Chapter 55: Nate's Decisions

Normal POV

"You've made a few decisions that're going to affect your future quite a bit huh?" asked the Viper as he looked at his brother with a wary look in his eye. "What do you mean by that exactly Nate? What exactly did you do?"

"I mean what I just said big bro. I've made a few life-altering decisions," answered Nate as the two brothers turned to see Amanda pushing the crib over to them. "But before I get into the details, how are my little nieces been doing huh? Did they miss me?"

"I don't know Nate? Why don't you ask them yourself?" Amanda asked him in a sarcastic tone of voice as she rolled her eyes while picking up hers and Randy's bags before walking back to the end of the bus. "I'm sure they would love to give you their answer!"

"Why do psychics have to be so sarcastic all the time?" Nate asked his brother bluntly as he watched as Amanda walked into the back room. "Is it in their nature or something because they're all supposedly know-it-alls or is it because of something else?"

"I just guess that it's their style . . ." Randy told him with a shrug as he looked into the crib. "Babe, you fed the girls right?"

"Yep . . . I fed them a while ago. They're good for the night," Amanda called from the back of the bus. "All they need to do now is fall asleep!"

"Do Gabi and Dani tend to stay up late at night?" asked Nate as he watched his brother pick Gabi up in his arms.

"Sometimes . . ." said Randy as he cradled his youngest daughter on his shoulder. "But on other days, they're out like lights as soon as night falls. They're just that unpredictable."

"Like you in the ring when you're angry?" asked Nate as he shot his brother a small smirk.

"Especially like me in the ring when I'm angry," said the Viper as he shook his head in agreement, just as Amanda walked back over to their table and slid into the seat next to him. "So Nate, what are these 'life-altering decisions' you've made exactly."

"I only made a few life-changing decisions dear brother, two to be exact, and one of them actually depends on the other," answered Nate as he watched Amanda take Dani out of the crib. "The first one is that I have decided to opt out of my current MMA contract. I am officially no longer signed with my old company."

"So basically, you're unemployed right now . . ." said Randy as he shot his brother a blunt stare.

"Basically . . ." said Nate as he nodded his head in agreement.

"Since you don't have a job right now, what are you going to do in terms of career choices?" asked Amanda as she raised an eyebrow. "Have there been other MMA companies out there calling you up or something?"

"Uh . . . Actually, a few companies have actually offered me spots on their rosters," said Nate as he weaved his fingers together. "Even the granddaddy of them all: UFC."

"No way!" said Randy as he let a small smirk come across his face. "UFC is the biggest brand in terms of MMA fighting. This is huge for you bro!"

"Yeah, but there is a catch . . . Every potential UFC fighter has to go through a very strict interview process. The people in UFC don't want just anybody joining their ranks. They want top talent for sure," said Nate as he looked out the window to see the skyscrapers they were passing by. "You have to first go through a background check, an interview, and then you have to showcase your skills in the ring with against one of the trainers. If they like you enough, you'll get the call saying that you're invited to their boot camp. If you don't get the call after two weeks, then well . . . You're not UFC material."

"What does UFC boot camp entail?" asked Amanda as she wiped the saliva that was escaping out of Dani's mouth with a handkerchief.

"A whole lot of grueling workout sessions and practice matches . . ." answered Nate as he shook his head. "During that time, the trainers and even some of the execs monitor the potential candidates as they do their thing in the ring. They're the ones that decided who gets a UFC contract and who doesn't."

"Is that it?" asked Randy as he raised an eyebrow. "You're a great MMA fighter bro. I know you can earn yourself a contract with UFC."

"Thanks for the vote of confidence bro," said Nate as he shook his head. "UFC is home to some of the best mixed martial arts fighters in the world, and it would make my day if I earn a contract with that company. I'm a pretty good MMA fighter myself, but even I know there are a few areas I can improve on. And that's where you two come in . . ."

"What are you getting at Nate?" Amanda asked him with a suspicious look in her eye.

"I called up the UFC representative that sent me the email making the offer before I got here and told her that I was interested in a tryout to be a part of the company. She made the date of my tryout during the same weekend that the WWE is going to be in Vegas for a couple of house shows and a taping of Raw. That's in a few months, and I want your guys help in preparing for the whole thing." answered Nate as he pointed to the two of them.

"You want us to help you prepare for your UFC tryout in a few months?" Randy asked his brother, slightly wide eyed at his brother's request.

"Yeah, that's exactly what I'm asking you two Randy, said Nate as a small grin came across his face. "Bro, you can help me perfect my wrestling skills and 'Manda here can help me with my martial arts. So, what do you say?"

"Well . . . since I'm not scheduled for any events or matches until after the Royal Rumble, I guess I can help you perfect your skills in the meantime," said Randy as he noticed that Gabi was falling asleep in his arms. "What about you 'Manda? You think you can help my brother with his karate?"

"I think I can . . ." said the Anaconda as she thought over the idea. "We'll have to work around my work schedule, but I think I can help you out."

"Thank you!" said Nate as a relieved look came across his face. "You have no idea how much this means to me!"

"We'll do it, but only under one condition," said Randy ash he shot his brother a serious look. "Since you're seeking our help in order to hone your skills for your UFC tryout, you better follow our advice and do whatever we say. We won't tolerate any insubordination from you."

"Did you just say insubordination?" Amanda asked him with an eyebrow raised. "That is such a military thing of you to say?"

"Well . . . Randy did use to be a Marine when he was younger . . ." said Nate as he shook his head. "But then he got out after a year? What exactly happen that got you discharged big bro?"

"I'm never telling!" Randy told him bluntly as Amanda put Daniela back into the crib. "It will only be known by me and me alone."

"That is unless I start to look through your mind to see for myself why exactly you were discharged from the Marines. . ." said Amanda as she gently took Gabi out of her beau's arms and placed her back into the crib next to her sister. ". . . All I need to do is just do one simple scan."

"I will so not get you a gift for Valentine's Day if you do that!" Randy told her bluntly as he shot her one of his Viper like glares. "Don't test me babe because I will do it."

"Well then . . . if I don't get a gift from you for Valentine's Day, then your time with my body will significantly lessen now wouldn't it?" Amanda pleasantly said in response as she shot him a teeth bearing grin.

"Ooh . . . That was the most cheery sounding way to say I won't have sex with you until I receive a Valentine's Day gift that I have ever heard," said Nate as he turned to his steely eyed brother. "It's your move, big brother! How will you respond to your soulmate's ultimatum Randy?"

"Hmm . . . putting me in between a rock and a hard place huh babe?" Randy asked her as Amanda crossed her arms at him. "Do you really think you can even stay true to your ultimatum hon?"

"Oh . . . I so can. I am the one with the better control in this relationship after all," Amanda told him confidently as she let a small smirk come across her face. "The real question is this: Do you think you can go that long without any sex happening in our relationship? Sheesh, can you even go that long without any dirty thoughts coming to your mind whenever you see me in my wrestling outfit, my bikini, or my lingerie, or even my sports-bra? Do you really think you can last that long baby?"

"Ooh . . . this girl knows how to use her words in her favor!" exclaimed Nate as he let out a small whistle. "How will you respond dear brother? I, especially, want to know your answer to this one."

"Yeah . . . I'd like to know the answer to this one too . . ." mumbled Randy as he relaxed his steely expression.

"Oh . . . do you admit defeat then Mr. Orton?" asked Amanda as her smirk turned into a grin as Randy turned away from her.

"I'm not admitting defeat. . . I'm just saying that I don't have an answer for you just yet," said Randy as he looked at his brother. "Anyway, getting back to the real conversation at hand now, what is your second life changing decision Nate?"

"Well, like I said, it all depends on something else, and that something else happens to be how my UFC tryout will work out . . ." said the younger Orton as he noticed that the bus was already traveling on a ramp toward the highway. "My second life-altering decision, if my tryout fails, is that I would leave Vegas and move back home to St. Louis."

"You're going to move back home to Missouri if your UFC tryout ends up being a bust . . ." said Amanda as she raised an eyebrow. "What . . . like some sort of new fresh start thing?"

"Exactly!" said Nate as he pointed to the mother of two of his nieces. "It'll be a nice change of pace for me, and I can start over from that point and see where I can go forward from there."

"And where exactly are you going to move back to in St. Louis, if it reaches that point for you?" asked Randy as he shot his brother a wary look.

"Mom and Dad's house, duh . . ." said Nate, saying it like it was the most obvious thing in the world. "I already talked this over with Mom and Dad before I left and they're fine with it. My room will be there waiting for me if my UFC tryout doesn't work out. You know they haven't changed my room since my high school days, bless their beautiful souls!"

"Well . . . you didn't decorate it too drastically that it would call for a complete makeover bro," said Randy as he shook his head. "Now that I think about it, they haven't changed my old room either."

"No they haven't . . ." Nate said in agreement as he shook his head. "But if you're hoping to have a familiar place to stay in after Amanda kicks you out because you pissed her off due to whatever reason, you're out of luck. Since it is the second biggest in the house after mom and dad's own room, Grandpa Bob and Grandma Rita use that room now, and they have gotten quite busy in there, if you know what I mean."

"Aw gross . . ." grumbled Amanda as Randy looked at his brother with an appalled look on his face. "So, you're basically telling us that your grandparents have already had sex in the bedroom Randy occupied till he was out of high school?"

"That is exactly what I am saying . . ." Nate told her with a grin on his face as he took out his phone and took a photo of his brother scarred expression. "Sorry bro, but I figured you wanted to know."

"No, no I didn't want to know that Nate," said Randy as he shook his head at him. "That was a piece of info that I definitely could have lived without."

"Oh . . . Well at least I got a good photo of you looking disgusted to share with social media . . ." said Nate as he began to tap away at his phone. "My Twitter followers and Facebook friends are so going to love this."

"Whatever . . ." grumbled the Viper as Amanda moved out of her seat so that Randy could slide out of the booth. "I'm going to go use the bathroom."

"Since you're heading for the back of the bus, can you please take the crib back there?" asked Amanda as she returned to her seat.

"Will do . . ." said Randy as he began to push the crib toward the back of the bus.

"So Ms. Anaconda. . ." said Nate as a small grin returned to his face. "How does it feel to be back in action again after so long?"

"It feels absolutely wonderful, and a bit bittersweet," answered Amanda as she shook her head. "It's absolutely wonderful because I'm actually competing again, although I'm limited to house shows and dark matches for now . . ."

"And why is it a little bittersweet?" asked Nate as he raised an eyebrow.

"It's a little bittersweet because this is Randy's last night wrestling for a while . . ." said Amanda as she shook her head. "He's not scheduled to wrestle till after the Rumble at least, which makes you wonder when the writers will write back him into the storylines."

"Yeah . . . it does make you wonder . . ." said Nate as he brought a hand to his chin. "But hey! You got to believe that once the writers figure out how to bring Randy back on TV, they're going to have him go after Rollins first once he returns right?"

"After having Seth and the rest of the Authority beat the crap out of Randy to write him off of television so he could film his movie over in New Mexico, how could they not . . ." said Amanda as they heard the toilet flush in the bathroom behind them. "Like, that's probably the most likely thing to happen once Randy's back on television."

"I'm so hoping that's what the writers have planned for me once it's my time to get back into the ring!" Randy called out as he exited the bathroom. "If not, well, we'll see what happens."

"So . . . what else has been happening these days around the WWE backstage area?" asked Nate as he held his head in his hands by the chin. "What's the juicy gossip these days hmm? I want to hear details!"

"Nothing much has been happening, except there has been this new arrival to the ranks," said Amanda as she crossed her arms. "Her name's Annaliese. She's from London, but she's not a wrestler. She works for a wrestling company that the WWE is partnering with across the pond and she's going to be traveling with the roster till after WrestleMania in order to learn the ways of the company and the roster, that sort of thing."

"Well that sounds boring . . ." grumbled Nate as he looked at the snake couple with a blunt stare. "Is there anything else on this girl that I should know about?"

"Well then . . . How about this?" asked Randy as he slid into his seat next to 'Manda and wrapped an arm around her shoulders. "Annaliese also happens to be a succubus who has a penchant for being flirty with every guy she comes across, especially if the guy is a werewolf or is already in a relationship with someone else."

"Ah . . . now we're getting somewhere . . ." said Nate as a childish grin came across his face. "And I have a pretty good feeling that Annaliese have already bugged you two with her flirting antics tonight. . . Am I right, or am I right?"

"Wow Nate . . . You hit the nail right on the head," Amanda told him with a sarcastic role of her eyes. "Annaliese tried to flirt with Randy a couple of times tonight."

"She also flirted with Ziggler, Rollins, Ted, Wade, and Kofi tonight . . ." added Randy as he shook his head. "And I bet you she's still flirting with a few other guys back at the arena right as we speak."

"Ooh . . . she sounds like she's on a mission," said Nate as he shook his head. "It's either that, or she's just really desperate to get laid before she has to fly back to England."

"That's what I'm thinking . . ." said Amanda as she shook her head. "She is one insistent succubus, I can tell you that."

"She has already set her sights on some guys more than others, one of those guys being me of course," grumbled Randy as he rested his head on his mate's shoulder. "Man that girl gets on my nerves."

"Why don't you just scare her off . . ." suggested Nate as he shook his head. "Randy, you are definitely one of those guys that are capable of being scary when the situation calls for it. I'm sure showing Annaliese your Viper-mode will help to stop her from flirting with you ever again."

"I would have shown her that side of me actually, if it weren't for Dani and Gabi being in the same room at the time . . ." said Randy as he looked up, just as Amanda was looking at him. "Hey 'Manda baby, maybe you can scare her off. You can show her that Anaconda side of you to scare her away."

"I could, but I think you scaring her away will make a bigger impact than me scaring her away." said Amanda as she pat him on the cheek.

"On the contrary, I think you're wrong," said Randy as he picked his head up. "I think you scaring her away with that Anaconda side of yourself, and I mean red eyed, black sclera side of you, would be much more impactful then me scaring her off with my Viper-mode."

"Maybe you're right on that point . . ." mumbled Amanda as she narrowed her eyes at the Viper. "But that side of me only comes out only if there is an absolutely life threatening emergency happening, and I don't view Annaliese flirtatious ways as an absolutely life threatening emergency."

"So what?" Nate asked her bluntly as he pinched the bridge of his nose. "You like the idea of Annaliese flirting with Randy whenever she sees him?"

"No . . ." Amanda told him bluntly as she narrowed her eyes at the younger Orton. "What I'm saying is that because Randy and I are soulmates already, I know for a fact that Annaliese flirtatious ways will never work on him."

"Because nothing can break the bonds between vampire soulmates . . ." said Nate as he shook his head in understanding. "You can't beat that logic, but what about the other Divas whose boyfriends are also WWE wrestlers? You don't have to worry about Annaliese, but I'm sure the others do."

"The Divas' opinions on Annaliese are mixed," said Amanda as she felt Randy's arm unwound from her shoulders, his hand now resting on her thigh. "Some don't see her as competition one bit, but others worry about her antics backstage, and then there are a few of them don't like her one bit."

"Like who?" asked Nate as he looked at them curiously.

"Well Lita didn't appear to like her . . . Neither did Alicia," said Randy as he thought about it. "And I did see Layla shoot daggers into the back of Annaliese's skull when she saw her talking to Sheamus."

"Monica and Kelly don't view Annaliese as a threat, neither does Kaitlyn . . ." added Amanda as she hid her smirk behind her hand, the smirk a result of Randy tracing circles along her thigh.

"What's Steph and Hunter's opinion on Annaliese?" asked Nate as he continued to ask his questions.

"Hunter knows that Annaliese is going to give the wrestler's hell these next few months . . ." said Amanda as she shook her head. "And as long as Annaliese doesn't make any moves on Hunter, Steph doesn't care."

"Oh you got to love business people . . ." said Nate as he shook his head. "Hey, do you have anything in your mini-fridge to eat? I'm starving!"

"You'll have more luck finding something to eat in the cupboards than in the fridge," said Randy as he continued to tease Amanda by rubbing his fingers along her leg. "Now that I think about it: We really have to pay a visit to a supermarket one of these days and stock up on some food items."

"We can do that tomorrow when we're in Norfolk," said Amanda as she finally moved his hand from off her leg. "And now that I think about it, we're going to have to visit a hospital too. We're running low on blood bags."

"Running low on blood bags?" asked Nate as he looked into the fridge's freezer compartment. "You guys have only one left!"

"Yeah, we really need to visit a hospital soon," said Randy as he began to nuzzle Amanda's neck. "I guess we'll just have to visit one after the SmackDown taping tomorrow night."

"Quit with the neck nuzzling will you . . ." said Amanda as she resisted the urge to let out a small moan at Randy's ministrations. "You're brother's still around remember?"

"I don't care . . ." mumbled the Viper as he kissed her right on her jugular vein. Little did he know was that his brother was staring at them from his spot beside the fridge. When he realized that Randy was truly distracted with Amanda, he snuck a look at the freezer, and that's when an idea came to the younger Orton's childish mind.

"Randy, can't you wait a little longer before starting your childish teasing?" Amanda asked him with a smirk as she tried to push his head back, but the Viper only playfully growled back at her in response.

"But I want to have fun with my mate now . . ." said Randy as he leaned his head back. He moved into kiss Amanda's lips, but as soon as his lips got within an inch of hers, Nate pounced, pulling Randy's shirt back by the collar and pouring a cup full of ice cubes down his brother's back. "NATE YOU DUMBASS!"

"Randal Keith Orton, watch your tone and your language!" said Amanda in a stern voice as she snuck a look at the crib in the back, letting out a relieved breath that her mate's outburst didn't wake up their kids. "You could have woken up Dani and Gabi yelling like that!"

"Sorry babe," said Randy as he shot a cold look his brother's way, but he never saw it since he was chuckling so hard. "But you would be yelling your head off to if your brother poured ice cubes down your back."

"Well since you were so thoroughly distracted, I thought it was the best time to play a little prank . . ." said Nate as he shook his head. "You kinda walked yourself right into it bro. No lie!"

"I will so get you back for that . . ." mumbled the Viper as he got up from his seat. "And now I have to change my shirt too."

"You might as well anyway . . . You don't want to sleep in a soak shirt now do ya?" asked Nate as his brother passed him by. "C'mon 'Manda, you gotta admit that Randy set himself up for that one right?"

"Actually . . . you do make a good point there. . . ." said Amanda as she brought a hand to her chin, which earned her an audible growl from her mate in the back and a few more chuckles from Nate in return.

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