Man… it's been awhile… again. I don't know when I'm updating next, it's just been a random surprise. Since my last update, life still moving on. I did go to Wrestlemania 34 though! New Orleans is amazing!

All of this John and Nikki BS drama… just ugh! I'm just so over it… I don't really care either way what happens to them. I could continue on this rant but I won't. PM me if you want to really hear my opinion on them. I still love John and Mickie together… could you imagine if they had stayed together…? As well, does any know if Nikki and Mickie ever had a one on one match against each other? Message to WWE Creative: give Mickie another title shot; stop having her job and be Alexa's mom!

I only own the mistakes in this fic. Please read and review!

Chapter 2: Home Is Where the Heart Is

Mickie James woke up this morning to her usual routine: a cup of coffee with a leftover slice of pecan pie and the daily newspaper. Yes, she still reads the newspaper… call her old-fashioned. Unfortunately, the front page headlines for this whole week have been tied to cruel murders that could be the work of a serial killer running amuck in Virginia.

Mickie didn't want to believe it. She lived her whole life on her parent's property here in Richmond. As an only child to aristocratic yet humble parents, Mickie eventually inherited the family ranch and turned the acres of land (all 15 of it) into a sprawling horse sanctuary. For all her years living on the ranch, Mickie just couldn't believe an individual as sadistic, methodical, and skilled as the news reports suggest would go on a killing spree in her hometown. To Mickie, you shouldn't believe everything you read in the paper… despite how charming the journalist writing the report appears to be.

After skimming through the rest of the newspaper, Mickie heads out to the stables. There are currently six abused, neglected, and malnourished horses in need of care at her sanctuary. Some were voluntarily brought in and others found abandoned in fields of grass. Mickie felt a sense of duty to care for these horses as she grew up horse-back riding. Until a back injury forced her to rethink her choices, Mickie would've continued her journey into professional riding. However, providing a safe and quiet place for these horses quickly became her true calling.

As Mickie tends to the last of the six horses, she strolls to another stable that contains another two horses. Tranquillo, a light brown thoroughbred that could never be spooked, hence the name. Mickie purchased Tranquillo in honor of a similar thoroughbred Mickie's parents once owned. The other horse is a white stud of an American breed that is the complete opposite in personality to Tranquillo. As stubborn as he is, Mickie absolutely adores her powerful quarter horse, Blazer. Blazer got his name instantly from the moment Mickie first tried to ride him, in which his speed was so unmatched that it nearly set the fields of grass ablaze.

As usual, today Blazer was once again to stubborn to eat his bunch of carrots unless Mickie would take him on one of the trails first. And as usual, today Mickie would once again acquiesce to Blazer's demands.

After riding one of the trails, Mickie began walking Blazer back to the stables to be fed, where she spots a man trespassing on her property. Note to self: get the fencing along the property reworked, ASAP. As she stealthily walks closer to the man, she couldn't help but give a small chuckle as he clearly appeared to be lost. Poor sap… I guess I shouldn't be too harsh with him.

"Hey! What are you doing here? This is private property." Mickie's country twang suddenly bellows into the air.

The man turns around to face Mickie, but doesn't say anything right away. Again, poor sap. Cue Blazer to let his feelings be known with a loud neigh. As the man still hasn't said anything, Mickie places a firm hand on her hip and repeats the question.

As Mickie waits for a response again, she tilts her head to properly assess the man before her. He may have tried to blend in with his polo shirt and jeans but she could smell his reek of bureaucracy a mile away. The dead giveaways being his shirt was from a designer label, his shiny watch, and the fact his "boots" were not in fact boots, but expensive, probably Italian loafers. Definitely not shoes no man in town would ever be able to afford, let alone be wearing walking along the dirt filled trails. Despite being clearly out of his element, the man sure was a looker.

Mickie's momma always warned her of a big city boy trying to sweep her off her feet and out of her clothes. The only thing the man in front of Mickie had been missing was a city boy accent...

"Sorry got lost. I'm John." The man says with an outstretched hand.

Yup… there's the accent. Of course he was a city boy, he looked like a damn model or athlete with all those muscles.

With her ogling, Mickie leaves John's hand hanging, which makes John bow his head in embarrasment. At this moment, Blazer snorts beside her.

"I'm Mickie. Well John, keep getting lost… just not on this property."

At this, John looks up and seems to chuckle.

Damn… those blue eyes and dimples.

No!

Mickie couldn't get attached. Not after everything she's been through.

Don't get attached.

Oh, how Mickie wished she had listened. It would've spared both John and her all the pain (emotional and physical) down the road. It would've saved Mickie the hardship of seeing the man she eventually loved, right in front of her, yet so far beyond her reach.

Well, she just couldn't help herself. And John was never going to make it easier for her either. They guessed they were always supposed to end up the way they had because the simplest solution to all of this was the one thing they couldn't do in that moment: walk away.