"I'd still need her, want her and
it would be the same way any other
man would want his woman.
Smart, strong and intelligent.
Never weak and too beautiful to ignore."
●RM. DRAKE●

■■■

NIGHT OF CHAMPIONS 2015

"I'm pretty sure you know why I have called you in Nicole..." Vince sighed as he took a seat behind his desk having reached his office as soon as I had.

"Not actually, I mean I knew you'd be proud of my reign but a personal show of gratitude" I began and he chuckled before leaning back.

"Oh yes I am very proud. You're improving in ring and on mic each day, Team Bella is top in our merchandise sales which is what we want for our women's division, to be alongside men. But the thing is, we don't want the hunger for success to come at a price, more importantly your hunger and at a price of your career."

"Vince..." He cut me off before I could apologize as my fears became a reality.

The whispers around the locker room always ended up screwing someone's life up and my discomfort couldn't be hidden from my opponents who I had to let know not to target certain parts...

"I won't comment on the fact that you have failed to let the doctors know of your discomfort. Because perhaps it might not be serious but then if it weren't serious maybe you would have let us know."

"I..." He held up his hand and gone was the gratitude, I knew Vince would be mad. I mean he was lenient to a certain extent and being one of the few female veterans within the company around he had grown fond of my sister and I which led to him caring enough to be upset, really upset and handling it personally.

"I would like you to see Chris Amann as well as the other doctors after your match tonight so we can figure out what is going on. I know you have just made history but you going out there and pushing through pain may prove strength but it may cost you or one of the other divas back here. And that is something we cannot risk.."

I nodded slowly as he went over a few more things while all I wanted to do was crawl into a hole because once those tests were done I was sure my title would be taken away.

I knew my body, I had been injured before and I knew it was breaking down I just wasn't ready to give it all up. The last time I was out, I had John....

Now it was nearly half a year after I chose to end things with him. I didn't miss him but the fact was I wouldn't have anyone if I were to be out, Joe was here and that's where I wanted to be. I knew deep down my heart always belonged with him and maybe he would realize that too but how could he if I were gone?

"I'm going to fucking beat his... Hey babe!" Jon smiled as soon as we reached 'Team Bella' which caused Brie to slightly roll her eyes knowing he was on a rant while Nicole didn't stop her warm up.

As the announcement went off for them to head to gorilla she finally stopped and sat back on her boots while Brie went ahead with Jon and Alicia.

"You ready?" I breath tying my hair up and she stared over at me.

"You're sweaty" She mumbled and I smirked which caused her to smile as I opened my arms.

"Would you still love me if I weren't the champion with you?" I frowned at the question feeling slightly interrogated as Brie had done a week before. But it wasn't it was simply Nicole wanting some reassurance when she knew I did..

"There won't be a time where I won't love you. Never alone remember?" I kissed her cheek before setting her down as she picked up her champion and we made our way to the gorilla.

"Just because you're obligated to be with me doesn't mean you're obligated to love me Joe" she sighed seeming slightly anxious.

"Obligated is the wrong word Nicole, I want to be with you and I want to love you and I don't want to stop either of those" I shrugged as it should have been obvious. While she simply nodded and her mood let me know that her meeting with Vince had gone as I expected it would.

▣▣▣

"She lost? I don't understand I mean yeah she made history but come on. Why aren't you more angry about this? I mean I personally would have liked Brie to hold the champion and..." I didn't bother listening to my brother as he trailed off about his girlfriend as I watched Nicole dramatically being carried out while Charlotte stood tall as champion.

"Seems we're all a bunch of fucking losers.." He rolled his eyes dramatically, mostly at the guy who had walked out on us during our match earlier in the night.

"Hey you know I didn't want to leave you guys hanging" Jericho kicked him as he sat on the crate next to me while Jon was doing the usual pacing.

"Of course, you love us too much for that. But Roman really? Why aren't you more mad? Am I missing something?" He stopped to stare at me which led to Jericho's eyes being on me as well.

"I can't be mad. She's going to be mad." I simply said and he slowly nodded understanding while Jericho pat my back, I wasn't sure how it had come to a point where everyone simply knew that Nicole and I had a bond that no one else would understand. Maybe once they realized both of us lacked significant others they saw our need for eachother more. Not more in a romantic sense most of the time, simply more...

"Seems not much has changed since I left"

I frowned at his words and he simply smirked as we watched Nicole walk to the back smiling and hugging a few people before Charlotte was bombarded by them with the whole Flair celebration .

"I'm sorry I lost on your night back Chris!" She groaned as he hugged her, briefly scooping her up before setting her down beside me and hugging Brie and Alicia.

"Don't apologize to him" Dean scoffed causing us to chuckle as he pulled Brie out of his grasps.

"We'll get em next time brotha!" I shrugged and he sighed as they continued talking about heading out and getting wasted before we drove to the next town for Raw but my eyes were on Nicole who smiled along when I knew she was disappointed.

I nudged her and she frowned, I glanced at them and doubted they would notice us disappearing so I hopped off and knew she would follow.

I heard her sigh behind me and I reached out and gripped her hand in mine, she briefly glanced at it and smiled as we entered the locker room I shared with Jon. I closed the door and pulled her into my arms, wrapping my arm around her while the other didn't leave her hand. I felt her slowly shaking and held her tighter, "I don't understand. I explained to him, explained that I was feeling fine. I just needed to lay off it that's why Brie was helping me but he wants me to get checked out. But he told me I had to lose tonight, lose... That's it for me then. I have held it for so long but I don't see them giving it to me again. "

I kissed her forehead before seeing her glistening eyes as she stared up at me. "We got what we wanted, you're on top and you have your name in the history books. Charlotte might have won tonight but you made sure the Bella name will be remembered. And once you come back you'll pick up where you left off."

She shook her head as she moved out of my arms and tied up her long hair. "Why is it so easy for you?"

"What?" I frowned due to her accusing tone.

"Aren't you going to miss me? You're just giving up on me so easily." She shook her head as she sat down on the bench not bothering to look at me.

"That's not what I'm doing Nicole. I know you're upset because you lost and..."

"You don't get it, yes I had the reign but I wanted it with you. And it seems like that's just not happening for us. Its like they don't want us to be together.." She croaked while my jaw clenched slightly knowing I was partially to blame for her loss. I knew how serious her injury was, whether she went for injections or not she had neglected it for so long and what I knew. Vince knew...

I crouched beside her, "it will though. Its an injury Nicole, we all go through them, you have before and you came back stronger. And I will be with you, because I want to be..."

I kissed the side of her head as I wrapped my arms around her, holding her as tight as I could. While I wasn't sure of the extent of my love for Nicole, whether it drifted past one acceptable for our friendship. I knew I could never simply cut her out of my life, if she had to be out injured I would gladly fly back and forth to be with her. But I knew once she found out that I was the one who let Vince know she would appreciate the time apart. Yes she had her vulnerable moments as she let her tears fall but I also knew her when anger filled her and I was prepared for it. As long as she was okay in the end, she loved the business too much to willingly let go so I made the decision for her...

"I'll always be with you.."

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30 chapters 😄😄😄😄 I added Jericho in simply because I missed that blonde haired gift of a man 😄😄😄
Thanks to kenreid @FearlessEmpire98 for flashback chapters ideas, one more 😊
If you have more, let me know!!!😘
And thanks sweetheartlola for sharing this book as well as my other one Close to You😘😘😘😘