____________________________________________________________

"Damn it!" Amy Dumas swore as she started reading the letter.  His latest letter.

Dear Amy,

You are so very beautiful that all I think of all day, every day, is putting my hands all over your sensuous female form.

The many things I want to do to you, Amy.  You are so beautiful, the most beautiful girl in the world.  Not only that, you are one hell of a wrestler for a girl who's not even Japanese!  I would love to wrestle you one-on-one someday.  But we will have plenty of chances to do that, won't we?  Only, it won't be in the ring but in your bed...

Repulsed, Amy released her grip on the letter and let it flutter to the floor, almost as if in slow motion.  Running a hand through her long red hair, she felt a sob building up inside of her.  She didn't know how much more of this she could take.

She'd told a couple of friends about the letters and asked them for help, but they were afraid to do anything.  Matt and Jeff Hardy, her two best friends, wouldn't help.  Even her big friend Matt Bloom, who was six-eight and 350 pounds, was afraid to help her.  She didn't know who else to turn to.

Suddenly, the knob of her hotel room door began turning, and Amy recoiled in horror but decided she would be prepared to fight no matter what might happen.

As the door opened, revealing the figure of the Canadian blonde, her breathing and heart resumed their normal rates.

"Oh my God, Trish," Amy exclaimed.  "You scared me half to death!"

Trish Stratus closed the door behind her and eyed her friend with concern.  "I'm sorry, Ames."  Then, spotting the piece of paper on the floor by Amy's feet, she came forward.  "Oh, no!  Not another one..."

"Yes, another one," Amy sighed.  She shakily sat down on the edge of one of the twin king-sized beds.  She covered her face with her hands as Trish rushed to her side to put a consoling arm around her shoulder.

Amy couldn't stand it.  This had been happening for the past month already.  The man was stalking her.  Every other day, he would write her love letters and slide them under her door, leave them on the windshield of her rental car, and once, he'd even left one on her pillow along with a single red rose.

In different circumstances, Amy supposed she would love the chance to be with this guy, but not this way.  At first, she'd found his antics a bit amusing, but before long, she grew annoyed of them.  Finally, she'd grown to dread receiving his letters.  She shuddered as she mentally spoke his name in her head - Chris Irvine.

*

Adam Copeland and Jason Reso were sharing a rental car and were on their way to a nightclub to unwind after their long and busy day.  A lot of the wrestlers hung out at this place when they were in this town, and they were no exception.

"Hey, there's Amy," Adam exclaimed, his emerald eyes glued to the vision of the beautiful redhead.  She was walking alone in the direction they were headed, obviously also on her way to the club.

"What the hell...?  Idiot!" Jason suddenly spat.  That was when Adam realized that a black SUV had suddenly cut them off.  Beyond that, something about it was strange - although it was pitch dark outside, he realized that the driver had not put on his lights!

"Drive around him," Adam suggested calmly.  "Just because we didn't see him doesn't mean he won't see us."

As Jason eased into the other lane, he muttered, "And why's this jackass driving so slow?"  He drove up ahead of the truck.

Adam glanced back at the vehicle, unable to catch a glimpse of the driver because the windows were tinted.  Then, glancing back at Amy, who still had a couple more blocks to go before she would reach the club, Adam exclaimed, "Jay, that guy is following Amy!"

"What?"

"He's following her!  Come on, pull over to the side so we can let her in!  And don't tell her anything about some creep following her.  We don't want to freak her out..."

*

Amy suddenly became aware of a pair of headlights slightly behind her and to her right. Great, just what I need, she thought with annoyance.  She quickened her step when the car's horn suddenly sounded.

"Amy!  Hey, Amy!" a familiar male voice called.

Amy turned around and saw Adam half leaning out the window of the passenger's side of a rental car.  He was waving her over to the car.

"Hey, guys," she called.  "Thanks, but I don't need a lift - I'm almost there."

"Please, Amy.  Just please, come with us the rest of the way," Adam pleaded.

"Really, guys, it's all right."  Amy suddenly noticed Adam's concerned gaze upon her in the darkness.  She suddenly had a change of heart.  "Oh, okay."  She walked over to the car, going around to the passenger's side, where Adam unlocked the back door for her.

"Thanks," she said as she slid inside.

Adam glanced back in the direction of the black SUV and was surprised to see that it had disappeared while they were waiting for Amy.  He thought it strange, but didn't dare mention a word of it to Amy.

*

Within the noisy interior of the club, Amy sat at a table with Adam, Jason, Matt, Jeff and Trish.  She stirred her Shirley Temple with a small straw, finding it difficult to concentrate on the conversation that was taking place.

While Amy was distracted, Adam was distracted as well, but for different reasons.  He took advantage of her distraction by studying her intently while he sipped his Coke.

She was so beautiful.  She took his breath away.  Ever since she'd first come to the WWF, since he first laid eyes on her, he'd had a huge crush on her.  He'd never actually even told anyone this, not even Jay, though nearly everyone seemed to know.  Everyone, that is, except for Amy herself.

He recalled the first time he'd ever seen her...

He had just finished wrestling in a triple threat match on RAW against Jeff Hardy and D-Von Dudley, and it was Valentine's Day.  As he and Jay walked through the halls of the arena, on their way to the room in which the buffet was spread out, he caught sight of the back of a young woman's deep, straight red hair.  As he approached one of the tables to get some food, he came around and saw her from the front.  Her head was slightly down, as she was piling food onto a paper plate.

Sensing eyes on her, the young woman looked up and met Adam's eyes, and Adam felt something melt deep inside him.  She had the most incredible dark hazel eyes he'd ever seen.  He couldn't help but just continue to gaze at her, all but forgetting about getting food.  After a moment, she smiled at him, and he felt his heart pounding.  Who was this amazing girl?

"Hi," she said softly, shifting her plate to her left hand as she held out her right.  "I'm Amy.  We haven't met, but I just caught your match.  Great stuff out there."  Her smile broadened.

Adam's grin became even wider as he snapped back to reality and took her hand, shaking it.  "I'm Adam."

"It's nice to meet you, Adam."

After a beat, Adam realized he was still holding onto her hand, and he reddened as he let it go.  At this point, Amy was glancing behind him at someone else.

"Aren't you gonna introduce me?" Jay's voice interrupted Adam's thoughts.

"Oh...sorry.  Amy, this is my best friend, Jay Reso."

"Nice to meet you," Amy said as she and Jay shook hands.  "Anyway, I've got to get back to my hotel in a few.  I'll see you guys again soon."

"Later," Jay called genially as Amy walked away.

Adam simply stared after her, rooted to his spot, even after she'd all but disappeared from his line of sight.

"Dude," Jay's voice called to him.  "Are you okay?"

"What?" Adam asked.  "Oh, yeah...I'm fine."  He turned around to face his friend.

Jay chuckled.  "Wow, you have really got it bad for that chick."

"Huh?  But I just met her."

"So?  Look at yourself, man."  He snickered again.

Adam didn't reply, because he was too busy recalling Amy's hair and eyes.  One thing he knew for sure was that he was going to dream about her that night.

Adam suddenly snapped out of his reverie when he heard Jason speaking to him.  "Hey, man - Trish is talking to you."

"Huh?  Oh, sorry, Trish," he said, embarrassed.  "What were you saying?"

The petite blonde wore a slight pout.  "I was just asking if you wanted to dance with me, Adam," she said.

Adam's eyes shifted from Trish back over to Amy, who was still fiddling with the tiny straw in her glass.  She appeared to be a million miles away, same as he was.  "No thanks...I think I'll just sit this one out."

"Suit yourself," Trish replied and soon after made her way to the dance floor with Jeff, who instantly began dancing wildly, much to everyone's delight.

While Jay and Matt began a conversation that didn't involve Adam or Amy, Adam studied Amy once again.  It was easy for him to do so, since he was sitting directly across from her.

"Are you okay?" he finally spoke.  "You seem a little distracted."

She looked up and met his eyes wordlessly.  Adam didn't know why, but her hazel eyes looked...haunted.  Finally, she said, "Yeah, I am."  She nervously took a sip of her Shirley Temple.

"What's wrong?"

Amy glanced around the club nervously.  She hadn't ever told anyone but Trish, Matt and Jeff, and Matt Bloom about her problems over the past month.  Actually, that wasn't quite true.  She'd also approached Mr. McMahon and requested to not be put in any more matches or angles involving Chris.  The boss had questioned her as to why, and she had simply said that the man made her feel uncomfortable.

"Well," she finally said softly, "a lot, actually."

Adam leaned slightly over the table to better listen to her, sensing she was about to open up a lot.  But just as she started speaking, her eyes suddenly enlarged as she gazed beyond him and across the club floor.

"What is it, Amy?" he asked, turning his head to see what startled her so badly.

"Oh, God...I have to go.  I have to get out of here, Adam."  She set her glass on the table and stood up almost awkwardly in her haste to leave.

"Amy - wait!" Adam said.  He rose from the table and started after her, catching up to her by the time she reached the door.

He didn't get it.  All he saw when he looked in the direction of where she'd been gazing was his friend Chris Irvine.

*

Adam was surprised at how much faster than him Amy walked, and even more surprised that he was actually having difficulty keeping up with her, considering his long legs.

"Wait up!" he called.  "Amy, what's wrong?"

"Not now, Adam," she said almost breathlessly.  "First, let me just get out of here.  I need to go back to the hotel."  She wrapped her arms around herself, hugging herself.

"Okay," Adam said.  He wondered what was going on.  Amy seemed so desperate to get out of the club, and had seemed terrified.  At least the hotel was only about fifteen minutes away, walking distance.

After a few minutes, they reached the hotel.  Amy rushed directly to the elevator and pressed the call button to summon the next car heading upstairs.  Adam stood beside her and leaned against the wall.  "Can you give me a hint?" he asked.

She glanced at him, then surveyed the immediate area.  "I...I just needed to get out of there.  I didn't feel...comfortable."

The elevator suddenly arrived, and they boarded it.  "I know that," Adam said as Amy pressed number 5.  "But why?"

She didn't say a word until they got to her hotel room door.  She unlocked it quickly and then stepped aside for Adam to enter, then went in and locked the door behind her.  Only then did she seem to relax, although only slightly.

As Adam just stood there and watched her, Amy removed her shoes and flopped down on one of the twin beds.  She raised a hand and ran it through her auburn locks.  "I have been getting stalked," she finally revealed, letting out a deep breath.

"What?" Adam exclaimed, sitting down on the edge of the other bed.  "Stalked?"  Concern flooded his eyes.

"For the past month, Chris has been sending me inappropriate letters - love letters.  Some of them have been okay, but others have been downright offensive."

"Wait a minute," Adam said.  "Did you say Chris?  Which Chris are you talking about here?"

"Chris Irvine," Amy blurted.  Just saying his full name was enough to bring her to tears.  Suddenly, she stood up and walked over to her suitcase across the room, coming back to Adam with that morning's letter.  She had wanted to shred it, burn it or flush it down the toilet, but for some reason, she hadn't done any of the above.

Adam read the letter in disbelief.  His friend had written this trash?  He felt himself getting enraged as he continued reading.

"Chris wrote this and gave it to you?" he asked in an angry voice.  "I don't believe it!"

Amy felt her heart sinking as she heard Adam's words and saw the expression on his face.  Somehow, she'd felt that he was one person who would never doubt her.  But here he was, disbelief plain as day surrounding him.

"It's the truth!" she shouted.  "How can you not believe me?!"  Then, her hurt reaching a crescendo, she said, "Okay...please get out."

Adam stared at her in disbelief.  What was she talking about?  He felt a pang of hurt.  "Amy, I believe you..."

Her features suddenly softened.  "You do?"

"Of course I do," Adam replied.  "I was only saying 'I don't believe it' because I can't believe that I'm friends with a guy who would do such a rotten thing to a girl."  He wanted to add, Especially to one as sweet and special as you, but he held his tongue against it.

Amy sighed and seemed to relax more with the knowledge that he was on her side and believed her.  She felt so relieved that she almost cried.

Adam gazed at her, his eyes glued to her face.  He read all the tension in her eyes and felt a wave of sympathy wash over him.  He wished he could erase from her memory all the letters from the past month.  Then, remembering the dark SUV from earlier in the night, Adam swallowed and decided he had to tell her about it.

"Uh, Amy...I don't want you to get more nervous, but there's something I have to tell you."

"What is it, Adam?" she asked softly.

Adam hesitated, glancing across the room before turning his blue eyes back to her.  "When Jay and I met up with you earlier tonight...there was this black Isuzu Rodeo following you."

Alarm filled Amy's hazel eyes.  "What?!"  She seemed to shrink back.

Adam rose and sat beside her on the other bed, placing his hand gently on her her shoulder. He was dismayed to discover she was shaking ever so slightly.  "It's okay, Amy," he soothed.

Amy glared up at him.  "Okay?  How can you tell me someone was following me in a truck and then say 'it's okay'?  Was it him?  Was it?"

"I don't know.  The windows were tinted, and the person had his lights off," he replied evenly.  "I didn't want to tell you this earlier, because I didn't want to freak you out.  But now that you've told me about those letters, I felt you had to know."

"Oh my God," she said.  She felt as though a ton of bricks had fallen on top of her.  What was she going to do?  It had to have been Chris driving that truck - it had to be.  It would be too much of a coincidence if it was someone else.

After a moment of silence between the two, Amy broke it.  Her eyes shifted to the tiny refrigerator in one corner of the room.  "I think I need a good, stiff drink."  She meant it, too.  Normally, she wouldn't consume any alcohol, but the way she was suddenly feeling, it seemed mandatory.  At the moment, she just needed something to numb herself and to forget her troubles.  She walked over to the little fridge and removed tiny bottles of alcohol, dropping them on the bed.

Glancing up at Adam, she said, "Would you please join me in that drink?"

"Okay," he replied.  He was concerned for her.  He'd never seen her so distraught.  He watched as she retrieved two glasses from the bureau across from the beds.  When she came back to sit across from him, she began pouring the contents of a bottle of Kamikaze.

*

Two and a half hours later, Adam found himself laughing at a funny story Amy had told him about when she had first met Matt and Jeff Hardy when they were kids.

Amy found herself laughing along with him.  She was a little tipsy, and it felt good.  She felt so grateful toward Adam for spending all this time with her when he would probably rather be back at the club or sleeping.  He was so nice to her.

Amy eyed him wonderingly.  He had the most incredible green eyes she'd ever seen.  As a matter of fact, Adam was the most gorgeous man she'd ever laid eyes on.  She wondered what he would think if she told him that she had feelings for him.  The night they'd met, she'd watched his match from the backstage area, and she'd instantly wondered who the tall, lanky, long-haired blond guy was.  She only knew him as Edge, his wrestling name.  She'd winced as she'd witnessed his foiled attempt at a splash in the corner to D-Von Dudley, who had moved, leaving Edge on the turnbuckles, in pain.

And later on, when she'd been in the buffet area, shamelessly piling her plate with food, she'd felt slightly embarrassed when she realized this same man was watching her.  She'd somehow sensed eyes on her, and sure enough, when she saw that it was him, she'd felt mortified.  Why did he have to see her pigging out like that?  But when he spoke after she'd said hello to him, something inside her just melted.  He had a deep, sensuous, thoroughly masculine voice that just sent ripples down her spine.  She'd been afraid she would be unable to tear her eyes away from him, especially since he was still clad in just his wrestling tights, his chest bare.

She imagined what it would be like to kiss him.  Here they were, alone in her hotel room, sitting close to each other on one of the beds, drinking booze.  What if she just leaned over and...

"Hey, guys," Trish said cheerfully as she bounded into the room.  She had a big smile on her face as she saw Amy and Adam sitting across from each other on the bed, the tiny liquor bottles strewn between them.  "What's going on?"  Her voice took on a teasing quality.

Both looked up, startled.  "Oh, Trish...hi," Adam stammered.  He felt disappointed, hoping that he and Amy would have more time alone.  He'd been enjoying himself, and he'd been considering kissing her.

"Nothing," Amy said, responding to her friend's question.  "We were just talking."

Adam checked his watch, uncomfortable now that Trish was here.  He was surprised to see that it was after four in the morning.  "Well, I'd better go."  He stood up and regarded Amy.  "I'll see you tomorrow - I mean later today, all right?"

"Sure," she replied, a feeling of great disappointment coming over her.  "Thank you, Adam."

He gave her a brilliant smile, then said, "There's no need for thanks."  He then walked across the room to the door and waved a hand goodbye to her before letting himself out.

As soon as Adam was gone, Trish came over to sit down on her bed and faced Amy.  "What happened with you guys tonight?"  She sounded like an excited teenager.

"Nothing, Trish...nothing," Amy said seriously.  Thanks to you, she thought.

*

...Every move you make, every step you take
I'll be watching you...

Chris Irvine sat behind the wheel of his rented black Isuzu Rodeo directly outside of the hotel in which Amy Dumas was staying.  He wished that her room was on the first floor instead of the fifth.  He knew that Adam Copeland had been with her in her room for hours that night but sensed that nothing had happened between the two of them.  Besides, Amy wouldn't do anything with another guy because she was his and she knew it.  He had let her know it.

Chris adjusted the rearview mirror to study his reflection.  Aside from the dark circles that had formed beneath his clear blue eyes, he looked as good as he usually did.  His long hair, which had darkened from near platinum to dirty blond over the past year and a half, was loose and neat as it spilled over his shoulders.  He had a five o'clock shadow and rubbed at his chin thoughtfully.

Although he had an innocent, even angelic, look about him, Chris' thoughts were pure evil.  He was extremely attractive to women and knew it, but he just couldn't seem to win Amy over.  She was the one woman he wanted more than any other, and yet, she wouldn't have anything to do with him.  He recalled how giddy he'd felt when he'd teamed with her to face Trish Stratus and his buddy Chris Benoit in a mixed tag team match for a SmackDown taping last summer.  As they'd walked together down the hallway, on their way to the arena, he'd glanced over his shoulder at Amy, who'd given him a small smile and a friendly nod.  He'd known what was going to happen if he continued staring at her, so he'd turned to face forward.  But after another moment, he just couldn't stand it anymore and had chanced another glance at her.  Only this time, instead of looking at her face, he'd gotten a glimpse of her full, luscious breasts.  He longed to touch them but quickly turned away again when he suddenly realized he had a hard-on.  He did not want to go out there, in front of all those people, like that.  Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed Amy's facial expression change from a smile to one that looked to be annoyance, displeasure.  He didn't like that expression on her face, but he ignored it.

His thoughts went back to little over a month before the SmackDown match.  The King of the Ring pay-per-view had just occurred, and he and Amy were having a conversation:

"I can't believe you actually kissed Stephanie like that," Amy said.

"Hey, she loved it and she knows it," he replied with a satisfied smirk.

"It sure didn't look like it to me," Amy said.  "By the way, do you know what I'd do to you if you ever kissed me like that?"

Chris' half-smile, half-smirk vanished.  This beautiful, desirable woman was threatening him.  The truth was, as alluring as he found Stephanie McMahon, when he'd planted that kiss on her, he'd imagined it was Amy he was kissing.

*

Amy stirred in her bed, stretching.  She leaned over and threw her left arm to the other side of the bed in search for Adam.  When her hand didn't come in contact with his warm flesh, she opened her eyes and squinted.

"Shit," she whispered as she realized that she'd only dreamt that Adam had spent the night with her.  On top of this, her head was killing her.  She recalled how much she had drank the night before.

Amy turned over onto her back and eyed the other bed, which was made.  Trish was nowhere to be seen, and ever diligent, she had actually made the bed.  Reluctantly, she got out of bed to shower.  When she went into the bathroom, she couldn't help but lock the door.

*

After her shower, Amy brushed her hair in the bathroom in front of the mirror, a terrycloth robe wrapped around her.  The shower had eased her headache a bit, and she even began humming to herself.  She left the bathroom to turn on the small portable stereo system she'd left on the desk between the beds, and "Kryptonite" by 3 Doors Down blared throughout the room.

A moment or so into the song, she was suddenly aware of knocking at the door.  She froze, afraid of who it might be.

"Amy, it's me - Adam."

Amy caught her breath and released it in relief, then rushed to open the door.  Adam stood in the doorway, wearing a black short-sleeved shirt and black leather pants, a dark pair of sunglasses perched atop his head.  He was quite a vision.  Amy wondered if he knew how good-looking he truly was.  Probably not, because he was so modest.

Adam was taken aback as he gazed at Amy.  Her hair was damp, and she was clad in only a terrycloth robe, obviously having just gotten out of the shower.  His eyes drank in the sight of her, slowly gazing her up and down.  He stepped into the room and tried to tear his gaze off her.  He didn't want to make her feel uncomfortable in any way.

"How are you this afternoon?" he asked as he watched her brush her hair.  "I was worried about you when I went back to my room..."

...I really don’t mind what happens now and then
As long as you’ll be my friend at the end
If I go crazy then will you still
Call me Superman
If I’m alive and well, will you be
There holding my hand
I’ll keep you by my side
With my superhuman might
Kryptonite...

"I fell asleep pretty quickly, actually," she admitted.  "I was glad Trish had come back, because I wasn't alone.  I was pretty out of it from all that booze, though."

"Yeah, me too," Adam admitted.  "I woke up with a bit of a hangover.  Still have a bit of a head-"

Suddenly, Amy gasped and dropped her hairbrush, covering her mouth with one hand as she stared down at her unmade bed.

Adam's eyes followed Amy's.  There was a sealed envelope and a single white rose lying on the pillow.  Adam frowned as he walked past her and picked up the envelope.

Amy angrily snatched up the rose and said softly, "Damn him..."  She was about to dump the flower into the small trash can under the desk between the beds when she suddenly dropped it.  "Ow!"  She had pricked her index finger and studied it.

Adam came up behind her, looking over her shoulder.  "Are you all right?"  He noticed the small circle of blood forming on her finger.  He had the urge to put his arms around her slender waist, but all he did was move his face slightly closer to her head.  He inhalled deeply of her shiny, fragrant hair for a second before going into the bathroom to get her a tissue for her bleeding finger.

"Thanks," Amy said shakily as she wrapped up her finger.  "Oh, God...how did he get in here?!" she cried.  "And he was here while I was in the shower!"

Adam winced at the terrified expression on her face.  He felt a fierce need to protect her.  He knew that Amy was normally a very strong person, who relied on nobody but herself, but she appeared to be so fragile right now.  She needed someone strong to lean on.  He wanted so badly to be that someone.

"What am I going to do?" Amy cried, on the verge of tears.  "This time he was actually in my room.  He must have known that Trish was out, and..."

Adam pulled her against him and wrapped her in his embrace.  "Shh...it's okay, Amy," he said softly.  "Chris isn't going to lay a hand on you, I promise you that."  He stroked her damp hair as she clung to him.

Tears finally sprang to Amy's eyes as she held onto Adam as if for dear life.  "I'm so scared now, Adam...I'm serious."  Her tears wet the front of his shirt.

"It'll be okay," he reassured her.  She looked up into his handsome face, meeting those amazing eyes, which gently drank her in.  God, she could drown in those pools of emerald.

Adam felt an overwhelming urge to kiss Amy as he gazed into her beautiful, worried face and gently wiped the tears off her cheeks.  She was so close to him that he could feel her warm breath as she stared up at him.  He felt his lips being drawn to hers when the sudden jangling of the telephone startled them both.

Amy gazed up at him before gently breaking out of his arms and answering the phone.  "Hello?" she said as she picked up the receiver.

"Hello, Amy...so, Prince Charming is there with you right now?  I know he was with you last night..."

Amy slammed the receiver down as hard as she could manage, then hugged herself.  Adam noted that she was shaking a bit again.

"Amy?  Amy!  Was that Chris?" Adam questioned, concern in his voice.

"Y-yes," she admitted.  "This is getting to be too much.  I'm going to lose my grip on my sanity if this keeps up much longer."

"Don't worry," Adam said seriously.  "I'll protect you from him.  You can even..."  Then, reconsidering what he was about to say, he stopped.  "...Never mind."

"No, what were you going to say, Adam?"

Hesitantly, Adam said, "I was going to say you can even room with me from now, if you want."  He looked directly into her eyes.  He was serious.  This was not some ploy to get her into bed, he was concerned about her safety and wanted to keep her near him so that she would be safe and secure.

"That's not a bad idea," Amy said softly, considering it.  "I would feel a lot safer bunking with you than with little Trish."  She managed a weak smile.  "Okay, I'll do it.  But what about Jay?"

"Oh, don't worry about him.  He'll be able to find someone else to room with."

*

Amy and Adam had been rooming together on the road for couple of months by now.  Adam didn't know how long he could stand being so close to her without touching her, kissing her.  He knew that he was in love with her, but he wouldn't say anything because he was afraid of scaring her away.  She was already scared of one man who claimed to love her, and the last thing he wanted was for himself to become another object of fear in her eyes.

Still, being so near her, seeing her in various stages of dress and smelling her sweet scent drove him nearly mad at times.  He wanted so badly to kiss her, to hold her again.  The afternoon when Chris had left that letter and white rose on her hotel bed had been the closest he'd come to kissing her, and that had also been the last time he'd held her in his arms.

Adam didn't know it, but Amy had the exact same feelings.  She wanted to swallow her nervousness and just tell Adam how she really felt about him.  Sometime during this time they'd been sharing hotel rooms, she'd acknowledged that what she'd felt upon first meeting him was love at first sight.  She knew that she loved him, but she didn't think he reciprocated her feelings. All I am to him is a friend, nothing more, she told herself.  It hurt her when she thought this.  Plenty of nights, she'd slept and dreamt about him, and, knowing that she talked in her sleep once in awhile, she was afraid she might utter his name or say something and that he'd hear.

She believed that sharing a room with Adam had caused Chris to stop leaving her the offending letters.  She hadn't received a single letter in nearly two months.  Maybe Chris had been scared off, knowing that she was rooming with him.  Maybe he believed her and Adam to be lovers.  She wished they were.

*

Chris sat alone in the bar/lounge of the hotel and slowly sipped a martini.  Something seethed inside of him.  He had an urge to go to Amy and demand answers from her.  What were she and Adam doing, sharing a hotel room in these past two months?  What kind of slut was she?  She was his, and his alone!

He'd thought of confronting Adam, cornering him somewhere, but there was always someone else around.  Besides, Amy was always with him, and he couldn't very well do that with her around.

Suddenly, Chris caught sight of Amy sauntering past the lounge.  She was alone!  Where was Adam?  Her bodyguard, or her boyfriend? he wondered bitterly.  He decided he didn't care at the moment, as she was completely unaware of him.  Now was his chance...

He followed behind her stealthily, keeping a decent distance from her, not wanting her to notice him.  He watched as she got behind the wheel of her rental car, a pewter-colored Nissan Altima.

He quickly got into the dark truck he'd rented, which he'd parked in the tiny parking lot beside the hotel.  Amy's car was right in front of the building.  She appeared to be fumbling with something and he then realized that she was putting on her seatbelt.  He pulled out of the space and drove up directly behind her.

*

Adam and Jay had just stepped through the door of the hotel and walked outside.  They had a day off from working, and they were planning on spending it doing something fun.

Adam blinked in the sunshine, pushing his dark shades down over his eyes.  That was when he suddenly caught sight of Amy sitting in her rental car and then the black truck pulling up directly behind her.  He knew exactly who the driver of that vehicle was.

"Holy shit!" he yelled, startling Jay in the process.  He ran off to his own rental car, a red Ford Taurus, which was parked at the end of the block.

"Hey, what's wrong, man?" Jason called after him.  "Adam?  What are you doing?"  He started to chase after him.

"I can't explain right now, Jay.  Sorry.  I'll meet you later on, okay?"  He pulled away from the curb, tailing the black SUV, leaving a dumbfounded Jason standing on the curb.

He followed Chris, who followed Amy, for a couple of miles before he took out his cell phone and dialed her cell number.

"Hello?  Adam?"

"Hi, Amy...yeah, it's me.  I don't want to scare you or anything, but he's following you."

"What?"  She checked her rearview mirror.  She'd noticed the dark vehicle behind her for a couple of miles but didn't think much of it - until now.  The windows were eerily tinted black.  Something about those kinds of windows always made her feel uneasy.  It was probably the fact that the people inside could see you, but you could never see them.

"I'm right behind him, Amy.  Don't worry...I'm not going to let him do anything to you.  I've got my eye on him," Adam promised her.

*

Chris noticed the red car tailing him and grew furious when he saw who the driver was. Damn that Adam Copeland!  Now he'd never get to talk to her.  At the next street, he made a right turn, disappearing from view.

Adam glanced to his right as he watched the truck disappear.  Several yards ahead, Amy pulled the car over to the side of the road.  Adam slowed down and pulled up behind her, then got out of the car and approached her.

She quickly unlocked the passenger's side door for him.  He studied her, and she nervously ran both hands through her hair.  "I can't believe this," she said.  "Now he's following me again?  I thought it was only that one time!"

Adam gazed at her sympathetically.  "Well, he's gone now."

"I know...I saw him turn into that last street.  Well, now I can't go and do what I wanted to.  Not now, not after this.  What if he comes back and follows me again?"

"Where were you going?"

"To the arena to train a little.  I have to prepare for tomorrow night's match against Jackie."

Adam glanced away for a moment, looking thoughtfully through the windshield.  "Tell you what," he began.  "Jay and I were going to hang out and shoot some pool in the area.  How about you come with us, and later on, I'll go with you to the arena and we can train together?"

She met his eyes.  "That sounds like a great idea.  I'd like that, Adam.  Okay...let's do it."

*

It was past ten at night.  Amy giggled good-humoredly at the fact that she'd beaten both Adam and Jay in more games of pool than they'd beaten her.  "You guys really suck!" she teased Adam as they stood together in the center of the WWF ring in the arena.  They were completely alone, except for some guards, but they were roaming the hallways.

"Well, I can't speak for Jay, but I let you win," Adam teased, that tantalizing smile on his face.

"Oh, yeah...sure," Amy said with a smirk.  She laughed, and for the first time in a long time, she truly felt good.  She always felt good when she was with Adam.

"Okay, Dumas, let's go," he said, leaning over slightly in a defensive posture.  "Let's see whatcha got."  His grin widened.

They locked up, which was difficult for Amy because of their height difference, but Adam pushed her into the ropes.  Amy bounced off and quickly flipped him over with a hurricanrana.

Adam landed clear across the other side of the ring.  "Damn, girl!"  He got back to his feet, ready for whatever she had to give next.  "Okay, c'mon!"

Amy's next intention was to catch him and execute a side suplex, but she knew it was futile because he was too heavy for her to lift.  Instead, she put her right arm around his neck and jumped so that her feet bounced off the ropes by one corner of the ring, executing a springboard bulldog.

Adam was enjoying himself.  He was actually wrestling her!  Well, not really, as he wasn't even doing anything to defend himself and she was dishing out all the offense.  As he got back to his feet, Amy climbed up the turnbuckles and took him down with another hurricanrana.  Afterward, when he stood back up, she knocked him down with a dropkick.

As Adam lay on his back several feet from the corner, Amy climbed to the top turnbuckle and executed a perfect moonsault.  She landed on top of him perpendicularly and just stayed there.

Adam gazed up into her face.  She was breathing heavily from all her training efforts.  Damn, she's beautiful, he thought.

Suddenly, Amy moved slightly and did it - she kissed him.  Adam responded instantly, pulling her around gently until she was fully on top of him.  Their kiss intensified, and Adam suddenly rolled her over so that he was the one on top.  She burrowed her hands into his long blond hair and pulled his head down to hers.

"Adam..." she moaned softly as his lips moved to her neck and just below her collar bone.  How long she'd longed for this moment.  She'd dreamt it many times, but now it was reality.

"Amy," Adam spoke softly as he ran his hand over the side of her body.  He moved slightly and kissed her eyelids, then her lips again.  She kissed him back fervently before they rolled over again.  She straddled him, never breaking contact, and felt his erection pressing tightly against her.  She smiled while they continued kissing.

"Oh, God," she said softly, lifting her head from his.  Before she knew what was happening, they were removing each other's clothing.  She completely threw caution to the wind, abandoning all reason, forgetting about her problems and where they were, and focused only on Adam and on what was about to happen between them.

Adam's lips were by her ear, and he gently nibbled on her lobe while he cupped one breast with his right hand.  "Amy," he moaned softly.  "Amy...I love you..."

Amy's fingers were still entwined in his silky blond hair, and she couldn't quite believe her ears.  But she knew she had heard him right, and she knew he was speaking the truth.  "I love you, too, Adam..."  She rolled back over on top of him, straddling him, and as he entered her, Amy gasped.  He was big, thick, and very hard.  She completely gave herself over to him.  She loved him.

*

Chris couldn't believe what he was seeing.  Unbeknownst to Adam and Amy, he had followed them to the arena and had hidden out in a seating area that was a bit obscure from the ring.

He couldn't believe it.  They were having sex, right there in the middle of the ring, right in front of him!  How dare Adam touch his woman!

However, despite his rage at such a violation, he was also very turned on.  He'd always known that Amy would be a wildcat during lovemaking.  She was full of fire, that one.  But she was his fire, all his.  He would have to do something about this, stop this.  He rose from his seat and wandered around the arena.

*

"Adam...oh, God, Adam," Amy moaned as she came.  She cried out.  She clung to him and gazed lovingly up into his eyes, as they had switched positions.

"You're beautiful, Amy," Adam panted as he continued thrusting deep into her.  He felt like he was going to lose his mind as he felt himself coming.

All of a sudden, Amy's Lita entrance song, "It Just Feels Right," blared throughout the arena.  Startled, they both looked up.

"What the hell...?" Adam said, confused.

Still on her back, Amy glanced around as best she could but could see nothing, no one.  Why, or how, could her music suddenly be playing?

Then, just as quickly as it started, the music abruptly stopped.  Adam looked down into her eyes, and then they were both shocked when his Edge entrance music started blasting through the speakers.

"You think you know me..."

Adam withdrew and stood up, pulling Amy to her feet with him.  "Let's get out of here," he said.  He gathered up both their clothing, handing Amy her garments.  They both dressed as quickly as possible.

Halfway through the Edge music, a third song suddenly started playing.  This one thoroughly chilled Amy to the marrow.  It was Chris' entrance music, "Break Down the Walls."  She looked up at Adam with terror in her eyes.  "Oh, my God...Adam, he's here.  He must have watched us.  He must have followed us here or come here on his own, and..."

Adam didn't let her finish.  Now that they were both fully dressed and had their shoes on, he grabbed her hand and said, "Come on!"

*

Back in their hotel room, Amy sat on one of the beds and shook slightly.  She couldn't believe Chris had been there, that he'd seen...

"Don't worry, Amy...I am going to personally take care of Chris myself.  I think we should first talk to WWF security, and even Mr. McMahon himself."

"I've already spoken to Vince," she said.  "He won't do anything but tell him to leave me alone.  But that's all he'll do."

"That's fucking bullshit!" Adam shouted.  "What kind of boss won't stick his neck out to protect his employees?"

Amy couldn't believe that, despite everything, she could still have the thought that even furious, Adam looked incredibly sexy.  He turned her on so much, especially now that they'd slept together.

Adam frowned as he stood by the window.  He couldn't believe what Chris had done, and while he'd been making love to Amy, at that.  He silently vowed to himself that Chris would not get away with this and that the madness would stop very soon.

Amy rose from the bed and came over to Adam.  She wanted nothing more than to just forget about Chris and ravage Adam.  She felt his arm encircle her waist, and she moved closer until her chest was pressed against his.  Someone in the next room was blasting Madonna's Bedtime Stories CD.  The song "Sanctuary" was playing.

Who needs a smile
When a tear's so full of love
Who needs a home
With the stars up above
It's here in your heart
I want to be carried
You are...my sanctuary...

They just held each other for several long moments until Adam suddenly lowered his lips to hers and kissed her passionately, his tongue running over her lower lip and then probing deep into her mouth.  Amy gasped softly and kissed him back.

Adam pressed against her, and Amy felt the fullness of his arousal.  She reached down with one hand and caressed him, which seemed to drive him wild.  He pulled back for a moment and pulled her shirt up over her head, then kissed her on the neck.  Amy reached down and unbuttoned, then unzipped his pants.  Both of them were breathing heavily.

Is all of this pain so necessary?
You are...my sanctuary...

Suddenly, Adam lifted her up in his arms, and she wrapped her arms around his neck.  Kissing her, he carried her to the nearest bed, where they continued to undress one another.  He pulled her pants down and off, then her panties.

Amy moaned softly as Adam went down on her.  His tongue was soft yet probing. God, he was good with his mouth.  She thought she was going to lose her mind.  After a few minutes, her fingers entwined in his hair, she said softly, "God, Adam...I want you inside of me..."

Emitting a soft laugh, Adam moved until his lips were hovering just above hers, then he kissed her again, lovingly stroking a strand of her now sweaty red hair off her face.  God, he loved her.  He rolled over with her and entered slowly, thrusting slowly at first, then faster.

Who needs the sun?
Who needs the sky?
Who needs to sleep?
You are...my sanctuary...

Adam reached over and grasped one of Amy's hands, and she held onto him tightly.  She couldn't believe she was with this beautiful man, who had been the most irresistible mystery to her.  Never before had she felt such passion for a man.  She felt that if she were to die right then and there, her life would be complete because he loved her.  There was no doubt in her mind that he was her soulmate and that they were meant to be together.

Adam gazed deeply into Amy's eyes, a gentle smile playing at his lips as she moaned with pleasure.  He loved the way her brow furrowed slightly while she climaxed.  He loved the way she made him feel.  He loved her.  He fiercely wanted to protect her.  He felt like he could kill Chris Irvine for putting her through the hell he'd been delivering.

Adam pushed aside his thoughts of the mayhem with which they had been dealing and focused exclusively on Amy and on making her, and himself, happy.

"Amy..." he groaned softly as he reached his own orgasm.  He held her tightly against him, and afterward, spent, held both her hands in his.  They gazed at each other, both sweaty and exhausted.

Amy moved so that she was lying beside him, and Adam turned so that he faced her.  He gazed into her face tenderly, his emerald-topaz eyes taking in each of her features in turn.  She was so amazing.  He gently caressed her cheek.

"God, you're so beautiful."

Amy smiled at his sweet words.  "So are you," she whispered.

Adam's face broke into a broad grin.  "Why didn't we get together sooner than we did?" he wondered aloud.  "I know this is probably going to sound crazy, but it feels like I was meant to be here, in your arms and nowhere else..."

Amy put a hand on his cheek, stroking him gently.  "That doesn't sound crazy at all.  I've been feeling the exact same way about you...almost like I've lived my entire life waiting for the moment I would be with you...I love you, Adam."

"And I love you..." Adam said softly as he moved his face closer to hers to kiss her again.

*

Chris grew angrier by the hour as he realized that Amy and Adam were still in their hotel room.  A few times, he'd stood outside the door, listening to the sounds of bedsprings creaking and moans of ecstasy.  He'd clenched his hands into fists as he'd heard Amy's exclamations.  She was enjoying everything Adam was doing to her, when she should enjoy what only he could give her!

Now, he sat in the lounge again, and he was nursing a Budweiser and eating buffalo wings.  Anxiously, he checked his watch.  A quarter after three in the morning.  They'd been in there for about three hours.  He was furious and green with envy.  How long could Copeland go, anyway?!

Finally, after he finished his last piece of chicken, he retreated to his own room, which he wasn't sharing with anyone else.  When he slept, he dreamt of Amy, and of what she had been doing with Adam.  Only, in the dream, she made love to Chris, not to Adam.

*

Amy was walking alone along a beach, barefoot.  She strolled just along the water's edge, allowing the waves to lap at her feet.  A soft, gentle breeze lifted her hair off her shoulders.  She felt so perfect, so serene.  She wished this feeling could last forever.

All of a sudden, she became aware of a presence lurking several feet behind her.  She began walking faster, chancing a glance over her shoulder and seeing a man with long blond hair following her.

"Adam?" she whispered, a smile forming on her face.  He was still a bit far for her to make out his face, but she thought it had to be him.  She stopped walking and turned her back to him, waiting for him to catch up to her.

In moments, he was there with her.  A pair of strong arms encircled her waist, and the blond hair that brushed against her cheek as he pressed his own cheek to hers felt soft and silky.  "Adam," she breathed, smiling and closing her eyes.

And then she suddenly realized that something wasn't quite right.  The cologne she detected was not the kind that Adam wore.  She opened her eyes and frowned.  Additionally, something about this man felt wrong.  He didn't feel like Adam.  Somehow, he felt shorter than Adam.

Swallowing slowly, she reluctantly turned her head to look at the face of the man holding her.  When she saw the face that was grinning evilly down at her, she screamed and tried to break free to run.

Chris held fast to Amy, ripping her white sundress as she struggled to free herself.  She began punching and kicking him when he turned her around to face him, surprising him.  She was stronger than she looked, but certainly no match for him.

Chris threw Amy on the ground, pinning her there.  Amy screamed again.  He was so fast, and so strong.  While he attacked her, the tide suddenly came in.  Salt water filled her nostrils, and her mouth, when she opened it to scream.  She knew she was going to be raped, and she knew she was going to die...

*

"Amy!"  Adam shook her while she thrashed about in her sleep.  It was evident that she was in the throes of a horrible nightmare.

"Amy, wake up!" Adam called to her, pulling her to him.  Finally, her eyelids fluttered open and she saw the concerned face of the man she loved gazing at her.  Beginning to cry, she grabbed hold of Adam and clung to him.

"It's okay...it's okay, baby," he soothed, rocking her back and forth, stroking her long red hair.  "I'm here...I'm with you.  You're safe, Amy."

She continued to cry against his muscular chest.  Adam didn't have to ask what she'd dreamt, as he already knew who the cause of Amy's misery was.  He kissed her sweaty forehead.

After a few minutes, Amy calmed down considerably.  She stopped crying, although she was still obviously distraught by her dream.  "It was awful, Adam," she moaned.

"I know, babe, I know.  But it was just a dream.  I'll kill him before he ever hurts you for real."

Amy smiled despite the horror she'd seen only moments ago in her sleep.  He was so sweet, and truly her savior.  What would she ever do without him?

"Try to go back to sleep.  It's only five," Adam said softly.  "You look so exhausted, and you really need your rest, especially if you're going to meet Jackie in the ring tonight."

"You're right," she whispered.  "Hold me, Adam."  She settled back down against the pillows.

"It would be my pleasure," Adam said, wrapping his arms around her slender form and kissing her softly.

Part 2

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