Chapter 21...

6 Months Later…

Orlando, Florida

"Boo!"

John looked up from his menu to see Jessica standing in front of him.

"Hey Jess," he smiled.

"Is this seat taken?" she asked, pulling out the chair across from him.

"It is now," he shrugged. "What's up?"

"I have a very special invitation for you," Jessica smiled.

"Why Jessica, I didn't know you felt that way about me," he joked.

"That's a disturbing thought," she said.

"Oh thanks," he feigned hurt. She gave him a look and he laughed, "Okay, where is it?"

"It's a verbal invite," she explained. "To a welcome back party for my sister."

John hoped his expression remained neutral at the mention of her. He'd heard that Cory was coming back soon but it seemed no one could tell him exactly how soon.

"She's coming back, huh?" he looked down at his menu. "When?"

"Saturday," Jessica answered.

Saturday? That was only 3 days away. Cory was coming back in 3 days.

"Saturday?" he nodded. "I didn't know that."

"Oh stop trying to act all cool when we both know you wanna giggle like a little school girl," Jessica teased.

John wouldn't quite put it that way but he didn't deny that he was looking forward to Saturday more now than he was a few minutes ago.

"Dawn and I are planning a little party to celebrate her recovery and return and I figured as her former faux boyfriend, you might want to be there."

John shrugged, "Why not?"

"You're really pushing this unaffected thing, aren't you?" she stood up. "It's cute...I'll see you later."

"Later J," he waved.

He felt a huge smile spread across his face as she left.

"I can see that," she called over her shoulder. "You missed her."

"Goodnight Jess," he said as she walked out of the restaurant.

The truth was, John did miss Cory. In the entire 6 months that she was gone, he hadn't seen her in person once. They'd exchanged a few emails but they were always short. Either she was updating him on her recovery or congratulating him on a good match or something. He knew Dawn, Mark, Jessica, and Hunter had all gone to see her whenever they got a chance and they usually invited him but he was usually booked for some personal appearance or TV show or something. In November, she was chosen to become Gene Okerlund's co-host on WWE Confidential but he never really got a chance to watch the show. Once he was actually scheduled to be interviewed by her and, though he wouldn't tell anyone, he was excited about it. They were supposed to film an edition of her weekly segment 'Busting In With Corinne Flair', which gave viewers a glimpse of their favorite superstars houses. Then, a few days before they were scheduled to tape it, he found out that she had to fly to Texas with her mother and sister Regina to see her ailing grandfather. John was interviewed by Gene instead. It was amazing to him that he could miss a person that usually drove him crazy when they were around each other.But regardless of how little sense it made, he missed having her around.

-----------------------------------

New York City

"How many bags do you have?" Hunter laughed as Cory came down the stairs with another suitcase.

"I'll answer that if you tell me exactly what it is you're doing," she said, pushing her hair out of her face. "Because if I remember correctly, I invited you over to help me get ready to go back on the road, not sit on my couch, watch my TV, and eat my food."

"Your refrigerator has enough in it to feed a small country, you have an enormous TV and an incredibly comfortable couch," Hunter smirked. "You had to know that this was gonna happen."

"I figured it might take place after the luggage got down the stairs," she climbed over the back of the couch and plopped down next to him, reaching into the bag of chips he had.

Hunter looked around Cory's penthouse, in awe. This wasn't the first time he'd been to her apartment but it was still impressive. Jessica divulged to him once that Cory's 19th floor, 2 story penthouse, a gift from her grandmother and grandfather was worth 5 million dollars.

"So we're giving up on packing?" Cory asked, eating another chip.

"Oh yeah," Hunter nodded. "For at least an hour. We should get a pizza or something."

"You never eat pizza," she laughed. "You sure you don't want baked chicken breast and steamed vegetables?"

"You don't eat crap either, so don't start" he pointed at her.

They were silent for a few seconds and then she looked over at him, "Now you made me start thinking about pizza."

"I'll pay," he offered.

She picked up the phone beside the couch, "I'll call the doorman."

"You have to call the doorman?" he smirked.

"It's a highly secured building, he needs to know it's okay to let the pizza man up," Cory explained.

Hunter smirked, "You say that like it's completely normal."

She rolled her eyes, "Just shut up and get out your pizza money."

-----------------------------

Taylor folded another sweater, adding it to the pile. She was doing her best to keep busy but she was having trouble keeping her nerves in check. She'd been trying to get a hold of Viveca for hours and her boss wasn't returning her calls. She and Jeff were spending the few days they had off in North Carolina. She'd tried both of their cell phones and Jeff's home phone but got nothing. Normally she wouldn't panic if she couldn't get a hold of Viveca, but these weren't normal circumstances. Taylor was at Viveca's apartment folding up a bunch of old clothes that she'd convinced the other woman needed to be given to good will when the phone rang. Like a dutiful personal assistant, Taylor answered the call and was shocked when the caller identified herself as Viveca's mother, Lorraine. Viveca had told her once that she didn't speak to her family and never elaborated. If there was one thing Taylor could understand, it was a screwed up family situation so she never pushed. Her mother's voice sounded a lot like Viveca's, just a little deeper. The older woman explained in a shaky voice that she knew her daughter didn't want to speak to her but it was urgent. Her father was in the hospital and the doctors were predicting that he didn't have much time left. Lorraine barely finished before breaking into choked sobs. Taylor was stunned and speechless. She expressed her sympathy for the family and promised Lorraine that she would get her daughter there right away. Now Taylor was sitting, organizing clothes by season and then putting them into boxes, trying to wait a few minutes before placing another call. Her phone rang on the couch behind her and she jumped reaching for it and quickly pressing it to her ear, "Viveca?"

"Guess again," she heard Chris's voice.

She smiled, feeling herself relax a little, "Hi Chris. What's up?"

"Not a whole lot," he answered. "I was calling to check up on you. I thought you might be drowning in a sea of Viveca's clothes by now."

"I wouldn't say drowning," Taylor smirked. "More like slightly uncomfortably submerged."

"Been at it all day?" he asked.

"Mmhmm," she picked up another shirt. "How are you enjoying your day off?"

"I wouldn't call it one," he said. "I had a radio interview this morning, after that I went to the gym, then I came back and went grocery shopping."

"You went grocery shopping?" Taylor laughed, knowing how much he hated that particular domestic task.

"I did," he said. "And I loathed every minute of it."

"I bet," she laughed.

"You know, Mrs. Connelly was asking about us again," Chris said, sounding amused.

Taylor groaned, rolling her eyes. Chris had helped Taylor get an apartment in his building and the day she moved in she met Mrs. Connelly, quite possibly the nosiest old woman she'd ever come in contact with. She was nice enough but she refused to accept that Chris and Taylor were just friends.

"She never gives up," Chris laughed. "I tell her we're just friends and she just gives me that look."

"I know that look well," Taylor said. "Eventually she'll realize it's not like that."

"If she doesn't we're just gonna have to start dating," he said.

Taylor shook her head, laughing. She couldn't blame Mrs. Connelly for her assumptions. Most people thought there was something going on with her and Chris but the truth was, as much as she wanted to, she couldn't allow herself to get into a relationship. She'd finally gotten her life on track but sometimes she still felt like she was standing on melting ice and the smallest misstep would send her crashing down to rock bottom. She was more stable mentally, the dreams were less frequent but there were still nights that she woke up screaming in a cold sweat or crying so hard her throat felt raw and her chest hurt. She couldn't let anyone close enough to see that. She couldn't let Chris close enough. He would ask questions, questions she didn't want to answer.

She heard a beep and pulled the phone away from her ear, seeing the name 'Viveca'. "Chris, I've got someone on the other line..I'll give you a call in the morning."

"Okay, talk to you then," he said.

"Bye," she said, then quickly pushed a button to switch over to Viveca, "Hello?"

"Hey there," came Viveca's chipper response. Taylor's voice caught in her throat, how could she tell her?

"Taylor?" Viveca sounded confused.

"Hey," Taylor ran a hand through her hair.

"I got your messages, Jeff and I were out," she said. "What's so urgent?"

"I um...I don't really know how to say this," Taylor said.

"Just blurt it out, that's the best way," Viveca said. Taylor could hear Jeff's muffled voice then Viveca giggling and shushing him.

"Your mother called," Taylor said.

"Oh God," Viveca sighed dramatically. "What did she want?"

"It's..it's about your father..."

-----------------------------------

"So how does it feel to finally be back?" Hunter asked as he and Cory sat with the pizza box between them, watching TV.

"Incredible," Cory smiled. "I missed you guys a lot more than I thought I would."

"I'll take that as a compliment," he smirked, picking up another slice. "By the way, John told me to tell you Hi."

"Really?" Cory smiled, her eyes lighting up. When she realized how she reacted, she wiped the expression from her face, trying to look neutral, "I mean..that's nice. How is he?"

"He's good," Hunter took a bite.

"Is he seeing anybody?" she asked, obviously trying to sound indifferent as she pulled a piece of pepperoni off of her half of the pizza and ate it.

"Why do you ask?" Hunter looked over at her, amused.

"I'm just asking," she shrugged.

"I didn't think you'd care," he smiled.

"I don't care," she insisted.

"You asked," he laughed.

"I was wondering…I inquired," she said. "I don't care."

"I'm sure you don't," he said.

"I don't."

"Okay then," he smiled.

"Alright then," she nodded.

"Fine," he said, wondering how far she would go.

"Fine, fine, fine," she smiled with an edge of irritation.

"I'll let him know you asked."

"I'll kick your ass," she threatened.

He smiled, "Try it."

"You know what...just for that," Cory got up with a menacing look in her eye. "We're watching it again."

Hunter shook his head, "No way...I am not watching that movie again."

"Oh yes you are," Cory nodded. "I had it all ready just in case you pissed me off."

Hunter sighed when she started the DVD. Whenever Cory got mad at him she made him watch the musical South Pacific, quite possibly one of the most boring movies on Earth, as a punishment. She loved it and he could never understand why. Even she admitted it was boring, she claimed to just love the songs.

"You know, my masculinity drops like 10 points every time you force me to watch this," he leaned back against the couch, looking up at the ceiling. "Cant we just watch one of your grandmother's movies where she's walking around in a nightgown?"

Cory slapped him hard on the arm.

"What?" he laughed. "Your grandmother was a fox."

"She still is," Cory smiled. "But for lusting after my grandmother, you get to watch South Pacific with the volume all the way up."

-----------------------------------

"Done darlin'?" Mark asked as Dawn stumbled out of the bathroom, running a hand through her hair, her skin looking sallow.

"This isn't funny," she pointed at him, plopping down on the bed. He got up from the chair he was sitting in and walked to the bathroom, dampening a cloth with cold water. He walked back into the room, stopping when he saw her lying on the bed with her arms tightly wrapped around her stomach. He sat down beside her, brushing her long waves away from her face and dabbing the cloth on her forehead and neck.

"I never said it was funny," he said quietly. "Feeling any better?"

She shook her head, her eyes closed, "Why did I drink so much?"

Mark wished he knew. He noticed that lately, Dawn had spent more and more time in hotel bars at night. More than once he'd come upon her stumbling to her hotel room and night. He always helped her inside and made sure she was okay before returning to his own room, unable to sleep because he wanted to know what was going on with her. They were talking less and Mark had stooped to calling Cory to get information. Cory admitted that she was worried too but couldn't tell Mark what was wrong. He wasn't sure if she said she couldn't because she didn't know or because she didn't want to break Dawn's trust but he didn't push.

He looked down at her, "I don't know Dawn...maybe you're trying to forget about something."

She looked away, not saying anything. Her eyes closed again when he touched the cold towel to her neck.

"What's been on your mind?" he asked.

"You," she answered honestly.

He was surprised at her answer knowing she was only admitting this because she was still under the effects of the liquor.

"What about me?" he asked.

"I don't wanna talk about it," she shook her head. "I'm tired and I don't feel good."

"Okay," he said, a little frustrated but careful not to show it. "You want me to go so you can get some shut eye?"

"Will you stay with me tonight?" she looked up at him with hopeful eyes.

He gently touched her cheek and nodded, "Whatever you want darlin'."

-----------------------------

Taylor closed her laptop and turned off her phone. She'd reserved a plane ticket for Viveca and called Lorraine to let her know she was coming. Once she was sure that was done, she finished packing up the clothes for the good will and loaded them into her rental car. She would drop them off in the morning. Now, she was in her hotel room and in desperate need of some sleep. She changed into pants and an oversized t-shirt and pulled back the covers, crawling into bed and covering herself up. She could feel a headache coming on and prayed she could get to sleep before it got bad. She closed her eyes just as she felt a sharp pain in her temple.

"Leave me alone!" Taylor cried, her voice straining in desperation as she pushed him away.

"Shut up!"

"What did I do?" she cried.

"You know god damn well what you did!"

"No I don't," Taylor sobbed so hard she could barely breathe. "Why are you doing this to me?"

Taylor squeezed her eyes shut tight, trying to suppress the memories that crept into her consciousness. She didn't know what triggered them this time, all she knew was that she needed them to stop. She wasn't strong enough to handle them. She pushed the covers away, standing up and running a hand through her hair. She rubbed her face and could faintly hear herself whispering 'Go away' over and over.

"Stupid bitch."

"You sniveling little idiot, your mother never should have had you. You weren't worth the effort."

Taylor stopped, sobs racking her body. She dropped to her knees beside the bed, her forehead resting on the mattress as she cried, clutching the sheets.

"Go away," she cried. "Why cant you leave me alone?"

-----------------------------

Cameron, North Carolina

Jeff rolled over in bed, wrapping his arm around Viveca's sleeping form. His girlfriend felt...not like his girlfriend. He opened his eyes, frowning when he saw his arm resting on a pillow. He pushed himself up on his elbows, looking around the room. Viveca was nowhere to be seen and he didn't hear her moving anywhere in the house. He rolled over and then sat up slowly, rubbing his head, still feeling groggy. He heard a crumpling sound and looked around until he spotted a piece of paper that was about to fall off the bed. He grabbed up, rubbing his eyes a little. Once he was able to focus, he read the quickly scrawled note.

Jeff-

Had to go. I'll be back. Don't call me, I'll call you. I promise. Sorry I left the way I did, I was in a hurry and had a plane to catch. This all happened pretty suddenly, don't know how long I'll be gone..Don't be mad. I love you.

V

Jeff was tempted to defy her wishes and pick up the phone to call her but she probably wouldn't answer. He wanted to know what this emergency was and why she couldn't wake him up but he was sure she'd call him soon. He looked at the note again, smiling a little when he looked at the words 'I love you'. He never got tired of hearing that from her. She'd actually been the one to say it first, though she vehemently denied it. He hadn't been feeling well one night and she'd spent hours taking care of him. He closed his eyes and she was stroking his hair and when she thought he'd fallen asleep, she said it. He heard her but didn't say anything. The next day he brought it up and she said he was dreaming. They didn't 'officially' say it until about a week later when he arranged a special dinner for her at her favorite restaurant in New York. He sat back against his headboard, looking over at his phone on the nightstand. He would give her until morning, then he was going to find out what was going on.

-----------------------------

The Next Morning...

Newark, New Jersey

Lorraine looked up when she heard the bell signaling the elevator was arriving on their floor. Her heart nearly beat through her chest when she saw her daughter,, long hair flowing as she rushed toward the waiting room. She stood, trying to muster a smile.

Viveca held up a hand before Lorraine could hug her, "Don't."

"Viveca-"

"Where's my father?" Viveca asked, her voice shaky. She was still putting on her big angry front but Lorraine knew her daughter and she could see in her eyes that she was frightened.

"He's down the hall that way," Lorraine answered. "The fourth room on the right."

"Don't you want to-"

"No," Viveca turned, walking down the hall.

-----------------------------

Viveca could hear her heart beating in her ears as she walked to her father's room. She slowly pushed open the door, holding her breath. She hadn't seen him in about for years. He looked like a completely different person. She could feel her whole body shaking as she took a few steps into the room. The Thomas Johnson she remembered was tall and broad shouldered with thick jet black hair and warm blue eyes. He always had a hug and a smile for everyone who came near him. He was fun and friendly, despite his imposing frame. Her mother always called him a big teddy bear. This man was different. He looked so much smaller. His hair was almost completely gone, some of it still resting on his pillow as if ready to reattach. His broad shoulders were no longer covered in muscle. Instead, it seemed as if his skin was struggling to cling to his bones. His tan was gone, replaced by a pale, unhealthy pallor. He was hooked to countless machines and the beeping in the room was almost hypnotic. She walked to his bedside wanting to touch his small thin hand. Her manicured nails stopped beside him and her breath caught in her throat. The beeping, the sterile smell, and the sight of her father so frail and seemingly lifeless was too much. She put a hand over her mouth and rushed out of the room.

-----------------------------

John looked across the table at Mark. They'd both been pretty quiet as they ate breakfast, both lost in thought. Mark looked like he hadn't slept much. John had slept like a baby for most of the night but he woke up after having a horrendously romantic dream about Cory. He hated dreams like that. There wasn't even any sex, just mushiness.

He looked up from his food, knowing if there was anyone he could talk to that wouldn't make fun of him, it was Mark.

"Can I ask you a question?"

Mark ate a piece of bacon, wordlessly waiting for John to continue.

"How do you tell somebody you missed them without being sappy?" John asked.

"You don't," Mark answered in a matter-of-fact tone. "It's not possible."

John laughed, finishing his water, "Thanks man. That helps."

"It's the truth," Mark barely cracked a smile. "Is this about Cory?"

John shrugged.

"It is," Mark nodded. "Dawn invite ya to the party?"

"Jessie," John said. "I want her to know I missed her but..I don't wanna deal with her giving me shit."

"Oh she's gonna give you shit," Mark laughed. "She'll probably call you a wuss or something."

"You know..it would help if maybe I knew how she was feeling," John said. "Like if she'd confided to one of her closest friends that maybe she missed me a little."

Mark gave John a stern look, "Don't try to pump me for information John. It wont work."

John sighed, "Alright then, can you at least tell me what to do?"

Mark smiled, "Just try not to put your foot in your mouth."

-----------------------------

Lianna Johnson looked down at her hands, frowning at her chipped nail polish. She looked over at her younger brother Liam's sleeping form in the chair next to her. He'd asked her to only let him sleep for a half hour but he'd been out for almost two. She didn't have the heart to wake him. He wasn't missing anything. Their father was getting worse and worse and he didn't need to be awake to watch it. Her mother brought her a cup of coffee and she gratefully accepted it, downing almost a fourth of it. She didn't even taste the liquid but she was glad she felt the heat going down her throat. She'd been so numb lately it actually surprised her.

"Have you eaten anything mom?"

Lorraine's looked like she'd lost 10 pounds in two days. Her hands shook as she held her own cup of coffee, her green eyes focused on her wedding ring.

"William went to get us something to eat," Lorraine said quietly.

William, Lianna's oldest sibling, was doing the best at keeping together. She knew he was hurting just as much as everyone else but William was doing his best to stay calm and make sure everyone else was taken care of. He'd surprised her. She loved her brother dearly but he wasn't usually the type to put everyone else first.

Lianna heard heels clicking loudly and she looked up, surprised to see her older sister coming from the direction of their father's room. She didn't have time to be surprised because before she could even think, Viveca was yelling at her mother.

"Where is my father?!" Viveca asked, tears spilling from her eyes. "What the hell did you do to him? That man in that room is not my father!"

"Your father?" Lianna laughed, standing up. She couldn't control her anger, she didn't have the energy. "Since when has he been your father? You haven't bothered to acknowledge his existence in years!"

"Shut up Lianna," Viveca pointed.

"No you shut up Viveca," Lianna fumed. "You haven't talked to any of us in years and now you come in here and act like the whole fucking world is falling down on you and you alone."

"Shut up!" Viveca pointed again. "I am not in the mood for this right now!"

"Because you know it's true," Lianna glared. She felt her face getting hot as she stared at her sister for the first time in a very long time. The sister she'd looked up to her entire life until she walked out on her family, choosing her boyfriend over the people who'd loved and supported her for her entire life.

"We've been dealing with this for almost two years," Lianna sniffed, feeling tears in her eyes. She angrily wiped them away. "You just got here so don't act like this is only happening to you and don't you dare attack my mother."

"Go to hell Lianna," Viveca glared.

"Right after you," Lianna spat back.

-----------------------------

"Stop it!" Lorraine yelled, standing up. "None of this is going help your father."

She looked back and forth between her daughters. She'd prayed for years to have all of her children in the same room again but not like this. She wanted desperately to hug them both but she knew that wasn't a good idea.

"Yelling at each other like children isn't going to make him better," she said, fighting back sobs.

"Lianna don't be so angry with Viveca," Lorraine said. "She's here now...that's what matters."

"She's here because he's gonna die," Lianna said, the look in her eyes surprising her mother. She'd never seen her youngest daughter look at anyone with as much disdain as she was directing at Viveca. "She might as well be a vulture."

"What's going on?"

Lorraine looked over her shoulder, glad to see her eldest child walk into the waiting room. He put down the food he was carrying, his eyes scanning the room and landing on Viveca.

"It's a welcome home party Will," Lianna laughed bitterly. "You all have fun...I need some air."

Lianna walked away and William went after her. Tears began streaming down Viveca's face again and Lorraine reached for her daughter.

Viveca stopped her once again, "Don't."

-----------------------------

Saturday...

Cory felt the smile stretching across her face as she walked into her hotel room, dropping her bags on the floor. She, Dawn, Jessica, and Portia had just gone to lunch and then did a little shopping and now she had to get ready for the party that Dawn and Jessie insisted on throwing for her. Cory breathed in the air, turning around and surveying her surroundings. She couldn't believe how much she'd missed just being in hotel rooms. She plopped down on the bed that thousands of people had done god knows what on before she got there. She looked down at the ugly comforter and smiled, tracing the paisley print with her fingernail. She stood up, giggling like a five year old.

"Okay Samms, calm yourself," she said, running a hand through her hair, trying to figure out what to wear that night. She looked at herself in the mirror, pulling off the sunglasses she was wearing. Everyone she'd seen so far told her how amazing she looked. Her hair had grown a few inches and was now black with a dark red tint. The red had clung to her hair more in some places than others which wasn't her intention but she grew to like it more than what she had planned. Originally, she only dyed her hair to shock her mother, who had annoyed her into spending a month of her recovery time with her. In addition to the change in hair color, she'd developed a bit of a fascination with tattoos, getting five: a tribal heart on her lower back, the Chinese symbol for Healing on her right ankle, another heart - a small pink outline very low on her hip, a tiny star and a crescent moon near her left shoulder blade, and the letters ES for her stepfather above her left ankle. Spending time with her mother had definitely sent her back to her rebellious phase. She couldn't help it, Adelle had that effect on her.

Cory found herself wondering what John would think of the changes as she unpacked the bags containing her most recent purchases. She'd tried her best not to think about him or ask about him knowing that she would see him later but it was difficult. As much as it pained her to admit it, she was looking forward to seeing him again. His steely blue eyes and that smile and...

Cory shook her head, "God, what is wrong with me?"

-----------------------------