Author: Anne
Title: The Angle
Rating: PG-13 for good ol language and violence
Spoilers:None
Characters: Hardyz, E&C and a few of my own creation
Disclaimer: I don't own any characters except Mercy and David, Kay is owned by Kaylin herself. I'm not making $$ off of this either.
Distribution: My site and Kay's.

I as beaming. Inside Jeff's Land Rover Matt had just proposed. The happiest moment of my life to date had taken place in a grocery store parking lot. Even taking in the setting outside, I was caught up in the romantic gesture inside.

Matt loosened his arms around me, "You're the greatest Twist of Fate life has given me,"

I looked down at my ring and smiled staring back into Matt's eyes. That was all the answer, needed. We were quiet once more.

"Do you mind if we get my shoulder some ice?" he half whimpered letting go of me a little more.

"Awe, your poor shoulder," I lamented letting go of what little I still held of Matt, "Course, let's go get some now,"

I reached for my door and Matt did the same. As I got out of the car I felt somehow awkward in the midst of the situation. Everything seemed different. Maybe more serious. I didn't necessarily welcome the serious notion I was feeling in the air. How would I act now? Should I act different? As I closed the passenger door I knew I had closed an important chapter minutes before. I knew what I was feeling, smothered cluttered. What was going wrong with me? For almost a month I had been off and on contemplating the if's and when's of Matt and my future. Now my questions were null and void, being answered. Why was I feeling dread and this upset feeling? This is what I wanted. Thoughts were flying through my head at supersonic speeds. I had barely just closed the door when I happened to glance up out of the corner of my eye. Matt was coming around the side of the car to meet me where I stood. I saw his thick sigh of relief and in my imagination layers of anxiety shed from him. He looked up at me and even though I don't suppose it was an intentional response his face lightened up and barely visible his mouth betrayed happiness. I, too, then sighed with relief and banished my earlier smothered thoughts out of my mind. Whatever feelings I had about the dread of newness and different state of mind were no longer even a past option. I started toward Matt and immediately took his hand the second I reached him. Before he could say anything we were walking to the store.

"Which shoulder hurts?" I asked as we neared the entrance of the store.

"Both of them. It's killing me,"

"You going to take anything for it?"

"Tylenol's for pussies," Matt joked as we passed through the automatic doors, "And about that party, Jay and Jeff took care of it already. So we're here strictly on a mission of ice,"

"Oh were they in on this?" I asked laughing as his eyes grew upon seeing the ice freezer.

"Well, Jeff knew a while ago and Jay, you can ask him yourself,"

Matt was nearly drooling as we walked to the ice freezer. He reached for the door handle, but I made a point of stopping him.

"No way," I opened the door to the freezer, "I couldn't take the irony of you hurting yourself lifting your blessed bag of ice. Let me get it,"

"Oh, come on, first my bag now this!"

"Just shut up and let me take care of you," I pulled a very large bag of ice out of the freezer, "It's not like I'm paying for it," I giggled picking it up using both arms.

"I'm going to laugh if that thing lands you on your ass,"

"I wouldn't doubt it considering what an unusually bad luck I have carrying massive objects around,"

"Tell me about it," Matt agreed stopping to rub the spot on the back of his leg I had hit earlier after he refused to put me down.

"Ha ha, you're too funny,"

Most of the checkout registers were closed, but the two that were open were empty. So we easily made it to the check out lanes and bought the ice, along with giving each other a barrage of petty jokes.

"Thanks for lifting my ice for me. Even though I am the big boy here,"

"Babe, I hate to remind you on this joyous occasion and bring down your manly disillusionment, but I am older than you by six months, just barely,"

"I know, I know. You're only with me to sap my youth, but I'm just hoping you don't break a hip trying to out macho the macho-man,"

"As to quote Adam, which heaven knows I hate doing, 'You're so cute when you try' and you are NO Randy Savage, okay," I patted Matt on the head as we walked across the parking lot back to the Land Rover.

"I can't believe you just quoted Adam. I don't know if I should never live this down for saying something so dumb you had to quote him, or if you should never live it down BECAUSE you quoted him," Matt laughed.

"Okay, that was a good one. A little long, but witty and well executed none the less,"
"Oh, so now you're critiquing my sly remarks?"
"Why, yes I am, but sadly the jokes must cease because we have reached the car and I really hate carrying this cold bag of your own personal heaven,"

"Oh, so now you want me to open the door for you, so you don't have to let your fingers freeze off? Ha, not happening, I'm going to let you suffer," Matt grinned superiorly.

"I have a secret weapon," I smiled thinking up perfect revenge in my head as we stood outside the vehicle.

"What?"

"Well if I told you it wouldn't be a secret now would it?"

"Fine, I don't want to know. Just admit I have good comebacks and, maybe, I'll open that door,"

"Uhm, let me think about it," I paused momentarily, "No,"

I dropped the bag of ice before he could protest and put my freezing hands on his cheeks gripping his face. Matt jerked back smiling with surprise at the intense cold being unleashed upon his poor skin. Matt grabbed my hands and placed them on my face. I jerked back equally as shocked.

"Ahh, no, not fair!" I squeaked trying to break away.

It was no use, Matt had be stuck between him and the door of the Land Rover. His face inches from mine.

"Gonna admit it?" he asked.

"Never," I dramatically exclaimed.

His hands had lost their chill, but he still held my face in his hands. Predictably, he leaned in to absorb me with one of his kisses and I allowed it.

"We should go. I can't wait to see everybody,"

"Yeah, they're going to wonder if we're gone like 3 hours, and I don't think a story about taking this long for one bag of ice is gonna fly with Jay,"

"I thought you said he was in on this,"

"He's still Jay, though," Matt smirked reaching into his pocket and removing a set of keys.

He opened the door and I placed the ice on the floor in front of my seat and hopped in.

"I can't believe you won't let me touch that bag of ice," he said shocked and amazed as he started up the ignition.

"It's for your own good,"

"I feel like I'm less than a man,"

"I seriously doubt that. Besides, aren't you ready to get used to me taking care and cleaning up after you,"

"See, that won't happen. You can cook for me, because of obvious reasons,"

I cut him off, "Yah, because I don't want to live on macaroni and cheese alone,"

"Hey, it's Cheese and Macaroni and for your information I've graduated to Rice-A-Roni and TV Dinners!" Matt paused, "As I was saying, you can cook, but as for the rest, I'll be taking care of you,"

I smiled, "I like the sound of that, but one thing, I'll still be carrying your ice around,"

We drove for about half an hour as Matt desperately tried to figure his way back to the hotel. I remained silent noticing how hard he was trying. He had turned off both the air conditioning and the radio and was staring very focused at the road. It was almost amusing that he had become the classic "lost guy driving in circles refusing to look at the map or ask for directions". Luckily, he finally spotted the Motel 6 sign and we were home free. As we pulled into the parking lot, I noticed the plethora of cars parked. We parked towards the back where spaces were still left. Matt turned off the engine and looked over at me with pleading eyes.

"Please, can I carry my own stuff and save my dignity in front of all the guys?"

"I suppose, seeing as you've been on such good behavior and all,"

"Thank GOD! You don't even know how much teasing I would get. They would never believe I was forced into letting you do it,"

"I know, I know, the fact that you had to beg me to get your way is payment enough," I started to get out of the car.

"I think everyone's down at the pool," Matt called catching up with me on the other side to remove his belongings.

"I'm going to go change then. I can't very well swim in these," I handed him his ice gesturing to my sweatshirt and jeans.

"Okay, I'll meet you there then. I have to go find my holy ice-packs and get busy,"

"You and you're ice packs. Don't make me get jealous,"

"Sorry, but when we're married they'll have to move in with us,"

I rolled my eyes, "Sounds like bad Jerry Springer. I can see it now, "Yes Jerry things are going great, it's just … just he won't stop making out with his two ice packs. He's a wrestler and he's just too attatched,"

"Course then I could come on and reveal you're affection for my luggage and massive bags of ice,"

"That's true,"

I pulled out the key Jay had given me earlier to the room. I walked to the long row of rooms along the ground and found that my room was on the bottom not too far from where Matt and I had parked. Matt was following behind me dragging his bag while cradling the ice lovingly.

"Well, I'd say 'Go get a room, but" I joked referring to the position of the ice bag hurrying inside the door of my room before Matt could reply.

The room seemed to be empty, but I called out just to be sure. Without hearing a reply I walked around searching for my luggage. Thankfully I had my own room again. At some motels I actually had to cramp myself into a room with Adam and Jay, such as the night before, when we had the big suite. That was only when we would be traveling the following day. I had some days to enjoy this room, presuming for some strange reason we all had to hurry off to another city early. I found my two massive suitcases awaiting me on the bed in the other section of the room. I flopped down on the bed to take a breather and modeled my hand so I could gaze at it. I took a deep happy sigh staring at the two hearts intertwined. I loved the way it looked on my finger. After a few moments of silent adoration I sat up and tore off the musty smelling clothes I was wearing. I was more than glad to be rid of them. I popped open one of the suitcases and dug through it until I found my swimsuit. A two piece black number half were the tiny little shorts that had become so popular as of late and the other a camisole looking top. I debated off and on whether to take my ring off or not and then decided not. If it meant I couldn't actually swim than that would just have to be the case, because there was no way I would remove it for at least two weeks straight. I grabbed my leopard thong sandals and room key. The shower would have to wait because it wouldn’t make sense if I would just be showering after the pool anyway.

I exited the room and looked around to see if anyone was around. I could hear the exited screaming and music coming from the pool area. It wasn't loud enough to wake everyone in the area, but from all the noise I could successfully find my way there. I wondered if Jay knew what was going to happen when he let Matt and I go "grocery shopping". I smiled thoughtfully recalling the big moment in the car. As I neared the entrance gate to the pool I could see everyone was having a raging good time. Jay and Adam were standing by the diving board as Jeff climbed out of the pool with a disoriented look on his face. Melanie and Stacy were looking relaxed in the Jacuzzi. Scott Taylor and Brian Christopher were sitting on lawn chairs by the rather large stereo. I opened the gate and walked closer to the area, which was enclosed by some massive tempered glass. It reminded me of an old YMCA I had frequented in Michigan. I pushed open the glass door and was instantly noticed by Mel and Stacy.

"MERCY!!!" Melanie shouted starting to lift her self out of the Jacuzzi to greet me.

I hurried toward her careful not to break the no-running rule around the pool. I turned noticing some movement to my right and caught a glimpse of Jeff doing a Swanton off the diving board.

"Hey!" I greeted Mel, "You're boyfriends a major psycho," I laughed.

"So, where were you?" I thought you left earlier than everyone.

I cleverly kept my hands behind my back as I spoke, "Well, Matt and I made a slight detour. He said we had to get food for this party, but apparently," I nodded at the table full of food that Rikishi Phatu was holding captive along with Paul b.k.a The Big Show, "Apparently we didn’t have to,"

"Oh," Stacy smirked giving Mel and obvious nudge with her elbow, "So what were you two doing all that time. You were gone like an hour,"

"Well, Matt got lost on the way back," I started to smirk as I let my hands fall from behind my back, "Oh yeah, and then of course Matt asked me to marry him in the parking lot,"

Mel and Stacy both had their jaws hanging open in shock. Stacy's eyes lit up when she noticed the ring on my finger.

"Oh my GAWD! MEL Look at that ring!"

Stacy grabbed my hand and brought it up to her face. Melanie tried pushing her out of the way to get a good look.

"Eek, geez one at a time. That's priceless merchandise you have,"

"Yeah, no joke. Like a month's worth of savings!" I heard Jeff exclaim from behind me.

He was toweling off his hair and looking for a place to sit next to Mel in the steaming water.

"Let me see. Matt was being a total tightwad with it the last few days. Wouldn't even let me have a peek," Jeff leaned over my shoulder to have a gander while Stacy and Mel held onto my fingers with the grip of pit bulls.

"Nice. Real nice," he moved away and started to slip into the water, "HOT!! Ahh HOT!!"

Mel let go of me to tend to Jeff, "Poor thing. You should have waited before getting in. You just got out of the pool,"

"No," he corrected trying to regain his composure, "I was talking about you,"

"How sweet. What a sucky liar you are," Mel gave him a consolation kiss to make up for his bad cover up.

"Hey Stace when you're through with my hand. I kinda want to go see Jay and Adam,"

"Oh yeah. Sorry," she answered letting go of my fingers and standing up, "I'm so happy for you," she gave me a quick hug getting me wet.

"I'll be back. Don't have fun without me,"

I looked over at Jeff and Melanie who were deeply embroiled in a make out session and shook my head. I started over to the diving board where I had last seen Jay and Adam, but found only Adam was still there.

"Hey, have you seen Jay?" I asked, "I gotta talk to him,"

"He went to get his floaties. You might want to try the kiddie pool,"

"I'm serious,"

Adam smiled, "So am I,"

I looked across the big pool and saw Jay floating on his back in the three feet of water known as the kiddie pool.

"Did I miss something?"

"He's having a mid life crisis, only in the middle of the first half of his mid life,"

"Okay. Remind me to throw away all your Dr. Suess books the minute the parties over,"

"Actually I think he's moping over Kaylin again,"

Kaylin was the daughter of Glenn Jacobs, better known to everyone else as Kane. Jay had a seriously mad crush on her since he met her about 8 months ago. To my knowledge he had never done a thing about that crush and remained her admirer from afar. Needless to say we all made a point of teasing him about this.

"Hmm, to be in denial or not to be in denial that is the question,"

"That pretty much sums Jay up," Adam snickered doing the habitual stare at his feet routine, "What'd you want to talk to him about anyway,"

I lifted up my hand to Adam, "Matt proposed,"

"Awesome," Adam stared down at my ring squinting to notice the fine detailing, "That must have set him back like a mo fo,"

"What the hell is mo fo and why are you saying it?"

"New word I learned from my good pal, Scotty Too Hottie,"

I rolled my eyes, "Just what we need, you becoming bilingual in ebonics,"

"Das right sistah,"

I thanked the heavens for the divine moment to show it self and patted Adam on the head overjoyed I could finally remark to him, "Oh, you're so cute when you try,"

"Hey that's my line," I heard him shout as I walked off toward Jay floating in the kiddie pool.