Chapter 98

Four and a half months later…

"I can't believe Evelyn is married," Mercedes commented as she and Colby got ready for bed.

Evelyn and Trevor had gotten married earlier that day. They had had a beautiful wedding. But so much more had happened before.

Evelyn and Trevor had moved back to Moline to be near their parents and family. That had been the plan before Evelyn got pregnant. But they moved back to Moline from Orlando within a few months after Evelyn found out she was pregnant. Mercedes and Colby with that of Trevor's parents helped the two in any way they needed. But the two got moved back with no problems.

The couple bought their first home together. It was a perfect starter home too that they had found. Once they were in and everything, they settled in and slowly began to plan the nursery for the baby.

Evelyn and Trevor had found out early on in the pregnancy that Evelyn was pregnant with twins. They found out she was pregnant with fraternal twins. They had waited a little bit before they told anyone about being pregnant with the twins. Mercedes was ecstatic for that. She was getting two grandchildren for the price of one. That also led Evelyn and Trevor to found out the sexes of the babies. The sexes of the twins turned out to be a boy and a girl.

After that, Evelyn and Trevor began to plan the nursery all the way out and get it ready. They also finished making their wedding plans.

Aaron and Ashley were each doing great as well. Their relationship was great. And they were both doing great with their careers. The two had lost their championships back in August at TakeOver. But it was no big deal. They ended up making their main roster debuts on the SmackDown roster a few nights later. Their parents were proud of them for making it all the way to main roster.

Katianna was doing great too. She made her debut at NXT houseshows in September. She had a boyfriend as well. His name was Darren Masters. He was in his senior year at University of Central Florida (UCF). He wanted to be a physical therapist. The two had met casually out and about in Orlando.

And Mariah was in her senior year of high school. She was ready to finish high school and start the next chapter of her life as her older siblings had. She wanted to be a nurse.

Derek was in fifth grade. And Valerie was in fourth grade.

"I can't believe it either," Colby said. He sat on the bed, waiting for Mercedes as she was in the bathroom, brushing her teeth. He had something to show her, though.

Mercedes smiled. She came out of the bathroom. She turned the light off. She saw her husband sitting on the bed. Her hand something in his hands.

"Is everything okay?" She asked, walking over to the bed.

"I have something to show you," Colby said.

"What is it?" She got on the bed.

"This journal," He said, showing her a simple composition notebook.

"What about it?"

"It was something I started right when I came back from my knee injury."

"Your very own journal?" Mercedes asked.

"Yes," Colby replied. "I had kept a journal during my injury and it really helped me. I had wanted to start another one with coming back."

"Do you want me to read it or something?"

"Yes."

"Okay."

"But before you do," Colby said. "What it ended up turning into what an actual journal for me. I wrote in it a lot. I wrote in it a lot about us: you and me."

"Mmm-hmm," Mercedes replied with a smile.

"It later talked about my feelings with everything that happened between us when you were raped."

"Your honest, true feelings."

"Yes."

Mercedes nodded her head.

"I marked a few entries for you to read," Colby said.

Mercedes nodded her head. Colby handed the journal over to her. Mercedes took it.

"I'm going to go check on the kids," He said. "Read as much as you want."

"Sure," Mercedes replied.

Colby leaned over and kissed her. He then got up and headed out of the room. Mercedes settled on the bed and opened the notebook.

She took a look at the pages, seeing Colby's familiar writing. She read the first few pages. These pages told of Colby when he was about to make his big return. It was when he had been sitting on the bus watching the Pay-Per-View and hiding. It then talked about when he had finally made that return. He talked the crowd. He talked about how excited everyone was to see him, especially Mercedes herself.

"Welcome back, handsome," Mercedes said. She gave me a big hug. It made my night.

I had always liked Mercedes very much. And now that I'm single, maybe something could happen between us.

Mercedes grinned. She continued to read.

Something horrible happened! It happened to Mercedes! Mercedes was raped!

Mercedes bit her lip as she read what Colby had to say about it.

It breaks my heart and I am super pissed about it! Whatever kind of an asshole hurts someone like her?! I hate those assholes that pull that shit. I don't know how it happened. But Mercedes is distraught. She is so upset. She is such a strong confident woman. She really is a Legit Boss. I said I'd be there for her. But for now I'm just going to leave her be and heal.

Mercedes nodded her head. He had left her alone and let her heal. He didn't ignore her. He just let her contact him if need be. After three weeks, they were talking again outside of work.

She came to an entry about that very time too.

I'm texting with Mercedes again. I'm a very happy man. Let my cocky Seth Rollins proceed please.

Mercedes giggled at that.

No! She told about what happened to. I want to go to Boston and track down the fucking son of a bitch and beat the shit out of him for hurting her! I want to beat him within an inch of his life.

You know a century ago, if a woman cried rape a man would gather a posse and hurt the man down who raped that woman. I know a lot of the guys and I would like to do that. However, that is prohibited. Paul is one of those guys too! But I know that asshole will get what's coming to him. Karma can be a nasty bitch. But if I ever know who he is. He'll regret having laid his hands on her!

Mercedes smiled.

The next entry was about how she found out she was pregnant from the rape and everything that went with that with Colby. It talked about how they had hugged and talked. And how she was going to be Colby's number one concern which she was. She read about how he had wanted to kiss her when they had been at his house too.

Damn, how I wanted to kiss her! I had wanted to kiss her so badly! In all honesty, I don't think she would have minded. Her body language let me know. I know she wanted be too. I should have! Damn it, Colby Lopez!

Mercedes giggled.

It happened! It freaking happened! I kissed Mercedes! Well…she kissed me! But it was fantastic!

We went to the doctor to check her and the baby out. She was never nervous for it. But me being there really helped her out. I'm glad it did. But we heard the baby's heartbeat on the ultrasound. It was awesome. It was so strong. And it was cool seeing an ultrasound, a sonogram. Mercedes was crying from it. She also decided to keep the baby! I'm very happy for her! I am going to take great care of her and that baby from here on out! I told her that and Mercedes said she wanted me by her side no matter what!

Mercedes smiled. She didn't want to read anymore. At least not right then. She wanted to find her husband. She got up from the bed and headed out of the room.

Colby sat on the living room sofa. He had checked on the kids and gone to the living room to give Mercedes the privacy to read his journal. He had kept it hidden for a long time. He had gone back to it many times to read.

"Hey," Mercedes said.

"Hey," Colby said.

Mercedes smiled as she walked over to the sofa and sat down next to husband.

"I'm glad you shared your journal with me, baby," Mercedes commented. "I appreciate it."

"Baby, you are my world and it broke up heart when I found out you had been attacked," Colby replied.

Mercedes nodded her head.

"I wanted to be there for you from the moment I heard about it. I wanted to…"

"…I know, Colby," Mercedes interrupted. "I know it. I wanted you there too. But I was scared. I was scared and so afraid." Tears streamed down her cheeks.

Colby quickly wrapped his arms around her.

"I was so ashamed of what happened. I thought you…"

"…I thought nothing less of you! I know you would never accuse anyone of anything unless it were true," Colby said. "I wanted to be with you, Mercedes. And I would have waited forever!"

Mercedes smiled. "I wanted to be with you too. And I thank you for giving me the distance I needed. But I really didn't want it. But I needed it. I'm sorry for it, though."

"I'm not! You needed to do what you needed to do. Like I said, I would have waited forever!"

Mercedes continued to smile. Colby smiled as well. He leaned forward and kissed her passionately on the lips.

"I love you," He said.

"I love you too," She replied.

"And Happy Anniversary."

"Happy Anniversary. And I want you to know, I want to read more of your journal, which I will!"

Colby chuckled. "That's why I shared it. So, you can read it."

"I want to read it with when I was pregnant with Evie."

"I have a second journal for that one."

"I want to read it."

Colby chuckled. "Sure."

"Let's go to bed, though," Mercedes suggested. "It has been a long and wonderful day."

"It has."

Mercedes smiled. She took her husband's hand, pulling him up from the sofa. Colby stood up as she did. However, he quickly scooped her into his arms, bridal style. Mercedes giggled.