Life in the Hills 3

Chapter Fourteen - Life's a Beach

For one West Beverly junior, her winter break was going to consist of only a few things. Bikinis, sunglasses and beaches. As for that afternoon, Maryse chose a sultry black bikini top to take to the beach with her.

The moment she found a good spot, Maryse didn't waste time in making it her own, followed by applying tanning oil onto her body, though she is tanner than a New Jersey guido, she didn't care. The darker; the better. All she hoped was she wasn't going to turn into a lobster color.

Surfers had taken over the beach. There wasn't an empty board in that water. Much to her dismay, Maryse wasn't a big fan of surfers. Mainly due to that fact that she believes it's a sloppy and messy sport and always played by some losers. It wasn't her cup of tea.

With her towel on the ground, Maryse's shades slid down her face, the French diva placed herself in the specific position where she'd receive the proper amount of rays, hitting the exact spots of the body she wanted. There wasn't going to be a spot on her body that was going to nice and glowing.

As quickly as she laid down, was as quickly a nearby surfer dropped her board with water and sand flying right onto her precious body. She uttered a screech in response and quickly stood up in response to see the girl who had dropped it was already reaching the parking lot. She growled under her breath. Now you know why Maryse hates surfers.

But maybe now - maybe now she'll change her mind. It was then when she turned around and found a familiar face standing before her with a surfboard in his hand.

"Ted, what are you doing here?" It was as if she was surprised but secretly trying to hide how happy she was to have him here. It gave her a little eye candy to have at the beach while she repeatedly gets tan over her tan.

"Paid my five bucks to get in here and now, I'm going to ride some waves," Answered Ted with a smirk, "And I heard that we got a B in our report. Way to go Partner, you really impressed me. We should team up more often."

How about we team in my bed? While dirty thoughts and images ran through her head, Maryse ran her hand through her hair, "I got my maid to help with it," While that was a lie, she forgot to cross out the part where she did nothing and her maid did the whole thing. But whatever he didn't know, wouldn't hurt him.

Ted looked out onto the ocean and gazed at the sight of the waves, "Waves are looking great today. I better get out there before anyone else gets a taste of these waves," And the moment he saw the surfboard beside Maryse, it prompted a question, "Is that a surfboard? You surf?"

She hated it. She would never be caught doing it nor has any idea how to use a surfboard, "I actually -" And in that moment, that light bulb in her head just managed to light up. It wasn't a good idea but it just wasn't that bad either, "I - I love surfing. I've been surfing for years. I surfed on those tall waves and those small ones. Actually, my dad got Kelly Rowland to help train me."

"Kelly Rowland is a singer, not a surfer. You mean Kelly Slater?"

A laugh was probably her only way to just forget about the whole thing and she smiled, "I always get those two confused. Kelly Slater helped me surf and Kelly Rowland helped me build my vocal chords. I'm just so silly."

"So you want to come with me?" He extended the invitation to her, "Show me what Kelly Slater showed you."

"Um," What the hell did she get herself into? And important thing of them all, how is she going to get out of this thing? This is where stupidity takes you. Maryse took the board, dusting off the sand, "Okay, let's go."

And her final thought before she went out into the seat with him would be, Please let me come back alive.

It felt rocky - that is, Randy and Stacy's relationship. Things haven't exactly been the same. It seemed that only Stacy saw it; Randy thought everything was perfectly fine. She had made small attempts over time to help them connect more but it would work sometimes but not all the time.

Chances for them to just enjoy themselves as a couple were shot down and Randy was more fixated on things that don't even matter. Materialistic objects and nothing that really related them as a couple. The past week Stacy had tried to take Randy out to dinner on two separate occasions but "something" came up and he couldn't make it. And days they didn't have anything planned, it was so lack luster. It could be the fact that Stacy wants to expand the family but he doesn't. It could be so many other things.

That afternoon, he was taking a nap while Stacy decided to make him a special pasta that he always loved hoping that maybe this would spark something. It sounded silly but she wanted something to just make him happy and make herself happy. To see him smile, makes her smile.

At the moment she was preparing for the final touches on the dish, Randy came in in his gym shorts and t-shirt. It seemed as if he was going to go to the gym. The blonde greeted him with a smile, "Hey - I made you're favorite."

With what appeared to be a grim look, Randy just observed the blonde before he placed down his cell phone onto the kitchen counter, "You know I'm on a strict diet and I wouldn't eat that kind of pasta. You know how long it takes for me to burn that all?"

A bit disappointed, Stacy just took the plate and tossed it into the garbage, "Well, I'm sorry. I'll try and keep record of every time you're on a diet. I'm not weight watchers you know."

"Just," With the palm of his hand, he traced it over his face and let out a sigh, "I'm not eating. I won't eat dinner either. I have to meet AJ at the gym in a few and I've got tickets to the Lakers game. I'll be home late," He scrolled down his schedule for the evening when he noticed he received a message on his phone, where he actually smiled.

Quick to notice it, it prompted Stacy to begin to speculate. It's been a few weeks since she's seen a smile, "What's so funny?"

And right back into his normal mode, he didn't laugh nor smile. Just a plain gesture as he placed his phone down, "AJ sent me this chain thing. Nothing fancy or anything."

"Alright."

"I'll see you later."

The larger man exited the kitchen but forgot his phone, laying it onto the counter. A silent moment presented itself. It was juts Stacy staring at the phone. She knew that it held so many things she probably didn't know about but her whole thing with privacy and respecting others privacy was stopping her. With Randy keeping to himself, he was closed book and how much Stacy just wanted to open it up and see everything.

And it may be that he left his book at home today.

Stacy walked forward and stood before the phone. Just before anything happened, consequences of her actions were pulled together and than at that moment she wondered if what she was doing the right thing. If there were secrets, she deserved to know - after all, in a marriage there shouldn't be any secrets.

Stacy took a hold of the phone and quickly went down the call list. It was a mainly her name, Mom, AJ and Torrie on the list but what surprised her the most was reading Dawn's name on the list. And when she went in for more information, these calls with Dawn would last for hours unlike her calls with Randy which would last a seconds.

Her heart was just breaking at this whole sight. What would be even more painful would be looking at the text messages he had received in the past. Pressing the button for inbox, she scrolled down and with every scroll, pieces of her heart were just falling onto the ground and shattering.

Dawn. Dawn. Dawn was all she saw.

Message after message and these weren't the size of little message but something you'd write to someone who lived half way across the world and that you would never see. The most recent one had to catch Stacy's eye.

Thanks for staying with me for lunch. I know you had plans with Stacy but I'm glad you decided to stay with me. You don't know how much I appreciated it and enjoyed my time with you. We should definitely do that again sometime. We can go out to dinner next week. I've got plenty of places we should try out. Thanks - Dawn

And it just continued.

Thanks for helping me move some of my things in the apartment. A weak girl like me can't lift things that a strong man like you can. I'll definitely have to take you out for coffee as a thank you. See you at work - D

And continued.

Call me right after you're done with AJ at the gym. I know this small Thai place right across town that has some of the best noodle and some amazing wine. Look forward to seeing you tonight - Dawn xx

Liar. A full fledged liar. With her finger, she traced it around her eye to remove the tear that was coming to surface. That empty feeling you would get inside when something breaks your heart - well, that came and it just crushed her.

Instantly, she snapped when she suddenly heard the door open. Right away she took the phone and placed it back on the counter before Randy reemerged, finally realizing he had forgotten his phone, "I forgot my phone."

Stacy took it back in her hand and handed to him, "I won't be home tonight. I'm going to my mom's tonight and I'll be back tomorrow with the kids. Call me if you need anything."

To be in this house, someone need to strap her down to the floor and silence her. It's to painful and she needed to get out of here and be somewhere relaxing where some people actually care about her.

He nodded in response and practically ran out. Not even a kiss goodbye for his wife.

Finally! After what felt like the longest flight of there lives Eve, Cody, Kelly and Evan finally had arrived in Miami. Their eyes were currently glued to the window of their hotel room where they had a killer view of the beach along with what looked like the hundreds of tourists that were filling it up.

It was Hot, Humid and Sunny. Sounded just like Florida weather these days. While Eve and Kelly enjoyed the view of the water, Cody and Evan couldn't keep their eyes off a different view. The amount of females that was surrounding the beaches in their bikinis. Though they were both in a relationship, looking at a girl isn't bad.

"I'm unpacking like right now because I really want to get down there - like as soon as possible," She murmured out loud, "I'm off to find my bikini and I'm heading right there." It didn't take long for Eve to jump into her bedroom to grab her bikini.

"And let me give you a hand," Cody followed her right inside, leaving Evan and Kelly alone.

Evan and Kelly explored the penthouse suite and soon found themselves out on a balcony observing the view of the beaches. It was finally a chance for the couple to be together and discover one another on different levels. For the past year, they've been friends so they haven't exactly gotten a chance to know each other like a couple.

It was a big transition but both were willing and committed to the whole thing. Evan leaned onto the balcony and gazed at the view, "So many girls here, pretty ones too."

A hard slap onto his shoulder was what he received from his girlfriend, "You keep those eyes here and nowhere else okay? If I see them lurking, I'll take a scalpel and take them out so you can't see anything - ever."

"Whoa! Just joking. No need to get graphic in how you plan on destroying my vision," Evan smiled, "But this being our first trip, as a couple, I figure we should do something fun together."

"I don't care what we do. I just care that I'm here with you. Let's just have fun and let loose. I mean, we have no parents; no one in charge - we've got to embrace this and have some fun."

Kelly was a free spirit. Of the four, Kelly loved taking risks and didn't care what would happen. It was all about living in the moment and just embracing everything about it. Especially with being on vacation, it made the whole situation even better. Not one of them had a rules. What could their parents, who are thousands of miles away, do to them here? Answer is nothing.

"I say we do something completely crazy and outrageous," Kelly offered on the table, "So, I hope you don't mind but I signed us up for something while we were here. I signed up for us to swim with some dolphins at the marina later today. Think of it as a little present from me in honor of our relationship."

It worried Evan that Kelly had preplanned something for them to do and what did he have planned? Nothing. He didn't expect this and he really wanted to impress her. Impress her enough so he could forget about the friend, Evan Bourne and look onto the boyfriend, Evan Bourne. Now, how was he going to top this?

"Dolphins - that's cool. I can't wait."

"Perfect, we're going tonight. I'm going to go get ready for the beach okay?"

And with that she left and in exchange for her, Cody came waltzing in gazing at his idea of a view, "Evan, Check out that girl over there. The one in the pink. Damn!" His viewing was getting a little out of hand.

"I've got a problem."

Cody patted Evan on his back, "What's the problem man? Maybe I can help you out."

"It's about Kelly," Cody muttered away while he looked out onto the beach, "Kelly planned something for me and her and like, I didn't do anything. I haven't planned anything for her and I feel like a fool because she's really into our relationship and I don't know what to do. I wanted to do something to show her I'm not just a friend and that I'm her boyfriend. I want to do something special and exciting but I just don't know what."

As a friend, It was Cody's duty to advise Evan in situations like this and he was going to do just that, "I bet you're worried. Listen, do something special. Think of what she likes and surprise her. Kelly's a good girl and you're not stupid so you'll think of something. You've got four days to do something."

And that's when he felt reassured. There was time to do something and plenty of time to think of something. For now, it's what Kelly said, just live in the moment.

You sometimes see the weirdest things crash up against the California shoreline. Sometimes you see bottles, plastic bags and cans. But on this day, something else crashed onto the shore, along with a surfboard. That would be Maryse crashing against the shore.

Once she retreated from the ocean, she was breathless but not in a good way. Her tanner body reached the shore and she crawled up onto the shore, soaked and completely out of breath.

Never am I going to do this again. Maryse turned over and faced the sky. Her chest was rising up and down at a steady pace and couldn't be happier that she was touching land and wasn't struggling for her life while surfing.

Beside her, Ted came ashore and didn't look at all as if he was hurt or tired. Heck, he'd go back out there but he noticed that something was up with Maryse. When he discovered the blonde wiped out on the shore, he couldn't help but laugh.

"Kelly Slater's training really worked well. It looked like you were the surfboard," While he laughed, Maryse groaned and picked herself up. She adjusted up her bikini to make sure nothing was popping out that she didn't want anyone to see.

"I'm use to much better waves then these," Her angry was being taken out on the waves and not the fact that she was lying to him the whole time. She stood by her decision to lie and wasn't going to make a fool out of herself – not that she hasn't done so already, "Next time, I'll do better."

Trying to squirt out any leftover water in her hair, a larger couple, one male and one female stomped their way over to them and both looked extremely upset. Maryse was taken by surprise, "Can I help you?"

The larger female stepped forward in a threatening way, "You stole my board and you broke it in half you blonde dimwit!"

"I didn't –" Maryse took the chance to see what this female was speaking about and there, laying on the shore was a board broken in half, "Oh well, yeah. It's broken."

"You stole it and broke it. Pay up princess or I'll beat it out of you."

"You hear that?" It sounded like a southern accent and it was creepy. It had belonged to the male, which obviously was her boyfriend but certainly not the better half of the pair, well according to Maryse at least, "Or you can give us those nice pretty earrings of yours in exchange."

"Hey!" Ted stepped in and confronted the pair in defense of the blonde "Shouldn't you two be on some farm? You guys think you can come up in here looking so god damn ugly. You're parents must be cousins or siblings that they conceived such farm animals."

"Hey, don't call me –"

Ted got right into the man's face and glared at him, "What are you going to do? Call you're hillbilly family to help you?"

The two of them walked backwards slowly and then quickly vanished from the presence of the two of them. Maryse sighed with some relief to have gotten rid of those two and it gave her a reason to take more of a liking in Ted. That mystery about him got her and now his badass side was reeling her in more in.

With a week off and having pretty much nothing to do, Torrie decided to have a day to herself. Massage, Manicure and Pedicure was calling her name so that explains why she was a spa, currently getting her pedicure finished up. Her iced coffee was resting on the little table beside her and she had some company. An old friend popped into town to join the blonde for a day of relaxation.

Candice Michelle was back in Beverly Hills.

The petite blonde had such a big whirlwind of change in the past few years. Her life was completely transformed after the death of her former beau, John Bradshaw Layfield but she wasn't to upset about it. JBL, as they liked to call him, left a large sum of money for Candice which she eventually shared with her husband, Dave Batista.

The duo was now living in Sin City where Dave opened up a restaurant in one of the many casinos located on the strip and we're enjoying life for once. She had nothing to worry about - well, except a little girl. Dave and her were unexpectedly gifted with a baby girl named Hannah just a couple of months ago.

Motherhood has been a blessing since it all. Every moment she enjoyed being with the little girl but she needed a little bit of a break - that explains her arrival in Beverly Hills for a few days. Dave insisted that she get a chance to relax and he volunteered to watch the little girl for a few days.

And what a way to relax. Having a massage and getting your nails done? It was a perfect little girls day out.

Torrie for one was definitely happy to see her friend. It's tough keeping friendships strong when some move away but it's still strong. She's still keeping it strong with all of her friends and is so grateful because they come in handy when she needs a babysitter.

But for tonight, AJ was going to settle for a babysitter.

"I think this is the first time I've actually gotten a pedicure since I gave birth," While she counted the months in her mind, she came across with an answer, "For about seven months and it feels absolutely amazing."

"It's time to find a babysitter. A more permanent one. I thank everyday that I have my parents and AJ around to help me out. I wouldn't know what the hell to do with myself. Every mother needs a break," Torrie took a sip of her ice coffee, "And we have to cherish this."

Candice nodded, "I know because as quick as this passes, it's as quick as we have to go back. You're lucky you're parents are right here. My mother is like in Tokyo or Sydney right about now and Dave's parents decided to go on a two month long vacation. It's just wonderful."

Torrie felt the pain of the hardships of a mother and felt Candice needed something just to bring herself back to how she normally is and just to enjoy life, "You know, I have a great idea. I think you're going to like this a lot."

"If it involves anything with relaxation and a cosmo, then I think I'll be listening."

Torrie chuckled before presenting her idea, "Why don't we have a girls night? I mean, I can ask Stacy if she can come out tomorrow night and we can all go out. Have some sort of reunion or something and just let us enjoy being girls."

It was music to her ears. Candice was head over heels with the idea, "That's perfect. Have a nice dinner, go to a club and just have fun. Enjoy being a girl for once," At that very moment, Candice admitted, "I just miss this place so much."

Before any one was up on their feet, Eve crept to her feet and headed down to the Hotel coffee shop to enjoy a nice ice coffee. It was day two in Miami and Eve was even more determined to enjoy these next few days. Her first day here was exciting but she promised to make this day even better.

It was a bit complicated trying to get here in the first place. Her parents weren't very fond of the idea of having their daughter head across the United States with a few friends. Luckily, her parents have the idea that Cody's family is with us. But, whatever they don't know - won't hurt them.

Midway heading down to her room, she caught a man exiting his room. Tall, Mohawk styled hair and a built upper body - Eve found him quickly recognizable. Once he showed his face, all was revealed. Mike 'Miz' Mizazin was in Miami. But how? How is he in Miami - in the same hotel as herself and at the same time? Something clearly wasn't adding up in this solution.

"Miz, What are you doing here?" Eve called out and witnessed the man turning around with that overly familiar cocky smile of his.

"Well, if it isn't my fellow student Eve Torres. I could be asking you the same thing mami," He didn't seem particularly surprised by the whole thing but more content about it and the ring he put to the word mami just gave Eve the chills throughout her body.

"I'm here with my friends," She couldn't just mention friends or he'd get some sort of sick idea, "And with Cody too."

His immediate response to the mention of Cody's name was just a blank look. Never did the Miz even like Cody. Not a time where Miz just thought he was some jock loser, "With Cody? You two have a romantic getaway?" He spoke with the sarcasm present in his voice.

"You can say that…"

"Eve, if you're just saying that to control your urge from throwing yourself on top of me, you can stop you now. He isn't here," That arrogant and cocky smile just kept curving and curving while Eve presented an eye roll, "My bedroom is empty. We can finish this conversation right in between the sheets. It's not a problem."

Perv. According to Eve, Miz had to be one of the most disgusting human beings that walks on this planet. His immature and womanizing ways aren't going to lead him anywhere. Eve caught her breath for a moment before returning a glare at the individual, "I would never."

"You probably never had done 'it' yet so you can't be ready," And he leaned back, showing off his body, "You can't be ready to handle this."

"Goodbye."

"If you want a real man, you know my hotel room."

Eve quickly turned around and the Miz stared there, loving to see her leave. What an asshole. I shouldn't listen to him or should I? For a second, Eve wasn't too sure. Cody and herself never have gotten that close - in the physical way. Not once during this whole thing had the topic of sex crossed her mind. The subject was never touched upon but either.

But wait? Cody could be thinking about it and she could be ignoring what he wants. But was she ready for this? That point of the relationship could be coming upon them and she never really thought of it since - she never did it at all.

Upon returning to her hotel room, Kelly was already up fixing something up in the kitchen that was provided. It was time for some advice and only Kelly could give her some real advice.

"Kelly, I seriously need help."

Taking her attention away from slicing up an apple for herself, Kelly could see the worry in Eve's eyes. The Latina had an issue, "I can just look at you and see if you have a problem. What's up? What's the problem?"

"The Miz is here. Here in this hotel and only a couple of hotel rooms down from us."

"What?" Taken by surprised, Kelly could only wonder why the Miz was here in the first place? "I don't get why he's here but what happened? Did he say something to you? Was he being his usually ass self?"

"Well yes, other than acting like a complete jerk - like he does on a normal basis. When he talks, he gets to me. Today, he offered me to sleep with him which I denied but he told me how I never had sex and I wouldn't have sex with Cody and it gets me wondering and guessing. Does Cody want to? Do I want to? Help me - I need you're help in this."

The blonde could see the tough spot Eve was in and it was time for her advisement to come into play, "Listen, it's up to you. If you're ready, go for it. Don't worry about being called a slut or a whore, because that won't happen and if it feels right, you decide if you want to go for it. Every couple has there time and it could be a year in the relationship or one day in it. Everyone's different."

And yet again, Eve's mind was being all stirred up and there's a big decision she has to make very soon.

There's a time and place where you can have some fun and tonight. Tonight was there night. An ecstatic Torrie and Candice couldn't be happy about tonight while Stacy felt a little dragged when she was coming here. The three ladies were in store for a fun filled night and for one more time, just wanted to be girls again and not have to worry about money, kids or bills. Just have some regular fun.

"Bartender, three shots of patron please," Right off the bat and not wasting anytime, Candice ordered the girls a few shots. Tonight was a night for her to have fun with some of her best friends. The bartender prepared the shots and placed it down for the ladies. Each took one into their hands and raised them up, "Girls, here's too a wonderful night!"

As quickly as she said it was as quickly as those shots went down their throats, all instantly feeling that burn which Torrie and Candice took as nothing but Stacy responded with a cringe look, "I haven't had a shot in probably a year or so," Said the leggy blonde.

Stacy obviously wasn't in any mood to be here. She was still hurt and in pain with discovering Randy's texts. She felt guilty for invading his privacy but the guilt soon went away when she discovered what those texts red.

"Stacy, I know you're a bit under the weather but try to just relax and have some fun," Torrie's gentle hand came across the back of hers and rubbed it, "You're going to have fun."

"I'll make sure you have some fun," Candice pulled Stacy's hand onto the dance floor against her will.

In her purse, Torrie's phone began to vibrate repeatedly. Torrie quickly fussed through her purse to locate the cell phone. On the caller id, it read private. Usually she never picks up these calls worrying that this may be a prank phone call but decided to pick it up anyway.

"Hello."

"Torr -," and it broke off like that.

Her eyes just expanded believing the voice had belonged to John. It can't be, he's dead. She could feel her inside just crushing up with the overwhelming though that it could be John. It sounded just like him.

"Hello? John - is that you?"

"Tor - it's me, J-" Said the voice but Torrie still couldn't make out who it was on the other line.

"John, Is that you?"

The phone went dead. The line was cut off and Torrie was left there bringing her phone down to her waist. She shut it and put it back into her purse and wondered if that may have really been John or some sort of sick joke.

She ran down the facts and concluded it just couldn't be John but a part of her - a very small part - really thought it was really him.

Back in Miami, Evan was in the midst of preparation of a special night for Kelly and himself. It was D-day for him. He wanted to show Kelly that he just wasn't her friend anymore. He still was her friend but something more. She had gotten the chance to get to know him as a friend but now, he was her boyfriend and he wanted to show her that side and only that side. Friendship was aside and put his true feelings out there.

So to show his "I'm not your friend now but now your boyfriend side" and just to show a different side so she could get to know him on a different level.

His plan was as followed.

Plan a romantic outing on the beach with some help from a restaurant. But there was one problem. That restaurant wasn't there. It use to be there and now it's a abandon restaurant right off the beach.

Just perfect. Kelly was going to be here any second now and he had nothing. He just had himself, the sand and the beach. Oh and the moon just staring down at him. Probably the moon is even laughing at me. I couldn't google some info on this place. I'm such an idiot.

And in the distance, Kelly was arriving. She had on a beautiful red strapless dress that she was told to wear since this place was really fancy and high class. Guess again Blondie. It was easy to read the confused look on her face as she was approaching Evan. All the blonde saw was the Evan standing there, dressed nicely and the water coming up and down the shore. Analyzing his facial expression to figure out he was upset.

Kelly stepped forward and tried to smile, "Something wrong? I feel like this evening you planned didn't go as correctly as it intended it too."

Taking a chance to breath, Evan glazed at the ocean before he was about to speak, "All I wanted to do was to surprise you and give you the most amazing time ever but your boyfriend failed – miserably."

"You were going to surprise me?" That feeling came over her and it made her feel so special that Evan would go out of his way to surprise her with something but she couldn't pinpoint what it was at the moment.

"I wanted to impress you," He started to explain, "I wanted to show you that I was more than just your friend. I wanted to show you a different side to me. I had this whole thing planned out that we'd go to this restaurant that has its own live band and just have some fun. You planned the whole dolphin thing and I just wanted to equal that or top that. I just wanted to you feel impressed and happy that you have me are your boyfriend."

Never had a guy go far enough to impress her at all and she believed that this had to be the first time she had ever been impressed by any guy. The fact that he planned something, though it didn't work, really made her feel extra special and grateful to have someone like him.

"The fact that you even planned something like this just makes me happy," The blonde took his hand as she locked her eyes with his, "No one ever even planned anything like this. Sure, this didn't go the way you planned but the thought of you trying to do something special makes me feel special."

"Really?"

"Of course. I mean, so what if this place is closed? Let's just go have fun. We're in Miami of all cities so let's just do something," Her lips couldn't come across with the exact word until she looked out into the ocean, "completely spontaneous!"

And that is when Kelly began to remove her shoes and tossed them into the sand. Evan looked over completely confused, "What are you doing?"

"This!"

Kelly raced into the ocean and just began to play in the water, kicking it and splashing it around. Her inner five year old was coming out as the water caused to ruin her straight hair and dress but she didn't care. All she was doing was living in the moment.

"Come on in! This feels amazing."

Evan quickly tossed off his shoes and made his way into the water, getting in touch with his inner child as well. Laughter and splashing was all that could be heard. Evan continued to heavily splash the blonde causing her shrieks of joy to fill the air. Evan quickly grabbed onto her and help her by the shoulders, trying to keep her warm.

"This does feel good. Maybe this night isn't completely ruined."

A smile was offered followed by a kiss from Kelly, which Evan truly enjoyed. Once the moment was over, "This night just got better and is only going to get even better than this – trust me."

She was just getting into the house when the clock read two in the morning. Moment upon entering the house, she had discovered AJ sleeping on the couch and Nathan sleeping on the other one peacefully. Her smiled glowed over them once she shut the lights. While passing by her daughter's bedroom, she discovered the young girl sleeping peacefully with her teddy bear tucked by her side. Gently, Torrie shut the door and returned to her bedroom for some rest.

That call she had received earlier that night really had gotten her all shook up. For a second, she honestly believed she heard John's voice on that phone. The signal was so bad that she couldn't make it out. Her heart wanted to believe that could be her but her head denied it. John was gone. He was gone and wasn't coming back. It's that fact that she couldn't fully let the whole thing go. She can't release John from her heart.

Torrie had to focus on everything right now. She has two beautiful children to take care of and raise, a steady job to keep and a wonderful man in her life to give her a hand with anything. Everything was perfect and this is how it was going to be. John wasn't going to come back and she knew it.

While in her bedroom, for some reason she just stumbled upon things she had kept about John. Letters he would send, copies of email he'd write, pictures and so many countless thing all hidden in one box in her closet. She blew the dust away and removed it from the closet. She leaned back onto her bed and glimpsed inside the package.

His dog tags were the first thing she pulled out. A glimpse at that and she was quickly reminded of his smile, dedication and humbleness. She pulled out a letter she had first written to him. It was right before Ella was born and he was somewhere in the world. This time, he didn't have a computer so they wrote to one another.

Dear Torrie,

One month. Only one month separates you and I. My Family and I. My life and I. Since I've landed back here, all I can think about is that day I come back. The day I'll be able to sit on my porch at home and just be with you, Nathan and a new addition to the family which I can't wait for. Being a father is amazing and it kills me not being there with you and Nathan. I just saw the sonogram picture you sent me in the letter. It's a girl. I can't believe it. You always thought we were going to be stuck with all boys but no, we're getting a girl. I just hope you don't go into labor before I get home because we're going to have a problem then. I'm looking around me and all the guys here can't wait to just get home but I still think I'm the one who wants to go home the most. I keep your picture up right beside my bed. You know how I always sleeping on my left side. Well, I keep the picture on the left side of the lamp post so before I go to bed, I see you and right when I wake up, I see you. It's the closet I'll get to seeing you here. I put Nathan's there too. I hope this week they get that webcam working because I can maybe see you again, see how beautiful you've gotten and how much Nathan has grown. I'm glad we decided not to name him Oliver. You were right. Oliver sounds like he was born in 1862. I've got a name down for the girl if you're interested. I've always had something for the name Ella. It's just so nice and sweet and it would go great with Cena. I hope you consider it and not shoot it down immediately like you do my other ideas. Looks like their taking us somewhere. I'm going to go but remember, I'm only a month away and I will make it to that month. Please take care of Nathan and the baby. Don't get into any trouble. Stay safe and send my regards to my family. I'll see you really soon.

Love,
John

His letters were always those kinds that could just lift your spirits and brighten her day. It was also a reminder about how she fell in love with him. A soft smile emerged across her lips after reading this and she stored it back into the box. She felt a creeking on the floors and quickly pushed the box beneath her bed and stood up from the floor to see AJ standing before her.

"I hope I didn't wake you or anything. You and Nathan were fast asleep on the couch so I tried my best to be extra quiet and not wake you guys," Torrie mentioned, "You can stay over. I've got some of John's clothes here if you're interested in them."

"If you've got a spare t-shirt, they'll be perfect," Torrie headed over to the drawers and pulled out a t-shirt for AJ. None of John's things had been moved or touched. It was like he really wasn't gone, "You've got a lot of John's thing in the room."

"Well, I just don't feel like touching anything. This is how it was when he left and it's going to stay like this."

"Really?" It worried him. The fact that Torrie is holding onto these things got him worried that she hasn't really let go of him and that she is still in love with him. They were now in a relationship and it was suppose to be about just them two, "You don't think it's time to take these things out and start the whole moving on process."

Nodding no was her response before she began to speak again, "I mean, I don't want to move it. I don't really want to change anything."

"Not the drawers? Maybe taking the Cena out of your name and going back to being Wilson? Put some pictures away? Torrie, I sometimes have the idea you're still in love with him and not trying with me. I feel like I'm just some toy and I don't want to be a toy. I want something real."

"You are real. You are special. Listen, it's just my way of honoring him and keeping his memory around for the sake of my children. Their father is someone they never got a chance to get to know and I want to give them to remember him in any remotely way possible. It's important to me and the children and has nothing to do with being in love with him."

AJ understood where the blonde was coming from and she was right. If he knew anything about Torrie, it was that he knew that she loved her children so much and that she would do anything for them. Just about anything.

"I know you want your children to be happy and to have a father so I was beginning to think of something," AJ Paused for a moment to recollect what he was going to say, "I look at these kids as if they were my own and I loved them so much. It got me thinking that maybe I could be a legally guardian to them, you know for certain purposes and things. I just want them to be safe and have that father figure they've been missing."

At first, she was stunned by the proposition and didn't know how else to come across with this situation. It was a good idea but was it too soon? Torrie only knew the man for about eight months and dating him for about two. Was it the right thing to do?

"I'd like that. I trust you and I know you'd take care of my kids," Torrie came even closer and smiled before giving AJ one kiss, "You make one hell of a father."

A/N: Chapter 14 is here! Hope everyone liked it. Please Review!
Next chapter is going to be a big one - trust me ;) What could happen? Begin guessing ;)
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