Breathe Again Book 2

Chapter 14: No Running

Cat frowned at everyone surrounding her, "Guys I'm fine. I promise.", she smiled at them, "I don't need two weeks because, despite loving all of you and loving Raw. My heart belongs at Smackdown, not with Dolph Ziggler, but with Randy. He is my best friend. I'm still going to be here tomorrow night for a little bit but then I am going to see Shane and Daniel and signing back with Smackdown. This has nothing to do with Finn or any of you. I had this decided before all of that.", Finn walked in and she glanced down, "I can't keep running from my problems, which means I need to face them. All of them.", she looked at Finn, "Because I'm not a child, nor am I broken. I am an adult, and adults don't run from problems.", everyone looked at her and she walked out, "Take a walk with me?", Finn nodded and the two walked away.

Catherine was playing with her fingers as she and Finn walked around the arena. "I'm sorry.", Finn looked at her, "What?", she sighed, "I made you feel bad and I didn't even attempt to hear your side of the story before I let my temper get the best of me.", Finn softly smiled, "I should apologize Cat. I did break up with that girl before going to help you. It wasn't so I could play hero, it's because I didn't like her like that. Then everything happened and I knew that you needed help, it was only by chance that you went to my family home.", Cat looked at him with wide eyes, "Then why did you say that she was mad?", Finn sighed and glanced down, "Because I didn't want you in the media, especially with rumors of us dating. Not so soon after a divorce.", she frowned, "Finn, I don't care what the media says about you and I or our relationship. We are friends, your my third best friend. Randy and Renee are tied for 1st and Dean is my 2nd best friend. But don't tell them I said that.", Finn laughed and she smiled, glancing down. "So, you are going back to Smackdown?", she looked at him, "I'm not really a Raw Personality. Smackdown is my home and Raw is yours. But, we can still make time for each other.", Finn smiled, "Oh really?", she giggled, "If you'd like. I mean, Davina is really attached to you.", Finn smirked, "Just Davina?", she glanced down and brushed her hair behind her ear, "Bucky is attached to you as well. And Scarlett. And Thor of course.", Finn raised an eyebrow, "Oh, the animals like having me around?", she giggled and Finn smiled, "I might enjoy your company. You never treated me like a child and you really help me, a lot more than I'd like to admit.", Finn smiled and turned, looking down at her, "Well, I enjoy your company as well.", she blushed and looked down, "So, does this mean we're okay?", Finn smiled, "Of course, love.", she hugged him and he wrapped his arms around her, laying his head down on top of hers. "I went to Florida and ended my lease. All of my stuff is in California anyways.", she smiled, "Hmm. What are we going to do?", Finn shrugged, "No clue.", she sighed and rested her head on his chest, "So, I travel Tuesday through Saturday and you travel Monday through Friday. We have all of Sunday and half of Monday together and the Wednesday house show.", Finn raised an eyebrow, "I had this all worked out before the draft happened.", Finn chuckled and she sighed, "I'm sorry for lying love.", she looked up at him, "You had good intentions.", he kissed the top of her head and she smiled.

Finn was driving Cat to the Smackdown show the next few towns over and his house show was 30 minutes away on Tuesday. Monday had gone smoothly, Catherine just sat backstage. She visited with everyone and smiled. They even through a little party for her goodbye. Cat was happy and all smiles and Finn was as well. Seth stood by Finn as they watched Cat and Rick Swann joke around. "You guys made up?", Finn blushed and looked down, "Oh? More than make up? A kiss maybe?", Finn rolled his eyes, "Of course not.", Seth laughed, "You're so lying.", Finn lightly shoved him and Dean walked over, "Finn, you sly dog.", Finn shook his head, "I didn't kiss her.", Dean and Seth laughed as he walked away, going right to Catherine. Finn glanced at Catherine as she was scrolling on her phone. "So, a few people thought we kissed", she shrugged, "Let them think as they will, it isn't their business unless we make it.", Finn raised an eyebrow, "It was Dean.", she chuckled, "He would. Was he protective or proud?", Finn glanced at her, "Uh, well, proud but with underlying protectiveness.", she nodded and locked her phone before she looked at him, "Jon just doesn't want me to go through anything again.", Finn placed his hand on hers, "No one wants to see you go through that again.", she smiled, "I hope I never do.", Finn smiled and they looked at the road. She got back on her phone and smiled, "Birdie is so big. I miss my little bird.", she pouted and then glanced down, "I feel bad, I never get to see her.", she tilted her phone and twitched her nose, "Do you think Brie and Birdie will be backstage?", Finn glanced at her before looking back at the road, "I have no clue. Maybe.", Cat hummed and turned, "Guess what? Nikki is on this season of Dancing With The Stars.", Finn raised an eyebrow, "That's excited. Did you get that offer?", she nodded, "Yeah, but I declined. I've not had a super serious injury that has to be watched so I still have a few years left in me. And I am thankful for that.", she smiled and brushed a piece of hair behind her ear before looking out the window, they were about to arrive at the hotel for Cat to sign and Finn to get ready for the house show. She glanced at him and went to speak but didn't say anything. They parked and Cat grabbed his hand, making him look at her, "Cat-", her eyes looked at him, "Why didn't you?", he farrowed his eyebrows, "What?", her eyes searched his face, "Why didn't you kiss me? Last night.", he smiled, "I want the time to be right.", she looked at him, "When is it ever?", their foreheads were touching and his blue eyes searched hers, "No more running?", she smiled, "No running, not anymore.", they kissed and Renee seen it from the side, she squealed and the two jumped apart, Cat opened the door and Renee ran over, hugging her best friend, "I knew it! I knew it! Well, we all knew but I knew it!", Catherine chuckled and Renee looked around Cat, "Make her cry and I'll have your balls.", Finn nodded, "Seems fair.", Renee walked around and they got out the luggage, walking into the hotel. Shane and Randy standing with their arms crossed, "I've already threatened him. I told him I'd take his balls.", Randy nodded, "I forgot how scary you are sometimes.", the group laughed and Daniel walked in, "Birdie?", he chuckled and nodded as Brie walked around and Cat dropped her bag, rushing forward and holding her Little Bird. "Hey Little Bird, Aunty Cat has missed you so, so much. My little light and heart.", Cat was rocking her and she slowly teared up, "Aunty Cat failed you. She failed everyone actually. But that's okay, I'm human and just like my family, my friends, had my back. I will always have yours my little bird. I will support you no matter what. I will always be with you, no matter the distance between us.", Cat hugged Birdie to her and kissed her head, "Aunty Cat loves you, so much more than you will ever know.", Brie wiped her eyes and walked over, hugging Cat and Birdie softly, "You didn't fail us, none of us Cat.", Cat softly smiled, "Brie, we all know I did. But, I'm only human. I will fail sometimes. And as you all had my back, I will have all of yours. Always.", she looked at the group and noticed a few more of her friends had joined and she smiled softly at Dolph before she glanced down at Birdie, "Aunty Cat needs to have a meeting with Daddy and Shane-O. She will see you later.", Cat kissed the baby's cheek and handed her back to Brie, "Let's do this.", the two men nodded and the trio disappeared. Randy smiling lightly, "She loves that little baby with her whole heart. Well, all of the babies.", Aj smiled, "No baby holds as much of her heart as her Little Bird.", Finn glanced down, "It's because she wants a baby, three of them, and she's scared she will never have one of her own.", everyone looked at him and he glanced down, so did Dolph, "She's scared that nobody will love her enough to stay and give her one.", Dolph sighed and went to walk away but Renee stopped him, "No more running.", he nodded and looked at Finn, "You can, you do. Don't ruin it. Don't run.", Finn nodded and the group left, leaving Renee, Finn, and Randy. There was going to be no more running.