Title: One More Show

Author: Kori/justagirl8225

Rating: PG-13

Pairing(s)/Characters: Lita, Christian, A.J. Styles/Trish, Tomko, Edge; mentions of and appearances by many others.

Disclaimer: I claim no ownership to any person, place or thing that you may recognise.

Spoilers: None really...

Summary: He just wasn't ready to let go...

Warnings: angst, possible language and possible (but not likely) main character death.

Notes: All applicable notes are in previous parts of the story.


Atlanta, Georgia

As the time neared closer to Christmas, Amy found her time split between Tampa and Atlanta; but that was mostly because she was helping Chris plan the Christmas party and thus not leaving her with much free time to make social visits. But even if she did have the free time, catching up with Jay was turning out to be harder than she expected…. The blue eyed blonde man usually out of the house whenever she called. She tried not to worry about that too much, but she couldn't help but worry just a little; plus they were supposed to be going Christmas shopping and with Christmas not too far away… still, she was keeping herself busy with her own Christmas shopping and planning; Amy currently at home preparing for another trip to Tampa when her brother stopped by after the TNA tapings. She was used to that, of course, and she expected to see him at least once a week since he lived close. Recently though, she had found herself under constant scrutiny from all of her friends – save for Jay – regarding the blonde man's health. Apparently he still hadn't said much of anything to anyone else and it hadn't taken too long before everyone else realised that Amy was the only one who did know. In reality she was just as much in the dark as they were, but, she didn't know that yet and thus told them what Jay had told her.

A.J snacked on one of the freshly baked sugar cookies, watching his older sister as she decorated some of them. "How long are you gonna be in Tampa for?"

Amy shrugged, "as long as it takes to get the rest of the party planned, longer if Jay's around because I'm supposed to help him with his Christmas shopping… why do you ask?"

A.J stole another cookie before she could stop him, "just asking, that's all… you've been spending a lot of time down there recently."

"Not much more than I usually do," she arched an eyebrow at him, "what is this really about Allen?"

"What makes you think—"

"You're my little brother; you can't hide anything from me so… spill. What's going on?"

A.J smiled wryly, "I could ask you the same sis… in fact? I'm gonna ask you the same, what's going on with you lately? You're different…"

Amy blinked, "how am I different? I always spend time in Tampa; I'm just spending more time there because of the holidays."

He crossed his arms over his chest, "you know what I meant, Ames. You're quieter now, like you're trying to hide something. Which, I'll have you know; you really can't do that with me."

She rolled her eyes to that, "probably because I'm stressed… we just had Trish's birthday party, plus I have to help out Chris with the Christmas party, I still need to finish up my own Christmas shopping and I have to help Jay—"

"Have you spoken to him recently?" A.J interrupted, an even look in his blue eyes. "I mean, I figured you probably have since you're in Tampa so much lately."

"I haven't spoken with him very recently actually, I figured he was probably busy or something like that."

A.J nodded slowly, "uh huh… then you wouldn't know that he's been going to the hospital a lot. Like almost every day, or at least when I've been down there; me and Tomko followed him, like you asked us to. I figured you might want to know about that… him going to the hospital all the time."

Amy blinked, "he has a bad back, A.J, I'm sure that's why he's going up there all the time."

A.J regarded her dubiously, "once or twice a week I can understand, but almost every day?"

She sighed aloud, "What's the point Allen?"

"He hasn't been telling us anything, trust me because I asked at Trish's party and Chris and Adam don't know anything."

"So?"

"What has he told you and why can't you tell us?"

"Because I promised him, that's why." Amy set aside the can of frosting, trying to think of a way to explain herself to him when the phone rang. "I should get that… it could be Chris or Dawn."

A.J frowned, consoling himself slightly with one of the decorated cookies whilst Amy answered the phone.

"We were just talking about you," Amy spoke, the handset settled between her ear and shoulder as she made her way back to the kitchen. "Yeah… A.J is here eating cookies that I'm supposed to be decorating." She paused for a moment, "it's Jay, by the way."

"Oh really," A.J set the half eaten cookie down, "tell him I said hi."

"A.J says hi," Amy repeated the message back, "and he's also told me something interesting…. Now that you've mentioned my visit to Tampa; yes I'm coming down there tomorrow and yes I'll help you with the Christmas shopping." The redhead paused again, "he said you've been to the hospital, a lot it seems."

Jay grimaced though she couldn't see it, "I have a bad back, Ames. I have to go to the hospital for therapy."

Amy nodded, "that's what I told my brother—"

"Did I tell you that it was a Cancer hospital?" A.J blurted out suddenly, and then arched an eyebrow at his sister's look of disbelief. "That's right Ames, I said a Cancer hospital."

"So, if it's for your back," Amy spoke into the phone, "why were you visiting a Cancer hospital?"

Jay nearly panicked, but not quite… "I was visiting the kids there, actually. I have the free time so I might as well put that to good use. You were always going on about volunteering so I thought visiting the hospital would be a good idea."

Amy smiled, "that's so sweet of you Jay," her attention turned back to her brother, "he was visiting the kids at the hospital."

A.J frowned, not quite believing that but knowing that it wouldn't get him anywhere to try to convince his sister otherwise. "Well, let him know if he wants some help or something, me and Tomko will go with him."

She nodded to her brother's request but only half listened to him as she continued to speak with Jay about the upcoming Christmas shopping trip…. "Jay said that if you and Tomko want to go with him? He needs someone to play an elf and someone to be a reindeer." Amy snickered when her brother made a face, "I don't think A.J likes that idea very much, but that doesn't mean he won't do it… I'll just bring it up with Trish when we drive down there tomorrow."

A.J rolled his eyes, finishing off the rest of his cookie whilst Amy continued to speak with Jay; the redhead eventually ending the conversation when the blonde man informed her that he had to leave for another visit to the hospital. And once she returned the handset to the receiver in the living room, Amy resumed with the cookie decorating; A.J helping her as needed.

Two days later- Tampa, Florida

Jay had let out an audible sigh of relief to the empty house, thankful that he had managed to convince Amy. Because if he could at least get her to believe him, then she could help him convince everyone else that nothing was seriously wrong. He still didn't like the fact that he had to use her like that, but it was still easier than dealing with the truth. And really, he only needed to go to the centre once a week for his chemotherapy but he found himself visiting more often. Partially because he wanted to visit with the children there, Lily in particular and partially because visiting the centre had become part of his therapy. Jay had spoken with one of the therapists at the centre, met with his treatment team twice since he'd become an official patient and of course there was Lily. A smile came to his face as he set the recently purchased velveteen rabbit into a gift bag; Jay continuing to get ready for a special visit with Lily and her parents. The blonde man knew full well that once Amy and Trish were in Tampa it would be considerably harder for him to visit the centre without drawing too much suspicion; his cover almost blown when Amy insisted on going with him at least once. And they had gone, but only after they'd also gone on a shopping spree at one of the toy stores. As Jay learnt during that shopping trip, it would not be the first time one of his friends went with him to the centre; Amy informing him that Chris, Adam, A.J, Tyson, Dawn and Trish also wanted to visit.

Adam made a face of pure disdain as he regarded the reindeer costume on the couch. "Dawn, you aren't serious…. Are you?"

Dawn arched an eyebrow, "do I look serious? Adam Joseph Copeland, this is for the children. If A.J and Chris can dress up like elves, you can dress up like a reindeer."

Tyson scowled, "and can someone tell me why I have to be Rudolph? Reindeers don't have beards to begin with."

Trish rolled her eyes, "would you guys stop acting like a bunch of babies? Like Ames said, it's for the children. We were up all night last night baking cookies and wrapping presents so the least the four of you can do is cooperate a little."

A.J kicked at the carpeting, one of the bells on the end of his pointed shoe ringing as he did so. "I still don't see why I had to be an elf."

Trish pinched his cheeks, "you look absolutely adorable, sweetheart. And besides, Dawn and I are dressed up as elves." She set a red and white striped hat on his head, "perfect!"

Adam rolled his eyes and then arched an eyebrow when Jay walked into the living room. "Dude, you aren't really a fat Santa…"

Jay rolled his eyes right back, "maybe that's because I didn't want a lot of padding. Ever think of that? Why aren't you ready yet?"

Adam ignored the question, the reindeer costume still on the couch where he thought it belonged. "Where's Ames?"

Chris blinked as the redhead stood in the hallway, "that costume looks really familiar…"

Amy readjusted the hat on her head, "it's not mine if that's what you're wondering about. This one was actually Nora's. I'm not sure if mine would have been entirely appropriate for visiting a hospital in."

Adam smirked, "you really wouldn't have gotten any complaints from us or Slim Santa over there, I'd imagine."

Amy rolled her eyes and then placed her hands on her hips, "and why are you the only one not in costume yet, hmm? We're supposed to be there in fifteen minutes."

Trish eyed her best friend for a moment, "do you still have your costume from that god awful match?"

Amy blinked, "I do have it but I didn't bring it with me. I doubt I could squeeze into that thing again."

"I don't know about that," Jay spoke up and then arched an eyebrow, "but I don't remember any of those skirts being that long. You look good though."

Amy's cheeks nearly turned the same colour as her costume, the former diva shaking her head before turning her attention to Trish. "Cookies are packed; presents are already in the car so we just need to wait for Adam and then we'll go?"

Dawn grinned as she held up her camera, "after I take a few pictures and then we'll go. Don't give me that look Amy, Chris' house looks positively Christmas perfect so we're taking pictures."

Amy rolled her eyes to that but knew better than to argue with the brunette as she lined up as instructed for the pictures. Once Dawn was satisfied, they all left Chris' house to head to the centre; all of their previous whining and complaining completely forgotten when they were greeted by the smiling faces of the children there. And as Jay had anticipated, one child in particular had gone up to the group of wrestlers and former divas instantly, Lily intently searching their faces for the one she was familiar with.

"Jay-Jay said that Santa was gonna be here," the six year old confided in Chris, "but I wanted Jay -Jay to be here too."

The blonde elf grinned, "We'll be sure to leave a note for Jay-Jay when his presents are delivered."

Lily giggled, "Silly Mr. Elf! Santa doesn't bring presents to grown ups."

Chris chuckled and then gestured to 'Santa', "but he does bring presents to all of the good little boys and girls."

"I can't believe that's Jay," Trish whispered to Amy, the two women handing out cookies and candy canes to a few of the children, "Lisa had told me about how he was with those kids before but this…"

"You should see him with his cats," Amy remarked and then giggled, "but yeah, I know what you're getting at Trishers… it's like he's a completely different person around those kids, you should have seen him while were shopping. Usually I have to drag him with me, make suggestions and he just pays for it but this time? Completely different person."

Trish bumped hips with her, "so, Mrs. Clause, does that mean you can tell me what my Christmas presents are?"

Amy smirked, "I could but I'm not going to… and besides which, I only helped Jay. A.J wouldn't let me see what he bought this year and Adam refused as well."

"Yeah but you could at least—"

"Nope, I've been sworn to secrecy." Amy grinned and then started to say more when one of the children grasped Trish's hand to guide her to one of the chairs; the blonde woman seating herself shortly to read one of the books that the child had received.

With Trish occupied, Amy continued to observe her friends and the children; specifically Jay interacting with Lily. A smile formed on her face that she just couldn't shake as she watched Lily 'read' part of a story to Santa. Not long after the story started, Jay helping her a little bit, did Lily's eyes light up in recognition.

"Jay-Jay?" She questioned innocently, "You said you—"

"Shh," he whispered to her, "Santa is really, really busy so I said I would help him out today."

Lily frowned, "but why are you wearing his clothes?"

Jay winked, "because he insisted I wear them. I think they're a bit too big for me though."

Lily wrapped her small arms around his neck, "Merry Christmas Jay-Jay." A blink, "did the real Mrs. Clause come with you too?"

The blonde man shook his head, "a really good friend of mine, who also knows Santa and Mrs. Clause, is here with me."

Lily blinked and then looked around the room for 'Mrs. Clause'. "Can I meet her?"

"I promised you that you could," Jay said first and then gestured shortly for Amy to join them, the redhead making her way over towards the pair. "Lily, this is my friend Amy… Amy, this is Lily."

Lily grinned an ear to ear grin, "Jay-Jay talks about you all the time when he comes to visit."

Amy could feel her heart warming, a smile touching her face. "It's nice to meet you Lily. What story were you reading?"

With Lily seated comfortably on Jay's lap, the six year old read what she could from the Velveteen Rabbit to the two adults. On occasion, Jay or Amy would help her with some of the words, but Lily insisted on reading it by herself; her own velveteen rabbit clutched tightly in her hands.

TBC