"Do these look good on me?" Ashley came out in green and black "Game Over' wrestling pants.
"Gorgeous." He wrapped his arms around her and carried her to his room in the London vacation house. "Now, take them off."
"We only have two hours to get dressed, get in the car, find the way to the arena and put Dave through hell."
"This doesn't have to take long." Ash and Hunter had been together a few months with repeated frequent interruptions from Dave. Ashley tried not to think about her old life very often, it got easier the closer her and Hunter got. As he lay butterfly kisses along her neck and chest her mind wandered. She saw the couple down the road, with a few kids, but still happy. Nearly normal.
"Stop." She pushed up on him. "Tonight. I just, I can't right now." Ashley ran to the bathroom and grabbed the hidden test.
"You ok, I mean you left the door pen. You're not sick or something are you?" She turned her back to him.
"I'm fine. I'm just a little nervous about tonight. My debut match." She kept her back to him as her knees started to shake.
"Something's wrong." She turned slowly. "Oh boy." He studied her face and leaned back on the counter. "Did you take it?" Ashley nodded. "And. . ."
"I don't know." He took one of her hands in his own.
"I'm here for you, no matter what the test says." He took it from her. "Want me to. . ."
"Please.: Hunter popped the cap and read the lettering.
"Not pregnant. Guess you're still on the career pathway." She fell into his chest. "Ash, it's ok, there will be another, better time."
"I thought you'd leave me. If I was."
"Oh hell no, I couldn't." He kissed her quickly, but tenderly. "We better get going, I'll get dressed."
Ashley was walking through the backstage area, she was still shaken from the incident earlier that morning. "You're looking a little uneasy. Want help?"
"Go away Dave." Ashley picked up her pace, but she was lost. She couldn't remember where the girl's locker room was. "Have you seen Hunter?"
"Yeah, he's umm, busy right now. Let me walk you to the locker room, is that what you're looking for?" His hand touched her shoulder she swatted at it like it was a fly.
"Eew Dave, who's blood is this?" Ashley grabbed a paper towel from the wall and swabbed her hand. "Who's?"
"Your boyfriend's. I wanted to talk to you. I think this is the only way it was going to happen."
"Stop Dave! Just leave me alone. God!" Ashley crossed her arms and raced off to one of the guys that made up her circle of friends. "Jeff, I think, I know Hunter's been hurt. Take me to the guy's locker room." Jeff put his hand on the small of her back and pushed forward. "Dave had blood on his hands and Hunter was missing. What do I do?" Jeff stopped in the hallway.
"It's ok. I'll go in and see who's in there." Jeff stuck his head and came back. "It's empt, came on in." Hunter was slumped in the corner. His chest was moving, but his body was wet, sweaty and bloody.
:Hunter!" Ashley was on her knees holding his head against her neck. "Jeff, do something!"
"I'm calling Vince, he'll call 911." Jeff pulled her up. "I'm gonna check his pulse." Ashley leaned against the wall crying. "Ssh, Ash, it's ok." The paramedics ran over and laid him on a stretcher. "The show's going on, but we're out of our matched. I'll drive to the hospital."
"I can't believe it Hardy, I finally find love and this happens? Can I tell you something? That you won't tell anyone else?"
"Of course."
"I thought I was pregnant, and Hunter, Hunter said that he would be there. It was so perfect."
"You weren't were you? Don't you think it's a little early in the relationship don't you think?"
"The test was negative. He checked it. I couldn't, I was shaking. He was so perfect! Why does Dave have to ruin everyting?"
