10:30??! Damn did I sleep that long?

He gets up off the sofa and feels the crick in his neck, he moves it to the side and it cracks a bit, he winces at the uncomfortableness. He looks in every room, including the guest, thinking she woke up in the night and went there, but the bed isn't touched. He scratches his head when he notices the phone is also missing.

Huh. OH NO! Don't tell me she goes off walking while talking on the phone! She could be miles from here!

Joe chuckles at his own shock, especially when there's no one in the room except for himself. He steps outside and walks a bit until he sees a crowd of people around a group of TV's inside of a store window. He sees Angel's face and almost calls out to her but then he sees a look of shock on her face. Wondering what it's about he looks on the TV, but it's just a Greg Jackson promo. He shrugs his shoulders and heads back to the house, sitting on his porch. After about 4 or 5 minutes, Angel is walking back up the stone covered walk up to his house, still looking shocked, but trying to hide it when she sees Joe.

Hey Angel, sleep good?

She nods her head and then..proceeds to faint. A few minutes and some splashed water later, Joe has revived her back inside on his couch.

Welcome back! What made you pass out like that? I mean I was told I have that effect on women but...

Joe sees that his joke isn't working so stops himself

But that's just a little joke. Are you feeling ok?

Angel looks at him and takes a huge breath, a look of shock still on her face. She nods her head a little and turns away from Joe.

I'll be okay.

Joe looks concerned even still.

Are you sure? I mean, people don't just faint for no reason. And besides, you looked shocked downtown when you were watching that Tv...

Joe realizes he may have said too much, so he backtracks.

I mean, when I woke up I wondered where you are and when I went looking for you I saw you downtown, so I came back to wait for you. I wasn't following or anything. But still, are you SURE you're ok? And what did you see on TV that shocked you?

Angel looks ahead, staring at the wall. She takes a huge gulp and closes her eyes. Her back is completely straight and her body rigid. She responds, her voice strained.

They had on some ICW promos.

Yeah..I noticed it was a Greg Jackson promo. I mean he's not one to shock people.

Joe looks back at her after looking down and notices something.

Angel? You look pale..

Angel's face looks paler and she gulps.

It wasn't Jackson's promo that shocked me.

Joe helps her sit up and he sits next to her, and she smiles weakly.

Well, what was it?

Angel still stares ahead at the wall. She takes another huge breath and then releases it before responding.

It was yours.

Oh I meant to tell you about that.

Angel looks up at him, confused.

You um..you did?

Well it was just a promo to Rocket, I mean, I cut three short rants on him, just get it off my chest. Then I finished it. How is it shocking?

Angel releases the breath that she was holding. She looks unsure and debates how to go on.

Er�.it wasn't that part that was shocking Joe.

Joe looks a little worried and confused.

Angel? That's all there was in the promo. I mean, I filmed a little rant on Rocket, and turned off the camera. I even took out the tape and labeled it. There wasn't anything else I can think of that would have been filmed by me....

Angel looks a little more terrified.

Er�.then it wasn't filmed by you. Your promo didn't end until after we fell asleep.

Angel peers over at him and quickly looks away, unsure of what to do, the truth of what he said, sinking in. It takes Joe a few moments himself to take in what she said to him..

You mean it picked up what I said when you fell asleep?

She doesn't respond but he knows he is right. He starts to speak in broken phrases.

Oh...Angel....I'm...er...I'm sorry. I'll just let you stay in here and I'll just go sit out on the porch or something...give you your space....Sorry...

Joe stands up and walks towards the door. Angel looks back at him and calls back to him, in a small voice.

You meant it, didn't you?

Joe stops with his hand on the doorknob, he doesn't turn around, he feels ashamed of himself.

Yes, Angel. I did.

He opens the door and goes out onto the porch, then closes it. He takes a pack of cigarettes from the small crack in the porch wood, where he hid them.

Mandy always told me not to smoke when I was stressed or there'd be a chance I'd get addicted....Fuck her.

He lights one and takes a drag from it before sitting down on his porch in meditative thought. Angel opens up the front door after him. She sits down besides him. And takes a deep breath and the tension builds in the air, neither one breaking it.

If it makes you feel any better, I feel the same.

Joe breaks away from his thought, an in a slow, calm voice, says something to Angel.

Angel, please don't kid around with me. The last thing I need is to have my heartstrings pulled at, you should know.

Angel takes a deep breath and the releases it.

Joe, I would never kid with you about this. I would hope you think you would know that I don't lie about these things.

Think about what you're saying. As much as I want it to be true...are you sure it's not because of the way I've treated you, added to the way Bob's treated you? I mean, if this were any other situation would you feel this way?

Angel sighs and lowers her head.

I did count on any of this happening. I never willed it to happen. It just did.

Angel gets up and starts to walk on Joe's front yard.

It's not like I went out with the intention of falling in love with you. It just happened. You don't think it's eaten at me? That I've tried to fight it? My feelings have been tossed and turned on the inside like you wouldn't believe!

Angel continues to pace. Joe puts out his cigarette and tosses it into the bushes. He stands up and places his hands on Angel's shoulders looking her straight into the eyes. Her eyes are starting to water, with everything that has went on.

Angel, I should have just said it to your face. Here goes....

He breathes deeply.

For quite a while now, I've been starting to grow more attached to you and I think you know this from the way I've acted. You're beautiful, but that's not why. You're just a great person to be around, I feel like I can be completely open with you. You're fun to be with, fun to talk to, and when I saw the way Rocket was treating you I couldn't stand it, because I know you deserved better. You ARE an angel, and..here goes nothing...I love you.

Angel starts to cry and her lips quiver. She looks shocked and bites her lower lip. She goes closer to him and wraps her arms around him, holding him close. She goes up and whispers in his ear.

I feel the same way, Joe.

Angel leans back to look him in the eye.

I've fallen in love with you.

Angel lets out a little laugh. Joe leans in to possibly kiss her but he stops.

May I?

Angel nods her head and Joe caresses her cheek and kisses her softly. Angel almost looks like she leans into his kiss, enjoying it fully. When the kiss breaks Angel looks up into his eyes.

So, what now Joe?

Joe holds her close to him.

Now Angel, we start our new relationship together.

Angel smiles and bites her lower lip.

I'm glad. I hope that we don't cause too much of stir in ICW.

Heh...do you think I care what the people in ICW think? I only care for the opinions of a select few, my fans, and of course, you. I know Bob won't like it, but hey, I don't care what he thinks either.

Angel smiles back.

I'm glad that you don't. I don't know what my fans will think about this.

Joe's eyes light up as he has an idea.

Well, I saw a few fans of yours downtown....how about we go down there and ask them?

Angel smiles a little and looks a little curious.

If you want to Joe. Although, I would feel weird bothering them.

Joe gets an even better idea..

I've got a better idea, actually. What if we just announce it to the entire world in the Safeco Field in Seattle, Washington?

Angel starts to grin, and Joe responds with a grin of his own.

I think you have the same thought....let's tell all of our fans at ICW Torment!!!

Angel giggles and wraps her arms tighter around Joe's neck, kissing him on the cheek. Angel slowly stops laughing and get serious as she looks at Joe. She slowly goes up and kisses him, softly at first but then with more passion. Angel then breaks the kissing take a step back from Joe, touching her lips. A cold chill goes through the air again.

We're going to get chilly out here, those fall winds here in Jersey can be brutal. Would you care to go inside?

Angel smiles and nods as Joe leads her back into the house and to the couch. Angel sits down and looks at Joe as he does. She rubs her arms a little and Joe wraps his arms around her. Angel smiles and looks up at Joe, who laughs a little.

This is really nice Joe. I enjoy this, spending time with you.

You know, I feel the same way.

Angel leans onto him and they are sitting like they were last night, only wide awake.

I wonder, how could something like this have happened so fast?

Sometimes things just happen. Things that were meant to be.

I once used to be skeptical of things like that actually....but I'm seeing that it's true.

Joe kisses her softly and she snuggles up to him.

Just think, if I never whispered that last night, we might not be like this.

*whispers* There are always what-if's. But we are together now.

Angel yawns and snuggles more.

No matter what we went through�*yawn* To get here, it couldn't have been anything else but divine intervention. Nothing short.

Angel snuggles more into Joe and her eyes start to drop a little.

You're getting tired? You know it's just around noon, right?

*yawns* I guess. I didn't get a lot of sleep a couple of days ago.

Joe notices her getting more and more tired.

Would you like to go lie down? I don't mind, Angel.

Angel tenses up a little and holds him more, shaking her head.

Not without you, I just want to be around you right now.

Well I could stay with you in the guest room until you fall asleep, if you do that is.

Angel nods her head and waits as Joe gets up, offering his hand. She smiles and accepts. They go into the guest room. Angel goes over and sits down on the bed. She waits as Joe comes over. She immediately snuggles against him.

I don't think that there is anything that could be better than this.

Then I will continue to stay here until you either fall asleep or get sick of looking at me.

I could never get tired of looking at you.

Joe chuckles a bit to himself.

Then I guess I'm here til you fall asleep.

Angel smiles at him and starts to slowly fall asleep and Joe does stay there with her as the scene fades..