Sheamus was like a man possessed that next morning; Raw morning. He was laying on a weight bench in a gym, ACDC pounding in his ears from his earbuds, as he constantly raised and lowered the considerably heavy barbell over his head again and again. Up and down. Up and down.
It was unknown exactly how many reps he had done. Even he, himself, wasn't really counting. His mind was too focused on the night before and the Elimination Chamber PPV.
He could still see it all, over and over again. And it didn't help that there were now countless videos of the attack on YouTube.
"That's what I do, boy!"
"I'm not waiting until Wrestlemania to get what's mine. Sheamus, I'm coming for that title now."
The Irishman's teeth began to gnash, his anger going up another notch. He pushed through the pain that started burning through his arms, pushed through the rage, as he continued to rapidly raise and lower the bar.
But the flashes kept coming.
Henry attacking him after his victory at Elimination Chamber.
Henry sending him through the barricade at SummerSlam.
"That's what I do!"
It soon got to be too much and he was forced to put the bar back. He sat up, eyes constricted and chest rising and lowering heavily. He yanked the earbuds out of his ears, unable to take the pounding music any longer.
Sheamus turned away, scrubbing his hands over his face again and again in a bid to try and rid the memories from his inner eye.
"Hey, fella." a hand slapped him on the shoulder.
Sheamus suddenly wheeled around, fist raised and ready to strike.
"Whoa!" John Cena took a step back, hands shooting up in mock surrender, "Stand down, Sheamus. Jeez, sorry, I didn't mean to startle you."
Sheamus slowly lowered his fist, his face beginning to redden with embarrassment.
He turned away, shaking his head, "Sorry. Ah didn' hear you come up."
"Not a problem." John murmured, studying him thoughtfully.
The Irishman turned back to find himself being watched, making him feel uncomfortable.
"What?" Sheamus snapped as he rose to his feet and made his way over to a set of dumbbells, "If you've got somethin' to say then just say it all ready."
John watched on as the Celtic Warrior swiftly raised and lowered the weights. He could see tension on the other man's face, as well as the anger in his cold blue eyes.
"Nothing." Cena stated with a casual shrug, "I just always wondered if I would ever look into the eyes of the old Sheamus. You know, the guy who was always burning with rage. The guy who did whatever he wanted because he thought that he could."
The Irishman turned away, scoffing, "Ah'm not that man anymore."
"Aren't you?" John inquired, "Seems to me like he's starting to rear his ginger head."
Sheamus dropped the weights with a 'thud' and spun around, eyes blazing.
John smirked and nodded, "Yep, there he is. Can't say it's good to see him back."
The former champion turned and started to walk away. Sheamus watched after him for a few moments before his shut his eyes, rubbing his hand over his face.
"Oi, Johnny." he called out, opening his eyes and fixing them on his friend.
John turned back around and looked at him expectantly.
"Ah'm sorry, fella." Sheamus extended his hand, "This business wit' Henry's got me vexed."
"Understandable." John nodded, shaking his hand, "So what are you going to do about it?"
"Call him out." the Irishman stated, "Handle me business."
"You sure that's such a good idea, considering what you just went through with Barrett last night?"
"Ah'm not runnin' away from him." Sheamus muttered.
"I didn't say you should." Cena explained, "But I think you need to play this smart. Start thinking with your head and not your heart. Henry's been gone quite a while. He's had time to heal up and rest. You haven't. You go after him now and he'll take that title away from you in a second."
"Look, Ah appreciate the advice." Sheamus told him, "But Ah have to handle this my way."
"I understand." John regarded him evenly, "I just hope you know what you're doing."
"Ah do." Sheamus assured him, the Irishman determined.
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Kimber kicked back in AJ's locker room that night before Raw. She was with the petite Diva, along with Layla and Kaitlyn. The four women were sitting on the floor, eating takeout and gossiping. It was nice just to have some girl time, something she had been deeply missing.
"So how is Sheamus doing, Kimber?" Kaitlyn asked before taking a healthy bite of her burger.
The reporter lowered her fork and sighed, looking down at her spaghetti. She suddenly didn't feel so hungry anymore.
"He's so angry." she looked at each Diva in turn, "And it's completely understandable, I know. But I've never seen him so angry before."
"Well not surprising," Layla said, "Given the history between he and Mark."
"What exactly is the history between them?" Kimber wanted to know, "I mean, I know they had a match at SummerSlam a few years ago and Sheamus lost-"
"Practically got destroyed, you mean." AJ piped up.
Kaitlyn gave her best friend a narrowed look, "AJ!"
"What?" the smaller Diva shrugged, "It's true."
"What happened?" Kimber wanted to know, her concern going up another notch.
"It was an amazing match." Layla explained, "It was anyone's guess as to who was going to win.
"They ended up on the outside, brawling." the British Diva went on, "Then Mark picked Sheamus up and drove them both through the outside barricade."
"Through it." Kaitlyn stressed.
"Oh my God!" Kimber gasped, eyes widening in disbelief.
"None of us could scarcely believe it when Mark got back up." Layla stated, "Let alone get back into the ring."
"Sheamus tried." Kaitlyn added, "He really did. But he just couldn't make the count."
"That's the first time," Layla paused, thoughtful, "The only time, really, that I've ever seen him like that."
"No wonder he's so hell bent on facing him." Kimber closed her eyes and sighed, "I wish he would have told me. I would have understood."
"You know how men are, though." AJ waved a hand at her, "They like to think they're Superman. That they're indestructible."
She made a face, "At least, that's how John is."
She began to grin, eyes going dreamy, "Of course, it does has it's advantages. . ."
The other three looked at her in surprise.
The petite Diva regarded them sheepishly, "Too much information?"
"Oh yeah." Kaitlyn sighed, but then she started giggling.
Kimber and Layla joined in, the reporter feeling a little bit better.
Her laughter died down as she thought back on the matter at hand.
"That was when Henry was going round fighting lesser wrestlers, right?" she inquired.
"Mmm-hmm." Layla nodded, "He was squashing men who clearly had no business in the ring with him. Then he'd turn around and complain about how there was no real competition for him."
"Until Sheamus." Kaitlyn said with a smile.
That got Layla grinning, as well, "Yeah. You see, at the time, Sheamus was starting to turn over a new leaf.
"Oh, he still had his temper," she inserted with a knowing wink, "But he was far from the barbarian he had once been. When Mark had made his little statement-"
"Sheamus set out to prove him wrong." Kimber finished, slowly beginning to smile.
That was just liker her boyfriend. Taking on all comers. It didn't matter how big or strong they were as long as he got a good fight out of them. That was all that really mattered to the Irishman.
But she knew it was different now. It was about more than a good fight. Sheamus was determined to prove that their match at SummerSlam all those years ago had been a fluke. That he could face the massive wrestler and stand strong this time.
She looked down at her container of spaghetti. And suddenly just the sight of it made her sick.
She quickly sat it down and raced into the restroom. The Divas looked at one another in alarm and then collectively cringed when they heard her throwing up.
"She's been doing that a lot lately." Layla mused.
"I know." Kaitlyn agreed, giving the other woman a meaningful look.
The reporter stepped out into the room a short time later, looking tired and more than a little scared.
"I know what you're thinking." she told them as she approached the group and sat back down, "And I've been wondering it, too."
"Have you taken a test?" AJ inquired.
"No, but," Kimber reached over and retrieved her purse, pulling out a small white box, "I bought one a few days ago. I've just been trying to work up the courage to take it."
"No time like the present." Kaitlyn stated.
"We'll be happy to stay here with you while you do." Layla told her with a kind smile, "For moral support."
"Yeah." AJ and Kaitlyn agreed in unison.
Kimber looked at each of them and finally sighed. They were right. Putting it off wasn't going to change the results one way or the other. It had to be done.
"All right." she went to her feet and headed back into the restroom, "I'll go take it."
She emerged a short time later, fidgeting with her fingers as she returned. The Divas looked at her expectantly, all breathless.
"No, no, I have to wait about five minutes to get the results." the reporter stated as she began to pace the room.
There was a long pause, followed by AJ brightly asking, "So have you picked out names yet? Because I think 'AJ' would be good for a boy or a girl."
"Not now, AJ." Kaitlyn sighed to her friend.
"How do you feel about all of this?" Layla asked the reporter.
Kimber finally stopped pacing, looking back at the British Diva hesitantly, "To be honest. . .I don't really know. There is so much to consider."
She glanced down at her clasped hands, going on, "I mean, Sheamus and I haven't been together that long. We only just moved in together."
She glanced up, "I don't even know if he wants children. Especially right now."
"He's so great with them, though!" AJ spoke up, trying to be hopeful.
Kimber gave her a gentle smile, "Yes, he is. He's wonderful with them. But that doesn't necessary mean that he wants them."
She once again glanced down at her hands, "And like I said, that especially means right now."
"What about you, Kimber?" Kaitlyn questioned her, "Do you want them right now?"
The reporter glanced over at her, brows knit. She didn't have time to answer the other woman as the alarm on her cell phone went off, signaling that it was time.
She closed her eyes and let out a sigh. Here goes nothing. . .
She turned and started to make her way into the restroom when AJ hurried over to her and grabbed her hand. Layla took the other while Kaitlyn slipped a hand onto her shoulder. Together the four women approached the sink where the test was laying.
Kimber slowly walked up to it, glanced down nervously.
It was positive.
The reporter felt the air leave her lungs. She felt her knees get weak. Almost in a daze, she turned and made her way back into the locker room and over to a bench. There she sank onto it, staring out over the room with hazy eyes.
The Divas looked at one another, each not sure what to say. Layla was the first to react, coming up behind the reporter and wrapping her arms around her neck, giving her a hug. Absently Kimber's hand came up to pat one of her arms.
"So are you going to go tell Sheamus?" AJ gently asked.
Her question brought the reporter out of her daze. Kimber blinked, glancing over at her for a second before she shook her head.
"Kimber-" Layla began but the reporter cut her off.
"I have an appointment this Friday with my gynecologist." she told her, "I want her to confirm it. I want to be one hundred percent sure. And if I am, then I'll discuss it with Sheamus."
"That's probably best." Kaitlyn spoke up, "To be completely sure. I mean, there is a chance it was a false positive."
"Right." Layla agreed, "There's no need to be worried-or excited-or whatever until you know for sure."
"Yeah." Kimber murmured thoughtfully, "Until I know for sure."
"Until then, mums the word." Layla announced, looking at each Diva.
"Mums the word." AJ repeated, hand raised.
"I won't say anything." Kaitlyn promised.
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Sheamus made his way down to ringside that night, resolved and unwavering. Though he was still sporting the bruises from his bout with Barrett from the night before, nobody could say that he didn't look ready for a fight.
The Irishman climbed into the ring, forgoing his usual greeting to the crowd as he walked across the ring and accepted the microphone from a nervous Justin Roberts.
He paid the man no heed as he returned to the center of the ring and waited for his theme to die out.
Once it did he began to speak, voice low and tone serious, "So last night, at the Elimination Chamber, Ah had a match wit' Wade Barrett for the World Heavyweight Championship."
That garnered cheers from the fans.
"But it was more than a match." the Celtic Warrior went on, "It was an all-out war. Ah mean, we beat lumps out of each other, he and Ah. But at the end of it Ah was still standin', yer World Heavyweight Champion."
Again another round of cheers, some of the fans even beginning to chant his name.
Sheamus continued on, "It should have been a grand moment for me. But it wasn' thanks to one man."
He motioned towards the TitanTron, "Go ahead and show the footage."
He walked over to the ropes and leaned against them, hand scrubbing over his mouth as he watched back on the footage from the night before.
There he was, pounding his chest and celebrating with the fans. Looking tired, but happy.
While he was doing that Mark Henry slipped into the ring. Some of the fans had tried to warn Sheamus, but the Irishman hadn't heard them. He had been too engrossed in his victory to notice. And that had cost him.
As he climbed down from the ropes and turned around he suddenly found himself face-to-face with Henry. The larger man had wasted no time grabbing him and planting him into the mat with the World's Strongest Slam.
"That's what I do, boy!" he announced before giving the crowd a glare and leaving the ring.
The screen went to black but the Celtic Warrior continued to glare up at it. Finally he turned back to face the crowd, face reddening with tightly leashed rage.
"Now Ah can respect you wantin' to go after this title." he stated as he slapped his hand against the belt around his waist, "And Ah can even respect you for wantin' to make a statement.
"But Ah never thought you would attack me when me back was turned." he went on, voice gaining in intensity and volume, "Ah've never been one to back down from a fight. All you had to do was come face me, man-to-man, and Ah'll be more than happy to give you a fight."
"Somebody's gon' get they ass kicked,
Somebody's gon' get their wig split
Somebody's gon' get they ass kicked,
Somebody's gon' get their wig split.
Beat 'em up, beat 'em up,
break his neck, break his neck."
Sheamus threw down the microphone as the World's Strongest Man walked out onto the stage. Mark glared at him as he made his way down, coming to stand before the ring. In his hand was a mic and it appeared the Henry had a few words to say.
"Look at you, tryin' to act tough." Mark began to chuckle coldly up at the Irishman, "Are you forgettin' what I did to you at SummerSlam a few years ago, boy? Are you forgettin' how I planted your ass though that barricade?"
Sheamus reached over and slowly picked up the mic, his eyes constricted as he muttered, "No, Ah haven' forgotten."
He began to smirk, adding, "But evidently you have because yer the one who snuck up and attacked me when my back was turned last night."
He threw the microphone aside, removed the title and laid it on the canvas, and readied himself. He waved the bigger man on, "So come on! Come on, Henry! Come on and fight me! Ah'm right here, fella! Come on! Ah'm beggin' ya!'
Mark glanced down at the ground, contemplating. Suddenly he dropped the mic and slid into the ring.
And Sheamus was automatically on him, driving vicious blows into the other man's back. Mark managed to fight through the attack and rose to his feet, shoving the Irishman back. He added a few punches of his own and soon the brawl was on. The two men brutally attacked one another, shots coming from all angles.
Suddenly Henry shoved Sheamus back into the ropes. Before the Celtic Warrior could defend himself, the World's Strongest Man clotheslined him out of the ring and onto the floor.
He hit the ground with a massive 'thud', teeth grit as pain shot through his body. But Sheamus fought through it, struggling to his feet and ready to take the man on again.
Unfortunately he didn't get the chance as the officials and security came racing down to ringside, holding him back. A few of them slid into the ring and kept Henry back, as well.
"Come on, Sheamus!" Mark yelled down at him, "Come on and face me, boy! Come on, you're such a big man!"
Sheamus tried in vain to get back into the ring but nothing doing. Security held him back, trying to lead him back towards the ramp.
The redheaded man shoved them away, hands raking through his hair as he glared hatefully up at Henry. He once again tried for the other man but was again held back.
Having no choice, he was forced to turn and walk away even though it killed him to do so.
Sheamus stormed to the back. As he made his way through the backstage corridors everyone began to scatter, both crew and wrestlers alike. Nobody wanted to get in the irate Irishman's way.
The Celtic Warrior rounded a corner, eyes wide and wild. He could feel his control slipping through his fingers. He needed to let out the rage, soon, before he combusted.
He spotted a nearby table and stalked over to it. He quickly seized it and, bellowing, flipped it over. It slammed into the floor with ferocious force, the noise causing everyone around him to freeze in alarm.
He glared down at it, chest rising and falling considerably, mouth formed into a snarl. As he looked up he noticed that all around him people were watching him with expressions filled with worry and even a little fear.
He raked his hands through his hair and turned, heading for the sanctuary of his locker room. He needed to get out of there. He needed to get away from everyone and everything.
Kimber, who had been standing back and watching with wide eyes, promptly handed her forgotten microphone to Joel and hurried after him.
"Sheamus!" she called out, but he didn't seem to hear her.
She watched on as he stalked into the locker room, slamming the door closed behind him. She had just reached it and was about to enter when she heard the sounds of yelling and furniture crashing.
The reporter took a shaky step backwards, her hands going to her mouth as she stared at the closed door in horror.
She heard the sound of something like a folding chair hitting the door and she flinched, taking another involuntary step backwards.
After what seemed like a lifetime the noises finally ceased. It was only then that she ventured forward, shaking hand reaching out to grasp the door handle. She eased the door open and peered inside, taking stock of the room.
It was completely wrecked. And while this wasn't the first time she had seen the end result of him trashing a locker room, she had never seen it in such a state of annihilation before.
And there was her boyfriend, back to her as he leaned against a far wall. His hands, closed into fists, were braced against the brick. His back was rising and falling deeply as he breathed heavily and his head was bowed.
The last time she had seen him so incensed was when Bobby had attacked her.
She could hear his harsh breathing from all the way across the room and, more than anything, she felt compelled to go to him.
She made her way across the room, looking up at him in sadness. When she was a few feet from him she reached out and touched his back.
Snarling, the Irishman wheeled on her, fists at the ready.
Kimber cried out in alarm and scurried back, hands raised to protect herself. She was instantly taken back in time to five years ago, when she had faced her first beating at the hands of her ex-boyfriend, Andrew.
The Irishman froze, his eyes beginning to wide as he realized it wasn't Mark behind him. He took in the absolute, abject fear on his girlfriend's face and it made him feel sick.
He shook his head, hands scrubbing over his face before reaching up to grip at his red spikes. He slumped back against the wall and at that moment all the rage left his body, only to be replaced with complete and utter self-loathing and a deep tiredness.
"Kember." he stated, voice hoarse from his yelling coupled with the emotions he was feeling now, "Jaysus, Ah didn' know you were behind me. Ah thought it was Henry. Ah. . .Ah never would have. . ."
He buried his head in his hands, his body trembling with sensations, as he murmured, "Ah'm sorry. Ah'm so sorry, angel. Ah would never. . .God, Ah'm so sorry."
He had never felt so afraid before. If he had lost control, if he hadn't stopped himself in time and had actually struck her. . .
He would never forgive himself. Could never live with himself. Plain and simple.
Kimber stared up at him, blinking back the tears that sprang to her eyes. She could see just how sorry he was, just how much he hated himself and his actions, and her heart broke for him.
She knew he hadn't realized who was behind him. She could tell by the certainty on his face. But the fact remained that she had just gotten up close and personal with his dark side. And, even though not intentional, it had been directed at her. She was still left shaking and even a little afraid.
It was confusing for her, because her fear wasn't of him. She knew he would never willingly hurt her. But the threat had been there and it still left her feeling frightened.
He removed his hands, the limbs falling lifelessly to his sides, as he looked down at her painfully. It was like he expected her to walk out of his life at any second.
It was because of that, that she found herself carefully approaching him. He tensed the closer she drew near and it caused new tears to spring to her eyes.
Without saying a word she wrapped her arms around him and pressed her body against his. She held onto him tightly, practically clinging to him. She was shaking, but then again so was he.
Sheamus couldn't believe what she was doing. How could she after what she had just seen and experienced?! How had he been so lucky as to find such a trusting and forgiving woman?
His arms came around her, slow and gentle, as he drew her closer to his body. He wanted to hold onto her like the lifeline she was for him, but he was afraid to. He was afraid of scaring her again. Or, worst yet, feeling her flinch in his embrace. If she did that, he didn't think his heart would be able to stand it.
"Ah'm sorry." he exhaled painfully as his head slumped back against the wall and his eyes closed tightly shut.
"I know." Kimber murmured against his chest, her hand reaching out to rub the spot over his heart.
But he couldn't see the unnerved expression still on her face.
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Kimber could only look up at her doctor, Dr. Maggie Weaver, in stunned silence that following Friday afternoon.
After a few tense moments the reporter found herself whispering, "Are you sure?"
Dr. Weaver leaned forward in her seat, placing a hand on the shocked woman's arm, "Yes. Kimber, I ran all the preliminary tests. You're pregnant."
Pregnant. . .
The word swirled around in her head like mist. Pregnant. She was pregnant. She was going to have a baby. Sheamus' baby. Her baby. Their baby. . .
Her hand absently went to her still flat stomach. She knew it was silly, but she honestly thought she would have been able to feel the baby.
"Do. . .do you know when it could have happened?" she questioned as her mind began to race.
"Well we'll need to do an ultrasound for that." Dr. Weaver told her, adding with a hopeful smile, "You'll even be able to hear baby's heartbeat."
"Heartbeat. . ." she blinked, coming out of her thoughts, "Yes. Yes, of course."
They wasted no time in doing the ultrasound. Kimber found herself watching in astonishment as Dr. Weaver moved the ultrasound probe over her stomach. It wasn't long before a small blob came into view. Seconds later the sounds of a heartbeat filled the room.
Kimber felt tears prick her eyes at the incredible sound.
"By the looks of it," Dr. Weaver stated, "I would say you're about two months along."
Kimber's wide eyes flew to the other woman's face. Two months along. . .
Ireland.
Sheamus' uncle's cottage.
Their first time together.
The reporter closed her eyes, unable to keep the wryly smile from her lips. Of course it would have been during their first time.
She opened her eyes, the green depths once again going to the monitor. She watched the little spot on the screen in amazement as she blinked back her tears. It was only about 0.7 inches in length but it was there. Their baby.
"Our baby." she murmured as a single tear rolled down her cheek.
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Drama! We like drama, right? Right?! I hope so because you're getting it whether you like it or not. :P
Okay, all you smarties who called it during Luck of the Irish and, again, a couple of chapters ago were right! Good job, guys! :D
I was always planning for Kimber to get pregnant from her and Sheamus' first time together at Uncle Mick's cottage in Ireland. Let it never be said that I don't plan ahead. -_o