Title: The ARK Angels of DX in Monster Ink
Author: Kaykyaka
Disclaimer: I do not own any of the WWE and TNA characters used within this fictional story. No copyright infringement is intended and no money is being made by this work of fiction.
Ratings: K+
Characters: Shawn, Cameron and Cheyenne Michaels, Amy 'Lita' Dumas Michaels, Hunter Hurst Helmsley, LC Helmsley, Aurora Rose Helmsley, Chyna, Trish and Randy Orton, Melina and Johnny Hennigan, Batista, CM Punk, The Beautiful People, Edge, Jeff Hardy, Rey Mysterio, Stephanie and Chris Jericho, The McCools
Summary: An evil spirit takes possession of Batista and CM Punk and chaos ensues for the RAW locker room. DX discover that the problem is tattooed on the two Superstars but can Shawn and Hunter help them and protect their family at the same-time?
Chapter Nineteen - Ave Lisa
Windsor Auditorium, Waterside at 6pm:
DX elected Arn Anderson and Michael Hayes to run the RAW house show while they went to their children's concert and while Cameron had mixed emotions about the sensibility of them being in the same room as Chris Jericho he knew it meant a lot to both LC and Cheyenne that they were able to make it after all. There were several performances scheduled for tonight and LC and Cheyenne were going to perform last which meant that the school had high expectations of them; it was the biggest of compliments even though LC couldn't care less about what the school thought. In fact she had tweaked her performance significantly to make it more LC-like. Cameron chuckled at the expression on Mrs. Guttenheimer's face when LC said she'd need an amp and that she'd be playing her guitar. After the shock wore off Mrs. Guttenheimer decided to give LC a chance; as conventional as she was Mrs. Guttenheimer believed with LC's level of talent she could pull it off, whatever it was - LC refused to give her a taste before the show saying that she wanted it to be a surprise.
An hour into the concert LC started to get nervous and paced back and forth, her guitar strapped around her and her hands clasped behind her back. In her army green dress and big black boots she looked like she was going into battle and in a way she was. The ARK Angels were always in the midst of something but this wasn't a battle she could fight with Cheyenne and Cameron, this battle was between her and her two fathers Hunter and Chris Jericho for her heart.
"Are they behaving themselves out there?" LC asked as Cameron peeped out from the side of the stage.
"Well I don't see any chairs being thrown or hear any verbal taunts being made but it's early," Cameron teased and LC rolled her eyes.
"That's not funny Cam, this is an important night and I want them both to get along," LC said and Cameron came over to her and put a comforting hand on her shoulder while Cheyenne polished her harp for the eighteenth time.
"They know this is a special night and Uncle Hunter said he would be on his best behavior. Given how "super nice" Jericho's been all of a sudden I wouldn't expect any WWE-type drama to go down tonight," Cameron re-assured her and LC nodded.
"Okay you're right, thanks Cameron I'm glad you're back here with me," LC said with a fond smile.
"No problem sweetheart," Cameron said kissing LC's cheek and she blushed a little. The sound of applause broke LC out of her love daze, the last performance before hers was over and now it was showtime for her and Cheyenne.
"Ready GPS?" LC asked her angelic amigo.
"Ready, let's rock this place!" Cheyenne said and they both headed to the stage while Mrs. Guttenheimer stepped forward to introduce them and Cameron sat at the side of the stage keeping his eye on LC and Cheyenne as-well as two particular individuals in the audience.
"Wow if this is not the most boring concert I've ever been to in my entire life," Hunter complained and he nudged Shawn, "Next time how about just one of us go, namely you?"
"We're only here for our kids, if Cheyenne and LC were on first we woulda been outta here by now," Shawn said, "but they're on last because they're the best and the music department wants to showcase their talent, that makes the last hour totally worth it,"
Hunter smiled to himself, "Imagine that, our daughters going on in the main event. They really do take after us," he said and Shawn nodded proudly.
"Like father like daughter," he said.
"I don't remember if I've ever been so proud of her," Hunter said about LC and Jericho turned around to him with a big smile on his face.
"I know exactly how you feel," he said and Hunter's face tightened with annoyance at Jericho's comment but Shawn nudged him lightly and he turned his scowl into a plastic smile.
"Chris look I think I see her at the side of the stage," Stephanie said and Jericho peered to the side and saw LC standing there with the guitar he bought for her.
"Hey sweetie!" he said waving at her excitedly and LC waved back.
When Hunter leaned forward to see what Jericho was waving at he saw LC and waved at her too but she didn't see him and he sat down frustrated.
"Easy big fella," Chyna said to him.
"She didn't wave, why didn't she wave Jo?" Hunter said to Joanie who shrugged.
"I guess she didn't see you," Joanie replied.
"But I'm right here I told her I was going to be here she should be looking for me!" Hunter said getting agitated.
"Keep your voice down," Chyna said to him seeing that he was getting riled up and Mrs. Guttenheimer was about to introduce LC and Cheyenne.
"And now to perform a contemporary rendition of Franz Schubert's Ave Maria please welcome to the stage Lisa Cornelius Helmsley and Cheyenne Michelle Michaels," Mrs. Guttenheimer said and the parents applauded as LC and Cheyenne came to the stage. The sound of his name after LC's brought a smile to Hunter's previously wound up face and Chyna breathed a sigh of relief as he calmed down and hoped that he would enjoy the rest of the concert. The sight of the guitar that Chris Jericho had bought for her ticked him off a little bit but then he remembered that she was still a Helmsley and no guitar on Earth was greater than that.
When the audience quieted down Cheyenne started to play her harp and a sudden peace came over the auditorium. LC opened her mouth and sang the first few lines of Ave Maria and the audience melted at the sound of her voice. LC didn't sing much but now that she was Charlotte and Dan wondered how come they had never heard her sing before. Her voice was beautiful and accompanied by Cheyenne the song tugged at the heart of everyone in attendance, especially their family members who were beaming with pride at the front of the audience. Cameron watched his family from the side of the stage relieved that the music had taken their minds off their problems and put their focus solely on the two children on the stage making them proud and him glad he was co-worker of Heaven with both of them. Cheyenne stopped playing as LC went into a guitar solo, a loud and thunderous guitar solo that made the parents' gasp in amazement. They were finding out first hand just how skilled LC was, it was like she had been playing for years when in all honesty she had only been playing for a week. Chris Jericho put his hand over his heart as she played, he was really touched or at least he appeared to be. Hunter was impressed that his daughter had injected a part of her irreverent character by playing a guitar solo in what was traditionally a classical song. Joanie was touched so was Shawn and Amy was hungry but that didn't stop her from enjoying the children's wonderful performance. As LC came to the last verse and Cheyenne joined back in Cameron paid particular attention to the last words as they seemed to have a certain message in them:
"Beneath thy guidance reconciled;
Hear for a maid a maiden's prayer,
And for a father hear a child!
Ave Maria!"
Cameron couldn't help but think that there was a connection between this song LC, Triple H and Chris Jericho, the question was who was she reconciled to? That question would have to be answered another time as the song came to an end the parents stood to their feet and broke out into rapturous applause surprising both Cheyenne and LC who waved at their parents and wanted to get off the stage as soon as possible. Mrs. Guttenheimer had other ideas as she persuaded them to stay on the stage.
"Take a bow!" she said enthusiastically and LC and Cheyenne did making the music teacher beam even more. The applause seemed to go on forever and LC wondered how many times she could bow in a minute while Cheyenne made a dance out of it thinking it was funny going up and down over and over again.
Chris Jericho was so overwhelmed by LC's performance he had tears in his eyes, after she and Cheyenne finally left the stage the parents ushered themselves back stage to shower the girls with praise: they would have to get in line as the other music teachers and performers were there already.
"You girls were marvellous, absolutely marvellous you brought Schubert's classic to life in a unique and wonderful way I am so proud of you!" Mrs. Guttenheimer said picking up LC and Cheyenne individually and hugging them passionately. LC looked over Mrs. Guttenheimer's shoulder and saw her parents standing there.
"Um Mrs. G my parents are here," LC said squashed against Mrs. Guttenheimer and the music teacher turned and saw them and put LC down to go over and talk to them.
"Oh hello there, I was just telling the girls what an amazing job they did today you must be so proud of them," she said to the smiling faces.
"Great job LC," Charlotte said giving her foster sister a thumbs up and LC jumped into her arms.
"Thanks for coming Char," she said happy that Charlotte and Dan could make it.
"Are you kidding we wouldn't miss your first concert for the world," Dan said impressed beyond measure with LC and Cheyenne's performance tonight.
"How long have you been teaching your daughter guitar Mr. Helmsley?" Mrs. Guttenheimer asked Triple H who scratched his head not knowing how to respond.
"Well nobody actually taught her," he explained.
"You mean she's a natural, she just took to the guitar you bought her?" Mrs. Guttenheimer asked intrigued.
"Actually I bought her the guitar, I'm the musician in the family," Chris Jericho said stepping forward and Mrs. Guttenheimer lowered her spectacles to identify the man in front of her.
"Are you a professional musician?" she asked Jericho.
"Yes I have my own rock band and we tour all over the world," Jericho said and Mrs. Guttenheimer nodded.
"That makes a lot of sense, whereas Cheyenne is more classically inclined LC is definitely leaning towards the less traditional side of music. With a little dedication LC could be a world class guitarist, keep up the good work!" Mrs. Guttenheimer said to Jericho shaking his hand.
"Oh don't worry I will," Jericho assured her and Hunter did everything he could to keep his temper under control.
"Whad'ya say we go out and get some ice cream to celebrate huh?" Hunter asked LC.
"Sounds great," LC said as Hunter grabbed her hand and swung her around.
"LC don't you remember what we talked about?" Jericho said and LC furrowed her brow as Triple H stopped spinning her around and suddenly all eyes were on Jericho, "You said that since Carla wasn't going to be attending Waterside for the semester you'd come to New York and spend some time with her,"
"Yeah but I meant like over the year," LC said, "I haven't even asked my father yet,"
Charlotte and Dan looked at each other, "It doesn't have to be this weekend it could be next weekend after clearing it with Triple H first perhaps," Charlotte said to Jericho obviously irritated that he once again was making decisions and leaving everyone that LC and Carla were attached to out.
Jericho turned to Carla, "It sure would be nice to hang around with your sister this weekend wouldn't it?" he asked her and Carla nodded.
"Sure it would but it doesn't have to be this weekend, it can be anytime just as long as I get to see my sister who I am so proud of," Carla said and LC hugged her warmly appreciating her kind words.
Jericho rubbed the back of his neck uncomfortably, "So you don't want to spend the weekend in New York LC? I could take you to this really cool guitar place I know uptown," he said hopefully but LC shook her head.
"If it's all the same to you Chris I think I'll stay in Connecticut this weekend," she said and Jericho felt something tugging at his heart but it wasn't the pride he felt earlier, it was sharp and painful and it cut like a knife. Cameron knew what it was - it was Jericho's heart and it was breaking.
Hunter couldn't help but smirk and he had to restrain himself from laughing at the anguished expression on Jericho's face, so instead he decided to rub some salt in the wound.
"You know LC maybe you should spend the weekend with The McCools and the Jerichos, it wouldn't bother me at all," he said sounding like the world's greatest father and Shawn and Joanie shook their heads knowing what Hunter was doing; he was trying to get into Jericho's head and by the look on the Canadian's face it was working.
"Dad that's very sweet of you but I can see Carla and the McCools next week," LC said equally as sweetly and Cameron shook his head at his girlfriend's second winning performance of the night. She put the icing on the cake when she looked over at Jericho and said, "You don't mind do you Chris?"
Jericho might as-well have said nothing because the pain was written all over his face, "No LC I don't mind," he said with a plastic smile, "I don't mind at all,"
Amy was pretty sure if she had a knife she could cut the tension in the room with it but she didn't have to as Charlotte made the save.
"We better be going we've got a plane to catch," she said taking Carla by the hand.
"Why don't we all have dinner some-time?" Stephanie suggested and Hunter nodded with a big smile.
"I would really like that, how about next week?" Hunter said.
"Sounds good to me," Stephanie said excitedly.
"Me too," Charlotte said.
"Count me in," Dan added.
"Cool!" Carla said and then Hunter waited patiently for Jericho to join in with an enthusiastic response.
"I guess we'll see you then," Jericho said with much less enthusiasm but that's what Cameron expected since the man's thinly veiled plan to win LC's heart had been shattered to a million pieces by the very girl whose heart he was trying to win with the help of her father Triple H.
"Will you guys walk out with us?" Stephanie asked.
"Actually Aunt Steph there's something I want to discuss with my father," LC said and Jericho looked away hurt by LC's obvious snub and he left abruptly taking a clueless Stephanie Jericho by the hand out of the auditorium followed by Carla and the McCools who were trying to disguise their laughter as a cough.
As soon as they were gone Hunter and LC broke into a fit of laughter and slapped each other's hand as if they had just won the Superbowl.
"You guys are unbelievable," Shawn said as the father and daughter celebrated the complete humiliation of one Chris Jericho, "I haven't seen a performance that cerebral since my comeback match against you in '02!"
"Did you see his face?" LC said ecstatically, "for a minute there I thought the man was going to breakdown and cry,"
"I think if he had stayed a little while longer he would have!" Hunter said.
"That was brutal," Amy said caressing her stomach, "Everytime you told him that you weren't coming to New York you could see a part of Jericho's façade just melting like butter on a hot summer's day,"
"Yes a façade, that's exactly what it was and it all came down tonight!" LC said victoriously and Hunter swung her around proudly.
"So let me get this straight, the whole thing with you wanting Jericho to come to the concert was just an act?" Joanie asked and LC nodded, "I am so impressed you really had me going there,"
"Actually the operation started when he took me to Guitar World, tonight was the culmination of two week's worth of work," LC said and Hunter nodded.
"I knew it and that wave from the stage - oh, that was classic!" Hunter said.
"And then when I didn't wave at you that was totally on purpose!" LC said and Hunter laughed.
"This is my daughter, completely calculating, completely cold and completely cerebral. LC you make me proud to be a father," Hunter said to his daughter and gave her a big hug.
"I was onto Jericho from the start, what was he thinking trying to break up our family, doesn't he know who he's dealing with?" LC said.
"Obviously not," Cameron said not sure to cheer because Hunter's heart hadn't been broken or feel bad because Chris Jericho's had. He still wasn't clear if Jericho genuinely wanted to get to know LC better, what was clear though was that LC hadn't bought into that idea at all.
"Now how about that ice cream?" Hunter said and everyone headed towards the exit still discussing the number LC just pulled on Jericho.
"LC you forgot your guitar!" Mrs. Guttenheimer called to her favorite student.
"Throw it in the trash Mrs. G, I won't be needing it anymore," LC replied and Mrs. Guttenheimer frowned.
"Are you sure?" the teacher asked confused.
"Yeah, my dad will buy me a better one," she said smiling at Triple H who smiled right back.
"Okay, see you next week!" Mrs. Guttenheimer called out as the DX family left, "What a great family," she said to herself locking the guitar away unable to throw it away as LC asked because of the amazing sound she made come out of it. She couldn't just throw it away because LC didn't want it anymore, as far as Mrs. Guttenheimer was concerned there was still value in it. LC certainly didn't see it that way; to her the guitar was like her "relationship" with Chris Jericho - worthless. However the look on his face when she made him feel that way was like her relationship with Hunter - priceless.