"Baby are you sure you want to be here tonight?" Jim asked Illyria for what she figured was about the hundredth time and she rolled her eyes. They had just arrived at the arena in Charlotte for Vengeance and were headed to the locker room.
"Yes Jim, I'm not about to let Michael rule my life by making me stay away from my family and friends just because I'm scared of what he might do." She stated, covering her mouth immediately and groaned when she realized what she said.
"You're scared?" He stopped walking and grabbed her arm gently, spinning her around so that she was facing him. "Lyria what are you scared of?"
"Could you just please forget I even said that?"
"No, talk to me." Jim said, pulling her into an empty locker room.
"I...I guess I'm just scared that he's going to try something and you or anyone else won't be there to stop him." Illyria explained.
"Dammit! I knew I should've made you stay at the hotel."
"Baby you tried..."
"Not hard enough." He growled and she sighed.
"Yes you did Jim but I was too damn stubborn to listen, I wanted to be here for you and for Rob." She whispered, feeling guilty and Jim caught on to it right away.
"Lyria don't...you don't have a damn thing to feel guilty about. I know how much your brother and I mean to you because you mean the same to me so I understand why you wanted to be here. I just don't want you to feel as though you have to be here."
"I don't feel like I have to be here Jim, I want to be here."
"Okay, just as long as we're clear on that. Let's get to the locker room before they think I fucking tied you up and kidnaped you." Jim stated, laughing.
"Ooh! I like the sound of that." Illyria giggled, kissing him.
"Why did I have a feeling you were going to say that?" He asked, smacking her on the ass when she walked out of the door ahead of him.
"Probably because it wouldn't be the first time you've tied me up." She said as an evil smile spread across her face.
"True." He opened the locker room door, checking to make sure everyone was decent then he walked in as Illyria followed him.
"You two are running awfully late." Terry Brunk stated, smiling.
"We were discussing something that I'll talk to you later about." Illyria told him and he nodded. "Kick Cena's ass for me tonight hmm?" She questioned, giggling and he laughed.
"You know I will."
"And you..." Illyria trailed off looking at Rob. "Better not let that asshole take your title tonight."
"He's not going to Lyria, you know better than that." Rob replied, smiling.
"I know but I'm just making sure you do." She looked around the locker room until she spotted Tom and Beulah sitting on the far side. "Too good to talk to me over there?"
Beulah laughed and moved to give her a hug. "How are you doing Lyria?"
"A bit shaky but I'll be okay."
"What's wrong?"
"I'll tell you once we get to the other room, I need someone else to talk to about it anyway." Illyria said.
"Let's go then."
"Jim?"
"Yeah baby?" He asked, walking back over to her.
"Can you walk us to the other room?"
"Yeah, come on." Jim took her hand as he led her and Beulah to the other room. Once they were inside he gave Illyria a quick kiss and smiled. "I've got to get back but I'll see you as soon as the match is over."
"All right baby."
"I love you and don't worry." He stated and she nodded.
"I love you too and I'll try not to." Illyria watched him walk out of the room then she turned to Beulah.
"Okay, what's going on?" Beulah questioned.
"I've been really worried over the past few days that Michael is going to try something and Jim or anyone else won't be around to stop him. Jim tried to convince me to stay at the hotel today but I was too damn stubborn because I wanted to be here for him and Rob. Well, when we got here I kind of let it slip that I'm scared of Michael and what he might do and now Jim's beating himself up because he couldn't convince me to stay at the hotel."
"Sweetie Michael's dumb but I don't think he's actually stupid enough to try something while we're here."
"He might try something at the hotel though." Illyria interjected and Beulah shook her head.
"You're never without Jim or one of us at the hotel."
"Yeah I guess that's..." Her words were cut off by her cell phone ringing so she dug it out of her pocket and answered it. "Hello?"
"Illyria?"
"Scotty? Is that you?"
"Yeah honey, it's me." Scott replied and she blushed.
"Hey! How are you doing?"
"I'm okay. What about you? How are things with Fullington?"
"I'm doing good and Jim and I are back together thanks to you." She said, smiling.
"Thanks to me?"
"Yeah. What ever you yelled at him about must've worked because he's actually telling me that he loves me now."
"Good, I'm glad. I wanted to call and see how you guys were doing and ask if you wanted to come back here for a while." Scott explained.
"Why don't you come here until you have your next taping? We're here in Charlotte but we'll be leaving in the morning for Roanoke (Virginia) and I think we're going to stay there for a few days."
"Sounds like a plan. You talk to Jim and call me back to let me know what he says."
"Give me five minutes, I'll call him real quick then call you right back." Illyria stated.
"You guys aren't together?"
"He's in the men's locker room and I'm in the one with Beulah that Paulie always has set up for us."
"Oh, okay. I'll talk to you in a few minutes then." They said their goodbyes then he hung up and she dialed Jim's number.
"Baby? You okay?"
"I'm fine Jim. I just got a call from Scotty wondering how things were going between you and me so I told him. He then asked if we wanted to go back there for a while and I suggested he meet up with us in Roanoke and stay until he has to go back for his next taping. Scotty said it sounded good to him but for me to talk to you about it first."
"It's fine with me but you better explain to him that what happened at his place isn't going to happen this time." Jim warned and Illyria giggled. "I mean it Lyria...I won't share you with anyone again." He whispered the part about sharing her with anyone and she guessed that some of the guys were around him.
"I know you meant it baby and I don't want you to, once was all I wanted or needed. I told you before and I'll tell you again...you're all the man I need."
"Good. Call him back and let him know, I'll talk to you soon."
"Be careful out there tonight Jim." Illyria said.
"I will." He hung up the phone and she smiled over at Beulah.
"What?"
"He said he doesn't care if Scotty meets up with us as long as he understands that what happened at his place isn't going to happen again." She explained while dialing Scott's number and Beulah laughed.
"Hello?"
"Scotty it's me. Jim said it's fine but that you need to understand that what happened at your place between the three of us isn't going to happen again." Illyria stated and Scott chuckled.
"I already knew that...though I wouldn't mind it happening again." He whispered huskily and she shivered. "But I respect his decision to not let it."
"I'm glad. So, I guess we'll see you on Tuesday then."
"You sure will." Illyria looked up at the monitor to see the lumberjacks for Terry's match filing out to the ring and smiled.
"Scotty I got to go, Jim's making his way out to the ring."
"Okay. I'll talk to you on Tuesday." She hung up the phone, her eyes fixed on the monitor.
"I really wish he was caning the hell out of someone tonight." Illyria grumbled causing Beulah to laugh. She watched the match with little interest, perking up on occasion when the cameraman caught a glimpse of Jim which wasn't often. Then she saw Terry toss Cena out of the ring on the ECW side and watched in sheer joy and lust as Jim busted Cena over the head with the kendo stick. "Well, I guess I'll have to settle for one shot tonight."
"Aww poor baby." Beulah teased her.
"Oh, shut up." Terry ended up losing the match by tapping out to Cena's STFU which only managed to piss Illyria off. "Dammit!"
"He'll get his revenge, don't worry."
A few minutes later the door opened and Jim walked in along with Terry. "Well, that sucked...I'm sorry Terry."
"Don't be. I had no choice but to tap, I'll make him pay though."
"I hope so." Illyria replied, smiling.
"And? What about me?" Jim asked.
"Okay...channeling Raven there are we baby?" She joked, giggling. "You did good, I just wish I could've saw you give more than just one cane shot."
"Next time, I promise." He said, kissing her.
"Good. Why don't you guys sit with us and watch the rest of the show?"
"Fine with me." Terry spoke up.
The four of them sat down, watching the rest of the pay-per-view and celebrating when Rob beat Edge to keep his title. "Oh thank god." Illyria sighed.
"He told you he'd do it." Jim stated, pulling her on to his lap.
"I know but I still worry. As the little sister I'm allowed to do that." She replied.
"Well, are you ready to go back to the hotel?" He asked.
"Yeah, let's get out of here." They said goodbye to everyone then left for the hotel where they celebrated her brother's victory in their own special way.