A/N: I know it's been a bit since I updated and I apologise. Work has been crazy busy leaving me tired, emotional and just wanting to netflix and relax - no chilling! :P Thank you all for the reviews and please enjoy this chapter!
Chapter Twenty: Wrestlemania Part 1
Matilda pulled her phone out as she walked off stage and read Jon's reply.
I didn't know you had arrived. You didn't message me.
She let out a sigh and headed back to the car with Saraya. Victoria was doing a photo meet and greet and Rebecca was meeting up with Rami for dinner.
"I take it things aren't all roses with Jon?" asked Saraya.
Matilda shrugged, "He doesn't get my responsibilities at home, Raya… I have a farm to run as well. My brother can't do much still and I won't have Carl cutting costs – especially with crops needing to be planted."
Saraya wrapped an arm around Matilda, seeing the stress on her face. Matilda leaned her head on Saraya's shoulder as the car drove towards the hotel.
"Talk to him, Mattie. If he loves you, he will listen and understand."
Matilda closed the hotel room door behind her and pulled her jacket off as she walked towards the bedroom. She walked in to find Jon sitting on the bed, one hand playing with the hem of the shirt she had left there after changing. Jon looked up at her but his facial expression didn't change.
"Hi," said Matilda, tossing her jacket onto her suitcase as she stepped out of her boots.
"Hey."
Matilda bit her bottom lip before turning and leaving the room. Jon followed her quickly and stopped Matilda from disappearing into the bathroom by grabbing her by the arm.
"No. We need to talk," stated Jon firmly.
Matilda turned and looked at Jon, "Every time I have seen you in the last five weeks we have talked but you won't listen or even try to understand where I am coming from!"
"Because I see how exhausted you look! The dark circles, the stiff set of your shoulders and how when you sleep you toss and turn and mumble numbers!"
Matilda bit her lower lip before all her stress and worries blurted out, "Because the farm is in trouble Jon! Financially, it's not turning a profit. The crops were shit and weren't worth much and livestock value… it's just been a shit season and with Charlie's medical bills… this job pays for my farm to stay alive. It has to stay alive."
"Your health both physically and mentally matters to me more, Mattie! I love you and I hate seeing how exhausted you are. I barely see you smile and laugh in your carefree manner any more."
Matilda felt the lump form in her throat and blinked back tears as her hands shakily tucked her hair behind both ears. Jon stepped forward and pulled Matilda towards him, cupping her face in his hands.
"Babe… let me help you."
Matilda smiled weakly at Jon, placing her hands over his, "I'm torn… I'm torn between something I love and something that was handed to me to carry on."
"How much is the farm not turning a profit by?"
Matilda moved from Jon's hold and headed into the bedroom. Jon followed and saw her picking up her suitcase and unzipping it to pull her laptop out. He sat on the bed next to Matilda as she turned the laptop on, biting at the bottom of her lip.
Once it was on she typed her password in then flicked through folders until she found the one she needed and opened it up.
"This is a live document – so Carl can edit in recent financial news for me and then I can send him a message if I need to. It keeps me in the loop basically… so the recent report shows we aren't turning a profit by nearly ten grand," Matilda sighed, "My contract isn't worth as much as people like to think. I mean I'm only new and they may not even sign me on again yet… my only bright light is the Wrestlemania bonus. This match against Colby is worth a pretty penny… hopefully it can ease the mounting debt."
Jon looked at the screen, "I know it's not an option you want to look at… what about cutting back on farm hands."
Matilda grimaced and looked at the names of employees, "Carl has been my best mate for years. I can't cut him… plus he is my farm manager… Brody and Tom are like brothers… Missy is great with the horses and another long term farm hand… wait… these two are new," Matilda grabbed her phone and dialled in Carl's number, "Hey Carl… who is Weston Archer and Lee Gregson?" Matilda frowned and Jon watched as she clicked open another folder, "They are showing up on the financial report but not in the Employee Records… yeah I'll log in right now." Matilda pulled her phone away and turned on the speaker phone option as she hooked onto the internet and went to a bank website Jon didn't recognise. He watched as she signed in and flicked to automatic billing, "They are here in the weekly planned payments… fuck… fuck, Carl how did we not see this?"
"What?" came Carl's voice, sounding worried.
"Apparently we pay them three grand each a week! That explains six grand of non-profit," said Matilda, "I'm going to end those payments but can you get a hold of Constable Nick and get him to look into this? We need this money back… otherwise I can't see anything else."
"Change your passwords," murmured Jon to Matilda.
Matilda nodded.
"Shit, Mattie, I am sorry for not picking up on this sooner… I didn't even think."
"It's find Carl. The sooner we sort this out the better off we all will be. How's Charlie?"
"Quiet… keeping to himself really."
Matilda frowned a little, "Alright… well I'll call him either tomorrow or after Wrestlemania."
"We will be watching," said Carl happily, "Kick that asshole's ass Mattie."
"You know I will."
Carl laughed and him and Matilda ended the call. She fell back against the pillows with a sigh and looked over at Jon with a fond smile.
"What would I do without you?"
Jon leaned over Matilda and pressed a simple kiss to her lips, "More like what would I do without you?"
Matilda bit her lower lip as she looked at her reflection in the mirror. It had taken her hours to select the perfect gown or her first Hall of Fame attendance. She wanted something unique that displayed her own personality. It was the one night that although was a WWE event, was something that she didn't have to ooze the Abigail persona.
The purple gown was an A-Line floor length gown with an open leg slit. It went over one shoulder with lace material that went to her waist with the chiffon the gown was made from showing underneath. The lace had a flower design with sequins sown into the edges. At the middle of the gown where the lace ended was a broach like attachment. It made the chiffon material appear like it fell in a wrapped around fashion, making the slit hide unless Matilda walked, or stood with her knee purposely bent in a certain fashion.
Her feel donned open toed, silver stilettos to match the broach on the gown.
Matilda wore her hair up with the front braided loosely to the side and pulling it into a loose curly bun at the back. Her make-up was simple with purple eye shadow with slight silver edging and a clear lip gloss.
"You look hot," spoke Saraya as she emerged from the bathroom. Saraya was wearing a cap sleeved, mini black dress. It was decorated in black sequins with sheer illusion shoulder sections. The neckline was also jewelled with sequins and the abdomen also had a sheer panel, showing Saraya's pale skin. She had teamed it with her favourite black pumps and her hair was down with the ends curled to blend in her blonde ends.
"It's not too much?" asked Matilda as she put in her silver, pearl drop earrings.
"No. Trust me, this is the night all us diva's get dolled up."
Matilda smiled and shrugged her shoulder's, "Right… so… we better head down or Jon will break the door down if I make him wait any longer."
Saraya chuckled and the two left the room, with Matilda carefully holding her gown up to avoid it being trod on.
The elevator doors opened and Matilda bit back a groan as she saw Colby with Zahra already in the lift. Colby donned a black tux with a dark blue tie with Zahra in a skin tight mermaid styled gown. Matilda and Saraya ignored Colby as they stepped into the elevator, double glad when Nicholas quickly jumped in.
"You ladies look lovely," commented Nicholas with a grin to Saraya and Matilda.
"Thanks," smiled Matilda.
"You scrub up well too, Ziggy boy," teased Saraya.
Nicholas winked at Saraya and gestured for Saraya and Matilda to step out of the elevator first when they arrived on the ground floor of the hotel entrance.
Matilda spotted Jon standing by a plant with a few other WWE talent and crew members. Jon donned a grey tuxedo with a black shirt and silver tie. His hair was its normal curled mess – just the way Matilda loved it.
Jon turned and looked directly at Matilda as she was looking at him. His mouth dropped open before he walked over to her and entwined his fingers with hers.
"You look amazing… beautiful… gorgeous… ravishing… hot damn sexy," said Jon, his eyes travelling all over her body, "Hmm, that slit is going to be awfully tempting."
Matilda chuckled, "You look hot damn sexy yourself, stud."
Jon smirked and frowned slightly, "Will you be mad if I kissed you?"
"Why would I be mad?"
"Your make up."
Matilda snorted in an unbecoming manner and chuckled, "Just kiss me."
Jon didn't need telling twice and captured Matilda's lips in a demanding kissing, sliding his hands to her waist to pull her closer.
"Hey! Hey! No, no, break it up! You will ruin her make up!" cried Saraya forcing Matilda and Jon to stop kissing, "Mattie, seriously, cool down and reapply your gloss. We have photos to get done!"
Saraya sighed and walked off as Matilda giggled and extracted her lip gloss from her small purse as Jon chuckled.
"Did she really do that?" asked Jon.
Matilda laughed and nodded, "Yeah, she did."
The red carpet was busy when Matilda and Jon arrived. Cameras were flashing and fans were screaming out at their favourite wrestlers. Matilda looked around with wide eyes, slipping her hand into Jon's.
"This is intense," murmured Matilda.
"This is Wrestlemania season. Each year it just gets even bigger."
The pair moved to the start of the red carpet, meeting up with Joe and his wife Galina.
"Li, meet Mattie. Mattie this is my wife, Galina."
"Lovely to meet you," greeted Matilda.
Galina grinned, "I heard a lot about you from Samantha – Windham's wife. She had plenty of lovely things to say about you."
Matilda smiled, "Well Joe here talks about you non-stop."
Joe's cheeks flushed red and Jon gave a chuckle, earning a light punch in the arm from Joe.
"Don't you go smirking, Jonno. Whenever you're away from Mattie you mope around like a lost puppy."
Matilda looked at Jon to see him rubbing the back of his neck at being caught out. Matilda turned to him and slipped her arms around his waist, "That sounds sweet."
Jon grinned at her and kissed the tip of her nose before assistants told them to begin their way along the red carpet.
Matilda walked along side Jon, both stopping to sign autographs and speak with reporters. Matilda was pleased to see some Australian reporters and managed to meet up with Tenille so both could speak with one Australian reporter together.
Matilda posed for photos with Jon and a few alone before they were allowed to enter the building for the Hall of Fame. Inside they spoke with Renee for the WWE Network broadcast, before finding their seats in the third row. Once seated, Matilda let out a sigh of relief and slipped her feet out her heels.
Jon chuckled from beside her, slipping an arm around the back of her chair, his finger's trailing up and down her bare skin.
"Hey guys!"
Matilda and Jon looked up as Renee sat beside Matilda, but Matilda wasn't focused on Renee. Her eyes locked with grey eyes.
"This is Chris – the guy I've been dating."
Matilda plastered on a fake smile and gave a nod. Jon could feel Matilda stiffen in his arms and looked at Chris to Renee to Matilda.
"Chris… nice to meet you," said Jon calmly, "Where did you and Renee meet?"
Renee grinned, "The Lafayette show. We went out for coffee and it's gone from there."
Jon nodded slowly and Matilda shifted in her seat to sit closer to Jon. He caught Matilda's eye and made a slight gesture towards Chris. Matilda gave a subtle nod in response. Jon slipped his free hand into Matilda's and brought her fingers to his mouth for a kiss.
"I love you," he murmured.
Matilda smiled at him, "I love you too."
The WWE Hall of Fame was over and everyone was slowly leaving. Many people were standing about talking and waiters and waitresses walked about with trays of drinks and snacks. Jon was chatting with a few of the wrestlers he was close with while Matilda was sitting with Saraya, Victoria, Tenille, Melina, Brie and Natalya.
"So," said Saraya quietly to Matilda as Brie answered a question from Natalya in regards to how Bryan was taking his sudden retirement, "Renee's dating Chris."
"Yep," nodded Matilda, tapping the wide of her glass, "How fucked up is that?"
"Why is it fucked up?" asked Tenille curiously.
"Ex- Chris."
"No way! Seriously?"
"You know?" asked Saraya.
Tenille nodded, "Mattie and I talked a fair bit still in 2012. He isn't… you know, using Renee to get to you?"
"I hope not," sighed Matilda worriedly, fiddling with the material of her dress, "I don't want to be responsible for hurting Renee... she doesn't deserve to be used."
Matilda suddenly stood, looking around for Chris. She spied him standing by the back row of seats looking at his phone. Without hesitation Matilda slipped out of the row of seats and walked towards Chris. Matilda held her gown up to make it easier to walk, showing her bare feet. Chris looked up as Matilda neared, frowning slightly.
"Answer me one question," stated Matilda firmly, "Please tell me you are not using Renee as a way to get close to me?"
Chris raised his eyebrows before speaking coolly, "I genuinely like Renee. A lot. When I came to your place a while back that was part of the reason – after our initial coffee I wanted to tell you that I met her and wanted to pursue it. But you were… too stubborn to talk."
"Can you even blame me?" snapped Matilda coldly.
"I get it – I fucked up majorly. But you didn't even try to tell me you were pregnant!"
"How could I?" hissed Matilda, "You left no details! You cancelled your mobile number and blocked me on all social media – hell any email I sent you bounced back! I tried! For two weeks I tried, Chris!"
"Is everything okay?"
Matilda and Chris turned to see Renee looking between the two of them in confusion. Matilda stepped away from Chris and looked at Chris expectantly.
"Chris?" asked Renee worriedly.
"I used to work on Matilda's farm… and we were a couple for a year or so," sighed Chris.
Renee let out a breath, "So you were at the Lafayette show to see Matilda?"
Chris nodded.
"I'm going to guess it was a messy break up," surmised Renee as she shook her head and looked at Chris, "And you didn't even tell me… I just..." Renee let out a short, shuddering breath, "I need a drink or hundred."
Renee walked off quickly and Chris shot Matilda a dirty look before he hurried after her.
Matilda let out a breath she didn't know she had been holding and slowly turned around. People were quickly looking away and Matilda rolled her eyes and headed for the exit doors.
The cool air swept across Matilda's skin as she looked up at the night sky, trying to calm her emotions down. Two arms slipped around her from behind and Matilda breathed in the familiar scent that came with the warm body.
"You okay?" murmured Jon, "I saw you speak to Chris."
"I just wanted to make sure he wasn't… using Renee… she deserves to be happy."
Jon pressed a kiss to Matilda's earlobe, "Come on. Let's go back the hotel."
Matilda turned to face Jon, placing her hands on his chest, "I need to get my shoes."
Jon gestured to the half wall beside them. Sitting atop were Matilda's heels. She chuckled and Jon reached out and grabbed them. Matilda smiled and took them as she slipped them on before the couple headed back to the hotel, wrapped up in their bubble of happiness.
Matilda nervously looked at her reflection. She donned her black tights with purple shiny sequins sewn into the material. She had on black daisy duke styled jeans over top with purple stitching and donned her redemption tank top, ripped up at the midriff in a haphazard fashion. Her hands donned her elbow length, fingerless gloves and her feet wore her black boots with purple laces. The stylist had done her hair up in a messy bun and clipped in purple hair extension pieces and given her a smoky eyed effect.
In less than five minutes she would march out to face Colby at her very first Wrestlemania. This was a massive career moment and she didn't want to blow it. It needed to go perfect – the big finale to her storyline against Colby and Zahra.
Matilda turned away from the mirror and jumped up and down, loosening her muscles up and getting into her mental zone as she heard the commentators start talking about her and Colby's storyline.
The sound of Seth Rollin's theme blasted around the arena with added fireworks. The WWE World Heavyweight Champion strode out in his cocky manner with Zahra latched onto his arm like a leech. They smirked at the crowd and Seth assisted Zahra into the ring as if he were the world's biggest gentlemen to ever grace the planet.
They stood in the middle of the ring and Seth picked up microphone.
"This is ridiculous," stated Seth bluntly, "Putting me in a match against Abigail – a woman… a-a simple female. What does this even prove? Nothing! It proves absolutely nothing!"
Zahra nodded in agreement, applauding Seth.
"It's a waste of my time, your time – TV time! I really think we have a chance to rethink this whole set up before-"
Before Seth could continue Abigail's theme cut him off. As the beat kicked in with the guitars Abigail walked out to a loud pop from the WWE Universe. She ran from one side of the stage to the other, riling up the crowd before moving to the top of the ramp and looking down at the ring. Abigail pointed directly at Seth and started walking down, talking smack about him and Zahra the whole way.
"Abigail is oozing with energy tonight," commented Michael Cole, "She is more than ready for this match. I think Rollins is seriously underestimating her once again."
"She's insane, Michael! Look at her! She is tiny compared to Seth Rollins!" cried JBL with a shake of his head as Abigail slid into the ring and snatched the microphone from Seth and shooting Zahra a warning look as the woman took a step towards her.
"Seth," said Abigail with a raised eyebrow, "People didn't come here to see you weasel your way out of a match. They came here to watch your arse get handed to you twice in one night!"
The WWE Universe yelled out in agreement and Seth angrily ripped his belt off and pulled his shirt off. Zahra stepped out of the ring as the referee stepped in between Abigail and Seth.
The bell rang and Seth instantly went for the attack but Abigail dodged with quick reflexes. Seth growled and reached out again but Abigail retaliated by grabbing hold of Seth's arm and yanking him down. She wrapped her legs around his arm and pulled, locking in the submission hold. Seth yelled out and shook his head, using his strength to stand up, but Abigail refused to let go of her hold. Seth growled once again and slammed himself down into a seated position, slamming Abigail's back into the mat. Abigail let go of her hold, arching her back up from the mat and rolling away to the corner.
Seth stood up laughing and stalked towards Abigail slowly. Abigail pushed herself up with the bottom rope into a seated position and looked at Seth in disgust. Seth smirked and leaned forward to grab Abigail by the hair. Abigail kicked out, the kick hitting Seth in the shoulder she had been working on. Seth stumbled back and Abigail shot up to her feet and stepped up to the second rope, facing Seth and jumped off it landing a punch to the side of his head. Seth stepped back but looked at Abigail mockingly. Abigail held up her hands and gestured for Seth to bring it. Seth's expression changed to one of a snarling nature and ran at Abigail for a clothesline. Abigail ducked and when Seth turned back he was met with a kick to the head, knocking him against the ropes. Abigail ran to the opposite side ropes and ran at Seth, only for him to move and help shove her through the ropes and out of the ring. Abigail landed face down outside the ring and rolled to the barricade, breathing heavily. She slowly stood up as Seth slid out of the ring and grabbed her by the hair laughing. He pulled her alongside him around the ring to where Zahra was. Yanking her head back Seth instructed Zahra to slap Abigail.
"You deserve this," snapped Zahra as she smacked Abigail hard across the face.
"Back in the ring, Rollins!" yelled the referee.
Seth shoved Abigail back into the ring and slid in after her. Abigail rolled to the middle of the ring as Seth circled around her. Her gave her a kick to the side before going for the pin.
1!
Abigail kicked out and Seth stood up and pulled Abigail up by her hair before slapping her hard across the face. Abigail stumbled backwards before looking at Seth and laughing at him. Seth frowned giving Abigail the opportunity to return the slap followed by a chop across the chest and a high kick to the gut. Seth doubled over and Abigail moved forward, slamming a knee into his gut repeatedly until the referee pulled her away. Abigail shook her head and ran to the side ropes, bounced off it, using the momentum to tackle Seth down to the mat. Abigail quickly moved to sitting on Seth and laying a flurry of hits to his head. The referee once again pulled Abigail away but the diva wasn't backing down. She had a point to prove and she needed to get that point across.
"GET UP!" screamed Abigail as Seth shook his head as he pushed himself up.
Abigail ran again at Seth and dropped, hitting him in the side with a baseball slide kick. She stood and grabbed the ropes, jumping and slamming both boots into his side, shoving him out of the ring. Abigail ran over to the turn buckle and climbed to the top and pointed to Seth.
The crowd roared in approval and Abigail waited for Seth to stand. When he did she jumped only he turned and caught her, stopping her attack. With a smirk, Seth rammed her spine into the ring post. Abigail cried out, bracing herself as Seth did so for a second time. He followed it by slamming her onto the metal stairs and walking away laughing, one hand clutching at his ribs.
Abigail laid motionless on the stairs, her chest rising and falling rapidly.
"This is just brutal," commented Michael, "I don't even know if Abigail is going to be able to continue the match."
Seth stalked back over to Abigail and pulling her up and rolled her into the ring, sliding in afterwards. He rolled Abigail to the middle of the ring. Seth covered Abigail for the pin.
1!
2!
Abigail kicked out and Seth sat up looking around him in surprise and shaking his head. He stood up and grabbed Abigail, pulling her up and setting her up for a powerbomb.
Abigail shook her head and landed a punch to Seth's head before throwing her weight backwards and forcing Seth to loose balance. He fell forward, with Abigail rolling out of the move and laying on the mat breathing heavily.
"GET UP!" yelled the fans frantically as Abigail pushed herself up to her knees.
Seth was back up and walking towards her and Abigail knew she needed to fight back and make sure she fought back hard.
Abigail stood and dodged a kick from Seth moving behind him and hitting a kick to the back of his leg, knocking him to his knees. She ran back a few steps then ran forward grabbing him by the back of his head and hitting him with a variation of the bulldog. With Seth lying flat on his stomach, Abigail jumped up and bounced off the bottom rope and somersaulted backwards, landing with her knees hitting beside his spine.
Seth cringed and bucked around on the mat at the sharp shots of pain as Abigail stood up her fingers flexing for the next attack.
"THIS IS AWESOME! THIS IS AWESOME!" came the chants that spurred Abigail on.
Abigail once again ran to the top rope and readied herself. She needed to land the move perfectly. It was one she rarely pulled out of her bag of tricks. She urged for Seth to get up and when he did, he didn't seem to know where he was at. He stumbled towards Abigail and she jumped, landing perfectly on his shoulders before flipping herself backwards in a quick, fast motion. She stretched her arms out for her landing and the motion of the movement sent Seth flying across the ring and landing hard on his back. Abigail quickly shifted and looked over at Seth, seeing Zahra moving towards him. She slid from the ring and ran around the side, jumped up onto the side of the ring and before Zahra could react, Abigail kicked her in the side of the head, knocking the woman backwards out cold.
Abigail climbed back into the ring and pointed to Seth, "REDEMPTION!"
The WWE Universe roared in approval and Abigail reached down and pulled Seth up only to earn and sharp hit across the face.
"Did you see that?" yelled Byron, "Were those brass knuckles?"
"I saw nothing!" replied JBL.
Abigail fell and Seth yanked her up, setting her up for the pedigree. Abigail struggled but Seth hit the move fast and swift, followed by going for the pin.
1!
2!
3!
"And the winner of this match – the WWE World Heavyweight Champion: Seth Rollins!" announced Lillian.
A/N: If you're wondering about Abigail's theme look up The Veronicas: Untouched (Instrumental). Thanks for reading! Please be kind and review!