November 13th 2006…

Looking at the city skyline as the oversized Rated RKO shirt she had on fluttered in the cold autumn wind, Amanda looked through the clouds to try to find the stars in the sky… but there weren't any tonight.

The darkened cloudy sky reflected her mood… to her, it felt like it was being done on purpose.

Without her surrogate uncle, she felt so alone at times… were it not for the others, she would've gone insane a long time ago.

"Somehow, I knew I'd find you here." Chris says as he found Amanda on the roof of the hotel, a silver flask in her right hand.

Amanda motioned him over, pouring vodka in the two shot glasses before closing the flask and setting it aside.

"Here's to you, old friend." Amanda says after a glass was placed into her right hand, the two clinking their glasses together before downing the vodka, the liquor of cold comfort to them.

"I don't want to ask this but… were you headed up here to…" Chris tries to say, Amanda pursing her lips into a thin line for a second.

"No… the rooms get to be too quiet at times so I head up to the roofs. Listening to the noise of the city helps calm my mind… but just temporarily. I hope one day, it won't hurt so damn bad when I think about him." Amanda says, Chris taking her into his arms when tears started falling and the two hanging onto each other. "It's not fair, Chris. Why did he leave us? We still need him." She says, Chris rubbing his hand up and down her back.

"You're right, it isn't fair little one… but he's not truly gone, he'll always be around us." Chris says, the roof door opening and both seeing Rey.

"Got any of that for me?" Rey asks, motioning to the flask. Amanda nodded as she and Chris let go, Rey walking over… but instead of grabbing the flask, he pulled Amanda into his arms as Chris brushed his own tears away.

"I miss him too, Mandy… it's not fair that he's gone." Rey whispers after a few seconds, picking Amanda up into his arms and Chris grabbing the flask, pocketing it before the three disappeared back into the hotel.

Morning was around faster than they wanted it to be, Amanda rubbing her sore eyes as she had drank more than Chris had… when they opened, she looked up and saw him lightly running a cool washcloth over her forehead.

"One year… has it really been that long?" Amanda says.

"One year… someday, it won't hurt as bad, little one." Chris says, lying down next to Amanda and pulling her into a hug.

Amanda rested her head onto Chris's torso, feeling comforted by the rhythm of his heart.

But she had no way of knowing then that sooner than she knew, she wouldn't hear it anymore.

Present time…

"Damn, it's cold out here… your little face is turning red from the wind." Finn says, him and Amanda walking through the snowy streets after having gotten ready for the day and eaten breakfast.

"I'm no fan of cold weather… but it's beautiful here, Finn." Amanda says, her right arm linked with his left one as the two stopped at the top of a hill, their thick jackets blowing slightly in the wind and Amanda's black cable knit hat nearly falling off.

"I've spent the majority of my life here, lass… it is beautiful but it can get cold, come here." Finn says, wrapping his right arm around Amanda and pulling her into his arms for a hug.

Amanda rested her head on Finn's right shoulder as he kissed her on her forehead.

And because of them getting lost in the comforting embrace, the two were unaware of the paparazzo hidden nearby with the camera.

"We stay out here longer, we'll freeze… come on." Finn says as they let go, his left hand gently wrapped around Amanda's wrist as the two left.

Reaching the arena, Seth and Baron stopped the rental car and Seth checked the Irish Daily Star website… and his expression changed from calmed to angered, Baron seeing the photo of Amanda and Finn and the headline WWE Diva And NXT Rookie: Innocent Friendship Or Hidden Romance? and taking the phone out of Seth's hand before Seth crushed it.

"Let them explain the truth when you find them later, you know tabloids don't explain the full story." Baron says, Seth letting out a low growl but nodding in agreement.

The two got out and headed into the arena, knowing that Hunter and Stephanie's call for a meeting wasn't to be ignored.

Seth's P.O.V

This is fucking bullshit! I have to face Kane and because of Baron's involvement in the brawl, he's being pulled off of the next NXT taping.

Well, I did punch Mandy right in the face and send her flying into the bar… she's the special guest enforcer in this match too.

"Seth?" Stephanie says, me looking up at her after Baron had left. "I really hope things calm down between you and Mandy." She says, me nodding and leaving.

This time of the year is a bittersweet time for Mandy… and I didn't make it any easier.

Amanda's P.O.V

"Hey." Baron says after running over to me and Finn just seconds after we walked into the back doors of the arena… and showing us the website on his phone, the picture of me and Finn hugging and article.

Damn tabloids… why can't the media focus more on the good things we do like helping out with the Make-A-Wish foundation?!

I guess Finn noticed the tension because his hand is rubbing up and down my back and his fingers are trailing up and down my spine seconds later.

"Privacy is a rarity in this business… let them say what they want about us. We know the truth." Finn says.

Yeah… but I have a feeling that Seth has already seen this picture.

"Uh…" Baron says, now showing us the Twitter, Facebook and Instagram posts from angry fans and wrestlers.

The tension later tonight will be suffocating.