(A/N: I AM SOOO SORRY! I haven't updated this in like forever! I really do apologize, but now I'm back on track with the story. I want to say a big thanks to everyone who added my story to their favs and alerts and especially to those who reviewed: broken and beautiful, Sweet-Kisses-07 OneTreeHillWrestilingFan giftiebee Ms. Coocoo Bananna's AngelRose82 xXMckenzieXx xAttitudex and Jewelgirl04. This chapter's recommended reading goes to Queen Rhodes for her new one shot "Mother Knows Best" It also goes to Jewelgirl04 for her excellent one shot"Fascinating New Thing" and it's sequel one shot "Only One". Also, all of you should check out my new story "The Titan Trifecta", it's a high school fic, I've never done a high school fic before, but this isn't any normal high school fic, this high school fic has drinking, drugs, sex, lies, mind games, manipulation, and yes even murder. This story is told from the dark side of high school, the side where people aren't nice, they aren't nice at all. Okay moving on, this chapter is the beginning of the rest of the story. I'm not sure if I mentioned this before, but I screwed around with John's age for fictional purposes! Things will be getting really sad and sorrowful soon, hold on tight. Read, Review, and Enjoy!)
"What?" Danica asked shocked. She was almost certain that her mother would get full custody of Lily Ann.
"Well everything should be carried out exactly the way it was written." Meyers explained.
"I understand that… What I don't understand is Lily Ann's guardianship." Danica questioned. John looked on in shock and confusion.
"Lily Ann's guardians are you her godmother, Danica Porter, and him her godfather John Cena." Meyers repeated. Danica turned around and ran her fingers through her hair. Carol Cena sat wide-eyed. Mary porter sat in silent thought.
"So… so… we have joint custody of Lily Ann?" John asked to verify the situation.
"Yes… You, John Cena and her, Danica porter, have joint custody of Lily Ann porter." The Lawyer stated slowly as though he were speaking to a child for their lack of comprehension of the situation at hand.
"Wow…that's a" John was speechless.
"Shock…" Danica finished. "I'll take full responsibility for her John, don't worry about it." Danica exclaimed immediately knowing John would not want the "burden."
"NO! Wait a minute, she's my responsibility as well, and I want her." John replied heatedly to Danica's comment.
"Thank you so much Mr. Meyers, that will be all for now, I'll call you if I need you again." Mary Porter said not wanting to have a family dispute in front of the lawyer. Meyers sat the will down on the table. Mary led Mr. Meyers to the door. After walking him out, Mary came back in to see John leaning on part of the wrap around counter with his hands placed on the edge of the counter top holding him up. Danica stood in the corner of the wrap around counter with her arms folded in aggravation.
"Okay, now there is no reason to argue over this Danica." Mary told her daughter.
"Yes, this can all be worked out just fine." Carol told her son.
"John you're way too irresponsible to handle a baby." Danica shot out.
"How should you know?! We haven't spoken in six years!" John retorted.
"YEAH! AND IT IS YOUR FAULT! YOU HAVEN'T EVEN GROWN UP YOURSELF! HOW CAN YOU RAISE A CHILD?!" Danica screamed.
"YOU DON'T EVEN KNOW ME, WHERE DO YOU GET OFF MAKING ACCUSATIONS ABOUT ME LIKE THAT?! I'M SICK OF YOUR HOLIER THAN THOU CRAP! YOU'RE NO BETTER THAN THE REST OF US!" John said angrily.
"YOU'RE RIGHT! I DON'T KNOW YOU! AND I MOST CERTAINLY DON'T WANT TO!" Danica shouted.
"EVERYONE STOP!" Mary porter yelled startling everyone. "You mean to tell me that you two have been lying this entire time?" Mary questioned.
"I don't understand this, throughout the past six years, you two have constantly said that you have kept in touch. This doesn't make sense, what's going on?" Carol stated.
"Yes, you have both said that you guys have spent time together… just to hang out…" Mary finished.
"That you are great friends, and talk all the time." Carol added.
"And that you enjoy one another's company." Mary said. John and Danica looked at one another and then looked away.
"You two have been lying to us for the past six years?" Carol Cena asked angrily. Both John and Danica sighed and shook their heads.
"But why?" Carol and Mary asked in unison.
"We just had a falling out before I went away to school…That's all… We didn't want to drag everyone else into it… So I just didn't say anything." Danica admitted.
"So you two planned to pretend to be friends?" Mary questioned.
"No… I guess we both just had the same idea…" John answered. He and Danica had not intended on telling the same lie for the same purpose, they both just ended up doing it.
"And so I assume you kept this lie up even to Donny. You pretended to keep in touch and be friends with one another when Donny asked as well?" Carol Cena inquired. Once again, they shook their heads.
"Donny thought that we were close. I told him that Danica and I hung out often. I thought Donny would find out I was lying from Danica, but when he never mentioned it again, I assumed that Danica told him it was true. John explained. "From then on, whenever he'd ask, I'd make up another lie." John revealed.
"Donny thought that John and I spent a lot of time together… I did it to make him happy; I didn't want to put him in the middle of his best friend and his sister. So when he would ask how John and I are, I'd tell him great, that we're good friends, we talk on the phone, and hang out when he's in town." Danica told her mother and Carol Cena.
"Well… this is what you two get for lying. You get to raise Lily Ann together." Carol said.
"One thing Donny got right about the situation was, that there aren't two people more loving and capable to raise a little girl." Mary exclaimed glaring at her daughter Danica and silently singing praises of John.
"Now, like it or not, the two of you are in this together. So work it out, I don't care how, just work it out. You have to realize that you two cannot be selfish with this, because it's not about what's best for you" Carol ordered John and Danica.
"We'll leave you two alone to talk, we're going to go finish this up and call Donny's job and the rest of the family and friends." Mary Cena told Danica and John. Carol and Mary left the kitchen leaving Danica and John alone.
"Danica I'm so-"
"Don't… This is about Lily Ann, not us…Just stay focused on the subject at hand." Danica said cutting John off. "With your choice of career, and what it requires, things will be a little hard." Danica said.
"I know… But I want to be with Lily Ann as much as possible." John told Danica honestly. "You don't even live in West Newbury anymore… You live in Somers Connecticut." John stated remembering what Donny had told him once.
FLASHBACK
"So what do you think about her not coming back home?" Donny asked John as they drove to the gym.
"Who?" John asked.
"Danii… yah know… now that she's finished with school, she's not going to move back to Mass like we thought. She's moving to Somers Connecticut... The school landed her a job at the hospital in Somers. Wait she didn't tell you?" Donny asked glancing at John.
"Oh no she did… I just didn't know who you were talking about at first" John covered up leaving Donny aloof. "Well of course I'm disappointed, I was hoping for her to come home. But either way we will always be close… and besides, a ride over to Somers Connecticut isn't that bad. Plus, she will always be in town anyway; you know she can't stay away from here for too long…" John stated.
"Man John, I'm so proud of her. The hospital she's going to work at, well, it's actually a good and well renowned hospital, she's living her dream. She will finally get to be a pediatric nurse. Danii just loves babies, She's going to make a fantastic nurse." Donny stated proud of his little sister. "I can't believe you missed her college graduation John." Donny exclaimed.
"Me neither…. But I just couldn't get off work..." John lied easily.
"Yeah that sucks. You missed her high school graduation too John…" Donny spoke laughing.
"Well, shit happens… I mean she never yelled at me about it.. And we're fine so it's not all that bad." John once again lied guiltily.
END FLASHBACK
"Well, with everything going on, I was thinking of getting a job transfer here in West Newbury to Mercy Hospital. Then Lil can see our mothers as often as possible." Danica suggested.
"Would you stay here with your mom?" John inquired.
"Well I could, she has everything here of Lily's from when she would baby-sit her. But the will said that we can stay in Donny and Karen's place. Although she's extremely young, I'd like to keep her in her most familiar surroundings. Plus, I'd feel closer to Donny and Karen, I really miss them. If I stay at the house, it would keep it in good shape… and It's closer to the hospital." Danica explained.
"Yeah, and it's also closer to my apartment. I agree things will be a lot easier that way. I do want what's best for Lily, so it's obvious that she should stay with you when I'm gone, but when I come back I want her to stay with me." John told Danica.
"You can't be serious John… Yes, you deserve to see Lily just as much as I do, but I don't want her being tossed from home to home… When you are home, you can see her as much as you want, and she can stay with you on the weekends, but she's not leaving the house during the middle of the week for no specific amount of time or amount of days just because you're finally home." Danica objected John's idea.
"Alright… we can do that for now. I don't want to argue with you anymore. I don't want to offend you Danii, but I'd like to pay for everything that you and Lil need." John suggested to Danica.
"I don't need nor do I want your money John." Danica spat.
"Be reasonable Danii… You are a nurse; you may live comfortably on your own in an apartment. But now you have a child you're responsible for, a house with bills… Yes, Donny's house is paid off, but it cost far more money to pay monthly bills on a house than an apartment. Clothes, diapers, bottles, high chairs, toys, walkers, blankets, strollers, all of that stuff and everything else a baby needs are expensive." John tried to reason with Danica.
"She already has all of those things… Yes, she'll need more, but I'm more than sure I can handle it…. And don't you dare try to talk to me about responsibility." Danica seethed.
"Look… I didn't argue about the living arrangements so don't argue with me about the money." John told her.
"Fine… you can pay for everything for Lil… but I can handle the rest." Danica stated determinedly.
"I'll send you a check for three-hundred dollars a week. That's twelve-hundred a month… I feel I should give you more, I want to, are you willing to accept more?" John asked Danica, walking on eggshells so she wouldn't reject the entire idea.
"No that's plenty… I won't accept anything more than that." Danica told John.
"Alright, fine, that's good enough." John said to Danica.
"So it's all settled then." Danica said getting up.
John reached out taking Danica's hand. "No not yet, Danii just let me talk to you… for the last time I'm sorr-" Danica ripped her arm away from John.
"John… we're not friends. Don't try to make this something it's not." Danica hissed.
"Danii, I know you don't think I can do this, But please…. Have a little faith in me." John said to Danica with pleading eyes.
"Don't screw this up John." Danica said walking out of the room by herself. John sat at the table alone in deep contemplation.
'I can't believe this is happening… Not only is my best friend gone, I'm responsible for his baby… my god daughter…It's happening so fast…I can do this, I am 27 years old and I have more than enough money to take care of a baby. I love Lily Ann… I can do this… The question is, can I do this along side Danica? She basically wants nothing to do with me. She doesn't think I can handle this; But I can and I will." John thought to himself seriously.
(The living room of the Porter home)
Danica sat on the sofa rocking a sleeping Lil Ann in her arms. Her mother and Carol had finished making the phone calls for the funeral arrangements. The funeral was to be on Sunday at ten o'clock. They were just beginning to make a list of what family and friends that they needed to call. John walked in the room and sat down next to his mother.
"John, would you mind writing a list of friends that Donny would want at the funeral?" Mary asked John.
"No problem." John said walking towards the note pad and pen Mary Porter was holding for him. On his way there, John stopped in front of Danica bent down and kissed Lily Ann's forehead.
(Forty minutes later)
By now John had made a list of friends of Donny's that he would've wanted to attend his funeral. Mary had picked up Karen's phonebook yesterday at her house. She began calling Karen's friends and coworkers informing them of the depressing news. John also began calling the co-workers that Donny was close with. Carol Cena took Lily from Danica so both she and John could write their eulogies. By the time Mary finished calling the people in Karen's phone book Danica was done writing her eulogy. She took Lily back from Carol Cena. Lily Ann had just woken up and began to cry.
"I'll go make her a bottle" Danica said walking into the kitchen with Lily on her hip.
"John. Carol and I are going to the funeral home to pick out a casket." Mary told John, who looked up from his pen and paper intently.
"Alright, see you in a bit." John told his Mary and his mother. Mary grabbed her keys and her purse, and then she and Carol left. John returned to writing his eulogy. Danii walked in carrying Lily and holding a bottle to her mouth.
"There ya go sweetie." Danica said rocking her.
(15 minutes later)
John had finished writing his eulogy. Lily didn't want her bottle any longer, what she wanted was to cry. Danica had been rocking her for the past five minutes, nothing was working. "She misses her mama and daddy" Danica exclaimed with a sigh.
"Let me try." John suggested holding out his arms. Danica sighed and put Lily Ann into John's arms.
"Shh, its okay angel face." John said holding Lily who continued to cry.
Danica sighed. 'He wants to try, I'll let him try." Danica thought to herself about John before she walked upstairs to take a shower.
After Danica showered, she towel dried her hair. Danica changed into a simple orange and white cotton sundress. She didn't bother putting on shoes, because she didn't plan to leave the house. She walked towards the staircase expecting Lily to still be crying. After descending the stairs, Danica was shocked by what she saw. She walked over to the sofa and a small smile crept onto her face. John was sleeping with Lily Ann lying peacefully on his chest sleeping as well. Danica decided against waking John up. She lay out on the sofa across from John and put a pillow under her head.
(4:30pm)
Danica woke up to a grumbling in her stomach. She rose up and took a nice stretch. She decided to make herself something to eat and to make enough for her mother and Carol for when they arrived back. Deciding not to be as rude as usual to him, Danica decided to make enough for John as well. Danica took hamburgers out of the freezer and began cooking.
Danica was frying the hamburgers when she was startled by John's presence. "Smells good." John said to Danica.
"Yeah." Danica replied flipping the hamburgers.
"Where's Lil?" Danica asked.
"I put her in the crib upstairs, she was still asleep." John answered taking a seat at the round kitchen table.
"That's good; she will probably wake up at about six, eat again, wanna play till about nine and then she'll be done for the night." Danica stated knowingly as she walked over to the fridge and took out some Kraft singles cheese. Silence filled the room for several awkward moments.
"Danii, we can't go on like this; it's been six years, and you still won't talk to me… We've been lying our asses off and that's how we ended up in this dilemma." John reasoned with Danica.
"You call Lil a dilemma?" Danica asked.
"No, I call the fact that we have joint custody of her when we don't get along a dilemma. If we didn't lie to Donny, I'm sure he would've forced us to talk a long time ago and you would've forgiven me by now." John said.
"Forgive you? Oh, you make it sound so easy; peace of cake right? Just forgive you because you're oh so sorry…What you did to me was the worst thing I've ever been through." Danica said as she took out the hamburger buns.
"Danica it wasn't even that bad, that's something that you should've gotten over within a week. This is insane; I cannot believe that you're going to hold such a big grudge, over something so small, at a time like this. You're unfuckinbelievable." John said frustrated.
"NOT FOR YOU, NO IT WASN'T THAT BAD FOR YOU! It wasn't bad for you as much as it was for me; and I have my reasons. You don't understand how bad that hurt…" Danica stated as her eyes welled up from anger.
"Why? Why did it hurt so badly?" John asked not understanding.
Flashback
Danica was 18 years old and she was certain she was about to have the best time of her life. She stared at herself in the mirror. She felt like Cinderella in her prom gown. Her hair looked amazing, her make-up was flawless, and she knew that she looked absolutely stunning. Danica was aware of the fact that she was a pretty girl, she just was shy; far too shy to go with any of her classmates to prom. She had many offers but she declined them all. Besides, she had her eye on a special someone anyway.
End Flashback
Danica sighed flipping the hamburgers and turning the flame on the stove down low, now that the burgers were thawed out. "It doesn't matter now, it's been six years." Danica said wanting to be done with the conversation.
"No… if it didn't matter you wouldn't be mad at me anymore, you wouldn't have ignored me and stayed away from me for six years. What happened to us, we used to be so close Danii…" John tried.
Flashback
As usual, John picked Danica up from school. Yes, she had a license, but no, she didn't have a car. John was in college, his classes started at nine am and ended by one pm. Danica's brother Donny had classes starting at twelve pm, he was a late sleeper, and didn't get out of class until 4pm. By the time, John got out of class and picked something up to eat for him and Danica and reached her school it was two o'clock. Danica got out of school at two eleven pm. When it was warm outside, John always sat on the roof of the car and ate his food. Danica would come out with the rush of the other students and run to the car. He'd smirk at how she grabbed her usual chicken salad and scarfed it down. They'd sit on the car together and eat their food as Danii would tell him about her day in school. By Three thirty, John would drive Danica to Mercy Hospital. Danica did volunteer work there every weekday starting at four pm and she left by six pm. She volunteered in the pediatrics ward. Danica just adored babies. After dropping her off, John would drive over to the gym. He'd finish at the gym by 5:45; he'd drive over to the hospital and arrive at six pm sharp. They did this together the entire school year. They had been childhood friends, and this just brought them closer.
Only one thing bothered Danica… Girls. The girls at her school practically mauled John everyday when he'd pick her up. John never objected either. Danica never said anything she just continued eating her salad as girls begged for his number. Not only was John cute, he was twenty-one, in college, and played football. Every Friday, after John went to the gym and picked Danica up, he was always in a hurry to get home and showered for a date, always the same time, never the same girl. During the weekend, Donny and John were ghosts. They'd leave Friday night and wouldn't show back up until Sunday afternoon. Girls, Girls, Girls… That always-bothered Danica but she always felt that she meant much more to John than some giggly bimbo. No she and John weren't dating, they weren't planning on dating, John was clueless to the fact that Danii had a crush on him. To him she was just Donny's baby sister; practically his baby sister, Danii.
It was May 24, 2001… John was driving Danii to the hospital to volunteer as usual.
"John, I was wondering; I know its short notice and all but…" Danica was wringing her hands in nervousness. Danica had turned down every guy who had asked her to prom before. She had someone specific in mind.
"What's wrong Danii?" John asked turning down the radio.
"Well... I…nobody has asked me to prom yet." Danica lied.
"But wait… I coulda sworn, Donny told me that your mom said you had been asked by plenty of guys." John stated.
"Ohhhh... yeah I've been asked, but the guys that asked me are only looking for well yah know, and the ones who weren't are just ugly. I just couldn't bare going with any of them. So I was wondering if you… If you would want to go with me?" Danica asked looking at John with her puppy dog eyes.
"You know I can never say no to you Danii." John told her.
"Yayy!" Danii said clapping her hands and grabbing John and kissing his cheek.
"What day is it?" John asked.
"June twelfth, from seven to eleven o'clock pm." Danica told John.
"You got it Danii" John told his friend.
End flashback
"Yeah well not anymore John, you threw away our friendship on the night of my prom. And it's something that you can never take back." Danica spat heatedly.
"Danii… It wasn't even that serious, you are seriously OVER REACTING!" John shouted at Danica.
"OVER REACTING?! YOU HUMILIATED ME ON WHAT WAS THE MOST IMPORTANT NIGHT IN MY HIGH SCHOOL YEARS! WHAT EVERY GIRL LOOKS FORWARD TO AND YOU RUINED IT! ALL BECAUSE YOU'RE SELFISH AND IMMATURE! YOU DON'T CARE ABOUT ANYONE'S FEELINGS EXCEPT YOUR OWN! YOU NEVER GREW UP AND YOU NEVER WILL!" Danica shouted at John.
Flashback
So far, Danica's Prom night had been spectacular; John had arrived at her house in a gorgeous white Lincoln stretch limo. Her corsage matched her dress perfectly; he had also bought her flowers. Now, it would be time for the last dance in a few moments. Danica returned from the bathroom and to her table. John was nowhere to be found. She didn't know where he was, she searched the dance floor, searched other tables, she even stood outside the men's bathroom for a while. Danica decided to walk outside in the parking lot. She saw that her limo was still there, she walked towards it figuring she might as well wait for John in there since she didn't know where he was or when he'd be back. She refused to be embarrassed by not having her date with her for the last dance.
Danica opened the door up to the limo. She was shocked and disgusted by what she saw. John was clothed in only his dress shirt and a loosened tie. His pants were around his ankles and his expensive dress shoes were still on. John was on top of a completely naked Melissa Cantrell. Melissa Cantrell attended Danica's high school and to make things worse she and Danica were arch nemeses. Melissa constantly made Danica's life a living hell. Always spreading rumors and lies about her.
"Whoops…" Melissa said with a cruel smirk. John looked at Danica with a face of pure guilt. Danica's eyes filled up with tears. She was embarrassed and humiliated. She slammed the door shut, took off her high-heeled shoes, and began running. After John pulled his pants up, he jumped out of the car and ran after Danica. To run faster, Danica threw her shoes on the side of the road and continued running trying to get away from the embarrassment she'd soon have to face.
"Danii wait!" John called after her. John continued to run but Danii ran faster as people started to come out of the Banquet Hall because the Prom was over. The crowd caused John to lose Danica. John simply sat on the sidewalk until one o'clock am, waiting for Danica. When she never showed up, John went back to the limo. Melissa Cantrell was long gone, but her panties weren't. John rolled down the window and tossed them outside. The Limo driver peeled out of the empty parking lot and drove John home. As soon as he got there, John jumped into his car and drove to Danica's house.
It was far too late for him to knock, so he climbed the trellis of her house and opened up her bedroom window. Her room was empty. John sighed and climbed down the trellis. "If something happens to her, Donny's gonna kill me." John stated worriedly. "If something happened to her, I'M gonna kill me... I'm so fuckin stupid." John said and sat on the Porters front step. John looked up when he heard crying. Danica was walking down the street towards her house with her head down. John could hear her sobbing and sniveling. The bottom of her beautiful baby pink gown was filthy and she wore no shoes. Her hair had fallen out of its up-do and was down in tussled curls. John ran over to Danica.
"Danica where did you go I was worried sick! I can't believe you walked all of the way home." John said finally reaching her.
"Just stay away from me." Danica seethed.
"Danii baby I'm so sorry." John said taking her hands.
"DON'T TOUCH ME!" Danica cried pulling away from John.
"Danica just listen to me" John tried again holding Danica's hand.
"DON'T TOUCH ME! I HATE YOU!" Danica shouted smacking John in the face. John touched his face as the stinging pain he felt lingered. "How could you do this to me? Out of everything, out of all nights, you pick tonight to screw me over!" Danica sobbed through her tears crying.
"Danii please... it was a mistake I ---" John didn't understand. He knew he was supposed to be her date but he didn't think it was that big of a deal.
"We missed the last dance…And now everyone is going to -… Oh just save it John… I never wanna see you again… If you do one thing for me, just do that. Face it John… You still haven't grown up, and you never will." Danica said before jogging away from John and to her house. The tear stained face and the look in her eyes hurt John so much.
END FLASHBACK
"I get it; I'm a first class fuck up… But it still doesn't explain why you are so angry." John questioned.
"Don't you get it?" Danica asked John.
"No. so why don't you explain it to me." John stated still oblivious.
"Okay." Danica obliged.
"After Prom, the end of the school year was horrible. Yes, there were only two weeks left. But they turned out to be the most agonizing two weeks that I had ever come across. Melissa bragged all day about how "good you were." About how you asked her into "Our limo" and the "good time you showed her" how I "fucked it up by interrupting" and how "you should've never bothered wasting your time with a boring, drab, loser like me; that you were my pity date. You only went with me because my brother asked you to, and that you just felt sorry for me…And that you never wanted to go to my prom in the first place." Danica stated crying. After six years, it was still the most mortifying experience that Danica had gone through.
"Danii, you're much smarter than that, why would you let some low life get to you like that?" John asked shocked that the strong, independent, persevering, determined Danica he knew would let something like that get the best of her.
"Because… I liked you… I really really liked you… I was in love with you; And you didn't even know. And everything Melissa said was true; I did fuck up your great lay, you were wasting your time with a loser like me, and you did pity me, that's why you went, not to mention my brother was your best friend. All the time we spent together, all the nice things you did for me and the consideration you had for me, I couldn't help but start to fall for you.. I knew you didn't and would never feel the same, so I just saved myself the embarrassment and never mentioned it… I didn't expect anything of you on my Prom night, I just wanted to have a good time… But I didn't. I ended up missing the last dance, walking with no shoes home in the dark, and with a broken heart." Danica cried to John who felt terrible.
"Danii, I didn't know" John stated apologetically.
"It shouldn't matter, as a friend, I should've meant much more to you than that…" Danica said through a snivel as she began flipping the hamburgers again.
"I was wrong.. And you have every right to hate me…" John said through a sigh. 'That whole time, she liked me; that entire time, all those days she was looking at me like that and I didn't even realize it.'
"Yeah well… I do hate you, but for Lil's sake I'll try and be cordial." Danii told John with a familiar smirk that he loved to see.
"Friends?" John asked putting his hand out for Danica to shake.
"No… associates…" Danica said refusing to shake John's hand.
"Good enough" John said happy that Danica wouldn't try to kill him in his sleep.
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