Present Day
"I can't believe I'm back here again. My intentions were to go home, Cody, not back here!"
Cody smiled sweetly at an irate Randy as they drove back onto the Candlewood property. "Randy, stop complaining. I really like this place and I wanted Teddy to see it before we went home. Then, the kids wanted to see it and you know I can't ever say no to them so…" He shrugged and turned back over in his seat.
Randy rolled his eyes and clenched his jaw as he stared at the back of Cody's head. "That makes no sense! We drive to Boston intending to get on a plane to St. Louis only to drive back into the butt crack of fucking Connecticut."
"Dad, please!"
Randy turned to meet his daughter's irritated eyes beside him. She huffed and crossed her arms over her chest. "Can you please watch your language? That's one of the worst bad words!"
Angel smiled beside her but remained quiet as Randy rolled his eyes. The boy shook his head at his sister and turned his attention back to the men in the front seats. "So, what's so great about this place, Uncle Cody?"
Cody turned to smile at him. "Angel, you're gonna love it, kiddo. It's such a wide open space and the grass is so green and the trees are so full…it's just perfect!"
Randy laughed from the backseat. "Sounds like any park you would find in any other city."
Cody shot him a glare and even Ted looked at him harshly from the rearview mirror. "Randy, please. Cody is excited about this. Don't take your anger out on him. Be polite."
Randy sighed loudly before nodding. "Fine, you're right. Codes, I'm sorry. The place is beautiful and even if I hate it, which I really don't, I should just keep my mouth shut. I appreciate you bringing the kids to see it, too."
Cody smiled and nodded. "Thanks, Ran."
Randy looked over at his children and smiled. "It really is a nice place for a wedding, guys. And Al, I apologize for my really bad word."
Alanna uncrossed her arms from her chest and nodded. "Thank you."
Randy smiled at her before moving his eyes away. The car rolled up the long driveway and the huge inn came into view. Ted drove the car to the front door and the group slowly piled out. Angel and Alanna stared up at the house, smiles on their faces as their father sulked behind them. Ted took Cody's hand and bought it to his lips, kissing it gently. "This place is stunning, baby. I love it."
Cody beamed proudly and let them in the door, walking over to the secretary to announce their arrival for their appointment. Randy hung around behind the couple, one hand secured around each of his children's. He looked down at them with a smile and watched as Cody led Ted around the room, pointing out all of the architecture of the room. After a few moments, a voice broke the silence.
"Dad,"
Randy looked down at his son, noting the bored look on his face. "Yes,"
"Can we go walk outside or something?"
Randy sighed and caught the secretary's eye, who nodded at him. He walked over to Cody and patted his shoulder. "I'm gonna take the kids outside, OK. They're getting a little restless."
Cody nodded. "Sure, we'll be out in a bit. I just want Ted to meet that nice event planner we met yesterday."
Randy nodded, moving away quickly. "Take your time. It's a beautiful day to take a walk." He walked back towards his kids and opened the inn door, letting them all out into the warm sunshine and breeze. The kids immediately walked in front of him and began to run around the grassy field. Randy smiled as he watched them and followed slowly behind, his eyes scanning the property. He had to admit, Cody was right. The property was beautiful and on a warm, sunny day like this one, it literally shone in the sunlight. He could practically imagine the large field set up with chairs and Ted and Cody standing under a large arch as they recited their vows.
"Daddy, does this place make you sad?"
Randy looked down at his daughter, who had come back to where he stood and was watching him carefully. "No, baby, why would this place make me sad?"
Alanna looked around and shrugged. "Does it make you remember your wedding with Daddy John because you got married in an inn like this? Does it make you miss him more?"
Randy sighed and bent to hug her tightly. "Being in a place like this does make me remember Daddy but it's OK because they're really good memories. I'm absolutely fine. Don't worry about me."
Alanna stared at him, her blue-eyed gaze strong for a child her age. "Are you sure? Me and Angel don't think you're fine."
Randy smiled. "You and your brother worry too much. I'm the grown up; let me worry about things."
Alanna smiled back and nodded. "Daddy would say the same thing. Nothing was that bad we had to frown about it. His laugh would instantly make it all better."
Randy's smile widened as an image of his husband smiling crossed his mind. "Daddy always did have a way of making everything better. He was a very wise man." He raised an eyebrow and crossed his arms over his chest. "He did marry me, after all."
Alanna rolled her eyes dramatically. "Whatever, Dad."
Randy laughed as Angel ran over, a concerned look on his face. "Is everything OK?"
Alanna nodded, but the look remained on her brother's face. Randy bent down to his level and put a hand on his small shoulder. "Listen to me, I'm gonna tell you what I told Al. I'm fine. Do not worry about me or anything. I have everything under control. If there is anything to worry about then I will do it; I'm the Dad."
Angel's face slowly relaxed and he nodded. "I just don't want you to be sad about Daddy John and…"
Randy cut him off with a gently hug. He pulled back and looked back and forth between his children. "Guys, you wanna know the truth? I am sad about Daddy John and I do miss him very much; especially on a day like today. That's just how it is, though. I know you guys miss him, too. Talking about him helps but worrying about each other doesn't so let's not. I don't want you to worry about anything. If you have a question or feel sad, just talk to me or each other."
Angel nodded. "OK. Ally and I talk about Dad all the time. It's nice." He looked over at his sister who smiled and nodded.
Randy sighed and stood up. "It is nice; I agree." He took a deep breath gave them both a kiss on the forehead. "Go on now and play for a bit before your Uncles get here."
The children quickly ran off and Randy let out another huge breath. His eyes followed them as they chased each other around the huge field. Moments like the one he'd just had were always tough. Randy knew he was a good parent but that tiny morsel of doubt that crept into every parent's mind and questioned how they handled a difficult conversation would always make him doubt himself. John had always been the one to comfort him and reassure him that he had handled the situation correctly. The older man had been a perfect father to their children, both in Randy's eyes and their children's. John always had an ability to adapt to things perfectly and master them quickly and that certainly applied to parenting. He was firm but fair and his children respected and adored him.
"Are those your children?"
Randy was once again broken out of his thoughts by a voice, though this time it belonged to another man. He turned and came face to face with James, the man he remembered from yesterday as the director of the property…and as the man whose head he bit off.
"Yeah, they are."
James smiled as he watched them. "They're beautiful."
Randy cleared his throat and crossed his arms over his chest, feeling uncomfortable. "Thank you."
James nodded, his eyes still off in the distance.
Randy sighed when the man made no attempt to move away from him dropped his arms. "Look, I think I owe you an apology. You caught me off guard yesterday and I was rude. I'm sorry."
James smiled and shook his head. "Please, no, you don't owe me anything. I should've at least looked at your hand before asking you something so personal."
Randy shrugged, his fingers subconsciously playing with his wedding band. "It's OK. Let's just forget it, OK."
James nodded and extended his hand. "It's forgotten."
Randy stared at the hand momentarily before finally extending his own to meet it. He gave it a quick shake before pulling it back and moving his eyes back towards his children.
"You know, I felt like a moron for not knowing about you, anyway. You're really well known and your husband was even more so. I'm just not into wrestling or action movies…anyway, I know what happened to your husband. I am so sorry for your loss. He was so young. It's really tragic."
Randy turned back to look at the sad look in James' eyes. His own gaze grew cold and hard and he nodded tersely, remaining quiet.
"Mr. Runnels actually called me last night and explained the whole situation and why your reaction was so strong. I didn't realize how little time has passed since his death. I would never have…"
"Look, didn't we say it was forgotten, dude? Stop talking about it, please." Randy shook his head in frustration. "Of course Cody would call you and give you my sob story. He loves this place and thought I fucked it up for him."
James frowned. "I don't think he meant any harm. He just wanted to explain to me what you're going through and that I shouldn't take anything you say personally. He couldn't stop stressing how amazing a friend you've been to him for many years now."
Randy rolled his eyes but found himself smiling despite his annoyance. He knew Cody meant no harm. Cody always thought the best of Randy…even when he was the only one. "Cody is a little biased when it comes to me. He really likes this place, though, so if he wants it, I don't want my attitude to stand in the way. Don't judge him by how I am."
James smiled and shook his head. "We would never."
The men remained in silence until Angel and Alanna ran over. They looked up at James with a frown as they protectively stood in front of their father. Randy wrapped an arm around each of them. "Guys, say hello to James. He runs this place."
Both children quickly smiled and said hello. James stuck out his hand for them to shake and smiled when they did. He looked up at Randy, the smile still on his face.
"Beautiful and polite children."
Randy smiled back, genuinely this time and squeezed his children tighter. James stood and checked the time on his wristwatch. "I have an appointment in a few minutes so I'll take my leave now. It was nice to see you again, Randy and it was great to meet two such wonderful children."
Randy nodded and watched as he walked away with a wave towards Alanna and Angel. As soon as he disappeared into the inn, Alanna turned to look at him, her eyes narrowed slightly.
"That guy was looking at you funny. Like he thought you were cute or something."
Randy frowned and shrugged. "What's your point? Lots of people look at me like that. I am cute!"
Angel laughed loudly. "Gross, Dad, you're gonna make me vomit."
Randy's frown deepened and his mouth dropped open. "Excuse me? I am cute, whether you two like it or not. Everyone thinks so."
Alanna rolled her eyes. "You're so conceited, Daddy."
Randy laughed and shook his head. "No, I'm just honest. Where did you think you and your brother got it from; John?"
Angel smiled and shook his head. "Daddy used to say you were rude, not honest."
Randy shrugged and remained quiet, a small smile still on his face as Angel frowned at him, his own smile gone. "Anyway, he was looking at you funny."
Alanna nodded. "Really funny."
Randy smiled and collapsed onto the grass in front of his children. "I don't care how he was looking at me, guys. He's just some guy who works here. I don't know him and he has nothing to do with me or any of us."
Both children stared back at him with matching eyes, full of uncertainty and an ounce of what looked like fear. Randy sighed and pulled them down into his lap, anxious to wipe the thoughts of another man in their life away. "Come on, you guys really don't think I'm even a little bit cute? Not even a little bit?"
The sad tone in his voice and the silly question worked to make both his children collapse into laughter and Randy inwardly sighed in relief. He hugged them tightly to his chest and they lay on the grass watching the clouds roll over their heads.
May 2011
"So, now that you're back on two good legs, when's the wedding?"
Ted smiled and John practically skipped towards him. The older man smiled and shrugged. "Whenever he wants. I'll get married right now in a garbage dump if he says so."
Ted laughed, wrinkling his nose. "That sounds lovely, John. I'm just happy its gonna happen. I was starting to get nervous about Randy's reaction to marriage."
John shook his head, the smile softening. "There was never anything to be nervous about. I knew he would come around after we had our little break. He was just scared and he needed time to realize on his own that there is nothing to fear about us getting married."
Ted sighed, shaking his head as he followed John into the locker room. "Getting married is a scary thought, though. Going to sleep and waking up with the same person for the rest of your life? I don't know if I could do it."
John laughed and sat on the bench in front of his chosen locker. "I can't wait till you and Cody come in one day and announce your engagement. I'll be sure to remind you of this conversation."
Ted rolled his eyes and took his ring gear out of his locker. He and John made small talk as they began to change for the night's matches and the room filled with the noise of the other wrestlers doing the same. After a few minutes, the door to the locker room banged open and an annoyed Randy walked in. He ignored most of the greetings thrown at him and walked over to his locker, pulling out his trunks and t-shirt with a huff. John raised an eyebrow, a small smile teasing the corners of his mouth.
"So Mr. Rude...I'm guessing the bus is outta commission?"
Randy turned to glare at him from the corner of his eye. "Yes, it is. It needs at least 3 days to completely dry out."
John smiled sheepishly and remained quiet as Ted frowned. "It needs to dry out? What the hell did you do; flood it?"
Randy nodded, his expression softening slightly. "Someone did, yes. Only the all mighty Super Cena can fall asleep standing up in the shower and flood our bus."
Ted looked over at John and laughed loudly. John rolled his eyes and ignored the younger man's teasing. "Look, I was exhausted. I had been up for almost 32 hours and I closed my eyes for two minutes!"
Randy sighed and shook his head, quickly changing into his ring gear. "Two minutes, my ass."
John opened his mouth to shoot off a retort but Randy quickly continued speaking. "Look, it doesn't matter. It'll dry when it dries. The point is we were gonna drive onto the next city but now we have to stay here overnight and the only rooms left in this lovely city is in a bed and breakfast inn. I hate those. I'm gonna have to share a bathroom with all the other people on our floor."
"God forbid Randy has to share," John smirked at Randy and stood. Ted smiled as he watched the men glare at each other. "Guys, you can bunk with me at the Hilton but Ran, you're gonna have to share a bathroom there, too."
Randy sighed in frustration. "I don't really care about a bathroom, you know. I'm just annoyed John and I don't have our own room where we could have some privacy."
"In other words, Teddy, Randy's feeling horny tonight and doesn't want you or anyone else close to our bed because he knows I make him scream really loud," John smiled widely as Ted grimaced.
Randy clenched his jaw. "You're not fucking funny, John."
John laughed and took a step closer to his fiancé, pulling him in close. "Yes I am, baby and you know it."
Ted shook his head and started to walk away. "Look, you two figure it out but if you do bunk with me, you can't have sex, OK." He turned to look back at them and sighed. "You two are a little too open with the private stuff, you know."
Randy raised an eyebrow. "Who the hell are you to talk? Didn't you tell me all about you and Cody having phone sex appointments?"
Ted's eyes widened and his face turned crimson as he blushed furiously. "Whatever. You're still worse." He turned and walked quickly out of the locker room as John laughed softly. Randy shook his head as he watched him leave before turning his attention back to John. The older man held him tightly around his waist. "Baby, I really am sorry about the bus. I don't know how it happened."
"I know how it happened. You work too damn much and barely sleep. You need to slow down and say no sometimes, John." Randy rested his forehead on John's, his expression stern.
John sighed. "I know. I will, I promise."
Randy smiled slowly. "You've been promising to slow down for years. Maybe when we get married you'll actually do it."
John nodded. "I will." He kissed Randy's lips gently before pulling away with a smile. "You know, staying in a nice little bed and breakfast won't be that bad. This is a really beautiful state...and a gay friendly one! We can walk past Lake Champlain or we could go to the Aquarium..."
Randy sighed. "Fine. I'll make the best of Vermont. I guess I have no choice if we're gonna be in this state for 3 days."
"Good attitude, baby!" John moved his hand down to Randy's butt and gave it a swift smack before walking away, clapping his hands. "All right, time to go to work! Let's get moving, boys!"
Randy shook his head as he watched John walk around the locker room, getting the few men that remained inside pumped up before leaving the room and heading into the hall. He had to admit, despite how much John exhausted himself, his energy level never seemed to diminish.
Hours later, the men walked up the stairs of the Lang Inn in Burlington, loaded with their luggage. They were met with an elderly woman in the lobby of the quiet inn. John smiled as he approached her, discretely pulling an annoyed Randy closer.
"Good evening. I believe my fiancé here called earlier about a room,"
The woman smiled and looked down at the Register in front of her. "Mr. Orton?"
John poked Randy's hip and the younger man moved forward. "Yes, hi. I requested a room."
The woman nodded. "Yes, I remember speaking to you earlier. I'm Mrs. Jones, the owner of the inn. My dear, you didn't sound very happy then and you still don't. Hopefully when you see your room it will bring a smile to your face."
Randy nodded and looked over at John, who wore a large smile. "I'm sure it will. After a long day at work, all we both want is a nice, comfortable bed to sleep in."
Mrs. Jones smiled and handed them a key. "Well, I've set you up in our Reed room. It's absolutely gorgeous! Now, if you'll just sign here and I'll need to see a credit card and ID."
Randy sighed and stepped forward, pulling his wallet out of his jeans. He looked down at the receipt the woman presented to him and raised an eyebrow as two words caught his eye.
"Does that say 'attached bathroom'? I have my own bathroom? No sharing?" His eyes widened hopefully and Mrs. Jones smiled. "Well, you will with your partner there but that's about it. All our rooms have a private bathroom attached."
Randy smiled happily and looked over at John. "Oh, thank God. I love this place."
John laughed and took Randy's hand. They walked up the stairs after wishing Mrs. Jones a good night and soon reached their room. John opened the door and took a step inside, whistling softly. "This is nice, babe! I think we'll be fine here."
Randy followed him inside, smiling at the large space. "Yeah, it's great. It's really quiet on this floor, too."
"Damn, there's nothing to drown you out now,"
Randy turned to look back at John's smirking face and smiled. "Not gonna happen, Cena. I'm tired and I know when to say no. I enjoy sleep." He turned and walked into the bathroom, a large smile on his face. "It's perfect."
John walked up behind Randy and wrapped his arms around his waist. "I'm getting a little annoyed that the bathroom is turning you on more than I am. Are we turning into an old married couple that doesn't have sex already?"
"What are you talking about? We had sex yesterday!" Randy turned in John's arms and kissed his forehead. "Tonight, we're gonna get a good night's sleep. No waking up early tomorrow. We don't have to be at the arena until later in the afternoon so give me your phone."
He pulled away and stretched out his hand. John frowned, quickly walking away. "Why? You don't need my phone."
Randy followed him into the room. "John, both phones are gonna be turned off. We need a night of peace. I don't want any interruptions, for once!"
John sighed, his hand in his pocket, covering his phone protectively. "Ran, I don't know if I can do that. It's like asking me to give you an arm or something."
Randy rolled his eyes. "It's just a fucking phone, John. You'll get it back tomorrow." His hand remained outstretched and John finally placed the phone in his palm.
"Good job, baby." Randy quickly turned off the Blackberry and pulled his own iPhone out of his pocket, shutting it off, as well. He placed both phones in the drawer of the nightstand and looked back at John, who was biting his lip nervously.
"Johnny, cut it out. Its gonna be fine. Let's just get into bed and watch some late night crap until we fall asleep."
John sighed and attempted a small smile. Randy moved over to their luggage and pulled out the small bag carrying their toothbrushes and took it into the bathroom. The men quickly shed their clothes after cleaning up and settled into the large, warm bed. John pulled Randy into his arms and turned on the television, flipping through the channels until Randy stopped him.
"Nick at Nite, leave it. They're showing Three's Company."
John smiled and looked down at his lover. "Three's Company? Really?"
Randy laughed softly. "Yeah, really. I used to watch it with my dad and he would talk to me about the 70's. I used to fall asleep to his voice. I wanted to stay awake and keep listening but I just couldn't. This show brings back good memories."
John nodded, aware of the close relationship between Randy and his father. "I know what that's like. My Dad would talk to me about his time in college and playing football and I couldn't get enough. He just has this way of talking. He gets everyone enthralled in his stories and you just lose yourself listening to him talk."
Randy moved his head, shifting to look up at John's face. "Hmm, sounds familiar. Seems like his namesake inherited his talent."
John shook his head. "No, I'm nothing like him."
"John, you elicit a reaction when you start talking," Randy smiled slowly. "Whether it's a good or bad one, the point is its still a reaction. You got that from your dad."
John shrugged. "Fine, I'll give. I guess we both got pretty lucky with the Dads we were given."
Randy nodded. "I agree. I hope I can be half as good a Dad as mine is."
John frowned. "You already are, Randy. You're an amazing father. All you have to do is look at how much Alanna lights up when she's with you and see that."
Randy smiled, intensifying his hold on John's waist as he lowered his head back down. "Thanks, babe. You're not bad yourself at this parenting thing."
John laughed and shook his head. "I'm still way too new at it. I love Ally; that's a fact but I still have a lot to learn before I can really be a Dad."
"Well, I think you're doing great. I have no doubt you'll go down in history as an amazing father, John."
They remained silent for a few minutes, watching the antics of the characters on the television. Randy heard John's breathing begin to slow as he fell asleep. He lifted his eyes and looked at John's face, the older man now snoring lightly. Randy sighed in relief and took the remote, shutting the television off and plunging the room into darkness. It was only a few minutes later when he also succumbed to his exhaustion.
