Chapter Seventeen

August 20th, 2006

San Antonio, TX

It's ten A.M. and we're just leaving the church Shawn grew up in. We're now heading to the airport to make it to Connecticut on time for the show.

" Between this flight, settling in at Hunter and Stephanie's house, and then whatever they have planned I'm going to be so tired in the morning. " I say yawning.

He places his warm hand on my bare thigh. " I know. They love having guests. At least we got things started today. We're one step closer to saying " I do ". "

" Yeah... A year huh? " I ask still not believing how long we have to actually wait.

Shawn really wants to get married in his family church. The problem? The pastor won't marry us until we do his marriage counseling. He says doing this lessen's our chance of divorce by twenty percent. With the divorce rate being fifty-two percent, I'll do this to bump it up to seventy-two.

I am NOT planning on getting married just to end it anyway. The minute I knew that I was going to accept his proposal, I was sure. I want him forever no matter what comes our way. It's just having to travel back and forth even when it's out of our way to do counseling sessions is weird to me. Like, can't we do this by phone?

Other than that I'm to the moon about Shawn and I's fresh engagement. It sucks that Melina had to ruin the surprise for all of the people we love, but in a way, it's a blessing. At least we didn't have to tell people she was lying.

We've been congratulated by damn near everyone in the locker room including Vince and Linda McMahon. We're both deliriously happy and nothing has been able to bring us down. This is why I haven't talked to Bret or Nattie since the party. I really don't need a lecture right now from either of them.

" We do need to talk about something before we get to Hunter's... " I say wanting to get this conversation out of the way.

He takes my hand in his. " What is it darlin'? "

" Our sleeping arrangements. " I say quickly.

Lord knows I'm nervous as hell.

" Babe... " He sighs knowing this was coming.

Sighing I say, " I'm not being unreasonable, Shawn. I can handle abstinence. What I can't handle is not being able to sleep next to you every night. I miss waking up to you every morning like we used to and a year is a long time. "

" Babe things are different this time. Before I didn't know just how soft you really are. I really want to wait until we're married to make love. " He tells me adamantly.

What did the pastor say? We have to learn to compromise? " Okay... How about this, we get a room with two beds? "

" And you'll stay in your bed? " He asks making me smile on the inside.

I put up scouts honor. " I solemnly swear. "

" We can try it out babe, but any funny business and we go back to separate rooms. " He says looking at the road ahead.

Picking up his hand I place a kiss on his knuckles. I knew I'd get my way.

Hartford, CT

The Levesque Residence

" Hey sis, bro. " I say pulling them both in for a triple hug.

Shawn gives Hunter a manly hug before giving Steph what I call a " church hug ".

" Where's our niece? " I ask as we walk through the foyer.

Stephanie sighs. " She's taking a nap thank God. She should be getting up soon though. "

" I can't wait. I got her a bunch of Kliq/DX baby stuff specially made by one of the vendors we use. " I say going over to my bag to get my favorite.

She gives me a momma bear look. " Oh no, you're trying to induct my daughter into the conspiracy. "

" Excuse? My niece was born into the conspiracy. You should have seen this coming when you decided to get knocked up. " I tell her with no remorse.

She then goes to her husband. " Hunter, you won't let her turn our kid into a degenerate, will you? "

He gives her that famous DX smirk and says nothing.

" Oh, God, give me the patience. " She prays.

Laughing I say, " go ahead and talk to him Steph, he's the only one that will listen. "

Pulling my favorite one out I show it to her with pride.

" Oh my. I have to admit, it is really cute. You guys should do something like this for the fans. " She says always in business mode.

She's way behind. " I'm already way ahead of you. I came up with this myself and a couple of other designs as well. I sent them to your dad and I'm just waiting for his approval. " I even had special ones made for us and our Kliq brothers.

Can't leave them out now, can we?

" You've always been the idea person with these guys that's for sure. " She says with that look on her face.

" Now that I think about it... You've come up with the majority of the ideas for our merch. " Hunter says scratching his chin.

No. I do not need both of them ganging up on me.

" Don't even go there. " I say knowing what he's thinking.

Shawn laughs deeply knowing exactly what I'm thinking. I am not putting any more on my plate right now.

" Come on Chlo, don't you want to help the business? With you, on our marketing team, all the superstars and divas will have premo merch. " Hunter says doing his best to try and convince me.

Sighing I say, " I'm already training the Bella's, shadow training Natty with Bret and Anvil, coming up with promo ideas for us. Then I'm doing my best to record my new album, and on top of all of that, I have a wedding to plan. "

" You should think about it. " Stephanie says taking his side. " As a legend, it's your responsibility to rise to the occasion when called upon. This is the same as you getting someone over in the ring. "

I give her a " what the fuck are you on? " look. " A legend? I'm not a legend. "

" Umm, yes you are. You've had a career that most people only dream of having and it isn't over yet. " Steph says putting her hands on her hips. " Do you know why I put you with the Bella's? "

Not caring I still ask, " why "?

" Because they grew up watching you. " She says like I should have already known. " From ninety-five to o-two when you left, you were their idol and when they heard you were coming back they requested you. There are tons of women that come through here saying they wanted to wrestle in the first place because " Andri was the best there is, was, and ever will be in women's wrestling " ".

I have to laugh at them using Bret's motto. " Where have I been when all of these untrue compliments have been made? "

" Off living the pop star life. " Shawn says with a smirk. " And it is true. You're destined for the Hall Of Fame, darlin'. "

" I am so not ready for all of that. I'm only thirty. " I tell him seriously.

That and I don't feel right being inducted when there are so many people that deserve it more. Owen and Bret to name a couple. It's only right that the men that trained me to get inducted first.

" You'd be one of the youngest to be inducted... Just something to think about. No pressure. " Hunter says patting my shoulder.

Shaking my head I say, " I can already tell you that I'm not ready. At least not while I'm still an in-ring performer. "

It's then that my niece saves me from the conversation. " That's a hungry cry, I'll be right back. " Steph says going to calm Aurora down.

" I have to go call Pita. What room are we in? " I ask looking at my phone.

Hunter shrugs. " The same as usual. "

Taking the handle of my two bags I roll them with me.

" Let me get those, Chlo. " Shawn starts but I put my hand up.

Slapping his hands away I say, " I can do it, babe. You don't need to strain your back. When I get back down I'll be taking your bags up. Don't argue, just deal with it. "

" She told you. " I hear Hunter say when I'm halfway up.

Shaking my head I chuckle.

Later that night Hunter, Shawn, and I sit down in the living room and go over our promo's for the week. Our plans are as follows, go to WWE headquarters to film part of our segment, then head to the hangar where Vince keeps the WWE's personal jet.

Vince okayed a DX make-over to it and after tonight any and all talent that rides will see our mark. Of course, the people in the audience and at home will think we're defacing Vince's personal jet.

It's a perfect " prank ". Nothing like what me and Kid used to get into, but at least we can fool the fans. They're crafty little buggers who will call us out on our shit any day of the week. It didn't use to be like this but with the internet taking off secrets get spilled about the biz every day.

" We should start it off with a public service type of thing. Then the frame can shift to us at the hangar. " I say loving the idea of bringing that back.

Hunter nods. " Yeah, but then what? "

" We get a green screen and " brand " the WWE headquarters as well. They can put it in a the end just as we go off air. " Yes, I've been thinking about this one for a while.

Shawn concurs. " That sounds good... How are we going to pull that off and have the fans think we actually did it? "

" convince " the man " to brand HQ himself. " I say shrugging.

Hunter clears his throat intentionally. " Yeah, that'll happen. "

" Hey, I'm just the ideas person. " I say putting my hands up and looking at the clock. " It's getting late. We can talk more on the way to the hangar tomorrow. "

We head up and I realize that here, there are no double beds. Getting in the room I fully expect Shawn to get his stuff and go to another guest room. I'm wrong. He pulls the covers back and makes a wall out of the extra pillows directly down the middle of the bed. Rolling my eyes I got into the bathroom and change into my pajamas.

At least he isn't running for the hills.

Author's Note: Hey guys this is more of a filler chapter. In the next chapter, Melina will get hers. Promise!