Chapter 12:
Haley sighed heavily, as Dave pulled up in front of the two story farmhouse that she and her brothers had grown up in. It seemed it was as though they were the last to arrive, since she could hear the chatter and music from the driveway that drifted to them from the backyard.
"Are you ready for this?" Dave brought her hand to his lips and then squeezed it for support. "I'm right here, Haley. I'm not going anywhere."
"I think that's why I'm not running in the opposite direction screaming yet." She offered him a weak smile before climbing out of the truck and gathering her tray of brownies.
As she came around the front of the truck, Dave took her free hand in his again and leaned down to give her a brief comforting kiss. "It'll be fine." He assured her.
Her smile grew a little brighter and hand in hand they walked up the stone walkway towards Haley's childhood home. She relaxed a bit more. With Dave by her side, she really had nothing to fear. He always kept his promises and he had already promised to protect her no matter what.
"Auntie Haley! Auntie Haley!" The pale blue front door was flung open and a little girl of about five years of age came barreling out of the house. Her curtain of pale blonde hair flew behind her as her little legs pumped as fast they could to reach her favorite aunt.
"Mary." Haley handed the brownies to her boyfriend before gathering the little girl up into her arms and lifting her up. "I've missed you so much, Monkey."
"I missed you too, Auntie Haley." Mary giggled. "Daddy and I watched you on TV. We saw the rainbow man save you from the big bad guy and you beat him."
Haley and Dave shared a quick laugh at the little girl's description of her match against Umaga this past Monday. "Jeff's one of my best friends. He came to help me out. Someday you'll have friends like that too." She nuzzled into the little girl's neck.
"With rainbow hair?" Mary asked wide eyed.
Haley laughed again. "Maybe not with rainbow hair, but someone who'd come help you whenever you need it. Speaking of, Mary, I'd like you to meet my other special friend." She gestured to her boyfriend. "This is Dave and Dave, this little monkey here is my favorite niece in the whole wide world, Mary."
"I'm your only niece." Mary argued, crossing her arms over her chest and pouting.
"Exactly, which makes you the favorite and I can buy more toys and stuff for you." Haley teased.
The little girl's pout instantly disappeared. "Presents?"
"In the truck, but we have to wait until later to open them, okay?" Haley nodded.
"Okay." Mary agreed before turning her big blue eyes to Dave. "You're big." She commented honestly. "I've seen you on TV too."
Dave let out a rumbling chuckle. "Yes, I'm sometimes on TV with your aunt, it's how we met." He gently ran a hand down the little girl's hair. "You're very pretty."
The little girl blushed, in response as the trio climbed the steps of the farmer's porch and entered the house.
"Mary, there you are!" Mary's mother and Haley's sister-in-law, Christine came around the corner. "Oh my gosh, Haley, hi!" The willowy blonde hugged Haley briefly in greeting. "It's so good to see you!"
"Hey Christine, it's good to see you too." Haley placed Mary back on the floor. "Christine, I'd like you to meet my boyfriend Dave. Dave, my sister-in-law, Christine."
"It's nice to meet you." Christine shook the Animal's hand while surveying him in awe.
"It's nice to meet you too." Dave handed Haley back her brownies, so they could follow her into the kitchen where she could place them down.
"Hey loser!" Lucas greeted them from the fridge where he was pulling out another beer. "How's my big sis?"
"Hey Luke." She ruffled his sandy blonde hair before giving him a brief hug. "I'm doing well thanks. How's married life?"
"It has its ups and downs." He shrugged sheepishly. "It's harder than I thought anyway."
Haley laughed. "Luke, I want you to meet my boyfriend, Dave. Dave, this is my baby brother Lucas."
"Hey, I'm so not a baby anymore. Besides, I'm like what, eleven months younger than you?" He snorted dubiously.
"Whatever." She playfully punched him in the arm.
"It's good to meet you, dude." Luke shook hands with Dave. "You're making sure none of those meatheads mess with my sister right?"
"Shut up, Luke." Haley shook her head.
"What, a brother's got to look out for his sister." He said innocently.
"Actually, that's the big brother's job." A new voice interjected from the glass sliding door.
"RJ!" Haley ducked around Luke to embrace her older brother. "I've missed you."
"I missed you too." He returned her hug. "But, you've been kicking all kinds of ass lately."
"Raf, language!" Christine scolded, while gesturing to their daughter.
"Sorry." He looked up at Batista. "Dave right?"
"Dave Batista." The former World Heavyweight Champion introduced himself.
"Rafael Mariano, but everyone calls me RJ." The eldest Mariano sibling shook hands with the Animal, while a silent conversation seemed to transpire between the two.
"Everyone's out back." Christine informed them, breaking up the tension.
"Right." Luke agreed. "Let's head out that way. We've got more beer in the cooler outside Dave, if you're interested. I'm just picky about the beer I drink so I store mine in the inside fridge."
"Beer snob." RJ faked coughed, as they headed out into the backyard.
"Shut up, RJ. I could drink you under the table." The two brothers went on a little ahead of the group, arguing back and forth.
Haley stepped back to link hands with Dave again. "So far so good." She smiled bravely.
"You're quite a little trooper." He mockingly teased her, squeezing her hand again in support. "Your brothers are pretty cool."
"They're not Dwayne, but they'll do." She shook her head and smiled. "I like when Luke's like this, happy and relaxed. Rachel tends to get him uptight and sometimes mean."
"He's being nice today, so take it and run with it." He advised, placing a kiss on the crown of her head. "It'll be just fine."
She leant her head against his bicep, since even in heels, she couldn't reach his shoulder. "I'm glad you're so optimistic."
"Hello Haley." A soft feminine voice interrupted the brief moment. It glided up Haley's spine and made her stiffen in alert.
She slowly turned away from Dave to face the two people who had approached them. "Mom, Dad." She said softly.