"She whispers, 'I'm afraid of falling."
He smiles, 'I'll catch you."

◇◇◇



WRESTLEMANIA 31

"I really wish I could be there for you guys" Brie groaned.

"I know you do, but we can't risk you running down the ramp in your ring gear to save me" I shrugged as John had showed us a video of her in her ring gear and she could surprisingly still fit into it.



Brie had always been the more petite between us two and it had always been a concept that confused me. I figured we were twins so why wasn't my face thinner, body smaller of course, as I grew older I understood. But it also led to some major body issues that were magnified by me putting my worth in the eyes of how the men I loved viewed me. It was wrong I suppose, especially when their love let you down and then you'd view yourself differently.

I had learnt to embrace it more though, especially with my status in the company. I was more seen, more known and of course that came with its own hate but it also came with me having to be a role model as well. I'd get fans coming up to me, letting me know how they felt the same when being compared to a friend or sibling. And me preaching confidence would be hypocritical if I didn't use it myself. That was good, so as far as my body was concerned I was full of confidence in that I accepted my curves...

"Well she won't need to do that when I'm ringside" I heard Randy from behind me as he stretched.



I rolled my eyes and shook my head at the small screen, "I don't think that's a bad idea"

"Seriously Brie? Its not like AJ or Paige have sidekicks." I frowned, did I mention my title would be defended in a triple threat?

"Yeah but you do so I have to be there, so you're the only one who gets ringside privileges to flirt with my opponents?"

"And that's my cue" Brie giggled. "Good luck you two and bring that Butterfly home, Nicole!"



I nodded as the screen went blank and I turned to the Viper doing push ups on the floor with narrowed eyes.

He sighed and stopped to sit back and stare at me, "I didn't put him through a table for nothing, Nicole."

"I told you he was no threat, besides, me flirting with your opponents would seem as aiding you with a distraction. And just like me, you don't want to seem like you're in need of help, am I correct?"

He smirked and got to his feet, "our pride is our downfall. Come on." He extended his hand and I took it.

"Alanna's with my mom in the crowd by now." I mumbled.

"Are you nervous to wrestle in front of my little girl, the massive crowd, your ex-lover's wife or beside me?"

"All of the above" I sighed and he smirked.

"Well you should be nervous, maybe I made a deal with The Authority" He nonchalantly stated as his thumb grazed over the back of my hand.

"That better be a joke"

"Oh of course it is, they ain't going to be sharing a bed with me tonight."

"Neither am I, I'm sharing one with Alanna" I smiled readjusting my title onto my shoulder as the loud crowd grew even louder as we made our way to the gorilla.

"She can sleep with your mom" He almost whined.

"Wow you truly only think with your Viper" I dramatically stated which led to him stopping.

"I'm kidding, Nicole. Alanna has her own bed in our suite though"

"And?"

"And how the hell am I going to fuck you with a house full of kids if you don't want to sleep with me while she's in the other room" He rolled his eyes.

I smiled briefly picturing it but that wouldn't happen if my heart refused him, I shrugged "Become a monk"

He groaned and kissed my lips briefly, "not when there is so much of you to touch and explore, Bella. We'll figure it out when the time comes, for now I guess I'll just have to lie beside you and not seduce you."

"Oh I know how hard it is for you"

"Of course you do, its pressed between your ass"

I shook my head and exited as we heard the call, of course making our way down to Randy's music instead of mine which was annoying but I dealt with it, raising my title proudly as the cool breeze flew through my hair with Randy lazily trailing behind me with a small smirk.

I handed my title over before I sat on the top turnbuckle with crossed legs as Randy stretched, slowly pulling on the ropes for assistance. I watched as the two made their way down with bright smiles, I didn't expect some elaborate entrance but I wasn't sure what was happening in Colby's mind at this point.

With me teaming up with Randy for Wrestlemania, I was stuck by his side all week promoting. If I said I didn't enjoy it I would definitely be lying, there were times where it felt right. I'd be on his arm as they questioned him with his arm over my shoulder and mine around him looking up at his blue eyes and I'd think we could do this, I could have a man who wouldn't let me down and who understood me so easily.

"Come on!" I slapped my hands together as Colby delivered two drop kicks to Randy. He pushed Randy into a corner before heading to run for him but Randy leap frogged over him before tagging me in.



Randy tagging me in automatically led to Stephanie entering the ring causing the crowd to go louder, as if they knew it all. I moved towards her with a glare and she held a small smirk and before I could move I felt a harsh slap to my face causing my eyes to widen.

She turned around and raised her arms in a gloat due to my surprise and as soon as she turned I closelined her causing her eyes to widen this time. "This time your golden boy isn't holding me back, bitch!"

I delivered an elbow to her causing her to stumble to the ropes before I ran back to the other ropes to gain momentum to toss her over but felt my feet gripped causing me to fall face first and groaned. I didn't have to question who had done it as Randy breezed past me, attacking Colby on the outside as I tried to regain my balance.

I saw him slide in to check on me as I held onto the ropes but before I could respond, both of us received Stephanie's boots to our faces as she delivered a fucking drop kick. Randy receiving the harshness of it as he seemed to have seen it coming and moved me back slightly. He rolled out, falling ringside while I felt my hair being gripped.

My face was slammed into the turnbuckle several times and while they never impacted; otherwise I would require a nose job. Her grip on my head felt tighter as the force increased wanting to make sure it did and I immediately elbowed into her stomach which led to her stumbling back.

I ran and closelined her and saw Randy holding onto the steel steps as he slowly got to his feet. I watched as she attempted to get to her feet, I ran against the ropes with no Rollins stopping me this time and as I moved towards her delivered the Bella Buster.

I was about to head for the count but Colby on the top rope got my attention while Randy was distracted hyping the crowd for what he thought was the win, only me screaming his name caused him to turn around and catch Colby in his grasps, slamming him into the steel post.



He turned to me and sent me a nod with a small smile which led to me smiling before remembering I had my boss laid out for the count. However as soon as I turned and bent down I received a boot to my face and stumbled back, feeling a sharp kick to my gut reminding me of several weeks before. My arms being lifted let me know she was using her husband's signature on me.

My face hit the mat and I felt her turn me and I sort of accepted the loss as I heard the first slam of the referee's hand to the mat. Beaten by the man who never loved me's signature move...

2...

I felt a tight grip on my leg causing Stephanie's hand to let go as my chest slammed into Randy's outside the ring. "We're not losing tonight, baby"

I watched as Randy delivered a DDT to Seth as I delivered my Rack Attack to Stephanie knocking her out. He smirked as his fingers laced into Colby's hair and dragged him over to me before doing a gracious bow, "My Queen, the man who held you down not too long ago"

I smiled and saw Colby briefly roll his eyes with them being hidden as Randy lift his limp body to his feet and I immediately kicked him before lifting him onto my shoulders. Instead of dropping to my knees as I usually did with the Rack Attack, I delivered a modified version swinging Colby on my shoulders allowing Randy to deliver the RKO and me to fall to my knees.

I moved towards the corner and watched as Randy slipped over him for the count.

1...2...3...

I smiled and immediately got to my feet and joined Randy. "Now that was a turn on, baby"

I giggled and felt his arms wrap around me as he held me close, briefly kissing my cheek before we went our separate ways celebrating on the top ropes.

I frowned as I walked to gorilla seeing no AJ and Paige as I expected my championship match to be up next but all I saw was Sting. Randy shook his hand before vacating the gorilla expecting me to follow I suppose but I had to check just to make sure.

"Hey" I smiled as he loosely hugged me. "You up next?" I was sure they were meant to be the main event...

"Apparently so, I heard you were up next again as we sat in the green room running over things for the match. Hunter didn't seem to like Stephanie's match arrangement and since Undertaker ain't here yet, he made the last minute change for us to head out now instead of you." He chuckled and slipped on his leather jacket while Hunter wasn't in gorilla yet and my frown deepened.

I left the gorilla to find him warming up with Randy most likely having gone to shower already. "So you don't love me and decide to spare me a title loss?"



He glanced up as I moved down the dimmed hallway, guessing he wanted a moment to himself but he wasn't mean to be out there so soon.

"You getting a breather in between your match isn't what I call sparing you a title loss, Nikki. Its giving you somewhat of a fair shot in an unfortunate situation." He shrugged as I lift myself onto the crate.

"Why do you care? Your wife fucking wanted me to go out there right now and defend my title. With no ending rehearsed, I'm meant to lose so why not give me the excuse of being tired." I shrugged playing with my fingers in my lap and his eyes glanced over the title.

"Because my favourite champion deserves better than a unfair loss at Wrestlemania." He shrugged which led to a small smile on my face before I focused on him.

"Its been awhile..." He chuckled referring to his wrestling attire.

"You nervous?" I questioned and he closed the distance between us as he leaned against the crate beside me.

"A bit. For once I wouldn't mind feeling the pressure of the suit, I'm going up against a legend and I have gone up against many. But this was one I didn't see coming, I didn't even think he would accept my proposal for a WWE return." He whispered as he stared at the blank wall while I focused on him.

"Proposals are hard to turn down, especially from you." I sighed and shook my head before I dwelled on things that were better left in the past. "You shouldn't be nervous, you're a veteran and you are free to be ruthless. So be The Game, The King of Kings and destroy all your peasants."

"I would have sworn you were in Sting's corner." He turned his attention onto me referring to our alliance several nights before on Raw I suppose.

"Unfortunately no matter how hard I try, ending things doesn't mean I stop caring. I know how much lacing up those boots mean to you, young guys coming in questioning whether you can take it to the mat. Guys saying you lost what made you, you the moment you put on the suit. This gives you your chance to say 'Fuck all of you, I am and will always be King' " I smiled with a small shrug which led to him smiling as well before sighing.

"What's wrong?" I softly asked knowing that face, something was bothering him and it wasn't simply being nervous.

"There's something I need to tell you." He stared into my eyes as he spoke.

"Hunter, you don't have to apologize for not reciprocating my..."

"Its not about that. I should have told you sooner, so that you were more prepared but you've been so pissed at me over the last year. And I didn't want you hating me for being the main reason you are tortured."

"I could never hate you though even if I tried and I don't want to. I just, you hurt me and for some reason I thought us being drifters would just lead to a constant high of lust but it didn't." I stated.

He ran his hand over his face with a small groan, "Nicole, the thing is Stephanie..."

His name being blasted cut him off and I sighed not needing one of his many warnings from Stephanie. I might have sealed a victory over her moments before, but she was still the one calling the shots around here. "Stephanie doesn't want me to be champion and I get it. But I will try to retain my champion, Good luck out there."

I hopped off and moved but felt my hand being gripped, "Hunter, we can't..."

His arms wrapped around me and I closed my eyes as his bare arms tightened around me with his face buried into my neck. I held onto his back and felt his breathing in my neck and was reminded of all the times we had trained together after we took things further. An end to our day in the gym meant I'd have to wait another week to see him and it was always the hardest part of the day. His name going off again caused the embrace to loosen and I turned and immediately left the hallway.

I didn't look back as his music filled the arena because I didn't need to have that lingering feeling fill me all over again when we weren't meant to be.



My eyes were briefly focused on the screen and I saw Randy appear with a towel around his neck. "I thought you were up next, I also thought you were right behind me Bella."

"Vince figured having Hunter now was a better angle."

"A better angle than their match taking place in the main event with the darkness of the night playing in with Sting's entrance?" He raised his eyebrow and I sighed with a small shrug. "Can we just go back to the..."

I felt something hit my shoulder and realized it was Stephanie with Colby walking beside her.

"Sore loser?" I blurted out and knew I should have just kept my mouth shut but also knew she was being unprofessional out there. Attempting to actually hurt me, not catching me when I launched or stretching my body too far. I wouldn't be telling Randy or anyone that but I didn't appreciate it. I had worked hard to achieve what I had and with my long list of injuries I couldn't...

"You fucked my husband for one night and you think you are above me, you got lucky out there Bella" She whispered as soon as she had reached me after turning back causing me to stare blankly at her.

"I don't know what you are talking about" I shook my head not daring to look at the two men beside us. One, because I didn't want any hint as to her believing it were true and they knew or because I didn't want to see that maybe one of them had let it slip.

"You say you're Miss independent but you can't even own up to making your sister's names for you true. You are a whore who seduced my husband in hopes of getting everything I have. You say we aren't the same, that I can't match you in the ring and that wasn't a diss to my in ring ability was it? It was you wishing you didn't have to put your precious body on the line every week in hopes of people remembering your name."

One night? Hunter sure knew how to twist the knife of nothingness for me. I stared into her eyes and knew the anger within her eyes was real and knew it was no suspicion. She knew, knew enough to take it as a foolish mistake...

"In that one night, this Stephanie gave him more pleasure than you ever could and that's what makes you so mad, doesn't it? You're all about trying to ensure that your dad doesn't go begging Shane to take over so you use your husband. Force him to basically retire and put on a suit.." I lowly spoke when I never seduced anyone and it was more than one fucking night but it was clear yet again that when push came to shove I was so easily made to nothing, made to mean nothing.

"He loves his job"

I shook my head realizing the real reason I was buried, it wasn't because Hunter cared or he was afraid she would find out. She knew all along and he wanted to make it easier on her, but stupid Nicole just kept holding out hope didn't she?

"Now he does yes, now you are the power couple of the world. But when he was all smiles for you and your family who did he come running to? Me! I don't want your husband, I don't have some grudge against you for being the one he goes home to. I never have, but you have made my life hell for all these months and that's why I found pleasure in standing over you with a big fucking smile on my face! It takes two to fuck and yet I'm the one being put through hell out there? I'm fine with that but don't ever make me out to be the big bad witch who seduced your husband. He is a grown ass man and knows where not to put his dick. "

She laughed and shook her head before focusing on the men beside us who had remained silent.

"Randy, this is what you betrayed us for? I have known you for so long and you're standing beside the whore who slept with my husband behind my back to get to the top."

I immediately slapped her and before I could think of more she was onto me.

"Stephanie!"

I heard Colby as I felt Randy's arm around me, "you'll never be happy. The homewrecker always finishes last, Dolph left you and Randy will too, you had no one at all until my husband's mistake."

"A mistake? A mistake doesn't last for..."

"What's going on here?" I heard Vince moving from the gorilla curtain as I guess we hadn't been whispering for too long and shook my head. "What mistake?"

I raised my eyebrow at Stephanie who shrugged Colby off of her.

"She should never have been champion.."

I rolled my eyes, " Sorry Vince. But your daughter is a sore loser"

▲▲▲



"Are you ready?"

"Yes!" She snapped and moved to leave after she had showered and silently watched Hunter score a victory over Sting.

"Nicole, I'm not the fucking enemy here."

"But I am, isn't it? I have always been the one being hurt, being destroyed by the people I fucking loved and now look at me. I fucking had an affair with her husband and she has every right in this world to not only make my life hell but fire me, expose me. I told you she knew, all those times, the hate was so real I could feel it." She breath as she paced in the small space.

"I might as well just fucking lie down on that mat because my career is fucking over. I am a horrible fucking person, I just ruin everything, I should never have come back to this place. It wasn't meant for me, what have I accomplished? I fucked my boss. I fucked you and have been stringing you along. I fucking stole this title because I knew they would never see me good enough like AJ and now I'm standing here and she's right. I am a whore, I'm a bitch and I just don't want to do this anymore..."

I sighed and I didn't know what to say to Nicole, I didn't see her as any of that but I knew what the facts were. Stephanie knew, I wasn't sure how long she fucking knew and how long ago she found out but she knew. And she could have fired her, but she didn't and I wasn't sure which was worse, having her away from me off the road or watching her be destroyed.

"You're not a whore. Well besides in the bedroom for me, some moves are.."

"You're not helping.." She croaked, moving out of my arms and wiping her tears before they could fall. "I don't fucking deserve you, Randy. She's right, they have been your family long before I was even a second thought and you just left them."

"You don't deserve me, you deserve a man like my best friend. A guy who has himself together, is a pretty good guy and has no drama. But unfortunately Brie beat you to it, so I guess you're the unlucky twin who has to settle for the troubled brother." I rolled my eyes and she giggled as she leaned against the wall. I moved over to her and held her face within my hands as I stared down at her.

She sighed and closed her eyes, "in the tale of the bad boy, aren't I meant to be some saint who is drawn to your mystique?"

I chuckled, "I didn't say we were going by the book Bella. I mean I was drawn to your mystique, a snake doesn't settle for a good girl."

"And what does the Viper 'settle' for?"

"He doesn't settle. He needs someone who can handle him, he needs to meet his match and Bella that is you. Fuck the opposites attract bullshit." I shrugged and kissed her forehead. "Now, I'm heading out there with you. Should I take a box of tissues as well or will you be okay? I mean I know my body is a masterpiece but there's no need to get emotional about it. I mean, you're the only one who gets to touch." I smirked gripping her title while she tightened her hand in mind and remained quiet for a short bit, trying to calm herself I assumed.

"Me and all the other guys you wrestle" She mumbled.

"But you see, that's where the baby oil comes in. I lather myself up as a warning to keep their hands off but unfortunately it is what I do for a living" I sighed dramatically while she simply shook her head.



I watched as she lifted both of them into a spine buster, I smirked as she gave a bow for me before flipping her hair.



You would never say almost an hour before she had been in a near brawl with her boss. She didn't correct Stephanie and I didn't let anything stick to my skin, she offended Nicole so anything Nicole threw back was merely a defense. I hoped of course, I mean I've been having her in my bed all week and we didn't just sleep so we were doing pretty good.

I didn't like seeing her that upset or down on herself, I didn't like her thinking simply because of things she had done I wouldn't want her the same or need her. I had done my fair share of shit which is why I was grateful she had met a transformation of the spoilt punk I used to be. I wasn't much of an improvement but at least I wasn't in the game of saying things I didn't mean. I loved Stephanie and Hunter and appreciated all they had done for me, but if they weren't going to respect the love I had for Nicole then I didn't mind turning my back just as Hunter had done to many.

Nicole was constantly unsure about every detail of her life and while it wasn't easy dealing with a woman who couldn't make up her mind. It only made me love her more because she cared, her doubting herself meant she wasn't just going to declare she loved me because I did her. She wanted to love me...

She hooked in the Rack Attack on Paige before slowly covering her.



1.2.3...

I grabbed the title from the referee and immediately slid in swinging her in my arms before she wrapped herself around me. I wasn't sure what hell would be breaking lose with Stephanie making it known that she knew but I did know that Nicole was mine.

I immediately kissed her deeply and she smiled into it before I lowered her and raised her hand.

I rolled out of the ring and smiled at Kathy before scooping Alanna into my arms while my other hand held Nicole's. Maybe I was holding out hope for the biggest disappoint of my life but maybe we could be a family...

♥♥♥♥
FIRSTLY, THANKS SO MUCH FOR OVER 9K READS!!

SORRY FOR THE LONG WAIT BUT HOPEFULLY YOU GUYS ENJOYED 😊😊

CONGRATS TO NIKKI ON DWTS + SETH BEING AN AWESOME COVERBOY FOR 2K18 + RANDY & KIM'S CUTENESS WHICH NIKKI LOVES😉😉😉





😍😍😍😍