Flames

Auntie Up, part 2

"Are you sure we shouldn't tell her?" Seth's voice was low enough that Becky strained to hear it over the hustle and bustle backstage. All of the big events were loud and chaotic, but Royal Rumble was in a league of its own, second only perhaps to WrestleMania. "She might explode."

Becky glanced over at their daughter, currently having a dance-off with Liv. "I think it would be nice for her to have a good surprise, don't you?" They had just introduced her to Charlotte last month, and then Charlotte was injured not long after. There were still plenty of people for Roux to play with backstage, of course, but Roux definitely had favourites—and she had missed Naomi desperately. They let her watch Trinity's matches on Impact and they arranged as many calls as they could, but it wasn't the same as being together in person. "Besides, if we tell her in advance, she might think Mercedes is going to be here too...."

Seth grimaced slightly. "Good point. Don't want to get her hopes up for that." Then he nudged her gently. "And yours too, though you won't say it."

"Yeah, yeah." Becky couldn't deny it. She knew Mercedes was most likely going to AEW and she supported her friend completely, but the idea of a Four Horsewoman reunion was tempting. They were all in their thirties now and likely retiring or moving on in a few years, so there wasn't much time left to have that dream four-way match at WrestleMania. "Someday maybe," she allowed, "just not now, unfortunately. It would've been perfect timing, with Bayley splitting from Damage Control...."

"Maybe you and Bayley can team up and go after Asuka and Kairi," Seth suggested. "The two most overlooked members taking over." He heard Becky's phone before she did and gave her a nudge. "Go on. I'll distract her."

"Thanks, love." Becky kissed his cheek and quickly ducked out of the room while Roux was busy playing with Liv. Once she was out of sight, she grabbed her phone. She wasn't slated to enter the Rumble until the second half, but Naomi was going to be the second entrant, so she wouldn't have a lot of time to chat beforehand.

Where's my girls? Naomi had sent, followed by a rainbow of hearts.

Becky tapped Naomi's profile and called her rather than texting back. "Heya! Are you ready to be attacked?" she asked with a laugh.

"Girl, you know I am! I missed my Roux Roux! And you too, of course. Where are you? You sound like you're in a tin can," Naomi accused.

"Nah, that's you in your super-special seclusion," Becky retorted. "Where are you? I'll come meet you. Roux's playing with Liv right now and Seth is keeping an eye on them. If they move on, he'll let me know."

Naomi's laugh filled the line and it made Becky smile. They had kept in touch since Naomi and Sasha left WWE, of course, but it wasn't the same as seeing each other every week. "I feel like the president or something, being escorted everywhere."

"I'm not wearing my sunglasses," Becky warned, "but if you want me to play security agent, I can run back to the locker room...."

"No, no. They've got me in a room down by Creative—pretty silly if you ask me, but whatever. They aren't sequestering Liv," Naomi pointed out.

"Because Liv's only returning from injury. You're returning after more than a year away." In truth, Becky didn't completely understand either. Andrade was returning to the company tonight as well and both returns had been essentially spoiled online, so fans and fellow wrestlers alike were expecting them. As she rounded the corner, she spotted Hunter talking to some of the writers. "Naomi?" she asked, gesturing at the doors.

Hunter wordlessly pointed at the third one down. "Don't ask me why. I don't get it either. It's hardly a secret anymore, but...." He shrugged and turned back to his conversation.