The sunlight sprinkled through the mini blinds bringing an unwelcome jolt to Autumn who cringed and rolled over to find Shannon gazing at her with a smirk on his face.

"What?"

Shannon shrugged. "Nothing. Just wonderin' how you feel?"

"I feel fine. How do you feel?" Autumn pulled the cover over her head and closed her eyes. Last night was all that she had wanted and much more than she expected. But now she couldn't help but wonder if the stress of everything had caused her to rush into things. She was after all still with Doug. But her heart clearly belonged to Shannon. And he deserved so much more than what she was giving him now. As if sensing how she felt Shannon pulled her close to him and kissed her head softly.

"You know I want more than this Autumn. I want to be with you and have a real relationship. I've waited for this for a long time and I'll keep waiting until you sort things out with Doug. If there is anything to sort out."

She breathed a little easier and snuggled into him. "We're on the same page S'more."

-- -- --

Melony stared at the ceiling, a thing that was becoming one of her not-so-favorite past times. A knock on the door caused her to jump. Another note was slid under the door and Mel was about at her wits end. "Enough with all these notes. Why don't you man up and talk to me dam it!! You're nothing but a coward!" Her fist connected with the door before she reached down and picked up the note. 'Another installment is expected within the next few hours. If all goes as planned you will be released in the next two days.'

She leaned against the door and crumbled the note in her hand. Chris was going to hand over everything they had just to free her. And she couldn't blame him, because she would do the same for him. But right now she really wished he would use his brain and not his heart and get whoever was behind this. No matter the risk.

-- -- --

Chris hung up the phone with the private investigator and sat back on the sofa. Autumn, Shannon, Molly and Dave had all gathered around eagerly waiting on an update. For the first time in days Chris smiled. "I think it's about to be over."

"Why? Have you heard from Mel?" Autumn anxiously asked.

"No. But I did call a private investigator that Dave recommended. And turns out he'd already taken a personal interest in the case and has caught onto a paper trail."

"What does that mean?" Molly questioned as she took a seat next to Autumn.

"What it means is we should know where Mel is in the next few hours."

"So what do we do in the meantime?"

Chris stood and walked to the big picture window in the living room. The one he often looked out of hoping to see his wife walking up the walkway. "We wait."

-- -- --

Melony listened at the door, her ear pressed firmly against the wood. She could hear voices in deep conversation though she could only make out every other word. One of those voices made the fine hairs on the back of her neck stand on end. She couldn't place it, but she was sure she'd heard it many times before and immediately her mind ran down the entire WWE roster. Could one of their co-workers be behind all this? She fell against the door and slid down to the floor clutching her knees to her chest. Anger made her heart beat faster as the voice rang in her ear. And it hit her almost immediately and she broke out in a cold sweat. How could one man betray them all?

"Doug!"

The scream made all three men in the room stop their conversation and turn towards the door.

-- -- --

The Benoit house was quiet as Chris was out meeting with the private investigator and Molly and Dave were grocery shopping; only Shannon and Autumn were home. The phone rang startling Autumn out of her thoughts and she absent mindedly reached for the phone.

"Hey baby. Sorry I just left you but Danny needed me to pick him up, his flight was delayed."

"You're just now calling me Doug? What were you thinking?"

Doug paused. "I'm so sorry. I guess I wasn't thinking. You were so caught up with your sister and the party..."Autumn stopped him right there. "Look I don't care just bring me my car or tell me where I can pick it up. I don't have time for this right now Doug."

"I'll bring your car to you and maybe we can talk?"

"Yeah maybe." With that Autumn hung up the phone and turned to see Shannon standing in the doorway. "That was Doug."

Shannon nodded and walked further into the room. "So I gathered. What did he want?"

She chewed her bottom lip nervously. "He's bringing my car back."

"And?"

Her eyes averted away and Shannon took a step back. "Oh."

"No, it's not like that Shannon." But before she could elaborate any more he was out the door and in his car leaving her all alone.