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Amy's eyes fluttered open the next morning early - *too* early, it seemed. Momentarily, she was somewhat disoriented.
There were a pair of strong, muscular arms encircling her waist, a solid body spooning behind her.
She remembered... Matt was away, off to a multitude of places for some appearances. Adam had kissed her last night. He'd confessed certain very deep things to her. He'd told her he loved her. And they'd made love for the first time in six years.
Recalling everything had the redhead all choked up. It would all be so very beautiful and without flaws but for two very important factors...
She stiffened ever so slightly as the blond man suddenly stirred behind her. She could feel his body shudder somewhat as he stretched a little, chasing that with a small, sleepy groan. Then, he tightened his arms around her waist.
"You awake?"
Damn it, he knew she was - she knew it, too. There was no use feigning sleep. What in God's name was she supposed to do now, after last night? She still knew she couldn't stay with Matt. At the same time, the Canadian had never broached the topic of them actually *being* together - in spite of saying he loved her. But those three little words usually meant as much.
"Yeah... H-hi," she finally answered. Damn it, she was tired. It was hard to believe what had happened the previous night. It all felt so much like a dream. If she'd returned to her own hotel room at some point in the night as she had on that *other* night six years earlier, she might have actually thought it to be so.
Gently, the blond man released her, but then turned her around so that she was facing him. Their gazes met, and he smiled at her, and Amy felt as though she could die at the look in his eyes.
"You stayed all night this time..."
The redhead nearly flinched at his words, realizing suddenly how much it must have hurt him when he'd awoken that first time after they'd made love to find her gone. She'd been a coward back then, scared to face him in the morning when she would be leaving for Mexico immediately after their one and only time together... Just as she was still a coward right now. Damn it, he had every right to know that their first night together had resulted in a child - in little Mandy, whom she knew Adam adored.
"Yeah..." she said lamely, her gaze dropping from his eyes to his nose, his lips, his strong jaw. She wondered how it was possible that she could still feel even the least bit shy with him.
Adam dipped his head somewhat, so that their eyes met again.
"You know, I really meant what I said last night, Amy," he said softly, his face so near to hers that she could feel his warm breath.
Her own breath caught in her throat, and he gave her a tiny smile again. Her heart was pounding so hard and fast, she feared it just might escape the confines of her chest.
"I love you, Amy Dumas..." he breathed. "... I always have."
The redhead blinked, at a loss for words as she gave him a questioning look.
"I loved you way back when, the *first* time this happened, but..." The blond man shook his head. "... I was too scared to admit it to you, especially with you going off to Mexico and me going to the WWE."
"A-Adam..." Tears filled Amy's eyes as the emotion overtook her. He'd *always* loved her... "...I ... I always loved you, too. I..." Her words were silenced by a soft, warm kiss.
After a long moment, he pulled back and nuzzled her tenderly, her eyes closing at the sensation. He pressed another kiss to her forehead before speaking again.
"I feel a little bad about this while you're still technically with Matt," he admitted. "But I don't regret it one bit."
There were still tears on her face, and he reached out with one large, gentle hand, brushing them away tenderly. When he was done, she reached for him, burrowing her fingers into his long blond hair. She shook her head.
"Neither do I..." With those words, she pulled his head to hers, their lips meeting hotly
in a mind-searing kiss.