4

The taxi pulled up in front of an old looking, but equally large building. "Here you go, Honey. Grand Central." She rattled off the amount for the ride.

Dottie handed the woman a two twenty dollar bills, twenty for the ride and twenty for the tip because she was nice and kept calling her Honey.

"Have a nice trip." The nice woman said.

Dottie walked down the stairs that would lead into the main area of Grand Central. Like a lot of the movies and television shows that used Grand Central Station as a backdrop, it was big and open like a stadium with less people than at the pay-per-view. The early morning commuters were less in numbers probably because no one wanted to wake up at an ungoshly hour to take a train out of the city.

She stepped up to the ticket counter after waiting in line. She had reserved a one way ticket and was going to pick it up.

As the ticket person handed it over to her when she paid Dottie looked at the strange numbers. "I've never been here before. Where do I go, ma'am?"

"Your gate is through that way." She pointed in a certain direction. "If you get lost there are staff members with badges like mine that will help you out."

"Okay, thank you." She smiled at the woman.

Finding a platform in this place was hard, she got lost several times as the numbers seemed to have no system to them. Not only that but more people were showing up. She did find a Grand Central employer and asked for directions. He was kind enough to walk her to the platform where her train would come in at. It was a day trip so she didn't have to get her bag packed away in an undercarriage.

People waited for her train as well, one of which was a man and a woman who were holding hands. She was a black woman and he was a white man, tall kind of like Drew. They were being watched by an older white man nearby as the boyfriend kissed the top of the woman's head. The woman giggled as she wrapped an arm around his waist.

"That's disgusting." She heard the older man say. "People like that ought not to do that." He had a southern accent but she couldn't tell from where. He didn't keep his voice down when he said that.

"Don't listen to him, Babe." The tall man said as he looked at the woman.

The old man looked at her. "Don't you agree, little lady? Someone as different as them two shouldn't be together."

"I don't…" she looked at the couple. "I'm okay with it. She's pretty."

"Oh, thank you." The woman smiled at Dottie.

"It's wrong, it's an abomination…" The old said.

"Hey, I know you. You're Finn Balor's new girlfriend." The tall man of the couple said. "Hey, look. She's just like my brother, Becca."

The two of them walked up to her. She could feel the heat in her face as both man and woman smiled at her. Dottie did a wincing smile, the best she could do because they were strangers and anything could happen.

"I think it's cool that you're different. Just like my brother." The tall guy said with a smile on his face. "He heard about you and finally asked the girl from school out that he's liked for a while."

"So where is Mr. Balor? Is he here?" The woman asked.

"He's not coming with me. I'm going home to Buffalo."

"I thought you worked with the WWE."

"I'm," she hadn't thought about that. She was too wrapped up in her own distress of wanting to give Fergal a better chance at a normal relationship, one where he didn't have to worry about her all the time. She needed to clear out of her contract with the WWE. "I'm not doing good."

"Why? If you don't mind me asking." The man asked.

"I screw everything up." She shrugged as she looked away from the couple.

"Nah, not all the time." She jumped at Jon's voice. "Running away wasn't the best option though."

"How did you find me?" She looked at him.

"A little birdie named Dolph Ziggler caught you searching commuter trains. He was intrigued because you obviously hate your phone. Come on," he nodded his head.

"I'm going home."

"If it's back to Fergal's place, sure. But you're not going to get away from me." He said.

She stayed in her spot, hands gripping the handle of her red and black suitcase. She looked away from him. The couple had stepped back, letting Jon take care of Dottie.

"Okay, let's try this. Where are you going?"

"Back to Buffalo."

"To that whack job of a mother? Or to that Facility place?"

"She was right. I can't,"

"I used to think like that a lot." Jon finished. "I can't be the man Renee needs. She would be better off if we'd never got together. I always screwed up on my last relationships, so how could this be no different?"

Dottie looked at him from the side of her vision. What was he talking about?

"I used to do drugs, smoke, I was still smoking when I was called up to the main roster. But Renee, I enjoyed her company. She was funny, respectful. She became the one that was the social butterfly while I just wanted to be left alone. Wrestling was a sport that I loved, I enjoy it and the acting. But I love Renee as much as all of that."

Dottie was taking deep breaths, trying to do that breathing exercise that Ms. Kaitlin had taught her to do.

"But the secret to all of it is, everyone doubts their relationship once in a while. Hey, do yuou guys mind if I bring you in on this?" He looked at the nearby couple. "She's doubting she's good enough for her man."

"I felt like that, you know. Becca and I, well for obvious reasons our skin color. Also I'm from an upper class family."

"I'm not." The woman shrugged. "You could call me ghetto."

"What's that?"

"Poor people, less money, Honey." Becca said. "I didn't have a lot of money."

"I didn't either, I was in a Cincinatti Project housing growing up. Renee was better off than me. I was the screw up, she was the successful one." Jon said. "Renee didn't care."

"But I embarrassed Fergal." She looked at Jon.

"Did he ever tell you that? And before you say the same thing about your sister, I don't think she gives a damn what other people think. You're her big sister, you care about her right?"

"Yeah, a lot. When I was sent away she was always the one to come by for a visit."

"See, that's true love. How do you think she'll feel if you just up and left everything behind because you believe every dipshit thing your mother said? Now flip that around. Fergal cares about you a lot. I've heard the things that he did just to get back in your good graces. Did he leave, or get upset when you were afraid of him at that one time. He stuck up for you and your sister when his ex tried to get your sister fired. What would you have done if that did happen?"

"Cait's the reason I even have this job. Without her, I probably would never have met Fergal."

"Precisely. And he's stuck around. He didn't give up on you, didn't believe some false prophet mumbo jumbo about you never being normal. He's given you as normal as possible, and seeing you two together actually is sickening."

"Why? What's wrong with that?"

"I haven't been back in a long time, Darlin' Dot, but the time I have been around if he sees you, he's got this dopey ass smile on his face as he watches you, or even talks about you. It's rather sickening to say the least."

"I still feel like I'll just screw up. All I'm good at is running away and being a dainty needy woman who needs a man…"

"Who needs a man that cares deeply about her. Who respects her enough to be there for her through thick and thin. Honey, from the sounds of it, he's almost husband material right there. The only thing stopping it is yourself." Becca said. "Finn Balor is for everyone, but I have a feeling Fergal is just for you."

She doubted herself one too many times, listened to diagnosis of her mother and the doctors who said she would never be normal enough to have a normal life. If having a boyfriend was normal, and what Jon had said about Fergal sticking with her through the thick and thin of it all, even when she had gone mute all those times, he was worth the effort to keep.

Dottie turned around and headed back in the direction she came from, pulling her suitcase behind her. She'll have to call a cab again, forgo the train ticket but that was okay. She needed to apologize to Fergal.

"You also forgot something about yourself, Dottie." Jon said as he strolled up beside her.

"What?"

"Ordering a ticket, catching a cab, managing to find your train platform. You did that all on your own with no one's help. For all anyone could tell, you were taking a business trip." Jon said.

She did didn't she? She did all of that on her own, planned it all out for what, having an epiphany about her relationship with Fergal that if he was willing to fight for her then she would have to work on things about herself. She did care about Fergal, but she knew she would need her sister and her friends.

"Why did you follow me? Why didn't you bring Fergal or anyone else with you?"

"I figured since I screwed up twice already with you, I may as well redeem myself. Also I was in your shoes with Renee multiple times before I realized that she was the one that I cared for deeply and was willing to give up things about my old self so that both she and I could be happy together."

Jon Good may have been good after all.

They got to the main part of Grand Central Station, near the center of the busy hub. Dottie looked around and easily spotted Drew's head above other commuters. But she didn't see Fergal. Maybe he was mad at her, for running away like.

"Oh My God, Dottie!" Yelled the loudest Irish accent that bounced off the stone walls around them.

Dottie only turned to the side to look before hands were cupping her face and a pair of lips was covering hers. Blindsided by the act, and the force that Fergal exuded just to get to her, Dottie almost lost balance as her hands were stuck between her and Fergal's extremely hard chest.

When Fergal pulled back, though his hands still gripped her, he had tears rolling down his hands face. His eyes red, his face a bright pink color.

"You scared the bloody hell out of me, Dottie. Why did you leave? Did I do something?" He asked in one breath.

"You always do the right things but I seem to be the one screwing up." She said, her eyes locked on his. "I thought I embarrassed you with my meltdown yesterday. I thought you deserved better than the dainty clingy girl that I seem to be."

"Small yes, the perfect size for me. Clingy, well only when you're scared. You know you can come to me if you're ever having problems. Dottie, you've never embarrassed me. You never made me feel angry at you. I care deeply that I will go out of my way to do anything to make you feel better."

"But I don't want you to change because of me."

"I haven't changed much, Dottie. But you're right, there are a few things that I used to do that I no longer do. And sometimes we'll need a break from each other for a night, if that's what you want so we're not always together and clingy. I'll make time for myself."

"Help me understand some things, Fergal. I don't understand why you want to be with me."

"I want to be with you because you are beautiful, you're warm hearted, you think highly of me and all around you're a good person. I never said I didn't want a dainty clingy girl. I've always helped others and in helping you, I found an attraction that was stronger than any I've ever felt before."

"So you don't pity me? For being autistic and socially stupid?"

"No, and you're not stupid. You were smart enough to get yourself here, didn't you?" His thumb rubbed her cheek.

Being fed up with the tear that was hanging out on Fergal's cheek, she reached up and brushed it away with her thumb.

"I made you cry, I made you forget about your matches…"

He kissed her again. Fergal then wrapped his arms around her and drew Dottie closer, if that was even possible. He laced his fingers together behind her back before he pressed his forehead against hers.

"You made me care. You made me worry about something I absolutely care about. I'm not calling it love at the moment but when you left that note saying you weren't good enough for me, it felt like someone stabbed me in the chest. It took our friends, all of our friends, and my parents to calm me down. I thought I lost you, Lovely. I don't want to ever feel like that again."

"It hurts me that you have to take care of me all the time. Like I'm some little kid or something."

"I like helping you. We do things together, more than what my ex ever did. We get along, you actually try to understand some of the things that I like." He snuck in another kiss. "Please Dottie, we have to make this work together. We have to be a team."

"Okay." She half whispered but knew he could hear her.

The rest of their group approached. Her sister, Colby, Renee Fergal's folks, and Drew of course. They were all there to be with her.

"I'm sorry, Cait. I thought I embarrassed you." Dottie said.

"No, you never embarrass me, Sisser." Cait said.

"Really? I don't embarrass you when I freak out over even what seems like the littlest things?"

She shook her head. "No. But I like this role we have. Big sisters are supposed to look out for their younger siblings. Well, I get to do that with you and I love the job. I get to boss other people around and make threats on your behalf." She smiled as she rubbed Dottie's arm. "If you're having any problems you have to talk to someone, Dottie. You can't just leave when something feels off or wrong. Words and actions speak volumes."

Fergal stepped up behind her, wrapped his arms around Dottie and rested the side of his face against the top of her head. Dottie felt him smell her hair. He buried his face into the top of her head, his arms tightened around her.

"I think we all ought to get out of here." Leonie Devitt said. "Come on, Dear, let's get you home."

Leonie was talking about Fergal's home, not her mother or the facility back in Buffalo.


Fergal's parents had to leave on a flight right before that Monday Night Raw. There was a change the moment Dottie back to work.

People looked at her as she walked down the hall. The staff, the superstars, sad faces or smiles. But it was the arm that was wrapped around her shoulders she liked. Fergal was escorting her back to the Barclay Center where Raw was being held right after Summer Slam.

The costume department hadn't changed over the night.

"I have to go get ready, Lovely." Fergal said when he dropped her off. "But I'll be back right quick."

She shook her head. "No. You go hang out with your friends. I think Cait gave me a work load so I won't have to worry about things."

"Are you still worried about us?"

"Yes, but worrying about a relationship is common, normal. If Jon can accomplish what he has with Renee then I think I can work as your partner."

"Oh, Lovely." He kissed her. "I'll have my cellular on me if you need to get a hold of me."

She smiled when she watched him leave. Cait chuckled.

"You lied to him." Her sister said.

"I told a half truth. I won't be able to concentrate on work if he's hovering. I don't want him to think I'm clingy and I don't want him to ignore his friends. Kevin Owens you know, those kinds of people that are his friends before I came around. He shouldn't have to ignore his friends because of me."

"You'll work on this, Dottie. You'll get it down."

"Do you know if you and Colby are going to work out?"

"At the moment, no. But if you can be strong for your man then I can be strong and work with Colby. Look, I have to go find some of the women superstars for new designs."

So she was left alone. She found some clothes that needed mending and went to work on it.

The show went on, which she watched for the most part when she wasn't sewing something. One of the staff members needed a button sewed on his shirt, another needed to shorten his pants. She had some work as she waited for Fergal's part in the show.

But that match turned something she didn't like.

Wrestling will forever confuse her. Why did they have to always push Fergal and then pull it out from under him?

"It's just a show, Dottie. He's performing for entertainment, that's what the E in WWE stands for." Cait said.

"Having a hard time with this?" Drew asked. "They did the same as me when I was here last. It's a business."

Dottie stood with her arms crossed. She'd been out in the catering area where there was a television. She watched Fergal lose his chance at another title again.

She wiped her eyes as she watched Braun Strowman begin to face off with Roman, only to see Colby in his Seth Rollins persona with Jon Good in his Dean Ambrose persona take on Braun for a Shield Reunion.

"Hi." Dottie jumped when Fergal's voice sounded in her left ear.

Spinning around she looked at him. Then she wrapped her arms around him and pulled him to her.

"No, no. Nope, no." He pulled her back "No, you're not going to get upset over something like this. I told you once already, it isn't about the title for me. I'll get a chance again, but they wanted to bring the Shield back."

"I want you to win something." Her lower lip quivered.

He put his hands on either side of her face, supporting the back of her neck. "I already won what I wanted." His thumbs rubbed at her cheeks, his eyes looking directly into her eyes.

Then he kissed Dottie with everyone looking on.


A little bit longer than I had anticipated but the last part was actually the first thing I wrote and had to work backwards to get it right for you guys. So I hope you liked it and I'll be back with another Dottie story in maybe a week. Until then, thank you for reading my stories.