A/N: Sorry in advance.
Chapter 41
With Becky
"Woah, woah, let's take it easy"
Becky looked up confused as she saw Sonya Deville, carefully wrapping her arm around her and pulling her back from Ronda, "Sonya? What are you doing here?"
"Well since the whole...incident, the police did an investigation into NWO, so they are temporarily closed" Sonya responded as she stood in between Ronda and Becky, "Shane's gym has plenty of classes and he's starting club fighting. It's basically the same as the underground scene, but there's no to the death fighting, just clean fight, and no drinking or gambling."
Becky looked confused, she hadn't heard about her uncle starting a fight club, then again Becky was sure, he wouldn't tell her in the first place. That would be like telling a recovering drug addict where to get free drugs. The red head nodded and looked over the fighter, he hair was braided back and she was in a simple T-shirt and shorts, "Shouldn't you be in school? Shouldn't she be in school?"
Sonya looked back at Ronda who was still glaring at Becky causing Sonya to shudder before ushering Becky over to a corner, away from her. Sonya looked around and whispered, "Ronda goes to school with me, and our school is closed for the week because of a mold infestation, so we're out for the rest of the year, but besides that...what are you doing here?"
"This is my uncle's gym."
"Really? That's so cool"
"Yeah, except for the fact that I can't fight anymore"
Sonya frowned, "well then what was that back there? You can't go around picking fights with...Ronda Rousey. She's like a cold blooded killer."
Becky rolled her eyes, "Whatever"
"No Becky I'm serious, she has a 17-2 record"
"17-2, meaning she was beaten before" Becky said with a smirk
"Yeah and those two girls have never been seen again" Sonya whispered, "Look Becky...I know we don't know each other that well, but I'm serious, do not start a fight with Ronda. Especially a fight you can't physically finish"
Becky looked over Sonya's shoulder and glared at the back of Ronda's head as the blonde went back to punching and fighting the bag. The redhead clenched her fist, "I didn't start anything, she's the one who threatened me"
"That's just what Ronda does, she looks for fights, you can't fall into that" Becky sighed but nodded causing Sonya to smile, "good, now come on, you can come help me train, I've been trying to work on my technique but something's off. I know you've got a good eye for this stuff"
Becky agreed and followed Sonya over to the ring where the two guys were exiting. The two slowly slipped into the ring and Becky circled around Sonya as the girl shadowed boxed. They spent the next half an hour training with Becky watching and critiquing Sonya's form and style. Eventually, Becky had drawn a crowd and the class of people circled around the ring, each coming up and learning from Becky and Sonya. Becky remembered what Dean had thought from when she was younger and whenever the two trained for her fights he would always critique her form, so she recited what he told her and the group practiced different combos and styles, only to be coached and critiqued by Becky. After a while Shane and Hunter came back out and the older man laughed at his niece.
"Looks like you're a natural coach Becks" Shane said with a smile causing the redhead to turn around and smile at her uncle while she rolled out the ring, "What are you teaching them?"
"Just footwork and working on their form while punching" Becky said as Sonya rolled out the ring and stood next to the girl
"Yeah, she was just giving me some pointers and I think she drew a crowd" Sonya joked causing Shane to smile even wider as he watched the group in the ring punching and practicing different combos with perfect form
"Wow" Shane said impressed by his niece, "You should come by more often, I could always use an extra hand around here"
"Becky actually has to do volunteer work at the hospital so she'll be pretty busy" Hunter said causing the redhead to frown, which he immediately noticed, causing him to stutter, he didn't want to make the girl upset again, especially since she was just getting back to her normal self, "But I think we could work something out."
"Really dad?" Becky asked hopefully
Hunter internally froze as he heard her call him dad for the first time in a while, "Y-yeah...uh yeah sure. We'll work out a schedule"
Becky smiled, "Thanks"
Hunter and Shane said their goodbyes as did Becky and Sonya before the two left and headed out to do their shopping. Hunter buckled up and waited for Becky to do the same thing before he looked over and watched as Becky still had a smile on her face, "You all set?"
"Yeah dad"
Hunter smiled again, "Alright, we have to go to the story and get some stuff for dinner and for Christmas dinner"
"Can I invite Dean over for Christmas?" Becky asked suddenly as Hunter pulled out of the gym parking lot
"Why?"
"Because I haven't talked to him in a while and I know that he doesn't like the holidays, so I thought it would be better if he spent it with us" Becky said with a shrug
"Well why don't you talk it over with him and I'll talk to your mother about it alright?" Becky nodded, "Okay, off to the store"
Suddenly Hunter's phone rang causing him to look down before he quickly pulled it from his pocket and answered, "Hello? Is she alright? Okay. I'll be right there"
"What was that?" Becky asked confused
"We gotta make a quick pit stop" Hunter answered as he makes a U-turn and headed off
With Sasha
Sasha sat in the passenger's seat of the car as Stephanie drove them home from the doctor's. Sasha carefully fingered the edge of the picture in her hand as she nervously bit on her lip.
Stephanie carefully eyed her daughter out of the corner of her eye before asking, "You okay Sash?"
"Uh...I-I" Sasha stuttered
Stephanie turned to look at her before saying, "Sasha talk to me"
"I don't know what to do" Sasha said barely above a whisper
"What do you want to do?" Stephanie asked in a soft tone
Sasha bit her lip and held up the picture. It was from the ultrasound that she got at her doctor's appointment earlier, and every time she looked at she got even more nervous, "I don't know. One was hard enough but...two. Twins? I-I...I don't. I can't…"
Stephanie looked at her daughter in the passenger's seat for a moment before pulling the car over on the side of the road and parking. She carefully turned to face her daughter fully, "Sasha, it's going to be okay. Alright? This doesn't change anything, I still love you and I will still support you, through this whole experience, we all will."
Sasha paused for a second before saying, "What if I die?"
"What?"
"What if I die giving birth?" Sasha said with a slow tear falling down her face as she simply stared at the ultrasound.
"Sasha-"
"It could happen, I know it. What if something happens to me? Or them?" Sasha said, the tears flowing quickly down her cheeks, "When I was younger, there was a woman. I can't remember who she was...but all I remember was that there was so much blood"
Flashback
A small six year old Sasha shot up in her bed at the sound of screams. The girl's long hair covered her face as she carefully threw back her sheets and placed her feet down on the wooden floor. She was in a plain, long white shirt that went down to her shins and a pair of dirty socks. Her room was the size of a closet as it had a simple bed, dresser, desk and mirror, with enough space to lay one person down on the floor beside the bed, that was it.
The scream came again, this time long and loud causing Sasha to cover her ears until it was over. She carefully walked to the door, before pulling it open, just enough for Sasha to peak her head out and look down the hall. Once she saw there was nobody there she stepped out further, debating whether or not she should look for the source of the screaming, and just as she thought this the sound rang out again.
Sasha covered her ears once more before walking downstairs, softly trying to make sure the floor didn't creak under her. Once she made it downstairs she walked down the small hallway to the living room which was crowded by women, all taller than her causing Sasha to bend down to see through their legs. She could make out a Black woman she had seen the night before with a giant belly laying on the floor with her mother sitting beside her.
"Breathe Kia." Her mother instructed the woman as she clutched her hands while the woman screamed and breathed heavily.
Sasha slowly stepped forward watching the woman, there were blankets and buckets of water around the women and there was blood all over the woman's lower half. As Kia gave another scream a blonde woman stepped forward and grabbed her left hand before saying, "Ms. Kong, you have to breathe"
"It hurts" The woman said through rough breathing
"Push Kong!" A woman who moved to the woman's legs, blocking Sasha's view
The small girl walked around, passing quietly behind a few women, none of them noticed her, she was so small she passed through all the cracks in the crowd until she was in the front standing a few feet away from her mother's back. Sasha watched as the woman cried and screamed pushed, causing her to stand there with her hands covering her ears, until the screaming stopped and the cries of a baby filled the room. Sasha watched with wide eyes as her hands slowly came away from her ears while her mother wrapped the bloody baby in a blanket, not bothering to hand her to the woman.
Sasha watched as her mother stood with the baby, handing her off to the blonde woman who immediately began shushing the baby, causing the small six year old to wonder why they didn't give the baby to the woman. Sasha looked down at the woman only to see her staring back at her, unmoving. The Black woman's head was lolled to the side facing Sasha and her eyes were cold and wide, and for the first time Sasha noticed that the woman was no longer breathing and the blood from her lower half was flowing freely, staining the carpet in a giant ring under the woman's lower half. She was dead.
Sasha's mother turned and noticed Sasha, the woman rolled her eyes before marching over to her daughter. She grabbed Sasha's shoulders and dragged her back down the hallway as the women who were in the room began cleaning and moving the body.
"What are you doing down here child?" her mother snapped, bending down so she was face to face with Sasha
"I heard screaming." Sasha said with tears running down her face, "What happened to that lady?"
"She's dead" Her mother said with no emotion while Sasha's eyes widened in fear, "Don't cry. I've taught you better than to be weak and show emotion. Death is natural. Some women give birth and live, and others don't. It's the circle of life, the strong prevail and the weak don't. Ms. Kong was weak, and thus she died. Now...do you want to be weak?"
Sasha shook her head causing her mother to pop her in the mouth before saying for the girl to speak, "No Ma'am"
"Good, then don't be a baby, and stop crying. Go back to your room before I lock you in there" Her mother instructed causing Sasha to hold her mouth in pain as she turned and ran back upstairs to her room, the vision of the dead woman staring back at her burning into her memory. She didn't want to be a baby, she didn't want to be weak and die like that woman.
End flashback
"Oh Sasha" Stephanie said as she pulled Sasha into a hug from the story she told, "You're not going to die sweetie. We have money to get you the best doctors and everything will go fine, the doctors said you and the babies are perfectly healthy."
"Things change"
"They do, but you have to have a little faith Sasha. Everything will be okay alright. Come on, look on the bright side."
"What bright side?" Sasha asked sarcastically
"You're doing an amazing thing, you're bringing life into this world...something that I was never able to do" Stephanie's voice became softer as she talked, ending her sentence in a whisper causing Sasha to pull away from her mother and look at her
"I'm sorry" The young girl said, feeling the need to apologize
"No need for sorries my love. This is a good thing alright, you have five people to help you out and...I haven't told your father yet, but your Uncle Shane is coming to stay with us for a while" Stephanie said, "So six people"
"Why is Uncle Shane staying with us?"
"Because I invited him. He lives far away from our company so in order to make sure he isn't late, or just doesn't show for meetings, he is going to stay with us." Stephanie explained causing Sasha to nod, "But that's not the point. The point is that you will have the help and support of your family before and after my grandkids are born. All you need to worry about right now is resting and making sure you keep yourself healthy."
Sasha nodded, "Okay"
"Good, you feeling better now?" Sasha nodded again, "Alright. Now let's head home, your sister and father are already there."
"You think the house is on fire?" Sasha joked causing Stephanie to smirk as she buckled up and started the car again
"With your sisters' moods right now...anything could happen" Stephanie frowned, "They're probably moping around the house. I doubt Hunter was able to get her out of the house"
With Charlotte
"Matt come on already" Jeff said to his brother as the boy continued to shake a hat around.
"Hold on" Matt said with a wide smile
The group was doing secret santa, it was something Dana suggested the group do since no one could go home for the holidays. It was hard though because they couldn't buy anything so they would have to think extra hard on what to get their secret person, but the boys all agreed, liking the challenge. Now, Matt was standing in the center of the living room with a santa hat that had everyone's name in it and he had been shaking it for the last five minutes. He was wearing a red long sleeved shirt and shorts with his long hair pulled back while his brother was wearing a similar outfit with a black shirt instead of red. Jeff was sitting with Charlotte who was wearing a blue tank top and sweatpants and Dana who was wearing a similar outfit, on a small couch on the right while Braun and Sheamus sat on the other couch and Cesaro was sitting on the floor watching with a bored look. Each of the three boys in a black shirt and shorts, well Braun's shirt had the sleeves ripped off like always.
Alright that's enough I got it" Jeff said taking the hat from his brother and taking it over to Cesaro, "Pick one, if you get yourself, put it back"
Cesaro reached up and pulled one out, nodding as he read it over before Jeff moved to Sheamus, then Braun then, Dana, Charlotte, Matt and lastly himself. Jeff read his before nodding and placing the empty hat on his head.
Charlotte looked down at her slip of paper to see that she had gotten Braun and Charlotte cursed under her breath before shoving the paper into her pocket. She had no idea what to get the giant, let alone what he liked. The only thing he ever talked about was food.
"Good, can we eat now?" Braun asked causing Charlotte to mentally prove herself right while everyone else agreed before looking to Charlotte with hopeful expressions
"Fine, Fine" The blonde said with a smile as she got up and walked over to the kitchen which looked out into the living room, "What do you guys want?"
"Everything" Braun said causing Charlotte to roll her eyes playfully as the group followed her to the kitchen.
Charlotte turned her back and began pulling out ingredients from the cabinets and the fridge before turning around to see everyone gathered around the island watching her with intent, "What?"
"Nothing"
"You know, watching me won't make anything cook faster, actually it will just distract me" Charlotte said but all the boys just continued to stare at her causing Dana to roll her eyes
"Alright boys, I think Charlotte needs her space, you don't wanna crowd the chef" Dana said as she pushed the boys away, sending them upstairs to the game room while she stayed downstairs.
Charlotte smiled at Dana as she cracked some eggs into a bowl, "That statement went for you too"
"I know but I figured I could at least help" Dana said bashfully as she leaned against the island opposite Charlotte, "I've seen how much it takes to feed those boys, thought you'd like the help"
Charlotte laughed, she had spent all of her time her in rehab, outside of the classes, and counseling, cooking for those boys. It had actually helped her, she found herself enjoying to cook as it helped her think and she would even offer to cook for everyone on days when a lot was going on. Charlotte held out a pack of Turkey bacon and regular bacon for Dana, "Well then come on, you're on bacon."
Dana nodded and took the packs before moving over to the stove, "Alright"
"Oh and I wouldn't mess those up if I were you. Braun will flip out" Charlotte said with a smile causing Dana's eyes to widen
"He won't kill me will he? His biceps are like the size of my head, and I'm pretty sure he could crush me with one arm" Dana said seriously causing Charlotte to laugh
"Don't worry, it's bacon, just don't burn it" Charlotte advised as she mixed batter for waffles and french toast.
The two cooked in silence, until Charlotte heard laughing coming closer and closer. The blonde looked up with interest but she quickly frowned when she saw Roman walking into the living room with his arm wrapped around a girl's shoulder. The girl was tall and blonde like Charlotte but she was a lot skinnier and Charlotte had to admit the girl was pretty. Roman looked her way and smirked as the two sat down on the couch allowing for Charlotte to have a clear view at the two of them cuddling and laughing about whatever.
"Real mature" Charlotte muttered as she piled waffles onto a plate
"Did you say something? Dana asked as she turned around with her pan of bacon, stopping once she noticed Roman, "Oh...dang. Are you okay?"
"I'm fine" Charlotte whispered not wanting Roman to hear her as she took the pan from Dana and put the bacon onto a large serving plate
"But I mean...weren't you two like…" Charlotte looked over at Dana to see the short squishing her hands together to represent her and Roman kissing, "A thing?"
"I broke it off" Charlotte said with a shrug, "He can do whatever he wants"
Charlotte turned and placed the pan down in the sink before gathering the rest of the food, the two had made, plenty of waffles, french toast, fruit, eggs and bacon for all of the boys and them. Dana watched Roman and the girl for a minute longer as Roman seemed to whisper things into the girl's ear causing her to laugh loudly. Dana gave a look of disgust before moving over to help Charlotte, "Are you sure you're okay?"
"I'm fine Dana" Charlotte said in a sharp tone, signaling that she didn't want to talk to her about this
"Okay. Do you wanna go get the boys while I finish plating everything?"
Charlotte agreed and wiped off her hands before practically running up the stairs to go get the boys. Once she was out of sight she felt tears prick her eyes and she cursed herself for caring about what Roman did. He was his own person, he could kiss and flirt with whoever he wanted, besides Charlotte was the one who broke things off with him. So why was she crying over him and another girl? Charlotte shook her head and angrily wiped her eyes before she continued walking to the game room.
She had to remember, she had bigger things to focus on than boys. She had her sisters to get back to, she didn't have time to focus on Roman and his problems. Charlotte took a deep breath and calmed herself, before she entered the game room and told the boys that the food was ready. As soon as she said this Sheamus and Cesaro raced downstairs with Braun and Matt following them while Jeff waited. He looked at Charlotte carefully before asking, "You okay?"
"Yeah I'm fine" Charlotte said with a small smile as the two walked out together
"You sure, your eyes are red...you weren't crying were you?" Jeff asked waiting for Charlotte to respond but when she didn't Jeff frowned, "What's the matter?"
"Nothing, it was just something stupid" Charlotte said brushing it off but Jeff didn't take that as an answer
"Nah, come on, tell brother Nero what's the matter" Came his southern accent
"Brother Nero?" Charlotte asked with a laugh
"It's my middle name, but Matt calls me that sometimes" Jeff said, "But don't change the subject. Come on Char, tell me what happened, I hate seeing ya so upset"
"It's just Roman he-"
"Do we need to get Braun to beat him up?" Jeff asked immediately pointing back to the stairs where Braun and the others had went
"No. No" Charlotte said quickly causing Jeff to laugh, "We kind of ended things...uh...romantic things, and he's been trying to flaunt this new girl in front of me. I guess she's supposed to be my replacement"
"Did you break it up with him or?"
"Yeah I broke up with him"
"Is the girl blonde?"
"Yes"
"Then he obviously still likes you" Jeff said with a shrug, "He's trying to make you jealous just to see if you still care, but I'm thinking he still has it bad for you."
"Really?"
"For sure" Jeff said with a smile before placing his hand on Charlotte's shoulder, "Listen Charlotte, you're a good person, and you've got a big heart, I mean you put up with all of us and cook for us without even complaining. You're probably the nicest person in this place, so seeing you upset over some loser in rehab hurts. I think I can speak for all of the guys when I saw that we see you as our sister and we'll do anything for you. I mean you know what they say, friends you make in rehab are friends until the end"
"Do they really say that?" Charlotte asked interrupting Jeff's speak
Jeff shrugged and ignored Charlotte before continuing, "Anyway, just focus on you. We're all here to get better and if Roman is what is holding you back then let him go. Let him go out there and hold back some other random blonde, because this blonde...is too good for him."
Charlotte smiled and hugged the boy, "Thanks Jeff"
"No problem," Jeff said giving Charlotte a squeeze before letting go, "Now can I say that this was my secret Santa gift to you?"
"Jeff you weren't supposed to tell me until Christmas" Charlotte said before she began playfully hitting the boy, "Go change names with someone else"
"Ow, ow, okay, jeez" Jeff said before laughing, "I will, now come on before Braun eats all of the food
Jeff wrapped his arm over Charlotte's shoulder and walked her downstairs to the group who greeted her loudly with thanks and cheers as they all ate the delicious food. Charlotte blushed at the attention but thanked them nonetheless and sat down at the island beside Jeff and Cesaro, while everyone else gathered around talking and laughing.
Charlotte soon forgot all about Roman, who had been watching the group sadly before he and the blonde left. The tall blonde let herself enjoy being around her friends and she smiled and laughed at all of Matt's jokes and as Charlotte looked around at everyone she couldn't keep the smile from her face. She was glad she met these people, they really were starting to become her family.
With Stephanie
By the time the Stephanie and Sasha arrived at the house it was around seven and as Stephanie unlocked the door both were surprised to see Hunter, Bayley and Becky smiling and singing in the living room. Bayley and Hunter were playing guitars and Becky was playing her old drumsticks on the living room table as if it were a drum while the two on guitar sang "We Will Rock You" at the top of their lungs.
Hunter= italics, Bayley=bold, both, Becky= (regular)
Buddy, you're a boy, make a big noise
Playing in the street, gonna be a big man someday
You got mud on your face, you big disgrace
Kicking your can all over the place, singin'
We will, we will rock you
We will, we will rock you
Buddy, you're a young man, hard man
Shouting in the street, gonna take on the world someday
You got blood on your face, you big disgrace
Waving your banner all over the place
We will, we will rock you, (sing it!)
We will, we will rock you, (yeah)
Buddy, you're an old man, poor man
Pleading with your eyes, gonna get you some peace someday
You got mud on your face, big disgrace
Somebody better put you back into your place, do it!
We will, we will rock you, (yeah, yeah, come on)
We will, we will rock you, (alright, louder!)
We will, we will rock you, (one more time)
We will, we will rock you
(Yeah)
"What is going on in here?" Stephanie asked causing the group to stop and look at Sasha and Stephanie who were just standing there in shock
"Hey mom" Becky said with a wave while Bayley waved as well
Stephanie's eyes widened even more as Becky called her mom for the first time in a while before Hunter held his arms out showcasing the living room. The couches were pushed away to make space for the instruments as there were microphones, pots that had been used as drums and the keyboard all spread out through the living room. There were also pillows and blankets all over the floor, showing Stephanie that the three had built a fort, something they used to do a lot when they were younger, but it had been taken down to make space for their concert. There were also littered wrappers of candy, chips, soda and popsicles and Stephanie could now see the lyrics to, "we will rock you" had been displayed on the screen, even though the TV was muted.
"I decided that the girls needed so fun, what better way to do that then to have a jam session. Bayley had her guitars and Becky still has her drumsticks from those lessons years ago, so i decided why not?"
"And you just decided to give the girls junk food before dinner and move around all the furniture as well?" Stephanie asked with a frown as she crossed her arms
"You gotta have space for a jam sess, everyone knows that babe" Hunter said as if it were obvious before pointing at Bayley without even looking at her as she says
"You gotta have space mom"
Hunter smirked and continued to look at his wife who continued to frown at him causing him to sigh. He looked at Sasha and brushed past his wife, slinging the guitar onto his back before placing a kiss on Sasha's forehead, "Hello love, how was your appointment?"
Sasha pulled out the ultrasound picture and handed it to her father before saying, "See for yourself"
Hunter took the image and looked at it before a smile broke out on his face, "Twins?"
"What?" Bayley and Becky said at the same time before moving quickly to their father's side trying to see the image themselves
"Yep. A girl and a boy" Sasha said with a small smile.
Becky quickly hugged her sister, taking Sasha by shock as the redhead said, "That's great Sash"
"Uh..thanks Becky" Sasha said slowly, still getting used to the upbeat Becky again, I mean she had wanted this Becky back for a while, but now that she was here, it was kind of a shock. Whatever her father did today really helped, and not to mention Bayley.
Stephanie had told Sasha what happened with Bayley and Alexa once she picked her up from school, explaining that the principal called and told them that Bayley had skipped class and was extremely upset. Hunter and Becky picked her up early and learned that Alexa broke up with her and was moving away, and Hunter told Stephanie leading to the two believing that Bayley would be heartbroken by the time they got home.
"Hey Sasha, you want to tag in?" Hunter asked as he held out a guitar for Sasha to take, snapping Sasha out of her thoughts
"Uh...no thanks" Sasha said, holding her hand up causing Hunter to nod before handing the guitar to Bayley and he and Stephanie excused themselves to talk
"Girls, please clean up this living room, Sasha, go lay down alright?" Stephanie said causing the girls to nod before the family split off.
Hunter and Stephanie stepped into the office on the first floor and Stephanie closed the door, turning to see Hunter standing there smirking. He leaned against the desk and watched her before saying, "So? Are you impressed?"
"That you did your job as a father? No" Stephanie responded sarcastically causing Hunter to roll his eyes
"Oh come on, I managed to handle two depressed daughters, and do all of your chores" Hunter said, "Don't I get a little gratitude? Maybe even a thank you Hunter"
Stephanie crossed her arms, "Thank you Hunter"
Hunter sighed at his wife as he stood up and walked over to his wife, wrapping his arms around Stephanie's waist, pulling her into him, but she quickly placed her hand on his chest, pushing him away, "Okay, what? What did I do?"
"Why do you always think that everything revolves around you Hunter. I have things going on too, and unlike you I'm trying to deal with them."
"Unlike me? Did you not see those two out there? Did you not hear Rebecca call you mom? I did that"
"Great, good job, you let them play some instruments and made them feel good for today, but what about tomorrow? What about when Becky has to go to her counseling sessions or when Bayley walks past Alexa's empty house? You only gave them a temporary distraction"
"How do you know what I did? You didn't even bother to ask me" Hunter snapped back at his wife
"I don't have to ask you I know you Hunter!" Stephanie said with a sarcastic smirk as she walked to the desk
"And I know you...but it still surprises me every time you get like this"
"Get like what?"
"Stephanie, you shut me out, every fucking time something happens, you avoid me and pick fights about everything, you undermine and underestimate me. Like I haven't been by your side for years. Like I'm not the man who loves you and has devoted my life to."
"I'm never said that you're weren't!" Stephanie yelled
"Then what are you saying?" Hunter yelled back
"I'm not saying anything"
"That's the problem, you won't talk to me. Just tell me what's wrong. Let me help you, they are my kids too, this is my family just like it is yours and I've proven that I can pull my weight around here just like you do. You don't have to be so controlling all the time"
"You think I'm controlling?"
"Of course! You've been controlling me my whole life, and you've been trying to control our children, this is probably why all this is happening" Hunter said with a scoff as he walked over to the small bar in the corner and poured himself a drink
"You're blaming me for what's happening with our children?" Stephanie asked shocked
Hunter shrugged, "Somethings it's hard to breathe under the pressure you put people under"
Stephanie let out a sarcastic laugh as Hunter chugged down his drink and began to pour himself another, "Well I'm sorry I put soooo much pressure on you Hunter! I was under the assumption that you were a grown man, who could handle himself"
"Oh please, you never had that assumption. You thought that I was a dumb jock that you could keep under your thumb and use to do whatever you wanted. You didn't respect me then and you sure as hell don't respect me now!" Hunter snapped before taking and drink and then muttering, "I swear, you're just like your father"
"And you're just like yours! Weak, with no backbone! I swear if he wasn't dead it would be like looking in a mirror!" As soon as Stephanie said this she stopped and covered her mouth while Hunter looked at the ground clenching his glass, "Hunter I didn't mean-"
"Yes you did" Hunter said slamming down his glass, "You mean everything you say."
Hunter's father was a touchy subject, one in which Hunter asked Stephanie never to bring up. The man had walked out on their family when Hunter was younger and his mother cursed him out everyday for Hunter's entire life, calling him a weak pig with not a single good bone in his body. After years, when Hunter was a teenager the man return and his mother let him, spending the rest of his life under her thumb as she ordered him around and made him do all the tasks around the house. Hunter never knew why he came back or why his mother let him, but he did know one thing, his mother was right. He was weak, and Stephanie knew this too, he had told her when they went to the man's funeral, he had died of AIDS while Hunter was in his twenties, "I didn't mean to say that Hunter honestly"
"No, it's fine. You think I'm weak, and I think you're controlling. That's how it's been, that's how our marriage has been going the past ten years. You control me and push and order me around and I take it because I thought listening and working with your wife is what you're supposed to do in marriages, obviously I was wrong and it's made me weak. But that's on me. Lesson learned"
Hunter poured himself another glass and turned to walk out, but Stephanie grabbed his arm, "What are you saying?"
Hunter snatched his arm away from Stephanie and ran his hand down his face before saying, "I think we need a break"
"What?" Stephanie asked with wide eyes
"We need some time apart, everything that's been going on has seriously divided us. So we need some time to work on ourselves first" Hunter said before opening the door, "I think you should go"
"Excuse me?"
"Go stay with your parents for a while, get your mind right and I'll do the same" Hunter said before finishing off his drink, not even looking at Stephanie
"You can't seriously be kicking me out of my home?" Stephanie said in disbelief as she stepped forward to Hunter, looking up at him as he still avoided eye contact.
"It's under my name, paid for by my money, not yours and not your father's. Go clear your head"
"Hunter, what about the kids, it's almost Christmas." Stephanie asked with tears in her eyes
"You can still see them on Christmas, I won't deny you the right to see your children, I'm not denying you anything at all in fact. I just think that you have problems that you need to sort out first. Go to therapy. Get help, and then once you're ready to work with me and talk to me like husband and wife, then you're more than welcome to." With that Hunter exited the office, leaving Stephanie to stand in the room alone.
She slowly brought her hand up to her mouth as she tried to cover up her sobs. She walked back to the desk and leaned against it, bending over as she cried into her hands.
A/N: Thanks for reading, and of course I'm ending this chapter like this because I love sad cliffhangers. Anyway, thanks for reading, make sure to review what you think and what you want to see in the future, also comment some baby names because I have none. Also, make sure to follow and favorite so you can be updated for the next chapter.