Perseverance

by Bob the Taco Thief

The 4 Horsewomen in the world of MMA: The story nobody asked for.

5. Chapter 8

Sasha

*Boss-Z return from commercial music, followed by on-screen text reading: Kapolei, Hawaii*

*Scene shifts to Zelina, speaking directly the camera in her confessional*

Zelina: * squeals in excitement* I am SO EXCITED! We're here in Hawaiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii for Sasha to shoot her commercial for Clex's and the I'm going to have three days here all to myself before I have to go back to Boston! *rolls her eyes*

*Scene shifts to a one following Sasha as she approaches the front doors of Clex's HQ having a conversation with Teddy, Zelina trails behind looking down at her phone*

Sasha: "...right so a couple hours here and then what?"

Teddy Long: "We gotta get you on a plane playa, you've got that fitting with the Savage7 people to get you ready for Platys."

Sasha: *Stops abruptly* "What the *censor bleep* are the platys?"

Teddy: "We talked about this Sasha, it's that video game award show. You're doing the red carpet and then presenting an award for best fighting game."

Sasha: "*Censor Bleep* You want me to spend a whole *censor bleep* night surrounded by shut-in sweaty nerds?"

Teddy: "It's good PR playa. Besides, you said you wanted me to work you toward a movie and that means keeping you in front of people."

Sasha: "Whatever."

*Camera follows them into the building as a woman approaches*

"Hello my is Melina Perez, I'm Ms. Morrison's assistant, it's so nice to meet you Ms. Banks, Mr. Long," she said as she displayed an improbable amount of teeth in her smile.

" , it's nice to meet you in person, my client is here and she's eager to-" Teddy stated to say before Sasha cut him off.

"Wait, wait, wait...who is Ms. Morrison?" she asked. Melina looked confused at this.

"Why...our founder and owner, of course, Clex Morrison," she answered tentatively.

"Her last name is Morrison?"

"Yes, it is."

"Huh...they always just call her 'Clex' I just assumed it was mononym."

"No, she's happily married to her husband John," Melina said as she beckoned for them to follow. Sasha did but didn't remove her sunglasses.

"So, Ms. Perez, are we shooting the commercial here?" Zelina asked from behind Sasha.

"Yes, Ms. Morrison thought it would be best if we shot in in our corporate cafeteria," Perez answered.

"What's the plan for the commercial itself?" Teddy asked.

"For that, I think I'll let our director, Joey Mercury, fill you in."

Sasha shrugged, it didn't really matter much to her. She'd shot dozens of commercials all over the world by now and they all tended to be pretty similar. This was the main reason why she'd chosen to wear her boss sunglasses, rings, and necklace today. People wanted the boss to push their products, so they'd get her.

When they arrived at the cafeteria even Sasha was impressed. The room was enormous with one wall dominated by panoramic windows. These opened out onto a patio which in turned was surrounded by a dense group of tropical trees and plants. Inside the cafeteria, the wall opposite the windows contained a wide array of various culinary offerings and, of course, a fully functioning Clex's franchise. The walls were line with the flags of every state and country that Clex's was currently in while the furniture all look far nice and more comfortable than you'd usually find in a cafeteria.

"Ah, and here he is. Mr. Mercury, this is Sasha Banks and her manager Teddy Long," Perez said by way of introduction as a man with long brown hair approached them.

"Nice to meet you both I'm Joey Mercury and-" before he could finish speaking he was cut off by a surprisingly loud throat clearing by Zelina. For a woman of her size, she could really announce herself.

*Scene shifts back to Zelina in her confessional looking affronted*

"I can't believe she didn't introduce me like...wow. OK, I guess I'm just your arm candy now huh? UGH, we're supposed to be a TEAM, I love her and she doesn't even acknowledge me!"

*Scene shifts back the cafeteria where Sasha is frowning though her glasses hide her eyes*

"This is my girlfriend-" she started to say.

"Fiance," Zelina interrupted as she held up her engagement ring, which half the size of a grape.

"...Zelina Vega," Sasha finished, sounding annoyed now.

"Nice to meet you as well ma'am," Mercury said before beginning to outline his plan to Sasha. He wanted her to walk around the cafeteria once it filled for lunch, taking pictures, signing autographs, and introducing people to Clex's newest creation: "The Boss BBQ Bowl."

As Sasha looked through the notes she'd been handed she frowned, asking: "How do I pronounce these words?"

"There is a pronunciation guide on the bottom for you..." Mercury said, "...once we're done here we'll go out into Kapolei and do the same thing on the street for awhile then we'll shoot the close with you and that will be that."

"That sounds great to BOTH of us..." Zelina said, stepping forward and sliding her arm through Sasha's. Mercury looked confused and was clearly about to explain that he'd only meant for Sasha to be in the commercial but Sasha stepped in.

"Yeah, just let her," she said, mostly just hoping to avert one of Zelina's tantrums. Mercury still didn't look convinced by then Teddy cleared his throat.

"It's a good win with the LGBTQ community playa," he said simply.

Mercury obviously decided that he didn't want to argue with both Sasha and Teddy, never mind Zelina. Over the next few hours Sasha must have approached dozens of people both in the cafeteria and then out on the street with the same formula. She would introduce herself, submit to any photos or autographs, then she'd offer them one of the new bowls and try to coax them into saying something positive. For her part, Zelina interjected whenever she could.

They closed with Sasha, finally, alone in the frame. After hitting her boss pose she lifted her glasses up onto her head and said: "I'm the Boss and this bowl is legit!" She held her smile for a few moments and then let it drop completely as Mercury called for a cut.

Bayley

"That's enough of that," Bayley said in her hotel room in Boston as she muted the TV and let herself drop back onto her bed. She had no idea why she was torturing herself this way but she'd been unable to resist the impulse to watch some of Sasha's new show. It had been every bit as terrible as she'd feared. Sasha was coming off looking aloof and rude while Zelina was clearly being positioned as the 'good guy' in the relationship.

Looking back up at the TV Bayley saw that show was going to a commercial, as it did there a picture of Sasha standing with arms folded smirking at the camera.

"I miss you," Bayley told the Sasha on the screen before turning the TV off as Sasha's Clex's commercial actually began to play. Shutting off the lamp next to her bed Bayley consoled herself by thinking that, at least this would her worst interaction with media for awhile.

Becky/Bayley

Becky peeked around the gym. Only seeing Bayley across sitting down with her laptop, typing furiously away. Her tongue just poking out from between her lips as she focused.

She had been on suspension from sparring both officially from the Nevada commission and somewhat unofficially, but no less serious Charlotte. Who had been steadfast in Becky avoiding any physical contact in workouts for at least two weeks after the fight. No matter the fact that Becky hadn't sustained any real damage besides a superficial cut on the eye line that was already basically non-existent just a few days after.

Looking across the ring at Liv she raised an eyebrow in silent challenge.

Liv had been holding mitts for Becky. Just working on some standard boxing combos.

"Come on Liv. Just some light sparring. I promise to go easy on you!" Becky grinned when she saw Liv pick herself up at the verbal jab. The tiny woman never liking it when anyone underestimated her. Which being around her girlfriend who was covered in tattoos and looked like a genuine badass happened quite a lot.

"Fine! But don't go whining to Charlotte when I knock you on your ass."

Becky grinned as Liv jumped out of the ring to put on a pair of gloves.

"WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU'RE DOING?" Boomed throughout the gym and even Becky looked a little guilty at being caught. Ric walking up to the ring with hands on his hips. Shooting Becky an incredulous look while he shook his head in disapproval. "The rules are there for a reason. No sparring means absolutely NO sparring! Don't have to be smart to get that."

"Come on Ric! You of all people got to understand. Just let me throw down a lil' bit. I'm sick of drilling. I need to get better and the best way to do that is by fighting." Becky pleaded.

"And to fight you need to be save your brain unnecessary punishment. It's only another three days Becky. Don't risk your health over your own vanity." Ric solemnly spoke. Trying to impart a lesson the redhead didn't want to hear right now.

"I thought you would take my side on this one," Becky said. Looking at Ric like he was the biggest asshole on the planet. "You're a hypocrite."

"Becky!" Liv hissed.

Ric waved away her concern. "Let her." Standing his ground and regarding the angry fighter with a cool stare.

Becky continued. "How many rules did you break in your old glory days? Huh? I'm waiting. I'm sure it will take a while."

"This isn't about me and the mistakes I made. It's about what's best for you."

"Which mistake are you on Ric? How many ex-wives are you paying?"

Ric sighed. "More than I'd like. I don't want you to end up like I did. I have Charlotte but… She's all I have besides this gym. I pissed away more good things in my life than you ever will."

Becky ripped off her gloves and threw them on the ground. "Whatever. I'm done with this shit." She declared. Walking off towards the women's locker room and exiting the room without a backwards glance. Part of her already realizing that she was acting like a child who was told they couldn't have any ice cream, but not wanting to admit it. At least not now. She'd apologize to Ric later.

Bayley had tried her best to keep busy during the argument, though it was hard to ignore it. It was even less plausible for her to pretend as though she hadn't heard it at all as she hadn't even had her earbuds in.

"Liv, you're doing great work darling," Bayley heard Ric say as she tried to refocus on the article she was writing. It was a fairly straight forward summary piece on Becky's latest fight but for some reason, the words just wouldn't cooperate in her mind. She'd started and deleted her opening more times than she could remember.

" Maldita sea," she muttered as she tired once more typing: " Sometimes life seems primed to throw a curveball at you, things seem to be lining up a bit TOO perfectly. But then, it surprises you and things go to plan-"

"Hey, there's my favorite reporter," Ric Flair's voice suddenly sounded from immediately in front of her causing Bayley to jump.

" SANTA MIERDA!" she gasped as she put a hand over her heart.

The elder Flair gave her a bemused glance for a while before saying, in perfect Spanish: " Lo Siento te asusté?"

Bayley blinked in surprise before answering in the same language: " ¿tu hablas español?"

"Si, Mi tercera esposa era puertorriqueña,"

Bayley took a moment to adjust to this new information before nodding. " Is there a reason why we're still speaking in Spanish?" she asked in that language.

"Very good Bayley, yes there is."

"Care to share?"

"Well, you weren't doing a very good job of pretending that you didn't hear what just went on…"

Bayley flushed as she said: " I didn't know I was supposed to."

"Don't worry about it darling, my point is that you're caught up."

"I suppose."

"Look, I know neither of them does much of a job of showing it but both Becky and Charlotte really love having you here." Flair said.

Bayley just nodded and waited, this couldn't have been the only thing he wanted to say or he wouldn't have insisted on having the conversation in Spanish. Though that insistence was enough that she was slightly worried.

" And...even if they don't show it, they also both need you around here. The way Charlotte's been talking it seems like you're becoming important to her, though I bet she hasn't said anything about it to you?"

Bayley shook her head but didn't speak for a moment. She certainly felt something similar for Charlotte but the idea of discussing it with the other woman somehow felt odd. She thought for awhile before asking: "Why are you telling me this?"

Flair gave her that trademark smile of his. An expression that, even at his present age, made clear to Bayley how he'd manage to convince so many women to marry him. " I just wanted SOMEONE to tell you how appreciated you are and to ask you not to give up on them, I know how frustrating they can be."

It was on the tip of Bayley's tongue to say something like 'I don't give up on people'. But, given her current situation with Sasha, she wasn't sure that was even true. So she decided to just nod and say: " I won't. I like them both too much to do that."

"That's my girl," Flair said, switching back to English. He gave her a wink then before sauntering off, no doubt seeking someone else to charm. Bayley smiled weakly but it faded into a frown. Nothing that had been said was upsetting in and of itself, so why did feel like she'd just said goodbye?

Becky

Becky had never felt more out of place in her life. Put her in a cage with someone that wanted to take her head off and she was fine. Yet this relatively mundane task in front of her seemed more insurmountable than any fight ever had. The two people sitting to her right somehow more intimidating than the prospect of fighting Sasha again, with both hand tied behind her back.

They had come at her like sharks. Offering their hands to shake with overly cheery smiles that no person right in the head should be capable of this early in the morning.

Truth be told Becky would have rather skipped the trip altogether, but Charlotte had employed Ruby and Liv's assistance in making her get up at the ungodly hour of 3 a.m., shoving her into a car and driving her up to New York City for a 'Good Morning America' interview with John Cena and Lacey Evans. Quite literally the two faces of the company. As evidenced by the billboards sprinkled all around the city.

Becky picked at the old hole in her jeans as they waited for the commercial break to be over. Pulling her trademark leather jacket closer. Hands shoved deep in the pockets to hide the clenched fists inside. The interview not exactly going how she hoped it would, but trying her best for Charlotte's sake to put on a good front.

Since the fight Charlotte had seemed in a much better mood. Almost acting like an entirely different person at times. Going as far as actually teasing Becky once or twice without a hint of real venom beneath. The blonde's smile dazzlingly bright when it was real and pointed at her for once.

Becky found herself going out of her way to keep Charlotte in such an upbeat mood. Little things like offering the blonde a spot in her class. Jokingly of course. Some would even say she was being flirtatious but Becky saw it differently. This way just her trying to keep Charlotte off her back, and if keeping her in a good mood did that, then Becky was just playing along. Nothing deeper than that.

That attitude led her to accept this interview. Knowing that even though Charlotte wouldn't force her, this type of exposure on national television would be good for the gym. The grateful smile she received in return had nothing to do with her decision.

Who was Becky kidding. She looked up as the commercial was nearing its end and her eyes automatically found the tall blonde standing in the back. Watching over the interview like a prowling lion. Blonde mane looking extraordinarily luscious and thick today. Charlotte having been up even earlier than Becky to prepare. Looking entirely put together when Becky had first seen her while still dressed in just an old oversized gray shirt and sleeping shorts. Feeling entirely underdressed when compared to the tall woman.

"And we are back here with Becky Lynch; Former champion and current fighter coming off her dramatic and dominant victory this past weekend." Lacey began to speak. Catching Becky a little off guard as the break ended. Her mind still thinking about Charlotte rather than the interview she was a part of. "Now we've talked a little about your fighting career, but one thing I really want to know is how you manage to still look so good when you literally get punched in the face for a living." Lacey and John laughing in perfect unison at her question.

Becky should have expected more of the same type of questions, but she could help herself from getting more irritated as Cena or Evans asked more about trivial nonsense and her personal life than anything fight related. Obviously more interested in getting a more humanizing piece on her than talking about her fights. "I try not to get hit if I can help it. Beyond that though I don't really care. As long as I win I could care less if my nose is pointing at my ear."

"Oh my! That just might sting a little! There was one time with this guy named Seth… I shouldn't go into it. It was a long time ago." Cena charmingly spoke. The odd visual of such a large man shoved into a three-piece suit made Becky a little uncomfortable. Especially considering how insanely enthusiastic he was about the most inane things. "Besides I think we need to ask another question your fight brought up."

"OOOOOOHHHH! Ask her John! I'm dying to know!" Lacey squealed loudly. Making Becky close her eyes and wishing she had a pair of noise-canceling headphones right now.

"Hold your horses Lacey. You can't rush these things." John teased, mugging to the camera like a moron. "We all saw you jump out of the cage and quickly jump right on Bayley Martinez. A journalist who has been following you around for the last few months of your life for a series of articles our viewers could find on her website . Some have claimed a romance between you two developed over her time embedded in your gym. So-"

Lacey cut him off, "We want to know if you and Ms. Martinez are together!" Her voice so full of energy that Becky could swear she must have had at least a gallon of coffee to be so chipper. "You looked so cute together! And fighting must be so lonely. You deserve someone special! Especially after that Carmella girl."

Becky opened her mouth to respond, but John jumped in to banter with Lacey. Turning towards her and joking: "Talk about getting an exclusive inside scoop on a story. This Bayley girl sure knows how to get ahead." Both hosts once again laughing in perfect unison like zombies. Or Pavlov's dog. Trained to laugh automatically at a certain cadence and tone rather than the content.

"You're a piece of shit," Becky spoke deathly serious, just loud enough to be picked up on the mic.

The studio falling into silence when Lacey and John stopped in mid-laugh. Quickly giving Becky a sideways look as if to say, 'What the hell?'

Becky saw Charlotte out of the corner of her eye. Presumably motioning for her to stop and not go down this road, but Becky couldn't let Cena get away with insinuating something like that about her friend. Cheapening and minimizing her achievements by implying she slept with Becky just to get ahead in her career.

The Irish woman leaned forward in her chair and pulled her fists out of her pocket. Pointing one finger at John as she addressed him. "Bayley is a damn good journalist and doesn't need people like you to imply she slept with me just to get a story." Becky continued to rant as everyone in the studio collectively raised their eyebrows.

Even the producers looking around not really knowing what to do. After all, would they look horrible for cutting Becky's mic just for defending Bayley's honor? Even if she was swearing, no one wanted to take the responsibility of facing a possible onslaught of negativity for stopping her. The goodwill Becky had gained back since her last fight and emotional post-fight interview making many very sympathetic to the fighter.

"We happened to get along. Big fucking deal." Becky said. Leaning back in her chair and trying to control her anger. "To answer your question; We aren't together, but I'd like to think I could still consider her a friend. Bayley deserves better. Someone who is as amazing as she is and would treat her right. Talk shit about me all you want, but leave her name out of your mouth if all you're gonna do is spout a bunch of shit. So, excuse me if I tell John to shut his face for the rest of the interview. In fact, if I didn't see him at all, that would best for both of us. "

John and Lacey sat with their mouths open. Silently watching in horror as Becky took over their show.

Lacey was able to find her voice first. Turning towards the camera and forcing a smile. "That was Becky Lynch. Now it's time for Glenn Jacobs with the weather. Take it away Glenn!" She said with desperation. Just wanting to get off camera.

The show switched over to an image of a giant man in a black suit. Sitting down on a chair while images of the weather map appeared behind on the green screen. His face covered in a white facial mask while his eyes remained closed.

From off-screen, "Glenn! GLENN! You're live! Lacey cut early!"

Bayley/Charlotte

Bayley was sitting crossed legged on one of the benches in the Flair Gym's men's locker room working away on her story. Inspiration had finally come and she'd nearly finished the piece. Leaning over she opened one of the unused lockers where she'd taken to storing things and withdrew a diet coke from the cooler she kept there. It was her major addiction and she'd heard Becky grumbling about the number of 'bloody bottles' that she generated.

Smiling to herself she was about to turn her music back on when her phone buzzed. Picking it up she saw that she had a text from Charlotte. She frowned as she looked down at her phone, that was odd. Usually if Charlotte wanted her she'd just knock on the door to the locker room, though Bayley had noted she never actually entered it. She just assumed this was a weird hang-up of her friend's.

" Can you come up to my office please," was all the message said. This puzzled Bayley still further. Charlotte Flair wasn't the type to pepper her messages with emojis but this was clinical even for her.

" On my way," she sent back before she quickly packed up and made sure to grab a particular package out of another locker. A moment later she emerged and saw two new people standing near the bottom of the stairs that led up Charlotte's office. One was a taller black woman with long blonde hair and the other was a shorter woman with dark brown hair. Bayley was certain she'd never met either of them but for some reason they seemed familiar.

"Hi," she said awkwardly as she passed between them, receiving tight smiles but no other response in return. The stairs seemed to take longer than usual today but when she reached the top she knocked gently on the familiar door.

"Come on in." Charlotte's strong voice carried through the door. Feeling far stronger and more assured than she felt on the inside. Not looking forward to the coming conversation one bit. The friendship she and Bayley had developed making this feel like a deep betrayal, even though Charlotte knew it was just business.

Only, it's hard to keep things strictly business when you begin mixing in a personal relationship. Charlotte was realizing once again why she tried to avoid such a combination.

" Una cerveza, por favor," Bayley said with a grin as she ducked inside only to stop short on realizing they weren't alone. There was a short blonde woman standing in front of Charlotte's desk. "Oh, I'm sorry I didn't realize anyone else was here. I'm Bayley Martinez," she said in a friendly tone as she offered a hand.

"I'm aware. Alexa Bliss." The blonde offered. Holding out her own steady hand and grabbing a strong hold of Bayley's. Shaking hands with form that seemed like it could be taught in a school.

Bayley brightened as recognition flashed in her brain. "Oh yeah! You're the PR agent who was working with Baron Corbin before the NFL draft! They're saying you got him bumped from a 2nd day pick into the first," she said eagerly.

"Well at least you get your news from a reputable place. Corbin is one of my greatest success stories. He made six million more PER YEAR because of me. I know what I'm doing." Alexa stated matter of fact. A hint of the massive chip she clearly carried on her shoulder.

"She's here to work with Becky and help with the influx of attention she's getting. The gym is getting busier again thanks to all the good press you've helped bring in and I can't juggle Becky and the gym anymore." Charlotte rapidly explained. Trying to lessen the guilt she found churning in her gut.

"Well, great!" Bayley said she'd been expecting something much worse than this given how Charlotte had summoned her. "So...what can I do for you?" she asked.

Charlotte wanted to speak up and maybe soften the blow or be diplomatic about it, but Alexa beat her to it. "We need Ms. Lynch to be focused on the big picture. Which means cutting out unnecessary distractions. You." Alexa pointed at Bayley. "Are a potential distraction we don't need."

Bayley's mouth dropped open at this. She was so stunned that she was deprived of speech for a moment. Looking back and forth between Charlotte and Alexa she finally asked, in a voice gone ashen: "Excuse me?"

"We are asking you politely to leave. Your deal was to come in through Ms. Lynch's first fight. That has come and gone." Alexa bluntly stated. Looking down at her phone briefly and typing out a quick message while she continued to address Bayley. "We don't need a reporter in house when we have ESPN, CBS, HBO and others knocking on our door for a crack at Ms. Lynch."

Charlotte awkwardly continued to sit down. Trying to keep her face straight. Not liking how this felt, but knowing that from a business perspective Alexa made a lot of strong points.

"So...I know you don't pay me so you can't technically fire me but...that's what this is feeling like…" Bayley said, looking from Alexa and then desperately to Charlotte hoping that someone would correct her.

"We're not firing you." Charlotte just managed to say. Twiddling her thumbs on top of the desk.

"If it would make it easier we could phrase it that way though." Alexa butted in. With what she may actually have thought was a nice offer.

Not looking at Alexa now Bayley focused on Charlotte who, to her disappointment, was still looking down at her desk. "We?" was all she asked, somehow knowing that Charlotte would pick up on her meaning.

Charlotte gulped around the lump in her throat and looked up for a moment before she couldn't meet Bayley's eyes any longer.

"WE talked about it and came to the conclusion that it was best if you weren't embedded in the gym. Ms. Lynch is my number one priority and rest assured I am doing what is in the best interest for her future." Alexa spoke up with more intensity. Her professional mask holding firm. "WE decided it would be for the greater good to go this route."

Bayley was still ignoring the PR agent as she continued to stare directly at Charlotte before asking, quietly: "Are you going to say anything?"

Charlotte took a deep breath and tried her best to meet Bayley's eyes, but instead tried to focus on a point just to her right. "You've been a great help to the gym and we wish you the best of luck in your future endeavors." Barely holding herself together when she saw Bayley's face drop.

Bayley closed her eyes and let a slow breath, refusing to let herself show anything of what she was feeling. If being close to first Sasha Banks and then Becky Lynch had given her any skill at all it was that.

"Okay…" she said, mostly to herself as she stood. She was about to turn to leave when she remembered something, something that nearly broke her mask of calm. Reaching down into her bag she withdrew a small wrapped parcel and set it slowly on Charlotte's desk. "I know it's a few days early but...happy birthday Charlotte," she said quietly before she strode out of the room with her head high.

Charlotte eyed the carefully wrapped present on her desk like it was a bomb. Which in a way, it may as well have been.

She could hardly stop herself from shaking. The whole scenario feeling utterly wrong to her on an emotional level, even though she rationally knew that Alexa had made a lot of good points.

Even so, Bayley had wormed her way into Charlotte's life without her knowing. She hadn't been upset by it. Quite the opposite in fact. The companionship and support had been something that 'Charlotte the person' sorely needed. Even if 'Business Charlotte' didn't.

"Well that went better than you thought. I told you it would be a good idea to do this when Lynch wasn't around." Alexa assuredly spoke. Knowing with all her heart that she was always the smartest person in the room.

"Yeah." Charlotte managed to get out. Still eyeing the parcel on her desk with trepidation. "You mind clearing out for a minute. I have to make a call."

Alexa seemed to accept the dismissal easily. Already nose deep in her phone. Never a moment where the diminutive blonde wasn't working hard on something. "Sure. Remember the appointment tomorrow. We need to try and ease Ms. Lynch into this and avoid a tantrum."

Charlotte waited till she had left before she stretched out a hand to grab onto the present. Half expecting to be burned by it after behaving so callously towards the woman generous enough to think of her.

No such burning occurred and she pulled it across the desk. Rotating it between her hands before carefully peeling away the wrapping. Taking note of how much effort Bayley put into making the wrap perfect. Like the kind of present you would see on display at a fancy toy store during the holidays with a fancy bow on top to complete the look.

Bringing an unbidden half smile to Charlotte's face that was marred by the shame that was slowly but surely growing inside.

With the wrapping peeled away, Charlotte took notice first of a beginner's Spanish-English dictionary with a note pinned in between the pages poking out the top. Placing it down on the desk and looking at the other thing Bayley had included.

A beautiful ornate hand crafted frame surrounding a picture of her and Bayley smiling like idiots into the camera. Charlotte's hand quickly coming up to cover her mouth as she tried to suppress the sobs that threatened to overtake her. Remembering the moment on the plane to Vegas when Bayley had finally pestered her enough to agree and take the picture. Although in hindsight, Charlotte had to admit that even though she hated taking pictures Bayley had managed to capture an actual genuine smile on both faces.

Traitorous tears trickled off her cheeks down to her hand and Charlotte closed her eyes tightly against the ones that followed. Gently placing the frame back down on her desk before her shaking hand dropped it and shattered the glass.

She slid the dictionary closer and pulled the note from where it was pinned. Unfurling it and opening her eyes to be greeted with a page full of Spanish writing that was signed at the bottom with a big loopy 'Bayley' signature.

Charlotte looked back at the dictionary and sniffled. Understanding what Bayley intended and had tried to share with her.

Her focus shifted back to the letter and Charlotte felt a curiosity about what Bayley would have written to her. And even though she knew it would hurt Charlotte made a vow that she would translate these words herself. Even though she could easily pay a Spanish speaker to do it for her, Charlotte felt obliged to struggle through and do it herself.

Oye Gringa,

Sé que probablemente solo pasará esto a través de google pero aún así, me alegro de que haya hecho el esfuerzo.

Cuando me enviaste ese video, me sentía muy triste por mi carrera y por casi todo. Así que cuando vine aquí esperaba, tal vez incluso esperando, encontrar una gran historia. No esperaba encontrarme con uno de mis mejores amigos. Siempre estaré agradecido a Charlotte.

Amor

Bayley

Charlotte/Becky

Her entire body moved robotically on top of the aerodyne bike. Arms pumping in conjunction with her legs with no real thought. Moving along at a relatively sedate pace. Becky wasn't really thinking about the workout, far more concerned with what she was listening to on her headphones. Staring blindly out in front while she heard Finn answer questions about her on Mojo Rawley's podcast.

"What did you think about Lynch's technique? She seemed pretty sharp in there. Any reservations about kicking her off the team?" Mojo pressed. Already having asked a number of questions earlier that broached this topic which Finn had brushed away. Finn had gotten progressively more terse with the questions. At first simply offering a swift , 'No comment.'

"Not one. If you saw her back then, you'd know it was the best decision at the time."

"So, does that mean you would welcome her back now that she has shown she can fight at a professional level again?"

Becky continued to pedal.

"No. Not a chance right now. I'm not wishing her anything bad, but CCS is fully committed to Nikki Cross and it just wouldn't be a good idea to bring that sort of energy around. I don't want Nikki to end up like Becky. On some level I feel like I failed Becky back then. I wonder if I could have done or said something before she fell so far. But I had to eventually move on. Becky made her own decisions back then and she has to deal with the consequences."

Her peddling dwindled off as Mojo transitioned into talking about Finn's victory over Adrian Neville later in the night. Tearing the headphones out of her ear and tossing her phone on top of her bag. Just sitting on the bike unmoving for a few seconds as she took several unsteady inhales of fresh air.

Becky's attention was pulled across the gym when she spotted the familiar head of blonde hair standing tall. Walking towards her with an almost comically tiny blonde in comparison at her side. A streak of pink in her hair that had Becky raising an eyebrow as they approached. Dressed in a fashionable black dress that accentuated her ample curves.

"Protesting your dad not letting you go to prom?" Becky prodded. Pointing at the pink hair and grinning stupidly as she got off the bike. Dabbing the sweat off her brow with a towel and tossing it over her shoulder.

The tiny blonde gave her a quick once over. Her face clearly showing how unimpressed she was. Scoffing audibly and turning to address only Charlotte. "This won't be easy"

"I never said it would, but I need the help. SHE needs the help." Charlotte replied. "You saw the interview."

"I had to wash my eyes with bleach afterwards." Alexa said. Her arms crossed over her chest. "Alicia will start on her new diet tomorrow. Mickie and I will start up on… Everything else." Giving Becky another glance head to toe and shaking her head. "We'll need to get her a new wardrobe too. Can't have her going out looking like a homeless wannabe rockstar."

"HEY! I'm right here bitch. If your going to insult me at least do it to my face." Becky broke in loudly. "Who da fuck are ya anyway?"

"BECKY!" Charlotte hissed. "Behave." The blonde finding herself pleasantly surprised when the fighter actually listened to her. Falling quiet and softening her glare at Alexa ever so slightly. But at least she wasn't trying to pick a fight anymore. "This is Alexa Bliss. She's been able to help other athletes with similar… difficulties dealing with media."

"You gotta be kidding me," Becky muttered.

"Becky you need to understand, everything has gotten a lot busier since your fight. All that hard work is starting to pay off but that also means that things have grown and I need to bring in some extra help. Alexa is here because I trust her reputation. She can help you Becky. Trust me. Things are only going to get busier for you too. I just want you to be ready for everything the media might throw at you. Not everyone will be as easy to deal with as Bayley was." Charlotte explained softly. Becky was actually reluctantly ready to agree until the last sentence.

"Was? Is she leaving?" Becky managed to get out smoothly. Not a hint of the unexpected panic she felt rising at the possible news.

"She was always scheduled to stay with us through your first fight. I'd assumed you knew that was the plan." Charlotte said.

"Besides, we don't need her anyway. Martinez is small time. I have bigger things in mind for you." Alexa interjected. Giving Becky a grin while her eyes might as well have been giant comedic dollar signs.

"Good for you. So, is Bayley taking a step back or…" Becky trailed off. Not sure if she wanted to know the answer based on how Charlotte was looking at her.

"She is going back to her job. The MMA world revolves around more than just you Ms. Lynch. I'm sure she will be just fine." Alexa spouted out as if it was no big deal.

Becky looked back towards the other blonde and sneered. "If it's alright with you 'Not Bayley' I was asking Charlotte. Thanks."

"I'm not in the mood for your childish antics Ms. Lynch. I'm here on Charlotte Flair's behalf to ensure everything continues to improve."

"Still wasn't asking you."

Charlotte cleared her throat and spoke up. Putting as much authority into her voice as she could. "Bayley is gone. We are trying to set you up for the highest level of success and came to a mutual agreement that our relationship with the media has to evolve and grow."

Becky just gave her a look. Unable to even vocalize how upset she was.

"We have people bothering me for interviews at all times Becky. At some point, we had to let them get their shot. Bayley was always a stepping stone to bigger and better things." Charlotte explained. Hoping not just change Becky's mind, but calm the lingering doubt over her own decision.

Charlotte had hoped to get through this without making a scene. That hope was quickly dashed.

"Oh! Is THAT how it is? Things start going well and you want to forget who helped us get there!" Becky shouted. The attention of the entire gym swiftly turning towards them. "Bayley was more than a stepping stone and you fucking know it!"

Alexa tried to jump in. "Listen. Becky, you mind if call y-"

"I do mind. Fuck off and stop talking to me 'Not Bayley'." The fiery Irish woman dismissed. Turning her attention back onto Charlotte and stepping into her personal space. Trying to intimidate the other woman into backing up but getting nothing more than a terse glare. "Did Bayley have a say in this?"

Charlotte glared down at Becky but didn't back down from her decision. For better or worse she was resigned to it. "She knew the deal when she came out here."

"I'm sure. Say that one more time and you might believe it." Becky turned away and picked up her water bottle from the ground. "You two have fun sitting in your own shit. I'm getting the fuck out of here."

"Hey!" Charlotte cried out as Becky began to walk away. "Where are you going? We aren't done here!"

Becky held one her hands high above her head and extended her middle finger upwards. "I am though. Don't wait up princess. Wouldn't want you to miss your beauty sleep." Walking by where she had been working and scooping her phone up off the ground. Quickly pulling up the only number she wanted to talk to right now. "Nice meeting you 'Not Bayley'." Her tone obvious that the meeting had been anything but nice.

"Damn it Becky. Don't be such a child. Come back here. Right NOW!" Charlotte yelled as the redhead ignored her. "BECKY!" Her words falling on deaf ears as the fighter walked out of the gym without another word.

"That went well," Alexa commented dryly.

Over in one of the rings, Liv and Ruby had been awkwardly trying to continue drills with their contingent of students. Trying to ignore the loud voices from the other side of the gym.

Liv leaned in towards Ruby and spoke quietly as the gym fell into an uncomfortable silence. "Did Becky even take a coat?"

Ruby shook her head. "Nope. Just the sweaty shirt she had on."

"But it's Boston in winter. It's literally 8 degrees outside."

"I'm sure she is well aware of that."

"Should we bring her a coat quick?" Liv asked.

"I can guarantee you she's long gone by now. Even if she wasn't she probably wouldn't take it."

"So what do we do?"

"Nothing. She'll be back." Ruby confidently declared. "Eventually."

Becky/Bayley

Bayley was packing a listless sort of way, her heart really not in the task, when she was surprised by a knock on the door.

Frowning, wondering if it might have been the food she'd ordered already, she padded over to the door and peered out through the peephole. When she saw who it was she smiled ruefully as she undid the chain and pulled the door open.

"You know it's winter right?" she asked an obviously freezing Becky Lynch.

Becky fought against the shivers that wracked her body. Holding her arms tightly to her chest. Trying to conserve heat in athletic gear that was not meant for the outdoors. "Doesn't bother me." She tried to say, the message somewhat destroyed by having to sniffle in the middle and the way her teeth were chattering. "Didn't come here for me though."

"Get over here tonta," Bayley said impatiently as she steered Becky to the side of the bed nearest to the heater and cranked it up. She then grabbed her coat and threw it around Becky's still shivering shoulders. "Now, since you're so obviously indifferent to the cold, why don't you tell me why you were out trying to catch your death?" she asked the Irish woman.

Becky hid behind her own bravado. "It's not that bad. Ireland got pretty cold too." Rubbing her hands hurriedly together and placing them near where the heat pumped into the room. She found herself struggling to come out and just say why she was here. Not wanting to admit the reality of what was happening and hiding behind meaningless banter. A tactic she had utilized quite often through her life. "Can't a girl just go for a walk to see her friend without getting asked why?"

"That would be a lot more convincing if I'd understood more of it through the teeth chattering," Bayley said dryly as she threw some more clothes into her roller bag. She fussed with them for awhile before she added, without looking up: "So...I take it you met Alexa Bliss?"

"I think she might have told me to call her that." Becky snapped back. Suddenly feeling incredibly nervous even though she had been so self-assured the entire walk over. Now that she was here she didn't really know what to say. She just knew what she felt, yet couldn't put it into words.

Bayley made sure to keep herself turned away from Becky now. She was fairly certain she could keep her voice steady, but she wasn't as confident about her expression. "You're lucky to have her, she's really good at what she does," was all she said.

"I don't give a shit." Burst out of Becky before she could stop herself. Staring down at the carpet to avoid thinking about what Bayley was doing behind her. The noise of clothes being thrown in a suitcase suddenly her new least favorite sound in the world. Just beating out Sasha's voice. "She's just… I… She's not you…"

Bayley couldn't help it, she smiled at this. Turning her, probably still sad, face toward Becky she said: "Thanks Becky, that means a lot."

Becky never believed that she was good in these moments and just kept looking at the carpet. "Does it mean enough that you'd consider staying?" Becky asked quietly. Knowing that the decision wasn't really up to either of them. Bayley had her own life, and sitting in Boston indefinitely wasn't going to pay the bills.

"That's...kind of out of my hands," Bayley said, in a voice much sadder than she'd intended. She looked down and then her eyes fell on the rooms mini-bar and her expression changed to one of shock. "Oh shit, I'm so sorry Becky! There's alcohol in this room!" she gasped as she hurried over to the mini-bar but stopped because she didn't really have any clear plan of action.

Becky sniffled loudly, this one not because of the cold. Turning around, getting up and stomping over towards Bayley, "STOP IT! This is all wrong!" Becky cried out. Walking closer and wrapping Bayley in a massive hug. Holding on for dear life. Uncaring of how cold she still was. Already feeling a bit warmer as she wrapped around the brunette like a python. Turning her head away and lying down on her shoulder so that Bayley wouldn't notice she was crying. "I'm supposed to be making YOU feel better. Stop doing that thing you always do."

As someone who had once covered the Becky Lynch who had once been nearly thrown off a plane for threatening to fight the whole first class cabin this was a real shock to Bayley, the previous few weeks notwithstanding. Still, the woman clinging to her like a life preserver wasn't the same woman as the one from that plane. This was Becky Lynch, her friend. So she returned the hug after only a moment with all the feeling and warmth that she could.

Without releasing Becky, she knew that the Irish woman didn't want to her tears to be seen, she asked: "How CAN you help me Becks?"

Becky hated how defeated Bayley sounded, but she had to concede that there really wasn't much she could do. "I could tell Charlotte I won't fight anymore."

"If I wasn't so damned certain I'd lose the ensuing confrontation I'd slap you for saying that…" Bayley said only half-jokingly "...you have worked WAY too hard to do that to yourself. This is YOUR victory Rebecca! YOU put in all the work! YOU deserve this. Don't you DARE threaten it just for me!"

"It won't be the same without you there," Becky replied. Trying her best to not fall back into old habits and lie about her real feelings. Following the advice she had been taught in rehab and finding that while it didn't feel great, it felt better than faking and pretending she wasn't upset.

"Maybe not..." Bayley said as hugged Becky once more "...but it can still be great, or even better. And I'll always be rooting for you Lynch, even if only in my head."

Becky felt like she had taken Bayley for granted. All that time together and suddenly now that their time was coming to a close she had a million things she wanted to say. She settled on trying to open herself up and be honest about as much as she could. Not knowing a better, stronger person that she could talk to. "I'm scared Bayley. I'm so scared that I'm going to fuck up again. I've been back fighting for a minute and I already feel like its too much. I love fighting but I don't trust myself with everything that comes with." Clutching the reporter a little tighter as she admitted something aloud she could barely admit to herself in the middle of the night prior to falling asleep.

Bayley closed her eyes as she rested a hand on the back of Becky's head. "Yeah, it's possible that you could slip. We're all human Becky. BUT you've got good people around you, Liv and Ruby and I know you won't believe it right now but even Charlotte in her own way. If you start to drift away they'll pull you back."

"I'm gonna miss you. It's not as much fun annoying Charlotte without an audience." Becky mumbled into Bayley's shoulder. Trying her best to keep herself together. Not wanting to be a further burden to this amazing woman she was damn lucky to call a friend. "Can we at least text? Maybe even talk occasionally?"

"What? You thought I'd just let you ghost me Lynch? I think you're going soft…" Bayley teased Becky as she let the Irish woman go from their hug and put a hand on her shoulder. "But do me a favor OK?" she asked seriously.

The fighter ran the back of her hand across her eyes. Brushing away some evidence of her tears. "Alright. Name your poison?" Feeling a little bit better and trying to put some energy in her words. She failed, but it was the effort that counts Becky thought.

"Don't be too hard on Charlotte OK? I appreciate it but...I...I just think she might be under more pressure than we realize," Bayley said earnestly, recalling the strange conversation she'd had with Charlotte's father.

"I can't promise anything right away. Can I have a day or two of making her and 'Not Bayley's' life hell?" Becky asked. "After that, I will try to keep myself in check."

"'Not Bayley?'"

"The one with the Napoleon complex."

"ALEXA…" Bayley corrected, though she failed to keep a smile entirely from her face. Sitting heavily on what had been her bed for weeks she stared at the wall for awhile as Becky joined her. "I won't miss being cold all the time, I will say that," she said finally.

"What cold?" Becky jokingly asked. Nudging Bayley with her shoulder and mustering up as big and bright of a smile as she could. "You're just so hot I never notice." Winking at Bayley and hoping that she could at least make the other woman smile a bit more before she had to leave.

Bayley rolled her eyes but laughed as she said: "You know what? You and Charlotte's dad are a perfect pair." She followed this pronouncement up by walking over to the mini-bar and kneeling in front of it. Looking over her shoulder she asked: "You just took home a winner's purse right?"

"A big fat one," Becky replied.

Bayley responded by hitting Becky in the face with an absurdly overpriced bag of M&M's. She then followed this with a barrage of beef jerky, candy, and nuts. Finally, she withdrew two cans of diet Pepsi and handed one to Becky saying: "Thanks for dinner Becks, just promise me you won't have too many of these."

Becky shook her head and took the can. "Can't do that. I just had to make weight for a fight. I've had a hankering for sweets for the last three weeks. Did you know I almost stabbed Liv when I saw her eating a cupcake when I still needed to lose another four pounds?"

"How does Liv possibly have room anywhere in her body for a whole cupcake?" Bayley asked as she cracked hers open.

"Best guess: She's a demon sent to earth. Although she did say something about it being a vegan cupcake." Becky admitted. Opening the can and taking a sip of the liquid she had deprived herself of for so long. "I forgot how good stuff that is horrible for you tastes."

"Just think of it as 'mental health food'," Bayley advised as she held out her can toward Becky.

Becky looked across at the other woman and while she was still upset about it all, she found that she just wanted to enjoy the time they had left. Holding out her own can and tipping it gently against Bayley's. "I'll be keeping an eye out for your next article. I'm sure it will win a Pulitzer or whatever award you journalist types give out."

Sasha

If the oxygen mask hanging down from the ceiling hadn't prevented her from doing so, Sasha Banks would have been swearing in disgust. She was presently running on a steeply inclined treadmill and even through the howling of burning muscles and the sweat drenching her body she was still thoroughly annoyed. Reaching forward she hit a control on her treadmill to turn up the TV.

"... Banks is talented, can't take that from her. But she's a joke, she's not a fighter she's a sideshow. If you're as good as she thinks she is then you don't have to go around yipping about it. The real big dogs don't bark, they bite," 'Mean' Mark Calaway was saying. Calaway had been known as 'the Undertaker' in his fighting days for how brutally he put people down. He was a legend of the sport. But he also famously reclusive, rarely making any sort of media appearance.

But apparently, he'd though it worth his time to appear on Mandy Rose's show to trash her.

" So you've seen all her fights?" Rose asked, with that cloyingly sweet smile that always made Sasha want to slap her.

" Yeah, I said she's good. But until she stops acting like a jackass I won't take her seriously." Calaway said.

"Well fuck you then!" Sasha snarled, or tried to, it was hard with the mask on. She continued to watch as Rose concluded her interview with Calaway and then transitioned to a new story.

" Sasha Banks' reputation was in for more abuse later that same day as Natalya Neidhart also weighed in on the controversial champion. The fighter from Calgary had this to say,"

The scene the shifted to what appeared to a cell phone video being shot by Neidhart herself. Speaking directly into the screen she said: " Banks, I know you think you're sooooooo cute with your littles poses and *censor bleep* but not only are you trash but you TERRIBLE for women in MMA everywhere. Some of us are trying to get taken seriously while you're out here wiggling your little booty from side to side and parading around like a princess. Why don't you just go back to wherever the hell you crawled out of-"

Sasha never actually heard the end of the report as her metal water bottle had just smashed through the TV screen. She was apoplectic with rage as she tore her mask off and leaped down off the treadmill. Without bothering to turn the machine off she stomped over to the room's exit as a voice over the room's speakers.

"Uh, is there a problem Sasha?" Simon Dean asked. As usual, even the sound of his voice was enough to anger her.

"Shut the FUCK UP Simon! Get me Teddy, NOW!" she snapped. When her manager arrived he found her sitting on a bench glowering down at the floor.

"What's up playa?" he asked, cautiously.

"I want you to get on the phone right FUCKING now and get in touch with Natalya Neidhart's people. I want a fight with her as soon as possible, tell them I'll bulk up to fight her porky ass if I have to but if she's gonna talk shit then I am going to END her!"

"Sasha, you've got two women in your division who-"

"I don't give a fuck! There aren't any real challenges left for me in the division so I'll find them somewhere else! And I am not going to fucking sit back and let Neidhart run her damned mouth!" Sasha almost screamed. Teddy took the hint and left.

Already hating herself for how she'd just acted Sasha did what she always did these days. She turned that anger outward at another source. This time it was Charlotte Flair.

Sasha had actually known the other woman briefly many years ago, back before she'd move to the west coast and when Flair was still trying to be a fighter. She remembered that they'd actually gotten along OK at the time, though that feeling was long gone. She now loathed the woman and everything she stood for thanks to her association with Becky Lynch.

She'd had some of her people looking into the blonde bitch's affairs and had found that not only was she doing her best to blanket the MMA media with coverage of her prize pet but she was also looking to expand. She'd already begun the process of trying to sign several more fighters to her gym and team, most were relative no names but one, in particular, stood out. Kairi Sane.

The Japanese import had relocated to the state's just a few months ago and had been searching for a team since. Sasha supposed she had to admit that it was a sign of how well Flair had done, riding her present wave, that Sane was even thinking about signing with the Flair gym. But that fact wasn't going to stop her from putting a stop to it if she could. Taking a few moments to think she realized what she could do. What she believed she HAD to do.

Finding her phone she called Teddy's assistant, Titus O'Neil, and said: "Find out the phone number for Kairi Sane's people then get in touch with them. Tell them that I'd like to meet with Sane."

" Sure thing boss," O'Neil said just as Sasha hung up the phone.

Sasha allowed herself a tiny smile at this. She'd begin training hard so that when she got Neidhart in the cage she'd be able to make the bitch pay. But in the meantime, she could also strike back at Flair.

The small portion of Sasha's brain that hadn't been subsumed by 'the boss' pointed out that Flair hadn't actually done anything to her. Her only 'crimes' had been accepting Becky Lynch into her gym, nothing something Sasha had grounds to complain about, and then inviting Bayley to cover the fact. But Sasha pushed this aside easily, it was much easier to be aggrieved than honest with herself.

What also helped in these situations were distractions. Sasha's conscience, far from clean these days, could be held at bay by her frenetic training but the rest of her time became more complicated. Even she would get bored of having sex with Zelina at some point, and in any case, her girlfriend was seemingly always surrounded by cameras. This meant that Sasha had to find other ways to distract herself.

Selecting another number in her phone she hit dial and waited for two rings before the phone clicked. "Yo, Jay, I'm throwing a party tonight so make sure you bring the good stuff to my place," she said.

" Got it, remember it's cash only."

"I got you homie, who you talking to?" Sasha asked irritably before hanging up. She then sent a few texts to the right people who would ensure that her house was packed that evening. This would give her an excuse to get as obliterated as possible. In addition she'd likely have sex with Zelina and one or two other women from the party. Both activities being great for helping her turn off her brain for awhile. If she played her cards right she could keep it distracted until she got into train the next morning.

Then it would just be a matter of doing it for every day for the rest of her life, or least her married life. This unhappy thought cut through the surge of triumph she'd been feeling and, in annoyance, she shouted: "Simon!"

"Yeah, Sasha," her 'trainer' said sounding out of breath when he arrived a few moments later.

"Make yourself useful for once and go get my dry cleaning, I need something to wear tonight," Sasha snapped.

"But...ah...don't you want to train?"

Sasha gave the man a deadly stare as she asked: "Do I seem like I need you for that?"

Becky

It had only been four days since Alexa and her crew had rolled in but to Becky, it may as well have been four years.

One day in and Becky's patience had already been tested severely.

Alicia Fox, one of Bliss' cronies, had interrupted her during a previously wonderful massage from Liv. The tiny woman always managing to relax and help soothe the constant aches that sprung up from her training.

Alicia was a tall, striking woman with a penchant for dressing in the gaudiest of clothes, yet somehow managing to make it work. The bedazzled hat she wore was nothing other than an eyesore for Becky. Bringing her first impression to a dazzling new low.

Liv had been in the middle of making Becky's day a whole lot nicer and Alicia had strutted in with a confidence that could only come from arrogance and ignorance. Everyone else knew that rehab was not the time to bother the fighter, but Fox either didn't know or care.

Alicia had launched into a diatribe about food, and how Becky had been fueling her body all wrong. How she was going to fix everything through better choices and blah, blah, blah.

Becky had stopped listening after about two sentences. Which she believed was very admirable.

She hadn't been rude. She just ignored Alicia in the faint hope that she would give up.

Becky thought she had when the other woman walked away with a smile but found out Alicia had most assuredly not given up.

After Liv had finished up Becky had gone back up to her room to relax for a moment before doing some interval training.

Becky wouldn't call it a sweet tooth, but when she didn't have a fight lined up she would let herself enjoy the odd candy after working out. Just a little cheat to allow herself a moment away from the daily grind. Several seconds of joy before going back to the gym and beating her body again.

When she had gone to her room after the massage Becky had beelined for her mini-fridge. Opening up expecting to see her treats but instead finding nothing but vegetables and plastic containers. Each one labeled with a different day, and what time of that day it could be eaten on.

Becky tore the lid off one and sniffed the contents. Wrinkling her nose at the strong odor and snapping the lid tightly on.

She was stomping down the stairs so loudly, Becky was sure that the whole gym may have been shaking.

"What the hell Fox!" Becky had screamed as she reached the gym. Her eyes narrowing on her target. Noting the black garbage bag she was carrying at her side as she walked towards the side door.

Alicia hadn't even given Becky the courtesy of looking scared as the angry, trained fighter made a beeline for her. Just flashing her a bright smile before opening the door and chucking the bag into the dumpster.

"It's for your own good." The only words offered by the woman as Becky glared at her.

Day two hadn't ended up being much better. Alicia had managed to get Charlotte in on her strict dieting and Becky had found no help from the blonde.

Mickie James, Bliss' other cohort, decided that the middle of an intense cardio session was the opportune time to come up and try to take her measurements for a new wardrobe. Something Becky was vehemently against, but her complaints fell on deaf ears.

Of course, that wasn't the end of that. Mickie had continued to bother her throughout the day with seemingly innocuous questions. Sometimes just staring at Becky while she worked out, Mickie's eyes darting back and forth between the tablet in her hand and Becky.

Day three had been the worse yet.

Becky had been all ready to go down and get in a good session on the mits, but instead somehow found herself at an upscale clothing shop in Boston. Playing the role of mannequin for Alexa and Mickie to throw countless outfits on.

The only reason she had agreed to go was Charlotte's insistence that things would get easier once Alexa's team got through this first round of adjustments.

Yet, now that she was here Becky wished she had been able to ignore the blonde and stayed in the gym.

Becky thought training for a fight was draining, but that had nothing on being stuck in a room and forced to listen to Alexa Bliss critique her style for almost four hours.

After an hour of fighting it, Becky realized that it was simply better to let Alexa have her way and store the anger for use in her next heavy bag session. Otherwise, they may have been there even longer before Alexa had deemed the trip a success.

Becky had came down to the gym on the fourth day anticipating some new sort of torture. It's not as if Alicia's food was the worst thing ever, it had all the nutrients she needed and some of them didn't taste half bad, but the lack of freedom made her skin crawl. Having every day's food so closely monitored and scheduled was never something she had done back at CCS. She had always made weight and ate pretty darn healthy already. Never having had a problem making weight for any of her fights. Cutting down to 135 was more an annoyance than a real hindrance.

Since this began Becky had to fight the urge to go out at night and eat or drink something that wasn't on Alicia's regimented plan. Not caring if it was a burger or even just an apple. As long as it wasn't something she was being told to eat.

For three hours she worked out with trepidation. Her head already anticipating the door opening and Alexa or one of the others coming in with some fresh new idea.

When it finally came she flinched out of reflex. Taking a deep breath and turning towards the doors to see none of the women she dreaded.

"Hey Ric. What brings you in here today?" Becky politely asked. Still a bit ashamed of her outburst.

"Just you darlin'. Charlotte's out for the day and I wanted to see how you were doin." Ric said. Slowly walking over towards her.

"Still can't spar, but I'm getting my work in where I can." Becky dismissively responded. Not wanting to really talk about her feelings to Ric. "Sorry about acting like a proper ass last time."

Ric just smiled at her. "Water under the bridge hun. Besides, I've acted like an ass enough times to know that sometime you need forgiveness from others before getting it from yourself."

Becky hated how close his words hit.

The doors of the gym opened once more and Becky audibly groaned. Already doing breathing exercises to try and preemptively calm herself down. Not knowing that Ric was watching her with a silent, knowing frown on his face.

"There you are." Alexa called. "We need to go over some things today. Interviews are being lined up and you need to be ready." Walking over to the two as if she owned the gym. Alicia and Mickie hot on her heels.

Ric started speaking before Becky realized what was happening. "I think you can do that on another day. Becky has plans for the afternoon."

Alexa turned her eyes onto Ric and raised an eyebrow, but did her best to remain respectful to the legend. "No one informed me she had plans. I would never have scheduled this if I knew." Her tone conciliatory, something Becky had never heard from her.

"Course not. Sorry you didn't get the memo. I'm sure an intelligent young woman like yourself can figure out a way to adjust your day." Ric smugly stated. Riding the line between overt disrespect and compliment.

The tiny blonde clearly didn't like being put into a verbal corner. Her expression tight, she looked over at Becky. "We will talk soon. I have been lucky enough to get you an interview scheduled with Mandy Rose coming up. Perfect timing to get your name back out and get ahead of the press. Make your image a little more palatable. Enjoy the rest of your day Ms. Lynch." Alexa offered. Turning on her heel and walking away. Clearly not wanting to annoy Ric and have that negatively impact her position.

Becky waited until they were gone before grinning and letting out a wry chuckle. "Thanks for the save old man."

"You looked like you needed a break. I can see why my daughter brought her in, but that tiny girl sure can get on your nerves."

"You telling me." Becky turned back towards the bag.

"Do you like movies?" Ric asked.

Becky was a little curious about the out of the blue question. "I guess."

"How about you take the next couple hours off. What could it hurt. Charlotte's office is available and I've been looking for someone to watch with."

How could Becky turn it down when Ric put it like that. "Alright Ric. This better not be something I regret. It's not porn?"

Ric laughed for a second before it turned into a coughing fit. Pulling himself quickly back together. "No. it most certainly isn't."

Becky grinned. "Damn. That would have been a fun story to tell."

Becky/Charlotte

Charlotte had just finished another busy day. Speaking at length with Bob Orton, who seemed to be very happy with how the whole deal had worked out. His initial apprehension waning considerably now that Becky had came back and won.

Besides that she had been busy scouting out new talent for the gym.

It wasn't hard to get new fighters to come, but it was hard getting the RIGHT fighters in camp.

Balancing talent with personalities that wouldn't clash with Becky too much was a hard combination to find, but she had been making strides. Kairi Sane and Toni Storm two names she was keen on adding to her gym.

The last thing, and possibly the most difficult thing was looking into bringing in a head coach for the gym.

Ruby had done a great job helping Becky along, but they had mostly relied on Lynch's veteran know how to get her through the fight. Far more concerned with just getting her physically and mentally ready to enter a cage fight.

There were plenty of options out there but one name intrigued her above all others.

Sasha Banks had recently sent away her longtime coach, and Charlotte was hoping that Bobby Lashley might be looking to get back in the game after being let go.

She had begun the process of reaching out to him over a week ago. Emailing his professional contact and receiving a short but polite response that equated to no thanks. Citing his closeness to Sasha and feeling like it would be a betrayal of sorts to coach Becky. Even if they weren't scheduled to fight.

Charlotte had been quick to point out that Sasha had let him go and betrayed him on some level. Why fire your head coach when you are winning?

Lashley had been persistent in his denial, but Charlotte was more persistent. Calling him daily to see if he had changed his mind. Doing her best to make him feel wanted. Wooing him to just come out for a day or two for a test run. "It's a win-win Lashley. Either you come up here and you are a good fit, or even if it doesn't work out you get a vacation to Boston for the weekend, with travel and room on me."

She sensed her tactics were working. Instead of flat out saying no, Lashley had changed his answer to, "Let me think about it."

The small but significant victory had brought Charlotte back to her office when she had been prepared to spend all day out and about.

She opened the door without a thought and stopped in her doorway. Taking in the bizarre sight in her office with raised eyebrows. Ric and Becky sitting in two of her chairs pulled into the middle of the floor. An open bag of popcorn half finished in between them. Both more interested in talking about the film than watching it.

"Come on Ric you have to admit that the water thing kind of ruins it."

Ric chuckled and shook his head. "If you let it. I like to focus on the story."

"Oh come off it."

"Maybe it has some more meaning to it."

"And what would that possibly be? Just a fan of M. Knight?"

Charlotte swallowed. Knowing what the answer was. Her mind going back to one of the few nights when her father had actually acted like it.

"There are a lot of things I'd do differently if I could. This isn't one of them. You know I was a bit of a wildman back in the day."

"What! This is shocking!" Becky sarcastically cut in.

"I know. I know. Point being, I actually had a phase where I tried to be a family man. Do the whole thing, but it was probably too little too late, and I didn't even continue on with it. Gave up and went right back into boxing. One night me Charlotte and Reid watched this movie. One of the few things we did as a family." Ric paused and collected his thoughts while Becky listened with rapt attention. Neither having noticed Charlotte enter the room.

The tall blonde feeling wholly uncomfortable. A none too small part of her fuming at her father sharing this with Becky.

"I used to tell Reid to 'Swing away' on the rare occasion I was there for his training. Maybe it was just-"

Charlotte had enough and needed to announce herself to the room. "I thought this was my office?"

Becky and Ric turned around in their chairs and looked at the other woman. Ric with a soft guilt ridden look on his face, and Becky with a concerned gaze. The Irish woman noting how tense Charlotte held herself.

"We can clear out. The movies over already." Becky said. Automatically finding herself trying to alleviate Charlotte's stress, despite not knowing the exact cause. Although she could give a pretty good guess right now.

"Sure. I'd like to use MY office if you don't mind." Charlotte not caring that she was taking out the old anger she held onto since childhood and beyond on Becky.

"Lottie don't take it out on-"

"DON'T call me that right now!" Charlotte snapped. "Just clear out." Storming out the door and slamming it shut behind her.

The door creaked open after her and Charlotte was surprised by the voice calling out to her. "Charlotte! Wait up!" Becky called after her.

Against her better judgement Charlotte stopped in her tracks. The redhead surprising her once again when she felt a comforting hand laid on her shoulder.

"I know you might kill me for asking this, but are you alright? We didn't think you were going to be back today. I'll clean it all up and you can have your office back."

Charlotte sucked in a deep breath.

'Who the hell was this and what had she done with Becky?' She thought.

"Doesn't seem like you to give a shit." Charlotte bluntly stated. Feeling a tiny flinch through Becky's hand on her shoulder.

"I HAD a good teacher." Becky vaguely stated. Not willing to elaborate further.

Charlotte let her shoulders slump. Trying to let go of some of the old resentment she still held for her father. Turning around and using her hand to grab and take Becky's off her shoulder. "Thanks for the support, but I'm not really in the mood for a talk."

"You don't have to if you don't want. I just wanted to check in on you. You seemed a little bitchier than normal." Becky tried to joke. Her attention being diverted to the hand Charlotte had taken off her shoulder, but not let go of. The large strong hand wrapping around her own and filling her with a warmth that scared her as much as it intrigued her.

Not used to Becky being so soft in front of her, Charlotte found herself opening up ever so slightly. "Reid always looked up to Ric." Pausing to gather her own thoughts.

Becky knew better than to say anything. Just squeezing Charlotte's hand back and noting how the blonde seemed unaware she was still holding on.

"No matter what he did, or how many friends he had Reid always wanted Ric to notice him. But he was always busy. As we grew up he was always working. Always on the road. As his older sister I always hated seeing how that weighed on him. I knew that Ric's neglect hurt him. Maybe I was just too cynical to let him get to me. But not Reid. He worshipped the ground Ric walked on. Always wanted to impress his old man." Charlotte bitterly let out. "One movie night when he wanted to act like a father wasn't enough…"

Becky had been listening and had enough. She wouldn't want to admit where she got the idea from lest she never hear the end of it from a certain reporter, but Becky slowly let her arms wrap around Charlotte's tense shoulders and gave her a hug.

For her part Charlotte thought she may be dreaming. The idea of Becky Lynch being nice and trying to comfort her clashing with her worldview.

"What are you doing Lynch?"

"Just shut the fuck up and let me hug you Charlie."

The odd stalemate lasted another few seconds before Charlotte gave in. Letting her body melt into Becky's warm, strong embrace. Finding it more comforting than she should.

Becky ran her hand up and down the other woman's back. Subconsciously using some of the same movements Bayley had to make her feel better.

It only lasted for a short time, but Charlotte felt better nonetheless. Pulling away, ready to say thanks and quickly make her exit, but finding herself stunned by the genuine care in Becky's eyes.

Warning signs began flashing and Charlotte thought back to one of her first real conversations with Bayley and tried to remember all the reasons she had given for why Becky Lynch was a horrible idea for her.

It didn't seem to matter and like magnets they began to move closer. Becky's eyes closing first as Charlotte followed along. Inching closer till they could feel the gentle puffs of breath from the other woman.

The door to Charlotte's office creaked open and they both jumped apart. The sudden interruption breaking the moment that had been developing.

Ric stepped out and looked at Charlotte and Becky for a moment. His eyes darting back and forth between the two women. From Charlotte's inability to meet his eyes and quick retreat to Becky's brief flash of fury in his direction before turning back to look at Charlotte. Her face falling as the female Flair backed away and began to walk towards the gym doors.

"Sorry for barging in. Didn't know you two were out here."

Becky turned back to Ric to answer. Letting out a sigh and pinching the bridge of her nose. "It's alright Ric. You couldn't have known." Watching as Charlotte walked away without a backwards glance.

Unaware that Charlotte wouldn't let herself turn around. Too afraid of what she was feeling to act on it.

At a moment like this Charlotte really wished she had someone like Bayley to talk to…

Instead of that she just kept walking. Intent on avoiding this and pushing those feelings down.

Bayley

Despite the fact that it was a non-stop flight the trip from Boston to LA seemed to take much longer than it previously had. The reason wasn't hard to figure out. The last few times she'd done it, she'd been on her way somewhere for a specific (and exciting) purpose. Now it was just...an end.

Even the ride back to her place seemed to take forever, though this time the impression was probably accurate given the realities of Los Angeles traffic. When she finally did get home she felt like a stranger. Everything was where she'd left it and yet she felt like a caterpillar that had been asked to go back into its cocoon.

She was only now realizing just how happy she'd been in Boston. Not that she'd ever been without stress, and at times the work had been extremely frustrating. Running back and forth between Becky and Charlotte, two accomplished women who occasionally had the emotional maturity of 4 year olds, had been exhausting. But she'd loved doing it.

Given HOW she'd been 'let go' Bayley had spent a fair amount of time being angry, though she hadn't let this show when Becky had come to see her. She'd even fully written and edited a scathing hit piece on Charlotte and her gym to file in lieu of the piece she'd been meaning to write. But she hadn't posted it, she couldn't. Charlotte had wounded her, deeply, but she still liked the other woman and even thought she could see her point of view.

Sighing, she pushed all these thoughts aside as she dropped her bag on her couch and looked around again. Two things had actually changed while she'd been gone. Her plants were dead and there was an enormous pile of mail sitting on her table. She'd been able to keep up with her bills while gone (had actually been paying less since she wasn't using her internet or power) but there was still a LOT of look through.

" Christ, well someone's popular," she could almost hear Becky saying if she'd been confronted with the pile.

" I'll take care of it, don't worry about it," an equally imaginary Charlotte said before vanishing up to her office with the pile, intent on handling everything herself.

Sighing again Bayley opened her fridge and almost gagged. Looking back into it with squinted eyes she saw that what had once been some cheese had turned into her very own petri dish, as well as several other aspiring science projects. Too tired to even call for food, she cleaned out the fridge, tossed the lethally smelly garbage, and then returned to her apartment.

After changing into sweats she made herself tea and sat on her couch. Cracking open her laptop she set it next to her and then began pulling items off the mail pile. All while the document containing her final article from inside the Lynch camp, finished but not yet posted, stood open on her desktop.

"Welcome to the first day of the rest of your life chica," she said with a sigh.

Becky/Bayley

Becky had tried to give Alexa a chance. For Charlotte. She could sense that something was up with her. The blonde seemingly more on edge that ever before. Neither having talked about their 'almost kiss' since it happened.

Becky wasn't sure why Charlotte hadn't come to her, but she could guess. As for herself, the reason she hadn't brought it up was that she didn't want to admit that she cared what Charlotte felt about it.

She just needed to get away from it all for a bit.

Alexa's constant nagging or 'help' had been a source of great stress. Her infiltration of the gym making the space Becky had felt safe in, into a cradle of anxiety.

The stress of it all pulling at her mind and bending her thoughts. Throwing on a dark green hoodie and taking off without a particular destination in mind.

After a bit of walking Becky found that her feet had taken her to the coffee place Bayley had once taken her too. Memories of bad coffee and good company bringing a fragile smile onto her face, that quickly cracked when she remembered the woman who was no longer here. Probably already back in California and in the swing of her old life. She wouldn't want Becky to bother her. Not with something so trivial. Already ashamed that she had even contemplated calling Bayley just because she missed her.

Just as it was last time no one was in the establishment. But rather than a hulking giant behind the counter an attractive brunette with a body to die for.

Suddenly Becky had a distraction from her own head and fell back into old patterns. Flashing a smile at the woman and sauntering over. Walking with a confident swagger and tossing her vermillion curls over her shoulder. The old rush thrumming through her veins when she saw the quick once over the barista gave her. Her interest obvious and far too easy for the old Becky Lynch to sweet talk into her bed.

"Hey there…" Becky looked down at her nametag. Purposefully holding her gaze on the ample bosom on display, "Brooke." Her grin widening when she saw the recognition flash on Brooke's face. "I'd introduce myself, but I think you already know who I am."

It wasn't a personal record for Becky, nowhere near it in fact, but five minutes to making out with someone as hot as… the coffee chick was still pretty good.

She had the brunette pressed against the counter. Rubbing her hands up and down the soft body, lost in the simple pleasures.

Brooke broke the kiss and began to trail her lips down to Becky's neck. Eagerly offering her neck to the talented brunette's lips. "I'm not supposed to do this, but I can close this place and we can go back to your place." Not noticing how Becky had stiffened and froze, "I promise to make it worth your while Lasskicker." She whispered in a teasing low tone.

Becky pulled away like Brooke had burned her and started walking back around the counter and quickly towards the door. "I have to go." Was all she said. Blatantly ignoring the aggrieved yelling from behind. Getting out the door and jogging towards the gym. Slowly picking up speed along the way till she was in a full out sprint by the time she reached the gym doors.

It was late at night and no one was in the gym, so Becky was able to use her key and quietly slip inside. Immediately pacing through the space and trying to calm herself down.

She hadn't tried to chase away her anxiety and stress like that in a long time, and Becky didn't want to get back in the habit of sleeping with ladies just to distract her from her own shit. It reminded her of those dark times after her injury and the old feelings crept up like a sinister spider. Slowly, inch by inch sneakily taking back the ground she had won from it. Insidious and persistent in the mental warfare it waged inside.

Becky knew she was feeling overstressed but was so far gone that none of the things she had learned in rehab and therapy were coming to mind. Her breaths shortening as her heartbeat began to steadily increase.

She was in Liv's office when the frantic energy found a way out in the form of Becky's foot smashing through a cupboard door. The Irish woman surprised by her own outburst. Bits of cheap wood splinters scattered beneath the massive hole she had created.

Becky closed her eyes and groaned. Kneeling down to survey the damage she had created and opening the shattered door.

As she looked it over she couldn't help but notice a hint of red and blue peeking out from behind a pile of somewhat random cleaning supplies. Her own curiosity getting the better of her and grabbing a hold of what she now knew was a cardboard box and pulling it out.

An old glass lullaby that Becky knew all too well ringing out in the silence.

Bayley had been a writer her entire adult life, and much of her childhood. She'd once entertained the idea of being a novelist. She was good at creative invention and finding the right way to express herself to a large audience. Yet she was running out of good excuses to avoid going out with her friends.

" COME ON Bay, we haven't been out in AGES! And I can't go out by myself to this new place!" Bayley's friend Emma had just texted.

" I'm just really tired Em, I'm really sorry! We can grab lunch or something soon though OK?" Bayley sent back, hoping that going vague would be the right play. It was not.

" What's been going on with you lately? Are you OK? I'm worried! It's like you're dealing with a breakup since you got back from Boston…" The ellipsis at the end of this statement was clearly an invitation for Bayley to talk about what was bothering her. Bayley appreciate this, but wasn't ready for that yet.

" Something like that Em. I'll text you tomorrow, I'm going to try and get some writing down tonight," she sent back before setting her phone aside.

She really did have some writing to do but it wasn't for a story. A new career opportunity had presented itself to Bayley in a most unexpected way recently. Once she'd filed her final story about her time in the Flair camp, a story that made clear the end of her association with them, she'd started getting the emails. No fewer than five major MMA teams had reached out to her to see if she'd be willing to come and cover their fighters in house in the same way she'd covered Becky Lynch.

There were few sports more prone to 'follow the leader' behavior than MMA. When one team got a shiny new kind of toy than they ALL wanted one of the same. Bayley was in a uniquely advantageous position as well in as much as she was the pioneer of this kind of arrangement. She could more or less set her own terms with these teams. It was tempting, she'd still be able to keep up and running while bringing in a nice secondary income. No small consideration given the damage she'd done to her savings in Boston..

It should have been a slam dunk for her. But it wasn't. She just wasn't sure if she was ready to do it again, not yet. She was still thinking on this when her phone buzzed again. Rolling her eyes at the thought of whatever message Emma and sent now she reached for it and turned it over. It wasn't Emma.

"Hola my favorite stateside journalist : D Long time no hablar eh?"

Bayley blinked in surprise. She hadn't heard from Becky since she'd gotten back to California, she'd been meaning to text the fighter herself but somehow it had always seemed like the wrong time. " I do believe that is some of the worst Spanish I've ever seen, but I still love you anyway. And what's this about 'stateside'? Whose better than me internationally?" she sent back with a small smile.

Becky swallowed down a smile at seeing the words appear on her screen. " I'll get back to you when I find someone." Pausing with her thumb over the send button before she added, " Miss you."

Bayley smiled upon reading this, but also felt something tugging at her journalistic instincts. She believed that Becky probably did miss her, she missed Becky. But knowing what she did about the other woman, this wasn't the kind of text she would just send on a whim. Something was bothering the fighter. Unconsciously she found herself slipping back into the role of confidant she'd had while in Boston.

" So...it's the weekend, shouldn't you be out doing something crazy like drinking diet soda or staying out past nine?" she asked, hoping to draw the Irish woman out.

Becky stared down at the words and felt the guilt that had already been eating her since the coffee shop girl increase. Bayley's joking way of mentioning her doing something crazy making her hesitant to reveal. A part of her saying to just lie and not deal with the disappointment Bayley would have in her. Not wanting to admit that she was disappointed in herself as well.

"Haha. Very funny. I could ask you the same question. Don't you have something better to do than text an alcoholic fighter."

"Uh, that alcoholic fighter messaged me FIRST...and how do you know I'm not out doing something crazy like...a sock hop...or a drive in movie...I'm too old and boring to know what people do anymore," Bayley sent back. Her joking tone was partially because she was just enjoying talking with her friend again but also because she knew if she laid it on thick Becky would relax.

"So you aren't just sitting at your place all alone?" Becky felt herself calm momentarily at the old banter they had. Her calm leaving almost as soon as it came when she remembered what had prompted the texts. "I went to that coffee shop."

Bayley sensed that they were slow walking toward the real reason why Becky had reached out. Thinking about her reply for awhile she sent: " I'm guessing it wasn't to see our buddy Dave?"

Becky looked down at her phone and frowned. " He wasn't there tonight." She typed. Part of her wanting to just delete it and make some joke, but ultimately hitting send.

Well that was interesting, Bayley thought as she looked at the reply. No joke, no other details, SOMETHING had happened tonight. " Good coffee?" was all she asked.

"Wouldn't know. Got distracted with the new girl behind the counter." Smashing the send button before she had a chance to stop herself. Both hands clasping together tightly around the phone. Just waiting for the vibration to convince her she wasn't as alone as she felt.

Bayley sensed that every extra second she took to respond to this would increase Becky's flight risk so she hurriedly sent: " Andd are yout wo still 'distracting' eac hother now? '" spelling errors and all.

Becky took a deep breath and peered down at the text in confusion for a moment before filling in the gaps. "No. Stopped before things weent to far." The slight tremor in her right hand making it difficult to hit the tiny buttons on the screen in the dark of her room.

Bayley knew that her next response was VERY important. Say the wrong thing and Becky would vanish like a spooked deer. Thinking, and typing, carefully she sent: " So, it seems like you made a healthy and responsible choice. But I'm guessing you're facing another?"

It seemed so simple when Bayley put it that way. Becky looked up at the ceiling and tried to calm herself down to little effect. "Can you promise not to tell Charlotte? She-" Becky wasn't sure what she wanted to say and stared off into space for a minute. Deleting the last word and adding "I don't want her to know."

Deciding that a tiny bit of levity could help here Bayley replied: " You know I always protect my sources."

Becky respected Bayley trying to make her at ease. It made it harder to admit, "I accidentally found some beer in the gym and I really, and I mean REALLY need a drink right now."

That settled it for Bayley, she tapped Becky's contact and hit dial. When she heard the phone answered she said: "Think about it" a deliberate call back to the words that had begun their friendship.

For a second Becky closed her eyes and just let herself listen to a voice that seemed like it cared. The last weeks of Alexa and her cohorts business like approach making Bayley's voice seem like the sun she had been missing. "I have… A lot. Been starin' at the thing for a while 'fore I called you." Opening her eyes and swallowing the lump in her throat when she looked towards the unassuming half empty case of beer sitting at the foot of her bed, while Becky sat back against the headboard.

Bayley sighed, unsure of what to do. Had she been there she would have wrapped Becky up in her arms and held her, but that wasn't an option. "What's been going on?" was what she ended up asking, knowing Becky would grasp the subtext.

Becky turned her head away from the phone and tried to keep the sound of her soft crying away from the microphone. Hating how weak she was. For allowing something so innocuous to make her like this. "It's just been a lot. Alexa. Charlotte. I'm tired. I'm trying to be a team player and make this work but… I'm tired." Becky whined.

Eyeing the case once more and tensing up against the sudden urge to reach over. Holding herself back and pushing herself further back into the headboard. Going so far as to curl her feet up and stay as far away as possible.

Bayley sighed: "Look, Becky...I can't MAKE you do anything here, even the right thing. I think if your relationship with Charlotte has proven anything it's that no one MAKES you do anything. And you've heard my speech about all the work you've put in before. So let me just tell you two things. First, I love you no matter what and I will do my best to support and help you regardless because that's what friends do. Second, PLEASE think HARD about this."

She felt somewhat silly delivering a speech that might have come out of a movie but she'd spoken from the heart. Now all she could do was wait.

Becky paused and tried to really take in what Bayley was saying. She knew that she could count on the woman to always have the right advice. That was a large reason why part of her didn't want to text the reporter tonight. Becky knew damn well that Bayley would tell her not to drink and she called her anyway. That had to count for something. At least on some level Becky hadn't been a failure tonight.

"I knew I shouldn't have called you." Becky tried to joke. Although she wasn't sure how it came across when she stumbled halfway through to choke back a sob. Holding a hand over her mouth to try and stifle the noise.

"Do you want me to text one of the girls to come over and get their beer?" Bayley offered.

Becky's attention once again turned towards the case but this time it looked a lot less frightening. "Tell them it will be outside my door." Gathering her self control and grabbing hold of the case. Taking a deep breath as she held the phone to her ear with one hand. Bayley's presence on the line helping ground her as she moved towards the repaired door and dropping it outside. Quickly closing the door and moving back to her bed.

Hearing Becky return Bayley was beaming, though Becky couldn't see it. "I'm proud of you, you stubborn Irish bitch," she said, managing not to sound choked up.

"Don't get all weepy on me now. It wasn't even my kind of beer anyway." Becky immediately returning to humor to try and deflect the praise.

"Hey!" Bayley said, raising her a voice a little so Becky would know she was serious. She waited a moment before saying again: "I'm proud of you Becky Lynch, you should be proud of yourself too."

Becky took a few seconds before responding to give herself a moment. Trying her best to take the praise without adding a qualifier, "I'll try…" Knowing that she should do better than that. "I mean I am. Proud. Of me." Pausing again. "You never really gave me an answer earlier. Are you free to talk some more. I wouldn't want to get in the way of your normal life now that I'm not really in it."

Bayley thought guiltily for a moment about Emma before managing to wrestle the feeling down. She'd make it up to her friend soon. Right now, this took priority. "All the time in the world," she said as she lay down on her sofa.

A real smile graced Becky's face as she sat down in the middle of her bed. Stretching out across it. For the first time since the night she had said goodbye to Bayley, Becky felt truly comfortable. Alexa and all the baggage that came with her far in the rearview mirror for the time being. Still there but not as overwhelming as it had been before.

"Would you hang up if I asked for phone sex?" Becky asked in faux seriousness.

"por el amor de Dios, you know I think we'd been apart JUST long enough for me to forget how much a brat you can be," Bayley said, making sure to speak lightly so Becky would know she was joking.

"You say brat, I say endearing. Same thing in the end." Becky paused at the lighthearted exchange and found herself picking at that damn hole in her jeans once again. What once had been only the size of a golf ball was now nearly baseball sized. " Gracias. Por being you. Sorry, I'm not great at the Spanish." Clearly speaking the first half and mumbling through her apology.

"No...you're muy mal at it, but I'll cut you some slack. So dish for me Lynch, how terrible is the reign of blonde Napoleon?" Bayley asked, legitimately curious.

Becky closed her eyes. "Can we not." Taking a deep breath. "I don't want to think about her right now."

"Alright, alright...something else you'll like then...how's Charlotte?" Bayley started this statement light but ended in a voice that she hoped conveyed her earnestness.

"She's been busy." Becky said. Trying to gather how own scattered thoughts about the woman. "Not around the gym as much now that… She's not around. Even when she is she seems preoccupied." Trying not to sound upset that Charlotte hadn't been paying as much attention to her now that Bliss was around. "I thought she might… Never mind." She finished lamely.

"Reporter," was all Bayley said in response.

"Ugh. There was this one time where I thought she might be interested, but it's just wishful thinking." Becky's eyes opening wide when the words just slipped out. "I didn't mean that the way it sounded."

So many connections were lighting up in Bayley's brain at the moment that she imagined it like a New Year's fireworks display. Of course, she had two separate confidences to keep in this situation. More to buy herself time than anything she asked: "What made you think that?"

Becky groaned. "I thought we had a moment one night. She talked to me a little about her brother Reid and I wasn't being an ass for once. Like I said, it was just my mind playing tricks on me." Trying to dismiss and ignore the moment as she had tried too since it happened and Charlotte left.

More frustrated than ever about being physically removed from the scene of these goings on Bayley said, cautiously: "You know, if she WERE interested...she's kinda like you. Stubborn as hell so…" She let this statement hang for awhile.

"She is." Becky quietly agreed. "I've been trying to play nice with Alexa and all her shit for Charlotte's sake. That's probably the only reason I haven't strangled her by now." Something inside telling her that not talking about Alexa and how she really felt would be a bad decision.

Bayley had been an interviewer long enough to sense a thread, she pounced. "So you've stopped calling her 'Not Bayley' then huh?" she asked.

"Not to her face. It seems to annoy her." Becky shrugged despite Bayley being unable to see.

"Any reason why you've decided to wage war on someone who, however obnoxious, IS there to help you?" Bayley asked gently, it was a reproof but a very mild one.

"Help." Becky scoffed. "She just wants to make me into something I'm not. The type of idiot that keeps on trying to ram a square peg into a round hole."

"There was a time when any mention of 'ramming' anything into any sort of hole would have drawn a joke from you. You really don't like her huh?" Bayley teased.

"She doesn't give a shit about me and what I want. Just what 'looks good' to the public." Becky vented. "She's got this interview with some chick named after a feckin flower and they want me to wear a goddamn dress! A DRESS! On air!"

Bayley chuckled at this, but even as she did her stomach gave a slight lurch. "As much as I'd pay to see that...did she happen to say it was someone named Mandy Rose?"

Becky was still seething. "Sounds familiar. I try not listening when she talks usually."

Deciding not to pursue the issue Bayley decided to change the subject: "Have you seen Ric around the gym?"

Becky welcomed the change of topic. "We actually watched a movie one night. He was going to show me some moves this week."

Bayley smiled at this. "If I recall some of my boxing history you'll be learning the stomp on the toes, elbow to the nose, and quick headbutt then?" she asked.

Biting back a laugh Becky smiled. "Probably. Just got to find an opponent to test it out on. How about you? What's happening over there?"

"Well, for starters it's warm and sunny...which is pretty damn awesome I must say…" Bayley joked before she sobered a bit and added: "But mostly I'm trying to dig myself out of the hole I made in my savings while working on the blog."

"Come on. There's got to be something on the horizon. Didn't you get the ol' Becky Lynch rub? Not the rub I would have preferred of course." Enjoying just talking with Bayley. Her mind gloriously free.

"Shouldn't you be bothering Lizzie's mom or something?..." Bayley teased "...And now that you mention it yeah. I got a pretty intriguing group of offers after I posted my last story on you. Seems there are a couple teams around the country who are eager to try the 'embedded reporter' thing and since I'm the only expert on it they want me to do it." Bayley had hesitated to share this information with Becky not because she didn't trust her but because she didn't want to mess with her already strained emotional equilibrium. But in the end, she decided that her friend could take it.

Becky was surprised by how pleased she was to here this. "That's great Bayley! I finally get to say I'm proud of you this time!" Lying her head down on the pillow and looking at the clock to her right. Noting how much time had gone by and how much better she felt since speaking with the other woman.

"Oh really Lynch? No line about you being jealous other people get to 'use' me?" Bayley laughed.

"Maybe some of your good influence finally worked its magic." Her tone light. Changing as she got serious. "Honestly. You've pulled me back twice from doing something I know I would hate myself for. I don't know where I would be without you Bay. All I know is that I don't want to become that person again. Not now. And I have you to thank for that. So sorry if I'm getting a bit mushy over the phone. But you just might be my best friend." Speaking from the heart even though Bayley was multiple time zones away.

Bayley found that she actually had to wipe at her eyes when Becky was finished as she said: "God damn you for making me cry Lynch. You're my best friend too, maybe that's a commentary on my social life but I don't care." She had to sniffle again before she added: "And to quote a movie I bet you haven't scene 'That's two you owe me junior.'" She just happened to look over into her kitchen then and saw the time displayed on her oven. " Santa Mierda! Mira la hora! It's 1am here Lynch! Shouldn't you be sleeping?"

"I mean, probably. But I'm not tired at all." Trying and failing to mask a yawn as she curled beneath her covers.

" I swear I will call Liv on you! And then you'll be in for the worst shin kicking of your life!" Bayley mock admonished, making a mental note as she did to text Liv and Ruby about the beer.

"Fine. You win. I guess sleep isn't the worst idea in the world." Becky said. Her eyelids already feeling heavy and falling closed.

" Buenas noches mi amiga, duerma bien."

Becky would have given a response had she not fallen asleep instantly. Phone slipping from her fingers and sliding onto her pillow. Microphone pointing at her mouth and picking up the steady breathing.

"Cuidate...si tan solo Charlotte supiera de lo que se estaba engañando a sí misma," Bayley said quietly before ending the call.

Sasha

Sasha groaned as she awoke.

She'd more of less reconciled herself to constant hangovers but this one seemed extra vicious. And it took her a moment to realize why.

The blinds were open in her bedroom, showcasing an extraordinary view of the coastline and the Pacific Ocean. Sasha couldn't cared less about this however as they windows were also letting in a LOT of sunlight. Rolling away from them she found herself facing an unfamiliar back and shoulder blades. Blinking she tried to remember who this might be, she assumed they'd slept together judging from the nail marks down the woman's back. This was something of a signature of hers.

Gritting her teeth against the expected pain she turned toward the windows and surveyed the rest of her bed. Zelina was curled up next to her, nude, and her other side was another woman Sasha didn't know. A further scan of the room showed her women's clothing strewn across the floor as well as several bottles scattered around the room.

It was only then that she realized that her legs were pinned under something. Looking down she found yet another sleeping woman who apparently had fallen asleep on her. Sasha's bed was massive circular affair that, despite it's five occupants, still had plenty of room to spare. Closing her eyes and letter her head drop back onto her pillow she sighed.

Clearing the trash out the morning after was always the hardest part.

Some vague details about the party the night before were starting to come back to her. Her head told her that she'd had a lot to drink, so did the empty bottles. But she also remembered doing at least two lines of coke and smoking weed. In the olden days she would never have gotten away with this, Bobby had always kept a VERY tight leash on this sort of thing.

Thinking about former trainer, and the circumstances of his firing, was enough to put her in a bad mood. When she was in a bad mood she sought way to distract herself and, fortunately, she had four good options to hand. Putting a hand on the shoulder of the woman to her right she turned her gently onto her back and climbed on top of her.

Whoever she was, she was game enough. She awoke quickly under Sasha's lips and began to return Sasha's affection without comment. A few moments later Sasha felt as much as heard Zelina stirring and so, without stopping what she was doing, snaked a hand out and took her fiance's wrist to pull her closer. Like the mystery girl Zelina didn't protest.

Sasha was just getting into a good rhythm of moving back and forth between them when her phone rang. Ordinarily, Sasha would either had ignored it or just let it ring given what she was doing, but this was a very special ring. It was reserved for only two people in the world and one of those wasn't speaking to Sasha anymore.

"Baby…" Zelina whined as clambered out of bed and snatched her robe from off the corner of the headboard.

"Have fun, I'll come back," Sasha said distractedly as she grabbed her phone and walked briskly out of the room. She hadn't quite closed the door before she heard the evidence of Zelina's fun.

When she'd stepped hurriedly out on one of her home's decks she closed the door behind her and answered the phone saying: "Hello?"

" Hey! How's my favorite Cali girl?" Ric Flair asked.

"Hungover," Sasha answered plainly.

"See? Now I knew there was a reason I liked you Banks, " Flair laughed.

Despite herself Sasha smiled. "It was a hell of a party last night, I think you would have liked it," she said.

"Back in my younger days I'm sure I would have closed her down with you," Flair said happily.

Sasha had actually known Ric Flair back in the day. Before she'd moved out west she'd briefly entertained the idea of training at this gym but at that point it had mostly been a boxing gym. So she'd moved but she was a Boston girl, she'd grown up on the legends of the Nature Boy and his exploits in the ring. They'd maintained a small and off the books kind of contact since then, a contact that had developed into, if not pure friendship, than at least mutual admiration.

"You don't call me a lot, whats up?" Sasha asked. This was how they spoke to each other, blunt past the point of rudeness because each knew the other wouldn't care.

" Well, I've been following you lady, you know I do, and I wanted to touch base. Things seem to be getting a little crazy out there," Flair explained. Sasha gritted her teeth. Flair was, perhaps, the only person left on the planet who she was still talking to that she'd take this from. But that didn't mean she was going to be graceful about it.

"Oh yeah? You wanna get in my business too then? That's a bit rich coming from you 'Mr. Limousine riding, jet plane flying, son of a gun'," Sasha said sourly, quoting the line Flair himself had liked to use in his youth.

Flair chuckled at this: "Hey, I know you know what I'm talking about. Because I DID all that stuff."

"Advice noted, anything else?" Sasha asked coldly.

"Hey now, let's not be like that. I also wanted to call to tell you something and to ask you a favor,"

"Yeah?" Sasha asked flatly. She wasn't paying full attention. Her head still hurt and she was thinking about what might be going on in her bedroom right now. There was a very long pause, long enough that she asked: "Hello?"

" I'm dying Sasha," came the simple three-word response. At first, Sasha thought she must have misheard him.

"What?"

" I'm dying kiddo. Doctors don't give me long, I wanted you to know," Flair said in a voice far more subdued that Sasha had ever heard from him. She was unable to think of anything to say herself, she just sat heavily on one of her deck chairs and stared blankly out at the ocean. " You still with me?" Flair eventually asked.

"Yeah...yeah I'm here...I...I'm sorry," she said, she couldn't come up with anything else to say.

" Oh now, don't start with that. I get plenty of the weepy stuff already, I don't need it from you. But we've been friends for awhile and I thought you should know. Didn't want you being blindsided by the news. Ha, can you imagine the headlines? Has been boxer finally croaks," Flair joked.

"You're still a legend!" Sasha said, far more heatedly that she'd meant to. But something about Flair's joking about his death had hit a nerve. She didn't want to think about a world without him, especially since he was almost all she had left.

" Maybe, maybe…" Flair said soothingly "... but that's not much comfort as a legacy Sasha. Remember that if you remember anything. All the trophies, the belts, the honors...they don't bring much comfort when all the chips are down."

"Why are you telling me this?"

"Well, it's about that favor," Flair explained.

"Name it,"

" I want you to give my girls a break," Flair said firmly.

Sasha narrowed her eyes. His 'girls' could only be referring to his daughter and Becky Lynch, possibly even Bayley.

"Oh yeah? They can't handle it?" she asked.

"You know they can but you also know that it's not helping them," Flair said sternly. Sasha bit back a sharp retort at this. Flair seemed to sense it and he went on: " Look, I heard about your meeting with Kairi Sane."

"How-?" Sasha started to ask but then clammed up. Of course, someone had talked.

"I'm not complaining or accusing you of anything. Business is business we both know that. But showing up at Charlotte's press conference? That sort of thing? Come on Sasha, cut them a break. YOU sent Lynch out to us after all," Flair said.

"Did you-" Sasha began to demand but he cut her off.

"No, neither of them know. I kept my word," Flair said. This satisfied but didn't placate Sasha. She didn't like being reminded that she'd been the one to send the note and plane ticket to Lynch AND who had arranged for Flair to take her in. It felt like a moment of weakness a lifetime ago now.

"So? Seems like you've been doing quite well out of it so far," she said petulantly.

"We have, but you gotta admit that it's weird for you to send her out here and then come after her," Flair pointed out.

"Yeah yeah," Sasha muttered. She brooded for a few moments before saying: "Alright Ric, FOR YOU, I'll lay off them. But if I ever get Lynch in the cage again I'm going to bury her for good!"

" I wouldn't want you to do anything less, but watch out, she's a damned good fighter."

Sasha chose not to answer this as she stewed awkwardly for a few moments. But eventually she said: "Ric?"

" Yeah, darling?"

"I'm sorry, I'm gonna miss you."

" I'm sorry too Sasha, I'm sorry too. But there no sense in your worrying about what you can't change. And I DON'T want to be seeing you again for a damned long time so...take care of yourself OK kid?" Flair said quietly. Sasha almost smiled, this was what he'd always called her when they'd first met.

"OK old man…" she said, trying to smile "...hey Ric? Can I ask you something?"

" Sure."

" You know..you know that reporter that Charlotte had out there?" Sasha asked, twisting the hem of her robe as she did.

" Martinez? Yeah, she's a good egg. Great writer too, wish I'd know someone like her back in my day." Sasha tried to smile here, but couldn't. Her stomach was churning as it never did before a fight.

"How...I mean…" she struggled to find words "...we know...KNEW...each other once. How...how is she doing?" There was long pause, a silence in which Sasha couldn't almost hear the gears turning in Flair's head.

" Last I saw she was fine, but she's not here anymore."

"What?"

" Charlotte made the decision that she wanted a new media approach with Lynch. Brought in this little blonde gal, Bliss is her name I think."

"She hired Alexa Bliss?" Sasha asked, surprised. She knew of Bliss of course, she was a PR wizard but she was surprised she'd taken the gig. She usually only worked for the cream of the crop.

" So I hear. Personally I think she traded down, but last I heard Martinez was on her way back to your neck of the woods," Flair said casually. Sasha's stomach did a small flip at this but she kept it from her voice.

"Thanks Ric, for everything," she said awkwardly, unsure if this was the last time she'd ever speak to him. And equally unsure how she felt about it.

" Don't mention it Sasha. You're one the best fighters I've ever met, just...take care of yourself like I said. Surround yourself with good people and remember what I told you about what matters," Flair said gently.

"OK," Sasha said, almost whispering.

" I gotta run kiddo, but I try to give you a shout here again soon."

"Yeah, please do," Sasha said. She would never speak to him again.

Sasha sat on her deck, staring at the ocean, for a very long time. Ignoring Zelina when she finally came out looking for her, and then sending her scurrying when she started to whine about something.

What was she going to do? And even if she figured that out, what DID matter to her.

Several hours later Sasha was standing inside a Clex's not far from her home. She wasn't eating, Sasha might have done drugs and drank to excess but she still hadn't crossed the line into junk food.

No, she was there in a professional capacity. As part of her contract with Clex's she had to do a certain amount of these meet and greets at various locations. It just worked out better when it was a five-minute drive.

"Hi, thanks for coming," she said with a smile she hoped wasn't too obviously false to a few departing guests. She'd been busy more or less since she'd arrived with autographs, photos, etc. This was the first lull and she wanted to do now was sit down. It was absurd but she found this sort of thing much harder to do than actual fighting.

"Give me a few I'll be right back," Sasha told the restaurant manager as she walked back toward the bathrooms. When she'd locked herself in she look surreptitiously around to make sure there wasn't some kind of camera on the sinks. When she was sure she dug in her purse and withdrew a small unmarked vial which she drank down in one gulp.

This was simply a precaution in her part. If you were going to be a professional fighter AND do hard drugs you needed to use masking agents. Saying a silent thank you to the biochemists who were slaving away to work out new agents to mask drug use, many of whom made more than their colleagues who were working to cure actual diseases

She was just finishing up in the stall when she started hearing shouting from out in the main restaurant. Quickly washing her hands she hurried out into the dining area and found a scene of pandemonium. Several members of entourage were pushing and shoving with a group of people wearing black slacks and white shirts with black ties. All this as several horrified patrons looked on. The group in ties were chanting.

"END THE FILTH! END THE FILTH!" was their refrain, over and over. Several had signs as well. The restaurant manager and Teddy appeared to be at the front of Sasha's group and arguing with the leader of the protestors.

"...to ask you to leave now sir!" the manager was saying loudly, struggling to be heard over the sound of the chanting.

"WE WILL NOT LEAVE! WE WILL NOT STAND ASIDE AS THE MORAL FABRIC OF OUR SOCIETY IS DECAYED BY FILTH PEDDLERS LIKE SASHA BANKS! WE WILL NOT LET OUR CHILDREN'S MINDS BE POISONED!," the man who must have been the protestors leader shouted back.

Sasha had encountered protesters before but those had always been protesting MMA itself. Having them present to protest her personally was a new experience. She felt her temper rising in her gut as she stomped over toward the group. She was only a few feet away the groups noticed her. The protesters surged toward her while her group tried to hold them back.

"YOU!..." a woman in her 40's shouted "...YOU IMMORAL LITTLE SMUT QUEEN! WHY DON'T YOU GO BACK TO WHERE YOU CAME FROM!" As she shouted this at Sasha she was wagging a finger in her face. Even in a patient person this would have been irritating, to Sasha Banks it was very nearly an invitation to a duel.

"What? FUCKING BOSTON? Why don't you back up off me you racist cunt!" Sasha snapped back.

"YOU ARE A LESBIAN SINNER BIMBO PROFITING OFF OF BLOOD SPORTS! YOU ARE A CANCER ON SOCIETY AND WE WILL NOT LET YOU CONTINUE!" the other woman, who Sasha saw was wearing a nametag that read 'Ivory' on her blouse. She punctuated her statement by poking Sasha in the chest.

"Oh, you don't want to touch me again you ancient bitch!" Sasha snarled, pushing her face forward right into Ivory's.

"Playa! Calm down, we're getting you out of her here now!" Teddy was saying as he tried to push his way toward Sasha. But before he could reach her the leader of the protesters shoved his way forward.

"THE RIGHT TO CENSOR WILL NOT LET YOU THREATEN ANYONE WITH YOUR WORDS OR YOUR FILTH EVER AGAIN!" he shouted at her.

"Oh I'll turn your skinny bitch inside out to just as soon as I'm done with with this bitch right here!" Sasha growled as pushed the other woman aside to get in the man's face. As she did his companion tried to grab Sasha's arm to pull her back. Sasha easily shook her off but also sent her stumbling in the process. Seeing this the groups leader, he was wearing a nametag that read 'Stevie', put a hand on Sasha's shoulder and tried to spin her around.

Sasha's hand moved almost of it's own volition, driving by years and training and instinct. Before she was even aware of what she was doing she'd cracked him across the face so hard that he went down like a sack of bricks. The effect on the crowd was as though she'd fired a gun in the air. The protesters scattered like a flock of birds startled off a powerline, most shouting recriminations as they went.

Sasha somewhat lost track of events then too. All she knew was that Titus had suddenly lifted her bodily off the ground and was hurrying her out of the restaurant as Teddy rushed beside them. "Get her in the car! Quick!" he was barking. A few moments later Sasha found herself dumped in the back of her car which took off a few moments later.

"Hey what about my shit?!" Sasha demanded.

"I'll have one of the boys grab it, but we're getting you out of here now!" Teddy snapped, he almost never shouted at her. He looked nervously back as though he expected to see some kind of pursuit. "That was really fucking stupid playa! You know what kind of shit storm you just kicked up for us?" he demanded.

"What the fuck ever man…" Sasha muttered "...that fuck had it coming."

"Maybe but he didn't need to get it from you! Damn it we just got the Neidhart contract finished up and now I gotta deal with this shit!" Teddy snapped. Sasha had rarely ever seen him this angry. Ordinarily this would have activated her own temper, never far from the surface, but she was smart enough to realize that Teddy was about the only person she had left in her life who tried to look after her best interests. So she was forced to try to do something she was not very good at: be plactory.

"It will blow over Teddy, don't even worry about it. Those fucking weirdos will just back under whatever rock they came from," she said, unconsciously slipping into the vocal mannerisms of the many people who had been forced to try and soothe her.

"Well we just gotta hope you're right playa because if not we could be seriously fucked," her manager grumbled, but Sasha sensed he was calming. A moment later he added: "By the way, before you do something else stupid, Sane's people called and they can meet with you tomorrow so I scheduled it after you pee in a cup for BFA."

Becky

With another finished class Becky said goodbye to the last of her students. The large influx of new names after her fight making her both happy and intimidated for the increase in popularity. But anything was better than dealing with Alexa and luckily her classes had remained untampered.

As was standard for her Becky had taken to putting her phone on vibrate during the classes. Out of respect for her students and in an attempt to set an example for her students.

Becky had been a little annoyed by the near constant vibrations early in her lesson, but the fact that it had continued for the entire lesson made her anxious to see who could possible be trying to get a hold of her so tenaciously.

Her phone blinked into life and Becky's eyebrows rose when she saw nearly thirty missed calls from numbers Becky didn't even know.

As if on queue the phone began to vibrate as another call came in. This time it was from a number she knew very well. Even having it programmed into her phone as, '$$$'.

With her curiosity peaked Becky hit accept. "Hey Shane O'Mac. What's up with the call?"

" I've told you not to call me that before, but that's beside the point. I need your help. We had a fighter injure themselves and need a replacement on two weeks notice. I know you weren't too banged up after your last fight. How about it?"

Becky was eager to get back in the cage. "Of course. I want to get back in there right away." Barely even pausing to ask, "Who's the opponent?"

Shane paused on the other end. "Nikki Cross."

"...I'm in." Becky agreed before she could talk herself out of it. Her other hand already tightly wound into a fist.