The Season of Change

The festive season was in full swing as the days leading up to Christmas blurred together in a whirlwind of production schedules, promotional events, and travel. WWE was in the midst of a major holiday push, with the company's annual Christmas special approaching quickly.

For Erica, it had been a time of intense work, but there was something about this particular year that felt different.

Every time she crossed paths with Joshua, something unspoken hung in the air between them. Whether it was in the hallways of the arena, backstage before a segment, or during brief moments of downtime in the WWE offices, their interactions were shifting.

She caught him looking at her a little longer than usual, and she found herself seeking his gaze, too. Their casual banter had turned into something more, something that felt more meaningful, more... personal.

Erica couldn't shake the feeling that something was beginning to take root between them. It wasn't the kind of spark that demanded instant action; no, it was subtler than that. It was the gradual understanding that they were both standing at a crossroads, and they each knew that the next move would matter.

One afternoon, after another marathon recording session for the Christmas album, Erica found herself sitting alone in the green room, nursing a cup of coffee and glancing at the stack of papers in front of her. The holiday madness had taken its toll—she was exhausted.

Yet, there was a part of her that couldn't ignore the thoughts that kept creeping in. What if this was the moment? What if this year, the love they were both searching for was right in front of them?

She was so deep in thought that she didn't notice Joshua stepping into the room until he spoke.

"Mind if I sit?" Joshua's voice was warm, a little hesitant.

Erica looked up, surprised to find him standing there. She smiled, her heart doing a little flip in her chest. "Of course. I wasn't expecting you to pop in. I thought you were rehearsing for the special."

Joshua chuckled, taking a seat across from her. "We finished up early today, so I thought I'd check in on you. How's everything going with the album?"

Erica shrugged, the tiredness evident in her posture. "It's been a lot. But good, you know? Just trying to keep everything together."

Joshua studied her for a moment, his eyes softening with an almost unspoken concern. "You seem... a little worn out. Are you sure you're okay?"

It wasn't the first time someone had asked her that. But there was something in the way Joshua phrased it, the genuine care in his voice, that made her pause. She let out a sigh, setting her coffee down on the table between them. "Honestly, it's been a lot to juggle. Between recording, the interviews, and making sure everything's in place for the holidays... I feel like I haven't had a moment to just breathe."

Joshua nodded, leaning back in his chair. He studied her for a long moment, and Erica was unsure whether he was waiting for her to elaborate or if he simply didn't know how to respond. It was clear that whatever shift had happened between them wasn't something either of them had fully acknowledged yet. But in that silence, Erica felt something stir—a quiet desire for connection that was becoming impossible to ignore.

"You know," Joshua finally said, his voice breaking the quiet, "if you ever need someone to talk to, or just a moment to relax, I'm here. We could take a break from all this madness. I know the last thing you probably want is more work-related stress, but... sometimes it's nice to have someone who gets it."

Erica blinked, her heart skipping a beat at his words. For a moment, she didn't know what to say. It wasn't just the offer—it was the way he said it, like he truly cared about her well-being beyond the superficial. Joshua wasn't the type to throw out empty words, and Erica could tell that there was sincerity in his voice.

"Thanks," she replied softly. "That actually means more than you know."

The room seemed to hold its breath for a moment as they shared a quiet look. There was so much unspoken between them, but for once, Erica didn't feel the need to rush ahead or try to decipher everything at once. There was time. There was space for both of them to figure it out, at their own pace. And that felt like a new beginning in itself.

Before either of them could say anything more, Trinity stepped into the room, her voice cutting through the stillness. "Alright, you two. I'm not interrupting anything, am I?"

Erica and Joshua both looked up, startled. But Trinity's wide grin quickly eased any tension that might have lingered.

"No, you're not interrupting anything," Erica said, flashing a smile.

"I hope I'm not interrupting something important," Trinity teased, her eyes flicking between the two of them. "Because, you know, someone told me I should keep an eye on you two. Just in case."

Erica raised an eyebrow, her smile widening. "Oh, really? Who would that be?"

Trinity winked. "Oh, I don't know... maybe someone who knows you both a little too well." She gave Joshua a playful shove. "You know, I could almost hear the chemistry between you two from down the hall. Don't think I didn't notice how you two were acting last time I saw you together."

Joshua chuckled, clearly flustered but not entirely denying the implication. "Trin, come on."

But Trinity wasn't letting it go. "What, you're telling me there's nothing going on here? No sparks flying?"

Erica, feeling the heat rise in her cheeks, quickly stood up. "Okay, okay, that's enough of that. I'm pretty sure we've got more important things to do than discuss my love life right now."

Trinity, ever the instigator, laughed. "I'm just saying... sometimes you've got to take a leap. You don't know what could be waiting for you on the other side."

Erica's heart beat faster at Trinity's words. For all the teasing, there was a kernel of truth there. Erica had spent so long building walls around herself, hiding her feelings behind her work and responsibilities. But as the days passed, and the more time she spent with Joshua, the more she realized that maybe it was time to let those walls come down, piece by piece.

Joshua cleared his throat, looking at Erica with a mix of curiosity and something deeper. "Well, if there's one thing I know, it's that when it comes to the holidays, nothing is ever really as simple as it seems. Maybe the best things come when we least expect them."

Erica met his gaze, feeling a sudden clarity sweep over her. It wasn't just about the song they had recorded, or the holiday cheer WWE was hoping to spread. It was about everything—about the possibility that, just like the lyrics of the song, this year could be the one where they found the love they had both been searching for.

Trinity's grin widened as she noticed the shift between them. "You two are definitely in sync now," she said, her voice light but full of knowing. "I'm just saying... it's about time."

The rest of the afternoon passed in a blur of rehearsals and discussions about the upcoming special. But as Erica worked alongside Joshua, there was a quiet tension between them, a shared understanding that neither could ignore.

The holiday season, with all its craziness, had a way of pushing people together—and it was clear to Erica that this year, her journey might be leading her to something she hadn't expected.

When the day finally wound down and the studio lights dimmed, Erica found herself standing near the exit, her coat slung over her arm. She wasn't ready to leave, not yet. As she walked toward the exit, she caught sight of Joshua, who had been talking with some of the other crew members. His gaze met hers, and for a second, everything else faded away.

"I'll walk you out," Joshua said, offering a small smile.

Erica nodded, feeling the familiar flutter in her chest as they stepped into the cold evening air together.

The walk to her car was quiet, but not uncomfortable. The city lights flickered in the distance, and the holiday decorations made the streets feel alive with warmth and cheer. As they neared her car, Joshua turned to face her, his eyes searching hers.

"Erica," he began, his voice soft, "I know we've both been through a lot. But I can't help but think that... this year, maybe things could be different. Maybe we could—"

Before he could finish, Erica took a small step forward, closing the distance between them. She placed a hand on his arm, her touch gentle but firm. "Maybe we should find out, together."

Joshua's eyes softened, and in that moment, everything seemed to fall into place. The uncertainty, the fear, the hesitation—it all melted away. This was what they both wanted, what they had both been searching for all along.

With a smile, Joshua took a step closer. "Yeah. Together."

And for the first time in a long time, Erica felt a sense of peace. The love she had been looking for might just be waiting for her, right here, in the unlikeliest of places.