What They Don't Know Won't Hurt Them...

Alex grabbed her purse out of the car as John helped Amy out of her car seat. "Why the hell did my mother insist on us getting dressed up for dinner? This is so stupid. Not like today is anything special."

"Not true," John said with a laugh, letting Amy run towards the front door as he placed a hand on Alex's lower back lightly.

Alex raised an eyebrow at him, growing tense as she opened the door, "What?"

"SURPRISE!!!"

Amy laughed hysterically, running into the room after her cousins leaving Alex, with a laughing John, in the doorway. Alex's birthday was never a big deal, per Alex's request, so she hadn't expected it. She hated surprises and that day didn't differ. The house was filled with superstars, wives, children, and suits. She covered her face in her hands but John instantly pulled them down, giving her a huge hug with a kiss on her cheek. "Smile and be beautiful, Alex."

He made her blush but she didn't have time to respond before everyone was pulling her into their arms to give her a hug. One after another she felt herself being pulled in and out of hugs. Some she had time to notice who it was, like Matt and Jeff, but others were a blur. One was obvious to her though, just from the feel of his hands on hers.

"Happy Birthday, Alex."

Paul pulled her close, burying his face into her neck as he spoke to her quietly. "You look amazing. We're sneaking away, right?"

"Paul," she started but Dave was letting out a loud laugh and almost yanking her out of Paul's arms into his own.

"Happy Birthday," he said. Dave hadn't touched her in weeks. She'd avoided calls, stopped talking to him completely unless it was in the arena. He'd played it off but it was aching him to know she'd been ignoring him but now, in public, he hoped for a moment. But she only turned to him, gave him a fast squeeze, and pulled away, shooting him a look over her shoulder before she grabbed Amy and walked away after her mother.

~~~~

Alex scrunched her nose, smelling the shot of tequila Matt had poured her. She, Jeff, Randy, and Matt all sat at a table, shot glasses all around them and half a bottle of expensive tequila in their stomachs. "Yall are gonna have me shit faced soon." They were sitting in Alex's old room, where she had gone into hiding when realizing the house full of people was just too much for her. John walked in carrying a plate filled with food, waiting for Alex to get up off her chair before he sat down and let her get comfortable in his lap. The table had been one she used to sit at and study, eat with friends, in her large bedroom. She'd always liked that her room felt like a hotel suite and that her room was by far larger than Stephanie's. John handed her a fork and let her dig in first, watching her attack the pork.

"Damn Alex, we ate this morning."

"I know but if I don't eat I may just puke."

Randy raised an eyebrow, handing her and John a new shot, "Don't you go puking, woman. Be a man!"

"Tell yourself that, girly man."

"Wait wait wait, take that shot and THEN call me a girly man."

Alex raised an eyebrow, grabbing the small shot glass and took it, laughing at the look on his face. "Bitch, don't try me."

Matt and Jeff laughed, raising their glasses and took their shots, followed by John once he was done swallowing food. Randy grabbed at her cheek, squeezing and making her laugh before he took his shot, shaking his head in the aftermath. "Rebel."

"I really am," she said with a smile, playing with John's hair a bit. She could hear her door open, revealing Glen and Ric who laughed at the sight. They closed the door behind them, sitting down on Alex's old bed and took glasses from Matt. Ric stood up for a second to kiss her forehead then sat back down, taking his shot with Glen.

"You kids been in here drinking, huh?"

John laughed, raising his glass and took a shot, "Alex didn't want to be out there."

"Too many damn--"

With those words Vince walked in speaking loudly, "Alex, what are you... Alex your party is downstairs!"

"No, A party is downstairs. Mine is in my bedroom. Care to join in?"

Vince was busy putting his hands on his hips, looking towards Ric, "Ric, you are encouraging her?"

"Hey man! The party is in this room."

"Not anymore. Out, the lot of you. Alex never had boys in this room before, she isn't starting now."

Alex, in her drunkeness, laughed, clutching to John's shoulders, "Says who?! What you didn't know didn't hurt you, Daddy!" Vince shook his head as he left the room and Alex went to get up but John held her back as everyone followed Vince, Randy making sure to hold onto the bottle of tequila as he left the room.

When they were alone John kissed her cheek, the liquor having broken down the walls they set up sometimes between themselves. She smiled, cupping his face, "Too much, John Cena. That's what you are. Too much."

"Am not. That's all your territory. You look amazing today."

"I was under the impression you always thought I looked amazing."

He laughed, reaching back to take handfuls of her hair. He wanted to kiss her, bad, but he was stalling to see if she went for it instead. "Maybe."

"Maybe?"

"Maybe I don't always think you look amazing. Maybe sometimes I think you look like shit." He laughed as she gasped, punching and pinching at him. "But even when you look like shit, I think you are sexy as hell!"

"Sure! Now you say that you bastard! For the record, you look like shit every day of your life."

John smiled, rubbing his nose against hers in hopes she wouldn't be able to resist. "You like it. Admit it."

Finally, without another word, her lips made contact with his and he could tell she was smiling through the kiss. When she pulled away she laugh, taking a small bite at his lip before letting go, "John, sometimes...."

The door opened, Paul appearing in the doorway. The look on his face, pleasant at first became stern. He crossed his arms across his chest as Alex and John got up from the chair, John laughing as he walked past Paul and out the door, "Let me guess, Vince is wondering where Alex is again?"

"Yeah," he said letting John pass but grabbed Alex's arm before she could exit. "What the fuck?"

"Stop it." She managed to pull her arm away from him, walking down the hallway towards the stairs but Paul caught up with her, pulling her back for a moment.

"Alex I thought you and John were just friends."

"Paul, seriously quit it."

"Are you with John or not? I've been trying to see you and you keep putting me off."

She shook her head, rolling her eyes at him, "We shouldn't be doing it in the first place. You know we shouldn't. Are you still sleeping with Stephanie?" She wanted to laugh when he didn't answer. "See? What's with everyone expecting me to be this faithful little princess when yall can't be? It's so silly. I'm especially not going to mess around in a house filled with people. Please stop, Paul."

"Later?"

She wanted to make him shut up but the look in his eyes made her weak. She reached out, pushing hair away from his face. Somewhere downstairs both Dave and John noticed as the looked up at the landing for the stairs. Dave headed towards the stairs and John simply turned his attention to Amy who was latched to his side. "Later Paul. Just leave me alone right now."

She started walking down the stairs, Paul turning and heading back towards the bedrooms. She wasn't paying attention to the fact that Dave was walking up the stairs towards her, grabbing her arm to stop her. She groaned, trying to pull her arm away without causing a scene, "Not you too, Dave...."

"What's going on?"

John looked up from Amy's rambling to catch Alex's face, pleading for salvation.

"Nothing is going on, Dave. Paul and I were just talking."

"What's going on lately? You haven't called, picked up calls, anything. You've been latched to Cena nonstop and Paul's been acting like he owns you."

"No one owns Alex but Alex. I mean I get her on loan every now and then but...." John had arrived in front of them, grabbing her by the hand and leading her down the stairs and away from Dave's annoyed face.

"Thank you, John." She whispered, smoothing out Amy's hair.

He smiled, kissing her temple lightly as Randy and his girlfriend approached to talk. "Anything for my queen."

"Gross, you two are getting so gooey ooey...."

Alex laughed hysterically, "Gooey ooey?!"

Randy's girlfriend Samantha laughed as well, "Babe, you feeling okay?"

John shook his head at Randy's embarrassment, "I think he's the one feeling gooey ooey...."

"Shut up, the lot of you!"

Alex could see Paul intently watching her, making her crankier than she'd felt before. She smiled, giving John's hand a light squeeze and excused herself for a second, heading towards the kitchen. It was closed to the rest of the party as the caterers and servers used the area. As she approached the door she heard it, clear as day.

"She's sleeping with him. I know she is."

"Stephanie, stop it."

"Dad, I know she's sleeping with my husband!"

Irritated, Alex slammed the door open, entering the kitchen with fury. "Maybe if you weren't fucking half the roster behind his back, he wouldn't have slept with me. Not to mention the fact that you took him from me to begin with." Both Stephanie and Vince stood frozen as Alex continued her rant, long brewing inside her. "You're sleeping with Kurt, hell for all we know you're sleeping with others too!"

"Dave--" Stephanie began, cutting herself off.

Alex shook her head, the message clear regardless, "You knew Paul wanted to be with me, you started seeing him. You knew Daddy didn't want me to date a wrestler. You didn't love him, you just wanted to have what I wanted. You needed to win. You always needed to win."

"Alex...," Vince began but his daughter shook her head.

"It doesn't matter anymore. I don't want Paul." The fact that she was even saying it aloud told Alex all she needed to know. "I did.... But it is too late now. I'm done sleeping with Paul, Stephanie. Start treating him right. I'm leaving."

Vince shook his head grabbing for his daughter's arm, "Alex it's your birthday...."

"I need a break...."

She stormed out of the kitchen, past the room filled with people. John, noticing her mood, followed after her. Dave and Paul both noticed the scene and continued behind them.

"Alex?! Where are you heading?"

She turned back to see John walking behind her, Paul and Dave close behind. "Will you guys leave me alone?"

John was close to believing she was speaking to him until he realized she was looking past him to Dave and Paul. He looked at them with almost as much annoyance as Alex was expressing, "Will you two lay off?"

"Who the fuck are you to say anything?" asked Paul.

Dave shot Paul a look, "Who the fuck are YOU to say anything?"

Alex was opening the car door, calling out to John. "You coming, John?!"

Paul and Dave took steps forward but John had reached Alex's car and slipped into the passenger side, Alex speeding off as soon as he'd closed the door.

John remained silent as Alex drove, watching her think to herself thoroughly. Suddenly, as she parked in her driveway she looked at him, silent tears spilling down her cheeks. "Thanks for driving with me. Take the car back to the party, I'm staying here." She turned off the car, handing him the keys and left the car in a hurry. It'd begun to rain and John, without a care to grab the umbrella she'd left behind, followed after her.

"Stop. What the hell is going on?"

"Stop wasting time with me. John," she called back, crying openly.

He stopped and almost as if she sense his pause, she stopped as well. The rain poured down on them, cold beginning to take over. "I didn't realize I was wasting time."

"You are. I don't want you. I don't want anyone. I'm damaged goods. I'm a horrible mother, I would be a horrible girlfriend... wife.... You know I was with Mark?" She gave him a moment of silence, knowing he wouldn't say anything, and then continued. "He wasted a year on me and I couldn't even settle. If I couldn't settle for him, who is to say I will for you?! You don't deserve my shit, John. Just go."

"I--"

"Don't say it!!! You don't want to say it, John!"

His temper got the best of him, months of loving Alex leading up to this moment, "I'll say whatever the fuck I want to, Alex. I love you. I've always loved you. From the moment I met you at OVW. But you go for the guys that fuck you up." He knew he finally had Alex at a lost for words and he hadn't seen this sudden blow out coming. "They fuck with you and fuck with you. They rip apart the best parts of you until you are broken apart. I've been here all along. Amy means everything to me. I love her. And Alex I lo--"

"NO!"

"FINE!" he screamed, heading back to her car. "I quit! FUCKING HAPPY?!"

She wasn't and as she head him jingle the keys into the car door she finally broke down, running to him as quickly as she could in the rain. "Stop!"

She hadn't needed to call out, he'd heard her running as the wet grass gave under her heels. She leapt into his arms, he pulled her close and his lips made instant contact with hers. Through their kisses she was mumbling and he couldn't make out the words she was saying. Suddenly he caught her muttering, "Take me inside Cena."

"Say it. I need you to say it."

"I love you, John. Okay? I always did. But I don't want to hurt you."

"You'll only hurt me if you keep pushing me away. Give me the house keys." He'd carried her to the front door, opening it and closing it behind him. Her lips were one of two areas giving off heat, the other rubbing closely against him as her legs remained latched around his waist. They were cold and wet yet the heat they began to generate was suddenly overwhelming. She was grunting, fingers fumbling with the buttons on his shirt. The A/C was on and it caused their bodies to shake, making them press so closely to one another that it was as if they were attempting to take any body heat the other was able to give. She'd worn a dress, a dark maroon dress which not only cut low in the front, but in the back as well. His hands had touched her bare back already that day but with the wildness of the moment and the rain awakening their skin, it was a feeling he'd never truly experienced. He could feel the bumps form on her skin as his nails dug into her back and she grunted softly.

He had the intention to carry her to the bedroom but that quickly became unimportant. As he reached the middle of the staircase his impatience took over and he sat her down on a step, kneeling before her open legs. It was in this moment she was able to rip his shirt apart and her digits explored the cold skin of his chest. His hands had moved to her hips in the meantime, pulling up the skirt and he quickly ripped down the black lace bottoms she'd been wearing, over and past the silver stilettos. Her fingers were attempting to release what she'd been very interested in seeing for a long time.

It wasn't as if she'd never felt it in the moments she had sat on his lap, cuddled beside him, or simply embraced him. But those moments alone had built her up to anticipate what she would find and she was more than happy to find him erect and bigger than she had imagined. Her breathing picked up as the scent of his skin and his arousal called her.

John was feeling the effects of his sense of smell as well. As he'd thrown her lace panties aside he'd felt the wetness which differed from the rain that'd soaked her. Not thinking, he'd pressed the finger to his mouth for a second before reaching for the breast that seemed determined to escape from the dress. He could smell it on his lips, licking them before the taste mingled with the rain water rolling from his hair onto his face. As his thumb worked an erect nipple, he groaned at the sweetness of her taste and smell. Instead of reaching for her face as he'd begun to do, his hand dove into the warmth between her legs, causing her to cry out between kisses.

Alex felt like she was burning up, the water on her skin evaporating from how hot she felt. She allowed his lips to work her lips as she peaked down to see his hand buried into her sex. She moaned so loudly, he broke from his kissing to look down as well. She was dripping so much into his hand the thought of letting it go to waste seemed crazy. Despite what seemed to be a plea for him to penetrate her, as the sight of his erection had begun to cause her impatience, he dove down and slipped his tongue into her folds. She shook so hard he felt it even in the tip of her clit against his tongue. The action caused him to attack her sex, eating at her with so much force that the shivers continued. He looked and found her in such a deep trance he began to feel his member twitch. Her fingers of one hand were enamored with her nipples, the other reaching down for his check. The feel of her trembling hand on his face was the sweetest touched he'd ever felt, he thought.

There is plenty of time for this from now on, he told himself and without another thought had brought himself up and down upon her body, letting his tip press into her moist pussy. Her legs wrapped as much as they could at this point around his waist and she looked up almost pleading.

When he entered her it was a jolt to every nerve in her system. Long and wider than her body had been used to, she yelped. She bit down into his shoulder, groaning and grinding back down onto him as he began a steady pump into her.

"Holy shit.... Alex...," were the only words that would escape him. His grunts shook the very foundation of the mansion, the passion that had built up between them for so long erupting inside their bodies and through every part of their beings. She was tight around him, and she was squeezing him even so. He knew what she was doing, taking in every inch of him she could.

Her hands grabbed onto the sides of his face, the orgasm inside her building. She needed something before she could release and almost as if her knew, his eyes looked into hers, the movements between them becoming swifter and stronger. "Alex, I love you." It was what she needed, the orgasm spreading throughout her system. He didn't need her to tell him, he felt it in every inch of her touching him. He groaned, feeling himself begin to scream for release and as if on cue her lips took hold of his and through teeth biting down onto his lower lip she moaned, "Cum."

He felt it bust into her, she felt it fill up and spill out between them. The feeling itself caused an aftershock within her, causing one inside him as well. The sound of his final grunt and the breathing that escaped onto her skin was all consuming. Both lay there, uncomfortable yet in bliss on the stairs, their lips in a never ending quest for more kisses. He smiled, allowing her to breath for a second and with a laugh muttered, "Worth the wait, baby."

~~~~

Everyone was less than shocked at John and Alex's return, looking as if they'd been in a tussle. The two were attached the rest of the party after their return, openly affectionate in a way neither had been before. While most were less than thrown off, including Vince and surprisingly Amy who seemed more than happy to see her mother and the man she suddenly seemed very keen to call Daddy openly parenting her and together, two at the party were more than slightly angry. The sight of Alex's sudden relationship, one not hidden in shadows or behind closed door was more than a kick in the gut. Both knew better than to cause her more drama that night, Paul having had a very serious talk with a now constantly vigilant Stephanie and Dave instructed by an all-knowing Linda it would be in his best interest to allow Alex a stress-free birthday, something she had voiced to her husband, daughter, and son-in-law as well.

Amy sat on John's lap as Alex fed her birthday cake, on cloud nine. "Mom?"

"Homie?"

"John's coming home with US?"

"Yes," she answered, looking up into John's bright eyes.

"And the day after?"

"Yeah, Aims. I'll be there," he cut in, wiping icing from her mouth.

Amy seemed pleased with the development and finally looked at the two of them with a smile, "Now we're going to be a family?"

"Amy...," Alex began but John laughed, cutting her off.

"If your Mommy says yes, we will."

Alex looked up quickly, raising an eyebrow, "Huh?"

Amy slipped off his lap, pulling a little Tiffany box out of one of her dress pockets, opening it up and pulling out a little pouch. She handed it happily to John who was now on one knee before her.

Alex felt a mixture of panic and happiness spill into her every fiber and the people gathered, very much aware of what was happening grew silent. The only noises in the room were Alex's deep breaths of excitement and confusion and the deep angered breathing of two other individuals in the room.

"I was going to ask you tonight, but now seemed more appropriate."

She could hear Ric's heavy laugh somewhere in the room and a muttering of "The kid has guts" said.

"But how?"

"I figured if you would say yes any day, it would have to be on your birthday."

"A couple hours ago.... Things were different!"

"It would have taken a little more persuasion, sure, but admit it, you would have said yes eventually."

He was right she knew and she laughed at the thought, "Ask me, stupid."

"Alexis Maddison McMahon, make an honest man out of me."

Her "Yes" came out as a croak as she began to cry happily, letting him slip the simple diamond ring onto her finger, just in her style and taste. The party erupted in approval, everyone having long seen the love between the two become more and more evident. They were congratulated by everyone in attendance, including a reluctant Stephanie. Yet one member of party managed to disappear, the other slipped upstairs to Alex's old bedroom, trying to memorize her scent in the sudden face of losing it forever.