As they sat on the grass, Tina looked around at their surroundings. They had sat down in the grassy area between a street and the parking lot. They were in the middle, so that they didn't have to worry about fellow wrestlers or any passersby listening in on their conversation. Bradshaw sat down next to her and held her hand. She looked up at him and smiled, thankful for the support. Her eyes then shifted to her father who had an unreadable expression on his face. Tina cleared her throat,
"So Dad, what do you want to know?" He frowned,
"Well, first of all I am disappointed that you didn't let me know about this. You never hid anything from me in the past Tina. I thought we were close enough that you would let me know you're dating one of my friends. Not to mention the fact that he's more than ten years older than you!" He turned to look at Bradshaw,
"And you, how could you even fathom to put the moves on my daughter, knowing what you promised me all those years ago?" Bradshaw opened his mouth but Tina was the one to jump in,
"Hold the phone Dad, first of all, He did not put the moves on me, I was the one to make the first move. And why do I have to have your permission to date anyone? I'm a grown ass woman. I make my own choices and live with the consequences. John John and I have cared for each other for a long time. He has been nothing but a gentleman to me. He never wanted to violate the trust you have in him, that's why he's held back all this time. Dad, I'm the happiest I've ever been why can't you see that?" Tears stung her eyes and started to trail down her face. She felt her face flush and heat up. She was feeling mortified that Bradshaw and her father were seeing this reaction from her. She suddenly felt like walls were closing in on her as her chest started to tighten. Wanting to escape the situation, she did something that she never did in her life, she ran. Her legs carried her back towards the building; her mind urged her to move forward, as she ignored her dad and Bradshaw who called for her to go back. She didn't want to face them right now. She just wanted to hide from the world.
Chris Benoit looked at the retreating form of his daughter in disbelief. He never saw this side of his daughter before. She was always the hard headed, young woman who never backed down from a situation. She was the type of girl who made fun of the girly- girls who ran away in the television shows and movies. Benoit looked over at Bradshaw who had a look of disbelief and sadness as he watched Krystina retreat. It was then that the realization hit Benoit in the gut. The two were in love with each other. The words escaped his mouth before he could stop himself,
"Oh shit."
Krystina ran into the bathroom and closed the door behind her. She paused for a moment to collect her thoughts and then walked to the sink. She turned the water on and quickly washed her face to clear her mind and to try to improve her tear streaked face. She felt a vibration in her pocket and pulled out her phone. She saw the word "Mom" flashing across the screen. She sighed as she gathered the courage to answer the phone and deal with her mother probably siding with her father. She hit the green phone button on the phone and placed it to her ear,
"Hello?" She answered, trying her best to sound like nothing was happening. Her mother's worried voice answered back,
"Krystina, darling are you all right? Your father told me the gist that was going on." Krystina sighed. She braced herself as she waited for her mother to chastise her, "Honey, I'm sorry he reacted that way, he can be so narrow minded when it comes to you. You know daddies always see their daughters as their little girls even when they're grown women." Krystina felt her insides shake as she realized that her mother wasn't going to yell at her. Tears began to flow again as she broke down again,
"Oh Momma, I don't know what's wrong with me! Things just happened and I went along with it. I didn't tell dad because I wanted to find the right time. Plus I didn't know if the relationship with Bradshaw would work out. He may just see me as a flavor of the week, or we might be better off as friends." There was a pause as Krystina heard her mom sigh,
"Look we can talk about this once you come home. When are your next days off?" Krystina thought for a moment as she recalled her schedule,
"I'm off Friday through Monday." She could sense what her mother's idea was but she let her announce it,
"How about you fly home Thursday night after the show and come spend some time with me? I haven't seen you in a good while and I sure do miss you." Krystina's voice cracked,
"I miss you too Momma. I miss Daniel too. How is he?" She could feel her mother smile on the other side of the line as she spoke of Krystina's younger brother,
"Oh he's doing well! He misses the two of you but he's doing so well in school. He says hi. Listen Tina, I know you've got to get ready for the show, but call me later. I love you, and don't worry, everything will work out. Have a good show!" Krystina told her mother goodbye as she hung up the phone. Maybe it would be a good idea for her to go home to get away from work and Bradshaw so that she could clear her head. Once she felt that she could show her face, she walked out of the bathroom where she saw Eddie Guerrero standing there. He smiled once he saw her,
"There you are Nena! I've been looking all over for you. Your Dad thought you didn't want to talk to him right now so he sent me, your dear Uncle Eddie!" He held up his arms in a shrugging pose and sheepishly smiled. Krystina couldn't help but chuckle. He put an arm around her neck "Now tell your favorite Uncle what happened." The two walked around the arena as Krystina told Guerrero what had happened in the short time since she started dating Bradshaw. Although Eddie Guerrero was a jokester by nature when he was listening to Krystina he was serious and listened intently. Once he had received all the details he stopped, removing the arm around her neck and turned to look at her,
"Nena, What do you really want?" She looked at him quizzically not really understanding the question. Guerrero shook his head and spoke again, "What do you want to do with your life?" Krystina thought for a moment,
"I want to find the right person settle down with them, and have a great career in the wrestling business." Guerrero nodded his head,
"I thought so." He put his arm around her neck again, "So why are you not letting that happen?" Krystina looked at him,
"What do you mean I'm not letting it happen? I'm wide open to a relationship." He chuckled,
"No you're not. Now, I know you and Bradshaw have been attracted to each other for many years, correct?" She nodded in response while Guerrero continued, "Now that you guys have taken that next step in actually creating a relationship beyond friendship, why are you all of a sudden distancing yourself from the situation?" Krystina shook her head,
"Uncle Eddie, Dad doesn't approve-"Guerrero cut her off,
"Nena, I don't think that he doesn't approve, it's just the way he found out about you two. I think your Dad was in denial about the fact that you and Bradshaw cultivated feelings for each other. He thought that he was doing you a favor by having Bradshaw take you in and mold you as a wrestler. He had no idea that you two would click and maybe even fall in love." Krystina looked at him, holding the gaze. Guerrero chuckled, "I know when a person is smitten, and I'll tell you this. The way Bradshaw looks at you is the same look your father has when he looks at your Mother." She shook her head,
"Even if it is love, Dad would never approve." Eddie clicked his tongue as he made dismissed her last statement,
"Krystina Benoit, you're in your twenties. If you want you can date a man in his mid-thirties. You can't always please your parents. You have to carve your own way in life. If you make mistakes, you learn and move on." He took her face into his hands, "Look at me." Krystina obliged as she looked into his eyes, "In the almost forty years that I've been on this earth, I have learned one thing: You can try to make everyone happy and be miserable or you can make your own happiness." She saw his eyes move to something behind her and she turned around. There standing behind her was Bradshaw. Their eyes locked. Her breath hitched in her throat. He opened his mouth to say something but the words died in his mouth. He walked swiftly towards her as Krystina ran to him and leapt into his arms. He claimed her mouth with his own. Krystina wrapped her arms around his neck and held him in an embrace. He held her tightly, taking in her scent. The two of them were too wrapped into each other to see that Guerrero had disappeared to give them some privacy.