John's schedule was changed so he could do the Smackdown house shows. Celeste approaches the Shield in catering. "Hey guys."
"Hey." they reply.
Seth looks at her with questioning eyes, but says no more.
"Would you three come to the bus with me? I need to talk to you about something." Celeste states.
"Sounds ominous." Dean responds.
She lets out a nervous chuckle. "Just come on, will you?"
"Wow!" Roman exclaims stepping on to the bus. "This is awesome."
"Can we start traveling with you and John?" Dean asks.
Celeste ignores their comments. "Have a seat." She gestures to a couch. She and Seth sit on an opposite couch.
"The Shield is great! You guys were fine before Vince put me with you, and you'll be fine if I can't be with you anymore."
"What's going on Celeste?" Roman asks. "Why wouldn't you be staying with us?"
She hangs her head. She takes some deep breaths forcing herself not to cry.
Seth takes her hand and whispers, "It's gonna be okay."
She looks back up at Roman and Dean. "I have a lump in my breast, and I'm seeing a surgeon next week about a biopsy."
There is a long moment of silence before Roman stands and approaches her. "Come here." he says softly. She stands and he wraps his arms around her. "I'll be praying that every thing turns out alright."
Celeste pulls back with tears in her eyes. "Thank you." she says softly.
Dean stands and gently pulls her into a genuine hug. "For real, I hope every thing goes well."
Seth rises to unsteady feet. He takes her face in his hands. "You already know I'm here for you."
She can't fight the tears anymore and they pour down her face. "Darn it, guys. Why'd you have to make me cry with your sweetness?"
After the show, Celeste tells the Shield where to meet her and John. It's a restaurant with a live karaoke band. "I have no idea what she is up to." John says while watching her talk to a member of the band.
"With her voice, are you gonna complain if she serenades us?" Seth teases.
Celeste heads back to the table, but doesn't sit down. Instead she leans down and whispers something in Dean's ear.
"Uh…Yeah, I know it." he answers.
"Thought so." She grabs his hand. "Come on." She leads him to the stage.
"I guess we're finally gonna get that duet." Roman says.
Celeste addresses the crowd. "So how about a little bit of Alice in Chains?"
This elicits cheers. "Is "Man in the Box" good?" More cheers. "I will be doing Layne Staley's part. So Dean here, will be doing Jerry Cantrell's part."
"I'm gonna choose my words carefully here." Dean says. "I don't want my ass kicked by Cena."
John just laughs.
Dean looks Celeste over. "I think everyone can tell you are not a man."
She shakes her head and rolls her eyes. "Just sing your part."
After finishing the song, the place erupts in cheers.
John's phone rings while the group is eating. "I'll be right back." he says as he leaves to go answer it.
"I bet you're glad we'll be doing a show in Davenport tomorrow night." Celeste says to Seth.
"Yeah I'll be glad to see my mom and my boy." he replies.
"Your boy?" she inquires.
Seth chuckles. He pulls out his phone and shows her his background picture. "That's Kevin."
"Oh my gosh!" she exclaims. "He's so cute! I love Yorkies."
"Maybe you can meet him tomorrow." Seth replies.
John comes back to the table. "I was just ask to do a bunch of Make-a-wish stuff tomorrow."
Celeste sees that he feels conflicted. "Well you have to do it." she says.
"Are you sure? I love all those kids, but I wanna be with you."
"I'll be fine." she insists. "I'm making plans to hang out with Seth's dog."
John smiles and kisses her. "I'm glad you're so understanding."
After spending some time with his mom and picking up Kevin, Seth goes to get Celeste. Celeste and Kevin take an instant liking to each other. He rides in her lap as Seth drives. "So where are we going?" she asks.
"You like hiking so I thought we'd go to the natural bridge." Seth explains.
She smiles. "Sounds fun."
Seth parks and car. "Sorry it's a bit of a hike between here and the actual bridge."
"I don't mind." she says. When she opens the door, Kevin jumps off of her lap and runs. "Oh no!" she exclaims.
"Kevin!" Seth yells. They exit the car and Seth begins chasing the little dog across a field. "Get back here dammit!" Celeste chuckles at the sight, then decides to help Seth.
"Kevin, come here." she calls nicely. The dog yaps then turns and runs to her. She picks him up. "Good boy."
"What the hell?" Seth says. "Are you magic or something?"
She shrugs. "I've always had a way with children and animals."
Celeste takes in the amazing scenery. "I don't know how anyone can look at this and not believe in a creator." she muses.
"I think I believe there is one." Seth says. "I'm just not exactly sure what to believe sometimes."
"I admit I have questions about why God allows bad things to happen." Celeste states. "But He doesn't cause bad things to happen. We have free will. Sometimes I wish we were just mindless robots, it would make things a lot easier."
Seth chuckles. "Wouldn't that get kinda boring though? If we were all exactly the same?"
Celeste smiles. "Sure. I mean I get why He gave us free will. So we will choose to do the right things." Her smile fads. "It'd just be great if we always knew for sure what the right thing was."
"Are you talking about anything in particular?" Seth inquires.
She looks up into his eyes. "I know exactly where I'm going in the end. What I'm not sure about is…what to do if that biopsy comes back positive."
Seth is stunned by her statement. "Sparky, are…are you saying that you might not fight?"
She looks away from his intense stare. "I'm willing to have surgery." She shakes her head. "But I don't know beyond that."
Seth feels his heart pounding, he strokes her hair. "Sparky, I know we've not really known each other that long, but I'd hate to lose you. I think this world is a better place with you in it."
She reaches up and covers his hand with her own. "I really appreciate that."
They are momentarily distracted by Kevin chasing a bird and laugh. "As good as this life can be, Heaven will be exponentially greater. I don't know if I want to spend whatever time I do have left in this life being sick from treatment." She pauses for a second. "Plus I don't know if I could live with knowing I could never have a biological child."
Seth's heart aches at her confession. "I don't know what I would do, or how I'd feel if I were in your shoes." he says. "I can tell you that, I will support you whatever you decide."
Later that evening, John clings to Celeste. "I'm trying to stay positive for you, Darlin." He sighs. "But those kids were so sick. It made me afraid for you."
She hugs him tighter. "Whatever the news is, we just have to pray for strength."
John waits anxiously for Celeste to come out of the surgeon's office. She dashes out and wraps her arms around him. He returns the hug. "Are we upset or happy?" he asks, perplexed.
She looks into his blue eyes and giggles. "It was just a fluid cyst. He did a needle aspiration. I'm okay."
"You're okay?" he asks with a smile on his face.
She nods. "The fluid was clear. He's gonna send it to the lab to be 100% sure, but…" She laughs again. "I'm fine!"
Realization finally hits John. "You're fine!" He picks her up and twirls her around. "Thank God."
They head out to the parking lot. "I'll pull the car around and call my mom to give her the good news." John says.
"Okay. I'm gonna make a phone call." Celeste replies.
Seth is trying to catch his breath after his run. His phone rings, he checks it and sees that is says, "Sparky". He quickly answers. "Hey, what's up?"
"Hey. Why are you so out of breath?" she asks.
"I just went for a run." he explains. "What happened with the surgeon?"
"I'm fine. Just a fluid cyst. He did a needle aspiration and it's fine."
A smile spreads across his face. "Really?"
"Yes!" she insists. John pulls up in the car. "I gotta go. I just wanted to let you know. Will you let Roman and Dean know for me?"
"Sure! Thanks for letting me know."
"I'll see you Friday." she says.
"See ya." Seth hangs up the phone and breathes a sigh of relief. He looks up at the sky and whispers. "Thank you."