Thanks so much for the great reviews.

October 1999

Maddy ran around her block for a third time, she had taken up jogging, as she never did like working out in the gym. The lest few weeks though, she was to tired to fool with it much. Maddy decided to quit early and go back home. She pulled her key from around the lanyard around her neck and opened the door.

She shut the door and went to grab a bottle of water and fell back in a kitchen chair, either she was getting old or lazy, but she felt like she had run a marathon.

Maddy sighed, truth was she was a little lonely. Her and Mark had picked up their relationship like it had never stopped. They had spent all of August and September together.

Mark had a few autograph signings at the end of September in California, he had kissed her and told her he would see her in a week, that was a month ago, and he hadn't been back.

He had called of course and told her he wanted to be at his new home while they were putting the finishing touches on it, that wasn't to unusual, what was is that he didn't ask her to come stay with him, she had stayed with him in Texas several times over the years.

It was odd that he hadn't wanted to spend the rest of his time off with her, she had a feeling something was going on, but she didn't ask him, her and Mark were honest with each other, she knew whatever it was he would tell her when he was ready.

The thing was he called her every day, checking on her, asking her if she was okay, she assured him, she was fine and not to worry, his behavior was a little odd.

Maddy shrugged, sooner or later he would tell her what was up.

Maddy sleepily got up. Who the fuck rang a doorbell at three in the morning. She half stumbled down the stairs and looked through the peep hole.

"Kevin what the fuck are you doing here in the middle of the night?" She asked opening the door.

Kevin grinned. "We're doing a show here in Tampa."

Maddy just yawned and motioned him in. "How's Tristan?" She asked of his month old son.

Kevin smiled. "He's great Maddy, smartest baby in the world, he can lift his head a little already."

Kevin followed her in the kitchen. Maddy started a pot of coffee and sat down across from Kevin. "Thats great."

"Mark here?" he asked.

"No." She said shaking her head. "I haven't seen him in a month, he is staying in Texas while they finish up his house."

"Why aren't you with him?" Kevin asked as she got up to pour them a coffee.

Maddy set the cup in front of him and sat back down. "Because, we don't roll like that, we are friends that sleep together, thats it, I don't tell him what to do, or get nuts if he wants time alone and he doesn't get nuts if I want to be alone."

Kevin just shook his head. "I just don't get you guys relationship..I mean how can he stand to just stay away from you girl, I would be here making sure no other guy was trying to get in your bed."

Maddy laughed. "Kev, don't try to understand me and Mark, no one can, what we have works for us."

Kevin shrugged. "You deserve better."

"Mark treats me good, Kev, he treats me better than anyone ever has, and he is honest with me, Mark is my best friend in the world." Maddy said not liking Kevin's tone.

"Okay Okay, sorry." Kevin said not wanting to fight with Maddy, she had a blind spot where Mark was concerned.

He was just happy that Maddy forgave him, and they could still be friends, he frequently stopped in to see her or call her, she was right Tamara wasn't thrilled about their friendship, but Kevin told her too bad, he had hurt a person he cared deeply about and he still cared for her, that would never change.

"So hows work?"

"Its sucks, we all know that its going to over soon, but I got a gig back at WWF, so I'm not to worried."

"What about Scott?" Maddy asked refilling their coffee.

"Him too, we'll be fine." Kevin said.

"Great...I haven't seen Scott to much on TV." Maddy said.

"He's been hitting the bottle to much, going out drunk, he's lucky they don't fire his ass." Kevin said. "Vince wont put up with that shit, he better get straight before he goes back there."

Maddy was upset to hear that, Scott was never drinking when she seen him, so she didn't really know what was going on.

"Hey I didn't mean to upset you, don't worry, you know Scotty, thats just his way, he'll be fine." Kevin said, the last thing he had wanted to do was upset her.

Maddy looked over at him, she didn't really feel like discussing Scott, they were close as they always were, and he didn't drink around her, he was always sweet as he could be to her. She didn't feel like dissecting her relationship with Scott. "I'm wide awake now, thanks to you, want to watch a movie or something?"

"Sure, but I'm starving." he said trying to look pitiful.

"Okay, go find a movie, and I'll whip you up something to eat." She said getting up.

Kevin bent and kissed her cheek. "Thanks doll."

"Yeah Yeah, get out of here." Maddy said shooing him away.

Kevin grinned and left the kitchen. Maddy just shook her head, she was glad he had stopped by, she missed Mark like crazy, it was getting a little lonely around here without him.

"Slow down Kev, you're going to choke." Maddy said laughing, her and Kevin were on the floor in front of her big Screen watching 'Message in a bottle'

Kevin grinned as he grabbed another one of her home made quesadilla. "Damn girl, I thought I was going to get a sandwich or something, these are good."

Maddy smiled. "I like having someone to cook for."

Kevin looked at her sitting next to him, she was so beautiful, he always tried to get past his attraction to her, but he just couldn't. "Tamara cant cook worth a shit."

"Hey thats the mother of your kid, be nice Kev." She said turning back to the movie.

"Sorry, I didn't mean it the way it sounded, but she cant, I eat fucking sandwiches and soup all the damn time."

Maddy laughed. "You don't look like you're starving there big guy." She said patting his belly.

"Hey you trying to say I've gained weight?" Kevin asked frowning.

"Yeah, but it looks cute Kev." Maddy said grinning.

"Well shit, the girl thinks I'm fat." He said shoving another quesadilla. In his mouth.

"Not fat,you just have a cute belly." She said giggling.

Kevin just laughed and shook his head. He grabbed a soda off the table and took a drink.

"So how long you in town?"

"A couple of days." He said sitting the soda down and laying back on the floor.

"You can stay here if you want." Maddy offered.

"Sure you don't mind?" He asked.

"Naw, its cool...You got a show tomorrow night?"

Kevin nodded. "Want to go to the beach tomorrow?"

Kevin tugged her down to lay against him. "I would love too."

"Great, I'll pack lunch, we'll make a day of it." Maddy said yawning.

"I've kept you up sweetheart, its after six in the morning, go get some sleep, we'll head to the beach around noon."

Maddy nodded, but made no move to get up. Kevin pulled her closer, damn but he missed this girl.

Kevin turned his head to look at her. "Maddy can I kiss you?"

Maddy smiled. "No, not the kind of kiss I think you mean?"

"Why because I'm married?" He asked pulling Maddy closer and running on big hand though her silky curls.

"No, I'm with Mark now..I wouldn't do that behind his back." Maddy said although she was enjoying laying in his arms, she didn't play games with Mark ever, he was the one person who she trusted and he trusted her.

"So if you wasn't with Mark, would you kiss me?" He asked looking in her eyes. "Yeah, I would." Maddy said.

Kevin lay back still holding her close.

Maddy lay a hand on his chest. "Kev, I still care about you, I always will...I still want you, that never stopped, there was a time in my life where I would have died before I would come on to a married man, but my high morals never got me nothing but heart ache, don't think too badly of me."

Kevin reached down and stroked her cheek. "Maddy I could never think badly of you."

Maddy got up and bent down pressing a kiss to his forehead. "I'm going to get a little sleep."

Kevin nodded and sat up watching her head upstairs, he was playing a dangerous game and he knew it, but damned if he could help himself, he wanted her, and time hadn't taken the edge off.

He was glad in a way she was with Mark, because if she had been willing, he would be making love to her right now.

Maddy and Kevin spent the better part of the afternoon at the beach, Kevin managed to put his baser intentions on the back burner and had a great time with Maddy, he kept in mind they had been friends before they had ever been lovers and that she was still the fun girl she had always been. Maddy packed them chicken and potato salad and chocolate cake for dessert.

They sat on a big beach blanket eating and Maddy looked over at Kevin. "Does Tamara know where you're at?"

"Yeah." He said picking up his soda to take a drink.

"And..."

"And nothing, she knows, I didn't lie, she knows we're friends." Kevin said.

"Uhh huh." She said. "But that doesn't mean she's cool with it."

"Maddy stop worrying, she's much to busy with Tristan to worry about very move I make." Kevin said.

"You have to leave after the show tonight?" She asked laying back on the blanket.

Kevin closed his eyes, damn but she looked hot spread before him with that little bikini on. "Uhh yeah."

"Too bad, I like having you around." She said smiling.

Kevin swore she was trying to make him nuts with her fine body. "I like being around, but got to head out to the next gig."

"I know..still, its great having you here." Maddy said sitting up.

"I'll be back to see you soon." Kevin said. Maddy just nodded. "let's get going, I have to get back and change and get the the arena."

Kevin helped her up and the gathered their things together. Maddy was not as unaffected as she appeared to be to Kevin, Mark had been gone awhile. He better get back to stake his claim soon or Maddy was going to take Kevin up on his offer real soon.

Self denial was no longer her bag and she didn't feel like going without sex. She sighed, Mark would be home soon and everything would be fine.

Maddy spent the next week working, hardly coming up for air, she turned her phone off and concentrated on getting her new game she was working on done, the company she had contracted to do the game for was wanting it time to market it by June, that meant she had to get it done and get the bugs worked out by January at the latest. By the time she had most of it finished she realized a week had past, she lost track of time when she was working. Maddy was taking a shower when she heard her phone ringing, she hadn't checked her voice mail yet. She got out and wrapped a towel around her.

"Hello." She said when she flipped open her phone.

"Where in the hell ya been all week?"

"Well hello to you too sunshine." Maddy said laughing and lay down on the bed.

"I was worried when ya didn't answer the phone, I'm in town now, can I come by."

Maddy frowned, was Mark crazy? She hadn't seen him in month and he had the house key. "Uhh Yeah, why would you even ask?"

Mark didn't answer and Maddy had the weird feeling again that something was up. "So when are you going to be here?"

"Half and hour or so." Mark said.

"Okay, see you then." She said and hung up.

Boy was he acting strange. Maddy pulled the towel off and pulled on a pair of cut offs and a tank top, she brushed out her long curls and went down stairs to grab a soda.

She went out the sliding doors and sat down on her deck, she felt so tired, working all week without much sleep and left her drained and she was starving, but she really didn't feel like cooking. Maybe her and Mark could go out and grab a bite.

Maddy was so tired she closed her eyes and before she knew it was sound asleep.

"Baby wake up."

Maddy slowly came awake to find Mark bent by the lounge chair shaking her gently. She smiled and reached wrapped her arms around hid neck hugging him. "I missed you."

Mark lifted her in his arms placing a kiss on her cheek. "I missed you to Maddy."

Mark sat down putting her on his lap. "I was worried cause you didn't answer your phone all week."

Maddy leaned on his chest, she always felt so at home in his arms. "I was working, you know how I get, single minded when I'm working."

"Next time call me and let me know, I was worried sick." He said his hand rubbing her back.

"You look exhausted, you okay?" Mark asked.

"Yeah, just a little tired, more tired than I thought, I must have passed out." She joked.

"Well you probably just need a good nights sleep."

"Hows the house, finished?" She asked.

He nodded. "yeah, all done its a beauty Maddy, you'll have to come down and see it."

Maddy knew that something was up with Mark, he had never walked back in her house from a long absence where he didn't have her naked and fucking her with in ten seconds of his arrival, asleep or not.

Last time, he had barely got the front door shut, before he had taken her against the nearest wall.

"So whats going on?" She asked.

Mark looked down at her. "What do you mean?"

"I've know you Mark, somethings different, for one thing, we're both fully clothed, what gives?" She asked.

Mark looked down at her and he bent his head kissing her lightly on the lips. "Maddy It finally happened."

Maddy was confused. "Umm what happened?" She asked

Mark took her hands in his. "I finally fell in love, I met the girl I'm going to marry."