Chapter 2
"Jesus..." Layne whispered and put her hand over her daughter's mouth to silence her. "I have a migraine, keep it down Reed." She ordered gently, seeing her daughter nod eagerly. "Stay here." She added before stepping out of her car and closed the door, crossing her arms in front of her chest. "I'm sorry I left, but I had no choice." She was speaking quietly so her daughter wouldn't overhear, wiping more tears away from her eyes that were now clean of the thick makeup she wore earlier during her performance.
"I get that, but you don't have to run now, do you?" Cody asked softly, staring down at her, searching for the teenager he knew. "Lay, c'mon, it's been ten years. Don't you miss us at all?" He glanced at the little girl who was gawking from the backseat, offering her a broad smile, grinning when she squealed. "Is that my...niece?" He asked shyly.
"Yes..." Layne nodded and her voice cracked on that word as Cody pulled her into his arms, sobbing in his neck as she held onto him tightly. "I'm sorry..." She choked out, feeling his hand run up and down her back soothingly, trying to calm her down. Cody was always like that, even though she was older than him by two years. They were closer than close because of their ages. "I've missed you more than you will ever know." She slowly pulled back and stared into his eyes, wiping her tears away and sighed heavily. "I can't leave my job, Cody. I have to support Reed and myself. It's all I have."
"What are you talking about, Lay?" Cody stared down at her, confusion in his eyes plainly visible for her to see. "Lay, our family is well off, you know that. Hell, I'M well off now. I mean, not like Dad is but I can support-" He frowned when he seen her shaking her head. "Okay, okay no Dad and no Dustin. I get that, but...can't we go somewhere and talk?"
Knowing he wasn't going to leave her alone, Layne nodded slowly, swallowing hard as she glanced back at her daughter's bewildered look. 'Stay in the car.' She mouthed, seeing her daughter scowl, and smirked before turning back to face her brother. "Where?" She quietly asked, glancing over at his other friends, and sighed heavily. "Do you honestly think this is the best idea? They don't like me and for good reason."
"They're just protective, they're like my big brothers or something. The ugly one is Ted DiBiase or Teddy. And the guy with the serious eyes is Randy Orton. They'll love you." Cody was pleading now. "Come on Lay, come visit with me at the hotel we're staying at." He knew she wouldn't want him knowing where she lived and didn't want to have a reunion with his sister somewhere public. "Please?"
She knew her daughter was going to have a conniption fit if she didn't make a decision soon and finally nodded, though it was reluctant along with the look in her sapphire eyes. "Alright, I'll follow you guys." She whispered and hugged him back when he pulled her in for another tight embrace, kissing his cheek softly. "I'm not going to run away." She promised, seeing his cheeks flush red. "If you don't trust me, you can ride with us. Reed would love that since she seems to know the three of you."
"Okay." Cody nodded happily, shooting his niece -Reed, he mentally corrected himself- another smile before hurrying to his friends. "We're going to follow you guys to the hotel."
Randy and Ted exchanged looks before nodding, both knowing how important this was to Cody. "Want us to vacate and give you some time with your sister?" Randy asked gently.
"I don't know...I'll let you know at the hotel." Cody said thoughtfully, nodding when they both patted his shoulders, and jogged back to Layne.
Layne sighed when her daughter started freaking out in the backseat about this being Cody Rhodes, clapping her hands, and forced her mother to pop two aspirin for her migraine. Crying did that to her. Sighing, Layne pulled out of the parking lot of the Mirage and headed on the road, following the other two gentlemen who were with her brother.
"Yeah, sorry about the whole...thing." She said, referring to the lap dance and smirked when her brother flushed red again, chuckling softly. "That'll definitely be a story to tell won't it?"
"I'd rather not mention it ever, ever, ever again, if you don't mind Lay." Cody said, momentarily closing his eyes. He locked that memory away, pushed it down a deep well in his mind then filled the well with concrete. He shifted in his seat to look at Reed. "Hi."
"Oh my GAWD...Mom...it's...it's..."
"Reed, take a breath." Layne advised, wondering how her daughter was going to react when she found out this man was her uncle.
Her blood. Layne popped another aspirin for good measure as she kept following the car before her, not letting anyone else in front. She couldn't lose them, even though Cody probably knew where they were headed. So much emotion coursed through her as Layne blinked tears away, still not believing her baby brother found her after all these years.
"So...what's Cody Rhodes doing in OUR car?" Reed demanded after taking several deep breaths, her cheeks flushed with excitement, eyes glittering. "And can I meet Ted and Randy? Please?"
"Uh, sure." Cody said, trying not to grin, hearing Layne's exasperated sigh and looked at her. "Can't we tell her?"
"Yeah, tell me."
"When we get to the hotel, sweetheart." Layne looked at her daughter, blue eyes pleading, and smiled when she just sighed before sinking back in her seat. "I don't want to tell her in the car." She whispered to her brother, seeing him nod in understanding as he squeezed her hand, making a left and seen the Radisson up ahead. "Wow, you guys are staying in a nice place." She commented, knowing her brother probably lived first class now that he was a professional wrestler. Layne knew all about the business because of their father and older brother.
"Yeah well..." Cody squirmed uncomfortably. "It's this Legacy thing, we got to live up to it and- And you have no idea what the hell I'm talking about, do you?" He laughed when she shook her head no, shaking his own head. "I'll explain it, eventually." He slipped out of the car, nodding when Randy quirked an eyebrow at him before looking at Layne. "Do you mind if they stick around or do you want me to send them packing?"
"Is it me or does it sound like he thinks he's in charge?"
"Just for one night. Tomorrow, we'll duct tape him to a wall."
"Again?"
"Duct tape my baby brother to the wall and I'll tape your balls together." She stated sweetly, stepping out of the car and smirked when Ted winced, seeing Cody chuckling while shaking his head. "I'm still older than you." She reminded him, helping her daughter out of the car and seen her immediately run over to where Randy and a prudish Ted stood, sighing exasperatedly. "They can stay, I don't care."
"I'm not so good with kids."
Rolling his eyes, Randy just picked her up and placed her on his hip, aware she was too old for this, but...the grin on her face was adorable. Hopefully this child had gotten her father's temperament because her mom seemed flighty. "Hey there." He greeted softly.
"Hi." Was the only word Reed could get out.
Layne looked uneasy at first, but when she seen how star struck her daughter was, she couldn't resist taking a picture with her cell phone, smiling and put it back in her purse. "Don't you want to know the secret why your favorite Superstars are here?" She asked, smiling when her daughter jumped out of Randy's arms and rushed over to her. "Reed," She began, dragging her name out and closed her eyes. "Sweetheart, Cody Rhodes is my brother. Your uncle. Cody Runnels is his real name." She wasn't surprised her daughter hadn't caught on because Cody didn't use his real name when in the squared circle.
"He is? Are you for real? I mean, I know we share the same last name and all, but his hair isn't the same as yours and-" Reed frowned, looking at Cody thoughtfully. "Are you really my uncle?"
"Yep. Lay is my older sister." He said with a grin. He looked almost alarmed when Reed wrapped her arms around him, bending down to hug her.
"I dyed my hair sweetheart." Layne said, seeing Reed's eyebrows furrow together, and ran her fingers through her golden chestnut locks. "Your hair color is what used to be mine until I changed it."
"You need to change it back because it looks like you have a bruise on your head."
"Thanks." Layne muttered, rolling her eyes and crossed her arms in front of her chest while Cody held his niece close to him, the heart break clear in her sapphire eyes. 'I'm sorry.' She mouthed, meaning it more than anything, and smiled when Cody pulled her against him for a family group hug.
"Time to go inside, we've been spotted."
Cody looked up in time to see a group of fan girls running towards them. "Crap." He picked up Reed and booked it inside.
When Layne just stood there, Randy sighed and grabbed her hand. "Unless you want to get stampeded, run." He ordered, blue eyes meeting sapphire, hearing shrieking from the girls. If it had been a semi small crowd, no problem. But it wasn't a small crowd, it was like a freaking herd.
Layne nodded in understanding as she let him guide her inside, forgetting what his name was while she heard her daughter's shrieks of laughter. They barely made it on the elevator as the herd came toward them, doors closing in their faces. They made it to the hotel suite without being maimed as Layne looked around, seeing her daughter was still in awe, refusing to let go of her newly found uncle's hand.
"She's attached to you now." She murmured, seeing Cody beam, and sat down beside them while Reed talked.
Randy instantly disappeared into the bathroom.
"I hope he's taking his meds."
"Go to hell, Ted. I'm taking a-"
"Hey, there's ladies out here!"
"Leak?"
Layne just shook her head, holding her keys, knowing they couldn't stay the night. She didn't want to impose on her brother, but it was his birthday and she felt guilty for making him cry. Not to mention she wanted to spend some time with him, hoping the other two didn't mind, and seen her daughter staring at her.
"What is it, sweetheart?" She asked softly, pulling her daughter on her lap, and kissed her forehead.
"How come you never told me, mom?" Reed asked, sounding hurt.
"That's too long of a story to get into right now." That was an understatement, but Layne didn't want to freak her daughter out.
"Actually, I'd like to hear it too." Cody said softly, smiling when Reed clambered over onto his lap, snuggling with her. He had a niece! He was so excited it was almost childish, but then again, he didn't really care. "Are you hungry, sweetie?" He asked, glancing at Layne. "Have you eaten? We can order up something."
"No, thank you. Reed, you can eat when you get home."
"But-" She beamed when her uncle snorted and grabbed the menu, letting her look it over.
"Order something." Cody demanded, staring at his sister sternly.
"Just get me some spaghetti." She grumbled, rolling her eyes and smacked him upside the head, growling when he pinched her side. "Cody Runnels, don't make me hurt you, boy."
"You could only dream of trying." He replied cockily and groaned when she put a headlock on him, Reed on the floor giggling.
"Now then..." She began conversationally. "What was that, LITTLE brother?"
Sighing, Cody grabbed her by the waist, applying a bear hug and squeezed. "Woman, I'm trained for this, don't make me hurt you in front of the baby."
Reed was giggling, watching them. "Suplex her!"
"Are you for real?" He said, arching an eyebrow when Reed nodded. "Wow."
Layne groaned as she yanked on his hair and laughed when he dropped her back on the bed, shaking her head as he smirked down at her, crossing her arms in front of her chest. "You still need work." She laughed when he face palmed and hugged him around the neck from behind, kissing his cheek. "I missed you Code."
He was her best friend and they always hung out. She was a little tomboy, always wearing jeans and t-shirts or tank tops. Never in a million years did she think she would be a stripper, but life forced her into that position.
"Need work? Woman, I am RIPPED." Cody teased, pulling up his shirt and flexing.
"Considering earlier events, is that wise?" Randy asked, walking out of the bathroom in a pair of black shorts, pulling a black t-shirt with a band logo over his head.
Ted snickered, looking at Reed. "Know what you want yet?"
"Uh...pizza."
"God don't remind me of that..." Layne groaned, shaking her head as she gripped her hair in her hands. "I'm going to be traumatized now."
"I don't get it."
"And you never will." She watched as Ted ordered the food, rolling her eyes when he included a spaghetti dinner -at Cody's request-, and smacked her brother in the back. "I told you I wasn't hungry."
"Too bad you're eating." He was glaring at Randy. "We are never bringing up what happened again." His tone was final as he pulled his niece on his lap.
Randy held up his hands, a grin on his face, blue eyes sparkling wickedly. "Hey, you're right, let's not bring it UP, again." He snorted when Cody face palmed himself. "Sorry bro, couldn't resist. DiBiase, you order for me?"
"Chicken breasts smothered in that honey sauce and French fries."
"Awesome." He looked at Layne, extending his hand to her. "I'm Randy Orton."
She smiled at him and took his hand, watching as his practically swallowed hers whole, nodding. "Nice to meet you Randy, I'm Layne."
"Mom, this is Randy Orton, the greatest wrestler ever besides the Undertaker."
"Just HOW much wrestling have you been watching, young lady?"
She looked sheepish with a beyond adorable look on her face. "Enough?"
Layne sighed resignedly and released Randy's hand, shaking her head. "I suppose now it's alright now that you know Cody is your uncle."
"YAY!"
"You like the Undertaker? Eww..."
"Cody is still cranky because he tried pranking the Deadman and wound up dangling headfirst from a flag pole." Randy explained, ignoring his friends sputters. "Shouldn't play practical jokes on people meaner then you."
"You actually tried pranking the UNDERTAKER?"
