Angel
Author: PaulenaK ~ toukalah@hotmail.com
Rating: PG
Disclaimer: Everything WWE belongs to Vince McMahon. Everything BTVS belongs to Josh Whedon.
Feedback: Is much appreciated.
Summary: Help from above.
 
AN: Totally AU fic.
 
**
 
Part One
 
**
 
“Home sweet home.”
 
His whispered words came out in a long stream of cold air as he stood outside of the house he had spent all of his childhood in. Some of his best memories happened right on the lot that was covered in snow three quarters of the year. He saw there old battle wall still stood primed and ready to bombard all unsuspecting visitors with snowballs as they walked up to the front door.
 
Asphalt Hill still looked as menacing as ever at the end of the street, another one of his childhood hangouts. He still remembered the hell it took carting the sled up that blasted slope just for the minute of speed you were rewarded with by sledding to the bottom.
 
He remembered riding tandem with his younger brother and there hold slipped causing them to tip over and roll the rest of the way down. His brother had broken his arm that day and he had tasted his father’s belt strap.
 
In his mind he saw Benoit teaching the little kids how to make snow angels and high school sweet hearts Jericho and Stephanie with there sleighs wedged up in the snow obscuring there joined mouths and wandering hands from the eyes of the adults that watched from the bottom.
 
I wonder if they’re still together, he mused.
 
He’d find out soon enough. Yep, this place was definitely a big part of his childhood, but he wasn’t a kid anymore, he was a grown man who had left this life along time ago in search of adventure in the big bad city.
 
Reaching down he picked up his travel bags and walked up the path to the front porch. Out of the corner of his eye he saw a girl in the next yard, her hands intent on packing snow around a snow man she had made, but her eyes were on him.
 
His steps slowed and his brows drew together as he returned her stare.
 
“Edge?”
 
He turned at the sound of gruff voice coming from just inside the doorway.
 
“Hey dad.” He said walking the rest of the way up the front steps.
 
“That’s quite a lot of bags you got there,” His father said pointing to the bags in his hands. “You staying long?”
 
Edge shrugged.
 
“Maybe.”
 
His father nodded.
 
“Well, you better go and take your stuff upstairs and ah…” He motioned behind him with a nod. “…There’s golf on TV if you want to watch it with me.”
 
Edge smiled and accepted his fathers offered olive branch.
 
“That’d be great.”
 
His father disappeared back into the house and before he knew what he was doing he turned back to where the girl had been standing in the next yard and couldn’t help the sigh that passed through his lips when he saw that she had gone.
 
With one more look around the neighbourhood he had grown up in he pulled open the screen door and walked inside.
 
**
 
Part Two
 
**
 
Walking into his old bedroom was like being fifteen again.
 
Nothing had changed everything was just as he had left it. If it wasn’t for the lack of dust covering his childhood belongings proving someone had been in to clean every so often, he’d have thought in all his time away no one had entered.
 
He lifted up the ceramic grey pig that sat on a shelf beside his dresser, shook it and then grinned as he heard the jingle of coins. Returning the pig to its spot on the shelf he picked up a framed picture of his family. His dad was seated with his brother sitting on his lap and he and his mother were standing behind them. They had been a happy family back then, well at least when his mother had still been around.
 
Setting his bags down beside the bed he flopped down on it only to sit up just as fast as movement in the hallway drew his gaze towards the door.
 
“Hey!” He said straightening up as his younger brother passed in the hallway.
 
Christian back tracked until he stood in the doorway and grinned as he wiped the sleep from his eyes.
 
“Hey bro,” He yawned while scratching his crotch through his Y-fronts.
 
He certainly hadn’t changed much, Edge mused trying not to let his gaze follow his brother’s hand.
 
“When you get in?” Christian continued.
 
“A few minutes ago.” He replied.
 
Christian nodded.
 
“Did you… did you see dad?”
 
“Yeah,” Edge looked down at the floor and scratched his ear. “We’re gonna watch some golf.”
 
Christian nodded again and they both started to shift uncomfortably as an awkward silence loomed near.
 
“Hey, ah, when the Holly’s move out next door?” Edge asked motioning to the house he could see through the bedroom window.
 
“Hmmm… I forget…” Christian replied brushing a hand through his tousled locks.
 
“What are the new neighbours like?”
 
Christian looked confused.
 
“We have new neighbours?”
 
Yep, his brother definitely hadn’t changed.
 
“Yeah, I saw a girl out in the yard when I came…” He continued wondering if that would jog his brother’s brain into working. It didn’t.
 
“I wouldn’t know… the previous tenant - after the Holly’s – didn’t have kids, but she had a sister. I remember that because they looked nothing alike. One had bright red hair…” He paused as if suddenly just remembering something. “You still dating that red head… what was her name?”
 
“Lita,” Edge supplied his gaze going back out the window. “And yes, we are still dating. In fact she’s coming out here in a couple days.”
 
“Cool, she’s a babe!”
 
“You haven’t even seen her.”
 
“Have too, you sent us pictures.”
 
Edge’s brow furrowed before realisation lit his features.
 
“Man that was over three years ago.”
 
“So, I still reckon she’s a babe.”
 
Edge remained silent hoping his brother wouldn’t continue on with this line of conversation. He had come here to clear his head about Lita and where there relationship was going, providing they still had a relationship by the end of this week. He was glad when his brother’s attention went back to scratching his crotch.
 
He felt a need to question his brother more about there neighbours and for the life of him he couldn’t think why.
 
In this house lived two men who he hadn’t seen in years, his own flesh and blood and he was walking on egg shells around them and struggling for things to say. A stranger in his own home amongst his own family, that’s what it felt like and yet there was no other place he wanted to be at that moment then ‘in’ this house surrounded by ‘those’ two men.
 
He stepped forward then and enveloped his baby brother in a hug, which Christian returned some what awkwardly.
 
“I better get downstairs, dad’s waiting.” He said when he pulled back.
 
“Yeah,” Christian said lifting his leg to fart before stepping out of the doorway. “Poorrr…” He exclaimed waving his hand in front of his nose. “I gotta take a dump.”
 
**
 
Part Three
 
**
 
“Edge? Oh my god, is that you under all that hair?”
 
“Hey, don’t knock the locks, chick’s dig’em.” He replied with a grin one of his oldest friends came to greet him as he entered one of the local hangouts his home town provided.
 
“Maybe up in that big city you been calling home as of late, but back here a tight arse and broad shoulders is what this girls looking for.” Ivory exclaimed grabbing a handful of Benoit’s ass as she passed them to place the drink she held in her hand on a table before coming back to wrap her arms around Edge in a friendly hug, which he returned in kind lifting her off her feet to swing her around.
 
“When did you get in?” Benoit said moving forward to greet his long time friend after the shock of seeing his girl friend jump into the arms of another man wore off.
 
“This morning,” Edge replied offering his hand out to Chris who merely stared in horror. “A hand shake? Come on man, we’re known each other all our lives, you can do better then that.” He said pulling Edge in for a hug. “So how you been?” He added pulling a chair over to his table for Edge even though there was already four other empty chairs there.
 
“Good, you know… all good.”
 
Benoit nodded pulling Ivory into his lap as she returned from the bar again with a tray of beers before plucking her bottle up from the table.
 
“You planning on getting me sloshed?” Edge asked in teasing as he looked at the seven bottles of beer on the tray.
 
“Yep,” Ivory grinned. “All through high school I’ve wanted to get you drunk so I could have my wicked way with you.”
 
“Gee,” Edge puffed his chest out and sent her a wink. “You only needed to ask.”
 
“Yeah and you would of turned me down flat like you did most girls, you were so picky back then, most of us girls thought you were gay.”
 
Edge’s mouth dropped open.
 
“I dated Stephanie McMahon for a while didn’t I?”
 
“Everybody dated Stephanie McMahon.” Benoit cackled.
 
“True… but it was Jericho she wanted all along, she just used the rest of us to make him jealous.”
 
“Boohoo – poor babies,” Ivory cooed with mock sincerity.
 
“Yep,” Benoit agreed with a sniff and then leaned over to give Ivory a peck on the cheek. “But then you came along honey.”
 
“No, I was there all the time baby,” She said looking him straight in the eye before turning to address Edge. “What he means is he finally woke up and realised he like every other high school boy in the throes of puberty, that Stephanie McMahon had a one track mind that began and ended with guy good buddy Chris Jericho.”
 
A cold burst of air filled the room as the pub doors swung open and Chris Jericho himself stepped through.
 
“Well, speak of the object of Stephanie’s obsession…” Ivory continued getting up to greet the little blonde who had walked in on Jericho’s arm.
 
“’That’ is not Stephanie McMahon.” Edge said eyeing the woman at Jericho’s side.
 
“Nope, shortly after you left town Stephanie up and married Hunter Hurst Helmsley.”
 
“What? But I thought old man McMahon hated the Helmsley’s.”
 
“He did and does still, Stephanie and her father had a major falling out and little miss millions saw marriage to the esteemed Helmsley heir as the perfect way to get back at daddy.”
 
Edge inhaled and then exhaled, his breath coming out in a long slow whistle. “She always did have a mean streak.” He said his eyes going back to his newly arrived friend who chose that moment to send him a wave as he helped his pretty companion out of her coat.
 
“Who’s the blonde then?”
 
Benoit sent him a weird look.
 
“What’ya mean ‘who’s the blonde?’ You sat behind her everyday for two years in English Lit.” Benoit said only to roll his eyes a few seconds later when Edge’s expression told him that his friend still drew a blank. “Lilian Garcia, you remember… granny specks, braces, two long braids-“
 
“Voted most likely to still be a virgin at the age of thirty?”
 
Benoit nodded. “One and the same my friend.”
 
“Wow!”
 
“You’re not the only man to think so buddy, thing is Jericho pursued her relentlessly before she burst through her drab cocoon and became the bombshell she is now.”
 
“So he saw something no one else did back then… it was well worth it, she’s a knock out.”
 
“That she is. Pity he’s going to lose her if he keeps going the way he is.”
 
That comment drew Edge’s gaze back to Benoit.
 
“Don’t tell me he’s screwing around?” He asked his tone incredulous.
 
Again Benoit nodded.
 
“Who with?” He couldn’t help but ask.
 
“Stephanie.”
 
Edge shook his head and chuckled. “And I thought I had problems.”
 
“Wait, there’s more,” Benoit said leaning closer to Edge. “…Both Hunter and Lilian know of the affair. Or at least have there suspicions.”
 
Edge held up one hand to silence his friend and the other he used to cover his ear. “Okay, this is getting too weird for my tastes, if I hear anymore I’ll be seeing a shrink for the rest of my natural born life.”
 
“Okay I’ll shut up,” Benoit conceded. “But not because you told me too. Here they come,” He said sitting up straighter in his chair only to lean back across the table again. “Oh and if sometime throughout the night Ivory happens to mention everything I just told you – act surprised. She’ll kill me if she knows I told you before she could.”
 
**
 
Part Four
 
**
 
“…And this pretty lady is Lilian…” Jericho said finishing off the introductions after he and Lilian had joined the rest of the party. “You remember her don’t you Edge? You sat behind her in…”
 
“…in English Lit,” Edge finished for him. “I remember,” He added ignoring the look Benoit shot him. He lifted his hand inadvertently to her hair – which she wore down – and tugged on one of the blonde silky tresses that flowed over one of her shoulders. “No braids, I like,” He continued smiling when she blushed.
 
“So do I buddy boy.” Jericho said breaking the spell Edge was weaving on his girlfriend his tone leaving the other man in no doubt that one Lilian Garcia was strictly off limits.
 
“You are still as possessive as ever.” Edge laughed.
 
“Only when you’re around blockhead.”
 
Edge laid a hand across his heart. “Aww… I’m touched.
 
Jericho grinned at his long time friend. “Put it there,” He said holding his hand out to Edge who went on to copy Benoit’s previous actions and tugged on Jericho’s hand pulling the other man forward for that age old manly hug that men do before taking there seats, but not for long though as Lance Storm and his wife Nidia walked in and the whole welcoming ritual began all over again.
 
**
 
“Was it good being amongst the old crowd again?”
 
Edge smiled and watched through the passenger window of Benoit’s beat up old Ford as house after house passed by.
 
“Yeah, yeah it was.” He replied dreamily.
 
“For a minute there I thought you and Jericho would take it one step further and fight right there in the middle of the bar.”
 
Edge’s smile turned into the big toothy grin the girls in high had gone wild over.
 
“Believe me,” He began, “…The thought did cross my mind.”
 
Benoit cackled enjoying there chit chat.
 
“Lilian sure is something,” Edge continued.
 
“Yes she is,” Benoit agreed, “…But no use dwelling on it because my friend that ship has sailed.”
 
“It has?”
 
“It has.” Benoit repeated. “You’d be hitting your head against a brick wall, Lilain Garcia only has eyes for Jericho – pity I can’t say the same about him though.”
 
They lapsed into silence as Benoit pulled up in front of Edge’s family home.
 
“If you’re not doing anything tomorrow give me a call, we’ll go ice fishing or something… be like the old day6s.”
 
Edge nodded.
 
“Okay, you’re on.” He said opening the passenger door to get out, his eyes wandered to the house next door and his brows met in the middle when through the only lighted window he saw a shadow through the curtain. He couldn’t explain it, but he knew that whoever it was – was staring straight down at him.
 
“Do you see that?” He asked turning momentarily to look at Benoit before again turning up to the window, but the shadow and the light were gone, the house now in complete darkness.
 
“See what?” Benoit asked his eyes following Edge’s gaze as best he could from the driver’s seat.
 
Edge’s brows stayed furrowed as he stepped away from the car to shut the door.
 
“Nothing,” He said leaning down to look through the open car window at Benoit who still sat behind the steering wheel. “My imagination’s playing tricks with me. See you tomorrow.”
 
“Later bro,” He heard Benoit say before his car pulled away from the curb. His gaze again went up to the window of the neighbours house as he walked up the path and he paused on the front steps and waited, but the house remained dark.
 
**
 
Part Five
 
**
 
“The joys of being home,” Edge grumbled as he shovelled snow off the front path, last nights snow fall had been a heavy one and Edge being the only one to rise early decided to make good of his time alone.
 
“You don’t shovel much do you?”
 
He jumped at the voice and dang near twisted his ankle in his haste to turn and face its owner.
 
‘She’ smiled.
 
“Hi.”
 
“Ah… hi…” He replied.
 
It was her. The girl from next door and he was so stunned to see her that he stood there with his mouth open for a full minute. She was cute, a little young – About sixteen or there about he mused, but still cute though.
 
“W… what makes you say that?” He asked finally finding his voice again.
 
She shrugged. “Just a feeling, your technique is sloppy. You either live in the city or in a warm climate.”
 
He smiled at her observation. “City.” He confirmed continuing on with his shovelling.
 
“You grow up here?” She asked.
 
“Yep,” He paused in his shovelling to answer.
 
“Don’t visit much do yah?”
 
“Nope.”
 
“Your mom died?”
 
“You a cop?” He asked his tone teasing.
 
She smiled very prettily. “No.” She replied her cheeks reddening.
 
His smile was inward. 
 
‘If only she were a little older,’ he thought wistfully. ‘If she were then I wouldn’t feel like a dirty old man right now.’
 
“Yes,” He said aloud in response to her question. “My mom’s dead. Why do you ask?”
 
“Because your dad is kinda a sad guy and your brothers kinda missing that ‘thing’ that having a mom gives you. It’s a lonely house you got if you don’t mind me saying.”
 
Edge’s brows met in the middle as he stared back at her and he put down the shovel.
 
“What’s your name?” He asked.
 
“Dawn,” She replied.
 
“Very pretty name you got there.”
 
She shrugged. “It’s just a name, although I must admit sometimes I think it’s the bane of my existence.”
 
“How old are you?”
 
She shrugged again. “Sixteen… but I’m an old soul.”
 
He grinned at her choice of words.
 
“So,” She continued. “Why’d you come back?”
 
“Ah…” He began looking up at the house he had grown up in. “I guess I thought it was time.”
 
“Sounds heavy,”
 
“Yeah,”
 
“So, what’s your name?”
 
“Edge.”
 
“Edge.” She repeated with a smile. “I like your hair.”
 
He grinned and inadvertently ran a hand through his long blond locks.
 
“Thanks.”
 
“You’re kinda cool.”
 
“Me… how do you mean?”
 
She shrugged. “I don’t know,” And then giggled. “You don’t think you are?”
 
“I… um… yes, I think I am,” He said with a chuckle.
 
“You are,” She nodded. “I think.”
 
He lowered his head back to the snow as he felt the heat rushing up his neck to stain his cheeks.
 
‘Get a grip!’ He told himself. ‘She’s just a kid.’ But aloud he said.
“Yeah?” and lifted his gaze.
 
She cocked a brow and her expression was one of contemplation. “Well…” She began. “…Maybe not.”
 
She laughed then, a light and somewhat musical sound that had the sound of his own deep laughter rising up to mix with hers and with a little wave she turned to go leaving him watching her until she disappeared around the side of the house.
 
**
 
“So… how do you do it?”
 
“Do what?”
 
“Sleep with Stephanie when you could have ‘that’ anytime you wanted.”
 
Jericho didn’t need to follow Edge’s gaze to know where and who the other man was looking at.
 
“I dunno,” He replied in all seriousness. “This thing with Stephanie – I don’t want to do it, but its damn hard to say no when she’s all dolled up and smelling so great.”
 
Edge shook his head as his eyes came back to Jericho.
 
“That’s your excuse – all dolled up and smelling so great?”
 
Jericho rolled his eyes.
 
“I know it sounds lame-“
 
“No, stupid is what it sounds like,” Edge cut in. Then had to quirk a brow at himself for the words he was dishing out when only this morning he’d been contemplating the cuteness of a sixteen year old!
 
“If it makes any difference I’m gonna cut all ties to Stephanie…” Jericho continued sheepishly despite Edge’s words. “…And I’m not gonna let her crocodile tears or one of her infamous McMahon tantrums sway me to change my mind.”
 
“Now that’s something I’d pay to see,” Benoit said as he joined them at the kitchen table, three steaming cups of coffee in his hands. “Jericho saying ‘no’ to Stephanie McMahon will be declared a public holiday when and if it actually happens.”
 
“Shut up!” Jericho grumbled huffily. “It’ll happen.”
 
“You can do it bro,” Edge said really hoping his friend would stick to his guns on this one. God knows he himself wouldn’t mind a shot with Lilian, but he had a lot of issues to deal with – isn’t that why he had come home in the first place? To clear his head and deal with his issues, his biggest issue arriving in a few days and he still wasn’t anywhere near knowing what the future held in store for him and Lita.
 
“Thanks,” Jericho said in response to Edge’s encouragement. “I’m gonna do it tonight, I turn thirty years old tomorrow and I plan on starting if off a ‘one’ woman man.”
 
“Here, here!” Both Benoit and Edge said at the same time.
 
Edge saw the determined spark in Jericho’s eyes and he felt glad that his friend had finally grown up – Now if only ‘he’ could do the same.
 
**
 
Part Six
 
**
 
“Hey girl, you’re awfully quiet. What’s up?”
 
Lilian sighed and shrugged her shoulders causing the two women with her to rally around her as best friends would.
 
“What is it Lil?” Nidia said her arm going around the little blond’s shoulders as she perched on the arm of Lilian’s chair.
 
Lilian shook her head and smiled half heartedly. “Nothing… And everything.” She shrugged again. “It’s my own fault.”
 
“Uh-oh, this reeks of Stephanie.” Ivory said pulling her chair close to Lilian’s. “Has she said something, done something – Cos you know Nid’s and I will work her over good and proper.”
 
Lilian was close to tears and could only shrug again. “I just don’t know if I can take this anymore… I don’t know how I’ve managed this long…”
 
Nidia slipped off the arm of the chair and crouched down so she was looking up into Lilian’s face.
 
“Are you thinking of leaving Chris?”
 
Again the little blond shrugged, but in the next instant she nodded not able to keep it in any longer.
 
“Tomorrow night – Chris’s surprise birthday party is going to be the deciding factor for me. If he wants me then Stephanie will be no where near that party. I can still count on you both to make sure everyone’s there right?”
 
“Don’t you worry about a thing you just bring him to the bar at 6pm sharp and leave the rest to us.”
 
“That’s right,” Ivory agreed. “Now dry those eyes and give us some sugar and don’t worry about Stephanie. You are 10 times the woman she is and if he can’t see that then I will make it my mission in life to kick his ass until he does!”
 
**
 
What was he going to do when Lita arrived?
 
That one question circled around and around inside his head as he trudged slowly through the snow and he was still no closer to answering it. He had needed a little thinking time so had taken himself off on a walk – A walk that two hours later when he had found himself back outside his house again had not cleared his mind of the clutter there in.
 
“I love her.” He whispered to himself his eyes on the snow covered ground beneath him. “There’s no doubt in my mind about that – I’m just not sure I love her as much as I could love someone ‘else’.”
 
Having heard himself just say the words out loud he couldn’t believe how his mind could actually come up with something so senseless and mean it. What was wrong with him? The problem had to be with him because Lita was a woman beyond words. Beautiful, talented, loyal, and feisty and above all she loved him. She well and truly loved him. So again he asked himself – What the hell is wrong?
 
“Hey!”
 
Looking up he saw Dawn standing in her front yard and a smile immediately came to his face. “Hey!” He called back quickening his step till he stood at the wooden fence that separated the two properties. “What yah doing?”
 
She shrugged. “Just hanging out and mashing snow.” As if to prove her words she started jumping up and down in a circle, the sound of the snow crunching beneath her feet the only sound permeating the air. “It gives me a sense of self satisfaction.” She explained.
 
“Oh,” He said his eyes on the ground again.
 
“You got a girl friend?”
 
“Why do you ask?” He replied looking up at her again.
 
She shrugged again. “I dunno… you’re a dude in flux… if I’m not mistaken you’ve come back to this house of sadness and tears to come to some sort of decision about life – Or life decision if you will.”
 
He look turned curious. “You fancy yourself a perspective little thing don’t you.”
 
“I don’t know about ‘little’ thing,” She scoffed. “I ‘use’ to be the tallest female in my family.”
 
“Use to be?”
 
“Yeah, use to be… you got that full on Hamlet thing going on. You know Hamlet – Danish prince who couldn’t make decisions.”
 
“Yeah, I know Hamlet.” He said when her words trailed off.
 
She smiled. “I knew you would. So about that girl friend…”
 
He sighed, but couldn’t stop himself from smiling. She certainly was persistent. “Yeah, I have a girl friend.” He answered.
 
“Does she want to get married?”
 
Persistent and nosy, he mused, but said aloud. “Yeah, I think she does.”
 
“You don’t?”
 
“I’m not sure.”
 
“Is she fat?”
 
“No. She’s not fat – Far from it. She’s quite perfect actually.”
 
“So why don’t you marry her then?”
 
“You know,” He began looking down at his feet again. “I’ve been asking myself that same question…” and on that note he lifted his hand in a farewell wave before walking up the front steps and into the house.
 
**
 
Part Seven
 
**
 
“It’s over.”
 
“Don’t be silly and come here.” She replied patting the space next to her on the lounge. “Hunter won’t be home for hours.”
 
“It’s over.” He repeated his voice hard. “I love Lilian.”
 
Stephanie rolled her eyes and leaned back. And then she burst out laughing. “You won’t leave me,” She scoffed. “You couldn’t in high school and you won’t now. I’m in your blood baby. You know it. I know it and that mousey little book worm knows it.”
 
“Don’t call her that.”
 
“Well it’s true. She is a mousey little book worm. How she ever snagged you I have no idea.” She said lifting her hand to examine her well manicures finger nails.
 
“Goodbye Steph.” He said turning his back on her, but just before he reached the front door he heard her voice call behind him.
 
“Go, then. Believe that you’re leaving here with the intention of never coming back, but you and I both know you will.”
 
Jericho pulled the door open and stepped across the threshold, the words “Bye lover” reaching his ears before he pulled the doors closed behind him.
 
**
 
“I can’t believe I’m doing this.” Edge whispered as he watched Dawn through his bedroom window. She was standing in her back yard talking to a boy about her age whose hair continuously fell over his eyes and his hand came up repeatedly to brush it back.
 
He tried to turn away from the sight but as soon as he did it didn’t take long for his gaze to inevitably go back. Who was the boy? What was he doing talking to her? Was he her boyfriend? He felt like a dirty old man and what was worse – He was jealous! He groaned and tried to turn away from the window again, but just as he did he saw the boy lift his hand in farewell before racing off, foregoing on the conventional way via the back gate and instead leaped clear over the back fence.
 
Impressive, he mused knowing the back fence that bordered both there properties stood a good five, six feet high. And then he was out the door descending the stairs two at a time and racing out to the back yard to catch Dawn before she made her way inside only to pull himself up short as soon as he passed through the back door to see her standing at the fence. He almost felt like she had been waiting for him. He felt a blush rise up his neck – God he hoped she hadn’t seen him watching from the upstairs window.
 
“Hey…” He said as he came down the back porch not stopping until he had reached the wooden fence that separated them.
 
She smiled. “Hey.”
 
“What’s up?”
 
“Not much.”
 
He was meant to ask her how her day had been, but instead he found himself asking, “Who’s the boy?” He shivered only now realising he’d rushed out side in the snow without a jacket.
 
“Just a friend…” She replied somewhat evasively.
 
“Oh…” He said shoving his hands into the pockets of his jeans. “Is he your boyfriend?”
 
Dawn rolled her eyes and smiled back at him. “I dunno, I guess… he’s okay.”
 
He fought not to look put out by her answer, but it wasn’t working. “He seems a little short.” He said before he could stop himself.
 
She grinned. “Not to me.” And then eyed him curiously before asking. “You okay?”
 
“Yeah…” He replied with forced enthusiasm.
 
“You sure?”
 
“Yeah… yeah fine… I’m cool…”
 
“Cool…”
 
“So…” He knew he was being a cad keeping her out here in the cold, but he wasn’t ready to end there conversation just yet. He enjoyed there little talks. They were witty and clever – ‘She’ was witty and clever. He groaned. ‘She’ was sixteen years old!
 
“You sure you’re okay?” She asked again.
 
He forced a grin. “Yeah, sure…” And then, “Tell me what do you ‘kids’ do for fun around here?”
 
A thoughtful look crossed her face as she gazed up at him. “Well…” she began, “This week we’ve been downing an unlimited supply of drugs, getting high on car fumes and listening to old Pink Floyd records.” And then burst out laughing at the look that came across his face.
 
He frowned, blushed and then rolled his eyes. “Oh you’re kidding… right?”
 
“Well the car fumes part was true.” She said her smile lighting up her face.
 
He grinned. “You are something else you know that.”
 
She nodded with added enthusiasm turning his grin into a chuckle.
 
“So this guy…”
 
“Connor.”
 
“Huh?”
 
“His name is Connor.”
 
“So… Connor,” He corrected himself. “You like him a lot?”
 
“Well yeah, he’s into male contraception which is nice for a change.”
 
His mouth fell open and she burst out laughing again.
 
“Gee lighten up,” She reached forward then almost as if she were going to lightly punch his shoulder, but pulled up at the last minute her hand wavering in mid air for what seemed like the longest time before she pulled it back to her side. “Well, I’m gonna go inside. You sure you’re gonna be okay?”
 
He smiled. “Yeah,”
 
“Okay, well bye.”
 
“Bye.”
 
She turned and he watched as she made her way up the steps to the back door.
 
“Dawn!” He called out just as she was about to disappear inside.
 
“Yeah?” She replied stepping back out on to the porch.
 
“Ah…” His mouth hung open. He hadn’t really thought that far ahead. “Ummm… forgot what I was gonna say.” He smiled and sent her a little wave. “See yah later.”
 
She quirked her brow and stared at him for a moment longer before turning to disappear inside.
 
**
 
Part Eight
 
**
 
“Die evil spawn die!”
 
“Behind you, there’s another one!”
 
“Damn I thought there were only two!”
 
“I need to reload. Cover me!”
 
“Cover you? I got my own ass to watch!”
 
“Will you two keep it down, I’m on the phone here.”
 
The animated images battling on Benoit’s huge 78 inch wide screen TV stilled as the pause button was pressed.
 
“Little loud are we?” Benoit inquired with a raised brow.
 
“Just a tad,” Edge replied sending them both his ‘like duh’ expression before turning his back to them so he could return to his phone conversation.
 
“Gee, anyone would think this was his house,” Lance said kicking his shoes off where he lay sprawled on the floor in Benoit’s living room.
 
“Yeah,” Benoit replied sending him a pointed look. “I wonder where he got that from?”
 
Lance shrugged and pulled a cushion down from off the sofa to prop under his head. “Who knows bro, must be some big city thing.”
 
Benoit chuckled and both men showed a lot of patience as they waited for Edge to finish his phone call before joining them on the floor in front of Benoit’s TV and X-Box.
 
“That her?”
 
Edge knew who Benoit meant by ‘her’ and nodded his response.
 
“Who her?” Lance asked picking up his controller to resume the game.
 
“What do you mean ‘who her’? That’s ‘her’ – The girl that makes this saps heart go dee-dee-dum-dee-dee-dum.” Benoit replied motioning with his eyes to Edge.
 
“Oh her…” The other man drawled out on a long breath.
 
“Yeah her…” Benoit mirrored his actions with raised brows before they both turned to Edge as if realising he was still with them.
 
“She pretty?” They both asked in unison.
 
“Yeah, I think so.” Edge replied.
 
“How pretty?” Was there next question.
 
Edge stretched his long legs out in front of him. He knew where this conversation was going, it was a conversation they had had many times about many different girls.
 
“Face?” Benoit started.
 
“Out of 10?”
 
Both Benoit and Lance nodded.
 
Edge’s look became thoughtful. “Definitely an 8 or 9.” He replied after a few minutes of contemplation.
 
“Definitely a ‘Victoria’ then.” Lance mused aloud.
 
“Oh yeah,” Edge replied as images of the raven haired beauty from his chemistry class floated into his mind.
 
“Body?” Lance continued.
 
He didn’t need to think over that one and quickly replied. “9.”
 
“’Jackie Gayda’ all the way,” Benoit said leaning back against the foot of the sofa. It was apparent by his expression where his thoughts were.
 
“You are a happily married man.” Edge reminded him.
 
He grinned. “As long as my dick stays in my pants it’s all good.”
 
“Whatever happened to Jackie Gayda anyway?” Edge added as Victoria’s image was replaced with Jackie’s, the one girl in high school who had the body every other girl wanted and every boy lusted after – Including him.
 
“I think she ran off with that geek Haas.” Lance chimed in his mouth full of popcorn.
 
Edge’s expression was incredulous. “The president of the chess club? You’re kidding me?”
 
Lance dipped his hand into the popcorn bowl and brought it up only to pause as it neared his mouth. “I kid you not Obi-One.” He said before his hand continued on its path.
 
“Who’d a thought,” Edge said still unable to comprehend that the acne ridden boy he and many others had tormented all through high school had ended up with the very luscious and sought after Miss Jackie.”
 
“Personality,” Benoit said getting back to the topic of Edge’s city girlfriend.
 
“8.” He replied candidly. “She loves bowling, beer, sex, partying…” Edge’s words trailed off as if he’d just realised something before he carried on with, “…You know… all the things I like.”
 
Benoit chuckled. “Don’t take this the wrong way, but it sounds like you’re dating one of us.”
 
Edge joined in on the other man’s amusement, but inwardly Benoit’s words had never sounded more true. “Anyway,” He said picking up one of the X-Box controllers on the floor eager to get this conversation over with. “You guys will get to judge for yourselves.” Benoit and lance shared a look as Edge continued, “She’s arriving tomorrow.”
 
**
 
“Bout time you boys got here.” Ivory called to them from the bad as Benoit, Edge and Lance walked through the doorway. “Here, make yourselves useful. Lil and Chris should be here any time now.” She said tossing a bag of balloons at them. “Start blowing boys.”
 
“Babe, you’re more qualified for this job then I am,” Benoit sniggered sidling up to kiss his woman.
 
“Oh I wouldn’t say that,” Was her response as she wrapped her arms around his waist.
 
Edge cleared his throat when his two friends locked at the lips. “Ah guys… Lilian and Chris remember?”
 
Ivory sighed and reluctantly pulled away. “As much as I hate to admit it ‘perfect teeth’ here has a point.”
 
“Hey!” Edge scowled igniting a peel of giggles from the brunette as she moved away leaving her man to deal with the balloons. He opened the packet and emptied the contents out onto a table.
 
“Okay boys, you heard my woman – Start blowing.”
 
**
 
“Chris, I need to go to the bathroom. Can we stop at the bar?”
 
“But what about our reservations?”
 
“I’ll be real quick.”
 
Chris didn’t want to stop. He had wanted this night to be only for them. He had something very important he wanted to ask Lilian, but when he saw her clamp her legs shut in the passenger seat of his car he pulled over to the curb, got out and ran around to open the passenger door for her. “Real quick okay?” He said leaning back on the car with a smile.
 
“Aren’t you coming in?”
 
He hesitated looking up at there local hangout where through the window he saw that inside it seemed strangely scarce of patrons in which case he saw no reason not to go in. He and Lil could be in and out in five minutes. He grabbed her hand and together they walked into the bar.
 
As soon as Jericho passed through the door a cloud of balloons descended on him along with streamers, applause and cheers as what looked to him like that whole town came out of hiding to crowd around him, all of them wishing him a happy birthday. He turned to Lilian to see her smiling at him and straight away knew this had all been her idea. There gazes locked and lingered and although they were both being jostled and prodded by the crowd around them it was like they were the only two in the room. He mouthed the words ‘I love you’ to her before the noisy crowd again broke there gaze and sighed as a beer was pushed into his hands and his buddies surrounded him.
 
As the night progressed Chris still couldn’t believe Lilian had done this for him and he wanted show much to tell her, show her how much he felt. His hand for the umpteenth time reached into his pocket to finger the ring he had planned to give to her over dinner. He had wanted to ask her over candle light and champagne, but it was obvious that wasn’t going to happen now and he felt he would burst of he didn’t ask her soon and with his hand still clasping the ring in his pocket he made to leave his little group to join her where she stood with Ivory and Nidia, but his steps halted as a hand latched onto his arm and before he could shake it off it’s owner stepped in front of him. Her body taking just that extra little step closer to his letting him and everyone else who cared to look know that ‘she’ was still very much a part of his life.
 
“Happy birthday,” Stephanie said, her fingers walking a trail up his chest to his mouth where it then preceded to trace the outline of his lower lip.
 
Jericho took a step back, but she followed pressing her body up to his. He could smell the liquor on her breath and from what he could see and feel through the light trench coat she wore he figured that that was all she wore.
 
His gaze came up and over her shoulder, his eyes met Lilian’s hurt filled ones and before he could do anything else she wrenched her gaze away from his and ran from the room.
 
**
 
Part Nine
 
**
 
“Get out.” Jericho ordered leaning across Stephanie to open the passenger door of his car.
 
“Oh baby, don’t be mad. That little mouse isn’t what you want-“
 
“You have no fucking idea what I want!” He exploded. “All you have in that fancy little head of yours is ‘You’. What’s best for ‘You’. How ‘You’ can benefit. You don’t give a crap about me. You want me yes, but you wouldn’t give two shits about me. All you wanted to do tonight was make sure I wouldn’t do what I said earlier, but news flash Stephanie – I’M STILL CALLING OUR LITTLE AFFAIR OFF!”
 
For the first time that night he actually saw her face pale slightly in the limited amount of light the inside of his car provided, but he was passed caring how she looked right now. He couldn’t get how Lilian had looked right before she ran from the bar out of his mind and it was that look that had sealed it for him. No matter what Stephanie did from this point forward he knew he would never start up with her again. Not for all the money in her daddy’s bank account.
 
He brought both his fists down on the steering wheel and forced himself to count to ten to quench some of the anger he felt towards the woman still seated next to him. He opened his eyes and turned to stare across at. The counting had worked he mused, though barely.
 
“Just… just get out.” He said motioning to the open passenger door. “Please Steph, just get out.”
 
**
 
“Lilian?” He knocked softly on her apartment door. “Lilian… Are you in there?”
 
Hope surged through him as the door opened but it dimmed some what when Ivory stared back at him from the other side of the doorway.
 
“Now’s not a good time Chris, she’s sleeping.” Ivory informed him. “Come back in the morning.”
 
“Iv, its okay…”
 
Chris shuffled from one foot to the other and nervously shoved his hands into the front pockets of his jeans as the sound of Lilian’s voice floated out to him from inside the room. The door opened wider and she stepped forward her eyes red and puffy from crying but her stare oddly confident.
 
“I’ll talk to him,” She continued and he stepped back so she could step into the hallway with him.
 
“Lil,” He began once the door closed behind her, but she held up a hand to silence him.
 
“You know,” She said with a half hearted chuckle. “All through high school, maybe even before that it was always Chris and Stephanie. Why you started paying attention to me I have no idea, I mean Stephanie and Hunter weren’t even together then, yet you pursued and you were persistent and charming and… and I knew I’d only get my heart broken if I gave in to you, but… but I did. And I fell in love.”
 
His mouth opened to say something but again her hand came up to halt his words.
 
“I fell in love with you Chris,” She repeated her eyes starting to tear up again. “And I think somewhere along the way you fell in love with me too-“
 
“I did!” He cried taking a step towards her, which only resulted in her taking two steps back. “I do… Lil you have to believe me.”
 
“I believe you Chris, I really do…” Her tears started to flow down her cheeks now and she stepped around him to reach for the door handle. “Problem is you never really fell out of love with Stephanie.” And then the door opened and she disappeared behind it.
 
He stood still for a moment not really knowing what to do when the door opened again and Ivory stepped out.
 
“She put a lot of planning into tonight you know.”
 
He didn’t know what to reply to that so kept quiet.
 
“She loves you more then she loves herself.” Ivory continued.
 
He nodded. “I know.”
 
She sighed and leaned up to kiss his cheek. “Go home Chris. Nidia and I are gonna stay here with Lil tonight. Go home.”
 
**
 
“We’re been friends along time right?”
 
“Since nappies,” Benoit replied as he stacked empty glasses onto a tray the other man held as they went from table to table cleaning up the mess left from Chris’s birthday bash.
 
“And I can tell you anything right?” Edge continued.
 
Benoit nodded. “Yeah, course you can, this about your lady friend arriving in the morning?”
 
Edge walked to the bar to empty the tray before returning to reply. “Yes… And no.”
 
“Sounds serious.”
 
“It could be… that is… I don’t know. Lita, she’s… she’s perfect you know. She’s great…”
 
“But?”
 
“But…” Edge lowered the tray he held to the table to look his friend squarely in the face. “But… what if something that’s great is not as great as something greater?”
 
“Huh?”
 
“I’ve met someone-“
 
“What? When? You sly dog. Who is she?”
 
Edge rolled his eyes. “Settle down Sparky, it’s not like that-“
 
Benoit chuckled. “Yeah, sure it’s not.”
 
“She’s just a friend-“
 
“Yeah, sure she is.”
 
“She’s sixteen.”
 
“Are you out of your fucking mind!” Benoit exclaimed all traces of his former amusement gone. “Edge, men go to jail for this kinda thing.”
 
“It’s not like that.” He replied picking up the tray again before meeting Benoit’s disbelieving eyes. “It’s not!” He repeated.
 
The other man still looked at him with a raised brow and Edge sighed placing the tray back down. “Look,” He began rounding on his friend. “All I’m saying is ‘we’ have this amazing… ‘Thing’ I mean you got this person with all that potential, all that future. This girl is gonna be amazing! She’s hot, she’s funny-“
 
“She’s sixteen.”
 
“I know that, sheesh man get over it, it’s not a sexual thing… this is… wait… I could wait…“
 
“What?”
 
“Five years. In five years she’ll be twenty one and I’ll be thirty four and it won’t be such a big deal.”
 
“Edge man, you are starting to scare me here.”
 
But Edge didn’t seem to hear him as he continued. “Damn she’s gonna be so fucking amazing. I… I was actually jealous of this kid in her back yard the other day because he gets to be her age right now while I get to be some vile, old, fat, hairy…”
 
“Stinky?”
 
“Yes stinky, thank you… I get to be ‘that’ and ah… I dunno… I feel like I wanna say to her in all sincerity – Take me with you when you go.”
 
“Edge the girl was a zygote when you were in the seventh grade.”
 
“So what are you saying? That this is my way of postponing the inevitable, my way of saying I don’t want to grow old?”
 
Benoit shook his head. “No. I think this is your way of saying you don’t want to grow ‘up’.”
 
**
 
Part Ten
 
**
 
Edge stuffed his hands in his pocket to guard them from the chill night air as he walked home after leaving Benoit to finish locking up the bar.
 
Pffft! He scoffed to himself. Don’t want to grow up he reckons. Huh, what would he know, he’s the one who installed a PS2 in his toilet! He grumbled to himself, yet he still couldn’t help thinking on Dawn.
 
“It’s not a sexual thing,” He whispered into the darkness and he knew deep down that it was true. He wasn’t in love with her or anything, it wasn’t like that. What he felt when he was around Dawn was hard to explain – Maybe even impossible to explain. All he knew was that he wanted to be near her.
 
And then there was Lita. What was he going to do about Lita?
 
It was over he knew that along time ago just didn’t want to admit it and who knows maybe she knew it too. He would have to tell her and soon, if anything his trip home had forced him to be honest with himself and he owed it to Lita to be honest with her.
 
A scraping sound had his head coming up with a start and his eyes looked around the lighted pathway to see a lone figure gliding across the now frozen Lake Betty. It was forbidden to skate there after two boys he knew in high school cut a trail in the ice with there skates both losing there lives as a result after falling in. At this time of the year Lake Betty was off limits, yet the sight brought pleasant memories to his mind of when he, Benoit and the others use to sneak out late at night just to do what that lone skater was doing.
 
But you’re not a kid now he told himself and if he just continued on home without making sure that skater knew of the danger of skating on Lake Betty he would never get any sleep tonight.
 
Stuffing his hands deeper into his pockets he crossed the road and trudged through the snow towards the lake.
 
“Hey!” He called when he was close enough.
 
“Hey yourself!” The skater called back.
 
Edge’s brow furrowed. “Dawn?”
 
She grinned.
 
“Dawn! Get your arse off that lake right this minute! Have you got rocks in your head or something? Don’t you know that two boys around your age died skating on this lake?”
 
She shrugged. “They’re not the only ones who died because of this lake.”
 
“Just come here okay, please, for me.” And then, “Don’t make me come there!” He added when it looked like she was about to do another lap of the lake.
 
She looked longingly out across the lake before moving off towards Edge.
 
“Thank you.” He said when she came to a stop beside him. “Come on, I’ll walk you home.”
 
“That’s okay I don’t need a body guard.” She said taking her skates off and replacing them with her boots. Picking up her boots he draped them over his shoulder that action alone telling her he wasn’t going to take ‘No’ for an answer and then he ruined it by grinning.
 
“Maybe not, but I do. You’re looking at the biggest chicken to ever to have come out of this rinky dink town.”
 
“I dunno,” She said falling into step beside him. “I don’t think you’re a chicken.”
 
“Yeah well you don’t know the real me.”
 
“I know more then you think.”
 
He stopped then and turned to look at her, but she just carried on walking. He doubted if she had even noticed he had stopped.
 
“So,” He began once he was walking beside her again. “Where’s Scooter?”
 
“Who?”
 
“Your friend… what’s his name? Cyril, Bob, Tiger…”
 
“Connor.”
 
“Yeah him, where’s he at?”
 
“Oh, he’s around.”
 
“Sick of him already hey?”
 
“Something like that.”
 
“So you got someone knew?”
 
“Yep.”
 
“You do?” He said hating the fact that he sounded more then a bit miffed.
 
“Yep.” She grinned. “You.”
 
“What?” He exclaimed going from a little bit miffed to pleasantly surprised in two seconds flat.
 
“You up to it?”
 
He grinned stupidly and he just knew he was blushing right now.
 
“Don’t you know you’re my hero?” She smiled and he couldn’t believe how right her words sounded inside his head. “So, you gonna marry your city girl then?” She continued again taking him by surprise with her change of topic.
 
“I dunno,” He lied his eyes going to the foot path ahead of them. “Why?”
 
“I don’t think you should.”
 
He chuckled. “How come?”
 
“You should wait till your ready. You should wait for someone who excites you.”
 
“Yeah well she might not be out there.”
 
“She’s out there.”
 
“You think so?”
 
“Yep.” She grinned and then added. “Me.”
 
Edge misjudged his next step and nearly lost his footing. Dawn continued to giggle at his side.
 
“Really?” He said and mentally kicked himself for sounding… hopeful?
 
Her grin stayed on her face. “Well maybe not – We do have a bit of an age problem.”
 
He sighed long and slow. She’d been joking again and again his boot mentally met his butt. ‘You are a dirty old man.’ His mind told him.
 
“You could be my Romeo and I your Juliet.” She continued.
 
“What light through yonder window breaks, it is the sun…”
 
“…And the coloured girl goes do-be-do-be-do-do-be-do-do…” She finished for him and he laughed deep and low. It’d been a long time since he’d heard his own laugh.
 
“You are something else you know that,” He said in all seriousness.
 
“Yep.” She agreed. “I definitely am something else.”
 
“So… um… what do we do now?”
 
“Alas poor Romeo we can’t do diddly except wait. That’s the one thing that everyone in the world has in common regardless of sex, colour, religion… we all wait.”
 
There she went again he thought, getting all worldly and deep on him.
 
“You know,” He began when she lapsed into silence. “You won’t even remember me when your destiny comes a knocking.”
 
“Probably not, but wouldn’t it be fun to see?”
 
“I dunno,” He replied in all honesty stopping when they came to her front gate. “I’m form and your not.”
 
She turned to look at him then with a strange look on her face.
 
“You still have changes to go through,” He continued. “And I’ll be Winnie the Pooh to your Christopher Robin.”
 
“What do you mean?”
 
He shrugged. “You’ll grow out of me. Change and grow like Christopher Robin did and I’ll still be Winnie the Pooh.”
 
“That’s the saddest thing I’ve ever heard.”
 
“Yeah,” He nodded. “But it’s true and ah…” A look of realisation came over his expression. “…And ah… I can’t be a Pooh.”
 
She surprised him by smiling. “No Edge, you can’t be a Pooh.”
 
He smiled and she opened the gate and stepped through closing it behind her.
 
“It’s time for me to go now.”
 
“Okay,” He said starting up the drive way to his father’s front porch. “Hey!” He called across to her as his hand reached for the door handle. “Why does it feel like I will never see you again?”
 
He could barely just see the outline of her body as she stood by the front door, but her words he heard as clear as if she were standing right next to him whispering them in his ear.
 
“You’ll see me…” He heard her reply before the darkness emitted her completely from his sight. “…If you know where to look.”
 
**
Part Eleven
 
**
 
Edge looked down at his hands, his brows furrowing when he couldn’t see the moisture he felt gathering there. He wiped them down the front of his jeans, an action he had performed countless times that morning. He was as nervous as hell and there was only one reason for it – Lita.
 
He had gathered his hair up in a pony tail that morning to keep it our of his face knowing from experience how windy it could get here at the station which consisted of one small building that served as an office, another even smaller one that served as a public bathroom and two sets of tracks – One for arrivals and the other for departures, but now that he was here he wished he had of just let his hair hang free, his ears felt like they were about to drop off they were so cold.
 
He had thought long and hard last night about what he would say to Lita once she arrived, his mind still hadn’t changed, it was over he knew that and just hoped that they could remain friends after all they still had to work together once he returned to the WWE. He hoped to have everything resolved by the end of the day, but by the chill in his bones he knew the only thing he’d have after all this was a cold.
 
Edge saw Lita before she even got off the train and as there eyes met he felt nothing of what he use to feel when he looked at her and for some uncanny reason he felt it was the same for her.
 
She started towards him then with an over night bag slung over her shoulder and a bright smile on her face.
 
“Hey,” She said leaning up for a kiss.
 
“Hey yourself,” He agreed returning her rather chaste kiss before taking her bag from her. “You didn’t have to take the train I would have driven to the airport to meet you.”
 
“I know, but it’s been ages since I’ve been on a train,” She laughed. “And all the noise and speed brought back a lot of childhood memories of me, Matt and Jeff.”
 
He grinned. “I can just see you three causing a ruckus in a train cart. I bet you were the ring leader too!”
 
 
“Was not!” She exclaimed slapping his arm playfully. There gazed met again and again that same empty feeling developed around them. There laughter died, Edge’s hands fell to his sides, Lita’s made a trail through her hair and they both said in unison.
 
“We need to talk.”
 
**
 
“Chris!”
 
“Hey buddy,” Jericho replied forlornly as he entered there local hangout – Benoit’s Bar.
 
Benoit hurried out from behind the counter and steered Jericho away from the bar stook he was about to seat himself on and instead lead him to the back where the pool tables were.
 
“What’s up?” Jericho asked taking exception to Benoit’s rough treatment. “Aren’t I allowed to drink here anymore?”
 
“Don’t be daft,” Benoit replied shoving Jericho into a booth. “Lilian is in the office with my lady love, I just don’t want Ivory chewing my head off for Lilian bursting into tears at the sight of you. Personally if I were her I’d scratch your two timing eyes out, but lucky for you I’m not.”
 
Jericho hung his head. “I didn’t know Stephanie was gonna rock up like she did, I ended it with her you see-“
 
“Apparently not early enough.”
 
“No, you don’t understand,” Jericho said in his defence. “I called it off before the party I swear, her showing up was as much a surprise to me as it was to everyone else. I love Lilian man, I always have.”
 
“They why didn’t you end it with Stephanie sooner?”
 
“I dunno, ever since we were kids Hunter and I have had this competition thing between us remember? He’d get a skate board – I’d get a scooter. I got fifty bucks – he got a hundred.”
 
“He married Stephanie so you one up him and screw her behind his back.”
 
Jericho groaned at Benoit’s words.
 
“You’ve really dug yourself into a hole this time buddy.” Benoit continued.
 
“Yeah,” Jericho agreed readily. He surely had done that! “God Benoit, I love Lilian so much.”
 
“Maybe you should tell her then.” His friend suggested.
 
“She’d never believe me, not after last night.”
 
“Oh, I wouldn’t say that,” Benoit said motioning for Jericho to look behind him.
 
Jericho turned just a smidge and caught the swoosh of blond hair in the corner of his eye. He turned the rest of the way his eyes brightening for the first time since he’d entered the bar when they fell on Lilian. He stood and moved out from the booth only to stand there nervously not knowing wether to go to her or not.
 
“Lilian-“
 
“Did you mean it?” She cut in.
 
“Yes Lil, I lov-“
 
“No,” She cut in again. “Did you mean what you said about breaking it off with Stephanie before the party?”
 
“Yes.”
 
“Then it’s me you really want?”
 
Jericho took a step forward his hands held out in front of him.
 
“Yes Lil, it’s you I want. It’s you I’ve always wanted.”
 
She started to cry then and every tear she shed felt like a lash to his back. He couldn’t hold back anymore, she may push him away, scream, bite or kick all she liked but right now he was going to hold her, he had to hold her, it was hell seeing her hurting like this, knowing he was the cause.
 
His arms banded around her tenderly and when he felt her arms tighten around his middle he buried his head in her neck, his own tears mixing with hers as he cried like a baby.
 
Behind them Benoit wiped a tear from his eye and laid his head on Ivory’s shoulder as she appeared next ti him.
 
“I love you Ivie,” He whispered.
 
In which she replied by leaning her head to the side till it rested against his and saying, “I love you too Benny.”
 
**
 
Part Twelve
 
**
 
Christian opened the fridge door, peered in, muttered something unintelligible and grabbed a carton of milk before walking to the counter where he emptied the contents of a mug that had been left sitting there into the sink and then walked back to the table where he sat himself down expelling a huge gasp of air as he did so.
 
The cup clattered down on the table top and moments later he was pouring milk into it. He held the carton like it was a bottle of chocolate syrup and watched as if in a trance as the white liquid splashed against the side of the cup. When satisfied with the amount he had poured he then lifted the carton to his lips and drank deeply until the carton was empty.
 
The kitchen door burst open then, but he barely moved an eyebrow as a laughing Edge fell through the doorway followed by a mass of red hair. Christian returned the milk carton to the table and sat back to stare at them.
 
"So," He said after a moment's scrutiny. "This is the girl friend."
 
"Good morning to you too," Lita replied. "And no, this is not the girl friend. This is the…" Her eyes went to Edge then. "…Friend." She said and still looking at Edge added with a raised brow, "This the brother?"
 
At Edge's nod Lita smiled and held out her hand.
 
"Hiya, I'm Lita."
 
"Lita," Christian said dreamily and remained in that dreamy state until Edge kicked the leg of his chair.
 
He jumped up immediately so as not to join the chair as it toppled back, the front of his robe opening just a tad to show the use-to-be white Y-fronts he wore underneath, the sight quickly causing Lita to withdraw her proffered hand.
 
"H… Hi…" Christian said not caring that his brother was standing right there as he ogled the red head, although the slap he received on the upside of his head at the hand of his brother soon had him looking away as Lita chuckled at Edge's side.
 
"We're going upstairs," Edge said taking Lita by the hand. "Don't drink all the milk."
 
Christian listened to the sound of there footfalls on the stairs and then a door slamming upstairs.
 
"That's my bro," He said picking up the mug and pouring its contents back into the milk carton before returning it to the fridge. "…milk hog extraordinaire."
 
**
 
"You sure you'll be comfortable here?"
 
"Yeah it's fine although I hope your mattress isn't lumpy."
 
He grinned.
 
"You can take the floor if you'd rather."
 
Lita slapped his arm.
 
"Some bedside manner!" She exclaimed. "Where's that man who slept in a hard back chair all night at my bedside all those times I was concussed?"
 
Edge shrugged with a devil may care tilt to his lips. "What can I say, I'm home."
 
She grinned. "That you are."
 
She climbed into the bed pulling the sheet up to her chin as she snuggled into Edge's pillow.
 
"I'm glad I came," She said after a moment of comfy silence. "I'm glad we had tonight to talk."
 
"So am I," He whispered his voice husky with sleepiness. "I hope you and Kane will be happy."
 
Lita smiled and lifted her head to stare down at him where he lay on the floor. They had indeed talked last night – About everything. About there feelings, the paths there lives were taking and there futures – Separate futures. There had been tears on both sides, but at the end they were both smiling and above all both still wanting to be friends. She felt as if she were closer to him now then when they were a couple and that was a feeling she never wanted to lose.
 
He had held her when she told him of her current storyline and how her on screen love for the Big Red Machine had developed off screen as well and he hadn't been angry, hadn't been bitter or spiteful. He had listened quietly and contently and when she had finished he had told her he was happy for her and wished her and Kane all the best and she in turn had listened to him as he told her of someone he had met who had reminded him of the man he use to be and not the man city life and fame had made of him. He had stopped in mid sentence telling of how he had caught her skating on a forbidden lake and lowered his head. She hadn't known what to make of his sudden silence and the desire to press was strong, but as if sensing her curiosity he quickly changed the topic back to her and Kane, so she left it.
 
"I hope you will be happy too Edge." She whispered down to him, but he didn't reply. He had already fallen asleep.
 
**
 
Part Thirteen
 
**
 
Edge dreamed of a faceless woman. A woman shrouded in a sorrow so deep he felt his insides ache.
 
At first he thought it was Dawn and heard himself call out her name as she walked away from him, but she never looked back and no matter how fast he ran she always remained that little bit further from his reach.
 
Yet it wasn’t Dawn. This woman had read hair.
 
Lita? Was his next thought, but he knew it wasn’t Lita either.
 
Who was she?
 
He found himself at the train station watching Lita board the train, Dawn was with her and a frown found its way to his brow when she made to board the train after the red head.
 
Where was she going?
 
Look back! He heard himself call. Look back at me! He tried to run and his legs wouldn’t move. What was happening? Don’t go!
 
‘It’s alright.’
 
The voice was a mere whisper in his head and he knew without having to look that the voice belonged to the faceless woman with red hair and turning then he found her beside him. Her face was turned away, but her hand stretched forth and without a second thought he found himself reaching for that hand.
 
Her grip was gentle, her skin soft and instead of the magnetic smoky smell of the train station irritating his nostrils, the pleasing scent of strawberries surrounded him as the faceless woman led him away.
 
He woke then with the sudden urge to see Dawn. He didn’t know why, but he felt it was important - Very important. And although he didn’t want to admit it he awoke feeling as if she really had gone.
 
Lita wasn’t in bed when he got up, yet that seemed insignificant right at that moment and heedless of the cold outside he opened his bedroom window wide and stuck his head out.
 
The house next door looked dead. All the upstairs blinds as well as the outside shutters on the front porch were closed. The snow fall must have been heavy last night he mused because the front yard where he had first seen Dawn looked as if it hadn’t been ploughed for the longest time and there posted just inside the front gate was something Edge had never seen before, yet by the wear and tear of the ‘For Sale’ sign staring back at him it was obvious it had been there for a while.
 
The door sprang open then and Lita burst in.
 
“Finally you’re up!” She cried. “I thought I was gonna have to drive myself to the train station.” He turned and she grinned, only her grin died upon seeing his expression. “Are you okay?” She asked immediately concerned.
 
Edge staggered back from the window as if he had been physically hit.
 
“Edge?” Lita continued moving forward her hands reaching up to steady him, but his weight was too much for her and the last thing he saw was the floor rushing up to meet his face.
 
**
 
He awoke for the second time that day, this time he was lying on his bed flanked by Lita and Christian. And then in the next instant he was being smothered as Lita crushed him in an almighty hug.
 
“God you scared me.” He heard her mumble into his shoulder before she pulled up, met his gaze and then soundly slapped him upside the head. “Don’t ever do that to me again.” She scolded.
 
“Sorry,” Edge murmured his gaze travelling behind her to Christian. “There’s a for sale sign out in front of the neighbours place.”
 
“Always has been bro,” His brother replied with a shrug.
 
“Always has been?” Edge repeated thoroughly confused. “That can’t be… when I arrived I asked you about the knew neighbours-“
 
“Yeah and I told you two girls stayed there for a spell, but they’ve been gone for a while now. The red head was cute…“
 
Though Christian continued Edge didn’t hear anything after ‘But they’ve been gone for a while now’.
 
His brother had to be high on his own flumes or something, Edge thought. The house next door wasn’t empty Dawn lived there with her family.
 
‘A family you have never seen’ flowed through his mind but he pushed the words on not wanting to acknowledge them. Pulling himself into a sitting position he raised his eyes to Lita, his eyes widening as if just remembering she was there.
 
“I have to get you to the sta-“ He started but she raised a hand to stall him.
 
“Don’t worry about it, you stay here and rest. Christian has just volunteered to take me.”
 
“I have? I did? I mean… Okay.” A bemused Christian got out in a rush.
 
“No, Li… Edge began again. “I can-“
 
“You can stay in bed that’s what you can do. What the hell were you thinking standing at the window like you were in nothing but your jocks. It’s a wonder you didn’t freeze your nuts off and then where would Dawn be if that happened?”
 
“Huh?”
 
Lita grinned. “You mumbled that name over and over again last night I can only assume she’s who you were planning on dumping me for.”
 
He shook his head. “Li, you got it all wrong…“
 
She shrugged. “Maybe I do, I’m just going on what I heard fall from your lips, you know you are the clearest sleep talker I have ever had the privilege of listening too.” Edge rolled his eyes as she continued. “You said another name too… now what was it? It was a pretty name, unique and unusual…”
 
“We maybe should start making a move if you still wanna make your train.” Christian reminded her. She nodded.
 
“Aw well, I’m sure it’ll come to me,” She said still addressing Edge even as she bent down to pick up her over night bag. “Burr… its freezing. Doesn’t it ever stop snowing here?”
 
“Yeah, for about two months out of every year,” Christian chuckled. “It’s winter all year round here. I’ll go get the pick up started, that old war horse needs a warm engine to run on or else it’ll stall all the way to the station.”
 
Lita’s gaze followed Christian’s form out the door and she frowned.
“Winter…”
 
“Yeah,” Edge raised a brow. “It generally is around here, even in Summer.”
 
“No, I don’t mean the weather. That’s the name you said in your sleep.”
 
“I thought I said Dawn?” He teased.
 
“You did,” She replied not put off by his teasing. “You called for Dawn and then Win- No. It wasn’t Winter…” Her brow furrowed in concentration. “Willow,” She said her eyes glowing now. “That’s it. You called for Dawn and then for Willow.”
 
**
 
Part Fourteen
 
**
 
It was amazing what a hot shower and fresh clothes could do to lift a man’s mood, although it did nothing to shake the window of confusion that had burst open inside of him. He felt like he had gone to bed last night as one man and then woken up as another!
 
The way Christian had spoken it was as if the house next door hadn’t been occupied for a while, yet he knew for a fact that it was on his first day back he had seen her making a snow man in there front yard, seen her talking to her friend in the back yard and even seen her enter the house on more than one occasion and let’s not forget the fact that he had just spoken to her the other night!
 
In his mind there was no way that house was empty. Yet walking to the window now and looking out at all that unploughed snow, the un-lived in look of the place and that eerie ‘For Sale’ sign swinging in the breeze proved otherwise.
 
He had to see to Dawn. He had to find her and prove to himself that he wasn’t going crazy. His mind made up he left his fathers house without a second thought, swung his legs over the fence that separated the two properties rather than walk down one drive only to walk back up on the other side and bounded up the front steps taking them two at a time.
 
He rang the door bell first.
 
Nothing.
 
He then knocked. Then knocked again. Loudly.
 
Still nothing.
 
“Dawn!” He called leaning into the window trying to peer through the small opening between the shutters into the house. “Dawn!”
 
Stepping back off the porch he turned his face to the upper level of the house. What he had seen through that small gap again supported all he had been denying as true. It was empty.
 
“Dawn!” He called again only to fall to his knees in the snow.
 
‘Why do I feel like I’m never going to see you again?’ Had been his last words to her.
 
‘You will, if you know where to look…’ Had been hers.
 
His gaze went up to the house again. “That’s just it,” He said. “I don’t know where to look. I don’t know what’s what anymore.”
 
**
 
It was a dejected Edge who made his way back to his side of the fence to plop himself down on the porch steps and it was there that Christian found him.
 
“Hey,” He said.
 
“You’re back already?”
 
“Already? Dude I’ve been gone for nearly two hours.”
 
“Oh.”
 
With a shake of his head and a chuckle Christian made to step around his brother and continue on his way but Edge stopped him.
 
“Did Lita get away okay?” He asked.
 
“Yep,” Christian replied proudly. “I even got a kiss for my efforts.” He added pointing to the lip stick proof on his cheek. “Are you planning on buying it or something?”
 
“Huh?”
 
“The house,” He motioned to the house next door with a nod. “You haven’t taken your eyes off it since I came back.”
 
Edge ignored Christian’s question and instead asked one of his own. “You sure no one’s lived there for a while?”
 
“Not this again, what is it with you and this neighbour obsession?”
 
Again he ignored his brother’s words. “You said that one of the girls who use to live there was a red head right?”
 
“Yeah, so…”
 
“Was the other a brunette?”
 
Christian gave him a weird look. “Yeah, how’d you know? Do you know them or something cos I asked the red head out a few times but she always turned me down, she was pretty and had a pretty name too, they both did, kinda new age-y… Willow and…” His hand came up to scratch his head.
 
“Dawn?” Edge supplied.
 
Christian’s thoughtful gaze cleared and he smiled. “Yeah, that’s it… Willow and Dawn.”
 
**
 
Part Fifteen
 
**
 
Nothing moved. Nothing stirred. The house next door was as un-lived in now as it had been twenty minutes ago.
 
He was still sitting on the porch steps and his gaze still found its way back across the fence, even when he tried to not too. His gaze was trained on the upper level now focusing on the second story window, the window he had seen a light on in not too many nights ago and he waited half expecting Dawn to draw the curtain back and wave down at him. And when twenty more minutes followed and still nothing stirred next door he slowly got to his feet and walked inside.
 
**
 
“Edge! Phone!”
 
“I’m right here little brother,” Edge replied from right behind him causing Christian to jump.
 
“Sheesh!” His brother exclaimed. “Whistle a tune or something will yah?”
 
“Who is it?” Edge asked nodding to the receiver Christian still held.
 
“Benoit, he says there’s some kind of celebration happening at the bar and for you to get your arse over there.”
 
“Celebration hey?” Edge muttered taking the receiver from him and placing it against his ear. “Hey Chris,” He said turning his back on his brother, who in turn rolled his eyes before leaving the room. “Now?” Edge continued into the mouth piece. “…I don’t know… I’m not in the best of moods… no she’s gone… no she’s not the reason I’m grumpy… okay, okay I’ll come.” - A pause - “I’ll be ready.” And then he ended the call before heading back out the front door to wait for Benoit and in the ten minutes it took for Benoit to arrive Edge’s gaze had been riveted on the house next door.
 
**
 
“So you finally got your head out of your arse,” Was the first thing Edge said when he clapped eyes on his friend as he and Benoit entered the bar.
 
“You know,” Jericho’s grin was wide. “At any other time I would have taken offence to a remark like that.”
 
“We know,” Benoit called moving behind the bar. “That’s why we’re getting all our licks in now.”
 
Ivory moved closer to Edge. He was grinning like an idiot she saw but it wasn’t his usual toothy grin. She moved closer still.
 
“You okay?” She asked.
 
He was momentarily surprised by her question at first but it didn’t take him long to get over it and only resulted in his grin getting even bigger and toothier.
 
“Yeah… yeah I’m fine,” He pointed to Jericho who had his arm slung possessively over Lilian’s shoulder. “I didn’t think that guy could grin so much.”
 
She chuckled. “I was just thinking the same about you.”
 
His face sobered at once. “Show’s that much huh?”
 
“Baby, it if were showing anymore your grin would melt the snow. Now what’s up? Tell Aunty Ivy.”
 
He lifted his gaze behind her to see that Benoit had come up to join them. 
 
“Better tell her dude,” Benoit said. “She’s gonna hound you all night if you don’t.”
 
Edge’s brow furrowed in thought. Benoit and Ivory had lived here all there lives, they knew everyone, were friends with everyone and there bar was the only night life this town had to offer, not to mention that between the hours of 9am and 3pm there bar became the town’s post office as well. They or Ivory at least had to have come into contact with the Holly’s old tenants.
 
“Ivory,” He began. “Were you friendly with the two girls who took up the lease on the Holly’s old place?”
 
“Willow and Dawn?” She arched a brow and at his nod she continued with, “Why do you ask?”
 
“Oh…” He hadn’t expected her to question him. “…well… they ah… they left some stuff behind…” He lied saying the first thing that came to mind.”
 
“Stuff huh?” She didn’t believe him. The look she sent him proved that, but for whatever reason she chose to play along. “What kinda stuff?”
 
“Nothing much… just a few boxes,”
 
“Oh…”
 
Ivory reached across the bar for a cloth and started wiping its surface.
 
“Did… did you know them well?”
 
“I don’t think any of us knew them well, they pretty much kept to themselves. If was like one day they were here and then the next they were gone.”
 
“Just like that?”
 
“Yep. You know she left a forwarding address if you want to bring the boxes by, I’ll send them on for you.”
 
“Oh… oh well… there is that option…” He tried to catch Benoit’s eyes to plea for his help but his good buddy who had been an avid listener to there conversation chose that moment to pick up a cloth and start cleaning too!
 
“…Or… or I could drop them off…”
 
“You could.” Ivory repeated turning back to look at him with a pointed look.
 
“Well… yeah…”
 
“Are you asking me for there forwarding address?”
 
“Well… yeah…”
 
“Well… no.”
 
“Iv-“
 
“Don’t even say it Edge, there’s a privacy clause to think about. I’m sorry but my hands are tied.” She moved off then leaving Edge alone with Benoit.
 
**
 
Part Sixteen
 
**
 
“Are you sure this is okay? I don’t want to be the cause of Ivory stringing you up by the balls.”
 
“Nah its fine,” Benoit grinned. “My girl knows how to kiss better.”
 
“Chris I’m being serious here.”
 
The other man grinned more and sent him a wink. “So am I.” Edge still looked a little unsure so he added, “The ledger is in the office on top of the file cabinet, all you have to do is go in and have a look. If Ivory asks I’ll say you needed a pen or something.”
 
Edge nodded and stepped behind the bar to the office beyond and paused just in its doorway to look back. “Thanks.”
 
“No problem, but we expect a full explanation in return because we didn’t buy your ‘left stuff behind’ story.”
 
“We?”
 
“Yeah, why else would my girl make herself scarce?”
 
**
 
The address he got for a Miss Willow Rosenberg was the Hyperion Hotel, LA. And that’s where was headed now.
 
Everyone had known that he’d have to get back to his life in the WWE sooner or later so it came as no surprise when he stood in front of them all with his bags packed.
 
His father and Christian had driven him to the bar to say his goodbyes and there they shared there final round of drinks in the company of friends.
 
Benoit had been teary. Ivory had threatened to skewer him if he didn’t come back soon after all he still owed them an explanation. Jericho and Lilian had made him promise to be at there wedding and lance and Nidia arrived just in time to bid him a found farewell by mooning them as they drove off.
 
God, he didn’t realise how much he would miss being a part of this crowd.
 
He was at the train station now, his father sitting on one side of him and Christian on the other. Christian hadn’t said a word since leaving the bar, where as his father had talked endlessly about this, that and the weather, which was a surprise considering his father had barely opened his mouth to him his whole stay. But he found it was a welcome surprise seeing as he and his dad had never been very close since his mother’s death.
 
The metallic clatter of the iron wheels screeching to a stop had all three men up on his feet.
 
“So I guess this is it,” His father said beside him.
 
“Yeah, for now anyway,” His words brought a smile to his father’s lips. “You take care okay?” Edge said extending his hand.
 
“You too,”
 
The feel of his fathers calloused work ridden palm against his own brought tears to his eyes and he couldn’t help but pull his father into an embrace and it warmed his insides when he pulled back to see his fathers eyes just as misty.
 
“I’ll ah… wait at the pick up,” He turned to say to Christian and then the brothers were left to watch the back of there father’s retreating figure.
 
“Look after yourself bro,”
 
“You too,” Edge replied as the final call for passengers to board now came through the speaker above them.
 
“You better get on,” Christian said taking a step back.
 
Edge stepped up onto the train. “Look after the old man,” He said turning to lean against the open doorway.
 
“Don’t I always?”
 
Edge smiled realising that that’s why his brother had never left like he did. “Yeah, you.” He replied and with a final wave he watched until his brother’s figure standing on the platform became a dot as the train departed.
 
**
 
Part Seventeen
 
**
 
Getting to the Hyperion Hotel once he arrived in LA had been an easy feat, just a mere ride in a cab and he was there, he didn’t grumble or try to haggle at the rip-off fare the driver asked for like he would have done on any other occasion, just paid the man and got out.
 
And ‘out’ he stayed. Out on the pavement in front of the Hyperion that is.
 
Now that the easy part was over the hard part was actually willing himself to go inside. Wimp. The breeze seemed to echo to him. Scaredy-cat. Coward.
 
He bristled at that last echo. It’s not that he was scared, he told himself, at least not in the physical sense, but scared he was of what he might find inside. What he might learn or not learn from the people there in and more importantly what he might learn of himself.
 
One foot moved and then the other and sooner than he expected he was at the Hyperion door, his body not waiting for the doubts his mind would no doubt conjure as it passed through the open doorway.
 
“Hi, can I help you?”
 
Funny, Edge though. For a hotel it sure was empty of the one thing that kept hotels in business – People. Except for the wisp of a girl on the other side of the counter the place was dead.
 
“Hi, I’m looking for-“
 
A movement caught his eye and his head inadvertently turned to it, recognition came next hitting him with a force that made him stumble back and then what followed was him striding purposely across the room to grab a fist full of the boy’s shirt front.
 
“It’s you, you were with her. I’m not going mad.” Was all he got out before he went sailing across the room.
 
“Connor!”
 
A new voice broke through the pain that was coursing through his body from having it slammed against the wall. A voice that he again recognised, he opened his eyes then and without a doubt he knew it was her. It was the woman from his dream. It was his faceless lady.
 
“You,” They both said in unison.
 
“You know him?” This was also said in unison but by the other two people in the room.
 
“No… not in the ‘know him’ know him sense,” Willow answered.
 
“Huh?” Again this was said in unison by the other two although by the stranger’s expression she was sure he shared her friend’s confusion. Hell she shared it!
 
“Will you excuse us?”
 
Edge didn’t think she’d been talking to the others so had turned to put some space between them only to be jerked back around and then quite roughly led out to the courtyard by the little red head. How she could have managed the ‘quite roughly’ part with her little frame he had no idea, but fully expected to have the bruises on his arm to prove it.
 
She stood before him now more than a little flustered. She kneaded the fingers of her left hand with the fingers of her right, her feet didn’t seem to want to keep the rest of her in one place and right now she was busy having a conversation with herself.
 
“Him… here… now… why? I have to be dreaming again… except, if I am why is it only him and I this time? No. What am I saying? This isn’t a dream. I just saw Connor throw him across the room.” She stopped and looked at him then. “This isn’t a dream is it?”
 
Edge slowly shook his head.
 
“Why… why are you here?” She asked her hands spread out before her. “And what did you do to Connor?”
 
Edge cringed in remembrance. “I guess I kind of took him by surprise,”
 
She arched a brow.
 
“Strong kid,” He added.
 
“Tell me about it,” She replied. “But that don’t answer my first question. Why are you here?”
 
He wasn’t sure how she would react to what he had to say but he mused, it was now or never and with that thought pushing him on he whispered, “Dawn.”
 
“Dawn?”
 
Finally he thought someone who could give him some answers.
 
“Yes Dawn. You can’t imagine the past few days I’ve had I mean I was seriously beginning to think I was going a little bonkers,” He chuckled. “My brother even accused me of being obsessed about the whole thing.”
 
Willow frowned. “If this is some kind of joke-“
 
“Is everything okay out here?”
 
Edge watched as she turned towards the doorway where Connor stood. “Yes Connor,” She replied. “Everything’s fine. You can go back in.” She turned large green eyes back to him. “Look mister-“
 
“Edge.”
 
“Excuse me?”
 
“My name is Edge.”
 
She stuck out her hand. “W-“
 
“Willow.” He cut in taking her offered hand in his and shaking it quite enthusiastically. “You’re Willow.”
 
She pulled her hand back and he watched in fascination as she rubbed it down the side of her jeans. His eyes went to his own palm which was still tingling in the wake of her touch.
 
“I think you’d better explain.” Willow said bringing his attention back to her. So he did. He told her everything from the first time he had seen Dawn to the last. He told her of the connection he felt to Dawn and to the point of staring point blank in his face couldn’t stress enough how that connection was so not a sexual thing.
 
“I would hope not ‘old’ man,” She had replied more amused now than the statue of shock she had been a few minutes ago. She smiled and he found himself grinning liking the way the corners of her mouth lifted and the sparkle that had entered her eyes. He lowered his feeling like a school boy with his first crush.
 
He told her about the lengthy conversations he had had with Dawn and to that she frowned and didn’t seem to notice that her teeth were her worrying her lower lip. He noticed though. He ended with, “I have to find her. I have to know that she’s okay.”
 
When he lifted his eyes back to hers she had tears in them.
 
“I’m sorry,” He began. “I didn’t mean to-“
 
The warm and gentle feel of her fingers on his lips caused the rest of his words to stick in his throat, but then her touch was gone and she was moving away from him.
 
“Wait here,” Was all she said before she disappeared inside.
 
**
 
Part Eighteen
 
**
 
Willow had been gone nearly ten minutes before he noticed that Connor stood in the doorway again watching him. Edge knew that look well. He had faced that look every time he stepped into the ring. And then he wanted to laugh. The kid was sizing him up! He almost laughed then and would have had Willow not chose that moment to push passed the boy leaning on the door jamb and return to him. He smiled liking that.
 
She carried a framed picture face down on her hand and turned it over.
 
“Dawn,” He said smiling at the life and vibrancy that he remembered as Dawn. “Where is she? Can I see her?”
 
There were tears in her eyes again when next he met her gaze.
 
“What is it? You do know where she is right?”
 
Willow nodded. “Yes, Mr… Edge, but there’s something you should know,”
 
“What?”
 
“Dawn died over a year ago.”
 
**
 
After the shock Willow had dealt him he remained in a quiet solitude, alone with his thoughts and memories, so much so that Willow felt his pain as if it were her own. And she had sat beside him through it all right up until one of the others had come out to tell her that a room had been readied for him.
 
More introductions were made as Willow had led him back through the hotel lobby although now he barely remembered there faces let alone there names and before too long it was just him and Willow again.
 
“Sleep now,” He heard her whisper and yawned even as his mind was telling him he wasn’t tired, yet close his eyes he had and smile when he felt the touch of soft lips on his forehead and what followed was a dreamless sleep.
 
**
 
‘Red walls’ was the first thing his mind registered on when his eyes opened lazily the next day.
 
Red walls, a high ceiling and a ceiling fan circling slowly above him. This certainly wasn’t any bedroom he had slept in recently. Where the fuck was he? Yet as he swung his legs off the bed the answer to that question came to him faster then his bare feet could touch the carpeted floor.
 
Willow. Hotel. Dawn. Dead. Willow. Sleep. Willow. Con-
 
‘Connor.’ He thought a frown lining his brow. ‘He wasn’t the only one to see Dawn, Connor had too.’
 
Springing off the bed he headed to the door only to stop mid step as it opened before he was even half way there.
 
“Morning, I was coming to wake you.”
 
His breath caught at the sight of Willow as she came toward him with a breakfast tray in her hands. She was beautiful.
 
She set the tray down on the bed and then crossed the room to the window where she drew the curtains across to allow the sunlight to spill into the room.
 
“Did you sleep well?” She continued turning back around to face him.
 
“Ah…”
 
“I hope you like pancakes,” She went on when he didn’t get passed the ‘ah’. “I don’t usually cook, but you don’t strike me as a breakfast burrito, donuts and bad coffee kinda person, although if you don’t like pancakes I can always fix you something else.”
 
Edge turned to the bed, lifted the cover off the tray and smiled. “Funny shapes.”
 
“Yeah, I guess I need to practice more on the whole circle thing huh?” She grinned.
 
“No, I like it. My mom use to make them just the same way.”
 
Her grin grew.
 
“I’ll leave-“
 
“Don’t.” He cut in quickly. “Please stay.” He continued sitting down carefully on the bed and nodding to the empty space at the end of it. He pulled the tray closer and started to section off bits of pancake with his fork. “Nice.” He added after tasting the fluffy breakfast treat.
 
“I realise you must have a lot of questions-“
 
“Only one really,” He surprised her by replying.
 
“Oh,” She sat down on the end of the bed. “And what question would that be?”
 
He laid his fork down, looked her squarely in the eye and said, “Why are you lying to me?”
 
**
 
Part Nineteen
 
**
 
She can’t have heard right.
 
“Excuse me?”
 
Edge leaned forward a little his eyes still holding hers.
 
“Why are you lying to me?” He repeated. “I know for a fact that dawn is still alive because I’m not the only one who has seen her.”
 
Willow shook her head. “No, that’s not possibl-“
 
“The boy,” Edge cut in rudely. “Connor. I saw him talking with Dawn only last week in the back yard of the house you say you haven’t lived in for nearly a year.”
 
Edge sat back looking mighty pleased with himself and then immediately wished he hadn’t said a thing when he saw her reaction. She physically seemed to shrink away, the look on her face contorted in pain as if she’d just been slapped.
 
You stupid fuck! His mind screamed.
 
He got to his feet, but as if knowing his intention of needing to comfort her she shied away putting some distance between them by going to stand by the window. He started to apologise, but she held up her hand silencing him.
 
“You saw Connor talking to her? You really saw Connor talking with Dawn?”
 
“Yes.” He replied.
 
Willow turned then and offered him a weak smile. “I… I need to speak to Connor.” And then she crossed the room again and left. Well, he wasn’t going to wait around up here he thought and followed.
 
He didn’t know how she could have gotten down to the lobby so fast because she he arrived Willow, Connor and Fred were so deep in conversation that they didn’t notice he had come down. And by the look on Connor’s face it seemed the little red head had already gotten to the gist of what she wanted to know.
 
“You? She chose you to come back to?” He heard Willow say.
 
“No, Willow. She chose ‘him’” The boy replied nodding in Edge’s direction, though neither Willow not Fred bothered to turn his way. “I only saw her once and only because she was worried about you.”
 
“Worried? She shouldn’t be worried about me. I’m fine here with you guys-“
 
“But you haven’t moved on Willow. You haven’t been back to Sunnydale, you haven’t seen your old friends. You haven’t cast a spell or lifted a weapon or done anything ‘other worldly’ like the old Willow would have. “You haven’t moved passed what happened and because of that Dawn hasn’t moved on either.”
 
Edge’s gaze bore into Willow’s profile taking in her stiff posture, clenched fists and whiter than white pallor and his protective nature kicked in.
 
“Leave her alone,” He ground out moving to stand directly in front of her even though he had been the one to trigger this little scene.
 
“Just give me a reason old man. I’ve been wanting to go a few rounds with you ever since you stepped over our threshold.”
 
“Connor,” Fred said laying a hand on the boy’s chest, who coveted with anger only moments before now calmed at her touch and then a few moments more he turned away, but not before sending the taller man a glare. Fred then turned to Willow, again making Edge feel insignificant. “Connor is not saying this stuff to hurt you Willow,” she said.
 
“I know,” The red head repeated. “He just wants Dawn to be happy like he always has – Even in death.”
 
“But she’s not dead!” Edge exclaimed in frustration nearly giving in to the urge to pull his hair out. He pointed in Connor’s direction. “He saw her. I saw her. And all this happened last frigging week. Dawn is alive.”
 
“No she’s not,” Willow answered softly.
 
“I don’t believe th-“
 
“She’s not Edge,” Willow cut in her voice growing in volume. “She’s not because I killed her.”
 
**
 
“I was supposed to look after her. Everyone trusted me to while they fought this hell…” She stopped, shot Edge a look and continued, “…Well, they had an ‘issue’ to work through with another party and all I had to do was take Dawn away for a while till that ‘issue’ was resolved, which I did. I found a quiet out of the way little town and Dawn and I stayed there, stayed there waiting for that one call telling us we could come back, but before we got it we… or I… got another call instead so to speak. You see, what everyone didn’t know at the time was that I was fighting a few demons – Inner demons…” She corrected again shooting a look at Edge. “…of my own. And if they - my friends that is – had of known about these inner demons of mine they would have never allowed me to take Dawn. I thought I had it all under control, I kept telling myself I did, but deep down I knew I didn’t. I knew I didn’t have a handle on it, yet I still left with dawn. And my demons came too.”
 
Willow stopped and took a few deep breaths her eyes were glazed over as if she were reliving her words. “It happened a month into our stay. We had rented movies and had stopped at the grocer to get a few munchies. Dawn went inside and I waited out in the car. It was then my demons chose to rear there ugly heads, they always came when I was alone you see. I fumbled for the door handle wanting to get out, wanting to get to Dawn so that I wouldn’t cave, but the door wouldn’t open and before I knew what was happening I was tripping big time. Dawn came back and we left the grocer, but by then I was too far gone. You can probably guess what happened on our way home.”
 
Edge swallowed. “You crashed.” He said his tone deadpan.
 
Willow nodded. “Into Lake Betty. The surface was iced over but it wasn’t firm enough to take the weight of the car and we went under.”
 
Memories of Dawn skating on Lake Betty came back to him. ‘They’re not the only ones who died here’ had been her words when he had warned her about skating there. His legs threatened to buckle under his weight and he walked to the circular couch and sat down. Willow followed him and lowered herself beside him.
 
“I would have died too,” She shook her head as if disgusted with herself. “I should have died too.”
 
She felt Edge’s fingers curl around her own. “Don’t say that.” He said.
 
“But I should have, Dawn didn’t deserve to die. Not like that. I kept telling them *they* saved the wrong one. It was my fault. I gave into my weakness and got high on mag- Got high on something I had no right getting high on. *They* should have taken me.”
 
“That’s the most she’s ever told anyone about what happened that night,” Fred said from behind him. “Keep her talking. She’s been carrying this around for so long.”
 
Edge lifted his hand from hers, placed it on her shoulder and his mind grasped onto the only thing it had heard in Willow’s confession.
 
“Who saved you Willow? Who were *they*?”
 
“I don’t know, two boys. I never saw then again after that night. They saved me, lifted me to the surface and took Dawn.”
 
“Took her where?”
 
The look she gave him was worrisome. He could practically see the wheels turning in her mind. She was doing what she had done all through her story. Sugar coating it as if she thought he wouldn’t be able to handle the truth and then expression changed and she sighed.
 
“The two boys that saved me were already under the ice. They lifted me to the top and kept Dawn with them.”
 
Edge listened. He didn’t say anything, didn’t do anything. He just listened.
 
“I know it must be hard for you to believe what I just said, but there are a lot of things about this world that you wouldn’t-“
 
“I believe you,” He cut in although he wore a bemused expression. “I feel like I shouldn’t, but I do. I believe you.”
 
**
 
Part Twenty
 
**
 
‘I believe you.’
 
After those three little words Edge was given a crash course on the world and what really roamed around in it.
 
“Vampires?”
 
Willow nodded.
 
“Really?” He added turning to Fred only to get the same reaction Willow had given him.
 
“Hell, heaven and everything in between, that’s all real?”
 
“Yes already, sheesh!” That came from a very bored Connor.
 
“Wow. I’m sitting with the freaky off spring of two vampires, a woman who spent five years in another dimension and a witch.”
 
“Afraid so,” Fred smiled. “Lucky you huh?”
 
The beginnings of a smile started to form on Edge’s lips, but then it quickly turned into a frown. “What am I then?”
 
Willow laughed. It was the first time he had heard her laugh. His smile shone through now.
 
“Your human silly,” Fred answered for them all.
 
“But I must be something, I mean I saw Dawn.”
 
“All human’s have the ability to see the after life.” Willow spoke now. “Most just choose to ignore it. What is it?” She asked when his brow furrowed in contemplation.
 
“When I was a kid two boys fell through the ice on Lake Betty, both died. On one of the occasions I saw dawn she was skating on Lake Betty. I yelled at her to get off and told her what happened she said that they weren’t the only ones. I didn’t know what she meant then, but I do now.”
 
“And it seems we now know who the two boys were,” Connor added.
 
Edge took Willow’s hand in his. It seemed natural now for him to do so and her hand fit so perfectly in his.
 
“You haven’t forgiven yourself have you, for what happened.”
 
“I think that’s pretty much been established brainiac.” Connor was quick to point out and Fred was quick to pull him up on it by slapping him upside the head.
 
“How can I? I was on a magic high and at that time it was all I saw. It shouldn’t have happened-“
 
“But it did,” Edge pointed out his tone calming. “Did you ever think that maybe this was meant to happen?”
 
“No! Dawn was young, she had her whole life to look forward to-“
 
“So did those two boys,” He pointed out again.
 
“It was my fault, I was behind the-“ She stopped abruptly and Edge tried not to wince as her fingers bit into his. “It wasn’t me…”
 
“What?” He urged. “What wasn’t you?”
 
“Behind the wheel,” She looked up at him then her eyes two big pools of green. “It wasn’t me behind the wheel. It was Dawn.”
 
His thumb rubbed lightly over her knuckles comfortingly. “Tell us what happened Willow,” He said.
 
Again her eyes glazed over as she relived the moment.
 
“I was too out of it to drive, I remember Dawn taking the keys from me and helping me into the passenger seat before getting in on the drivers side. I knew Spike had let her drive his car on occasion and thought nothing of it. It wasn’t until we were parallel to Lake Betty that I realised something was wrong.
 
And then through the haze of the window I saw two figures out in the snow. They looked distressed and it was then that I realised Dawn had seen them too. The car skidded then, Dawn lost control and before I knew what was happening we had driven through the fence and were on the ice. It broke under us immediately.” Tears poured down her cheeks. “The look on her face when she realised what had happened, she was so scared…”
 
Edge felt a shiver run through her as he enveloped her in his arms. “Shh…” He cooed his hand holding her head to his chest. “You don’t have to say anymore.”
 
The scent of her shampoo mixed with the hint of vanilla floated up his nostrils and he couldn’t help but close his eyes and breathe deep.
 
“I’m so sorry dawn,” He heard her mumble into his shirt front. “I’m so sorry.”
 
**
 
It was dark the next time Edge bothered to lift his head from where it leaned gently against Willow’s. Her sobs now spent she rested wearily in his arms and every now and then a hiccup would shake his petite form but other than that neither of them moved.
 
Fred and Connor hovered close by, both quietly going about there business. Other’s showed and were informed of what had happened, all sent him curious looks, but like Fred and Connor they too gave them there peace.
 
**
 
He must have closed his eyes for a moment because the next thing he knew someone was shaking him from his slumber. He tightened his hold on the red head still in his arms and lifted weary eyes.
 
“Now don’t get excited, you don’t want to wake Willow do you? It’s been so long since she’s slept peacefully.”
 
His throat felt dry. “Dawn?” He croaked.
 
“I knew from the first time I saw you that you’d be the one to break Willow from the hold my death had on her.”
 
“How?”
 
“I felt the battle you were waging inside. The rut you had found yourself in. It mirrored Willow’s in so many ways, only hers was self inflicted.” She smiled as she looked down at Willow sleeping in his arms. “Do you remember our last conversation?”
 
“Yes,” He replied.
 
“You told me you couldn’t be a ‘Pooh’.”
 
He nodded.
 
“That’s because your not,” Dawn continued. “You’re a ‘Christopher Robin’ Edge and your all grown up. Don’t waste time thinking about life. Live it.” Her smile turned cheeky and she sent him a wink. “Live it with someone who excites you.”
 
He grinned. “You knew didn’t you,” He spoke to her but his eyes were on Willow. “From the first you knew the effect Willow would have on me.”
 
“Oh,” She chuckled. “I had hoped.” She leaned down then and kissed them both on the cheek. “Look after her Edge. She may act all macho and girl power, but deep down she’s a new born kitten.”
 
“I’m never going to see you again for real this time aren’t I?”
 
“You don’t need me anymore, you have Willow and she has you.”
 
“Thank you.”
 
“No Edge,” She slowly started to fade. “Thank you.”
 
**
 
Epilogue
 
**
 
“How do you feel?”
 
“Like I could fly,” She replied.
 
Two days ago they had left LA, driven to Sunnydale where with Edge by her side she had finally made peace with Buffy and the others. Now they were on there way back to that little out of the way town where all this had began, the final stop in Willow’s path to closure.
 
They had talked each other’s ears off for the better part of there travels and it seemed that Edge had a few secrets of his own, secrets that he didn’t waste any time at all in sharing with her. Not only did he have an awful amount of money in his bank account, but the source of that money came from him wrestling for a living. And not just with any rinky dink wrestling firm either, but with the cream of the crop – The WWE.
 
To say she wasn’t impressed would have been an understatement. She knew a bit about the wrestling world after all Spike and Xander were avid fans, but all the times she had caught little snippets of the show she had never seen anything near as yummy as Edge.
 
She looked up at him out the corner of her eye. His eyes were on the road a head of them, his brow furrowed. He had the look of a man who had a problem and was trying to figure out the best angle to approach it, but then he caught her looking up at him and smiled and all her thoughts disappeared, as did his frown.
 
She wondered of he knew how yummy she thought he was. She knew he liked her, it showed whenever they were together, which since he had stepped through the Hyperion door was practically all the time. It showed in the way he spoke to her, the way he touched her, the way he comforted her… still he had yet to kiss her or even attempt to kiss her. She looked up at him again and again his brow was etched with a frown.
 
“Edge?”
 
“Hmmm…” His gaze stayed rooted out the wind screen.
 
“Are you okay?”
 
“Yeah, why?”
 
“Dunno… you just seem not here.”
 
“Sorry,” He exhaled deeply. “I just have something on my mind.”
 
“Anything I can help you with?”
 
He turned then and all the air was sucked out of her lungs when his eyes shot to her mouth.
 
“Yes,” He squeaked. His expression was pained. She sat up.
 
“What is it? Edge please tell me.”
 
His eyes went to the front again.
 
He doesn’t feel the same, was the first thing that streamed through her mind. Oh goddess I’ve harboured lustful thoughts for the guy and all this time he’s been trying to come up with a way to give her the brush off. Si it came as no shock when pulled the car over to the side of the road and shifted in his seat to face her.
 
“There’s something I’ve been meaning to tell you… for a while now actually.”
 
“Oh? How long… a while?”
 
“Basically from the first moment I saw you.”
 
“Oh.”
 
Just what every girl wants to hear, she thought. That they guy they’re crazy for not only doesn’t feel the same but that he hasn’t from the time he first saw you!
 
“I just can’t find the… maybe I should just show you.”
 
Oh great! Throw me out of the car why don’t you- She never got to finish her inner rant. In fact all her thoughts flittered away into nothingness and all that was left was Edge’s lip’s on hers, once, twice, three times… heaven…
 
**
 
Edge didn’t know which of them deepened the kiss first, but when it did he thought he heard a rather cheeky voice whisper ‘atta boy’ and then nothing else registered in his mind, nothing but Willow.
 
**
 
End
 
**
 

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