a/n Hi. I don't know if you remember me but I write fanfiction. It's been two months and I know people make you wait longer but I'm really sorry. I warned you though so you can't be too mad at me. Also, France was brilliant. The end. Many, many thanks to xHalosandWings, (Anonymous) and Neurotic-Idealist for being so kind.

Following The Main Event;

By AliceJericho

Chapter 7: Royal Rumble

Sunday, January 31.

"Lucky your parents live in Georgia."

"That's why we stayed there." Cody said with his mouth full.

"Are you ready for tonight?"

"Not much to be ready for."

"You're interfering in the title match. And you're in the Rumble. You need to be ready." I said as I bit into a piece of toast.

"I'm ready, Sun. Really."

"Are you angry at me for saying that Ted is cheating on Kristin?" he drank from his cup of coffee and didn't answer my question. I sighed and continued to eat my breakfast.

Minutes passed and the two of us were in complete silence, the sound of the television in the other room was the only thing keeping me from screaming.

"Is everything okay in here? You're awfully quiet." Michelle commented as she made her way into the kitchen.

"Yeah, Ma. Just trying to get into the right headspace."

"Of course you are. We don't want any more injuries, do we?" she winked at me and I managed a small laugh. "Are you going to make an appearance, Sunday, dear?"

"It hasn't been decided yet, but I might walk dad to the ring… But I think Vinny wants to make my return a bit more special."

"You're not going out there." Cody told me quietly, "You might get hurt again." Now he cares. "Just wait until you're stronger. Please."

"I suppose that's a good idea." I consented, "Try and stay away from Matt Hardy, I guess." He nodded at me and I turned to Michelle who was also nodding. "Keegan's the special guest referee for the dark match, right?" I asked Cody.

"Yeah, she's not happy about it either. She's one of the best on the roster and she's refereeing the dark match. The scream was heard by everyone." I had to laugh at that. Keegan Calaway has the potential to be a real big Diva. Then again, so could I.

"I guess I understand. I mean, at least I can go watch my Dad… But if Starr accompanied Taker, that would be a serious blow to kayfabe."

"You're the total opposite of Cody here," Michelle said, "He wants as far away from his father as he can get." She laughed as Cody rolled his eyes.

"It's different, Ma." She asked him to explain and he swallowed what he was chewing before continuing, "The girls don't have the same expectations on them. They can be seen with their fathers and people don't expect them to become that legendary."

"So you're saying that we can never reach legendary status? Um, Trish, Lita, Mae Young, Molly Holly, Moolah-"

"If you'd let me finish, Sunny." He snapped at me, "There is no doubt that you can reach that status but it's not immediately expected of you. Sure, people assume that you're going to be a great wrestler but when you get so good that you have reached Moolah status people don't just say it's because you're the daughter of a great. You can't be your father because you are a female. For me, Ted and Randy… We have to pave our own way or we're forever going to be in the shadows of our dads and that's the only reason we'll be great. I don't want to be known as Dusty's son."

"Like I want to be HBK's daughter. I want to be Sunday." I snapped back at him.

"Alright you two. Calm down." I took a deep breath and pushed my chair backwards, "I'm going to take a shower."

"Sunny..." Cody's voice trailed off as I turned the corner into the hall and walked to his room.

I collected some clean clothes and quickly ducked into the bathroom.
I could hear the dishwasher being packed in the kitchen and some quiet voices belonging to Cody, Michelle and Dusty. The running water couldn't drown them out. I had to try extra hard to get the last of the conditioner out of the bottle, wondering how I had managed to screw up my arm so much. Eventually I gave up and used my other arm, growing increasingly frustrated with myself.

"Sun?" Cody's voiced broke through my thoughts from the other side of the door. "You alright in there?"

"Fine."

"Can I come in?"

"'S your house." I answered and the door creaked slightly as it opened.

"You misunderstood what I was trying to say." he said as he walked dowager the shower before leaning against the wall adjacent to it, "It sounded a lot worse that it was supposed to."

"No, I get it. Sorry. You were making me angry this morning and I needed an outlet." he nodded in understanding. I watched his eyes travel shamelessly down my wet, naked body before they slowly met mine again.

"You're beautiful, Sun. Have I told you that?" I smiled and gave a small nod. "I'll never stop telling you that." I opened my mouth to retort but he spoke again before I could, "It'll never stop being true."

"You just want to get in here with me." the smirk that graced his face let me know I was right in my assumption. In less than thirty seconds he had removed his pyjamas and was opening the door to join me. "What time is it?"

"It's just gone eight. I have to be at the arena before eleven." I kissed his lips softly. "Plenty of time to be with you."

"You're a suck up." he murmured an honest 'yep' against my forehead and I held him as close as I could.

"I don't care what happens, Sun; you have to stay back here. I don't want you hurting yourself anymore."

"Yeah dad, I had this conversation with Cody this morning." I smiled at my old man, "I don't want you hurting yourself either, okay? You're not as young as you used to be. The bones are getting a bit more brittle." I poke his shoulder with a condescending look on my face. He took my hand in his and pushed it back in my direction.

"Very funny Iva."

"Hey now! There's no need for that, Michael." I scoffed incredulously before smiling at him, "You may be aging and have a receding hairline but you're still the best there is. Bret Hart ain't got nothing on you." I was pulled into a tight hug. "You're going to kill it tonight. I said a prayer for you."

"Want to know who's winning?" I nodded eagerly at his question. "You'll have to wait and see like everything." I pulled away from him and glared at him.

"You, sir, are a horrible father." I put on my thinking face and spoke wisely, "I am predicting a CM Punk win. Possibly McIntyre. But it would not surprise me if Jericho were to be the last man standing."

"I can't win? Not even Hunter?" Dad asked with a horrified face, "You're my daughter."

"Yes, but if you win then everyone knows Taker will be champion at WM and you'll fight him and how is that exciting?" I explained to him with animated hand movements, "And as for Hunter, if he wins the crowd will riot and complain that he's already won it three hundred times and doesn't need it again. And I love John with all my heart, but if he wins the crowd will actually riot and I'm not healthy enough for that." I referred to John Cena's love-hate relationship with the WWE Universe.

As dad left to warm up, I sat at a table in catering, watching the Superstars and Divas hydrate themselves and eat their last meal before they went out in front of the thousands of fans. I saw Keegan Calaway walking around fuming due to her position on the card. The other Divas looked pleased to at least be getting a match. I can't imagine that it would last very long – they never did anymore – but at least they had a spot. Sort of.

"Why you sitting by yourself for, Hickie?" Kofi's voice and a screeching chair made me turn my head to the left, focusing on the African superstar instead of the Divas. He was carrying a tray of food.

"Everyone's getting ready," I told him. "You should be, too."

"I still have time. I haven't eaten yet." He told me as he put the tray on the table and sat down. "Don't tell me I'll get a stitch. I just got that from Matt."

"Korklan? Weird kid." I said it instantly.

"He's my friend, Hickie."

"Yeah? You're weird, too. Perfect for each other you are." I shrugged with a sly smile.

"I think his heart belongs to Laura, so I'm out of luck." He pouted and I placed my hand over my heart, playing along.

"The nerve!" I scoffed incredulously and he rolled his eyes. So I poked my tongue out at him, "You started it."

Our conversation turned to me begging him to tell me who was winning the Rumble but he's as stubborn as everyone else so I got no answer. It was cut short, however, when a runner came up and told him that he really needed to start getting stretched. Apparently spots were in order. Why wouldn't they be, though? Spots are Vince's favourite things. After Cena.

"And there goes Cody…" I sighed as I watched my boyfriend get thrown from the ring by Triple H.

"I take it you don't know who's winning."

"Not a damn clue." I looked at Keegan for a split second. She had changed from her referee's outfit but her blue streaks and that star over her eye remained. "I guess you do?"

"Of course I do." She winked at me with her uncovered eye. We shared a bond due to the legends of our fathers, "Who do you think it's going to be?"

"Punk. Maybe McIntyre because he's the Chosen One and all… But I'd be lying if I said that I didn't want Jericho to come out on top." She laughed at me and I knew what question was coming next.

"What about Shawn?"

"He can't win. His win would be too predictable and then Taker is basically guaranteed to hold the title at Mania. This, HBK loses but Taker's already one… Who gets the title between now and then? Suspense, it's good for business." My accompanying shrug made her roll her eyes and shake her head.

"I'd make a remark about how I've been in this business longer than you-" I raised my eyebrow, "-Or at least my dad has been in it longer than your dad… But we're pretty much tied."

"The fathers may be tied, but I am older than you." I told her pointedly and she laughed at me.

"I've technically had a job in this company since I was fourteen." I laughed in her face sarcastically.

"Oh, Ted's gone, too. Not a good night for Legacy." I commented but smiled at the same time, "Dad's on a roll. Maybe I was wrong."

What felt like many minutes later, I was staring at the screen with an open mouth. Keegan, Cody, Kofi and Paul were all smiling knowingly at me. Of course there were rumours but I'd been such a recluse backstage that I had no idea what was actually happening.

"That's Edge!" I shouted happily as I rose to my feet, "He's going to win. It's not going to be Dave or John. IT WILL BE EDGE!" I was jumping around in elation as I realised I had finally worked out the puzzle.

So the excitement was a little too much considering he wasn't a close friend, but I was just happy I knew who was winning.

"She wouldn't get this excited if I was winning." Cody commented and I turned to him with a pout. "Don't do that."

"Do what?" I asked as I continued to pout but also walking closer towards him.

"That. Sunday, stop it." He was looking at me with serious eyes but I kept moving closer. "There are people here."

"And?" I whispered when I finally reached him. I kissed him softly on the lips. Once. Twice. Three times. Before I pulled away with the world's best poker face. Only showing emotion again when Edge came out victorious.