Emma exited Vince's office with a mountain of work. Already Vince was starting to think about the following year's WrestleMania, the idea of having 'Host' for the event floating around his head.

Emma didn't mind, she liked to keep herself busy with work and was always grateful when she was getting involved with the organization of Pay per View events. Too often people working in the offices organized them, and those people didn't even like the sport. Some, yes, having moved from being an active wrestler turned into some kind of executive. When they were involved, the pay per views were better.

She was heading through the backstage area, already thinking through the priorities that lay within her new workload, when she noticed John arriving in his car. Since her annual WrestleMania Aftermath Holiday, Emma hadn't spent as much time with John and Randy as they would all like. Partly due to their extended stay in Ireland, mostly however she wanted to leave them to their time. She was happy they were giving it another go but she noticed the last couple of weeks cracks were already starting to appear. She waved to John but didn't stop to talk as he focused on his iPhone. Randy appeared from his spot nearby, apparently anxious to speak to John. Emma noticed how tired he looked since his unexpected trip to St. Louis two weeks ago, she was hoping things were settling down for the young man, but if they were, it wasn't showing.

She was about to disappear through the curtain at Gorilla to make a check up on the status of the technical team when she spotted Ted on his phone tucked away in the corner, obviously on the phone to Cody. She found it ironic that even after telling their families, and receiving support from at least one side of the family that they still hid their relationship from the majority of their co-workers.

She stayed in the vicinity making sure Ted was okay, much like his older counterparts, things seemed tense between him and Cody. As far as she could tell, Cody wasn't handling being on the SmackDown tour and was letting it get in the way of their partnership.

"I know Honey, listen, your plane gets in about an hour after the show's done, I'll come by and pick you up and then whist you back to the hotel where it will be just us," Ted reassured Cody. He saw Emma and signaled her to come over. "Honey, I need to go, I'll see you later… I love you too… bye."

"Everything alright, Ted?" Emma asked once Ted was finished with his phone call.

"Listen, I know you're not the agony aunt of the tour, but do you mind if I catch up with you later? I really need to let off some steam," Ted asked. "I'd ask John or Randy but they've got their own thing going on and I don't want to add to it."

Emma put up her hand to calm Ted and told him to follow her. They headed back to her office, making a brief stop at catering to get a coffee. When they reached her office, she put the pile of paperwork on her desk and took a seat with Ted on the sofa.

"So what's up? You sounded reassuring on the phone Cody again, is everything alright with you guys?"

"I don't know anymore," Ted admitted running his hand over his face. Emma noticed for the first time just how tired Ted was looking. Right now, the young man looked as though he was on a par with Randy. "I feel like everything's starting to fall apart."

"Do you really think that?" Emma asked. "You two are perfect together. I thought you two would be good together before you did."

"Really?" Ted asked surprised at her comment.

"Definitely. You know in movies and books, they always say how one person positions themselves around another without thinking, you two are like, even when you first got here," she said smiling. "I wish I could find something like that."

Ted smirked at her analysis, he had no clue about what they put in sappy romantic books, they weren't his thing.

"I'll take your word on the movies. I don't know about Cody and I, all we seem to do at the moment is talk about my Dad or Cody's move to the other roster," Ted said looking. "I love him, but I don't want to focus on the negative all the time."

"Are things any better between you and Ted Sr?" Emma asked.

"No," Ted said shaking his head. "And I miss seeing my family. If we get days off we either stay in the town we were working or we go back to Georgia."

"How have the rest of the family reacted?"

"Mom's shaken I guess, I tried to speak to her after Dad went home; she had a conversation with me but wouldn't discuss anything about Cody and I. I haven't had a chance to speak with Brett."

"I'm sure he'll be fine," Emma said trying to reassure Ted. "As for Cody, just give him time. He's on SmackDown without any of his closest friends. It's a big move. Almost as big as changing companies."

"I want to do something that takes his mind off it but all we end up doing is annoying one another," Ted said. "More specifically, he annoys me, I can't hide it and then he won't talk to me for the rest of the night."

Emma chuckled at the annoyance already seeping out of Ted. It was a sign of a true couple when you can admit that you're getting annoyed and still stay together.

"Have you thought about just tying him up and having your way with him, that'll distract him," Emma said trying to make Ted smile.

"I don't think that will help things in the long run," Ted replied chuckling at the suggestion.

"Therein lies my plan," she said smiling. "Once you've had your way with him and he's all loved-up, you can talk to him about your concerns. I hate to tell you this Ted, but things aren't going to clear up overnight. Your parents are from a different generation, they need time to get used to the idea of their son being gay. As for Codes, he'll come around."

Ted nodded and reached over hugging Emma.

"You're the best Tour Manager ever," he said still squeezing.

"Ted, I'm the only tour manager you've ever had," she reminded him.

She pulled back from the embrace and headed to her desk. She still needed to check on the technical team and it was getting closer to show time so she needed to make sure everything else was on schedule.

The two of them headed to the door and as she opened it to let Ted out so Randy stood there, hand raised as though he was about to knock.

"I've done something and I need your help," he said without even looking at Ted, walking into the office and taking a seat on the sofa, she'd just vacated.

"Hi Randy, yeah of course, Ted and I are finished now, come on in, I'm fine by the way," she said sarcastically.

Ted chuckled one last time and headed out of the room. Once he was gone, Emma closed the door taking a deep breath before turning around to Randy.

"What did you do?" she said exasperated.

"I told John I loved him," Randy said biting his nail.

Emma slapped his hand away as she resumed her seat on the sofa.

"And?"

"It was the first time I said it to him," Randy explained.

"And?"

"Em, this is serious."

"So you told him you love him, why is that a bad thing?" she asked confused over his panicking.

"Because he didn't say it back, and now he's avoiding me. He's staying in a separate room, he won't talk to me either," Randy said biting at his nail again.

Emma rubbed her eyes a little trying not to say anything sarcastic back to Randy. She knew it was never easy to say those words and not hear them back. She was surprised John hadn't returned them, considering how long he'd fancied Randy before they got together.

"Do you think maybe he just needs time to let it sink in?" she asked, once again trying to reassure the person sat on her sofa.

"I told him while we were in St Louis. If he was going to say it, it wouldn't take two weeks."

"Any you're only just panicking now?" Emma was rapidly becoming confused at Randy's concern.

Randy got up from his place on the sofa and started pacing the room.

"Oh I love it when you pace," she said letting her exasperation show again. "Have you tried to talk to him?"

"He's avoiding me; did you not just hear me say?" Randy said flippantly.

"You've been working together every night in Mexico," Emma said biting back.

As Randy's pacing neared the sofa Emma tugged on his arm and pulled the man down to take a seat. He immediately put his head in his hands and closed his eyes.

"He won't talk to me about anything but work," Randy sighed as he spoke. "At this stage I don't even know if we're together."

Emma put her hand on Randy's shoulder and soothed him. She was shocked when Randy pulled back from her touch and there were tears threatening to fall from his eyes. Instinctively Emma wrapped her arms around him and pulled his head to her shoulder.

"My life is falling to pieces," he sobbed. "I left my wife for him. I thought this time round things would be different. Was I wrong to tell him I love him?"

"No, of course not," Emma said. "Did he say anything?"

Randy shook his head in reply, unable to form the word. Emma had never seen the man like this. Even when she had visited him in the hospital after his overdose, with Sam threatening to live him, he was strangely detached, but there were no tears. She'd put his isolated condition down to the drugs, but now she wondered if it was simply, even back then, he was trying to tell himself about his true feelings.

She moved off the sofa and knelt down in front of Randy, taking hold of his hands.

"I want you to listen to me. I have known John's feelings for a long while. Now, at the moment, he may be struggling to say the words, but I know he loves you," Emma said looking Randy straight in the eye. "He was heartbroken when Sam came on tour with you, and he switched off when you broke up."

"I know I hurt him, maybe he hasn't forgiven me and he doesn't care for me that way anymore," Randy said, defeated.

"Don't be stupid. I have never known him as giddy as when you two were doing the whole, waiting to go on a date thing."

Randy shook his head, wiped the tears from his face, and tried to make himself presentable.

"I should go," he said, rising from his seat.

"Okay," Emma said letting him go. She wished there she could do more for him but realistically anything she could offer would be platitudes. Neither man would appreciate her stepping in and trying to solve the issue. She also knew, as the Tour Manager, it was out of her remit.

Once he was gone, she grabbed some paperwork and practically ran down to the technical area and made sure everyone was okay and the issues from before had been resolved. She also made the rounds of everyone that was at ringside, ensuring everything was on schedule. She then made her way back to the production trucks to catch up with Peter Gruner who had sent word that he wanted to catch up to go over the night's schedule, he himself making as many checks as she liked to, both focused on making every show the best for the fans. As she was about to enter the production truck when she received a message on her phone.

EM CAN YOU MEET ME IN YOUR OFFICE, CODY

Emma was confused over the message, from her conversation with Ted, Cody wasn't due in until after the show when Ted would be going to collect him from the airport. Nevertheless, she popped in and briefly spoke to Peter, got a copy of his schedule rundown and promised to ensure the wrestlers knew when they were all supposed to be ready for their matches and their allotted time allowance.

Before making those rounds, she went back to her office to what she figured would be her third agony aunt session of the day. She cared for all four men. The last year of their lives had not been the easiest for any of them, however she felt like she wanted to bash their heads together. If they would just talk to their partners then all their issues would be resolved.

She opened the door and walked over, adding the additional paperwork she had just collected to her ever-growing pile of work.

"You're early, Cody, Ted's expecting you later," she said not looking over to him as he sat on the sofa. She was rapidly thinking about changing her job title to 'Tour Councilor' as she noticed all three men so far had taken a seat on the sofa. Cody was taking it one-step too far as he had his feet up and was looking at the ceiling as he spoke.

"I came in early, I wanted to speak with Teddy," he explained.

"Then why are you in my office?"

"Because I need some advice," he said.

Emma dragged her chair over to the sofa and sat down, crossing her legs, pen and paper in hand ready to make notes.

"Dr. Emma Blanchard, Tour Councilor, how may I help?"

"What?" Cody asked confused.

"Nothing," she said, as he didn't understand her joke. "What's the matter?"

"I think Teddy thinks I'm going to break up with him."

Emma sat in her seat puzzled. Nothing Ted said earlier had even hinted at the idea, even during the phone call she overheard.

"What makes you think that?"

"He's trying too hard."

"How hard are you supposed to try when your partner is upset over changes in his career? Or when you want to make sure your partner doesn't think what you're thinking because his family doesn't approve of the relationship."

Cody stared at her a little taken back with her bluntness.

"Cody, I'm sorry, you're an idiot. Ted is doing everything he can to cheer you up. I know you're on another tour to him, but career wise it will be better for you. You can make a name for yourself, not to mention it will give you a break from Ted. Working together and spending all your free time together will end up getting in the way and you'll resent one another for never having space."

"But-" Cody went to speak.

"And not to mention, Ted's going through something himself. Do you even remember the fact that his family aren't speaking to him?"

"I kn-"

"It's not easy not having that contact with your family when they disagree with your lifestyle."

Cody swung his legs off the sofa and stared at Emma, taken aback by her outburst.

"What's got into you?" Cody asked.

"I'm sick of you acting like a brat, that's what," she said snapping at the young man. "Try thinking of Ted and maybe you would find he relaxes. No doubt, he's scared. He's scared that not only has he lost his family, but he's scared that he's going to lose you as well."

"Well that's stupid," Cody said with a look of bewilderment.

Emma stood and picked her chair up. Putting it back where she pulled it from she turned around to Cody.

"Love makes you stupid," she bit. "Now if you don't mind I actually need to do my job and check in with those who are actually working tonight."

Emma gazed over the schedule Peter had provided and then looked at the locker room allocation to see where everyone was.

She wanted to get through the list as quickly as possible so she could focus on finalizing the appearances for the following week.

Gradually making her way through the list, she confirmed everyone's timings for the event and answered any queries rose as well as giving her opinion. Many of the superstars asked Emma, looking for the fan's perspective. Knowing, even after twenty years in the business she still looked forward to watching Raw and SmackDown each week and to their amusement getting emotionally involved in the storylines.

She entered the last locker and almost immediately regretted it as she saw John looking forlorn, as he sat on the bench, still in his street gear, not yet having even opened his gym bag.

"John, why aren't you getting ready, you have a Make-a-Wish in half hour, you have to get going," she said hoping he wouldn't open up to him about his feelings. She couldn't take it today, not after Ted, Randy and Cody doing the same.

"Sorry, just not feeling like myself right now," John replied.

"Sorry, if you were anyone else I would say take the night off we can manage, but it's you. Plus you wouldn't listen if I did."

John shook the cobwebs from his head, pulling himself together to prepare for the event. Emma could see John was hugely bothered by what was on his mind and as much as she need to get back to work she couldn't leave John here in the depressed state he was currently in.

She dumped the files she carried on the nearby bench and took a seat next to where John was changing.

"Ok, what's up?"

"What makes you think something's wrong?" John asked.

"You don't get ill very often and when you are it's usually colds, since you don't sound like you have a cold this leads me to think something else is making you not feel like yourself. By default my stance is a falling out with a partner. With you that could mean either Liz or Randy. Since you're here and not with the boys, I'm guessing that means Randy, which means either you've broken up… again, or you've had a disagreement… and can you please interrupt me when I'm getting close because I'm starting to feel short of breath and you are talking," Em said taking a deep breath.

"Okay, okay, you're right, on all fronts," John said not expanding on anything Emma said.

"And… I can't help if you won't tell me," Em said, not hinting that she already knew about Randy's declaration.

"Randy told me he loved me," John said.

"Congrats," Em said. "Why aren't you as giddy as when you were going on a date?"

John looked at Emma and scowled, "I was not giddy."

Emma couldn't help but chuckle at the indignation showing on John's face. She knew from years of experience you don't use words like 'giddy' when you're talking to a wrestler, especially one who top card. With that said, she knew she could get away with it.

"You were giddy, you came bounding into my office when Randy asked you to spend his birthday with him, and that wasn't even the date," she said. "So again I ask why aren't you giddy when that same man tells you that he loves you?"

"I don't know; I should be," John said not meeting her eyes. "I've wanted to be with Randy since I've known him, even when he was being an arrogant asshole. God help me, I was turned on by his cockiness."

"Don't need to know the detail."

"I've wanted it for so long and now I've got it I don't believe it," John said shrugging. "Then again, maybe I don't want to believe it, that way when it ends it won't hurt so much."

"WHEN it ends?" Em asked confused. "Why is it going to end at all?"

"It did last time, you were right. How can we have a proper relationship? I'm married; he could probably still salvage his marriage. Maybe it's just better."

Emma sat and looked at him in disbelief. She was struggling to remain sympathetic for John. He has everything he wants in life. A wife he loves, a partner who he has wanted since he met him and a career most people could only dream of having, and he was feeling sorry for himself.

Emma could feel her blood boiling; she would kill to have love in her life. She rose from her spot, picked up her paperwork and went to the door.

"John, listen up. You're an ass. You have everything, and I mean everything. Please tell me why you can't be happy and enjoy it," she said opening the door. "Get ready for your Make-A-Wish; you've only got ten minutes."

As she left, she slammed the door too mad to care who was around and what they thought. She stormed through the corridors and made her way to her office. She needed to find something to take her frustrations out on. She loved all four boys but she'd never known people be able to make mountains out of mole hills like these four.

Just as she entered her office, she heard footsteps behind and prayed they weren't heading in her direction. Apparently, no one was listening to her silent prayers as her office door opened. She looked back over her shoulder and could see Ted and Cody stood waiting for her acknowledgement.

"What do you want?" she said, biting at the couple who stood with their arms around one another.

"We wanted to let you know that we talked and we've decided to move in together," Ted said.

"Good for you, now if you don't mind I have work to do," Emma bit. "Since I haven't been able to do anything since my meeting with Vince, all four of you needing to talk about your problems."

She knew she was being harsh, and it wasn't really they're fault but she'd gone passed her tolerance level and she wasn't looking to discuss anything but wrestling until the night was over.

"Em, are you okay?" Cody asked, concern showing in his voice.

"I'm fine, just busy. Not like I asked, could you leave, I have work."

"Yeah, of course, come on Teddy," Cody said quietly.

Em hadn't turned around during the whole conversation; she didn't want to face them. They would break her. Ted and Cody always managed to give her a look, which meant she would be pouring her heart out, even when she didn't know something was wrong. John and Randy would make sure she was okay physically and they did look out for her, but she'd known them for too long and knew how to make them think she was okay. Ted and Cody she could never fool. Ironic since they were the youngest of the bunch.

Emma pulled out her mobile and went through the list of contacts until she found what she was looking for. She shouldn't call but she needed a distraction, and he always managed to provide that for her.

"Josh, it's Emma… I'm good, yeah we're in town today… I'm leaving tomorrow morning… are you free later..? Did you want to catch up..? I won't be finished until about ten thirty, but if you like you can come by my hotel room… no, I know, I don't want to get back together, I just need a distraction, you were always good at providing one… room 103… I'll see you there… bye."

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