Chapter 12
"Splish-splash, I'm taking a bath!" Alyssa sang, her head covered in a lather of shampoo, her hair all piled on top of her head. She held a brush in front of her mouth, singing, careful not to splash the water or bubbles outside the tub. "Whhhhhhoooooooo!"
Nicoya couldn't stop laughing to herself as she grabbed the video camera and pressed record, filming her daughter singing with a brush to her mouth, sounding too adorable for words. She smiled softly, finally stopping, and put the video camera away quietly before walking inside the bathroom, Sprite in hand. "You about finished in here, Madonna?" She asked jokingly, smirking down at her little girl.
"Like a virgin…touched for the very first time…Like a virgin…" Alyssa sang sweetly, adoring Madonna. "Mom, what does that mean anyway?" She asked, tilting her head back for Nicoya to rinse.
"You'll find out when you're older, sweetheart. It's an adult thing." Nicoya replied, smiling softly back at her daughter, and took her robe off, hanging it on the door, and got down on her knees as she picked up the cup. She filled it with water and started rinsing her daughter's long black hair out, loving moments like these with her. "You need to stop listening to Madonna." She shook her head, laughing softly.
"She's the queen of pop, not happening." Alyssa replied, keeping her eyes scrunched tight. Once her hair was rinsed, she picked back up the brush, waving it before her mouth. "Oh baby, baby! How was I supposed to know? That something wasn't RIGHHHHHTTTTTT?" She held the brush up before her mother. "Sing it!"
"No way, Aly. You know I can't STAND Britney Queers." Nicoya stated emphatically, shaking her head, and smirked as she grabbed the brush and began to sing one of Alyssa's favorite songs. "She left without leaving a number. Said she needed to clear her mind. He figured she'd gone back to Austin, cause she talked about it all the time. It was almost a year before she called him up. Three rings and an answering machine is what she got…" She trailed off and held the brush out to her daughter, right by her mouth.
"If you're calling bout the car I sold it. If this is Tuesday night, I'm bowling. If you got somethin' to sell, you're wastin' your time, I'm not buyin'." Alyssa sang in her sweet, clear voice, stepping out of the tub and wrapped herself in a towel, giggling when her mother sang with her. She sang her way out to the main room. "Mom! Mark's here!" She yelped, diving back into the bathroom. Mark was leaning in the open doorway, not actually stepping into the hotel room. The door had been partially opened and when he seen that, it concerned him. Until he heard the ladies singing in the bathroom together, which he thought was too sweet for words.
Nicoya's eyes widened, not expecting him to be standing in the doorway, and immediately felt her cheeks go red as a strawberry AGAIN! He just overheard them singing as she started shaking her head and dried her little girl off in the bathroom. "Get dressed, Aly." She instructed softly, walking out of the bathroom, and crossed her arms in front of her chest, wearing her sky blue nightgown without her robe. "How did you get in here?" She asked, placing her hands on her hips, looking downright embarrassed as her cheeks grew even redder.
Mark averted his eyes, staring at the ceiling, the front of her nightgown soaked through from the bath. "Yer door was open, darlin'." He said quietly. "I thought maybe…John had come back and…" He trailed off, reaching to rub the back of his neck, grateful for the pain because it distracted him. "I didn't mean to uh…intrude, but…I shoulda left when I heard ya'll singin'."
Nicoya didn't realize her nightgown was soaked through as she sighed, not believing she was dumb enough to leave the door open, and smiled back at him. "Don't worry about it, Mark. Come on in, the munchkin just got out of the tub." She waved her hand at him and walked back into the bathroom, knowing he'd shut the door properly. She felt her eyes shoot out of its sockets when she seen her nightgown becoming see through due to the water. "Oh shit!" She shouted in surprise and grabbed her robe quickly wrapping herself in it, and turned even redder.
Alyssa looked up from zipping up her footed pajamas. "Mom, did you show Mark your jub-jubs?" She asked, arching an eyebrow. "Cause you now they're showing right?" Mark heard Nicoya cuss and shook his head, chuckling to himself as he took a sip of his straight Coke, not believing he'd come on down here. Though he wanted to spend time with the both of them. Honestly, he found himself drawn to both daughter and mother.
"Alyssa, go get your damned movie and spend time with your babysitter." She ordered angrily, not believing she just showed Mark her breasts, even though they were clad in a matching bra. She sighed heavily, raking her hands through her hair, and splashed cold water on her face to try to calm down.
Alyssa rolled her eyes, huffing in exasperation. "Jeez…not my fault you flashed him!" She said with the door wide open before closing it behind her, annoyed that she was getting in trouble for simply asking a question. Mark heard that flashed part and he went red, which was not missed by Alyssa. "Not you too!"
"Alyssa Marie!" Nicoya shouted, her voice clearly sounding embarrassed and strained, and splashed more water on her face as she took a few gulps of it from her hand. Sometimes her daughter's mouth ran away with her and therefore, embarrassed Nicoya to no avail. Tonight would be no exception, but she was glad her robe was black instead of such a thin, light color like her nightgown. She groaned, not believing what she did, and felt like disappearing at that moment.
Mark was hiding his own face, hearing Nicoya and then the sounds of a movie starting up. Guessing this was the infamous Garfield movie. He adjusted the cotton black button up shirt he had pulled on, against better judgment. Not wanting to be running around half naked in front of the women either. He'd compromised by leaving it unbuttoned.
After getting herself to stop turning red, Nicoya finally stepped out, keeping her robe tightly shut, and groaned when she heard Garfield playing. She looked at Mark, who stared right back at her, and sighed with inner relief when there was a knock on the hotel room door, knowing that was food arriving. "Excuse me." She whispered, walking past him, their arms brushing together, and felt a tingle shoot down her arm as she opened the door, smiling as the trolley was wheeled in, and paid the man before shutting the door behind her. "Alyssa, dinner honey!" She called out, wheeling it over to the bed, and laughed when she protested. "Bring your movie out here. Mark has NEVER seen it!"
"Really?" Alyssa shouted back, a few minutes later coming out with the DVD, waving it at Mark before popping it in. She settled on her mom's bed and dug into her plate. "Hungry? I got enough to share." She offered sweetly.
"No thanks, angel, I ate awhile ago." He replied, settling down on the couch, keeping his lower, not burnt back pressed against the low arm of the couch.
Sighing, Nicoya stood up and walked over, snapping her fingers. "Stand up." She ordered him, no fear in her midnight blue eyes, and smirked when Mark raised an eyebrow up at her. "Alyssa, tell Mark to stand up for momma." She called to her daughter, knowing Mark couldn't resist her daughter's big, beautiful blue eyes. Even though they weren't identical to hers. They were identical to John's.
"Mark, stand up." Alyssa ordered, not looking back, too focused with her movie to be paying attention.
Mark arched the other eyebrow, smirking at the look on Nicoya's face before slowly standing up, towering over her, and asked, "Yes?"
She grinned and turned around, reaching up, and peeled the shirt off of him, taking his hand, and pulled him over to the bed. "Lay down face first. You can watch the movie and let your back get some air." She stated, smiling when her daughter scooted over, and patted the spot next to her. "You have no choice now lay down, Mark." She ordered gently, but firmly before retrieving some more burn ointment. "You need to keep that back as open to air as possible, the fewer shirts you wear on it, the better and faster it'll heal. Even though I know you can't help it in the ring."
Mark groaned, laying down as she instructed, not even wanting to think about in ring attire at the moment. "What the Hell is she watchin'?" He murmured, staring at the screen, trying not to find this the dumbest thing he'd ever seen in his life.
"Garfield." Alyssa answered promptly, munching on her dinner. "You really need to get out more, Marky."
Nicoya started laughing at her daughter, nodding in agreement, and kissed the top of her head before crawling on the bed. She once again straddled Mark's waist, rubbing the ointment in her hands, and gently, very carefully began rubbing it in. Sighing when she seen the red burn marks, Nicoya felt that guilt eating her alive again. "Alyssa, when you're finished, your ice cream is in the freezer." She informed her daughter before turning her attention back to Mark's back, her nightgown and robe riding up a little on her thighs.
Mark was feeling the heat alright, but it wasn't from his back. It was from her soft, gentle touch that was lighting him on fire. He buried his face in the bed, trying not to think about that. Damn this woman was beginning to drive him nuts! He flinched when he heard Alyssa shrieking with laughter, raising his head to find her dancing along with the movie, and asked, "She ever wind down?"
"No, but she does listen to me when I tell her it's bedtime. This is her summer vacation so I let her slack sine she has no summer school in the morning." She explained softly, smiling back at her daughter, and continued rubbing his back, not even worrying about the ointment anymore. This man had an incredible physique and she loved the feeling of his muscles rippling beneath her fingertips. It was a huge turn on for her, especially since John never allowed her to touch him like this. "How's that feeling?" She asked softly in his ear, her breasts barely brushing against his back.
Mark had to stifle a moan. "Feelin' better, darlin' thanks." He drawled, his voice low and husky.
"Ice cream!" Alyssa shrieked, heading towards the freezer. She danced back out to the television with her bowl, settling down on the floor, giggling at what she seen.
Mark chuckled, watching her, and asked, "Home schoolin' huh? How's that workin'?" He was trying to get his mind on anything, but this woman's touch that was forcing Mark's body to come alive.
"Well, her momma has a master's degree in teaching so I'd venture to say it's going well." Nicoya softly retorted, sitting back up, and began rubbing further down his back, stifling her own moans as she bit her bottom lip. Smiling when she seen her daughter was eating her ice cream. "After that, it's bedtime, Alyssa." She stated, raising an eyebrow when her daughter looked at her, and continued rubbing the ointment in. Part of her wanted to send her daughter to bed now so she could spend some alone time with this man. Then remembered her vow when she came from RAW to Smackdown!, which was no more dating wrestlers.
Alyssa groaned, beginning to take her time with the ice cream, milking it out. "Mom, but the movie is only halfway through!" She complained, licking her spoon ever so slowly.
Mark chuckled softly, not even realizing he was arching his back to Nicoya's touch. "Teacher huh? How'd a teacher wind up writin' scripts?" He asked, sounding genuinely interested.
"My degree has English and Literature in it along with writing and many other aspects that go into script writing. I love writing scripts, it's kinda like writing stories, which I do on occasion." She explained gently, sighing heavily when she seen her daughter going slow on purpose, and shook her head. "Fine, after the movie, bedtime and if you argue with me, you'll go to bed tomorrow night early, like you do when you're home schooled, understood?" She raised a challenging eyebrow at her daughter.
Mark arched an eyebrow, watching as Alyssa appeared to consider arguing, but then thought better of it. Smiling when she ate her ice cream at a normal, he thought, pace. "What kinda stories do ya write, Nico?" Alyssa started giggling, turning around to stare at her mother. "What the Hell is so damned funny?"
"Alyssa…" Nicoya held a warning tone, her eyes narrowed somewhat, and coughed a little, clearing her throat. "Just stories in general about my life. Nothing you need to be concerned with, mark." She stated, still rubbing his back, furrowing her eyebrows together as she moved his long tresses aside. Studying the dancing skull tattoo that was on the back of his neck and ran her fingertips over it. "Interesting…"
"It's a crime to be curious these days?" Mark replied good-naturedly, barely repressing shivers when he felt her fingertips on his tattoo. "Just a plain ol' tattoo, darlin'."
Alyssa yawned, crawling up on the bed to kneel besides them, leaning over to study the tattoo as well. "Did this hurt?" She asked, obviously fighting back sleep, reaching up to rub her eyes.
"Not really, darlin'." Mark murmured, turning his head so he could sort of see her.
"You got a lot of'em." Alyssa said thoughtfully, pulling his arm out and studying it. "Mom…look at this one." Mark waited for the normal reaction he got, which was normally along the lines of how much of a freak he was, when people, mainly women, studied his arms thoroughly.
"They're beautiful." She murmured thoughtfully, smiling, and looked over at her daughter with a sigh. "Come on, munchkin, let's tuck you into bed." She lifted Alyssa in her arms, bending down so her and Mark were eye level. "Say good night to him." She smiled when Alyssa hugged him around the neck and then kissed his cheek before yawning loudly. Nicoya then carted her daughter into her room, laying her down gently on the bed, and covered her up, running her finger down her daughter's cheek. "I love you, Aly girl." She murmured, kissing her forehead, and smiled, not believing how peaceful she looked.
Mark was off the bed when they disappeared, groaning softly. He shook himself, trying to think of Nicoya as a co-worker and nothing more. He raked a hand through his hair, walking over to stare out the window, planning on leaving after saying good night. Though it might actually be better if he just walked out right now. He frowned slightly, pressing his forehead to the cool glass, knowing he should just cut ties with both of them. Nothing could ever come of him and Nicoya. She was obviously skittish when it came to wrestlers and he had learned a long time ago dating co-workers was a bad thing. But then again, she wasn't like most of his co-workers either.
After admiring her daughter for a few more minutes, Nicoya finally walked out, closing the door gently behind her, leaving it cracked incase Alyssa needed her, and sighed. She watched Mark staring out the window and knew he was probably having conflicting thoughts. Knowing she should've stopped rubbing his back a long while back, but she couldn't help it. Thoughts of John entered her mind suddenly, forcing her to blink back tears, and walked into the kitchen to get a glass of water, needing to calm down as she sighed. John had broken her heart so many times. Nicoya knew the only reason why she wasn't a bitter woman was because of her daughter. That was the ONLY good thing that came out of their entire relationship, which went on and off for eight years. Nicoya knew she should cut ties with Mark, make him stop seeing her daughter, spending time with her, but she couldn't. That would break Alyssa's heart and she refused to do that to her daughter. She would deal with it and just maintain a strict relationship with Mark. After getting her thoughts on track, Nicoya finally walked out and turned the movie off before wrapping the DVD playing up and then cleaned up her daughter's mess.
Mark turned around, watching Nicoya, more than aware of her presence from the moment she stepped out of the room. "Thanks fer…the movie and tendin' my back." He said finally, bending down to help her, holding out the ice cream bowl. When she took it, he straightened up, leaning over to pick up his shirt. "Nico, do you want me to stop seein' Alyssa?" He finally asked bluntly.
Nicoya blinked back at him, not expecting him to ask her that, and cleared her throat as she walked into the kitchen, setting the bowls in the sink, and finally turned around to face him. "No, it would break her heart if I forced you to stop seeing her and I refuse to do that to my little girl, Mark." She answered softly, staring back into his green eyes, and wrapped her arms around herself. "I may not want to admit it, but you are really great with her and I trust you fully and I know she does too. You're all she talks about and if I took that away from her…" She shook her head and swallowed hard. "That would probably kill her to be brutally honest with you. So no, you're more than welcome to see Alyssa anytime you wish, Mark."
Mark studied Nicoya intently, knowing she wasn't comfortable herself around him. That she didn't really want him to see Alyssa, but was allowing it for her daughter. "If it makes ya comfortable, darlin', I'll just watch her when yer busy." He said finally, genuinely smitten with the little girl, finding her too damned adorable and intelligent for her own good.
"What makes you think I'm not comfortable around you, Mark?" Nicoya questioned, raising an eyebrow up at him, and crossed her arms in front of her chest, looking genuinely confused and hurt. "I may come off timid around you, but that's only because you are very intimidating." She pointed out the obvious. "Though, I'm getting used to you now so I'm not scared or uncomfortable around you anymore, especially with how adorable you look with Alyssa."
"Well Nico, no offense intended, but you seem to shy away from the guys. I gather it has to do with whatever happened between you and Cena." His brows furrowed together. "Earlier, ya looked shaken up, he wasn't botherin' you again was he?" His green eyes darkened a little bit.
"No, that wasn't because of John. You see, my brother works for the company too, but he doesn't know I do. I haven't seen him since I was ten so he's not technically my brother anymore. Our parents divorced when we were young, but we were close back in the day." Nicoya sighed resignedly, solemnly, and raked a hand through her black hair as she walked past him, sitting on the bed. "I ran into him in the cafeteria and panicked so I fled. That's why I was in such a hurry earlier and that's why your back is burned." She took a deep breath, clasping her hands together in her lap. "As far as being shy from the guys, I am because after an eight year relationship with John, on and off, how can I really trust anyone in this company besides a select handful?"
"You can't." Mark said softly, curious about who her brother was, though he knew better then to pry. "I'll let you get some sleep. You must be runnin' yerself ragged with having two rosters to deal with." He moved towards the door, unsure of what to say anymore at this moment. "Maybe ya oughta take a day fer yerself."
"Nah, I'll be fine. I enjoy my job, even though the rosters are joined together now, but it does make it a little easier and more exciting as far as feuds go and whatnot. And just so you know, my brother is Steve Williams." She informed him, standing up from the bed, and walked over to the window, wrapping her arms around herself, and stared out the window. "Incase you and Alyssa ever run into him. Just don't say anything, please. I don't want anyone to know, especially him." She requested softly, raking a hand through her black hair, and gripped it a little.
Mark's jaw almost hit the floor. So that's why Alyssa had done what she did. Frightening Steve off on purpose. Smart girl. He grinned, thinking she was a devious little thing. "I won't say a thing, Nico, don't worry." He assured her, seeing how tense she was. He was very tempted to walk over to her and start rubbing away with tension, but felt that might be jumping the gun a bit, deciding he'd just wait and see what happened. "Get some rest, darlin'. Ten to one, yer little bundle of energy will run ya ragged tomorrow." He chuckled softly. "G'night, Nico."
"Good night, Mark." She softly replied, closing her eyes, and felt the tears slide down her cheeks as soon as the door clicked shut behind him, sighing heavily. She knew it was coming and wiped them away, sniffling, and walked over the bed, collapsing on it, and cried herself to sleep.