Flames

Workhorse, Clotheshorse, part 2

"You two have a great night," Becky said, hugging Bianca again. Going to the ESPYs with Bianca and Montez had almost been like a double date, and she wished they'd had more time to hang out. "Call me in the morning and let me know what you're up to. I'm sure Roux would love to have brunch with you."

"Well, if Miss Roux wants to do brunch," Bianca grinned, nudging her husband, "then we'll just have to make that happen, won't we?"

"Absolutely." Montez hugged Becky and Seth in turn. "See you tomorrow."

Becky's phone chirped again and she grimaced. She had forgotten to turn off her notifications and her phone had been constantly lighting up—and a lot of the comments were rude or downright cruel. "Want to grab something to eat?" she asked as they headed for their hired car. "According to the internet, I need to eat a sandwich—among other things."

Seth grabbed her phone before she could read any more comments. "You promised," he said simply, tucking her phone in his jacket pocket. "But if it means getting to spend more time with my hot wife, that awesome burrito place is on the way home. It should still be open, right?"

"Yeah, because this isn't Iowa," Becky laughed. Seth had totally set himself up for that and he knew it—and she knew it too. As she had suspected, she got a lot of vitriol for her comments about post-weaning depression, ranging from body shaming to claims that she was an unfit parent. "Sure. Sounds great. With these shoes on," she added, "I'll actually be able to see over the counter." The platform heels that Troi had found to go with her dress were a challenge to walk in, so she was impressed that she had lasted most of the night without taking them off.

Once they reached their waiting car, Seth opened the door for her and helped her in. "Aren't you taking those off?" he asked after he had asked the driver to stop for food.

Becky shook her head, draping her legs over his lap. "Nah. Roux likes them. If she's still up when we get home," she said, "maybe we can have a little dance party if she's been good." They hadn't been at their Los Angeles home for a while now, and Roux was missing some of her favourite toys and books.

"If she's still up," Seth echoed with a chuckle. "You know she will be."

"Because she loves Los Angeles just like her mama." Becky leaned against Seth's arm and shut her eyes. "What a year. New titles and the ESPYs and game shows and your movie...."

Seth nodded, kissing the top of her head. "Good thing we got married when we did. If we put it off until we weren't busy, Roux would probably be graduating from high school."

"Oh god, don't even. She's too big already. Kindergarten's only a couple of years away...." Becky shook her head in wonder. Where does the time go? Sometimes it felt like she and Seth were still in the early days of dating, sneaking into each other's hotel rooms as they tried to keep their relationship a secret. But now she was a mother, a wife, an actress; so many of the things she wanted were now hers, and she still couldn't believe it. "When she's older, I wonder how much of this she'll remember. The travelling and the locker rooms and all the aunties and uncles...."

"Well, if she gets into the business," Seth remarked, "WWE will have plenty of footage to use for her montages." Then he shook his head in amazement. "I remember when she could fit in the crook of my arm." He laughed and nuzzled the top of Becky's head. "She definitely gets her cuddling skills from you. Total pro."

"My arm," Becky replied, wrapping both her arms around his. "She's still little. She can't fight."

"No, but she can pout," Seth pointed out.

"Touche." When the car stopped at the restaurant, Becky reluctantly sat up. She was still hungry, but she was also comfortable. And there's food at home, she added to herself. But the driver had made the stop, so she followed Seth out of the car and went inside.