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*December 2004*

She sat silently, as still as a stone except for her eyes, which kept blinking with emotion. She shifted the hazel orbs from the cell phone through which she'd just spoken, where it lay on the nightstand, then to the window just beyond.

She was in shock, and felt as though her heart might stop. There had only been one or two other times where she'd felt such horror - such cold and utmost fear.

Amy barely looked up as Adam re-entered the hotel room, the tall blond man having just picked up some takeout from a nearby sushi place they'd spotted a few hours ago. She was far too stunned to even react.

"Got exactly what you wanted, babe," the Canadian said as he moved over to the table in the farthest corner. "They had your unagi, and salmon, and-" He abruptly stopped speaking at her complete and utter silence, a frown coming to his face as he caught the strange expression on her own. "Amy?"

The redhead raised her hazel eyes from the mattress upon which she was sitting to his concerned green eyes. He looked so unassuming, so totally unaware. And that hurt her heart. But how could he know? *She'd* only just found out, thanks to her friend's call.

She shook her head, her entire aura shrouded in hopelessness.

"Adam, I... I just got off the phone with Dawn Marie," she said, and he arched a brow. Her closest SmackDown diva friend had deemed it fairly important to call and give her the news, as she knew how badly she'd been hurt a few months earlier.

The tall blond man put the bag containing their late-night dinner on the table, and he didn't budge from his spot as he waited for her to continue. Needless to say, whatever the brunette Amy used to work with in ECW had told her, it wasn't anything good.

She shook her head, the fear gripping her in its unbelievably tight clutches. She didn't want to tell him, but he would find out eventually, so she might as well. She steeled herself, rounding her shoulders and looked him directly in the eye as she spoke.

"The WWE just hired three new divas to be on SmackDown... These three women were part of the RAW Diva Search contest..."

Adam held his breath for a beat as he waited for her to finish. Somehow, he knew exactly what she was about to tell him.

"... And it just so happens that Joy Giovanni is one of them." She lowered her head again, the emotion welling up inside of her and overwhelming her. Despite loving sushi more than just about anything else she could eat, she no longer had an appetite. In fact, she thought she might be sick. It was her worst nightmare... Well, her worst after originally finding out her boyfriend had slept with that little skank.

The tall blond man was at her side in an instant, concern etched on his sharply handsome face as he sat beside her. He reached out for her with both hands, pressing his palms against her cheeks and forcing her to look up into his eyes.

"You listen to me - I don't give two shits about Joy Giovanni," he spat. Although he wasn't angry with the redhead, he couldn't help feeling agitated that the company had gone and hired the small brunette after she'd been eliminated in the diva contest. As far as he was concerned, the only one of those women who should be employed in the WWE was Christy Hemme, who had *rightfully* won the fans' hearts and votes. "The only one I give a damn about is Amy Christine Dumas - *you*," he insisted, his voice firm. He looked directly into her hazel eyes, wanting to flinch as he absorbed the hopelessness he saw in them.

Amy shook her head although his hands were still holding, cupping her face.

"I... I know," she said weakly. She swallowed visibly, hating that she felt so damn helpless and... insecure. She'd never been one to be plagued by a bout of insecurity, and frankly, she loathed the feeling. Her gaze remained locked on his strangely beautiful eyes - brilliant green, but so dark they sometimes appeared like murky ocean water.

The blond man moved his face closer to hers, pressing his forehead against hers, his breath warm against her.

"I love you so much," he breathed. "And I don't give a damn about anyone else... Nothing is gonna take me away from you, baby." He tilted his head to one side, brushing her lips with the softest little kiss - nothing too passionate for the moment, just tender and sweet and full of affection. It brought tears of Amy's eyes.

The redhead blinked with emotion as she ducked her head away from his gaze for the tiniest of seconds. The truth was, she was embarrassed. She hated that she was feeling this way when she'd been so wrong in the very beginning of their relationship. And, for the life of her, as irrational a feeling as it was, she couldn't help thinking, deep down, that she wouldn't blame the blond man for leaving her.

"I love you, too," she managed, still choked by her emotion. She raised a hand to his stubbled cheek, marveling at the love she read within his emerald eyes. She moved the mere couple of inches to capture his lips with her own, and this time, the kiss was more passion-filled, hungry. She visibly relaxed as she felt his tongue enter her mouth, his arms winding around her waist, pulling her more closely against him. And God, how she loved him.

After a few minutes, he reluctantly pulled back, breaking the kiss. He offered her a soft smile, his hand reaching down and gripping hers gently but firmly. He wanted to lay with her on the bed and kiss her until all hours of the night, but they had food that could easily and very quickly go bad. He gestured with a tilt of his head toward the table nearby.

"Come on," he said. "Let's eat. There's plenty of time to continue this later."

*

Adam roused from his sleep, his eyes opening slowly at the feel of the soft, sweet body in his arms. Amy... He gazed down at her, her head resting on his chest, using it as a pillow, her body turned half on her side, her arm partly draped over him. They were both nude beneath the blankets, having fallen asleep in one another's embrace after making love the night before.

He smiled softly, a feeling of incredible peace overtaking him. She was sleeping so soundly, a small, contented sound issuing softly from her. She felt so warm and wonderful to him - and he never wanted to let her go.

As though sensing him watching her, Amy suddenly shifted slightly, her head raising, and her eyes fluttered open. She blinked sleepily up at him, disoriented for a few seconds.

"Hey."

"Hey," she said, bringing a hand up to rake at her disheveled long red hair. She yawned and slid her body up so that her head was just beside his, against the pillow. She turned over onto her side, edging closer to him, burying her face into the crook of his neck. He made her feel so warm. It was really a nice feeling.

The Canadian smiled as he looked down at her. He was struck by a rush of tenderness as he reached an arm around the redhead, drawing her against him. The smile on his face blossomed a bit more as he thought about doing something he'd planned on for quite awhile. He hadn't want to let on just yet, wanting to wait a little longer, but damn it... Fuck it - he didn't want to wait any longer.

"Baby..." he said softly, his hand going into her soft red hair. She raised her head reluctantly, gazing sleepily up at him, and he moved his hand away and raised it in a 'wait' gesture. Then, sliding over to the side of the bed nearest to him, he leaned down to rummage through his bag, which he'd left right there by the foot of the nightstand. He felt Amy beginning to lean over, as though curious by his actions, but he shook his head. "... just lay right there." He allowed his fingers to seek what he'd been searching for in a small compartment of the bag.

The redhead watched him intently, the curiosity nearly getting the better of her as she wondered what he was up to. And then, he straightened back up, a serious expression on his handsome face. Whatever he now held in his hand, he obviously didn't want her to see it because he was clutching it tightly, as though hiding it.

"Adam, what...?" Her breath caught in her throat as he took gentle hold of her hand with his free one.

"Ames, all the stuff we've been through in the last few months... Well, it made me realize even more how much I really love you. Not that I didn't *already* know the extent of how I feel about you, but..." A small smile crossed his lips, his green eyes dropping their gaze for a few seconds as he sadly recalled the turmoil their relationship had endured in the last two months. "... When you left me awhile back, it nearly killed me, and I count my blessings that you came back to me."

Amy felt tears welling up in her eyes as she fixed them on his face. His words were so heartfelt, straight from his heart.

"And after we got back together, I knew one thing - I want to spend the rest of my life with you," he went on. He opened his fisted hand to reveal the glittery diamond ring, the emerald-cut stone beautifully done in a basket setting on the gold band.

The redhead gasped in surprise, her heart nearly exploding, but in a good way. She found herself momentarily speechless as he wiggled his fingers enough to grip the ring and extend it out to her. She was in absolute shock.

By now, the blond man too felt tears in his eyes, and he ignored them as he fixed his green gaze on her. He cocked his head as he regarded her and continued.

"Amy Christine Dumas... You are the best thing to come into my life since the WWE hired me. I... I almost can't explain it because there aren't enough words in the English language to describe how much I love you." He blinked at the emotion between them, drawing in a quick breath before he went on. "I love the way you're strong for me when I'm not feeling strong, and for the way you make me forget my problems just with your beautiful smile. You... you take away my pain when I'm hurting, give me encouragement when I'm unsure about something. You... you're my rock and my heart... And if you would become my wife, I promise to spend the rest of my life making you the happiest woman alive. I love you, Amy..." He swallowed, and then, "... Will you marry me?"

By now, the redhead was weeping softly, the tears streaming down her cheeks. She felt a sharp-loving pain inside as she realized he too was crying. She reached out with her free hand to wipe away the tears from his cheeks, and she found herself softly laughing.

"Yes..." she said, her voice nearly a whisper. "... Yes, I'll marry you, Adam Joseph Copeland."

He felt his heart soaring as he then slid the ring up her finger, a smile coming to his features as she threw herself into him, her arms coming up to clasp tightly around his neck. Instantly, she sought his lips, her tongue darting into his mouth, and he groaned as he felt himself harden against her and kissed her back.

It went on and on, and he let himself fall back against the pillows and mattress, his arms wound around her waist, holding her tautly down to him. She moved so that she was straddling him, her mouth so deliciously hot as they continued to kiss.

After a few minutes, she raised her head to gaze down at him, merriment in her hazel orbs as she smiled.

"You are about to get *so* lucky," she said impishly.

The blond man grinned up at her. She was so undeniably precious, and again, he counted his lucky stars for having her - for being fortunate enough to get her back right where she belonged - in his arms, loving each other... And now, he knew it would be forever.

"I already am, baby," he breathed, one of his hands coming up to tangle into the back of her long auburn hair. "I already am." With that, he drew her head down to him again, his lips hungrily claiming hers.
 

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