I walked backwards gripping onto the table by the door to stop myself from falling in shock. I kept trying to wake myself from the obvious nitemare I was having. I just couldn't fathom the idea that this was real, that they were standing in front of me. I would have given anything for them to disappear into the dreamland, even if it meant that Jeff wasn't really there.

"What are you doing here?!" I exclaimed, finally starting to grip onto reality.

"Aren't we allowed to come see our daughter? Especially after she leaves us a quick message about getting married to God only knows who? Probably one of the men that beats her on a daily bases?" my mother asked as I heard Jeff move around upstairs.

"I left that message to prove to you people that I'm better without you! Not for you come hunt me down again!" I yelled. "How'd you find me?"

"Looked up your schedule online. When I saw you had no shows this weekend I figured you'd be here," she smiled.

"How'd you find the house?" I asked.

"Asked some of the local people where you lived and they said here," she answered. "So who is it, huh? I mean he must be here with you. We've obviously interrupted something."

"Baby, who's at the door?" Jeff smiled walking down the stairs in a pair of sweats. He looked from my panic stricken face to the door and ran to my side. "What the hell is going on?!"

"So you must be the one marrying her, huh?" she asked as the two of them stepped into the house. "I see how it works. You help her stupid ass out. She falls in love with you. And then out of pity, you ask her to marry you."

"That's NOT what happened. I love her more than anything. And as for her being stupid?" he paused with a laugh. "I think she's very intelligent. Clearly she was smart enough to leave you people."

"Well, I don't agree with this marriage," she said.

"If we wanted your blessings we would have asked for them!" I yelled holding Jeff's hand tightly.

"That's not why you called informing us about this?!" she laughed.

"If it was, I would have left a number!" I argued.

"Case, calm down baby," Jeff said softly as he faced me and ran his hand down my cheek. I nodded and he kissed my forehead.

"Shane Helms, right?" my mother asked.

"Shane Helms?" Jeff and I repeated in question.

"That's you, right? I mean you're the one that's been with her since the beginning of this whole running away fiasco?" she asked.

"No, Shane was my ex. This is Jeff Hardy. Shane and I haven't bee together for almost a year now," I replied angrily.

"So you're pregnant then," she smiled.

My eyes grew wide as I resisted the urge to kick my mother's ass. "I most certainly am not!" I screamed.

"Well, there's got to be a reason for you getting married to this freak show!" she exclaimed.

"Get out!" I screamed pointing to the door. "Get out of my house!"

"More importantly get out of her life!" Jeff ordered. They shook their heads, but left without another word. The second the door clicked shut, I collapsed into Jeff's arms. "Are you alright babe?" he asked holding me close.

"I called them. But I didn't think they'd ever show up here," I said softly.

"I know, but they're gone now. We'll never have to see them again," Jeff said as we slowly walked up to our bedroom. We laid down holding each other and fell asleep.

**********

"Just get me a pop tart," I yawned tiredly.

Shane nodded at me and ran off to the convenience store. We had gotten up earlier than normal because a major storm was hitting Texas, and hitting hard. Our flight had been cancelled, but we still need to make it to the show for the next nite. I rode to the airport with Jeff and saw him off before Shane and I rented a car. We were in some state, I had slept most of the way, and there was no way in hell we'd make the house show that nite, considering it was already 3 in the afternoon. Shane got into the Ford Focus and threw my pop tart, strawberry, and a bottle of chocolate milk at me.

"I knew you'd want something to drink," he smiled answering the question in my head.

"Thanks," I said breaking off a piece of the pop tart.

"I called Shane. He said he'd fix the card and not to worry about the show tonite. He said the storm had damaged a lot, but was pretty much over and moving," Shane said answering my next question.

"How the hell are you getting in my head?!" I exclaimed.

He laughed at me as he turned back onto the interstate. "Don't you think I should know you well enough to know at least some of your thoughts by now?" he asked.

"I suppose you're entitled to do that every once in awhile. But let me know when you are sneaking in there. So I can clear my mind," I said.

"Gees, I don't really think you have to worry about clearing your mind."

"Why's that?"

"Because it's clear of everything most of the time," he joked. I hit his shoulder and sulked in my seat. "Love you Angel."

"Yeah, yeah, yeah," I said trying not to smile.

"So, you never did finish telling me about your weekend," he yawned.

"Oh that's right, I fell asleep. Well, Jeff came home, we did some wedding planning, my parents showed up, we had dinner with Amy, Matt, Shannon, and Crystal," I paused.

"Whoa! Wait, back up there! Your parents showed up?!" he exclaimed glancing over at me as I nodded. "At the house?!" I nodded again. "What?!"

"Yeah, out of stupidity I left a message on the answering machine telling them that I was engaged. And that was it. I didn't say to who, when, where, or any of that. I didn't leave a number or address. They decided to take it upon themselves to show up," I sighed.

"So what happened with them there?" he asked.

"Well, we got into a little tiff and Jeff and I threw them out. No biggie really. Went a hell of a lot smoother than any of the other altercations with them went," I shrugged.

"I'm glad everything worked out alright. Good thing Jeff was there," he said.

"Yeah, I know. Other wise I probably wouldn't be sitting here right now," I laughed. He looked at me sternly and shook his head.

"Don't even joke about that," he said softly.

"Um, enough with my weekend. Um, did Shane say where the storm was moving to?" I asked looking out the window.

"No, but I'd assume it'd be gone by the time we get there tomorrow. We're probably gonna have to stay the nite in Mississippi," Shane replied. I nodded at him in agreement and went to change the fuzzing out station on the radio just as he did the same.

"If you seem to be able to read my mind, shouldn't you have known I was going for the radio?" I asked with a smile as I turned to look at him.

"Minor interference in my Sugar powers," he smiled at me.

"Sugar powers?"

"Yeah, ya know, instead of hurri-powers.

"Oh my God. You need mental help."

"If I need mental help, then what do you need?" He glanced over at me and I squinted in thought before we answered together, "Mental help." We broke out laughing and continued the drive.

**********

I tapped my foot as I waited for one of the slow techs to finish making his coffee at the table in the hall. I was all dressed for my match that nite, wearing a pair of silver UFO pants and a ripped up black wife- beater with a white one under it. My hair was pulled up into a ponytail and I had one of my long sleeved Mystic Angel shirts tied around my waist. The tech smiled at me and nodded before walking away. I gave him a sarcastic smirk as I watched walk away and muttered, "About damn time." I turned towards the table and it was now being blocked by a large 6'6", 275 lbs man. I crossed my arms and growled.

"Oh, Angel, I'm glad you're here," he spoke with a sinister grin. "I wanted to speak to you."

"That's great, now that you have, kindly move your ass so I can get some coffee," I smiled sarcastically at him. He moved aside and I went to pour the coffee into my mug, but nothing came out. He had taken the last of it. I slammed everything down and stared at him. "Okay, now that you've taken the last of the coffee, I'm gonna kick your ass!"

"Sorry about that. Should have gotten to it faster," he replied. I let out a low growl and he chuckled. "But anyways, I just wanted to say that I'm glad you've taken up my offer to be my manager."

"Whoa, hold up there Satan," I said. He laughed some more and I continued, "I did not agree to be your manager! Where the hell would you get that crazy idea?"

"Well, you are walking out with me tonite for my match against Kurt Angle and Victoria," he replied.

"Have you been sitting in that fiery pit called hell for too long so that it's fried your brain or what?! I am not your manager or your valet. I am your tag team partner for the nite. Get that through your thick skull!" I exclaimed as I rolled my eyes and walked off.

"I'll see you for my match!" he called after me.

"Who the hell does that Sean O'Haire think he is anyways?!" I said shuffling my feet as I moved down the hall. I stopped dead in my tracks as I saw Victoria and Kurt walking towards me. I knew this couldn't be good.

"Mystic Angel, just the girl we were looking for," Kurt smiled as the ever psychotic Victoria rubbed her hands together. As for Kurt's hands, they were behind his back.

I placed my hands on my hips and took a deep breath, this was going to be a long nite. "What do you two want?" I asked.

"We just wanted to wish you luck in the match tonite. It's not going to be an easy one as I'm sure you know," Kurt said continuing that smile.

"Thanks, but I don't need luck, especially when it's coming from you!" I said trying to push my way past but Victoria shoved me back.

"Well, then we'll just have to wish, your partner, no Sean O'Haire, good luck tonite. Because he's going to be needing it!" Kurt exclaimed as he nailed me in the stomach with a steel pipe. I fell to the ground and Victoria began kicking me in the stomach. "Oh it's true. It's damn true!"

"Well King looks like Angel will not be joining Sean O'Haire tonite in their tag match as planned. It just may very will be a handicap match," JR said.

"Even hurt she's angelic looking," King swooned.

"King, the girl was just hit with a steel pipe! I'm sure there's more to be concerned about here than how she looks! Like bruised or worse, broken ribs for instance!" JR said. "We'll be right back after this."

Kurt pulled me to my feet and I dusted myself off. I thanked him and walked off to the trainers so they could tape my ribs up. Adam was in there getting his eye looked at. I smiled at him although he couldn't quite see me.

"What happened?" I asked as Nick took scissors to my shirt, cutting the lower half of it off so the tapping around the ribs would show.

"Brock nailed me in the eye with his finger by accident," Adam answered. "Everything's blurry out of that eye."

"Are you sure it was by accident?" I laughed remembering how Adam had knocked Brock below the belt one night during a house show by accident. "Maybe it's pay back."

"If it's pay back for that, I'll be payin him back again," Adam smiled at me. He blinked his eye a couple time and squeezed them tightly.

"Getting any sight back?" Georgia, one of the new trainers, asked.

"Yeah, it's coming back slowly," Adam said jumping off the table. "Thanks."

"No problem Adam. Come back anytime. Well, don't, but do, um, never mind," she said rolling her eyes at herself.

"I'll be sure to come to you again if anything bad happens to me," he laughed.

"Please do!" she smiled. He whipped his head around at her and shook it. "Never mind."

"Good luck kiddo," Adam said walking out of the room as I waved to him.

"How's that feel? Too tight, too lose?" Nick asked patting the end of the tape down. I moved around a bit and smiled.

"Perfecto Nicky Boy," I said. I jumped off the table. "Thanks man!" I walked out and towards the gorilla position before the match began.

"The following match has been changed to a handicap match. Entering the ring first, weighing in at 275 lbs. From Hilton head South Carolina, he's the WWE Intercontinental Champion. SEAN O' HAIRE!" Sean slid into the ring and threw his coat off to the side. "On his way to the ring, weighing in at 235 lbs, from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. KURT ANGLE! And his partner from San Bernardino. VICTORIA!" They attacked Sean instantly but he got the upper hand once the ref straightened them out and Kurt stood waiting for a tag from Victoria. I stood watching the monitor in the back, waiting for them to cue me in. Sean was in the Ankle Lock as Victoria laid outside the ring from a large clothesline from Sean. I ran down the ramp with a steel pipe in my hands, the crowd popped like crazy, and slid into the ring, grabbing at my ribs every once in awhile.

"What the hell is Angel doing out here?! Her ribs are severely bruised! She was supposed to go back to her hotel!" JR yelled as I hit Kurt across the back with the pipe. The ref called for the bell, giving Kurt and Victoria the win from DQ. I continued to hit Kurt in the back while Sean recovered.

"Hit me with a steel pipe will you?! Damn son of a bitch! You should know that a few bruised ribs won't keep this Angel down!" I screamed hitting him over and over again. Victoria got back in the ring but was stopped by Sean. The ref picked me up from behind, allowing Kurt to roll out of the ring along with Victoria. They ran up the ramp as Sean and I stood in the middle of the ring. Sean gave that sinister grin of his as I gave off a small smile. He put his arm around my waist gently as I grabbed my stomach, pretending to be in pain. "What kind of hell will break out on Thursday nite Smackdown!? We'll have to see where this heaven and hell partnership goes on Smackdown!"

The show ended and Sean and I walked up the ramp together. Once back stage I said good bye to Sean and ripped off the tape around my stomach as I walked towards the Diva's locker room. I quickly grabbed my stuff and met Shane at the car, only being stopped by a couple fans.

"Am I good sex?" Shane blurted out on the car ride to the airport. I swung my head around and looked at him in shock.

"WHAT?!" I exclaimed.

"Am I good in bed? Did you like having sex with me?" he asked.

"Why the hell are you asking me this?" I asked.

"Just curious."

"Well, um, yeah, I enjoyed it," I said knowing fully well that my face was turning red from embarrassment.

"Really? Do you have any complaints about it?"

"None that I can think of."

"Okay, thank you."

"Why?"

"Well, alright. I um, slept with a um, well, with a girl, um, that I met last Monday nite after the show," he said nervously.

"Oh, a ring rat," I said softly.

"Yeah, unfortunately. But anyways, she complained. Like she said that she's had better. And I was just wondering if you felt the same."

"No, Shane, I don't. Like you say, you're sugar. You melt in the mouth," I smiled. He blushed as he laughed at my comment.

"Thanks Angel. I knew I could count on you to bring my spirits up." He held my hand tightly in his.

"Shane, I don't know if you should really be sleeping with these girls. I mean you know nothing about them. What if, what if they're dirty, ya know?" I asked.

"A risk I guess I'm willing to take. Casey, you don't know what it's like to be alone at nite. To wish you had that person with you. I need certain needs fulfilled. Especially when the girl I'm fantasizing about is in the next room," he replied.

"Oh. I see," I said feeling almost ashamed.

"I mean it's not your fault. It's mine. I just can't get over you like I should. I know I have to, but it's hard."

"I'm sorry."

"No, I'm sorry. I said we shouldn't be going back into the past and here I am dipping into our past."

"You're just saying what you feel. Friends should be able to say this stuff to each other, right?"

"I don't know. I'm not friends with a lot of my exes."

"It's like curse of the ex, right?" I laughed.

"Something like that," he laughed with me. "I love you Angel."

"I know. I love you too Sugar."

******************

A/N: So there you have it! The people at the door were her parents! If you got that right, you are now the proud owner of..........well, nothing. Sorry. Lol Just be happy you were right. lol Alright, so now that this chapter is done, I'm gonna go decide on my tattoo. I can't decide if I want a dragon, which I do, but I'm having trouble deciding on the dragon I want. Or an Amy Brown fairy. She's my new obsession. She's an excellent artist. If you're a Hot Topic fan you probably know who I'm talking about. Yeah, so I either wanna get Raven or Blue Fairy, I think that's what she's called, for a tattoo. Hmmm, decisions, decisions. But anyways, I'm gonna give ya'll a heads up and timeline for the month. I'm gonna try to get a Connection chapter and Without You chapter out every week this month. But on August 22, God help me, I'm going to NY to visit my grandmother from hell for the weekend. So I won't be writing for three days. Then on the 30th, I'm going to Kentucky for the week. I plan on writing on the plane. But that's it. So I'll be gone for a week there. I'll be back on September 6th. So, um, I think that's it. So, LATA!!