It's time for my yearly holiday one-shot! This time, I decided to do a New Year's one-shot instead of a Christmas one, to shake things up. I also decided to write about one of the only reasons I watch AEW: the love of my life, Darby Allin.

Enjoy. :)

(also, this takes place in an alternate timeline with no COVID, but that's literally the only difference)

A/N: I wrote this before the news of Brodie Lee's passing. Since this one-shot takes places in AEW, it only seems right to publish it in his memory. I watched Dynamite for the first time in several weeks this past Wednesday, and I cried like a baby for two hours. I hope y'all are doing all right, both mentally and physically. Happy New Year, y'all. ❤️

In memory of Brodie Lee (1979 - 2020)

***

Justine walked backstage after her match with AEW Women's Champion Hikaru Shida. It was a non-title match, as Justine didn't actually work for the company, and therefore didn't have a record. It was mostly to further Shida's storyline with Abadon.

Because of that, she arrived backstage alone. The other two women remained in the ring.

She didn't make it far when Britt Baker approached her.

"Hey," she said, and Justine returned the greeting. "Are you busy tomorrow?"

Justine thought about how she was going to sit at home by herself to watch the ball drop on TV. She also thought about how sad that was, so she didn't mention it.

Instead, she said, "No. What's up?"

"You should come to the party tomorrow night," Britt said.

"The New Year's party?"

"Yeah, it'll be fun."

"I'm invited to that?" Justine was surprised. This was only her second appearance for AEW, the first being on an episode of Dark (where, coincidentally, she lost to Britt). She wasn't even signed to the company, and there hadn't been any talks about her doing so.

"Of course," Britt said, and she smiled. "Once you have a match, you're pretty much part of the family. You should come."

"Will everybody be there?" she asked, and she tried not to sound too eager about it. She wanted to know if a specific champion would be there, but she wanted to sound like she was just curious.

Apparently, it worked, because Britt said, "Yeah, I think so. At least, for a little bit anyway."

"Okay, sure, I'll come."

"Awesome!" she said. "I've got to go, but I'll text you the details, okay?"

"Okay."

***

And that was how Justine found herself at a party where she didn't really know anyone.

Sure, she knew Britt, and she'd faced Hikaru Shida the night before, but she felt like an outcast amongst everybody. Most of them had been working together since the company started, and she was just the girl who'd had a match on Dark and a five minute match on Dynamite.

Also, Britt wasn't there yet. She'd said that NXT was having a party of their own, and she was starting the night there with Adam, and then they'd eventually arrive to the AEW party.

Justine looked around at the groups of people who had formed, and watched as some people would go from group to group, just socializing and having good times.

She stayed back, leaning against the wall. She tried to be casual about it, like she wasn't the unpopular kid at a high school party (even though she totally felt like it).

She looked down at her phone, to see if Britt had texted her, when she suddenly felt like she was being watched. When she looked up, Darby Allin was standing next to her.

"Oh, hey." She smiled at him.

"What are you doing over here?" he asked. "The party's over there." He motioned toward everybody.

"I could be asking you the same question," she said.

"I came to make sure you weren't lonely."

She had to stop herself from saying "aww" at that. While she didn't know much about the TNT Champion, she found it surprising that he was so sweet. She was honestly expecting to find him somewhere high up, somewhere he could jump off of. But instead, he was here, checking on her.

"Well, thanks, but I don't really know anybody here," she said, "and Britt's still in Orlando, so I'm kinda just waiting for her, I guess."

"That's no fun."

She shrugged. "No, I guess it's not."

"No, I mean, you're in a room full of people you don't know, and you're not going to try making a new friend?"

"Well, who do you suggest I talk to?" she asked.

He held his hand out, smirking. "Come with me."

She looked down at his tattooed hand, then took it, letting him lead the way.

---

Eventually, Britt arrived with Adam. She looked around for Justine, and when she saw her holding Darby's hand, talking to Chuck Taylor, Trent, and Jon Moxley, she left her be. She'd find her before the night ended.

Meanwhile, Justine couldn't stop laughing at the story Trent was telling about his 13th birthday.

Right as he finished, Brandi announced (from not too far away) that it was nearing midnight, which meant that it was nearing 2021. Specifically, there was a minute left, and she told everybody to grab a glass of champagne.

Darby told her that he didn't drink, but he let go of her hand, and told her she could go grab a glass for herself.

After doing so, Justine found herself next to Darby again, and their hands inexplicably ended up together again.

"10!"

"So..."

"9!"

"Yeah?" she asked.

"8!"

"Do you have anybody to kiss at midnight?" he asked, looking down at her.

"7!"

"No, I don't guess I do." Normally, that sort of question would make Justine blush, but she just smiled and looked up at the boy holding her hand.

"6!"

"Do you?" she asked him.

"5!"

"No..."

"4!"

"...I don't think I do."

"3!"

"2!"

"1!"

By the time they finished the countdown, the two of them were looking at each other. As everyone around them shouted, "Happy New Year!", Darby bent down and kissed Justine.

Even though the room was louder than it had been all night, Justine couldn't hear any of them, at least not until the kiss ended. She was smiling again, while Darby had a faint smile.

He said, "And you thought you didn't have anyone to kiss."