Hello, everyone!!! I know I probably caught a few of you off guard with that last chapter, lol, but hey, it's all good, lol. Here's the next chapter, please enjoy!!!

Chapter 26: You Knock Me Off of My…Chair??

~Anaheim, California. Raw~

Randy, Ric, and David all were cutting their promo inside Evolution's dressing room. Paul stood outside as he heard Randy talking about his match at Armageddon. He knew that things had been tough for Randy ever since Annie went to work for the OVW. They still talked, but they weren't together, and Paul knew and understood why they had just decided to up and call it quits, but it was obvious that both of them were in-

"Trip!" He turned to see Ric and David walking out of the locker room. "The promo's over, you can go in now, buddy. I'll see you after this match!" Ric continued as he and David made their way to the ring.

"Alright, man. Good luck out there Batista!" Paul replied as he headed into the dressing room. When he got inside he smirked as he saw Randy pulling out his cell phone. It didn't take a genius to know whose number he was dialing.

Randy nodded 'hello' when he saw that Paul was in the room. His heart jumped as he heard Annie pick up on the other end.

"Hello?"

"Hey, how's it going?"

"Randy?" Breanne had to suppress her glee, as she heard his voice on the other end of the phone. She had been waiting for his call all day, but she wasn't going to tell him that. She'd never live it down.

"Yah, I was just calling to…uh…say 'hi' I guess," he mentally slapped himself, 'way to go, slick,' he thought to himself in momentary shame.

"Oh, so…um…are you going to be in any matches tonight? I'm at the office, and I'm probably only going to be able to catch the second half of the show."

"Well, you're in luck, I'm a lumberjack in the main event," he said more proudly.

"There's going to be a lumberjack match!?! Those are my favorite! Who's in it?"

"I'm in it! What more do you need to know than that?" he pretended to be offended. His heart swelled when he heard her laughter on the other end.

"Okay, okay," she chuckled as she tried to calm her laughter.

"I'm just messin' with you. It's gonna between Kane and Goldberg with Evolution and Mark Henry as the lumberjacks."

"Well, I'll definitely have to make it to a TV screen for that," Annie assured.

"Cool."

Annie sighed at the papers on her desk. She'd find a way to see Randy in the match tonight. She just had a few more things to take care of……she sighed again. She wished there were a way to see him in person.

"Annie?"

"Yah, I'm here…sorry about that. I was thinking about something."

"Annie…um…when do you think Eric is gonna ask you to come back to Raw?" he asked, as if reading her mind.

"I don't know," she answered quietly. She could come back anytime, she figured, but they really did need her here, at the OVW. All she had to do was get their affairs straight here, and then she would come back to Raw, and hopefully…to him too.

"Oh," he didn't know what else to say.

Annie sighed, "I better get off of here, I still have a lot of work to do, but I should be finished in time to catch your match," she assured.

"Okay, yah…I need to get ready for my match…I'll uh…talk to you later?"

She smiled on the other end, "Yah, talk to you later," she was about to hang up the phone when she heard Randy yell on the other end, 'ANNIE! WAIT!'

"Yah?" she asked a little confused.

"Annie, I um…I…" he paused, 'Just tell her, STUPID!' he yelled at himself in his thoughts, "I miss you, Annie."

Annie's nose tingled on the other end of the line as her stomach tied in knots, she was forced to swallow the rising lump in her throat. They had never talked about what they were feeling in any of the conversations they had had in the past two weeks. She had wanted to, and so did he, apparently. She felt the tears, but she held them back, "I miss you, too," she said in almost a whisper.

Randy let out a breath, "Alright, I'll, uh, let you go now. Get back to work! And you better not miss the lumberjack match tonight!" he said trying to lighten things back up a bit.

Annie let out a small laugh, grateful that he broke the ice, "Okay. I'll talk to you later."

"Alright, bye."

"Bye."

Randy hung up his phone, and turned to look at Paul, who was standing in the corner with an eyebrow raised. He tried not to look as embarrassed as he felt, but he knew it was fruitless.

"Sooooo……" Paul began, "When is she coming back?"

"Um, she doesn't know," Randy sighed and looked at the time, "Shit."

"What?" Paul asked in reference to his potty mouth, "Did you finally realize that you need to stop being retarded and fly down to Ohio?" Paul asked with a lopsided grin that was more like a cross between a smile and a smirk.

Randy rolled his eyes, "Look, dude, we're just trying to figure out how we feel about each other, okay? I mean-"

"Yah, I know all that stuff already," Paul laughed at Randy's expression. It was one that read, 'who the Hell told you?', "Ric told me."

"Oh, well, I guess I should have expected that, huh?" he smiled sheepishly.

"Yup," he replied in a matter of fact tone, "Look, I understand all that stuff, but everyone knows you two are like…well, I don't know…but you need her, and she needs you. Jon or no Jon, necklace or no necklace, do you know what I mean?"

Randy sighed, "I see Ric really did tell you everything, didn't he?"

"Well, actually, I overheard you two talking that night," he laughed.

Randy shook his head in disbelief and laughed, "Thanks, man, but I gotta go, I have a promo to cut with Eric and the other lumberjacks."

"I know. Good luck, I'll be up in the box," he paused and stopped Randy before he could leave the room, "Remember what I said, Randy. You guys need to get things sorted out, I understand that, but what you don't see…is that there was never a need for it. Sure, you two went through a lot of intense situations during a very short time span, but hey, everything happens for a reason. I for one, think it was inevitable. You both need to realize that the only thing getting in the way is yourselves. You're both afraid to say what's on your mind, and believe me, I know exactly how that is, but you can't be afraid to say what you feel. I know you love her, Randy, Ric did have to tell me that," he laughed and paused again.

Randy rolled his eyes, "Man, Ric," he sighed.

"I know, I know, the guy likes to gossip, but only when it's of high importance or high interest," Paul smiled, "Anyway, like I was saying, if you love her, tell her. I guarantee, she'll be able to tell you the same."

Randy nodded his head, taking it into consideration, "I know, Paul, and you're right, I just…I want to do it face to face, you know?"

"Yah, I know. Now, get going before Eric and the other lumberjacks come looking for you," he laughed.

Randy left the room, mulling over everything Trip had said to him. He would tell her, but how would he get to her? He didn't know, but as soon as he got to the promo, he slipped into his character, and put his stick in his mouth. It was time to get down to business, and get hyped for the match.

~Later that night, in Ohio~

Annie watched as Goldberg was tossed out of the ring, and all the lumberjacks assaulted him. She couldn't help but smile proudly as Randy delivered one Hell of a shot to Goldberg's jaw, sending him backwards onto the security wall. She knew she was rooting for the bad guys, but she didn't care, she even yelled out loud, "GET HIM!! KICK HIS ASS!!" Then laughed at herself when she realized what she had done.

She sighed again as her thoughts once again took a turn for the depressing. Randy was the first genuine guy she had ever dated, so why was she conflicted? She really wanted what was between them to be real and natural, not forced. That was her reasoning, she supposed. She returned her focus to the screen.

He looked so good in the black shorts. 'He always looks good in black,' she thought to herself. Those shorts though, they fit so well around his waist, around his butt. She inched closer to the screen, not noticing that she was on the brink of her chair.

They just accented his curves so well, and his…Annie's thoughts were brought to a screeching halt when she felt herself hit the floor. She had literally fallen out of her chair. She laughed to herself and shook her head, "Snap out of it, Breanne. Damn. Get it together." She returned her attention to the match.

She now watched Randy stomp the Hell out of poor Bill…and laughed she with pure enjoyment. She scowled when she saw RVD run into the ring and proceed to jump all over Randy, "GET OFF MY MA-" She covered her mouth at what she almost shouted, then smiled. He had been her man, hadn't he? Why had she allowed herself to separate them?

She was left with the image of Randy laying in the corner of the ring, looking totally exhausted. She found herself, once again, wishing that she could be there to make sure he was okay. To at least give him a back rub or something. She sighed as the WWE logo flashed across the screen, and the VGA awards began. She switched off the TV.

Thirty minutes later, Annie decided she would take a bath to wash away some of the stress and relax. She snatched her phone as she went to the bathroom, just incase he called her. She then shut the door and proceeded to fill her tub with water and bubbles.

Just as she slid into the water, her cell went off. She dived for the phone that was sitting on the toilet's closed lid. She fumbled, and nearly dropped it in the water, but eventually managed to turn it on, "Hello?"

"Hey," it was a clearly exhausted Randy Orton.

"I loved the match! You did a great job stomping the poo out of Goldberg. I almost, almost felt sorry for him," Annie couldn't contain her excitement. She wanted to comment on how utterly sexy those shorts were, but she decided better of it. They, after all, were not technically a couple anymore. She heard a laugh at the other end, "What?" she asked curiously.

Randy contained his laughter, "Did you just say 'poo'?"

He busted out in deep laughter that sent shivers down Annie's spine. His laugh was extremely…sexy. She smacked herself in the forehead. She couldn't help but think of him as anything but sexy tonight and she had no idea why. Was it the distance or something? Was it making her crazy? Or was it the fact that she was talking to him while taking a bubble bath. 'Ah, I think that must be it,' she confirmed in her mind. She blinked out of her thoughts when she heard him stop laughing and talk.

"So, what are you doing tonight, now that you're out of the office?"

"Well, you actually caught me in a pretty awkward predicament," she looked down into the bubbles of her bath and rolled her eyes.

"Really? What are you doing that's so awkward?"

"Oh, nothing, I'm just worried I might drop the phone in my bubble bath," she laughed sarcastically.

Randy swallowed hard. She was in a bubble bath???? Maybe he should hang up now, and avoid…he looked down at his pants. Aw, Hell…

Finally, deciding to tease her about it, "Oh, well, it's only an awkward predicament if you're having phone sex." He heard her gasp in disbelief, and could almost picture her open jaw and widened eyes.

"You're bad, you know that?" she asked laughing.

"You have no idea," he retorted, loving every minute of it. He could picture her blushing, and it only served to further turn him on. He heard something drop on the other end, "What was that?"

"Sorry, I dropped the soap."

This caused Randy to laugh even harder, "Do you need me to help you pick it up?"

"RANDY!!!"

"What?" he asked innocently, "I was just offering my help, that's all. Finding a lost bar of soap in a bathtub full of bubbles -- that can be a tricky task. Seriously."

"Uh-huh, right."

"It can! You never know what you might find fishing around in a bubble bath."

'OH MY GOD!!!!' Breanne kept thinking to herself, "Anyway , you know what I'm up to, what about you?"

"Not much, just sitting here in my hotel room, talking to you. You know, offering my help to find stuff."

Annie laughed at the other end, "You're not out with the guys?"

"Nah. They wanted to go to some club, but I didn't feel like it. What about you? Why aren't you out with the OVW guys shootin' the bs?"

"PLEASE!" she said with a small snort, causing Randy to chuckle a bit.

"I know, I know. Anyway, I just wanted to make sure you watched tonight. Did you like the black shorts?"

"The black shorts?" Breanne's throat suddenly went dry as she remembered how she had fallen out of her chair earlier because of those shorts. Clearing her throat she answered his question, "They were…nice."

"Nice? Are they, at least, better than the red ones?"

"Yah, not that the red ones are bad, but you always look good in black," she could almost hear him smirking.

"Yah, I know. You think I'm sexy," he smiled proudly.

"Shut up, you…cocky…macho…jerk!"

"Aw, what? Am I wrong? You don't think I'm sexy? You're breaking my heart."

Breanne was happy and freaked out at the same time. They hadn't talked like this…ever. It was fun, but at the same time, she had to be careful about what she said. She didn't want to seem as wanton as she was, especially, since they, once again, were not official. "It's not that I don't think you're sexy, I just think you're overly cocky, that's all."

"Well, yah! I'm Mr. Macho! I know I'm fine."

Breanne burst into laughter. Finally, she decided to get serious, "Randy?"

"Annie?"

"I'm serious."

"Okay, me too," he said, wondering what it was she wanted to say.

"Randy, I miss you…"

Randy's composure relaxed a little as he spoke, "I miss you too, Annie, I meant it when I said it earlier."

"I know, and I meant it too. I'm just…" she trailed off, she didn't know how to put any of it into words.

"You're just what, Annie?" his heart was beating so fast, he hoped she decided she really did want to be with him.

"I'm just sorry that I can't be there for you after your matches and to 'shoot the bs' in person, you know?" she answered sweetly, still unable to tell him the full extent of her feelings for him.

"I know, me too. I want you to be here, but I know you have a job to do, so don't worry about it. I'll be here waiting when you come back, okay?"

Breanne smiled happily on the other end, "Okay," she nearly whispered.

Randy wanted nothing more than to tell her right then that he loved her. However, he wanted to save that for a time when he could see her face, when he could touch her face and look into her beautiful blue eyes. That's what he was waiting for.

"Randy?" she asked, unsure of whether or not Randy was still on the line.

"Yah, sorry, I'm here. I was just thinking."

"Oh. We must be a couple of thinkers, you and me, huh?"

"Yah, it would seem."

Annie sighed and leaned back into the warm water, "Mmmmmm…." she didn't mean to do that at an audible level, but she did, and it didn't go unnoticed by Randy.

"Relaxed yet?"

"Yah, I feel a ton better now than when I got in. How are you feeling?"

"Not too bad. Rob stomped the shit out of me though, so I'm a little sore, but it's all good. I'm laying on the bed, taking it easy."

Breanne smiled, "Well, why don't you do what I do? Take a bath or a shower. It always makes me feel better."

"Yah, I could do that." He thought to himself, 'but it isn't any fun without someone to fight over it with. Or to do it by myself.' He shook his head, 'Snap out of it, dude,' he lectured himself.

Breanne tried, but failed to stifle a yawn, "Sorry about that, I think I need to get out of this bath before I fall asleep in it," she said as she pulled the plug and allowed the water to drain.

Randy looked at the time, "Why don't you get dressed and go to bed? I'll call you tomorrow on my flight."

"Okay. You're going to Orlando, Florida next, right?"

"Yup. It's Armageddon this Sunday."

"I'll be watching, I hope they let you be the champion. You'd look great with a belt around your waist," she yawned.

"You better watch," he smiled, "but right now, you need to go to bed."

"Okay," she conceded.

"I'll talk to you tomorrow."

"Okay, goodnight," she smiled as she covered herself with a towel.

"Goodnight, Annie," he said as they both hung up. He looked up at the clock in his hotel. They had talked for an hour and a half. 'Damn,' he thought to himself, 'that's a long time. But definitely worth the time." Smiling, he took Annie's advice and went to take a nice, relaxing shower.

~Meanwhile~

Annie tugged on some pajamas. She felt pretty content with the conversation she and Randy had just shared. It made her happy that they were able to joke around and flirt just like they used to. She felt so nostalgic about everything, but in reality, it had only been two weeks. Those two weeks felt like an eternity, though, and she knew that she would have a Hell of a time at work tomorrow trying not to think of the conversation they just had. 'Oh well,' she resolved, 'I'm just gonna do what Randy said, and go to bed. I really need to get some sleep.' With that, Breanne tucked herself in under her covers and fell into a much needed sleep.

~Back to Randy~

Randy stood in the shower, letting the hot water wash away all of the soreness in his muscles. He closed his eyes and leaned his head against the wall of the shower. His thoughts remained on one thing, or rather, one person. The same person he wished he could hold tonight. The same person he wished he could share himself with. He thought of Annie, and how much he just wanted her to be here, how much he wanted to…

"Maybe I should take a cold shower instead," he thought aloud, but opted to just turn off the shower and get ready to take a brief sleep before his flight tomorrow. Stretching, he stepped out of the shower and wrapped a towel around his waist. He walked to his bag, grabbed a pair of boxers, and plopped himself down on the bed. It seemed that no sooner did his head hit the pillow, he was asleep.

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I hope you enjoyed that shower scene as much as I did. I also hope you liked the chapter, I worked hard on this one, lol. Well, Happy reading, and as always, please review!

Pammi