Disclaimer: I don't own anybody or anything related to the WWE. I only own my OC.
8 months later…
I sat nervously at my vanity as I applied another layer of red lipstick to my lips in the mirror. When I was done, I looked intently at my reflection. My blonde hair was in big waves. I'd never felt prettier, never felt happier.
"You ready for that veil yet, Sweetheart?" Jessie asked as she entered the room. A big proud smile across her lips. I couldn't help but smile too.
"Yeah, I think I am." She walked over to me and gently began to pin the small white veil onto my hair.
"You look absolutely gorgeous," she marveled.
"Thank you. I just…I never thought I'd be doing this. You know, getting married a second time!"
"Well, maybe the second time's the charm!" Jessie assured me.
"I sure hope so! I'm not doing this a third time!" I joked.
"I'm 110% sure that this will be your last wedding….that Wade will be your last love. What you guys have is real. You two have the kind of love that us single gals can only hope to replicate or even have half of what you have."
"You'll get your happy ending too. I'm sure of it!" I assured her.
"You're sweet but let me worry about gettin' you hitched first!" she said with a chuckle.
"Sounds like a plan!"
A soft yet persistent knocking sounded on the heavy wooden door.
"Who is it?" Jessie bellowed.
"It's Randy!"
"Okay, come on in," she said decisively. The door slowly opened. Randy appeared and immediately began to grin. It seemed so weird to see him in a tux.
"Look at you," he said slowly shaking his head.
"I clean up nice don't I?" I asked playfully.
"That you do. You make such a beautiful and breathtaking bride, Nicolette. Wade is one lucky bastard!"
"Damn right!" I said with a chuckle.
"Are you okay?" he asked.
"Yeah. I'm just so damn nervous all of a sudden! That's normal right? Its gotta be normal!" I rambled quickly, figetting with my hair.
"Relax, Nic! It's absolutely, perfectly normal to be a little nervous about getting married," Randy said putting a hand on my shoulder.
"Do you really believe that or are you just saying that?"
"I actually believe that. You are making a lifelong commitment! That is quite serious. For most people, the fact that many marriages don't last would be a big deterrent. But for you…you and Wade have been by each others sides for what, 14-15 years? That's already been about half of your lifetime so far. So the rest of your lives doesn't seem so unreasonable does it?" he said softly.
"I suppose your right," I said with a small smile. "Thank you for this pep talk…How's Wade holding up?" I asked curiously.
"Wow, you managed to wait a whole five minutes to ask! I'm impressed and surprised by your self discipline!"he joked. "But Wade...well he's doing just about as well as you are. He's a bit nervous as well. But I'm pretty sure that one look at you, will be assurance enough."
"I would hope so. I couldn't handle it if he was a runner!"
"A runaway groom?!" he chuckled. "I think he'd be too scared to run. You'd come after his British ass with a vengence!"
"Of course I would."
"Naturally…of course we were all more worried that you'd be the runner…."
"What? Why?!" I spat.
"Track record mostly. You often run away from things, missy!" he pointed out.
"Touché! But where would I run too? I'm already here at the ranch!" I giggled.
"That's a fair point."
"Duh! I'm smart!"
"Yeah, I suppose you are. On that note, Ms. Smartie Pants, I better get going. I have best man duties to fulfill. I'll see you out there."
"Bye Randy!" I called out as he left the room. I took a deep breath.
"Nic, do you need me to get you anything?" Jessie asked.
"Scotch! The good stuff...ya know from my special stash!" I said with a giggle.
"Alright but I'm only allowing you one glass before the ceremony!" She warned.
"Fine!"
Ten minutes later I was calmly sipping on my scotch, when once again the door was knocked on.
"Who is it?" Jessie bellowed again.
"It's Wade," the voice boomed. My heart immediately began to race.
"Barrett! It is bad luck to see the Bride before the wedding!" Jessie scolded. I heard him chuckle.
"I know, I know. I just have something important for my bride," he said softly. "I'm just going to slide it under the door." A big yellow envelope slipped under the door. I walked over and picked it up.
"What is it?" I asked through the door.
"You'll see."
I opened the envelope and pulled out the pages inside.
"Oh my god!"
"What is it?" Jessie asked panicked.
"A letter from Maxwell…my brother. He's been gone from us twelve years…" I marveled. I turned to the door. "How did you…."
"I found the letter in a box of things he'd given to me before he passed. When he died, I couldn't bear to look in the box. But when we moved in together, I found the box and looked inside it. This envelope had a sticky note on it that read: For Nicki on her wedding day. I wasn't able to deliver it on your first wedding. I hope getting it on the second one is alright."
"Wow," I said breathlessly as I just stared at his handwriting on the page. It'd been so long since I'd seen it. I took a deep breath and began to read it.
"Nicki,
I'm writing this because today the doctors have told me that this is it. There is nothing more they can do for me. It's over for me. I can't help but think about all the things I'm going to miss out on. One of those things being your wedding. I'd always envisioned that I'd be the one to give you, my one and only little sister, away in your big beautiful white dress. I thought I would be there to have a stern talking with whoever was man enough to try and tame such a boisterous spirit. I won't be there to playfully threaten him not to break your heart or I'll break his face. It breaks my heart to know that these brotherly duties will go unfulfilled on your special day.
I wish you a life and a love full of happiness and joy. I hope that the man you marry today is not only the love of your life but your best friend, your partner. I probably will never have met the man you will spend your life with. Personally, I'm rooting for Wade. Nic, don't pretend I didn't watch the two of you shooting each other lovely dovey glances in my hospital room for the past few months! I made him promise to look after you after I'm gone. Hopefully he's followed through on his promise although I find it hard to believe that he wouldn't. The guy is totally in love with you! The men in your life better watch out for him!
But seriously it doesn't matter to me who the groom is. I just want you to know one thing. Just know that although I'm not physically there, that I'm with you today, just like everyday. I love you so much, Nicki. I'm so proud of you.
Love your big brother,
Maxwell Sparks."
A tear ran down my cheek but I broke out into a big smile. It meant a lot to get that note today.
"Are you alright, love?" Wade asked softly through the door.
"Yeah, yeah I am. I'm so glad you found this."
"I am too. I knew it would mean a lot to you. The two of you were so close and its so terrible that he isn't here with us today. That's the one thing I wish I could change about today. He was the thing that brought us together. He should be here."
"I miss him so much," I whispered.
"I miss him a lot too."
"I love you," I said softly through the door.
"I love you too. I'll see you out there. I'll be the devilishly handsome one in a tux at the other end of the aisle," he said smoothly.
"I look forward to it," I said with a beeming smile.
He left the door and I scrambled to touch my makeup up. Jessie was adjusting her bridesmaid dress. She handed me my bouquet.
"I think you're all set, Nicolette," she said decidedly with a little excited squeal.
"I think you are right. I'm ready."
She gave me a quick kiss on the cheek, a happy tear in her eye. "Let's get you married."
We were getting married at my ranch in San Antonio at the very spot we decided to 'make a go of it' at. This required the wedding participants to drive from the house down to the wedding area. Jessie, my only bridesmaid, Randy, the best man, and my lovely groom all loaded up and drove down to the site.
Once they were on their way, I emerged and got into the pickup parked and waiting for me.
"Heard you needed a handsome man to give you away," Steve said sweetly.
"That I do. I'm glad you agreed to do this."
"I wouldn't miss this for the world and I could be more honored to be giving you away."
Steve helped me up into the vehicle and got my dress to fit into the truck. This was quite a feat since wedding dresses were often quite large and mine was no exception. He closed the door and then climbed into the driver's seat.
"I hate to admit it but I have to say, you look even more beautiful as a bride the second time around," Steve said with a grin. I smiled a big smile back at him.
"Thank you, Steve," I said reaching over and giving his hand a squeeze.
"You're welcome, darlin'," he said starting the truck.
We drove slowly down to where the wedding was staged. It was a small wedding, with less than 50 people here. Although it was small, everybody we wanted to be there was. Many of the attendents were other superstars like Sheamus, various ex-Nexus members like Justin Gabriel and Heath Slater, even Punk and Heyman were in attendence. A wooden arch with flowers stood down the aisle. Wade and Randy stood dapper in their suits. Jessie stood on the other side of the arch with flowers.
Steve turned off the truck and got out. He adjusted his suit as he walked over to my side and opened the door. He offered me his hand. I took it and he ushered me out of the truck. The traditional bride entrance song began to play. I took Steve's arm and we walked down the aisle. I couldn't help but stare at Wade. He looked so very handsome in his tux. The biggest grin adorned his face. I couldn't help but happily smile back.
Finally we reached the end of the aisle. Wade walked over to meet us. Steve gave me a kiss on the cheek.
"She's all yours, Wade!" Steve said confidently. "Good luck!" The crowd laughed at the exchange. It was a little unconventional for a first husband to give the bride away to the soon to be second husband.
"Thank you, Steve!" Wade replied. The two of them shook hands before Wade grabbed my hand. Together we walked up to the wedding officiate.
"We gather here today to join Wade Barrett and Nicolette Sparks in holy matrimony…"
"It is my pleasure to introduce to you for the first time, Mr. and Mrs. Wade Barrett!" The DJ announced as we walked into the big event tent and onto the dance floor. Our friends cheering and clapping. The music began and Wade spun me around to face him. We began our first dance.
"I can't believe we did it! After all this time!" I squealed.
"It's a little surreal," he admitted. "I've waited my entire life for this day."
"Me too."
"You know, a part of me knew the day that we met that we would have something really special. Little 15 year old Nic was sitting on her couch braces on her teeth, a mane of blonde hair around her face that held an angry expression. Even then I knew."
"Oh, you did not!" I said with a chuckle.
"It's true. That day I laid eyes on you, you put my heart in a stranglehold and I haven't been able to break the hold since. To be honest, I never really wanted too," he said staring deep into my eyes. A big grin crossed my lips.
"I love you so very much, Mr. Barrett."
"I love you too, Mrs. Barrett…"
"Oh, I love the way that sounds," I whispered.
"Oh yeah?"
"Yeah, call me that again."
"Mrs. Barrett," he whispered.
"Perfect," I murmured before crashing my lips onto his.
Epilogue
Our marriage was a lasting one.
Wade and I happily continued our wrestling careers in the WWE for many more years. I wrestled for five more years following the wedding before having to take a hiatus due to becoming pregnant with our twin boys. We took our family on the road with us for the years up until the boys went to school. Then I was forced down to part time managerial stus and finally I retired from the business at age of 40. Longer thn most women in the business. Wade wrestled on until a ripe middle age. The WWE was the last company we worked for. There was no other place we'd rather be
We both accomplished a lot in the remainders of our careers. Wade finally was able to capture world championship gold. He help both the WWE championship and the World Heavyweight championship several times. I went on to hold the Intercontinental title an additional four times, the U.S. Championship twice, and the tag team titles 5 different times (Three with Randy, once with Wade, and once with Sheamus).
Post retirement, we both became hall of famers, being inducted the same year by our good friend Randy. We lived in our house in Tampa. We frequented trips to both the Vegas house and the ranch. Our boys grew up to be wrestlers just like us. Trained by their parents, Randy, and good ol' Uncle Steve. Not to mention they had the shot of their mom with a shotgun. They had Wade's look and my attitude and we coluldn't have been prouder.
Our lives were happy, hectic, and full of love. I wouldn't have changed a damn thing…
There it is, the final chapter of Stranglehold! I just want to thank you all for being such patient and wonderful readers. You guys are amazing! I hope you enjoyed it as much as I loved writing it. I'm sad that it's over but I can't wait to start some new stories. Keep an eye out for new stuff!
Thank you all so much!
