Chapter Twenty-Nine

Emma isn't sure how she's going to make it through their segment. After Dean had told her that he'd continue to fight for her because he loves her, he walked away. She tried to go after him, but he wasn't having any of it. Now here she is, walking out to the ring with Bayley, knowing that soon Dean and Roman will be joining them as well. She climbs into the ring, continuing to dance. She walks over to take the microphone and smiles at Bayley.

"When they say they have a plan, they mean they have a plan," Emma says. "Never doubt Dean Ambrose and Roman Reigns." She smiles when the crowd cheers. "I have to admit that I started doubting. Sometimes you just need to have some patience." She points toward the back. "Charlotte and Paige thought they could always be one step ahead of me. Not anymore. You can try all you want to beat me down. But I won't stay down." She frowns when Paige's music starts. She watches as Paige and Charlotte walk out onto the ramp.

"So you've 'evened' the odds now," Paige says. "You still don't get it, Emma. We will always have the upper hand. It's never been about even in numbers. It's always been about…"

"It's always been about you thinking you're better than everyone else," Emma interrupts. "Look around you, Paige. We're all in the same place. The only difference between you and I right now is the belt that's around your waist. But come Battleground, you won't even have that."

"What makes you so sure that you'll even make it to Battleground?" Paige and Charlotte start walking down the ramp.

Bayley steps up beside Emma and takes the microphone from her. "I am tired of listening to the two you," she says pointing between Paige and Charlotte. "Neither one of you have proven anything other than you'll turn your backs on anyone. And for what? Paige, what did you gain from joining the Authority?"

Emma and Bayley step back when the other two climb into the ring. Before anything can happen, Stephanie and Hunter are stepping out onto the ramp. Emma leans over to whisper something to Bayley. Bayley simply nods.

"Looks like we have a little issue here," Stephanie says. "So here's what we're gonna do." She smirks as Randy and Seth step out onto the ramp. "We're gonna have ourselves a Divas tag team match. Charlotte and Paige against Emma and Bayley. Emma, listen closely to this next part. If you and your partner lose this match, you will not be facing Paige for the Diva's championship at Battleground. Get a ref out here."

Emma looks at Bayley as they stand in one of the corners. Randy and Seth walk down to the ring, smirking up at Emma and Bayley. They're about to say something when Dean's music starts.

"No!" Seth yells.

Emma smiles as Dean and Roman make their way down the ramp. Both men walk around to the side where Emma and Bayley are standing, each jumping up onto the ring apron on either side of the corner.

"What now?" Dean yells across the ring.

"This isn't fair!" Charlotte shrieks.

Dean snorts as the bell rings. He drops down to the floor. He watches Emma start the match with Paige. He lets out a heavy breath. He didn't want to come out here, but he didn't really have a choice. He paces along the outside of the ring as the match goes on, not that he's paying too much attention to it. Lucky for him, Roman is out there as well. He'd be afraid of what he would be like if it were only him out here.

"That's it Bayley," Roman says as Bayley drops Paige to the mat.

Dean glances up to see Emma standing at the corner. Why is he always made out to be the bad guy? Okay, yes, he should have made more of effort when they were in public. However, she's not completely innocent either. All she ever had to do was say something. He wouldn't have stopped her if she made the first move. He frowns a little before looking into the ring again. He needs to stop thinking about what's going on with them off camera.

A short time later, Emma locks Paige into the Emmalock and pulls up hard as she screams out. "Tap!" she yells.

Dean licks his lips as he leans his elbows down on the ring. Just as Paige is about to tap, Charlotte kicks Emma in the stomach. Dean slams his hands down on the ring. He watches as Bayley jumps off the top turnbuckle onto Charlotte. It's another few moments before the ref regains order.

"Come on, Emma," Dean calls out. He walks around to where Roman is standing. He lets out a heavy breath as he watches Emma tag Bayley in. As the blonde slides out of the ring, Dean walks over. "You okay?"

Emma looks at him quickly, almost as if she's surprised to see him there. "Yeah," she answers. She nods before climbing back up to the ring apron.

Dean glances up at her before stepping back over to Roman. "Tell me what to do," he says softly to the Samoan.

Roman shakes his head. "Can't help ya out there," he says.

"Figures." He watches as Bayley covers Paige for a two count. "Come on, ref! That was three."

Bayley is pushed into the corner long enough for Paige to tag Charlotte in. She ducks a clothes line before grabbing the second generation diva and hitting the belly to belly suplex on her. She covers her quickly, barely managing to hold her down for the three count.

"Your winners, Emma and Bayley."

Dean and Roman climb into the ring when the other two men hop up onto the apron. Dean can't help but chuckle a little when Emma starts her dance. He's certainly gotten used to seeing it.


Dean follows Emma into their hotel room. He'd actually been surprised she hadn't gone back to Bayley's room. Of course, she belongs here with him. He sets his bag down before kicking out of his shoes.

"You ever gonna talk to me?" Emma asks softly.

Dean looks at her as she sits down on the bed. "Do you want to talk?" When she nods, he walks over to the bed and sits down beside her. "Okay. So let's talk."

"Now I'm allowed to?"

He sighs. "I didn't want to earlier because it was already gonna be bad enough for the both of us having to be out there together tonight."

"So you thought ignoring me was the best option?"

He wrinkles his nose. "I didn't even think about it, Emma." He shrugs.

"You tell me you're going to keep fighting for me because that's how much you love me. After saying that, you storm out of the room. And when I go after you so we can talk, you ignore me."

"I told you I wasn't thinking."

"Obviously." She sighs. "But…" She chews on her bottom lip as she pulls her legs up under her. "I may have been too hard on you. I keep getting on you about doing something to show me when we're in public." She looks at Dean. "But then I thought about it. What have I done? It goes both ways and I could have easily done something."

He smiles a little. "You must have read my mind earlier." He nudges her. "I'm sorry, Short Stack."

She shakes her head. "No, I'm sorry. I should have stepped up if that's what I wanted from you." She watches him carefully. "Are we okay?"

Dean nods before he leans over and kisses her softly. "We're good." He smiles against her lips. "I love you."

Emma's heart flutters at that as she throws her arms around his neck. "I love you."