Author's Note: HUGE Thank-you (xoxoxxo) to everyone who has read, reviewed, added this to their favorites, or is following this story. Your words make me smile like little kids on Christmas morning.

Disclaimer: I do not own anything associated with the WWE. I am just a fan-girl having a little fun on their playground.

Chapter 10

(Backstage after Raw)

(John's P.O.V.)

Catering was quickly over run with superstars, divas, crew members, and tech's all dropping in; some with birthday wishes, some with friendly hellos, and still some with just a brief passing smile. As the quote "guest of honor" un-quote I probably should have been front and center – not so much. Instead I stood near the back enjoying my view. Mercedes stood at a small table near the center of the room. I watched as swiftly sliced up the large chocolate cake – making sure everyone had a piece of gooey baked chocolate goodness. As she worked, she had a smile for everyone who spoke with her. I couldn't take my eyes off that smile; it was sweet, warm, inviting, and sexy as hell, it was almost infectious, and did I mention it was sexy as hell – just checking! A woman smiles at a man like that and he might swear he'd died and went to heaven.

Wrapped up in my own thoughts I almost didn't hear Orton and Stephen (Sheamus) approach. "Hey Cena," Orton began "Ste and I were talking – thinking maybe we should go out tonight – Whattya say?"

"Ah' a little drinkin' an dancin' celebrate tha 'Champs' birthday tha right way – huh fella" Chimed Stephen with a little twist and shuffle of his hips? The man was a force to be reckoned with in the ring – on the dance though – not so much.

I hadn't been out with the guys in a while. It did sound like a great idea. "Sure why not" I answered with a laugh "as long as I don't have to dance with you!"

Orton laughed out loud. Stephen feigned offense. "What's wrong with meh dancin'?"

It was my turn to laugh "None of us will live long enough to explain it." Gazing toward the center table, where Mercedes stood talking with one of the divas and some crew members I smiled "Give me about five minutes and I'll be ready to go." Without waiting for a response I headed towards Mercedes. As I moved away I heard Stephen ask "Isn't that the new girl workin' for HHH?"

I heard Randy confirm that she was indeed the "new girl" the rest of his words cut off as I moved further away. A part of me wanted to turn around and walk right back over there. I didn't like not knowing what they were saying about Mercedes. "Get a grip Cena," I chided myself "if you have learned nothing else tonight – it's that Randy and Mercedes are friends. Suck it up – and deal with it."

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(Mercedes P.O.V.)

I was so glad that Randy suggested the birthday cake. John seemed really surprised when all of us joined him in the ring. As silly or as fan-girl as it sounded; my cheek still tingled where he kissed me by way of thank-you for the cake. As I sliced up the last of the cake – I shook my head. I needed to get a grip. This cake wasn't about romance or love. This cake was one friend doing something nice for another friend. I needed to remember that and just leave everything else alone.

I smiled when Celeste neared the table still dressed in her ring attire. I admittedly knew more about the superstars than I did about the divas, but there was something about Kaitlyn/ Celeste that you couldn't help but instantly admire. I wish I had the nerve to color my hair similar to hers. I loved the blonde and the dark mixed together like that. "Hey Celeste, I saw your match tonight against A.J. – nice work!" I told her as she came to stand at my right.

"Thanks," she answered quickly before snatching one of last few pieces of cake from the table. Taking a piece of cake for myself – I relaxed a little. I enjoyed talking with Celeste. The chatter surrounding me felt good for a change. Neither of us saw John as he approached the table. "Hello ladies," he smiled by way of greeting. Celeste smiled setting her plate on the table she turned pulling John into a brief but warm hug "happy birthday champ!"

Returning the gesture of friendship John smiled "Thanks K.C."

"K.C?" I questioned a little confused.

"Kaitlyn Celeste – Oh John-boy here thinks he's being clever." Celeste informed me with a smirk.

"Whattya mean I think K.C. – of course I'm clever. You also forgot to mention how handsome, smart, and funny I am too!" John was clearly having a good time this evening.

Celeste and I laughed sharing a look. I knew we were both thinking the same thing. "I noticed that she said clever not conceited maybe she should rethink that."

John stopped turning his full gaze on me. I wondered idly if that smile would ever stop turning me inside out. "I will have you know young lady – that there is not one conceited bone in my body – not one."

"He's probably right," Celeste chimed in "there's not a conceited bone in his body. The problem with him – he's not conceited his convinced."

I couldn't help it – I burst out laughing. "I haven't heard that one in a while Celeste, but you know you might have a point."

"I am convinced" John interrupted "cause you see conceit is a flaw and since I have none – that must make me convinced instead."

"Oh boy" I laughed "things are sure getting deep around here."

"If you ladies are through debating the attributes of my winning personality; Randy, Stephen, and I were thinking of going out for a bit – maybe grab a drink or something. Whattya say wanna go?"

I could tell by looking at her that Celeste was immediately onboard to go. I looked down at my plain black WWE polo and dark washed jeans. Even If I wanted to go, I didn't want to go dressed like this. Before I could object or say anything really Celeste declared "We would love to go!"

"We would" I thought to myself.

Celeste managed to get the name of the club the fellows were headed to and promised that she and I would meet them there in about twenty minutes give or take. As John walked away I nearly groaned, "Celeste…I don't have anything to wear to go out in. Besides do you know what a terrible dancer I am?" I knew I was whining but somehow I just couldn't seem to care.

"I got everything covered – trust me." Celeste said as she took my hand leading me quickly away from the crowd – rushing us back to the women's locker room. Nearing the women's locker room we ran into my aunt and uncle. Pulling free of Celeste, I told her I would catch up with her as soon as I talked with H and Stephanie for a second. Upon my promise that I would be right behind her, Celeste rushed off towards the locker room.

Five minutes later I was just as I promised rushing towards the locker room. I was just about to reach for the door when it came sailing open to reveal Nikki and Brie Bella exiting. Grabbing ahold of the door, I held it open as they walked out before beginning to enter. "Mmm excuse me," the one in red chimed "this is the diva's locker room. I don't remember you being a diva?"

"I'm not a diva; I'm Mercedes HHH's new admin." I replied politely.

"Of course that makes perfect sense," the one in blue began as she eyed the way I was dressed "With that look – she's better off as a paper pusher not a diva."

Shaking my head I entered the locker room. Tornado Celeste was definitely in progress – I laughed. Celeste was already in the process of changing her clothes. Her ring boots and gear shoved to the far end of the long bench beside her. Her suitcase was perched haphazardly on the bench to her right; clothing and shoes falling from all wily-nily. Celeste stood partially obscured by the open locker door. A locker door that I might add was currently serving double duty as a catch all; as she had at least two different outfits hanging from it.

Peeking around the locker door she reached for the black dress hanging across the door tossing it to me. "Here wear this!" she exclaimed "and ignore them" she declared before returning her attention to her locker muttering "dirty skanks both of them!" I caught her dress in both hands, before shaking out the soft black fabric or lack of fabric – depending on you look at it.

"Huh, Celeste," I began with serious doubt coating my words "I'm not sure this is gonna fit."

Stepping away from the locker once more she smiled patiently "of course it will – you…" taking a step back she eyed me critically "you will just fill it out differently than I will."

Walking over to a locker just a few down from her I began to change. Slipping the form fitting dress over my head I grimaced. "Fill it out differently my ass," I thought sarcastically to myself as I tugged and pulled at the fabric trying to make more where there wasn't any.

"Let me see" yelled Celeste from across the room. Moving into view I tried to bury the self- consciousness that was flooding me. The sweet glow on her face reminded of me the girls on Christmas morning. "You look fantastic" she squealed! Grabbing her suitcase she asked "What size shoe do you wear?" Without missing a beat, she exclaimed "BINGO! Here try these on. They will go perfectly with that dress."

Slipping into the "borrowed" high heeled shoes, I glanced at myself in the full length mirror across the room. She was right about one thing the shoes were the perfect touch to go with this dress. Watching myself in the mirror I ran my hands along the soft fabric. Black and sleeveless, the fabric was soft almost warm to the touch. Turning to the left then right, I admired the dark mesh nearly oval shaped cut-outs down both sides. I couldn't believe how short the dress was. I was definitely outside my comfort zone. I found myself wondering how I would sit or heaven forbid I dropped anything; I would never be able to bend over and pick it up. Lost in my inner musings, I didn't hear Celeste as she approached from behind. "Girl – one look at you and John is going to damn near swallow his tongue. I swear he won't know what hit him."

"John" I questioned – confusion evident on my face.

"Don't stand there and give me that confused deer in the head light look. I saw the way he looked at you in the ring tonight."

"Were just friends – we barely know each other." I returned honestly. "The whole cake / birthday thing was just me being nice; consider it returning a favor so to speak."

Laughing she watched me carefully as if searching for something "You can call it whatever you like, but I know what I saw tonight. Friendship is great, but if friendship is all that man wanted he never would have kissed you inside that ring."

"I know I'm new to the WWE Celeste, but what does a friendly kiss on the cheek have to do with anything?"

Laughing she watched me once more carefully "Ok! Let's say I give you the benefit of the doubt. Maybe all John wants is friendship, your friendship must be mighty important to him to risk kissing you in any way in front of thousands of people."

What's that old expression light dawning on marble head – well that's kind of the way I felt. "You think that his kissing my cheek is going to make headlines? Are you serious?"

"Like a heart-attack," she replied. Quickly bustling around the room she collected her things leaving no trace she was ever there. "Like it or not John Cena is the WWE's golden boy. That makes everything he does subject to public interest. Tonight he kissed the cheek of a beautiful woman; a beautiful yet unknown woman. That innocent kiss could make a very interesting TMZ headline or at the very least an interesting fan posted You-tube video."

Turning back to the mirror I refused to let myself think about what Celeste had just said. Looking into the mirror I concentrated on more girly dilemmas – things like whether or not I was too big to wear this dress. "Celeste?" I called out in question "Are you sure this dress fits me? I mean I am a little bit bigger than you."

Sitting her bags down on the floor beside us, Celeste grinned. Standing behind me she pulled my hair from its work necessary messy bun. Running her fingers through my long dark straight hair she smoothed it down along my back and shoulders. Moving around to stand in front of me, she grabbed her small make-up bag and retouched my eye liner adding a darker eye shadow. With a quick spritz of perfume she declared me ready to go.

Fifteen minutes later, we walked into the small night club; only ten minutes later than what we promised John and the others. The club wasn't overly crowded, but there was a good size group of people at the bar, seated at the various tables, or making good use of the dance floor. I couldn't remember the last time I was inside an actual club. Looking around the club, I tried to spot John or one of the others. Celeste spotted them first. "There" she exclaimed pointing to a larger table at the very back of the club – definitely more private and out of the way. Considering the very public personas of this group private and out of the way was definitely on the menu tonight. From where we stood I could see Randy and Stephen seated at the table I didn't see John right away. Without realizing it I mumbled out loud "Where's John?" One would have thought with all the activity and music playing inside the bar there would have been no way Celeste could have heard me. One could certainly think that if they liked – sadly one would be wrong – she heard me.

I giggled as she suddenly began to rubber neck around looking for John. I don't either of us was prepared for the sight before us. It appeared as if John were making his way towards the table when he was stopped by a very attractive girl. I couldn't see her face very well from my vantage point, but she appeared to have very long dark hair and appeared to be wearing a short blood red dress. Within a few seconds she turned. "Celeste, that girl with John – is that who I think it is?"

"Son-ofa-bitch" she muttered beside almost hostilely. "That skank always rubbing up on some man she knows don't want her."

I could feel the wheels turning in my head. "Is there something going on between John and – which one of them is that?"

"Nikki Bella" Celeste spit the word out as if it were poison in her mouth. "That skank," she continued "How many times…how many ways can the man say not interested – before she gets the hint."

Never taking my eyes off the couple in front of me, I asked "Is there a history between those two? I mean did they ever date or go out together – something?"

Celeste snorted (a most un-lady like sound really) "Hell No!" she declared leaving no room for doubt. "That woman and I use that term loosely, has been trying to sink her claws into John for months now. He keeps turning her down – she just don't take no for an answer."

I could feel the spastic butterflies brewing in my stomach; I sure sign I was about to walk into a very sticky situation – a situation that I could very well live to regret. Flashing Celeste my sweetest most lady like grin, I handed her my small black hand bag "John and I will meet you at the table." Quickly I turned away and slowly made my way across the floor towards John and Nikki. Realistically they couldn't have been maybe two hundred and feet from where I had been standing just moments before. As I moved across the floor, I couldn't decide if the distance was my friend or enemy in this case. It would have been easier and probably smarter if I had just chickened out and followed Celeste to the table. I mean after all John is a big boy. Surely he can handle the unwanted attention one little ol' female all by himself.

All too soon I was standing almost directly behind John – wondering why in the bloody hell I hadn't chickened out. Stepping to his right, I slowly-silently reached for his hand. He still hadn't turn to look at me so I pushed forward "I hope I didn't keep you waiting to long."

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(John's P.O.V.)

I heard someone approach from behind. I prayed it was Mercedes or Celeste. I didn't have anything personal against Nikki Bella. She seems like a really great woman – just not the woman for me. This wasn't the first time she and I had talked. I've tried more than once to be polite – you know the dating version of thanks but no thanks. Nothing I said seemed to make a difference. Without looking, I felt the soft warm hand fold into my larger one. Her whisper soft words slid across my senses. "I hope I didn't keep you waiting to long." There was something new – something different in the tone of her voice. Clutching her hand a little tighter, I grinned "No…not too long at all Mer…" I turned getting my first real glimpse of her since she'd taken my hand. This was not the Mercedes I was getting to know. The Mercedes standing before me – completely stole my breath. I couldn't remember the last time a woman left me feeling speechless. I couldn't help it – my eyes simply devoured her. The warm blush painting her cheeks told me I was probably making her a little uncomfortable but I couldn't help myself.

Her long dark hair hung loose down her back and across her bare shoulders. The air felt alive with the soft scent of a new perfume. I don't know where the dress came from, but I was grateful she was wearing it tonight. Black was definitely her color. Squeezing her hand in my mine I raised my arm just enough to twirl her around for a full view. "You look…you look amazing" I whispered. Pulling her closer to me, I draped my arm around her shoulders unwilling to let her slip away. "Mercedes have you met Nikki Bella?" I asked my voice much warmer than it had been only five minutes prior. I was a little taken back when I felt Mercedes nuzzle in closer to me. My right hand was resting along her shoulder when she reached up and entwined her fingers with mine. "I believe we met earlier at the arena – right?"

Glancing only briefly at Nikki, I noted the strained smile pinching her otherwise lovely face "Yes I believe we did – It's nice to see you again Mercedes. I didn't realize you would be meeting John here this evening."

I was going to say something about my birthday and such; then make are excuses and head back to where the others were waiting. I never had the chance. Before I could say a single word, Mercedes laughed, "Well I was running a little late, but I couldn't let the champ spend his birthday alone. Besides…" Turning she gave me a soft, shy, blushing smile "I believe you promised me the first dance Mr. Cena. It was nice seeing you again Nikki, but if you will excuse us." Without waiting for an answer, Mercedes took my hand and led us both out onto the nearly empty dance floor.

Taking her in my arms felt as natural as breathing. I was remotely aware of the popular eighties tune playing slowly in the background. At the moment all that mattered was the two of us moving around the floor. The lights above the dance floor were a little brighter, giving me the opportunity to really see her dress. The damned dress clung to her like a second skin. The dark mesh panels caressed both sides of her body like a lover's touch. I quickly looked down taking note of the killer black heels she wore with a glittering little silver ankle bracelet wrapped snugly around her left ankle.

She all but beamed up at me "I'm sorry" she laughed nervously "I hope I didn't interrupt something important back there – it's just that you looked a little uncomfortable. I thought I would try and intervene before things became….well you know sticky."

"You didn't interrupt anything back there. I'm sure Nikki's a sweet girl and all but really not my type."

"Are you sure Champ? I mean you two looked awful cozy to me. I hate to think I broke up a good thing."

Was she serious I wondered? Did she really think that I wanted Nikki Bella? How could I possibly want Nikki when I had more than I could possibly want or need right here right now in my arms. "I'm sure" I replied with a cocky grin.

"Well then…I'm glad I came along when I did. After all what are friends for?"

I said nothing, pulling her a little closer I continued to move us both slowly across the dance floor. "Friends!" my mind screamed in disbelief. How could this beautiful creature think all I wanted was friendship? Sure her friendship and trust were important to me, but how did I convince this beautiful woman that I wanted that and so much more.

Author's Note: I hope that you're all still reading and enjoying! Please, remember good, bad, or indifferent whatever you're thinking right now – please leave it in the box below. Xoxoxox OZ.