Title: Promises Not Broken
Disclaimer: Now..if I owned the names and things you recognize..would I really be sitting here?
Spoilers: Like they'd actually use my story line..but really...no
Distribution: Ask if you want it
Rating: Nothing overly excessive or violent..mild swearing..tis about it
Pairing: Multiple, but focuses mainly on Dawn/Lance, Lita/RVD and Stephanie/Jericho. Some pair switching here and there and cameo's by other couples.
Author Notes: Just keep the following things in mind when reading this piece and we'll get along just fine: Matt and Amy are not dating..(at least not right now). Other people are not with their significant others for reasons (these people will become apparent). Amy never took the role on Dark Angel, therefor her neck injury never happened. She did however take a short vacation. Time spent in ECW was a tad longer for both Amy and Lance. Again..deal. Alliance/Invasion still happened. Just altered a touch. Deal with my history altering. Lance was drafted to RAW, Matt to Smackdown. And Dawn is over on Smackdown from the beginning of the roster split. This chapter, like all others, was written on very little sleep, a lot of coffee and high energy music..nuff said.

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Prologue:

February 15th, 2006. Hotel suite. Three women, relaxing, reminiscing and just reveling in how they got there.

(From Amy's POV to start)

I couldn't believe that the three of us were sitting here. First part being that I was now amongst the company of two married women. Second part being..that well..the three of us are just different. Not in a lot of ways mind you but in the ways that matter. And before you wonder why a married woman was spending the first night with her best friends and not her husband..it's because it was the day after. The two saps got married on Valentine's Day. We're just playing catch up before they leave tomorrow for their honeymoon. Anyway, so here we are. I was the matron of honor, Dawn the maid of honor..wait..switch that. I was maid of honor..remember not married? And Stephanie had just gotten married. We all clear? Good. We were all sitting on the bed, ice cream sundaes in our possesion at the oh so lovely hour of 10:00 a.m. Where the guys had gotten to? We didn't really know. All we knew was that it was girl time.

"Geez Stephie I can't believe you finally got married!" Dawn said, with this dreamy look in her eyes.

Stephanie set down the spoon from her ice cream sundae, looking between us "I know..it's hard to believe sometimes. Just yesterday, I asked Shane to pinch me..to make sure it wasn't a dream"

"You didn't....did you?" was my ingenious answer. And I know she saw the pure shock in my eyes, when she rolled up the sleeve on her pajama top to reveal a very small bruise.

"Girl you are unbelieveable! But I am so happy for you" Dawn had wrapped Steph in a hug whilst saying that, and I swear I saw tears brimming in her eyes. Then of course, they both looked at me, and what can I say?

"Aww...girls I can't believe I'm a married woman..and that tomorrow I'm leaving for my honeymoon" Stephanie somehow managed to murmur in the midst of our group hug. "That just leaves you..miss Red"

And I'm pretty sure my nose wrinkled. Marriage hadn't really been discussed between the two of us. It wasn't the highest thing on my list anyway. I wanted to be sure I was completely ready for it. I just shook my head, gently dis-entangling myself from the hug "It'll happen..if it's meant to happen"

Dawn, ran a hand through her hair, rolling her eyes at me "Oh please. You two are meant to be. And don't roll your eyes at me missy"

With a giggle, Stephanie added "She's right Ames. You two are going to get married one of these days. It's just one of those things that I know is going to happen"

The eye rolling happened now as I laid back on the bed "Marriage isn't for everyone you two. And don't sigh at me and don't give me grief before you let me explain. Sometimes you just don't need a ring and a piece of paper to fully declare love for each other. And that's how we are. Period."

I knew I had won that little "argument" because of the brief silence that followed. But it was soon broken by Dawn.

"I've said it before..and I know it won't be the last time I say it, but we are quite possibly the luckiet women in the world"

Steph nodded, laying back to join me "I'll second that. It's just so wierd though you know? The three of us..here..now."

I was silent for a moment, chewing my bottom lip in thought when I quietly put in "Yeah well...things change. Things happen. Even though we may not like what's happening..there's always a reason"

By now, Dawn had joined us laying back on the bed and she turned sideways, propping her head on her hand "Ames..if it hadn't been for you...having so much..strength..holding out like that..I don't know..I just...." She trailed off, looking down at the bedspread. I knew she thought I was uncomfortable, delving into the past like that. I shook my head, also turning on my side so I could face them both

"You know..it was just one of those times..Nothing made sense to me. And no one made sense to me. It was just one of those times you aren't meant to understand for whatever reasons. I turned my back on everyone..and well..one person had the descency to bitch me out about it" Dawn tossed me a look, and for a minute I thought I would have ice cream on my face, but thankfully she didn't so I continued. "And when all is said and done..I'm glad I went to Smackdown to see you. And to see you..billion dollar- "

"Don't even say it" Steph put in. Her eyebrow raising slightly. She knew I spent a lot of time with her husband back then. "I didnt have to let you in there you know"

I nodded at that. She really didn't have to. I wouldn't have been too surprised had she said no. But she didn't."I know..and I'm glad that you did..really glad. Otherwise..it either would have taken a lot longer for us to be sitting here or.. "

"We may not be sitting here at all" Dawn quietly added in.

The three of us fell into another brief silence. Just wondering those "what-if's" through our minds. But this time, it was Stephanie who broke the silence.

"I know you've both probably told me. But..how did you two meet again? And I want details on everything" She sat up as she finished, looking between the two of us anxiously.

Dawn sat up first, primly resting her hands in her lap, her brow furrowed in thought "Well..which do you want first?"

"Me and Dawn meeting..was what started it..." I put in, as I finally pulled myself to a sitting position.

"So? Start the story already" Stephanie had now propped her chin in her hands waiting patiently for one of us to begin. I looked over at Dawn and gave her a shrug. She fortunately took the hint and began the story..all the way back to the good ole days under Paul Heyman ..back in E.C.W


Chapter 1 (short chapter..sorry.)

Mid June, 1999

The new girl had just walked backstage. Granted she only had a tiny role in the match..she was only just starting out. But geez, what a start it had been. She had made sure her opponent (the other valet) hadn't interefered..and how? A simple moonsault to the arena floor. The other woman had caught up to her as she started to the locker room. And at first, the tension was thick. The newbie shifted from foot to foot, looking down..quite unsure of where to start. But thankfully, she didn't have to.

"That was a great move out there" Dawn said to her, noting the woman's stance and leaning back against the wall.

"Thanks..I'm sorry if I hurt you?" Angelica..aka Amy Dumas had finally managed to find her voice, looking up slightly at the woman before her.

Dawn shrugged it off and just offered a genuine smile to her "Nah, I've taken worse..believe me. I'm Dawn Marie by the way"

Amy cocked her head, offering a shy smile in return "Amy..Amy Dumas"

"Well Amy..let me be one of the first of many to officially welcome you into the nutty family that is ECW"

The two continued on with their chit chat as they walked into the women's locker room. Dawn talking about her days in ECW, Amy about her days in the Indy leagues and her time in Mexico. By the time the rest of the show was over, they were like old friends.

"You got a roomie tonight?" Dawn asked as they walked to the parking lot.

Amy shook her head, she was a newbie after all "No..I was just going to room by myself"

"No way girl, you've got a friend in me..you've got a room-mate in me" Dawn grinned at her as they walked to their cars.

By this point, Lance, Rob, Tommy and Chris Benoit had also made it to the parking lot. They were a few feet behind the women when Dawn noticed them. She waved them over, not noticing that Amy looked a tad unconformtable as the four approached.

"Guys..this is Amy..she's new." Dawn addressed the guys, but put a comforting hand on Amy's shoulder. For her part, Amy was now taking an incredible interest in her shoes.

"I'm Chris...this is Tommy...that's Lance..and that's.."

"I'm Rob" Rob cut in before Chris could finish. He hadn't meant to be rude, just that he was a little tired..eager to get back to the hotel.

"Nice to meet you all" Her glance never left her shoes, but she still managed to be polite. Part of her wanted to run away, but the other part knew that really wasn't the best first impression. When she finally looked up, the guys offered a small smile to her.

"Well, hate to cut this short and all, but I'm sure Amy here wants to rest. You know..first day on the job and all "Dawn rambled on to the guys. Not really making excuses but just wanting to get the poor girl out of this situation. She remembered what it was like being the newbie.

"I'm sure we'll be seeing you around..till then..it was nice meeting you Amy" Lance addressed her this time, a warm look in his eyes to match the small smile gracing his lips.

Amy nodded, offering her thanks to them before walking over to her car. She waved to them..a small if not shy smile gracing her face as she opened the driver's side door, tossing her bag in the backseat. Dawn grinned happily at the four guys before walking to her own car, popping the trunk tossing the bag in and shutting it.

"See you all around" She chirrped out as she unlocked the driver's side door, slipping in with another wave before she shut the door.

After Dawn had finally gotten in the car and started out, Amy followed, a slight glance back at the four she had just met before re-focusing her attention on the road. The guys watched them drive off before heading to their own car. Why rent four cars when you can just use one? The trunk popped, bags tossed in before the four got settled. Lance at the wheel, Rob riding shotgun.

"So..she was nice" Chris started as they drove out to the hotel.

With a shrug Tommy added "Yeah..she's got nice moves too. ..in ring moves you dork" he added quickly when Lance shot him a look.

Rob meanwhile was looking out the window, caught up in the music currently blaring through his headphones. He was lost in his own world, so they knew there was no chance in getting any response from him..but still..a glance over to him before Lance replied with a shrug of his own "Well..I'm sure with Dawn guiding her..she'll land just right here"

End Prologue/Part One