Chapter 73: Meet the Family
The next morning, Lauren awoke in the arms of her future husband. She had almost thought it was dream, until something glistened on her hand. Lauren smiled at the ring, tears almost starting again. She kept them at bay, looking around the room, seeing the beautiful dress that didn't last long when they had arrived.
I'm officially an engaged woman, she thought happily to herself. Feeling Batista's arms around her, made her snuggle back under the blankets. Lauren simply kept gazing at the ring, a reminder of the wonderful night before. However, as Lauren continued to look at it, she realized she had some unfinished business to attend to. Something she would have to do by herself, without her fiancé. She quickly and quietly crept out of Batista's arms and got dressed. After grabbing her purse, phone, and writing a quick note, Lauren was on her way out the door. "I love you," she whispered to the sleeping Animal before closing the door.
A few moments later, Batista woke up, rolled over, and realized that his arms were empty. He sat up and looked around, not seeing her in the room. "Lauren?" he called out, with no answer. "Lauren." Again no answer. Batista got up, threw on some pants and checked every part of the room, not finding her anywhere. A piece of paper caught his eye on the table, which read:
Ran out for a while. I have my phone. Be back later. Love you!–Future Mrs. Dave Batista.
Batista heard the elevator doors open just down the hallway from the room. He ran outside to see if he could catch Lauren. As soon as he got out the door, he saw Lauren just getting on the elevator, just before he could call out to her.
Batista ran back into the room, threw on a sweat jacket and some sneakers before running after her. He took the stairs, wondering where she could possibly be going that she wouldn't tell him where. As soon as he got to the lobby, he saw Lauren getting into the limo and driving off. Batista ran outside and hailed a taxi to pick him up, telling them to follow the limo. It never occurred to him that perhaps this was a little extreme.
Batista watched as the limo stopped in front of a flower shop, where Lauren walked in and came out with white lilies. What is she up to? He wondered as the limo started again.
It was two hours later before the limo came to a complete stop again. They weren't even in the same state anymore. They had all driven to Norfolk, Virginia. "Sir, I'm not supposed to drive outside the state," the cab driver stated worriedly.
"I'll pay you double the meter," Batista said.
"Yes sir!" the cab driver cheered. "Why are you following her anyways? You're not stalking her are you?"
"She's my fiancé." Batista answered.
"Ooooooh!" the cab driver said, prolonging the 'oh'. "How long you have you two been engaged?"
"Last night." Batista told him, focusing more on the limo.
"Damn! And you two are already following each other everywhere you go?" the cab driver exclaimed.
"It's not like that." Batista said with a low voice. The cab driver took it as a hint to shut up, and looked where Batista was looking. Lauren finally stepped out of the limo and started walking down the sidewalk, the bouquet in her hands.
"Where do you think she's going?" cab driver asked.
"I don't know. Follow her, but make sure she doesn't see you," Batista ordered.
"Wow! She's beautiful! You know who she reminds me of? That hot WWE Diva Vixen. Man, she's one fine looking lady. That Batista is one lucky man." the driver told him.
Batista chuckled at the fact that the driver had no idea who he was after two hours. "You're right, he is. Did you happen to watch RAW last night?"
"Nah. My shift was when it was on. My kids watch it though. They LOVE Batista and Vixen. We wanted to go to a show but I couldn't get tickets." the driver explained sadly.
Batista for the first time in two hours wasn't focused on Lauren. "That sucks man. I'm really sorry to hear that."
"It's all right. Maybe next time. My kids really just want autographs from Batista, HBK, Chris Benoit, all those guys." he said.
"I see. What if I told you, I could get you those autographs?" Batista asked.
"I'd say you were trying to get out of paying me," the driver chuckled.
Batista chuckled back, leaning closer to the seat. "I'll pay you, AND get those autographs."
The driver looked in the rearview mirror to tell his passenger he wouldn't fall for it, when he realized for the first time who he was driving. Batista had to listen to the his driver stuttering for five minutes, before giving him the name of the hotel and a note for the front desk to let the guys know they had some autographs to sign. It was another five minutes of the driver thanking him, before they both went back to what they came to do.
Batista looked at the name of the place Lauren was going to...Gate of Heaven Cemetery. Oh my god. If only I had known. He thought to himself. "Wait here," he told the driver and quickly got out to follow Lauren.
Through the gates, and past countless gravestones, Lauren finally came to a halt. Lucky for him, there was a line of trees that blocked Batista from Lauren's view. She kneeled down before a marble stone, two names carved into it. Lauren set down the lilies and put her hands together in prayer. It was hard for Batista not to walk over there and hold her, but he knew she needed this time with her parents.
Lauren put her hands down and smiled sadly at the stone in front of her, "Hey mom, hey dad. It sure has been a while since I've been here, I guess with my new job and new life I just couldn't find the time. I'm sure there's a lot to tell you guys, but I'd better keep this short and sweet before Batista starts pulling his hair out trying to find me." Batista chuckled and continued to listen, "Well, for the past few months I've been dating Batista, and I can't tell you how happy he's made me. In fact, last night he made me the happiest woman on Earth." Lauren held up her engagement ring for her parents to see. "He proposed to me last night, in front of literally millions of people. I've been waiting a long time for a man like him, and I can't believe it's really happening." Batista could see her starting to cry, and it tore him apart.
"I just wanted you guys to know that your little girl is going to be well taken care of by this man. I really wish you could've met him, you would see what a great guy he is. I love him, and I know you guys would've loved him too. I just need to know that you guys are okay with all this. I...I just really wish you were here with me." Lauren flat out broke down in front of her parents' grave. "I wish dad could've walked me down the aisle, and that mom could've helped me with my wedding dress. But I guess I'll have to go this one alone, huh?" she sobbed.
"No you won't," a new voice added. Lauren gasped and turned to see an unexpected surprise.
"Ba-Batista? What are you–" Lauren couldn't finish due to Batista bringing her tight to his chest, the one place she truly wanted to be. She continued to cry into his chest as he simply held her. "I guess you think I'm a little silly, talking to my dead parents like that."
"Actually, I had a few words if you didn't mind," he smiled down at her.
Lauren smiled in return and turned back to the gravestone, "Mom, Dad? Meet my future husband, Batista. Batista, these are my parents, Elle and Sean."
"It's a pleasure to meet both of you," Batista replied. "I just want you both to know, that I love your daughter very much and that she's a wonderful woman, you raised her right. And I promise you that I will take very good care of her."
"See? I told you guys," Lauren chuckled, wiping away her tears. After another few moments, both superstars said their goodbyes and headed back to Lauren's limo. Once they were inside Lauren laid her head on his shoulder. They were halfway home when she punched him lightly in the arm.
"Ow! What was that for?" Batista whined.
"Just because we're engaged doesn't mean you get to follow me everywhere!" Lauren huffed and crossed her arms over her chest. Batista smiled at how cute she looked angry.
"You're right. I shouldn't have followed you. But you know how worried I get when I don't know where you are." he stated. "Besides," Batista started, brining her to his chest, "now that we are engaged, I gotta keep even more of an eye on you young lady."
"You say that like you're babysitting me!" Lauren gasped in mock hurt.
"Well..." Batista started, only to get a bop on the head and a laugh. The two simply held each other all the way home.
As soon as they got out of the limo, Lauren placed a sweet kiss on his lips. "Not that I'm complaining, but what did I do to earn that?" Batista smirked.
"It was nice what you did for me at the cemetery." she replied and walked into the hotel, Batista gladly following.
A/N: Yeah I know, a little sappy. But I hope you guys could still enjoy it! I've been very bad with updates and I'm sorry. I'm trying to remedy that, and trying to get back in the groove! Thank you all for the reviews! And not killing me for taking so long, lol.