Hopefully going to finish this story off this week as I've got time off work for Raw and SmackDown in Liverpool... yay! Hope you enjoy the latest instalment :)

Cody entered the restaurant, his stomach flipping in somersaults as he waited for the Maitre D' to show him to the table Ted had booked. Regardless of what John thought, he loved Ted and wanted to be with him. Was it so wrong to want to stay away from another part of his life? Hadn't John distanced himself from Randy while he had a family? It was no different; only it still niggled. John's word echoed in his mind every day, eating away at his mind, making his heartache with sadness.

This had been the first day Cody had seen Ted in the last week and a half. He wasn't even sure what he was feeling anymore. When he'd stayed with John and Randy, he wasn't expecting the family to alienate him. It was never his intention to hurt Randy by association. The man was a father, and his daughter meant everything to him. Cody could appreciate that, but he felt that Randy should accept that he wasn't looking to be a father, ever, and support and guide him.

"Hey baby," Ted said nervously as Cody approached.

Cody slid his arms around Ted, breathing in the comfort that his boyfriend provided him. It was right with Ted. They fit together.

"I tried calling you a few times," Ted mentioned as they took a seat opposite one another.

"Dumbass I am left my phone in one of the hotels. I only just got it back this morning," Cody said avoiding eye contact. "I was going to phone but I figured you'd be busy on your first day back, and we'd already booked this before your week off."

Cody was holding Ted's hand across the table as they spoke, needing the constant assurance that he still had Ted. Ted had told him that it didn't matter what other people thought. Their relationship was theirs, no else mattered. Right now, Cody needed that. He needed the assurance he still had a boyfriend, someone who could understand him.

"How's work been?" Ted asked trying to initiate some conversation.

"It's been really good, lonely, but I've sat down with Paul and we've hashed out some ideas for the next few months. Everything seems to be picking up again and SummerSlam is probably going to be the kick off point for it all," Cody explained. "With the likelihood of a championship run as well, it'll be cool. I want to be up there with some of the big names with the number of title reigns I've had."

"So, does that mean the two of us working together again?" Ted asked perplexed. He thought Paul would have mentioned a story arc involving him when they'd spoken that morning.

"I guess. I mean you need to tie up what you have going on now. I don't want to overload the fans with us. I mean, we only wrapped up our last storyline in May. It might be I'm working with someone else, or we have some triple threat matches. You know that kind of deal. Add a different dimension to the Ted/Cody rivalry."

"Yeah, yeah. Either way, I'll enjoy working with you again," Ted said smiling. "I've missed you, feels like I haven't seen you in an age."

"It has been a week and a half, button," Cody said reminding Ted. "In fact, if you'd ordered a takeaway pizza and we'd eaten at the hotel room, it would've been fine. Better maybe; I could have stripped you down to your shorts and enjoyed a nice view as we ate."

"I wouldn't have stopped at the shorts," Ted said leaning forward and whispering to Cody.

He pulled Cody's hand to his lips and smiled as he placed a chaste kiss to the knuckles, even if his eyes were saying something different.

"Mademoiselle, Monsieur," the Maitre D' indicated the table for John and Alanna.

"Merci," John said as he held Alanna's seat out for her before taking his own.

"Not that I'm complaining, isn't this a bit posh for a father/daughter shopping trip?" Alanna said after the Maitre D' left them alone.

"I'm not allowed to treat you?"

"Thinking Dad will say you already have," she chuckled nodding toward the bags of clothes.

"We may possibly need to condense the bags down before he get back to the hotel," John joked. "Thinking about it though, if we time it right, he may not notice considering he, Matt and Darren are going through the videos they've received for the school."

"How come you're not watching them?"

"I'll help if he wants some help, but this if your dad's thing," John clarified. "I want to sit back and watch him succeed at this, just like I know he will."

"Still say this restaurant is excessive," Alanna said going back to their original conversation. "I would have been happy with a taco."

John chuckled shaking his head at his sort of stepdaughter. He, along with her father, was pleased she hadn't grown up with a chip on her shoulder as some girls may have considering two of her parents had wealth behind them. Alanna was as carefree as her fathers were, and short of a few typical teenage instances, they were both proud of the woman she was turning into as she grew up.

A waiter came to take their drinks order, and John allowed her to have a coffee. Neither he nor Randy wanted her having caffeine on a regular basis at her age. Since they'd caught a cab into the city centre, John ordered a small glass of red wine, hoping to calm his nerves. He had something important he wanted to ask Alanna, and it was petrified it might set the family back six months.

"So, how's Mike? You've been talking with him most days," John said taking an interest in her social life.

"He's busy. He plays for a tennis club and is in competitions all summer, he's likely to go pro when we finish high school," Alanna explained. "We chat when he has some time."

"He's in a number of your classes, isn't he?"

"Only three," Alanna shrugged. "But we hang out on breaks."

"Do you like him?" John said playing with his knife, feeling the nerves building.

"I guess," she said blushing. "We get on so well, and have a lot in common. I don't know whether he likes me though, at least, in that way."

"Have you asked him?"

"Dad, you don't do that," Alanna said trying to hide from the other guests, worried they could hear the conversation. "Seriously, did you just walk up to dad and say 'Hey, do you like me, as in like me like me'?"

"No, we pretty much just made out," John said with a serious face, knowing he was embarrassing her. Thankfully, she was over her issues and he could get away with that now. "Look, Ally, if you're not sure-"

"But that's the thing. Okay, I'm not sure, but it doesn't bother me. If we never end up going out, then I'm happy being friends. Because he's the first true friend I've had in a long time."

"Then that's all that matters," John said taking her hand in his with a smile.

"I think we really turned a corner during the week. That's why I asked to get a couple more days," Ted explained as they ate. He was enjoying telling Cody about the improvements with Tate. After the initial frosty reaction, it was an amazing difference to see how he and Tate were getting along so well and were able to do things together without Kristen there. "I took him out with the rifle to a shooting range. I think he might be interested in that when he gets a bit older. For now I told him he was only allowed there with me."

"That sounds great, button," Cody said listening to Ted. Although he didn't want contact with that part of Ted's life, he loved listening to Ted tell him about the relationship. It was important to Ted.

"He started asking questions about my life as well. Just little things, like, where did I go to high school, what was my favourite subject. Typical teenage things that he can relate to, you know," Ted said with a beaming smile. "Wondered what my life was like on the road as well. Just interested you know."

"Do you have things in common, you know, interests, hobbies?" Cody asked putting a forkful of pasta in his mouth.

"Well, as I said, the hunting will probably be something when he gets older," Ted pointed out. "And we both enjoyed sports. Not a shocker, both being lads, but it's something. A starting point."

"Is he a Christian?"

"Yeah, he's a teenager, so not big with the scripture, but he goes to church every week with his mom," Ted explained. "Lives by a good set of morals. I'm grateful he had that, since I wasn't there for him."

"Hey, Ted, Button," Cody said squeezing his hand. "How could you be there for him when you didn't know about him? Stop blaming yourself for circumstances which were out of your control."

"You're a wise man, Cody Runnels," Ted said smiling again for a second before turning serious. "I told him I was gay."

"How did he react?" Cody said trying to hide the gulp.

"He was... okay. He didn't say anything for a minute, and then just nodded. I was sure he was going to get angry, you know from the shock. He was so mature about it, I could've cried," Ted said getting teary as he remembered it. "I don't think he's shouting proudly from the rooftops, but he's not written me out his life. I guess it goes to show how life has changed from one generation to the next."

"How do you mean?"

"Well, when John and Randy were coming to terms with their sexuality, they had to hide away. And that was in a time when more and more people were coming out," Ted explained. "For us, it's been relatively straight forward. We were only together a month and we were announcing it to our friends and family, not concerned if it hit the press."

"You're right," Cody said watching Ted as he thought it all through.

"For Tate's generation, nobody is concerned. He said he has four his closest friends who are gay or lesbian. He's even in the minority," Ted said. "Nobody worries if two guys are holding hands as they walk down the corridor in school. It's so refreshing to hear that."

"But he's wasn't ecstatic about you being gay?" Cody asked curiously.

"I guess, I'm his dad," Ted said the word with a smile that spread to his eyes. "That does take some getting used to. I would imagine it would be more difficult for him if Kristen were to turn out to be a lesbian. She's been around more."

"She's..?"

"No! I'm just giving an example," Ted said chuckling.

"Does he know you have a boyfriend?" Cody asked looking away from Ted's gaze.

"Yeah," Ted nodded, letting the confirmation sink in for a moment. "He wants to meet you."

"Are we heading to the arena after this?" Alanna asked as she tucked into her chicken.

"I, uh, I guess that depends on you," John replied, his meal threatening to repeat on him.

"Ooh, I get to decide if we do more shopping?" Alanna said with a mischievous smile. "I might just choose that option to wind you up. I know you hate shopping for clothes with me."

"I don't," John said indignantly.

"Yes you do," she said with a smile. "It's just a good job Dad isn't with us. We'd both be dragging you into the clothes shops."

"Which is why I always have paperwork to go through when you start talking shopping," John joked with her. "One of you, I can about handle, both of you together, never."

They went back to their food for a few minutes, John trying to come up with a way to ask his question. He felt as if it was a make or break situation, but he didn't want to put off any longer. Though he was sure, he wasn't this nervous when he went to the Orton household for the first time as Randy's boyfriend. It was now or never.

"Ally, there's something I want to ask you; about your dad and I," John said without taking his eyes away from his plate. His heart was pounding, palms sweaty as he thought about how to ask the question.

"What?" Alanna asked concerned. "You're okay aren't you? No more fighting, everything seems okay."

"Ally, Cutie, things are good, better than good. I love him and I know I embarrassingly proved that I couldn't live without him," John said reassuring her. "The last year has been rocky. I really did think we weren't going to make it. Life granted me a family, and I was throwing it away. I've never been so grateful when he moved back in. I'm so happy that you're living with us and that we're a proper family. The three of us; even your grandpa is coming around."

"I'm glad it's worked out as well," Alanna said. "I totally worked out how to play you off against one another. I can get anything I want now."

"That explains everything," John joked backed with the exaggeration Alanna had used. "Anyway; you're single-handedly the most important person in Randy's life and-"

"We both are," she corrected him. "I don't mind sharing my dad with someone who loves him as much as I do, and more importantly someone who he loves as much as he loves me."

"That's good, great even," John said nerves kicking back in again as he prepared to ask her. "Good... brilliant... because I... well, see... I wanted to ask... um, well you know."

John looked up from his plates to see a confused Alanna staring back at him.

"I have no clue what you were just trying to say," Alanna said with an amused look.

"Ally," John said taking a deep breath. "I want to ask for your blessing."

"For what?"

"To ask your dad to marry me," John said gulping as he spoke. His stomach was slipping over and over, he wasn't sure it was a good idea to have dinner when he was asking her this. Especially since she wasn't answering him. "Ally?"

"Um."

Ted sat waiting for Cody to say something. They sat for ten minutes in silence as Cody played with his food. Ted had known it wouldn't go down very well but he wasn't expecting the silent treatment.

He was trying to wrack his brain to find something to say which would break the tension at their table.

"I told him that we were both busy, so it might be difficult to arrange," Ted said trying to appease his boyfriend. "I figured that he'd get over the idea of meeting you when we couldn't arrange a good time."

Still nothing, just Cody pushing the last of the pasta around a dish.

"I meant what I said to you, if you don't want part of it, then I would keep it separate," Ted tried to get Cody to engage in conversation. "I just need to find away to tell him without causing tension."

Silence.

"He doesn't know your name, so he wouldn't be ringing you up on your cell phone or anything," Ted said chuckling at the tension, but then again, maybe Cody might take offence to the fact that he didn't say who it was. "And, if you changed your mind about meeting him, he said, he doesn't want to interfere, just wants to meet you. I told him you were my first boyfriend. That I'm only recently gay."

When Cody still didn't look up from his food, Ted starting feeling like a failure. He took a sip of water and coughed trying to dislodge the lump stuck in his throat without letting his emotions pour through. He knew what was coming, and as soon as he thought it, it was confirmed.

"I can't do this anymore," Cody finally spoke, though still looking at his food. "Everything changed."

"I didn't plan this," Ted said.

"No, but your life is changing, and I can't be a part of it. We want different things. You have a son, and he's going to be the priority now," Cody continued softly.

"I didn't know about him for fourteen years. I think I have a right to get to know him," Ted said trying to keep his emotions in check.

"I know. You do. But; when you returned to the WWE, it was going to be us against the world. And it was. We were running the company; we've had every championship we could possibly get our hands on, together and apart. Now, it's like, none of it matters. You're the champion, you're first reign, and its like you don't care," Cody said.

"Cody-"

"Let me say this. You took time off a televised show for someone you barely know. You think that goes unnoticed. If you want to remain champion, and be a champion again in the future, your priority has to be the WWE," Cody lectured. "There are guys on the tour, who leave their family's behind every week to fight for a spot on Raw or SmackDown, and you're taking off; you're the champion Ted, a locker room leader, you can't do that. WWE comes first."

"I never knew you felt that way," Ted almost whispered.

Alanna put her knife and fork neatly on her plate as she finished her meal. John had surprised her with his question. She never expected to hear that question. On the other hand, was it the fact that John was asking her. Maybe she'd been thinking if they ever got married, it would be her dad asking. Not that it mattered which way around it was.

"You can 'No' if you want," John said with a smile, though Alanna could see the sadness in his eyes.

"Why are you asking me?" Alanna enquired not wanting to cause problems.

"I told you, you're the most important person in your dad's life. No disrespect to your grandpa but I value your opinion more."

"It's not traditional to ask the daughter," she said with a small smile with lit John's face up.

"We're not a traditional family," John laughed.

"Can I think about it?" Alanna asked.

"Sure," he said holding her hand.

As they continued their conversation over a second drink, John spotted Ted walking toward them. He was about to signal for him to join them but realised Ted was looking emotional and more importantly trying not to break apart in public.

Alanna spotted him looking over her shoulder and turned to see what had caught his eye, "Is that Ted?"

"Yeah," John said with a serious tone.

"Can we catch up with him, maybe he and Cody would like to go shopping with us," Alanna suggested.

"I have a feeling they probably won't. They haven't seen each other for over a week. They probably want to spend some time together," John said looking concerned. "Why don't we head back to the hotel, see your dad. They should be finished looking at the videos by now."

"Nice way to change the subject," Alanna said gathering her bags as John signalled for the bill.

"I try. Are you going to be able to condense those down?" John asked with a crooked smile. "I don't want your dad thinking I spoilt you today."

"It'll be fine. If he tries to tell you off, I'll just tell him, you were trying to buy my affections so you could ask him to marry you," Alanna said giving John a coy look.

"And I'll tell him you asked me if you could have your belly button pierced," John said throwing it back at her. "Which do you think he'll react to first?"

Half an hour later, John and Alanna walked back into the hotel suite they were booked into. Randy was led out on the sofa and barely acknowledged their entrance as he watched an audition video on the television.

"Where's Matt and Darren?" John asked picking Randy's feet up and putting them on his lap as he sat down.

"We've finished. Sort of," Randy explained finally spotting the bags Alanna carried into her room. "How much did you spend on her?"

"Not much," John shrugged though his face was a little sheepish. "What do you mean, sort of?"

"We went through them and discarded the ones that we didn't think would make it through the school, but we were still left with four times the amount we planned on," Randy explained rubbing his head to alleviate the tension.

"Come on, turn around," John said as Randy shifted so he leant back against John's chest. John started massaging Randy's temples, hoping to stop the headache before it took hold and became a migraine. "Were you able to whittle it down any further?"

"We went through the ones that were left and decided to be ruthless; if we didn't all agree, they didn't make the cut," Randy explained as the door behind them opened. Randy tilted his head back to see Alanna come through from her room.

"Dads, what do you think?" Alanna asked of her new crop top.

"What the hell is that?" Randy asked sitting bolt upright.

"Don't you like? I thought it would look nice under a baggy overshirt. I don't have one to show you. But it can tie up in the front, you know like girls in the country wear their shirts," Alanna explained.

"Great, yeah, sounds good," Randy said rubbing his forehead. "I actually mean that thing in your belly button."

"Relax, it's fake," John said with a smile. "Like I'd allow her to do that."

"Spoil sport," Alanna said poking her tongue out at John with a smile before heading back into her room to try on the rest of her clothes.

"I owe you, darling," Randy said as John pulled him back against him to continue his head massage.

"I'll hold you to that," John whispered. "How many made the cut?"

"Thirty."

"That's still more than what you were aiming for," John commented.

"I know. I said we should sleep on it and make a decision tomorrow," Randy explained. "I've been going through them, but these guys all have potential. If three of us are seeing the same potential, how can I not include them?"

"You're obviously wrestling with a decision, can I help?"

"I'm thinking two classes, but then I'm thinking that's twice as much work," Randy mused. "Do I want to take on that much for my first group?"

"Are you thinking you're not capable? If so, I'll hit you upside the hit to knock some sense into you. You're a gifted wrestler. You of all people can train thirty-five people the basics of wrestling."

"Some of them look like they could pick things up quicker; I was thinking an advanced class," Randy continued, relaxing as John's hands moved to massage his shoulders. "Mm, darling, that feels good."

"You were saying the other week about running some drills on the first day; could you get all thirty five of them through that in one day and then split them up into two classes?" John asked.

"It would be a long day," Randy said.

"They need to get used to it," John pointed out.

"I meant for me."

This time, John did hit him upside the head before they burst into laughter together.

Monday Night Raw – Las Vegas, Nevada

"And the winner of this bout-"

"Shut the hell up," Zack said grabbing the microphone from the ring announcer's hand. "I want to speak and you're all going to listen."

He climbed into the ring with Paige who had just won a match against Eva. Big E stood outside the ring after supporting his friends, but didn't look too worried about what Zack has to say.

"All I've heard for the last few weeks is that E and I have cheated in our matches, that we can't beat John Cena and Randy Orton in a one on one fight. I have news for you. I beat Randy Orton fairly last week, and Big E won his match against John Cena," he yelled as Paige nodded her agreement. "We don't have to prove ourselves against a couple of dinosaurs. No doubt they started the rumours when they realised they needed to save face after both losing."

As the crowd booed him out the building, John's music hit and he walked out with Randy alongside him, both with microphones in their hands.

"Apparently I'm a relic," John said as his music stopped and the fans died down. "I'm pretty sure I saw a tweet from you during the week Zack that said you were done with us and that you're moving on to younger wrestlers who could put up a fight. Interesting. I never knew you liked it rough."

"Pathetic Cena. Turn everything into a joke. Just like you always do, trying to bait people into a fight," Zack complained. "I'm a grown man who isn't afraid to stand up to you."

"And yet, you're through with us and not willing to get back in the ring with either of us," John said still smiling.

"You're both losers. Figuratively and literally. I've beaten you. Why would I fight you again?"

"Because, Zack, deep down, you want to prove yourself," John told him straight. "So next Sunday, SummerSlam, Zack Ryder and Big E are going to step into the ring with John Cena and Randy Orton."

"I wouldn't waste my breath," Zack said turning his back on the pair.

"Zack," Randy said stepping in. "Every word you speak, is a waste of breath. Now your tweets... your tweets are a different matter. I've read every tweet you've posted over the last few weeks, and I put two and two together."

"Yeah, well, you no doubt came up with five," Zack said snidely.

"Actually, I hit the jackpot. I realised exactly why all of this started, and it sure isn't anything to do with Big E," Randy said.

"I'd agree, he's still doing what he did ten years ago, being the muscle for another idiot, no offence to Dolph Zigggler, he's come a long way," John said.

"Yeah, but what's the common link?" Randy asked John who shrugged. "You. Last time, the former Miss A.J. Lee was using Big E as muscle with Dolph Ziggler, because she couldn't have you. And now, ten years later, times haven't changed much, except that you need to switch out Mrs Punk for Zack Ryder."

"You think I'm a little girl, who is bat shit crazy?" Zack yelled up at Randy.

"She's here tonight, don't call her that," Paige warned. "Trust me."

"Zack you're acting like a jealous bitch," Randy taunted him. "I've got what you always wanted, and it eats you up that you can't have him."

Randy laughed sinisterly as he watched the pair in the ring. Big E was fuming from John's comment but Randy was more interested in the pair mouthing off in the ring.

"You must have been lying awake at night, imagining what it would be like to date John Cena," Randy laughed evilly. "You said it yourself, when you heard he was coming back, you got excited. I bet you were trembling with excitement. Picturing you and him in some cheesy nineteen eighties montage."

"Shut it, just shut it. You want a match at SummerSlam. You got it. John Cena, Randy Orton versus Zack Ryder and Big E. However, it'll be on our terms. A No Holds Barred match."

"That is just what I was hoping for, Paige," Randy laughed at her response playing out just as he'd been betting. "My favourite kind of match."

A/N: Hope you all enjoyed. Next chapter should be posted tomorrow :)