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Adam wore a grin on his face as he returned to his locker room. He'd just showered and changed into his street clothes, and by some miracle, he was still the Intercontinental Champion. Going into the triple-threat match against Chris Jericho and Dave Batista - unlike the match he had with Randy Orton the prior month at Vengeance - he'd known he would be retaining the gold.
Even the odd reaction of his hometown crowd of Toronto couldn't get him down. He was still a champion, but perhaps even more importantly, Amy was finally done with Matt Hardy in her storyline. Word going around backstage was that the prick's knee was a total mess and that he needed surgery. Adam didn't consider himself by any means a heartless person, but he was ecstatic that Matt would finally be away from his wife. Plus, he couldn't forget the man's disgusting attitude toward him about his much more serious neck injury from the previous year. The tall blond man knew Hardy wouldn't have cared even if he'd died on the operating table.
Adam pushed through the door into his locker room, beaming as he instantly met Amy's sparkling hazel eyes. She rose from the couch daintily, meeting him halfway.
"Hey, champ," she said saucily. One of her hands came up to stroke his scruff-covered cheek. he was again sporting a beard, and she loved it.
The tall blond man nearly growled as he wrapped his strong arms around her thickened waist, his lips hot and demanding as they claimed hers.
The redhead let out a soft little moan of pleasure at the feel of the kiss, his beard scratchy against her face. She was feeling so unbelievably marvelous - and free. After four long months of having to deal with Matt, her storyline with him was finally coming to an end - well, it would be completely done with in eight more days. She felt as though a huge, momentous weight had been lifted from her shoulders.
When the kiss broke, the Canadian affectionately nuzzled his wife, his hand going down to her stomach to stroke it and their baby growing within her womb.
"You know, I've gotta admit," he said, his mood changing slightly, "I'm pretty disappointed in the crowd reaction I got tonight."
Amy's expression darkened.
"Oh, I *know*!" she cried, indignation taking over her beautiful features. She'd been very unpleasantly shocked at all the boos her husband had received from the fans - in the town where he was born, had been raised, and had lived up until five years earlier. And since when was Batista more popular than Edge? The big man had gotten quite a few pops from the crowd, and hardly any boos. She could understand Chris getting such a great reaction, as he was definitely a fan favorite, but Evolution's "Animal"? "Well, you know what?" she said, brightening again as she gazed adoringly up into his handsome face. "Screw them. You were the best thing out there tonight, Adam Copeland. And later tonight, I'm going to show you just how much I appreciate you."
"Mmm..." The blond man licked his lips as he smiled down at her, loving all the promises he could read in her hazel orbs. "... I can hardly wait." He kissed her again, his tongue slipping past her lips, and Amy nearly lost herself.
"I'm actually kinda hungry," she admitted when she pulled back a moment later. Her hand traveled to her stomach, which was definitely grumbling. No doubt, the baby was increasing her appetite these days.
"So am I," Adam concurred. "Catering, here we come!"
Together, they left the locker room and made their way to catering. Amy's mouth was practically watering at the display of various salads and sandwiches, not to mention desserts, set out. She led the way, pulling her husband by the hand to the table containing the sandwiches.
Moments later, they were seated at a small table, and the redhead took such delight in eating the chicken caesar wrap she'd selected, she was actually sighing as she ate.
Adam smiled at her between sips of spring water. She had some caesar dressing on one corner of her mouth and hadn't gotten it with her napkin or licked it away. God, she was cute. He started to tell her about it when there was a sudden, very unwelcome interruption.
"Well, Torrie, look who we've got here," Matt Hardy said, all smiles.
The blonde rolled her eyes as she noticed the other couple but didn't speak.
Adam and Amy's eyes met, and each was easily able to detect the displeasure in the other's face.
"Just great," Amy muttered.
"Ignore them," the Canadian whispered. He knew it was easier said than done, but he himself was going to try to take his own advice.
"You see what we've got here, Tor? We've got a washed up, *knocked up former* Women's wrestler and a joke of an Intercontinental Champion who got booed out of the building in his own hometown!" Hardy burst into laughter then at his own words.
Adam was seething at the idiot's comments. He and the redhead locked gazed, reading one another's mind as they tried to do exactly as he'd suggested and ignore Matt and Torrie.
The platinum blonde laughed at her boyfriend's comment, but didn't respond beyond that.
Amy scowled as her ex-boyfriend crept closer to them, directly in her line of vision. Judging by the expression on his face, Matt was enjoying this.
"Amy," the Hardy said, barely able to contain his laughter, "did you tell your old man that I touched your belly earlier?"
This time, Adam's head snapped up, and he glared at the other man. This was the first he was hearing of this. What the hell was Matt talking about?
Torrie reacted as well, her face contorting into a frown.
"What?!" she demanded. "What are you doing touching another woman?"
"Don't get your pretty self all worked up, babe," he replied, chucking the tall blonde under her chin. "But that was something else, feeling a pregnant belly."
Adam sprang up from his seat in a flash, grabbing Matt by his shirt collar, fury in his widened green eyes.
"And unless you inject your spawn in your slut, it's the *last* you'll ever do that," he spat in a murderously low tone. He cocked his head. "Come to think of it, it might be the only time you ever do that, period." He moved his face slightly closer to Matt, the dark-haired man actually speechless as his girlfriend and Amy watched on in silenced shock. "If you ever touch my wife again, it'll be the last thing you ever do." With that, he shoved the despicable bastard away, sending Matt nearly tripping over a chair behind him. Torrie rushed to his side as Adam grabbed Amy's hand and escorted her out of the room.
Matt was seething as his breathing came hard and fast. He glared after the couple, more angry than he could recall in awhile.
"You're gonna pay for that," he muttered, practically ignoring Torrie as she held him. "*Both* of you."