[Fenris]

 <img align=left src= "http://www.geocities.ws/scwmaterial/Pictures/Fenris6.gif">Las Vegas, Nevada - 11:25 AM

"Flight 209, Minneapolis to Las Vegas now arriving."

The words were called aloud over the sound system of the McCarran International Airport, heralding yet another arrival to this major metropolis, this airport being one of the eighth largest in the Continental United States. As such, the swell of people within was massive, to say the very least. With over four hundred and ninety flights per day, there is little call to question the number of people milling about in the crowd as they seek to make their connecting flights, amuse themselves at the many slot machines and entertainments that the famed "City of Sin" offers in a not-so-simple airport, or are greeted by friends and loved ones. Marquees for Las Vegas shows with their bright lights naturally attract the eye and attention of many a passer-by. Some even show up in the airport not for travel nor pick ups, but purely to pass the time in a jovial manner as there are a countless number of slot machines, Las Vegas's trademark form of gambling, in order to bet your money upon. You could also toss back a few cocktails in one of several small bars or diners. Maybe even visit the public art displayed throughout, or go to the McCarran Aviation Museum.

As more flight announcements are brought to the attention of those within, for those paying attention that is, we come to realize that none of the above is the exact reason for why we are here in this familiar location. It was the announcement of Flight 209 that drew the attention of fast-rising Superstar Fenris, who was seated and waiting rather impatiently, near the baggage claim. He was unable to pass the time idly, as was his brother Aron who was seated at one of the slot machines nearby, trying his luck but without much success. But the two brothers were not alone as seated nearby was Fenris' wrestling mentor and trainer, Gabriel Stevens, and his and Odette's young son, Lucas.

Not surprisingly, the child was a bundle of energy and Gabriel worked overtime in corralling his son, but loving every moment of it. Lucas's eyes were roaming everywhere as this was his first time in the airport of the city his parents called home, and the attractions were made to draw attention. And if you asked Gabriel, it worked a little too well! Everywhere Lucas's eyes went, his feet soon followed and Gabriel went running to and fro to ensure his child did not stray too far from his father's protective custody. One wrong turn or a second looking the other way and you could lose a grown adult in the throng of hundreds upon hundreds milling about. Imagine what the odds were of losing a child! And Fenris watched idly as Gabriel caught up with his son, laughing as he scooped the small one up into his arms, sparking off a giggling fit of laughter from the child as if running about with his dad chasing after him was merely a big game.

And for a child, it probably was.

But at the announcement, Fenris was on his feet and clearly looking more agitated than was the norm for him. Perhaps nervous? Wait, nervous? Fenris? The man with the seemingly unending supply of self confidence? It would appear so as Aron glanced up and saw his brother move away from his seat and towards the forefront of the floor's court, where the escalators from the terminals above would descend so passengers could claim their luggage. Like him, many others followed suit so they could be front and center to greet friends and family. Some got a little too close for Fenris's comfort, invading his personal space and causing him to shoot daggers at them through his eyes. Many shifted back and appropriate step, while others remained ignorant at their own actions.

Feeling discretion was the better part of valor where throwing his money away was concerned, Aron got up and left the slot machine he had been seated at the past thirty minutes, and walked up to join his brother. Gabriel, too, took note and reigned in the perpetual motion machine known as Lucas and weaved his way through the number of men and women, children and adults, who stood patiently waiting until he stood at Aron's left and carefully sat Lucas back down on his feet, their eyes on Fenris's back just a foot or so ahead of them.

As the idle chatter of those around them was like bees buzzing in the ear, Aron turned his head idly to gaze at Gabriel and he said just loud enough to be heard, "Thanks for doing this for us... for him." And by him, he was of course referring to his older sibling. Aron went on, "There was no way we were going to be able to fit everyone in that two-seater of his."

"It's no trouble, I keep telling you that." Gabriel answered. "Odettte needed some rest and time to herself so it was a good excuse to take Lucas out." He cast a sidelong look to the youngest male of the Baltasarsson family, and joked, "Besides, I'd rarely pass up the chance to see that one act like a human being."

The jovial nature of the words had not been lost on Aron who smiled, displaying those pearly whites. Always up for a good natured rib at his brother's expense, he was hard pressed to deny the personality of said older sibling, knowing full well of how many others looked at him and his anger issues. Not to mention his self-confidence which some claim bordered on blatant disrespect to others around him.

Aron admitted, "He's been nervous for days. Acting just like this ever since the final arrangements were made. It's the only reason he was willing to leave the tour to come all the way back to Vegas." He shook his head for emphasis. "He wasn't about to miss this."

"Understandable." Gabriel acknowledge as Lucas's fingers slipped from his own. "He's been talking about this for weeks it seems."

Gabriel kept a close eye by instinct alone on his son as the three year old took a few slow steps forward and stood beside Fenris who took no notice, at least not until the child reached up and took Fenris's fingers into his own. Fenris gave a start and stared down at the boy with startled eyes, then looked back over his shoulder at the smiling faces of Aron and Gabriel, quickly averting his gaze.

"I think your son just scared the piss out of him." Aron quipped, causing a smirk to spread on Gabriel's own face.

"That's some boy O and I have there." Gabriel felt a swell of pride deep in his chest. Silently he felt that Lucas could read Fenris's nerves and opted to stand beside him and hold his hand so as to help calm him.

"Never ceases to amaze me." Aron watched as Fenris stood stoically, rigid, as he watched and waited for the impending arrivals, but did not deign to pull his hand from Lucas's own. Something both of his observers noticed. "The way he is with kids... he doesn't hate them. He's just..." Aron took a moment to process the correct word. "... uncomfortable around them. Like he's afraid he'll break one I guess." He laughed. "Yet they can't seem to not want to be near him."

Meanwhile, Fenris was watching with unbridled anticipation as the flow of bodies had started to arrive from the arriving terminal above them on the second floor of the airport. Many were from other flights who were just now readying themselves to meet their loved ones and gather their luggage, while others were most certainly from the flight he had been waiting eagerly for. Aron and Gabriel were right behind him, and he could hear what they were saying. And to a degree, understand them as well even though his command of the English language were not so perfect as Aron's. Still, he did not pull his hand from the small fingers from Gabriel's own son. A part of him almost welcomed the bit of personal comfort offered.

But don't you DARE tell anyone he thought so!

Fenris craned his neck to look above the eye level of those coming down the escalators, when logic stated he should have been looking 'down' for the one whose arrival he was most anxious for. But the minutes passed on and the airline passengers coming down the escalators started to thin out in numbers, causing Fenris to sigh with annoyance and he muttered in surprising English, "Where the fu-" He then glanced down and remembered who was at his side, holding onto his fingers and he corrected himself, "...where IS she!?"

But as their collective eyes were directed straight ahead, it was a movement towards the left of the escalators that drew their gaze away and for the first time he can ever remember, Gabriel saw a smile, a genuine smile, spread out across the face of Fenris as his beloved white Siberian husky straight from Iceland was being led off an elevator, along with his and Aron's baby sister Freyja. But in spotting the young blonde, Gabriel's eyes blinked in surprise at what exactly he was watching.

Freyja had dark shades worn across her eyes, and an airport employee was personally escorting her across the lobby, with her hand in the bend of his elbow and her fingers wrapped around an extendable cane. In her free hand, a leash that was attached to the Husky's collar, and even more curiously, Fenris's dog was sporting a brightly colored vest that signified her as a "working dog."

"Kyssa!" Fenris called out and upon hearing her brother, Freyja turned and said something to the employee with a warm smile on her young face. The employee released her hand and stepped back a handful of steps as Fenris and Aron both walked quickly towards their beloved baby sister and embraced her fiercely with warm greetings; the only of their sisters they would have been willing to do so. Fenris kissed her on the cheek with a warmness that Gabriel found a touch surprising, given the cold nature of the man he had come to know over the past handful of months.

Fenris then lowered himself to a single knee and greeted his much loved canine, giving her a brisk rub down only after the airport employee took his leave so as not to witness a social no-no in someone "distracting" a working dog. Gabriel glanced down at his son who had rejoined his side and he saw that Lucas's own eyes were firmly glued to Kyssa, being as much an animal lover as both of his parents! He knew very well what his boy would strongly desire; an introduction to this special girl in Fenris's life. resigning to giving in now, Gabriel took a step forward and Lucas needed no further prodding from his father to hurry quickly towards the little social gathering. As they arrived, Fenris stood upright and Freyja slipped Kyssa's leash into his hand and Aron turned to his sister's side to greet Gabriel.

"Freyja," Aron spoke in Icelandic. "You remember Gabriel?"

"Oh yes!" She smiled and extended her hand, right in his direction as if she knew where he was standing. Curiouser and curiouser! Gabriel smiled never the less, and accepted her hand with a gentle shake. Freyja wrinkled her nose and brow in thought, and said in English, "How ... are you?"

"Curious." Gabriel could not withhold his curiosity any longer. He looked to Fenris. "I don't seem to recall your sister being blind?"

"She's not." Fenris smirked that grin that made some want to smack his upside the head.

Aron added, "It was this or Kyssa would have to have ridden in the cargo." To which Fenris shook his head with defiance and spoke, "Would not happen."

Aron shrugged, "This way she got to ride in the cabin with Freyja."

And the sister of which they were speaking? She glanced around for the employee who had served as her honored escort and asked, "Is he gone?"

"He's gone." Fenris answered her and she blew out a breath of relief, and reached up and removed the shades from her baby blues that was a trademark of this family it would seem. The eyes that Gabriel remembered best over this bit of deceit. Gabriel looked back and forth between the siblings and shook his head, not knowing what to say or think.

"This is ... just absolutely deceitful." He finally chuckled. "I have to admit I'm impressed."

"Thanks." Aron also found himself smiling. "But we can't claim credit for the idea."

"Oh?" Gabriel's eyebrow rose in a curious stare. "Who else would have been able to cook up something so sneaky as this?"

Fenris answered matter-of-factly. "Despy." Which just made Gabriel nod and repeat, "Despy..." He then felt a tug at his fingers and the proud father looked down to his son wh0o bore a smile that could not be contained as his eyes were for the beautiful Husky and her alone.

"Alright!" Gabriel laughed, and he looked up to Fenris with hopeful eyes of his own. "Do you mind?"

And for the first time, the pride in Fenris's eyes and on his face was not that of self assurance but pride in his much loved pet and her effect on another. He smiled and motioned toward her, beckoning Lucas forward. "Please." He said with a genuine sincerity that was unusual to his lips.

Gabriel asked out of a parent's concern, "She's friendly?" Kyssa was twice his son's size after all!

Fenris nodded, "She is."

"She loves just about anybody." Aron added, then paused and looked up in contemplation. He mused, "Well, except for Viktoria and Elin."

"She damn near bit Elin before we left when she tried to hug her." Freyja commented, and Fenris leaned down and ruffled Kyssa's fur, "That's my good girl!"

And Gabriel lowered himself to one knee and gave Lucas a gentle nudge forward so he could finally say hello to Kyssa. Just as his father had taught him with other animals, Lucas wisely lifted his palm out and the dog extended her head forward to give the young pup of these people a sniff. Satisfied, she sat back on her haunches and gave Lucas a lopsided 'doggy grin.' The boy needed no further invitation as he ran his little fingers through her silky white fur and then wrapped his arms around her neck to give the Husky a hug.

Smiling beside himself, Gabriel glanced up to Fenris and fund himself asking, "You never did tell me what Kyssa meant. Is it something in Icelandic?"

Kyssa then proceeded to lap her tongue at Lucas, giving him big, wet doggy kisses. The little three year old staggered back a step from the dog's enthusiasm but the smile never left his now sopping wet face.

"It means ... 'smooches'" Fenris answered, struggling to find the right words in English. He was more confident now in learning the language, ever since Aron became more than just his interpreter. "Or 'kisses.'"

Gabriel laughed and said, "Appropriate!" as Freyja passed him a lace hanky to help clean Lucas up.



"We - we're really going to get to ride on this?" Freyja asked as her eyes were wide with wonder, surveying the Amtrak passenger train from where she stood on the deck of the train station. Like her brothers up until the tour had begun, she had never set foot on a train before, and she was both eager and nervous at not knowing what it would be like.

Fenris answered, "If we want to make it to Georgia for the show on Sunday." He paused then shook his head. "Georgia." He turned to Freyja and half called aloud, Yee-HAW!" Startling her.

Aron added, "It's one of the few trains that allow animals now, so our girl can ride with us in the carriage Gabriel helped book for us. We have a couple of bedrooms reserved, since it is a three day ride until..."

"Three DAYS!?" Fenris bellowed, his eyes almost bugging from out of his skull as his handsome face flushed a healthy scarlet hue at the news. The outburst, even if it were in a foreign language, was not lost on those milling about and waiting to board themselves. Their eyes fell on this closely knit family, canine included, but a hard, cold glare from Fenris quickly caused a collective gaze to be averted.

Aron held his arms out, "Well what do you expect? It's not as if we were riding a jet!"

"But..." Fenris struggled to argue. He shook his head, his mouth opening and closing but no words managing to escape from those lips.

"Hey." Aron teased. "Just because you have those big fish lips doesn't mean you have to imitate one."

That stopped Fenris fast and his eyes narrowed and he was about to make a scathing retort that would probably skin his brother alive verbally, but Aron brought him up short. He held up a finger to stall his older, more volatile brother, and then pointed at Freyja. Fenris turned his head, following the direction and found their little sister staring at the train with an excitement that he couldn't deny, even if he were able to.

"Fuck me." He half murmured as the doors to the train slid open and the passengers were finally able to board, showing their passes to the conductor as they moved forward, single file. Only Fenris took a moment longer than the rest as the friendly man checked over his additional information for Kyssa's benefit before he let them all move past and onto the train's interior.



"Wow." Freyja whispered as the siblings had finally found their side-by-side sleeping cars. The two brothers first sought to get their little sister settled, and they allowed her to open the compartment door herself and she found herself smiling in wonder. It wasn't like a hotel room in size or furnishings, but it looked comfortable enough. With a single seat over looking a sweeping window that offered a perfect view to the outside and anything and everything that would pass by. She looked around in a curious nature before she asked, "But, where do I sleep? On here?" She patted the seat which seemed comfortable enough to sit on, but to sleep on?

"Sort of." Fenris answered and he set foot inside and grasped the seat and lifted it just enough to display for her benefit. "It converts into a bed."

Freyja nodded, but then sighed with a soft tone of resignation.

"What's wrong?" Fenris asked.

She answered, "My first train ride and no roomie. I'll be sleeping alone."

"No you won't." Fenris answered, and with a guiding hand on the leash Kyssa had to keep on during the length of the train ride, he helped the dog into the car. Kyssa immediately grew curious as was her nature always and sniffed about everywhere she was able. He finished, "Since Aron and I are sharing a car, Kyssa will stay with you overnight."

And this brought comfort enough to the little sister's face that she was immediately mollified. She started petting as a whistle blew from somewhere outside of the train and they felt a sharp movement, almost causing the group to collectively lose their footing.

"What was that?" Freyja asked, startled, but Aron laid a reassuring hand on her slim shoulder and answered, "Just the train starting to move."

"Come on." Fenris added, stepping back into the hall. "Aron and I are going to check out our car and get settled. You relax and watch the view. Get settled yourself and relax. We'll be back in a bit and get something to eat."

He winked, bringing a smile to Freyja's face. It would seem aside from his mother, his baby sister also had a way about her that made the volatile Fenris seem almost -- human. Aron joined him in the hall and shut the door behind them....



7:30 PM

A tad later than what Fenris was accustomed to in his eating habits, but given the nature of their trip and the indulging of his brother in these passenger train rides, he knew that he would have to get used to a few things changing out of his habits. That didn't mean he had to LIKE the changes -- just get used to them. They could always change back once this tour was done and over with. Now the three siblings sat in the spacious dining car, seated at a small booth with a snoozing Kyssa huddled beneath the table, sleeping on all of their feet and without a care.

While the man himself, Fenris, worked over a heaping plate of vegetarian pasta, Aron himself was eating a griddle seared Norwegian salmon, and Freyja herself dined on a thyme roasted chicken breast. All three siblings managed to sneak Kyssa bits of their meals as a treat, the Husky waking up just long enough to scarf down the bits before resuming her slumber. Her own late dinner would be given to her when she joined Freyja in their cabin for the night.

As Fenris picked up his glass of lemon water, he frowned with eyes narrowed, "You have to be shitting me. Viktoria actually wanted to bring Kyssa to Las Vegas?"

To which Aron and his brother listened with rapt and disbelieving attention as their sister explained, "So did Elin, I think. They knew you showed mom the sights in Las Vegas. Mom shows everyone those pictures she had taken! Then they found out about you and Aron taking ... whoever... on a train ride to see the show you're wrestling on. Add on we're going to a famous American theme park and that clenched it. Viktoria and Elin almost came to blows over who was going to get to go."

"Neither of them!" Fenris looked at Aron and he just could not believe what Freyja was telling them. "What in hell would make either of them think I'd welcome them on this trip!? Let alone trust them with my girl! They'd have probably left her in the luggage while they rode first class!"

Aron washed a bite of salmon down with his Pepsi and said, There's your answer right there. They probably just was hoping to mooch a vacation off of you is all."

"To take a vacation, one usually has to get a job first." Fenris observed, to which Freyja surprised them both by adding, "Oh THAT'S what I forgot to tell you! Dad is making them both get jobs!"

And THAT statement certainly caught the attention of the two brothers seated across form her as their face slowly rose from their respective meals and they stared at her.

"Say what?"

"You're shitting me!"

We'll leave it to the imagination as to which brother said what, but they stared hard at their sister, waiting as she nodded eagerly and answered, "No, it's true! I heard  mom and dad argue about it but for once, dad won out!"

"Dad..." Aron''s eyebrows rose almost to the point of his hairline, such was his surprise. "OUR dad is making his precious little princesses get jobs?"

Freyja said, "Mom argued against it since she still believes they'll go to school." But it was clear that all three siblings held deep disbelief towards this thought. "Dad won out though, and he told them they have a month to get jobs and contribute to the household or they'd have to stay elsewhere! He doesn't care if they have to get a job in a fast food place or as a hotel maid he even said. So long as it pays!" Fenris almost whooped with manic glee, clapping his hand over his mouth but that did not shield any eyes from the merriment in his own blue eyes. Aron himself was smiling, beside himself, and shaking his head.

Freyja continued, "Dad is very serious, too! When Viktoria started crying, it didn't even phase him like it usually did. He told them both they're thirty and living at home rent free without jobs. He's tired of supporting them and spoiling them and wants them to learn what it's like to earn a living like you do." She pointed toward her eldest brother, Kristjan.

"Wait, he used me as an example?" Fenris asked, knowing already what the ramifications would be were it so.

"Uh huh!" Freyja nodded, and almost winced as she added, "And now both Elin and Viktoria are blaming you for them having to go out and get jobs."

"Oh yes!" Fenris rolled his eyes and shook his head. "God help whoever is to blame for either of those two having to earn their way in life instead of getting to continue to leech off of our parents until they're all old and gray!" Fenris then set his fork down and propped his elbows on the table and chin atop of his steepled fingers. He was clearly in thought, making both brother and sister wonder just what was going through his mind.

They didn't have to wait long as Fenris turned a coy smirk toward them and said, "If they end up flipping burgers I am so flying back to Iceland just to watch!" And this prompted both Aron and Freyja to choke on their laughter!



11:47 PM

Night had finally fallen on the Amtrak en route to Cobb County, Georgia, and most of the passengers on board were fast asleep, while a remaining few chose to be seated in the lounge to relax and have a snack or a drink, while talking amongst themselves or watch a movie on their laptop. One such passenger, "The White Wolf" Fenris, was up and awake, but not relaxing in the lounge or offering any stranger socialization.

No, he was walking the length of the train, as far as he was able, dressed in his sleepwear of a white, loose fitted t shirt and matching pajama pants. He wore the slippers on his feet since the train mandated it be so, when he would much rather go barefoot as was his personal comfort. As he walked, his eyes remained on the glass windows that he passed by, never letting the sights of whatever passed by escape his attention. He would most likely never admit this to Aron, but he was fast growing fond of the concept of riding on these passenger trains. It had been Aron who suggested it, or asked to do it, rather. He had always like trains, ever since he was a wee boy, and the idea of traveling on one during this tour was just so appealing to him! And for some reason, Fenris could not find it within him to deny his brother this simple wish, even though personally Kristjan would have much preferred flying.

Add now that Kyssa would be traveling along with them until the end of the tour, and this just made more sense.

Fenris paused at a single picture window as they passed over a bridge and body of water, and he started to speak in Icelandic with subtitles added for the viewer's better understanding.

"Ty West. Oh, excuse me. 'Pretty' Ty West. I suppose I could humor you and acknowledge that nickname you chose to give yourself, assuming it's because you find yourself rather pretty?"

He smirked.and then added a shrug of indifference.

"But then again, why bother? Why should I start now in humoring you about your appearance when in the end, you won't be seen that way after our match on Sunday. You've had, what? Five matches so far in your career? Six? And so far you've done pretty good for yourself."

He snorted back a scoffing laugh, and shook his head as he fought to subdue the smirk on his face.

"Well, I tried being nice! That's what is important I suppose. Ty, you've won a few and lost a few. You came close once or twice to getting your hands on the Roulette Championship, but in the end, that's what matters, isn't it? That is what the people are going to remember most about you. That you came 'close,' but in the end ..." He shrugged. "... You choked." He turned and started to move along the train car once again, casting his eyes toward his right in sidelong glances out the window.

"Then there's me, and my path so far in SCW. Proud teammate of Courtney Pierce, future World Champion of the Bombshells. Blast From the Past VI Champion! This match against you, Ty? It's my fifth match in my wrestling career so far, but here's the thing...!"

He held a forefinger up to emphasize his point.

"This match against you on Sunday is the first time I've had a singles match, and I can't even begin to express how much I am looking forward to it! I have been after a singles match ever since I signed on the dotted line, but my career took a path I had not expected with the Blast From the Past with Courtney; a path that I have to admit now Gabriel was right and that it paid off in huge dividends!"

He held up both hands.

"Huge! As in World Championship match dividends! The next World Heavyweight Champion dividends!"

He turned his head and looked closely into the camera.

"You know what I mean, right?"

He then waved a hand with eyes closed, a feigned expression of sympathy.

"No, sorry. My mistake. You don't. That's more for a future champion in the making, like myself. You, on the other hand, made a name for yourself as some B movie actor who probably would be outclassed by the latest Bollywood flick! I have to admit you caught me by surprise when I first heard about you. From what I heard, it's usually a professional wrestler that turns to acting, not the other way around. So what happened, Ty? Why make the change? Did you get tired of trying to explain to people who you were so you could sign some autographs for them? Were you fed up with having your face plastered on a screen and decided to instead have it planted on the ring canvas? Because that's pretty much what is going to happen when we end up in the ring on Sunday. Those pretty looks you seem to believe you have?"

He lets loose a whistle and jets a thumb back behind him.

"They're as good as gone. You might as well change out your nickname to something like Chubby because your face is going to end up so swollen from the beating I'm going to lay into you that people might mistake you for Melissa McCarthy! And you might end up having to be HER stunt double because the junk between your legs will be tucked safely away in hiding, afraid for the ass kicking the rest of you is going to get! I mean, it's not going to want any of the same! Can you blame it?"

He sighed and paused at the door that led into the lounge. There were four, maybe five people inside, each going about their own personal business while only a couple were exchanging words in conversation. Rather than  press on and enter the room, and possibly invite conversation toward himself unwillingly, Fenris did a turn about and headed back the way he came.

"Unfortunately for you Ty, this is wrestling. You aren't in movies any longer so there are no stunt doubles or retakes. You have but one chance to get this right when you step inside of the ring with me, and unfortunately for you... you won't! You fancy yourself as something of a brawler and submission artist?"

He scoffed.

"You are so FAR outclassed in either that I almost feel sorry for you!" He paused and held up a finger. "Almost! No, I am going to get a hell of a lot of satisfaction from this one. Take a swing at me. I dare you. I'll have you bleeding before you hit the damn mat! Those pearly whites of yours will be resembling something more appropriate in a cornfield in the state we're competing in! And if you think you have even the REMOTEST chance to get me into a submission hold, let alone make me give in..."

He barked out a forced laugh.

"Keep dreaming pal, because you're probably doing just that after I knock your ass out! The only question I have where you're concerned is... do I want to kick your head off and pin you, or tie you up into a knot until you cry for mommy and tap out?"

He rubbed his palms together and smiled.

"This match? It is going to bring out the artist in me."

Fenris then stopped outside of his car door and grasped the handle, but paused to take one last look into the camera.

"Don't feel too bad, Ty. You're just not ready for what you got yourself into with this match. This is my first step towards Kris Ryans and the gold he has around his waist. I am not about to lose now!"

That being said, he stepped inside of his shared sleeping room and shut the door behind him.