Title: Together We Cry
Disclaimer: The only thing of worth I own is my computer. Title inspired by Under the Bridge by RHCP
Rating: PG-13 at times for language, and at times for implied situations, later on maybe R for situations.
Spoilers: None that I know of, follows along with current schedules (but extends the Monterrey trip..)
Pairings: Trish/Christian, Dawn/Lance, Molly/?, Lita/?,
Summary: Post RAW Celebration, and one attempted goodbye. Switching off between narrator and 1st Person (Amy's) view points.
Notes: All previous notes apply and the following: I have the general framework, a good idea of what will happen..just a matter of working in all the nitty gritty details.

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10:15 p.m. Magic Stick

When they realized that since college was still in session..anywhere in Ann Arbor was out of the question. Not that they minded too much, since they could usually get the cheapest drinks at the college places..but still. They needed a place to appease mostly everyone. And given the group that was assembled..it would have to be a fairly nuetral place. Since both RAW and SmackDown were at the RAW show that evening, it was a fairly balanced crowd that toasted the night. Well really, it almost looked like a mini-ECW reunion, but that's not the point. After they had claimed 1/4 of the parking lot, they took over one wall along the bar. Scattered amongst the chairs (and some sitting on others) were Lance, Dawn, Nidia, Trish, Jay, Adam, Andrew, Nora (or Noreen alias Molly Holly), Chris Irvine, Chris Benoit, Terry(Manbeast/Rhyno), Devon, Mark, Matthew(Spike), Pete(Tazz), James(Little Guido..er, Nunzio), Michael(Stevie), Lisa Marie, Rob and Amy. For an alternative (and if they really wanted some good laughs) there was a bowling alley down the block. Since they did intend on getting slightly hammered..after all some must wrestle on SmackDown, they assigned one designated driver per car..at least. And with no karaoke machine in sight, but plenty of pool tables and a nice dance floor, they were set. After several pitchers of beer and other drinks were procurred, Amy started the evening's celebrations.

***********

(From Amy's POV)

I'm twitching in my seat by now. We've been here for forty five minutes, well really only 15 but it sure feels longer. Does it really take that long to get a few pitchers of beer and some simple mixed drinks ready? If the service here could be any slower..I swear, I'm about ready to don one of those little black aprons and steal a tray. And I know I'm not the only one getting anxious for the much needed booze. Oh, oh wait..here they are. I look around, scanning the faces..noting here and there that I'm really not the only one trying to mask some sort of pain. But, they won't be able to drown their sorrows just yet. I wait until they start pouring their drinks, that gives me the perfect opportunity to grab two pitchers and two cups from the pile. I'm nudging and kicking shins right now. You try to keep some of these maroons in line. When I'm sure I have their attention, I set them up for my toast. After I've cleared my throat, I send a look straight down to Lance, and with a smirk.
"If I can be serious for a moment"
Now that I have everyone's full attention, I fill the two cups in front of me..half full.
"This first cup is for Paul Heyman..for bringing some of us together in the first place."
I roll my eyes, ignoring the confused looks from some of them. Granted yes, while Paul may not have been the best business man, he did one hell of a job. "I'm no expert, but I feel..had it not been for that, some of you wouldn't be as close." Now they fully understand what I mean. Dawn, Lance, Devon, Mark, Matthew,..Should I go on? I didn't think so either.
. "This second cup is for good ole' Vince..for bringing all of us together."
And this pitcher" I gesture to the half full pitcher in front of me..I'm pretty sure they expect me to go all sappy on them. "Is for those who aren't here."
Now, I know they expect me to either be sappy or stand and deliver with usual wit. So, I won't disappoint. With a wry smirk, I gesture to the full pitcher. "And this last one..is for the sorry sap who has to manage y'all on SmackDown." With a sincere smile on, I lift my glass to everyone.

A round of nods, hearty chuckles and 'hurt' looks filtered through them before they all started in on the first round of drinks. And let me tell you, the way some of 'em are pounding back cups..we should just buy a damn keg. By the time the last of the first pitchers was drained and another round ordered, we dispersed either at the tables, the pool tables or out on the dance floor. At one of the pool tables; Devon, Mark, Michael and Peter are having a small war trying to rack the balls. I'm biting my lip, this truly is a sight to see. Dawn has managed to drag Lance out on the dance floor and sure enough, Michael and Lisa Marie have joined them. I spot four blonde manes and one curly brunette milling around the dart boards. From my view point at the pool tables, it looks like Nidia is whooping ass. Terry is at another pool table with Chris Benoit, and it looks like Matthew is there too. I have my own pool game going..Nora and I are beating Chris and Rob by the way. So that just leaves one more person un-accounted for. And now there's a pair of hands around my waist. Who the hell is touching me? I whip my head around, shaking a finger at James. When he doesn't let go..I brandish the cue stick in my hand. That seems to do the trick..James is now off for one of the other games of pool, leaving me free to converse.

***********

"So" I begin, setting up for a perfect shot. "Since we're obviously winning..what do we win?"

"You never set the stakes." Chris smirks at me from across the table. "So, you win nothing."

I roll my eyes, he can be such a pain. "So..let's put some stakes on" and without missing a beat I add. "And no, I don't want A1 Sauce"

"What kind?" Nora asks, leaning against her cue stick "Monetary..beverage wise.."

"You call 'em" I shoot a look over to Rob as I move to take the shot..and score! With a grin, I straighten up. "And make it quick please..we're on our way to winning..again."

"Why me?" He cocks his head to the side. "You trust me?"

I lift a brow "I trust you more than him.." If I'm right, Chris will usually make it something so lame, bland and prediticable..and so typical of him. But, if it's Rob, while it might be somewhat lame, it's still the unexpected. "So what's the stakes?"

"How about..losing team has to" He's drawing this out..I don't like the looks of this all of a sudden.

"Losing team has to pay the winning team." I interrupt him, he's taking too damn long. While I'm thinking of something else..I shoot a glance over to Nora..if she sinks this shot, we win. "Or, at the next joint pay per view..losing team pays for all of the winning teams expenses at the hotel."

"That's not very fair" Chris looks at me quite skeptically. "You two might not be the epitome of girly-girl, but still..if you know you aren't paying for it."

"Then set the rules before I sink this shot" Nora smirks proudly as she does just that. "Unless you two think you can muster enough to beat us."

I smile, sweeping my hair back from my face. Nora and Chris, I tell you...those two are just like night and day. At least on the outside. But when you get them alone, or in a small setting..they're almost identical. Not that it was always like this, but when she came with us on that ski trip..it all changed.

"How about me and you" Chris gestures to Nora with his cue stick. "Take on those two"

"Oh please" I roll my eyes again. "That would would be way too easy."

Chris cocks his head now. "That so hot shot? You're on then." He walks around to where Nora and I are standing, then gestures for me to move. I stick out my tounge and the game is on.

***********

11:45 p.m. (Back to narrator mode)

While Trish had started out at the dart boards, she was now perching at the tables to watch the games of pool..or more specifically..one game of pool. It appeared that Chris and Nora were losing at the moment, but that wasn't detering them in any way. Oh no, for whatever loss Chris may have felt..Nora was certainly filling. It's not like Trish should really care anymore..after all, she got what she wanted. Jay. But still, there was just something about Chris that Trish was drawn to..like a moth to the flame. Whatever the case, she continued to watch as Amy raised her hands in victory. With a low sigh, Trish made her way over. Wanting to know when they would be leaving. Not that it was too much concern to her, just that it would be nice for any of the SmackDown star's sakes. Amy agreed, as did James, Peter and Michael. With Michael, Lisa Marie, Peter, James, Amy and Rob calling it a night..the rest of the bar hoppers stuck around.

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One hour later, (starting in Amy's P.O.V., switching back to narrator for dialogue)

Either the two of us are going to have to learn telepathy..or someone will have to say something and quick. We've been sitting here, in my hotel room, with the t.v. blaring. Well the t.v. isn't exactly blaring, more like blurring...and it's the only light in the room. But that's due to the fact that I can't decide on anything. I figure, if we keep going like this..I'll either go blind from the t.v. or insane from the silence. And, what makes it worse..I'm all stretched out on the bed..and right now, I can truly sympathize with one of those little critters I had to pick apart in Science. I feel like I'm underneath a damn microscope. He's been sitting there, over in one of those chairs, just staring straight ahead. Since the bed is in his line of sight, I'm not sure what he's staring at. But, since he doesn't feel like talking..fine; *click* we'll just sit here in the dark.

***********

"What was the point of that?" He asks, slightly agitated.

"Lack of nothing better to do I guess."

"You saying I'm boring?"

She rolled her eyes "..well what else is there to do"

"So long as you can finally give me a straightforward response." He sat back in the chair. "What were you so upset over?"

"Is it really necessary for me to answer that?"

"Would it hurt not to?"

"Fine"

.............................

"I guess..part of me was expecting that you would be drafted to SmackDown, and that part of me was fine with it." She paused a moment to steel her heart. "And the other part was still holding on, hoping you wouldn't be going. And either way, I was set on being happy.." She trailed off, swallowing down her emotions.

"Okay.."

"And if you really need me to spell out why" She sighed, leaning her head back. "Then I don't think there's a need for you to be here."

"Wasn't going to ask you to" He shrugged, searching her out in the dark. "I guess my question would be, what now?"

"Oh I don't know" She raked a hand through her hair. "You said you knew what you wanted..what do you want?"

"Simple really.." His eyes focused on her form, "For you to be happy..and to not feel you have any sort of obligations. I don't want to be any type of burden."

"You wouldn't be a burden" She shrugged, sitting up and pulled her knees to her chest. "And it's not like either one of us has any obligations to the other. We're friends..nothing more."

"True enough" He leaned forward still focused on her. "But is that good enough for you?"

She replied, as coolly as she could. "Nothing I'm not used to. Just have to deal with whatever is dealt to you"

"And if you didn't have to?"

"Then who's to say we would be sitting here?" She shrugged, resting her chin on her knees. "If things always turned out how we wanted them, who's to really say we would be sitting here."

He nodded, "Right, but if you could have what you want..what would it be?"

"I don't want to predict the future or know what's going to happen before hand." She closed her eyes. "I want to live it as it's happening..re-write it in progress." The ghost of a smile graced her face. "The future isn't one of those things we're meant to know"

"That doesn't answer my question."

"Why should I bother?" She asked mostly to herself, but loud enough for him to hear her. "It would be the same thing as before, I'm on one show, one set of schedules..you'd be on the other show..another set of schedules." She sighed, "And yeah, I could deal with it, but I don't want to just deal with it."

"Well at least we're on the same page.." He stood, making his way to the bed, sitting on the end. "And as I said, I don't want you to have any obligations. But at the same time I'd like to know, where do we stand?"

She opened her eyes, seeking out his face. "In the same place as before"

The combined light from the moon and the street lights in the parking lot, gave him enough light in this angle to see her. Though, she was trying to smile..she was losing the battle. "Is that what you want then? For things to stay as they are."

"It would make things easier."

He scooted forward "And since when did you do things the easy way?"

"Since I stopped leading with my heart" She closed her eyes again, "As much as I tried not to..I did. And every time I did..it never turned out as I expected."

He sat indian style next to her. "I know..that's partly what brought us here in the first place..or at least under terms like this."

"Then where do we stand?" She opened her eyes, stretching out her legs, turning her head to the side. "You asked me. Now I want to know."

"Honestly? I didn't think that over the course of five months, we would get as close as we have. I mean sure, we've known each other longer than that, but nothing more than a friend..because you always had Matt" He paused, watching her. "And even if Matt wasn't in the picture at any point in time, there would've been something holding us back.."

She turned her head back, searching his eyes for any unspoken answers. "So, what exactly are you trying to say? I was there," She sighed slightly in frustration. "I know what you're referring to, but what are you trying to say?"

"That for whatever reasons, it's not our time" Hesitantly, he stretched out next to her. "But if we have one night."

"That's not what I want." She shook her head, closing her eyes again. "One night and then nothing? That's not who I am..and not who you are."

"Who ever said we were going to do anything?" He kept his voice cool. "Just sleep next to me"

"That's still something and I don't know if I can do that." She flung herself back, "You should probably go"

"Is that what you want?"

Tempted as she was to say no, she nodded..but would not meet his eyes. "Yes..just go."

"Earlier you said you'd stay.." He sat up, moving to the edge. "What changed your mind? And don't tell me it doesn't matter, because it does."

She swung her legs down, leaning forward. "No regrets..even if we didn't do anything, I wouldn't want any regrets." She closed her eyes, cupping her face in her hands.

"Understandable." He moved off the bed, but instead of walking to the door, he walked around crouching in front of her. "Then before you write me out," He brought his face closer, resting his forehead against hers. "At least look me in the eyes and tell me you want me to go."

....................

She swallowed the lump of emotions down again, her fingertips reaching out to touch his cheek as her eyes fluttered open. The hazel depths finally dropping their guard. Her fingers running over his cheekbones, down his jawline and to his hair. Her gaze was telling him to stay, her mouth was starting to say go, but her actions spoke for her. She tipped her face slightly forward, kissing him softly..the simple gesture telling him in actions what she would not say in words. When she pulled away, she whispered against his mouth. "..stay"

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Author speaking: Prequel is coming soon..so yeah, that'll help explain more. Until then, updates for this piece to come Thursday.