Chapter 23: Epilogue

The Royal Rumble was always Becky's favorite. Watching it with her brother back in Ireland, it was her favorite way to start the New Year. This year, she had found a corner backstage to compose herself, it would be starting in an hour and they were set to open. Hunter came by to wish her luck, so did a couple of the suits, but her fellow competitors generally knew to leave someone alone when they were about to have the biggest match of their career. Alexa walked passed, and locked eyes with her momentarily. She was clearly disappointed that she hadn't been the one to win the contendership, but didn't say anything. Finally Sasha came by, her title on her shoulder and an oversized sweatshirt over her gear, and leaned up against the wall next to Becky.

"I just want you to know, tonight when everything is said and done, I'm still going to be your best friend. And I really hope you'll do the same for me."

Becky looked over at her and smiled, "sure, but I'm a be the Women's Champion and your best friend."

They both laughed, "alright, alright. We'll see who's the better woman in that ring tonight."

"Yeah, we will."

"Hey. How're you? I know it's been easier to stay away from each other while this is happening, but I still care."

"I'm okay, Finn hasn't let The Demon get within 10 feet of me but,"

"Sorry."

"Needed to be done. Hey speak of devil."

Finn walked out of the designated interview room in his gear and open leather jacket. She'd seen him get called in to cut a promo on AJ Styles on the pre-show. Either he hadn't seen her, or hadn't stopped to say hello. He saw both of them looking over as he emerged.

"Hey!" he said with surprise, "How, how's it goin'?"

"Good," Becky felt her face flushing. "Yeah, it's good, Sasha here was just talking some smack."

"Wouldn't expect anythin' less. Heh. When are you guys up?"

"First."

"Oh! Great! Good luck, both of you."

"Thanks, Finn," Sasha smiled, "Enjoying being back?"

"Yeah, yeah, it's great. I've missed it so much."

"Aw, good."

"I'll, uh, let you two get ready then," he made eye contact with Becky and then looked away sheepishly before walking off.

"Wow," Sasha said.

"Yeah, I know."

"Has it been that awkward since he found out?"

"Some days more than others," she shrugged. "He's been a little conflicted. Goes between being' real upset about the whole thing, and smoldering stares and… that."

"I thought you guys started to work things out?"

"We did, but Finn's slow with that kind of thing. He needs to feel whatever he's feeling, and I have to just wait."

"He'll get there."

"Thanks, Sash."

"Becky, Sasha, positions," one of the crew members called to them and Sasha unzipped her sweatshirt.

"Team Bae forever?" Sasha asked as they walked up to the curtain.

"Let's go show 'em how it's done." Becky smiled, and took a deep breath as her music begun.

Sasha came out after her, holding the title up in the air and beaming. The bell rang, they locked up, but the rest was a blur. It was a rough fight, she could tell that much, but something with them was clicking in a way it hadn't before. She didn't know how long it had been, maybe two minutes, maybe twenty, but the crowd was on their feet as Becky got in a major suplex, throwing Sasha clear across the ring. Somehow, she got in position for the Dis-Arm-Her, and heard the bell ringing. She let go and got to her feet, hearing her music hitting and her vision going blurry from tears. The ref handed her the red belt and lifted her hand in the air. She looked over at Sasha, who had made it to her feet, holding her arm and wincing. They looked at each other for a moment, both crying, and finally Sasha pulled her into a hug.

"You earned that," she shouted over the sound of the arena, "but I'm comin' back."

They both laughed and Sasha lifted her arm to cheers. As she emerged from the other side of the curtain, Hunter and Shane were waiting to congratulate her, Bayley and Charlotte right behind them. Finally, as she made it passed them, she found Finn, standing quietly by himself.

"Ya did it," he smiled, and unable to control herself, she flung her arms around him. He squeezed her tightly, and kissed the crown of her forehead. "I knew you could."

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"We're celebrating tonight, right?" Xavier asked as she and Sasha caught up to him and the rest of the boys.

"Champ buys," Sasha said, smirking.

"I'm exhausted, but maybe," Becky said, rolling her neck. "What did you do to my neck Sasha?"

"Oops."

They waved goodbye to the guys and climbed into Becky's rental car. Her phone dinged on the way to the hotel.

"Can you check that for me?"

"Yeah," Sasha put down her own and picked up Becky's from the cup holder. "Oh."

"What?"

"It's Finn, he asked you to come by his room before you go downstairs."

"Oh… he probably uh…"

"Wants to…" Sasha said in a sing song voice, raising her eyebrows.

"Stop."

"Celebrate?" she asked, grinning.

They pulled into the hotel and pulled their bags from the back.

"Here I'll take yours. Go meet Finn." There was still a bit of disappointment behind her eyes, but she smiled at Becky.

"Yeah, I jus'," she tried to inconspicuously pull the new title off of the top of her stuff. Sasha rolled her eyes, but didn't say anything as they walked into the hotel lobby.

"Have fun," Sasha smirked as she got off on her floor.

Becky knocked on his door to Finn's toothy smile.

"Hey! Uh, that looks good on you." He nodded to the title as she placed it carefully on his nightstand. "You were great out there, I hope ya know that. That was the best I've ever seen you, and that wasn't a low bar."

"Ya asked me up here to say congratulations?"

"Nah, I," he sat down on the edge of his bed. "I'm not tryin' to spoil your night, really. I jus'… hate things bein' awkward between us."

She sat down next to him. "I second that. You're givin' me whip lash."

"I'm sorry. Should we jus' make a call here?"

"You know what call I'd make," she said, moving closer to him. "I wanna be with you Finn."

"I know."

"You're the only one I want."

"An' is that the only thing that's gonna make you happy?"

She was silent for a minute, and then spoke softly. "I am never gonna walk away from you. If I had my choice, I'd pick your love over your friendship every time. But if I couldn't have that, I'd pick your friendship over nothin' every time all the same."

"I'd pick your friendship over nothin' too,"

"An' my love? Where do you pick that?"

"I... don't know."

"O' course." She flung herself back on the bed and looked up at the ceiling. "O' course you don't know."

"Bex," he moved next to her on his stomach, "I am what I am. If you can't accept that, this definitely is never gonna work."

"Regimented, disciplined, focused, I know. I've heard the speech."

"An' you love me anyway, huh?"

She looked over at him, "yeah. I do."

"Well, I'm smart enough to know that's special, and rare."

"What're you saying Finn?"

"Not a yes. But not a no. Jus' both of us doin' our best, being honest with each other, figurin' it out as we go?"

"No more bullshit like the past month?"

"Promise."

"Okay. But ya gotta start meeting me halfway, ya gotta tell me what you want."

"What I want? Right now?" he blushed.

"Oh come off it." She pushed him playfully. "… why, what is it?"

"I jus'… What was the best he ever gave you?" There was a bit of a devious twinkle in his eye.

"Sorry?"

"The Demon. You said last time was par for the course. So what was the best?"

"Uhm," she felt the blood rushing to her cheeks, "well when you broke your wrist we had to get a little creative... Didn't want to hurt you so we uh...I dunno, guess it got us out of our usual style... why?"

He grinned, "I wanna top it."

She looked at him for a moment, his eyes twinkling and biting his chapped lips. How many times had she thought about leaning over and kissing him? She had spent so long wanting him, that seeing that look in her eye took her by surprise. If she were really honest with herself, she'd have to admit that the past few months revealed that the Finn she had fallen in love with as a 15 year old never really existed. That perfect boy who could do no wrong was gone. He had his demons, just like everyone else, and she might never completely get all of him the way she wanted. She might have to settle for most, for flawed, for up and down, or for uncertain, but he wasn't the man of her dreams anymore. He was real. And he was Finn.

"You're on."

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