Night of Champions was finally done and Marianne was feeling ecstatic about it. The night had flown by quickly and joyfully, leaving her in a state of full appreciation. She hadn't enjoyed work in this way, well ever, and she was becoming very accustomed to the feeling of reward the WWE brought her. When Adam approached Mari, he was smiling darkly to himself and she straightened herself self-consciously. When Adam faced her he amusedly raised his eyebrow at her wary expression.

"What are you doing now?" He asked.

She raised an eyebrow in return. "You care? Shouldn't you be celebrating your match?"

"Match shmatch. " He said shrugging a shoulder.

"Night of Champions is pretty big and your match went stellar. You're not excited?"

Adam chuckled. "Yes, I am. Listen, we're going to break a few bottles of champagne as a surprise to Chris. He's leaving after tomorrow."

"I know, he told me."

"Well, you going to join us?" Marianne bit her lip undecidedly. "Come on. It's your last night with us too. I promise to get you home early."

"Alright. "

"Come Marianne! When are you going- wait, what?" His eyes narrowed suspiciously.

"I said 'alright.'"

When she gave a small smirk Adam laughed loudly. When he crossed his arms over his chest and watched her for a moment, Marianne's cheeks warmed.

"What?"

"I didn't think it would be that easy." He answered truthfully.

Before Mari could respond to his reply he closed the distance between them and twisted a curious and inconvient loose strand of her hair with his finger. She could smell the musky male smell of him sweetened by a delicious fragance of cologne on his neck.

"I love your hair." He whispered.

She inhaled sharply. Shrugging his wandering hand away she looked around nervously. "What are you doing?"

He smiled again when he touched her arm softly, Marianne gave a small shiver. "I –"

"You're soft." He cleared his throat. "And you smell really good."

"Why are you being such a flatterer?" She put the folder she was holding down and finally gave him her full attention. Adam seemed pleased with himself.

"Me? I'm just being honest." He said with a smirk.

"Uh huh."

"You're really cute when you are suspicious of me." Marianne eyes widened slightly at that. What was this game he was playing?

"Adam." She said expecting the rest.

"Ok, look… you're leaving for Smackdown tomorrow and we're not going to work together again for a while. I just wanted to leave on a good note. Your Smackdown, I'm Raw. So for tonight no more fighting."

She stared at him. "Okay."

"Okay? Wow, this has been really easy." He teased.

"Hey! Guys, let's go!" Mike said as he walked by them. "Popping champagne!"

Marianne looked up at Adam with a smile. "Let's go."

She picked up her purse and jacket and walked beside Adam to where the others were, a chic sitting area backstage. She was surprised when she saw almost everyone there already, all dressed up and looking extremelly well. True to Mike's word, there were plenty of champagne bottles chilling in elegant steel containers. It looked like there was a bottle for each person and Marianne was impressed by how far Chris' friends went to make his night memorable.

When Chris Jericho walked in the room cheers and applause exploded in the room from it's guests. He at first looked shocked but quickly grinned at the smiling room. As the first few bottles popped open, glasses were passed and toasts were made to Chris.

"To Chris Jericho!" Adam spoke first.

"To Fozzy!" a voice from the back.

Mike added, "To having more airtime on Raw!"

Loud cheers broke out mingled with laughter. "To not having to compete with Jericho's promos!"

Marianne giggled as she enjoyed the banter between the roster. She gulped back her glass of champagne and it didn't take very long for her glass to be refilled. She hadn't realized how happy she was until this moment. This job really was fantastic and Marianne couldn't figure out what she had done to get so lucky, but she was thankful. She sipped the bubbly liquid slowly enjoying how it tasted in her mouth. When a drop escaped and rolled over her lip she caught it with her thumb, pressing it to her mouth deliciously.

Her cheeks became rosy when she caught Adam staring hotly at her, his gaze fixed on her lips. He lifted his eyes looking straight at her and she noticed his jaw clenched. The celebration continued and an hour in, Marianne discovered (to her surprise) she was tipsy from the alcohol. She grinned to herself.

This is fun, she thought. Marianne Tobey was not impulsive or adventurous but tonight she was going to let go of all that and just enjoy herself.

She had much to celebrate after all, including this job, her freedom from Charles and her new… well, friendships. When Natalya approached her they sat down comfortably and chatted for a while and when more drinks came around Marianne politely declined.

"Come on Mari, have one more!" Natty urged her.

"I've had a few. I shouldn't…"

"When are we going to do this again?" she asked.

"Natty, I'm going to see you in two week s at the Hell in a Cell pay-per-view."

Natalya laughed. "I guess you're right! I don't know why I am so sad, you are not going to go very far from me!"

"No, she is not." Adam said from behind her. He leaned in and kissed Natty on the cheek. "Hi Nat."

"Hi Adam." She said leaning in for a hug.

"Mind if I take Marianne home? I promised I would get her home early and I'm afraid she's already drunk." Adam asked the blond Canadian.

"Hey! I'm not drunk." She said in mock-offense.

"Sure thing Adam. Our girl is a lightweight." Natty winked.

"I'm not drunk!" She said again, "maybe tipsy."

"Come princess, let's get you home." He said extending his hand. She reached for it and when she stood dizzly he steadied her.

"Goodnight Natty."

"Goodnight Mari."

"Goodnight Chris!" Marianne yelled out.

"Mari, no, no you can't leave!" Jericho replied excitedly.

"I have to travel very far for Smackdown Tuesday and I still have to prepare."

They said their goodbyes and Chris hugged Mari tightly as they promised to keep in touch with one another. Adam was returning with her jacket and Mari took it from his hands, shrugging it on.

"Thanks."

"I did promise to get you home."

"You did."

"Adam – you coming back?" Chris asked.

"Uh yeah, I will." He replied.

They walked quietly to the loading area as Calvin called them a cab. As they waited Mari and Adam stared at each other intensely. She wanted him to kiss her and she blushed at the thought. She didn't even like him, she told herself. She did not know what it was about him that attracted her so much but after their first kiss she could think of little else. He looked so good in his faded jeans and argyle fleece sweater , and she wanted to devour him.

"He's right, I am drunk!" She said to herself.

He smiled . "What?"

Blushing she quickly replied, "N-nothing."

The cab arrived and he opened the door giving her room to enter the backseat. When he sat beside her and closed the door Marianne stared. "You don't have to come. You've done enough!"

"I want to take you home."

Her mouth went dry and she moistened her lips with her tongue.

"You're killing me here." He whispered to her.

"W-what do you mean?"

"Your lips. I can't stop staring at them."

"Oh."

Adam gave directions to the driver and Marianne sat beside the incredibly good looking man as he spoke, trying not to jump on top of him. She wanted him to kiss her again so badly. He put his arm behind her and she fell comfortably into his warm chest, leaning on him slightly. His body was hard and Marianne was enjoying, if only for the moment, how it felt to be in his embrace.

She had to admit, she would miss Adam Copeland. Annoying as he was, his presence did soothe her and she did notice when they weren't fighting they had quite a good time. Maybe it was good she was leaving him behind, it would be a good way to start everything fresh and make new friends on Smackdown.

"We're here." He opened the door for her and helped her out the taxicab.

"Thanks so much for bringing me home. You can go back to the par-" Adam's lips quickly drowned out Marianne as he kissed her. She melted into it, kissing him back feverishly and grabbing his shoulder.

He broke the kiss abruptly and caught his breath. "You have no idea how badly I wanted to do that all night."

"I… can imagine." Her voice full of lust. His thumb brushed over her lips softly.

"When you were sipping on your champagne I could only imagine you naked in my bed and me licking the champagne off of your body."

Marianne gasped softly.

"I want you so bad." He said huskily. "Let me please you tonight."

Marianne didn't bother to reply. She lifted herself on her tippy toes and planted a sweet kiss on his lips. "Yes."