Chapter 45

WrestleMania XXXI.

Macaria was a ball of nerves, wearing a black skirt with a deep blue sleeveless blouse and her honey blonde hair braided over her shoulder. There was a very strict dress code with WrestleMania, but only certain Superstars didn't have to follow it due to their characters. Dean was one of them. She currently sat in front of a monitor near gorilla position, already done with her work for the day. New champions would need their photos taken after the matches, but other than that, she was free to watch her man claim the Intercontinental championship. Dean hadn't won it from Bad News Barrett at the previous pay-per-view event, Fastlane, and wound up stealing it, which made it bounce all over the roster for the past couple weeks leading into WrestleMania. It was an interesting storyline and now there were 7 men out there vying for the coveted prize. In Dean's eyes, it was more special than the actual world title, which Roman would be winning later that night.

It was the workhorse championship.

Normally, Nyla would come to watch some of the matches with her, but due to last minute changes, she was hard at work. She apologized, both women not telling the other what Vince planned on doing to Seth. Macaria couldn't wait for him to be released and touched her face again in reminder, glad he hadn't done any permanent damage to her. Justice would be served and the Architect would be out of a job before the night was out. It would be a beautiful thing to witness and Nyla promised to be there in time to watch it all go down.

Turning her attention to the monitor, Macaria felt her heart skip a beat at the sight of Dean stalking down to the ring with glasses and his leather jacket on, tossing them both to the side. His eyes were zeroed in on the ring and he was the final combatant to make his entrance. There was nothing special about it, no pyro or anything. Just his music and him stalking to the ring to start off the chaos. She was so proud of him, clasping her hands tightly together and silently prayed he won this match. Being the Intercontinental champion would only increase his growing legacy, brand and name.

During the match, Macaria thought back to the past few days after she reconciled with Dean. Kissing him in her makeshift office and throwing caution to the wind had been the best decision of her life. Something told her everything would work out the way it should and Dean had assured her the same thing. She had freaked out twice, claiming she would lose her job and everything she had worked for if she was with him. Dean had shut her up with a kiss that lead to mind-blowing sex and told her not to worry about it. Did he know about Vince coming back to the company before her? It wouldn't surprise Macaria since Roman was probably the one responsible for it happening, thanks to his parents having a tight bond with the McMahon family.

She had told him all about her new house and car in Vegas and he wanted to see it after the hectic WrestleMania schedule. They would have 5 days off coming up after Smackdown! that coming week. She couldn't wait to go home with Dean, wanting to show him her home and continue the ascent of their relationship. There was nothing stopping them or holding them back from being together now. The Authority was no more. Vince McMahon was back in full control of the WWE, his company, and his daughter and son-in-law would be lucky if they weren't demoted to the ring crew, or worse.

Toward the end of the match, Dean took a lethal powerbomb by Luke Harper over the top rope, breaking the ladder in half. His head struck the rung, busting him open and the camera immediately panned to the other Superstars in the ring. Dean saw stars at first, not realizing his head was busted open and the trainer was right there in the blink of an eye, white gloves on his hands.

"Dean, I have to staple this shut! Hold still!"

"Wait, wha…MOTHER FUCKER!" Dean roared out, hoping the loud crowd, along with the action in the ring, prevented the camera from picking up his NON-PG language.

They had stapled his head, claiming he would go back in the ring, but the trainer declined to do that. They couldn't keep the cut closed completely, which would have blood all over the ring and competitors. Dean had to be taken out of the match and brought to the back to have his head stapled correctly. It was heartbreaking since he could've still gone. Hell, he spilled gallons of blood in the Indy's, so being power bombed through a ladder was nothing to him. However, this was WWE and their wellness policy did not screw around when it came to the safety of the Superstars.

Naturally, the cameras we refollowing him to the back to the trainer's room, wanting to capture this moment in his career. Dean wasn't happy to have cameras in his face, pissed he was taken out of the match. Cameras were all over all day, chronologizing his day at WrestleMania for an upcoming program they would air on the WWE Network. They captured talks with his friend, Drake, as well as William Regal, one of his main mentors while down in FCW/NXT. Dean had a feud with him briefly, two outstanding matches and they were still some of his favorites of all time. William was amazing to work with and they were very good friends, always getting lost talking about wrestling and the older man's career.

"Really, REALLY wanted to be the Intercontinental champion at WrestleMania." He spoke quietly to the cameras while the trainer prepared to staple his head shut. "This one just stings a little bit worse than most other ones. I've never lost at a WrestleMania till tonight, so that's a new feeling. Tonight just wasn't my night." He stared straight ahead, clenching his fists while they continued working on his head. "Oh, I'll have my moment."

"Okay Dean, you're all set. Your head might bleed a little bit tonight, so put a towel down on the pillow or else you'll wake up with the staples sticking to it." The trainer informed him, patting him on the back and went off to check on the other Superstars that needed tended to.

Macaria had waited outside of the trainer's room, spotting a camera crew going in with Dean and didn't want to interfere. When they walked out, along with the trainer, she frowned and took a chance to tap at the door, pushing it open. There he sat on the bedding, little trickles of blood caked to his neck and he looked to be deep in thought. She knew how much he wanted to win the Ladder match, but sometimes things and accidents happened.

"Dean."

The sound of her voice jolted him out of his deep thoughts and he cracked a small smile at her to let her know he was all right. "I'm okay, babe. Come here."

She hugged him, not caring if blood got on her clothes or not and was careful about his head, whispering in his ear how proud she was of him. "You scared me out there. How's your head?" Macaria asked quietly, pulling back to look into his pale blues and softly kissed his lips.

"Meh, been through worse." Dean shrugged, standing from the bedding and needed a shower. "How come you're in here? You told me you still want us to keep our distance from each other at the arenas."

Technically, this was a stadium, but Macaria wouldn't be a smartass about it. "I did. But I had an interesting meeting with Vince McMahon today." That got Dean's attention solely focused on her, his brow raising.

"Yeah? What about?" Vince was back? Since when? Then he remembered Roman telling him about the meeting he had with Stephanie and Nyla, but he hadn't elaborated. "The old man is really back? What did he say?"

She smiled widely, taking his hand and laced their fingers together. "It's better if I just show you. I promised I wouldn't say anything, but you don't wanna miss this. You can shower afterward since Seth's match is on right now."

Dean let her lead him back to gorilla position, which was quite a hike and it was where Vince wanted her and Nyla when the firing went down. Seth had embarrassed these women, the company and his former Shield partners. It was time to get a dose of his own medicine. Smirking down at his excited woman, Dean wrapped an arm around her shoulders to pull her close and kissed the top of her head.

"OH SHIT!" That echoed simultaneously from several of the Superstars watching the match, their eyes glued to the monitor.

Randy Orton had just delivered a DEVASTATING RKO to Seth Rollins from midair!

Even Dean had to admit that was a SICK RKO, especially since Randy had countered a potential curb stomp.

It surprised NO ONE when the three count was made and Randy pinned Seth for the victory. Macaria wasn't nearly as excited about that as what was about to go down. Nyla and Roman arrived just in time, standing with them. Just as Seth came through the curtain, stumbling, trying to get his bearings in order, he was met by a stoic Vince McMahon, Stephanie and Hunter sulking behind him.

When did Vince get back? Why wasn't Seth told? His dark eyes looked up at the owner of WWE, clutching the briefcase against his chest and winced at his sore neck. Randy had already come through the curtain and being congratulated on a job well done by his peers.

"Hello, Mr. McMahon."

Normally, Vince didn't do firing in front of everyone, but tonight, he was making an exception. "Good match out there tonight, Seth." He complimented, directing it to Randy, though that didn't stop Seth from grinning, his ego blowing his head up.

"Yeah well, would've been nice to WIN, but can't win them all." Seth did a thumbs up with his free hand, immediately regretting it when Vince's eyes narrowed on him. "So, what's up?" He was ready to cash in his Money in the Bank briefcase tonight on Roman and Brock to become the new face of WWE.

Nyla made sure Randy won that match, feeling she owed him one since he wasn't making her life miserable with lawyers and a custody battle.

"Seth…" Stephanie clamped her mouth shut as soon as her father's eyes snapped to her, her head lowering again.

Hunter remained silent as well.

"W-What's going on?" Seth stammered, taken aback by the tension surrounding him and could almost sense what was about to happen. "No…no, please! This is my life! This is all I've worked for! You can't do this to me! I AM THE FUTURE OF THIS COMPANY!"

Vince found this sickeningly amusing. He hadn't even said a WORD and Seth already knew what was about to happen. "You're fired, Seth. SECURITY!" He bellowed, waving his hand over and 10 guards were there instantly, swarming Seth. "Take this piece of shit out of MY building! And I'll take THIS too." He snatched the Money in the Bank briefcase away from Seth before he was hauled off, screaming and crying.

All Stephanie and Hunter could do was watch their creation burn to the ground, not having anyone else to blame except themselves.

"Now, what am I going to do with this?" Vince tapped his fingers against the Money in the Bank briefcase thoughtfully, looking amongst the WWE Superstars around him and his eyes stopped on the man who should've won it in the first place. "Ambrose!"

Dean raised a brow, looking down at Macaria, who looked completely clueless and pushed him gently toward the REAL boss. All eyes were on him and it made him feel somewhat uncomfortable. "Vince." He nodded his head, shaking the man's hand and blinked when the briefcase was shoved at him. "Wait, what?"

"You should've won that match last year. I went back and re-watched it and if it wasn't for Kane, you would be Mr. Money in the Bank. So congratulations, you are now." Vince clapped him on the shoulder, watching Dean clutch the briefcase against him and smiled widely.

"I'm sorry, no." A hush fell over the Superstars and Divas as Dean pushed the briefcase back at Vince, shaking his head. "No Vince, not like this. I don't like being handed anything like that. I lost that match. It was no-DQ and I lost. You want me to be Mr. Money in the Bank? Then put it in a match with other dudes and I'll climb the ladder and win it the right way."

Vince admired Dean's tenacity and always had from the moment he stepped foot in WWE. "Very well, tomorrow night on Raw. There will be a ladder match for the Money in the Bank contract. And whoever wins it, whoever can climb the ladder, will be Mr. Money in the Bank. I will reveal who the combatants are before the night is out."

Macaria couldn't have been prouder of her man and stepped up to him, taking his hand to gain his attention. "So now you know why I don't care if anyone knows about us anymore or sees us." She reached up to caress his face with the back of her hand, his forehead lowering to press against hers as his arms wrapped around her body. "I love you, Dean."

"Love you too, Maca." He murmured, loud enough for only her to hear and passionately kissed her in front of everyone, including Stephanie and Hunter.

"I know you're going to win tomorrow."

Dean shrugged, rubbing his nose against hers gently. "Whatever happens, happens. I'm doing what I love and I found the woman I've been searching for in the process. Nothing else can get me down. Nothing else matters. There's no more mendacity keeping us apart, you know what I'm saying?"

Deceit and lies are what kept them apart, but as Stephanie told her, they had found their way back to each other again. Dean went back to his dressing room to quickly shower with Macaria, being careful of the staples in his head. He wouldn't be able to wash his hair until they were out, but that was what dry shampoo was made for. After he was cleansed and he sexed his woman up, along with popping some aspirin, they went back to gorilla position to watch Roman's match against Brock Lesnar.

"And NEW WWE World Heavyweight champion – ROMAN REIGNS!"

"That's my boy!" Dean crowed, pumping his fist in the air while Nyla cried out in joy, tackling him as soon as he came through the curtain.

Roman caught her, wincing from the beating Brock gave him, but the title on his shoulder was well worth the pain and miles he'd traveled the road. They didn't have to tell each other how they felt, both knew and Nyla was exceedingly proud of the journey Roman had taken to get here tonight. Now that the Authority was out of power and gone, and the smoke had cleared, nothing would stand in his and Dean's way. They would probably wind up doing battle once Dean won that Money in the Bank briefcase the next night on Raw, but they would always stay brothers, no matter what.

Walking down the hall with their women, Dean and Roman were the happiest they'd ever been and it was all because of Seth's mendacity.

The Shield split was a blessing in disguise all along.

The End.

**And that's all she wrote, folks! Thank you so much for all the reviews and love! I'm back, baby, and I already got another story idea in mind I'm working on right now. I should be posting the first chapter of that story either tonight or tomorrow! Love you all, much love!**