__________________________________________________________

Adam came back to his locker room after a trip to the buffet room to find Jay staring, with what looked like shock, at the TV monitor.  His best friend looked up as he entered the room.

"Adam!  Did you see what just happened?"

The tall blond frowned.  "What are you talking about?"  He moved around the TV monitor to sit by Jay, his eyes shifting to the screen.  He saw Nora Greenwald and Trish Stratus but didn't see Amy and figured one of the other two must have tossed her out of the ring.

"Amy's flipped out!" Jay cried, his blue eyes wide.  "She just forfeited her title, and she refused to wrestle!"  He gestured wildly with both hands as he spoke.

"What?!" Adam asked.  He thought he'd just imagined everything the other man had just said.  Amy would never pull a stunt like that.  Refusing to wrestle had been more Sable's style.  Unlike the trashy former diva, Amy was a fighter, not a quitter.

"It's true!" Jay exclaimed, sounding oddly similar to Kurt Angle.  "Listen to King and J.R.!"

Adam remained silent so as to listen to the commentators.

"I am simply speechless, King...I just cannot understand why Lita would abandon her title..."

The tall blond man swallowed hard, a deep feeling of concern running through him. Why had Amy done this?

*

Stephanie McMahon was livid upon listening to the words the now former Women's champion had spoken in the ring, in front of the tens of thousands in attendance at the arena, the millions more watching at home on their TV sets, and the entire WWE staff.  And then, her anger had doubled as she'd witnessed the woman departing the ring as though she had the right to do so.

"My God!" the brunette shouted although no one was around to hear her.  "What the hell is going on?  This is WrestleMania, for God's sake!"

She nearly growled as she left her office and stormed down the hall to the women's locker room.

She'd better still be in there! she thought as her fingers twisted the knob.  The brunette got her answer as she peered into the room.

Amy was indeed inside, blessedly alone.  Of course, Trish and Molly were in the ring.  Stephanie had seen Torrie Wilson, Jacqueline and Dawn Marie at the buffet a bit earlier, and she knew Stacy Keibler was with Randy Orton, since neither of them were involved in matches that night.  Ivory and Nidia were with Jamie Noble, who was pretty banged up after his hardcore match against Batista.  Victoria was probably with Steven Richards as usual.

The redhead looked up to see a very displeased-looking Stephanie McMahon standing in the doorway, staring at her.

"Oh, might I have a word with you, young lady?" the brunette asked condescendingly, noticing the way Amy arched an eyebrow at the words "young lady."  Stephanie was actually almost a year and a half younger than the redhead, so the reaction must have stemmed from that knowledge.

The diva sighed as she stood up.  "Of course, Stephanie..."

The brunette led her down the hallway until they reached the room serving as her office.  Stephanie opened the door and stood aside to allow the redhead to enter first, then followed her inside.

Once she had the door closed behind her, she stepped across the room and faced Amy, her arms crossed under her breasts.  What in the hell is going on? the brunette wondered.  First Edge and now Lita? She frowned as she thought about the unusual behaviors of the two, who were normally a couple of the best workers the company had.

The brunette met the other woman's eyes squarely.  "Would you care to explain your actions out there?"  She managed to keep her voice calm, afraid of what might happen if she lost her temper with the redhead.

"I...I can't wrestle," Amy began.  "And I'm not going to be able to wrestle for awhile..."

"And why, may I ask?"

"I..."  The redhead faltered over her speech, stammering.  "I just...can't."

Stephanie closed her eyes, pinching the bridge of her nose.  She was beginning to lose her patience with this woman.  Opening her eyes and glaring at Amy, she yelled, "What kind of a bullshit answer is that?  Why can't you wrestle?  Tell me!!"

"I...I can't because...because..."

"Would you just spit it out already!!"

"I'm pregnant, Stephanie!"  With that admission, the redhead suddenly burst into tears, crumpling before the other woman.  Her shoulders shook as she was overcome by sobs she'd held in for an entire month.

Stephanie initially stared at Amy in shock.  After a beat, her heart softening, she took a tentative step toward the distraught diva.  She reached out, placing a hand on her shoulder, surprised when the small gesture caused Amy to practically fall against her, putting her arms around the brunette and holding onto her tightly as she continued to cry.

Stephanie frowned with concern and regret, her arm going around the other woman.  As she patted the redhead's back in what she considered a feeble attempt to comfort her, she spoke.

"Oh, Amy...I'm...I'm so sorry..."

After a moment, the redhead pulled back and swiped at the tears in her eyes as she ducked her head from Stephanie's gaze.

"You and...Shane?  You got back together??"

"No..." Amy admitted.  "Ever since we broke up five months ago, that's it...it...it wasn't him."  She raised her head, eyes going heavenward as she cursed herself.  "It was one night a month ago - the night of No Way Out - and it never should have happened - at least not the way it did."

Stephanie stared at the other woman with concern.  As she reached an arm out to her, she spoke again.  "Amy...I want to help you...if you-"

Sighing deeply, the diva blurted, "I slept with Adam..."

*

Outside Stephanie's office, in the hallway, Chris Benoit listened with shocked disbelief that quickly turned to fury.  He hadn't exactly been eavesdropping, but he'd gone there with the intention of talking to the brunette.  He'd been all set to knock, however, once he'd heard Amy's voice, he stopped his hand from making contact with the door.

He couldn't believe his ears when he'd heard the redhead say she was pregnant.  After learning the identity of the man responsible, enraged, he marched down the hallway.  He had but one destination in mind...