Chapter Twenty Three

It's Thursday and John, Robyn, and Nikki are coming over for dinner. I just got back from getting Louis from my mom and dads while Chris put the finishing touches on the steak. He's not much of a cook but thank god he can follow a reciepe. Chris is in a St. Louis Blues (for those of you who don't know, Chris' dad once played for the Blues) hoodie and black sweatpants. His hair is really messy and he looks like he just got out of bed. "You gonna put something else on Chris?" I ask, a smile playing across my lips.

"It's the only thing that doesn't make my sides hurt," he frowns.

"I was teasing. You're about the only one I know that can pull shit like this off and still look presentable..." and it's true. No matter what Chris wears, it looks good on him. I wish I had that ability.

He gestures to my black sweater and jeans, "Is that what you're wearing? Cuz it looks cute."

"Yes it's what I'm wearing. i dont' have time to-" there's a knock on the door and I go answer it. Robyn and John are standing there, John holding Nikki in one arm. "Hey guys, c'mon in."

John walks in, looking around. He's wearing a stocking cap, a black hoodie, and blue jeans. I can tell he's cold because of his body language. Robyn is wearing a black jacket over a yellow shirt and blue jeans with Nikki dressed in the same thing only a stocking cap on her head. "Nice place you have here," John says, "right Robyn?"

Robyn shrugs, keeping silent. I can tell she doesn't want to be here. She probably doesn't forgive me. I can't blame her. I lead them to the kitchen and Chris says, "John, what are you going on a polar expidition after this?"

"Did you just get outta bed?" John retorts, a smirk on his face.

"Screw off John, I've got fractured ribs." Chris sticks out his tongue very childishly. He walks into the kitchen bringing back two plates of steak and potatoes. I go into the kitchen and grab the other two while Chris comes back and grabs the glasses. I carry the food in and set it down before going back in for the bottle of Dom Perignon Chris and I have been saving for when we have guests.

"None for me please," Robyn says, finally speaking up.

"Oh so you do have a voice box," I smile, offering it to John who shakes his head, "What is with you people? This is a bottle of Dom Perignon!"

"Don't you just have beer?" John asks.

"Told you that John would rather have a bottle of beer than some wine," Chris laughs. And he did, I just thought that with it being a nice dinner I would offer wine instead of beer.

"Do you want beer as well?" I ask Robyn, smiling.

"No, alcohol probably isn't the best idea for me, I'm driving." she says. "Pepsi if you have it."

I nod and go back into the kitchen, bringing John and Chris and myself a beer and Robyn a Pepsi. "Did you bring food for Nikki?"

Robyn nods and gets into her purse, bringing a bottle of baby food out. "Yep yep yep."

I nod and open the bottle of baby food Chris had brought in when he brough the rest of the food in, "Open wide little one," I smile at him. I bring a spoonful of food towards him and he coos as he eats it. A few seconds later he's got it on his chin. I laugh and give him another bite.

"So Chris, sorry to hear about the injury, seems you weren't as lucky as I was." John frowns, "They were outta control with you and Adam but then again...never expected to hear you say you were the on in charge though."

"I was having a villain moment, c'mon Cena you've said things you didn't mean when you were in a passionate rant." Chris says.

I smile at Robyn, "So your a pop star?"

Robyn nods, "Think more along the lines of a not so rough rockstar. I do more than just pop you know."

"But your famous for doing the same thing that the Jonas Brothers and Miley Cyrus do," I reply.

She lets out a bitter laugh and John looks at me, "Best not to mention the Jonas Brothers around her."

We finish dinner in silence which I finally break by saying, "Chris, why don't you take Louis and go lay down on the couch. You're welcome to join him Robyn."

Robyn nods and carries Nikki into the living room while I help Chris up and carry Louis into the living room for him. As Chris and Robyn sit in the den watching after Nikki and Louis, I bring two bottles of beer from the fridge. I hand one to John who accepts it courteously and the other I take for myself. Theres a silence between the two of us as I sit down on the counter. It's not uncomfortable either, just the silence of two friends enjoying a drink. I can sense theres something John wants to ask but I let him decide on his own time. "Meghan...do you know why I'm here?"

"I thought it was to see how Chris was doing after those bastards in The Nexus attacked him," I reply with a small shrug of my shoulders, "But now I'm not so sure. Why did you come here John?"

He swallows the drink of beer he had taken while I was talking and replies, I need your help and no one can know."

"Are you proposing to Robyn?" I smile,

"No, not yet at least. Meg...we have a common enemy, Wade Barett. If we don't start banding together...he'll take the superstars out one by one." John explains.

I let out a sharp bark of laugh and smile, "Chris and I talked about this last night, banding together. Honestly, if you weren't gonig to come to me I was going to go to you."

He smiles, "I just...I remember how things use to be, even before the WWE went PG. Sure we had our assholes but none of them were this bad. This is sheer carnage and choas. It's something I dont-"

"Want your daughter to grow up in?" I finish for him.

He nods, a light smile tugging at his lips, "Yeah, yeah that's right. How do you...wait, don't tell me. It's how you feel about Louis?"

I nod, "Exactly. So who were your ideas of other team mates?"

"To be honest, I only picked you because you told me they had talked to you about being in on it." John says, shrugging. "I mean, Ortz has his own problem with Sheamus."

"I guess you mean Orton?" I ask at the name I never heard before.

"Yeah I call him Ortz. Have since OVW. Anyways, who are you thinking? Chris is out for a while so are Tyson, Evan, and David. I'm damn lucky I'm not out of action." John nods.

"True, true. Well, I'm out of ideas for who to ask. Maybe we can play it by ear. Listen for rumors of who hates them." I shrug.

"Sounds like a good idea to me," smiles John but then his face gets serious, "Everyone's prepared for another attack. Question is why? Why are they attacking us?"

I sit there, silent for a moment looking at the bottle in my hands, "Do you want the truth or the reason Wade's trying to convince everyone of."

"The truth. My father taught me all a man has is his word. Guess the same could be said for women." John nods.

"The truth is that Wade Barett watched my debut a few years back and ever since has been enamored with me. He thinks that if he hurts the right people, he can get me to leave Chris and go to him. But he's convincing the other members of the Nexus that it's to help them get jobs in the WWE." I say softly.

"Wow...he's one messed up son of a bitch isn't he?" John asks.

"You don't know the half of it John," I reply.

John looks at me, "Meghan...you be careful okay?"

I smirk, "When am I ever not careful John?"

"This isn't a joking matter Meghan. From what you're saying, Wade's obsessed. People like that aren't going to just let you walk away from this if you keep denying him. He's going to make sure you know what kind of trouble you're in!"

"And I'm going to make sure that he understands you don't mess with a girl like me. Cuz girls like me? We fight back."