Disclaimer: As Always I own nothing except my OC's all characters belong to Vince McMahon and the WWE. I am but a mere fan who likes to play on their playground from time to time.

Chapter 2 "Monday Nite Raw"

April 23, 2012

"Mr. Farrelly – that's really generous of you…but"

"Stephen…please he implored oddly eager to hear his name from her lips once more; smiling with boyish charm – blue eyes all a twinkle "Mr. Farrelly is my da'! Please Peyton, ah' I won't be taking no for answer here," he grinned with such boyish glee.

It was on the tip of her tongue to decline his generous offer, but the beautiful child-like joy sparkling in his blue eyes drew her in. It had been a long time since Peyton had seen that kind of joy outside of her students.

Worrying that her silence meant rejection – Stephen pressed on "Ah'm sure yeh the fella in yeh life would love to come with yeh an' Shannon."

Blushing furiously clear to her roots, Peyton shook her head stammering "No…No that's not it at all," she finished with an almost nervous air.

Stephen stood watching varied emotions flittering through her eyes. Maybe he was wrong – maybe she didn't feel the same energy between them that he did. Mere seconds before he was about to give her a graceful out – she accepted. Looking into her eyes he noted the very brief smile sliding across her full pink mouth. As he watched her smile was quickly replaced, as she tugged her lower lip between her teeth – almost nibbling in a rather shy nervous manner. The look in her eyes assured him the gesture was more nerves than calculated flirting. Watching her, Stephen felt it heating his blood, a reaction he wasn't expecting. Caught off guard by his response, he was momentarily at a loss for words.

He and Casey had split up more than a year ago. There had been the occasional date here and there; sure but no one to shake him this quickly. He couldn't remember the last time he noticed – really noticed such a shy almost innocent gesture by any woman. "Is she even aware?" he wondered absently as she continued to tug unconsciously at her lower lip. Silently he vowed that if she showed up at RAW tonight he would be the one tugging on that lower lip before the night was over.

Drawing his attention away from her beautiful mouth, "Ah'll leave two tickets at the ticker counter for yeh and Shannon – ok?"

"Ok – Mr. Farr…Stephen that's very sweet of you Shannon will be thrilled – Thank you."

Taking her right hand in his Stephen looked quickly around the room noticing that no one was paying them much attention he drew her hand to his lips. Brushing a soft brief kiss across her knuckles – he released her hand smiling "Ah assure yeh the pleasure is all mine," he smiled before making his way back to the front of the room.

As the event drew to a close, Peyton escorted her class back to their room. It pleased her beyond measure to see her kids so happy. They were a great class; a class that really deserved to be part of the Be A Star campaign. As they settled back into their seats, the chatter continued. Realizing that trying to continue with the standard daily curriculum would be a lost cause; Peyton spent the rest of the school day discussing what they had learned from the WWE Superstars.

Watching the clock, Peyton noted that she was almost as excited as the students were for the end of the school day. Just before the final bell rang, Peyton addressed the class "For your homework tonight…."

Almost as if in unison a collective groan could be heard from the twenty-six little minds sitting in front of her. "Now" she continued "before you all go getting cranky with me. All I want you to do is write me one paragraph. Tell me about your favorite part of today's events." As the kids accepted the less than normal homework assignment – everyone cheered as the final bell of the day rang; dismissing classes for the day.

As the classroom emptied, Peyton headed towards the front office; where she was certain she would find Shannon's mom Carrie. Carrie was like an admin super hero. She came to the school about six months after Peyton and the two had soon bonded – becoming tight knit friends. As Peyton entered the main office she noted Carrie at the copier looking a little more frazzled than usual for a Monday afternoon. "Hey Carrie," greeted Peyton as she watched the fiery red head run frustrated fingers through her long copper colored locks.

Barely looking up from the copier, Carrie replied "Oh hey Peyton, what's up?"

"Do you need any help with anything around here?" Peyton questioned, as Carrie shook her head no she continued on "Well I may have some good news for Shannon – if it's ok with you."

"Sure – what's up Pey?" asked Carrie using the girlish nickname she typically only saved for truly girly special occasions. "Shannon and I have been invited to tonight's Monday Nite Raw."

Concentrating on the task at hand, Carrie nodded her approval before the words had actually sunk in. Suddenly looking up she frowned slightly quizzically. "What a minute, did you just say that you and Shannon had been invited to the RAW show – tonight?"

Peyton couldn't help but giggle, the look on Carrie's face was truly priceless. "Yes Carrie, Shannon and I were invited to RAW tonight at the Joe. I'm guessing there gonna be pretty awesome seats to." Peyton confirmed with a girlish giggle. When Stephen first asked all she felt was a bad case of nerves. Standing here talking to Carrie about it – she could allow herself to be excited about the whole thing.

Still a little doubtful that her friend didn't buy these tickets herself, Carrie questioned "And just who invited you two to the show tonight?"

'Oh this is going to be fun' thought Peyton. "A friend of mine – names Stephen Farrelly," replied Peyton with extreme calm.

Collecting her copies, Carrie moved back towards her desk to finish one last thing before Shannon arrived to head home. "Stephen Farrelly….Stephen Farrelly…Stephen why does that name sound so familiar to me?" she muttered mostly to herself. Turning to Peyton, "That name sounds so familiar, have we met?"

"Not exactly" hedged Peyton "You probably know him better as Sheamus," she admitted with a broad smile a slight girlish giggle escaping.

Dropping the file folder across her desk, Carrie turned to her long-time friend and co-worker in disbelief "Are you telling me that Sheamus "My Celtic Warrior" invited you and my daughter to RAW…tonight in Detroit?"

Carrie's reaction was all Peyton needed to burst into a fit of giggles. Grinning like the Cheshire cat, she stood nodding – fits of giggles escaping with every breath.

As the two women talked and giggled like school girls themselves, they didn't notice Shannon when she entered the office back-pack in hand. Moving to her mother's desk she looked between her mom and her teacher, unsure what to make of all the giggling. Quietly she asked "Mom?"

Looking down at her little girl, Carrie wrapped her arm around her small shoulders – leaning in to kiss the top of her head. "Hi baby – did you have fun today at the Be A Star rally?"

That one question was all it took for Shannon to be off and running. She told her mom about meeting Sheamus with Peyton and about dancing with Brodus Clay. She then went on and on about Triple H and whether or not boys should wear pony tails. Both Carrie and Peyton smiled at each other allowing the little girl to talk – waiting for her to run out of steam. When she finally stopped long enough to take a breath, Carrie knelt down beside her "I have some good news for you baby. Seems after your talk with Sheamus today; he invited you and Ms. Ross to the Joe tonight for RAW."

Shannon's hazel eyes became as big as saucers as she looked between her mom and Peyton. Her little face ping-ponging between the two women she trusted most in life. "Are you for real?" she questioned anxiously. Both women nodded in agreement "As real as it gets kid-o," replied Peyton "so you wanna go with me or what?" she asked with a smile.

Shannon never missed a beat as she began to jump up and down shouting "YES YES YES!" Both women smiled – warmed by the happiness of one little girl. Taking her daughter's hand Carrie reminded her that this was a special treat for her – not all of her class or friends would be going with Ms. Ross she explained. "So you can't come to school tomorrow bragging – you don't want to hurt the other kid's feelings. They might not understand why you got to go with Ms. Ross and they didn't ok?"

Turning instantly solemn Shannon nodded "I won't momma…I promise" she tacked on with pure sincerity.

Looking up at Peyton Carrie nodded "Well then" she began as she moved to stand once more "I hope you to ladies have a great time and remember to bring me a picture of Sheamus when you come home." Squealing with glee Shannon practically swamped her mom with a pint size bear hug, turning quickly she rushed towards Peyton giving her the same fierce hug." As the two women talked a few minutes more, Shannon moved excitedly nearly dancing around her mother's desk.

Peyton agreed to bring Shannon home right after the show. Making their good-byes Peyton and Shannon left the school together and headed to Peyton's apartment. Peyton promised Shannon they would grab some dinner before the show as soon as she changed her clothes. Leaving Shannon on the couch with the t.v. remote, Peyton went to her bedroom. Rummaging through her closet, she wondered absently 'what does one wear to a pro wrestling event?' Finally she settled on a pair of dark wash jeans and her favorite long sleeved cranberry colored V-neck top. Heading into the bathroom she quickly changed her clothes. Turning she glanced at herself in the full length mirror hanging from the back of the bathroom door. For the first time in a while she found herself wishing she were thinner. Turning first to the left and then the right she adjusted her top – while tugging at her jeans. "Face it Ross," she muttered "you're a solid size sixteen and no amount of tugging and adjustin' gonna change that now." Turning back to the sink she touched up her make-up and tried to decide what to do with her unruly dark hair. Checking her watch, she opted to tie it up in a high bun that landed somewhere between messy and trendy. Leaving the bathroom, she grabbed her black leather boots and her bag. "Ok kid-o – you ready? Let's do this!" she exclaimed as they turned off the TV. and locked up behind them.

Soon they were standing outside the ticket counter at the Joe. Approaching the counter, Peyton thought the clerk looked as if he were being tortured – like anywhere else on earth was preferable to this. She smiled as he asked in a bored monotone "Can I help you?"

"I'm Peyton Ross – you're holding two tickets for me."

Turning away from her, the young clerk rummaged through a small drawer finally pulling a long yellow envelope. Peyton smiled nervously as the clerk asked for her id. Handing over her driver's license, Peyton waited some-what patiently for the clerk to give her the tickets. Opening the envelope he withdrew a small post it note. Peyton looked down at Shannon's hopeful anxious face – praying nothing was wrong she just couldn't disappoint Shannon. "Is there a problem?" she questioned as the clerk searched for his walkie-talkie. "This is Jesse at tickets; I've got two v.i.p's here needing an escort backstage."

"V.I.P.'s are you sure? There must be some mistake – I was only expecting two tickets."

Looking at her driver's license once more before returning it, Jesse the clerk laughed. "Um no mistake two tickets" he smirked flashing the two tickets "and two back-stage passes," he again flashed the passes. Entering the back of the booth was a shorter older gentleman with a full head of thick salt and pepper hair. Collecting both the tickets and passes he exited the booth "Ms. Ross – Ms. Shannon if you ladies will please follow me."

Leading them both beyond the ticket counter, Peyton noticed he his name tag said Kevin. He smiled making small talk as he lead them through a maze of corridors – finally stopping outside of a small dressing room. "Here we go ladies," he smiled brightly before giving the door a quick rap. "Yeah" came the response from deep beyond the closed door. "Sir it's Kevin…your guests have arrived."

The door opened quickly revealing Stephen filling the doorway. "No" Peyton corrected silently taking in Stephen's appearance his Brogue Kick Hooligans t-shirt, black wrestling trunks, and boots this man was not Stephen this was the infamous Sheamus. "Ah'm so glad that you ladies could make it." Smiling at Kevin, he thanked him for escorting the ladies back to his locker room. As Kevin walked away, Stephen took Peyton's hand once again brushing a brief, soft, tender kiss across her knuckles. "Ah'm so glad yeh could make it." Kneeling he squatted next to Shannon "and yeh young lady…Ah'm very glad that yeh could come tonight."

Peyton and Stephen shared a brief smile as they watched Shannon blushing clear to her roots. "Thank-you Mr. Sheamus," she murmured with intense shyness lacing every word.

"Ah thought Ah would show yeh ladies around backstage before the show begins." Shannon was so excited she looked as if she was about to burst at the seams. "What do you think Shannon – you wanna take a tour around backstage?"

Shannon nodded looking happily between both of them. "It's settled then," confirmed Stephen as he shut the locker room door behind him. The unlikely trio set out on their way.

As they walked Stephen couldn't stop his eyes from wandering over Peyton. She had obviously changed her clothes. Smirking devilishly to himself he couldn't decide which look he found more attractive suburban school teacher with the long skirt or this pair of dark jeans she was currently sporting. As they walked, he found his gaze continuing to wonder down her long legs. In those jeans with those boots – he couldn't help but think that her legs went on for miles.

He felt a gentle tugging at the hem of this t-shirt – looking down he saw Shannon looking up at him with a wide eyed almost fearful look in her eyes. "What's the matter lass?" he questioned as they drew to a stop. Pointing a hesitant finger across the corridor she whispered "I don't like him!" Both adults followed the young girl's line of sight, to see none other than one Mr. John Laurenitis standing on the other side of the corridor.

Smiling Stephen whispered conspiratorially "Can yeh keep a secret lil' lass?" he asked with a wink. Shannon looked between Stephen and Peyton smiling like a little girl at Christmas – before nodding solemnly at Stephen. Looking around them, Stephen continued kneeling down next to her "none of us aroun' here like him much lass."

"You don't like him either?" questioned Shannon.

Winking Sheamus shook his head no "Would you like to meet him anyway?" Shannon nodded wrapping her little hand tight around Sheamus' hand as he stood. Looking at Peyton he winked, smiling a quick sexy little grin. He quickly led the way across the large corridor. Mr. Laurenitis stood in deep conversation with David Otunga and Eve Torres. "Excuse me Mr. Laurenitis,"

"Sheamus…Sheamus…Sheamus so good to see you" exclaimed Mr. Laurenitis "How good to see you!" As he spoke Stephen he felt Shannon squeeze his hand tight. "Ah' have some folks here who would like to meet yeh!"

John Laurenitis turned his gaze to Peyton and Shannon drawing himself to his full height – he adjusted his full height in an attempt to impress. "John Laurenitis ma'am" he began "and who might you two lovely ladies be?"

Before either could answer Stephen spoke "This is Shannon McKay and her teacher Peyton Ross. They both took part in tha' Be A Star program earlier today."

Standing at his full height, John smiled "Welcome Ladies – it's a pleasure to have you join on us here on RAW tonight – as we moved forward with 'People Power.'

Unable to watch any further, Eve rolled her eyes as she quietly excused herself. Stephen turned and introduced David Otunga who had been standing quietly to John's right.

Addressing Shannon, John asked if she were a big fan of RAW. "How do you like my new "People Power?"

Looking up at Sheamus, Shannon laughed a little nervously "not so much!" she replied with a clear if somewhat nervous voice.

Stephen, David, and Peyton all smirked at the little girl's candor. Looking to Stephen, Peyton wouldn't swear that she hadn't heard a slight chuckle escape. Flustered by the little girl's honesty, John quickly made his excuses and departed down the long corridor. As they watched him leave, Stephen gave David a quick smile and a gentle smack to the shoulder "See yeh aroun' Otunga." With that said the unlikely trio was off again. As they walked Stephen told them stories about the WWE and some of her more colorful superstars. Within a few minutes they ran into John Cena and Randy Orton both of whom stopped and spoke with them for a few minutes. Shannon was overwhelmed at how everyone stopped and talked with them.

A few minutes before actual show-time Stephen asked "Do yeh ladies want to go to yeh sets or do yeh want to watch the show from a monitor near my locker room?"

Looking to Shannon, Peyton could feel the butterflies in her stomach. Watching Monday Nite Raw from Stephen's dressing room – things like this just didn't happen to third grade teachers like her. She half expected Shannon to want to go out to the arena and sit among the crowd; she was genuinely surprised when Shannon asked to stay in the locker room.

"It's settled then," beamed Stephen "right this way ladies." Leading them back down the corridor toward his locker room; where he located a smaller monitor to be moved inside his locker room. The three sat watching the show together until it was time for Stephen to prepare for his match. "Well ladies time for me to head to the ring." As he stood and prepared to head to the gorilla position he was surprised when little Shannon rushed up with a giant hug. Looking up at him she smiled "for luck," she smiled.

"Ah like the way yeh think lil' lady." Turning his attention to Peyton, he tapped his right cheek. "How about yeh Peyton, any good luck wishes." Peyton had been watching the show from the comfort of a small padded bench near the far corner of the room. Standing slowly she made her way towards the center of the room where Stephen waited. Moving into his personal space slowly, she placed one hand along his left cheek while leaning in and gently kissing his right – whispering "good luck tonight."

Grinning from ear to ear Stephen asked "how can ah' lose with two such beautiful ladies cheering me on?" Moving to the door he turned to give both the room and the girls one final look; catching Peyton's eye he winked and was gone.

Shannon and Peyton watched the match against Mark Henry. Shannon was nearly devastated when her hero lost to the big man. Shannon could not wait for Stephen to return so she could tell him just what she thought of the whole thing. Sometime later, after cutting his backstage promo with Matt Striker, Stephen returned to the locker room to find Shannon sound asleep curled up on the bench next to Peyton. He was momentarily taken aback at how beautiful and right Peyton looked sitting there caring for a small child. Looking up as he entered Peyton smiled "She struggled to stay awake. She was seriously ticked when you lost to Mark Henry. She wanted you to know how wrong that was, but the fight to keep her eyes open was just too much."

Moving closer, Stephen took the empty chair closest to the bench "Such a beautiful lil' lady" he murmured as he watched her sleep. As Shannon slept, Stephen and Peyton watched the rest of the show in relative silence. As the show drew to its close, Peyton sighed. "Stephen this has been a wonderful evening thank you so much. Shannon here will be talking about it for months to come."

"Ah'm glad yeh both could make it. Ah've had a lot of fun having yeh here." Standing quickly from the chair he headed to the small closet area across the room. "Ah have something for yeh before you leave." Reaching into the closet he produced a large canvas bag. "There are some t-shirts in there and a number of signed photos and posters. Ah thought yeh students might enjoy some souvenirs."

Smiling shyly Peyton sighed "Thank you Stephen that's very sweet of you." Turning her attention to Shannon she wondered how she would be able to get the young girl out of the arena – waking her was sure to be a chore. As if sensing her struggle, Stephen stood scooping the young girl up in his arms as is she weighed nothing more than a feather. Cradling her against his chest, he motioned for Peyton to lead the way. Moving from the locker room, the trio headed back towards the ticket booth where they had originally entered the arena. Stephen could feel the stares and whispers coming from the other superstars as he carried Shannon down the corridor with Peyton at this side.

As they reached the car, Peyton unlocked the doors and helped Stephen set Shannon in the back seat. Between the two of them they managed to fasten her into her seat belt and not wake her up once. Facing him Peyton smiled, this had been a wonderful evening and she was sad to see it end. 'Even Cinderella knew when to leave the ball.' She thought sadly to herself. "Thank-you again for a wonderful evening Stephen; you certainly made her dreams come true tonight."

Stephen smiled a little humbled at the praise Peyton placed on him. He wanted to ask to see her again. He hadn't been this nervous to ask for a phone number since middle school. Peyton could see the obvious struggle playing across his face, but she didn't realize she was at the heart of that struggle. "My schedule is crazy," he began "but would yeh mind if I called you sometime – maybe just to talk."

She was shocked, here she stood a thirty year old elemenatary school teacher and one of the biggest names in the WWE was asking for her phone number. Digging around in her purse she found the black magic marker she had been looking for. Deciding to go young and flirty she moved closer to Stephen taking his large hand in her much smaller one. She carefully wrote her number across the palm of his hand. "You can call me anytime," she whispered as she tossed the pen back into her bag.

"All right – well good night then," murmured Stephen.

"Good-night" Peyton replied as she turned and headed back towards the driver side. Before she could move two steps in that direction, she felt Stephen reach out grabbing her by the wrist and spinning her back towards him. Pulling her in close to his chest, he watched the surprise cross her face mere seconds before he leaned in preparing to take the kiss he had been dreaming about all day.

Author's Note: Huge thank you to NellyLove, KiwiStar ShannonTheAwesomeOne, and xthefirestillburns for taking the time read and review my little tale. I hope that you all continue to read, review, and enjoy xoxoxox