Title: When You At Least Expect It

Characters/Parings: John Cena/Maryse (my first time using this paring); The Miz (can't stand him); Lita/Triple H; Cody Rhodes/Kelly Kelly; Melina/John Morrison (I've softened on this paring, surprise); more later on.

Rating: Strong PG-13/Strong R

Disclaimer: Don't own them. Can't sue me. You know the damn deal.

Setting/Classification: Current/AU

Spoilers/Notes: Based on the interaction between Maryse and The Miz with the last month or so. I do believe he wants her. Oh, and Lita never left for the sake of this story.

Summary: In the ring, Divas champion Maryse is cocky, beautiful, overconfident and self absorbed. In real life, she's broken, vulnerable and have no one to turn to, especially since she's enduring a unhealthy relationship with Mike Mizann. However, she gets help from an unlikely source. Will her feelings for this person also come in handy when her boyfriend gets more and more violent with her?

Author's note: So this is my first time using Cena/Maryse in my stories. I'm really trying out these new parings and trying something different. I hope you like this one.

Enjoy and happy reading!

Lots of love, hugs and kisses from your resident writer and friend, Nina!

X

Monday Night RAW

Orlando, Florida

July 13, 2009

Divas champion and beautiful French-Canadian Maryse Ouellet sighed deeply as she walked through the curtain following her victory over challenger Mickie James. In less than two weeks, she's gonna have to defend her title against the Richmond, Virginia native at Night Of Champions and she wasn't looking forward to possibly lose to the title to the bubbly, but tough diva. Having to deal with Mickie was the least of her worries, though. She had more important things to worry about for the time being.

Looking around, she was trying to find her boyfriend, but when he didn't turn up, she headed towards the women's locker room. With the title hanging over her bruised shoulder, she was in no mood to deal with anyone right now; especially her current boyfriend. Truth be told, she didn't understand why she ended up with him in the first place, but she was a fool in love and she truly believed he cared. In the beginning of the relationship, he was so kind and considerate. He did everything for her. Lately, his attitude changed completely and whenever he gets angry, she winds up on the receiving end of it.

As she was walking inside and preparing to get into the shower, several other divas were talking amongst themselves when they watched Maryse walked inside with a slight limp.

"Oh, no, here comes the resident slut," one diva whispered, looking at the blond in disgust.

"I can't believe she's dating him. She's going through half of the male locker room and he winds up with her. I don't get it," another diva whispered.

"Why are you girls surprised? She's been sleeping around with every single superstar since she first came to the company altogether. Hell, I heard she slept with Vince McMahon in order to get the job. What I don't understand is why he's messing around with her. He's not exactly a catch himself," a third diva whispered.

As they continued to whisper and mock, Maryse tried so hard to ignore the harsh words that were being said to her and about her, but it was hard. The Maryse you see on tv was cocky, overconfident and didn't care what people think of her. She usually brushed them off with her infamous hand. However, this is not tv and she's not who she is on televison. She's a human being with feelings.

And that alone hurts so much.

As she was about to get into the shower, the door burst open. Maryse and the other divas were startled when a male figure stormed right inside, looking like a man ready to kill.

"EVERYONE BUT MARYSE GET THE FUCK OUT OF HERE RIGHT FUCKING NOW!" he roared.

The other divas looked at Maryse for a second and shook their heads in shame before running out of the locker room in fear. The blond gulped nervously as her boyfriend advanced towards her.

"You mind telling me what the fuck was that out there?!" he seethed.

"I-it was match that Seth Green made. A six diva summer swimsuit blowout match. Myself, Mickie, Alicia, Kelly, Rosa and Gail had to wear swimsuits. I didn't do anything wrong, I swear," she explained, looking scared.

He grabbed her arm roughly and yanked her towards him. "Do you love making me look bad, you stupid bitch?! Do you love parading around in that swimsuit and look like a slut?! Why do you keep pissing me off, Maryse?!"

"Please...you're hurting me," she started sobbing, which pissed him off even more. He raised his hand up and slapped her hard across her face.

"SHUT THE FUCK UP! Why do I put up with your ass?! Give me one good reason why I shouldn't beat the shit out of your right now!" he warned.

"Please, Mike, don't do this. I'm sorry," she cried as she got down on her knees. He looked down at her with disgust.

"Get up, you low expectation having tramp. You make me sick sometimes," Mike seethed. She quickly got up and looked at him with tears in her eyes.

"You're pathetic, Maryse. Really pathetic. I don't know why I'm even with you. Everything that's been said about you is true. You're a slut and sluts like you needs to be taught a lesson," he snarled.

Suddenly, anger boiled in her veins. She had put up with being his punching bag for so long, but he was going too far. It was time for her stand up for herself. Enough was enough.

"No, if anyone's the slut around here, it's you!" she snapped back.

Mike was outraged. She never talked to him like that before and she's not about to start now.

"I suggest you lower your tone and show me some respect," he warned.

She glared at him. "I don't have to do anything anymore, you son of a bitch!"

"WHAT THE FUCK DID YOU SAY?!" he yelled.

"You heard what I said1 I'm sick and tired of you hurting me! I'm sick and tired of the name-calling, the belittling, the put-downs! I'm sick and tired of you coming to me for sex! I may not be the most likable person on the roster, but I'm a human being, damn it!" she roared, her French accent getting more and more vibrant.

"What are you saying, Maryse, since you decided to grow a backbone?!" Mike mocked.

She continued to glare at him. "If you don't change your ways and treat me like an equal, I'm walking away from this relationship!"

Something inside of him snapped. He couldn't believe this bitch gave him an ultimatum. He's not about to be treated like a second-class citizen, so he raised his hand up and slapped her once again; this time, the blow was so hard that she ended up back on the floor. However, she got right back up and slapped him right back.

Mike stumbled back in disbelief. His girlfriend hit him back. More and more anger boiled in his veins as he looked at her with fury in his hazel eyes. Without warning, he lunged at her; wrapping his hands around her neck and choking the life out of her. Maryse started screaming, but it didn't do her any good because he raised his leg up and kneed her right in her stomach, knocking the wind out of her. As she was struggling to breathe, he loomed over her, shaking in anger and wondering what he should do next.

"You made me do this, Maryse. You just had to fight back. Well, we're gonna make sure that doesn't ever happen again," he said in a low, menacing tone.

The Divas champ didn't have time to react because the next that happened, a heavy object came crashing down on her head, knocking her out cold.

Mike Mizann a.k.a. The Miz looked down at the unconscious diva with a sadistic smile on his face. Then, he left, not caring if anyone found her.

Dead or alive.

X

45 minutes later

John Cena was walking down the hallway with his bags. He was anxious to get home and get some much needed sleep because he was so exhausted. Tonight was another hot night and he was so happy the fans got their money's worth, but he needed to get some sleep or else he'll go insane.

As he was headed out of the arena, he notice the door to the women's locker room was wide open. Even from a distance, it looked like a hurricane in there. He dropped everything and went right inside. What he saw shocked to the core.

Maryse was still on the floor, still completely knocked out from the blow Mike caused. Blood was gushing on the side of her head and there were various bruises all over her body. She was still in her ring gear, which meant she never had time to change. His breath caught in his throat at the sight of her. He heard the rumors about her and her reputation but he never thought someone would attack her and leave her to die.

Carefully and gingerly, he scooped her up in his arms and gently carried her out of the locker room. As he carried her out of the locker room, he failed to notice a certain someone was watching them from the shadows.

And he wasn't a happy camper.

X

Local hospital

Orlando, Florida

July 14, 2009

When Maryse finally woke up, she had no idea where she was at first until she found herself being hooked up on so many machines and she was drowsy from whatever medication she was on. She tried sitting up, but she groaned in pain and winded up with a huge headache. She laid her head back against the pillows and sighed sadly because she knew what happened.

She had never seen Mike so angry in her life. The hitting and the name-calling was on thing, but when he choked her and then clocked her upside her head with a heavy object, that's when she knew he was trying to kill her. She buried her face in her hands and began sobbing hysterically.

How the hell is she gonna be able to get through this now? How the hell she's gonna be able to face her boyfriend again? Should she break up with him after what he did to her? All those question kept rambling in her brain as she kept crying.

"Miss Ouellet, how are we feeling this morning? I see you finally woke up," a nurse walked in with a huge smile on her face.

"What happened? How did I end up here?" Maryse asked, looking around.

"A nice young man carried you here. You have a huge knot on your forehead and you also have a concussion. You're very lucky," the nurse said.

"Who's the man that brought me here? I wanna thank him," Maryse said softly.

"He's waiting right outside. I'll get him," the nurse said as she stepped out for a second. She returned right away with the man trailing close behind.

Maryse gasped in shock because she knew who this man was.

"John?" she squealed, not believing her ears.

"Yes, Maryse. I brought you here. I wanted to make sure you're okay."

Suddenly, a tiny smile appeared on her face. Could she have found her knight and shining armor?

Coming up in the next chapter: Maryse and John talk at the hospital, but their pleasant moment is interrupted when The Miz shows up. Meanwhile, Maryse ended up having a friend in another diva. Stay tuned!

Please review!