--
Ric rushed down the stairs, nearly tripping. He jumped off the last stair and reached for the front door's knob. "I'm leaving!" He shouted. He turned to find Beth coming up behind him. She was smiling. He loved that to no end; seeing her smile again. "You have everything?" she asked. Ric nodded. She took his hands and looked at his wrists. The scars had faded but they'd be there for a while.
She looked up, into his gunmetal colored eyes and kissed him, "I love you." He held her hand, tight. She'd helped him so much the last few weeks. He wished he could stay longer; he wished he wanted to stay longer. "I love you, too."
They took one last look into each other's eyes and Ric walked out. He thought of the phone call he'd made earlier. "Vince, I'm ready to come back." He'd said. He heard Vince let out a breath of relief, "I'm glad you're okay, Ric. You're sure you're really ready? I know your situation has probably brought you closer to your family. You can stay home longer and spend time with them for a while, if you like."
Ric thought for a second. He had spent lots of time with Beth, and he hated leaving. But he had someone to come back for now. He could just imagine Adrianne's face when he shows up on TV.
"No thanks," Ric had said, finally, "I have another family, and I want to see them now."
**
When Ric arrived, everyone came to him, shook his hand and gave him words of encouragement, despite the fact that he'd already made a full recovery. When he came into his locker room, an envelope sat on the table. He threw his things down and stared at it.
"To Ric Flair: My hero; My idol; My favorite; My Life" it read. He smiled and sat on the bench. It must've been from Adrianne. He carefully tore the envelope and read the letter.
"Dear Ric Flair,
I hope you're doing okay now. If you're reading this, then you're back! WELCOME BACK!!!!! I missed seeing you on TV. Every time you're not on, I worry. More so lately, since you had that personal stuff going on. I've been watching every second of RAW, to make sure I don't miss anything. If you're reading this, just know I'm sitting in front of a TV set somewhere. I loved meeting you! You're truly larger than life itself. My dream has come true and my life is complete now that I got to talk to you. It's an experience I will surely never forget. I'd make this letter longer, but words can't describe how happy you've made me. Thank you so much for fulfilling my hopes and dreams.
Love, Adrianne"
A tear rolled down Ric's cheek and he put the letter back in the envelope. He was glad that he brought a smile to her face. It was a good thing she came into his life when she did. She really made a difference, an impact, on him.
"Ric!" A voice shouted. Ric turned to see Pat Patterson walk in. He stood and they hugged, brotherly. "Welcome back," Pat whispered. As they backed away, he patted Flair on the shoulder. "Listen, I know this may be too much to ask. You just got back and all, but are you okay to wrestle tonight?" Ric looked down at the envelope. "My hero; My idol; My favorite; My Life".
"Sure, I'm ready." Ric replied with a smile. Pat nodded and left the room. Ric tucked the letter into his gym bag and caught his eye on the glimmering 'Nature Boy' robe. He carefully took it out and held it up, to admire it. It was read, lined with rhinestones and sequins. It was one of his favorites. He'd worn it on many occasions, defending titles left and right.
And now, there was one more special occasion. His return match, for Adrianne. He hoped she'd like it.
**
After Ric's return match, and victory, he headed to the back. As soon as he stepped through the curtain, he was met with hugs and slaps on the back. He was met with more when he got to the backstage area. Everyone shook his hand and complimented his performance. After he'd thanked almost everyone on the roster, Vince McMahon walked up to him. He wasn't smiling, or offering his hand. He stared at Ric, seriously, and hugged him. Ric let the overwhelming moment sink in and he hugged back.
Vince backed away first, "We need to talk."
Ric wasn't sure if it was going to be a man-to-man kind of talk, or like that post-WrestleMania 8 talk. He threw his robe over his shoulder and followed Vince down the halls. He led Flair into his office and turned to him, "You did great out there. I'm glad you're back, and that you're still going." Ric smiled, but when he saw Vince didn't, it faded.
Something was wrong.
McMahon cleared his throat and looked down at his feet, "How can I say this? I -" For the first time in forever, Ric realized Vince was speechless. He couldn't tell if it was good or bad.
"During your match, we got a call. The "Make A Wish" foundation called. It was about Adrianne."
The color drained from Ric's face. He knew what to think but he didn't want to think it. He closed his eyes and heard Vince say, "Adrianne didn't make it through the day. She just . . . left a few minutes ago. I didn't know how to tell you. I'm sorry. I know she meant a lot to you."
Ric's heart sank and he sighed. He wasn't sure what to do or say. It slowly sunk in that he'd just met her weeks before and now, she was gone.
Vince left the room, his head hung, sadly.
Ric stayed where he was. "At least she's not suffering anymore," he said, aloud. It found it quite amazing that she was a little girl and she'd just become his inspiration. She made her dedication known to him, and he loved that.
'You make me want to be the best at everything I do.' She had said.
He inspired her and now she had inspired him. He came back to her; for her. She was his most dedicated fan. She made him want to continue to perform. And for that, he thanked her.
--
A/N: Okay, I know I'm probably going to be asked why I wrote this and why I wrote it like I did. Truth be told, I have no idea why I made him want to commit suicide. It was just an idea I got, out of nowhere. But the plot, in general, of the fans not liking him - that was real.
There are countless people who dislike him. That's cool and all; they're entitled to their opinion. But the problem I have with them is that they insult him; criticize him; call him named and mock him. That makes me sick to my stomach. If they don't like Ric Flair, can't they just say 'I don't like Flair,' and then leave it at that?
They probably don't realize that Richard Fliehr DOES NOT have to spend 300 days on the road. He does not have to spend time away from his family. BUT he does! Why? Because he loves you! He loves each and every one of you! And he loves entertaining YOU. Be grateful that you get to see him. This may be the last time we see him in action and we have to take advantage of it!
To the Ric haters: I know you might not be reading this, but I want to get this out. I would like to see you. I'd like to see you step into a ring, at 53 years of age, and give a 5 star match. I'd LOVE to see that. And if you can't do it, then I'd shut up if I were you. Disliking him is cool; insulting him is not.
I'd say for you reading this to tell your Ric-hating friends, and for those Ric-hating friends to tell their Ric-hating friends what I said, but don't. It's their loss.
I hope you all liked this fic. I put a lot into it. I took what I felt, and I made it Ric who felt it.
And to Ric Fliehr: I know you're probably not reading this. You're a busy man, but I want to let this out, too. You are brilliant. You're amazing. And you make me want to be the best at everything I do. You're my hero, my idol, my favorite and my life. I'd love to meet you one day. Until then, keep doing what you do best. Thank you for inspiring me.
~Romi
--
Ric rushed down the stairs, nearly tripping. He jumped off the last stair and reached for the front door's knob. "I'm leaving!" He shouted. He turned to find Beth coming up behind him. She was smiling. He loved that to no end; seeing her smile again. "You have everything?" she asked. Ric nodded. She took his hands and looked at his wrists. The scars had faded but they'd be there for a while.
She looked up, into his gunmetal colored eyes and kissed him, "I love you." He held her hand, tight. She'd helped him so much the last few weeks. He wished he could stay longer; he wished he wanted to stay longer. "I love you, too."
They took one last look into each other's eyes and Ric walked out. He thought of the phone call he'd made earlier. "Vince, I'm ready to come back." He'd said. He heard Vince let out a breath of relief, "I'm glad you're okay, Ric. You're sure you're really ready? I know your situation has probably brought you closer to your family. You can stay home longer and spend time with them for a while, if you like."
Ric thought for a second. He had spent lots of time with Beth, and he hated leaving. But he had someone to come back for now. He could just imagine Adrianne's face when he shows up on TV.
"No thanks," Ric had said, finally, "I have another family, and I want to see them now."
**
When Ric arrived, everyone came to him, shook his hand and gave him words of encouragement, despite the fact that he'd already made a full recovery. When he came into his locker room, an envelope sat on the table. He threw his things down and stared at it.
"To Ric Flair: My hero; My idol; My favorite; My Life" it read. He smiled and sat on the bench. It must've been from Adrianne. He carefully tore the envelope and read the letter.
"Dear Ric Flair,
I hope you're doing okay now. If you're reading this, then you're back! WELCOME BACK!!!!! I missed seeing you on TV. Every time you're not on, I worry. More so lately, since you had that personal stuff going on. I've been watching every second of RAW, to make sure I don't miss anything. If you're reading this, just know I'm sitting in front of a TV set somewhere. I loved meeting you! You're truly larger than life itself. My dream has come true and my life is complete now that I got to talk to you. It's an experience I will surely never forget. I'd make this letter longer, but words can't describe how happy you've made me. Thank you so much for fulfilling my hopes and dreams.
Love, Adrianne"
A tear rolled down Ric's cheek and he put the letter back in the envelope. He was glad that he brought a smile to her face. It was a good thing she came into his life when she did. She really made a difference, an impact, on him.
"Ric!" A voice shouted. Ric turned to see Pat Patterson walk in. He stood and they hugged, brotherly. "Welcome back," Pat whispered. As they backed away, he patted Flair on the shoulder. "Listen, I know this may be too much to ask. You just got back and all, but are you okay to wrestle tonight?" Ric looked down at the envelope. "My hero; My idol; My favorite; My Life".
"Sure, I'm ready." Ric replied with a smile. Pat nodded and left the room. Ric tucked the letter into his gym bag and caught his eye on the glimmering 'Nature Boy' robe. He carefully took it out and held it up, to admire it. It was read, lined with rhinestones and sequins. It was one of his favorites. He'd worn it on many occasions, defending titles left and right.
And now, there was one more special occasion. His return match, for Adrianne. He hoped she'd like it.
**
After Ric's return match, and victory, he headed to the back. As soon as he stepped through the curtain, he was met with hugs and slaps on the back. He was met with more when he got to the backstage area. Everyone shook his hand and complimented his performance. After he'd thanked almost everyone on the roster, Vince McMahon walked up to him. He wasn't smiling, or offering his hand. He stared at Ric, seriously, and hugged him. Ric let the overwhelming moment sink in and he hugged back.
Vince backed away first, "We need to talk."
Ric wasn't sure if it was going to be a man-to-man kind of talk, or like that post-WrestleMania 8 talk. He threw his robe over his shoulder and followed Vince down the halls. He led Flair into his office and turned to him, "You did great out there. I'm glad you're back, and that you're still going." Ric smiled, but when he saw Vince didn't, it faded.
Something was wrong.
McMahon cleared his throat and looked down at his feet, "How can I say this? I -" For the first time in forever, Ric realized Vince was speechless. He couldn't tell if it was good or bad.
"During your match, we got a call. The "Make A Wish" foundation called. It was about Adrianne."
The color drained from Ric's face. He knew what to think but he didn't want to think it. He closed his eyes and heard Vince say, "Adrianne didn't make it through the day. She just . . . left a few minutes ago. I didn't know how to tell you. I'm sorry. I know she meant a lot to you."
Ric's heart sank and he sighed. He wasn't sure what to do or say. It slowly sunk in that he'd just met her weeks before and now, she was gone.
Vince left the room, his head hung, sadly.
Ric stayed where he was. "At least she's not suffering anymore," he said, aloud. It found it quite amazing that she was a little girl and she'd just become his inspiration. She made her dedication known to him, and he loved that.
'You make me want to be the best at everything I do.' She had said.
He inspired her and now she had inspired him. He came back to her; for her. She was his most dedicated fan. She made him want to continue to perform. And for that, he thanked her.
--
A/N: Okay, I know I'm probably going to be asked why I wrote this and why I wrote it like I did. Truth be told, I have no idea why I made him want to commit suicide. It was just an idea I got, out of nowhere. But the plot, in general, of the fans not liking him - that was real.
There are countless people who dislike him. That's cool and all; they're entitled to their opinion. But the problem I have with them is that they insult him; criticize him; call him named and mock him. That makes me sick to my stomach. If they don't like Ric Flair, can't they just say 'I don't like Flair,' and then leave it at that?
They probably don't realize that Richard Fliehr DOES NOT have to spend 300 days on the road. He does not have to spend time away from his family. BUT he does! Why? Because he loves you! He loves each and every one of you! And he loves entertaining YOU. Be grateful that you get to see him. This may be the last time we see him in action and we have to take advantage of it!
To the Ric haters: I know you might not be reading this, but I want to get this out. I would like to see you. I'd like to see you step into a ring, at 53 years of age, and give a 5 star match. I'd LOVE to see that. And if you can't do it, then I'd shut up if I were you. Disliking him is cool; insulting him is not.
I'd say for you reading this to tell your Ric-hating friends, and for those Ric-hating friends to tell their Ric-hating friends what I said, but don't. It's their loss.
I hope you all liked this fic. I put a lot into it. I took what I felt, and I made it Ric who felt it.
And to Ric Fliehr: I know you're probably not reading this. You're a busy man, but I want to let this out, too. You are brilliant. You're amazing. And you make me want to be the best at everything I do. You're my hero, my idol, my favorite and my life. I'd love to meet you one day. Until then, keep doing what you do best. Thank you for inspiring me.
~Romi
--