Houston, We Have a Problem

A/N: Thank you so much for the reviews you've all been sending for this story. I look at the response, and I'm overwhelmed by the number of you that have responded to it. It means a lot to me.

I think there are only two more chapters left in this one - so I hope you enjoy it as we ramp up to the ending.

XXXXX

"I'm not sure this is the best idea, you guys. I mean, I have a lot to do," Jennifer started as she followed Lita and Ashley into the spa.

"Shhh," Ashley turned, putting a finger over Jennifer's lips. "Don't wanna hear it, Houston. Today is about relaxation only!"

They had just finished signing in when the bell over the door dinged, signalling a new client. All three women turned to see Trish walking cautiously toward them. "Hey, guys," she said softly, hitching her bag over her shoulder.

"You came!" Lita exclaimed, quickly enveloping her friend in a tight hug. "I wasn't sure you would get my message."

With an uncomfortable nod, Trish looked at Ashley, and then at Jennifer. "Hi."

Raising one hand slightly, Jennifer offered her one-time friend a smile. "Hi," she responded, unsure of what else to say. It wasn't that she and Trish had fought, but after their uncomfortable confrontation the week before, there wasn't much else to say. Any betrayal that Trish was feeling was perfectly valid, and Jennifer couldn't change that now.

"So, Trisha," Ashley said, slinging an arm around Trish's shoulder as they walked toward the locker room. "How was the ultrasound?"

Clearing her throat, Trish tried to regain her composure. Her life had changed so much in the last couple of months, and she had been hoping that this spa day would, at the very least, help her remember when times were slightly easier. Seeing Jennifer was awkward, but it did help solidify a few of the decisions she had made over the last week.

"It went well," she answered, dropping her bag on the floor and lowering herself to a bench while the others surrounded her. "Baby's healthy. I'm healthy. John's a little crazed, but that's just because he's John." Reaching into her bag, Trish withdrew a bottle of water and shook her head, chuckling. "He's repainted the nursery three times now."

"And things with you two are. . ." Lita asked hesitantly. Trish had never been one to hold back her emotions, and that added to the whole "hormonal pregnancy" thing was just a time bomb waiting to explode.

With a timid nod, Trish shrugged. "They're okay. We're working on it," she answered. "So, what's first on the agenda?" she asked, standing to change with the other women.

Ashley tied the belt of her terry cloth robe and looked at her friends. "We've got massages first. Mani's and pedi's after that. Facials to follow, and then some steam." Turning to Trish, she bit her lip. "If that won't wilt the baby like spinach," she added.

Trish smiled and shook her head, preparing herself for the day. When Lita left to answer a phone call and Ashley went to check on the massage room, Trish turned to Jennifer. "I wanted to ask you something."

Nervously, Jennifer played with the strings of her robe and waited for whatever tongue-thrashing Trish would give her. Or whatever painful, pointed question she could ask about Dave or John. "Sure."

"Would it be okay with you if John and I took Keegan to Busch Gardens tomorrow?"

The question surprised Jennifer and she took a step back, leaning against the lockers for support. "Um," she stuttered. "I guess."

Securing her hair in a high ponytail, Trish motioned for Jennifer to walk with her out of the room. "Look, I've thought about this a lot, and Keegan is John's daughter. I don't know what's going to happen with you and Dave, or what role John will play in her life from here on, but I know that I want her to feel just as comfortable at our house as she always has. And I want her to be a part of her new little brother or sister's life," she explained.

Tears rushed to Jennifer's eyes. There was no reason for Trish to be acting in such a noble manner, but the gesture meant the world to Jennifer. "I'd like that, too," she said honestly.

With a nod, Trish stopped outside the massage room. "The idea of being a mother has changed the way I think about a lot of shit, Jen," she admitted. "I just want John's kids to have a stable, healthy, loving environment to grow and learn and thrive in," she said. "Whatever we have to do to make sure that happens, I think it's our responsibility, as parents," she added.

"Can I say something now?" Jennifer asked before Trish could open the door. "I've talked to Dave, and I've talked to John, but I haven't had a chance to tell you that I'm sorry yet. So I'm really sorry that we didn't tell you about Keegan sooner, Trish."

There were a million sarcastic retorts Trish could throw out, but instead, she decided to take the high road. "Forgiven," she answered simply, pushing the door open with her shoulder and leaving the issues behind her. She could whine, cry, and complain all she wanted about how things had turned out, or she could accept them and move past them.

Completely relaxed inside the massage room, talk turned from babies to men. Things were light for awhile, but when the conversation veered toward Dave, Jennifer felt herself tensing up, even under the expert fingers of the woman working her back.

"So, have you talked to him recently?" Lita finally asked the question on everyone's mind.

Shaking her head as best she could, Jennifer cleared her throat. "I've left about a hundred messages, but he's not calling back. I just wish he'd give me a chance to explain," she sighed.

"Can I give you some advice?" Lita asked, struggling to sit as her massuesse finished his work.

Jennifer sat as well, noting that Ashley was still face down, moaning, while Trish sat on a nearby table, allowing an older woman with gray hair to knead the soles of her feet. "Of course," she spoke to Lita as the pair rotated their shoulders slowly.

"When Matt and I were talking about what happened with Edge, back before the big break up or whatever, I learned some shit about apologizing," she smiled half-heartedly. "I kept trying to explain things to him, to make him see why I did what I did. I knew I couldn't take it back, or change it, but I wanted him to realize why I had done what I did."

Nodding, Jennifer took a drink from the chamomille tea that was offered to her. "Exactly!" she agreed.

But the red head smiled and sipped at her tea before shaking her head. "It didn't matter, Jen. What I thought was explanation, Matt saw as justification. Every excuse that you give, every time you try to explain, it's just telling Dave that you still think you were right." She spoke softly, her eyes drifting to the floor as she thought back to her biggest regret in life.

"I know it was wrong to lie to him, but I swear I thought it would be best," Jennifer started as Trish held up a hand.

"That's what she's talking about," the blond woman spoke distractedly, her eyes still on the woman kneeling before her. "When you try to explain it away, when you add the 'I never meant to hurt you' or the 'I thought it was for the best' or whatever explanation you try to give for what you did, it makes your entire apology bull shit.

"It's like you're sorry you got caught, but that you still think you were right." Sighing, she thanked her massuesse and then turned to her friends, all watching her intently. "Look, I don't know where Dave's comin' from - to be honest, I haven't talked to him. But I know the moment I forgave John was the moment he admitted that what he did wasn't about Keegan or anyone else. When he finally said he lied to save his own ass? That's when I knew he was sorry."

As they went through the rest of their spa treatments, Jennifer thought about Trish's words. Had she been making excuses? Of course she had. Was she truly sorry that she had lied to Dave? Or was she just sorry that she had hurt his feelings? Had she really been honest with him yet? Or was she still trying to cushion the blow of the truth?

By the time she returned home and pushed into the entry of the house, her head was swimming. Even if she did apologize the right way, would he want to hear what she had to say?

"No, silly!" Keegan's squeal shocked Jennifer out of her thoughts as she looked to the living room floor.

Dave stopped and looked up, his brown eyes twinkling slightly. "Hey," he said softly.

"Hey," Jennifer couldn't help smiling at the mere sight of him in her home again.

"Daddy came over to play, Mommy!" Keegan shouted, running to hug her mother.

Lifting the child into her arms, Jennifer nodded. "I see that." She cleared her throat and sat Keegan's feet back on the floor. "Go pack a bag, Peanut. You're spending the night with John and Trish."

"But I wanna stay and play with Daddy," Keegan insisted, a pout forming on her lips.

Pointing down the hall, Jennifer narrowed her eyes at her daughter to show she meant business. "Keegan Grace, go pack your bag."

When they were alone in the living room, Dave stood, running his hand over his pants. "So, I ran into Keegan and Edge at the gym," he said.

Trying hard not to get her hopes up, Jennifer twisted her fingers and watched him through thick lashes. "I'm glad," she said softly.

There was a flicker of a smile on Dave's face as Jennifer looked at him. She was still as beautiful as she had ever been, there was no denying that. "I guess we need to talk," he said.

"No," Jennifer shook her head. "I need to talk. You just have to listen."