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Summary: Now they're leaving the hospital and headed to the hotel and then it's off to North Carolina. See what happens along the way. (Sorry for the sucky summary I'm not good at these things LOL!
Chapter 3
Matt and Stephanie arrive at the hotel, and they head into Matt's room. "You go ahead and hop into the shower and I'll be packing up my stuff." Matt told Steph.
"You're forgetting that I did have my own room, so I'll let you be to your packing and I'll be back here in 30 minutes." Steph advised Matt. "No later, I promise."
"Oh yeah, sorry, that's cool I'll see you then." Matt replied. "I forgot about that, here's the extra key, just let yourself in."
Steph walked out and headed down to her room. "God, what if Paul is still there..." Stephanie started to ponder. " I don't know what I would do if he was still there. Maybe I should just..No, I'm not going to let him run me out of my hotel room. Besides, he would be on his way to his parent's house by now." As Steph let herself into her room, she peeked inside the door. "No signs of Paul's stuff, we're in the clear." She walked into the bathroom and turned on the shower then turned to face the mirror. "God Steph, you're a mess and you're on your way to North Carolina with Matt Hardy out of all people for Christmas. Boy is this going to be a Christmas for the record books." She got in and let the steaming hot water fall upon her. As she did, she started to think about how sweet Matt was and how he really did become her knight in shining armor when she needed it. And that dark curly hair with dark brown eyes was kind of dreamy."Oh stop it Steph, this is just an act of kindness and as soon as Christmas is over, everything will go back to how it was."
Meanwhile, Matt was in his hotel room and decided that he might as well take a shower and then pack up his stuff because he knew how Amy was, she would always tell them that she'll be ready in 30 minutes and it usually meant an hour and 30 minutes so he knew that he had time. He walked in and turned on the shower. As he stepped in, he leaned back into the water and began to think about what could be. "What if Steph is the one for me? I've crushed on her for so long. I haven't seriously dated anyone since Amy and I dated and god knows how long ago that was. She wasn't even in the WWE yet," Matt pondered. "I wonder if Steph even knows that I'm alive?"
Matt got out of the shower and towel dried off and threw the towel aside. He then walked over to his suitcase and began to rustle through it trying to find something to wear.
Steph finished blow-drying her hair and looked in the mirror. "Well, since my eye is so swollen I guess it really doesn't pay to even attempt to put make-up on." She walked out and grabbed a water from the fridge and looked at her watch "Look at that, it's only been 25 minutes, by the time I make it to Matt's room I'll be right on time." And with that she took one last glimpse of her outfit, a pair of black flair leg pants with a cute, tight sweater and her hair was pulled up in a high ponytail with a few curls at the end. "I can't believe that I'm worrying if I look good for Matt, but I might as well have a little fun to brighten my spirits." And she grabbed her bag and headed down to Matt's room.
Steph gasped as she walked into Matt's room to find Matt standing at the side of the bed naked, rustling through his suitcase. "Matt I'm sorry I didn't mean to just walk in but I just thought" and Steph turned around so he could put his clothes on.
Matt quick grabbed his clothes and through them on while turning about every shade of red imaginable. "Steph!?! I didn't think that you would actually be ready in a half hour so I hopped in the shower and took my time.I'm so sorry."
"It's not your fault, you'll learn that when I'm a woman of my word, if I say a half-hour then I'll make sure that I'm ready by then." Steph answered.
"Yeah, I'm figuring that out, I'm dressed now." Matt replied sheepishly but couldn't believe what he seen. Steph was standing there in an outfit that made Matt's heart skip a beat. "You look really nice Steph."
"Thanks, I thought that I'd better find something comfortable to wear." Steph answered while turning around slowly hoping that the goofy grin and red face was gone. "And I'm hoping that if I wear a cute enough outfit it'll distract what my face looks like."
"I think that you look great no matter what. But do you want me to grab some ice for your eye while we head to the airport?"
"No, I'm ok. I think that it's at where it's at and there's no going back at this point." Steph replied.
"Alright, then are ya ready to head out to North Carolina by way of airplane of course?" Matt asked.
"Yup, all set. But I want you to know that I really appreciate that you're going out of your way for me. I really appreciate it. But, do you think that when we get there, we could stop at a mall so I could pick up a couple of things?" Steph asked.
"Definitely, not a problem." Matt answered. "Let's roll."
On the way to the airport, Steph and Matt talked about what each other's family normally does for Christmas. And Steph was thinking to herself how nice Matt's family sounded. And how cute his slight drawl was. And Matt was thinking about how different yet the same their two families were.
On the plane, Matt and Steph talked wrestling a little bit and then Steph fell asleep. Matt looked over and smiled, "Wow, she is so beautiful," Matt thought "Everything about her is so beautiful and she is so different than her character, this is going to be great." Matt watched her sleep a little while longer and then began to listen to the new Pearl Jam album on his discman.
When they landed, Matt started to wake Steph up. She slowly opened her eyes and she met his gaze. "Wow, I wonder if this is what it's like to wake up next to him." Steph pondered.
Matt and Steph made it to his car. "You don't leave your car sitting at the airport the whole time do you?" Steph asked.
Matt chuckled, "No, Jeff beat me home so him and Beth drove it out here so we don't have to take a cab back. And this way works nice since you wanted to stop at the mall."
They listened to the radio on the way to the mall and once they arrived Steph turned to Matt "Ok, now I need your help, you need to tell me who all is going to be at your house, and what types of things they like so I know what to get them." Steph said.
"Woah Steph, you don't have to do that. It's no big deal, you're there as my guest, and you certainly don't have to worry about presents or anything. This season isn't about presents. This is a time to get together with friends and family and celebrate. Trust me, don't even worry about it." Matt told Steph.
Steph was shocked! Matt was so sincere about the true meaning of Christmas and was trying everything to really make her feel like a part of his family. It really touched Steph to see this side of Matt. She never really knew him that well and by spending this time with him it helped her to see his real side, not just the Matt on the outside or the Matt in the ring. "Ok, but I would really like to do this Matt, it would mean a lot to me. I'm really grateful for the hospitality being shown to me so I would like to do something in return." Steph replied.
"Well, ok, but I want you to know that you by no means need to do this." Matt answered back. And it was off to the mall they go.
"Matt, North Carolina is so pretty. I've been here with the show of course, but never on leisure. This place is gorgeous!" Steph exclaimed.
"Yeah, it's especially pretty in the fall when the leaves are turning colors. There's a lot of foliage so it's very picturesque if you will." Matt replied. Jeff and I used to run around in the woods and build forts with our cousins and never thought about it. But now Jeff is a huge nature freak. He loves to just go out and wander around outside. And I love to be outside at night under the stars."
"That sounds really nice," Steph told him.
"I'll keep that in mind," Matt thought to himself.
Matt and Steph went to the mall and did some shopping and they debated back and forth over what to get for Jeff, Beth and Gill. Everything was really starting to fall into place between the two. As the two interacted throughout the mall, they felt like a couple. As they were leaving the mall, Steph noticed that they had a merry-go-round. "Oh Matt, you're going to think I'm a little kid, but can we please go and ride that just once, please?" Steph begged.
Matt started laughing, "Ok, but just once, then we'll have to get going so we can get changed and be on time." When they got up to the carousel, there was only one two-seated horse left. "Looks like we'll have to share," said Matt and he helped Steph up.
Steph sat in the front and Matt sat behind her. As they rode the carousel, she leaned back into him and he held her. "This feels really good" Steph thought.
Matt smiled as Steph leaned back into him. "This feels really good" Matt thought. And he tightened his grip around her waist.
When the ride was over, they sat there for a moment. "You know, I'm having a really great time," Steph said to Matt smiling.
"Yeah, me too. And I'm really glad that you're coming to Christmas. The only thing I have to warn you about is that after Christmas dinner, we sit around and talk and then we have dessert and then we go to Christmas mass to light a candle for mom. I hope you don't mind. If you don't want to go," Matt explained but was interrupted.
"Matt, it would be an honor to go with." Steph replied.
Matt smiled, "that's great."
Soon they arrived at Matt's house and changed and got ready. Matt brought Stephanie to a room upstairs and told her that that would be her room and to make herself at home. They had 45 minutes until they had to leave to be to his dad's on time. Steph turned on the radio and got ready. She had been arguing with herself and finally the brighter side won. She had finally convinced herself that Matt had stepped up to be her hero not because she was Stephanie McMahon but because she was a friend and maybe he looked at her as someone who he would like as a girlfriend. When she was with him he made her feel really special. Even though her heart was still broken from Paul and at times if she thought about it too much she felt like she would cry, Matt would do something that would make her smile or make her laugh. And it was Matt that was helping to heal that broken heart. And even if it was only for Christmas, she was going to make the most of it, yet proceed with caution just in case she was wrong.
Matt went into his room and began to get ready. He had originally known what he was going to wear but now he wanted to find something that would impress Stephanie. He wanted her to know that he was interested in her not because of who she was but because of the beautiful person she was inside and out. He felt really comfortable with her and he loved the way his heart fluttered when she would look him in the eyes when he would make her laugh. "Yes, I definitely have it bad for her and I'm going to at least give it the shot it deserved." Matt thought to himself. If nothing came about then at least he couldn't say that he ever tried. And with that he picked out a black shirt with black jeans and pulled his hair back in a ponytail. And headed downstairs to wait for his princess.
Steph came downstairs in a beautiful red top with a black skirt and black high heel boots. She had her hair curled and it was flowing down her back with rhinestone barrettes holding the sides back. She had went ahead and applied as much makeup as possible. Matt couldn't believe his eyes. "Wow Steph, you look great!"
Steph blushed. "Thanks, you do too. I was hoping that the makeup would cover up the bruises a little more so your family doesn't think that your bringing home some battered woman to meet them."
"You look great with or without makeup with or without bruises, are you ready?" Matt replied.
"Ready as I'll ever be" Steph answered.
Matt held out his arm and Steph slipped hers through. "Then your chariot awaits my dear." Matt said to Steph, which caused her to blush even more.
"Thank you Matt, thank you for everything," Steph said quietly.
And they were off to his dad's.
Summary: Now they're leaving the hospital and headed to the hotel and then it's off to North Carolina. See what happens along the way. (Sorry for the sucky summary I'm not good at these things LOL!
Chapter 3
Matt and Stephanie arrive at the hotel, and they head into Matt's room. "You go ahead and hop into the shower and I'll be packing up my stuff." Matt told Steph.
"You're forgetting that I did have my own room, so I'll let you be to your packing and I'll be back here in 30 minutes." Steph advised Matt. "No later, I promise."
"Oh yeah, sorry, that's cool I'll see you then." Matt replied. "I forgot about that, here's the extra key, just let yourself in."
Steph walked out and headed down to her room. "God, what if Paul is still there..." Stephanie started to ponder. " I don't know what I would do if he was still there. Maybe I should just..No, I'm not going to let him run me out of my hotel room. Besides, he would be on his way to his parent's house by now." As Steph let herself into her room, she peeked inside the door. "No signs of Paul's stuff, we're in the clear." She walked into the bathroom and turned on the shower then turned to face the mirror. "God Steph, you're a mess and you're on your way to North Carolina with Matt Hardy out of all people for Christmas. Boy is this going to be a Christmas for the record books." She got in and let the steaming hot water fall upon her. As she did, she started to think about how sweet Matt was and how he really did become her knight in shining armor when she needed it. And that dark curly hair with dark brown eyes was kind of dreamy."Oh stop it Steph, this is just an act of kindness and as soon as Christmas is over, everything will go back to how it was."
Meanwhile, Matt was in his hotel room and decided that he might as well take a shower and then pack up his stuff because he knew how Amy was, she would always tell them that she'll be ready in 30 minutes and it usually meant an hour and 30 minutes so he knew that he had time. He walked in and turned on the shower. As he stepped in, he leaned back into the water and began to think about what could be. "What if Steph is the one for me? I've crushed on her for so long. I haven't seriously dated anyone since Amy and I dated and god knows how long ago that was. She wasn't even in the WWE yet," Matt pondered. "I wonder if Steph even knows that I'm alive?"
Matt got out of the shower and towel dried off and threw the towel aside. He then walked over to his suitcase and began to rustle through it trying to find something to wear.
Steph finished blow-drying her hair and looked in the mirror. "Well, since my eye is so swollen I guess it really doesn't pay to even attempt to put make-up on." She walked out and grabbed a water from the fridge and looked at her watch "Look at that, it's only been 25 minutes, by the time I make it to Matt's room I'll be right on time." And with that she took one last glimpse of her outfit, a pair of black flair leg pants with a cute, tight sweater and her hair was pulled up in a high ponytail with a few curls at the end. "I can't believe that I'm worrying if I look good for Matt, but I might as well have a little fun to brighten my spirits." And she grabbed her bag and headed down to Matt's room.
Steph gasped as she walked into Matt's room to find Matt standing at the side of the bed naked, rustling through his suitcase. "Matt I'm sorry I didn't mean to just walk in but I just thought" and Steph turned around so he could put his clothes on.
Matt quick grabbed his clothes and through them on while turning about every shade of red imaginable. "Steph!?! I didn't think that you would actually be ready in a half hour so I hopped in the shower and took my time.I'm so sorry."
"It's not your fault, you'll learn that when I'm a woman of my word, if I say a half-hour then I'll make sure that I'm ready by then." Steph answered.
"Yeah, I'm figuring that out, I'm dressed now." Matt replied sheepishly but couldn't believe what he seen. Steph was standing there in an outfit that made Matt's heart skip a beat. "You look really nice Steph."
"Thanks, I thought that I'd better find something comfortable to wear." Steph answered while turning around slowly hoping that the goofy grin and red face was gone. "And I'm hoping that if I wear a cute enough outfit it'll distract what my face looks like."
"I think that you look great no matter what. But do you want me to grab some ice for your eye while we head to the airport?"
"No, I'm ok. I think that it's at where it's at and there's no going back at this point." Steph replied.
"Alright, then are ya ready to head out to North Carolina by way of airplane of course?" Matt asked.
"Yup, all set. But I want you to know that I really appreciate that you're going out of your way for me. I really appreciate it. But, do you think that when we get there, we could stop at a mall so I could pick up a couple of things?" Steph asked.
"Definitely, not a problem." Matt answered. "Let's roll."
On the way to the airport, Steph and Matt talked about what each other's family normally does for Christmas. And Steph was thinking to herself how nice Matt's family sounded. And how cute his slight drawl was. And Matt was thinking about how different yet the same their two families were.
On the plane, Matt and Steph talked wrestling a little bit and then Steph fell asleep. Matt looked over and smiled, "Wow, she is so beautiful," Matt thought "Everything about her is so beautiful and she is so different than her character, this is going to be great." Matt watched her sleep a little while longer and then began to listen to the new Pearl Jam album on his discman.
When they landed, Matt started to wake Steph up. She slowly opened her eyes and she met his gaze. "Wow, I wonder if this is what it's like to wake up next to him." Steph pondered.
Matt and Steph made it to his car. "You don't leave your car sitting at the airport the whole time do you?" Steph asked.
Matt chuckled, "No, Jeff beat me home so him and Beth drove it out here so we don't have to take a cab back. And this way works nice since you wanted to stop at the mall."
They listened to the radio on the way to the mall and once they arrived Steph turned to Matt "Ok, now I need your help, you need to tell me who all is going to be at your house, and what types of things they like so I know what to get them." Steph said.
"Woah Steph, you don't have to do that. It's no big deal, you're there as my guest, and you certainly don't have to worry about presents or anything. This season isn't about presents. This is a time to get together with friends and family and celebrate. Trust me, don't even worry about it." Matt told Steph.
Steph was shocked! Matt was so sincere about the true meaning of Christmas and was trying everything to really make her feel like a part of his family. It really touched Steph to see this side of Matt. She never really knew him that well and by spending this time with him it helped her to see his real side, not just the Matt on the outside or the Matt in the ring. "Ok, but I would really like to do this Matt, it would mean a lot to me. I'm really grateful for the hospitality being shown to me so I would like to do something in return." Steph replied.
"Well, ok, but I want you to know that you by no means need to do this." Matt answered back. And it was off to the mall they go.
"Matt, North Carolina is so pretty. I've been here with the show of course, but never on leisure. This place is gorgeous!" Steph exclaimed.
"Yeah, it's especially pretty in the fall when the leaves are turning colors. There's a lot of foliage so it's very picturesque if you will." Matt replied. Jeff and I used to run around in the woods and build forts with our cousins and never thought about it. But now Jeff is a huge nature freak. He loves to just go out and wander around outside. And I love to be outside at night under the stars."
"That sounds really nice," Steph told him.
"I'll keep that in mind," Matt thought to himself.
Matt and Steph went to the mall and did some shopping and they debated back and forth over what to get for Jeff, Beth and Gill. Everything was really starting to fall into place between the two. As the two interacted throughout the mall, they felt like a couple. As they were leaving the mall, Steph noticed that they had a merry-go-round. "Oh Matt, you're going to think I'm a little kid, but can we please go and ride that just once, please?" Steph begged.
Matt started laughing, "Ok, but just once, then we'll have to get going so we can get changed and be on time." When they got up to the carousel, there was only one two-seated horse left. "Looks like we'll have to share," said Matt and he helped Steph up.
Steph sat in the front and Matt sat behind her. As they rode the carousel, she leaned back into him and he held her. "This feels really good" Steph thought.
Matt smiled as Steph leaned back into him. "This feels really good" Matt thought. And he tightened his grip around her waist.
When the ride was over, they sat there for a moment. "You know, I'm having a really great time," Steph said to Matt smiling.
"Yeah, me too. And I'm really glad that you're coming to Christmas. The only thing I have to warn you about is that after Christmas dinner, we sit around and talk and then we have dessert and then we go to Christmas mass to light a candle for mom. I hope you don't mind. If you don't want to go," Matt explained but was interrupted.
"Matt, it would be an honor to go with." Steph replied.
Matt smiled, "that's great."
Soon they arrived at Matt's house and changed and got ready. Matt brought Stephanie to a room upstairs and told her that that would be her room and to make herself at home. They had 45 minutes until they had to leave to be to his dad's on time. Steph turned on the radio and got ready. She had been arguing with herself and finally the brighter side won. She had finally convinced herself that Matt had stepped up to be her hero not because she was Stephanie McMahon but because she was a friend and maybe he looked at her as someone who he would like as a girlfriend. When she was with him he made her feel really special. Even though her heart was still broken from Paul and at times if she thought about it too much she felt like she would cry, Matt would do something that would make her smile or make her laugh. And it was Matt that was helping to heal that broken heart. And even if it was only for Christmas, she was going to make the most of it, yet proceed with caution just in case she was wrong.
Matt went into his room and began to get ready. He had originally known what he was going to wear but now he wanted to find something that would impress Stephanie. He wanted her to know that he was interested in her not because of who she was but because of the beautiful person she was inside and out. He felt really comfortable with her and he loved the way his heart fluttered when she would look him in the eyes when he would make her laugh. "Yes, I definitely have it bad for her and I'm going to at least give it the shot it deserved." Matt thought to himself. If nothing came about then at least he couldn't say that he ever tried. And with that he picked out a black shirt with black jeans and pulled his hair back in a ponytail. And headed downstairs to wait for his princess.
Steph came downstairs in a beautiful red top with a black skirt and black high heel boots. She had her hair curled and it was flowing down her back with rhinestone barrettes holding the sides back. She had went ahead and applied as much makeup as possible. Matt couldn't believe his eyes. "Wow Steph, you look great!"
Steph blushed. "Thanks, you do too. I was hoping that the makeup would cover up the bruises a little more so your family doesn't think that your bringing home some battered woman to meet them."
"You look great with or without makeup with or without bruises, are you ready?" Matt replied.
"Ready as I'll ever be" Steph answered.
Matt held out his arm and Steph slipped hers through. "Then your chariot awaits my dear." Matt said to Steph, which caused her to blush even more.
"Thank you Matt, thank you for everything," Steph said quietly.
And they were off to his dad's.