Author Note: I have no words to describe how pleased I am to see how much you readers like this story. Thanks goes to tatyasdias for becoming a follower to this story. Thanks also goes to Slytherin Studios, Leasha Orton, THE Kid Hardy, DeeMarie426, LindaPipeBomb, and tatyasdias for the awesome reviews. I appreciate the warm encouraging words and your thoughts about what you think will happen next. Hope you enjoy the new chapter.
"The dust is clearing, the desert is calm.
The skies are all quiet and I can't make a sound.
An I just wait for you.
I'm calling for a savior to show me where to start.
And all who still remain are whispering in the dark.
And we just wait for a sign.
So this is my once upon a time.
So this is my star-crossed wasteland."
'A Star-Crossed Wasteland' by: In This Moment
Chapter 27: Outsmarted
Over the next two weeks, Rydia attempted several times to figure out why Mia seemed to be sick without having a cold or the flu. Every time she thought about it she came up with nothing at all to show for it. She also noted that it was far to quiet and there was no sign of Nick's interference at all since Skye's attack. It was just days away from Wrestlemania and her Diva's Championship match against AJ Lee and the nervous butterflies were starting to get to her mentally.
There were just so many things that were coursing through her brain and many of those things had no answers. Her legs carried her into the elevator only to be greeted by Brie and Nikki Bella. Rydia remembered how ignorant she had been to them a couple weeks ago when all they were trying to do was cheer her up.
"Brie...Nikki...I'm sorry for how I acted towards you guys. I didn't mean anything by it." Rydia apologized.
"No worries, Ry. Roman told us what happened. It was completely understandable." Brie replied.
A smile tugged at her lips and she reached out to hug them tightly. She valued their friendship just as much as she valued her friendship with Skye. Nikki felt a twinge of jealousy rise within her. Her relationship with John Cena had been tested on more than one occasion and now that he had been speaking highly of Rydia's talent inside and outside the ring she began to feel the envy towards the woman more dominantly.
"Nikki, are you okay?" Brie asked giving her twin sister a gentle jab with her elbow.
"Yeah...fine...we will see you later, Rydia." Nikki replied walking away the second the elevator doors opened.
Rydia was oblivious to Nikki's feelings and continued on towards the parking garage to wait for Roman. Her phone vibrated and sounded with a sparkle-like chime to indicate a text message. Her fingers worked quickly to get into where she could view the message. "Morning, baby girl! I'll be down in a few minutes." He stated.
"I'm by your car. Take your time there is no rush today."
"LOL! Okay."
She leaned against the black SUV and watched all the people come and go from the garage. The minutes continued to pass by and it was beginning to concern her. He never once ever lied to her about time and meeting her when he was able to. A sense of dread washed over her and without thinking about it another second, she left her belongings and ran back inside the hotel.
The Arena in Greenbay
Mia stood in the bathroom of the woman's locker-room, staring into the large mirror. It had become hard for her to avoid her sister's questions about being sick the way she was. She knew that as kids she never got sick, not even a cold. The nauseousness returned and felt that finally that time she really would vomit; but it never came out.
She cupped her hands under the running water and splashed the cool liquid onto her face several times, hoping that was settle her stomach. Dean wasn't there and would be for another few days. He was overseas on a tour with other members of the Shield and Rydia. It made her feel even more alone, because in her hands lay an unused pregnancy test. She silently prayed that the test would return negative. It's not that having a baby was a bad thing, it just was a bad time and a dangerous one at that.
"Ok...let's get this over with..." Mia whispered and heading into the stall.
Doing everything the instructions told her to do, she waited patiently for the results. The two minutes felt like an eternity and in those moments, her mind raced with the what if's. What if she was really was pregnant? What if she wasn't and if she wasn't, then what was wrong with her?
Mia wandered back into the stall and picked up the small stick that held her life in it's hands. Her eyes stared at the pink plus sign and felt her hands begin to tremble in fear. Her worst fear had come true. She was pregnant and had no one to go to. The feeling of being alone was overwhelming and tears trickled down her cheeks.
She tossed the used test into the trash and walked out of the bathroom. Her heart hurt with the many emotions she was feeling all at once. Above all other emotions, fear was the one she felt the most. Mia was afraid of what would happen if Nick found out about it. Would he target her and baby or would he target Dean?
Outside the locker-room, she found a large equipment case and sat down upon it. Her sobs turned into harsh cries of agony. She pulled her legs up against her chest and rested her head in between them. After what felt like an hour that way, she heard wheels of a luggage bag rolling across the floor and suddenly stop right in front of her. She hoped that whoever it was would just continue on and leave her to her pain.
"Mia..." A warm male voice called.
She knew that voice all too well. Randy stood before her wondering what have her in such a state. He watched as her head lifted up to face him. Her beautiful blue eyes were red and puffy from her obvious sadness. His concern was written all over his face and it warmed her. It had been a long time since they actually spoke to each other without hostility.
"What's wrong?" Randy asked softly and sat down next to her.
"Randy, did you ever envision us having kids when were together?" She asked.
He turned his head to the side, confused about her sudden question about something so personal. As much as he didn't want to remember his feelings for her, he didn't want to upset her further by not answering it at all. "I did, yes." He replied closing his eyes hating feeling jealous towards Dean for having her.
"Do you think I'd make a good mother?"
"Of course, where is all of this coming from?"
Mia's words refused to come out. Her fear of the reality was preventing her from admitting what needed to be said. Tears continued to roll down her sore cheeks. "I'm...I'm so scared, Randy. I don't know what to do. I don't want it to be in danger..." She cried and in context telling him what he needed to know.
"Mia, are you... pregnant?"
She nodded her head and pulled her legs tighter up against her chest. Randy wrapped a comforting arm around her. He could feel her trembling against chest. The confirmation that she was indeed pregnant was all he needed to make sure that she was protected and taken care while Dean was overseas.
"Why don't you stay with me until Dean comes back? I'll make sure that no harm comes to you from Nick and his crazy loons." Randy asked.
"Why would you want to help me? I haven't exactly been the nicest person to you over the last few months."
"True; but I'm not one to hold a grudge. We fell apart and we are both stronger because of it. Mia, I still care about you and I'm not about to let something happen to you or the baby you are carrying. I'd never forgive myself if I just walked away."
Mia tried to smile as she wrapped her arms around his neck. She was thanking him for everything without actually saying it with words. He helped her down from the case and escorted her to his locker-room. The walk gave her time to calm down about the shock of finding out that she was now pregnant. It also gave her time to figure out how to tell Dean about it.
Overseas
Rydia got back inside the hotel and scanned the large crowds of people checking in and out of the place. Panic was on overdrive; but when she spotted him in the long line at the front desk, relief was the best feeling in the world. She snuck passed all the people behind her and twined her fingers with his. His body jumped at little. "Hey, I thought you were at the car?" He asked.
"I was starting to worry when it took you so long."
Her answer was completely understandable considering the life they lived under constant caution. He couldn't help but smile at her and lean down to kiss her luscious lips. Once they got to the desk to check out the clerk closed his name from the room. "Oh we have a letter for you and a refund of the money you paid."
"What do you mean, refund?" He asked curiously.
"Someone picked up your bill, sir."
The clerk handed him the letter and an envelope of money. Rydia pulled him away from the desk to give the next person in line a turn. Roman opened the letter and his confused expression instantly turned to one of pure rage. "What's wrong?" She asked turning in to see the letter herself.
"That son-of-a-bitch is going to pay big time when I get my hands on him." Roman threatened.
Rydia could see photos of the night they had sex for the first time and below each image Nick had handwritten his thoughts on the scenes. His words were disgusting and it made her sick to stomach looking at them. She folded up the paper with the pictures inside and stuck them directly into her handbag for safe keeping. Roman escorted her back out into the parking garage to see Nick standing directly against the black SUV holding Rydia's belongings.
"You really are the dirtiest of lowlifes aren't you?" Roman asked trying to keep his composure.
"I don't know what you're talking about. I did warn you if you got close with her what would happen." Nick replied with a pleasurable smile upon his lips.
Rydia could see the person that has plagued her life for months right in front of her and wished that she could do something that would end this torment once and for all. Taking a step closer, the adrenaline was coursing through her veins. Intoxicating her with power to the point that she felt invincible.
Her fist connected the side of Nick's jaw. The impact jerked his head to the side, bouncing off the window of the vehicle. Nick swung with the back of his hand and missed her face by mere centimeters. Roman rushed in with his shoulder buried deep within Nick's abdomen. Rydia screamed in horror as three other men that once were called friends joined in the mauling.
"Roman!" She screamed hoping that it would give him strength.
Aaron turned to look directly at her. He began to stalk her, leaving the others to beat down on the love of her life. Rydia backed up several steps until her back was literately against a wall. "Stop this madness, Aaron. Please, I beg you." She pleaded.
"I wish I could. He holds a lot over my head."
"Aaron..."
She could see the silver sparkle against the lights from the knife held firmly in his hand. The realization of the fact that Nick did not want her back; but wanted her dead was a hard one to swallow. He hated her that much to take her father's life and now he wanted to take hers. The fear of death made her completely freeze in place.
"Hey douche bag, get the hell away from her!" A familiar voice shouted and before she knew it Aaron was grounded and the knife skidded across the concrete floor.