Are We There Yet?

by Aliel Yevrah

The third installment of Randy and Lora's Story. Please read "The Awful Truth" and "For Keeps" before starting this. Or it will not make sense! Four years after Randy and Lora get married, they think all it well. But is it really? Read & Review

25. What Doesn't Kill You

Oh the cleverness of my fans… that is all!

Chapter 25- What Doesn't Kill You

Lora

"Lora," I heard Randy murmur. I turned to look at him and could see that he was having a real problem with his words. "Are you pregnant?"

I froze in mid-step. His words hit me like a wrecking ball. That was the last thing on this planet that I would have ever imagined coming from his mouth. Just because I had put on a few pounds, did not mean I was pregnant. I felt pressure build up in my chest and before I knew it, I was laughing. Randy's mind had a strange way of working itself to a conclusion. I turned to walk towards the bed. "Randy, don't be ridiculous."

"I'm serious, Lora."

"Just because I get sick does not mean that I'm pregnant!" I exclaimed through my laughter. Randy shook his head and sat down in front of me on the bed, trying to make me sober up. I tried my best to be as serious as he was trying to be. It was hard fighting my laughter.

"It's not just the throwing up," Randy insisted and hopped off the bed and began to pace the room. My laughter suddenly died away, realizing how this was a big deal for Randy. I watched as Randy ran his hands over his face. "It's everything. The tender chest, the weight gain, the headaches and tiredness. On top of all that, it's the pickles!"

"Pickles?" I asked, unaware of the vegetable's role in all of this. "What do pickles have to do with all of this?"

"Because we rarely have a jar of them in the house. Neither one of the kids are that crazy about them. And the only time you ever eat them in excess to need four jars at a time is when your pregnant."

Well, I had to admit, it did make since. When Randy laid all the chips and cards out on the table, I could see where he was coming from on this. But it was still unnecessary worry. Randy and I hadn't had unprotected sex since…. Well, since he came back home. Which was around ten or eleven weeks ago. I wouldn't be having all these symptoms so early any ways. And the only reason I call that unprotected was because of all the headache medicine I had been on. I knew all too well of what could happen to birth control mixed with pain pills. Keith was a living reminder. "Randy, I'm not pregnant."

"But, what if you are?" he argued. I had to fight the urge to roll my eyes at his wild imagination. His brain was always two steps ahead of everyone else's, right or wrong. "What if you are? We aren't taking care of things. You are getting the care you need. This isn't something we need to just let go off as a whim."

"Fine," I caved, giving into his fantasies. I threw the covers off my legs and walked past him and out of our bedroom door. As I began to walk down the stairs and I continued, "If you're so worried, run out to the store and get a test. The best one on the shelf."

I was shocked when he didn't even protest. I watched as he slipped on his tennis shoes and walked to me, kissing my cheek. And as the door closed, I began to worry. When had Randy ever been wrong before when he believed in something this strongly? I sank into the couch cushions and let myself believe. That, maybe, I was pregnant. How could I handle that? I was stretched thin as it was. What between Keith's baseball schedule, Tiegan's treatments and the looming return of Randy's back to the business, how could I balance yet another baby? Not that I wouldn't be happy to have another kid. I was only thirty-one, for heavens sake. But Keith wasn't in kindergarten yet and Tia wasn't even two. The crying, the screaming, the diapers, the bottles, the pumping; even though I had enjoyed every second of it, it was all difficult in it's own right. But the time Randy came back, I was a bundle of nerves.

Randy entered the front door and walked slowly towards me, handing me a brown paper bag. I clutched at it tightly as I went upstairs to our bedroom, Randy hot on my heels. No matter how many times I have used a stick test, I always did the same thing. I carefully opened the box and pulled out the instructions. This particular test came with two sticks for double accuracy. I sat each stick parallel to one another. I sat on the toilet with the lid closed and read over the instructions. I felt Randy hovering over me, making my nerves even more on edge. The instructions say that once you place your urine sample on the stick it should take five minutes for results. And in the little window on the stick a series of lines should appear. Just one line if you aren't pregnant. Two if it's positive and you are having a baby. I sighed and stood up to lift the lid of the toilet.

But before I could begin the testing, a thunderous knocking resounded from the living room. Randy and I stared at one another before he ran from the room. I hurriedly pushed the contents of the pregnancy test back into the box and shoved it in my drawer. And then I ran off after Randy. I reached the steps and saw Randy opening the front door. I was shocked to see Matt Korklan on the other side. It was past midnight and he never just showed up without calling.

I eased my way down the steps as I took in his appearance. He looked disheveled and distraught. His skin was pale and he was heaving rapidly. My heart dropped before he could open his mouth. I knew what his problem was. And as if he read my mind, he spoke. "Edoin told me. Everything."

Randy looked back at me and we shared the same thought. The bathroom up stairs can wait awhile. Randy stepped out of the door way, letting Matt into the house. He slunk over to the couch and just flopped down. He looked so broken that I felt my eyes mist over. I had never seen him look so sad. I took a spot next to him as Randy sat down on the chair.

"I didn't know where else to go. I didn't want anyone else to know about it. I don't know why I came here. I just knew that you two knew. That way I wouldn't have to actually say it out loud," I heard him choke up at the end. A solitary tear began to roll down his face. I saw Randy do what Matt would have wanted him too; ignore the drop on his cheek. I reached over and took his hand in my own.

"I'm so sorry. I know that doesn't help, but I am. And we are here for you. Our doors are open for you," I said, casting a glance in his direction. He agreed without words. It was something I loved about the two of us. We could have these silent conversations. Matt looked over at me, gratefully. I squeezed his hand before letting it go. I knew he was a man who liked to keep a brave face and didn't want a lot of sympathy.

"I just.. don't understand. After being together for eight years, married five of those, that something like this could happen," he spoke softly, each word dripping with sorrow. It was hard to see him like this. "I keep trying to think of something that I did or didn't do, did or didn't say."

"Stop right there Matt," I said, bristling at his words. I was instantly reminded of my conversation with Edoin earlier in the evening. I was not going to let Matt believe that any of this was his own fault. It was simply not true. "You had absolutely nothing to do with this. You couldn't see it coming. Don't you dare blame yourself!"

"Lora, can I ask you something?" Matt questioned, turned bloodshot eyes in my direction. I cast a quick glance at Randy before nodding in Matt's direction. He took a deep breath. "What's the longest about of time you have spent apart from Randy while he's on the road?"

The question wasn't too far off topic that it threw me for a loop, but a deep enough question that I had to think about. I tilted my head to the side in thought and looked for Randy for help. "I'm not quite sure, but it's never been more than four months at a time."

Matt kind of scoffed disbelievingly at my answer. But I knew, without a doubt, the scoff was directed towards someone else. "Four months? One hundred and twenty-two days? I bet that was hard for you."

"It's always hard to be away from Randy," I said, before throwing Randy a look that said I didn't care about his absence. He should know that I would always be waiting by the door for his arrival. "Even hard now with the kids. And pregnant days away from Randy are torture. Not just because I'm afraid, if something will happen and he's not home. But because my phone never stops ringing when he's away and I'm pregnant. He's such a worrier."

"I can see that," Matt chuckled softly as he looked over at his friend. Randy just smirked and rolled his eyes. This was the first sign of happiness on Matt's face since he had been here. But as quickly as it came, it was gone. And he was miserable again. He turned to face me again. "You seem to be a professional at patience. Excuse me, Lora, if this is personal, though I think I know the answer. Have you ever gone behind Randy's back? Let some other man sleep in his bed?"

I heard Randy make a dangerous noise. And I knew he wasn't mad at Matt. He was just thinking about the situation Matt had painted. I knew Randy trusted me, but it was the male population that Randy wasn't so fond of. I could see the unnecessary anger pulled taut along his jaw line.

"Matt, there's a couch in the basement gym that pulls out into a sofa bed," Randy said, standing up from the chair. Both Matt and I eyed Randy carefully. "You are not going anywhere tonight. I'll go set it up for you."

We both watched as Randy left the room. I heard the basement door close and sighed. Randy was so tore up about Matt and what's happening to him. I could tell that earlier this evening and how he treated Edoin. I knew his feeling for her had changed. You do wrong in Randy's book, and you are on his shitlist forever. But, I pulled myself away from the sight of him and faced Matt again. I wanted to sugar coat my answer, but I knew Matt would want to the cold and honest truth. "Never. I would never disrespect Randy that way. Never even thought about it."

"That's what I thought," Matt smiled bittersweetly. I knew he was happy for us, but I also knew that he wished for that happiness for himself as well. I could feel my heart breaking for him. I knew what he was looking at when he looked Randy and me. The same thing Casie saw when they told her she would probably never have children. They both saw something that was stolen away from them. And I felt guilty for having what everyone else envied so dearly. Matt's words brought me out of my revere. "Everyone knows you, Lora. They know who you are and what kind of person you are. And how much you are devoted to Randy. You are one hell of a woman."

oo

I stood in the bathroom the next morning, drying my hair. I kept my eyes away from the trash can, knowing what it's contents held. The empty box that had previously held my pregnancy test. When I had woke up this morning, Randy had not been there. He left a note saying he was out with John for the morning. So I took my opportunity to relieve Randy's worries without him hovering. But after hearing all of Randy's concerns last night, before Matt had arrived, it actually made me think about if I was pregnant. But, now, I didn't know what to think of the results of the test. But I did know that Randy wouldn't be happy that I took it without him here. I didn't let myself think about Randy's reaction or the results. I had my baby Tia to worry about today.

I cut the dryer off and picked up the Ziploc bag of both result sticks. I took both tests to be sure. I left the bathroom and walked to the bed. I shoved the bag into my purse and headed downstairs to fix lunch for Keith before he woke up. Tiegan had a meeting with the doctors today at three and we had to be there about two-thirty. I flew around the kitchen throwing together a couple of sandwiches and set out the bag of chips. I jumped slightly at the sound of a door opening. I turned to see Matt emerging from the basement. It was the first time I had seen him all day. I set a paper plate with a sandwich and chips in front of the chair that he had slouched in. "I'm sorry that I didn't have time for anything more delicious, but I need to get to the hospital soon."

"Oh, don't worry about," Matt said, taking a huge bit out of ham and cheese. I smiled at him before I turned around to receive a shock. There was Keith, rubbing sleep from his eyes, standing in the door way. His red hair wasn't long enough to get mussed but his blues eyes were hidden dangerously by his drooping lids. I smiled at my first angel and held my arms out for him. It wasn't often that he wanted to be held by Mommy. Only when he was sleepy or sick. It was the same way with Tiegan. But it was different when they were frightened or scared. They were Randy's kids then. But Keith shuffled towards me and fell into my arms. I continued my routine of getting ready to leave with Keith in my arms.

"Now, listen, Matt. You treat this house as your house while we're gone. And I mean it," I stared him down until he smiled softly and nodded. I sent Keith off to the bathroom before we left. Matt watched me as I flitted about the kitchen, getting Keith's bag ready.

"I don't know how you do it, Lora," Matt mused, his voice held awe in his words. I chuckled softly at his compliment. It just comes naturally and with practice. I wasn't born this way. I am the mother that I am, because of my own mother. I watched how she raised Zoey, Mark and me. Matt's next words pulled me from memory lane. "Do you know how you're going manage with the shift to SmackDown?"

"What?" His words didn't make any sense to me. Switch to SmackDown? I wasn't going to the blue brand. My contract was for the red brand only. That's when the light-bulb switched on. I couldn't be traded to SmackDown, that was true. But I wasn't the only Orton in the WWE. My mouth went dry. I turned slowly to look at Matt. "Randy's being traded to SmackDown?"

"Y-You didn't know?" Matt stuttered, obviously horrified that he had spilled the beans on this. I shook my head. I had no clue of this monumental bomb of news. That would change everything. My heart dropped to my stomach. "Lora, I'm so sorry. I shouldn't have said anything."

"No. No, it's fine. I'm fine. But I have to go," I said, swallowing my emotion. My kids were more important than my shock of the moment. I called out for Keith. When he came back, his smile was in place and all sleep was gone from his eyes. I shuffled Keith out of the door with a short good-bye to Matt. I literally had to force myself to think of other things. Today had changed my life so much that I just couldn't deal with it right now. So, instead, I trucked on. My kids depended on me.

oo

I watched Randy as he talked to John privately in a corner of the waiting room. The doctors had asked us to wait here while they got Tiegan ready to show us something. But, I let myself dwell on the life changes before me. I could tell, now, that Randy was hiding something from me. It wasn't clear to me before but now it was glaring me in the face. His body language was off. His kept his arms crossed on his chest, switching his weight on his feet and never staying in one spot long. As if his lie was chasing after him. I eyed him warily before leaving my seat. I ignored Casie's confused stare as I walked straight up to Randy and John. "Randy, can I speak to you? Alone?"

John smiled at me before quickly making his escape. John knew me too well to know that the tone of my voice was not a happy one. And he didn't want to be involved in our problems. I grabbed Randy's forearm and pulled him to the opposite side of the room. He let me pull him voluntarily. I turned around my back against the wall. I didn't really know how to start this conversation, so I just took a deep breathe and dipped head first.

"When do you debut on SmackDown?"

The look on Randy's face told it all. So many emotions flickered across his face. Shame that he hadn't told me. Fear of my reaction. Agony to have to leave me. And relief that he didn't have to tell me. I saw his arm twitch out, as if he wanted to hold me tight. "Lora, I'm sorry that I haven't told you."

I shook my head. It wasn't going to do any good to get angry with him for not telling me. I can understand his conflict. "When?"

"As soon as I return in three weeks," Randy said, his head dipping low in regret. "Vince offered me the World Championship if I switched. I couldn't pass it up."

"I don't blame you," I said, shocking Randy. Even though I was depressed about the change, I couldn't steal his sunshine about the title. It was the first world title he ever held. It meant a lot to him. Randy's head came up with an unbelieving look in it. He wasn't expecting me to be happy for the change. He was my husband after all. I want what's best for him. I sighed, a grabbed his hand. "What are we going to do now?"

"We've been through worse," Randy said, motioning his hands around him. I knew he was talking about Tiegan's health issues. But Randy wasn't getting what I was trying to tell him. I shook my head again, smiling softly.

"No, Randy, you don't get it."

"What is it, baby?" I smiled despite myself. We rarely uses pet names for each other. So the times that we do, it means something. Something special. I took yet another deep breath and looked up into the bright blue eyes of my husband's.

"You were right," I said, trying to lead into this tough subject. I bit my lip as I paused, worrying about everything weighing on me right now. I squeezed his hand. "I am pregnant."

I heard the air leave Randy's lungs in a huff. Thinking about he was right was one thing, being proven was something totally different. His eyes went wide with shock and they dipped down to stare at my stomach. He was thinking what I was thinking. Yet another child of ours was growing inside me. But, before Randy could say anything, the doctors walked into the room.

"Mr. and Mrs. Orton?" Dr. Donald asked. We turned around, Randy still in shock. Donald stood in front of several nurses lined up behind him. He smiled at us as we walked over to meet up with him. It must be good news. Something of which I was thankful for. I needed something to go right for once. But didn't say anything. He just stepped to the side. And as he did so, the nurses followed suit. And there, standing behind the hospital personnel, was our daughter.

She looked like an angel in a dress that I had never seen. The top of it was a yellow halter top style with the initials "TOR" stitched in green thread. It was the popular monogram for "Tiegan Rory Orton". And the material that connected with the yellow cotton was a silky white that ended around her calved in a inverted peaked pattern. Butterflies of all colors dotted the silk. Her feet were covered in yellow sandals and a stretchy yellow headband went around her forehead, pushing back the ever growing hair. A yellow butterfly was pinned on the side of her head.

I looked over at the doctor. I was unsure of where the dress had come from, and I was also unclear at why she was out here. Without her protective gear. Donald seemed to read my mind and stepped beside Randy. "The Nurses all chipped in and bought the outfit for Tia. As a parting gift."

"P-Parting?" I stammered. Surely, I had not heard right. I looked around the room. John and Casie had stood from their chairs and I saw both of them staring wide-eyed and open-mouthed at Dr. Donald. Randy's face pretty much mirrored John's. I gasped without trying and I grabbed the doctor's arm. "She can go home?"

"We have cleared her of all health risks and dangers. Her WBC is well over six thousand. Of, course, I'll need to see her every three months for the first two years to make sure she stays on track but," Donald paused to smile brightly at me. "Tiegan is no longer a patient here."

And without warning, I fell to my knees. I could feel the tears falling from my eyes and I held my arms out for my baby. She came running. Her bright laughter only caused me to cry harder. I squeezed and hugged my second angel tight to my body. I felt a little hand on my arm and I looked around to see Keith, trying not to cry as got my attention. I wrapped an arm around him and clutched at both of my children. Tiegan was coming home. The wars and battles were finally over. Two strong arms closed around all three of us. I was vaguely aware of all the cheering and clapping from the staff. The Orton's were finally back together.

Thank you for all the support! I hope you've enjoyed this chapter! Leave a review please and thank you! Oh, and comment on CM Punks actions on Raw last week! Trust, I will not leave that out of the story!

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