"This character is the villain of the Anglo-Saxon poem 'Beowulf.' "

Danielle squinted at the television and titled her head slightly. What the hell is a Beowulf? She sighed and shook her head at the screen. "Well, my dear Alex, I'll admit that I don't have a clue. Care to explain?"

She was sitting on the couch in her hotel room- the second one this month- with her feet tucked warmly underneath her. It was late afternoon, and she had nothing to do that night. So, she'd decided to watch some tv, order some PayPerView's, and veg out. Her outfit was casual; old jeans and a Budweiser t-shirt; and her hair was pulled into a loose ponytail. She'd just gotten it cut shorter.

One of the Jeopardy contestants rung in, and she listened intently. "Who is Helgen?" Danielle's eyes went wide, how was I supposed to know that? She heard Alex's apology- apparently it wasn't the right answer anyway.

She relaxed in her seat and looked up at the ceiling. What a day... it feels like I haven't had such a peaceful day ever. I definitely have to do this more often. She looked back at the tv again, and she had just missed the answer. Her mouth fell open. "Damn show! I wanted the answer!"

Her cell phone rang, she had thrown it by the door when she'd come back to her hotel room. Turning to look at it, she listened to it ring twice before getting up. Someone just had to bother me... Picking up the phone and answering it, she leaned against the wall and ran one hand through some of her loose hair. "Hello?"

"Hey Dani, are you ready for our shopping trip tomorrow?"

"Yeah," Danielle grinned a little. "And, just so you know, I've already figured out your plan." There was a pause, and she could tell that Stephanie was looking for an excuse. "Don't even try and act innocent, don't waste your time."

Stephanie laughed. "Fine, okay. You caught me, but you're still coming, right?" Danielle didn't answer her right away, and she sighed. "You're coming- whether you like it or not. Either that or I show those pictures of you at Hallowe'en. You know which ones I'm talking about!"

"I'll go... but only because of that," Danielle replied, slowly sliding down the wall to the floor. "Is there anything else? I was enjoying my day off with my friend the tv."

"You? Taking a day off? I'm speechless!" Stephanie laughed again, and Danielle could hear her walking somewhere. Always so busy... "I'll have to let you enjoy the moment. Don't forget, I'm picking you up at 11 or so."

"Sure, I'll never miss a free drive somewhere." Danielle climbed up from the carpet and started walking back toward the television. "See you then, bye."

"Uh huh, later," Stephanie hung up her cell phone, and Danielle fell back onto the couch.

She picked up the remote and went to the guide, trying to find anything to watch until the first PPV came on. She went to a movie- the last half hour of it- and got comfortable on the cushions. Now, she thought lazily, what does Steph have planned for tomorrow? I wish I did know what he little plan actually is...

~~~~~

This is the most trashy looking thing I've ever seen. Danielle sighed and turned around in front of the mirror, eyeing the red fabric closely. Short, clingy, and plenty of skin-bearing openings. She really hoped Stephanie didn't like it. Maybe if I just didn't wear it out of this changing room...

"Dani! You done yet? I want you to see this skirt!" Stephanie was right outside the door, knocking. Danielle gave herself one last look in the mirror, might as well get it over with, and unlocked the door.

Stephanie did a twirl- the skirt really did look nice- and then gave Danielle a serious look. "That's... it's just so..."

"Slutty?" Danielle offered hopefully. It wasn't her style, she didn't mind flaunting some but this was too much. Tight she could stand, maybe even some lace could be tolerated. But, not this. She met Stephanie's eyes, and they were oddly shocked.

"I was going to say it fit you... but I guess that's an insult now," Stephanie said slowly. "Do you like my skirt?" she asked after a pause.

Glad for the change of topic, Danielle nodded. "It's really nice. I think it would look great with that red shirt you bought a while ago." Stephanie nodded, she'd forgotten about that shirt, and went back towards her changing room.

"Great," she said as she closed the door. "I've only got one thing left, how about you?"

"I'm done, I just have to change out of this," Danielle replied, grateful to get that dress off her body. She had it just about taken off when Stephanie yelled to her from the other room.

"I bet Shane would love that dress!"

Danielle froze and looked at the fabric in her hands. What was she supposed to say to that? Shane was a man, and he was obviously attracted to her, or course he would like it. Another man came to her mind, and she knew in an instant why she hated that dress.

It was years before, when she was still dating Sean Morley, Val Venis, the ladies man. He had bought her a dress so similar to this one, and she had felt unbelievably cheap in it. They went to a club, and people looked at her, and she hated it. She was so angry when they got back to his hotel room. It was the last night they were a couple, because he didn't understand. He never did.

"Dani? Are you alive in there?"

Her head jerked upright, and she cleared her throat. "Yeah," she said. She grabbed er capri's in a rush and pulled them on roughly. She looked at herself in the glass again, looking normal and comfortable. "I think he'd hate the dress."

An uncomfortable silence settled over them, and Stephanie stared at her feet. Why? It was all she could thing. She could tell Dani meant something else, or was thinking about someone else. But, she had no idea what. "Dani, you are so damn complicated," she mumbled to herself. I bet Shane could straighten her out...

~~~~~

They were eating lunch in the food court- more like an afternoon snack really- and Stephanie was trying to "inconspicuously" change the topic to Shane. So far, it hadn't worked and they had ended up talking about everything else. Movies, work, clothes, and even Jeopardy. Neither of them had ever heard of a Beowulf.

They had settled into a quiet moment, eating and watching the people, and Stephanie poked at her drink straw casually. "So," she began. "Why don't you think Shane would like that dress?"

Danielle met her eyes for a second and then looked back over at another crowd of people. "Do you really have to know?" she said, distracted. "It's some old thing, to do with Sean and another dress what looked almost exactly the same." And cheap feelings, and a fight that took forever to get over...

"Should've known," Stephanie mumbled. She looked over at the same crowd of people, and one of them met her eyes. The girl's mouth dropped, and she turned to her friend in shock. Turning to Danielle, they both said the same thing. "Oh, shit!"

"I was having such a quiet day," Danielle said with a grin as she stood up with her food. "You ready to go somewhere else yet?"

Stephanie nodded and stood up quickly. "Definitely, I don't feel like being bothered."

"Too bad," Danielle said after glancing up. The teenagers, about six of them, were only a few tables away. She didn't mind fans, but sometimes it was nice to be left alone. Especially when she had been having a serious mental chat with herself. But, she thought hopefully, maybe they can get my mind off certain things.

"Are you, uh, Steph McMahon?" the same girl asked, eyes wide and pen in hand. Star struck, Danielle thought with a smirk.

Flashing a grin, Stephanie glanced around. "Sure am."

"Can I have your autograph?"

Not a big surprise, Danielle thought now as she slid back into her seat. Stephanie had agreed and taken the pen and was signing it, and the fans had ignored her so far. Must be a lot of redheads around Florida this time of year, and I always thought I was conspicuous. She avoided eye contact with all of the teenagers, and they left without even looking at her.

Stephanie turned to her in disbelief. "They didn't recognize you," she said slowly. "Can you believe that?"

Danielle laughed and stood up. "I'm lucky, what more can I say?" She sighed and stretched her arms above her head, shopping was tiring- there were so many other things she'd rather be doing. "You ready to go yet? We haven't been to Jeans Expert yet."

"And I want to stop in the pet shop," Stephanie added as they walked out of the food court. Danielle looked at her and raised her eyebrows without a word. "What? I like to look at the pets and stuff. I'm thinking of getting a cat or something."

"Oh, sure," Danielle replied. "And I'm going to marry the next person who calls my cell phone."

Stephanie grinned and shook her head. "I have the sudden urge to call Shane. You know, just to check up on things." She saw Danielle roll her eyes, and she laughed. "It's not such a bad idea..."

"Mess off," Danielle said. "Don't even get started on the whole 'you and Shane would make such a good couple' thing." Stephanie sighed, and Danielle changed the subject. "Anyway, did you see '3000 Miles To Graceland' on PPV yet? I watched it last night."

Stephanie turned to her and nodded. "I loved it! Every time I saw on of them dressed as Elvis, I couldn't stop laughing!" They laughed for a minute, and Stephanie glanced at the stores they were passing. "We're at Jeans Expert, you know. I have to find a new pair of jeans, actually."

Danielle and turned toward the display window. Skirts, pants, tank tops... this had to be her favorite place to shop. It actually made the trip bearable. She noticed the anxious salesclerk watching them enter, and she frowned. But she really hated people trying to sell her things.

No more fans saw them, and Danielle managed to avoid the sales person and pay for her own clothes. It wasn't such a bad shopping trip after all.

~~~~~

"Just four more days, babe. Don't you want to go out and party like some wild young thing before you're too old?"

Rolling her eyes, Danielle fell onto the hotel chair with a sigh. It was a new city, a new hotel, and July 19th. She still wasn't looking forward to her birthday or to the party that Stephanie was surely planning. "I'm not getting old, and I'm not going out to get wasted with you."

Sean faked shock and sat next to her. "Really, Dani. You talk like I have an ulterior motive or something." She met his eyes. "Which I don't! I just want you to celebrate, I've never seen anyone who didn't like their birthday. Anyone under 45, that is."

"I'm just not a 'birthday person,' I guess. And I've quit drinking, remember?" She shrugged and looked at the television, knowing he would convince her to go anyway. I think I'm easily convincible, she thought. First Stephanie and now him...

Sean nodded. "You promised not to drink, I know, I know. But, you don't have to drink. We can just dance and have fun." He gave her a hopeful grin and shook her by her shoulders gently. "Oh, come on! You know you want to!"

Okay, Danielle admitted to herself, maybe I do want to go and get drunk to celebrate... but not with you. Her mind stilled, she didn't know why she sounded so bitter about Sean all of a sudden. She was starting to act like... a McMahon. Glancing up at him, she grinned. That will never happen. "What time can we leave?"

~~~~~

Danielle was nursing her final beer, but she was still very alert and mostly sober. She was taking the bottle back to the hotel with her- she wanted to finish it, and the taxi driver didn't seem to mind. Sean was worse than she was, and he had almost passed out onto her shoulder.

They got back to the hotel and Danielle helped him to his room. He thanked her as he fell onto the bed, letting out a slow groan. "You're so awesome," he slurred with a grin, "Almost as good as you were in bed."

She rolled her eyes- her favorite thing to do- and sat on the edge of his bed. Grabbing his foot, she pulled off a shoe and then the sock. He wasn't happy with the silence, and Sean started to rub her neck with one hand.

"Come to bed, Dani," he said softly. "You... you know you want a piece of Val."

Laughing, she pushed him away from her and stood up. "Sure," she replied. "But not the piece you're thinking of. Good night, Sean. See you in the morning... or afternoon." He muttered something in reply, already asleep, and she left his room silently and started toward her own.

The door was unlocked, and her heart started to race. Someone had gotten into her room, into her things, and what if they were still there? "Hello?" she called out softly.

"Have fun?" She turned toward the main room, and there was Shane.

He was sitting on the floor, leaning his back on the couch. Plates, a wine bottle, and a tray of room service was spread out in front of him. He wore his favorite shirt and casual pants, and he gave her a forced and saddened smile.

"Shane..." she said softly. "What are you doing here?" Her heart knew to sink when he stood up and shrugged, trying to act like he hadn't waited all night and like she hadn't broken her promise to him.

He walked up to her and gently took the beer bottle from her hand with a sigh. "I thought we could have dinner for your birthday, I suppose." He paused and glanced back at the floor, complete with a cloth over the tiles and a few candles. "I even brought wine, but I think you don't need anymore to drink tonight."

"I'm not drunk!" She swallowed thickly and tried to smile. "I've just got a bit of a buzz, that's it. I swear!"

Nodding, Shane met her eyes again. "Good night," he said, turning toward the door. "Tell Sean I said 'hi.' "

She frowned and stood still, helpless. His eyes were so hurt, and it killed her inside to be able to do nothing about it. "I'm sorry," she said to his back, and he paused. "Please don't go."

He turned and met the hopeless look in her eyes, accompanied by a liquor shine, and walked back to her. "I'm not staying," he said bluntly, turning the bottle in his hands nervously.

"Okay," Danielle said after a pause. "But... can I ask you a question first? And, will you answer honestly?" He gave her a confused look but nodded, and she glanced away from him. "If I wore a really short, slutty dress one day... would you like it?"

Shane raised his eyebrows and thought for a moment, before meeting her eyes. "No, I probably wouldn't." He left, and she walked into the main part of the room.

He wouldn't like it, she thought. It was what she had hoped her would say, and she was glad. Sitting on the couch, she looked at the assortment of food and smiled sadly. The anguish, turmoil, it was all so obvious in his eyes. He was disappointed in her, angry that she had been out drinking, and jealousy burned. That night, she knew he hated Sean more than ever.

Danielle reached down and picked up a wine glass, her hands trembling as she raised it to her eyes. He had done all of this for her. It was so thoughtful, sweet, and she had ruined it in the worst way possible. She had to make it up to him somehow, but she wished it never had happened. Maybe I'd have been better off staying with Sean, she thought bitterly. At least then it wouldn't have been so bad- I wouldn't have to see Shane and he wouldn't give me that look.

The look in Shane's eyes when he looked at her... that was a confusing subject in itself. He could be a ruthless businessman, a charmer, but he always had the same look in his eyes. Determination, confidence, and a humourous glint behind that deep brown- like he was always thinking of something hilarious. That was 'his look'... except for when he looked at her. Sadness, a bit of shyness, and the ever present determination. What a confusing combination.

One thing Danielle didn't realize. She ever noticed that the thought of having a birthday dinner with Shane didn't sound like such a bad idea.

~~~~~