_______________________________________________________
"Hey, Stace..." Test went to his girlfriend and placed his hands on either side of Stacy Keibler's tiny waist as he looked into her brown eyes seriously. "...Maybe you shouldn't be out there tonight."
"What? Why?" the tall blonde woman asked.
The Canadian swallowed hard, trying not to fumble over his words. "Well...it's not safe. You might get hurt."
Stacy smiled. "Honey, I'll be fine - it's only a little lingerie contest between Torrie and me." She shifted her gaze halfway across the room to the platinum blonde, who was currently speaking in hushed tones with her boyfriend, Lance Storm.
"Well, even so..."
"Aww, aren't you sweet!" the leggy young woman exclaimed, a smile dominating her pretty face. She reached over to place one long-fingered hand against Test's cheek. "You worry about me..." She moved forward and placed a gentle kiss on his lips, which the man instantly returned.
"Hey, you know what?" Kurt Angle said to Jacqueline, facing her as he turned away from the tall blond couple. "You shouldn't be out there tonight, either."
"Why not?" the lovely African-American diva asked.
The Olympian looked his girlfriend over, making a conscious effort not to stutter as he responded. "You just shouldn't be out there, that's all."
"Baby, I was born for the wrestling ring," Jackie said firmly. "And anyway, I'm not even wrestling tonight - I'm only refereeing the match between Lita and Molly."
"I know," Angle said, "but just be careful, okay?"
The woman wondered about the concern on his face. Why should he suddenly worry about her being in the ring? She'd seen action countless times before and after they'd become a couple.
"Okay." Jackie continued to eye her boyfriend suspiciously. She couldn't help wondering what in hell was going on.
*
The woman turned to glance over at the diva who was one of her closest friends and managed a tiny, weak smile. She pushed some of her long hair back as the feeling of nausea overcame her. Strange, she'd been pretty much fine all day except for the morning. She placed a hand against her stomach.
"Hey, you don't look so good. Are you all right?" the other woman asked with concern.
"Not really - I'm a little nauseous," she admitted.
Her friend eyed her silently for a beat, pensive before speaking again. "So...How are you going to tell him?"
The pregnant diva shook her head, a look of worry crossing her pretty features. "I don't know...I honestly don't know."
"Maybe you should just get it over with. You know what they say - the sooner, the better."
"Yeah," the other woman said, a tiny but sort of sad smile coming to her lips. "You're right. I should do it that way, but...well, I don't even know how. I-I'm scared."
"I know," came the reply in a soft voice. "And if, when the time comes, you need me to help you tell him, just let me know...I'm here for you."
The young woman's eyes welled up with tears as she became emotional over her friend's kindness. "Thank you...I'm so lucky to have a friend like you."
The other woman smiled and drew the pregnant diva against her in a hug.