Chapter 10 A Rumor "Speared" and Troubled Dreams

MizTV, Smackdown cont.

As she walked out into the arena, Kelista didn't know what made her more nervous: the Shield, the Wyatts, or the huge crowd in London, England. She had a good view of the arena from the stage:

Awaiting her arrival in the ring was Alison along with the Miz, who looked ecstatic at the spontaneous turn of events.

At ringside, in front of the commentators was the Shield.

On the ramp, and closest to the ring were her aunt and uncle; behind them were Evolution, who were in front of the Wyatt Family.

The Helmsley Princess sighed. Like battle positions... with Alison and I right in the centre.

The Wyatts and Evolution made way for her as she walked passed them. Kelista smiled at them, but was a little creeped out by the look of Brey, Harper and Rowan.

Stephanie gave her a hug as she passed the Authority. "Just be yourself and have fun," she said to ease her niece's fear of public speaking.

"And be careful out here, okay?" Hunter said gently with an encouraging smile.

Triple H tried to calm himself down. Kelista should be fine. Seth and the rest of the Shield would not start a brawl with Kelista out here, especially with the baby.

He looked behind him briefly at the Wyatts, before turning back to the ring. Earlier Triple H had made it crystal clear to Bray that there was to be no brawling especially if his niece was present. Thankfully, they won their match against the Shield last night so they won't be feeling particularly vengeful and try to hurt Seth through Kelista. Well, if they valued their jobs they wouldn't dare.

Kelista returned his smile before heading towards the ring. "Don't worry, Uncle Hunter. "I'm fine." Well her ankle wasn't too sore. Yet.

Kelista sighed sadly as she walked up the steps. All she wanted was to spend time with her uncle and aunt and her little cousins. Last week Hunter and Stephanie had rearranged their schedules to spend time her. This whole GM thing was okay...but since Raw last night, she has hardly seen them!

Kelista steeled herself, remembering where she was, and her responsibilities as GM, as she carefully yet gracefully stepped into the ring. Her father and uncle handle business perfectly...and so should she.

Stephanie put a comforting hand on her husband's arm. "She'll be fine, Hunter," she said as they watched Kelista walk up the steps, thankful that their niece was being careful.

As he watched Kelista enter the ring, Hunter shook his head sadly. Over the years he'd been so busy building his career and travelling, he missed most of his niece's childhood. And finally when he does make time for her, she's no longer a little girl, but now a young woman, married and going to have her own baby. I guess what comes around, goes around," he mused. Part of his busy lifestyle was he and Stephanie secretly tying the knot to get back at her father, Vince McMahon, about a decade ago. And now Kelista went and pulled the same stunt. And right here under Hunter's nose, in the WWE!

"Hi Kels," Alison greeted. She gave her friend a quick hug along with a nervous smile. "Awesome to be out here, right?" she asked.

Kelista playfully shot her a look. "Under different circumstances, maybe," the GM replied, chuckling, before turning to the Miz.

Miz bowed, handing her a microphone before gesturing theatrically at his chairs. Kelista smiled shyly at the crowd before taking a seat along with Alison.

"Hello," She said politely to the Miz, a little too embarrassed to use the microphone he handed her.

"Well don't you feel spoilt tonight!" Miz said excitedly to the crowd, still standing. "We were only scheduled to have Reigns, Ambrose and Rollins here on MizTV..."

The Shield fought the urge to roll their eyes, while Hunter sighed impatiently. He wished the fool would get on with the show already so Kelista did not have to be here any longer than she has to.

"But not only do I have the Shield," the Miz said in a mystifying whisper. "But also Evolution, the Wyatt Family and Seth Rollins' wife, who interestingly also happens to be the NIECE of his ADVERSARY Triple H!" He yelled out this time. "Here's Raw's new GM, Kelista Helmsley-Rollins!"

"Well actually-" Kelista began.

But the Miz was too fired up, with so many very special guests, and especially the 'family drama' of Triple H, Seth and Kelista...or so he and everyone (except the Shield, Kelista and Alison of course) thought.

"Soooooo Mrs Rollins!" The Miz drawled on. "Well I'm sure you didn't expect this stipulation to backfire...in your husband's face!" he stated, pointing dramatically at Seth Rollins.

Kelista just stared at him. Huge ego. Bigger than Uncle Hunter's even.

"Or maybe..." The Miz continued. "Youuuuuuu're still on your uncle's side!" the Miz proclaimed, pointing dramatically at Triple H.

Kelista sighed. She wanted to correct the Miz, but so far, he just couldn't stop talking, and she was too polite to interrupt. Besides, she found him quite entertaining; she giggled.

Dean Ambrose grabbed a mic. "Shut your mouth, you run that thing way too much,"

Alison smiled. "Get ready for a real show," she said to her friend.

Kelista shook her head chuckling. She knew Alison always liked Dean Ambrose (he was her favourite wrestler) but maybe seeing him in person had sky-rocketed her crush on him.

"This whole pink ribbons braid thing is stupid," Dean said. "Like you, Miz."

The crowd cheered in response as Miz narrowed his eyes at him. Not that anyone could see them through his huge shades.

"Besides the general manger herself, Kelista, did not make the match stipulation so it's null and void," Dean continued as he grinned at Alison, who told him and Roman yesterday that there was loophole in the stipulation. Unfortunately, Alison didn't have time to tell them exactly what it was when she realised Kelista wasn't following her to the limo after Raw last night (as Kelista was at the medics with a sprained ankle) and immediately went back to find her. But Dean was sure this was the loophole.

Alison however, shook her head sadly at him.

"Well even if the GM did not make it, however she did authorize it." the Miz said, as Dean stepped onto the ring apron.

Kelista was about to open her mouth and deny it when her uncle also stepped up onto the ring apron, followed by Evolution.

"Stand down," Triple H said quietly to Randy and Batista, before turning back to the ring.

Seth and Roman were also on the apron, but when Batista and Randy stepped down so did they.

"Kelista may have not personally authorized it publicly but she did not do anything to stop it before the match or even during the match, once it was announced," Triple H explained, smiling at his niece gently. To everyone else, it was a triumphant smile. Not only did the Shield lose a match, but Evolution gets to gloat about their humiliating stipulation.

However, Hunter empathized with her. She made a mistake, and it blew up in her face with her husband losing. He was trying to tell her that it was okay, and that she'll do better next time.

Kelista looked down at her hands. She knew she screwed up. At least her uncle didn't have anything to do with the match and take the blame for its juvenile stipulation instead of her or have to face the consequences of losing it.

Triple H rearranged his features to all business-like as he turned again to face Dean Ambrose. "So the match stipulation is very much official."

"Did. You. Hear. That?" Miz said slowly and dramatically, going over to the ropes to look at Seth. "The match stipulation made by your wife, of pink little braids,to humiliate you is OFFICIAL! What do you think about that, Rollins?"

Miz mistook Seth's expression of irritation. Miz thought it was because of the stipulation. The Architect however, was just annoyed at the sound of Miz's voice.

"Let's go," Brey said to Harper and Rowan. He was getting very bored with this soap opera; he needed some action. With all the attention on Seth, they sidestepped Evolution and ran around the ring towards the Shield and started brawling. Brey went after Roman, as Harper went after Seth and Rowan after Dean. Triple H told Randy and Batista to stay out of it for now. But pretty soon they had to get involved as the Wyatts got the brawl around the ring, since the Shield tried to keep it from going into the ring where Alison and Kelista were.

The Miz was grinning from ear to ear. It doesn't get any better than this: all three of WWE's most powerful factions out here going at it. On his show. The ratings are going to sky-rocket that's for sure!

Alison was in awe of seeing a Shield brawl this close. And Dean was in control as he took out Luke Harper. She wanted to cheer loudly for him, but did not think it proper at the moment.

Kelista just stared in shock at the pandemonium. She looked up at the crowd who were cheering loudly. She shrugged; after all, it was a show, and these guys are wrestlers. Since her uncle really wasn't really in the fight, she wondered briefly if it was bias of her as GM if she wanted Seth and the rest of the Shield to win the brawl... she just hoped Seth will be okay.

Stephanie meanwhile had called for security and hurried to the ring. "Let's go, Kels, Ali," she said urgently. "And stay behind Hunter, Randy and Batista,"

Following her aunt, Kelista made her way down the steps followed by Alison.

Roman aimed to spear Randy, who quickly dodged it on a reflex.

"Kelista!" Alison screamed as Stephanie spun around in shock.

Kelista was behind the Viper and when Randy moved, she got hit instead and passed out.

"ENOUGH!" Hunter roared. The Shield had already stopped brawling and Evolution managed to hold back Luke Harper and Erick Rowan. Bray Wyatt's mouth just made an exaggerated "O."

Hunter and Seth rushed to Kelista's side and Stephanie checked up on her.

"Kels, sweetheart," Hunter said, touched her arm gently. He wasn't sure if picking her up to carry her could hurt her further.

Roman stood frozen in shock and self-disgust. He had never hurt a woman before.

Miz, still in the middle of the ring, initially excited but was now looking at the scene as if it was a funeral. "Ladies and gentleman," he began in a dramatic stage whisper, "What a tragic event...the baby and maybe the loss of brotherhood between Roman and Seth. What an awfu - hey!"

Miz hardly finished his sentence as the next moment he was put in a headlock and connected with the floor since Dean wasted no knocking him out with DirtyDeeds.

Stephanie had a medical team out in no time and Kelista was carefully lifted onto a stretcher.

"She'll be fine, Steph," Triple H said quietly. With Kelista being taken of, Stephanie had finally burst into tears as Hunter held her.

Stephanie shook her head. With an impact like that at such an early stage of pregnancy...

Alison held Kelista hand. "Kels you're going to be okay now," she said gently.

Kelista's eyes opened slowly with a smile. "My ankle..." she said softly, before slipping back to unconsciousness. It twisted before she fell and it hurt like hell.

Alison shook her head, half-relieved; half irritated. Only Kelista could want to laugh at a time like this!

XXX

Backstage, Medics room

"What are we going to do?" Stephanie cried. "How are we to tell her? How are we going to tell your brother?"

Hunter and Stephanie were at Kelista's side after a medic saw to her. She was fine except...there was no longer a baby. (Well obviously, but anyway.) They hardly noticed Alison checking Kelista's ankle and placing an ice pack on it.

Seth was also at Kelista's side as he and the Shield had accompanied them to the medics room too. Roman was still distraught; he stared at Kelista hoping she was okay. Dean somehow knew Kelista was okay so he was silently enjoying his nemesis' pain.

Triple H just held Stephanie in his arms unable to respond. Hunter tried to blame Reigns, but he knew Roman was aiming for Randy, that coward jumped out of the way, and Kelista appeared out of nowhere. Then he tried to blame Rollins for not protecting his wife like he's supposed to, but then, Hunter himself was there when it happened – and he too, did not protect his niece.

Triple H shut his eyes. He had no one to blame but himself – for allowing her to come to the WWE in the first place. "I have to call Michael. He has to know." He said as they walked to their office.

XXX

Kelista woke up not too long after her aunt and uncle left. "Uh...hi," she said a little stunned at seeing Shield. At least her ankle felt better. There was already an ice pack on it, no doubt courtesy of Alison. Kelista smiled at her.

Roman stepped closer to Kelista, and to Dean and Alison's surprise, he apologised to both Kelista and Seth.

Well Seth did take off with Roman earlier for not being careful around her.

Kelista smiled. "Aw no, you didn't hurt me at all,"

Roman blinked. Well...he had slowed down, caught Kelista and they misbalanced. "Oh, okay," he said smiling, looking very much relieved.

Kelista nodded. She didn't get hurt from the 'spear.' "I guess I passed out because of the pain in my ankle."

"Clearly someone had not followed doc's orders and taken it easy today." Seth said, his tone light, but his Shield brothers could tell he was annoyed with her.

"She's okay, Seth," Dean said, putting a comforting hand on the Architect's shoulder.

"Hmm," Seth said, still looking at her.

Kelista looked away, feeling slightly uncomfortable. It was way too obvious he cared so much about her. And maybe she cared about him. She shook her head. That was ridiculous. They just met yesterday, and Seth works for her uncle and maybe for her too.

"Well at least nobody will assume you're pregnant anymore," Alison chuckled, bringing her out of her thoughts. "Because you would have 'lost' the 'baby' after the accident."

Kelista rolled her eyes. "Well, the truth about these rumors would've have sufficed."

Alison grinned sheepishly and Kelista gave her a hug, before turning back to the Shield.

"Now about your braids stipulation loophole..."

XXX

"I'm going to make an appointment for Seth and Kels with Jake and Stacey," Stephanie said to Hunter, when they reached their office. Jake and Stacey Powell were the Helmsleys' marriage counselors.

Hunter nodded. "Yeah, that would be a good idea," he said as he took out his cell phone to call his brother.

Stephanie figured that Seth and Kelista were probably fighting so that's why Kelista came up with that ridiculous stipulation of hair braids: it was probably just to get back at Seth. She sighed; at least Seth cared about her niece.

"I keep getting his voice-mail," Hunter said shaking his head.

Michael, however, had watched Smackdown even though it was just a taping and wasn't meant to be shown on TV until Friday. He was already on his way to see to his daughter and Seth.

And he was beyond fury.

XXX

Kelista was 'ordered' by her aunt and uncle, as well as the doctor (and sort of by Seth) to get plenty of rest. And since she wasn't GM anymore (or at least for the time being), Hunter and Stephanie were very busy with the plans for Raw, thinking (and hoping) Seth would be more of a comfort to her. Considering Kelista wasn't really close to her aunt and uncle anyway.

The GM sighed as she got onto the Helmsley family jet as the WWE was going back to the States. She was exhausted, not only from travelling and work, but also of these rumors that her own uncle and aunt believe.

Kelista barely heard the air hostess as she was helped strapped in for takeoff and soon fell asleep. Suddenly she was jerked awake. Just turbulence, she thought. Kelista kept her eyes closed and leaned back against her seat.

But the jet was losing altitude and soon crashed into the middle of a forest.

Kelista opened her eyes to see a canopy of green, large trees around her and the plane was nowhere to be seen. Cautiously she rose to her feet; the forest was asleep save for an eerie whisper of wind through tangled branches. Kelista bit back a child-like giggle, the forest was snoring. Slowly she moved through the trees, she felt she recognised the forest although she could not say how, and she knew the path though not where it led. Suddenly iron gates of an old mansion arose before her. She would have been scared except this was not a dark or scary mansion; it was in fact, quite beautiful. Slipping through the small opening in the gate, she wondered through the garden.

Soft tendrils of mist from the water fountains twisted through delicate flowers in the well manicured gardens. Sounds of children playing and a mother's laughter echoed around her as she approached the house. She hesitated a short distance from the house, the great oak doors seemed to welcome her, an unrecognisable family crest on the large brass handle called to her to open it, but still she stayed. There was something lurking in the shadows, something that didn't belong to the house. The door suddenly opened and a young brunet boy of about ten years old stepped out.

"Kels!" He said excitedly as he walked down the steps. "I've missed you!"

Kelista hardly opened her mouth to speak when she saw a dark force charging towards him. The little boy turned, but this time Kelista barely caught a glimpse of a young man's back, who had blonde and brunet hair on either of his shoulders. The dark force became fire and closed in around them.

"SETH!" Kelista shouted.

"Kelista!" Stephanie said in alarm.

XXX

Kelista's eyes flew opened, to the worried faces of her aunt and uncle. Inside the jet.

Stephanie gave her glass of water. "It was just a nightmare, sweetheart," she said gently, stroking Kelista's hair to comfort her.

On another flight, the WWE wrestlers, including the Shield, rested. Had Seth been paying attention, Dean and Roman would forever be reminded that the Lunatic Fringe's head had become Roman's pillow and the Powerhouse's arm had become Dean's teddy bear. However, Seth was lost in his thoughts as he pondered about the Hemsley mansion in his hometown in Iowa, where Kelista's mother was killed.

The same mansion Kelista had just dreamt about.

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