A/N: I finished something! Can you believe it? I haven't finished anything in a hot minute. Sorry for the delay, but that you for your continued interest in this story.

I'd like to thank TheRealKellyAnne. This was an awesome story, honey. Thank you for all the help and the amazing chapters you did.

With that, we hope you enjoy!

The smell of beer and charcoal filled the air, just like the sounds of music and kids running and laughing, bounced around the back yard. It was a perfect day; seventy-five degrees, blue skies, without a cloud in sight. It was still warm enough to wear shorts, but because the weather was starting to break they would all eventually need to put on a jacket by the time the evening rolled around. They couldn't have picked a better day for a party if they tried.

It was only a little after three, and already Jaxon's annual, Party in the Yardy was in full swing. Every year, since he had started nursery school Amanda would throw him a back to school bash at her mom's house. It was always held in late September, giving Jaxon enough time to make a few friends in his class, so he wouldn't feel strange about inviting them over. And it gave Amanda a chance to meet the parents. She had this rule, if she didn't know the parents, Jaxon didn't hang out with the kid. The last thing she needed was for him to be a statistic and end up getting hurt a friend's house.

Plus, being a ham, the Party in the Yardy gave Jaxon a chance to be "the man". He loved to entertain. He loved the attention. There was nothing better than for Jaxon to have all his friends think that he had the coolest mom, and the best toys. After all, it was true.

But today, Jaxon felt anything but cool. In fact, he was down right pissed off.

Amanda sat at the picnic table next to Dia, watching her son as he manned the cooler. He was having a good time until Travis had shown up. Not that he didn't want his father there, but the Party in the Yardy was their special time together. It was a time where Jaxon could brag to his friends about all of the famous musicians his father worked security for. Now that was ruined, because Jaxon didn't get Travis to himself. No, he had to share him with his three half siblings: Akira, Taj and Tyree.

"Why in the hell did he bring the Wu-Tang Clan?" Amanda shook her head as she fumbled with the metal tab on the can of Cream soda. "He knows damn well how Jax gets when all of Bebe's Kids are around."

Dia laughed, smacking her friend on the arm. "I guess he was trying to be a good baby daddy and take all them kids off their momma's hands."

"Well, he's gonna have to try a little damn harder." Rolling her eyes at Travis when he lifted a Heineken to his lips, Amanda scoffed, "He makes me sick."

Jaxon had been keeping a mental tab on how many beers his father was drinking. It never failed. Every year after the party died down his parents would get in a huge fight. Mainly because his father would get drunk and start coming down on his mother about one thing or another. Then the next day he would call nonstop to apologize. But Jaxon was determined he wasn't going to let it happen this year. Not on his watch. Not when his mom still had so much other stuff to deal with.

With a quick glance through the patio doors Jaxon peered through his grandmother's house and felt his heart speed up. It couldn't be. They weren't here. Why were they here? He couldn't help the huge smile that spread across his lips as soon as he saw four men make their way outside. "No way!" Running over to John Cena, Jaxon threw himself at the larger man. "Oh my God! What are you doing here?"

"What up, Man? I told you I was gonna come through. You know I love a party." John smiled, shaking Jaxon's hand, before the entire fourth grade crowded him for an autograph.

But Jaxon didn't mind that everyone was stealing his guest, because John had brought Jeff Hardy and Edge, too. Not only were his friends in awe, but a few of them ran up to him and told him that this was the best party they had ever been to and they would make sure that all of the kids in the Upper School, who weren't invited, knew just how cool Jaxon was. It was hard to stick his chest out as far as he was, but Jaxon did so like a trooper.

And just like that, the wind in his sails was deflated, because now stepping out into the back yard was Randy Orton.

He had never been more nervous in his life. Randy wasn't so much worried about how the other kids would receive him. They could hate him for all he cared. He played a heel for a living, it wouldn't be different than any other fan telling him that he sucked. That, at least, would have been easy. There was only one little boy there that he cared what he thought. And the anticipation at his reation made Randy clinch his jaws. "Hey." Stuffing his hands in the pockets of his denim shorts, Randy looked down at the grass. "Nice crowd."

Amanda's heart almost stopped beating. She couldn't do anything but close her eyes, in hopes that when she reopened them Randy would be gone. His friends could stay, but he needed to leave. She silently rose from the table and made her way over to where Jaxon and Randy were, but was stopped by the sea of kids trying to get autographs.

"What the hell are you doing here?" Jaxon's hands were balled into fists and his normally manila colored cheeks were flushed red. He was pissed. Randy was lucky that he brought all of his friends, because if he hadn't, Jaxon would have kicked his ass. But he didn't' want to embarrass the man. But then again, a butt kicking would serve him right. It still might happen if Randy did or said the wrong thing. "This party is invitation only, and no losers got one. Go home, loser!"

"Look, Kid… I promised you that Cena would be at your party. I just came by to make sure he showed up… and to give you this." Handing Jaxon a gift bag with the Four Horseman action figures inside, Randy turned to nod at John and then headed for the door.

Being a kid Jaxon looked in the bag first. He couldn't believe it. Inside were the original Horseman toys. This would be his prized possession. But it still wasn't enough to make up for what Randy did. "This doesn't change anything. You gave my mom a baby and then you made her cry. Stupid toys don't fix that."

"I…what?" Randy turned around quickly to look at Jaxon's face. Jaxon had a way of bending the truth to his advantage, but he didn't blatantly lie. Did he just say what he thought he did? "What did I do?"

"You heard me. And don't try to lie about it, either. You gave her a baby and then you left. So that makes you a terd in my book." Jaxon looked across the yard at his mother's face and noticed the tears in her eyes. He promised her he wouldn't say anything to anyone, but he was just so angry at the moment. "I'm sorry, mom." Jaxon mouthed from across the yard.

If she could just get by the kids, Amanda would have a chance to calm Jaxon down and talk to Randy. Not that she was ready to talk to Randy, but since the cat was out of the bag, she might as well. But she was stopped when a few of the boys asked her to if they could go in the moon bounce. An adult had to be watching them, and since all of the other adults seemed to be just as fascinated by professional wrestlers as some of the kids were, she had to be a hostess first and a jilted girlfriend later.

A distinct chuckle from behind him made Randy turn around. Sitting in a chair, with a plate of food and beer, was Travis. "You need to take a test…make sure it's yours first. Cause I'll tell ya like this, she tried that shit with me, too. Acting all innocent and shit. I had to make sure that was my seed before I did shit. Y'ada mean?"

"Shut up!" Jaxon yelled, causing an instant hush over the crowd. Even his mother heard him from the other side of the yard. "Don't talk about my mom like that! She does everything and you don't do anything! At least Randy liked to hang out with me. He's a way better dad than you are."

Randy turned toward Travis and narrowed his eyes. "If you ever say some shit like that again, I will fuck you up, in front of your son." Randy raised a hand to stop John, Jeff and Adam from approaching. This wasn't why he was here. But if Travis wasn't careful, he would let his boys take care of his light work.

Walking quickly back into the house to catch up to Jaxon, Randy stood behind him. Without seeing his face, he knew his little buddy was crying. He was just emotional like that. He pretended he was hard, but on the inside, Jaxon was about as soft as they came. Randy admired that, because he was never afraid to say how he felt. "Kid, you shouldn't talk to your father like that."

"What do you care? You just left." Running his hand across his cheek to catch the tears, Jaxon turned around to face Randy. "You made us love you and you left. Why didn't you stick around? I finally felt like I had a mom and a dad all the time. Why'd you go?"

Looking up at the ceiling, Randy tried to control his temper. "Why'd I leave? I did that shit for you! That's what you wanted!" He had never planned on telling Jaxon why he left him, but he couldn't help it in that moment. Seeing him hurt, and hearing that Jaxon loved him like a father, the same way that he loved that boy like his son was enough to break his heart.

"Where are we going?" Jaxon asked as he continued to push buttons on Randy's car stereo. That crap music that Randy listened to wasn't flying with him.

Clasping his hand down on Jax's to get him to stop touching his settings Randy wheeled the car into a parking lot. "Shopping." Turning off the key to the ignition Randy took off his seatbelt and faced Jaxon. "Look, Jax. I wanna ask you something." He watched as the young man nodded before taking a deep breath. "I know we've had our competition for your mom and all. And you're a great opponent. And even though you tap dance on my last good nerve, and you're a cock-blocking little son-of-a-…you're my homie. And, I love your mom…"

"Get to the point, already." Jaxon interrupted. Randy sounded like he was about to have a sappy moment and he really didn't want to be a part of that.

Chuckling Randy nodded in agreement. "Well. Since you're the man of the house, I figured I'd ask your permission." He swallowed hard and braced himself for a screaming match. "I want to marry your mom."

Jaxon sat quiet for the first time that afternoon. There was so much to think about. If he said yes, then Randy would be his dad. He'd have a real live-in father, one that didn't have other kids that he paid more attention to. But then they'd have to move away from his friends and live in stupid Florida. But his mom would be happy. But if she got married would she forget about him? Would it just be her and Randy and then would she send him to New York to live with his father? That would mean that he had to live with his brother and sister, and worse, Keisha. Jaxon didn't think he could handle that.

But, if he said no, it would make Randy angry and break his mom's heart. He'd miss out on the ball games, and having someone besides his mom at his Tae-Kwon-Do tournaments. His mother would get mad and send him to New York anyway and marry Randy without letting him be a part of it.

Jaxon didn't say anything. Instead, he opened the car door and stepped out onto the sidewalk. By the time Randy met him in front of the door of Zales he nodded his head. "I get to pick out the ring. And it's going to be the biggest and most expensive ring there is. Like 5 or 6 hundred dollars...chump."

Randy resisted the urge to hug Jaxon. Instead, he placed his hand on his shoulder and stepped inside the store.

Amanda was ironing for Jaxon, getting him ready for school the next day. And Jaxon was in his room, on the phone. It was getting close to nine o'clock, Jaxon's bed time. If Randy could tuck him in by the time she was finished with everything she had to do, Jax would be asleep and Randy could talk to her. He had it all planned out. He was going to ask her when she least expected it, and then they were going to make love all night long. It was going to be perfect.

Walking down the hall to Jaxon's room, Randy stopped short of the cracked door. He could hear sniffling inside. And when he peeked his head in, he saw Jaxon's tear soaked face.

"I hate him, Dad. Why does he want to change everything? He's so stupid. I wish he would just go away." There was a silence and then Jaxon spoke again. "I don't want him to marry mom. Why can't you do it? Why can't you just come down here and tell her that you love her and marry her? I know you still love her. She told me so. She said that's why y'all fight so much, because you still love her and don't like she doesn't need you. She's really not gonna need you with him here. And I did everything to make him go away, but he's too stupid to leave. I hate him."

What was Randy thinking? He couldn't propose to Amanda, now knowing how Jaxon really felt about him. This was more than a game for Amanda's attention. Jaxon really hated him.

She had told him on numerous occasions that they were a package deal. He couldn't have one without the other. Well he didn't have Jaxon, so that meant, he could never have Amanda. She was going to see how upset by it all that Jaxon was and say no. Randy was going to break up an already happy family unit. He was causing a rift between a son and his mother. He couldn't do that. He wouldn't do that.

Randy did the only thing he could do. He stuffed the ring back into his pocket and decided that this would be the last night he would spend with Amanda. He had to make love to her one last time, but after tomorrow, he was leaving. He was ending it to save Jaxon any more hurt, which in turn would hurt Amanda.

He loved them that much.

"Why are you here, Randy? Every time we get closer to being over you, you've gotta show back up. You wanted to leave…fucking leave. And don't come back." Amanda stood behind Randy with her arms folded. How dare he raise his voice at her son? Hadn't he done enough damage? No one asked him to show up here and cause more trouble. She grew even angrier when Randy shook his head and walked toward the door. "After all, bouncing is what you're good at."

"I'm so tired of being the bad guy. You wanna know why I bounced? I was going to ask you to marry me. Jax and I picked out the ring and everything. But then I heard him tell Travis that he didn't want me to marry you. That he hated me…and he meant it. You expected me to stick around after that shit? I didn't leave cause I couldn't handle it, I left because I didn't want to hurt him anymore." Looking behind Amanda at Adam, who was encouraging him to get it all out in the open, Randy heard his voice crack. He couldn't contain his emotions any longer; the hell with sounding weak. "I love the both of you too much, to hurt you. And you said it yourself. I can't have one without the other. I wanted both of you. But you both didn't want me."

"What?" Turning her head toward her son, she took in his shocked expression. "You did this for him? He's a ten year old boy. Kids hate things one minute and love them the next. Jaxon loves you, even if he doesn't like you. But you broke his heart for his own good? That's bullshit."

"I didn't mean it, Mom. I was just…I just didn't want things to change. I thought that Dad would come down here and make us a family. I didn't want Randy to leave though." Jaxon's sobs were uncontrollable. It was his fault. Randy loved him and his mother no matter what he did to him, but he made him leave. "I'm sorry, Mom."

Making his way over to Jaxon, Randy knelt before him. "It's okay, Kid. You were trying to do what you thought was best for your mom. So was I." Holding the boy tight to his body, Randy closed his eyes and cried silently with Jaxon. This was exactly why he never explained his actions. This was why he lied and said he didn't want a family. Having them hate him was better than having Jaxon blame himself.

"Instead of you trying to guess what's best for me, why not just ask me?" Amanda licked at the fresh tears that were rolling over her lips. "All this time I thought I fucked up somehow. I thought I did something wrong. I thought that you were just an asshole…apparently, I was right about that one. But for Jax? You broke my heart for Jax. Did it ever occur to you that we'd both get hurt by this?"

"I was trying to do the grown up thing. I figured you'd get over it. You'd hate me for awhile, but you'd get over it. I didn't want to hurt the kid."

"Well you did. You broke both of our hearts, instead of talking about it." Reaching a hand out to Jaxon, Amanda accepted her son's embrace, wiping his tears away. "Go with Adam and get yourself together. We'll talk about this later." Amanda walked over to the couch and took a seat. This was too much to take in. All she could do was stare at Randy in disbelief, and found herself calming down at the way he avoided looking back at her. That was such a Jaxon move. Apparently Randy had spent way too much time with her son.

"You know what's funny? I never wanted this. This whole instant family thing." Looking out the back door, Randy notice John and Jeff in a game of touch football. Leave it to his friends to divert attention from him when he was fucking up the most. "Now, it's all I want. I fucked it up, didn't I?"

"Yes, you did."

Randy made his way over to the couch and took a seat next to Amanda. Now was the time to come clean about everything. He would rather it been more private, but if this was what he had to do to get his life back in order, he'd do it now. "I didn't lie. I meant it the last night we were together. Everything I said that night was true. I love you. I love Jaxon. I want a future with you. I never meant to hurt you."

"I'm pregnant." She blurted out. As if they needed one more thing to throw into this big ass mess. But why not? Shouldn't they know everything they were dealing with? "I have one child with a father that only loves himself. And I'm going to have another one by a father that loves everyone more than me. I'm tired, Randy. I'm tired of taking care of everything, and doing it all on my own. I just want someone to take care of me for awhile."

"Let me take care of you." Pulling Amanda to him, Randy wrapped his arms around her. "I'm so sorry, I hurt you. Please, let me fix this." Tilting her head to his, Randy held Amanda's chin between his thumb and forefinger. He needed to look into her eyes and have her look into his. "I got all the time in the world. I'll do whatever it takes to get my family back."

She wanted to trust him. She missed him so much. But she was scared. He had hurt her and she never wanted to feel that kind of pain again. "I don't know, Randy. So much has happened..." But she felt is lips on hers again. And in that instant, she knew that with him was not only where she wanted to be, but where she belonged. "That ring better be huge." Laughing against his lips, Amanda wrapped her arms around Randy's neck and leaned her forehead against his. "I' missed you."

"We're going to have a baby?" Randy smiled from ear to ear, resting one hand on her stomach. "Please let it be a girl, because one Jaxon is about all I can take."

Jaxon walked into the living room and smiled at the sight. Randy and his mom were hugging, even if they were both crying, it was a good kind of cry. Maybe Randy wasn't the perfect guy, but his mother didn't seem to mind. When Randy's eyes met his, Jaxon couldn't resist. He ran over to Randy and hugged him, too. "If you ever leave us again, I will kick your ass."

"I love you, too, Kid." Randy kissed Jaxon on the top of his head as he held Amanda closer. "You guys are my family. I promise I'm not going anywhere, ever again."

Maybe Jaxon's mom liked that corny, loud and wrong type of guy. And truthfully, so did he. Randy was good for her, and to him. And Jaxon knew, without a shadow of a doubt, that he would be good for the new baby. He had raised his mother the best he could. He had taught her right from wrong. In that moment, Jaxon graciously conceded the job taking of care of Amanda to Randy. She now had two men to make sure that she was happy.

But of course, Jaxon would still be right there to whip Randy into shape whenever he got out of hand.

Fin.