Chapter 9

"What?" She finally managed to ask, her voice not shaky and it shocked the hell out of her, her mind going back to the night before in her bedroom in Las Vegas when he trapped her arm around her back. That was NOT the image she needed in her head right now and she couldn't pull away from his gaze.

Randy shook his head, catching the tone of her voice and grinned somewhat, for a minute then it faded into a thoughtful expression. "I was just thinking I'd like to get to know you more, as more then a co-worker and Cody's sister." He admitted finally, knowing he had probably just killed anything between them, a peaceful co-existence as co-workers definitely, but had to say it.

Her heart was racing and fluttered when those words came out of his mouth, causing a big smile to cross her face, not able to help herself. He wanted to get to know her better, even though she had baggage? Though Reed was her life, her very existence, not baggage, Layne mentally chastised herself for even thinking that about her precious angel and turned to where she was lying on her side facing Randy. She didn't say anything, just kept staring at him and felt his arm snake around her waist, pulling her closer to him. Her eyes were begging him to kiss her as her gaze fell to soft red lips and reached her thumb up to run across his lower lip, her other hand resting on his chest.

"Just think about it, okay?" He whispered, wanting to kiss her more then anything in the world. But...If he kissed her now after making that proclamation, it would seem like his 'wanting to know her better', meant 'let's fuck' and that hadn't been what he meant at all.

"Damn that was boring as hell- What the fuck?"

"I want too." She whispered, having no doubts in her mind about it, and looked up at her brother with an innocent smile on her face. "Good night, Randy."

She brushed her lips against his before standing up from the bed, seeing the dumbfounded look on Cody's face and kissed his cheek before going into her room, shutting the door. She wanted to get to know Randy a lot better, every piece of him, and smirked as she headed over to the bed where Reed was sleeping peacefully. She climbed in and pulled her daughter in her arms.

Ted had no idea what was going on and flinched when Cody actually tackled Randy, frowning. "Um guys?"

"That's my SISTER!" Cody hissed, trying to keep it down, pretty much straddling his friend, swinging at his face.

"Dude, get off of me!" Randy hissed back, shielding his face, and tried not to laugh at the same time.

"Yo, you two look like you're fucking." Ted said, having already snapped a picture by now, and smirked when they both looked at him.

"My sister is off limits."

"Dude, no offense, but your sister is hot and if she wants a piece of Rando..." He groaned when Randy popped him upside the head. "I agree she's off limits."

"What happens if shit doesn't work out between you two?" Cody demanded the anger in his eyes. "You told me you wouldn't go near her, Randy! Find someone else and stay away from my sister." Cody stalked into his room and slammed the door shut, pissed beyond belief.

Ted went to his own room, not saying a word.

That left Randy in the main room, wondering just how he had got stuck in the main room to begin with. He lay on his bed, folding his arms underneath his head, and groaned. What to do, what to do. Cody was right. What if things didn't work out? Then Layne might take off which would mean Cody would be devastated. Groaning, he rolled over, pulling a pillow over his head. Damn it all. He wanted her.

~!~

When Randy started leaving her alone, Layne chalked it up to Cody telling him to leave her alone. That was fine. Layne didn't need a man anyway, as hot and muscular as Randy was, she had more important things to think about. It'd been two weeks since she was hired into the WWE and Layne loved it honestly. She'd already hired a tutor for her daughter, Jemmy, who was currently having a thing for Ted. As long as the woman did her duties as Reed's teacher, that's all Layne was worried about. Tonight was WrestleMania and Layne was very nervous because the crowd was ten times as big as normal. She walked down to wardrobe, knowing Janet and Tiffany had something special for her since it was the company's biggest event of the year.

Randy was pacing his locker room, ignoring Cody and Ted's chatters. Of course Cody was in a better mood, he was keeping his relationship with Layne strictly professional. Of course he shouldn't be thinking about her tonight of all nights, he needed to keep his head in the game.

"I'm going to go get a drink of water." He grumbled, stepping out of the room.

"Dude, we had water in here..."

~!~

"Alright ladies, what do you have for me?"

"Oh thank god you're here!" Tiffany was excited about this as she led Layne over to the wardrobe before pulling out a beautiful gold gown. It was shimmery, strapless and went to her ankles, though it had slits up the side that went to her mid-thigh and the back was a criss-cross design. "Go put that on."

Layne did as she was told, emerging twenty minutes later just as Randy passed by, a smile on her face as she looked at the ladies, not noticing him. "What do you think?"

"I think you are definitely one of the most beautiful women we have on the roster." Janet smirked and turned her around. "Does the Legend Killer approve?"

Randy froze in place, his vivid blue eyes drinking her in. Not even acknowledging anyone except her, he quickly filled the gap between them, leaving only a few inches between their bodies; already in his wrestling trunks. "You look stunning." He said softly, his eyes slowly moving up her form. "Gold suits you." He reached out to finger her hair, noticing how the gold dress brought out the natural tints in her locks.

"Thank you, Randy." She said just as softly, her heart skipping a beat, eyes searching his while smoothing down her dress on the sides. Layne had to remember he didn't want her; at least that's how he'd acted. She flashed a quick smile before walking over to sit down to get her hair done, being careful with the dress.

"I think we're going to pile it on top of her head tonight."

"This is Mania and I have the gold flowers."

Layne just closed her eyes as the ladies got to work, feeling them teasing her hair in curls, pinning them on top of her head. They did her makeup with black eyeliner and shimmery gold eye shadow, putting shimmery lotion on her arms and shoulders to make her shine even more.

"Not too much, I'm walking her out tonight, remember?" Randy teased, unable to move from his spot, just watching. He kind of missed seeing her with her hair down, but...she was still gorgeous. "You kind of look like an Oscar." He joked, trying to get her to flash that beautiful smile at him again.

"An Oscar?" Layne smiled as they began putting the gold roses in her hair, her eyes opening to stare back at him, groaning when they hit a wrong spot.

"Hold on..." Tiffany suddenly took the first rose out along with the few pins, letting the curls fall down her shoulders and back, grinning from ear to ear. "What do you think, Janet?"

"She's a knockout either way. We should leave her hair down though. What do you think Lay?"

"Let me see." She stood up when they allowed her too and stared in the mirror, her lips planted a clear gloss as she fluffed her hair out.

The curls were loose, no hairspray because her hair didn't require it. Layne had the type of hair that just did whatever the stylist wanted to do, which is one of the many reasons she was such a great stripper. It went to the middle of her back, maybe a little further up, and she smiled when they handed her the diamond necklace that had an amber stone dangling from it.

"There, you're ready."

"Knock'em dead, girl!"

Randy was almost afraid to even breathe on her, worried he would somehow mar this beautiful image before him. "Wow..." He said, shaking his head to clear it and flashed a smile, his blue eyes trying to stay above the neckline. "Should we go show you off a little?" He offered, extending his arm to her.

Her smile was bright as she linked her arm through Randy's, wearing two inch black heels that were open toed, the dress swaying with every movement she made. The heels were high enough to where the dress wouldn't get caught, which was a good thing, and the top was fit perfectly so it wasn't sliding down or anything. Layne had no idea what had gotten into Randy suddenly and wanted to ask him, but refrained, keeping that smile on her face.

"Nervous about your match?" She asked as they walked down the hallway, her nails freshly manicured and clear with the tips being gold.

"No, not really. Well...yes." Randy said, knowing he sounded like he was confused, and laughed it off. "It's WrestleMania, what's not to be nervous about? You know how it is; you grew up in this business just like I did." WrestleMania was the ultimate deal in the WWE. "All I can think of is: what if I screw up? Wouldn't that suck?"

"You won't screw up, Randy." Layne stated confidently, stopping him as she turned to face him. "You're the best and tonight you're going to prove it. You're going to be champion, I just know it."

When he grinned, Layne flashed him a heart stopping smile before beginning to walk with him again toward Legacy's dressing room. Randy was going to be champion, even though he refused to tell her what the script said. Not that she didn't try either, but he was being stubborn about it.

Randy frowned, watching as if in slow motion as the Hardy brothers were running through the hallway, followed by a steamed off Mark and Glen. Randy wondered what that was about and then looked at Layne who was in the line of fire. Grunting, he pushed her against the wall just before getting ploughed into and buried by four men.

"Oh fuck, that hurt..."

"Randy!" Layne rushed over to him, watching as Mark, Glen and the Hardy Boys stopped dead in their tracks, helping him up and sighed as she dusted him off, scowling darkly. "You know, could you four please do that childish shit OUTSIDE of the arena?" She demanded, mildly perturbed, not giving a damn who she was talking too right now. Randy had a big match tonight, bigger than all four of them combined, and sighed heavily with worry clear in her blue eyes. "Are you alright?"

"Oh yeah, I'm fine, I'm-" Randy groaned, stumbling, and was caught by Matt and Jeff. "You morons..."

"You got twenty minutes, lie down." Mark instructed, feeling bad. Normally, he was all business, but when it came to the Hardy idiots, he was always liable to crack.

"Oh yeah, sure." Randy muttered, shaking his head, and looked at Layne. "You alright?"

"I'm fine; I'm more concerned about you." Layne sighed and shook her head, hearing the mutters of 'sorry' from both Matt and Jeff. "What is it with you young men wanting to be killed early in life?" She blurted out, keeping her arm wrapped around Randy and sighed when he pushed her away gently, muttering something about not wanting to ruin her dress. "It doesn't matter..." She smiled when Randy grabbed her hand and looked up, stopping dead in her tracks at the sight of her big brother Dustin. Swallowing hard, Layne released Randy's hand, backing up and bumped into Mark. "S-Sorry..." She ran down the hallway away from them.

"What the hell is wrong with her?" Mark demanded, spinning around to watch her go before clasping hands with Dustin.

"Who was that?"

"Are you kidding me? That's-" Mark ignored it when Randy began shaking his head no.

Randy did the only thing he could. He punched Mark and ran for it, hearing Mark bellowing in pain before chasing.

Layne didn't care about rules and needed a cigarette as she arrived outside, leaning against the building in the shadows, lighting up and took a deep, long drag, letting the nicotine flow throughout her body. What the HELL was Dustin doing here? Did that mean her father was here too? Layne felt sick as she paced back and forth, allowing the warm Texas air to flow over her, and tried to keep the tears in her eyes as she took another long drag.

'If Cody did this, so help me god I will KILL him.' She thought scathingly.

~!~

Dustin wasn't the only Runnels in the building. Dusty, the American Dream, was in the building as well. Of course he was he had been at the Hall of Fame ceremony the night before and there was no way in hell he was going to miss WrestleMania.

"Randy, son, what're you-" He stepped back as Randy kept on flying, watching as Mark Calaway steam rolled by next. "Well, what the hell?"

"What the hell?" Cody demanded when Randy ran inside, locking the door behind him, wondering where Layne was. "Umm..."

"Randy, are you okay?" Reed asked softly, wearing a beautiful blue dress that her mother got for her for the special night, her hair done up in spiral curls. "Randy?"

"Man, what the hell happened?" Ted demanded, his eyes widening when Randy finally caught his breath and told them, smacking Cody HARD on the back of the head. "YOU DIDN'T TELL HER?"

"I forgot..." He mumbled.

"Christ, Randy go make sure she didn't leave the fucking building!"

Cody paled.

"I uh- Sure?" They all jumped when a loud banging began on the door. "SHIT!"

"Who's that?" Reed asked nervously.

"Orton, you got two seconds to get out here and take the beating or I'm COMING IN THERE!"

"WHAT DID YOU DO?"

"Mark..." Layne said from behind, causing him to whip around to face her, and cracked a hesitant smile. "Would you mind waiting until after WrestleMania?" She asked softly, walking over to stand in front of the door. "Please, my daughter is in here and you're probably scaring her. Whatever Randy did, please, settle it on your own time." She felt the door open and walked in, closing it in Mark's face before staring at her brother with pursed lips. "When were you planning on telling me Dustin AND Dad are here, Cody Runnels?"

"Uh...when I remembered?" Cody said hesitantly. "I kinda forgot Lay, what with Mania and all..." He trailed off when the door opened, clearing his throat awkwardly. "Hi Dad."