Title: Solving Problems (23/23)
Rating: We'll go for a nice safe R, M in parlance
Content: mentions of domestic violence, drug use, swearing, sex
Disclaimer: Don't own any of the characters mentioned herein, except for Laura, no offence meant.
Summary: Laura hasn't been around the wrestlers of the WWE for a while. When she returns, things have changed, schisms have formed, and all is not well. Can she sort things out?
A/N: The End! How exciting, and thanks to everyone for the reviews and support throughout. What started off as a bit of fun has turned into a massive learning curve for me, and I appreciate the sentiments, criticisms and compliments!
Laura was allowed home the next day. She wasn't sure what to do, or where to go. Randy's parents had offered her somewhere to stay, if she needed time to think about what was happening, but she thought that it was probably best if she went back to Randy's house, at least for now. She wanted to show some trust in him, to show that she was willing to forgive him.
Perdita was a needy baby, waking up every hour, in constant need of attention. It was as if she could feel the bad vibes and uncomfortable atmosphere between her parents. Laura did all she could for the child, and was somewhat heartened to have Randy helping her, supporting her throughout. This was how they'd always said it would be, but Laura couldn't help but question Randy's motives: was he doing this through guilt, or a genuine desire to get involved as much as possible? It scared Laura that she could be so suspicious of her lover, but after what had happened, she was scared to trust him again.
They finally got a couple of hours to sit and talk, when Randy's mom took the baby for a while. Despite everything that had happened with her son, Elaine was still a doting grandma, and Laura relied on her experience and support. Elaine could see the strain that the situation was putting her son and Laura under, and just wanted to help smooth things over. By giving them some time alone, she hoped that they could sort things out.
They sat in the garden, too much of a distance still between them. Laura was the first to speak.
"I don't understand what happened with us."
Randy sighed, he hardly understood himself, "I got scared."
"You don't think I was scared too?"
"I was just thinking about myself. About how I couldn't be a good dad, about how I felt trapped, about how I react to stuff… I just let things get on top of me and I ended up convincing myself that you'd be better off without me, that the baby would be fucked up if it had me for a father, and you'd both be better off without me in your lives."
"Why didn't you tell me?"
"How could I?" Randy looked at Laura, willing her to understand but fully accepting that she may not. "How could I say those words to you and hurt you like that? I never stopped loving you, and I never wanted you to be hurt."
"What the hell did you think just cutting all contact with me was gonna do? You don't think I was fucking devastated? I was imagining all sorts of shit, I thought it was something I'd done… I thought you hated me for trapping you or something,"
"I wasn't thinking straight. I know now… I know." Randy attempted to take Laura's hand, but she moved away from him a little.
"I'm trying to understand you Randy… it's difficult, but I am trying. You were scared… I just wish you'd have talked to me about it. Fuck, Randy we could have worked all this out before… we could have talked about it. I'm not saying we could have worked things out, but we could have had a go… it didn't need to come to this."
"I know. Laura, I know that I fucked up, I made mistakes, and I'm just begging that you'll forgive me and let us get over this."
"I do forgive you… this was never about forgiveness Randy, I love you and I'm just happy to have you back… it's about understanding and working out where we go from here." There was a weariness in Laura's voice, a distance and despair that broke Randy's heart.
"Let me prove to you that I'm sorry, that I'll never do this again… marry me." He hadn't planned a proposal, but it seemed like the right thing to do. It felt like the right thing too.
"I wish solving this was as simple as that Randy." Her heart had leapt a little at the proposal, but she knew it was for all the wrong reasons. "I can't marry you, not now. Not for these reasons."
"So what do I have to do to get you to understand how I feel about you?"
She sighed, "give me time. I need to learn to trust you again. Just be the best dad to Perdita that you can be; you don't have to be the perfect dad, but love her, don't resent her, and I think I can start trusting you again. I don't think you realise quite how reliant I am on you."
She did understand him, that much was clear now. She'd read into his words, and discovered the secret he was reluctant to admit even to himself. He had resented the baby. At first, the idea of having a child was great, but as the time got closer Randy had realised the changes that would take place, the fact that he would have to share Laura with the child, and he had reacted badly. All of his other insecurities and fears had masked this real feeling.
"You know me better than I know myself." He said the words with no bitterness, just contrition. "I don't resent her any more. I did, I was reluctant to share you, but it's not about that, is it? It's about you and me loving and protecting her. And I will, I promise I will."
"I know." Laura finally allowed Randy to embrace her, to hold her tightly, "I know."
Laura had long since given up on a fairytale ending, she knew they only happened in the books she read. This, it was as close as she was ever going to get. They both had issues to work through, and a child to raise, but they'd dealt with so many problems to get this far, she felt like they were in a better position to deal with whatever life threw at them.
A/N: I'm guessing some people won't like the ending. Sorry, but I don't really do happy ever after. I do like to leave a little bit of hope though… I highly doubt there will ever be a sequel, but you never know.