A/N: Well hello, there. Bet you all love me for this, huh? 2 days since the last update, yet I'm already giving you another one! I actually wasn't gonna post this yet, but after the amazing day I had yesterday (Dolph, mmm 3), I couldn't keep you guys waiting... especially with this chapter.

So, big thanks go to M'J. ines, whitter23, southerncharm21, KimmieCena, DiBiase. Orton. Cena. Lover4life, darkangelmel, BourneBetter67, grafx. ALLURE, hardyrhodescenafan1, Joviper54, Enigmatic Lotus Leaf, RKOsgirl92, Christina89, Bubblyjayy, Lucy Grayson, Xandman216, YouCantSeeMe. x, xDarexToxDreamx, Sonib89, TednCodyGirl, iluvmycena, xSamiliciousx, Breakingdawn105, Queen Chaos-Hardy, Pinayprincesa, I'mxAxRockstar, LaLa2004, legacyfangirl, rkolover2, jeffhardyfan09, QueenofYourWorld, Ashurri-sama, Cena-holic8, CapriceCC, nikki1335, xpunkrockerx, grayharmony, davis25, beautifultragedyxxx, Fairy Skull, VolcomStoneBabe, amelovscena-orton, PixieDust529, Melilovesraw, RKO. I. F., Aliel Yevrah and poisenousprincess for reviewing the last chapter, I adore you all!

Soo, are you ready for this? :P Hehe, I hope you all enjoy, and please don't forget to leave feedback!

Chapter 37 – All This Time

"Umm, hi..." I smiled sheepishly as the door finally opened, only to reveal an extremely surprised looking Randy on the opposite side.

Surprised at first, until his brow furrowed and his eyes narrowed.

"What are you doing here, Ella?" He asked, his voice defeated as he crossed his arms over his broad chest.

"I'm here because I need to talk to you... about what happened last night," I sighed, struggling to keep eye contact with him as I thought back to our kiss. I could feel my cheeks growing hotter by the second.

"There's nothing to say, I think you told me everything you needed to already," He shook his head, his jaw clenching as he backed into the room. I expected him to slam the door in my face, but he left it open for me to follow him.

With the smallest of sighs I crept into the room and closed the door behind me, my eyes quickly finding the nearly full suitcase lay on the bed.

"That was then, this is now. A lot of things can change overnight, Randy..." I barely whispered, walking over to stand beside him next to the bed, "Going somewhere?" I raised an eyebrow, mimicking him as I folded my own arms across my chest.

"What do you think?" He sighed, shaking his head back and forth as he threw the last of his clothes into the case, before he began to zip it up, "You shouldn't be here, Ella. You should be on the beach, getting married."

I groaned to myself, realising this was going to be harder than I had first thought. I had hoped the moment I turned up at his room, tear stained and jittery, that he'd realise why I was there... but maybe not. I guess I was going to have to drill it into him instead.

"What if I don't want to get married?" I spoke up, barely loud enough for him to hear.

"W...what?" Randy shot up straight, his eyes staring into mine intensely, full with confusion.

"Let me rephrase that," I shook my head, smiling ever so slightly as I inched as close to him as possible, my hands reaching up to pull the veil from my head, "What if I don't want to marry Jesse? What if I'm marrying the wrong person?"

"I don't... I don't understand," He shook his head, his eyes wide. Actually, I think he did understand, he was just finding it hard to take in.

"Randy, you can be such a goof sometimes," I chuckled, lifting my hands to rest on his forearms, "I had a talk with Pierre while I was getting ready... and he really put things into perspective for me."

"He did?" He asked, the smallest of smiles beginning to pull up the side of his lips.

"Yes," I rolled my eyes, "He made me realise that although I loved Jesse, I wasn't in love with him. You see, I fell in love with someone seven years ago, the minute I laid eyes on him when he asked if the seat beside me was taken on our first day of college... and ever since then, my hearts only belonged to him," I could feel more tears welling in my eyes, all my feelings that had built up since I had known Randy finally breaking free. I looked up into his beautiful blue eyes, and let out a sob of relief as I saw the smile brightening up his features.

He pulled his arms from his chest, only to wrap them around my waist and pull me closer. He seemed to stare into my eyes for centuries, as if he were trying to work out if this were really happening or if it were one big dream. Eventually, he lifted one hand and begin to wipe away at my already tear stained face with his thumb... and only seconds later, he pulled my face to his and kissed me.

The kiss on the beach had been the most amazing thing I had ever felt in my life... until this. It wasn't hot or racy like our last, it was slow, sensual and love filled. I felt like I was going to explode from happiness as I felt Randy pick me up in his arms and spin me around.

I couldn't help but giggle against his lips as he did so, wondering how I had gotten to this point. For a good majority of my life I had wanted nothing more than this, to be in Randy's arms, to be his other half... but never in a million years had I expected it to really happen.

But it was. Randy was mine. He was really, truly, mine...

I tried to hide my disappointment when he finally broke the kiss and placed me back on my feet, even though his arms still wrapped around my torso tightly... but it was to no avail. I pouted like a baby, which made him chuckle lightly in response.

"Why didn't you tell me, Ella?" He sighed, brushing strands of my hair out of my face. My hair had been curled perfectly only half an hour before, but after all the running around I'd done, the majority of it was out of place again, "All this time... and you never said anything. You know, even before I realised how I felt about you, I still thought you were hot. If you'd have told me the truth, I'd have let you have a piece of The Lady Killer," He smirked playfully.

"Whatever Randal," I rolled my eyes, swatting him on the arm before I turned serious, "I didn't say anything because I didn't want to be one of those girls. I didn't want to be one of your one night stands, or a quick fling... I wanted you forever," I shook my head back and forth, biting my lip ever so lightly.

Randy sighed, a smile of contentment growing on his face as he lifted his hands to cup my face. He yet again stroked away a few stray tears with his thumbs, his orbs full with nothing but love as they stared back into my own.

"You don't need to worry about that now," He spoke quietly, his voice rough with emotion, "After everything I've gone through over the past month or so for you, I'm never going to let you go," He shook his head, before he pulled me in for another mind blowing kiss.

I groaned loudly when he pulled away again, a frown forming on his beautiful face. What was it now? Couldn't he just accept the fact that we were together and kiss me already?

"Randy..." I sighed, rolling my eyes at him. Who would have thought he'd have so many questions?

"I'm sorry," He half smiled, although it didn't reach his eyes, "But... what about Jesse? What about your job?" His expression was guarded now, so I spoke up quickly, knowing that I was going to lose him if I didn't do something soon.

"My job? You mean working for Elle?" I asked, to which he nodded. I sighed, knowing this was going to be one of the biggest problems for him... I just had to find a way to make him realise that he meant more to me than any job, "That doesn't matter to me, Randy. Actually, I'm kinda glad that I haven't got to work with Jesse now, especially after what I just saw," I sighed, knowing I was going to have to tell him sooner or later.

"What? What are you talking about?"

"Before I came here, I went to tell Jesse that the wedding was off... and I found him with Selena," I didn't have to say anything else; realisation had already dawned on Randy's face. It took barely seconds for his eyes to narrow and his grip to grow even tighter on my waist, "I guess you were right all along."

"That bastard," Randy glared, his eyes full with anger, "I'm gonna..."

"You're gonna do nothing," I shook my head, lifting my hand to place a finger over his lips, "He may have been cheating, but I wasn't exactly faithful either," I rose an eyebrow at him.

"It was only one kiss, Ella. What we did doesn't even compare..." He began, but when he saw the look I was giving him, he snapped his jaws shut and rolled his eyes.

"That's a good boy," I cooed, grinning as I moved my hand to pinch his cheeks playfully.

"Wait a minute," He began, his eyes narrowing again, although this time I could tell he was joking from the curve of his lips, "So you find Jesse with another woman, then come running to me? Am I only your second choice?"

"Oh Randy," I rolled my eyes, shaking my head back and forth, "Shut up. You've been my first choice for seven years." I grinned as I watched his face soften and light up with a breathtaking smile, "So, are you done with the twenty questions? Are you gonna stop worrying and actually kiss me now?"

"Hmm, it'll be my pleasure," He sent me his patented smirk, before he swept me off my feet for the second time and planted his lips on mine, kissing me until my head span and I could barely even breathe from the lack of oxygen.

"You know," He began to whisper in between our kisses, "As sexy as you look in that dress, I don't really feel comfortable doing this with you while you're in it. Especially seeing as it's made for another guy," He smirked against my lips.

"I guess you're right," I chuckled, not even remembering I was still wearing my wedding dress until he mentioned it, "Maybe I should go change into something more suitable," I sighed as I slipped from his grasp reluctantly, "Come with me?" I bit my lip, not really looking forward to venturing out into the open by myself.

"Of course," He nodded, smiling at me beautifully before he took my hand and led me from the room.

It was eerily quiet as we walked down the corridor and stepped into the lift, hand in hand. I had a permanent frown on my face at the emptiness of the hotel. Surely people from the wedding would know by now that it was off? I had expected the halls to be buzzing with activity...

And I wasn't wrong. The minute the pair of us stepped out onto my own floor, we were bombarded by guests and even workers from the wedding. If they weren't nosey enough to ask questions to my face, they talked in animated groups, staring at Randy and I as we held onto each other and pushed through the crowd.

I looked up at my best friend, my boyfriend... wow, it felt so good being able to say that about him... and pulled a help me face. He shook his head back and forth, his expression serious as he pulled me close to his side, let go of my hand, and instead wrapped his arm around me.

We swerved through my family, friends and colleagues, saying nothing to anyone until we finally reached my hotel room, where Pierre, my parents, and Maria were stood. I cringed as I took in the looks on their faces, realising that Pierre must have filled them in by now on everything. I just hoped they accepted how I felt and supported me, even if they felt I'd done the wrong thing.

But so it seemed, I didn't have to worry about anything. The moment Maria laid eyes on me; she bounded away from the others and dived at me, pulling me away from Randy so that she could hug me tightly.

"Oh sweetie, why didn't you say anything?" She asked, getting all emotional as she pulled away and looked at my face, "You know I would have helped you through it all."

"I know, I just... I don't know," I shrugged, "I guess I just got used to keeping it a secret."

"Oh hunnie," She sighed, patting me on the shoulder, "But it's all sorted now, right?"

I looked up at my boyfriend, a small smile growing on my face at how awkward he looked, stood with his arms folded across his chest, looking at everyone else around us. I still couldn't believe that he was really mine...

"Yeah, everything's sorted," I nodded, grinning her way.

After Maria hugged the breath out of me yet again, she moved out of the way, only for Pierre to take her place a few seconds later and do the exact same. I clung to him tightly, whispering a thank you in his ear. If it weren't for him, I had no idea what I was going to do.

"So umm, Jesse told everyone?" I asked quietly, for only him to hear as he pulled away from the hug.

"Jesse?" He frowned, "No darling, I haven't seen him anywhere. I informed the guests that the wedding was off, I think Selena did the rest," He nodded to all the gossipers, and I sighed to myself. As much as I hated Jesse for what he had done, I didn't want everyone talking about him like that.

"Right..." My lips drew into a thin line as I turned back to look at him. I frowned, seeing his teary eyes.

"I'm going to miss you, blondey," He sighed, his voice wavering. I had to hide the giggle that was threatening to break out of my lips. What he was saying was true though. I was going to miss my extremely fashionable buddy like crazy, "I suppose I can't persuade you to still come and work for Elle? The job is still there, if you'd like it."

I cringed and quickly turned to look at Randy, praying that he hadn't heard what Pierre had just said. Thankfully he was off in his own world, still looking freaked out by all the people surrounding us and chatting away about our lives.

"I don't think so," I sighed, turning back to my friend and shaking my head, "I loved working with you and for Elle... but I can't leave behind Randy, not now."

"Hmm..." He sniffled, before pulling his suit jacket securely around him and eyeing up my best friend, "I don't blame you, darling. He really is quite the looker."

"Tell me about it," I chuckled, hugging him a second time before I pulled away and walked over to my parents. I had been dreading this more than the rest, but it had to be done.

"Mum, Dad," I smiled ever so lightly, pulling them both in for a three person hug. When I straightened myself up, I felt a hand grab my own, and I turned to see Randy smiling down at me supportively. I smiled back, nodded, and turned back to my parents, ready to take whatever they were going to say to me now that he was there with me.

"Ella," My mother sighed, grasping onto my free hand tightly. I could tell by her expression that she was trying to work what I was thinking out. She probably thought I was crazy right now, leaving a guy like Jesse. She had been fond of him from the start, "Are you sure this is what you want?"

"More than anything," I nodded without hesitation, snuggling into Randy's side.

"Then, although I don't understand... I support you. If you're happy, then so am I," She smiled, before pulling me towards her. If one more person hugged me, I was sure I was going to run out of breath.

"Me too, hunnie. If this is what you want then we'll stick by your decision," My Dad spoke up when I moved on to him, and I shook my head, smiling at how amazing they were being, "Just make sure you take care of her, Randy," He rose an eyebrow sternly as he turned to my best friend. I couldn't help but smile at the scene in front of me, my 5 foot 9 Dad practically staring down my 6 foot 4 boyfriend.

"Mr Sheldon, I promise," Randy nodded seriously; "I'll never let anything hurt her."

It was kind of ironic that at that moment, the one person I really didn't want to show up began to speak. The only person that could hurt me right now...

"Well, look what we have here. The two lovebirds. Didn't take you long to move on, did it princess?"

I cringed as everyone including myself and Randy span around to see Jesse walking towards us, a sneer ruining those perfect features of his. I sighed to myself, wondering why he had to do this. No matter what he had done, I still didn't think of him as a bad guy... and he really didn't need to be showing himself up like this.

"Jesse, don't do this," I pleaded quietly, once he had stopped only a few inches away from us. Randy was still holding onto my hand, and I could feel how tense he was growing. Yet another reason why I didn't want a scene like this. I knew the minute Jesse said something bad; Randy was going to lose it.

"Do what? Tell you what I think?" He rose an eyebrow, and despite the attitude that he was putting across, I could tell by his eyes that he was hurting, "Well you know what? I don't care what you say; I'm going to tell you anyway. This guy," He pointed to Randy, smirking in disgust, "The one you think is prince charming, the perfect man for you... is a backstabbing, arrogant womanizer. Am I the only one who remembers what he used to be like at college? Am I the only one that remembers him with a different girl every night?" He looked at myself, at Maria, then back at Randy, his eyes asking the question as well as his voice.

I grabbed a hold of Randy's arm with my free hand, looking up at him and shaking my head back and forth. His grip was deadly, his eyes narrowed and his jaw clenched. As much as I didn't want to be a part of any of this right now, I knew I was going to have to be the one to deal with it. If I left Randy to, then Jesse would be on the floor within seconds.

"He's not the same person anymore, Jesse," I shook my head, trying to stay calm.

"You're joking, right?" He laughed with disbelief, "News flash, Ella. Nobody really changes. You're still the same tease that you were back then, and he's definitely still the same asshole."

"You've changed," I added, my voice showing no emotion as I stepped forward, away from Randy. This was something I had to do by myself, "I know I hurt you all those years ago, Jesse... and I'm so sorry for everything. I'm sorry that you thought you had to work in fashion to get closer to me. I'm sorry that you had to change so much for me," I sighed, "But somewhere along that path, it stopped being about me. You lost your way, you forgot about the kind, beautiful man that you once were and turned into something else."

He looked at me then, really looked at me... and for the first time in a long time, I saw the old Jesse. I wasn't sure what it was, maybe a glint in his eye, or the way his brow furrowed, but I knew part of him was still there. I just hoped that somehow he'd be able to find his way back to that man. I hoped he'd be able to sort out his life, and finally settle down with a girl.

"Good bye, Jesse," I couldn't believe I was actually doing this, but I closed the small gap between us and wrapped my arms around him for a hug. He didn't respond, but I knew it had affected him. His body may not have shown emotion, but his eyes definitely gave it away.

When I finally pulled away, I gave him the smallest of smiles before I span back around to face Randy. Smiling up at him, I walked over and took his hand in mine, my eyes never straying from his.

"Let's get out of here," I whispered. The smallest of grins grew across his face before he nodded, and without another word, led me past everyone in the corridor and back into my hotel room.