Someone Else, Not Me By Lady Boss
	Title: “Someone Else Not Me” Rating: PG13 Author: Lady Boss E-Mail: pikachu_524@yahoo.com Distribution: The Boss’s Office - Anyone else, let me know and ask nicely Disclaimer: Not mine, never will be, but six magic numbers will take care of that. Summary: The last in the series - Takes place the morning after “Sometimes It Hurts” “She’s pregnant…for real…” The words echoed in Adam’s head, as he lay awake staring at the ceiling in the bed he had shared with Oscar a few hours ago, completely unable to sleep since Mark told him the news. Laying there, Adam thought about how fast things changed in the span of twenty four hours; first he ended his relationship with Oscar, thinking he and Mark would be together again and now, the announcement with proof that Sara was indeed pregnant with Mark’s baby. At least this time he told me himself and I didn’t have to hear it from a promo. But that thought didn’t comfort him any. Staring at the clock, he tried to remember what happened after Mark told him the news, but couldn’t recall a damn thing of it; couldn’t recall the card and sonogram photo dropping from his hand, couldn’t remember standing up and walking to the elevator, or had he run to the elevator? He wasn’t sure. He couldn’t remember hearing Mark calling after him, wanting to talk. All he could remember were those four words burned into his brain. Four words that shattered his hopes. Again. “You’re quiet this morning.” Mark looked at Sara from across the table in his and Sara’s suite. “Just thinking about the match,” he mumbled as he bit into his bagel. “You didn’t get much sleep last night.” She spread jelly onto her slice of toast, her stomach not pressing its luck this morning. “Hip was bothering me.” Sara nodded, knowing it wouldn’t do much good to push the issue. On the pretense of reading the newspaper spread out on the table, Mark’s mind kept going back to last night and Adam’s reaction to his announcement. He felt he could say in all honesty he had never seen Adam look as destroyed as he had last night. Not even when he told Adam he was marrying Sara had he looked that bad. And Mark hated himself for making him feel that way. Before he could get a word out to try and explain things, Adam had stalked off to the elevators and even though he wanted to have followed Adam to talk to him, he let Adam be, watching him as he waited for the elevator. He watched Adam fidget like a man about to explode in frustration as he waited for the elevator and after watching Adam step in and the doors close behind him, Mark sat in the chair Adam had and picked up the card containing the sonogram photo. The sonogram of his child. His and Sara’s child. Sara watched Mark stare at the paper knowing he wasn’t reading a single word of it but instead was in whatever world his mind was taking him. She’d laid awake waiting for him to come back from his ‘meeting’ and when he returned, there was a defeated air about him, as though he lost his chance at something and knew he would never get it back again. On the pretense of wiping her hands on her jeans, she pressed her hand on her abdomen and had a feeling that ‘something’ had to do with Adam, given the way she had seen them talking in the hotel lobby yesterday and as much as she hated to see Mark miserable, she believed this baby came at the right time. She only hoped Mark felt the same way. “So anyways, I was telling Brock…” Oscar tuned out the sounds of Eddie’s latest story telling as he picked at his breakfast. Sitting in the hotel restaurant with Eddie, Chavo, Jamie Knoble and Nidia wasn’t exactly how he had intended to spend the morning, but given he had nowhere to hide out after what happened between he and Adam the night before, he turned to the Guerreros for a place to crash and after ripping Chavo a few new ones for trying to use his one suicide attempt to try and force Adam to stay with him, he accepted Eddie’s offer to crash in their room, his insisting on taking the sofa though Eddie offered him his bed. Totally missing the punchline to whatever joke Eddie had told, Oscar gave a weak laugh to be polite and even though he hated himself for doing so, wondered if Adam and Mark were together that morning. If they were sharing the same bed he and Adam had shared only hours ago and having a good laugh at his expense… “Hey Oscar!” A snap of the fingers. “Yo, you okay?” Jamie’s southern twang brought Oscar back from the depressing picture he was painting for himself. “Yeah I’m fine.” He dismissed, setting his fork down. “Sorry I’m not great company today.” “That’s cool.” Eddie assured him. “So how are you doing?” Nidia asked. Oscar looked at her. “Fine, why?” “I heard from one of the guys you and Adam had a fight last night.” “Was nothing.” “Nothing?” Chavo chimed in. “You call that what that bastard did to you nothing?” “Chavo!” Eddie shot. “I’m sure the last thing Oscar needs is for you to butt in again.” “I was only trying to help.” “By making me sound like some suicidal nut case?” Oscar fired back. “I was only trying to make Adam see there are consequences to his actions. Hell if I hadn’t heard them talking in the bathroom the night of No Way Out -” “You heard them that night?” Oscar asked. “Yeah I was in the toilets when they came in slobbering all over each other like a couple of teenagers in heat.” “You knew Adam was going to leave me for Mark and you didn’t say anything to me about it? No warning or anything?” “Uh, oh,” Nidia said under her breath before nibbling on her toast. “This is going to get ugly.” “Well Chavo?” Oscar continued. “Why didn’t you at least tell me you saw them together?” “Because I knew it would only upset you and besides, I had to let Adam know what he was going to lose out on if he left you.” “Oh nice, you went and told my ex-lover he was going to miss out on me becoming a suicidal wreck if he left me.” “No that’s not it.” Chavo defended. “Adam had no regard for your feelings whatsoever. All he thought about was getting into Callaway’s pants again. I had to make him see what he would be doing if he kept being selfish.” “Well, he not only thought about getting into Callaway’s pants again, he did it.” “What?” Jamie asked. “When?” “After the Rumble. He went out to get some Tylenol or at least that’s what he told me.” Oscar said bitterly. “You mean while you were waiting up for him-?” Chavo asked. “He was four floors up getting his rocks off with Mark.” “Damn,” Jamie said as he sat back. “That’s cold.” “Yeah,” Nidia chimed in. “You two seemed so happy together.” “Well, appearances are deceiving.” Oscar sighed. “You know the shit about it is? After he gets done with Callaway, he comes down to our room, tells me he loves me and continues to lie to me all this time.” “I told you -” “Don’t even fucking finish that sentence Chavo.” Oscar warned. “You’ve done your damage as well. Maybe if you had told me what he and Mark were up to, I would’ve dumped him before he could hurt me or maybe found my own way to hang onto him.” “Amigo, I told you why.” Oscar waved a silencing hand. “So what are you going to do now?” Eddie asked. “First chance I get? Go congratulate the winner.” He said before getting up and walking out of the restaurant. Adam didn’t want to answer the door, but feeling it could be Oscar, he dragged himself out of bed and walked over to answer it. And immediately wished he hadn’t. “Way to go man. I hope it was worth it.” “What do you want Jay?” “I heard about what happened last night.” Adam stepped aside, allowing Jay to walk in. “Don’t you Raw guys stay at another hotel?” “No, and even if we did, you know damn sight well news would get to us one way or the other.” Jay looked around the room. “So where’s Mark?” Adam ignored the question as he closed the door and walked back to the bed. “He’s not here.” “Let me guess; you told Oscar but he didn’t have the balls to tell Sara.” Jay shook his head. “Why did I know he’d do something like that?” “I’m not in the mood for this, so could you just say ‘I told you so’ and get the fuck out of here?” “I didn’t come here to rub it in your face.” Jay sat on the corner of the bed. “Like hell you didn’t. You’ve been telling me for weeks what a mistake I made with sleeping with him and what a mistake I was making in leaving Oscar for him, well congratu - fucking - lations Jay! You were right.” “What happened?” Adam shook his head, not wanting his friend to know of his utter humiliation. “Adam, I’m not leaving here until you tell me what happened. I know you ended things with Oscar but I thought Mark would at least have the fucking balls to hold up his end of the deal.” “Kinda hard to do when you find out your wife’s pregnant.” Jay blinked. “What?” “Yeah. Sara dropped the ultimate fucking bombshell. She’s pregnant. For real this time. I saw the sonogram.” “Oh man.” Jay exhaled as he rested his head in his hand. “I was so fucking close Jay. So fucking close to having the one man I loved back with me again and that fucking bitch wife of his had to go and fuck everything up!” Adam stood and began pacing. “I bet she figured out Mark was going to leave her for me and she did something to make sure he wouldn’t.” “She didn’t get pregnant on her own. Besides, it might not have worked out with the two of you anyways.” “And how the hell do you know?” Adam challenged. “You’ve got your perfect relationship with Chris. I’m surprised Jessica hasn’t tried puling something like this to hang onto him.” “She hasn’t pulled anything because she knows there’s nothing to hang on to.” Jay replied. “Well aren’t you the lucky one?” Adam sat on the chair by the table. “Guess I can’t blame anyone else here but me. I was stupid enough to believe I could have what I had with Mark again, and now look what’s happened.” “Maybe you can try and salvage things with Oscar?” Adam shook his head. “He hates me Jay. You know last night he asked me to commit to him? He sat almost where you’re sitting and told me how much he loved me and how much he wanted to be with me? Even for the rest of his life, he wanted me that much and what do I do? Instead of letting go of the past and taking Oscar up on his offer, I do the exact thing Mark did to me when he told me he was marrying Sara and that was rip Oscar’s heart out and punt it from the fifty yard line. Then I meet Mark in the lobby and he tells me Sara’s pregnant.” Adam shook his head. “Talk about karma coming around and biting you in the ass.” Jay said nothing, which Adam picked up on. “What’s wrong? Cat got your tongue?” Adam taunted. “Come on Jay, I know you’re aching to tell me I’m getting what I deserve.” “You don’t deserve this Adam.” “Yeah, well there are a lot of things I don’t deserve and it looks like being happy is one of them.” Adam sighed. “I’ll be glad when WrestleMania’s over with. Just wrestle my match and go to Alabama.” “Uh, Adam…” “What?” “Part of the reason I stopped by was because JR wanted me to talk to you.” “What about?” Adam asked, his stomach queasy. “Nothing’s sure yet and you know how Vince always changes his mind at the last minute but it looks like you won’t have a match at WrestleMania.” “Why? I’m cleared to wrestle.” “JR knows that, but Vince didn’t want to take the risk of you hurting your neck more in light of what’s going on with Kurt.” “Yeah but he changed his mind and is letting Kurt wrestle.” “I know, that’s why I said nothing’s sure yet, but as it stands right now, you might not have a match at WrestleMania.” Adam leaned back, tilting his head back, ignoring the twinge of pain from the action. “Oh yeah, God hates me.” “I’m sorry.” “Not half as sorry as I am.” Adam said wearily. “Listen, I appreciate the visit, but I really want to get some rest before the junket begins.” “Okay.” Jay stood and walked to where Adam sat, giving his friend a hug. “If you need anything, let me and Chris know okay?” Adam nodded, hugging Jay back before Jay let go and headed out the door, leaving Adam alone. With the news of his non-match, he was half tempted to tell JR he would head to Alabama a little earlier than planned, but he knew he couldn’t. Not before he had a chance to talk to someone. “Congratulations.” Waiting in the green room for his turn to greet the Axxess crowd and do autographs, Mark tensed when he heard Oscar’s voice behind him. He turned in his chair to see the smaller man standing in the doorway with his arms crossed over his chest. “For what?” Mark asked. “You know what.” Oscar walked into the room and sat in the chair across from him. “So you and Adam have a good giggle over last night? Hmm? You two cuddle under the blankets and laugh at how you two are finally together?” “I wasn’t with Adam last night.” “Why? Lose the balls to tell Sara what you were going to do?” “I had my reasons.” “What were they? Hmm? You and Adam were so hot to get back together I can’t imagine you not being in his hotel room right now.” “They’re personal.” Mark said, not wanting everyone to know about Sara’s pregnancy until he had a chance to talk to Adam. “And you taking Adam from me isn’t personal?” Oscar spoke. “I should’ve known you’d pull something like this when you got back. Everyone told me about your guys’s history and stupid me, here I thought I could help Adam get over you. I thought maybe he could love me as much as he did you, but…” Oscar shook his head. “I guess there was no point in even trying, was there?” “I’m sorry things didn’t work out with you and Adam…” “How the fucking hell could they with you sniffing around him like a fucking dog in heat? He told me about that night after the Rumble when you two went to your hotel room and fucked while I was four floors down waiting for him. Bet you two really enjoyed that didn’t you?” “We never meant to hurt anyone.” “Bull fucking shit. You think because you’ve been here thirteen or so years that entitles you to do whatever the hell you want? Take what you want without any regard for anyone else’s feeling and what not? I bet you never figured Sara into your happy little equation when you thought of breaking me and Adam up. Then again maybe you did. Maybe you figured you can have everything you wanted like it was before; a wife at home and a lover on the road.” “I was going to end things with Sara.” Oscar shook his head. “You’re such a fucking liar. You know what the sad part about this is; I still love Adam as much as he loves you. Hell I asked him to commit to me before he told me about the two of you getting back together again. I thought if you could see Adam was mine, you would just leave him the fuck alone, but you couldn’t, could you?” “There’s a lot about me and Adam you’ll never understand.” “Maybe I don’t want to.” Oscar stood. “Maybe I don’t give a fuck right now. All I came to say was congratulations. The best man won. Just pissed that it wasn’t me because I can give Adam a hell of a lot more than you could.” With that, Oscar left the green room. Mark sighed, wishing he had won. “You were going to leave me?” Mark started, hearing Sara’s voice. He’d completely forgotten she was in the green room’s bathroom. “Sara…” “Was what Oscar talking about true? Did you and Adam sleep together like he said you did? Were you planning on leaving me?” Mark couldn’t say anything. “You selfish son of a bitch.” Sara said her voice calm though the anger was clear on her face. “What the fucking hell is this hold Adam has on you? What were you going to tell Oscar about how there’s a lot about the two of you he wouldn’t understand? Huh? What were you going to tell him?” “Just there’s a lot of history between us.” “That’s pretty fucking obvious. So when were you going to tell me our marriage was over? Hmm? When?” “This weekend.” “This weekend.” Sara parroted. “That’s really fucking nice Mark. Have me come all the way up here to tell me it was over between us.” She shook her head sadly. “Why Mark? Why can’t you love me the way you love Adam?” “I do love you.” “Sure have a funny way of showing it. What is it about him? What is it he does for you that I can’t? Damnit Mark, I’ve tried everything I could think of to make you happy.” “I know.” “But it doesn’t seem to be enough does it? What do I have to do? Dye my hair back to blond and wear a strap on?” “It’s nothing you’ve done or haven’t done.” He tried to assure her. “It’s just something there between Adam and me I can’t explain.” “Like he’s your fucking soul mate or some other garbage like that right?” She sneered. “Damnit Mark, you stood in front of me, my family, your family and God and said you would forsake all others to be with me. Not to forsake all others except Adam. Why am I not enough for you? Huh? Why can’t you love me the way you love Adam? Why can’t you give us a chance?” “I have.” He stood. “I’ve given us a chance over and over again, but I’m tired of lying to myself and to you much longer. You deserve to be someone who makes you happy. Someone who’s…” he sighed and bowed his head. “Someone who’s not in love with someone else.” “That’s pretty noble Mark, but it’s a little late now. We have a child on the way. Are you going to walk away from him or her like you walked away from your other children?” Mark looked at her. “I never walked away from my other children. That was something out of my control.” “And this isn’t? You’re going to leave me and our child to run off and be with some blonde Canadian twink? I’m sorry but that’s how I think of him right now. And who’s to say he’s going to stay with you much longer? How do you know he’s not using you to get ahead in his career and when someone else, someone younger than you comes along, he won’t do the same thing you’re trying to do to me? You ever think about that Mark? You ever stop and think maybe in a year or two years or even five or ten years from now, Adam’s not going to be there with you and for you? That while you’re at home after you’ve retired and he’s still on the road, he might pick up someone younger than you? Someone who isn’t as high maintenance as you are with your injuries? Who’s to say he won’t do the same thing to you you’re trying to do to me? Have you ever seriously thought about that Mark, in all your scheming and lying and everything else you’ve probably done since you’ve been back on the road? Have you ever given a thought that Adam might get tired of you someday?” Mark had to admit he hadn’t thought that far ahead but he didn’t want to let Sara know right then. “Who’s to say you won’t?” Mark challenged. “Because I love you, that’s why I won’t. And when our baby’s born and gets to know you, it won’t either.” Sara took a deep breath. “That is if you want me to have the baby.” “Of course I want you to have the baby. That’s not what this is about.” “Then what is it about? Are you so desperate to hold onto something that’s probably not there anymore that you’re willing to give up everything we’ve built over the past couple of years to hang onto it instead of giving us a chance?” Mark rubbed at his face before sighing. “I just didn’t want to keep lying to you anymore. Keep pretending everything was fine when, at least to me, it wasn’t.” “It could be if you’d give it a chance. That’s all I’m asking for Mark. Just a chance to make things work. I’m not going to stand here and say do it for the baby’s sake because I know two miserable parents are the worst things a child could have, but I am asking at least for our sake. Because even though you’re the most selfish bastard I’ve ever met, I still love you and because I know you’re a good man Mark. Do you think you could at least give us another shot?” Mark was about to say something when there was a knock on the door and someone said, “You’re next Taker.” “Be out in a second,” he shouted back before looking at Sara. “Time to get into character.” “Yeah.” She walked over and kissed him on the cheek. “Don’t let those groupies get too happy now.” “I won’t.” He returned the favor and left the green room. Sara watched the door close before holding a hand to her abdomen. “Don’t worry kid.” She said. “We’re going to be just fine.” If Adam never heard the name Vince McMahon again it would be too soon. After his autograph session, Vince had managed to snag Adam before letting him get too far and tell him the bad news: he wasn’t going to allow Adam to wrestle at WrestleMania over concerns for his neck and was willing to let Adam leave a day early so he could fly to Alabama to see Dr. Youngblood to get his opinion. Brooding over how Vince was ditching him but let Kurt wrestle even with Kurt being the WWE champion, Adam stalked through the hallway and into a green room to get his coat and everything else so he could head for the hotel. It wasn’t until he looked around that he saw he was in the wrong green room. And saw Sara sitting on the sofa reading a book. “You look pissed.” She said as she marked her place with a discarded subscription card before setting the book down. “Yeah, well,” Adam was uncomfortable being here and wished he’d paid attention to where he was going. “I found out I’m not going to be wrestling at WrestleMania because of my neck.” “Sorry to hear that.” There was something about the tone in Sara’s voice that tripped off Adam’s internal alarm. “Win some lose, some I guess.” Adam dismissed feeling uneasy by the second. “I better get going.” “Adam?” He paused. “What?” “I guess there’s no subtle way to say this other than I know. I know about what happened that night and about your pact with Mark.” Adam had an idea how a deer in the headlights felt. “Oh.” “Mark didn’t tell me if that’s what you’re wondering. Oscar stopped by to ‘congratulate’ him on winning your affections.” “Sara…” Adam was at a loss for words. “If you’re worried that I’m going to go off and start smacking you upside the head, don’t worry; I’m not. I’ve got a little one to think about now.” “Mark told me. Congratulations.” “Thank you. Could you explain something to me?” “What?” “What is this pull you have with Mark? What are you doing for him that I’m not? I’m only asking because I figured since you two have this history together, you might be able to tell me what’s going on in my husband’s head.” “I don’t think it’s anything you’ve done or haven’t done.” Adam said carefully. “He explained it to me that night or at least he tried to. I don’t know if he knew what he was saying or not.” “What did he say?” “That we were the male and female half of the perfect person for him. How we don’t put up with his bullshit and how we take care of him when he doesn’t deserve it. Things like that.” “See the thing with me Adam is this; I’m just wondering why I’m not enough for him. I was raised believing when you marry someone, that person should be the only one you should be with at least until circumstances make that difficult to do or until death do you part, and I can’t figure out why I’m not enough for him. Why does he have to have you as well? Because I do love him Adam. I’m not doubting your feelings for him, but that was years ago what you two had.” “It wasn’t all that long ago and you know it.” Adam disputed. “He was juggling the both of us for a long time before he said my name in his sleep.” “I know,” she sighed. “I’m only saying when Mark married me, his priorities changed. Especially now with the baby on the way and…” A quick pause. “Damn, I don’t want to come off as the shrewish bitch wife, but I just want you to leave Mark alone. Let he and I try and make a life for ourselves and the baby.” “I’ve tried Sara. I’ve tried, but Mark’s just as guilty as I am in this mess. Maybe you should ask him to leave me alone.” “You know he won’t.” “He might not have much choice here soon will he? What with the baby and all.” “I don’t think he would even with the baby on the way.” “Then there’s nothing more I can do. In the end, Mark’s the one who has to decide what happens next.” “Unless you can convince him otherwise.” “What?” “End things with him Adam. I know you’ve tried before but you have to let him know once and for all it has to end with the two of you.” “And if he won’t let go?” “He’ll have to.” “But if he doesn’t?” Sara shrugged. “I don’t know. I don’t hate you Adam, though God knows I’d love nothing more than to rip your hair from the roots and everything else, but all I’m asking of you is to let Mark go. For good, this time. You know what it’s like to grow up without a father and I know you wouldn’t want that for Mark’s child.” “It’s not like I’d keep him away from it.” “I know. All I’m asking is for you to sever the ties. Let Mark know what was in the past should stay there, no matter how tempting it sounds to go back there and as much as I’m sure you’re loath to admit it, you know I’m right. Look at what you’re grasping onto the past has done to you and Oscar. Who knows what kind of life you and he could’ve had if you left things alone.” “Mark’s just as guilty.” “I know he is. Would you think about it please? Think about what damage has already been done and what could be done in the future if you and Mark were to stay together? It’s not just you and Mark affected by this decision anymore. It’s everyone involved and that includes my baby.” Adam folded his arms in front of his chest. “I’ll try, but like I said, Mark has to make the decision to let go as well.” “I know.” “I better go.” Adam said. “Just think about it Adam. Like I said that night; you’re young, handsome and a good person. I’m sure there’s someone out there waiting for you to make them happy. I just want my husband.” Adam nodded and without saying another word, walked out of the green room, his own emotions in a jumble. Oscar shook his hand trying to get some feeling back into it after the marathon autograph signing he was coming to the back from. Hoping to avoid either Mark or Adam, he walked into the first green room he could find and saw Jay and Chris on the sofa; Jay sitting up and Chris stretched out with his head on Jay’s lap, Jay’s fingers lazily playing with some strands of Chris’s hair. Oscar paused as he remembered how he used to play with Adam’s hair the same way when they were together. “Something we can help you with?” Oscar blinked as he looked at the two blondes sitting there. “Sorry about that. The green room arrangements here are so fucked up.” “Tell me about it.” Chris said sitting up. “I had to go and walk in on a Nidia/Eric Angle tonsilfest.” “I never knew you were a heterophobe.” Oscar walked in and sat down. “I’m not, but watching any Angle shoving his tongue down someone’s throat isn’t my idea of a good time.” “So how are you doing?” Jay asked. “I’m sure you’ve heard the news by now about me and Adam.” “Yeah I did and I’m sorry.” “Not half as sorry as I am.” Oscar rubbed his hand trying to relive the cramp settling in. “Oscar…” He shook his head. “No Jay, I know he’s your best friend and all, but I don’t need to hear you defend him to me. He made his choice and it wasn’t me. I can live with it.” “If it’s any consolation, he’s not with Mark anymore.” “Tell you the truth, I don’t care if he is or not.” “I know Adam pulled a major boneheaded thing, but would you at least consider talking to him?” Chris spoke. “What would there be to talk about? No matter what I do or what I try, it’s never going to be enough for him. Mark’s going to be the one with a hold on his heart and the shitty thing about it is, like I told Mark; I still love Adam. I still believe I could offer him a lot more than Mark ever could, but Adam made his choice and it wasn’t me. I’m not going to go around and beg Adam for another chance because I did that with Carlos and all it did was cause me nothing but grief.” “But you still love Adam?” Oscar sighed as he wiggled his fingers, the cramp going away. “Yeah. I know I shouldn’t but I do. Even though he’s played me for such a fucking sucker, there’s a part of me that wants to be with him again.” “So what’s stopping you?” Jay ventured. “His feelings for Mark. That’s what’s stopping me. Knowing that when he lays with me he’s going to be thinking about Mark.” “I think right now he’d be more concerned about his neck.” Jay said. “Vince pulled him off the card because of it.” “No shit?” Oscar was surprised. Jay nodded. “He might take an earlier flight to Birmingham than scheduled.” “Did he say that to you?” “No, but that’s what I’m guessing he might do. He said he’d let me know one way or the other in case he needed a ride.” Oscar nodded, not really saying anything, but thinking maybe he should talk to Adam one more time before he left. Later that evening, Mark sat nervously in the deserted lobby as he waited for Adam per the note Adam left him at the desk, which he picked up at the check in desk when he returned from his publicity duties. Pulling out the paper, he opened it and read it for the fifth time since getting it. Mark, We have to talk. Meet me at the lounge at eleven. Adam. He told Sara he had a meeting about his match with Nathan and in return she told him she was going to hang out with Torrie, Stacy and a few of the other Divas, their taking the elevator together until she got to Stacy’s floor where Stacy greeted her and led her to her room, the designated ‘hen’s nest’ for the evening, where Mark could hear some of the girls sounding like they were on their way to a good time and a long evening. He checked his watch. Ten fifty eight. He replayed the scene in the green room with Sara over and over in his head and as much as he loved Adam, he knew he couldn’t leave her now. Now he had to tell Adam. The elevator dinged and Mark watched as Adam walked over to where he sat, taking the chair across from him. “What’s up?” “I talked to Vince today. He pulled me off WrestleMania.” “Damn.” “That was my thought. So I’m going to leave tonight and head for Alabama.” “You’re not sticking around for the rest of Axxess?” Adam shook his head. “No. I’ve done my bit, and I’m not scheduled for anything else. I figure the sooner I get there the better.” Mark nodded. “There’s another reason why I asked you to meet me.” He looked at Adam. “What’s that?” “To tell you it’s over between us. For good this time.” “I know.” “I should’ve known something like this would happen. That getting back together was a bad idea.” “Do you regret us being together again?” “We never really were back together were we? Sure we had that one night, but it wasn’t anything to build a life together on.” “I’m sorry Adam. Really I am. I went and got your hopes up and…” Mark let his voice fade. “I was just as bad. I kept thinking if only it were you and me again, everything would be perfect, you know? But then I talked to Sara and -” “When did you talk to her?” “After my autograph session. I walked into the wrong green room and she was there.” “And you’re still alive?” Mark cracked. “I admire her restraint.” Adam chuckled. “Anyways, after I talked to her, I realized no matter how much we want what we had, we can’t. I mean, I still care about you, that won’t change.” “It won’t change for me either.” “But it’s time to move on, especially since you’ve got a little one on the way.” Adam fidgeted. “On the way down here in the elevator I envisioned this whole ‘drama king’ routine where we’re shouting at each other over how you betrayed me by getting Sara pregnant and I’m throwing things and tearing you apart, but in a way I’m kinda relieved things are over between us.” “How so?” “Maybe things’ll be simpler now. You can focus on Sara and the baby and me…” Adam shrugged. “Maybe I can find someone else.” “You could try and fix things with Oscar.” Adam shook his head. “No, that’s a dead cause now.” He chuckled. “Jay warned me you know? Warned me nothing good could come out of us being together. Shame he was right.” “When are you leaving?” “A couple of hours. Vince said I could and I booked my flight. Why?” Mark reached into his coat pocket. “Here.” Mark held out the CD case. “I had Nidia burn me a CD with a couple of songs on it. I was going to give it to you for Valentine’s Day, but as we both know it didn’t quite work out the way I hoped it would.” “No,” Adam declined. “No gifts or anything. Just let’s make a clean break.” “It’s something to help the trip go quicker. I promise. Would you at least humor me on this?” Adam was reluctant but he took it, avoiding any contact with Mark’s hand. “I better go. I’ve got some packing I have to finish.” Mark nodded. “I’m sorry for everything. No, I take that back, I’m not sorry for anything when it comes to you. I’m only sorry I got your hopes up again.” “Not like it hasn’t happened before.” Adam tapped the case against his hand. “I better go.” He stood before walking away and headed for the elevators, leaving Mark alone with the memories. Sara stood on the balcony of her and Mark’s room, waiting for him to come back. She didn’t stay longer with the girls because she had to know. Had to know if Mark and Adam were over. She hated hurting Adam the way she did by insisting he be the one who ended things but she knew Adam was the only person Mark would listen to with something like this. Hearing a door open and close, she didn’t turn around, her gut telling her it was who she thought it was. “Sara? I thought you were still with the girls.” She turned around. “I was but then it got too noisy for me. I swear sometimes Victoria can give a girl headaches with that laugh of hers.” He smiled as he walked out to her and took her in his arms. “Why don’t you come in? The cold air can’t be much good for the baby.” “I don’t see how. It’s all nice and warm inside me. I’m the one feeling cold.” She teased, though her tone changed when she saw the look in Mark’s eyes, that same dejected look he had when he came back up to their room last night, though she could tell he was trying not to let her know. “You know, it’s not going to be easy for me to forgive you right away for sleeping with Adam.” “I know. I wish a simple ‘I’m sorry’ could do the trick, but as we both know, that would be pointless.” “So is it over with the two of you? For good?” Mark nodded. “He’s heading for Birmingham tonight. Vince gave him the okay.” “I’m sorry.” “What have you got to be sorry for? I’m the asshole in this relationship remember?” Sara chuckled. “Yeah you got that right.” “Well then,” he said trying to keep his voice light. “Why don’t we head in and make some of that microwave popcorn they got here and find something to watch?” “Sounds like a plan.” She said letting Mark lead her from the balcony to their room, where she knew they would sprawl out on the sofa, eat popcorn and watch movies. Like any other married couple. Adam checked the monitors to make sure his red eye to Memphis, which would connect him to Birmingham, was on time. Seeing he had a few minutes to kill before the plane arrived, he wandered over to the rows of seats and sat down, slouching a little, grateful the airport was deserted this time of night as he wasn’t in the mood to deal with fans or people in general. “Thought you’d sneak off on me, huh?” Adam jumped at the sound of the voice behind him. He took his sunglasses off and looked around where, to his shock, he found Oscar sitting behind and one seat over from him. “What are you doing here?” “Thought I’d see you off.” “How did you know I was here?” “I heard Vince pulled you from the card and Jay mentioned you might want to make a early break for it, seeing how you and Mark aren’t together.” “Listen Oscar-” Oscar held up a silencing hand. “I know you're sorry about what happened with us and to be honest so am I, but what’s done is done and we can’t change that, though I’m kinda hoping we might be able to sometime in the future.” “Really? After what I did to you and everything?” Oscar shrugged. “What can I say? I have a thing for lanky Canadian blondes.” Oscar joked. “I talked to Vince and he said if I wanted to take the time off to join you when you have your surgery, it would be okay as long as it didn’t interfere with anything important. Maybe you and I could talk then?” Adam nodded as the announcement for his flight was called. “I better go.” “Same here. I threatened Chavo to bring me here.” Adam smiled. “See you in a few days or weeks?” Oscar nodded. “See you then.” There was a pause before both men leaned forward and kissed, nothing overly passionate but something to remind each other of what could be. When the announcement was made again, Adam pulled back and got his things. “Good luck on your match.” “Thank you. See you soon.” Oscar said before Adam stood and headed for his gate. Watching Adam walk away, Oscar reached into his jeans pocket where the ring box was. Caressing the velvet exterior, he couldn’t wait to visit Adam so he could give it to him, hoping he would be over Mark by then. Settled in his seat, Adam took out his Discman and the CD Mark had given him. Curious as to what was on it, he put it in and pushed play. He recognized the song right off, as one Nidia was so fond of singing once in a while; “No matter what I do all I think about is you…” Adam leaned back and put his sunglasses back on. As Nelly and Kelly Rowland sang about their dilemma, Adam was relieved his was over, though he knew he would always have a spot in his heart for Mark.