To further throw Matt Hardy off the scent, so to speak, Amy and Adam had decided to check into separate rooms at the hotels.  They had begun doing this several weeks earlier, and it had been the redhead's idea.

Adam protested at first when she had made the suggestion, pulling the diva into his arms and pressing her against him.  "I'm going to hate doing this, baby..." he murmured, his face close to hers.  He gently nuzzled her throat, his hands sliding down to her hips and buttocks.  "...I can't stand being away from you for even a minute."

Amy clasped her arms around his neck, eyes closed as she savored the delicious sensation of his lips and hands on her.  "It'll be all right," she said softly, breathily.  "We'll still be together - we'll just sneak into each other's room like we used to do..."

The blond man made a sound that was half-protest and half-satisfaction.  "Mmm..."  He pulled back and gazed down into her hazel eyes.  "I have an idea - why don't we just tell Matt the truth?"  He'd been wanting to do exactly that for quite awhile now, but because of Amy's wishes, he'd kept silent.

This time, it was the redhead who made a sound deep in her throat.  Her face went pale as well, which startled Adam.  "No, Adam...I can't...you know how Matt is..."

"Aww, Ames," he grumbled, a pout on his handsome face.  "If we told him, we wouldn't have to hide or sneak around anymore..."

"I know, but..."

They stared at each other for a moment in silence, a myriad of emotions swirling through both of them.  Judging by the expression on the diva's face, Adam could plainly see that the very idea of the darker Hardy knowing about them terrified her.

"You know, Jeff told me that Matt even accused him of being with me," Amy said.  "And you know he interrogated Jay the night after SummerSlam..."

The tall Canadian rolled his green eyes with a slight sigh.  "What is his problem?  I mean, did he think you were a virgin??"

"Who knows?"  She raised her hands to his long, soft golden hair, gently twining her fingers through it.

"Okay," the man finally relented, "we won't tell him...but Amy, eventually, he's going to know.  Either he'll find out on his own somehow, or else someone will spill the beans...or maybe we'll even tell him voluntarily."  He hoped it would end up being the latter that happened.

"I know, I know..." Amy said softly, wanting to push the subject completely from her mind.  "...now, shut up and kiss me."

Adam chuckled as he lowered his head to hers, more than happy to oblige.

*

"I know she's running around with someone," Matt said irritably to Jeff.  They were in their locker room, preparing for their four-corners tag match later on during the pay-per-view against The Hurricane and Lance Storm, The Big Show and Spike, and the Dudley Boyz.

The colorful-haired Hardy glanced at his brother.  "So what?  Even if she is seeing someone, why do you care so much, Matt?  I mean, do you want her for yourself, or what?"

"No!" the dark-haired man insisted.  "You know I only think of Amy as a kid sister...but because of that, I don't want to see her get hurt because she's messing with some jerk who's only going to end up hurting her."

"Oh, really?  That's funny, since you seem so sure she's with one of your closest friends - including me!"  Jeff cried.  "So, you think of your best friends and your own brother as jerks, huh?"

"No, but..."  Matt ran a hand over his long brown hair.  "...aw, hell, Jeff!  You know I didn't mean it like that...but Amy's not in a serious relationship or anything with this guy - whoever he is...I just worry that she's setting herself up for a broken heart..."

Jeff kept his mouth shut about it, but thought to himself, That's where you're wrong, bro... Aloud, he said, "Look, man - Amy is a big girl.  Even if she was sleeping with a different guy every week, it's still her business...so, just cut her some slack."

The older man sighed as if in resignation - at least for the moment.  "Aww, whatever...we've got other things to think about right now, anyway...there's our match.  And then later, I'm looking forward to y'all taking me out for my birthday."  Matt smiled.  "Thanks, by the way."

"That's the spirit...and hey, don't mention it..."

*

"Mmm...that feels great, baby," Adam murmured as Amy's hands worked magic on him.  "Your massages totally reek of awesomeness."

The redhead laughed as she continued to knead the muscles in the blond man's shoulders and upper back.  She was helping him to get loose for his upcoming match against Jay.  It had finally happened earlier that month - the "most photogenic" tag team in WWF history, seven-time tag team champions Edge and Christian had been split apart, and now the two "brothers" were competing for the Intercontinental title, which, of course, was still currently held by Edge.

"Hey, babe...why don't you walk on my back for a little bit?" the Canadian suggested as he lifted his head to glance over his shoulder at her.

"Okay," came the reply.  The diva untied her sneakers, snickering as she did.  Once they were off, she stood up, tentatively stepping onto her boyfriend's back.

"Don't forget my shoulders," Adam said, turning his head so the left side of his face was against the floor.

A moment or so passed, and then there was a sudden knocking at the door.  Amy instinctively got off of Adam's back, and she looked around quickly for a place to hide as the tall blond stood up.

"Who is it?"

"Matt!"

Their eyes met, and Amy let out an inaudible gasp.  She ducked for cover behind the couch in the locker room.  At the same time, Adam went to the door and opened it.

The redhead pressed tightly against the couch, a horrible feeling going through her as she suddenly realized she had left her sneakers on the floor in plain view.  Oh, my God!  She bit her lip, praying Matt wouldn't notice them.

"Hey," Adam said as he held the door open but didn't move to allow the darker Hardy entrance.  "Happy birthday...what can I do for you?"

"I know this is going to sound like a real stupid thing to ask you, of all people, but...have you seen Amy?"

The blond man was surprised, but he didn't allow that feeling to show.  "No, can't say I have seen the skank..."

"Hey," Matt said, "lighten up on her, huh?  At least for tonight...it's my birthday, and I say the two of you get along for my sake, okay?"

Adam looked the other man straight in the eye.  This was definitely interesting - and he had to admit, it was a little fun as well.  "Well, I can't speak for the skank, but I guess I can try," he quipped.

Behind the couch, Amy bit her lip, thinking about how the tall blond sounded.  There he was, calling her a skank again.

"Adam..."  Matt's voice was chastising.

"Just busting your balls...yeah, okay - I guess I can make nice with her - just for tonight, for your birthday."

"Great...now, I'm going to go look for her.  See you later, man - and good luck in your match."

"Thanks - same to you, Matt."

As soon as Amy heard him close the door, she stood up and came out from her hiding place.

"Whew...it's a good thing he didn't notice your shoes!"

"You creep!"  The redhead gently punched Adam in the stomach, and she laughed as he feigned pain, clutching at his midsection.  "Did you really have to call me a skank?"

"Come here..." the blond man said tenderly, reaching out and drawing her into his arms.  In a second, his lips were on hers, and she kissed him back fervently.

*

Later on, Amy took a big chance in spending part of the time during the pay-per-view with Adam.  Since she had the night off, she was able to sit backstage watching matches on a TV monitor.

When the Intercontinental title match between Edge and Christian took place, she made certain to sit in the women's locker room - just in case Matt might happen by.  Trish Stratus sat beside her, the petite blonde chattering happily.  She too was off for the night, and she was enjoying the chance to kick back and just watch the matches.

The match was going very well, and Amy had been enjoying it - until after Adam executed a German suplex on Jay - when she realized he was suddenly bleeding.

"Oh, my God..."  Her heart leapt up to her throat as she realized the tall blond man's blood was seeping pretty quickly.

Trish's face wore a serious expression as she noticed what had happened.  Then, eyeing her friend and seeing the frantic expression on her face, she said, "Oh, Amy...I'm sure he's all right...it...it's just a cut."

"It looks bad!" the redhead cried as she turned to gaze into the blonde diva's face, terror in her eyes.

Trish reached out to grab hold of both her hands.  "Amy, listen to me - it's okay..."  She grew fearful as the other woman appeared on the verge of tears.

Amy stood up and began to nervously pace in front of the couch.  She didn't dare move out of view of the TV, her eyes glued to the form of the man she loved.

The Canadian blonde eyed her friend with concern, worried about how the redhead seemed so mesmerized.  She was afraid Amy was going to snap into a fit of hysteria at any moment.

"Amy, come here," Trish said softly.  She held one arm out to the other woman.

The redheaded diva went to her friend, gratefully accepting the hug that she offered.  As she rested her chin against Trish's shoulder, she tried desperately not to cry, for she knew it would only make people suspicious.

*

"Damn!" Matt muttered to his brother as they gathered up their belongings.  The pay-per-view was over and they were preparing to leave.

He'd just gotten word that, after the Intercontinental title match, Adam would not be able to make it to his birthday celebration - the tall Canadian was in no shape to party, as he'd gone to the emergency room to get stitched up after getting busted open under his left eye.

"I know, man, but what can we do?" Jeff replied.  "Maybe Adam'll treat you for your birthday another time..."

"Yeah," his older brother said.  "I'm just disappointed - but poor guy...that was a pretty bad cut he got."

There was a knock on the door, and Jeff reached out and opened it.  Amy and Trish stood in the doorway, the redhead leaning against the little blonde and not looking all that good.

"Ames...what's the matter?"

"I...I don't feel so good, Matt," she replied weakly.  She exchanged glances with Jeff, who immediately knew what this was really about.  The exchange was so brief that Matt didn't notice.

"Oh, no...what's the matter?"  This time, it was the younger man who posed the question.

"I have the most terrible migraine," she said in a misery-filled voice.  "And I'm feeling nauseous because of it..."  She turned back to the dark-haired Hardy.  "Matt...I'm really sorry, but..."

"Aww, man...don't say it," he said.  "Okay, Ames...you go back to the hotel and rest up - feel better."

A tiny twinge of guilt swept through the redhead, but it disappeared just as fast.  She was doing nothing wrong, damn it... Her boyfriend had been injured, and he was more important than anything or anyone else at the moment.

"Thanks...happy birthday," she said, stepping closer to Matt to plant a kiss on his cheek.

Trish explained that she was going to drive Amy back to the hotel, but that she would meet up with the brothers at the club they'd planned to go to.  When both women were gone, Matt turned to his brother.

"Man, this sucks...first Adam, and now Amy..."

Jeff rose an eyebrow, relieved for his friends that his sibling was blessedly clueless.

*

By the time they'd arrived at the hospital Jay had told Amy that Adam had gone to, tears were streaming down the redhead's face.  She'd been crying for several minutes, eerily silent, no audible sobs escaping her.

"He'll be okay, Amy..." Trish said reassuringly as she put her rental car in park in front of the building.  She reached out and placed her hand on her friend's knee to pat it gently.  "Do you want me to go in with you?"

"No, that's all right," Amy replied as she undid her seatbelt.  "Thank you, Trish."

"Oh, don't mention it...you're my friend - I couldn't leave you in such a jam.  Now, go on - go to your man."

Amy eyed the blonde tearfully, then leaned over for a quick hug.  After a moment, she pulled back and exited the car.