A/N: Thank you once again for the reviews. Please remember we own nothing but Mollie & Brooklyn. Signed, The Team
"Mollie?" Ben asked. "Hi…how are you doing?"
"Why the hell do you care?" Mollie snapped.
"Why so hostile?" he asked snidely. "I just wanted to make sure you're going to be home for the hearing. Where are you anyway?"
"Like I'd ever tell you," she replied.
"Oh come on baby. Why don't you just tell me so we can sort all this out face to face?" Ben asked.
"Never." Mollie sternly said.
"You know you won't win." Ben snidely commented.
"You've got to be the most arrogant, self-centered man I've ever known. What happened to you, Ben?"
"There you go trying to psycho-analyze me, Mollie"
"You're half right...you really are psycho!" she shot back.
Ben sat silent for a moment, surprised at the backbone she was showing. "You don't know the half of it." And he hung up the phone.
Mollie dropped the phone on the table and tried to catch her breath. Her heart was racing a hundred miles an hour. What did he mean by that? Yes, he had laid a hand on her before - in fact several times before - but was he actually capable of worse?
Suddenly feeling like the walls were closing in on her, Mollie left her room in a hurry. She didn't even get to the elevators before her tears started coming down her face. She was terrified at the possibilities of Ben's threat. She punched the down button on the wall, looking to catch the elevator for some air outside near the pool.
The doors opened and out came a texting Brooklyn on her phone. She saw the redhead in front of her and gasped.
"Mollie?" Brooklyn said. "Oh my God, are you alright?"
"Well what did he say?" Brooklyn asked, now scared for her new friend.
"He...he told me that I wouldn't win in court and that it wasn't over." Mollie started to hyperventilate, the tears coming again. Brooklyn put a hand to her knee in comfort. "He...I told him he was insane and he said that I didn't know the half of it and hung up. I'm so scared."
"Vince knows about the court hearing but he nor Stephanie doesn't know the rest. A restraining order would only push him further to do something. I can't bring all of that into here, I'd lose my job!" Mollie worried.
Brooklyn understood her worries and fears. She sighed. "Alright, but to be honest, I don't want you alone." She thought for a moment, "Do you have a roommate?"
"No." She sniffled.
A smile spread across Brooklyn's face. "Good, then we'll have a slumber party. Let's go grab your things. You're rooming with me from now on. And I'll bring it up with Stephanie that you'll be my new travel buddy."
"You don't have to do that," Mollie insisted. "Besides, he doesn't even know where I am."
"But, I don't think you need to take that chance," Brooklyn told her. "Look, it's done. No arguing. Get your stuff. You're staying with me."
Mollie caved. "Ok. I appreciate it."
"No problem honey. This will be fun!"
Mollie went to her hotel room and gathered up her belongings. She made her way back to Brooklyn's room. She was very thankful of the offer, but a part of her was still apprehensive about the move. She didn't want to drag Brooklyn into her mess.
The next morning everyone was up early, getting ready to catch their flights home. Brooklyn, who lived in southern California, was already gone by the time Mollie finished getting ready. Brooklyn left her a note with all of her contact info and to remind her that she'd talk to Stephanie about the room arrangements.
Mollie got her things together and made her way to her rental car. She had to catch a 9 am flight to St. Louis, and then she was catching a connecting flight back to Stamford. She got in her rental car and headed to the airport. After checking her luggage, she got a java chip frappacino from Starbucks and a magazine and waited for her flight. She was totally lost in her thoughts when she heard her name.
Randy was standing by her, "Hey Mollie. How are you?"
Mollie replied, "I'm great. How are you?"
"I'm ready to go home and see my girls," he answered with a huge smile.
"I bet you are. You've got one little girl, right?" Mollie asked.
Like any proud papa, Randy pulled out his wallet and showed Mollie a picture of Alanna.
Mollie's heart melted at the adorable, mop-headed little brunette. "She's beautiful."
"Thankfully she looks just like her mother," Randy laughed. "So, where are you headed?"
"Back to Stamford. After I catch a connecting flight in St. Louis."
"We'll be on the same flight then. In fact..." he said to himself as he looked at Mollie's ticket as well as his own, "we're sitting beside each other."
"Imagine that...how about we get that one-on-one meeting out of the way while on the plane?" Mollie suggested.
"Great..."
Meanwhile, John was gathering his things from his rental car. He had just turned it back in to the airport and was looking to check in for his flight. He had a restless night. He couldn't shake the conversation he and Randy had the night before.
Randy made a good point in the fact that it was all over and done with, aside from the judge signing his or her signature to make it final. He could let his attorney handle everything; it was what he was paying them the big bucks for. But the fact that his ex-wife had him so jaded was wrong. She screwed up so what was he feeling like the bad guy? Or was it that he wasn't the bad guy, he was just completely crushed? For some reason, the two seemed to both be the correct answer for him.
John knew Randy was trying to help, but it really only stirred up more baggage. That was why he went to the lobby bar. He just wanted peace and quiet. But then he saw her, Mollie. That was another thing he couldn't get off of his mind. In a way, behind her eyes, she seemed sad like him, but he couldn't pin point the problem. He too felt this drawing sensation towards her. He had no clue where it came from, but he had a gut feeling that he needed to just be by her. He'd decided by the time he had reached his room last night that she'd make a good friend. She was cute and seemed to have a pretty decent personality. But he barely knew her, and yet, he wanted to know her better.
She had asked him what was wrong, like any nice person would do, but her question seemed to make him want to open up to her. But because of his ex-wife, he couldn't trust anyone of the female persuasion, not just yet.
Cena sighed as he reached the ticket counter. He checked in for his flight and was thankful there was a Starbuck's near his terminal. 'Coffee would do me some good.' He thought. 'I can't wait for this R&R.' He added.
His only plans were to make sure all of his ex's crap was packed up and in the garage and hit the gym as often as he could.
John then realized it was time for his flight. He grabbed his gear and coffee and headed to board. He then saw Randy and Mollie chatting away on a couch near the terminal. He nodded hello to them as he walked by, not wanting to interrupt the conversation.
Randy sighed as he saw John's face, still stricken with the same pain from their conversation the night before.
Mollie saw the same look as well as heard Randy's sigh. Mollie turned to Randy and said, "He looks so sad."
Randy smiled inwardly at her perception. "He's got a lot of shit going on right now."
Mollie eyed Randy, hoping he'd elaborate but didn't push the issue. "Really?"
Randy thought before speaking. Surely he could let her in on what was going on without telling too much. "He's going through a divorce. It's getting ugly."
"Oh…" Mollie replied, totally being able to relate.
"Yeah and it's really going to be hard for me to be there for him with me being out for at least these next couple of weeks." Randy shook his head sadly. "But, Mollie, please, I say this in pure confidence. John doesn't like his dirt being out there."
"I completely understand. Trust me when I say that I can relate." Mollie sighed.
Randy looked at her for more but before Mollie could reply, their flight was called. She helped the Legend Killer gather his things and the two of them boarded their flight.
As they settled into their seats, their conversation was forgotten about John and Mollie's "issues" and turned it towards business.
Randy and Mollie chatted through the entire flight. That being said, Mollie was able to get all of the information she needed from Randy to make her job easy. When they arrived in St. Louis, Mollie bid Randy farewell and got on her plane to Connecticut. As she got out her laptop to catch up on work, John once again crossed her mind. She remembered what Randy had said during their conversation at the airport. She vowed then and there she'd keep an eye on John, just making sure he's ok.
A couple of hours later, Mollie arrived back at her apartment. She was going to be able to be home today before she had to report to Stephanie for a meeting first thing in the morning. She threw her bags to the floor and immediately collapsed on her bed for a nap.
Mollie found herself back in the home she shared with Ben. She was standing at her sink washing dishes. Then, the front door swung open. She heard Ben trudge through the house.
He yelled, "Mollie!"
The sound of his voice sent chill bumps across her arms.
"MOLLIE!"
Ben then stomped into the kitchen. As soon as Mollie turned to face Ben, she saw him draw back his hand.
Mollie sat straight up in bed, trying to catch her breath. Oh my God…
A few hours later, John touched down in Tampa. He had a car & driver there waiting on him to drive him home. He just hoped and prayed that there would be no drama once he got there.
The driver pulled up at home and helped John with his gear. He did breathe a sigh of relief to find that the house was intact and not burned to the ground. He opened the door to find the house eerily quiet, much like the day he came in and found Liz with that guy.
He sat down his bags and walked through the house. She wasn't there, and her stuff was gone from her closet. John breathed another sigh of relief. Then he made his way to the office where sat a stack of mail. His college friend and trainer Rob always went by the home while he was gone to just make sure everything was ok.
He started siphoning through the various envelopes, separating the bills from the junk mail.
He raised an eyebrow at an envelope from his attorney. It was a normal letter size envelope, which in John's mind couldn't have been good.
Ripping it open with his letter opener, he unfolded the piece of paper and looked it over.
Dear Mr. Cena,
I am pleased to inform you that all of your ex-wife's, Elizabeth Huberdaeu's, things have been removed from your home and checked off the agreement list. The final pleadings and paper work, along with the physical divorce papers have been given to the judge and we are awaiting a final judgment.
I must say that this has been a fairly easy procedure and once I get the signed copies of the agreement from the judge, I will let you know as well as send you a courtesy copy for your records.
The terms of your prenuptial agreement were clear cut and precise, therefore Ms. Huberdaeu will be receiving one lump sum of the disclosed amount given in the previous mentioned agreement and therefore not eligible for further assistance from you.
Sincerely your attorney,
Darren Myers
John looked at the letter and sighed. It would soon be over, so now the real healing could begin. He sat the letter aside and said, "I hope you're happy Liz. I really, really do."
