Title: The Road Less Traveled (43/?)
Author: Esquirella
Rating: R (for violence in some chapters.)
Disclaimer: I own the Rio character and have written other stories with her. I own all non WWE characters. But I do not own the wrestlers. (Unfortunately. They are so cute!)
Synopsis: Thanks for another review! In this chapter: Tara tells Matt about the match Jeff and Andrew made. Jeff makes another move on her. Sven reacts to being called 'mom'.
Distribution: Just in case anyone's interested in it, please ask me first. More than likely, I will agree.
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AUTHOR'S NOTE: I've finally started putting up chapters to Rio's beginnings. It's called "One Journey Ends" and is in the Original Fiction section under General Fiction. As with this story, I've rated it R for violence and disturbing content. You can also access it by clicking on my author name and choosing it from the list of stories I've written so far. (All two of them!)
As always, I know nothing about the WWE superstars that appear in this story. The personalities used here are purely fiction and not meant in any way to represent the true natures of the individuals. And, as always, apologies to Shannon Moore (just in case he or anyone he knows ever reads this) for writing his character as so aggressively possessive. (I can't help it. I find that kind of hero attractive. *Wink*)
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"Ya CAIN' do it!" Matt yelled when he and Amy arrived later on with Shane in tow. "We jus' gotch back!" He turned to Shannon. "Yo' no' lettin' 'er do this, are ya?"
"I tried ta stopper but she's no' listenin'," he shrugged. "Th' bes' I got is a promise tha' she'll 'ave back up."
Matt returned his attention back to Tara furiously. He couldn't think of anything to say that probably hadn't already been said by Jeff, Shannon and Andrew, all of whom wore matching expressions of exasperation, courtesy of Tara, no doubt. She sat on the bed and returned his gaze with a determined one of her own. He knew what she was thinking, that she couldn't allow people she loved to risk their loves for her again, and that he would never be able to convince her to back down.
"Why cain'tcha jus' let us handle this?" he finally asked her softly. "Ya kno' we can all take care o' one fighta an' a mangy boss."
"Except that it will not be one fighter you face," she said sadly. "Henry won't come without bodyguards, most likely more than one. From what Justin told me, Goliath is back in combat form. And there's still the mystery of who the unknown new ally is, and since I haven't heard his voice before I'm sure I've never faced him in the ring."
"We cain' stand anythin' else happenin' ta you," Matt said in such a distraught tone Amy slipped up behind him to rub his back reassuringly. "Ya 'ave no idea wha' I went thro' afta watchin' ya run fro' me."
Tara looked instantly contrite for what she'd done to him. He felt bad for making her feel guilty but if it kept her safe, so be it. But then she drew herself up to her full five foot three height and stood in front of him.
"I can never apologize enough for that, Matt," she said gently. "But there are several new factors that will guarantee I won't leave again." She held up a hand and began to tick off a finger for each. "Shannon. You. Jeff. Andrew. And let's not forget Amy and Shane."
Both Amy and Shane smiled at that last one. They'd told Matt earlier they'd begun to feel left out of the loop, replaced by Andrew, where 'Rio' was concerned. That Tara intentionally included them in her 'posse' pleased them to no end.
"There are also the other mitigating factors," the small blonde woman continued. "Henry thinks I'm dead. He'll never expect me to show up. And then there's my family, namely Justin, Sven and Todd."
"Ya think Fury'll help ya afta ya kicked 'is ass?" Jeff asked dubiously.
"Trust me," she said turning to look at the aqua-haired man sitting on the bed she'd just vacated. "He's as much my brother as Matt is."
Matt wondered why she didn't include all of them in that statement but chose not to question it now in front of everybody. "Ya don' 'ave enough time ta train fo' this, darkin'," he tried. "Ya been outta th' ring fo' too long."
"I never stopped training," she said looking him firmly in the eyes. "Justin and Sven knew something like this might happen. They've prepared me, and Todd as well, to make sure we could handle ourselves if they weren't there to protect us."
"They shoulda been lockin' ya up instead," Matt said, suddenly very pissed at the two mysterious men.
"They know me very well," she returned, unphased. "Not even they can keep me out of trouble when my mind is set. And as soon as Henry threatened your safety, my mind was irrevocably set."
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"You'll never believe who called me this morning," Henry chortled when Phantom came to see him later on. He knew this would surprise the dark ally, and there were probably going to be few times when Henry would enjoy this experience.
"Vince McMahon?"
Henry's jaw dropped. How the hell did he do that? "Uh, yes, how did you know?"
"Thin walls," the fighter shrugged sitting down. "Let me guess, the Hardy boy wants Sas for the comments he made about Rio?"
"I guess that's about the size of it, but McMahon said that if this were to work, it would have to be a handicap match," he answered still seething. "Jeff Hardy and Test against Sasquatch. And I had to agree that Sas wouldn't intentionally break their bones."
"But if it was . . . unintentional," the dark warrior grinned.
"C'est la vie," Henry shrugged smiling. "Can you imagine all of the publicity?"
"You think they'll hurt our champ?" Phantom asked. "We don't want him to lose the belt too quickly."
"Nah," Henry waved the thought away. "I told Sas to make their injuries look like accidents. Goliath's stepped up training so we'll take down at least one of them. I'd like it to be the bigger one, but I'll settle for the Hardy."
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"We need ta talk, baby," Jeff said pulling Tara away from the crowd. Shannon glared over at him but didn't make any move to stop him from taking her from the room. He pulled her down the hallway to his and Andrew's room.
"Where are we going?"
"Ta my room," he said opening the door and pushing her gently inside.
"Why?"
"I need ta talk ta ya," he said planting himself in front of the door. "Ya kno' why."
She watched him warily from a distance away and he decided he wanted her closer so he slowly stalked toward her causing he to back up a step. Thoroughly annoyed now he reached out and tugged her into his arms, clasping them firmly about her waist so she couldn't avoid him.
"Ya kno' why," he repeated looking into her eyes.
"I'm sure I don't," she said pushing at his shoulders in an effort to free herself without hurting him.
"Ya kno' why I'm afta Henry," he said. "An' ya kno' thin's aren' really right between me an' Shan."
"It's my fault they aren't right," she said sadly. "I should've never come between you two."
"Ya wern' supposed ta be his," Jeff said roughly. "'E knew 'ow I feel aboutchew."
"Jeff, I love him," Tara said. "It may not have been supposed to happen but it did. And I can't leave him."
Jeff started shaking with an unfamiliar rage. He'd wanted to be patient and wait it out for her but now that she was going back into combat, and for him no less, he felt he may not have a chance to work on her later. Shannon's influence on her was apparently strong.
"I love you," he whined.
"I love you, too," she said.
That was it. He couldn't take it anymore. He slid one of his hands up her back to her neck and pulled her in for a long deep kiss, an explosive one that he'd never experienced with anyone else before. She fought him for the first minute then relaxed herself letting him get his fill. 'Good,' he thought. 'Little does she know I'll never be satisfied.' When he finally broke the kiss and looked into her eyes he was surprised and chagrined to find the miserable look he saw there.
"I'm sorry, I can't fall in love with you, Jeff," she said sadly, successfully pulling away from him. "My heart can only belong to one man at a time and Shannon has it."
"Fo' now," he said unwaveringly. "I'll accept th' situation fo' th' time bein'. But tha' doesn' mean I'm givin' up on us, baby. I love ya too much fo' that."
"Jeff, please . . ."
"No," he said resolutely. "Yo' meant ta be wit' ME. I'll step back tho' so that when yo' ready ya'll come ta me without worryin' if I broke ya up. But make no mistake, I'll be there fo' ya wheneva th' time comes."
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Tara walked back into her hotel room uncertainly. Jeff had followed behind her keeping his distance as he promised. But she could feel him watching her. He'd made his intentions perfectly clear and she knew that Shannon would eventually figure him out. She'd thought they'd finally passed this problem but evidently they hadn't. It would make focusing on Sasquatch more difficult. She would have to shelf the dilemma for a while so that she could concentrate.
"Ya okay?" Shannon asked. He and Matt were sitting on the bed formulating a plan to get the main office to let them go to the RAW house show. Shane and Amy were sitting on the floor teasing Andrew about his storyline.
"She's fine," Jeff answered for her looking at his friend stonily. "I jus' wan'ed ta make th' rules clear."
"An' are thy?" Matt piped in raising an amused eyebrow.
"I think so," Jeff said glancing at Tara. "Aren' they?"
"Oh they're clear," she replied just as firmly. "As long as you all remember to let me do the fighting we'll have no trouble."
Matt smirked in typical Version One form and Shannon rolled his eyes. Jeff didn't move. He just stared her down defiantly, as if to say 'We're not finished yet.' No, Tara thought. We're definitely not.
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"I'm going, too," Todd said when Sven filled him in on what was happening.
"I did not expect you to stay home," the blonde man replied.
"She knows I'm coming, right?" he asked. He hadn't seen Tara in a while and worried that she'd think he wouldn't care enough to come help her.
"She knew it without being told," Justin said from the doorway. "She is aware of your feelings for her and she returns them. You are family, just as she. I know it will take some more time for you to stop doubting that. Do not worry, though. We will be patient.
Todd's face reddened a little at the older man's speech. Justin wasn't known for his exuberance so this statement, coming from him, meant a lot.
"Did she really insinuate that I am the 'mom'?" Sven asked.
"She did," Justin broke into a hearty laugh. "But I think she prefers it that way."
"I do, too," Todd said smiling widely.
"Nobody asked me," Sven huffed with a smile tugging at his lips as well.
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PLEASE NOTE: I've finally started putting up chapters to Rio's beginnings. It's called "One Journey Ends" and is in the Original Fiction section under General Fiction. As with this story, I've rated it R for violence and disturbing content. You can also access it by clicking on my author name and choosing it from the list of stories I've written so far. (All two of them!)
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Author: Esquirella
Rating: R (for violence in some chapters.)
Disclaimer: I own the Rio character and have written other stories with her. I own all non WWE characters. But I do not own the wrestlers. (Unfortunately. They are so cute!)
Synopsis: Thanks for another review! In this chapter: Tara tells Matt about the match Jeff and Andrew made. Jeff makes another move on her. Sven reacts to being called 'mom'.
Distribution: Just in case anyone's interested in it, please ask me first. More than likely, I will agree.
--------------------------------------
AUTHOR'S NOTE: I've finally started putting up chapters to Rio's beginnings. It's called "One Journey Ends" and is in the Original Fiction section under General Fiction. As with this story, I've rated it R for violence and disturbing content. You can also access it by clicking on my author name and choosing it from the list of stories I've written so far. (All two of them!)
As always, I know nothing about the WWE superstars that appear in this story. The personalities used here are purely fiction and not meant in any way to represent the true natures of the individuals. And, as always, apologies to Shannon Moore (just in case he or anyone he knows ever reads this) for writing his character as so aggressively possessive. (I can't help it. I find that kind of hero attractive. *Wink*)
--------------------------------------
"Ya CAIN' do it!" Matt yelled when he and Amy arrived later on with Shane in tow. "We jus' gotch back!" He turned to Shannon. "Yo' no' lettin' 'er do this, are ya?"
"I tried ta stopper but she's no' listenin'," he shrugged. "Th' bes' I got is a promise tha' she'll 'ave back up."
Matt returned his attention back to Tara furiously. He couldn't think of anything to say that probably hadn't already been said by Jeff, Shannon and Andrew, all of whom wore matching expressions of exasperation, courtesy of Tara, no doubt. She sat on the bed and returned his gaze with a determined one of her own. He knew what she was thinking, that she couldn't allow people she loved to risk their loves for her again, and that he would never be able to convince her to back down.
"Why cain'tcha jus' let us handle this?" he finally asked her softly. "Ya kno' we can all take care o' one fighta an' a mangy boss."
"Except that it will not be one fighter you face," she said sadly. "Henry won't come without bodyguards, most likely more than one. From what Justin told me, Goliath is back in combat form. And there's still the mystery of who the unknown new ally is, and since I haven't heard his voice before I'm sure I've never faced him in the ring."
"We cain' stand anythin' else happenin' ta you," Matt said in such a distraught tone Amy slipped up behind him to rub his back reassuringly. "Ya 'ave no idea wha' I went thro' afta watchin' ya run fro' me."
Tara looked instantly contrite for what she'd done to him. He felt bad for making her feel guilty but if it kept her safe, so be it. But then she drew herself up to her full five foot three height and stood in front of him.
"I can never apologize enough for that, Matt," she said gently. "But there are several new factors that will guarantee I won't leave again." She held up a hand and began to tick off a finger for each. "Shannon. You. Jeff. Andrew. And let's not forget Amy and Shane."
Both Amy and Shane smiled at that last one. They'd told Matt earlier they'd begun to feel left out of the loop, replaced by Andrew, where 'Rio' was concerned. That Tara intentionally included them in her 'posse' pleased them to no end.
"There are also the other mitigating factors," the small blonde woman continued. "Henry thinks I'm dead. He'll never expect me to show up. And then there's my family, namely Justin, Sven and Todd."
"Ya think Fury'll help ya afta ya kicked 'is ass?" Jeff asked dubiously.
"Trust me," she said turning to look at the aqua-haired man sitting on the bed she'd just vacated. "He's as much my brother as Matt is."
Matt wondered why she didn't include all of them in that statement but chose not to question it now in front of everybody. "Ya don' 'ave enough time ta train fo' this, darkin'," he tried. "Ya been outta th' ring fo' too long."
"I never stopped training," she said looking him firmly in the eyes. "Justin and Sven knew something like this might happen. They've prepared me, and Todd as well, to make sure we could handle ourselves if they weren't there to protect us."
"They shoulda been lockin' ya up instead," Matt said, suddenly very pissed at the two mysterious men.
"They know me very well," she returned, unphased. "Not even they can keep me out of trouble when my mind is set. And as soon as Henry threatened your safety, my mind was irrevocably set."
--------------------------------------
"You'll never believe who called me this morning," Henry chortled when Phantom came to see him later on. He knew this would surprise the dark ally, and there were probably going to be few times when Henry would enjoy this experience.
"Vince McMahon?"
Henry's jaw dropped. How the hell did he do that? "Uh, yes, how did you know?"
"Thin walls," the fighter shrugged sitting down. "Let me guess, the Hardy boy wants Sas for the comments he made about Rio?"
"I guess that's about the size of it, but McMahon said that if this were to work, it would have to be a handicap match," he answered still seething. "Jeff Hardy and Test against Sasquatch. And I had to agree that Sas wouldn't intentionally break their bones."
"But if it was . . . unintentional," the dark warrior grinned.
"C'est la vie," Henry shrugged smiling. "Can you imagine all of the publicity?"
"You think they'll hurt our champ?" Phantom asked. "We don't want him to lose the belt too quickly."
"Nah," Henry waved the thought away. "I told Sas to make their injuries look like accidents. Goliath's stepped up training so we'll take down at least one of them. I'd like it to be the bigger one, but I'll settle for the Hardy."
--------------------------------------
"We need ta talk, baby," Jeff said pulling Tara away from the crowd. Shannon glared over at him but didn't make any move to stop him from taking her from the room. He pulled her down the hallway to his and Andrew's room.
"Where are we going?"
"Ta my room," he said opening the door and pushing her gently inside.
"Why?"
"I need ta talk ta ya," he said planting himself in front of the door. "Ya kno' why."
She watched him warily from a distance away and he decided he wanted her closer so he slowly stalked toward her causing he to back up a step. Thoroughly annoyed now he reached out and tugged her into his arms, clasping them firmly about her waist so she couldn't avoid him.
"Ya kno' why," he repeated looking into her eyes.
"I'm sure I don't," she said pushing at his shoulders in an effort to free herself without hurting him.
"Ya kno' why I'm afta Henry," he said. "An' ya kno' thin's aren' really right between me an' Shan."
"It's my fault they aren't right," she said sadly. "I should've never come between you two."
"Ya wern' supposed ta be his," Jeff said roughly. "'E knew 'ow I feel aboutchew."
"Jeff, I love him," Tara said. "It may not have been supposed to happen but it did. And I can't leave him."
Jeff started shaking with an unfamiliar rage. He'd wanted to be patient and wait it out for her but now that she was going back into combat, and for him no less, he felt he may not have a chance to work on her later. Shannon's influence on her was apparently strong.
"I love you," he whined.
"I love you, too," she said.
That was it. He couldn't take it anymore. He slid one of his hands up her back to her neck and pulled her in for a long deep kiss, an explosive one that he'd never experienced with anyone else before. She fought him for the first minute then relaxed herself letting him get his fill. 'Good,' he thought. 'Little does she know I'll never be satisfied.' When he finally broke the kiss and looked into her eyes he was surprised and chagrined to find the miserable look he saw there.
"I'm sorry, I can't fall in love with you, Jeff," she said sadly, successfully pulling away from him. "My heart can only belong to one man at a time and Shannon has it."
"Fo' now," he said unwaveringly. "I'll accept th' situation fo' th' time bein'. But tha' doesn' mean I'm givin' up on us, baby. I love ya too much fo' that."
"Jeff, please . . ."
"No," he said resolutely. "Yo' meant ta be wit' ME. I'll step back tho' so that when yo' ready ya'll come ta me without worryin' if I broke ya up. But make no mistake, I'll be there fo' ya wheneva th' time comes."
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Tara walked back into her hotel room uncertainly. Jeff had followed behind her keeping his distance as he promised. But she could feel him watching her. He'd made his intentions perfectly clear and she knew that Shannon would eventually figure him out. She'd thought they'd finally passed this problem but evidently they hadn't. It would make focusing on Sasquatch more difficult. She would have to shelf the dilemma for a while so that she could concentrate.
"Ya okay?" Shannon asked. He and Matt were sitting on the bed formulating a plan to get the main office to let them go to the RAW house show. Shane and Amy were sitting on the floor teasing Andrew about his storyline.
"She's fine," Jeff answered for her looking at his friend stonily. "I jus' wan'ed ta make th' rules clear."
"An' are thy?" Matt piped in raising an amused eyebrow.
"I think so," Jeff said glancing at Tara. "Aren' they?"
"Oh they're clear," she replied just as firmly. "As long as you all remember to let me do the fighting we'll have no trouble."
Matt smirked in typical Version One form and Shannon rolled his eyes. Jeff didn't move. He just stared her down defiantly, as if to say 'We're not finished yet.' No, Tara thought. We're definitely not.
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"I'm going, too," Todd said when Sven filled him in on what was happening.
"I did not expect you to stay home," the blonde man replied.
"She knows I'm coming, right?" he asked. He hadn't seen Tara in a while and worried that she'd think he wouldn't care enough to come help her.
"She knew it without being told," Justin said from the doorway. "She is aware of your feelings for her and she returns them. You are family, just as she. I know it will take some more time for you to stop doubting that. Do not worry, though. We will be patient.
Todd's face reddened a little at the older man's speech. Justin wasn't known for his exuberance so this statement, coming from him, meant a lot.
"Did she really insinuate that I am the 'mom'?" Sven asked.
"She did," Justin broke into a hearty laugh. "But I think she prefers it that way."
"I do, too," Todd said smiling widely.
"Nobody asked me," Sven huffed with a smile tugging at his lips as well.
************************************
PLEASE NOTE: I've finally started putting up chapters to Rio's beginnings. It's called "One Journey Ends" and is in the Original Fiction section under General Fiction. As with this story, I've rated it R for violence and disturbing content. You can also access it by clicking on my author name and choosing it from the list of stories I've written so far. (All two of them!)
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