These Wounds Won’t Heal

Author: PaulenaK ~ toukalah@hotmail.com

Rating: PG

Pairing: Stacy/Edge

Disclaimer: Everyone WWE belong to Vince McMahon.

Feedback: Is much appreciated

Warning: Character death.

 

**

 

Prologue

 

**

 

The crowd was silent. The seconds on the clock were ticking by. This shot would make or break his career.

 

He looked around at the crowd feeling the tension that threatened to suffocate him and he inhaled deeply, fighting down the need to give in. His eyes crossed the room to the rather large, rather lanky man hunched down waiting for him to take his shot at the goal.

 

Christian lifted his hand to wipe at his brow, adjusted the glove covering his right hand and raised his hockey stick poised and at the ready, his eyes squinted moving from target to goal and then back again before he gave an almighty swing.

 

Edge watched as the screwed up paper cup came flying towards him and he lunged to the side with his arms out stretched to stop the flying object from meeting its goal, the feeling of triumph passing through him as he felt his fingers flick the offending item, effectively sending it off it's path.

 

The deafening roar from the crowd playing in his head as his body came down with a sickening thud to the locker room floor.

 

"And he's done it! He's saved his team from defeat! And the crowd goes wild!"

 

Edge looked up from his position on the floor to see Stacy standing there clad purely in a bath towel having just emerged from the bathroom.

 

"Oh, sorry Stace..." A teasing glint entered his eyes.  "Here, let me help dry you off." He raised himself to his knees, his hands clawing at her body where ever they could get.

 

"Get off me!" She giggled reaching out with her hand to push at him before scampering off to Christian's side. "Hmmm, locker room hockey. Will you boys never grow up?"

 

"Awww, Stace," Edge watched as Christian wrapped his arms around her,

"I thought you loved my Peter Pan complex."

 

"Mmmm, I do," She winked up at him meeting his lips with hers, both of them oblivious to the gagging sounds coming from the man still on the floor.

 

"Come on you two, you been married a week, enough with the public shows of affection and on with the arguments already." He grinned when they both turned to glare at him.

 

Stacy reached up to kiss her husband one more time before grabbing her bag and walking back into the bathroom, poking her tongue out at Edge as she passed him.

 

"One day big brother, you’re going to be just as ‘ga-ga’ over a girl as I am over Stacy and when that time comes I’m going to remind you of every teasing comment you hurled our way."

 

"Well, you’re in for a long wait there, little brother."  His eyes travelled back to the closed bathroom door. "I can assure you thats not going to happen."

 

"Famous last words, bro, famous last words." Christian chuckled shaking his head. He fell heavily into a chair and rummaged through his bag for his wrestling boots. "You’re gonna be here for my match, yeah?"

 

"I'll be here, and if anything goes down I'll be at ringside quicker then JR can say 'frost on a Tuesday.'"

 

"Thanks, bro. Mean's a lot to know that I'll have my two favourite people cheering for me tonight."

 

They both looked up as the bathroom door opened and Stacy came out wearing a tiny black dress and black heels, her hair was piled atop her head with a few strands dangling down the side of her face.

 

Both Christian and Edge let out a low whistle, yet it was only Christian who was rewarded with her gaze and her smile as she made her way over to his side.

 

Edge bent down to pick his jacket up from the floor.

 

"Ten minutes till ring time, I'm gonna go get me a drink then I'll be back to watch your match." He said.

 

"Okay, bro, Stacy and I will head towards the curtain. See you after the match... if not before." He added with a wave as they left.

 

Edge sighed as he pulled the locker room door closed behind him and headed towards the catering area. Everything seemed to be falling in place for his little brother, the WWE writers were giving him a push towards the IC title and he was newly married to the perfect woman. He was happy for his younger brother, he was, although he couldn't help but feel a little jealous. After all, his brother had achieved what he himself could not, and he wasn't referring to the IC title.

 

But all in all, his brother was happy, Stacy was happy... what more could he want for them both.

 

So lost in his thoughts he didn't notice the men behind him until it was too late, until the only thing that registered in his mind was a sharp pain at the base of his skull and the encroaching darkness.

 

**

 

The scream of the crowd brought him out of his unconsciousness, the sound vibrating through his head as if willing him to wake, rousing his sense's until all he heard was that one sound.

 

He opened his eyes to darkness, his hand reaching out to the wall to aid him as he stood to his feet, his already throbbing head bumping into something that dangled from the ceiling. He reached up with his other hand to still its incessant swinging and felt the roundness of a globe above his head and reached for the cord that would shed light in the room.

 

A quick pull and the room brightened. 'A broom closet, he was in a broom closet.' He tried opening the door and his mind added, 'A locked broom closet.'

 

The hair on the back of his neck stood on end as the roar from the crowd came again, the strangest feeling came over him and he found himself kicking his booted heel against the locked door again and again. He couldn't explain the feeling, all he knew was he had to get to ringside.

 

On the third try the door shattered open in a spray of wood and paint, he took a minute to get his bearings, paying no mind to his own pain he took off as fast as he could towards the ring.

 

**

 

What he was met with was his brother's still form in the middle of the ring with Stacy's shaking body leaning over him, her head resting on his chest.

 

He passed numerous official's who had come down to try and stop the attack, saw Jericho being aided by one of the medic's, Benoit slowly getting to his feet and JR going to the man's aid as he stumbled.

 

Edge slid into the ring, his eyes trained on his brother as he neared them, two medical aids moved back to allow him a place beside his brother, one of them gently touched his shoulder and shook his head sadly.

 

'No!' His mind screamed, seeing for the first time the sledge hammer lying a few feet away from them, seeing for the first time the wound on his brother's forehead, the blood that seeped from that wound to pool on the ring floor beside him. Christian's blood that covered Stacy as she hovered over him.

 

'This wasn't supposed to happen! Christian was just starting to live!'

 

Stacy looked up at him then and her voice soft in tone and constant in accusation churned over and over again in his mind like a scratched record.

 

"Where were you, Edge? Where were you?"

 

**

 

Part One

 

**

 

'Where were you, Edge? Where were you?'

 

Those words, her voice, her eyes so full of grief and despondency still haunted him, still rang loud and clear through his mind like the bell signalling the start of a match.

 

He remembered standing over his brother's body as the medic's laid his still form on a stretcher, he remembered holding Christian's hand in his and promising to make them all pay, every single one of them who had a hand in this and when his eyes fell once again on Stacy he made another promise to always look after her no matter what.

 

She had fallen into a state of shock after Christian's body had been taken away and Edge had rode in the ambulance at her side. He'd never forget the look in her eye's, her expression had been void of anything as if she had retreated so far back there would be no hope of bringing her back.

 

He had grabbed her hand then, bringing it to his forehead as he closed his eyes and prayed, for her, for him, for his brother's soul and for those who had done this, relief washing over him when he felt Stacy move beneath his hand, but his relief was short lived when she pulled her hand from his grasp and turned her back to him.

 

At the hospital he had followed the medic team as Stacy was pushed into the emergency ward only to be stopped at a staff only zone before shown into a waiting room.

 

That's where Jericho and Benoit had found him the next day, still sitting in the hospital waiting room. One look at him and they had dragged him out of the hospital and back to the hotel to rest.

 

That in itself had been his downfall when two hour's later he had returned to find Stacy gone. The doctor saying that her parents had flown in and taken her back home with them and that patient-doctor confidentiality had kept him from telling Edge where exactly 'home' was.

 

So in the span of twenty-four hours he had lost the two people who meant anything to him in this world.

 

He had retreated, burying himself in his work. The man responsible now rotting in a jail cell having been charged with manslaughter, denying him the retribution he so craved.

 

Scott Steiner.

 

That name was like a time bomb inside his mind just waiting to go off. It wasn't till after Christian's funeral that Edge had found out about Steiner's obsession with Stacy, which stemmed from there WCW days and even after all the threats and challenge's, no one, him included had ever thought Steiner would actually come true on one of his threats.

 

It still tore him up inside, had him thinking about all the 'if-onlys' and 'instead-of's' but playing out the last thirty minutes of his brother's life would not bring him back.

 

He hadn't been given the chance back then to explain to Stacy what had happened, why he hadn't been able to get there in time.

 

Edge stood back in the shadows as she entered the meeting room with

Stephanie McMahon. He wasn't sure why she was back, only glad that she was.

 

Two long years later... it seemed his chance was within his grasp. With her forgiveness maybe he would find this life worth living again.

 

**

 

Part Two

 

**

 

Stacy counted the minutes, there was no way she could have avoided this meeting, it had been held in her honour as a welcome back to the WWE as well as a introductory meeting for those who weren’t acquainted with her and vice versa.

 

After two years she was back in the business, back in a business she swore she would never return to. The sound of chairs scraping against the tiled floor brought her head up to see people approaching with their hands extended and bright welcoming smiles on their faces.

 

She remained civil and polite speaking to everyone who approached when inside all she wanted to do was scream at them to leave her be.

 

Her eyes met the crystal blue ones of Chris Jericho and she returned his smile, waiting as he moved forward his arms out stretched, ready and waiting to wrap themselves around her.

 

"How have you been?"

 

She heard him whisper close to her ear and she fought back the tears that threatened to fall at his words, seeing the hidden meaning behind his words but choosing to answer it in general.

 

"I'm fine. I can see how well you've been." She teased patting his belly, trying to even out the air that seemed so thick around them.

 

Jericho feigned a shocked expression. "Not even a full day back and she's already calling me fat."

 

"Well, Stacy has never been a lady to beat around the bush." Benoit scoffed stepping forward to claim his own hug from the pretty blonde. "Glad your back."

 

"Hey! That's enough Stacy cuddles for you lot, move back and let a real man in."

 

Stacy found herself being lifted off her feet having to fight for air as huge arms banded around her and then having to hit out at his chest when his hold became too much.

 

"Oh!" Test smiled sheepishly. "Sorry." He apologised loosening his grip although he didn't set her down.

 

"It's okay, I missed you too." She whispered into the big man's ear. When she had made the cross over from WCW to WWE, Test had taken her under his wing serving as protector, shoulder to cry on and friend.

 

"Have you talked to Edge?"

 

She knew 'that' subject would come up soon and had this really great line all prepared but right at that moment her great line eluded her.

 

"Stacy, we're ready for you over here."

 

She turned at the sound of Stephanie's voice, seeing the General Manager of Smack Down standing off to the side with Tazz and Michael Cole.

 

"Sorry guys," She said lifting the strap of her bag more securely over her shoulder. "Duty calls."

 

"We'll catch up for drinks later." Jericho called after her, "And you can even come too, Miss GM."

 

Stacy looked from Jericho's 'I-dare-you' look to Stephanie's 'Oh-you-so-want-me-too' look and chuckled in spite of herself. Two years later and these two were still at it. 'Golly, someone rent them a hotel room please!'

 

Still smiling to herself she lifted her hand in a final wave to the guys before following Stephanie out of the room.

 

**

 

"Stacy! Stace!"

 

She heard him call as she left the building but stubbornly kept her head down and quickened her step, not yet ready to face him, but his fingers wrapping around her upper arm brought her up short and she found herself being spun around to stare up into his cold grey eyes.

 

"You got no hello for an old friend?"

 

He watched as she fought to look anywhere but at him.

 

"Well," He continued. "You may not have anything to say to me but I sure as hell have a lot to say to you."

 

She shifted uncomfortably before him, "Please..."

 

"No, Stacy. I've waited two years... two long years. Take a guess at how many times I left messages in your message bank before you disconnected it!" He flung his hands up in the air in exasperation. "Take a guess... ten? Twenty? When you get to fifty let me know."

 

A beeping sound broke into his tirade and he reached into his pocket for his beeper, cursing its interruption. She used the distraction to pull away from him and run across the street to her car but her relief was short lived as his hand came down purposely shutting the car door she had just opened.

 

"Damn it Stacy! Stop running... I lost him too!" He hadn't meant to say that but now the words were out he had no way to retract them.

 

His words seemed to work though, those four words he had waited two years to say were what broke through to her and she lifted her head and her eyes filled with pain and longing for someone she had lost.

 

"I'm sorry..." She whispered, her hand reaching towards him but at the last moment she pulled away.

 

His beeper went off again and he swore rather loudly not caring about the looks he got from people passing by. He pulled it out to try and turn the confounded contraption off.

 

When he looked up again she had gone, her car already merging with the on coming traffic.

 

"Damn it!" He cursed again and in a fit of frustration he threw the beeper he held to the asphalt, the sight of its outer casing coming apart doing little to lighten his mood.

 

**

 

Part Three

 

**

 

"There you are, I've been beeping you all-" Her words stopped as she saw the broken beeper lying on the table in front of him. "What happened?"

 

Edge shrugged. "It kinder jumped out of my fingers."

 

"You know that's company property, that’s going to come straight out of your pay cheque."

 

"Ohhhh there goes payday." He mocked getting to his feet to walk over to the bar, some day’s he wondered why he put up with Dawn-Marie. 'One drunken mistake and she thought she owned him.'

 

"Okay, who wants to bet that she won’t show?" Jericho said once Edge was out of ear shot.

 

Benoit rolled his eyes while attempting to chuckle but all he'd accomplished was sending a spray of froth across the table.

 

Lilian screwed up her face handing Dawn-Marie a paper napkin to dab at her now beer splattered baby-tee.

 

"Opps, sorry..." Benoit apologised, but the look Dawn-Marie gave him told him his apology would have worked better without the smirk.

 

"Gee, Lil, teach your man to swallow." She exclaimed, her put out look turning to a smile as Test, ever the gentleman, helped with the clean up.

 

"I said sorry, geez!"

 

"Don’t mind Dawn-Marie, smooski poops. She's just a tad frustrated because Stacy's back."

 

Not realising Edge was back from the bar the little blonde gave a startled jump as Edge slammed his bottle down on the table next to her.

 

"Pffft!" Dawn-Marie shrugged in a devil may care manner. "As If!"

 

Jericho rolled his eyes, out of all the diva's in the WWE Dawn-Marie was the one he liked least, mainly because of the way she had latched onto Edge... well that’s what he kept telling himself anyway. The fact that Dawn-Marie had come into the WWE cursing Stephanie McMahon to high heaven had nothing to do with it... nothing at all. "Well that’s mighty big of you, Dawn-Marie. Now back to my bet-"

 

"Twenty says she'll show." Test said pulling the money from his wallet and slapping down onto the table.

 

"You’re on." Jericho agreed, "Anyone else?"

 

"Pay up."

 

"Huh?"

 

"Pay up." Test repeated motioning with his hand for Jericho to turn around to see a nervous Stacy standing just inside the doorway.

 

Jericho chuckled before reaching for Test's money. "Stacy doesn’t make you a winner."

 

"I said she'd show and there she is," Test stated snatching the money out of Jericho's fingers.

 

"I didn't mean Stacy." Jericho argued snatching the money back. "I meant Stephanie."

 

Groans were heard from around the table before Test shook his head and laughed. "I still win."

 

Jericho turned again to see Stephanie walk in to join Stacy. Dawn-Marie and Lilian stifling their giggles as Jericho's hand inadvertently went to his hair to smooth down his long blonde locks.

 

"Man, ask her out already." Test rolled his eyes snatching the money back from Jericho before getting up and approaching the two new comers.

 

"Hey ladies, what’s your water? I'm buying." He grinned holding up his winnings.

 

**

 

His face grim, Edge watched Stacy out the corner of his eye wondering how she could laugh like that, how she could smile and flick her hair over her shoulder in a way that still made his blood boil.

 

He purposely tore his eyes away from her, skulling back his beer in a way that would have made Steve Austin jealous before grabbing another one from the tray in the middle of the table.

 

'God, the feeling's she brought back in him,' He thought shaking his head in the hope of willing the thought's away. Feeling's he had kept hidden for the sake of his brother's happiness... for her happiness.

 

He had to get out of there.

 

Now.

 

Why his feet took him to stand a few steps behind her, he would never know. By the look on Stacy's face he could see she was in a position she didn't want to be in, wedged in between Kane and Booker-T, of all people to be wedged between.

 

Stephanie's attention having been diverted by Jericho's incessant yapping and from what he could see and hear of Stacy’s conversation with the two mountainous men beside her, it was of the past, mistakes made and apologies accepted, Kane and Booker-T having been apart of Steiner's faction two years ago. He and the two men had put there differences about what happened that night aside, they had only been pawns in Steiner’s sick game and had in fact built up quite a friendship between them, but he still feared what havoc their conversation was having on Stacy's already fragile emotions. He thought it best he step in, his intent becoming more focused when he saw her hands start to shake.

 

"You know if you ever need someone to talk too or a shoulder to cry on..."

 

Edge raised an amused eyebrow at Kane's offer as he sidled up to them. "Yeah, Stace, he may look all big, bad and ugly but deep down inside he's a little puddy cat. Aren’t you big guy?" He teased sending a wink towards Booker-T behind Kane's back.

 

"What did you say?"

 

"You know he's got a glass jaw to boot..." Edge continued purposely ignoring Kane's question. "...And you know underneath that mask his skin is as smooth as a baby's bottom-"

 

Kane's mouth fell open. "That's it, you’re gonna get it!"

 

"Hey Jericho! Start a bet!" Edge called over his shoulder. "Put me down for fifty... on him!" He added as Kane picked him up and hurled him over his shoulder before carrying him outside, a crowd of curious wrestlers following close behind.

 

"Be careful, Kane... I might need him later."

 

Stacy turned towards the voice to see Dawn-Marie jumping up and down in excitement.

 

"Okay, place your bets here!" Jericho yelled as he moved through the throng of people holding up a baseball cap for them to shove there money in.

 

Stacy moved to follow the crowd her face wincing as she saw Edge being thrown against a wall but a hand on her arm halted her progress and she turned to find herself eye to eye with Dawn-Marie.

 

"You got a strange way of showing your appreciation."

 

"Huh?"

 

"You know he only did that to get Kane away from you."

 

Stacy rolled her eyes, knowing she was on the receiving end of the jealous girlfriend routine. 'God only knew what Edge saw in her.'

 

"Yet there you are, still treating him like he's something you scraped off the bottom of your shoe with a stick. Christian would be turning in his grave."

 

"Don’t even go there." Stacy pinned Dawn-Marie with a glare and felt something akin to elation when the other woman backed off, but that feeling was short lived when loud cheering could be heard from outside and without another look in Dawn-Marie's direction, Stacy headed towards the noise.

 

Once outside, she saw Kane psyching himself up chanting 'Go Kane, Go

Kane' while doing the happy dance and she saw Jericho rubbing Edge's shoulders and talking trash as a manager would his prize fighter. That was just like Jericho, he'd probably bet all his money on Kane but he knew where his inner loyalties lay.

 

Edge's intense gaze was focused only on the big man a few metres away and the bottle of beer in his hand.

 

"This is ridiculous!" Stacy exclaimed walking up to Edge. "Grow up already."

 

"Well, you see, that's Kane's problem." Edge turned to face the big red machine, "He's all growed up all right, but everything else that mattered went in the other direction!"

 

"Shut your mouth Edge! You’re going down bro! You’re going down!" Kane promised his breath coming out in clouds of steam.

 

"I don’t need you fighting my battles for me." Stacy hissed between her teeth.

 

"I know you don’t, but it's my job you see... the powers that be, namely Stephanie McMahon has appointed me your guardian angel."

 

"What are you talking about?"

 

"You’re my valet... I'm your wings..."

 

"No..." She whispered shaking her head. 'To be in ‘his’ company for three months of her life? What could Stephanie be thinking?'

 

"My sentiments exactly-"

 

"Edge! Get your butt over here!" Kane growled impatiently.

 

"You know your really starting to piss me off!" Edge declared taking a few steps towards the other man.

 

"Oh yeah?" Kane smirked as he advanced, his fists at the ready when at the last minute Edge turned and walked back to Stacy holding out his jacket.

 

"Here, hold this, will you?" He threw it at her before turning back to face Kane again, this time meeting with Kane's fist and loud cheer from the others.

 

Finding himself at Stacy's feet he grinned up at her. "Well, this brings back memories."

 

Kane turns to the others holding his hands up in triumph.

 

"Can I ask you a question and get a straight answer?" Edge mutters as he gets to his feet. "How come you never returned any of my calls, is it because I was late getting to the ring because you know that wasn't my fault and if you had of stuck around after you would have found that out. Come on I wanna know-"

 

His words were cut off as was grabbed from behind and tossed into a wall, Kane smiling approvingly enjoying the cheering and applause from the others but Edge and Stacy noticed none of it as Edge again got to his feet.

 

"You know what Stace? You’re right. I screwed up and I'm sorry. I'd give my life to have that night back, but it's gone... just like Christian."

 

Kane oblivious to there conversation advances again but Edge is ready for him this time flipping the other man onto his back with a sickening thud.

 

"If you had of bothered to return one frigging phone call I could have set the record straight about a lot of things, like maybe how I felt about losing my brother and knowing how much I hurt you."

 

A gruff growl from behind him caused Edge to pause in his spiel to throw a series of punches Kane's way before turning back to Stacy.

 

"Is us treating each other like this gonna do a damn bit of good, is it Stacy? What would Christian say about that huh? His two favourite people in the world... isn’t that what he use to call us?"

 

Too caught up in his thoughts of the past and Stacy's tears he wasn't ready for Kane's next assault as the other man lunged at him bringing him down hard to the cold paving. Kane rise's jumping up and down in victory while Edge remained still on the ground, Kane's look turning from triumph to concern.

 

"Edge? Edge you okay buddy? Talk to me?"

 

"Is she watching?"

 

"Huh?"

 

Edge lifted one eyelid to look up at the his friend. "Stacy, is she watching?"

 

"Well... yeah..." Kane replied still baffled, "She's watching."

 

"Good." He quickly shut his eye again. "Now shush! Let me milk it a bit and we'll split the winnings."

 

Kane's eyes lit up in amusement and he had to keep his head turned from the others to keep from giving Edge's ruse away.

 

'The thing's men do to get a chicks attention!'

 

**

 

Part Four

 

**

 

"You're still as thick headed as I remember."

 

Edge turned to the woman sitting in the passenger side of his car, her head was turned away from him as she stared at the multitude of lights that made up the city everyone new as New York.

 

"Keep your eyes on the road."

 

A chuckle escaped him as he focused back on the road. 'She still had eyes in the back of her head.'

 

"But... I want to thankyou..." She continued, "…for what you did back there, and for the ride back to the hotel."

 

Edge shrugged. "Think nothing of it, what kind of a client would I would if I didn't offer my services."

 

"Yeah, ah, about that... I'll talk to Steph-"

 

"And what?" He cut in. "You know as well as I do when Steph gets her head around something there’s no stopping her."

 

"But when she sees how opposed we are-"

 

"Opposed?” Edge cut in again bringing the car to a sudden halt outside the hotel, jumping out he walked around to her side while tossing the valet the keys before pulling her door open. "I'm not opposed to the idea."

 

"You’re not?"

 

"Nope,"

 

"But back at the bar you said-"

 

"Well, I've had time to think about it since then and I find I'm not that 'opposed' to the idea after all."

 

Stacy looked incredulous. "You’re not."

 

He shook his head at her while they waited by the elevator.

 

"Oh."

 

The ride up to her floor was taken in silence and once he'd seen her safely to her room he made his way to his, which was down the hall.

 

Reaching into the back pocket of his jeans his brows drew together when the key card he'd been expecting to feel snuggled safely in his back pocket wasn't there, a look of annoyance passed over his face as he brought his hand up to slap his forehead, looking down at the black jeans he had changed into before heading to the bar. His key card was his in other jeans!

 

Edge tapped his finger on the locked door, his expression one of deep thought as he pondered over his options.

 

"Jericho." He said clicking his thumb and forefinger together as he headed back to the elevator. "It's not like I haven’t spent the night on his floor before."

 

He watched the lights flash above the elevator door's before they opened for him. He stepped inside and pushed the button that would command the elevator to take him to the floor he needed and settled back to wait for the elevator to stop.

 

'Thank god they had the same hotel,' He thought as the elevator doors opened and he quickly walked passed the closed doors till he found the one he was looking for.

 

Edge rapped loudly on the door, knowing how heavy ‘The King of Bling Bling' slept. When no answer came he rapped again, then again before he heard a muffled curse from behind the door.

 

The door opened and Jericho stood before him clad only in a bed sheet.

 

"The bloody hotel better be on fire," He grumbled heatedly. "If not go away." He made to shut the door again and would have succeeded had Edge not stuck his booted foot in the doorway.

 

"I've locked myself out of my room. Can I bunk in here for the night?"

 

"You know, five star places like this one have a little thing called a 'manager', I suggest you go wake him up."

 

"Have you got someone in there?" Edge teased straining his neck to see around the door into the room, his eyes clapping on the half bottle of champagne and two glasses sitting on a serving trolley.

 

Jericho looked uncomfortable.

 

"You have!" Edge snickered. "Who is she hmmm? Someone I know? Stephanie maybe?"

 

"Keep your voice down!" Jericho hissed looking behind him before stepping out of the room, keeping his hand on the door handle to keep it from closing and locking him out as well.

 

"It is Stephanie isn't it, you sly dog!"

 

"Shhhh!" Jericho looked both ways down the hallway before turning back to Edge. "Look, Stephanie and I love each other okay, we've been seeing each other secretly for over six months."

 

"Six months and you’re just telling me now?"

 

"Nobody knows okay, and that’s how we like it."

 

"Hey, I'm down with that, I'll just go make nice with the lobby couch or something." He replied with a laugh turning to head back down the hallway.

 

"Edge?"

 

"Yeah?" He replied turning back to his friend.

 

"Thanks."

 

Edge chuckled as he found himself once again watching the flashing lights above the elevator door. Instead of doing what his mind told him to he stopped the elevator at his floor and instead found himself outside Stacy's door wondering wether she would still be awake and if so... would she allow him entry.

 

'Only one way to find out,' He thought lifting his hand to knock then at the last minute pulled back. 'What the hell was he doing?' He brought his hand back down to his side, closing his eyes he leaned his head against the doorjamb only to jump back in surprise as the door opened.

 

"Edge?"

 

"Ah, Stacy, hi..."

 

"What are you doing?"

 

He lifted his shoulders, his mind racing for an excuse but came up empty handed. He decided honesty was best considering they would be working together for the next three months, maybe more if Stephanie got her wish... or was that his wish?

 

"I don’t have the key card to my room and Test is still out partying... so I was wondering..."

 

Stacy smiled before stepping back motioning with a wave of her hand for him to enter.

 

"I was just going to get some ice-"

 

"I'll get it." Those three words sounded kinda rushed in his head and he was glad she didn't protest when he grabbed the ice bucket from her fingers and walked back down the hall towards the elevator where the ice machine was located.

 

'All I do is walk to the frigging elevator.' He thought coming to a stop beside the ice machine, his face a mask of annoyance as he filled the ice bucket to overflow although his expression brightened when he started back towards Stacy's room.

 

Tonight he would voice some of the questions that had been lying dormant inside him for the past two years and maybe now she would answer them and allow him to finally put them to rest.

 

**

 

Part Five

 

**

 

"Edge?"

 

"Hmmm."

 

"Are you asleep?"

 

"Not yet," He replied softly pulling himself into a sitting position on the couch he had stretched out on not long before. In the dim light he could see her form sitting atop the bed, her knees drawn up to her chin and her head turned to the side allowing her cheek to rest upon the top of her knees. "You okay?"

 

"Can’t sleep,"

 

"Oh," He sighed tongue in cheek as his eyes roved around the room. "You wanna watch TV or something?"

 

"No."

 

"Oh."

 

"Edge?"

 

"Yeah, Stace?" He waited patiently, the silence in the room was suffocating and it was a few moments before she replied.

 

"I- I'm sorry I left how I did."

 

Edge closed his eyes, knowing that under the cover of darkness Stacy had found the courage to talk to him about what happened, and he thanked his insight for knocking on her door in absence of his key card.

 

"I know you are, Stace." He replied quietly. "Where did you go?"

 

"Home to Baltimore," Her response was whispered and he had to really concentrate to hear her rather then interrupt her and have her stop altogether. "I became a hermit for a while, a long while. I tried to make myself call you or write you or..." Her words trailed off and he had to restrain himself from going to her as her soft whimpers reached his ears. "I just kept running into this wall. I thought I could do this, come back... you know, but it's strange because this wall... it's still there and I don’t know if it's ever going to go away."

 

"What wall, Stace?" He prodded knowing she needed to get this out as much for herself as for him.

 

"The wall between us,"

 

His fists clenched and unclenched in his lap.

 

"I've relived that moment a thousand and one times," She continued. "And I know that you did your best, Edge, but... you said you would be there and you weren't..." Her voice cracked and he could tell her tears were flowing freely now. "You weren't there, Edge, and maybe if you had my dreams wouldn't have died inside that ring."

 

Edge tasted the saltiness of his own tears as they trailed down his cheek and into his mouth even as his mind screamed that it hadn't been his fault, at least in the eyes of everyone except Stacy it hadn't been his fault. But he knew that night even though he had vowed to never come between their happiness; his head had still been too full of Stacy and what 'He' could have had with her. Maybe Christian would still be here today if he hadn't of let his emotions cloud his mind in those few minutes prior to Christians match, causing him to miss the tell tale signs of the men who clobbered him from behind.

 

"I know I should be able to forgive you by now..." He looked up as her voice broke the silence. "But I can’t. I'm sorry. I know it's hard for you too..."

 

He moved to the bed then, he reached for her wanting to show her what he felt with actions as his throat clogged up in his grief, but at the first sign of her hesitancy he pulled back shoving his hands inside his jeans pocket as she moulded herself to the wall on the other side of the bed.

 

Couldn't she tell he needed this as much as she did?

 

He wanted to grab her by the shoulders and shake her until she realised that he hurt too, that 'Yes' her dreams had died that night and 'Yes' maybe if he had of gotten to the ring sooner he may have prevented what happened, and 'Yes' he lived with that knowledge every single minute of everyday... but damn it, didn't she see that his dreams had died long before that.

 

Moving back to the couch he lowered his body down heavily on the upholstery, wide eyed and full of painful memories that refused to leave him alone... and there he stayed till morning.

 

**

 

Part Six

 

**

 

"Hey… Edge… over here,"

 

His eyes scanned the crowded room for the voice and once he'd picked out the familiar blonde locks of his friend Chris Jericho he made his way through the throng of people and took a seat at their table. Considering it was early morning he was surprised to see so many people had turned up for the Raw roster meeting... and even more surprised when Stephanie blushed when he caught her staring at Jericho.

 

He felt someone drape themselves over him from behind and he didn't need to turn around to know who it was.

 

"Dawn." He said in greeting leaning forward just enough for her hold on him to slacken.

 

"Chris was telling us you were out of a place to sleep last night, you should have come to my room. You know my door is always open."

 

He could feel her breasts push up against his arm as she leaned closer still and he couldn't help but stay where he was wedged in between the table and her breasts. He caught Chris's gaze and the other man quirked an eyebrow suggestively, which he replied promptly with the extended middle finger of his right hand.

 

"Love you too, bro." Chris grinned before motioning towards the door where Stacy entered flanked by Lilian and Benoit. The little blonde tugging on Stacy's arm forcing her to follow them towards their table instead of taking the first empty chair she saw, which, judging by her expression, Edge could tell that that was exactly what she was going to do.

 

"Okay, what we miss?" Lilian asked sending a smile to everyone seated around the table before she took her seat, which just happened to be Benoit's lap.

 

"Here, Stace," Test said getting up to offer her his chair, making sure she was comfortable before he walked away only to return a few moments later with another chair in his hands and Edge mentally kicked himself for not noticing there weren't enough chairs. He sent her a smile hoping she'd see the apology in his expression and was rewarded when she began to return his smile only to watch as the smile died on her face as Dawn Marie leaned closer to whisper something in his ear.

 

"Thankyou all for turning up..." The cool less whiney voice of Stephanie McMahon broke through the noise in the room, bringing the noise to a minimum as she started the meeting.

 

**

 

"I'm in the dog house because of you,"

 

Edge turned at the voice to see Chris follow him out of the room. "You are? And it's still so early."

 

Chris chuckled as he fell into step beside the taller man. "Steph heard your comment about making nice with the lobby couch and wouldn't let me back into bed until I went down to the lobby to get you."

 

Edge lifted a hand to his chest. "She did? That girl is all heart."

 

"When I came back alone she made me sleep on the couch and wouldn't even listen to me when I tried to explain that you weren't there."

 

"Aw well," Edge grinned clapping a hand on his friends shoulder. "I doubt it'll be the last time."

 

"Hell," Chris said shaking his head. "I know it won’t be the last time." The two walked in silence for a while and it wasn't until they had reached Edge and Test's room before Chris broached the subject they both knew he was dying to ask. "So, where did you go last night?"

 

"Put him out of his misery already will you," Came a voice from couch as Chris and Edge entered.

 

Chris cocked his eyebrows in realisation. ‘Oh, so 'that’s' where you were last night.’ His expression seemed to say.

 

"Hey, Stace," Edge said glaring at Chris as he moved to stand in front of Stacy. "Did you need to see me about something?"

 

"No, you ass," Test's voice could be heard from inside the bathroom, "Stacy being in our room does not automatically mean she's here for you."

 

"We're going shopping." Stacy explained with a smile. "Now that I'm going to be escorting you to the ring I need something less conservative then what I got in my suitcase."

 

"I could have taken you." Edge said obviously put out about her going shopping with Test.

 

"I know you could have and I was going to ask you this morning at the meeting seeing as you left in a hurry this morning," She paused as Chris gasped then tried to cover it up with a coughing fit. "As I was saying, I was going to ask you but then I saw you with Dawn Marie and I realised your not mine-" she stopped mid sentence as she went over what she'd just said. "That is, you have a life now," She paused again as Jericho let out a rather large 'Pffft!' and then promptly moved to the other side of the room to allow the two some privacy, turning around to give Edge the thumbs up behind Stacy's back. "I just don’t want you to think that you have to watch after me twenty-four seven."

 

"I would do it anyway,"

 

"Which is why I asked Test you shouldn't have to worry about me, besides I'm sure you'd rather spend your spare time with Dawn Marie."

 

'Ah, so that was it,' He thought, he leaned closer to her forcing her to look straight into his eyes.

 

"Dawn Marie and I aren’t an item."

 

She seemed surprised. "Has anyone told her that?"

 

"Yep," Test answered her question as he emerged from the bathroom. "Everyone but Edge." He added with a grin. Chris snickered from across the room causing Edge to send him a glare. "I'm all set, Stace." Test continued picking up his car keys. "Your chariot awaits, my lady."

 

Edge could do nothing but watch as Test took Stacy's arm and tucked it into the crook of his as they walked out the room.

 

"I don’t blame you one bit," Chris said coming back to stand beside his friend. "Lobby couch or Stacy's room... there really is no competition."

 

**

 

Part Seven

 

**

 

 

"I can't believe she just left with him."

 

Edge's expression was incredulous as he stalked to the window to watch as Test's car pulled out of the hotel car park.

 

"Did you see that?"

 

"I-"

 

"Just up and left."

 

"Edg-"

 

"Just like that!"

 

"Well, they are-"

 

"And as for Dawn-Marie, one time, one time!" He stressed holding up one finger. "And under the influence to boot does not mean we're a couple."

 

Jericho remained silent.

 

Edge glared at him. "Well, aren’t you going to say anything?" He

exploded. "She's your friend too."

 

Jericho rolled his eyes. "Exactly."

 

"Exactly? What do you mean exactly?"

 

Jericho watched in amusement as Edge began pacing the floor as a father would whilst his little girl was out on her first date.

 

"I mean, Stacy is my friend." Jericho brought his hand up to his chin wanting to pull at the growth of hair that use to reside there, then remembering that Stephanie had made him shave it off, claiming it attracted too many birds so instead he settled for running his fingers along his jaw before folding his arms across his chest. "Don’t you think you’re taking Stacy's outing with Test a little personal? You know Test would never let anything happen to her."

 

Edge sighed reaching his hand up to rub at his temples, suddenly feeling very tired. "Yeah, I know he wouldn't."

 

"You sure there's nothing else going on here..." Jericho said, letting his words trail off questioningly.

 

Edge quirked an eyebrow. "Like what?"

 

"Oh, I don’t know... jealousy maybe?"

 

Edge laughed off his friends words. "What? Jealousy? No, your seeing things that aren’t there."

 

"Am I?"

 

"Yes!" Edge replied a little too loudly. "I am not jealous of Test spending time with Stacy."

 

Chris held up his hands in surrender. "Okay, okay. Just wanted to make sure... aw well..." He sighed turning away, trying to hide his amusement as he caught Edge's frown out the corner of his eye.

 

"What do you mean 'aw well.' Aw well, what?"

 

"Nothing... just aw well..."

 

Edge caught the mischievous spark in Jericho's eyes and immediately he knew what Jericho was on about. "I do not have the hots for Stacy." He said shrugging his arms into his jacket.

 

"K-rap."

 

"Excuse me?"

 

"K 'dash' RAP." Jericho repeated a little louder. "You have always had the hots for Stacy, even before... well, for a long time anyway."

He said noting by Edge's lowered head that the other man knew what he had been about to say. 'Even before Christian.'

 

Edge lifted his head, his expression pained, showing the inner turmoil he felt inside. "I've only just got her back," He said as he pulled the door open. "I'm not going to ruin it a second time by allowing my feelings to get in the way."

 

"Then getting all jealous over Test taking Stacy shopping-"

 

"I am not jealous!" Edge cried stalking off down the hall, kicking a waste basket as he went.

 

"Oh, boy... we are definitely in for some fun times ahead." Jericho mumbled to himself as he followed Edge out, pausing a minute to stare back at the empty room before quietly pulling the door closed.

 

**

 

Part Eight

 

**

 

"So, this thing with Edge and Dawn... has it been going on long?"

 

Test turned his head to look out of the side window as he drove, then rolled his eyes heavenward before focusing back on the road in front of him. He wondered when she was going to stop skirting the issue and just come right out and ask him. All day she had been dropping subtle little hints concerning Edge and Dawn, but never really focusing on the real reason behind her words.

 

"Ever since you left," He replied nonchalantly.

 

"Wow." Stacy's eye's widened her expression one of astonishment. 

"That's a long time."

 

"Sure is."

 

"How come Edge has never..." Her words trailed off uncertainly.

"How come-"

 

"He never got serious with Dawn?" Test finished for her.

 

She blushed. "Well, yeah."

 

"I don’t really know." He answered honestly. "But I kind of have my suspicions."

 

"Oh?"

 

"Yeah," He shrugged indifferently. "We all do. Jericho's even got a bet running."

 

Stacy smiled at that. "That'd be right." She scoffed. "Sometimes I think that boy chose the wrong career path."

 

She saw Test's mouth turn up in a crooked little smile. "Believe me," He said, pulling the car to a stop outside the small boutique Stacy had marked on her list of place's to stop. "We all share that thought."

 

Her laughter was contagious and he noticed as she stepped out of the car that more then one man's gaze drifted there way at the sound. 'It was like a breath of fresh air having her back,' He mused quietly to himself as he quickened his step to open the shop door for her.

 

"Has anyone won the bet?" She asked pausing in the threshold.

 

"Nope."

 

"Hmmm…" She walked into the store a little smile playing over her features.

 

"Yes, hmmm…" He smiled knowingly as he followed her.

 

**

 

"I never pictured you as one to shop at these places." Test said once they were inside. The musty odour of mothballs filled his nostrils, just like the last two places they had been too. Both of which were both used clothes stores.

 

"These places?" Stacy's eye brow rose as she stared up at him.

 

"Yeah, you know, used stuff."

 

Stacy loved the way he said that, as if it was the most common thing in the world for someone to shop at a used clothing store. Something that proved he wasn't as opposed to the idea as most people they worked with.

 

"I love coming to these places, they just got this real comfy feel about them." She said as she went from clothes rack to clothes rack.

 

"Like a blankie?" He said waggling his eyebrows.

 

She laughed. "Exactly like a blankie."

 

"Oh wow!" He exclaimed leaving her standing in the middle of the shop while he headed across the room to the window display. She followed, intrigued. "I never saw this when we entered." He continued as if he was talking to himself. "I wonder how much it is?"

 

"Ah, Test, I don’t think the mannequins are for sale." Stacy teased, her gaze going to the hand he had inadvertently placed on the hand of the mannequin, laughing again when he pulled his hand away in shock.

 

"I meant the dress." He stated, his manly pride hurt as he rose to his full height and stuck out his chest.

 

Stacy looked him up and down. "With your hips you'll be lucky to get the thing on." Stacy said through her laughter although she had to admit, he had excellent taste. It was a simple dress in black, of mid thigh length, cut to shape and mould a woman's hips then tapered up with two thin spaghetti strap's over the shoulders holding it all together.

 

Test scowled. "I'm glad you think this is funny." He grumbled calling the shop assistant over. "But laugh all you want, my reward will be seeing you wear it." He sent her a wink before turning to the shop assistant. "We'll take this."

 

The shop assistant smiled shyly as she went about undressing the mannequin.

 

"We'll wait at the counter." He said pulling Stacy after him. The shop assistant merely nodded in acknowledgement before continuing on with her task.

 

As they waited Stacy caught sight of a traffic warden standing next to Test's car, furiously scribbling down in a note book, no doubt writing out a ticket. She didn't remember seeing a no parking sign.

 

Test's eyes followed her gaze and he swore softly when he caught sight of the traffic warden. "I better go out there-" He began but

Stacy cut him off.

 

"I'll go you stay and finish your... purchase." Another chuckle escaped her lips as she started towards the exit door.

 

He shook his head, 'Once the guys hear about this I am never going to live it down.' He thought his eyes following Stacy through the shop window as she made her way back to the car.

 

"Here you go, sir." The shop assistant said handing him his purchase.

 

"Thanks." He said handing her some bills. "Keep the change." He smiled before quickly exiting the store. For some reason he didn't want to leave Stacy out by the car on her own.

 

She had her back to him when he approached and the first thing he noticed was that the traffic warden had moved on. "Cool, you got rid of him." He said unlocking and opening her door before moving around to the driver’s side. He looked up and his brows drew together in concern as he looked at her. "Stace?" He asked now noticing that she hadn't moved an inch since he exited the used clothing store and her face was deathly pale. "Stacy? What is it?" He asked moving back around to her side of the car. "Stacy, talk to me." Her mouth moved but no sound came out and as Test followed her gaze with his own, he soon found out why.

 

Standing across the street staring just as intently back at them with a smug grin on his face was the man responsible for Christian's death.

 

Scott Steiner.

 

**

 

Part Nine

 

**

 

"Stace?"

 

Test slowly moved around the hood of the car, his eyes never leaving that of the man across the street as he purposely put his body in Stacy's line of vision, effectively breaking Steiner's gaze from hers.

 

"I... It's him..." He heard her whisper brokenly behind him. "He's smiling, do you see him Test? I'm not just seeing things?"

 

"Stacy, get in the car and lock the doors." He ordered, he still had his back to her and he spread his arms out to the side and took a couple of steps back until he was nearly upon her. "Car, Stacy. Now!"

He heard the car door open behind him, then shut a few moments later.

 

He stared across the road and saw the gloating grin on Steiner's face and before he knew what he was doing he was dodging traffic in an attempt to get across to the other side and knock that grin right off his face! But as he got closer, Steiner bolted towards a waiting taxi and it skidded away from the curb seconds before Test got there.

 

"Damn it!" He yelled, not caring that people were staring. All he could see was Steiner's head through the rear window of the taxi tilted back as he laughed.

 

**

 

"They're been gone for a while now."

 

Chris rolled his eyes.

 

"Maybe I should call Stacy's cell phone."

 

"Maybe you should."

 

Edge walked towards the window of the hotel room he shared with Test and Chris couldn't help but stare down at the carpet Edge walked on to see if the taller Canadian had worn a hole in it yet.

 

"Relax man."

 

"I am relaxed." Edge snapped.

 

Chris rolled his eyes. "Yeah... whatever you say."

 

Edge ignored his friends patronizing tone. 'He had a right to be worried, damn it!' He thought, shooting to other man a look. 'Stacy was his... his... what was she to him?'

 

He sighed inwardly when he saw Test's rental car pull up outside the hotel but that relief was short lived when he saw the way he was helping Stacy out of the car. His thoughts forgotten he wasted no time in making his way down to the lobby to meet them.

 

"What happened?" He demanded holding the elevator doors open as Test made his way across the lobby floor towards him. He took in Stacy's shaking form and immediately reached out to take Stacy in his arms, not even realising that she went to him willingly, her hands fisting in his shirt as she seemed to try to soak herself into him. He felt the wetness of her tears on his shirt front and his hand banded instinctively around her shoulders while his eyes bore into Test. "Damn it! What the hell happened?"

 

"Let's just get Stacy up to our room, I'll explain everything there." Test replied as the elevator doors closed.

 

**

 

'Steiner.'

 

Edge stalked around there hotel room like a caged animal. 'The son of a bitch was back, not only back but apparently taking up where he left off in his obsession with Stacy.' His eyes fell on Stacy's sleeping form lying atop his bed. It had taken a while before she had allowed him to coax her into sleep, and a while longer before her shaking stopped and her hands slipped away from his shirt as she gave in to her exhaustion.

 

"I can’t believe he's back." Chris was saying, "Well, actually, I can. But why now?"

 

"Why? It's obvious why?" Test countered.

 

"But how would he know she'd be here?"

 

"Come on Chris," Test shot him an incredulous look. "Where are those brain cells I've heard so much about?" He leaned forward in his seat. "Anyone who follows wrestling would know Stacy's back."

 

"Test, is right," Edge added, finally joining in on their conversation. "The WWE is shown worldwide. No matter where Steiner was in the world, all he would need to know Stacy was back is a television screen."

 

"We need to let Vince know about this, or Stephanie at least." Chris suggested. "She can beef up security around the arena's and such."

 

"Security couldn't stop Steiner two years ago I doubt they'd stop him now."

 

Chris shrugged, at a loss. "Then what are we going to do?"

 

Edge's gaze focused on Stacy, and there it stayed. "It's simple, where Stacy goes, I go."

 

**

 

Part Ten

 

**

 

Steiner unlocked the door to his room at a back packer’s hostel and stepped inside, closing and re-locking the door behind him. He walked immediately to the fridge and opened the ice box, unzipping his jacket he removed a brown paper bag from under his arm and placed it snugly amongst the ice, grinning to himself as he shut the refrigerator door.

 

He walked over to the bed, flipping the air-con on as he passed and tugging off his t-shirt before flopping down on the noisy wire spring single bed. He eyes looking up and focusing on the once white ceiling, taking in every age spot and leaky water pipe stain that now littered the ceiling.

 

'Not even his depressing living arrangements could dampen his mood.' He thought bringing both hands up to cushion the back of his head. Today he had seen true beauty again, and all that had lain dormant in that prison cell for almost two years came back in abundance. All the feelings of want and desire, jealousy and hate all mixed into one rose to show its ugly head. Proving too him that he and Stacy were meant to be together, if they weren't he wouldn't be feeling this way. No woman had ever made him real like this.

 

It was fate all over again.

 

First in WCW, then two years ago... his grin brightened, and now today outside that used clothing store. 'What was it that made you walk down that street anyway?' His mind asked and he wearily rolled over onto his side to face the wall he had dotted with pictures of him and Stacy in happier times.

 

"It was fate." He quietly said, answering the question that buzzed silently inside his head. "And soon, fate is going to bring you and I back together Stacy." He said smiling as he closed his eyes. "Even if I have to kill every one of them before you realise it." He whispered before giving in to his slumber.

 

**

 

Edge sat in a chair and watched Stacy as she slept. She looked so young and innocent curled up on his bed, her knee's drawn up as she lay on her side, one hand cradling her cheek on the pillow while the other splayed out on her thigh.

 

He sucked in a deep breath before letting it out in a long slow hiss.

Stacy had been so scared when Test had brought her back. He could tell by the way she had buried herself in his chest.

 

"Damn!" He swore loudly pushing himself up and out of the chair to walk furiously across the room. Picking up a cushion from the small sofa he tossed it against the wall, wishing it were something smash able that would alleviate some of the frustration that was boiling up inside of him.

 

His fingers ached with the need to wrap themselves around Scott

Steiner's throat and squeeze till there was nothing left to squeeze.

 

His eyes fell back to Stacy's sleeping form and he deftly shook his head. She didn't deserve this. She was young and beautiful yet her eyes were that of a woman who had seen and experienced life way before her time. For the past two years she had lived her life shut away from everyone and everything, much like he had. And now she was drawn back into the fear that was her life when he and Christian had first met her.

 

He remembered all too well how Steiner had treated her then. He especially remembered the way he would look at her. Like she was nothing... and yet something, or at least what his sick mind had conceived as something. She had been so scared of him back then, and then one day Christian had decided he had seen enough and swept in and plucked Stacy right out of Steiner's clutches. Oh, yes... he remembered that day well, because that was the day he had realised his brother had done what he 'himself' had been wanting to do ever since Stacy had graced the WWE with her presence.

 

That had indeed been a happy time for her. For Christian.

 

He felt the rage start to boil inside him again and he walked towards the window, sliding it open to allow the cool night air to surround him, willing it to cool the anger that bubbled beneath the surface. But not even the midnight chill could dampen his rage. One way or another, he would find away to keep Stacy safe. For her. For

Christian. And most importantly... for him.

 

**

 

Part Eleven

 

**

 

Edge stretched as much as the chair he had fallen asleep in would allow, wincing as a spasm of pain shot up his back to end at the base of his neck where it lapsed into a dull aching throb.

 

'I should have opted for the floor.' He thought, bringing a hand up to rub at his sore muscles. Only then noticing the doona that covered his leg's which sat propped up on the coffee table. He must have been so tired last night because right now he didn't recall draping the cover over him. He kicked at it until it slipped off his legs before standing to his feet.

 

Throwing a look across the room to the bed and the rumpled cover's that lay on top of it, before his hand reached up to rub at his eyes, trying to shake the sleep out of his fuddled brain.

 

Then, with a raised brow he lifted his head back to the bed again - An 'empty' bed. He strode over to it, lifting up the rumpled sheets as if expecting to find someone hiding under them.

 

"Stacy?" He said looking around the room. The bag's he had retrieved from her room last night were still where he had left them by the door so she hadn't done another runner on him. "Stacy!" He called a little louder this time, walking to the bathroom to rap anxiously on the closed door, stepping back in surprise as the door opened almost immediately and his eye's bulged at the sight of Stacy standing there wearing nothing but a towel.

 

Concern marred her brow. "What is it? Is everything okay?" She asked coming out of the bathroom. She threw him a curious look as she spied her bags by the door and when he made no attempt to answer her question's she shrugged and continued on talking. "Thanks for getting my bags," She said walking across the room to where they sat, leaving wet footprint's on the tile's as she went. "It wasn't until I was under the spray in the shower that I realised I wasn't in my room. Would have had a lot of explaining to do if anyone had of seen me leaving your room in the same clothes I wore yesterday."

 

"I don’t care what other's say." He said, finally finding his voice.

 

"Not even Dawn-Marie?"

 

His eyes never left hers. “Not even Dawn-Marie."

 

He watched her as she rummaged through her belongings. She looked different. Not a trace of the scared, timid woman Test had practically carried into the hotel yesterday.

 

"Stace?"

 

"Hmmm...?"

 

"What are you doing?"

 

She paused to look up at him, a 'you have got to be kidding me?' look in her eyes. "I'm deciding on what I should wear today. Why? What does it look like I'm doing?"

 

He stared at her pointedly. "I didn't mean it literally, Stace, and you know it." He said coming forward to pull her up from where she crouched in front of her bag's to lead her towards the couch, pushing her down into it before continuing. "What are you doing?"

 

"I should be asking you the same question." She replied, confused by his actions.

 

"Stace," He said sitting himself down beside her. "Pretending yesterday didn't happen is not going to make it go away."

 

'Bingo!' He thought, seeing the shutter's he knew so well shoot up to mask her expression.

 

"I don’t want to talk or even think about what happened yesterday."

 

"You can’t 'not' talk about it." He countered readily. "He killed-"

 

"I know what he did!" She screamed, surprising herself as well as him by her outburst. She lifted a shaky hand to her brow and her eyes fluttered closed. "I know what he did." She repeated softly. "I know that you, Test, Chris and the others only want to help, but, I know what he did... and, god, I wish I could erase it from my memory and only remember the good thing's that happened prior to that night. But I can’t. I can’t forget any of it. So, please forgive me for trying to at least start this day off on a happy note." She stood then and would have turned to flee had Edge not followed her, causing her to stumble into his arms as he spun her around, his arm's banding around her.

 

"No! Let me go! Let me go!" She screamed into his shoulder, her hand's balled up into fist's to pummel against his chest, but he held fast, not releasing his hold until her anger turned into sob's and her arm's banded around him with as much force as the blow's she had levelled at his chest.

 

"Shhh..." He cooed, his hand coming up to gently brush the hair away from her face. "I'm sorry... I'm sorry..." And then he was kissing her. Her cheeks, her eye's, her chin... her lips and she returned the kiss. Softly, tentatively... then the kiss deepened and he heard her moan deep in her throat at the first touch of his tongue against hers.

 

Neither knew at what point in time her towel had slipped to the floor and right then neither of them cared. For now it was enough that they had each other.

 

**

 

Part Twelve

 

**

 

She awoke sprawled out across his chest, the thump-thump-thumping in her ear that had drawn her from her slumber the steady beat of his heart as he slept with her cradled safely in his arms. She gingerly tilted her head up so she could look up into his face as he continued to sleep, her hand soon following her gaze as her fingers drifted along the contours of his jaw. She slowly raised herself up on her elbow, a tiny smile coming to her face when her movements caused his arms to band more tightly around her, holding her to him as if he thought she might disappear if he didn't hold on tight enough.

 

Edge.

 

He had alway's been there for her, her protector, her hero, her friend, until Christian had stepped in and swept her off her feet. Yet, Edge was never far from her side. Her two hero’s. And now, after everything that had happened to them, he was still here, ready and willing to stand up against the physical and emotional monster's that kept her from continuing on with her life.

 

She felt no hint of regret or betrayal to Christian's memory, in fact what she did feel was happy.

 

She felt happy as she lay there in Edge's arms. She felt happy hearing and feeling the beat of his heart beneath her cheek. She felt happy in knowing that they would awake in each other's arms, knowing that they would face there past together.  All this made her happy. 'Edge' made her happy!

 

And, more then anything she believed happiness was what Christian would want for her. For his brother.

 

She smiled and nestled herself more closely into Edge's shoulder, kissing his chin lightly before closing her eyes. Her smile brightening as she felt him in his sleepy state reciprocate her kiss with one of his own at the top of her head.

 

"I am happy, Christian," She whispered before allowing sleep to claim her. "I am happy."

 

**

 

The sun shone brightly outside, oblivious to the two people who stayed sheltered behind the heavy set curtains that adorned the massive window's of the hotel suite, casting the room in almost darkness. The only sound resounding around the room was the constant hum of the air conditioner as it circulated a slight breeze around the room and the tick of the clock on the far side wall that ticked over as every minute passed.

 

Edge sat in a chair beside the bed and watched Stacy as she slept.

 

It wasn't supposed to be like this. He and Stacy had shared the most intimate of intimacies, yet here he was sitting in a chair, watching her curled up on the bed. The thinness of the bed sheets doing little to mask the beauty that lay beneath them. God, he wanted nothing more then to slip back beneath those sheets and hold her forever. Love her forever. If only she would have him. But she never would.

 

He had known she was awake before he felt her small hands lovingly travel over his face, felt her move closer to him and he had nearly burst with happiness when he felt her lips upon his chin. He had wanted to pull her up to him and love her all over again, just like he'd done that morning. He'd wanted to confess to her how he had felt for the longest of times as the happiness welled up inside him, not even consciously aware that he had whispered his thoughts as he kissed the top of her head until he had heard her whispered reply.

 

'I am happy, Christian. I am happy.'

 

A light tapping at the door brought him out of his musings and he reluctantly stood to his feet to answer it.

 

"Hey man, what's up? What's the emergency?" Chris said looking past Edge to the sleeping woman in the bed. His brow's rose but there was no hint of surprise in his voice. "Well, there's no need to ask how your morning's been."

 

Edge ignored him, merely stepping back so the other man could enter. "I need you to stay here." He said curtly.

 

"Me?" Chris replied looking thoroughly confused. "Don’t you think 'you' should be the first one she sees when she wakes?"

 

Edge looked back to the sleeping Stacy her whispered word's still fresh in his mind, then back at Chris. "No." He said not meeting the other man's eye's as he walked out of the room.

 

**

 

Part Thirteen

 

**

 

“Chris?”

 

“Oh, hey, Stace,” Chris got up from where he was seated at the window and moved across the room till he was a few feet from the bed. “I didn’t wake you did I?”

 

She smiled.

 

“Yeah, actually, you did. I could hear you ‘thinking’ from all the way over here.”

 

He returned her smile with one of his own.

 

“Tell me about it, I’d rather die then think this much.”

 

“Something on your mind?” She asked pulling the covers up more securely before patting the space beside her on the bed.

 

“You could say that,” He replied seating himself on the space she had indicated.

 

“Or maybe a ‘someone’…”

 

He grinned and eyed her suspiciously.

 

“You could say ‘that’.” He repeated, his grin still firmly planted across his face.

 

She nudged him with her shoulder.

 

“Don’t worry Jerky, you’re secret is safe with me.” She said sending him a wink.

 

“Secret… what secret?” He asked looking anywhere but at her.

 

“The secret no ones supposed to know about.”

 

He tried his best to look confused.

 

“I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

 

“Do I need to spell it out?”

 

“It might help.”

 

She leaned her head back against the wall and shut her eyes.

 

“S-T-E-P-H-A-N-I-E“

 

His mouth fell open but he quickly shut it again and finally met her gaze.

 

“How’d you know about-“

 

“Are you kidding me,” She cut in holding his gaze as she leaned forward. “Everyone knows.”

 

“They do?”

 

Stacey nodded.

 

“Oh.”

 

She smiled her eyes darting to the alarm clock sitting on the bedside table. She had slept most of the day away and it was already well into the afternoon.

 

“Where’s Edge?”

 

“Oh, he… ah… he had a thing he had to do, he’ll be back soon enough.” He lied.

 

“Oh, okay…”

 

They sat in silence for a few minutes.

 

“Well, I’ll let you get up and shower or whatever, there’s this little deli across the road and they make these amazing muffins, I’ll go get us a couple and be back in a jiffy.” He said getting up off the bed and grabbing his jacket before making his way to the door.

 

“I’ll just be two minutes.”

 

“Okay,” Stacey replied even though he had already closed the door behind him.

 

**

 

He was at a crossroads.

 

He could remember exactly the last time he felt this way – The night

Christian died and he was sitting in the hospital waiting to hear news on Stacey’s condition.

 

He remembered how he hadn’t wanted to leave the hospital, wanting to be there for her once she was allowed visitors, yet now here he was sitting in the hotel lobby too afraid to go up and face her after what they had shared. After what he had ‘heard’. Yet, he couldn’t bring himself to leave the hotel either. Steiner was out there somewhere and knowing that far outweighed his insecurities regarding Stacey.

 

“There you are.”

 

Edge looked up as Chris approached.

 

“She’s a wake man.” His friend continued coming to a stop in front him.

 

“Is she okay?” Was all he could think of to say.

 

“Of course she’s okay, why wouldn’t she be?” He replied seating himself in the chair across from Edge. “She’s asking for you though,” He added.

 

“I can’t go back up there.”

 

“Why the hell not?”

 

He shrugged.

 

“You wouldn’t understand.”

 

“What I don’t understand is you finally get the girl you’ve wanted for like ‘forever’ and you’re running scared with you’re tail tucked between you’re legs.”

 

Edge kept his gaze on the small table that separated them.

 

“I knew you wouldn’t understand.” He grumbled.

 

“Don’t be such a jackass.” His friend exploded springing to his feet.

“Listen to yourself.” He closed his eyes and slowly counted to ten before sitting back down again. “Edge, as much as we all miss him, no amount of emotionally beating yourself up is going to bring him back. Stop living in the past bro, Christian is gone. You and Stacey are ‘here’ and ‘now’.” He got up then and placed a small paper bag on the table between them. “I’ll let you decide what to do with these just know one thing you’re not the only one who stands to lose if you continue to let the past dictate your present. Stacey loses too.”

 

Edge stood to his feet as Chris started to walk away, picking up the paper bag in his hands, the scent of blueberries waffling up to tease his senses.

 

“Where are you going?” He called after his friend.

 

Jericho shot his friend a look over his shoulder and shrugged. “I’m going to take my own advice and stop letting my past stop me from what I want.” And with those parting words and a little wave Chris disappeared from his view as the elevator doors slid to a close.

 

**

 

Part Fourteen

 

**

 

Stacey emerged from the bathroom clad only in a fluffy white towel for the second time that day the only difference being this time Edge hadn’t been here to greet her.

 

She smiled.

 

‘Edge…’

 

She couldn’t describe the feeling just saying his name in her head brought forth. She felt on top of the world for the first time in a long time - Since Christian.

 

“My beautiful, beautiful Christian,” She whispered to the empty room. “I’m happy, I’m truly happy.”

 

Her smile still firmly in place she rifled through her bag, pulling out fresh underwear, jeans and her favourite black long sleeved tee shirt before returning to the bathroom to change.

 

**

 

Edge looked down at his watch trying to determine how long he’d been sitting here since Jericho’s departure.

 

He allowed his head to fall forward into his waiting hands, he had no idea how much time had passed, none at all.

 

‘Maybe he could ask the desk clerk,’ He thought then shook his head at that idea, the man behind the counter must already think he was an idiot for sitting here like he had been all this time and he himself had already determined he was a wuss for not going back up to the hotel room, there was no reason to let them all in on his stupidity as well.

 

“Too much of a wuss,” He repeated quietly in his head. Too scared to go face the woman waiting there, yet too scared to leave the hotel. So what does he do? He had made a compromise, seating himself in a position where he would have a view of anyone who used the elevator or stairway.

 

‘She thought you were Christian,’ His mind told him. How the hell was he supposed to compete with the memories she still held of his brother.

 

Chris had been right about one thing, he and Stacey were ‘here’ and ‘now’, but Christian was still alive and breathing within them - Within Stacey.

 

“You’re still here?”

 

He lifted his head and just as quickly averted his gaze at the pointed stare his fellow Canadian had trained on him.

 

“What the hell are you doing? It’s been almost two hours since I left you.” He said fingering the brown paper bag that still sat untouched on the small table between them.

 

Chris slowly shook his head in disappointment.

 

“You sorry son of a bitch,”

 

Edge didn’t know what to say, so he didn’t say anything. He deserved his friends censure and probably a lot more.

 

“What’s going on?” Stephanie asked and for the first time since his friends approach Edge noticed that not only was Stephanie at Jericho’s side, but that Jericho had her hand clasped tightly in his own… and they were out in public!

 

“He’s in love with Stacy.”

 

Edge glared at his friends words, which Chris choose to ignore.

 

“That’s so great!” Stephanie gushed. “I’m so happy for you both.”

 

“Its not gonna-“

 

“Enough with the negative talk,” Chris cut in. “Either you love her or you don’t.”

 

Stephanie frowned.

 

“What am I missing?”

 

“Do you love her?” Chris continued shushing the woman at his side and Edge’s eyes widened in surprise when she actually listened.

 

“Well do you?” His friend prodded.

 

“Yes,” He confessed, what else could he say? It was the truth, he knew it, Chris knew it and now Stephanie knew it.

 

“Then take a chance man,” Chris said pulling his friend up out of his chair and leading him purposely towards the elevator. “If I can do it, you can do it.”

 

“What are you talking about?” Edge asked as they came to a stop beside the elevator.

 

“We’ve made it official,” Stephanie beamed raising her hand and wiggling her fingers so that the ring she wore on her finger sparkled even though it was late afternoon.

 

Chris put his arm around Stephanie’s waist and pulled her closer to his side.

 

“I don’t want to hide behind closed doors anymore,” He began only to pause and smile at the now blushing Stephanie. “’We’ don’t want to hide behind closed doors anymore. We want everyone to know we love each other.”

 

Stephanie chuckled. “Even if they want to kill us for it,”

 

“Take the chance,” Chris said again as the bell sounded and the elevator doors opened.

 

Edge took a deep breath, nodded to his friend and stepped into the elevator.

 

“Oh wait,” Stephanie shrieked putting her hands out to stop the elevator doors from closing completely.

 

“What is it?” Edge asked and then blanched as the billion dollar princess pulled a vial from her purse and proceeded to spray it in his direction. His expression soured as he sniffed the air around him. “Gee, thanks Steph, now she’ll never come near me.”

 

“Oh quit complaining, this is expensive stuff.” She reprimanded, rolling her eyes before stepping back into Chris’s embrace.

 

“Now,” Chris stated in a fatherly voice. “If I see either of you kids out of that hotel room for the next couple of days, I will personally kick both your asses.”

 

**

 

Stacy was doing her best not to continuously stare at the digital clock on the bedside table, but as each minute passed her eyes seemed drawn to it more and more.

 

“Where is he?” She whispered brokenly.

 

Chris had said Edge wouldn’t be long and he had also said he himself would be back in two minutes.

 

Again her eyes inadvertently went to the clock… two hours that had turned into two hours.

 

There was no other explanation she could think of for Edge not being here when she awoke other then he regretted what had happened between them and Chris obviously had been put in the middle of it, so she didn’t blame him for feeling uncomfortable around her… if the shoe were on the other foot ‘she’ probably would have done the same thing. But Edge…

 

Sighing she got up off the couch, grabbed her bag and walked to the door, pulling it open before turning to look back at the bed she and Edge had shared.

 

“You little fool,” She whispered to the room that now made her feel so cold. “You perfect little fool.”

 

**

 

Part Fifteen

 

**

 

“Damn stupid contraption.”

 

Impatiently she slapped the palm of her hand against the little plastic down arrow that served as a control button for the elevator and stamped her foot in frustration, then quickly looked about her to see if anyone was around to witness her little hissy fit.

 

“What’s taking you so bloody long?”

 

“Stace?”

 

She spun on her heel at the sound of a deep voice behind her, both her hands flying to her chest as if to still her racing heart.

 

“Test!” She breathed her hands now moving up to cup her cheeks and then her forehead. “You scared me.”

 

He smiled apologetically, but the apology that was on the tip of his tongue stilled on its way up his wind pipe when he noticed her bag sitting at her feet.

 

“You going somewhere?” He asked leaning casually against the wall.

 

“I’m on my way back to my room,” She replied. “That is if this elevator arrives… its taking forever.”

 

His eye brows met in the middle.

 

‘Hadn’t it been decided that Stacey would now be staying in Edge’s room?’

 

“Where’s Edge?” Was his next question.

 

He took in the way she blushed and fumbled at the mention of the other man’s name and hooked his thumb up under her chin bringing her eyes to his, not prepared for the tears he saw shining there. Tears she was doing her damnedest to control.

 

“Stace, what’s happened?” He asked gently.

 

She merely shook her head as her control slipped and her tears flowed.

 

“Shhh…” He whispered pulling her into his embrace. “Look, my room is only down the hall, lets go there and you can tell me what happened okay?”

 

“Don’t you share a room with Edge?”

 

“I was. I gave it up for you remember?”

 

She blushed and gave him a sad little nod.

 

“Come on,” He cooed.

 

Her face still buried in his shoulder she nodded her acquiesce.

 

Placing a brotherly kiss on the top of her head he picked up her bag and arm in arm he led her away from the elevator.

 

As soon as they had rounded the corner the elevator lights flashed and the doors opened.

 

“Okay,” Edge said to himself as he stepped off the elevator. “You’re just going to go in there, take her by the shoulders and kiss-“ He shook his head as he came to a stop outside of his hotel room door. “Your gonna go in there, apologise for being such a mindless ass ‘then’ take her by the shoulders and kiss-“

 

He shook his head again.

 

‘But what if she didn’t want to be kissed?’ His mind told him. ‘What if she didn’t want to see him at all, what if she were beyond pissed and promptly told him to stay the hell away from her?’

 

He began to pace and ran his palms down the side of his jeans to eliminate the moisture he could feel accumulating there.

 

‘Go in, grab girl, kiss girl and deal with angry girl after kiss.’ He looked purposely at the door. ‘Yep, that definitely sounded like a plan.’

 

He took a deep breath and then another one before swiping his card into the slot provided. As soon as the light flashed green he was pushing the door open and his eyes were darting around the room in search of Stacey.

 

“Stace?” He called going in and pausing as he got to the middle of the room. His brows met in the middle and he turned towards the bathroom pushing on the door which easily swung open.

 

It was empty.

 

As if to prove to himself that the bathroom was really empty he walked the few steps it took him to reach the shower cubicle and pulled the curtain back.

 

Nothing.

 

He left the bathroom and sat down on the bed he and Stacey had shared, the covers now neatly made and the pillows fluffed up.

 

‘Maybe she went for a walk, maybe she’s with one of the divas…’ His eyes swept the room again. ‘But if that were so, why had she taken her bags? Had he left it too long? Had he allowed his own insecurities to mess up his chance to be with Stacey?’

 

He didn’t want to believe it, but right now it seemed the only plausible explanation for her not being there.

 

“Jericho’s right,” He said gruffly to himself. “You are a sorry son of a bitch.”

 

Getting to his feet he strode to the door and pulled it open. He had to fix this, he had to find her and fix this!

 

‘Christian is gone you and Stacey are here and now.’

 

He could hear Jericho’s words in his head like a scratched record constantly playing over and over again. He pulled the door shut, pocketed his key card and walked back towards the elevator.

 

He had let her down twice already he would not do it again.

 

**

 

Part Sixteen

 

**

 

It was cold.

 

The wind whipped up the coat tails of his jacket searching for any hint of warmth in which to snuff out with its icy grip.

 

His breath flowed in two long streams before evaporating into the atmosphere as he exhaled and he tightened the scarf around his neck pulling it up so that it covered his lips and tugged his hat down over his eyes as others arrived to take there place behind him.

 

He ignored them, just like he ignored everyone else in this world… everyone but ‘his’ Stacey.

 

He shook his head.

 

If only these strangers knew how lucky they were to be standing here alongside him even if they didn’t know who he was. And to those whose actions tonight brought them even closer to there goal, they would be the luckiest of all because they would share in a part of history and it would be an event they and many others would never forget.

 

Yep, this time next week he’d be up close and personal with all his former colleagues of the WWE.

 

He pulled his jacket shut more firmly against him trying to ward off the cold as he settled back against the wall to wait out the coming dawn.

 

**

 

“Now, why don’t you tell me what happened,” Test said setting a glass of water down on the small table in front of Stacey before seating himself across from her.

 

“Come on hon, you and me been friends for a long time. You can tell me anything…” His look of concern changed to one of amusement and he added. “…Or nothing.”

 

He saw her smile and reached forward to lightly punch her shoulder.

 

“Now, there’s that pretty smile I know so well,” he continued his own smile growing as hers did. “What happened?”

 

Stacey shrugged and shook her head.

 

“He… he doesn’t want me,” She replied simply. “I… Edge… we…” She looked down at her hands that lay in her lap not able to look her friend in the eye as realisation dawned on him.

 

He swore.

 

“He left and…”

 

“Listen honey, I don’t know what’s going through Edge’s mind right now, but I do know one thing,” He got up and moved around the table so he could join her on the couch. “Edge has loved you for as long as you and I have been friends.”

 

She frowned as Test continued.

 

“It nearly killed him when you started dating Christian, to watch as you and Christian fell deeper and deeper in love with one another, but being the man he is, he kept quiet. Your happiness and Christian’s happiness meant more to him then his own.”

 

“I… I had no idea…”

 

“He loves you Stace.”

 

Still she shook her head.

 

“Then why did he leave?”

 

He sighed heavily and leaned forward resting his elbows on his knees.

“I don’t know,” He replied honestly. “But I do know that he loves you.”

 

**

 

Edge sat in the hotel bar and stared down into his glass.

 

He had looked everywhere, asked everyone and no one had seen her. His finger idly tapped the side of his glass while inside he was mentally kicking himself to the same rhythm.

 

He saw a few of the others gathered in a corner but he didn’t feel like being all sociable. All he wanted to do was find Stacey and make things right with her.

 

He went back to staring into his drink as he pondered the mess he had made. He was about to lift his glass to his mouth when something fluttered down over his head to hit the rim of his glass. Picking it up, he turned the room card over in his hand then shot a look over his shoulder.

 

“Room 318, you can thank me later.”

 

Edge’s brows met in the middle for a fraction of a second before he was up off his stool and striding purposely towards the door.

 

“Edge,” Test called before the other man could disappear through the doorway.

 

Edge paused and half turned to face his friend.

 

“You only get so many chances bro, don’t blow this one.”

 

**

 

Part Seventeen

 

**

 

He didn’t know what to expect as he slipped the key card Test had given him into the slot provided on the door, it swung open almost immediately and he stepped over the threshold and into the dimly lit room. At first the room seemed empty and thoughts of Test getting a cheap thrill out of his misery entered his mind, but then there was movement on the bed and as he got closer he saw that it was Stacy’s form lying atop the covers. She looked like a little girl with both her hands nestled under her cheek and her knees pulled up. Carefully he leaned down and kissed the top of her head, she didn’t stir. He kissed her cheek still she remained in her slumber. Slowly he lowered himself down on the bed beside her and gently spooned himself around her, groaning when she instinctively pushed her backside into his groin. His eyes fluttered closed and he struggled for control, letting forth a slow rush of air when he had his libido in check. This was not the time for ‘that’, now all he wanted was to feel her lying beside him exactly as she was. Closing his eyes he fell asleep with Stacy in his arms and the familiar scent of her shampoo filling his senses.

 

**

 

He left the queue early the next morning with a light heart and long felt anticipation for what was to come.

 

His eyes fell to the newly purchased WWE Raw ringside ticket he held in his hand and in his mind he heard the gleeful chuckle that belonged to the mad man who had lain dormant for so long… until now.

 

Tucking the ticket safely into the inside pocket of his coat he pulled up his collar, stuffed his hands in his pockets and walked away whistling softly to himself.

 

**

 

Her leg was asleep.

 

She tried to move it.

 

Couldn’t.

 

Why was her leg asleep and not her mind?

 

She tried again and winced as her leg protested to being moved after sitting in the one position for so long. She tried rolling the top half of her body over to help free her leg and her eyes flew open when an arm banded around her waist to pull her back into her original position. She looked down and saw one denim clad leg sprawled out over both of hers.

 

“Test, get off me you big ape. I can’t feel my legs.” She grumbled groggily reaching down to slap at the leg that held both her hers trapped.

 

“Do you think,” Came an equally groggy voice. “That just once when you wake up you could actually get my name right?”

 

Stacy shot up and then just as quickly cried out in pain, her actions causing spasm after spasm to shoot up her leg.

 

Edge was up on his knees in seconds a look of complete concern marring his handsome face as he stared down at her.

 

“What is it? What’s wrong?”

 

A look of relief washed over her face and she smiled when the painful prickly sensations slowly lessoned and she could finally open her eyes.

 

“Edge?”

 

He watched as her eyes darted around the room. Probably looking for Test he mused.

 

“What are you doing here?” She asked staring up at him as he knelt over her.

 

He blushed. He couldn’t believe it. ‘He’ actually blushed under her stare.

 

“I… I…” He closed his eyes and mentally ordered himself to get it together. The last thing he needed to do was stuff up again.

 

“Stacy,” He began again.

 

“Yes?”

 

Her voice sounded so soft and little girl-ish to his ears and it was that tiny sound that was his undoing.

 

He leaned down as if in a trance.

 

“Stacey, I…”

 

She lifted her head.

 

“You…” She pressed.

 

“I love you,” He whispered on her mouth, her mumbled reply lost on him as he staked his claim on her mouth, on her senses and on her heart.

 

**

 

Part Eighteen

 

**

 

“Well, will you look at that?”

 

All heads turned to see Edge enter the hotel dining room with Stacy on his arm.

 

“It’s about time if you ask me.”

 

“We didn’t ask you.”

 

“Shut up Jerky.”

 

“Meathead.”

 

“Sandwich butt.”

 

“Hey… take that back!”

 

“And you wanted to come sit over here,” Came a voice from behind them.

 

“Hey, there pretty lady,” Test said getting to his feet and poking his tongue out at Edge in greeting before pulling Stacy out of his arms and into his own.

 

“Hey buddy,” Jericho said when Edge sat down beside him. “Good to see that cheesy grin back on your mug.”

 

“You’re looking at a happy man, Chris… a happy man.” Edge replied his eyes on Stacy. “Where’s Steph? By the way you two were hanging off each other yesterday you’d think you were joined at the hip.”

 

Jericho’s look turned dreamy as he thought about the youngest McMahon.

 

“She had a last minute meeting with the writing team, with tonight’s show being Stacy’s comeback they want to put her with Test first, have him turn on her and then you my friend get to play knight in shining armour.”

 

“Whoop-di-doo, I get to give your future brother in law a jump start through the testy’s. Kane snickered from the next table.

 

“Ouch!” All three men cringed in unison.

 

“And I’ve got your little chickie to thank for it.” Kane continued. “It was all her idea, makes you wonder what she’d do to you if you ever got on her bad side don’t it.” He added with a wide grin.

 

Chris shifted uncomfortably in his chair, sent a glare the big red machines way and then just as quickly turned to nudge Edge with his shoulder.

 

“Don’t look now bro, but cyclone Dawn Marie is about to hit.”

 

Edge straightened his shoulders more then prepared to tell Dawn Marie that her foolish attempts to get him in her bed again ended right here, right now and in doing so maybe scoring a few points with Stacy in the process. Leaning forward he reached out and tugged on Stacy’s hand until he had succeeded in getting her away from Test long enough to pull her onto his lap, but as soon as he saw Dawn Marie he had no need to be worried about her making a scene. The brunette diva casting him the merest of looks as she made her way over to Test and planted a wet one right on his smiling chops.

 

“Have I missed something?” Stacy asked, her face one of surprise as she looked from Dawn Marie to Test who by this time had his arms firmly wrapped around the other divas waist.

 

Test grinned at them over her shoulder.

 

“Since giving my room up twice in the name of love I decided it was my turn to try out the love seat.”

 

“Well,” Stacy said the first of them seated at the table to come to her senses. “You couldn’t have picked a better man.” She said addressing Dawn Marie.

 

“That’s what I keep telling myself,” Dawn Marie replied before her eyes caught and held Edge’s. “Was fun while it lasted hey?”

 

“It was from where I was looking,” Jericho piped in ignoring her glare. She maybe all nice, nice with one of his best friends, but that didn’t mean he had to be nice to her. Civil maybe… but not nice.

 

“It was,” Edge answered, his arms tightening around Stacy. “I’m glad you’ve found someone worthy of your attentions.”

 

“You too,” Dawn Marie replied surprising Stacey by sending her a smile before pulling Test to the other side of the restaurant where they could get a table for two.

 

**

 

Part Nineteen

 

**

 

It had been a long time since he had been in a arena.

 

A long time.

 

Yet the ambiance was still what he remembered. The excitement that built up inside as you looked around a sold out arena, the mass of people all here for the same purpose – To watch, cheer and drool over there favourite WWE superstars.

 

All except him.

 

He was here for one reason and one reason only. And that reason was

Stacy Keibler.

 

He wasn't surprised that no one recognised him. The long two years he had spent waiting inside a prison cell with nothing but memories to keep him company had changed him on the inside as well as the out.

His then bleached hair was now dark and unruly, his mouth and chin unseeable beneath a thick mat of course facial hair.

 

Scott Steiner shook himself clear of his thoughts and pulled his beanie down as he made his way down to the front row and took his seat.

 

**

 

"You’re sure you wanna do this? You don't have to go out there you know. We can go straight to Stephanie's office right now and-"

 

"Baby enough," Stacy laughed, silencing him with the touch of her fingers against his lips. "I'll be fine. Test and I have been through this match so many times I'm starting to do it in my sleep."

 

He tried to pout, but couldn't pull it off as his grin coming into play.

 

"Maybe I should apply some new tactics in bed to ensure you have sweet dreams." He mumbled into her ear and then grinned again when she blushed.

 

"You’re sure you wanna do this?" Came a voice from behind them and they both turned to see Test standing there, his arm slung over the shoulders of his newest accessory.

 

Stacy held up a perfectly manicured hand.

 

"Don't even start. I've already had this conversation with Edge. I'm going out there – End of story."

 

Test took a step back, his hands up in surrender.

 

"Hey, sure… whatever you say."

 

Dawn Marie grinned at his side.

 

"As you can see, I have him well and truly trained."

 

"Yes, I see that," Stacy exclaimed wide eyed. "My once tough best friend has been turned to mush."

 

"And loving every minute of it," Was his response, "But for now its time for you and I to get out there and show the world our stuff."

 

"Right behind you big guy," Stacy replied leaning up to give Edge a kiss before following after the other couple.

 

"I'll be here," Edge called to her, the last thing he saw as the curtains swished closed was the brilliant smile she sent back at him over her shoulder.

 

**

 

The crowd came to life once Test and Stacy had appeared at the top of the ramp. She had forgotten what it felt like to be the centre of attention in a crowd of this magnitude, but it didn't take long for all those old feelings of excitement to come flooding back. Out here it wasn't about getting the pin so the General Manager could put a little tick beside your name, it was about giving your all to please the crowd because when it came down to it, that's what kept them here night after night, week after week, year after year.

 

She felt Test grab her hand and give it a squeeze before they both headed down to ringside where Stevie Richards and Victoria waited.

 

Once in the ring Stacy waved and smiled for the crowd while Test stared daggers at his opponent who now stood outside the ring having made a quick exit as they entered. She could hear the ref yelling at

Stevie to get back in the ring and soon enough Test was leading her back to there corner as the bell sounded.

 

**

 

The match went back and forth for a while and Stacy glared across the ring at Victoria who in turn glared just as furiously back just as they had planned.

 

Stacy braced herself for what she knew was coming. Stevie would swing Test into the ropes where he would hook his arm around her as she stood on the apron unceremoniously bringing her into the ring, where he, Stevie and Victoria would all turn on her giving reason for Edge to hightail it down to the ring to make the save.

 

Only that didn't happen.

 

Out the corner of her eye a big blur appeared and her attention was momentarily distracted before she saw test's eye's widen as Stevie reared up to swing him into the ropes. She saw the horror in his eyes and his mouth open as he screamed her name, but it was too late. Her legs were swept out from under her and she was falling.

 

She braced herself for the pain she would feel when her body connected with the floor, but instead she found herself cradled in someone's arms. She looked up ready to thank whoever it was who had caught her, but her smile died on her lips when she found herself face to face with Christian's killer.

 

**

 

Part Twenty

 

**

 

Everything happened so fast she wasn't sure if it were really happening or wether this was just another horrible nightmare come back to haunt here. One minute she was in his arms the next minute she was on the floor and he was in the ring, sledge hammer in hand with Test lying flat out on the ring floor.

 

Then a blur rushed passed her and the next thing she knew Steiner was flat on his back after being speared by Edge.

 

Edge. She had to get to Edge. Steiner would kill him like he had killed Christian. She couldn't let that happen. She wouldn't lose

Edge too.

 

With Edge still holding Steiner down even though it was apparent the other man wouldn't be going anywhere and with arena security, EMT's and WWE officials mulling about outside the ring and in all the chaos everyone seemed to forget about the sledge hammer. And it was that sledge hammer Stacy now focused on. She climbed into the ring, picked it up and walked the few steps that would bring her to them and raised the sledge hammer above her head.

 

"Stacy!" Edge cried letting go of Steiner as he sprang towards her, the two of them tumbling backwards.

 

She was crying then. And so was he.

 

"I want him dead, I want him dead…" She cried over and over into his shoulder.

 

"I do too," Edge said holding her tighter then he had ever held anyone. "But I want you more… I want us to have a life together without this forever hanging over our heads." He pulled back to cradle her wet cheeks in his palms and gently lifted her gaze to his. "We've over come one barrier already, this is the last one. Here and now is our chance to say goodbye to the past forever." His thumb rubbed tightly across her cheek and his gaze softened. "Are you with me?"

 

He saw the corners of her mouth lift as she nodded.

 

"Okay," He said getting to his feet and pulling her with him.

 

By this time security had entered the ring and Steiner was in hand cuffs. It seemed like the whole roster had come out to ringside, all of them ready and willing to jump Steiner if he tried anything, even the ones who had claimed to be his friend once upon a time.

 

Side by side Edge and Stacy stood in front of Steiner, who held his head high and his eyes told of an unspoken promise, but Stacy now saw through that. The man she knew all those years ago was gone and in his place was this sorry excuse for a human being.

 

"You can't hurt me anymore," She said her eyes not wavering from his. "You may go to jail again and harbour thoughts of revenge when you get out as you sit alone in your cell, but I'm letting you know now that time will never come because you can’t hurt me anymore." She squeezed Edge's hand and smiled when there gazes met feeling a great weight lift off her shoulders. "You can't hurt us."

 

Then she was in Edge's arms again watching as arena security and the police led Steiner up the ramp and through the curtain only now realising that the crowd was cheering there approval.

 

He grinned and pulled Stacy closer to him.

 

"I love you," She whispered.

 

"I love you," He whispered back neither of them in a hurry to break there embrace.

 

"Hey, you two, as much as I'm glad you're both feeling the love right now… could someone please tell me what the hell happened?"

 

"Test!" Stacy exclaimed only now remembering he'd been lying unconscious with Steiner standing over him with a sledge hammer. "Oh my god! Are you alright? Just lie still, you're gonna be okay-"

 

"Stacy," Test said raising his hand to silence her. "I'm okay, I'm fine."

 

"But I saw Steiner with that sledge hammer-"

 

Dawn Marie, who'd come flying out to ringside immediately after Edge now sat inside the ring with Test's head pillowed in her lap.

 

"Steiner wasn't the cause for my baby being flat on his back," She said trying to keep a straight face as the big man in her arms started to blush.

 

Stacy frowned.

 

"I've been told…" Test began, "…that I tripped and hit my head…" His blush deepened, "…knocked myself out."

 

Stacy's frown turned into a wide eyed stare.

 

"Oh,"

 

"Yeah, oh…" He said rolling his eyes. "…I know what you're all thinking, go on, go a head and have a good laugh at my expense."

 

"Oh, no…" Stacy replied the amusement shining in her eyes not doing her words justice. "I would never laugh."

 

But then she did exactly that!

 

"That'll be right," Test grumbled getting to his feet. "Come on Dawn Marie, we don't need these losers, lets go back stage and you can make me feel better,"

 

Stacy laughed all the more and Test couldn't help sharing in it as he pulled the leggy blonde into his arms.

 

"Okay," He said setting a still laughing Stacy away from him. "You can stop now it wasn't `that' funny."

 

"My god, is everyone okay?" Stephanie asked climbing into the ring with Jericho close on her heels.

 

"Right as rain," Edge replied, then scoffed. "You two sure took your time getting down here."

 

"Yeah, well, allowances have to be made when it comes to a lady with a bab-"

 

Stacy had never seen Jericho shut his mouth so quick in all her life and Stephanie looked as red as her nail polish.

 

"Are you…" She started off.

 

"…pregnant?" Dawn Marie finished for her.

 

Stephanie nodded.

 

"Well, I'll be…" Test said as all three women jumped up and down and hugged in the way that girls do when they got all excited. "Never thought I'd see that." He continued.

 

"Yeah," Edge agreed. "…them three standing in the middle of a ring usually means hair pulling and eye scratching."

 

"Aha… those were the days." Jericho added with a sigh.

 

"Ah… guys?" All three men turned to see Charles Robinson standing patiently behind them. "We kinda need the ring now for the next match."

 

Edge grinned.

 

"You don't need to tell me twice, I am definitely looking forward to some time alone with my girl." He said.

 

"And I am in dire need of a back rub." Test added.

 

"And I have a nice romantic dinner for two planned and a bubble bath awaiting my sweet Stephy-kins."

 

They all grinned at each other before turning back to face the girls.

 

"Um…" Edge started. "Where are they?"

 

Both Jericho and Test looked dumbstruck.

 

"They left already…" Charles Robinson spoke up again not trying to hide his obvious amusement. "…I'm not sure, but I think Stacy said something about Stephanie needing a whole new wardrobe."

 

**

 

End Fic

 

**

 

 

 

 

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