Chapter 29.

As the hours went by and the beginning of Hell in a Cell got closer Nikki got more and more nervous. She wanted this to end, but would it really? Just because Randy couldn't blast it all over TV didn't mean he wouldn't still do it backstage. She hoped it would get boring for him now and he'd back off, but one could only hope. All the matches involving the shield were happening back to back. First the tornado tag team match with Dean and Seth. Then Nikki's women's championship match and then Roman's US title match against Luke was to be the main event. It felt too good that the end of this terror was near and in the pit of her stomach she was just waiting for the other shoe to drop.

"Well don't you two look cozy" Nikki joked as she walked into the locker room were Brie and Seth were laying on the couch together.

They smiled

"So, this official or one of you playing hard to get?" Nikki asked

"NICOLE" Brie scolded

"What? I'm just asking, Dean and I were thinking we could all take a couple's trip when this is all over, you know me and him, Paige and roman and well you two if you guys are "you two" Otherwise it'll be weird for you and that'd suck, so can we count you in for the couple's trip or nah?"

Seth looked at Brie. Who looked back at him, red faced.

"Well" Seth began "I'd like us to part of your couple's trip"

Brie blushed "Count us in"

Nikki clapped "YAY"

They laughed "Now wasn't that easy?" Nikki winked and left the room again.

She couldn't find Dean anywhere until minutes before his tag team match.

"Where have you been?" She asked as they stood in gorilla

"Around" he answered, "Trying to get my head in the game is all"

He kissed her forehead "You ready?"

"As ready as I'll ever be" Nikki responded, "You two be careful out there"

"We're always careful darling" Seth responded

They're music hit and Nikki watched as the pair headed to the ring.

After 15 minutes, Seth and Dean were victorious in their tag team tornado match against Bryan and Randy. Nikki and Brie both thought for sure that Bryan and Randy would attack the pair after the match but they didn't and Nikki felt a feeling of relief wash over her. Now it was her turn. After this match, she didn't care to think of Aksana ever again, in another world she wouldn't have meant anything to her at all, she was just the girl in the right place at the right time when Randy needed an equalizer and after tonight, Aksana will know that too.

"You go out there and you get what's yours" Brie coached her right before her music hit

She nodded and put on a smile.

Aksana certainly didn't waste any time getting in as much damage as she could on Nikki while she had the chance, and quite frankly Nikki didn't take it easy either. She wanted that Championship as much as she wanted this feud to be over, if not more. Having a chance to be the women's champion again, without the lingering feeling of knowing she only had it because Randy arranged it so the guilt would eat at her, was needed. She wanted to have the championship because she earned it, and my goodness she certainly felt she deserved it. With a final knee to the face off the middle rope, Nikki got Aksana down for the three count and she did what she set out to do, she ended the feud with Aksana and won back her women's championship and nothing could take that moment from her.

She had a congratulatory committee waiting for her when she came back through the curtain and at the end of that line, was Dean. He hugged her and spun her around.

"I am so proud of you" he told her as he kissed her

"I could not have gotten though any of this without you" She told him

"Nah, you're stronger than you think Nicole, you really truly are" He assured her

She smiled

"I don't know what I'd do without you Nicole, and even if it meant having to go through all of this again, everything we've endured the last few months, I'd do it all again, as long as I had you by my side. Because life is better with you by my side." Dean got down on one knee "And I want you by my side for the rest of my life."

Nikki was now realizing all her friends were standing around her and she realized what was happening as Dean got down on one knee.

"Dean" She tried to say but it came out as more of a whisper.

"Nicole, a year ago, I never would have imaged my life would be the way it is now, I never would have imaged I'd wake up happy, that I'd be in love with anyone, or that anyone could love me back. But I do love you Nicole, I love you more than I ever thought I was capable of, and if this whole thing has taught us anything it's that we can endure anything thrown at us, and we are stronger together, and I don't' want to spend a day without you fighting next to me. Will you marry me?"

Nikki was well in tears at this point and she couldn't believe what was happening.

"YES, yes of course I'll marry you!" she exclaimed

She faintly heard all their friends and co-workers cheering around her, but she was in her own world with Dean as he slid the most stunning ring she'd ever seen on her finger. She had absolutely no idea he was even considering marriage, it was all such a shock, and it made it that much more exciting.

"You seriously had no idea?" Brie asked her laughed

"No, I had no freaking clue, not even an idea" Nikki exclaimed as she stared at her hand

"I never knew he could be so sneaky" Paige chuckled

"Roman, you're up" A producer interrupted them

He nodded "Time to finished this ladies and gents"

Everyone nodded and he made his way out the ring to meet Luke for the last time.

"I can't stop staring at it" Nikki laughed waiting for Romans match to start

"It's so beautiful" Brie gushed "Seriously he did good"

"He so did" Nikki agreed

"What was that?" Dean asked and him and Seth joined the girls

"You did good Ambrose, you did good" Brie told him

"Well thank you" Dean said

"I'd hope so, he was freaking out about it enough" Seth added

"You knew?!" Brie exclaimed

"Of course, I knew, so did Roman, oh and Cesaro" Seth said

"Guilty" Cesaro laughed

"AND I didn't tell you because she's your freaking twin sister and I wasn't sure you could hold in the excitement…. Plus, I kind of wanted to see your face" Seth smirked

"Oh, the match is starting" Cesaro pointed out.

The group watched from the monitors as Roman and Luke faced off in the cage for the US Title. Everyone had won their matches thus far, and Roman was no different. After a grueling 25 minutes, Roman finally became victorious and remained US Champion. After the match was over, Brie Nikki Seth and Dean all joined Roman in the ring. Nikki couldn't wait till she could get her hands on a picture of what people were seeing on TV. Nikki Bella Women's champion, standing tall, next to her sister, her best friends, and her new fiancé. She never thought she'd get to this point but she did and it proved she could get through anything.

The group headed back to the hotel after the PPV and Nikki was itching for some alone time with Dean to celebrate their engagement.

"I still can't believe it" Nikki said when they arrived in their hotel room

"believe what?" Dean asked

"This. Mostly that you managed to keep a secret from me! How long were you planning this?"

"About a month at least" Dean said

"A MONTH?!" Nikki laughed

"yes, a month. I'm apparently really sneaky" he winked

"When did you have to pick out a ring, we've been together like nonstop" Nikki asked

"Remember when Paige suggested you and brie join her at her place for a girl's night in Tampa last month?" Dean said

"yeah" Nikki remembered

"We'll Roman may have put the idea in her head that you all needed that girl's night and we took advantage of you all being occupied and that's when they came with me to help get the ring" Dean explained

"It's seriously so beautiful" Nikki kissed him "and I'm so so very lucky"

"Oh, I'm the lucky one" Dean told her

"We're freaking getting married" Nikki exclaimed with a laugh

"We're freaking getting married" Dean repeated with a smile.

The end.

I've really loved writing this story and posting it! I've never posted a story i've written before but it was fun and i'm probably going to start another one soon! I hope you enjoyed reading this one, as much I like writing it! Until next time (: