Chapter Three

Vince kept his word. He and Linda never left Stephanie's side as she made the arrangements for the funeral. She had decided to hold one funeral for both Paul and Adriana. Steph knew she couldn't deal with having to go through it twice; it was better to grieve all at once.

"Poor Stephanie…I've never seen her this way. She looks so sad." Torrie Wilson whispered to Stacy Keibler as they stood in the kitchen of Stephanie's home. Their eyes were focused on Steph who was staring out the window.

Stephanie was both mentally and physically drained. Attending the funeral of her husband and child was the hardest thing she had ever done in her life. She could hardly bare the sight of the two dark oak closed caskets by the alter in the church; the small casket with the pooh bear stuffed animal sitting on top of it. Steph had cried a river though the whole mass and at the burial as both the love of her life and her little girl were lowered into the earth.

"Can you imagine, Torrie? Having your baby and husband taken from you in one day?"

"Stephanie?" Said Kurt Angle as he walked up to an unresponsive Steph, "Oh Steph, I'm so sorry."

A single tear escaped her eye as she slowly turned to look at Kurt. Even though her makeup was a mess, her mascara under her eyes, Kurt still thought she looked absolutely beautiful. She had been nothing but a heart warming, kind friend to him since he started working for World Wrestling Entertainment. Now seeing her so upset was very disheartening to Kurt.

Stephanie began to cry hard again. Seeing the man who would frequently hang out with her and her husband backstage made her think about her husband. Kurt shook his head and pulled Stephanie into his arms.

"Oh Steph please, don't cry." Kurt said as he too began to get choked up.

Stephanie sobbed into his chest as he held her tight in his arms. She breathed deep, taking the sweet smell of after shave into her nostrils. The aroma combined with the feeling of his muscular arms holding her close, allowed Stephanie to fantasize that it was her husband, Paul that was holding her.

"Steph…anything you need. If you need someone to talk to, I'm always here for you. I wanted you to know that." Kurt whispered into Stephanie's ear as Steph nuzzled her head into his neck; her eyes closed as she sniffled.

"Thanks." Was all that escaped Stephanie's mouth before she let go of Kurt and walked away from him.

Kurt shook his head as a tear fell down his cheek. Angle knew how much Stephanie was suffering. The look on her face was the same look that he wore only one year ago. When Kurt found out that Karen had been cheating on him while he was on the road, he thought that his life was ending. Having to see his little girl leave with her mother was like the end of the world. Now seeing what Stephanie was going through, Kurt realized that divorce was rather trivial when compared to death.

"Why Stephanie?" Angle said allowed before rubbing his eyes with his hand.

Stephanie weaved through the sea of people all dressed in black that were loitering in her living room. She didn't want to mingle, and no one dared approach her. Everyone had paid their respects to her and said how sorry they were and how they wished there was something they could do. Other than the customary dialogue, none of the employees and family friends really knew what to say to her. Steph slowly went up stairs leading to the second floor. Once she reached the second landing, she quietly walked down the hall and stopped in front of a closed door. Her hand grasped the brass handle and allowed her access to the room. The door gave way to the Winnie the Pooh nursery. Stephanie brought her right hand up to her mouth, muffling her sobs as she gazed into her child's nursery. Everything was like it was before the accident; All the Hundred Acre Woods characters sitting neatly on the toddler bed. Steph slowly walked into the room. She sat on the edge of the little bed. Her hands grabbed hold of the little pooh bear pillow and clutched it into her arms. Slowly, she brought the pillow to her face and breathed in deep. The sweet smell of her little girl still lingered on the little pillow. Steph hugged it tight, it and the Winnie the Pooh stuffed animal, was all she had left to remember her baby by.

"Adriana….My baby…" Steph said through sobs as her mother was now in the door way to the room.

Linda quickly rushed to her daughter's side and took her into her arms.

"Oh Stephanie…Honey, you shouldn't be in here. It's too soon. You shouldn't torture yourself like this." Linda explained running her hands through Steph's soft hair.

Stephanie knew that going into the nursery would only make her miss her little girl more, but at the same time, it would remind her of what she had lost. Stephanie didn't want to ever forget her child. Adriana had been the most important thing in her life since the day she was born. She was not going to let her grieving block out the wonderful pure memories of her little girl. It was the memories that all parents cherish: the first steps, the child's first words. Stephanie had shared those wonderful experiences with Paul, and now it would only be her who would be looking back on those mile stones.

"I miss them so much, Mom." Stephanie said through tears. "I want my baby…"

Stephanie's terrible state made Linda begin to cry as she rocked her daughter who was cuddled up into her arms as if she was a little child. Linda rested her chin on her daughter's head.

"Shhh, it's going to be okay, sweetheart."

Both Kurt and Vince walked up to the doorway of the nursery.

"Vince…I think you need to take her back to Connecticut with you and Linda. I don't think she should stay her by herself. I'm really worried about her." Kurt muttered, trying to hold back his own tears.

"I've already tried, she refuses to leave." Vince whispered as both he and Kurt looked on at the sight of Stephanie crying her eyes out.

"Oh, Stephy…" Kurt whispered in a sigh as two tears fell from his eyes.

To Be Continued...