Holly Adams vs. Selena Frost

[SnowQueenSCW]

OOC: Posted in two parts due to length.

Project: Black Ice

”Parallels”

Tony’s Di Napoli
1081 3rd Avenue New York, New York
January 21st, 2022
6:53pm

Selena sat quietly at the table, her breathing calm after the near panic she had had in fear of missing their reservation. Fortunately, the maître d’ had assured her that she was on time and had escorted her to her table, even giving her a once over appraisal of her dress – a far cry than the first time she had been here.

Quietly, Selena observed herself. She had chosen a dress that held a flowing double-skirt, the top layer white to match her corset, and the under layer a dark purple that matched the embroidery of said corset. The sleeves were white with only a purple accent at the wrist, and the shoulder coverings were the same dark purple. If Selena walked the right way – and years of being ‘trained’ by Anastasia DeCarlo had forced her to do so on instinct – the purple of the skirt could be seen through the high slit that ran to the middle of her thigh, revealing matching slippers. Her hair was tied back at the top but flowed freely at the bottom and she had matching eyeliner, the dark purple of her dress, only a little to as to accentuate the sapphire of her eyes. She kept her lips pale and devoid of lipstick… she knew she was going to be kissing her ‘date’ many times and had no desire to ruin her wife’s face with it.

Taking a moment, the Snow Queen took stock of the room, her eyes scanning the low-arched ceilings of bricks of the Italian restaurant. Little had changed and she was grateful for it. She saw only a few other people in the room with her, sitting at their tables quietly. No one paid her any mind, sitting in the quiet corner by the wine racks – again, something she was grateful for.

Deanna had been right. This was needed. Her haven had been shaken by Holly Adams’ actions and the actions of the Brand. They had instilled doubt and she wanted to be free of all that, if only to get her head on straight and be more ready for her match with Holly at Body, Heart and Soul.

The waiter introduced himself but Selena quickly, and politely sent him away, explaining she was still waiting for her date – although she did make one special order. After waking up in her wife’s arms a few days ago, Selena had made all the arrangements and instructions for the staff on where to take Deanna when the redhead arrived…

I can’t believe we still do this… Selena smiled to herself. In ‘this’, she was referring to how she and her wife ‘dated’. Six years of marriage and they still had these date nights once in a while, where they would either ‘meet’ at a place or one would ‘pick up the other’, allowing for the ‘surprises’ that came with ordinary dates. Deanna had chosen to ‘meet up’ and, as had become the usual with them, Selena had no idea how her wife would look or even when she would appear.

We did say 7pm… she thought as she perused the menu, steering clear of the alcoholic beverage section of drinks. I hope she didn’t get stuck in traffic… The thought worried her, because it was a slippery slope into worrying about worse events, given the New York City street life that could happen.

For Selena, she had dressed and left an hour ago, ensuring plenty of time to get here fully prepared. When she had called out to Deanna that she was leaving and would see her there, the redhead had just shouted that she’d ‘see her there’ before jumping into the shower. Did she take a cab? That would have been the smart thing, Selena surmised as it would allow her to take Deanna home with her vehicle.

Quietly, she took a deep breath to calm herself. Deanna was as much a New Yorker as Selena was. She knew the streets and how to keep safe – more than that, she knew how to take care of herself. Hell, she had proven that last Breakdown.

I still can’t believe she floored Cid Turner… and almost won us the match by pinning Giovanni! a familiar swell of pride filled her chest. It didn’t matter to the Snow Queen that her wife hadn’t won a match yet. She was getting better every time she was in the ring and Selena knew it would only be a matter of time before her beloved started achieving her own wins when matches came her way.

Maybe… she bit her lower lip, allowing her mind to drift a little in musing. What if she became a champion… while I held the World title… or maybe in a few years, we became tag-team champions together… The first was beyond possible. Why not? Did not they have a television title for newcomers like Deanna? And Syren and Ravyn had been married and tag-team champions many times! Anything was possible…

And Selena could not deny the butterflies such ideas gave her. She had already been tag-team champions with her sister, Regan, and shared such beautiful moments with her wife like the main-event at Rise to Greatness – “The Unbelievable Main Event” – she could only imagine how it would feel if she could watch Deanna be the one winning titles and smiling at her the way Selena had smiled at the redhead when the Snow Queen had won such matches… 

Selena closed her eyes and sent a quiet prayer for it… if it was in the cards… She still needs more time and I need to get past Holly and the Brand-

The sound of footsteps filled her ears and, immediately, she jerked her head up, banishing any thoughts of work from her mind, as promised by the Frost wives days ago. Sadly, it was only one of the waiters, walking to another table. With another calming breath, Selena felt it almost hitch as she spied the maître-d walk into view, gesturing towards her table with his hand and a smile. 

Immediately, Selena pushed herself out of her chair and to her feet, just in time to see the waterfall of red hair stroll into sight. 

And the Snow Queen almost laughed out loud. 

For as the redhead drew closer, Selena spied her black jeans, her dark-green sweater, and her long, charcoal-gray coat – a casual dress that was both funny and beautiful on her wife.

Lifting her gaze up, sapphire eyes met emerald ones, and Selena gazed upon an equally surprised and amused expression on her wife as the younger Frost took in the sight of her minx.

“Oh no…” Deanna said in a wisp.
“I know.” Exhaled Selena, shaking her head in disbelief as they stood only a few feet away from each other.

“Not again.” They both said at the same time, the laughter clear in their voices.

***************************************

Tony’s Di Napoli
1081 3rd Avenue New York, New York
April 24th, 2015
7:03pm

“Crap…crap…crap…” Selena huffed as she ran down the street, trying hard to jump and dart around any pedestrian that was travelling down the same sidewalk as her. The wind was blowing quite a bit and the rain had just started to fall, but she kept running. “I am so late…” she whispered as she ran. “Great going, Selena. She’s going to think you’re a flake!”

She almost bowled into an old woman walking her dog but managed to side-step in time before turning the right corner and reach the door to the restaurant, flinging it open and rushing inside. Stopping to take a deep breath, the young wrestler shook her coat carefully to remove any raindrops that had fallen on her and checked her hair, tied up in its iconic braid. 

“Hi…” she spoke as she turned her head towards the man standing at the podium, who regarded her ‘entrance’ into the establishment with a look of surprise. “I’m sorry about the loud entrance – just uh… I was running late, because of parking and…” the man said nothing, merely patiently waiting for Selena to finish speaking, which her embarrassment caused her to do. “Umm… reservations for 7pm under ‘Frost/Springs’.” She bit her lower lip, looking down at her hands, wishing she could make herself invisible and just sneak into the restaurant and appear in at the right table.

“Right this way.” The man replied, guiding with his hand further into the Italian dinery. Gulping a little, and perhaps to avoid any death glares from the people who were still waiting to be seated, Selena silently obeyed the man, following behind him.

“You said you were stuck in traffic?” he offered, trying to strike up a conversation.
“Yes…” Selena whispered, reaching up with both hands to squeeze and tug on her platinum-blonde braid, which was only a little damp from the rain – she had been lucky. “I mean…it was actually trying to find a parking spot. I ended up having to go three blocks away.”

“Heh…” the man laughed. “New York, am I right?”

“I guess.” Selena replied. In truth, she had only been living in Manhattan, in a small abode, for about 16 months now, of which she had spent most of her time travelling between SCW, IWC, and other promotions, preventing her from really staying there long enough to ‘learn the ways of New Yorkers’. Still, she didn’t really need to know the people of the city. If they were anything like Nome, then being ‘distant’ and ‘unknown’ to them was all for the better, she was sure.

Besides, tonight wasn’t about them…

Turning the corner, Selena’s eyes took in the archways of bricks and stone that lined the ceilings and walls, like Tusken-Italian style, or at least it seemed that way to her. She could see the multiple tables set out and many people filling the room with their conversations and enjoyment of the evening. 

Yet, as her eyes scanned the room, she couldn’t see the one person she wanted to. She was about to ask the suited man, but he was quickly on the move again, making the shorter woman follow. He only walked another twenty or so strides until he reached the end of the room.

And there… sitting in the corner at her own table-

Selena’s breath hitched in her throat as she beheld the woman. She was beautiful. She wore a form-fitting emerald-green gown that shined a little under the light. Her hair, as red as Selena’s was white, was loose in the back with two braids wrapped around and tied at the back of her head, her face gazing over the menus. 

“Ahem.” The guide cleared his throat, earning the attention of the young woman, who looked up and, upon finding Selena’s eyes, smiled brightly, pushing herself out of her chair. “You made it!” her voice, like a song, lifted as she made her way over to Selena, immediately reaching out to take her by the elbows. “I was just about to call your cell.”

“I’m sorry.” Selena half-laughed. “I couldn’t find a parking space. I spent twenty minutes looking and then running-“ she stopped as she spied movement from the corner of her eye, but it was only the gentleman - the correct term is maître-d. Selena finally reminded herself – excusing himself, leaving the two women alone.

With the break in their greetings, Deanna Springs was finally able to regard her date. “Wow.” She smiled. “I feel like we both had different ideas of dress for a date.”

Biting her lower lip, Selena regarded herself fully and, immediately, felt the wave of shame fill her. There her date was, dressed to the nines, looking like something from Esquire or from a movie… she was close enough that she could see the way Deanna had added a touch of makeup to her eyes and cheeks to make her features pop. How her dress held a bit of cleavage but not distastefully so like she had seen for several of the women she wrestled in SCW and elsewhere. 

In short, Selena’s date looked stunning and Selena felt the attraction immediately, like she always did with Deanna. And here the wrestler was, dressed in black jeans, a magenta shirt, and her leather jacket. It was like a biker or some kind of gangster trying to date the epitome of a noble lady.

“I’m so sorry…” she tried, pulling away to wrap her arms around herself, her eyes now locked on the floor. “I can’t believe I didn’t think… I thought that we would just-“ she felt her body shake with uncertainty and doubt. Was this all a mistake? Was it a sign that she and Deanna were so apart and mismatched – that they were wrong for each other? Yes, they had been through so much since Selena had met her in Kentucky over a month and some ago, and clearly there was some kind of chemistry there if those kisses after the Snow Queen’s match at SCW’s Flawless was any indication…

But what kind of idiot fucks up their first date like this?

“Hey…hey…” she felt warm hands take hers and looked up to see Deanna smiling gently at her. “In all fairness, I did say ‘wear whatever you’re comfortable wearing’.”

“Yeah, and I should have known that was code for ‘something other than what you usually wear’.” She looked down to regard herself again, feeling like she was wearing a garbage bag compared to the lady standing before her.

A pair of fingers went under her chin, lifting it up to allow sapphire eyes to meet emerald ones. “I think you look gorgeous.” Deanna smiled, her words causing the older woman to half-laugh, half-scoff.
“Compared to you?” she asked. “You’re…you’re… I don’t have the words to say how beautiful you are.”
“Ooo.” Deanna teased, tilting her head playfully. “Such a charmer.”

Biting her lower lip, Selena looked away, her nervousness getting the best of her. With the night already starting off rocky with her being late and, clearly, in the wrong state of attire, she wanted nothing more than to hit rewind and have a do-over. Still, she didn’t want to simply blow this night… not when she clearly had ‘something’ with this woman. 

Removing her coat to reveal the magenta shirt fully, Selena placed the coat on the back of her chair before moving around to pull Deanna’s seat out for her, helping the dressed redhead sit back at the table before taking her own seat on the other side.

“Have you ever been here?” Deanna asked.
“Oh no.” Selena shook her head. “This part of town is way too pricey for me.”
“Oh…” Deanna looked around, suddenly rather concerned. “Is it alright that we’re here? I mean… I don’t want to put you out. I’m good with staying at home with pizza and-“

Selena held up a hand. “Deanna…” she tried. “I’ve got it.” She promised. “I wanted to take you out on a real date, didn’t I? I’ve screwed up twice already, but I am sure I can cover this. And…” she was back to looking at her pale hands. “I’ve kind of wanted to take you on a real date for awhile now.”

“You did?” Deanna asked, her emerald eyes very bright and full of glee.
“Yeah.” Selena nodded, daring to cast a glance up to the woman sitting across from her. “I mean… not just ‘me showing you the world outside of Kentucky’, but a real date that adults do.”
“Well, I’m an adult now.” Deanna smiled. “Actually, fun fact. I was already an adult before I met you.”
“You were?” Selena asked, somewhat surprised.
“Mmmmhmm.” Deanna nodded. “Legal age is 16 in Kentucky – but I guess here, I just became one again. I wonder if I can get two parties or something?” she thought distantly for a moment, earning a laugh from Selena. “And for the record, you didn’t screw up this date. Least I don’t think so.”

“Well, that is sweet of you to say.” Selena smiled. “But if my mother found out that I had a ) shown up late for anything and b ) shown up in this attire-“ she gestured to herself. “So casual? She would have skinned me alive.”

“Well, I am not your mother.” Deanna smiled with a tilt of your head. “And I am just happy that you are here with me.”
“Likewise.” Selena replied shyly. 

The waiter soon found them, a rather polite young woman with blonde hair. She gave her usual spiel of specials and freshness of the lobsters and what was on tap.

“Can I start you off with drinks?” she asked, her voice a bit higher than Selena was comfortable with.

“I’ll have the-“ Selena stopped herself. She was about to order the Prosecco but stopped herself, not because of the price, but because of the fact that it was an alcoholic drink. Immediately, her memory jumped back to the first night she and Deanna had had – part of the prize Deanna had when she had ‘won’ Selena at an auction in Kentucky at the end of last month. Selena had gotten drunk off of one incredibly strong drink – ‘The Patriot’ – and the night had gone…

No, she refused to do that again. Not to Deanna –

“Water.” She replied. “Water’s fine.”
“Very well.” The waitress replied, turning her attention towards Deanna. “And you, miss.”

Immediately, emerald eyes stared over at Selena, the redhead worrying her lower lip with her teeth. “Order whatever you want.” Selena assured gently, even smiling to assure the younger girl of such a decision.

“Um…” Deanna cast her gaze down at the menu. “I have a dumb question. Do you guys make custom drinks?”
“Of course.” The woman smiled. “For specialty orders and drinks, we certainly do. Our bar is chalked full with different drinks and liquids. Did you have something in mind?”
“Well, it’s a drink…” Deanna wrung her fingers, pulling on them with her other hand. “Do you have anything with chocolate in it?”
“Chocolate?” the waitress asked.
“If it’s not possible, I get it.” Deanna assured. “But anything non-alcoholic and chocolatey. Like chocolate milk or something? The chocolatier, the better!”

The waitress regarded Deanna for a moment before casting a glance at Selena, then back at Deanna, offering her a smile and a nod. “Let me ask who’s on bar. He might have something.”
“Thank you so much.” Deanna smiled.

Excusing herself, the woman left the two women sitting there, Selena returning her gaze to Deanna. “Chocolate milk?” Selena smiled in surprise.
“What?” Deanna asked. “What’s wrong with chocolate milk?”
“Nothing.” Selena shook her head. “I’m just surprised. I’m pretty sure they wouldn’t card you if you asked for wine or something.”
Deanna shrugged. “I like chocolate.”
“Me too.” Selena replied, or at least she was sure she did. “I haven’t had a chocolate beverage in… oh wow… I can’t remember when.”
“You can’t?!” Deanna asked, eyes wide. “I got a chocolate milkshake yesterday morning!”
“I know.” Selena rolled her eyes good-naturedly. “I watched you drink it.”
“Don’t knock it till you’ve tried it…again…” Deanna teased. “I’m surprised you don’t remember the last time you had chocolate. That should be a federal crime.”
“Oh yes.” Selena laughed. “She’s under the legal chocolate limit! To prison with her!” 

The two shared a laugh but then grew silent. “Can I ask why not?” Deanna finally asked. 
“Probably because I had a different kind of addiction.” Selena sighed, her eyes grazing over the ‘wine list’ menu that sat near her.

Following her eyes, Deanna spied the paper before returning her gaze to Selena. “You ever think about quitting?”
Her eyes still on the menu, Selena took a deep breath before looking at Deanna. “More so lately, given what happened last month. Drinking was always my escape – or painkiller, if you will. But lately…” she took a deep breath. “It’s part of the person I was. And I’m trying to change that.”

“I’m glad you are.” Deanna offered. “From what you’ve told me, you were so unhappy. I don’t like that for you.”
“You’re kind.” Selena smiled. “But it’s a long road ahead.”
“Yep. And I’ll be there to help you all the way.”
“All the way?” Selena repeated. “I mean, it could take years.”
“Yep.” Deanna nodded.
“You’re okay for that long?”
“Like I said…” Deanna stated, tucking a strand of red hair behind her ear. “I’m in this for as long as you want me with you.”

She had heard it before, but it still floored the platinum-blonde to hear such words so unashamedly. So brazenly. 

“Deanna…” she started but was cut off when a large glass was brought to them. Inside was pure brown, so dark that Selena was certain she saw parts that were black. At the top was a heaping helping of what looked like whipped cream with shavings of cocoa-chocolate on it. It looked like a work of art… and would have taken her entire attention of not for the wide-eyed, huge grin of her date.

“Italian style cioccolata calda.” The waitress offered with a smile. “The bartender said he’s been itching to give this to someone.”
“A fellow chocolateer!” Deanna bit her lower lip in excitement. “Tell him I can’t wait!”

Once more, the waitress excused herself after bringing Selena her water. 

“I honestly don’t know where to begin!” Deanna laughed, moving her head around the glass in wonder, trying to find a ‘spot’ to begin consumption. The young wrestler sipped her water as Deanna even tried turning the glass on the spot, albeit carefully, to try and find that magic point. “Do I… do I just dive in?”

“I would.” Selena laughed, giving the redhead a shrug of her shoulders.
“Okay…” Deanna took a deep breath to steady herself before casting a suddenly look at Selena, as if an idea struck her. “I’ll go first, then you gotta try it!”
“Me?” Selena asked. “No, it’s your drink.”
“You need to remember the last time you drank chocolate, Selena!” declared Deanna. “It’s Chocolaw!”
“Chocolaw?”
“Like chocolate…but lawful!” Deanna explained. 
“And who upholds this law?”
“I do.” The redhead explained. “Now come over here and try it after me!”

Giving the notion a second to think about, Selena pulled her chair out and moved around the table to sit beside the younger beauty. She had barely lowered herself to her seat when she heard Deanna say, “Okay!” and dived into the drink tilting to try and get some of the dark liquid and whipped-cream together into her mouth. Her eyes flew open as she pulled back, white foam of the cream surrounding her lips and bottom of her nose. Biting her lower lip, Selena did her best to avoid laughing out loud.

“Holy cats…” Deanna gasped. “That is good!” she added, wiping the cream off her face with her finger before carefully pushing the large glass towards Selena. “Your turn!” she declared. 

Turning her head, Selena bit her lower lip. She could where Deanna had ‘entered’ to drink the beverage and she was debating whether to follow that lead – thus sharing an indirect kiss of sorts with her date – or find a more appropriate section. Carefully, she lifted the glass to her lips and tried to drink the concoction. The cream foam hit her first, across the top of her lip, as the drink slid under and into her mouth.

Her eyes widened in surprise. The drink was so rich! So much chocolate! It was amazing! Her tastebuds tingled at the sugar and dark chocolate! “Whoa…” she gasped as she sat back. “That is so good!” she declared, immediately regretting the days, months, however long since she had had chocolate like this!

“Right?!” Deanna asked as she watched Selena wipe the whipped cream off her lip and chin with a napkin. “Uh…You uh…” she tried before, once more, an idea struck her. Without hesitating, the redhead leaned in, pressing her tongue against Selena cheek, licking the warm, soft skin playfully. 

Like being doused with cold water, Selena’s spine went stiff as she felt two distinct things. The cold of Deanna’s tongue and heat shooting downward towards her core. Sapphire eyes went wide as she jerked her head towards Deanna, who licked her lips happily. “You missed a spot on your face.” She explained. 

“I missed a…” Selena’s mouth hung open, disbelief etched into her features. “You are…” she tried, shaking her head. “I don’t even know.” 
“Good.” Deanna smiled sweetly. “Because I have no clue either. I’m just…me.”
“Yeah.” Selena nodded. “And it’s incredible. I wish I could be like that…”
“Like what?” Deanna asked, giving a tilt of her head.

“Like that.” Selena repeated. “All I’ve been thinking about all day was this date and being so afraid of screwing it up, but you… you’re so relaxed and happy and not nervous-“
“What…” the redhead help up her hand to quiet the Snow Queen. “You think I’m not nervous?”

It was Deanna’s turn to sigh a little. “Selena.” She spoke softly, but directly. “I’ve been nervous since I woke up this morning. This…” she gestured to her dress. “Was the fourth dress I tried on today. I must have tried eight or nine different hairstyles in the bathroom… I mean, hell, when you were running late, I assumed you came to your senses and didn’t want to date some kid like me.”

“You’re not a kid.” Selena reprimanded. “You’re a woman.”

“But, I mean… you think you were nervous? I’m some nobody from Kentucky on a date – a REAL date – with Selena Frost. A date that…maybe…” she shrugged, her tone hopeful. “Maybe might lead to more… But then you sat down and you told me how you were feeling and everything… and now, all I want to do is make sure you enjoy tonight. It doesn’t have to be a date, Selena. We can just be two people spending time together. No pressure. No expectations.” She gave a sigh. “I like you.” She admitted. “I REALLY like you.”

“I know.” Selena smiled. “And I really like you.”

“But if tonight being ‘a date’ is going to jinx us or make us something we’re not, then we’ll make it something else. We’ll make up a word for it if we have to. Just…” she reached out a hand to take Selena’s into hers. “Please don’t be anyone other than yourself. That’s who I want to be here with. Be you.”

“Be me?” Selena asked, her eyes drifting towards the drink of chocolate just a few inched away. “You sure?”
“Yes.” Deanna replied. “Be you and I’ll be the happiest woman here.”

With a long exhale from her nose, Selena reached out, not to Deanna, but to the drink, where she swiped a good chunk of whipped-cream from the top of the drink that remained. Bringing it between her and Deanna, she gazed down at it before casting her glance at Deanna, who also had her eyes on the cream-colored finger.

“Okay…” Selena whispered before reaching out and swiping the cream-finger across Deanna’s lips, turning them white for a moment. She licked the remaining off her finger before smiling at Deanna. “Don’t worry, I wasn’t giving you a mustache.” She teased. “Still want me to be me?”
“Yes.” Deanna shrugged, nonplussed. 

Selena didn’t wait a second after that word left Deanna’s lips, pushing herself as close to Deanna as possible and swiping her tongue over where her finger had gone, licking up the cream against Deanna’s lips, but she did not stop there. As soon as the redhead opened her mouth to gasp, Selena’s tongue switched directions and dove into her mouth, tasting chocolate and sugar along the softness of Deanna’s own tongue, turning Deanna’s shocked gasp slowly into a deep moan. 

It was only for a moment before Selena pulled back, wiping at her lip with her thumb to remove any chocolate and cream from the exchange. She felt a mixture of embarrassment – a “WHY THE HELL DID I JUST DO THAT” – and a hunger for more – a “I WANT TO DO THAT AGAIN!” – rampaging through her, but she dared not speak or move after that, her eyes locked onto the younger woman, who looked more like a deer in the headlights.

“Okay…” Deanna breathed, placing a hand over her heart. “Calm down, girl.” She told herself. “Almost had a heartache there.” She took a few slow breaths, even fanning herself with her hand before turning her gaze towards the woman. “You…” she sighed, a smile tracing her features. 

“I what?” Selena asked nervously, the confidence she had temporarily had in that spur-of-the-moment kiss long gone.

“You taste better than the chocolate.” Deanna whispered, a blush coming to both of their faces from such a confession…
**************************************

“I can’t believe you got the cuccio-something something!” Deanna explained as she sipped her hot beverage, almost purring like a content cat as she sat against her seat facing Selena.
“Cioccolata calda.” Selena corrected. “But I asked them not to include whipped-cream this time around.”

“Aww…” Deanna pouted, her lower lip sticking out. “No fun.”
“I still can’t believe we did that.” Selena smiled, a little embarrassed as she slowly, and more gracefully, sipped her own glass of hot-chocolate.

“I know.” Deanna laughed. “I was so nervous – I figured there was a fifty percent shot you’d either dump me then and there or it be a homerun.”
“Oh, it was a homerun, alright.” Selena laughed. “And then you asked me to do what I want – to be me.”
“No regrets there.” The redhead winked as she took another drink of chocolatey goodness.
“Except I was certain we’d get kicked out for such behaviour. Thank Odin we didn’t go to a Michelin restaurant.”

“Those places were always too uptight for me.” Deanna shook her head. “I mean, why can’t you wear trackpants and still look like a queen? You do it.”
“I think that might be a tad bias of an opinion, pet.” Selena smiled knowingly. “But so do you.”

The two sat in silence for a few minutes, simply staring into each other’s eyes for a few minutes, neither saying a word, not because they didn’t want to, but because what they wanted to say-

“I want to talk about work.” Selena admitted.
“Oh, thank Odin! Me too!” Deanna laughed, grabbing her chair and moving it around to sit beside her wife. “We’re out here on a date, and all I can think about now is: What are we going to do?”
“I have no idea.” Laughed Selena. “Is it wrong to hope that Jordan puts Cid in a state of soreness where even Gleebnorb can’t get him to leave his changeroom?”
“Jordan, Valentine, Brittany – I’m not even picky who does it.” Deanna shrugged.

It wasn’t that they wished ill will on Cid Turner to the point of injury. Far from it. But the former World Champion had, by choice, pissed off one too many people. What was headed his way at Body, Heart and Soul was comeuppance, much in the same way, the Frosts believed, there needed to be for Holly and the rest of the Brand.

“Plus, one less Brand member means one less person interfering in the match.” Deanna reasoned with a shrug. “I much rather only have to worry about Giovanni rather than having to worry about him and Cid and Cookie- Selena?”

The Snow Queen had adopted a distant look across her features. “Hmmm?” she asked, snapping back to the present.
“You zoned out for a second there. Everything okay?”
“Oh…” Selena looked away for a moment, running a hand through her medium-length platinum-blonde hair. “It’s just…the last time we talked about this…”

Immediately, a warm hand grasped Selena’s pale one. “She’s not here, Selena.” Deanna whispered affectionately, giving the hand a small, tender squeeze of assurance. “She’s not spying on us.”

The Snow Queen offered her beloved a ghost of a smile, but it was harder to believe than just simple words. It had been some time since someone was so desperate to, not just beat Selena, but to try and ruin her. Those like Xander Valentine, Christy Matthews, Vixen Cain – only a few had tried to this degree… and it always frightened Selena. Not because she feared for herself, her reputation or falling to ‘the dark side’ as some of them had said, but fearing how badly everything she loved outside of SCW, including her wife and children, would be caught up in the crossfire…

“Deanna…” Selena sighed, squeezing her wife’s hand. “We… we just got back our forever home. Without you, I couldn’t…” she shook her head as she felt tears prick behind her eyes. “I couldn’t even visit it more than a few times. I definitely couldn’t live there – I couldn’t see our kids there… It was just an empty house without you.”

It was the most raw truth Selena could admit to – how she had taken the kids during Deanna’s incarceration at Frankfurt and made a ‘new life’ for almost two years in Castle Schoenburg, Oberwessel. How she stayed out of Manhattan for most, if not all, of it, the pain too great to endure – of her home, their home, without Deanna.

“Now we just get it back – we get OUR private lives and our home back – and all I can think about is Holly trying to uglify it like she has tried to everything else in our lives. My career, you being a wrestler, our marriage, how we look and dress, our beliefs and morals –“

“Selena!” Deanna tried, grasping her wife’s hand tighter, causing Selena to slam her eyes shut to keep the tears from falling. A moment passed where Selena tried to calm herself down, but it was Deanna’s voice that grabbed her attention. “You were all I had in that prison.”

Opening her eyes, Selena saw her redhead staring at their joined hands, her thumbs running lazy circles into the skin. “The fact that there wasn’t a single night for almost two years where I could go to sleep with you in my arms. That I had to watch our children grow through a screen or behind a table every few days rather than in our kitchen or family room or out in our front yard. Every night, if I wasn’t crying about ‘why I was there’, I was crying about being there instead of our home… being with you.” She lifted her eyes to regard her beloved. “Those fourth Mondays of the month” – the conjugal visits – “They became the closest thing to home that I could have and I clung to them with all I had.”

She took a deep breath before freeing one of her hands to reach out and caress Selena’s face. “So I get it. I get that you’re scared of losing our home. I don’t want to lose it either. Not when we just got it back. Not when we just found it again.”

A nod and a long sigh escaped the Snow Queen. “I have to beat her.” Selena whispered, more to herself than to Deanna. “Or we’ll never be free of The Brand. They’ll always have ‘one over on us’. They’ll always have a reason to ‘justify’ all they’ve done and they’ll do it again if it works for them this Sunday.”

Seeing the turmoil in her wife, Deanna regretted allowing them to let work slip into their date. Why couldn’t we have talked about vacation plans? Or maybe Elsianna’s school projects – anything but this…

Fortunately, the waiter returned to check in on the couple, breaking the train of negative thoughts surrounding the two. “Have you decided to order?”
“Actually, we might need a-“ Deanna started before she saw a slight smile come to Selena’s face, surprising the redhead. “Unless Selena…you know…”

“I might.” Selena smirked before turning the menu over to Deanna. “Bottom of the right corner before the sides.”

Scanning the page, Deanna saw the dinner item, and the three digit price that came with it. “Oh…” she smirked. “Oh this is just you getting even with the first time we were here…”

“Absolutely.” Smirked the Snow Queen before turning to the waiter. “That black linguine with the fresh shrimp and culatello beef…”

************************************

”So… what I wanna know…” Deanna asked, biting into a piece of side sausage. “Is where do you see yourself going in five years?”

The question caught Selena off-guard as the two women enjoyed their platter of sausages, cheeses and meatballs. Because of the high prices of the entree meals, the two had opted (at Deanna’s insistence) for a series of the cheaper side dishes at the bottom of the menu, while enjoying their water and sharing what remained of the single chocolate beverage.

“Five years from now?” Selena asked as she nibbled on a meatball.
“Yeah, like that old question. Where do you see yourself in five years kind of thing? Like with work. Are you going to keep working for different promotions?”

The platinum-blonde seemed to think about this for a minute before shaking her head. “I don’t think so. I’d like to, when I get good enough, be able to set up roots in one federation. We’ve managed okay so far but it’s been exhausting wrestling so many days a week with little to no time off.” She admitted.

“You think you could set up roots in SCW?”

“I…” Selena sucked in her lower lip at the question. “I like to think so.” She looked away wistfully, her hands fiddling with her braid. “There’s…there’s something about it. I mean, when I first started, it was just to make money and be free of my mother. But just… the past year has been the hardest and the most rewarding, especially in SCW. For all the bad people there, so many people believe in it and I…”

“You’re really getting swept up in it.” Deanna smiled, her head resting on her hands, elbows on the table. 
“I really am.” Selena grinned, showing her white teeth. “Ever since Mr. D. let me into that chamber match last year against New Eden at Total War to fight for SCW and what it stood for… I just… did you ever feel like you found your true calling? Like you found the thing you were meant to do with your life?”

“Yes.” Deanna answered with another smile, earning a tilt of the head from Selena. “Remember when you fired Mr. Veers and was scrambling to get your affairs in order and I helped you?”
“That was when I made you my schedule advisor and assistant.” Selena replied. “Really?”
“Yep.” Deanna confirmed. “The second I helped you with that and that Twitter auction, I felt it. Like I was meant to do this.”

“And when did dating me come into it?” Selena raised an eyebrow teasingly as she helped herself to a piece of cheese on their plate.
“That…was a welcome unexpectation.” Deanna answered a little shyly, a slight blush gracing her cheeks.
“An ‘unexpectation’?” Selena asked. “Is that even a word?”
“Doesn’t have to be if you know what it means.” The redhead countered with a playful huff, crossing her arms to complete the picture.
“Deanna…” Selena played along, tugging at one arm in order to move it close enough to take the hand into hers. “I think it was a welcome ‘unexpectation’ too.”

She watched Deanna’s pout turn back into that bright smile, the redhead snuggling close to Selena as they sat at their table. “So…I’ve got a question.” She asked. “You ever think about winning the world title?”

The Snow Queen laughed at that. “Ha…no.” she shook her head. “I’ve never considered that a possibility.” She gave a sad shake of her head.
“Why not?” Deanna asked. “I mean, I think you could.”
“Come on, De.” Selena laughed. “I barely made it to the finals of the Shot of Adrenaline tournament and I got trounced by Rayne.”
 
It was a sobering thought. Selena had fought like hell to get to the finals, surpassing superstars like Chris Cannon, Angelica Jones, Blake Mason and Merrick Wiseman, only to get overpowered and, practically, dominated at the end by the Adrenaline champion, Red Rayne. The whole experience had left a rather bad taste in her mouth, considering her only victory over the red-haired demon was a disqualification win at the previous Apocalypse pay-per-view. 

“I think you could do it.” Deanna repeated, nibbling on some vegetables they had ordered.
“Deanna…” Selena sighed. “I’m just a nobody from Nome.” She smiled. “I got lucky getting into SCW. I’m happy fighting in the adrenaline division. I’m happy being there. Besides, being at that level?” she shivered a little at the thought. “I couldn’t handle it. The spotlight, the fame, the demands? I mean, I want to make SCW proud to have me in their ranks – can you imagine what the demand for that would be at the level of World Champion?” 

Again, the Snow Queen gave a shake of her head. “I’m not ready for that or deserving of it.”
“But what about five years from now?” Deanna pressed.

“Five years from now…” Selena sighed, giving her a shake of her head. “With Red Rayne and Dawn hunting me and with my step-mother after me, I don’t even know if I’ll make it to the end of the year.” She gave a laugh, though the statement did not hold an ounce of humor to it. “I can’t even look ahead to 2016, Deanna. Gods know what that year will hold if we can survive it.”

“Okay…” Deanna tried, stretching her lips to a fine line before rethinking her topic. “But hypothetically. What would you like to do, or where would you like to be in 5 years?”

Giving a huff of an exhale, Selena sat back in her chair, eyes looking up at the ceiling. “Professionally? Long as I feel as good about wrestling as I do now? I don’t care where I am. It be nice if I was Adrenaline champion again, or maybe take on another tier belt like the United States title. I’d like to win some big matches as well – but most of all, I’d like people to know what I’m about.”

“About?” Deanna asked, teasing a piece of sausage with her teeth.
“Yeah. Since Total War, maybe earlier, people have been calling me a fake or a fraud when I say I care about SCW and being part of it. Autumn, Dawn, Rayne, it’s always the same. Maybe, in five years, I’d like to be in a place where those kind of words don’t hold as much power. Where people don’t believe them the second they’re uttered because I’ll have a history of proving otherwise.”

“Actions speak louder than words.” Deanna replied, her mouth slightly full with food, earning a shake of the head from Selena.

“Personally?” Selena gazed down at her hands nervously, slowly losing herself to her thoughts. “In five years…I’d like to have a larger house. I’d like to set up roots – maybe even be…” her voice trailed off, eyes flashing towards Deanna. “What about you?” she asked. “Young girl like yourself…”

“I’m only eight years younger than you.” Deanna laughed.
“Yeah, almost a decade.” Selena countered. “So when I’m an old hag of 31 and you’re just a vixen of a thing of 23, where do you see yourself?”
“Oh, definitely married.” Deanna answered without thinking, causing Selena to choke a little on the water she was drinking.
“M….married?” she asked as she cleared her throat.
“Sure.” Deanna shrugged. “Maybe have a home and family – I like your whole ‘roots’ idea. How you worded it. I’d love that.”

Selena could not help the shaking in her spine. She wasn’t sure if Deanna was implying anything, but it was certainly a lot to take in for a ‘first date’. Was Deanna implying something between them? No… Deanna was brutally honest to almost a fault – an endearing, cute fault. 

“What about professionally?” Selena asked, quickly changing the subject. “I mean…you can’t want to be my assistant your whole life right.”
“No…” Deanna whispered, looking away. “But I would like to be your manager.”

Again, Selena almost choked on her water. “Manager?” she asked, her eyes a little wider.
“I mean – I know we’re still trying this out with me being your representative, while now dating and taking things slow… but…” Deanna shrugged shyly. “I don’t know, maybe someday…”

Perhaps this was just some youthful naivete or a high from the beginnings of a new relationship that Deanna was feelings, Selena wasn’t sure which. But the idea of such long-term plans – being her manager, being married… that the eighteen-year old was so actively thinking of them that she could answer such a question without hesitation.

“Deanna…” Selena tried. “I don’t want to give you any false hope. I’m…” Quickly, her hands flew up to grasp the long, thick braid of her hair tightly, twisting it a little. “It’s hard for me to just believe in stuff like that – and that isn’t you! It isn’t!”

“Really?” Deanna asked, tilting her head with a kind smirk. “First date and you’re already going into the ‘it’s not you, it’s me’?”
“No!” Selena cried desperately, feeling herself losing control of the situation at an alarming rate. “I just – I’ve never – I’ve been –“

“Selena!” Deanna called out softly, her hands reaching out to cup Selena’s face, “Breathe. You’re going to have another ‘episode’ if you keep this up.” Her eyes were serious, which emphasized the urgency to follow her prompts. 

Taking a few deep breaths, Selena felt herself slowly calming down. Conceal… Don’t feel… her mind whispered over and over again until she felt herself return to a semblance of normalcy.

“I get what you’re saying.” Deanna slowly spoke. “This is beyond exciting and new for me and something I’ve wanted. I’ve never had a girlfriend before, to be honest. But you… you clearly have been hurt… scarred… it’s harder for you to believe things will be okay.”

“Yes.” Selena sadly admitted. “After Adrian and Dawn… I just… every time I have given my heart completely, it’s been shattered. And I, to be honest… I don’t think I’d survive a third time.”

Deanna remained silent, though her expression was kind and patient towards the Snow Queen. “I won’t make promises I can’t possibly anticipate or keep.” She stated. “But I promise you that I’ll take this one day at a time, and as long as I can, I will wait and earn that trust, even if we aren’t together.”
“Really?” Selena asked in some disbelief.

“You need to trust someone in this world, Selena.” Deanna smiled. “We both do.”

Looking around, Deanna spied an untouched piece of sausage, plucking at it with her fork before presenting it to Selena. “Sausage sword fight?” she offered. “Choose your weapon!”

“No.” came a slight laugh from Selena, along with a shake of her head. “I’m alright.” 

It was the first time that night that she actually meant it.

*************************************

“Okay…thoughts!” proclaimed Deanna as the pair sat back, having finished their expensive servings of the black linguine with the fresh shrimp and culatello beef, the most expensive dish on Tony’s menu. Sitting back in her seat as well, Selena took a small swig of water to rinse out her mouth before speaking.

“Well… the pasta was creamy.” She started.
“Very nice.” Deanna agreed.
“Beef was nice and juicy.”
“Tender as hell.”
“The shrimp was so fresh!” 
“Like it was caught today!” Deanna exclaimed.

The two shared a look and very similar expression.

“Not worth the price?” Selena asked.
“Not even remotely!” Deanna exclaimed in surprise. “Holy cats, hunny, all those years, I thought ‘damn! It must be really good to be so expensive! And it was fine, but… I mean, we’ve made just as good pasta back home, am I right?”

“Yes.” Selena nodded. “And I was missing some kind of spice or kick to it. Like when you put salsa into the tomato sauce one night for the kids because we were low on tomato sauce?”
“Oh! Or when Elsianna helped me and we added scallops?”

“That one was delicious!” Selena smiled excitedly at the memory. “Or! Or!” she suddenly remembered, snapping her fingers. “Remember when David tried to help? And he dumped that big bag of peanut M&M’s into the sauce?!”

“Oh my gods!” Deanna gasped. “I totally forgot about that! He thought he had created this masterpiece for dinner and- gods, we were so scared of hurting his feelings…”
“I had a stomachache for the next two days.” Laughed Selena, clapping her hands together quietly in mirth.
“Me too!” Deanna agreed. “The one time chocolate WASN’T my friend! Damn you, chocolaw!” she shook her fist playfully.

Sharing in a laugh together, the two wives settled back in their seats, gazing lovingly at one another. 

“Six years.” Selena smiled. “Can you believe it?”
“After the prison fiasco?” Deanna teased as she tilted her head. “Nope.” She added before leaning on the table knowingly, her eyes still on Selena. “Alright – five years from now.” She mused. “Where do you see yourself?”

Blinking her eyes slowly and giving a smirk to her beloved, Selena answered rather promptly. “With you.” She stated. “In our forever home. Helping Elsianna with high-school stuff.”

“Oh, I don’t know what to do about that! Algebra and boys…” Deanna made a face as if she had just bit into a lemon. “Yuck!”
“Or girls.” Selena shrugged. “You never know.”
“Oh, good point! I didn’t think about that. And David will be close to high school as well and Amiliah will be pretty close to where Elsianna is now.” The redhead replied. “What about professionally?”

Looking up and away a little for a moment, Selena released a slow exhale, licking her lips a little. “Still wrestling?” she heard Deanna ask, to which she gave a nod. 

“Assuming everything still works properly.” She shrugged. “I’m not sure how many more title belts and monitors to the head or falls from scaffolding I can take but, if possible, yes.”

“Can I ask you a dumb question?” Deanna asked as she took a sip of water – she had long since finished her second helping of the chocolate beverage. Selena didn’t give any verbal answer – Deanna was just being polite and was going to ask the question anyway. 

“What more can you do?” she asked. “I mean, you’ve won practically every title.”
“Except the Underground now.” Selena reminded in observation. 
“Broken all kinds of records. And you main-evented Rise to Greatness, finally. Aside from just increasing the numbers, what more is there to accomplish?”

Sitting back in her chair, Selena gazed up at the ceiling a little, weighing the question, which was a fair one. “I mean… it’s less about what I have ‘left to do’ and more ‘can I still make a difference there’, you know? I mean… do you remember when you first came into SCW?”

Deanna nodded. “It was a bit overwhelming.”
“Right?” Selena grinned. “But Red Rayne was terrorizing SCW, Monarchy was on the rise…”
“Not so different from now.” Deanna observed. “I mean, Infamous had a surge, now it’s the Brand and Holly-“

“Exactly.” Selena exclaimed. “Much as I hate it, and it’s one thing Holly will never grasp, there will always be monsters and stables and armies and those that disrespect SCW. I’m not crazy enough to think a day will come where there isn’t.” she gave a shy shrug with her shoulders, the maroon-covering of her dress moving with her. “But if I can still keep up and still fight for what SCW means to me? Yeah, I’d like to keep doing that.”

“The Face of SCW…” Deanna mused, gazing proudly at her beloved.
“Maybe not by that time.” Selena sighed. “But I’d like to still try and be a solution to helping SCW rather than a problem to it. What about you?!” she suddenly flipped the question. “I mean – three matches you’ve wrestled now! You think this is something you’d like to pursue?”

“No.” laughed Deanna. “I mean…I don’t think so? Maybe?”
“Decisive.” Selena smirked playfully. “That’s what I’ve always loved about you.”
Deanna stuck her tongue out at Selena in response. “I just… Selena, it’s been hard sometimes watching you get hurt, okay?” 

“I…I know.” Came a sigh from the Snow Queen.
“But that’s who you are. But me? I just don’t know if I can do that – or handle it. I’d be too scared of someone hurting me permanently and I… I REALLY don’t want that, okay?”

“I totally get that.” Selena held her hands up. “I’m sorry I asked. It was unfair to put you on the spot like that.”
“I mean… I’m not against wrestling again. I’m not. But I don’t really want to have ‘plans’ regarding it. Kind of just want to take it one match at a time…except for one thing…”
“Ooooo.” Selena teased, leaning forward. “What ‘one thing’?” she asked. “Oh! Please tell me you want to face Holly in a match or something! If she could be your first win, I think she would turn so red she’d pop!”
“No, it’s not that. “ Deanna shook her head before leveling an emerald gaze at Selena. “But…I mean, do you think, if I got good enough, and we kept training together…” she reached out to take Selena’s hand into hers. “You and I, maybe, sort of, possibly, could try-“

The sound of “Stand By You” by Rachel Platten filled their ears, ripping the Frost women’s attention from one another as Selena’s private cellphone rang. Casting a glance at Deanna, Selena quickly fished the device out.

“It’s Gerda.” Selena answered, recognizing the number as their home number and answering the call immediately. “Hey, Gerda, is everything al- what? Wait… when? How high is it?” Sapphire eyes went wide. “We’ll be right home!” she declared, turning her phone off and shoving it in her purse before fisting out a few hundred dollar bills and dropping that onto the table – the amount, Deanna noticed, equalling far more than their bill, even with that expensive dish.

“What is it?” the redhead asked, jumping out of her seat and to her feet. “What’s wrong with-“
“Elsianna is sick with a high fever.” Selena explained quickly. “Come on.”

Without another word, the two women bolted out of the restaurant, stopping only to explain to the waitress that they had to and she could keep the change as a tip – they were gone before the waitress had time to realize just how big a tip it actually was…

*************************************

“Oh geez!” Deanna laughed as she ran down the sidewalk. “These heels were NOT made for walking…or running!” 
“I could carry you?” Selena offered, the woman holding her leather jacket over her date’s form as a makeshift ‘umbrella’ as the pair ran down the streets of New York, trying to spend as little time in the pouring rain as possible.
“Not after eating all that meat and cheese.” Deanna threw back. Deanna didn’t want to remark that she had fought and lifted male wrestlers before…

The sound of thunder filled their ears as they ran down the corner and turned, finally reaching the parking lot. Finding the Snow Queens Ford Tempo, the platinum-blonde quickly unlocked the door for Deanna, allowing the redhead to tumble into the passenger seat in the back, moving to the other side so Selena could jump in after her, closing the door behind her just as another curtain of rain drenched everything around them.

“Phew.” Deanna remarked running her hands through her hair. “I knew I should have brought an umbrella.”
“I say next time, we just get a taxi or something.” Selena sighed, shaking her coat a little in front of her, trying not to get Deanna any wetter.

“Don’t worry about it.” The redhead smiled in a purr before slipping over to lean against the Snow Queen, surprising her at first but Selena quickly recovered to hold the younger woman in her arms.

“Hi.” Selena whispered, a smile forming on her face.
“Hi.” Deanna answered back with a smile of her own, her eyes dancing.
“What are you thinking about?” the platinum-blonde asked.

“Well…” emerald eyes moved around the interior of the vehicle, taking in the sound of the rain that pelted against the metal exterior, a beautiful sound to both women. “I know at this point ‘taking me to your place’ isn’t the same as ‘taking me to your place…’.” she wiggled her eyebrows suggestively at the older woman. “And we agreed to take things slow. But…” reaching up, she tucked a wet strand of platinum-blonde hair behind Selena’s ear. “Don’t we want to end this date on a great note rather than just a ‘good’ one?”

“Deanna…” Selena warned under her breath, though it was hardly possessing of any kind of authority with the redhead nestled so close to her.
“No, not like that!” Deanna assured. “But… you did tell me after your match with Angelica at Flawless that I could kiss you whenever I wanted to.”

“And you can.” Selena sighed. “It’s what kissing leads to that has me worried.”
“Well, don’t worry then.” The redhead assured, pulling herself up closer to her date. “I’ve never gone all the way after the first date.”
“Such an ‘impressive’ feat.” Selena played along. “But you’re alright with making out in a car?”
“Don’t know.” Deanna smiled as she leaned in. “Never done it before – but for you, I’m willing to give it a shot…”

*************************************