Too Late

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The trip back to the hotel was a quick one, and the three made their way inside the building after Edge parked the rental car just outside.

"Okay... Now, what the hell happened?" the tall blond man asked as he examined Stacy. The leggy diva was shaking like a leaf, her pretty face wan. "You said 'they' were after you - who's '*they*'?"

Christian kept silent but studied the young woman as well. He was pretty much the only one who knew of the true relationship between Edge and Stacy, as the two had decided to keep it a secret from the WWE as a whole.

"Test and Scott..." she said sadly. By now, the three of them were entering the hotel room the two men were sharing.

"Christ... What did they do *now*?" the taller of the two asked between clenched teeth. His right hand tightened into a fist instinctively as he sat down on the edge of the bed, dropping his bag at his feet.

As Christian set his own bag down, noting, not for the first time, that the young woman *had* no bag, Stacy sat down beside Edge and began to explain.

"Th-they were bothering me - as usual... At first, it was just verbal, but then Scott made a move on me..." The diva studied the Canadian man's face with nervous anticipation, knowing the kind of reaction he would have.

"What?! What did he do?"

"He... he forced a kiss on my lips and then smacked me on... But Edge - I stopped him from doing anything more." Stacy tucked some of her long hair behind one ear. "I gave him a good, hard knee to the groin."

"Good! That bastard! I *knew* he was nothing but trouble!" Edge stared into the young woman's eyes seriously. "Didn't I *tell* you that?!"

"Yeah, you did..." Stacy admitted slowly, hating the turn the conversation had taken. He was getting all judgmental, telling her 'I told you so,' which was not really something she wanted or needed to hear right now.

"Stacy, that's it - the last straw. I'm going to take matters into my own hands and-"

"No! I don't want them to hurt you!" the tall blonde cried, her brown eyes wide at the prospect of Test, and especially Steiner, getting their hands on him.

"What do you mean 'no?' I'm your brother, damn it, and I can't just sit by and let these two constantly harass you!"

"I know that, but..." Stacy sighed, running a hand through her long blonde locks again.

"But nothing - you're my baby sister, Stacy, and I promised Mom I'd look out for you..."

The young woman's face went from sad to actually a touch angry, and before she could utter a protest to Edge, Christian finally spoke up.

"Hold on, guys..." He gestured to Edge with one hand, seeing how his best friend looked about another second from going *completely* ballistic. "Stacy," he said, shifting his gaze back to the blonde diva. "Do you want some help getting those assholes off your back? Or do you just not want Edge bailing you out because he's your big brother?"

Stacy arched a brow in slight confusion, though she pretty much got his meaning.

"Um... Yeah."

"So what if I bail you out?" the taller of the two blond men spoke.

"I don't want to live in your shadow, Edge!" the diva exclaimed. "And I don't want everyone thinking I got where I am today because of my older brother! You *know* that, that's why we never *told* anyone!"

Edge was about to speak again, but Christian silenced him with a wave of his hand. Then, "Stacy, listen... If you need help in dealing with Test and Steiner - well, I'm your man."

His best friend turned to stare at him, and the shorter of the two gave the leggy blonde a reassuring smile. Then, taking her hand, he said, "And we can even let Edge help..."

Stacy nodded quietly, her eyes locked with Christian's blue ones.

"Thank you, Christian... I-I think that would be a good idea..."  
 
 

Part 3

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