(Un)Break me - Rhea Ripley x reader

Belonging

a/n: hey look! what is this? a bird? a plane? no! a long overdue update! hope you all enjoy it (next chapters are better i promise)

Family doesn't end in blood.

Rhea's POV

When I woke up later that morning (because it was already bright outside when we left the party), I was still tired and slightly hungover. I downed a whole bottle of water as fast as I could, laughing to myself when I saw Y/N do the same.

She flipped me off in response.

We had brunch with my family and went on a walk after it while Y/N went to meet Sebastian to "give us some time" before they had to go back to Australia later today. I appreciated how thoughtful she was, making sure I had time with my family. But I also knew her well enough to see the other side of it—this was her way of avoiding off putting situations. Something had shifted during dinner last night (her whole demeanor when I arrived was so much different from what it was a couple minutes earlier).

And despite her being in the moment when she asked me to fuck her. There were a few moments during dinner in which I felt like she wasn't here at all. With it, a small part of me that fears she will start to pull away again, even without noticing.

"Alright lovebird, you're gonna see her soon enough." Calista jokes, probably noticing my mood.

"I know. It's just... did something happen last night?" You ask her directly.

"Mom was being a bit incisive about her speaking about her family and she didn't notice Y/N was uncomfortable."

"Oh." The subject ends there due to my uncle calling us but it reminds me of some of the random dark jokes Y/N would make about her past. Like it was no big deal. Until it was. When we were first getting to know each other, I tried asking her about it and she closed off. I thought it was because we weren't at all that intimate but then I tried again a couple more times but it's not a secret escapism is one of Y/N's talents.

She'd often be uneasy when her mother called, so one day I finally asked her about it.

"Because she's a narcissistic fucking bitch that can't have a normal conversation without fucking distorting every goddamn word I fucking say!" Y/N shouted, running her fingers through her hair. I've never seen her this mad before. Neither have I heard her raise her voice. She must have noticed my reaction because her mood changed almost instantly.

"I'm sorry. I really didn't mean to snap at you. I promise I will tell you everything about it but please stop pushing, I need to do it on my time." Her eyes looked glossy even from afar. I stand up from the couch and hug her. She melts in my arms. "I'm sorry."

"It's ok. I'm sorry too." I kissed her forehead and we stayed like that for a while until she calmed down.

I haven't asked about it since.

Y/N's POV

At the airport, you stay behind to give them some space to say their goodbyes, contemplating their interaction as usual. Even from afar you can see tears glisten in your girlfriend's eyes as her dad holds her cheeks lovingly. Again: is it bad that you feel a slight pinch of jealousy?

You flinched at the sudden contact when Anna tugged at your arm slightly. You didn't realize how you were a little too lost in your thoughts. As usual . Either way, you didn't see her getting closer to you.

"I'm so sorry I made you uncomfortable during dinner last night."

"It's ok, Anna, really, you couldn't have known, I'm the one whos should be apologizing for-"

"No, no, no, Y/N, really." Anna interrupts gently, shaking her head with a soft smile. "You didn't do or say anything wrong, sweetheart. Trust me. Everything's just fine. I just wanted to make sure you know that, no matter what's going on with your family, you just got another one in Australia. We're here for you." She says with both of your hands in hers. "And I was gonna say you can count on Demi too, cause she loves you a lot but I think you already suspected it." Anna laughs loudly as she pulls away. Little did she know how much you doubted Rhea actually loved you in the beginning. Looking back, maybe you are capable of changing, right? Even if it's just a little bit.

"Thank you, Anna." Your smile is genuine and so is hers.

"Take good care of my daughter, will you?" Rhea's dad adds as he hugged you. You nod vigorously at him.

"Whatever it takes to get her whatever she needs, sir" You answer in salute. He laughs at it, finding it funny, although you meant every word. You would burn cities to ashes if Rhea asked you to.

"You're a nice one, Y/N." Rhea's uncle said as he hugged you too.

"You too!"

"And don't hesitate to call if this idiot gives you too much trouble." Calista jokes, being the last one to hug you goodbye. Rhea is all smiles beside her. Your emotions are conflicting. Despite the little nagging voice in your head telling you that they're all just being polite, you could start crying at any moment from how light the mood is right now. "Hope to see you in Australia anytime?"

Perhaps this thing for tearing up when you feel a little happiness in situations that you'd normally expect to rip you apart showed that you were somehow starting to heal? You make a mental note to ask your therapist.

"You can count on it!" You laugh.

Anna gives you one last hug, whispering into your ear.

"Family doesn't start with blood, and it doesn't end there either, remember that." You felt your eyes brimming with tears as those words carve deep into your soul.

They went towards security check and once they could no longer see you, Rhea pulled you in a tight hug. You hug her back as tight as you can, thinking she probably needs it. However, when her words reach your ears, you realize it was you who needed it.

"I don't know what they did to you, but that doesn't change this —you're part of my family now, and nothing will take that away. I got you, always." You don't think Rhea's aware of how true those four last words were.

You plunged off the biggest cliff you could find, expecting to be completely shattered in the end, that's what you were used to. But just before you hit the ground, she was there to pick you up. You didn't think you would survive the fall and in the end you didn't even scrape your knee.

"I love you so much." You clench your eyes shut against her neck, saving the tears for later.

"I love you too."