Yes,Iam finally able to update. The chapter has been done for two days, but fanfic was having a bit of a temper trantrum, but everything is good.Anyway, on with the show...
"Yes I do, and I will have him give you a call."
"Thank you, Mr. McMahon for everything. I really appreciate it."
"You're welcome," he said as he hugged Annalise and saw her out of his office. So many thoughts were going through her head like a raging rapid. Why was Jacob at her apartment? Why would he want the child if he didn't want to be with her? So many unanswered questions, but one scared her the most; how was Dave going to react when he heard the news. Annalise didn't remember walking the halls backstage, but found herself in front of Evolution's locker room. Anna tried to compose herself the best she could but she knew that Dave would see right through her. There was nothing else she could do but knock on the door.
"Hey Randy, is Dave here?" She asked, her voice shaking.
"No, but you better come in and sit down, you look like you are going to pass out," Randy said as he guided her to the couch.
"It's just that everything was going great. I mean, Dave and I are getting married. I'm going to have a baby. I have the job of my dreams, and just when I had forgotten about Jacob, he comes back into the picture."
"I don't understand, is he here, because if you want me to kick his ass, I will," Orton said as he brought Anna a bottle of water.
"You know, you can be really sweet sometimes, Orton," she said, finally cracking a smile. "No he's not here, and I hope for his sake he doesn't come around because I am scared of what Dave will do to him when he finds out."
"What will I do to who when I find out what," Dave asked. He quickly made his way over to Anna's side when he noticed that something was bothering her. "What's going on kid? It's all over you face."
"Mr. McMahon called me into his office. I thought that he was going to say something about our relationship. Thank you for taking his advice. Anyway, he asked me if I knew a Jacob Taylor and I said yes."
"Who is Jacob Taylor," Batista asked, trying to process all of this information.
"He is my ex-finance and the baby's father," Annalise said. Dave just nodded. "Anyway, Vince said that Jacob's lawyers were trying to get in touch with me but since they couldn't get a hold of me, he went straight to Vince. Anyway, Jacob is fighting for custody of the baby." Annalise couldn't hold her fears in any longer. She knew that her constant traveling would not look good to a judge, but he left her cheated on her. Suddenly Annalise felt the strong loving arms of Dave Batista wrap around her fragile body and spirit and let the tears fall.
"If Jacob gets the baby, I don't know what I will do," Annalise said as she sobbed.
"It's ok kid. Everything is going to work out just fine. Sure you travel a lot, but maybe there is another position within the company that doesn't involve a lot of traveling; and I'm sure that Jacob's cheating on you doesn't look good for him, now does it. Let's talk with the lawyer and see what happens after that," Dave said as he held her chin in his hands. As Anna looked into Dave's eyes, she knew that everything would be okay, that Dave would make sure that everything would be ok.
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Since Vince gave both Dave and Annalise the week off, they met with the lawyer that Vince had gotten for them. As the pair sat in the lawyer's office waiting for him to return from a meeting, Dave couldn't help but notice that Annalise was having a hard time believing that everything was going to work out.
"Anna, what are you worried about," he asked.
"Gee, Dave where do I begin. That my ex who cheated on me will take my baby away from me; that I am going to be portrayed as some slut who went for the next available guy; that people will think that I didn't care enough about my child's well being to try and work things out with Jacob. Is that enough for you?"
"Ok, you made your point, but let's just wait and see what the lawyer has to say first, shall we?"
"I guess you're right," Anna said as Dave lightly kissed her cheek. Just then, the lawyer entered the office.
"Ms. Howard, Mr. Batista, my name is Joseph Stevens. Mr. McMahon has asked me to represent you in this custody case," he said as he shook hands with the pair. "I have been in contact with Mr. Taylor's legal team and I am not going to hold anything back, he is looking for a fight." Annalise could not believe what she was hearing. Jacob had a legal team and was going out for blood. This was not good.
"What do you mean a legal team," Dave asked.
"Mr. Taylor has retained a team of very high profiled lawyers who specialize in family law. They are already looking into your work schedule Ms. Howard, as well as your past."
"Dave and I have already discussed my cutting back on travel, maybe even finding another position in the WWE, as for my past, I have not been arrested, done drugs, or anything like that in my life."
"That is good to know. There is a court date set for a month from today. It seems that Mr. Taylor is eager to get things settled, and I am sure that you feel the same way."
"Yes sir. Whatever it takes," Annalise said. It was the first time in days that she felt confident that everything was going to be fine.
"Now, I need to know as must background information about your relationship with Mr. Taylor and the time leading up to you finding out the you were pregnant," Mr. Taylor said.
"Ok," Annalise began. "Jacob and I met in high school. We both went private schools in the suburbs. I was on a scholarship, while Jake's family came from money. I knew him through friends and volunteer work that we did. I never knew that he wanted to work in the physical therapy field until freshman orientation at Delaware. I felt someone tap me on the shoulder. I turned around and there he was. It was comforting to see a familiar face in the middle of thousands of strangers. One thing led to another and we started dating. Everyone knew that we were going to get married after graduation, it was just a matter of when."
Dave could see the joy on Anna's face as she remembered her relationship with Jacob. It seemed that the two of them had everything going for them. But soon that joy faded from her face.
"After graduation, we both got good jobs. I worked at a local gym as a trainer, while he worked at a rehab center, mostly working with pro athletes. So there was a lot of pressure for him to get them into shape quickly. I have been a wrestling fan since I can remember; my dad and I would watch every Saturday morning. It was my dream to work for the WWE. I always thought maybe someday, but it didn't drive my every action. I guess Jake thought otherwise." Annalise paused, knowing that she was coming to the worse part of the story.
"I noticed that I hadn't been feeling well. I just past it off as being tired or some bug that I had picked up at the gym; but something told me to take a pregnancy test, so I did, and it was positive." Annalise felt the tears fall from her eyes but she didn't care. She absently wiped her face as she continued with the story.
"So, just to make sure, I went to my doctor and had a blood test, and sure enough I really was pregnant. I was shocked at first. I mean I wanted children, Jacob and I had talked about having a family, but I always thought that the bridal shower would come before the baby shower. I rushed to his house to make a special dinner for Jake and think of a fun way to tell him about the baby. I had a key so I opened the door and when I turned to put my keys and purse on the coffee table, I noticed that Jacob was on the couch, naked and someone was underneath him. I didn't know what to think. He told me it was over, that work was stressing him out, and that I didn't make enough time for him and that was that. He didn't try and stop me as I walked out. I couldn't bring myself to tell him about the baby. If he didn't want anything to do with me, why would he want a child? That afternoon I got a call from the WWE about an opening for a trainer, so I took it. When one door closes, another one opens I guess."
"So you never once thought to tell him about the baby," Mr. Stevens asked.
"No, I didn't. I know that it looks bad, but he said that it was over, and I really don't think that telling him that I was pregnant was going to change his mind."
"Very well," Mr. Stevens said as he jotted down some notes. "When did your relationship with Mr. Batista begin?"
Annalise knew that Mr. Stevens was preparing her for what may happen at a trail, but in the back of her mind she thought that her relationship with Dave was going to jeopardize her chances at keeping her baby.
"Shortly after I began working with the WWE. I know that it seems like I jumped from one relationship to another, but Dave was there and you really can't help who you fall in love with can you?"
"Well Ms. Howard, I don't see why any judge would not grant you sole custody of the child, but we must go to trial. So, I will see the two of you in a month, but if anything changes before then, I will give you a call." Mr. Stevens said as Dave and Anna made their way out of the office.
"Do you really think that I have a good chance of winning?" Anna asked, she had to be sure that everything was in good shape before she left the office.
"Ms. Howard, Anna I have been involved in a lot of custody cases, most of them not as simple as this. Ms. Howard, Jacob committed adultery. What woman should have to raise a child in that environment? Most women would have left, just as you did. I do not know the reason that Mr. Taylor has decided to go to court, but he did not think this through."
"Thank you Mr. Stevens, that's what I needed to hear," Annalise said as she hugged the lawyer and left with Dave, hoping to make it through the next month without go in crazy with fear.
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1 Month Later
With the constant support of Dave, randy, Triple H, Ric and the rest of the WWE family, Annalise made it to the trial date in one peace. There were days when she would cry over what may happen, but there was always a shoulder to cry on, mostly Dave's, or a kind word to be said whenever she need a boost of confidence. Vince was gracious enough to give Dave and the rest of the member so Evolution a long weekend so that they could be with Anna and Dave at the trial. It was the least that he could do. Anna was a breath of fresh air backstage; she got along well with all of the superstars and was a consummate professional. He thought of her as a daughter, and did not want to think of what he would do if Stephanie were in the same situation.
As Dave sat on the bed in the hotel room, getting ready to head to the courthouse, he noticed that Anna had been in the bathroom for a long time. Concerned that she might be in trouble, he walked to the door and as he raised his hand to knock, he heard Anna getting sick. He opened the door and knelt next to her, gently massaging her back.
"Kid, it's going to be ok. No need to make to yourself sick over this," Dave said as he brushed the hair out of her face.
"I guess I'm just nervous about the whole trial thing and seeing Jacob again. I'll be my old self once this is over," Anna said as she started to stand. Dave saw that she was unsteady on her feet, so he helped her up and into the bedroom.
"You know, this whole getting up and down thing was a lot easier when I could see my feet," Anna said with a chuckle.
"Well, you'll be able to see your feet again in a little while, and have a cute baby to look at too," Dave replied.
"I hope you right," she said as she looked at herself in the mirror one last time, grabbed her purse and walked out the door, not knowing what the next few hours where going to bring.
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The cliffhanger has made its return. I had to stop there or else I would have written a novel. Tell me what you think. Ideas, thoughts, concerns, cure for the common cold, anything that is on your mind. Hit the button!
