Hello, lovely readers.
Time for the big fight! We have one more chapter left to go after this one. But do not fear, the sequel is already being planned
This chapter is named after 'Fighter' by Christina Aguilera.
Madeleine Ziggler's Point Of View
The closer we got to Night Of Champions, the more my anxiety rose each and every day. The nerves got worse, the fear built, and I was genuinely terrified for Dean. Night Of Champions was his match against his ex-best friend, and I feared greatly about the aftermath.
Don't get me wrong, I had the utmost faith in Dean to win the match. He was so talented and strong, and I knew he could easily beat Seth were it a simple one on one match, which theirs should be.
But deep down in my heart I knew it wouldn't be. Whilst on paper it was one on one, Seth was now a member of The Authority, and they never did anything by halves. Whilst they could do nothing to me, they had not kept secret how happy they were to upset Dean and Roman.
There was no doubt to me they would find a way to get involved somehow if Seth was beginning to lose.
There was no way in hell they were going to let their little poster boy lose this and not come out on top. There was no real way Dean could win this and that's what scared me.
Because if Dean didn't win, he'd beat himself up for weeks about it.
After everything Seth had put him through, Dean wanted revenge and he wanted retribution. He wanted to win because he deserved it and it's what was right in the grand scheme of things. Seth had done wrong and he deserved his comeuppance in the form of Dean defeating him in the ring.
So if Seth won their match and Dean didn't, where was the fairness in that? He would have been screwed over twice and the lunatic never took kindly to that.
So Dean winning was a must, but if Seth had The Authority's backup, I couldn't see how that would happen.
Dean, on the other hand, was far more relaxed than I was. He and Roman had been discussing tactics and strategies for weeks now. They knew Seth so well, every strength and every weakness. They had trained together for years and knew exactly how he worked. So they knew they could easily find a way to win.
They seemed confident and positive that Seth would lose. But after all the shit The Authority had put us through, I knew there was no way we could count them out of this fight.
However that wasn't the only thing on my mind, Seth's kiss still constantly cropping up in my thoughts, my guilt laying heavier in my heart as each day passed where I didn't tell Dean the truth. This match only made this worse. Dean now had even more on his plate to deal with, there was certainly no way the kiss could come out now. I hated myself for lying but I knew I was doing it to protect the man I loved.
We were both alone in our hotel room on Saturday evening, Roman having gone down to the gym. Dean seemed quite relaxed, lounging on the bed watching some football game that was on. I on the other hand was nervously sat on the floor, packing our clothes as we were moving onto a new city tomorrow. My anxiety must have been pretty easy to detect as when I looked up from my suitcase, I saw Dean staring down at me, a look of concern in his eyes. I ignored it, continuing to do my chore.
"Talk to me, Maddie," he said.
"I'm fine," I lied, moving my jeans and laying them at the bottom of my case. "Just trying to sort these clothes out."
"You know I can very easily tell when you're lying, right?" he said. I heard him move on the bed until he was sitting on the edge of the mattress in front of me.
I sighed, putting the clothes in my hands down. "I don't know how you can be so calm, especially with the match you'll be fighting tomorrow."
He nodded in understanding. "I'm calm because I know this is a match I can win."
"But how do you know that?" I asked him, looking squarely in his eyes. "Considering who your opponent is, how can you be certain?"
"Because of that exact reason," he replied. "I know exactly who my opponent is. I know everything about him. His strengths, his weaknesses, his move-set, how he walks the ring. There can be no surprises."
"But it's Seth," I said sadly, getting up from my spot on the floor and coming to sit beside him on the bed. "Does it not phase you that you're fighting the man who was once your best friend?"
"No, it just spurs me on," he said, brushing a lose piece of hair from my face. "Seth screwed me over, sweetheart. He screwed my brother over too, but most of all he screwed you over." I began to panic that he was referring to the kiss, but his next sentence put me at ease. "When he walked out, he walked out on all three of us, and I'm not standing for that. I'm not upset anymore, Maddie. I'm angry, I'm pissed, I'm seething. And because of that I'm ready for a fight."
"Really?" I asked.
"Yeah," he said. "He's not Seth Rollins, member of The Shield anymore. He's Seth Rollins, Authority fuck boy. I see him purely as an enemy now."
"But that's my worry," I said sadly. "You have this confidence, but surely you have to realise The Authority are going to get involved."
"They probably are," he said calmly. "But I have back-up too. I have Roman and I friends in the back. I'm calm, Maddie. Whichever way this fight goes, whether I come out the winner or he does, I'm gonna totally beat the shit out of Seth Rollins. If the ref raises his arm as the victor, that arm is going to be broken and battered and bruised. I'm not letting him leave that ring until I've destroyed the living daylights out of him."
I looked into those baby blue eyes of his and saw the confidence and self-belief he had, and I knew I had to trust his judgement. If Dean thought he could win, then I had to believe he could as well. I was his girlfriend and I had to support any decisions he made. So that's what I did.
"Just don't kill him okay?" I smiled. "Death is too quick and easy."
He chuckled, placing a finger under my chin. "Nah, I plan to have my fun with that bastard."
"Good," I said.
"Though it's cute when you're all concerned about me. I like it," he replied, causing me to blush profusely.
"I can't help it," I whispered, biting my lip. "I worry about you."
He brushed his nose against mine. "Well it's adorable," he said before pressing his lips to mine and gently lowering me onto the bed.
xXx
Sunday soon rolled round and we had taken our usual spot on top of the staircase. It was just Dean and I as Roman and myself were not to be at ringside. I had simply come up to wish him luck and send him on his way. The match before Dean's was still playing out and Dean was doing stretches to warm himself up.
I watched him, seeing on his face the excitement this match held for him. He was ready for this, I could tell.
I approached him once he'd finished his stretches, the lunatic bouncing eagerly on his feet.
"You ready for this?" I asked, my arms folded.
"As ready as I'll ever be," he replied. "Ready for some revenge."
"I bet you are," I laughed lightly as he wrapped his arms around me. I rested my hands on his strong chest.
"Will you come out to celebrate with me when I win?" he asked with a smirk.
"They won't be able to stop me running out to that ring," I smiled, kissing his lips lightly.
"Mmmm," he hummed. "Wanna do that again?"
I smirked, kissing his lips again. Only he met me half way this time, kissing me with more force and passion.
He pulled away, brushing my hair from my face. "Who'd have thought all those months ago when I met you in that elevator that we'd be here together now?"
I cast my mind back to the day we'd met, the day where my stupid suitcase had been stuck in the elevator and The Shield had helped me out. They had been so cold then, so harsh and silent. But now here we were, together forever.
"I wouldn't change it for the world," I smiled, looking up at the man I loved, feeling so much adoration in my heart for him.
I'd known for a while now what my true feelings were but I'd yet to say them out-loud to him. We'd been so busy lately, our minds elsewhere that the words 'I love you' had yet to leave my lips. But I did love him. I loved him with all my heart and soul. And I always would.
"It's been the best time of my life," he smiled, his face alight with joy and happiness. "And now I'm gonna top it off with a win tonight."
"I believe in you, sweetheart," I said, running my fingers through his soft but wet hair.
"I'll win this for you," he said to me. "You're the one who's gotten me through all this, and I plan to win and beat this in return."
"You're amazing, Dean Ambrose," I said, giving him a soft and quick kiss. "So amazing."
I heard Dean's match being announced and knew now was his time to go. So I sadly let him go.
"Let's do this," he grinned, starting to walk to the door of the staircase.
"Wait," I said quickly.
He turned to look at me. "What?"
I looked at him, taking him in, my heart pounding wildly. "I love you…"
He froze, his eyes widening. "What…?"
"I love you," I smiled. "So damn much."
"Maddie… I…"
"So go out there and show them what you can do."
He barely had time to reply or respond, his music beginning to sound. So as he made his way to the door, I rushed downstairs to the canteen, sitting with all the other Superstars and Divas watching on the big TV.
xXx
I winced as Seth threw Dean from the top rope, the lunatic landing with a thud. I saw him writhe in pain but it didn't take him long to be back up on his feet.
The match had been on for a while now, no outright winner being shown. It had been very back and forth, Seth winning then Dean winning and so on. I watched as Seth hit Dean with a drop kick, the lunatic falling through the ropes, but not before he could grab them and launch back into the ring. He hit Seth with a clothes-line, Dean's enemy falling to the floor.
My hands were shaking with nerves, not quite knowing which way the match was going to go. I felt a hand grab mine and looked down to see it was Roman's.
"It's okay, baby girl," he smiled sweetly. "Have faith in him."
"I do," I smiled. "I know he can do it."
I held Roman's hand as the fight continued, no Authority interference having happened yet. I knew they would show before long, especially as Dean was now offering some offence and had taken control of the match. Whilst Dean had remained in his Shield gear, it was odd to see Seth wearing something else. He had opted to go shirtless, wearing black pants with gold lining. He'd even come out at the start of the match with brand new entrance music. He had already lost the essence of The Shield.
He was now a completely different person, an utter stranger to us.
The fight continued, the crowd roaring as they enjoyed the fight, Dean's offence coming out on top. It was easy to see Seth weakening, my heart pounding with nerves and joy as Dean grabbed him and prepared to hit him with Dirty Deeds…
Until the crowd booing indicated that Triple H, Kane and Randy Orton were heading down the ramp towards the ring.
"No…" I whispered. I knew this would fucking happen. The Authority could never leave well alone and let things simply play out as they should. If things weren't going their way, they'd always make sure they could change that.
And now they were going to assure Dean would lose.
All of a sudden Roman let go of my hand and bolted from the room. I knew where he was heading – his brother needed help. But what surprised me the most was when I saw my brother and John Cena follow him.
I frowned, my eyebrows furrowed as I looked back at the TV screen, wondering what the hell was happening. The Authority had stopped their walking and were stood by the ring, ready to climb in… but not before Roman, Dolph and John could block their path.
My smile widened, seeing the back-up plan Dean had told me about. Roman would always fight for his brother, Dolph would fight as he knew how important Dean was to me, and no doubt Nikki had sent John out in Dean's defence.
The odds had evened out and Seth's advantage had been taken away. A small relieved laugh left my lips at all this.
Far too distracted by what was taking place outside the ring, Seth was too slow to react to what was happening within. Catching him off guard, Dean grabbed Seth and finally hit him with Dirty Deeds. Seth dropped to the floor and the lunatic went in for the cover, the ref hitting the mat 1-2-3.
The arena went wild as the bell rung and Dean's arm was lifted in victory.
The canteen became filled with applause and cheers, all the Superstars and Divas rather pleased with the outcome. I barely had time to see The Authority grab Seth from the ring on the TV screen. I ran from my seat, heading for the ring as fast as my legs would carry me. I ran straight past the three men carrying a sorrowful looking Seth and ran down the ramp and up into the ring, launching myself into Dean's arms.
He caught me, holding me tight, twirling me round as The Shield's theme played. Roman, Dolph and John patted him on the back as he held me, hugging me as close to him as possible.
He'd done it, he'd actually done it. He'd defeated Seth, he'd shown The Authority that he was stronger than they thought, but most of all he'd shown the WWE Universe that just because The Shield had been broken did not mean they were beaten. Yes Seth was gone, but Dean and Roman remained, and they were stronger and more united than ever. They had been knocked down but had certainly got back up again.
He pulled away to look at my face, his arms still around my waist, his smile bigger than I'd seen in weeks.
"You actually did it?" I said, the loud music meaning only he could hear me.
"Did you doubt me, Miss Ziggler?" he teased with a smug grin.
I smirked. "Nah, I always had faith."
"Sure you did," he winked. "Oh, and for the record… I love you too."
"Y-You do?" I asked.
"With all my heart, sweetheart."
At that point I didn't care where we were or who was watching. I didn't care that the WWE Universe had never seen us together romantically or that our relationship to them had simply been hearsay and rumour up to now. They could find out for all I cared, because as soon as those words left his mouth, a pressed my lips to his and kissed him with every ounce of passion I had.
He had won.
He had told me he loved me.
He had proven that through everything, he could not be broken.
Dean and I were on top of the world right now, and that's where we would remain.
A huge thanks to Tantoune, Clara, lozzy g, Hollarious969, Crazychiksxxxx and my guest reviewer for their lovely reviews about the last chapter.
One more chapter left to go, guys!