Title: Remember When
Author: Empress
Email: Empress@thewaysideinn.net
Distribution: Empress' Private Library and The Wayside Inn  All others ask first.
Rating:  NC17 again bordering or dancing all over a XXX rating - and this actually comes as a shock to whom??
Characters: Hunter/Nan; Dixie the Wonder Wiener Dog; Tina Elliott; Hurricane; Vince McMahon; Dave Batista; Red Elliott; Brun Elliott; Ric Flair; Randy Orton; Stacy Kiebler; Chris Benoit; Chris Jericho/Rosie; Kit Helmsley; and more OFCs that aren't important than you can shake a stick at.
Spoilers:  None.
Warnings:  I'm overdue on some smut so this one's pretty well stocked with it. 
Summary: Ugh….  I suck at summaries!!  But here goes…On the way back from the funeral, Hunter and Nan reminisce of their first time together.  Tina's new job becomes public knowledge, and more than one person isn't happy about it.  Randy says something stupid and pays the consequences.  Hunter's mother makes her first appearance, and Nan's secret is revealed!!!
Author's Notes: As this is a flashback chapter, we're bouncing around again.  Might wanna get your kneepads for this one.  Hey, everyone's got to have a "greatest clips" episode, right?  And as usual, I do mine a little differently.
Feedback: Always.
Disclaimer: Not mine - theirs.  Some are mine and I'm keeping those.  No money made.  Please pass the insulin.  On with the show.

Remember when thirty seemed old
Now lookn' back it's just a steppin' stone
To where we are,
Where we've been
Said we'd do it all again
Remember when
       Remember When - Alan Jackson

August 26 2004 - Thursday 10:15 p.m.
Colonial Inn, Room 217 - Moccasin Gap, North Carolina 

"I think your brothers have finally accepted me," Hunter began without preamble, as he dried Nan off, preparing for bed. 

She hadn't cried in the bathtub for long.  Not long enough for Hunter, as odd as it may sound.  He was still convinced that the depth of her grief hadn't even begun to be tapped yet.  And he couldn't help but wonder what would cause the violent outpouring of emotion he knew was boiling beneath her façade of calm to come bubbling to the surface.  Or how long it would take to get there.

Once her tears had dried up, all the strength seemed to go out of her, and she'd stumbled twice trying to pull herself out of the tub.  For once she'd actually asked for his help.  That had scared him, almost as badly as it had the night in Pittsburgh when he'd found out she'd hurt herself in Florida.

Hunter scooped her out of the tub, and carried her wet, naked, and covered in suds, back into the bedroom.  He set her down on a chair while he sat on the edge of the bed, and ran a towel over her, sopping up the suds and the excess water.

"Really?  How do you figure?"  Nan murmured quietly, bracing herself on his shoulder as he lifted each leg and dried it, almost clinically.

"Well, Brun didn't try to arrest me," he chuckled grinning at her, reminding her of when her brother had done just that, the first time the two men had met.  He was pleased to see her lips tilt up in a small smile.  "And Robbie didn't threaten to kill me.  Then again, he didn't speak to me either.  But I think the lack of a death threat is a good sign, don't you?"

"Maybe," she answered, unwilling to comment more on her oldest brother's increasing dislike of Hunter.  Robbie had never liked him.  And here lately, it was just growing more intense.  She knew why he felt that way, now at any rate.  But there wasn't anything she could do about it.

"You don't sound too convinced."

She shrugged.  "Robbie's always been a little…odd.  I wouldn't worry about it.  He's not the one you live with."

"Thank God," he grumbled.  "You want a night gown?"

"No."  She shook her head, and made a move to get up. 

But Hunter stopped her, instead lifting her up in his arms again and transferring her the short distance to the bed.  Once he got her settled, he stood up and stripped off his robe and boxers, then slid between the sheets with her.  Immediately, she snuggled up against him, laying her cheek on his chest.  Hunter wrapped an arm around her and began stroking her head. 

"So what's Robbie got against me?"

Nan sighed.  "Do you really want to discuss this now?"

"Maybe not in depth, but I'd kinda like to have an answer."

"Hunter, Robbie just doesn't care for…well…jocks.  A label you definitely qualify for.  We don't call him Egghead for nothin' ya know," she explained.

Shifting, he reached for the remote, and scaled through the channels until he found something they could sleep to, settling on the tail end of an X-Men rerun on TBS.  "That explains why he was less than friendly when I first met him.  Not now, though.  If anything, he's gotten worse."

Nan made a non-committal sound and murmured, "Oooh…Wolverine.  Very nice.  I like."

"You and Legs both.  What is it with you two and Hugh Jackman?"

"He's sexy as hell.  Drop dead, gutter crawlin', tongue draggin' gorgeous."

Hunter grunted.  "He doesn't do a damn thing for me.  Now Halle Berry on the other hand…"

"Oh enough with the Halle stuff.  You're starting to sound like Coach."

He chuckled.  "She wouldn't give that ass-kisser the time of day."

"Don't tell him that.  You'll crush his dreams."

Chuckling again, they quieted and settled in to watch the end of the movie.  Nan sighed sweetly when Wolverine ripped his gloves off and put his bare hands on Rogue's skin, practically willing her to come back to life, only for her to do so, then push him away as he passed out, and began to bleed from his wounds.

"Life force stealing mutation or not," Nan muttered as the station broke for commercial.  "Those two are soo doin' it."

Hunter laughed.  "I can't believe you said that."

"Said what," she asked, rubbing her cheek against his chest.  "That they're doin' it?  Well, they are.  I don't know about you, but I was a big follower of the comics back in the day.  They're bumpin' uglies.  Trust me on this one."

"If you say so, baby."

"Damn skippy, I say so."

Hunter laughed, then fell silent as the movie came back on.  Once the credits began to roll, he turned the volume down a bit, commenting casually, "You know, don't you?  About Robbie, I mean."

Nan hesitated.  "I've got an idea."

"So…what is it then?"

She shifted to look up at him.  "I think he's jealous that you spend more time with Tina than he does."

Hunter just stared at her for a moment, then nodded slowly.  "Makes sense.  She's a great kid.  I'd be proud as hell to call her my daughter."

"Would you?"  Nan looked at him oddly, and he couldn't help but wonder what was going on behind those gypsy eyes of hers.  He had a pretty good idea though. 

"Of course.  What's not to be proud of?"

She nodded, then laid her head back down. 

"Even your Dad was nice to me this time," Hunter murmured, setting the sleep timer on the television, then laying the remote aside to turn off the bedside light.

"Daddy's always nice to you."

"Tolerant.  Not nice."

"Tolerant is nice for Daddy," Nan rebutted with a yawn.

"Getting sleepy, baby?"

She nodded.  Then remembering one other time he'd said that to her, she smiled against his skin.

Hunter felt it.  "What?"

"Just remembering…" 

~<>~

I miss you much
I really really miss you
You much
I miss you much
I'm not ashamed to tell the world
I miss you
       Miss You Much - Janet Jackson

March 4, 2002 9:15 p.m. EST
Nan's House, Moccasin Gap, North Carolina 

Deciding to call it an early night, Nan lay in the middle of her cold queen-sized bed amongst enough pillows and blankets to get lost in, with Dixie curled up beneath the covers with her.  Aside from the fact that due to an absolute freak snowstorm that left six inches of snow on the ground, and despite her heat being cranked up to seventy, and in spite of the two quilts weighting her down, Nan just couldn't seem to get warm.

Tucking the covers up further under her chin, she snuggled deeper into the mound of bedding, and rolled her head to the side only to stare at the empty pillow beside her.  It wasn't like she expected to see him there.  But missing someone made you think really crazy things sometimes.  Like if she closed her eyes really tightly then opened them again, that he'd magically appear laying beside her, favoring her with that gentle smile that he seemed to reserve only for her.  Fighting the childish impulse for about three seconds, she gave in.  When she opened her eyes again, the pillow was still there, only now it had a little brown dog on it, enthusiastically licking her face.

Laughing at both the dog and her own silliness, Nan scooped Dixie up and dragged her underneath the covers, tucking her like a baby up against her side.  She turned her attention back to the television on her highboy dresser.  Finally the commercial break was over and the cameras were trained on Stephanie McMahon, who was currently bitching out Jericho about some kind of lotion she wanted.

Listening only partially, Nan frowned.  She would never have believed Chris would get himself tangled up with Steph if she'd not seen it with her own eyes.  Fleetingly, she wondered if he had done it to get back at her somehow.  But she shook her head; that was kind of an egotistical line of thinking.  Especially since she and Chris had split up over a year ago.  Besides, she'd dated Kane up until three weeks ago, and Chris had been perfectly okay with that.  At least he'd never given her any inclination that he was still hurt over their break-up.  And there was still the valid point that Chris didn't know that she and Hunter were…well…dating. 

Sorta.

It was really difficult to classify a relationship, which consisted mainly of telephone calls, with a man going through an ugly divorce as dating.  She'd not seen him in two weeks, other than when he was on her television, of course.  When she'd been dating Chris, and later Kane, she'd managed to see them at least once a week, flying or driving to wherever they were performing at the time.  She had so many frequent flyer miles now that she was certain she had an upgrade to the Space Shuttle.  But with Hunter, she couldn't do that.  He was insistent that she stay out of the line of fire…meaning his divorce.  At least until Stephanie finally gave in and signed the separation papers he'd filed last month.  Until then, she had to stay at home, and deal with a true long-distance relationship.  She'd wanted to be with him for so long, and now that it was almost in her grasp that being unable to see him was making her nuts.

Okay, so he called her several times a week.  Sometimes several times a day, depending on his schedule and hers.  But as wonderful as it was to hear his voice and sweet of him to call, it just wasn't the same.  She missed him.

The sound of his voice smoothed away her frown into a sappy teenagery smile.  She flicked her eyes back to the television in time to see Hunter tell his wife that he wanted her out of his life.  He up-ended the box he carried on the sofa and left the room.  Nan's eyes fluttered closed as Steph slathered her face and arms with some of the lotion she'd found amongst her things.

A little later, she came awake quickly at the sounds of the screaming crowd at the live event.  Sleepily, she struggled to focus on the screen and was horrified to see Hunter bleeding profusely, hanging up side down from the ropes, while Stephanie slung the chair that she'd just hit him with, into the ring.  Her face and arms were covered in an ugly rash and she was screeching at Hunter about poisoning her lotion, as she helped Angle out of the ring to win the match.

Wiping at her eyes, Nan looked over at the clock, hoping he was okay and that she wouldn't have to wait to find out.  Knowing she wouldn't sleep until he called, she switched over to the local news.  An hour and a half later, she was near frantic with worry as he still hadn't called.  Just about the time she was ready to call his cell, the phone rang, nearly startling her out of her skin.

She scrambled for the receiver, answering with a breathless gasp.  "Hunter?"

"Hey baby."  His voice was heavy and tired, and she was utterly relieved to hear it.

"Are you okay?  I saw all the blood, and…"

"I'm fine, baby.  Just a couple of stitches to the old noggin and I'm right as rain."  He chuckled deeply into the phone.  "Obviously you know how my night went.  So how about you?  You sound tired."

"I am," she affirmed, worming her way back down into the covers, a silly smile crawling across her face.  "Had a long day that started with me digging my car out of the damn snow."

"How much did you get?"

"Six inches."

He laughed.  "That's nothing.  Wait till you see a New England snowfall.  Then you'll know what real snow looks like."

"Maybe," she grumbled petulantly.  "But around here, in a town that, I swear to God, has only one stinking plow, six inches is enough to shut down everything.  Even the schools were closed today."

He sighed.  "You in bed?"

"Yeah," she murmured around a yawn. 

"Getting sleepy, baby?"

"A little.  You?"

She could hear him grin.  "Laid down right before I called you.  What time do you have to go in tomorrow?"

"Seven.  I've got an early breakfast meeting in the morning," she sighed regretfully.

"So a short call then," he answered through a yawn.  His voice took on a definite leer.  "What are you wearing?"

"Nothing," she giggled.

"Evil woman," he groaned.  "Telling me that when I'm half a country away and all I can do is dream about it."

"Hey, you asked," she laughed.

"You could have lied."

Nan's grin widened.  "Why?  Especially when the truth is so much more fun.  But if it's any consolation, I'm cold."

Hunter's voice dropped an octave into a deep rumble.  "I wish I could be there to warm you up."

Nan hesitated for a moment before responding, then threw caution to the winds.  "So why don't you?"

"Don't I what," he asked, yawning again.

"Why don't you come warm me up?"

That woke him.  "What are you saying, baby?"

Fighting a building case of nerves, Nan plunged ahead.  "You don't have to be where until Friday?"

"Columbia, South Carolina."

"So instead of going all the way back to Connecticut, just to come back down south, why don't you come stay here until Friday?"  Her heart thudded in her chest awaiting his answer.

"Baby, I've got no clean clothes.  Nothing but a week's worth of dirties and foul wrestling gear," Hunter protested half-heartedly.

Nan couldn't stop the bubble of laughter that rose in her throat.  "Boy, you really are tired.  I'm offering you four days and three nights worth of rest, home cooked meals, and great company.  And you're worried about your laundry?  Tell you what handsome.  You get on a plane and come see me, and I'll even throw in laundry services.  What say?"

Hunter laughed along with her, realizing just how stupid his protest had sounded.  "Four days, huh?"

"Yep.  Meals and laundry included."

"And three nights."

"That is correct, sir."

His voice deepened.  "In your one bedroom apartment?"

"It's a two bedroom cottage, but you can't stay in the second bedroom."

"I can't?"

"Nope."

He yawned again.  "How come?"

"Because the bed's not big enough."

Hunter blinked.  "Not big enough for me?"

"For us," she answered softly.

He hesitated.  "You're sure."

"I am."

"Baby…"

"Hunter," she interrupted.  "I know what I'm asking.  And yes.  I'm sure.  I miss you."

"I miss you too," Hunter groaned.  "If I don't get to hold you soon, I'm gonna go insane."

"Same here," she agreed.  "So, what do you say, handsome?"

Hunter laughed.  "I say I'm on my way to catch a plane.  What time can you meet me at the airport?" 

~<>~

So take me as I am
This may mean
You'll have to be a stronger man
Rest assured that
When I start to make you nervous
And I'm going to extremes
Tomorrow I will change
And today won't mean a thing
       Bitch - Meredith Brooks

March 5, 2002 7:10 a.m. EST
Executive Conference Room, the Harrell Coliseum - Charlotte, North Carolina 

Audrey Lane glanced up at the clock on the wall for the third time in fifteen minutes.  Fighting a sigh, she tapped her pen against her teeth in growing boredom.  She looked around at the others sitting, chatting quietly around the conference table.  None of them seemed to be overly concerned that the meeting hadn't started yet.  But considering the amounts of donuts, pastries and fresh fruit in the middle of the table, as well as juices and coffee, these folks would happily sit here and talk until all of the food ran out.

None of them looked at her or even acknowledged her presence in any way.  After all, as the boss' secretary, wasn't she persona non gratta?  The one who would run back to the boss and spill the beans on all of their dirty little secrets?

Audrey gave a mental scoff at that.  Like these people actually had any secrets that the boss would give a damn about.  Besides, when they found out that she was being groomed for the General Manager's position, they were all gonna shit kittens anyway.

The door burst open in a rush of noise as a dark clothed figure strode confidently into the room and up to the head of the table.  All talk ceased and all eyes tracked the newcomer as the boss settled into the plush chair, beneath a portrait of the original owner of the Coliseum.  Audrey's lips twisted up into a smug smirk as the other employees straightened up in their seats, their casual smiles and easy banter long gone.  Some of the men even adjusted their ties.  She loved it, when the boss intimidated these damn sheep.

"Okay!  I've not no time for bullshit this morning.  It's," Dark eyes flicked upwards to the clock.  "Seven-fifteen.  You've all got forty-five minutes to astound me with April's schedule.  And make no mistake, this will be hammered out in that amount of time or you're all going to have to pull double duty over the weekend to fix it.  Understood?"

As pained groans went up around the table, the boss leaned forward, folding long fingers together and gave them all a chilling smile.  "People, I'm out of here at eight-thirty today.  And this meeting will be over by eight sharp, whether we're done or not.  But if you insist on wasting my time with bitching and whining at me, then go ahead.  You'll just work the weekend anyway.  Those of you that still have a job to bitch about.  Your choice.  What's it gonna be?"

At the resounding silence, Nan looked over at Audrey and winked.  "I thought you'd see it my way."  She looked over at a now sweating, balding middle aged man to her left.  "Alan.  You're up first.  Is Ringling Brothers on board for April or not?" 

+++++ 

"Earth to Nan," Audrey smirked as she snapped her fingers in front of her friend's face.

Blinking rapidly, Nan looked up.  "Huh?"

Laughing, Audrey fell into the chair across from Nan's desk, slapping her steno pad against her leg.  "You kill me, girl.  You really do."

"What?  I got something green on me?"

"No."  Audrey shook her head.  "You fly into the conference room like the Wicked Witch on steroids, get 'em pissing down their legs, and now you're sitting here, doodling and day-dreaming like some love-sick teenager."

Nan leaned back and stuck her middle finger up at her secretary.  Audrey seized the opportunity to move forward and snatch the paper on which Nan had been drawing out from under her hand. 

Holding it up, she scrutinized it carefully.  "Who's Hunter?"

"Gimme that!"  Nan lunged across the desk grasping for the paper, but Audrey jerked it back, dangling it just out of reach.

"Uh-uh," she laughed.  "Dish."

"Drey!"

She bounced the paper again.  "Who…is…Hunter?"

Nan groaned and dropped her head down on her desk, face first with a loud thunk.  "Why in God's name do I put up with you?"

"Cause we've been best friends since kindergarten.  And because no one but Genie and I can stand your ornery ass," Audrey answered.  "And since Genie got deployed to Iraq, you're stuck with me."

The redhead lifted up and propped her face in her hands.  "Hunter Hearst Helmsley."

Audrey's green eyes widened.  Absently she laid the paper back down on the desk.  "You're shitting me!  Isn't he married?"

Nan snatched up the paper, began ripping it into confetti sized pieces, and tossed them into the wastebasket.  "Separated."

Audrey waived a hand around in the air.  "Semantics.  Until that final order is signed, he ain't free, honey."

"I know," Nan sighed, then stuck her chin into the air.  "And I don't care."

"Nan."

"I don't wanna hear it," she protested petulantly.  "Just reschedule everything on my calendar through Saturday.  And unless the building's on fire, I don't wanna be disturbed.  Got it?"

"Got it, Boss."

Nan rolled her eyes.  "Don't call me that."

"Yes, ma'am, Miss Elliott," Audrey smirked, her eyes twinkling with mischief.

"Drey," Nan rumbled in warning.

Audrey pulled an envelope out of her steno pad and passed it to Nan.  "Tina's tickets."

Nan sighed in relief, taking the envelope.  "Thanks.  If I'd forgotten these, she'd have freaked out.  Good seats?"

"Front row center, as requested.  Having an aunt who owns the arena's got its perks, I'll say."  Audrey reached over and tapped her calendar.  "I can reschedule everything but Friday night."

"Friday night?"

"Tina's play, remember?" 

Nan groaned.  "God, what is wrong with me??"

"Sounds like you're in loooove."

"Shut up."

"It's not a four letter word, you know.  Well, it is, but you know what I mean."

"Don't start, Drey."

"All right; all right.  You've got to be at the theater by seven-thirty if you want a good seat.  Curtain goes up at eight."  Audrey instructed.  "And before you ask, yes, I've got Michael Talbot lined up to cover the video."

"Good.  The time shouldn't be a problem.  I'll make it."

Audrey paused for a minute, then, even suspecting the answer, asked anyway.  "Redneck Rising has a gig at the Sand Castle on Thursday night.  Why don't you stop by?  Maybe even sit in with us?  You can even bring your fella."

Nan stood and began gathering her things.  "I don't think so, Drey.  Maybe next time."

"You always say that," Audrey grumbled under her breath, following as her friend headed for the door.

Nan turned back and flashed her a bright smile.  "I'm off.  Wish me luck?"

Audrey nodded and moved to embrace the other woman.  "Of course.  Be happy."

"I intend to be."  She bustled out of the office.

She watched Nan practically float down the corridor and spoke quietly, "One day you will sing again, Nan.  And I fully intend to be there to witness it when you do.

~<>~

August 27, 2004 - Friday 9:17 a.m.
Charlotte/Douglas International Airport - Charlotte, North Carolina 

Hunter held Nan close to his side, crutches and all.  He was almost crowding her as they walked through the terminal headed for gate nineteen and their flight which would take them back to Connecticut.  And, amazingly enough, no one bothered them…much.  Maybe it was the way he sheltered her against his body.  Or maybe it was the grim look of determination on his face.  Perhaps it was the torrential rains coming down outside.  Most likely it was the fact that any time someone did approach him for an autograph he actually snarled at them, brushing past them rudely.  Whatever it was that kept the fans away, Nan was grateful for it.  Her nerves were absolutely shot, and she was barely holding on to a sense of calm.  It was a fake, and a bad one, but she was doing her best. 

Normally she'd be a little down from leaving her hometown.  And she was down, but not for leaving her family behind, rather for what they'd all just gone through.  This time, she was overly anxious to get on the plane and get the hell out of her home state.  She loved her family, loved spending time with them, and missed them terribly when she was away from them for long periods.  But right now, she needed the insanity of her life with Hunter inside the WWE.  She needed to lose herself and some of her melancholy in some good old-fashioned violence.  And watching her friends, and enemies, beating each other senseless for screaming crowds seemed to be just the ticket.

Hunter had told her they'd have the house to themselves that night, since Tina had gone on with someone, Hurricane she'd assumed, to the house show in Colorado Springs.  And even though she'd catch up with them in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Nan was a little disappointed that she'd have to wait to find out how the meeting at the University had gone.  Part of her screamed out to make contact with the young woman, but at the same time, she was also looking forward to being alone in the house with Hunter.  Maybe she could convince him to go nude hot-tubbing with her. 

She frowned.  He'd not touched her, sexually, since before her surgery.  And while she'd like to think it was because he didn't want her to aggravate her leg in any way, that little insecure voice she kept locked tightly inside was having a field day with it.  Physically she'd been cleared for resuming intimacy the day she'd checked out of the hospital.  She'd made sure of it. 

They'd not discussed it, but every time she hinted at making love with him, Hunter had deftly maneuvered out of it somehow.  Her frown deepened.  A little less than four weeks.  The longest they'd gone since that break up in early July.  Hell, they'd not even gone that long when they first started dating. 

The rubber stopper on her crutches caught on a worn spot of carpeting, and she stumbled forward.  Hunter immediately caught her, and with a touch so gentle that it set her teeth on edge, helped her straighten back up. 

"Easy, baby.  Careful now."  He looked at her with concerned eyes.  "We need to get you home and put you to bed.  Get some sleep."

Nan didn't respond, now fuming too much to trust herself with anything less than a demand that they join the Mile High Club on the way home.  Sleep my ass, she thought.  The last thing she wanted to do in their bed was sleep.  That was it, she decided.  She was throwing these damn crutches off the fuckin' back deck and into the pool the minute she got home.  And then she was gonna tie him to that bed and…

"Aren't you hot in that coat?"  Hunter inquired.

"I'm fine," she answered cryptically, making her even more pleased with what she'd decided to wear under her full-length raincoat that morning.

She grinned wickedly at the track her thoughts were taking.  Her mind filling rapidly with images, precious few of them having anything to do with the bed itself.  But that last idea of tying him up did have merit.  Put some of those ugly ties of his to good use.  She wondered if he'd go for it.

"I know that look," Hunter murmured as they settled into empty plastic chairs to await their flight.  "What are you up to?"

She looked up at him through hooded lashes.  "Just…thinking."  About testing out the kitchen counter…the living room floor…hell, even the washing machine on its spin cycle.  Ooooh!  Leaning over the deck railing outside…

Hunter had known her too long not to recognize the glimmering light in her eyes.  "I'm in trouble, aren't I?"

"Yup," she nodded vehemently.  "I'd suggest you get any sleep you plan on getting on the airplane.  Because you sure as hell aren't gonna sleep at home."

He flashed a wicked grin back at her.  "Is that a threat?"

"A promise."

"Wicked woman."

"One you've been neglecting horribly too," she agreed.

Hunter sighed, knowing what was coming.  "Nan, I don't want you to aggravate your injury."

"Oh bullshit," she argued quietly.  "My leg's got nothing to do with this.  But if that's what you wanna tell yourself, go ahead.  I'm just telling you, put up or shut up, Game."

"Oh really?"  He couldn't help but smirk at her, never having seen her act this aggressively in respect to their sex-life.

"Yes, really."  She answered with a resounding confidence.  "Just give in willingly and you won't get hurt.  Don't make me attack you."

He threw his head back, laughing, then leveled a look on her that made her toes curl.  "Maybe you need to attack me, if you want to get what you're after."

She lifted a brow at him, accepting the challenge.  "Just get me home, stud, and you've got a deal."

"Game on, huh?"

Nan reached up, wrapped his tie around her fist, and pulled on it until he either had to lower his head to hers or choke to death.  He lowered his head. 

She brought her lips up to his, stopping just shy of contact and whispered, "My Game.  My rules."  Then she bit him.

Not hard.  But hard enough that when she pulled back, he didn't let her get away.  He wrapped both hands around her shoulders and kissed her thoroughly, his tongue plundering the depths of her mouth, intending to dominate and subdue.  But she didn't let him.  Instead, she met his ferocity head on, matching him pace for pace, breath for breath.  When she began sucking on his tongue, he wrenched his mouth away from hers, hearing someone clearing their throat.

"Shit," he breathed heavily, looking at her curiously.  She definitely hadn't been kidding about him neglecting her lately.  Not if she kissed him like that.  And in public.

"You get my point?"

"Yeah, yeah, I get it baby."  Hunter glanced up to see a security guard eyeing them.  The guard cleared his throat again.  "Do we know that guy?"

Nan followed his gaze, her own eyes narrowing slightly before she smiled.  "I believe we do." 

~<>~

I've seen your face a hundred times
Everyday we've been apart
I don't care about the sunshine, yeah
'cause mama, mama, I'm coming home
I'm coming home
       Coming Home - Ozzy Osbourne

March 5, 2002 8:57 a.m. EST
Charlotte/Douglas International Airport 

She couldn't remember ever having been this nervous in her life.  Even when she had stood before an auditorium holding nearly a thousand people, singling her heart out, in that State Championship Vocal Competition in high school, it didn't begin to compare to the anxiety currently unfurling in her middle.  And she'd placed third, out of the whole state of North Carolina, in that one. 

Looked like she was placing third again.  Chyna - first.  Steph - second.  Nan - third.  "But maybe this time, third time's the charm," she whispered to herself.

Unable to sit still, she got up and started pacing by the bank of windows.  She gripped the matching black leather belt on her coat with desperate fingers on one hand, while with the other she plucked furiously at her bottom lip.  Ruining her lipstick, she was sure, but unable to stop herself.  If his plane didn't land soon, she was going to come right out of her skin.

A movement out of the corner of her eye caught her attention.  Turning, she saw the lady behind the counter move to open the heavy door to the boarding ramp, then step out of the way.  Nan's eyes flicked up to the electronic sign over the door.  American Airlines Flight 3427 from Austin, TX, now arriving.

The moment of truth.  He was here.  Unexpectedly, she found her mouth going dry and was unable to move her feet.  Breathing in deeply, she stood by the bank of windows.  And waited.

She didn't have to wait long.  He was the twenty-seventh passenger through the door.  She'd counted.  He strode through the door, with a heavy bag draped over one shoulder, and dragging a rolling suitcase behind him.  Her breath caught in her chest while her heart gave a funny feeling little skip-hop.  Her eyes drank in every inch of him, almost like it was the first time she'd ever seen him.

Hunter stood at least head and shoulders over the crowd, and easily out weighed most of them by at least twice, if not more.  He wore big, thick-soled black work boots, faded blue jeans so tight that they should have been illegal, and a black Gold's Gym T-shirt snug enough that she could see his nipples were hard when his jacket shifted with his movements.  His massively wide shoulders, threatening to rip out the seams at any moment, were covered with  that denim and black leather jacket he'd worn since he came back in January from his quad surgery.  His mane of long blonde hair curled around those shoulders, held off his face only by the black leather driver's cap he wore backwards on his head. 

He had a harsh face, with a high forehead, a few long, old scars bisecting the deep lines.  Said forehead was  partially covered by the white bandage over the stitches he'd mentioned last night.  Lines of fatigue cut deep trenches around his eyes and pulled those brain melting lips down at the corners.  His strong chin and jaw were covered in a scruffy looking dark blonde beard and mustache.  The only detraction from his face was a very large, almost huge, nose.  But, she had to admit ruefully, it fit him somehow.  She couldn't see his eyes, covered as they were with amber tinted sunglasses, but she didn't need to, remembering their intensity.  They were a light brown.  Whiskey eyes, she'd always thought of them.  Like a lion's.  The Leo he truly embodied.

That's what he was to her.  A big blonde, magnificent male lion.  Alpha male.  The leader of the pack.  And he looked utterly exhausted.  She gave a shuddering breath, realizing deep down inside every part of her heart that she might have held back from him, out of self-preservation, just jumped ship.  Shit, she was in serious trouble here.

He was looking around, but hadn't spotted her yet.  Still, tired or not, when a little boy, around eleven years old, approached him asking for his autograph, Hunter stopped, signed the piece of paper the child held, and gave his trademark 'thumbs-up' sign as the boy's father took a picture.  Nan stood back and watched, her smile returning, seeing the awestruck grin on the little boy's face as he waved furiously while his father ushered him away.

Before Hunter could move forward, two giggling teenage girls took the little boy's place.  Again, he stopped to sign autographs and pose for pictures.  Unlike the little boy, the two girls didn't leave right away.  They lingered, and flirted, cooing and batting their eyelashes at him.  It was enough to make her want to roll her eyes in nausea.  Nan would have had to be dead not to feel irritation at the girls' blatant come-ons, but she fought it down.  It came with the territory with dating a celebrity of Hunter's magnitude.  And it wasn't like she'd not been through it before with Chris.  And although rare, even Kane.  Still, with those two, she'd found it amusing.  But not so with Hunter.  And he looked like he was growing annoyed himself at their fawning.  So Nan cleared her throat, just loud enough to be heard across the sparsely populated waiting area.

Hunter heard the small sound and turned in her direction, his gaze latching on to her from behind the amber lenses.  She stood by the bank of windows to his left, the early morning sunlight streaming through the glass, made even brighter by the white snow on the ground outside.  The first thing that registered to him was that she was dressed completely in black.  Black flat boots that came up to her knees, hugging her calves.  A black skirt that did the same to her thighs stopping barely before the boots began.  She had on a black turtleneck, held at the waist by a wide black belt with silver 'O' shaped buckle.  His gaze zeroed in on the shining silver 'H' necklace he'd given her for Christmas, where it dangled over the thick roll of her turtleneck.  It swung lazily back and forth with each breath she took, drawing his eyes down to the swell of breasts straining against the black material covering them. 

Long slender tapered fingers, tipped in a deep scarlet color, played nervously with the belt of her ankle-length black leather coat.  Finely sculpted reddish-brown brows arched high over the dark chocolate brown eyes meeting his.  Peaches and cream skin accented high cheekbones, sloping gently into a delicate, slightly upturned, petite nose.  The barest hint of a dimple in her chin was accented by full, sinfully rosy lips that angled upward in a shy smile.  She had her hair pulled back into a neat ponytail.  The tail, as thick around as his wrist and trying to curl around the swell of one breast, lay draped over her shoulder to rest nearly at her waist.  The sunlight streaming through the windows hit her head, lighting her hair up like it was living fire against her dark clothing.

Somewhere behind him he could hear someone calling his name, but it didn't register as he stared at her.  He knew she'd come from work, thus explaining why she was so dressed up.  And he'd seen her several times nicely clothed since that last visit in Birmingham when she'd shown up in 'work-clothes.'  But he'd not seen her dressed to kill like she was today. 

A slow lazy and somewhat lecherous grin spread across his face revealing strong, even white teeth and smoothing away the lines of fatigue.  Without a word to the girls, he walked towards Nan, dragging his suitcase behind him, hitching his other bag higher up on his shoulder.  His eyes never left her as he crossed the short distance, and she felt the impact of those whiskey colored eyes of his down in the marrow of her bones, turning them to jelly.

Her heart was thudding so hard in her chest when he stopped in front of her, that she was sure he could hear it.  Testosterone and trails of his cologne wafted off him like invisible tethers, tugging at her from all sides.  He dropped his bags at his feet and reached up to lower his sunglasses down that awesome specter of a nose.  He pasted on his most charming lopsided grin, the one that usually made the female fans scream and the ring rats rip open their tops, and continued to stare at her, flexing his biceps just a little, his grin widening when he saw her lips part. 

Under the influence of his whiskey, virile stare, her face split into a blinding smile, no longer caring if she were setting herself up for heartache.  All thoughts of Chyna and Steph faded away.  He was here.  With her, and because he wanted to be.

They continued to stare at each other for a moment, the tension between them building to near nail-biting levels.  Finally, he pulled the glasses off completely and tucked them into his inside breast pocket.

"Hey, baby," he said, his voice guttural, but smooth.  Then he wrapped both big arms around her in a warm embrace.  He hugged her closer against him, uttering a low moan when she lifted her hands to his shoulders, a moan that reverberated throughout her body.

"Hunter," she whispered against his neck.  "I..."

He didn't let her finish.  He lowered his mouth to hers for a desperate brain-melting kiss.  His lips were warms and firm, his tongue strong and determined.  She sighed into his mouth and leaned up to get even closer.  Her mouth remembered his, every texture, every flavor.  Their teeth clicked and tongues danced, sending white-hot bolts of desire through them both.  Nan pushed her hands into his hair, and kneaded the back of his neck, pulling his mouth closer, deeper.  His arms tightened around her and even through the layers of clothing they both wore, she could feel his urgent desire for her, and her body leapt in response.

Dimly, Nan was aware of flashbulbs going off around them.  But she was incapable of rational thought and Hunter consumed everything else.  She pressed her body against his erection and he groaned.  His hands slid down her back, then inside her coat, gripping her hips, and drawing her against him.  She gave in to the thrill of being with him, dragged her hands from his hair and thrust them through the opening of his jacket to wrap her arms around his warm back, tugging him even closer.

The sound of persistent throat-clearing reached her ears, and apparently Hunter's.  They lifted their heads from each other to see a security guard standing a few feet away, trying to look as if he hadn't noticed them.  He was failing miserably if the constant twitch of his lips were any indication.  Nan realized other people around them were doing their best to ignore them, while others were looking on with avid interest and laughing.  As some began to applaud, Nan flushed with embarrassment, and Hunter's mouth twisted up into an arrogant smirk.

"Jeez," Nan mumbled, turning her flaming cheeks against Hunter's shoulder.  "Making out in public.  What am I?  Sixteen?"

He squeezed her waist before pulling away to pick his shoulder bag back up.  He wrapped his fingers around the pull handle of his rolling suitcase only to find hers already there.  She tugged his suitcase around, switching it to her other hand.  Hunter immediately claimed her free hand closest to him, threading his fingers through hers.

With a final chaste press of lips to her forehead, he grinned down at her.  "We'd better clear out before we arrested.  Hell of a welcome though, baby."

She matched his smile, and hand-in-hand, they walked out of the terminal, a smattering of applause following in their wake. 

~<>~

August 27, 2004 - Friday 9:21 a.m.
United Airlines Flight 7248 to Stamford, Connecticut 

"Same guy?  Really?"  Hunter asked as they took their seats on the airplane that would take them back home.

Nan shrugged.  "Looked like the same one to me."

The flight attendant approached them.  "Excuse me, but would you like me to take those and store them for you?"  She waived her hand at Nan's crutches leaning up against the empty seat beside her.

"Yes, please.  Thank you."  Hunter answered for her, passing the smiling woman the crutches.

"And can you manage to throw them out of the air lock or something?"  Nan called after her.

As they'd been reminiscing all morning, something else popped into Hunter's mind.  He grinned at her, taking her hand.  "Up to a bit of skullduggery yourself there, baby?"

"Hell no," Nan snorted.  "Unlike you, I thought that was pretty damn blatant." 

~<>~

let's talk about sex, baby
Let's talk about you and me
Let's talk about all the good things
And the bad things that may be
Let's talk about sex
       Let's Talk About Sex - Salt 'N' Peppa

March 5, 2002 9:27 a.m. EST
I85 East, Charlotte, North Carolina 

"I figured you'd probably sleep on the way in."  Nan glanced over at Hunter quickly, as he struggled with a yawn, before training her eyes back on the road.

Stretching as much as the confines of Nan's midnight blue Mustang would allow, Hunter propped an arm on her seat, and toyed with a strand of her hair.  "Ever been so tired you couldn't sleep?"

"Oh yeah.  More times than I can count," she nodded.

"I'm there."  His straying fingers trailed down her cheek.  "And hungry enough to eat the ass-end out of a dead hippo."

"But you're divorcing her."

Hunter blinked for a minute then erupted in a short bark of laughter.  "You are so bad!"

Nan grinned with a saucy wink.  "Did you really poison her lotion?"

"Now would I do something like that?"

"Yes," she answered with an emphatic nod.

His eyes widened and he placed a hand on his chest.  "I'm truly hurt."

"Your heart's on the other side, Hunter."

"Deeply offended that you would think I am even capable of such a cruel and malicious act on my dear soon to be ex-wife," he continued.

Nan emitted an un-ladylike snort.  "Oh pul-lease!  Who are you trying to kid here?"

But Hunter was having too much fun with their banter to let it go just yet.  "Why, such a vile act of skullduggery is beneath me!"

"Skullduggery?  You are so full of shit, Helmsley."  Nan rolled her eyes as she took the exit off the interstate, onto the two-lane black top that would take them to her hometown.  "So did you?"

"No."  Laughing, he smiled at her.  "But is it my fault she didn't bother to check the expiration date on that crap?"

Anything else she might have said was forestalled by the loud grumbling protest from Hunter's empty belly.  She glanced at him out of the corner of her eye as she maneuvered the Mustang down the curvy road.  "Guess you weren't kidding about being hungry, huh?  When'd you eat last?"

"Uh…Texas.  I think."

Shaking her head, she sighed, sweeping her dark eyes over to the digital clock on the dash.  "How about we stop at the best place for breakfast in town?  Outside of my own kitchen, of course."

Hunter grimaced.  "I don't think I'm up to the hassle of crowds, baby."

"Won't be a problem with where I've got in mind.  Guaranteed."

He shrugged, too tired to argue and too hungry not to eat at the first available opportunity.  "Okay.  You know this place better than I do."  Hunter scratched at his chest absently, then looked over at her.  "Baby, we uh, might want to stop by a drug store, too.  You know."  He shrugged again.

Nan hid her surprise along with her smile.  Hunter - shy?  That was one for the record books.  Okay…so we're gonna have this conversation in the car.  What the hell.  "I was gonna ask you about that.  I assume that you're talking of…protection?"

"Yeah," he nodded, watching her face carefully.  He was surprised to see color creep up her cheeks.

"Hoo-boy.  Okay."  She swallowed nervously, then plunged ahead.  "We can stop if you want.  But I…God.  Hunter, I can't use regular condoms.  I'm allergic to latex."  There.  She said it.  And only marginally did she want to hide.

He processed that for a moment, refusing to allow his time with her to go up in smoke.  "So what, then?  Lambskin?  Aren't those kind of chancy?"

Nan nodded.  "They're not as effective against STDs."

"Or pregnancy."

He didn't miss the miniscule tightening around her eyes.  But she didn't comment on it.  "Not that you have to worry about either from me.  I've been on the pill for years.  And I don't…I mean…I…"

"I get it, baby," Hunter took pity on her darkening red cheeks.  Although it chapped his ass to think of her with anyone else, ever, he addressed it anyway.  "You don't need to worry about me either.  We all get tested regularly, so I'm pretty sure about Jericho and Kane."

She shook her head.  "You don't even have to speculate.  I never slept with either of them."

"You didn't?"  Hunter didn't fight the broad grin that spread across his face at her negative shake.  As typically macho as it was, he couldn't help but feel a little smug.  And relieved.  Okay, a lot smug.  His grin faded a little, as another thought occurred to him.  He hated to ask; but he needed to know.  Not that her answer would change his mind.  "Baby, you're not…"

Catching his hesitation, she laughed.  "A virgin?  No.  It's just been…a while."

"How long," he blurted, unable to halt the question, and at the same time, not really wanting to know either.

She breathed in deeply before answering.  "Five years."

Hunter let out a long breath.  Five years was a long time.  But it gave him a warm sensation in his middle to know she'd not been with either of the guys he worked with.

His silence made her nervous.  "So, do we stop?"

"I don't think that'll be necessary," he answered, reaching for her hand on the gearshift. 

Her stomach fluttered in her middle at what he was implying.  Bareback suited her just fine.  She released the gearshift and threaded her fingers through his, then laughed as another hungry rumble split the air.

"But food first?"  She smiled at him, with a heavy look.

He returned it.  "Right." 

~<>~

August 27, 2004 - Friday 10:05 a.m.
United Airlines Flight 7248 to Stamford, Connecticut 

"Ugh," Hunter grimaced as he opened the peanuts and juice the flight attendant passed out.  "Tell me again why we're flying coach?"

"Because it was the only flight we could get back today."  Nan answered around a mouthful of peanuts. 

"We should have stopped at Ruby's for breakfast."

She grinned at him.  "I tried to wake you up.  But you wanted to sleep more than you wanted food."

"Don't remind me.  I'm certainly regretting it now," Hunter groused, taking a sip of the bitter juice and making a face.  "I hate grapefruit."

Nan just laughed at him. 

~<>~

Yea, this is my town,
Hey, Where I was born, where I was raised,
Where I keep all my yesterdays
Where I ran off 'cuz I got mad
And it came to blows with my old man
Where I came back, settled down,
It's where they're puttin' me in the ground
This is my town
Yea, this is my town.
My Town - Montgomery Gentry

March 5, 2002 10:15 a.m. EST
Moccasin Gap, North Carolina 

Hunter unfolded his long frame, held both arms over his head, and leaned backwards until his spine cracked.  He lowered his arms to drape one around Nan's shoulders as she walked behind the car to his side.  Together they made their way across the gravel parking lot towards the doors of the small diner when Hunter caught a glance at the sign.

"Vern's Vittles?  You can't be serious."

"Sure I can.  Do it all the time," Nan grinned sarcastically.

"Nash is rubbing off on you."  Hunter gave her a half-hearted glare as he recognized one of his old friend's favorite quips.  "That name sounds like it's straight out of Hee-Haw or something."

"Easy with the cracks, Yankee boy," she countered.  "You've already got one strike against you with that accent of yours.  Don't start poking fun at the South.  Not here."

"Accent?  I don't have an accent."

Nan fixed him with a doubtful look.  "Yes, you do.  And it stands out like a sore thumb."

"Down here deep in the heart of Deliverance, I'd say I probably do sound different.  But I don't have an accent," Hunter protested.  "Now you guys…you're the ones who have the accent. "

"Humph," Nan snorted.  "You just proved my point.  You guys.  Down here it's y'all."

Hunter stopped, his hand on the door handle, and looked down at her, his face scrunching up.  "Yaaawwwlll.  How's that?"

She erupted in laughter as he pulled the door open for her.  "Horrible."

"Thank you," he chuckled with her.

She preceded him through the door, taking off her coat and moving towards a row of pegs on the wall.  She motioned for Hunter to remove his jacket as well.  At his questioning look, she nodded.  He removed the garment, hanging it on an available peg.  Nan draped her own coat over it, effectively covering the large 'H' triple cross emblem on the back. 

Hunter blinked in the dimness of the diner, looking around at the few patrons inside.  Most of the diners appeared to be over fifty.  Although several sets of eyes tracked them, no one made a move to intercept.  Maybe she'd been right and they'd get to eat in relative peace.

But when Hunter took her hand as she wound her way through the tables to a vacant four-seater near the back, a loud voice rang out.  "Hey there, li'll gal!  What brings you in here this mornin'?"

Nan waived gaily.  "Good food, Mister Beau.  What else?"

The ancient-looking farmer dragged a faded John Deere ball cap from his bald head, and placed it over his heart.  "Cuz ya can't stay away from me, sweet thang!"

She planted a fist on her hip and grinned at him.  "Keep talkin' that way to me, Mister Beau, and when Miss Gertie finds out you'll be sleepin' in the barn again."

"She's gotcha there, Beau!" one of his cronies guffawed, slapping at his knee.

"Mebe so.  But at least I'll be warm, fer a change!"  Beau yelled back.  He spotted Hunter pulling out Nan's chair for her and the tender look on his face.  "Hoooeee!  Li'll gal's got hersef a new feller!  Who ya got there, li'll gal?"

"Beauregard Montgomery!  You mind yer manners a'fore I come over there and whack you good!"  A woman called from behind the counter, as she raised a wooden spoon and brandished it threateningly in the air.

With a wheezing cackle, the old man winked at Nan and Hunter then went back to his meal.  As the others in the diner who had looked on in amusement did the same, Hunter took his seat across from Nan.

He grinned.  "Friendly bunch."

"Very," she laughed brightly.  "One of the things I love about this place.  Lots of local color."

"You can say that again," he said with a chuckle.  "Who was that guy?"

But his question went unanswered, as the spoon wielding woman walked over to table.  "Mornin' sugar." 

"Mornin', Ruby.  Oh, I'm gonna need a fried bologna sandwich on rye with mayo and tomato to go, please."

Ruby fixed her with a grimace and a glare.  "Fer Millie, huh?"

"Yes, ma'am."

"Humph," Ruby grumbled.  "Miss High and Mighty's too good to come in fer my cookin' but she'll get you ta do it fer her.  Cuz she knows you won't say no to her."

"Millie?"  Hunter questioned.

"Miss Millie Lauder…my landlady," Nan answered.  "She's really sweet."

"L'll gal, that dried up old hen's about as sweet as a water moccasin.  And has a disposition to match.  Yer too dang good to her, and everybody knows it."

"She's lonely."

"She's evil," Ruby countered.

"Ruby," Nan chastised.

But the woman pulled a pencil out of her hair and pointed it at her.  "Don't be goin' ta tryin' ta change my mind, youngun.  I went ta school with that old dragon.  An' I know stories about her that'd curl yer hair.  But you'll get yer sandwich.  Jest make sure she pays ya back fer it this time."

"Yes ma'am," Nan nodded with a smile.

She placed a menu in front of Hunter, but didn't bother for Nan.  Just as quickly two mugs hit the table and were filled with hot black coffee that filled the air around them with a mouthwatering aroma.  Seemingly from nowhere, forks and spoons wrapped in napkins joined the table's spartan décor, along with cream and sugar, and two glasses of ice water. 

Ruby dug a tattered order pad out of the apron tied around her waist, cracked her gum, cocked her hip, and stared right at Hunter.  "What'll you have, you handsome devil?"

Nan nearly snorted coffee through her nose at the pole-axed expression on Hunter's face, coughing and sputtering, sopping up the mess with a few napkins Ruby casually tossed in her direction.

Hunter stared up at this stately woman, who in her hey-day would have given Ann Miller a run for her money in the looks department.  Now, she had a bottle black beehive hairdo, thick horn-rimmed glasses accentuating steel gray eyes, sharp as a hawk's.  Eyes that didn't miss a trick, he'd bet.  Her hands were long and graceful, but gnarled with age, and heavily bejeweled.  Her thickly ruby-red coated lips were curled back into the warmest smile he'd seen in some time.  And Ruby was eighty if a day, the cares of a hard life worn plainly on her face for the world to see.  He felt his own face curl into a smile as he realized she reminded him of his grandmother, a woman who, God rest her soul, did just like this one does…work every day of her life because it kept her from being bored.

He tipped his head at her, knowing a lady when he saw one.  "Good morning to you too, ma'am. What do you recommend?"

Ruby smiled blindingly at him, cracked her gum again, and turned to Nan.  "Where'd ya find this fine specimen of a man, sugar?  And why ain't I seen him in here a'fore now?"  Not really expecting an answer, and not waiting for one either, she turned back to address Hunter.  She snatched the menu back away from him.  "Now you just sit right there, Pup, and I'll feed you up good.  And you'll be coming back to see me now, won't ya darlin'?"

"Yes, ma'am."  Hunter found himself nodding while Nan snickered at him.  "Aren't you going to ask her what she wants," he asked still slightly dumbfounded as Ruby began to saunter away. 

She turned back around and winked at the big man.  "Not a chance, darlin'.  I've been feedin' that li'll gal most of her life.  I'll give her exactly whatever I feel like givin' her, and she'll love it too."

"It ain't the food everyone comes here fer, but because we're hopelessly in love with Ruby there, but she won't have any of us!"  The man Nan had spoken to declared loud enough for the waitress to hear.

"Ahh g'wan, now!  You just stop yer flirtin' there, Beauregard!"  Ruby crowed from over near the kitchen window.  "I got bunions older than you!"

Nan and Hunter, as well as several other customers in the semi-crowded dinner laughed heartily at her comment, as she cracked her gum again, and returned to her job. 

"I think I like her."  Hunter observed, reaching over the table to take Nan's hand.

"She's something, huh?  I've been coming here forever."

"So who's the guy?"  He referred to the gentleman who Ruby had set expertly in his place.

Nan smiled.  "A friend of my Grampa Elliott.  They had neighboring farms, up until my Grandma sold it after Grampa passed on.  I spent lots of time out there during the summers.  Well, whatever time I didn't spend with Granddaddy Harrell."

"A real country girl, huh?"

She nodded, and was about to say something else when the front door opened, the bell over it tinkling merrily and a familiar voice carried over the diner.

"Ruby, darlin' I've got a mad, vicious female out in the truck that won't let me back in if I don't get a piece of that ham!"

"Gotcha covered, you silver-tongued devil!"  Ruby hollered back.

Out of the corner of his eye, he saw the newcomer work his way towards the back, apparently headed straight for them.  He was an older man, maybe late sixties, maybe more.  It was kind of hard to tell.  He wore a US Army ball-cap perched on his head, with the insignia of Sergeant on its brim.  A bushy white mustache dwarfed his upper lip, almost completely covering his mouth.  The man, though dressed in jeans and a red and black flannel shirt, didn't move like a farmer.  He had an arrogance to his swagger that reminded him a lot of his boss.  A man completely in control of everything around him.  And although he walked with a distinct limp and with the aid of a cane, neither did anything to detract from the air of confidence surrounding him.  Thick glasses covered dark eyes, that missed nothing, Hunter could tell even from a distance, especially since those eyes were currently trained on him.

"Oh, God.  Is it Tuesday?"  Nan whispered in mild panic.

"Yeah."  Hunter noticed all of the color drain out of Nan's face.  "What's wrong, baby?"

But she didn't get to answer.  About halfway to them, that dark glance swept over Nan, and the older man hollered, "Baby girl!"

"Hunter, I'm sorry," she whispered just before standing up and embracing the older man.  "Mornin', Daddy."

Hunter felt his stomach drop into his feet and he found himself standing up, as Nan led her father over to their table.  She stopped and looked sheepishly at him.

"Daddy, this is Hunter Helmsley.  Hunter, my father.  Red Elliott."  With flaming cheeks, Nan slipped back into her seat, leaving them to take it from there.

"Good to meet you, Sir."  Hunter automatically extended his hand, surprised to find a callused palm almost as big as his own gripping his hand in a firm handshake. 

"Mmm-hmm.  Same here."  Red grumbled with a sharp look at his daughter, who was currently finding her coffee extremely interesting.

"Won't you join us?"  Hunter offered, really hoping he'd say no.  No such luck.

"For a minute," Red agreed, pulling out a chair and lowering himself in it.  He passed his cane to Nan, and she took it, hanging it off the empty chair beside her.

Once Hunter was seated, Red turned his gaze on Nan.  "Thought you had to work today."

"I went in for a meeting, then cleared my schedule," Nan answered.  "Why?  Did you need me for something?"

Red shook his head.  "Nah.  But Brun's lookin' for you."

"Why?"

"Dunno."  Red shrugged.  "Didn't say.  Get me a cup, baby girl."

Nan nodded, proceeded to get up and walk behind the counter into Ruby's territory to fix a cup of coffee for her father, leaving the two of them alone at the table.

Red turned his gaze on Hunter.  "Helmsley, huh?" 

"Yes, sir."

"Can't say as I remember hearing about you before."

Hunter nodded, expecting the third degree.  "We've not been going out for very long.  Only a week or two.  But I've known her for a couple of years."

"Humph," Red acknowledged with a grunt.  "You one of those wrestlers she hangs out with?"

"Yes, sir."

"You any good?"

Hunter grinned.  "Yes, sir.

"Where you from, boy?"  Red asked as Nan came back and set the coffee in front of him, taking her seat.

"Greenwich, Connecticut."

Red turned to his daughter.  "A Yankee."

"Daddy," Nan grumbled.  "Not everyone can be born in the South."

"Maybe," her father grinned, stunning Hunter with the similarity between his grin and Nan's.  "But they should be."

Ruby returned shortly thereafter carrying a tray with two plates and two boxes, interrupting any further comments.  She set one box beside Nan.  "Yer sandwich for Her Majesty."

She set a plate down in front of Hunter that was practically over flowing with pancakes, sausage, baked ham, toast, and scrambled eggs.  The second plate, which was dwarfed by the Spanish omelet and hash browns on it, she laid in front of Nan. 

"One piece of baked ham."  She passed the last box to Red.

"There you go, sweeties.  Eat up and enjoy."  Ruby turned to Nan, who was eyeing the omelet with a mixed look of lust and trepidation.  "And I want to see a clean plate, sugar.  You got me?"  She leaned over and pressed a kiss to the top of her head, much to the amusement of her companions.

Nan nodded blushing, and dug into her breakfast amid the catcalls and wolf whistles of the other patrons.  "Now hush up yer fuss!  This li'll gal's been as good to me as my own Vern!"  She called over the din, waving her hand at a photograph of a young, distinguished looking man, in an Army uniform, over the cash register.  "And when you no-account lay-abouts can claim the same, then I'll kiss every last one of you too!  Now eat up a'fore I think you're all done and take away yer plates!"

A chorus of yes, ma'am's echoed throughout the small diner as the duly chastised customers turned back to their meals.

Once she was out of earshot, Hunter asked around a mouthful of pancakes, "She is something else.  Who's Vern?"

Red wiped his mouth, placing his coffee cup back down on the table.  "Her son.  He was killed in Vietnam.  Or, they think he was killed there.  She opened this diner with his military pay.  Named it after his memory, 'cause he loved her cooking so much."

"That's rough."

Red nodded.  "She's taken quite a shine to baby-girl here, too."

Hunter grinned at her.  "Lucky you."

Nan agreed, lifting another fork-full of the fluffy omelet.  "She's great.  Except when she's trying to kill me with food…like today."

"I'll leave you younguns to your breakfast.  Besides, if I don't get this out there soon, I'm in big trouble.  Maggie's not known for her patience."

"Why don't you bring her in and join us."  Hunter offered, trying to be polite.

Nan chuckled, passing her father his cane.  "I don't think the health department would appreciate that very much."

"Huh?"

Red laughed at the look on Hunter's face.  "Maggie ain't my wife, boy.  She's my dog."

He chuckled again then levered himself up with his cane, reaching for the to-go box Ruby had laid in front of him.  Leaning heavily against the table, he reached into his back pocket for his money clip.

"Here, let me get that for you, Mr. Elliott," Hunter offered, deftly sliding the ticket off the top of the box before Red could stop him.  "Least I can do since you can't join us."

Nan's father looked at him, one corner of his mouth threatening to tilt up.  Then he turned a wink on his daughter, and she smothered a groan, knowing what was coming next.  He didn't disappoint her. 

"Mighty nice of ya, boy," Red answered, putting his money clip away.  "You'll have to come to the house for dinner to let me make it up to ya."

Not seeing the trap being laid in front of him, Hunter readily agreed.  "Sounds wonderful.  I'd like that."

"Good," Red grinned, turning to walk away, calling over his shoulder as he headed to the door.  "Dinner's at six.  Don't be late."

As the tinkling of the bell over the door signaled his departure, Hunter turned wide eyes on Nan.  "What did I just say yes to?"

"Dinner with my parents.  Tonight," she answered with a grin.

Hunter groaned.  "I was afraid you were gonna say that." 

~<>~

August 27, 2004 - Friday 10:05 a.m. EST
United Airlines Flight 7248 to Stamford, Connecticut 

"Now I'm hungrier than ever.  Thanks," Hunter grumbled. 

"