A/N: As stated in the update of Accidentally Expecting, I really need help with my poll. At last check, it was tied at fifty percent each.

R.I.P. Army Specialist Stephen Fortunato
1983-2008
he made the ultimate sacrifice

Stand by Me

A sigh escaped the brunette's lips as pounding was heard at her -- again. She knew it was her father; but he should have known she took more than ten minutes to get ready.

Rylee stepped out of the bathroom and unlocked the front door of her hotel room to reveal someone other than her father on the other side. "John, what's up?"

"Your dad was downstairs nursing his third cup of coffee, so I offered to come get you for him."

Ushering him inside as she stepped back into her bathroom, she shrugged. "First off, I'm capable of getting downstairs by myself." She turned to see the six foot one superstar standing in the doorway. "And two, thank you for getting him off my ass. He still doesn't understand that I'm not seven years old anymore and that it takes me more than five minutes to get ready."

"Especially with all the paparazzi hanging around Houston. They all want a piece of you, ma."

Raising a perfectly manicured eyebrow, she turned back to John, hair curler placed in her hand leaving slight waves in the multi-colored locks. "What is it with you and that nickname?"

John only shrugged, to which Rylee pursed her lips. With her hair done, and most of her makeup down, Rylee reached into her Liz Claiborne make up case and pulled out mascara to finish off her look. The shorter brunette turned to the wrestler who just nodded. "Lookin' good."

Rylee offered a smile in return before turning off the hair curler and lights and stepping out of the bathroom. With September temperatures in Texas being rather warm, she just grabbed a light Juicy Couture sweatshirt from her bag and slipped her purse from the previous night on her forearm. "Ready when you are."

"Let's go then."

Rylee nodded and followed the West Newbury native out of the hotel room.

Once the twosome made it downstairs, Dave met them at the elevator. Silently, the younger two followed Rylee's father out to his rental. The short brunette's white maxi dress fluttered in the light breeze as they neared the car.

John, being the gentleman, opened the back door for Rylee, who shot the Superstar a smile before slipping into the backseat.

"Sleep well, Ry?" her father asked, only to accept a smile and nod from his eldest child. "Mel says hi, by the way."

"I'll call her later tonight. Talk to Avery and Naomi as well." Once on the road, Rylee took her cell phone out of her purse and started a text message conversation with her best friend at home, Valerie. "How do the girls feel about being older sisters?"

"Avery doesn't mind it, since she has a younger sister. Naomi on the other hand, doesn't know how to react to it. She's just used to being the baby."

Rylee nodded her head. "I know what that's like." In the passenger side mirror, she could see a confused look take over John's face. "John, I'm the oldest of six at the moment. Soon to be seven."

He just nodded. "Dave, I didn't know you were that busy, man."

"Mom has three kids with her new husband. Well, not so new but, you get the point."

Again, the younger superstar nodded. "Right."

"What about you John? Any siblings?'

"Yeah," he started, "one older brother, and three younger."

Rylee couldn't help the smile taking over her face. It was just a random conversation in her father's rental car on the way to a WWE Family Breakfast. To just hang out with her father and a friend of his while heading towards more of their friends and co-workers, was so relaxing for her.

Most times, when she was in the backseat of a car being driven around, she was on her way to one event or another. At times, it was something she could enjoy, but the stress factor than was associated with everything was tough. It could get to the point where it was too tough for a nineteen year old to handle.

"Ry," her father said, catching the short brunette's attention, "we're here." She nodded and placed her Blackberry into her purse. Rylee slipped the bag back on her forearm and turned to unbuckle her seatbelt and open the door, to see John had only opened the door for her. Offering him a smile, she slipped out of the car and tussled her hair with her fingers as the three started into the restaurant.

Out of the corner of her eye, Rylee caught sight of two paparazzi hanging around in the parking lot, cameras focused directly on her. Smiling in their direction and waving to the twosome, she tucked her bangs back behind her ear.

Dave held the front door open for the two who stepped inside. With the door closed behind them, Rylee let out a deep breath and turned the two men and feigned a smile. "What's up?" she asked when they both sent her a confused look.

"How do you deal with that?"

Rylee shrugged. "You get used to it after a while, I guess. It sucks, don't get me wrong. But, it doesn't bother me as long as they keep their distance." John just nodded. After Dave signed the three in, John opened the second door for Rylee and her father to slip through.

Once inside the function room where the breakfast was being held, she heard a loud squeal, knowingly from Sam. Plastering a sincere smile on her face, the brunette headed over to Mrs. Orton, who held a three month old Alana in her arms.

"Hey pretty girls." With her free arm, Sam pulled Rylee in for a hug. When the two pulled away, Rylee placed a kiss to Alana's forehead. "You two look great."

"Thanks, babe. But look at you! You're on the cover of Shape magazine?!" Rylee just shrugged.

"They wanted a spread for something young girls can look at. You and I know I only work out when I have to, and I'm definitely not a size zero." Sam just nodded. "Young girls now-a-days think you have be that to be sexy, so I proved them wrong. My size four ass looks damn sexy on that cover." Rylee giggled.

"Damn straight it does. And pretty soon, I'll be back to being sexy with you." Sam pointed to her stomach, which was covered by a loose black dress to hide her remaining baby weight. "Randy still gives me the speech on how sexy I am when I complain about not being back to my original weight. He doesn't understand that it frustrates me that I'm not back yet."

Rylee put a hand to Sam's shoulder and offered her a sympathetic smile. "We both know I can't say anything from experience, but you will get there, babe. Just embrace it. If your sexy husband thinks you look great, go with it."

"You are the only person I allow calling my husband sexy." The two girls share a laugh. "It's probably because you two are so much like brother and sister that it doesn't bother me."

"We both know I would never hook up with him." Again, the two laughed.

"Speaking of hooking up." Rylee raised her eyebrow as Sam handed Alana to her. "John Cena." The younger brunette shot her friend a confused look, not knowing exactly where she was going with her statement. "Girl, he's been trying to be discreet with the way he's been looking at you since you guys got here. Care to tell me what's up?"

Rylee turned her attention to the little girl in her arms and let out a sigh. "I have no idea, Sam. I mean, I officially met the man last night." Rylee just shrugged. "I don't know what you want me to tell you. He's attractive, and from what I've heard, he can be a funny guy. But you and I both know I'm not looking for anyone right now. Not after Trey."

Sam just nodded, but kept following John's movements with her eyes. "He's a great guy, Ry. I know he just broke up with his fiancé, so you two are in the same boat."

After one failed relationship with an up-and-coming actor by the name of Trey Woods, Rylee vowed off men. Or at least men in the limelight. Granted, they kept their relationship somewhat quiet and away from the media, people still knew. And the young singer was dragged through the tabloids when they finally caught wind of a break-up.

And then Trey's true betrayal began, as he went straight to the tabloids to call the Boston native out. At such an early point in her career, Rylee wasn't sure how to respond. But she acted as the bigger person, and chose to not comment on what Trey had said; including she cheated on him, and was big in the party scene, two things that were not true in the slightest.

As an eighteen year old, Rylee liked to go out, but not full-fledged partying like most young girls in Hollywood. She would take friends that were visiting from Boston and D.C. out for a night or two, but the backlash was terrible to the point where she was deemed a true partier.

But the real lie that got her was that Trey tried to insinuate that she was cheating on him. For their year and a half relationship, she had been nothing but supportive and faithful. It was the twenty year old that was unfaithful, and sleeping with anyone on the side that he wanted to.

"Sami, I don't know. I told myself I wouldn't date anyone else in the spotlight. John is most definitely in the spotlight."

"Give it time, Ry. I said that about Randy, and look where I am." She offered a smile as she placed a hand to her daughter's back.

xXx

"JC!" John nodded in his best friend's direction and headed towards him. The two shook hands as John took over Sam's seat. "What's up, man?"

"What do you mean?"

"What's up with you and Ry?'

John shrugged. "Nothin', man. I just caught a ride with her and Dave. No biggie."

"Whatever you say, man." Randy let out a light hearted laugh at his best friend's expense. After nine years of friendship, Randy thought he knew John's intentions at all times, but here he was trying to play off feelings he had for one of Randy and Sam's best friends. "She's a great girl, if you were curious."

It was John's turn to send his friend a confused look. "What are you talkin' about?"

"Hey, if you like her, that's fine by me. Just don't get with her and hurt her. Sam will kick your ass. Those two are like sisters."

"Back the fuck up, man. Whoever said I even liked the chick?"

Randy plastered a simple smile on his features and nodded. "Denial." John shook his head and started to stand up. "Liz was a fucking bitch, man. Get the fuck over her."

"You don't think that I want to? I've been trying to get over her for a good six months now." John sat back down and leaned all the way back in the seat. "I just, fuck, I don't know, man. I'd love to get over her, but I was with her for six years. That shit doesn't just go away."

"I'd say I get it, but I don't. I lucked out when I met Sam. Maybe you were supposed to meet Rylee at this point in your life. She can help you get over the bitch, and you can help her get over the douche bag."

John raised an eyebrow in confusion. "You're talkin' about Trey Woods, right?" Randy only nodded, and John thought he could see anger pooling in his best friend's eyes. "I only just met her, but Rylee doesn't seem like a chick that would do that."

Randy nodded. "It's 'cause she wouldn't. He was the one who fucked around on her. I have a feeling he only went to the tabs to further his career. Too bad Ry has the number one album and he's stuck working on movies that bomb." Randy took a sip of his orange juice and spotted the girls starting towards the table the two were at. "Hey Ry-Ry."

Randy stood to give his daughter's god mother a hug. She handed Alana to him and took a seat next to John, with Sam taking the seat on the other side of Randy. "What's up Stud?"

She flashed John a smile as he rested his arm on the back of her chair. "How's the new album coming along?"

A bright smile took over the youngest person at the table's face. "The douche was good for something. He gave me a lot of material to turn into songs for the album. We're still looking at a release in April on next year."

"Still not over him, are you, Stunner?"

She shrugged. "Yes and no. I mean, I should be 'cause he used me to get in the spotlight. But if he loved me as much as he claimed he did, I don't know."

"Someone who spreads those kinds of rumors isn't worth your time," John stated, causing Rylee to smile in his direction again.

She wasn't sure of John just yet. The same could be said from his perspective about her. Rylee played things a little too safe when it came to falling in love in Hollywood again, but this time around, it seemed as though John wasn't in it for her money and fame; he had plenty on his own. Maybe she could get someone to stand by her through one of the toughest times in her career.

xXx