He was still at the arena, as he'd received word from his best friend, Jay Reso - Christian - that Stephanie McMahon wanted to see him before he left.

The brunette paced a little in front of him, her arms crossed as she considered how to begin.  She had taken over as chairperson of the WWE a few months earlier, when her father had finally decided to retire.

The young woman stared down at the Canadian as she finally spoke.

"What's going on, Adam?"  She uncrossed her arms, spreading them in a questioning gesture.  "You have been a little sloppy in the ring lately, and that's not like you...you do realize you could have hurt Christopher Nowinski out there tonight?"

The tall blond man ran a hand through his long hair as he raised his eyes to meet hers guiltily.  He knew what the woman had just said was true, and he felt rotten about the spinning heelkick he had executed just a little too high, nailing the rookie in the face.  Nowinski had left the match with a bloody nose, and it would be a miracle if it hadn't been broken.  He had apologized profusely to the young man afterward.

"I know, and I'm sorry...I'll shape up before I...ship out."

Stephanie stared at the Canadian questioningly.  "Is anything wrong?"

"No," he said too quickly.  "I'll focus better from now on...I promise."

Stephanie refused to be swayed so easily.  "Does this have anything to do with Dawn Marie?"  She knew that Adam and the brunette diva had recently broken up.

"No," he said firmly, his green eyes locked on hers.  "It has absolutely nothing to do with her."

Steph raised an eyebrow.  She could tell he was being truthful about that in the way he gazed so steadily at her, his eyes never wavering from hers as he'd replied.  However, with the wording of his response, she knew that something was indeed troubling Adam.

"It has absolutely nothing to do with her."

If nothing was upsetting him, surely he would have simply said, "Nothing is wrong," or something to that extent.

"All right," the brunette said after a beat.  "Just remember, if there ever is something bothering you, and you just want to talk...my door is always open."

"Yeah, I'll remember that, Stephanie," Adam said as he averted his eyes from her.  "Thanks..."  He stood up and walked to the door, then stalked out and down the hall.

Stephanie frowned, knowing the blond man had just lied to her.  She knew that something was indeed wrong - it had been more than evident in his demeanor and vague responses to her questions, which had bordered on avoidance.  Something was bothering Adam Copeland, and she couldn't help wondering what that "something" could be.

*

Amy's hand felt damp with a cold sweat as she impatiently lifted them from her lap and eyed her watch.  She took a deep breath as she realized the ten minutes were up.  She rose from the edge of the bed and reluctantly walked to the bathroom, thankful that Stacy was still out with Randy Orton.

Earlier that evening, she had gone out and purchased a home pregnancy test at a drugstore.  She made her way closer to the device, reaching for the instruction booklet she'd left on the sink near it as well.  Examining both, her eyes widened.  All the breath left her body, and in shock, the test slipped from her fingers and fell to the floor, making a small clattering sound as it hit the tiles.

According to the results listed in the little booklet she still held in her left hand, she was pregnant.

*

Adam immediately returned to his hotel room, opting to just stay in rather than go to the club Jay, Chris Jericho and Drew Martin were headed.  His best friend had informed him earlier that he was invited as usual, but the tall blond had declined.

Jay had asked, "What's eating you, man?"

Adam had shaken his head and merely told the other man he wasn't up to hanging out - that he was tired and just wanted to unwind back at the hotel.

He ran a hand through his long golden mane and sighed.  Jay had given him a doubting, suspicious look.  He wanted to eventually talk to his best friend about what was bothering him, but he didn't feel quite ready for that yet.

Adam removed his jacket and shoes and flopped down on the bed.  He stared up at the ceiling for a few minutes as he thought about her.

Damn it... Why was this thing affecting him so much?  Amy had totally told him to go take a hike - well, not using those words, but her meaning had rung through loudly and clear to him.  She'd said she'd felt "lonely," and Adam knew what that meant - if she hadn't been feeling that way, hadn't been feeling so desperate, she never would have spent the night with him.  She had no feelings for him whatsoever.  All he'd been to her was a welcome body that had been there - ready, willing and able to satisfy her momentary desires.

Adam couldn't help the sardonic chuckle that left his lips at his thoughts.  How ironic - he, the man, was suddenly knowing how women often felt.  He now knew the pain of being used as a sex toy and thereafter cast aside, of no more interest.

Damn it...Damn her, he thought bitterly.  He thought about how obvious, how transparent she was - did she really think he didn't know she'd been deliberately avoiding him for the last three weeks?

He sat up, reached for the TV remote and turned on the set, sighing as he leaned back again against the pillows.  Damn her... They were supposed to be friends.  Some way to treat a friend.

Adam came to an old sitcom on the channel TV Land, but he just couldn't seem to focus on the storyline.  His mind was too occupied by thoughts of the trecherous redhead who had broken his heart.

But damn it, try as he might, he just couldn't hate her... He was far too deeply in love with her to do that...