DISCLAIMER: As much as it breaks my heart to admit it, I do not own anyone or anything connected to Vince McMahon and his awesomeness. I can only claim property rights of OC.

***A/N – Forgive me for this being so short. Lately it's just been so hard to find time to write. I promise I will try to do better.***

Claire stared at the email from Stephanie, not really sure what to make of it. It was really good news and really bad news, all at the same time. Stephanie had a final press date for the book. In exactly 3 months and 2 days Voices: Tales from a Viper was slated to hit bookstores. And in exactly 4 days, 14 hours and 37 minutes Claire was expected to report back to HQ. With a sigh, she leaned back into the soft cushions of the leather couch and took off her glasses. She knew they were on borrowed time. Their time alone in this insulated cocoon was going to end much sooner than she wanted it to. Now she had to figure out what the hell they were going to do next. Before now, Claire wouldn't let herself think about what would happen when she had to go back to Stamford. She knew, from early on, that leaving Randy would be one of the hardest things she ever have to do. And that was why she kept telling herself she would worry about it later. Well, "later" had finally come to bite her in the ass. With a sigh Claire looked out of the floor to ceiling windows. The sun was shining in a clear blue sky, the trees moved gently in the breeze. She sat there, looking at nothing in particular, as she tried to decide what she was going to do.

Entering the room without a sound, Randy watched Claire stare outside. Her brows were pulled tight, a frown pulling at her lips. He moved quietly to stand behind the couch. Leaning down he kissed her cheek, "If you frown too hard, your face will freeze."

Claire turned her head slightly and looked at Randy. She made a small sound in the back of her throat but didn't answer.

"That would be such a shame, too. You're too beautiful to spend the rest of your life looking like this." Randy said.

Claire smiled softly and rubbed her cheek against his.

Randy was becoming more concerned. Claire was being too quiet. "What's wrong, baby?" he asked.

Claire shrugged slightly and leaned her head back against the couch. She stared up at him for a moment, "I don't want to have to go back to Stamford."

Randy let out a long breath. This was the moment he had been waiting for and dreading at the same time. He knew it was only a matter of time before she would go back to Stamford and her old life. It was something he couldn't stop thinking about. "I know you don't want to go back." I don't want you to he thought. Randy was quiet as continued running his fingers through her hair as they silently looked at each other.

"Stephanie wants me back in Stamford by the end of the week." Claire said as she watched for Randy's reaction. He sighed deeply then moved to sit beside her on the couch.

He was quiet for a long moment as he sat beside her. Claire pulled her knees up to her chest and wrapped her arms around them. Randy reached out and rested his arm on top of hers. He silently stroked his fingers over the back of her hand. "How do you feel about that?" he asked.

Claire arched a brow as she looked at Randy. Since when was he the kind of guy that asked that kind of a question? Oh yeah, right, since he had admitted the ugly truth of his past. Since then, he had been very concerned about Claire's feelings. "I feel like shit."

Randy laughed softly and pulled Claire to his side. She let her weight rest against him as he wrapped an arm around her shoulders. "What do you want to do?"

Claire couldn't look at Randy as she said, "I want to stay here."

Randy nodded in agreement. He was ready and willing to stay exactly where they were. He didn't want to walk back into the real world any more than she did. He wanted to them to stay together, just like this. "I do too, baby."

Taking a steadying breath, Claire forced herself to look at Randy, "What are we going to do?"

Randy shook his head slowly. They both knew exactly what they were going to do. She was going back to Stamford and he was going back on the road. They were going to be separated by more miles than he cared to think about. He wasn't sure he was capable of handling a long distance relationship. He never had a relationship like this before. Never had he allowed himself to get emotionally attached to the women he'd been with. But Claire, that was a different story altogether. He couldn't imagine his life without her. "We're going to have to go back work." Randy said.

Claire knew what he had not given voice to, the fact that they would go back to their lives. Without each other. That wasn't something she thought she could handle. She had quickly grown accustomed to having Randy with her all the time. The thought of going days and possibly months without seeing him made her chest ache. She didn't have a clue how she was going to get through the countless days ahead of them.

"Is there a Plan B?" Claire asked.

Randy shook his head slowly, "I wish there was. I'm going into the city, why don't you come with me?" Maybe getting her out of the house would help ease her suddenly dark mood.

Claire sighed as she leaned her head back against the edge of the couch, "I think I'll just stay here."

Squeezing her hand gently, Randy leaned over and kissed her cheek, "I'll be back in a while. Try not to miss me." He pulled himself to his feet and looked down at her. God, it was going to kill him when she left. Shaking his head to clear his thoughts, Randy turned to leave.

St. Louis was a strange city. The signs of growth and improvement were everywhere but somehow everything seemed exactly the way Randy remembered it. He pulled his sunglasses off as he stepped into the shadow of an oak tree. Looking down the street, he saw the signs marking his arrival to the Historic Shopping District. It wasn't the part of town he usually preferred, but it happened to be the home of one of his favorite stores, Sully's. It was difficult to find clothes that would fit him but it was even harder to find clothes he liked. Sully's was a mix of both; giving him more to his wardrobe than acid washed jeans and Affliction t-shirts. Randy's steps slowed as he watched a young couple emerging into the mid-afternoon sunshine. The man stopped long enough to scoop a small, blonde haired girl into his arms. He held her against his shoulder as he reached to take the woman's hand. She smiled up at him as if the sight of him made her happy. As the couple moved closer, Randy couldn't help but watch with a mix of awe and sadness. He never really thought about what it would be like to spend the rest of his life with one person. The idea of settling down and spending his life in domestic bliss had never really appealed to him. Since Claire had come into his life, he realized that there could be more to life. Maybe there was something to be said for declaring yourself off limits to everyone else. Randy turned and watched the couple continue their hand in hand stroll down the street. He forced himself to turn back in the direction he was heading.

Stepping into cool, dark interior of Sully's, Randy tucked his sunglasses into the collar of his shirt. Moving to the counter, Randy leaned against it and looked around. He just couldn't get the picture of that couple out of his mind. What was it that made them so happy? What was the motivation to stay with someone for the rest of your days? Randy knew the answer was love. Love made you do all kinds of crazy things that you never thought you would. His love for Claire was making him question his bachelor's existence. Maybe it was time to start seriously thinking about settling down.

His thoughts were interrupted as Sully came out of the storage area. Randy's eyes moved over him, noticing that the tattoo sleeve on his left arm was finished. Sully moved to the front of the counter and held his hand out Randy, "Long time, no see, man." Sully was built a lot like Randy, tall and well built. His long black hair was pulled into a braid that hung to the middle of his back.

Randy smiled faintly as he nodded, "Been on the road for a while."

Sully nodded as he motioned for Randy to follow him into the back room, "Just got in a new shipment." Leaning down to a large box, he pulled out a stack of neatly folded shirts. He handed them to Randy before sitting down on a low stool. Randy quickly looked through the stack and set aside three shirts. The rest he handed back to Sully.

"How's life treating you?" Sully asked.

"Not too bad. You?" Randy replied.

"Can't complain. You made it here just in time, the store's gonna be closed for a while."

Randy glanced up from the box he was looking in, "Really?"

"Going on my honeymoon." Sully's voice held a hint of amusement.

What the fuck? Randy thought as he looked at Sully. What was the deal with everything suddenly revolving around getting hitched? First the couple on the street and now Sully? What the hell was going on?

Sully laughed softly as he pulled his cell from the back pocket of his jeans. He checked the screen then replaced it, "I figure it's about time. After ten years and two kids, she deserves it."

Randy shook his head slowly as he stared at the other man, "What makes you say that?"

Sully's deep laugh was heartfelt, "If Angela is willing to put up with my shit for so long, she's definitely worth keeping."

That was something that Randy could relate to. In the short time he had been with Claire, he had put her through hell. That was something she had in her favor. It was much harder to walk away from someone that stood beside you through thick and thin. He wasn't going to be young forever and God only knew how much longer his career would last. It was time for him to start making more permanent arrangements. Randy stood slowly and he tapped Sully on the shoulder, "Glad to hear it. It's about time you made an honest woman out of her."

Sully laughed as he followed Randy to the register, "She said the same thing."

Randy handed over his credit card as Sully finished placing his purchases in a bag. "I'm happy for you."

Sully nodded as he handed the card back to Randy, "Not as happy as she was to get that ring. Come see me next time you're in town."

Randy shook hands with Sully again before picking up the bag. He slipped his sunglasses on and stepped back onto the street. He slowly walked up the street, his attention focused on the worn, gray concrete. He wasn't sure what the hell he was supposed to do now. All he knew for certain was that he wanted Claire in his life. He couldn't imagine his future without her in it. But he wasn't sure if he was ready to take that next step. That was something he was going to have to figure out.

***A/N – What do you want to see happen or find out before this story ends? Leave a review and tell me what inquiring minds want to know!***