Chapter 70
A few months later, on Thursday, April 1, Mercedes was at an autograph signing with Pam, Becky, and Ashley at WrestleMania Axxess. The fans they met were very excited. Quite a few said they had been a huge fan of Ric Flair to Ashley. Ashley thanked them with a bright smile. A few said they knew he would be proud of her too. Ashley nodded her head with a bright smile and replied, "I know he is!"
The Bostonians (residents of Boston) were all excited to see Mercedes. She was excited to see them too. She was asked about Colby and the kids. Mercedes happily answered them with saying they were good or what they were doing.
Colby had his own appearance that day too. The fans asked him about Mercedes and the kids as well.
"I think it's great that you were there for Sasha when she really needed it after her assault," A fan said to him.
"Thank you," Colby replied. "I'd do it all over again too! I love her and Evelyn so much! As well as the rest of our kids!"
"Your daughters are beautiful and your sons very handsome!"
"Thank you again."
"No, thank you," The fan said. "It was great meeting you."
"You too," Colby replied. He smiled as the next fan walked away.
Evelyn, Aaron, Katianna, and Mariah were excited to walk around WrestleMania Axxess while their parents did their autograph signings. They were with Mercedes's mom. Colby's parents were happy to take care of Derek and Valerie. In fact, they were always happy to take care of their grandkids and spend time with them. The same with Mercedes's mom.
The next night, Friday April 2, it was the WWE Hall of Fame…
Colby smiled as he walked into the WWE Hall of Fame ceremony with the kids. They were all excited for it. They couldn't wait to see their mom and their aunts get presented and inducted. Colby couldn't wait to see it himself. But before they were going to take their seats, they were going to do the Hall of Fame Red Carpet. Mercedes thought it was an awesome idea they had come with.
"Ladies and gentlemen, I am standing here with non-other than WWE Legend, Seth Rollins," The hostess of the red carpet said. "It is so great to see you, Seth."
"Thank you. I'm very happy to be here. And I am not alone," Colby replied, looking around at his children.
"Yes, you have all your kids with you.
"Everyone is here tonight to see their number one favorite female superstar of all-time Sasha Banks get inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame."
The kids all cheered.
"Awe," The hostess said. "I love it. It's nice to see you kids as always."
"It's great to see you too," Evelyn said.
"Thank you, Evie," The hostess said. "You look beautiful tonight."
"Thank you."
"As do your sisters. And Aaron, you look very handsome."
"Just taking after my old man," Aaron replied.
That made everyone laugh.
"Yes, your dad is very handsome," The hostess commented.
"Be careful," Colby said. "My wife might put you in the Banks Statement!"
"I mean no harm, Sasha."
"Don't you worry," Evelyn said. "My mom would agree with you on that one."
"Well, do tell your mom and wife I mean no harm. Just complementing."
"Thank you," Colby said.
"Well, Seth, I know you retired from wrestling six years ago," The hostess said. "It was because you wanted to be at home with your wife and kids."
"Yes, it was. At the time it was just Evie, Aaron, Katianna, and Mariah. Evie was about to enter third grade, Aaron first, Kati kindergarten and Mari was in preschool. They were getting older and able to do more than they were when they one and two years old. Sasha was starting to get them involved in activities and I wanted to be there all the time for them."
"That's great. What activities?"
"Dancing, gymnastics, karate, and music lessons."
"Who's the musical one?"
"All of us are," Katianna commented.
"I know how to play drums, guitar, and bass," Aaron added.
"Aaron would be perfect for a band member," Colby commented.
"I am in band at school. I love it! I would love to be in band in high school too."
"Well, I hope you do," The hostess said.
"Evie is actually our best singer of us all," Mariah said.
"She is!" Katianna exclaimed.
Evelyn smiled. "I am in chorus at school. I have been since sixth grade and I absolutely love it. But in elementary school you do everything in music class. There is actually a talent show close to the end of the school year. It is for the eighth graders only too! I can't wait for it."
"Are you going to sing?" The hostess asked.
"I am! I can't wait. I haven't decided on what song I am going to do. I want to sing something with a few of my friends as well. So, we'll figure it out together."
"Will you sing a quick something for us?"
"Yes," Evelyn replied. "What would you like to hear?"
"Will you do something of Disney? You choose the song."
"Reflection from Mulan. Look at me, I will never pass for the perfect bride, or a perfect daughter…
Colby smiled as his eldest daughter sung. She was a beautiful singer and very talented. He had loved going to all her music performances at school since she was in sixth grade.
"When will my reflection show who I am inside?" Evelyn finished singing.
"Beautiful," The hostess said. "Absolutely beautiful. I want to see her perform myself."
"I will be recording it and someone will get it sent to them and they will show it to you," Colby said.
"Thank you. Now you all enjoy the show," The hostess said.
"Thank you," Colby replied. He ushered his children over to their seats.
A little later that night…
Mercedes smiled as she was backstage with Pam, Ashley, and Becky. It was about time for them to be presented for the ceremony. The four were backstage as the video package for all of them played. Stephanie McMahon stood with them.
"Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome Stephanie McMahon!"
Stephanie's music began to play as everyone was on their feet clapping. Cheers came from fans.
Stephanie was happy to present the Four Horsewomen. She talked about how the Divas Revolution begun. She talked about how Sasha Banks, Charlotte, and Becky Lynch's debuts led to the true revolution. She talked about Nikki Bella losing the Diva's Championship to Charlotte. Then at WrestleMania 32 in 2016 when the new Women's Championship was presented where Charlotte Flair defeated Sasha Banks and Becky Lynch in a Triple-Threat. And she continued.
"Ladies and gentlemen, it is with great pleasure to introduce to you, the Four Horsewomen, Charlotte, Becky Lynch, Sasha Banks, and Bayley!"
Bayley's music quickly hit. The place erupted with applause, cheers, and screams. Pam smiled as she came out. It was so awesome standing on stage. She listened to the fans. She then walked over to Stephanie hugging her.
Becky's music hit next.
Colby grinned as he heard Fergal and his kids not too far behind him and his. The Devitt family was cheering and screaming.
"That's my mom!"
Becky hugged both Stephanie and Pam.
Mercedes smiled backstage as she heard Charlotte's music hit. The sound of the fans included some woos. She continued to smile.
A few moments later, her own music hit. Mercedes smiled. She placed her classic glasses over her eyes and slowly made her way onto the stage.
Colby smiled as he stood clapping. All the kids were cheering and screaming.
Mercedes continued to smile as appeared on stage. The fans got louder. She stopped on stage. She stood there for a few seconds. She took her glasses off her face and put them on top of her head. She then held her hands up, showing off her classic Legit Boss rings.
"Yeah!" Colby shouted. "Yeah! That's my girl!"
Mercedes smiled. She continued to hold her hands up and she walked over to the podium where her three friends and Stephanie stood. The four all clapped as she came over. Mercedes hugged each of them. Stephanie stepped back a moment later with a bright smile as she was ready to listen to the Four Horsewomen talk.
Mercedes with Pam, Becky, and Ashley all stood behind the podium. The fans cheered and screamed for them. All the WWE Superstars, Legends, Hall of Famers, and many others stood before them clapping. Each of their families cheered and screamed for them.
Mercedes looked at her three friends. "This is amazing!"
"I think I'm going to cry!" Ashley replied.
Pam and Becky agreed.
Colby smiled as he watched all four women talk. Pam approached the podium. The arena began to quiet. Everyone sat down.
Mercedes smiled as she stood in between Ashley and Becky. They were going to go alphabetically by their ring names to give each of their speeches.
Pam gave a wonderful speech of her journey to the WWE. It had been told many times over the years, but it was appropriate.
"Thank you, WWE Universe," Pam said as she finished up speaking. "Being inducted into the Hall of Fame is a definite career defining moment with that of winning your first championships!"
Everyone clapped and cheered.
Pam smiled as she stepped aside. Becky moved forward.
"Yeah, Becky!" Fergal exclaimed. "Mrs. Finn Balor!"
People laughed and cheered about that one.
"Yes, Mrs. Finn Balor," Becky replied with a bright smile. "And a mum to two Demon Princesses and one Demon Prince!"
"Yeah," Fergal clapped.
Laughter, cheers, and applause came with it.
"Well, if you didn't know I was married to Finn Balor, you know now. In fact, my wrestling career begins with him. He was my trainer! I was fifteen years old then. But we did not start dating until twelve years later when I was twenty-seven and Finn was first signed to WWE to head to NXT. And I developed a crush on him when I started training. However, by the time I was eighteen, nineteen years old we were both in different places. That is the basic summary of him and I. But let me talk about my journey to the WWE as everyone does."
Mercedes smiled as she stood listening to Becky tell her story. Becky mentioned the demons she had between the years she wasn't wrestling.
"One of the people who really got me back on track was Finn. I was depressed and I desperately needed someone to talk to. So, I called him. He listened to everything I had to say to him. But then he talked to me and coached me as he did when I was training with him!" Becky slowly started to cry.
On the big screen, cameras showed Fergal smiling as his wife spoke.
"He was the one of the few who saved me from my demons," Becky sobbed. "But it is funny now since he is the Demon King."
Everyone laughed and clapped.
"But I was able to get out of the funk. I was able to take it minute by minute. Hour by hour. Day by day. Everything began to look up and it was from the encouragement of Finn. Then I made it to WWE. I was training and everything. It was great. And then Finn gets signed to WWE!"
Everyone cheered and clapped.
Mercedes grinned at Ashley and Pam as they clapped with everyone else. She could see Fergal in his seat with the kids smiling.
"Let's just say that the day he signed and was at the Performance Center, I was giddy. It was great to see him and everything. We hugged and talked. But it was at that time he asked me out too. Then our romantic relationship started from there. And in August, it'll be eighteen years together. Two of those years were as boyfriend and girlfriend. Then it was being fiancés and finally married.
"Not only have I been blessed with one of the greatest men in the world, I am blessed to have had three children with him."
Everyone clapped.
"We have two daughters, Ashley, Alexis, who we call Lexi, and one son, James, who we call Jaime. Ashley will be thirteen in October. Lexi will be eleven in December. And Jaime will be ten next February. And yes, we have a preteen daughter who will be a teenager. Lord help us!"
Everyone laughed.
"I love you, my sweet, Ashley!"
"Love you too, Mom!"
"Let's get back to it, though," Becky said. She continued with her speech.
A few minutes later, Becky finished. Ashley was next. And as she stood up to the podium the fans gave their "woo" yells. Ashley smiled.
"Thank you," Ashley said. "Thank you! I never get tired of hearing those woos."
The fans continued with their cheers.
"I just wish…" Ashley said as she trailed off. "I wish my dad were still here to hear it." She began to cry. "I wish he was here to hear it as his daughter, a WWE Superstar herself and now a WWE Hall of Famer was getting inducted as he had twice twenty years ago."
"Nature boy! Nature boy!" The fans chanted.
Ashley nodded her head. She wiped away tears.
"Thank you, guys. But let me talk just for a little bit. I love you all!"
The crowd got quiet. Ashley began to talk about her journey from a kid to being a WWE Superstar and now a WWE Hall of Famer.
"I had wanted to be a WWE Superstar and I became that, or partly, when I signed my developmental contract with WWE. I had started out with my baby brother, Reid. Sadly, we lost…" Ashley said, but trailed off. She stood there for a moment. She was slowly crying.
"Sadly," She sobbed. "Sadly, we lost him in 2013. We lost him to a drug overdose."
Mercedes looked at Pam and Becky. The three walked up to the podium. Mercedes walked over to Ashley's right side while Becky and Pam walked to her left side.
Ashley looked at her friends. She grabbed onto Becky and Mercedes's hands. She looked at Becky and Pam with tears. They nodded their heads. She looked at Mercedes next.
"It's all right, sweetheart," Mercedes commented.
Ashley nodded her head. She turned back to the crowd.
"I lost my baby brother and we had started our careers out together. I needed to see it through. And I did. I became an NXT Women's Champion. I was part of the Divas Revolution later into Women's Revolution of wrestling. I was a Diva's Champion. The last one to hold that belt before it was retired. Then I was the first Women's Champion, which I won at WrestleMania 32 in a Triple Threat Match versus the Lass Kicker, Becky Lynch now Becky Balor, and the Legit Boss, Sasha Banks now Sasha Rollins!"
Fans cheered and screamed while WWE people clapped.
"Sasha! Sasha! Sasha!"
Mercedes smiled. She looked at Ashley who looked at her with a bright smile.
Mercedes leaned into the microphone. "I'm up next guys. Hold on a few more minutes. Let Charlotte finish, please!"
"Thank you, Sasha," Ashley said.
Everyone laughed.
"But yes, everything amazing happened. Great matches. Championships and titles. But also, great friends who are also your family. And these three women right here are that for me. Becky's eldest daughter, Ashley is named after me. But one of the greatest things to happen to me was coming to WWE and meeting my husband. That is my second husband. My second husband, Sami Zayn."
The camera showed Rami. He smiled as he sat with Ashley's siblings and their children.
"Yes, Sami Zayn," Ashley continued. "One of the most caring, understanding and loving person I have ever been with. And shortly after I retired from wrestling, I got pregnant…"
People clapped for it.
"…I got pregnant. I gave birth to a boy in November of 2021. He was named after my brother and my dad, Reid Richard. But seventeen months later in April of 2023, I had another baby, a beautiful baby girl. Her name is Davina Aria."
The cameras showed Rami sitting with Reid and Davina on either side of him. He was smiling brightly.
Ashley nodded her head. She touched her lips repeatedly a few times, signaling kisses to Rami and their kids. The kids did it back.
"Thank you, guys," Ashley finished.
People applauded and cheered.
Mercedes smiled as her friends smiled at her.
"You're up, Mercedes," Ashley said.
Mercedes grinned. She walked up to the podium as her three friends backed up a few feet behind her.
The fans began the scream, cheer, clap, and chant.
Mercedes continued to grin. She listened to the fans chant.
"Sasha Banks! Sasha Banks!"
"Hello Boston!" Mercedes exclaimed.
Everyone cheered.
"I am so excited that WrestleMania is in Boston this year. I am also excited that not only am I being inducted into the Hall of Fame with three of my best friends, but also in my hometown of Boston!"
Fans cheered and screamed.
"Yeah," Mercedes said. "My main residents might be Moline, Illinois. But Boston is still home!"
More cheers from the fans.
"Thank you," She replied. "Thank you."
Mercedes began her speech. She told her journey from her childhood and her dream to being a WWE Superstar. She also said her goal had been to make Women's Wrestling great again within the WWE. That goal had been met.
"Before I move on to this next thing, there is someone I need to really recognize. That person is my oldest daughter, Evelyn," Mercedes said.
Colby smiled as he looked at Evelyn who sat next to him. Evelyn smiled herself.
"Evie," Mercedes said, looking directly at her daughter. "I love you so much, sweetheart! You, your dad, and your siblings are my world. But with this next thing, I needed to say it."
Evelyn looked at Colby. Colby wrapped his arm around her and she leaned in.
"In September of 2016, I was raped," Mercedes began. "My whole life completely changed from that. I was so ashamed. I blamed myself. I couldn't be too close to certain men. And I was so scared. When I returned to work the few days after it happened, I was in the catering room with people. Suddenly someone came behind me and grabbed me, lifting me up. I screamed. I had a plate in my hand, dropping it. I looked to see who the person was. It was Big E Langston. He apologized to me for scaring me. I took off running and ran to the women's locker room."
Colby sighed as he listened to his wife talk about what happened. It still pissed him off with the shit she had gone through.
"I ended up having a freak-out later that day because everyone was wondering about why I screamed with Big E and took off running. The New Day were my main go-to guys back then. Sasha and New Day were always having a good time. People were whispering about me with my freak-out in catering. I just burst out that I had been raped and for people to talk about that."
Mercedes continued with her story. People were quiet. She was happy that they let her speak. That was coming from the WWE Universe in the crowd of fans at the Hall of Fame.
Mercedes got to the part where she found out she was pregnant. She told how she hoped to have a miscarriage. But how everything changed when she heard the heartbeat for the first time and saw the baby on the ultrasound machine. Then her journey of being pregnant with Evelyn, giving birth to her, and being a mother.
"Evie," Mercedes said. "Do not ever think I do not love you or I regret you! I regret nothing when it comes to you! I regret nothing when it comes to your dad and your siblings either! You and they are some of the best things to happen to me. And if I had to, I would give up being a WWE Superstar to spend all my time with you again."
Mercedes was nearly in tears as she spoke. Evelyn was crying.
"Excuse me," Mercedes said. She walked away from the podium. She went to the stairs to step off stage. She walked down them and went to where Colby and the kids sat.
Everyone knew exactly where she was walking now. Evelyn was quickly out of her seat as her mother got close to her family's seats. Evelyn moved toward her mother. Mercedes quickly took her daughter into her arms hugging her tightly.
Everyone burst into applause.
"I love you so much, Evie," Mercedes said to her.
"I love you too," Evelyn said to her mother.
The two pulled away from each other and looked at each other.
"Come back on stage with me," Mercedes said.
"Yes," Evelyn said.
Mercedes smiled, giving her daughter a kiss on the cheek. She took her hand and the two walked back to the stage. Everyone clapped again.
When the two were on stage and near the podium, Evelyn hugged her three aunts of the Horsewomen. After that Evelyn turned her attention to her mom. Mercedes motioned her over.
"Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls of the WWE Universe," Mercedes said. "Allow me to introduce to you my beautiful daughter, Evelyn Sadie. My Evie."
Everyone clapped and there were some cheers.
"I had only been in two WrestleManias in my career with the WWE. WrestleMania 32 when I was in the Triple Threat Match versus Charlotte Flair and Becky Lynch to become the new and first ever Women's Champion. Then at WrestleMania 34 when I won the Raw Women's Championship for a second time versus Dana Brooke. Shout out to you, Dana."
The camera showed Dana Brooke in the crowd.
"Hugs and kisses, hun," Mercedes said.
Dana blew Mercedes a kiss.
Mercedes laughed. "However, I actually had three WrestleMania moments. It was my second WrestleMania moment. And it was not televised. It was right before WrestleMania 33 in Orlando. My WrestleMania moment for 2017 was getting proposed to in the ring right before the event. Shout out to my husband, Seth Rollins!"
People clapped and cheered.
"But here's how it went. There were friends of WWE Superstars and others at ringside. I made an entrance to the ring with my music. As I came down the ramp the ones at ringside cheered. Some were yelling "Sesha" and "Sesha Ballins". But when I was in the ring, Seth handed me my glasses, necklace, and rings to show them off like I do. He then made me take them off. That was then when he proposed. And of course, I said yes. That was fourteen years ago and I was pregnant with my beautiful daughter over here."
Everyone clapped and cheered again.
"Seth and I will have been married for thirteen years in October."
People clapped.
"Sesha Ballins for life!" A fan exclaimed.
"Yes," Mercedes said with a smile. "And we have six wonderful children. Other than Evie we have Aaron, Katianna, who we call Kati, Mariah, who we call Mari for short. And then there is Derek and Valerie. Evie is fourteen and will be fifteen in July. Aaron is twelve and will be thirteen in August. Kati is eleven and will be twelve in July. Mari is eight and will be nine in May. Actually, her birthday is the same as her father's, May 28. Then Derek will be three in September and Valerie will be two in October. We wanted six kids and we got them. Our four oldest have been sitting out here in the crowd all night. But Derek and Valerie are backstage with my mom and my in-laws."
Colby and the kids were shown again.
"I do have one thing to say, though, before I finish up," Mercedes said. "My rapist is in jail!"
Cheers and applause came.
"It was not me who put him there," Mercedes continued. "It was two women. Both women met this man at the bar as I had met him. This was just a few months before Evelyn was born. I had no knowledge. It wasn't until a year later, one of my best friends read an article online about this man. He had been convicted of rape on both these women and he was sentenced to twenty years or more for his crimes. I ended up meeting one of these women a few months later as Seth and I were at the airport about to depart for our honeymoon. One of these women said I gave the courage and everything to do what she needed to do to put him away. She was a wrestling fan."
Colby smiled. He saw Mercedes about to cry.
"I have known this fan since 2018. We have become great friends. I was at her wedding. I was at her sister's wedding. We keep in touch. She has three beautiful children. And she is in the crowd upon all these WWE Superstars, Hall of Famers, Legend, etc. She will not be shown. I also met the other woman who put our rapist in jail for his crimes! I have been happy these years knowing my rapist is in jail and that he can in no way get to me, them, or our families. It has been nearly fourteen years since he went to jail. If he does get out in six more years, marking his twenty-year sentence, I will have no worry for him coming near my family. Because my daughter, Evelyn will be twenty-one years old. She will take care of herself. And I hope there will be some man in her life as I have her father now!"
Mercedes looked over at Evelyn. She was nearly in tears herself.
Mercedes turned back to the fans.
"I want to thank anyone and everyone who has been with me through my journey of a being a wrestler. My family, my mom, my trainers, my fellow wrestlers on the wrestling promotions I went through. But the biggest thank you's go to all of the women during the Divas' Revolution with me, Becky, and Charlotte. That is Paige, Nikki and Brie Bella, Alicia Fox, but of all my ladies of Team B.A.D. with me, Naomi and Tamina Snuka."
All of those women were in the crowd with WWE friends and family. They were all shown as well on the screen.
"There is my best friend, Bayley to thank because while Becky, Charlotte and I were on the main roster, she took the torch from us. And thank you to all the NXT women who have come and gone. Keep women's wrestling going.
"Thank you to Triple H and Stephanie McMahon for always being there for me with my wrestling life and my personal life.
"But the biggest thank you goes to my family. My husband and my kids! Aaron, Katianna, Mariah, and Evelyn," Mercedes said. She looked over at Evelyn. Evelyn smiled she turned back to the crowd.
"Thank you for bringing joy into my life. I love you all so much," Mercedes said with tears. "And I love Derek and Valerie as well.
"But to my husband, Seth Rollins," She said, looking directly at him.
Colby stood up.
Mercedes smiled. "Thank you for helping me become strong again after my rape and when I was pregnant with Evelyn. Thank you for her, and our five other children. Thank you for a great life we have. And I can't wait to have many more years with you. Watching our children grow up, get married, and when we become grandparents. And I can tell you one thing, WWE Universe you will see at one of my children here someday as a WWE Superstar."
Cheers and applause came.
"But thank you everyone who is in this building. I love all of you even if you don't think I do. Here's to the Four Horsewomen. And to the Four Horsemen before us. One of those being the great Nature Boy, Ric Flair. WOO!"
Woos came from all around. Mercedes looked at Ashley. She was in tears. She moved over toward Ashley and hugged her.
"Step over here with me, Ash," Mercedes said.
Ashley nodded her head.
The two approached the podium.
"But here's to Charlotte Flair, the daughter of the Two-time Hall of Famer, sixteen time World Heavyweight Champion, Ric Flair. Here's to Charlotte Flair making her baby brother proud as he was with her every step of the way of her career. Here's to Charlotte Flair, the last Diva's Champion, the first ever Women's Champion after winning a Triple Threat versus the Lass Kicker, Becky Lynch and the Legit Boss, Sasha Banks. Here's to Charlotte Flair, a WWE Hall of Famer. But here's to Ashley S. as a wonderful wife to Rami and mother to Reid and Davina!"
Cheers and applause came.
"Here's to Bayley," Mercedes said, bragging about her. "But here's to Pamela…wife of…and mother of…"
Cheers and applause.
"Here's to Becky Lynch, the Lass Kicker, the Straight Fire, the first ever SmackDown Women's Champion, a one-time Raw Women's Champion and the wife of the Demon King, Finn Balor," Mercedes said. "But here's to Rebecca Devitt, wife of Fergal Devitt, and mother of Ashley, Alexis, and James Devitt."
Cheers and applause.
"But also," Ashley said, stepping up to the podium, wiping away the tears she had. "Here's to Sasha Banks, the Legit Boss, a two-time Raw Women's Champion, wife of Seth Rollins."
"But here's to Mercedes Lopez," Becky said. "Wife of Colby Lopez, mother of Evelyn, Aaron, Katianna, Mariah, Derek, and Valerie, and a survivor of rape!"
Cheers and applause.
And that was the end of it. The Four Horsewomen hugged. They then turned to Stephanie.
She smiled as she stepped up to the podium. "Ladies and gentlemen, give it up for the Four Horsewomen."
Cheers, screams, and applause came from the crowd of fans and those of the WWE Superstars, Legends, and Hall of Famers watching the ceremony.
"Come on," Ashley said.
Mercedes smiled. She with Ashley, Becky and Pam moved toward the podium. The four held up their right hand showing four fingers. People were still cheering, screaming, and clapping.
"Two more things," Becky quickly said. She with her fellow horsewomen held their hands up in a hand gesture which was Finn Balor's and the Club, originated from the Kliq. That got loud cheers and screams.
The four then held out their wrists as the Shield had done.
"Believe in the Shield!"
Colby laughed and clapped. He was so proud of his wife.
Mercedes grinned. She turned to Evelyn. Evelyn moved toward her mother. Mercedes embraced her daughter.
"I love you, Mommy," Evelyn said.
Mercedes pulled back from her daughter. "I love you too, sweetheart. And I will until my dying day."
"I know," Evelyn smiled. "And I will forever know I was a great life changer for you. As well Daddy."
Mercedes smiled as her eyes started to tear up. She kissed her daughter on the cheek and embraced her again and very tightly.