Chapter Five

"Where do I start?" Molly asked as they made themselves comfortable on the living room sofa. Still reeling from John's kiss, she wasn't quite sure where to begin. John threw one arm across the back of the sofe, using that hand to prop his head up, while he moved the rest of his body to face Molly.

"How about Izik?" Molly nodded her head, knowing that that was what he was really interested in. She took a deep breath.

"I was eighteen when I met Izik's father. We went to the same college, had several classes together." John watched her silently, encouraging her to continue. "One day, Andrew and I were paired up to help out a local elementary school with their annual play." A smile played around the corners of her mouth. "He was so handsome: Tall, blonde hair, green eyes. Every girl's dream. Anyway, the longer we worked together, the closer we got, until before I realized it, we were dating." Molly took another deep breath, knowing how hard it was going to be for her to tell the next part.

"We'd been together about 2 months when he started pushing me to have sex with him. Oh, we'd said, "I Love You" and all that, but I'd always been told to save myself for my husband. I told Andrew this, but he just kept insisting that if I loved him, I would sleep with him." John reached over and took her hand, holding it tightly in his. She drew strength from the small gesture and continued. "I walked in on him and another girl from our class. There they were, in MY apartment, having sex in MY bed." She laughed, humorlessly. "I yelled and screamed at him and all he could say was, "You drove me to it". Over and over again." She shook her head. "That's what amazed me. I knew right then, that I had to break things off, completely. Not even speak to him as a classmate anymore." John waited, and when nothing else was forthcoming, he tugged lightly on Molly's hand. She looked up, almost as if she were surprised to see him.

"I came home from class one day and there was a bouquet of roses on my front step. I went in the house to put them in water. I'd reached down to grab a crystal vase from under the sink and when I turned around, there he was, larger than life." John frowned at the almost robotic-like quality her voice took on. "He backed me up against the counter, screaming in my face, demanding that I give him another chance. He got violent and hit me a couple of times in the face, then once or twice he kicked me in the stomach after I'd fallen to the floor." So caught up in her story, Molly didn't noticed the look of rage coming into John's eyes. "The next thing I knew, he had my clothes torn off me and was--was raping me." John waited for the tears to come and was surprised at her strength when they didn't. "I fought and screamed, but he just kept hitting me. Finally, I saw the vase I'd dropped lying on the floor next to me. I grabbed it and broke it over his head. While he was out cold, I ran."

Life came back into Molly's face as she continued. "I never told anyone about it, and I hid my bruises pretty well. Andrew called every night, apologizing, saying he'd been doped up on heroin and didn't mean to do it. I ignored him and finally he stopped calling." She leaned her head back against the sofa and sighed. "I couldn't ignore the fact that I'd missed my period, was sick every morning and extremely tired. I was pregnant." The hand that had held John's head, found it's way into Molly's hair, gently pulling at the rubber band that had held it back. "It was so hard to tell my parents and convince them that it wasn't their fault. I refused to tell them the guy's name and it infuriated my father." She let out a soft moan as John's fingers began to work their magic on her scalp. "I knew what the options were, but i just couldn't do them. I decided to keep my baby and start wrestling school as soon as he was born. Andrew and I had talked about wrestling professionally when we were dating, but I figured I'd take it seriously."

"So, that's it? Does Andrew know about his son? Does Izik know about his father?" Molly hesitated. "No, he doesn't. And he's never going to. Izik was told at a very early age since his father and I didn't get along, we didn't see each other. He's never asked anything about him." John started to speak, but stopped as her fingers pressed against his lips.

"My parents were killed in a car accident the day before my 20th birthday. My aunt Nora, Crash, Bob, and my baby are all I have. I'm not about to let him take my child away from me." John sighed and drew Molly to him. Her head resting against his chest, he murmured into her hair. "I'm sorry, Molls. I'm so sorry." She pulled back to look at him and smile.

"You know, you're the only person outside my family, other than Mr. McMahon, who I've told this story to?" She eased up and kissed him softly. "Thank you for listening." John couldn't help but be amazed by her strength and character. He pulled her closer, pressing his lips to hers, exploring the sweet taste of her mouth with his tongue. She whimpered, trying to get closer to him. She scooted across the cushion and crawled into his lap, nestling her curvy bottom against the ridge of his arousal. This time, he groaned and broke the kiss.

"Molly, would it be alright...I mean, would you mind if...aw, hell. Can I spend this vacation with you?" She looked at him in shock. John Cena wanted to spend time with her? What was he trying to pull? She pulled out of his arms and stood, crossing her arms over her chest and pacing to the fireplace.

"I don't need your pity, Cena. I told you the story because you wanted to know, not for sympathy dates." He stood then and walked over to where she stood with her back to him. Whirling her around, he looked straight into her eyes.

"Molly, I've wanted to spend time with you since I brought your bag back this afternoon. Before I even knew there WAS an Izik, or a story." She slowly unfolded her arms, uncertain.

"Really?" John smiled and leaned down, kissing the tip of her nose.

"Really." Molly smiled then, a real smile and once again, John felt his breath taken away by her beauty. He missed the first part of what she said, he was too busy staring at her.

"What?"

Molly laughed and swatted his arm. "Pay attention, you! I said tomorrow I was going to take Izik to an amusement park. Do you want to come with us?" He thought about that. Outside all day, riding rides that would probably make him queasy, listening to screaming kids...and spending time with Izik and Molly. He smiled.

"I wouldn't miss it for the world."

After she saw him out and he had gently kissed her goodnight, Molly almost floated up the stairs to her room. She opened the door to her room, just as aunt Nora's head appeared out of hers.

"Did John leave?" Molly nodded and leaned against the door frame.

"What do you think of him, aunt Nora?" Nora smiled at the woman she had come to think of as her own daughter, after her parents had passed away. She stepped out of her room and quickly crossed the hall, pulling Molly into an embrace.

"I like him very much, sweetpea." She pulled back and searched her niece's eyes. "You told him about Izik's conception?" Molly nodded. "So you also told him about Andrew and how he's...." Molly sighed and rubbed a hand across her face tiredly.

"No, aunt Nora. I don't know that it would cause any friction, but I want to be on the safe side, okay?" Her aunt nodded and went back to her room, closing the door softly behind her. She wasn't one to press her opinion and Molly loved her for it. She went into her own room, swiftly changing into a pair of shorts and a t-shirt. Crawling into bed, she couldn't help but smile as she thought about the next day. Izik would be so thrilled! And if she was telling the truth, she was just as excited as the little boy would be.

John jumped up the front porch steps of Molly's house. He was a little nervous about today. He knew that Izik wouldn't mind, but would Molly have changed hers? Ringing the doorbell, he waited only a couple seconds before if was flung open.

"Hi, John!" John smiled. He had told Izik the night before to call him John and the little boy had been using it nonstop.

"Hi champ! Ready to go ride some rollercoasters?" he nodded excitedly and pulled him into the house. Molly was just coming down the stairs. She looked even better than she had yesterday, the red halter top showing off her well tones arms and the black pants hugging the curves of her hips. She smiled as she looked up, catching the slow grin that spread over John's face.

"Hi."

"Hi."

Izik looked up, his eyes going between the two. His friend Joey had told him that his mom and dad did mushy junk like hold hands and kiss and stare at each other and stuff. Izik wondered if he could convince John to become his dad. His mom and his favorite wrestler already had the staring at each other part down pat. His mother's voice interupted his thoughts.

"Izik, go put your shoes on, babe."

As Izik took off upstairs, Molly continued down, stopping directly in front of John. He reached out, pulling her closer to him and placed a soft kiss on her lips. Molly took it a step further, deepening the kiss until they were both breathless. John pulled away, leaning his forehead against hers. "Now that's a proper, 'Hello' ". Molly laughed and led him into the kitchen, where she got down her vitamins and a glass of water. John leaned against the counter, noting that there was something intimate about watching a woman go through her morning routine, even if it was just taking vitamins. Ah, who am I kidding? John thought. Everything she does makes me think of one particular "intimate" action. He had stayed up late the night before, thinking about Molly long after he should have been asleep. He felt like he didn't want to leave her that night: like he wanted to stay and protect her. He had thought about the petite brunette until the early morning hours, finally falling asleep around dawn. Stifling a yawn he looked over at Molly. She stood, watching him watch her. She laughed when she saw him yawning, but abruptly stopped.

Worrying her lower lip, she asked "Did I keep you too late last night? I have the worst habit of running off at the mouth and I lose all track of time..." She was cut off by John's mouth covering hers in a blantantly sexual kiss. His busy hands ran down her sides and around to tightly grip her bottom. Molly gasped into his mouth. This was the first time in five years she'd felt a man's hands on her body like this and she couldn't get enough. She pulled him tight against her, pressing her breasts into his chest, curling her hands around his upper arms. Her hands gradually found their way to his neck, which she rubbed soothingly. A low groan came from John's mouth and he abruptly lifted Molly off her feet to set her on the countertop. He parted her legs, slipping between her thighs and allowing his erection to brush against her center. Molly gasped at the delicious sensations he was creating deep inside her. He grinded against her slowly, maddeningly, until she thought she'd scream. Suddenly she was aware of a noise just outside of the kitchen. She managed to push John away just as Izik came into the kitchen. He took notice of the two breathless adults and the flush along his mother's cheeks.

"I'm ready to go now Mommy." Molly smiled and hopped off the counter, trying to regain her composure. John stood there a look of frustration on his face. Molly could sympathize: she was every bit as frustrated as he was. Molly gathered her keys and purse as Izik jabbered away to John like they were old friends. She couldn't help but smile as they made their way out the door. Izik rarely talked to people and almost never took to strangers. Guess that must mean John's a good one then. Molly thought to herself. When they got to Molly's car, John interupted her thoughts.

"I thought maybe you'd like for me to drive." he said, walking around to the passenger door of his red Navigator. Molly smiled.

"Thanks John, but Izik's carseat is already in the mustang..." her son interuptted her excitedly.

"But Mommy, I'm five now! I don't have to sit in the carseat anymore." Unexpectedly, tears formed in Molly's eyes at the sudden reminder of her son's age. She bit them back and smiled at the little boy.

"You're right sweetheart." She smiled up at John throught the sheen of tears. "Thanks, John. That'd be great." John took her hand and brought it to his lips, whispering. "You're fantastic." Molly blushed and quickly got into the car.

Izik didn't miss this display of affection. He ponderd on how many times they had to do that stuff before John was his new dad. He was pretty sure they'd been doing that gross "kissing" thing when he'd walked into the kitchen. He decided that the next chance he got, he'd ask his mom about it.