CD: The Future Awaits

"MIA! MIA! MIA!"

Her ears were ringing still, the impact of that DDT still with her now as she sat on the crinkly paper-topped table in the medic's room, getting checked over for concussion. The crowd chants were still rattling around her brain, making everything seem surreal.

Well, that went over well, didn't it? Kudos on the crash and burn.

She wasn't disappointed. It was more anger to go hand-in-hand with that pain pounding in her head and the burning of shame in her face. Darren hovered in the doorway, trying his best to look stoic but she could feel that gaze on her and that anger kept her teeth gritted as she followed the little penlight with her eyes.

"No," she murmured, "just a little headache. That's all."

Her eyes lifted to lock on Darren's, disappointment written all over her face.

I had him, she thought, trying to force her scrambled thoughts to be a little more orderly. The spotlight was right there, right there for the taking and- she flinched at a hand in her peripheral vision.

"You'll get him next time," Darren said softly, resting his palm on her shoulder.

"I…" her voice caught, tears glittering between her lashes as she bowed her head, "I just wanna go to Vegas. Marry you and enjoy our…" she trailed off, sighing.

You can't always win.

She remembered hearing that from so many people over the years but it didn't take away the pain. It didn't make her feel any better about letting AJ Knight walk away with that opportunity that would have cemented her on the roster. Pecking order was important and here she was, about to cry like a child over spilled milk instead of counting her blessings.

"Sorry." She looked up again, forcing a smile. "What's meant to be is what happens, right? This is what's important." She rested her cheek against his hand, "you and me. This. Our future together. I don't need to rack up a million wins to matter, not to you. I know that. And I don't get it," she hesitated, swallowing hard, "they cheered for me. I didn't imagine that, right? They called my name. They let him leave and then they gave me props. Why would they do that? Who cheers for the stupid loser? Like..."

"Of course they cheered, squishy butt," Darren replied, his eyes sparkling, "they can't help but love you as much as I do. You gave it everything you had out there."

"I know. Nothing to be ashamed of, right? But I am. And I will be because nobody wants to lose. Nobody wants to be the underdog." She sighed, falling silent for a few seconds before looking up at him again. "But forget it. Can't fix anything by brooding and we have more important things to do. Like get married. And honeymoon. Then training. And then," she nodded, "no distractions. No irritations. Just us heading into the future and so maybe I have more bumps to add to the collection. That's all – I won't become some sad little punchline. Some little cliché they can talk about. I'm not gonna let Jan – let you down!"

"Never," Darren replied, kissing her forehead. "You never could."

That sincerity cut right through all the childish feelings as Darren took her hand, sliding the engagement ring with its pink diamond back into place. She stared at it, knowing he was right, knowing that this was a career choice, sure, but it had a long way to go before it became her life. The last thing she wanted was to become one of those awful people obsessed with numbers filling up the win column. Never. "C'mon," she hopped down off the table, steady even though her head was pounding, "Vegas awaits. Let's get outta here, Mr. Fallon."