A/N: I'm not entirely happy with this chapter, but hope everyone enjoys. Reviews appreciated. :-)
It takes officials several minutes to tend to John and Ryback. Celeste silently prays, but still feels upset. Seth feels her shaking and pulls her closer. "John's gonna be okay." he whispers.
Celeste remains quiet as she rest her head against his chest. John is loaded onto a stretcher. "I'm fine!" he exclaims as medics lead him toward an ambulance.
Celeste jerks away from Seth and races toward John. "Let them take care of you." she pleads.
"Darlin', I'm fine. I've had neck surgery. I'd know if something wasn't right." he insists.
"Humor me, please." she says, with tears in her eyes.
John sighs. "Okay, fine. Ride the bus, because I don't plan on staying there all night. That way we can just head on to Kansas City."
"Okay." Celeste replies. "I love you."
"I love you too." John says.
They medics take John onto the ambulance. Seth walks up to Celeste. "Aren't you going with him?" he asks.
"He wants me to take the bus. Says he doesn't plan on staying all night so we can go on to Kansas City." she explains.
"Do you mind if I go with you?" he inquires.
Celeste is confused. "Why?"
"Despite John not wanting to be there all night, it may take a long time. I don't think you should alone." Seth justifies.
"Why not go with Roman and Dean and celebrate your victories?"
"You know there's not gonna be much celebrating tonight because we have shows the next two nights. We'll do something Tuesday."
"Okay, let's go." Celeste turns and walks toward the parking garage.
An hour and half later they are still waiting at the hospital. Celeste stretches.
"Do you wanna go lie down on the bus?" Seth asks. "I'm sure John didn't expect you to wait in here."
She shakes her head. "No, I'm fine. Or I will be as soon as I know that he is."
"Told you I was fine!" John's voice booms.
They look up and see him standing close. Celeste jumps to her feet and wraps her arms around him. "Oh Sweetie." she whispers.
John looks startled at Seth. "What are you doing here?"
Seth stands. "I knew Celeste was upset and didn't think she should be alone."
Celeste is suddenly hit with an epiphany. She lets go of John and turns to Seth. "I just realized something. Since Roman and Dean took the rental car, you have to go with John and me on the bus." She laughs. "Unless you wanna hitchhike, and I don't think that would be a good idea."
Seth laughs.
John responds. "It's fine if he comes with us."
"I can brag about it to the guys. They'll be super jealous of me." Seth says.
Once on the bus, John wraps his around Celeste's tiny body.
Seth feels ill at the sight and looks away.
John says, "Since we have two beds, Seth you can take one."
Seth heads snaps around in disgust. "What?" His voice cracks, causing Celeste to chuckle. He clears his throat. "I just mean…I don't mind sleeping on one of the couches."
"Or you guys could share a bed." Celeste teases.
John looks into her eyes. "Or we could sleep together. We haven't in-I can't remember."
Seth feels a rage beginning to boil within himself. He takes a deep breath and plops himself on one of the couches. "Perfect!" he exclaims.
"Are you sure?" Celeste asks.
"Yeah. It's really comfortable." he insists.
"I'll get you a pillow and blanket." she says.
"Okay then." John says. "Goodnight Seth."
"Goodnight." Seth replies.
John and Celeste head toward the back. "I love you." she insists. "But we can wait. It's something to look forward to."
John just smirks and kisses her. "I love you."
As Celeste hands Seth a pillow, she pulls a blanket over him. He places the pillow under his head. "I've taken a ton of naps on this couch. I don't mind sleeping here and letting you have my bed." she insists.
"No. I'll sleep here." he contends. "Just go get some rest." He still feels angry at seeing John be, what he feels is, disrespectful toward her.
She smiles. "Goodnight."
She turns to walk away and Seth grabs her hand! "Sparky!" he says tenderly.
Her heart leaps at his touch and the sound of his voice. She looks over her shoulder and into his eyes. "Yes?" she responds softly.
Seth decides it best to not mention his feelings about the situation. He lets go of her hand. "Nothing. Goodnight." Celeste smiles and walk away. Seth turns and buries his face in the back of the couch.
"Really looking forward to sinking my teeth in a big Omaha steak." Seth states as the Shield arrive in the back after their match.
"That sounds great." says John. "But I'll have to pass." He looks at Celeste. "We got a long flight to Knoxville, and we are meeting with Pastor Mac at noon. Probably shouldn't party too much."
"Yeah, you're right." Celeste replies. She looks at the Shield. "Hey, we got two birthdays coming up. I can celebrate with you guys then."
"Sure thing." says Roman. "We'll see you this weekend."
"Yeah, see you." Dean says.
Celeste meets the rest of the Shield at the airport on Sunday. "Hi guys." She greets each with a hug. "I have gifts." She reaches into one of her bags and pulls out two plastic bags containing cookies. She hands one to Roman. "Happy birthday yesterday." Handing the other to Seth, she says, "Happy early birthday."
"Thanks." both men reply.
Dean frowns. "It's not my fault my birthday's not until December." he says.
Celeste smiles and reaches into her bag again. "I didn't forget you, Foxy." she says, handing him his cookies.
"Thank you."
"They are peanut butter with M&Ms. I hope you enjoy." Celeste explains.
The men each take a bite and indicate their pleasure.
"You wrestle, sing and bake." Seth proclaims. "What other talents you got?"
Celeste just smiles.
Celeste and Dean head to the top of the venue to prepare for their entrance. "So how's premarital counseling going'?" he asks.
She snickers. "Does that really interest you?"
"Sure, why not?" Dean responds, flatly.
Celeste is quiet for a long moment. "It was…enlightening. Maybe."
Dean looks at her and sees a perplexed look on her face. "How so?"
Celeste looks into his eyes. "Pastor Mac ask us when we knew we were in love with each other. John didn't hesitate to answer. But I couldn't think of exact moment that I knew."
Before Dean can respond, it's time to make their way to the ring.
The Shield go out to eat after the show. Seth goes to pay his bill, and Dean notices Celeste glaring as their waitress flirts with Seth.
"So you say you don't know the exact moment that you fell in love with John?" Dean asks.
Celeste's head snaps to face him. "What?"
"I'm just curious what's going on with you. Especially since you were giving our hot waitress death glares." he explains.
"No I wasn't!" she insists.
He laughs. "Yeah you were. Are you starting to have real feelings for Seth?"
"No!" She grabs her purse and stands. "Excuse me." She heads to the ladies' room.
Roman returns to the table, after calling his family, and sees Celeste storming away. "What's her problem?" he asks Dean.
Dean shrugs his shoulders. "Woman problems I guess."
In the rest room, Celeste ponders things to herself. Dean's crazy. Isn't he?… I did feel annoyed at that girl flirting with Seth. Why? She takes a deep breath and shakes her head. She just seemed really slutty, and Seth deserves better. That's all. "Yeah that's it." she whispers.
The next day, John greets his fiancée with a tight hug and passionate kiss as she arrives at the arena. "I've missed you." he proclaims
"I'm sorry, I don't have time for this right now. They just let us know this morning we have a photo shoot and interview to do for WWE magazine." Celeste explains.
John is disappointed, but understands better than anyone how busy the job can be. "Okay. I'll see you later." He gives her another quick kiss and walks away.
The shoot is especially busy for Celeste. They want pictures of her alone, with each of the guys and group shots. When it comes time for the shots with Seth, things get a bit awkward. "Sorry, but we gotta make sure the lighting and positioning are just right for a shot of you guys kissing." says the photographer.
Seth and Celeste smile at each other while assistants adjust their hands on each other's bodies. "Get just a bit closer." the photographer says.
Celeste laughs nervously as they are pushed closer together. "I can't get much more closer to you."
Seth says, "This is definitely not the sexiest or most romantic situation."
"Okay, kiss until I tell you to stop." says the photographer.
Seth and Celeste begin kissing.
John stumbles onto the scene. A wave of jealousy hits him like a ton of bricks. He turns away. What the hell, man?, he thinks to himself. It's just an angle. There is nothing going on between them.
John finally gets a moment alone with Celeste. "Did you have fun with the shoot? It looked like you were having fun with Seth." he says.
"Mr. Cena, are you jealous?" she asks.
"Should I be?"
Celeste furrows her brow. "John…"
He laughs. "I'm teasing you. I know you're my girl."
She smiles. "Good." She gives him a kiss. "I was wondering though, could the guys come with us tonight?"
"Why?" John asks.
"It'll be close to midnight when we finally get to leave, so technically it'll be Seth's birthday. I haven't had a chance to celebrate their championship wins with them either."
John sighs. "Sure. We can have some fun on the bus, and then go somewhere for a bit."
"Thank you." Celeste says, giving him another kiss.
"I gotta go do an interview." John says.
After he walks away, Dean approaches. "If there's no reason for John to be jealous of Seth, why do we you want us to go with you guys?" he asks.
"If you were eavesdropping then you heard why." Celeste answers.
"I wasn't eavesdropping. I just happened to overhear." He leans down closer to her ear. "And I still think you're in denial." He walks away leaving Celeste shaking her head.
"I got to sleep here the other night. Now I get to start off my birthday on this comfy bus." Seth states. "I could spoiled."
"Too bad we can't make a habit of this." Roman says.
"So Star are we gonna duet "Happy Birthday" for Seth?" Dean asks.
"Uh…maybe." she responds.
"Please don't start fighting over music again, you two." Roman pleads.
John laughs. "What's the problem?"
"Sparky doesn't live in this decade." Seth quips.
"That's not entirely true." Celeste says. "And that's not exactly Dean's problem with me. I mean how current are Hank Jr and Waylon?"
"She's got some pretty eclectic taste." John says. "I've caught her listening to everything from blue grass to opera. And caught her singing it all too."
"That's it!" Seth exclaims. "For my birthday, you gotta sing a current song."
She smiles mischievously. "I can do that."
At the club Celeste takes the stage. "This is a song by Thousand Foot Krutch, I read a fan say it makes her think of the Shield." she explains. She gives a rocking performance of "Courtesy Call." She goes back to the table as the guys all cheer for her.
Seth asks, "Does anybody want a drink from the bar?" He stands. "It's my birthday, but I'll treat you guys."
Everyone, but Celeste says they want beer.
"I'll take a virgin strawberry daiquiri." she says. "I'll help you."
They head to the bar and place the order. "It's your birthday, so we should treat you."
He smiles. "I don't mind. You've done enough with getting John to let us ride the bus. Then honoring my request to sing."
"I'm just glad you didn't request your pop punk or metal core stuff." she states.
"Ouch! It's my birthday. Be nice and don't pick my favorite things."
She laughs. "Sorry. I can take a few songs, but some of it…I can't."
He laughs. "It's okay. Different strokes for different folks." His expression becomes serious as he looks back toward the table. Celeste turns to see what has his attention. She sees a brunette sitting in John's lap.