Hi everyone, things are gonna get a bit romantic in the chapter after this...but until then...here's a cute little Stacy/Steph chapter. Oh and there's a bit of Shane in there too! Awww bless! Please R+R! Thanks for reading.
WWE ownes the copyright for character/event names...not myself.
Shane was a humble, modest man. Any one as wealthy as him wouldn't travel with the wrestlers. Well actually, Shane only very rarely travelled with the other wrestlers. The WWE provided several coaches or flights for regular staff members. A lot of the wrestlers travelled together in cars, but if they were having difficulties then the coach system was a great to make sure there were no 'travel' excuses for not turning up to work. Generally Shane travelled with his closest associates Michelle and Kennedy in a private jet…or if they weren't travelling far they'd go with the lawyers/executives via coach.
It was Wednesday morning and time for the wrestlers to get back on the road. The Smackdown taping had run smoothly and they had an afternoon House Show scheduled, followed by a 'Road to Wrestlemania' Charity party. Stephanie had kept a low profile on her Tuesday off. She was tired and sore from Raw and wasn't up to spending much time around people, plus she was trying to keep a low profile, so she spent some time with Ella in a small local park. Kennedy had been with her the whole time and it was nice to catch up with him. In the evening Steph had dinner with Shane and an early night. It was now 7am and Steph was ready to catch the coach to the next arena with Stacy, a couple of other Divas, and most low-card wrestlers.
Stacy and Steph got on the coach and immediately began talking about Ella, their Raw match and Stacy's new marriage to Andrew aka Test. Ella, in her usual way, had spent the first 15 mins in the coach wailing uncontrollably, irritating a lot of wrestlers trying to catch up on their sleep. Stacy and Steph had been almost first on the coach and had waited 20 mins for the coach to leave. Just as it looked like the coach was going to pull away, Shane jumped aboard. All Shane could hear were the whispers as he made his way towards the Stacy and Steph.
Steph was shocked. "Shane, what are you doing here?"
Shane gave her a funny look. "I was going to ask you the same thing. I thought we were going to travel together, remember?"
Steph looked down feeling slightly guilty. She remembered how she told Shane that she wanted to be on the road with him by her side to look after her. Now in her first trip from arena to arena, she had ditched him for her newly found friendship with Stacy.
Steph finally spoke. "I'm sorry Shane, I didn't realise you were expecting me. Stacy came to me just before I went to bed last night and asked me if I wanted to join her on the coach."
Stacy was so sweet and kind and could see the miscommunication between them. Stacy was the kind of her person who would go out of way to end a conflict. "I'm so sorry Mr McMahon, Test hitched a ride to the arena and I really didn't want to be on the coach by myself. It's my entire fault."
Shane and Steph looked at each other, both thinking the same thing. They thought about a comment Shane had once said to Steph:
"You're going to love working with Stacy Keibler, she's a real push-over. It took us three days to convince her into hitting someone with a chair!"
"It's ok Stacy," Shane reassured her. "I hope you guys don't mind me joining you on the coach."
Stacy answered him really quickly. "Oh no Sir, it would be a pleasure travelling with you."
Steph laughed. One of the things she hadn't counted on when she came to the WWE was finding a close female friend. From the very first initial phone call between them and their meeting on the balcony of the arena, Steph had trusted her and enjoyed working with her. It had made her big 450 splash so much easier, knowing it was Stacy receiving it. Oh and she'd rather have cute little Stacy hitting her with a chair than say…oh…Trish Stratus?
Stacy had an awful lot of respect for Stephanie. When Shane was distracted by Eddie Guerrero (the drinker with a driving ban) playing a practical joke on Rey Mysterio (a close friend of Eddie's), Stacy seized the moment to tell Steph what she really thought of her.
"You know Steph, I really admire you."
"You do?"
"Yes, lots of the women do. I hope you're not offended by my words, but, you've been in this business for a long time…not a single person in this business holds animosity towards you. I need to tell you, I really want us to be very good friends."
Steph was so touched by Stacy's words. "I would really like that too."
Stacy felt awkward. "The thing is, I think I need to know something because all I've heard are rumours. Please can you tell me the truth between Trish, Paul and you?"
Stephanie didn't really want everyone in the business to know her business, but she wanted Stacy to know the truth and not just the speculation. So Steph recited the story of her marriage to Hunter, how he cheated on her a lot, how she had found out and then he started abusing her, how she became pregnant and the abuse had stopped and how she had left the company so that Hunter had no reasons to be with her anymore. Half way through the story, Steph couldn't help but cry. Stacy put her arm around Stephanie and hugged her tight and gave her a tissue. Shane had noticed the touching moment between the two women and decided to leave them alone, Stacy was what Steph needed right now…a Diva to confide in.
After the story Stacy finally got her chance to speak. "You see I only knew rumours before this Steph. I knew Trish was with Hunter, but I didn't know about the abuse. I feel like, I dunno, I guess I'm really proud of you. You're not letting Hunter ruin your life. And I envy you as well, I long for the day when I have a beautiful daughter. You are one of the luckiest women I have ever met, I will pray for you and Ella."
"I'm lucky to have found a friend like you Stacy. I'm lucky I have Shane, my parents, Ella. After Hunter, I think my prayers are already answered…I'm here right now and things couldn't get any better."
"Maybe…well then I will pray for Ella."
Steph felt a little awkward asking her this. "What will you pray for her?"
Stacy shook her head and smiled. "I'll pray for what every child deserves, a loving father. You know you said things couldn't get any better, but you are a beautiful woman, and you WILL find someone once again. Someone who has enough love for not only you, but Ella as well."
Steph smiled her, "I really hope so."
The pair laughed with most of the coach as they watched Rey get his revenge on Eddie as dripped bleach onto the sleeping wrestlers head.
Stacy nudged Steph. "Hey! Let me set you up on a date for the Charity party tonight?"
Steph felt a little awkward about it. But did he really wanna spend the night with Shane and his wife, or Stacy and her husband? And what if Trish brought Hunter?
"Ok, but nothing too serious, ok?"
"I promise!"
