The Emancipation of Trish Stratus

A/N: This chapter's a little short, but I think I said everything that needed to be said. Only three more chapters, Kids! I'm almost done with The Emancipation, so stick with me: The surprises aren't over yet. I realized, after going back and re-reading the beginning of this story, that poor Victoria got left out of the shuffle after chapter 2. I thought she needed some more face time. As usual, I own nothing - except that new "Animal Lover" tee shirt. My roommate bought it for me! Enjoy, and review, because I love to hear from all of you.

"I'm only going to say this once, and I mean it with all of the sincerity and love that only your best friend can muster," Victoria said, as she checked her hair in the large mirror hanging above the hotel dresser.

Trish looked up from the floor, where she was resting on her stomach, and squinted against the light, which Victoria had decided to stand directly in front of, before groaning and looking back at the television. "Have you seen this show?" she pointed to whatever reality show she was pretending to watch.

"Trish," Victoria sighed, sinking to the floor and leaning against the bed. She stretched her long legs and crossed her ankles in front of her, staring at the back of Trish's head. "You know I love havin' you as my roomie again, right?" she asked.

Sighing, Trish hoisted herself into a seated positing and leaned against the television cabinet, pulling her knees up to her chest. "But?" she asked, her eyes intent on her friend.

"But you can't hide out here forever," the darker diva stated the obvious. Trish had been crashing in her room for more than a week now, avoiding any confrontation with Randy, and it was starting to get weird. At the arena, the couple was all over each other – like nothing had ever happened. In the ring, and on the television, no one was any the wiser. But as soon as the bell sounded, so to speak, they were back in separate corners, acting as if they had nothing to say.

She knew that her friend was right – she couldn't avoid Randy forever. But he had been waiting for her the night she talked to Hunter, and to say that the confrontation had been unpleasant was the understatement of the century. She had actually found herself surprised when his head didn't literally explode when she asked if he had ever cheated on her. There had been regrettable words from both parties, and she had ended the fight by storming out the door and heading directly to Victoria's. She wasn't interested in going back yet.

Reaching for her water bottle, Trish wiped her stringy hair out of her make up-less face and collected her thoughts. "I don't have anything left to say, V. I mean, I've said everything a million times and he just doesn't get it." Sadness filled her voice as she imagined his crystal blue eyes and the look of confusion he always got when she tried to explain her position to him. "He wants me to just do my own thing, let him do his, and then show up as his trophy girl when he needs me. I can't do that," she insisted.

Victoria licked her lips and tried to think of the best way to say what she knew Trish needed, but certainly didn't want, to hear. Her cell phone rang, interrupting her train of thought. She checked the ID, flipped the phone open, said two or three words in response to the person on the other end, and then flipped the phone closed again. "Alright, I gotta go," she stated, smacking Trish's foot before she stood up.

Trish's heart sank to her toes. If Victoria was going out, she would have to spend hours by herself, thinking about her relationship with Randy. That would lead to crying, and she was sick of crying over stupid boys. She was sick of crying when she was supposed to be living her happily-ever-after with the man of her dreams.

As she walked toward the door, Victoria hitched her purse strap over her arm and leveled her eyes at her friend, looking very much like a scared kid, cowering in the corner. "Trisha, how much do you love him?" she asked.

Her eyes brimmed with unexpected tears and she bit her lip. She would not go into "ugly cry" again. She crossed her arms over her knees and pinched herself to stop the internal pain. "More than anything," she whispered, staring at the floor.

"More than the pride you're choking on right now?" Victoria asked. Trish started to protest, but the raven-haired beauty held up a hand. "You're a strong woman, Trish, and you have every right to be proud of that. You want to be sure that everyone knows you can do anything the boys can do, that you don't need help from anyone. And I'm not arguing. You beat the Heavyweight Champion, baby. I get that," she winked. "But if you don't need him for anything, if you can do it all on your own? Then why the hell should he stick around?" she asked pointedly.

Trish gulped back a tear and looked into her friend's eyes, a heartbreaking look on her fragile features. "Because I want him," she answered defensively. In her mind, it was a compliment. She had proven she didn't need a man around, but she wanted one. Not just anyone – she wanted Randy.

"Sweetie," Victoria narrowed her eyes at Trish as the smaller woman started to stand. "Randy is all man, right?" Trish raised an eyebrow and then licked her lips. "Alright – thanks for that disturbing and completely nauseating answer," she rolled her eyes and watched Trish sank to the bed. "Trish, Sweetheart, men and women are different."

"Thanks," Trish rolled her eyes and threw her arms up.

"What you need, or don't need, is irrelevant. What he believes that you need? That's what matters. It fuckin' sucks, Sweetheart, but you may have to swallow your pride and be the girl that needs him sometimes." She didn't wait for a response before leaving.

Staring at the ceiling, Trish heaved a deep sigh and thought about what Victoria was saying. She had spent so much time expecting him to support her, and she hadn't been offering him much in return. But admitting it was one thing. Getting off of her ass and crawling back to him was another altogether.