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"My life really sucks..."
The young woman who'd spoken the four bitter words sat at the table with her friends and sulked.
"Oh, come on, Molly," Trish Stratus spoke. "It can't be *all* that bad."
"Yeah," Lita said , gesturing with one hand. "And while we're on the subject, why such bitterness, Ms. Scrooge?"
The petite brunette's face wore a little pout as she looked away from the other women. She was embarrassed to tell them the truth of why she was feeling so glum. Besides, neither of the other two divas had the problem *she* did.
"Molly," Trish began, "is this about you not having a boyfriend?"
The current WWE Women's champion looked up sharply but didn't speak. And she knew the other women could read her like a book, so it was no use denying the blonde's question. Yet, all she did was to continue to sulk.
Because the brunette was looking down at the now empty plate before her, she missed the eye exchange between her two friends. Had she noticed it, she would have become suspicious and asked about it.
"Cheer up, Mol," Trish said, the Canadian diva reaching across the table and squeezing her hand affectionately. "It's Christmas Eve, and there's going to be a little party tonight..."
Molly looked up. She wondered why this was the first she was hearing of such a thing. It didn't lift her spirits one iota to know her friends had kept her in the dark.
"Well, why should *I* come?" she asked cynically. "You're going to have your boyfriends there, and me..." She paused as she felt overwhelmed by the blues again.
"Actually," Lita said, "we're going to be flying solo, just like you." It was true. The redhead and Trish had gotten calls from the respective boyfriends, Edge and John Cena, earlier that day. And because the SmackDown taping had taken them clear across the country to California, they wouldn't be arriving until Christmas *day*. Lita explained the situation to Molly.
"So what? The only reason you two will be alone is because your men have a double flight!" She pouted again, resting her chin on her fists, elbows propped on the table.
Lita shook her head and again exchanged glances with Trish. God, Molly was so down. The redhead had to attribute that to the fact that the brunette *hadn't* been alone during the previous year's holiday. No, she'd had Kurt Angle's company - and *love* - until he'd stupidly screwed up their relationship by sleeping with Torrie Wilson. It was no wonder the Women's champion was so bitter and cynical - she hadn't chosen to be that way, she'd been *forced* to...
"Look, I *promise* you'll enjoy yourself at the party," the redhead said softly. "We're gonna check out this great club on eighth avenue...Plus, we have our Secret Santa thing..." She grinned.
"Yeah, and I got Jericho," Trish said with a smirk. "What *do* you get for the guy who has *everything*?"
"That's a question you should have asked Stacy!"
"Way ahead of you, Lita - already did..." Then, turning back to the brunette, "So, what do you say, Molly? Will you join us tonight?"
Molly raised her blue eyes to study each of her friends in turn. For once, both their faces looked serious and determined instead of silly. It would do her good to go out and have fun - she *knew* that. Besides, it was Christmas. Screw Kurt and Torrie!
"Yeah, I'll come," she finally replied, the beginnings of a smile coming to her face.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
"I am nervous as *hell*!" the man said. To prove it, his palms were all sweaty, and he quickly wiped them on his khakis.
"Calm down, man," Chris Jericho said with a bit of a chuckle. "There's nothing to be nervous about."
"That's easy for *you* to say! You already *have* a girlfriend. But I'm going to approach the woman of my dreams tonight...What if she rejects me?"
"You know what your problem is? You worry too much, Junior..."
The two men looked up as they spotted three divas enter the club.
"There she is...!" the man said in a loud whisper. He snatched up the huge bouquet of roses he'd left on the berth of the booth he, Jericho and Stacy Keibler - Y2J's girlfriend, who was currently on the dance floor with The Hurricane - had been sharing.
"Merry Christmas!" Lita greeted the two of them. She and Trish exchanged hugs with them, but the other man couldn't take his eyes off of Molly Holly. She looked lovely in a soft, emerald-green velvet dress.
"Molly...Hi...Merry Christmas."
The brunette smiled almost shyly.
"Thanks...Merry Christmas."
"These...uh...are for you," he said, noting the way her blue eyes went wide as he passed the roses to her. "From your Secret Santa..."
"Oh, thank you - they're beautiful!" she said, her smile blossoming into a grin. The holidays were definitely brightening.
"Here - this is also for you." He reached back into the seat and picked up a box, handing it to her.
Molly had to pass the roses over to Trish so she could open the gift. She gasped with surprise as she pulled out a royal blue cashmere sweater.
"My God - this is gorgeous!" she breathed.
"Ladies, how about we leave these two alone for a moment?" Jericho suggested.
Molly looked up and deeply into the blue eyes of her Secret Santa.
"I thought it would bring out your beautiful eyes..." he said.
The brunette was silent for a beat, so moved she could actually feel tears welling in her eyes.
"I just wanted to know if - if you would spend the holidays with me?" He asked in such an adorably nervous, insecure voice. She couldn't help but chuckle.
"I would *love* to, Christian..." Molly moved forward to kiss him,
and her heart melted when he kissed her back.
// End \\