There were whispers among the staff and talent backstage. Dean and CJ were supposedly making their returns tonight, but not one member of management was confirming the rumors. Nobody knew why exactly there was no confirmation, but nobody was really complaining either. Some things were decided to be better left as secrets and nobody could really argue with management.

Knowing that nobody else knew for certain about the return of a certain Canadian and her boyfriend had Paul Heyman in a giddy mood. His client was back and plans for domination were being kickstarted into place. She was going to make history with him by her side, and that's what truly mattered.

"Hey, Paul." A voice he didn't particularly want to hear greeted and Heyman looked to see Chris Jericho standing behind himation a smile. "Have you heard from my daughter lately?"

"She and Dean just got to the arena and she actually asked me to find you."

"Did she? And this is why you're sitting in catering?" Chris asked, obviously not buying Paul's bullshit. CJ had informed him of her arrival, but she had actually asked him not to tell Chris that she was there. Hopefully she understood his circumstances.

"Need I remind you that I am just an advocate?"

"Need I remind you that I don't give a damn?" Chris retorted, fake smile still on his face. "Tell her that I need to speak with her, and be snappy about it."

"Sure thing." Paul stated, smiling up at the Canadian before standing from his seat. "I'll go do that right now."

"Thank you."

Chris had never seen Heyman run away from catering before, but he couldn't help but laugh as the walrus rushed away. He still wanted to destroy his daughter's career, but he needed her to boost him first. He couldn't deny that she had star power, and combining her star power with his star power would be the ultimate marketing machine. He would boost her back to the Diva's Championship and they'd have shirts and be a kick ass tag team. He needed her to help put another chapter in cementing his legacy and solidifying his spot in the Hall of Fame. Then he'd destroy her career and have fun doing it.

Meanwhile, CJ was holding Olivia while she watched Dean get into his "wrestling jeans". She couldn't help but admire him as he wiggled into them, but looked on in concern as he struggled with the button.

"Do they not fit?"

"They fit fine. Don't worry, Christina." Dean tried to assure, finally buttoning his jeans before gingerly threading his belt through the loops. He was being deliberately cautious in how he turned his wrist, since it had been bothering him since he used it to help brace his fall when he tripped going up the stairs on their bus. He assumed it was just sore, so he wasn't going to tell her that it was hurting and he certainly wasn't going to tell her why. Then she'd have an "I told you so" ready, because she did tell him not to run up the steps.

And he hated when she was right.

The door to their locker room opened and Paul slid in, causing the couple to turn and face him. He was breathing hard and and bent over at the waist as he tried to regain his breath.

"Paul?" CJ asked slowly, trying to keep her calm. "Is everything alright?"

"Your father." Paul panted, earning looks of concern from the couple. "He- he wants to speak with you."

"You ran here to tell me that?" She asked, handing Olivia to Dean before moving to stand beside her manager. "It's good to see you, Paul."

"To you as well. He's waiting for you in catering."

"Thanks. I have my phone, Dean." She mumbled before leaving the room, heading for catering with no other destination in mind. Especially when she saw Jay. He called out for her, but she kept going as if she hadn't heard him- she actually walked faster- because it was what she felt was necessary. He hurt her by ignoring her calls and texts when she was clearly worried about him, so she didn't want to talk to him.

Get over him, Copeland. He's an asshole who obviously doesn't need you. She coached herself, smiling at the people she passed by until she saw her sperm donor standing by the costume people.

"Hey, dad? Chris? Sir?"

"Lets go with dad in front of the fans and Chris when we're not. I know that you're not used to saying that to me and I'm not used to hearing it from you, but we'll work into it." He suggested, watching closely as she adjusted her shirt. "Are you wanting to actually wrestle tonight?"

"Not exactly. I was ready to get involved to help you get the win if you needed me to. Nobody really knows I'm back so it might be best that I don't gear up tonight." She explained, earning a smirk and nod of approval from her father.

"I like how you think."

"It's good to see you two on the same page." Stephanie stated as she approached the duo, placing a hand on CJ's shoulder. "Now where's little Olivia? I've been dying to see how much she's grown."

"She's with Dean and probably asleep right now. You'll see her before the night ends." CJ assured, smiling at the woman before looking back to her father. "Shall we go formulate a game plan?"

"We shall." Chris offered his arm and CJ looked at him warily before taking his arm and allowing him to lead her away.

Dean watched the monitors closely as Chris and CJ made their entrance. She had that fake smile that was so fake it seemed real, but he knew damn well that it was fake. He knew her too well.

"It's good to see that they're finally on the same page." Natalya, who was playing with Olivia, commented, and Dean had to hold in a scoff. Natalya obviously couldn't know that they were plotting Chris' downfall because she couldn't keep a secret to save her life. "She used to long for a connection with him, and I could see it."

"You could?"

"Not to be rude, but it's a generational star thing. We can always tell."

"I definitely get it."

"Do you want the little one to wrestle?"

"If that's what she wants to do, we're not going to stop her. If she doesn't, then we're not going to try to force her to." Dean explained, looking down at his Princess as she cuddled into Natalya. Olivia never really took a shine to strangers so it was obvious that the Canadian was a very special case. "She likes you."

"Cats and babies are my specialty. I don't know why."

"And CJ Jericho on the announce table!?" The King shrieked and Dean looked to see that his girlfriend was, indeed, on top of the announce table to distract Cesaro during Chris' match against the Swiss Superman.

"She's gotten the attention of Cesaro, that's for sure." JBL commented, and Dean moved to sit on the edge of his seat as Cesaro got out of the ring to yell at CJ. Of course CJ, being the woman she was in front of the fans and their coworkers, showed absolutely no fear. She actually acted as if she was doing no wrong, hopping down from the table and tilting her head up at the big Swiss man in confusion. The crowd was roaring and Dean couldn't hear what she was saying, but he knew damn well that she had taunted Cesaro in her own way- and he had caught on and told her to stay in her place.

But that didn't stop her from stomping on the steel steps to help get the crowd behind Chris when he was trapped in a sleeper hold.

"Y-2-Junior just started a 'Cesaro sucks' chant!" Lawler cheered and JBL shook his head while holding back laughter.

"I think she's spoken more during this match than she ever has in any match she's ever competed in." Cole commented. "You okay, John?"

The hell is he doing? Dean asked himself, watching as Cesaro went to the ring apron while Chris was down. He pulled a chair out, making Dean stand as he watched the Swiss man set it down beside JBL at the commentary booth. He then stalked over to CJ while the referee was at a count of four, throwing the Canadian woman over his shoulder and carrying her to the chair. She was gently set on her feet and guided into the chair before Cesaro went back to the ring as the referee reached a count of seven.

"Cesaro just told her to stay put." JBL informed, looking over to where a stunned CJ sat still in her seat. She was watching the action closely, but she had no clue what to do. Dean could tell.

"She's safe. The Authority said that she wasn't to be touched maliciously until she made her in-ring return." Natalya informed, smiling up at Dean. "And nobody wants to be on your bad side, Dean."

"They fuckin' better not." Dean grumbled before looking away from the TV to his daughter. "Sorry, Olive."

CJ was buzzing from the rush of being in front of the crowd. Sure she was only there to be a distraction, but she had a lot of fun doing it and was actually complimented by her father. It was kind of backhanded, but that didn't matter. It was the first time he'd ever complimented her.

But that wore off quickly when she spotted Jay staring at her. She hated that there was a piece of her that was dying to speak with Jay- to find out why he had ignored her, but her rational side told her to keep her distance. He wasn't deserving of her acknowledgement after he had refused to give her just a small sign that he was alright. She worried herself and used sex with Dean as a distraction from Jay- and Dean didn't deserve that.

"CJ, please stop." Jay requested, reaching out to her and gently grasping her wrist. "Sweet pea-"

"Stop, William." She stated, pulling her arm away as she used his full first name. Nobody ever called him that so it was enough to stun him. "You've lost any and all right to even remotely act as if you care about me be chase you've made it perfectly clear that my feelings don't matter to you."

"You've gotta let me explain, sweet pea."

"Don't call me that and just stay away from me. I'm sure your life will be a lot easier." CJ spoke coldly before turning on her heel and continuing to the locker room where Dean and Olivia were waiting for her to return. She kept a neutral front until the door shut behind her and she watched Dean place Olivia on the playpen that was set up for her.

"You okay, 'Stina?" Dean asked quietly, not trying to wake their infant. "Babe?"

"Hm?" She asked, looking up and meeting his concerned gaze.

"Is everything alright?" He asked, stepping closer to her. He was a bit surprised when she hugged him tightly, but didn't fight it because she obviously needed the comfort for some reason.

"It's just felt so fucking good to be back out there." She covered, rubbing his lower back in an effort to assure him that she would be alright.

"Yeah?"

"Mhm." CJ mumbled into his chest, smiling when he gave her a gentle squeeze. She didn't fail to notice the way that one arm lacked power in the squeezing, but she wasn't going to comment. If Dean wanted her to worry audibly, then he would've told her about whatever injury he had and allowed her to fuss over him.

"Have you talked to Jay?" Dean asked, feeling her tense in his arms. "I take it that didn't go too well."

"He wanted to talk but I told him to stay away from me."

"That'll work until Adam hears about it."

"I'll cross that bridge when we get to it. For now, I want nothing to do with him because he obviously wanted nothing to do with me for the last six weeks."

They're finally back! I have so much planned for this now and half of it is typed already. I just don't want to post it all too soon and ugh. I'm so excited for the next few chapters. Words cannot explain just how excited I am

Thank you to UntilNeverDawns, ChelleLew, Guest, Damnitambrose, JeffhardyChicka365, Sarcastic Nightmare, and ItReignsJustic-619 for reviewing the last chapter!