So, yeeeeeah, when I mentioned in the last chapter of The Madness that this would be up last night, I totally meant tonight instead! So sorry. This one goes out to the unbelievable 15 reviewers I had last chapter: nattiebroskette, angelsdee327, Amie19, xSamiliciousx, TotalDiva, Steph, Rossi's Lil Devil, HisMnkyPrincess, Peachilee, writergrrrl, ThatGirl54, Allison, Emmettluver2010 and the two guests. You guys are amazing!

This is a cold war. You better know what you're fighting for.
-Janelle Monae, Cold War

*********khan*********

November 4, 2014- Albany, NY

Alex and Jon arrived at the arena and she quickly gave him a hug and said she'd see him later. She practically ran off to drop her stuff in the trainer room and when she got there, took a huge breath of relief. The past 18 hours with him had been torture. He hadn't said a word to her all last night while getting food and driving from Buffalo to Albany. Then, when they had woken up this morning, he seemed ultra chipper and talked to her nonstop all the way through breakfast and the drive to the arena. It was awesome that he wasn't still mad about the fight last night but oh my god, she had just wanted to scream at him to shut up.

She made her way down to the ring, still wanting to help out the girls and keep an eye out if anyone else got hurt. She sat in one of the big comfy chairs that the announcers would be occupying later and watched as Dustin and Cody worked out some spots with the Fatu twins for their huge Steel Cage match. She always hated seeing these mainly cause she knew all four of them would probably end up on her table, needing serious kinks worked out.

She noticed Jon walk out with Windham and she sunk down into her chair, not wanting to be seen. They were walking through their fight later on and Alex could tell that they were spotting out her position as well. She already knew where she would be in their action later on so she didn't feel the need to make her presence known. But of course, he saw her anyway.

"Oh hey, I didn't know you were out here."

"I'm always out here, Jon."

He was a little taken aback by her demeanor. It seemed like she didn't want him around.

"You ok, cupcake?"

"Yep, I'm fine."

He sighed, "Alex, what's wrong?"

"Nothing."

He got down on his knees in front of her and put his forearms on her thighs causing her to sigh loudly and look at him, exasperated.

"Talk to me, cupcake."

"How about you talk first?"

"Huh? What'd ya mean?"

"Last night, you didn't want to talk but then this morning, you did nothing but talk...about nothing. You rambled on and on and on so excuse me if I just needed some peace and quiet to be by myself."

He sat back on his heels, shocked at her statement.

"Alex, come on...I'm sorry, alright."

"Whatever. It's fine."

"No, it's not. I know that I was a jerk but I was just...I don't know."

"Upset about Renée?"

"Yeah but it was more than that. I...I don't know."

His non-answers were bugging the shit out of her.

"Well, why don't you get back to me when you do know something? Until then, I have a job to do."

Jon hung his head. He knew he'd have to make this right but obviously she needed a little time and space. He stood back up and was still for a moment.

"Ok, Alex, you know what time to be backstage for our thing?"

"4:00, I know."

"Ok, see you then."

He left and she relaxed back into her chair. It was a little after two so she had plenty of time to still get ready. She knew she needed to get her head straight. She knew he was having issues in his relationship and he needed to figure all that out but she just couldn't deal with that today. Maybe she was just tired. Maybe it was all the time they'd spent together recently. Since Saturday night, they'd been together 24/7 and maybe they needed some time apart. Whatever it was, hopefully it'd be fixed by the end of tonight. They still had to spend the night together before flying out in the morning for home.

Alex was interrupted from her thoughts by the presence of her boss.

"Thought I'd find you out here."

"Oh hi, Stephanie, how are you today?"

The older lady sat down beside her and they continued to watch the four men in the ring.

"I wanted to congratulate you on your debut last night. You did really great! I actually thought you were genuinely frightened."

"I think I kind of was. My nerves were completely frazzled. But it was great. The crowd was totally into it and made the whole thing so much better."

"Yes, I can see this becoming a huge storyline success. I'm so glad Jon suggested it."

Alex's head whipped around to look at her boss.

"What?"

"Oh," Stephanie looked down, a hand over her eyes, "I don't think I was supposed to tell you that. He said something about it being a secret. I'm sorry. Don't let him know I told you, please."

"I won't but what did he say? This whole thing was his idea?"

"He came to me about two weeks ago and said that I needed to watch you in the ring. I didn't even know you had been training on the side, but he said you were better than almost all the other Divas and some of the men too."

Alex blushed, "Well, I think he's exaggerating about that."

"I thought so too at first but then I watched you out here with April and I was impressed. He was right and he said since he was going into a feud with Windham anyway, that they should up the stakes and have you be that person that Dean Ambrose loved and wanted to protect and such. It was totally his idea and after watching you guys last night, I have to say it was a great one."

Alex was completely flabbergasted. Jon had done all this for her. He was responsible for her being on-camera and getting a raise and more success down the road hopefully. It was all him and she'd been such a bitch to him earlier. Fuck me, she thought, I gotta fix this.

"Thanks for telling me, Stephanie."

"No problem, keep up the good work."

The boss lady left and Alex couldn't help but feel she needed to find Jon immediately. Leaving her seat, she went to the back but before she started her search, another thought came to her. Why not look as good as possible when she found him? A wicked smile graced her features and she turned on her heel towards the wardrobe department. When she got there, she immediately went to Tiffany, the head stylist.

"Hi, Tiff."

The woman, in her mid-50s, smiled at her, "I was wondering when they were gonna convince a pretty thing like you to get in the ring. I knew they couldn't keep you back here forever."

She found Alex's bag and opened it, handing it to her and shooing her behind a partition to make sure it fit properly. When Alex saw the outfit, she laughed because it wasn't that different from what she'd normally wear outside the arena. Black skinny jeans, an AC/DC tank top and a fitted leather jacket. Since it was November and it was chilly in New York, they'd given her a cute little black beanie to wear as well. When she got the whole ensemble on, she looked in the mirror and smiled. Damn, she looked good. Paired with her red Chuck Taylors Tiffany had told her to bring from home, it was the perfect outfit for the girlfriend of Dean Ambrose. A little biker, a little rock and roll, enough laziness about it to not care. When she came back out, Tiffany smiled and clapped her hands, even more so when some of the guys walked by and Nick Nemeth- the showoff Dolph Ziggler- wolf-whistled at her.

"Lookin' good, Alex!"

"Thanks!"

Tiffany laughed, "C'mon, let's get you to hair and makeup and finish this off."

The hair people curled the bottom half of her hair that wouldn't be under the beanie and then the makeup artists finished her off with a natural look. They complemented her on not needing much makeup and she blushed, giving a small thank you. Just a thin layer of foundation, some lip gloss and a little mascara to make her green eyes pop and she was done.

Now, it was time for her to find her fake boyfriend. She thought catering was her best option since he'd already been in his Ambrose clothes when she'd seen him earlier. When she walked into the large room with a lot of tables and chairs, she got more whistles from some of the guys and just smiled and got a small plate of fruit. She felt eyes on her and when she turned around from the food table, she saw him sitting across the room, looking at her with a look that could only be described as...hungry. She walked over quickly and set her plate down and did a little twirl, grinning widely.

"What do you think, handsome? Something your fake girlfriends would wear?"

He smirked at her, glad she was in a better mood, "Cupcake, you look absolutely delectable."

She truly did. When she walked into the room, he'd had to do a double take just to make sure his eyes weren't playing tricks on him. She was wearing exactly what he'd want his girlfriend to wear. Renée would never dress like this. She preferred trendy clothes and not that much black. She always looked like she should be going to a dinner party or the opening of an art gala and not going on a date with him. Alex, on the other hand, she would fit with him perfectly at any of his favorite places to go: dive bar, burger joint, bowling alley...anywhere. She looked fucking sexy as well. He was glad the makeup people hadn't gone overboard and let her natural beauty shine through. And her hair...hmm, he just wanted to bury his face in it. God, what was wrong with him? He had a girlfriend but all he wanted to do was drag Alex off to his locker room and rip all these clothes off her and hear her scream his name. He had to get himself under control.

She sat down across from him, "Sorry I was a bitch earlier."

"You have nothing to be sorry for. It's me who should be sorry. I was stressed out last night and I took it out on you."

"At least you weren't angry and yelling...just quiet and then ultra-gabby this morning. It's alright. I guess it just got on my nerves a little. I should've said something but I didn't want to be mean, but it ended up coming out anyway."

"Totally understandable. I probably do need to talk to someone about what's going on with Renée, but something tells me that person shouldn't be you."

She smirked and grabbed his hand across the table, "Probably not. But if you absolutely needed to, I'm always here."

He squeezed her proffered hand, "Thanks, cupcake. I appreciate it."

"So, how're we gonna do our promo later? Sticking to the script?"

He chuckled, "Never. We'll wing it. Just keep to the main point and it'll come out better than anything those dumbasses in creative could come up with."

A peal of laughter rang out of her, "I agree. Alright, let me finish this food and we'll go."

They sat for about 10 more minutes, her eating her fruit and sarcastically chastising him whenever he'd steal a piece. Their conversation lapsed into talking about the hotel they had stayed in last night and would stay in again tonight. It was kind of a shithole compared to what they usually stayed in but whatever, it would do for the rest of the night. They started walking outside to where a cab was waiting for them. The plan was for the cab to drive into the arena and they would start their promo from there. They got to the cab and the camera guys were alright waiting for them, ready to go. He laughed, pulling her into the cab and into a hug, chuckling as he kissed the side of her head.

"You ready, sweetheart?"

"Absolutely," she replied.

(On-screen)

The cab pulled up inside the arena and they got out. Alex automatically noticed Renée in the background behind the camera, watching the two of them. She couldn't let that bother her now. She had to give a performance and make it good.

Dean grabbed her hand in his and pulled her into his side, looking around frantically. She knew that he saw Renée but he was in the zone, on full-Ambrose mode.

"I still don't think you should be here, Alex."

She stopped him, pulling him into her embrace, running her hands up his back until they rested in his dishwater blonde curls.

"Baby, if I wasn't here, then that Wyatt douchebag would think I was scared...and I am anything but scared of him. I welcome his attention if only so you and I can show him what a true lunatic is."

His arms came around her, resting on her lower back and pulling her even closer.

"That's my girl. I told you that I'd take care of you. You have nothing to worry about."

"Hmm, that's awesome but if he comes near me, babe, I'll show him why you and I are a perfect match."

He chuckled slowly, leaning in to kiss her softly, "I have no doubts, cupcake, no doubts at all. Let's go show this guy what real crazy is."

He leaned his head against hers until the tech said they were out.

(Off-screen)

They laughed out loud when the cameras cut off, hugging and letting any on-camera stress out. That is, until Renée walked up.

"You guys did great!"

Jon immediately released Alex and walked over to his girlfriend.

"Thanks, honey."

Alex felt the need to reciprocate as well, "Yeah, thanks Renée."

Renée smiled icily at her, "You're welcome. Do you mind if I borrow him for a while? Haven't had alone time with my boyfriend all week."

"Sure, he's all yours. I'll see you later, Jon."

He was torn. A part of him knew he needed to go with his girlfriend, but another larger part didn't want to. At all. The honorable side of him won out in the end.

"Yeah, I'll see you later."

They separated and Alex couldn't help but feel a certain pang at being separated from Jon. It was so weird because earlier she couldn't wait to be away from him and now she didn't want to be away. What the hell?

She went outside for a cigarette and saw a lot of fans standing at the gate. They saw her and yelled out her name, begging her to come over and talk to them. She smiled and said she would as soon as she was done with her nicotine. When she was, she walked over and smiled and signed whatever was needed. She got tons of questions about her and Jon and answered as best she could.

"When did you guys get together?"

"About a year ago."

"Is he really as crazy as he seems?"

"Absolutely."

"Aren't you guys scared of Bray Wyatt?"

"Not as scared as he should be of us."

When she was done, it was almost time for the show to start so she wished the fans farewell and told them to enjoy. She walked back inside until it was time for her spot to come up. The time eventually came around and she was escorted by security to one of the entrance gates that the fans walked down to get to the floor. Not that many fans recognized her, thank god, but she was sure that would change in the upcoming weeks. She made her way down to the floor and quickly hopped the barrier into the time keeper's area where she was warmly greeted by Brandi Runnels.

"How's it going, girl?"

"Great! How are you?"

"Amazing! You just gonna hang out here until it's time?"

"Yeah," she said, grinning at the fans behind Brandi giving her questioning looks, "it's the easiest way."

The current match ended and soon afterwards, Alex heard that familiar low guitar burn throughout the arena. It was time.

(On-screen)

Dean Ambrose thundered out to the ring, working the crowd and himself into a frenzy. He took the mic and wasted no time in getting to his point.

"You guys, I'm gonna be short and sweet tonight. Bray Wyatt, get your ass out here! Now!"

Nothing happened.

"I'm serious. You think you can just do what you did on monday and not have any consequences paid? No way. You are going to pay for what you did to Alex and what you did to me. Unless you're chicken, of course. Unless you're all talk and no actions unless someone's frickin' handcuffed and defenseless. Come on, Bray, you and I gotta talk about this. You want me to follow you into hell and chaos, we gotta chat about why I should leave the warm embrace of the best woman I've ever known and take your demented, ugly hand."

Another five seconds and the lights went out. When they came up a few seconds later, Wyatt stood in the middle of the ring, his hand outstretched to Dean. He didn't have a mic but his voice could be heard clearly.

"Come with me, Dean. I know you think you need her. That she's a safety net. But she is not. She is your true damnation. She will only lead you to suffering and an unjust fate. Take my hand, Dean, let me lead you to your destiny. Let me be your salvation."

Dean smiled and reached his hand out just short of Bray's. With a quick glance to the audience, he laughed maniacally and launched himself at the other man, pounding him with punches and fists in a flurry of activity. He brought the bigger man down and the two proceeded to beat the hell out of each other for a few minutes. Dean started out good but eventually Bray started to get the upper hand. In another minute, Dean was laid out after a sinister Sister Abigail. Bray stared down at his prey and then started to laugh, looking out to the crowd and telling them all that he was the salvation.

Then the lights went out again.

Another wicked laugh went out through the arena, but this time, it belonged to a female. Another few seconds went by and the lights came up, but Wyatt was no longer by himself in the ring. Behind him, Alex stood with a steel chair in hand. Letting out a demented banshee-like scream, she ran at him and proceeded to attack him with chairshot after chairshot. By the time she was done and he was lying boneless on the mat, the chair was broken and she stood over him with wide, almost inhuman eyes and a ridiculous smile on her face. Dean was slowly coming round and she dropped the chair to run over to him and lift him up, supporting him with her arms. He saw Bray and gave a wide, dimpled smile to his girlfriend, bringing his arms around her holding her close. He kissed the top of her head and took her out of the ring, keeping a watchful eye on the Eater of Worlds at all times.

(Off-screen)

"You did great, cupcake!"

Jon picked her up and spun her around, kissing her again on top of the head.

"Really?"

"Yes! You really went to town on him. It was perfect!"

"I didn't hurt him, did I?" she said, turning toward the monitors where Windham was just starting to move around in the ring.

"Nah, babe, he's fine. Believe me, if he was really hurt, you'd know. Your fellow trainers would already be down in the ring, right?"

She smiled, relieved, "Yeah, true."

"Well then, stop worrying and let's go celebrate. C'mon, I know the perfect little place to go here."

His enthusiasm spread into her and she nodded quickly, "Ok, I'll go get my stuff."

They separated and she floated to the trainer's room on a cloud. When she got there, however, it was a quick descent back down to earth. Someone was waiting for her there. Someone by the name of Renée.

"Hi, Renée, can I help you?"

"Yes, you can, Alex. You can start by not being so friendly to my boyfriend."

Alex was taken aback. Sure, she had expected this to come eventually, but still, she was a little startled.

"Renée, I promise I'm not doing anything to harm your relationship."

"Oh really? So you calling him baby and kissing him is not doing any harm?"

"That's just on-camera! It means absolutely nothing."

"Right...it means nothing," the blonde said sarcastically before turning deadly serious, "You're correct, it does mean absolutely nothing and if you think it does, then think again. He'll never leave me especially for you."

Alex had to roll her eyes. This conversation was almost pointless.

"Renée, I'm very aware that he's not going to leave you."

"You're right about that. He hasn't told you our news, has he?"

"Hmm, I don't think so. What news?"

"Oh, just that we're getting married."

Alex was startled, but couldn't help but notice that he hadn't put a ring on it.

"Oh, did he propose? I hadn't heard."

Renee's eyes cut across her, "Well, not officially, no, but we've talked about it several times. Sometime next year after Wrestlemania probably."

"Ohhh, well that's great. Congratulations."

"Yeah, it is great and I'd hate to think that you were trying to ruin our happiness by insinuating yourself in between us."

"I promise, I wouldn't do that. I couldn't wish you guys anymore happiness."

"Well maybe there is something you could for me?"

"Anything I can."

"You could tell Stephanie that you just want to be in a story by yourself and leave Jon completely out of your career."

"Um, I could, but you know Stephanie and creative...they're going to do whatever they want to, regardless of what I want."

"Oh well, just a suggestion. Now, I gotta go see Jon. I'm sure you guys want to leave for the hotel soon."

With that, Renée flounced away out of the room, leaving Alex confused and at a loss for words. They were getting married? Or at least had talked seriously about it? Why were they having so many obvious problems then? And why did Renée feel so threatened by her? Oy, she thought. She was so happy that she was flying home to Atlanta tomorrow. She needed time to herself to relax and think through all this madness. Grabbing her belongings, she walked out to the garage, seeing Jon at the car with none other than Renée by his side. They were talking and Renée's arms were wrapped around his waist with his hands resting on her arms. They looked like a perfectly happy couple. Renee saw her walking up and eased herself away from Jon, smiling brightly at Alex.

"Well, you two have a good night. Jon, you still coming home with me tomorrow?"

"Um, yeah honey, I'll meet you at the airport."

"Great," she said, leaning up to kiss him, "See you tomorrow, baby."

She walked away and Jon turned to Alex, "You ready for the bar, cupcake?"

She eyed him warily and made a quick decision, "Actually, can you just take me to the hotel? I have a really bad headache. If you want to go to the bar, then whatever, I'm just not really feeling up to it."

His eyes immediately showed concern, "No, I don't have to go. You didn't have a headache earlier. You feeling alright otherwise?"

"Yeah, I'm sure I'll be fine once I get some aspirin and some sleep."

He came around and grabbed her bag, throwing it into the rental, before opening the passenger's door for her, "Well, come on, sweetheart. Your chariot awaits."

She got in and couldn't help but stare at him a little on their way back to the hotel. How could he flirt with her so much and be such a gentleman but be getting married? Did he do it on purpose or unknowingly? Whatever it was, she had to find out because one thing was for sure, it couldn't go on.

*********khan*********

Hope you guys enjoyed. Now it is sleepy time. Until later XOXO