AN: I know most of you must 'hate' Rydel now after the last chapter. But I have a reason why I had Rydel do what she did. Just stay with the story and let it unfold…

Chapter 40

It has been three weeks since everything came out about Ratliff and Ross being together. Austin and Ally was officially cancelled, Disney didn't know what to do with the publicity of Ross being with Ratliff. The character of Austin Moon was supposed to start a Romance with Ally Dawson Laura's character but how could they tell that story when everyone knows Ross is Gay. Ross felt horrible for everybody; Raini, Calum and Laura were now out of a job due to his secret being exposed. The day Ross found out the news, he just lost it the sobs just wracked his body as he screamed out his frustrations about the whole situation.

This wasn't fair. He was losing out and so were other people because of who he fell in love with. How was that right? The producers assured him that they don't think any different of him then they had before, and they told him that he shouldn't blame himself.

But he did.

How could he not after it was cancelled after the news about him came out?

Ross smashed his guitars and totaled his dressing room when they were told to come on down and clean out their dressing rooms. He couldn't look at Laura, Raini and Calum, he felt horrible. Laura told him that it wasn't his fault, that the company was a bunch of closed mind oldies that couldn't come to grasp on how love works. And that what really mattered was that he found love with a partner that really fit him. Raini and Calum told him the same thing, and that the show was fun but what made it special were the friendships that they made off it, so the show may be done but their friendships will continue.

But nothing really could comfort him.

R5 was officially dropped from the label, as this time there was no second chance. So basically Ross had to lose his dreams due to the fact that he fell in love with someone that he wasn't supposed to love according to the public's opinion. Most if his fans stayed and told him that no matter what that they would stand behind him. But he did lose some fans claiming it that they found it disgusting and what they were doing was wrong and sinful. His twitter followers dropped in half.

Ross sighed. He truly lost everything.

Laura just got home from Raini's. They had left the studio what would be the last time ever after they cleaned out their dressing rooms. She still couldn't believe the show was cancelled. She felt so horrible for Ross, he was really taking this hard and it wasn't right that he was feeling any guilt. In Laura's book he didn't do anything wrong, all he did was fall I love with a man. She understood that Disney was a family company, but why couldn't they understand that family is who loves you and accepts you. It doesn't judge you for whatever you do in life, and that as long as you are happy that is really the only thing that counts.

Laura sighed.

Riker walked up and sat next to her on the couch. She leaned her head on his shoulder. He placed a kiss on her head.

" I am sorry you lost the show." Riker said comfortingly.

" I am going to miss the show I really am, but I am more upset for Ross. He completely blames himself for this and he shouldn't. He fell in love, what is the big deal about that?" Laura asked.

Riker sighed.

" I agree with you it is a shame. People should be able to love anybody that they want and not be judged for it. I just hate to see my baby brother in so much pain."

" I agree, I don't think even Ratliff can get through to him. I swear if I find out who is responsible for exposing them, I think I could literally kill them." Laura seethed.

" Slow down tiger, we do need to find out though. It should be totally illegal to do what they did. Take pictures and post it without permission. That is just cold." Riker answered.

Rocky came through the door and slammed the door. Both Riker and Laura looked up to him.

" Rocky everything okay?" Riker asked.

Rocky rolled his eyes.

" Sure everything is peachy, our little brother just had his world blown to smithereens, and you ask me that?"

Riker rolled his eyes. " Dude take a chill pill, all I asked was a question. You came in hear slamming the door and all."

Rocky sighed.

"I know, look I'm sorry I just had a bad day I guess."

" Come sit with us, I think we really need to work together and see about helping Ross, he is losing it big time." Laura said. Rocky agreed and sat down. He really was worried about his little brother. Ross was usually so happy and this was a low blow for him. He and Ratliff were the ones that were supposed to be in control with their coming out and they were forced too.

Rocky couldn't help but sigh.

" How can we help him?" Rocky asked.

" Has anyone seen Ratliff?" Laura asked.

" I am pretty sure he is in the room with Ross, even though that probably isn't doing him any good. Ross has even frozen him out."

" Babe, can you go get him and have him come out here."

Riker nodded, he got up and went to go fetch Ratliff, leaving Rocky and Laura in the living room.

" Laura I am sorry about the show, that really sucks." Rocky said.

" Thanks Rocky, like I told Riker I am going to miss the show, but Raini, Calum and Ross will always be in my life, so a part of the show will live on as I made lifelong friendships with them and to the people on the crew."

Rocky just nodded. A few seconds later Riker and Ratliff made their way into the room. Ratliff's eyes were bloodshed from obviously crying. Laura's heart just broke. She got up and went to hug him. Ratliff accepted the hug pretty quickly and just leaned in and cried into her shoulder. After a minute or so he let up. He raised his head and wiped his tears.

" Sorry about that Laura" Ratliff turned his head. Laura just shook her head.

" You have nothing to be sorry about Ratliff, How is Ross?" Laura asked.

" I don't know, he dosent talk all he is doing is laying on the bed looking at the ceiling." Ratliff told her.

Laura's heart just broke.

" Guys we have to do something, I am really worried about Ross. We have to find a way to help him." Laura said as she made her way back to the couch and Riker. Ratliff sat down on the chair opposite Laura and Rocky sat in the other.

" What do you think we can do?" Rocky asked.

" Honestly I don't know anything that will snap him out of it, but I figured four heads will be better than one and we can all come up with something." Laura said.

" I agree, I think the first step in helping Ross is to find whoever did this." Riker replied.

" I agree I need to know who decided it was alright to do this to our lives like this." Ratliff said.

" But how are we going to find out who did it?" Rocky asked.

" That is where we need to start." Laura said.

The guilt was starting to eat her alive. Rydel knew that she made a horrible decision and it cost people their jobs. She liked Laura, Raini and Calum and she didn't mean to start the ball rolling that got the show cancelled. All she was focused on was trying to punish Ross and she ended up punishing everyone including herself.

R5 lost their record deal because of the conterversary. Her brothers and Ratliff must be so upset about that.

Rydel sighed.

What the hell did she do that for?

She really wasn't a mean or spiteful person despite of what she just did. Rydel felt horrible, she really didn't think this whole thing through. All she knew was that she was hurting at the fact that Ratliff and Ross were together, she had always hoped that Ratliff would be with her. But that is obviously not going to be happening anytime soon or ever.

Rydel could feel the tears coming on; she has been upset ever since her mother told her the news about the show and the deal. Why did she let a few angry thoughts destroy everything that her family worked for? Just so she could punish Ross?

Rydel just continued to sob.

People are going to hate her after they find out what she did. How are her brothers going to take it? Riker will probably go off on her, and Ryland will probably be disappointed and Rocky will probably be ashamed.

And for Ross? She really didn't care what he thought at the moment. She may feel guilty for running other people's jobs in this but she still couldn't help but still feel this deep burning anger at Ross. She knows she is being irrational. But it is what she felt and she couldn't help how she felt that way.

Rydel stop that she tells herself. She really has no room to be judging or being mad at other people after what she did.

Rydel knows she is going to have to confess. She knows that but she isn't ready.

There is no more Austin and Ally. There is no more R5. Those two thoughts kept rolling in his head. He really knew how to destroy good things didn't he?

Ross sighed.

He was a gigantic disappointment to everybody around him. He couldn't help but feel that maybe it would be better off if he wasn't around.

He was just a huge loser anyway no one would miss him anyway.

Raini and Calum would forget him a quickly as possible; they only knew each other for about two years now, so after a while they would soon forget that a Ross Lynch ever existed.

Ryland would go on with his life as a manager for some other band and be successful at it as he was for R5. Ross sighed.

Rocky would go on and find someone that was special for him and be happy. That is all that Ross wanted.

His parents. He loved his parents more than anything in this world, and he knew that it shocked them to learn that he was gay and in love with Ratliff. He can only hope that when they look back all they can see is how happy he was to have them as parents.

Ross just sighed as he thought of another person.

Rydel.

Ross sighed. He couldn't help but feel the deep hurt that his sister's rejection caused him. It has been weeks and not one single word from her. Ross had always looked up to her and her silence was the most heartbreaking thing. Ross knew that she sometimes felt that he was the favored child, because he seemed to get everything that he wanted. But he wanted to be able to share everything he got with his siblings and epically her, since she was his only sister. All Ross wanted for her was to find someone to take care of her and treat her like the princess that she really is.

Riker. He really was an awesome big brother and despite what Ross pulled when he learned about him and Laura and before he fell for his best friend. Riker still managed to forgive him and treat him like a brother. All Ross wanted was for Riker to be happy and he knew that was with Laura. He never saw two people who were so in love with one another as those two and they were right for one another.

Laura. Ross sighed. He was in love with her, he always has been. Now it is a different love then what he feels for Ratliff but Ross knows that love is there, and if there was no Riker or Ratliff then who knows what may have been. She was his best friend in the entire world, she was his family. There has been a bond between them ever since the first day at Austin and Ally. All Ross wants for her is to be happy and achieve her dreams. He knows that Riker means the world to her and he hopes they finally are able to become a family they so desperately want.

Ratliff.

What is there to say about him? Before they became lovers, Ratliff was Ross's best friend for how many years. They had a bond that at first thought it was a deep friendship bond. They would do anything for one another.

And then that friendship had turned to love. No one was more surprised than the two of them. How was it going to work transitioning from friends to being more? At first they were leery about it, they hadn't wanted to ruin the great friendship that they had going on for so many years.

But they couldn't help the natural reaction that happened whenever they wear near. Ross was drawn to him and the same went for Ratliff.

Ross was really blessed to have the people that he had in his life. He was just sorry that he cost them pain and misery. It would be better if he wasn't around.

All he felt was shame and disgust at himself for hurting the people that he loves most in the world. Ross felt the teardrops fall again.

Again. He was weak , he should be stronger to face all this but he just couldn't. Ross just felt like an utter disgrace.

Ross closed his eyes. He embraced the darkness that brought.

Maybe it was time for him to just let go and embrace the cold but yet something oddly familiar with the darkness.