Disclaimer: I do not own the characters affiliated with WWE, I do own Nicole Michael's however. This story is completely AU! This is my first fic so be gentle, reviews are welcomed!
Dinner was quiet, which Nicole relishing in the silence.
Adam sat quietly in his thoughts, his eyes sometimes roaming over the beauty who sat beside him. She is quite the catch. John doesn't have prayer. Don't worry Grandma Michaels, she will be with one of the boys, and it will be me. I'll have her screaming my name out in no time.
The family retreated to the living room for drinks. Nicole smiled warmly as she in between Maria and Dave on the largest of the sofas. One of the maids handed her a glass on champagne, she thanked her and led her head on Maria's shoulder.
"Was Adam giving you shit?" Maria whispered into her ear.
"Nothing I can't handle," Nicole whispered. "I'm just so grateful to have come this far. I'm not going to let him ruin my night."
"Mrs Michaels, would you allow me to take Nicole on a tour of the house?" Adam asked out of the blue. Maria nearly choked on her champagne and snickered quietly. "It's been such a long time since Nicole has been inside the house, and it would be nice for Nicole to see what she's missing."
Her grandma grinned from ear to ear. "Nicole, go join Adam for a walk."
Nicole looked to Maria who was hiding her smile behind her glass. She stood up and allowed Adam to take her arm. She looked back at her father who mouthed we'll talk later.
Adam led her up the stairs and straight to her room. He turned the lights on; Nicole looked around the room sadly. Her walls, vanity and bookcase were covered in photo frames containing photos of her time as a child, at school, with family and friends. She turned around to see Adam leaning against the closed door with a grin on his face.
"You're enjoying this, aren't you?" she asked. "Seeing me in pain, watching my grandmother punish me."
"The thought had crossed my mind," he said approaching her. He stroked her fringe, towering over her. "Now then, what ever shall we do?"
"We are doing nothing," Nicole said going to move away, but he grabbed her wrist. "Let go of me, or I will scream."
"They won't hear, besides that's not the type of screaming I had in mind," Adam said. "Let's talk, shall we?" He pushed her to sit on the bed and sat beside her. "How badly do you want back in this family?'
"More than you could possibly know."
"I could help you."
"Nothing you could do would help."
Adam leant in and kissed her roughly, bruising her lips. Nicole tried to push him away but he was too strong. He pushed her back into a lying position and lay on top, his hands roaming over her. She tried to fight back, kicking and hitting his back.
"Don't fight it, beautiful," Adam said nipping her neck, his hand massaging her breast. "You know you want it."
"Get off!" Nicole cried, trying not to cry.
Adam got off of her, enjoying the view of her running to the door and trying to open it.
"Open the door, you son of a bitch!" she cried turning around.
Adam walked over to her and pinned her against the door. "Now listen here," he said stroking her face, relishing in the fact he was scaring her half to death, "you are going to tell no one about this. I know a lot about your adventures in Europe."
She snapped her face to look in him square in the eye, searching for a hint of bluffing, but he wasn't.
"Oh yes, I did a little research last night," Adam said letting his hand run down her waist. "Drugs, sex… a baby… you were a busy little girl."
Tears ran down her face, her bottom lip shaking. She could feel her stomach churn.
"So, if you don't want your father to find out about your good European time, you won't tell him about our little rendezvous."
"What do you want from me?"
"You'll see," he backed away from her. "Go clean your face and we'll go back downstairs."
She ran into the bathroom that was connected to her room and slammed the door shut. She ran to the toilet and quickly lost all the contents of her stomach.
How the fuck did he find out? No one was supposed to know, no one
She stood in front of the mirror and studied her face. She splashed her face with some water and fixed her makeup. She looked like she'd never cried; something she'd had plenty of practises at.
Nicole left the bathroom to find Adam going through her underwear draw. He held up a Victoria Secret black lace thong and raised an eyebrow.
"I never thought you were the type," he said placing it back in the drawer. "Come my dear, your father waits."
He led her back down to the living room.
"Enjoy the tour?" her grandma asked as the two sat back down.
"It was fine," Nicole said grasping her sister's hand and took a sip of her champagne, her hand shaking furiously.
"Hey Nic, do you want to go for a walk?" her dad asked. Nicole was taken aback but allowed him to walk her out to the pool area. "Remember when you were little and we'd come out here and put our feet in the pool and wish the world away."
Nicole smiled. "Yeah, it was the only thing that's ever relaxed me." She watched her dad kick off his shoes and socks; roll up his trousers and sit on the edge of the pool.
"Are you going to join me, or stand there all night?" her dad asked placing his feet in the heated pool that sparkled like the stars under the pool lights.
Nicole laughed and stepped out of her Jimmy Choo ballet flats. She sat beside her father and let her feet rest on the first step of the pool.
"Did Adam say anything to upset you? Did he do anything?"
"No dad," Nicole said; she wasn't ready for the truth yet. It was best if he never found out. "It was just upsetting to be back up in my room." She felt her throat tense up, the tears would flow anytime soon. "I miss you so much, daddy," she felt her eyes sting from the tears and she allowed a sob to escape.
Shawn pulled his daughter into a tight hug and let her sob in his arms. It had been a long time since he'd held her. When she'd come home (two months) ago he'd watch his baby cry while his mother forbade her to be part of the family until she grovelled.
"You cannot expect to walk back into this family after you walked out on us."
Nicole stood in front of her seated grandmother, her father leaning against the fireplace, rubbing his temples.
"You know why I left," Nicole said.
"Yes, because you don't respect or show loyalty to your family," her grandmother snapped.
"I came back despite what you've hidden from me," Nicole said. "I need you."
"You need to be taught a lesson."
Nicole looked to her father for help, but he couldn't even bring himself to look at her.
"I learnt enough lessons while I was away."
"Then beg for forgiveness. Beg to be welcomed back into this family."
"No! How can I beg to be welcomed back into a family that destroys people's lives? I'm not the only who screwed up! You should have been honest with me."
"Then why are you here?"
"Because I want my dad to look me in the eye and tell me he's sorry and that he loves me."
"I forbid you to stay here. You will join the family for social events; the town must think that this family is as loving as it was before you betrayed us. We can't allow the town to think any less of us. You are not welcome until you beg for forgiveness."
"Daddy," Nicole said sitting up, "I'm so sorry I left. I was so scared, I felt so betrayed. I had to get out of here."
"I know sweetie," he said kissing her forehead.
"Do you? You don't see the aftermath of what you do. There are no consequences for what you do. Why? Why do you do this?"
"It's just the way things are. My loyalty lies with my family, and it was my duty to do what my father and grandfather did. We don't want to hurt them, but they betray us when they don't pay us back."
Nicole nodded her head.
"I want you back in the family. I was never going to make you beg, that was your grandmother. I need you back in my life."
She snapped her head up to her father, a smile lighting her face.
"That's the face of my beautiful daughter," he said pulling her into a big hug, as she burst into tears of joy.
When they re-entered the living room, arm in arm, the group shocked expressions spoke for themselves.
Maria flew into Nicole's arms, "I'm so so happy! Welcome home!"
Nicole turned to her grandma who pulled her into a cold embrace and pecked her cheek. "Welcome home sweetheart."
"You boys better look after her, or I will have your heads," Shawn said pulling Nicole into his arms.
This is getting easier and easier Adam thought to himself. I think I'm going to enjoy this a lot more than I thought.