"Alexa I look ridiculous" I whined walking out of the bathroom and spinning for the blonde who stopped and stared with wide eyes. "You look amazing Amber." She gasped clapping her hands excitedly as she looked me over. We were getting ready for our first ever Hall of Fame ceremony, I was beyond nervous because I NEVER wear dresses or heels and tonight I was wearing both at once. Did I mention my date was the sexy, bad boy, lone wolf Baron Corbin? Because that's my date and I looked like a complete fool compared to him on a normal day, I can't imagine how bad I'm going to look tonight. "Don't make that face. Baron is going to drop dead you're that gorgeous." She sighed pulling on her heels and standing beside me our heels making us even height once again. "Thanks Lex...should we head downstairs?" I sighed adjusting my hair once more before following her out of the room. I panicked at the top of the stairs and spun around returning to my room pacing back and forth insanely as I tried to talk myself into walking downstairs. "I know I'm scary but you've never hid from me before so don't start tonight. I've been bragging to everyone about how I'm going with the most beautiful woman in NXT." Baron's voice paused as I stopped my pacing with my back to him "It'd be pretty embarrassing if I showed up alone, I'd probably never speak to you again." He rumbled his arms wrapping around me from behind in a hug. "I'm sorry Baron...I don't know what my problem is...I just got so nervous." I sighed my head down "I panicked, I want to be good enough for you." I mumbled almost silently but that man had insane hearing. "You're TOO good for me Amber, I know that and everyone knows that." He laughed "Have you looked in a mirror?" he asked moving so we were standing right in front of my full body mirror, our eyes locking through the glass. "I had to threaten over half the roster just so I could get the chance to ask you to the ceremony before someone else did." He smirked making me smile brightly "You could have said 'yo bitch, we're going together' and I would have agreed" I giggled making him smile brightly this time. "I'll keep that in mind next time I want to take you somewhere. But for now we should really get going." He murmured finally turning me around and walking all the way out to the limo with me. Alexa, Blake, Murphy and Aliyah already waiting inside.
"Better Amber?" Alexa asked sweetly as I slid in beside her leaving Baron to sit across from me with a smirk on his lips. I nodded and smiled at her before we settled into a comfortable silence. We pulled up to the ballroom and started filing out Alexa pulling on my arm to slow me down as we went to walk inside "I grabbed your inhaler for you" she whispered "just in case" she shrugged blushing slightly as she handed me the plastic contraption to put in my hand bag "Thanks Lex, it means a lot" I grinned hugging her tightly before we caught up with our dates and entered the actual ceremony area, going our separate ways to do interviews and find our seats. "Baron, Amber can I get an interview?" Renee asked as we walked by, nodding slightly we stopped in front of her and waited for the camera to turn green. "I am here with NXT's very own Baron Corbin and Amber Vixen." She introduced both of us smirking at the blonde "First, you guys look great. It's definitely something different from both of you" she pointed out "Well we aren't ones to disappoint so we weren't going to show up in ripped jeans and t-shirts" I grinned shaking my head as Baron smiled softly "She's right, we don't disappoint and if I say so myself we went above and beyond for tonight." Baron nodded wrapping his arm around my waist "That you did. What are your thoughts on tomorrow nights line-up? Several NXT superstars, including you Baron, will be showcased in the Andre the Giant Memorial Battle royal and Amber you and several of the NXT women will be in your own battle royal to determine who advances to the WWE Women's Championship number one contender Battle Royal" Renee stated, my smile brightening slightly as Baron truly smiled "I'm kind of cocky, so I like to say I will obviously come out on top and I know how talented Amber is so give it time and I think you'll be seeing both of us on top." Baron smirked before pulling me away and over to our seats. "You've gotten so much better at microphone skills" I complimented the usually quiet male "Thanks Amber, I've been working really hard so it means a lot." He whispered just as the lights dimmed and the ceremony started.
The ceremony was fantastic and the after party was insane as well. I had such a great time meeting everyone and having Baron by my side kept me relatively calm all night. We danced a couple times but we mostly sat in the back of the room and talked all night about everything and anything ranging from video games to first kisses to debut matches. Now we had grabbed a taxi and were on our way back to my house neither of us feeling like riding in the limo anymore and wanting to spend some time just us. One thing about Baron and I was we didn't really like being in the public eye if we weren't in a wrestling ring, and we definitely love our private time where we can be just us. He got out first and helped me out paying the cab driver before we started up the sidewalk. "So hold on, I thought you said you couldn't wear heels" he commented suddenly as we walked. "I never said I couldn't. I said I didn't like too. They hurt, they're hard to walk in without practice and when I wear skirts or tight pants I don't like how people stare" I shrugged squealing loudly as he swung me up into his arms, my hands clasping behind his head tightly to keep myself up. "What are you doing" I giggled as he continued to walk, unlocking my front door and continuing up the stairs to my bedroom. "You said they hurt to walk in so I'm helping" he grinned sitting down on the edge of the bed and sliding my dress up so he could pull my shoes off. "You don't have to" I smiled moving to get up off his lap, he wrapped his left arm around me tighter and held me there as his right hand rubbed my feet and ankles. "Are you ready for tomorrow?" he asked softly as my head rested on his jacketless shoulder. "Yeah...I am so excited but so nervous" I sighed "You're gonna do great Babe." He murmured moving his head to press his lips to my forehead before we went silent. "ugh, I need to change and get ready for bed. Otherwise tomorrow is going to start rough" I sighed sitting up and moving to the bathroom to get into pajamas and remove my makeup. I shoved my head under the faucet and washed out all of the product before drying it with a towel and heading back into my bedroom to see Baron relaxed on my bed in his boxers messing around on his phone. "I honestly might like you better like this" he commented as I crawled into bed beside him and laid down getting ready for sleep. "Goodnight Baron" I mumbled pressing my face into his side "Goodnight Amber." He replied softly leaning down to kiss my temple before I drifted off to sleep.
"Oh fuck" I mumbled pacing back and forth behind the curtain, my palms starting to sweat as everyone else did their entrances and I was the last to go out for the NXT Women's battle royal. "Relax Amber, you're going to do great" Hunter complimented already in his spot behind the monitors to watch over the match. "Thanks Hunt." I sighed, I wished Baron was here but he was doing interviews after winning the Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal. Smirking cockily as Fancy by Iggy Azalea started to play I bounced onto the stage and down the ramp occasionally slapping hands along the way before I slid into the ring and did a cartwheel into the splits into a backbend and then a standing position. Tossing my jacket out of the ring I bounced on the balls of my feet as the bell rang and everyone started going after each other. It came down to Bayley, Nia, Alexa and I. The top four of the NXT division. I looked to Alexa and nodded slightly before going after Nia leaving Alexa and Bayley to fight it out. I don't really know what happened but soon both of their names sounded over the speakers saying they had been eliminated which left it down to Nia and I, both of us running on fumes and just wanting the match to be over since we still had a second battle royal to compete in directly after. With one last burst of effort I clotheslined Nia over the top rope, catching myself before I fell to the mat and the bell rang. I had won, but now I only got the amount of time it took all the main roster women to enter, to rest. Taking deep steady breathes I had to slip from the ring and use my inhaler once before getting back inside and waiting for the rest of them to enter. I was nervous that I'd be the first to go because I was the newbie and obviously the most worn out. Everyone was in the ring and the bell had gone off, I noticed that everyone was really focusing on one person each leaving me the odd man out giving me even more time to relax. Until Nikki and Brie decided they were finished with Paige and turned on me, it wasn't too bad I was expecting them to be more talented but it was pretty simple to get them one on one and soon both were eliminated. I moved on to Alicia and then soon it was down to Naomi, Paige and I. I couldn't believe I had made it this far but now I was running on negative fumes needing my inhaler and a nap. I collapsed against the turnbuckle and kind of just watched as they both threw hands until Paige eliminated Naomi. "Get out." She shouted pointing at me and then out of the ring, rolling my eyes I smirked and beckoned her forward, her attitude giving me a slight push of energy to go against her and get her out of the ring. I had done it, I had become number one contender and I could hardly believe it. I let the referee raise my hand and I bragged a little bit before I took off up the ramp and pushed behind the curtain, my inhaler being pressed into my hand by Alexa who had tears in her eyes.
"I'm so proud of you" she squeaked hugging me tightly as I used my inhaler trying to not go into an anxiety attack. "Lexa let her breathe. She isn't looking to good right now" Hunter warned lightly pulling the girl off and helping me sit down as I took slow, deep breathes to try and stop any attacks. "Where's Baron?" he asked not really anyone specific "Renee just took him for another interview" someone, I think one of the stage hands answered "Go get him. I don't care about the interview. Steph, Stephanie" Hunter shouted the woman scurrying over covered by a black robe so no one could see her outfit for later. "Go get Baron." Hunter ordered watching the woman walk off as fast as she could in her heels. "1, 2, 3, 4, 5" Hunter counted slowly as I inhaled "1, 2, 3, 4, 5" he repeated as I exhaled with his counting. "Hey baby" Baron greeted softly kneeling directly in front of me, Hunter moving further off to the side so we could have our space. "You're doing great. Just keep breathing slowly. I watched your matches." He whispered running his hands through my hair as my breathing slowly evened out and my skin color returned to its normal shade "You did so good. You're number one contender and you're gonna kill it. But tonight after the show we're going to go home, get some movies and some snacks. Relax together" he continued his voice soothing me even more than my inhaler had. "Thank you" I whispered leaning forward to hug him, receiving a tighter hug back followed by a passionate kiss on the lips. "Woah, I did not see that coming" someone said off to the side "Are you blind?" Alexa returned before she ushered people away giving Baron and I a little privacy. "I love you Amber." The tall man whispered making a blush spring on my cheeks and tears pool in my eyes. We had been low key dating for almost a year and he had never said it before so it was extra special on top of an already special night. "I love you too Baron" I returned just as softly leaning in to kiss him again.
"Have either of you talked about this new girlfriend of his?" Sandra asked as we stood in the backyard of her farmhouse in Lenexa, Kansas. "He wants to tell Elliot in person, I tried to talk him into just letting me tell her ahead of time but he was adamant that he tell her." I sighed smiling softly at the little brunette girl that was playing soccer with her Uncle Ashton and a couple cousins. "Well, looks like now is the time" she sighed gesturing behind me to show me a nice black pick-up truck pulling into the driveway, Tom behind the wheel, most people know him now as Baron Corbin but to me he will always be Thomas Pestock of Lenexa Kansas. "Hey Momma" he greeted with a grin walking over and hugging the older woman tightly before pulling back and looking me over "Anna, where's Elliot?" he asked his eyes still running up and down my figure as if he was trying to memorize or remember it. "Playing with Ashton and the other kids" I informed pointing to the girl in the blue dress who was sitting on one of her older cousins. "She's getting so big" he sighed a smile on his lips that faded slightly when a dark haired woman joined us "This is my girlfriend Morgan, Morgan this is my mom Sandra and this is Anna" he introduced, my heart clenching a little that I was introduced as just Anna, but I quickly shook it off and smiled my smile widening when a child's voice shrieked Daddy. "Hey baby girl" Tom beamed crouching down and picking her up so he didn't have to bend over to talk to her. "You're here" she giggled her little arms tightly wrapped around his thick neck "Of course I am, didn't Mommy tell you I was going to be here?" he asked sending me a look of exasperation to which I simply smiled "She said there was going to be a surprise, I hoped it was a pony but this is even better" she giggled pressing a sloppy kiss to his cheek which he happily left on his face as he turned to Morgan who looked like she was forcing happiness for him. "Who is she?" Elliot asked quietly shrinking back slightly as Tom sighed and set her down crouching so they were still eye level. "Elliot, this is my girlfriend Morgan." He said slowly watching her as a range of emotions flitted across her face before tears started tumbling down her cheeks and she ran into the house and away from everyone.
"Excuse me" I sighed jogging after the child following the sounds of her crying up the stairs and into Tom's old room that we usually slept in when we stayed over. "Baby what's wrong?" I asked quietly kicking my flip flops off before I joined her on the large bed cradling her tiny body in my arms as she continued to sob and hiccup. "Daddy doesn't love us anymore" she whimpered the tears starting a new at the reason she was so upset. "He's gonna replace us, next time he'll bring home a new baby and he won't have time for me anymore" she continued before her sobs got to be too much and she buried her head in my chest and cried as a couple tears slipped from my own eyes. "That's not true Elliot, Daddy loves you very much and you know he always makes time for you." I sighed rubbing her back hoping she would calm down before her asthma started up "Just because he has a new girlfriend doesn't mean he's going to replace you or that he loves you any less" I added continuing to rub her back as she slowly calmed down again. "Does that mean Daddy doesn't love you?" she asked quietly, I didn't have an answer for that at all and was shocked by her question. "I don't know Elli, that's something only Daddy can answer" I sighed softly running my fingers through her hair until she drifted to sleep, all the running and crying of the day having tired her out. "Is she okay?" Tom asked quietly appearing in the doorway only a few minutes after she fell asleep. "She will be, I think part of it was she was tired from playing all morning" I whispered sending the man a soft smile telling him he didn't have to worry. "How are you?" I asked patting the bed beside me for him to sit since this would probably be the only chance we got to talk. "I'm good, great actually I finally made it out of NXT and to the main roster" he was beaming with happiness as he sat as close as possible so he could rub Elliot's back. "I'm so proud of you" I smiled honestly happy for him after all the work he had put into becoming a wrestler when the football life fell through.
"What about you though? How are you?" he returned leaning his head back on the headboard, our eyes locking briefly before I looked back down at Elliot. "I'm alright, trying to sell the house" I sighed knowing he would be upset since it was something we had bought when we were in high school and we were expecting a big family. "What? What do you mean you're trying to sell it?" he asked the anger evident in his voice "Tommy, I know you love it. I do too but it's just Elliot and I…it's too big for just the two of us" I sighed not able to look at him and see the anger and sadness that I'm sure was all over his face. "Excuse me" I whispered maneuvering myself from underneath our sleeping child and slipping my flip flops back on I left the room heading for the backyard since everyone was still mingling in the front of the house. It got harder and harder every time he came home to pretend that it wasn't killing me or slowly driving me insane.
TOM POV
I couldn't believe she was selling the house, and she hadn't even talked to me about it beforehand. That was our house, the house we had saved up and bought in high school, the house that she had given me her virginity in, the house that we had conceived Elliot in, the house that we had exchanged rings in saying one day we would get married. "Daddy?" a little voice mumbled as Elliot wiped her hair from her eyes and crawled onto my lap. "What's wrong Daddy? Why are you crying?" she asked her small hands coming up and settling on my cheeks as I blinked and realized I was indeed crying. "I'm just upset baby" I whispered, my voice coming out thick and choked with emotions. "Is it cause I ran away crying…I didn't mean to make you upset. I thought you were gonna replace me and mommy, but she said you would never replace me" she mumbled moving so she could lean her head into my neck as I rubbed her small back giving her a teary smile. "I would never replace you baby. You're my family" I nodded not ready for her next question at all "But why did you replace mommy, don't you love her?" she asked, I had to take a deep and shuddery breath as I collected myself but before I could answer she shocked me some more. "Sometimes when I wake up at night and have to go potty or want a drink I can hear her crying." She whispered "Sometimes she says your name too. One time she set out a third plate and then put it away before she went into her bedroom and cried, she told me she was just sad that she couldn't make me happy like when you come home." She paused and took a deep breath "She looks at pictures a lot, but she only shows me ones of me and you or me and her." She added snuggling deeper into my hold as Morgan walked into the room. "Can I have the keys to the truck? Jimmy called and I have a photoshoot scheduled tomorrow…I'll be back Sunday morning though" she stated holding out her hand and without a second thought I dropped the rental keys into her hand and watched her walk out, realizing if that had been Anna there would have been kisses and hugs all around. "I love your mom very much Elliot." I sighed resting my head on hers and going silent as we both just enjoyed being near the other.
END TOM POV
"Anna, I really wish you would talk to someone" Sandra sighed, joining me on the steps as I brushed the tears from my cheeks. "I'm fine Sandra, just stressed from trying to find somewhere smaller and sell the house." I fibbed giving the woman a smile that faltered at the shake of her head. "Don't lie to me darling, I know you miss him. You can be looking right at him and it's not the same, it kills you inside that he doesn't come home to you anymore. It kills you inside to see any sort of picture or anything of him, because he isn't yours." She murmured, the tears starting anew as I sobbed and collapsed into her arms. "I don't want to sell the house, it's all I have left that was ours except for Elliot." I whispered afraid to look up as the door creaked open. "Ashton is looking for you Mama" Tom's voice was booming in the silence of the yard. "Alright" she agreed brushing her hand through my hair before she stood and walked inside. "I love you." Tom said suddenly my head snapping up thinking he was talking to someone else but he was looking straight at me. "I don't think I'll ever stop. It was just easier to leave and pretend none of this existed. That I didn't have anything back here in Lenexa that meant anything to me." He paused, kneeling before me in the dirt, his large hands coming up to frame my face. "Morgan left, she doesn't belong here, but I do. And you do." He murmured "If you'll have me, I'd like to move home. Where I should have been all along." He smirked with a small shrug. "We'll take the house off the market, and get started on filling all those empty rooms. We'll have that wedding we talked about so long ago, we'll get chickens, a horse, some cows. I'll hire someone to help you while I'm gone." He was painting such a beautiful picture, something I had dreamed of for so long. "Just tell me you still love me, so I know that this is where I'm meant to be." He whined, yes whined. "I love you Thomas. More than life itself." I smiled pressing a hand to his cheek, my smile widening as he pulled me in for a kiss. "I'll make sure supper is on the stove and beer is in the fridge from here on out" I assured wrapping myself around him with a giggle as he pressed our lips together again.