A/N:Well, after having messaged everyone that reviewed, which I thank you for by the way, you all know now that everything is not as it seems. And by that, don't think of Noah as the bad one. There is more to be revealed. She has her defence, 'innocent till proven guilty' as they say. Enjoy the chapter XxX
Disclaimer: I own Noah. Unfortunately, I do not own anything affiliated with the WWE and I do not maintain to have the knowledge of any of the wrestler's personal lives and anything used here, is for the purpose of the story. Thank You!
CHAPTER TWENTY THREE
As I stood alongside Randy, his arm encircled around my waist, staking his claim, my eyes were glued to Ted's face. His reaction was surprising. At the very least, I knew he'd be angry, especially to have found Randy and I in this position, which I had never wanted.
I had never thought about coming here to be with Randy. On the contrary, I thought Randy wouldn't want to see me ever again after what I done to him at the show. But to find that the moment I kissed him, he kissed me back, was the best feeling in the world. It sent my heartbeat crazy and my pulse racing. But it all came crashing back down, the moment I saw Ted. He brought me back to reality
The moment I saw Randy standing there, with the smirk adorning his pale lips, it was that moment, I knew with him was where I belonged. I had just hoped he felt the same way.
I placed my hands on Randy's arm, looking up at him. His eyes were dark, shadowed, as if he was thinking about something.
"Tedd...." I began to speak but he cut me off as he held his hand up. He took a deep breath, pinching the bridge of his nose.
"What the hell is goin'....." he also started but was cut off by a woman bustling up behind the three of us.
"Can you take your seats in the theatre please. The show is about to start".
"Can't you see we're tryin' to deal with somethin' here lady?" Ted tried to point out, his hands tugging frustratedly at his hair.
"Didn't you hear me Sir. I said, take your seats" she snapped before heading in the direction of the green room to retrieve the other guests.
Neither party moved. Ted stayed rooted to the spot, and I rocked back and forth on my heels a little, still pressed against Randy's torso. I heard the commotion of everyone coming towards us from the direction of the green room and as they passed, Randy took that as his opportunity to escort me to the theatre along with everyone else. I walked quickly to keep up with him, his hand sliding against my own, his fingers intertwining with mine. He tugged me behind him as I held my dress up with my other hand.
As we neared the theatre's vast entrance, the crowd cleared and I tugged Randy to a stop outside.
"We've all got seating arrangements. I'm with Phil and Amy. I'll see you after the show". He nodded, lifting his hand and running his thumb along my jaw in an upwards motion. I closed my eyes at the contact before he brushed my forehead with his lips and then pressed his lips to my hand. My eyes flicked open, as we lost contact and he walked away towards his seat. I sighed and walked into the hall but started when my arm was touched.
"Not in there sweetheart. You're backstage" a man in his mid-thirties with jet black hair and glasses spoke to me.
"Huh?" I questioned, my two hands, still holding my dress up.
"Miss Morgan right?" I nodded "You're backstage darling. I'm told you are escorting Mr Dibiase onto the stage".
"What? You're having a laugh? This is a joke right?" my eyebrows almost shot into my hairline as the man told me what I was supposed to be doing.
"Afraid not sweetie" he tutted "This way please. I've got a lot to deal with before we roll. Now follow me" he turned and walked down the aisle along the side of the theatre, towards the stage. I followed quickly as he took me backstage once again, this time where I'd have to face Ted Sr.
Following the black haired man backstage, the butterflies were already churning in my stomach. I knew, if anything, Ted Dibiase was a man who cared about his son dearly. He looked out for his wellbeing, everything he did was for his kids and family. So I had no idea what his reaction would be to me and if Ted had told him anything to do with us.
As the man came to a stop, he pointed at a small huddle of stagehands, circled around a man. I sighed, watching his stressed face as they all bustled to change something, like touching up his stage makeup or adding his microphone.
A few moments later, they had dispersed and I approached him with a smile.
"Mr Dibiase? I'm Noah, I hear, I'm going to be escorting you onstage tonight". He turned to face me and flashed me a wide smile.
"Its nice to meet you Noah" he held his hand out and shook my own hand gently.
"I apologise for my outburst in the green room before Sir. I guess you could say that the shock of seeing Shawn retire, got to me".
"These things do sweetheart. Now, on another note. I know about you and my son. I don't want to see him hurt and I gather you don't wanna get hurt either. He's a big boy and he's gotta sort out his own mess, but for both of your sakes, I suggest it gets done rather quickly".
"Yes Sir. Its complicated, but it will get sorted".
"Enlighten me as to how complicated it is?" he smiled at me, taking my hand and encouraging me to take a seat before his speech "And call me Ted please".
After telling Ted Dibiase about the situation between Randy, Ted Jr and myself, albeit leaving out the crude and rude details, I felt like a weight had been lifted off of my shoulders. For someone else to know the whole truth, it was lightening. It made me feel like maybe it wasn't all that bad. And that's what Ted told me.
"From what I gather, my son has some issues to deal with. I can see where every person has went wrong, but mistakes are meant to be made, its how we learn. Its a simple situation to fix. You'll have to speak with Ted as soon as possible and then speak to Randy and tell him the whole truth".
"I understand. I didn't intentionally want Ted to catch Randy and I in that moment. I didn't come here to be with Randy. In fact, I'm here, because Vince told me to be here. I had hoped not to see Randy at all after what happened. But now I know, with Randy, is where I am meant to be".
"And what does Samantha think of that?" he raised one eyebrow behind his glasses.
I felt a large lump rise in my throat. I'd put Sam to the back of my head over recent weeks. She'd not been important at the time but come to think of it, she was the biggest obstacle Randy and I would face. I would have to speak to Randy about his fiancee and find out where she was and what was going on. I didn't want to mess about anymore. Being with Randy was 'it' for me.
"I'm not sure. I haven't see her around in a few weeks. Well, I haven't personally seen her since I attacked her in the...."
"You attacked Sam?" Ted cut me off, his face trying to disguise a smile. I nodded with my head bowed.
"Yeah. Not the finest moment of my life. She was saying some nasty things, I pulled her hair, grasped her face, warned her to keep her mouth shut or I'd break her plastic nose off. Pretty much along those lines. She threatened to sue me, but Randy dealt with that. It also caused the two of us to have many issues to work through. But we've gotten there. Almost".
"Well, that is interesting. You're a lil firecracker huh?" he smirked "At least, I know you'll keep ma boys in line". I smiled warmly as he referred to Randy, Ted and Cody as 'my boys'.
We continued to talk for a few moments before Ted Dibiase's call for the stage was made. I linked my arm with his, righted myself, taking a deep breath and then escorted him out onto the stage. With a large smile, plastered to my face, I scanned the crowd for Randy. Spotting him, seated next to his father Bob Orton, John Hennigan and Jake Hager, I smiled inside. He was smiling at me too and he flashed me a wink. I waved at the crowd, kissed Ted on the cheek and then walked back stage and let out the breath I was holding.
"Why didn't you tell me you'd be onstage?" Randy asked as he caught me 30 minutes later when the show had finished and I'd managed to escape from backstage. Wrapping my arms around his waist, I pressed my face against his chest and sighed in relief.
"I didn't know" I murmured against him "This crazy guy caught me after you walked away and dragged me backstage. It was kind of weird. I was nervous about meeting Ted Dibiase for obvious reasons but he spoke to me and gave me some advice which made me feel better".
"Advice?" Randy questioned, combing his fingers through my bobbed hair gently as he pulled me back to look down at my face "What kind of advice?" his tongue darted out to lick the corner of his mouth.
"He just told me, I had to sort this situation with Teddy out. He told me, he knew his son was a big boy and he was old enough to deal with his own problems but that I would have to deal with mine too. He told me, the three of us had made mistakes but that was how we learn. We learn from making the mistakes".
"And what mistakes did you make?" Randy commented casually. I smiled at little, reaching up to cup the back of his head with my hand.
"Leaving you in the first place" I answered simply before pressing my lips to his, falling into his embrace instantly.
I broke the kiss, pressing my forehead against his own.
"I want to leave" I murmured. Randy nodded against me.
"We don't have to stay, if you don't want to. But I think Shawn was hoping you would speak to him".
"I'm not ready" I shook my head, closing my eyes "He lied to me. For a long time. He deserves to feel some regret over it. I just...I don't want to talk about it O. How did you get here?"
"I came with John and Jake. But, I can borrow Cena's truck, if you want to leave".
"Mhmmm...good idea. You go and see John and I'll wait for you in the lobby". He kissed the side of my neck before we parted ways and I made my way through the throng of people to the deserted lobby.
Well, mostly deserted. There was a lone figure, pacing back and forth near the door. His hands were in his pockets and his head was down as he muttered to himself.
"Teddy" I acknowledged him, breathing out deeply. His head shot up and he looked at me, the hurt evident on his face. I lifted my dress and shimmied towards him, coming to a stop close enough to touch him "I...I know what happened back there, was...well a shock. To say the least. But you have no right to be angry. We talked about this. We talked about...."
"No, we talked 'bout us. Not you and Randy" he spat out "We talked 'bout us, Noah".
"Yes! You said you wanted out Ted. You said, you loved me but you didn't want to lie to me. You told me about Kristen. And I agreed. I told you, I was having trouble, dealing with everything too. As hard as it was, you were my rock, my support, but I gave that up so you could find out what you wanted. So you could try things with Kristen. I dealt with everything on my own. I struggled through that fact that I wanted...needed Randy and that he was engaged to someone else. I struggled through my emotional entanglement with the story lines. I gave you the space you wanted. I gave you everything you fucking wanted and more. And yet you're the angry one. Why?
"Because, I didn't know you wanted Randy!!" his voice rose as the anger radiated off him, his southern accent breaking through. He continued in a quieter voice a few seconds later "Why didn't you tell me that? You told me, you wanted space too, because you were struggling. You didn't tell me you wanted someone else".
"Does it matter whether I told you that I wanted Randy or not? It's not the point. You told me you wanted someone else. And that hurt me. How did you think that made me feel? I love you Ted, that's the truth. But even though I'm not in love with you, it hurts to think that you want someone else more than me. Which is how I expect you feel, knowing I want Randy. If you were to take Randy out of the equation, you wouldn't be angry right now. You would be fine with the fact that you are going to be with Kristen, and I am moping about like a kicked puppy".
"That's not true. I want you to be happy. I love you too. I want what's best for you".
"Randy is what's best for me" I insisted "He's everything to me. He always has been. It has always been him. The same as its always been Kristen for you. I told you, if we loved one another that much, we'd find a way back to each other. But you can't deny, that with them if feels better. With Kristen and Randy, it feels right". I knew I'd won the argument, the fight, when he let out a huge sigh and his shoulders drooped.
I stepped towards him. looking up the short distance, between out heights.
"You can't deny it Teddy. The way you feel for her is too strong. Its the same way, I feel for Randy. You love me and I love you. But its not the same. It never was the same. You are in love with Kristen and I am in love with Randy". He nodded, a few small jerks of his head and then I reached out and wrapped my arms around him. I pressed my face into his neck tightly and just held him. He caved a few moments later, his arms pulling me tightly against him. I sighed in his embrace, the safe, protected feeling returning.
"Go and tell her how you feel. She's waiting for you Ted" he nodded against me once more before pulling back, his fingers carding through my shorter hair. I sighed and smiled at him, taking one hand in my own, holding it against my cheek and pressing a kiss to the side of it.
"Are you going to be alright?" he asked, his voice a few octaves lower than normal as if he was struggling with the words.
"I'll be fine. Randy is going to take me home". He nodded dazed for a few seconds and then we parted and he turned and walked away from me, straight out of the theatre without looking back. But I knew he'd be okay, once he got to see Kristen.
I heard Randy's footsteps behind me a few seconds later and I knew he'd been listening to the majority of the conversation I'd had with Ted. He placed his hand on my shoulder and I nodded before reaching up to take his hand. He led me out of the theatre, across the now deserted parking lot, towards John's pickup truck. Opening the door for me, I slid in. He closed the door and I reached into my clutch and took out my phone, sending a quick text to Phil 'Goin' home with Randy. Got a few things to sort out. Thanx for bringin me. Love you xox'
Randy got into the truck and started it up, the engine rumbling beneath us, the heater spewing hot air around the truck. I turned it off and stared at Randy before he pulled the truck out of the parking lot and we drove in silence, towards the hotel.
Pulling up at the hotel where the roster was staying, the valet took the truck off of us and Randy handed him a tip before taking my hand again and leading me inside the hotel. We headed for the elevator straight away and Randy hit the button for his floor.
"Well you're damn sure of yourself aren't you?" I smirked at him. His head turned towards me and his eyes fixed on mine, the shadowed in-ring 'Viper' look crossing over them for a few seconds before he smiled.
"What floor are you on?" his fingers lacing with mine. I laughed and moved closer to him, pressing myself against the front of his suited body.
"You know, I'll be following you anyway. We've got things to talk about". His hand stroked over the top of my head as I placed my cheek against his chest.
We exited the elevator on his floor and walked along the hall in a slow silence, our joined hands swinging between us, Ted's words from earlier washed over me. How he'd asked me about Sam and what she thought and where she was. I needed to know the answers to those questions before anything between Randy and myself could continue.
Randy opened the door with his keycard and motioned for me to step inside first. I walked slowly in, finding my way in the moonlit room. As Randy turned on the lamps, I took a seat on sofa in the seating area, reaching down to unclasp my shoes, kicking them both uncerimoniously under the table. I flexed my toes, feeling the ache from where the straps had been digging in, slowly relieve itself.
I rid myself of my clutch and ran my fingers through my hair, tugging out some of the hairspray.
Looking up, I saw Randy with his back to me, as he checked to see if there were any messages on the hotel phone.
"Randy, where's your fiancee?" the words slipped out without any thought and I watched as he visibly tensed and turned towards me, fixing me with a narrowed look.
END OF CHAPTER
A/N2:I hope you liked it, it didn't go the way I wanted it too. But I was getting frustrated with it. More to come. And Noah's dress is up on my homepage now. Thanks XxX
