Chapter 13:

Kostas Mariano stood tall and proud. He looked every inch of his fifty years, weather beaten but still strong. His once dark, nearly black hair was lined with gray, but it stayed rich and full on his head. His beard now had a salt and pepper effect in his later years, but even so he remained handsome in his own right. His dark eyes studied Dave with open curiosity, before settling on his only daughter with warmth.

"There's my girl." His voice made one think of water crashing on rock.

"Hey Dad." Haley stepped into her father's arms without hesitation. "It's so good to see you."

"It's good to see you too, Honey." He left a scratchy kiss on her cheek. "Congratulations on winning that belt you always wanted. I wish I could have been there to see it."

Erin Mariano cleared her throat loudly. Her expression looked pinched for a moment, like she had swallowed something sour. She had dressed in bright colors for the summer occasion, red and blue. She had tied her long, no longer naturally golden blonde hair up off her face and had used light traces of make up to hide age's faults.

"Hi mom." Haley stood awkwardly in front of the woman whose indifference had hurt her over the past five or six years.

Erin smoothed her features and shifted to embrace Haley rather uncomfortably. "Hello Haley, I'm glad you could make it."

"Thanks for inviting me." Haley stepped back and groped for Dave's hand again.

"Nonsense, you're family." Kostas waved it off, before flashing his wife an uncharacteristic warning look. "You must be the boyfriend." He said to Dave.

"Yes sir, Dave Batista." Dave held his free hand out for a shake with his girlfriend's father.

"Kostas Mariano." Kostas gave his hand a brief, firm shake. "My son watches a lot of Haley's wrestling and he tells me you've looked out for her well being many times."

"Yes sir." Dave nodded. "Nobody lays a hand on Haley without dealing with me."

"Good to hear." Kostas nodded in satisfaction. "I try to watch when I can, but it's not easy. I'm glad you're looking out for my daughter."

"Absolutely." Dave looked down at Haley affectionately. "And you can be rest assured I'm not the only one. She's got a whole army of bodyguards whether she realizes it or not."

She smiled lovingly up at him, a fact that Erin, who had been watching the exchange shrewdly picked up on.

"So you're a wrestler too then." Erin's voice and expression remained neutral, but her eyes smoldered with disapproval.

"Yes ma'am, it's how I met your daughter." Dave didn't even flinch. Haley shouldn't have been surprised, the man had stared down Triple H, the Undertaker and the Great Khali, a little waif like Erin wouldn't have him quivering in his boots.

"I see." The ridge between her eyebrows wrinkled slightly. "If you'll excuse me, I have to check on the lobster." She didn't wait for their response before walking off.

"I warned her to be on her best behavior today." Kostas shook his head, before looking back at his daughter. "I hope you know that I've had enough Haley, things are going to change around here. What she did about your Wrestlemania event is unacceptable. I promise you that will never happen again. I can't speak for your mother, but your next big pay-per-view, I'd like to be there, as would your brothers."

"Dad." Haley's heart warmed.

"We've all decided that shutting you out is not right. Your mother is going to have to learn that things don't always go her way." He hugged her again. "You're my daughter and I'll be damned if I'm not proud of you. You worked hard for what you wanted and didn't even let your mother stop you. That takes courage, Haley and from now on, your brothers and I are one hundred percent behind you."

Haley blinked back sentimental tears. "Thank you, Dad. That means a lot to me. I'd love to have more than just my WWE family in my life."

"Speaking of, how's Dwayne doing?" Kostas asked.

Haley frowned sadly for a moment. "He and Dani are getting divorced. It's amicable, but still sad."

"I'm sure you'll still see plenty of both of them, Haley." Kostas assured her. "They both love you as much as we do."

"I know it's just weird since a few months ago we all spent Christmas together. Speaking of Christmas, I never got the full details of your Italy trip?" Haley's smile became relaxed again. "Was it absolutely amazing? I cannot wait until we tour Europe." She winked at Dave.

"That's right, you get to travel for a living, so you have no right to be jealous missy." Kostas teased. "But yes, Italy was good time. Your mother has pictures in one of her albums somewhere."

"I'll have to check them out." She agreed enthusiastically.

"Haley dear, it is you!" Haley's aunt, Millie, bustled over and embraced her tightly. "You look wonderful. I almost didn't recognize you with all that dark hair!"

Haley laughed and pulled back from the older woman. "I just got it done recently and am still getting used to it myself."

"Are you the boyfriend?" Millie turned shrewd eyes to the tall man beside her niece.

"Yes ma'am, I'm Dave Batista." He nodded to confirm her question.

"Millicent Hutchinson, I'm Haley's mother's sister." Millie offered him a polite smile. "You treat her well then?"

"Aunt Millie stop!" Haley cut her off. "No matter what mom says he's a good guy, wrestler or not."

"I make my own judgments thank you, Haley." Millie brushed it off. "You're the last of the chicks to fully come out of the nest, I'm allowed to make sure whoever you chose is worthy."

"Haley means everything to me." Dave said easily. "I'd give her the world if I could. You don't have to worry about her with me."

Kostas grunted and shot a steady glared at Millicent. "That's something then. There you have it, Millie. The man's all well and good."

The bird like woman shrugged her frail shoulders before shuffling off to find her next victim.

"Your mother must have had something to do with that." Kostas shook his head in disbelief. "She's not dealing with this situation quietly."

"Would you expect anything less?" Haley smirked.

Kostas shot his only a daughter a wicked grin. "Absolutely not, if she did, she wouldn't be your mother after all."

"Cheers." She mocked toasted.

"It's cool." Dave squeezed Haley's shoulder. "Haley did warn me after all."

"Don't let us scare you off there, Dave." Kostas chuckled. "We're a rather entertaining bunch once you get to know us."

Dave shared one long meaningful look with his girlfriend before replying. "I won't scare easily Sir. It would take one hell of a tryst to scare me away from your daughter."

"Well then," Kostas nodded in satisfaction with his response. "That's something."