberto found Renee and told her that they would be having an extra special guest with them. She knew straight away who Alberto was referring to and thought that it was best that Alberto greet Angela and Joseph alone before introducing the young boy to her. Alberto agreed and when they heard the doorbell ring, Alberto went to the door alone, spending a few minutes discussing various things with Angela before bidding her farewell and closing the door.

Those few minutes gave Renee time to mentally prepare herself for meeting Joseph for the first time. In the end, she needn't have worried.

Alberto walked into the room, holding Joseph's hand, telling the young boy that he was finally going to meet the lovely lady who made his papa happy. Renee made sure she had a small smile on her face as she finally got a glimpse of Alberto's son for the first time and she was surprised when he let go of Alberto's hand and ran towards her, practically throwing himself at her, giving her no choice but to crouch down to be able to take him in her arms.

It actually amazed him that they were getting along so well so soon. He had expected Joseph to be weary of someone who wasn't his mother and he knew that Renee was a little scared about meeting his son - she had even said so to him the day before. Now that this particular hurdle had been crossed, Alberto knew that the next one would be a little more difficult - Renee meeting his ex-wife Angela.

When he realised what the time was, Alberto moved away from the doorframe, walking towards the kitchen. He knew that there was one meal in particular that Joseph liked - especially when it was made Papa style - and he decided that it would be what they would have for dinner. He knew that it would keep him occupied for the next half hour or so.

Alberto had laid the table, putting not one but two pink roses by Renee's plate, dished up their dinner and walked towards Joseph's bedroom. He could still hear them playing with the action figures and leaned against the doorframe again, content to watch them for as long as it took for either Joseph or Renee to notice that he was there - which didn't take long.

Joseph saw him first and immediately let the action figure he held onto slip from his grasp as he ran toward his beloved papa. Alberto leaned down to pick him up and Joseph said something that only Alberto could hear as he wrapped his arms and legs around Alberto. It was then that Renee looked up to see the look on Alberto's face. He was clearly happy with what Joseph was saying and the smile on his face was definitely a genuine one.

It would be something he'd tell Renee later. Right now, they had a feast awaiting them.

45 minutes later, Renee found herself on the couch in the living room with Alberto beside her - his arm around her shoulders - and Joseph sitting on her lap, holding him close to her. They were watching something of Joseph's choosing which didn't bother either Renee or Alberto. Alberto was mentally wondering how Angela would react if she could see the cozy scene for herself. Renee was thinking about how right the situation seemed. Joseph was too engrossed in the TV show.

It was with regret that Alberto removed his arm from Renee's shoulder but Joseph seemed to understand what was going to happen as he moved away from Renee a little. Bath time, story time then bed time.

25 minutes later, Alberto returned to the living room, holding onto Joseph, who was clad in his pyjamas.

"Joseph tells me that he doesn't want me to read him his bedtime story. He would like you to. He's picked one out already."

Alberto placed Joseph on the floor and watched as his son ran up to Renee, grabbing her hand, trying with all his might to get her up from the couch. She made his job a little easier by getting up a little bit and Joseph grinned when she finally made it off the couch. He took her by the hand and led her to his bedroom, handing her the book he had picked out before he got into the bed. Renee waited until he was comfortable before sitting on the bed beside the young boy, holding the book in front of them so Joseph could see the pictures with no problems before she started reading.

Renee had gotten about three quarters of the way through the book before she realised that Joseph was sound asleep. She finished reading the story before placing the book on the bedside table, finding herself somewhat satisfied that her bedtime story reading had been a success. She had wrapped an arm around Joseph before she had started reading and it was almost a shame to have to move it. Joseph had well and truly snuggled into her and she didn't want to have to wake him. She couldn't believe that she had him seemingly wrapped around her little finger.

"Sorry little girl, I couldn't help but take a photo of the two of you."

Renee had no idea that Alberto was in the room until she heard him speak. He made his way into the room, slipping his cell phone into his pocket as he did so, managing to remove Joseph from her side without waking his son and helping her to her feet. She knew that Alberto had made it crystal clear just how much he liked her and now it was obvious to her that Joseph did too.

"I was about three quarters of the way through before I noticed that he was asleep," she remarked as she and Alberto made their way to the kitchen, where two glasses of wine awaited them. Alberto handed one to Renee before taking the other one and pulling her close to him. She managed to successfully get a mouthful down before Alberto kissed her.

"That's why I took the photo. The two of you looked so cute together. Your arm around him, him snuggling into you...if anyone didn't know I'd been married before, they'd assume that you were Joseph's mama. Besides, he said something to me earlier that I wanted to tell you but I wanted to wait until he was asleep before I told you."

Oh, she was definitely curious now!

"He really likes you. That smile that you saw on my face earlier today when he literally wrapped himself around me...that was genuine. I liked what he was telling me. More than liked, to be honest. Hence the two pink roses today."

Renee had noticed that there were two pink roses where she sat at the table and she gathered that one of them was from Alberto and the other from Joseph. She'd won two people over. Now, the only one left was Alberto's ex-wife, Angela.

As Renee snuggled into Alberto, she didn't see the look on his face. From the moment Joseph had said something to him about giving Renee a rose every time he saw her, he had been doing his research on the meaning of various rose colours. Pink roses symbolised admiration and appreciation - he both admired and appreciated Renee. He treasured any time he got to spend with her, such as now, even with Joseph staying with them.

Now, he found himself wondering just when to give Renee a yellow rose tipped with red. He knew that he wouldn't be able to go from pink to red roses straight away - he did think that it probably would've been too much too soon - and he had looked for something in between. The yellow one had seemed right to him - it did have a double meaning in friendship and falling in love. He did consider Renee to be a friend - a very close friend, he quickly amended.

And if he was to be completely honest with himself, he was falling in love with her.