Chapter 21 Koda Pahana and Priya

A/N Priya is pronounced pre-jah (as in pre-cooked and hallelujah)

May 1992

Holding his knees to his chest, the little boy shut his eyes tight. Hiding under the kitchen table, the young Architect hoped his father wouldn't find him. Jake Rollins was always in a bad mood when he had one too many bottles. Seth could hear him shouting somewhere about the house, his mother's soft tearful voice trying to calm her husband down.

"Where's Seth?!" Jake suddenly boomed.

The five year old boy's eyes flew open as his father's footsteps came closer. Seth scrambled out of his hiding place and ran. Out of the kitchen; out of the house, away from the angry and frenzied voice.

Seth didn't know where he was going; he just knew where safety was...

"Mr. Helmsley,"

Still extremely exhausted, Seth slowly opened his eyes. He found himself in a large room, with a warm fireplace. He realised the owner of the voice was carrying him.

"Look what-or rather who I found in the forest," said the same voice.

"...Seth?"

The young Architect's eyes fell on the figure of Michael Helmsley. Seth immediately shrunk back, haven't actually met him before. When he visited with his aunt the last time to see the new baby, Seth hid behind her when he heard the businessman's voice.

Michael gently took Seth from the guard's arms. "Notify his parents-"

"No!" Seth shouted.

Michael remained quiet as the child started crying.

"P-please, Mr. Helmsley..." Seth choked. "Don't call my daddy,"

"Okay," Michael agreed. "But I would like to know why,"

Seth nodded, as he was gently placed on the couch. Michael had a quick word with the guard at the doorway before returning to Seth and taking a seat next to him.

"Seth?" Michael pressed gently.

Seth took a deep breath before telling Michael what happened, what happens every time his father drank.

Michael took Seth in his arms and comforted him. "It's okay," he said softly. "Now, have some hot chocolate and sleep okay?"

"You-you're not calling my dad?" Seth asked as the guard entered the room, tray in hand.

Michael avoided the question and smiled. "You'll be safe here, Seth. No one's going to hurt you, I promise."

The guard left the tray on the table as Mrs. Helmsley arrived.

"Oh, someone needs a bath and bed," Priya smiled gently at Seth.

"Baby's asleep yet?" Michael asked.

His wife sighed and shook her head. For a couple of nights now, their three month old baby girl refused to go back to sleep after her night-time feeds.

"I'll just let her play a little while longer," Priya said before turning to Seth. "Let's go get you cleaned up, sweetie."

Seth was taken to a guest room where he had a warm bubble bath helped by the butler. Of course, the young Architect could bathe himself, but he would be in danger of drowning in the tub if he fell asleep.

Mrs. Helmsley was waiting in his room to tuck him in. She was carrying a very much wide awake Kelista.

"You remember Kelista, Seth?" Priya smiled at him."She was only a few days old the last time you saw her."

Seth smiled at Kelista, gently pinching one of her plumpy cheeks. The baby just looked at him, quietly taking in this new stranger. She blinked and drew back in shock when Seth yawned loudly.

Priya chuckled. "Time for bed," she said tucking him in and kissing his forehead. "Goodnight, sweetheart,"

"Goodnight,"

Comfortable and warm, Seth immediately fell asleep. Not knowing that at that moment, Michael entered his house, and threw his father out.

"When you learn how to be a good father and husband," Michael growled at Jake. "Then come back home."

Seth frequently visited the mansion after that; mostly to keep away from his father, but also to see Michael. Unfortunately, Michael was busy most if the time, so Priya asked Seth to keep the Kelista entertained, since babies generally like children, and the little Helmsley Princess enjoyed Seth's company immensely.

Seth could hardly remember the kind of person his father was a long time ago. No one ever brought it up now, of course, but he knew his father wasn't always a good person. But Michael did something after Seth had come crying to him in the middle of the night - and Seth had a pleasant home for the past 23 years, not to mention the close bond he formed with the businessman.

Seth just couldn't understand why Michael...stopped caring.

~oOo~

"You're going to be good girl, okay, sweetie?"

Raquel laughed. "Mummy, you told me that yesterday!"

Roman and Sierra had left Raquel with the Rollins' to stay overnight, picking her up this morning, before Seth and Kels arrived at his parent's house.

Now Raquel wanted to go with Jake and Nina again.

Sierra chuckled and kissed her daughter before turning to the Rollins'.

"We're good for time thankfully," she said. "I just need to see if all is well at the parlor, but with Dean..."

That's all Sierra had to say before all of them laughed good-naturally.

After discussing the crazy yet lovable Lunatic Fringe, the Rollins' (and Raquel) said goodbye. Roman and Sierra decided to take a romantic walk through the meadow before heading back to the parlor.

"Have I told you how beautiful you look today?" Roman asked his wife.

Sierra blushed as Roman kissed her.

"Honey…there are children here." she giggled.

The children were at a playground the Reigns' were walking past. Since yesterday was the older children's time outside, today is the toddlers' 'field' trip. A Native American little boy stood out amongst them.

"These must be some of the kids Seth was telling us about," Roman presumed as he and Sierra went up to them.

"Oh, the children from the orphanage," Sierra added, with a note of sadness in a voice. She wanted to say something else, but stopped.

Vanessa Lenhel, the volunteer Seth and Kelista met yesterday, were accompanying the children this time.

She smiled at the Reigns. "Hi,"

Sierra greeted her as the Native American toddler bounced up to Vanessa.

"This is Koda Pahana," Vanessa introduced.

"Hi, sweetheart," Sierra greeted kindly as her husband bent down to the toddler's eye-level.

To her surprise, Roman starting speaking to Koda in his Samoan tongue.

"Um, honey," Sierra chuckled. "He's Native American, not-"

But the toddler started talking to Roman, incessantly chatting toddler-talk. It was English mixed with a Native American tongue. The toddler then pointed at random things during his incessant babble.

When Koda stopped and appeared to be thinking, Roman responded in Samoan and the toddler started chatting again.

"This is one interesting conversation." Sierra laughed. "Actually, Roman, I think you're going to confuse him."

The Powerhouse smiled and affectionately brushed the child's jaw with his fist. "Maybe one day you'll speak Samoan."

Sierra smiled at pair, until she noticed another couple approaching.

Triple H and Stephanie Helmsley also appeared to be taking walk, when they ran into the Reigns. They spoke to the children (Hunter and Roman chose to ignore each other on principle, given Payback was less than five days away; Sierra and Stephanie managed to give each other stiff smiles).

But it was Koda that Hunter and Stephanie also grow close to. Kelista also told them about her visit to the orphanage and the children, especially about the toddler.

To Stephanie's disappointment and fury, the toddler immediately kept going back to Sierra, no matter how many times the principal owner tried to talk to him.

"Hunter, he's such a lovely child." Stephanie said. "And we were always looking to adopt a baby boy."

Hunter wasn't so sure about having more children. With his busy schedule, he felt guilty not spending enough quality time with the three he already had. But it was very difficult not to become attached to little Koda.

"When did he come to the orphanage?" Stephanie asked Vanessa.

"Mrs. Harro found him near the forest," Vanessa informed them. "He was just under a year, she assumed."

Sierra's eyes widened. "What kind of person would just abandon a baby?!"

Vanessa shrugged. "You get some pretty sick people in this world."

Sierra hugged the toddler close and Vanessa smiled at the two couples. But there are twice as many good ones, she thought.

Sierra looked at her husband. "Roman?" she said softly.

The Shield affiliate smiled at the toddler. "How would you like to come home with us?" he asked in Samoan and Sierra's heart leaped.

Koda started babbling again making the Reigns' laugh.

"Steph love, we should get going now," Hunter said quietly. He didn't understand Samoan, but he had a pretty good idea what Roman asked Koda. .

Stephanie looked at Sierra and the toddler. She didn't like the way Koda Pahana warmed up to Roman's wife so quickly and easily.

~oOo~

"Alright, let's make a bet." Kelista suggested.

Seth grinned. "I'm listening."

The Helmsley Princess felt really bad about the gifts she had received from the Shield affiliate. The drawing he promised and the flower were both pretty special to her. Yet it was his birthday. So Kelista tried to buy Seth a gift, but he refused. In fact, the Architect was adamant about paying for everything on their outing. Now when Kelista managed to pay to go bowling as well as for the socks and drinks, Seth got irritated with her. Thus the Helmsley Princess proposed a bet.

"If I win, I get to buy you a gift," Kelista stated. "But of you win, then-"

The Architect started laughing. "Whoa, hold on there, princess. That is not how a bet works."

"Its how this bet works." Kelista chuckled.

"Alright, then." the Architect agreed as they walked up the three steps towards the bowling alley. "You're on. I'll show you how this is done." He contended playfully and Kelista giggled.

Before the actual bowling lanes, there was a carpeted area with two lounging seats facing each other. The bowling ball rack was in-between the seats. Before the rack was small round high table (with bar stools) for snacks. Thankfully the alley was quiet being a weekday and the superstar and GM weren't bothered much.

Seth sat down on one of the bench-like seats. He had exchanged his shoes for bowling ones for a good laugh. As he put on the bowling shoes, he watched Kelista's expression.

"Seth, I bought you the non-slip bowling socks for a reason." The Helmsley Princess wrinkled her nose. "Those shoes smell horrible, not to mention the bacteria. It's... disgusting."

"I know…" the Architect smirked. "I just love that look on your face."

Kelista rolled her eyes and turned to select her bowling ball from the rack. "I hope you remember to wash your hands…" she muttered more to herself.

In the Architect's opinion, bowling was a good social work-out activity, so it didn't matter he wasn't at the gym today. And he's playing with Kels, which was a bonus point.

If only she could remember him.

"So…are you also from Connecticut like your uncle?" Seth asked.

Kelista selected a light green ball and made her way towards the bowling floorboard.

"I was born and brought up in South Africa," Kelista replied as she launched her ball.

Seth stared at her in shock as she turned and smiled at him. Behind her the ball steadily rolled down lane and she struck out.

"Top that," Kelista challenged as she went to the table to have a drink.

The Shield affiliate chuckled at her challenge. "But…I thought you were born here,"

"We travel the world often so it's easy for Alison and I to adapt." She explained as she sat down.

The Architect pondered over her answer as got up to select a bowling ball. She may have grown up in another country, but she spent at least five years of her life in the States.

Kels doesn't know she once lived in the States, let alone Iowa, Seth realized.

The Shield affiliate tried to think of the best way to ask about this. "But…your father's American," he said as he selected an orange one which was heavier than Kelista's green one.

"Yes he is," she confirmed. "But after my mother fell sick and passed away, my father decided to move to SA, since we have family there."

"Sick?" Seth asked in disbelief. Sick and died? The Architect didn't remember the day very well, but he was certain of the smoke and flames.

"Yeah…" Kelista said. "In India. My Nani said she liked helping poor people and things like that, so…" she looked away.

Seth sighed. Right. Of course Kelista's grandmother told her facts... but only to an extent.

Kelista smiled at him. "I thought you're going to show me how its done,"

"Oh, I am," he grinned, walking up to the lane.

"It's my turn to ask questions now," Kelista chuckled.

As they took turns bowling, Seth told Kelista about the WWE and all the zany adventures he and his brothers got up to from the time they met at NXT back in 2010.

The Helmsley Princess recalled NXT. It was Uncle Hunter's project, which her father showed great interest in around four years ago.

Seth threw popcorn into the air before eating it, making Kelista giggle (she made sure to give him her hand sanitizer before he ate).

"I'm going to WWE World Heavyweight Champion," Seth avowed. "Always the plan since NXT."

Kelista was fairly impressed by his determination. "Well considering what Uncle Hunter has planned soon, there might an opportunity."

"What does he have planned?" the Architect asked curiously.

Since Daniel Bryan was going to have to surrender the title due to injury, Hunter planned a battle royal for the WWE Championship soon.

The Helmsley Princess chuckled. "Perhaps it's best we don't discuss work now," she advised, taking a sip of her drink.

"Oh, perhaps not, dear," Seth mimicked graciously.

Kelista almost threw her coke at him. "Oh, sharrup, Seth," she pouted.

"Come on, Kels," the Shield affiliate laughed. "I'm just having fun with you."

"Am-not-talking-to-you," Kelista continued to pout as she pointedly looked away from him.

"I'll tickle you," Seth playfully threatened.

Kelista laughed. "Alright, fine." she said taking her turn to bowl.

"So what does your dad do?" Seth asked.

As Kelista told him about Michael's company she realized her father hadn't called her all day.

Is Papa mad at me because I didn't stay away at the Shield like he asked? She he might be mad, but he definitely not stop taking her calls or talking to her.

Kelista shook it off. He was probably just busy.

"Rematch," Seth challenged as the competition ended with Kelista's score topping his.

Kelista smiled at him in sympathy. "We'll just put it down to…'no contest'. Besides, you were more bothered about interrogating me than bowling," she chuckled.

Seth smirked at the look on the Helmsley Princess' face when he took off the bowling shoes and went to get his own back.

"So what do you want to do now?" the Shield affiliate asked. "How about paintball?"

"Well, thankfully, paintball won't require much strength like wrestling." Kelista chuckled. "But strategy and agility is still important all the same."

"Just like wrestling." Seth grinned. "And they don't call me the 'Architect' for nothing, you know."

Kelista narrowed her eyes playfully. "Is that a challenge, Rollins?"

Seth put a hand over his heart as he pretended to be shocked. "Goodness, gracious me! The Helmsley Princess wants to battle?"

The said princess rolled her eyes at the Architect's teasing of her mannerisms. "It's getting late. Maybe tomorrow we can play. You and Dean versus Ali and myself."

Seth grinned. "You're on."

"Perhaps the bigger the group, the more fun it would be," Kelista mused. "Ali did get a battle of the sexes going yesterday with the superstars and divas."

Seth arched an eyebrow. "So you're saying...we should come up with our teams..."

Kelista smiled and nodded.

"Like a Paintball Survivor Series!" Seth laughed and Kelista joined in.

At the end of the day, Kelista was glad Seth had a great time. What was unbelievable was that she had an awesome time too. Like spending time with your best friend, doing crazy stuff.

The Helmsley Princess wanted to back to the suite to freshen up before Smackdown tonight. Seth would be lying if he said he wasn't thrilled she was coming. At least he'd have one friend...while his two so called brothers probably forgot the Architect has a match tonight. Seth's felt a wave of sadness wash over him. Just like they forgot my birthday...

~oOo~

Meanwhile at the baking parlor...

Dean and Roman grinned as Sierra put the final touches on the Shield confection.

They couldn't wait for Smackdown tonight!

~oOo~

Michael said goodbye to his daughter and hung up. He was glad she was safe. He was also happy she had a good day, but…

Why did she have to spend it with Seth?

Michael sighed. This wasn't really wasn't the time for his company to be hit with an EMP of all things!

An Electromagnetic Pulse (or EMP for short) is a wave that is set off by a small explosion and fries all electronics, including cell phones. And it happened just as Michael picked up his phone when Seth called. Everything in the company was thankfully backed up, and soon by rebooting the trunk line, the system was up and running again. During the outage, Michael had no contact with Kelista and Alison's bodyguards, but he felt relieved Kelista was with Seth for some reason.

The businessman massaged his temples as he walked back to his office from the server room. He was never so unsure about anything in his life. Running a multi-billion dollar company was more clear cut and simple that this.

Michael hoped his daughter wouldn't get close to Seth again, that way it would be easier for her to stay away from him. She apologised over and over for going against him and not staying away from the Shield. But he also heard the happiness in her voice when she told him about her day. It was not unlike his little girl's when she sat on his lap excitedly recounting the adventures she and the little Architect had.

Of course he wanted her to be happy. But the more time she spent with Seth, the more she'll remember. And Michael would never forget the words of Dr. Gaillard seventeen years back…

Kelista's amnesia was actually a blessing.

Michael returned to his office and dropped on his chair, exhausted. For the first time, he had no idea what to do. Priya was always his best counsel…for everything.

Though his heart told him something else, his head knew she was gone...her ashes mixed among the debris of the stable

Yet he couldn't help saying, "Priya... sweetheart..." before collapsing on his desk.

Along a river bank in a forest sat a woman in Native American clothing. She belonged to the tribe...but not by birth.

"Priya...sweetheart..."

The woman looked up in shock as her heart leaped in her chest. Michael!

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I chose the name 'Koda Pahana,' because of the symbol the toddler will eventually represent to the Shield brothers. Roman's not going to have an easy time adopting him, because Hunter may want to adopt Koda as well.

My apologies for the discrepancies in the Native American culture. I'm not an American myself, so I do not know the culture in-depth.

Though EMPs really exist; it just doesn't work the way it affected Michael's company. That concept is from the TV Series 24.

Thanks to everyone who read, followed and favorite! It keeps me encouraged! :D :D :D