SmackDown Taping, 26th May

True to her word, Ambrose did return to sign the contract.

Which perfectly set up the following taping of SmackDown before heading into the Elimination Chamber. While Ary and Stephanie were going over developments in Ary's newly proposed storyline, Colby was getting a fill of his own.

"What do you think about this?" Stephanie asks, handing her a piece of paper. "One of the younger ones came up with it, thought that it would be a good twist."

Ary looks the proposal over, smirk falling across her face and eyebrow raising. "You're okay to go with this?" She asks Stephanie as she looks back at the head of Creative.

Stephanie shoots her a dazzling grin. "I think it'll be great! You've had the little bit with Ambrose and what happens at the Chamber will mean that it's out the door. So, she thought that setting you up like that would go over well with the crowd."

"Huh," Ary purses her lips and nods in approval. "I think it'll work. Is Brock okay with it though?"

"He said as long as you are, he is. Plus, it's only one move."

"True."

Ary hums again flips to the next page. Stephanie watches her with anticipation as she reads the proposed storyline until SummerSlam. "The RAW after Battleground—"

"That's a surprise," she says quickly, grin threatening to split her face in half. "You'll absolutely love it."

"And you're undecided whether it's going to progress as a face storyline?"

At this, Stephanie's smile falters a bit. "We never really know what the WWE Universe is going to react with. Seth's stabbed his brothers in the back multiple times and they might never forgive him for that, and I mean, the last time you were a heel was when you debuted in 2012 and won your first championship, so…"

"I can handle the heat," Ary laughs, handing the papers back to the Creative boss. "The heat's the easy part, y'know, because being hated is very easy. It's keeping the heat that's hard. I mean, they'll get sick of something that's done over and over again, so I have to keep it fresh and constant and strong if they react badly."

"A strong booking as a heel…" Stephanie huffs out a chuckle and takes a sip from the water bottle in front of her. "We'll see."

—

Ary isn't out in the eyes of the WWE Universe until midway through the night. The reception is mixed — a lot of the crowd don't know how to react to Ary becoming cocky, a lot of the crowd still cheer her because of the roll she's playing against Rollins.

But she's not out here tonight to cut a promo or to sit at the commentary table and talk smack. No, she's out here tonight — wrestling shorts, knee high black boots, her fingerless gloves and black tape rolling up her arm.

Since she can't give Paige the one on one match on Sunday, she's offering the next best thing.

Ary stands in the centre of the ring, sways left to right on her feet. The ref's already got her title. Paige is standing in the corner.

She looks at the pale Diva, eyes assessing, and then holds her arms out in a challenge. Paige steps forward until they're inches apart and then, shockingly, Ary reaches a hand out in a sign of respect. The two females share a quick smile. A quick handshake. And then the bell goes.

They lock up, quick to get into the motions of telling their story. Ary shoves Paige back against the ropes to break the hold and then launches at her when she rebounds back. Paige gets right back up, eats another diving clothesline.

The pale Diva retreats into a corner and Ary follows, landing elbow after elbow across her face, yet somehow Paige manages to twist them around and Ary finds her back against the turnbuckle.

There's a fist in her stomach, then another, then another, and the champion keels over as Paige is forced to back away, gasping for the air that was driven from her gut. She doesn't even have time to recover before Paige is back on her, holding the ropes for support as she drives her boot down into Ary's side, over and over until again she's forced to back away.

The Brit yells loudly, screaming 'this is my house!' and the audience scream right back at her. Ary looks up just in time to see a flicker of a smile across her lips.

Paige ducks forward, twists a hand into Ary's black hair and under her arm and tosses her between the top and middle rope, careful to make sure she doesn't fall to the ground. Her head and torso are yanked back into the ring and Paige starts to drive her knee into Ary's chest as many times as she can, the champion's hair flying around her head.

When she backs off, Ary hangs limp against the ropes with a hand to her chest, trying desperately to get air into her lungs.

With a swift movement of limbs and strength, Paige throws Ary into the centre of the ring and goes for a cover. Ary kicks out a one— she may be winded but she's not hurt.

Paige lets out another almighty scream and clasps her hand around the champion's wrist, drags her to her feet only to clothesline her back down. But she doesn't let go. She pulls Ary back up, hits another winding clothesline. Still doesn't let go and hits Ary with a third winding clothesline.

Ary manages to find her footing and pushes up onto her legs, but her balance is immediately gone and she's flat on her back when Paige slams her foot against her chest, executing the single leg dropkick perfectly.

Rolling over onto her stomach, Ary tries to stand once more. She hears the crack of Paige's foot against her chin before she feels the pain and then she's staring up at the spinning lights, extremely disoriented. By the time she realises she's being covered, she barely makes the two and a half.

The ref holds his fingers up in a two above her and the crowd shout the number back at him.

Her legs are being tugged and then she's back in the centre of the ring, Paige staring down at her with a vicious looking smirk. She's preparing for the PTO. Ary flails her legs and arms, finding a new life in her sore torso, manages to kick Paige from her.

When Paige rebounds against the ropes and aims to hit back with another super-kick, Ary rolls out of the way just in time. She launches to her feet and when Paige turns around, hits a chop so loud that the immediate crowd around them gasp in shock.

Paige stumbles back and Ary follows up with another, her face contorting as she throws all of her strength behind it.

The pale Diva makes quick to roll out of the ring and Ary follows her, grabs an arm. She walks across to the turnbuckle and slips into the ring on one side, rolls out the other, and then slams Paige's arm so hard against the post that the Diva is howling in pain.

Ary manages to pull her back inside but doesn't let go of the injured arm. Instead, she holds it out straight and jumps, brings her knees up to her chest and falls back down to the mat, executing a painful double knee arm-breaker on Paige.

In the next couple of seconds, Ary has twisted Paige's hurt arm through hers and locked her legs around the Brit's waist, the kimura lock causing Paige to cry out again in pain.

The ref is in her face, asking if she wants to tap, but Paige is adamant and shakes her head harshly, fights through the pain as she tries to push both of them closer to the ropes. Her Doc Martin's skid along the mat feebly but somehow she makes ground, and soon enough her hand is wrapped around the bottom rope.

Ary waist for the ref to reach the third count before she disentangles herself and rolls away. Her hand is at her chest, caressing the spot where Paige had stomped on her collarbone a bit too harshly, and she watches Paige cautiously.

The Diva is slow to get up, but once she turns around and locks her eyes onto the dark brown of Ary's, she runs forward.

What she's not expecting is a spinebuster.

The breath rushes from Paige's lungs as she hits the mat but Ary doesn't go for a cover. She instead crouches in the centre of the ring and throws her arms out and the crowd cheer for the champion. She waits for Paige to get up and wraps her hands around Paige's arms, plants a foot on her hip for some air and then pulls the Diva down into a reverse codebreaker.

When Paige hits the mat, her back arches in pain. Again, Ary doesn't go for the cover.

She pulls the woman up, wraps her arm around Paige's neck, hand resting at the base of her skull, and runs at the ropes. The finisher is enough to keep Paige down for the three count.

—

"So when were you going to tell me?"

Ary starts at the voice, glances over her shoulder at Randy Orton.

"Huh?"

Randy stares at her with narrowed eyes, but he's got an eyebrow raised and a gentle smirk on his lips. "Colby didn't say a word, but he did take his wrestling gloves off."

"And…?"

"And there was a wedding band on his finger."

Oh. Right. Ary can't fight the smirk crawling across her face and gingerly raises a shoulder in a half-assed shrug. "There's a wedding band on his finger, you're right."

He rolls his eyes and pulls her up into a strong embrace, then pushes her back and gently whacks her arm. "The fuck were you going to tell me?!"

"Ow!" Ary mockingly rubs the limb and rolls her eyes, spinning back around to fling the duffle over her shoulder. "Never, you asshole, not when you keep abusing me."

"Oh, I'm abusing you?" Randy let out a loud laugh. "I'm sorry, who slapped who?"

At the guilty look on Ary's face, Randy threw an arm around her shoulder and started to walk them towards the room where catering was set up.

"I'm a bit insulted I didn't get invited, to be honest."

"Didn't miss out on much," Ary says lowly. "Plus, no one wants a snake at their wedding."

"Everyone wants a snake at their wedding."

"No one even likes you."

Randy gasps, pulls a face as he covers his open mouth with a shaking hand. "How… how could you say such a thing?"

Ary cackles and pokes his ribs. "The truth hurts, vipe-y."

"Sticks and stones may break my bones," Randy starts, and Ary lets out a squeal of glee before joining in, yelling a heartfelt albeit slightly different ending. "But your words?! Fuck your words because I'm the Goddamn president of shit talking and they'll never hurt me!"

The two laugh loudly as they round the corner of catering and Ary's heart jumps into her mouth with the sight she's greeted with.

"SURPRISE!"

"Holy fuckin' shit!" She exclaims and the room breaks into a round of laughter.

Her friends, her work colleagues, people she loves and people she barely knows stand before her with wide grins and happy faces and when Ary locks her eyes on Colby, who's standing right in the middle of the freakin' pack, he looks like the smuggest bastard on the world.

"What the hell?!" Ary yells, smile pulling the corner of her lips up.

Nikki steps out of the crowd with a guilty and proud look on her face, white teeth sparkling brightly. "Consider this the engagement party that you never got, Ary! After everything that's happened, it's only fair that we give you something to smile about again."

Ary laughs and drags a hand down her face. "I love all of you, but you all fuckin' suck."

Again her friends laugh at her, but from where she's standing, she sends a wink to Colby.

This man and his romantic gestures were going to be the death of her.

—

Later that night, Ary is snuggling up against Colby's warm chest, her fingers moving through the soft black hair on his chest.

"Did you enjoy tonight?"

"You suck."

Colby's laugh rumbles through his body. "Just so you know, it was Nikki's idea."

"I don't believe that one bit," she laughs, pressing her lips against his side. "You're too much of a romantic for that to have nothing to do with you."

Colby hums, her husband's chest vibrating beneath her, and then she rolls on top of him, locks her fingers around his wrists and pins them by his head. "The next thing you're going to do is ask me to move in with you."

"You already have a key—"

"Doesn't count."

"—and half of my wardrobe—"

"Nope."

"—and we've already fought about the amount of pillows on the bed."

At this, Ary smirks. "Colby Lopez."

He smiles gently back up at her, interlocks their hands together. "Ary Lopez."

Her lips split in a wide smile and she ducks, presses her lips against his in a short kiss. "I like the sound of that."

"I'm still for naming our kids Seth and Rollins—"

"Shut up," she laughs as she backs away. Ary crouches down on his chest and lets his hands go, folds them under her chin. Her dark eyes are sparkling. "Ask me to move in with you."

Colby snorts. "No way. You're a hippie, a nerd, an actual perfectionist, kinda OCD influenced—"

"Also a great cook, I do all the cleaning without expecting anything back," Ary pauses, tilts her head. "Plus, sex whenever."

At this, Colby's face morphs from unconvinced to a smirk. "Oh, is that right?"

"Yep."

"Anywhere?"

"We can even do it on the kitchen counter."

"Can we invite Jon over after?"

Ary rolls her eyes. "Yes."

"Then Ary Lopez, I'm asking you to move in with me."

"Finally," she sighs as she catches his lips in another kiss. "Can't believe we got married before you asked me to move in."

She can feel Colby chuckle under her and when her eyes open, his grinning like the cheshire cat. "We're married."

"Yes we are."

His eyes slide shut in contentment. "I can call you my wife."

"Oh, my God," Ary laughs. "I can't believe how much of a pansy you are."

"Me?" Colby asks loudly, eyes wide in shock. "A pansy? Who the fuck do you think you are, huh, calling me that?"

Ary rolls her eyes again but goes along with his plan. "Your wife."

"Damn straight," he sighs happily, pulling her down for another kiss. "My wife. How dare my wife call me a pansy? Gotta teach her a lesson now, don't I?"

"Oh?" Ary laughs and sits back up on his chest, stares down at him with darkened eyes. "How you gonna take me down, huh?"

Colby wraps an arm around her waist and flips them, but Ary catches his free arm and locks her legs around her waist, slipping into her submission hold effortlessly. She giggles as he groans a little in pain but as soon as the sound leaves her mouth, his hips grind down into her and she gasps so loudly he chuckles.

"That's not fair!" Ary yells at him. "This is wrestling! Sexual moves are grounds for disqualification, Colby Lopez."

"Yeah, wrestling my ass," he murmurs through a smile. "I'd beat you any day."

He quickly over-powers the hold, locks her hands above her head, but Ary's just as quickly pushed a knee between their bodies so that he can't grind against her anymore.

She grins in success.

"Oh, you think you're so smart, don't you?" Colby teases, locking both of her wrists in one of his hands. He moves the other to her bent knee, trails a calloused hand around the back of her smooth thigh and pushes her leg to the side. "But I'm stronger."

Her legs are spread wide under him and he teases with a little push of his hips against hers, watches as her mouth drops open, eyes almost closed.

"And a fuckin' tease," she manages to push out.

Ary lets out a quiet squeal as he flips her body under his, hips now pressing into the curve of her ass. His rough hands run under her top, lift the material away from her skin, lips pressing into her back. He gently kisses his way up her spine and lets Ary remove her top, and then he's kissing the back of her neck. She lets out a loud moan, sucks in a breath as he bites at her skin and sucks, and turns under his body again.

She presses her lips up into his, lets it go until he presses his tongue against her lip and then sighs into her mouth when she opens it. His tongue slides along hers and her legs secure around his waist and when he grinds until her again, he drinks her desperate plea.

Reaching down with a free hand, Ary slips the briefs from his hips and he pulls back to take hers off, but he pauses when he's at her feet, stares at the woman under him.

"I take you to be my wife," Colby takes a smooth leg into his hand, kisses her ankle and moves slowly up her leg, "my partner in life," he kisses along her calf now, "my one true love."

He moves further up, presses his lips against the crease of her knee. "I will cherish your feet, your calves, your knees, your thighs," he runs his mouth along her thigh, the tickling of his stubble sending a shiver through Ary's body.

"Today, tomorrow, forever." Colby looks up at her with kind brown eyes, the same ones that glint melted chocolate in the right kind of light. "My best friend and true love always. My wife."

"Your wife," Ary murmurs back to him, "needs a dick."

Colby smiles at her and laughs, almost collapsing on top of her. "I'm trying to be—"

"I know."

He moves again, this time pushes inside of Ary gently as she lets out a low moan. His hand pressed into the pillow next to her head, thumb at her chin and pulling her jaw down until he was kissing her.

Pace picking up, their breaths matching in huffs, Colby's strong body above hers and stretching her walls wide, Ary's fit body under his and responding in a way that sent shivers down his spine— they would never get tired of it if they were given the opportunity to.

When they finish, Colby rolls back onto his side of the bed panting, looks up at the roof blissfuly. Ary curls into his side, hand back on his chest and playing with the slightly dampened body hair on his chest.

It's silent apart from their breaths becoming slower and she can see that Colby's almost asleep, but her voice still rings out loud and clear.

"To be honest, my apartment would be the better one to move into."

baddabingbaddaboom, another one done. *wipes dust off shoulder* enjoy the fluffy goodness and some vanilla sex and some banter, and also a match with paige! wo! but WAIT... what's gonna happen at Elimination Chamber? just what has Stephanie planned?!

to my reviewers; Raquel the writer, and married they are! yay!; Bajor10, i love them together too! their relationship is natural to write :)!; and T, im literally barfing rainbows rn after writing that last scene. i might throw in a couple of flashbacks, but i'm not really planning on writing their entire backstory. and unfortunately i won't be doing a roman central fic, but he appears a lot in another one that im writing if you're interested? check out Don't Let Me Drown, the next chapter is from his POV :)

also, SHAMELESS SHOUTOUT TO MY OTHER FICS! Don't Let Me Drown is a new one that is mega!AU and has multiple pairings as well as an OC, Three's a Crowd, Four's a Party is a Shield fic. check them out! also hit me up on twitter (link on profile) and drop a comment for lots of love!
peace xox