I Told You So (Invite)

[Sarah Andrews]

"Oh wow, yea she's in sooooo much pain and turmoil I see. She's such a drama queen."

It was a decent flight all the way from Japan to check on this friend of hers. A bit of misfortune she had gone through the past week or so. As soon as she heard she was already gearing up to come and check on her and see how she was holding up. That's what friends do right?

The stretched limosuine made it's way up the long winding driveway at a slow pace. Sarah sat in the backseat, leaning against the window as she took in the scenery her friend was pretty much confined to for the time being. If only she could enjoy this sort of thing more often she thought.

She watched the scenery pass by from behind the dark tinted sunglasses on her face, wondering just what the hell she was thinking getting herself into something like this with the GCW season fast approaching. She was sure to keep in mind to scold her for that miscalculation. I mean, women like the two of them had to ensure they remained healthy at all times. You know...To set the bar for all of the younger talent around the world. Who else would they look up to???

The vehicle slowly came to a stop, a long breath let go from her lips as she reached over to take hold of her purse on the seat beside her. Within moments the driver had exited the car and made his way around to the opposite side of the car, reaching for the door handle to open it for Ms. Andrews' exit. Slowly she stepped from the car, hoisting her purse up over her shoulder as she smiled at the driver, before patting him lightly on the shoulder, offering...

"Thank you very much sir. Oh and for future reference? Go a little easy on those turns sweetie. You almost had a girl getting sea sick back there. Where'd you learn to drive anyway??"

Only shaking her head she began her steps towards the stairs that would lead up to the house. The driver had already closed the door behind her, making his way to the back of the car to retrieve her things while he replied to her comments...

"New York actually. Born and raised. The only place to live I always say."

Only shaking her head she continued on as she quickly looked back with a smile across her face...

"No wonder. Maniacs...Tee Hee..."

They secretly shared a laugh as Sarah's steps continued to carry her up the stairs, within seconds finding herself approaching the door to the beautiful mansion in front of her. Letting out a long sigh, she found herself at the door, and quickly placed a knock against it before looking back to the driver now making his way towards the steps himself with bags in tow. Raising her hand to eye level, she removed the glasses from her face, and shielded the sun as her hand remained raised. Watching the driver continue his approach she called out to her hostess for the evening as she awaited consent to enter...

"Open up girl!...No need to hide now. You know you've got it coming."

Hopefully this little primadonna didn't take all day. Then again she was the type to enjoy making people wait on her. That damn complex of hers as always.

[danedynamite]

Lauren sat up in bed she had been enjoying the relaxation and the nice warm weather, OK she had one too many rums the night before. Her head was a little explosive, this banging on her door sounded like shells exploding. Lauren then shuffled out of the bed and holding her head.

"Ah, who is it I didn't even tell Megan where I was going."

Lauren then moved toward the window as she heard a women calling, and she could see a limousine outside, and Lauren's eyes narrowed as she wondered just who was hear.

"Damn paparazzi!"

Lauren put on a robe to go and send the press packing, she wanted to escape the ins and outs of being an American celebrity. Lauren walked past a mirror and her look was shocking, but she didn't really care to fix it as she was going back to bed after sending them packing.

"Maybe my bed head will scare them away"

Lauren said before chuckling to herself, then Lauren got to the door and through the peephole she looked...

"Well I'll be darned..."

OK, this one probably wasn't going to go away and find out that I am exaggerating my injury, Lauren thought to herself. Lauren then thought about how she could avoid an awkwardness with this... So many years as a blonde? ;D SHE GOT NOTHING...

"I guess I'd better open the door."

and so she did...

[Sarah Andrews]

A trace of a scowl had resided in Sarah's facial expression before hearing the door to the house open slowly. But sure enough a smile began to form...Until...

She saw just how...Awful Lauren looked... ;D

"..." ;D

Her mouth hung wide open for a few seconds before she looked back to the driver, now standing a few feet away with her two bags. She only had two because she only planned to bother Lauren for a week at the most. No way was she gonna allow her to stay here at this beautiful, magnificent and visually alluring place ALL alone!!!

That's not what friends do...

Looking back to Lauren with a clearly forced smile, she tried to be as thoughtful and careful in her words as she glanced her over and finally spoke...

"Um...Wow...I'd ask how you're doing but..."

"Okay, forget the bull. Lauren you look like shit mixed in with roadkill brought to a boil. You seriously don't expect me to believe that you're so hurt that you can't locate and use a comb on yourself before coming to the door....Do you?"

"..."

"Whatever. Invite me in already will you?...I'm not a vampire or anything but I just like to be asked before barging in to someone's place of...Um..."Recovery" ...."

[danedynamite]

Lauren was thrilled to be so insulted as she opened the door and there was this little voice in her head saying "slam it, slam it, slam it." Lauren however resisted that and stepped aside waving Sarah in a stern look on her face after all such a harsh wake up call and at what time? Lauren looked at the clock in the hall 12:30!? boy she really did have too many.

"OK, how exactly did you find me? Not that I am not pleased to see you dear despite saying I look like... shit mixed in with roadkill brought to the boil. If you must know I am hungover..."

Lauren didn't exactly remember much of the previous night, it was a holiday and she was living it. However Lauren's first thought was "I hope there isn't some local I picked up last night, good sign is I don't feel sore so..." drink or not it was no excuse but luckily for Lauren she left alone.

"You want a coffee?"

Sarah didn't respond to that "offer" to busy nosing about the hall to see what accommadation she had at Lauren's expense. Moochers

"Can you make me one... please?"

[Sarah Andrews]

This place was absolutely beautiful. So much so that Sarah barely could even make out Lauren's request as she scanned the entire place as much as she could, her purse lazily dangling from her hand as she made her way through the most immediate parts of the house before turning back to Lauren to respond. Damn blondes.

"Make YOU some cof...*Sigh* Well that's no way to treat a "guest" now is it....?"

She just stared in Lauren's direction, just now analyzing what she had said about the night before. Injured huh? Yea right. Then why be out enjoying the night life when you're in sooooooooo much pain she thought. Wasted frequent flyer miles I guess.

"Whatever Lauren...Where's the kitchen in this pl..."

Before she could even get the entire question out, she spotted the passage that clearly led to what she was looking for. Quickly she tossed her purse to the side, still admiring the place as she began her way towards the kitchen area, speaking to her heavily hungover friend the entire time. She was sure she'd be following her to the kitchen. She looked like she really needed that coffee.

"You know...When I logged on and read that little sob story you posted a few days ago, I knew it...I knew you were just playing the victim Lauren. You always like extra attention don't you?"

Finding her way to the counter where the coffee machine was she halfway looked back to her friend, who seemed to be slowly taking a seat in one of the bar stools along the extended counter separating them.

Not a word spoken by either of them, only two faint smiles shared between them as Sarah turned back to her task at hand...Finding where she kept everything so she could get Lauren nice and sober again. She continued on...

"So this Violet girl must be worth your time if you're willing to let her slow down your career Lauren. Even willing to let her injure you in the process. I hope you know what you're doing with all of this training you've been doing with these rookie girls coming in the business lately. If I've said it once, I'll say it again...They can find some other sucker's career to ruin if they wanna learn the wrestling ropes. I got lucky that my teachers were experienced enough to keep me from injuring them."

Finally having everything she needed to begin the coffee making, she looked back to Lauren with a bright smile on her face...

"Guess we all can't be so lucky eh? Poor girl. She must feel awful. Oh well...So, what's his name? If you're partying while injured he's gotta be something amazing. Spill it."

[danedynamite]

"Who's name? and faking?"

Lauren then thought who as she kidding surgery two days ago and not wearing at least a sling, and walking around normally. With Sarah she felt it best to maybe come clean.

"Alright, the truth was ever since I got back in Chicago the press have been all over me and I just wanted a break, Violet isn't holding me back at all and she didn't injure me. I fucked up the landing, a small lapse in concentration and I pulled the muscle. My agent suggested that I make it out more to keep some of the paparazzi at bay."

Lauren put her head in her hands and let out a deep sigh.

"Would have been easy just to skip the country, they didn't need to know why I was leaving. Such a big lie to cover up something a little small. This one photographer basically stalking me, I take the trash out he's there, I go to the gym and he's there, I go to the Chinese place and he's there. I got the feeling that one day I'd go to the bathroom and he'd be hanging down from the ceiling like Spider-Man."

Lauren realized that she needed to smarten up or find a better agent, as how would she explain the lie to the outside world.

"Sometimes I wished my sister were there like when we were kids, anybody picking on me and she'd sort them out. I guess I didn't realize that I still need someone at times. Being a lone parent sucks."

[Sarah Andrews]

She knew it. She knew it! Without a doubt. The whole thing just sounded too weird to her the first time she heard it. Sarah was sure from the get go that this was all a bit more than it was made out to be.

Leaning against the counter she crossed her arms as she could hear the coffee machine doing what it does best. Finally after a few seconds of taking all of that in she spoke up, replying...

"Yeah, finding someplace out of the country would have been a whole lot better sweetie. Papparazzi are everywhere sure, but elsewhere would have been better I bet. And there's plenty of places you could have gone too...Plenty..."

"cough*Japan*cough"

Pausing for a second, she looked back to the coffee machine quickly before making eye contact with Lauren again...

"And you do know Michaela does have a father right? Don't know why you two don't find each other and work something out for heaven's sake...Whatever I guess... I take it Mr. Fyre is too busy playing commando to try to play daddy for the little "angel"...No pun intended..."

[danedynamite]

"I know, but Japan I can't stomach the food there."

Then Lauren paused briefly as she felt that a lecture about "It's not just sushi over there" Lauren knew that but some how she felt the compulsion to eat native foods. The real truth about her not going to Japan was she wasn't fond of the stiffer style they'd had there.

"Michaela yeah she is an Angel but broken promises from Angel, it's clear he'll never truly accept her as part of me. Grand gestures and so forth without considering my child, what am I to do leave her in the care of some stranger and go party like a single woman?"

Lauren reached accross the counter but then recoiled...

"And Cross? How is he?"

[Sarah Andrews]

She should have seen that one coming.

Turning back to the coffee pot, she saw that their beverage of choice was ready to be poured and distributed between the two of them. She talked, responding to Lauren's question about her "hard to find lately" older brother, while at the same time searching for the two largest coffee mugs she could find...

"Well...You know Cross."

"It's been a hard year and a half for him and his buddies soooo...He's kind of been laying low since he kind of vanished a few months back. I've talked to him lately of course...I can never seem to find him though. He usually finds me. Always right on time too...But that's Cross I guess...At least I know he's safe. That's enough for me at this point I suppose."

She paused, looking back to Lauren as if to see if her words had sparked any kind of reaction out of her. Right off she couldn't tell whether or not Lauren gave a damn about her words concerning her brother. Turning back to the coffee pot, she poured both of the coffee mugs she had found full before placing the pot back in it's place and turning to slide Lauren her much needed relief.

Still standing across from her she kind of stared for a few seconds before replying with her own coffee awaiting her lips...

"He did ask about Michaela though...And you..."

[danedynamite]

Lauren's eyes seemed to get the sparkle back once Sarah said that Cross had asked about her. Lauren though with Angel had thought about Cross a lot, in truth she thought about him daily. Lauren's mind full of dreams and what ifs regarding her and Cross.

"Good to hear that he thinks of us, but he could have came to see Michaela at any time."

Lauren would have liked that had he done so, but she delivered the line in an "I don't give a damn about him not coming to see" fashion that Lauren thought was totally believable but in actual fact was as transparent as the windows to Buckingham Palace.

[Sarah Andrews]

Sarah only nodded in response. She understood Lauren's point of view on the subject of Cross seeing his daughter Michaela, but she also knew that it wasn't as easy as...Just doing it.

It was clear Cross was concerned about involuntarily bringing about any harm to Lauren & Michaela. She could hear it in his voice when he'd ask about them, which was pretty much every time he and Sarah spoke regardless of how brief the conversation might be...After the situation with Laura & Madison, he surely wouldn't risk the same happening with Michaela nor Lauren...Not in this lifetime...

There was a small part of her that wanted to tell Lauren exactly "how" Cross' voice seemingly changed in a manner of milliseconds when the subject of Ms. Kennedy came up...But, decided against it, in fear that it might make things even that much more difficult than they already were. She was here. He was...Wherever he was, and it was clear things were too complicated as is.

"Maybe he will one day soon Lauren...Just maybe. We can only hope that he "can"...If you know what I mean?"

Slowly taking her place on the one bar stool located on her side of the make shift counseling counter, she relaxed with her cup in her hand, taking a quick sip before going on...

"But you're both stubborn. Too stubborn to admit you both want and need to see each other again. Guess it's that ego thing you both have. I don't know. But it'll all work out. God doesn't make mistakes my mom always said. And if you ever need some time alone, I'd be happy to take the little angel off of your hands. It'd be no problem. With Jason off trying to play movie star, I get quite lonely anyway. Almost feels like I'm single again...So...The offer's on the table..."

[danedynamite]

"I am not so sure I understand why he can't, is he involved in something bad?"

Cross was cryptic about his life in America, to her knowledge he was just a wrestler who had gone through a couple of bad relationships. Lauren had led somewhat of a sheltered life, the only bad thing was her drunken father beating her. Lauren was for the most part unaware of how dark the world can get. The princess in her sometimes couldn't help but make things like this all about her. Excuses that any normal person would find acceptable, the princess did not.

"I thought he didn't really care?"

Inside Lauren knew that wasn't true but yet she still said it, and she wasn't sure if Sarah's offer to take care of Michaela was also a hint to move the subject along. It was another thing that bothered Lauren an addition to her own issues again probably a selfish point but Lauren found it hard to cope with the fact she may never hear the word "Mommy" from her daughter's mouth. A horrific thought for any mother but to Lauren it was something that she couldn't handle, not alone.

"Michaela... I... Do..."

Lauren was trying to say it but the words just wouldn't come, determined not to cry not even a weep.

"I left her with Megan for the time being."

That came out trying to act as if she didn't try to say her daughter would never speak, but her eyes couldn't hide the pain that she had buried since finding out...

[Sarah Andrews]

Sarah's eyes lowered towards the counter top, the discussion had taken a bad turn of events it seemed, and she wasn't sure what to even say at this point. She had pleaded with Cross to come and see them both as soon as he could, and he promised he would. Perhaps he felt as if, things weren't safe enough just yet?

"He said he'd be coming to see you both...Soon Lauren...."

"But...That could mean a month or two from now. Yea, he's in some pretty bad stuff right now and he's only concerned about the well being of the both of you is all. He cares, that much I can assure you. If you heard the way he talks about you, then you'd believe me. Like really...I mean it's clear he lo..."

She quickly caught herself from saying what she had intended to, and attempted to change the subject...As if possible after that little slip up...

"Michaela's gonna be fine sweetie. She's got people who loves her, and if she never...Well...You know...Then, that won't mean she's not still special. Who knows what the future holds. Just..."

She paused for a single second, making eye contact with Lauren before finishing with...

"Don't crack under pressure...Is what I guess I'm trying to say. You just need a little help is all and some time to yourself to relax and be away from stress, obligations and demands. We all need that sometime Lauren. Things will work out. Just...Don't turn into an alcoholic trying to cope with them I say. Maybe you should have your sister's fly here and spend a few days? Maybe that would make you feel a little better? Where is Angel anyway? Does he know you're here?"

[danedynamite]

"Angel? I assume back training he kind of disappeared on me."

Lauren had rushed her departure from the States, and this was only her destination because it had tickets available at the time. Close to breaking point and she needed to get out, so she didn't know if Angel was worried about her or not.

"And I haven't told him I am here or that I was even leaving."

Lauren took a sip of her coffee, damn it was good coffee too. Then she glanced up at Sarah, and in a moment it was surreal. Sarah was one of the women whom she respected greatly, but over a year ago she didn't imagine that she'd be sitting pouring her heart out to a woman that she idolized. Something about what Sarah said had her curiosity running.

"He loves me..."

Sarah didn't exactly say that clearly but Lauren heard it oh-so clearly, but she understood why Sarah might want to move on. Hearing that was a big boost for Lauren. Then she thought about the idea of inviting her sisters here.

"My sisters? One I think is busy honeymooning, Megan is taking care of things for me back home. She'd probably come if I asked her too."

[Sarah Andrews]

He loves her? More than she knew, and more than Sarah was prepared to let on. She knew Cross far too well to let his attempts to not let that fact shine through, get past her. She knew it and felt it, especially during the times where he'd surprise her with an in-person visit. Which was rare these days, but he made sure to do so as much as he possibly could.

Trying to move on from heart jerking matters, she smiles at Lauren as she continues on...

"Maybe you should do that then. Megan being around could help ease things around here for you. And I'll be here for a week or so. I can stick around here if you want. I was only kidding about crashing here. I don't want to intrude. You seem like you might need some alone time here and there. You don't need me crowding you I don't think."

She took another long sip of the coffee. It was good actually she thought. Shouldn't be surprising seeing as how she made it of course. For a split second she thought about telling Lauren the truth. That she could get in contact with Cross anytime she wanted, but was following his wishes that she not do so unless certainly urgent and important. She was unsure of what to do concerning that, as Lauren seemed to need to speak to him at least, and he the same concerning her...Lowering the cup to the counter again, she glanced around before looking back to Lauren once more

"Hey, if you feel better a little later on, maybe we can go for a dip in the pool for a while? Nothing strenuous of course with your...."Injury" and all. What do'y'say? You game? Let's get our minds off of problems for a little while."