What They Don't Know Won't Hurt Them...

"I really do hate this," Alex said, feeling Dwayne find it hard to get comfortable next to her.

"Again... we don't...."

"Please," she said, turning over to face him and trace his raw line with her fingertip, "don't ruin what is so far a very nice moment between the two of us."

It was the morning they had both known was on it's way. The day where Dwayne got on a plane and left her. Alex felt a little more uneasy than she had expected. She didn't think she'd be quite this miserable but she was. Dave was luckily not doing house shows for the week and Dwayne had decided to up to the night before, his last Pay Per View before leaving back to his Hollywood life.

He rubbed her nose gently, the way he had so many times before but something told him it would never be the same as the other times. She tried to remember the small things, things she'd taken for granted years before in the naive idea that they were forever. He'd been her first love, but now she knew he wouldn't be the last love.

Dwayne had a small pain building inside him, when the question slipped his lips, "Had Dani not been pregnant...."

"Dwayne...."

"Let me finish Alex... had she not been pregnant... do you think it would have worked out? Ever?"

She didn't quite know how to answer it, though she would have been lying to let on that she hadn't thought about it. The put an end to the silence in the room with her thoughts, slow to escape her lips, "No. I don't think so. Not from lack of trying. But you left us. I'm not interested in living in Hollywood and being a trophy wife." She could tell instantly he was bothered with her thoughts but she continued, "Dwayne we both know I'm right. You left the company for a Hollywood dream I can't say I share with you."

"I love this industry," he said adamantly.

"I'm aware, but you want something I could give two shits about."

"You could have still worked for your Dad."

She was getting restless, burying her face into the pillow he lay on, whispering, "I would have followed you. You know that. But it wouldn't have been what I wanted."

An hour later, Alex was watching along side him as his limo driver fitted his luggage into the trunk. They didn't touch, a small amount of space separated their arms from touching. Without looking at him, she spoke softly, in case someone around them was listening in, "Don't call okay Dwayne?"

She could sense the hurt he felt, he shook a little on one leg, "Could you be more cruel Alex?"

"I could. I'm not doing it to hurt you. I'm doing it to save me. If you call, it'll hurt. I don't want to hurt Dwayne. Its better if we just let it go. Go be a big bad movie star, let me take care of Amy and myself. I can't do that with you around. Because every time I'm near you, no matter what else I have going on, you take priority but you shouldn't. You can't. Not anymore."

She turned to face him, reaching out and cupped his cheek. This was the first time she'd allowed herself to give him any kind of affection in such a public forum. Unlike with Dave, it wasn't as if they had a story line to follow, an excuse to kiss and have to pretend it wasn't a real one. She could feel him finding it hard to pull away, tense and choked up a little as her lips left his.

"You don't know how hard this is for me Dwayne."

"Because you love me?"

"Because you can't love me the way I need you to."

~~~~

"Get your ass up here beautiful," she could hear John call out. He was atleast one flight of stairs in front of her, and she grunted, stopping to pull off her high heels.

"You cheating bastard, you didn't warn me we were going upstairs, not up STAIRS. I thought you meant the elevator was part of the deal."

"Nah, come on," he yelled out as she heard him open the door to the roof and about a minute later she was doing the same, finding the roof empty.

"John?"

"Here," he answered, pulling out a blanket from a backpack. He was sitting on the floor of the roof on a blanket he'd planted there, a couple hotel pillows also lying on the blanket. "I thought we could have some quiet time. Sound good?"

She was more thankful than he could know, sitting down next to him and taking the blanket. Soon they were wrapped up, looking up at the sky. Her head rested on his shoulder, his hand playing with her stomach lightly. "Why does this happen to me John? I ask for this shit, I swear that I do. Its like I enjoy being miserable."

"Do you?" he teased, turning to face her and watched her get comfortable next to him, curling up against him with her face pressed into his chest.

"No John," she answered annoyed, biting his chest softly.

He laughed, squeezing her tightly. "Alex you're too much." He'd brought her up there to relax, knowing she'd spent the past couple weeks torturing herself. Between Dave and work and Paul, her only moments of peace were with John. He knew how he calmed her, she'd told him herself. This was his gift to her, a moment in time where it was just them, at the top of the world.

She breathed him in for a little while, listening to his heart beat rapidly. It was a sweet, sad thump she wished she could help him with, but she knew better. John's hands were so hot on her body they were almost burning. It was taking every ounce of respect inside him not to rip her shirt off her body and let his lips explore the large breasts pushing against him. When he looked down he found her eyes flooding with tears, a small sniff escaping her. He couldn't help himself, kissing one of her tears away gently. His lips kept kissing her cheeks, her eyes, the tip of her small nose. Soon they were touching foreheads, breathing heavily. His lips approached her so cautiously that it was as if they were moving in slow motion.

The taste of her tender lips had him going insane, but he was careful not to rush himself, feeling her nerves growing.

"John...." She pulled away slowly as her heart did backflips. "I...."

He didn't push it anymore, containing himself yet again. The tip of his nose rubbed against her face, wanting her worse than before.

"Get some sleep pretty girl, you look tired."

Alex tried to study him, figure out what he was feeling, but he'd already hidden all of it deep within himself. She couldn't find words to express herself. It was too difficult. Now wasn't their time, they both knew. She wasn't ready for everything he could give her. John knew about her and Dave, he could see the way Paul studied her, he knew of Dwayne's constant demands on her attention. He wanted to make it all disappear for her so that she was his focus. He and Amy. He knew better than to assume it would happen anytime soon. He would wait.

Not forever.

~~~~

Alex and Paul sat in her office, throwing proposals for scripts back and forth between each other, crossing out things and writing notes for the writers to use before they presented their ideas to Stephanie and Vince who had the last say. One of the proposals had caught Alex's eye as she reached out, grabbing a folder and pulling her glasses back on.

"Paul?"

"Hmm?"

"Daniels thinks I should turn heel on Dave and team up with you," she said, watching his attention grow as he looked up, trying to read how she exactly felt about it.

Remind me to tell Vince to give him a raise, he thought to himself. Sighing, he reached out to take the proposal from her hand. Reading it he chuckled, handing it back, "It would work if they didn't want Stephanie to then team up with Dave. She likes him but...."

He stopped, looking up at her wary look. "Dude, are you being serious?" she asked, leaning back in her chair.

"Yeah. What?"

He was doing his best to hide how the thought of being able to publicly be affectionate was a little exciting. Alex knew better. All Paul needed was a small seed planted inside his mind to bring back his memory of his bachelor party. She shook her head, trying to smile, "Paul it's not a good idea at all."

"Well, you know, there's also that idea about forming a new group."

Alex scratched her nose, her glasses bouncing on her knuckle. "Is that Evolution you pitched? I'd go for that."

"Would you?"

"Why not? It's not a bad idea and working with Ric would be fun times for yours truly."

Paul laughed, throwing the proposal back at her and grabbed a new one. "I'll let him know that's how you feel. He's going to LOVE that."

"Dirty man," she laughed, getting up and coming around the desk with a proposal, sitting on the desk in front of Paul's legs, crossing them tightly. She leaned forward, pushing hair off his face with a small smile. He'd been helping her review because she was trying to get his mind off whatever was bugging him. All she knew was that something was bothering him since he'd admitted it, but refused to tell her why. She was determined to get it out of him and she kicked his knee playfully to get his full attention. "Okay well you've been a dear to help me with all this work but frankly, I didn't really need your help, I just want to know what is bothering you."

He shook his head, reaching out for her high heel, tracing the point with his finger and pressing the tip to her thumb. "Alex it's not a big deal."

"Oh but it is," she started, pushing herself off the desk and placing herself in his lap. She hadn't realized what she was doing until she was settled and was too embarrassed to get out of the situation she'd just planted herself in. "Paul if I hide things from you, you get super pissed and mad at me, you double standard son of a bitch."

"Alex... you're not going to like this."

Her heart skipped a beat, worry of this secret looming over her. "What?"

He sighed, pressing his nose to her cheek, "Don't worry about it."

"God damn it asshole, tell me!"

"No!"

His anger was rising, she could tell. His answer had escaped him almost in a growl. She was close and decided to push it.

"Paul tell me!"

"She's cheating on me Alex."

And there it was. Alex's jaw had dropped to her lap so it seemed, her eyes blank. Paul wouldn't look at her, his face red as if embarrassed to tell her. He'd been in a foul mood as of late, sometimes taking it out on Alex who had been taking it badly. This was the first day he'd admitted he hadn't been feeling well so she'd finally attempted to figure out why. Now there they were, Paul upset and Alex shocked as that wasn't the confession she was expecting.

"You're a liar."

"I wish I was Alex. I really wish I was."

She shook her head, still confused, "Dude, who told you that? They must have been lying about it."

"Except I live with her Alex. She has a cellphone. And text messages. And emails. And not to mention I saw it with my own eyes. She's pretty lucky I didn't break in and bust his face in."

The last part caught her attention, cupping his face lightly, "Wait, he works for us then?"

"Wrestler. They should let me feud with him as soon as we get Evolution get together."

She tried to imagine who it could be but nothing came to her so she finally asked, "Who is it?"

Paul looked at her blankly, blinking a couple times in deep thought before answering, "You don't want to know who it is Bean."

"Don't use that nickname against me," she said, pressing her forehead against his to hide fear of who it could be. Dave and John both popped into her head, making her sad and miserable along with him.

"Alex... it's Kurt."

It took all of Alex's might not to laugh, partially from relief but the other part was from sheer comedy. "Shut the hell up, he's sleeping with her? She's sleeping with HIM?! My ex boyfriend? The guy who tried to get married to me? That man?"

He arms wrapped around her tightly, the little giggles that had escaped her had lifted his spirit a bit and the simple fact that she was so close had him feeling lighter. "I want to kill him."

"I want to call him a pathetic buffoon." She could tell he was still upset so she kissed his forehead, trying to smile, "My sister is the stupidest person on the planet Paul. I don't know why she can't appreciate you. You're amazing and the best friend a girl can ask for. Talk to her, make her come to her senses."

"I don't know Alex."

She was about to speak but the knock on her door threw her off and she slipped off his lap, fixing her skirt before walking back to her chair, "Shoot!"

"Alex, your father wants to speak with you."

"Thanks," she called out, putting her glasses on the table and giving Paul one last look. "If I'm not back in 15 minutes, save me okay?"

~~~~

Alex knocked before walking into her father's office, smiling brightly. "Almost done big guy, just going over the last ones. I've got Paul helping out and I'll have Jennifer give them to the writers to edit."

"Thanks kiddo, sit down."

She shot him a look, settling down on the chair as he walked around to sit in the chair next to her, holding a folder. "What's going on Dad?"

He didn't say a word, holding a folder and handing it to Alex. Confused, she opened it and felt her insides drop into themselves. "How did you get this?," she asked, looking up on the brink of tears.

"National Enquirer found it out. Took the lawyers about a day to make sure no one ever gets wind of this."

"How?"

Vince sighed, rubbing the back of his head, pulling off his own glasses, "I don't know kiddo but you need to explain this to me because I'm confused as to when exactly this all happened and who put you in this position."

"Dad, don't do this." She was almost pleading and Vince hated to bother her but the fact that he knew the outline now, made him want details.

"Alexis Maddison McMahon, I love you but you need to explain this to me. I need to know."

Alex wanted to cry but instantly looked at Paul and Stephanie's wedding picture, "Count back 3 months and tell me what date that is."

Vince felt himself almost choke on the knowledge, gripping the handles to the chair. "Does he know Alex?"

"He doesn't even know it happened Dad."

"Well, he should know."

Alex instantly stood up, dropping the folder on the floor, the contents spreading all over the floor. "No! Don't do this."

Vince didn't want to, but the fact that he'd become like a son to him made it hard for him to allow Alex to keep this to herself. "We don't have to tell your brother or sister or your mother. Just tell him the truth."

"He has ENOUGH going on Dad. Yeah, last thing I want to do is lay this on him."

"Enough?"

"Dad, you don't understand but..."

"Is something else going on?," he asked, sitting up.

"No, just.... Dad he's so stressed and needs to not have more bad news told to him."

Vince felt anger rising in himself, secrets too much for him to handle, "Alex I'm going to demand not only as your father but as your boss to tell me what's going on."

"Dad...."

It was too late to answer as true to his word, 15 minutes from when she'd left him, Paul walked in. "Hey Vince, how's the going?"

"Paul, just the man...."

"I have to leave," Alex said, turning towards the door past Paul, "I need to head home and grab Amy and make dinner and clean up before we leave tomorrow and...." When she turned back to look at them she could see Paul picking up the folder, he father going to stop him but it was too late and Alex didn't say another word, just left.

It took her less than five minutes to get to her office, bark orders at her receptionist, grab her keys and briefcase, and take the stairs two at a time, heels off, to her car.

~~~~

"Amy stop getting paint on the counter."

"Mommy its art. Jeez."

"Oh, I'm sorry Buggie. Didn't mean to clip your creative wings. Please continue."

She was glad her daughter was far to young to understand he sarcastic tone and left the kitchen to the living room when she heard a car coming up her long drive way at a fast pace and the tires screech to a halt. She'd been wondering when she was going to hear it. "Amy," she called out, tying up her hair and slipping into her heels, "stay here okay. Don't leave the kitchen."

"Why?"

"Mom says so."

She opened the door, watching Paul sitting in the car starring at her, the obvious intent was to get her in the car with him. Alex walked slowly to the passenger side, settled down. As soon as she'd shut the door the locks went off and she thought to herself how much she felt like a prisoner. He placed the folder on her lap, barely able to look at her, "Care to explain?"

"No."

He turned to face her, his face beet red and his cheeks streaked with tears. It killed her almost instantly, the look of anger in his tired eyes, "I'm going to ask you again Alex. Explain this to me. Now. No fucking games."

She was choking on tears, sniffing a little, "Do I need to explain? Really? Dad must have already explained."

"I want. To hear this. From YOUR mouth. Alex you need to say it."

"No."

"Just fucking say it Alex! Fucking tell me...."

"It was yours."

The truth had escaped her and her cries grew, covering her face with her hands, paint lingering on them and smudging on her forehead. Any other time he would have soothed her cries but he wasn't much for soothing at the moment and slammed his hands on the wheel. "God DAMN you Alex. When the fuck? How? Please!" He was now joining in her cries, though his came out more as anger. "Explain this. Tell me everything. How could you keep this from me?"

"You tell me! You're the drunk fuck who fucked me in the back of a limo the day before you married my dumb ass sister, then had the fucking nerve to forget! FUCK YOU!"

He'd never seen her this angry, he eyes painful to feel on his.

"You married my sister. What was I supposed to do?! Ruin it? I did what I needed to do."

"You kept Amy! What the fuck was wrong with MY child that you couldn't keep it? YOU KILLED OUR BABY! Not just YOUR baby. MY baby too. We made a fucking living being and you couldn't even tell me? You kept this from me?"

"YOU MARRIED MY SISTER! You'd been married for almost three months. The only other person I fooled around with was Shawn and we didn't have sex that can get me knocked up so there was only one person it could be. I hadn't had sex with Mark for a long time and Shawn before that. It was YOURS and so I couldn't have it. I couldn't. Be mad all you want but I didn't have another choice!"

"You've had sex with Mark?!"

"Fuck you. Fuck you, you sleep with my sister don't you?"

"Who is sleeping with the biggest douche rag on planet Earth. I had a child Alex. You know how badly I've wanted a kid? Stephanie keeps telling me she's not ready and little did I know I HAD a child YOU took away from me!"

"I don't need this," she said, pushing the folder back onto his lap and going for the lock but his arm reached out, smacking her before she'd unlocked the door, "No Alex, no running away."

"Suck a dick. Don't touch me. You think I wanted to do it? Don't you think I'd LOVE to have given you a child. Your first one? But much like the idea I foolishly had in my head you'd someday notice me before marrying Stephanie, it didn't happen. You know what Shawn once told me? That you married the wrong girl. Sad thing is he's not the only one. But no, you went for easy Stephanie. You fucking piece of chicken shit. Too scared to go after me! Fine! But don't get mad at me now. You have NO right. I'm getting out before I come back inside and Amy has eaten her god damn finger paint she is using to ruin my kitchen counter. Do us both and favor, burn the evidence and fuck off."

She got out of the car faster than he could react, storming her way back inside. Behind her she could hear him peeling out, leaving her. She was right, he thought, I've always been too scared. Worst part is that all this time he'd dreamt of her, melting under his body and giving him what he needed. He hadn't known she'd done that a long time ago. The sheer fact she'd once been his and he couldn't remember was killing him.

~~~~

He could get her to talk to him, even as Evolution formed. She'd talk to Ric, Randy, and Dave normally but wouldn't say more than two words to him. Ric tried to get them to talk, as he'd been the only one he'd confided in. It wasn't going to happen, she told him. Ric had tried to explain to her that she was feeling so low and needed to talk to her but Alex would only shake her head, play with his tie, and sigh that she and Paul couldn't have a relationship anymore. Not the way it'd been. Never again.

Between his anger towards Stephanie, himself, and Alex, Paul was irritable. He was using Evolution as a way to get it all out of himself but seeing Alex with Dave wasn't a helpful situation. Even he and Dave had a small scuffle. Dave had noticed the lack of contact between the two but assumed it was Paul's jealousy and this had them feud a bit over a couple beers. Paul slipped, telling Dave Alex would never be his because he wasn't worthy of her. Dave had teased him he was just mad he hadn't acted on his feelings for her long before. Ric had calmed the situation but Randy had informed John who only used this as a way to be there for Alex.

Soon Shane's birthday approached and plans were made for a big party at Vince and Linda's. Alex had tried her best to bring John but he had to make appearances in Los Angeles and there was no way he could come. Dave wasn't a good option for her, not only because no one could know of their affair but also since Dave had been spending so much time with Alex she told him just to go spend time with his girls.

She sighed, grabbing a dress from Amy's closet for what was going to be a quiet family dinner and sleepover of sorts, with everyone staying at the big house for the night. Alex hadn't spoken to Paul for so long that she knew being so close, trouble was bound to happen.