~*~

Paul Levesque stared open mouth at the spot Cleo Irvine has previously occupied. She'd left him. She'd walked away because he couldn't promise he'd stay away from Stephanie McMahon. With more hurt marring him then he knew possible, Paul left the room, stopping dead in his tracks as he saw Steve walk out of his own locker room. Unable to stop himself he clenched his teeth, running forward and hitting him in the jaw as hard as he possible could.

When he hit the ground, Paul leaned down and grabbed his shirt, his eyes flashing in anger. "What did you fucking do, Steve? You fucking ruined everything!"

Steve looked up, seeing nothing but pure hurt in the younger mans hazel eyes. Hurt that perfectly matched that of Cleo's. He sighed, rubbing his jaw softly when he got to his feet. "I did nothing, Paul. You're the one who wouldn't promise to stay away from McMahon."

Paul pulled his fist back and hit him again, keeping a tight grip on his shirt. "So she came to you? I wouldn't touch Stephanie if it meant she would hurt. You know that." He looked into the blue eyes, "Where is she?"

Losing his temper Steve pushed him away, "In there." He indicated with his head to the side. "With her fucking heart broken because of you." His own fist connected with Paul's mouth, drawing blood. "You broke her fucking heart, Paul. She's in there with tears streaming down her face."

Paul touched his mouth, feeling blood on his finger and throwing a fist into Steve's stomach. "I didn't mean to fucking hurt her!" He screamed the words, his hurt and anger overwhelming him. "I didn't want to fucking lose her! It's you! Ever since you came along she's been fucking different!" He threw another punch not sure where it landed. "You fucked around with her! You fucking cheated on me! You absolute cunt!" He kicked out with his legs, falling back slightly as Steve's fist connected with his own stomach.

"What the fuck?" Chris Irvine ran forward and pulled a seething Paul from a just as angry Steve. Not surprised to see blood running down both their faces. "What the fuck do you think you're doing?" He spoke to both, shock evident in his voice. "Do you realise you have to go out infront of millions of viewers? How the hell do you think Vince is gonna react to this?"

Steve wiped the blood from his face, noticing it only came from his mouth. "I ain't got no marks." He said the words gruffly, near breathless from the hits he had taken in the stomach. "And if you want to know why this fucker just lost it." He looked Chris dead in the eyes. "Go and ask your sister." Without another word he walked away, rubbing softly at his jaw.

Chris turned his blue eyes to Paul, almost afraid to ask. "What's my sister have to do with this?"

Paul sighed, taking a sharp breath as pain felt in his jaw. He rubbed at it softly. Indicating the door to his left. "Why don't you go and ask her?"

Chris shook his head. "No." He sighed heavily, running his hand through his hair. "I asked you." His voice hardened. "She better not look like either of you fucking two."

Paul's mouth opened in shock. "You-You think I'd hurt her?" He shook his head. "I'd never lay a hand on her and you know it. It's a long story Chris."

Chris nodded his head. "Then make it short."

Paul sighed once again. "I don't know how long for. But Steve and Cleo have been..." He trailed off, unable to say the words. "Anyway, tonight I asked her to decide between us. So asked me to choose either her or Steph-" He broke off as Chris's yell interrupted him.

"You cheated on her with STEPHANIE?" He felt anger rising in him quickly, having to clasp his hands behind his back to stop him doing something he'd regret.

Paul glared. "No I did not. She wanted me to promise never to see Steph out of work and I can't do that. You of all people know I can't do that."

Chris nodded in understanding, his anger fading. "Go on."

"So when I said I couldn't, she left to go and see Steve. I don't know what happened between them but when I came out of the locker room Steve had just come out of his. The rest you saw." He shrugged, his eyes glazing over in hurt. "I think I made the wrong decision. I don't want to lose her, Chris."

Chris sighed heavily, wondering just how in the hell his sister had managed to get tangled up in this mess. "If you don't want to lose her. Go and talk to her. Try to explain. Find out why she isn't with Steve right now." He thought a moment. "Then let me know how she is and tell her to come see me and Melly when she has a chance. Okay?"

Paul nodded, watching his retreating back before knocking on the door Steve had earlier indicated. He opened the door, walking in and closing it when he saw her, hunched up in a ball on the wooden bench, tears falling down her face. "Cleo?" He asked softly, raising his voice when it seemed like she didn't hear him... or see him. "Cleo, baby?"

Finally she looked up at him, surprised to see it was Paul and not Steve calling her name. Sitting up on the bench she reached out, hurt flashing in her eyes when he moved away from her. "Paul?" Her voice was shaky when she spoke, her bottom lip trembling. "I'm sorry, Paul."

He looked up at her, her crumbling face almost killing him. The pain in her eyes so strong he wanted nothing more then to reach out and hold her. Yet his pride wouldn't let him. "Why are you sorry? Steve not want you in the end?" His voice was bitter as he spoke and he wanted to kick himself, but even the few minutes of pain he had felt couldn't be forgiven easily.

She felt her tears get stronger at his words, her voice shaky as she spoke. "Guess I deserved that." She lowered her head, looking up into his hazel eyes a few seconds later. "I'm sorry because I regret the decision I made already. I-I don't think I can live without you." She let out a shaky breath. "I love, Stevie. I do. But-But he's not you."

He let out a breath slowly, leaning forward and wiping her tears away. "You cheated on me, baby. You fucked around with him then left me for him. How am I supposed to forgive that?"

She shook her head, her voice but a mere whisper. "I don't know." Her face crumbled slightly as she was overcome with emotion. "But I love you, Paul. And I was stupid to do it but I couldn't help myself. It's like they say. You don't know what you've got till it's gone." She looked into his eyes, reaching out and touching his face. "I made a mistake, Paul. Can't that make us stronger?"

He nodded, biting his lip as he tried to push down the rising emotion in him. "It can." He covered her hand with his own. "And I want you to be mine more then anything. But you have to trust me and you have to prove that I can trust you." He sighed, standing and pulling her into his arms. "We have alot of work to do, Cleo. Are you prepared for that?"

She nodded, sniffling as she wrapped her own arms around his waist. "I know. And I know you have to see Stephanie and I know your career comes first and I accept it all. But please, don't leave me on the sidelines."

He kissed her head softly. "If I let you in, you stay away from Steve?" He squeezed her tightly. "I don't want to lose you again, and I sure as hell don't want to feel that pain. That hurt at you leaving me for him. I love you so much, Cleo. But I can't live like we have the last six months, I can't live with you fucking around on me."

She kissed his neck softly. "You're all the man I need, Paul. I wont cheat on you." A small sob escaped her. "I don't want to." She bit her bottom lip as it trembled. "I can't lose you, I can't. God, Paul, I am so sorry."

He held her tightly, softly cooing. "We'll work through it, baby. We will. Wrestling is my life, but my life wouldn't be the same without you in it."

She sniffed again, looking up to him adorably. "And you'll only see Steph when necessary?"

He nodded, kissing her nose softly. "I will. We have to work on this trust issue."

She nodded. "We do." She held him tightly, relishing in his closeness. In his warmth, his scent. Knowing before, she had made a decision to regret, but now. She'd work to rectify it.