Title: The Road Less Traveled (45/?)
Author: Esquirella
Rating: R (for violence in some chapters.)
Disclaimer: I own the Rio character and have written other stories with her. I own all non WWE characters. But I do not own the wrestlers. (Unfortunately. They are so cute!)
Synopsis: Thank you, Kittie! (Read my note!) In this chapter: Meet the parents! It's Tara's turn to spill as Sven asks her about her past. Justin takes Shannon for a walk and Todd corners Matt.
Distribution: Just in case anyone's interested in it, please ask me first. More than likely, I will agree.
--------------------------------------
AUTHOR'S NOTE: This story is officially dedicated to Kittie, Kittie, Kittie and RHD for their tireless feedback and unfailing support. And, Kittie, thank you SO MUCH for updating "Somewhere Out There." To everyone who hasn't read it yet, go read it. It's AWESOME!
I've started putting up chapters to Rio's beginnings. It's called "One Journey Ends" and is in the Original Fiction section under General Fiction. As with this story, I've rated it R for violence and disturbing content. You can also access it by clicking on my author name and choosing it from the list of stories I've written so far. (All two of them!)
Rio now has a Yahoo Group for those who want to discuss her or post art of what they think she might look like. All opinions welcome whether pro or con. Please visit http://groups.yahoo.com/group/rio_angele and let me know what you think. I WILL BE ISSUING A FUN CHALLENGE FOR ALL MEMBERS ONCE THERE ARE ENOUGH OF US. (More than 2 would be nice.)
As always, I know nothing about the WWE superstars that appear in this story. The personalities used here are purely fiction and not meant in any way to represent the true natures of the individuals. And, as always, apologies to Shannon Moore (just in case he or anyone he knows ever reads this) for writing his character as so aggressively possessive. (I can't help it. I find that kind of hero attractive. *Wink*)
--------------------------------------
Shannon and Matt stepped through the door of Shannon's house the next day weary from their trip. The younger man was anxious to get home and reassure himself that Tara hadn't taken off again. He laid his keys on the kitchen table and headed upstairs with Matt on his heels. They found Tara asleep in Shannon's bed wrapped in one of his sweatshirts. It was too big for the petite fighter and made her look even younger.
"Tha's cute," Matt whispered ducking Shannon's slap.
"Nice," Tara yawned. "I can't even take a nap in peace."
"Sorry, baby," Shannon smiled plopping down on the bed beside her.
She'd apparently abandoned all hope for rest, sitting up and crawling into his lap for a kiss. "Miss me?"
"Mo' than ya kno'," he said as he nuzzled her ear.
"Still here," Matt called from behind him waving furiously. Shannon playfully scowled while Tara laughed up at him.
"Justin stopped by yesterday," she said with a serious expression.
Shannon stopped nipping at her neck and looked down at her. He wasn't sure how to take that bit of news, as the two guardians hadn't been physically in the picture before. But he knew that Tara thought of them as her family and any objections Shannon raised would be met with adversity. He also figured the two men would never let her go completely since they'd put so much time and effort into saving her.
"'E wantcha t' go back withim?" Shannon asked softly cringing inwardly.
"No," she said raising an eyebrow. "Why? Are you tired of me already?"
"Neva," he said steadfastly. "I jus' wondered why 'e came."
Matt sat down beside them quietly lending his friend support.
"He came by because he was concerned about my state of mind," she clarified. "He wanted to make sure I knew that my place in the family wasn't hinged on my success as a fighter."
"'E thought ya didn' kno' that?" Matt asked curiously.
"Todd called me and said that the two 'Dads' chewed him out for feeling like he'd let them down if he failed," she said turning to gaze at the older Hardy. "When he told them that I probably felt the same way, being as he and I both grew up as unwanted kids, Justin hit the roof and immediately made a beeline over here."
"I knew ya 'ad a rough chil'hood," Shannon sighed. "Bu' I didn' kno' 'ow bad ya felt."
"We can't choose how we're raised, Shannon," she said to him sadly. "We can only keep trying to improve ourselves as we go along."
"Well, yo' definitely wan'ed NOW," Matt said with conviction. She smiled at him and nodded.
"Yeah, that's what Justin said," she confided. "He also told me to call him 'Dad' from now on." She grinned, "I wonder how Sven will take being called 'Mom'."
All three started laughing at once.
"Anyway," she went on looking back at Shannon who started frowning as he anticipated her next statement. "Todd also wanted to ask me to come over today when you got home. We haven't seen each other in a while and we need to discuss strategy for Sunday's show."
"'E's gonna be there, too?"
"I told you I would have backup," she said matching his frown.
"I meant me," he said dully.
"I know you did," she said. "And you'll be there, too. But he knows how the Series operates as well as I do and he has the right to get his hands on Henry, too."
"So ya wanna go ova there now then?" Shannon sighed with resignation.
"What's the matter?" she asked innocently. "Don't you want to meet the parents?"
Shannon thought of the popular movie by that name and sighed again.
--------------------------------------
Tara hummed happily as they made their way to Justin and Sven's room. The ride to the hotel hadn't been long and she was actually looking forward to introducing her boyfriend to her family. Matt had insisted on coming along even offering to drive, but she didn't mind, knowing that he and Todd were going to get along famously. She reached the door and turned to look back at her gloomy companions. Their expressions were priceless. She turned back to the door and reached up to rap her knuckle against it but it opened before she could knock. Todd stood grinning down at her.
"There you are," he laughed picking her up and dragging her into the room. The two bemused figures followed glaring after them. Tara laughed at them over Todd's shoulder.
"You'll have to get used to my brother's exuberance," she said.
"I thought I was yo' brotha," Matt whined.
"You're LIKE a brother," Todd explained setting her down. "I really am her brother."
"I knew 'er first," Matt said grumpily.
"I know her best," Todd answered triumphantly. "Besides, you wouldn't have her back if it wasn't for me."
"Yeah," Tara glowered, a small smile ruining the effect. "Don't think I've forgotten that."
"In that case, lemme shake yo' hand," Shannon said to Todd with a smile of his own.
"Small one," Justin said embracing her from behind.
"Hi, Dad!" she reached up and kissed his cheek. "Mom!" She grinned at Sven who mockingly glared at her before pulling her away from Justin and locking her into a bear hug.
"How is my little sweet one?"
"I'm fine," she laughed hugging him back fiercely then pulling away to walk back to her boyfriend. "I'd like you to officially meet Shannon and Matt."
Justin and Sven eyed the smaller blonde man critically. He stood his ground staring at them right back.
"Do you still treat my daughter like a dog?" Sven asked finally.
"What?" barked Justin.
"He knows to what I refer, my heart," the blonde man said not taking his eyes off Shannon.
"She's still mine, if tha's whatcha mean," Shannon growled. "Bu' I treater like a princess."
"Yeah," Tara groused. "Just like Rapunzel."
Sven grinned widely. "He would not feel he would have to do that if you did not have the talent to attract so much trouble."
Tara's jaw dropped and she assumed her most betrayed expression. "ME?!" she exclaimed. "This all started with me getting HIM out of trouble, I'd like to remind you. NOT the other way around."
"Hey look at it this way," Todd said helpfully. "If you didn't get into so much trouble you and I wouldn't have met."
"Again, not my fault," she pointed out miffed beyond belief.
"True," Matt said pulling her in front of him. "Most o' this can be traced back ta Jeff."
"I fo'got about 'im," Shannon said clearly irritated. "Remin' me beat 'im fo' gittin' 'er back inta th' game."
"Done," Matt nodded, holding onto Tara jealously and watching Todd who grinned in amusement.
"If I wanted to take her from you I could, Hardy Boy," he taunted Matt who smirked back.
"Maybe, bu' she'd kick yo' ass fo' it."
"So sure of that, huh?"
"Positive."
Tara said nothing, merely glaring at both of them ominously, debating which she should smack first. Deciding to let them play cavemen on their own she pulled free and jumped into Sven's arms to hug him again.
"You have missed me as much as I have missed you then?"
"Always," she said snuggling into his lap. She noticed Shannon spearing her with an annoyed look from where he stood near Todd and Matt. Justin was approaching him slowly and Tara hoped things went well.
"Do not worry," Sven said reassuringly. "He will do nothing to harm Shannon. He respects him."
"He does?" she asked looking up at the blonde man in surprise.
"He does," Sven said again. "He has much respect for anyone who can get you out of the silver paint. He only wishes it could have been done sooner."
"I wasn't ready then," she said looking down.
"I understand," Sven said quietly. "You are ready now though, right?"
Tara suddenly got the feeling they were talking about something other than the Warrior Series and looked up in confusion. Sven merely smiled and waited patiently. Finally she knew she would not be getting out of this conversation.
"You really won't take no for an answer this time, will you."
"I will not," he said gently. "I believe this talk has been long overdue."
Tara nodded and looked down, gathering her nerves.
--------------------------------------
"Why do not we go for a walk," Justin said to the young man watching him carefully. Although he tried not to be so intimidating he could see from Shannon's expression that he was far from successful.
"Yo' no' gonna kill me, are ya?" he asked tentatively.
"Tara would never forgive me," Justin said with a smile. Shannon stared at him for a bit before nodding.
"We'll be right back, baby," he called over to Tara before following Justin to the door.
--------------------------------------
"Hey, can you take me for a ride?" Todd suddenly asked Matt.
"Huh?" he replied in confusion. First the red headed man was taunting him now he was asking for a ride? "Come again?"
"Mom wants to spend some quality time alone with his daughter," Todd said in a low voice. "And Dad wants to spend some quality time alone with Tara's boyfriend. That leaves us two brothers to get lost. I figured we could use the time constructively and hit a sporting goods store. I have my Fury costume but I need elbow and knee pads."
Matt looked the other man over warily.
"I'm not going to do anything," Todd laughed. "Tara would go all Rio on me if I did. I know she loves you like a brother."
"She says I'm as much 'er brotha as you are."
"Okay," Todd said. "I can accept that. But she and I are both their kids. Top that."
"Le's go," Matt laughed and held up his car keys.
--------------------------------------
"Alone at last," Sven said.
"Why does everyone like to say that to me?" she pouted back at him.
"Perhaps because you prefer an air of mystery," he ventured setting her beside him and pondering how to begin. "I wish to know more of your past."
"I know."
"Will you allow me?"
She nodded mutely looking down just as Todd did the day before.
"You have nothing of which to feel ashamed," Sven said softly. She shrugged in response. He decided to begin slowly with a subject they'd discussed briefly off and on when she first came to live with him. "It must have been hard to be the one to decide to turn off Ben's machines."
Tara's eyes immediately began to tear but she held her head up this time. "It was," she whispered. "Especially since his parents decided he wasn't a part of their family anymore and I was all he had."
"He did not consider himself unlucky, I believe," Sven said gently.
"No," she replied. "He always told me how lucky he was to have me. But look how that turned out, right?"
"Those are the old fears again," he chided her. "You cannot take the blame for everything. Your father has told you we will change that about you, has he not?" She nodded looking away. "We will if it takes forever, sweet one. Whether you were with him for a year or a lifetime, he felt lucky to have found you. You gave his life purpose. His parents' opinions do not matter. He told you so himself." Again she nodded. He waited for her to continue.
"I grew up in foster homes, as you know," she looked at him for confirmation and it was his turn to nod. "I figured you checked my files at some point."
"The day after you met Justin for the first time, in fact."
"The next day?" she asked incredulously. Again he nodded. "Why?"
"Justin was very distracted after the incident," he confided. "I wanted to know why. When I found out, I knew."
"Knew what?"
"Knew he would not rest until he was sure you would be all right."
"How did you know that?"
"When it comes to your father, I rely on my instincts," he said, revealing to her, for the first time, the beginning of his relationship with the dark haired man. "I did not know him well yet but I knew he was a good man underneath and that he wanted to have a family to call his own."
She watched him apparently fascinated with his revelation.
"When I found out about you," he went on, "I knew I had to keep pestering him until he agreed to retrieve you. I had been keeping tabs on you for a while after the funeral and knew you were deteriorating quickly. I figured we had not much time to save you. I wanted to help him build that family with me."
"You came back for me intentionally?" she asked in wonder. "It wasn't a coincidence?"
"I knew you were meant to become my daughter," he said stroking her arm. "I knew he was meant to become your father. It simply was inevitable."
"But what about Shannon," she said a frown marring her brow. "What if I bring bad luck down on him, too? I couldn't bear to lose him. And I feel so guilty for loving again so soon after Ben."
"Ben died almost two years ago," Sven pointed out. "He would not want you to stop living. I already told you that. As for Shannon, he would be very upset to hear you say these things. He is an adult and can make his own decisions. He has chosen you."
"But Ben chose me and he died because of it."
"He died to protect what he loved. Any man would do the same. Do not be so afraid of the world that you stop living, sweet one. It is a lonely place without the one you love."
She nodded and looked down thoughtfully. "How did I get so lucky to have you and Justin adopt me?"
"Do not feel so lucky yet," Sven smiled playfully. "I have not even begun to discuss this new nickname you have for me."
************************************
PLEASE NOTE: Rio now has a Yahoo Group for those who want to discuss her or post art of what they think she might look like. All opinions welcome whether pro or con. Please visit http://groups.yahoo.com/group/rio_angele and let me know what you think. I WILL BE ISSUING A FUN CHALLENGE FOR ALL MEMBERS ONCE THERE ARE ENOUGH OF US. (More than 2 would be nice.)
I've started putting up chapters to Rio's beginnings. It's called "One Journey Ends" and is in the Original Fiction section under General Fiction. As with this story, I've rated it R for violence and disturbing content. You can also access it by clicking on my author name and choosing it from the list of stories I've written so far. (All two of them!)
************************************
Author: Esquirella
Rating: R (for violence in some chapters.)
Disclaimer: I own the Rio character and have written other stories with her. I own all non WWE characters. But I do not own the wrestlers. (Unfortunately. They are so cute!)
Synopsis: Thank you, Kittie! (Read my note!) In this chapter: Meet the parents! It's Tara's turn to spill as Sven asks her about her past. Justin takes Shannon for a walk and Todd corners Matt.
Distribution: Just in case anyone's interested in it, please ask me first. More than likely, I will agree.
--------------------------------------
AUTHOR'S NOTE: This story is officially dedicated to Kittie, Kittie, Kittie and RHD for their tireless feedback and unfailing support. And, Kittie, thank you SO MUCH for updating "Somewhere Out There." To everyone who hasn't read it yet, go read it. It's AWESOME!
I've started putting up chapters to Rio's beginnings. It's called "One Journey Ends" and is in the Original Fiction section under General Fiction. As with this story, I've rated it R for violence and disturbing content. You can also access it by clicking on my author name and choosing it from the list of stories I've written so far. (All two of them!)
Rio now has a Yahoo Group for those who want to discuss her or post art of what they think she might look like. All opinions welcome whether pro or con. Please visit http://groups.yahoo.com/group/rio_angele and let me know what you think. I WILL BE ISSUING A FUN CHALLENGE FOR ALL MEMBERS ONCE THERE ARE ENOUGH OF US. (More than 2 would be nice.)
As always, I know nothing about the WWE superstars that appear in this story. The personalities used here are purely fiction and not meant in any way to represent the true natures of the individuals. And, as always, apologies to Shannon Moore (just in case he or anyone he knows ever reads this) for writing his character as so aggressively possessive. (I can't help it. I find that kind of hero attractive. *Wink*)
--------------------------------------
Shannon and Matt stepped through the door of Shannon's house the next day weary from their trip. The younger man was anxious to get home and reassure himself that Tara hadn't taken off again. He laid his keys on the kitchen table and headed upstairs with Matt on his heels. They found Tara asleep in Shannon's bed wrapped in one of his sweatshirts. It was too big for the petite fighter and made her look even younger.
"Tha's cute," Matt whispered ducking Shannon's slap.
"Nice," Tara yawned. "I can't even take a nap in peace."
"Sorry, baby," Shannon smiled plopping down on the bed beside her.
She'd apparently abandoned all hope for rest, sitting up and crawling into his lap for a kiss. "Miss me?"
"Mo' than ya kno'," he said as he nuzzled her ear.
"Still here," Matt called from behind him waving furiously. Shannon playfully scowled while Tara laughed up at him.
"Justin stopped by yesterday," she said with a serious expression.
Shannon stopped nipping at her neck and looked down at her. He wasn't sure how to take that bit of news, as the two guardians hadn't been physically in the picture before. But he knew that Tara thought of them as her family and any objections Shannon raised would be met with adversity. He also figured the two men would never let her go completely since they'd put so much time and effort into saving her.
"'E wantcha t' go back withim?" Shannon asked softly cringing inwardly.
"No," she said raising an eyebrow. "Why? Are you tired of me already?"
"Neva," he said steadfastly. "I jus' wondered why 'e came."
Matt sat down beside them quietly lending his friend support.
"He came by because he was concerned about my state of mind," she clarified. "He wanted to make sure I knew that my place in the family wasn't hinged on my success as a fighter."
"'E thought ya didn' kno' that?" Matt asked curiously.
"Todd called me and said that the two 'Dads' chewed him out for feeling like he'd let them down if he failed," she said turning to gaze at the older Hardy. "When he told them that I probably felt the same way, being as he and I both grew up as unwanted kids, Justin hit the roof and immediately made a beeline over here."
"I knew ya 'ad a rough chil'hood," Shannon sighed. "Bu' I didn' kno' 'ow bad ya felt."
"We can't choose how we're raised, Shannon," she said to him sadly. "We can only keep trying to improve ourselves as we go along."
"Well, yo' definitely wan'ed NOW," Matt said with conviction. She smiled at him and nodded.
"Yeah, that's what Justin said," she confided. "He also told me to call him 'Dad' from now on." She grinned, "I wonder how Sven will take being called 'Mom'."
All three started laughing at once.
"Anyway," she went on looking back at Shannon who started frowning as he anticipated her next statement. "Todd also wanted to ask me to come over today when you got home. We haven't seen each other in a while and we need to discuss strategy for Sunday's show."
"'E's gonna be there, too?"
"I told you I would have backup," she said matching his frown.
"I meant me," he said dully.
"I know you did," she said. "And you'll be there, too. But he knows how the Series operates as well as I do and he has the right to get his hands on Henry, too."
"So ya wanna go ova there now then?" Shannon sighed with resignation.
"What's the matter?" she asked innocently. "Don't you want to meet the parents?"
Shannon thought of the popular movie by that name and sighed again.
--------------------------------------
Tara hummed happily as they made their way to Justin and Sven's room. The ride to the hotel hadn't been long and she was actually looking forward to introducing her boyfriend to her family. Matt had insisted on coming along even offering to drive, but she didn't mind, knowing that he and Todd were going to get along famously. She reached the door and turned to look back at her gloomy companions. Their expressions were priceless. She turned back to the door and reached up to rap her knuckle against it but it opened before she could knock. Todd stood grinning down at her.
"There you are," he laughed picking her up and dragging her into the room. The two bemused figures followed glaring after them. Tara laughed at them over Todd's shoulder.
"You'll have to get used to my brother's exuberance," she said.
"I thought I was yo' brotha," Matt whined.
"You're LIKE a brother," Todd explained setting her down. "I really am her brother."
"I knew 'er first," Matt said grumpily.
"I know her best," Todd answered triumphantly. "Besides, you wouldn't have her back if it wasn't for me."
"Yeah," Tara glowered, a small smile ruining the effect. "Don't think I've forgotten that."
"In that case, lemme shake yo' hand," Shannon said to Todd with a smile of his own.
"Small one," Justin said embracing her from behind.
"Hi, Dad!" she reached up and kissed his cheek. "Mom!" She grinned at Sven who mockingly glared at her before pulling her away from Justin and locking her into a bear hug.
"How is my little sweet one?"
"I'm fine," she laughed hugging him back fiercely then pulling away to walk back to her boyfriend. "I'd like you to officially meet Shannon and Matt."
Justin and Sven eyed the smaller blonde man critically. He stood his ground staring at them right back.
"Do you still treat my daughter like a dog?" Sven asked finally.
"What?" barked Justin.
"He knows to what I refer, my heart," the blonde man said not taking his eyes off Shannon.
"She's still mine, if tha's whatcha mean," Shannon growled. "Bu' I treater like a princess."
"Yeah," Tara groused. "Just like Rapunzel."
Sven grinned widely. "He would not feel he would have to do that if you did not have the talent to attract so much trouble."
Tara's jaw dropped and she assumed her most betrayed expression. "ME?!" she exclaimed. "This all started with me getting HIM out of trouble, I'd like to remind you. NOT the other way around."
"Hey look at it this way," Todd said helpfully. "If you didn't get into so much trouble you and I wouldn't have met."
"Again, not my fault," she pointed out miffed beyond belief.
"True," Matt said pulling her in front of him. "Most o' this can be traced back ta Jeff."
"I fo'got about 'im," Shannon said clearly irritated. "Remin' me beat 'im fo' gittin' 'er back inta th' game."
"Done," Matt nodded, holding onto Tara jealously and watching Todd who grinned in amusement.
"If I wanted to take her from you I could, Hardy Boy," he taunted Matt who smirked back.
"Maybe, bu' she'd kick yo' ass fo' it."
"So sure of that, huh?"
"Positive."
Tara said nothing, merely glaring at both of them ominously, debating which she should smack first. Deciding to let them play cavemen on their own she pulled free and jumped into Sven's arms to hug him again.
"You have missed me as much as I have missed you then?"
"Always," she said snuggling into his lap. She noticed Shannon spearing her with an annoyed look from where he stood near Todd and Matt. Justin was approaching him slowly and Tara hoped things went well.
"Do not worry," Sven said reassuringly. "He will do nothing to harm Shannon. He respects him."
"He does?" she asked looking up at the blonde man in surprise.
"He does," Sven said again. "He has much respect for anyone who can get you out of the silver paint. He only wishes it could have been done sooner."
"I wasn't ready then," she said looking down.
"I understand," Sven said quietly. "You are ready now though, right?"
Tara suddenly got the feeling they were talking about something other than the Warrior Series and looked up in confusion. Sven merely smiled and waited patiently. Finally she knew she would not be getting out of this conversation.
"You really won't take no for an answer this time, will you."
"I will not," he said gently. "I believe this talk has been long overdue."
Tara nodded and looked down, gathering her nerves.
--------------------------------------
"Why do not we go for a walk," Justin said to the young man watching him carefully. Although he tried not to be so intimidating he could see from Shannon's expression that he was far from successful.
"Yo' no' gonna kill me, are ya?" he asked tentatively.
"Tara would never forgive me," Justin said with a smile. Shannon stared at him for a bit before nodding.
"We'll be right back, baby," he called over to Tara before following Justin to the door.
--------------------------------------
"Hey, can you take me for a ride?" Todd suddenly asked Matt.
"Huh?" he replied in confusion. First the red headed man was taunting him now he was asking for a ride? "Come again?"
"Mom wants to spend some quality time alone with his daughter," Todd said in a low voice. "And Dad wants to spend some quality time alone with Tara's boyfriend. That leaves us two brothers to get lost. I figured we could use the time constructively and hit a sporting goods store. I have my Fury costume but I need elbow and knee pads."
Matt looked the other man over warily.
"I'm not going to do anything," Todd laughed. "Tara would go all Rio on me if I did. I know she loves you like a brother."
"She says I'm as much 'er brotha as you are."
"Okay," Todd said. "I can accept that. But she and I are both their kids. Top that."
"Le's go," Matt laughed and held up his car keys.
--------------------------------------
"Alone at last," Sven said.
"Why does everyone like to say that to me?" she pouted back at him.
"Perhaps because you prefer an air of mystery," he ventured setting her beside him and pondering how to begin. "I wish to know more of your past."
"I know."
"Will you allow me?"
She nodded mutely looking down just as Todd did the day before.
"You have nothing of which to feel ashamed," Sven said softly. She shrugged in response. He decided to begin slowly with a subject they'd discussed briefly off and on when she first came to live with him. "It must have been hard to be the one to decide to turn off Ben's machines."
Tara's eyes immediately began to tear but she held her head up this time. "It was," she whispered. "Especially since his parents decided he wasn't a part of their family anymore and I was all he had."
"He did not consider himself unlucky, I believe," Sven said gently.
"No," she replied. "He always told me how lucky he was to have me. But look how that turned out, right?"
"Those are the old fears again," he chided her. "You cannot take the blame for everything. Your father has told you we will change that about you, has he not?" She nodded looking away. "We will if it takes forever, sweet one. Whether you were with him for a year or a lifetime, he felt lucky to have found you. You gave his life purpose. His parents' opinions do not matter. He told you so himself." Again she nodded. He waited for her to continue.
"I grew up in foster homes, as you know," she looked at him for confirmation and it was his turn to nod. "I figured you checked my files at some point."
"The day after you met Justin for the first time, in fact."
"The next day?" she asked incredulously. Again he nodded. "Why?"
"Justin was very distracted after the incident," he confided. "I wanted to know why. When I found out, I knew."
"Knew what?"
"Knew he would not rest until he was sure you would be all right."
"How did you know that?"
"When it comes to your father, I rely on my instincts," he said, revealing to her, for the first time, the beginning of his relationship with the dark haired man. "I did not know him well yet but I knew he was a good man underneath and that he wanted to have a family to call his own."
She watched him apparently fascinated with his revelation.
"When I found out about you," he went on, "I knew I had to keep pestering him until he agreed to retrieve you. I had been keeping tabs on you for a while after the funeral and knew you were deteriorating quickly. I figured we had not much time to save you. I wanted to help him build that family with me."
"You came back for me intentionally?" she asked in wonder. "It wasn't a coincidence?"
"I knew you were meant to become my daughter," he said stroking her arm. "I knew he was meant to become your father. It simply was inevitable."
"But what about Shannon," she said a frown marring her brow. "What if I bring bad luck down on him, too? I couldn't bear to lose him. And I feel so guilty for loving again so soon after Ben."
"Ben died almost two years ago," Sven pointed out. "He would not want you to stop living. I already told you that. As for Shannon, he would be very upset to hear you say these things. He is an adult and can make his own decisions. He has chosen you."
"But Ben chose me and he died because of it."
"He died to protect what he loved. Any man would do the same. Do not be so afraid of the world that you stop living, sweet one. It is a lonely place without the one you love."
She nodded and looked down thoughtfully. "How did I get so lucky to have you and Justin adopt me?"
"Do not feel so lucky yet," Sven smiled playfully. "I have not even begun to discuss this new nickname you have for me."
************************************
PLEASE NOTE: Rio now has a Yahoo Group for those who want to discuss her or post art of what they think she might look like. All opinions welcome whether pro or con. Please visit http://groups.yahoo.com/group/rio_angele and let me know what you think. I WILL BE ISSUING A FUN CHALLENGE FOR ALL MEMBERS ONCE THERE ARE ENOUGH OF US. (More than 2 would be nice.)
I've started putting up chapters to Rio's beginnings. It's called "One Journey Ends" and is in the Original Fiction section under General Fiction. As with this story, I've rated it R for violence and disturbing content. You can also access it by clicking on my author name and choosing it from the list of stories I've written so far. (All two of them!)
************************************