Disclaimer : Don't own any of the characters mentioned herein. This is pure fiction, written for entertainment only.

Thanks to all who reviewed, I really appreciate all your comments. It's wonderful to know that you care enough to take the time to let me know your thoughts. I feel motivated to update this on a weekly basis and since I'm on a roll, here's another chapter for this week!

Do check out "Broken Home" by JacktheSinister JaketheJust, "Obsessed" by redsandman99 and "A Friend or A Foe" by I luv JeffHardy Edge Randy. You will not be disappointed!

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Chapter 11

Glen was reluctant to join the group but Chris was insistent. He didn't like the arrogant former Undisputed Champion but Chris told him that since both of them lost Jeff, they might as well go out and drown their sorrows. Glen had nothing better to do than to sit in his room and brood. On the spur of the moment, he decided to accept the invitation.

He sat at the bar fingering his scotch, watching Chris and the Bella twins tore up the dance floor. Michelle and Gail were sitting next to him watching the scene, and bobbing their heads to the beat of the music. Kennedy, John and Oscar sat two seats away, talking amicably among themselves. They nodded to Glen when he looked at them and raised their drinks in acknowledgement but Glen chose to keep his own company. He decided to just stay for a couple of drinks before taking his leave.

At that moment, Kelly arrived and after glancing around, spotted her colleagues at the bar and made her way there to join them. She sat on the empty seat beside Glen, smiling slightly up at him.

"Hi Glen, you mind if I sit beside you?"

"Suit yourself,' Glen answered nonchalantly as he turned back to his drink.

"Thanks," Kelly made herself comfortable and ordered her drink. While waiting to be served, she looked at the dance floor and frowned when she saw Chris tearing it up.

"What a jerk!" she muttered to herself before taking a deep gulp of her drink.

Glen looked at her, nonplussed, "Excuse me, what did you just call me?"

Kelly almost choked on her drink, and gasping she turned to face Glen, "I wasn't talking about you, I'm referring to that jerk out there!" she made a careless gesture with her hand at the dance floor.

Glen realized that Chris was the so-called jerk and smirked. He suddenly recalled the reason why Jeff left Chris. The girl sitting with him was the cause of the breakup. He frowned, "What happened between the two that they were no longer on talking terms?" Shrugging his shoulders, he decided to mind his own business. He already had enough to deal on his own. He still had problems coming to terms with Jeff's decision, but he would respect Jeff's choice because he did betray Jeff and didn't want Jeff to hurt any more.

He heard about Jeff going up to Mark's place and his heart ached at the thought of them together. A deep sense of shame overtook him. He shouldn't blame Mark, it was his own doing that caused him to lose Jeff.

Tossing his scotch back, Glen gestured to the bartender to get him another one. His eyes met Kelly's who had been watching him. She smiled fleetingly at him, hesitating before speaking, "Huh, how have you been?"

Glen stared at her, "Why do you care?" and went back to his drink.

"Can't you be more civil? I'm just trying to be friendly," Kelly let out an exasperated sigh.

Glen ignored her and decided to finish his drink and leave. He wasn't good company and didn't feel like having company.

Chris came back to the bar with the Bellas, he was having a good time until he noticed Kelly. Giving his orders to the bartender, he then turned to Kelly, "You're alone?"

Kelly glared at him, "What is it to you?"

Chris cocked a slight grin before asking, "Can I buy you a drink?"

"I can buy my own drinks, just leave me alone!" She took her drink and made to move away.

Chris grabbed her gently on the arm, "Hey, don't go! Can't we just talk, like old times?"

Kelly paused and feeling that she was somewhat being ungracious, sat back down. Chris smiled down at her and ordered another drink for her before he opened his mouth.

"I would like to apologize for my past behavior. Can we still be friends?"

Kelly stared at him for a long time and snapped, "What are you playing at now? You couldn't get rid of me soon enough when Jeff left you!"

Chris flushed with embarrassment when Glen turned to look at him, a quizzical look on his face.

Kelly realized that Jeff also left Glen and immediately, tried to make amends for her outburst, "Sorry Glen, I didn't mean to rake things up by mentioning Jeff," she apologized sincerely.

Before Glen could say anything in response, Chris interrupted, "Leave Jeff out of this! I was just trying to be friendly, and you have to go bring up the past. What's over stays over! And if you can't get over it, well then that's just too bad!" Chris took his drink and moved away, shaking his head and muttering under his breath.

Kelly watched him move away, a sad look on her face. She really didn't mean to be rude but when Chris left her without any explanation, it had really hurt her. She sighed and looked so crestfallen, Glen somewhat felt sorry for her.

"Hey, don't be sad. Want to talk about it?"

Kelly looked at him and laughed uneasily, "I don't think you want to hear my story. After all, it involved Jeff and you may end up feeling worse."

"Nothing can make me feel worse. I have to admit that I'm curious about you and Chris. How did you two fall out?"

"Well, you know about Jeff finding us together?"

Glen nodded, his heart pinching at that thought, it was the same for him too.

"Jeff left immediately, without saying anything to Chris. With no more strings attached, I thought Chris and I would start a serious relationship. I didn't expect him to just walk away from me. I tried to ask him why but he refused to say and in the end, we went our separate ways."

Glen's interest was now piqued. Did Chris realize he had made a mistake with Kelly over Jeff? But why did he cheat in the first place?

Glen wanted to smack himself, he did the same thing to Jeff as well! Who was he to question Chris' motives? He sighed heavily, just as Chris had said earlier, leave the past in the past, no point raking it up now.

Turning his attention back to Kelly, he consoled her, "Chris was just making friendly overtures towards you, he was apologizing to you for what he did, so why don't you give him a chance?"

"I know, I do feel bad snapping at him when he was just being friendly," Kelly said in a sorrowful tone.

Glen thought for a moment before getting up, "Wait here, I'll be right back!"

He walked towards Chris and caught his attention. Kelly watched him say something to Chris who looked back at her. The two men exchanged some words and Kelly's eyes widened in surprise when Chris and Glen walked towards her.

Glen gave her a slight nod before saying, "I'll leave the two of you alone to talk. I'm done here! See you guys around." He walked away from the bar, somewhat pleased that at least someone wouldn't be alone that night.

Chris turned to Kelly, "Huh, I'm sorry for my outburst just now. Hope you don't take it the wrong way."

Kelly gave him a small smile, "I must also apologize for snapping at you."

Chris smiled back, "So, are we good?"

"Yeah, we're good." The two former lovers chatted over drinks and got reacquainted with each other. Before the night was over, they found themselves together in bed, making love feverishly with each other.

As they laid their sated bodies close to each other, Kelly asked in a hushed tone, "Chris?"

Chris turned his head towards her, "Yes?"

"Why did you leave me before? Did I do something wrong?"

Chris closed his eyes and sighed. He didn't even want to go there but he had decided to start making amends for his past misdeeds. Might as well start now, "You didn't do anything wrong. It wasn't you, it was me."

Kelly moved up so that she could look him in the eye, "What do you mean by that?"

Chris hesitated before deciding to come clean, "I have a huge ego. I had been going out with Jeff for a long time. We were good friends before we became lovers. Everything was fine between us, we were so in love with each other. And then I got this stupid notion that no matter what I did, Jeff would stay with me."

Chris gulped audibly, feeling uncomfortable about what he did. He continued after a moment of pause, "I cheated on him and slept with you and I got caught. I feel so bad for hurting him. It wasn't that I didn't love him, I do love him but my ego raised its ugly head."

Chris sighed heavily, "I took him for granted, just like I took you for granted. You'll hate me for saying this, but you were just a fling then. I never intended us to be serious. I hate myself for hurting both of you."

When Kelly's eyes clouded with sadness at his words, Chris held her close, "Please forgive me for hurting you. I just want to be honest, it just didn't feel right then. But, I feel different about you now. It took losing Jeff to make me realize that when you have a good thing going, you hang on to it."

Kelly's mind was in a daze, but she suddenly realized what Chris was saying.

"Did .. did you just say you feel different about me now?" she stuttered in surprise.

"Yes, if you would like to give this a try, I would like us to get serious about this relationship, that is, if that's what you want too," Chris said sincerely.

"Oh Chris!" Kelly threw her arms around his neck, hugging him tightly, "I do want us to work out!"

Chris hugged her close, "I do too, because I've got a feeling that I'm holding on to a good thing right now!"

Kelly thought back, she had Glen to thank for helping them get back together again.

"I'm glad that we can have a fresh start. I'll have to thank Glen tomorrow for bringing us together."

Chris nodded his agreement, "Me too, and there's something else I need to talk to him."

Chris didn't want to elaborate, he just hoped that when the time came for him to come clean with Glen, he would forgive him. He prayed that the big guy would not destroy him for indirectly causing him to lose Jeff.

Back at Mark's ranch …………………..

Jeff had been kept busy most of the afternoon. While the guys were out riding and working out in Mark's splendid well-equipped gym, he was currently engaged in painting the nails of his little playmates. The girls had noticed his midnight blue painted nails and wanted him to do the same for them. He wasn't sure the children's mothers would approve and what would Mark say to all this?

Rebecca was encouraging and even offered to go shopping for the nail polish. She came back with delightful pink and lilac nail polish with multi-colored glitter and the girls shrieked with delight at her choices. Mark was receptive to the idea, they were girls after all and enjoy dolling up.

The guys were at the gym, working out. Jeff was with the girls in the living room. Rebecca was helping to paint their nails as well. The conversation of painted nails popped up and Randy couldn't resist teasing Mark, "Deadman, are you sure it's a good idea to let Jeff paint your little girls' nails? Your kids would think they gain another Mummy instead!"

Matt couldn't stand by and let Randy ridicule his baby brother, "Are you calling my brother a girl? Do you want a fat lip or what?"

Randy raised his hands to placate Matt, "Hey, c'mon admit it. Jeff's ….. "

"Jeff's different but he's not a girl! Okay, he paints his nails but it's his way of expressing his uniqueness, that's all there is to it! If you say one more time ….."

"Boys! Cool it! Orton, if you insinuate one more time that Jeff's a girl, you'll end up eating through a straw, you got that?" Mark decided he heard enough.

Shawn covered his mouth, trying to stifle his laugher. Mark noticed, "Not you too, Michaels."

"Hey, I was just thinking, no offense to Jeff, but your girls actually take to him like a mother."

Matt and Mark were speechless but not Randy, "See, that's what I said! Even Shawn agrees with me!"

Shawn shook his head, "No, I do not agree with you Randy. What I'm saying is that Mark's girls can sense Jeff's soft nature. Mark my words, as they grow up, you'll see them approaching Jeff for his opinions on clothes, colors and even confide in him about their boyfriend troubles."

All were stunned by Shawn's insight but well impressed. Matt moved closer to Shawn, "Huh, Shawn, can you give me some tips about being an uncle to those girls? I can share them with Jeff, I think he has no idea what he's doing right now."

"Gladly, Matt but I think Jeff's doing pretty well by himself," saying, he winked at Mark who just rolled his eyes.

The door to their gym opened and the room was besieged by screaming children. "Daddy, look! Look at my pretty nails!" Rebecca and Jeff walked in and joined them. Shawn and Mark studied their girls' painted nails and admired the colorful glitter that was painted on them.

"They are pretty, sweeties," Mark admitted while Shawn added, "Yes, I like the pretty colors, hmm, maybe I can get Uncle Jeff to paint my nails as well," he grinned teasingly at Jeff.

Randy groaned out loud, "Oh God! Just what we need, another guy to start painting his nails. What are you guys trying to do, start a rainbow connection?"

Jeff and Shawn looked at each other as they gave each other knowing grins. They advanced towards Randy. Randy eyes widened in realization at their intent, "Oh no, you don't! Get away from me!" He beat a hasty retreat while the rest chortled with laughter at his fast exit.

Mark pulled Jeff into a hug, wrapping both arms around him, whispering, "I miss you, were the girls behaving?"

Jeff smiled up at him within his embrace, "I miss you too. The girls are behaving well, you should be proud of them."

"Hey, you cuddlebugs, what say we drive to town for dinner. I think the children will enjoy a night out," Shawn suggested.

"Good idea, but let me call Sara first. I don't know what time she's coming to pick the girls up tomorrow," Mark didn't want to keep the girls up too late in case they were leaving early tomorrow.

Excusing himself, he went to the living room to make the call. Sara picked up and told Mark that she would be coming around noon tomorrow to collect the girls. Before Mark could hang up, she asked hastily, "Mark, could we talk?"

Mark detected a note of anxiety in her tone, "Is everything well with your parents?"

"Yes, they're fine. That's not what I want to talk about."

"What is it then?" Mark was puzzled by Sara's behavior.

"Mark, would you consider getting back together?" Sara finally spoke up.

Mark was stunned, it was a moment before he could respond to Sara who thought she had lost the connection, "What are you saying? You want us to be together again?"

"Yes, that's what I'm saying."

When Mark didn't respond, Sara asked hesitatingly, "Is there a problem?"

"Why Sara, you told me you wanted out cos' you love someone else, why are you changing your mind now?"

Sara sighed, "It's not working out between Brian and I. Brian's the one you saw in the car yesterday."

"So, it's not working out for you and you decide you want to come back, just like that!" Mark was furious at her presumptuousness.

"Don't you want to? I know the girls want us back together, they miss you so much!"

"Stop playing games with me, Sara! Don't you dare use the girls to get to me! I remember you telling me that you don't love me anymore!" Mark was getting angrier by the moment, he was sickened by the thought of his children being used like that, did she have a conscience at all?

"Mark, we can work on that, we did love each other at one time," Sara spoke as a matter of fact.

Mark closed his eyes and gritted his teeth. He was at the point of exploding. Taking deep breaths to calm himself, he finally spoke, "If you think for a moment that I would consider taking you back, you can just forget it!"

Sara stayed silent before speaking quietly, "Is there someone else?"

Mark decided to be frank with her, "Yes, I met someone else."

"Who is it? Does she work for WWE as well?"

"Not that it is any of your business, but yes, he works for WWE," Mark made sure that he emphasized that the person was of the male gender.

"Wha… what? Did you say he?" Sara gasped in shock at the other end.

"Yes, I did say he. You have a problem with that?"

"What the hell, Mark! Are you trying to mock me? You're telling me that you're getting on with a guy right now?" Sara screamed into the phone.

"I'm not mocking anyone. I'm just telling you that I'm in love with a guy right now."

Moments of silence before Sara spoke again, "You're kidding right? How could you love a guy? We were together for eight years and never once did you show any inclination towards the male gender. Wait! Is that why our marriage fell apart? You spent all that time with him on the road, was that it?"

"No, I didn't even get together with him until these past few days. Our marriage fell apart because you stopped loving me and you asked for a divorce, remember? You initiated the breakup!" Mark was on the verge of losing his calm again.

"Who is he, Mark? Was he at the house yesterday?" Sara was unwilling to let it go. She felt humiliated that Mark had refused to take her back because of a man!

"If you want to know, I will introduce him to you when you pick the girls up tomorrow. But until then, what you must get into your head is that I DO NOT WANT YOU BACK! I DO NOT LOVE YOU! AND I DO NOT WANT YOU POKING YOUR NOSE INTO MY BUSINESS!" Mark disconnected the call, he didn't want to continue the conversation, he had completely lost his temper!

Jeff and the others heard Mark and were now standing in the living room, looking at him with wide eyes. Jeff moved towards Mark, reaching for him, wondering what had caused Mark to rage like that.

Mark turned towards him, a weary look on his face and embraced Jeff tight, his chin resting on top of Jeff's head. Jeff wrapped his arms around Mark, rubbing his back soothingly to calm his nerves. He could feel Mark still trembling with anger. After a moment of silence, everyone left discreetly, leaving Mark and Jeff alone.

Jeff whispered, "Mark, what's wrong? Who were you talking to?"

Mark kissed the top of his head and moved slightly apart so that he could look at Jeff. He took in the look of concern on Jeff's face, "I don't want you to worry, but I was talking to Sara."

He paused, contemplating if he should reveal his ex's intention. Deciding that it would be best as he never wanted to keep Jeff in the dark, he told Jeff what transpired.

Jeff's face scrunched up, he was afraid and was on the verge of tears, "Please Mark, I can't lose you! I love you! Oh God! Why is this happening to us?"

Mark held him tight, "Nothing's gonna tear us apart, I promise you that! I will not leave you, Jeff!" They held each other in a tight embrace, taking comfort in the other's arms.

Mark knew that Sara would not just let it go. Their confrontation tomorrow could turn ugly and he didn't want the children to witness it. He believed firmly that so long as he and Jeff held strong, they could overcome all obstacles and stay together. He had faith in their love for each other.

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