Title: After Montreal

Rated: M (Mature)

Genre(s): Romance/Drama

Pair(s): Bret/Shawn, Mark/Hunter, etc.

Summary: That match may have cost him more than his reputation in Montreal. The entire roster is thrilled that Shawn is the new champion… but Shawn could care less. Because, out there, in front of millions of fans, he broke a man. He lost his boyfriend. And he's not sure that he could ever win him back. Until he receives news that could alter both of their lives forever…

Disclaimer: I don't own anyone, besides my OCs.

Warning: Slash, Mpreg

Part: 4/? – He's Leaving

OOOO

For the first twenty-four hours after the accident, a nurse would come and wake him hourly. Each time, he hoped that he would turn over and find Bret in the EZ-chair next to the bed. And each time, he was disappointed. It wasn't until breakfast two days later, the first breakfast that he could actually stomach with his concussion, that Bret finally arrived. The man looked a little worse for wear, with stitches in his forehead and tape over his nose to hold it in place. But he was there, and that was all that mattered to Shawn. Bret shot him a look, before he crashed in the EZ-chair.

An uncomfortable silence settled between them. Shawn wanted to talk to the older man, but for the first time, he was at a loss for words. Instead, he nibbled on the piece of pumpkin bread that one of the nurses had made for the others at the nurses' station down the hall. The woman was a cute little number, who also happened to be head over heels for Shawn. And damn, could she bake! All he had done was bat his eyelashes at her and say how wonderful it smelled, and she handed him half the cake!

"I heard you were in an accident." Bret said lowly, his voice nasally because of the broken nose. "But even a concussion can't keep the Best Heartbreaker in the World down, can it? After all, I doubt they serve pumpkin bread made from scratch on the hospital menu."

Shawn looked down, his free hand gingerly rubbing his midsection. Bret didn't notice. "I told the nurses that I didn't want to eat, but they insisted for the health of the…"

Bret raised an eyebrow. "The health of the what, Shawn?"

"For Bryan and Annalisa. They need me at one-hundred percent." Shawn lied, setting the bread down and wrapping both arms around the small distention of his midsection. "Why are you here, Bret?"

"I need more reason than to come and see the condition of my wounded boyfriend?" Bret hissed.

"If you really cared so much about me, why didn't you come the first day?" Shawn asked. "Or even the second. I could understand the second. But it's been three days, Bret!"

Shawn could see the tears bristling in Bret's eyes. "Well, excuse me. Since I'm not listed as your emergency contact, I had to find out from Hunter that you and Annalisa were hurt. And if you've been awake for three days 'waiting' for me, why didn't you call? Why do you always assume I'm the one to blame?"

The uncomfortable silence was officially restored. Shawn's eyes widened at Bret's current condition. The man seemed utterly distraught, but at the same time frustrated and angry at… the world. Shawn felt for him. He wouldn't wish Bret's current situation on his worst enemy. And he could end all of that pain with two little words. I'm pregnant. The words that would bring a smile to Bret's face. The only words that could make him forget the hurt. But, for some reason that he couldn't identify, he couldn't force the words out…

"I'm sorry." Of all the millions of ways he had envisioned this conversation, not once did he think that he'd be the one saying 'I'm sorry.'

Bret shook his head, taking a deep breath. "I'm leaving."

When the older man made no move to stand, Shawn became confused. "What do you mean 'you're leaving'? You're not… l-leaving me… are y-you?"

"I guess that you could choose to look at it like that." Bret nodded slowly. "But, I meant that I'm leaving the WWF. I wasn't the only one cheated out there. The fans were cheated out of an excellent title defense. And I refuse to betray the fans."

"So you'll betray your family instead."

It wasn't a question. It was a statement, said with solid conviction. Bret's head snapped up, and for a moment, their eyes met. For the first time since their match, Shawn looked into his boyfriend's eyes. His beautifully broken brown eyes. It made his heart freeze in his chest, and he found himself waiting for the small smirk that never came. No, Bret merely shook his head, brown curls falling haphazardly over his shoulders. Why did this feel like such an end? Why was Bret so unwilling to make this work?

"You don't understand." Was all that he said.

Desperately, Shawn reached out for him, hooking his hand around the larger man's wrist. Bret paused, caught. Shawn knew that Bret would never hurt him by trying to yank his arm out of the hold, so he kept his hold firm. Maybe he believed that, if he kept holding on, Bret would change his mind about leaving the WWF… about leaving him. But that seemed to be the last thing on the Hitman's mind. Instead, he leaned down and kissed the smaller man. The kiss stole his breath away, and just as he was about to respond, Bret pulled away.

"I've always had faith in you and your decisions. And even if I am having trouble looking at you right now, because of what you did to me… you have to know that I still love you. That will never change. So, all I ask is that you have a little faith in me. Trust me." Bret said firmly.

"I trusted you to comfort me, and you locked me out of your locker room. I needed you to be there for me over the last two days, but you were too busy terminating your contract to care. You may love me, but I hate you."

Bret tried his best to look unaffected by the words, but it was obvious how they twisted at his heart. "Well then, I guess this is officially goodbye."

It was only after he was outside the room that he finally let the tears fall.

OOOO

A/N: Just realized that Shawn could totally blame that little outburst on hormones, but, y'know, Bret doesn't know about the baby…

Well, another chapter down. I promise the next one will be longer! Anyway, what do you guys think? Please Review!