A/N: Sorry doesn't really cover it here guys. I know I'm usually so much better about updating, but this week just really got away from me. I was just too tired/ busy/ undermotivated/ every other excuse in the book to write. I'll try to get back on track now though.

We left early the next morning, apparently too early for Colt to come see us off. I'd wanted to spend a bit more time with the man, maybe worming some embarrassing stories about Phil out of him in the process in order to use as blackmail later on, but apparently he wasn't really the "morning type".

A short ride and some lunch later, we were at the arena for Raw. We had some extra time, so Phil and I borrowed the ring for an exhibition, which ended an hour later in a draw, and only because other people were looking to get in the ring as well.

Finally the show started. The opening segment featured none other than John Cena, who came out and claimed that he was, by default, the Number One Contender for CM Punk's WWE Championship, and that at Survivor Series he would take back the title that was (according to him) rightfully his. "Innovative." I muttered sarcastically as I listened to him basically paraphrase the same statement that infinite Superstars had made before him.

Inevitably, Punk came out after a while, portable pipebomb in hand. "Normally I'd just let you run your mouth Johnny-boy," he said, "but frankly, I think half these people have fallen asleep out of boredom." The crowd came back to life, cheering at his statement. Cena may well be the face of the company, but Punk has a bigger percentage of the fans behind him.

Cena gave his patented 'oh really?' look, but gestured for Punk to continue.

"Listen John, your time in this company is almost over. If you think you've got one more title run in you, then by all means, let's fight. I don't have any problem with taking you, or anyone else on this roster, down a notch or two. But I promise you this: I'm not letting some guy with one foot in the retirement home take away my championship. I am the best wrestler in the world, and I plan on holding onto this title for a very long time. But, like I said, if you're delusional enough to think you can beat me without breaking a hip or something, then I'll face you at Survivor Series…One thing though. Since you just decided you're the contender, and demanded a match, I have a demand of my own. I will face you on the condition that we have a no disqualification match."

He dropped the microphone and left. John left soon after, during the commercial break. I laughed. The funny thing was, John was only a couple years older than Phil, and there was actually a lot of respect between them. Chances are that respect wouldn't play much of a role in their imminent rivalry however. It sure as hell didn't in the past.

My match was up next. I was tag teaming with AJ and Tamina against Kelly Kelly, Alicia Fox, and AJ's friend Kaitlyn.

Kelly and I started out, and I felt the opening for my finisher within a minute. I didn't take it, however, wanting a longer match for once. I gave her a boot to the face instead, and tagged in AJ.

Kelly crawled to the corner and managed to slap Kaitlyn's hand. "She's got this" Tamina whispered in response to the look I shot her, silently questioning if she could handle fighting her close friends without reverting to her formal "diva" fighting style.

It turns out Tamina was right. AJ put it away with a facebuster. She stood up after the three-count, a remorseless look in her eyes.

Backstage I watched the rest of the show in the relative privacy of the abandoned locker room. Jerry Lawler announced, after a quick replay, that Alberto Del Rio had been injured and would be out for at least a couple months, rehabbing a broken arm and a herniated disk in his lower spine. He doesn't do anything half-way, I'll give him that. I thought, referencing Phil's determination to get absolute revenge on the man.

A few relatively insignificant matches later, CM Punk absolutely destroyed Wade Barrett in the main event, and soon after the show was over.

The next two weeks flew by. We did a few house shows, where I mostly fought (and won) singles matches against Natalya. The next Raw passed without a women's match, and a few more house shows later, it was time for Raw again. I was coming off of a huge win over Beth at the house show the night before, and feeling confident, (perhaps overly so), so when the first match of the night (Zack Ryder vs. Hunico) was over, and Zack was done fist pumping, I grabbed a microphone and headed out to the ring. "Beth," I started, once I was between the ropes, "I've beaten you three times now—once in a tag team match, once in a normal match, and once in a no-disqualification match. If you were any kind of real champion, you'd give me a title shot."

I didn't get any further than that because Beth's music hit and she made her way to the ring, limping slightly, presumably from a rather vicious kick to the thigh I'd given her yesterday. "I'm sure you think so," Beth declared haughtily, "but the fact of the matter is, you're the newest person on the roster. The fact that you have a few fluke victories over me doesn't change the fact that you're the least likely person in our division to get a shot at my championship, or the fact that I'm just better than you."

"I am new," I admitted, "but no one in our division can claim that they have three clean victories over you, especially in the past two months that I've been here. I am better than them, and I am better than you. Nice limp, by the way." I smirked, knowing I was dangerously close to heel territory with that, but I was also a bit beyond caring. Besides, the fans seemed to enjoy it.

Beth opened her mouth to retort, but was cut off by Triple H's music, followed by The Game himself. "You're both right…sort of," he said. "Since we don't have time for another brawl, and since I'm actually in charge of who gets championship matches and when, despite the fact that everyone seems to have forgotten that lately," he shot us a pointed look, but I could tell he was also referencing the exchange between Punk and Cena two weeks before, "I figured I'd come out here and settle this. Amber, your victories would normally make you the number one contender, but Beth's right, you're a rookie. So here's what's gonna happen. Next week on Raw, there will be a battle royal between Kelly Kelly, Eve, Natalya, Tamina, and one other person. The winner of the battle royal will go on to face Beth Phoenix for the championship at Survivor Series. Amber, you and Alicia Fox will compete for the last spot in that battle royal tonight. That ought to satisfy everyone." He walked out as Beth and I simultaneously smirked at each other, each thinking that we had the advantage.

"I'll see you at Survivor Series Beth."

She laughed. "Only from the audience. You'll probably beat Fox, I'll give you that much, but there's no way you get through Natalya."

I scoffed. "Please. I've beaten her more times than I've beaten you. She doesn't have a chance…and neither do you."

"We'll see," Beth replied, the evil look in her eye suggesting that she was already forming a plan to make sure I didn't have a chance.

I mirrored her look, although my strategy didn't involve anything more than skill. She didn't need to know that though. "Yeah…we will." She just shook her head at me and exited the ring. I waited a few seconds then went to follow her, but Alicia Fox's music stopped me. I mentally gave Triple H my sarcastic thanks for the warning, and warmed up as best I could in the middle of the ring.

When Alicia climbed into the squared circle, she glared at me fiercely, ducking under the first punch, giving her a clothesline instead, her look transformed into one of fear.

After that, the match was fairly easy, especially since, for whatever reason, I was so far in her head. She tapped out to the Scales of Justice within a minute or two of the bell, securing my place in the battle royal. "One down, four to go," I muttered once I climbed off Alicia.

After my match, the main event for later in the evening was announced: CM Punk vs. Brock Lesnar. I cringed at the news. I don't think I'd want my worst fucking enemy fighting him.

The night wore on with many interesting things happening. Kofi Kingston and R-Truth, who had been opponents just a few weeks earlier at Hell in a Cell for Kofi's United States championship, formed a tag team once again and pulled off an impressive victory over Dolph Ziggler and Jack Swagger. They seemed much more unified than when they had teamed several months earlier, and I couldn't help but wonder if they could be the ones to finally dethrone Miz and Daniel Bryan. Then Wade Barrett pummeled the Great Khali in a single's match before getting a WMD from Khali's unlikely friend and former tag team partner The Big Show. Next Randy Orton had it out with Christian, giving the former champion his required rematch (that, according to the contract he had worked out with his weasel of an attorney David Otunga, had to be granted at the time and place of Christian's choosing, and without giving the champion any notice whatsoever. Randy did, however, get to choose the stipulation.) The match dragged on, but Orton eventually won by pinning Christian on the hood of a car in the middle of the parking lot.

Finally Phil's match was up. I held my breath throughout the entire fight, only releasing it in fury when Lesnar won by throwing a thumb to the eye when the referee wasn't looking. "Cheating bastard" I growled when Phil found me a few minutes later.

"That was fucking stupid," Phil agreed, his voice somewhat more quiet than usual.

"At least it wasn't a title match…" I mused, trying to lift his mood a bit.

He sighed. "It probably will be soon enough," he said, annoyance evident in his tone. "But I'll crush him like a goddamn bug on my windshield the next time we're in the ring together, title match or not."

I knew he would, and nothing really needed to be said to that effect, so we walked in silence back to the bus. We were just a couple house shows away from having a few days off, and I could tell that most of the roster was really looking forward to going home, Phil included.

Our drive to the next destination took all of the night and most of the next morning as well. We got to the arena just in time for the show. The main event, CM Punk vs Randy Orton in a champion vs. champion match, was precluded by my match against Natalya. Phil and I both pulled off rather close victories, then we were on the road again.

Another long night and another house show later, we were on our way to the airport. Phil made it just in time for his flight. I ended up sitting in the airport for a good six or seven hours while my flight was delayed over and over again by a tropical storm hovering around Florida's gulf coast. Some people have all the goddamn luck I thought darkly to myself as I sat in the terminal, realizing that Phil, as well as nearly the entire roster, would probably be in bed by now.

The sun was beginning to creep up when I finally got on a plane. Needless to say, when I got into my apartment four hours later, the first thing I did was collapse on my bed and sink into the first sleep I'd gotten in three days.

I was woken up around three hours later by a text from Phil. Colt says hi :P—Punk

I growled. You just woke me up. I'm gonna fucking kill you the next time I see you –Amber

The fuck? It's 4pm. Why are you asleep? –Punk

I glared at the screen as if my phone was somehow responsible for the nature of the conversation. Flight got delayed. Wheels up at 7am. Between airport BS and traffic I didn't get in till 1 –Amber

Fuck. Shoulda come to Chicago ;) – Punk

I laughed, less annoyed now. Nope. No offense but I more than enough of you on the road :P – Amber

Haha. You're just saying that because you don't want to admit how much you miss me. – Punk

I scoffed. Surrrre I am. Whatever helps you sleep at night Punk. – Amber

You know I'm right ^^ - Punk I didn't bother replying to that, instead electing to roll over and go back to sleep.

In fact, I ended up spending most of my brief vacation in bed. When I woke up the next time, it was with an overwhelming need to empty my stomach. I then proceeded to spend the next three days praying to the porcelain god and cursing the cesspool-like nature of airplanes.

By the time Sunday rolled around, the bug had passed along with most of the nausea, but I slept through most of the day, exhausted by the nature of the illness, and extremely glad that my flight wasn't until the next morning.

When I touched down in LAX, I still didn't feel a hundred percent, but I was too focused on the upcoming battle royal to care. However, when I saw Phil the first thing he said to me was "you look like the walking dead."

I rolled my eyes. "Didn't you hear—the zombie look is in this season."

He laughed. "You know, most people spend vacations catching up on sleep, not avoiding it like the plague."

I glared, not at him, but at the unfortunate circumstances surrounding the past four days. "Oh I slept, a lot actually. I just happened to get most of that sleep on my bathroom floor in between puking sessions. Goddamn plane germs."

Phil grimaced sympathetically. "So how was your time off?" I asked, looking to change the subject.

He spent the ride to the arena relaying a hilarious, and very long, story involving Colt Cabana, a cardboard cutout of Brock Lesnar, a cucumber, and an airsoft gun. By the time we parted ways to get ready for the evening's match, I was laughing hysterically.

"So he did WHAT with the cucumber?" Tamina asked for what had to be the third time, tears rolling down her face at the hilarity of the story.

"You heard me" I smirked, picturing the events and joining in her mirth.

She shook her head. "I believe it, but jesus. That's insane."

"That's Phil." I answered, "especially when you pair him up with Cabana. The two of them are gonna take over the world one of these days."

She laughed. "So, about tonight…"

I shook my head. "Don't. We're both going for it. I get that. No hard feelings, either way."

"Agreed," she answered, "but here's the thing. There's no reason why we can't work together in the beginning right? One of us should win this."

I nodded. "If we can, we'll make ourselves the last two, then whatever happens happens."

She agreed, and we parted ways. I didn't see any particular sense in hanging around someone who would be my opponent in an hour or so, friends or not. I stumbled into AJ, who wished me good luck, and John Cena, who I chatted with for a while, not having had the chance to catch up with him in recent weeks. Finally though, I ended up just going to Phil's dressing room. It was out of the way, private, and I wouldn't have to make small talk with people who I didn't know well enough to want to talk to when I was on the verge of such a big match.

I knocked on his door. "You decent?" I asked through the metal barricade.

"Physically or mentally?" was his response.

I scoffed. "Physically. You'll never be mentally decent. I gave up on that a long time ago."

He opened the door. "Come on in." I sat down on a bench, tossing a roll of wrestling tape between my hands. He looked at me quizzically. "What's up?"

I shrugged. "Tamina and I are gonna be opponents tonight. I didn't really feel like sharing a locker room and some idle chat with her."

He nodded. "You ready to go?"

"As much as I'll ever be" I answered honestly.

With that he tossed me a Gatorade from out of his bag. "Drink this. You look like shit, you're probably still dehydrated."

I laughed. "Thanks… I think."

We hung out, for the most part in silence, until my match was on deck. "See ya later." I said, pushing confidence into my voice.

"Kill 'em." he replied, shooting me a smile that did more for my confidence than any psychological tricks I could play within my brain.

I was the last one into the ring, so when my music hit Kelly, Eve, Tamina, and Natalya were already inside, most of them glaring daggers at me. The bell rang, and the brawl began.

Natalya went after me first, looking for a quick elimination. I tried to turn her momentum around on her and fling her over the top rope, but her feet landed on the apron and she wasn't eliminated. I turned away from her and ran over to Kelly, who had yet to be engaged. A few punches and she was already beginning to look tired, but when I tried to shove her over she put up more of a fight than I would've anticipated… that is until Tamina came over and helped me hoist her over the rope.

"And then there were four." I muttered to her and she nodded, grinning.

Natalya was now fully back inside the ring, and Tamina ran over to her, while I pulled Eve into a corner so she couldn't interfere with Tamina's attempts to eliminate her adversary. Eve and I duked it out for a few moments, trading punches, but I knew she wouldn't last much longer. I had the strength advantage, and it was starting to show.

I pulled Eve back to the middle of the ring, performing my finisher on her, for the sole purpose of wearing her down. Then I dragged her back to the ropes, lifting her up above my head and flinging her off. Just before Eve the ground, I heard another body contact the outside mat on the other side of the ring. I turned around, fully expecting to see Tamina facing me, ready for our one-on-one fight, but instead I saw Natalya.

I didn't let myself think about how that was not at all how things were supposed to go, or how I'd failed in our plans. Instead, I went after Natalya with all of my strength. She proved to be a stronger opponent than she had been in our normal matches, finding some extra power deep inside of her with the motivation that the match provided. She drove me to the ropes quickly, and had me up against them when I felt myself being not only pushed by my opponent, but pulled down by another force. I threw an arm back and felt it connect with something hard, and heard a yelp. Then I kicked out at Natalya, who released me in shock. Pulling myself off the ropes and back into the ring, I turned around to see Beth Phoenix's retreating form. Nice try you cheating bitch. I thought, quite satisfied with the fact that I'd dodged her underhanded attempt to cost me the match.

Natalya came back quickly though, and we went at it in the center of the ring for what felt like an eternity, but finally I got the opening I needed, loaded her up on my shoulders, and flung her out of the ring in an AA-like move.

My music began to blare through the arena, and understanding along with it. I'm the number one contender! I thought with no small amount of shock. The crowd was cheering, but I didn't hear them all that clearly, I was so lost in my own thoughts. I gestured for a microphone, and was handed one.

"That was a nice try Beth, you almost cost me the match. Too bad I saw it coming. Besides, it just shows that you're too terrified to face me in a fair fight. See you on Sunday. I'll be the one holding the title above my head at the end of our match." I dropped the microphone and left.

A/N: So, Amber's the Number One Contender now, huh? I wonder how that's going to work out. This chapter didn't quite turn out how I meant for it to, but it's done now, and I owe you guys an update more than I need to stick to my plans. I like it, regardless. Next chapter will be the pay per view I think, if I don't get too far astray. Please review and let me know what you think! Also, a HUGE shoutout to Flufferz for what had to be the best review in history, and to everyone else who reviewed the last chapter. You guys are great.