Disclaimer: I am not affiliated with WWE nor own the rights to any of the superstars or workers, including CM Punk. I am making no money off of this in any way. Please don't sue me.
Author's Note: Sorry this has taken so long. I wish I had a better explanation as to why. Thank you to everyone who has been sticking with this!
Two ribs. That's how many Kayley broken when she performed that moonsault. However, Vince had been right and the cash-register in his head was right too. The match was still talked about. AJ Lee left quickly after that and Kayley hadn't seen her since. She and Punk were married just a few months later. Kayley, however, kept working. Being a fighting champion, she wrestled with those broken ribs, only taking a few days off. As she sat in Steph's office, she memories of the pain caused her ribs to hurt all over again.
"You remember that wrestlemania match, Vince." Kayley pleaded. "I put everything out there."
"And it has been the best match of your career. You could very well end up in the hall of fame one day thanks to that match." He seemed more than pleased with himself. Of course the success of one meant it should be repeated.
"I'm not ready to work with Phil again." Vince sighed and rolled his eyes.
"It's been two years, Kayley. You can do it."
"Why don't you see how the fans respond to him?" Kayley suggested as a last plea. Vince narrowed his eyes, but she could tell he was thinking. "They might love him. The last thing you would want to do is put him in a situation where he could be seen as a heel."
"Oh, but that's the beauty of it." Vince's eyes were wide with excitement. "He'll come back with guilt and apologizing to you, trying to win over your forgiveness."
"Phil won't go for it." Kayley answered quickly, knowing that was bullshit, he would do it just to get to work with her.
"How about we make a deal?" Vince asked. He didn't want to lose Kayley as a star, she would easily be able to move to TNA and take some of the Diva fan-base with her. "Nothing set yet. We don't implement it, but you let the writers hammer something out? We'll see how it goes after he's back." Kayley knew she didn't really have a choice so she nodded. "Good. Now, don't you have a match tonight?" Kayley looked at the clock.
"Yes, sir." She answered.
"Well, go on then." He called with a smile. Steph threw her a sympathetic look before Kayley left the office.
"You sure about this?" Rami asked. Nicole looked at the steel door that led into the arena before nodding and grabbing his outstretched hand. Rami was officially to be backstage at RAW and Smackdown from then on, getting to know the main roster, and start practicing with a few guys he would target in the rumble. After Christmas, Nicole wondered why they had been keeping their relationship a secret. She felt almost idiotic for it. Rami was amazing. He cared about her, made her laugh, calmed her anxiety and her fears. As the door closed behind them and a wave of warmth washed over them the person coming around the corner stopped Nicole in her tracks. Brie Bella. The two were quite close before everything happened with John. However, as wrong as Brie thought Nikki and John had been, she was still the bitch's twin. She wasn't about to pick Nicole over her sister and the announcer didn't expect her to.
"Want to drop hands?" Rami whispered and in response Nicole tightened her grip and shook her head.
"Hey Brie." Nicole's voice was strained, but she smile.
"Hey Nicole." Brie's eyes glanced down to the couple's entwined hands. "How are you?"
"Doing really good. How are you? How's Brian?" Brie's husband, Brian Danielson, known to the WWE as Daniel Bryan, was about to find out if he could ever wrestle again.
"We're good. Taking it a day at a time. He'll know something sometime after the rumble."
"We're hoping for the best." Nicole added. "Do you know Sami Zayn?"
"I do, but only by name." Brie held out her hand, which Rami took with a bright smile on his face.
"Nice to meet you, Brie."
"You too." She said back. "Soo.. are you two..." She didn't complete the sentence.
"Yeah." Nicole answered quickly. "We are."
"Wow, I didn't know that."
"Yeah. We've been keeping it quiet, but we've been together for a while." Brie smiled, a genuine smile as she started pulling on her coat.
"Not performing tonight?" Rami asked.
"I just forgot one of my outfits in the car, but I am not sure. I think they're going to focus on Charlotte and Becky for the big one. I really am happy for you guys."
"Thank you." Nicole answered, as she moved closer to Rami. "We are too."
"Definitely." He agreed. Brie nodded.
"I'll see you guys in a few?" She asked.
"Yeah." Nicole and Rami moved out of the way and the wave of cold from the winter chill got to both of them.
"Florida is so much warmer." Rami commented as they continued to walk, hand-in-hand.
"You should try Cali." Nicole suggested. "All the warmth, none of the humidity." Rami stopped and pulled Nicole close, placing a soft kiss on her lips. Nicole pulled away, her eyes slightly closed and a serene smile on her face.
"What was that for?"
"Because I wanted to." He answered with a smile. "You just make me smile."
"You ready, girl?" Naomi asked as she playfully punched Kayley on the arm.
"Definitely."
"Long match?" Chris Jericho asked, standing next to Kayley.
"Are you ever away from her?" Naomi asked playfully.
"Nope." Jericho answered with a grin.
"To answer the initial question, it's not suppose to be a long one." Kayley insisted. "Although, I was wondering if you wouldn't mind something a little different for the finisher?"
"What did you have in mind?" Kayley whispered something in Naomi's ear and the former funkadactly laughed. "Okay, just give me a heads up when it's time." Naomi's music hit and the diva went through the curtain.
"What are you doing now?" Chris asked and Kayley quickly sent a text to Jeff.
"Are you watching?" The text asked.
"Hold my phone for safe keeping?" Kayley asked and Chris took the phone, placing it in his pocket. She gave him a wink as her music hit.
"From Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania... Alexis!" Nicole's voice echoed throughout the arena. As Alexis stepped into the ring, Naomi was on her. She grabbed Alexis' hair and threw her hard into the turn-buckle. As she pushed Alexis against the ropes the ref quickly started a count. He got to four before Naomi backed off. After a few seconds Alexis was back into the center of the ring. As she through Naomi into the ropes the Diva's connected in a double clothesline, laying both of them out. They both stumbled to their feet and Naomi went for a punch. Alexis ducked under her and as Naomi turned around Alexis executed a kick which sent Naomi to the mat and she went for a quick cover.
"1...2..." Naomi kicked out. Alexis picked Naomi up by the hair before throwing an elbow, which caught her in the face, sending her into the corner. Alexis climbed to the second turn-buckle hitting another elbow before Trinity grabbed Alexis' legs and executed a power bomb before going for a cover.
"1...2..." Alexis kicked out as the fans cheered. They had moved toward the edge of the ring as Naomi picked Alexis up and kicked her in the stomach before lining up for a DDT, but Alexis grabbed the ropes and Naomi hit the mat hard under her own momentum. Alexis pulled Naomi into the center of the ring and pulled her up by the neck.
"Here we go Trin. Trust me, just tuck your neck." Kayley whispered.
Alexis turned her around and pulled her down, making Naomi lean far back. As Alexis put her hand in the air the fans all stood up. Alexis shouted in the air as she turned around jumping and pulling Naomi down with her and went for the cover.
"1...2...3!" The bell rung and Alexis went to the turn-buckle, smiling as the chant echoed throughout the arena.
"HARDY! HARDY! HARDY!" Alexis made her way up the ramp, slapping a few fans hands as she went through the curtain.
Chris was laughing.
"Twist of fate?" He asked and Kayley nodded. "Why did you do that?"
"I was texting with Jeff around Christmas." She begun to explain. "He seemed down and I thought it would give him a kick." Her phone began ringing in his pocket and he pulled it out.
"Speak of the devil." He handed her the phone that was flashing 'Jeff.' Kayley waved as Jericho began getting ready for his match and she answered her phone.
"What did you think?" She asked and she was met with his laugh.
"You made it look good." His southern drawl made her smile.
"I'm just the student, you're the teacher." Jeff was quiet. "What has been going on, Jeff?" He sighed.
"Beth's getting bad again. I know she's using. It's hard to be around, especially now that I'm home all the time."
"Jeff..."
"Yeah?"
"You realize you just implied you'd rather be on the road then at home with your wife?"
"Yeah. I know you're dying to say 'I told you so.'"
"I really don't want to, Jeff. I mean, I can't stand Beth, but I want you alright, babe."
"I miss being around you. Nicole too. How's she doing?"
"Good. She's happy."
"New guy?"
"Yeah, he's a good one."
"You know... I just got a call today. I'm officially a free agent. I can sign with whoever I want." Kayley smiled.
The 'Total Divas' music played as Rami and Nicole cuddled on their hotel room bed.
"Don't you get enough of this at work?" He asked as he watched the Divas argue over something.
"I like watching it for Nattie." Nicole answered. "They've been asking Kayley to do it, but she keeps turning them down."
"Can't say I blame her." Rami muttered and Nicole playfully slapped him. Her phone started ringing and she pulled it off the nightstand. The number wasn't saved in her phone, but she recognized it anyway. "Everything okay?"
"It's John." She could feel Rami tense beside her, but he shook it off quickly.
"You should answer it."
"Really?"
"See what he wants." Nicole bit her lip before answering the phone.
"Hello?"
"Hey, Nicole." His voice used to make her smile, but now her stomach slightly turned.
"Hi John." She answered.
"How have you been?"
"I'm alright..." Nicole answered. "What can I do for you?" Nicole was tired of the small talk. She sat up in bed and Rami immediately started rubbing her shoulders.
"Uh, well, Brie told me you have been seeing Sami Zayn."
"Yeah." Nicole's body tensed more and she felt a small spike of anger. "For about five months now, why?"
"I just wanted to say I'm really glad for you." Nicole was quiet. "I'm sorry about what happened."
"What happened wasn't like you." Nicole commented.
"I know. I've been meaning to call for a while."
"You should have called before now." Nicole couldn't help but be angry. "I should go."
"Yeah, I understand. Glad to hear you're doing well, Nicole."
"Good-bye, John." As she hung up she let out a long ragged breath.
"You alright?" Rami asked, wrapping his arms tightly around her.
"Yeah." Nicole turned to look at her boyfriend. "Why did you say I should answer?"
"You and John have history." he started. "You guys have to work together. You'll need to talk at points."
"Thank you for being so sweet." As the words left her mouth, Rami blushed.
"No one's ever called me sweet before."
"I think you're lying." He laughed and kissed her deeply. As his hand traveled to her side and connected with her bare skin she let out a small gasp. Putting the phone on the nightstand she turned and kissed him again.
