A/N - I don't know why but I really enjoy writing this story and I feel fucking awful about it lol. I guess I just like to torment them DOES THAT MAKE ME A BAD PERSON sorry. Enjoy...or don't...idk...

Four showers. Four showers and she still couldn't get the feel of him off her. It was ridiculous. She felt disgusting. Every time she closed her eyes all she could see was her office and what had happened in it. Stephanie choked back a sob and wrapped her arms around herself. Her gaze dropped to the large bed in the centre of the room. It was the bed she had shared with her husband for over ten years, in their house. This was her home, her life; and she just couldn't understand why she had done what she had done.

Randy was…God, she couldn't even think his name let alone think about him. When he had turned up at her office she just…lost control. Or her senses was perhaps more accurate. The more time she had to think it over the more curious she found it that he turned up today of all days. She could only thank the lord that Paul hadn't been there. Jesus, Paul. She could barely think about him either because it simply hurt too much. The betrayal she felt stung to the very depths of her soul. And she deserved every last ounce of the pain she was feeling right now. But he didn't. Paul didn't deserve this and she felt like the most disgusting, vile and heartless bitch on the face of the earth for what she had done to him. This wasn't about Randy any more. It was about her marriage and the decision that now lay in front of her because of her selfish actions.

The light rain that had been falling all night had steadily turned to a heavy pelt. She could hear it now, hitting the window and causing a light rattle to ring throughout the room. It was almost two in the morning. As if on cue the sound of the rain was joined by crunching gravel. A car engine switched off followed by the echo of a door slamming shut. Her husband was home. And she didn't know if she could face him. Her feet were frozen to the spot as she listened to him working his way throughout the house. Through the side entrance door that only they used. He'd reset the alarm and turn off the night lights she always left on for when he returned from late business meetings. Through the kitchen. Past the living room. Around the corner where the basement entrance to the gym was. Up the stairs. And now his feet were padding across the landing. Suddenly coming to her senses, Stephanie sat on the edge of the bed like she had just woken up. When the door gently pushed open her breath caught in her throat at the sight of him. She felt like she hadn't seen him in years and wanted nothing more than to rush into his arms and feel his comfort but she couldn't.

"Hey," Paul smiled in surprise. He wasn't expecting her to be up so late. He wheeled his carry on suitcase to the chair on his side of the room and left it there, peeling his suit jacket off and folding it over the back of the black leather. "You're up late."

Stephanie forced a tired smile as she stood and tried not to get overwhelmed when he came before her. His cologne invaded her senses and in an instant she wanted to cry. His scent was familiar and comforting. It was spicy, masculine and so subtle she was constantly in a battle not to stuff her face in his neck and inhale. It was distinctly Paul and felt like home.

"So either the kids have you up this late…" He grinned and wrapped his arms around her, pulling her against him with a twinkle in his eye. "Or you waited up for me in which case," his lips crashed softly into hers, giving her a lengthy kiss. "I missed you too."

She ran her hand over his cheek when they broke apart and stared into his eyes, not fooled for a second. Stephanie felt uneasy. Despite his teasing, he looked tired and of course he was. He had been up at the crack of dawn with the kids, had taken them to school like they always did, had worked out, gone to the office and had two meetings before flying out to Orlando for the NXT tapings. All the while she had fucked another man in her office when he was several states away. And now he was here, looking at her the way he always did, even when he was clearly beat. "You must be exhausted," she sighed, leaning her forehead against his and closing her eyes. Maybe if she didn't look at him he wouldn't see her shame.

"It was a great taping," Paul mumbled, his thumbs slowly sweeping up and down her sides as he pressed a kiss against her temple. "I felt really invigorated until I got on the plane." He let out a light chuckle. "Although seeing you has definitely woke me up again."

Stephanie sighed into his mouth when he kissed her again and couldn't stop herself from tangling her tongue with his. She could distinctly remember foolishly getting excited by Randy's kisses. She thought they were new and 'different'. They were unfamiliar and there was an appeal in that she couldn't deny. But they weren't this. There was no emotion behind them. There was no familiarity, no feeling of home, no sudden rush to the heart and clenching of the chest like now. When Paul kissed her she melted. He was her husband and she wanted to spend the rest of her life kissing him, if they even had a life together after she had taken her best shot at destroying it.

The guilt once again surged through her body and completely consumed her. She couldn't do this. Paul let out a low groan and twisted a hand into her hair. It was no secret that he wanted her; wanted to be with her intimately. Normally she'd be all over him, kissing him back with equal fervour and pulling him on top of her as they fell to the bed in a heap of unbridled passion but she just couldn't do it, not when the guilt was eating her alive. His lips nibbled on her earlobe as one hand skimmed down her back. Stephanie slowly ran her hands down his chest and pushed him away. The confusion in his eyes almost made her lose it but she couldn't do this to herself or to him. Funny how she never thought of that when she needed to most.

"What's wrong?" Paul asked softly, reaching his hand out to caress the side of her face. It wasn't like her to push him off unless she wanted to switch positions or something but he knew from the look on her face that that wasn't the case. "Everything okay?"

She took a deep breath and tried not to cry. "I'm fine, baby…just not feeling too great right now." She wept inside at how quickly his desire turned to concern. He didn't suspect a thing. And why would he? From all accounts he was in a loving, faithful relationship…marriage, with a woman who vowed to love him and only him. But one moment of madness, one stupid moment of madness had led her to jeopardise the life they had built together. She could lose everything if she told him and she'd lose her mind if she didn't.

"Steph?"

"I think I need to….go to the bathroom."

"You need me to bring you anything?"

Yes. A time machine. So she could go back to her office earlier this afternoon and stop herself from making the biggest mistake of her life. She was just about to say no when their bedroom door creaked open ever so slowly. Stephanie's heart caught in her throat at the sight of her daughter stumbling into the room rubbing her eyes. Her blonde hair was sticking out everywhere and when her little face looked up the only thing she could see was her husband. This was their child. Their child, the result of something they created together as man and wife. How could she have been so fucking stupid?

"What's the matter, sweetheart?" Paul dipped to one knee and cradled the little blonde bundle into his arm. She burrowed into his neck and pulled impatiently on the collar of his shirt.

"I want to sleep with you."

Paul glanced between his daughter and his wife. Stephanie looked like she was about to throw up. Her skin was pale and a thin sheen of sweat coated her forehead. Now he had Murphy waking up in the middle of the night who no doubt was going to make an issue out of her bed preference for the evening if this was anything to go by. Letting out a sigh, he scooped her up and got to his feet. "You have to start sleeping in your own bed, smurf."

"No, daddy," the little girl whined.

"You can't sleep with us all the time."

"I don't want to sleep in my room. I'm scared."

Stephanie watched as a slow smile broke across her husband's face. His hand reached out and gently cupped her cheek. "Go on, babe. I got this. I'll be with you when…" his voice trailed off as he discreetly nodded his head at their pouting daughter. She watched as he turned and started walking towards the door.

"What are you scared of?"

"Monsters."

"There are no monsters…"

Their conversation carried down the hall and Stephanie's blood ran cold. Her daughter was afraid of monsters. And so was she. She was afraid of the monster she had become.