I'm really pleased that you're liking the story & the beautiful pairing.
If you have doubts about the John Morrison / Maria pairing, then I'll try to change your minds. Read on.
John hadn't seen Maria all day. She apologised for Dolph's actions earlier that morning. John wondered if he had overstepped the mark somehow.
On the way to catering he met Chris Jericho.
"Hi John. If you're looking for Maria…" he stopped when he saw John's confusion.
"Is there something I don't know?" John asked, running a hand through his hair.
"Um, I don't wanna be the one to tell you, but the whole Smackdown roster is talking about you and Maria hooking up."
"Oh great!" John sighed and shook his head.
"I'm guessing it's not that simple?" Chris asked.
"Not exactly."
"Well, just a heads up if you're going in there." Chris motioned to the catering room.
"Thanks." John replied, patting Chris on the back.
There was a hush across the room as John walked in. He scanned the room and met with the eyes of Dolph Ziggler. If looks could kill…
"It didn't take you long, did it?" Layla whispered as John passed her.
"Maybe he was chasing after Maria the whole time she was with Dolph?" he heard Matt Hardy say to Rey Mysterio.
He saw Maria, sat with Mickie and Beth Phoenix. She looked sympathetic.
"Hey Taker, watch out. Morrison might steal Michelle next." Drew McIntyre said.
John rolled his eyes as he sat down on his own table with a cup of coffee.
"Ok, that's enough." Maria said, climbing on top of her table. Mickie held her hand as she wobbled in her heels. John waited to see what she was doing.
"If you're gonna gossip, you may as well have the facts." She shouted so that everybody could hear.
"Careful honey." Mickie whispered.
"John is a good man! Dolph broke up with me and I had nowhere to go. John was going to sleep on the couch, but I insisted that we share the bed." Maria was frustrated.
"So she's the slut?" Drew asked, getting a glare from John.
"It is possible to share a bed and not have sex!" Maria shouted.
"Ok, that's enough." Mickie said, helping Maria down.
Everybody was talking. John looked up from his coffee to see Maria standing there.
"I'm sorry." She said.
"I'm sorry too." John replied.
"Hold on, why are we sorry?" Maria frowned.
"Have I damaged your reputation?" John asked, concern showing in his eyes.
"Since when has a bad reputation damaged anyone here?" she motioned to the other superstars and divas in the catering room. John smiled.
Maria stood and walked out of catering. Dolph watched her leave and turned to scowl at John. The Shaman of Sexy shrugged and carried on drinking his coffee.
They were heading off to the airport later, so John headed to the hotel to get his stuff together. John packed his bags and sat on the bed. Something sparkly caught his eye so he picked it up. It was Maria's necklace that she was wearing yesterday. She must have taken it off last night. He dropped it into his pocket and headed off to his rental car. He dropped his begs in the trunk, before putting on his shades and turning the engine on.
He got to the airport and checked in. He headed over to sit in the waiting area. Dolph was introducing himself to a group of women. Typical.
Maria was nowhere to be seen. John hoped that she was ok, but he didn't feel it was appropriate to call her. He took out his iPod and listened to that, until his flight boarded.
Finding his seat, John sat down and looked to see where everybody else was sitting. Mickie was sat next to Chris Jericho, Matt Hardy and R Truth were opposite them, Michelle and Taker, Dolph…
"Hey John." Maria said, sitting down next to him.
"You're next to me?" He raised an eyebrow.
"Complete coincidence." The redhead giggled.
"I'm glad actually. If I had to sit next to Dolph or Michelle…"
John smiled at Maria's smiling face. He was well aware of several pairs of eyes on them. He reached into his pocket and pulled out the necklace.
"I found this." He said, dangling it in front of her face.
"Oh, I'm so glad." Maria smiled.
She turned around and held her hair up so that he could clip the necklace on. John felt Maria flinch as his cold hand s touched her warm neck.
"Thanks." She smiled.
"No problem." He replied.
Apparently John and Maria were even more interesting than the in-flight movie. Every move, expression and sound felt as if it was being scrutinised.
Maria was asleep by the time they landed. Her head was resting on John's shoulder. He gently shook her to wake her up.
"Maria."
"Hmm, what?" she mumbled.
"We've landed." He whispered. She looked up and sat up in her seat.
"Do you have a ride to the hotel?" John asked.
"No. I was gonna make my own way."
"Well, you're too tired for that. Come with me." John said, helping her to her feet.
They received a few more looks as they walked through the airport. John had a car waiting. He helped Maria into the passenger side. She yawned.
"You know people will think that I've drugged you?" John said, sliding into the driver's seat. Maria giggled.
"I'm tired." She groaned, resting her head against the window.
"Well once we get to the hotel, you can check in and go to bed." John said.
"Ok." Maria mumbled.
They arrived at the hotel and John checked in, followed by Maria. He carried one of her bags for her. She swiped the key card and entered the room.
"Who's sharing with you?" John asked.
"Natalya." She replied.
"Good luck." John grinned.
"What about you?" the diva asked him.
"Chris Jericho." John smiled.
"Wanna swap?" Maria chuckled.
"Natalya? No, I don't want her to get me in a Sharpshooter!"
"Oh well, I tried." She smiled and walked up to him.
John flinched as she hugged him and kissed him on the cheek.
"Goodnight John." She smiled.
"Goodnight Maria." He replied and walked to his own room.
The next day John awoke and tiptoed past sleeping Chris to get to the bathroom. After having a shower and getting dressed, John brushed his hair and left the room.
"Hey, you going down for breakfast?" Matt Hardy asked as John entered the elevator.
"Yeah." John replied.
"So, are you and Maria…?" Matt began.
"No."
"Have you ever?" Matt asked.
"No?" John rolled his eyes.
"Do you want to?"
"N…no." John stammered.
"You hesitated." Matt grinned.
"Don't tell anybody!" John hissed.
"Hey, you can trust me." Matt nodded.
"Thanks." John sighed.
They walked out of the elevator and into the restaurant.
John got some breakfast and sat down at a table with Matt. They ate in silence, until Maria arrived. John looked up and smiled.
"Hey, so are we heading to see Vince together?" she asked.
"I'm sorry?" John frowned.
"I got a call saying that he wanted us in his office." Maria explained.
"Oh, yeah. We should go." John said, scanning his missed calls.
Matt waved as they walked off together.
John and Maria waited outside Vince McMahon's office. They heard footsteps approach the door, as it opened and Vince stuck his head out.
"You two! Come in." he smiled.
"Mr McMahon." Maria started.
"Please sit, take a seat." Vince motioned to the chairs in front of his desk.
John sat down next to Maria. They both looked at Vince, who was smiling.
"Now, I suppose you have an idea of why you're here." He said.
"If you believe rumours." Maria spoke, before Vince put a hand up.
"I think it would work really well, if we put you two in a storyline."
"A storyline?" John asked.
"Yes, a romantic one." Vince said, in a matter of fact manner.
"How would that work?" Maria asked. She didn't seem too bothered.
"Ok, so Dolph has lost to John. Now he'll lose you to John." Vince nodded at the redheaded diva. She bit her lip and looked at John.
"Do you have a problem with this?" John asked her.
"Not unless you do." She replied, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear.
"That's decided then." Vince's smile turned to a grin.
John and Maria walked out of the office and looked at each other.
"So, I guess we'll be spending more time together?" John shrugged.
"Looks like it." Maria smiled.
Dolph suddenly barged past them.
"Hey Mr Ziggles! Have some manners." John shook his head.
"I have an important meeting with the boss." Dolph replied, flipping off John.
"John…" Maria whispered.
"What?" he looked at her.
"If Vince is gonna tell him about the storyline, we better go."
"Agreed." John grinned and took her hand as they ran down the corridor.
They finally stopped when they got outside. Maria placed her hands on his chest as John looked down at her. Maria giggled.
"What?" John smiled at her face.
"We're probably gonna be rooming together again!" Maria giggled.
John laughed as he put an arm around her and they walked along together.
Meanwhile, Dolph Ziggler was very unhappy…
What do you think? I'm feeling good about this one.
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