*Here is the Sequel to There Goes My Life! I hope that you like it*
TEN YEARS LATER:
I sit in my locker room in the back on the grandest stage of them all Wrestlemania. The last 10 years play back in my mind the hours I spent training, the sacrifices I made to reach this point. Almost falling down and losing it all a few years ago but after battling a few personal demons I was back on my feet again and back to where I need to be. Life hasn't been easy the last 10 years but it has been worth it. Two years ago my dream came true, my sacrifices were worth it and my hard work paid off; I made my debut in the WWE after years on the independent circuit and in developmental. I made my wrestling debut with my two best friends Roman Reigns and Seth Rollins dismantling Ryback during one of his matches at Survivor Series. We dominated WWE together as a group known as The Shield. We were on top of our game; Roman and Seth held the tag team titles at one time and I held the US championship; holding the longest reign as US Champ in history. We were on a good path together but like everything all good things come to an end. About a year ago, The Shield broke up and all three of us went on our own path, molding ourselves into new characters and new personas. Professionally I was on the top of the world but personally my life wasn't so great.
Being a wrestler I had heard how hard it was to hold a relationship together while being away for so long and it is not a lie Ana and I have gone through hell and back to stay together, to hold us together while we were both achieving our dreams and reaching our goals. The first couple years when she went to college and I stayed in Ohio were tough we went from spending every day and every night together to seeing each other maybe 2 times a month. She got busy with school work and taking care of Natalia while I got busy with wrestling and wrestling everywhere I could at any chance that I could get. I married the wrestling business. My life became the independent circuit and Ana's life became about her schooling till she graduated with her Journalism degree and Communcations degree. It wasn't easy for her to be practically a single mother while in college but she did it and I am proud of her. She got offered a job working for a magazine company based in New York City while around that time I got signed to FCW but somewhere in between there we started to fall apart. I started to get depressed wondering if I was making the right choice being away from my family. The lonely nights in a one bedroom apartment, seeing my girlfriend and my daughter every once in a while was hard. It was starting to take a toll on me. It was starting to get to me. I started to get depressed from all the loneliness I felt. I was living the typical wild life of a wrestler. I didn't give a shit. I started drinking again. A good a year of my life I spent drunk. It was helping me. It helped me get through the tough times of being alone. I chose to party to forget about the fact I was missing everything my daughter was doing and missing all the time I was losing with Ana. It was hard on me drinking was the only thing that helped me. Ana found out and we fought about it. We fought a lot about it. She was disappointed in me and I was disappointed in myself. I tried to kick my drinking habit but hanging out with friends that constantly wanted to drink and have a good time after a show or on a Friday night was difficult. I couldn't fully walk away from it. I was an independent wrestler with an addiction.
Long story short I showed up in New York to visit Natalia and Ana when Talli was about 5 years old. I was drunk off my ass. Ana kicked me out of her apartment. She didn't want me tainting Natalia or having Natalia see me in that condition. We spent that entire weekend fighting. Words were said and for a short time Ana left me. She wanted nothing to do with me till I got my act together and I wasn't allowed to see my daughter till I got myself together. The loneliness kicked in more, the depression of losing the two people I love most not to mention the only two people I had in my life really tore me up. I was drinking more and started to do drugs again. I was missing shows, embarrassing the company I worked for in Puerto Rico. I got fired. I lost my job I felt that was the end of the road. I had nothing. I had nothing in my life. I hit rock bottom that Christmas when I spent it alone I went wild and almost landed myself in jail again. I spent hours after that night talking to Ana begging her to take me back, apologizing to her and promising to change telling her I would be better. She told me the only way she would believe me is if I went and got the help that I needed so while I wasn't working and was out of a job I battled my demons. I went to rehab to help kick my addiction and to get sobered up again. After a month in rehab I was released as a new man and a better father. Ana and I talked and we were finally back together. I went to New York to see my daughter for the first time in months and to see Ana. It felt great. From that moment I knew nothing else in life mattered more to me than them. It wasn't long after that that I was back into the wrestling game still living away from my family but it was needed. Ana had her job and I had mine. Neither of us were willing to relocate so shortly after I got back in the game I was signed to a developmental contract with WWE and moved to Florida while Ana stayed in New York with Natalia. I visited them every chance that I could get.
Personally, I went through hell but today I sit in my locker room waiting backstage with my beautiful daughter and my beautiful girlfriend waiting for the biggest match of my career. I am facing Bray Wyatt for the WWE World Heavyweight championship. It's my first shot at the title and my nerves are killing me. I have to go out and put on the biggest show and match of my life in front of 70,000 people in Levi Stadium. I sit here thinking about the roads I have taken personally and professionally and realize they both led me to this point. I wouldn't be here if Ana hadn't supported me and if Natalia hadn't been so understanding of me and my career. It's been tough but I made it here; we made it here. "Dad," says my 10 year old daughter as she stands in front of me. She is the spitting image of me. Her once strawberry blonde hair turned to a light brown with a bit of red in it much like mine, her blue eyes grew deeper like mine and the smile she has on her face with the dimples is one she inherited from me. "Are you okay?"
"Yes," I say with a smile. "I'm okay. I'm just thinking."
"Thinking about what?" she asks me.
"I'm just thinking about everything I've been through, everything we've been through as a family to get here. It's been a long road but we're here and I couldn't have made it here without you or your mom. You two being my number one fans always supporting me in my career keeping me in check," I say with a smile as she smiles at me. I take her tiny hand into mine and look up into her blue eyes. "No matter what happens out there tonight, Talli whether I win or lose it doesn't matter. What matters to me is you. The greatest accomplishment in my life will always be being your father. If I lose it doesn't matter I still have you in my life and I still have your mom. Life goes on and it will go on together for us."
"Dad," she says with a smile. "You're going to win. I know you are. You worked really hard for this. You've got this. It's like you always tell me before my dance recitals, your hard work and dedication always shine through. It doesn't matter if you're the best or not what matters if you give your best performance you're a winner. You don't have to be perfect, you don't have to be the best wrestler out there but as long as you go out there and you give your best performance you'll be a winner to me. I'm not worried about it if you have the championship or not you'll always be a champion to me," she says making me smile. "Good luck, Daddy," she says with a smile.
"Thanks, Talli," I say with a smile before she gives me a hug and kisses my cheek softly.
"I love you, Dad and I know you got this. You're going to make me proud. I will always be proud of you win or lose you'll always be my champion," she says again making me smile. I kiss the top of her head with a smile.
"I love you, Talli," I say with a smile as Ana walks over to us with a smile on her face. "Is it time for you to go out to the stadium?"
"Yeah, it's about time. They're about three matches ahead of yours," she says as I stand up.
"Thanks for coming this weekend," I say with a smile as she smiles back at me. 11 years later this woman still holds my heart. She is still the most beautiful woman I have ever met. We've been through it together but she's always been there for me through the good and the bad. I have met lots of women out on the road trying to lock me down and trying to be the one but the only one I need and want is Anastasia Eve Bennett. She is my forever and always. "I know you are busy in New York."
"I wouldn't miss this for the world," she says with a smile. "I believe I told you the day was going to come when you were going to go for that championship and that I would be there front row with Talli to watch you, to cheer you on and support you. We've been through it, Dean. We've gone through hell to get here and now we're here. Go out there and make me proud, Baby. I love you."
"I love you too," I say with a smile before I wrap my arms around her, embracing her before I kiss her lips softly. "I'll do my best."
"That's all I have ever asked," she says with a smile. "We'll see you out there," she says with a smile. I kiss her once more before I hug and kiss Talli and they are on their way with security being taken to their front row seats to watch my championship match with Bray Wyatt. Shortly after they leave I am on my way to the curtain. Bray and I don't know how the match is going to end and we don't know who is going to win. Hunter and Vince hand us a piece of paper with the winner's name on it. We both look at it and hand it back to them. I put my game face on and run through my warm up routine before the match before us ends.
I walk through the curtain as my music hits. The crowd is electric, you can feel the electricity through the stadium. They are on fire. I make my way down the long ramp way to the ring. I stop by ringside to high-five Natalia and give her a hug as she gives me a little bit of advice letting me know she will be proud of me no matter what happens in this match. I kiss her before I kiss Ana. I make my way into the ring and wait for Bray to make his entrance. As his entrance begins you can feel the eeriness of it all. It's becoming surreal as I watch him make his way to the ring. Every ounce of sweat and sacrifice brought me to this night. I remember that as I watch him hold the belt over his head before handing it to the referee. I look at my family and it's about them. It's always been about them. Everything I've done, everything I've sacrificed has been for them. I want to give them the world, I will give them the word like I promised. It comes down to this moment. This is what I have worked for my entire life.
The match is like a blur to me. I get lost in the crowd and it is a damn good match. We're giving it our all. We are tearing up the Mania stage. There are so many near falls between Bray and me that almost every fan in the arena is on their feet as we battle it out for the greatest prize of all. Bray goes to hit his finisher on me but I counter out before I hit him with the Dirty Deeds; my finishing maneuver. I go for the cover but he kicks out at 2. I don't know how much more I can do before this match is over. I hit him with another and this time as the ref does the count the fans in the stadium count out loud with him. 1-2-3! I am in shock, my mouth falls open as the crowd cheers. This is it. This is the moment I have waited for my entire career, everything I dreamed about is here. I stand up, the ref takes my hand as the crowd cheers for me. He hands me the belt and I hold it up in the air to celebrate. I look at my daughter's face and I have never seen so much pride and joy on her face as I do in this moment. I look at Ana and she has tears in her eyes as she claps for me.
I roll out of the ring and make my way over to the two people that have been by my side through it all to celebrate. I wrap my arms around Ana as she cries on my shoulder after I kiss her lips softly. "Good job, Baby," she whispers in my ear. "I'm so happy for you. You deserve this."
"Thank-you," I say in her ear. "I love you," I say before I kiss her lips once more.
I walk over to Natalia and wrap her up in my arms. I kiss her cheek a thousand times. She kisses my cheek as she hugs me. I scoop her up and lift her over the barricade. "I'm proud of you, Daddy," she says making me smile as I bring her into the ring with me. I put her on my shoulders and have her hold the championship up for me. The crowd goes wild as the fireworks go off. I take her down and put her on her feet in front of me. I help her out of the ring before I follow her. I pick her up and hold her on my hip as she wears her Dean Ambrose shirt and beanie hat showing her support for her daddy. I let Ana know I'm taking her backstage with me. We hit the fans' hands on our way back to the back.
I walk through the curtain to have people cheering and clapping for me. Congratulating me on my win and praising our match. I thank them with a smile on my face. I walk over to Vince and he shakes my hand telling me good job. Stephanie congratulates me too and shakes my hand before I give her a hug. "So what do you think?" I ask Natalia as we make our way through the backstage area.
"I think you're the best," she says with a smile as I run into Renee Young.
"Dean Ambrose," she says with a smile. "You just went out there and became the World Heavyweight Champion. What is going through your mind? How do you feel?" she asks as I hold Natalia in my arms.
"I feel great," I say catching my breath. "It was one hell of a match. Bray and I tore the stage apart. Tonight I was the better man. I came out on top. Everything was worth it. Everything I've gone through in my life was worth it to hold this championship in front of one of the best little girls in the world my daughter. It feels good. It feels great. I have gone through some shitty things in my life Renee and three things I have done best were making my baby girl, falling in love with her mama and winning this championship. It means so much to me," I say with tears in my eyes.
"Congratulations," she says with a smile before I thank her and make my way to Ana as I see her standing off in the distance.
"I did it baby," I say with a smile before I embrace her. "I couldn't do it without you," I say.
"I'm proud of you," she says with a smile. "I love you so much, Baby. You look good with that belt on your shoulder," she says as I put Natalia down. "I'm glad your dream came true."
"Thanks," I say with a smile before we take a picture together as a family before I go to take a shower and get cleaned up for the after party. I have something very special planned for the after party. I've been planning it for a while and there is no other time I want to do this.
ANA's POINT OF VIEW:
Dean and I walk into the Wrestlemania after party holding hands with our fingers intertwined as Natalia walks in beside us. A few of the superstars clap for Dean as he walks in because of his amazing match with Bray Wyatt. I couldn't be any prouder of Dean than I am right now and I'm sad that Natalia and I have to leave California in a few short hours to get back to New York so I can get back to work and she can get back to school. I want to be here with him as he walks into RAW as the champion and spend more time with him. I feel like we never spend much time together and this weekend has been great.
"Congratulations," says Dean's best friend Roman. "That was a good match. I'm glad you got that belt."
"Thanks," says Dean with happiness in his voice before they share a hug. Roman has been a pretty good friend to Dean in the last couple years. They travel together and hang out together a lot. They are like brothers.
"Ana, how are you feeling about Dean's win?" he asks me.
"I'm happy for him. He's worked hard for this. I'm very happy for him."
"He deserves it," says Roman with a smile. "Congratulations," he says.
"Thanks," says Dean once more before Roman walks away. "So you really have to go back to New York?" he asks.
"Yeah," I say, "I have an article to finish and I have a lot of work to do. I wish I could stay."
"I wish you could stay too," he says as we walk together. "I miss you, Ana."
"I miss you too," I say. "I can't live like this anymore. These two different houses and living two different places isn't working. I want you to move to New York with us. Even if you're only home a couple days a week that's more than you are now, I want you to come home with us."
"Me too," he says. "I want that. I can't live in Florida alone anymore. It's been 10 years and it was only supposed to be a couple years. I need to be with you more and be with Natalia more. I don't want to spend any more time living apart."
"Me either," I say with a smile. "So you're coming to New York?" I ask.
"I'm coming home, Baby," he says making me smile before I wrap my arms around him kissing his lips softly as we share a passionate kiss. Dean and I have been through a lot in the last 10 years and the stress of living apart hasn't really helped us. I'm glad he's finally coming home with us. I need him in my life more and Natalia needs him in her life more. "One more thing," he says as he breaks the kiss.
"Okay," I say. "What's up, Dean?"
"I just need a moment," he says as he looks at Natalia and she looks at him. He whispers something in her ear and she nods. I have no idea what is going on between these two.
"Mom," says Natalia with a smile as she hands me a piece of paper. "I drew you this picture."
"Thank-you," I say with a smile as I open the folded piece of paper. "He REALLY loves you! Say yes," I read. "Nata…" I start to say as I look in front of me to see Dean down on one knee in front of me. "Dean," I say with tears in my eyes. "What are you doing?"
"Anastasia," he says as he pulls out a small ring box. I cover my mouth as he kneels in front of me. "For 11 years you have been by my side. You have loved me through it all. You were there in the good times, the bad times and never left my side. You have supported my dreams and I supported yours. You gave me the most beautiful little girl in the world. You believed in me when no one else did. You gave me hope when I was hopeless. You believed in me when I didn't believe in myself. We've been through so much in the last few years but we got through it together. You have been the constant in my life for 11 years. You have been the only woman I have ever loved and will always love. You are an amazing woman, a great supporter and I love you more than any words can say. You and Natalia mean the world to me. You two are the reason I live and do what I do. You so selflessly gave up your time with me so I can do this. I want to continue to go through this life together taking whatever comes our way together. I want to spend it with you. Every fan girl in the world wishes and hopes for me to be with them or to look at them but like always you're the only woman I'm looking at and the only woman I want to look at the rest of my life. You hold my heart, Baby. It's yours. It's been yours since day 1. I love you, Ana. I want to spend forever with you. Anastasia Eve Bennett will you do me the pleasure of being my wife?" he asks as he opens the ring box.
My jaw falls open as I see the beautiful diamond ring in front of me. It's a rock for sure. I have never seen anything so beautiful in my life. The emerald cut diamond sparkles in the light of the room and the diamond band sparkles with it. "Yes, Baby," I say. "Yes, I'll marry you," I say with a smile. He smiles up at me before he takes off the promise ring he gave me years ago and replaces it with the beautiful engagement ring he bought for me. "I want forever with you too, Baby," I say with a smile as he stands up and I wrap my arms around his neck. "Always forever with you," I say with a smile before we share a deep passionate kiss as his co-workers, friends and bosses clap for us. "I love you," I say with a smile as he looks at me with his beautiful blue eyes after our kiss breaks.
"I love you too," he says with a smile before he kisses me once again. I want to spend forever with this man and we deserve to have forever together. Life hasn't been easy for us but we made it this far together.
*A/N: What do you think? Is this a keeper? What do you think of Dean winning the championship at Wrestlemania? Did you like how supportive Ana and Natalia have been to Dean in the last 10 years? Are you surprised they broke up for a short time in the last 10 years? What do you think of Ana and Dean finally moving back in together? Are things about to change for them? What do you think of his proposal to her? Was it a good time? What do you think is going to happen next? Please review and thank-you for reading.