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So here's the next chapter. Enjoy and happy reading!

Chapter 11 – Forever and Always

Standing in front of a full length mirror, Torrie made a final check of her appearance before going out to dinner with a group of friends that evening. She had on a sequined black strapless dress and her hair was up in a long ponytail and was tied with a black ribbon to match.

"Wow. . ." said a voice behind her.

Torrie giggled and turned around to see her boyfriend looking smart in his lime green shirt and black pants.

"How do I look?" she asked.

John made a smirk as he cupped her hand into his and pulled her toward him.

"Absolutely gorgeous."

"Thank you," said Torrie and gave him a peck on the lips.

"So you're all set and ready to go?"

"Yeah. Let me just get my purse."

"Okay. Hey Tor?"

Torrie was at the dressing table when he called. "Yeah babe?"

"There's something I wanted to ask you."

"Go ahead then."

"What's the deal between you and Keibler?"

"Oh…" Torrie just remembered that she didn't tell him about it yet. But at he same time she wanted to release her stress by not thinking about the tall blonde at all. "I'm sorry that I didn't mention it to you before. I just forgot but then again it's not something that I want to bring up."

"It's something that bad isn't it?"

Torrie nodded. "Let's sit down and I'll tell you everything."

So the couple sat down on the bed and Torrie began speaking about Stacy, who she was to her at the time and also she revealed the night her former best friend betrayed her.

"Oh wow…"

"Yeah I know," said Torrie. "But don't worry about me I'm fine. I'm just irritated by the fact that she's working on Raw now…

"Don't worry about her alright? Don't let her get to you."

"I wouldn't," said Torrie with a smile. "Count on it."

"Good," said John with a grin. "Come on let's go."

So she took her purse and hooked her arm to his as they left the room to get into the elevator. A night out with friends was definitely what Torrie needed to take her mind off things for now.

XxxxxX

Laughter filled the atmosphere around them as the group of friends was having a good time over dinner at a restaurant. There was only one person who wasn't happy though. Maria had been quiet throughout dinner. Her green eyes stared down at the salmon steak in front of her. It hadn't been cut yet let alone eaten.

As Randy made a glance at her, he couldn't help but to be concerned for her. It wasn't like her to be in this state of gloominess.

"Maria?"

Maria got frightened a little when a soft voice came into her ear. She turned to meet his eyes focusing on her.

"Are you alright?" he asked.

Maria simply nodded.

"Are you sure?"

She nodded again before turning away from him. Somehow she was feeling uncomfortable sitting next to him.

"Oh Maria I forgot to tell you," Candice began to say after taking a sip of red wine. "There's this section about gardening in a bookstore I went to today. I just thought that you should check it out sometime, you know, just to get a few ideas for the garden!"

The word garden probably wouldn't mean that much to anybody but to Maria it meant everything. It would mean that she would get to share it with the one person who meant the whole world to her. The moving date was just a couple of weeks away and she was extremely excited about it. But now she was starting to think that her dreams would slip away in just a matter of time.

"Oh…okay then. Thanks Candi."

"I'm sure you two are so psyched about it!" Torrie beamed.

Randy grinned. "Yes we are. We're thinking that after we settle down, then we could have a pool party."

"Sounds good to me," said John. "And you could count on me on being the DJ!"

"But your assistant has to help choose the songs though."

John looked at his girlfriend. "But DJ's don't have assistants."

"Well this one does," said Torrie with a roll of the eyes and slapped him playfully on the back of his head.

"Okay one: Ow what was that for? And two I don't need assistants."

"Well one: I just feel like doing it and two I know you're going to try to stay far from pop music as possible."

John made a groan. "You're going to torture us guys you know that right?"

"But you'll live somehow."

Laughter soon erupted among the group. But there was one person who didn't smile nor laugh.

"Are you sick sweetie?" Candice asked with concern as she looked at her. "You don't look good…"

"No I'm fine," Maria insisted as she swirled the straw in her cocktail mindlessly. "Really I am."

"Are you absolutely positive?" Mickie asked.

If she wasn't annoyed earlier on, Maria definitely was now.

"Will you guys stop this asking me all these questions?" she began as her anger slowly got to her. "I told you I'm fine! I'm not sick!"

"Are you really…"

"Yes Randy! Can you drop this now?!"

He was taken aback by her sudden response coming and how she responded to him. When she realized that she had down, she avoided looking straight into his eyes. It was bad enough for her to be looking at him now after snapping at him like that.

"Sorry," she muttered as she pushed her plate a bit further from her. "I'm just not in the mood for tonight…."

There was silence.

"Maria can we talk in private, please?" was Randy's voice beside her.

Maria said nothing but then a minute later she sighed. She stood up from her seat and followed Randy out into the porch looking out the view of the crystal blue sea. She was staring out at the night sky where the moon was shining boldly and the tiny dots of white light were sparkling in the sky.

"Maria…please look at me."

She hesitated to do so. She didn't want him to see her cry as she was about to at any moment now. She lowered her head. But that didn't work thought as he cupped his head around her cheeks to bring her head up slightly to face him.

"What…what happen to you?" Randy asked as he saw her face that was now stained with fresh tears. "Is something troubling you?"

Her lips trembled as she nodded.

"What is it then baby? Tell me."

"I'm scared….about us."

"What?" Randy raised his eyebrow in confusement. "I don't follow. Why would you be scared about us?"

Maria sighed. "I'm just afraid that something will get in our way…"

"Whoa hold on. Where is this coming from? Maria, what are you talking about?"

Maria stayed quiet and said nothing. She remembered the conversation she had with Torrie earlier and she hadn't forgotten about it.

"Randy I want to ask you something and I want you to be honest with me."

"Okay?" was his answer although a hint of confusion was sounded from his voice. "What is it?"

Maria made a swallow. She couldn't believe she was going to ask him this now but she had to. She just had to know.

"Did you ever liked Stacy Keibler before?"

Randy blinked and looked at her, even more confused. "Stacy Keibler?"

"Yes. You were on Smackdown before right?"

"Yeah that's right."

"And at the time she was working there too?"

"Yes," said Randy with a nod.

"So. . .did you like her before?"

Randy folded his arms and raised his brow. "Maria, why are you asking me this?"

By the expression on his face, she could tell that her question totally blew him away with disbelief. She just had to know right? Maria sighed. She felt stupid now. She turned around and looked away from him.

"I'm just worried that's all." She lowered her head in shame as she left her tears swim out of her eyes. "I'm sorry…"

Randy was torn to see her in this state. He hated to see her being so fragile.

"Maria," he softly spoke and held her arms around her, his cheek gently touching hers. "You don't have to worry about anything. Stacy is not going to come between us."

"But…" Maria turned to face him. "didn't you like her before you met me?"

Randy thought a moment. "To be honest, I didn't really think of her that way. But I would usually flirt with her. In a playful way though. It wasn't anything serious."

Maria chuckled lightly. "Okay." She let out a sigh. "I feel so stupid for asking you this…."

Randy took her hand and held it on his chest. "You know I love you right?"

A smile came upon her smile and turned around to face him. "Yes."

"Good because I do and nothing is going to change that."

She smiled as he wiped his tears away from her cheeks with his thumb. The tears in her green eyes made it sparkle so beautifully with feeling.

"I love you," she said.

"And I love you too," said Randy made a smile before he muttered, "Always have and always will."

Maria made a giggle and then her smile grew wider for some reason. "Oh my gosh. Shania Twain is playing right now!"

Randy grinned. "May I have this dance Ms. Kanellis?"

"Certainly Mr. Orton."

So they danced under the stars. The breeze blew past them softly. As the couple looked at each other for a brief moment, they smiled and shared a kiss, forgetting about everything and everyone around them.

'Cause I'm keeping you forever and for always
We will be together all of our day
Wanna wake up every morning to your sweet face

Always…

A/N: A chapter with no Stacy in it. Miss her already? Lol. Don't worry you'll see more of her in the next chapter so be on the lookout! Haha.