Eighteen years earlier…

"Anna! What time am I picking you up?" a much younger Jeff asked, wrapping an arm around Annalyse's slender waist, her hair covering his arm in a blanket of almost living warmth. She fit perfectly under his 6'1'' frame. He leaned down and placed a soft kiss on her cheek. She turned in his arms to look at him and stare at how lean and finely muscled he was. Where she was pale and looked fragile, he was dark and carried himself in such a way that no one would dare mess with him or her. They were the original odd couple at their school and everyone was waiting for the honeymoon to end, but for the past three years, all the naysayers had been wrong.

"Around seven. What have you planned for tonight moj zakochany?" Anna asked, using her pet name for him. Being from a proud Polish family, she would tease him and call him different things in Polish, knowing he looked them up.

"It's a surprise. But I'm off to practice. Kocham ci´e." he answered, kissing her cheek again before leaving her to go to football practice.


Later that night, Jeff pulled into Annalyse's driveway and made his way to the door of the house when suddenly she burst through it, looking quite upset. Even though it was March and unseasonably warm in Cameron, Annalyse still shivered. She ran to him and held him to her as though he was the last solid thing in her world.

"Anna? What's wrong? Moje aniolku?" Jeff asked, worried that she was fighting with her parents over him and his supposed lack of direction again. She leaned back from him enough to kiss him, which further worried him. She never kissed him first nor while on her family's property. What's going on here? he thought. He'd been excited to get her to tell her his news. The WWF had decided to take him and his older brother Matt into one of their grooming programs. They were gonna be living their dreams.

"My angel. I'm no angel, Far from it actually. Can we go now?" she asked, shaking her head as though to clear whatever spooked her from it. Jeff simply nodded and escorted her to the car, the whole time wondering what had her so shook.


Jeff had gone to their usual spot earlier that night to set everything up for them. He'd planned the whole evening. They'd go to their spot, look at the stars and he'd tell her his news. It was perfect. As soon as the car was in park, he got out to get Annalyse from the car. She got out and instantly grabbed a hold of Jeff, suddenly dizzy.

"Anna! God, are you okay?" Jeff panicked, holding her up, scared. She shook her head not trusting her voice. She steadied herself and let go of him.

"I'm fine. Can we just go please?" she asked, leading him down to the beach by the hand. He shook his head, watching the way her hips swung as she walked. He wanted nothing more than to make love to her when they got to the beach and their stuff but knew it would have to wait and that she didn't like to on the beach. The sand irritated her. They reached the blanket and Jeff moved around her to go light the candles he left there. She waited paitently for him to finish, then walked to him and cuddled against the warm curve of his body, feeling instantly comforted. He held her, sensing something was seriously off with her and worrying that he couldn't fix it. After playing with her hair for a few minutes, he shifted so he could see her face.

"So I have some good news. Matt and I were picked up by the WWF and placed in one of their training programs. We get to travel with the company." he whispered, watching her face carefully. Her eyes lit up and just as suddenly lost the light.

"I want you to come with me." Jeff told her, holding her against his chest. She turned herself in his lap so that she could look him in the eye. She looked so frightened and unsure of everything that it broke his heart.

"Oh my God, Jeff, this is amazing! I'm so excited for you and Matt! But I can't go with you. I want to but I can't." she answered him, enthusiasm dying unexpectedly. She stared down at the blanket they were sitting on and began playing with the end of her skirt. It was everything he'd ever dreamed of: signing with the WWF and taking her with him. They'd talked about it a million times, and now he'd asked her and she turned him down.

"What's going on Anna? You're so off tonight. Please talk to me. Mój kwiatuszku. What is it?" he pleaded, tears starting to form in his eyes. His heart felt like it was breaking in his chest. What did I do wrong? I was offered my dream and I asked to take her with me. And she didn't want it. She didn't want me. She sat there while he pleaded and held her hands in his, tears streaming down her face. She wanted nothing more than to go with him but knew it was a bad idea.

"Jeff I can't go with you. Mój serce, I love you. I truly do but I can't go with you." she told him, sobbing against his chest. She leaned back enough to look at his shocked expression and kissed him, long and deep. She explored his mouth with hers as best as she could, tears still streaming. He finally broke the kiss, looking at her, scared.

"Why Anna? Is it your parents? Is it me? I love you. Please just tell me." he begged, more confused than ever. What the hell has gotten into her?

"Jeff. I'm pregnant. That's why I can't travel with you. I'm pregnant." Anna answered him, curling herself into a ball. Jeff sat where he was for a long moment, stunned.

"Kurwa."