July 2007...
It was three weeks into Amanda Rose Cena not talking. Chris Benoit and his family were part of a murder suicide and Amanda didn't know how to cope.
Vince gave his speech on Monday Night Raw, the week after he had died, saying goodbye to a legend and his family, but also saying that his children and Amanda will carry on the Benoit name.
Amanda was standing next to John and Hunter while Vince was in the ring.
She was watching her brother's boss making the speech and it broke her heart to say goodbye to someone important to her.
David Benoit was shocked. He had talked to his father the week before their deaths and he was normal, playful even, but now that he was gone David and Amanda just looked at each and didn't know what to think.
"Now here is the most important speech to someone who I see as a daughter and to my kids as a sibling, Amanda Rose Cena." Vince said in his scratchy voice.
The crowd cheered because they knew that beside David, Chris was the most important person to Amanda.
Amanda's perspective...
I was nervous as I gripped the mic... the crowd cheered because they knew that beside David, Chris was the most important person to me.
I gripped John's hand, not wanting to let go and make a fool of myself on national Tv where millions of people at home watching and the audience here.
Hunter gave me a nod and John gave me a kiss on my forehead and hug, whispering that I could do this.
For Chris and his family... I nodded and walked up the metal steps.
I hugged Vince and the crowd's cheers died down to hear her speech. I looked at the mic in her hands and took out a long deep breath. I looked at the tron where Chris's picture was showing.
Could I do it?
"Chris Benoit was..." I started out. "He was like a father to me. And when I heard the news that he, Nancy and Daniel were gone I couldn't handle it anymore. I lost someone who I looked up to, who was my teacher, brother, father and best friend. I knew Chris since I was ten years old where I accidently in on him changing."
The crowd laughed… and so did I. "But I know that if was here that he wipe away my tears, Daniel would give me a hug, and Nancy would play mama bear and coddle me until I was better. They have and always be my family and I will always be a Benoit because in my heart I know that what Chris wanted was for me to not mourn his lost, but embrace it. So that's what David and I plan to do. Is to make sure the Benoit name is never ever forgotten."
The crowd was louder than ever. The building started to shake and the roster charged into the ring to hug me.
I wrapped myself in Hunter, John and eventually, Stephanie's arms where I cried my eyes out.
Later into the night, I stayed with Hunter and Steph in their room with her brother where I'd had my last conversation with Chris and his family was at the dinner table with David talking about what they wanted to do in the future and how Daniel wasn't allowed to see the new supernatural vampire movie with Chris and Nancy.
But when Hunter had heard about what had happened, he knew I couldn't look at that movie ever again not without crying over our lost, fallen family.
Present time, Normal perspective…
Amanda was in her and Finn's hotel room, the two watching Tv as Seth, Dean and Roman were in the next room.
The former Shield brothers have never seen her be so quiet beforehand.
She was watching the news on Sport Center of what had happened on Raw the night before when she heard a knock on the door.
Amanda got up and saw Hunter on the other side of the door after opening it.
He gave her a crooked smile and asked, "You alright, kiddo?"
Amanda leaned against the door, she shrugged and opened the door wider for him.
Hunter walked in and saw a slow motion replay of Amanda getting her back welted by a kendo stick. He looked at Bray from behind, who had a crazy look in his eye.
Hunter shivered a bit and turned to the small diva, who was looking at the same thing but with a somber look on her face.
"Yeah..." Amanda said after a few seconds. "But just seeing Seth beat the hell out of Bray like that brought back memories of Alex Riley passing out right next to me."
Hunter nodded and pulled the small Diva into his arms. He felt terrible about what had happened to Riley. It was heartbreaking to hear it from someone but scarier to see a heartbroken look on Amanda's face.
"What do you think we should do with Seth?" Finn asked after wrapping his arms around her and felt Amanda twitch when he mentioned Seth.
Hunter wrapped the back of his neck and sighed. "I have no clue. Steph says we should suspend him for a month at the least, but I say a month and two weeks. He could learn his lesson on scaring our employers, not damage our wrestlers, and scare our audience away." Hunter said. "If he wanted to be wild and crazy, he could go to TNA like the Hardys did before they came back to family friendly Tv."
Finn nodded and Amanda pulled away from her man. "I agree with you, Hunter. But he shouldn't leave to go to a more aggressive wrestling show. Just keep him away from everyone for a while and any part of action for a bit too, but when he comes back make sure to have a storyline lined up for him and Bray. Make it bigger than Randy disbanding himself from the Wyatt family."
Hunter smiled at the idea. He looked at Amanda and asked jokingly "Are you sure you don't go talk to the writing team and get ideas for our show?"
Amanda laughed and shook her head. "Nope. Hunter, I'm fine. I'm talking again so that's good. I just needed sometime and disgust what was happening." Hunter nodded and pulled Amanda in for a hug.
They talked for a little bit longer until it was noon and Amanda wanted to go see Bray.
Once the couple got to Bray's room the door was cracked and they heard talking.
Amanda's perspective...
I looked at Finn, who shrugged and cracked the door just a bit more. We saw Bray laying on the bed with Jojo lying next to him.
Jojo gasped and the couple separated.
"Your divorce papers finalized?" I managed to ask Bray.
Bray looked to Jojo before turning to Finn and Amanda. "Not yet. Kids… Samantha's dragging it out."
I never thought that Bray and Sam's relationship would go down like this, they were the cutest couple I knew and never seemed to have any major arguments… but then again Lita and Matt were cute and stable before things went south and I stopped talking to both as well as Edge for a while.
"You're not mad are you?" Jojo asked.
Jojo had always been a shy and sweet girl… how could anyone be mad at her?
I wasn't mad… or shocked.
"No, I'm not mad, Jojo. Just when did this happen?" I asked. Finn had placed his hand on my shoulder, I sighed and nuzzled his hand.
"It had happened when Sam and I separated. It just happened when Jojo and I got drunk and started to play 'Never Have I Ever'." Bray explained.
"Seriously?" Finn asked. "A game for 14 year olds?" He chuckled and I started to laugh.
Jojo rolled her eyes and Bray shook his head.
"Yeah, yeah. We've heard it from the others. We're happy and I can't wait to see where life takes us now." Bray said as Jojo turned to him and they started to kiss.
We waved goodbye to the couple and Finn shut their door.
Finn's perspective...
"Well that was different." Mandy said. She crossed her arms over her chest and looked at me. I was smiling at my girl… it was good to hear her voice again. "What?" She asked.
"We were and still are like that, love." I said. "I feel bad for the people who stay in the rooms next to us. Just think of the people who are going to be around them now." I say before I gestured towards the couple's door.
Mandy smiled and pulled me in for a kiss, my arms wrapping around her as we kissed… Bray was alright, no longer hospitalized.
The next thing to deal with was Seth… and it wasn't gonna be easy to.
