Chapter 18

Her eyes slowly fluttered open a few hours later, seeing it was ten o'clock, and knew she didn't have much time. Extracting herself from Randy's arms without waking him up, Austin slid from the bed and dressed in a pair of black jeans with a black hooded sweatshirt, brushing her hair out. She made a few calls while smoking a cigarette on the balcony, cancelling things for the wedding.

She couldn't go through with it, having already written John a letter she was sending with Kiersten. She was the only person Austin trusted right now and finished packing her things just as Randy stirred in the bed. She wasn't going to run like a thief in the night and looked back at him.

"I'm going back home." She murmured, seeing him rubbing his tired eyes. "You need to leave before John receives my letter from Kiersten." There was no way Austin was facing him. She was a coward and liked having her head attached to her shoulders as she pulled the wedding gown out of the closet. Then thought better of it and just left it, closing the closet.

Randy was groggy and her words didn't register right away. He slowly pulled himself up into a sitting position, staring at her tiredly. As he watched her, it became all too apparent what she was doing. Not bothering with modesty, Randy got out of the bed and walked over to take her in his arms.

"Let me go with you." He whispered, kissing her forehead.

"What about Samantha?" Austin softly asked, sighing when he snorted and kissed her, wrapping her arms around his neck, moaning softly. "Randy, you have to deal with your marriage. Just..." She sighed when his blue eyes pleaded with her, tears stinging her eyes and knew she was going to burn in hell for this, but she loved Randy and couldn't let him go again. Austin wasn't running away from him for a second time, consequences be damned. "You have ten minutes and then we're out of here."

Randy was ready to leave in seven, reaching out a hand to her, remaining silent. Everything he had to say was in his eyes. He had already started filing for divorce the morning after finding out his precious wife had been committing adultery on him. He had suspected her of it for awhile, then she had gone and given him a lot of proof.

Austin felt the biggest weight lift from her shoulders as Randy guided her out of the hotel room, knowing Kiersten was on her way to Carol's with the letter and ring in hand. Basically, the letter said what she couldn't tell him, how she'd been having doubts and she wasn't ready for marriage, that she loved him, but not enough to be his wife. She basically told him in so many words the wedding was off and she didn't want to be with him anymore.

Though she refused to mention Randy in it. She didn't want their friendship destroyed over this, even though it would be once John found out she had ran off with his best friend. Austin didn't care; Randy was the one she was meant to be with and he was leaving Samantha. This was their second chance and she wasn't going to give it up for anything. A few minutes later, Austin was peeling out of the hotel parking lot and headed for the airport.


Elizabeth and Carol had been doing some mother to mother bonding over an early morning cup of coffee, neither able to sleep on their babies mutual big day when Kiersten showed up. She waited patiently while Carol got John up, frowning when a roar of anger and pain echoed throughout the house. John couldn't stop himself, crushing the letter and ring in his fists, on his knees in his mother's front room.

Closing her eyes painfully shut as Carol rushed to her son's side, Elizabeth opened them to stare up at her husband tearfully, knowing what Austin did. There was nothing they could do about it; it was their daughter's life and if she wanted to destroy it, that was her decision. She would miss Carol; she was a lovely woman and Elizabeth felt William walk over to her.

Before William left, he told John about Randy and Austin knowing each other prior to them getting together. He told them how Austin and Randy had been high school sweethearts and were together for four years, only to part when they were twenty years old. William didn't regret telling John, knowing the man had the right to know and had a feeling his daughter had ran off with Randy, considering he was nowhere to be found either.

Elizabeth could only drop her head in shame for her daughter's sake, hoping Austin knew what she was doing.

All John could do was cry, not caring who the hell saw him. He alternated between screaming and sobbing, hunched over with his arms wrapped around himself as if it could ward off the pain. Austin and Randy...his fiancée and his best friend...Finally, he was making only harsh, rasping noises, his throat hoarse and out of tears, looking up at his mother.

Carol didn't know what to say and just wrapped her arms around him tenderly.

Elizabeth and William left shortly after her husband told John about Austin's past with Randy, knowing the Cena family was very angry at the moment. She sighed heavily as they drove to the airport, not realizing their daughter was currently on her way to Atlanta, and stared out the window. In all honesty, when Austin left Randy those nine years ago, nearly ten now, Elizabeth had prayed silently that Randy would somehow wind up in her daughter's life again and they would be together. She knew her husband was angry with Austin, but Elizabeth couldn't help feeling elated, knowing just by the look in her daughter's eyes yesterday at breakfast, she didn't love John. This was a blessing in disguise, the fates working their magic; Elizabeth was sure of it.

William was indeed angry with his daughter. He was angry that she hadn't had the courage to tell John about her past with Randy, it might have actually saved the poor kid a lot of heartache. But at the same time, he wanted her to be happy and hoped, finally, she would have some peace and contentment in her life. If she couldn't find that with her beloved Randy, then there was nothing in this world that would ever make her truly happy.


They arrived in Atlanta a few hours later, finding boxes scattered all over the place. Austin hadn't sold her house like she told John, not wanting him to think she was having second thoughts. It was a confusing time as Austin threw the keys on the table, inhaling the air around her and felt Randy's arms wrap around her waist, still not believing he was here with her. That they were here after all this time.

"So what now?" She murmured, caressing his face with the back of her hand, no regret or heartache shining in her eyes.

"Right now, I'm thinking we sleep and then talk." Randy said softly, knowing they hadn't gotten much sleep the night before, which he didn't care about; that had been more than worth it.

During the flight Austin had been almost tetchy, as if expecting John to show up out of nowhere. If Randy knew John as well as he thought he did, no doubt every shoe in that house had been thrown and John was dipping into his mother's comfort foods.

"Alright." She whispered, taking Randy's hand and guided him upstairs to her bedroom, letting out a loud yawn. She was exhausted from the past few months, just wanting to sleep peacefully in Randy's arms. They did have to talk about everything and Austin still couldn't believe he was with her, that he actually asked to come with her. How could she have turned him down? Married or not, Austin loved him and he had her heart, hoping he didn't crush it like she did to his years ago. She peeled her sweatshirt off, along with her pants, leaving her clad in midnight blue garments. She slid into bed and sighed when Randy pulled her into his arms, head resting against his chest beneath his chin. "I love you."

"I love you too." He whispered, snuggling into her. They had so much to talk about; it was mind-boggling but it would wait because, for once, they had time on their side. He wasn't going anywhere and knew she wasn't either. Though he did need to tell her one thing. "I've already filed for a divorce." He said softly, wanting her to know he wasn't expecting her to have a relationship with a married man.

That did her heart wonders as Austin slowly rolled over on her back, staring up into his blue eyes, and kissed him softly. "I wish I could say I'm sorry, but I'm too selfish to say it." She smiled when he kissed her, wrapping her arms around his neck, and hugged him tightly after breaking the kiss. "Everything's going to be fine." She whispered in his ear, believing that now that they had nowhere to go and no reason to hide. She rolled back over on her side, spooning against him.

"I'm sure in the hell not sorry." Randy mumbled, glad he was getting divorced.

It wouldn't take too long; they didn't have any kids and he had made her sign a prenuptial. Though he had also put a stipulation in there to provide her with so much money if they ever divorced, basically enough to keep her self-serving, cheating ass in motel rooms for two years, if she didn't blow it all on stupid meaningless things.

He wasn't mean, but he wasn't stupid either.

Chuckling softly, Austin nodded in understanding and snuggled further against him, having gotten her cell phone shut off, knowing John would be blowing it up after the initial shock of their wedding being cancelled and her running off with Randy wore off. "I am sorry for destroying your friendship with John." She whispered, not wanting him to think of her as completely heartless and selfish, and felt his arms tighten around her, letting her know it was for the best. Austin closed her eyes and sighed in contentment, no worries for the first time in years.

It would take time, but Randy was fairly certain John would eventually forgive them. Or at least tolerate Randy's presence enough to let him explain, which wasn't excusing the betrayal both he and Austin had inflicted on John, but...they worked together. Some sort of understanding was going to have to be reached or else work was going to become a real big pain in his ass all over again, the Paul deal finally over.

After sleeping for nearly twelve hours straight, Austin finally woke up and smiled as Randy's arms tightened around her, knowing he didn't want her to move. She slowly turned to face him and softly kissed his lips. "I have to use the bathroom." She whispered, hearing him groan and giggled softly before extracting herself from his arms, stretching her arms above her head as a loud yawn sounded from her lips. Austin decided a shower was in order after relieving herself and stripped out of her garments before sliding in the glass shower, sprays instantly assaulting her, eyes closing.

Randy took the time to familiarize himself with her bedroom, looking around curiously. A lot of stuff was packed in unmarked boxes, though he realized she had been hesitant. Seeing some objects scattered about as if she hadn't been able to put them away. He pulled out his cell phone, which had been muted, and scrolled through a lot of text messages. The first of them were very angry and violent, gradually becoming depressing, finally shutting the phone off.

After her shower, Austin stepped out and wrapped a towel around herself before brushing her hair and teeth, knowing Randy was up and they had to talk about everything that happened. Austin took a deep breath and walked into the bedroom, seeing Randy was staring out the window and bit her bottom lip, wondering if he was having second thoughts. She wasn't going to ask, not wanting to know honestly and went over to a box of clothes. Pulling out black cotton shorts and matching tank top with fresh garments, Austin knew they weren't going anywhere for a few days.

"Thank god, I gotta piss." Randy teased, heading straight for the bathroom. He grabbed himself a quick shower, giving her time to finish sorting herself out and finally emerged from the bathroom in nothing, but a pair of dark blue jeans. Going to snag himself a cigarette, Randy lit up two and held one out to her. "Care to talk?" He asked softly.

"Yeah, we need to get it out of the way." She murmured softly, accepting the cigarette and took a long drag out of it while sitting on the bed, Randy beside her. "I just don't know where to begin." She rested her cheek against her knee that was propped up, messing with her clipped and newly pedicure toenails, the cigarette dangling between her fingers, sighing softly. "What do you want to know Randy or, more importantly, what do you want to talk about?"

Randy shrugged, leaning back against the headboard, cigarette between his lips. To be honest, he didn't know where to begin either. He realized that they needed to get things between them sorted, but...it was hard to find a place to start.

"I want to know where we stand, from your end." He said finally.

Austin nodded and took a drag of her own, smoke filtering from her mouth, looking up at him. "I want to be with you." Her eyes lowered to the bedding, knowing that wouldn't happen until his divorce was finalized, feeling his hand reach out to cup her chin between two fingers, lifting her face up to meet his. "I love you and I'm done running. I've done my running and want to settle down with you, Randy. I never should've ran those years ago from you, I should've stayed. So now I'm asking you the same thing. Where do you stand from your end?"

"I love you and I want to be with you." Randy said, the depth of his love for her coming through in his tone and shining from his eyes, slowly releasing her chin, fingers brushing against her lips. "I know with me getting divorced, it'd be awkward, but I don't care, I want you. If you want to wait...I'll understand." He wouldn't like it, but he would understand.

"No, we've waited long enough." She murmured softly, scooting to snuggle against him, being careful with her cigarette while his fingers ran through her hair. A smile crossed her face as his scent wafted in the air around her. "So how are we going to do this? Do we live separately for now until after the divorce is finalized and to make sure we can actually tolerate each other?" She grinned up at him, cracking a small joke and kissed him softly, already knowing she could tolerate Randy as she took another drag of her cigarette.

"Hmmm..." Randy arched an eyebrow, staring down at her. "Samantha is still living in the house so I'm currently homeless." He admitted, having planned on living out of hotels, which he did anyway most of the time due to his job, and whatnot. He'd had friends go raid the house for his stuff, however, not trusting Sam to not auction it off on EBay or something. "I can tolerate you, I think."

"You're no longer homeless. I want you to live with me here in Atlanta. There's plenty of room for you here and once the divorce is finalized, we'll go to St. Louis if you want." Austin said, watching Randy's eyes light up, smiling before bringing his face down to hers, softly kissing him and felt Randy pull her on top of him, straddling him. "Mmm thank you for making me see the light. I nearly made the biggest mistake of my life."