Chapter 51: Back to Work
Randy's POV; December 26
"'Manda . . .?" I call out as the smell of something stinky passes by my very sensitive nose. "'Manda babe . . . what's that smell? It smells like crap, and it's disturbing my slumber!"
"Because it is crap, and I'm sorry that the smell woke you up . . ." she tells me with a chuckle as I turn away from the scent. "Dani went to the bathroom in her diaper so I had to change it."
"Oh, so Daniella is the one at fault for this?" I ask as I slowly open my eyes, coming face to face with a view of the New York skyscrapers just outside the window. I turn my head back around to see 'Manda holding Dani up in one arm while holding the foul smelling diaper in the other.
"That's right . . . Do you want to tell your father you're sorry for waking you up with your stinky diaper Dani?" 'Manda asks the older twin as she turns to her with a serious expression. Dani only looks at her curiously before smiling, making 'Manda's serious façade crack in an instant. ". . . I guess not. Sorry babe, I guess Dani's not one for apologies."
"That's alright . . . I've already forgiven her," I tell her with a smirk as she quickly throws away the diaper. That's when I notice that she was already dressed for the day in a body hugging blue long sleeve dress, black tights, and heeled boots. "Babe, where are you going dressed like that?"
"Oh, don't you remember?" she asks me with a smirk as she takes a seat beside me. "I have my interview and photo-shoot for Muscle & Fitness magazine today. It's this morning to be fact and I have to go downstairs to one of the conference rooms to do it. The guys from the magazine are setting things up right now."
"Your interview and photo-shoot are being held here? That's great . . ." I say as I feel a smirk coming across my face. "I think the girls and I will drop by to see you work a little later."
"Well if you're going to do that, I hope you don't plan to come back to the suite straight afterward," she tells me as she hands Dani over to me. "The job is supposed to finish around noon, and Steph and Hunter want to meet with us at MSG around 1:15 to discuss what's going to happen during today's house show, as well as to finally meet Dani and Gabi for the first time."
"Of course . . . We're only four blocks away from the arena, so we should be good on time," I tell her with a strong nod of my head before turning my attention on Dani. "And as for you missy. . . You and your sister better be on your best behavior when you meet the rest of our co-workers today you hear me?"
"And speaking of her sister, Gabi is in the crib asleep. As soon as I fed and burped her, she went out like a light," 'Manda tells me with a smirk as she points to the crib, which was a few feet away from us. "Dani's been fed as well, but if either twin gets hungry again, just make them some formula."
"Alright then . . ." I say with a smirk as I watch her take her coat and purse from a nearby chair. "Is there anything else you want me to do in the meantime while you're gone?"
"Well, if either of them poo in their diapers, you should of course change them, and if something bad happens while I'm gone, you should call me," she tells me quickly as she grabs her duffle bag from off the floor. "Other than that, I want you to enjoy the father-daughter time. It'll definitely do you some good."
"Thanks for the advice 'Manda . . ." I tell her with a quick roll of my eyes. "Now go to your job. I'll come down with the girls later and then we can go to MSG together okay?"
"That sounds like a plan," she tells me with a smirk as she walks back over to me. She kisses me on the lips before pecking Dani right on her forehead. "I'll see you three later okay?"
"See you then babe!" I say with a smirk as I grab her free hand and quickly kiss her knuckles. She shoots me one last smirk before walking over to the crib to give Gabi a kiss, and soon enough, she's out the door. "So, what should we do now Dani?"
Dani only smiles back at me before another stinky smell begins to waft through my nose and around the room. Even thought 'Manda told me that she had already finished changing Dani's diaper a few minutes before I woke up, I instantly take a sniff of Dani's diaper to see if it was her. It wasn't her, which meant the stench could only be coming from one other person.
"Oh Gabi . . ."
Normal POV; Later in the morning
"K.O., can you just raise your chin just a little. That's it!" called the middle aged photographer as she continued to snap photos of the tall Diva. Amanda stood a good ten feet from the photographer and right before a plain white backdrop. She was dressed in a violet-colored sports-bra with a hood, black shorts, and lace up knee high boots. She was wearing minimal makeup and her curly hair appeared even bigger than usual thanks to the hairstylist putting her through a thirty minute session with a blow-dryer. "Now, give me a mischievous smirk please!"
Amanda did just that and even did her signature red eyes for a few shots. The photographer continued to direct Amanda into doing various poses until she was satisfied with the amount of photos that she took, a smile dotting her face as she took the last shot.
"That's it K.O. We are done for today," said the photographer as she moved her camera away from her face. "And let me just say this, it was a joy shooting you!"
"Well I was happy to work with you Stacy-Ann," said Amanda as she stretched out her arms. "I'm just glad to do something work related once again after all this time on the sidelines."
"Well . . . giving birth to twins is something that can take you out of work for a while," said Stacy-Ann as she walked over to a nearby computer monitor. "Do you want to see some of the shots?"
"Sure . . ." said Amanda as she quickly walked over to the desk where the computer was at. She took a quick look at the screen and let out a whistle, a small smirk coming across her face as she looked at the results. "You are an impressive photographer Stacy-Ann."
"And you were an impressive model Ms. K.O. These photos will help to make the next issue of Muscle & Fitness quite a hit. I have a good feeling about it," said the photographer as she snuck a look at the exit. "Ah, it looks like we have some uninvited guests in the room. I think they're here for you."
". . . And I think I know who you're talking about . . ." said Amanda as she turned to the exit to see Randy leaning against the doorway with his duffle bag at his feet and the baby stroller with Dani and Gabi inside it standing right next to him, a small smirk dotting his face as he looked her up and down. "Can you give me a minute . . . I have to go speak with one of our 'guests'."
"By all means . . . go ahead." said Stacy-Ann as she pointed forward. Amanda let a chuckle escape past her lips before jogging over to Randy, who greeted her with open arms.
"Okay, how long have you been watching me work?" asked Amanda as Randy wrapped his arms around her and pecked her on her forehead.
"A while now . . ." said the Viper as he let his hands rests on the Anaconda's hips. "So, it sounds like the interview and photo-shoot has been smooth sailing for you."
"Well it has, except for the part where it took the stylist a while to pick out a sports-bra that would actually fit me because my boobs are bigger now due to all the breastfeeding," said Amanda with a small shake of her head. "I seriously am going to have to meet with the seamstress about this once we get to the arena."
"Hey, you got bigger boobs now and I'm not complaining." said the Viper as a childish smirk came across his face.
"Of course you wouldn't . . ." said the Amanda as she rolled her eyes. "Just give me a minute to change and get my stuff and then we can leave, alright?"
"Sure . . ." said Randy as he nodded his head. Amanda pecked him on the cheek before jogging over to another door on the side of the room. The Viper waited for his mate patiently as she changed, only checking the time on his watch once during the entire wait. Only fifteen minutes passed before Amanda reemerged dressed and with her stuff in hand. "Now, I'm ready to go."
"Good . . . but before we go, do you think we can convince the photographer to let me take a look at some of your photos?" Randy asked her hopefully as she snuck a look at the twins in the stroller. She slowly shook her head no for an answer. ". . . You're mean."
"Hey, if you want to see the photos for yourself, all you have to do is just wait till the January issue of the magazine comes out," said Amanda as she walked out the room with Randy right behind her pushing the twins' stroller along. "This will be a great test of your patience grasshopper."
"Please, don't get all sensei on me . . ." said Randy as they walked down the corridor toward the lobby. "And speaking of sensei, tell me, are you going to have Dani and Gabi take martial arts classes when they're older?"
"Maybe, if they want to take martial arts classes when they're older . . ." said Amanda as she turned to the Viper. "Why are you asking me that question Randy?"
"Well . . . I was just thinking about something we should take into consideration," said Randy as the family entered the lobby and walked toward the exit. "Since we are two of the best looking wrestlers in the WWE, Dani and Gabi, aka our offspring, basically inherited our genes right?"
"Yeah . . . I think that's basically the biology of it," said Amanda as she looked at him unsurely. "Continue . . ."
"Well, since they inherited our genes, then they have a very good chance of being good looking teenagers once they're older," said Randy as they reached the exit. "And do you know what that means 'Manda? Once they start high school, boys will try to get close to them like bees to a flower. I figured if the girls got martial arts training when they're young, they'll be better prepared to handle the incoming boy onslaught once they get older."
"I thought you didn't like the idea of thinking about the girls when they're teenagers . . ." said Amanda with a smirk as they walked out into the cold December air. "You don't want to think about the idea of the girls being teenagers until they're actually teenagers. You said that line yourself!"
"Yeah I know . . ." said Randy as he looked at her sheepishly. "But while you were at your photo-shoot and interview, I was left in the suite by myself with the twins, and I got to thinking, that's all."
"Let me ask you this Randy? Did you ever suggest to Sam to put Alanna in martial arts classes because you were scared of the idea of boys swarming the girl when she would start high school?" Amanda asked him with an eyebrow raised.
"I did actually," Randy told her with a smirk as the two made their way down the block. "She told me that Alanna probably wouldn't need the martial arts training because by the time she starts high school, I would probably be retired from my professional wrestling career, so whenever a boy comes to the doorstep looking for my eldest child, I could just shoot him my signature Viper glare to scare him off the premises."
"I could easily see you doing that to the helpless boys who would come to your door . . ." said Amanda as she let out a small chuckle. ". . . But I'm not sure about the part about you being retired when Alanna would start high school. Alanna's seven now, and it would be another seven years before she would start high school. You're 34 right now, you're going to be 35 in another four months, and when Alanna starts high school, you're going to be 41. The question is this: can you imagine yourself still in the WWE as a full time wrestler at the age of 41?"
"Hmm . . . that depends. . ." Randy told her with a thoughtful look on his face as they quickly crossed the street, avoiding an incoming taxi along the way.
"Depends on what . . . ?" asked Amanda as she wrapped an arm around one of Randy's own.
"Whether or not I can maintain my abs by then . . ." said Randy as a chuckle escaped past his lips. "I'm just kidding with that reason by the way, but I got to admit. . . I have never really given retirement any thought till now. What about you?"
"I have given it some thought . . ." said Amanda as she shook her head. "I actually talked about the whole retirement thing with my sis and Layla about two years ago because we all realized by then that we were the three active Divas that have been signed with the WWE the longest."
"You, Monica, and Layla have been with the WWE the longest?" Randy asked her with a small grin. "We should throw a party for you guys."
"A party should be thrown, but no one's done any planning yet," said Amanda as she shrugged. "Anyway, I'm not ready to retire just yet. . . Maybe I'll retire in a few years . . . Maybe I'll retire when it's finally time for Dani and Gabi to start preschool . . . All I know for sure is that I'm not ready to retire yet, and that's it."
"It's good to know that you're not ready to retire yet . . ." said Randy as he pecked her on the side of the forehead. "It would be odd to not have you traveling with me on the road. . . Hell, I'm still not used to the idea of you being retired while I'm still working. We've just been in the wrestling business for so long, we've been like a team all this time . . . It'll just seem odd to me."
"I wonder if this is what your dad and my mom had to go through when they started to think about retirement . . ." mumbled Amanda as they crossed another street. "My mom said she retired because she wanted to be there to raise us and see us grow up. Was it the same for your dad?"
"Nah, he stayed with the WWE longer than your mom did, but he did want to be there to see us grow up, as well as to not miss any milestones that would happen in our young lives. He would always travel back and forth between home and work in order to be with us as much as he could before he retired. . ." answered Randy as they spotted the arena coming up in the near distance. ". . . But let's stop talking about the whole retirement thing for now. Let's just agree that neither of us is ready to retire right now and that we want to continue on wrestling for a few more years. Let's also agree that if one of us does decide to retire, we'll talk to the other person about it before we come to a final decision okay?"
"Uh . . . I can agree to that . . ." said Amanda as a small smile came across her face. Randy shot her a small smile in return as they continued on their way to work. The family picked up the pace and reached the main staff entrance of the arena with a good fifteen minutes to spare. They showed their company I.D.s to the security guards at the checkpoint before walking inside, instantly spotting Steph and Hunter talking to each other just down the hall. "Steph, Hunter! We're here!"
"I think I hear snakes coming . . ." said Hunter as Randy and Amanda walked over to the older couple. " . . . And look, they brought the little snakes with them."
"So this is the famous Dani and Gabi the others have been talking about these past few weeks . . ." said Steph, her face brightening up as soon as she looked at the twins in the stroller. "How old are they now?"
"They're at least a month and a half old right now," said Amanda as she looked at her two girls like a proud mother would. "And lucky for us, they're not ones for waking up in the middle of the night."
"We're all lucky. . . The last thing I want to deal with is a crabby and agitated snake couple coming into work in the morning, so thank you Dani and Gabi, for being peaceful sleepers . . ." said Hunter as he shot the twins a look, which didn't go unnoticed by a sheepish looking Viper. "Anyway, back to business. I have some good news and some bad news. Which kind of news do you two want to hear first?"
"Let's start with the bad news Hunter," said Randy as he shook his head. "How bad is your bad news?"
"Well . . . it concerns the two of you, but it's more so you than 'Manda Randy," explained Hunter as he crossed his arms. "The creative team took a while to figure out how to reincorporate you two back into the current storylines, and well . . . they have decided that you guys won't be seen on TV till at least after the Royal Rumble."
"You've got to be kidding me Hunter . . ." mumbled the Viper as he shook his head. "'Manda and I won't be appearing on Raw or SmackDown till after the Rumble?"
"Yeah . . . the creative process is quite the slow one . . . sorry," said the Cerebral Assassin as he shot him an apologetic glance. "Neither of you two will appear on TV till after the Rumble, but one of you will be making more appearances than the other in the next few weeks, and by one of you, I mean you 'Manda."
"I'm guessing by appearances, you mean dark matches right?" asked the Anaconda as she raised an eyebrow.
"That's right, as well as the occasional visits to comic-cons and company events . . ." said Stephanie as she began to play with Gabi's fingers, which made the twin smile in response. "Starting today, you're going to be appearing in a series of dark matches during upcoming house shows. You'll also be appearing in a few of the dark matches that we usually hold before the filming of Raw and SmackDown until it's finally time for you to reappear on TV."
"And as for you Randy, you're going to appear for today's house show, but after today, you have nothing to do till after the Rumble." finished Hunter as he did a small shrug.
"Wow, it's like today's just a small interruption in a long vacation that's not technically a vacation to be exact . . ." said Randy as he shook his head. "I get to stay on the sidelines while 'Manda here gets to have all the fun in the ring."
"Well, for the good news, you don't have to work much these next few weeks, so that means you can spend more time with your daughters," said Hunter as he shook his head. "And 'Manda, you get to do more wrestling, just like you wanted to."
"Yes, I've been upgraded to hard working parent status while Randy's been downsized to stay-at-home dad duty, or stay-in-bus dad duty considering we have to travel a lot," said Amanda with a smirk as she turned to her scowling soulmate. "C'mon, you got to admit that's what's happening right now."
"Damn . . . you do make a good point there . . ." grumbled the Viper as he turned to Hunter. "Alright, where do we change?"
"You two will be sharing a locker room just down the hall," said Hunter as he pointed down the corridor. "The show won't start till seven, and practice starts at four. Randy, you're facing Kane and 'Manda, you're facing Cameron."
"That sounds good to me . . ." said Randy as Hunter began walking away from the rest of them.
"Oh 'Manda, before I leave, I suggest you visit the seamstress before you change," said Stephanie as she brought a hand to her chin. "When she found out that you were coming back today, she quickly developed and sewn up some new outfits that should fit you better, especially in the chest area, if you know what I mean."
"Oh I know . . . Bless Sandra's sweet heart," said Amanda as the snake couple watched as Stephanie followed her husband down the hall. "I'm going to go find Sandra. I'll meet you and the twins at the locker room okay?"
"Sure thing . . ." said Randy as he watched her walk down an intersecting hallway. Randy pushed the stroller down the hall till he found the door labeled "Ms. K.O. & Randy Orton" right on the front. He smirked as he opened the door, going in back first as he pulled in the stroller. He took a quick look around his surroundings to see that it was a nicely furnished room, good enough for a snake couple raising their 1½ month old twins to spend the afternoon in. "At least the locker room is comfortable."
"Knock, knock!" called a familiar voice from the other side of the door, just as Randy pushed the girls' stroller over to the leather couch. "I know you're in there Randy. Don't ignore me."
"What do you want John?" asked Randy as he walked over to the door and opened it to reveal the Cenation leader behind standing in his doorway. "I'm currently busy watching my girls in here."
"I just wanted to ask you this one quick question because Monica just told me something disturbing and I need you to verify it for me," said John as he took off his hat. "Is it true that Dani and Gabi don't like my rap music?"
"Well, from what 'Manda told me, and showed me in a video that she took of Dani and Gabi listening to various genres of music, Dani and Gabi like rap music . . ." explained Randy as John walked into the room. "They just don't like your music."
"This can't be!" exclaimed John. "My music isn't that bad!"
"Dani and Gabi started crying when they started to listen to your music," said Randy as he walked over to their stroller. "Trust me John, they don't like it."
"We'll see about that," said the shorter man as he took out his cell phone. "Let me play my theme song for them once, and we'll see if lightning strikes twice okay?"
"You want to see if they'll cry again if they hear you rapping?" asked Randy as he took a seat on the couch. "By all means, go ahead, Mr. Delusional, but if they cry, you're answering to 'Manda for this."
"Yeah . . . I'll take my chances with your girlfriend Ran," said Randy as he found his theme song among his song list. He played it for Dani and Gabi, and once they heard the first bars of the song, Dani and Gabi began to cry at the sound of it. "Aw man . . . what Monica said was actually true?"
"Yep . . ." said Randy as he unbuckled Dani from her seat and held her to his shoulder in order to soothe her. ". . . So as you can see, they don't like your rapping John. I don't know why, but they just don't."
"WHO THE HELL MADE MY DAUGHTERS CRY?"
"Uh oh . . ." said Randy as his eyes widened at the sound of his mate's voice coming from somewhere down the hall. He looked at John to see the Cenation leader's pale face, his eyes wide in fear as he slowly turned around just in time to see Amanda step into view, her eyes red in anger. ". . . Someone's in trouble with Mama Snake."
"John, did you play your rap music for my girlss. . .?" Amanda asked him slowly, her voice taking on a serpentine hiss as she took a step into the room.
"Maybe . . ." said John, his voice barely above a whisper as he watched as 'Manda began to circle him. "Please don't kill me . . ."
"I'm not going to kill you . . ." said Amanda as she crossed her arms. "But you better get out of thisss room before I do decide to messs with your brain, and trust me. It won't be pretty."
'"Okay . . . I'm going now. Bye!" said John as he ran out the room. Amanda continued to watch the door before using her powers to close it. She turned around to see Randy looking at her with a smirk on his face as held Dani, who managed to calm down during the whole little spat.
"Do you know how sexy you are to me when you get all protective Mama Snake on other people?" asked Randy as Amanda took Gabi out of the stroller and brought her close to her shoulder. "It's really amazing babe. Really . . ."
"Uh huh . . . You are not in the clear on this Ran," said Amanda as she shook her head. "You let John play his rap music for the girls when you know they don't like it, and for that, you must be punished."
"And how are you going to punish me?" Randy asked her with a smirk as she sat down next to him.
"You'll find out soon enough . . ." said Amanda. ". . . But you won't see it coming."
"Uh huh . . ." said Randy as he looked at her unsurely. Amanda just smirked back at him, enjoying the feeling that Randy was inwardly worrying about what punishment she was going to give him.
Amanda's POV; During the house show
"Nice job out there K.O. You gave Cameron one hell of a beating in the ring."
"Thanks Barry," I say with a smirk as I look at the director, the sounds of the fans still chanting my name echoing throughout the arena. "It was just nice to be out in the ring again in front of the WWE Universe again after being absent for so long."
"Hey, you may have been gone for more than half a year, but it doesn't matter now. You're back at work doing what you do best, and trust me, most of us working here is glad for that," Barry tells me with a grin as he pat me on the shoulder. "Now, where's the father of your kids? His match is next."
"I'm right here!" calls Randy as he jogs over to us. "I just had to drop Dani and Gabi off with your sister. She was talking to the other Divas, and you should have seen how all their faces lit up as soon as they saw our girls."
"Eh . . . I guess that's what a baby will do to a woman. It just brightens us up . . ." I say with a smirk as I cross my arms. "So, are you ready to reintroduce yourself to your adoring fans?"
"Hell yes I am . . ." he tells me with a grin before he turns to Barry. "I'm ready when you're ready Barry!"
"Then by all means go ahead . . ." Barry tells us with a smirk as he opens the curtains for us. "You're fans are waiting for you."
Randy and I exchange a quick glance with each other before stepping forward onto the platform and into the sights of the adoring fanbase, their shouts growing louder and louder as we approached the ring in order to do what we do best.
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