Chapter 38

The beginning of April came up a few days after Mercedes revealed to Colby about her continuing nightmares. It got to her as it had after the event had happened. She thought to when the nightmares and the attack had overwhelmed. She thought to when Glenn Parsons had taken the control she had. To when she had not been able to get into the ring.

"Maybe since the very beginning of filming this WWE 24, or just shortly after the start of filming," Mercedes confessed as she was filming. "I have had the start of nightmares again."

"How has that made you feel?" A crew person asked.

"It makes me feel scared and sad!" She said with tears coming. "I had lost control of my life! I lost my wrestling life! I couldn't get in the ring. I couldn't be around people. It took me a bit to be in a crowd of people. I sought help for recovery and understanding.

"That was for three weeks and then three weeks after that, I found out I was pregnant. I was so upset when I first found out I was pregnant. I have said that constantly. I have also said I had hoped to miscarry, but I'm glad I didn't! I am so happy to be a mom and have my daughter! She means the world to me!

"But when I was training to get back to WWE last September, it was the day of the anniversary of my rape. I had seen that my rapist had taken away my control. But I decided on that day, he was going to be my focus. He was going to be my opponent in thought. Getting my control back was necessary.

"I trained at Black and Brave with Seth. And on that day my fire in the ring came back. The fire that you see each time I am in the ring was there. My focus was not on hurting any of the students I got into the ring with at Black and Brace. My focus was just to counter their moves and have control of the training match just as it was if I were in the ring with any other wrestler.

"And since then I have had control, except my mind has been going back to then when it all happened. Reliving some of the events had been a little hard. But with WrestleMania a week away, I have decided to take the control again. This control is what will take me to WrestleMania.

"When I step into the ring with Ashley—Dana Brooke my fire will be fighting for control again. With this match, I am getting control again. Yes, I have these nightmares again and that is because of my rapist. And I have only been telling a story and going down the road to my WrestleMania. But I am having nightmares again because he raped me! He caused everything to happen.

"But my drive to capture the Raw Women's Championship is getting in the ring again and seeing him as Dana. But of course, not meaning any harm to her. Just facing her in a typical wrestling match to win and become a champion.

"He might be in my head, but he will not get the best of me. There will be no intimidation!"

Mercedes smiled. She nodded her head.

Mercedes took that attitude to the last Monday Night Raw before WrestleMania a night later.

Sasha stood in the ring with Dana Brooke. The two were having words one last time.

"The only person who has ever intimidated has been my rapist! But not ever again! You do not intimidate me, Dana! And you never have! And none of the women I have faced over my career haven't either! Yes, some have said shit to piss me off or offend me. But not intimidation. And this Sunday at WrestleMania it will be no different!"

Dana smiled. "Whatever you say, Sasha. But I have one thing to say."

"What?"

Dana continued to smile. "Your daughter was a mistake and when she is older, how can she live her life knowing from the moment you found out you were pregnant with her, you hoped to miscarry her!"

Sasha attacked Dana quickly. She knocked her down. Dana fought back, getting Sasha off her, long enough to climb out of the ring.

Sasha grabbed the microphone from the mat. She looked at Dana as she backed up the ramp. "You and everyone else can say what they want about me and my daughter. But I will come after you for it! And this Sunday, I'm coming after you and that Women's Champion!"

"Oh, I am kind of getting sick of Evelyn having to be brought up on TV," Mercedes said to Colby backstage after her segment with Ashley (Dana).

"I know," Colby said. "I am too. People will get shit planned out without her being brought into storylines soon. Stephanie and Paul have both said so. They hate it with Evie too. Plus, everyone backstage is too."

Mercedes nodded her head. "I'm going to forget about that for now. I am just going to go see that beautiful baby girl."

"All right, give her a kiss for me."

"I will. Love you."

"Love you too, sweetheart."

Mercedes gave her fiancé a quick kiss. She then headed to the parking lot of the arena to her and Colby's bus. The nanny was in there with Evelyn.

Just as Mercedes opened the door to the bus, Evelyn started crying. She smiled. She climbed the steps, closing the door behind her.

"What's wrong with my girl?" She asked.

"Oh, Mercedes," Her nanny, Julie said.

"Yes."

"Time for a feeding."

"Allow me," Mercedes said.

Mercedes picked her daughter up and tried calming her down. Julie made a quick bottle and gave it to Mercedes. Mercedes then sat down with Evelyn in her arms, feeding her.

An hour later, Colby came onto the bus. Raw had just ended about fifteen minutes ago, and now Colby was ready to get the bus going to New Orleans. And as he got onto the bus Evelyn was crying again. Colby smiled.

Evelyn needed a diaper change, which Mercedes took care of. Colby then got Evelyn back to sleep and back in her bed.

Twenty minutes later, Colby and Mercedes were on the road with Evelyn and Julie with their driver in the driver's seat.

"Can Sasha be ringside for Seth's match just like Lana will be for Rusev?" Mercedes asked.

Colby laughed. He and Mercedes were in their bed ready to go to sleep. "Seth has no problem with it. But Stephanie and Mick need to decide."

"Their opinion is invalid," Mercedes giggled.

Colby chuckled. He gave her a quick kiss. Mercedes smiled when he pulled away. "Do you remember what happened or what was going to happen around this time last year?" She asked.

Colby smiled. "Oh, yeah, I remember. The first time we made love. But also, getting engaged."

"Yeah," Mercedes grinned.

"Yes, don't think I forgot when we got engaged, baby! I know you think I did."

"Just a little," She confessed.

"Well, I didn't, baby. It's something I will always remember. Especially later that night."

"I know," Mercedes replied. "I was very nervous for it."

"As was I," Colby commented himself. "I was nervous for everything with it. It was your first time since your rape and I didn't know what to really go with. I think with you slowly getting us started, I could go all the way. Pun intended."

"Yes," She said with a giggle.

Colby chuckled. "I can't wait to marry you in six months."

"Me too. I gotta go pick out my wedding dress soon, though! I haven't had the time since getting ready for Mania."

"Well, we have some time off coming up after Mania. You get all your girls, your mom and go."

"Yes, that is the plan."

"And I know you'll look beautiful in whichever dress you choose. Because you are so very beautiful!"

"Thank you, handsome," Mercedes said, leaning forward to kiss her fiancé.