Title: Daddy Dearest 9/?

… … …

"Catelyn?"

She looked up from the notebook she was writing in, a guarded look already in her eyes. Marty knew not to ask her about her confession or push her to get help. Not anymore, the few times he had tried were disastrous and he knew better then to push now.

"Shawn should be here soon."

She motioned to her suitcase that was already by the couch and he sighed, taking a seat across from her. He saw her tense and knew she was waiting for him to say something.

"I don't want you going away mad at me."

"Then quit pushing me." She whispered, frowning down at her notebook.

"I will. I'm sorry. Just be careful, and if you need anything call me okay?"

She looked up at him warily and when she saw he wasn't going to push her, she nodded. "Yeah, thanks, I will."

A knock sounded at the door and he went to answer it, letting Shawn in.

"How did it go?" he quietly asked.

"Great." Marty replied, a genuine smile on his face. "She's a great kid, you should give her a chance."

Shawn looked at him in surprise and Marty chuckled.

"we talked. She's yours. You know it, so quit denying it."

"I never-"

"Not to me but her. She's a good kid, she doesn't deserve any of this, why put her through any more crap then she's already been in?"

"I'm ready." Catelyn interrupted them, glaring at Marty.

Marty just winked at her and Catelyn couldn't help it, she had to smile. Dropping her bag, she threw her arms around him.

"Thank you."

"Come back anytime, I got your back."

"Even if I am a pain in the ass?"

Marty laughed. "Hey I've put up with your mom; you're a breeze compared to her."

"Funny, I get that from everyone." She said with a laugh. "Good bye Marty and thanks again."

He gave her a squeeze before letting her go. Shawn already had picked up her bag and motioned for her to go down the ladder first.

"I'll call you and thanks again man."

"No problem." Marty called, watching them descend the ladder. He waited until they were in the taxi and driving away before he shook his head and went back inside. A pity he wasn't traveling with the WWE right now. Things could get very interesting.

… … …

When Catelyn followed Shawn through the doors of the arena, something was different. She could feel it in the air. She couldn't quite place her finger on it or make complete sense of what had changed but there was definitely something in the air.

The feeling only intensified as she walked and it seemed everyone was staring at her. She grabbed Shawn's arm, leaning in close to talk into his ear.

"Am I missing something?"

Shawn shrugged looking as equally perplexed as she did.

She looked behind them only to see people now whispering as they looked at them.

"Something is definitely going on." She muttered.

"Catelyn, how are you?" Jeff asked, coming up to them and grabbing her arm, pulling her back down the hallway.

"What? Jeff, let me go." She looked back at Shawn who shrugged.

"I'll meet you in my locker room later." He called after them.

"Jeff what's going on?" She tried again, finally yanking her arm away and stopping where she was.

"I'm just getting you out of the line of fire."

"What? Oh my god." Her eyes widened in horror. "It's Matt isn't it? He's going to dump me isn't he?"

Jeff raised an eyebrow at her as she began to pace back and forth, muttering to herself all the while about what could've happened.

"He's not going to dump you. In fact the guy's crazy over you."

She stopped and broke out into a goofy grin. "Really? Did he say that?"

He rolled his eyes. "No but I know my brother and trust me he has it bad."

"Then what's going on?"

"Ashley is back."

"Who?" she asked.

Jeff sighed, forgetting that she knew absolutely nothing about this business. "Matt's ex."

"Oh." Catelyn stopped, a frown marring her features. "Is she a wrestler too?"

"Kind of." Jeff said with a smirk. "She was suspended but she's back now."

"But they broke up right? Or does Matt still like her?"

She nervously chewed on her bottom lip. What if Matt still liked her? She worked for the WWE and if all the other women walking around was a sign, Ashley was probably just as beautiful as the rest of them. What if Matt didn't want her anymore, despite Jeff saying he was crazy for her?

"Matt broke up with her. Ashley never really let him go and she knows about you now."

"What?" She asked looking panicked. "Is she going to attack me now? Oh god. I didn't come here for this. I had enough fun with the last one."

Jeff grabbed her shoulders, forcing her to look at him. "Calm down Catey."

He noticed that she at least reacted to the nickname, pulling a face when he said it. "We won't let her attack you. She was really gone over Matt, and for a while, they were serious, I'm not going to lie to you about that. But she became obsessive, controlling and he broke it off. He moved on. He likes you. He even made sure that she knew that. She… well she's not taking it so well."

Catelyn's eyes widened. "You left him alone with her?"

She turned, running down the hall and ignoring Jeff's calls to come back. She quickly found their locker room and pushed open the door, just as an object came flying at her head. She quickly ducked, straightening up to come face to face with a skinny blonde with big boobs. One in this company she actually hadn't met yet. The sneer on her face, the anger in her eyes, Catelyn had no doubt about who this was.

"Is this her?" Ashley asked.

Catelyn heard Matt groan. "Yes, this is her but leave her alone Ash."

"You left me for this- this pipsqueak?"

Catelyn's eyes widened in anger. How dare she call her that. She didn't even know her and she was at least 5 inches taller than Ashley. Maybe not as glamorous and maybe not as big or fake in some areas but Catelyn was quite happy with herself, thank you very much.

Matt sighed. "Ashley, I didn't leave you for her. We were broken up long before she got here. Hell, we were broken up long before you were suspended."

"I thought after some time apart you would see clearly." Ashley wailed, picking something else up and throwing it. Catelyn ducked again, bringing her closer to Matt who put an arm around her.

"It's been over for a long time now Ash, it's done, I've moved on, you should too."

"No." Ashley screeched, looking ready to attack Catelyn. Matt stepped in front of her, grabbing Ashley by the arms and pushing her out of the room.

"Don't bug me anymore and don't you even think about trying anything on Catelyn. You got a problem then come talk to me, other than that, leave us alone."

He closed the door and turned to Catelyn. "What are you doing here? I sent Jeff to distract you."

"Stupid idea if you ask me." She said with a scowl. "he tells me the whole story, puts me in a panic and then I find out you're left alone with her. What were you thinking?"

Matt shook his head. "Obviously sending my little bro, not the best idea."

"my life just got that much more complicated, didn't it?" she asked with a sigh.

"Only if she chooses to act on it."

"Okay so I may not know anything about wrestling but I know enough to know she will act on it. They always do."

He grinned, wrapping his arms around her waist. "That's my girl, always catching on so quick. Didja miss me?"

"Way to change the subject." She replied with a laugh, leaning forward to kiss him. He returned the kiss only to have her pull away.

"What's wrong?" he asked, seeing the scowl on her face.

"Pipsqueak?"

… … …

Oh yes, Ashley acted on it alright and she didn't wait long at all, waiting for the show to start before grabbing a mic and stomping down to the ring, demanding a match with the new little bimbo they had walking around backstage.

Catelyn who was now in Shawn's locker room, looked up at the mention of her name before looking over to Shawn who sat there, shaking his head.

"I didn't even do anything." Catelyn protested. "She's crazy, thinks I stole Matt from her."

Shawn raised an eyebrow. "they've been done for a year."

"see? Crazy." She emphasized her point by drawing circles around her temple

As Ashley ranted and raved in the middle of the ring, music played and Matt walked out onto the apron.

"I told you to give it a rest Ash."

"What, do you talk for her now?" She asked with a sneer.

"no but she's not a wrestler, she's not even employed by the WWE so just let it go, leave her alone."

"oh no, she works back there, she's fair game. I asked Mr. McMahon myself."

"You've got to be kidding me." Shawn muttered, opening up his door and motioning for Catelyn to follow. She quickly scurried after him, asking him all the while what he was doing but he ignored her. When they reached the entrance and she could hear the crowd, she balked, grabbing his arm and pulling him back.

"no way, no how." She cried, stomping her foot. "I'm not going out there."

Shawn stopped and looked at her. "Catelyn, trust me, nothing will happen to you out there, but I need you to come out."

"I can't." She whispered. "I have stage fright."

"You don't have to do anything, or say anything but you're much safer out there. Matt and I will look after you."

She hesitated before nodding and let him lead the way out there. Matt looked surprised to see Shawn, even more surprised that Catelyn was following him, her eyes wide, her breathing shallow as she looked around at the arena full of people, huddling against Shawn as she held his arm. He disentangled her, nudging her in Matt's direction, who held out a hand for her which she grabbed, moving to huddle up against him.

"Ashley, you know I've never had a problem with you, thought you were a sweet young girl, didn't cause any trouble, and looked like you wanted to learn, but now you're here asking for a match with my assistant?"

Ashley's jaw dropped. While she knew the younger girl worked here for someone, she never thought to ask who.

"Look, you want Catelyn in a match?"

Ashley hesitantly nodded.

"You got it."

Immediately Matt and Catelyn began to protest as the smile grew on Ashley's face. Shawn held out a hand to silence the two as he glared down at the ring.

"you just need to get through me first."

Ashley's eyes widened in disbelief as Shawn took off his shirt and began walking towards the ring. Catelyn pulled herself out of her daze and raced after him, grabbing his arm and hauling him back.

"Are you crazy?" She hissed.

"What? Why?"

"look, she might hate me and want to kick my ass but that's no reason for you to beat up a woman."

Shawn chuckled, actually taking the moment to tousle her hair. "you, kid, really need to start watching. It's the WWE anything goes here."

"I don't care, you can't do it."

He sighed. "I know, I wouldn't. Just trust me, okay. She won't go through with this."

He left her in the middle of the ramp, staring after him as he slid into the ring and got right into Ashley's face, she looked up at him in shock before pulling her hand back, slapping him across the face. Catelyn's eyes widened as she ran the rest of the way and pulled herself into the ring. She didn't want Shawn to lose his temper and do something he would regret later. As he pulled his hand back, she stepped in between them, pushing Shawn back.

"What are you doing?" He asked, looking thoroughly annoyed.

"WWE or not, I can't let you hit a woman because of me."

Shawn raised his head to the sky, silently asking for strength to deal with his newfound daughter. She didn't understand how this place worked. Didn't understand that this was a normal day to day activity for them. He didn't hit women, was never really planning to hit Ashley, hoping she would back off beforehand but still Catelyn had stepped in between them, helping out someone who supposedly hated her and just moments ago, begged to have her in a match.

Despite his annoyance, he was actually very proud of her.

Catelyn watched the emotions flicker on his face as he looked up, curiosity filling her features as she watched the myriad of emotions play through. Ashley was forgotten as she watched him go from annoyance to anger, to acceptance, to, dare she say, proud? It wasn't until she heard Matt call her name that she remembered she wasn't alone, moments later, pain exploded in the back of her head, and she fell forward, Shawn reaching out to catch her as she went down.

Matt was quickly in the ring, watching as Ashley jumped through the crowd, wondering if his ex's time away from the ring had made her psychotic. He turned back to Catelyn, kneeling down beside her. Her eyes looked a little glazed over as she stared up at him and Shawn shook his head in disgust.

"I told her she'd be safe." He muttered.

Matt rolled out of the ring, motioning to Shawn that he would take her as he gently handed Catelyn over to him.

"She should've been. How were we to know that Ashley has become that stupid, or would even go as far as to attack her while you were right there with her."

Shawn shook his head. "Especially after she actually stood up for her."

"Why did I do that again?" Catelyn muttered, leaning her head against Matt's chest.

The two men chuckled as they walked backstage.

"because you have a big heart, you care too much about people." Shawn said.

"Pesky thing." She muttered, "I'm going to have to stop that."

Matt kissed the top of her head as he carried her into the trainer's room. "Don't ever change. I like you just the way you are."

"I have the perfect idea." A voice announced, entering the room behind them, Catelyn heard Shawn groan and she tried looking over Matt's shoulder to see who had entered but he squeezed her arm, telling her with a look to stay quiet.

"I don't want to hear it Vince." Shawn said causing Catelyn's ears to perk up more. This was his boss. The one she had heard many stories about and he didn't get along with.

"hear me out, hear me out. Ashley vs. your little assistant in a match for the love of one Matt Hardy."

"I don't think so. She's not a wrestler and she doesn't want to wrestle."

"I get that, completely, and I don't expect her to learn in a week, we'll give her to the next pay per view where she will take on Ashley in a lingerie pillow fight."

"What the fuck?" Catelyn cried, her head popping up from behind Matt's shoulder. She looked up just in time to see Shawn grab Vince by the collar and throw him back against the wall.

"You will not put my d- my assistant in one of your deranged little matches. She is not a wrestler. She will not go out there dressed like that."

Vince removed Shawn's hands from him, brushing at his jacket as he stepped towards the door.

"Oh she'll do it, because if she doesn't, you lose your title shot."

"Dammit." Shawn yelled, punching the nearest wall as soon as Vince had left. Catelyn groaned, pushing away the trainer as he came to check on her.

Shawn was thinking he had just lost his title shot because there was no way Catelyn would willingly go out there for him and there was no way he would make her. Not even to win the title, he just couldn't do it.

What he didn't know, was that Catelyn was currently thinking of a way out of it, one that would have Shawn keep his title shot. But she knew as a last resort, she would do it.

Somewhere along the line, she had become to care for her dad, Shawn Michaels and yes that meant she would go out there if he needed her to.