Authors Note - Update :) This one's a little thought I had earlier that I wanted to expand on. Oringally, this was going to be Chapter 15, but I swapped it for the Chapter I was going to write for Chapter 14. I'm feeling for Trish at the moment, even though I'm writing her, cos I feel like I'm playing with her emotions. But there is a method to my madness, so please stick with me guys. I hope everyone enjoys. Lyrics are from 'Bittersweet Goodbye' by Kylie Minogue.

Please R&R! As ever, I own nothing...

'Here we are in the dead of night
Will you keep me warm and hold me tight'

His eyes frantically scanned the passing sidewalks, narrowing to see into the shadows thrown by looming houses on either side. The black was as absolute as the silence, giving nothing away, no sign of life or light. In this endless night, it might be very well impossible to find the wandering Trish Stratus. But that didn't mean he wouldn't try.

Beams of golden light cut through the curtains of night, a beacon heralding his quest. He just needed to find her, to hold her in his arms, and tell her it was going to be okay. Slowing his car down to a crawl, his eyes caught the reflection of something to his left. Pulling up on to the sidewalk, he strained to see whatever it was hiding in the dark, feeling more than knowing something was there.

Slowly, his eyes adjusted to the darkness, forms and shapes taking hold and depth from the darkness before him. Resting against a flight of steps, with her knees drawn up against her chest was Trish. Even from here, he could see the vacant expression held in her warm brown eyes, the remnants of tears leaving sparkling trails down her cheeks. She looked pale, and so very small, as though the darkness had swallowed her whole. Opening the car door, he stepped out onto the sidewalk, heading into the darkness of the looming house where she was still.

'All we have is until the dawn
Let the night be long and ease the dawn'

Trish had nothing left. The crying, the anger, the running. Even before Jeff had come back, Trish had nothing left to give. In all honesty, Trish didn't know if it was night time, or if the darkness inside had spilled out from her body, infecting everything around her. Trish could see the approaching pair of legs, but made no effort to look up into the eyes of who was advancing toward her. He did the job for her, kneeling down so they were eye level. His scent filled her senses, evoking a warmth in the pit of her stomach. But she made no effort to move, no effort to speak or acknowledge his presence. Trish just had nothing left. This night had taken such a disastrous turn, she didn't know how to form words. It was enough of an effort to just keep breathing.

With unspoken words, he understood. Leaning forward, he carefully wrapped his arms around her, lifting her from the ground. Holding her tiny form against his body as he walked back towards the car, Trish's head automatically found the place on his chest to rest her head, breathing in the scent of his body.

With gentle care, he softly slid her motionless form into the front seat of the car, clicking the seat-belt in place, before getting back into the car and setting off. He had no real destination to go to, but he just needed to know that she was safe.

'I love you more than you'll ever know
It hurts to see you go'

They travelled in silence for the best part of an hour, the warmth from the heater slowly bringing Trish back to life. It started with her focusing on the sound of his breathing. Steady and deep. After a while, she had moved her head to watch his chest as it would rise and fall with the course of each breath, finding it hypnotic.

His eyes remained firmly on the road before him, but his mind was alive with questions and worries. There was so much he needed to know, and more that he wanted to say. But he dared not. Seeing his Trish so fragile, he knew it wasn't the right time to push her on anything. Softly, her lips parted, he voice gently sounding in the silence.

"Why are you back?"

"For you." Came Jeff's reply.

"Why?" Trish's voice came out as a kind of whine, as though she didn't want an answer.

"Because I needed to explain. I needed you to know why I left." Jeff turned to face Trish, her green eyes studying her soft features.

"You already explained that to me. You made it perfectly clear why you were leaving. You wanted to be yourself, and couldn't do that with me." Came her reply, exposing the anguish those words had caused her the first time round.

"That wasn't it Trish. I loved you so much. But I was going to a place where you couldn't be. I was on a path to a really dark place Trish, and I couldn't bare to bring you down with me. You were my angel...my butterfly. You were everything that was good and beautiful in my life. But where I was headed, I couldn't face losing you to my own demons. You meant too much to me for that. I couldn't be that selfish." Jeff was being painfully honest, and Trish remarkably understood why. But that didn't excuse anything.

"So breaking my heart was a better alternative? I loved you so much Jeff. And you told me you didn't want me anymore, that you needed to be you and I needed to be me. How could any relationship work if you are so determined to be yourself free from other people? You just gave up on me because it was hard. How could you possibly have loved me if I was that easy to leave?" Trish's voice took a higher pitch than she was used too, but it was what needed to be said.

'So Darling sing me a lullaby
Bittersweet goodbye
Don't think about the future now
These few hours'

Without warning, Jeff slammed foot on the break, bringing the car to a shuddering stop.

"You think it was easy for me? You think it was easy telling the woman that I wanted to spend the rest of my life with to let go, and move on? Of course I wanted to be together, of course I would have done anything to keep you with me, but I couldn't be so selfish. I couldn't sacrifice you for my own happiness." Jeff could feel the twinge of tears building in his eyes.

"You didn't have to sacrifice me at all Jeff. We could have worked it out together, but you chose to do it alone." Trish tried to appear indignant, but it wasn't working. All she could express was her hurt.

"I went through something Trish, something dark. It got a lot worse before it got better. I eventually got to a point where I didn't recognise myself in the mirror anymore. We wouldn't have lasted if I'd you'd stayed with me. You would have ended up hating me, and leaving me because of it. And I couldn't bare that." Jeff could no longer hold back the tears, feeling the warm droplets glide down his cheek. Against her better judgement, Trish reached out her hand, brushing away a tear that ran down Jeff's cheek.

"I would never have left you Jeff. No matter what, I thought we'd always be together. And I'm sorry that you're hurting, I don't want you to. But I can't just pretend that you didn't bring my world crashing down when you left me. I...I don't know what you want from me..." Trish felt fresh tears burning down her cheeks. Jeff looked into Trish's eyes, taking her hand in his own.

'Let the nighttime envelope us
Take us under
Bewitching spell, bewitching spell'

"I just need for you to talk to me again. I've missed you for so long, and to go everyday with seeing you but not talking to you...I won't be able to cope..." Jeff sniffed, his eyes pleading with Trish more than she could cope with.

"Is that all? Is that what you want from me? Wait...what do you mean everyday?" Trish's nose screwed up in confusion.

"I've been in talks with Vince, and he asked me to come back to the company. And okay Trish, I'm not going to say I don't love you anymore, because I do. I always will. I know its not fair of me to tell you this, and I know you don't feel for me what you once did, and that we can't be together...and I can deal with that. If that's what you want, I will do what it takes to make you happy. You being happy means more to me than us being together. But...I hope that maybe...someday...we could be friends?" Jeff's eyes were full of hope, staring at Trish for an answer.

"I can't promise you that Jeff. I can't tell you that maybe yes we can be friends. There's too much hurt there for me. But I will try. I'm happy that you're coming home."

'Here we are in the dead of night
Won't see you past the morning light
So Darling sing me a lullaby
Bittersweet goodbye
Remember me when you're away'

Attempting a smile, Trish looked hesitantly as Jeff leaned across the seat, pulling her into a hug. Stiffening for a moment, Trish relaxed into his arms, feeling as though she had returned home too. Pulling herself back, Trish found herself eye to eye with Jeff, his hot breath blushing clouds across her cheeks. Her eyes fluttering shut, Trish could feel everything her heart had felt for him before coming back, as if breathing new life to her body. Before she knew what she was doing, Trish tilted her head forward, brushing her lips against Jeff's.

Feeling her warmth against his own lips, Jeff crumbled and gave into the kiss, enjoying the taste and feel of Trish's gentle kiss on his lips. His leg tingled as he felt Trish's hand slide from his knee over his thigh, resting on his hip. In response, his hand travelled up her side, wrapping around her back, pulling her more deeply to the kiss. Trish's lips fought insistently against him, her tongue pleading for entrance to his mouth. Jeff harshly pulled back out of the kiss, gently pressing Trish back.

"Jeff...what...?" Trish's eyes were heavy, her lips swollen from the kiss.

"I can't...I can't do this Trish. I want to...I want you so much...but his isn't what you want. I know that." Jeff couldn't believe the words were coming from his own mouth.

"But...I thought..." Trish's face held confusion and embarrassment.

"Trish, I can kiss you now, and we both know it won't end there. You feel like you want it now, but tomorrow...you'll regret this. And I don't want that. Its okay, I can wait. Maybe some day you'll mean it. But right now, you're hurt and angry and confused. I can't do this to you." Jeff smiled sadly at Trish.. "I'll take you home, ok?"

Trish nodded in silence, sliding back into her seat. She knew he was right. Her heart wanted Jeff so badly, but her head told her it was wrong. Rushing into anything with the man who had broken your heart was not a good idea. But it meant more than words could express that Jeff had been the one to stop Trish. Recognising her hurt, he was doing what was best for her, and not for him. He was in some small way trying to make up for what had happened.

Reaching across the seat, Trish took Jeff's hand, interlocking her fingers with him.

It wasn't going to be easy, having him back in her life, but she would cope the best way she knew how.

Sat in silence for the remainder of the car journey, Trish let her eyes follow the passing houses, feeling a smile touching on her lips. It wasn't too long before Jeff pulled up outside the modest hotel where Trish and the other girls were staying. Turning back to Jeff, Trish softly smiled, with Jeff returning the affection. Holding Trish's hand in his own, Jeff's lips planted a gentle kiss on the back, before she stepped out of the car. Words weren't necessary right now, but the feeling was definitely there.

Trish slowly meandered her way through the hotel lobby, heading into the lift and to the top floor where her room was. With an audible 'ping', the rickety lift door slid open, revealing the darkened hallway. Sensing her movement, the overhead lights whirred to life, throwing soft glows of light., illuminating the figure sat with his back resting against her hotel door.

Stopping dead in her tracks, Trish felt her jaw go slack. Slowly getting to a standing position, Randy smiled awkwardly at the Canadian diva.

"I wasn't sure if you were coming back here tonight." came his mumbled greeting.

"Randy…what are you doing here?" Trish ventured, slowly making her way towards the Legend Killer.

"Well…you ran out on me Trish. You kissed me, then bolted away. I just wanted to see if you were okay?" Randy tried, his voice shaking slightly from the nerves he was feeling.

"I'm fine Randy. I'm touched that you were concerned. But I'm fine." Trish attempted a smile, flashing him the best 'WWE Diva' smile she could manage at the moment. Unlocking her door, Trish set foot into her hotel room.

"Are you sure? You don't look so good." Randy half smiled. Trish furrowed her brow. For the first time since she had met him, she was sure that she could see real emotion reflected in those baby-blues of his.

"No Randy. It's been really shitty night. I could use a drink. You game?" Trish looked up at Randy, her mind screaming at how bad an idea this was. Opening the door wider, she headed into the room, leaving the it wide open.

Orton seemed to consider the offer for a moment, before following Trish into her room, softly shutting the door behind him.