Chapter Thirteen

Calgary, Canada

August 10th, 2006

Shawn's POV

Bret crosses his arms and stares me down. " I hope you came for a fight. Because that's all you're gonna get. "

" I came to talk... Man to man. " I say not willing to back down.

He gives me an unbelievable look. " The last time we talked man to man you were lying straight to my face. Why should I listen now? "

" It has been nine years and I'd love to talk about that at another time. " I tell him honestly. " But that's not why I'm here. This is far more important than our bad blood. "

He sizes me up before nodding to the garage. " Come on. '

With both eyes wide open, I follow him in. It looks typically Canadian in here and I'm not impressed.

" You have five minutes. " He tells me when the door closes behind me.

Sighing I shake my head. " I'm here to talk about Chloe... "

Bret's neck almost snaps when her name comes out of my mouth. Kind of like how it did when he found out we were first seeing each other. He never thought I was good enough for her. Can't say I blame him for back then.

" You just stay away from my sister. " He says right away. "Chloe isn't your concern. Your time is up. "

I put my arms up and say, " I love her. "

" Love her so much that you get engaged to another woman before ending things with her? " He says getting in my face.

I don't break eye contact. I am a different man than I was back then. And I will never shy away from the wrongs that I've done. Plus, this guy doesn't physically intimidate me at all. Never has.

Why do I have to care about what he wants? I'm asking her to marry me with or without his blessing. " I know what you think of me but it's different this time. I'm sober and I've been working my tail off to show her that I've changed. "

" I don't know what you were expecting coming all the way up here, but you do not have my approval. Now get out. " He says stepping away to open the door.

Just before I leave I turn and say, " I've never needed your approval, Bret... But I know she would like to have it. Although, it doesn't change anything. We're happy and hopefully one day, you can be happy if only for her sake. "

I take my leave and head for my rental.

" Shawn! " Turning around I see little Andri... Looing a little too old for her age.

" Hey darlin' how's the training? " I say taking off my hat before giving her a side hug.

" Hey, Letty, where'd you go? "

The trees behind her start moving and some idiotic-looking guy shows his face.

" What's going on Arly? " I ask looking from him to her.

She give me a confused look. " Nothing... We just got back from a hike. This is Joe, his family is in town for the weekend. "

" It's nice to meet you, sir, I've always enjoyed your in-ring skills. " He says sticking his hand out for me to shake.

I size him up and there's no way he is still a teenager. " How old are you son? " I ask ignoring his gesture.

"Twenty-one, why? " He asks a little too defensively.

A grown man as I suspected. " You know that she's only seventeen? "

" Shawn, it's not like that. " Arly tries to say but my sights are on him.

" Arly, I need you to go on inside. Me and Joe need to chat. "

She looks like she wants to argue but I give her the " Pick your battles " look. " Fine. Goodnight Joe. " She says before heading up to the house.

Without acknowledging me once. Part of me is thinking " when did I become my father " but mostly I know this is the right thing to do. She's here to train, not fraternize. Especially with an older man.

" And put a shirt on camisoles are undershirts! " I call after her once again, not believing that I've turned into my father.

Don't get me wrong, I trust her... I just don't need men like this yahoo ogling her. She deserves to be respected not objectified. Great, now I sound like Chloe. Turning to the yahoo I shake my head.

" Look man, ordinarily, I mind my business when it comes to a man hitting on someone who is at the age of legal consent... " I start and his face turns sour.

He puts his arms up in surrender. " Woah, like she said it's not like that. I have a girlfriend! I like Letty she's very talented and quick on her feet. "

" I'm going to level with you, this is unfamiliar territory for me. I don't have kids let alone a teenager... " Ain't that the truth. " What I'm saying is, I don't know you, but I know wrestlers. Hell, maybe you're different. Maybe you're not. " I shrug before putting my hat back on.

He rolls his eyes. " I don't like the implication, but yes, I am different. "

" I just feel the need to point out that Arlette was sent up here to train. " I say emphasizing the last word. " As long as it stays platonic we're good. Chloe is a scary woman when she feels wronged, this is a warning. "

He nods looking completely put out. " Understood. "

I still got it.

Oh hell no. " Are you serious? This isn't just some joke? "

No, darlin' I saw it with my own eyes. I talked to the yahoo and he says nothing is going on and that he has a girlfriend.

I roll my eyes. It's always " I have a girlfriend " until you get lonely. " Let me call you back. I need to have a chat with my sister. "

Okay darlin', I'm on my way back to you now. These few days apart have been killin' me.

As if he was the only one. " Okay, can't wait. We'll see you in Charleston for the meet-up. I love you. "

I love you too, Chloe. I really have been missin' you darlin'. I'll see you soon.

" I'm calling to have a long-overdue conversation. We've had the talk about what happens every month... But we haven't talked about, well sex. "

Yeah, you bet your butt I dialed her number. This is not the time for her to fall into any traps. Especially where men are concerned.

Chloe, Shawn was overreacting. Nothing is going on with Joe. I was so humiliated!

Oh, I can only imagine. " And I believe you. We still need to have this talk though. Humiliating or not. "

Oh, come on Chlo. I think I know enough to get by.

I laugh. " Yeah right. So did I when I was your age. Trust me, you're lucky that you have someone that cares enough to tell you. "

Fine, but if we're talking about this I need to go outback. I don't need anyone hearing any part of this.

Teenagers. I never had someone take the time to tell me about the birds and bees. The older Hart's are notorious for never speaking about sex at all-around anyone underage.

Okay. Let's get this over with.

" First of all, you need to know that you can get STD's and STI's without having sex. Some you can get by kissing, others by having oral sex. " I say quickly.

God, Chlo eww.

She needs to know. She needs to know. " It better stay eww until you're absolutely ready. And you need to be absolutely sure about the guy too. And realize that in this day and age, you won't likely end up with your first. "

Were you sure about the guy you lost your virginity to?

Smiling I say, " of course. He was everything I ever wanted. "

Better not let Shawn hear that.

" Little do you know... " I say out loud on accident.

It was Shawn!?

Well, I never. " Of course it was Shawn. What do you think I am, a floozy? "

Well, I thought maybe you and Owen...

" Okay, eww! " I say not believing my own sister. " Owen was like my brother. Like Kevin, Scott, and Kid. Nothing ever happened with him. Anyway, back to you. "

She sighs.

" I want you to know that you don't have to hide things from me. " I say sighing. " I'm never going to be the one to yell, hurt, or judge you. I've never lied to you and I'm expecting the same in return. "

I promise.

And I'm going to hold her to it. " Good. Now I have to work through most of the next two weeks, but I'm making you an appointment at the gyno. I just want you to know if you're healthy and get you started on birth control. I can't stop you from growing up, Arlette. I will, however, prepare you for the adult world.

Aww Chloe do I have to?

" You'll have to eventually. All women need to make sure that particular area is working properly. Most girls your age have their first exam. " It took a little longer for me but those are special circumstances.

Can I have a woman doctor?

As f I'd have it any other way. " Of course you can. I'll get you an appointment with my doctor. She's really good. "

Okay, fine.

" Great. I'll make the appointment and call with the date. '

And you won't tell anyone where we're going?

" I promise. " I tell her. " All they need to know is that you're going for a check-up. I'll call as soon as I know and I'll see you in a couple of weeks. "

Yeah, I have some chores to do before bed. I love you.

" I love you too. Bye. "

Author's Note: Hey guys, sorry for the wait. How do you feel about Bret's attitude towards Shawn and Chloe's rekindling? He got really protective with Arlette and I'm not sure how to feel about Roman. Let me know what you think!