Another sold out WWE house show ended and as the last of the crowd was filing out of the arena, Memphis Kramer still dressed in her referee's uniform, sat in a secluded back section of the building. Resting on the staircase, she hugged her knees to her chest, grateful for the warmth of her black hoodie. Playing with one of the strings, she sighed. It had been a busy 24 hours. Just the night before she had learned from her friend Melina Perez that sports entertainment's most notorious dirt sheet had let the proverbial cat out of the bag about her breakup with Phil Brooks and subsequent hookup with Randy Orton. She could feel the prying eyes of everyone backstage but truth be told, it wasn't exactly breaking news. In the few short days the RAW crew had been back on the road, it hadn't taken rocket science to figure out what was really going on. Still Memphis was plagued with anxiety. Phil had not yet returned but his comeback was imminent and the very thought washed a wave of sheer panic mixed with nausea over her. It was a very chaotic time in her life and it wasn't getting any easier any time soon. That fact she had already learned to accept.

"What's up, you?"

Memphis raised her head. She was a little surprised to see Randy standing over her.

"Hey. What are you doing here?"

"I was looking all over for you."

"I just came up here to clear my head, I guess. I needed a minute."

He took a seat beside her.

"Everything alright with you?"

"Yeah," she shrugged. "Sure."

He shot her an all knowing look.

"Don't lie to me."

"Am I that transparent?" she looked right at him, with a slight chuckle.

Randy sighed.

"Nah, just a bad liar. It's been a weird few days, few weeks even."

"You can say that again."

It was still taking time to get used to, the new reality. The night before they had stayed in a suite at a local downtown hotel. After the show she had boarded his bus and once inside the room, she had taken a hot shower. When she emerged, she had found him waiting naked on the king sized bed. Her heart had raced, shallow breath catching in her throat as the cool air from the thermostat sent chills up and down her damp skin. She couldn't resist his swagger or his body for that matter. Their eyes met and the minute he touched her it was like a thousand electric shocks. The chemistry they shared was magnetic, explosive even. They had ended up making passionate love for hours which had started to become a nightly ritual. Afterwards Memphis had fallen asleep in his arms and she had woken up there. It felt good. She felt happy…and safe but now the road trip was about to end and that fact brought about a sobering uncertainty.

"You just look like something important is on your mind, that's all."

"I'm okay. Really," she attempted to blow it off.

Randy did not looked convinced.

"Memphis, you know, this thing between us is never gonna work if you don't talk to me."

"What? Randy…"

"This is different. I get it. It's weird for me, too. I'm not the relationship type of guy. I usually don't take the time to chase females down and beg them to communicate their feelings. That shit ain't me, never has been. But I told you…I care about you. Yeah, we have great sex but I thought it was gonna be more than that. I mean, if you don't even feel comfortable enough to tell me what's wrong with you…"

"The road trip ends tonight," she blurted out. "We have four whole days off between the next set of shows."

"I know. Pretty cool, huh? That shit happens like only twice a year but what does that have to do with anything?"

"Last week I was busy with the FCW gig but um now…it kind of hit me. I gave up my place in Long Island and now that Phil and I aren't together, I don't know what to do. I hadn't really thought about it until now but I'm basically homeless."

"There's been a lot going on. Have you thought about going back and getting another place in New York?"

"New York was okay but I don't know if that's what I want."

"What about Chicago?"

"Chicago is beautiful, it's a great city, it really is and I like it there but let's face it, that's Phil's place, not mine. I only moved there because of him. I don't know if getting an apartment there is the right thing to do. I don't know if I will ever be happy there."

"You've got some heavy decisions to make but the good thing is, you really don't have anything tying you down. You've got the money and the freedom…just pick a place on the map and go. You could move anywhere you want to really."

Memphis looked away sadly.

"I suppose you're right. That sounds all fine and good. The problem is I just don't know where to go."

"You'll figure it out."

She rested her head on her knees. Of course she would figure it out, she always did. She was used to being a nomad. She had lived many places, chasing love, chasing big dreams but nowhere had ever quite felt like home.

"I've got a lot to think about. I'm probably just gonna head out early to the next city…"

"Memphis, don't be stupid."

"Randy, I…"

"Come back to St. Louis with me."

She took a deep breath. It was a new relationship and as Randy had already professed, he wasn't normally the relationship kind of guy. When she had left Phil and things had been dark and lonely, she had fled to Missouri to be with him. And for two weeks he had provided remarkable comfort. But she knew it wasn't reasonable to assume that they could fall right into a blissful domestic routine that would have her moving to St. Louis. That would never work.

"I can't do that," she whispered.

"Why not?"

"It's too soon. I mean, what are we gonna do? Move in together? Me get an apartment somewhere near your place? Randy, that's just plain stupid. It would never work and you know that, we both know it. I can't just move to some city again for a guy."

"I didn't say anything about any of that. Damn, you always get so worked up about everything. You're jumping the gun."

"What?"

"Look, I know you're stressed cause you're in a tight spot about finding a permanent place to live but like I said, I know you'll figure all that out. You've got time, Memphis. It's not like you're on a timeline or anything. Nothing has to be decided right away. Right now you've got stuff at my house, including your car. It would be crazy to try to make a big decision in the next 48 hours. Just relax and come back to St. Louis with me. And you can do that the next week and the next. I'm not asking you to move in with me or even move to St. Louis. I'm just trying to take a load off of you and let you know you have somewhere to go for a few weeks before you figure out where you're gonna move for good."

Memphis was speechless for a few moments.

"You mean that?"

"Wouldn't have said it if I didn't."

"Thank you," she said softly. "It's just that I didn't…"

"Expect me to say something like that?"

"I guess so. I, I'm sorry. I guess I need to start giving you a little more credit."

"That would be nice."

"It's hard for me, Randy. I took a major gamble on this, on you and it's scary still."

His blue eyes softened a bit.

"I get it. I know I haven't always been the kind of guy people could count on. But I'm trying now."

She smiled.

"You are and I know it's not just for me or for us. I am so proud of you and how far you have come since we met."

"So are you gonna chill on this flying off early to the next city nonsense and come hang out with me for a few days? It'll be fun."

"Yes," she breathed a sigh of relief. "I would really like that."

"Me too. And you know what else I would like?"

Memphis raised an eyebrow.

"Sex?"

Randy smirked.

"I'm always down for that but there's something else."

"What's that?"

"Memphis, I want us to quit hiding."

"What do you mean?"

"Come on, you know what I mean. I get it that you don't want to rub anything in Phil's face but he's a big boy, Memphis. He's going to have to learn how to deal with this sooner or later. You broke up with him, now you and I are together. I don't want to hide anymore. We shouldn't have to. If we're going to do this, then let's do it for real."

"Randy…"

"Everybody already knows anyway. And they don't care, not that it is any of their business anyway. But what are you so afraid of? Or maybe I should ask what you're so ashamed of?"

Memphis exhaled before taking his hand in hers.

"I know that everyone knows. I can't be naïve anymore. If they didn't, Superstar Scoop took great pleasure in letting the cat out of that bag and I guess something like that was bound to happen. And yeah, a part of me is afraid, I will admit that. Afraid to be with you and let my guard down. Afraid to hurt Phil even more and very afraid of what is going to happen once he comes back. That is going to take time to get over and the only way to do it is to face it head on. I understand that. But I'm not ashamed of you, Randy or of us, that I promise you."

"Do you mean that?"

She gave him a shy smile.

"Wouldn't have said it if I didn't."

Without another word, he reached for his iPhone and began thumbing away at the screen on his phone.

"Done," he looked her right in the eye when he was all finished.

"What was that? Who were you texting?"

"I wasn't texting anybody, I was tweeting."

Memphis felt her heart skip.

"What, wait, why are you tweeting? What did you tweet?"

He showed her the Twitter screen on his phone.

Headed back home for rare 4 days with my girl, Memphis K. Been hanging out, it's official. #GoodTimes

She sucked in a breath.

"There it is," Randy proclaimed.

"Yeah," she swallowed hard. "There it is."

"Let's get out of here," he looked around. "You hungry?"

It had been hours since her last meal.

"Um, yeah, I guess I could eat."

"Come on, I'm starving."

He extended his hand and helped her up. When she accepted, he squeezed it and they walked hand in hand back towards the main part of the arena. Most of the crew and talent was still hanging around and when Randy and Memphis approached, all eyes seemed to be on them.

"What the hell is all this?" Ted DiBiase Jr. asked with a frown. "Is it really true, those stupid rumors?"

Randy stopped and looked right at Memphis who was nervously biting at her lip. He leaned down and gave her a full kiss on the mouth in front of everybody.

"That answer your question?" he asked when he finally pulled away. "Any more?"

"But dude…"

"DiBiase, go kick some rocks barefoot," Randy smirked as he proudly led his girl out the back door to the warm and comfortable bus that was waiting for them.

As they boarded, Memphis closed her eyes. It was official. She and Randy were official. There was no turning back now.