Sorry this a shorter chapter than usual but I hope you enjoy!

Paul sat on his couch bouncing his knee anxiously waiting for his call to be answered but it went straight to voicemail yet again. He sighed and ended the call not wanting to leave another voicemail when apparently she just didn't care. After Joanie telling him she might be pregnant he had blurted out how he should care when it probably wasn't even his. She stormed out on him and wouldn't answer his calls since then and he had no idea where she had been staying since she moved out of the apartment. He hadn't meant to be so harsh but the night had been terrible and he hadn't even been thinking because the only thing that had been on his mind was catching up with Stephanie. But as he was trying to catch up with Joanie before she drove off he noticed Stephanie's car was no longer there. That had been a couple of days ago.

"Just relax" Paul heard Shawn say and he looked up to see him coming back into the living room.

"How can I relax? I am possibly going to be a father and I can't get a hold of Joanie and I don't think I'm ready to be a father" Paul said running his hands through his hair feeling stressed out.

"I know but you know how Joanie is when she gets hurt and if she is pregnant and the kid is yours then you don't have a choice of being ready. You will just have to try and be the best father you can be" Shawn replied as Paul nodded his head. He knew Shawn was right but it still scared him shitless thinking about it.

"Any advice on how to get her to talk to me again?"

"You are on your own there" Shawn laughed "I still can't believe you blurted that out"

"I wasn't thinking"

"Apparently" Shawn replied as Paul took a drink of his water. His mind felt like it was all over the place. One minute he was thinking about Joanie and the next minute it was back to Stephanie. Which he had to apologize to somehow tonight because tonight was a big night for them both. It was Armageddon and after tonight him and Stephanie were going to be together even more than they were now and he didn't want her being pissed off at him yet again. He thought maybe they were finally on the way to being friends and he messed that up last night.

"Are you listening to me?" Shawn asked snapping his fingers at Paul.

"Sorry I have a lot on my mind. What were you saying?"

"I was saying Joanie has a match tonight. Well she is supposed to anyway so you should get your chance to talk to her"

"I'm not sure if she will be or not. If she is pregnant then she can't wrestle so she might not be there"

"Well you will find out tonight but you can't sit here and stress about it so come on let's go" Shawn said standing up from the couch and Paul looked at him with a confused look.

"Where are we going?"

"To the gym"

Later that night Paul dropped his bag on the floor of his dressing room as Shawn flopped down on the couch. Shawn had accompanied him to the arena tonight which he was thankful for. He didn't really feel like being alone after he confronted Joanie if she was there and he had a feeling Stephanie wasn't going to have anything to do with him. The only thing he was looking forward to was his match tonight against Vince.

"I'm going to go find out if Joanie is here" Paul said to Shawn and Shawn nodded his head.

"Try not to blurt out anything to piss her off again" Shawn replied as Paul opened the door and walked out into the hallway closing the door behind him ignoring Shawn. He walked down the hallway in search of Joanie when he noticed Stephanie leaving her father's office and she was alone. It was his opportunity to try and apologize to her and part of him was putting off seeing Joanie. He just wasn't ready to face the fact that he might be a father.

"Steph" Paul called her name as she went to head in the opposite direction of him. She turned around and looked at him with an annoyed expression.

"What do you want now Paul?" Stephanie asked crossing her arms as he made his way closer to her. Great she was definitely still pissed off at him.

"I just wanted to say I'm sorry" Paul replied putting his hands in his pockets "I had no right to say what I did"

"Yeah you really didn't" Stephanie replied before turning around and started walking off.

"That is all you are going to say?" Paul asked walking after her.

"I don't really want to fight tonight Paul. Here in a little bit I've got to go out there and pretend to like you and it's going to be hard if I'm even more pissed off at you" Stephanie replied as they reached the door to her dressing room.

"How can I possibly start a fight and piss you off even more when I'm trying to apologize?"

"You'll find a way"

"I'm not trying to purposely piss you off Steph. Let me explain please" Paul said but then quickly tried to think of how he could explain. There was no way he could just come out and tell her that he had been thinking about her lately and was jealous. He had already denied that claim when she made it that night.

"I think you made yourself perfectly clear the night you went off on me" Stephanie replied opening her dressing room door and walking in as he followed her.

"I was upset Steph. I didn't mean the things I said"

"Well then maybe you shouldn't have said anything at all. I have no idea why you got so upset in the first place because it had nothing to do with you"

"You just…deserved better than being stood up and I didn't believe the reason he gave you but you're right, it's none of my business. I just don't want to see you get hurt like that again" Paul explained watching her as she looked down at the floor.

"I've got through it before Paul" Stephanie replied raising her head and looking back at him. "I appreciate the concern but I can deal with whatever happens"

"Okay" Paul said with a shrug not really knowing what else to say. He had apologized so it was left up to her to forgive him or not.

"Here I forgot to give you this the last time we spoke" Stephanie said grabbing his leather jacket off the back of her couch and handed it to him. He had forgot about it with everything that had happened in the last couple of days.

"Thanks"

"No problem. I've got to get going though. I have some things to do before the match tonight"

"Okay" Paul said feeling confused as to if she forgave him or not.

"I'll see you later tonight" Stephanie replied before leaving the dressing room. That had not gone how he had expected but at least she talked to him and he had got to apologize. Now he had to go see if he could find Joanie.

As soon as they entered the backstage from what Stephanie considered the best match of the night Paul immediately left her heading in the direction of Shawn who was waiting backstage. It was a little strange to her how he acted as if he wanted away from her as quickly as possible but she brushed it off. Besides she was still a little irritated at him and she was feeling excited from the crowd's reaction when she turned on her father. At first she had hated the idea of working this storyline at all and now she was couldn't wait for tomorrow night.

"You were great" Jake said as Stephanie headed towards him with a smile on her face. He had showed up and waited backstage for her so they could finally go out on the date he promised her.

"Thanks but I didn't really do anything" Stephanie replied with a laugh.

"I still think you were great. So are you ready for me to take you out?"

"Yes I just need to grab my purse from my dressing room" Stephanie said turning toward the direction of her dressing room when she caught Paul staring at them and he nodded at them politely before he turning his attention back to Shawn. At least he wasn't going to make a scene like he did last time.

"So Paul is the name of the guy you are in a storyline with?" Jake asked as Stephanie chewed her food and nodded her head. Jake had taken her to a pretty nice restaurant and they had been sitting and talking about Aiden and now her job.

"On screen it's Triple H" Stephanie replied once she swallowed her food. She hoped they would get off the subject of Paul soon considering she didn't want to talk about her ex to her potential boyfriend.

"This is going to be awkward but…"

"But what?" Stephanie asked curiously as he laughed slightly.

"I don't have anything to worry about with him, do I?" Jake asked seeming embarrassed for asking.

"God no" Stephanie laughed "What made you think you would?"

"It just looked like you two had some chemistry tonight"

"There is nothing there. You don't have to worry about that" Stephanie replied leaving out how her and Paul used to date and that he was Aiden's dad. It wasn't something she wanted to talk about on a first date but if things did progress between them she would definitely tell him. "If we continue to see each other will having to see me kiss another guy get in the way?"

"It will be awkward but it's your job so it shouldn't be a problem" Jake replied before taking a drink of his water.

"Good" Stephanie said with a smile and he smiled back at her.

"What do you like to do when you're not working?" Jake asked getting off the subject of her job thank God because it was awkward having to talk about Paul.

"My life revolves around Aiden when I'm not working. It's us just usually watching his favorite movies or playing with his toys. Sometimes we will go out to the park or over to my friend Kelsi's. Aiden loves her to death, she's like an aunt to him. I got pregnant with Aiden when I was in college and Kelsi was there for us"

"She sounds like a great friend. So where is Aiden tonight?"

"He is staying with my mom"

"Do you ever bring him with you to the arena?"

"No" Stephanie replied shaking her head.

"Why not?" Jake asked curiously.

"I would rather wait until he is older before he even watches wrestling" Stephanie replied telling partly the truth. "Enough about me. What do you like to do?"

"My life is quite boring compared to yours" Jake replied with a laugh. "but I like to travel and usually when I'm not working I'll go out of town or hang out with my friends. It's usually hanging out with Shane and Marissa lately and then coming to see you" Jake said making Stephanie blush a little.

"How is your mom doing by the way?"

"She is doing better. She's still pretty sore but I'm just glad she is okay"

"Me too" Stephanie said as their waiter came by clearing their plates they were done with.

"I've had a great night with you but it's getting late and you probably are exhausted"

"I am pretty exhausted" Stephanie replied as Jake stood up from the table and extended his hand out to her to help her up from her seat.

"How about I drive you back to get your car and we'll set another date where we can have more time with each other next time"

"Sounds good"

After they arrived back at the arena to her car Jake walked her to her car. Tonight had been a pretty great night for her and she was glad that Jake so far was a good guy. She had been a little worried after the night Paul and her got into that fight and he told her Jake was just making an excuse. But thankfully she didn't give in and listen to him.

"I'm free this weekend if you want to go out again this weekend" Jake said as Stephanie unlocked her car.

"We can try for this weekend" Stephanie replied turning back around to face him.

"Okay just call me and let me know if you can or not"

"I will"

"Thank you for giving me a second chance and for a great night" Stephanie smiled before he came closer to her and leaned in to kiss her. She closed her eyes as their lips met and quickly felt disappointment as she felt nothing. Once the kiss ended Stephanie just smiled at him not knowing what else to do. Jake opened her door for her and she climbed in ready to leave because now she just felt awkward.

"I'll talk to you later"

"Goodnight Stephanie" Jake replied shutting her door and she watched as he made his way to his car. After he was gone Stephanie just sat in her car feeling confused. She had really liked him but she didn't understand why she hadn't felt anything towards him when he kissed her. Was there something wrong with her? Stephanie sighed before grabbing her purse and got out her cellphone and dialed her best friend's number hoping she wasn't asleep just yet.

"Hello"

"Were you asleep?" Stephanie asked hoping she hadn't woken her up.

"Not yet. What's up?"

"I had my date with Jake tonight"

"How was it?" Kelsi asked with excitement in her voice.

"It was great up until he kissed me"

"Was he a bad kisser?"

"No he's was a good kisser I just didn't feel anything between us" Stephanie replied drumming her fingers against the steering wheel.

"I'm confused. I thought you really liked him"

"Well that makes two of us. I don't get it I would smile at the mention of his name and anytime I would hear his voice but after he kissed me it just felt awkward. I have no idea what to do considering he wants to take me on another date this weekend"

"I don't know Steph. You could try going back out with him"

"I'm not sure that is going to change anything Kelsi"

"Don't hate me for what I'm about to say but…does this have anything to do with Paul?"

"No" Stephanie answered quickly shutting that idea down.

"Are you sure? Because you wanted him to kiss you just a couple of days ago and now suddenly you are not that into Jake"

"It has nothing to do with Paul"

"Steph…"

"That was over a long time ago" Stephanie sighed frustrated "Maybe I just didn't like Jake as much as I thought I did"

"Maybe" Kelsi replied in an unconvinced tone of voice.

"Well thanks for the talk. I'm going to go I've got to drive back to the hotel and you know I don't like talking while driving"

"Your welcome. Be careful" Kelsi replied before Stephanie ended the call and put the cellphone back in her purse. She had no idea why the one time she found a good guy she ended up not feeling anything for him. Maybe it was just a sign that she wasn't ready to get back out there and date just yet.

The music was loud and obnoxious but the more he drank, the less he cared. Paul wasn't into drinking but tonight had been a hell of a night for him and it was Shawn's last night with him and he had wanted to come to this club. He couldn't turn him down on his last night here and especially after he finally talked to Joanie and found out that it just had been a scare and she hadn't been pregnant. Part of him wondered if it had even been a scare at all and she had sunk low enough to try and tell him she was pregnant to weasel her way back into his life somehow. But honestly at this point he didn't care, he just felt relieved. His mind was completely freed of that stress but now he was trying to clear of his mind of something else, or should he say someone else. Tonight after kissing Stephanie he finally realized he was starting to fall for her and that wasn't good at all. He knew he would end up hurt at the end of it all because Stephanie would never feel the same way about him. Not after he screwed up the first time with her. She would never give him another chance so the best course of action from here was to stay far away from her as possible until they had to be on screen together. Maybe after some time he would get over these feelings for her.

"This is my friend Paul" Paul heard Shawn and looked up to see him with a really attractive brunette. Her hair was in waves that reached past her shoulders and she had really beautiful blue eyes. She actually reminded him of Stephanie. As soon as he thought came to him he wanted to kick himself.

"Hi I'm Mandy" she shouted over the music extending her hand out to him and Paul shook her hand.

"Mandy is newly single" Shawn shouted and then wiggled his eyebrows. Paul wanted to roll his eyes at Shawn for trying to get him with this girl but then again maybe Shawn had the right idea.

"Let's get you a drink" Paul said to Mandy and Shawn smiled at him before heading away from them.