I own absolutely nothing save for Noel and Cadence, and the plot as little as it is. Be warned: Non-con, marital abuse, tons of violence and swearing, adult humor and plenty of adult situations. The usual. F Bombs included ^^

CHAPTER 1

It was midnight and the full moon was the only light on the road. Tall oak trees lined either side of the long stretch of pavement, breaking for a small lane that most people would have missed if they didn't know it was there.

A woman flew from this hidden drive into the road; forcing the car to stop. She stared into the windshield, momentarily blinded by the headlights even though they were set on dim. Her large almond hazel eyes were wide with panic. Light brown hair was falling out of what had once been an elegant updo. The deep blue cocktail dress she wore was badly torn, her bare left shoulder bruised.

In her arms she was carrying a screaming child, a little girl no more than six.

The woman started to speak only for something to attract her attention, her head snapping towards the drive; a diamond earring on her lobe catching the light for a moment. She began shaking her head as a black car appeared.

Two men in black suits emerged from the back seat, both ignoring the car parked in the middle of the road.

The woman looked back into the windshield once before being dragged off, crying as the child screamed. Gates closed behind them as the car disappeared back down the lane, leaving the night quiet once more and John Cena wondering if he had fallen asleep at the wheel.

"What the hell?" John blinked, rubbing his eyes with his knuckles; just in case he HAD fallen asleep. After pinching himself to reassure himself that he was quite awake, he opened the car door; sliding from his seat.

Slowly, he walked around the hood of the car; glancing towards the dark gap between the trees; taking in the heavy iron gate that sealed the lane from the rest of the world. He had seen it, he hadn't been dreaming.

A woman with a child had come from that small road, and they had been taken back by… guards?

Groaning, he whipped out his cell phone and dialed 911. That woman and kid were in trouble, obviously and he felt like he had to do something. "Hello, my name is John Cena…"

The dispatched listened to everything he said before finally saying, "Help is on the way, sir. Please wait there for the officers."

When 'help' arrived, the policemen approached John's car, one of them knocking on the window.

Sighing, John rolled it down. He had gotten back inside to fend off the night chill, though considering how fast they had gotten there, he needn't have really bothered.

"Sir, could you get out of the car, please."

Nodding, John did; arching an eyebrow when he seen two more police cars pulling up alongside the road. Hesitantly, he gave his statement, explaining in detail everything he had seen; gesturing back to the iron gate.

"Sir, we're going to have to ask you to leave. This is McMahon property and they don't take kindly to trespassers."

"Wait, what?" John shook his head. "I don't think you heard me, sir-" He trailed off when he realized he was being surrounded by the cops.

"Either leave sir, or we'll have to arrest you. What'll it be?"

His blue eyes took in how every cop there had a hand on a gun or a taser.

"Alright, okay." He held his hands up, showing them he didn't want any trouble and slowly got back in his car.

It was unnerving how they all watched as he pulled away, glancing in the rearview mirror; half expecting them to follow him or something. This was straight out of the Twilight Zone. It was obvious the 'authorities' weren't going to do anything about this.

John knew what he had seen, he hadn't been drinking; he didn't do drugs and he wasn't sleepy.

That poor woman, that precious kid… Gritting his teeth, he clenched his cell in his hand before punching in a number he had memorized. "Hey Irvine, got anything lined up tomorrow?"

"No."

"I think I found something that's right up your alley. You in?"

"I'm always in, Cena."

***

Noel McMahon sat in the parlor with her mother-in-law, listening as Linda chatted about idle things; aware the older woman was trying to comfort her but couldn't bring herself to meet those pitying blue eyes. She could hear her daughter –Cadence- playing in her toy room, the terror of the previous night all but forgotten.

"Noel, dear, are you listening?"

"Hmm? I'm sorry, Linda, I was off in LaLa-Land, what was that?" She asked tiredly, reminding herself to straighten her back, mimicking Linda's flawless posture.

"I said-" Linda hesitated when her son, Noel's husband, Shane, walked into the room.

Smiling, Shane bent down to brush his lips against Noel's rouge covered cheek; carrying a tumbler of brandy in his hand. The night before had been ugly, but all was now forgotten and forgiven. He perched himself on the edge of the settee beside her, his arm moving around her slender waist; splaying his hand on her side. "Dinner is almost ready." He announced, nodding to his mother.

"Alright." Noel forced a smile onto her painted lips, returning his kiss when he inclined his head towards her. "Cadence, time to go wash for supper." She called, feeling him let her go and stood up; heading towards the playroom.

"Shane," Linda stood up as Noel disappeared from sight, placing a hand on her son's shoulder. "Forgive me for interfering but you simply cannot keep hitting her. Your father would not allow it if he were still alive and you know this."

Dear Lord she wished her beloved husband was still alive, he would be able to reign in their son's irrational anger so much better than she.

Shane's brown eyes narrowed ever so slightly before giving his mother a charming smile. "Don't worry, Mother."

Linda shook her head helplessly, unable to do anything but watch as Shane followed Noel out of the parlor. Sighing quietly, she joined them in the dining room; watching as Noel helped Cadence into a chair and seated herself in her customary spot at the head of the table, opposite her son.

Shane waited until the women were seated before dropping down as well, winking when the maid –Maria- began bringing out the dishes.

Noel forced herself to eat, smiling and encouraging Cadence; aware Shane was watching her intently. Noel glanced at Linda, seeing the worried frown on the older woman's face and felt her heart go out to her mother-in-law. Linda was a godsend.

Cadence went pale when her tiny hands fumbled with the adult glass she was supposed to drink out of fell, milk staining the table linen. She held her breath, looking down at her plate.

"Cadence and I will take supper in my rooms." Linda announced before anything could be said, quickly ushering her grandchild out of the room.

"That damn kid…" Shane cursed angrily, throwing his napkin on the table before standing up; the chair flying backwards. "What are you just sitting there for?" He growled at his wife who mutely shook her head; standing as well. Snorting, he snatched her napkin from her when she began mopping up the milk. "Worthless! I'm surrounded by worthless women!"

"Cadence is a child, Shane." Noel said emotionlessly; lowering her hazel eyes when he rounded on her again. "It was an accident."

Maria came bustling out of the kitchen carrying a towel and took over cleaning up the mess before anything else could get ruined, keeping her head down so as not to attract the wrath of her employer. When she finished, she carried trays to Linda; shaking her head when Linda arched a questioning eyebrow.

Linda kept the door shut after Maria had left, turning on some music and distracted Cadence the best she could.

"I know what she is, you stupid bitch." Shane snarled, slapping Noel and watched as her head snapped to the side; admiring the red handprint that now lividly stood out on her cheek. "You find it amusing, don't you? Pointing things out o me that I already know? How about I take you upstairs and teach you another lesson, hmm?"

Noel was already backing away, a hand on her throbbing cheek.

"Would you like a repeat of last night, my DARLING wife?"

Linda had placed a headset over Cadence's ears shortly after Maria had left, her own ears very open to the sounds of Noel's screaming. Trembling, she stood up and walked over to open the door a crack. Her heart broke inside her chest when she seen her only son dragging his wife up the stairs by her long hair, Noel screaming and trying to break loose.

Hearing Cadence behind her, she quickly shut the door; plastering a smile on her face. "Eat." She pointed to the plate, watching as Cadence did, humming along to her song.

Shane bodily tossed Noel into their bedroom, slamming the door shut behind him as he watched her scramble to her feet; ignoring the tears streaking her face. "Let me show you what happens when you disrespect me." He snarled, backhanding her again; impassively watching as she stumbled backwards; the back of her knees hitting the bed before dropping onto the mattress. "Bend over."

Noel shook her head, standing up only to be knocked right back down; gasping for air. She heard the familiar sound of his leather belt coming through his dress slacks belt loops, already cringing in pain.

"BEND OVER!"

She let out a strangled plea for mercy as her husband gripped her hair and jerked her up and then forced her to bend over the bed; burying her face in the mattress; her body already tensing against the pain it knew was coming.

Twenty minutes later she was laying face down on the bedroom floor; watching as the last vestiges of light played on the cream colored carpet before sinking behind the treetops. She didn't dare move, afraid of splitting open the welts that crisscrossed her back and bottom; faint trails on her face from the tears she had cried.

She felt hollow.