Again I must say Thank You Thank You Thank You... I appreciate that you all are liking this story, it almost seems you're reviewing as the new chapter hits... You are all liking it so much I am trying to make sure that I send out a new chapter every day. It's great to read such wonderful things about my story... Tonight I am going to try and get out a few chapters for you.... Things change, remember that..............


Chapter 8

That night after we cleaned up from our meal John, Jeff, Shane and Shawn all decided to go ahead and hit the sack, while myself, Marti, Mark and Glen engrossed ourselves into the 'Saprano's'.

Marti was sitting on the love seat, Glen was lying on the floor with a pillow bunched up at his chest, while I laid stretched out in front of Mark on the big couch, his arm draped over my waist. We hadn't had our talk yet but I knew before we went to bed it was bound to happen. For now, I was just happy that we were back to acknowledging each other again.

After the 'Saprano's', I found myself dozing in Marks arms while they watched 'Deadwood'. Every once in a while I would just be getting to sleep when he'd shift or shake me to keep me awake.

"Well, kids, it's nighty-night time for this old dog." Marti announced after the show went off.

Glen rolled onto his back and rubbed his tired eyes, "Seven comes mighty early, I'm with you." he agreed throwing his pillow on the love seat.

Yawning I shifted and rolled until I had my head buried in Mark's chest. I felt the rumble of his laughter against my cheek as he wrapped his arms around me, "I know you're sleepy, but we need to talk." he whispered, kissing my forehead.

I shook my head and mumbled, "We're OK."

"What?" He asked, pushing my face from his chest.

"We're OK." I repeated yawning again.

Mark grunted as he slid his body from behind mine and pulled me up to stand with him, "I cannot understand yawn." He snickered pushing me toward the door.

"Yes you can, it means I'm tired and I WAS comfortable." I whined as he opened the door and shoved me outside to the porch.

"But, I told you we are going to talk, and we are going to talk tonight."

I sighed, "Ok." and sat down on the front steps, wrapping my arms around my knees as he sat next to me.

"I can't stand not talking to you, princess." he stated flatly after a moment of silence.

"Me either... It get's really annoying when I talk to myself and I don't talk back." I joked looking over at him and watching his face fall.

"I'm being serious."

"Too serious if you ask me... Look, I know why you did that and why you said what you said... I'll admit it, you were right."

Mark looked over at me with an angry expression on his face, "Chey, don't play with me... That shit may work with Marti, but not me."

"I'm not playing! I'm dead serious... Granted, it hurt my pride to have you yell at me in the ring in front of everyone, but my emotions stem from other things that make me react the way I did." I admitted, facing him.

"What other things?" he asked, tearing his gaze away from the yard to look back at me.

"Well, I'm a woman..."

"Woah, Chey..." he cut me off.

I held up my hand to shut him up, "No, now let me finish before you go thinking things... There are times when I'm emotional. It's in my make up. Just like with you, you explode now, fix it later. Mark, I've been going through so much, I was tired, hurt and cranky. And just like you I can be irrational and blow up. Unfortunately, I can't break things and thrash around... it isn't me, instead, I cry. It helps me work through my problems."

Mark smiled tenderly at me, "You are one hell of a woman, you know that? I forget sometimes that you aren't one of the guys... That like my wife or any other woman, things get to you differently."

"I can kinda see where you are going with that."

"Seriously, you're my bud. I enjoy your company so much... It hurt to not be on speaking terms with you. It was almost as if my day wasn't complete without you there." he admitted. "You have so much life, princess."

"Wow, thank you." I stated throwing my arms around his neck.

"No, thank you... You've brought so much cheerfulness and fun to a business I was starting to give up on, I'm more excited now to be here than I was yesterday. You make me feel young again."

"You aren't that old." I said pulling away and scrunching up my nose.

"I'm older than you think I am... hell, I even feel old." he admitted.

I watched as the man before me, that I viewed as an unstoppable force, let down some of his guard and admit to something I'm sure he kept from everyone else, and I felt odd that at that moment I really cared for him. It was beginning to be different than a simple friendship... it was something else entirely, it was admiration, trust, security and comfort. There was more to it though now that I thought about it. I feel the need to protect HIM. To take away his fears and replace them with hope and dreams.

Looking at him I studied his face as he too was deep in thought... His cheeks and nose spattered with light freckles, and the deep lines that were sure signs of the years of wear and tear from his profession and life. His full lips that were pressed together, somewhere amidst his goatee, that was now facing me...

"What?" he asked wiping at his face with one of his large hands, "Something there?"

I shook my head, "Nope, just thinking."

He smiled, "Oh really, what about?"

"About how things change. I mean, I admired you for what you've done with the WWE but more so now for just being Mark... I know that sounds silly, and probably childish..."

Mark shook his head and smiled from ear to ear, "It's times like these I wish I could save actually." he stated lifting a hand to caress my cheek.

Bringing my hand up I covered his and felt my stomach flip. This almost seemed intimate and I could swear I saw something new cross through his eyes. They clouded over under the light of the moon.

Suddenly Mark stood and pulled his hand from mine, "Let's go on to bed, princess. We got a long day tomorrow." he stated then helped me stand and hugged me before we headed inside.


As always I love to know what you are all thinking........ Thank you!