|
Author
|
Comment
|
DisneyGalCC
Administrator
Posts: 619
(7/25/06 9:07 am)
Reply
|
Destiny in the Making~Ryannie
Destiny in the Making
“Do you believe in destiny?”
“Do I…?” He was puzzled, not sure if he had heard correctly.
“…believe in destiny?” she repeated emphatically.
“Well, destiny hasn’t been very kind to me,” he mused. “I guess I’d have to say that if I did believe in destiny, I’d want to punch it in the nose if we ever came face to face.”
“That bad, huh?”
He nodded, his eyes looking through the window, down the long road ahead, his thoughts back in Pine Valley and the wreck of a life he had just left behind. Let it go, Lavery, he told himself. It’s over, man. She was taking her clothes off for another man—on your wedding day. Kendall Hart is no good for you.
“More coffee?” she asked, holding the steaming pot over his mug. He nodded again, absently. She recognized that look—she had seen it often in her years working graveyard at the lonely diner out on the highway. Seeing he was lost somewhere else, she tried again. “Would you like a piece of pie or anything to go with that?”
He finally shook himself out of his gloom. “Pie? Sure, pie would be great.” His eyes followed her as she went off to fix his pie, noticing for the first time how cute his waitress was: golden hair twisted up and off her shoulders; piercing brown eyes that looked like they wouldn’t let anyone brush her off lightly; smiling lips that warmed his heart, if only for a moment, for the first time in days. She had an inquisitive look that made her seem as if she were really interested in hearing this stranger’s story, even though he suspected she had already heard enough stories to last her a lifetime and they probably had all started to sound the same to her by now anyway.
Ryan wasn’t really hungry, but he needed the distraction. He had ridden for three days with little food and even less rest, because every time he stopped to rest, he thought of Kendall. Kendall, whom he loved. Kendall, whom he was supposed to have married. Kendall, whose insecurities and need for vengeance against her mother were more important to her than he was. If he were being honest with himself, he knew that he was not the man for her, nor was she the woman for him. He loved her, and, she probably loved him, in her own way, but it would never work. Finding her with Aiden Devane, no matter what her reasons had been, had just been the icing on the cake. He had to get out, had to get away.
And so, here he was, Ryan Aloysius Lavery, three days ride away from Pine Valley, headed who knew where, to do who knew what, stopping off for coffee and pie and to flirt with a cute waitress before heading on his way again.
“So, what was it you asked me?” Ryan asked, turning his full attention on her, starting over.
“Pie?” She held up the plate.
“No, before that.”
“Ahhh.” She busied herself dolloping a large scoop of ice cream on the pie before answering. Setting the plate in front of him, she looked him straight in the eyes. “Destiny. Do you believe in it?” He met her gaze.
“I thought I did, once,” he answered slowly. “And that hope died.”
She nodded in understanding. “I see. What was her name?”
“Gillian. She was a princess. We went through hell to be together.” His eyes were far away again.
The waitress smiled indulgently. The best ones all thought their women were princesses. Her expression must have given her away because he started to explain himself. “No, really—she was a princess. A real one, from Hungary.” He fumbled for his wallet. “Look, I’ve got a picture.” He flipped through it until he found the picture he wanted, a photograph of a dark haired beauty.
“She certainly looks like a princess,” the waitress agreed. “What happened to her?”
Ryan avoided her eyes as he shoved the picture back in his wallet. “She’s dead,” he said curtly.
“I’m sorry.” She looked as if she meant it. Ryan craned his neck to see her name tag, as much to change the subject as anything else.
“So…Annie. You heard my destiny story. What’s yours?”
“Uh unh. Not fair that you know my name and I don’t know yours…”
“Ryan,” he said, extending his hand across his plate. She shook it and laughed, a soft, warm laugh that made him want to smile back.
“Nice to meet you, Ryan. You live around here or just passing through?”
“Just passing through. And I’m so glad I stopped. This,” he pointed at his plate, “is the best pie I’ve ever had.” Annie laughed again, out loud this time. She knew it wasn’t the best pie anyone had ever had, but it was the best she had to offer.
“No, really,” Ryan insisted, lifting a bite with his fork and examining it. “Look—nice thick, heavy crust, not like that flaky crust that falls apart when you try to bite into it. And not too many apples—makes it much easier to chew.” He took a bite and moaned as if he had just tasted the world’s finest delight. “Mmmm, delicious.” He stood up on the rungs of the stool, leaned over the counter and reached behind it into a tub of clean silverware, pulled out a fork and handed it to her. “Have a bite. See for yourself.”
Annie peeked over her shoulder to make sure the cook wasn’t watching. She wasn’t worried about customers. Except for Ryan, there were none.
“Go on,” Ryan urged. “Just one bite. Try it.” With one last look over her shoulder, Annie stole a bite off his plate and slipped it quickly into her mouth. “Well?” he asked as she swallowed.
“The crust is terrible and you’re right—not enough apples. But the flavor is good.” She took another bite and he leaned back, sipping his coffee, watching her.
“So, back to destiny. Your turn,” he reminded her reaching out to wipe a crumb off her chin. The touch startled her and she looked at him for a moment before he pulled away. “Sorry. You had a crumb…” he explained. She blushed at her own skittishness and started clearing away the empty plate.
“Well,” she said. “five years ago, I married the man of my dreams. Everything was perfect, except for one thing.”
“Don’t tell me—he has an extra thumb on each hand.”
Annie wrinkled her nose at him. “No, silly. He’s perfect. Tall, dark, handsome. It’s me—I found out that I couldn’t have any children. It broke both our hearts.”
“I’m sorry to hear that,” Ryan said. He had once been in the business of making people’s dreams come true, and, although he had never really thought about having children, never thought he’d want to be that tied down and have that responsibility, he felt bad for her, wanting it so badly and not being able to have her dream come true.
She put her hands down on the countertop and leaned in to Ryan. “No, don’t be. It’s destiny, see.” She had an excited smile as she confided in him. “Three days ago we got a call from our fertility doctor. He’s been out of the country for a long time and we hadn’t seen him in months, but he has a child that suddenly became available—a pregnant woman died in a car accident in Europe, but her child survived. She had no relatives and Dr. Madden called us up, out of the blue, to see if we were interested in adopting the little girl. We leave the day after tomorrow to go get our Emma.” Tears of joy glistened in her eyes as she spoke.
Ryan covered her hand with one of his own. ”I’m so happy for you, Annie. I’m sure you’ll be a wonderful mother. If you listen to your child half as well as you listened to me tonight…”
She blushed again. “It’s been my dream for so many years. Me, Terry, and Emma, a family. What more could I want? I have a perfect life.” She looked around the dingy diner. “Well, except for this. It’s not a bad job—I meet interesting people.” She nodded at Ryan for emphasis. “But it’s not my girlhood dream to work in a diner. But now I’ll have my Emma. Nothing else really matters, does it?” She was beaming again.
“Annie!” a woman’s voice called from the back. Annie hastily pulled her hand away from Ryan’s. A heavyset woman came through the swinging doors to the dining room, tying an apron around her thick waist. “I’m here, hon. You can take off now. Has it been busy tonight?”
“No, Linda. Like molasses in January. I’ve got everything all caught up for you. You shouldn’t have any problems.” Annie looked impatiently through the large plate glass windows. “T’s not here yet,” she sighed. “Looks like I’ll be sticking around a bit longer. It’s not like him to be late like this, though. I wonder where he is.” Annie didn’t seem worried, but it was clear she was impatient to be done with her shift and get going.
Ryan pulled some money out of his wallet and paid his bill. “It was nice talking to you, Annie. Good luck with Emma. And congratulations.” He walked to the door and looked out at the pink and orange streaks that were starting to light up the morning sky. His hand was on the door, pulling it open, when he stopped and turned. “Do you want a ride home? I’m headed in that direction.”
“Which direction would that be?” Annie asked, calling his bluff.
His voice was nonchalant. “Whichever way you need to go. I’m not going anywhere in particular. I don’t mind a little detour along the way.”
Annie turned and looked at Linda, as if asking her what to do. Linda shrugged at her. “It’s your life, honey,” she said.
Annie untied her apron and hung it on a hook behind the door, grabbed her purse from the kitchen and slipped out from behind the counter. “Sure, I’ll take you up on that,” she said, following him outside. “’Night, Linda,” she called over her shoulder.
“Mornin’” Linda waved back, shaking her head.
Ryan handed her an extra helmet he always carried with him. She pulled the clip from her hair and long golden locks tumbled down around her face. Ryan thought again how pretty she was, even after she put that helmet on. He climbed on the motorcycle and slid all the way forward, making room for her behind him. He felt her swing one leg over the seat and felt her body press against his as the bike roared to life. He turned and yelled over the engine’s roar, “Hold on!” and lifted his elbows so she could slip her arms around his waist and hang on tightly.
Just as the sun was peeking over the crest of the distant mountain range, they roared off down the highway. Destiny in the making.
|
luvzendall
Member
Posts: 261
(7/25/06 1:40 pm)
Reply
|
Re: Destiny in the Making~Ryannie
That's a very intriguing twist to the Ryannie Story. I like the idea of these two destined for each other. Makes me wonder how that scene would have played out when Ryan first found her in his penthouse, after having met years ago, just before she got Emma.
Quote:
“Just passing through. And I’m so glad I stopped. This,” he pointed at his plate, “is the best pie I’ve ever had.” Annie laughed again, out loud this time. She knew it wasn’t the best pie anyone had ever had, but it was the best she had to offer.
This scene was very cute and sounded just like Ryan. I could see it playing out.
I wish I had seen Ryan and Gillian together, several people have said they were good together. I didn't realize she was a princess.
Great one-shot!
Great one shot!
|
jekyll and hyde 6
Member
Posts: 30
(7/25/06 2:30 pm)
Reply
|
Re: Destiny in the Making~Ryannie
CC -
This was cute! You actually made me like the Ryan in this story. (Trust me, that's an accomplishment!) I could actually enjoy him here, and I liked the Ryan/Annie dynamic.
As I mentioned to you earlier, I wasn't around for the whole Gillian relationship. From what everyone says, it sounds like he could've been bearable back then. LOL!
Now, I heard he was a con when he arrived. A con got a princess? Interesting.
Liz
** Avatar by the Amazing O! **
Beautiful banner below made for me by Kristine with a little help from TK ~
  |
kzinlove06
Administrator
Posts: 177
(7/28/06 6:49 am)
Reply
|
Re: Destiny in the Making~Ryannie
Now you have me wondering why the hell he hasn't recognized her from the diner! Aaaah. The danger of fanfic.... because a reunion of sorts would have been such a fabulous idea on the show as well.
I have to admit.... I'm not completely on the Ryannie sled. But I'm trying. And your one-shot has helped me to like them more.
|
CaCire10
Administrator
Posts: 19
(7/28/06 9:34 am)
Reply
|
Re: Destiny in the Making~Ryannie
Quote:
Now you have me wondering why the hell he hasn't recognized her from the diner!
You'll have to ask McT why she didn't write that in. Another continuity error, I guess.
Or, we can assume that it was so long ago he just hasn't remembered her yet.
|
|
Email This To a Friend
Topic Commands
Click to receive email notification of replies 
Click to stop receiving email notification of replies