Disclaimers: I own nothing or anyone associated or affiliated with TNA. I own only the original characters. This is just a fictional story that came from my imagination.
Chapter Content & Trigger Warnings: kissing and making out

Chapter 5

Joe saw the tears shimmering like diamonds on Ella's face as he watched her, and knew then that he never wanted to make her cry again. She's afraid because I hurt her, he thought. But that was a long time ago. I've changed. And besides, it isn't my fault she was just a kid when she fell for me, he erupted in his mind. She isn't going to do this to me after she grows up and I actually do fall in love with her!

It wasn't true anger fueling his thoughts. It was good old-fashioned, drunken frustration.

"Joe…I-I'm sorry…" Ella stammered as he stalked toward her, realizing her suspicions were true. He's very angry with me. In an attempt to back away from him, her back bumped into the corner of the deck's railing. Short of jumping over the barrier and most likely injuring herself, she was trapped. "P-please, Joe. I didn't mean to- I'm sorry I-"

She got nothing else said as he reached out and grabbed her arms, yanking her against him and crushing her slender frame against his large one. She gasped at the impact, and lifted her gaze to his face, catching a glimpse of the determined glint in his eyes, the stubborn set of his jaw and the angry crease in his forehead.

Then his mouth crashed against hers, hard, and full of desperation. Ella cried out softly, and her legs nearly buckled from the satisfaction of Joe's mouth on hers. His lips rubbed sensuously against hers; soft at first, and then harder and with more aggression. Heady with the taste of her, Joe's hand tangled into her hair, anchoring her head in place as he ravished her mouth.

Ella's shock finally lessened and then faded altogether as Joe's fingers coaxingly stroked the soft skin of her neck. The feel of his mouth on hers—rough as it was—felt like pure heaven. Her eyes fluttered closed and she melted into him with a soft sigh. She felt as if she'd finally gotten relief from a ten year itch.

Joe could feel her breath coming in snatches, as her arms hooked underneath his and her hands gripped at his shoulders. She whimpered softly and then finally, she moved her mouth against his in return. A gruff moan emerged from his throat and he held her closer. No words were possible as the two kissed. Nothing else existed but the explosive passion erupting between them.

"Ella…" Joe finally managed to utter, nuzzling behind her ear. "I told you earlier I didn't want you to get over me."

"I remember," Ella whispered.

"I meant it. And now... I want to kiss you until I'm the only kiss you remember."

Ella grew warm from his words and clung to him even more. Had his proclamation not affected her so deeply, she'd have informed him that he was her first kiss, ever.

True to his word, he kissed her again, swallowing her soft cry of pleasure, and brushed her lips with his. He lightly trailed them to her chin, then the curve of her neck. "Lay your head back," he instructed huskily, enticing her with little kisses over her mouth and chin.

Ella heeded his passionate request helplessly, tilting her head back as she clung to his broad shoulders. Immediately she felt his skilled mouth on the tender skin of her neck, just underneath her chin. His teeth lightly nipped the soft skin, eliciting a gasp from Ella. Her fingers curled and gripped his jacket as his mouth trailed down her neck. Then his warm tongue flicked over the hollow of her throat and she whimpered softly.

"You taste so good," he whispered, sweeping his lips over the sensitive spot beneath her ear. "So good…"

"S-so do y-you," Ella stammered, relishing the feel of his lips as they returned to hers. He tasted of peppermint and chocolate, and she thought there could not be a more intoxicating combination.

Groaning softly, he gently slipped his tongue past her lips into the sweet warmth of her mouth, swirling it over hers, again and again. Ella could not stop the loud moan that tore from her lips as Joe continued with his sensual assault. The sound had Joe growing frantic.

Driven by his sudden and almost painful need, both of his hands began to wander. Ella jolted, and he crushed her against his body. "Shhh, baby," he whispered against her mouth. The mixture of alcohol and desire was wreaking havoc on his resolve. "I need to touch you."

"Oh, Joe," she whispered. "Please..." She whimpered as his hands continued to travel over untried places. "Please, stop. I can't-"

"Mmm," Joe groaned passionately, "What do you want? This?"

In the next instant, he'd moved to press a soft kiss to the flawless skin of her décollete. Ella gasped loudly, and found herself pushing at his shoulders, fright beginning to seize her.

"Joe... Stop!" Her voice rang out, fear lacing her tone.

Growing even more frustrated, Joe pulled back. Reluctantly, his gaze lifted to hers and he knew he'd lost her.

Tears already welled up in her eyes, she was breathing even harder and her hand covered her mouth in her shock, as though she was about to be ill.

"Ella..." he started, "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to push you too far-"

"Get away from me," she whispered. Her voice trembled as she fought to stay composed. She struggled with the straps of her dress, trying desperately to pull them back into place. Mortification was written across her face.

"Ella," Joe tried again, reaching out to help her with the straps. "Please, listen to-"

"Get away from me," she shrieked, stumbling away from him. To her dismay, a sob tore from her lips. "Oh, my God..." she turned away from him and finally managed to get the bodice of her dress straightened properly. "Please, Joe... Just leave me. Tell anyone who asks that I needed some air and I'll be back in shortly."

I've screwed up. Royally, he thought. But unfortunately his guilty conscience wasn't enough to prevent his Samoan temper from flaring. "Why are you acting so crazy," he growled at her. "You've been in love with me since you were a kid, and then freak out when I kiss you and touch you a little? Are you just being a tease to get back at me?"

Ella felt as if she'd been slapped. Seriously, she thought. I'm a tease? Revenge? That's what he thinks of me? "Leave me now, or I'll scream for help," she threatened. Fresh tears fell down her cheeks.

She heard the patio doors open and shut again.

"Joe, leave her alone."

Ella turned and saw AJ making his way out onto the deck, his blue eyes trained solely on Joe.

"What? Were you spying on us," Joe demanded. "You're the one who said to do something romantic for her."

"I listened to your disagreement, yes," AJ admitted. He shifted his gaze to Ella and took in her traumatized state. She was shaking like a leaf and looked like she was going to be sick. "You both were out here so long I got worried something was wrong since you argued earlier. And yeah, Joe, I said to do something romantic," he drawled, reaching over and placing his arm protectively around Ella's shoulders to demonstrate his support for her. "But to me, 'romantic' doesn't include mauling a girl to death."

Ella could see AJ was calm on the outside, but she also knew he was straining to keep his composure.

"I hardly mauled her," Joe retorted. His brain-to-mouth filter was completely gone. "She wanted it as much as I-"

SMACK!

Joe reeled back from the force of Ella's slap.

"I..." She tried to speak and faltered. "I did want...what we shared, at first," she managed. "But it... You went too far... You wouldn't stop... I'm not ready... And my feelings for you obviously don't matter to you. All you want is another notch in your belt isn't it?"

Wounded pride mixed with a little too much champagne tended to give him a lethal tongue. He smirked at her, "What? Did you think it was love?"

Ella gasped and covered her mouth. How could he be so cruel, she wondered.

Joe started to walk past them when AJ stopped him by latching onto his arm, "Don't talk to her like that. Not ever again," he warned his friend. "Just stay away from her."

Joe yanked his arm free and glared, "No problem. It's not like she's the only female left on the planet. They're all the same anyway." His scornful gaze shifted over to Ella, "I hope I never see you again." The childish words were out before he could stop them. And with that, he stalked past AJ and Ella, then strode through the patio doors and reentered the party.

AJ turned to Ella, who had gone as white as a sheet, and wordlessly pulled her into his arms. "I'm so sorry, honey."

"AJ," she whispered, a tremor in her voice. She held onto him and pressed her face against his shoulder. "What... I don't understand… Why did he…"

AJ's heart lurched as Ella crumpled in his arms with a soft cry and went limp.

"Ella?" He stooped and lifted her up, jostling her slender frame gently in an attempt to wake her. "Ella, honey... Wake up."

"What's wrong with her?"

AJ turned and saw Jeff closing the patio doors behind him. "Joe came in looking ferocious. What happened? He didn't hurt her, did he?" The older man's piercing blue eyes instantly hardened with fury.

"Not physically, Jeff," AJ replied, carrying her to a long patio table and laying her down. "He'd never do that. They had an argument. She got really upset and she passed out."

"Had to've been pretty bad to make her faint."

"I think it was," AJ admitted. "What should we do?"

Jeff walked over to the railing and grabbed a handful of soft snow. "This should wake her up," he said. He gently placed the snow on either side of her slender neck and held it there for a few seconds. Ella's eyes flew open as she gasped. Her eyes fell on Jeff and AJ. Then she shot up on the table and latched onto AJ, sobbing brokenheartedly.

"Shhh," AJ shushed her and held her tightly. "It'll be okay, honey."

"He hates me, AJ," she whispered.

"He doesn't hate you," he assured her. "He's had too much to drink. He'll probably wake up tomorrow and want to hang himself for what he said to you—for what he did."

"I WILL hang him for whatever it is he's done to you," Jeff drawled, reaching over and rubbing Ella's back gently.

"I don't think-"

Their talk was interrupted by the opening of the patio doors, followed by: "Ella, honey. We need to leave now."

Ella turned to her father after hearing the urgent tone to his voice. He immediately spotted the tears on her face. "Baby, what's happened?"

"She's okay, Doctor Roberts," AJ answered for her. "She and Joe just had a… an argument." He was about to tell about Ella's faint, but she gently poked him in the ribs, wordlessly asking him not to.

She turned her attention to her father and wiped at her tears, "Yeah, Daddy…It's fine. I'm sure we'll talk it out at another time," she lied, then stood to her feet. "Why do we have to go so soon? It's only a little after midnight."

"Sweetheart, it's nearly 1:00 a.m.", Nathan corrected.

Ella gaped and looked down at her bracelet-like wristwatch. Sure enough, it read 12:48 a.m. How could the past forty-eight minutes have passed so quickly? Her father's voice cut into her thoughts then.

"I have a donor for one of my patients," Nathan said. "A mugging victim died. Their heart wasn't damaged in the robbery, and it's a match. I have to get to the hospital, and you and your mom can go home from there."

"Oh, okay."

She had spoken to pretty much everyone, but knew she'd not have time to say goodbye to them all. I'll have Uncle Jeff and AJ tell them for me, she thought. She glanced at AJ then. She didn't know when they'd be back for a visit. Maybe it won't be too long before I can see them again.

"Say goodbye to AJ, and Jeff and then we need to go," Nathan said lightly. "It's great to see you, AJ," he said, looking at the Southerner. "I'm sorry we have to whisk Ella off so abruptly."

AJ nodded politely, "It's okay Dr. Roberts. You have an important job. Good luck with the surgery."

"Thank you," Nathan smiled, and then he turned to Ella again. "Your mom and I are going out to the car, okay? Try to be quick."

She nodded again, before her father turned and walked away. With much sadness reflecting in her sapphire eyes, she looked up at AJ. "I'll miss you so much," she said softly. "You've been such a help to me."

"I'll always be there for you, Ella," he said, pulling her into one last hug. "No matter what."

"And I'll be there for you as well," she smiled sadly and reached up to kiss his clean-shaven cheek before turning toward her uncle. She instantly wrapped her arms around Jeff's waist in a hug. "I'm sorry we have to go so soon."

"It's okay, angel. We'll see you again soon," he replied, hugging her tightly. "Okay? Are you sure you're alright?"

Ella nodded, fighting back tears, "I love you."

"Love you too, darlin'."

"Please let everyone know why we had to leave so soon, and tell them I love them," she said to both Jeff and AJ.

"You know we will. Be careful."

"Okay. Bye, Uncle Jeff. Bye, AJ. I'll miss all of you."

"We'll miss you too," AJ said, with a soft smile.

She kissed Jeff on the cheek and accepted his kiss in return. Then giving them one last smile, she turned and walked away.

Hurrying out of the mansion, she headed in the direction of her family's car when she felt a hand grasp her wrist. Startled, she spun around with a gasp to find Joe watching her. She couldn't begin to read the emotion in his black eyes.

Is he angry, or sad, she wondered, giving his facial expression a deeper inspection. Then she quickly brushed off the latter. Judging the way he spoke to her earlier, he was certainly not sad.

Joe could see the hurt and betrayal still swimming in Ella's eyes at that moment. And he knew he'd blown it. She would never forgive him.

And I deserve that, he told himself.

Ella tugged her wrist free from his hold, and managed to manufacture a glare for his benefit. "Don't touch me. Ever." She fought the sting of tears as she managed to continue. "Those moments we shared... on the patio... It was a mistake. I was so stupid..." She swallowed hard at the lump in her throat. "I wasted my first kiss on someone who doesn't even care about me."

Joe wanted to speak, to convince Ella that he was only drunk and that the whole thing was a misunderstanding. But he couldn't. Because nothing he could say would fix it.

I deserve so much worse than what she's saying to me. Why doesn't she just let me have it?

She shook her head in disbelief then as something else seemed to occur to her. "The things you said, Joe... You weren't even really my friend, were you? Ever. You couldn't have been. You've lied to me the entire time and I only thought we were friends."

"Ella," Joe's voice croaked softly as he struggled to speak. "I didn't-"

Her hand shot up, signaling him to be quiet. "No, Joe. You've already had your say, and you said plenty. So just..." She swallowed hard. "Whenever you're going to be at one of Uncle Jeff's get-togethers, have AJ or someone let me know—that way I can abide by your wish to not see me again."

She didn't give him the chance to reply as she turned around and left him without another glance in his direction.

She's gone, he thought. I'll never see her again. I know it. He turned to reenter the party, and nearly bumped right into Jeff.

"We need to talk after the party," the veteran wrestler said, his blue eyes as cold as steel.