A/N: I'm feeling really emotional; the stretch of time I spent writing Everything You Can Never Be is the longest time I ever spent on a story (over 4 years) and right now, I'm in shock that it's finally over. I want to thank everyone who got behind this story as much as they did; this fic started out as a few images in my head and a smattering of plot, so I'm STILL stunned when people tell me that it's their favorite story on the site. For all those who read, reviewed, favorited, alerted, etc. - THANK YOU. Your support means more to me than you will ever know, and I am honored that I was able to write something that you found so enjoyable. What's next? Well, I've got some stories I'm still working on, one I've just started, and another in the pipeline in the near future. But I'm always looking for new ideas, so feel free to message me or stalk me on Twitter, lol.

A/A/N: I included the song lyric because (as you can probably see) it's where I got the title for this fic, as well as a lot of inspiration.

Thank you to Guest, AprilGilbert1996, Shandy777, Hellokitty, MySweetSeduction, BigRedMachineUK, VanityMayhem, Viper Cena Fan, no serenity, heather mae, and see-me-clarely for reviewing! I LOVE and ADORE you all! THANK YOU from the bottom of my heart. PEACE!

-Katelyn, aka "DarkAngelElektra"

Chapter 47: For You I Will

"And all you really need/Is everything you can never be/And so you'd give it all for a miracle..." - Vertical Horizon, "Miracle"

Ashley slowly opened her eyes, blinking a few times as her vision gradually adjusted to the weak light. She didn't know where she was at first - the small, sterile space, its bare white walls gleaming in the pale gray radiance of early morning, didn't seem like her bedroom; the thin mattress beneath her slender frame didn't feel like her bed - but as the rookie Diva drew in her first breath and felt that familiar painful pressure in her chest, like there was a large cat sitting on her sternum, the events of the previous night came back to her, flickering across her vision like a series of vivid still images.

Darkness giving way to flames...the overwhelming heat and smoke...the fear and panic crawling up her throat...the chaotic aftermath...and throughout it all, like a watermark stamped on the pages of her memory, Randy - his arms enveloping her body, his hand gripping hers, his voice in her ears; sometimes a shout-

Me for her! ME FOR HER! Take me and let Ash go!

-and sometimes a whisper-

I couldn't let him hurt you...and I couldn't face winning - not if it meant-

-but always there, always...just like his feelings for her.

I love you...

With effort, the Diva Search winner rolled over onto her back, sinking against the pillow. She pressed one hand to her forehead, the other stealing over to longingly graze the empty space next to her on the mattress.

She had known that the Legend Killer was gone before she had even opened her eyes; her first coherent observation upon returning to wakefulness had been the absence of his embrace. In a way, it wasn't all that different from the morning after Survivor Series - but unlike then, Ashley felt no doubt, no self-recrimination, no panic; only a blanketing sensation of peace and tranquility.

Partially because of all the painkillers still bouncing around her system - but mostly because...she knew that, this time, he was coming back.

The door opened, and the rookie Diva quickly snatched her hand back, yanking the bedcovers decorously up to her chest. Dr. Engel poked his head in, a warm smile lighting up his lined face. "How are we feeling this morning?"

Ashley weakly returned the grin, even though doing so sent discomfort flickering across her burned skin. "Alive." she croaked.

The physician chuckled softly. "Always encouraging to hear." He pushed the door open wider, walking over to where Ashley lay. He pressed a button on the side of the bed, and there was a low hum of machinery as the top half elevated the Diva Search winner up into a sitting position. "So, let's have a look at you, then..."

He went through the usual succession of medical assessments - pressing a stethoscope against her chest to check her heart and breathing, strapping a blood pressure cuff around her arm, popping a thermometer into her mouth to record her temperature - all the while keeping up a cheerful patter of conversation that managed to be pleasantly entertaining without requiring much input from her.

It wasn't until Engel had her wrist between his thumb and forefinger, looking at his watch as he gauged her pulse, that Ashley finally cleared her throat. "So...Doc...any word on when I can leave? I mean, you guys are nice and all, but-"

The doctor laughed again. "It's all right; I don't blame you for wanting to get out of here." He tucked his hands into the big pockets of his white lab coat, studying her with a look that was both warm and appraising. "I'm going to prescribe you an ointment for your burns, and I recommend that you take it easy over the next week - stay out of the sun, don't exert yourself too much - but other than that..." He paused, his critical expression fading and another smile taking its place. "...I see no reason why you can't be discharged this morning."

This time, Ashley couldn't stop the grin from spreading across her face. "Really?" she exclaimed eagerly. "That's awesome-"

Engel nodded approvingly. "I thought that would perk you up. I'll notify the nurse; tell her to get the paperwork ready. Oh, and by the way-" The physician hesitated for a moment, leaning down and lowering his voice to a more conspiratorial level. "-that boyfriend of yours? Randy? I think he's a keeper."

Ashley couldn't talk for a moment; just hearing the third-generation Superstar's name caused her throat to swell shut with emotion. You have no idea...the rookie Diva thought to herself, but what she managed to say instead was: "Yeah...yeah, he is."

Engel straightened up, clearing his throat. "Well...I should get back to my rounds." He headed for the door, then stopped, looking back over his shoulder. "One more thing-" The Diva Search winner stared at him expectantly. The doctor went on. "You have some visitors - technically, it's a tad early, but you're doing much better, and they were so adamant about seeing you-"

Ashley opened her mouth to ask who "they" could possibly be, but before she could do so, the door burst open all the way, and Trish, Maria, and Mickie came barreling into the room like a blond-and-brunette tornado, all three squealing in excitement.

The Diva Search winner let out a surprised squeak as the trio engulfed her in a three-way hug. "Oof! Easy there, girls - I can't breathe-" Her tone was half-joking, however, and the triad gradually pulled back, arranging themselves along one side of the bed.

Maria wedged herself between Trish and Mickie, hopping up onto the edge of the mattress. "Here! We got this for you!" She thrust both arms toward Ashley; nestled in them was a stuffed dinosaur, bearing a goofy cartoon grin and a heart with the words: "RAWR! GET WELL SOON!" printed on it.

Ashley was unable to repress a giggle at the sight of the plush toy. "Aw, thanks! I love it!" She accepted the stuffed animal, carefully tucking it next to her before glancing back up at her fellow Raw Divas. "Don't tell me...that you were here all night-"

The Women's Champion shrugged. "It wasn't that bad-"

"-the nurse at the front desk gave us pillows and blankets-" Mickie interjected enthusiastically.

"-besides, I've spent the night in worse places, believe me." the Canadian beauty finished, cutting off her brunette protegee forcefully, but not impolitely.

She fell silent, and in the void of quiet that followed, Ashley felt the emotional tension in the room ratchet up a few levels. The other Divas must have sensed it too, because their elated countenances sobered a touch. Trish averted her gaze, coughing awkwardly. "Ash...I wanted to tell you..."

She looked up, her emerald irises locking onto Ashley's blue-green ones with a sincerity that was painful to behold. "...I'm so sorry-"

"It doesn't matter," the rookie Diva heard herself say, the sound of her voice seeming to come from miles away. She forced her lips upward into a smile, but only because the alternative was to burst into tears. "It's okay-"

"No, it's not!" The last syllable burst out of the Women's Champion with the force of an explosion. Her expression, so happy a moment ago, was now etched with misery. "The things that I said, that I did-"

"-you did because you thought it was the right thing," Ashley interrupted softly. "We all did." With effort, she sat up fully, reaching out to grasp Trish's hand. "I was just like you - I was so angry - but I'm not now, because it doesn't matter." She squeezed the Canadian beauty's fingers emphatically. "None of it matters now."

Trish didn't answer; merely sucked in a choked breath that was more like a sob - but Ashley felt the Women's Champion's fingers return the grip just as vehemently.

The Diva Search winner let out her breath slowly, slumping back against the pillow, her gaze moving from one Diva to another. "So...any of you know where Randy is?"

Trish, her composure now restored somewhat, glanced at Mickie and Maria, but was met with identical head shakes and shrugs. She shifted her gaze back toward Ashley, lifting up her shoulders as well. "He was really vague - just said that he'd be back later; there was something that he needed to take care of." A small line appeared between the Canadian beauty's eyebrows as her forehead creased in the tiniest of frowns. "I told him if he even thought about abandoning you here, I'd kick his fucking ass-"

"I didn't doubt it," All four Divas jumped, turning toward the door at the sound of the Legend Killer's deep timbre. Randy leaned against the doorframe, one hand behind his back, a wry half-smile on his handsome face. "That was one of the reasons I came back."

In spite of herself, Ashley felt a flirtatious smile slip over her features. "And the other?" she asked, a teasing lilt in her voice.

At this, Randy's azure gaze fell fully on her, his playful smirk deepening into a meaningful warm smile, and the rookie Diva felt her stomach do a somersault, a slow blush creeping all the way up to the roots of her hair and making her burned skin tingle. "Mmmm..." the third-generation Superstar murmured. "Do you really have to ask?"

Slowly, with the same languid grace that he exhibited when walking down to the ring, the Legend Killer walked over to the bed, the bevy of Raw Divas immediately parting to let him through. Randy sat down on the edge of the bed, leaning down to seal Ashley's mouth in a brief, intense kiss. "Mornin', gorgeous," he whispered, and the Diva Search winner felt her face burn even hotter.

The former World Heavyweight Champion pulled back, staring into her eyes for a moment before pulling his other arm out from around his back to lay a bouquet wrapped in green paper across her lap. "These are for you..."

"Hey, way to show us up!" Maria exclaimed, but there was no real indignation or accusation in her tone.

Ashley tentatively peeled back a corner of the paper. Almost immediately, she let out a gasp - inside were roses; at least a dozen, their petals that familiar vivid magenta that was more of a indicator of Randy's thoughtfulness than the traditional red or white. The rookie Diva looked up, tears already brimming at her lower lashes.

Trish, perhaps sensing that now would be the opportune time to make a discreet exit, cleared her throat meaningfully, nodding at the other two Divas. "C'mon, you two - let's leave these two alone and go see if we can find some kind of edible breakfast in this place. But you-" She jabbed her index finger at Ashley, her green eyes narrowing with mock seriousness. "-don't you dare leave here without saying goodbye. You hear?"

The Diva Search winner nodded absently, even though she barely heard the Women's Champion - all of her focus had been absorbed by the Legend Killer's presence - it wasn't until she heard the door close that she realized they were gone.

As soon as they were, Randy shifted a little on the thin mattress, inching closer to her. He looked away for a instant, a sudden seriousness appearing on his countenance. Looking at him, Ashley felt her smile fade, her insides contracting into a small hard knot of anticipatory tension. "What?" she asked, her voice belying her uncertainty. "Randy, what is it?"

The third-generation Superstar took a deep breath, his blue eyes coming back to rest on her. "I got a call this morning...while I was out." He paused. "From Stephanie."

At the mention of the Billion Dollar Princess, the rookie Diva felt her stomach clench even more, but she said nothing. Randy continued. "She told me...that after last night...after what you and I have been through over the last week...she decided to give both of us some time off. Clear our heads, recharge our batteries - get all of...this...out of our systems before we come back to the ring."

The Legend Killer hesitated again, and this time, Ashley glimpsed a flash of nervousness in his face, softening his features and making him appear like a little kid. "So as soon as I got off the phone, I went to the airport and..." His voice faltered, and after a moment or two of helpless silence, he dug in his back jeans pocket instead, pulling out a folded piece of paper, which he handed to the Diva Search winner.

Ashley slowly opened it, her insides were so full of expectant butterflies that for several indeterminable seconds, she had no idea what she was looking at. Eventually, though, her senses cleared, and she realized that the printed page in her hands was a printed airline boarding pass.

The rookie Diva scanned the paper carefully, still uncomprehending. Upon closer examination, two items leapt out at her. The first was that the name on the boarding pass was her own: ASHLEY MASSARO.

The second was the destination abbreviation: STL.

St. Louis.

Ashley heard a shaky gasp escape her throat, and she pressed one hand against her mouth, the paper slipping from her fingers and fluttering down to her lap. She looked up sharply, her blue-green eyes wet with unshed tears and wordless astonishment.

Randy reached over, taking her hand, his fingers lacing through hers, his jaw quivering slightly as he spoke. "After everything I did...everything I put you through...the last thing I want...is to say goodbye all over again. I don't want to go back home...unless you're there with me." Still Ashley said nothing - not intentionally; words were still beyond her at this point - and as the silence stretched on, the former World Heavyweight Champion's hopeful demeanor floundered a little bit. "But then...if you really don't want to-"

Whatever he meant to say next was cut off as the Diva Search winner suddenly sat up, wrapping both arms around his neck and hugging him fiercely. Randy was startled, but only for an instant; in the next, he slipped his muscular arms around her slender body, returning the embrace.

Ashley bit her lip. "Of course I'll go with you," she murmured. A tear slipped free, working its way down her cheek, and she pressed her face against his neck. "Thank you..." She tried to add something else, but further eloquence was beyond her, and so she merely echoed her previous sentiment. "Thank you..."

For what seemed like a blissful eternity, the two of them remained there, holding one another. Finally, Ashley pulled back, reaching over to take Randy's hands in hers. Her eyes flicked up to meet his; there was a devilish glint simmering in their blue-green depths that hadn't been there before. The Legend Killer frowned slightly. "What?"

Ashley shrugged nonchalantly. "Nothing...just..." She paused long enough to remove her oxygen tube, setting it aside before turning back to him. "...how much trouble do you think we get into..."

With one hand, she took hold of Randy's shirt, tugging him gently toward her until their mouths were almost touching. Ashley's lips parted, her tongue darting out to graze his lower lip. "...before the nurse comes in to check on me?"

Ashley stood in front of the sink, running her hands idly under the flow of water streaming from the faucet. She had been officially discharged from the hospital's care, and after dining on a decidedly unappetizing breakfast courtesy of the facility, Randy had brought her suitcase by, allowing her to make a much-needed change from the hospital gown into jeans and a long-sleeved shirt.

The Diva Search winner shut off the faucet, drying her hands on a paper towel before pausing to critically examine her reflection in the small bathroom mirror. Her face was still bright pink from its close proximity to the flames, and several of her golden tresses were beyond saving - perhaps she should use her imminent time off to find a new shorter hair style.

But it was more than that - the image staring back at her was a far cry from the naive little punk girl from New York who had won the 2005 Raw Diva Search, and in a way that had nothing to do with singed hair or burnt skin. There was a different light in her eyes now; harder, older - a newly minted glint of steely experience and endurance that would make the Candice Michelles and the Torrie Wilsons and the Litas of the world think twice before targeting her for torment.

Randy wasn't the only one who went to hell and back...the rookie Diva thought to herself. Since coming to the WWE, I've walked through fire. Literally. I've been through more in the last four months than most Superstars go through in four YEARS...

She pushed up one of her sleeves, staring dully at the restraint marks marring her wrist. ...and I've got the scars to prove it.

With one finger, she traced one of the older, purplish bruises, where the rings of handcuffs had bit into her skin. Instantly, unwanted memories welled upward - darkness, the stink of fear, sentient shadow lurking at her back - and the Diva Search winner began to shake uncontrollably, grabbing onto the edges of the sink as she struggled to remain upright.

Her sleep the previous night had been dark and dreamless, but that didn't mean that the nightmares were behind her completely. The Undertaker had done more than kidnap her body - he had violated her mind, and those marks went far deeper than any of the ones on the surface. There was no telling how long it would take for the taint of his influence to fade...or if it ever would.

Ashley's fingers tightened on the sink, her fingernails clicking against the porcelain. Slowly, she lifted her head, meeting her reflection's gaze in the silvery surface of the mirror. She took a deep breath, let it out, took another, let it out - and with each exhalation of oxygen, she forced out her feelings of fear, paralysis, dread.

The Deadman had pushed her to the brink...but not over it. He had put her through hell, but in doing so, had hardened the most resilient parts of herself until they were more unyielding than diamond. She had been beaten, but not broken, and so she would fight, kick, claw her way back if necessary, because if she could survive this...she could survive anything.

Ashley straightened up, her blue-green irises still fixed on those of her mirror image, her expression icily resolute.. She was not going to waste any more time dwelling on this; right now, the only thing that mattered - the only thing that had ever mattered...was Randy.

"You ready?"

Ashley started a little as Randy materialized in the doorway. "Almost." She quickly ran both hands through her long hair, combing it back from her face before turning to favor the Legend Killer with a smile. "Now I am."

Randy returned the grin, stepping to the side and allowing the rookie Diva to exit the tiny bathroom. Ashley paused by the now-empty hospital bed, hugging herself and rubbing her upper arms briskly. She had been wearing her coat when she had been taken by the Phenom - no doubt it was still somewhere in his basement dungeon, never to be seen again. The Undertaker owes me a new winter coat... the Diva Search mused, and had to bite her lips to stifle the insane laughter that burbled up at the thought.

She heard the third-generation Superstar come up behind her, and a second, felt the weight of fabric as he draped his coat over her shoulder. "Here - put this on. It's cold outside." Genuinely touched by the gesture, Ashley didn't protest, but instead slipped her arms through the sleeves, turning around to face Randy.

The Legend Killer took hold of the open ends of the coat, gently tugging her toward him. With both hands, he carefully freed her long blond-and-black tresses so that they once more spilled over her shoulders and down her back.

The Diva Search winner gazed up at him, a playful smile touching the corners of her mouth. "This reminds me...of the first time we met." She cocked her head to the side. "I was cold...and you gave me your shirt-"

"I was trying to protect your dignity," Randy replied, his tone lightly teasing. "I remember saying-"

"-that it looked better on me than you." the rookie Diva finished.

Randy's mouth curved upward in a grin. "I wasn't lying, you know? Seeing you in that oversized "R.K.O" shirt was the hottest thing I had ever seen. I remember that all I wanted to do was kiss you again-" To punctuate his statement, he reached out and wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her into a kiss before drawing back and gazing into her eyes once more.

His smile faltered for a moment. "But I didn't...because I was scared."

Ashley drew in her breath slowly, unable to tear her focus away from those intense azure irises. "But not anymore...right?"

The former World Heavyweight Champion leaned in until his forehead touched hers. "No..." he whispered after a long moment had passed. "Not anymore."

The Diva Search winner's expression sobered, and she pulled back, gazing up into the Legend Killer's face. "Randy...what happens now...to us, I mean?"

She pressed both hands against his broad chest, her full lips trembling slightly as she spoke. "Don't...don't push me away again. Okay? No matter what the reason...not even if you think you're protecting me - because being without you is worse than anything." Her voice broke, but she went on bravely. "If you want to be with me, then be with me because I love you, so much-"

Randy pressed his fingertips against her lips, silencing her; when he eventually did speak, his voice was thick and hoarse with emotion. "There's an old saying: when you save someone's life, you're responsible for them - they're a part of your life whether you want them to be or not."

The third-generation Superstar sucked in a deep breath before going on. "So if that's true...well, then, you're stuck with me, because even though you say that I saved you - the truth is...you saved me."

At this, Ashley's face crumpled, tears rolling down her face one by one. For a moment, it looked as though Randy might join her, but he nevertheless continued, even as his deep tone began to crack. "Meeting you...was the best thing that ever happened to me." He took her hand in both of his, pressing it against the spot where his heart lay. "I can feel my heart beat...for you, because you brought me back to life, because you made me real. And the only thing I regret is that I wasted so much time; that I pushed you away instead of telling from the first moment that you were perfect, you were always perfect-"

The Legend Killer looked away for a heartbeat, a tear slipping down his cheek and falling silently to the floor. Composing himself, he glanced back at the crying Diva Search winner. "All I want...is you. The only place I want to be...is where you are." He swallowed hard. "I love you, Ashley."

Ashley took a deep breath, trying to talk through the tears of overwhelming happiness threatening to envelop her. "I love you, too, Randy."

A tender smile appeared on the Legend Killer's face, and he pulled her into another kiss, both passionate and achingly tender, lifting her off the ground as he embraced her. Ashley returned it, wrapping her legs around his waist as she kissed him back, while outside the sun rose higher in the sky, its warm clean light and heat pouring through the window and surrounding the embracing couple.

THE END