Chapter 78: Forgetful Times

Normal POV; May 31: Elimination Chamber Day

"Hmm . . ." grumbled the Viper as he slowly opened his eyes to welcome in the new morning. He checked his phone to see what messages he received overnight, but that thought went completely out the window as soon as he saw the phrase 'May 31' displayed on screen. "Damn . . . Today's 'Manda's birthday."

The Viper turned to the birthday girl herself to see that she was still asleep, as always. Her back was turned to him, but he could hear the even breathing and even heartbeat from the still body that were the telltale sign that she was still sleeping, for the moment. Randy tried to slide out the bed as quietly as possible so that he didn't disturb his soulmate. He managed to get one foot on the ground, but as soon as the bed creaked under his weight, he felt his hand being snatched back toward the bed. When he turned around, he came face-to-face with Amanda, a wide grin showing on her face as her right hand held the Viper's wrist.

"Where do you think you're going hmm?" Amanda asked with a teasing tone in her voice as she propped herself up on her elbows. "And why did you sound like you were disappointed when you stated that today was my birthday?"

"I didn't really sound disappointed when I stated that today was your birthday," said the Viper as he crawled back into bed. "It's just that . . . Well, it's just that . . ."

"My birthday just . . . slipped your mind, didn't it . . ." Amanda asked him plainly as her grin turned into a neutral expression.

"'Manda baby, I don't want to lie to you, and I'm not going to . . ." Randy told her as an embarrassed and ashamed look started to show across his face. "I . . . I did forget your birthday. It did slip my mind and I'm sorry . . . How mad are you?"

"To be honest, I feel . . ." said Amanda as she fought for a proper word to use. "I don't really know . . . I don't really feel shocked and I don't really feel angry. To be honest, if I had to put what I feel into words, I would say that I feel both understanding and indifferent. Actually, I'm more understanding than indifferent, to be precise."

"Really?" Randy asked in mild shock as he stared at her wide eyed. "Like . . . really?"

"Yeah . . . For the past few days, you've been busy helping your dad with warning the Coven leaders out west and scouring the city to see if there is any trace of Rochelle or any possible lackeys that could be helping her . . ." Amanda said as she looked up at the ceiling. "You've been busy, very busy . . . I figured that it was possible that things may have slipped your mind these past few days."

"True, but it's still inexcusable that out of all the things I could have forgotten, it had to be your birthday. Your 35th birthday, for crying out loud," Randy said as he shook his head. "You should be putting me through the ringer because I forgot something so important! I expected you to yell up and storm and be mad at me for forgetting such a special day!"

"You've known me since we were children Ran. We both know that I'm not the kind of girl that's going to get so pissy at someone because he or she forgot their birthday, so much so that a mental breakdown's going to happen," Amanda said with a smirk on her face as she slowly sat up. "Besides, I'm just happy to celebrate my birthday with my precious two daughters and the man that I love so very much."

"Really . . ?" asked the Viper as Amanda slowly crawled onto him and straddled his waist. "Like . . . really?"

"Yeah . . . really," said Amanda as she let her hands come upon either side of his face, her fingertips just brushing against the stubble of his chin. She pressed her lips against his, her mouth gently massaging itself against Randy's own as Randy wrapped his arms around her waist to hold her close to him. When they finally separated, Amanda pressed a quick peck to his forehead before looking him in the eye. Randy just looked at her in both awe and disbelief. "Besides, we don't have enough time to do a party for me anyway. Sam's dropping Alanna off today and Hal's picking us up because we have to get to San Antonio for Raw tomorrow remember?"

"Oh yeah . . . It does take a while to travel from Missouri to the Texas heartland," said Randy as a look of understanding came across his face. "But still, I'm sorry for forgetting about your birthday. It was totally my mistake and I promise I'll never do that to you ever again . . . I seriously need to make it up to you today."

"You can start by making us breakfast then . . ." Amanda said with a chuckle as her phone started to go off. She picked it up and checked the screen to see that is was a message from Sam. "It's a text from Sam Randy. Her and Josh are coming up the block right now."

"I'll go greet them and then I'll make breakfast," said the Viper as he unwound his arms from his mate's waist. "I just want you to try to take it easy as best as you can, okay baby?"

"I'll try, but it's going to be a hard thing to do when you have to try to get two sometimes unruly girls ready to head back on the road," said the Anaconda as the doorbell rang out throughout the home. "Sounds like them right now . . . You go let them in while I start bathing the twins."

"Your wish is my command birthday girl . . ." said the Viper as Amanda pecked him one more time. He left the room and quickly made his way down to the ground floor. When he reached the door, he quickly unlocked the locks and opened the door to see Sam, Josh, and Alanna right there in front of him with smiles on their faces. Alanna's suitcase was currently being handled by Josh. "Morning everyone!"

"Morning daddy!" Alanna said with a grin on her face as she jumped into her father's arms. "Where's 'Manda? I want to say happy birthday to her!"

"She's upstairs giving your sisters a bath . . ." said the Viper as he moved out the way so that Sam and Josh could enter the building. "I was just about to make breakfast when you three showed up . . ."

"Too bad we can't really stay for long . . ." said Josh as he shook his head. "Sam and I are helping out with preparations for the Coven's annual summer party tonight. We're just here to drop off Alanna."

"And Amanda's and Monica's birthday gifts . . ." said Sam in a singsong voice as she took out two small packages from her bag. One was covered in purple giftwrap while the other was covered in blue giftwrap. Both had silver bows on top. "The purple one is for Amanda and the blue one's Monica's. . . So Randy, what did you get for Amanda?"

"I . . . I didn't get her anything today," Randy said in an embarrassed voice as his fellow vampires looked at him in disbelief. "To be honest, I pretty much forgot that today was the twins' birthday."

"Daddy! How could you do such a thing?!" said Alanna as she looked at her father with a disappointed expression on her face.

"Alanna's right Randy . . . How could you forget something so major?" Sam asked, more so out of curiosity than in disbelief.

"I've been so busy with the whole looking for Rochelle thing and warning the western Coven leaders thing that Amanda's birthday just . . . slipped my mind . . ." Randy reluctantly admitted as he scratched the back of his neck with his free hand.

"Did Amanda get mad at you?" Josh asked with an eyebrow raised. "It's understandable if she did. . ."

"That's the thing . . . She's not mad," said Randy as a relieved look came across his face. "She understands why I forgot about her birthday . . . I'm still shocked that she's not even in the slightest mad at me, but I'm just glad she understands why I forgot about her 35th birthday today."

"You are one lucky man then . . ." said Josh as he shook his head. "Most guys wouldn't see the light of day if they forgot their significant other's birthday. It's a typical part of men-women dynamics that's just basically unavoidable."

"You're telling me . . ." said Randy as he shook his head. "Let's just say I had some pretty close calls with Sam here back when we were still an item."

"And close calls you did indeed have . . ." said Sam with a knowing look on her face. She walked up to Alanna and Randy and quickly placed a kiss on her daughter's cheek before speaking again. "Now Alanna, you better be good for your father and soon-to-be stepmother okay? I don't want to get any calls from them talking about how you've been bad wile on the road, you hear me?"

"Yes mother . . ." Alanna said with a nod of her head as Randy put her back down on the ground. "And I promise to make sure that daddy hear doesn't get into trouble either."

"Like I would ever get into trouble . . ." said Randy as Josh handed Alanna's suitcase to him.

"Says the person that forgot his own mate's birthday today . . ." Alanna said in a challenging tone as she shot him a knowing look. The Viper frowned at his daughter, and it only deepened even more when Sam and Josh started chuckling at him. "I got you there didn't I?"

"I think you did honey . . ." said Sam as she shook her head. "Anyway, I guess we'll be on our way. We'll see you again the next time you're in town Ran. Say bye to Amanda and the twins for me."

"Why don't you tell them that yourself?" asked Amanda as she walked out of the staircase holding the twins in each arm, both of them freshly cleaned and dressed for the day.

"Why hello there Dani and Gabi!" Sam said with a big grin on her face as the tall Diva approached with the babies in arm. "I hope you're not giving your mother too much trouble on her birthday today."

"On the contrary, they were a lot less fussy during bath time today," said the Anaconda as Sam handed the presents off to Randy before taking Gabi out of her arm. "Today was actually the first time Gabi didn't complain while I did her hair."

"'Manda, how come you're not mad at my daddy here because he forgot your birthday today?" Alanna asked with a curious look on her face as she stared up at the tall Diva. "You should be absolutely furious with him because he forgot. I would be!"

"Hey! Alanna, whose side are you on here?!" Randy shot back as he looked down at his eldest child.

"Today, not yours!" said the little girl as she outstretched her hands to her mom. Soon figuring out what she wanted, Sam handed Gabi to her. "Hi Gabi! Miss me?"

"How could so much sass live in one small blonde child?" asked Josh as he looked down at the girl in amazement.

"That's what I'm trying to figure out myself. . ." said the Viper as he shook his head. "Alanna just beat me with her words for crying out loud."

"Which makes me so excited to see the kind of conversations you two will have when Alanna reaches her teenage years," Sam said with a toothy smile as she gave the scowling a Viper a hug. "Anyway, Josh and I best be on our way. We have places to go and people to see."

"We'll see you later than . . ." said Amanda as she gave Sam and Josh both a hug. Once Josh and Randy man-hugged, Sam and Josh left, Josh closing the door behind them as they went. "Randy, don't you have a breakfast to make right now?"

"That I do . . . That I do," said the Viper as he walked ahead of his fiancée and daughters. "Don't worry 'Manda. I was wrong for forgetting about your birthday and I promise to make it up to you!"

"I know you will Randy . . ." said Amanda as she and Alanna followed after him. "I know you will . . ."

Amanda's POV; A few hours later

"Alanna, stay here and watch your sisters for me for just a minute," I say as I get off of the sofa after strapping the twins into their stroller. "Hal and your uncle Nate should be getting here any minute now and Randy is taking too long to get ready, even for him."

"Okay!" the little girl says with a grin as she takes up the spot I leave behind. I shoot her a small smirk before making my way to the bedroom. He wasn't really in the bedroom. He was in the adjoining bathroom with his razor in hand, but his face was still unshaven.

"Really Randy?" I ask with an eyebrow raised as I lean against the doorframe. "You're still trying to figure out if you want to shave off your stubble or not?"

"Yes . . . Every time it's time for me to shave, I'm always hesitant to part with my stubble. I just can't help myself I guess," Randy said with a sheepish look on his face as Amanda walked over to him. "What do you suggest baby?"

"I suggest you stay with the stubble, at least, for today," Amanda said with a smirk on her face as she brought a hand to his cheek. "I always did like you with a little stubble on your face anyway."

"The stubble survives for another day I guess . . ." said the Viper as he put the razor lid back on to the sharp edge of the device. "Is everything ready to go?"

"Yeah . . . We're just waiting for the bus right now," said Amanda as she leaned against the sink. "So, do you think Rochelle's going to stay in the city or follow after us?"

"She's definitely going to follow us . . . She'll probably leave some of her henchmen here in town to watch over the coven and our families while she follows after us," said the Viper as he let out a deep breath. "Which means I'll be closely guarding you and our daughters till she is caught . . . Maybe it would be better if the rest of you stay here while I'm on the road . . ."

"Are you being serious Randy?" Amanda asked as she shook her head. "You said it yourself that Rochelle would try to come after the people that's close to you in order to convince you to join her side right? Having us be separated from each other is just playing right into her hand. If I stay here with the girls while you go on the road, not only could Rochelle act and come after us while you're gone, you'll be so worried about us that you won't focus properly . . . We're better off just sticking together and acting like nothing is bothering us than being apart. That will throw Rochelle off her game a bit and hopefully she'll make a mistake that'll lead to her capture."

"And that there is one of the reasons why I love you so much," said Randy as he wrapped his arms around her waist. "You manage to think through things much better than I do, and it really helps to settle my nerves when they start to get all irritated."

"It's nice to know my words help to soothe your nerves . . . However, there's one more thing we have to discuss Randy." Amanda said with a smirk as she wrapped her arms around his neck.

"What is it?" Randy asked her curiously as he snuck a kiss in between his words.

"Randy . . . You have to tell the truth about your military past to the others back at work," Amanda said with a shake of her head. "If Rochelle ends up targeting one of them, they should at least know the story as to why they are being targeted in the first place."

"And there you go again making a good point . . ." said the Viper before pressing his lips to his mate's own. When the sounds of a camera's flash going off reached their ears, the Viper and the Anaconda broke apart and turned their heads to see Alanna standing a few feet away from them with a camera in hand. "Alanna, did you just take a photo of 'Manda and I while we were kissing?"

"Yep . . . Mommy wants me to take a lot of photos of you two while we're on the road," the little girl said with a grin on her face. "She and Monica are working on a little slideshow that they wanted to show during the wedding reception . . . Oops, I wasn't supposed to say that last part."

"A photo slideshow of us huh?" mumbled Amanda as she shook her head. "Hopefully not that many embarrassing photos will show up in the final edit."

"That's what I'm hoping for as well . . ." said Randy as the sounds of a loud, but familiar, bus horn erupted from somewhere outside. "Huh, Hal's here."

"Then let's get moving then . . ." Amanda said with a smirk as she stepped out of the bathroom. "It's time that we get back on the road."

Amanda's POV; the next day before Raw starts airing

"And there you have it . . . That's the story of my military tenure, from the beginning to when I was discharged."

I look around the table to see all of our friends looking at my fiancé, their facial expressions ranging from awe to disbelief as they thought over the story that Randy just told them. Nate and Monica, the only other people in the room that knew Randy's story before today, looked on in silence like the rest of us as everyone tried to put their thoughts together.

"Damn . . . I knew for a fact that you got discharged from the Marines. I knew there had to be a story behind it," says John, the first one to finally speak after Randy said his piece. "I just never realized that a crazy redhead basically, singlehandedly, tanked your military career, no pun intended."

"None taken . . ." Randy says with a shake of his head as he held the napping Alanna in his lap. Dani and Gabi were sleeping in their stroller right next to me.

"I'll be blunt with you man . . ." says Edge as he shakes his head. "How in the world did you let the girl do that to you?!"

"Like I said in my story just now: I basically didn't have a chance to stand up to her with her controlling the whole camp and all," Randy says with a shake of his head. "Rochelle has her ways of controlling and manipulating people in order to get them to do what she wants."

"And you believe she'll target anyone that is close to you, especially your friends and family, in order to get you to join your side?" Lita asks with an eyebrow raised. Randy just shakes his head yes in response. "This girl seriously sounds like she lost her marbles. Doesn't she realize by attacking your friends and family, that's only going to drive you away from her even more?"

"I guess not . . ." says Randy as he shakes his head. "I guess she figures that if she tries to attack you all enough, it's going to drive me so insane that I wouldn't take it anymore and just join her side so that she would stop ordering the attacks. . ."

"Either way . . . it sounds like this girl seriously wants you on her side now, even though she kicked you out of the military years ago," says Alicia as she shakes her head. "Do you have any idea exactly why she wants you to join her side?"

"Not exactly . . . All I know is that she just wants me on her side and that's it . . ." says Randy as he lets out a deep breath. "One thing I know for sure is that she tends to be very persistent in order to get what she wants."

"I'm all for not quitting and all, but this is ridiculous!" says John as he gets out of his chair. "It's even more ridiculous than the time Randy jumped out of that cake on Raw all those years ago."

"That moment still puts a smile on my face anytime someone mentions it . . ." says Edge as Randy shoots a narrow eyed look John's way. "It ranks as one of the top ten funniest moments that happened in the WWE in my book, just behind the moment the WWE Universe was first introduced to Stardust. . . . And speaking of Stardust, anyone seen Cody around anywhere?"

"Edge brings up a good point . . . Where is Cody?" I ask as all eyes went to Kaitlyn, also known as Cody's mate. "Have you seen him anywhere Kaitlyn?"

"He said he wanted some time alone . . . Let's just say a vision Ted had has really bummed him out these past few hours," says the Texan native as all eyes moved on to our resident seer. "Do you want to tell them what you told Cody, or should I have the honors?"

"What is Kaitlyn talking about?" Wade asks Ted as he raised an eyebrow. "What was your vision Ted?"

"Well, for Cody and his family, it wasn't a good one . . ." Ted manages to say as he rests his chin in the palm of his hands. "I saw in my vision that Dusty Rhodes is going to pass away soon."

"NO!" John exclaims with a shake of his head. "Not Dusty Rhodes!"

"Are you serious Ted?" I ask in shock as Randy and I exchange disbelieving glances. He shakes his head yes in confirmation. ". . . I can't believe it."

"Oh man . . . I feel so bad for Cody," says Kelly as shakes her head. "Dusty Rhodes has been an influential part of this company for years now . . . I can't believe he's going to be gone soon."

"Me either . . . The WWE is just not going to be the same without Dusty," Randy says with a shake of his head as Cody finally walks into the room. "Oh . . . hey man. Are you okay?"

"Yeah . . . I'm fine. I just finished talking to my dad on the phone a while ago," Cody says with a shake of his head as he sits down next to Kaitlyn. "My dad found out that he was going to pass away soon from a family friend who's also a seer, so he was already way ahead of me when I told him about Ted's vision. . ."

"And you'll be way ahead of him time wise, since you're a vampire now and all . . ." mumbles Edge, gaining a hard elbow to the gut from both Monica and Lita in the process. "Sorry, that sounded bad, didn't it?"

"It sounded bad, but it is the truth . . . I'm basically going to outlive my entire family now that I'm a vampire. When I really think about it, it really makes me look at my life a little differently," Cody says as he shakes his head with the tiniest of smirks on his face. "'Manda, have you ever thought about it?"

"Not really . . ." I say as a thoughtful look comes across my face. "I know that I'll eventually outlive my parents, as well as any family member that's not a vampire of werewolf . . . I just really haven't given it much thought, or tried to actually . . . Have you given it much thought Kaitlyn?"

"Not in the slightest . . . I'm actually trying to avoid that because I know I'm going to become a crying mess afterward . . ." she says as she pinches the bridge of her nose. "I guess this is the beauty of being a turned vampire instead of a born one huh . . . sarcastically speaking of course."

"I guess you're right on that one Kaitlyn . . ." I say as I turn to the sheepish looking Viper. "You and Nate are pretty much the lucky vampires in this group, you know that right?"

"Now we do . . ." says Nate as he shakes his head as Randy shakes his head in agreement. "I know it's going to be tough having to see family members and friends pass on while you still continue on as a vampire, but at least you'll still have the memories of your loved ones to carry on with you. There is that."

"I guess you're right . . . We'll always still have our memories." I say with a smirk as Cody, Kaitlyn, and I exchange a knowing look with each other, just as Barry walks into the room. "Hello Barry . . . What brings you in here?"

"I just want to make sure that everyone who's going to be in a match tonight knows who's facing who," says the man as he did a small shrug. "Barrett goes up against Reigns, Cena confronts Owens, Kofi is up against Dolph, and Orton and Sheamus fight each other . . . And I'm gone."

"Well that was a nice way to make an exit . . ." I say as I notice Orton and Sheamus shooting each other narrow-eyed looks. "And why are you two looking at each other like that?"

"No reason . . ." they say at the time, and then Sheamus further adds. "We're just sizing each other up before our match."

"You can't beat a good stare down . . ." says John as he gets up out of his seat. "Randy should just be glad that he's staring Sheamus down instead of you . . . I'm still shocked that you basically let the Viper go scot free even though he forgot about your birthday yesterday."

"Did you just have to bring that up?" Randy instantly asks as John walks out the room.

"You know did wrong when you forgot the girls' birthday," says John as he walks out the room. "You know its' true!"

"Babe, you know I said I was sorry for forgetting about your birthday right?" Randy asks me for probably the umpteenth time as he turns to e after finishing his stare down with Sheamus.

"I know . . . I forgive you. I'm not sure they do though," I say as I gestured to the group. Randy turns his head to see all the girls' and practically half the guys giving him disapproving looks in my favor. "I figured they'll be mad enough for me."

"Damn . . ." Randy says as he shakes his head. "I should have seen this coming."

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