Disclaimer: As always I own no rights to the WWE. I am just fan who likes to visit their playground now and again.

Author's Note: I'm sorry for taking to take so long to update this little tale. Life has been very busy for me – out of town, family issues, over time at work, and then of course there is my very fickle muse. Anyway I'm back – I hope someone out there is still reading and enjoying.

Without further ado…I give you

Chapter 8

Stephen was just leaving a radio appearance; an appearance he really thought could have gone better, when he received her text. "Thank U 4 the flowers…there lovely…Will call u later…..P." Will call later….; three simple little words in the grand scheme of things. Yet they were three simple words that had him smiling harder than a newly crowned lotto winner. Climbing into his rented SUV, he struggled to remember the last time he was this excited over a girl promising to call. Looking at her message he started to reply. Starting and deleting his reply twice, he decided to go simple over cute. "Ah'll be waitin'" As he pulled away from the radio station he couldn't seem to wipe the perma-smile from his face.

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As the school day drew to a close, Peyton placed the homework assignment on the board. Following a brief explanation, Peyton allowed her students a few minutes to gather their belongings before the final bell. With the ringing of the final bell, Peyton dismissed her class with the promise she would see them in the morning.

Looking around the class room Peyton sighed. Setting about her tasks, "sooner I start – sooner I can go home," she mumbled absently to herself. Straightening up the class room, she then turned her attention to the blackboard. Leaving up the current homework assignment; she quickly set about putting up tomorrow's morning math assignment. Lost in thought – once more she didn't hear Carrie enter the classroom behind her. Carrie watched her friend work for several seconds before interrupting. "So" Carrie began, "are you going to tell me who the flowers were from?"

Peyton heaved a sigh, she really had been hoping for a quiet escape without this conversation. As much as she loved Carrie, thought of her as family even, she just wasn't sure if she was ready to discuss Stephen with anyone yet. Turning from the board, she made her back to the desk. Closing her math book she tossed it absently onto the desk. "Carrie…" she began a little wearily.

"Save your breath Peyton, just admit the flowers were from Sheamus…uh Stephen," Carrie self-corrected with a warm grin.

Was this giving up or giving in, wondered Peyton vaguely as she busied herself tidying up her desk. "Yes Carrie…yes the flowers are from Stephen. Are you satisfied now? Can I finish prepping for class tomorrow?" Carrie smiled knowingly. She watched as Peyton snatched up her math book and went back to the black board. Leaning against the edge of the desk, Carrie watched her friend continue with tomorrow's mathematics lesson. Realistically she and Peyton had not known each other all that long. Time was never a factor in their relationship. Carrie and Peyton understood each other on the most basic levels. They came from similar backgrounds. They would never be blood family, but in a very short time Peyton had become Carrie and Shannon's family of choice. Carrie wanted her best friend / sister to be happy. As far as Carrie knew this was the first time a man had sent Peyton anything. She hoped that Stephen knew what he was doing. Although Peyton appeared to the entire world a very strong and capable young woman; Carrie knew the vulnerability that lurked behind that competent façade. If this, whatever this was, didn't work out in Peyton's favor would it drive her deeper into the façade? As her best friend she hated to think to her struggling to put the pieces back together. She honestly didn't know if you she were getting better at reading Peyton or if Peyton were just getting lazy. Whatever the case, her body language screamed that she in no way wanted to talk. Ignoring the signs, Carrie pressed on. "So…I've had one or two mighty fine breakfast dates – no one ever sent me flowers. You want to talk about what happened?"

Glancing over her shoulder, Peyton smiled tight and brief, "we had breakfast – would you like a rundown of the menu. I could tell you how he takes his coffee if you like?"

Not quite the answer she was expecting, she snorted, a most un-lady like giggle really. "Well" Carrie snickered "I wasn't thinking about the menu per say. I was thinking more along the lines of long soft sweet kisses over coffee and cheese Danish. However, beggars can't be chooser's so I guess the menu will do – for starters."

Finishing tomorrow's math lesson, Peyton turned "Sorry to disappoint, but it was just breakfast. No long soft sweet kisses to report."

Carrie slid silently across the room, standing next to Peyton at the black board. Glancing silently at the lovely flowers sitting on the desk she smiled "I'd say those flowers are a good sign of things to come!"

"Carrie," Peyton began with more patience than she actually felt at the moment.

"I know," Carrie said before pulling her best friend into a hug, "just know that I'm here if you want to talk." Releasing her friend Carrie stepped back, "I should get moving, Shannon's out on the playground with some of the other kids playing ball."

Peyton watched Carrie make her way towards the classroom door. As her hand reached the door knob, Peyton called out "Carrie…"

Without turning from the door Carrie called out "yeah?"

Peyton could hear the smile in the single word. "Thanks sis,"

Carrie felt the joy burst inside. "Sis" was their nickname for each other. One they only used in the most important of circumstances. Peyton calling her "sis" now showed just how important this was to her. Without turning around, for fear the joy would show on her face she replied "Anytime sis – Just remember if you need to talk – well that's what I'm here for."

Within fifteen minutes, Peyton was satisfied that her classroom was ready for tomorrow. Returning to her desk, she set about gathering her things. Taking her cell phone from the desk; she knew it was silly, but she found herself kind of hoping that there would be an answering text from Stephen. "Ah'll be waitin.'" Instantly she felt the hum of giddy spastic butterflies filling her stomach. Unable to control the smile lighting her face, she quickly made her way to the parking lot. Climbing behind the wheel; an almost sheer panic settled in the pit of her stomach. Stephen Farrelly was waiting for her to call him.

Twenty minutes later, Peyton sighed as she let herself into her apartment. Suddenly bone weary she sat her flowers down on the small coffee table and collapsed in an ungracious heap onto the sofa. Slipping off her heels, she propped her feet up on the table and sank back deep into the sofa. Closing her eyes, she sighed eternally grateful for silence raining across her. Only planning to rest her eyes for the briefest of moments; Peyton was startled awake nearly an hour later by the shrill tones of a ringing phone.

After assuring the older gentleman on the phone that there was indeed no Candy Sue at this number; Peyton made her way to the kitchen. Rummaging through her cupboards, she debated if she was hungry enough to bother with a full meal or if she simply needed something small. Nearly an hour later, she had finished her grilled cheese and tomato soup; changed her clothes, and was stretched out on the sofa channel surfing. As she absently watched a few minutes of this and a few minutes of that; she found herself thinking about Stephen. Nothing playing on the television held her interest as much as the small bouquet on the table beside her. Reaching for her phone, she started to dial Stephen's twice – both times she hung up before the phone ever rang. Laughing nervously, Peyton felt like a foolish school girl as she dialed the number a third and final time. "Maybe he won't answer and I can just leave a voice mail," she thought absently as the phone continued to ring. Just as she was expecting the voice mail to pick up she heard that strong Irish accent "'ello Pey, ah' was beginin' to think yeh forgot about meh."

"Stephen…I …I didn't expect you to answer. I was just…just going to leave you a message." Peyton replied with an almost stutter like quality lacing her every other word. Tucking the phone between her shoulder and ear - she settled back against the sofa. Laying her left hand across her stomach she did her best so squash the spastic butterflies returning in full force.

Sitting up from the sofa Peyton noted the time. Two hours…two hours – she and Stephen had been on the phone for two hours now. 'Where did the time go?' She wondered, intently listening as he told about his radio station interview earlier in the day. His gentle deep chuckle washed across her senses.

All too soon it was time for each of them to hang up. Laughing like a school boy, Stephen told her to hang-up first. "What?" questioned Peyton a little confused?

"Yeh heard me lass…yeh hang up first."

"What? That's silly Stephen, what does it matter who hangs up first?"

"If it's silly then just humor meh and hang up first." Stephen countered with a deep rumble.

"What if I think you should hang up first?" She questioned innocently.

"Not goin' to happen lass – I asked you first."

Sighing deeply Peyton laughed loud and honest. She felt like a school girl, not wanting to hang up with her first love. "Ok" Stephen began "make yeh a deal; Ah'll hang up first – if you promise to call me again tomorrow night. Is it a deal?"

Sitting up a little straighter on the sofa, Peyton felt as if the room had suddenly shifted. Stephen wanted to continue talking to her. Was he trying to flirt with her? Was he just being friendly? 'Dammit' she cursed inwardly at her own social awkwardness. Why did just about everything to do with the opposite sex have to confuse her so?

"Well?" He questioned softly at her abrupt silence.

"Yes" she finally agreed "Yes I will call you again tomorrow."

"Great! In that case, good-night Peyton sweet dreams lass," and with that he was gone.

Author's Note: This chapter did not turn out the way I expected. Not unusual I guess, my muse can be a fickle creature at times. To me this is mostly a filler chapter; a glimpse at the friendship between Peyton and Carrie – first steps into something more with Stephen. All thoughts, ideas, suggestions, and comments about future conversations between Stephen and Peyton are most welcome and appreciated.