"Is there any way I could have talked you into singing, if these three hadn't been here?" John asks.
"I don't know." Celeste responds with a shrug.
John slips his arm around her shoulders. "I'm just getting a tad concerned. First, they talk you into eating sushi, now this." He smirks at Seth. "Don't let Seth talk you into any thing else."
Celeste rolls her eyes at the joke. Even though Seth finds himself feeling offended by the comment, he says no more about it. "Well, let's see what she does at WrestleMania." he quips.
Celeste is taken aback. "What am I doing at Mania?"
John laughs. "I'm sure you'll figure out something. You were feisty at Elimination Chamber when you grabbed my leg to keep me from dropping the five knuckle shuffle on Dean. I know you'll make your presence known to Randy, Sheamus and Big Show."
During WrestleMania week, John travels to make talk show appearances to promote the event. Celeste stays with the Shield in East Rutherford attending many of the fan access events.
When Celeste, Seth, Roman and Dean walk out onto a balcony to greet a mob of fans waiting below they are met with a chant of, "KISS! KISS! KISS!" Celeste blushes.
"You know they're not talking to me and Roman." Dean insists.
Seth looks down at Celeste. "What do you say?" he asks. "Give the fans what they want?"
"Sure." she replies with a shrug. They slips their arms around each other and press their lips together. After a moment, Celeste roughly pulls away. Seth glances at her confused. The four wave to the fans then head back inside.
"Are you okay?" Seth inquires. "Did I do something wrong?"
"Oh no. Sorry I didn't mean to make you feel that way." Celeste apologizes. "I just…miss John. Guess I didn't realize how lonely my lips were."
On another day they are doing tons of interviews. "So how is it having a woman in the Shield?" the reporter inquires.
"Celeste is cool." Roman responds. "She's a great cheerleader and helper when we need her."
Celeste just smiles.
"There's no problem with her being Seth's girlfriend? No conflict among you guys?" the reporter wonders.
"You know what they say?" Dean says. "Bros before…"
"DON'T' YOU DARE!" Celeste snaps.
"WHOA!" Seth puts his arm around her. "Easy Sparky. There are no issues. Celeste is my woman, but these two are my boys. We all got each other's backs."
"Celeste is like our sister." Roman states. "Our tiny, big sister." Referring to the age difference.
"Celeste how do you feel about Roman and Dean?" the reporter asks.
"They are my giant, kid brothers." She pauses then adds, "With Dean being the very annoying brother."
"Wow!" John exclaims at the sight of Celeste in her silver Hall of
Fame dress. "You look amazing!" He pulls her into a long kiss. "I've missed you."
"I've missed you too." she says.
"I get the gold tomorrow night and the silver tonight." John states. Celeste raises an eyebrow at him. "I did not mean that."
"Good. Though, I'm not sure how much time we will be spending together since I have to sit with Seth and you'll be sitting with Mrs. Skaaland." she explains.
"Maybe you guys can come with us in the limo after the show." he suggests.
"Sounds good." she replies. "I'm really looking forward to seeing Trish inducted. It'd be amazing to have a career as big as hers."
John hugs her. "You have a great career and will continue to have one."
"I just thought I would tell you guys that, in September I will be delivering a little Stratusfaction." Trish Stratus reveals her pregnancy during her induction speech.
Everyone cheers. Seth sees a far away look in Celeste's eyes. "What's wrong?"
"Oh nothing." she says. "I was just thinking that Trish is expecting her first child at 37. I'm trying to make my biological clock stop screaming at me."
Seth smiles. "You got plenty of time, Sparky."
Celeste looks at him amused. "Is that my official nickname now?"
"Yeah. I think it fits your personality. And of course your hair color."
She smiles. "I like it."
John walks Celeste back to her room after the ceremony. "I hate that I won't be with you next weekend."
Celeste frowns. "At least I'll be home in Knoxville for a bit." she states solemnly.
During the match, Sheamus gets Seth hung up over the ropes and pulls Seth's shirt over his head. Before he can start clubbing Seth's chest, Celeste jumps on the apron and throws herself across Seth. This causes Sheamus to back away. "Get down Celeste!" the ref orders. She pulls Seth's shirt back down as they both drop to the mat below. "Are you okay?" she asks.
He whispers, "Yeah, good job."
Two nights later John attends Smackdown to spend time with Celeste. As everyone is preparing to leave for the evening John decides to talk to Seth. "Hey man, can I talk to you alone?" he asks.
"Uh oh." Dean teases. "I promise he's been nothing but a gentleman toward Celeste. Don't hurt him."
Seth rolls his eyes as John chuckles. "It's nothing like that." John insists.
"I'll be there in a few minutes." Seth tells Dean and Roman. After they leave he asks, "What's up?"
John takes a deep breath. "Saturday is gonna be a rough day for Celeste. It's her mom's birthday."
"Oh man." Seth sighs. "Anything special she wants to do?"
"Well first off, make sure she gets a coffee and glazed, cream filled donut from Krispy Krème."
Seth laughs, "Okay."
John smiles, "It was her mom's favorite and a tradition they had." His face turns somber. "Also, since you're gonna be in Knoxville she'll want to go to the waterfall where we put her mom's ashes. That won't bother you will it?"
Seth looks confused. "Going to the waterfall? Why would it?"
John shrugs. "Some people are uncomfortable with going to someone's final resting place."
"No. It's fine. Especially if it's what Celeste needs to do." Seth answers.
"Thanks. I hate that I won't be able to be with her, but I'm glad she can depend on you." John says.
Seth informs Roman and Dean of the importance of Saturday. Mainly so Dean won't be a smart Alec toward Celeste.
The guys had invited her to the gym with them, but she decided on just doing some yoga in her Nashville hotel room.
John calls her on the phone, "Good morning Darlin."
"Good morning." she replies faintly.
"I really hate that I'm not with you." he explains. "But I've made sure you'll be taken care of."
At that moment there is a knock on the door. Celeste opens the door to see Seth. "Special delivery!" he says as he holds up a small coffee and bag from Krispy Kreme.
She chuckles. "Thank you." she says to John. Then looks Seth in the eyes." Both of you."
"You're welcome." both men say in tandem, causing her to chuckle again.
"I love you." Johns says. "Now go before your coffee gets cold."
"I love you too. Bye."
Seth has entered the room and set the food on the table. "John told me Tuesday night. You didn't say anything last night, were you going to mention it?"
Celeste shrugs. "I'm sure I would have at some point. I really do wanna stop at the waterfall when we get into Knoxville."
Seth nods. "I already told Dean and Roman. They're cool with it."
Celeste carefully drives down the road that leads to the waterfall. She pulls over and parks. As she starts to exit the car Seth asks, "It's okay if I go with you right? I don't think John wanted you to be alone."
She smiles faintly. "Yeah, that's fine." She looks at Roman and Dean in the back seat. 'You can come too if you want."
Dean's eyes grow wide, but he bites his tongue.
Roman shakes his head at his friend's reaction. "No, that's okay. You two go on, we'll wait." he says.
Celeste and Seth exit the car. They walk silently a little ways until Celeste finally stops near a big tree. "This was the spot." she says. "I could have picked any spot. It's so beautiful here."
Seth looks around. "Yeah, it really is. How'd you find it?"
"There's a hiking trial a little ways back. I just stumbled across it." She pauses. "It was actually just a week before she passed."
Celeste is shaken awake. Her eyes fly open, and she sees her mother standing at the end of her bed smiling. Celeste wonders why she is without her trach and has her hair fixed. Suddenly her mother disappears, still smiling. She hears John in the other room. "We'll get there as soon as we can." he says with a sigh.
Celeste enters the living room as John is laying his phone down. He turns and sees her. "Darlin…" He moves toward her. "Let's sit down."
"Just say it." she whispers.
He takes her face in his hands. "She's gone." he says softly.
Celeste slowly begins to shake. She lets out a wail as her knees give out. John lifts her in his arms and carries her to the couch. He holds her tight as they both cry. "You're gonna okay. I've got you."
Seth rubs his eyes trying to hide the fact that tears started to form while listening to Celeste's story.
"John once asked her if she wanted her ashes put in the waterfall in his house." Celeste states. "I thought the joke was pretty crass, but she actually laughed. She said, 'No. It had to be a waterfall near home.'"
Seth laughs. "Did you just say that John has a waterfall in his house?"
"Yep." she responds. "I feel like I'm in a resort rather than a home. That's why I'm looking into houses here and hoping he'll like one."
"Surely he can part with some extravagance if it'll make you happy."
It's Monday, John and Celeste are on the bus preparing for Raw.
"I haven't gotten used to us being apart so much." John says. "I can't believe the Shield aren't going on this U.K. tour."
"Oh well. It's not they, I should say we aren't getting enough love here in the states." Celeste comments.
"Get over here. I'll give you some love." he remarks.
Celeste smiles and wraps her arms around him. They share a warm kiss. "I'm gonna go shower." she says.
"Okay. I'm gonna head inside the arena."
Celeste takes off the lid to her sugar scrub. She looks in, surprised to see a large hand print. She laughs. "Cena, if you wanna use my scrub you should ask first."
She rubs the substance over her arms and then begins to apply some to her chest. She is stunned when she discovers an almond sized lump in her left breast.
A/N: I wanted to get this chapter out before I went on my trip. Not sure when I will get to start on the next chapter. Please don't hate me too much for the cliffhanger. Reviews appreciated. Thanks for reading.