Disclaimer, etc., in part 1.

Part Fifty-Two

Eve pushed her hair back from her face, then returned her hand to the steering wheel, the woman carefully turning onto her street and heading for her place... Frowning as she noted a vehicle pulled next to the curb just in front of her place, a person visible inside. Her hands tightening on the wheel, she briefly considered driving right on by... But then she recognized the person that was in the other car, the woman shaking her head slightly as she pulled into her drive, opening the garage door and driving inside, very aware that the vehicle that had been parked at the curb was now being pulled into her driveway as well.

Her gaze continually flicking back toward the other car - one she realized now had to be a rental car, hence the reason she hadn't recognized it when she drove up - Eve put her vehicle in park and set the brake, then removed the key from the ignition, quickly unbuckling her seatbelt before climbing out of her car, not surprised that her surprise visitor was already out of his car. After all, he didn't have cracked ribs and a myriad of bruises left over from an attack with a steel pipe; he could probably move a lot more quickly than her at the moment.

"You know... When I talked to you yesterday, you said nothing about coming to visit me," she said quietly, and CM Punk shrugged, the man coming forward so that he was inside the garage as well.

"I figured you would tell me that I didn't need to come or something. Or maybe that you would tell me that you didn't want me to come."

"Why would I tell you that I didn't *want* you to come?" Eve questioned, and he shrugged.

"I don't know. Maybe I keep thinking you'll get sick of me or something," he replied, and the diva shook her head, making her way to the trunk of her car, pressing the button to pop the trunk... She started to reach for the few grocery bags that were there - she'd needed to pick up a few things - but CM Punk beat her to it.

"I can carry my own groceries-"

"I'm sure you can. But I'm also pretty sure you're still in pain, so... Just let me do it for you," he told her, the man lifting his gaze to look at her, something she didn't quite understand in his expression, and she nodded slightly, taking a step back.

"Who am I to turn down a man that wants to carry the groceries for me?" she finally said, trying to keep her tone light, though something about Punk's expression made it a little difficult. He had something on his mind - she was almost certain of that - and she wasn't sure what it was... Or why it was that he'd come all the way to California - again - to see her. Shaking her head, she turned toward the door that led into her place, walking ahead of him and opening the door, at the same time pressing the button on the wall that closed the garage door. "Is something going on? Is... Is something wrong?"

He tilted his head slightly to look at her. "I don't know... Is there?" he questioned, and Eve frowned slightly, the woman heading inside, CM Punk trailing after her.

"I don't understand. We talked yesterday... And don't think I'm not happy to see you; I am. I'm just not sure... What's going on?"

"Maybe I just wanted to see you. And maybe I thought you could use the help," the wrestler said, then sighed, putting her grocery bags down on the counter, immediately starting to put her things away, Eve watching for a moment, a little surprised that he actually seemed to know where things went... He'd only been here twice before.

"You're spending a lot of money. Coming to see me. Buying tickets on short notice costs a lot-"

"Maybe I think you're worth it. And to be fair... The first time, I was out here to do promotional work for the company, so the WWE actually paid for the airfare. And um, this time? I actually was able to use frequent flier miles. So I really only paid for the second time... Even though it would have been worth every penny I'd have spent if I'd had to pay for it myself all three times," the man said. "I talked to Melina. Yesterday... After I talked to you. I guess she thought that I already knew about it. Were you going to tell me?"

"Tell you what?" Eve asked... Though the truth was, she was pretty sure she already knew what he was getting at, and despite the fact that she knew that she hadn't exactly warned Melina not to tell him... It was a little annoying to realize that she had. Although she supposed she couldn't blame Melina for telling him... She hadn't told her not to, and she'd probably thought Eve would tell Punk that herself anyway.

He arched a brow at her as he put the English muffins in the bread bin that she had on the counter, squeezing them in next to the bagels. "I don't know... Tell me that you want to be out there for the TLC match at SummerSlam... Which still may or may not happen. We're not entirely sure on that. It depends on if Hardy can get the medical clearance. And to be honest, at this point, I don't care whether he does or not. I made my feelings about him pretty clear... Even if he thinks I just hate him because of the damned title and not because he's an abusive assholes and a damned addict. But whatever... The point is... You told Melina that you wanted to be out there, and you didn't tell me."

"Because I knew how you would react."

"Really? You knew the thought of it would scare me out of my mind?" he questioned, shaking his head when Eve went to protest. "Eve... I've been in ladder matches before... And I've watched ladder matches that other people have been in. If you interfered... If you were even out there... Jeff could take you out and make it look like an accident."

"Punk-"

"I watched the first ever TLC match the other night. SummerSlam, back in 2000. The Hardys, Edge and Christian, and the Dudleys. Lita came out at one point and interfered. Afterwards, she stayed out there, and Edge fucking speared her into next week when he got the chance."

"That was a long time ago, and Edge wasn't trying to play the good guy back then. Jeff wants the people to love him. He would have to make it really look like an accident to try anything during that match," she told him, and he sighed, making his way over to her, one hand coming up to cup her face.

"I don't want you getting hurt again. I couldn't help you at Night of Champions. Not because I didn't want to, but because Jeff Hardy literally kept me from it. By the time the match was over and I was able to get up, Dolph Ziggler had already come out there and carried you to the back," Punk said, then gave a slightly rueful smile. "Never thought there would be a day that I would be grateful to that guy."

"He did what he thought was right."

"He did what *was* right," Punk corrected quietly. "I know that you're a wrestler. I get that. You probably don't like seeing me out there in situations where I could get hurt. I fully accept that you're going to have matches of your own... But I don't want you risking yourself during mine. Not one like that. I just... You're just going to be getting back around then - if you're even healed at that point - and I don't want you to be in the position to get hurt again. Because it's not just... I know you want to get back at Jeff, and I want the title, but... I don't want something to happen to end your career when it's just beginning. You could easily be a champion one day, and I don't want that stopped because Jeff Hardy got a lucky shot in. You want to get the guy? Wait until a less dangerous match. Please."

"You would use logic on me," she muttered, and he smiled slightly.

"Sometimes I do that. It's a bad habit, and it often surprises people," he told her, then leaned forward, brushing his lips over hers with a kiss. Pulling back slightly, he met her eyes. "Please don't think I'm trying to control you or something, or that I don't want you out there during regular matches... I want you out there. I want you cheering for me, and I want to be out there cheering for you when I can. But I don't want to see you get hurt."

"I don't really want me to get hurt, either," the woman replied, one hand coming up to absently brush over her banged-up ribs... Ribs that were slowly healing, as were the bruises. Her skin was no longer a myriad of colors, several of the bruises fully gone by now, but the worst of them still showed their damage, though even they had faded greatly. "It's not exactly fun times."

"I know it's not. And it's one thing to get hurt in an actual match, but with what Maria did..." He shook his head. "She's crazy, you know."

"Or obsessed. She so badly wants Jeff Hardy to notice her, to choose her... She's dangerous," Eve muttered, then arched a brow. "That's a word I never thought I'd have to use to describe Maria Kanellis."

"I know. No offense since you used to be friends with her, but she never really came across as any sort of mastermind."

Eve shrugged. "No offense taken... Because you're right. Maria never struck me as the type to be good at doing the nasty, manipulative thing. She seemed more the type to be manipulated. I mean... She's dated some really condescending guys that seem so sure they know what's best for her. Like Santino." The diva shook her head. "Of course, the only reason Maria stood up for herself in that case was because she wanted to pose naked for Playboy, which, just so you know... Is not something that I ever plan to do."

"Duly noted. And your decision would be accepted either way."

"As it should be," Eve replied, then sighed. "Anyway, my point was... I always thought Maria was someone that... She latches onto these things and people and ideas and doesn't always... She doesn't think it through, and sometimes she just holds onto them and clutches at it blindly, even when she shouldn't."

"Like Jeff Hardy. He's what she thinks she wants, so she does what he wants or suggests - even lying to Ziggler about things with him - and pretty much has blinders on when it comes to him. He's got her completely snowed."

"Right. Because she always thought he was so cool and all of that, and now that she thinks she has his attention, that he's picked her to confide in or whatever... She'll do whatever he asks and believe whatever he says without even thinking it through," the woman said, then shook her head. "I never want to be like that. Not for anyone. Ever."

"And I think you're strong enough that you don't even need to worry about that. And just so you know... I fell for you as you are. I'm sure as hell not asking you to change," the man said, stepping over to her, and Eve smiled at him.

"I know that. And I appreciate it. More than you know," she said, her arms coming up, her hands resting on his shoulders. "So... How long are you here for this time anyway?" she wanted to know, and he shrugged.

"A few days, actually. If you think you can handle me," Punk said, and she grinned at him.

"Trust me... I think I can 'handle' you just fine."