Memphis groaned out loud as she checked the departure screen again. The flight to Cleveland was still delayed for another two hours. The plane had been scheduled to take off a little after seven in the evening but harsh winter weather had grounded most of the air travel. The show wasn't until the following morning but Memphis found herself starting to get nervous as more hours passed without reschedule times. She had made it as far as Washington D.C. and was expecting a connector straight to her destination in Ohio. It was a little after one in the morning and she was tired and cranky and ready to go after spending nearly eight hours inside Reagan International. A break in the snow had begun to allow for travel headed in the northeast and all flights headed south and southwest had remained on schedule. Many of the passengers delayed for northwest bound flights had accepted hotel vouchers so the usually busy terminals now looked like ghost towns. Sighing, Memphis found a Starbucks that was open inside the airport and set her carryon and laptop at a table. She was the only customer there and checked her messages once again.

Tired of waiting for the plane. Rented a car & put some chains on the tires. That's how we roll in the midwest. Should be in Cleveland in a few hours.

Memphis couldn't help but smile. You had to love Phil Brooks. It had been a week since she had spent the break in Chicago with him. It had been nice. Their relationship had been growing by leaps and bounds and Memphis, always cautious when it came to matters of the heart, was taking her time but she had been surprised by how much Phil had let his guard down. His heart rested on his sleeved arms and he had really put himself out there on an emotional level. And it was all for her. She really respected that and the more time they spent together, the more she started to genuinely care for him. He was a great guy and she couldn't wait to see him again in Cleveland in a few hours.

"Yes ma'am, may I help you?"

"Sure," she looked over the memu. "Um, I'll have an Apple Brand muffin, a Garden Pesto salad, and an Orange Mango Vivanno Smoothie, please."

"Will that be all for you tonight?"

"Yes."

"Please hold for your total and sir, I will be right with you," the cashier motioned to someone standing behind her.

Memphis pulled out her wallet, searching for the twenty dollar bill she had withdrawn from the ATM just hours ago. She knew it had to be somewhere in that damned purse of hers.

"Look, I'm kind of in a hurry. Put hers on my tab because I need to order. Get me a Turkey and Swiss sandwich, a Greek Yogurt Honey Parfait, and a bottled Vanilla Frappuccino."

Memphis made a face as she instantly recongized the voice. She stopped and turned. Sure enough it was Randy Orton.

"Orton."

He was on his phone and looked shocked to see her. The conversation he had been engrossed in had precocupied his attention and standing behind Memphis who had pulled her hair up and was wearing a hat and coat, he hadn't recognized her.

"Memphis," he put the phone down. "Hey, um, I didn't know that was you."

"Sir, would you still like for me to put her items on your ticket?" the clerk asked.

Memphis kept fishing through her bag.

"No. Sorry. Um, I swear this money is in here somewhere. If not, I'll just use my card…"

"It's okay," Randy reached over her and handed the employee his American Express.

"You didn't have to do that…"

"I know."

"Thanks," she nodded.

"Yeah," he didn't bother to look up at her.

He continued texting as they waited quietly in line. Their goods were ready in no time and Memphis took hers over to the table where she had stashed her belongings.

"So do you know something I don't know?" she half grinned at him.

"What?"

"You said you were in a hurry. The next flight to Cleveland doesn't leave for a couple more hours."

He gave her a smirk.

"I just didn't feel like waiting."

Memphis laughed out loud as she sat down.

"Yeah. Sorry for the whole 90 second delay."

Randy had to chuckle at that one as well.

"Don't complain. You got a free meal out of the deal."

"That's a good point," she opened her salad. "Um, would you like to sit down?"

He had started to put his stuff at another nearby table. They were attemtping a conversation and they were the only ones around. What was the harm in sitting together?

"Yeah, uh…okay," he pulled up a chair.

In silence they spread out their food and drinks before digging in.

"I am starving," Memphis moaned between bites of salad. "These stupid weather delays suck."

"That they do but you'll get used to them. Happens all the time. Sometimes it's just easier to rent a car and try to make the drive. Less hassle."

Memphis nodded.

"So, um how have you been?" she asked.

"Good. You?"

"Good."

"How are the ribs?"

"Still a little sore but getting better. I referee tomorrow."

"That's cool. Do you know the match yet?"

"Not yet," she shook her head. "Punk will probably beat me to the arena anyway. I'll just ask him to find out in the pre production meeting."

"Pays to have boyfriends in high places, huh?" Randy joked as he took a bite of his sandwich.

"Ha ha."

"It was a joke. An innocent, harmless joke that has nothing to do with the fact that me and that guy can't stand each other."

"I'm sure…"

"Like he is cool with me and you being cool. Did you tell him yet?"

"I did actually."

"And?"

Memphis frowned.

"It's complicated."

"I bet."

"He's just looking out for me. I've forgiven you and I'm pretty much over everything that happened between us but it was a lot and you have to admit that. Punk doesn't want to see me hurt again."

Randy shrugged.

"He's looking out for his girl, I can understand that. Hell, I even respect it. But what I did to you is not what I did to him. That's between us and he should just leave it alone."

"True…but he does make some good points."

"Like?"

"I don't know. I mean, we had a good talk on your bus and I did hear all the stuff you said in the hospital. You didn't have to come see me and you didn't even know if I could hear you so I feel like you're being genuine. I don't think anything will happen again but I guess a part of me is bothered by why it all happened in the first place."

"What do you mean?"

"Why me?" she posed. "What did I do that made you hate me so much?"

Randy paused before looking her in the eye.

"I don't have a real answer for that, Memphis. I was an asshole. I've pretty much been an asshole my whole life, especially during my time in the WWE. I've been a bully. People usually listen to me and just do what I say. You were different. That first night, I was just in a bad mood when you bumped into me. It wasn't a big deal and I know I should have let it go but the fact that you stood up to me…I don't know. It's stupid looking back on it but it really pissed me off. From then on I decided that I didn't like you and it just got out of hand from there."

"It was just really hurtful. It's hard for me to say that to you now. Everything from the bet you placed that I would be gone in two months, to our argument on the plane, to all those mean and disgusting pranks, to that final night…"

"It was bad. Look, I'm not proud of what me and DiBiase did to you. At the time I was. My goal was to break you, make you quit. You didn't. You're a strong person. A lot of people couldn't have handled that. You deserve to be here and I'm really sorry you went through that, that I put you through it. It was messed up."

"It's just that in the hospital and the way you helped in the parking lot with those guys that night and on your bus and even now…you're like this nice, normal guy. It's almost a Jekyll and Hyde type thing. It's almost hard to believe you're that same person."

"I was on my way to the locker room at an arena a few weeks ago and on the way there, I had to pass the Diva's locker room. Some of the girls were just hanging around and when they saw me coming, they literally started scampering like roaches. And just the looks on their faces…fear, disgust, hate even. It was all directed at me and I realize that I deserve it. I've been a chauvenist and a sexist and a bully. I've been a dick to those girls and for no good reason. Add that to what I did to you, especially that last night and it's pretty bad. I guess I don't want to be that guy anymore. I hear what they say about me on the Dirt Sheets and I don't want to be the heel anymore, at least not in real life."

He was being as honest and open as he could be, as he'd ever been. The words tumbled out in a mixture of hesitation, emotion, and candor.

"People change and everybody deserves a second chance."

"Thanks. Because you didn't have to give me one."

"Would you have blamed me if I didn't?"

"No. And look I know I've said I'm sorry a hundred times but I feel like I need to explain about that whole hotel gym thing…"

Memphis' cheeks turned bright red with embarassment and she cringed. Those same intense blue eyes that were now boring a hole into her at a Starbucks table were the same beady eyes that had invaded her privacy and spied on her in the most intimate of moments.

"I really don't want to talk about that."

"I'm not a sicko or a creep or a Peeping Tom, I just wanted you to know that. And I didn't follow you guys there that night either. I couldn't sleep and wanted to work out and I saw."

"And you watched?" she raised one eyebrow.

Randy smirked.

"I watched. Not my finest moment but it was wrong and I'm really sorry. I wanted to humiliate you which is why I brought it up in front of everyone and like the second I did, I knew I had gone too far. It just hit me how bad that was, how out of line. I regretted it right away, all of it but it was too late. And Ted throwing the spit on you…it just…it was out of control. I didn't want to be a part of that, at least not anymore."

"Well thank you. It makes it easier for us to start over when you can sit here and be so honest and admit your mistakes."

"I'm trying."

"But you know what really bothered me most?"

"What's that?"

"That girl, the little pregnant girl, Hannah. That's really sad. Look, I know it's none of my business but she is scared to death. That has to be so hard. And however you feel about her, there is an innocent little baby that's going to be involved in all this and it just doesn't seem right."

"I know," he sighed. "That whole thing was my bad. I've said a lot of bad stuff about Hannah but the truth is, I don't really know her. That sucks. What I do know is that I'm not ready to be a daddy and I got so pissed at myself for even being in that situation. Let's just say my parents are less than thrilled that they may be having a grandchild from someone none of us really knows anything about. But I, um…I called her up. She's okay. The baby will be here in a couple of months and we'll take it from there."

"Wow," Memphis leaned back in her chair. "That was really big of you."

"I had to man up. It was the right thing to do."

"Are you scared?" she played with the straw in her Smoothie.

"Petrified," he chuckled. "But we'll see after the paternity test and take it from there. If the kid is mine, I'll step up and support it and I guess try to be a part of its life."

"Good for you, Randy."

He looked at her and smiled, a real smile, not a smirk.

"You called me Randy."

"That is your name."

"Yeah but you usually call me Orton. And you say it with like the meanest voice ever," he laughed.

"I do not."

"Orton, I need to talk to you! What do you want, Orton? Orton, go to hell! Leave me alone, Orton" he mocked making her laugh so hard she almost spit out her drink.

"Dude, my voice does not sound like that."

"Whatever," he said as he stood and began gathering both their trash. "You want to go wait at the terminal?"

"Sure," she grabbed her stuff.

Randy then walked back to the counter and ordered and paid cash for two small roasted coffees. He handed one to Memphis as they made their way through the airport. The gate was almost empty and the two took a seat on the floor. Memphis charged the battery of her laptop and began surfing the Internet as Randy toyed with his phone. A few minutes later, the pair looked up to see a family of four in front of them.

"Hi," the man said. "I know it's late and I'm real sorry to bother you but you're Randy Orton and we're huge wrestling fans. The kids love you. Is it possible for us to get an autograph and a picture?"

Memphis looked over at Randy. He had been traveling all day and probably wasn't in the best of moods. The last thing he wanted was an impromptu meet and greet but the people standing before them had no idea of that. She was hoping he'd at least be polite when he turned them down.

"No problem," he stood.

Randy signed autographs for all of them but Memphis was particularly impressed when he kneeled down to the level of the two children. The boy appeared to be about eight and the little girl was even younger, around three or so. He smiled at the kids and talked to them in a soft voice, bringing ear to ear grins to their sweet little faces.

"Guys, I'll take the pictures," Memphis volunteered.

The wife did a double take.

"Oh my God. You're the new female referee, aren't you?"

Memphis smiled.

"Guilty as charged."

"This is so exciting. Two WWE Superstars in one night, honey. Imagine that. Please, you get in the picture with us."

"Okay," Memphis conceded with a giggle as she and Randy tried to squeeze in the frame as the dad held the camera out and snapped several self portraits.

"Thank you so much," the man said as they prepared to leave. "This was so cool. The kids will never forget this. And to think, we were scared to even come up to you. All the sites on the Internet say you're a jerk to your fans and there was even some story about you two not getting along."

Randy and Memphis exchanged glances.

"Well, you can't believe everything you read, I guess."

They waved as the family ventured off and the two sat back down.

"45 more minutes," Randy sighed.

She stared at him with a grin.

"Wow."

'"What?"

"You really can be a nice person. I'm sure you didn't feel like it but you were really good with those fans."

"The kids were cute," he shrugged.

"I just never would have predicted this. If you had told me three months ago that it would be me and you like this here? I wouldn't have believed it."

"Or even a couple of weeks ago."

"What?"

Randy smirked again.

"I remember sitting on my bus and you distinctly saying that you and I were never going to be BFFs or get together for coffee soon," he motioned down to their cups.

She couldn't help but grin.

"Strange things happen."

"Yeah. I guess they do."

Randy Orton was complex and intense, hard to figure out and someone with a story that went way beyond the ring. Memphis Kramer was an enigma in her own right and two passing strangers in the night had shared a few hours and gotten to know each other, in the process finding out that they had more in common than they originally thought.

"Randy?"

"Yeah."

"Thanks. For the food and the coffee and the talk and just everything. It was nice."

He nodded. It was nice.