Thank you my lovelies for all the reviews-especially all the guest ones that I haven't been personally able to reply to-I appreciate each one I get.

I've been trying to write this chapter all this week and been failing, then today I suddenly found the inspiration for it and wrote 3000 words for you all lol . Hope you like it :D

Joe sat in the locker room, tying up his combat boots, checking his phone once again in the hope that Peyton might have text him. Seeing no new messages from her, he chucked his phone back into his bag. Thinking back to his conversation with Jon in the hotel lobby after his friend returned from helping Peyton into her taxi.

"It was a dick thing to do, you've done a lot of dick things lately. Honestly, you are a dick right now." Jon said, shaking his head in disappointment at Joe.

"I know I messed up today," Joe started.

"You don't fucking say. I know it really fucking hurt when Peyton turned your proposal down, but all this. She doesn't deserve any of this."

"I know, everything's just got so messed up," Joe admitted. "I don't know how to fix it."

"A good start is not fucking sitting in a bar, or any place for that matter, talking and laughing with the stepsister you know she has massive problems with."

"I know, she was just there and she started talking. I wasn't trying to hurt Peyton."

"You sure about that? I get it, it sucks that she said no but you're acting like she broke up with you. So she doesn't believe in marriage, doesn't mean she doesn't want to be with you until you're both old and wrinkly, idiot. She's having your baby, agreed to live with you, you're her future. Is she yours though?" Jon left Joe with that, walking off.

Joe barely had time to react when Nick came barging into the locker room, gripping his shirt and pulling him to his feet before pushing him into the lockers. "What the fuck is wrong with you? She turns your proposal down so you practically ignore her for a week and then start hanging out with Lola. Do you really want to hurt her that much?"

Joe didn't bother fighting Nick, he knew he was in the wrong. He was tired, tired of it all. He thought he had been doing the right thing by keeping his distance from Peyton, he had needed the time to think things through. To adjust to the idea of not getting married, something he had pictured doing for as long as he could remember. He had watched so many members of his massive, extended family get married. Now though, somehow everything had got out of control and after today, he was starting to feel like he was losing Peyton.

"No," Joe replied. "I love her, I never meant to hurt her. I just needed some time to think."

Nick stepped back from Joe "Some time to think, some time to hang around with Lola. What, one last time to get it all out of your system before Malaki's born?"

"I'd never cheat on Peyton! Yes, I admit it was stupid to talk to Lola, but I never wanted anything else to happen. I wouldn't do that to Peyton, I love her too much."

"Funny way of showing it. Do you think I enjoy hearing my friend so cut up on the phone? She doesn't need the stress. If you love her as much as you say you do, prove it. Fix things, fight for her." Nick walked out of the locker room as Colby walked in. The latter giving both men an odd look.

"I'm guessing that was the 'you hurt my best friend you jerk' speech," Colby said standing against the wall. "I'm guessing Jon gave you a similar speech earlier considering how weird you've both been acting all afternoon.

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

"He's dying, that's a new one for him. Honestly, I'm surprised he's never used that one before." Peyton replied a few moments later, she was supposed to be meeting Jack later that day she didn't have time for her dad's latest scams.

"Peyton, sweetheart, this isn't some scam or lie of his. I'm here in Denver now, he's in hospital. You should-"

Peyton interrupted her uncle, she had heard enough. "I need to go, I'm supposed to be meeting with Jack soon. Sorry." Peyton spoke quickly before ending the call. Her dad had never been there for her, why did she now have to fly to Denver for him? Roddy could do whatever he wanted. That was his business.

Getting up from the bed, Peyton pulled her converse back on, grabbing her bag. She ignored Roddy ringing again, just needing to get out of the hotel. She had two more days in New York and she was going to enjoy them.

Rubbing her pregnant belly, "I promise your dad is way better than mine, baby boy. Even if he hates me right now, he'll always be there for you." As much as she didn't want it to be the case, as much as it was breaking her heart, Peyton was starting to prepare herself for the possibility that maybe Joe was only going to be in her life through their son. Maybe things were too messed up between them now, beyond fixing. Was that what that whole thing with Lola was? Was Joe just trying to hurt Peyton like she hurt him by turning his proposal down? Peyton had gone through every scenario, every question like this in her head the last few days.

The last thing she needed now was her dad and another of his schemes. She had told him last time she saw him that she was done with him and she meant it. Every time she saw him, every time she gave him somewhere to stay or money, it hurt her more each time. Always that tiny bit of hope she held onto that this might be the time he actually stuck around. She couldn't do it anymore.

Peyton hadn't got far when the incessant buzzing off her phone got too much, pulling it out of her bag she didn't need to look to know it was her uncle. "Why, why should I go see him after everything?"

"Closure. I know how much he's hurt you over the years, that you don't have a relationship with him. But this is your last chance to see him, honey. I don't want you regretting this down the line."

Peyton wiped away the few tears that spilled from her eyes. She wished Joe was there with her, she needed to feel his arms around her, hear his voice as he told her everything was going to be okay. "I'm doing this for you, Roddy. Not him."

Michelle met Peyton outside the hospital, pulling her niece into her arms. She knew Peyton was stressed as it was with everything with Joe, this was the last thing she needed. But, like her husband, she didn't want Peyton regretting this in a few years. A few minutes later, Michelle led Peyton into the hospital and to the room Rick was in.

As they got near the room, Peyton suddenly stopped in the corridor. "I-I need a minute."

"Okay, I'm going to tell Roddy you're here. I think he wanted to speak to you before you went in anyway." Peyton nodded.

Peyton stood with her back to the wall, hands on her bump as she took some deep breaths.

"Hey trouble, how's my nephew doing today?"

A small smile crept onto Peyton's face as she turned to face her uncle, "A lot better than his mom. I think he's going to be a gymnast when's older, I swear he's doing backflips."

"Michelle always said the same thing about Colton. Your cousin was always particularly active at night. I remember one night thinking she kept nudging my side, it turned out to be Colton kicking."

Peyton suddenly moved forward, hugging her uncle. "I don't think I can do this," she whispered as he wrapped his arms around her.

"You can, you're one of the strongest people I know. I'll be there with you." Stepping back, Roddy placed his hands on Peyton's shoulders. "Remember when you were eight and you came on holiday with us?" Peyton nodded, not sure where Roddy was going with this. "Kira and Libby wanted to go on that water slide, they wanted you to go with them, but you said you were too scared and you couldn't do it."

Peyton smiled at the memory, "You told me that the scariest moment is just before you start. After that, things get better. Then you told me you'd always be there to hold my hand for the scary things, like the wait to go on the slide."

At that moment, Roddy took hold of her hands. "This is the scariest moment, Peyton. Once you walk through those doors," Roddy trailed off.

It was moments like this, the times when Roddy was there for her, like he had her whole life, that she was reminded why, in her eyes, she saw him as her dad and not her uncle. He had been the one there for her, through everything.

Sitting on the plane Joe thought back to his conversation with Carla on Thursday, starting when his aunt Natia had shown up at the house, declaring she was taking her nephew out for lunch.

"You know we could have just eaten back at the house," Joe said as they walked into the bar and grill she had taken him to, one of his favourites. Though if he was honest, he was glad to get out of the house. It was too quiet for him without Peyton there.

"I told you, this is my way of apologising for last time. I don't like fighting with you, your mom tells me you've been doing enough of that with Peyton recently. Anyway I have a surprise for you."

As soon as he spotted her, Joe had a pretty good idea of what his aunt was up too. Of course she would try something like this.

"Carla," Joe smiled when they reached the table.

Carla looked up at Joe, a surprised look on her face. "Joe… I wasn't expecting you here." The blonde turned to Anita, "You never said anything about Joe coming, I thought it was just going to be us?"

"Well, when you said you were in town for work I thought it would be nice for us all to meet up for lunch. Just like the old days," Anita smiled.

"Except Carla and I aren't together anymore. Whatever you're up to, just stop it," Joe warned his aunt.

"And you and Peyton aren't going to be together much longer from what I hear. All this fighting. I knew she wasn't right for you."

"Don't," Joe said through gritted teeth. "You have no idea what you're talking about. I thought you actually wanted to apologise, that you'd be willing to give Peyton a chance. I'm done here."

Joe stormed out of the place, not wanting to spend another second around his aunt. Standing outside, he took a few deep breaths trying to calm his temper. He was so angry, with himself still, with his aunt.

"I'm really sorry about all this, I honestly didn't know what she had planned." Carla said, standing near Joe outside the bar and grill.

"Don't worry about it."

"That sushi bar you used to love isn't far from here and you look like you need a good old talk, get everything off your chest. Come on, I'll drive."

"Honestly you don't have to do this, Carla."

"I've got the time and you look like you really need it. And we both know you love your sushi." Carla smiled, Joe finally agreeing and walking to her car with her.

The short drive to the sushi bar was made in silence, Joe checking his phone a few times. Hoping Peyton might have sent him another text. It was all he had done since she walked out the hotel on Tuesday. He hasn't been able to properly concentrate since, not during the signing he'd had following that, his match that night, the media he had spent most of Wednesday doing before flying home Wednesday evening.

"I'm really sorry you had to witness all that with my aunt. She needs to stop interfering, this wasn't fair on you." Joe said as they sat down in the sushi bar, not wanting things to be awkward with Carla. He just hoped his aunt hadn't got her hopes up.

"Joe, I told you it was fine," Carla smiled. She had an inkling on why he kept apologising. "I guess I might as well tell you, I've met someone new. His name is Oliver, he works at the company with me."

Joe smiled, genuinely Happy for Carla. "That's great, I'm really happy for you."

"Thanks," Carla returned his smile. "So what's all this about you and Peyton? What's going on?"

"I proposed and she said no, now everything has got really out of control and I don't know how to fix it." Joe revealed wringing his hands.

"Wow that's heavy. So how out of control have things got?" Carla asked, raising an eyebrow.

Joe spent the next ten minutes telling Carla everything. From the proposal, the argument following it, the mistake he made bringing her into it. And the most recent stuff with Lola.

"When you mess up, you really like to mess up, don't you?"

"I tried calling her after, she just sent a text saying we'd talk on Monday. I'd fly out to New York, but I have no idea where she's staying or anything like that."

"You two will get back on track, you love each other too much not to. Sure you're both stubborn as hell but you're right for each other. Yes you've had some major arguments but even now when you're talking about her, there's a light in your eye when you say her name."

"She's it for me. Even when she picks a really bad restaurant to eat in or she's waking me up at 3 in the morning with the most random craving, there's nothing I'd change."

"It just feels right, like everything that's happened in the past led up to that moment when you're watching them and there's no-where else you'd rather be, no one else you'd rather be with." Joe smiled at the smile, the pure happiness on Carla's face as she spoke.

"Oliver?" Joe said, figuring that's who she was thinking about while she was speaking.

"Yeah," Carla replied sheepishly. "Sorry, probably not what you want to hear right now."

"Don't apologise, I'm glad you've found someone and you're happy."

"I'll be honest, as much as, at the time, I knew you and Peyton were meant to be together. That day hurt so much and, on the inside, I was so mad at you. A month after that, I met Oliver and a relationship was the last thing I wanted. But there was something about him and I eventually agreed to have coffee with him. It turned out to be the best choice I made. You'll always be a big part of my life and I still consider you a good friend, but we weren't meant to be together forever. We were so young when we met and for the most part we were happy. But things feel different with Oliver, they feel so right…I don't know how to explain it. But I've seen you with Peyton so I know you know what I'm trying to say."

"I do, now I just need to fix things with her. She's the best thing that ever happened to me."

Joe tapped his feet, unable to sit still on the plane. He needed to get to Colorado, he needed to get to Peyton. To be there for her, to tell her he loved her and he wanted forever with her, married or not. He felt so guilty that he wasn't already there with her, supporting her. He had no idea that she was even there in Colorado that her dad was in the hospital until Steph told him at the arena after his match on Raw. He just thought that she didn't want to be near him, that she couldn't face him after everything.

"Nick, where is she?" Joe asked, finding him backstage after his match.

"Where is who?" Nick asked, turning to give Joe a confused look.

"Peyton. Why isn't she here? She was supposed to be back tonight." By this point, Jon had joined them now.

"I don't know. She's not been answering any of my calls, it just keeps going straight to voicemail. When I spoke to her Friday evening, she said she was thinking about going to Roddy's for a bit. My guess, she needs some more time."

The three men were interrupted by Stephanie walking over to them. "Great match out there Joe. I've gotta say though, I'm surprised you're here. We would have understood if you had asked for a few days off. We're not that horrible are we?"

Joe, Jon and Nick all looked at Stephanie confused, "I'm not following. Why would I need time off?"

Now Stephanie was confused, she had spent the last week off with her girls, wanting to spend some quality time with them. Returning for Raw that night. "I know things have been a little tense with Peyton, but I thought you'd be at the hospital with her." Stephanie knew most things that went on backstage, especially big arguments between some of the backstage couples. She had heard about little bits about Peyton and Joe arguing.

By that point, Joe's heart was thumping in his chest, his face paling at the thought of something being wrong with Peyton. Why had no one told him? "Why is Peyton in hospital? What happened? Malaki-"

Stephanie cut in at that point, realising Joe was completely clueless and now thinking the worst. "No, no Peyton and Malaki are fine. It's her dad, he's really ill. I don't know the full details, I just know he's in hospital and it's not looking good."

"I have to…I-I need to go."

"Of course, l don't do this often," Stephanie started. "But Peyton is my friend, take the private jet. I'll call Andrew, tell him you're coming."

It's a quarter after one, I'm all alone and I need you now.

Said I wouldn't call but I've lost all control and I need you now.

And I don't know how I can do without.

I just need you now

Sitting in catering, Peyton looked at her phone. All she had to do was press the call button, ring Joe and tell him how sorry she was for everything. How much she needed him. But she wasn't sure if he would answer, if he would fly out and be with her. After everything, she was starting to think she had pushed him away for good when she turned his proposal down. Pressing the call button, she quickly chickened out and quickly ended the call just as it started ringing. Plus, she thought to herself as she clicked off his contact details and locked her phone, he would be at Raw. She had lost count of how many times she had wanted to call him since she got to the hospital Saturday evening, staring at pictures of them on her phone.