And we have reached the end. I hope you have enjoyed. Thanks for all the lovely reviews. Guest, you're entirely right, I was writing this on the fly, I didn't really know where it was going, but I like where it has ended up. I'm very grateful for the support that has been offered to this story, and hopefully I'll be back with some more Wade goodness soon.
Wade waited until she was silent, and her breathing had evened, before he spoke. There was a sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach that he just couldn't shake. A knot of anger formed in his stomach, but he fought to keep it there, needing first to know exactly what had happened.
She looked up, and he was surprised to see her eyes not full of fear, but of hope.
"I talked with Drew."
The sinking feeling in his stomach returned. All his mind could see was her walking away. Wanting to keep her close for as long as it would last, he touched her cheek, wiping away a tear.
She smiled softly. "He's not going to hurt me again. We talked, and worked things out. He knows what he did, and he's sorry."
"You're sure?" She could be too trusting, but Wade couldn't and wouldn't brush aside his naturally cynical nature.
"He accepts that he raped me and he said if I go to Vince he'll accept the consequences." She shivered slightly at the words.
"Li, until today I wasn't sure that you even accepted it was rape."
"Maybe I didn't. I don't know." She rested her head on his chest, encouraged when his arms held her close, his hand gently stroking her hair. "Talking to him, it was like our relationship was so insane, neither of us knew what was going on, what the other wanted. He... he wanted to hurt me, and he did hurt me, he knows that now."
"So what happens now?"
"We move on. He said it's over." She felt the audible sigh of relief from the Englishman and looked up in surprise. "You thought I'd go back to him?"
"I don't know."
"Don't you trust my feelings for you?" Anger flashed quickly in her eyes, and she pulled away from his embrace.
"Of course I do." He shook his head. "You've been so bloody hurt by him though, forgive me for thinking that he might prey on that to get you back."
"Yes, I've been hurt by him. He raped me Wade, you're the one who made me realise what he did. And you're the one who's helped me move on. I needed to talk to him to deal with it all and reassure myself that I didn't need to live the rest of my life being terrified about what he'd do to me, but I came back to you. I was always coming back to you, no matter what. I bloody love you, you idiot." She pushed at his chest in frustration.
He felt like his heart stopped for a few moments, and then he just looked at her and grinned, scooping her up into his arms and kissing her thoroughly. Lisa squealed in delight, returning the kiss, barely stopping until the need for air intervened.
Wade rested his forehead against Lisa's and cupped her cheeks affectionately. "I love you too. Which goes without saying of course."
A huge smile broke across her face, and she found tears starting to fall again, this time soothed by his thumbs gently brushing her skin. "I finally feel like things might be ok."
"They will."
She nodded, nearly believing it. "I'm not going to tell Vince, but I need you to promise me that you'll steer clear of Drew from now on."
"Out of the ring, absolutely. Unless he hurts you again, in which case all bets are off. In the ring, I reserve the right to do to him as I do to everyone else, ok?"
"I guess I'm ok with that." She laughed a little at Wade's competitive streak. "I would expect nothing less of you anyway." Her face fell as she realised there was still unfinished business. "Enough damage has already been done."
He knew that she wasn't referring to him, and immediately started worrying again. "Li..."
"I argued with Justin this morning. He went and spoke to Drew last night, and ended up punching him. I knew J was upset but I never thought he would do that. I was so angry with him, we argued. I hate arguing with J." She wiped at her eyes but it was futile. "I was so scared that you'd do something stupid to Drew, and then Justin goes and does exactly what I was afraid of."
"Lise, I never meant to make you scared, and I'm..." Wade looked away, ashamed to realise exactly how much he'd contributed to Lisa's fear. "I will never forgive myself for hurting you."
"You didn't hurt me," she protested, but he knew it was a lie. "I know you Wade. I've always known you're protective, and I love that about you. It's only because I was scared of losing you, of not being able to have you with me. The thought of dealing with Drew on my own terrified me."
"Yet you did it anyway," he whispered, proud and amazed beyond words that this woman was in his life.
"Because you made me strong again."
"So what about Justin?"
She sighed. "I need to talk to him. I was so angry. I know he was only looking out for me, and you know, whatever you and him said to Drew, it at least started to sink in and helped Drew to see what he was doing, but..."
"Call him. Go and meet with him. Get this sorted Lise. Let us all move on."
She nodded, turning away from Wade to grab her phone. After a short conversation, she hung up and looked at her partner. "Will you come?"
"This is something between you and J. I'll be right her waiting for you."
She approached him for another hug, which was freely given. Despite how things had moved on, Lisa still needed Wade's strength.
"You'll be fine. J loves you."
She walked away with trepidation, each step towards Justin's room filling her with more worry. What if he was angry? What if he didn't forgive her? She knocked on the door and almost turned to run away but when it opened and she saw the hopeful look on his face, she had faith that things would be ok.
"Oh J I'm sorry," she whispered, "I'm so sorry."
"No I'm the one who's sorry," he took her hand and led her into the room, shutting the door carefully behind them. "I never meant to hurt you Li, I never meant to upset you."
"I know you didn't. I know you were only looking out for me. I spoke to Drew. That was quite the shiner you gave him."
Justin had the grace to look ashamed. "I lost control. I shouldn't have lashed out."
"No you shouldn't. But I understand why you did. I love you J, I was so scared I was going to lose you or Wade, I really don't think I would have coped."
"God I'm so sorry Li," Justin reached forward and held Lisa's hands tightly.
"I just... I don't, for a single second, want you to do anything like this again, but this time it worked, J. I talked to Drew. I talked to him, and whatever you said, whatever Wade said, whatever the both of you did... it worked. He understands what he did to me, how fucked up our relationship was... and it's over." Lisa felt like she was never going to stop crying, wiping at her eyes yet again. "It's over."
"You're my best girl Li, I felt like shit when I realised how much I'd upset you. I was just so angry at him."
"I know. Can we move on?"
"You forgive me?"
Lisa laughed at the penitent look on Justin's face. "Do you know how hard it is to stay angry at you?"
He pouted, "what are you trying to say?"
"Of course I forgive you, now come here and give me a hug."
He quickly acquiesced, grateful to be given a second chance, and grateful to have his best friend back in his life. "I'm glad you've forgiven me, otherwise I bet Wade would have kicked my ass for hurting you."
"Damn right."
"So what happens now?"
"Now, we move on." Lisa kissed Justin's cheek and reluctantly pulled away. "Meet us for lunch?"
"Of course."
As Lisa walked back to the room she shared with Wade, she smiled. She felt happy, and free, and that would take some getting used to. The most important thing though: she felt loved. And that, it was the best feeling in the world.