Chapter 39

The rest of the week flew by way too fast for Mercedes. Everyone was in New Orleans for everything that was WrestleMania—WrestleMania Axxess, appearance and autograph signings, and so much more. Mercedes felt the pressure on herself as it got closer and closer to Sunday for WrestleMania.

She had felt that pressure in 2016 for WrestleMania 32 in Dallas, Texas when she had that Women's Championship Triple Threat Match with Becky and Ashley. But she knew there was more pressure on her that year. Her match at WrestleMania was a huge match for her comeback since her rape.

"Seth and I are just about to leave for NXT TakeOver tonight," Mercedes said to the cameras on Saturday night.

"I'm very excited. But I am so nervous for tomorrow, though! It's my match: Sasha Banks versus Dana Brooke for the Raw Women's Championship. That'll be another big match of my career. It's a big match, because it goes with my road to recovery to my comeback from my rape and my pregnancy. But I'm just going to go enjoy NXT TakeOver with my friends and my fiancé."

And Mercedes did enjoy NXT TakeOver. She sat in the audience with Colby. Colby had his arm around her or held her hand through most of it. The two would cheer. But mostly lean in close, talking about the competitors' ring work. It was them observing those competitors as if they were both at Black and Brave training the current class.

It was a very good time after TakeOver too. Hanging out with friends and some family. But then it was time for bed. However, when Mercedes got up the next morning, WrestleMania morning, she did another thing for WWE 24.

"It's just a little after 7:15 am," Mercedes began. "Looking out the window, you can see it slowly getting light out. I am up a little earlier than planned. Evelyn would be up about this time or a little later. But my mom and nanny are really going to be the ones taking care of her today. Its WrestleMania 34 morning after all."

Mercedes looked away from the camera and then back to it. "However, I did not sleep very well and that's why I'm up a little earlier than planned!"

"I am so, so nervous for tonight! I feel so much pressure! This is the biggest match for my comeback since my rape. Yes, there was the Royal Rumble and my actual return match, but this is bigger!

"I am overwhelmed with a lot of emotions as of right now. I have many things going through my head right now. I know all the other guys and ladies are feeling it too. And there are various reasons for how they each feel. I know for Seth tonight, he has nothing to prove. He is just going to get what he wants. That Universal Champion.

"But that's going on with me so far this morning. I'll talk to you more later."

Fifteen minutes later…

"Hey," Colby said, walking out of the bedroom of their suite and into small living room.

"Hey," Mercedes replied sitting on the small sofa, sipping on some coffee.

"You're up early," Colby replied with a yawn, going to sit next to her.

Mercedes nodded her head.

"How come?"

"Thinking about today, you know?"

"I get that you are nervous for today. But you're still really nervous, aren't you?" Colby said.

"Yes," Mercedes confessed. "More so then Mania two years ago."

"That's completely understandable, baby doll. Everyone has a big first match. And then they have more big matches along way. But then there is an even bigger match then those past. Tonight, is that for you! And everyone knows it!"

"I know it all, but it is so hard to clear my head. I have been trying to for the last fifteen minutes and it isn't working!" Mercedes groaned.

"Oh, so that's what really has you right now, huh?" Colby asked.

"Yep."

"I have a small suggestion for that one."

"I'm not having sex with you right now!"

"That is not it!" Colby replied with a laugh.

"Then what?" Mercedes asked.

"Spend time with Evelyn."

"Oh," She replied. "That's good, though. Thank you."

"You're welcome," Colby replied.

"I'll have sex with you later tonight, though!"

Colby laughed.

After getting dressed, Mercedes decided to spend her time with her daughter before she had to get to work. There was a lot going on per usual for any Pay-Per-View. But especially a lot more when it was WrestleMania or SummerSlam.

Not only did Mercedes spend time with Evelyn, but also her mom, Angela, Vicky, and Emily. It was what she needed. Some time alone with her own family. And when it was time to say good-bye to them all, Mercedes was not sad at all. Angela, Vicky, and Emily brought up a few funny moments that had happened over the course of their friendships. Mercedes laughed so hard from remembering all those.

"You're looking much better, Mercedes," Colby said when the two met backstage at The Mercedes-Benz Superdome.

"I am," Mercedes replied. "Spending time with Mom, Evie, and my girls was what I really needed."

"Good," He said, giving her kiss. "Tonight, will be great. Sasha will kick Dana's ass and win that championship. Don't be worried or nervous at all! You got this!"

"Thank you," Mercedes said, hugging him. "You always make me feel better!"

"You always make me feel better too. It's a couple's thing."

Mercedes laughed, pulling back to look at him.

"Come on, we have a busy few hours," He said, taking her hand. "We have a show to put on."

Mercedes smiled as she and Colby walked hand-in-hand to where they needed to be.

For the next few hours Mercedes was busy getting ready for Mania. She had a rehearsal for her entrance. Then she was chatting with Ashley Sebera (Dana Brooke) and a few others about the go-plan for their match. Then there was the make-up artists and hair stylists doing their work.

"I was feeling so nervous this morning," Mercedes said to the hair stylist doing her hair.

"Uh-huh."

"And I had so much going through my head. And Colby had a suggestion for it. I said to him I was not having sex with them then."

"Oh, my god!"

"That was not his idea. It was to spend time with Evie. Which I did."

"Good. Are you feeling better?"

"Yes, I am. I spent time with not only Evie, but my mom and my girls from Boston."

"Great."

"But I'm sure Colby wouldn't mind a little action later tonight," Mercedes giggled.

The hair stylist laughed.

After her hair and makeup were done, Mercedes saw her family and friends one last time before the start of the show.

"By the end of the night I'll be holding you and the Raw Women's Championship belt," Mercedes said as she held her daughter.

"As will I," Colby said, coming up to everyone.

Everyone looked at him.

"Well, the Universal Championship that is," He corrected.

Mercedes smiled. "Hi," She said, moving toward him to kiss him.

"Hey," He replied. "And hello everyone." He hugged each person individually. "And there's my beautiful princess."

Evelyn smiled, seeing Colby. She babbled, reaching out to him, wanting to go to him.

"Yes, go to Daddy," Mercedes said.

Colby smiled as he moved toward Mercedes to take Evelyn from her. Colby's smile widened once he had his daughter in his arms.

Mercedes smiled as she watched Colby with Evelyn. He held her up in the air and brought her back down. Her flew on her stomach. Evelyn giggled as he did it.

Colby brought Evelyn back down and held her.

"Such a great father," Holly commented.

"So far, Mom," Colby chuckled. "So far."

"No Evie will make her own mistakes and idiot decisions," Bob commented.

"I'm not done making mine. But I think best choice I made was being together with this beautiful woman," He said, looking at Mercedes.

Mercedes smiled. He opened his free arm to her. She moved toward him, wrapping both her arms around him. He hugged her tightly. Mercedes smiled more as she hugged him tightly too. Mercedes then pulled back and looked at him.

Colby smiled at his fiancé. "I love you," He said.

"I love you too."

Colby kissed her lightly on the lips.

Mercedes smiled as she stood backstage later that night. It was just a few minutes before her match with Ashley S. She stood there thinking about one thing: people. And she thought of all the people that meant the world to her.

Everyone is here for you, Mercedes! Your mom is here. Angela, Vicky, and Emily, your three major best friends from Boston are here! All your friends of the WWE will be watching, if they can, in the next few minutes. Your future in-laws will be cheering you on as they sit in the audience for Mania. Paul and Stephanie are going to be watching you and be so proud of you. Ashley S. is going to be so happy to work with you this match and lose her title to you.

Mercedes nodded her head. Let's do this!

The fans cheered and screamed as Sasha Banks made her entrance a minute later. Judith cheered as Angela, Vicky, and Emily screamed for her. Not too far from them was Holly and Bob cheering for her too.

"The following match is scheduled for one fall and is for the Raw Women's Championship…" The announcer announced. She introduced Dana. And then Sasha.

The referee held both women from each other. He asked each one if they were ready. They were. He called for the bell and it rang.

Dana and Sasha walked toward each other. Dana said something to Sasha. Sasha quickly hit her and that started the match.

Mercedes had 100% of her focus on the match. The only thing that was on her mind was her family, friends, and all the other supporters she had since her rape. She thought of them and how much they encouraged her to get to that match she was fighting.

"Sasha with the Banks Statement," Michael Cole commented.

Sasha went for the pin over Dana.

"1…2…3.," The referee counted.

Ding-ding, ding-ding!

"Here is your winner and the new Raw Women's Champion, Sasha Banks!"

The fans went wild as Sasha was on her feet, the referee raising her arm. Sasha smiled, listening to the fans. It sunk into her, her WrestleMania moment.

The referee came over to her with her title belt. She took it from him and raised it in the air. The referee held her arm up in the air again.

Mercedes soon made her way out of the ring. She went over to her mom and her friends. She hugged each of them.

Mercedes made her way backstage soon as well. She hugged everyone as she had back at Rumble.

"You did great out there, Mercedes," Ashley S. said hugging her friend.

"Thank you," Mercedes replied.

"It was an honor to lose that title to you. Sasha Banks has absolute control!"

"Thank you again."

Ashley smiled. She gave her one more hug and then stepped back.

Mercedes turned to see Colby next. She smiled brightly. She quickly went over to him. He smiled back. He bent down, lifting her up by her mid-section. She giggled.

"That's my beautiful, smiling, and giggling fiancée," He said.

"Always with you," Mercedes replied.

Colby smiled. He put her back down on her feet. He then cupped her face and kissed her passionately. He pulled back a minute later and smiled. Mercedes returned that same smile.

After a few minutes, Mercedes and Colby did some filming for her 24.

"It was great being out there," Mercedes commented. "Nothing got to me out there. The only thing I thought about really was all the people I have had support me and stand up for me since October of 2016 when I revealed I was raped. It's really thanks to all them that I am standing here as the Raw Women's Champion."

"What is your take, Seth?"

"Sasha kicked ass!" Colby exclaimed. "That's my take!"

Mercedes laughed. "My mom and friends from Boston are here tonight as they were for me back at the Royal Rumble. It was great having them here. But they weren't the only ones cheering for me. My future in-laws are here too."

"Yeah, my parents are here not only here for me but for their future daughter-in-law and mother of their granddaughter," Colby smiled.

"It was great having them here too. I owe as much to them as I do my own family and friends. As well, my future brother-in-law," Mercedes grinned. "But right now, I am going to go see my baby girl. The nanny has her right now, but I still want to see her. Then I will watch my fiancé became the Universal Champion."

Mercedes waved to the camera, walking away with Colby.

"I am so proud of you, babe," Colby said, wrapping his arms around her waist.

"Thank you, sexy," Mercedes replied with a grin. Colby chuckled. "Do you mind if I got see Evie?"

"Not at all, gorgeous. If I see you before my match, cool. If not, I'll see you after."

"Definitely."

"All right," Colby said, giving her a quick kiss.

"Love you," Mercedes replied.

"Love you too, babe."

Mercedes smiled as she and Colby went their separate ways. Before going to see Evelyn, Mercedes took a quick shower. She then went out to her and Colby's bus where Evelyn was with her nanny, Julie. Evelyn was asleep, but Mercedes didn't care. She carefully picked Evelyn up from her crib. Evelyn whined a little, but Mercedes calmed her down.

"Mommy just became Raw Women's Champion thirty minutes ago," Mercedes said to her daughter with a smile. "Nothing got to her. I put all my focus onto everyone who has supported me on my long journey of recovery. But I will never, ever regret my decision to have you and keep you. You are my daughter. You are part of me and you always will be.

"People will say whatever for the rest of your life about me and what happened. But you are not a mistake in my book. And I will tell you every day that I love you and you mean the world to me. You are loved by so many people and they will never stop loving you. Daddy loves you especially. And in fact, Mommy is going to go back to see him defeat Rusev in just a little bit.

"Yeah, Daddy's going to become Universal Champion soon. Both him and I will be the top superstars on Raw. It'll be great."

Mercedes kissed Evelyn. She placed Evelyn back in her crib. Mercedes then made her way back to watch the rest of WrestleMania.