Author: Rebel By Design

Disclaimer: I Dont Own WWE Or Any Of The People Included In This Story. They All Belong To Themselves And Vince Mcmahon And Family.

Summary: David And Gemma Worked Together For Years, Both Unaware Of Each Others Affections. But Will One Night When They Are Thrown Together Reveal The Truth, Or Just Thrust Them Thousands Of Miles Apart?

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A Bar in Massachusetts, July 1999

'Hi. Do I know you?' Came a voice from Gemmas side. It brought her out of her trance, and she turned her head slightly to the left to see who had just spoken to her. As she looked up into the mans face, the red head laughed. It seemed that she did, in fact, know the man that had just spoken to her.

'I think I may have seen you around,' she replied sarcastically. As she spoke the tall brunette man placed his lager onto the table at which Gemma was sitting, and proceeded to sit across from her.

'Wait. Wasn't it you that I met on your first day at work, and we have been close friends ever since?' The tall man asked with a laugh.

Gemma just smiled. It turned out that her new acquaintance, was indeed, one of the first friends that Gemma had made when you had first started work at the WWE and they had been close friends ever since.

'So,' the red headed woman continued, as she went back to stirring her margarita with her straw, as she had been doing before she had been interrupted. 'What brings you here all alone David?'

'Everyone else went to a club right in the centre of town.' The tall brunette man started to explain. 'At first I didn't really want to go but then I thought, I really needed to get out and have a drink to unwind. What about yourself? I thought you would have gone out with Amy and Trish.'

Gemma looked up from her drink to gaze into David's deep brown eyes. She too had not felt up to going out to a club but then felt the need to unwind. That is how she had come to find herself sitting in this small bar, a little away from the hotel. 'Same. I really didn't feel up to loud music and dancing.'

Gazing back at his friend, David realised how miserable she looked. Normally she had such a sparkle in her eyes, but it just wasn't there today. Gemmas hazel eyes had now made their way back to her drink, which she didn't seem to really be interested in drinking. He watched her for a few seconds before deciding to speak again. Slowly he reached over and hooked his thumb under the red heads chin, so that he could move her head until their eyes met once again.

'A penny for you thoughts.'

Gemma held his gaze for a few seconds before she said, 'O its nothing. I don't want to burden you with my problems.' And with that she forced a weak smile. David raised his eyebrow which caused his friend to let out a sigh.

'Ok then,' she sighed, 'I have… just been thinking.'

'I realized that but what are you thinking about?' the brunette enquired. 'I looks like it's really troubling you.' He knew it must have taken a lot to get Gemma to be drinking at a bar by herself, as she wasn't one to be seen out on her own, and also she wasn't really much of a drinker. In his opinion, she didn't need a drink to have fun. She was perfect as she was. As David quickly shook this thought out of his head, Gemma started to speak again.

'I just think I have done my time.' The red head was speaking so slowly and solemnly as she took a sip of her drink. David didn't understand so she continued to explain. 'I don't think there is anything here for me anymore. There is nothing more I can really do with this part of my life. I think it's finally over.'

The tall brunette gave her yet another confused look. He didn't quite understand where she was coming from but he knew it wasn't good. Gemma knew that her friend still didn't quite understand so she thought she would put it bluntly. Maybe it would release the great weight that had been on her mind for a while now.

'I am thinking of quitting the WWE,' she said, maybe a little too loudly. A few seconds silence fell around them. Gemma noticed that a few people at nearby tables had looked up from their drinks, but she didn't care. She noted the shocked look on David's face, and quickly went back to her own drink.

David just couldn't understand why she would consider such a thing. That statement was the last thing he had expected to hear. Suddenly his mind seemed so disrupted, rather than clear, as it had been a few seconds ago. He just managed to comprehend Gemmas confession before he spoke.

'What…. I….' He finally managed to stammer. 'Why…' Finally he managed to say, 'When did you decide this?'

'A while ago.' Gemma informed him. This made David's jaw drop for a second time. She must be serious about this if she has been thinking about it for a while, he thought. He wondered how he had never noticed there was something wrong before now. Before the brunette had time to say anything, his friend spoke up again. 'I just don't see a future for me. I feel I have done all I can do.'

Getting up from his seat, the tall man made his way over to his friend, whose eyes were now filled with tears. Taking the seat next to her, he placed a comforting arm around her. He lowered his voice so that she could just about hear him before he said, 'But you're the best woman's wrestler out there. You can't quit now. The WWE needs you.' He just managed to stop himself from saying 'I need you.' He knew that now wasn't the right time was such an admission.

The red head sniffed as she tried to regain control of her tears. 'I am sorry,' Gemma muttered as she gazed into her friends deep brown eyes, before quickly getting to her feet and hurrying out of the bar. David didn't even have time to stop her from leaving. It was just so much to take in. It had all come as such a shock.

Regaining his senses, the tall brunette abandoned his lager to chase after Gemma.

As he got outside, the warm breeze hit him. Inside the bar he hadn't realised quite how warm it was outside at this time of year. Scanning around the car park, David's eyes came to rest of the red head, who was leaning against her rental car with her head in her hands, sobbing. His mind was still trying to make sense of what had just happened as he hurried over to her. She was still sobbing uncontrollably as she looked up into her friend's eyes. Her breathing was erratic as she managed to stutter, 'I…I'm…. So sorry'

With that she turned and opened the driver's side door to her car. Without even thinking about it, David quickly grabbed her arm. Gemma felt his firm grip as she spun around to face him. Their eyes instantly connected. A feeling swept over the both of them, that they couldn't explain. There had always been some measure of physical attraction between them but this was different.

Without thinking, David slowly lowered his face closer to the red heads. He released the grip on her upper arm as he whispered, 'No need to say sorry to me.' And with that last word he placed his warm lips onto hers, making a soft moan escape her. The last thing that crossed his mind was how soft and warm her lips were.