The Arrangement

I own nothing except my oc.

Thanks to everyone for reading and taking the time to review, good to know people are enjoying this. I am sorry for such a long delay, life sort of got in the way.

Chapter 11

Randy's POV

I left Melanie to rummage through the boxes the Shield had delivered. She was happy with them, I could tell. The rest of her stuff would arrive tomorrow. I headed down to my study and picked up the phone. It rang a few times until an out of breath Sam answered.

"Hello"? She sounded exasperated.

"Hey Sam, it's me".

"Randy? Hey. Wait, you're home, I thought you weren't due back for a couple of days"?

"Change of plans", I rushed. "Are you alright"?

"Yeah, just mix up with an order, and I have to rush to get it filled. I won't bore you with the details", she explained.

"I might be able to do you a favour then. Can I come get Alanna and take her for the weekend"?

"Of course, she'll love that"!

"Great, um I need to tell you something as well".

"OK, well I'll see you when you get here. Is everything alright"? She sounded concerned and I mentally kicked myself. Of course Sam would pick up. My ex-wife knew me better than most.

"Absolutely, I'll see you in an hour".

I am so screwed.

Normal POV

Randy knocked on the studio door nervously. Melanie turned and saw the look on his face. She frowned and got up leaning on the crutch ever so slightly. Her ankle was better but was still a little tender.

"What is it"? Randy could see the fear in her eyes. She thought it was about her family.

"I've got someone I need you to meet my family and someone in particular, and I'm sorry cause it's maybe going to be a bit of a shock", he started hesitantly. "I take it no one mentioned I have a five year old daughter"?

"No".

They stood in silence for several moments. Melanie shuffled slightly, and opened her mouth before closing it again.

Randy rubbed his palms against his shirt and thought about how to speak to her.

"Are they fucking insane"?! Okay, maybe he didn't need to worry about speaking to her immediately.

"Most likely"? He offered shrugging. "I didn't think they would bring her into it"-

"Well Stephanie told me that our marriage was binding in every sense of the word, obviously they would eventually"!

"Melanie, please just calm down"-

She slumped to the floor in shock. "What the hell am I supposed to do? I don't know anything about kids! I have no experience with them at all! I never wanted any"!

Randy rubbed the back of his head and crouched down to sit across from her.

"First, breathe. It's just one more hoop we have to jump through. We need to look like a loving family, we can do that. Alanna will love you, she loves everyone".

"That isn't a big comfort. Randy, they expect me to bond with her, the situation isn't fair to her", Melanie looked at him, frustration clear in her face. "They have me living this lie, and it's- urgh! I love my brothers, it's that simple", she replied. "I will do anything for them, but I wish I knew more about this. What if Hunter and Stephanie decide they don't need me? Your little girl has to go through two divorces"?

"Maybe they don't", Randy reasoned.

"So what? We just stay married to someone we don't love"? Melanie asked. "You know, I can handle having to lie to myself, and I can handle the fact that our marriage may be legal, but it isn't real. But I don't want to lie to a child. I don't want to lie to your family".

Randy sat cross legged across from her and took her hand softly. "Me either, but they won't understand and Hunter was really specific about who knows what".

She stared back at him with piercing eyes. "So what do we do"?

At Sam's

For all intents and purposes, Randy's ex-wife was a practical woman. She had helped Randy during a particularly difficult time in his life. They had bonded, married and she had given birth to a beautiful little girl. Despite the fact that their marriage had ended, neither were bitter about it. Both realised early on they were happier apart and that although they no longer loved each other, they were still close. Alanna was happy enough with the situation as well. Especially when she found out how many more presents that equalled at her last birthday party. But she still missed her daddy when he was on the road.

Recently, Sam had married an investment banker named Marcus and he had moved into their house shortly after. Thankfully, he and Randy got on well enough.

Sam was on the phone while she watched Marcus and Alanna play snap at the kitchen table. She listened half interested as her business partner rambled on about their newest deadline. Alanna's backpack and Mr Bear were lying by the front door, she had plenty of clothes and other toys at Randy's house. Most of the things in the pack were for Mr Bear, and a couple of things she had made at arts and crafts for her dad in school. She made excuses and hung up the phone as she saw Randy pull into the driveway. She slipped outside to greet him leaving Marcus to distract Alanna while she found out what was going on.

Randy climbed out the car and gave her a small wave. Sam smiled as they hugged and broke apart. Then she looked at him carefully. He looked tired.

"What is it"?

Randy sat down on the bench in the front garden and bit his lip nervously. Sam sat next to him.

"Is everything alright at work"?

Randy's POV

Sometimes I wish Sam wasn't so perceptive. Nothing is OK.

Flashback:

"What do we do"?

"I wish I had an answer for you Mel, but I don't", I admitted. We sat in silence for a while, the house felt empty and hallow. God, I'll be glad once Allie is here. I'm trying to picture how she and Melanie will get on, but worst case scenario just keeps playing. Melanie said so herself, she's no good with kids. I have no idea how Ally is going to act either. Hunter is a right bastard for making us do this. I try to picture Melanie with a baby in her arms, all I see is resentment and anger. How am I supposed to make this work? Hunter knows I want more kids, they haven't even considered what Melanie wants.

I reached across and placed a hand on Melanie's knee. At least she didn't flinch or pull away at my touch, it was something at least. She looked up at me, something flickered in her eyes that was similar to defeat. She just shook her head.

"I can't do this Randy. I can't live my whole life pretending every day, it's too much, I can't"…

I cupped her face and looked at her. It was now or never.

"Maybe we don't need to pretend".

Then I kissed her. She didn't pull away.

Present:

"I got married", Randy blurted out.

Yeah, nice one Randy. Just go ahead and say it in the least tactful way possible…

Sam said nothing for a few moments while she digested the revelation.

"Wow, I was not expecting that. I never knew you were seeing anyone let alone engaged"!

With a bright smile on her face, she hugged him. Then punched him in the arm.

"What was that for"?

"You never told any of us and we missed your wedding you jerk"!

"It was very spur of the moment", Randy countered quickly. "Just a couple of witnesses".

Great, I'm officially lying to my family. Although I guess the wedding may as well have been just a couple of witnesses, he thought mournfully.

"She must be special then for such actions", Sam teased playfully. "So come on, details! What's her name? Where did you meet? Oh, what did Bob and Elaine say? You guys are coming on Sunday right"-

Oh yeah, Sunday. Mom's birthday… Where is Show to choke slam me through a table when I need him?

Sam's POV

"Randy! Randy"!

I waved my hand in front of his face a few times and watched as he slowly snapped out of it.

"You haven't said anything for almost three and half minutes. Are you alright"?

He wasn't, I wasn't fooled in the slightest. I learned a long time ago, Randy wouldn't ask for help until he hit rock bottom.

Randy's POV

I gritted my teeth and smiled.

"Yeah, I'm good. Sorry must be jet lag".

I had to get used to the lies slipping out my mouth again.

"Her name is Melanie. We met at work".

Okay, it's not exactly the truth but it's not exactly a lie. We did…sort of.

"Melanie? Melanie Rhodes? The girl who was on RAW with you"?

Damnit, can't get anything past this woman!

"Well, get you Ran. Talk about WWE royalty. I haven't seen her around before. Did she just start"? Sam propped her chin in her hands and nudged my shoulder.

"Yeah, she hasn't been there for very long".

"Well, how did you meet"?

"Well, uh"-

"Daddy"! Phew, saved by Allie. A small flash of pink and blonde threw herself into my arms and hugged me tightly.

"I missed you daddy".

"I missed you too Munchkin", I said softly.

Melanie's Pov

It took me a bit longer to unpack and put away the boxes that Roman and the others sent. I was honestly touched, a lot of the stuff was high quality and was picked out with care. If I ever got my chance, drinks were on me. After this, I was feeling more settled. Until I finished putting things away and remembered what had prompted my sudden urge to arrange things. He kissed me. Not because anyone was watching, or because the Authority had told him to.

He kissed me, freely.

"Maybe we don't need to pretend".

I had to organise things physically. I can't organise how I'm feeling. He doesn't care about me? Fuck, I'm confused. It probably didn't mean anything, he was just practicing for when we were in public. He had to be. It has to look real. I guess the affection, for what it is, was alright. I won't deny, I'm attracted to him. How can I not be? You would have to be blind, deaf and dumb not to notice him.

Sue me, I'm only human. And my chances for anything else in life decreased fairly dramatically lately. Is it wrong to take affection where I find it?

It wasn't until I started walking around the house that I remembered. It wasn't just the two of us. Two is company, three is potentially a disaster. Being stuck in a loveless marriage was one thing. Having a classic fairy-tale step-mother complex is completely different. My ankle throbbed slightly and I ignored it. The pain wasn't bad anymore. The thought of how badly I was going to fuck this up was worse.

My mother died when I was little. I have had next to no experience with children and I have no strong female role model to look to for inspiration. This little girl was going to hate me, and I would hate myself for not being able to connect with her and take it out on everyone else. Then the endless cycle would continue.

I poked my head into a room halfway down the hall and took a small glimpse at the life of Alanna. Her room was painted lilac and toys and dolls were splashed across the place in a messy, but somehow organised cluster. She was a typical little girl. I rolled my eyes up in despair and noticed something.

The ceiling was blanketed with wind chimes and mobiles – all decorated with butterflies. She obviously liked them. It was pretty. Everything about the room was personal. I left it quickly feeling like an intruder.

I stopped in the master bedroom and looked around. Randy had cleared a few drawers and a side of the wardrobe for me. There wasn't much in the room at all. It barely looked lived in. I ambled around the house for a bit longer. There were a lot of pictures of Alanna. She was adorable, and her smile was infectious.

"She'll love you, she loves everyone".

It must be nice to have such an untainted view of the world. I hate them so much for making me a liar. I hate having to lie to this little girl.

Normal Pov

"So I have two mommies and two daddies"? Alanna questioned. Randy nodded, his eyes on the road as they drove back to his house.

"Exactly, just like mommy and daddy Marc".

"Why wasn't I at the wedding and why haven't I met her before today"?

"It was really quick sweetheart. It was spontaneous".

"What does that mean"?

"Uh, just when you decide to do something spur of the moment. It just sort of happened".

Alanna's mouth formed a perfect little o and she looked out the window.

"Daddy, will she like me"?

It almost broke Randy's heart to hear those words out a five year olds mouth. He knew where Alanna's concerns came from. Her best friend's mother had remarried and the transition had been difficult at best.

I'm sorry Ally.

"I'm sure she will. In fact, why don't we go pick up a present for her"? He forced a smile and looked at Alanna in the mirror. The little girl brightened up and nodded. Randy changed direction.

Melanie was sitting out on the back porch enjoying the sun. A steaming cup of coffee was resting in her hands. She had expected Randy back some time ago. His prolonged absence was starting to make her nervous. In hindsight, coffee may not have been such a great idea.

A loud crash and a string of swears made her jump.

That wasn't Randy.

Melanie slipped back into the house and picked up a softball bat from the backdoor. She was guessing it belonged to Alanna. The backdoor clicked back into place but she left it unlocked. She placed the coffee mug down on the side table carefully. She raised the bat and snuck through the house carefully to the front door. She could make out someone behind the glass, the image distorted and whoever it was, they were dressed in black, tall and obviously male. And absolutely not Randy.

Melanie swallowed raising the bat. Of course, she kept forgetting. Randy was famous in the WWE. At best this was a fan, at worst this was a burglar. The blurry form behind the glass tried the door again and swore, kicking the door in frustration. Melanie flattened herself against the wall and slid down breathing heavily. For all her complaints, she wouldn't mind a couple of wrestlers right about now. She bit her lip as the door propped open and the burglar shuffled into the hall, dropping some- boxes? What kind of burglar brought boxes?

"Stupid fucking"- the mumbling figure turned around to see Melanie behind him holding a kid's bat and looking at him wide eyed.

In any incarnation, Dean Ambrose was a terrifying man. Ninety per cent of the time, he was bordering on insane. The other ten percent, he was menacing. At that moment, it was definitely the latter. The man was wound tighter than a rabid pit-bull, and his eyes flashed dangerously. The pair continued to stare each other down.

Melanie decided to try and break the ice. This was one of Roman's guys, he wouldn't hurt her, she hoped.

"Dean right"? She asked softly lowering the bat.

He grunted in response, cracking his neck and wiping his hands on his jeans.

"We brought your stuff".

"We"?

Two more men in uniforms rolled up four crates of paintings and left them at the bottom of the stairs. Behind them, another man stalked up to the house with the practiced ease of someone who spent their life high flying in the ring. Seth Rollins took one look at the pair of them, noting Dean's hostility and the bat in Melanie's hand. He looked pointedly at Dean and sighed.

"Why didn't you just knock"?

Dean just shrugged and fished around in his jacket pocket, pulling out a lighter and some smokes. He shuffled towards the door and Seth looked after him despairingly. Melanie hesitated.

"We weren't expecting you today".

Seth shrugged and smiled brightly. "Surprise then".

"Where would you like these miss"? the delivery man interrupted them, laden down with another batches.

"Upstairs please, blue door at the end on the right".

"Righto".

Melanie's POV

With Seth's help, I got all the paintings out the crates and delivery men removed them along with the excess packaging. I was surprised to see my father had sent the furniture from my studio as well. We rearranged the furniture and set about unpacking everything else. The paintings were propped up against the walls, some of them would be going up. Dean picked up a hammer and nails and started putting some up. His movements were erratic and for a brief moment, I feared for the walls. The look on Seth's face was a mixture of amusement and exasperation. Dean reminded me of a petulant Cody from our younger days. It would be almost comforting, if I didn't find him so terrifying.

Seth chatted away whilst we were unpacking, asking me about a selection of paintings. I had to smile, he was almost like an oversized puppy. He was a lot like Declan when we first met.

It didn't take long, and soon the room reminded me of the studio I had left behind. My only regret was that I wouldn't have too long in here.

"Ow! Stupid fucking"- Dean sucked his thumb mumbling swears and promises of revenge around it as he dropped the hammer to the floor. The nail he had failed to hit bounced off the wood and rolled around for a few moments mocking him.

"Fuck this, I'm out", he stormed out and a few seconds later, we heard him rummaging around in the kitchen.

"Is he always so"…. I trailed off not really sure how to finish this off.

"Temperamental? Difficult? Asshole"? Seth supplied with a smirk. "Pretty much twenty-four seven". He shuffled over and sat down on the sofa. "Roman told you right? About us"?

"He did", I said softly. "Listen Seth, I wanted to thank"-

"Oh please don't. Honestly no need, besides if we get thanked one more time I think Dean's head will implode. He's not really one for helping out".

"Well I still appreciate it regardless. The risk alone"-

"I try not to think about it", Seth cut in, eyes drifting to the floor. "It is what it is".

"You really care about him don't you"? I put down the box of charcoals I was holding. Everything was back in place now.

"Yeah I do. I will do whatever it takes to protect him".

"He's lucky", I said. "Not many people are that selfless".

"Sometimes people surprise you", Seth smiled.

Downstairs a car pulled in.

Randy's Pov

I propped the front door open and tried to stifle a laugh at the large bouquet of flowers waddling through the door.

"Are you sure you don't want some help"?

"I can manage daddy", came the muffled reply.

"Go on then, pop them in the living room", I froze slightly as I heard a rumble in the kitchen. "I'll be right through".

I shut the door after Ally entered the room and grabbed the softball bat lying near the door. Whoever was in the kitchen, wasn't Melanie.

Normal Pov

"Is this how you guys treat all your guests? Must be a third generation thing", Dean gulped down the remainder of the soda he was holding and leaned against the counter. Randy let out a breath and put the bat down.

"What the hell are you doing here? I thought you guys were coming tomorrow".

Dean shrugged. "Rhodes paid the extra charge and got the stuff shipped sooner. Seth and I were out here anyway to visit a friend so we said we'd bring it".

"You mean I said", Seth interrupted as he and Melanie walked into the kitchen.

Randy smiled softly at Melanie and she returned it although somewhat hesitantly.

"You ready"?

Seth's Pov

"Hey kiddo"! I swung out my arms and scooped up Alanna tickling her.

"Uncle Sethie! I didn't know you were coming too! Is Dean with you"?

"Yeah kid, he is. But he's not feeling great so don't push him ok? Remember what we talked about"?

Alanna nodded and I put her down. Instead of running over to Dean, she approached him slower and held out her hand for a high five. Dean smiled and slapped her hand softly before rubbing her head affectionately. Randy entered the room behind us, with Melanie's hand in his.

"Hey Ally, this is Melanie. Come say hello".

Melanie gulped slightly, she was so nervous. Alanna smiled brightly and darted over to Melanie throwing her arms around the older woman's waist.

"Melanie"! She sang out. Melanie put her arms around Ally's shoulders loosely and squeezed back.

"Hey there".

Stay tuned for the next part in which Melanie meets the rest of the Orton clan and attempts to bond with Alanna.