The time spent on this was supposed to be spent updating Working Women, I know, I know, I'm a bad person. However, after reading one too many negative reports about Melina and Johnny on rumour sites I was ready to crack on Sunday afternoon. Apologies to all who got stuck listening to my rants. I swear, the ones with talent get treated like shit ... sighs. This story is written in the real, if you know what I mean.

Okay, I'm done now. You all know the drill. Italics are flashbacks or things pulled off websites. I own nothing. I'd credit the rumour sites that tried to bury Johnny's career by posting the things inserted in the story (there were tonnes) but they won't show up here anyway...

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Sighing absently, Johnny clicked on the article. The headline screamed out at him, the words blaring before his eyes. It was exactly what he'd feared.

"Nitro held back."

Tapping his fingers anxiously on his knee, he waited for the page to load. He dreaded opening it, he had a feeling he knew what it was going to say. Usually he tried to avoid reading these websites, stupid spoilers spread by internet smart marks, verified by nothing but suspicions. This time he couldn't help himself. Rumours had been circulating the hallways for weeks. It was only a matter of time before it all came to a head.

"Johnny Nitro is still being held back in the company due to his personal relationship with his girlfriend, Melina. Many officials turn their heads when wrestlers get personally involved and may cost them any pushes in the near future."

He read the words slowly to himself, saying them aloud to an empty hotel room. "Still being held back ... Personal relationship with his girlfriend, Melina."

Personal relationship. What did that mean, personal relationship? Of course they were having a personal relationship; he was dating her for Christ's sake! Had been for three years now! Lord, she was half the reason he'd stuck it out in this crazy business! But now it seemed like she was going to be nothing but his downfall...

A content sigh echoed through the next room as Melina rolled over in their bed and snuggled in under the covers. Stretching out her arm, she reached for Johnny but for once he wasn't there. Dead to the world yet still conscious of her surroundings, she murmured his name, wanting, needing to know that he was still there. "Johnny?"

Turning to her now he smiled softly. The distance between them was only a few metres, but in that instant he felt more disconnected from her than ever. "I'm here Mina. Give me a minute babe."

"Mmmk," she muttered drowsily. "Love you."

"I know Mina. Go back to sleep," he encouraged her quietly. "You need your rest."

Looking back at the screen, Johnny tried to make sense of the words that seemed to predict his doom. Held back. It wasn't fair. It didn't matter that he was the only Tough Enough success story still toughing it out week after week on Raw. The fact that he'd worked his arse off to even get his spot on the roster initially meant nothing. Why?

Because he just happened to fall in love with the current Women's Champion.

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"Melina," she said, sticking her hand out shyly to shake his. "You looked really good out there ... uh ... John," she finished, reading his name off his name tag. "You handle yourself really well in the ring."

"Thanks," he smiled gratefully, glad at least someone was on his side. "This is my second time here." Gesturing around the set of Tough Enough III he looked at home in his surroundings, Melina immediately feeling more at ease simply by talking to him. "I was here for Tough Enough II," he explained quietly. "Apparently I didn't want this enough though, and ..."

"You were cut," she finished. "I know how that feels. It used to happen to me all the time in the modelling business. Casting calls are vicious places, especially if you aren't blonde with blue eyes," she smiled wryly with a shrug. "Those are the breaks."

Intrigued, Johnny smiled at her warmly. Something in her eyes made him want to get to know her better. He just couldn't quite put his finger on it. "I guess so." he told her. "Hey, Melina, are you from around here?"

Shaking her head, Melina brought her eyes to meet his. "No, I'm from California originally."

"Really?" He asked in surprise. "Me too."

"Maybe we can catch up when you're done?" She suggested. "I can give you my number?"

Nodding, he surveyed her with twinkling eyes. "I'd like that."

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"Many officials turn their heads when wrestlers get personally involved ..."

Blinking harshly with the lack of light in the room, Johnny buried his head in his hands. Unbelievable. So the real reason Stephanie McMahon and John Laurinaitis had continually been avoiding meeting with him had been because of his on and off-screen girlfriend. He shouldn't have been surprised. What he didn't understand was why he was being punished and Melina wasn't ... Lord, he was proud as hell of her for winning the Women's title, but he failed to see what the reasoning behind any of this was. What did they want him to do, leave her? Just chuck her aside for a shot at the belt? Which belt would he be rewarded with if he did? The Intercontinental Championship? Hell, would they even give him a shot? He doubted that. They just wanted him away from Mel, or so it would seem...

This made no sense.

After all, there were plenty of other couples dating within World Wrestling Entertainment. He and Melina had been dating for longer than any of them! Phil Brooks and Maria Kanellis. Torrie and that Spirit Squad guy. He didn't recall there being any problems with Ken and Alexis when they were dating, and now they were engaged. Hell, they could already have been married for all he knew! Not to mention Paul and Stephanie ... even if she was the bosses daughter, he wouldn't believe for a second that they'd had that many problems with Paul's booking during the early stages of their relationship. So why were he and Melina being singled out?

Standing up in his seat, the former Tag Team Champ began to shove his things into his duffel. He wasn't going to get anywhere in this business until he threw away the women he loved? Fine. If he couldn't have one, then he couldn't have the other either. He was out of here.

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Slamming the door behind her Melina stormed into Johnny's locker room, collapsing face down on the couch. Another match, another loss. Another loss to someone who had been wrestling for less than a quarter of the time she had.

"What's wrong?" Climbing up from his spot on the floor he placed a hand upon the small of her back, rubbing gently. "Mel? Talk to me."

"I'm sick of bitches!" She muttered into the cushions, voice muffled. He turned her head toward his, seeing tears well in her eyes. "I'm sick of being taken advantage of, sick of being told I have ..."

"Attitude," he cut in. "Being told you have an attitude."

"But I don't!" She protested warily. "In the beginning they tell me they wouldn't hire me because I don't have character. Now, I have 'character', I live my 'character'! How can I do what's right if I don't know what I'm doing is wrong?"

Pulling herself into a seated position, she wiped blearily at her face, trying to stop her tears from falling. His heart ached to see her like this so hurt ... so vulnerable. Opening his arms to her he welcomed her into his embrace but she refused. This was something she had to deal with, figure out on her own. "I don't know what I can say Mel," he replied awkwardly. "I know how much you work your ass off. I know how much you deserve that title." Reaching for her Championship belt he placed it in her lap. "More importantly, you know it."

Tracing the lettering of her name on the belt, Melina sniffed loudly, trying to calm down. "This is what I hate about this place. Hell, about the whole business. I can work so hard and still get treated like crap. I have to put the other Diva's over, I can't even accompany you to the ring anymore."

"The other Diva's deserve their shot," Johnny reminded her reluctantly. Sighing, she averted her eyes. This was true, she thought. They did deserve a chance ... some of them anyway. "I know that you think you're being treated unfairly. I agree with you."

"I want to quit."

"No, you don't. You've worked too long and too hard to give up on this," he lectured her gently. "If you give up now, you'll always regret it Mel."

"I don't care. I can't take this anymore. I want out."

"So you're just going to let them win?" He asked her retreating back in disgust. "That is not the Melina Perez I know. The hell is going on with you?"

About to storm out she stopped. "Would you want to be some where you weren't accepted? I'm clearly not wanted here Johnny." She faltered, stopping to think about she wanted to say. "I don't even mean by the fans ... it's the rest of the people in that locker room. I'm just not good enough .for them, and I'm sick of trying to meet their standards."

Reaching for the doorknob she twisted it slowly, Johnny's head aching more with every movement. Resisting the urge to turn back to him, Melina bit her lower lip softly. "Fine then," he muttered. "Whatever makes you happy Mel. Whatever you want."

"Whatever I want?" She echoed dully. "Johnny, I'm doing this for you. You've heard the rumours. My 'attitude' is holding you back. Any chance you have of becoming a main event star is shot as long as I'm around. So, I'm out."

Moving to stand in front of her he leaned his back against the door. "If you go, I go." She looked as if she was about to speak, but he silenced her with his eyes. "No. I won't hear it. If you want to be here, because my God, you deserve to be here, then we stick this out. Together."

"Seriously?" Nodding, he stuck his hand out. Taking it in her own, Melina brightened slightly. They shook on it, Johnny making a silent promise to himself that if the chance ever did arise that he was in her place, he wouldn't kick it in. Now if he could only keep that promise.

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Picking up a pen from the desk, he scrawled Melina a note on the hotel's letterhead. Reading it back to himself he shook his head, scribbling out what he'd written. Writing furiously he glanced at the screen of his laptop again, something else on the page catching his eye.

Link - Johnny Nitro's Current Status within WWE? Find out more HERE.

Against his own better judgement he slid back into his chair and clicked. Both the pen and the note fell from his hands as he leaned back slightly to check on Melina. She was still asleep, thank God. He didn't want her to see him leave. He didn't really want to leave, truth be told. Lord, why did this have to be so hard? All he wanted was to wrestle. On the flipside, all he wanted was Melina. Facing the screen once more, his eyes widened at what he saw.

Johnny Nitro's name just doesn't come up anymore when it comes to people being elevated. It's not even heat anymore due to Melina, his name just doesn't come up. So he's kind of forgotten now, and just wrestling on WWE Heat for the time being.

Forgotten. Well if he was being forgotten now, he wouldn't be all that hard to erase from people's memories when he was gone, would he? It would be best for everyone now if he just left. With a heavy hand he picked up his pen and started writing again. By the time he had finished Melina was stirring again, murmuring in her sleep. Shoving his feet into his shoes he snatched up his room card and slipped away out the door.

"Johnny?" Sitting up wearily the Diva rubbed her eyes, expecting to see her boyfriend beside her. Instead she was met with the lonely hum of a computer monitor, the blue screen obscured by a note. Pushing off the covers Melina stumbled over to the desk, ripping the paper off the machine. A gasp caught in her throat as her eyes drifted to the website Johnny had been browsing. "Oh babe ..."

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"Come inside Johnny."

The former Intercontinental Champion turned to see his girlfriend bundled up in her hoodie and ear muffs, staring at him from the doorway of their hotel. Melina shivered slightly, watching him as he leant against a lamp post. He tried to smile, but his usual cocky grin failed to reach his eyes. Silently she gravitated towards him, grasping his hand and pulling him to a nearby park bench.

"You know it's not true," she told him bitterly as she slipped his arm around her shoulders. "Why waste your time believing?"

"How do you know it's not true?" He asked hollowly. "Melina, I haven't had anything even resembling a push since Jeff reappeared on the scene. I'm stuck mid-card, jobbing with Ken, to the Hardyz, week in, week out. Stephanie won't even meet with me. I'm gone Mel. I might as well leave before I get released. They already released Joey, or Adam I guess I should call him now." She began to object, but he cut her off. "I've been relegated to Heat, I'm getting beaten by some guy who has been fired and re-hired by the WWE more times, than I care to count. I'm done for."

"How many other guys can say that they won the WWE Tag Team titles the night they debuted?" She asked him suddenly, becoming impassioned. "How many other guys can say they've been in the WWE just over two years and they've already held five titles? You're doing something right," Melina encouraged him as she stared up at him hopefully. "This is just a bad slump, you'll push through it."

"Forgotten." He mumbled under his breath. Melina looked confused, but she waited for him to explain. "They're saying I've been forgotten. I'm starting to think they're right."

"And I'm telling you that they're wrong!" She exclaimed firmly. "Too many times have those stupid sites gone around saying I would never make Champion, that I'd be fired if I didn't pull off my match at Wrestlemania with Ashley. The match sucked ... but I'm still here. You're still here. Things are going to get better."

"I'm holding you back."

Her voice was clear and her words concise. "No, you're not."

"Mel ..."

"John Randell Hennigan, you listen to me, and you listen up good. These things, these comments, are all rumours. It's just propaganda, started by smart marks and people with too much time on their hands. Do you see these guys at the show every week busting their arse? No. What are they doing? They're off making up stories, about you and about me. Hell, about anyone that will generate more traffic to their website. Their opinions don't matter. They don't book my matches. They have no say on who you'll be wrestling next week, do they?"

"No," he answered sheepishly, knowing she was right.

"No, they don't," she agreed. "That's up to Steph and the creative team. And so what if Steph won't give you the time of day right now? She's made it clear in the past she doesn't like me. And look who's Champion."

"You are," he told her proudly. Somewhere deep down he knew she was right, but he was still having doubts. She deserved better, he thought shamefully. It was only a matter of time before she realised it. Until that time came, he had to make himself believe that she was right. "And you're a fighting Champion, no matter how many times they make you job to Candice."

Standing up he clasped her hand in his and began to lead her back to the hotel. Holding her against him in the elevator he wanted to kiss his, but he couldn't bring himself to do it. Everything she had said was true. Yet he was still having troubles believing. The elevator opened and they walked to their room, each lost in their own thoughts.

I almost lost him, Melina realised with tears in her eyes. He actually thinks that all of this mess is his fault. I can't believe he blames himself. Johnny was ready to leave me.

I can't just leave her; he thought to himself anxiously. It'd crush her, not to mention the pain I'd cause myself. I was so close to walking out on her tonight. I love her more than anything. Maybe it's for the best. Maybe then Stephanie would treat her with some respect.

Closing the door behind them, Johnny took off his shoes and laid his bag on the floor. Facing away from him Melina undressed and got into their bed, the tears she'd been holding back until now streaming down her face. Hitting the lights Johnny watched as she curled up into a tiny ball, trying to comfort herself. His face fell once more, as he cursed himself. He hadn't even been man enough to let her go. All he had successfully accomplished was making her miserable.

Switching off his laptop he pulled off his shirt and slipped under the covers with his girlfriend. Instinctively she rolled toward him, arm falling over his torso as she snuggled into his side. Hands folded underneath his head, he stared blankly at the ceiling, mind still travelling at a million miles an hour. Raising her head Melina moved to kiss him, pressing her lips to his, but in his conflicted state he wouldn't respond. Feeling somewhat rejected, she moved away to her side before he lifted her hand in his and kissed it softly. Motioning for her to move back to his side, he opened his arms and simply held her.

"You promised not to leave me," she whispered. "You promised me."

"I promised," he echoed her words. Satisfied with his response she pushed her body back against his and fell asleep to the feel of his fingers on her hips.

He spoke in a whisper as not to wake her. Johnny needed to think this through. Should he believe her? Or were the rumours all true? He knew that he would be okay wrestling on the independent scene if need be. He could afford to be the bigger man in this situation, if only for Melina's sake.

"But sometimes ... Sometimes promises are meant to be broken."

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To be continued?