"Wow." Celeste says, processing the question. "Can I ask a question to maybe help me make my decision?"
"Of course." Steph replies.
"Since I will still be with the Shield, wouldn't that mean extra work?" Celeste asks. "I would want to be a fighting champion, but I'd also want to support my guys."
"That's right." Steph answers.
"It would also be a slight increase in pay." Vince adds.
Celeste smiles. "That would be nice, but…. I think I'll pass for now." she says.
"Are you out of your mind?" Dean asks.
Celeste stares at him. "No. I'm just confident enough to believe I'll get another chance, when the time is right." She looks at Vince and Stephanie. "I do appreciate the offer. When the time comes for the Shield to end, as heartbreaking as that will be-Then I can focus on myself." She smiles at the guys. "Right now, I'm enjoying focusing on my boys."
"I'm surprised, but I admire your decision." says Vince. "You will be a part of the Divas' battle royal tonight though."
"You and AJ will be the final two Divas." Steph adds. "Seth, of course will escort you out to the ring."
"That sounds great. "Celeste replies.
"I still think you're nuts." Dean says after the leave the office.
"You're entitled to your opinion." Celeste replies.
"I'm with Vince." Roman says. "I'm surprised, but I admire you."
"Thanks." she says.
Roman and Dean head to the locker room, while Seth lingers behind with Celeste. "Are you sure you made the right choice?" he asks.
"Yes. With wedding plans I don't need the extra work." she explains.
"I see your point." he admits.
"I'm gonna get head to the women's locker room and get ready for the battle royal."
"Why don't you hang out more in the women's locker room?" Seth inquires.
"Honestly I don't feel like I belong in there." she confesses.
"Are you kidding me?" Seth exclaims. "Sparky, you're one of the most talented women on the roster. And I'm not just saying this cause of our angle, but I think you're the most beautiful woman here."
She blushes. "Thanks, but I'm not talking about talent or looks. It's the behavior." She sighs. "I can appreciate good looks without objectifying the men on the roster. I've actually been asked to tell you, Roman and Dean to take off your shirts more."
Seth laughs. "Wow."
"Yeah. And the talk about sex lives. When I actually do get a sex life, it's going to be private. Details aren't supposed to be anyone's business."
Seth smiles and takes her hands in his. "You are one heck of a woman, you know that?"
His comment makes her melt, yet the feeling leaves her conflicted. She pulls her hands out of his and says, "Thank you. Um, I'm gonna go get ready."
"Okay. I'll see you later." Seth replies. His heart aches as he watches her walk away.
"You turned down the Divas' Championship." John asserts.
"Yes." Celeste responds.
"Why?" he inquires.
She lets out a frustrated sigh. "I told you. I believe my chance will come later when the Shield angle ends."
"You're probably right, but I don't want you to be overshadowed by those guys." John explains.
"I don't think I will be. Why can't you just support my decision instead of questioning it?" Celeste asks.
John pulls her into his arms. "I'll always support you." he insists.
She hugs him back, unsure if she feels support from him.
As they wait in gorilla, Celeste doesn't realize how tightly she is holding Seth's hand. "Easy, Sparky." he says with a smile. "I know you haven't wrestled for a while, but you'll do great."
She smiles back. "Thanks." Taking a deep breath, she adds, "Okay, I'm ready."
"Honey" starts playing and cheers erupt from a good portion of the crowd.
"Oh wow!" King exclaims. "We haven't seen Celeste Star in the ring for a while. What a surprise!"
"Hey, her fellas are number one contenders for championships." says JBL. "Why shouldn't she be?"
Celeste and Seth way their toward the ring. They stop at ring side and share a short kiss. "Go get em." Seth says.
After Celeste tosses out the Bella twins, she finds herself outside of the ropes-on the ring apron. Nattie sends AJ crashing into Celeste and she slips off the apron. "Oh crap!" Seth exclaims as her rushes toward her. He manages to catch her around her waist. She keeps her knees up, so her feet don't touch the floor. Seth places Celeste back on to the apron, and she slides under the bottom rope. She helps AJ take out Nattie, then they brawl each other. AJ finally gets the upper hand and eliminates Celeste. "Great job." Seth says, helping her to her feet.
Once they are backstage, John greets her with a big hug. "Good job out there." He looks at Seth. "Good thing you were there when that little oops happened."
"Yeah, thanks for that." Celeste says.
"Glad I could help." Seth replies.
The WWE Superstars and Divas have a rare few days off following the Smackdown taping. On Sunday, they prepare for a Supershow. "Guess what I just found out?" Celeste says.
"What?" John replies.
"I'm wrestling again tonight." she answers. "Kaitlyn had issues with her flight. I'm gonna be Nattie's tag team partner against AJ and Tamina."
"Wow, that's great!" John exclaims.
Seth accompanies Celeste to the ring. Much to his amazement, she wins the match by hitting the curb stomp on AJ. "I canNOT believe you did that!" he exclaims, once they are backstage.
"The girls and I decided on it right before the match." Celeste explains.
During the main event, John teams with Team HellNo against the Shield. John and Roman are the legal men in the match. They end up outside, where Celeste positions herself between them. John just laughs and moves Celeste out of the way.
On Monday Night Raw, the Shield are placed in singles competition. Roman will face Kane. Dean will face Daniel Bryan. Finally Seth will square off against John.
"Wait a minute!" Celeste exclaims. "Why are Roman and Dean winning their matches, but not Seth?"
"What's wrong Celeste?" Stephanie asks.
"Seriously? It's obvious what's wrong." Celeste insists. "It's not right for two-thirds of the Shield to go over and not all three."
"Celeste, it's okay." Seth says, calmly.
"No, it's not." Celeste again insists. She turns to John. "You see how messed up this is right?"
John sighs. "She is right. Wouldn't it kill Seth's momentum?" he asks. "If they're a team, it should be all or none."
Dean groans. "It's wrestling! Stop being so serious and have fun."
"Forgive me, but I do take it seriously." Celeste responds.
"Okay, I see your point." Steph says. "John, are you good with putting Seth over?"
"Yeah. It's fine." he answers.
As the meeting ends and everyone starts leaving, Celeste asks Seth, "Why didn't you defend yourself?"
"Because I almost got kicked out of the company for having an attitude while I was in developmental." he explains. "I knew I was as good, or even better than some they were bringing up earlier than me. Made sure everyone knew how I felt. Hunter told me if he got any more complaints about me, I'd be done."
Celeste flushes. "Oh. I guess it's good that I got enough attitude for both of us." Seth laughs.
John slips his arm around Celeste's waist. "Hey you mind if I talk to my fiancée alone for a minute?" he asks Seth.
"No problem." Seth exists the room.
John turns to face Celeste. "Would you have done that if Roman or Dean had been booked to lose their match?
Celeste is surprised by his question. "Of course I would have. If the other two members of the Shield were booked to win. Like you said, it should be all or none."
John ponders for a moment whether or not to believe her. Her chuckles. "Of course you would have." He hugs her. "You were just looking out for what you thought was right."
The next day Stephanie asks to speak with Celeste in private. "Are you happy working with the Shield?"
"Of course I am." Celeste answers. "I mean I turned the Divas' Championship because I think managing the Shield is the place for me to be right now."
"I thought so, but was just checking." Steph says. "If you and John are having problems, you need to make sure they don't affect work."
Celeste finds John about to aboard the bus. "Did you talk to Stephanie about getting me away from the Shield?" she yells.
"Let's talk about this on the bus." John says, taking her hand.
She pulls from his grasp. "No! First you pull strings to get me brought up from developmental earlier than planned. Then you have to give permission for me to even work with the Shield! Did I get a say in whether or not you made out with AJ?!"
John clarifies, "I did ask you if you were okay with that."
"Only after you had already told creative you would do it! For some reason they didn't think they should ask me my feelings!" she rants.
John takes a deep breath. "Calm down! I saw how you lit up when you got to wrestle this past week. I just think that maybe you should get back into it."
"You said you were cool with anything that might boost my career!" Celeste reminds him. "I have gotten much more attention with the Shield! Heck, as much attention as they were already getting, I have brought them more!"
"I just want you to be happy." John says.
"I am happy doing this." she insists. "I am not leaving my boys, don't ask me again." Celeste turns and storms off. As she turns the corner, she's taken aback as she bumps into someone.