Chapter 25
Disclaimer: I don't own anyone from the WWE.

Author's Note: Please read the author's note at the end of this chapter, it's important. Don't skip to it unless you wanna spoil the ending. Haha. I want to thank Felonxoxo, Lauren, Keena, xXParieceXx, and Cena's baby doll for your consistent reviews :) Here we go, enjoy!

Two months later

John stared at the glass filled with soda and shook his head. The last time he put similar contents into his body, he blacked out and woke up nearly naked next to his wife. He never tried to find out what happened because chances were - he'd rather not know. He gathered his things and left promptly, without ever looking back. As long as he was alive and able to be with Roxanne, he was fine.

Fortunately, for the past couple of weeks, that's how things have been. He was thankful for that.

He was even more thankful for the way Roxanne took the news. The instant he got to see her after the incident, he told her what happened. A couple seconds of silence passed and for that while he didn't know what she was thinking. Like always, Roxanne just smiled and understood.

Now they were spending another day at her house. It was their favorite thing to do.

"Baby, you're beautiful," he reminded her. "Just relax."

She sipped on the glass of soda before shaking her head. "But I don't feel beautiful in any of these dresses."

"Are you sure this is even about the dress?"

Roxanne, who was standing in front of her mirror, looked back at John and sighed. She pouted as she brought herself onto his lap. She twirled her finger against the hem of his shirt and a sullen sigh passed between her lips.

"I know you disagree with your parent's second wedding but you can't do anything about it. So why bother feeling sad about something you can't change?"

She lowered her head and nestled it against the curve of his neck.

John continued, "I'm gonna be right there with you."

"Thank God," she mumbled before putting her head up. "Otherwise, I wouldn't be able to survive that night."

"Well we wouldn't want that." John smiled and kissed her lips.

She smiled. "I guess it can't be so bad."

"Of course not. We'll be together."

"You know-" she propped herself into a straddling position. "I just realized this is gonna be the second wedding we're going to."

He smiled. "You know what they say, the third one's the charm."

Roxanne shot him a wondering look. She could only imagine his wild implication.

"The third wedding just might be ours."

Roxanne bit her lip. "Oh shut up, married man. Don't get too ahead of yourself."

John laughed and wrapped his arms around her waist tightly. He knew there was no such thing as getting ahead when you've already fallen in love forever.

"I can't believe the wedding is tomorrow. That's less than twenty hours from now!" Roxanne momentarily paused from packing to throw her hands up in the air. John and her were in the bedroom with a pile of clothes for tomorrow.

"And everything will be fine," John assured. He stood behind her, placing both hands over her waist. "We should go to sleep early tonight, just so you can stop worrying."

Roxanne began shaking her head. "Oh no, we are not going to sleep early tonight."

John raised his eyebrows. "No?"

"Nope." She gathered all the things on the bed and stuffed it into the duffle bag without care. She pushed it off and turned to face John. "You mister, will make me forget all about my worries of tomorrow."

"Oh, well-" he smiled. "That, I can definitely do."

Roxanne began to nod with a grin on her face. She tippy toed and placed a hand behind John's head to push him closer. Then, she planted a kiss on his lips. Everything, absolutely everything, about him turned her on. The past few weeks they'd closely shared only heightened her physical craving. John of course, had no complaints. He was just as willing, if not more. And he'd be damned if he didn't prove her that that tonight.

Later, much later, John dragged up the tangle covers and settled Roxanne - who was fast asleep - comfortably on his chest. He was pleasurably exhausted, drained, and content. The only thing that abated his mind from complete contentment was the nagging clock that blinked beside him. Each minute that passed was a minute closer to the wedding. Although he'd been assuring her that everything would be okay, he didn't completely believe in that himself. He'd only been trying to play the strong one, in hopes that she can truly gain her own strength. Roxanne was always good at that.

These thoughts were soon interrupted when a faint ringing emitted from somewhere in the room. It was his cell phone. He looked around and realized it was on the floor, inside the pocket of his shorts. He brought his hands to rub the back of Roxanne's head while ignoring the call. He closed his eyes and tried to go to sleep.

His phone went off again. And again, and again. As soon as it went off for the fifth time, he lightly shifted Roxanne onto the pillow and got off the bed. He got his phone and his worries were then confirmed. Of course, of all people, it was Liz.

He stole a glance at Roxanne before he walked out of the room and went to the kitchen. He was ready to call his wife back but she ended up making her sixth call. This time, John answered.

"Hello?"

"John!"

The alarm in her voice quickly got him. "What's wrong?"

"John-I-I need you right now."

"Liz, what's wrong?"

"I don't know! I-I started having mild cramping then it got severe and now, now I can't even walk. John I'm scared! I need you- I need you right now."

"Liz, I'm all the way across the country."

She was panting now. "But John, I need you. Please. John. I'm terrified!"

"Can't you call your mom or something?"

"But John-please, please come here. I want you to be here if anything happens to the baby."

John's heart dropped. "Liz I-I can't make it there right now. Just call your mom and go to the hospital if things get worse."

"I'm scared!"

"Everything-everything's gonna be alright, Liz. Just relax, please. Don't stress yourself out like this."

"Damn it, John. The cramps are getting worse," she whined.

There was nothing amicable about her tone now. It sounded like pure pain and had John's stomach turn.

"Johnnnnn!" She was crying now.

"Liz, hang up the phone and call the ambulance."

"Johnnnnn!"

"Liz, please! Call the ambulance right now. Then call me back if you can, alright? Please. You have to get yourself to a hospital."

"Johnnnn!" she cried some more.

"Liz. Call 911. Listen to me. "

"Okay…" she panted.

John opened his mouth to talk but the line dropped before he got another word out. His heart was racing and he knew that pace was only about to get worse.

He hadn't given this prenatal stage much attention and now that the baby may be in danger, the guilt warped him up. He clutched onto his phone tightly, desperate to displace his growing worry. He released the phone and brought both hands over his head.

The next minutes that came felt like hours. His mind was running in circles and his heart was battering against his ribs.

"Fuck," he cursed.

John realized just how bad the situation was when he felt Roxanne's arm wrap around him, and even then, he still didn't feel better.

"Babe," she called out, her voice fresh from sleep. "What's wrong?"

He leaned back and lightly pushed her hands off him. "Liz is going to the hospital right now."

"What?" Her tone was just as devastating as his. She pulled the stool next to him and sat down. "Babe, what happened?"

"I don't know. She-she could be having a miscarriage for all we know." His voice was low but still dangerous as broken glass. The both of them felt each and every sharp edge. His shoulders were hunched and he deflated like a popped balloon.

Silence passed and all Roxanne could do was stare. There were no words for this situation, she thought. John seemed vital and the last thing she wanted was for her to make it worse.

The air around them got heavy.

"She wants me to fly over there just in case anything happens to the baby."

Roxanne's pulse was skipping. She didn't know how to reply that.

John sighed. "Is that okay?"

She nodded her head without thinking. Rather than feeling, she withdrew herself from consciousness. It was the only way she could've stayed strong for John.

"Are you sure it's okay if I go?" He asked as if it were a rhetorical question. Maybe it was.

She nodded again, this time, wondering if John noticed the reluctance in her eyes.

He didn't. "Thanks for understanding, baby. I'm gonna use the laptop to book a redeye right now, alright?"

She nodded for the third time with a glum utter. "Kay."

John got up from his seat and exited the room. He was obviously in the worse case possible and she had to consider that, no matter how bad her own case was.

Sure, she needed him at the wedding but the mother of his child needed him even more. She'd have to accept that since it seemed as though he already had.

One Month Later

Roxanne! The wedding video is finally finished and put together. Come watch it with your dad and I tonight. Bring the popcorn and some booze if you'd like because we don't have any. Hehe. Love, sexy mom.

"Booze and sexy mom," Roxanne repeated out loud. She shook her head and laughed as she read over her mother's text again. "Wow."

She glanced up at the clock and read five o'clock. It was Monday night and Raw was supposed to be on in an hour.

"Guess I can't watch you tonight, John," she muttered before tucking some hair behind her ear. She licked her lips and got up from the bed.

There would be no delays getting to her parents house, she decided. Her home had been more barren as of late and the last thing she wanted was to epitomize the feeling herself.

She'd have to get herself into her parents house quick, and that she did. She was sitting next to them within thirty minutes.

Her eyes danced at the wedding footage. It sure looked a lot better in video. That, or because she no longer had to worry about what was to come after. That was all over and done now. Every cringing bit of it.

She narrowed her eyes when a petite blonde appeared on the side of the screen. She remembered this whole scene like it was yesterday.

Roxanne looked around the crowd anxiously. She was looking for familiar faces in hopes it'd fill whatever void she was feeling. That didn't seem to work. For one, she knew close to no one in the small ceremony. For another, the person she did recognize was someone she wish she hadn't.

She crossed her arms and tapped her foot. God, she wished her face wasn't so transparent. The last thing she wanted was to be in this damn wedding and for everyone to easily read that through her face was the topper.

She kept looking around but her eyes kept returning to the blonde female on the fifth row. She had a name, of course, but not one Roxanne could remember. It was M-something. That didn't matter, though. All that mattered was that woman had been her father's mistress. And she was here. At her parent's wedding.

What the fuck was she doing there? Was her mother aware of her presence? And if she did, she was okay with it?

Roxanne rolled her eyes as these questions circulated around her head. She looked over at her parents and noticed the genuine smiles on their faces, as they exchanged vows. For some reason, it was painful to watch so she allowed her line of vision to fall to the floor.

She sighed. "Damn it, John, I needed you too."

Roxanne couldn't help but look down as she did at the wedding day. The video kept rolling and her parents only seemed more smitten. She heard them giggling like a teenage couple.

"Mom," Roxanne spoke up. She reached for the remote and pressed the pause button.

Both sets of eyes focused on her without a word. The air was sterile.

"Why was it okay for her to be at the wedding?"

Her mom's eyebrows furrowed. "Who are you talking about, hun?"

"Her. Dad's-"

Roxanne didn't even have to finish for her father to realize who she was referring to. "Because we both accepted her already."

Roxanne felt her mind halt. Accepted her? They accepted the woman who'd cause their marriage to end the first time?

"If it wasn't for her, your dad wouldn't have realized just how much he truly loved me," her mom added. "Hun, I know it may be hard for you to understand but I've forgiven your father. And her. I've moved on and I'm the happiest I've ever been with your dad. More so than the first time we got married."

Roxanne stared at her parents. She bit back what she intended to say. Somethings were better when left unsaid.

"I'm in love with your mom, Roxanne. It was a mistake to cheat on her but it helped become an even better person for your mom."

As Roxanne processed these words into her head, she sighed and pressed the play button without a word.

Roxanne hugged her knees as the light from the television bounced off her face. John had just finished texting when he scooted closer towards her.

"The show ended?" he asked, eyes still set on his phone.

"Mhm," she mumbled.

John looked up at the TV then at Roxanne. He opened his mouth to talk then closed it when he realized just how unaware he was of the room's atmosphere. It was cold. He decided to ask the never failing question. "You hungry?"

"Nah." It failed. Usually, the mood would warm up, at least to a slight degree, but this time, it just got even colder. John bit the inside of his cheek and stared straight at the screen. He sighed.

Things haven't been the same with Roxanne and that fact was becoming more apparent with every new day that passed. To add to John's fume, he knew it was all his fault. Every since Liz's miscarriage scare, he'd been juggling the two women in his life. Although Roxanne was always understanding, he could see the seams to her strength unbuckling. It was taking a toll on her. Of course it would. It would for any lover who always felt like they were on borrowed time. Damn him for not being careful enough to prevent that.

"Baby…" John placed his hand over hers and panic warped him up when she didn't reciprocate. She just stared at him blankly. "Is everything okay?"

She adjusted her position on the couch and sat up higher. And further away from him. "The answer to that is a little complicated."

"And we have all night to sort it out."

He saw hesitation flash through her eyes. "I don't think you wanna do this tonight, John."

"Do what?" He felt so petrified, his voice was barely audible. He watched her reluctance grow.

"John, I've been thinking and…" her words trailed, putting hers and John's body in complete alert mode. "I'm not sure if we went about things the right way."

John searched her eyes hoping to God that no matter what she said tonight, she'd be willing to fix it. Just like he was. "Then how can I make things feel right for you?"

"You can't," she answered blatantly. "I realized we jumped into this relationship and-"

"And it's been great, Rox."

She nodded. "It has, I agree with you but that was also your problem with Liz."

"Don't- don't even compare my relationship with her-"

"But we can't keep being oblivious, John. You made a mistake with her then and you haven't even tried to fix those mistakes with me."

"But you're not a mistake. We're not a mistake."

"How could we be sure of that, John?"

"I just- I feel it, Roxanne. I can't even explain because no words can suffice my feelings for you but I swear, I know we're not a mistake."

"I bet you thought the same with her too."

"But this is different-"

"But how could you be so sure?" she asked again.

He didn't know how to answer that. He simply didn't have one.

Roxanne continued. "We got together so fast and-"

"That doesn't automatically make us a mistake."

"No but it still doesn't make this right. I'm scared as hell John, and trust me, I tried so hard to take the risk with you."

John sighed, "But what?"

"But the odds are stacked against us."

"We don't have to let it-"

"John, please, just listen to me," Roxanne pleaded. "I want you to be absolutely sure. But I don't think you ever will be unless you really give your marriage another shot."

John felt his head spin. He wasn't sure if he heard her right. "What?"

"I came in between your marriage and I don't think having me before and after the divorce is a clean enough break. If you're gonna divorce your wife, I shouldn't be the reason. I'm not a good enough reason because your feelings could change again and-"

"I don't understand why you're doubting how I feel for you, Roxanne. I-I never even gave you a reason to."

"I never said you did but I cant let you make the same mistake twice."

"But you're not a mistake!" John put up both of his hands in frustration. He couldn't believe how adamant she was about calling them a mistake. It felt anything but that.

"You may be sure, but I'm not," she said calmly.

John dropped his head. That did it. That sealed it. His world had come crashing down in an instant. It was over.

"Please. Just give your marriage another shot. Forget about me right now."

John bit back the groan. His heart was shattering to pieces and he couldn't believe what demands she was asking of him. They were impossible.

"Please, John," she pleaded.

He looked her across the couch. "There's no way around this?"

She shook her head. Despite her determination not to cry, a tear trickled down her face.

John began to nod slowly. His body got numb. His lips were sealed shut for he knew no words to reply.

"I'm sorry," she said softly, her voice barely a whisper.

John closed his eyes and turned away. He was angry. He was hurt. He was God damn close to tears. He understood but that definitely didn't take away the pain he was feeling. It was as if his heart had been ripped out of his chest, and he was forced to watch it get stomped on.

"If were ever gonna be together," she began to say, her throat constricted from the threatening tears. "I want you to be completely, completely sure. I just- I don't think you gave Liz a fair enough shot. We're obviously still on our honeymoon stage and feelings could change after that, John. If we're really meant to be together, we'll end up together again somehow. But right now, it's best we be apart."

His hands turned into iron fist and he nodded his head quickly. "I get it, Roxanne. Alright."

He swallowed the lump in his throat but it did nothing to suffice his burdened feelings. She was right. There was no way around this. They'd have to be apart right now, and it daunted him to think it may be forever. But it had to be done. It was the only way she'd get her peace of mind.

John straightened his back and got up from the couch. "I'll pack my stuff right now and go."

Roxanne bit her lip and nodded. She watched as he walked passed her on the couch. The instant he was out of the room, the tears came crashing down. She sobbed and her cheeks burned with salty trails of grief. It was relentless, just like her growing love for him. But she learned a long time ago that love wasn't enough.

They couldn't go on with this. Not like this.

They'd gotten together too fast. A mistake John had made with Liz.

They cheated a marriage. A mistake her father had made with his mistress.

It broke her heart, sent it to devastating shattered pieces, but there was just no way. They had to learn from past mistakes; not make them again.

Roxanne sunk her shaky body deeper onto the couch. She cried until there were no tears left. By that time, she realized that John was already standing on the wall behind her. Eyes red, hands in his pockets, luggage right beside him.

She got up from the couch and brought herself into his arms. This would be the last time.

John gripped her tightly as if it were the only way to help him survive. He planted a kiss on her temple before he released his hold and stepped away from her. He had to leave. This was too painful.

He got his bag and started walking towards the door. He reached for the knob, turned it and stepped out. He looked back at her one more time, his heart hammering away even faster.

"If we ever meet again," Roxanne said.

She'd said this once before, back when they were strangers. She didn't think she'd ever see him again then and here she was now, saying it as his lover.

If we ever meet again, John mentally repeated. He gave a small nod before forcing himself to walk away. This was officially the saddest departure of his life, and he was sure it forever will be.

Roxanne stared at her closed door. She couldn't breathe. She backed herself up against the wall, thinking she'd just gone through the worst thing she'd ever know; nothing could ever hurt this much again.

MUST READ! AUTHOR'S IMPORTANT NOTE: Well...? What'd you guys think of the end? Yes, you read that right, this is the end of this fic. Last update, I said I'd post two chapters today and I did! Yes, I did it again. I posted the sequel to this story already! Whooooo! You can go on my profile and click on 'Second Time Around' to read the first chapter. But first, let me know what you guys thought of the ending. Sorry it was sad but that was the plan all along, hence the title. Review review review! I wanna know your thoughts of this story all together :) Thanks everyone.

May 07, 2011 - purposely posted the last chapter on the same date I posted the first chapter, kekeke.