Chapter One

The cell phone was ringing as he came into the dressing room. Damn! He hurt all over! Kurt Angle was one tough son of a bitch!

He didn't quite recognize the phone number that came up, guess that last chair shot Kurt gave him was a little too much!

"Hello!" he said.

"Is this Mark Callaway?" the voice asked.

"It is." Mark said. The voice sounded very familiar, but Mark couldn't quite decide who it was.

"Mark, this is Michael. Jodi's husband. I have some bad news, I'm really sorry," he said quietly.

Mark's heart stopped! "Are my boys all right?" he asked. "Where are they?" He didn't give Michael a chance to answer. "Where are they you son of a bitch!? Are they all right?" Mark was standing up hollering now. Glenn had come in the dressing room. He had lost his match against Chris Jericho because he wasn't paying attention. He was pissed! He heard Mark yell, and his anger was quickly forgotten.

"Mark, they are fine, my parents are with them at the house. Mark, Jodi passed away about 2 hours ago. I'm so sorry." Michael quietly said.

"What did you say? She passed away?" How did she pass away, Michael?" Mark was pacing the room. "You better talk to me, you little bastard!" he yelled.

"Mark, please! This isn't easy for me, I know it can't be easy for you either." Michael said softly, trying to choke the tears back.

"She had cancer, she died in the hospital." Michael said, almost whispering.

"Cancer? Jesus! I just saw her two weeks ago!" Mark said, thinking for a minute. "Are you filling me full of shit, boy!?" Mark was running his fingers through his hair, pacing back and forth.

Glenn had tuned in to what was happening.

"No shit Mark, I promise. She's known for quite some time. She also knew things weren't going well for you and Sara, she didn't want to burden you with this too. Said you didn't need anything else to cope with." Michael said quietly.

After a few minutes, Mark said, "Did the boys know? How are they? Goddammit! I can't believe she didn't tell me nothing! She looked fine!" Mark had exploded again.

But his mind went back to when he had seen her. She didn't look fine. She was pale, scared, not her usual self. Mark had been so self-absorbed he didn't even notice! What an asshole! That was his whole problem! He didn't notice. Sara told him that all the time. He had been so upset about Sara leaving him that he didn't look beyond that! He didn't look beyond him! SHIT!

"Michael, how are my boys? Are they ok?" Mark had finally calmed down enough to ask the question. "Did they know that she was really sick?"

"Not until the last couple of days. She wanted it that way. They got to tell her goodbye. Kevin is taking it hard, but he will be ok. Gunnar just doesn't quite know why his Mother is gone. My Mom is doing the best she can. I haven't been much help." Michael's voice trailed off.

"Were you with her, you know, when she died?" Mark asked.

"Yes, right there." Michael choked up.

Mark felt like crawling in a hole. "Michael, I know things have been hard for you, and I am real sorry! Did she say anything about how she wants things done? Arrangements and that kind of thing? Oh shit! I will need to get the boys! Ok! I need to get some things going! Can I call you when I have arrangements made? I will be there as soon as I can. I'm bringing Glenn with me." Mark started gearing up again.

"Mark, what about Sara? Is she gone?" Michael asked.

"Not sure, man, not sure." Mark said sadly.

"Mark, be sure. That was a stipulation before Jodi died. No Sara." Michael said quietly.

"Ok, man. I understand." Mark said dejectedly. Even in death she was gonna make this hard for him. "I will talk to you later, after I have everything in place." Mark said.

They hung up. Mark looked up at Glenn, he realized he had been there for awhile.

"You heard?" Mark asked.

"Yes, Mark, I am so sorry. How are the boys?" Glenn asked.

"As well as can be expected. At least they got to say goodbye." Mark had a faraway look in his eyes. If only he had the chance too! Glenn let him sit for a few more minutes in the quiet, then reached out to touch him on the arm.

"You gonna call Rox?" he asked.

They both knew nothing seemed real until they had told it to Rox!

Chapter Two

Rox was working in the Corporate Offices of the WWF for the next few days. She had been with Mark and Glenn for quite some time as Personal Assistant to both of them. She was a contract employee for the WWF. And since she had worked out so well, Vince wanted to put several more Assistants in place for some of the bigger Superstars. Rox was at the Corporate office to help select and train some of them.

The first day of training had been hectic and she already had a feel for how these few were going to work out. Badly, was about the only way she knew how to sum it up.

It was after 8pm when she was able to sit with Vince to voice her concerns about the girls that had been selected. They had been chosen for Hunter and the Rock. Vince asked her what she thought and she very bluntly told him.

"Those 2 guys will eat those girls for breakfast, and fart them for lunch! No two ways about it! The first time either one of those guys don't get their way and throw the first tantrum, it will be all over!" she told him very matter-of-factly!

That is what Vince loved the most about Rox. No bullshit! You knew right where you stood with her, which is why she did so well with Mark and Glenn. She didn't take any shit from either one of them! They learned very quickly not to try her!

Vince had to laugh at how she put the situation into words. Not many people, women especially, would have worded it quite like she did! Hell, she wasn't afraid of him, the owner of the WWF, or anybody else, for that matter! Come to think of it, he had never seen anyone she was afraid of!

He was still chuckling when his private line rang. He just assumed it would be Linda when he picked it up.

"Yeah! Oh, Mark! I thought you were Linda! No, that is no problem! What is wrong? Mark, I am so sorry to hear that! Had she been sick long?" Vince was asking these questions, and Rox thought something had happened to Mark's Mom.

"Oh, she is here with me, telling me what a bad choice I made for a couple of Personal Assistants, do you need her?" Vince asked.

"Mark, let me know if there is anything I can do for you, anything at all." Vince said.

"Vince, you can put her on a plane to Nashville as soon as possible! I need her!" Mark said.

"Consider it done! I'll take care of it myself." Vince said, then handed the phone to Rox.

"Mark, what is wrong with your Mom? Is she gonna be all right? What do you need for me to do?" she asked Mark.

"I need for you to get on a plane to Nashville, just as soon as you can!" Mark said.

"Nashville? Mark, your Mom is in Houston! Why do you want me to go to Nashville? I'm confused!" she said.

"Darlin, it isn't my Mom. Jodi passed away a little while ago." Mark said quietly.

Rox just sat there, stunned!

"Mark, what did you say? Jodi passed away? How?" she was still shocked!

"She had cancer, darlin. I never knew it!"

Poor Mark! He sounded so sad!

"Mark, you saw her two weeks ago, how did she look then?" Rox asked.

"Well, thinkin back on it now, she looked pale, tired, scared. Different from her usual self. I didn't see it at the time. I don't know why I didn't, I just didn't." Mark sounded pissed off. "I guess I have gone around here with my head up my ass, you think?" he asked.

"I know! But we can discuss that issue at a later time, ok? Is Glenn with you?" she asked.

"Yes he is, and are you blasphemin me, little girl?" Mark asked her angrily!

"Me? What ever made you think that? Now, let me speak to Glenn. I'll call you when I get some arrangements made, ok? Please leave your cell phone on, I know how you love to turn it off when you think I'm not paying attention! Mark, how are the boys doing? Do you know?" she asked him quietly after she had given him some shit!

"They are doin as well as they can, I guess. At least they got to say goodbye." He said.

"I'm sorry, Mark. I didn't mean to give you any shit! I will see you as soon as I can, ok? Just hold on for me, and let me talk to Glenn." she said.

Mark handed the phone to Glenn.

"Hello gorgeous!" he said. "How are you?"

"I'm ok, stunned, but ok! Sounds like you might have your hands full!' she said softly.

"Yeah, but I am the Big Red Machine! I walk through Hellfire and Brimstone! I can handle anything!" Glenn said trying to make light of the situation.

"Yeah! I know you are! Look, Glenn, take care of him until I can get there, ok? Don't let him fall apart yet!" she told him quietly.

Just as she feared, Glenn told her softly, "Too late, gorgeous! He's already there!"

Chapter Three

I got off the plane 4 hours later in Nashville, tired, grouchy, sleepy and most of all, hungry! There stood Mark looking tired, grouchy, sleepy and ever so sexy! Glenn stood there with him, he just looked hungry! That is what made him so appealing.

Mark grabbed me in a bear like hug but he didn't quite seem to want to let me go. He just stood there with me in his arms, rubbing my back and holding me close to his body. I thought this was extremely odd for the Bad Ass, Mark.

They grabbed her bags and walked out to the rented truck. As we all climbed in, Glenn immediately asked "Are we eating before we go to bed? I'm starving!" just like a child would whine!

"Glenn, you are always hungry!" I told him. We found an all night coffee shop and grabbed a quick bite to eat before we went on to the hotel for some much needed sleep. Mark was going to meet Michael in the morning about 10am to go over arrangements. It was almost 2am now, and the three of us looked pretty rough. We found our rooms and said our goodnights. Mark and I had adjoining rooms, I didn't realize that he had unlocked my side when he helped me bring my bags in. I had a king size bed with lots of pillows on it. I loved to pile all the pillows around me while I slept, like someone was sleeping with me.

We said goodnight to each other and he went to his room. I turned the hot water on in the tub for a good long soak. I slept in the tub for about 20 minutes, then got out and walked into the bedroom. The bed was cold when I got in, so I snuggled up very closely with the pillows. I was just about asleep when I heard the door to Mark's room open.

Mark quietly slipped into the bed molding his large body to hers. Snuggling her and the pillows.

"Mark, what are you doing?" I asked him sleepily.

"I feel like I am so lost and alone. I won't hurt you, darlin, I just wanna hold on to you. Can I do that?" he asked her sleepily.

"Damn darlin! This bed is cold!" he muttered. He snuggled against my back and slipped his leg intimately between mine. His warmth soon spread through the bed, and I was soon sound asleep in the arms of the Phenom!

Chapter Four

I felt him stretch and wiggle a short time later. Actually, it was a few hours later. He had to get up and meet Michael to make arrangements. He needed to see his boys too.

I was such a shameless hussy! In my sleep, I had rolled facing him and was now locked in his bear like embrace. I peeked over his shoulder to see the clock. 8am! We both needed to get going. Glenn and I were going to take Kevin and Gunnar out for a bit today to get them away from everything. Then we would all meet up with Mark later in the day.

"Mark, you need to get rollin. Hell! I need to get rollin! We both have things we need to do today." I told him. The way he had me hugged to his body, I couldn't see his face, just able to feel his breathin. He was absently stroking his hands down my back, which was totally delicious! But, I knew his mind wasn't on the task, he was a million miles away.

"Where did I go wrong, little girl? First, Jodie, then Sara. What is wrong with me?" he asked me quietly.

"Mark, honey, not everyone loves like you do. When you give your heart to someone, you give 100% of yourself." I let this sink in for a minute. "Jodi hurt you, she had an affair. She said she loved someone else. That was her decision. And, I think you were too intense for Sara. Things just happened to fast for her. She couldn't handle you. I don't think you went wrong, I just think you need something else. Someone else. That's just how I feel about it, what the hell do I know? I'm just someone on the outside lookin in."

I paused for a few minutes, he hugged me tighter to him. Then I continued.

"Now, you'd better get your deadass outta bed, grab a shower and get your butt outta here! Those boys need you! Go on, get outta here and get a shower. I will get Glenn over here, order some breakfast and we will get everything rollin, ok?" I asked him.

"You think you are pretty smart, don't cha?" he smirked as he rolled out of my bed. "And you look pretty damn good in my old Undertaker tee shirt!" he said. Grinning as he strolled out of my room into his own.

Chapter Five

Glenn and I picked up the boys from Michael's Mom's house and took them out for awhile. We met Mark later on at the hotel. The boys were always glad to see Glenn, and he was just as glad to see them too! He loved them like nephews.

We walked around the mall and fed them some lunch. By mid-afternoon with everything they had been through in the last few days, they were exhausted. Glenn and I were too! Mark found us sound asleep later when he came back to the hotel. Kevin andGlenn on the couch, and Gunnar and I in the bed. Gunnar was spooned up to me in his sleep. Mark could tell that I had been rubbing his back and stroking his hair until he had finally gone to sleep.


Mark took his shoes of then eased himself on to the bed with Rox, pulling her body back into his. It just felt right, comfortable, like this was where he belonged. He would talk to her later about what to do. Nothing seemed real until he talked to Rox. She would know just what to do!

Chapter Six

The funeral went by in a blur. His mind was replaying little memories of the funeral several days afterwards on the plane home to Houston with the boys. Rox, when she brought the boys in and comforted them as they told their Mother one final goodbye. Rox comforting Michael. Rox talking with Glenn. Rox talking with Vince and JR.

All the while he was remembering how she looked in that little black dress. Her hair up this time exposing her graceful neck. Her pearl jewelry that made her skin look like pale cream. Her perfume as she hugged him to her in comfort, telling him she would help him with the boys.

She had put them on a plane to Houston, then got herself on a plane headed toward the Uniondale Arena for a house show. Vince wanted her back and Mark needed some time alone with his boys.

"Mark, don't try to establish a lot of rules and stuff now. Just love them. Spend time with them. Play with them. The need you so much now, ok? Don't be a Bad Ass!" she told him before he got on the plane.

"Gee, thanks Darlin, for that vote of confidence, I appreciate it!" he snarled. Then he watched her as she turned to his boys. She hugged them both to her and told them, "Don't hurt him! He might look like the American Bad Ass, but, he's really a weenie! Even I can whup him! So be easy with him! I'll call you tonight to be sure you guys are ok."

They both had a grip on her. "Guys! I'll see you in a few days, ok? It's not the end of the world, only a few days with your Dad! No big deal!" This brought a grin from both the boys and a smirk from the Deadman!

"You are sooooooo gonna pay for that, darlin!" he said as he guided the boys up to board the plane. He turned to see her standing there watching them. Yeah, she was gonna pay for that one!

Chapter Seven

Thank goodness it was summer and the boys were out of school. Traveling was easy! They had a blast traveling with Mark, Rox and Glenn. Everyone thought they were one big extended family. Glenn helped as much as possible with the boys. He was not as public as Mark, so he was able to swim with them, take them places that Mark couldn't do sometimes.

Mark didn't have a problem associating himself with Sara, but, with his boys he was totally different. The wrestlers and crew he was ok with, but anyone else, and his boys were off limits! He was very adamant about that!

Vince had Rox pulled in several different directions between Kane and Taker, then he added Triple H! He wanted to add the Rock to her responsibilities, but she very loudly said "NO!"

She was right about the girls Vince hired for the Rock and Hunter. They both lasted less than a few days each. Don't think she didn't rub that in Vince's face!

Towards the end of July, Mark had to decide what direction he was gonna take now. He needed to establish a base. But would he base himself in Houston or Florida? He needed to get the boys things from Jodi's house in Nashville. Michael had been in no hurry for Mark to do anything. He had told Mark he could have pictures, furniture, whatever he wanted of Jodi's. Mark just needed to decide.

His first choice was Houston, since his Mom and Dad were there. They were itching to help him with the boys. He probably needed to sit down with Rox, she could put everything in perspective. What he didn't know was the boys had already talked about it themselves. They wanted to live in Houston, close to their grandparents. But they wanted Rox to take care of them! Won't their Dad be surprised when he finds out what they want?

Chapter Eight

They flew into Houston at the end of July, Rox, Mark and the boys. Mark's parents picked them up at the airport and took them to Mark's ranch. The house was beautiful, bare, but beautiful. Lots of wood and stone. Sara had taken most everything and with Mark's busy schedule he just hadn't taken time to get things done.

With his boys in his life full time he realized he needed a woman there. Rox overheard him talking to his Mom about having someone to come in and run the house and take care of the boys. His Mom was concerned about bringing someone in the house, and having the boys to get use too, them getting use to her, etc. No easy solutions on this one.

Rox got a moving company lined up to be in Nashville to pick up the boy's things. She had arranged some time off to help Mark take care of that. She got the boys registered for school. Took them shopping for new school clothes. Had a wonderful three weeks with them.

A few nights before she was to return to the road, she and the boys were gonna settle down and watch "Shrek" and just relax. They had shopped for the boys, put things away in the house until they were all absolutely pooped!

Rox had almost made her decision, and was gonna discuss it with Mark when he came back home. She wanted to stay with the boys. She loved them, wanted to take care of them and Mark too. She could do a good bit of her work from here. Glenn wouldn't like it. Vince would hate it, but she knew she would win in the end.

And she did win. She just didn't realize at the time how big of a win it was!

Chapter Nine
>br> Mark was totally ecstatic about her moving in to his house! She asked if she could have her things moved from Memphis to Houston and Mark quickly agreed. Her furniture and things arrived, and soon his house was transformed into a home.

He traveled 4 days a week, then came home for 3 days. Sometimes on his 3 days at home, Rox would make a 3 day trip with Glenn. But lately, more often than not, she would stay with him and the boys.

He made fun of her because she cooked, cleaned and totally devoted herself to his boys. He came home many times to find them having dinner together in the big kitchen. The boys would have friends over spending the night. Typical family things. His boys seemed very happy.

They got a Jack Russell terrier they named Ruffles, and a black and white cat they named Toby Bear. Thank God they tolerated each other well. If only Mark would tolerate them!

Mark realized he had always had special feelings for Rox. But every time he came home and saw how happy his boys were, how much they loved her, and how much she loved them, did he realize just how special his feelings were for her. He couldn't wait to come home. He craved the stability and comfort she had given him and his boys. The other wrestlers could tell a tremendous difference in him.

Rox felt the same way about him, as well. She loved the time he spend at home with his boys. She truly felt part of the family. But, she felt different about Mark. Drawn to him. Attracted to him. As he did to her. But neither one had admitted it to the other. It was Kevin who finally decided they were going to have to be pushed!



Chapter Ten

Mark had flown in from the Smackdown taping on Tuesday night right before Thanksgiving. They had no shows scheduled until Monday night RAW, so he was looking forward to some quiet time. If you could call it that! His parents were coming to the ranch. Rox's parents were flying in from Memphis too. There was gonna be a houseful. Rox had been planning and cooking for days. He was loving it! Everybody would be there.

He and Kevin were in the barn putzing around when Kevin totally asked him a question that blew him away.

"Dad, when are you going to tell Rox that you love her?" Kevin asked him quietly.

"What makes you ask that, boy?" Mark asked.

"Dad! I may just be a kid, but, believe it or not, some of us kids are really pretty smart. You can tell that you love her. I see you watching her when you think we aren't lookin. I see how you look at her, like she is the most special thing. You looked at Sara that way too. Then you didn't." Kevin got quiet for a minute, like he was not quite sure if he really needed to go on.

"I know Sara didn't really love us, she just said she did. She wanted you to think she did. But, Gunnar and I knew she was just saying it. We knew how she really felt. She just wanted you, not us. Rox is different. She loves you, Dad, but she loves us too. She really loves us too! And besides that, you get all goofy when you are with her." Kevin said.

Mark just stood there looking at Kevin, dumbfounded! When had Kevin grown up so much? And how did he miss it!

"Yeah, Kev, you are right. I do love her very much. And when the time is right, I will tell her." Mark said quietly. Hopefully sooner than later he thought.

"Dad, just don't wait too long before you tell her." Kevin told him, sounding very much grown up.

Mark was still amazed! A "son to father" talk! Then part of the conversation finally sunk in!

"Goofy, huh? You think I act goofy?" he said rolling his eyes! "I'll show you goofy!" Mark started tickling Kevin like he did Gunnar. Kevin was giggling!

Amazing! The American Bad Ass acting "goofy!"

Over a woman!

Part 2

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