It was a couple of days after AJ and Punk's wedding, the duo were currently on their honeymoon, both deciding not to tell their friends where they were going. Emma had not been seen since she stormed out of the wedding and Seth had explained what happened, although missing the part where he was still in love with Paige, when he told them, partly because she was in the room with them when he explained. Summer and Dolph again had made their appearance known, saying they knew what happened with Emma. They mainly taunted Seth about it, he was beginning to wonder what they were up, and worried in case they blackmailed him with it, only five others and Emma knew that he was still in love with Paige, he didn't want the others to know.
At this moment in time Seth was in his apartment looking at the small photo album he had, he remembered when he lived with Paige, he smiled at the memories they had together and also how he ruined the entire thing with one stupid decision. He looked at the photographs of the time when he and Paige were a happy couple, there were some professional taken where as other were taken by family and friends or selfies, on the odd occasion they were taken by fans who were passing by. He smiled as he looked through them, wondering how he could have screwed the happiness he had up the way he did, if he could go back in time, he would and tell himself not to do what he did, it wasn't long before there was someone banging on his door, he gently put the photo album down, before going over to the door where whoever on the other end was knocking frantically to get it.
"Emma" said Seth when he opened the door, he had given all of her things back to her, when she came back the day after the wedding, she smiled at him like she still wasn't accepting that they were no longer together, it was like she was in denial all over again. "What are you doing here?" asked Seth wondering what is now ex was doing there, he knew she went to Sami to make things up with him but got turned down there, she had hurt him like he hurt Paige and finally after two odd years he had finally moved on and accepted that he was in love with Bayley and finally acted on his feelings for her at the wedding reception.
"Sami turned me down, so I wanted to come and see you, you know talk things out, see if we can work them out and move on" replied Emma, she smiled up at him, but that soon faded when he gave her a stern look before stepping aside, he knew he had to get her to understand that they weren't going to get back together, it was over, she wasn't the one he wanted to be with, she wasn't the one who he thought about since they broke up, and she wasn't the one he let go because it was what was best for her. "Thank you" said Emma as she walked past him sitting on the sofa, she smiled again until she seen the photo album lying next to her, she noticed how it said Forever on it, thinking it was her and Seth, but never got the chance to see since Seth took hold of it, keeping in his hands like he was protect it.
"Emma, I'm not changing my mind. I broke with you because that is what is best, I can't be with you if I'm still in love with Paige. I let her go and be with Dean because I love her, it kills me every day seeing them together, but I know it's best for her, I know some day she will figure it out and still hate me, but I'm willing to take the chance and hope that one day she will forgive me and I can hope she still loves me like I still love her" said Seth, he was willing to risk it, in hopes she would turn back to him, Dean had punched him like he had every right to, when he was told. He knew Paige was safe with him, he would protect her until the very end.
"And what if she doesn't forgive you Seth, what if she turns around and says she doesn't love you like you love her, what if she breaks your heart?" asked Emma, she never thought that he would chase after someone else like this, Paige least of all, the way she acted towards the pair of them when she found out, in Emma's eyes she was over reacting a little bit, not wanting to be near Seth and not even acknowledging that she Emma even existed. If she could get Seth to see her point of view then maybe he would understand what she was trying to tell him, she wanted him back, for them to get through whatever faze he was going through so they could be happy together.
"I have to believe that she will forgive me for my mistakes, that she still loves me, I let her go Emma, because I love, I can't lose her again, I remember so many things about what we used to be like. The Anti-Valentines, watching horror movies instead of romantic ones. I miss her, if I'm honest with you, what I felt for you was lust, now that it's gone I realise just how much I hurt Paige, because I never got to do one thing I was going to, the one thing I planned" said Seth in reply, he had only come across the piece of jewellery when he was looking through the box of things that he had retrieved when he moved out of Paige's and back to his own. He looked sad but knew he couldn't tell anyone what had once planned to do. "I think it would be best if you leave Emma, at least until AJ and Punk come back" added Seth after a few moments of awkward silence. Emma only looked at him before leaving, when Seth looked out the window he noticed how she was getting in to the car with Dolph and Summer.
Seth went over to the box of memories, pulling out the small black box, he remembered when he first though of the idea when he was backstage at one of the shows, watching how she moved around the ring like she owned it, even though she lost the match, she still went backstage with her head held high, he hugged her like he always would have, congratulating her on her performance even if she did lose, like he always did he walked her back to her locker room, before turning back and going to the gorilla position, but not before being pulled around by Paige and receiving a gentle peck on the lips for luck as she put it. When he got to Roman and Dean that time he said to them he was going to marry Paige one day.
Now however Seth stood looking at the white gold onyx engagement ring that he never got to give to her, wondering how it would have been if he hadn't made the decision to spend the night with Emma, wondering if Paige would have said yes to marrying him, wondering if they would have been as happy as Punk and AJ had been and are. That's when he come up with the idea of telling her the truth, at least that way she would know and then the ball was in her court, it was up to her what she did with the information that he gave her, maybe she would prove Emma right and do to him what he did to her or maybe she would tell him the truth on how she feels, or the third one would be to leave and think on it, do what he had done. Seth quickly picked up his phone, finding Paige's number in his contacts and pressing the dial button, he wanted her to know everything, and how sorry he was.
"Hey Paige, can you come to mine please, if you're not busy?" asked Seth when she picked up, he smiled to himself when he heard her voice, he knew it was her bored ones, suggesting that she was probably sitting there trying to find something to do with herself, or watching things on YouTube. He smiled when she agreed to his small request and asked what it was about. "Well I've been doing a lot of thinking lately as you know, and I just wanted to talk, I would to Dean and Roman but they already know, so I know want to tell you, since your still my first port of call in the girl area" replied Seth, he would also asked her when he was having trouble with Emma, something for some reason only she could help with, maybe it was hearing her voice that helped him, or maybe it was because he thought he deserved it. "Okay, see you in ten, Bye" said Seth when she replied to him, he knew he had to tell her, explain to her what he did and how much he regretted it, and the true reason of why he broke with Emma, among other things.
Ten minutes later and someone was banging lightly on his door, when he looked out the window, he seen the black Range Rover outside knowing that it belonged to Paige and that she was the one mostly likely on the other end of the door, he smiled to himself and opened the door to see the raven haired woman in which he had invited over. She smiled at him, walking inside when he stepped aside, just for old times sake he pulled her into a hug, surprised when she returned it, he could still remember why she hated hugs in the first place but she accepted them from him after a while, he had yet to see her truly accept one from anyone else. Once he let go, he followed her into the living area offering her a drink, for some reason he always kept some of her favourite fruit juice in stock, Emma had asked him why on so many occasions but he was never able to answer her because he didn't know. She smiled when he gave her the bottle.
"So Sethie Boy what did you want to talk to me about, that your best friends already know?" asked Paige, he knew she would do that, he could predict everything she was going to do, well almost things. He knew things were going well between them, over the time they had been at the school, he had spoken to her about what happened between them and now understood why she didn't want to be in the same room as him, he also understood that she may not be his any more but she does still cares, and that she was at least thankful he told her the truth instead of denying it when she found out about him and Emma, as Emma had denied it all, hence why the pair weren't as close as they once were.
"I told you and everyone else why Emma shouted like she did at the wedding, but I never told all of you why I broke with her. I think I'm ready to tell you, Dean, Roman, Punk, AJ and some how Sami already know, so I think I should tell you, since you are the one it's about" replied Seth seeing the look on her face, it must have dawned on her at some point but she just didn't take much notice of it, when she gestured to continue, he smiled slightly "I broke with Emma because I realised what I felt for her was lust, but now that's gone I can see what an idiot I was, and I'm still in love with you" added Seth seeing that she didn't react straight away, it was like she was remembering something, she smiled at him before looking back at the bottle in her hands, he knew there was something she wasn't telling anyone.
"Why did you do it, you know let me go?" asked Paige, it was the one question she wanted answered, she had never figured it out, she knew there was something, but didn't know what. She was also sure that Dean and Emma knew also, but neither had told her. He looked at her, before remembering the box that he had kept in his hands the entire time. "I know Dean knows and I'm sure Emma does as well, but I want to hear it from you, since you were the guy who let me go" added Paige, she smiled slightly now, like she was remembering some of the memories they made together, there were so many happy ones, so many where he had put a smile on her lips when she was down and vies versa.
"I let you go because I love you, I knew that you were hurting from what I did. So out of love and respect for you I let you go, so you could find your smile again. That is also why I gave Dean my blessing to be with you, because I knew he would protect you, and because he brought the smile back, although it was a different one from what I remember. I let you go because it was what was best for you, even if it does hurt me to see you with someone else" admitted Seth, he could see the look on Paige's face, it was one that was finally settled and happy now she had all the answers, he only hoped now he could do something to get her to see him in the light she once did. "Just out of curiosity is there anything I could do to get you back?" asked Seth wondering if there was still a chance, he really missed her, every day when she wasn't there next to him or when they weren't travelling together from one city to the next.
"Just being you, being someone I can turn to like we were before when we were friends back in high school. In other words be the complete idiotic goof-ball you were when were younger, and trust me to listen to you when you need someone. And maybe tell me what's in the little box your holding?" explained Paige she smiled when Seth looked at her, she could see the hope in his eyes, how they lit up when she confirmed there was still a chance to get what he wanted. He smiled at her in return, then looked down at the box, wondering how he was going to tell his ex-girlfriend and the only person he had ever loved that he was going to propose to her before their untimely break up the year before. He opened the box to show her, he knew by the shock expression that had appeared she knew what it was.
"I had it special made for you, I was going to ask you on your birthday but after what happened between us I never got the chance. I kept it the entire time because I still had hope that one day I would be able to ask you, or at least give it to the man who made you happy" answered Seth to her silent question, revealing he had never sold it but kept it just in case, it was now she realised he never had any intention of waiting at the end of the isle for anyone else but her, she smiled really at thinking that he had so much hope that it could happen even when they weren't together.
"I don't know if Dean told you but we went our separate ways. We are more like sister and brother rather than girlfriend and boyfriend. But before you ask, I'm going to think over everything I need some time to myself to find who I am again, find that missing smile. You are the only person besides Bayley I have told and would appreciate it if you didn't tell anyone else" replied Paige revealing that she had Dean were no longer a couple, she knew by his shocked expression that he hadn't been told and it was also likely that Dean was going to tell him, since he had called Roman and himself for a boys night out later on. Paige smiled for now she was single and she was going to enjoy it well it lasted.
"Hey do you remember when we went to the amusement park that time, Dean and Summer, Roman and Galina, Punk and AJ then me and you. We all challenge each other to different things, crashing into each other on the bumper cars and AJ standing Punk in the wet zone, where he got soaked when the ride went past" suddenly said Seth completely changing the subject in an attempt to cheer things up, he was surprised when Paige suddenly burst in to laughter besides him, she must have remember it. "We all laughed at each other when we got off the waltzes in the dark, and when Roman screamed like a girl on ripsaw" added Seth seeing her like she was now brought a smile to his lips again, especially since he had a chance to be with her again, he knew if he did get a second chance then he wasn't going to mess it up but prove just how much she meant to him.
Later on in the night, saw Seth at a night club with Dean and Roman, since he was the designated drive he only drank soda, while he listened to Roman going on about his plans with Galina, how they were going to go travelling the next time he had time off, he also listened as Dean told the pair that he and Paige had broke up but on good terms. Both Seth and Roman watched as he flirted with different women on the dance floor wondering how long it would take for him to get slapped like he had done the last time he had gone out on a rave.
Paige was spending the night with Bayley, Sami and Adrian. She had invited the others as well but Adam was out spying on Dean, Roman and Seth, Randy was spending quality time with Jo-Jo, Sheamus had plans to take Noyra out to a romantic restaurant, Justin and Layla said they would be over later on in the night, while Punk and AJ were on their honeymoon, Summer and Dolph were doing god knows what and the only person to have heard from Emma since the wedding was Seth but he sent her away before he called Paige, telling her to come back when AJ and Punk were back since she had a lot of explaining to do.
At this moment in time the four were at Paige's just watching whatever was on TV and talking to each other, Sami and Bayley were sat together where as Paige was in her favourite chair and Adrian was content sitting on the floor, they talked about anything and everything wondering what it would have been like if the original couples had never broken up, of course Bayley had already thought it through and imagined how it would be. She had actually come over to cheer Paige up since her relationship had ended, smiling when she seen the older woman, she was glad she was able to be there for her and was informed this time. Paige had actually explained to Bayley what happened between her and Seth, with the help of the man in question, lucky for them Bayley had understood why she wasn't told and even went as far as kicking Seth as hard as she could in the back of his knees, she smiled sweetly at him after, to which he smiled back.
"I wonder what would have happened, if neither of the couples back then broke up?" suddenly said Bayley gaining the attention of Sami, Adrian and Paige, who all looked at each other, all three of them shook their heads in a way that suggested they never really thought of it. To which Bayley ones again smiled at each of them. "I always imagined Dean and Summer planning their wedding still Summer probably trying to outdo Punk and AJ, with Dean arguing he wanted something simple and not to fancy, Seth proposing to Paige at the school where he first asked her out, still being their awesome selves, Sami and Emma I'm not sure of though, you two were pretty odd for a couple, almost like she asked you out because she didn't want to be the only one not dating" said Bayley explaining what she thought it would have been like and admitting she had no idea with Sami and his then girlfriend and now AWOL Emma.
"What about you and Adrian over there, do you think you two would have given it a shot? Like Dolph and Kaitlyn" asked Paige wondering what the pair would say, she knew how awkward it was between the pair when they were reunited after five years, she could see it and feel the tension that was between them. She smiled when they both looked towards her, Sami not being able to contain his laughter any longer burst in to laughter, almost falling of the sofa and taking Bayley with him, to which Adrian started to laugh, Bayley however was still in slight shock that Paige had asked that. It wasn't long before there was a knock on the door, Paige smiled at the other three and got up to answer it, stepping aside when she seen Layla and Justin.
"What's going on?" asked Justin seeing Sami in tears from laughter, Adrian not far behind him and Bayley looking like she was going to punch their pair of them or at least bang their heads together. Layla just smiled at the scene before her, not remembering when she seen four of her friends so happy, it brought a smile to her lips at seeing them, but she had to agree with Justin's question, especially since it was making her curious.
"Bayley was wondering what it would have been like if Emma and Sami, Dean and Summer and Me and Seth were still together, then she told us how she imagined and I asked her question, if it happened how she imagined if she and Adrian would have given it a shot like Dolph and Kaitlyn" explained Paige giving them a drink as they sat down on the other sofa, Layla nodded as did Justin, both in thanks to the drink and to the explanation on what had coursed the scene they walked into, smile now on both of their features. "Bayley has yet to answer, Sami couldn't hold his laughter back any longer and he almost fell off the sofa taking our hug-able one with him" added Paige once she had rejoined them, now all five of the remaining ones looked to Bayley waiting for her answer.
"I don't know, it was cool being Adrian's prom date, and weird as hell seeing the picture that Roman took, like it was awesome going to amusement park with you guys the day after the prom, but I generally don't know. As for Dolph and Kaitlyn, I would have said they would have given it go, there was something there, you guys must have seen it to?" explained Bayley, she never really thought about what happened between her and Adrian hence why she was shocked when Paige asked the question, she still had one question. "Has anyone heard from Kaitlyn since what happened?" asked Bayley just curious, it made her wonder as she never heard from Kaitlyn much after they graduated and Sheamus didn't mention her too much either after a year or so.
"She still stays in contact with us, but she was pretty torn up about what happened, she really like Dolph, the pair of them were dating but he just up and walked when Summer betrayed Dean like she did" explained Layla, revealing that Kaitlyn stays in contact with all but those two, which was understandable considering what happened. "Here, I'm sure she would be excited to hear from you" added Layla giving Bayley a small piece of paper with a number on, Bayley smiled, she really did feel like she was part of the group, and she was getting to know each of them again, they had changed over the last five years even if she was reluctant to admit it when she was first reunited with them.