Thanks to everyone who read last chapter and thanks too to Cena's baby doll, my time is now, yacena23 and Nadia26 for reviewing it. After so long without updating this story, I thought no one would be reading by now. Your reviews are really special.

I hope you enjoy this chapter - you will finally learn what John did (You only had to wait thirteen chapter to know it :P)

By the way, I have a twitter account LoVelyBonesxX - you can keep track on my updates.

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With her belongings packed up inside her bag, Trish was almost ready to leave the classroom. Only one thing was missing for her to leave: her seven years old son. A knock at the door, called the schoolteacher's attention. She swerved her eyes into the door's direction and was welcome by a smiling Mickie staring at her.

- May I come in? - the petit brunette asked. Trish nodded with her head and saw Mickie walking to her desk. She took a seat over the wooden furniture and then faced her.

- I saw Matt with Jeff in the other day - Trish announced. She had time to chit-chat before her son showed up. - Didn't you tell Amy that he would only come in August for the wedding?

- His arrival was unexpected - Mickie explained. - His family thought he would only come here for the wedding. One day only! It was big surprise when he called and told them he was on the Island.

- Perhaps the wedding made him realize how much he missed this place and decided to come a few days to enjoy it and to listen to the wedding plans. Isn't he Jeff's best man?

- I don't think he is here because of the wedding. - Mickie looked around the room to make sure the next words she pronounced would only be heard by Trish. Then lowered her voice's tone and spoke: - I heard a few conversations he had with Jeff - conversation Mickie wasn't supposed to listen to - and I believe he decided to come for undetermined time due to some unsolved issues he didn't resolve. It sounded something very serious.

- Let's talk about your weeding - Trish quickly said. She was not in the mood to dark subjects. Last thing she needed at the moment was to learn secrets or to create crazy theories. - You only five more months ahead until the big day. You must be already so excited. I would love to give you a few tips, but my wedding was a little bit of what we call a shotgun wedding.

- Only five more months until the big day and I still have no response from my bridesmaid.

- I don't think you want me to be your bridesmaid. - The blonde woman had thought about it a lot. It would really be a huge honor to be Mickie's bridesmaid, but her recent condition raised a few questions. The baby would be almost popping out at the wedding's date.

- Why wouldn't I want you to be my bridesmaid? - Mickie inquired and crossed her arms over her chest.

Trish took a long and deep breath. It was better to start sharing the news before Alice had the opportunity to do it. The blonde knew it wouldn't take her mother-in-law any time to spread the good news - otherwise her last pregnancy, Alice Irvine was very happy.

- Because you won't want to share the altar with an eight month pregnant woman - Trish revealed with a tender smile on her face.

- Oh my God! - Mickie jumped from the desk and wrapped her arms around Trish's petit body. A small belly could already be noticed. - These are such great news. You are definitely going to be my bridesmaid. - The brunette looked at Trish. - It's not every day a bride can share the altar with her pregnant bridesmaid.

xxXXxxXXxx

Stacy looked at her image reflected by bathroom mirror one more time. How was she going to keep hiding it? Every single day it spent, it became harder to hide her swollen face from the people. The black sunglasses weren't hiding it anymore as they hid it first. The once light pink swelling was now a weird purple with a touch of yellow.

The ferry stopped moving. Putting back the sunglasses, the blonde left the small space. After three days in Gail's house, Stacy was returning to her home.

The tall blonde prayed to not be seen. Nevertheless her wishes were not attended. Few minutes after her feet touched the land, someone called her name. Stacy recognized Amy's voice, but kept walking. Amy was one of the people she didn't want to see her in such condition.

- Are you deaf? - Amy asked when finally reached her side. Last time Amy had to run so much was in high school.

- You were calling for me? - Stacy asked innocently. She didn't stop walking and Amy made a huge effort to accompany her. - I'm sorry, I didn't hear you.

- Where have you been? I and Trish were concerned. You don't even want to imagine all the crazy theories we created to explain your disappearance.

- I was working on in a huge project and I stayed in a friend's house. - How many more lies would she have to tell? - I can't even remember when the last time I slept was.

- And why are you wearing sunglasses?

Those were more questions than Stacy wanted to answer. At the moment all the blonde wanted to do was to go home and to rest - both her mind and body needed to rest from the last days. It was still hard to believe such thing had happened to her.

- Really bad headache, really bad hangover.

- I thought you have already learned your lesson about drinking too much.

- Well, the lesson wasn't that well learned. - The blonde pulled up a smile when all she wanted to do was to cry. Why didn't the redhead leave her alone?

At first Amy smiled with Stacy, but then she raised her eyebrow: - Weren't you working on some project? Did you get drunk while working on it?

- No, we finished the project and then we went out to celebrate. - The lies were flowing too easy from her mouth. One day - sooner or later - she would be caught up in her web of lies.

- Are you sure you stayed in a friend's house because of work? - Amy queried a few minutes later. - Didn't you do it to avoid John?

- For God's sake, Amy - Stacy exclaimed and stopped walking for the first time since she left the ferry. She looked at Amy, but her expression could be seen because of the black sunglasses she was using.

In the past days, John hadn't made part of her thoughts. Well, maybe three or four times, but he was not the reason she spent three days without coming home or giving news to her friends.

- Are you sure it was only a one night thing?

- I really don't want to talk about it. - When Stacy twisted her body to keep walking, a little kid went against her. Unfortunately, at the moment the kid hit her body, the blonde was pushing up her sunglasses to make sure the marks weren't visible. Just one single move and the sunglasses fell to the floor revealing her marked face.

- Stacy, what happened? - Before Stacy could cover her eyes with the sunglasses, Amy had caught a little glance of her face's condition. In a matter of fact, she has caught more than one little glance. - What happened with you?

- Please Amy, leave me alone. - She was not going to deal with now. Feeling the tears running from her eyes, Stacy ran the faster she could and left a very worried Amy behind.

xxXXxxXXxx

The first person Trish saw when entered in the full bar was the person she was looking for: Amy Dumas. Passing through the middle of men and women, she reached her friend and took a seat at her front around the table.

- Ben is with my parents and I have to go pick him up in half hour. We have to be quickly - Trish announced and took off her jacket. A little confused, she sent Amy a glance. One of them was missing. - Why isn't Stacy here? I thought you told me you spoke with her today. I want her to tell us where she has been.

- I spoke with her today, but it wasn't a friendly talk, - Amy coyly tucked a tress of red hair behind her ear. The redhead looked around to make sure no one would listen to them - she didn't need to be worried with it, other conversations were being shared to someone pay attention to theirs. - Trish, I don't know how to tell you this.

- You are worrying me Ames - the pregnant woman said. By Amy's expression it was clear something awful had happened.

- I saw Stacy this morning and she was using sunglasses. - Trish raised her eyebrow. Should she feel worried because Stacy was wearing sunglasses? Nevertheless, she didn't drop any comment and waited for Amy to finish. - Some little kid went against her and the sunglasses feel to the floor. She was hiding a black eye. Someone hit her.

The petit blonde stood a few seconds in silence. She didn't know how to react. Amy had dropped a huge bomb. Someone was hitting Stacy and she was hiding it from them. Had it been the first time?

- Stacy has always been very mysterious about her life outside the Island. We don't even know what her work is. - Amy broke the silence between them. - She may have been hiding a boyfriend from us.

- She slept with John a few days ago. Stacy may hide a few things from us, but I don't think would she cheat on someone.

- I know she slept with him. - Amy bit her bottom lip. She didn't believe she was about to say the next set of words. - But maybe Stacy has a boyfriend and she cheated on him. Probably she told him about John and he hit her. Men don't take cheating easily and some of them have aggressive responses.

The silence fell between the two women again. It was very difficult to know how to act in a situation as this. It was clear Stacy had been hiding something from them. Nevertheless, as much they wanted to help, they didn't know how to do it.

- Congratulations for the baby. - The two longtime friends turned their heads to the person who spoke. It may have been a huge coincidence, but John Cena was starting at them. Perhaps, he could help them.

- Let me guess, Alice told your mother who told you? - Trish queried John, who nodded with his head. She had been right when thought Alice was going to tell everyone she knew about her daughter-in-law's pregnancy.

- John, can we speak for a moment? - Amy asked John before he could walk away.

- Sure. - He saw them exchanging a look. A lot may have changed throughout eight years, but something told John the reason those two wanted to speak with him in particular was still the same: Stacy.

- Have you been with Stacy? - It seemed Amy was going to lead the conversation.

- It already spent a couple of days since the last time I saw her. - Three days to be precisely. John was expecting her to see her that night - he had seen Trish entering inside the bar -, but after a few minutes it was clear she wasn't coming to meet her friends.

- Stacy is going to kill me for telling you this. - A concerned expression was seen in Amy's face.

- What's wrong with Stacy? - He felt concerned by the way those two women were acting. Something bad had happened with Stacy and they were taking too long to tell him.

xxXXxxXXxx

When Stacy finally found herself at home, she crashed on the couch. The past three nights had been a nightmare. She hadn't rested not even a little bit - too many thoughts in her head to let her fall asleep. All those hours of sleep were welcomed. However her beauty sleep came to an end when a knock on the door was heard.

Opening her eyelids, Stacy sat on the couch. It already was dark outside. The blonde interrogated herself how many hours she had been sleeping. The knock at the door was heard again to her dismay. It was not a good time to receive visits.

The blonde rose up from the couch and went to answer, but not before covering her face with the sunglasses. She was expecting to see her friends - at this hour, Amy had already told Trish about the aggression her face suffered -, but she didn't want to be seen by them like that.

She placed her hand on the doorknob and rolled it. To the sleepy blonde's surprised it was neither Trish nor Amy at the door. It was John Cena.

- Let me see your face - he ordered, without giving her time to tell him to go away. It was dark outside and the glasses didn't give him a glance of Stacy's condition. Amy had described it to him and now he needed to see with his own eyes. - Take off your glasses.

- Oh God John! Don't do this. - Why should she act as she didn't know about what John was talking? He already knew about it and Stacy had a perfect idea of who told him - she was going to murder Amy next time she saw her. The redhead knew about their awkward situation, why did she have to drag John to her mess?

- Don't do what? - His fingers rested on her chin. It was a gentle touch that didn't inflict any pain - not the touch she was expecting to feel after listening to the rage in his voice. Stacy thought about fighting against him, but it wouldn't take her anywhere. He was stronger than her and to tell the truth she didn't want to stop feeling his touch.

- Don't start acting as you are worried with me because we slept together three days ago. It was meaningless sex. It doesn't mean there is something going on between us; it doesn't mean you have to be here for me.

- I'm not here because I think there is something going on between us. I'm here because I'm concerned with you. - With his free hand, John pulled out from her face the sunglasses. The item fell to the floor when he saw how hurt she was. The glimpse of the bruised face made John feel angrier. The person who did this to her would regret it, - Who did this to you?

- Unbelievable! - Stacy exclaimed. The little emotional strength she had, she used it to give a few steps behind; to give an end to his caress on her skin. - I don't have to deal with my parents, but I have to deal with you. I don't need you. - As quickly the set of words came out from her mouth, Stacy knew she had lied.

- You still without telling me who have done you this.

- It was an accident - she mumbled. She wanted to tell him so badly, but was too scared of his opinion. How could she confess that Dave did it to her? How could she tell him who Dave was without feeling ashamed of herself?

- I can assure you aren't going to convince me it was an accident. - He gave a few steps, decreasing the distance between them again. - Stacy, if you don't tell me, I'll find by myself.

- Good luck finding. - Stacy tried to close the door, but he stopped her. John stood below door-frame without intentions of going away. The blonde took a deep breath. She really didn't to confront him now. - I'm not anymore the girl who you convinced to do everything you wanted with just one smile.

- You did everything I wanted? - He chuckled when repeated her words. - I hate to break the news to you, but most of the time I did everything you wanted. So, for once in your life do something I'm asking you and tell me who hurt you.

- You don't have to protect me. - Her eyes got watery when Stacy understood only a few more words from him and she would reveal who hurt her.; she would reveal she was an awful person. - I'm not anymore the same person I was eight years before.

- Do you think I don't know that? - John's hands touched her hair. Carefully, he placed a tress of blonde hair behind her ear. - Did you know you were the first person I saw when I returned the Island? I could swear you were still exactly the same girl I left. But then, after our first talk, it hit me you weren't.

- When did you see me? - The first tear ran from her hazel eyes.

- Christmas' Eve. You were running to the ferry. Do you know what I thought when I saw? - The blonde nodded with her head. - I thought you came here to visit your parents and you were returning to your family. You had a husband and kids. In the moment I thought you could be with someone else, it hit me that I still am in love with you. - His eyes connected with hers. Every single word he said was true. - You can push me away how much you want because I care too much to not protect you. Please Stacy, tell me who hurt you.

- When you saw me all those months ago, I was late to meet Dave. - Stacy realized he was going to speak, but she stopped him. If she didn't do it now, she didn't know when would be forte again to do it. - I told Dave I wouldn't stay with him anymore after I asked him one more time if he would leave his wife to be with me. He gave me the same answer: until the kids didn't grow-up, he wouldn't leave her. Since the beginning, I knew he would never leave her, but I tried to convince myself he would do it to be with me. I was ready to walk away when he asked me if it had something to do with you - he saw you at my side in the ferry - and when I told him "yes", he hit me. - She didn't have courage to look at John in the eyes. She didn't want to see his disappointment for her not being who she was eight years ago. - You don't want me in your life John. I turned the woman with whom no man will ever marry. I turned a home wrecker.

No more words came out from her mouth. The blonde woman broke down in tears. The truth was out and she wasn't feeling better. She was feeling worse. The man standing at her door would never want to be with her again after it.

John wrapped his arms around Stacy, ignoring her attempts to push him away. Her head rested on his should, the tears wet the fabric of his shirt. When the sobs calmed, when only a few tears ran through her cheeks, John spoke again.

- Do you remember Mike? That guy who liked to be called The Miz. - He didn't wait for answer, but he felt her head nodding - It has been eight years since someone heard about him. He disappeared in the same night as me. He and his friends were no good. I shouldn't have messed with him.

- Why are you telling me this? - Stacy mumbled very embarrassed to glance at him.

- Mike was the wrong person with whom I messed with. He wanted me to something and I didn't do it. To convince me to do it, he tried to use you. If I didn't do it, you would suffer the consequences. We fought. I didn't mean it to happen, it was an accident. I didn't know what to do and I called my father. He covered my mistake as he has always done.

Stacy placed her hands on his chest and for the first time since her revelation her eyes connected with his. She didn't see a single emotion inside his baby-blue eyes. - What did you do John? - Her voice was a whisper, but he heard her.

- I killed Mike.

I'm sorry for the spelling and grammar mistakes. English isn't my first language.

xoxo

Ainat