Disclaimers: I own nothing or anyone associated or affiliated with WWE. I own only the original characters. This is just a fictional story that came from my imagination.
Chapter Content & Trigger Warnings: Violence (within a nightmare)

Chapter 2

~May 2015~

Miracle struggled against the hold Fournier had on her throat as he pushed her back down into the sofa cushions underneath her.

"I told you, you wouldn't rob me of your death," he growled in her face while he choked her. "I will watch you die!" He grinned sadistically. "You'll never be rid of me, little girl. You can't keep me out of your dreams!"

Miracle clawed at his hands, sobbing and desperate for air. Fear sliced into her heart and chilled her blood. "Ple… Please…" she choked out.

Fournier only tightened his grip on her neck, his ice-blue eyes glaring into hers.

"MIRACLE! WAKE UP, NOW!"

Her eyes shot open at the horror-struck shout still ringing in her ears, and found herself lying on the sofa where she'd fallen asleep. She lifted her gaze as she gulped in precious air, and found her father's terrified face staring at her.

"God, Miracle," he breathed, pulling his daughter into his arms and holding her tightly. "You scared me to death. You… I couldn't wake you up. I shook you—literally—for five minutes, but you were completely out cold!"

Miracle wrapped her arms around Joe's neck, still struggling to breathe. "I'm so sorry, Daddy," she whispered. "I didn't mean to scare you. I-I was having a nightmare. I had no idea you were trying to wake me."

"That's what scared me," Joe replied, pulling back to look at her face and brushed some hair away from her forehead. "Are you okay," he asked. "Your heart… Do I need to get you to the emergency room?"

She immediately shook her head. "N-no. I'm fine now, Daddy. I just… My dream felt so real."

"Fournier?"

She looked up at his face again. "Y-yeah."

"He can never hurt you again, baby. Only in your dreams," he told her.

"I know. It's just that… The nightmares had gone away for a while. I thought they were gone for good."

"It's probably everything you have going on right now," he said. "You're eighteen—a woman now. You're graduating high school in a few days. You're looking into a writing job with WWE—and while I'm proud that you have an interest in the profession, it is very stressful. I want you to be careful and not overtax yourself."

Miracle nodded. "I know, Daddy. But I love wrestling. I love writing. What better job is there, than combining my two passions?"

He chuckled softly. "I get it. Just take care of yourself. Okay?"

"I will. I promise."

"I'm so proud of you, you know that," Joe asked, pulling her into his arms again. "You're an amazing young woman and you've had so much to deal with, but you're still fighting for what you want in this life."

Miracle smiled. "You only get one life. I want to make the most of mine," she told Joe, kissing his cheek. "I love you, Daddy."

"And I love you, lo'u alofa," he returned, kissing her forehead. "More than life itself."

She glanced at their grandfather clock then. "Daddy, you need to get going! Your interview for NXT! You can't be late!"

"Maybe I should see if they could postpone it…" he said softly. "I really don't want to leave you alone right now."

"Daddy, please go," she begged. "It's such a huge opportunity for you—it's NXT! You could be debuting with WWE in no time. You can't miss it because of me. Besides, Mom will be home with Nathan in another hour."

Joe was silent as he thought. "I really don't like this…"

"Daddy, go," she said again. "I'll be so mad at you if you don't. I'll be fine."

He hesitated but finally said, "You call me if you start feeling bad—no matter what. Promise me. And then I'll go—even though I don't feel right about it."

"I promise," she said, with a smile. "Now go."

"Okay," Joe reluctantly agreed. He kissed her forehead again. "I'll be home as soon as I can."

And with that, he turned and headed out the front door.

Puffing out a sigh, Miracle went and sat down on the sofa again, deep in thought. "What in the world caused that episode," she wondered out loud. She'd never experienced anything like it before. The fear in her father's eyes broke her heart. She never wanted to put either of her parents through that again.

"Please, Lord… Don't let that happen again," she prayed.

}i{}i{}i{}i{

Joe sat stunned in front of Paul Levesque's, A.K.A. Hunter—Triple H's, desk.

He'd expected an interview. Some sort of process. But the minute he arrived at NXT headquarters, he was ushered into Triple H's office where he was shown a detailed contract. The terms were explained to him, and then he was passed a pen and asked if he was ready to sign or if he had any questions or terms of his own.

Still slightly dazed, Joe slowly picked up the pen and prepared to sign.

"Joe, do you need a couple days to think this over," Hunter asked. "I have no problem with that. It's a big decision."

Joe shook his head. "No, it's not that. I know what I want to do. It's just… I expected an interview process or a try-out…or something."

"Well, your reputation precedes you," Hunter smiled. "I know what you can do, Joe—I've seen it. And, I already know I want you on my roster."

Joe smiled and nodded, "Okay, fair enough. Because I already knew I wanted on your roster as well." With that, he leaned forward and scrawled his signature at the bottom of the contract.

"I also hear…" Hunter leaned back in his desk chair, a twinkle in his hazel eyes. "That your daughter is looking to become a writer for WWE."

Setting the pen back down on the desk, Joe met Hunter's gaze. "How did you hear about that," he asked, slightly startled. "Are you guys like a mafia or something," he joked.

Hunter laughed and shook his head. "I just signed a kid right out of high school—I gave him a developmental contract. He says he was friends with your daughter, Miracle. He said she loves to write, and has a passion for the wrestling business, and that her dream is to be a writer for WWE."

"That's right," Joe admitted proudly.

"Well, I can't start her off as a writer, of course. But if she's willing to work her way up… Start out as an assistant—maybe even do some reporting on live shows… I'd love to give her an interview and see if she'd be interested in a job. If her work ethic is anything like yours I know I won't regret it."

"I'll be sure and tell her this evening," Joe replied happily. "Thank you, Mr. Levesque.

"Please… Everyone calls me Hunter. Even "Trips" works," Hunter chuckled. "And you're welcome. Tell Miracle to call this number at the WWE offices in Orlando tomorrow to schedule an appointment," he said, handing a card over to Joe. The large Samoan nodded his agreement as he took the card, and Hunter continued. "And you be here tomorrow morning at 8. You'll get a tour of the place, and get introduced to the rest of the roster. And then you'll begin practices, and we'll work out your debut."

"I'll be here," Joe replied, standing to his feet. "Thank you again."

"Of course," Hunter smiled and stood also, extending his hand to Joe. "Welcome to NXT, Joe. Enjoy the rest of your day."

"You too," Joe returned his smile and shook the offered hand. Then he left the office and headed out to his black Jeep Grand Cherokee. He drove home—a little faster than he should've, but he was eager to see how Miracle was doing. And he knew that she, Nathan and Ella would be thrilled with his news.

He pulled into their circular driveway and quickly killed the engine, eager to get inside. Locking the car, he pocketed his keys and had just stepped onto the porch when the front door burst open and his family came running out to greet him.

"Well? How'd it go," Ella asked, a hopeful smile on her face.

"I got it," Joe said, a grin spreading across his face. "I have to be there in the morning. Paul Levesque—Hunter—personally presented me with a contract, which I signed about thirty minutes ago. I'm on the NXT roster!"

"Oh, my Gosh," Ella squealed, and wrapped her arms around his neck. "I'm so happy for you, baby!"

"Congratulations, Daddy," Miracle giggled, launching herself at him and hugging him close. "I knew they'd sign you. They'd be stupid not to."

"Yay, Daddy," five-year-old Nathan grinned up at his father. "I love you!"

"I love you too, little man," Joe answered, scooping the little Samoan boy up into his arms. He gazed at his beautiful family. "I love you all. None of this would mean anything without all of you." He looked solely at Miracle then. "And I have some special news for you, loʻu toa itiiti."

Miracle smiled at the pet name he had used on her since the night she and her mother were rescued from Fournier. He'd taken to calling her his little warrior in his native tongue.

"What news, Daddy," she asked, excitement in her voice.

"Hunter told me he just signed a kid fresh out of high school. This kid claimed to be your friend and apparently name dropped me. He let Hunter know you were my daughter and that you wanted to be a writer for WWE. So, he wants you to do an interview."

Immediately, Miracle's face fell. "Tony. Tony Hurst." She sighed, and lifted her gaze to her father's. "He's the friend who was signed. He sort of likes me, I think."

"So, what's the problem, lo'u alofa," Ella asked, seeing the girl's disappointment.

"I wanted to apply to WWE and get in on my own. Not with someone's help. I told him not to help me. But, he did anyway. And he used you to do it," she said, a bit of bitterness in her voice.

"Honey, it's an interview," Joe said, proud she wanted to earn things on her own. "If you get a job there, it will definitely be because of yourself and your own merits—no one else's."

Miracle nodded, "Okay."

"Now smile," Joe playfully tapped her chin with his knuckle. "You have an interview with WWE!"

A happy grin spread across the young woman's face then. "What will they want me to do," she asked. "I don't presume to think they'll hire me on as a writer right away."

Joe nodded, "Hunter said they'd probably set you up to be an assistant, and maybe even do some reporting at live shows."

"Oh, my gosh! A correspondent? Like Renee Young," Miracle exclaimed.

Joe nodded, "Yep. And as beautiful as you are, you're bound to catch some of the men's eyes. So remind anyone that hits on you who your father is," he teased.

Blushing, Miracle rolled her eyes and chuckled. "Sure thing, Daddy. I'm not looking for a relationship anyway," she said, sadness entering her onyx-colored gaze.

Joe could practically see thoughts of Finn Bálor flashing through her mind. He had always suspected she had a crush on the cop who saved her life. He opted to change the subject, and get her mind in a more cheerful place. He wanted to see nothing but happiness in his daughter's eyes.

"Let's go out for dinner," he exclaimed. "Time to celebrate!"

}i{}i{}i{}i{

"Okay, everyone, settle down for a minute," Hunter called out in the practice room. He'd had all the talent gather around the ring as he announced their newest roster member. "As you know, I spent part of the day yesterday signing new talent. We have a couple of fresh, young guys to add to the developmental branch of NXT, and I also signed a very talented, and experienced wrestler from TNA. He's also extremely well-known in the Independent circuits. Guys, please welcome Joe Seanoa, better known as 'Samoa Joe'."

The room erupted in clapping and cheering as Joe made his way to the front of the room. He slapped hands with Robert Roode and Eric Young as he passed by them.

Seconds later, Joe stood in the ring with Hunter who clapped him on the back. "Okay guys. Let's get practice started." He pointed out at the crowd of wrestlers and called, "Owens! Get up here. I want to see you two scuffle a bit. Joe's debut is basically going to be him coming out and laying a claim to your title."

For the next couple of hours, Joe and Kevin Owens practiced some maneuvers with each other and learned how each other moved so they could make a realistic fight.

"Looks great guys," Hunter called from the floor. "Joe, come on down here."

Joe rolled underneath the ropes and hopped down to the floor meeting Hunter a few feet away.

"You can hit the showers," Hunter said. "Go home for a little while, get in a workout, whatever you need to do. Be back at one o'clock. You and Kevin will work some more, and then we'll have you spar with some other guys." His phone dinged with a text and he glanced at the screen. "You'll have more independence after a few days. We just try to initially get you used to the routine. Pretty soon, you'll be picking your own sparring partners and training buds." He smiled at Joe. "Just hang in there. I'll talk to you later." And with that, he turned on his heel and walked away, typing out a text on his phone.

Joe picked up his gym bag and headed down the long hallway toward the men's locker room. He opened the swinging door and nearly collided with a fellow wrestler who was—at the moment—exiting the locker room.

"Oh, whoa, man! I'm sorry," Joe chuckled, shifting his gaze to the wrestler's face. And then his jaw dropped. "Finn?"

"Hi, Joe," Finn Bálor replied, a slight flush flooding his face. "How've ya been? It's good t' see ya."

"I'm great," Joe exclaimed. "How are you? I had no idea you were here!"

Finn managed a chuckle. "I'm doin' great. I've been here for about a year. Decided being a cop wasn't making me happy, so I chased after my dream."

"That's great. I'm really happy for you," Joe said.

"Thanks," Finn looked awkward for a moment and finally asked. "How's y'r family? Miracle? She doin' okay?" He scoffed at himself. "Like I have the right to ask that after how I treated 'er…"

"What are you talking about, Finn," Joe asked. "You didn't-"

"She couldn't reach me, could she," Finn replied, self-loathing in his eyes. "My number got disconnected, and-"

"Whoa, whoa, whoa, brother," Joe cut him off. "I know what happened. I saw a newspaper clip about it online. I know you were shot and in a short coma. We just assumed your phone was lost or stolen in the shoot-out."

"We," Finn asked.

"Ella and I," Joe clarified. "We didn't tell Miracle. We were afraid to. With her heart and everything."

Finn nodded. "Did I hurt her?"

Joe puffed out a sigh. "She was hurt. But it wasn't your fault, Finn."

The Irishman's head dropped. "Seems like I did more lettin' her down than I did helping her, yeah?"

"No," Joe disagreed. "You really have no idea what you did for her, do you?" At Finn's silence, he continued. "When Ella was taken… I'm ashamed to admit, she was all I could think about. My daughter was in pain, and I didn't know how to be there for her because all I could keep my mind on was finding her mother."

"That's pretty normal, I think, Joe," Finn cut in.

Joe ignored him. "You were there for her when I couldn't be. When I came home at night, I'd see her smile and it was because of you. So don't hand me that garbage about letting her down." He saw Finn mulling his words around in his head. "Would you like me to explain to her what happened to you," he asked.

Immediately, Finn shook his head. "No, that wouldn't be right. I should be the one t' tell her—not you." He looked at Joe then. "I know it seems cowardly, but could ya let 'er know that if she wants to come see me, I'll be glad to explain it to 'er. I just… I don't want to do something that will upset her heart. I feel like I should leave the ball in her court."

"I understand, brother. And yes, I'll let her know." His phone alerted him to a text then and he stopped to read it. Then he grinned happily. "Well, Finn…" He lifted his eyes to his old friend's gaze. "It looks like you may possibly bump into her from time to time. She's just been hired by WWE."