I am SUPER sorry for not updating! Thanks to Danielle and Jeremy for reviewing chapter 18 of "Rated R Love Affair"! Jeremy, I read your suggestion and I will think about it. Danielle, don't hate me for not updating. It takes me a while to think up chapters for my stories. You're right; I do NOT like Layla turning face, but I will implement it in this story. BTW, the kidnapping will take place in Chapter 21. And the nursery will be decorated in Chapter 20.

Chapter 19: Two Shopping Trips In One Day!

Date: May 21, 2010

Time: 7:00 AM

Location: Adam's house in Tampa, FL

Three days after a rough night after Tuesday's Smackdown taping, Maria woke up in Adam's bedroom. Looking around, she eventually realized that she was in the room by herself.

'Hmm. Where'd Adam go?' she thought to herself, stretching herself out. She rubbed her belly happily, yawned, got out of bed and walked downstairs.

"Good morning gorgeous!" Adam's voice greeted her when she got downstairs.

"Hey baby," Maria replied, looking aound the house. "Where are you?"

"In the kitchen," said Adam.

Maria walked into the kitchen and noticed Adam in front of his stove. Taking a closer look, she discovered that he was making breakfast.

"That looks good babe," Maria said, eyeing the food. "But it's a lot of food. We can't eat this by ourselves."

Adam let out a gasp and stated, "You are right. Luckily, I invited a couple people over to have breakfast with us."

"Oh really?" Maria put her hands on her hips and asked, "When are they coming over?"

"Actually - " Before Adam could finish, the doorbell interrupted him.

"I'll get it. Stay still, beautiful," he instructed Maria, heading for the door. He opened the door to find Jason Reso and Bret Hart in front of the door!

"Hey bud. We're here," said Jason.

"Great. You might want to see Maria. She does not know you're here," Adam told his friends.

"And why does she not know?" asked Bret.

"Because I wanted it to be a surprise. Ria's in the kitchen." Adam looked at the kitchen and nodded, and the three friends walked into the room.

"Bret! Jay!" Maria cried out, giving both guys a big hug. "What are you two doing here?"

"Didn't Adam tell you that he wanted to surprise you with a big breakfast?" Bret asked her.

"No. I guess he didn't," Maria realized. She looked at Adam and said, "Thanks baby."

"You're welcome Ria." Then the two lovebirds kissed.

"Besides, he invited us over to help you two demolish this delicious looking food," said Jason, eyeing the frying pan with the eggs in it. He licked his lips hungrily, and everyone else chuckled at him.

Meanwhile... Mark's house

Later in the day, after she got dressed for preschool, Gracie went downstairs to find her father. She finally found him in the living room, watching TV. Right away, she decided to join her father on the sofa.

"Hi Daddy," she said after settling into the sofa.

"Hey munchkin," Mark replied, putting his arm around his little girl. Then he kissed her on the cheek. "Can Daddy see your outfit please?"

"Yes you may," Gracie said, standing up.

Mark looked at Gracie as she spun around the room. She was in a light pink spring dress with yellow and white flowers on the bottom. She also had on white sandals with light pink roses and her reddish - brown hair was down. After her little fashion show, she sat back on the sofa.

"What did you think, Daddy?" she asked.

"Let me tell ya, you look very pretty, miss Gracie," Mark said with a smile. "I was thinking about something today."

"What's that?"

"Maybe after you get out of preschool, Daddy will take you, McKenzie and Cheyenne shopping to buy some new clothes for your teddy bears." McKenzie was Gracie's best friend, and Cheyenne was Shawn's 5 - year - old daughter.

Letting out a happy gasp, Gracie asked, "Really?"

"Yes indeed. So what do you think?"

"Yaaayy!" Gracie squealed, bouncing up and down in her seat and clapping her hands. Mark just looked at her while she bounced and laughed.

"So, are ya hungry, kiddo?" he finally asked.

"Yes I am," Gracie replied, getting up and going to the kitchen.

Laughing to himself, Mark said, "That was a pretty quick response." Then he turned off the TV and went to the kitchen too.

Later at the mall...

Maria was shopping at a bridal store with Mickie, Melina, Eve, Natalya and Layla. Layla was with them because even though she and Michelle were friends, she got bored with her friend's antics at times.

"Thanks for taking me out today ladies," said Maria.

"You're welcome girly," said Natalya, walking closer to her. The reason why the girls were at the mall was because Maria was shopping for her wedding dress, and she needed help finding the right gown.

"What about this one?" asked Mickie, holding up a dress. It was white, but had a long train in the back.

"Looks pretty good. Let me try it on." Maria took it into the dressing room to try it on. She came out with a small frown on her face.

"Doesn't fit?" Layla asked her.

"Kind of uncomfortable on the chest. Sorry Micks," Maria told Mickie sadly.

"It's okay." Mickie took the dress from Maria and put it back.

Soon, the girls were back on the hunt until Eve found another dress.

"Ria, look at this one! The color would look divine on you," she said, taking it off the rack.

"I agree. It really would," said Natalya. The dress Eve had was a strapless pink mermaid dress with a bodice. And it had its fair share of sparkles.

"Ooh. I love it!" Layla exclaimed. "Try it on!"

"Okay. I will." Maria took the dress from Eve and went back to the fitting room.

"Ria. Let us see the gown!" Natalya yelled after a while.

"Okay okay." Maria walked out and the Divas looked at her in amazement.

"Wow. That's cute!" shouted Eve.

"I... love it!" cried Melina.

"Ria, you look so amazing!" said Mickie.

"Yes you do girlfriend," Natalya stated.

"Maria Kanellis, you look simply flawless in that dress!" shouted Layla.

"Sounds like something you would say as a part of LayCool," Mickie chuckled.

Shuddering, Layla said, "Please don't get me started on Michelle or LayCool."

"We won't," the other Divas said simultaneously. Then they all laughed together. After Maria changed and paid for her dress, they left the store. A while later, they bumped into Mark!

"Hey ladies," said Mark. "What's up for today?"

"Shopping for Maria's wedding dress," said Mickie. "I think we found the right one. So, what are you doing in a place like this?"

"Shopping with my younger daughter and two other little girls," Mark replied casually. "Girls?"

"Hi ladies," Cheyenne said, coming forward. "Nice to meet you."

"Nice to meet you too, Cheyenne," said Eve, waving to her.

"Hi," Gracie and McKenzie both said.

"Hey Gracie. Hey McKenzie," Maria said, hugging both girls. "Nice to see you two again."

"You too," replied McKenzie.

"Actually, we just got done shopping at Build a Bear Workshop," said Mark. "All three of these girls just had to get their bears brand new outifts."

Surprisingly, everybody in the group laughed right then and there. After, Mark looked at his watch, noticing it was quite late.

"Oh my, look at the time! Uh… Ladies, I got to go," Mark told the group of Divas.

"Why do you have to leave us Mark?" Maria asked him.

"Because I have to go take Cheyenne and McKenzie home," replied Mark. "Come on girls. Let's go."

"BYE!" Gracie, McKenzie and Cheyenne all yelled, waving and walking with Mark.

"Bye girls!" all the Divas shouted out, leaving and walking in the other direction.

Later… Mark's house

After Mark had put Gracie to bed, he decided to call Michelle's cell phone. He wanted to remind her to prepare herself for a confrontation with him tomorrow. Part of him wanted to get Michelle's voicemail, but unfortunately Michelle answered just in time.

"What the heck? Mark?" Michelle asked.

"Hey Chelle. Just thought I'd give you a call," said Mark.

"What's up with you? I tried to contact you earlier today, but you didn't answer me."

"Well, I was out shopping with Gracie and two other little girls. Like I said, I can't be with you 24/7," Mark said in frustration.

"I know that, but –"

"Michelle. I'm not doing this tonight. You do know that you're coming over tomorrow cause I want to speak with you, right?" Mark asked her.

Thinking about something, Michelle responded with, "I do know about that, but -"

Angry, Mark said, "Know what? I don't care. You're dragging your butt over to my place tomorrow, and that's final."

"Okay. Whatever you say," Michelle told him angrily, hanging up the phone.

Letting out a scoff, Mark muttered, "Whatever. Bye, McBitch." He hung up the phone and turned it off. He took it with him upstairs and went to his bedroom. He took off his clothes and watch, removed his bandana and ponytail, and put on his pajamas.

"Oh my God, this woman is driving me crazy," he said to himself while changing. Once he was done, he decided to check in on his little princess. He opened the door and saw Gracie asleep in her princess canopy bed with Hannah by her side. Smiling, Mark walked closer to the bed, kneeled down, and stroked his daughter's hair.

"Good night precious," he whispered to her. Then he pulled the covers closer to Gracie's chin, gave her a kiss and left the room, closing the door behind him. After going back to his own bedroom, Mark got into bed, shut off the light, covered up and went to sleep.

This update is done! Sorry it took so long. I was trying to figure out how to write this bad boy. Give me time to think about my chapters in the future though, okay? I'll update again at the end of the week! Until then...

~Jen