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Punk stood in the locker room, twisting his hands in his usual gesture. He was all set. He had his gear on, the white tape firmly in place around his wrists. He was prepared for his match in that night's ECW main event.
"I still can't believe you're facing Edge tonight," Ashley complained. Her face donned a tiny pout that he'd always found so cute. "I'm sure he's going to cheat and pull some cheap shots on you."
The straightedge superstar came closer to her and placed a hand on her chin. He tipped her face so that she was gazing straight into his eyes.
"Well, of course he will, but I can handle whatever he throws at me." He smiled. "Babe, I'll be fine."
She nodded and offered him a small smile. She couldn't help it when he was like this.
"I know you will," the blonde agreed. "But I still can't help worrying about you."
He moved his hand from her chin in favor of wrapping his arms around her waist. A mischievous grin took residence on his handsome face.
"Well," he said, "maybe I like you worrying about me." He chuckled briefly as Ashley let out a tiny giggle. Their lips met in a sweet yet passionate kiss, and she stroked his dark hair with one hand, pressing up on her toes for a better advantage at his lips.
A moment later, when they parted, Punk kept his face near to hers. Touching the tip of her nose with his own, he murmured, "You really are amazing."
The blonde diva giggled again.
"Am I? I thought that was you."
He kissed her again, this time fast but still full on the lips. He loved everything about Ashley and couldn't be happier. Everything seemed to be great in his life at the moment. And if he were to regain the ECW Championship from Chavo, it would be even better - the proverbial icing on the cake.
A knock came to the door, and he called to the person on the other side.
"You're up next, Punk." It was a stagehand alerting him about his match. He thanked the guy, then took a deep breath and exhaled. He broke away from his girlfriend and started for the door, only to realize she was following him. He gave her a questioning look.
"I'm going out there with you," the blonde said.
"No - you stay here, Ash."
She shook her head, her hands going to her hips in a gesture of defiance.
"Nothing doing. What, you don't want me in your corner?"
"Of course I do," Punk said, gazing at her with his heart in his eyes. "I just don't want anything to happen to you... Maryse is probably gonna be out there, you know."
"I figure she will be," Ashley replied. "CM, I can hold my own with her. If she tries anything, I'll kick her ass."
The man studied her for a beat, considering it. Then, he nodded.
"Okay... C'mon, let's go." He reached out to her, and she took his hand.
*
The Rated R Superstar sneered as the familiar chords of Killswitch Engage filled the arena. He was so focused on the match that was a mere moment or so from happening that he barely reacted when Maryse's slim hands were on him. The statuesque blonde was behind him, massaging his shoulders and whispering in his ear. He couldn't hear her over the music but guessed she was trying to give him encouragement.
CM Punk made his way to the ring with Ashley Massaro at his side. The couple were greeted by a multitude of cheers, and both went to the sides of the entry ramp to high five fans seated or standing there.
Edge's face transformed with a grin as he kept his gaze locked on his opponent for the night. As far as he was concerned, this was going to be an easy win. If Punk really thought he could beat him, he had another thing coming.
Ashley stood by her boyfriend's side loyally, her eyes narrowing as she fixed them on the other diva. As Maryse merely laughed at her, the Punk Princess told her what would happen if she tried to interfere.
The referee signaled for the bell, and the two blonde women left the ring to stand in their respective men's corners. Punk stared at the Rated R Superstar as the two prepared to lock up, throwing a couple of kicks at him. Edge's eyes widened in a glare as he darted out of the way of them.
They locked up, with Punk getting the upper hand first with a hammerlock. The blond man soon reversed it into a headlock and Irish whipped his opponent into the ropes, sending him to the mat with a shoulder block.
Edge couldn't help but laugh aloud at his feeling of triumph. However, as he tried to run to the ropes seconds later, he fell flat on his face as the other man delivered a drop toehold.
Ashley clapped and cheered for Punk and Maryse winced and held a hand to her face out of sympathy for her man. Then, her features hardening, she banged on the apron with one hand.
"Come on, Edge!"
Back up, the blond man met a few martial arts kicks to the gut and shoulder. He could barely recover from each shot before Punk Irish whipped him to the ropes. Edge capitalized on his opponents mistake of ducking too soon and delivered a swift kick to his shoulder.
Punk staggered backward, in pain. Ashley bit her lip in a wince as her boyfriend clutched his hurting shoulder. Edge came over threw him into the turnbuckles near her corner and punched, chopped and stomped him. The referee admonished the former World Champion, but then he dropped to his knees beside his opponent to choke him.
Ashley smacked the apron, yelling as her man received the vicious punishment.
Edge pulled back, standing with his hands up in a retreating manner. He decided to issue some kicks next, and sent the straightedge superstar sailing out to the arena floor.
The Punk Princess started over to her man, tentative as he rose to his knees. However, she hesitated as the blond man suddenly attempted a baseball slide. To her relief, Punk moved away just in time.
The fight went on back in the ring, with Edge dominating for a good while until he missed a spear and crashed into the turnbuckles. Punk saw his opening as the Canadian turned, his back now to the corner. He nailed his foe with his running knee, then dropped him with a bulldog.
Instinct taking over, the dark-haired man didn't go for the cover... Not just yet. Instead, he picked Edge up, hoisting him onto his shoulders in prearation for his finisher. But the blond Canadian was too quick and craftily reversed it into an Edge-o-matic.
Both men were down on the canvas, and the referee counted. In each corner, a blonde girlfriend stood, each trying to encourage her respective man. Slowly, both wrestlers made it to their feet - just in time to avoid a double KO.
In a flash, Punk grabbed the woozy Edge yet again. As the Canadian squirmed, he managed to nail him with a perfect GTS. He fell onto his opponent, hooked a leg, and it was over - he had won!
Ashley was all smiles as she jumped up and down, clapping. She slid into the ring to celebrate with her man, and Punk hugged her. Afterward, the two left the ring and happily started up the ramp.
Maryse had joined Edge in the ring, the blond man glaring daggers at Punk as he sat up, holding the back of his head. He ignored the diva trying to comfort him for the moment, a string of curses muttering out of him.
That damn Punk... He just wishes he could be me!