December 15th 2020…
Amanda re-read the confirmed list of Hall Of Fame candidates to make sure she wasn't seeing things on the list… and Hunter saw the shock on her face.
"Owen is going into the Hall Of Fame…" Amanda managed to say.
"Yep, he is. After so long, he's finally in the Hall Of Fame. Maybe in the next few years, it might be Chris." Hunter responded.
Amanda's eyes went wide at that… and Hunter caught her as she had lost consciousness, picked her up and rushed her to where Dr. Amann was.
"What happened?!" Dr. Amann questioned.
"She passed out after she was shocked at the news about the Hall of Fame inductees." Hunter explained.
It was as Dr. Amann had ran some blood tests that Amanda felt outlines of hands on her face… and opened her eyes, seeing blonde hair and blue eyes that belonged to the childhood idol she had met 23 years earlier.
"Owen…" Amanda replied quietly, Owen nodding.
"I wish I was here to see you and even your two little ones, kiddo." Owen responded.
"Liam's getting a sibling…" Amanda replied once the realisation set in.
"He is. He's gonna be excited to be a big brother, kiddo." Owen responded with a smile.
He heard footsteps and disappeared from her visibility as Amanda managed to sit up and hold a crying Liam.
"Mama!" Liam responded tearfully as they hugged each other.
"Mommy's okay, buddy." Amanda responded as Finn held both of them.
"Is everything okay, Love?" Finn asked.
"Yeah. Finn… Liam's gonna be a big brother." Amanda replied, which made Finn go wide eyed.
"What? We're having another baby?!" Finn asked once more.
"Blood test confirmed it. I put a rush on them, Mandy's about two months pregnant." Dr. Amann replied.
"This is great news to hear. Did you hear, buddy? You're going to be a big brother." Finn responded as he looked back at Liam.
"Sibling!" Liam exclaimed, clapping his tiny hands together.
Amanda watched as Liam slept later that night, smiling at him and then at Finn.
She couldn't imagine her life without her children and husband in it…
Present time, April 3rd 2021…
"I'd like for someone to join me on stage. She's been a fan of my brother's as well as a fan of mine and a woman I consider family. Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome Amanda Balor!" Bret responded, Amanda hugging Liam and kissing Finn before she stood up and headed to the stage.
She and Bret hugged… and Martha's look softened as she realised that the 30 year old was hesitant to be on stage.
"Booooo! Not fair, Mommy was better than her!" Sarada responded loudly, before Yukie covered up her mouth.
"Be nice!" Yukie hissed.
"Children that young speak their minds. Owen told me that about his own kids, I know he loved them very much." Amanda responded before she got to the speech. "My first memories of Owen are from when I was a young fan. I always found myself cheering for him and the Hart Foundation because the second I saw them, I was drawn in. I had… I had met Owen when I was 8 years old and he had given me an autograph and advice: Life is too short. Live it to its fullest by living your dreams no matter what they are." She replied, Bret handing her a tissue and Amanda wiping her tears away.
Martha blinked her own tears away, regretting how she had treated Amanda 15 years ago.
'I'm sorry, Mandy. I'm really am…' Martha thought to herself while looking at Amanda, before looking back at Sarada who was fighting out of her mother's grip.
"My mommy will show you! She's stronger! That's what Daddy told me! And she stopped being friends with you, Auntie Mandy!" Sarada responded loudly.
Being cautious, Martha walked over and crouched down.
"You feeling overtired, little one?" Martha questioned, Sarada calming down at the gentle voice and nodding.
"She rarely gets this way." Yukie responded.
"Actually, I was worried about that. Whenever she gets excited, she acts like Yukie and says whatever comes out of her mouth. That's what you've told me before, right?" Jordan explained.
"True but she's been yawning on and off." Yukie responded.
"Oje and Athena were like that at that age." Martha replied as Sarada yawned sleepily.
It was after the ceremony that Martha walked over to Amanda, Finn and Liam… and Liam gave a tired smile.
"Auntie Martha?" Liam asked, Martha nodding.
"He's a very happy child." Martha responded before she turned to Amanda… and they hugged. "I'm so sorry for being angry that night." She whispered.
"I understand why you were… you had to raise two kids on your own." Amanda replied quietly as they let go… and Martha rested her left hand on Amanda's stomach and smiled as a tiny foot kicked against it.
"It seems that she's happy of how that me and you resolved things." Martha responded.
"She is." Amanda replied.
At the house, Liam was in his pajamas and settled into his bed… but Amanda couldn't rest because of how active hers and Finn's daughter was being.
And then an outline of a hand rested on her stomach and she swore she heard Owen talking to the baby.
"Your mother had a long day and night after talking about how much she missed me and how much she wanted me to be alive. Let her get some sleep, that's all she wants before seeing your big brother and father in the morning, kiddo. Don't misbehave, like your cousin did." Owen responded quietly.
The baby calmed down and Owen looked at Amanda, who smiled.
"She senses that you're here." Amanda whispered.
"Maybe only babies, like the little one, Liam and your niece can only see or hear me." Owen responded.
"The young can see and hear what the adults can't at times…" Amanda replied before Owen saw a name circled on a notepad.
Avery Joan Evelyn
"Chyna told me a lot about you." Amanda whispered.
"And now your daughter will have her name." Owen whispered after Amanda's eyes closed.
Owen checked on Liam and smiled at the sleeping toddler.
"I can see you protecting your little sister and cousin whenever they need you. Liam… look after them and even your parents too, kiddo." Owen responded quietly as he disappeared.
It was as he watched around the city that he looked up and smiled at Chris.
"It finally happened, old friend." Owen whispered.
"Everyone remembers the good things about the past." Chris responded as he glanced at the house. "Out like a light…" He replied.
"Yep, he is. But somehow, did you somehow see how his cousin was acting different lately?" Owen asked.
"I really hope she's okay." Chris responded.
He thought back to the night Liam was born.