Notes: Just for Tasha, who's about to make a huge decision. The idea came to me on the bus. Don't ask why, just go with it.

Stephanie sat on an uncomfortable airport chair, lips in full petulant pout. She watched her lover laugh with one of her new friends and had to stop herself from going over there to pull her away from them. Didn't she realize that Steph would do anything to step into their shoes right now?
But the billion dollar princess sighed. This was meant to be. And her luck had simply run out. It hadn't been meant to last forever. Swallowing the tears choking her, Steph remembered the first time she'd met the angel who'd completely changed her life.

Steph had been standing in a hotel lobby the morning after a show having another senselessly funny conversation with Trish. A fan approached them. She'd introduced herself as Tasha and mentioned she also wrestled in an Indy fed.
Had it not been for Trish talking shop with the girl, Stephanie would have made a total fool of herself since the drool pooling in her mouth would have probably trickled down her chin. It had been a good long time since she'd had that kind of powerful reaction to anybody and it felt damn good.
But all too soon Tasha had to go and they had to leave as well. Trish waited until they were halfway to the airport before saying anything.
"She seemed nice," she said softly.
"Huh?" Steph turned to Trish, frowning ever so slightly. "What did you say?"
"That girl from the hotel lobby, Tasha, she seemed nice."
"Oh. Yeah, she did."
"Cute too."
"I wouldn't qualify her as cute."
"What would you qualify her as being?" Trish asked.
"She'd fit into my drop-dead gorgeous section," Steph giggled.
"I knew it!"
"What are you gloating about? It's not like you introduced us or anything. And chances are I'll never see her again."
At that, Trish grinned confidently.

Thinking back to that morning, Stephanie smiled. She should have known her Canadian friend wouldn't let this go.

"Indy shows and talent are JR's department, not mine," Stephanie whined as Trish pulled into the high school gym. "And why aren't you telling me why the hell are here in the first place?"
"Fix up your lipstick first."
"What? If this ends up being a waste of my time, you are so fired."
"Just trust me, all right."
"Famous last words," Steph whispered.
But then, Steph saw the star of her latest fantasies and immediately made a note to give Trish a hefty finder's fee.

That was the night Steph's new life had begun. Nothing compared to the beauty of sharing time with her new girlfriend. Tasha had a way of making her feel so special. She was loved unconditionally by her lover. Her girlfriend recognized the differences between the character she played on TV and the person she loved. And yet she knew Tasha was enough of a WWF fan to be completely awed by the bitchy new owner of ECW. And that thrilled her to no end. She was loved, no matter who she was. And that was heavenly.
But Tasha wasn't the only one in awe. Steph was in awe of her girlfriend too. She had never known such a passionate giver. And Tasha gave love, caring, understanding, compassion, time, heart and soul to those in need. She gave without counting, rarely complaining. But Steph knew something was missing, knew there was something that fulfill Tasha's dreams. But she hesitated a good long time before doing what was necessary.

"Are you sure about this?" Trish asked her friend.
"She wants this, not to mention that she's perfect for it too."
"What about you? You're going to lose…"
"It's not forever," Stephanie interrupted, not wanting to hear the reality she'd been struggling to avoid. "She'll come back."
"I know."
Trish reached out and raised Steph's chin, looking deep into the sad blue eyes. The heiress looked back, tears running down her cheeks.
"Yeah," Stephanie said, reading her best friend's thoughts, "I know."

It had taken Steph a lot to not be selfish and to not beg Tasha to stay with but every time she'd been about ready to give in to her more egocentric urges, she remembered how excited Tasha was about the upcoming challenges and swallowed her not quite so selfless urges.
But now, there was no turning back. Tasha was going to spend the next two years working for the Peace Corps and she would be spend those two years building dams and schools in Guatemala. And Steph was going to be left alone, without the woman she completely and hopelessly devoted to.
"Honey!"
Shaking her head, Stephanie looked up and saw Tasha smiling down at her.
"Hey sweetie," she whispered breathlessly.
"Where were you?"
"Thinking of you."
"Not such happy thoughts?"
"Thoughts of loving you."
"Oh, so good thoughts then?"
"Wonderful thoughts."
Tasha plopped down next to Steph and curled her fingers into hers.
"You know, as much as I want to go, every time I think of leaving and I want to say to hell with it all and let you be my sugar mommy."
"Your sugar mommy?"
"Well, it's not an age thing, it's a money thing," Tasha chuckled.
"You know, no one can make me laugh like you."
"Oh Steph…"
"I want you to stay. I don't want you to go," Steph said softly, tears coming down in earnest. "I love too much. I told a Peace Corps rep you were interested and that you were a great prospect but I can't let you go. Stay with me."
"Steph…"
"I know I'm being selfish and all but I don't care. I love you and I don't want to lose you."
Stephanie's chest heaved with her panting sobs and she couldn't see anything in front of her except for a blob of bodies and light. But she felt Tasha's fingers tightened around hers as she cried.
"I tried to be selfless and good like you but I can't. I'm not good, I'm selfish and I don't want you to go. I'll give you everything you want to stay. Anything. I'll make you the WWF's top diva… just don't go…"
Tasha sighed, trying to hold back her own tears. She grabbed Steph's hand and brought it to her lips.
"I love you too and I want to stay."
"But…"
"I want to go too. God's given me so much and there are people out there with so little. I just want to give them some of what I have."
"Then stay here. We need help and volunteers here too."
"Steph…"
"I'm so afraid that when you'll come back, you won't want to…"
"Won't want to what? Be with you? Baby, I love you with everything that I am. And… you know what, wait right here!"
Tasha grabbed her purse and ran down the long corridor leaving Stephanie to compose herself. Finally, seven minutes later, Tasha was back, a tiny plastic bag in her hand.
"Babe?" Steph asked.
"Stephanie," Tasha said, getting down on one knee, "I love you more than anything else in the world and I want to spend the rest of my life with you." Completely oblivious to the people staring, Tasha reached into the bag and pulled out a small velvet box. "Now, because of pissy Florida laws, you and I can't be legally married here but I want to make it clear, right here, right now, I love you and I know I will love you forever. So with this ring, I bind myself to you willingly and lovingly."
As she said these words, Tasha slid the ring onto Stephanie's ring finger and brushed her lips against her fingers. Then Stephanie got down on her knees in front of Tasha.
"Tasha, you made me learn the true meaning of love and giving. I never knew anyone loved like this except in Harlequin romances. I bind myself to you with love and trust and with the promise that as soon as you come back here for good, we head to Vermont and get hitched."
"You got a deal," Tasha grinned, wrapping her arms around her wife and laying a kiss on her that made the impromptu audience raise in a boisterous cheer.

"You do realize I love you right," Steph asked as she walked Tasha to the gate.
"No. I bound myself to a chick whose love I wasn't sure of. Of course you love me."
"Good. Just remember that when you see a hot little Guatemala chick."
"I'll try."
"FINAL BOARDING CALL FOR FLIGHT AG-786 TO GUATEMALA."
"I have to go."
"No?" Steph said hopefully.
"Yes. I love you."
"I love you too."
With a final kiss, Tasha was gone, disappearing behind treated glass windows.
Well, this is a new chapter in my life, Stephanie thought resolutely. But it's not over. Cause you know what? The billion dollar princess is just too lucky.

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