Beautiful... Dangerous.

[Cory]

Natalya sat alone in Vicente’s Cuban Cuisine near the Joe Louis Arena in Detroit. She was picking at half a Cubano Sandwich and a house salad. The other half of the sandwich sat untouched at the empty seat across from her with a second house salad. Natalie didn’t have to look up when she heard the click of heels approaching the table and her friend, probably her best friend, slid into the seat across from her. She smiled that Natalie had already ordered her lunch.

Trish Stratus: Thanks! It’s nice to be back on the road. I haven’t been in Detroit in a million years. How is Wes?

Natalie continually struggled with the lie of omission that she had to continually tell. Especially when it came to people like Trish, whom her first instinct was to tell her everything about her life. Natalie quietly chewed on a leaf of her salad, washing it down with a sip of her water while looking off in the distance.

Natalya: He's fine.

Trish Stratus: And how’s my little CJ?

Natalya: He’s perfect. Just beautiful.

Trish Stratus: Don’t you love being a mommy?

Natalya: I do. I had no idea what I was missing.

Trish Stratus: You’re ready to be back in the ring though? Me too.

Natalya: So ready. I can't even tell you how much I need this.

Trish Stratus: Well, that makes me happy too. Are you okay?

No, I'm not okay. Wes is gone, no one knows where he is, I'm taking care of CJ alone and raising his three children. I'm keeping the secret of the decade to prevent this company from capsizing, my life is falling apart and really I'm getting back into the ring to bash someone's face in!

Natalya: I'm doing okay.

Trish Stratus: You’re only eating half a sandwich. That pretty much means you’re sad.

Natalie looked down at the remainder of her lunch, to be truthful she hadn't even finished the half that she ordered.

Natalya: Not necessarily. I'm ready to get back in the ring, I just haven't been away from it so long. And it's not like we're going out there against the Bellas.

Trish Stratus: They’re tough opponents, but at least it will be fun. So, is there anything else going on, I feel like we haven’t talked in forever. Teagan is starting Kindergarten in September. How is that for a kick in the head? Adam still isn’t talking to me. You think I’d give up already.

Natalya: I'm sorry. I'm sure he'll come around. He's got to. Maybe all of us touring together again will help.

Trish Stratus: I don’t think it will, and I just can’t care. That’s what I’m going to resolve to do. Not care. I also noticed you didn’t answer my question. What else is going on? How’s your dad?

Natalya: He started wrestling again, and... well.. he's back to old habits. At least he's consistent, right?

Trish Stratus: Oh, I’m... I’m so sorry. That must be difficult. I wonder why he can’t... I guess we just can’t understand, you know?

Natalie tried to shrug it off as best she could.

Natalya: I love him, and I always will. I'm afraid I might bury him before his time, but I don't know what I can do anymore.

Trish Stratus: You know, maybe with the new grandbaby it’s time for Wes to sit Dad down and have a talk with him, you know?

Natalya: You know, that might work. I really hope that we can do that.

She took a sip of her water.

Natalya: We should probably get going soon, Todd is expecting us.

Trish Stratus: I’m hardly done with my salad. Relax. What is wrong with you? Geez.

Natalya: Sorry. Maybe I'm just a little anxious. I'll calm down.

Trish Stratus: You’re going to have to if we have any shot at all of beating Angelina and Velvet. You look great. I’m sure you’ll do great. I’m me, so... that’s a no brainer.

Natalie smirked a little.

Natalya: Oh, you don't need to worry about me. I'll carry my own. It's just that... do you know the last time I went over a year without getting in a ring? I haven't.

Trish laughed.

Trish Stratus: My, aren’t you spoiled?

Trish reached into her purse, pulled out her card and left it on the table to pay the tab.

Trish Stratus: I’ve been out of the ring so long my toenails have ring rust. I’m a little worried about Angelina though. I mean, when you DDT her doesn’t all that rubber in her face cause her to just bounce right back up again?

Natalya: More afraid that her makeup would leave a perfect picture of her face in the mat.

When the waiter had brought back her credit card, Trish tipped and signed her copy, turning to put her card back in her wallet. Natalie had to give Trish credit. There was a time, just a few years ago in fact where Trish had been so self absorbed that once would have been enough. That one “How are you?” would have been the end of it and then even that would have been out of politeness. This was genuine concern, and honest curiosity, and as much as Natalie hated to admit it, Trish knew. She knew something. Trish removed her hand from her purse, slid to the end of the booth, and just as both women were about to get up, she put her hand over Natalie’s and leaned across the edge of the table.

Trish Stratus: Are you sure something isn’t wrong? Are you just missing the baby? First time away for so long?

Natalya: I miss them both.

Natalie clammed up. Damn it, freudian slip. It had been the truest thing Natalie had said for the entire day. It felt good to say, but she couldn't afford to make a mistake like that again. Trish may have been pretty self-absorbed in her day, but that made her no less observant.

Trish Stratus: I’m sure Wes is doing a great job. I bet we’ll have plenty of time to call him after we’re done with Todd. Com’ on.

Trish remembered when Teagan had been new, and Shane had been far less competent at fatherhood than Wes. She gave her best reassuring smile, and hooked her arm through Natalies as they walked their way back to the arena. Summer was making a late appearance, and Detroit was chilly. The two women hurried, using the underground garage entrance into the arena and going directly to their locker room to change into ring attire. After a quick trip to makeup, they went to where the studios were set up for their interview with Todd Grisham. He told both women that it was great to have them back, and asked if they were ready. When both affirmed that they were, he waited for the camera man and began.

Todd Grisham: Hello, fans of the EBWF Universe! I'm Todd Grisham and I'm excited to be here for this EBWF.net exclusive interview. If you've caught the recent events of EBWF Warfare, you know that the Divas of the EBWF have new gold to aspire to, the EBWF Tag Team Championships. And with the debut of these prestigious titles comes the return of several former champions, who are teaming up to get a shot at these tag titles. With me today are the two powerful ladies who make up the team Beautiful Dangerous. Both former Women's Champions, they will take on the Beautiful People as they seek to make a bid for the tag team titles. Trish Stratus and Natalya, it's a pleasure to have you here.

The camera zoomed out and Natalya stood next to Todd on his left, while Trish was on his right. Natalya narrowed her eyes at Todd.

Natalya: You'd better believe it's an honor.

Trish began a sarcastic round of clapping.

Trish Stratus: This is of course a round of applause for The Beautiful People who came up with the oh so clever insult of calling me Trash Stratus! Haven’t been getting that one since 2001! Thanks ladies. Jealousy. That’s all that is ladies. That’s all that is. I find it interesting that you felt the need to mention my divorce, and Natalya’s child... obviously, you’ve been keeping up with us. I believe the phrase is, “Bitches be making us famous!”

Natalya shook her head and rolled her eyes. Sometimes, she really didn’t know how she got stuck with this woman.

Trish Stratus: I did want to thank you for keeping up though, see, Nat and I, we’ve been a team since 2011 and we’ve been calling ourselves Beautiful Dangerous since then too. I understand why you wouldn’t know that though, with your very exclusive nail appointments and your very full schedule of making fools of yourselves. Let me explain what the difference between me and you is ladies. I made the business so you could even step in this ring. You’re not fit to lick dog feces off of my wrestling boots, but I let you get in a wrestling ring anyway. Are you catching my meaning? Are you understanding what I’m saying to you? If you don’t quit walking around here with that snarky ass attitude, ladies. You’re not going to need Rob Terry to protect you from The Shield. You’re going to need him to protect you from me!

Natalya: Beautiful People, welcome back to the EBWF. You know, we just got back into the scene as well. Who would have thought that the EBWF would see all of us come back to the dance at the same time. I mean, just look at us, all four of us former Women's Champions, and--

Trish Stratus: Ah. Ah. Ah.

Trish wagged her finger at Natalya scoldingly. She mouthed the word "Velvet" inaudibly.

Natalya: Ohhh, sorry. That's right. One of these girls just doesn't belong. Sorry Velvet. Guess we know who the weak link in that team is. But then again, you're both weak links, aren't you? May I take you back to the events of last week on Warfare when we came out to announce our intention to become the first EBWF Diva's Tag Team Champions. Todd, what happened?

Todd looked visibly confused.

Todd Grisham: Uh, you came out and let Nicole know you were going for the belts?

Natalya: And then...?

Todd Grisham: The Shield came out and interrupted the whole thing?

Natalya: DING DING DING. You got it Todd. The Shield came out to ruin the party. Bunch of bullies trying to make off with Nicole Ikeda. And what happened? The Beautiful People ran off like scalded dogs, to take a phrase from good ole JR. Like a couple of rats when someone turns the lights on, they scattered off in their high heels. I stood my ground. I defended what was important. And that's exactly what Trish and I are going to do Monday night on Warfare. We are going to defend the one thing that is most important. Our reputation for being the baddest bitches this company has ever seen. You can count on that.

Trish Stratus: And then, we go on to take Queen of the Ring.

The ladies nodded to each other, walked out of the frame, and left Todd Grisham to close the segment. They didn’t stay to listen. They left the studio and went back to their locker room together, knowing no matter the outcome they were set to have a great return match with Velvet and Angelina.