Chapter Nine

Stephanie hadn't been able to get much sleep after being awaked by the terrifying nightmare. When she got out of bed the next morning, she was still thinking about seeing Kurt in her dream. She went through the motions of her typical morning routine. A nice hot shower provided some comfort after a restless night. Once she had finished, she turned off the water before grabbing the soft blush towel from the near by rack. Steph gently dried each foot as she stepped out of the shower. She then pressed the towel to her damp face. After blow drying her hair, Steph dressed in a comfortable Ralph Lauren sweat suit. She planned to spend the day at her parents' house. While she still wanted to talk to Kurt, Stephanie thought she needed a day to relax.

"Hey Steph, want some breakfast, honey?" Linda asked as her daughter walked into the kitchen.

"No thanks, Mom. I'm not really hungry." Stephanie said as she sat down at the kitchen table where her father was already having breakfast.

"Steph, honey, you okay?" Vince asked placing the newspaper on the table.

"Yeah, I'm fine, Dad. I just didn't sleep well."

Stephanie ran her fingers through her long brown hair as the sound of the McMahons' doorbell chimed.

"Hmm, I wonder who that could be." Linda said aloud before exiting the kitchen to answer the door.

"Oh hi, well this is a surprise." Stephanie heard her mother say in the entrance way.

It was when her mother returned that Steph knew who their visitor was. Kurt Angle followed Linda into the kitchen. It was him, the same old Kurt. The second Stephanie laid eyes on him; it was like a load had been lifted. He was okay, He wasn't dead or in any kind of peril…from what she could see.

"Hey Kurt, what do we owe the pleasure?" Vince said with a smile as Kurt walked over to the breakfast table.

"Hi, how you doing Vince?" Kurt replied.

"Fine…Just spending a relaxing day at home. Don't get too many of those."

Kurt smiled at his boss before his eyes slowly strayed over to Stephanie. Their eyes met. Stephanie had already been studying his face. She hadn't been able to take her eyes off of him since the second he walked into the kitchen. Stephanie was so glad to see him. The cook out last weekend felt like it happened a life time ago. Maybe it was because of how badly she had wanted to see him.

"Is it okay if Steph and I go speak in another room…privately?" Kurt said, his eyes remaining on the boss's daughter.

"Of course, you guys go talk." Linda replied as Steph got up to follow Kurt.

Vince looked at Linda wondering what this was all about as Stephanie and Kurt felt the kitchen. Steph took him up to her room. She wanted to make sure they were completely alone. She didn't know what was going to be said.

Once Kurt followed Stephanie into the room, she closed the door before turning to face him.

"I had to see you." Kurt blurted out breaking the silence of the room.

"Kurt…About last weekend." Stephanie began walking up to Kurt.

"Steph, I was out of line. I'm so sorry if I made you feel uncomfortable."

Stephanie felt a lump in her throat as Kurt began to apologize for his tender touch that she had needed greatly. She didn't want him to have guilt because of his kindness.

"Stephanie…The last thing I'd ever want to do is hurt you. You're my best friend. I just don't want to ruin the great friendship we have. Steph, I respect your marriage to Paul." Kurt stated looking into her eyes. He was being sincere.

"Kurt…Paul is gone…" Stephanie muttered as tears began to well up in her eyes. She quickly wiped them away as soon as they reached her cheeks.

Angle hated seeing Stephanie upset. He quickly took her into his arms. Steph folded her arms around Kurt's broad neck. Kurt pulled her close, their bodies pressing together.

"I had to leave the cook out. I couldn't stand seeing you uncomfortable…and knowing that I was the cause of it." Angle whispered.

"No, you didn't do anything wrong. I didn't mean to push you away like I did. I was just…afraid." Stephanie admitted in a whisper.

"Afraid of what?" Kurt quickly replied letting go of their embrace and looking into her eyes. He began to caress her face with his hands. His thumbs running back and forth the line of her cheek bones.

Steph slowly placed her hands on his face. She rubbed his close shaven face with her hands. His face felt so different than Paul's. Kurt's face was soft and smooth. He had no facial hair. Steph gently put her forehead to his; their noses touching.

"I'm afraid….of falling in love with you." Stephanie whispered as if she was telling him a secret.

There was a second pause before Angle pressed his lips to hers. Steph sighed, allowing him access to her mouth as the kiss quickly turned passionate. Her eyes closed, it had been months since she had been kissed…not just kissed but really kissed. Paul had always been a great kisser. No, she had to stop thinking about him. This was different, this was Kurt. This was the guy who had been there for her when Paul and her only child had been taken from her. Stephanie opened her eyes, she saw Kurt. His eyes were shut, he held her tight in his arms. Stephanie was about to close her eyes when she caught sight of a family photo she had been keeping on her night stand.

Stephanie quickly pulled away from their kiss. Kurt looked at her completely confused; her eyes remained on the picture. The picture had been taken only a month before the terrible accident. Paul looked as handsome as ever in a fresh pressed suit. Adriana sat in her daddy's lap. She looked so happy and full of life. Steph saw herself with her husband and child…they were a family. Angle turned to look at what had caught her attention. Kurt took a deep breath and looked back at Stephanie.

"Paul's not gone…You're still in love with him. You can't be with me, can you?" Angle asked looking into her eyes.

Stephanie inhaled sharply. She met his gaze. The look on her face said it all. Tears began to cascade down her face as she brought her hands back to his cheek. She could feel his pain. Just like in the nightmare she had the night before, she was witnessing his destruction; the destruction of his heart.

"Kurt…"

Angle said nothing; he removed her hands from his face and placed them over Paul's wedding band that was around her neck. He then backed away from her.

"I guess it has to be this way…" Angle muttered before walking out of the room.

Stephanie was all alone in her room. Steph began to sob as she tried to process what had taken place. She had given in for her feelings for Kurt Angle. They had passionately kissed and for a moment in time, she had no worries in the world. It was gone. She had seen the family photo. The guilt had set in. Stephanie had again denied Kurt Angle access to her heart…but this time, Kurt had pulled away from her. As a sobbing Stephanie grasped Paul's wedding band she wondered…Had she missed her last fleeing chance to be happy?