Chapter 90:
Bundled in her black suede, sheepskin lined jacket, colorful scarf, jeans and black Ugg boots, Haley stood outside the Quincy Market Building in Faneuil Hall. Hundreds of people had passed her already, going in every direction, but no one paid any mind to the brunette Diva. They all had places to go, things to do, such was the atmosphere of Faneuil Hall.
For Haley, Faneuil Hall had always been a magical place, ever since she first saw it when she was fourteen years old. Which explained the dreamy, nostalgic smile on her face as she surveyed the streets around her. She could still remember coming above ground from the T station, seeing everything in bright, shining Christmas lights, with carols playing on every street corner. The shop front had outdone themselves on decorations, it had been like she had stepped into a snow globe.
Even now, eleven years later , it hadn't changed. With Christmas approaching, it was decorated to its magical glory. Fairy lights making the normally bare trees and lamp posts look magical. And like her fourteen year old self, Haley was entranced by it all.
"Where are you taking me?" Fourteen year old Haley Mariano demanded, tugging impatiently on the zipper of her winter parka. "You know I hate surprises." She added a pout for added effect.
Twenty four year old Dwayne Johnson grinned down at her, his bronzed hand gripping the rail above her head. "Patience Haley Baby, patience. We're almost there."
"Dwayne," Haley rolled her eyes with the exasperation only a preteen girl could pull off. "I haven't seen you in months and I only have you for tonight before you leave after the Raw show tomorrow, don't you think I should have some kind of idea where you are taking me?"
The rookie WWF Superstar tugging gently on a lock of her honey brown hair and chuckled. "Our stop is next, just hold out a little longer."
"This better be good. My mom almost didn't let me go tonight, school night and all. I'm still pissed she won't let me go to Raw tomorrow." Haley sighed heavily in disappointment.
"School's important Haley. I'll take you to live shows and even a Pay-per-view this summer. And don't worry about your mom, I talked her into letting me take you out on the town tonight." He assured her. "Your Dad backed me up too."
"You're not exactly taking me somewhere I haven't been before. I've been to Boston on field trips and to see Celtics games and stuff." She mirrored his signature raised eyebrow.
"Ah, but I already checked and you haven't been here before." The T car began to slow as they approached the stop for Faneuil Hall, and Dwayne grabbed one of her mitten covered hands in his. "Come on!" He started dragging her towards the doors, pushing past people to get off the subway.
"Where's the fire?" She complained lightly, jostling against several other passengers before they were on the platform.
He pulled her along with him toward the stairs that would lead them above ground. "Quit your bitching." He teased her as the air around them got brisker. "We're here!" He announced pulling her outside and into the open.
Whatever Haley had been about to retort died on her lips as she stared around her in wonder. The busy streets of Faneuil Hall were packed with people, heading into pubs and bars, restaurants or shopping. Christmas music played all around them and every block was decorated to the nines for Christmas.
"Your Mom said you'd never been to Faneuil Hall." Dwayne smiled broadly at the look on her face. "There's no better time to see Faneuil Hall than at Christmas time. So we're going to have dinner in Quincy Market and then we'll do a little shopping and a little exploring before I have to get you home."
"Oh wow, Dwayne!" Haley's answering smile was infectious. "This is beautiful! Thank you for bringing me here! Sorry I was such a brat."
"You weren't a brat. You were impatient." He hugged her close. "I wanted to do something special since like you said we haven't seen each other in months. Your letters were starting to sound a little lonely."
Her grip around him tightened before she relaxed. "Well I'm not exactly the most popular girl in school. I didn't go to Homecoming because no one asked me and the cheerleaders give me crap for liking wrestling. I think that's another reason the guys stay away, I'm a freak or something."
"You are not a freak." He told her firmly, kissing the top of her head. "You are beautiful. Those cheerleaders are jealous because they know some day you're going to have the world in the palm of your hand and guys will be falling all over themselves to go out with you. And there's going to be a special guy out there someday who sees all the good I see in you and will fall in love with you. You'll find great friends too who will always have your back. But until then, you've got me, always."
"And forever, right?" She pulled back enough to look up at him. "Promise you and I will never grow apart? No matter how famous you get."
"I promise." He chuckled. "No matter how famous I get, I will always be there for my Haley Baby."
She nodded, appearing satisfied. "Okay, then come on. You said something about dinner and I'm starving!"
"Always and forever, no matter how famous you get." Haley murmured softly to herself, coming out of her reverie.
"I meant every word of that promise." A familiar voice said quietly just behind her. "I even kept it to a point, until recently anyway."
She whirled around to see Dwayne standing behind her, hands shoved deep into the pockets of his leather coat. "Hey." She greeted him with a slight smile.
He lifted a brow at her smile and stepped closer. "Hey yourself. I'm happy you wanted to meet up. I owe you an apology, Haley and…"
She waved a hand to cut him off. "I don't want an apology." She said, surprising him. "I've been standing here, remembering our history and how for a long time, you were my only real friend. You've looked out for me, protected me and been there for me my whole life. And while I hate what you did, I don't want to lose you, lose us because everything I've achieved in my life comes back to you in its own way. I don't want to fight, I don't want us to not speak to each other. I want to move forward."
Disbelief was written all over his face before he suddenly reached out and crushed her against him. "Never again." He swore, pressing his cheek to her hair. "Never again will I hurt you like that. I will never lie to you just because I thought at the time it was in your best interest. You deserve the truth always."
"And forever." She laughed against him. "I've missed you Dwayne, and I'm glad you worked things out with Candice too."
Dwayne held her away from him for a moment to stare at her. "She told you?"
"She tells me everything." Haley grinned up at him. "I will now know things about you I've never known or really wanted to know, but you're the one who went and fell for my best friend."
"Please tell me she's is not giving you details about our sex life?" He grimaced at the very thought.
"She's not giving me details about your sex life." She lied very poorly and added a dopey smile to go with it.
"Ah…no." He groaned. "That's weird."
"Imagine how weird it is for me?" She ran a hand through her hair. "So let's move on from that lovely topic. Come on, I'll buy you dinner this time around."
"I love you hair cut by the way." Dwayne slid his arm around her shoulders and steered her into Quincy market. "And from what Candice tells me you and Dave have worked things out."
"Thanks, and we have." Haley nodded. "Dwayne," She paused, stopping him from walking for a moment. "We're buying a house."
His jaw dropped open in shock. "W-What? You're buying a house? Together?"
She nodded eagerly. "It's in Ipswich, Massachusetts. It's beautiful. You have to come see it."
He smiled down at her with a little sadness. "You've really grown up, you know. You have your own life and now you're taking a huge step with a man you love. I'm happy for you, but I can't help but be sad that you're not just mine anymore."
"Dwayne, I stopped being just yours when I broke into the WWE without you there." Haley hugged him again. "I'll always be your girl, but I'm Dave's now too, and Hunter's, and even Candice's. You have to share."
"I will. As long as you remember that I had you first." He gave her another squeeze before releasing her. "Now come on, you said something about dinner and I'm starving!"
A/N: I know this chapter was a little short but I want Dwayne and Haley's reunion to stand alone. Some of you might be a little peeved she forgave him so easily, but I used a flashback in this chapter to show how important Dwayne really is to Haley and why she can forgive him.
There was a time in Haley's youth, where she was a loner. Not by choice, but simply by being shy and not fitting in. Dwayne was all she had through those hard early teenage years. Their bond was what got her through missed Homecoming dances and hard days when the popular girls picked on her. Then he helped her grow through college and trained her to make it to the WWE.
While she was angry with him and rightfully so for lying to her, she forgave him because he is human and he is allowed to make mistakes. They won't completely bounce back all is forgotten and she will be more Triple H's girl in No Boundaries for sure, but Dwayne will always be Haley's constant in life, as he was when she was a kid.