So sorry for the delays in updates. This chapter just kind of happened. I felt like Punk was absent a lot in the past few updates and this chapter sort of just came about randomly. Also, there is some insight on Skye's past relationships in this as well. Hopefully, all of you enjoy this. Thanks for all the reviews!

Brotherly Advice

November 18th, 2011 Chicago, Illinois

"Ugh," Skye huffed as she plopped down beside her brother on the couch in their apartment just after returning from her workout at a nearby gym just down the street.

"What's the matter," Phil asked, not taking his eyes away from the Blackhawk/Flames game on the television in front of him.

"I haven't heard anything from Joe all day," she answered, staring at the cellphone in her hand. "Working out didn't help at all."

"I'm sure he's just busy," Phil reasoned.

"Probably," she sighed as her eyes drifted to the television screen and tried to settle into the game going on, but she couldn't be any less interested.

When the game went to commercial, Phil glanced her way and had to laugh at her sad expression. "Could you be more pathetic right now?"

She scowled and threw a small pillow at him, "Shut up!"

"Aw," he teased. "You really like this guy. You can't even go a day without talking to him – how sickeningly adorable."

She scoffed, "I can go a day without talking to him..."

"Hmm-hmm," Phil snorted, disbelievingly. "You've been like a giddy little school girl since you last visited him."

"So," she muttered. "I had a great time, sue me." She released a long breath. "I just want him to call, so I can hear his voice and just continue to miss the hell out of him." After hearing herself, she groaned, "I do sound pathetic!"

"If I didn't know better, Gracie, I'd say that you might be falling..."

"Don't," she cut him off in warning. "Even say that word. I can't even think about letting myself fall for him this early on. I just really like spending time with him..." She smiled fondly. "And kissing him."

She rolled her eyes when her brother made gagging noises beside her. "Please refrain from elaborating on the man's kissing skills, please!"

Shaking her head, she climbed to her feet, "Fine. I'll keep it to myself. I'm going to go shower."

"Please do," Phil requested, teasingly. "I don't want your smell to embed itself into the couch. We're fresh out of Febreeze – OW!" He grabbed at his shin which had just been kicked.

She smiled brightly, "You deserved it, Phillip."

"Don't call me that," he complained with a scowl.

"Well, stop calling me, Gracie," she shot back. "Why must you be the only one that has to call me by my first name?"

He smirked, "Because it bugs the hell out of you, that's why. Now, seriously go shower. You stink!"

"Fuck you," she growled, heading for the hallway.

Shaking his head in amusement, he leaned back and returned his attention to the game on the TV in front of him. As he watched in disappointment as his Blackhawks continued to trail behind, he heard a soft ringing coming from the other end of the couch.

He turned his head in that direction and found his sister's cellphone sitting on the arm of the couch. He turned to look over the back of the couch before reaching over and snatching it up.

Joe calling flashed across the screen. He went to call out to his sister, but he thought better of it and stood up with the phone in hand. He swiped his thumb across the screen and pressed it to his ear as he crossed the living room, stepping outside onto the balcony for some privacy.

"Hello?"

"Uh..." Obviously, Joe hadn't expected a guy to answer. "Who the hell is this?"

With a soft chuckle, Phil answered, "Calm you tits, Joe, its Phil." The sigh of relief on the other end did not go unnoticed. "She's in the shower right now."

"Okay, will you tell her I called," the other man asked.

"Sure thing, but first, I wanted to talk to you about something."

"Okay," Joe answered, unsurely. "What's up?"

"What are you doing this Sunday," Phil questioned.

"Uh nothing that I'm aware of," he responded back with a slight hesitation which caused Phil's eyebrow to rise in question. "Why are you asking?"

"I ask because Survivor Serious is happening this weekend and Skye and I are both on the card to compete and I'm sure my sister would love it if you were able to fly out to New York and attend. I'll take care of everything."

"Wow, that – that would be awesome, man. Thanks."

"Good, well, let's keep this our little secret for now. I'll pick you up on Sunday."

"Sounds like a plan."

"Then its set," Phil confirmed. "The ride to the arena will give me the opportunity to have that brotherly talk that I have yet to have with you. So, be prepared to be doing a lot of listening."

"I'll be looking forward to it," Joe commented with a snort.

On Sunday, Joe found himself un-boarding his flight with a sense of dread. Yeah he was excited to be going to WWE Pay-Per-View, but he wasn't thrilled to being picked up by Skye's older brother. With just his carryon as his luggage, he glanced around the busy airport looking for the tattooed man.

He found him slumped in an airport seat, trying to look inconspicuous in just jeans and a t-shirt with a Cubs hat shielding his face.

Clearing his throat, he headed his way. Punk glanced upward and nodded at him in greeting as he hopped to his feet.

"Good flight?"

Joe shrugged a shoulder, "It was alright. Thanks for arranging all of this."

"Anything to make my sister happy," Punk answered after the two shook hands. "Come on. Let's get go surprise my sister."

Fifteen minutes later, the two were situated into the rental SUV with Punk behind the wheel.

"Look," Punk began finally as he glanced his way. "You seem like a good guy so I hope that I don't offend you too much with what I have to say."

"Okay," Joe replied as he looked over at the Chicagoan, curiously.

"I know that I'm going to sound like such a dad right now, but what are your intentions with my sister?"

"My intentions," Joe repeated with a furrowed brow.

"Are you serious about her or are you using her to try and get onto the main roster?"

Joe's eyes narrowed. He didn't like the man's accusation. "Excuse me," he asked, edgily. "Where the hell do you get off by asking me that?"

"Do you have any sisters," Punk asked simply, ignoring the other man's glare.

"Yeah, three older ones," Joe answered still miffed.

"Then you can understand my need to want to protect my sister then, right?" He held up his left hand and rotated it so that Joe could see the cursive-written tattoo on the underside of his wrist that read - My sister's protector - upon it. "From the moment that Skye was born, I've tried my hardest to keep her from getting hurt." He put his hand back on the wheel and sighed. "My sister has a big heart. She always has. That's one thing I love most about her because she an optimist while I'm as pessimistic as it comes."

"It's a quality that I like about her, too," Joe admitted, relaxing a bit.

"As her brother, I feel like it's my job to make sure that you're intentions with her are genuine."

"I get that," Joe replied, nodding slightly. "My intentions with Skye, I assure you, are very genuine. I have no ulterior motives."

"Good to know," Punk answered simply. "Look, I don't know how much Skye has told you about a few of her past relationships, but I don't want to see my sister getting hurt again. Nor do I want to have to attempt to kick your ass if you break her heart. Considering the fact that I had forgotten how fucking huge you were I find that it may be a bit more difficult than I had originally thought."

Joe snorted, "No worries. I mean yeah she hasn't divulged too much about those relationships, but I have managed to gather that they did a number on her."

"That they did," Punk agreed, bitterly. "She fell too hard, and too fast with each of them and she ended up getting burned. Orton was the worst and if I could get away with murder – he'd be the first on my list." Shaking his head, he let out a tense sigh. "The men that followed weren't any better, but she managed to pick herself back up." He glanced over at the Samoan curiously. "Has she talked about our family?"

Joe gave him a confused look, "What about your family? She's only said good things about your parents."

"Then she hasn't," Punk concluded with a small smile. "Chase and Carol are not our parents – they sort of adopted us. They're my best friend's parents. No relation."

"She didn't mention that part," Joe stated quietly, baffled.

"I'm sure she's planning to," Punk told him, defending his sister's need to keep that from Joe. "She's probably trying to find a way to talk about them. It's not easy for her to, so give her a bit of time. Anyway, she's gone through a lot in her life with our family and with these assholes she dated, so I want to make it perfectly clear that you won't hurt her."

"I like your sister. I don't exactly know what the future holds, but I'll give you my word that I'll try my hardest not to hurt her," he vowed.

Punk's hazel eyes searched the brown ones of the man sitting beside him. "Okay," the older of the two replied. "I want to believe you, so time will tell. Be good to her. I want her to be happy."

"As do I," Joe remarked, truthfully. There was a brief silence before Joe smirked. "So, how close were you to ending Orton's life?"

Punk chuckled loudly, "I may not have been close to killing the guy, but during our matches last year, I definitely made sure that my punches made contact. Plus, Skye made me promise not to hurt the guy."

"Why would she make you promise that," Joe asked in amazement.

"Again, that's for her to tell you," Punk answered, shaking his head. "You will also learn that she is very forgiving as well."

"Clearly."

Meanwhile back at Madison Square Garden arena, Skye was sitting in catering poking at her lunch as her eyes were zeroed in on a sight that was very unpleasant for her to be witnessing.

"What's with the face," Brie asked as she and Bryan Danielson - aka Daniel Bryan - walked up with their own plates and took a seat at her table.

"Just watching the Orton's," she muttered, bitterly as Brie glanced their way.

Across the room sat Randy Orton with his wife, Samantha, and their young daughter Alanna looking like the perfect little family which truthfully made Skye want to vomit.

"Oh," Brie commented with a sympathetic smile. "You have Joe now, remember?"

"Well, yeah, I know, but I'd love to flaunt my relationship around and rub his nose in it every once in a while. His stupid self and his annoyingly nice wife and their incredibly adorable daughter – god, they suck."

"Good to know that you aren't holding any grudges," Bryan commented with deep chuckle earning an elbow from his girlfriend.

Luckily she didn't have to witness the happy family too long and they were all on their merry way after finishing their lunch.

"Maybe you should call Joe," Brie suggested when Skye released a deep sigh. "Hearing his voice before tonight might make you feel better."

After the brunette's comment, Skye's phone began ringing and she laughed when she saw that it was Joe. Smiling, she pressed the phone to ear, "Perfect timing."

"How so," he asked curiously.

"I was just thinking about you."

He chuckled, "Oh really?"

"Yep," she answered with a small laugh. "I wish you were here right now."

"How much do you wish that," he asked, somewhat slyly.

"Why would you ask me that? It's not like you can just magically teleport and suddenly..." Her words were cut off when her eyes focused on the entryway of the room where she saw a familiar figure enter. Her eyes widened as they locked in on a smiling Joe and she jumped to her feet, letting her phone fall to the table.

She rushed across the room, passing the all the onlookers, and jumping into his awaiting arms. He caught her with a loud chuckle as her legs locked firmly around his waist while her arms wrapped around his neck.

After pressing an excited kiss to his lips, she questioned, "What are you doing here?"

"Your brother flew me out. He figured you could use the extra support for your match against Beth and Eve tonight, so here I am. I must say," he remarked, still supporting her. "I kind of like this kind of greeting. It made the whole ride over with your brother worth it."

With a knowing look, she asked, "He gave you the talk, huh?"

"Oh yeah," he answered, nodding.

"And it didn't scare you away," she wondered, grinning.

"Not at all, baby girl," he promised, kissing her lightly.

"Get it girl!" a voice called out.

Pulling back, Skye rolled her eyes recognizing the voice of Nikki. She unhooked her legs and let her feet touch the floor. "Come on, let me introduce you to a few people."

A few hours later, the two had been separated when Skye had to go off and do a few interviews and then get ready for the PPV. She strolled around in the back looking for Joe when she ran into the last person that she wanted to run into.

"Whoa there," Randy laughed, steadying her. "Didn't see you there."

"Sorry," she muttered, trying to move past him.

"I saw you watching Sam and I earlier," he commented, gently.

"I wasn't watching," she corrected defiantly.

"Look, I get that it's hard for you to witness us together and I'm not trying to rub it in..."

Her brow rose, "Are you trying to imply that I'm envious? Randy, I'm over it."

"Are you sure? I thought we got our closure years ago," he went on. "Skye, I've moved on and I think you should too."

"I have," she shot back.

"Since when have you been seeing anybody," he asked, incredulously.

"Since when has it been any of your business," she countered, sharply. "Look, I may have forgiven you for being a complete ass to me when we were together, but you're stepping into my private life and you need watch yourself."

"Hey, calm down," Randy stated firmly.

"Don't tell me what to do," she spat.

"Everything okay, babe," Joe's questioned, appearing behind Randy.

The two men eyed each other before Joe walked over to drape an arm around Skye.

"Aren't you going to introduce me to your friend, Skye," Randy asked, studying Joe closely.

"I'm Joe," Joe introduced with a half-nod. "Her boyfriend, so if you don't mind...I'd like to spend a little bit more time with my girl before she has to get ready for tonight."

"Absolutely," Randy stated, holding his hands up. "Good luck tonight, Skye." The Apex Predator turned and walked away.

"You okay," Joe asked as he pulled her to his chest.

"Yes, I'm fine. You'd think after six years that I'd be used to running into him at work." Shaking her head, she smiled. "Where were you?"

"Just visiting Dewayne for a bit," he answered.

She groaned, "Ugh, I keep forgetting you're related to the Rock – your only flaw." She gave him a quick wink to let him know that she was only kidding. "So, how is Rocky doing? He doesn't talk to us common folk now that he's this big shot movie star," she told him, jokingly.

He chuckled, "He's fine. It was good catching up with him. It's been a while. Oh, by the way, never leave me alone with the Bella twins again." She giggled. "Thank god for Bryan. I might not have made it out of catering unscathed. Do they always talk that much?"

"You'll learn to love them," she laughed as she leaned up to kiss his cheek. "Care to walk me to hair and makeup?"

"Sure thing, baby girl, but first let me check out your ring attire..."

He took a step back and let his eyes take in what she was wearing tonight in the ring. The outfit consisted of her trademark black tank that had the baby blue devil heart symbol across the chest. It was tied up in the back to show off her mid-drift. She wore black, distressed, super-slim jeans with wrestling boots with the same devil heart symbol on each boot. It wasn't anything flashy or flirty – it was just her. She wasn't about the glitz and glamour. She was about the competition and she was lethal in the ring.

"Do you like," she asked twirling around, allowing his eyes to catch sight how her ass looked in those tight jeans.

"Very much so," he assured, nodding his head and let his eyes move up and down her body once more.

"Are you checking me out," she questioned, slyly.

"No, I'm admiring my woman," he corrected, causing her to blush. "I'm a lucky man."

She playfully pushed at his chest, "Stop! You're embarrassing me."

"It's the truth," he insisted, grabbing her arms and pulling body flush against his. "Deal with it. I think you're hot and I'm not always going to be able to keep something like that to myself."

"Come with me," she requested, reaching for his hand and pulling him down the hallway.

"Where are we going," he asked, grinning. He had seen the look in her eyes. She obviously wanted to kiss him, but the hallways were field with WWE personnel and she wasn't huge on public displays of affection at least not the kind of affection that she wanted to be displayed.

"Somewhere more private," she told him simply as she weaved through different areas of the backstage before finally arriving where all the equipment boxes were being stored.

After squeezing through some black boxes and out of sight of some scurrying crewmembers trying to complete the final touches of the upcoming show, Skye turned around and leaned upward to capture Joe's lips which were already on the descent to meet hers.

His body pushed her against one of the many boxes and deepened the kiss while his strong arms wrapped around her. Soon she felt herself being lifted to sit atop the box that she had been pushed against, their lips never parting. His large hands gripped her thighs, pulling her to the edge of the box so that his body could stand between her parted legs as their lips parted and his tongue pushed through into her hot mouth.

God that tongue, she mentally moaned before releasing a soft audible one as the feeling coursed through her body causing her hands to clutch onto his broad shoulders and her chest to press into his.

After a few minutes, they finally parted for a breather and she released a choked laugh, "Sorry about that. I sort of just lost myself there."

"No apologies needed, baby girl," he assured, chuckling. "It's been a long week for me too." He pressed his forehead against hers and licking his lips. "I could get used to that."

"Hmm, me too," she agreed, lightly kissing his lips. She pulled back and sighed. "I need to get to hair and makeup."

Nodding, he helped her down and cupped her face, kissing her softly upon the forehead. "I kind of like you the way that you are without the makeup and your hair slightly tussled due to our little make-out session."

Running her fingers through her sandy locks, she rolled her eyes at him. "Come on, Fabio." She pulled him away from their secluded spot.

Hours later, Skyler Grace headed back up the ramp after losing the Triple Threat Lumberjill match with Beth and Eve. Glancing over shoulder, she watched saddened as Beth held up the Diva's title victoriously in the air after successfully performing the Glam Slam on Eve from the middle rope for the pin.

Skyler had been recovering from being sent through the ropes by Beth and into the Bella twins and Natalya's standing just outside the ring where she received a few kicks and jabs from the trio of heel divas before she finally crawled back into the ring. The ref had already slapped the mat for the three-count before Skyler could even attempt to stop the pin from happening. She watched dumbfounded as Beth's hand was raised and the ring announcer announced her as the winner of the match.

With a scowl, her eyes zeroed in on Eve Torres who was pushing herself to her feet. The woman shouldn't have even been in this match in Skyler's eyes. She just weaseled her way in without even earning the spot and now she had gotten herself pinned by the champion causing Skyler to once again lose another opportunity of earning her title back from the woman who had taken it.

Feeling the anger of the loss filling her body, she charged after the Latina and grabbed her by her dark locks, causing the woman to cry out. She kneed her in the cut before performing her finisher – the Skye-assault which consisted of Skyler pushing off Eve's back like a spring and bringing her leg down on the woman's neck sending her face first into the mat much like a curb stomp maneuver with a bit more flair.

The roar of the crowd didn't make her feel any better about losing neither did the large smirk from the diva's champion which only angered her more. The ref pushed her toward the ropes, ordering her out of the ring while Kelly Kelly rushed in to check on her friend, Eve.

From her place at the top of the ramp, Skyler shook her head and headed for the back.

When Skye walked backstage, she was quickly greeted by Joe and her brother. "Tough break, kid," Phil commented, patting her back.

"Yeah," Skye muttered, frustrated.

"You were awesome," Joe assured her, hugging her to him.

"Thanks," she muttered, feeling slightly better by his words.

"I mean it. I mean that diving plancha you did from the top turnbuckle and into the lumberjills was fantastic."

"Yeah," Nikki spoke up from where she was standing with her sister. "Even with being on the receiving end of that – it was pretty fantastic."

Skye rolled her eyes, "Well you shouldn't have interfered when I was readying myself for that missile kick."

"I was just doing my job," the other woman argued playfully.

"Come on," Skye beckoned Joe. "Let me go get cleaned up and we can watch the rest of the show in Phil's locker room."

"Uh don't you think you should ask me before you take over my dressing room," her brother commented with a snort. "Don't think I don't know what you two are planning on doing in there."

"I was actually going to invite everyone in there," Skye argued, but then smirked. "Now that you've put that thought in my mind – it does sound rather tempting." She glanced over at the man whose hand she was gripping. "Care to go fornicate in my brother's locker room?"

"I didn't just hear that," Phil complained, plugging his ears while Joe laughed nervously.

"I think that I'll pass," Joe stated, kindly.

"Well can we," Nick spoke up, indicating himself and Nikki, "go fornicate in Punk's locker room?"

"Hell no," Phil bellowed while everyone laughed.

"Honestly, Nick," Nikki scolded.

"Don't act innocent," Brie stated pointing at her sister. "You so would have."

Nikki shrugged in mock innocence and the group went their separate ways with Nick sticking around since his match was up next.

"You and your brother have a weird relationship," Joe remarked as he allowed her to lead him toward the locker rooms.

"I can't argue with that," she said chuckling. When they reached the diva's locker room, she turned to him. "I won't be long."

"Take your time," he told her.

With a quick kiss to his lips, she disappeared inside and he walked over to take a seat on a nearby box labeled in white letters CABLES. A door down the hall opened and a tall man stepped out dressed in wrestling trunks and turned his way.

When Joe caught sight of Randy Orton, he stared at the man as he approached obviously heading towards the gorilla area for his match.

"Hey man," Randy greeted.

Joe just nodded wondering why the man was even addressing him.

"So, you and Skye, huh," Randy began with a small grin.

"Yep," Joe answered simply, his jaw clenching. What is this guy's deal?

"Just a word of advice, she's a great woman and all, but she tends to get a bit clingy rather fast..."

"No offense," Joe stated, preventing the man from continuing. "Why would I take advice from someone who was so stupid to let a great woman like her go?" When the man had the audacity to look baffled, he continued, "Look, maybe your focus needs to be less on the guy that Skye is dating and more on minding your own business."

Anger flared in Orton's eyes as he growled, "Who the hell do you think you are? Do you know who you're talking to?"

"Yeah," Joe chided, sliding off the box. "You seem awfully interested in Skye's private life which makes me wonder what your deal is. Last I checked, you were married and a father of one, so why the hell do you care who Skye dates?"

"I'm just trying to warn you..."

Joe interjected, "I know, Skye. I know the type of woman she is now. You apparently only know the woman you left brokenhearted because you weren't man enough to treat her better."

Randy took a threatening step forward and sneered, "You son of a bitch..."

"Everything okay over here, gentleman," a voice asked to the side.

"Doesn't concern you, Rock," Randy hissed.

"Actually, Joe here is family, so technically it does, but I'm here to remind you about your match that's about to happen any minute now. So, if you're done prancing around like your shit don't stink then maybe you should head that way."

Randy shot a glare toward Dewayne before returning his gaze to Joe and smirked. "Just a warning, kid, you'll grow sick of her too. She really wasn't all that in the sack, so be prepared for disappointment there."

Joe shoved him roughly into the wall, "What the fuck did you say, you bastard?!"

"Joe, walk away," Dewayne barked, holding him back. "Orton, get the hell out of here."

"Just stating a fact," Randy boasted as he turned and came face-to-face with Punk who looked livid.

"I thought we were over this bullshit, Orton," Punk claimed before gripping him by his t-shirt.

Skye chose that moment to step out of the diva's locker room dressed in the clothes that she had been wearing earlier. Her eyes widened at the sight before her, "Phil, let him go!"

"If you don't slug him, I will," Joe vowed, trying to pry Dewayne's hands off of him.

"Skye," Dewayne grunted as he kept his cousin at bay. "You mind handling your brother? This one is hard enough to keep back."

Sighing loudly, Skye charged over to push herself between her brother and her ex. "Phil, enough," she ordered, separating the two. Turning to Randy, she continued, "Leave and keep your mouth shut about our past." She snorted. "Yeah, I heard. Come to think of it, the whole diva division heard. You really are an asshole, Orton."

Shaking his head, the Viper turned on his heel and headed for the gorilla area leaving the two men in Skye's life fuming.

"Okay," Dewayne stated cautiously staring at his cousin. "You need to calm yourself, cousin."

"Yeah, for real he's not worth it," Skye scolded to her brother. "Why do you let him get to you like that?"

"I'm supposed to allow that prick to disrespect you like that," Punk questioned incredulously.

"I'm not saying that," Skye argued. She glanced over at Joe, who was now pacing and looked ready to punch something. "Hey, are you okay?"

"Dude wanted to maim, Orton, not that I blame him," Dewayne explained, patting his younger cousin on the back.

"What is with you and defending my honor, Anoa'i," Skye wondered. "First Maddox and now Orton..."

"Whoa," Punk interrupted. "Who the hell is Maddox and what the fuck happened?"

Skye groaned, "Ease up. It was nothing."

"Nothing my ass," Joe grumbled. "Long story short, Maddox couldn't keep his hands to himself, so I introduced him to my fist. I'd really like to do the same with Orton that pompous bastard."

"Feeling is definitely mutual," Punk concurred, balling his hands into fists.

"Okay, fellas," Dewayne piped in. "Calm it down. Punk, you go chill out before your match with Del Rio."

"Yes, go," Skye chimed in, pushing her brother toward the direction of his locker room.

Punk's body relaxed and he nodded, "Yeah, I guess I should." He glanced at Joe and gave him an approving nod. "So, I approve of you a bit more now that you obviously share my mutual detest toward Orton."

Joe snorted, "Thanks, I think."

"Are you two finished with this endearing moment," Skye questioned in amusement. "I mean if you want Rocky and I can give you both some privacy."

"Bite me," Punk remarked before throwing a hand up in a short wave and walking away.

"So, is everything good here," Dewayne asked when it was the just the three of them. He was directing the question mostly to Joe.

"Sure," Joe answered softly. "Thanks, man."

"Hey, no problem, I mean I get it," He grinned over at Skye. "You're defending the lovely Skye's honor. I can't fault you for that."

"That sounded awfully like a compliment, Rocky," Skye commented with a grin.

"Don't let it go to your head," Dewayne warned good-naturedly. "You two enjoy the rest of the evening. Keep him out of trouble, Skye."

"I'm sure I can think of something to occupy his time," Skye reasoned, flashing a flirty look Joe's way.

This seemed to change his behavior immediately which caused Dewayne to laugh. He bid them goodbye and headed on.

She smiled gently at him and held her hand out for him to take. "Let's go somewhere and talk."

After venturing around looking for a place in private, the two headed downstairs toward the basement.

"This is not creepy at all," she remarked, lightly. She took a seat on the steps and he followed suit.

"It's not so bad," he shrugged.

She studied him a moment. "What'd Randy say to you?"

"I thought you heard what he said."

"I heard the part where he was putting down my bedroom skills," she noted with bitter snort. "Just to clarify, he wasn't much to talk about either."

"I don't believe a single thing he said," Joe countered eyeing her with those dark eyes of his. "I would like to make up my own mind about your bedroom skills firsthand."

"Ugh I just can't with you," she complained. "You always say the right things. It's kind of getting annoying."

"I'll try and keep it at a minimum, sorry."

Shaking her head in amusement, she released a sigh. "I'm sorry he got you upset. I don't know what his deal is."

"I think he still has a thing for you," Joe pointed out.

"I don't see why. I mean his wife is actually nice and not some bimbo."

"I hate when you do that," he sighed in exasperation. When she raised a brow at him, he continued, "When you try to imply that you're not good enough. What did that bastard do to you?"

"It's more like what did all of them do to me," she corrected miserably. "I don't exactly have the best track record with guys."

"Tell me," he coaxed gently.

"Not really much to tell. I guess I'll focus on the two that did the worse on me. I met Randy when I began wrestling in FCW. He came down to Tampa to train and we sort of just start talking. Well, he, uh, thought I had a lot of potential and pitch the idea to Vince that maybe I could be his valet just to get my name out there. So, we started seeing each on and off camera. I fell in love with him. A year into the relationship, he started acting weird and distant. I thought maybe it was stress." She released a bitter laugh. "It wasn't stress – he was seeing which is putting it mildly, multiple women behind my back. Apparently, everyone knew but me."

Shaking her head, she continued, "I guess I was pretty naïve. Our storyline relationship pretty much ended shortly after that when he decided to go heel. To make matters worse, he didn't like the idea that I was still employed by the same company as he was. So, he went around and tried to ruin my reputation around the ring saying that I wasn't ready to be on the main roster. I began thinking that myself after I wasn't getting matches, so I just gave up and went back to ROH where I felt more at home. Plus, Phil was there so..."

"That's when I met AJ. He was older than me. I fell hard for him too. And he just did the same thing they all do. He lost interest and started seeing someone else. Only this person ended up being the woman he eventually married and had children with." Frowning, she shrugged a shoulder. "I guess he didn't see me as the marrying type. Shortly after that I found out Randy had gotten engaged which just added salt to the wounds."

She felt his hand on her back, rubbing it soothingly. "I stop really trying to find someone after that. I mean yeah I've dated, but I just don't allow myself to fall for a guy because I'm afraid that it's just going to bite me in the ass in the end."

"Don't feel like you have to hold back the way that you feel when it comes to us," Joe told her gently. "We don't have to rush anything either. We can take it slowly."

She scoffed, "You're just going to get bored with that."

"You should have a bit more faith in me," he suggested, smiling at her. "I know I might seem like one to let his anger get the best of him, but that's only toward people who disrespect someone that means something to me. Look, I know what it's like to be cheated on, so I know that it's hard to give your heart to someone again, but I hope in time that you can with me."

She felt her eyes get misty. "I don't deserve you."

"Of course you do," he assured, wrapping his arm around her. "Don't let dickheads like Orton make you think that you don't deserve to be happy."

"What if you realize that I'm not what you want," she asked weakly.

"If that were to happen, I'd be man enough to tell you."

"Promise?"

He placed a finger under her chin, lifting her head so that their eyes could meet. "I promise."

As she stared deeply into his eyes, she realized that he was different than all those other guys that had broken her heart. He was a good man. She finally smiled and nodded.

He returned the smile and dropped a kiss to her lips.