Author's Note: I'm back again!

And here with another chapter for you all. My darlings. Without further ado... here we go!

Disclaimer: I do not own any of these characters, or the WWF or stuff like that. I only own Lacey Michaels and some other OC's I might make up along the way. This is a pure work of fiction and all these events occurred in my head.

Warning: This story contains certain themes, language and/or triggering scenes that may not be appropriate for all viewers. View discretion is advised. Don't say I didn't tell you so. You have been warned.

Chapter 4 – The Irony

2:19am.

Bret turned in his bed. He couldn't sleep. A lot of things were on his mind. Starting with what happened at Unforgiven with Lacey. To the club. To the car. To his hotel room.

And just a few feet from him laid the sleeping beauty.

Lacey.

She was something alright.

She was the first woman in his career as a wrestler that he'd brought to his hotel room without having any 'fun' with. Save for his ex-wife Julie.

He sighed at the thought of his wife Julie. They still remained good friends but it was obvious that their relationship wasn't gonna work. He felt Julie deserved better. A husband who would actually have time for her and wouldn't be on the road three hundred days a year.

He sighed once more and shook off the thought of Julie and he turned on the bedside lamp which illuminated the room dimly.

In the dim light, he could see the figure of Lacey lying on the couch snuggled up in a ball. She looked comfortable as she slept but… he knew deep down that she wasn't and it was gonna tell on her in the morning.

So once again, he performed another selfless act by carrying Lacey bridal style out of the couch and placing her on his bed. He noticed that she was a fairly deep sleeper as besides nuzzling into his chest, she did nothing else.

Bret looked at her for a moment and contemplating getting into bed next to her. He knew nothing would happen.

But he quickly shook off the idea. Not that he expected anything to happen…like that. But he knew how shaken she was the night before and how initially shaken she would be waking up in a new hotel room bed. He didn't want to scare her more at the event of waking up next to him.

So instead, he decided to sleep on the couch knowing it would hurt like hell the next morning.

If someone told him that he would be this nice to the sister of his greatest enemy a few days ago, he would've have thought they were on crack.

But look where life brought him. Wasn't it Ironic?

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Just as Bret predicted, he was woken up later in the morning by a loud scream from none other than Lacey. Hmm.

Weren't mornings wonderful?

"Oh my! Bret, I'm so sorry for yelling. I thought Scott was the one who brought me to his hotel room and I freaked out till I saw you on the couch!" She rambled on, sounding so sweet and remorseful.

"Who in their right minds would even wanna hurt this girl?" Bret mumbled inaudibly before sitting up. "It's okay Michaels. It really is. I'm due to wake up anyways" He said glancing at the clock which read 6:39am. "I wake up early most days"

"Yeah of course. But why'd you still take the couch? You're big, I'm sure you weren't comfortable in the slightest!"

"Yeah but you had a rough night. Didn't want you to add a stiff neck to everything else in your plate" Bret said with half a smile.

"You never smile do you?" Lacey asked as she stood up from the bed, tidying it up a bit.

That question caught Bret's attention. Partly because it was true but mostly because no one had pointed it out to him in recent times.

"Well, I guess I don't. What's there to smile about?" He asked jokingly. Or at least Lacey thought he was joking. She couldn't really tell.

"There's always something to smile about. Plus you're a good looking guy" She said as she placed an arm on his shoulder. Bret seemed surprised by this gesture as he flinched away from her. She quickly withdrew, feeling embarrassed. "Oh I'm sorry, I…"

"Hey, it's alright. Really" He assured. "And I'm sure I'll smile when I have something to smile about. After all I haven't lost it like your jackass brother Shawn Michaels." Bret poked. Lacey smiled.

"I really don't understand Shawn sometimes. But fifty bucks says it's because he didn't wanna face you" Lacey said with a giggle. Bret rolled his eyes.

"Whatever."

"And you guys should really get over your silly rivalry. In twenty years both of you would be old and grey and wishing you didn't spend so much time fighting" Lacey said.

"Oh and you won't be old and grey too?"

"Nah. I'll be twenty four in July. In twenty years I'll be young and sexy" Lacey said with a wink. Bret let out a slight chuckle.

So she was twenty four. Meaning he had a good sixteen years on her.

That bit of information wasn't really important to him but hey, it's always good to point out things.

"Thanks so much for your protection and hospitality Bret." Lacey said with appreciation as she exited from the bathroom having changed back into her clothes from the previous night. "I have no idea what Scott would do to me next but thanks for your help"

"Don't mention it" Bret said. "And you can keep the clothes" He said.

"Thanks, though I figured you wouldn't want the boxers back anyways" She joked with a giggle. Bret observed her for a minute as she went through her phone and her smile wavered a bit.

I'm having breakfast with you guys before Kevin and I jet. See you soon beautiful – Scott

If luck permits maybe I'll steal a kiss or two from you – Scott

"Let me guess, Hall?" Bret asked with a concerned expression on his face. Lacey sighed and nodded. "You don't have to go you know. How about you come to the gym and work out with me?"

Lacey's face lit up. Then her lips turned into a suggestive smirk. "Did Bret Hart just ask me out on a date?" She teased. Bret laughed. He actually laughed. "Yes! You laughed!"

"And I would laugh again and again. You're funny kid" He said ruffling her hair.

"Hey!" She protested as Bret tossed her the room service menu.

"Order whatever you want for breakfast then order toast and coffee for me. Then we'll go to your room, you take a shower, dress up then head back here alright?" Bret suggested. Lacey nodded eagerly.

At least she would get away from Scott. Even if it was just for a day.

She and Bret did just that and soon enough, they were back to his hotel room. The food came while Bret was taking his shower so Lacey made sure not to touch it until he came out.

I can't meet you for breakfast Shawn. I'll just see you at the arena – Lacey

Alright darling, take care – Shawn.

She smiled as Bret got out of the bathroom, dressed casually. He plopped down on the couch next to her as she passed his food over to him.

"Thanks." He said as he dug into the food. They both ate in silence, savoring their food. Lacey ordered pancakes and felt incredibly full afterwards as she remembered she hadn't eaten anything the night before.

She shuddered as she thought about the events of the previous night.

"What's up?" Bret asked. Lacey shook her head.

"It's nothing" She said. "And I'm done. Thanks for everything Bret. I'm still baffled as to how you could be a complete gentleman. Especially after…" Lacey trailed off as a sudden glimpse of fear appeared on her face which was gone in a nanosecond.

But it didn't go unnoticed by Bret who deciphered it.

"…yeah. I'm sorry. For cornering you like that. I guess I was just angry. I didn't mean to take it out on you. I get it that we are entertainers and it's our job to put on a show" Bret said. Lacey smiled slightly.

"Before I accept your apology, you have to tell me why you were angry" She said with her blue eyes shining at him.

"Lacey, really?"

"Yes really!" She smiled. "Was it because it was unplanned? Was I too…?" Lacey was held on that thought as her phone began to ring. Her eyes widened immensely as she stared at the caller ID.

"It's Scott isn't it?" Bret asked. While she didn't affirm, he could tell by the fear in her eyes. He boiled internally that someone would inflict fear on this girl.

Despite the fact that did so to the night prior.

"I'm putting it on speaker" She declared. Bret raised an eyebrow but nodded as she picked Scott's call.

"So she is alive, hallelujah!" Scott mockingly rejoiced from the other end.

"What do you want Scott?" She asked as the frustration was imminent in her voice.

"Now, now. Don't build up all that anger chica. Remember we had a deal. And you've not come to terms with it yet. You ignored all my texts last night and now… I don't even know where the fuck you are!" Scott yelled. "I came to your hotel room and there's no sign of habitation here. Other than the fact that you obviously took a shower here"

"Scott… you're being too creepy. Please. I've let you kiss me, I…I've let you get to second base…" She almost vomited as she said those words feeling especially embarrassed to say them in front of Bret.

Speaking of Bret, his expression seemed to be a mixture of revulsion and worry. She guessed hearing a story, seeing Scott and reading his texts were bad enough, but hearing his voice…

"Lacey, beautiful, I'm just trying to be a gentleman" Her ass. "I honestly should've fucked you already if you were any other girl"

"Scott please let me go already!" She pleaded. "I'm honestly sick and tired of your games" Scott laughed heartily over the phone.

"Oh beautiful, the game's just getting started. This was strike one, I'll see you soon enough" Scott said ominously as he hung up. Lacey sighed.

"That was unnerving" Bret commented. "Are you alright?"

"No. But I will be." She said as she tried to garner up a smile.

"Will it make you feel better if I tell you why I was angry?" Bret suggested. Lacey's face lit up almost instantly as she nodded enthusiastically. "You made me look stupid. Honestly."

Lacey looked confused. "It wasn't my intention. I just wanted to mess with you. But I'm sorry if I did" She said genuinely. Bret groaned.

"Yeah I know and I forgive you. I knew you didn't mean any harm! That's the thing. I couldn't take my anger out at you because I knew you didn't mean it." Bret confessed. Lacey looked perplexed.

"If you weren't gonna take your anger out at me yesterday, then what were you gonna do?" She asked curiously. Bret stayed quiet and gazed down at the floor. It was obvious that he had no answer to her question.

At that moment, Lacey suddenly felt uneasy. Bret looked uncomfortable and quite frankly, she felt suddenly uncomfortable as well.

There was some kind of tension in the air but she had no idea what to make of it.

"Um… alright. You don't need to answer." She said as she got up from the couch. Bret looked up at her. "Thanks for the hospitality Bret, I really appreciate it!"

"Wait, where are you going?" He asked. She rubbed the back of her neck nervously.

"To see Chyna" She said.

"No you're welcome to stay. I didn't mean to offend you" Bret said quietly. Lacey smiled.

"I know Bret. But I've been enough trouble in your hair for a while" She bent down to his level and gave him a friendly peck on his cheek. "There. Now we're friends. Gotta run!" She said as she grabbed her bags and fled his room.

Bret stayed stunned for the second time in two days as he touched the patch of skin on his face where her lips had been on.

His lips curled into a smile.

"She managed to make me smile after all" Bret said to himself, seeing utterly charmed by the sister of his rival.

He had in fact taken his mind off the fact that she was Shawn's sister. She just seemed so… special. He knew this wasn't going to be their last close encounter together, no. He knew that it would just be first of many.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

"So you spent the night with Bret 'Hitman' Hart. My, my, you cunny little vixen." Chyna praised after Lacey admitted to her that she stayed with Bret overnight. "So how was he? Is he big?"

"Joan Marie Laurer!" Lacey exclaimed using Chyna's full name which made the taller woman laugh hysterically. Lacey blushed. "Chyna, I didn't sleep with him!"

"Right. Your secret's safe with me" Chyna winked. Lacey groaned in embarrassment as Chyna's laughter heightened. "That explained the sexual tension in the ring" She joked.

"Are you done?" Lacey asked with a weary expression.

"Not quite" Chyna admitted as she let out a few more laughs. "Okay now I'm done. And yes I believe you didn't sleep with him"

"Praise Jesus!" Lacey exclaimed gladly.

"But that still doesn't explain what you were doing in his hotel room" Chyna said.

"In whose hotel room?" Hunter's voice came from behind Lacey suddenly, making her jump. "Sorry champ, didn't mean to startle you" Hunter apologized as he went over to Chyna's side. "So what's the tea?"

"Gossiping with the girls, really Hunter?" Rick Rude's voice came from behind her. She turned over to see both him and Shawn approaching them.

"Hi guys" Lacey greeted cheerfully as she hugged both their sides. "So what's up? How's Degeneration X doing?" She asked motioning to all of them.

"Pretty well actually. But… that could change" Rick said ominously as his voice trailed off. Lacey's eyes widened.

"What?" She asked as her voice sounded over a whisper.

"Rick!" Shawn scolded. "Don't go getting my sister all worked up. You know she doesn't deal well with stress" Shawn warned. Rich shrugged with a wicked smile. "And… Rick might have a point"

"What?!" Lacey exclaimed even louder.

"Way to go brother of the year!" Rick cheered mockingly as Chyna smirked and Hunter snickered. Shawn rolled his eyes.

"As I was saying…" He stressed in an attempt to get his friends to quiet down. "Vince wants to have a meeting with us. You especially" Shawn said.

"W…what?" She asked with her voice wavering. While Shawn shared a close relationship with Vince, she didn't as she was usually in the background. Hell she was even shocked when she was chosen to be the Women's champion.

Wait that was true, she was the champion.

Uh oh.

"Does he wanna take the title off me?" She asked worriedly before taking in deep breaths. ""Lacey breathe"

"You're getting better at those" Chyna commented.

"I agree" Hunter added. "And cheer up champ. It could be good news" Hunter said with words of encouragement.

"Maybe. Or maybe he's not a fan of the Bret thing yesterday…" Lacey trailed off as she bit her tongue nervously. Hunter and Shawn burst into laughter.

"Oh please. Vince most likely loved the shit out of that! And hey, don't worry. You'll be fine." Shawn said as he rubbed his sister's back comfortingly. She seemed to calm down with that action.

Her brother always knew just what to do.

"Alright then. Let's go!" She said as they all made their way to Vince's office. Lacey felt her heart thumping aggressively but chose to ignore it.

Shawn knocked softly then was given permission to go in. The rest of them went in with the Heartbreak Kid. Rick held the door open for Lacey as she was the last one to get in. She thanked him and turned her head over to Vince only to find out the Hart Foundation were already seated.

Her cheeks burned as she locked eyes momentarily with Bret who smirked at her. Then she looked over to Owen who had a smile on his face and waved at her. She returned the smile and waved back to him.

"Good of you guys to join us. Please have your seats" Vince motioned to five empty seats to the right of where the Hart Foundation sat. They all took their seats as the meeting commenced. "So, you all must be curious as to why I've called you here. I'm here to tell you guys that I'm impressed. This rivalry between DX and The Hart's has really skyrocketed our ratings and from what we got from our polls and surveys, fans want to see more of you guys!"

"Well isn't that great" Shawn commented. "But there's a 'but' isn't there?" He asked. Vince sighed as Bret rolled his eyes. "What? Got a problem with me Hitman?"

"As you were saying Vince" Bret cut in, deciding to completely ignore Shawn. Lacey smiled slightly at the banter which Chyna took a note of.

"Thank you Bret, speaking of which, this has to do with you" Vince said. The entire room was silent as everyone looked at Bret who looked puzzled as hell. "Judging from individual polls from last night, fans really want to see of you! Isn't that exciting?"

Bret looked smugly at Shawn before replying. "Extremely exciting."

"But the catch is they want to see more of you and…Lacey. Together." Vince said slowly which made Triple H spit out the water he was drinking. Luckily it didn't land of anybody.

The whole room was in shock

"What do they mean by together? Romantically?" Lacey asked which was the question on everyone's mind.

"Would it work? I mean I don't see it happening" Jim Neidhart pitched in.

"I do" Brian pitched in.

"So do I" Chyna said in agreement with Brian which earned her a glare from Lacey.

"Well, not romantically. But the fans just want to see more on-screen interaction between them." Vince said. "Especially after what happened at Unforgiven" Vince said offering a smirk to Lacey. "I never knew you had it in you kid"

"I…"

"Meeting adjourned!" Vince announced as turn by turn they each stood up to leave.

Once they were out of Vince's office, Lacey kept an eye out for Bret but instead bumped into his younger brother Owen who was her friend. She smiled at him and gave him a friendly hug.

"So what do you think? The fans wanting to see you and my brother?" Owen asked with a chuckle. He was clearly amused. Lacey sighed. "Don't worry you'll live through it"

"I have no doubts. Speaking of Bret, where is he?" She asked. Owen raised an eyebrow wondering why she would want to talk to his brother.

"He's talking to Vince but he should be out in a minute. Is everything alright?"

"Yeah, just wanna talk to him that's all" She said with a shrug, trying so hard to hide her nervousness.

"You don't have to if you don't want to you know"

"I…" She was cut off by Bret's sudden appearance. She couldn't hide her smile at his presence and he smirked at her in return.

"Just a moment Owen." Bret excused as he pulled Lacey over to the side for a little chat leaving Owen with a frown plastered on his face, obviously wondering when his brother and his friend became civil towards each other.

"Hi Bret" She smiled. "Was that a smile I got out of you?"

"You wish" Bret said with a smirk. "How are you?" He asked.

"I'm good. You?"

"I'm great. Just a bit confused" He said.

"I hear you. This new storyline…"

"I'll get to the storyline later. But I am confused because… you paid for our room service this morning" He said still smirking at her. She blushed in embarrassment. Like a thief caught right in the act.

"I…"

What a turn of events! Once again who knew The Hitman could be such a softie! Readers of my other book would be pleasantly surprised. And it looks like fate has a lot in store for Bret and Lacey. Make sure to keep reading to find out more.

As usual don't forget to follow, favorite, share and especially, review! It always feels good to hear feedback from you guys. Till next time. Peace.