Chapter 3

Leading up towards travelling to Hartford, Morgan was now in the awkward position of having everyone know that yes, she would be facing Roman Reigns. Her opponent was confirmed one morning as the month of September dawned. She and the others in her position were stood talking to Hunter.

"Ok, so, Chantelle we've got you working with some of the girls from NXT so you can prepare to face Asuka, I've got you with Io Shirai and Rhea Ripley. They should do a good job of preparing you. Noah, you're with Fandango and Tyler Breeze. Graham, I've got you working with Lorcan and Burch. And Morgan, as you're going against Roman, you're going to be with Rinku and Saurav today and we'll go from there." He said as he looked up from the clipboard he held with the information on it.

Morgan swallowed hard and tried to carry on as if it wasn't a big deal. Even if she did want to run away at the mention of it. She could feel the eyes of the others looking at her for a reaction, but she refused to give one. The prospect was strongly reinforced when she was made to face other larger male members of the roster who trained at NXT. While Finn and Drake were always willing and ready to spar, she found herself put against not just Rinku and Saurav but Killian Dain, Dexter Lumis and Cameron Grimes as well. Big, beefy guys who she knew would at least be a similar level to Roman. But she couldn't help but feel she was way, way out of her league.

The thought plagued her as the date for travel drew closer. It haunted her dreams, almost invaded her every waking thought. She was going to get injured, or Roman was going to get injured, and it was going to be a mess. The WWE would look stupid, and she would never be welcome again. She would be known as the girl who embarrassed the WWE. They might even take her savings as recompense her mind told her, though she wasn't sure they could. And Roman! What if she hurt him and ended his career? Would he ever even speak to her? The thoughts assaulted her hard, to the point that she took such a beating in training one day from simple moves she knew she had handled before, she dropped from the ring and walked out.

"Morgan? Morgan what's the matter?" Hunter called puzzled. This wasn't like her. At least, like the Morgan he had come to know. Morgan said nothing but kept walking.

"Do you want I should go after her?" Asked Killian as she left. Hunter shook his head.

"No…no I'll go." He said with a frown.

Morgan had gone straight past Noah, Chantelle and Graham as she left the room. Graham had peeled himself away from the group to follow her. He'd been trying to hang around her a lot lately and Morgan was starting to get annoyed. As it had become clear that she was the one to face Roman, he'd turned his attentions from Chantelle to Morgan. He'd been increasingly trying to get her to come on a date, to do things with him as a couple. Morgan was fed up of his attention, she just wasn't interested and had told him repeatedly. And today was NOT the day for him to be trying anything. As Morgan fought to stop tears falling from her eyes footsteps caught up to her.

"Morgan you ok?" He asked in apparent concern.

"I'm fine Graham." She said tersely, shaking off the hand he placed on her shoulder.

"You look upset, maybe we can go somewhere and talk, you can tell me what's wrong?" He continued, falling in to step with her. Morgan found herself suppressing a shudder at going anywhere with him.

"I've told you time and time again I'm not interested, leave me alone." She retorted.

"C'mon, you know you and me, both of us fighting the top two guys? We'd make a great couple." He insisted. "You know we would."

"I said no, Graham." Morgan managed through gritted teeth. The man was testing the limits of her patience. She just wanted to get out of there and she was not doing it with him in tow.

"But you and me, we'd look so good together." He reached out for her arm to stop her and that ended up being the worst thing he could have done. His hand made the briefest of contact with her arm before he found himself thrown over her and on to the floor in a hip toss, before she was standing and locking his right arm in to an arm and wrist lock.

"Leave. Me. ALONE." Morgan growled. "Or next time I will BREAK your arm." She gave his arm a little extra twist and released him, before walking off, leaving the crowd of superstars and trainers watching amazed. Hunter had seen everything as he caught up to them.

"That…that was textbook." Hunter looked at William Regal in surprise. "That was pure reflex and absolutely textbook. And I sure as hell didn't teach her the locks." Graham got up and stalked off, his pride wounded as Morgan made it out of the front doors of the performance centre.

"You'd better catch up to her before she goes." Will advised. Hunter nodded and broke in to a run. He got through the centre's reception and out in to the parking lot in time to see her motorbike join the road and drive off. He swore as she vanished among the cars on the road. It was mere days from her heading to the airport to head to Hartford. To announce her fighting Roman to the world. Now was not the time for a breakdown.

Morgan found herself riding around Orlando as she tried to marshal her thoughts, tried to get her mind in to some semblance of order. She didn't head home. She didn't want to. As the summer sun went down and the night came to Orlando Morgan realised that she couldn't go home even if she wanted to. Her house keys were still in her bag. Which was still in her locker. She had just grabbed her bike keys from her locker and headed out, not thinking about food, or going home, just needing to escape. Morgan cursed under her breath at a red light and checked her phone. Several missed calls from Hunter, two from Finn and one from Drake and one from Noah. Why was she in this position, she asked herself as the light went green and Morgan turned the bike to head back towards the Performance centre. This was idiotic, stupid, she was going to get hurt. Hell, she was going to end up getting killed. This was just asking for trouble by carrying on. I am so out of my depth here it's not even funny anymore Morgan said to herself as she turned down the road the performance centre was on. She could see the light in the reception still and pulling up, she checked her phone once more. It was pretty late, she'd been driving around since at least four, maybe five. Morgan wasn't sure anymore. She was hungry, she knew that much, which meant it had to have been a decent chunk of time. Morgan decided she would duck in, get her things and head to a fast-food place and grab something to eat. She walked in and headed to her locker near the practise rings intending to grab her bag and walk out again. As she passed back by the door to the rings, she noticed it was empty. The lights hadn't been turned off yet. Though her initial thought had been to grab her things and go, something made her go in.

Without really knowing why Morgan found herself headed towards the middle ring, running her hand along the apron as she reached it. She cringed at the memory of the hits and bumps she had taken that day. Hits and bumps that she shouldn't have taken. They were things that by now she should have been avoiding. She wasn't even sure why, but she dropped her bag and got in the ring. The feel of the canvas beneath her shoes. Her hands running along the ring ropes. As she looked towards the centre of the ring she saw a vision, a memory of herself that day, and several days prior. Hitting the deck time and time again. Except this time, it wasn't Killian, or Dexter. It wasn't Rinku and Saurav, or even Finn she saw knocking her to the floor. It was Roman. She stood there and watched as Roman knocked her to the floor time and time again in her daydream. Then Roman laughed aloud, called her pathetic. His body began to fade, only to be replaced by that of The Undertaker. Her daydream self stood once more, only to be knocked to the floor easily. She stood and again was knocked down.

"And you call yourself a wrestler?" Daydream-Undertaker sneered.

"I a-am!" her daydream self protested. Daydream-Undertaker turned. He looked the real Morgan in the eye as she stepped closer.

"You were never a wrester and will never be a wrestler. Pathetic." He said with disgust before the daydream vanished. Morgan blinked her eyes and sank down to her knees, falling to a sobbing heap in the middle of the canvas. He's right. I'm not and never will be a wrestler she thought to herself as she cried. I'm a joke, an imposter. I don't belong here. Chantelle was right, this isn't some game. I should just pack up and go home, that's what I should do.

"Everything ok?" Came a voice, and Morgan looked up alarmed to see Hunter stood nearby. He was in his everyday clothes and Morgan could see nothing but worry on his face.

"I…" Morgan tried to speak but found nothing came out. She just shook her head and drew her knees up, resting her head on them with her arms around them. She felt movement and out of the corner of her eye saw a body crawl a short way across the ring towards her. It stopped nearby.

"You're still struggling feeling like you belong here, huh?" Hunter asked gently.

"I don't…I don't belong here at all." She managed, wiping her eyes and laying back on the canvas.

"You do." Morgan shook her head, or rather rolled it side to side on the canvas.

"I don't. I'm a fraud." She replied.

"A fraud? You?" Hunter asked in disbelief. "Why would you think that?"

"Oh come on, Hunter. You know exactly why. I came here, I knew no wrestling skill. I could call a move on TV, and sure, I might have been able to carry off a bear hug, although it would have been a shitty one. But everyone here has wrestling in their background. It's their dream. Or they do it for fun like Noah does back home in Australia. I don't belong here." Another head shake-roll.

"Why would you say that?" he asked, a frown on his face. "You belong here just as much as any of us do. You train day in, day out don't you?"

"Well, yes..." She said uncertainly, trailing off at the look Hunter was giving her.

"You attend every class, listen to everything the instructors say, don't you?" Hunter gave her a raised eyebrow as she answered that yes, of course she did. "And you've faced every opponent you've been set, even if you did lose. Like today."

"And that's the problem. I'm going to lose against Roman, Hunter. I know that. But it's going to be an absolute farce and I am going to get hurt, or he's going to get hurt. Because I don't belong here in the WWE, I'm not a wr-"

"Yes you are." He cut her off sharply, and pulled her to a sitting position. "If you weren't a wrestler, would I be dragging your ass to RAW on Monday with the others?" He got to his feet and pulled her up as well. "Would I be making a special trip to the WWE Warehouse with you? Would you know how to take a bump?" He asked. He took her arm, "A rope rebound?" He threw her towards the ropes and Morgan reacted instinctively.

"Hunter what-" Morgan managed as she rebounded, ducking the attempted clothesline.

"Would you be able to duck the clothesline I just threw at you if you weren't a wrestler?" He demanded as she hit the ropes on the other side and ran back at him, Hunter sidestepping as she did so. Morgan rebounded again and jumped over Hunter as he hit the deck to go under her. Another rope rebound and this time Morgan threw out a clothesline out of instinct more than any actual desire. It hit Hunter as he rebounded from his own side's ropes and he hit the deck.

"If you weren't a wrestler, would you be able to do any of that?" He asked, propping himself up on his elbow.

"I…well no I guess-"

"Sorry? You guess?" He said loudly, before grabbing her leg and pulling her to the floor, putting her in an anaconda vise. "You guess?"

"Alright, no, no I wouldn't be able to do all that if I wasn't a wrestler!" She yelled, tapping on the man's arm. He let her go and allowed her to get to a sitting position.

"You ARE a wrestler, Morgan. You are a wrestler and you DO belong here. How you got here doesn't matter. You belong here, and that's all there is to it. Look. I believe in you. I have every faith in you that you will do yourself proud. Never mind the WWE." He said, a hand on her shoulder. Morgan nodded, giving the man a small but grateful smile.

"Thank you Hunter."

Morgan found it odd that Hunter was waiting for her at boarding for the flight to Hartford.

"What are you doing here?" She asked as she adjusted her shoulder bag.

"Apart from it being my flight too? Well, we may have an issue." He said with a slight grin.

"What kind of issue?" Morgan asked warily.

"There's a very real chance we might bump in to Roman at the other end." Hunter explained as he walked Morgan towards the line of people waiting. "His flight comes in at the same time as ours and he's got press in New York before RAW on Monday, so he's going up early. If I'd have known sooner than an hour ago I'd have scheduled us on a later flight."

"What do we do if he sees me? Will he remember me from that phone call?" Morgan asked, reddening as she remembered how she embarrassed herself. She did not need that to be the first thing he remembered about her.

"Considering how long ago that was, I'd hope not. As for if he sees you with me, I don't know. I mean, Yeah we don't want to be seen, but there's other things it could look like if I try and hide you from him after he's spotted me." He said as they were called to board the flight. Morgan went redder still as the thought it could look like Hunter was having an affair with her crossed her mind.

"Oh gods no." She managed horrified. Hunter chuckled at her mortification.

"Besides the fact Steph would literally kill me and I have absolutely no desire to stray, I doubt very much I'm your type. I'm not quite Samoan enough" He said with a wink. Morgan flushed brilliant red and tried to protest before Hunter fixed her with a glance that said he'd seen it all before and she was fooling no one.

"You're not going to let me live this down are you?" Morgan asked. Hunter laughed and shook his head.

"Not in the slightest. You think you can keep it together on Monday when you come face to face with him?" He asked as he gave the flight attendant his boarding pass and she directed him to first class.

"I hope so." She managed as she handed over her own pass and was directed to sit in first class too. It was as she sat down next to Hunter the realisation she was actualy going to meet him hit her.

"Oh god…"

"And there it is." Hunter said as he put her bag in the overhead locker. "Just realised what Monday means, yes?"

"He's gonna…and I'm gonna…oh fuck." She said looking at Hunter in alarm as he took his seat. "When did we think this was a good idea?"

"About eight months ago, give or take." Hunter responded casually as he strapped himself in. "It won't be long and we'll be in New York, it's a direct flight. Try not to spend it freaking out." He added as Morgan silently strapped herself in.

The fact she would be within the same building as him didn't leave her alone for the whole flight. Hunter found the whole thing entirely too amusing Morgan found as he began to tease her about being able to speak to him. After they landed he jokingly pretended Roman was behind her once or twice.

"Shit, Roman's heading this way!" He exclaimed as a faint voice caught Morgan's ears, yelling his name. She dismissed it, they were in a huge airport it could be anyone.

"Ha ha Hunter, very funny." Morgan said with a roll of her eyes as she continued to walk.

"Ok, I'm not messing this time, hide!" Hunter said as he pushed her behind a column.

"Hunter what the fu-"

"Hunter! I didn't know you were in New York, I'd have asked to catch up outside of work for once." Morgan would recognise that voice anywhere. She stayed glued to the column as if her life depended on it. She pulled her case closer to her. She wanted to look, but the slightest movement could ID her. Roman wasn't supposed to know she was anywhere near the area. She could only just see Hunter as it was.

"Ah, nothing special, Roman. Just heading in to the office to take care of some things that can't be done down in Orlando." Hunter said dismissively. They talked a moment or two and Roman asked how he was enjoying training for once. Hunter had replied he was finding it a lot of fun and one in particular was proving quite the surprise.

"I'd like to come meet them one day if they're that good." Roman chuckled.

"I'm sure you will get your chance someday soon." Hunter replied, giving a glance towards Morgan casually as Morgan vehemently shook her head. There was more chatter before Roman checked his phone and noted the time.

"Anyways Hunter, I gotta go, I'll see you on Monday." He said with a grin. He shook Hunter's hand and headed off to the exit.

"I am going to smother you in your sleep." Morgan growled as she looked at Roman's retreating back.

"I believe the phrase is "You're welcome" isn't it?" Hunter asked, before laughing at Morgan's face as she buried it in both hands, muttering she was going to die either by embarrassment or Roman flattening her. "Come on Morgan, let's go. I have a ride waiting for us to head to a hotel for today then we'll head for Hartford tomorrow. We're going to head for the Warehouse before we go tomorrow." He put an arm around her shoulder as she shook her head. "Don't worry, we won't see him again till Monday."

"Can that be extended to like, never?" Morgan asked as they began to walk.

"You sure you want that? To never see him, ever? Never get to stare at his ass ever again?" Hunter asked, getting a laugh and more head shakes. "Didn't think so."

When they rolled up to the warehouse there was no sign of anyone there.

"Can't risk anyone knowing about you four. You might have guessed I've not invited Chantelle or Graham to this place. I'm working on something for them, and for Noah. But I thought you might appreciate this more." He said as he parked the car.

He told her to wait by the car before heading to the office. Morgan watched as he was approached by a security guard. He spoke to Hunter, Hunter flashed something at the man, Morgan guessed it was his id. Both went in to the office and both came out again a few minutes later. Except this time, the guard went to the gates and locked them, while Hunter beckoned Morgan over to the warehouse entrance. A turn of the key, a code typed in and then he pushed down the handle.

"After you." He smiled. Trying not to bounce on her feet with excitement she went in.

At first, darkness. Hunter flicked a few switches nearby and the place was flooded with light. Her eyes took a moment to adjust to the light level. But then she began to spot things. Things she recognised. Banners. Backdrops. Props. Hunter walked her deeper in to the warehouse as she gushed with excitement about the things she saw.

"Ohmygod that's Taker's symbol!" She said as they exited one aisle.

"Yup. It's extremely heavy." He said as she walked over and crouched by the heavy steel symbol that once had Stone Cold Steve Austin strapped to it. "And down here….he said walking off a little, "We have more Taker stuff." Morgan retracted her hand from running over the steel and hurried behind him. Catching up, she found herself facing shelves filled with nothing but coffins.

"Kamala's…that's the one from when he faced Randy Orton…that's from the episode he interrupted his own funeral…" Morgan was mumbling under her breath but not quite out of Hunter's hearing.

"Morgan, over here," He said with a smile, and a nod of the head and pointed thumb. Morgan turned to see an extremely old style coffin from one of The Undertaker's early appearances. Next to it on the shelves were several urns. Morgan picked out one in particular, reaching for it but withdrawing her hand at the last minute, remembering she shouldn't touch.

"You can touch them." Hunter affirmed with a little laugh.

"No I can't, it's sacred." She said with a shake of the head. In response he promptly picked up the nearest urn and threw it to her gently, forcing her to catch it.

"Hunter what are you doing?!" She asked, shocked as she put the urn back on the shelf quickly.

"Come on. I have something else I wanted to show you." He laughed, amused at her reactions before beckoning her to follow him. Puzzled Morgan followed, wondering if it was going to be one of Roman's flak jackets. She wouldn't put it past Hunter to pull one from nowhere. She made her way down the aisle once more and saw Hunter turn the corner. She hurried to keep up. He was stood outside a door.

"You ready for this?" He asked.

"Ready for what?" Morgan asked confused. He pointed at a sign above the door. Wardrobe Morgan read, feeling her jaw drop a little as she did so. Hunter took this as a yes and opened the door.

Row after row of rails and mannequin stood in front of them. Costumes from all the WWE wrestlers hung on them, some instantly recognisable like Ric Flair's coats or the hats of Randy Savage. Some took Morgan a moment or two to place. Hunter helpfully pointed out the sets of combat vests and associated Shield apparel. Morgan saw the skull masks worn once or twice clipped to hangars. Hunter offered to have her try one on and he'd take a picture, jacket and all, which Morgan did so with much laughter before they hung them back on the rails. Near the back of the room Hunter paused and gestured towards a set of rails and mannequins.

"Oh wow," She managed softly as she realised what was in front of her. Every outfit that The Undertaker had ever worn was in front of her. From his striped ties and grey gloves right the way through to a Wrestlemania outfit from the previous year. Morgan stepped up to one mannequin that had the infamous long black leather coat and the iconic hat resting upon it.

"Go ahead…touch it." Hunter said amused as he pulled out his phone.

"Touch it?" Morgan asked. Hunter nodded and as Morgan reached out a hand to brush it against the leather he began to take pictures. "No…I can't." She withdrew it at the last moment.

"You really look up to him huh?" Hunter asked gently. "There's a reason, isn't there?"

"He's…he's my idol, Hunter. I always looked up to him, I still do. Hell, I'd go as far as to say I worship the ground he walks on." Morgan let out a sigh. "The thing is, It's not that I never wanted to wrestle. Back when I was in my late teens, all I wanted to do was wrestle. I wanted it so, so badly. I lived it, breathed it. But I could never find anyone who would take me seriously. Every local club I tried they thought I was just…eye candy. That I was just there to look pretty. I didn't want that. I wanted to fight like he did, to win matches and do the things you guys in the Attitude Era did. I was happy to bleed for the sport, as silly as it sounds." The voices of criticism from the past echoed around her head and she looked down at her feet, "I was told repeatedly I would never be a wrestler. And I'd definitely never be the kind of wrestler to match up to him." She laughed. It was a sad, small kind of laugh that made Hunter want to envelope the woman in a hug and tell her it was all going to be ok. "I'd have killed for the chance to face him."

"At Mania?" Hunter asked intrigued. "You'd have done it?" Morgan nodded.

"Mania, Royal Rumble, Survivor Series, Hell in a Cell. I wanted it so, so bad Hunter. I'd have willingly jumped in a Cell. Dark matches, house shows. I didn't care. I never got the chance to learn to wrestle. I never had anyone put any faith in me. Not till you." Morgan said, looking up at the hat. "He's the kind of wrestler I always wanted to be. Not that I'll ever get the chance now."

"You are a wrestler now though." Hunter said as he approached her. "One day it's going to be your things that end up gracing this place." Morgan burst in to laughter.

"Give over, Hunter. You know as well as I do, I'll fight Roman and go home. I'd like to carry on wrestling, that would be awesome, but we both know it won't happen. Who'd take a risk on me?"

Arriving at the arena next Monday Morgan was nervous. In fact, she was terrified. She felt like she was going to throw up. The idea of keeping their identities a secret meant she had not met Roman at all thus far. And she was terrified. To be out there, in front of Roman Reigns, meeting him for the first time with all the fans watching? The cameras? The whole world? She was sure she was going to faint. Vince had imparted on all of them there was to be no contact between them and the people waiting in the ring. He wanted a genuine reaction from the stars in the ring. She had been asked how she preferred to dress, and some clothes had been found representing her taste. Black everything from her jeans to her trainer and an AC/DC t-shirt. As they headed in to the arena Hunter pulled her aside.

"You ok?" He asked as the other three were ushered off quickly to a secure room. "You've never been so damn quiet."

"Nervous but yeah. I'm about as ok as it gets." She said as she tried to hide her face as several people walked by.

"Listen. I got something for you." He said as he pulled something from his pocket. It was a bandana, neatly folded yet crushed a little bit from being in his pocket. Morgan took it from him and looked at it as she unfolded it. A memory of a ladder match with Jeff Hardy flashed across her mind. Of a mannequin wearing a specific outfit. Her eyes widened as she realised what it was.

"Hunter you didn't…" she whispered. "That's…"

"I may have…borrowed it on a permanent basis. It might still have a bit of his sweat on it." He joked as he took it from her.

"I can't believe you stole Taker's bandana!" she hissed. "And I don't get it. Why? And why are you being so nice to me about this?" Morgan asked, voicing the thought that had been bugging her for a while.

"Because while you're willing as all hell to do this, you're also the person most out of their depth here. And I don't think it's fair to let you drown." He replied as he tied it round her wrist to form a bracelet. "And if having something from your idol helps with that, so be it."

They were backstage now. Noah had been sat with her most of the evening. Chantelle and Graham were off in their own worlds, even warming up a bit in case they needed to fight. Morgan had asked Noah if he thought they should do the same. No, Noah had replied, before continuing with pointing out Vince had made it clear they weren't to be fighting. They'd had it drummed in to them twice already there was to be no contact between them and the four stars in the ring. Morgan nodded. Noah was right, she decided. She ran a finger over the bandana on her wrist. As nervous as she was, she was also in disbelief Hunter had stolen the bandana that she now wore on her wrist. But at the same time, she had to admit it reassured her. She didn't know why.

That reassurance vanished as they were led backstage to the gorilla position just after Jeff Hardy had joined Roman, Drew McIntyre and Asuka in the ring. She was fairly sure they could see her shaking as they waited. She couldn't look anyone in the eye. This was about to be the biggest day of her life, and she was terrified. Even if she wasn't fighting. Noah gave Morgan a gentle smile and a few words of reassurance as Vince came over to her. She swallowed hard and looked up as the chairman approached.

"Miss Bellare, how are you holding up?" He asked. A frown of concern dominated his forehead.

"I'm…I'm managing." She said with a small smile of her own. He nodded and the frown lessened.

"Nervous? Don't be, it's going to be a breeze. Now, you remember what I said about no contact?" He asked sternly. Morgan nodded her head.

"I know. Don't touch them, don't even brush them with an arm or leg. I understand, Sir." She reiterated. They had this drilled in to them several times already today.

"Except in your case. When Roman squares up to you, and he no doubt will once you've been introduced, I want you to slap him in the face. As hard as you possibly can." Vince said with a twinkle in his eye.

"You're going to get me killed." Morgan said, putting her head in her hands. Vince and Noah chuckled as the signal was given for them to go out, and steered her to the front of the group. Morgan realised this was so she would be the first picked up by the cameras.

"Walk tall and confident you four. I will do the talking, you don't need to say a thing. OK, lets go." Vince said, leading them out. Morgan got the unspoken message no one was to say anything.

He lead them out and down to the ring, facing the four title holders as they looked on confused. He held the ropes open for Morgan and Chantelle. Then turned and faced the four, with a smile.

"I can see by your faces you've no idea what's going on." Vince said in to a freshly retrieved microphone. Roman nodded as did Asuka while Jeff and Drew exchanged confused glances. "I wonder if you and the WWE Universe remember, back before Clash of Champions last year we made a post on Facebook. This post, in fact." He waved a hand at the giant screen and the post flashed up on there. "Well, we went through all the comments on that post and found these lucky four. They won a prize because of it. Not just a tour of the Performance Centre, not just a two week all expenses paid trip to Orlando. No, no, they won something far better." Vince said with a grin as he stood between the two groups. Morgan tried her hardest not to maintain eye contact with Roman, but it was proving awkward as he looked over the four of them. She watched his eyes sweep from Noah on Morgan's far right as Vince spoke, all the way back to her, and then up and down her body. Oh gods, don't go red, not now, she willed herself.

"I'm not sure I like where this is going." Drew said with a frown, sounds of agreement being made by the others.

"Ah, but I do. And so will the WWE Universe. Each one of these fine ladies and gentlemen will be fighting one of you four this time next year." Vince grinned as the crowds roared in delight. The four in front of him looked at each other alarmed, clearly piecing the fact that there were two guys and two girls, versus one girl and three guys.

"You mean tag-team, right? Four versus four?" Roman asked with a frown.

"Yeah, or two vs two?" Jeff asked.

"This is not the right amount of people." Asuka managed in her broken English, gesturing at the group.

"Well, lets divide up your opponents then." Vince said turning to the four newcomers with a grin and a sweeping arm. He walked around behind them as he began to explain who would be fighting who. "Now, we have Noah here, from Cairns, Australia." He put a hand on Noah's shoulder, and Noah nodded his head towards everyone. "Noah will be fighting Jeff Hardy."

"Ok, fine, I can do that." Jeff said before leaning forwards and offering Noah a hand. He glanced at Vince who nodded his head, and Noah shook Jeff's hand warmly.

"This young lady is Chantelle, from Rouen, France. She will be your opponent, Asuka." Vince said, causing the crowds to roar. They knew what was coming. As Asuka bowed to Chantelle, Roman and Drew looked at each other concerned. Roman's gaze returned to Morgan and she tried to pretend that actualy, she was anywhere but across the ring from him. Oh gods don't touch me she said to herself as Vince walked on from Chantelle. Please don't reach over and touch me. If he did she was pretty certain she would faint.

"And now, this is interesting isn't it?" Vince said with a grin, positioning himself between Morgan and Graham. "Drew. Your opponent, from Boston, Massachusetts will be…Graham." Graham gave Drew a grin, and held out his hand, taking Drew's in a firm grip and a quick shake before letting go. The crowds were going mental. Roman's face said it all, he was not happy with this what so ever. His look was shared by Jeff and Drew while Asuka had a hand to her mouth in shock. Morgan swallowed hard again, the feeling of a rock in her throat was prevalent.

"Which leaves Morgan here, from Portsmouth, England. That's England UK, not New England. And she will be fighting Roman Reigns." Roman looked at her in disbelief as Vince's words faded. The crowds were going insane. Morgan stood tall, but inside she was only just overcoming the urge to run away. The look on Roman's face said he was NOT pleased at this turn of events and honestly Morgan didn't blame him.

"You're not serious, are you?" He managed as he stepped a little closer.

"I am very, very serious." Vince replied.

"Are you…have you lost your mind? She's going to get very, very hurt. I'm going to end up crushing the girl. You do realise that, sweetheart?" He said as he turned to look directly at her now. Vince surprised Morgan by handing her the microphone. Deep breath, she told herself.

"I am going to wipe the floor with you." She said, much more confidently than she felt. A roar from the crowds, they were loving her. As predicted, Roman squared up to her. He got his face a few inches from hers.

"Honey, you couldn't even get me to the floor in the first place." He said. He clearly wasn't expecting the ferocity of the slap she dealt him, because it actually knocked him sideways and made him stumble to a knee. Jeff and Drew bit their lips, smothering a shocked laughter and stepped back a few places with Asuka while Graham, Noah and Chantelle cringed as Morgan straightened herself up again. She had seen so many episodes of RAW and Smackdown now she knew she couldn't show concern or even fear. Roman looked up at her from his knee and put a hand to his face, theatrically moving his jaw about as if she had done damage.

"Looks like she's doing a pretty good job so far." Vince said, before telling the four they would see them again in a years time, and walking the four back out of the ring and backstage. Morgan fought every urge not to look back and had almost made it when Vince made her stop, then put an arm around her and turned her to face Roman looking at her in disbelief from the ring as RAW went off the air.

Vince had said they could head to catering and chill, meet some of the other wrestlers while they waited for their opponents to come backstage. Morgan fought everything she had within her yelling and screaming she should do a runner. Hunter seemed to think she might have thoughts of this nature, as he saw her on the way to the room they had been hiding in and promptly steered her to catering, much to her mortification and threats she would kill him for this. He just laughed and told her she would be fine. As she arrived in catering she saw an empty table in the furthest corner from the door and decided it was perfect. She should be well camouflaged there. Hunter chuckled at her discomfort and told her he'd speak to her and catch up later. She sunk as low in her seat as she dared. And then he appeared.

No angels sang, no golden lights behind him. It was not how she had ever imagined it being if she would ever be lucky enough to meet him. Belt hung over his shoulder, and a red hand print on his face he stood just inside the door as he scanned the room. Please don't see me, don't see me she begged in her mind. Her wishes were denied when he spotted her and began to make his way over. Morgan found herself fervently wishing she could melt in to the chair. She willed herself to develop invisibility, the ground beneath her to open and swallow her whole. Anything. All her wishes were denied as he reached her and sat down, placing the belt on the table between them.

"So." Roman said, fixing Morgan with a stern look. The handprint was still quite red, it hadn't looked as bad when he was stood in the doorway. Morgan cringed as he ran a hand over his cheek, emphasising the fact the handprint was there and shouldn't have been. "They want you to face me. And you came in to my ring, told me you were going to wipe the floor with me, then slapped me so hard you knocked me to the floor?" Morgan nodded.

"Yes…I…I'm sorry." She managed. Roman dropped the stern look and gave her a reassuring laugh.

"That was a hell of a slap. Pleased to meet you Morgan." He held out his hand and Morgan accepted it warily.

"You're not going to superman punch me for that?" She asked as she pushed herself to sit up a little better in her chair.

"Of course not." He said, looking at her incredulously. "Why would I do that?"

"Cause I slapped you? On live TV?" Morgan asked. Roman laughed.

"Contrary to popular belief, I'm not in the habit of punching everyone. Especially pretty things like you." He gave her a wink. Morgan laughed, she couldn't help it. "That's better. Now. How did you get in a hole this big? I'm not going to lie, we'd both be fools to ignore the fact you're massively outgunned here." He asked.

To her surprise, she found Roman very easy to talk to despite her nerves at meeting him. She explained everything. From the comment on the post, to her meeting Vince and her finally accepting the contract. Her starting training, which surprised him most of all. He explained that they knew they would be being found some new, never before seen on WWE challengers. And they had enough knowledge to know that some would come from the general public. That was all they had been told. To her mortification he remembered the video call. He thought his being on the call was to convince her to come fight another female superstar, not himself. But he was surprised to learn that Morgan had never wrestled before, and that what they were teaching her was for all intents a crash course in wrestling over a year.

"It's going to be a disaster." Morgan concluded. "Even with Hunter's help…I'm going to make an absolute farce of it."

"A year is a long time to train. There's a lot you can learn in that time if you work hard enough. But I get your concern. I'm concerned too. I'm sure that Vince has a plan, or at least knows what he's doing." Roman reassured.

"I hope so. I don't want to be a pancake for real." Morgan replied stopping herself as she reached out for the belt. She wondered what it felt like. She knew she would never get her hands on her own one.

"You know, you can touch it." He chuckled. "It's ok." Morgan found herself flushing red immediately.

"I...sorry…it's just y'know, this is as close as I've ever been to one. I know I would never be able to have one of my own, they're just so damn expensive back home. And y'know, winning one is out of the question, I'm not a WWE superstar so, y'know," Morgan stumbled over her words, embarrassed she had been caught.

"Stand up." Roman said in a commanding manner as he did so himself. Morgan frowned. "Come on, on your feet."

"Why?" She asked as she did so. Roman then took her by the hand and grabbed the belt on the table. He then began to pull her through backstage, out in to the ring where a few other stars were lounging around, talking and relaxing after the nights events. Most were already changed and watched with confusion, which soon turned to smiles as Roman pulled a confused Morgan down the ramp and in to the ring.

"What on earth are you up to?" She asked as he got her back to her feet.

"Phone?" He held out a hand for her phone and in her confusion, she handed it to him. "It's like this. I figured if you're going to hold it, you'd want a picture, right?" He said as he handed her his belt in return.

"Well, yes, of course." Morgan said as she realised what he was doing.

"And if you're having a picture, the right background is essential." He said, activating the camera. "Now. Hold that over your head like you won it." Morgan felt like an idiot, but she did as he said and held the belt up like she'd won it. There were pose suggestions yelled out from others, Roman was made to join Morgan in a few pictures. She was told to get up on the turnbuckle for one of them and did so. Roman handed her the belt as she stood on the top turnbuckle. Morgan held it up in one hand as if she had just beaten Roman for it, and Roman pretended to be reaching for the belt as if to get it back. He then helped her sit down on the top turnbuckle and Seth took a picture of the pair.

Like the others Morgan had been introduced to many of the stars backstage. She had been asked if she was nervous about facing Roman, if she felt she could handle it. Missed the knowing smiles of several of the roster when they saw the way she was looking at Roman as he spoke and was overcome by embarrassment frequently when he spoke to her. The fact she had been stood talking to him, he had actually walked around the arena with her introducing her. Morgan had felt like she was about to faint when he put an arm around her shoulders for a picture. She had no idea if he knew it or not. But all too soon the fairy-tale had to come to an end.

"You will let me know how your training is going, won't you?" Roman asked as they walked to the car park.

"Why? It's going to be an easy win for you, we both know that." Morgan said as she went red yet again from making eye contact.

"Even if it's meant to be a win, I don't want it to be a complete washout for you. I want you to be able to fight properly. To hold your own against me." He replied. "It's not great TV, and it's not fair on you. You deserve a good ending." He stopped next to his car. "Maybe if I'm at the performance centre, or down that way soon, we can catch up."

"I'd like that, it would be fun." Morgan said with a smile. "I can show you just how far I've come."

"I'd like to see that." Roman said, returning the smile and making Morgan's stomach do acrobatics. "Actualy, you know what? Take my phone number." He said, digging in his pocket for his mobile phone. Morgan felt her heart catch in her throat. Was he seriously giving her his number? Roman Reigns, the object of her affections, was giving her his phone number!?

"T-take your number?" She managed.

"Yes. Take my number." He laughed. "That way I can keep in touch with you and see how you're doing. Like I said, I'd like this to end on a good note for you. I don't think it would be fair to just…leave you in the dark and drop you after our fight, y'know? Do you even know what's going to happen afterwards?" He asked as he gestured for her phone. Morgan unlocked it and handed it to him as she spoke.

"No. Back to the UK I suppose, back to how I was. I'd like to stay here though. Who knows, maybe I'll be crazy enough to actually try out for the WWE properly." Morgan said with a laugh. Why the fuck did you say that?! Her thoughts yelled at her as Roman finished swapping numbers. He returned her phone and she pocketed it.

"Why not? I mean it would be a waste after all this if you just did nothing with it." He replied. "I have to get going back to the hotel, and it looks like your ride is here." He said as Hunter called for Morgan across the car park, Noah stood next to him. "I mean it. Keep in touch ok?"

"I will. Cross my heart and all that." Morgan said as the Samoan grinned, and then enveloped her in a hug. Morgan felt somewhat like a deer in headlights.

"Good. I'll set H on you if you don't." He added with a wink before saying goodbye and opening the car door as Morgan stepped back and walked in a daze over to where Hunter stood. She wasn't really sure what had just happened, other than she could faintly smell the mans aftershave, or was it his deodorant? Maybe it was a mix of both. She fought to keep herself from smelling the arm of her hoody in case it lingered. She was not a teenager anymore no matter how much he had reduced her to a giddy teen with his actions.

"Everything ok?" Hunter asked as Morgan reached him, turning at the sound of a beeping horn to see Roman wave to her as he drove out of the car park.

"I…well I uh…" She faltered as Noah got in the back of the car with a laugh. Hunter held up his phone and tilted it from side to side. Morgan nodded.

"No you didn't." He laughed in disbelief.

"I did…I didn't even ask he just…he just gave it to me."