Peyton was trying to hold everything together as best she could, it had been a week since Joe's failed proposal at her birthday, but it felt like it had been so much longer. She had gone from finally feeling like that void in her heart was filled, to feeling like everything was falling apart again. Joe played the biggest role in both. He had completed her, made her feel things no one else had; she had opened up to him, bared herself to him. Now he was breaking her heart. She knew she wasn't completely blameless in everything, she knew it had hurt him turning his proposal down. But the fact that he hadn't even been willing to talk to her, work out some compromise, hurt her. She had spent days wondering where she stood with him, if he still wanted to be with her. He had said plenty to hurt her. But everyone else seemed so sure that Joe was going to come around, that he just needed some time to get his head around things. To work through some things on his own before they talked and things got back on track.

Tuesday had her rethinking that. Since the first day they had met, all the arguments they had had, watching him get back together with Carla. None of it hurt as much as the events of Tuesday. Starting with seeing her mom for the first time in months.

Walking into the local café Peyton was glad to see it was relatively quiet, all she wanted that morning was a peaceful breakfast before she returned to the hotel and finished packing for her trip to New York. She was going to be spending five days out there with Jack working on the script for their film, it was coming along well and Jack had managed, with his connections, to get a meeting with a producer that week. The trip had been planned for a few weeks, she had flown out to see Jack a few times to work on the script and other aspects of the film. Something which had got loads easier to do when she started only working for WWE on Mondays and Tuesdays. When she returned on Monday for Raw, it would be her last few days on the road before going on maternity leave. When she did eventually return to work after having Malaki, she would be working down at NXT three days a week; easy for her considering how close she lived to the performance centre.

Looking up as the door opened, Peyton was shocked to see her mom and stepdad, Jackson walk into the small café. This definitely wasn't there scene, not expensive enough. Peyton just knew, however, that her mom wouldn't be able to resist making her snide comments If she spotted her daughter.

And of course, Jackson chose that moment to spot his stepdaughter, whispering in his wife's ear. Peyton rolled her eyes when they started making their way over to the small table she was sat at.

"Don't tell me, you thought you would come over and try out that whole mom thing," Peyton spoke sarcastically. A sweet smile on her face.

"I see you haven't lost your childish streak. I thought that might have changed with this pregnancy, you might finally grow up a little."

"Ha. That's actually pretty funny coming from you. If anything, living with you and dad-a term I use very loosely-made me grow up pretty fucking quickly. We didn't exactly do bed time stories or family dinners…or anything as a family really did we? You've both been pretty fucking good at forgetting my existence."

"Now that's enough, Peyton." Jackson started, he was going to continue but Peyton cut him off.

"Stop right there, I don't think I can sit here and actually listen to you defend my dear mother. Talking about the importance of family, like I'm some business associate your closing a million dollar deal with. This is a café after all, not stand-up comedy. I'm the 28 year old who's spent most her life being ignored, wondering what she did wrong." Peyton had heard Jackson's little speeches about the importance of family enough times to know how they went, not that he had ever made an effort with her.

"Maybe when your child is born you'll understand the sacrifices I made."

"What sacrifices are those mom? The only sacrifices I ever remember you making were about having to cancel your salon appointment to take me to ER when I broke my arm when I was nine. You know about as much as sacrifices as you do about being a mom." Peyton could feel herself getting emotional, fighting back the tears. She would not cry in front of them. "You know, from the moment I found out I was pregnant I knew that there was nothing I wouldn't do to protect my child. When I think about how much I already love him, it hurts even more realising that you obviously never felt that for me, that you've never shown me the overwhelming love I feel for my son. That hurts." Peyton stood up, grabbing her bag. "I need to go. Enjoy breakfast."

Reaching the hotel, a short walk from the small café, Peyton just wanted to get to her room. In a rush to get to the safety of her room, Peyton jumped when she felt someone place a hand on her arm.

"Whoa, you okay there sunshine?" she turned to face Jon, relived it was him and not some creep. Jon could tell something wasn't right with Peyton, this worrying him. He had become good friends with her, and she was his best friend's woman; even if they were currently having a rough patch. A really rough patch.

Peyton gave Jon a small smile, "Yeah, I'm good." She lied. "You? How's Renee?"

"Really sunshine? You're going to stand there and try that shit with me? I'm actually insulted. More insulted than you when you said Wilbur was a bad name. For the record, it's an awesome name."

Peyton couldn't help but smile, properly, at Jon. "Wilbur's a terrible name."

Jon shrugged, "Yeah, yeah. Let's agree to disagree. Now stop avoiding the real issue here. Apart from the obvious, what's got you even more upset right now? Normally you're the one putting people in their place, not letting people get to you. You're a lot less scary like this, you're ruining your reputation here." Jon grinned, as he and Peyton stepped into the elevator.

"It might be, as you say, unnerving when I'm like this. But same goes to you, when you start being the reasonable one and you're talking sense." Peyton teased, though she liked this side of Jon that only the people closest to him saw. Renee was definitely a lucky lady.

"I like to try out this whole responsible adult thing from time to time. Now what's going on?"

"Honestly, I'll be fine. Just stupid shit I shouldn't let get to me. Shouldn't you be at the gym anyway?"

"Nah, I went when we got here last night. I wanted to relax a little today before this signing later. Now talk, there's only so long you can avoid telling me what's going on."

Walking into her hotel room, Peyton sat down on the couch in the living area, Jon sitting next to her. "It's stupid, really. I saw my mum and stepdad in the café I had breakfast in." Peyton turned to face Jon, feeling tears pricking in her eyes again. "Have I been unreasonable with my parents? Am I just some massive bitch like Lola thinks? From the moment I found out I was pregnant, I've loved Malaki more every day. It's made me think more about how distant, unloving they were with me. How much I tried to make them happy, years spent wondering what I was doing wrong. I don't want Malaki ever feeling like I did."

When tears started rolling down Peyton's cheeks, Jon started to feel mildly uncomfortable. He didn't know what to do with women crying at the best of times, let alone a heavily pregnant one. Yet at the same time, he understood when it came to broken relationships with families. Patting Peyton's thigh, Jon wished Renee was here. She would know how to do all this comforting stuff. "Your mom and dad are both idiots, they've missed out on one hell of a daughter and they're going to miss out on the most awesome little dude when Malaki is born. You've got to stop blaming yourself though, sunshine. You didn't do anything wrong, you were a child. You shouldn't have had to fight for your parent's attention, for their love. I know you and I know Joe, Malaki is never going to feel unwanted or unloved, or any of the crappy things our parents have made us feel. Neither of you are capable of making a child feel that way."

Peyton couldn't help as more tears rolled down her cheeks, using her hands to wipe them away. She knew Jon was going to make a great 'uncle' to her son.

"Whoa, whoa, I was trying to stop you crying, not make you cry more. Come on sunshine, you know I don't do well with crying women." Peyton smiled at Jon, wiping tears away. Wrapping an arm around her shoulders, Jon pulled her into his side, still trying to stop the crying. He was relieved when she eventually stopped crying.

"Have you spoken to Joe anymore these past few days?"

"Not really. I've wished him luck in matches but it's just so awkward. It's like he'll go to say something and then nothing. And now with me going to New York this afternoon, I won't see him until I get back Monday for Raw."

"I know you're probably fed up of hearing it, but as much of a stubborn fucker as he's being at the moment. I know that the idiot loves you with every fibre of his being, he's just got a really bruised ego at the moment. Again, probably not what you want to hear, but I'm a truthful motherfucker. Joe was really excited, planning the proposal for weeks. The times he almost did it at arenas, hotels; he honestly thought you was going to say yes. You know that feeling you get when you want something so bad and you're so sure you're going to get it? You just have to wait a few weeks and then it's yours, and then something goes wrong and you don't get the one thing you really want. That's what Joe's working through at the moment. Should he be less stubborn and more of an adult and talk to you about it? Yes. But this is you and Joe, you guys don't always make things easy."

"I never wanted to hurt him, that's the last thing I ever wanted. I just wish he would talk to me, so we could work through things. I want to get back to how things were. I miss him, I miss waking up with him when I'm on the road or he's home. I miss his little texts when he's on the road and I'm home, asking how me and Malaki are or me texting him any weird craving's I've been having. I can't relax not knowing where I stand with him."

"You're not the only restless one. He's barley been sleeping, constantly in the gym. As much as he wants his space, he wants you around."

Packing the last of her things, Peyton did one last check of the hotel room making sure she had everything. She was always losing things, always leaving things in hotel rooms. Checking her phone, she had a text from Jon saying he would be with her soon. After their talk earlier, he had said he would be back to help with all her luggage when she checked out of the hotel. She had told him she was fine, but he was insistent. After he had left, Peyton had decided on a nice, hot shower. Washing her face after the crying she had done. Then she had started packing everything, she was always leaving it until the last minute.

Two hours after he had left, Jon was back, knocking lightly on Peyton's door to help her take her two suitcases down as she checked out of the hotel and got a taxi to the airport. Jon knew there was people in the hotel who could help Peyton with her luggage, but with everything going on between her and Joe, he had taken it upon himself to keep an eye on her. She was his friend too. He knew Nick, who was doing media that morning, was also keeping an eye on her, being especially protective of his friend.

"Honestly, Jon I'm fine. Just because I'm pregnant doesn't mean I can't manage my luggage."

"I know, I'm just being nice. You're my friend."

As they stepped out of the elevator, Peyton suddenly swore. "Fuck I left that bear Joe got Malaki upstairs."

Jon gave Peyton an odd look wondering how she hadn't noticed the bear in the room. It wasn't exactly small like a phone or keys, the things Peyton usually lost."

"It's probably behind the TV," Peyton revealed. "I may have got a little pissed off last night, angry at the situation and finding it hard to get comfortable enough to sleep and chucked it across the room." Peyton had been in the habit of travelling with the bear a lot, especially when she had still been on the road for house shows and she and Joe were in different cities. He would spray it with his deodorant so it spelt like him, which Peyton found comforting. Especially now with everything going on. It still smelt like him and she remembered when he first gave her the bear for Malaki.

"You go sit down and I'll quickly run up and get the bear."

"I might go get a quick drink in the bar, I've got time. Meet you there?" Jon nodded before stepping into the elevator.

Peyton would have laughed at the irony, if her heart didn't feel like it was being stomped on. She couldn't believe it, everything Joe could do to hurt her and he chose that. All the people he could be sat talking to, laughing with in the hotel bar and he chose her. It wasn't enough that she had her mom's love and attention, Peyton thought. Now Lola wanted Joe too.

Peyton could only stand there, a few feet away from them, their backs to her as she watched her step sister scooting closer to Joe, a hand on his arm as she laughed. And Peyton knew that laugh, Lola was in full seduction mode.

"My dear stepsister's problem is that she's such a workaholic, she doesn't know how to have any fun."

"Her work is definitely important to her. Sometimes I think she'd be lost without it."

Hearing Joe say that killed Peyton. Yes her work had always been important to her, but not as important as Malaki or Joe had become. She would give her work up in a heartbeat for them.

"If I was her, I'd spend less time working and more time appreciating your body," Lola said in a sultry tone, leaning over to press her lips to Joe's, a hand on his cheek.

Joe jumped back a mile, standing up from his seat and came face to face with Peyton, seeing the hurt look on her face. He also saw Jon standing further back, looking unimpressed with his friend as he walked over.

"Pey, it's not what it looks like. You know I'd never cheat on you." Joe tried explaining. Sure things weren't great with Peyton at the moment, but he would never cheat on her.

Jon now stood by Peyton's side, staying quiet. But he was ready to step in if he had to. He was pissed at Joe, of all the stupid things he could do. He must have known that being with Lola would hurt Peyton, he knew what Peyton's stepsister was like.

"I know. I knew exactly what Lola was planning when I walked in and saw you two sitting there, talking and laughing. You know what hurts? You know all about my fucked up relationship with my parents, you've literally witnessed me around both of them. All the poison. You know what my stepsister here is like, vulgar is what I'm pretty sure you once called her. Yet here you are laughing with her, agreeing on what my problem is.-"

"Peyton," Joe tried again. The look on Peyton's face, the pain in her voice was hurting him. He knew, as soon as Lola had started talking to him, it was a bad idea to respond to her. To sit there and have a conversation with her, her hands on his arm.

"Maybe you can answer a question for me, something I've been wondering for years now. What's wrong with me? What is so wrong with me and so great about Lola that you and my mom decide she's so much more worthy of your attention and love than me? I'm going to give you some time to answer that, I've got a flight to catch and you've got a signing to me at soon. Work, again. I know I'm really dedicated to, it it's the one thing I've always been able to rely on it. It's never let me down. I need to go, please don't follow me."

Turning, Peyton walked out of the bar. Jon shoved the bear into Joe's chest, before following Peyton with her two suitcases.

Sitting in her hotel room in New York, Peyton absentmindedly went through the various channels on the TV. Her time in New York had been pretty crap. She couldn't concentrate, all she could think about was Joe. He had tried calling her after she walked out of the hotel bar but she ignored his calls. She didn't want to speak to him in that moment, instead she had just sent him a text saying they would speak when she got back on the Monday. Unlike him she wasn't just going to leave him wondering where they stood, she knew they had a lot to talk through. She just couldn't there in the bar, listen to his excuses as to why he sat there and spoke to Lola. Because that was what was really hurting her. Him so carefree and happy with her stepsister, knowing what she was like. It almost felt like history repeating itself, despite her already fucked up relationship with her mom. It had really hurt watching how quickly she bonded with Lola, how much attention she paid her. It literally left her wondering what was wrong with her, why her mom had never paid her any attention but gave so much of it too Lola.

When her phone rang, she smiled when she saw it was Roddy.

"Hey, you have no idea how much I've needed a call from you and Michelle. Are you home? I can skype you guys, it'd be good to see your faces."

"Peyton, sweetheart, it sounds like this is the last thing you need right now but there's something important I need to tell you."

Peyton was immediately worried, her uncle's voice wasn't its normal cheery tone when they spoke. "Okay, now I'm scared. Is Michelle and everyone ok?"

"They're all fine, Peyton. It's your dad."

"Don't tell me, he's shown up again, wanting more money? I told him last time I was done with him and I meant it-"

Roddy cut his niece off. "Peyton, he's dying."

I hope you liked it, I know the style was different with most of the chapter being a flashback. Let me know what you think :)