Part 26

The look of disgust on his face haunted her. And it made her feel like the lowest piece of scum. The only good thing that came from it was that she started emotional eating for the first time in her life. Tenille was surprised to turn around and see River with yet another pastry in her hands.

They were at the mall in Orlando, both being in Florida for a couple days off before the Elimination Chamber pay-per-view. And so far, River had bought four different types of pastries. If how skinny River was, wasn't a tell-tale of the horror's she'd suffered with her anorexia, Tenille would have thought she'd lied about it. It seemed like the only thing River did lately was eat.

"T, you have got to try one of these," River exclaimed, "I think this one is the best."

"River, I realize that you're upset, but I feel like you need to get a handle on the emotional eating. This binge that you're going through is not healthy," Tenille said gently.

"I'm just always hungry lately," River admitted, "I don't know what's goin' on."

"Why don't you try to focus on something else?" Tenille suggested, "Or someone else. What did you do last night?"

"I was tryin' out the new WWE Network," she said, "Uncle Paul and Steph gave me an early pass to see what I thought. I was watchin' some of the old WCW matches. It was pretty awesome. Reminded me of the business I fell in love with."

"See, that's the kind of thing that you need to be doing!" River just needed some support to forget about everything Joe.

"I also called my dad. Ate a pizza with him over video chat. He was ecstatic," River told her, "And then when we hung up I ended up throwin' up most of it."

"Still feeling sick?" Tenille asked, worried.

"Just when I eat too much. I think it's because I'm still not used to eatin'. Like I will most likely throw these amazin' pastries up. Sadly, I really like pastries-"

"Ladies, ladies, ladies! You two are a sight for sore eyes."

River and Tenille looked up to see Jon and Colby, with a dark haired girl, walking up to them. River had a mouth full of pastry that she was trying to chew quickly. She could feel her cheeks were puffed out so she took a swig of her coffee, which only made her choke more. However, Colby, Tenille, and Jon laughed at her.

"Shut up, assholes," River grumbled after she'd gotten a handle on herself.

"Sorry, sweets, we just don't get to see you eat often," Jon laughed, "Obviously it's because you are as clumsy at eating as you are at walking."

"Ya know, I don't understand why you have so many fan girls. If only they knew what an ass hat you really are," River told him.

"Sweets, they don't care about my personality," he informed her, "They just want me for my body."

"You keep tellin' yourself that. I've seen plenty of bodies come and go in this business, and yours is not one of the best," River said, shaking her head. She looked to the girl at Colby's side and held out her hand. "Since the boys are bein' rude, I'll introduce myself. I'm River, and this is Tenille. We mostly call her T. I'm on the ring crew, and T is known as the diva Emma."

"Hi," she responded with a smile, taking River's hand in her own, "I'm Leighla. I'm Colby's-"

"She's the love of my life," he announced proudly.

"She the one?" River asked, smiling at his nod. "Then remember what I said. If you fuck it up, you'll have to deal with me."

"I'm not like him, sweetheart. But I give you permission to fuck me up if I fuck it up," Colby told her, wrapping an arm around Leighla.

"Can I please be let in on this conversation?" Leighla asked, confused. "I feel like I'm being talked about, but I'm not sure if it's good or bad."

River nodded, "Sorry. My dad was, or still is I guess, a professional wrestler. He is currently on his third wife and child number five. Now, I'm not sayin' my mom was a keeper, because she definitely wasn't, but my first stepmom was a great lady. And my dad fucked it up. I've seen a lot of guys fuck up their relationships because they were on the road and they couldn't wait until they got home. I told Colby that if he loved you more than wrestlin', which he assured me he does, then he wouldn't do anythin' to screw it up."

"Well, thank you," Leighla said, touched. This women had never met her but was going to bat for her. It was touching.

"I've seen what it's like. How it tears families apart. How it tore mine apart. If my dad had really cared about any of us, the way he says he does now, then he wouldn't have let anythin' that happened back then happen. Especially not to repeat it twice," River shrugged. "But I guess third times a charm. I just hope for my little sister's sake, it works out this time."

"Okay, enough of this touchy feely shit," Jon said, "What are you two doing here? Any big plans for tonight?"

"I have a date," River announced, knowing it'd throw Colby for a loop.

"A real date?" he asked, "With that knight? I thought he wasn't a knight?"

That reminder hit River like she'd been sucker punched, but she refused to let it show. She'd deal with it when she was alone, wanting to enjoy this moment with friends. "No, not a knight. And he wasn't a knight. Just a boy playin' games. No, this date is with someone older-"

"I don't know if I like where this is going," Colby said.

River laughed, "I'm going to have a glass of wine, or a whole bottle, and eat a pizza, hopefully not throw it up tonight, and watch some old school wrestlin'. With my ol' man."

"Well that was quite anticlimactic," Colby told her, let down. "I didn't know 'Taker was in town."

"Sadly, he's not," River sighed, "We've been video chattin'. We watch the same show durin' the day and then talk about it later that night. It's been pretty great, rebuildin' our relationship. I kinda fucked it up a few years ago."

"Wait, the Undertaker is your dad?" Leighla asked, excited. Then she punched Colby's arm. "Why didn't you tell me that?"

"Not very many people know," River explained for what seemed like the thousandth time.

"The only reason we know is because we guessed-"

"That was a very long guessing game-"

"How did you guys meet?" Leighla asked, looking between the two.

Colby laughed, hard. And if it were possible, Jon laughed harder. "She thought she was paralyzed."

"Wait, what? How is that funny?"

"My arm was in a cast and a sling. It was immobilized. And my stepmom and my ex-boyfriends wife slipped me more pain medicine than I'd agreed to take. I was a little high."

Colby then explained in detail the day they met. Leighla also found it slightly funny, as did Tenille. The group wandered towards the food court where River was tempted to get another pastry. Before her stomach turned.

"Are you feeling okay?" Tenille asked, "You look really pale all of a sudden."

"Too many pastries," River told her, swallowing hard and trying to slow her breathing. "I'm better now. Sorry."

"I thought you assholes said you were going to meet me just outside the store," a deep baritone voice came from behind her. "I just searched for you for over an hour."

"Now I don't feel well again," she said, "Excuse me."

She made her way to the bathroom, alone. And stayed there for as long as she thought she could get away with it. She didn't need Tenille coming in after her again. Or God forbid, have Joe follow her again. She just hoped that he'd disappear into thin air. But when she got back, he was still there. And he would not look at her.

"Jeez, there you are," Tenille said, loudly. "I was just telling them how you have access to the Network-"

"We want to have a little get together at our place tonight," Colby told her, "We can hook up your computer to our TV and stream a show. Just the six of us!"

"I don't think I can," River said, trying to find a way out of this little get together. "I live an hour away from here, I'd have to go home, get my computer, and then drive home later tonight to pack and get some sleep before we take off tomorrow. And I haven't been feelin' well lately, I'd hate for you guys to get sick-"

"River, stop making excuses. I told you last week to go to the doctor if you weren't feeling well," Colby argued.

"I had an appointment with Chris. He did some blood work but it won't be back for a week or two," River responded, glaring at him.

"Is he checking for-"

"No, T. We already talked about that. It's isn't that-"

"He should check for everything," Leighla put in softly, "I don't mean to get in your business but it could be something serious."

"He's havin' it checked for everythin' that could be seriously wrong with me. But we both agreed that there was one thing he didn't need to check for because it is basically impossible to happen to me," River said. "But thank you for worryin'. I don't have many people in my life who do that-"

"Now that is a lie," Joe put in. It was the first time he'd spoken up since she'd rejoined the group. "I can name a few of the guys who worry a hell of a lot about you, Avery."

"My dad's friends don't count, Joe. I told you, I don't have friends. It's nice to gain some," River told him.

"Well, you can stay with us tonight," Colby said. "There, no more excuses. Drive home, get packed, come back to our place and we'll have an old school party. It's not like it'd be the first time we all spent the night together."

"Um, yeah it would-"

"Okay, it's not the first time the five of us have spent the night together. It's just a bonus that Leighla is here tonight."

There was no way she could argue. It was no use, Colby found every loophole in her excuses. There was always a way around them. It irritated her, but at the same time, she was glad that he was such a good friend. She used the drive home and back to Orlando to give herself a pep talk. Joe would be there. And she would have to act like it didn't bother her a bit.

She was just pulling into the parking lot where Colby and Leighla's apartment was when her phone rang. She answered it without looking at who it was.

"River, I need to see you as soon as you get to the arena tomorrow." It was Doc Chris. And he sounded, not worried, just weird.

"Did you get my results back?" she asked, his silence spoke a million words. "Just tell me now. Please. I don't think I can wait until I see you face to face."

"I know we said we didn't need to check your levels, but the lab did any way-"

"What levels, Chris?"

"Your HcG levels."

"I'm not sure what that means. But I know you're going to explain it to me right now."

"Long story short, they ran a test to see if you were pregnant-"

"Which I'm not. The fertility doctor told me that my egg count was one of the lowest he'd ever seen. He said it was virtually impossible for me to get pregnant. So what is wrong with me?"

"Well, it's that virtually that isn't saying one hundred percent. It's these tests that are saying that you are pregnant. Whoever you slept with must be super fertile, because he impregnated you."

"Well, fuck me."

"I think we should refrain from that, it's what got you pregnant in the first place," Chris joked.

"Shut up."

She hung up the phone, trying to figure out what she was going to do. On the one hand, it may be the only chance she had to have a child of her own. On the other hand, there was no way she would be able to raise this baby with its father in its life. Joe had made it perfectly clear that he didn't want anything to do with her.

River tried to get control of her feelings before going inside. She knew that Tenille would automatically know something was wrong just by the look on her face, so she tried to make herself feel impassive. Unfeeling. She knew she could do it. She'd done it for two whole years, she could do it again, just until she found out what she was going to do.

XXX

"Hey, River, since we've got some time to kill, do you wanna train with me?"

Her head shot up, and she knew she had a deer in the headlights look. "Um, I- it's just that- I've, uh, I've got an appointment. Yeah, um, an appointment with Doc Chris. That, uh, he called yesterday. Um, I think he, uh, might have those, uh, those test results."

"Okay, dude, chill. I'm not mad," Colby said, laughing at how she stressed she sounded. "I hope everything's alright with your results. Let us know what's going on."

"Avery! My office! Now!"

"Oh shit," River said. "Uncle Paul sounds upset. I'll see you guys later."

She walked toward Paul, with her eyes wide. She'd have to think of a better excuse for the next time someone asked her to train with them. Or anything that could potentially harm the life growing inside her. She looked up at Paul as she reached him and the look in his eyes told her that he knew.

"Uncle Paul-"

"Save it. This is discussion is for behind closed doors."

River nodded, agreeing with him. There was no way she wanted everyone to find out that she was pregnant. It could not possibly get back to Joe. She had to find a way to keep him out of the loop. Which mean keeping her closest friends out of the loop for a while as well, until she could explain that he couldn't find out.

They reached Paul's makeshift office and he held the door open for her. When she entered, she realized that they weren't going to have this conversation between just the two of them. Apparently, Steph and her dad were going to be included. Looking at her dad, however, it seemed that he was confused as to why they were in a meeting together.

"Daddy," she greeted, clearing her throat. "What are ya doin' here?"

"I think I should be askin' you that, darlin'. I was told that you have somethin' to tell us," he said, sitting down on one of the chairs in the room. The large man did not look comfortable in it at all. She took him in, his jeans and black t-shirt, his short hair, weirdly cut at that. She'd missed seeing him in person. "You're lookin' good, darlin'."

"Thank you, daddy," she responded, looking away.

"River, I think it's time to talk about your test results," Steph said, gently. She was wearing her typical business suit, it was meant to make her look harder on screen. But the tone of her voice was kind, as if she were talking to a skittish cat.

River nodded, taking a deep breath. "Um, I hadn't been feelin' that great. For almost a month now. About three weeks, I think. So I asked Doc Chris to see if he could figure out what was wrong with me. He took some blood, and sent it to a lab."

"What did the results say, darlin'?" Mark asked, he could tell that his daughter was nervous. But at least she wasn't stuttering. She was, however, ringing her hands together and if she kept those hands still he could see that she was shaking like a leaf.

"I don't really know how it's possible, I was told a couple years ago that it was very, very, very unlikely to happen. But, uh,-"

"Take a deep breath, River," Paul coaxed, knowing she was about to stutter. "He needs to hear this from you, not us."

"I, uh," she took a shaky breath, "I didn't think it would be this hard. I also didn't expect you to spring it on me like this either. Um, Daddy, I'm- well, you're gonna be a grandpa."

Silence. Utter silence. The look on his face was almost unreadable. But it did portray a little bit. He was shocked. Obviously he hadn't been expecting to hear that his oldest daughter was expecting a child. His mouth opened, then closed. And reopened, before closing again. It was as if he couldn't find the right words to say. And then it sank in and he got pissed off.

"Who do I have to kill?"

Steph and Paul started to laugh. They'd expected that reaction.

"Daddy-"

"River Avery, tell me who the fuck got you pregnant!"

"Don't you go yellin' at me ya overgrown jerk!" she yelled even louder. "It's not yer damn business who I slept with. He's not gonna be around, he doesn't know, and I'd prefer to keep it that way. He kinda turned out to be a loser. And I promised myself I'd never get into a relationship with someone who would treat me the way you-"

River flinched, as did Steph. They'd had many conversations on this exact topic, though River had never said anything to her dad about it. She didn't want to finish the thought, simply because she didn't want to hurt his feelings.

"The way I did what?" he asked, calmly this time.

"The way you treated my mom and Sara," she finished, "You're a great guy, Daddy. But you didn't always used to be. I met a guy, who I thought was great. It turns out he wasn't interested in a relationship."

"Did he hurt you?" Mark asked, his voice shaking slightly.

"No, Daddy. He didn't hurt me," she answered. It was true for the most part. But her heart was still breaking. Even more now that she knew she was carrying his baby. "It just wouldn't have worked out between the two of us."

"Does he work with ya?"

"Daddy, I'm not gonna tell you who it is. But I do want to keep this quiet. For a little while at least," River told them, "I did some research on the plane ride here and some stuff said that it's better to keep quiet for at least twelve weeks, because then I'll be out of the danger zone for miscarriages. I think I want to wait for this to get around."

"What about work? You can't very well travel."

"I can work just fine, and I can travel for a while still," River calmly told her dad. "And any way I've been offered a position in Orlando, it won't start until after WrestleMania, but I think I've made up my mind about whether I'm going to accept or not."

"Why did you tell me any of this, darlin'?"

"Because I wasn't sure what I was gonna do, Daddy. Can't you just be happy for me? Or, I don't know, give me some kind of reaction? Be happy that Vince offered me a promotion without consultin' you first? Be happy that you're gonna have a grandbaby in a few months? Or be pissed that I'm gonna have a baby? Or just be proud of me, for somethin'? Anythin'?"

"Darlin' I've always been proud of you. No matter what happened, I was always proud of you."