Author's Notes: We'd like to thank Laffy.x.Taffy, Jewelgirl04, Takersgurl35, Cena-holic8, Inday and wrestlenascargirl for your great review for chapter eighteen – we're glad you enjoyed the last chapter and we appreciate all the comments.

A quick warning, that this chapter contains content of a sexual nature. If you'd prefer a censored version, please contact myself or Disco Inferno. Thanks.

Chapter Nineteen: No Longer the Need to Dream

It only took about five seconds for Kate to realize that she was naked, outside, cold, and very hung over. Slowly sitting up, she clutched the blanket that was twisted around her body up to her chest but it wouldn't move. Batista was lying on the other half while he hogged the second blanket as well. She rubbed her eyes and glanced around Maddie's tree-house and spotted the empty bottle of tequila. That was full before they had gotten the stupid idea to climb up into the little girl's playhouse that spanned two trees in the backyard. She and Dave had made an exit after everyone had left, hoping that John and Marissa would get a hint if they were out of the house. Driving to Dave's place was out of the question because there were both definitely too inebriated.

The wrestler was snoring and didn't even budge when she reached for his wrist to read the time on his watch. It was barely dawn. Finding her dress, Kate slipped into it and then began shaking Dave to wake him. He ran a hand over his bleary eyes, which shot open when he realized where he was.

"I don't know either," she hoarsely replied to the question in his eyes. He got the hint when she pulled open the trap door and began to carefully climb down the ladder. In a moment, he appeared at the bottom of the trunk dressed only in his trousers. Kate tiptoed through the wet grass and checked the patio door. It was thankfully unlocked and she held it open for Dave.

Two steps into the kitchen, she was bowled over by Xerxes. "Stupid dog," she muttered, picking up his food bowl. She scooped his breakfast out of the twenty pound bag and set it outside on the patio. He licked her face before she could stand back up. Sometimes, she hated the mastiff as much as she loved him. Shutting the door on him, she felt bad for having kept him penned up outside until everyone had left. There was no way she was letting him roam the house with idiots that would probably try to find out if a dog can get drunk off vodka. At a party that she and Austin had thrown years ago, one of the guests had given Xerxes something he couldn't have and the couple spent the night at the vet's, hoping the dog was going to live.

"I'm going back to bed," Kate muttered to Dave, who nodded in agreement. As they passed the doorway to the living room, she caught a shock of red hair out of the corner of her eye. She stepped into the room, kicking fallen decorations out of her way, to find John and Marissa asleep on the sofa. They were still fully clothed but Cena had one arm and one leg draped over the woman, who had her face snuggled into the crook of his neck.

"So much for sleeping on blankets and planks of wood so they can get some," Dave sighed. He simply turned on his heel and headed for the stairs. Kate threw her blanket over the sleeping couple and followed the warm body that was heading for her bed.

Unbeknownst to her best friend, Marissa stirred as she felt the edge of the fleece brush her face. She snuggled closer to John, remembering how he had draped an arm and a leg around her to keep her from falling off the couch. His cologne was still strong where her face was buried. They had collapsed on the couch last night, exhausted and tipsy with no energy to move. They talked for a few minutes about how the party was a success but then both drifted off to sleep, unaware that Dave and Kate had vacated the house to give them complete privacy.

Since it was alright daylight, Marissa had no sense of the time and raised her head enough to see the clock mounted on the wall above the sofa. Usually, she would have been up about thirty minutes ago but then again she didn't usually stay up into all hours of the night drinking. Pulling the blanket up to her chin, she closed her eyes and tried to drift off to sleep, not wanting to disturb their little cocoon where time was standing still and reality wasn't intruding.

But it was no good. She couldn't go back to sleep. She managed to extract herself from John's embrace without waking him up. He was still in his Zorro costume but the hat and mask were on the coffeetable, along with her wig and cape.

She slipped upstairs to jump in and out of the shower and more importantly brush her teeth. The redhead felt a little queasy and had a little trouble walking straight but otherwise she seemed to be fine.

What Marissa really wanted to do was go back to bed but the house was a disaster and she couldn't sleep thinking about all the dirty dishes in the kitchen or the fallen decorations or the haphazard furniture. Plus, she couldn't stop thinking about the man asleep on her couch. If she hadn't woken up in his arms, she wouldn't have believed it. She smiled to herself as she slipped into the kitchen and started coffee to brewing. As quietly as possible, she filled the dishwasher and began bagging up used cups and plates. Hearing a noise in the doorway, her head jerked up.

John Cena stood in the doorway in his sock feet, black trousers, and black shirt, unbuttoned halfway down his chest. Despite the fact that he looked hungover, her breath still caught in her throat. "You are too chipper for this early in the morning, Red," he stated and vigorously ran his hands over his face as if to wake himself up.

"Coffee?" she asked, pouring a cup.

He nodded and took the mug, inhaling its aroma before taking a sip. "What's on today's agenda?" he queried, leaning up against the counter.

She settled beside him, their arms touching. "We have to get this place cleaned up before my parents get home. I have to pick up Maddie by noon and then we have to be on the road less than an hour after that."

"I suppose we should get started. Me and Dave'll have to go back to his place to get our gear for the houseshow. You and Kate riding with us to the show?"

"Uh…well…Yeah, I suppose. I can't speak for Kate though."

"Don't worry," he said with a wide grin and suggestively added, "I think it's gonna be impossible to separate the two of them."

Marissa chuckled but then immediately cut off the giggle. The red crept into her cheeks as she thought of being intimate with John and him standing right there beside her.

"Mind if I shower first?" he asked and her face turned a darker shade of crimson. She could only nod in response. "Are you waking up Kate and Dave or I'm doing it?"

"Maybe it's best if you do it. That way if Dave wakes up grumpy, you can handle him."

"But I bet a pretty woman would be a nicer sight in the morning than me," John replied with a nudge of his elbow. Again, she blushed but then moved away to pour herself some more coffee. She held up the carafe as if asking if he wanted more. He shook his head and set the mug in the sink. "I'm gonna shower. See you in a few," he said and kissed her on the cheek before heading for the stairs.

Kate and Dave grumbled about having to clean up but mainly because both of them had barely slept and were still dealing with the effects of too much alcohol. Even though, they pitched in and the house looked as it did before the party guests had shown up. The last garbage bag was set on the curb as John and Dave pulled out in Dave's BMW and moments before Marissa left to pick up Maddie.

They had only been home about half an hour before Joseph and Glenna Carlson arrived. Marissa's father greeted her with nothing more than the usual. Instead of taking his suitcase straight upstairs, he casually walked through the dining room and living room. Instead of sniping at him like she wanted, the redhead waited for him to finish and then stated, "I hope your vacation went well."

"Yes, it did. Thank you very much." He paused and then continued, "I am impressed that—"

"Grandpa!" Maddie interrupted, launching herself into Joseph's arms. "You're back!"

"Yes, I am, darling," he replied, scooping the little girl up. With Maddie resting on one hip, he turned to his daughter. "Isn't it about time for you to leave? You shouldn't be late on my account."

Marissa managed to hold her jaw closed. If she and Kate didn't need to be leaving in the next few minutes, she honestly would have asked what had gotten into her father. Not that she didn't like it but with the way he was acting, she didn't trust him. Either his holiday had done him a world of good or he was only waiting until the opportune time to viciously attack her.

Shortly after kissing her mother and daughter goodbye, Marissa was being driven by Kate in her Jeep to Dave's house. To spare the redhead any insults from her father, the girls agreed to meet the wrestlers at Dave's and then drive to the show from there.

Even though they were only two hours away from DC, somehow the guys had talked their girlfriends into agreeing to stay over night so they didn't have to drive back so late. Kate figured it was a cop out to get them alone and she didn't care either way. It was the sort of excuse she was looking for. It probably wouldn't matter either way with Marissa. The woman was obviously not above sex—where else did Maddie come from? But since it took John so long to even convince Marissa that he wanted a relationship with her, it would probably take just as long for him to get her in bed. Then again, she had heard the musings of the redhead of what she'd do to John if she ever got her hands on him. But those were simply dreams—she'd probably chicken out.

Even though her job was monotonous, Marissa never tired of it. Each week, three or four times a week it was the same editing machine, eerily similar footage, same cords, same monitors, same black electrical tape… What frustrated her now was that she had to pack it all up before she could see John. He would be showered, changed, and back at the hotel long before she was finished. Somehow, it seemed ridiculously unfair all of a sudden. With a depressed sigh, she dropped a rolled up cable into a bin and latched the lid.

"Hey, sexy," she heard behind her and turned to see John Cena standing where she had been only moments ago. He was wearing his usual blue jeans shorts and a shirt that stretched over his biceps. The WWE Championship belt was over one shoulder and his gym bag was in the other.

"Hi," she squeaked back, blushing.

"C'mere," he said, walking past her to a closed door and opening it.

"What?" she asked as he tossed the gym bag inside and the belt followed.

"Don't ask," he said, his eyes dark and focused intently on her as he reached for her hands.

"I—I…I have to get back."

"Don't worry," John replied, pulling her inside. She glanced around the room, recognizing it as a dressing room, with a vanity and a leather couch. When he turned the dead bolt in place, Marissa took a deep breath. Before she could protest, John crossed the distance between them, running his hands up her jaw and into her hair. "God, I want you. I never thought I'd figure out a way to ditch Kate and Dave. Nobody will find us here."

When his mouth descended on hers, she didn't care anymore that they were in some arena and hiding out in an abandoned dressing room. It was the moment she had been waiting for, had dreamt about it. She eagerly ran her hands up under his shirt, feeling his hard muscles tense beneath her fingertips. He pulled the shirt over his head and reached for her own. She lifted her arms and as soon as she was free of the shirt, she wrapped her arms around his neck, their lips crushed against each other's. Blood coursed through her veins at the feel of his bare skin on hers. Heat was not only pooling between her legs but was radiating between their bodies.

Marissa could wait no more and reached for the button on his jean shorts. "Wait," he whispered, clasping his hands over hers. She quickly looked up at him in confusion. "Sit and close your eyes," he said, nodding towards the couch. She settled on the leather sofa, daintily crossing her legs and placing her hands on her top knee, along with adding a joking smirk.

There was a rustle of clothing and then rapid clicks of metal. Her eyes flew open and John stood before her wearing only the championship belt. Her breath caught in her throat and a seductive smile spread across her face. How could he know that this was her wildest fantasy, her deepest, darkest desire?

Then an image of Kate popped up in front of her face. Kate? What in the world? Marissa shook herself. "Are you daydreaming again?" the brunette asked.

"Yes and you ruined it," she petulantly replied, removing the hand that she had curled up under her chin.

"Thinking about John in just his belt again?"

"H-how did…"

"Please, Cissa," Kate replied with a roll of her eyes. "We've been best friends for over seven years."

"What did you want?" Marissa asked, pushing herself up from the monitor she had been leaning on.

"You know, it's not something you have to fantasize about anymore."

"Seriously, Kate, what did you want?"

"Oh, nothing, really," she said with a dismissive wave of her hand. "I'm gonna bunk with Dave tonight and John needs a place to sleep, so I offered him my bed."

"You what?" Marissa exclaimed. "Wait a minute. Why does John need to stay with me? He has a room of his own."

"It seems there was some mix-up with the rooms and he has to stay with Dave…or you."

"But—"

"You want him to have to sleep in the lobby or beg his way into another room and sleep on the floor?" The redhead clamped her mouth shut and narrowed her eyes. "Good, it's settled," Kate said with a grin. "Just in case you were wondering, I haven't heard anything about Maryse. I don't know if she's here yet."

Marissa nodded. "I suppose she'd have already reported us if she was going to."

"We've already talked about this—she's not going to."

The closer they had gotten to the arena, the more the video tech began to worry. The high of having the woman removed from her home was wearing off. Worry was innately embedded in her personality. It wasn't going to change overnight. She was set somewhat at ease by her friends. If Maryse reported Marissa, she would have to implicate Batista and Cena. An accusation against them would be her death warrant. Even still, Maryse would be drawing more negative attention toward herself. If Kristal could be fired for being whiny, the diva would again be putting herself in danger.

When Maryse did come in, Victoria sent Kate a text message to warn her. The blonde diva said nothing and seemed to be acting no different than usual. The soundgirl already knew she was going to have to come face to face with her because she was on the slate for a tag-team match on the houseshow. Candice Michelle, Melina, and Mickie were in the gorilla position moments before Maryse. The diva glanced at Kate but the brunette pretended to be busy. Then, the girls were bounding their way out of the back.

A couple of matches later, Dave and Kate were caught kissing on her platform but thankfully by John. "I suppose the two of you aren't coming out with us tonight," the Champion asked with a knowing look.

"And I suppose I should probably tell you that we're switching rooms tonight," Kate informed, Dave standing behind her and lightly rubbing her upper arms with his knuckles. John screwed up his forehead. "Well, it's more like you and I switching rooms."

Recognition dawned on Cena's face and he nodded. "Does Marissa know this?"

"Yeah."

"And she's okay with it?" he asked.

Kate ignored him and stated, "You're up…now. Go." He started to reply but his music drowned him out. Taking his cue, he strode for the black curtain. "See you later, babe," she said to Dave, who dropped a kiss on her forehead before taking his place.

"I caught her daydreaming about John wearing the championship belt," Kate said, dropping her suitcase in a corner of Dave and John's hotel room that she had commandeered, "only the belt."

Batista chuckled and then slipped his arms around her waist, asking, "Do you dream of me wearing only the belt?"

Kate threw back her head and laughed. "I don't need to dream. I've got you right here in the flesh and I don't want a belt obstructing my view."

Dave growled low in his throat and began kissing her neck. He then pulled back and asked, "You think we're being too obvious by literally forcing them to spend the night together?"

"Who cares if we're being too obvious?" she replied with a shrug, fingering the collar of his shirt. "They've got to get with the program. John is the only man she has loved since the idiot who fathered Maddie and sometimes I truly think she loves him more than any guy she's ever dated. She hasn't let herself get into an intimate relationship since Maddie and there is a tiger in there, screaming to be let out."

"What do you think they're doing now? Think John's having to convince her to even take her shoes off around him?" Dave asked.

Truth be told, Marissa's shoes were off. She was sitting on the edge of the bed, her feet tucked up under her while she detailed to the Chinese restaurant what she and John wanted delivered to eat. They had decided not to go out after all, given that they were switching rooms. John, on the other hand, was flicking through channels on the television, trying to discern what he should do about that night…act completely innocent, like he didn't want to touch Marissa, to lose himself in her body, or to at least attempt to show her how much he cared.

But then he remembered he had wanted to give her the present he had gotten on their overseas tour. He had forgotten about it with all the chaos at the party and how exhausted they were when it was over. Then to rush around putting the place back in order and the girls chattering non-stop through most of the drive, he just didn't think about it. Now that he was finally alone with her, he could prove to her that what he had said last night was indeed true.

"The food'll be here in about half an hour," Marissa stated, replacing the receiver and then picking up her purse to find some cash.

"I got it," he replied, pulling his wallet out of his back pocket. "How much?"

"You always get it," she said as he laid several bills on the nightstand.

"Yeah, and? I want to spoil you. Speaking of spoiling…" John slipped from the bed and unzipped the pocket on the side of his suitcase. "You've forgotten about your gift."

"Oh," she meekly replied, feeling guilty that she had indeed failed to remember he had mentioned it.

He settled down beside her and she unfolded her legs to place them on the floor. "Here," he said, handing her the flat, rectangular box.

Marissa untied the white ribbon that held the green box together and gently set it aside it. She carefully pried the lid away and removed the tissue paper. The redhead set the tiny box in her lap to lift the pendant from where it was nestled amidst more tissue. It was a Catholic medal and she smiled as she rubbed her thumb over the image of St. Monica, the patron saint of mothers.

"I got it in Rome. It's Saint—"

"Monica," she finished. "St. Augustine's mother."

"You know?" he asked, proud of himself for picking it.

"Yes," she breathlessly replied.

"Turn it over," he encouraged, gesturing for her to do so.

"John, you shouldn't have," she gasped at the inscription. It was her and Maddie's first names in Latin.

"You can read that?"

"Yes," she replied again, not taking her eyes off the medallion. "Did you go to St. Peter's while you were there?"

"That was where I got the idea. We didn't actually go into the church but this really nice lady in the gift shop told me about the saint. I couldn't believe I found the pendant that day."

"I'm so jealous. I shouldn't be, but I am."

"You've never been?" John asked.

"I have but it's so just beautiful," she answered, her grey-green eyes meeting his blue ones. She turned away to her purse and slipped out her rosary. "The only time I've been, I got this. It's gotten me through a lot but I know this will as well," she explained, palming the now warm metal.

He had paid attention to every word she said. It wasn't like with other women he had dated, whose lips flapped and all he watched were their breasts. Or worse, those who talked nonstop about nothing. But he had listened to Marissa when she talked about her faith and this was another way for him to show her that he accepted her for who she was. "I really meant everything I said last night, about you and Maddie. I wanted you to know that."

"Thank you," she whispered and he leaned in softly to kiss her. When he pulled away, she situated the patron medal back in its box and placed it back in her purse with her rosary. She would never be one without the other again.

Shortly thereafter, the take out order arrived, and the couple greedily began eating. Food on the road – in the arena canteen – was never very good, so John and Marissa relished the aromatic flavors of the Chinese meal.

As the redhead poured them both a drink and browsed through the movies that were on TV, the wrestler took the food packaging along the corridor to the rubbish shoot and then returned to the room and sat down besides his girlfriend.

"What are we watching?" he asked, wrapping his arms around her.

"I don't know, to be honest, there's nothing much on," shrugged Marissa, flicking from an action movie to a black and white Western.

"Here, let's just put MTV on in the background then," suggested John, reaching for the remote and changing to the music station.

As Britney Spears' new song started to play, the WWE Champion snuggled closer to the redhead and began trailing hot kisses down her neck.

Marissa was reminded of her earlier fantasy, and she shuddered with desire. Despite imagining being with John for almost the past year, nothing could prepare her for the reality of it.

As Cena's kisses became more fervent, the video tech couldn't help but worry about the implications of being intimate with him. They'd only just begun dating for starters, and that wasn't to mention the fact she'd only ever slept with two people before, and he'd probably slept with countless girls in that time.

However, a big part of Marissa wanted to be close to John in every way possible, and sharing her body and soul with him was an extension of that.

Noticing the redhead's hesitancy, Cena pulled away from where he'd been about to allow his hands to run up her shirt and looked directly into Marissa's grey-green eyes.

"Everything okay, Cissa?" he asked huskily.

"I don't know," she murmured in reply, her head saying one thing, the lust inside her telling her another.

John too felt trepidation in taking this step with Marissa. He'd dated plenty of girls in the past and been intimate with a few of them. However, there had only been one other woman – apart from Marissa – that he'd felt this way about.

"You're worried about taking things to the next step, aren't you?" he asked, knowing the problem because he was feeling the same uncertainty too.

The video tech blushed and nodded, and so the wrestler continued.

"I am too, but we can take things as slowly as you want to, Cissa. I don't want you to feel pressured into anything," he insisted, cupping her face lovingly with his hands. "Here, let me do something for you."

Marissa looked at him cautiously, as John moved across the bed and took the patron medal from her purse. The redhead's eyes grew wide as he unbuttoned her shirt and hung the pendant around her neck so that it nestled between the lace of her bra.

"When I look at you, like this, I see the most caring and beautiful woman I've ever met," he whispered, brushing her lips with his own. "And all I want to do is be closer to you. To feel your skin touching mine, and our hearts beating together."

Marissa murmured something incoherent, as the wrestler's lips descended on hers again. Slowly and gently, John allowed his mouth to trail down the redhead's collarbone and to her breasts. He breathed out at the sight of her almost naked breasts, the material hinting at what it covered. His hands popped open the clasp of her bra and discarded that too, causing the woman to exhale deeply.

Marissa shivered with pleasure, feeling the heat rising in her body and she let her hands run through his hair before he moved down her body, dropping soft kisses on her exposed stomach, causing her to swoon. John returned to her lips once more, this time kissing Marissa more fiercely.

The redhead's mind began to spin as she felt a gentle caresses along her back, and she held the back of his head, forcing his mouth closer to her own and her tongue deeper inside it

Never once letting his mouth leave hers, John let his hands work their way up the Marissa's body. The sensual touch made Marissa prickle with electricity as his fingers caressed her naked skin.

Then he pushed deeper in the kiss, making Marissa's breath catch in her throat.

Again, John broke away from the kiss, trailing his tongue down her body, licking slowly. Marissa swooned as he cupped her breast and took it into her mouth, sucking gently on the nipple until it was hard. Then placing light kisses across the flat part of her chest, he moved towards the other. Marissa's head fell backwards from the pleasure and her eyes rolled back in her head.

As both of their breaths quickened, Marissa tugged on his shirt until that too lay discarded on the floor and then ran her hands longingly over John's hard muscular chest and down his arms, loving the feeling of the taught skin under her fingers.

John exhaled as Marissa kissed his neck and then, slowly, the redhead's hands made their way down to his bellybutton. She opened her eyes and looked at him innocently, as she tugged to loosen his belt and threw it aside. At that moment, John stopped her and asked, "Are you sure you want to do this?"

When Marissa nodded, he undid the buttons to his jeans, and removed the clothing. John let out a deep breath and tightened his embrace on the redhead, pressing his hard chest against her exposed breasts. Then he pulled away from the kiss and worked his hands down Marissa's naked top half. Again, John's mouth covered her breast, licking at the hard nipple.

The redhead let out a moan of pleasure, as, his mouth slowly trailed down to her stomach. Then he carefully tugged at the zipper to her pants and pulled them of too. Marissa smiled at him, as the garment fluttered to the bedroom floor, and then pulled him into another fierce kiss. As their tongues battled for dominance, John gently tugged on Marissa's locks. Finally, stopping for breath, the couple broke apart.

Marissa ran her hands over John's body and already he was sweating and his heart was beating rapidly.

She traced light kisses over his hard muscular chest, stopping when she reached his pecs. Gently she massaged the taught muscle, and felt his heart beat race from the attention.

Then she left her hands slide slowly down the full length of his top half, causing chills of pleasure to run through John's body. Marissa hesitated as she reached the top of his boxers but then began to peel them of his toned legs, gasping as she stripped away his undergarments and delighted to see that he was already hard.

The video tech took his manhood into her mouth and ran her tongue up the length of it. John's body tightened and his hands grabbed her head, forcing it deeper into her mouth. She let her tongue work its way over it before gently pulling away and trailing kisses back up to his neck.

Again, John pulled her into a hungry kiss before breaking away, and looking deeply into her eyes again. "Are you still okay?" he asked huskily.

Marissa nodded and brushed his lips with her own. "Never better," she replied in a lustful whisper.

Carefully, John slid off her panties and kissed her hipbone, which elicited a delighted gasp from the redhead. Then, teasing the woman, he ran his mouth across her thighs until she was virtually begging for more. Slowly, he let his tongue caress the sensitive spot housed in the folds of skin between her legs. Marissa moaned with pleasure and her eyes rolled back into her head, as John's pace quickened and he began to suck on the sensitive area.

Finally, when Marissa thought she could take no more and was about to be overcome with pleasure, he stopped. Their bodies shuddered as John lowered himself on top of her, and finding the redhead ready, he entered her. Marissa moaned as she felt the full hardness of him inside her.

Pushing gently back and forth, John's pace quickened until their bodies were thrusting together in the same passionate rhythm. Marissa wrapped her legs around his waist and her hands ran up and down his back. As his thrusting became harder still, she lovingly caressed his back.

John groaned with pleasure and pushed harder, causing her to cry out his name in delight. Marissa's mind whirled as she felt the excitement building up inside her. John leaned back a little to allow himself access to her quivering breasts, and his hands gripped them passionately, massaging them sensually. Then his mouth covered hers again and his tongue worked its way inside. The redhead's breathing quickened, but her cries were silenced by the kiss.

Then, as Marissa began to reach the climax of her pleasure, she freed herself from the kiss and bit down hard on the sheets, clutched in her hands. However, that didn't stop the screams of ecstasy she uttered as the feeling of release swept over her. A few moments later, John joined her in climax and his body tightened before he finally felt release. He then dropped to his elbows and let his full weight press against her body.

Marissa's breathing shallowed as he rolled them both over onto their sides, then, bodies still intertwined, they held each other as the feelings of pleasure swept through them both. They both opened their eyes at the same time and smiled, before John whispered "I love you."

Marissa's insides melted at the words she'd been longing to hear. Never in her wildest dreams had she imagined this moment would actually happen, and now that it had, she felt like she'd died and gone to heaven.

"I love you too," she murmured in reply, as she allowed her body to curl around his, and they both fell into a contented sleep.

An additional warning (of sorts for you all) there's only one chapter left after this one.