Disclaimer: I do not own the characters affiliated with WWE, I do own Nicole Michael's however. This story is completely AU! This is my first fic so be gentle, reviews are welcomed!

Shawn sat on the floor outside Nicole's room. She hadn't come out of her room since he'd driven all the way to New Hampshire, picked her up and carried her to her room, two days ago. The door was locked and no one had gone in or out of the room.

John sat next to Shawn. "I'll bash the door down if you want."

"It's ok, she'll have to come out eventually," Shawn said. "I've never seen her like this. Are you positive he was working for Nash and McMahon?"

"That's what our insider Sabu said. Story goes Jeff and Matt worked for McMahon for a few years; that was until last year when Jeff fucked up this big deal and they left the family. They came here to get away from it all, and then McMahon asks him back in and he takes the offer."

"Son of a bitch," Shawn growled, "I bet he was ratting on us."

"They got wind of that cocaine deal."

"I want you to call it off. That deal can't go on now."

"Yes sir," John said getting up and walked away.

"Nicole," Shawn called out, "are you awake?" No reply. He stood up and unlocked the door with the spare key. She'd had enough time on her own. He found her asleep on the bed, her face and eyes puffy from crying. He sighed leaving the room, leaving it unlocked.

Nicole woke up to find herself alone. Alone again. She got off the bed and took a long hot shower. Her muscles ached from her run two days ago; her body ached from the pain, her heart heavy. She changed into a pair of jeans and one of Jeff's sweatshirts he'd given to her. Her heart dropped at the scent.

She went down into the kitchen to see John making ravioli. He looked up to see her sheepishly come closer.

"Come here," he said enveloping her in his arms. She relaxed into his soft touch. "Do you want some?"

"I'm fucking famished," she said going to the fridge and pulling out a bottle of wine. She poured two glasses for them as he served the ravioli. They went outside and sat on the floor by the pool.

"Shannon's phoned every day, he's been over twice a day," John said searching her face for any kind of emotion. "Even Adam's checked on your three times a day. Maria's coming back tomorrow; she couldn't get an earlier flight."

Nicole nodded chewing on the ravioli.

"I know you don't want to talk about it," John said putting his hand on her leg, "but you need to talk to someone about it."

"I know," Nicole said. "I need to talk to Shannon; we had a big fight over Jeff."

"Well eat first, he said he'd come back around ten," John said. "You haven't eaten in two days. You're going to make yourself sick."

"My life is sick without Jeff."

"Your life is better without Jeff," John said. "He was working for Nash."

"I heard. It doesn't make me stop loving him, like it doesn't make me stop loving Dave. I'm not like you or my father; I can't just stop loving someone."

"I never stopped loving anyone just because they betrayed me," John said. "I still love Dave; he was like a brother to me. I think about him everyday."

"Me too," Nicole said resting her head on John's shoulder. John pulled her into a tight hug and kissed her on her head.

"I promise I'll be here for you, not matter what," he whispered.

They spent an hour by the pool talking before Shannon arrived. He took Nicole inside leaving John by the pool alone with his thoughts. They went up to her room.

"I'm so sorry," he said gathering her up in his arms. "I should never have kissed you."

"You were right about him," Nicole said as they sat on her bed. "He was up to something. And now he's gone and I'm all alone."

"You have me," Shannon said cupping her face with his hand, "you'll always have me."

"I'm so sorry I told you to stay away," she said sobbing into his chest.

"I shouldn't have kissed you."

"No, don't be, I'm glad you love me. I'm glad you saw through Jeff and warned me, it's my fault I should have listened to my best friend."

"What do you want me to do? Do you want me to get you some ice-cream? We can eat ourselves silly and watch soppy movies and have a little cry?"

"Stay the night with me," she begged, "you don't have to if you don't want to."

"Anything for you," Shannon said and kissed her gently. "I want this just as much as you do. We'll see where things go."

Nicole wasn't interested in his words; she wanted to feel something more than the sorrow that tugged at her heart. She threw off her sweatshirt kissing Shannon hungrily. Without missing a beat she stripped him of his clothes. She wasn't interested in sweet talking and taking her time, she needed him now, and Shannon was willing to give it. She took a moment to look him in the eyes, asking for permission to continue. He undid the zip of her pants not losing eye contact and pushed them down with her underwear. She stepped out of them while unclasping her bra and throwing it aside.

She assaulted him in a hungry kiss as he pushed her down onto the bed. He positioned over her and entered her. There would be no soft sweet kisses or caresses, no gentle teasing. Shannon needed Nicole more than anything in this world, he'd always had. He knew she still loved Jeff and nothing would come out of this, but he loved her too much not to give her what she wanted.

The sex was fast and unemotional. Shannon fell asleep holding Nicole close as she wept, but she couldn't get to sleep.

The sex was supposed to make me feel better, but now I feel even worst. I just used my best friend. She looked over at Shannon who was sleeping peacefully and she could feel the guilt rise through her. What have I done?

She got out of bed and went to the kitchen, trying not to wake Shannon up. She pulled out the bottle of vodka in the freezer and poured herself a shot. She downed it and poured herself another.

"Poor little Nicole," Adam said coming out of the shadows. "Feeling guilty for fucking your best friend? You should."

"Please can we do this another time?" she asked and took another shot.

"No, now's a good time," he said circling her. "He's so in love with you and you just used him to get over that little freak you called a boyfriend. Did it help? Did he make you come? Did you scream out his name, or did you call him Jeff by mistake?"

"Fuck off, Adam," she said going to pour another shot only to have Adam snatch the bottle away. "Don't you want to get me drunk so you can fuck me to? Isn't that what you've wanted all this time?"

"I love it when you're feisty," he said putting his hands on her waist and moving his face close to his. "Now tell me when are we going to announce the engagement?"

"We're not engaged."

"Yes we are, or daddy is going to find out about your little European adventure."

Her head was fuzzy from the vodka, lack of food and guilt. She held onto the kitchen top for support.

"You and I are going to announce our engagement tomorrow at breakfast, so I suggest kicking your little fuck buddy out of the house. We're going to get married in six months time."

"My father isn't stupid; he's going to see right through this."

"Actually since you've been with Jeff your feelings for me have intensified. When Jeff left you ran straight into my arms and we declared our undying love for each other."

"You've got to be kidding me; that's the corniest shit I've ever heard. He's not going to fall for it. And I cannot pretend to be in love with you."

"You'll have to," he sneered kissing her check softly. "You'll do everything I ask of you, because if you don't I will not hesitate to tell your father, and you and I both know what happens to those who betray a Michaels'."

"What do you mean everything you ask? I can't have sex with you."

"Why not? You seem to be giving it up so easily."

"You son of a bitch."

"Come here," he said pulling her towards him and kissing her passionately. She struggled against him but his grip was so firm. He pushed her away. "Kick him out before I do. I'll see you at breakfast lover."

Nicole watched him leave the kitchen the guilt in her stomach making her queasy. She went upstairs to see Shannon getting dressed.

"I heard everything," he said not turning around.

"I'm sorry."

"You're just going to let him walk all over you like that and dictate your life. Maybe you're not the girl I fell in love with."

"That's not fair Shannon. If I don't marry him he will tell my father everything and he will have me killed."

"No Nicole," he snapped turning around to face her. "I know the sex meant nothing, and I was fine with that. But you're going to marry a man you could never love just so you can please your family. There's a reason you left here."

"And there's a reason I came back. Without them I fucked up. I got pregnant, I took drugs, and I was having sex with men I'd just met."

"That's because of them. Everything you've done wrong has been because of them, and you're too blind to see that. I love you, I will always love you, but I cannot sit and watch you fuck up again."

Nicole watched her best friend walk out of the room and out of her life.