"How could you do what you did to your father on Monday Night RAW?" Michael Cole asked, and CJ shifted in her seat as she pretended to ponder the question.
"He wasn't much of a father to me, Michael. In fact, the only times I ever saw him were when we were working together."
"So you turn on the man who is the reason why you're alive today?"
"Don't make me laugh, Cole. Chris Jericho is a joke- a hollow shell of a human being that shouldn't even be called a human being. Much less the reason I'm alive."
From where Dean was watching the crowd, he could see that they were eating up every word his girlfriend spoke during the interview clip that was being shown. He knew that Michael Cole and his questions pissed off CJ, but she made it through and put all of that angry energy into beating up a punching bag at the gym afterwards while Seth watched the baby. He didn't like seeing his girlfriend upset, but knew that it was totally necessary. She needed to be pissed in order to give her absolute best at WrestleMania, because she wasn't her best without that fire lit.
"I've been looking everywhere for you." CJ spoke softly, wrapping her arms around her boyfriend's waist and resting her head between his shoulder blades. Dean smiled, placing his hands on hers before stepping backwards. "I should've looked here first."
"Are you ready for WrestleMania?" He asked once he had turned to face her, looking down to see confusion cross her features for a couple seconds.
"That's a stupid question, babe. Of course I'm ready." She assured, her hand coming up to play with the simple chain choker he had gotten for her as a birthday present. It was a symbol of him more than anything and he hadn't seen her go anywhere without it so that made him happy. "Four days."
"You can do it. Have you decided whether or not you want me ringside?"
"I do, because I need somebody to share my victory with and there's nobody I could think of that I would want there more than you."
"That means a lot to me, Christina." Dean whispered before kissing her softly. "Words cannot describe just how much that really means to me."
"I love you so much, Ambrose. Have I told you?"
"Once or twice." He mused, kissing her forehead before leading her towards their locker room. He stopped when he heard Chris being interviewed by Renee, and listened close.
"...she's ungrateful, and that's the bottom line. At WrestleMania, she won't stand a chance because she won't have her lunatic boyfriend or that gorilla Lesnar to save her from the beating she so rightfully deserves."
"Relax, babe." CJ whispered, rubbing Dean's back in an attempt to soothe him. But that wasn't enough to stop the rage that flowed through him while listening to Chris rant about CJ. So he did what he felt was the right thing to do and marched over to the set, turned Chris around by his jacket, and socked him right in the nose. He watched with a smirk as Chris fell to the ground, holding his nose as he stared up at the Lunatic Fringe.
"She's twice the person you ever were, and she's gonna kick your ass on Sunday." Dean spoke, pushing his hair back before going back to his girlfriend. There was something foreign in her eyes, but she hugged him tight nonetheless.
"Thank you."
"Nobody talks about my girl like that and gets away with it."
"How noble." Kane cut in, looking between the couple. "That nobility has earned you a match against Chris Jericho tonight."
"Of course." Dean spoke in a chipper time before scooping CJ up into his arms and walking passed Corporate Kane. "I'll beat his ass."
"Soften him up for me?"
"You wouldn't need it. But depending on how things go down tonight, he might not make it to Sunday."
"I could live with that." CJ spoke honestly as Dean set her on her feet. "Extreme Rules, maybe."
"Inter-gender is pretty extreme. No DQ would be even better."
"No DQ worries me, though." Dean mumbled as he opened the locker room door, smiling upon seeing Seth cooing to Olivia.
"I can handle it."
"I just fear that Chris would stop at nothing to end your career, and I don't want to take that chance."
"He's got a point." Seth cut in, smiling sheepishly when CJ gave him a look. "Sorry."
"You're fine, Seth. Do you have a match?"
"Not tonight. The Authority wants me well rested for my IC Title match at Mania."
"I'm gonna go get some wrist tape, babe. Can you cut the sleeves off of one of my shirts?" Dean asked, massaging CJ's hips as he spoke. She nodded, leaning back for a kiss before he released her and looked for verbal confirmation.
"Sure thing."
"Thank you." He whispered before leaving her with Seth and Olivia. Seth was wrapped up in the infant, who was currently opening and closing her mouth against his freshly trimmed cheek while he recorded it on his phone. He was smiling brighter ever since Dean basically welcomed him back into the family, and he was pulling away from The Authority as time went on.
"Do all Copeland women like beards?" Seth asked, looking to CJ as she set to work on cutting the left sleeve away from the shirt.
"Facial hair is sexy, Seth. We've been over this a few times." She mumbled, not even looking up at the slightly younger man as she continued to work. "What do you want for your birthday?"
"Ten minutes with my mouth attached to yours."
"That's it?"
"Some time with my little Ollie, of course." Seth added, pulling Olivia back so he could kiss her chubby little cheeks. "You and Dean won't mind, right?"
"Of course not."
Despite both Dean and CJ telling him that it was okay, Seth was still a bit wary of even touching CJ when they weren't doing ring work together. Dean could be wishy-washy sometimes, and that made Seth extremely nervous whenever he was even slightly affectionate towards the Canadian woman, he feared Dean going off on a rampage towards Seth for touching what wasn't his to touch.
"You think he meant what he said?" Seth asked, earning CJ's undivided attention as she scrapped the shirt sleeves.
"Dean rarely says things he doesn't mean, Seth." She spoke softly, gently smoothing his hair down before sitting on his thigh that Olivia wasn't on. "You know this."
"Yeah, but I'm scared that he'll take you away from me."
"He won't. But you've got to keep up with the plan, too, Sethie."
"I'm trying my best, babe. Believe me."
"I do, Sethie. I do." CJ assured, kissing his cheek. "You're home now, and you're not going anywhere as long as you stay on our team."
Dean took this moment to enter the room, smiling when he saw his girls sitting on Seth's lap. He felt that it was meant to be this way, but he didn't like that he felt that. He supposed that it was inevitable, and was truly grateful that he wasn't being forced to share her with Jay, too, to keep her happy. She cut Jay out of her life and he knew that she was suffering because of it, but he had hurt her feelings and she wasn't going to stand for it. Which was a decision that Dean respected, but wished that she wouldn't punish herself for the wrongdoings of others because she didn't deserve the internal torment. But that was how her head worked and he loved her regardless.
Much to both Dean and Seth's disapproval, CJ was at commentary for Dean's match against Chris. Both thought that she'd be in unnecessary danger being so close to Chris so close to WrestleMania, but there was nothing they could really do about it. When she wanted something she got it, because neither man could really tell her no, and she had Stephanie McMahon to back her up which certainly helped her cause.
As per Dean's request, she was seated beside JBL at commentary and trying her absolute best to not be a distraction to either man. Dean was out there to defend her honor, while Chris was out there to avenge his nose and get under CJ's skin. She was rooting for Dean, her obviously biased commentary making that much obvious to the three men seated to her left and he audience at home, and she didn't really care that everyone know that she loved Dean. That was the one personal thing about her that she wanted known by the world and had no shame regarding.
"Are you even paying attention, CJ?" Michael asked, to which Tom Phillips gave a small chuckle when the older man's question went unanswered by the blonde.
"She doesn't like you, Michael." JBL commented, watching when she gave a small smile as Dean pushed Chris into the turnbuckle. "But she liked that!"
"I really don't like Michael." CJ added, looking down at her phone to see a text from Adam. She knew it was about Jay, which royally pissed her off, but quickly looked up when she saw a blur of black right before Dean was sent crashing into her.
"Oh my god!" Cole shouted, and JBL was on his feet to check on the couple while Chris rolled back into the ring and the referee started the count.
From there it was like everything was in slow motion for CJ. She had Dean trying to untangle himself from her, her headset, and the chair without causing any further damage to her, he was whispering apologies and asking her questions about her well being, but she just didn't answer. Then she heard Lesnar's music and could hear Cole yelling over that and the crowd, which only heightened her confusion. She didn't even know that Brock was in the building tonight.
"F-5! F-5! LESNAR JUST NAILED JERICHO WITH THE F-5!"
She felt Dean's weight lift off of her and gratefully took his outstretched hands, removing her headset and handing it over to JBL once she was on her feet. She looked to Paul, who was now standing near him with a smug smirk as he held the WWE World Heavyweight Championship belt in his arms, and he gestured for her to head into the ring with Brock. One glance at Dean told her that it was safe, but she certainly felt better when he and Paul went with her to the ring. They stayed by the ropes, though, while she looked down at her sperm donor's limp form with a small smirk.
"Let's do what you were talking about wanting to do." Brock stated, gently patting CJ's shoulder as the young blonde stared up at him in slight confusion.
"Seriously?" She asked, gingerly going for the zipper of her bracket. Brock only nodded, to which she removed her coat and tossed it to Dean, before he picked up Chris and threw him into his large shoulders once more. CJ took a couple steps back, knowing exactly where she needed to be positioned for this move to work. She waited for the perfect moment, jumping into the Code Breaker just as Brock had Chris on the downfall.
She then took a moment to sit and look at her unconscious father, laughing to herself at how karma worked. You didn't talk shit about the Beast Incarnate without facing serious repercussions, and Chris Jericho was no exemption to that rule. This attack would have him weak on Sunday, and she'd pick up the victory easily.
"He's not going to make it to Sunday." Brock stated, helping her to her feet as Dean and Paul came closer. She felt Dean's hand around her wrist as well as Brock's, both men raising her arms in victory as Paul held up the WWE World Heavyweight Championship belt.
This would be the scene on Sunday in the Bay. She just knew it.
I hope everyone had a happy holiday! I know mine were busy, which is why this took so long to get out haha! But I'd like to thank justisgirl, ChelleLew, Sarcastic Nightmare, UntilNeverDawns, ItReignsJustice-619, and moxgirl for reviewing the last chapter! I seriously love all of you for it!