A/N: Another story with my favorite pairings Cena/Orton & Cody/Ted! This is the final chapter! Hope you all enjoyed it. I own no related to the WWE!
At 10 pm, California time they arrived at Clug, Romania, where it was 8 am. The group piled out of the airport with their luggage and walked over to the car that was sent by the hotel.
"God, this place even smells great! I can't believe I'm here." Randy happily looked out the window at the sites.
"I thought we were going to Transylvania! This says were in Clug." Ted looked at his map and frowned.
"Clug is in Transylvania. Transylvania is like the state and Clug is the city," explained Randy.
The group continued to chatter amongst themselves and within minutes were pulling up in front of their hotel. The Hotel Déjà vu was small but the best in the city.
"OK, the rooms here are kinda on the small side, but they connect. So we have each have our own room, but its like one big apartment with the bathrooms in between." said John.
Everyone went off to settle into their rooms. The concierge called a few hours later with their plans for the evening while the group was gathered in John's room.
"Tonight, at 6pm you have dinner reservations in New York - New York - Republicii 55 in the city of Brasov. It's an American and Hungarian cuisine restaurant. At 7pm, your tour bus will leave to Bran Castle and you should be returning to Clug at 10pm."
Randy smiled happily. "I can't believe we're going to get to go to Bran today."
"What's Bran castle?" asked Ted.
"Apparently, Vlad Tepes, otherwise known as Count Dracula, used Bran Castle as headquarters for his invasions into Transylvania. After he was defeated, he spent two days there, in the dungeon, as the area was occupied by Ottoman Turks at the time. Some say he cursed the castle and his spirit still haunts it. A lot of tourists get freaked out."
Randy looked at John in surprise. He had done his homework.
"So, we're going to this haunted castle after dark? That's great," mumbled Cody sarcastically.
Ted looked at his watch. "It's only noon, now. I think I'm gonna do some shopping and take some vampire stuff home. I heard they sell Dracula wine."
"I want some!" Cody grabbed his coat and the two left the room.
"Yeah, I'm gonna grab some Romanian lunch and buy some stuff for Danny. Wanna come with me, Ran?" John grabbed his wallet and digital camera.
Randy made a face behind his back as if it were the last thing on earth he wanted to do. Then again, it was the last thing on earth he wanted to do.
"You can buy some stuff for James."
"Fine, I'll go with you." John smiled and didn't seem to notice his earlier hesitation.
An hour later they were still walking the streets of Clug and John already had two bags of souvenirs while Randy was just trudging along listening to John go on about how wonderful Danny was.
"I'm sorry, Randy. I haven't let you tell me what's new in your relationship. What's up with you and James?"
Randy frowned and said, "Nothing. I broke up with him on the plane, dude."
John gasped. "What? Why didn't you say anything?"
Randy shrugged and stopped to look inside a leather goods store window. "It's not important. I didn't want anyone giving me that damn look Cody gives me." He continued to walk and heard John follow.
"Randy, whatever happens in your life is important to us. Especially to me. We swore we would remain friends. Why didn't you tell me?"
Randy frowned and shrugged. "I said it wasn't important, John. I'm not trying to exclude you or anything. It's just that James and I were over long before the plane. I didn't love him."
John looked to the right and saw a small coffee shop. "Let's go in there."
Randy sighed and looked ready to protest the idea, but John dragged him towards it. Once seated inside he said, "Tell me what's wrong with you, Randy. I know you're not happy. Can I help?"
Randy laughed and shook his head. "I'm actually really happy right now. I was unhappy with James because I knew I didn't love him and he did love me. I hated hurting him, but I didn't want to be alone again. It's been a weird couple of years. I've been bouncing around lately looking for someone to complete me and I finally realized its crap." He laughed and took a sip of coffee.
"I needed to help myself by completing myself. The day you're looking for someone to validate you is the day you've lost it. I came close, but now I know who I am and what I want."
John nodded. "I know. I've realized, as have Ted and Cody, how much you've changed in the past couple of years. You're quieter and more focused. It's weird, but good."
Randy smiled. "It's weird? How?"
"We aren't shocked by it. Calling you at home on a Friday night and finding you sitting at home with Alanna should be weird to us, but its not. Watching you talk to a kid who isn't yours instead of flying by him is now normal behavior for you. We like it and it comforts us." John frowned and looked down at the table. "How did it start?"
"You're pissed it didn't start when we were together, aren't you?"
John opened his eyes and shook his head. Randy just stared at him intensely and he smiled.
"OK, maybe I am irritated that when we were together you were a party animal who had no direction and priorities, but now you're everything I wanted. It doesn't matter, though. I'm glad if you're happy."
Randy just smiled and continued to sip his coffee.
"You are happy, right?"
"I guess but who knows what happy is anyway?"
John smiled and said, "I'm happy."
"That means everything to me." Randy finished his coffee, threw some money on the table and said, "Let's go get ready for Dracula's Castle."
At exactly 6 pm the group gathered at New York - New York - Republicii 55 to discuss what they saw and bought today.
"The stores here are awesome. I bought tons of stuff, including my wine. This place also has some great skyscrapers and an old church I'm dying to see. One week won't be enough here," Ted said.
"We saw some good stuff, too. I think Randy and I had the most interesting day of all." John looked at Randy and winked.
They continued to talk through dinner and the main topic of discussion was Randy's sudden split from James. It was obvious he didn't want to talk about it so they soon left for Bran Castle.
They met their tour guide in the lobby and found only 5 more people going on the tour with them. "This tour is not too popular at night," the guide explained.
"No kidding," mumbled Cody.
The tour took almost two hours to complete and it was amazing. The castle was still holding up strong and only little parts were in ruins. The dungeon was the creepiest part and only Randy lingered in there.
After the tour was over the group went to a local bar and listened to some of the local music. By the time they got back to the hotel it was well into the morning. Everyone said good night and headed back to their rooms.
Randy took a long shower and felt the exhaustion from the day weighing on him heavily. All he wanted was a cigarette and a bed. He put on some pajama bottoms and a white wife beater and walked out to the hallway. He went to the floor balcony and lit up while looking down at the lights of the street. Minutes later he looked up when he heard footsteps.
"Hey, you can't sleep?"
Randy smiled and shook his head at John. "No, I just wanted a cigarette. It's just that I don't want my room to stink."
"Maybe you shouldn't smoke, then."
"I can only change one thing at a time, people! Give me a break."
John laughed and sat on a lounge chair on the balcony. "I'm having a hard time getting used to this time difference." He sighed and closed his eyes. "I can't reach Danny, either."
Randy turned away and kept quiet.
"I hope he knows I tried to reach him."
John noticed Randy's turned back and walked up to him. "Are you OK?"
"For the last time, yes, I'm fine." Randy blew out smoke and laughed. "I'm just sick of hearing about Danny, John. All day long, its Danny, Danny, Danny. You're gonna make me hate this guy, John."
"Well, excuse me for being in a happy relationship. Maybe you're just jealous." John turned and quickly started walking away.
"Or maybe you just talk about him so much because you feel like you have to convince everyone, including yourself, how great he is all the time. Maybe you know he's not right for you but you're too scared to admit it."
John turned and looked at Randy's back before walking back to this room.
Hours later John sat awake in his bed, reading, when he heard a soft knock on his door. He opened it to reveal a wide awake Randy.
"What do you want?"
Randy walked in and sat on the bed. "I wanted to apologize and I need to talk to you."
John closed the door and gently sat beside him.
"I hate Danny so much, John." Randy nervously laughed. "I hate how happy he makes you and how you talk about him all the time. It makes me physically ill. My tattoos hurt less."
John looked down at the bed. "I see."
"It's weird because I want you to be happy. I want that for you more than anyone, even me, but I hate that he's the one who makes you happy. I hate that I couldn't." Randy shook his head. "That's my problem, though, not yours. Don't hate me. I'll get over it because I see how serious you guys are and I need to accept that."
John nodded. "OK."
"I'll go now and leave you to your blissful happiness. Don't be mad at me, please." Randy looked at John who nodded, but still looked down at the bed. He had begun tracing the pattern on the comforter with his finger.
Randy sighed and walked to the door feeling defeated. All his hard work in making this friendship remain strong had just gone down the toilet. John would surely hate him now. He was so lost in his thoughts he almost didn't hear John's words.
"Who knows what happy is anyway?"
He turned to look at John, who had finally lifted his head.
"Maybe I'm just trying to comfort myself by being in a boring relationship. I know Danny is never going to cheat on me, spend a night in a club, get drunk and throw up all over my car or hurt me in any way. Does that make it a good relationship, though?"
Randy shrugged. "I'm the wrong person to ask. The only good relationship I ever had I ruined. "
"Danny is convenient and comfortable. I feel safe and I like that he makes me feel like that. The problem is that I don't know if I really love him for who he is or what he provides for me."
Randy smiled and sat back down. "It's nice to know you're as screwed up as me."
John laughed and shook his head. "Am I a horrible person?"
Randy shook his head furiously. "No! Don't ever say that!"
"I'm using this man, Randy. I'm trying to have everything I wanted with you, but I don't love him the way I loved you." John blushed and looked back down. "This is weird."
Randy smiled. "I know. You know, the reason I changed was you."
John looked up and frowned.
"You pointed out everything that was wrong with me. I was doing everything wrong back then and I was looking for acceptance from everyone. I didn't realize that I was losing the closet things to me which was my daughter, you and my best friends."
"I didn't ever want you to think something was wrong with you, Randy. It wasn't."
Randy shrugged. "Well, I think something was wrong with me. I wasn't happy then. Maybe for the moment, but after the party or the drink wore off, I was back to being lonely. I was lucky enough to go through a very friendly divorce and had an ex who didn't mind letting me take my daughter any time I wanted. I didn't, though. I wanted to go party and leave the most important things to me out of my life." He sighed deeply.
John took Randy's hand and softly ran his fingers over it.
"I stopped everything that first year after we broke up. I looked at myself from the inside and I didn't like me. I couldn't believe you stuck with me as long as you did. I looked inside and admitted to myself what I really wanted, but was just scared to go after."
"What do you want, Ran?"
"To be happy with myself, which I am now," Randy looked at John's hand on his and said, "be a good dad that Alanna can be proud of, be a good friend to the few I have, fix the horrible reputation I had at work and to make things right with you. I never felt about anyone the way I feel about you and I'm so sorry I hurt you. You deserve the best and I didn't give it to you. There's no way you could ever want me again, so I've resigned myself to be friends."
Randy narrowed his eyes and smirked. "Just don't mention Danny so damn much."
John laughed and his fingers moved up to Randy's face. He ran his fingers over his soft skin and smiled when Randy closed his eyes and leaned into the touch.
"We had a wonderful couple of years together, so don't make it seem like I got cheated. I had to let you go so you could find yourself. You have no idea how happy I am that you did. I'm happy that you realize you're an amazing man with a loving heart."
"Thanks."
John nodded and said, "I asked you this once. Where do you see yourself in 5 years?"
Randy laughed. "I still don't really know but I'm closer to figuring it out. I like my life now. I love wrestling and the traveling but it's not my number one focus anymore. When I can't do it anymore, I'll be OK. My daughter is my world and every free moment I have is dedicated to her. Maybe one day either Sam or I will give her a sibling and she'll have two happy homes."
He sighed. "I'll be happy either way, though. I could be happy alone, too. I know my destiny will find me. I don't need to change for anyone else now."
John smiled. "What if your destiny already found you?"
"Did it?"
John nodded and pulled Randy's face to his. He kissed him deeply and slowly felt Randy respond. The realization of his lips on Randy's after so many years made him tremble and he felt Randy pull him closer. The two pulled away breathlessly and John looked into Randy's eyes and was shocked to see the fear there.
"What is it?"
"John, I still love you so much, but I'm so scared that I'll hurt you again. How can you still want me?"
John caressed Randy's face and shook his head. "I never stopped loving you, Randy. I know you'll never hurt me again. I had to let you go but you found your way back to me, alone. No one pushed you to me. We tried to move on without each other, but couldn't. Face it; we're meant to be."
Randy smiled and hugged John tightly, feeling their hearts beat together. "You know, I always felt like everyone thought I was the strong one in this relationship. I play the tough guy part really well."
John laughed and agreed with Randy.
"It was all crap, though. I needed you more than you ever needed me. I needed your love and reassurance more than anyone. I was so insecure."
"Why, baby? You have so many people who love you. I'm on the top of that list."
Randy quickly kissed John and said, "I didn't know it then. I know it now." He ran his finger over John's lips and said, "Do you honestly know how much I love you?"
John nodded and kissed his finger. "I do."
"We're going for it this time and by 'it', I mean the long haul. I'm not letting you go, Cena, so you're stuck with me."
John shrugged and said, "Fine, I'll call Danny tomorrow and just live with you forever." He sighed dramatically then laughed when he looked at Randy's face. "I love teasing you, babe. You know you're stuck with me, too. Can you deal with me?"
Randy pushed John on the bed and said, "I can deal with anything. I love you."
John kissed him hard on the lips then turned his head. "You know the guys are gonna give us so much crap for this, right?"
Randy groaned. "God, don't I know it. Cody's gonna irritate me for days."
John laughed and again bought his lips to Randy's, while thoughts of the future danced in his head.
A/N: Hope you all enjoyed it!