Boooooooooooo!

The massive stage felt like home, and he could have stayed there all night, but the boos reminded him to keep moving forward. He kept the EBWF World Championship square on his shoulder, and moved behind the curtain. It had taken some work, but he'd turned them. There was still a smattering of cheers, but the kids had done the trick. He just hated that it'd been so organic. He'd have liked to have warn someone about it, especially Ash, but the kid was pro.

There was a smattering of applause as Wes came to the back, fellow performers and the production crew were celebrating the main event.

"Hell of a match, Wes!" "Way to go!" "What a show!"

He didn't hear who was saying what, but the adulation felt good. "Break the Walls Down" had begun to play over the PA, which meant Chris was on his way to the back and the show was going off the air.

Natalie Neidhart: Wes! Wes...sweetheart...

He looked up. He wanted to hug her, but he was sweaty and there was blood on him. Most of it was fake, but he thought some of it might be Chris'. He leaned down and kissed her cheek, and she threw an arm around him anyway.

Natalie Neidhard: It was incredible. The match was incredible. I loved all of it. Every spot, man, you just...

He smiled down at her. He was going to hurt all over in the morning.

Nicole Orton: Wes! Hey...oh, my goodness. That was a insane!

Randy Orton: It was pretty good ring psychology. Hard to watch in some spots.

Wes Ikeda: I hope that's a compliment.

Randy Orton: It is.

Wes shot a quick smile toward his sister and brother-in-law. He was glad things were looking better for them. It seemed like they were going to make it, and six months ago it hadn't looked so certain. They were still working at it, but for now, he was happy with the way it seemed to be going, even if he'd had to sacrifice so much for it. Wes turned his head as Jessica Jericho approached them. He started to turn to her, but the staff began applauding again. Jericho was coming off the stage, flanked by two referees. He assured them he was fine, and maneuvered the stairs on his own. He was walking with a hint of a limp from the chair shots he'd taken to the back, and Jessica went to him immediately, but stopped short because of the crimson mask on him. The medical team moved toward him quickly, but he waved them off, taking a bottle of water and a towel. He poured the water over his head.

Chris Jericho: It's mostly the blood pack. I'm alright. I think he might have gotten me over this eye, but...

Chris stopped talking as he tilted his face back to pour some more water onto it. One of the trainers stood by with another bottle, and he toweled off his face. Wes approached him with a second towel.

Wes Ikeda: Yeah, you do have a bit of a gusher over the left eye, but I think the rest of it's fake. When did I do that? I don't think it was my fist.

Chris Jericho: You did it with your head when we were in the corner. You'll probably be feeling it tomorrow.

Wes nodded, seeing Jessica's concern for her husband as two of the trainers pounced on him to clean him up faster, and put some wound seal powder in the cut above his eye. Wes took the opportunity to apologize to them.

Wes Ikeda: I'm so sorry.

The medics moved in on him now, beginning to use baby wipes and towels to clean him up and look for any cuts.

Chris Jericho: It's fine, really.

Wes felt Natalie come to his side.

Randy Orton: I mean who doesn't use their best friend's kids for nuclear heel heat.

Nicole Orton: Randy! That's not funny.

Randy Orton: It's kind of funny.

Jessica Jericho: I trust you know what you were doing.

Wes Ikeda: I shouldn't have...

Chris Jericho: I'd have done it. You had to do it. They were so amped for your heel turn that you couldn't get them to boo you. If I had looked up and seen Blaine standing there I would have done it to get them to react the way we wanted them to. No question.

Wes watched Chris flinch a little. Wes knew that powder stung like a bitch.

Natalie Neidhart: What did you say to him?

Wes Ikeda: What?

Jessica Jericho: When you grabbed his face, you snarled and said something in his ear.

Wes Ikeda: Oh. I told him I loved him.

That made Chris chuckle.

Chris Jericho: As soon as they bring him back here, he's going to be talking about how cool it was.

Jessica Jericho: Ash the Fish Expert and the tale of finally getting a little TV Time. He'll be talking about it for weeks.

Jericho was no longer actively bleeding, but was still in need of a shower. Wes was starting to come down off of the adrenaline, and felt a twinge in his back.

Paul Heyman: Wes!

Randy and Nicole stepped back a little as Paul Heyman entered the circle that had surrounded the two men. Heyman held a second EBWF World Championship, and Wes looked down at the one on his shoulder.

Paul Heyman: This one doesn't say "Chris Jericho" on it.

Wes took the belt off of his shoulder, and Jessica reached for it. It belonged to Chris, and would go amongst the many others. Wes took the belt that Paul had brought for him. His name was emblazoned on the name plate, and it made him smile. He offered his praise as he walked away.

Paul Heyman: Congratulations, Mr. Ikeda.

Wes Ikeda: Thanks Paul.

With Paul moving away, another voice broke through the buzzing around him.

Female Voice: Ah, yes, felicitazioni, Padrino.

The crowd parted again, and then there was silence. Danielle Costa was standing before them, and though none of them had seen her in over half a year, she looked pretty much as they'd all remembered her, except for the small protuberance of belly that remained when a woman had recently given birth, and in her arms she carried a teeny, tiny baby wrapped in a soft, purple blanket. Randy felt Nicole stiffen, and then he looked to Wes and Natalie. Chris and Jessica looked as surprised as Randy felt, but Wes had known, it was obvious he had. Which meant Natalie had known too. Chris cleared his throat, telling Wes that he was going to go get ready to leave and that he and Jessica would go meet the children. Both he and Jessica greeted Danielle before they left. Randy shook his head and then turned to walk away. Nicole didn't move.

Danielle Costa: Randy...

Randy didn't understand. She'd just left. She hadn't asked for anyone's help, and part of him felt that they should have at least been there for her. He wasn't sorry for making John go away, but he had never meant for their marriage to end, and he certainly hadn't meant for her to be a single parent.

Danielle Costa: Do you want to hold her?

Randy hesitated for a moment. Then he took a few steps toward her, extending his arms. Danielle shifted the baby to him, and he held the little one close. She was alert, but still, looking up at him with a sort of cooing sound. He could remember when Karlee was that small, and he felt a tug at what was left of his heartstrings, a feeling he'd only known since fatherhood. He felt Natalie and Wes watching him, but ignored them for now.

Randy Orton: What's her name?

Danielle Costa: Ember. Ember Nicole. I call her Emmy.

Nicole leaned into Randy for a closer look.

Randy Orton: Well, hello, pretty girl.

Nicole Orton: Ember Nicole Cena. Dani, she's...she's beautiful.

Danielle Costa: Costa, actually.

Randy and Nicole both looked at Danielle. Nic's face was one of shock.

Nicole Orton: But, why would you...what do you...

Danielle Costa: I don't know who her father is.

A lie. Randy knew that. Not to mention that one only need to look at this child to know who her father was. Big blue eyes, dopey, adorable little ears, she was an apple that hadn't fallen too far off of the Cena tree.

Randy Orton: Does he...does he know?

Danielle Costa: I haven't seen him since September. And I never told him. Our divorce was finalized two weeks ago. We never saw each other. I didn't ask for anything. I only know he still exists because of his signature on the pages and the date he wrote. It was him.

Nicole felt like she was having some sort of out of body experience, and she felt her breath catch in her throat.

Danielle Costa: Dan knows. So I can't imagine John doesn't. And if he doesn't, I'm sure he'll know before the day is over.

She shot a look at Nicole. Nicole narrowed her eyes and finally spoke.

Nicole Orton: I don't know where John is.

Danielle Costa: And I don't believe you.

Randy quickly changed the subject.

Randy Orton: So, you're on the board. You're here. You're staying?

She nodded.

Danielle Costa: I need help. And you all are my family. It was time for me to come home.

Randy Orton: Well, we're glad you did.

He stepped forward to give her her daughter back. Danielle took her happily, kissing her head.

Danielle Costa: It was nice to see everyone. Congratulations again Wes.

Nicole Orton: Dani, could I maybe, walk with you for a minute?

Danielle Costa: Sure, I'd like that.

The two women turned, taking the baby with them. Randy watched them go, and then he turned to a still bloody Wes, who was feeling more and more sore by the second.

Randy Orton: You knew. You knew she was pregnant. You knew she had a baby. You didn't tell anybody? I mean, I sent her husband away, Wes...

Wes Ikeda: You didn't. He didn't work here anymore. That didn't mean he couldn't fix things with his wife and take her with him. That marriage was done before you ever told me to get rid of him. Yes, though. I knew. And I didn't tell anyone, Randy, because it wasn't my story to tell.

Somehow, Randy could respect that.

Wes Ikeda: I just wish there was something else we could do for her.

Randy Orton: She's got a little girl without a father, Wes. I have a feeling we're going to have plenty to do for her. She's telling people she doesn't know who her father is. She wants to protect her from him that badly?

Wes Ikeda: You know what it means don't you?

Randy Orton: He'll be back.

Wes Ikeda: And she won't want him anywhere near her or her daughter. And we have to decide if that's fair.

Randy Orton: After everything he's done? I'd say this is justice.

Randy turned his head to look at Wes.

Randy Orton: Congratulations, champ.

Wes nodded, and Randy slapped him on the shoulder, leaving Wes's eyes to follow the back of his head as he walked away.