A/N - Well, I should tell you... don't stress the chapter names... I hope that they make sense after you read the whole chapter instead of giving the story away and making it predictable. I don't like predictable XP lol In terms of this chapter, I've never taken a pro wrestling class in my life... so be gentle, I've tried to write so I sound like I know what I'm talking about but I know it's likely to be incorrect. haha! Read, Review and Hopefully Enjoy x Thanks!

Chapter 5 – Small Steps

"In" she finally said

She followed Punk over to their corner. Staring at their competition, she didn't know what to expect of Brie now. She didn't even know what to expect of herself, surely all the corrections Punk made would pay off. She hoped. Nikki watched her sister help take off Orton's shirt tossing it out of the ring; they briefly shared in an intimate kiss.

"Move over, I'm going to gag" she said turning her back towards them.

"I'm right behind yah on that note. Are you alright?"

"I'm fine. Let's have some…" she sighed unable to bring herself to say it. "Let's just kick their ass and make some money"

"Fine by me. Believe me, they have nothing on us"

Her faith in their chances didn't make her feel anything but afraid. Has he forgotten that Randy and Brie are an exclusive couple now? Faith was not comforting factor, when we make ourselves believe things, it's often just an attempt to hold back the fear.

"That's 6 grand down the drain for me, I can't believe I'm saying goodbye to six thousand dollars" she said.

"Listen! We're not going to lose. Just do what you always do and try some of the stuff I taught you and if worse comes to worse… I'll cover the cost, my salary is kinda expendable at the moment" he grinned

In other words to her, he makes more therefore it wasn't a big deal.

She shrugged her shoulders. Alright, if you say so.

Despite feeling unsettled, she was going to trust him.

"Men start!" Orton yelled over

The Straightedge Superstar removed his dark grey hoodie but took a few seconds to contemplate whether or not it was worth taking off his shirt. He decided it was. If Nikki didn't know any better, she would have thought he came straight out of the independent circuit. After all these years, he still had the unique athletic physique or maybe it's the dark three quarter khaki pants that made him look slightly boyish she wondered.

"Watch my back out there Nik" he smiled as he winked at her.

Nikki just nodded returning the smile as she took her place outside of the ring, leaning against the top rope.

"She's going to need to with me as your opponent Punk" Orton smirked

This provoked both Nikki Bella and CM Punk to laugh

"NOT because of you…" the brunette diva explained

"Because of HER!" They both said simultaneously.

Brie rolled her eyes at their taunts.

"Let's get this match going" Mike said, signalling to start the match, even though there was no timekeeper.

Referee Mike Chioda just happened to be by and agreed to call the match down the middle, he'll judge which tag team is the best overall. Technique, execution, working together and all the other bits and pieces. They all considered him to be the best referee in the business.

The fierce superstars began the match right away. They met at the centre of the ring trying to get the upper hand early. Nikki watched closely as did Brie. Although they were competing in a match, this was a golden opportunity for them to pay close attention and learn a few moves. Orton quickly turned the match his way, bullying Punk into a unique submission hold which involved the straightedge superstar to be grounded on the mat in a headlock with Orton's knee driven deep into his spine. Nikki started cheering her teammate on which oddly enough didn't feel weird for her, even if it was The Straightedge Superstar she was encouraging on. Naturally, the WWE Champion battled his way out with the ole classic fist to face combo. He capitalized quickly by jetting towards the ropes to propel him back at Orton for a drop kick to the face. Punk quickly went for the pin. Brie had her foot inside the ring ready to enter if needed.

Mike went down to count

"ONE!"

Kick out

The ref indicated one to Punk, who didn't waste any time and went back to work. Nikki appreciated the relentless attitude in him, she liked to think that all superstars had this in the WWE but that wasn't the case.

The Straightedge Superstar managed to get his semi-groggy opponent up on his feet and send him hurdling towards an empty turnbuckle. He flicked a look to Nikki. She instantly knew he was going for a signature. It was a risky move so early on in the match but she had his back if it all goes poorly. He ran at full speed towards Orton, connecting his high knee to Orton's jaw. That couldn't have felt to good Nikki thought to herself. Just as Punk turned to capitalize into a bulldog and potentially end this match, out of nowhere! Orton was able to counter and push him away. However, it didn't come much of a surprise to the current WWE Champ as he was able to adapt and landed a massive kick to the Appex Predator's ribcage.

"Oooh Brie, looks like your boyfriend can't handle the current Champ!" Nikki taunted, really emphasizing the word 'Champ'

Brie glared at her sister from the opposite corner and Nikki could feel the heat emanating off her eyes. She didn't know if it was for show or if Brie really felt offended by her own twin's comment.

"Too BAD he has to lug around DEAD WEIGHT!" Brie yelled

Nikki was stunned to say the least but elated at the same time. Brie had never sounded as badass as she had just did then. Nikki felt she should mock Orton more often, who knows what else she might say.

Punk had now locked in a full nelson. This was a queer manoeuvre to Nikki. This move wasn't known to be in his common repertoire, as far as she knew anyway. Yet, The Chicago Native had explained to her earlier how a move used rarely can be a huge indicator to your opponent about switching momentum and it's fresh for the crowd. Orton started fighting out of the hold, he took account of where he was and then charged backwards into a turnbuckle. Punk released the hold and slumped to the bottom.

This left him wide open for Orton to lay an onslaught of ferocious kicks to the face and stomping the living the hell out of him. Then the conniving Viper pulled Mike away. The textbook heel move distracting the referee while your partner does all the dirty work. Brie quickly jumped in and sized Punk up for a massive kick to the gut before hopping out as if nothing happened. Nikki tried jumping in 'as you do' to buy more time for the villains and Orton choked Punk out with his massive size 14 foot. Mike whispered that we'll be in soon but it was an improvised entrance. Meaning the divas could do whatever the hell they wanted upon entering the ring to start their battle.

"Pull him out of the corner Orton! One! Two!…" the ref started counting, it reminding Nikki of Punk and his amateurish ways of referee skills.

Orton drew him out and went for the pin.

"One! Two!"

Kick out

This angered Orton and furthermore frustrated her sister Brie. Nikki started to notice the fatigue in her partner's eyes. She knew she needed to make the tag. She desperately had her hand out in case he was able to make a mad dash but that often doesn't happen in the WWE. But it paid to look the part.

Orton lifted Punk onto his shoulders fireman style and was ready to hit a side suplex however, there was a spark in the WWE Champ and he was able to counter, targeting the Viper's head before being able to jump off and execute a neck breaker.

Both superstars were out. Mike started the count.

"One! … Two! … Three! … Four! …"

Brie and Nikki mirrored each other's desperation. The boys started to move, Orton was the first to make it to his knees whilst Punk was pulling himself towards Nikki.

"C'mon! C'mon" Nikki kept repeating quietly, glancing back and forth between Brie and Orton on the other side and her teammate. CM Punk wasn't so far; he was a mere metre now.

"TAG!"

Orton had made the tag. This prompted Punk to jump for it. He tagged Nikki's hand.

"TAG!"

Punk rolled off to the edge of the ring. Brie was like an overloaded cannon sprinting from the opposite end of the ring. Brie threw a forearm but Nikki was able to stop it and connect a huge elbow to the face. She capitalized by placing her hands on the middle rope as she vaulted her upper body through the ropes to shoulder tackle her twin sister. This made Brie stumble back allowing Nikki to quickly enter into the ring.

The sister's began locking up instantly, Nikki managed to push her sister into an empty turnbuckle. Still holding her sister there, the referee stated she had to let go. Nikki cautiously back away from an innocent looking Brie Bella, yet fooling everybody and kicking Nikki in the gut. Typical Heels Nikki thought. She favoured her stomach, however this didn't stop her sister's onslaught and charged with a vicious clothesline, sending Nikki flat on her back. Brie quickly went for the pin.

"One!"

Kick out

This ignited a blazing fire in Brie and she started repeatedly slamming Nikki's head into the mat whilst choking her at the same time. It was an easy sell for Nikki and she was proud of Brie's developing dark side.

Mike pulled Brie away, warning her to stay off the hair.

Nikki rolled to her side and could see Punk in the corner resting on one knee. He encouraged her on. Brie sent a devastating kick to the back of her sister which caused her to yell in pain, only to repeat the action however this time Nikki would keep the pain hidden and grit her teeth.

Brie went for the pin but Nikki quickly reversed it into a possum pin

"One!"

Kick out

Both sisters retreated to opposite ends. Brie smirked at her sister. Nikki slowly rose up before locking up again, this time, Nikki properly got the upper hand by grabbing Brie's left arm and twisting it behind her back to enforce pain. Brie with her free arm tried to escape by sending an elbow to Nikki's face but Nikki was able to catch it in time. She thought that this would be a perfect opportunity to try something new and using Brie's right arm, Nikki wrapped it back around Brie's neck to choke her out.

"It hurts doesn't it Brie!… Ask her!" Nikki yelled

Mike went to check but Brie refused to show any signs of quitting. With both arms out of action and writhing in pain trapped this unique hold, Nikki roughed Brie around so that she wasn't so close to the ropes. She then kicked the back of Brie's right knee so that she was practically grounded and then applied more pressure by pulling. Brie still refused so she let go of the hold and her sister collapsed to the mat gasping for air. Perhaps those submission lessons did pay off because now she was able to get her opponents into holds from any position. Nikki knew that she wouldn't be able to win with The Bella Buster against her own sister so she was going to have to end this via submission. Nikki went to pick up her twin however, she had recovered enough energy and tried going for The Bella Buster; unfortunately for her; Nikki was prepared and landed an uppercut to Brie's chin. This sent her couple steps back but Nikki wasn't going to let her go that easily and had a firm grip on Brie's arm in preparation for locking in that armbar that had been practising. Remembering how it felt to be locked in that hold. She pulled her sister more in the centre of the ring, stepped over with the right foot to use the swinging momentum to turn and drop into that submission hold.

Brie tried desperately to reach for the ropes. Orton came rushing in to save his damsel in distress as figured but CM Punk was there and spear tackled him out of the ring.

Nikki's twin had no choice but to tap.

They had won. Nikki let go and tapped her sister on the shoulder for a good match. The guys rejoined them back in the ring.

Nikki watched Orton help a battered beaming Brie to her feet that she hadn't noticed Punk was offering to give her a hand. She took his hand and was up standing proudly of a match well fought.

"You got it perfect that time"

"Thanks" Nikki replied

"You were great as usual" Brie droned amusingly

"Orton, Whatever you've done with my sister. Don't stop because she is just a heel waiting to happen"

The Appex Predator grinned at Brie who playfully punched his arm.

"Ew, not even going there"

"See, we got exactly right. Brie Bella is an undercover baddie" Punk stated

Nikki nodded before realizing the title that was just bestowed upon her sister. Nikki always thought that she was the natural devil's advocate.

"Uh.. so what does that make me?" Nikki curiously asked.

"That makes you – "

I'M ALL GROWN UP NOW…

Both Bellas couldn't believe their ears nor the sight before them. Stephanie McMahon descending down the ramp with a wild look in her eyes that denied them any right of trying to read her thoughts.

"Cut the music! Just what do you think you're doing?!" she spoke with a microphone

"Um, we were taking pointers from the top superstars in the business. I think sometimes we forget how much we can learn from one another." Nikki answered

"I see." She said putting the mic down as she looked back towards the sound technician and gave him a thumbs up.

"What did you think?" Brie was bold enough to ask.

She remained outside the ring and tapped her foot impatiently sizing up The Bella Twins

"I'm cancelling our meeting this afternoon ladies…"

Nikki just nodded slowly accepting their harsh reality however, Stephanie wasn't finished

"You need to sharpen up on your mic skills for next week's live show and I will personally inform Gail Kim and Daniel Bryan on the changes"

"So does that mean?"

"Yes. The storyline will be altered. Do not let me down or I will have no problem getting rid of it all together"

Just like that, she walked back up the ramp.

Brie jumped into Orton's arms and he spun her around. Nikki walked to the edge of the ropes, her hands clasped together touching her lips as if she was saying a prayer. She was at lost for words…

"Hey" Punk spoke gently as he stood by her. "That makes you a Winner" he finished

Nikki had a great big smile on her face as he said those words. She grabbed his hand and raised it in the air.

They were both winners.