"How come you never even bothered to tell us?" Shayne nearly gasped as I reached for my armwarmers. Right now, I didn't really focus on the various questions she and Olivia were asking me. I was much too involved with getting ready for my match with Sting against Bully Ray. This was just fucking great. Not only did I have to deal with Winter at Lethal Lockdown in two weeks, but tonight, I had to attempt to beat this guy too? It was becoming way too much for me to handle!

"You were in a relationship with Sting this whole time?" Olivia sputtered, shocked. I gave her the quickest nod I could before tightening the laces on my boots and stomping out the door, leaving my two best friends in a state of wondering.

"She's… not mad at us, is she?" Olivia whispered, running her fingers through her shoulder-length hair. Shayne hesitated before answering, but shook her head.

"Not mad. Just irritated with Immortal. It's got nothing to do with us." she told her. "And honestly, I can't blame her. She has to face Bully Ray. No Knockout has ever done that."

Olivia nodded. "Though, she does have Sting on her side. That's gotta be a one-up."

Shayne wanted to say more, but didn't open her mouth. Silence, she decided, would be far better than a reassuring lie.

As The Icon turned the corner to approach the women's locker rooms, he came across the form of his Knockout's Champion sitting on a chair, face buried in her hands. Almost immediately, he rushed to the brunette woman's side, placing his hands on her shoulders, kneading them gently with his fingertips. Slowly, she looked up to meet his gentle, worried gaze. Sting could see a light film of tears coating Lee's eyes.

"Lee? What's wrong?" he asked her, one of his hands moving to her face to cup her cheek. She sniffled, shaking her head violently.

"I'm so sorry, Sting. I got us into this mess, I did this, it's all my fault. I'm the reason we're in this match with Bully Ray. I messed up big time. I'm sorry baby, I'm so sor-"

He cut her off with a kiss. Not hard, but enough to silence her. His lips melded softly against hers as his hands held her face, to which she kissed him back fiercely, with wanting and need. The passion slowly grew between the two as the kiss continued, but like the several last times, he had to part reluctantly before it could get too serious. Even so, Lee wrapped her arms around him, pulling him to her and resting her face in the crook of his neck, slowly taking in his scent. He smelled faintly of cinnamon and vanilla. The Icon could feel her smile against his skin.

"What would I do without you?" she questioned in a whisper, holding Sting as if he was the most precious treasure in the world, not daring to let go. She didn't need an answer, though. Both of them knew what would happen.

The Icon leaned in again, brushing their lips together before whispering against her mouth, "We'd better start going out there. We've got a member of Immortal to beat."

The Knockout's Champion nodded before giving him another quick kiss. Then she was helped to her feet by Sting before he slipped his hand into hers once more. After giving it a tight squeeze, she smiled at him, to which he gratefully returned. Afterwards, they walked through the backstage area to head towards the arena entrance.

It was time to show Immortal what The Icon and The Badass Knockout were really made of.

"The following contest is scheduled for one-fall, and is a two-one-one mixed handicap match." The words spoken from new ring announcer Christy Hemme caused the arena to erupt into a reaction of cheers. Normally, the face was against two people, but this time, it was the heel that had to deal with two faces. And they weren't just any two faces.

The sound of an instrumental song, starting with a distorted guitar riff blasted throughout the Impact Zone, and if it wasn't any more possible, the audience cheered even louder.

"Introducing first of all, from Venice Beach, California, weighing 259 pounds, he is the TNA World Heavyweight Champion… The Icon, Sting!"

The champion's white, black, and red painted face bore a smile as he flashed his belt to the crowd, showing his usual respect to the fans. If any, his smile grew at the sound of the next entrance theme.

This thing called life goes by so quickly.

One day you're here and then you're gone.

This is a moment I've lived my whole life for,

And I'll never give up, I've waited too long!

"And his partner- from Green Bay, Wisconsin, she is the TNA Knockout's Champion… Lee Aiden!"

A smile graced the brunette's features as she strutted out and down the ramp, raising her hands in the air, much to the delight of the sold-out arena. Sting's arms wrapped around Lee's waist as she turned to face the man beside her, which caused her smile to grow. He then proceeded to dip her low before planting a soft, but passionate kiss on her lips, which cause the crowd to go even more crazy- obviously supporting the relationship of the two champions. It lasted for about ten seconds before the two broke apart, linked hands, and walked towards the ring. After their usual in-ring introductions were shown, The Icon wrapped an arm around her shoulders and brought her close at the sound of their opponent's music.

"And their opponent, from Hell's Kitchen, New York… Bully Ray!"

The member of Immortal came out to a chorus of jeers and boos, to which he simply threw aside, pointing a finger at the couple in the ring, insults spewing from the mouth. The female glared as always, while Sting's expression remained neutral. When he entered the ring and stood in the corner, flashing the chain on his hand at the two of them. Before either of them could react, the bell signaled to start the match.

Sting gently pushed Lee behind him, gesturing for her to step out of the ring. She nodded slowly, climbing through the second and third ropes to stand in the outside corner.

Every move that she watched go between the two wrestlers went by too quickly for her to comprehend the majority of the techniques. Clotheslines, DDT's, attempted submission moves… she just wanted to be tagged in and teach Bully Ray a lesson.

She soon had her chance.

The member of Immortal had managed to stun Sting with a blow to the stomach, to which he slipped the long, thick chain that he carried everywhere out from his pants pocket and proceeded to put him in a chokehold with it. Swiftly and efficiently, she jumped over the outside turnbuckle and attacked him with a powerful double kick to the face, which caused him to fall back and discard the chain.

"Get your slimy hands off my man, you filthy bastard!" she screamed, pointing a shaky finger at Bully Ray as she breathed heavily. Sting stood up and put his arm around Lee's shoulders, escorting her back out of the ring, but paused halfway and tagged her in.

The smirk on her face grew as she once more hopped up to the turnbuckle and planted a flying elbow drop to her opponent's chest. The crowd went nuts.

Then, she noticed the chain.

"Let's see how you like having your own weapon used against you," she muttered, grabbing the steel object and wrapping it around her hand. When Bully Ray had made it to his feet, she rushed forward and smacked him on the head with it. Once, twice, three times. "I'm not going down this time!"

For good measure, she punted him in the skull before going in for the pin.

"1…2…3!"

The bell rang for their victory. Lee, unlike normal, did not celebrate her victory. She simply stared at Bully Ray lying limp on the floor. One of the members of Immortal she had actually defeated. Though she didn't show it on the outside, however, she was cheering just as loud as the crowd on the inside.

"Here are your winners, the team of Sting and Lee Aiden!"

The Icon made his way into the ring and brought the Knockout's Champion into an embrace, gently stroking her hair to calm her down. Eventually, he felt her relax in his hold and wrap her arms around his back, burying her face in his chest.

"You did it." He whispered, smiling against her hair.

She managed a faint giggle. "Thanks."

But even though she had beaten Bully Ray, there were still eight members of Immortal to take down. And plus, there was her match with Winter two weeks from now.

She still had a lot of work ahead of her.

"Oww, damn it." I muttered through gritted teeth as Rob cleaned up one of my wounds from the earlier match with a pad of rubbing alcohol. And god, did it hurt like a bitch. He chuckled slightly and patted my shoulder comfortingly, flashing me a sympathetic smile.

"Hey, look at it this way- you're the first Knockout ever to beat up a member of Immortal. That takes serious balls, Lee."

I shrugged, blowing a strand of hair out of my face. "I guess…"

"You guess?" Rob stared at me. "You've gotta be more sure than that." To be funny, he reached out and tapped my nose, which earned a squeak out of me. "No knockout has even come close to what you did out there tonight. You proved to everyone that no one messes with you and goes away without a fight."

I sat there, absorbing his words. He was right, I was just denying it. I had accomplished a great feat. Though for the moment it was still sinking in, I knew I would come to realize it eventually.

I had beaten Bully Ray, a member of Immortal.

Rob chuckled as he saw my face change expressions before bandaging up the injuries and patting me on the back, to which I nearly jumped off the table to hug him. Laughing, he patted my shoulder and shooed me out the door.

I was eager for some rest the second I arrived back at my hotel room, but knew it would only last until the following morning. So the second I heard the knock on my door, I was fully prepared, dressed in a tank top and sweatpants and ready to train. I thought at first it was going to be Rob, Olivia and Shayne at my door, but I was met with a surprise as I stared two brothers in the face, both with smiles on their faces.

"Ready to train some more for Lockdown?" they asked simultaneously.

I nodded and flashed them a grin, following Jeff and Matt Hardy out the door.

Ladders. The first thing that met Lee's eyes when she stepped into the training room. Typical of the Hardy brothers to assist her in this type of weapon. It was their specialty.

"So… what exactly are you gonna teach me with ladders? How to fix a screw on the cage?" she chuckled at her own joke. Jeff ruffled her hair, giving her an identical grin.

"That, and a couple of other things." he replied, climbing into the ring with the brunette close behind. Matt eventually stepped in from the other side, holding a steel ladder in his hands and setting it down.

"So obviously, ladders are going to be harder to use than chairs," he started, to which Lee nodded. Much harder than chairs, she noted. She still had a bruise on her leg from training with Rob. "But as you know, we're masters at ladder matches, so that's what we're here to train you for."

The brunette gave the elder Hardy a nod of understanding before walking closer and touching the steel of the ladder. Jeff placed a hand on her shoulder. "So, what do you want to start off with first?"

Lee placed a tentative finger to her mouth, letting her gaze wander to the ceiling before speaking up. "Well… you know that one move you both do with the ladder sometimes? Where you bring it into the ring, then throw it at them before giving them a double dropkick?" A nod from the younger Hardy allowed her to continue, "I'd like to try that, at least. Maybe I could use that move at Lockdown to throw off Winter."

Jeff responded by slipping out of the ring and returning with a ladder- smaller than the ones normally used, but because it was for practice purposes. Matt moved out of the way so Jeff and the Knockout's Champion could square off with the ladder in the ring.

"Now," Jeff started, "you pick it up, obviously, then throw it to your opponent to throw them off, like you want to, and then you give 'em a drop kick to the chest. Or, you know, wherever the ladder might be when they're holding it."

Lee nodded as Jeff handed her the ladder, signaling for her to try. Only hesitating slightly, she tossed the ladder into the younger Hardy's outstretched arms before jumping up to deliver a quick dropkick to the rungs of the ladder. She saw him stumble, but regain his footing after a few seconds.

"Alright, that was good," Jeff spoke. "Now try it with Matt, and kick a little harder this time. Don't be afraid to kick us." He chuckled.

The other, older brother climbed into the ring, and Lee went through the same technique several more times, alternating between the two Hardy's. After about three hours, they allowed the training to end.

"Keep it up, Lee." Matt smiled at her. "If you're this good already, then Winter won't stand a chance at Lockdown."

She managed to give him an identical grin, but thought to herself, I hope you're right, Matt. I really hope you're right.