Title: What Happens In Cleveland Stays In Cleveland
Author: Empress
Email: Empress@thewaysideinn.net
Distribution: Empress' Private Library and The Wayside Inn  All others ask first.
Category: Number 26 in the Behind the Scenes series, following number 25 Something Wicked This Way Comes.
Rating: NC-17...for sex…what else would it be for, huh?
Characters: A Hunter/Nan story – along with anyone else that I feel like playing with.
Spoilers: None.
Content: Violence…lots of it. Sex, both implied and actual. Foul language…yeah, I know, and it plagues my mother greatly, believe me. And some advice, unsolicited and otherwise.
Author's Notes: Hey, if I didn't have a numbered sequence, you'd probably think something was wrong with me, right? Anyway…
1.Any information given regarding Mr. Levesque's diet and workout regime is taken directly, properly paraphrased of course, from the man himself. No, I don't know him. Will you people stop with that all ready?! I got it from his book…Making the Game: Triple H's Approach to a Better Body. The link's included. Go buy it. For lover's of The Game, it's a must have. But I'll warn you…it's not kayfabe at all. It's all straight up from Mr. Levesque's childhood in New Hampshire, all the way to the footnotes at the end where he gives a very heartfelt declaration of love for his wife, Stephanie McMahon-Levesque. And that leads me straight to my next note…
2.I've mentioned several times that I don't dislike Stephanie, and I'm not gonna bother reiterating it here. If you don't believe me, so be it. But I will state that until I read his book, I had no idea that the two of them cemented their relationship while he was out with his quad tear. Needless to say, since that's the time period and place that I had "Nan" and "Hunter" fall for each other, I feel tremendously guilty about it. Yet, as guilty as I may feel over it – and I really do – I'm not going to change it. After all, this is fiction, while Mr. & Mrs. Levesque aren't. Like one of my favorite radio personalities – John Boy of The John Boy and Billy Big Show – often says: "Oh, I care. I'm just not gonna do anything about it." I'm also not gonna deal with it in this chapter. I just wanted to put the disclaimer in here while I was thinking about it.
3.Non-credited quotes or references (yeah, it's long – just consider it a Pop Culture bibliography) include, but are not limited to, the following: Blake Clarke, Pretty Woman, The Stand – Stephen King, Grease, Tombstone, Star Trek The Next Generation, The Hokey Pokey – Elizabethan version, Dennis Leary's Merry Fuckin' Christmas, Sit On My Face – Monty Python, Looney Tunes – Wabbit Season, Short Dick Man – Twenty Fingers, Bones – The Man In The Wall, Back In The Saddle – Matraca Berg, M*A*S*H, Butch Cassidy & The Sundance Kid and probably a hell of a lot more than at 2:57 a.m. my brain just refuses to process.
4.Special thanks go out to my bestest buddy, my favorite person, the other half of my twisted blackend brain, the cute little devil on my shoulder, Tom – who has requested that his last name remain anonymous – for giving me not only Kevin Nash's personality as usual, but also for John's drunken ramblings on One Night In China. And folks, he said this crap to me sober!! While I was at work no less!!!
5.And since this one is my longest one to date…I figure it should have the longest disclaimer of them all to go with it, right? So while there's only 1 chapter…there's 8 parts to it…9 if you count the disclaimer.
6.Parts of Tender Indulgences were used, at the time of the initial writing of this chapter, with the permission of the author.
7.On a down note, I wasn't going to say anything about this, because my very wise friend Tom (see number 4 above) cautioned me not to. But I figure since people don't read this portion (see number 6 above) that it'll probably get missed anyway. And while Tom's advice was very good – you know I love ya darlin' – I just can't take it. See, he's very easy-going. Me, I'm a bitch. I know it. You guys who know me know it. And you all know I'm even proud of it. Sometimes being a bitch is all a woman has to hold onto – thank you Deloris Claiborne, and thereby Stephen King. So, as the true bitch that I am – and in good standing, might I add – I have to say this...
Author's Suggestion: If you don't like what I'm writing, or where it's going…here's some original advice for you – Don't read it.
Feedback: What? Are you kidding me? I live for it!
Dedication: Thank you, from the bottom of my heart, to those select few who responded to a very difficult decision, and an impassioned plea on my part this past week. Each and every one of you is more special that I can describe here fully. You know who you are…and this one's for all you guys. God love ya, because I know I do.
Summary Quote: You have a man like that, and he takes a part of you with him whenever he goes away. And you die a little inside each time something goes wrong, he gets hurt or whatever. But you're okay with that because you believe the two of you will get through it.
Disclaimer: Not mine – Vince's, Linda's, Shane's, and Stephanie's. And probably Hunter's too, now come to think of it. But some are mine and I'm keeping those. No money made was made off the writing of this dip into the Outer Limits. And in keeping with that vein – taken with extensive creative license:
There is nothing wrong with your computer. Do not attempt to adjust the picture.
We are now in control. We can shape your vision to anything our imagination can conceive.
Sit quietly and we will control all that you see and hear.
We repeat, there is nothing wrong with your computer.
You are about to participate in a great adventure.
You are about to experience the awe and mystery, which reaches from the inner mind –
To the outer limits.
 

Chapter 26 – What Happens In Cleveland Stays In Cleveland
Part 1: So This Is Where…

 
Now get the guns, the drugs, from my generation.
I'll take the fall, the saints, across the nation.
And it's the sex, the gods, the freaks, the frauds.
They're messin' with me,
Come on, come on, come on.  Let's get it on!
Move to the music, Play that fucking music,
Move it to the music, yeah! Let's get it on!
Move to my music, Play that fucking music,
Live through my music, yeah!
Forget the lies, the money, we're in this together.
And through it all, they said nothing's forever.
And they refuse to see the change in me,
Why won't they wake up? 
Come on, come on, come on.  Let's get it on!
       Across The Nation (RAW Theme) – Union Underground

November 8, 2004 8:42 p.m.
University of Texas at Austin  – Arena Backstage – Austin, TX 

"You know, if you're gonna keep doing this, you've got to get a harder head."

"If it gets any harder, I'll be able to use it to crush rocks," he chuckled deeply.

She frowned at him, her delicate brows dipping low over her eyes.  "I don't like it when you do that."

"What?" He queried.  "Wrestle?  Beat the living shit out of Orton?  Or getting myself busted open?"

She stepped closer after glancing back towards the drawn curtain, making sure they were still safely tucked away from prying eyes.  Leaning in, she dabbed at the blood trickling down his forehead, wincing sympathetically at his slight grimace when the antiseptic on the gauze she was using penetrated the cut.  "None of the above.  I don't like it when you downplay your intelligence.  You're not stupid.  And it pisses me off when people treat you like you are…and especially when you do it to yourself."

He slid a large hand up her hip to cup her waist, and draw her closer to him.  He tilted his head slightly to the side to give her better access.  But he kept his eyes trained on her, and they sparkled with the smile he flashed her way.  "So I'll stop."

"That easily?"

He nodded, reaching his free hand to smooth away the wrinkle between her brows until she was smiling at him again.  "It's a habit to me more than anything else.  If it bugs you, I'll stop."

"Thank you," whispered softly, before leaning down and gently caressing his lips with hers.

When she pulled back before the kiss could go any deeper, he licked his lips with a grin, sliding the hand on her waist down just a bit so that the tips of his fingers grazed her jean-clad buttocks.  "You're welcome," he rasped huskily.  "Besides, can't have my girlfriend frowning at me, now can I?"

"Girlfriend?" she parroted back, tossing her head playfully to the side.  "Is that what I am?"

"It certainly looks that way to me."

The two of them spun around in surprise at the unexpected voice coming from the curtain they'd pulled closed when Tina had slipped away from her position to check on Dave after he'd jumped Randy, Benoit, Jericho, and Maven after losing his match a few moments earlier.  Tina immediately jumped away from Dave, her face going pale and she started shaking all over, seeing her degree going up in smoke right in front of her eyes.

"I…I…uhm…we…no, not we….he…," she stammered out trying desperately to come up with a plausible cover of what the unexpected visitor had seen.

But Dave heaved out a gusty breath through his nostrils, and stood up.  Against Tina's mumbled protests, he wrapped his arm around her waist and drew her against his side.  She fought against him for a moment until he tightened his fingers, stilling her struggles with a small squeak.  Putting on his best yeah-and-what-are-you-gonna-do-about-it look, he stared their visitor down.

"How much trouble are we in," he asked calmly.

The visitor pulled the curtain closed as they crossed further into the small alcove.  "Trouble?  I don't see any trouble here."  A quick glance down at a very expensive watch precluded the next statement.  "Although, if Tina doesn't get back to her position in the next few minutes, there very well may be some."

Nodding, Dave turned to Tina and kissed her gently on the forehead, thumbing away a tear that leaked from behind her closed eyes.  "Darlin', it's okay.  I promised you I wouldn't let anything stop you from getting your degree, remember?  You trust me, right?"

"You know I do," she whispered, raising shimmering cobalt eyes to him.  Reluctantly, she slid from his side and walked shakily over to the curtain, only to be stopped by a hand on her wrist as she reached to move the barrier aside.

"Your degree's not in jeopardy, Tina.  I just need to have a little talk with Dave.  Go do your job.  Everything will be fine."

Tina gave a weak, disbelieving nod, and left the room.

Dave turned suspicious eyes back on the newcomer.  "How long have you known?"

He got a secret smile in return.  "That's what I've always liked about you, Dave.  Straight to the point.  You're not even going to try and butter me up over this, are you?"

"No."

"Good."  A small nod.  The visitor crossed the room, gestured for him to sit down, while they did the same.  Crossing one leg over the other, and lacing fingers across the knee, the newcomer smiled, and answered his question.  "Since you brought her to the tower to secure her internship.  I was a witness to that sweet kiss after your meeting was over.  You didn't see me, of course, but I definitely saw the two of you."

"And," the visitor went on while Dave absorbed that information.  "I also was privy to your talk with her when she and Hurricane broke it off.  So technically, I've known almost as long as the two of you have."

"And you've not said a word," he commented quietly.

"No.  Why would I?"

He thought for a moment.  "Because her involvement with a member of the roster is directly against policy for interns."

"Oh, please," was the scoffed answer.  "I don't think we've ever enforced those rules.  No, she's not in any danger of losing her internship by being romantically involved with you.  Granted, I could do that if I wanted to, but I see nothing to be gained by it.  As a matter of fact, you two already have enough against you as it is.  A fairly substantial age difference, locker room interference, not to mention…"

"Hunter and Nan."

"You got it, Big Man.  But I think Nan won't be your problem.  Really.  You might actually have an ally there.  No, Hunter will be your main issue.  He won't see your involvement with his niece as a good thing.  It'll be a betrayal to him and you know how he deals with betrayals."

"No mercy."

"Exactly.  But what worries me more than that, is that he'll probably see your interest in Tina not for what it is, but more for a way for you to get the belt from him."

Dave sat quietly for a moment, then nodded.  "I'd already thought of that."

"So what are you going to do about it?"

He sighed.  "Wait until her graduation, once she's free and clear, and tell him.  Tell him that I want to date his niece."

The visitor nodded, mulling his plan over.  "That might work…at least until he finds out you've been together as a couple for four months before you told him."

"I won't let that happen," he vowed adamantly.

"I don't see how you can prevent it, Dave." 

He huffed a breath, hearing the truth in the simple statement.  "You know your former son-in-law pretty well."

"I like to think so.  I've always had a soft spot for Hunter, regardless of how things turned out between he and Stephanie.  I just wanted you to know that when the truth comes out, and if it goes as badly as I suspect it will, then you and Tina both have a McMahon in your corner.  If there's anything I can do to help, I will."

"Mrs. McMahon…."

"Linda, please."

He stared at her for a moment, then nodded.  "Linda.  Why are you helping us?  Tina and me, I mean?"

She gave him a sad smile.  "Because a long time ago I watched two other people, destined to be together, get derailed by lies and treachery.  They went through mortal hell, loving each other, with no way to be together, and with no one willing to step in and put a stop to the lies and deceit that were keeping them apart.  Myself included.  I just stood by and let it happen.  And I've always regretted that."

"You're talking about Hunter and Nan," he observed.  At her nod, he continued.  "But you did do something about it."

"Yes," she sighed.  "But too little and almost too late.  What I did by sending Hunter that tape of the doctor Stephanie had hired, almost cost me my relationship with my daughter.  And my lack of action almost got Nan killed two weeks earlier."

At his look of questioning, she waved him aside.  "But that's old wounds best left alone.  Just suffice it to say, that this is my own way at self-redemption.  I was serious about my offer, Dave.  If you need help when this all goes down, you've got it."

He nodded.  "Thank you, Linda."

"You're welcome.  But that's not really why I sought you out tonight."

"It isn't?"

"No.  Let me ask you something, Dave," Linda began with a hard look in her eyes.  "What exactly do you want out of your career here in the WWE?" 

~<>~

Evolution is a mystery
Full of change that no one sees
Blood makes a fool of history
Yesterday's too long ago
Don't agree with what I know
Tomorrow becomes the place to be

I see the line in the sand
Time to find out who I am
Looking back to see where I stand
Evolution
       Line In The Sand – Evolution

November 8, 2004 10:36 p.m.
Doubletree Suites Austin – Room 217 – Austin, TX 

She watched with concerned eyes as he sat at the desk in their suite, staring off into space, absently rubbing his one hand over the other.  He wasn't pacing like usual.  He was just…sitting.  Staring.  Seeing only God knew what because his eyes weren't focused on anything.  Hunched over his fist, she couldn't help but liken him to a blonde volcano, trembling under the surface, almost ready to shoot magma, volcanic ash and rock into the air at a minute's provocation.  Primed and ready to explode, yet laying dormant until that one atmospheric change triggered the initial blast.

She wished he were pacing instead.

God, what a cluster-fuck tonight had been, Hunter thought to himself.

First, he'd damn near lost his title by losing his temper with that skid-mark Bischoff.  The man had actually lowered the mic so the audience couldn't hear him, and he'd said something that just set Hunter off.  His words still rang through his ears.

I know you're upset about losing Jack.

And that'd been the last thing Hunter had heard him say before Dave and Ric were trying to pull him off the man.  Upset.  That didn't even begin to scratch the surface.  Nan still wouldn't talk about it, and his dreams…god, he didn't even want to think about those.

He gave himself a mental shake and trained his wayward thoughts back on the ass fucking they'd taken that night instead.  Bischoff had threatened to strip him of his title.  That had been the only thing that had kept him from smearing the sonofabitch from one end of the ring to the other.  Then Batista had gone on to lose to Orton, and get himself busted open in the process.  Oh, he'd gained back some of his steam by jumping the newly formed alliance between Jericho, Orton, Benoit, and Maven.  But no new ground had been gained.

Anti-Evolution. 

That's what those dicks were calling themselves.  And it stuck in Hunter's craw something fierce.  Not so much with all of them individually, though.  Benoit?  Well, they'd always been at odds, so nothing new there.  Orton?  Self-explanatory.  Although, he was really beginning to wonder if his former protégé would ever see the light.

Jericho?  Yeah, that stung a little, considering how close they'd been getting.  But his almost-baby-brother and he had never had a copacetic relationship, and the introduction of Rosie into that equation certainly didn't clear things up for them.  If anything, it muddied the waters even further.  So yeah, Jericho's defiance wasn't so bad.  Expected, Hunter chuckled to himself.  But not anything to get torn up about.

 Maven.  Maven, he repeated to himself.  That bothered him.  A lot.  He liked the kid.  Always had, even back so far as when he won the Tough Enough competition, which had gotten him the contract with the WWE in the first place.  Hunter had watched him from the moment he joined up.  The kid had talent.  Not so much charisma, but he could teach him that, because the spark was definitely there. 

But not as long as he was with Anti-Evolution.  He gritted his teeth.  That's what pissed him off the most.  Those guys making a mockery of the elite stable he'd formulated.  Thinking they could present a united front against them.

And perhaps they could.  Evolution was crumbling around him.  He could feel it.  Just like he felt the coming of  DX's destruction long before it'd actually come to fruition.  Time to strengthen Evolution's ranks.  And that thought led him back to…Maven.

Maybe…maybe he could be swayed…

He'd file that possibility away for the perfect time, letting his troubled thoughts go back to the rest of what had happened tonight.  He'd had a match with Tajiri that had never taken place.  He'd not expected, nor ordered, Snitsky to come down and squash the Japanese Buzz Saw.  But he had.  And Hunter had been intrigued at the surprising show of loyalty.  So, he'd welcomed him to the Survivor Series team…only to have it thrown back in his face in front of thousands of  people.  Snitksy had made it very clear that his friendship with Hunter's fiancée didn't extend to him by default.  When it was his turn to run RAW, he was coming for the title.

And when he'd tested the waters and had approached Edge?  Same thing.  The blonde superstar had pretty much told him to kiss his ass because he also would be coming for the title once they won.

So…if Anti-Evolution won at Survivor Series, he'd have to defend the belt every week for the four weeks they were in control.  Because God knew, that even though Randy couldn't challenge him directly, he could still come up with some really demented shit for him.  He'd taught him too well not to expect it. 

That wrung a small smile from the big man seated at the desk.  Yeah, Orton might be loving the life of a fan-favorite right now.  But that evil bastard he'd wanted to be, the one Hunter had been cultivating for years, was still down there somewhere, just waiting to burst free.  It was only a matter of time, really.

And if his team lost, he'd have to defend his title three out of the four weeks, if not four, depending on…Dave and what he'd do with his week in charge.  Dave was the wild card.  And lately, his friend was really beginning to act strangely.  Weird.  Secretive.  Something was up with the big man, and Hunter couldn't figure out what it was.  But, he did recognize that gold-lust in his friend's eyes from time to time when the bigger man thought Hunter wasn't looking.

Hunter sighed.  He was damned if he did and damned if he didn't.

Can you believe those ingrates?  You need to have a talk with the two of them and straighten this out before I go off on somebody, his words to Dave played back in his mind.

"Batista eyed my title tonight.  After I left the locker room.  Didn't he," Hunter spoke out, turning to look at the woman lying in the bed waiting for him to join her. 

She nodded.  "Yeah.  He did."

"I thought so."

"Come to bed, sweetheart.  You're gonna make yourself crazy running over all the different possibilities."

Hunter stood up, stretching with a huge yawn, knowing she was right, but unable to shut his brain down.  He scratched idly at his chest for a minute, then leaned over to check on Dixie, pleased to see her snoring softly in her crate, her favorite white teddy bear under her chin.  He disrobed in silence, then slid between the cool sheets, wrapping an arm around her shoulders as she scooted over to wind herself around him.

They lay there quietly, enjoying the feel of each other against their bare skin.  Nan was the first to break the silence.  "Is he ready?"

He didn't have to ponder her meaning for long, naturally assuming her question was a continuation of the previous conversation.  "Dave?"  He felt her nod against him.  "What do you think?"

"I think so.  Beyond.  He's got his head screwed on pretty straight, and he knows who brought him to the dance. He'll be a great champion."

"Yeah, he's ready."  He tilted his head to press a kiss to the top of hers.  "But it'll mean the end of Evolution, you know."

"You've had a long run, Hunter.  And you took them on to teach them.  To make stars out of them, not to be your hired goons, no matter what the IA's say." 

"IA's?"

"Yeah.  Internet Assholes."  She pulled her head back so she could look him in the eyes.  "So how's it gonna go down?"

He gave a non-committal tilt to his head with quickly raised and lowered brows.  "Haven't given it much thought, really."

"Oh, please," she scoffed.  "You over-think brushing your teeth, sweetheart.  Don't try and tell me you're not planning this already."

He laughed.  "Honestly, baby.  I really haven't.  Randy required thought because of what he wanted from his run.  But Dave…all he wanted to be was a good Champion.  And he'll be that.  But to answer your question, I guess that all depends on him.  How and when he decides to come for me.  It's a decision he's got to make.  I can't do it for him."

She blinked for a moment, then smiled, seeing the truth in his whiskey gaze.  "Hunter, you did teach him that what you guys say and do for the cameras isn't necessarily the way it really is behind the scenes.  Didn't you?"

"You're thinking about Orton."  She nodded.  "Yeah, baby.  I did.  And Dave gets it.  He knows that when he challenges me it'll be ugly and a hell of a fight.  But he also knows that we'll still be friends after it's over, even though we're enemies in the ring.  You said it yourself.  He's got his head screwed on right."

"And the only way that'll change?"

Hunter chuckled indulgently.  "If he goes and loses his mind and does something really stupid, I suppose.  But I can't see that happening.  Don't worry about it, baby.  Dave knows the deal.  Trust me."

Nan grinned.  "There's no one I trust more."  She thought for a moment.  "What're you gonna do about Survivor Series, though?"

Hunter turned and looked at her, his eyes resigned.  "Baby, we're gonna lose this match."

She only nodded. 

~<>~

Baby I don't understand
With just a touch of your hand
Can make me feel invincible
Do you know just where you take me?
Do you know how high you make me?
I need your kiss like oxygen
With your arms warm around me
When your eyes look deep into me
It's unstoppable – Baby anything is possible
Everything I wanna be
Any dream I wanna dream
I can, Because of your love
Anywhere I ever go
With all of my heart I know
I am the man I am
Because of your love
       Because of Your Love – Kenny Chesney

November 8, 2004 11:07 p.m.
Doubletree Suites Austin – Room 148 – Austin, TX 

"I don't understand how you can be so calm about this."

"There's nothing to be not calm about."

She eyed him incredulously.  "Are you mental or something?  Linda freakin' McMahon, Dave.  CEO of WWE Entertainment?  Remember her?  The one who caught us earlier tonight?  Uncle Hunter's ex-mother-in-law, for Christ's sake!"  She punctuated the last with clenched eyes, curled fists, and a short series of shuddering bounces in place.

Dave leaned back against the headboard of his hotel bed, and slid one hand behind his head, raising his bare knee only to drape his other arm over it, one foot flat on the turned down mattress.  His lips curved up in mirth at the scared-shitless-pissed off blonde currently vibrating in place at the foot of the bed. 

Damn, but she was cute. 

He would have laughed if it wouldn't have gotten him slugged for his amusement at her expense.  And it would have too.  He knew her aunt had a hell of a right hook, so he assumed Tina might have inherited that trait.  He wasn't willing to take the chance.

"Darlin', I've already told you, Linda's okay with us.  She'll not say anything and your degree's secure.  She told you that too, if you'll recall."

Tina opened her eyes at that.  "And you believe her."

"I do."  He nodded.  "But I did tell her that we're not going to keep this a secret for much longer."

"Oh really?  Decided that all by yourself, did you?"

Immediately Dave realized his error.  He'd decided this without telling her.  Tina was as fiercely independent as her aunt was, and he knew damn good and well what Nan's reactions were whenever Hunter made arbitrary decisions without consulting her about them first.  Not pretty.

"Okay, that was stupid, I'll admit."  Dave began.

"Yes, it was.  Go on."

He sighed.  "Had you intended on keeping us a secret forever?  You know that's not possible."  He narrowed his eyes.  "Or were you planning on getting your degree and giving me a thanks-for-the-memories kiss-off and then walk away?"

With a nasty glare tossed in his direction, she turned away slightly and toed off her sneakers and socks.  Then she began to shimmy out of her jeans, and tugged her T-shirt over her head.  She reached around and unfastened her lacy white bra, letting it drop to the floor.  "What a shitty thing to say."

"That's not a denial."

She bent over at the waist, dragging her matching white lace panties down her thighs, and kicked them away.  Straightening up, she walked to where he lay with a definitive seductive roll of her hips.  "Is that your obscure macho way of saying you want us to continue…things…after I get my degree?"

"Maybe," he swallowed hard at the sight of that body coming closer to him. 

She stood by the edge of the bed, and trailed one finger down the tanned thigh down to his knee, then back up again.  "I don't do well with obscurities."

He barked out a laugh.  "A psych major who doesn't do well with obscurities.  Ain't that a kick in the head."

Tina slid one long leg over his lap to settle on the opposite side, and pulled her other leg up on the other side of his hip, so she straddled him.  Then she wiggled a bit.  "Clarify it for me."

"You're cheating," he choked out, his hands coming up automatically to grip her hips.

"No ref."  She looked around the room in feigned surprise, then shrugged a slim shoulder.  "So no cheating.  That's what you wrestling types believe, right?  Clarify it for me, Dave."

He nodded.  "I don't want us to end when your internship does.  I want to tell Hunter and Nan.  And your parents.  And your grandparents, along with the whole Elliott clan.  And the whole damn world while we're at it.  I want to tell everyone that you're my girl, so when one of these morons makes a pass at you, I can rip him apart.  I want you to be able to tell everyone that I'm your guy and you can make all of your girlfriends jealous.  And anyone who doesn't like it can go straight to Hell.  Do not pass Go.  Do not collect two hundred dollars.  That clear enough for you, Bunny?"

Tina felt moisture prick at the back of her eyes.  He was no poet.  But he was brutally honest, and she appreciated that a thousand times more than any poem he could ever have penned. She fell on top of him, nestling her face into the crook of his neck.  "Clarity achieved."

Dave returned her embrace, cupping the back of her head.  With small movements, he maneuvered them under the covers, peeled away his own boxers to sling them across the room, and curled her up tightly against him, her head resting on his shoulder.  "So, we tell them after your graduation?"

Tina nodded.  "You never told me your answer," she breathed softly against his chest, pressing a light kiss to the hard pectoral muscle beneath her cheek.

"Answer?"  Dave hummed, feeling his body sink into the softness of the mattress, while tightening his arm around her, running his fingers through her honey-colored locks.

"Mmm-hmm," she murmured around a yawn.  "To Mrs. McMahon's question – what you wanted out of your career in the WWE?"

Dave didn't answer right away, instead, he shifted on the bed, rolling to his side so he was looking into her eyes when he said, "Tina, how would you feel if I were to challenge Hunter for the title?"

Tina was quiet at first. 

He braced himself for denial, pleas of forgetting his insane, possibly career killing idea.  He even prepared himself for tears or laughter.  He got neither.

"You want the belt that much?  Knowing what it'll entail, considering from whom you have to take it?  After what you saw happen to Randy?"  At his slow nod, she asked, "Why?  It doesn't make you the best, you know.  Not really."

"No," he agreed with her hesitantly.  "No, it doesn't.  You're right about that.  It makes you one of the best.  There've been hundreds of professional wrestlers who've made names in this business.  But to hold the biggest title?  That's an elite group.  And the more you hold it, in length of time or numbers of time, the higher you climb among those elite.  I want to be a part of that group."

She pursed her lips.  "He'll hate you for it."

"No, he won't.  He doesn't hate Orton for it."  At her dubious look he added,  "Darlin', he doesn't.  Though, he is getting closer to it with the crap he's pulling with your aunt.  But Randy thinks Hunter hates him because he's an immature idiot.  He's forgotten what he asked for when he joined Evolution.  When he gets his head out of his ass – "

"Or out from under Stacy's skirts," Tina muttered.

Dave barked out another laugh.  "Yeah, that too.  When he does that, he'll remember what he asked for and how he's getting it.  Then they'll be okay…provided Baby Boy's mature enough by then to swallow his pride and admit it."

Tina snorted.  "I have my doubts on that score."

"Don't let your aunts opinions become yours without foundation."

"They're not," she denied.  "I'll take her feelings into account, and weigh them accordingly.  But in the end, I formulate my own opinions, Dave.  You know that, don't you?" 

"I like to think so."

She smiled at him.  "I just think Randy's got a long way to go before he hits that level of maturity, both in his career and his personal life, before he'll stand up and be a man like Chris told him."

The big man chuckled, cuddling her close.  "You might not be off-base on that.  But no, Hunter won't hate me if I challenge him for the belt.  If he's gonna hate me, it'll look like it's over the strap.  But, in reality, it'll have a different driving force.  You can bet on it.  So, what do you think?"

"I think," she began as she wound her arms around him and settled against his body as he reached over to flick off the light, "that you'll only get one shot at it.  So you really only have one option."

"And what's that?" he murmured softly against her hair.

"Win."

He favored her with a glance, full of heat and lust.  As he rolled her underneath him, she heard him say, just before he claimed her lips and drove all intelligent thought from her brain, "Darlin', I always play to win." 

~<>~

Last night I heard the screaming
Loud voices behind the wall
Another sleepless night for me
It won't do no good to call
The police
Always come late hey
If they come at all
       Behind The Wall – Tracey Chapman

November 9, 2004 3:15 a.m.
Doubletree Suites Austin – Room 217 – Austin, TX 

Hunter rolled and tossed in his sleep, brows furrowed tightly, mouth turned down at the corners, as he tried to fight his way out of the visions playing out behind his eyes.  But the talons were sunk too deeply in to shake them loose.

Someone was crying.  A child.  Heart wrenching, body shaking sobs.  He searched frantically for the sound, knowing he had to do something to stop it.  It was his fault, after all.  Somehow, something he'd done caused those tears, that horrible sound.

The dark, swirling mists of the dream parted long enough for him to see the crouched form of a little dark haired boy with his face buried in the furry belly of a teddy bear.  "You left me.  Why did you leave me?  Why didn't you come back?  You promised you'd always be there for me."

The little boy raised his head, fixing wide whiskey colored eyes on him.  He reeled back away from the child, fighting nausea and rage as he saw the blood running from his nose, the black and blue discoloration around his eyes.  The child struggled to his feet and held out a hand to him, but it dangled uselessly from an arm that hung awkwardly from an angle that only a bad break could bring about.  And there was something grotesque in the way he held his head, flopped over to one side.

He started forward, jogging towards the child who always seemed to be just out of his grasp.  Before he could reach him, a hand shot out from behind the child, grabbed him around the throat, and dragged him off into the darkness.  His screams threatened his hearing, echoing through his head, each one slicing into his chest with a piercing agony.

"Where are you?!"  He cried out, increasing his pace through the blackness.  " Where are you?!  Answer me!"

He was brought up short as another figure stepped into the pinhole of light that materialized at the end of the tunnel he now found himself in.  A little girl.  Blonde.  Dressed in a blue dress with a starched white apron, and equally white tights.  She had her hands clasped demurely in front of her, but she fixed accusatory eyes on him.  Slowly she lifted a hand and pointed to her right.

His gaze followed her fingers and he saw another little boy, blonde this time…with big indigo eyes… happy, and whole.  The child half-leaned, half was held in the arms of a laughing redheaded woman, her belly swollen with pregnancy.  The little boy had a hand on her tummy and laughed whenever it jumped under the kick from beneath it.  He stopped, his breathing settling down, and watched with a smile on his face at the sight, feeling the warmth of contentment curling around his middle as he watched the mother and child.

"You're letting your guard down," a soft voice called to him.  He looked back to see the costumed little girl addressing him.  "They're in danger.  And you're letting it happen."

With fear spiking through him, he wrenched his head back towards the woman and little boy, only to see a shock of pale hollowed cheeks appear behind them, insanity, malice, and revenge glowing in icy green-blue eyes of the man stepping out from the shadows.

The man smiled at him, and he heard his voice clearly.  "I am the right hand of vengeance.  And I will have it."

"No, not my family!"  His own voice bounced off the mists suddenly swirling up in front of him obscuring his view of the woman and child as the man reached for them.  "No!"

"Run, Hunter.  Run," the eerie voice floated to him out of the darkness as the little girl disappeared yet again.

And then he was running.  Towards what or where, he didn't know.  Only that he had to get to…someone.  Someone needed him.  Unexpectedly, he tripped over something in the dark and fell flat on his face on a cold marble tiled floor.  His heart clenched in his chest, skipping several beats, preventing him from drawing in a deep breath.  Fear spilled like poison into the pit of his belly.  He knew that floor; he'd spent too much time face down on it, not to recognize it's chill as it sank through the skin of his cheek.

Bolting upright, he knew he had to stop it from happening again.  Getting to his feet, he ran through the foyer and took the curving staircase two at a time, scrambling for the top, falling once, only to get up and run even faster down the hallway to the open door at the end.  He skidded to a stop in the doorway. 

He was too late.  The dark figure was already there.  He watched, paralyzed with horror to see the strong hand reach out and clasp down over the sleeping little boy's nose and mouth, pressing his head backward into the pillow.

"Get away from him!!"  The scream was torn from his throat, yet no sound came out.  In a blind panic, he rushed forward intending to shove the assailant away from the child struggling for life in the bed.

The moment his hands curled around the dark figure's neck, the figure swirled around him, disorienting him and he felt himself falling. 

Landing with a heart-stopping bounce, he found himself staring up, his eyes swimming with tears of pain and fear as he was back in the bed, unable to breathe, fighting against the hand cutting off his air supply.  He twisted his head sharply to the right, and a blinding pain flashed through his face into his brain and the sickly-sweet, metallic taste of blood filled his mouth.

The hand came away with a start and a muffled curse.  Another kiss of fire licked up his cheek as the hand struck again, then came back down…reaching for him…

Hunter sat up with a start, sweat pouring down his face and chest, his breathing labored.  Wildly, he glanced around the room, but there was no one there.  No one was reaching out to smother him in his sleep.  He felt Nan stir beside him and he violently fought down the bile rising in the back of his throat, as the talons of the dream receded, taking most of his memories of it with them.

"Hunter?"  Her voice heavy with sleep, she spoke quietly in the darkness, her hand sliding up his back and onto his shoulder.  A familiar, and comforting gesture for him.  He reached around and captured her fingers, clasping on to them like they were a lifeline, and brought them up to his mouth, kissing each one reverently.

"Sweetheart," she repeated, pushing her hair out of her face.  "What is it?"

He fell backwards back onto his pillow, pulling her down with him until she lay draped across him.  "Bad dream," he croaked out.

Nan curled her hand up around his cheek, softly stroking the skin and whiskers there.  She pressed a light kiss to the corner of his mouth.  "You wanna talk about it," she asked, making the offer, but not expecting him to agree.

And he didn't disappoint her.  "No, baby.  It was just a dream.  Nothing to get worked up about."

She nodded against his chest sleepily, and settled back down.  But it was a long time before Hunter closed his eyes again.

top

end

Chapter 26 – What Happens In Cleveland Stays In Cleveland
Part 2: And These Are My Friends?

 
Hey there
I know it's hard to feel like I don't care at all
Where you are and how you feel
With these lights off as these wheels
Keep rolling on and on
Slow things down or speed them up
Not enough or way too much
How are you when I'm gone
       Ohio Is For Lovers – Hawthorne Heights

November 13, 2004 11:43 a.m. EST
The Wyndham at Playhouse Square – Lobby – Cleveland, OH 

"Aw hell, Drey, our girl done gone and grow'd up and learnt culture on us.  And me here without my Sunday-go-to-meetin'-clothes," Genie Bass remarked dryly as she and Audrey Lane walked through the revolving door leading into the highly decorated lobby of the posh hotel.

Audrey shot her a censoring look.  "Do you have to talk like that?"

"Like what?"

"Like you're some sort of Hee-Haw reject," Audrey snapped.  "You're not some barefoot, redneck, racist, mayonnaise-sandwich-eatin'-bastard who dates your cousin." 

"You're right."  Genie nodded shortly.  "I never dated a cousin.  Fucked a couple of  'em, but I never  took 'em anyplace.  It's  agin' my principles."

Audrey's eyes blazed with anger, and embarrassment.  "I repeat; you're not like that.  So don't act like it," she hissed through clenched teeth.

Genie just laughed at her.  Unlike their younger days, it wasn't exactly a humorous or pretty sound.  "Jeez, Drey.  Lighten up.  This is a hotel in Ohio for God's sake.  Not freakin' Buckingham Palace."  She snorted.  "The Buckeye state.  What the fuck is that supposed to be, anyway?  Who's to impress, huh?"

Audrey nodded, leading them over to the desk as the bellhop followed with their bags.  "I'll settle for you not embarrassing me."

"Yeah, yeah, Old Tippecanoe and Tyler too," she snorted again, snapping her gum.

"Then how about acting like Miss Millie raised you better?"

The ebony-haired woman gave a soft whistle.  "Low blow, playing the Grandma card."

"Worked though."  The brunette grinned at the concierge.  "Hi, good morning.  Reservations for Bass and Lane, checking in."

The young man nodded, and tapped his computer screen.  "I'm sorry ma'am.  But I don't have reservations in those names and the hotel is fully booked.  I can recommend – "

Genie shook her head.  "Call her, Drey.  She probably booked 'em under her name or her fiancé's or something."

Nodding, Drey reached for her Blackberry.  "Crap."

"What?"

"Battery's dead.  I must have forgotten to charge it."  She glanced up at the young man, reading his tag.  "Darrell, is it?  Darrell, would you please ring the Helmsley suite and let me speak to Nanette Elliott?  She'll be able to straighten this out."

He fixed her with a knowing smirk.  "I'm sorry ma'am, but it's against our policy to intrude upon our more notable guests."

"Sir," Audrey began, her smile still in plain sight, but brittle now.  But Genie cut her off.

"Listen you," she growled.  "I've just gotten off a plane with three different connections, including an hour lay over in a toilet of an airport somewhere just south of Pittsburgh.  I'm tired.  I'm hungry.  I'm cranky.  I'm in desperate need of a shower and a nap.  I was supposed to be here an hour ago, only to try on god-awful bridesmaid's dresses before I can get my shower and food.  And now you're gonna tell me that my room is gone?  Tell you what.  You be the one who calls up to Helmsley suite.  And you be the one to tell Triple H that two of his fiancée's bridesmaids were turned away at the door due to a dead fuckin' battery!"

She leaned over the counter, and grabbed his tie, jerking him down to her face.  "Now, you call that room, get our friend on the phone, or you're gonna be introduced to the taste of your own spleen.  Get me, weasel-dick?"

With a frantic nod, he pulled back as she released his tie.  He glanced around for security, and seeing none, decided his job wasn't worth his life.  He picked up the phone and began to dial.  "Yes ma'am.  Is this Miss Elliott?  Yes ma'am, this is Darrell down at the front desk?  There are two ladies – "

"Why you little – gimme that!"  Genie jerked the phone from his grasp.  "Yo, Viv babe," she growled into the phone, quoting one of their favorite movie lines.  "Would ya get your ass down here?  The sphincter police won't let us through.  Thanks.  Bye."  She snapped her gum and grinned feraly at the young man behind the desk.  "She'll be right down."

"You're not Kit Deluca.  Or Laura San Giacomo," Audrey hissed at her friend.

"Liked her better as Nadine in The Stand anyway."

"Fits."  Audrey nodded, her face pinched.  "Nadine was bat-shit crazy, too."

Genie shrugged off her comment.  "Army philosophy.  Be all that you can be, remember? Whoever you wanna be too, but that's a lesser-known fact.  And held in reserve for special forces, but you didn't hear that from me."

"That's not you."

"How would you know, huh?"  Genie snarled, starting to get angry.  "Hate to break it to ya, Drey, but you don't know me anymore.  I'm not the same girl you grew up with."

Audrey chewed on her lip for a moment.  "What happened to her?"

"Captain Bass happened.  You try killing people you don't even know and see if it doesn't change you," Genie returned fire.  "And maybe I wanna be someone other than Captain Bass for a while.  I'm here in the armpit of the Midwest for Nan and to have some fun for the first time in too damn long.  And I'll be fucked if I'm gonna let your hang-ups ruin it for me."

"My hang-ups?"  Audrey squeaked, her eyebrows shooting towards her hairline.

"Yes, yours," The ebony-haired woman growled.  "Ever since I came home you've been clucking over me like a mother hen.  My momma died eighteen years ago, Drey.  And I don't need you to take her place now.  Stop it already. "

"I'm just trying to help!"  Audrey snarled back.  "It's what friends do, remember??  What do you want from me?!"

Genie fixed her with oddly flat, cold, blue-black eyes.  "I want you to get laid.  No, better yet.  I want you to get expertly laid and then get married and use up those eggs just rotting in your ovaries.  Have more kids than you can handle, that way you'll have someone to mother other than me!"

Audrey's face whitened and her lips grew tight.  "That was a really shitty thing to say."

"What was shitty, wishing you a life full of love and kids – the kind you've always wanted?  Oh," Genie's eyes narrowed and she nodded thoughtfully.  "It was my less than flowery, romantic delivery, right?  Well tough shit, girlie." She shrugged.  "And stop pouting.  Either way, I'm gonna get my kicks while I'm young enough to still get 'em."

"I'm not pouting.  And you're not Rizzo either."  Audrey pouted, stung by her friend's cold words.

"For God's sake, stop telling me who I'm not, when you have no fucking idea of who I am now, Drey!  The more you bitch at me the more obnoxious I'll be, and you know it."  Proving her point, Genie turned and saw an elderly couple eyeing them with disdain over their very public argument.  She grinned, and again quoted Pretty Woman.  "Fifty bucks, Grampa.  For a hundred the wife can watch."

Audrey turned apologetic eyes on the couple as they hurried towards the door.  "I'm so sorry.  She – " 

"Don't you dare apologize for me.  I don't."

"We'll just wait over there for our friend," Audrey told the concierge and pointed in the direction of the grouping of couches.  As they walked away, she turned a hateful glare on her old friend.  "I really hate you sometimes."

"Welcome to the club, sweetie."  Genie answered, falling less than gracefully into the cushions of one of the couches.  "I hate myself most of the time."

Audrey watched her friend sink into settee back with concerned eyes.  Genie had changed so much while she'd been gone that Audrey wasn't even sure that she knew who her friend was anymore.  She was positive that the old Genie was under there somewhere, but Captain Bass reared her head so often, that she wasn't sure how much of the old Genie was actually left.

She sighed.  She really missed her friend.  "You do remember that we agreed not to bring up Jack, didn't you?"

Without opening her eyes, the other woman nodded.  "I'm not a complete cretin, Drey.  Nan's had enough heartache in her life.  For me to go pouncing on her most recent wound would be just mean for meanness sake.  Not my style.  Besides, I'd cut off my arm to help her if she ever needed it.  That goes for you too, ya know." 

Audrey smiled.  "Love you too, byatche."

Genie lifted her head and opened her eyes, almost smiling at her friend.  "Matter of fact, you can have this one."  She shrugged her injured shoulder barely.  "It doesn't work worth a shit most of the time anyway.  Damn good thing I'm left handed, huh?"

"It'll get better, Reggie.  You've only got what?  One more surgery on it?"

"They think. And don't call me Reggie.  You know I hate that," Genie muttered, her eyes now on the entrance, tracking the blonde behemoth coming through the door and heading for the registration desk.  His profile triggered something in her memory, but she'd be damned if she could figure out what it was.  "Amazing what shrapnel from an antipersonnel mine can do to a joint and a nerve cluster, 'ey Audrey-girl?"

Audrey didn't comment, not daring to, since this was the first time since she'd been home that her friend had even brought up the injury she'd sustained that had ended her military career.  She knew Genie well enough to know that the only way to get her to talk was if her audience would just shut the hell up long enough.

But Genie didn't seem interested in talking.  Rather her attention was focused over Audrey's head to the desk they'd just left.  Audrey turned to see what was so fascinating.  "Oh, there's Nan.  Come on."

They rose and headed towards where their friend was getting off the elevators and had stopped to speak to a very attractive chestnut haired lady that both of them recognized, but couldn't place.  Nan had her back to them so she couldn't see the mountain of a man that had entered the lobby earlier.  He put his finger over his lips at the brunette Nan was talking to.  But Genie saw it, and also saw the man begin to creep up on her friend from behind.

Before Audrey could even process what she was doing, Genie was off and running at the man, hitting him hard and fast with a solid punch to his kidneys.  He yelped in surprised pain and buckled forward.  Genie wrenched his right arm up behind him with her left hand, and swept his legs, taking him down in a spectacular clench.  She had the big man pinned to the tiled floor with her knee on the back of his neck.

"Genie!"  Audrey screamed.

"What the hell are you doing?!"  Nan cried, turning around at the commotion and yelling that had accompanied her attack on the man underneath her friend.

"He was gonna jump you from behind, Nan.  Not on my watch," Genie panted, as she wrenched his arm up even further at a painful angle.  She leaned down to growl at her prisoner.  "Watcha gonna do now, big man, huh?"

And suddenly, Nan began to laugh.  "Genie, it's okay.  You can let him up.  It's Deez."

Genie whipped her head around at her friend.  "No way, Nan.  Diesel doesn't have short hair and he damn sure ain't a blonde."

"I…am…now," Kevin grunted beneath the weight she was applying to his neck.  In a move worthy of his illustrious career in the NWO, he pivoted sharply with his hip and chest, catching her off-guard, flipping her over neatly until she lay on her back on the floor beneath him.  He panted down at her with a familiar lopsided smile, his hazel eyes sparkling.  "How's it, Genie?"

The raven-haired woman blinked at him, her blue-black eyes snapping fire.  "Sonofa…geddoff me you fuckin' ape."

Kevin's grin widened as he pressed her wrists to the floor, thoroughly enjoying himself.  "Say please."

"Fuck you."

"Close enough."  He laughed.  "Name the place and time, Squirrel, and I'll be there."

If nothing else convinced her that the man above her definitely was Kevin Nash, that did.  Genie's dark blue eyes blazed at the nickname she detested more than just about anything.  He'd christened her with that nickname the first and only time she'd ever met him and she'd hated it ever since.  She raised her thigh sharply, intending to do damage, but Kevin rolled off her just in time to save his jewels.

Ignoring the man laughing at her on the floor, Genie got to her feet.  She held out her hand to the brunette chuckling at the scene unfolding in front of her.  "Genie Bass."

"I know," the woman laughed, taking the offered hand.  "Rosie Devine.  We met at the Elliott's anniversary party."

"That's right!"  Audrey smiled, shaking her hand as well.  "You're Hunter's sister."

"Well I'll be damned," Kevin said standing up.

"Too late," Genie muttered, much to the delight of Nan for some reason.

Kevin ignored her.  "Runt's baby sister.  Good to finally meet you, girl.  I've heard lots of good things about you.  You dating Jericho notwithstanding,"  He pushed away her offered hand and wrapped her up in a big bear hug, rocking her from side to side.

Grinning, Nan signaled the concierge.  "I need the key cards to the other rooms booked under Helmsley, please."

"Right away, ma'am."

Genie glared at him.  "Weasel."

Nan exchanged hugs with Genie and Audrey while they waited.  Once he came back with the placards, Nan said, "Please have their bags sent up.  Are the things I asked for ready?"

"Yes ma'am.  Two massages and herbal wraps booked and waiting for their call.  Enjoy your stay, ladies," the young man smirked as he went back to his job.

Genie growled at him.  "I oughta –"

"Massages?  Herbal wraps?"  Kevin queried.  "Do I get such treatment too?"

Nan laughed at him.  "Take it up with Hunter, Deez.  I'm pampering my girls, and you guys are his problem."

"Great."  He winked at Genie.  "I'll be lucky to get a pack of peanuts and the Playboy channel."

"More than you deserve," she retorted.

Rosie linked arms with Audrey, having taken an immediate like to Nan's General Manager and old friend when she'd met her a few weeks earlier.  "You're gonna love that massage.  Hank did mine…God, he's fantastic!  And oh so easy on the eyes."

"Getting bored with Jericho already, Rosie?"  Kevin called after the two women heading for the elevator.  "Maybe I stand a chance then?"

"In your dreams, Kevin!"  Rosie laughed back, more than capable of handling the endless flirting from him that her brother had warned her about.

Kevin shrugged it off good-naturedly as he followed behind Genie and Nan, as they too walked towards the lift.  "Say, Shug.  What room is Heartbreak in?  I need to talk to him."

"Room 513," Nan answered.  "But I think he's down at the gym with Hunter and Dave."

"Shawn's here?"  Genie perked up.

Kevin chuckled, answering before Nan could.  "Yep, he and his very-pregnant wife.  Cam?"  He directed the question to Nan.

"Grandparents."

"So there ya go, Squirrel.  Looks like you're stuck with me for the duration," Kevin's smirk gleamed at her, as he made an outrageous pucker and air-kiss.

"I'd rather French-kiss Dusty Rhodes," she snapped.

"I can arrange that," Kevin laughed back. 

~<>~

So she can't go out tonight again
Her sister's sick, she's gotta baby-sit
Yeah, that sounds like a pretty good excuse
Now you didn't hear any of this from me
But things aren't always what they seem
Brace yourself, this may come as a shock to you
Girls lie, too
We don't care how much money you make
What you drive or what you weigh
Size don't matter anyway
Girls lie, too
Don't think you're the only ones
Who bend and break and stretch it some
We learn from you
Girls lie, too           
Girls Lie Too – Terri Clarke

November 13, 2004 2:49 p.m. EST
The Jade House Restaurant – Cleveland, OH 

"I hate that the rest of the girls didn't join us," Rebecca remarked casually, digging into her baked sweet potato with gusto.

"Yeah, that could have been really cool," Tina added.  "Genie's a riot!"

"Not so much anymore, Squirt."  Nan added.  "She's got a lot going on right now."

Tina bit her lip.  "Oh yeah…the war."  She sighed.  "That had to do a number on her."

"It did," Nan confirmed with a subdued look; then she brightened.  "But she'll be okay.  I've got faith in her."

"Does she have faith in herself; that's the real question." 

The redhead looked up with sad eyes.  "I don't know, Beck.  Once I could have answered that question quite assertively.  Now…now I'm just not sure."

"So where are the others," Stacy asked.

"Well,"  Nan began, after swallowing a delicious bite of her shrimp salad.  "Drey and Genie both are worn out from the trip.  They're getting their massages and taking naps and showers and will join us tonight.  Karen's doing something with Edge –"

"Something to Edge, is more likely," Tina snickered.

Nan quirked a grin at her.  "Where's the downside?"

"Didn't say there was one," Tina smirked back.

"What about Rosie?"  Stacy inquired.

Nan's grin bled away into a thoughtful look.  "Now that's a good question.  She said she had to talk to Chris about something."  She tossed them a speculative glance.  "You didn't hear this from me, but there may be trouble brewing there.  I'm worried about those two."

"What??"  Stacy gasped.

"Do I need to talk to Chris?" Rebecca asked concerned.

Nan shrugged.  "No idea."

"You don't think –"

"I don't know what to think, Squirt.  Neither of them has confided in me.  Not yet anyway."

"Chris will."  Tina observed confidently.

"Maybe."  Nan shrugged again, diving back into her salad.  "Then again, maybe not."

Rebecca pondered aloud, "What makes you think they're having problems?"

Nan's brow furrowed.  "Nothing, really.  A stray comment from Rosie here and there.  I really don't have much to go on.  Just gut instinct.  And not even much of that."

Stacy tapped her glass with a fingertip.  "We really need to include Rosie more.  I bet she's feeling a little left out.  Being from another country and all."

"I'm working on it, Buffy.  Let me see what I can dig up there."

Roughly twenty minutes later, Stacy nudged Nan.  "I know you've already seen him today, so should I ask how Big Daddy's doing?"

 "He's his usual self, but he went to see Beck first."

 "Only to make sure that Hunter wasn't able to talk us into making him Cheyenne's godfather," she laughed. "You know, I've been thinking, if something were actually to happen to Shawn and me, and the five of you were to become responsible for our kids, how would you do it?"

 "Let them both live with the future Mr. and Mrs. Cena up in West Newbury for the winter. That way, she'd have three kids to drive her crazy," Nan reasoned, as she spun her make-believe tale. "Then during the summer, they'd all come stay with us by the lake. Deez can spend the summer too."

 "John would love that," Stacy remarked, peeking up carefully, "I'm sorry. I didn't mean that he would love for anything to happen to you two. Just the idea of having Cam and the baby with us.  I swear, I don't know where you're going to put half the things that he bought them for Christmas.  Talk about useless junk at their ages!"

 "She hasn't even been born yet."

 "That didn't stop him from buying Marie's Dancerella with matching tutu and balance bar," Stacy chastised with only a modicum of obvious disapproval, "And he's already ordered her a rhinestone tiara for when she's named Junior Miss Texas." 

"My daughter is never going to be Junior Miss Texas," Rebecca laughed, feigning shock at the extravagant gift, of John's already purchased rhinestone tiara.  "But I'm so glad that y'all have our passing settled so easily.  Nan and Hunter are free to travel the world nine months a year, and John's going to become one of those obsessive star-craved Pageant Moms!"

"Not quite," Stacy whispered, returning to her steak.

"So, did he order another one for the future Junior Miss Massachusetts?"  Nan investigated, exchanging a knowing look with Shawn's wife.  "After all, you did say that you're having a girl first, didn't you?"

"Whe–" She began to argue, but soon changed her mind.  "Can we get you married off, before we start planning for the rest of us, all right?"

Tina leaned across the table.  "Your kids would be beautiful."

Stacy leaned in too, a playful smirk on her pretty face.  "Newbie shares her dirt first."

"Dirt?  What dirt?  No dirt here, see?"  Tina held up her hands, palms out, and rotated them for the three women to see.  "All clean."

Rebecca laughed behind her hand at the wide-eyed, exaggerated look of innocence on Tina's face.  "You do that too well, Tina."

"Too well to be believed, you mean?"  Tina asked.  At Rebecca's nod, she sighed sweetly.  "I kinda thought so."

Before Stacy could clarify her request for dirt, Nan asked, "Squirt, do you have your ID for tonight?"

The young blonde intern nodded, and wiped her mouth with her napkin.  She reached over the back of her chair, retrieved her purse, and rifled through it until she produced a white and blue North Carolina driver's license.  "Right here, Nettie."

"I thought you had a Connecticut license, or at least a Yale student ID," Stacy queried.

"I do," Tina answered.  "But both of those have my real age on them and neither will get me into the club tonight.  Much less be able to drink."

"That's a fake ID?  Lemme see," Rebecca asked, holding out her hand.  Tina passed over the card and Rebecca examined it closely.  "Wow, that's really good.  Do I even want to know where you got this?"

Tina leveled those cobalt blue eyes on her.  "Where else?  Nettie."

"Figures."  Stacy craned her neck to see the picture, her cinnamon gaze darting over the likeness of Tina, noting the birth date had been changed by only three years, listing her as being twenty-two.  She glanced up at the younger woman and could easily seeing her pass for it, provided she did her make-up just right.  Her eyes darted over to her redheaded friend.  "Encouraging a minor to drink?  Tsk-tsk-tsk."

Nan's dark eyes danced, and she shrugged a shoulder.  "Gotta take care of my girl, right?"

"You're rubbing off on her.  Bad influence, Faith."  Stacy winked teasingly at her friend.

Tina reached across the table and snatched it out of their hands, an intense frown on her face.  "No she's not."  With sharp motions, she shoved the ID back into her purse.

"I didn't –"

Nan cut her friend off.  "Tina, that was uncalled for," she said quietly, but with a hint of steel in her tone.  "Stacy was just kidding around.  Weren't you, Buffy?"

Stacy's head bobbed rapidly in agreement, her eyes wide with surprise.

Tina lifted her eyes to her aunt's friend, anger still lurking in her gaze.  But she saw the truth and the shock on the pretty blonde's face.  Her own ire pulled back a bit. She turned to her aunt, contrition in her frown.  "Sorry, Nettie.  I just get so sick and tired of hearing people say that about you."

Nan gave a sympathetic smile and ran a tender hand down the back of her niece's head, smoothing over those wavy honey-blonde locks.  "I know you do, Squirt.  But we're all friends here.  It's okay."

Stacy and Rebecca watched the gentle interchange between the two, as they spoke for a moment in tones low enough not to be overheard.  For the first time Stacy was struck by the glaring similarities in her friend and her niece.  With the exception of hair and eye color, they could have been copies of each other.  Even some of their gestures were the same.  If they'd not been related, it would have been creepy.  But still, they looked so much alike sometimes that it was still a bit disconcerting.  She knew familial resemblance ran deep, but was it really normal for an aunt and niece to look so much alike?  Then her gaze fell on those expressive, now embarrassed, cobalt eyes of Tina's and her brows drew down into a frown.  That look didn't mirror Nan.  But she'd seen it before…not on Tina…but on…whom?

Nodding at something her aunt had said, Tina rotated apologetic eyes to Stacy.  "I'm sorry."

The blonde in question smiled brilliantly, breaking her concentration.  "It's okay, Tina.  Forgiven.  Forgotten."

She smiled.  "Thanks.  But I guess, I do owe you some dirt for that juvenile outburst."

Rebecca and Stacy both grinned wide, and leaned in across the table.  "Oh really?"

"Do tell," Stacy laughed.

"Actually," Tina hedged, as she swirled a sautéed mushroom around on her plate before popping it into her mouth.  "I'm kinda glad you asked.  I've been wanting to talk to you three about this before now…but never had the chance."

"Oooh, now this sounds like it's got potential," Nan teased.  "What is it, Squirt?"

"Well," the younger blonde hedged.  "I'm not…that is, I'm sorta…see, it's like…kinda…well…"

"What?"  Rebecca cried, the suspense getting to her.  "Ignore me," she tossed at her friend's incredulous looks.  "Baby hormones."

"You can't use that excuse forever, Nosey Nelly," Stacy teased.

"Yeah," Nan glanced at her watch.  "Only about two more months to milk that one, Beck."

"I'm seeing someone.  A wrestler," Tina blurted out. 

All three sets of eyes swiveled her way, their friendly bickering stopping instantly.  Silence reigned for a moment.  Then Nan laid a gentle hand on Tina's arm.  "Do you want to tell us who it is?"

Tina shook her head wildly.  "Can't.  Not until I've graduated and my internship's no longer in jeopardy."

Rebecca nodded sympathetically.  "Understandable.  So what can we help you with, Tina?"

"How do you stand it?"

The three women shared confused looks.  "Stand what?"  Stacy asked.

Tina waved a fork around, a piece of her Chicken Marsala clinging precariously to the tines.  "Watching him go out there and getting pummeled mercilessly, only to get up and do it again the next night?  Knowing eventually, he's gonna get hurt?  I mean, it wasn't so bad when I was dating Shane because he didn't really wrestle all that much when we were going out.  But now it's completely different."

"Different how?"  Nan asked, dying to figure out who, she suspected by the look of fear in her eyes, had captured her niece's heart so quickly.

Tina looked down at her plate and shrugged.  "He wrestles a lot more than Shane did.  And he's not gotten really hurt.  Not yet.  But it's coming.  I just know it.  I just don't know how to deal with it when it does."

"You've all been through it."  She looked up at the three women around the table, her gaze landing first on Rebecca.  "Shawnie's throat and more recently his knee.  Not to mention his back surgery when I was high school."  Her eyes traveled on to Stacy.  "John's…well, we know what happened to John."  She trailed off at the look on the blonde's face.  But then her plaintive stare turned to her aunt.  "And Uncle Hunter practically lives in the emergency room.  How do I handle this, Nettie?"

No one answered right away.  But then Rebecca's rich chuckled surprised them all.  "It's finally happened."

"What has?"  Stacy croaked her throat thick with emotion.

"Nancy and Connie warned me this would happen," she smiled, mentioning Chris Benoit and Eddie Guerrero's wives.  "That eventually, the younger wrestler's wives and girlfriends would start coming to me for advice, like I did to them.  I've finally become an old wrestler's wife."

"What'd they tell you?"  Tina asked, her eyes pleading.

"To remember th