Chapter 75: Gratitude

Well a week had passed and Batista and Lauren were able to survive without cancelling the engagement until the next show. The engaged couple rode the limo holding hands to the arena, getting out to loud cheers from the fans, happy to see the two champions. Both of them were all smiles as they posed for pictures and signed autographs for them, finally able to get into the arena to get ready for the show.

Vixen was pumped for her No Disqualifications match against Trish, proving to her and everyone that her being the women's champion wasn't some kind of fluke. Of course that wasn't the only exciting thing happening that night; the final match of the Gold Rush Tournament with Edge going against Kane. Lita told her that Kane was so focused for this match, and really wanted a chance to meet Batista for the title. Both Batista and Vixen hoped that Kane would win, but Edge's winning streak via his suitcase would prove to be difficult. However, Lita volunteered to come down to the ring with Kane to ensure that Edge fought fair. At first, Kane was against it, not wanting her to get hurt.

Though Lita could be very persuasive when she wanted to be, finally getting Kane to agree to let her go. "Good, because I want to be there to see you kick his ass," Lita smirked, Kane returning it and giving her a hot kiss.

"Get a room!" Stacy giggled as Chris chuckled behind her. Both Kane and Lita raised a brow and said they'd see the gang later before running out of the room.

"Damnit now I'm gonna have nightmares," Chris whined, with everyone laughing.

"Well this is fun guys, but I've got something I need to take care of. I'll be right back," Batista said, giving Lauren a quick kiss goodbye before leaving the room.

"What's that all about?" Stacy asked once he was gone. Lauren just smiled and told her it wasn't anything to worry about, knowing exactly what he was going to do.

Then speak of the devil, the camera went to Bischoff talking to Ric Flair, who was telling him to call HHH and have him come back to RAW. Bischoff said he couldn't make HHH come back unless he wanted to, which seemed to upset Ric.

"This is all Batista's fault!" Ric exclaimed.

"You know that's not true," Batista added behind him, surprising the Nature Boy. "It's not my fault, or yours. But that's not what I came here to talk about Ric," he started. "I heard what you did for Lauren last week. How you helped her out when you really didn't have to. I don't think I could have anymore respect for you than I do right now. So there's only one thing for me to say...WOOOOO!" Batista chuckled, causing a very moved Ric to join in, showing him how to do it right.

Lauren smiled and almost cried at the scene that unfolded before her, Now that's what I'm talking about! Of course Chris and Stacy were confused as hell, leaving Lauren to tell them what had happened at the mall. When she was finished, both of them had very surprised looks on their faces, "I know, me too."

Batista returned with a great smile on his face, and saw one on Lauren's too as she stood up and gave him a kiss. "I think you're right about what you said before," he told her. Lauren simply nodded and told him that they should watch Ric's match.

Benoit and Stacy had to leave to prepare for their different matches. Lauren laid against Batista's chest and watched Flair's match against Christian with Tomko following him. The match in itself was a good one, with Flair getting the pin, despite using his usual cheating ways. Both Batista and Lauren seemed happy about it, until they both double-teamed him. Batista jumped up, ready to go out there, but for some reason hesitated.

"Batista, you know you have to help him. At the very least think of it as a way of thanking him for helping me," Lauren told him. Batista didn't need to hear anymore and ran to help his longtime friend. Lauren watched on the monitor to see Batista running down the ring and clearing the ring of Christian and Tomko. Once they were gone, Batista helped Ric up and gave him a look of respect before getting out of the ring. Ric smiled at him as he walked up the ramp backstage.

Lauren cheered, before looking at her watch and realized that she needed to get ready for her title match against Trish. As the time drew nearer, she had to admit, she was a bit nervous. This wasn't just a regular "Give Trish An Ass Beating" type of match, but a title match. As she was changing Lauren lifted her title, seeing her name in gold, making her smirk. "I don't care what it takes, but I'm keeping this title." Lauren said to herself.

Once she was finished she looked to the monitor to see Edge threatening Lita. Lauren wasn't the least bit surprised to see Kane coming to her rescue, making both her and Lita smirk at the terrified face of Edge. Batista walked in with a smile on his face at what had occurred with Ric Flair, making Lauren smile also.

"That felt good," he said chuckling.

"Well I have to say you looked good," Lauren replied with a wink. Batista got a good look at her outfit, with a strapless black shirt that was tied together with white ribbon on each side, with the white skirt and black bow on the hip.

"Very nice," Batista smirked, taking her hand and spinning her around to get a good look.

"Why thank you," Vixen giggled, looking down at her watch to see that her match was next. "I've gotta get going, but I'll see you after the match."

"You mean after you win?" Batista asked raising a brow.

"Of course," Vixen added giving him a kiss on the lips before grabbing her title and heading to the curtain. Vixen had her game face as she got closer to the curtain, knowing that tonight she couldn't play around. No Disqualifications meant a lot of things could happen both for and against her. Her title shifted on her shoulder, making Vixen remember just what exactly she was fighting for. I'm not going to lose this title, not to her. As long as there is breath in me, Trish Stratus will not become the Women's Champion by winning it from me. She was now at the curtain, and Trish's music was already playing. Vixen closed her eyes, waiting for her own to blast through the speakers. As soon as 'Where Will You Go' by Evanescence started playing, Vixen was more pumped than before to start this match.

Her stride was full of confidence as she walked to the ring, with Trish glaring at her the entire time. Vixen slipped through the ropes and jumped onto the turnbuckle to show the audience the title she planned on keeping. Once she stepped down, the referee took it from her hands. That was a feeling Vixen didn't like at all, and knew she'd have to give it everything she had.

The referee raised it high, as Lillian announced it as No Disqualifications match for the title. Trish and Vixen both watched the belt be placed outside the ring. Looking into Trish's eyes, Vixen realized that Trish would do absolutely anything to get it back, just as Vixen would do anything to keep it. As soon as the bell rang, they charged each other, ready to have some gold around their waist by the end of the night.

A/N: Vixen is gonna fight for her title! But will she win? Dun dun dun. I hope you enjoyed it:)