This chapter is an alternate version of one of the ones in "We Are One" where Wade Barrett betrays Star in a misguided attempt at forcing her to become a functional adult (well, as Rebel Son shows, she got there eventually right?). Enjoy!

For my pride, and my promise.

For my lies, and how the truth gets in the way.

The things I want to say to you,

Get lost before they come.

The only thing that's worse than one is none.

The only thing that's worse than one is none.

-"In Between" Linkin Park

"Star?" Wade Barrett looked at his girlfriend, Lucky Star.

"'Sup?" Star looked over from where she was preparing for her big match against Alberto Del Rio for the World Heavyweight Championship.

"You know I love you right?" Wade looked over her. She'd grown so much since the first time he looked at her. "You know I love you more than anything in life?"

"Of course I do." Star smiled at him. She walked over and kissed him.

"You know that I only want the best for you, right?" He continued. Star blinked.

"Geez Wade, you're starting to sound morbid." She laughed. "What's the matter old man?"

"Nothing, nothing." Wade waved her off. "I'm just proud of you."

"Thanks." Star beamed at him. She had no idea.

Wade watched sadly as she excitedly got ready to face Alberto. He knew that he was doing the right thing, forcing her to go to RAW where she could really shine, but she'd never forgive him.

Christian had spoken to him that morning about it. "If she wins, you'll still make sure I get my title, right?" He had glared at the Englishman.

"Of course. You're paying me enough." Wade had snapped. "Either way, after the match you can cash in your Money in the Bank and you'll get the win."

"Good." Christian had narrowed his eyes. "Because if you screw me over, you WILL pay."

Wade felt cold. Not for the first time he wished feverishly that he still had his Imprint. Although annoying, at least it always had sound advice for how to deal with Star, including how to make her do what she needed to do.

"I hope you're not too sad if you lose and have to go to RAW." Wade swallowed. Star smirked at him.

'I won't lose. I'm not leaving you Wade, you can just forget that." She said, tightening her headband. "I know you want me to go, but I'm not going anywhere without you, my career be damned."

"You're a pain." Wade shook his head at her. My pain. My pride and joy and I'm about to hurt you more than you've ever been hurt and it kills me. I raised you. I taught you how to count and read and write. I taught you how to disable an alarm and hotwire a car and cheat at the casino and pick pockets and how to fight. You showed me how to love. You gave me something to live for.

So why does doing what's best for you hurt so much?

He thought back to Survivor Series. Not even three minutes into the match he'd been eliminated by David Otunga of all people. Star didn't need that sort of person holding her back. He was dead weight now, and Star would be better off cutting ties.

And to think that this was the plan all along. She was going to shine, and I was just going to sit back on my arse and let her earn me a fortune. And now I can't do it. I can't do that to her.

"I'll be back, and I'll be the first female World Heavyweight Champion!" Star kissed him, before bounding out of the locker room.

"Good luck Star." Wade said as clearly as he could.

I'm sorry.

–

Star slipped under Alberto Del Rios guard, wrapping him up and hitting him with a german suplex. He went sprawling to the mat, while she got up and prepared to hit him with Paralysis Slaps. Wise to her signature move, Alberto rolled out of the way and out of the ring.

"Get back here!" Star fumed. Using her speed and power, she leapt up in a single bound to the top of the turnbuckle and used her momentum to hit a flying crossbody on Alberto.

"Oowf!" Alberto cried in shock and pain. Star sprung up immediately.

"Wow. Without an Imprint you Barretts sure are weak." She teased, praying that her comment wouldn't get back to Wade.

"You've only gotten so far by piggy-backing off my Clan, it's time you were put down!" Alberto fired back.

"That's nice." Star snickered. She pulled Alberto up and threw him back into the ring. Alberto was wily however, and the moment she was back in the ring and upright he slammed her with a clothesline that had her seeing stars.

"Urgh…" She tried to shake it off, and got up only to be slammed again. "Ooof!"

Alberto had a full head of steam now. He lifted the small woman up and powerslammed her back down, before hitting an elbow drop. He then wrapped her up in a sleeper hold, trying to drain the poor girl.

Star struggled as Alberto applied more pressure, she had to get out of there! She tried to lift herself up, but Alberto was too strong and too heavy. She tried to elbow him, but he wasn't having it. She tried to weave her hand signs, but he slapped her with his free hand.

There was only one thing for it, dignity be damned.

"Tickle, tickle, tickle!" Star started tickling the Mexican Barrett. He began to squirm, allowing Star to break the hold and get some distance between her and her opponent.

"He taught you that didn't he?" Alberto growled, embarrassed.

"No actually, I taught that one to him." Star smirked, remembering the time that she'd tickled Wade to submission one night back in London.

"You are PATHETIC!" Wade growled in annoyance. "You KNOW you can get out of this hold, so DO it already!"

He had her in a full nelson hold, and Star couldn't find a way out. He had told her that she had the strength to flip out of it, but it was too hard for her small body to get over.

She groaned in pain, easy tears coming to her eyes. There had to be another way! Wade always said if you couldn't do it by hook, do it by crook.

Then she remembered he was ticklish. Reaching around as far as she could, she lightly dragged her fingers over his skin. He flinched.

"No cheating!" He snapped. Star smirked. She kept going.

"Cut it out!" He bellowed. Finally, he had no choice but to drop the hold. Grinning, Star leapt onto his back and started tickling any bare flesh she could find.

"No! Enough! This isn't funny Lucky! Cut it out!" He tried to escape. It wasn't long before he caved, giving over to laughter as Star sat on his stomach as he lay on the mat, tickling as hard as she could.

"You win! You win Lucky! Please! No more!" Tears ran down his cheeks as he howled with laughter. He hugged her. "Cheeky brat. What am I going to do with you?"

Star grimaced. That had been before the Imprint had been sealed, and he used to call her Lucky.

She dodged another clothesline, setting Alberto up for Paralysis Slaps. This time, they connected. Alberto wobbled dangerously.

"Oh, what the hell." Star shrugged. She turned her elbow pad inside out, and whacked Alberto as hard as she could with a Bullhammer Elbow, hoping that Wade saw her using his signature move, just for him. She then lifted Alberto up and slammed him back down with the Wastelands.

One, two, three. Alberto was done.

It had been fun, but at the end of the day Star was more powerful than most of the WWE roster. She breathed in as "End of Days" played and she was handed the highest prize of all.

She was the first female World Heavyweight Champion. She was in the history books now, as the most dominant female in the history of the WWE.

She slowly got to her feet, tired from the massive fight with Alberto Del Rio. As she leaned on the ropes and held up her prize, she saw her beloved Wade Barrett running to the ring.

Wade's here! Wade's here! My Wade is here with me! Star felt so happy. Her hero was here to celebrate with her, her world was complete.

He hugged her tightly, and kissed her deeply.

"I'm so proud of you Star." He whispered in her ear. "I love you so much, and I would do anything for you."

Star looked up at him with shining eyes.

I can't.

I can't do that to her.

I can't do that to my Lucky Star.

"Star..." Wade choked up. "Run."

"Run?" Star looked confused. Suddenly, out came Christian with the Money In The Bank Contract!

"What on earth is going on?!" Star demanded. Wade felt cold.

"I'll tell you everything, but first, we need to deal with Christian!" He told her. "Stand behind me."

"YOU WERE SUPPOSED TO FINISH HER OFF!" Christian roared in fury.

"You what mate?" Star looked horrified at Wade, who flinched.

"Otherwise I was going to tell her all about you banging that tramp Ruby." Christian sneered. Star felt her eyes fill up with tears.

"I'm sorry..." Wade swallowed. "I'm so sorry."

"You're a JERK!" Star threw her new World Heavyweight Championship at his head.

"Now, get out of the ring so I can cash in!" Christian demanded.

"No." Wade got up, and stood in front of Star.

"No?" Christian glared at him.

"No. I've hurt her enough." Wade felt weak and sick, but he pressed on. "And I can't do it anymore."

Star sat in the middle of the ring, grabbing the Heavyweight Title and clutching it and her Divas Championship tightly. Was Wade okay?

"I'd rather die." He almost whispered.

"Then I'll happily oblige." Christian marched up the ramp.

"Run Star. Run and don't look back." Wade told her. "This is my mess to clean up. I'm no good for you, and I was a fool to even try."

Star felt tears well up in her eyes. But she couldn't run.

"STAR!" Wade groaned. "MOVE!"

Christian got up onto the ring apron.

"Please Star, go. I'll be okay, and the Unholy Trio will look after you. It's all going to be okay, I promise." Wade pleaded.

Star finally rolled out of the ring, leaving Wade to deal with Christian. She walked slowly up the ramp as the fight started. She slumped backstage, where Ruby was waiting.

"Slut." Star heard herself say. "So fucking righteous until it comes to sleeping with someone elses boyfriend."

Ruby couldn't say anything. She knew she'd done the wrong thing.

"I'm sorry." Was all she could whisper.

Star made it back to her empty locker room. Along the way, Randy Orton and Ezekiel Jackson clapped her back and congratulated her. So did Kane and Daniel Bryan. Star couldn't feel happy. She just walked into her locker room and lay on one of the benches.

It seemed like hours later when Wade walked in, battered, bruised and sullen, even though it had only been fifteen minutes.

"I knew you didn't really love me." Star said softly. "I knew it was only a lie."

"I do love you Lucky, I swear I do." Wade pleaded. "I just don't know how to do it properly. I never have."

"Liar." Star snapped.

"If I didn't love you, then I couldn't have Imprinted on you in the first place!" Wade cried. Star froze.

"Wait...Punk told me it was random?" Star sat up. "That it was your genetics, and when you saw me you Imprinted."

"No!" Wade threw himself on his knees in front of her. "You were dying. I couldn't bear to see you die, not after watching you fight so hard for your freedom. You deserved to live, not me. I didn't know it at the time, but that's when I Imprinted on you." He felt himself beginning to cry again.

Star blinked. So there had been no reason at all to seal the Imprint. Punk had played her for a fool.

"I'm sorry Lucky...I'm so sorry..." Wade sobbed.

Wait on...he called me LUCKY!

Star blinked. She suddenly hugged Wade tightly, nearly cutting off his oxygen.

"Say it." She mumbled. "Say your vow."

It was Wades turn to blink. "Humiliate me. Beat me to a pulp. Destroy my spirit or break my heart..." Then he realised what had happened, and a new hope entered his voice. "Take my soul if you must, but for the love of the air I breathe I am telling you: Don't. Touch. HER!"

"You broke the seal!" Star laughed. "You numpty!"

Wade turned slightly pink, but he was happy.

"Numpty" is the understatement of the year. Look at what nearly happened to poor Lucky!

...Oh pooh, YOU'RE back.

Yes. Yes I am. You idiot.

Bite me.

"I have an idea." Star said. Wade rested his head on her lap and looked up at her with such love and devotion that she blushed. "Next week, I'll pass the World Heavyweight Championship on to you. Then we'll rule Smackdown!"

Wade smirked.

"Then with the rest of the Corre, we can take over RAW too!" He said. "And then after that, the world!"

Both of them laughed, and the deal was sealed with a deep, loving kiss. Wade Barrett and his Lucky Star had narrowly escaped losing each other, and now they were bound forever.