Shelby was having the best time. She had fixed dinner for everyone. They had sat around talking joking and laughing all evening. Shelby had missed her fiends so bad. Taker had built a roaring fire; the weather was starting to get cold out. Taker and Brock sat on the couch and the girls were sitting on the floor between their legs. Taker looked down at Shelby as she was telling Trish about her job and some of her students. She was leaned back against one of his legs while she rested her hand on his knee. Taker twirled her hair with his hand, every once in a while he would rub her neck or caress her check with is hand. Brock as Trish smiled as they watched the two of them. The whole scene was so domestic; they were so comfortable with each other. "So are you coming to the arena with us tomorrow?" Trish asked. Shelby didn't say anything for a minute. Taker caressed her head as if comfort her. "Yea I think I will." She said. "Great everyone misses you, they will be glad to see you." Trish said. "I think it's time for bed, I'm beat." Brock said. "Me too." Trish said standing up. Trish gave Shelby a hug. "Good night." Shelby said. Brock leaned over and gave her a kiss. "Don't stay up too late flirting." He whispered in her ear. Shelby blushed. "Nite Brock." She said. Shelby laid her head on Taker's leg and stared at the fire. Taker gently rubbed her back. "I guess we should get you tucked in too darlin. You're about to pass out on me." Taker said. "I don't feel like moving." She said sleepily. Taker stood up and picked her up in his arms. "I guess I'll have to carry you then." He said. She just smiled and laid her head against him. Taker carried her upstairs and took her to her bedroom and set her on the bed. "Now get undressed and get to bed. I'll see ya in the morning." He said turning to go. "Good night." Shelby said. "Nite darlin." Taker said and shut the door. Shelby pulled off her clothes and put on her flannel pajamas, it was cold tonight and she wanted to stay warm. She brushed out her hair and braided it in two braids so it wouldn't get tangled. She climbed in the bed ready to go to sleep but she tossed and turned. She couldn't get comfortable. She sighed. It was going to be a long night.
Shelby had tossed and turned for an hour and was getting frustrated and grumpy. She just couldn't sleep in this bed. She made up her mind. She would go slip in with Mark he was probably asleep and wouldn't even notice. She got up and went across the hall and eased his door open. Damn he was still awake. He was sitting up in the bed watching TV. Luckily he had sweats on and wasn't naked Shelby thought in relief. "Little girl what ya still doing up? I know you're tired. Am I going to have to tuck you in myself?" he asked. Shelby didn't say anything. He sounded annoyed with her. She felt tears prick her eyes. She was tired and sleepy and she wanted to sleep in her bed. Well Taker's bed. But hell she had been sleeping in it for two months it felt like hers. Taker stood up and walked over to her. "Well answer me girl. Do I need to swat your bottom to get ya to bed?" he asked lifting her chin up so he could look at her. He saw the tears starting to run down her cheeks. "Hey now. Don't get all sensitive on me. Where's the little girl who sticks out her tongue at me and tells me she aint scared of me?" He asked. She ran the back of her hand across he cheeks to wipe away the tears. Taker grinned she was completely adorable. "I can't sleep in there. I want to sleep in my bed." She said. "Well darlin you should have said something in the first place." Taker said. He took her hand and led her over to the bed and pulled back the covers. "Climb in." He said. She got in the bed and Taker pulled the covers over her. He went around to the other side and climbed in. He turned off the TV and Tugged at her braid. She turned over to face him. "Darlin if you're bunking with me. I got a few rules. No hogging the cover. I can get real nasty about that. No cold feet on my back in the middle of the night, that one will get ya kicked out of bed for sure." He said. Shelby had started giggling. "Oh ya think its funny do ya?" he asked. "Umm no I'm Taking you serious." She said still giggling. " The most important rule is this." He said and pulled her next to him. Shelby laid her head on his chest and wrapped her arm around his waist. He in turn wrapped his big arms around her. "Ya got to sleep cuddled up to me." He said. "Think ya can follow the rules?" he asked "yes." She said already starting to drift off. "Mark?" she asked in a sleepy voice. "Yea?" he asked. "You didn't give me a kiss goodnight." She said. "I didn't did I how rude of me." He said with a chuckle. He lifted her chin and planted a gentle kiss on her lips. Shelby jumped she felt like a bolt of lighting had just charged her body. Taker was feeling the same way. He had kissed plenty of women in his time, but hell if he ever felt anything like that. "Wow." Shelby said already half asleep. "I'll second that." Taker said. He watched her sleep for a while before he drifted off himself wondering just what kind of magic was going on between them.
Taker and Shelby didn't mention the kiss the next day. Shelby decided it had been her sleepy mind playing tricks on her. Taker didn't know what to think. At noon they all left for the arena. Shelby was kind of nervous. She was pretty sure she would run into Jeff sooner or later and she wasn't sure how she would handle it.
Shelby and Trish split from the guys and went to see some of the tech guys that Shelby had worked with. They all told Shelby they missed her and would be glad when she got back. Shelby decided to visit Vince and she told him she might be ready to come back sooner than 6 months. He was thrilled and told her to call him when she felt she was ready. She headed to Trish's dressing room, she had told Trish she would meet her there when she was done. "Hey Shelby." Shelby looked up and Jeff was standing against the wall. "You look great." He said. Shelby just stood their waiting for the old feelings to hit her.