Title: By My Side

Author: Crimson Coin

Disclaimer: I do not own the WWE or any mentioned wrestlers. They are merely used/borrowed for the purpose of this fictional story.

Rating: PG 13 – R, depending on the chapter

Summery: Continuing from Unstoppable and Endless Love. Will friends and love still flourish?

Timeline: October 2004 – present

December 13, 2004

Chris Jericho raced down the arena corridor, his eyes a pleasant glow as he searched frantically. Which one was his locker room? He couldn't remember. Finally, recognizing his door, he burst inside. "Baby, did you see that?"

Trish gasped at the sudden burst entry and her eyes flew to the door.

"Baby," he sighed again, rushing to her side and he led her to the couch. When she sat, he dropped to his knees in front of her, her hands still clutched in his. "Sweetheart, did you hear?"

She shook her head, her face drawn in seriousness. "No, Chris, I'm sorry. What happened?"

"The title, Baby," he clarified.

"He gave it to you?" Trish asked quickly, her face pulling into a smile. "Bischoff gave you the belt. Oh my God, Chris, that's wonderfu ..."

"No, Baby," he replied, his face still wearing the smile. "It's even better. It's at that New Year's Revolution. Elimination Chamber. And yours truly is a participant."

Her face dropped.

Chris continued anyway, blathering on as if nothing were wrong. "Can you believe it, Baby? I get a shot. I get a chance and I'm gonna be champ. Me and Hunter are gonna be the only two to have braved this chamber three times and this time, it's my lucky strike, I can feel it."

Trish didn't respond.

"Come on, Babe," he coaxed, tugging on her to get an answer. "Isn't this fantastic? Can't you just picture me on that cold January night, coming back to our locker room with the World Heavyweight Championship strapped around my waist?"

"Chris, I ..."

"I knew you'd be happy for me," he answered quickly, leaning forward to kiss her mouth softly. "Oh Baby, you don't know what this chance means to me. I've been dying to hold that kind of gold again since I lost it to Hunter at Wrestlemania X8. I know it seems a long time to hold that kind of grudge, but that belt is mine and I know it. I've just never gotten the chance to prove myself. And the odds were always stacked against me in every other Elimination Chamber. Not this time. This time, Chris Jericho is coming out on top."

She only licked her lips, preparing herself to speak if he'd let her.

He didn't. "Oh, Baby, this is gonna be fantastic. Wait here. I'm going to go take a quick shower and then we can boogie."

Trish sighed, staring at his back as he raced into the shower stall.

Lita quickly slipped into Edge's locker room, closing the door as she swiftly moved to the opposite side. A look of fear washed over her face as she heard footsteps outside the door. She shot up a silent prayer. She'd be helpless if Snitsky cornered her here now.

The door burst open.

She breathed a sigh of relief. "Edge, it's only you."

Edge's eyes narrowed as he eased the door closed, flicking the lock. He turned his impassioned eyes back to her.

Lita licked her lips, nervously backing into the lockers behind her. "What ... what's the matter?"

He didn't respond, only stepped a little closer.

"Edge, you're scaring me."

"Well, I'm angry," he responded, curtly, his voice laced in agitation.

"You're doing it again!" She yelled at him, stomping a foot in protest. "You're doing it again, Edge."

"Doing what?" he glared, his shoulders tensing with his fury.

"This," she answered, waving her hand at him. "This, you're getting angry and you're going to do it again. Are you drunk ... again?"

His eyes narrowed even more, mere slits as he peered at this infuriating woman.

She stepped up to him then, her cheek turned to him. "Are you going to strike me this time? Or just grab me hard or throw me into a wall. Or are you going to do what you did last time."

Edge looked away from her, turning his back as he stared at the opposite wall. "You said you forgave me."

"I did," Lita said. "I'm here with you now. But you've got that same look in your eye and frankly I half expect you to slap me."

"I never hit you." He clarified, his voice strong. "I never raised my hand to you."

"No, but you might as well have." She spat back. "Look at me, God damn you." She grabbed his arm and spun him, looking up to meet his eyes. Her eyes widened.

"This wasn't what you expected, was it?" he asked in a soft voice, his eyes, his lovely green eyes speaking volumes and not displaying a hint of the anger from before. "I was furious and drunk when I grabbed you the way I did and threw you on the bed all those years ago. I didn't ... I didn't know what I was doing. I never ... I never understood why you didn't press charges. I ..."

Lita cocked her head at him, her eyes searching his for nothing but truth. He offered it completely.

He shook his head, bowing so he couldn't see her. God, he couldn't look at her. "I forced myself on you. I know that much. But I ... I can't remember it. And we ... we always hated each other so passionately. You were still with Matt and Jeff and you guys were always fighting with me and Christian. And I remember that night ... during that match when I speared you and you hit your head on the ladder. God, I felt like shit."

She reached out then, cupping his cheek in her smaller hand and she raised his gaze to hers.

"I couldn't believe I actually hurt you," he said even softer, his deep eyes locked intensely on hers. "I mean all the other times I never really hurt you. But then ... Then I hurt you and I wanted to die. I have a secret, Lita, a secret you don't know."

"What are you talking about?"

"I've been in love with you for years," he admitted, his gaze unwavering though he didn't catch the sudden inner wall she raised at those words. He licked his lips, his one hand shaking as he reached up to touch her pretty face. "And it broke my heart when I saw you concussed and hurting all because of me. I drank myself stupid that night and I barely remember it. I know I raped you and I ... I still don't ..."

"You never raped me, Edge," Lita said to him, her eyes gleaming at his words but her heart couldn't help but tug and ache at his guilt. "Don't you think that if I felt that way, I'd have pressed charges?"

"I didn't even give you a chance to say no. I just tossed you down and I remember the look in your eyes. It was this fearful look like you didn't know what I was going to do. And I don't remember from then on in. I just remember waking up with the biggest headache and I was naked and so were you. But I could hear you. Your back to me, and I could hear you crying. Then I ... I knew what I did and I had to leave. I ran."

"Do you want to know why I was crying that morning?" Lita asked him gently. She didn't wait for a response, just continued anyway. "I was crying because I was attracted to you for so long and in that drunken stupor ... that wasn't the way I wanted to have you in my arms. I wanted you to be really willing and not just because you were too drunk to remember. I knew that no matter what I felt or we felt that night, it wouldn't matter in the morning because you wouldn't remember."

"God, I wish I knew," he breathed, cupping her face in his hands.

"That's not all," she continued warily. "I was still with Matt at the time and I loved him. I felt so guilty ... feeling the way I did with you and knowing I was tied to another man. I was so confused and I didn't know what to do. And then you ran off and didn't speak to me for months, I figured you regretted it."

Lita shook her head, a small smile on her face. "And then Matt just broke my heart. After years and just ... poof ... it was gone."

"But ..." his eyes remained intense, as always, and he gazed down into her hazel depths. "But you said that you will always love Matt Hardy."

"Matt ..." she laughed almost painful as she tried to force the smile. "Matt's the blindest man I've ever known. He thinks that just because he saves me from Kane that I'm gonna fall back into his arms."

"You mean ..."

"I don't love him ... at least not anymore," Lita clarified. "He served his purpose. He tried to keep me away from Kane."

"But you ... you married him and had se ... you didn't even sound disgusted when you mentioned him tonight."

"Kane doesn't repulse me." She admitted. "Despite what he appears, he's been nothing but sweet. He doesn't care about physicality and all her wanted was that baby, even though it wasn't his but he didn't need to know that. I just hope he doesn't think I'm gonna give in for another one."

"I ..." his brow furrowed. "I don't understand."

Lita only sighed, her head bowed as she spoke very softly. "I don't know what I want anymore, Edge. I'm so confused. My heart has been broken and I thought for the longest time that maybe I was healed. But I ... I just jumped from one man to the next, scared of what would happen and ..."

He cupped her head, tilting her gaze up to his as he leaned towards her. "Don't move past me, Lita. Trust me. When's Kane coming back?"

She didn't resist as he pressed closer to her, his body pressed flush to hers. "He'll be back in January. And I don't know when Matt will. I don't hate Kane though, I can't. He's done a lot for me and protected me. Edge ..." she gazed up hopelessly into his eyes. "Edge, what do I do?"

Edge walked slowly with her, pinning her against the wall and his eyes darkened. "Look in my eyes." He brushed his fingers along her brow then across her cheek. "Open your heart again, Lita. Open it to me. I'll treat you like I should have all those years ago. I'll show you what it means to love. Just let me. Let me love you."

She didn't have time to respond before his lips captured hers.

Trish hadn't spoken since they left the arena and in truth, Chris was worried. She was never this quiet. He squeezed her hand a little tighter, leading her up the second flight of stairs and to their hotel room. Once to the door, he easily swiped the key card and stepped inside.

She offered him her duffel bag and he took them both, as always and placed them on the floor in front of the dresser. She ignored him, basically, and she stepped to the large queen size bed, turning down the comforter before sitting down.

Chris watched her with curious eyes as she untied her shoes and kicked them off. She offered no words, no communication as she lay down on the bed, her eyes closing as she sighed, lounging on her back.

She didn't react when the bed sank at her side and she shied away from him a moment when she felt his touch on her arm. It was gone then and a wave of guilt swept over her. "I'm sorry, Chris. I just wasn't expecting it." She opened her eyes

Chris kept his head bowed, a somewhat sadden look on his face. "No, it's ok." He said, quietly. "I ... I was just worried, that's all."

Trish reached out to him, hooking a finger under his chin to tilt his head up. She leaned towards him, her eyes fluttering closed as their lips met in a soft sensual kiss. Deep and tender, she kissed him until the breath drained from his body and no other thoughts but of her remained.

When she pulled away, he licked his lips, his eyes still closed as he tried desperately to regain his breath. "You take my breath away," he admitted in a husky voice.

She smiled, easily at him, her one hand raking through the back of his head to clutch at his hair. She tilted his head, pulling him back to her as she settled on the bed. She pulled him closer, her eyes still flickering with darkened passion. Angling his head perfectly, she pulled him the final distance, her lips meeting his.

Chris easily followed her lead, settling on top of her as they kissed. His hands roamed the sides of her body before one eventually rested on her thigh. He stroked and caressed, knowing how much she loved when he touched her there. He moaned as their tongues clashed and tangled, and he adored the way her body reacted to him.

Trish trembled, already spellbound by the feel of this wonderful man. He was so good at everything he did and he so easily made her forget about all the troubles that raced through her mind. But then he suddenly stopped.

Chris licked his lips as he pulled back from her, his eyes focused intensely on her face. "As much as I love just kissing you ... not this time."

A look of hurt flashed across her face. "I ... I don't understand."

He placed his hands to either side of her face. "I'm not objecting. Believe me, and I have full plans of kissing you until I'm exhausted but ..." he sighed. "I've been worried about you for far too long and I can't take it anymore."

"Chris."

"No," he objected. "You have to tell me. Because my heart is just ripping at the seams because I don't know what's going on. And you just keep sinking into this pit of despair and even though you don't say anything, I can see it in your eyes. Tell me. Let me do something."

"You were," Trish whimpered, pulling on his head again. "Don't stop."

Chris resisted her as she tugged on him. "No." That utterance was the hardest thing he ever had to say and from the instant look that crossed her face, he regretted it.

"You don't ..."

"No," he interrupted her and leaned down to give her a heart racing kiss. "I want to kiss you and make love to you. But I don't want to just do that. It's been so long since we talked, Trish. I want to talk."

"Men never want to talk."

"Well, I'm not most men."

Trish paused at his words, her eyes locked on his face. "Chris, I can't tell you yet. I'm scared. I ..."

"Don't be afraid of me," he said softly, leaning down to press his forehead to hers. "We've been through so much and we've finally gotten to the point where we should have been a year ago at this time. I love you and you love me and we're finally together and there is nothing to be afraid of anymore."

"You don't understand." She responded, her voice laced with sadness. "You don't understand, Chris. It's not that simple."

"Then help me understand," he breathed onto her lips. "Help me be here for you."

She shook her head, tears pricking from her eyes. "I'm so confused, Chris and I don't know what to do."

"Then tell me," he pleaded. "Tell me so I can help you. We can do this together now, Trish. You're not alone anymore."

"But that's the thing," she argued. "I don't know what to say. I don't ... I don't ... I'm not ready to tell you yet."

Chris sighed, his eyes closing as he held her, caressed her and did his best to make her feel safe. "I'm patient, Baby, but you have to tell me eventually or else the worry will kill me."

Trish smiled at his words, her hands on his face as she gazed into his eyes. He was still so marvelously close. "I love you. I love you so much, Chris."

"I love you too," he replied, sealing their words with a gentle tender kiss before changing the direction of the conversation. "I know your birthday is this weekend, Baby, and I have a Christmas dinner with my family that day. But I'm going to call you and say all the sweetest things to you over the phone and make sure you know just how damn much I love you on your special day."

"Chris, you don't have to." She responded.

"Of course I do," he quickly said, his eyes bright with affection. "It's my girl's big day and it's bad enough I can't be there for you. You can always come to my family party with me."

But Trish quickly shook her head. "No, I can't do that. Plus my parents wanted to take me out that night anyway and I haven't seen my sister in a long time."

"Ok," he answered then gave her a soft kiss on the mouth. "But on Monday you can expect me on your front doorstep. And since we have off until after Christmas, I'm going to spend the whole week with you whether you want me there or not."

She managed a tiny smile for him, that smile oozing with warmth and affection. "Of course I want you there. You'll even spend Christmas day with me?"

"Uh huh," he nodded, his nose brushing against hers with the gesture. "I have your presents at home and I'll bring all my presents for you with me. I'll give you your birthday gifts next week and then we can put all the presents under the tree."

Trish sniffed, her arms draping around his neck as she hugged him, a beautiful smile on her face. "No man has ever wanted to spend time like that with me before."

"Trish, I told you already. I'm not every other man."

"I ... I know," she stammered. "I ... I'm just not used to this."

"Well, get used to it." He said lightly, his lips brushing hers in a tender display of affection. "Because we're going to be together all week. And I'm not once letting you go that entire time. And maybe, sometime next week, you'll tell me about everything that's been bothering you."

Trish swallowed hard, her heart fluttering at the kindness of this man. "And you'll hold me?"

"Forever."

She licked her lips. "And we'll sleep together and I'll be in your arms. And then we can wake up and not have to run to go anywhere but just be together and ..."

"Yes, Baby," he responded with a sweet smile. "All of that. And we'll be together. And we can even spend all of one day in bed. We'll just get up to eat and then we can return to bed, just laying there ... our arms around each other." He nuzzled her again. "Maybe I'll just whisper sweet nothings in your ear. Or we can see how many times we can make love until I pass out."

Trish yanked him down to her, her arms tightening around him as she hugged him for everything she could. "Oh God, Chris, that sounds wonderful. Can we start now? Make love to me now."

"Oh, Baby," he sighed against her, pressing his body closer as he placed a soft kiss on her ear. "I'm way ahead of you." His lips found that perfect spot on her throat, his hands resuming their caress. If she wouldn't tell him of her pain, if she wouldn't let him help her that way, he'd take away her pain in another way. She would feel the most intense and love filled pleasure she had ever known. "I love you," he mumbled against her throat as he kissed a hot trail up and over her jaw before sealing their lips in a mind altering kiss.

(You can expect an update next Monday and one for Christmas Day. Read, review, tell me what you think.)