I disclaim again. I only own Charlie and those unknown.

Thanks again to those who have read and reviewed and those who have just read it! As much as I love these two I think I'll start wrapping it up. Unlike my 'heroes', Queen and Vera, I don't outline or think too far ahead so amount of chapters are unknown. Could be 4, could be 14!! May change my mind altogether and write forever.

I rushed the last few paragraphs for Kelly, if it's mess, blame her!!! Jk.

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Chapter Eighteen – On the Mend

Things were going great for Randy and Charlie, it was as if they'd somehow managed to become closer than they ever were. Wrestlemania was fast approaching as was his 27th birthday. Their first year together was also becoming another milestone. Randy's parents turned a corner and supported him emotionally after a long talk. All his mother ever wanted was for him to be happy, she was just trying to do what she thought was best for him and by him. It was hard for her to agree to let Randy make his own decisions, good or bad. If it was the wrong decision he needed to make it and learn from it.

Both parents told him they adored Charlie and she seemed a much better fit for him than Sam, as much as she hated to admit it, Randy had chosen the perfect woman for him. Things were perfect for the two of them and neither could be more pleased for their happiness than his parents.

Charlie met Randy's now ex-wife when she delivered the divorce papers to Randy. It had been a pleasant exchange and also included Sam's new fiancé. They'd actually had lunch together and it was as if they'd all been friends. No hard feelings between Sam and Randy and she even hugged Charlie when they left. Randy was sad about his divorce, but wouldn't change it for anything. He was sad he'd let it get as far as marriage, but he knew the next time he got married it would be his choice.

Weights were lifting off their shoulders as each day passed. They had both begun talking about long term. At first Charlie thought it was just talk but the more he brought it up the more she wondered what he was up too. Randy was getting a feel for how she wanted things. They talked politics, child rearing, view points on marriage, things like that. They already knew they could live together and had even gone house hunting. She agreed to live where ever he wanted, but she was a little leery to leave her brothers. Sure they'd be fine and so would she; it was her security blanket and everyday link to her parents that she struggled to leave behind.

They had visited John in Florida and looked at homes in that area, both of them loved it. They'd looked at Los Angeles and New York City also and Charlie's location didn't matter at all. Randy wanted somewhere warm and low key, a good place to raise a family and a place that would make the aches of his profession less painful. They'd talked about having kids and Randy wanted to start now so they agreed to unofficially try. They weren't taking her temperature or counting the days, but if it happened they'd be excited.

He seemed to be battling his demons successfully and had genuinely impressed the management and his peers at work. JR and Jerry spoke positively of him and coworkers who hadn't spoken to him began slowly, but all would right itself eventually. He renewed friendships with Paul, Ric and Mark, stayed close with Dave and Adam and made new friends in Jeff Hardy, Shelton Benjamin and John Hennigan. Even some of the Smackdown talent began saying hello again on joint shows.

Randy had spotted the perfect engagement ring on his last trip to New York City. He had it engraved and sized for her and had picked it up in Los Angeles from the local shop. He had been excited to get it and wanted the perfect evening for them both. He wasn't the least bit nervous, more afraid of what she'd say. She had never discouraged him when they talked but he knew she was always hesitant about big commitments. He'd often thought she agreed to live together because he was gone 3-4 days a week. His paranoia had begun to get the better of him until one afternoon when Charlie was meeting with her publisher.

It was a guys afternoon and John happened to be in town visiting Randy and Charlie. They met up with her brothers for basketball and after the game and a few beers at the bar, the talk turned to Randy's intentions. He learned more about her brothers and the relationship they'd all had with their parents. Each one of them had lofty expectations about marriage and two of them had already failed. They had grown up with parents whose world revolved around their children. They had witnessed an amazing love. Each knew realistically all relationships were different and they could attain the same results, it was their subconscious desire to find the replica of their mother that hurt the boys. Charlie was daddy's baby and went everywhere with her father. She wasn't looking for the same kind of man as a husband, but someone who could love her children with that equal dedication.

Randy may have been self-absorbed a year ago, but he always knew he wanted to be a father. He had great role models in his own dad and grandfather. He was nervous about the husband part but Charlie always managed to calm any fear he had. "She's beautiful, inside as well as out. She's generous, funny, fun. If I had to pick one word, that would be it. Charlie is always so much fun to be around, for everybody. Just kind of crazy, you know." They all watched Randy's expressions as he talked of Charlie, the smile that was a constant when he spoke of her.

"She likes french fries and chocolate, at the same time. Hates scotch. Probably the single worst bowler I've ever met in my entire life. She forgets to let go of the ball and she's so light weight she ends up half-way down the alley. She just picks herself up, laughs, and does it all over again. Just a beautiful woman, inside and out. The kind of person you notice when she walks into a room. You can't help yourself. There's just something about her." He took another swig of his beer. All the guys completely engulfed in the peek into their private life. "I'll tell you a secret. As crazy as everybody thinks my sense of humor is, Charlie is the only woman that I've ever been with that's made me laugh so hard I literally fell out of bed. Yeah, there was this one time with…well, she's a handful. There's no doubt about it."

Her brothers looked at Randy in a new light. This is the man for their sister; it's so obvious he's completely wrapped up in her. Alex spoke first. "When are you going to ask her?" It was written all over Randy he was going to spend his life with her, giving her everything she's ever wanted.

"I haven't figured that out yet." He pulled out the ring box from his pocket and placed in on the table in front of them. Nobody touched it, they didn't want to be disrespectful.

"How long have you been carrying that around?" Bryan asked.

"A month." Randy answered.

"A month? What the fuck are you waiting for, man?" John said as he held the box passing it back to his best friend. Randy just shrugged.

"I'm afraid she'll say no." He answered honestly and looked at the ring. Her brothers laughed good naturedly and felt bad for Randy.

Alex spoke first. "She won't say no." Randy looked at him to expand his answer. "You know her, man. Do you really think she's gone househunting with you, talked about kids with you, pulled your ass out of the gutter time and time again, just because she has nothing better to do or talk about? She's not like that and you know it."

"You are it for my baby sister." Bryan said pointedly. Just then Charlie walked in and her brothers jumped up to greet her and give Randy a few seconds to hide the ring. John said his hellos also and Randy seemed different to her when she kissed him. Something had gone on between her brothers and her boyfriend, she would get to the bottom of it and fast.

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Randy's idea of the perfect moment may never present itself so he needed to just let fate take control. He had reservations at her favorite restaurant tonight and he'd ask her then. Tonight was all about her and giving her the moment little girls dream of. He quickly dismissed himself and said he was visiting his parents for a little bit and would be back later. She was excited when he said he left her a present on the bed. She darted upstairs and found a note taped to the bedroom door. He had left her a large box and a small box on their bed when he left and hoped she liked them, of course she did. He would be back at seven to pick her up for dinner.

Meanwhile, he told his parents what he was planning that evening and received their total support. Just as they were talking his brother entered and told Randy his name was all over the internet in a steroid scandal. Kurt Angle, Rey Mysterio, Eddie Guerrero, Adam; he was shocked. Of course nobody would believe the steroids were to help all of them heal from injuries. Anybody who followed wrestling could put two and two together on the timeline, but seriously, who would believe a professional wrestler paid to act for a living. Wonderful. The PR department for the WWE would handle this and he would wait, but he had much more important things going on and personally vowed not to let this affect him.

He put on Charlie's favorite custom made Armani suit, the cologne she loved and picked up her favorite flowers. He did a mental check to ensure he had everything he needed. Confirmed reservations, flowers, ring. Check. Now all he needed was the one woman who could make or break him. Since tonight was a date of sorts, he rang the doorbell. He took a deep breath and it caught in his throat when she answered the door. He forgot everything around him and his eyes took in the most beautiful woman he'd ever seen. All doubts and paranoia fell away as she greeted him with a shy smile and a delicate kiss.

She had to take the flowers from him since he seemed frozen in place. He looked scared to death and ready to run if the opportunity presented itself. Charlie, being a smart girl, deducted two things. He was either leaving her and was trying to be nice or he was asking her the big question. She could handle the latter and didn't want to think about the thought of her life without him.

He followed her up the steps and watched the way the dress he'd chosen flowed over her body. The eggplant color was a perfect highlight to her eyes and skin. She had no lights on, just a few candles lit and the glow in the room was nothing but romantic. Charlie placed the flowers in a vase and smelled them. She loved Sumatra Lilies and he gave them to her regularly, she had to smile. He still looked scared and she went to him slowly. With her hands on his face and her eyes comforting him he kissed her, so gentle and soft.

Randy repeated what he'd said to her brother's earlier that day. "You are so beautiful, inside and out. You're generous, funny, fun. I can't figure out how or why you like french fries and chocolate, at the same time. You are the worst bowler I've ever met in my entire life. "You're the only woman that I've ever been with that's made me genuinely laugh all the time and you are a handful. There's no doubt about it." Randy assumed the customary position and reached in his pocket.

"Will you marry me?"