A day late, but here you are! A nice lengthy one for you. So I've been doing some thinking and I've decided where my stopping point is going to be for this story and it's coming soon, but I pretty much know where I'm going to pick back up at when I continue, so don't be upset!

October 2 , 2012

Straight after the Smackdown taping, Yelena went to find Randy. She was flying out to Ohio to get her dress fitted for Val's wedding and she wanted to say goodbye one last time before she left. She found him talking to Sheamus in catering

Sneaking up behind him, she wrapped her arms his middle, laughing at the way he flinched. He relaxed when he saw it was her and pulled her to his side, his arm over her shoulder.

"Hey Sheamus." she greeted the Irishman

"Hiya Lass. " Sheamus said with a smile "I'll catch up with ye later Orton."

Randy said goodbye and turned his attention to her, snatching her up into his arms, lifting her off the floor

"You heading out?" he asked, touching his forehead to hers

"Yes. I just wanted to say goodbye one last time" she said, wrapping her arms around his neck

"I wish you didn't have to leave." he told her

"I know, but I'll be back before you can miss me." she promised. Truth be told, she didn't want to leave him either. She wished that he could come with her, but he had numerous appearances to go to and two house shows

"I doubt that. " he whispered, pecking her on the lips "Have a safe trip. Shoot me a text when you land."

"I will." she promised as he set her back down on her feet. She stood on her tip toes and gave him another kiss.

He cupped her face him between his hands to deepen the kiss "You're not making this any easier." he growled

"I know." she said, capturing his lips with hers once more.

He reluctantly released her "Call me." he reminded her sternly

"I will." she called over her shoulder. If she didn't leave now, she would miss her flight. She looked over her shoulder and waved at Randy before turning the corner, her chest aching for him already.

The drive to the airport was quiet. She sent Valilisa a quick text before she boarded the plane that she would meet her at their parent's house in the morning so they could all drive to the fitting together. She wasn't looking forward to seeing Irina again or being stuck with her mother all day, that was for sure, but she was going to suck it up for Val's sake. She powered off her phone as they called for her flight. She boarded and found her seat, sticking her ear buds in, she shut her tired eyes and was asleep before they took off

The flight was painless. She took a taxi to her condo. Unlocking her front door, she breathed a content sigh. Home sweet home. She didn't realize how much she missed sleeping in her own bed. Stripping off her clothes in her bedroom, she made her way to her bathroom for a hot shower.

Twenty minutes later, she emerged out of the steamy room. She pulled on her most comfortable pair of sweatpants and pulled one of Randy's shirts on. Speaking of Randy. She dug her phone out of her bag and powered it back on and sent him a text.

I made it home. Goodnight

xYelena

His reply came seconds later

Goodnight Sunshine

xRandy

She plugged her phone up on the charger and drew the curtains before falling into bed, falling asleep easily

Demanding knocking on her front door woke her up. She groaned, rolling over to look at her click on the nightstand. Nine a.m. You have got to be joking. Getting out of bed, she stormed to her front door and swung it open. Emilia Giovanni- Ulyanova stood before her, dressed in a pair of Gucci slacks. She wore a simple black blouse and Loboutin pumps adorned her feet. A Michael Kors bag hung from the crease of her arm. She wore no makeup, not that she needed any with her flawless complexion. Even in the low lighting of the hall, her Emerald cut engagement ring and band glistened in the light. To her left stood Irina, dressed in a pink Juicy Couture terry track suit, her brown hair in a ponytail, a pair of Ray Bans perched atop of her head. She was on the phone, barking orders at her assistant. Poor guy. To the right stood Valilisa, in Guess jeans and a soft tan sweater, a binder tucked under her arm and a Starbucks coffee in hand

"Val!" Yelena said happily, pulling her into a hug

"I tried to tell them that you would probably still be sleeping because your flight got in late, but of course mom insisted." she said, rolling her hazel-green eyes

"I knew that she would need a wakeup call. She'd sleep all day if she could. Come stai tesoro?" her mother asked, air kissing her

"I'm fine." she said, watching as her mother looked around the condo curiously "Looking for something?"

"I was wondering if you brought Randy along. I'm just dying to meet him. Irina told me nothing but good things about him."

Yelena shot her older sister a glare as their mom went into the kitchen

"I told you not to tell her." she said in a harsh whisper

Irina shrugged "It slipped out. Sorry."

"Sorry mom, but you'll have to wait a few more weeks. Randy's schedule was too hectic. He couldn't make it."

"I have to admit, I'm excited to meet him too. Irina told us that he seems to really care about you. She said his eyes never left you for a second while you were in Texas. Plus I want to meet the guy who has my sister in amour and blushing at the sound of his name." Val teased

"Shut up." Yelena said, fighting a grin

She glanced at her older sister. Did she really say that? Or did she say that out of spite because Randy didn't give her a second glance? There's a first time for everything and it obviously had Irina put out

Emilia returned from the kitchen with a bottle of water "Hurry and get dressed hun, we have a full day ahead of us." she said, nudging her toward her bedroom

Yelena obeyed and went into her bedroom and took a quick shower. She got dressed in an olive green fitted one shoulder long sleeve top and a simple pair of jeans paired with her TOMS Nepal boots. She put on full makeup because she knew her mother would be on her case if she didn't and threw her hair up into a high ponytail. Grabbing her purse, phone, coat, and keys, she returned to the living room where the three were waiting and headed out the door

"Cute top." Irina complimented as she was locking up

"Thanks."

They went out to eat breakfast before going to the the fitting. A sales woman, Sarah, greeted them and they got started right away. She went to the back and returned shortly after with three garment bags, ushering Irina and Yelena into one small dressing room and their mother into another. The two sisters stripped down to their bras and underwear.

"God, could Val pick a more depressing color?" Irina asked, slipping the sage chiffon material over her waist. "This color does nothing for me. Who's going to take a second look at me in this?"

Irina's dress was strapless, the bodice on it incrusted with Australian crystal beading.

Yelena chuckled "Right, because everyone will be looking at you on the happiest day of your sister's life." she said, rolling her green eyes.

She slipped into her dress, which was the same color, but had a halter neck top, also incrusted with Australian crystals. She lifted her hair and turned around so her sister could fasten the clasp around her neck

"At least your dress has sex appeal. The cut makes your boobs look amazing." Irina said jealously

Yelena had to admit, she did like her dress better than Irina's. It flowed gracefully, but hugged her curves perfectly. The perks of not being a model like her sister. They exited the small room. Sarah was waiting and went into seamstress mode, helping their mother up on the block in front of the three way mirror. She wore a one shoulder dress in of course, sage that stopped at the knee. It was singed at the waist by a darker green ribbon, the ribbon beaded with Australian crystals. Their mother looked gorgeous, of course and she knew it. Yelena hoped she looked half as good as her mother at forty eight

Valilisa beamed "So? What do you think? I chose to give you different styles of dresses so you look unique."

"I love it Lisa, but maybe I could make a few slight changes, starting with the, ouch!" Irina said, rubbing her arm where Yelena elbowed her

"I love it Val." Yelena said, narrowing her eyes at her older sister.

The seamstress did a few measurement on her next. She was relieved when she was told that there was only a few minor changes and adjustments that needed to be made to her dress. She went into the dressing room to change. After Irina was done, it was finally time for Valilisa to try on dresses. Sarah took her to the back as the other three ladies settled themselves on the couch. A woman came by and offered them champagne. A few minutes passed and Val returned, wearing a Mermaid style dress. It was fitted on the body from the chest to the knee, then flared out close to the knee.

"What do you think?" Val asked

Their mother's lips set in a straight line "I don't like it" she said flatly

"Yeah. Something's... Off about it." Yelena said, tapping her chin

"She doesn't have the curves to fill it out right. It doesn't work with her figure. She looks like she's wearing a slip." Irina said

"Since when are you the dress expert?" Yelena teased

"Please. I'm a Angel. I know how these things work. It doesn't flatter her assets. Put that dress on Yelena and her child bearing hips however..." Irina said, batting her eyelashes at her younger sister

"Or on Irina, who'd look like a ten year old boy..." Yelena said, mocking her sister

"Girls! Ora non è il momento di battibecchi!" Emilia chastised "Who's it by?" she asked Sarah

Sarah checked the tag "Jenny Packham"

"She made Eva Longoria's wedding dress." Yelena told her

"And how long did Eva's marriage last?" Emilia asked, arching one of her perfect eyebrow, making Yelena and Irina laugh "On to the next one honey."

Two hours later, the three woman were ready to call it quits. Val had tried on over twenty dresses and none of them were right.

"I have one last one in mind." Sarah assured her

They disappeared for the umpteenth time. Yelena set her empty flute down and sighed, resting her elbows on her knees. She knew that a process like this could not be rushed, but she was starving and obviously they were not going to find the perfect dress here

"This better be a wedding dress made by the good lord himself." Emilia said, crossing her legs

As soon as she re-entered the room, she commanded attention. Her mother let out an audible gasp. She was beautiful. The dress was something out of a dream. It had a fitted bodice through the waist and flowed gracefully out to the ground. The dress itself was attention grabbing, but Valilisa in the dress was what made it come alive

"Well?" Val asked "Give me your worst."

"Lisa... Its... It's" Irina stuttered

"What? What is it? Yelena?" Valilisa turned to her sister

Yelena couldn't speak, much less form a sentence. She was getting choked up looking at her sister, so she turned to their mother, who's big blue eyes shone with tears

"Its perfect." she told her daughter

Val turned towards the three way mirror and a smile broke across her face "This is it." she stated "This is the one." she told Sarah

"Oh honey." Emilia said tearfully "Il mio bambino sta per sposarsi" she said, hugging her daughter

Yelena went over and hugged her sister too

"Oh god, here she goes." Irina laughed, joining in on the hug, her own eyed misty

"This dress is phenomenal." Emilia said, gesturing for Val to turn "Who made it?" she asked

"Vera Wang." Sarah said proudly

"You can never go wrong with Vera." Irina said in approval

"Says who?" Val snorted

"Carrie Bradshaw, duh." Yelena laughed

They went out for lunch afterwards. Yelena had to admit that she missed her family. She was ecstatic when her father joined them.

"Doesn't Yelena look great honey?" Emilia asked her husband

"Doesn't she always?" her father Nikolai said in a thick Russian accent as he winked at his youngest daughter

"Smaller, I mean." Emilia informed him with a playful eye roll "She's lost a lot of weight."

"I told her that the last time I saw her. She looks fantastic." Irina said, bumping her baby sister's shoulder with a grin

"Don't lose too much weight or you'll disappear on us." Val joked

Yelena could hear the secret message in her sister's words: Don't push yourself to lose any more weight for their mother's sake

"If she keeps this up, she'll look gorgeous in her dress for the wedding."

"As long as she's happy with the way she looks, then that is all that matters, right lyubov'?" her father said, taking his wife's hand in his

She smiled at him "Of course." she said, intertwining their fingers

Yelena had always admired her mother and father's marriage. Her mother was beautiful and her father wasn't bad on the eyes either. Aside from his salt and pepper hair and the crow's feet around his eyes that appeared when he laughed or smiled, you wouldn't have thought he was four years older than her mother. At fifty two, he was still lean and fit. They ate and chatted and laughed. Yelena actually felt like things were normal.

Valilisa's phone rang halfway through dinner and she answered

"Hi honey, how was-"

It must be Frederick, who cut her off mid- sentence

"I had to go to the fitting for my mother and my sisters' dresses... I did, I reminded you about it three days ago..."

Yelena watched as her sister averted her eyes from hers as she listened to her fiancé's words. No one else was paying her any attention, too deep in conversation, but Yelena watched her sister intently

"Irina and my mother picked me up early this morning to go get Yelena." she told him "No... No, I..." she paused for a few second "I'm sorry Frederick, I..." another pause "We're having lunch with my parents... Okay... Okay I'll be there in twenty minutes. I love you too. Bye."

Val stood up "I have to go" she told them

"Already? We were having such a nice lunch." Emilia objected

"I know, but Frederick needs me to take care of a few things with him about the wedding." Val said, shrugging into her coat. She kissed her parents and hugged her sisters

"Movie night at my house?" Yelena asked her

"I'll be there." Val told her

They said goodbye and wrapped it up for the evening. Her father drove her home since Irina was staying with their parents while she was in town.

"So" her father said, as he pulled into a parking spot in front of her building "This Randy fellow."

"Oh dear lord." Yelena muttered. Here we go "What about him?"

"What's he like? I want to be sure my daughter is happy."

"He does make me happy dad. He cares about me and I care about him." she told her father

"So you plan of keeping him around?" Nikolai asked

"As long as he wants to be." she said

Her father sighed heavily 'Well... looks like I'll have to take the shotgun out for the holidays."

"Daddy! That is horribly uncalled for!" she objected

"Nothing is ever uncalled for when it comes to my girls."

"So what does he look like?" Val asked, shoveling popcorn into her mouth

"You seriously haven't Googled him or got a background check done on him or any more of mom's crazy ideas?" Yelena laughed

"Believe it or not, I haven't." Val told her honestly

Yelena pulled out her phone and opened the Google search engine and typed in Randy's name and clicked images before passing her phone to her sister

Valilisa's hazel green eyes went wide "This is Randy?" she asked, flabbergasted

"Yup." was all Yelena said, a proud smile on her face

"He's gorgeous!"

"I know!" Yelena said, a grin playing on her lips. Because he was gorgeous. And he was all hers.

"Wow Lena. You really bagged a good one. Is he nice?"

Yelena's smile softened. Randy was as sweet as they come dispite his hot headed persona. And compared to they man before him, he was an angel

"Yeah, he is."

"Well as long as he's good to my baby sister, then he's okay with me." Valilisa said, rotating her engagement ring around her her finger

"What about Frederick? What's my future brother-in-law like?" Yelena asked

Val sighed. She smiled, but it didn't quite reach her eyes. It wasn't the bright smile Yelena saw when she showed her the ring all those months ago

"He's... A good man. He's like my best friend. He's honest and I feel like I could bear my soul to him. Plus mom adores him, so that's a plus" she said with a shrug

Yelena rolled her eyes "Mom" she's snorted "Mom's opinion doesn't really matter. All that matters is that you want to spend the rest of your life with him."

"I know... But..."

"But?" Yelena asked, remembering how her sister wouldn't meet her eye while she was on the phone with Frederick

"He's... Very set in his ways about things. He's very fickle about small things..." Val shook her head, as if to clear her thoughts "But I love him. I guess I'll have to get over it. That's what marriage is about, right?"

Yelena kirked an eyebrow "You sure?" she asked

"Yup. So!" she said, her smile retuning "You want to see my ideas for the venue we picked out?"

"Sure."

Val went to fetch her her binder and returned to the couch.

Yelena shook her head as the sight of it. It was packed to capacity with papers and magazine clippings. She watched as her sister pulled out various papers. Yelena picked up a few. On one sheet was their dresses, sketched in fine detail and colored. Did Val actually design all of their dresses? She flipped through more papers. Some were of the flowers for her bouquet, others of the table arrangements and a carefully planned out seating arrangement. She was baffled when she found a sketch of her wedding dress. It was perfectly drawn. Every detail was accurate. That was crazy, considering she only had it one once.

"Did you actually draw these by hand?" Yelena asked her

"Yeah. It's nothing." Valilisa said with a shrug

"Nothing? Lisa, these are seriously good." Yelena said, looking over some more sketches. Some were random clothes, others were random things like flowers and people on the street

"They're okay. Oh, here it is!" Val squealed

They spent the rest of the night talking about the wedding. Yelena missed Val dearly. She hugged her as she was about to leave

"I'll see you soon. I'm sure mom will be sending you a list of food she wants you to make for Thanksgiving."

"Heaven help me." Yelena groaned miserably "I'll call you when I land tomorrow."

She had an early flight tomorrow and she was dreading it. She wished she could skip the whole flight and get to her being in Randy's arms. She had only been able to speak to him once since he'd been so busy. Randy was really becoming a big part of her life. She lost track of how many times she wanted to drop the "L" bomb, but refrained from doing so. The last thing she wanted to do was scare him off. She remembered the way Chris had scoffed at her when she told him she loved him. It was like a blow to her heart at the time. Never again would she be a fool. She would tell Randy how she felt. All in due time

Some family time with the Ulyanova women. I hope you enjoyed this chapter. Drop me a review about all of your thoughts and feelings. Thanks for reading!