Title: Always You
Rating: PG
Characters: Trish Stratus, Randy Orton, Lita, Batista, John Cena, Bob Orton... mentions of Edge
Summary: Trish is dealt a difficult card... how will she handle it?

Disclaimer: Chances are, anything recognizable to you in this story, does not belong to me. Most of which I do wish I owned, but sadly don't. So, because I can't claim ownership of anything/anyone, I have to write down all these crazy ideas that I come up with in my mind and turn them into a work of art for your enjoyment. Which I hope you all actually do enjoy.

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Trish Stratus looked down at the invitation that she held her in hands, letting out a deep sigh. She had received it months ago, and every day since, she wondered whether or not she would attend the event. She knew it meant a lot to him that she come, but it was simply easier said than done. Given their past, she would find attending the event much too hard to deal with. If she decided not to, she couldn't exactly hide. She had rented an apartment in St. Louis soon after they split and he knew where she stayed. If only there were more options.

Trish read the card three times before realizing that the words weren’t going to change, no matter how much she willed them to. The date printed on the card was three days away, leaving her with less than 72 hours to make the final decision. Would she attend Randy Orton's wedding?

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"You're sure you don't mind me staying here for the night, right?" Amy Dumas asked the blonde, who was wiping off the kitchen counter with a rag.

Trish looked up from her task and smiled. "Of course not. Why would I?"

Amy shrugged, retreiving some strawberries from the refrigerator before hopping up onto the counter. "I don't know. I just figured maybe you wanted some time alone or something."

"I have enough of that," Trish retorted. "Besides, you are the entertainment in my life, Amy Christine Dumas."

"I know. What would you do without me?" Amy quipped, biting into a strawberry.

Trish laughed. "I am, however, kinda curious as to why your other half decided not to join us tonight," She remarked, briefly looking up at the redhead.

"Adam? Oh, he knows better than to intrude on our girl time," Amy replied with a smirk. "Plus he said he'd rather not be included in any conversation involving Randy Orton."

Trish rolled her eyes.

"Speaking of which," Amy started again. "Have you decided whether or not you're going to the wedding? It's in a few days, right?"

Trish stopped what she was doing, throwing the rag into the sink. Turning to face her best friend, she rested her hand on her hip and sighed. "Truthfully, I really haven't decided yet," Trish admitted.

"Trish, if it's too painful for you, then don't go. It is your decision."

"I know," She replied, running a hand through her blonde hair.

"You know, Orton's got a lot of nerve inviting you to his wedding," The fiery redhead voiced her anger. "As if leaving you for that girl didn't hurt you enough."

"Amy..."

"I don't understand why, after everything he's put you through, you insist on defending him all the time. It just doesn't make sense, Trish."

"I can't help the way I feel, ok?" The blonde retorted, slightly angered. "Contrary to everyone's belief, not everything about Randy is bad. He has just as many, if not more, good qualities about him as you and I do. It's just harder for him to open up and show that side of himself."

"Well, I still view him as a complete asshole. No friend of mine will ever be treated the way Randy Orton treated you," Amy stated adamantly.

"Well you're one to talk. You did the exact thing to Matt that Randy did to me!" Trish shot back, but immediately regretted it the moment the words left her mouth. "Amy, I didn't mean it like that. I --"

Amy nodded. "It's ok," She assured, a little surprised by Trish's words, but she knew she meant nothing by it.

"But my point is Randy never treated me badly. Not once. Everything was perfect... until he realized he loved Samantha more than he loved me."

The redheaded Diva placed the plastic container full of strawberries she held beside her, and leaned forward a bit, her look becoming that of a sympathetic one. "And you know just as well as I that that's the worst kind of pain there is," Amy said softly.

Trish's gaze dropped to the floor as her mind drifted to Randy and Samantha. "You're right," She whispered after a moment, fighting back the tears that threatened to fall.

Amy hopped off of the counter, stepping in front of Trish. She felt bad for her friend. She knew how much she had loved Randy, and losing him, especially to another woman, destroyed her. Reaching out, Amy wrapped her arms around her friend in a comforting embrace.

"If you want to go to the wedding, I'm not gonna stop you. It's your decision," The redhead remarked. "I just think that you should spare yourself the pain and heartbreak for a second time..."

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THE WEDDING DAY
Randy Orton sat in a chair in the groom's dressing room, deep in thought. After today, he would no longer be a free man; his life would forever be tied to Samantha's. The thought of that scared him. But that was normal right? Every groom-to-be was. It's not that he was unhappy, it was just his nerves getting the best of him... or was it?

"You nervous?"

Randy looked up to see his best friend Dave Batista, standing in the doorway. "As hell," He laughed.

"You know, I never thought I'd see this day come," Dave commented, taking a seat next to the younger man. "At least not with this particular girl anyway."

Randy's gazed dropped to the diamond ring that he held in his hand, his mind drifting to the beautiful blonde that Dave was referring to. "You think she'll come?" He asked softly, not taking his eyes off the ring.

"I really don't know, man," Dave answered honestly. "She may. But if she doesn't... I can't say that I blame her."

A sad sigh left Randy's lips as he dropped his head and closed his eyes. "She's the most important person in the world to me, Dave. If she doesn't come..." He opened his eyes, raising his head to look at his best friend.

"Rand, if she's the most important person in the world to you," Batista began. "...then why are you marrying Samantha?"

Before Randy could respond, John Cena stepped into the room, clad in a suit and tie -- a very unusual look for the WWE Champ. He wasn't sporting the usual grin he wore, but moreso a look of uncertainty. Randy took note of the look on his face and could only guess what his friend was about to say.

"I, uh... I got a call from Trish," John said a bit hesitantly, causing Randy to look at him with hopeful eyes. "She's not coming, man."

Randy lowered his gaze to the floor, running a hand over the top of his head. "What was I thinking...?"

"I'm sorry, man. I know how much you wanted her to be here," John remarked sypathetically. Dave nodded, as if to say the same.

Several minutes had gone by and the three men sat in an awkward silence. Neither John nor Dave knew what to say, fearing they'd upset their friend more than he already was. As if hit by some sudden bolt of energy, Randy stood from his seat and quickly made way toward the door. Just as he was about to step out, his father, Bob Orton Jr., came through the door.

"Whoa, son, where you on your way to?" The eldest Orton questioned his son.

"I have to go, Dad," Came Randy's short response.

"What? What do you mean you have to go? The ceremony's about to start anytime now."

"I can't let her go again, Pop. I can't. Just trust me on this, ok?"

Bob Orton looked up at his son, knowing he had to let him go. If he didn't, Randy may just lose his one last chance at being truly happy. "Go get her, son," He encouraged, patting his son on the shoulder.

Randy gave his father a small smile before slipping past him and out the door.

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Trish sat at the edge of the lake, staring out at the blue sky that was now streaked with a shade of pink. The sun was setting, and she was deep in thought. She wiped at the tears that fell from her eyes as she grabbed the spiral notebook she brought with her, along with a pen. She began to jot down random things that came to her mind; jumbled words and phrases that would eventually become just another one of her many writings. One might call them poems, but to Trish, they were just a compilation of her innermost thoughts, feelings, and emotions.

"I knew I'd find you here..."

Trish whipped her head around at the sound of the deep voice coming from behind her, being met with the most piercing blue eyes she'd ever seen. "Randy..." Was all she could manage to say.

Randy reached out, offering his hand to Trish. She stared at him for a moment before taking his hand, letting him help her to her feet. As Trish stood in front of Randy, peering up into his eyes, she wondered why he was there. Had the ceremony ended earlier? Or maybe it had been postponed? Whatever it was, it had her curious and wondering.

"Randy, wha -- aren't you supposed to be getting married?"

The slightly younger man lowered his head for a moment, eventually returning his gaze to the petite blonde in front of him. "Yeah..." He said softly.

"Then why are you here?" Trish asked, somewhat confused.

"Don't you get it?" Randy questioned, stepping closer to her.

Trish threw him a confused glance, causing him to sigh somewhat. "Get what? Randy, what are you saying?"

"Samantha's not the woman I want..."

Trish was taken aback by his response. Was he really saying what she thought he was saying? "Wha -- what do you mean?" She asked, slightly surprised, but not wanting to jump to conclusions so quickly.

"It's you, Trish," Randy said softly, taking her hands in his own. "It's always been you..."

She hadn't noticed until now that she had begun to cry. Tears rolled down her cheeks as she stared into the blue orbs of Randy Orton, who had left her speechless. For more than a year, she had waited for him to say those words. Now he finally was and she wasn't quite sure it was real. It seemed to good to be real. But all uncertainty that she had disappeared the moment he soothed her trembling lips with his own. Slowly pulling away, Randy wiped Trish's fallen tears before resting his forehead on hers, closing his eyes.

"I don't know why it took me so long to realize how wrong I was when I chose her over you," He whispered, pulling away and kissing her forehead gently.

Trish just smiled as Randy placed his hands on either side of her face,gazing lovinglyinto her eyes.

"I love you, Trish... it's always been you."