AN: Here comes the drama...can't have my Romeo and Juliet have it too easy. Bear with me on and this chapter. What doens't kill us, makes us stronger. Let me know what you all think.

Chapter 14

Several months later…

"Pick a damn date already," Beth growled at Karen as they shopped through the mall.

Karen just laughed. "For someone so non-traditional you sure are interested in my wedding." She laughed even louder as Beth growled again.

"Chill okay," Karen said. "We'll get married when we are good and ready."

"I guess that will have to do," Beth said reluctantly.

"Hey Britt," Karen said as she looked through a rack of shirts. "When we do get married, want to be my maid of honor?"

Beth dropped the shirt that was in her hand. "You didn't have to ask. I would love to."

"Look at that," Karen said as she watched her friend contain her glee. "One more thing done for a wedding I don't have a date for."

"Cute," Beth said throwing a sock at her.

"You excited about seeing your lover tonight," Karen said with a wink. Beth, Karen and Shannon were heading into Raleigh to hang out at a Smackdown taping. Karen knew Beth was missing her boy but he's the champ now so he is constantly working.

"I can't wait," Beth said with a sigh. "Then he is home with me for six whole days." She looked over at Karen who had stopped moving. "You okay?"

"Yeah," Karen said taking a deep breath. "I've been feeling off lately. I think I may be coming down with something."

"Well, whatever you're getting, keep it," Beth said with a wave of her hand. "I don't need to be sick while my man's home."

"I promise to keep my illness away from you so that you can try to break that poor boy's back sexing him up," Karen said laughing as Beth stuck her tongue out at her.

"Funny Kar. How did the soundproofing of Shannon's office at Ink work out?"

Karen blushed red. "As far as I know, no complaints."

"Dirty girl sleeping with the boss!"

"He finds it cheaper than giving me a proper raise," Karen said laughing. Both girls were still cracking up as they left the store to head home.

In Raleigh…

Shannon pulled into the parking lot making sure Karen and Beth were still behind him. They decided to take two cars considering Matt and Jeff would be coming home with them.

"You drive slower than a turtle," Shannon called out as they got out of their cars. He laughed when Beth flipped him off.

"You drive like a maniac Shan," Karen called back as they walked toward him.

"I thought you liked when I was a maniac," he said wiggling his eye brows at her.

"Stop," Beth said pretending to gag. "I'm going to be sick."

"Fine," Shannon said wrapping his arms around both women. "Let's go inside and find your man."

"Yippee," Beth called out.

As they made their way backstage Karen was in awe of how huge an operation this was. She had gone to a few of the independent deals Shannon had but they were very small potatoes compared to this.

"This is crazy," Karen said in hushed tones.

"This is nothing," Beth said used to it. "Raw is much worse."

Beth smiled as she noticed a rainbow head down the hall with his back towards her. She took off in a run.

"Go get yours girl," Karen yelled as she and Shannon slowly followed. As Karen yelled Jeff turned and a smile lit his face as Beth launched herself in his arms kissing him soundly.

"Get a room," Matt yelled as he came down the hall to join the group.

"Don't mind if we do," Jeff replied as he pulled Beth down the hall. They laughed when they heard a door slam.

"There's my favorite girl," Matt said lifting Karen into a hug. "Why don't we run away together?"

"Sorry Mattie," Karen said kissing him on the cheek. "I love my man."

"Jesus Christ," a voice called down. "Shannon Moore is alive!"

Shannon laughed as John Morrison and Mike (aka The Miz) came up to their group. Shannon thumped and was thumped by both guys. John turned an appreciative glance towards Karen who blushed and squirmed under his gaze.

"And who is this beauty," he asked Shannon as Karen moved into his arms.

"My friends this is my future wife," Shannon said kissing her on the head. "Karen this is John and Mike."

"Nice to meet you guys," Karen said offering them a smile.

"How much does he pay you to go along with that story," Mike asked causing her to giggle.

"He pays me in love and affection," Karen answered back.

"I like her," John said. "Have we ever met before? I swear I know your face."

"I think I would remember you," Karen said as she waved good bye as Shannon dragged her off to meet more friends.

"You know her dude," Mike asked as they watched the couple talk to a few more Superstars.

"I know I know that face," John said rubbing the back of his neck. "Give me time."

Later that night…

The whole gang was hanging out in catering later that night. They were waiting for Jeff's match and were torturing by eating in front of him knowing he was starving but couldn't screw up his face paint.

Karen smiled as John and Mike came into view.

"I figured out how I know you," John said confidently causing the group to stare up at him.

"You don't know her dude," Shannon said shaking his head.

"Yes I do," John said. "You used to go by Cherry Ice." Shannon looked at Karen whose face went ghostly white. "You were the best at Diamond Dolls! I could never forget a face or a rack like that."

Everyone turned to Karen who hadn't taken a breath since John's proclamation.

"Is that true," Matt asked not knowing what to believe.

"Dude, this chick gave the best lap dances I've ever had," John crowed.

Karen got up. "Excuse me for a minute." She hurried quickly out of the room. Beth shot Shannon a look and he went to follow her.

Jeff slapped John off the back of his head.

"That was harsh," John said rubbing his bald spot.

"That was harsh," Jeff asked getting agitated. "You just told the man who is marrying that woman that she gave you a lap dance. Do you ever think before you open your mouth?" He grabbed Beth's hand and headed to find his friends.

John looked at Mike who shook his head. "I didn't mean to cause any trouble."

"Let's hope you didn't," Matt said following Jeff out of the room.

Locker room…

"A fucking stripper," Shannon yelled causing Karen to turn her head.

"Don't act so Goddamned surprised Moore," Karen yelled back just as loud. "I told you I danced in college."

"I thought you meant in a classroom or for a sport's team not like some skanky whore," he hissed.

Karen's head whipped as if she had been hit. "A whore Shannon? Is that what I am a whore? Well fuck you!"

Jeff, Beth and Matt all came into the room. They could hear the argument as they came down the hall.

"Kar," Beth said. "Calm down. I'm sure he didn't mean it like that."

"How did he mean it then," Karen asked as her eyes began to water. "After everything I told you about me, you had to call me a whore? I thought I knew you. I did what I had to do to pay my bills!"

"Did you sleep with all those guys too," Shannon asked bitterly.

"No you asshole," Karen yelled. "You knew what my life was like. Would you rather me a hooker? I could have worked the streets like most girls I knew then. Hell, I could've been just like my mother. Maybe shoot up a little then sell myself or my kid to the next guy that came along for my fix money!"

Beth gasped as Jeff grabbed her hand.

"Your mother did that," Matt asked not wanting to believe it.

Karen wiped an angry tear form her face. "She tried to. I learned how to blow a guy at 8-years-old just some my mom could get a nickel bag. Once a whore always a whore? That didn't bother you when I told you but me dancing to pay for my rent and not having sex with those guys bothers you. You're fucked up."

The guys looked at Shannon who had just turned his back on her.

"Beth take me home," Karen cried as she left the room. Beth looked at Jeff who just nodded and kissed her head. Beth hurried threw the door to catch up with her.

"I didn't mean to say that," Shannon said after a few moments of silence. "All I could see were John and other guys with their hands all over her. I shouldn't of said that." He sat on the couch and put his head in his hands.

"You crossed the line big time," Jeff said sitting across from him.

"Did her mother really sell her," Matt asked still trying to wrap his mind around what was said tonight.

"Yes," Shannon said letting out a sigh. "That's why she was taken away. Her mother tried to sell her to a cop. When they talked to her they found out her mother had been selling her services to feed her habit."

"That poor girl," Matt said looking at Shannon.

"I made it worse tonight," Shannon said with a heavy heart. He looked towards Jeff. "Think I will be able to pull myself out of the hole I dug for myself?"

"You two need to talk that's for sure," Jeff said standing up. "Chill here for now. After my match I will call Beth and see if you should even go near her tonight."

"Thanks man," Shannon said leaning his head back.

Matt and Jeff looked at each other. Both hoped this situation will get resolved.

Matt's house…

Karen sat on Matt's couch telling Beth the whole unabridged story of her life. When Jeff had called she told him to keep Shannon away until tomorrow. He was just to drop the guys off and head home.

Karen told Beth how her mother sold her for drugs, about the creeps trying to feel her up in different foster homes, about dancing only when money got real tight during college. Beth looked at her crying friend in a whole new light. She knew her life was rough but how she survived all of that she will never know.

"Am I whore," Karen asked as she wiped her eyes for the thousandth time. It broke Beth's heart to see her normally strong and fiery friend almost broken. Karen laid her head in Beth's lap. The older woman began stroking her hair.

"Other than the dancing, everything else was done against your will. With the dancing, all you did was dance. You weren't sleeping with all those guys. You were honest with him. It's not your fault he didn't understand."

Beth kept stroking Karen's head until she fell asleep. When the guys came in she put her finger to her lips telling them to be quiet.

Matt looked at his sleeping friend. She looked so worn out. He went over to Beth and lifted her into his arms. He nodded his head letting her know he was putting her to bed. Beth laid her head on Jeff's shoulder when he sat down next to her. Nothing was said until Matt came back down the stairs.

"She going to be alright," Matt asked as he joined them in the living room. He started petting Lucas when he jumped into his lap.

"She will be," Beth said. "How was Shannon?"

"He's upset with himself as he should be," Jeff said rubbing Beth's arm. "I really believe he didn't mean to say those things to her."

"Then why did he," Beth asked.

"Simply," Matt explained. "He was jealous. He's okay now but all he saw then was red. He saw John and faceless guys with their hands all over his woman. He forgot everyone has a past."

"Her past is especially rough," Beth shuddered as she said that.

"She told you everything," Jeff asked as Matt looked at her.

"She told me more than I ever needed to know," Beth said wiping a stray tear. "I feel dirty just from listening to it." Jeff kissed her head.

"What can we do to fix this," Matt asked.

"Nothing," Jeff said causing them to look at him strangely. "They have to fix it themselves. Otherwise, they are not going to be able to move forward."