AN: Sorry for the late updates. Damn these holidays. I feel like we've been lacking in the drama…I need drama. Let me know what you all think...Cam

Chapter 10

Two months later…

Beth looked up as Karen slammed into Matt's house and flopped on the couch. Raising an eyebrow she looked at her friend as she slouched with her arms folded on her chest. It wasn't the first afternoon that she came in this way.

"What's wrong Kar," Beth asked sitting next to her friend.

"I'm going to kill that Reject," Karen huffed out.

"What did he do now," Beth asked trying not to laugh. For the past few weeks Karen has been threatening to kill Shannon every other day.

"He breathes, isn't that enough," Karen sighed. "Everywhere I turn he's there. At work he crowds my space. At home, if I walk into the kitchen, two minutes later he's behind me. I swear I can't even take a piss without him there. I am ready to call McMahon to beg him to be hired back."

Beth wrapped an arm around Karen and pulled her close. She knew her friend was at the end of her rope. "I know how you feel." She nodded when Karen's eyes shot up to hers. "When Jeff left the WWE and was home all the time for the first time, I wanted to kill him."

"But he was also high," Karen said. "Shannon's just being his normal wonderful self. I love spending time with him but he's everywhere I am." She looked down at her hands. "I think I need to move out." Beth's heart broke as tears trickled down Karen's face.

"What does he have to say about all this," Beth asked rubbing Karen's back.

"How can I tell him about this," Karen said sadly. "What should I say 'Hi honey, I love you but if I'm around you much more I'm going to have to slit your throat?"

Beth laughed. "Do you realize what you just said?"

Karen looked at her perplexed as she ran over what she had just said in her mind. Suddenly she sprung up wide eyed. "I didn't mean it. We've only been together a few months. Oh god I'm going to be sick."

Beth turned as she thought she heard a door close but thought it was her imagination. "Time means nothing. If you love him, you love him."

"Jesus," Karen said sinking to her knees. "I love that Reject. I need to go talk to him."

Beth hugged her before she could run out of the room. "I think that's a great idea. Just take it easy on your way there." She pulled Karen back before she could leave again. "I think we need a girl's weekend. Jeff is at work why don't we head away for the weekend."

Karen pulled away and yelled "great idea" as she flew out the door leaving Beth muttering "I'm surrounded by idiots."

Shannon's house…

"Shannon," Karen called coming into the house. She was surprised not to hear an answer. His car was out front. "Shannon!"

Karen walked into the dark living room, turned on a light and found him holding a bottle of vodka in his hand. She turned her head to the side puzzled he's not one to drink by himself.

"Shan what are you doing in the dark? Didn't you hear me calling you? I have something to tell you."

"Don't you have to pack?" She knew by his voice that he was drunk.

"I'm not leaving until this weekend." How did he know about the girls' weekend already?

"Why not today or couldn't you find a place quick enough Karen?"

Now she was puzzled going on upset. He NEVER called her Karen. "What's wrong Shannon," she asked softly.

"Why don't you just leave me alone? I wouldn't want you to be sick."

Karen's temper finally snapped. "What in the hell is your problem?" She didn't mean to yell but she was so angry at his attitude.

"I heard you and Beth."

A light dawned in her head. She had heard the door click just as Beth had. "Did you hear the whole conversation or just part of it dumbass?"

"Fuck you," Shannon yelled drunkenly causing her to back up. "Being in love with me makes you sick? How the fuck am I supposed to feel."

"You asshole," she yelled back. "If you would have stayed to hear the whole thing you would have heard that I fucking love you. I was scared okay!"

Shannon looked at her threw hazy eyes. "Well I love you too! I just don't get sick over it. Why did you come back? Aren't I smothering you?"

"Fuck you," she screamed now at him. She grabbed her keys as she headed towards the door. "See if you can find me when you sober up asshole. Consider this me taking vacation."

With a slam of the door she left the house leaving Shannon standing dumbfounded in the middle of the room.

Matt's house…

Matt, Jeff and Beth sat in the living room watching a movie. They were startled as the heard the front door bang open and shut. Matt jumped up to go towards the sound when a pissed and crying Karen came into the room.

"How can you all be friends with that dipshit," she said between sobs. Matt grabbed her and pulled her into a hug looking at Beth for help. Beth came over and led their crying friend to the couch.

"Matt can you please get her some water," Beth asked while trying to soothe her friend. "Kar what happened?"

"I" sob "came home." Sob "he was sitting" sob "drinking vodka" sob "drunk" sob "make me sick" sob "loves me" sob "smothering" sob "eavesdropped" sob "half of it"

Jeff looked at Beth not understanding a word Karen had said. Matt came back and handed Karen the water.

"Ok," Beth said as she wrapped her mind around what her sobbing friend had said. "Nod if I understood you right. "You went home and found Shannon drunk with a bottle of vodka. He heard part of our talk earlier about how you loved him and felt sick and that he was smothering you. But he left before hearing you realize you love him."

Karen nodded as the boys gazed in awe at Beth. "It's a girl thing," she said not taking her eyes of Karen.

"Your girl is good," Matt whispered to Jeff who just nodded.

"Okay," Beth said letting out a breath. "You need to calm down. Crash here and in the morning we will see how you feel."

"I want to leave," Karen cried.

"No you don't," Beth said calmly. "Let's not make any rash decisions. Come on," Beth stood up and held her hand out. "We will get you into some pj's and some rest. Let's look at this in the morning."

Karen blindly followed Beth up the stairs leaving a strangely quiet Hardy Boys in her wake.

30 minutes later…

Matt and Jeff looked up as a tired Beth came back downstairs.

"She okay," Matt asked.

"She will be," Beth replied as she sat on Jeff's lap and curled up into him.

"Do you mind telling us what in the blue blazes happened," Jeff asked as he rubbed her back.

"Well," Beth began telling them about everything that Karen had been going through. Both boys listened and grew more and more worried about their two friends.

"Would it be wrong to say I really want to hit Shannon right now," Matt asked as he rubbed his head.

"No, feels the same way here," Jeff said kissing Beth on the forehead. "Was it really that hard for you when I first came home?"

"It was painful," Beth said with a smile. "Of course our situation was a bit different. However, I became used to you being home two maybe three days a week during a good month. I was and am very independent. I didn't sit around waiting all day for you to come home. I had my own life and things to do. When you came home full time it was hard. You interrupted my flow however it took time but I got used to it. You needed time to adjust being home as well."

"It's rough when we are home for a long time," Matt said. "All week all we want is to be home with whoever is waiting for us. It's a culture shock for us."

"All I wanted to do was make up all the time I missed with you," Jeff said nuzzling Beth.

"I know baby, but this is new for both of them. It doesn't help that Shannon heard half a conversation and got wasted." Beth sighed and leaned back on Jeff. She couldn't wait for the morning to come.

Shannon's house…

Shannon sat on his couch staring at the only picture he had of himself and Karen. He slowly had started sobering up after she had left the house.

"Jesus Bane I fucked up."