Sacramento, CA

Pulling into the arena parking at a fast speed, the car's breaks squealed. Bubba Dudley got out and slammed the rental car's door.

"This is the last time you make us freakin late again, or you can drive yourself to the next venue." Bubba yelled. Melony slowly got out of the car. She carefully put her sunglasses on, cringing as they rubbed against her bruised face. She walked to the trunk of the car to retrieve her bags.

"I wouldn't have held us up, if I didn't have to spend an extra hour trying to cover this bruise Bubba! I can't work tonight. No amount of make-up will cover this." Melony said, as she took off the shades and pointed to her eye. Bubba slammed the trunk.

"Shut up your damn whining, before I give you another one. Creative will figure out something."

Mel knew there was no use arguing with him. She picked up her bags and followed him into the arena. Bubba hadn't always been like this. When she first met him in ECW, he was a real sweetheart. Although, the boys in the ECW locker room hated working with Bubba, because he was stiff in the ring. He took his frustrations out on his opponent. When Mel first arrived in ECW, Bubba took her under his wing and took care of her. He showed her the ropes, answered all of her questions and looked out for her, especially when it came to Paul Heyman, owner of ECW. Heyman treated the few women that worked for him like pieces of meat. All of them but Melony.

FLASHBACK

"Yeah doll. This match is going to take place in a pool of chocolate. I figure, maybe, you can loose your top. Man, rating will soar." Paul said, as he ogled Melony's breasts.

"Look Paul, you are a sick freak. I came here to wrestle. Not to do a skankier version of Girls Gone Wild. I've trained with the best. I have worked my ass off in Mexico, Japan and all across the United States. I know the ring better than any of the guys you have working for your sorry ass. I refuse to put myself in a situation that will tarnish my reputation. I will wrestle in any match you want Heyman. I'll work a match in chocolate sauce, as long as it is a legitimate match. Not some flesh fest!!!!"

Paul's face reddened and he clenched his hands. "You work for me and you will do things my way. No one wants to see women wrestle! They want to see a girl-on-girl cat fight, in chocolate, with nudity! So you'll do it or you're fired!!! Now get out of my office!"

Melony slammed the door as she left. She didn't know if she could continue to work for Heyman anymore. As she made her way to the locker room, she decided to see if Bubba could talk to Paul. After all, they were now in a serious relationship. Surely Bub could talk some sense into Heyman, if it was at all possible. Mel knocked on the door to the guy's locker room. When no one answered, she pushed the door open and walked in. She smiled, as she saw Bubba. He was sitting all alone in the empty room. He had his headphones on, and was lacing up his boots. She walked over and sat in a chair in front of him. He took off the headphones and smiled.

"Hey babe. What's wrong?" Bub asked, as he took her hand in his.

"It's Paul E. He's booked me in a bogus match tonight." Mel said, squeezing his hand.

"Hey, it's no big deal. We all do matches that we don't necessarily like."

She looked up at Bubba and he wiped away the single tear that rolled down her cheek. "There's more Bub. Paul E. Wants me to 'loose my top', expose myself to the world. I just can't do it."

Bubba jumped up from his chair, his left boot still unlaced. "You can't! And you WON'T! What the hell is Heyman thinking? You wait here Mel. I'm going to talk to him and if that doesn't work, I'll beat the shit out of him!" With that, Bubba kissed her on the lips and stormed out.

"What's your problem Heyman? You know Mel is my girl. She is a first class lady, you don't treat her like one of your two-cent whores. She is here to wrestle! She has the respect of the boys in the back, now you can either respect her or lose all of us. Cancel this bogus match or I'll cancel you!" Bubba got in Heyman's face, as he waited for a response.

"Fine Bubba. I'll replace your little girlfriend with someone else. Her rack isn't big enough anyway."

Bubba snatched Heyman by the collar. "You watch what you say about Mel or I'll kick your fat ass all over this arena!" Bubba let go of Heyman's shirt and kicked him in the gut. Heyman fell on the floor, moaning in pain.

Bubba went back to the locker room and found Mel talking to DeVon. "It's done. You don't have to do the match." Bubba said, as he walked over and kissed her on the cheek.

"Thanks sweetie! But if I'm not doing the match, I guess I'm out of work tonight." Mel said, looking at Bub. He glanced over at DeVon, who simply grinned and shook his head. "Do it man."

Bubba slapped DeVon on the back. "Thanks bro." Bubba looked over at Mel. "Since you have no match tonight. How about you escort us out to the ring and run interference?"

Mel jumped up and hugged Bubba then DeVon, kissing them both on the cheek. "Thanks guys! I love you both so much."

END FLASHBACK

As they made their way into the arena, Bubba grabbed Melony's arm. "Don't go running your mouth about our personal life! You understand?"

"Yes Bubba. I understand." Mel replied dryly, as she watched him walk down the corridor to the guys locker room. Turning to the corridor to the right, she walked a few feet and opened the door to the women's locker room. Inside, she sat down in a chair and run her hand through her long, caramel hair. She just couldn't understand why Bubba had grown so angry or why she put up with his outbursts. Mel knew why too. She didn't think she could make it without him. He had weakened her spirit and made her feel less than whole. The door opened, as Melony was putting make-up over her bruised skin.

"Oh Melony!" Torrie said, as she ran over and hugged her. Mel didn't have to explain or make excuses. Torrie knew what happened. Everyone backstage knew Bubba's temper but they never confronted him. This was the first time though, that he had left a visible mark on Mel. Usually, he just pushed her around and tried to intimidate her. Mel deserved better and she knew this, but she had been with Bubba for three years and it had been a comfortable relationship, up until this past year. That's when he started hitting her.

Tears filled Melony's eyes as she hugged Torrie. "It's not that bad is it?" She gave Torrie a half smile.

"Sweetie, why do you stay with him?"

"I guess I just let myself get too comfortable in the relationship. The truth is, I'm scared of what he will do if I try to leave him."

Torrie brushed Mel's hair up into a ponytail and took the make-up from her hands. "Come over here and sit down. I'll go get us some coffee and we'll talk about this and see if we can't get you some help."