A/N: Greetings!! It is I!! :) Anyways…up for your reading pleasure is a brand new creation of mine. As many of you know—or if you didn't, you're going to find out shortly, my true wrestling love is, and will always be, the one and only, Shane O'Mac. This is my first attempt at working on two stories simultaneously, so if I flub up—please forgive me…and please let me know! As always, thanks for taking the time to read my work—and I LOVE feedback. Who knows? You might even find yourself in a future chapter. And, btw, if there are any other Shane O lovers that would like to write ME a story of my very own…it wouldn't hurt my feelings sniff, sniff

Katharine stuck her head in the freezer. Growing up in sunny southern California she had grown used to living in a warmer climate. But this whole moving to San Antonio, even in the early spring, was about to kill her. How on earth would she be able to handle summers here? Note to self: when looking for a house, make sure they install an air conditioning unit in each and every room. She rested against the door. It had been a year since she lost her Father, and while it still hurt her tremendously, though she thought that she handled the entire situation rather well. So what if she had caved in to Uncle Shawn's pleadings—and finally moved back to Texas with him? It was all for the best. It was what her Father would have wanted—for her to be near family that would love and take care of her.

Truth be told, Katharine was glad to be living in Texas. Never having grown up around family, she relished fitting into the fold. Everything was perfect. She lived in her very own guest house on Shawn's ranch, and could basically come and go as she pleased. Katharine could have her privacy if and when she chose. However, she usually ended up spending most of her time in the main house, especially when Shawn was on the road. Katie enjoyed helping her young cousins with their homework and babysitting for her Aunt Rebecca whenever the need arose.

Katharine smiled. No sooner had the movers appeared with all her worldly belongings—Uncle Shawn had an "injury" that coincidentally kept him of TV that week, than he had started to needle her about being his "assistant". At first, Katharine laughed him off—thinking it was another one of his "tall tales". But as the weeks progressed, Shawn became more and more persistent. Of course she was familiar with professional wrestling--but Katharine really wasn't into all of the leg work behind the scenes. I think it's something you might really enjoy, Katie. Of course she'd have to get a job—sooner or later…but….wrestling? Psh. It'll be fun! You can come and travel with me. We'll get to spend more time together—get to know each other—and you'll get to travel and see things.

Katharine felt her forehead. She was still halfway in the freezer. Originally, she had been extremely reluctant to acquiesce to her Uncle's demands. However, the more Shawn explained to her about what went on, and the kinds of people he got to work with, the more Katie started to think. This might actually be a very good opportunity. Not only would it put that hard-earned college degree to some use, but she might actually meet some new people in the process.

"Darlin? There's where you are!!" Auntie Rebecca pulled Katharine out of the freezer, shutting off her instant air conditioning. "You're going to melt all the ice if you keep on doing that."

Katharine pouted. "It's hooooot."

Rebecca picked up a bowl of chips and shoved it into Katharine's arms. "It most certainly is—"Rebecca snickered. "Now go put those on the table…the guys are already starting to show up." Rebecca gave Katharine the once over. "Psh. Would you try to smile? You have such a pretty smile, sweetie." Rebecca smiled encouragingly.

"I don't wannnnnt to!" Dammit, sometimes even Big Girls were allowed to regress to their childhood ways. "I want to go throw on a pair of pajamas and watch—Nick at Nite, while sitting in front of my air conditioner!"

Rebecca snickered. "And you can do that, sweetie. But we have guests, remember?"

"When I told Uncle Shawn I wanted to meet "some of the guys"….this wasn't what I MEANT!" Katharine protested while Rebecca pushed her towards the door.

"There she is!!" Shawn's voiced boomed over the crowd. Lord, if the people at home only knew that the mighty Shawn Michaels didn't know the difference between his wrestling voice and that of a normal person—

Katharine smiled weakly, quickly placing the bowl of chips before turning to retreat back to the safety of the kitchen. Katharine never had been comfortable in big groups of people—let alone big groups of even bigger rowdy wrestlers.

Right as she was about to make it back to the kitchen, she felt Shawn's arm around her shoulders. "Katie Grace…c'mon now…there's some people I want you to meet."

"Uncle Shawn…can't we please do this some other time? It's late…and I really just wanted to have a quiet evening." Katharine decided to play the pouty card—after all, it had worked before.

It appeared, however, that Katharine's luck had just run out. Shawn wasn't buying any of it. "Uh huh. And that's exactly what you said the last couple of times as well." He appeared to be wounded which stung Katie. Despite getting annoyed with Shawn, from time to time, Katie had grown quite attached to him. "Besides, if you're going to be working with me, you've got to get to know them sometime." Shawn chucked her under the chin and smiled.

"But I never—" Katie tried to protested. It was too late. Shawn was already dragging her towards the guys. Oh SHIT. She knew exactly who Shawn was steering her towards. Katharine knew her Uncle was never one to beat around the bush, but starting off at Vince McMahon himself? Couldn't he at least of thrown her a bone? Katharine smiled nervously. She knew enough about Vince to know that she definitely didn't want to try and cross him.

"Vince?" Vince responded to Shawn's voice, turning around and smiling.

Katharine contemplated using Shawn as a human shield. Vince looked far more devious in person than he did on television. Bigger, too. She swallowed hard, not really paying attention to what was being said. She felt Shawn poking her in the back and noticed that Vince was smiling at her with his arm outstretched. Shakily, she took Vince's hand and shook it. He could break my hand very easily if he really wanted to.

"I was so sorry to hear about your Father. You must miss him very much. He was a good man." Vince said very kindly.

Katharine was touched by his sincerity. It was nothing like she had seen on television. "Thank you, Sir."

Vince nodded. "Your Uncle tells me that you're going to come and work with us."

"Well actually—" Once again, Shawn was poking Katharine in the back.

Vince chuckled slightly. "I can understand your apprehension. Your Uncle has spoken very highly of you over the years, I expect great things from you, young lady…"

Katharine smiled and nodded—not knowing what else she could say or do that would be appropriate.

"And this" Vince put an arm around the larger man who had just joined their group. "This is—"

Shawn gasped, offended. "I think she knows who THAT is, Vince. She is MY niece, after all—my own flesh and blood…" Katharine giggled. "Katie Grace…tell the nice man who that is—"Shawn asked, motioned towards the larger man standing next to Vince. The larger man simply grinned in response.

"Oh yeah…that's the guy who likes to hang out with you. Isn't it, Uncle Shawn? You guys had a little club…it was called…" Katharine pondered, trying to "remember" the name. "I got it! FX! No wait…that's a TV channel."

Vince and the larger man cracked up, while Shawn looked absolutely horrified. "Oh my God! You poor child! You've been deprived of the greatest stable of all time!"

The larger man stepped forward and offered his hand. Katharine smiled and shook it. Shawn was a few steps back ranting about how unfair it was that Katharine lacked knowledge of DX. "Hi…I'm HHH…actually Paul…"

"Oh, I know. I know." Katharine said lowly, smiling. "Oh…and before I forget, congratulations! Uncle Shawn actually told me a while ago…."

HHH smiled warmly. "Thanks—a lot. Wait—did you say you knew who I was?" Katharine nodded. "So that whole—"Paul motioned with his hand and Katharine nodded again. Paul snickered. "Good one. We'll have to get together some time—swap ideas." HHH winked before going to meet up a group of guys who had been motioning for him to join them.

"Katie! Come on! The fight's about to start!" No wonder the neighbor's dog—across the street barked so much. The whole neighborhood could have heard him.

"Awwww….come on!!" HHH yelled. He had even made a small spot between himself and Shawn. Apparently he expected her to sit between them on the sofa.

Katharine giggled, shaking her head demurely. "Oh…no thanks. I'm just…going to go grab my book."

"A book! Why would you want to read a book when you could watch two guys beat the holy hell out of each other….on the world's biggest television?" Paul shouted back, not realizing exactly what he was saying until the words were already out there.

"Because maybe, just maybe, for some people there's more to life than wrestling! Shawn snickered, slapping Paul upside the head. All of the guys cracked up.

DING! DING! Talk about being saved by the bell—literally. Perhaps she was a tiny bit interested in the "fight" on television. But being sandwiched in between two guys who could snap her like a pencil with one arm tied behind their backs wasn't the way she wanted to watch her first match. Picking her book up off the hall table, she managed to make her way to a corner of the room where she would be safe from the overflow of testosterone, yet, from which, she'd still be able to follow some of the action—at her leisure. Flipping the small reading lamp on, she curled up in the corner of the chair, tucking her feet underneath herself.

Katharine smiled. How odd could it possibly be that she was sitting here reading "The Scarlett Pimpernel"—a novel, which was based on a hero that fought, while trying to avoid a group of guys who were watching a fight. She shook her head and turned the page. Thoroughly engrossed in her novel, Katharine was exactly half way through her favorite scene—

"Good book?" Apparently someone had decided to invade her quiet, little corner.

Katharine smiled weakly, only bothering look halfway up from her book, before returning to her previous occupation. Perhaps he'd get the hint.

"I have to hand it to you. I don't know how you can concentrate with all this chaos going on—"

Apparently not.

"Ooow! Did you see that KO? That's going to leave one hell of a mark."

"Uh-huh." The last thing Katharine wanted to do was to give this intruder an opening for more conversation.

"Do you still believe in Santa Claus?"

"Uh-huh."

"The Easter Bunny?"

"Yup."

"The Tooth Fairy?" He was having fun pulling a fast one on Katharine.

"Of course." Despite all her best efforts, Katharine's world famous "go to hell" attitude just wasn't working.

He snickered, causing Katharine to look up. Her eyebrow shot up. He may be cute, he may be extremely rich, but SHE had heard things about him. Even SHE recognized this man. She eyed him.

"I knew I'd get your attention."

But he did gave a downright gorgeous smile—she'd have to give him that. "Uh-huh. That's very….interesting. Would you excuse me, please?"

"I don't think we've been introduced. I came in late—"

"I know who you are." Katharine replied wryly.

He looked puzzled. Was it possible that the mere sight of him failed to make her swoon? "But I don't know who you are…" He pouted.

Oh—you're good. Very good. Puppy dog eyes and pouty lip, not withstanding. "Well—" Katharine cleared her throat and glanced down at his left hand. No ring. He probably thought I didn't know he's married. Phulease. She continued an overly chipper voice. "Why don't you guess?" He smirked—and Katharine thought about how she could get used to seeing that look.

He looked around dramatically. "Well—no one is threatening to kick the shit out of me, so that means you can't be here with your boyfriend." Katharine rolled her eyes and waited for him to continue. He snickered. "Of course, it wouldn't really matter—because I'd fire their ass anyways." Puffing up, adjusting his sports coat, he beamed proudly.

Katharine gasped melodramatically. "My oh my. You have such a lovely high opinion of yourself. However do you manage?"

He considered for a moment. "Why yes, yes I do. Thank you for noticing." He studied her carefully. He wasn't used to seeing women like her. Katharine was a rare specimen—and he appreciated that. Her hair was soft and very natural—not loaded down with a bunch of junk—like he had been accustomed to seeing at work. Her face was, once again, very natural. A hint of color on her cheeks and a touch of stuff on her lips—that's all he could pick up on. It would have been a travesty to cover up such a beautiful face with Dutch Boy. Besides, he noted—it would have detracted from her crowning glory. Her eyes—crystal blue--they reminded him of the ocean on a nice afternoon. They were absolutely so—intense. Intensity. It almost knocked him out of his seat. It couldn't be…could it?

Katharine shifted in her seat uncomfortably. She caught him looking at her—but not in the typical, pervo, "I want to jump you" kind of way. It was almost as if he thought he knew her from somewhere.

He smacked his head. "I can't believe I didn't see it sooner! The blatant disrespect for all signs of authority….your ardent use of sarcasm…and your eyes!" He was very pleased with himself. "You're Michaels' little niece!"

"And you're Mr. McMahon's little son!" Katharine returned Shane's volley, upping the level of sarcasm—just a bit.

"Hey! I'll have you know there's nothing little about me." Shane protested.

Katharine gave Shane her best "do you really want me to say what I'm thinking right now" look. It was her turn to smirk when she caught the flush on his cheeks.

"Now, now! Play nice, children!" Shawn sat a beer down in front of Shane and handed Katharine a coke. To make matters even more embarrassing, he proceeded to kiss the crown of Katharine's head. She caught Shane snickering under his breath and sent him a death glare that would have scared the Undertaker himself. "Don't make me put you two in time out." Shawn warned in a fatherly tone of voice. Katharine knew he was thoroughly enjoying himself right now—and she wanted nothing more than for all the loud, obnoxious wrestlers to just--go the hell away.

Actually, I don't think I'd mind that—much. Shane nearly choked on his beer as the idea ran through his head. As if Shawn could hear his thoughts—Shane now found himself on the receiving end of not only one "Michaels' death glares", but TWO.

Shawn put his arm around Katharine protectively. "On the other hand—I changed my mind, Katie Grace. Since you two will be spending a lot of time together—you know what? Give him hell." Shawn smirked at Shane before going to rejoin the group. Katharine smiled sweetly at Shane—who had the look of one who had just got caught with his pants down. He had absolutely no clue what he was in for.