After the flight, a 45 minute drive, they were finally pulling into her driveway. All the travelling had worn him out and Kane welcomed the idea of lying down awhile. He was still weak from loss of blood.
"Babe, you go lay down and try to rest. I'll wake you when dinner's ready." She said, worry for him clouding her normally bright blue eyes. Kane merely nodded, too tired for anything more. She watched as he walked toward her bedroom.
Not bothering to undress, Kane kicked off his shoes, then lay across her big bed, falling asleep almost instantly. By the time Judy got their luggage inside, dark had fallen. She carried their bags into the bedroom, setting them down near the closet. Taking a quilt off one of the shelves, she opened it and covered her beloved, then quietly left the room.
Dinner was ready and she was about to go wake Kane, when his voice startled her. He was right behind her. Placing one hand on either side of her on the counter, he imprisoned her with his body.
"Smells good! What are we having?" He asked.
Turning around, she slipped her arms around his waist. His arms went around her, pulling her closer. Damn it felt good to hold her again! Been to long!
"You startled me! Pork chops, creamed potatoes and gravy, green beans and black-eyed peas. There's corn bread and a pecan pie. Hope you like it. The pie is one I had in the freezer." She said, food suddenly the last thing on her mind.
The big man could not resist the invitation of her slightly parted lips offered. Without thinking, he bent his head to hers. Their kiss quickly turned passionate,... hungry,... demanding. Unable to deny the insistent pressure of his lips on hers, she accepted, then welcomed the invasion of his tongue. This seemed to inflame them even more.
His hands began removing her clothing, as hers did his. Roughly lifting her to sit on the edge of the counter, Kane buried himself deep within her softness. With a groan, his lips sought out that spot just behind her ear. She bit and gently sucked at his shoulder, her legs wrapped tightly around his hips. Rather quickly, it was over, but they had taken the edge off their passion, so now they would be able to get through dinner.
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Sunlight flooded the bedroom with blinding brightness. Burying his head deeper among the pillows, he reached out a hand searching for her. She had left their bed hours earlier, wanting to enjoy the early morning air. He found her out on the deck, wearing an old flannel nightgown and robe. The chilly morning air had him rubbing his arms to rid them of the goosebumps there.
"How long you been out here?" He asked, taking a drink from her cup. With a grimace of distaste, he handed it back. "How do you drink that?" He asked. He liked it light, but with out the sugar.
She laughed, and followed the big man back into the kitchen, closing the door behind her. "Oh, a couple of hours, I guess. You were sleeping so peacefully, I didn't want to wake you. Morning has always been my favorite time of day." She said, slipping under his arm to hug him. Standing on tiptoe, she tugged on him, till he gave in to her demands. With a good natured chuckle, he leaned toward her, kissing her good morning.
"How did you sleep?" She asked, smiling happily up at her gentle giant.
Chuckling at her expression, Kane kissed her again, then poured himself a cup of coffee.
"What would you like for breakfast?" She asked, sitting beside him at the table.
Her eyes devouring the sight of him, sitting there wearing nothing but his tight black jeans.She liked him best this way. Barechested, and barefoot. Lowering her eyes, she hid the wicked grin behind her coffee cup.
"Doesn't matter. Anything will be fine. We need to set a date." He said sipping his coffee. She considered it a moment, then suggested the Saturday after Thanksgiving.
"Can you be ready then?" He asked, the date just two and a half weeks away.
"No problem! We'll just go to one of the wedding chapels in the area, if that's alright! I don't have any one to invite, really, so unless you do, the only ones I want to be there would be there Kaliegh and Taker." She said, watching him as she waited for his reply.
"That's fine. When do you want to go shopping?" he asked, looking over at her.
"Well, if you feel like it, how bout after breakfast?" She asked.
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Later that day, in a western wear shop, Judy found a lovely teal blue lace western wedding outfit. The color made her eyes look even bluer than they were. With her dark auburn hair, there was no other choice to make.
The couple paid for the dress, and left the shop laughing together over some little remark one of them had made. Their next stop was the wedding chapel they had decided on. By the time they started back home, all the plans had been made. Now all that needed done, was to tie the knot.
The days flew by. Before they were even aware of it, the week of the wedding had arrived. Kane was looking forward to returning to the ring. He had to talk to Judy, now. The time was running out. He watched as she tidied up her living room.
"Judy, come here. We need to talk." Kane was nervous about this talk.
"What is it?" She asked, aware of the tension in him.
"Please sit down a minute. Because of the way my first marriage ended, I need to ask you something. Will you sign a pre-nuptial agreement?" Kane asked softly, watching her reaction.
"Why?" She asked tensely.
"My ex-wife took me for all she could. I don't want to risk that again! I CAN'T risk that again!" he said simply.
"And you think I'd do that?" She asked quietly, as she sat down at the table next to him! Not meeting his eyes, she looked down at her folded hands.
"And what if I don't agree, or ask you to sign one as well?" She asked, finally meeting his hazel eyes.
Kane had the audacity to laugh. The idea of him signing a pre-nuptial agreement was ridiculous! What did she have that he would demand half of? This cabin was her home! She worked for the same company he did.
"Don't be ridiculous! I don't want your cabin! If you don't sign....well we won't talk about that now." Kane's smug smile pissed her off.
"No, let's DO talk about it. You know nothing at all about me!If I refuse, would you break the engagement? You don't know how I make a living, when my birthday is or anything else. What you DO know, is that we're sexually compatible. That's ALL you know. As to your question, yes, I'll sign an agreement, but so will you!" Her blue eyes fairly shooting sparks at him. "You wait until five days before our wedding, to bring this shit up! Two days before Taker and Kaliegh are suppose to arrive!" She WAS pissed!
Kane was at a loss as to what to say. "If you want me to sign an agreement, then fine I will."
"FINE!! I'll call and make the appointment with my lawyer!" She very nearly shouted at him! Judy walked down the hallway to the bedroom they had shared. Closing and locking the door behind her, she sat down on the edge of the bed while she dialed the number of her attorney.
"Janet, this is Judy. I need to come in today to get some papers signed. Could you draw up a pre-nuptial agreement? He'll have one for me to sign as well. I'll have Kane contact his lawyer and have him to get the necessary paperwork ready to fax to y'all. Will an hour be ok?" Judy listened to the other woman agree. "Good! We'll see you in an hour then."
Judy went back to the kitchen to tell Kane about their appointment. "Call your lawyer and have him do what he needs to do." Judy started out the door, then stopped.Looking back over her shoulder at the big man, she added. "I feel betrayed by this. You've hurt me as no one else ever has. You've implied I was untrustworthy or deceitful." She looked at him a minute longer then left the house.
Kane knew he had screwed up big time, by asking her to sign that paper. But the deed had been done. Now to try and fix things between them. Picking up the phone, he called his attorney, telling him what he need. Kane then left the cabin in search of the woman he loved.
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Later that afternoon, the couple sat in the attorney's office, neither one speaking. A few minutes later, Mr. Samuels came in carrying a folder thick with documents. Walking around his desk, he sat down in the chair facing them.
"Judy as always, it's good to see you!I take it this is the lucky man?" He asked, eyeing Kane curiously.
"Yes, this is Kane. Kane, my attorney, Jack Samuels. Jack, his attorney is waiting to hear from you with some documents of his own." Judy informed him.
Mr. Samuels got the number from Kane and called it right there. Within minutes he was off the phone and called for his secretary to come to his office. After telling her to bring the faxed papers to his office, he turned his attention back to the couple before him.
"Let me go over the agreement explaining what is involved. Then after the papers from you attorney arrive, we'll get them all signed." The attorney launched into a description of just how much Judy was worth. Ten minutes later when his secretary brought in the documents from Kane's attorney, Mr. Samuels was still talking. Kane was overwhelmed.
Looking over at Judy with a stunned look on his face, he could not say a word. She had refused to meet his eyes, keeping her own on her clasped hands. Finally, finding his voice, Kane asked her one question. "Why didn't you tell me?"
Lifting her blue eyes to meet his hazel one she replied simply," You didn't ask."
"Well I'm asking now. How did you come by all this money?" Kane still couldn't believe what he had just heard. Samuels had stopped reading and watched the exchange between the couple.
"I write women's erotic fiction. I'm very good at it." Judy returned Kane's look .
"Hand me what ever it is that I need to sign. Judy will not have to sign any papers from my attorney. But I want to sign these. Up until a few minutes ago, I thought all she owned was her cabin. This makes me nervous!" Kane said, indicating the folder before the attorney, Kane signed the papers the attorney handed him, then got up leaving the office.
Judy sat there, her eyes filling with tears, her head down. Finally telling her attorney to send her copies of all the paperwork, she too left the office.
"Why didn't you tell me?" Kane asked. He loved Judy, always had! But he didn't know how to deal with this.
"Kane I told you there were things we needed to talk about!" She said.
They talked all the way back to her cabin. "Tell me this, how did you come to meet Taker?" Kane was still having a problem digesting all of this. Laughing naturally for the first time all day, Judy told him how Kaliegh, Taker and her all met.
"There's one thing I want to ask, if you still want to go through if the wedding, that is." She waited for his reply.
"Ask! What ever it is, I'll agree to." He said.
"If he's willing, I want Taker to give me away, since he is responsible for our getting together!" she said, waiting for him to reply.
***********
"Kaliegh, have you thought anymore about you and I getting married?" Taker's question was totally out of the blue and very unexpected.
"Well, no....Actually I haven't. We've been so busy lately that I haven't even given it any though." The truth was Kaliegh thought about it two or three times a day, but always pushed it into the back of her mind....Just wanting to not think about it....And today she was not in the best of moods and did not feel like discussing the subject.
"I love you, Kaliegh, but I can't wait forever. I want to get married and I want a family with you."
"I want those same things too, but I'm just not ready right now. And I guess if you don't want to wait then I guess that is your loss." Kaliegh's temper was quickly on it's way down the highway to hell and by the look in Taker's eyes, he was headed in the same direction.
"Kaliegh...." Taker ran his fingers through his hair as he contemplated his next words. "We don't have to do it right this moment, but either you say that you will marry me or we're through." Taker immediately regretted the words that he had just said, but it was too late. Kaliegh's head snapped around in his direction, her blue eyes were cold as ice.
"Well, I guess we're through then." Kaliegh's voice was deathly quiet and Taker was a bit taken aback by it. "I'm going to the arena to have Mr. McMahon pull my contract so I can get the hell out of here and far, far, away from you."
"Kaliegh...wait...I didn't mean what I said. I'm sorry...Please, don't go." Taker pleaded with her, but it was no use.
"Fuck off, Taker!" She hissed back at him, then turned and was gone.
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What would happen at the show that night would allow the fans to think that Jaden had turned on the Undertaker. Undertaker would come down to the ring for his match minus Jaden. She would make an appearance later in the match, causing him to be pinned. When that deed was done, Kaliegh's contract was void....She was no longer employed by the biggest company in the wrestling business. Kaliegh was on her way out of the arena, and had her hand on the door to open it, when she was stopped. Taker, who had never cried since he was a small child, stood before her with tears streaming down his face."
"Kaliegh, you have to believe me....I did not mean the things I said earlier. I had no right to say that and I'm sorry. I'm just so afraid of losing you. I'm so scared that if we aren't married....I don't know...You'll fall in love with another. I love you so much." Before either of them knew what was happening, Taker pulled her into his arms and kissed her deeply until he felt her body relax. With a soft moan of resignation, her arms went around him and she began to return his kiss with the same fire and passion that his had possessed. Finally with great effort, Taker pulled away and looked deep into her eyes.
"I will wait until the end of time, Kaliegh, if that is what it takes." Taker's eyes were still damp from his tears and his voice was choked.
"No, Taker...I need to stop living in the past. The man is gone...dead...he can't hurt me anymore. I don't know what I'm afraid of....I know you won't hurt me that way."
"Your apprehensions are understandable...I know that now. Before I was too selfish to understand that. What really matters is the love that you and I share and if you don't want to get married now, or ten years from now, I'll still love you." Taker once again pulled her into his arms. Kaliegh rested her head on his chest, and finally feeling that she had been released from her nightmare past, cried tears of sadness for the years that had been wasted, and tears of happiness for the new life that she had been able to find. Taker continued to hold her until her tears subsided, then he gently kissed her and said, "I better go get you your job back. I'll meet you back at the hotel. There's something I need to tell you...something about Judy and Kane's wedding."
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An hour and a half later Taker arrived back at the hotel and he looked extremely happy. "Not only did I get you your job back, but Mr, McMahon has given us three extra days off." Taker said as he walked int o the room and hugged her.
"Really?? That is great!" Kaliegh's eyes sparkled with genuine happiness. "Now what was it you wanted to tell me about Judy and Kanes's wedding?"
Taker sat down beside Kaliegh and took her hand into his. "As you know their wedding is on Saturday, and you know that we had planned to leave Friday after my match....Unfortunately our plans have changed and we won't be able to leave Friday after all."
"What?? Why not??" Kaliegh was shocked, she couldn't believe it.
"Well," Taker started and then paused....Deliberately taking his time. "We aren't able to leave Friday because we are leaving tomorrow morning!!!"
Kaliegh squealed with delight and threw her arms around him. "Are you serious?? This is so wonderful!!" Although the two women had talked almost daily since Kane had been sidelined, they had not seen each other. Now they would have two full days to "catch up" before Judy and Kane's big day. "Um...Judy does know we are arriving tomorrow, right?"
"Of course, but I made her promise not to tell you so I could surprise you." Taker explained.
"Well, you definitely did just that. Thank you...you have made me very happy." Kaliegh said as she kissed his lips.
"Hold on...there's one more thing...."
"More?? What could possibly be better than what you have just told me?" Kaliegh asked, her eyes wide with curiosity.
"Judy has asked me to give her away when she and Kane are married." Kaliegh could hear the sincere happiness in Taker's voice when he spoke this statement.
"Well, I do hope you accepted." Kaliegh asked him.
"Of course I did." Taker said as he hugged her to him, a slight smile on his lips.
"Well...this is absolutely wonderful!! All this good news at once!" Kaliegh's eyes gleamed with happiness and her smile lit up her entire face.
"Our flight leaves at 10:03AM so we should probably try to get somme sleep. It's well past midnight already." Taker suggested as he got up and turned off the bedside lamp.
"Sleep? I don't think there will be much sleeping tonight...." Kaliegh said as she fell into his arms.