Chapter 10
Those kisses Mercedes gave to Colby brought them to talking as they headed back to Mercedes's apartment.
"I had been wanting to do that for so long," Mercedes laughed.
"Me too," Colby replied. "I wanted to do it when we were back at my place."
"I could tell. And I would have loved if you had."
Colby smiled. "Can I kiss you this time?"
"Yes."
Colby leaned in and kissed her passionately. Mercedes happily returned the kiss.
Later that evening, Mercedes and Colby went to her mom's for dinner. Her mom, Judith was so happy to see her. Mercedes was as well. Judith was also happy Colby had been with Mercedes the last few weeks.
"I want to be with her. I want to take care of her. She deserves someone who will."
"I have no doubt you will," Judith replied with a bright smile.
Colby nodded his head.
When the three sat down to eat, Mercedes talked to mom about her appointment earlier that day. Mercedes told her she was also going to keep the baby.
"I don't care how this baby was conceived, Mom," Mercedes admitted. "Listening to the heartbeat and then seeing the baby on the screen, and seeing it now on the ultrasound in my hand…" She held the ultrasound for her mom to look at. "…It is all amazing. You have always told me that children are a blessing from God and I believe it!"
Judith nodded her head. "I support you in that, sweetheart! And yes all children are a blessing from God. I will be here whenever you need. And I will come wherever you are when you need me. And I know you are in good hands with Colby."
"I really am, Mom," Mercedes smiled looking at Colby. Colby smiled back.
So that was that. Mercedes had made her decision about keeping the baby. Plus, she and Colby decided they were going to pursue a relationship.
But with all that, Mercedes was ready to tell the world about why she took a leave of absence from the ring to deal with personal matters. Those matters were her rape and now her pregnancy.
Mercedes had called Mick about what she wanted to do. He understood. He passed the information onto Stephanie and she was all for it.
When Mercedes and Colby returned to work the next day, the two were both brightly smiling. They were both happy because they were going pursue a relationship. Not a friendship relationship, but a dating relationship.
All the women of the Raw locker room were so excited when Mercedes told them about her and Colby. She also told them about her keeping the baby. They were all supportive of her.
Mercedes met up with Stephanie and Mick a little later after she got settled into the locker room. Paul was there as well. Mercedes was happy to see him. She told them about her decision with the baby.
"Hearing the heartbeat and seeing the little tiny thing on the screen of the ultrasound machine and then having the picture right in your hands is so amazing," Mercedes said, smiling brightly.
"It sure is," Stephanie said with her own bright smile. "And it'll be even better once the baby grows. Being pregnant was a great experience. And now…." She said, looking at her husband. "…we have three beautiful daughters."
Paul smiled.
"Yes, Aurora, Murphy and Vaughn are so beautiful," Mercedes said. "As well as Noelle."
Mick nodded his head. "Yes, she is. As will your baby."
Mercedes nodded her head.
"So you want to do an interview with Michael Cole telling the WWE Universe and everyone else about your rape and then about your pregnant, correct?" Stephanie asked.
"Yes," Mercedes said. "I want to tell about it and about being pregnant. Plus, I want to address to women about being in this situation, because so many other women are going through what I am or have."
"You just want to talk about the subject a little too," Mick said.
"Yes. I'm willing to take the risk of getting emotional about it and I need you all to be willing for me to do it. I know that topic is controversial in many places. But please let me do it."
Stephanie looked at both Mick and Paul. Mick was up for it, because he did his work for RAINN.
Paul was for too. He said he would take the risk of getting in trouble by his father-in-law and anyone else for the interview.
"Thank you," Mercedes said. "Thank you."
Mercedes hugged all of them.
Colby was supportive of Mercedes's decision for her interview. He knew it was something she wanted to do and talk about a controversial topic. Other than Colby being supportive of the interview, many others were.
The interview was recorded on Sunday and would be put up on the WWE website on Monday.
"Are you ready, Mercedes?" Mick asked.
"Yes," Mercedes said.
"And go." A cameraman gave the signal and Michael Cole spoke.
"Ladies and gentlemen, I'm Michael Cole and I'm here in an exclusive interview with Sasha Banks."
A camera captured Mercedes, sitting there with a brave face.
"Sasha, it's great to see you."
"Thank you, Michael."
"Now it has been awhile since the WWE Universe and anyone else has seen the Boss."
"That's right," Mercedes said. "I was on a leave absence because I needed to handle some personal matters and I am here to discuss those."
"Go head."
Mercedes nodded her head. "Six weeks ago I was raped!" She started out. "I was out with my friends back in Boston and I met a guy. My friends were ready to leave but I wanted to stay and talk more with this guy. He ended up walking me home. I ended up stumbling. I had been drinking and I guess I was a little wallaby from it as well as my heels.
"However, the guy pushed me into the alley we were near. I found myself on the ground on my back. I tried to fight him but it was no use. He had me down and he was also choking me. He ended up getting what he wanted and then he was done and gone."
Mercedes wiped away some tears.
"So your leave of absence has been about trying to handle this?"
"Yes," Mercedes replied. "I was doing better after a few weeks, because I went to the local rape crisis center in Boston and sought help. But a few weeks ago, I had a setback."
"Can I ask the setback?" Michael asked.
"I found out I was pregnant!"
"I don't know what to say to that one."
"You don't need to, Michael. I want to make one thing clear! I do not cry wolf! I would not make an excuse and cry wolf or more like rape in this context. I in no way wanted to have sex with the guy I had just met. I am not one of those women that does the first time she meets someone.
"And I am a proud woman. I have worked long and hard over the years to get to where I am in the WWE. I would not be away from the ring unless it were a serious injury and something serious. This is something serious. I was raped and I am pregnant!
"People can and will talk badly about me and say I'm liar. But I'm not! I take rape and sexual assault as serious as Mick Foley does. After it happened, I felt so ashamed and blamed myself. Something a lot of survivors of rape and sexual assault say. But it was not my fault. Yes, I had been drinking, but that's an excuse everyone gives, blaming the survivor of that attack.
"And I'm telling all the women who have been raped or sexually assaulted do not be ashamed of yourself and not blame yourself. Yes, you will have so many emotions, but do not feel ashamed or blame yourself. Get the help you need. There are so many resources out there to help you. You can even go to the Rape, Abuse, Incest National Network, R-A-I-N-N, Rainn website to find resources in your area. Raw General Mick Foley works with RAINN and he has been a very supportive person through all this!"
"I find you very brave for talking about your rape to the WWE Universe and the world," Michael said.
"I do too," Mercedes said. "I find myself to be a role model to so many people. And I wanted to be a role model who comes forth and talks about what has kept them away from the thing they are doing that people looked up to them for. And for me that is my rape and also being pregnant. But I want to say this to women who are raped and get pregnant, or who might in the future.
"All you survivors, you will be okay. If you find out you're pregnant, do what you have to do. For me personally, I have decided to keep my baby. So you can add it to me with being away from the ring for a long while longer. But I do not care anymore how my baby was conceived.
"I have a lot of people who are very supportive of me for my decision. My family is one of them, but so many of my friends of the WWE are too. And there's one particular person that said they will be by my side the whole time through this and that want to take care of me.
"I have always been able to depend on myself. But yes, I have had family and friends be there for me. But this pregnancy is a whole other story. I am still upset and trying to deal with my rape. And I will for the rest of my life. But with this pregnancy I want to depend on someone and I want someone to take care of me. And I have someone. I will not say who that person is either. That is no one else's business.
"I just wanted to talk about being raped and being pregnant. Rape and sexual assault are two very controversial topics. And people can say what they want about me and say I cried rape or I am making it up. I would not lie about being raped! And I am not making it up! This is something you do not. And those people that do are idiots, because that gives actual survivors of rape and sexual assault a bad name. They are called liars. But I am not!"
"Is there anything else you wish to say?" Michael asked.
"No, that is all," Mercedes said. "Thank you for having me, Michael."
"Thank you for being here."
Once they were done recording the interview, Michael asked how Mercedes was. She was just fine. She was happy to have done the interview.
Colby was right there waiting for her after. "Are you all right?" He asked.
"Yes," Mercedes replied, hugging him tightly.
"Good," He replied kissing her cheek.
"Now we just wait for the judgment," She said, pulling away from their hug.
"We'll deal with it together," He said, cupping her face.
"I've said it many times and I'm going to be saying it many more times in the next eight months, thank you," Mercedes replied.
"And I'll say you're welcome every time."
Mercedes grinned. Colby did too. He kissed her and then hugged her.