Happy New Year! Here's a new chapter to kick start things. Enjoy! Zelks

She was last to leave the locker room that night. Pats on the shoulder from friends, good luck calls from acquaintances. All knew it wasn't Wrestlemania they were wishing her luck for, it was the confrontation she was about to have. Everyone had told her he was waiting outside for her, everyone knew it wasn't going to be pretty. Now she sat alone in the room. There were no other exits, no windows she could escape through. She was going to have to face him, no matter what. Slowly, she gathered her stuff, and was about to walk out when the door opened.

"What the hell dude, this is the ladies locker room!" she exclaimed.

"I know you're the only one here, Rebel." He said, putting down his own bag. "What's gotten in to you, Rebel? To challenge Roman like that?"

"You have no idea," She replied. "Now, if you don't mind, I need to get back to the hotel." She went to walk past, but he stopped her. "Hunter, get out of my way." He didn't budge an inch, but looked at her in a fashion that made it clear he wasn't going anywhere.

"No. You need to explain yourself, Rebel. I gave you a chance, but I thought you were able to not let it go to your head." Rebel was so surprised, she burst in to laughter.

"Oh my god…you think…you think that…that I'm turning in to Orton?!" she gasped between laughs. "Nothing could be further from the truth!"

"Then I suggest you explain yourself. Now." Hunter towered over the girl, as she stopped laughing, realizing the COO was deadly serious, and if he wanted to, he could strip her of her mania shot, the lot. It must have been obvious she was unsure about telling him, as he ran a hand over his face, and sat next to her.

"You wouldn't understand." She said, turning away from him. He put a hand on her shoulder, making her pause as she was about to walk away.

"Wouldn't I? The amount of times Shawn and I have fallen out and patched things up, I may have taken a few superkicks to the chin, but I know what it looks like when four usually solid friends argue. Come on, Rebel, I'm your friend here too. Not your boss. Your friend. What made you do this, make this reckless decision?" He asked. "It's not like you."

"Roman said…" She paused, not sure if she could admit to the COO that she had made her decision in a moment of anger. "He said…oh does it really matter?"

"Said what, Rebel?" he asked.

"Said that I couldn't take him. Said I couldn't beat him." She said, before scowling. "I can! I can beat him just because he's bigger than me, I can beat him and I will." She said angrily.

"Oh. Is that all?" He picked up his bag, opened it, and pulled out a t-shirt, saying nothing as he changed in to it and some jeans, before putting his trainers on. "It could be worse. Much worse." Rebel, to her credit, didn't bat an eyelid. She was too busy realizing the enormity of what she had actually done.

"Oh…oh no. I'm an idiot…I'm such a fool, I was so angry…I was so mad. Of course I can't take him at Mania…he's twice the size of me…" she said, in a panicked voice. "And he's the WWE champion…what was I thinking?" She sat down on the bench, and put her head in her hands. "And I punched Dean! I actually punched Dean! Oh after everything I said…" Rebel was mortified at her actions. Hunter on the other hand, lifted her back to her feet, and walked her back out to the ring, with her bag on his shoulder also. He dropped it by the side of the ring and told her to get in.

"What? Why?" she asked perplexed, but doing as he asked.

"You challenged Reigns. Against Steph's wishes, I'm going to let it fly. Why wouldn't you try to take a title after all? But not without giving you the best possible chance to beat him." He said, entering the ring himself. "And if you can beat me, you can beat him. Come at me."

"What? I'm not fighting you, Triple H." She said, going to step out the ring.

"Yes, you are," he said with a growl as he blocked her exit, cutting her off. "You asked me for a chance, I gave you it. Now prove to me my chance wasn't wasted. Prove to me I made the right choice by NOT interrupting you tonight, and over-riding your decision."

"Wait…you knew I might do that?" she said, brow furrowed.

"Yes. Because it was my idea the Shield get back together, my idea they protect you. If you want to be angry at anyone, be angry at me, not them." He could see Rebel getting more and more angry by the second. "Now quit arguing, and fucking come at me."

Up in the VIP boxes, just as they had been instructed, the three guys watched as Hunter made Rebel come at him again and again, the slams as she hit the deck echoing through the arena.

"Think it will work?" asked Seth.

"It's the only shot we have, short of putting her to work with The Undertaker." Roman replied. Dean said nothing but watched on concerned. "You ok Ambrose? You look really worried."

"You won't hurt her, will you? I mean, y'know, more than you need to?" he asked.

"Rebel's tough, Dean. She can handle Roman. Since when did you become such a softie anyway?" Seth replied.

"Hey, when a good looking chick like Rebel punches you hard enough to almost dislocate your jaw, you feel something besides pain, ok?" Dean said, attempting to defend himself.

"Then do something about it." Roman laughed. Dean shook his head.

"Not before Mania. She has too much to deal with. That would push her over the edge." Dean shook his head. "I'll wait a bit, give her a chance to get mania out the way, and then…well..I dunno. She might not even like me." He missed Roman and Seth's look of disbelief, as once again, Rebel hit the deck.

Hunter came over and helped her up.

"You got a lot of work to do in a month to be able to face Reigns." He said. "But you'll get there. Hell, I'm sure everyone at the meet will be able to give you some pointers."

"The Meet? What's that?" She asked, puzzled.

"Wait…you don't know? I'd assumed, having been here so long…well…ok. You know how, between February and Wrestlemania, there's no pay per views?" he asked. Rebel nodded. "There's a reason. From what I understand it just started as meeting with a few in a local hotel. Then it got bigger and bigger. The meet is basically a secret gathering of everyone in the wrestling world, from across promotions like TNA, Ring of Honor…you name it, all the big promotions in the USA meet up in a secret location once a year, every year in March. That's why we don't have a pay per view. It's where the elite come to meet the new. Everyone will want to meet you this year, Rebel. I'll organize everything so you come with me. Don't worry." He said at the frown on her face.

"Look…I'm gonna go. It's been a long day and I'm tired. If you see him…can you…can you tell Dean I'm sorry? And Roman and Seth too?"

"Tell them yourself." Hunter replied, pointing to the VIP box where the three were sat.

The three men watched as she slowly walked up the steps towards them, mentally rehearsing what she was going to say. Dean pointedly rubbed his jaw as she came over.

"Look…I um…" She stalled and ran a hand through her hair as the three guys looked on amused. "I'm sorry."

"For which part? Flipping out on us, not telling us, getting yourself in a whole world of hurt, picking Roman for Mania, or punching Dean?" asked Seth. Rebel went red as Seth summed up all her crimes.

"Ok alright, all of it," she said, ashamed. "I was mad, OK? I thought…well, doesn't matter what I thought." She said, cutting herself off.

"You thought we were only befriending you to get a Mania shot?" asked Dean. He stretched his jaw again, getting an elbow from Roman. "Ok, I'll knock it off."

"Rebel Wild, you should know us better than that." Roman said, shaking his head.

"I'm sorry…I…I was just so angry…and then you said I couldn't take you, and I thought you were saying I was too weak to be bothered with, and then I was even madder, and it seemed like a great idea for revenge…"

"You punched me for revenge?" asked Dean, an eyebrow raised. "That was a dick move."

"I know…and…look I'm sorry, Ok?!" she exclaimed, and went to storm off, but Roman grabbed her by the arm.

"It's a mark of how much I value your friend ship, among other things, that I'm not going to just let you walk away." He said as she pulled her arm free.

"You want me to punch you in the mouth too?" she growled.

"Go for it." Roman said. Rebel paused, drew back her fist…and dropped it.

"You know I can't." she said, looking up at him. "As much as I want to, I can't" Dean and Seth looked on, neither had quite understood the bond between Roman and Rebel. Rebel punched him in the arm instead, and he punched her back, albeit lighter but still with some force.

"We cool, Us?" he asked.

"We cool."

"Now that you two are sorted, do Dean and I get at least a make-up hug? Y'know, for flipping your shit on us?" asked Seth.

"Can do one better." She replied, before hugging Seth and kissing him on the cheek, then doing the same for Dean, who, not that Rebel noticed, went a very pale shade of pink. Roman and Seth grinned like idiots at their friend's discomfort. "So. Are we going to go and see how long it takes to get one of those measured up for me?" she asked, gesturing to the signature clothing of The S.H.I.E.L.D.

"Depends. You gonna learn to triple power bomb someone?" Seth asked, as Roman put an arm about Rebel's shoulders and lead the group away from the VIP area.

The wrath of her friends, however, wasn't the only thing Rebel was worried about. She knew she would be getting a phone call about it, but was surprised to have to wait till the following morning for it. As she sat down at a lone breakfast table, her phone rang. It was his ringtone, his entrance music, and whereas before it made her smile and she looked forwards to his calls, this time her heart sank. She knew better than not to answer, however, and cut the music off as she did so.

"Before you start, I know, I screwed up big time..." she began, but was cut off.

"Rebel Wild, you did a LOT of things last night. But I'd hardly say you screwed up." He replied.

"But I...wait, what?" she managed, confused. "You're supposed to be mega pissed at me right now."

"Oh, and I am, I really am. However, I'm prouder than I could ever be."

"You are? Ok, stop confusing me dude, I don't follow." She said, and was met with a chuckle at the end of the phone.

"Ok, let me lay this out for you. Yeah, I'm fucking furious with you for picking Roman. He's your buddy, you can't have actually WANTED to fight him, and so I know something must have provoked you. We'll discuss this another time. However, I am so damn proud of you. You made everyone think you were going to pick Orton, hell, even Orton himself looked like that's what he was expecting."

"He was. You didn't hear the swearing and cursing in the hotel lobby last night to anyone on his side." Rebel replied with a smirk.

"And yet you manipulated the situation in such a way that no one was expecting to see you pick Roman till it was too late. That was thinking on your feet in a fantastic way." He added.

"I don't like manipulating things, it makes me too much like my mother." Rebel replied, scowling this time. He laughed.

"Which is where you are wrong. Your mother is bat shit crazy. We both know that. Are you going to the Meet? Hunter mentioned he was bringing you when we spoke last night."

"Wait, does he know you are my..."

"No, and no one will know till we both agree the time is right." He said, as Vicky spotted her friends coming in to the room.

"The guys are coming, I have to go." She said as they spotted her and came over.

"Be careful, Rebel. Please."

"I will. I'll catch you later." Her friend said goodbye also, before hanging up. Rebel forced herself to smile as Dean, Roman, Seth and John Cena joined her.

"You already eaten?" asked John, putting his jacket on the back of the chair.

"I...well I don't really feel that hungry." She admitted. Roman shot her a look that clearly said she had better eat something, or god help her. "But I could totally eat a little toast, y'know, just to fill a hole." The glare from Roman became a smile as she went and got the aforementioned item. She knew they were eager to speak about the problem at hand, but she said nothing as she ate, her mind elsewhere.

Riding with Roman to the next venue, she barely said a word, and was surprised when he turned the car in to a dead end, turned it round to face the way they had come, and turned off the engine.

"Um…Roman…what are you doing?" she asked, frowning.

"We need to talk about this, Bell, and you know it." He said, looking over at her.

"Do we really need to do this now?" she asked, uncomfortable at the look he was giving her. Roman wiped his face with his hand, fingers clearing the corners of his eyes of any sleeping dust, if any remained.

"Yes, we do. I'm not going to pretend I understand your reasoning for your decision, because I sure as hell don't. But…argh…for fucks sake, Bell, I don't want to break you in half at Mania! You're my fucking sister in all but blood. I mean, sheesh, Dean made me promise not to hurt you, and I agreed, although I don't know how I can keep that promise!" Roman looked over at her, pained expression on his face.

"Dean asked that?" she said, feeling her cheeks go a little red.

"Yeah, he did. I know how you feel about Dean…yeah I know you didn't say a damn word, but it's pretty obvious. And I know how he feels about you, which makes this a thousand times worse."

"You can't say you'll keep that kind of promise, Roman. You know you can't" Rebel replied, either willingly or unwillingly ignoring the sly hint from Roman that Dean rather liked her. Roman decided he wasn't sure which as he ran his hands through his hair.

"I know that, you know that. Everyone on the damn roster knows that."

"Look. I know I fucked up last night, and I may well have fucked myself over royally for Wrestlemania. But can't you just…let me see how much I can do? Let me try?" Rebel asked, almost pleadingly.

"I can't go easy on you Rebel, you know I can't." Roman replied.

"And I'm really, really not asking you to. Just let me fight, let me see if the ability to be a champion is there. Please Roman, it's all I ask." She said, taking his hand in hers "Sister to brother…please?" Roman looked over at her and groaned. Rebel smirked.

"Oh alright. But you better train fucking hard, Rebel, I mean it. I find out you've been skipping, or slacking off, I won't be merciful." He answered, turning the car engine on again.

"You have my word. I'll start right away." She added, delighted. Roman was on board with it, even if deep down he didn't want to be. Now, Rebel would have to deal with Randy Orton's response, and she knew it probably wasn't going to be too pretty.

As it happened, she was right, although somehow she managed to get out of the firing line. At Smackdown, it seemed the roster was slowly coming round to the fact she would be fighting Roman for the belt. Most of those that had initially been against her headlining had watched on as she forced her way through Randy's assaults, the obstacles in her path, and were impressed. It was fast becoming clear that the only people who readily had issues with her were Randy Orton, Lana and Rusev, and Fandango and Rosa. Several members of the roster who had been against her, such as Titus O'Neil, had stepped up to stop Orton from waiting for her and attacking her. But Rebel knew it would only be a matter of time, and she was proved right on RAW the following week.

It was now three weeks and 6 days till Wrestlemania. Hunter had been pushing her to her limits every night after each and every show. Rebel had little time to spend with her friends, which was in a way helping, as they weren't familiar with each other in the ring before the big show. Roman too had little time to spend with them, as he was also training for Wrestlemania. But all she could think about was when Randy would strike next.

She pulled up on her motorbike to the arena that RAW was being held in, and had barely gotten off her bike and entered the backstage area when someone grabbed hold of her and slammed her against the wall with such force she had the breath knocked out of her. In seconds, hands were around her throat, as the arms pinned her shoulders to the wall, and she found herself looking in to the hatred crazed eyes of the Viper. She began to claw at him as he held her there, exerting just enough pressure to make her choke and gag, but not enough to block her airways.

"So, you little bitch, you chose Reigns? And you treated me to my own move?" he hissed, both unaware the cameras were rolling and catching everything.

"I'd never...have chosen...you," she gasped between coughing and clawing at his hands.

"No, I can see that now, but let me make this quite clear. I'm going to make your life a living hell," he hissed, as her hands scrabbled for the broom she could see barely a fingertips reach away. "I'm going to destroy you, your career, and then I'm going to do the same to your friends. Starting with Ambrose...urgh!" he didn't get very far as Rebel managed to grasp the broom, and hit him over the head with it. It made him release his hold instantly, and he was blindsided by the same broom being brought home on his back. The handle snapped in half as he hit the floor, Rebel leaning against the wall and massaging her throat as he tried to get to his feet.

"The hell you will," she gasped, "My friends are off limits, Orton."

"Oh, I'm sorry, did I threaten darling Dean? Hah, his well being will be the least of your worries you little whelp." He hissed, getting to his feet.

"You leave Dean out of this, this is between you and me," she retorted.

"How right you are," he replied, reaching for the nearest object, a large aluminium trash can. Next thing she knew, he'd thrown it at her, Rebel ducked and it hit the wall, rebounding as she scrambled out the way and rolling to a stop, a large dent in its side. Unfortunately it left her open to be on the receiving end of a nasty spear, taking her down to the floor. Randy laughed with delight as she blinked in shock and pain, but his laugh was turned to a howl of agony as she kicked out and caught him where it would no doubt hurt. But instead of crippling him, like it would have done with so many, it only seemed to make him madder, and the two began to brawl in earnest. It wasn't long before footsteps came running, staff and superstars alike trying to keep the pair apart. Randy was being held back by Kane, Ryback, The Wyatts, Big Show and Mark Henry, while Rebel was being held by John Cena, Titus O'Neil, Big E Langston, Tyson Kidd, Cesaro, and Dolph Ziggler, a mix of other superstars and referees between them. Rebel was straining to get John and Cesaro to let go of her arms so she could swing for Randy, yelling about how she was going to end his career and then some. Randy was shouting similar things, including how she was going to fuck up at Wrestlemania. Both fell silent as a voice thundered across the gathering.

"What in hell's name is going on here?!" it yelled, and everyone turned to see Steph, Hunter and as Rebel's heart sank in to her feet, Vince McMahon. Silence fell across the group. No one spoke, no one dared to. "Seems to me you two have some serious issues going on. You will sort those issues in the ring tonight, and I want that to be the end of it. You hear me Orton? Wild?"

"I want a no DQ match," Both Randy and Rebel blurted, making several stars around them groan or cringe, Steph going pale.

"A no disqualification match? Both of you?" he asked. Rebel nodded, as did Randy. "Well, you two do really want to beat the living crap out of each other." Vince said, looking from one to the other. "Let them go. If you two can shake hands, and agree not to cross paths between now and your match, fine. You can have a no DQ match." Randy shrugged off his colleagues, as did Rebel and both stepped forwards. Everyone watched and waited with baited breath to see if they would indeed shake hands. Rebel offered her hand first, and after a pause, Randy took it, both squeezing much harder than needed.

"You won't make it to Wrestlemania." He said, aiming for it to be his parting shot.

"Neither will you. Unless you count being there in a full body cast as making it." Rebel bit, before turning and walking off. The voice of Vince admonishing Randy floated down the corridor behind her, along with footsteps. She paid them no mind, there was something else bugging her now. What were Roman, Dean and Seth going to say when they found out? She shook her head as she walked off, not even sure where she was heading, but knowing she was in deep trouble with her friends when they came in. The footsteps came closer and a hand was placed on her shoulder. Rebel wheeled round, ready to land a punch to whoever it was, and nearly succeeded, stopping inches short of the face of Dolph Ziggler.

"Fucking hell, Ziggles, did you have to?" she managed, running a hand through her hair.

"I didn't mean to scare you," he said, apologetically. "But...fuck rebel, are you out of your mind? A no DQ match...with Orton of all people...what's gotten in to you?" he asked. Rebel sighed and shrugged.

"I was kinda hoping to end this petty grudge he has with me. But I don't think he's going to let it go till I compete at Mania. Hell, even more so if I win. And I doubt I will." She replied as Dolph fell in to step beside her.

"What makes you say that?" he asked with a frown.

"Um, hello, I'm facing Roman fucking Reigns. Yeah, totally my own fault, I brought this all on myself but...I can't beat him. I just can't." Rebel said, finding herself admitting to Dolph what she would never have admitted to the guys themselves.

"You might be fighting Roman, but he's never fought you with everything on the line." Dolph replied as they walked onwards. They talked about the issue as they headed to catering, and as they sat down and got something to eat.

"There's a lot going for you, going in to this." Dolph said wisely.

"Yeah, provided they don't kill me about this evening first." Rebel replied, shaking her head at her own stupidity.

"Kill you for what?" asked a voice, and Rebel turned to see her friends stood behind her. She found herself giving them a sheepish grin. Seth narrowed his eyes at her.

"Rebel Wild...what have you done now?" he asked.

Rebel decided it would be best to speak to them about it somewhere quiet, and Dolph found himself dragged along for the ride as they found somewhere quiet to talk.

"You did WHAT?" Exclaimed Roman as Dean face palmed and Seth looked like he could cheerfully throttle her. "Are you out of your fucking mind, Rebel?!"

"Jury's out on that." She said, with a smile that faded instantly when Dean gave her a glare.

"Look, you could...y'know...back down when he starts shit like this?!" Seth admonished.

"He threatened to hurt you guys too, y'know, said he would destroy you." Rebel exclaimed.

"Well, it wasn't all of you it was just...oof!" Dolph exclaimed, getting an elbow in the gut from Rebel to make him shut up. Roman met the man's eyes and slyly looked to where Dean was stood, and Dolph returned the slightest of nods.

"Threats to persons here present aside, Rebel, you've not done a match like this...not with someone like Orton." Dean said.

"Then tell me how I'm supposed to win this. I have to win, I can't let that snake get the better of me here, especially with a match sanctioned by Vince!" she said, frustrated.

"Aright Bell. We'll do what we can. I just...I hope you know what you are doing." Seth said, shaking his head. So do I she thought, as they began to formulate a game plan to get through the match.

Rebel waited now outside the gorilla, waiting for her moment to go out. True to his word, Randy hadn't been anywhere near her for the whole evening, and Rebel found herself glad. On edge, but glad. She needed to be alert, to watch and wait, to see what tricks he had up his sleeve. Dean was with her, and had insisted on going out with her, despite her protests.

"Y'know, I'm sure I made you promise not to take on anyone like Roman a few weeks back." He said as they waited.

"Yeah...I know. I'm sorry." She replied, putting a hand on Dean's shoulder. "You be careful out there, ok? I don't want him to hurt you too."

"He won't. You need to be careful in that ring, not me. I know he threatened to hurt us, and I admire how you stepped up and tried to kick his ass to stop him. But...damn it I'm worried about you, Bell, I'm worried fucking sick." Dean said, turning to her and putting his hands on her shoulders.

"you're acting like you care again, Dean," Rebel replied with a smile.

"That's because I do, dumbass." He replied, drawing her in to a hug. "Please...be careful out there Rebel."

"I will. I promise." She replied, as Dean let her go, and she was given the signal to go out. She took a breath and with Dean close behind, she headed out to greet the crowds, fully intending to give Randy Orton the beating he deserved.