Memphis stirred in her sleep before sinking deeper into the covers. The bed felt so warm and good and she felt like she could stay there forever. Late the night before she and Randy had taken the red eye into St. Louis. They had loaded their belongings into his black Escalade that was waiting in the parking garage of the airport and made the drive to the suburb of High Ridge where he lived. Shortly before dawn, exhausted, they had collapsed into his king sized bed and fallen asleep in each other's arms. She had been too tired to notice that he had gotten up a few hours later. Only when he came back to bed and began kissing her neck did she fully wake up.

"What are you doing? It's way too early," she groaned with a half-smile.

"Rise and shine, Sleeping Beauty."

"What time is it?"

"Almost 11 and uh, time for you to get up."

"Why the big rush?"

"I've got something planned for us."

Memphis raised one eyebrow.

"What is it?"

"It's a surprise."

"Randy…"

He motioned over to the plate he had in his hands. It was scrambled eggs with cheese, bacon, and toast. He had also poured her a glass of orange juice.

"Here. I made you something to eat. It's not much but I figured you'd be hungry and I thought you might want to eat before we head out."

She sat up and yawned, stretching her arms.

"You made me breakfast in bed? Aw, babe, thank you. That is so sweet."

She leaned up and kissed his lips, a kiss that he deepened and almost delayed breakfast with. But Randy was adamant about getting on the road so Memphis quickly scarfed down the spread and started getting ready. She took a quick shower alone and dressed in jeans, boots, a sweater, and a leather jacket. The weather was still cold out and she had no idea what her boyfriend had up his sleeve. He greeted her downstairs wearing a similar ensemble.

"You ready?" he asked.

"Ready as I'll ever be. Just curious as to where you're taking me."

Randy grinned.

"You'll find out soon enough," he said, leading her to the garage.

He handed her his backpack along with a helmet as he put one on himself and fired up his motorcycle. Memphis bit her lip. She had always found something about a bike incredibly sexy. Seeing Randy turn back around and look at her with those sexy lips and blue eyes only added to the fantasy. Giving him a little smirk of her own, she put the helmet on before slipping the straps of the backpack over her slender shoulders and boarded the back of the motorcycle. She wrapped her arms securely around his chiseled waist and slowly they pulled out of the garage onto the driveway onto the neighborhood street and finally onto the Interstate. It was cold outside but the warm and happy feeling that consumed her on the inside more than made up for it. Randy took an exit and a few miles later they ended up at Lake Saint Louis. He parked the bike in a secluded area right near the water and he helped her off.

"Wow," she looked around, taking in the scenery. "This is so beautiful."

The water seemed to go for miles. Randy's home was on a much smaller lake but the view from where they stood was nothing short of exquisite.

"Yeah, we used to come out here all the time when I was a little kid. My mom would pack these picnic lunches," he recalled with a chuckle. "It was always ham sandwiches and homemade potato salad with Sunny Delight."

"That doesn't sound bad. Maybe she could have switched it up a little bit sometimes."

Randy shrugged as he unzipped the backpack and pulled out a blanket, spreading it on the ground so they could sit.

"They probably had an ongoing sale on the ham and the Sunny D," he made a joke.

They sat and he wrapped an arm around his girlfriend.

"I know you told me about it the time we were stuck in that elevator but you guys had some pretty hard times, huh?" she treaded in a soft voice.

"Yeah. I mean, my old man was this famous wrestler and stuff so you would have thought that we were living high on the hog but it was far from it. He, um, he's a good man. I love him. I look up to him. He has always been my hero but it sucked that he squandered all that money away. I remember being a little kid talking to Becky and Nathan, my sister and brother, saying why does he keep making all these bad decisions, we're poor. It was rough."

"People make mistakes, babe. And yeah it's bad when they don't learn from them. I'm sorry your family had to go through all that. But they're alright for money now, your parents?"

"They're okay. My mom still works as a nurse. My dad draws a small pension and I've had to help them out a few times but it is what it is. What can you do? That's blood. I couldn't let my folks lose their house."

"You're a good son."

"I don't know about all that. I've put them through hell with some of the shit I've pulled. There's nothing worse than making your mother cry or having your father look you in the eye with this look of disappointment and shame."

Memphis rubbed the back of Randy's neck.

"Like I said, we all make mistakes. Your parents don't judge you for all the bad stuff you've done in the past just like you didn't hold your dad's mistakes against him."

"I used to. I don't like saying it but a part of me used to hate him. I hated him for a lot of shit. I hated him for our money problems, I hated him for always stressing my mom out, I hated him for especially for not being there. He was gone a lot. The travel schedule was just as insane back then. It was weird cause it was like I was so proud of him but at the same time, I resented him for choosing wrestling over us. Looking back now, especially being a WWE Superstar myself, I know it's just part of the job but when you're a little kid and you want your old man to come to your little league game, I guess you just don't see it that way."

Memphis gave him a thoughtful look. He was opening up to her unexpectedly with amazing candor. She liked that. She liked getting to know more about him. It only cemented the fact that it was more to their relationship than just great sex. They were a real couple.

"What about you?" she asked him. "Do you want kids eventually?"

"Eventually. I know I'm not ready now. You know what happened with Hannah Wilson scared the shit out of me. I guess I just want to do it the right way, you know? Meet a good girl, settle down, start a family…but it would be hard not being around. And I don't ever want my kids to feel about me like I used to feel about my dad."

Memphis sighed.

"It's tough on kids when the parents aren't around."

"What about you? You ever want kids?"

"I've thought about it. I like kids. I mean, if it happens, it happens. If I meet the right guy and it's the right time…who knows? I definitely wouldn't be opposed to it. But at the same time, if it never happened, I don't think it will make my life any less. I won't look back with regret or at least I hope I won't."

Randy looked her right in the eye.

"You're tough."

"I've had to be to make it this far."

"I have always liked that about you."

She giggled and rolled her eyes.

"No, you didn't."

"What are you talking about?"

"That is the very thing that made you hate me when we first met. God, you were such a douche bag to everybody and yeah part of me felt like just going along with you to keep the peace but when I thought about it, I was like fuck it. Why should I kiss this guy's ass? He has a hard on for me and I didn't do a damn thing to deserve it."

Randy couldn't help but smirk.

"Nobody had ever stood up to me like you did, talked to me that way. Hell, you did what grown men have been wanting to do in that locker room for ten years but haven't had the balls. Yeah, it pissed me off but it is a part of what made me like you too."

"Really?"

"It was kind of hot. Besides, I knew you would be good in bed."

"Oh shut up," she laughed and gave him a soft punch in the arm.

"What? I'm serious. And admit it, even when we were at each other's throats, you thought about me in bed."

"No way."

"Memphis…"

She blushed, grinning and looking away.

"Maybe a few times…"

"See? I fucking knew it."

"Don't go getting a big head about it and everything," she joked.

Randy pulled her closer.

"I like this," he said in a quiet voice.

"What?"

"You. This. Being here like this, just hanging out…talking. It's kind of nice."

Memphis kissed his lips. It was nice.

"Thank you for bringing me here. It's so pretty and calm and quiet. And uh, I like being with you, too, spending time together. It has been a crazy few weeks and all I want to do is forget about it. I don't want to think about the future as far as moving or what is going to happen when Phil gets back. All I want is to concentrate on the now, on the present. We have four days off and all I want to do is be with you. I want to talk with you, Randy, and relax with you and laugh with you and make love with you."

"Sounds like a good plan," he said, kissing her again, lying back and pulling Memphis on top of him.

They continued to make out for a little while longer, just enjoying each other's company.

"Mmmmm, I like hanging out here but maybe we should take this back to your house."

"What's wrong with right here?" Randy breathed between kisses.

Memphis giggled.

"Um, it's freezing out here, are you kidding me?"

She could feel his hardness pressing against her thigh.

"It is kind of cold so I'll let you off the hook today but come summertime we are gonna fuck like rabbits out here."

"Oh baby, you're so poetic and romantic."

She was only teasing him. Inside she felt deliriously happy. It was easy to feel that way when Randy spoke that way in terms of a possible future for them. He was still complex, he was still layered, he still had his faults and flaws but beneath it all was a man, brave yet scared, learning how to face his demons and battle evil. Memphis was still nervous, still uncertain but when she looked into his eyes, it took all the panic away. And that day had been the start of something great. She had been nervous about four entire days together, she had been terrified about the status of their relationship as whole. Being with Randy was a gamble. Not only had she sacrificed Phil's love and stability, she had hurt him deeply and lost one of the best friends she had ever had. But her feelings for Randy Orton could not be ignored. And lying in his arms, laughing and happy and feeling incredibly safe, nothing else mattered. She was falling head over heels in love with the Viper and a part of her dared dream that the feeling might be mutual.