Disclaimer: I own nothing related to the WWE or its superstars.

The Next Night

I shared a cab with Natalya and Beth to the hotel following a house show. Natalya in her typical fashion decided that we needed to have a girls night. She insisted on me coming over, in my pajamas. I felt like I was in middle school on my way to a sleep over except instead of a sleeping bag, I brought vodka for cosmopolitans. I knocked on the door.

"Finally!" Nattie squealed excitedly.

"We literally have been apart 10 minutes!"

"I know but I'm just so excited!"

"She has been bouncing off the wall about this," Beth chimed in unenthusiastically.

"We have all just been so busy and having had a night like this in awhile. Is it too much to get excited to spend some time with my besties?" Natalya said cheerfully.

"Nope, but I am strongly going to suggest somebody starts making the cosmos so I can reach your level of excitement," I said jokingly holding up the bottle of vodka. Beth took the bottle.

"I got this!" She said laughing. I sat down on the bed and got comfortable as Beth made the first round. Nattie looked like she was going to burst.

"What is the matter with you?" I said in the sweetest way possible.

"I just have to get the dirt."

"What dirt?"

"On hottie husband and hottie boy toy of course!" I rolled my eyes an laughed.

"Oh, THAT dirt," I said coyly.

"Seriously, she has been talking my ear off about it all day today and all last night. So please humor her and fill her in. Don't get me wrong, I'm curious about it to, but she is going to explode!" Beth said smiling and shaking her head.

"Which one first?"

"Ummmm hottie boy toy!" She said excitedly.

"There isn't much to report there, just that I stayed at his parents house in Ohio as his fake girlfriend."

"Did you guys share a bed? Did anything happen?" She shot off quickly.

"Yes, we shared a room," I laughed. "No sexy time! Although he did see me in my underwear and we ended up in some compromising positions."

"Oh my god! How have you guys not done it!" Nattie chided.

"There was a kiss…"

"What?" Nattie and Beth said in unison.

"It was for business, not pleasure! His Dad wanted him to give me a proper goodbye kiss."

"How was it?" Beth said curiously.

"Amazing actually. He is a great kisser."

"Finally, Newbie," she said laughing.

"Now tell us about hottie husband. Don't think we didn't see what was going on out there in that ring yesterday, speaking of kisses."

"Yeah, well…we were told to act like a couple essentially. It was weird but fine. We have known each other so long there is a sense of familiarity there, so in a bizarre way it's a comfortable norm to act that way."

"So what happened that caused the fight backstage?" Natalya asked nosily.

"Well the kiss was an ad lib on his part. He caught me off guard and I got pissed. Considering our history, I feel like stuff like that should have been run by me."

"The kiss was kinda hot though," Beth said with a smile.

"Now I need to know, why were hottie husband and hottie boy toy bickering yesterday? There are a lot of rumors going around…" Natalya asked curiously.

"Well they don't like each other. I was talking to Zack and Dolph kind of made a comment about how Zack blew it with me…"

"So they were essentially fighting over you, like marking territory!" Natalya yelled excitedly.

"Oh my god, he really is jealous, Newbie!" Beth said excitedly.

"No way, he is just protective of me!" I argued. The girls began to laugh. "What?"

"Oh, come on! The sexual tension practically pours off of the two of you," Natalya squealed.

"Yeah, she's right. You two are just so far in denial."

"Well, you guys just don't know!" I pouted. "I have a bizarre relationship with both of them so it's all kinds of complicated."

"So, both Zack and Dolph are drowning. You can only save one, who do you save?" Beth asked inquisitively.

"What kind of question is that? One is my husband and one is my best friend…"

"Oh, I think I know! You'd save hottie boy toy! Wait, no Zack….well, what is it?" Natalya chirped excitedly.

"I don't know….Can we…can we just talk about something else!" I begged.

They relented and finally changed the subject. The drinks continued to flow, as did the conversation. Soon enough I was more than a little tipsy.

"OMG GUYS!" I said loudly drunk girl style. "IT IS SOOOO LATE! I'M GOING HOME TO SLEEP!"

"OKAY, DO YOU WANT ME TO WALK YOU?" Beth said back just as loudly.

"NO. I'm gonna get there, like fine. Don't even like worry."

I grabbed my bag and walked into the hall in my little black silk nightie. I walked down the hall to the elevator and pushed the button. In my intoxicated impatience I started to dig around in my bag for my phone. The elevator panged and the doors opened. I boarded and hit what I thought was my floor. I got off on the second floor and two steps into the hallway, I accidentally dumped my bags contents all over the floor.

"Shit, shit shit," I said quietly to myself. I knelt down on the floor to gather my belongings when I saw a pair of feet.

"Need help?" I looked up.

"Oh my god. Heeeey Zack. I'm just- just clumsy today." He smiled.

"I think you are a little drunk today." He said gently as he began picking up my things.

"No, I'm just really sleepy." He stopped and looked at me.

"Kelsey, you are on the ground cleaning up the contents of your purse in a tiny silk nightie. I think you are a little intoxicated." He teased.

"Oh fine. I was at ladies night!" I said excitedly and a little loud. We both stood up. I wobbled and he stabilized me.

"How about I walk you to your room?" He suggested.

"Okay."

"What is your room number?"

"Ummm….I am not really sure." I reached in my bag to look at my check in papers. "I guess I'm in room 318." He began to laugh. "What are you laughing at Mr. Ryder!"

"Honey, you aren't even on the right floor."

"Oops!" I said embarrassed. "Good thing I ran into you then! I woulda been looking for awhile!" He chuckled and began walking me to the elevator and pushed the correct button. Once I reached my room he used the key for me to get in.

"Thanks for walking me. Now if you excuse me I'm pretty sure I have to barf." I turned and walked into the bathroom. I began to get sick. I heard footsteps.

"Aww Kels." He pulled my hair back out of my face.

"You don't have to stay, Zack. I can barf alone." I threw up again. He rubbed my back.

"I'm just making sure you are alright."

"You don't need to baby-sit me, I'm not your responsibility."

"Technically, you are my wife so you are my responsibility," he countered.

"I'm not sure whether that was a good point or if I'm just too drunk to find a flaw in it, but touché sir." He shook his head smirking.

I threw up a few more times before standing up.

"I think I'm all done." he laughed.

"Just like that you just decided you are done puking?"

"Yep," I said meekly. "I'm going to change into new pajamas."

"I can get them for you. Where are they?"

"Folded on my bed." He returned with them after a few seconds.

"Seriously? You wear a Dolph Ziggler shirt to bed?" He scoffed.

"Well yeah! I love Dolph and the shirt is adorable!" He rolled his eyes. "Why do you seem to hate him so much?"

"It's not that I hate him, I just don't trust the guy. I don't think you should either."

"You just don't know him like I do Zack."

"I'm sure I don't," He said with an attitude.

"You are a negative Nancy!" He laughed, handed me the pajamas, and left the bathroom to let me change. I walked uneasily out of the bathroom and over to the bed. He tucked me in. I saw him look disdainfully at the picture that Dolph gave me of the both of us. This shifted to a look of sadness. I heard him sigh.

"Goodnight Kelsey."

"Night Zack," I mumbled as I drifted off into a deep sleep.

The next morning

I woke up with a pounding headache. Ugh what a horrible way to start the day. I stretched out. I looked over to my nightstand. On it was a glass of water and two aspirin. Thank god! Well, actually, thank Zack. I took the pills and like clockwork I heard a knock on my door. It was Zack.

"Hey Zack," I said groggily.

"Hey, Sorry to just drop by but I wanted to make sure you were doing okay this morning. I also brought you something to eat." He handed me a coffee and a bag. I looked inside.

"Cream filled donuts! I haven't had one in forever! Thank you," I said smiling.

"Your welcome. I also came to ask you something."

"Uh oh, what is it?"

"Nothing bad, I was just wondering if you would be on an episode or two of my you tube show?" He said hopefully.

"I don't see why not?" His face filled with a smile.

"Yes! I just thought it would help our storyline. I mean, realistically my family and friends are on it so it would only make sense that my wife would be."

"You make good points, I'm sold." he laughed. "So when do you need me to film?"

"How about tomorrow afternoon?"

"Sounds good." He left me to my delicious sugary treats.

I devoured the donuts and the coffee rather quickly. It was then that it hit me. His father films with Zack A LOT. Crap! I love his Dad, he is awesome but I hadn't seem him much over the last four years. He was upset with me for not chasing after Zack, to get him to come home. Tomorrow was sure going to be interesting.

My phone began buzzing. I jumped off my bed and scambled around in my purse to locate the phone.

"Hello?"

"Hey Kelsey, this is Jill from the creative team. We were hoping you could meet with us this afternoon, 3 o'clock?"

"Yeah absolutely."

"Great. I'll text you the location in a bit."

"Okay, thanks." I hung up. Great, every time I get reached by creative, stuff just gets weirder. I tried to shake of my anxiousness regarding the meeting and jumped into the shower.

I quickly walked into the building, I was already running late for this meeting. I found the room and stopped outside the door to adjust my blazer and hair. I took a breath and walked in. There were five people sitting at a table, including Zack.

"Well, nice of you to join us Mrs. Ryder," a man I'd never met before said sarcastically.

"Sorry, I ran into some difficulties this afternoon, and I go by my maiden name now."

"Oh, I'm sorry Miss-"

"Crawford, Kelsey Crawford." I saw Zack wince at me being called by my maiden name, Zack hadn't heard me called that since before we were married. He probably didn't know I legally changed my name back after he'd left and I finally decided he probably wasn't coming back.

"Of course. Why don't you sit down next to your husband and we can get started." I looked over to the table where Zack and the few other people from creative were sitting. I promptly took my seat.

"I didn't know you were coming?" I whispered. He just shrugged.

"So first we wanted to thank you guys for being so great about working together even though it was a bit awkward personally I'm sure. Pairing you two together has really done well for ratings and among the fans so far. So for the mean time we are keeping you together. We are interested in entering you guys into the title picture." I perked up at the mentioning of titles.

"So we are getting titles?" Zack asked excitedly.

"Not necessarily. You will be getting title shots though. We basically want to continue pushing you guys as a golden couple so to speak. Since turning Kelsey baby face the fans have really gotten behind you two." There was a knock on the door. Jack Swagger and Dolph Ziggler walked in. Dolph smiled as soon as he saw me.

"Sit down guys," a woman at the table said gesturing to the empty chairs.

"You three, Dolph, Jack, and Zack are going to be the ones in the game for the U.S Championship. Obviously Jack, you are the current holder, and Dolph and Zack will be promptly coming after you."

"What's my role in all of this?" I asked curiously. Suddenly I wasn't sure why I would be invited to this meeting with the guys.

"Well Kelsey, being Zack's wife and manager at this point we want to involve you in the storyline. We aren't exactly sure what that entails yet, we are still throwing around some ideas but you will be involved when the storyline starts after the next show." The meeting lasted another 15 minutes or so.

I left the meeting feeling excitement, nervousness, a cocktail of emotions really. On one hand I got a title shot coming, possible title reign, and I would get a chance to work with Dolph. On the other hand, I wasn't sure how I'd be used in the storyline, and Dolph working with Zack was going to be messy. I was so caught up in my thoughts that I didn't notice Dolph approach me.

"Hey Kelsey," He grinned as I jumped. "You sure were spacing out."

"Yeah, I'm a little tired, a little in shock."

"Shocked that you are going to be fortunate enough to work with the show off?" He said flexing his muscles. I bust out laughing.

"Oh absolutely," I replied sarcastically, "but also since I am getting a title shot! It's just surreal. I haven't been with the company that long."

"Well obviously you are good, the fans like you, and you have won just about every match you have been in and you have been at least eight matches. You deserve it."

"You're right, I am awesome."

"I didn't use the word awesome!"

"But it was implied!" We both started laughing.

Thank you guys for reading. Please review to let me know what you think. =]