_________________________________________________

*Late January 2003*

"I still can't get over the fact that it was *you* who threw me out!" Jay Reso exclaimed.

"Hey," Adam replied with a toothy grin, "you know how the Rumble is - every man for himself."

"Yeah, but... your *best friend*!" the other man whined, feigning pain. He turned toward his girlfriend, who was at his side on the couch. "Nora, can you believe this guy? Isn't he so *wrong*?"

Nora Greenwald giggled and shook her head.

"I'm afraid, not, hon. As long as it's been around, the Royal Rumble has always been about looking out for number one."

"Well, in *that* case," interjected a new voice - that belonging to Chris Jericho - "none of you assclowns could've done that because yours truly wasn't even *in* that match."

Amy, draped across Adam's lap as he was seated on a cozy armchair, giggled at the blond men's banter. She exchanged glances of amusement with Chris' girlfriend, Trish Stratus, who simply rolled her eyes and laughed as well.

"See what I put up with each and every day?" the little blonde quipped. "At least *your* man is modest!"

They were all congregated at Adam's house on their day off, having had a steak dinner and just enjoying one another's company. The redhead felt so content, it was akin to a little slice of heaven. She loved it here, loved spending quality time with friends they didn't get to see very often, loved *him*. In fact, lately, she'd been spending a lot more time at *his* house than she had at her own.

Jay shook his head as he eyed his best friend and the redhead.

"I still can't believe you two finally hooked up."

Nora swatted at him, and Jay flinched. The brunette was stronger than she looked.

"Ow! What was *that* for, babe?"

"How many times do you have to keep saying that, Jay?" she said. A soft smile came to her face, and she warmed up and leaned in to kiss him. "I'm sorry I hurt you."

"And *I* still can't believe those two finally hooked up," the blond man continued. He turned his blue eyes to Amy. "He could never shut up about you, Ames - you should've heard him when you started seeing Matt-" Jay once again shut up as this time, he felt the small hand of his girlfriend whack at the back of his head.

"Oh, is that so?" the redhead asked, her amused gaze going to the tall blond man. She knew he'd hated it when she'd first been with the elder Hardy brother, but he didn't spend every waking moment complaining about it - or *had* he?

"And while we're on the subject," Trish cut in, causing Adam to feel as though he were saved by the bell, "what's going on lately? Are Matt and Torrie still making your lives miserable?"

"Not lately," Adam replied, a hard gleam coming into his eyes at the mention of that meddlesome couple. Ever since Torrie's naked trick in his locker room - and Stephanie McMahon's subsequent lecturing for the umpteenth time - those two had been laying low. But he knew those two, and knew they'd start something up again before too long.

Jericho shook his head.

"I can't believe what an asshole he turned into."

Nora sensed the sudden tension throughout the room and decided to try to break it.

"C'mon, guys - let's change the subject. We're all together tonight to have *fun*, right?"

Amy nodded, shifting her hazel eyes from the little brunette, back to Adam. God, she loved him - and she wanted to make the sudden look of disappointment his face was donning just go away.

"Hey, I know," Trish said, a smile coming to the blonde's lips. "Adam, bring out your Trivial Pursuit!"

"*Hell*, no!" Chris cried, shaking his head in protest as he focused on his girlfriend. "You always beat everyone and then stick it to us! I'm not subjecting myself to *that* again!"

"Can it, Jerky," the tallest man in the room said. As Amy rose from his lap, he got up to retrieve the game.

*

"Tonight was fun," Amy said with a bright smile later on. Their friends had all left, and now they were alone.

"It was," Adam agreed, wrapping his arms around her waist and drawing her flush against him. A smile touched his lips as their lips met. The kiss was soft and tender, and it increased in passion in mere seconds.

"I love you," the blond man breathed afterward, his forehead pressed to hers.

"I love you, too."

"I was thinking," he continued, pulling away enough to gaze seriously into her eyes. "Why don't you... move in with me?"

"What?" The redhead gaped at her boyfriend with surprise. He'd certainly caught her off-guard with this one.

"You've been here a lot more than you've been home lately," the tall blond reminded her. "Live with me, Ames, come on..."

She was silent for a moment, and then, "But I'd never even been here until a month ago. And it's such a big step, and we've only been a couple for three months."

"So what?" he said with a small smile. "The only thing that matters is how we feel, right?"

"Well, yeah, I guess so."

Adam pulled her against him again, his hands coming up to cup her cheeks. He met her hazel eyes squarely, letting her see all the love he held for her shining in his own orbs.

"So, what do you say?"

Amy bit her lip, mulling it ovre for a moment. Then, a soft smile coming to her lovely face, she nodded.

"All right... I'll move in with you."

The blond man grinned and dipped his head to capture her lips in a dizzying kiss.