*Thank-you for the reviews on the last chapter. They were greatly appreciated. Thank-you so much*
Kennedy and I arrive at the Hall Of Fame Ceremony the night before Wrestlemania to watch royalty and legends inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame. This is Kennedy's first time at the event and I'm glad to share the evening with her. I took her to get a pretty dress that is a pink spaghetti strapped dress that falls down to her knees with sparkles on it with a pair of pink shoes to match and a little purse that matches it along with a flower headband. It was more like Renee that took her shopping but I went along for the fun of it to see their bond as they picked out dresses for tonight. I hold Kennedy's hand as we walk on the Red Carpet that Renee is hosting. I think I look pretty good myself, I'm not in a sparkly pink dress but I am wearing a black suit, with a tie and a white button down shirt under my jacket. I just didn't put gel in my hair. I look pretty good.
Kennedy walks in awe as we make our way on the red carpet stopping to get our pictures taken together and I get interviewed by a few people as we make our way. "What do you think?"
"It's like I'm a celebrity," she says looking up at me with her beautiful blue eyes and a smile on her face showing the missing tooth she just lost the night before at dinner.
"I'm glad," I say with a smile as Renee comes up to us.
"Dean Ambrose," she says with a smile as she holds the microphone in her hand ready to interview us as she's dressed like Marilyn Monroe but in a beautiful red sleeveless dress.
"Renee," I say with a smile.
"We are 24 hours away from your championship match at Wrestlemania what is going through your mind right now?"
"Not a lot actually," I say with a smile. "I'm thinking about it and trying to stay focused on the match and get my head in the game but I don't want to stress myself about it. I've worked for this for a long time so I'm ready to go. There is nothing more exciting than main eventing Wrestlemania."
"So are you prepared for the match tomorrow night?"
"I don't think I can any more ready than I am. Tomorrow I am taking a day for myself and my family and just having quiet time, clear my head and get focused. I want to be ready and on the top of my game. I'm in the process of being prepared."
"And who is this with you?" she asks me as I smile as I look down at Kennedy.
"This is my daughter, Kennedy," I say with a smile.
"Kennedy, is this your first Wrestlemania?"
"Yes," she says with a smile, "I came to see my daddy wrestle," she says proudly as she looks up at me with a smile.
"Who do you think is going to win the match tomorrow night?"
"My daddy," she says with a proud smile. "But if he doesn't win I will be proud of him no matter what," she says making me smile before I pick her up.
"You're adorable," says Renee with a smile. "Thank-you for your time," she says with a smile before we make our way to meet up with a few of the other WWE superstars so I can talk to some of them before we find our seats. Kennedy doesn't use her chair to watch the ceremony as she sits on my lap the whole time. She does better than I ever expected her to even though I know there were points her attention was lost and she was focused on the I-Pad but she did well. She can be my date to the ceremony every year.
THE NEXT DAY:
It is off to an early start as my alarm goes off at 6 in the morning for me to take a shower and get ready to head to the arena for the day. I have told the cameras I don't want them around us today. I want to take this day to spend with Kennedy and family at the stadium so that I can stay focused and keep my head together as I am getting ready to have one of the biggest matches of my career. Renee wakes up with me but she has her own things to do. She has to film one more Wrestlemania Today from Axxess before she heads to the stadium where she will be on the Wrestlemania panel for the pre-show and once during the show before my match. She showers with me and we get dressed together before we go our separate ways. "I'll see you at the arena," I say with a smile.
"I'll see you at the arena. Just relax, Dean," she says sensing my nervousness. I am not normally a nervous person but for some reason this match has gotten in my head. It has me nervous.
"Okay," I say with a smile. "I love you."
"I love you too," she says with a smile. "Maybe tonight we can have a post match celebration?"
"Better than the morning shower sex?" I ask with a smile.
"Better than the morning shower sex," she says with a smile.
"Deal," I say with a smile before I kiss her lips softly. "Be careful."
"You too, Baby," she says with a smile before she leaves the hotel room to head to Axxess while I go to wake Kennedy up to get her ready to go to the arena. She's spending the day with me alone and my mom is meeting us at the arena later in the day. I want to have some daddy daughter time with Kennedy because she calms me down and her insight helps me relax.
"Come on, Princess," I say to her as I wake her up in the bed she is sleeping in next to mine and Renee's. She groans as I sit down on her bed. "It's time to get up."
"I don't want to get up," she moans. "It's so early."
"We have to go to the arena," I say as I remove the covers from over her face that she pulled over her head cause she didn't want to wake up. Kennedy is not a morning person much like myself. She never really has been. She likes to sleep in and stay up late. She gets it from me. "Come on," I say. "You have to get dressed."
"Daddy, I don't want to. Let me sleep just a little more. Please," she says as she looks at me with her blue eyes.
"I'm sorry but I have to be at the arena by 9 am. I promise you can sleep in tomorrow. It's going to be fun at the arena I promise but you have to wake up."
"Daddy," she groans. "Okay."
I smile at her and say, "Good morning, Beautiful," as she sits up in the bed. She brushes her blonde hair out of her face as we sit looking at each other. "Are you ready for today?"
"Are you ready for today?" she asks me with a smile. "It's your big day."
"I'm ready," I say with a smile "especially since you are going to be front row. You're my number 1 fan."
"I always will be, Daddy," she says with a smile. "Can I wear my Dean Ambrose shirt today?"
"Of course you can. I wouldn't expect you to wear anything else," I say with a smile.
"Okay," she says as she gets out of bed. "I'm hungry can I eat?"
"There's food at the arena they will have breakfast for us. We'll eat when we get there."
"Okay," she says with a smile before we get out of her bed. She walks over to her suitcase and pulls out her Dean Ambrose shirt and a pair of jeans to wear as well as a pair of Nike sneakers. She walks into the bathroom to brush her teeth before she gets dressed and once she is dressed I pull her hair up into a side ponytail. I grab the I-Pad for her to play on and put it in one of my bags and I grab her a coloring book and some crayons as well for her to play with backstage while she waits. It's going to be a long day and I don't want her to get bored although I am sure with Roman's daughter there she won't be too bored.
Once we are ready we leave the hotel room and make our way through the lobby. As we step outside the hotel there are tons of fans already lined up and gathered around. They cheer and holler at us as we walk. Kennedy is used to it by now it doesn't even faze her. She keeps hold of my hand as we get to the black SUV that I rented when I got into Dallas. I open the door for her and help her inside before buckling her into her booster seat. I shut the door and wave to the fans before I get into the driver's side and then we are off to the arena. As we arrive at the arena I take Kennedy's hand and put on the wristbands that admits her into the backstage area and then help her out of the SUV. Much like the hotel there are fans gathered outside the stadium wanting pictures and autographs. They are cheering for me and yelling things to me but Kennedy and I keep focus. We stop outside the arena and security allows us in after they check her wristband. I'm proud of her she does well when it comes to the public crowds.
We get settled into the arena as I find my locker room and put our stuff in it. We make our way to catering so that she and I can have some breakfast. We sit and eat together talking and laughing. This is what I need to clear my head from the stress of the match. It's the day of the match and none of us know who is winning yet and probably won't know till closer to the match. I take Kennedy on a tour of the backstage area after we have breakfast together and then I take her out into the stadium as they are putting the finishing touches on the Wrestlemania set and are getting the ring together. I take a seat in one of the chairs of the stadium as she stands next to me as I wrap my arm around her waist. "Do you see that, Kennedy?"
"The ring?" she asks pointing to it.
"Yes that's where Daddy's going to wrestle for the championship."
"Oh," she says. "I can't wait to see you wrestle, Daddy," she says as she climbs into my lap as we overlook the stadium sharing this quiet moment alone together like I wanted.
"I can't wait for you to see me wrestle," I say with a smile before I kiss her cheek. "You know I don't have to win."
"I know, Daddy and if you lose I will still be proud of you."
"Thanks, Ken," I say with a smile as I look out over it all. In a few short hours I will be in the ring clawing and scratching to get my first championship and start my first run as WWE Champ. "You won't be disappointed if I lose?"
"No, Daddy because no matter what you're still the best to me whether you win or lose. It's like when I lose a soccer game. I don't want to lose and I don't want you to see me lose but you're never sad that I lose you are happy that I played. You congratulate me on how I played and tell me I will get 'em next time. It's not about winning, Daddy," she says as she looks at me. "It's about doing what you love to do and giving your best. I know you love wrestling don't you?"
"I love it almost as much as I love you," I say with a smile.
"So it's in your heart, Daddy. You love it. You are the best at it because you love it. We don't win all the time. I think you're going to win but even if you don't it doesn't mean I won't be proud of you. As long as you wrestle with your heart and do your best I'll be proud of you no matter what."
"Thanks, Ken," I say with a smile before I kiss her cheek softly as we sit and just take in the sight of the stadium and the ring. Kennedy loves me not because I am a superstar or in WWE she loves me because I am her dad. No matter what I do she's going to be proud of me even if I don't walk out the champion. That isn't going to change the fact I love her and she loves me.
"You're welcome, Daddy," she says with a smile. "I love you."
"I love you too," I say with a smile before I hug her and she hugs me.
LATER THAT EVENING:
Renee and I get 30 minutes together once she arrives at the arena and then she's off to get ready for the Wrestlemania Panel. My mom arrives in the late afternoon to take care of Kennedy while I get ready for my match. We eat dinner together as a family before they are taken to their seats for the show which starts in about 30 minutes. My nerves are running wild and I can barely keep still as I pace around my locker room. "Daddy, are you okay?" asks Kennedy.
"I'm nervous," I say as I stop pacing.
"You're going to do fine," she says with a smile. "I know you are."
"Thanks," I say with a smile.
"She's right, Dean," says my mom. "You've been working hard for this moment. This is your time, Dean. You go out there and put on the best performance of your life. This is one of your biggest matches and win or lose you are going to be Kennedy's champion and my champion. She's not going to look at you any less if you don't win. It's not about winning, Dean, you know that. It's about doing what you love and making your daughter proud. I'm sure she wants to see you win but if you don't she's not going to think any less of you. You're always a winner to her. This is your professional life, the dream you have had since you were a little boy I know how much you want this this but that little girl she doesn't care about the fame or the championship she cares about you. You're her champion and she doesn't think of you as anything else. You don't need a belt to prove that. It's in your heart and in hers. You go out there and you do what you love. You make us proud. If you win then you win but if you lose that's okay we'll be proud of you no matter what. Life isn't about that championship it's about the moments you have with your daughter and the memories you make with her."
"Thanks, Mom," I say as she puts it into perspective for me. She's right it's not about the championships or the fame it's about Kennedy and showing her that I am a champion no matter what. She's not going to think less of me if I don't get this championship of course I'm going to be a little crushed but at the end of the day it's all about her and I'll have her in my life so I will still be a winner. My mom gives me a hug and I hug her back. She's been by my side just as much as Kennedy has in fact my mom has been by my side my whole life and has watched me break down every barrier that got in my way and was there when I hit rock bottom. She has been here through it all. I want her to see me win this championship. I want her to see me bring home that belt but no matter what she'll be just as proud of me. "Kennedy," I say, "Come here."
"Yes, Daddy," she says as she appears in front of me. I pick her up and she giggles. "Daddy," she says with a smile.
"I love you, Kennedy and I'm going to go out there and do my best. I'm going to do what I can and hopefully I win but if I don't win it's okay because the real championship is having you for a daughter. I love you and thank-you for being here for me and understanding my life."
"You're welcome, Daddy," she says with a smile before she wraps her little arms around my neck before she kisses my cheek. "I love you, Daddy," she says with a smile. "Good luck tonight I'm going to cheer the loudest for you."
"I know, Baby Girl," I say with a smile before I put her down. "It's all for you," I say with a smile before my mom and Kennedy are taken to their seats by security. I take the time alone to get my head ready and warm myself up for the match.
Standing backstage behind the curtain ready to make my entrance my two best friends stand with me. We started on this road together and it led us to this moment. We were delivered the news of the winner a couple matches ago and we all know how it is going to turn out and we are all extremely happy for the outcome of the match. We were in developmental together and then we dominated the WWE together when we were part of the Shield and as we broke off into single's competition we continued to dominate the WWE in the single's division. We all worked hard for this moment and this match has been a long time coming. I wouldn't want to tear the house down with anyone else other than my best friends. The match before us ends and they start to play a video montage of the match and what it's all about. "This is it," I say to my brothers. "This is what they've been waiting for."
"Yeah," says Seth. "Let's go out there and bring the house down Shield style."
"Yeah," says Roman. "This is one of the biggest matches of our careers. We came into this company together let's do this together."
"And the best man wins," says Seth. "No matter what happens out there we're going to be best friends and nothing is going to change it. Dean said that we were going to take over this company together or apart and here we are all three members of the shield main eventing Wrestlemania this is what it's about, Boys. Let's go out there and tear it up."
"Tear it up," I say as I put my fist in the middle. Seth smiles and does the same followed by Roman. "Good luck, You two."
"Good luck," they say together just as the video stops playing. Roman's music hits first and instead of coming through the crowd like he usually does for the first time he goes through the curtain and down the ramp. He gets a strong ovation from the crowd and it makes me smile.
I take a deep breath as my music hits. All the sacrifices and all the hard work, the time and dedication brought me to this point. I make my way out to an even stronger crowd than Roman and make my way down the ramp. I've been through it all and I couldn't have done it without my best friends or my family. I walk past my mom, Saige's parents and Renee as they sit front row but there is a special little girl that catches my eye; Kennedy. She's up cheering for me. I stop and hug her. "This is all for you, Baby Girl," I whisper into her ear.
"You've got this, Daddy," she says before she kisses my cheek and I let go of her. I make my into the ring and we wait for Seth to make his entrance.
The match in itself has been hyped for weeks because it's something everyone has wanted to see for the longest time since we went our separate ways. We do just as we promised. We tear the house down, we bring it and we tear it up. We know each other's moves so well we counter each other often. Roman and I do some double teaming on Seth and I pull out some new moves that wins the crowd over. It's a back and forth match. Roman and I team with each other to get Seth out and then it comes down to us. There's only one thing left to do and that's fight it out, the best man wins. Seth is down and out as Roman and I start to battle it out. I go to hit him with a clothesline as he throws me into the ropes but he ducks. He hits me with a spear and goes for the pin. I kick out at 2 as the crowd starts chanting this is awesome. At the end of this match it doesn't matter who wins we stole the show. Roman and I go back and forth as Seth is still out after being powerbombed through a table. I go to hit Roman with the Dirty Deeds but he counters out of it and hits me with a superman punch. He goes for the cover and the ref's hand hits the mat 1-2-3! ROMAN REIGNS is the new WWE World heavyweight champion. He deserves it more than I do. The crowd cheers for him as he stands up to have his hand held in victory as I lay on the mat just thinking about the match and how it played out. It wasn't my time yet. It's coming but right now isn't my time. Does it hurt? Yeah it hurts but I am glad my best friend finally got his title. He deserves it plus it is a good time for an Ambrose vs. Reigns feud. Tears fill my eyes as I sit up in the ring and I watch him go over to his family to celebrate. The pride in their eyes and the pride on his daughter's face makes it worth it. I roll out of the ring and walk over to him. I hold my hand out for him to shake. He smiles at me and shakes it before he pulls me into a hug. "Thanks, Man," he says in my ear.
"Congratulations, you deserve this, Man," I say as I pat his back before I break the hug. I hold his hand up in victory and point at him. It still hurts but to see him happy makes me happy. He makes his way to the ring as I stop to see my family. I hug my mom, Kennedy and Saige's parents. I hug Renee and she has a look of sadness on her face as I help her over the barrier so she can interview Roman in the ring.
As Renee interviews Roman I make my way to the back. I stop at the top of the ramp and look back with tears in my eyes and clap for my best friend as he stands in his glory and victory. I make my way through the curtain to be greeted by an applause from those watching in the back, congratulating me on my performance. Vince gives me a hug and then Stephanie McMahon gives me a hug. "You did a good job out there tonight, Dean. I'm proud of you."
"Thanks," I say with tears in my eyes before I am greeted by some other superstars.
Tears fill my eyes as I see Kennedy and my mom as well as Saige's parents standing waiting for me. Kennedy runs up to me and I pick her up into my arms and just hug her. "You did so good, Daddy. I'm proud of you," she says before I kiss her cheek as I hug her. "I love you."
"I love you too," I say with tears in my eyes. I'm trying my best not to cry but it's hard. It hurts a lot knowing that you work so hard for something but keep falling short of the thing you want the most. I know that the day is going to come and after all this it's going to be sweeter but the pain is deep.
"I'm proud of you, Dean," says my mom as she hugs me and I hug her back as I hold onto Kennedy. "You did your best and that's all any of us could ask for. I know it sucks but your day is going to come, Dean and when it does all this will be nothing to you. IT's going to make that day sweeter. You did a great job, Dean. You're a champion to me."
"Thanks, Mom," I say as I let myself go and I break down into tears. I turn my back so no one can see but Kennedy holds onto my neck tightly giving me another hug and kisses my cheek.
"It's okay, Daddy," she says. "You did a great job and I'm proud of you. You don't need a championship to be my hero. You'll always be my hero because you're the best daddy and wrestler I ever met," she says making me smile through my tears.
Standing there letting my emotions out I feel a soft hand on my shoulder and turn to see Renee standing next to me. I wrap my arm around her and kiss her temple. "You did a great job, Baby," she says. "I'm proud of you."
"Thank-you," I say softly. I have nothing else to say what happened out there happened and I can't change it but with my family and Renee it's all right gold doesn't make me the man it's my character that does but it still hurts. "I love you," I say to her.
"I love you too," she says before I kiss her lips softly. I pull myself together and we make our way to my locker room so I can shower before the after party. In a way maybe not winning the championship was a good thing because now I can spend some much needed time with Renee and Kennedy and take some time off to enjoy my two favorite girls in my life. I need a little down time before I get back into the swing of things again.
*A/N: What did you think of Kennedy and Dean spending the day together? Did Dean need that time with Kennedy to put it all into perspective? What did you think of Dean losing at WRestlemania? Will his time come soon? How do you think he handled it? What were your thoughts on his humility toward Roman's win? Does Dean need to be the champion or hold gold to make Kennedy proud of him? What do you think of them as a family? Does this give Dean the time to focus on the personal aspects of his life and to take some down time to be a father and a boyfriend? Please review and thank-you for reading.
