a/n Tessa is from Fade to Black.
What if Tessa had never cheated on Rami?
She doesn't want to wait for the perfect time to make her appearance known but she knows that she has to. She doesn't want to take away from the moment – he's just won the NXT Championship and the moment is far more about him than it is about her so she doesn't want to make her debut too big a deal. He doesn't even know that she's backstage so it's likely that, should he spot her walking down the ramp, he's going to draw attention to her and away from himself.
Half the NXT Roster walks past her as they make their way to the ring and more than one of them double takes – he isn't the only person who hasn't heard she's in town – but no conversation is made because their new champion deserves a celebration.
Kevin hangs back with her – he was one of the main components in her being backstage without her boyfriend knowing – because everybody knows and has told him many times that his presence is worthy of an individual entrance because not only is the man in the ring his best friend but because everyone is anxiously awaiting the two of them being in the same vicinity.
"I really shouldn't be surprised that you're crying," he says with a kind smile as he pulls her into a hug.
"I can't help it," she says into his chest, smiling and laughing as she does so. "I always do this."
"I know you do, ma chérie."
He releases her from the hug and offers her a gentle smile when he's told to walk through the curtain and her attention turns to the monitor where the champion is being hoisted into the air on the shoulders of his friends.
When she's told that it's time for her to walk to the ring, she carefully wipes the tears from her face and holds the curtain out of her way.
Only a few people in the crowd notice her presence which is exactly what she wants. He's in the ring with his back to her, hugging Bayley and receiving words of praise from people he had wrestled with on the independents. The moment she's standing on the apron, Solomon Crowe is holding the ropes apart for her and that is enough to get the champion's attention.
His eyes widen and he freezes in place though it doesn't matter because she is soon walking towards him with small yet quick steps and wrapping her arms around his neck.
"I am so, so proud of you," she whispers into his ear before leaning back to kiss him repeatedly on the lips.
"Tessa, what are you doing here?" he asks, one arm snaking around her waist to hold her tightly and the other holding the NXT Championship at his side.
"I promised, Rami," she says with a broad, eye crinkling smile. "I told you years ago that I was never going to miss a title win."
Rami kisses her, forgetting that they are surrounded not only by his friends and co-workers but also by a crowd of people he has never met. Tessa's not fussed by it either and her usual shyness about public displays of affection is thrown out the window as she kisses him back – tongue and all.
The roster dissipates, making their way backstage, leaving Rami and Tessa – Sami Zayn and June Jacobs – in the ring together. Tessa stands back, allowing Rami to interact with the fans and really take in what has just happened.
When he sits on the apron and stares down at the belt, Tessa stands next to him until Kevin returns from backstage. She has no problem walking up the ramp and allowing them to hug it out and share words of encouragement and congratulations with each other because she knows that her time with Rami will come.
Just as she has been told to do, she stops at the top of the ramp and watches the friends – the brothers. She hasn't stopped smiling and that doesn't change at the sight of two best friends, who have fought their absolute hardest to make their dreams come true, walking towards her one step closer to being on the main WWE roster.
It's expected – earlier in the day she had been briefed about the direction the celebration was going to take – but when Kevin forces Rami – Sami – back onto the steel ramp by the throat her reaction is far from fake. She's seen the two fight before and they've been brutal in the past but never has she been so close to the scene.
She closes her eyes and gasps when Kevin sets up a powerbomb and cringes when the crowd collectively groans. Her instructions regarding the moment were 'just do whatever you would do if this were real' and all she can think to do is stand at the top of the ramp and watch Kevin, with tears in her eyes, as he walks towards her.
Regal has met Kevin halfway up the ramp but is completely ignored – she is, too, when Kevin reaches her. Tessa doesn't move at all as Regal hovers over Rami – Sami – and calls out for a doctor.
It's too real, she decides. Nine years she has been in the business and she's been around it for longer than that and it never gets any easier. It's always too real.
Rami's sitting up on one of the tables after getting checked out – a photo has been taken of him lying on a stretcher but it's just for show – and Tessa is sitting off to the side, barely listening in. Triple H is there, congratulating Rami on a job well done and commenting on how the future of the company – even the business – is set with people like Sami Zayn leading the charge, and Tessa wishes that she looked more attentive. It's just that she knows better than to get in the way of the doctors, she knows better than to get in the way of the boss.
Rami looks her way and smiles at her sweetly, she returns the gesture without hesitation, and he beckons her over. She glances between Triple H and the doctor, the latter backs away while the former stands in place, before she stands up and moves to stand beside her boyfriend.
"I think you have some explaining to do," Rami says, clearly sore and exhausted, as he puts his arm around Tessa's back and pulls her closer by her hip.
"I may or may not have signed a contract before the show started."
"One of the more successful secrets we've had in recent memory," Triple H adds. "Don't be upset with her for not telling you, I wanted it to be a huge surprise when she walked out there tonight."
"It was a surprise alright. I thought you were in Japan."
Tessa shrugs and leans in closer to him – it has been a long time since she last cared about hugging anybody covered in sweat. Japan was good – great – but there's no place in the world she would rather be than beside him.
"I like it better here," she tells him softly.
It's not long before she's told to take good care of him and make sure that he gets a significant amount of rest before the taping and they are allowed to leave.
They're sitting in Rami's car – Tessa deciding that its best if she drives – waiting for everybody else to leave the lot when she finds his gaze lingering on her.
"I am real," she reminds me, reaching her hand to his to make sure that he knows. "I'm not going to disappear if you look away."
"Do you know how good it is to be able to look at you in person?"
"It probably feels the same as being able to look at you."
It's been three years since she took the job with JWP and moved over to Japan full time. It's not that she regrets taking the job – to say that would be ungrateful for the opportunity – it's just that she hates that she's spent so much time away from the people she loves. It's not just Rami; it's her family, it's her friends.
She doesn't mind that he continues to stare at her as she drives to his house. He doesn't speak except for the few directions he gives. The silence is comfortable, both just enjoying being near each other. She knows that most people in this situation would be so overcome with sexual tension that they couldn't get back to their house quick enough – Tessa isn't too concerned by it. It will happen, for sure, but it won't be as soon as they're inside. They'll eat dinner, maybe watch a movie and just hold each other, content with just being together.
After she stops the car in the driveway, she shifts so that her entire body is facing him and she smiles softly.
"Are you ready to go home?" he asks and her insides melt as she realises she's finally going home.
She's going to be able to unpack her suitcases, have Alex ship over all of her belongings and stay put in Florida without having to worry about flying back to Tokyo after a week.
They get out of the car and begin unloading the trunk, Rami sending her innocent winks and pretending to struggle under the weight of her bags.
"Mum told me the other day that if you don't propose to me soon she's going to by the ring for you," Tessa says.
The topic is hardly unusual for them – they talk about marriage so frequently that they might as well already be wed – so she isn't worried about any awkwardness her statement might bring. After 7 years of being together there was nothing – if anything – that could result in an awkward moment between them.
"I already bought a ring so you should tell her not to waste her money."
Tessa stops directly in front of the door with a raised eyebrow but he pays her no attention. He reaches around her to push his key into the lock, pretending that he hasn't said anything life changing.
"Rami," Tessa says softly, her heart pounding a little quicker as she turns around and stands in the doorway.
"Oui?" he asks, stepping towards her and reaching up to brush the back of his hand against her cheek. "Have I told you how good you look tonight?"