I slowly come too, out of a dark deep sleep. My head is a little dizzy when I move to turn over, and flop onto my back, then slowly onto my side. I realize suddenly that I am not alone in the bed, and just as I move to see who is behind me, (almost afraid to look) I remember something. I remember asking Chris to stay with me. Chris Irving is lying next to me! I think. Did we…? I feel him move, and then he is lying behind me, his arm around me, my back pressed to his chest. I feel his breath on my hair, feel his fingers move to brush the hair away, and then his lips are on my ear. I keep my eyes closed to the spinning room, enjoying the warmth behind me. I hear Chris whisper and smile at his words.

"I'm just going to shower, but I promise I'll be right back. Just lie back and rest a bit." I don't think he knows I am awake, and that makes me smile more to know he really means it because he wouldn't say that to a sleeping man otherwise. Happily, I lay in my warm bed, feeling the immediate difference when Chris gets out. He tucks the blankets around me, smoothes my hair away from my face and tiptoes to the bathroom.

"Thank you." I whisper to his receding footsteps, smiling to myself before I fall back to much needed sleep. RAW is tonight, and I know I will need all the energy I can muster to deal with the defeated Sean Michaels. Stupid Michaels. Not long after I wake up again, unable to ignore the pain in my head. I hear the water running, and I smile as I listen to Chris singing in the shower. I can just make out the words to "Fishing' in the Dark". "Same old song, every day." I say to the wall, grimacing while I laugh.

Slowly I turn back over, looking in the direction of the bathroom, hearing the water turn off. I move slowly, careful not to jerk my head up. I am not yet sure how well I feel, and I curse myself for all the beer I drank. But then, if I hadn't drank it, maybe Chris wouldn't be here. I walk over to the bathroom and knock on the door. "Yeah?" I hear Chris say/

"Good morning. I, uh, just wanted to say I am up, and, uh, thanks for taking care of me last night , and , uh, for staying too…" I pause. What else can I say? I hear him moving in the bathroom, and then the door opens to reveal Chris, dripping hair and wrapped in a towel.

"Sorry, Adam, I couldn't hear you over the fan." He says, smiling at my expression. "I didn't think you'd be up this early." He looks me over, from my crumpled boxers to my messy hair and glassy eyes. Maybe I am still a little drunk? Hmm.

"I just wanted to say… uh… thanks for last night, and uh, that I will see you tonight since I am, uh, sure that you've got things to do today… and uh…" A finger to my lips stops me. I look carefully at Chris, wanting to see so much in his face, but afraid to look at the same time.

"I have nothing to do today. Actually I was hoping that you and I could spend some time together. Maybe do breakfast or lunch." He smiles and moved his finger away from my mouth, but not before letting it slide down my chin. I shiver at the light touch, craving more of it. I nod.

"Yeah, lunch, that would be cool. I'll, uh, just wait for you to get done and then I'll shower and stuff and you can just let me know when you want to go to lunch and where and stuff."

"Well, its eleven thirty now, so how about when you are dressed? And how about…. Mikes." My favourite restaurant, and he still remembers. Smiling, I nod again. Why am I so nervous? I remember what I said and wanted last night, and I still want it today too, and I think Chris does so what the hell? I think. Moving away from the bathroom door, I go to get my stuff ready while Chris finishes up. I slip past him, turning the shower on while he runs out to his room to get fresh clothes. I can hear a few surprised hellos from fellow wrestlers when they see Chris exit my room. Good stuff, lots of rumours and looks to deal with at the show tonight!

Later on, after I've showered and dressed, Chris and I walk into Mike's restaurant uptown and sit in a booth in a window. I look nervously around. I do not know why I am nervous, this is what I want, what I believe Chris wants. Why care what anyone else thinks?

"So," Chris is looking at me, trying to see into my mind. "Did you sleep well?" I look at him, wondering if he is going to mention last night and the things I said. What I tried to do…

"Yes. Very well. It was… nice. Having you there I mean." I look down at my placemat, feeling the color in my cheeks rise. I know he is looking at me, trying to weigh my reaction. I look up at him carefully. Chris sits there, smiling at me, both with his mouth and his eyes.

"I slept really well too. It was… nice." The waitress comes over and takes our order. Chris is smiling at me again. "I figured you'd get that. The spaghetti and pizza combo."

"Yep. Spaghetti and pizza, my favorite." We sit in silence for a moment. I look down at my hands on the table. I can see Chris's hands across from me and my fingers itch to reach over and touch them. 'Just to hold his hand again. It would be so nice.' I think. I close my eyes and remember the he felt next to me last night. I think about the way it felt when he kissed my forehead this morning when he got out of bed. And then I feel the wonderful sensation of Chris's left hand, taking hold of my own, his warm fingers curling around mine and his thumb caressing my skin. My eyes fly open and I look across the table.

"Adam…." He begins to say. "I…. I was so nervous last night. When you asked me to stay. And then I did, and it was so great just to be there with you again. I was so happy holding you. I barely slept actually, I was just content to lie there and listen to you breathe. I… I want to have that again. Tonight. But I understand if you can't do that. Or if you just don't want to, but the things you said, the way you looked at me… it made me really believe that you were ready to forgive all the mistakes I made in the past and try this again."

I look down at our hands, his thumb nervously brushing back and forth over my knuckles. I take a breath. Looking into Chris's eyes I open my mouth. "Chris I…"

"Here's you pizza, spaghetti combo, and your chicken fingers and fries."

"Oh… thank you," I stammer out, waiting for Chris to let go, surprise showing on my face when he doesn't. The waitress walks away and I clear my throat, ignoring my food. "I… what I wanted to say was that last night, I know I was drinking, way to much actually, but everything I said is true. I want you and me to be together. We belong together. And… whatever happened in that past is just that, the past, and as long as you're ready to move on I am too. Together. Cause I can't stand to be alone anymore. But it is more than that!" I blurt out when I see Chris start to protest. "I want to be with you. Not just with someone, not just anyone. You."

Chris looks at me, a small smile on his lips. "That's what I was hoping you'd say. That is me you wanted… not just anyone. Not… Jeff." He looks at his fries and starts to fiddle with then with his free hand. "Because I like you Adam, I like you so much. And if you are just lonely for Jeff, this will never work. But if you want to be with me again, then couldn't be happier." He looks at me then, his face almost pained. "Tell me you want me. Tell me its me again."

"I want to be with you Chris. You and me forever." He smiles at me and leans across his fries and my spaghetti.

"You and me forever, Adam" He whispers as his lips touch mine, in front of the window of Mike's restaurant, for just anyone to see. 'It feels good', I think. 'It is right. I love you Chris.'