Adam was excited because he was going to get to see Amy that night.  It was the first time in weeks he would be seeing her, as she and the Hardys would be making their "comeback" at the evening's pay-per-view.

The tall blond man had an Intercontinental title defense against William Regal, but afterward, he was going to set off to see his beautiful redheaded friend.  He missed her terribly.  It was as though a piece of his heart had been missing in the time since she'd been gone.  And although they'd seen each other at a couple of house shows during that time, it hadn't been the same.  Such shows were only a one-day thing that saw the wrestlers scrambling to the next town or city immediately after - so naturally, they hadn't had time to really hang out.

Adam was pondering leaving his locker room earlier than he'd planned in search of the redhead when there was a knock on the door.  When he answered and opened it, a blur of red threw itself into his arms, hugging him tightly.

"Ames!  I was just thinking of finding you!" he exclaimed as he held tightly to her.

She pulled back slightly and gazed up into his handsome face.  "It's so good to see you!"  She smiled, stood up on her tiptoes and gave him a quick kiss on the cheek, her hand on the other side of his face.

Adam smiled at her exuberance.  He wanted so badly to turn her face slightly so that she would get his lips instead of his cheek, but he didn't.

"I'm so excited!" Amy cried, a big smile on her lovely face.  "I can't believe Vince decided to put Team Xtreme back together!"

"Good for you guys," the tall blond said.  He was acutely aware of the fact that she was still in his arms.

"Let's get something to eat," Amy said.  "I've been dying for a salad since I got here."

The pair walked together to the buffet room, Adam's arm around the redhead's waist.  The Canadian man grinned at the diva's excited chattering.  Her happiness made him happy.  He realized how fast his heart was pumping.

Adam watched Amy placing salad on a plate, and he felt an urge to sweep her up in his arms and swing her around.  He allowed his eyes to scan her up and down as her back was to him.

As the blond took in the thong showing above the low slung cargo pants, the urge to whip the redhead around in his arms and kiss her came over him...

...But he didn't do it.  Adam knew that Amy would never slap him or anything if he ever tried to kiss her, but she would at least pull away or push him away.  God, how he wanted her.  Since the dream he'd had of Amy just after Christmas day, he'd wanted the redhead more than ever.

Amy suddenly turned around to face him, her eyes instantly meeting his.  Her face brightened into a broad smile that went all the way up to her hazel eyes.  She was so happy to be spending time with the tall blond again.  God, how she'd missed him.  Adam was such a sight for sore eyes.  She thought he looked more gorgeous than ever, if such a thing were possible.

"Hey, good luck in your match tonight," she said with a smile.

"Thanks...you too."

The diva bounded up to him, reaching up to ruffle his long blond hair playfully.  "I'm not wrestling tonight, silly...remember?"

"I know, I know!" Adam said with a chuckle.  "Okay, I meant good luck distracting the Undertaker and getting shoved off the apron by him."

Amy laughed.  "Very funny."

"I think it is...I mean, you should be going for the Women's title...hands down, you are the best female wrestler in the business, Ames...and one of the best damn wrestlers period - male or female."

She gazed unwaveringly into his emerald eyes, touched.  "Why, thank you."

Adam grinned.  "You're very welcome...and I'm just being honest."

They stared at each other for a moment, then he said, "How about a movie tonight?"

"That sounds like fun..."

"My hotel room, say right after the Rumble?"

"I'd love to," the redhead replied, smiling at him.

*

Soon after, Adam had to leave to finish preparing for his Intercontinental title defense match.  Amy set out to find Chris Jericho, whom she'd missed almost as much as the taller blond in her absence.  She found the Undisputed Champion in his own private locker room.

"Hi!" Jericho exclaimed upon seeing her at the door.  "Long time no see..."  He enveloped his friend in a hug that she eagerly returned.

"Hi, Chris!  It's so good to see you..."  She widened her hazel eyes at the sight of the two title belts slung over the couch in the room.  "Well, look at you...Undisputed champ - you go, boy!"

"Yeah, and I must say this was an even bigger surprise than winning the WCW title," Chris quipped.

"It's amazing that Vince let you win instead of Levesque," the redhead concurred.  It was common knowledge throughout the company that the boss greatly favored Paul Levesque over other wrestlers - simply because the man was his daughter's boyfriend.  Subsequently, Levesque had a ton of power behind the scenes, and more times than not, what he said went.  If he told Mr. McMahon he wanted to be Undisputed Champion, then Undisputed Champion he would be.  Amy found this all incredibly bias and unfair, but that was the politics in the WWF.  She knew as well as anyone that whoever ended up feuding with Triple H was doomed to failure - with the possible exceptions of The Rock and Stone Cold Steve Austin.  But guys like Chris, Edge - if he ever feuded with The Game - and even Kurt Angle, would end up on the short end of the stick.

"So, have you seen your boyfriend yet?" Chris teased, nudging her a little.

Amy blushed, and she could feel the goofy smile she couldn't prevent from forming on her face.  "Yes, but...well, he's not my boyfriend, Chris."

"You guys are so funny..."

"Why?  What do you mean?"

"I mean, all the sexual tension between you, Ames," the blond said.  "You two are great friends, yeah...but you have all this unexpressed - repressed stuff between you."

"You mean like you and Stephanie McMahon have?  Only Adam and I don't hate each other..." she countered.

This time, it was Chris' turn to blush, which elicited a surprised laugh from the redhead.  "My God!  As I live and breathe, Chris Jericho just turned red!"

"Well," Jericho said, "you know, there's talk of Mr. Schnoz and Steph in a divorce angle.  If that happens, they might just put her with yours truly."

"Oh, really?" Amy questioned, raising an eyebrow.  "And I bet you're really excited about that idea..."

After a moment in which she merely eyed him with an amused grin, she continued.  "You have a little crush on Stephanie..."

"Do not."  Chris stuck his tongue out at the woman.

"Do too," Amy countered, sticking her tongue back out at him.

"Shh...don't let it get around, Ames...you wouldn't want a certain huge-honkered ape after me now, would ya?"

The redhead merely laughed, throwing her head back as she did so.  She hadn't felt this good in over a month.

"Hey, Amy," a voice suddenly called.

The diva and Chris looked up simultaneously to see Jeff Hardy poking his head through the locker room door.

"What's up?"

"Matt just got word that Mr. McMahon wants to see us."

"Oh?"  She frowned, not knowing if this could be good or bad.

"Yeah...he asked to see the three of us as soon as possible," Jeff said.

"Okay...see you later, Junior," the diva said with a smile.  "Good luck out there tonight."

"Thanks, Ames."

Amy stepped out with a wave over her shoulder.  Then, turning to Jeff, she asked, "What's this all about?"

"I don't have a clue," he answered as they made their way down the hall.

As they passed directly by Adam's locker room, Amy stared at its closed door longingly for a beat.  She didn't notice, but her colorful-haired friend noticed and smiled.  He wondered how she could be so obviously in love with the tall blond but not say anything - especially to him - as Jeff knew Amy considered him her best friend.  He and Matt had actually figured out a couple of months back that the redhead was in love with Adam, and her reaction upon opening her gifts from him at Christmas had confirmed their suspicions - at least in their eyes.  Well, he guessed she would take matters into her own hands and talk to the Canadian in her own good time.

They found Matt in the Hardys' locker room with Stacy Keibler, who looked concerned as she spoke with her boyfriend.

"I'm sure it's nothing as bad as all that, Stace," the dark-haired man was saying.  "Mr. McMahon probably just wants to go over our spot tonight."

"But you've already done that," the tall blonde complained.  Her pretty face looked concerned as she placed both hands against his chest.  "Matt, I don't...trust him."

Jeff cleared his throat, for, apparently, neither Matt nor Stacy had realized he and Amy had entered the room.  They both looked up but went back to their discussion, ignoring them for the moment.

"It'll be okay, sweetie," Matt said as he put his arms around the young woman.  "We're not gonna be fired."

Amy and Jeff exchanged shocked glances.  Stacy believed the three of them were going to get pink slips?  But they were just making their long-awaited return!

"I'll see you a little later, okay?" the elder Hardy said softly.  He exchanged a quick but sweet peck on the lips with his girlfriend before releasing her.

Stacy started after Matt as he joined the other two members of Team Xtreme.  "I'll keep my fingers crossed for you guys!" she called as they headed out.

A moment later, they were at the room Vince was using as his office for the night.  Jeff tentatively knocked on the door.  Inside, they could hear the boss' voice call to them to come in.

"You wanted to see us, Mr. McMahon?"

"Ah, yes...I'm glad you three came so soon."  He looked them over one-by-one before jumping into the reason for the meeting.  "I just wanted to let you know that your punishment is officially lifted as of February 1.  You three have definitely improved your conduct since December, and I'm very happy about that."

Amy exchanged quick glances with Jeff and then Matt in turn.  She felt a twinge of anger.  There hadn't been anything wrong with their "conduct."  All that had happened was they'd been late to shows all of three times.  Nonetheless, she held her tongue and prayed that Matt, the type of person who spoke his mind whatever the case, would do the same.  They couldn't afford to get into trouble again.

"And you, young lady," Vince said, bringing the redhead from her thoughts to his words, "will be getting some shots at the Women's title again very soon."

Amy blinked with surprise.  "Thank you."

"So, just make sure it doesn't happen again," McMahon continued, his focus now entirely on Jeff.  "You three, as a unit and separately, are some of the biggest draws this company has ever had.  Our ratings might actually decrease a bit without you on our shows."

Jeff swallowed, knowing he was expected to respond.  "All right...I won't slip up again, Mr. McMahon."

"That's the spirit, Jeff.  Good luck out there tonight, and break a leg - figuratively, of course."

Matt eyed the boss without a trace of amusement in his expression.  He didn't appreciate the man's "joke," but he didn't comment on it, either.

The trio left the room thereafter, and none of them spoke until they were a decent distance down the hall.

"Well, I was right," Matt finally said.

"What about?" his brother asked.

"That man is an asshole."

"Just forget about him, Matt," Amy said.  "Let's just focus on our spot out there tonight."

"That," Jeff said, "is the best suggestion I've heard all night."

*

Amy smiled as she witnessed the end of Adam's match against William Regal.  The tall blond man had retained his Intercontinental championship despite the Englishman's ever-present brass knuckles.

She kept her eyes glued to the TV monitor as the referee raised Adam's arm and Howard Finkel announced him the winner - and still champion.  Her smile brightened even more as she decided to go out by the curtain to meet him.

"Hey..." the Canadian said with a smile when Amy was the first sight he beheld as he stepped backstage.

"Way to go," she said, reaching out to touch the gold belt slung over his left shoulder.  Her hand lowered a bit to touch his arm for a brief moment, the urge to put her arms around him for a kiss great, but she fought it off.  What would he think if she just jumped him like that?  He'd probably let her down easily, but he'd still chastise her for wanting to jump his bones.

"I'll be ready for you after you annoy 'Taker," Adam told her, his voice taking on a teasing quality.  "Then we can head on out of here and see some movies."  He flashed her a big grin.  Amy laughed, swatting him playfully in the arm.

He left the redhead when they reached his locker room.  He was a little relieved that Jay wasn't currently there and sighed as he raked a hand through his long hair.  Damn it, the longer he was friend with Amy, the harder it was for him not to just make a move on her.

Adam placed his Intercontinental title belt down on one arm of the little couch in the room, then rifled through his bag for clothes to change into after his shower.  He cursed himself as he dug out his shampoo and soap.  There were times when he just had the urge to jump the diva.  And if he were that rude, she might just end up slapping him after all.

Although he was a gentleman and respected his female friends, Amy more than any others, he didn't know how much longer he could control himself.  If only he could work up the courage to tell her how he felt - but he was afraid because it was obvious she didn't reciprocate his feelings.  Adam realized that he just fell deeper and deeper every time he saw the redhead - or even when he simpy thought about her.  Man, he thought sadly, am I in trouble...