12/31

Author: Vicky (The Heartbreak Babe)

Story: On the eve of New Year's Day, Shawn Michaels reflects on his final moments with Sunny.

Pairing: Shawn Michaels/Sunny

Type: One-Shot.

Note: I'm sure some things won't be perfect. My Shawn/Sunny history isn't the greatest so keep that in mind if there are flaws in the story, I tried to wrap this around the song I used so it's "creative license", I guess. Be gentle! It's been a while! I apologize for the sucky ending, too. I tried to do the song justice, but I don't think I did.

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"It's a mild December 31
And snow cries hard onto flooded earth
But it can't compare to tear-soaked beds shared by forbidden lovers again"

--- The Mayfield Four "12/31"

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Shawn Michaels looked out of his hotel room window and watched the snow cascade onto the ground below. He watched the snow blanket the streets and cars, a proclamation that winter had finally come. Peering at the people below, he saw many figures tread against the snow, leaving oval groves in the dampened earth as they went about their plans for the day. These people had jobs to go to, family to visit, and at the moment, Shawn didn't fit into any of that. He'd decided to spend his New Year's Eve with her, but things didn't pan out the way he had envisioned them. If the whiteness of the snow was a symbol for purity, well, he'd have to take that their relationship was just the opposite. Their union was black, plagued by the dark clouds of corruption.

He took his gaze away from the window and looked at the unkempt bed that was once shared by him and Sunny. It pained him to look but he felt the overwhelming need to do so, hoping each time in vain that she'd still be there and that he was imagining the sorrow that he had been feeling for countless hours.

She'd left him. She told him that morning that what they had couldn't last and that she was ready to move on. Tomorrow would be a new year and she was ready to face her life head on.

He didn't know what to say in response to that. After all, their previous nights had seemed peaceful. He hadn't portended any sense of separation that was to come. Maybe it was a decision she gave into on impulse. Shawn hadn't had the courage to ask. Maybe because a part of him didn't want to know and the rest of him was already reeling from the unexpected announcement.

Of course, he knew things weren't perfect between them. They tried to keep their relationship as much a secret as possible considering the circumstances and with that in mind, how could things be perfect?

He'd tried to express his objection to the best of his ability. He let her know that things didn't have to end like this and that with time, things could get better and things wouldn't have to be so hush-hush.

As he continued to gaze at the vacant bed, he realized all over again that he had failed at trying to convince her to stay.

He couldn't stand the darkened room he was in but today, he felt that he had to engulf himself in the sorrow. He needed this day to mourn the loss of the two of them and what they once had. It was the only thing that seemed therapeutic to him as he once again looked outside his window and watched the snow fall.

This wasn't how he wanted to end the year but he had no choice. He knew he'd endure the final hours of the year alone. Sure he had his boys to go to. He could give them a call anytime but what he really wanted was to welcome the new year with a female companion and watch the new year take reign over the old one.

"Maybe next year", Shawn mindlessly said to himself as he once again resumed his routine of watching his world below him.