"Damn, how long is this going to take?" Chris cursed out loud, mostly to himself. They were sitting in an airport waiting on their charter plane to do a house show in Philadelphia.
"How long has it been?" Mark asked.
Chris looked at his watch. "Two hours, too long."
"It doesn't look like it's going to be here anytime fucking soon." Matthew said.
"Excuse me?" A female voice asked. They all looked up at where it came from. "Can I have yer autographs?" She held in her hand the latest edition of WWE magazine and a black marker.
Chris smiled and stood up. "Sure."
"Thank you." She smiled and handed them to him.
"No problem. Long way from home, are you?" He signed it and passed it over to Mark.
"A wee bit, yes." She laughed.
"Where are you heading?"
"Actually, I'm hoping to make it home for me Ma's birthday day after tomorrow, if the bloody airline with get it's head out of it's arse and quit redirecting me flights." She frowned. "And you?"
"Philly. Why so far from home, if I may ask."
"I was in Los Angeles doing a lecture on me country."
"What part of Ireland are you from? I know I'm being incredibly nosy, but I just really want to hear you talk." He smiled.
She laughed. "It's ok. I'm from Ballycastle, in the county Antrim, in Northern Ireland."
"I bet that is beautiful country."
"Tis." She smiled. "Some say it's the most beautiful town in all of Ireland."
Mark passed the magazine back over to Chris. He took it and handed it back to her.
"Thank you." She smiled. "I really admire what you guys do. The traveling is enough to kill you when you only have to do it occasionally, but you guys do it just about every single day, then perform and do it all over again."
Chris smiled. "It's the life of a professional wrestler."
"Well, I still admire it. Thank you again." She smiled and walked off.
Chris sat back down and watched her walk away. Shoulder length, fiery, curly hair bounced as she took each step. She sat down not very far away and looked at the cover of the magazine they had just signed. Her green eyes sparkled. The freckles strewn across her nose and cheeks on her pale translucent skin lifted up slightly as her nose crinkled when she smiled.
"Earth to Chris." Matthew said, breaking him out of his thoughts.
"Yeah?" He asked, trying to drag his eyes off her.
"I asked did you want some coffee." He said.
"Yeah, I can drink some."
"Good, because it's your turn to go get it." Mark said.
Chris looked from Mark to Matthew through lowered eyes and got up. "Fine."
He walked over to the small airport cafeteria, got the coffees and walked over to the condiment stand.
"Shite." He heard a female voice mutter and looked up to see the fiery redhead on the other side of the stand. He finished picking up sugar packets and creamers, dumped them in the tray and walked over to her.
"Is something wrong?" He asked.
She looked up. "I can't get me bloody phone to work."
He set down his tray and got his from his pocket, without even thinking twice he said. "Here, try mine."
"Are you sure?" She looked at him in hesitation.
"No, I offered only so I can take it away." He joked. She apparently didn't get his joke and looked at him confused. "Yes, I'm sure. Go ahead."
She tentatively took the offered phone. "Thank you." She punched in a round of numbers.
He tried not to listen to her conversation, until he heard the word 'Ma.' He inwardly groaned. He should have known she was going to call Ireland. Even talking just a few minutes would be a bill from hell. He put a smile on his face as she handed the phone back to him.
"Thank you, so much. I had to call home and let them know what was happening. Let me pay you for the call." She started digging in her purse.
"No, that's fine. I was glad to help." He said, and then mentally kicked himself. "Are you traveling alone?" He put the phone back in his pocket and picked up the tray.
She nodded.
"How did you like America?"
"Tis beautiful, but I will sure be glad to get back in me own country."
"I know what you mean."
"You're not American?" She looked at him kind of surprised.
"Canadian. You didn't know that?" She was after all, a fan. She should know where he was from, shouldn't she?
She slapped herself in the forehead in a very unlady-like manner. "I'm sorry. I did know that. I guess I'm just a wee bit nervous."
He grinned. "No need to be nervous. If you like, you can come sit with us until your plane gets here. A pretty lady seen alone in an airport is just asking for trouble."
"You don't think I can take care of me self?"
"Oh, no, it's not that. Truthfully, just listening to you talk is enough to pass time away. This is the most entertainment I've had in days." He smiled.
"Are you for real?"
"I know that sounds pathetic, but it's the truth. Come on, join us." He encouraged.
She nodded and picked up her take-out cup. "All right."
They walked back over to where Mark and Matthew were sitting and sat down. "Here you go, assclowns." Chris said as he passed out coffee.
"Can I ask you a question?" She asked.
He sat down next to her and smiled. "I think you just did."
She laughed.
"But, yes, go right ahead."
"What exactly is an assclown?"
Chris, Mark and Matthew burst into laughter. She looked at all of them like they were crazy. Chris subdued his laughter and answered her. "It's just something I came up with a very long time ago. It can be an idiot, a jerk, an asshole, anything like that."
She nodded and sipped from her cup. Then made a disgusted face. "I swear, Yanks can't make a good cup of tea to save their hides."
Chris grinned. "You should try coffee."
"I have. I can't stand the stuff. So, how long have you guys been waiting?"
"Too damned long. We even chartered a plane and it still hasn't got here, yet." Mark grumbled.
"Are you going straight from here to Ireland?" Matthew asked.
"No, I have another layover in New York, if they don't change me around again. I've been on four different airplanes in two days from California."
"Damn." Chris said.
"That's what I say." She said. "Maybe I'll get to New York in time to see Dick Clark drop the bloody ball in Times Square."
Chris laughed. "It can't be that bad. That's still three months away."
"I feel like I've been flying for three months. When I step foot in Ireland, I'll swear I'll never get on an airplane again, no matter how much they beg me to give another bloody lecture."
"Is that what you do? Give lectures?" Chris asked and took a sip from his coffee cup.
"I'm a schoolteacher. I was asked to fly out there and give one. I figured, free trip to America. Why not? Now I just want to get home." She sighed and started to take a sip of her tea, but looked at the cup disgusted and sat it down beside her in an empty chair.
"What do you teach?" Matthew asked. "I was a teacher before I started wrestling."
"Irish History." She smiled. "What did you teach?"
"Fourth Grade." He smiled. "So a little of everything."
"How long have you been teaching?" Chris asked.
"Five years."
"No way." He smiled. "You don't look old enough."
"I'm twenty six." She smiled. "There is such a shortage of teachers that as soon as you say that's what you want to do, they rush your schooling from four years to three years."
"Damn." Chris said.
"Excuse me." She got up and headed for the ladies' room.
"Chris, man, what are you doing?" Mark asked him.
"I'm sitting here, drinking coffee and you?" He answered with a tone of sarcasm.
"You know what I mean. What are you doing with her?"
"I'm just being friendly. She's all alone in a strange country." He shrugged.
Matthew smirked. "It doesn't hurt that she's sexy as hell and has a face to match."
"Does she? I haven't noticed." Chris said indifferently and sipped his coffee.
"Oh, come on, Chris." Mark laughed. "I can see you eyeballing her all the way across the airport."
"If I wasn't married, I would jump on that in half a heartbeat." Matthew said, growling.
"Well, you are." Chris said, suddenly feeling defensive.
"But you're not." He retorted. "Maybe a little Irish luck would get you out of your slump."
"I'm Chris Jericho! I'm the king of the world! I don't have slumps." That sounded weak, even to him. He hated the fact that his friends and co-workers knew how bad of a time lately he had been having with women. It had been quite a while since he'd been with a woman, a real woman and not a ring rat. He didn't take the rats on their offers much, but sometimes a man just has needs.
Mark grinned. "Even the king of the world needs some loving every now and then."
"And how do you propose I go about doing that? We're in a freaking airport, for Christ's sake!" Chris exclaimed.
"Here she comes." Matthew said. She came back and sat down where she was sitting before.
They sat in a passive silence for what seemed the longest time, when Chris noticed she was humming and moving her feet underneath her chair in a strange manner, like she was dancing. He looked up at her face. "What are you doing?"
"Just trying not to be so bored." She grinned. A call came over the airport PA for her ticket number to come to the ticket desk. "Shite." She grumbled. "I'll bet a pound they are redirecting me flight again. Excuse me, I'll be right back, hopefully."
"I'll come with you." Chris smiled and got up with her. She smiled back and they got up and walked to the ticket desk. There, the ticket representative told her that she was being redirected to Cincinnati.
"I just came from there!" She complained.
"There's nothing else I can do. Your intended plane has had technical difficulties and I was told to get you to New York as quickly as possible for your flight to London."
"Bloody hell!" She mumbled. "Well, I guess there's nothing else I can do but wait then, is there?"
Chris looked at her. She looked so frustrated, she could cry. Before he could even think, he mouth came open. "Yes, there is. You can get on our charter plane with us to Philly, then catch a plane from there to New York."
"No, I couldn't intrude like that." She protested with a shake of her head.
"No, it's not an intrusion." He said. "We'd be happy to have you along. It's just us three guys, a pretty face would make the flight a little bit more fun." He smiled.
"And how to I know you and your buddies won't inflict unspeakable harms to my person in the air?" She asked with a raised eyebrow.
He thought for a few seconds, smiled and rubbing his chin, he said. "Does this look like the face of a man that can hurt a lady?"
She smiled. "No."
"And as far as Buh-Buh and Spike go, they wouldn't hurt a fly, unless it pissed on them." He smiled. "You will be more then safe."
She laughed. He loved her laugh, it sounded like she didn't just laugh, she sang her humor and happiness. He couldn't help but grin like a schoolboy. "Well?"
"If your friends won't mind, then it would get me to New York a lot quicker." She said thoughtfully.
"They won't mind." He said quickly. He didn't know what had gotten into him. He felt some need to help her. Maybe it was just a need to help himself and in the air, anything could happen.
"All right, then. A lift would be more then appreciated." She smiled.
He grinned. He hoped so. He pushed the lewd thoughts out of his head and turned to the ticket rep. "Get her bags sent over with ours. She's flying with us."
"Yes, Mr. Jericho." The female ticket rep smiled. "I'll need her baggage number."
She fished it from her purse and handed it over. The ticket rep wrote it down and handed it back to her. "I'll take care of this personally."
"Thank you." Chris said.
"Yes, thank you very much." She said. The ticket rep smiled and ran off to fulfill her mission of the moment. They went back and sat down where they were sitting.
"We have another passenger." Chris said.
"We do?" Matthew asked, looking over from Chris to her.
"Yes." Chris said and told them what happened at the ticket counter.
"Cool." Mark said. "I just wished it would hurry up and get here already. I need my beauty sleep."
She grinned. "You guys must be exhausted."
"You don't even know the half of it." Matthew said. "I haven't seen home in over a month."
"Dear Lord, that's terrible." She said, sounded truly shocked. "I'd be willing to bet your wife hates your job."
"She does." Matthew grinned. "But she never really complains."
"She must be a saint."
"I wouldn't go as far as that, now." Matthew laughed.
"My wife is always complaining about me never being home." Mark said, shaking his head. "I have to put up with her nagging just about every single day."
"Let me say something to you, but please, don't take it the wrong way." She said.
Mark nodded.
"If the knitter is weary the baby will have no new bonnet."
Mark grinned. "I get what you're saying."
She smiled.
"Well, explain it to us, then, because I don't get it." Matthew said.
"It means that she shouldn't complain because I'm busting my ass to keep her in the lifestyle she's grown accustomed to. She doesn't complain about the money, so she shouldn't complain about my work to earn it." Mark said.
"What is that an old Saint Patrick Proverb?" Chris asked.
"No, just an old Irish one." She smiled. "Me Da, God rest his soul, used to come home every night from the coal mine and me Ma would complain about the dust and dirt he brought in with him. He would belt that at her every time he opened the door."
"Got some more Irish wisdom to share with us?" Matthew asked. Chris and Mark looked at him funny. "Well, now I'm curious."
"I think you're just bored." Chris said.
"Well, that too."
She laughed. "Um, let me think." She paused. "Got one. Me Grandma said this to me over and over again. Tis better to buy a small bouquet and give to your friend this very day, than a bushel of roses white and red to lay on his coffin after he's dead."
They all three looked at her in surprise. Chris broke the silence after a few seconds. "Powerful."
"Especially in this business." Matthew said. A call came over the airport PA announcing the charter plane to Philadelphia had arrived.
"About damned time." Mark said as they all got up.
Chris grabbed his small bag and as she was bending over to get her, he grabbed it before she could.
"I can get that."
He smiled. "I got it."
"Why thank you, kind sir." She smiled back and they walked to the gate.
After about ten minutes in the air, Matthew and Mark had fallen asleep.
Chris looked over at them slumped in their seats and shook his head. " I don't know why they do that, it's only a two hour flight."
"Must be tired to the bone." She said.
"I am too, but I can wait a few more hours until I get a bed and keep you company."
"How sweet you are, but if you want to lay down, please, don't let me stop you."
"Nope, I love hear you talk, and I want to get in all I can before we get there."
She smiled and ran her fingers in her curls. He caught a glimpse of her hand. "Nice ring."
"Thank you." She smiled and looked at her hand.
"Don't you have it on the wrong hand and upside down?"
She looked at him confused.
"That is an Irish engagement ring, is it not?"
"It depends. Tis a traditional Claddagh ring. You wear it on your right hand with the heart facing outwards and the world will know your heart has not yet been won, that you're still available. Wear it on the right hand with the heart facing inwards and it shows you have friendship and love under consideration, or in other words, a beau or boyfriend." She took it off and showed him. "But worn on your left hand with the heart turned inwards it means two loves have joined forever, that you're engaged." She showed him. "Understand?"
He nodded. "Cool. I have never really understood it until you just explain it to me. So does that mean, you're single?"
She nodded. "Sadly, yes and you?"
"As single as single could be."
"Your job must make it very difficult to meet the right person."
"Yes, it does and if you meet them, it's hard as hell to keep a relationship afloat, especially a new one. Been there, done that. Got dumped in two weeks."
"How sad."
"So that's my excuse. What's yours?"
"My beau died in a bombing of his church during the struggles between Catholics and Prods." She said and frowned.
"Oh, I'm so sorry. It didn't register that's where you were from."
"Tis ok. That was four years ago. Right after that happened, a truce was signed, so that was the very last bombing of any church, thank God."
"It must have been very hard growing up in that sort of environment."
"It was, but me Ma and Da made sure we had a happy childhood, as happy as possible while attending funerals at least twice a week."
"Damn."
"Enough sad talk. I'm tired of talking about me. Let's talk about you." She said, smiling.
He smiled. "What would you like to know?"
"Well, I don't know, how about something no one else would know. Something I can't read in a magazine."
"Ok, well, that narrows it down." He laughed. She giggled. "Well, um, let me think." He paused. "I'm scared of heights."
"You're kidding! After everything I see you do in the ring from all those high places, you're afraid of heights?"
"Well, you have to bite back your fears when you're in that kind of environment. Get the job done but don't look down."
"I couldn't imagine doing what you do." She shook her head. "You must have balls of steel."
He laughed. "You could say that."
She timidly picked up his hand. Her touch sent a shock through him all the way down to his groin. He gasped as she raised it up to her lips; softy kissed it, and then held it. "May your blessings outnumber the shamrocks that grow. And may trouble avoid you
wherever you go." He looked at her strangely. She smiled. "An old Irish protection blessing."
He smiled. Her hands felt so nice wrapped around his. He never wanted her to let it go, but she did, placing it back on his leg. He looked at her face and before he could stop himself, he put his hands on either side of her face, leaned over and softly kissed her lips.
She gasped in surprise, but didn't stop him and kissed him back.
It suddenly came to him what he was doing and pulled back. "I'm sorry. I should not have done that."
"Tis ok." She smiled. "It was a nice kiss. I enjoyed it."
He smiled. "Well, then can I have another?"
She smiled and leaned over. He leaned in and pressed his lips to hers. Her arms went unconsciously around him as his did her. He tried getting as close to her as possible, then the armrest started digging in his torso. He groaned and lifted back up, untangling his arms from around her.
"Is something wrong?" She asked, looking at him though big eyes.
"Just this armrest is preventing me from getting as close as I want." He smiled softly.
"Then let's go over there." She smiled and pointed to the padded bench behind the second row of seats. He grinned and got up, extending his hand to her. She smiled softly and took it, lifting up. Still holding hands, they maneuvered down the short aisle to the bench.
She sat down and smiled up at him. He grinned and sat down beside her, then cupped her face and brought it to his. As soon as their lips touched, she moaned softly. He inwardly smiled to himself. She was getting into it. 'Good.' He thought and let his hands roam down her arms to her hips and thighs. Her hands went up to touch his face, around his neck and her fingers ran through his ponytail. He felt her tugging on the rubber band holding it in place and she finally got it out, running her fingers through his hair and lightly rubbing his scalp. He moved from her lips down to her neck.
"As soft as a lamb in April." She sighed and continued to play with his long locks.
He grinned against her skin and moved back up to her lips. His hands got a little braver and ran up her sides, up to the sides of her breasts. He spread his fingers out and his thumbs went on the under curves of her breasts. She inhaled a sharp breath under his lips and pressed made the kiss deeper. Her hands went down the back of his arms, and after giving his biceps a grasp, she moved down to his hands.
'Now she's going to move them.' He thought, but to his surprise, she took his hands and moved them higher on her breasts. He moaned and caressed them, under her guiding hands. She removed her hands and he gently squeezed them. Sensing that was her approval, he moved his hands down to the bottom of her pullover and lifted it, running his hands over her bare stomach and up to her breasts, caressing them and rubbing her hardening nipples through her bra. She groaned with his touch and threw her head back, breaking the kiss. His lips found a spot on her neck that seemed more sensitive and he gently nibbled it as he pinched her nipples through the stiff lace. She jerked her head up and looked into his face. Her face flushed, she grabbed his hands and yanked them from underneath her shirt.
He got a little worried he went a little too far and stammered. "I'm, um, sorry."
She didn't say anything, just shot up from her seat and still clutching his hands, she practically drug him to the plane lavatory. When they got in there, she let his hands go and locked the door behind them. She was on him, kissing and tugging on his clothes in the time it took him to do the same. He peeled her shirt off over her head and unclasped the hooks of the obtrusive bra. Once it was off, he lowered his head and grasped a rosy-pink nipple in his teeth. She cried out as he nibbled on it and sucked it into his mouth. She started jerking at his clothing more aggressively. "Now, Chris! Now!"
He let go of her nipple and looked up at her face. He grinned and took off his shirt. She hurriedly unzipped and unbuttoned her jeans. She pulled her shoes off and jerked her pants down, along with her panties. His eyes raked over her as he unfastened his jeans. A slow smile spread across his face and he pulled them down to around his ankles. She leaned back on the wall and looked him over. A loud growl escaped her. He overtook her mouth again with his as he pinned her up against the wall, her legs going around him to hold herself up.
He teased her opening by rotating his hips. She grumbled. He let her mouth go. "Clean?"
"Yes!" She cried. "Bloody hell, just fuck me, already!" He smiled as his hips went back and he thrust inside of her. She whimpered loudly and clawed at his back. He moved out almost all the way and thrust himself back in again hard. She moaned.
"Open your eyes for me, Irish Princess." He said softly. She slowly opened her eyes and locked them with his. He started his rhythm, her hips moving with him.
"Faster." She whimpered. He quickened the pace. "Stop." She said. He got confused, but stopped. She brought her legs down, making him exit her.
"What the…" He started, but she moved around the small room and bent over, grasping the tank. He grinned and got behind her. He pushed into her hard. She let out a throaty moan and barked orders to him. She reached underneath and started playing with his testicles. He tried to hold back, but with her moaning and grumbling instructions, along with what she was doing to his balls, he couldn't. He exploded in a heated rush with a long, low growl. She turned around to him and smiled, cupped his face and planted a soft kiss on his lips.
As they were dressing, the pilot came over the plane intercom saying for passengers to fasten their seatbelts, they were about to land. They left the restroom and sat down.
Right after they landed and got into the airport in Philadelphia, her flight to New York was called for boarding. Chris walked her to her gate. They hugged, kissed and said goodbye. She smiled over her shoulder and waved as she climbed the staircase. He walked back to where Matthew and Mark were waiting on him. Paul had also just gotten there.
He patted Chris on the back. "I heard you joined the mile-high club with a little cutie."
Chris half-grinned. "Yeah. I really like her, too."
"Did you get her info to keep in touch?"
Chris thought for a second and picked up his baggage. "I didn't even get her name."
Paul, Mark and Matthew laughed. Mark spoke up. "You mean, you finally met a woman you clicked with, that you really like, you had sex with her in the bathroom of the plane, which, by the way, woke my ass up, and you didn't even get her name or anything?"
Chris frowned. "Yes. Call me a fucking idiot."
"Fucking idiot." Matthew said. "Now you will never see her again."
Chris blinked, and then remembered the phone call. He dug it from his pocket. He smiled and rocked it in his fingers. "I wouldn't say that. I let her use my phone when she couldn't get hers to work. We'll just see about that." They reached the parking lot and climbed in the rental SUV. He opened his phone and looked through the dialed numbers. He found the one she dialed, then hit send.
"Hello, my name is Chris and I'm a friend of your daughters."
"Which one?" A female voice with a heavy Irish accent asked.
He bit his lip and rolled his eyes. "The one that was just in America."
"You must mean Lizzie, that's what we call her. Her real name is Elizabeth."
He smiled. "Yes, that's the one."
"She's not back from her trip yet. Try again in a few days, young man."
"Thank you, ma'am, I'll do that."
"You're quite welcome. Good day."
"Good day." He said and closed the phone. "Elizabeth." He thought aloud.
"You finally got her name?" Paul asked.
He nodded and smiled. "Yes."
A few days later, he called again and asked for her. Her mother called her to the phone.
"Hello." She answered.
"Hello, Elizabeth." Chris said, smiling.
"Yes. Who is this?"
"Chris."
"Oh. How did you get my number?"
"You left it on my phone when I let you borrow it."
"Oh, ok." She paused.
"I was wondering if we could maybe get together sometime."
"Um, I don't think so. Please, don't call me again." She said quickly and hung up.
He closed his phone with confusion and sadness. "Damn." He threw his phone on the table. 'I guess that's over. Too bad. Oh, well, on with life.' He turned off the lamp and went to sleep.