May 2002
"Hunter!" Madison called as she ran down the hall. He was facing Chris Benoit for the IC belt in a matter of minutes. "Where the hell are you?"
"Hey Mad," Crash Holly said. "Whatcha doing?"
"Looking for my boyfriend," Madison sighed. "Have you seen him."
"Try the Team Xtreme dressing room," Crash said. "Tell him I said good luck."
"He says thanks," Madison said.
Madison hurried to the Hardys dressing room. He found Hunter in the room talking with Benoit and Jeff. "So it's a deal?" Hunter asked.
"Yeah sure," Chris said. "Not a problem."
"Great," Hunter said.
"Oh, hey Mad," Jeff said to his best friend. "Can you drag these two to the ring."
"Of course," Madison said, grabbing Hunter's hand and prodding Benoit out of the room. "What was that all about boys?"
"Nothing," they answered together.
"A surprise is it?" Madison asked. "Well, I can wait."
Benoit went out to the ring first. He walked to Lillian Garcia and whispered something to her. She smiled and nodded.
"Good luck honey," Madison said, as she lightly kissed him on the lips.
"I have a feeling I won't need it," Hunter said confidently. Suddenly Madison's music began to play.
"What the hell?" Madison asked.
"Making her way to the ring, accompanied by Triple H," Lillian Garcia announced, "Madison Reynault."
"Hunter?" Madison asked.
"Didn't you want a chance at the IC?" Hunter asked.
"Yes," Madison said. A smiled dawned on her face. "This is what you were talking about."
"Yeah," Hunter said. "Lets go. You can kick his ass."
Madison ran to the ring and slid into it under the ropes. She went to shake Benoit's hand. "Thanks Chris," she said.
"Thank your boyfriend," Chris said. "He was very convinced you deserved a chance."
Madison flashed a radiant smile to Hunter. He felt his heart swell with affection and pride.
The match began and Benoit took the early advantage. Madison was nearly overcome by his strength and precision. He went up to the turnbuckle for a head-butt and Madison managed to roll away just in time. She began her offensive and finished Benoit off with a moonsault. She barely heard the ref pounding the mat or Lillian announcing her as the winner.
Hunter slid into the ring and picked her up and twirled her around. "You were great!" he exclaimed. "I'm so proud of you sweetie."
He set her down and Madison went over to help Benoit up. "You okay?" she asked.
He smiled at her. "It was better than losing to Hunter."
"Thanks!" Madison said. "Anytime you want a rematch, let me know."
"Will do," Chris said, shaking her hand.
"Hunter!" Madison exclaimed when they finally got backstage. She hugged her belt to herself as she said, "I don't believe that just happened."
"It did sweetie," Hunter said. He pulled her close and kissed her gently. "You were, are, perfect."
"You are too," Madison said, grinning up at him.
"Go get showered," Hunter said. "I don't want you to stink when I take you out to celebrate."
"Okay," Madison said. She kissed him again before she ran to go get cleaned up.
Hunter smiled after her. "Hey!" Stephanie exclaimed from behind him. "That was great. Where is Mad?"
"Getting cleaned up," Hunter answered. "Hey Steph, hey Chris."
"She didn't tell us she would actually be the one going after the belt," Jericho said.
"That's because she didn't know," Hunter said. "I set it up with Benoit."
"Why?" Stephanie asked.
"Because it's what she would have gotten if she had beat me at Wrestlemania," Hunter replied.
"Wow," Stephanie said. "Well, tell her we said congratulations."
"Will do," Hunter said.
"That is so unlike him," Stephanie whispered, as they walked away. "He never would have given up a chance to win any belt for me."
"Maybe he's changed," Jericho said.
"I think it's obvious that he has," Stephanie replied.
"He better not hurt her," Jericho said. "There's a lot of people who would kill him for that."
"I hope she doesn't hurt him," Stephanie said.
"Madison!" Coachman asked when she walked out of her dressing room. "How does it feel to be the Intercontinental Champion?"
"It feels great," Madison said, grinning.
"How did you convince Benoit to give you a chance?" Coachman asked.
"I didn't," Madison said, smiling softly, "Hunter did."
"Helmsley?" Test asked as he walked by. He waited until she was done with her interview and he went to hug her.
"How is my favorite bodyguard?" Madison asked.
"Don't you mean former bodyguard?" Test asked. "I mean since Dallas got married and you decided to get involved with HHH, I'm pretty much useless to you."
"You okay?" Madison asked. "We're still friends, right?"
"Of course," Test said. He hugged her again as he said, "You looked great out there. I don't think we've ever had a prettier IC champion."
"Thanks," Madison said, grinning up at Test.
Hunter saw the exchange from afar and he felt his blood pressure begin to rise. He walked quickly down the hall. "You ready to go?" he asked Madison coldly.
She turned and smiled brightly. "Anytime you are."
"Dallas and Jeff want to come," Hunter said. "Later Test."
"Bye," Test said. Madison seemed to ignore Hunter's obvious display of jealousy.
"See ya!" Madison exclaimed, as Hunter pulled her down the hall.
"Dallas!" Jeff called, "If you don't get out of that bathroom now, I'll come in there and pull you out. Or I'll leave you."
Dallas walked out of the bathroom in a daze. Her face looked pale.
"Come on!" Madison called from the hall. When she saw her sister, her face fell. "What's wrong Dallas?"
"What?" Dallas asked. "Oh nothing. Congratulations!"
"Thanks," Madison said.
They went to dinner together and then went club-hopping for a few hours. Madison was dancing with Jeff when she asked him, "Is Dallas feeling okay?"
"I think she has the flu and she refuses to tell anyone," Jeff said. "You know how she is."
"Yeah," Madison said, her brow furrowing in concern.
"She will be fine," Jeff said. "It's your night. Enjoy it."
Hunter walked a rather tipsy Madison to her hotel room at around one in the morning. He unlocked her door and sat her in a chair. She had been giggling the whole way, but as soon as she hit the chair, she quieted.
"What?" Hunter asked.
"Just a minute," Madison said. "I'm going to go splash some water on my face. What here."
Hunter sat on the chair as he waited for her. What the hell was wrong with her? She had gotten a serious look on her face for no reason he could think of.
"Hunter?" Madison asked softly as she walked out of her bathroom. She had taken off her shoes and she was taking off her jacket.
"Yeah babe?" Hunter asked, staying in the chair.
"Thank you for letting me have the chance tonight," Madison said. "It's the sweetest thing anyone has ever done for me."
"It was no big deal sweetheart," Hunter said. "I had better get going."
Hunter was nearly to the door when Madison grabbed his arm with both of her hands. "Wait," Madison said.
"What?" Hunter said.
Madison stood on her tiptoes and gently kissed him. "It's time sweetie."
"Time?" Hunter asked.
"I'm ready," Madison said.
"Your drunk," Hunter said.
"I'm tipsy," Madison corrected. "But I am still ready. I had decided before we went out tonight. This relationship is obviously very important to both of us."
"Of course it is," Hunter said.
"And I want to make love with you," Madison said.
"You're sure?" Hunter asked.
"I'm positive," Madison said.
"Madison, I-" Hunter said.
"Don't say it," Madison said, kissing him. "I'm not ready for that yet. I've heard that too many times, and too many times it hasn't been the truth."
"Okay," Hunter said. "How about you are the most important person in my life and together, we are magic?"
"Magic," Madison agreed.
"Hunter!" Madison called as she ran down the hall. He was facing Chris Benoit for the IC belt in a matter of minutes. "Where the hell are you?"
"Hey Mad," Crash Holly said. "Whatcha doing?"
"Looking for my boyfriend," Madison sighed. "Have you seen him."
"Try the Team Xtreme dressing room," Crash said. "Tell him I said good luck."
"He says thanks," Madison said.
Madison hurried to the Hardys dressing room. He found Hunter in the room talking with Benoit and Jeff. "So it's a deal?" Hunter asked.
"Yeah sure," Chris said. "Not a problem."
"Great," Hunter said.
"Oh, hey Mad," Jeff said to his best friend. "Can you drag these two to the ring."
"Of course," Madison said, grabbing Hunter's hand and prodding Benoit out of the room. "What was that all about boys?"
"Nothing," they answered together.
"A surprise is it?" Madison asked. "Well, I can wait."
Benoit went out to the ring first. He walked to Lillian Garcia and whispered something to her. She smiled and nodded.
"Good luck honey," Madison said, as she lightly kissed him on the lips.
"I have a feeling I won't need it," Hunter said confidently. Suddenly Madison's music began to play.
"What the hell?" Madison asked.
"Making her way to the ring, accompanied by Triple H," Lillian Garcia announced, "Madison Reynault."
"Hunter?" Madison asked.
"Didn't you want a chance at the IC?" Hunter asked.
"Yes," Madison said. A smiled dawned on her face. "This is what you were talking about."
"Yeah," Hunter said. "Lets go. You can kick his ass."
Madison ran to the ring and slid into it under the ropes. She went to shake Benoit's hand. "Thanks Chris," she said.
"Thank your boyfriend," Chris said. "He was very convinced you deserved a chance."
Madison flashed a radiant smile to Hunter. He felt his heart swell with affection and pride.
The match began and Benoit took the early advantage. Madison was nearly overcome by his strength and precision. He went up to the turnbuckle for a head-butt and Madison managed to roll away just in time. She began her offensive and finished Benoit off with a moonsault. She barely heard the ref pounding the mat or Lillian announcing her as the winner.
Hunter slid into the ring and picked her up and twirled her around. "You were great!" he exclaimed. "I'm so proud of you sweetie."
He set her down and Madison went over to help Benoit up. "You okay?" she asked.
He smiled at her. "It was better than losing to Hunter."
"Thanks!" Madison said. "Anytime you want a rematch, let me know."
"Will do," Chris said, shaking her hand.
"Hunter!" Madison exclaimed when they finally got backstage. She hugged her belt to herself as she said, "I don't believe that just happened."
"It did sweetie," Hunter said. He pulled her close and kissed her gently. "You were, are, perfect."
"You are too," Madison said, grinning up at him.
"Go get showered," Hunter said. "I don't want you to stink when I take you out to celebrate."
"Okay," Madison said. She kissed him again before she ran to go get cleaned up.
Hunter smiled after her. "Hey!" Stephanie exclaimed from behind him. "That was great. Where is Mad?"
"Getting cleaned up," Hunter answered. "Hey Steph, hey Chris."
"She didn't tell us she would actually be the one going after the belt," Jericho said.
"That's because she didn't know," Hunter said. "I set it up with Benoit."
"Why?" Stephanie asked.
"Because it's what she would have gotten if she had beat me at Wrestlemania," Hunter replied.
"Wow," Stephanie said. "Well, tell her we said congratulations."
"Will do," Hunter said.
"That is so unlike him," Stephanie whispered, as they walked away. "He never would have given up a chance to win any belt for me."
"Maybe he's changed," Jericho said.
"I think it's obvious that he has," Stephanie replied.
"He better not hurt her," Jericho said. "There's a lot of people who would kill him for that."
"I hope she doesn't hurt him," Stephanie said.
"Madison!" Coachman asked when she walked out of her dressing room. "How does it feel to be the Intercontinental Champion?"
"It feels great," Madison said, grinning.
"How did you convince Benoit to give you a chance?" Coachman asked.
"I didn't," Madison said, smiling softly, "Hunter did."
"Helmsley?" Test asked as he walked by. He waited until she was done with her interview and he went to hug her.
"How is my favorite bodyguard?" Madison asked.
"Don't you mean former bodyguard?" Test asked. "I mean since Dallas got married and you decided to get involved with HHH, I'm pretty much useless to you."
"You okay?" Madison asked. "We're still friends, right?"
"Of course," Test said. He hugged her again as he said, "You looked great out there. I don't think we've ever had a prettier IC champion."
"Thanks," Madison said, grinning up at Test.
Hunter saw the exchange from afar and he felt his blood pressure begin to rise. He walked quickly down the hall. "You ready to go?" he asked Madison coldly.
She turned and smiled brightly. "Anytime you are."
"Dallas and Jeff want to come," Hunter said. "Later Test."
"Bye," Test said. Madison seemed to ignore Hunter's obvious display of jealousy.
"See ya!" Madison exclaimed, as Hunter pulled her down the hall.
"Dallas!" Jeff called, "If you don't get out of that bathroom now, I'll come in there and pull you out. Or I'll leave you."
Dallas walked out of the bathroom in a daze. Her face looked pale.
"Come on!" Madison called from the hall. When she saw her sister, her face fell. "What's wrong Dallas?"
"What?" Dallas asked. "Oh nothing. Congratulations!"
"Thanks," Madison said.
They went to dinner together and then went club-hopping for a few hours. Madison was dancing with Jeff when she asked him, "Is Dallas feeling okay?"
"I think she has the flu and she refuses to tell anyone," Jeff said. "You know how she is."
"Yeah," Madison said, her brow furrowing in concern.
"She will be fine," Jeff said. "It's your night. Enjoy it."
Hunter walked a rather tipsy Madison to her hotel room at around one in the morning. He unlocked her door and sat her in a chair. She had been giggling the whole way, but as soon as she hit the chair, she quieted.
"What?" Hunter asked.
"Just a minute," Madison said. "I'm going to go splash some water on my face. What here."
Hunter sat on the chair as he waited for her. What the hell was wrong with her? She had gotten a serious look on her face for no reason he could think of.
"Hunter?" Madison asked softly as she walked out of her bathroom. She had taken off her shoes and she was taking off her jacket.
"Yeah babe?" Hunter asked, staying in the chair.
"Thank you for letting me have the chance tonight," Madison said. "It's the sweetest thing anyone has ever done for me."
"It was no big deal sweetheart," Hunter said. "I had better get going."
Hunter was nearly to the door when Madison grabbed his arm with both of her hands. "Wait," Madison said.
"What?" Hunter said.
Madison stood on her tiptoes and gently kissed him. "It's time sweetie."
"Time?" Hunter asked.
"I'm ready," Madison said.
"Your drunk," Hunter said.
"I'm tipsy," Madison corrected. "But I am still ready. I had decided before we went out tonight. This relationship is obviously very important to both of us."
"Of course it is," Hunter said.
"And I want to make love with you," Madison said.
"You're sure?" Hunter asked.
"I'm positive," Madison said.
"Madison, I-" Hunter said.
"Don't say it," Madison said, kissing him. "I'm not ready for that yet. I've heard that too many times, and too many times it hasn't been the truth."
"Okay," Hunter said. "How about you are the most important person in my life and together, we are magic?"
"Magic," Madison agreed.
