"I don't blame you Paige. I really screwed up and I am so sorry. I wish I knew how to make it up to you. But with all of your silence I know that isn't what you want from me." Walter told her even as he looked down at their hands.
"Walter, I didn't like that you did that but that isn't what really hurt me." Paige told him almost too softly.
"It-it wasn't?" Walter actually looked up and over at her with total confusion written clearly across his face. Quickly the ends of his lips curled a little as he saw how beautiful she looked in the softening sunlight. Her eyes were warm and loving with just a hint of tears.
Paige shook her head.
"Walter, it is hard to admit this, especially to you. Before you, I never ended a relationship before. Do-do you know what I told my Mom every time she'd waltz out of my life growing up? What I told Drew when he said he was leaving? Tim when he told me he was extending his time overseas? Or any of the others I was in a relationship with, that left me?" Paige asked as she looked into his eyes.
Walter shook his head.
"We never talked about it, so no, I don't." Walter admitted.
"A lot of people try to plead and beg the person to stop and stay, to work it out. Walter, I'm Paige Dineen. If someone doesn't want me, to hell with them." Paige ended with heat in her voice.
"But I do want you Paige." Walter said emphatically, interrupting her.
"Walter, Paige is talking, trying to explain something that is very important, and crucial, to and for you to understand. It is time for you to remain quiet and give her some time to explain." Layla said gently as Paige nodded.
"Walter, I also told them this same thing, they know where the door was and not to let it hit them on the way out. Did I say that to you?" Paige asked with her voice back to warm and caring.
Walter shook his head.
"But I wasn't telling you I was leaving you." Walter said as he grew puzzled.
"Not in words Walter, but in your actions of hiding taking that woman to the lecture. Sorry, I can't help myself." Layla grinned slightly embarrassed as she apologized looking from Walter to Paige.
Paige just smiled at her.
"It is okay Layla. Walter, as Layla so astutely pointed out, it appeared as if you were growing away from me. Growing towards someone else. Getting ready to leave me. Walter, I did something for you, that I don't do, period. I begged you, pleaded with you to tell me the truth. That was how much I loved and needed you compared to even my own Mother. Sure it still hurt that they left me but that pain was nothing compared to the mere thought that I was losing you. I don't beg anyone for me. For Ralph, I begged doctors, I begged nurses, social workers, counselors and even that night I needed to get Ralph out of my car and into that fleabag apartment. I begged for all my worth to get the money to start anew."
"And I begged you in front of the guys, do you understand what I did? That was just how deeply you meant to me. And you admitted going to the lecture and that was good, but if you had just told me about taking Florence it would have made a world of difference. It would have meant that begging you was worth it. Instead I begged, I debased myself in front of others and you didn't tell me the truth. That was what hurt me the most. When the truth came out, it felt like you were telling me I wasn't worth the truth. For someone who only states facts, to think they don't value you or respect that you begged for them to tell you the truth, it hurts so much more." Paige told him. "I've slowly grown to understand that isn't what you meant, but I still feel it that way. That is the difference between thoughts and feelings. Both can persuade the other but they both have their own rulings."
Walter frowned as he turned and looked at her. He held her pinky tightly but not painfully and he pulled against her pinky and her hand came up with his until he took her right hand into his left. Walter looked into her eyes and then down at their hands and back to her eyes. He took in a deep breath before he looked down again.
"Not to get off track, but I-I just wanted to ask you, you said, loved and needed, past tense. So, we're really over as far as you are concerned then. I hurt you too much with my callousness and I'm so sorry for that. For not honoring you and the sacrifice you made for our relationship. I've just been hoping all this time for something that will never be again." Walter swallowed hard as he looked down while looking scared.
Paige kind of tucked her head down to look up at his face with a weak smile.
"Walter, do you really think I would be here if I didn't love you and need you? That I would tell you the truth of what hurt me so much in a loving, caring manor? I used past tense because it was the past tense of the things that happened." Paige told him.
"So-so, we, we could find a way to restore our relationship?" Walter asked hauntingly.
"I think it is possible." Paige nodded.
"Paige, I just want to go on record with you here and now. I'm sorry I didn't realize the significance of how you were trying to get me to tell you what happened. I've had so little experience with partners and none of it before you was good. When I did what seemed like minor things to me they'd get mad and leave. And your explanation of a white lie made it seem like what I did was acceptable, because there was nothing else to it. And then Toby and Happy got into my head. First Toby told me if I didn't tell you, then I would spare you pain but feel bad, then he told me if I told you it would hurt you but I would feel better. So I chose not to tell you, so you wouldn't be hurt. Then they were acting like I really screwed up, and it scared me beyond anything I've ever felt before. Because I'd never felt before what I felt for you. I felt like my entire world was suspended over a vast inferno, held in place by this little white lie and if I was to tell you the truth, then there wouldn't have been anything to stop my world from burning. Even before that, I was scared to rock the boat, I had so much to lose. I had wanted to ask you to marry me but I was afraid that I'd ruin what was so precious to me." Walter explained.
"I, I-I, Walter! You never even hinted like you were thinking of marriage. Do you know how happy that would have made me? And rocking the boat isn't a bad thing, sometimes it is rocking because of the loving going on between the two people that were on the boat." Paige gave Walter a naughty grin.
"Hey guys, I think we have a great start here, but I'm getting a little hungry, let's go back to my place and we can eat and continue to talk. Okay?" Layla asked.
"Well you could take Paige's car home and we can keep talking. I don't really want something coming between us right now, even the drive back to your house." Walter told them even as his stomach growled.
Paige laughed.
"Sorry Romeo, but I don't drive, so I can't take Paige's car anywhere." Layla told them.
"It'll be okay Walter, I like where we are in our conversation and where we're going right now. But, if we get there and the guys are there I'm getting into Walter's car and leaving Layla." Paige told her.
"Oh no you are not, my reputation as a master matchmaker is on the line, you aren't going anywhere to talk without me being present now. I'll call Terry and tell him to kick them out and we can go home." Layla told them both as she pulled her phone out as they started walking back to the cars.
Paige had started to reach over for Walter's hand as they walked but at the same time he reached for hers. Their hands bumped into each other and they both chuckled even as they grabbed hold of the other's hand.
"I wasn't too sure about this dinner when Layla told me I had to come. But I am really glad she did. I've been a real mess without you." Walter whispered to Paige.
Paige smiled up at him.
"You were a real mess with me Walter, what changed?" Paige joked with him.
Walter grinned before scowling at her.
"Well, just for that, I'm going to kiss you before you get in your car." Walter told her.
"I think I'll let you." Paige grinned before Walter stopped and pulled hard on her hand. Paige spun around and looked up at him. Walter swooped in and pulled her into his arms and plastered his lips against hers as they hugged.
Paige grinned even as she felt Walter lift her up off the sand a little as they hugged and kissed.
"I'll ask, lover." Layla said before she turned around. "Hey guys, oh, well, alright then." Layla grinned. "Hey baby, tell Happy I think it will be okay for her to send frick and frack home if she wants to stay and talk. Because, I can't ask them right now. They are too busy kissing." Layla grinned.
Layla hung up and just stood there watching.
"Hey, get a room you perverts." An older man yelled from his blanket.
"You're the one watching them pervert, so just shut up and leave them alone." Layla told him.
Walter blushed a bit even as his tongue returned back into his mouth and their lips parted but Walter still had his arms around her, pulling her body tight against his, with her feet a few inches above the ground.
"Sorry." Walter continued to blush.
"For what? You think I care what some old fool thinks about my lover kissing me so lovingly while on the beach?" Paige asked with a brow lifted.
Walk grinned and kissed her again and then lowered her to the sand and they turned to see Layla with nothing but grins and smiles aimed at them.
"Stop it." Paige told her as she blushed.
"Didn't I tell you? Fireworks! Dozens and dozens of big, beautiful and gorgeous fireworks all over the place here." Layla told them as her hands moved back and forth, popping open simulating exploding fireworks in front of them. "But in case you didn't hear me and I am quite certain you did not because of how loud those fireworks were. Happy is going to be at the house when we get there. Terry is kicking both frick and frack out."
Walter and Paige nodded with a grin as they began walking to the parking lot together. Paige looked down and saw Walter was barefoot.
"Looks like you didn't want sand in your shoes too huh?" Paige grinned as she squeezed his hand.
Walter laughed and shook his head.
"I took my socks off, my shoes are at Layla's where I left them.
Paige laughed even as Walter stood holding her door open as she climbed in the car. She looked up at him as he stood there looking down at her.
"Now you are coming to Layla's right? You're not just going to jump in your car and drive away so I have to come find you again." Paige asked while eyeing him.
"Knowing you want to come find me means so much Paige. And it is tempting just to see if you could figure out where I went but hide and seek isn't the game I want to play with you." Walter told her as he shut the door.
Paige quickly turned the key and hit the button causing the window to retract into the door.
"Well then, what sort of game did you want to play with me?" Paige asked with a wicked grin.
"I was thinking something easier, if we're interested in hiding, perhaps hide the sausage." Walter grinned with a slight blush.
Paige blushed at the words and laughed.
"Walter! You actually shocked me with that." She winked. "But it sounds interesting and I bet it would be a great time trying to find some place where we'd both enjoy the sausage being hidden."
Layla was chuckling next to her and Walter blushed even more.
"Okay, I'm just a few moments behind you then." Walter said as he turned to walk to his car while she started her car.
"Nice license plate by the way, I'm really glad your IQ is for me too." Paige yelled to him.
Walter turned and pointed to himself and then placed his hands over his heart before pointing back to her. Paige smiled watching him get in his car.
"You guys are so cute." Layla told her as Paige turned and started leaving the parking lot once Walter started his car.
Paige laughed.
"Thanks, and Layla, thank you for doing this, you have no idea how grateful I am that you persisted." Paige said with a tear running down her cheek.
"Hey girl, I love you both and it was hurting me seeing the pain you both were in over your relationship. I had to do something for you both. I'm so glad it turned out to be with each other." Layla told her.
Layla smiled as Paige checked her rearview mirror for about the fifteenth time.
"Relax woman, he isn't going to ditch you now." Layla laughed.
Paige smiled with a hint of blush.
"I can't help it, Layla, I'm so scared he's going to think about how I made him feel that night and he's going to run as quick as he can." Paige told her.
"It ain't happening girl. His radar is locked on you. If you were to deviate even one street right now, he'd race up to the side of the car at the next light to see if something was wrong." Layla told her as she patted her hand.
"God I hope so Layla, I can't take it, if we break up again, I'm not sure how I'll survive." Paige told her honestly.
"You will survive because before it ever gets to that point, you both are going to come to me and we'll sit down and work through it, whatever it is. This isn't a one and done Paige. I'm in it for the long haul with both of you." Layla told her as they pulled up in front of Layla's house even as Walter pulled in behind them.
Greetings! I hope this finds you all well!
Railman - LOL Thank you! Hope the continuation wasn't too cute for you. lol I think they got a good bridge between them, not sure it is quite to Golden Gate quality, but I think it is pretty sturdy so far. Terry said he'd love to take them out there for target practice. lol
Guest - Yeah, whatever they did at the start of the year has really messed with the stories. What used to be almost instantaneous of posting up new chapters can take some time to actually appear. 1 thing you can do is go in on the first chapter and click in the url and change the /1/ to the current new chapter like this one is /4/ and it should pull up that chapter.
Guest - Thank you, glad you are enjoying it! Well Layla said she just didn't want all the left overs, so...she was willing to give them a second chance. Terry was only inviting Happy to come to the Dojo, that's why he said if she was going to bring Toby she needed to call first. hehe Happy was respectful, unlike frick and frack.
Guest - Thank you! I try not too. lol
Margaret - Life can sure get in the way of things we want to do at times. lol Just the way it goes. Glad you got caught up with this story at least! Thank you! So glad you enjoyed it, hopefully this one in just as enjoyable. Paige finally reveals what it was that upset her so much. I don't know if that is what the writers of the show had in mind for why she was so upset but, it was the only thing I could think of. I really wanted a reason for her to have been that mad.
Susan - lol Yeah, Toby is definitely irritating. Let's hope he gets it out of his system soon! I'd seen something similar happen at a dinner once. The food didn't quite go high enough to hit the ceiling but how funny it would be if it did. I'll have to tell you about the breadstick incident sometimes. Hints? Well I think you got more than a hint in this chapter. LOL Hope you enjoy the reasoning.
Beryl - Thank you! Glad you are. I don't know if you mean in the show or in a lot of fanfics like mine. But the animosity, in the show, is so complex. Season 1 Toby was like an annoying brother, then in Season 2 we see a more antagonistic Toby and it is explained as he self sabotages when he is happy. It is amped up by Walter when he tries to make them either break up or one of them quit the team and then when Walter does not only the logical thing, but the only thing that is going to save them all, activate the fire suppression system that chokes Toby out and Happy has to do CPR to get him breathing again while Walter restores the computers to save everyone. I mean I can understand being mad about that. Toby is very narcissistic and it isn't in him to risk his life to save anyone, other than Happy. Then this is later confounded by the fact that they wrote the story so that Happy married Walter to keep him in the States. After Little Boy Lost and Toby finding this out, his animosity goes through the roof. And to me never returns. He seemingly forgives Happy for withholding the information but Walter he just can't get over everything. Starting 1 episode before Little Boy, he begins what seems to be a plan to forever keep Walter and Paige apart. He gives Paige horrible "advice", he knew they both still loved each other. Paige hadn't moved on, she was just dating Tim and he knew she'd dump Tim in a heartbeat for Walter. When it comes to a head he even lets Paige take the fall for his bad advice, blames her for not coming around after she's fired and I believe was very serious about leaving Walter in that mine to die just so they could go get married. Just didn't seem the time or place for that joke if that was supposed to be his snark, maybe once they were all safe and at the Garage he could have said something like, I knew we should have left you there and went and got married. But Season 4 didn't really change, even after Walter gave them the money he got a loan for to bail Cabe out of jail before his trial Toby still had no love or compassion for Walter like in Season 1. He got mad because Walter wanted to stop at the bank on the way to drop off his swimmers, which if he had just done it on site that wouldn't have been a problem. Boy this just became a whole lot of ick. lol As for my fics, I've just tried to carry that seeming, while maybe not hate for Walter, but about as close as you can get, on in the stories. I have hopes for chapter 9 to take a stab at this, but so far the story isn't talking too much. lol We'll see, hope it does.
To the Adventure! -Tim