Yes, I'm finally posting a new chapter… the end of the quarter was hell for me so I didn't have that much time to write and edit. I guess you can say that my mp3 player and recent editions of Impact gave me the swift kick in the rear to post this chapter and quit editing it so much. I have to tell you, I was torn about how to end this chapter... but in the end I decided to not make Paul that much of an asshole.

The usual disclaimers apply, I don't own any of the characters so if you sue me you'll only get a messy apartment and a cable bill.

Chapter 4

A few weeks passed and neither Steph nor Kurt were speaking to each other, or even giving each other the time of day for that matter. Not only that, but Paul had been becoming more and more distant towards her, spending less and less time at home. Everything was taking its toll on Stephanie and it was very obvious to anyone around her. Survivor Series was right around the corner and the entire roster was anxious to see what matches would be made for the event. The week before, a triple threat interpromotional match for the WWE title had been announced but the other two participants had yet to be. There were many rumors going around the backstage area about who would be in thematch, all of them suggesting that one of the participants would definitely be Angle.

"So when do you think they'll announce the other two participants in the WWE title match at Survivor Series?", Amy asked Trish as they walked out of the cafeteria.

"I'm not sure", Trish replied, "but I've been thinking a lot lately and realized that we haven't had a girls night in for a long time."

"OMG, you're right! We haven't even had a sleepover in at least a year. I sure miss those, they're always so much fun.", Amy replied, ideas swirling in her head.

"So... that's why I was thinking that maybe we should have a sleepover party with all the girls sometime soon. Maybe next week after RAW we could all camp out in my room or something."

Amy's eyes widened as she started getting excited. "That's an awesome idea!!! We could invite Lillian, Maria, Mickie, Steph, and some of the girls on the SmackDown roster!! We'll order pizza & watch girly movies & gossip all night!!!!"

"Whoa there chica, you're gonna make yourself tired before the show even starts. And let's plan out this guest list because I'd really like it to have most of our original crew and maybe a couple of the girls we hang out with now. Now then, we automatically know Torrie and Lillian will come, and maybe Stacy will too with a little convincing. Whoever else is gonna come will probably depend on what all goes on that night.", Trish told the redhead, trying to make sure she wasn't forgetting anyone.

"Um Trish… how are we going to convince Stephanie to come have a night of fun with the girls? It seems like all she does lately is mope around here hoping that things will just magically get better.", Amy asked.

Trish didn't respond to the redhead's question because honestly, she didn't have a response. Getting the stubborn brunette to come have fun and forget about her problem for a while was going to be a difficult task.

"So let me get this straight. The reason that you two are not talking is because of an argument you guys had months ago."

"Yes, I know it sounds stupid but you had to be there to understand. If you would've heard how angry he was, then this would all make sense. I can't try to talk to someone who is angry with me, it just won't work. Don't tell anyone else I said this but, I'm kind of scared to even try. When he just started yelling, it scared me so much and now that I've seen that side of him, I'm afraid to even approach him."

'Oh what a tangled web we weave', JR thought as he listened to Stephanie explain what was going on. If only she knew that earlier in the day, he had been asked by Kurt himself to try and see why she wouldn't talk to or even look at him. If only she knew that he was far from angry with her, that he was actually frustrated with the fact that she was hurting because of Paul.

"Listen Steph, I doubt that if he actually was angry with you then that he still is now. It's been months since the argument, plenty of time for things to quiet down. Why don't you go talk to him? I'm sure he'd love to hear from you."

"I just can't... for a variety of reasons, all of which you already know and none of which anyone is understanding. I wish I could, boy do I wish i could... but I just can't. There's just so much more to it than what is on the surface... so much more." , Stephanie said before turning around only to see Kurt down the hall a bit sitting against the wall.

Turning back around, she sighed and started off in the opposite direction that she had planned on going. "I'll drop by catering during dinner with those papers for you.", she told JR as she walked briskly down the hall.

Turning back around, JR came face-to-face with a hurt and dejected Kurt Angle who looked at him with such sadness in his eyes you could see straight through them into his soul. Before he could even ask any questions, JR gave him the only answer that was needed.

"She cares man, she really does. Even though she was trying to put up a front and all, it was easy to see that she does miss your company with how she talked about what went down between you two." he told Angle, "Don't give up just yet... just be patient and be there for her. Even the most stubborn of hearts eventually overcome the walls it builds around itself."

Later that night in catering, Trish found her opportunity to corner Stephanie and convince her to come to their girls night in. After Steph had finished talking to Mark, Trish walked right over to her before anything else could be said.

"Hey Mark, you don't mind if I interrupt real quick here do you? I didn't interrupt anything important did I?"

"Nah, we were just chatting about things that should just be done without even mentioning. Do you two need to talk privately?" he asked Trish, hoping she wouldn't make him leave.

"No, you can stay. Infact, I just need a minute of your time Steph. It's nothing business related so that defense has already been struck down. Myself and Amy were thinking about getting some of the girls together for a sleepover next Monday after the show and we really really want you to come. Think of it as a way to unwind, have fun for a bit, and enjoy a drama-free environment." Trish explained.

"Well, I really don't know Trish... I've got a lot of things to get together for the PPV and then Aurora would need someone to watch her." Steph quickly said, trying to come up with enough reasons why she couldn't be normal for a night. Lord knows she hadn't been able to live a normal life for months now, not with her husband fooling around on her and missing her best friend something terrible.

"She does have a father Stephanie, it wouldn't hurt him to stay home once in a while." Mark chimed in, leaving without her biggest reason for not going. "It sounds like fun to me... hanging out with some pretty cool girls and just being able to chill and do chic stuff together."

"See? Even Mark thinks you should go and that it sounds like a good time. Please Steph? When's the last time we all hung out together?"

"Oh ok, I'll come... but I do have one condition for this girls night in. That one condition is there will be no talk about work related stuff or intervention type deals that you are famous around here for Trish. I'm about totally loony because of all the dramatized bullshit around here."

That next Monday came around to find that Stephanie was actually looking forward to a little bonding time with the girls. Paul, however, was not happy at all that she was going out anywhere.

"Tell me again why you are going to this sleepover tonight. Don't you have work to do tonight?" he asked her, putting his bag on the hotel bed.

"I do have work but it can be done on the plane tomorrow morning. This sleepover has been long overdue because we all haven't hung out in a long time. The opportunity for some female bonding time came about and I figured I owed it to myself to unwind for a bit." Steph tried to explain, becoming very frustrated with Paul's attitude. "Plus, it's not like you'll be here anyways as usual. My father offered to take Aurora for the night since she could use some male influence in her life lately... it's sad that that male influence has to be her grandfather instead of her father. The fact of the matter is that whether or not I'm here, you'll be out sucking face with Maryse!" she yelled, grabbing her overnight bag.

"YOU'RE NOT GOING ANYWHERE NOW!" Paul roared, spinning Stephanie around to face him.

It was now one in the morning and over in Trish's hotel room, the girls were starting to worry because Steph had yet to show up or even call for that matter.

" She said she was coming... hell, this afternoon we were talking about it and she sounded excited about hanging out tonight." Trish told the girls, pacing the room worried sick about her friend.

"Maybe she got stuck in a post-show meeting... you know how Vince is." Lillian suggested, trying to calm the nervous blonde in front of her. She knew that Trish's worried state was bound to become contagious, something that was not needed at the moment.

"Nope, not only is all of production here but I talked to JR and he said that they were done with their meeting and Stephanie had gone to her room to get some things before she came over."

All this time, Amy just sat there in silence when all of a sudden, a thought came to mind that scared the hell out of the redhead. "Call her room... if she doesn't answer, we go there and somehow get inside if there is no answer at the door."

As Trish picked up the phone, Kurt burst in the room and took the phone from her. The girls looked at him, wondering both where the hell he came from, flying into the room like a bat and what the hell he was doing.

"Don't bother, I know who you're trying to call and no one is going to answer no matter how many times you call. I need you guys to come with me... I need your help!" Everyone shrugged and followed him down the hall until they were standing in front of Kurt's hotel room.

"I was outside collecting my thoughts just a short while ago about everything that has been going on and while I was out there I came upon a sight that I hope to God I never see again." Kurt told the group as he opened the door, letting them inside. Amy was the first to walk in, but when she saw exactly what Kurt had been talking about, a gasp escaped from her lips as she tried to take in what was in front of her.