Adam and Jay were esconced in a locker room backstage, watching matches and other events on a TV monitor while waiting for their match.  After the special, hilarious Christmas promo they had performed earlier in the night with Stephanie McMahon and Kurt Angle (the Olympic Hero's four brothers and cousin Eric had been there for the festivities as well), they had a main event against Chris Jericho and the Dudley Boyz.

Amy wasn't around that evening.  She had work to do elsewhere - hosting RAW night at WWF New York.  Adam was sorry he wouldn't be able to see her until late that night.  Since RAW was taking place at Madison Square Garden, they, along with Jay, the Hardys and Chris, would be meeting up after the show.

"Hey, check it out, Adam," Jay called.

Adam stepped away from his bag, through which he had been rummaging for a suitable pair of wrestling tights.  He followed the other man's line of sight to the television monitor and saw Amy stepping out onto the stage at WWF New York clad in a robe.  His gut clenched as he realized where this was all heading.

A moment later, she dropped the robe, and Adam's jaw dropped along with it.  Amy was modeling "Christmas" lingerie - that is, bra and panties sets in the festive colors of red, platinum and green.  Adam drank in the luscious sight but seethed inwardly at Vince McMahon for making her do this yet again.  Didn't the boss hold any respect for women?

He felt further irritated when the camera suddenly shifted and Dean Malenko's image appeared on screen.  The man looked pleased as he evidently stared at the redhead in her lingerie.  Unconsciously, Adam clenched his right hand into a fist.

Jay noted the gesture and knew exactly what was going on in his best friend's head.  "Hey, chill out," he said.  "Come on, we're up real soon...in fact, our match is the one after the next one."

Adam grumbled a response as he changed into his tights.  He couldn't wait to leave the arena.

*

Fifteen minutes after leaving the arena, the small group of wrestlers double-parked outside of WWF New York to pick up Amy.  Matt was behind the wheel of the rental car they were using for the night's excursion, as he didn't drink and would be one of the designated drivers.  Jeff, like his big brother, didn't drink, either, so he would be the other if Matt was too tired to drive back to the hotel later on.

"Amy!"

The diva was just slinging her leather knapsack over one shoulder to leave when she heard the familiar voice.

"Hey, Chris!" she called back as she headed over to her blond friend.

"Merry Christmas, lady," Jericho cried, his arms wide open.

"Merry Christmas to you, too," Amy said as she hugged him.  Because she had been designated to WWF New York for the night, she hadn't seen Chris or the other guys at all.  She'd been looking forward to a fun night with them the entire evening.

"Where's everyone else?" she queried as they walked through the nearly empty place, Chris' arm around her waist.

"Right out front in Matt's rental car," he replied.  "The guys missed ya tonight."

"Oh, really?  You mean none of you watched my lingerie show?  You really missed me?"

Chris smirked.  "Are you kidding, Ames?  I certainly didn't miss that for anything in the world.  A tidal wave couldn't have pushed me away from that TV screen during your little show."

The redhead smirked back at her friend as she looked into his clear blue eyes, which sparkled mischievously.  "You're unbelievable," she told him as she burst into laughter.  She reached out and ruffled up his long blond hair playfully as they walked through the door and out to the street.

They saw Jeff standing on the curb, and Amy waved.  She laughed at the ridiculously floppy winter hat covering his colorful head.

"Is that a Christmas present from yourself?" she quipped, laughing.  Her breath showed just how cold it was outside.

"Yeah, how'd you guess?" Jeff replied with a grin.  He put an arm around her, allowing her to step into the front seat of the car so that she would be between him and his brother.  Chris got into the back next to Jay, who, since he was the smallest back there, would be in the middle.  Adam sat quietly behind Matt.  The elder Hardy, Jay and Adam all exchanged greetings with the diva.

"Everyone got their seat belts on?" Matt asked, eyeing the guys in the back in particular.

"You must be kidding, Junior," Chris muttered.  "I'm afraid to even look for the seatbelt.  Jay here is a little too close for comfort as it is.  I go feeling around for it and I might end up accidentally grabbing something I don't want to grab."

"You do and you die," Jay said, one fist raised at his sarcastic, smart aleck friend.

"Bite me!"

"Adam's the one with the big teeth, not me!"

"Hey, don't drag me into your little spat," Adam retorted, putting his hands up in a retreating gesture.

"All right, children!" Amy cried from the front seat.  Her eyes sparkled with glee, her face consumed by the happy grin she wore.  Her eyes briefly met Adam's in the rearview mirror.  "As long as you're all sardined in together, guys, you'll probably be safe without your seatbelts."  She wanted to add, but didn't, Not to mention the fact that Matt drives like a little old man.  She felt a tap on her left shoulder and turned to face Matt, suspicious for an instant that her friend actually read her mind.

"You," he said in a voice that could rival that of any strict school teacher, "put your seatbelt on."

Amy did as she was instructed.  "Yes, sir," she said with a salute, then snapped it in place.  She noticed Jeff was already buckled in his own lap belt.  As Matt was releasing the emergency brake, Amy couldn't help but reach out and tousle his long brown hair.

*

Amy sipped on her second margarita of the night, twirling her straw in the glass.  She wasn't much of a drinker at all and had already gotten a bit of a buzz from the first drink.  She looked up and spotted Chris dancing wildly with two girls.

The other guys sat around the table with her, Adam and Jay each nursing a beer while the Hardys had non-alcoholic beverages.

"I think I'm gonna go join Chris on the dance floor," Jeff stated.  Then, standing, he turned to Amy.  "Dance with me?"

"Alrighty...but if you start doing the funky chicken, that's it - I won't dance with you again," she warned, stifling a giggle.

Adam's eyes followed the redhead's every move as she and the young man walked to where Chris was dancing, now only with one of the girls.  He decided he would ask her to dance next.

The young blonde who had been dancing with Chris and the other girl strode over to the table.

"Hi," she said almost shyly as she looked down at each of the guys in turn.  "Would one of you like to dance?"

"Sure, I will," Matt spoke before either Jay or Adam could respond.  He stood up and walked with the girl to the dance floor.

Adam certainly didn't mind.  He sipped his beer and shifted his eyes back to Amy, who was laughing heartily at Jeff's gyrating antics.

"So...that lingerie bit is not still bothering you, is it?" he heard Jay ask.

Adam shrugged but didn't take his eyes off the diva.  "It's sad to think Vince wouldn't think more of her," he said.  "She is so amazing and talented...so much more than the 'pretty face and T n' A' I labeled her as being when we first met."

"She sure is," Jay agreed.

The two best friends shared a comfortable silence while watching the others enjoying themselves dancing.  When the song that was playing came to an end, Amy and Jeff returned to the table.

Adam and Amy both started to speak simultaneously.

"I'm sorry," Amy said coyly.

"No, it's all right.  Go ahead," Adam said as he gazed at her.

"Well, I just wanted to ask if you'd like to dance with me," the redhead said almost shyly, running one hand through her straight hair.

Adam didn't even have to think about her request.  "Ames...I'd love to."

They both got up from the table and made their way to the dance floor, Amy holding onto the tall Canadian's hand as she led him to a spot near Matt and the girl with whom he was still dancing.

The song currently playing was a fast dance number, but it was soon replaced by a slow ballad.  Adam was actually slightly nervous as he slid his hands to Amy's waist, her arms automatically raising to encircle his neck.  He gazed down into her eyes, and she stared back up into his, the contact strong and intense.  Neither spoke for a while.

Finally, Adam broke the spell.  "So, how are you enjoying your Christmas?"

"Oh, I've been having a great time tonight," she replied, eyes still glued to his.

"Quite an unconventional holiday, huh?" Adam asked with a chuckle.  "Yet typical of the life of a WWF superstar."

The diva smiled.  Adam was dazzled by that smile.  It seemed to light up the entire club.  "So true..."  She paused, deep in thought for a moment.  Then, "I have a gift for you, but it's back at the hotel...Actually, the only person I've already given one to is Joanie.  She seemed too anxious to wait, so I gave in and let her open it early - she may be big and muscular, but sometimes she's like a little girl."

The Canadian snickered, instantly recalling having faced the Ninth Wonder of the World in a tag team match back in the spring.  He and Jay had to feign fear at seeing Chyna as an opponent - though that hadn't all been an act.  Although strikingly beautiful, the woman was ferociously strong and wrestled with everything she had.  Joanie Laurer was a true sweetheart, but inside the squared circle, Adam found her extremely intimidating.  She was stronger than the majority of the men, and he was only all too glad that her low blows were gentle.

The song came to an end and the two decided to return to their table for awhile.  As they sat down, Adam cleared his throat as the memory of Amy's lingerie show at WWF New York earlier that night suddenly returned to him.

"Hey, I saw that bit of you onstage at WWF New York earlier tonight."

"Oh, yeah?  So, what'd you think?"

"Honestly?  I thought about what a jerk Mr. McMahon is for making you do that...And using the angle with Dean as an excuse for it - lame," the blond admitted candidly.

Amy's expression darkened somewhat, her smile fading.  "Well...I didn't think it was that bad."  She looked up at him.  "Do you really think that's why Mr. McMahon had me do that?"

"Actually, I think it was for his own pathetic benefit...because he knows he could never get anything from a girl like you, who wouldn't take any crap," Adam said.  "I mean, just the other day, Trish was telling Jay and me about a storyline they've got in the making for her...pretty appalling stuff."

Amy frowned.  "She never mentioned anything to me...What's the tentative storyline?"

"Hold onto your hat," Adam warned.  After a quick pause, the redhead gazing at him expectantly, he continued.  "She has to pretend to be having an affair with him."

"Eww!!" Amy exclaimed, wrinkling her nose with distate, a gesture Adam found irresistibly adorable.  "You're right - that is appalling!"

"Not only that - she has to make out with him!"

The redhead now gaped at the blond man, eyes widened as she tried to envision such horror.  "That is just too much!" she cried.  "I would never go along with such an angle!"

"Well, the way Trish described it, it sounds like Mr. McMahon might have forced her into going along with it."

"Poor girl..."

The two were silent for a moment, each consumed with thoughts of sympathy for their friend.  Then, suddenly, the band Journey's famous old ballad, "Open Arms," began to play.

"Oh, I love this song!" Amy said.

"Yeah?" Adam asked.  "I was always a bit partial to Journey myself."  He grinned at her.  "Want to dance again?"

"I'd love to."

While the pair were dancing slow and close, the others made their way back to the table.  Chris glanced at Adam and Amy, then looked at Jay, Matt and Jeff in turn and smirked.

"Aren't they cute?" he cracked.