Chapter 5

When Uncle Mick stopped at a Starbucks on the way to the arena, Geneva gave him a fat kiss right on the cheek, grinning from ear to ear. She sucked half of her hazelnut vanilla frappe down before they arrived and felt a little more alive. She chose simple black shorts and a light blue baby doll top with a white camisole beneath. It had black roses embroidered all over, her corkscrew curly chestnut hair left down with a black headband, black flats on her feet.

"You're my hero." She swooned, laughing when Uncle Mick rolled his eyes and looked up when they arrived at the Broome County Arena.

Mick parked the car in the designated area for the WWF Superstars and grabbed his gear from the backseat, wrapping a protective arm around Geneva's shoulders. "Here, just in case." He placed a fresh backstage pass around her neck, winking and headed inside.

On the way, they ran into another one of Mick's friends, Paul Levesque, but everyone in the back called him Hunter, also known to WWF fans as Hunter Hearst Helmsley. "Hey Cactus, you ready for the meeting?" He asked, shaking hands with Mick and calling him by one of the two personas her Uncle portrayed in the ring. His original character was Cactus Jack, but once Mick came to the WWF, they wanted a new gimmick for him and came up with Mankind.

"Yeah, right after I drop my niece off in my dressing room." Mick replied, giving Geneva a gentle squeeze and then slapped his forehead with his free hand. "Where are my manners? Sorry Hunter, this is my niece Geneva. Gen, this is Hunter."

Hunter flashed a friendly enough smile and extended his hand. "Pleasure to meet you, Geneva. So you're related to Cactus huh?" Hunter had only known Mick for about a year and had only met his wife Colette and their two kids, Dewey and Noelle.

"Yeah, he's quite a character. Very fun around the holidays." Geneva chuckled, shaking Hunter's hand.

"I can only imagine. Welcome to the WWF family. Hope things aren't too crazy around here for you." Hunter said politely, having a feeling Mick filled her in on what went on backstage at the events. "Well listen, I gotta run and get to the meeting. Drop her off and get moving, Cactus."

"Will do." Mick saluted, laughing and walked further down the hallway, making a right.

"How do you know where your dressing room is?" Geneva had to ask, looking around as they passed multiple doors, sidestepping whenever her Uncle did.

"You basically choose what dressing room you want and then a technician comes around stamping your name on it." He shrugged, knowing that was the best way to answer her question and continued on.

"Oh I see."

Neither realized they'd passed a dressing room with an open door, Geneva's laughter flooding through it. That sound instantly caught the attention of the occupant as he stood up from the steel chair he'd occupied, bare from the waist up and stepped out to look down the hallway. There she was with the corkscrew chestnut curls, intoxicating laugh and incredible backside staring back at him. Whatever the reason, his green eyes darkened instantly and sent a silent thank you to Foley, knowing he was the reason Geneva had come on the road, slipping back into his dressing room.

"This one looks vacant, but you have to knock first to make sure." He tapped his knuckles against the door, waiting three seconds and then entered, nodding. "Good, nobody's here. Make yourself comfortable and I'll be back soon, Gen."

"No problem, take your time." Geneva smiled, pulling away from her Uncle and walked over to sit on the bench with a monitor.

Mick hated leaving his niece there all alone, but couldn't just abandon his job either, a smirk curving his lips. Geneva was in for quite the surprise and first headed to the exit. Standing before him was his beautiful wife Colette and his beautiful children. They had come to the show and Mick had a promo scheduled to do with Noelle, knowing she'd get a kick out of it. So Geneva wouldn't be completely alone tonight as Mick pulled Colette into his arms, kissing her softly and then gave his kids love.

"I missed you too." Colette chuckled softly, rubbing her nose gently against his. "Is she here?"

Mick nodded, having called Colette to tell her about their niece coming on the road and pressed a kiss to Noelle's forehead. "Yeah, she's in my dressing room. Why don't you go say hi while I go to this meeting and then we can get a bite to eat in the cafeteria?" Colette was well-known and didn't need a backstage pass like some of the other wives, fully supportive of Mick's career decision.

"Sounds good, take your time." Colette said, taking Noelle from him and guided her children down the hallway toward Mick's dressing room while he went to take care of business.

When Geneva heard the door open, her head snapped up and felt her eyes nearly fall out of their sockets at the sight of her Aunt Colette and cousins standing there.

"Hey Gen." Colette laughed when she was clobbered with a hug, followed by the kids being smothered with kisses and felt her heart fill with joy. "It's been a while."

"I know." Geneva agreed, tapping Noelle's nose gently with her fingertip and smiled when the little girl just hugged her. "They've gotten so big!"

"Tell me about it." Colette muttered good-naturedly, both laughing when Noelle and Dewey stuck their tongues out simultaneously. "They definitely take after their Daddy."

Geneva was going to kill Uncle Mick for not telling her about their visit, keeping the smile on her face. "Indeed they do. How've you been? They're not running you too ragged, are they?"

"Not really, some days are better than others, especially with Mick on the road constantly." Colette didn't sound sad because she was used to the lifestyle and loved her husband unconditionally. "How about you? I'm sorry we missed your graduation, sweetie."

"No problem, I understand, Auntie." Geneva assured her, settling down on the bench with Noelle while Dewey remained by Colette's side. "Hey Dew, you wanna come see me?" She held her hands out, smiling when the little boy walked into her arms and Geneva lifted him up to sit on the bench with Noelle. "And I've been good, still shocked that Uncle Mick invited me on the road with him though."

Colette chuckled, nodding. "You shouldn't be. Mick has wanted you to come on the road for a while because he knows how worried you get about him. He knew you were busy though with school and I told him not to bother you until you graduated, at least." She admitted, knowing Geneva wouldn't be angry with her.

"Really?" Geneva didn't know that and looked down at the kids, chewing her bottom lip. "I know I sort of put you guys on the backburner and for that I'm sorry. I just wanted to get my schooling out of the way, but that's no excuse."

"Geneva, look at me." Colette smiled reassuringly when her niece obeyed, reaching over to take her hand. "You have no idea how proud we are of you. You're making something of yourself in this world and that's all that matters. As long as you're happy, whatever decisions you make, we'll stand beside you."

"Thanks Auntie…" Geneva whispered, blinking tears away and stroked Noelle's hair, having missed her cousins a lot, clearing her throat. "I wish there was something to drink in here. Are you guys thirsty?"

The kids nodded, Dewey more enthusiastic than Noelle. "What's the matter sweetie? Are you okay?"

Noelle had a nervous look on her face, chewing her bottom lip and nodded.

"What's wrong with her, Auntie?"

"She's just nervous because she's doing a segment with Daddy tonight out in the ring. Well, scratch that – Mick is going to come to her in the crowd, since we'll be sitting ringside, and talk to her for a few minutes in his character." Colette was against the idea at first, but that was before Mick promised nobody would point out she was his daughter. "Still not crazy about the idea, but it's hard saying no to your Uncle."

Setting Noelle down to walk over to her mother, Geneva rose from the bench and cracked her neck. "I'm gonna go hunt some refreshments down since we don't know when Uncle Mick will be back. You stay here with the kids."

"Do you know where the cafeteria is?" Colette asked, not overprotective of her niece the way Mick was and flashed another warm smile as Geneva shook her head.

"No, but I'll find it. You just relax here with the kids. I'll ask someone." Walking out before Aunt Colette could stop her, Geneva headed down the hallway, looking around to make sure she remembered where the dressing room was.

As soon as Geneva backtracked and walked past the dark open dressing room again, the person inside couldn't fight back temptation. A hand stretched out from the door and snatched Geneva inside with ease, pushing her against the door effectively closing it. Geneva's scream was caught in her throat as her heart pounded fiercely from being scared out of her mind, trying to adjust her eyes to the dark room.

"Please…"

"Why did you not tell me you were joining Foley on the road?"

Geneva's entire body instantly relaxed as soon as she heard the unmistakable baritone that only belonged to one man…the man she wanted to see. "Undertaker." She murmured, somehow knowing he was nodding even though she couldn't see anything. "It happened sort of fast, after we parted ways…"

"Is that right?" His tone remained even, closing the distance between them as he placed a forearm on each side of her head, staring down at her broodingly. "Tell me how it happened, Geneva."

Even when he ordered her to do something, Geneva found him incredibly sexy and was convinced she'd lost her mind. "Uncle Mick asked me to come on the road with him for my two weeks off." She said in a soft voice, feeling his hot breath against her face and a shiver shot down her spine.

"Hmm I see…" Foley hadn't mentioned that in the meeting, though he supposed there really was no reason for it. "So, you are not here for a job then?"

Geneva smiled in spite of everything going on and shook her head. "No, just visiting and spending time with my family. Uncle Mick wants me to see how things work around here so I'll stop worrying about him being a wrestler. Can't help it though, comes with the territory of going into the medical field." Why did he care why she was here? Did he want her as badly as she wanted him?

Taker considered that, stroking his goatee thoughtfully and considered her answer. "Is that the only reason you agreed?" He was pressing for more information, seeing her clearly through the darkness since he was shrouded in it constantly.

"What other reason would there be?" She retorted, folding her arms in front of her chest and narrowed her blue eyes slightly. "And why did you pull me in here?"

Deciding to let his actions speak louder than words for a moment, Taker's hands slid down the door until they gripped her hips, suddenly yanking her flush against his muscular frame. "Why don't you tell me?" He practically growled, his lips mere inches from hers, but Taker would not kiss her until he knew for a fact she wanted him.

She was breathless, her entire body lighting on fire as soon as he touched her and Geneva wasn't sure if telling him the truth would be wise. "Undertaker…" She felt his finger once again stroke her cheek and moved down to her bottom lip, wishing she could see him. "I-I'm not sure…"

"Oh but I think you are, Neva." He thought about her name and decided that would be his personal abbreviation, not hearing anyone use it. "And I will not give you what we both know you crave until you answer me truthfully. Because you know as well as I do that you felt a connection between us that night. You cannot deny it, I can see it in your eyes."

Nobody called her Neva before and it sent more shivers coursing through her small body, her hands gently pressed against his bare chest. "I never said I would." There was no way she could deny the amount of want and desire this man flooded her with, no matter how hard she tried ignoring it. "Fine, I was hoping to see you again too."

"Why?" Taker questioned, his finger moving from her chin down the side of her neck, feeling the goose bumps break out on her skin. "Do you not fear me like the others?" He could break her in half with one hand if he wanted to, the woman was either daft, blind or insane.

Now Geneva looked confused, stroking his chest absentmindedly. "Why would I fear you? You haven't given me any warning signs or indication you would hurt me. And until you do, there's no reason for me to be scared of you." Being this close to him felt right and amazing, Geneva suddenly forgot the reason why she left Uncle Mick's dressing room.

"I'm a dangerous man, Neva." He had to be upfront with her, refusing to let her dive into something with him until all the cards were on the table. "I am also possessive of what is mine."

She had no problem being his possession, snaking her pink tongue out to wet her suddenly dry lips. "It doesn't matter…"

Taker pressed a finger to her lips, silencing her. "But it does, Neva. Because once I make something or someone mine, I have a very hard time releasing it or them. I walk on the dark side, darlin', far darker than what my wrestling persona betrays." The Undertaker was part of who he really was outside of the ring, only the volume was turned up whenever he stepped through the gorilla position curtain to do battle with his peers.

Shaking her head, Geneva slid her hands up to his shoulders until she managed to find his face, somehow locking eyes with him through the darkness. "You can tell me every rotten thing you've ever done in your lifetime and it won't change anything. It won't change how I feel about you. You want to make me your possession or whatever, so do it. But fair warning, when my two weeks are up, I'm leaving to do my internship. So if we're doing this, then it's just sex with no strings attached." She couldn't believe she was throwing a gauntlet out to him, wondering where her sudden courage stemmed from. "I don't care about your fame and fortune. I don't care about who you are in the ring either. I could care less about the WWF. But I DO care about the man outside of this business, who showed me kindness and cared about my safety. So stop trying to convince me to stay away from you, unless you really want me to. Because until you tell me to take a hike, I'm not going anywhere until my two weeks are up."