Selena Frost vs. Bree Lancaster

[Konrad Raab]

Roofed Cage

SCW United States Championship

If Bree Lancaster wins, Selena Frost cannot challenge her for the US Championship again

3 RP Limit for singles

Deadline: 11:59 pm ET Saturday, January 19, 2019

[SnowQueenSCW]

OOC: The CD takes place following the December 5th edition of Breakdown. Promo takes place the weekend following last week's Breakdown (January 9th). Posted in two parts due to length.

 
I of the Storm

“Who I Used To Be”

The 'Believe it!' tour bus had left her driveway over an hour ago, Eric – the chaperone – driving it to its rented parking space, his job done for the time being. The bus had taken a long, twenty-hour drive from Biloxi, Mississippi to Manhattan, New York, and it and its driver were clearly in need of some time off. 

Selena had not really heard them leave her driveway. She hadn't really heard anything as she stood in place, her feet rooted to the hard, black surface, having not left the spot she currently occupied since she had stepped off the bus. Before her eyes stood her beautiful home – the 'Forever Home' she had purchased, furnished, and changed with her beautiful wife, Deanna. The roof had a fine dusting of snow amidst the Christmas lights she saw hanging around the roofs many edges. Like the house, the ground at her feet was covered in snow and it, along with the wind, blew her platinum hair back as she stood in place.

And yet, she barely noticed any of it. The cold was easy to ignore. Compared to her upbringing in Nome, Alaska, the Manhattan winters were like summer to the Snow Queen. Still, for Selena Frost to ignore everything around her – every detail of her home – anyone that knew her would say this was unusual, for there wasn't a time that seeing this place didn't bring a warmth to her heart, regardless of the temperature outside... 

Until this moment.

Is she there? Is she waiting for me inside?

She could not help the dread – even if the logic battled against it with all it had. Of course 'she' was there! She had promised Selena that she would be here when she returned. And yes, though Selena had failed to capture the United States Championship – thanks to the interference by Katya and Dark Fantasy in a stupid display of power and 'machismo', which reeked more like a desperate plea for attention to the Snow Queen – not hard considering the source was mostly the whining brat that Syren had become – still, Selena winning the title had not been a factor in her wife's decision.... right?

How many times have I asked that? Selena thought as she breathed deeply through her nose. As she exhaled, she saw her breath condense into the thin mist of vapour as it flew away into the winter sky. For the umpteenth time, she changed her gaze, shifting from the beautiful house before her, down to the blue box that was a few feet away from where she stood. Her bag was by her feet, but it was not as big as the blue, recycling bin that sat nearby. And though it had a fine blanket of snow covering its top and contents – proof that it had been out there for some time, Selena could easily spy the shining pieces of glass that stuck out – like heads on pikes in the old castles of medieval times. For a moment, Selena imagined herself a knight, fighting for her beloved princess as said fair and red-haired (yes, the Snow Queen could rhyme on occasions – thanks in part to reading Elsianna, Amiliah and David to sleep whenever she had the chance) princess ruled the kingdom, which would technically have made Deanna a queen, but it was Selena's imagination, dammit! The white-haired woman, dressed in blue and white armour, would use her strength and abilities to slay dragons and monsters for her princess by day and be... rewarded by her ruler by night...

It was enough of a dream to cause a faint blush to colour Selena's cheeks, but reality was not to be so easily deterred for very long. Because the bottles of glass, the kaleidoscope of colours ranging from clear to green to brown were not trophies or displays of greatness. No, to Selena, they were much like the heads impaled on spikes on display – a warning to everyone else.

Warning, an alcoholic lives here... 

Earlier this week, the platinum blonde would have been the same as she had been when she had left her Manhattan home and headed for Arkansas and her United States Title match, denying it up and down that she wasn't an alcoholic. That she had everything under control, like she had told Deanna she did.

She couldn't say that aloud now – even to herself as she stood in the cold. Because she knew it would be a lie.

So... are you afraid that she's broken her promise and is gone? Or are you afraid that she's there and you're going to have to tell her what happened?

Selena forced her sapphire eyes shut hard and breathed in the cold, wishing she could freeze her lungs with her inhalation – thus making her brain oxygen-deprived. Anything to keep that damn voice at bay. “You do not get to talk.” she hissed, her voice less than a whisper. “This is your fault!”

Oh really? My fault? I'm the one that forced that stuff on you? On yes! Blame the ghost that's inside your head! That won't sound pathetic to anyone!

The voice was mocking her, and Selena felt her body tremble slightly at it – a slight shiver through her core. She didn't remember much of “what happened” - as the haunting phantom of Sirus described. But she didn't need to. Waking up in that hotel – still in her clothes from last night, the room an absolute mess – things that should never have been released from within her now on full display... and those... those...

Selena tried to keep her eyes shut even tighter. So many of them were empty, littering the floor.

The Snow Queen turned her head away from the recycling bin, casting her eyes back to her house. Except before her, there was still green. But unlike some of the bottles of alcohol she had just seen, the green before her was emerald and was complimented by the shining red hair that barely went past its owner's shoulders.

Before the young woman, Deanna stood on the porch just in front of the door, her arms crossed over her chest and her expression – Selena had no idea what to make of it. Was it angry? Was it sad? Was it worried? She had no idea – it could be any of those. One thing was certain, however - the expression was not happy.

The pair stood there, unable to take their eyes off one another, both at a loss for words. The wind whipped the red and platinum strands of hair of the Frost wives. While Selena's 'cold-blood' allowed her to stand in the winter with her black jeans, dark-blue sweater and winter, white long coat (complete with light-blue, detailed snowflake designs on the shoulders, wrists and along the rim of the entire coat), her redheaded companion was a different matter, the younger Frost dressed in a gray hoodie – which Selena could see a hint of what looked like a maroon sweater underneath that – and black sweatpants, which the older woman guessed were concealing leggings or something.

“Are you coming in or what?”

The voice broke through to Selena, causing her eyes to widen slightly. Instinctively, she reached down to grab her bag, moreso to keep the contents of said bag close to her.

What's your plan, murderer? mocked Sirus. Charm her and then confess?

“I...” Selena tried, her attempt at ignoring the voice in her head. “I'm not sure.” she finally answered.
A raised eyebrow was Deanna's initial reaction. “It's your house.”
“It's our house.” Selena automatically corrected without thinking.

There was another moment of silence between the two before Deanna gave a huff, her breath, much like Selena's, freezing into mist within the air. “What do you want, Selena? A parade? Red carpet?”

Quickly, Selena shook her head. “No...just you.” she settled on honesty for her answer and it seemed to catch Deanna off-guard, albeit only slightly.
“Well... I'm here. Now please come inside. I'd say 'before you freeze' but we both know that's not an issue.”

Biting her lower lip, Selena finally moved her legs, walking the short distance to her porch stairs and up to where Deanna stood. 
“No new title, huh?” Deanna asked.
“No.” Selena admitted. “The match got thrown out.”

The emerald-eyed beauty shook her head but said nothing, instead turning to enter the house. Despite the tension between them, Selena was fairly certain that Deanna's irritation over the lack of title was less to do with the Snow Queen and more to do with the current state of SCW. Be that as it may, Selena put those thoughts aside and followed her wife into their home, closing the door behind her. She had only a moment to dust any snow off her form before she heard the loud voice of-

“MOMMY!”

Following the direction, the platinum-blonde saw her oldest daughter, Elsianna, dressed in a simple sweater and jeans rush down the stairs and towards the wrestler – Selena, herself, barely having time to lower down to a kneeling position to catch her child. “Hello, snowflake.” she whispered happily as she then heard more steps coming down the stairs, at a less frantic pace than Elsianna's. Still, she soon felt smaller, shorter arms pushing through Elsianna to hug her. “Hold!” came the voice in a slight whine and, seeing as how it was the only boy-sounding voice, it wasn't hard for Selena to instantly recognize the voice of her son, David, who squeezed his short arms around Selena's neck.

“Hello, my little prince.” Selena smiled as she held her son, Elsianna backing away with a slight pout and a sniffle that her time with 'mommy' was being interrupted by her 'mean' little brother. However, as Selena felt her son's arms tighten around her neck, she gently had to grapple them off her. “Easy there, mister. Mommy is fragile.”

“No, you're not.” Elsianna declared. “You're stronger than anyone.”
“Really?” Selena raised an eyebrow at her daughter. “What about Superman?”
“Yay!” came the answer with zero hesitation.
“Nuh-uh!” chimed in David. “Soopahman fly! Mom no fly!”
“Mommy can be in two places at once!” Elsianna countered – recalling last Halloween.
“Soophaman has cape!” David countered.

“Hey!” Selena interjected. “I wear a cape!”. Quickly, the Snow Queen unzipped the main compartment of her bag, digging through it for a second before pulling out her entrance attire, specifically, her ice-shard cape. The long material only made a fraction of its way out of the bag, clenched in Selena's pale hand, but it was more than enough, especially with the amber light of the mudroom the family stood in bouncing off the small gems of embroidered snowflakes. “See?” Selena asked with a grin.

“Yay!” Elsianna repeated. “See?!”
It seemed that David, the young two-year old that he was, would not be so easily deterred. “Soopahman punch walls! BOOM!” 

He gave a cry and threw his right arm forward, simulating the action he had just described. Though it made Selena smile, she could not stop her smile from fading a little as Elsianna sniffled and sneezed a little before turning her head towards her mother – the six-year old had no answer to give her brother.

“Well...” Selena tried. “Does dry-wall count? I can definitely kick a hole through that! And I threw someone out a door once!”
“Selena!” Deanna finally decided to speak – though Selena, in that moment, wished it wasn't chastising her.
“What?” Selena asked. “It was back at Nome. When I worked at Liam's – and the door was open!”
“Ha ha!” Elsianna stuck her tongue out at her brother in triumph. “Told you. Mom can easily beat Superman.”
“COULD NOT!” screamed David in defiance! Not that Selena could blame the boy. From the moment she and Deanna had shown him that movie (the Christopher Reeves version, no way was Selena letting David near the 'neck-breaking' work of Zack Synder and Henry Cavill anytime soon), all he wanted to be was Superman. So for Elsianna to say that his 'hero' was weaker than his 'boring mom'?

“Alright, that's enough.” Deanna's voice rang through with a rather strong tone. “Until we see mommy fight Superman, we can't possibly know. Besides...” she added. “Mommy is a good guy, right, David?”

Slowly, David nodded his head. “Mommy is good.”
“And does Superman fight good guys?”
 
It took a moment for the child to consider this question, but he eventually shook his head as an answer.

“That's right. He fights bad guys. Just like mommy does.” Deanna concluded. “And that's the last I want to hear about it. No more arguing or yelling.”
“She started it...” mumbled David.
“I did no-” Elsianna started before suddenly sneezing, her voice echoing through the room and earning the response of a cry from one of the rooms upstairs, the youngest of the Frost children, Amiliah, having been awakened from her nap. Elsianna, however, finished her statement, seemingly unfettered. “I did not!”

“Did too!” David countered, the interrupting sneeze clearly having no effect on him either. 
“Did too!”
“Did not!”

Back and forth they went, and just as Selena was about to speak, a snap in the air came, one that Selena had not really heard before. Turning her head (for she was still kneeling on the ground), the Snow Queen saw her five-foot-five wife standing there, having just snapped her fingers crisply. Both Elsianna and David's eyes widened in alarm as Deanna stood there.

“What does this mean?” Deanna asked, her voice calm but her tone very strong as she held her snapped fingers up.

“It means stop.” both children replied automatically, the daughter more eloquently than the son due to their difference in age and vernacular.
“And what happens if you don't?” Deanna asked, her voice still calm.
“Grounded.” both children stated.
“So? Do you want to be grounded?” Deanna asked.

Both children did not answer with words, but shook their heads fiercely.

“Then apologize to one another.”
“I'm sorry.” Elsianna was first, quick, but still muttered slightly, embarrassed as she was.
“Sorrwee.” David replied.
“And?” Deanna intonation stated that there was more.

Reluctantly, the siblings reached out and hugged each other, Elsianna still a good foot and a half taller than David.

“Alright.” Deanna nodded, satisfied with what she saw. “That's better. Selena?” she turned her head to her wife, the platinum-blonde's mouth hanging agape at what she just saw. “Go upstairs and check on Amiliah. Take Elsianna with you.” 

“Ri...right.” Selena replied, her own fears and memories of the past week temporarily forgotten at the sight of Deanna's 'mother-mode'. Seriously...what the hell just happened?! she asked herself. Pushing her ice-shard cape back into her bag, the Snow Queen stood to her full height. She saw her daughter waiting patiently for her, David standing still as Deanna put her hands on the young boy's shoulders.

“You and I, David, are going to find Oberon in the backyard. Make sure he's not chasing any squirrels.”
“O...Okay.” David nodded and, before Selena could really say anything, the two were out of the mudroom and heading to the basement, where the backyard entryway was located.

Turning her head, the former World Champion offered a smile to her daughter before holding out her free hand, which Elsianna happily took, sniffling a little as she did. The two made their way up the stairs in silence. Reaching the top, Elsianna went into Amiliah's room as Selena dropped by hers and Deanna's room to drop of her bag – though she made sure to unzip the side compartment and pull out the small envelops of white that were inside, tucking them into her inside coat pocket. A few seconds later, she, too, was in the young baby's room, standing in the doorway as Elsianna, sniffling a little more, picked up her little sister, cradling the crying baby Amiliah gently.

“Quietly hush now, to sleep.” the song came from the short girl standing before Selena. “On the wings of the butterfly, let all your cares drift away. And now is the end of the day...”

At first, the woman said nothing as she watched her daughter, merely gazing in wonder as Amiliah, seeming to recognize Elsianna's cooing and singing, settled down and even, to Selena's surprise, laughed a little. 

“If you close your eyes and count to ten, you'll hear your dreams are calling again...
Just follow the moon, for all too soon, a new day will appear...
You'll have nothing to fear...”

At that, Selena quietly walked in – amazed at the bond that was already growing between little Ami and Elsa. Seeing her mommy there, Elsianna's singing gently faded as she gently brought the baby to her mommy, placing the small child in Selena's arms. Not wanting to create more distance between the sisters, Selena chose to sit down on the carpeted floor of the room while she rocked and cuddled her youngest. 

“For wherever you are and forever...” Selena sung softly, finishing the lullaby. “I'll be here...”

Amiliah, thankfully, instantly recognized her as well, smiling as Selena smiled at her, giving the small child with short, red hair, a kiss on the forehead.

“Hello, little flame. Did we wake you up?” she asked softly as Elsianna sat down beside her. Amiliah gave no real answer other than more 'baby sounds' but that was good enough for the Snow Queen, allowing her to turn her attention to her other daughter. “Elsa... why do you keep fighting with David?”

The child beside her huffed and shrugged her shoulders. “I don't know. He's just...mean?”
“But you're much older than him.” Selena stated. “He's going to look to you for stuff.”
“Stuff?” the girl with hair almost as platinum as Selena's looked in alarm. “I gotta give him my stuff? Why?!”

“No, no...” Selena laughed a little, which Amiliah picked up on with a laugh of her own. “I mean, he's going to look to you for advice. Emulate the things you do – like you did, learning that lullaby I taught you.” the Snow Queen smiled at her oldest. “And as he grows up, he's going to see you as his big sister – can't you get along with him like you do with Amiliah?”
“That's...different.” Elsa settled on answering.
“Different how?”
“Ami's a girl – and she loves me.”
“David loves you too.” Selena replied. “He's just young and doesn't really understand family just yet.”
“No...” the six-year old sighed. “It's different. Can I leave it at that?”
“I...” Selena sighed. “I suppose. But you need to try to get along with your brother better, okay? You are allowed to walk away from arguments, remember?”

The young girl nodded her head in understanding and the two remained in silence, both concentrated on baby Ami as she, eventually, drifted back to sleep. Unlike the silence Selena had suffered outside a short while ago, this silence was warm, calming – making her forget, for a moment, all the bad things outside her home, some of which were waiting for her. But when she heard another sneeze coming from the white-haired child standing beside her – she simply could not ignore it.

“Okay.” she suddenly said as she stood up. Carefully, and gently, she placed the sleeping Amiliah back into her crib before gently ushering Elsianna out of the room and into the Snow Queen's own room, stopping only to gently close the door to baby Ami's room. Once inside, Selena moved around Elsianna in order to kneel down beside her – for the child was still quite shorter than Selena.

“What?” Elsianna asked.
“That was, at least, the third time I've heard you sneeze – and I lost count how many times you've sniffled since I got home.” Selena stated, immediately holding the back of her hand to her child's forehead. “Are you sick, Elsa?”
“No.” the child shook her head. “I...I don't think I am.”
“Well...”

Selena tried to think of something – but the reality was that the Snow Queen had really been sick for years – as in before her father had disappeared years. She had come down with the flu in combination with a bad case of bronchitis – the one-two whammy leaving her, eight years old at the time, bedridden for about a week and a half. Not fun... Selena thought, as much as she could remember. Still, since then, it was as if she couldn't really get sick. Cold invigorated her and heat made her feel sluggish – but that was because she was a damn polar bear from Nome – something Deanna had called her in the past.

Still, don't be an idiot! You know what people get when they are sick! she rationalized.

“Alright, Elsa.” Selena decided. “Tell me how you feel?”
“Okay.” the child shrugged, causing the platinum-blonde mother to roll her eyes.
“No. I mean, are you tired? Do you have a lot snot in your nose-”
“Ew...”
“Elsianna.” Selena pressed. “How long have you been sneezing and sniffling?”
“A few days.” Elsianna replied. “And I'm a little tired.”
“Okay.” Selena nodded. “That's enough for me to worry. You need to be in bed.”
“Mommy...” Elsianna whined. “I feel fine.”
“Yeah, nice try.” Selena laughed, reaching out to put the back of her hand back on her child's forehead – testing for temperature. “A little warm. You're going to bed, under the covers.”
“But Mom said dinner will be as soon as you get back.”
“Mom and I will bring you dinner – and you can watch TV in your room as well.”

Now... sick or not – no child could refuse such an offer, and Elsianna, while definitely unique and special in her own way, was no difference. Small, blue eyes became wide and her mouth hung open – it was almost comical to Selena. “Really?!” the child asked.

“Yes, really.” Selena stated. “Now go go – and use your headphones!”

Elsa was off like a shot, almost bowling past Deanna as she ran out of the room and straight to her bed, Selena even hearing the 'errr-eeee' of the springs as the small child jumped onto the mattress. Meanwhile, Deanna could only turn to watch her daughter before then turning to her wife. “What was that all about?”

“I told her she needed to go to bed. How long has she been sneezing and sniffling?” Selena asked.
“A few days now.” Deanna replied. “Some of the kids have called in sick at her school. So, I've been keeping watch.” after her answer, the younger Frost pointed back behind her to Elsa's room. “She really agreed to go to bed this early?”

“Well...” Selena shrugged. “I told her she could have dinner in bed and watch Netflix on her TV.”

“Of course you did.” despite herself, a small smile cracked through on the side of Deanna's mouth. “Lucky for you, I made soup for dinner and not lasagna.”

“Don't...call me lucky just yet.” Selena whispered, instinctively crossing her arms over her form as she stood to her feet, feeling the envelops in her jacket pocket. 
“You realize David is going to want to watch TV in his room now as well, right?”
“He doesn't have a TV in his room.” Selena stated in confusion. “Elsianna just got hers a month ago.”
“Uh-huh...” Deanna prompted slowly, waiting for her wife to connect the dots.

And Selena did, eventually. With his terrible twos still in full swing, David was in a state of what the Frost wives called, “The gimmies”. Whenever someone had something, he wanted it. Whenever someone was getting more attention than him, he wanted it. Whenever someone got to choose the movie to watch, he wanted to pick. And with an older sister capable of more responsibilities and, thus, more privileges for her age and a younger sister that still needed so much attention (being a baby and all), the jealousy phase of the 'gimmies' seemed to be a 24-hour show whenever Selena was home.

“Okay, I'll handle this.” Selena replied simply. “Can you get Elsianna her soup and...uh...” she paused, closing her eyes to gather her courage. “Meet me in the office?”

Deanna did not speak a reply, merely lifting her head a little before nodding. In fact, if Selena didn't know any better, Deanna seemed expecting something like this. Before she had a chance to consider it further, the redhead had turned around to eye her white-haired wife. “No television.” she reminded to Selena.

“I know.” Selena smiled with a shrug. “No TV for David or Ami unless you and I are there to watch.”

Deanna nodded before leaving the room first. It wasn't that this was new for Selena – these guidelines. Since Deanna was the 'stay-at-home' woman of the two, Selena had bowed to her concepts of raising the children. Plus, it wasn't like Selena had first-hand knowledge to draw from in being a 'mother'. Her birth mother had not existed in her life until a few years ago and her adoptive mother – well she hadn't really been a mother until a few years ago, and it had gotten her killed. At least Deanna had experience from being raised by her older sister, Amy, after their parents' death. Besides, Deanna had done most of the research – continued doing most of the research – in raising the children while Selena wrestled and promoted SCW. And seeing her wife handle the situation in the mudroom, the Snow Queen wasn't going to question it.

Coming downstairs and following Deanna into the large kitchen/family room area, Selena spotted her young son sitting quietly at the table, picking at the plateful of veggies with a fork. Reaching up, the platinum-blonde offered him a smile before leaning down and kissing his forehead. “What you eating?”

“Care-it!” David held the orange vegetable out, half-eaten, with pride.
“Good boy!” Selena smiled. “Is it good?”
“Yay!” the boy smiled before picking up another baby-carrot and holding up to her.
“For me?” Selena asked, earning an amused smile from the boy. With a shrug, she plucked the carrot out and dropped it into her mouth, chewing it and swallowing it in amusement. “Thank you.” she said when her mouth was empty.

The two sat in silence after that, David continuing to eat and Selena simply watching him. Deanna, meanwhile, had finished the soup she had been making, placed it in two bowls and walked past, placing one small bowl in front of David to finish after his veggies and the other, a slightly bigger bowl with a spoon inside of it, she walked out of the room and headed up the stairs – clearly to take it too Elsianna.

“So...” Selena smiled as David finished his veggies and began sipping on his soup – immediately distracting Selena as he hissed a little. “Easy, son!” she urged. “It's hot! Here.” 

Gently taking the spoon from the young boy, Selena scooped up a spoonful of soup, which she realized was chicken-noodle soup. Gently, she blew on the steaming liquid until said stem had mostly left before then offering it to David, and though the two-year-old was hesitant (not wishing to be burned again), he eventually took the soup into his mouth, seemingly enjoying the warm broth more so the second time. 

“Better, right?” Selena smiled as she gathered another spoonful to feed him, blowing on it gently before offering it to him. This continued for several minutes and several spoonfuls until she held one spoonful out to David – 'uncooled' by the Snow Queen. “You try, sweetie.” she gently prompted. “Just do this...” softly, she blew a quiet breath from her mouth.

Which was the exact opposite as David, who took a deep breath and “APFFFFFTTTTTTTTT”, sending the soup flying back into the face of the former world champion of SCW.

Selena's head jerked back and she reached up to wipe a few drops of the soup from her eyes. “Bit too much there, kiddo.” she laughed as she opened her eyes, seeing the laughing face of her son, who clapped his hands as he made another “PPPPFFT” sound – thankfully with no soup near him.

“Alright, alright, smart guy.” Selena shook her head, refilling the soup and continuing to feed David – returning to her original plan of cooling each spoonful herself. By the time she heard steps coming down the stairs and entering the room, David's plate and bowl were empty, and Selena promptly picked them up to carry them to the sink to wash.

With a slight turn of her head, Selena spotted Deanna nearing her with the bowl and spoon she had brought up to Elsianna – though now the bowl was practically empty.

“She alright?” Selena whispered, turning the sink-tap on to wash the dishes.
Deanna nodded. “I stayed with her to make sure she ate all the soup and didn't spill.”
Selena nodded. “I figured.” she replied, finishing one bowl and gently taking the one Deanna was holding.

Though the only sound was that of the running water as Selena cleaned, she suddenly felt a soft, warm hand reaching out to touch the skin on her cheek. It seems to settle there for a moment and, for that same moment, the platinum-blonde forget everyone once more. Her instincts taking over – these ones of being a young woman in love – she reached up to cup the hand and press it into her cheek further before turning her head against it to kiss the palm before opening her eyes to stare into Deanna's emerald ones.

“Uh...” Deanna stated, pulling her hand away from Selena. “You had a piece of noodle in your hair.”

Her hand free after that pull, Deanna reached up to pluck the stray noodle – which had now moved closer to Selena's temple. The redhead held the noodle in front of Selena's eyes before shrugging her shoulder and tossing said noddle into the trash bin under the sink.

“Well...” Selena tried covering up her error in judgment. “I've been told my hair is made of horse-hair before... least we know now it's noodles. Oodles of noodles.”
“Oodles of noodles!” proclaimed David happily in rhyme, causing both mothers to turn their heads towards him for a moment.

For Selena, the awkwardness she felt from her mistake simply reminded her of everything she needed to talk to Deanna about. With a sigh, she placed the last washed dish on the plastic and metal drying rack. “David?” she called out, earning her son's attention. “Do want to keep busy with your coloring book?”

Not really waiting for an answer, though the boy's enthusiastic “Yay!” didn't hinder anything, Selena walked around the kitchen area before she reached a cupboard by one of the cabinets. Opening it, she saw pieces of blank paper and tins filled with crayons and markers. Quietly, she pulled out a few pieces of blank paper and, on another shelf, a coloring book – this one a blue one with a green frog smiling on it. With her right hand still free, she plucked a tin filled with crayons of every color out of the cupboard as well, using the heel of her foot as she turned to close the cabinet door. Placing the items on the table by David, Selena ruffled his head of blondish-white hair (darker than his sister's and mother's) with her now free hand. “Stay there and have fun, okay?” she asked, though Deanna caught the silent order in the woman's voice. David, oblivious, simply nodded his head before he sprang into action, grabbing red and blues to draw on the blank paper.

Satisfied, Selena reached out to take Deanna's hand into hers. There was no error in judgment this time and both women knew that. Despite this, neither fought to let go of the other as Selena gently pulled her wife with her, the couple walking out of the kitchen, down the flight of stairs and past Oberon's little doggy-pen, the white husky pup simply sleeping in his kernel, and into the large, cinema room, past the hallway that ran to that until, at last, they were standing in Selena's study, the circular room – despite Selena's anxiety – giving her a sense of calm.

“Okay.” Deanna moved further into the room so she could prop herself onto the large desk in the back. From the look of her posture and staring into her eyes, this was not the same confident, nurturing mother Selena had just spent time with. This was Deanna, her wife, and the shake in Deanna's voice at that one word was impossible to miss – Selena's powers of observation apparently back in full force.

“I...” Selena started, crossing her arms across her chest and jacket again. “I'm not sure where to start, actually.”

Deanna said nothing – clearly not wanting to guide Selena.

“I guess...Well, Katya is running SCW now – or at least she thinks she is? I don't really know.”
“Did you call O.?”
Selena nodded quickly, her legs shifting to allow her to pace around room. “I did – I spent all night calling him. He's not answered. Not a message or an email – nothing.”
“I see.”
“I mean...” Selena huffed. “I didn't even suspect Katya was in league with Dark Fantasy – all this time! Why do I keep doing that?!”
“Doing what?”
“Giving people in SCW the benefit of the doubt? Why do I believe people are just going to do the right thing? When over and over and over again, so many of them don't! SASHA!” she snapped her fingers as if in sudden remembrance. “Sasha even warned me! She thought something was wrong – something was off with Katya but I didn't see it! I told her not to worry! I TOLD her to trust Mr. D. and not her instincts!”

It was almost laughable to her now, and a chuckle escaped her pale lips. “The hell do I know about people, anyway?” she grumbled. “Regan, Sienna, Dawn, and then everyone that fooled me – Syren, CHBK, Blake pulled a few on me last year.”

Her aggravation mounting, Selena ran her hands through her platinum locks. “I don't...maybe... maybe he's just hiding away. Maybe he doesn't want to deal with this. Maybe it's too much – and now he's leaving it behind for his daughters to figure out.”

“Maybe you should too.”

The voice came from Deanna and ripped Selena from her ranting. “What?” she asked.
“You heard me.” Deanna stated, though her voice still held the shakiness it had since the redhead had been in the room. “I watched Breakdown, Selena. I saw what happened.”
“You mean you saw me fail.”

“I saw you fail at a place that continuously just screws you over.” stated Deanna. “I mean, how many times are you going to get people running down to the ring during your matches? How many times are you going to have sisters and teammates and managers and friends getting involved in what you do? And what happens when a plan of theirs actually succeeds and they injure you?”

No words came from the platinum-blonde, for she had none to give.

“And, you know what? I hated watching it this past year, but I thought 'the boss likes you, he'll make it right', but he's gone now. And we don't even know if Sasha is doing anything or even if she's different from Katya.” 

Again, Selena didn't reply, once more finding her feet frozen in place.

“Maybe...maybe this is a sign. Maybe we – maybe you – need to stop while you're ahead. So you don't win the United States Title – you've done enough there.” urged the redhead. “And it's not like we need the money – and if it's because you love wrestling, you've worked for other companies before, remember? We can find another one! Something better...”

With a sigh, Selena shook her head, looking down at her hands as she did so. Her answer was not what Deanna was actually expecting...

“Maybe you're right.”

The silence hung in the room for a good minute until Selena broke it. “Did you hear me?”
“I...I heard you.” Deanna replied. “I just am surprised you're agreeing with me about this so easily.”

“It's not easy – and it's not because of anything you said.” Selena revealed, her tone growing stronger. “All those things you said? Katya? Authority changing? Yeah, maybe it's getting worse, and maybe I hate it, but abandoning SCW over it? I'd never do it over something like that. If anything, that would make me want to stay more! Fight more! Change it back to what it should be!”

“Then why are you agreeing with me?” Deanna asked, her eyes narrowing. 
“Because I'm...” It was Selena's turn for her voice to crack as she felt tears prick the back of her eyes. “I don't think I'm strong enough to change it back.”

Once more, Selena gaze was fastened on her pale hands, the fingers locking and unlocking together as her form began to tremble. “You...” she looked up, the tears falling down her cheeks. “You were right...” she quietly sobbed. “About me... about... about everything...”

She closed her eyes for the briefest of moments, but in that moment, as if by magic, Deanna was suddenly close to her, Selena only knowing this when she felt arms wrapping around her to cradle her to the warm body that was her wife. The fact that Selena, the taller woman of the two, was being held as if she was so much smaller didn't mean a damn thing to her. She clung to that warmth with all she had, allowing her tears to fall and her cries to escape her dry throat. “I fucked up, Deanna.” she whimpered. “I don't have control. I never had any goddamn control. I was just fooling myself!”

“I know, Selena.” whispered her wife. “I already know.”

It was a quiet voice, but the truth of it was enough to stop the crying Frost, even just for a moment. Confused beyond measure, the platinum-blonde lifted her head, her bloodshot eyes taking in her wife's saddened expression. “Wha-what do you mean you know?” she asked. 

Her only answer from Deanna was a sad smile before the younger Frost pulled her cellphone out of her trackpants' pocket and pressed a few buttons. It wasn't long until a third voice filled the room, one both Selena and Deanna easily recognized...
*********************************************

Wednesday, December 5th

“...you've reached the voicemail box of...” she could quote the damn message from memory at this point! She had heard nothing but the same message for the past five hours! “Please leave a...”

Before the machine could finish, Selena gave an aggravated yell before turning her phone off and tossing it as hard as she could against the pillow that sat on her bed, she herself standing at the foot of it. Why can't you answer?! Do you even care?! her mind screamed – wishing the person she had been trying to contact all night could somehow, magically, hear her thoughts.

Why are you still trying? her thoughts mocked. If you couldn't reach him at the start of Breakdown – when all of this crap was coming down, what makes you think you will now?

For the first two hours of her calling the same number over and over again, Selena had been able to battle this argument with excuses like 'Maybe he's in a different time zone' and 'maybe his phone is dead'. As the time went on and tonight's show had ended, those excuses had only escalated in their desperateness to try and explain – as if she were grasping at straws.

'Maybe he's lost his phone.'
'Maybe he's in the hospital and didn't see the show.'
'Maybe he's trying to call me right now.'

But as Selena's eyes took in the sight of the digital clock sitting on the nightstand of the hotel she was staying at in Little Rock, Arkansas, the hour now in the single digits of the late night, her brain had no more excuses to make – no more defences she could conjure up to protect the image of her employer and – in a small way – mentor.

The world of SCW – the world she loved and believed in – the dream job and career she had found simply by fate, was crumbling around her. And wherever he was, O. D., the owner of SCW, was doing nothing. Wherever he was, he didn't want to be found. He didn't want to solve this problem his family – particularly his daughter, Katya – had created. 

Selena Frost – the Face of SCW – was on her own, a fact that had been made adamantly clear when she had been screwed out of her United States Championship match a few hours ago. Yes, wrestlers had come out to help her from being put on the shelf by Dark Fantasy and Marie Jones, but she had left Breakdown with no promise that her championship match – thrown out from the interference – would be given further consideration.

And that didn't say anything about the crap that was surrounding what Katya was doing behind the scenes. 

Quietly, the Snow Queen paced around the medium-sized hotel room. Normally, she would have simply slept on her 'Believe It' tour bus as it travelled towards the set of the house shows she had tomorrow and the few days after. However, Eric and her had a near twenty-hour bus ride ahead of them at the end of those shows back to Manhattan and the platinum-blonde was not going to push her driver friend too far with that on the horizon. Besides, she had reasoned on the way to Breakdown, she needed a change of scenery after her fight with Deanna. 

For a moment, Selena considered calling her red-haired wife – maybe she would still be up, looking after Amiliah. The notion was quickly squashed. Even if she was, Selena wasn't going to risk waking up her wife and children just to see if she was there. Deanna had promised to stay at home and wait for Selena to return and – and Selena had to believe that she would. 

She's not O.... she thought darkly. She wouldn't abandon me...

Oh, like your father did?
Like your mother did?
Like your step-mother did?

Turning around in a flash, Selena saw the aggravating sight of Sirus, lying on the bed, a toothy grin coming from the pale face of the spectre, practically splitting the facial features with its wideness. As usual, the creature before Selena wore the same clothes – a simple set of pyjamas, though the colors often changed with each new visit – as she had the night she had died before Selena's eyes, the real Sirus meeting her end at the hands of her mother, Evangeline DeWinter.

“Go away.” Selena ordered. “I don't have time for you.”

Sure you do. Sirus teased. Not like you're going to sleep tonight anyway. Not with you ringing up Daddy Drachy's telephone like that. 'Oh, where's 'Daddy D?!' her voice was suddenly higher and accented – as if she was trying to poorly imitate the voice of the Alaskan Dragon. 'I can't do anything without someone helping me!'

Closing her eyes, Selena pressed her fingers against her temples, massaging them aggressively. “Conceal...” she whispered, repeating her mantra. “Don't feel...”

Oh, knock it off with that stupid saying! Who taught you that, anyway? Sirus spat, though only Selena could actually hear her. Oh, that's right! Your father, Donovan, who also abandoned you! Wow – I'd say the only thing you are more horrible at than actually wrestling these days is actually keeping your daddy figures around- or anyone for that matter!

“Conceal... Don't feel... put on a show... make one wrong move and everyone will know...”

I mean, let's REALLY think about this. Sirus sat up at the edge of the bed, swinging her white, wrinkly legs over the end. We've got your boss, your birth parents, your step-mother and her family, Adrian, or is he Ryan now? – but hell, let's include Dawn Lohan, Kelcey Wallace, Sienna Swann, even your wife! They abandoned you!

It was that last stab that pushed Selena – shattering her mantra-chanting as the platinum-blonde spun around on the spot to stare down the hated ghost. “Deanna did not abandon me! She's waiting for me at home!”

The laugh was deep from the 'throat' of Sirus. Really, is that right? Then why'd you make her promise? If you're so sure, you wouldn't need her to.

“It doesn't matter.” insisted the young Frost. “She DID promise and she IS there.”
Right...because people don't break promises right? People don't lie when the going gets tough right? People don't deceive and mastermind – oh, I'm sorry, didn't you JUST come back from work where that is EXACTLY what is happening?

Selena turned her back to her tormentor, her eyes scanning around the room. She didn't really recognize much in this room – having been so used to simply sleeping and working on her luxury bus. And yet, given the small size of the room compared to said bus, it was not long before her eyes settled on the silver, square holding chamber of sorts – or as anyone with sense would call it – a mini-fridge. Quickly, despite the slight guilt she had of her actions reminding her of her argument with Deanna a few days ago, Selena marched over to the medium-sized fridge, knelt down and opened the door, immediately feeling the slightest brush of chill that came from the inside.

And what, pray tell, are you up to? came the amused question.

“Shutting you up for the night.” Selena spat back as her pale hands dug through the rows of drinks and snacks that lined the interior. She ignored the food, even though she had not eaten since a few hours before Breakdown – her nervousness regarding her United States Championship match taking place having been the cause of that – and went straight for the glass bottles, pulling out as many as her hands could fit and placing them on the table near the fridge. Closing the door, Selena stood up to her full height and gazed down at the different colors of liquids and class before her. Some were green, some of the liquids were orange and some were clear. She had even grabbed a few bottles of Perrier water as well to round out the color scheme.

“There.” she grinned. Before quickly beginning to scan the drinks – however, it was very quickly apparent, as the labels (several she did not recognize and a few in a language she could not understand) appeared before her-

Oh no... teased Sirus. No Crown Royal. Your personal choice. Your 'guaranteed potion' to shut me up... should I sing a song? Sirus laughed before suddenly singing in a horribly off-key fashion. ALL BY HERSELF! SELENA IS... ALL BY HERSELF! FOREVER!

Frustrated and annoyed, Selena's teeth clamped down hard on her lower lip. She would rather have had the Crown Royal in here – but she was not going to put up with this brat of a ghost all night! Determined, she quickly scanned each of the medium-sized bottles, reading percentages like 14%, 8%, and... there was one as low as 5.17% and another at 4% - an orange one called Breezer!

Before she could stop herself, the idea struck her and she soon was unscrewing the bottle cap of the lowest percentage, grabbing the 5.17% bottle as well. 

Now what? asked Sirus, partly curious and partly annoyed that Selena had not simply given up.

“For someone that seems to know so much about me – you seem to forget where I came from.”

You mean you or your gimmick? Because one's from the North Pole and the other is from Disney. So, take your pick.

The barb hurt far less than Sirus' other jabs, perhaps because Selena was already working on a plan. She grabbed a simple plastic cup from a small pile of them and placed it on the table before her. “I worked at a bar and grill.” she stated. “Doing what I had to to make money to keep working on my father's goldmine.”

More daddy-issues. Perhaps you should see a shrink...

“Make your jokes now.” Selena shot back, turning her head for a moment to sneer at the ghost. “You won't be here much longer.” 

Confidently, the Snow Queen poured a quarter of the Breezer orange-flavour liquid into the cup, filling the cup only about a quarter of the way. “Working for Liam at his bar and grill, he taught me a few little things about servings drinks.”

Placing the glass down, Selena then opened the clear, second bottle. “The Crown Royal is about 40% alcohol in terms of volume, and I only drink a mouthful to deal with you. So... even with these two combined – the volume percentage is no more than 10%.”

She felt accomplished – proud that she could recall some good lessons from her horrid life in Nome. That it was being put to use to deal with her problems now – perhaps that was something she needed to remember when she was back home and reflecting on how to deal with SCW – what would 'Nome-Selena' do in this situation.

One thing at a time. she told herself, and poured the clear liquid into the cup until it was practically full. Placing the bottle on the table and turning without hesitation, she held the now full cup to her unwanted ghost. “Meaning that I can regulate how much of this I take – so I can STILL get rid of you! It just needs a bit more.”

Hence the full cup. Sirus raised an eyebrow and smiled. It may have appeared to be smug, but Selena knew – she 100% knew – that this was a bluff. Sirus was mad. She was about to get wiped off the face of the earth again – sent back to purgatory because she underestimated her 'victim' – just like everyone else in SCW kept doing!

“You know – “ she looked down at her orange-colored drink with a smile, remembering the 'Breezer' label on the orange drink. “I was going to name this drink after you, but – hell, I got a better idea.” 

Raising her hand, Selena held the concoction in toast to the heavens and gods. “Since she loves so much to steal from me – I call this, 'the Bree-Zee'! Because, while it looks pretty and maybe potent, it'll take at least two or three of them to do what a crowned royal can do!”

With one last toast, Selena downed the whole drink in one go – as she often did with her Crown Royal. The mixture was unpleasant and burned her throat, which somewhat surprised her. Still, it went down and into her system and, with the cup empty, she took a deep breath to steady herself, smiling confidently at Sirus, though the Snow Queen's eyes were closed. “Only a matter of time now.”

Oh, I imagine it will be...

The voice, completely different from Sirus, forced Selena's eyes to fly open. Before her was not the elderly woman that had haunted Selena for months and months. In her stead, was the woman that had haunted Selena, perhaps unknowingly to the Snow Queen, for years and years. The woman that Selena had left behind in Nome, Alaska. The woman that Selena swore she would never deal with again...

Selena Frost.

You look good. Lost all that baby-fat, I see. The woman, wearing a baggy, stained shirt that said 'Liam's Bar and Grill' on one of the sides, and long, black pants (the uniform of a waitress at Liam's) tilted her head as she ran a hand through her platinum-blonde hair. 

“What are you doing here?” Selena asked. “What even are you? Is this another trick, Sirus?”

The woman on the bed laughed. While she did, however, Selena could see the difference between her and this woman. The voice was a bit colder – devoid of any love or joy. The bags under the eyes were heavy, not because of lack of sleep like Selena had, but lack of hope. Lack of passion and desire. Lack of life in general. The woman before her – if Selena could call her that – seemed to be something that looked to be barely functioning. 

Sirus is just a stupid ghost in your head, Selena. Just like with Dawn and Deanna and... the look-alike's eyes widened. And...

“And Elsianna.” Selena finished, seeing her 'doppleganger' shake her head.
No! She's real!
“Yes. She is. The one that I have. The one that lives with me and my wife and other children. The one you are looking for? No. That snow-child isn't real.”
Or maybe you just...stopped believing?

Selena shook her head as she felt a little buzz begin to fill it. “What I can't believe is that I was as weak and stupid as you.”
I can't believe that I become as weak and as stupid as you! the other Selena countered.

“How am I weak and stupid?” Selena demanded to know.

Well, let's see – 2016, you won the Best of the Best Tournament and then the World title. Nobody could touch you. Nobody could beat you. Everyone thought you were unstoppable. And now: here we are – and you can't win a damn title from a Dior model! Sorry... EX-Dior model!

“Things have changed!” Selena explained. “The rules are changing-”

Oh boo-hoo! The rules change and you're just trying to change them back! You're just putting out fires! What happened to 'forging your own path'? What happened to 'never being the doormat'... like I was?

“I am NOTHING like you!” Selena spat, though it was hard because her tongue felt a little dry and heavy.

Really? the look-alike shrugged. Sienna? Regan? Owen? Christy? And you just blew it with Bree? At what point were you 'the best of the best' this year? At what point were you 'calling the shots'? Because here you are, 2018, whining and crying to your boss to save you – just like I did to Liam whenever Gavin and his boys would bother me.

Despite herself, Selena couldn't answer. Instead, she only shook her head.

And then I'd head home – to be alone – and drink myself into oblivion. Just to escape my problems – the hate from every person that lay eyes on me. Just for some peace and quiet for awhile. With a smirk and shake of her head, the younger Selena pushed herself off the bed to walk slowly to the one standing by the counter, the real Selena grasping the ends of it with her hands until the knuckles turned white to stabilize herself. The waitress-Selena smiled and leaned forward, placing her hands on top of Selena's.

“I...” Selena's breath caught. “I am nothing like you...” the declaration was far weaker than it originally had been but Selena pressed on. “I left you behind in Nome... I swore I would never become you again...”

Before her eyes, the Nome-Selena smiled, almost sadly, before shaking her head. Oh Selena... you already are me... you just haven't realized it yet...

Reaching behind Selena, the ghost – to Selena's shock picked up the clear bottle of drink Selena had used for her Bree-Zee concoction. Looking at it for a moment, the ghost made a click with her tongue before turning it around before Selena's eyes. It was only then, having the bottle so close to her vision that Selena realized the horrifying mistake she had made. The clear liquid, the one she had filled most of the cup with hadn't been 5.14% alcohol level.

Before her eyes, the number read was 51.4%...

“No...” Selena's eyes widened in horror, before realizing that the ghost of her Nome-self was gone. And it was her hand that was clutching the bottle. Turning her head, however, Selena spied the large, vanity mirror hanging on the wall. Before her was her reflection – complete with bags under her eyes, the sign of lost hope – the alcoholic bottle of gin in her hand (one of her favourites in Nome) and the waitress uniform of Liam's Bar and Grill covering her figure in place of her street clothes.

“NO!!!!!” screamed Selena, turning away from the reflection. “It's a lie! It's Sirus!” she choked, her hands flying to unscrew the bottle. Sirus was fucking with her! Playing tricks on her! The concoction hadn't been strong enough! Quickly, Selena tilted her head back and, taking the cap off the bottle again, gulped down more mouthfuls of the gin, ignoring the burning in her throat. “Go away!” she ordered! “I'm not you! I'm not you! I'M NOT YOU!”

Stumbling towards the counter top where all the other bottles of drinks were, her head buzzing louder and louder, Selena grabbed them and dragged herself into the bathroom. Without hesitating, she opened every bottle, even the Perrier water, and poured every bottle's contents into the bathtub. That accomplished, she threw the bottles out into the room before stumbling back to her bed. “See?!” she slurred a spat. “I'm not you! You would have drank all of them! Drank yourself into a coma! I'm not you! I'm in control! I'm in COMPLETE control! Here! At home! In S-CEE-DUBU!”

No one could possibly understand her words at this point – between the pitch in her voice and slurred nature of her words. Yet, as she saw her reflection in the vanity again – and saw her Nome-self of years ago staring back at her, her 'confidence' quickly transformed to anger as she ripped her clothes off her frame, throwing the ripped garments onto the floor. “No! No! No! No!” she declared before looking at herself in the mirror again. She was naked and her reflection matched that. But, even if that damn uniform was gone, the dead look – the first thing Selena had noticed about her other 'self' was still there. Still in the reflection's eyes... 

Still in her eyes...

“No...” her voice lowered. And with each passing and weakening 'no' that left her lips, Selena felt her body collapse onto the floor, the carpet doing nothing to comfort her. Slowly, the Snow Queen dragged herself to the bed, but only managed to get to the side. Reaching up, she attempted to pull herself up, but only managed to pull the blanket down onto her naked form. A clatter was heard near her face, causing her to open her eyes to see her phone lying there, having been pulled to the floor by her movements. She could feel her mind swimming and buzzing and her control slipping – as if someone else was in the pilot's seat. 

Someone else was picking up the phone. 
Someone else was going back to the contacts and hitting the 'D' letter.
Someone else was using her voice to talk.
Someone else was dealing with the voice message system...

“O...O....why did you leave me?”


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

[SnowQueenSCW]

Selena's tears had long since dried out as she stood there – not because she was cold and heartless, but simply because she had simply run out of tears to shed. Her jaw, however continued to tremble as the message – her voice came from Deanna's phone, her beloved wife patiently holding the phone so they both could hear on speaker.

“Why am I the only person that gives a shit?” her own voice on the phone, slurred for certain from the alcohol, was still filled with a pain that Selena had felt gripping her own heart since she had woke up the morning after. ”Am I just not good enough? Is it because I failed SCW to you at Rise? Why can't you tell me so I can fix it? Why can't you just call me and tell me WHAT to fix?! Would that be so hard?”

A soft cry came from message, causing Selena to look away and to the eyes of Deanna. The young woman's emerald orbs were also red with shed tears – her heart breaking at hearing her wife in such a state, imaging her wife so broken...

”Why... why does everyone I ever care for leave? My father...my mother...my friends... even my own wife... I had to MAKE her promise to stay while I tried to become a stupid Supreme Champion... can you believe that? What kind of monster does that to her own wife?”

There was a moment of silence from the message, though Selena's sobbing breaths could faintly be heard as it continued to play.

”Why am I telling you this? You don't care. Nobody cares – why'd you leave if you cared? Well... a sniffle was heard. ”Well, I'm not fucking leaving! You hear me?! the voice was suddenly loud, almost like a roar. I'm NOT going to let your family... and YOUR kid ruin ESS-CEE-DEW! I've got kids too, old man! I've got three! And when they're bad, my wife and I deal with that! It's called discipline! And if you – if you – if you don't have the spine! I WILL! I WILL! Got a problem with that? Come back and fire me! I DARE YOU!!

The line went dead and the message ended, causing Selena to turn away and cover her mouth with her hand. How could she have said such things? Even if Mr, D. wasn't there – she had no right to assume anything!

“Gods...” she whispered before turning back to her wife. “How...how did you get the message?” she slowly asked.
“Because...” Deanna sighed. “You, fortunately, didn't call O.. You called me.”

It took a moment for Selena to realize, but she quickly fished out her phone to check the call-list. And sure enough, Deanna's name had filled the majority of the list.

“I...I must have picked your name instead of 'D.' in my contact list when I was...” her throat hitched and she gulped. “When I was...”
“Drunk.” Deanna whispered. “Thank goodness.” she added.

Slowly, Selena slid the phone back into her pocket. “I'm... I feel like if I say 'sorry', it's going to make things worse.”
“Why didn't you call me the next day?” Deanna asked.
“Because I was ashamed. I had to tell the officials that I was sick the next day at house shows. Fortunately, they weren't too mad – and I did the other two...”
“Selena.”

The white-haired woman cast her eyes again to her wife. “I didn't want to tell you over the phone. I didn't want to drop that on you. I needed to come home and tell you this... face to face. It just felt like the right thing to do. And I wanted to come to you with solutions.”
“The right thing to do would have been to call me...” Deanna started but quickly changed her tone. “Solutions?”

Slowly, Selena nodded her head, guiding her wife further into her office and gently prompting her to sit on the desk, where Deanna had placed herself originally. Reaching into her coat pocket, Selena pulled out the envelope she had been holding. “I think I need a break.”

Deanna's eyes widened in alarm. “A...a break?” her voice stammered. Her mind was racing a mile a minute, with a hundred thoughts and dreads going through it. 

“...you.” Selena finished, but Deanna only heard the last word, her mouth opening and closing in alarm.
“Me..Me?” she asked, feeling her own eyes begin to well with tears. “A break from me?” She stopped herself from asking the dozens of questions of 'why, where, what did I do' that rampaged inside her – this wasn't about her. The voicemail alone was proof enough – Selena needed help. Needed a solution to her returning demons of alcoholism – and if Deanna, herself couldn't provide it...

Steeling herself with a deep breath, Deanna nodded her head. “If that is what you feel, then you do what you need to do. I can go stay at Amy's until you want me to come back. If you want the house to yourself, I can take the children – Christmas holiday will give us some coverage-”

“With you!” Selena's voice shot out, causing the redhead to snap her head up. “I didn't say 'from you'. I said I need a break with you. The two of us....” the platinum-blonde finished in a whisper, though there was no way anyone could hear her, even if she shouted. Her head dropped shyly as the last set of words escaped her, as if she was terrified of upsetting the perched, red-haired woman. “On a second honeymoon.”

Had Deanna not been sitting so close to her standing wife, she would have missed Selena's muttering cluster of words. However, as Selena reached into the envelope and pulled out a few slips of paper, handing them to Deanna, the younger Frost wife could not misconstrue the other woman's meaning even if she had not heard her. For on the first of the pieces of paper – written in typed font – was a plane ticket – an express plane ticket to Germany.

“Germany?” Deanna asked before her eyes widened and her mouth hung open, realization igniting her expression and her eyes.
Biting her lower lip, Selena nodded. “I rented the castle for us.”

Deanna's eyes flew down as she separated the papers, finding another piece of paper with a reservation confirmation number and small itinerary, with her name written on it. She skipped past that for now in favour of the larger print that was on the paper – specifically the name that rang so many bells in her memory. Once more, her head snapped up.

“You got us the Maisonette Suite?!” 

Shyly, a smile broke across Selena's face. The German castle – known as the Schoenburg Castle – along with that particular room (out of its dozen of hotel rooms that resided within its stony walls) had held such significance to them both. For it had been there that the two women had spent their first honeymoon, sharing a few weeks away from the world – two newlyweds practically drowning in their love and new adventure together. The memories of that time – even if it was three years ago – immediately brought matching rosy blushes to both women. 

“We can't...”

The statement caught Selena off-guard, to say the least, causing her to tilt her head in confusion to her wife.

“Don't give me that look, Selena.” Deanna sighed. “I want to go. You know that. But we aren't just two recently married women. We have children-”
“We had a child when we were married.” Selena smiled.
“One. One child and one on the way.” Deanna added. “Now, we have three.”
“And Gerda has agreed to watch them.”

Taken a back, Deanna did a quick tilt of her own. “You spoke to Gerda?”
Selena nodded.
“When?”
“The last few days... I called Schoenburg first – since they're close to closing their doors for the winter, I had to make a personal inquiry like last time.”
“How did that go?” Deanna asked.
“Turns out they remember us.” Selena replied. “We're the 'sweet American girls that love the winter'.” she tried to say it in a German accent, but the Snow Queen failed miserably. 

They had been fortunate three years ago, their reservations starting five days before the 'closing date' – and the hotel being kind enough to keep some staff on hand so they could stay an extra week to finish their honeymoon.

“When I told them that we'd only need the most minimal of staff and that I'd pay high-season rate and any other-”

“Did you break the bank?” Deanna asked. Not that money was an issue for them, but being from a middle-class family of modest income, Deanna was practically programmed to consider such things. Selena, her lifetime ranging from low-middle class with her father to her stepmother at least making her pretend to be wealthy as 'The Snow Queen' to being dirt poor as the 'reject' and 'The Crazy Miner's Daughter' to being rather well-off with her SCW income and the gold-mine bequeathed to her by her father – and other investments she made- 

Selena shook her head to re-focus herself. “It wasn't as expensive as you think.” She simply answered. “Turns out a few people were looking for some extra shifts – and there's a few private parties happening before and after -” Selena raised her hands to stop herself from getting distracted, taking a deep breath as she did. “The point is that the room, and the castle will be empty except us and the staff.”

Again, Deanna had to sigh – despite wanting nothing more than to rush into her wife's arms and say, “YES!” as loud as she could. Three years ago, she would have, but life had changed her – Selena as well. “Selena...” she tried. “It's...it's certainly romantic and, dammit, you still know how to make me giddy...”

“But?” Selena interpreted.

“But it's not just your birthday and our anniversary. What about Elsianna? Her birthday on the New Year. And SCW...”

“Deanna...”

“And we still need to finish setting up Santa's workshop for the neighbourhood. We promised them we would have they helped us with Halloween-”

“Deanna!” Selena interjected. “Can you please just listen to everything I have to say before you say 'no'?”

Slowly, the redhead looked down at the ticket in her hand before slowly nodding her head.

“Alright.” Selena took a deep breath, clapping her hands together before rubbing them together, even if the envelope was still in her hand. “I've had a few days to think about this. After... that night... I realized that time away is what I need. Time to be with you. We... we need to get away so we can talk and find solutions to all of this.” 

Quickly, Selena reached into the envelope to pull out some brochures, handing them to Deanna. “Like this.”

Taking the papers, Deanna gave them a quick glance over – that being all that was needed in order for her to see the bright, yellow As on the cover. She cast her wife a glance. “Really?” she asked.

Selena's answer was a mere nod. “I told you I... I messed up.” she admitted, the guilt in her voice, but because the emotional attack on herself had lessened, her speaking had returned to its less...cursive... way. “I'm not in control of this...and I want us to find a way to fix that. I asked Dorian those brochures in the mailbox for me.”

“Dorian?” Deanna asked in curiosity before her brain clicked the pieces together. “Oh! Doctor Embers!”

Selena nodded in confirmation. While she certainly had no fondness for doctors, her past with the likes of Doctor Matthews and, of course, Paracelsus being enough to turn her away from doctors for the rest of her life, she could not deny their necessity in her career. Besides, Dr. Embers was part of their neighbourhood, living just on the other side of the lake, a short ten-minute walk. He was a good man with a good family – his daughter... Selena actually forgot her name, mentally cursing herself for doing so – was friends with Elsianna.

“But...that still doesn't-” Deanna began, casting her eyes down, back to the papers in her hands, specifically the room rental confirmation. As she did, however, her voice trailed off as she read, and re-read the date. “Is there a typo?” she asked. “It says eighteen dash one dash twenty-nineteen for the start date but then twenty-seven dash one- shouldn't one of them be a twelve and reversed? These dates don't make sense.”

“They do if you book them for the eighteenth to the twenty-seventh of January.” Selena replied.
“But...” Deanna started before changing her thoughts. “What about SCW?”

With a nod of her head and a sharp breath between exposed, white teeth, Selena slowly reached into the envelope – Deanna not missing how her wife's hand shook a little this time as she did. Pulling out a pair of papers, Selena handed them to the sitting redhead. “We're also going to talk about this as well.”

Again, Deanna took the papers, placing the brochures on the table beside her. Again, she only had to graze over the initial, bold font-typing on the top of the first paper to know what it meant. Rather than speak immediately, however, her eyes travelled down, across every page, until she had all the information figured out, including the large number seen there. Lifting her head, Deanna eyed her wife, who was leaning against the wall nervously, biting her thumbnail.

“You didn't sign it yet.” she stated.
“No.” Selena answered. “After that night... I don't...” her voice trailed off before she jerked her head up and forward a bit, prompting Deanna refocus and see the last piece of paper Selena had to share. Again, the bold print at the top was read – but this was all Deanna allowed herself to read.

Request for Termination of Employment

While the first paper was a contract in format, what Deanna saw was that of a simple, printed Word Document. 

“You had already thought about this.” she stated simply. 
Selena nodded. “Before I even arrived in New York.” her voice was sad but also determined. “I haven't chosen one way or another.”

“Why not?” Deanna asked, genuinely curious as to her wife's reasoning. “It's a lot of money for another year.”
“Money we don't need.” Selena stated. “And all that stuff you were saying earlier? About the boss and the state of SCW and how my year's been going – I can't turn that around with this...that...”
“Addiction.” Deanna stated, earning a sad sigh from Selena. “You have to start calling it what it is if you hope to get better.”

“Well, I call it that in the letter. I tell them everything – well, everything they need to know.” the platinum-blonde corrected. “My point is that I haven't renewed my contract with them yet, but neither have I sent that letter to them.”

“And this is your solution?” Deanna asked skeptically. “Stay in limbo?”

“No.” Selena replied quickly before shuffling over to Deanna. Before the redhead, the platinum-blonde knelt down, her hands resting on Deanna's knees as her sapphire eyes gazed into Deanna's emerald ones. “Right now? My contract expires at the End of the Year event, right? Anniversary of my debut in SCW.”
“Right.”
“After that? The only match I possibly owe... or am owed, I suppose... is whatever I cash in my Trios Contract for.”
“And you have an idea for that?”
“Not a clue!” Selena laughed. “Not one idea – even after nearly a year. Nope, nothing.” she laughed again, a genuine laugh. “But I will think of something and make it happen at the January Pay-Per-View.”

“And then what?” Deanna asked.
“Then...” Selena bit her lower lip before leaning up a bit to move closer to Deanna. “I take the fastest jet to Germany and meet you at the castle. We spent the next week being...well....” Selena trailed off for a moment before a coy smile broke across her face. “It can't be all work and no play, right?”

Despite herself, a slight, amused, smirk came across Deanna's face – and the Snow Queen saw it immediately. “Yeah, yeah.” Deanna settled on answering. 

“Okay – but, we talk. We figure out what we're going to do about rehab, we talk about SCW, about us, the vow-renewals – everything! If we feel the best thing for me to do is quit SCW, I'll quit. No questions asked, I'll give them that letter.”

“Seriously?” Deanna's eyebrows rose, not entirely sure she was convinced Selena could do such a thing.

“Deanna...” Selena breathed slowly. “I need to solve this. I can't be – out of control here. And if I can lose it out there? Where my guard is always up against people that hate me – wrestlers that want me out of SCW for good? Imagine how easy it will be for me when my guard is done around you and the children.”

Emerald eyes widened at the thought. Deanna hadn't really thought about that. She had figured making this home a dry-county of sorts would have solved the issue. But there were still bars nearby. Places that sold alcohol for sure. 

“I won't...I won't bring that person – that...me – into this house. I won't.” Selena vowed. “Just...” she started before she saw Deanna's eyes were downcast to the pale hands that were on her knees. “Deanna, please look at me.”

Slowly, Deanna lifted her face to gaze at her wife. “Please – I know you have no reason to given all that's happened – but please trust me and say you will go and meet me at the castle. I promise I will not mess this up.”

For a moment, Deanna closed her eyes, taking a shaky breath through her nose. Selena's heart raced like a hammer inside her rib cage. But as her wife opened her eyes and the tears fell from the emerald orbs, she could not help her own from falling.

“Alright.” Deanna promised genuinely, placing her hands over Selena's. “I will meet you at the castle.”

___________________________________

The Royal Letter

Slowly, the camera fades in to the sight of a crackling fire, the 'snap-hiss' of the flames as they burn away the fuel of firewood being the only sounds heard at first. However, as the camera moves away and past it, the sight of stone walls are seen surrounding the scene. These are not some furnished or smoothed walls of a mansion or castle or private studio like several superstars will use in their Pay-Per-View. No, these are the rough walls of nature itself, forged by the earth's own hand. And, yet, in the unforgiving world that is Nome, Alaska, a cave such as this could be seen as a haven.

That certainly is the case for the woman seen sitting against the cave wall, just a few feet from the fire. She wears a white, thick coat with gray fur-trims around the hoodie (which is down – exposing her pale skin and white hair). The glow of the fire seems to dance across her features as she stares into the flames, her mind clearly on something other than her current surroundings. The only other sign of the present cold outside besides this woman's attire, is the slight mist that escaped her lips every time she exhales.

Now... this is cold. she finally says – a fitting opening for the Snow Queen, Selena Frost. I mean – you can go around the world and experience winter in all kinds of places – but there's no place that has this kind of cold.

Reaching up a hand, Selena quickly pulls the white, fluffy glove off it, revealing pale fingers. The kind that goes through your body and settles in your bones. The kind that slices through your 'protective clothing' – your 'armours' – like a surgeon's scalpel through soft tissue. Nothing is strong enough here to truly stop the cold when its at its peak around here.

With a turn of her head, the platinum-blonde stares out towards the entrance of the cave several yards away from her. Despite the distance, she can see the flurry of snow falling outside, a blizzard raging on beyond her 'castle of stone'.

And you're really only given two options in this kind of world. You can either run away from it or you can deal with it. And if you're trapped in this place – like I was most of my life – your options then change to 'accept it' or 'die'. A small smile at the dark humour graces the young woman's lips, mild amusement evident in her.

Funny that I would need to come to a place like this after everything that happened last year. she says. If I had been Bree or Sienna or anyone in the Beauty Network, this would be the last place to consider. I imagine they are off in their hot-tubs, saunas, photoshoots, makeup chairs – and I'm not knocking that. I live in comfort as well in Manhattan. But 'comfort' is something I needed to be rid for what is headed my way. Because... there is no comfort for what is coming up. There's no hot tub or comfy chairs in that cage...

All there is, surrounded by that cold steel, are two options...

With a deep breath through her nose, Selena exhales another shroud of mist. Last Breakdown, my video was submitted to all of you. I don't have anything to use to check on the reaction to that – only the people that live in the town below, which I visit every so often in the last few weeks. All I know was that it was received and aired. I hope all of you – the True-Believers and the SCW Universe – could understand my absence from the End of the Year Special and my absence now.

It is not fear – believe me, it will be a long while before I am afraid of Bree Lancaster. If the likes of Red Rayne's sadistic tendencies, Matt Auclair's brutish strength, Ravyn Taylor's twisted mind, and Regan Street's – well, Regan just being Regan – if none of those things scare me, then I certainly am not going to be intimidated by Bree Lancaster scoffing in front of a camera or posting pictures of herself on Twitter about how 'good' she is. 

No... I truly needed to come back here, True-Believers. Where everything really started for me. You see... Selena pauses, choosing her words carefully. Back in December, as we were approaching the End of the Year, I started asking myself what the 'old Selena' would think of who I am now. Because this year marks my fifth year being a wrestler. A small chuckle comes from Selena. I know that isn't much compared to others like Regan and Dark Fantasy – and it sure as hell can't compare to the boss, Mr. D. – when you view the over fifteen years SCW has existed. But half a decade – it was hard to believe that so many years had passed since I was part of such a history. 

For me, reflecting on it, it felt like it had only been a few days since I was that young girl – the one that was hated by most of the town by being born different, being the 'Crazy Miner's Daughter' – that decided to risk it all on some pinhead idea of joining a wrestling promotion with no real experience. If you had told that girl that, in five years time, she would not only have accolades that rivalled several hall of fame inductees in SCW, but also she'd be married to the most... amazing woman... with the most beautiful set of children – and a dog on top of that – all of them living in the big city of New York, she'd probably laugh in your face and think you were drunk or on drugs or something. No way was the 'Snow Queen of Nome, Alaska' ever going to have the chance to leave this place.

Again, Selena takes a moment to gaze around her cave, recognizing every crack and crevice that she sees.

But the funny thing is? What that 'old Selena' was really good at? Cutting through the crap. That Selena... she was so miserable here that she didn't care who loved her and who hated her. She embraced the notion of being cold as ice and not caring if people judged her on her appearance – she was... she was like the cold here in Nome. Selena releases a shot of breath, like a dagger of mist. She cut right through. So, when I wondered last month what that Selena would think of me now... the platinum-blonde shakes her head. I know that she'd see right through the accolades. Right through the lifestyle. Right through everything and she'd laugh in my face too.

Sapphire eyes re-focus on the burning fire just in front, the embers casting beautiful, shifting lights around the cracks in the walls.

She'd laugh at me and probably ask me the most damning question: What happened?

For the woman that had 'the Year of Selena Frost', winning two tournaments and the world title and beating the top stars in SCW in 2016. For the woman that headlined every pay-per-view in 2017, winning the world title again, what the hell happened?

Sniffling a little, Selena runs her hands through her hair, which seems as white as the snow outside. A few days ago, while I was submitting my footage to the SCW staff, and a friend allowed me to stay a few hours and watch the replay of the End of the Year Special. 

To do so was both a touching and... a humbling experience. Because, while I was beyond honoured to have shared in the 'Match of the Year' award, there was nothing else of me there. When SCW was reflecting on 2018, that was all of Selena Frost that was shown. A match of the year that she lost. Aside from Owen Cruze mentioning my loss to him as he won the royale, that was how SCW highlighted 2018 for itself and for me – as if I wasn't there.

Quietly, Selena wipes at her eyes with a few gentle fingers. And I don't blame SCW for that. Not even a little. I blame myself. I blame myself for this year. I don't know what happened. I don't know what changed for me, but it's easily been the roughest year in my career. The constant assaults on me, the numerous interferences in my matches, having a crate dropped on your ankle, head smashed by a monitor, does anyone even remember that I held the Television title for a few weeks?

Selena shakes her head.

My point is that, watching that special, I knew why the 'old Selena' would have laughed in my face and asked that damn question. Because that fire – the passion – Selena's eyes go back to gazing at the fire. The one that burned within the freezing cold – burned within me – somewhere in 2018, it was on the verge of being stomped out. I wasn't thriving in SCW last year or dominating or being 'the best of the best', I was just trying to survive each and every onslaught from Past, Present and Future, or Dark Fantasy, or the Beauty Factory, or whomever came at me in droves. I was just clinging on – hoping to keep whatever fire I still had in me burning...

That... isn't how I want 2019 to be. It isn't how I want my career to be!

That's why I'm here now – back home, where it all began. To rekindle that flame. To harvest it into a burning fire and bring that fire into the roofed cage... so I can then unleash it on you, Bree Lancaster.

Selena's eyes narrow as she turned her head to stare into the camera.

Is this the part where you throw your hair back and tell me I 'talk too much'? Or that what I have to say has no 'substance'? Well, that's okay, Bree, because I'm going to keep this simple for you. I'm just going to ask you one simple question. One question and you can just turn the rest of this off if you so choose.

The Snow Queen leans forward a little bit, her eyes still on the camera. What happened, Bree?

Hmmm? That's the question that keeps popping into my head whenever I think about that last match of ours. Every time I think about the ending between you and me. That question keeps popping up. What happened, Bree?

What happened to your promise that you were going to 'crush my dreams' of becoming the United States Champion? What happened to your promise that you were going to make me 'tap out' to you – make me 'surrender' my dream and my ambition to you? What happened to your promise that you were going to 'beat me so bad that I 'would not even want to cash-in my Trios contract against you'?

A brief silence hangs in the frigid air before Selena continues. 

What happened, Bree? Because, if that all happened, how would this all be possible? Why would this match exist? And why would I be in the cold of Nome, Alaska, desperately ensuring that I would be more than ready for this match in Los Angeles?

The Snow Queen crosses her arms over her chest as she leans against the cave wall she is sitting near. I'll tell you what happened - since I'm not prepared to listen to more of your mental gymnastics right now – and it's the same thing I accused you of the last time you and I faced. 

Bree Lancaster did what Bree Lancaster always does when she can't make good on the grandiose promises she makes in her promos and her tweets. Bree Lancaster settles. 

Just like she settled for the United States Championship when she failed to become the World Champion earlier this year, Bree Lancaster settled on simply retaining the championship against me back in December. And you can tell me a hundred different lies and a hundred different stories you've concocted and a hundred different theories you've fabricated, Bree, to explain yourself. 

The world saw it!

It saw you in that match – in that ring – with me. In a match that we were told 'no interference would be permitted', we were told that it was going to be just you and me. And you know something? I thought you were actually on board with that. When you tweeted about the injustice of our first match being thrown out because of Katya and Dark Fantasy, I thought – for a moment – that maybe, just maybe, you wanted to find out the truth about who was better. That, after years and years of countouts and other people being pinned and other the disqualifications, you would be dying to know as much as I would. Dying to know who, between Bree Lancaster and Selena Frost, was truly the better wrestler. On our own – your talent against mine. Your skills against mine.

A knowing smirk and shake of her head does little to hide the irritation on Selena's face. I can't believe I gave you that kind of credit... 

Because I was prepared to accept a win or a loss to you, Bree, if that was how it all went down. I was prepared to be humbled and accept that if you actually made good on any of your promises and earned a victory over me on your own. I was prepared to give you everything I had and, if that wasn't good enough, admit to the world that I had lost that night to someone that truly wanted to be the United States Champion more than I did...

But there you were, in the ring, locked in the Frost's Bite. And the world saw it. It wasn't you 'wanting it more than Selena' that saved you. It wasn't your drive or your will or anything you possessed. Bree. It was Scott Burnside who saved you! Scott pulled you towards the ropes to get you out of that submission. Because, guess what! You had nowhere to go!

Selena's voice raises a little in anger, her voice echoing a little within the cave's confines. 

And you realized, really quick, the reality of your situation. Before, you told me I didn't 'want the United States Championship enough'. That I didn't have the 'drive' to take the United States title from you. In fact, I believed your usual reaction when asked by interviewers and by Andrew Raynes about me was to laugh and scoff at such a notion of me beating you. 

Yet, in that moment of you lying on the mat, clutching your arm as Scott saved you, you realized, with dawning horror, that it was you, not me, that was about to tap out and surrender the United States Championship. You realized that you – supposedly one of the best of SCW - couldn't beat me. You couldn't beat me so bad that I would disappear. You couldn't make me surrender. And you realized that, if you fought me as you swore you would, that you would NOT be leaving with the United States Title. My will and desire were far stronger than you ever gave me credit for...

So, you settled...

That last word, 'settled', hangs in the air with a slight echo.

You, in less than a second, threw away your promises – sold them out – and settled on cheating. Settled on grabbing the rope and calling that a victory. After so long of declaring my 'countout' victory to 'not count', you proudly declared your 'victory' on Twitter and Breakdown – that you finally earned your pinfall victory. 

Well... the good news for you, Bree. You got your win over me. You've got your pinfall victory over me. As it was said, the history books will show that Bree Lancaster pinned Selena Frost. You can rant about it, brag about it in your promos while I'm here in Nome. You can do all of that! But in terms of proving who is 'better'? Selena slowly shakes her head. You haven't earned that yet. 

And the bad news for all of this is: while you haven't earned that right yet, you've earned everything else that is coming to you. You know, I could have actually respected you if you had beaten me cleanly. If you had done all you could and made at least one of your goals and promises happen. I could have respected you in a bit more of a degree if you had beaten me on your own – or at least tried to to the bitter end. But you didn't. 

And looking back, Bree, I remember how you said to me in one of your promos that while I do 'what is right', you do 'what works'. Honestly, that sat in my head for awhile and it stayed in my head in the week building up to our second match because, frankly, I couldn't stand the notion of that. That SCW was filled with people that cared only about getting the victory at all costs. And although I had spent most of 2018 dealing with people just like that, like Regan, Sienna, even Christy Matthews on some level – I didn't want to believe that it was what compromised most of SCW... 

Because I didn't know where that would place you and where that would place me if it did. Was I just not willing to do enough? Was I just not willing to do what was necessary to achieve my dream, like crossing that line as you do so often? Was I just not willing to go that final step, even if it was considered bad, with the best of intentions?

But then I realized something after that second match. As I sat in the back, thinking about what had happened - what had just occurred - I realized what 'works' means to you. And I realized what it actually makes you. And it's not a champion. It's a damn coward!

Taking a deep breath, Selena rolls her shoulders back a little.

What kind of person has their match interrupted and, instead of fighting back, runs away? What kind of person pretends to be a great champion – promises to bring a worthy and violent fight unlike anything the challenger has seen and then settles for cheating? 

There is no longer any way for me to mistake you and I, Bree Lancaster. Because, seeing you scurry away from the fight after our first match – hiding in a corner - while Kennedy Street, Giovanni Aries, Trinity Street, Owen Cruze, myself, Christy Matthews, and so many others fought Katya's entourage, and then our last match... I realized that your 'way of working' is nothing more than damn shortcut.

Shortcuts here, shortcuts there, whatever you can do to keep holding on. To keep the fantasy in your head alive. Long as you have a title – any title, right? Or are you still pining for that tag-title rematch? – Bree Lancaster will settle for any title, because as long as you have one, you can claim that you are 'one of the best in SCW'. But personally? I think the BarBree I saw at the End of the Year special is more of a champion than you!

Reaching into her jacket where the zipper is, Selena pulls out a small, golden chain with a pendant at the end of it. Carefully, she holds it up, the glow of the fire illuminating it, revealing it to be a small, gold nugget.

This was my father's. He actually found it inside this very cave... she looks around the cave with a smile. Remember what I said I was called, Bree? 'The Crazy Miner's Daughter'? Well, my father believed that this cave – this hunk of rock he owned – contained gold. That it had been overlooked and abandoned in the old Alaskan gold rush of 1899. A quiet chuckle. He spent so much of his adult life looking for some of that gold... this... she holds up the nugget. Was all he found of his dream. He was mocked, ridiculed, deemed crazy by the town. And after he disappeared, I wondered, for so many years, why didn't he just fake it, you know? Why didn't he just put gold in here – buy it or something, and pretend that he had found it? If only to shut up the world we lived in.

But he never did. He never settled for that. Because he could lie to the world. He could lie to every person that spit on him, both literally and figuratively, but he could not lie to himself... or to his daughter. Selena clutched the pendant in her hand tightly. My father refused to be seen, even by his own reflection, as a coward. As someone that just sold out their beliefs for the sake of 'looking good'. 

He deserved better than that... and so does SCW!

And I don't give a damn if this sounds cliche at this point, Bree, but my father is ten times the person you are! And I would damned if I let your 'logic' sit in my head for another second – if I allowed his memory to be replaced by your filth. Because you are not an honest champion. You are not a respected champion! You are the one that would have faked finding gold just to brag and show off to the town. You are the one that would have betrayed your beliefs and standards just for a moment of feeling important!

Because nothing you said came true, Bree. Because here I am, using my trios for one last shot against you – one last chance to reclaim the SCW United States Championship. Here I am, not afraid to be here in Nome and push myself to my limits to rediscover that fire that I need to beat you. Because my father didn't give up on his dream despite failing over and over again – and neither will I. 

To me, Bree, you are NOT the United States Champion. You are the thief that stole it from me. You are the thief that stole it from SCW and you are the thief that stole it from every single person that paid to watch our match in the arena and sat down to watch it in front of their television. You are the imposter, parading around with your 'falsely discovered gold' declaring how you 'found it'!

Selena takes a deep breath before exhaling, an attempt to calm herself, though her sapphire eyes darken considerably.

This Pay-Per-View is called 'Making Things Right'. And this is the first step. I am making this right, Bree. I am locking us in a cage and I am not going to stop until this injustice, this unfairness, this thievery... this crap! Has been made right! And I am not going to promise some kind of submission or 'special victory' because it does not matter to me. I don't care if I knock you out or make you tap out. In this match, where there are no rules, I will only promise one thing – and unlike you, I will keep this promise. I am going to beat you from side to side, from pillar to post from turnbuckle to turnbuckle until I am done with you. I am going to show you the reason why I am known as 'The Crazy Miner's Daughter'! Because, like my father before me, I will not surrender my dream by being like you.

Because like my father, locked in my own cave – cave of metal and chains – I will just keeping digging and digging, chipping away at you until my dream comes true... and I strike gold!

With a tilt of her head and dark smile, Selena's face continues to be illuminated by the glow of the fire as she clutches her pendant tightly.

Believe it.

The camera slowly fades on that image, leaving the Snow Queen to her winter training grounds...

[HardyGirl]

OOC: CD only. Appearances with approval. Still playing catch up, bear with me a bit.

-----------------

Making Things Right #1

[SnowQueenSCW]

OOC: CD only and takes place in the week of Selena and Bree's second match on Breakdown (following the house shows of that week) and plays off the first roleplay. 

 
I of the Storm

“A Sickening Feeling”

Her lungs burned inside her chest, a fire blazing through her very torso. The more she pushed herself to move faster, the stronger the fire burned inside her. Was she even breathing anymore? She couldn't be sure, her mouth was filling with lactic acid – she had never run so fast before in her life! Ducking in and out through the darkness, she heard the 'crunch crunch' of the snow being crushed beneath her boots as she ran the trail. Sometimes, her feet would not hit the ground evenly, causing her to stumble or shuffle to keep her footing going. But she had to keep going.

Not because she was running from her problems.
Not because she wanted to burn away some deep hatred over Bree Lancaster cheating her way to retaining the United States Championship against her a few days ago. 
Not because she had STILL not heard from the SCW owner, O. D....

Those were all good reasons, to be sure, but none of them entered Selena Frost's mind in that moment. Instead, there was only one thought – one notion that the Snow Queen's mind zeroed in on as if her very life depended on it!

103...103...103...103...

That number kept repeating in her head like that of a parrot as she darted and sprinted along the trails and past the trees of her neighbourhood. It was if she were running through the forests in her homeland of Nome, Alaska – something the 'Crazy Miner's Daughter' never thought she would even remotely experience again. And, despite fear and concern gripping her so tight that breathing did not seem possible – though that might have been more because of the physical running than her anxiety – there was a certain rush of exhilaration that unintentionally came to the platinum-blonde at the memory of running in the snow, the cold wind whipping her hair back and striking through her clothes. And with it, she kept running in the dark. Even as the fire ran down to her legs, she kept going. To her left, she kept passing groups of house and porch lights in the distance, the tall buildings able to shine their lights outward over the fences that kept each premise closed off from the trail. Selena barely noticed them. These particular lights weren't her guide. 

103...103...103...103...103....

At long last, Selena forced herself to stop in her tracks, the sound of kicking and shifting of snow beneath her as she did reaching her ears. “Where...are...you...” she gasped through jagged breath as she cast her gaze across the large lake to the right. It didn't take long for her to spot it – even from her distance away. There was no denying the bright blue and white Christmas lights hanging on top of her house in the distance. And while any of the other houses that were close to her and Deanna's home had their lights on, both outside and inside, the Frosts had the largest balcony windows to see from the back and only her family used blue and white lights for the holidays... weird or not, Selena didn't care (and, fortunately, neither did Deanna). 

Quickly, realizing that her current location put her straight in line with her home (with her being on the other side of the lake), Selena took one more deep breath before turning her back on the large property and began seeking the next 'exit trial', one of many that the main trail circling the neighbourhood had. It did not take her long to find it, the flat trail, like the dozens of others – like exits on a highway – sprouting between two properties and up the hill to the main road.

Giving one more burst of speed, Selena burst through, her feet hitting asphalt as they met the road. She could see the street lamps illuminating much of the street and the houses behind her. With a turn, her eyes immediately sought out the numbers.

“92...94...” she gasped aloud in reading before sprinting in the direction of increasing numbers until her eyes caught it. “103!” she all but spat in triumph but, also, urgency. The house before her was large, though not as large as hers and Deanna's. A broad, tall, square unit of red brick and green rooftops, though the red and green Christmas lights were the first thing to be noticed.

Quickly, Selena was on the driveway. The next second, she was leaping up the three or so steps to land on the porch in front of the house's front door, her fist rapping urgently on it.

“Come on, come on...” she quietly wheezed in a begging manner. “Please, Odin...” her voice had turned to a damn prayer. “Be home – be awake!” she gave a series of knocks again on the door. but when nothing was heard and nothing had changed, Selena was about to try again when, suddenly, the porch lights beside her – hanging on the wall – suddenly came on, catching her attention. This was immediately followed by the sound of steps walking around the inside of the house and before Selena could comprehend all these sights and sounds, the door in front of her was pulled open.

Before Selena stood a tall, but thin man, in his forties and easily taller than Selena. He had his hair combed back neatly and he wore a simple polo shirt and beige pants inside his warm home. Before he could say anything however, Selena's voice came out in a rush.

“Thank gods... you're home...”

The man, at first could only stare at the sight before him – and it must have been a sight. To see Mrs. Selena Frost, one of his neighbours, standing there, drenched in sweat despite it being winter outside, dressed only in black track pants and a simple, blue t-shirt of solid color – again, despite it being winter! - gasping for air as if she had run a marathon.

“Mrs... Mrs. Frost?” he asked. “What...what is-”
“I'm sorry.” Selena huffed, trying to catch her breath. “I'm sorry...” she tried again. “I'm sorry but I need you to come with me – doctor... daughter...”

“Calm down, please.” urged the young man. “Take a few deep breaths.”

Despite the urgency and need she felt coursing through, Selena obeyed. She was no good while huffing and puffing like the Big Bad Wolf. Taking the advised few deep breaths. she felt her heart begin slow – not by much but enough for her to speak far more clearer.

“My daughter is sick.” Selena stated clearly, though the fear in her voice had not left her.
“Your daughter?” the man asked. “Is it your newborn? I remember being told-”
“No, doctor.” Selena breathed raggedly. “It's my oldest, Elsianna. I think she got something at school.”
“I see.” the doctor sighed. “I'm...”

He looked inside his home for a moment, his eyes cast on the woman that stood inside the house and watching the exchange. She was roughly his age - perhaps a few years younger - and wore a grey sweater and blue jeans. “Is everything alright, Dorian?” she asked.

“Everything is fine, Sybil.” Doctor Embers replied. “It's just Mrs. Frost. Her daughter is sick.”

“Oh no!” In a second, the blonde was standing by her husband, her brown eyes taking in the ragged appearance of Selena. “What's the matter with her?”

“I don't know.” Selena admitted, shaking her head to try and keep focused, despite feeling light-headed from her sprint. “She was coughing and sneezing last week, but when I came home from work tonight, and we started having dinner – she just then immediately began throwing up. When I felt her face while cleaning her, she was... she was hot to my hand...”

It was that part which had scared Selena the most.

“How warm?” Dorian asked.
“Doctor – please, I'll tell you on the way – I wouldn't have – I didn't-” the Snow Queen tried, her voice cracking in desperation. 
“Dorian, just go, please.” Sybil half-begged, half-demanded. “Elsianna is a dear friend of Osana...”

It took a moment for the doctor to sigh before nodding his head. “I can't really promise to do much without any real equipment. I'd rather you take her to a hospital.”
“And wait two to four hours?” Selena's eyes widened as she blurted that sentence out. “I'm sorry...I'm...”

“It's alright.” Dorian stated. “How did you get here?”
“I ran.” Selena stated, pointing to the Embers' backyard. “Took the trail.”
“You ran half-way around the neighbourhood?” Sybil asked in disbelief.
“Faster than a car if you use the trail.” Selena took a another deep breath.
“Good lord...” Dorian whispered. Moving to the side of the entrance, where a closet was, he opened the doors of it and pulled out a black, medical bag. “Well, we're taking my car.” he said as he lifted the bag up to point it at Selena as if for emphasis.

Without another word, the doctor then grabbed his keys, which lay in the small bowl on the stand by the door. Selena barely had time to blurt a 'thank-you' to him and Sybil before Dorian was outside and marching to his car, a silver miata 2016 model. In less than two minutes, both doctor and Snow Queen were driving down the road, taking the turns and hills needed to reach Selena's home.

“So...” Dorian tried after a few minutes of silence. “Your wife is the more normal one...” he said playfully.
“What?” Selena asked, not really paying attention until she had heard his voice. 
“I was just saying that I know your wife better than I know you – and all this time I thought you were the more 'normal' one because she is... well, VERY happy and enthusiastic.”

“Yes, she is.” Selena nodded. “You think I'm weird then?”
“Well, you did run halfway around the neighbourhood – and on top of that, you took the darker, more slippery path.” surmised the young man.
“Wouldn't you have done the same for Osana?” Selena asked.
“Point withdrawn.” The doctor smiled before focusing on the road. “Did you check Elsianna's temperature?”

Selena nodded, desperately trying to silently will the car to move faster. “Of course. She's 101 degrees.” despite the slowing of her breath, now that she was seated in the car, the tone of panic did not fade from her.

“So definitely a fever.” the doctor rationalized. “Anything else?”
“I...” Selena took a deep breath to steady her nerves, though it wasn't from exhaustion this time, “I don't know.” she admitted. “I just got back from Delaware.”

A familiar guilt surged through her, filling her core to replace the burning of her run. She had done her atypical routine of working with SCW – Breakdown first, then house shows. She had been lucky this time around because the last house show was only a few hours from Manhattan, allowing quick and easy leave and return home. 

But seeing her little snowflake like that: crying, begging her mommy to 'make it stop' as her insides burned – seeing her baby sick... something the Snow Queen had never truly seen before with her Snow Child... it had all but driven Selena into a near panic.

“Deanna would know.” she stated glumly. “She stays at home to look after the children while I work.”
“I see.” Dorian replied, but his next response almost surprised Selena. “I get it. Sybil is the same way. Sucks that you have to miss so much to provide for them, right?”

“Yes...but she's better at it than me – and I'm...” Selena rarely admitted to this. “I'm like seven and a half years older than her.”
“Some people are natural caretakers and others are natural providers.” Dorian simply philosophized.
“Yeah but it's...it's getting ridiculous.” Selena sighed. “There I am, marching around the house in a panic because Elsa has never been sick before... and she calmly tells me to drive the car down the street and around the neighbourhood to see you. What do I do? 'Oh no! I can run it in half the time using the trail!'.”

A brief, repressed mixture of scoff and laugh came from the bottom of Dorian's throat, but the doctor responded in no other way, simply continuing his driving along the streets. 

Turning her head to gaze out the window, Selena eyed the houses, seeing the fronts of them this time (when earlier, she had only eyed the back along the trail). “You ever miss anything of Osana's?” she suddenly asked cautiously.

A sad grin slowly crept its way over Dorian's face, the light from the outside street lamps revealing the few wrinkles along his complexion as he drove. “Too many to mention. First words, losing her first tooth, I managed to get to see her first steps – this is in no particular order, by the way – I missed her first day of school-”

Selena nodded as Embers continued to spout off things he had missed in his daughter's life. She could hear the slight tone of guilt in each confession – and it was so familiar to the guilt she felt, though she dared not dig too far in that direction. To do so would only be a horrid reminder to the Snow Queen of her absence from the first five years of her daughter's life. And while the good doctor beside her had been available to see many 'firsts' of Osana, Selena had none of those where Elsianna was concerned, and only a few in regards to David – and she was certain that her relationship with Amiliah would fair the same way.

Unless of course you send that email...

Immediately, Selena clapped down on the haunting voice of Sirus in her head – using the lights she could see outside as a distraction. Of course, she gave no sign of her mental battle as the car turned a corner, the Snow Queen instantly recognizing the section of the neighbourhood she was in. “Not much farther.” she said. “I'm over at-”

“The big one.” the doctor replied without a hint of rudeness or annoyance. “Closer to the south entrance of the neighbourhood.”
“Yeah...” Selena nodded her head.

I'm just saying... Send the email and you're done with the bullshit. Done with the drama. Done with the fighting. Done with the pain. Done – with all of it. No more 'missing firsts'. Every time your babies get sick... you're there...

The platinum-blonde said nothing as the voice coaxed her, teased her. She gave no visual reaction to anything that flew around inside her. But when the tone changed...

My Snow Child never got sick...

The voice, much lighter and softer than Sirus' – Selena had heard it last week... in that hotel room...

“I need to ask you something.” she blurted out, perhaps a little too loud than she had intended, slightly surprising the driving doctor.
“Alright.” he shrugged, though his eyes remained on the road, both he and Selena able to see the Frost home in the distance.

“What if you didn't need to be a doctor. I mean...” Selena tried, closing her eyes to try and rationalize her thoughts – a not so easy feat when she had one to three voices rampaging through her head at any given time. “Hypothetically speaking, you didn't need to be a doctor to provide the same lifestyle for your family. You'd never have to miss another 'first' ever again.” Opening her eyes, the young woman eyed the doctor. “Could you do that?”

The question hung in the air thickly for a moment, weighing heavily on Selena. And yet, to her surprise, the good doctor simply shook his head and shrugged it off. “Nope.”

The answer was short, soft, and surprised the hell out of the wrestler. “Are you serious?”

“Well, it certainly is tempting.” he admitted. “But I'm lucky. I love what I do. I love my work. Yes, there are bad days and the hours can be brutal – but being a doctor – I guess it's part of who I am. And not to have that?” he gave a short laugh. “I'll put it simply: If I can't be completely me, I can't be a complete father or husband to those I look after.”

Slowly, Selena nodded her head. It actually made sense to the Snow Queen – but at the same time, she wasn't so certain such an answer applied to her. Yes, she loved being a wrestler, and yes, she was sure she was doing good in SCW... but she wasn't saving lives. Yes, being a wrestler was part of who she was, but the hospital needed doctors like Dorian Embers...

She wasn't so sure SCW really needed her anymore. 

Fortunately, she did not have much time to contemplate the notion as she felt the car bump up a little as it turned onto her driveway. Within seconds, it had pulled up to her home and, without hesitation – and before the care had even turned off – Selena had manually unlocked the door and bolted out, rushing up the steps. She turned her head just in time to see Dorian turn the car off, get out of the car (quickly, but no as fast as Selena) and follow her up the stairs, medical bag in hand.

Pushing the door open, Selena rushed in. As she did, the sound of feet rushing in from the kitchen was heard as Deanna, coming around the corner. She still wore the maroon shirt and navy and white striped pants she had worn when Selena had left the house (Why wouldn't she? the older Frost thought in reaction) and as the redhead opened her mouth to speak, her eyes suddenly took in the sight of the woman closest to her.

“What the hell happened?” she asked in alarm, for while Selena's breathing had returned to normal, she was still wet from the sweat and the snow falling outside.
“I got Dr. Embers.” Selena shrugged.
“Did you swim across the lake to get him?” Deanna asked.
“No, but she ran around it...” muttered the doctor in good-humoured nature.

Sadly, all it earned him was a glare of ice-daggers from Selena. 

“Of course she did.” came the deadpanned answer from Deanna before she concentrated on her 'guest' of sorts. “Thank you for coming, doctor.” she offered. “Elsianna is upstairs.”

“Alright.” Dorian nodded, ushering past Selena so he could be guided by Deanna, the two already talking as they made their way up. “Your wife said she was vomiting?”

“Yes.” answered Deanna. “And for the past week, she said she's been feeling chest pains. And I've noticed her having constant coughing fits.”
“Did you take her to the hospital?” Dorian asked.
“No. I gave her soup and lozenges and that seemed to work for awhile, but tonight – I'm not so sure.”

“Okay... anything to do with -” he suddenly stopped as he reached the outside of Elsianna's room, giving a turn to both Deanna and Selena (who had followed the other two up the flight of stairs in absolute silence). The red-haired woman pointed towards the room belonging to the sick child, but Dorian held up his hand for a moment, his voice dropping considerably in volume, almost to a whisper. “Mrs. Frost told me she was warm.” he directed his question to Deanna. “Any sweat?”
“None that I saw.” Deanna shook her head.
“Alright.” he nodded. “I'm going to ask her this as well and I just wanted to hear from the parents first.”

“It's fine.” Selena stated, though her impatience was evident as she bounced up and down on the balls of her feet. “She won't lie to you.” the platinum-blonde promised.

With a shrug, the doctor turned to enter but stopped before doing so. “I think it best if only one of you comes in with me.”
“Why?!” Selena asked in alarm, though her voice did not break past a whisper – no doubt adopting the doctor's form (though she had no idea why she was doing so).
“Because a ) We don't want to overwhelm your daughter. B ) Mrs. Frost -” he indicated Deanna. “would best be able to answer any other questions I have. And c ) If I am right, then it's possible what your daughter has could be contagious.”

“What does she have?” both Selena and Deanna asked at the same time as Dorian reached into his back, pulling out a pair of medical masks. Slipping one over his own face, he then handed the other to Deanna, who mirrored the doctor's actions. 

“Allow me to ascertain some things first – best to do that then tell you what I think.” came Dorian's slightly muffled answer, though it was not lacking in finality, before he made his way into the room, Deanna quickly following him. Selena, meanwhile, stood at the doorway, keeping her eyes locked on her baby, who, upon seeing the people entering her bedroom, stiffened and backed up against the headboard of her bed.

“It's alright, sweetheart.” Deanna offered, rushing to the farthest side of Elsa's bed in order to take her hands into her own. “It's me.”
“Mom...” the six-year old started before she began coughing again – the throngs of another coughing fit taking her. 

For Selena, whom had not seen much of her daughter in nearly a week due to work, it pained her to see the child appear worse than last week. She had hoped – perhaps foolishly assumed – that Elsianna would have recovered quickly and no longer need to be worried about being sick – like her mommy. Yet, as she heard another fit of coughing, a wicked thought came into her brain.

She's only half you...

It was the tone that made Selena feel ill to her stomach. It reeked of shame – like Sirus was disowning her snowflake – or saying Selena should do that. Harshly, Selena clamped down on her lip, biting it with all she had – pain shooting through her, forcing her to instantly let go of the soft flesh. The distraction was enough for her to re-focus on the scene before her.

“You remember Doctor Embers, right?” Deanna's voice lifted through the room, soft and gentle.
For a moment, Elsianna's eyes lit up. “Is Osana here?” she suddenly asked, excited, despite her raspy voice from the coughing fits. “Are we going to play? We were on the enchanted forests of Mercial!”

Behind Dorian's medical mask, a soft chuckle came from him. “No, Ms. Frost, I'm afraid Osana isn't here. It is quite late, after all.”
“Oh.” Elsa replied glumly.
“I'm sure she sends her best.” the doctor consoled. “But I need to check to see what is wrong with you and ask you a few questions. Is that alright?” 

Nervously, the young girl's eyes scanned around the room before settling on the older Frost standing at the doorway, arms wrapped around her lean frame. Sapphire eyes met crystal-blue and Selena tried to duck away so the child wouldn't see her, but she was far too late.

“Mommy?” Elsianna called out, but when Selena didn't move (despite every fiber of her being screaming to), the child looked back at Deanna with alarm. “Why doesn't mommy come in?”

It was Dorian's turn to cast a glance at Selena, taking in the situation before answering. “I'm afraid that I don't have enough medical masks – these things here -” he pointed to the white, paper-like covering on his face. “- to give to both your moms. Without it, she might get sick if she comes in here.”

Despite the eloquence of his answer, Elsianna quickly shook her head. “No way! Mommy is better than Superman-”
“Elsa.” Deanna sighed. “Not this again.”
“No no... Mommy never gets sick. And in Superman IV, he got sick.” she reasoned. “Right, mommy? You never get sick.”

Selena opened her mouth to answer, but no sound came out. She tried again but to the same effect.

“Uh-Be that as it may.” interjected Dorian as he opened his bag to pull out his stethoscope. “Would you really wish to risk it, Ms. Frost? After all, what if you got your mommy sick? Would you be happy if she was coughing like you are now?”

Eyes widening in alarm, the child shook her head.

“Of course not, because you care about your mothers. Just like your mothers care about you. That's why they've brought me here.” Dorian rationalized simply – clearly experienced in dealing with sick children. “So, I'm going to need you to be super-honest with me so I can help you the best I can, alright? Because...well, it IS getting closer to Christmas, right?”

“Yes-” Elsa started but another cough swallowed up her answer.
“Okay – so let's see if we can fix you up so you can see Santa! I heard he's coming to town!”
“Next weekend!” offered Deanna. “That's what I heard.”

She was, of course, referring to the annual neighbourhood Christmas party, where all the adults/parents worked together to turn their little corner of Manhattan into a winter wonderland of sorts. When Deanna and Selena had moved into the neighbourhood about two and a half years ago, they had been welcomed in and – when Christmas came a few months later – they had taken part of the festivities, despite Selena's issues with Christmas. This year, thanks to the whole 'pretend it's Halloween' magic trick Selena and Deanna had played on Elsianna, with help from the other members of the community, the Frost wives had agreed to host the party...

And Deanna had spearheaded the whole thing. Every time Selena had returned home from work, she had seen more and more of, not only the front yard being decorated, but also the parts and pieces of other sections that would soon be built. In fact, her role this year – surprise, surprise – being the Snow Queen of winter had come with a wooden 'castle corner' of sorts. The main-event, Santa Claus, would have his 'Corner of the North Pole' at the big clearing the trail had near the Embers – just a bit further than where Selena had run to tonight. As for Selena, according to Deanna, she'd have 'shop' set up on the smaller clearing closer to the Gettys and the Burgsteens. The kids would see her first, receiving hot cocoa with marshmallows before walking through the trail of lights and shapes (all 'Christmasy') before meeting Santa.

From what she had seen, Deanna had done an amazing job so far, organizing everyone – And for letting me go first, for the most part. Selena thought. They'll be too excited to get started and see Santa. They'll blow right past me and Santa can deal with them hopped up on sugar. she mentally teased, though the coughing of her daughter broke her thoughts rather easily, reminding her of the harsh reality of her current situations.

Doctor Embers, meanwhile, had been speaking to Elsianna, asking her questions as he used his stethoscope to hear her breathing. Words like 'phlegm' and 'chills' drifted from Elsianna's voice into Selena's ears, and all Dorian seemed to do was nod his head in understanding. Finally, and a lot sooner than the Snow Queen figured it would take, the older man stood off the bed, allowing Deanna to further tuck her daughter in.

As Dorian was speaking further, with Selena listening in, she suddenly felt a tugging on her pant leg. Turning around, Selena was met with the tired expression of her son, David, the little boy rubbing his eyes as he stood there in his light-blue, fuzzy pyjamas – which were covered in red and yellow race cars. 

“What going on?” he muttered.

Quickly, Selena cast a glance back inside Elsianna's room before gently scooping her son up into her arms. “Nothing, little prince.” she smiled, though it was somewhat forces due to her worry for Elsianna. Gently, she rocked her son in her arms as she made her way back into his room. It was darker, as only his nightlight was on, but she could still make out the outline of his 'sport balls' bedsheet that covered his bed and she could see the stickers of 'cartoon' stars and planets that decorated the walls of his room – ranging in size and color. 

“I'm thirsty.” whined the boy as Selena tucked him into bed.
“You know what happens when you drink water this late, David.” Selena shook her head.
“But I'm REALLY thirsty.” the young boy whined.

With the closing of her eyes and a sigh, Selena took a deep breath before nodding her head and opening said eyes. In the span of twenty seconds, she disappeared out of the room, walked the short distance to the bathroom, took the red, plastic cup with the Superman logo on it, filled it a quarter full with tap water and returned to her son's side. She helped her son sip the drink until it was gone.

“Okay?” she asked as she sat on the bed beside him, gently petting the side of his face. For David's case, the boy didn't care – he just loved getting the attention. Nodding his affirmative, he then slowly yawned before turning over on his side.

“Want me to sing you to sleep?” Selena asked.

Merely shaking his head, David's eyes were already closed and Selena could see that her son was already slipping back into sleep. With a smile, Selena tucked her long braid back behind her, leaning in to give her son a soft kiss on the cheek. She said nothing else as she left the room – not even when she felt a stabbing pain in her foot when she stepped in one of David's legos.

Oh we are DEFINITELY having a talk about this in the morning! she committed to memory as she quietly limped out of the room, closing the door behind her. Placing David's cup back in the bathroom, the Snow Queen gazed into Elsianna's room, surprised to see only Elsianna lying there, coughing a little. She was about to call out to her, when-

“Selena...” came the hushed voice of her wife, causing Deanna to turn in time to see her at the bottom of the stairs with Dorian Embers. With a wiggle of her fingers, the redhead beckoned her wife to join them. As quietly as possible, using the rail for support, the platinum-blonde crept down the stairs until she was on the ground floor with the other two adults.

“So?” she asked, crossing her arms over her chest.

Deanna slowly gazed at the doctor before turning her head back towards her wife. “Dorian thinks it's pneumonia.” she replied, her voice dropping – revealing the worry that suddenly gripped Selena at hearing those words.

“Pneumonia?” she asked in disbelief, her eyes blinking several times.

“I can only suspect.” Dorian interjected. “Because I need to analyze the culture I took from her throat and see what I find.”
“Can't you do that now?” Selena asked quickly.
“I'm afraid it needs to be done at the hospital. With the right staff.” he answered.

“Well – how long will that take? I mean – children die from pneumonia, don't they?!” as the panic rose in the white-haired woman, so too, did the pitch in her voice and some of the volume. However, as she said the word 'don't', Deanna's hand flew out to cover her mouth, effectively silencing her.

“Easy!” she prompted sternly. “She is not going to die, Selena.” came the promise.
“Of course not.” the doctor confirmed, his voice deeper than Deanna's. “I took her temperature and it's down to ninety-nine degrees, which is better.” 
“Better – but not good.” Selena countered. “She's not supposed to be sick.”
“Selena -” Deanna chastised. “Children get sick-”
“But Frosts don't.” the older woman explained as patiently as she could. “I'm not in denial or making this up. We just... we don't, okay? I've not been sick since I was a little girl. I don't get sick.”

“Well, for be it for me to question family genetics.” Dorian replied with a small smile. “But I can guarantee you that your daughter is.”
“How?” Selena asked. “How would she get it?”
“If it's bacterial pneumonia, I'd say from the school. I've had a few kids her age coming in with the same flu-like symptoms. Some are the flu and some were pneumonia.”

“But-” Selena started, but again, a hand from Deanna – this time placed on Selena's shoulder – silenced her. 
“What is the plan here, Dorian?” Deanna asked – once more in 'mother-mode', causing Selena to be reminded of Dorian's words on the ride back to her house – about how 'some people were natural caretakers'.

Slowly, the doctor began packing up his medical bag as he spoke. “Well, for the next few days, keep her bedridden. It's holiday season, so she should be alright in terms of school. For now, change the lozenges to a strong cough medicine. Do you have that?”

“We do.” Deanna nodded – which was good because Selena had no idea. “I was sick earlier this year last month.”

Selena's head jerked to stare at her wife. “You were?! When?!”

“Doesn't matter.” Deanna dismissed her with a wave of her hand. “It came and went in a few days – before you got back for the weekend.”
“Yeah, but-”
“Doctor?” Deanna interjected, effectively dropping the subject.

“Yes...well...” Embers paused, clearly sensing the slight tension from Deanna's confession. “Don't have her take too much, because it will dry the throat, but a single dosage every few hours should help with the chest and throat pain.”

“Anything else?” Deanna asked.

“Yes.” he replied hesitantly. “Until I know whether or not this is bacterial pneumonia – and with you having a baby and two-year-old here in the house, I need only one of you to be the one that checks in on her.”

Slowly, Deanna turned her head to gaze at Selena – only then was the implication registered in Selena's mind. “No! No way!” Selena pressed in a hiss. “You can't keep me from looking after my sick baby!”

“Mrs. Frost, you could get infected yourself.”
“What part of 'I don't get sick'-” she emphasized her words with the clapping of her hands. “Did you not comprehend?”
“Selena...” Deanna tried.
“Don't you start!” Selena interjected. “Don't use that pleading tone and pretty eyes – you know I can't! She's my daughter, Deanna.”

“She's my daughter too!” shot back the redhead. “And I am just as worried about her as you are. But what happens if you get sick? Let's even go hypothetically. What happens? You miss your shows-”

“There's one left before the holidays.” Selena shrugged. “I think they'll forgive me if I can't make it.”
“And what about the End of the Year Special? Your anniversary event?”
“Again – I am sure they will understand.”
“And what if it doesn't go away? What if it lasts for a month - or more?” Deanna countered.

Without meaning too, Selena's lips pursed together in a 'pfft' sound. “Pneumonia doesn't do that.”
“Actually...” chimed in Doctor Embers. “It can. Sometimes months.”

Selena's eyes widened. “Months?” she asked – though her thoughts were not on her but on her daughter, Elsianna. “You must be joking.”
“A number of cases, the symptoms persist for at least one month. I've had some that lasted longer.”

“See?” Deanna stated.

“But this is moot.” Selena stated. “There's a chance that I'm going to quit-”
“Not till after you cash in your Trios – and we both know where you are going with that.”

The statement caused Selena to slightly narrow her eyes at Deanna. Clearly, the woman had watched last Breakdown...again... because anyone who saw it would now what Selena's next move would be. Bree Lancaster had cheated her out of their second match for the United States Championship, using interference where such a thing had originally been forbidden. That, pulling of the ropes and an official that, unfortunately didn't see any of it happen had left Selena with only one option for another chance at the United States Title – as she did not trust Katya to let Sasha push through another chance.

Her Trios Contract.

“I...” Selena took a deep breath. “I'm not prepared to simply disappear and ignore her.” she stated.
“It won't be for long.” Dorian tried. “If it's not bacterial or contagious, I'll call immediately and let you know, okay?”
“And if it is?” Selena pressed. “I'm not going to-”
“Selena...”

Swiftly, and with a big of force, Deanna pushed Selena by the shoulder, guiding her into the kitchen. “Just a quick word.”

Alone in the next room, Deanna stared at Selena. “Stop it.” she stated, crossing her arms.
“Stop what?” Selena asked.
“Being so selfish.” Deanna stated. “You have a job to do – you can't afford to get sick.”
“I don't-”
“Get sick.” Deanna interjected. “Well, I'm not going to let you take that chance. Because if you're sick and thinking about facing Bree – she will destroy you.”
“You think she's better than me?”
“If you're coughing up a lung? I think that guy that lathers himself in lube and jumps on people is better than you.” Deanna stated coldly.

A hiss of breath came from Selena's nostrils as she turned to pace around the room. “So why you?” she finally asked. “Why do you get to see her? Why do you not get an embargo?”

“Because where else am I going to be?” Deanna asked incredulously, lifting her arms in a shrug. “Where else do I go? My life – my world – is basically here. I don't travel to other towns and places like you do as much. I'm raising our kids. And if I was going to catch it, I'd have done so by now. Or at least shown symptoms. Dorian feels I'm okay. You are not.”

Slowly, Selena shook her head. “So what? Christmas rolls around and I can't be near her? My birthday rolls around and I can't be near her? Her birthday rolls around and I can't be near her?”

Deanna's only response was to sigh heavily. 

“You actually want me to do that? Elsianna would be crushed!” Selena shook her head.
“I will explain it to her.”
“Then she'll blame herself!”
“Then you can explain it to her after she's better-”

“Perhaps I can help here.” the voice intervened, belonging to that of the doctor as he peered his head around the corner, gaining the attention of both ladies. “Sorry, you were taking a while.” he explained before clearing his throat. “Ms. Frost.” he started, staring at Selena. “I'm not saying you'll get sick by being around your daughter. That really isn't too much of a concern of mine. You're a healthy, young adult by the looks of you – you'd have no problem fighting this off. My concern lies in the fact that if this strand of pneumonia is contagious, even if you don't get sick – as soon as you are near Elsianna, you become a carrier. And if you're going around the house, carrying it from room to room, item to item, you will give it to your son and infant daughter – and THAT is where problems will really begin.”

Selena's mouth opened to say something but she forced it close as those words sunk in.

“Ms. Frost.” he gestured towards Deanna. “Has been here the whole time, watching over all the symptoms and none of the other children are sick. She is the safest bet for them. Unfortunately, we don't know if you being added to the mix makes things better or worse. But we know that it being just your wife works.”

You do what's 'right'...I do what 'works'! Selena shook the echo of one of Bree's previous promos from her mind. She thought about her son, her baby Ami – and how, if they got sick, there would be no bedside doctor visit. They would be in the hospital for the holidays – and Ami...still less than a year old might...might...

“Fine.” Selena finally barked out. “I'll stay away.” she released a shuddering sigh.
“It'll only be a for a few days while the tests are run.”
“Unless it IS contagious.” Selena grumbled. 
“Let's hope it isn't.” Dorian finished, turning to Deanna. “Ms. Frost, you have my number in case of emergencies.”
“I do.” Deanna nodded. “And thank you so much.”
“My pleasure. Ms. Frost.” he offered Selena, who could only nod her head in understanding.

The door opened for the doctor's exit, sending a blast of cold, winter air into the mudroom and filling Selena's senses, temporarily invigorating her, empowering her – like home – until the door was shut and it went away. She wanted to go back outside and dive in it – play in the snow and cold, let it fill her, calm her, make her invincible so she wouldn't be a danger to her own damn family-

“Mommy?” the voice came from upstairs, causing Selena to spin around and  gaze up towards Elsianna's room. “Mommy?” it came again, followed by a few coughs – quieter than the ones Selena had heard so far tonight. Turning around, she saw Deanna standing before her, a sad expression on her face.

Despite knowing what would be said next, Selena begged anyway. “She's asking for me. I'm 'mommy'.”
“I know.” Deanna smiled sadly, reaching up to cup Selena's face. “But you can't.” she whispered before moving past Selena to, once more, climb the stairs. Selena started to follow her but only got three-quarters of the way up before the red-haired woman turned her head, emerald eyes staring into sapphire ones. Slowly, and sadly, Deanna shook her head, silently telling the Snow Queen – the woman that was supposedly 'the Face of SCW' 'no. Stay put.'. 

And Selena, heart-breaking, obeyed, lowering herself to sit on the steps. It was enough for Deanna, who, once more disappeared into her daughter's room. This time, however, Selena had no son to distract her. Instead, she simply listened to each word that came from the room.

“Is the doctor gone, mom?” Elsianna asked.
“Yes, dear. Is the medicine working?”

No answer came right away in terms of words as Elsa nodded. “But I can't sleep. Where's mommy?”
“Mommy is...” Deanna tried. “Mommy still can't come in, sweetheart. Remember? We don't want to risk her getting sick.”

“But-” Elsianna tried, using all the logic her young mind could conjure up. “Don't you have more of those masks? You could use the doctors.”
“The doctor took all of them away. He said I could come in, but Mommy can't.”
“But...but...” Elsianna tried in a raspy voice. “I want Mommy to sing me the lullaby...” 

Selena almost missed it, but her ears picked it up, causing her heart to leap into her throat, though said pale hands immediately gravitated to her chest, where her heart was supposed to be. Elsianna only asked for the lullaby if she couldn't sleep – if she desperately needed her mommy there with her. Because, with the lullaby, would come the cuddling, Selena holding her baby to her until Elsianna fell asleep. 

She was needing that now. She was sick, she was sore and, most of all, she was scared.

Sing it to her from there! her mind begged but her voice made no sound. It didn't matter whether she sang it or not. Either Elsianna would be upset that her mommy wasn't there or she'd be upset because her mommy could only give her the song and not hold her.

“I'm...I'm afraid she can't.” Deanna's voice came from the room. “Too many people rely on her to be at her best – including you and me, darling. If she gets sick...”
“But she told me that she never gets sick. Never ever.” Elsa tried weakly.

There was a moment of silence before Deanna's voice was heard. “Elsianna – everyone can get sick sometimes. Even Superman. Even mommy.”

A brief, haunting silence hung in the air and all the Snow Queen wanted to do was rush into the room, declaring boldly, “It's not true! Nothing can make me sick!”, an unrealistic notion, yes, but one that she desperately wanted to make for her snowflake. But again, only silence came from her.

“Then...” the quiet, horse voice of Elsianna drifted down to Selena. “Then I guess she isn't better than Superman...”

Whatever pieces of her heart that weren't broken everything that had happened earlier – Selena could hear them in her ears as they shattered into even smaller pieces. The tears fell so easily as if crying was something she did every day. I'm such a damn baby...

“Maybe...maybe not now. But some day – you'll realize that she was so much better. Just in different ways.” Deanna tried. “For now... I'll sing you the lullaby if you want...”

There was no sound made from Elsianna in response, but soon, Deanna's voice, in song, drifted out of the room...

“Quietly hush now to sleep...
On the wings of the butterfly...”

Selena's head fell into her hands as the tears continued to fall. It wasn't that Deanna was a horrid song. She sounded beautiful and was doing all she could for the family – the woman deserves far better than me...

What hurt was that the song – the lullaby – it was her thing. Hers and Elsianna's. Something the two of them could sing to others or to each other but that was it. And while Deanna wasn't forbidden to sing it. It just...it just...

“It's just not the same.”

That wasn't Selena's voice who said what she was thinking. It was Elsianna's.

“I know.” Deanna offered in the most sincere of apologies. “I'm sorry...” 

It was too much – too much for Selena to keep quiet.

“Elsianna.” she called out, loud enough for her daughter to her but not loud enough to wake up David or Amiliah as they slept.

“Mommy?” came the response.
“You let your mom finish the song.” Selena ordered, though her voice trembled as she did. “Because she is going to need to sing it to you until I can. Do you understand?”

She tried her best to be strong in her command – and she was beyond grateful that Elsianna could not see her in that moment, or the child would see the woman's body tremble and see her tears falling down her cheeks.

“Ye-” Elsianna sniffled. “Yes, mommy.”
“Good girl.” Selena stammered a little as well, more due to her emotions. She said no more words as Deanna continued singing. Said no more words when Deanna finished, no more words when Deanna left the child's room, turned off the lights to the halls and bent down to scoop her up. 

In fact, Selena said nothing even after hours had passed and both Frost wives were in bed together, Deanna long since asleep, snuggled up next to Selena. All Selena did in that bed for those hours was stare at the ceiling and keep replaying that moment – Deanna singing the Snow Queen's lullaby – over and over again. It was only then that Selena whispered a single phrase.

“They all deserve far better than me...”

[HardyGirl]

OOC: Appearances with approval. The CD does cut off last week sometime but the promo was filmed last night (Thursday), after Bree got home from working Breakdown.

-----------------------------------------

Making Things Right #2

[SnowQueenSCW]

OOC: CD takes place across multiple times. Promo takes place Sunday morning of Pay-Per-View. Two parts due to length.
 

 
I of the Storm

“A Feeling of Home”

December 27th, 2018
2:13pm AKST
Nome, Alaska

“Aww come on kid.” the balding, rotund man whined as he pulled the large backpack out of his truck. “Is this really all necessary?”

The backpack was heavier than the bar-and-grill owner wanted to admit – that or he needed to get back to the gym. Make good on that membership that I haven't used in... what? Eight years? He chuckled, more to himself than anyone else, before slugging the backpack away from his blue pickup truck. “I don't even know what's in this damn thing – how are you going to carry it?” he asked as he dragged the backpack the few feet ahead. 

In front of him stood the young woman. She was dressed entirely in white apparel, from the white leggings that wrapped around toned calves and quads, the white hiking boots, the white winter coat with a slight off-white faux-fur trim around the neck, even the toque she wore was white as well. The only thing that did not much the standing 'snowwoman' of sorts was the black binoculars in her hands as she scanned the sight before her – it was a trail that bent forward and around, stretching off and down a hill and into the distance.

“Perfect.” she whispered, a genuine smile gracing her face as she lowered the binoculars. “So much beautiful mountain and hillsides...”. She added with a whisper, “just what I need.”

“Hey, kid?” Liam asked impatiently, causing Selena Frost to turn around, smiling excitedly at her father-like figure. 
“Hmm? Sorry, wasn't listening.”
“Yeah, I gathered that, princess.”

The young woman rolled her eyes at the large man as he took a few deep breaths of air. “I'm not a princess, Liam.” she playfully whine – her usual retort coming through. “I'm a queen.”
“Always will be a little princess to me.”
“Even when I'm a few inches taller than you.”
“Hey...” playfully warned the large man. “Taller or not, I got no problem getting tough.”
“Tough love?” Selena raised an eyebrow.
“Damn right.” Liam winked. 

Shaking her head in good nature, Selena turned her gaze back towards the trail before her. The Grand Central Valley was the ideal spot to start her hike through the Kigulaik Montains – one of the mountain ranges near Nome, Alaska and the Seward Peninsula. 

“You know...” Liam interjected her thoughts with his words. “When you said you wanted to go for a walk and needed a ride – I figured you were gonna visit some nice park or the shore – what was I thinking?”

“What were you thinking?” Selena shook her head in disbelief. “Do I look like a wallflower to you?”
“I don't know.” Liam shrugged teasingly. “Been in the city an awfully long time, sweetie.”

He immediately regretted his words – even when they were in humour – as the pale-skinned woman's face fell, expression altering from light to sad and focused. “I know.” she replied quietly. “But that's why I am here.” she reminded herself quietly.

“Aww, listen, princess...” offered Liam, moving around to wrap a large, round arm (like a massive roll of sausage) around the woman. “I didn't mean anything by it.”

Sniffling a little, the Snow Queen turned her head, offering her old friend and, often at times in her youth, caretaker a fleeting but warm smile. “I know.” she replied, leaning in to kiss his stubble-covered cheek. “Doesn't mean it isn't true.” she stated.

“You think you'll find what you're looking for out there?” he asked, pointing a big finger towards the range.
Selena nodded. “Couple of days hiking around here should answer that.” she replied before noticing the backpack Liam had placed beside her. “Thank you.” she replied before picking it up and slinging it over your back.

“What if there's trouble? You got food?” Liam asked, his protectiveness – brought on by his old friendship to Selena's father, Donovan – gaining ground.
“Several days worth.” Selena stated. 
“Water – like clean stuff.”
“Yep.”
“Toilet paper?”
“Liam!” Selena shot back in mild surprise.
“Hey – you wanna use leaves -”
“I have everything I need.” Selena pressed.
“Knife?”

That last one on the checklist cause the platinum-blonde to do a double-take. “Why would I need a knife?”
“Case of wolves.” Liam shrugged.
“There's no wolves really near this trail.” Selena stated, quite sure of that.
“News says they've been migrating for the winter – just saying.”
“Liam...” Selena sighed before turning her head back to the large man. “Uncle.” she added. “I'll be fine. Okay? I'm not going to be eaten by wolves.”

Instead of responding, Liam Jacks simply turned around before heading back to this truck. A few moments went by before he returned to Selena's side, holding out a rather wide and long knife, the steel of the blade sheathed in a brown, basketweave leather. “Here.” he stated, holding the weapon out to Selena.
“Come on-” Selena tried but Liam raised his free hand to stop her.
“Just take it, kid. I'll sleep better knowing you at least got something.”

It was an argument Selena did not wish to have to start off her time back home, and so – humouring the old man, she took the knife from him, sliding it into one of the many pockets in her coat. “Thank you.” she added.

“No problem.” Liam cupped his hands together to blow into them, rubbing them briskly after doing so. Selena could see the cracked skin of his bare knuckles, the sign of a man often out in the cold. “Not sure how you can stand hiking a mountain range in this weather.”
“Uncle, I'll be fine.” Selena smiled. “I'm just going to get as close to Osborn as I can without having to climb and then turn around and make my way back down. Twenty-three miles, not even a mile high – I'll be fine. And I have my phone. Now, if I don't start now, it'll just take me longer to get back.”

“Alright, alright!” Liam surrendered, stuffing his hands into the pocket of his green hoodie. “Get going then. Call me when you're reaching back here. I'll see you in a few days.”

To ease her 'uncle's' mind, the young Frost gave him one last hug before turning towards the trail and beginning her hike – one step at time. She didn't hear Liam get into his truck and drive away, back to Nome, for she was out of sight rather quickly, going up and then down a hill to start. Still, she knew she was alone in the winter of Nome, Alaska.

Just like the old days... her mind thought – unable to feel the spark of joy that resonated for her. Though she wished she could be back in Manhattan with her family – nursing her sick daughter to full health – there was no denying what she felt. This...this had to happen. She was where she was supposed.

For her family.
For SCW.
For herself...

Slowly, a quiet hum started in her throat – a tune that evolved into a whistle as Selena let her mind wander as she travelled through, the sound of crunching snow beneath her boots.

Heart don't fail me now..
Courage don't desert me, don't turn back now that we're here...
People always say, 'Life is full of choices...”
No one ever mentions fear...
Or how the world can seem so vast
On the journey to the past...


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

December 22nd, 2018
3:43pm EST
Manhattan, New York

With a push, Selena shoved the last bit of snow off her driveway and onto the street in front of her. The small spittle of white dust flew into the air and landed on the ground without a sound – not surprising considering the Snow Queen had shovelled the trail of asphalt about an hour ago... and again an hour and a half before that.

In fact, if someone was keeping tally (and Selena certainly wasn't), so far today, she had shovelled the driveway four times, walked the trail around her neighbourhood twice, adjusted her holiday lawn ornaments six times, cleaned the tiles of her kitchen floors and walls once, checked her mailbox (she had actually lost track on that one), checked Amiliah's diapers so many times that even the near six-month-old was confused, and checked every single light-bulb inside her house a total of fourteen times, flicking the light switches on and off to see that they still 'worked'.

Every light-bulb except the two in one certain room...

Placing her shovel down on the driveway so she could lean on it with her elbow, Selena turned around to stare at her home. The lights weren't on, but that didn't surprise her – being that it was the middle of the day and all that. Still, all she wanted was X-ray vision to see through her house and see her daughter – the one she had been forbidden to see.

She had returned from Breakdown – and laying down the cash-in for her Trios Contract against Bree Lancaster at next year's very first pay-per-view: Making Things Right – to be told by Deanna that Elsianna's results had come back from Doctor Embers....

Elsianna had a bacterial pneumonia and was in the stages that, Dorian describes, as 'highly contagious'.

In other words: Go to jail. Go directly to jail. Do not pass Mommy. Do not collect any hugs, kisses or lullabies!

She gave a shake of her head while she kicked the snow in frustration (also something she had done so often that she had lost count). She had overheard Deanna, Elsianna, and everyone else playing monopoly while she had put on her jacket and scarf to shovel the driveway – Think it was the second or third time...

Dejected, Selena stopped at the porch to place the shovel against the wall of the house. She was certain she was going to shovel the driveway at least a few more times today – even if it wasn't snowing like it had last night. Opening the door, the platinum-blonde stepped into her house just in time to hear-

“KILL IT WITH FIRE!”

Immediately, Selena's senses were on high alert. Perhaps it was her dislike of heat and how it made her feel sluggish and drained her energy or perhaps it was all the unoriginal SCW superstars that loved to use the line of 'melting the Snow Queen' in their promos and tweets on Twitter whenever they spoke about her. Either way, Selena's head jerked left to right, looking for anything! A flame-thrower, a blowtorch – hell, she'd believe someone with a box of matches could be up to something in here -

However, as the sound of agreement and cheering was overheard, coming from upstairs, Selena only had to look up to the door of her daughter's bedroom to see the source of the noise. 

“You hit the Giant Constrictor Snake with your fireball!” came another, older sounding, female voice. “The creature hisses and howls, 'AHHHH! EEEEE!'.” the cries seemed to be from the same voice but, to Selena, it didn't sound like a giant snake – more like an angry dinosaur.

Quietly, Selena slipped her feet out of her loose boots and crept up the stairs, making sure to avoid the spot that usually creaked whenever it was stepped on. She only had to go up a few steps until she was able to see the inside of Elsianna's room. Before her eyes, her white-haired daughter, still in her pyjamas, sat in her bed, her legs still under the covers. However, around her: two on the bed, and two sitting in chairs on each side of the bed, where several other young girls. And while Selena recognized a few of them, like Osana, who sat the closest to Elsianna on the bed, and Rebecca, the others she did not...

This also included the girl that sat in a chair behind a table that had been placed in front of the foot of the bed. A cardboard frame stood before this particular girl, like a curtain of sorts. 

“The giant snake lies in burnt ashes at your feet, what shall you do now?” she asked.

Selena had absolutely no clue. Where had these girls killed a giant snake? Was this some kind of euphemism? It better not be! Selena thought bitterly.

“Skin it?” one of the girls asked.
“Take it's fangs?” said another.
“Ohh! Ohh! Ohh!” Selena recognized that voice as she saw Elsianna raise her hand and wave it frantically. “I know! I know! I-”

The child had to suddenly stop as the familiar coughing fit struck her. She had been cooped up in bed for about a week now, unable to really do much until she was cured. The good news was that Doctor Embers had changed her medication from 'straight cough syrup' to antibiotics – assuring Selena and Deanna that their daughter should be alright in a few more weeks.

A fact that hadn't sat well with any of the young women in the household, especially with Christmas just a few days away.

Continuing to listen in, Selena heard Elsianna's coughing fit finally subside, allowing her to speak – at least they were getting less intense, for which Selena was grateful for. “Let's loot it's stomach! Maybe it swallowed something magical or precious!”

“Oh that's funny!” teased Rebecca, the blue-haired girl laughing. “The girl that got her very own Christmas Tree put in her room wants to look for more stuff to own!”

The group exploded into amused laughter, Elsianna looking away, a bit embarrassed but also amused. Yes, she had her own Christmas Tree. With her having to potentially miss the “Neighbourhood festival”, Elsianna had cried in her pillow so many times – each time breaking Selena and Deanna's heart. That is until Deanna, ever the caregiver, had the brilliant idea:

”Let's bring as much of the festival to her!”

The two had worked in tandem. Selena had helped Deanna take the Christmas tree in the living room apart and brought the pieces upstairs and Deanna had brought them into Elsa's room for the mother/daughter tag-team to set it up. Add a few more odds and ends of decorations from around the house and Elsianna soon had her own little festival in her room – much to the jealousy of David (Selena truly hoped the boy would grow out of that phase soon).

With a shake of her head, Selena turned on her heel and quietly made her way downstairs, moving into the kitchen where she immediately saw her wife over the oven, checking on something inside – Selena had to guess it was cookies or something for the guests. That was usually Deanna's 'go to' for children.

Biting her lower lip as an idea crept into her mind, the Snow Queen quietly tried to sneak up behind her wife, moving as slowly as her white, socked feet would allow. However, she failed to realize just how well the tiled walls of the kitchen had been cleaned by her own hand, for as the redhead looked up, all she had to do was spy Selena in the polished reflection in front of her. With a knowing grin, Deanna spun around, throwing her arms around Selena's neck, catching the Snow Queen off guard!

“AH!” was all she could get out before instinct took over and she caught her wife in her arms before Deanna was crushing her lips onto Selena's fiercely, a loud 'MMMMMMMMMMWHA!' kissing sound, like from a cartoon, coming from the younger woman.

“Hi!” she smiled sweetly at her beloved wife, causing Selena to raise an eyebrow as she held Deanna.
“This is usually your line, I know, but... have you been drinking?”
“No.” Deanna's tone suddenly became serious at the question – causing Selena to mentally curse herself for ruining her wife's good mood. “There's none here. Not even the cough medicine.”

“There's booze in cough medicine?” Selena asked, her eyes wide. 
“Yeah...” Deanna nodded. “Some have like – 83% alcohol.”

Selena's mouth hung open. She was never sick – so such information was useless to know. Still...that percentage was higher than the BreeZee drink she had made weeks ago.

Imagine if you had drank that instead... came the voice in her head, though Selena wasn't sure if it was Sirus or her past-Nome-self, whom had been showing up more and more frequently since that hateful night, often showing up while Selena was alone and on the road, usually to mock or ridicule the Snow Queen over something.

“Don't bother looking.” Deanna stated, breaking Selena's thoughts. “There's none in the house.”
“I wasn't looking.” Selena promised. “I'm glad we don't have any. Makes it easier to not want it.”

You sure? Okay, THAT voice was Sirus and it licked behind Selena's ear. Just a few drops to quiet me... like you guys did for Elsianna the first few nights...

'WOOOO!'
'LEVEL UP!'
'BUY IT!'

The sounds of hooping and hollering were heard, albeit not too loudly, as they came from upstairs. Using the distraction, as both ladies were now facing towards where the noise came from, Selena grappled with her mental-ghost's choice of topic, marching away from Deanna a few steps before gesturing to the second floor. “What are they doing up there? And while we are on the subject, who are all those kids?”

With a dismissive wave of her hand, Deanna turned to check on her cookies. “Those are some of Elsianna's classmates from school. You know Rebecca and Osana from the neighbourhood, right?”

Selena could only stare at her wife, dumbfounded at her calmness about the situation. 

“Umm...Deanna?”

The redhead turned to face her wife with a tilt of her head. “Yes, sweetheart?”
With jerky movements, Selena pointed back to the upstairs above her. “Kids? Upstairs? Daughter? None of this seems like a bad idea?”

The questions finally seemed to get a reaction from the young redhead: Confusion. “Why would it be a bad idea?” she asked. “I think it's wonderful.” she dusted her hands off as she continued to work around the kitchen. “Poor thing's been cooped up in here for a week – it's nice that her friends have been coming over every few days.”

“They have?!” Selena's eyes widened as she looked back through the entrance she had entered. “Well, then, does that mean... that's wonderful!”

Quickly, Selena turned to go, her feet moving only a few steps.
“Whoa! Hey!” Deanna called out to her. “Where are you going?”
“To give my daughter a hug!” Selena replied joyously.

She did not expect Deanna's confused expression and answer of, “Wha- no! You know better than that, Selena!”

“Wha...I don't- you just said that she's had friends over throughout the week to keep her company!” Selena stated, trying to keep her voice down so the children upstairs couldn't hear her.
“Yes. Mostly her Dungeons and Dragons group-”
“So, why can't I go up there and see her? Be with her? Play with her?” Selena asked with an irritated shrug of her shoulders.
“Because she's sick, remember?” Deanna stated.
“You're telling me to remember?” Selena asked incredulously. “You're the one letting kids into her room and not me, Deanna.”

The oven dinged, signalling the end of the baking session, but it also seemed to serve as a light going off in Deanna's head. “Oh gods...” she mentally cursed as she smacked her forehead as well. “Geez, I'm so sorry, Selena. They've just been by so often the past week, I thought I had told you. Just a sec...”

Turning around, Deanna quickly fished out the oven mittens from a nearby drawer and, sliding them on, opened the oven to pull out the tray of perfectly-cooked cookies, placing them on a cooling rack on top of the oven. That accomplished, the redhead took of her mittens, turned off the oven and then turned to face her wife.

“Okay.” she explained. “Rebecca, Charlotte, Erin, Violet, and, even Osana, were all infected with pneumonia earlier last month. Essentially, they've been through it already and developed immunity to it. They and Elsianna are part of this Dungeons and Dragons group that Elsianna told me about -”
“Okay...” Selena nodded her head, trying to understand.
“Well, anyway, after we learned that she'd be bedridden indefinitely, she asked me to call Violet and let her know. I did and it turns out they all had had it. They asked if they could bring their game to Elsianna, since they weren't carriers or anything. Dorian Embers said it was okay, as long as they restricted their presence to Elsianna's room.”

It was...something... to hear for the Snow Queen – though she wasn't sure if that something was good or bad. One one hand, she was happy to hear that her sick, little snowflake, didn't have to deal with all this alone. On the other hand, the selfish hand...

“So...even kids and friends outside this family get to be around my daughter... but I still can't.”

Sighing knowingly (and in understanding), Deanna slowly approached her wife. “I know it sucks. It does, Selena. I can't imagine how you've been coping.”
“Shovelling the driveway four or so times and counting the number of different sized rocks in our neighbourhood. Did you know we have 23 medium, 14 large, and 7 irregular sized rocks in our backyard alone?” Selena stated.

“I....did not...” Deanna replied slowly, not exactly weirded out but her wife statement of fact, but not exactly sure what to make of it either.

Selena shook her head. “This isn't fair.” She stated. “I should be able to go up there and be around her. If the kids can do it, if Amiliah and David are alright-”
“Selena.” Deanna pressed. “It's too risky.” she reminded Selena. “I have to watch David and Amiliah like a hawk. Hourly check-ins, the works. The notion is I am immune. If you get close to Elsianna-”

“I may not get infected, but I will likely become a carrier since I am not 'immune'.” Selena lamely recalled from memory, more annoyed.

“Right. So think about the family and just stay out of it, okay?” Deanna pressed with finality.

Giving a huff, Selena replied with a curt “Fine.” before turning on her heel and heading for the exit of the room.

“Where are you going?” Deanna asked, following her wife and watching as the platinum-blonde throw her boots and long, winter-coat back on.

“To shovel the driveway again!” stated Selena bitterly. “And then I'm going to start looking for more rocks! Maybe I'll find one that looks the United States Championship! Won't that be funny!”

She didn't wait for an answer, closing the door behind her to start 'round five' of her vs. the driveway!


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

December 28th, 2018
4:43pm AKST
Nome, Alaska

The summit of stone stared down at her as she gazed at its structure. It was leaning and appeared to be rotten, the series of stacked rock of black, orange, red, brown, and beige jutting out from the blanket of snow that covered most of it. From where she was perched, Selena turned around to view down the tall mountain towards the valleys and lands below. The snow was uniform in some places and displaced in others... 

And it was beautiful!

“WOOOOOOO!!!!” she screamed at the top of her lungs! She wasn't scared of any avalanche, for she was only a little under 4,500 feet above ground level. Hearing her voice echo as it tumbled down the hill, Selena breathed in the cold air of the winter, exhaling happily.

She had made it to the top, just like she planned to. She'd set a goal and had accomplished it!

For the Snow Queen, in that moment, it felt incredible. For the past year – a year that was finally drawing to a close – she had made dreams and goals for herself and for SCW. From standing up to those that tried to take it down, to protecting those that would harm innocent people simply doing their job. Still, despite this, she had to admit what this year was for her:

“An abject failure.” she whispered, this message not picked up by the echoes of the mountain.

Still, it did not make the statement any less true:

She had failed to avenge herself in her battles with Sienna Swann, who had tried to take her out of SCW for good.
She had failed make any sort of impact with the Television title after winning it.
She had failed to 'restore the concept of professional wrestling' in her match with Blake Mason.
She had failed to make Regan pay for all the Hellcat had done to SCW and to her.
And lastly, she would end 2018 having failed to get the United States Championship from Bree Lancaster.

So... while it wasn't much to anyone – it was so much for Selena to be standing there, in that moment, having achieved... something... something she believed in. Something she wanted to do. Something that, when others said 'don't do it! Why're you doing this?', she pressed on and did it anyway.

For a moment, Selena considered using her phone to take a selfie – mostly a nice reminder for herself. There was no wifi or towers or routers for data use anywhere and there wouldn't be where she would, inevitably, end up – but she could always take a picture and wait until she needed to go down to the town of Nome and upload it then while checking emails and submitting footage to SCW for the weeks ahead.

It only took Selena a moment to consider it before she turned away from the summit of rock, the Snow Queen beginning to make her way back down the trail she had come from. This wasn't about mementos or souvenirs. This wasn't a journey for her to film and flaunt. The world would see snippets relevant to SCW, for sure, but this was her journey. One she needed to take alone.

Not really alone... came the soft voice in her head.

“You don't count.” Selena stated as she walked. “Though you should be happy. I brought us back.”
“Oh yeah... you so wanted to come back, didn't you?”

Selena stopped in her track to turn her head towards the voice, though she knew there would not be anything there. That wasn't how this phantom operated. She appeared when she wanted to be seen.

“Actually, I kind of did.” Selena answered anyway.
“Explain...” came the voice.
“No...” Selena shook her head. “No, I don't think I will. Cause I've still got a day's more of walking to do.”

With a smile, she continued her trek, her backpack bobbing a little as she walked in the snow.

“You can't outwalk your problems!” the voice called out to her.
“I don't expect to.” Selena called back without hesitation.

Because the truth of the matter was – she wasn't trying to evade to her problems...
She was looking for them.
 
Somewhere down this road, I know someone's waiting
Years of dreams just can't be wrong!
Arms will open wide. I'll be safe and wanted
Fin'lly home where I belong.
Well, starting now, I'm learning fast...
On this journey to the past


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

December 24th, 2018
9:30pm EST
Manhattan, New York


“WOOF! ARF!” Oberon barked as he ran around the limited space he was allowed, his black collar and leash, which was tied to one of the many support beams of metal, keeping him nearby. 

“Oh, stop whining.” Selena chastised the white, husky pup. “Santa has his reindeer. The Snow Queen can have a 'wolf' of sorts.” she stated as she knelt down to give her pet some much desire affection and attention, rubbing his head and muzzle affectionately. Oberon hummed happily, getting what he wanted, and sat down on the snowy ground as Selena sat down beside him, though she sat on the steps of her 'throne' of sorts.

She had to admit – despite her feelings about tonight – Christmas Eve – and this whole event, the festival had turned out beautiful and without any problems. Looking out across her 'clearing', she saw several of the remaining kids finishing their paper cups of hot chocolate. Some tried throwing them to the ground, only for their parents to stop them, make said child/children depending on the case pick up the trash, and toss it into the trash bin nearby.

“So...” Selena asked, turning her attention back to the dog she held. “When are you going to learn to do that?” she asked.
“ARF!” whined Oberon.
“Yeah, yeah. You've got me wrapped around your little paw, don't you, you big furball?”

Turning his head, Oberon eagerly returned the affection Selena was bestowing upon him, licking her face enthusiastically. 

“O-Obi!” Selena tried, laughing despite herself. “Come on! You're going to ruin my makeup!”

She hadn't worn much for her part in this neighbourhood event – I'm not Bree Lancaster or Sienna Swann after all – she thought, though she admitted it was a lame insult. All she had was a bit of foundation, purple eye-liner for her eyes and a tinge of blush for her cheeks. In truth, her face was something she wasn't proud in showing in terms of 'beauty'. 

Her dress though?

Biting her lower lip as it formed a smile, Selena cast her eyes down, staring at her favourite dress – what she, affectionately, called “The Winter Sky Dress”. The navy blue ensemble zipped up at the back and flowed down her, the skirt section light and billowing out only a little, but still able to sway as she moved her hips. The long sleeves and the corset were studded with small sequins, like diamonds and a furry line of white, faux-fur rounded around just above her breasts and under the tops of her shoulders, leaving her neck, shoulders, and some cleavage on display. 

And since it was a “Selena dress”, it had come with a cape – a long, matching, see through material with its own set of elaborate snowflakes. Yeah, how's that 'Superman'? she thought playfully as she stuck her tongue out a little between her white teeth. You got a red cape? I got at least two! Cape crusader? Nah, I'm a cape collector! A cape enthusiast!

She quietly chuckled to herself as she kept near Oberon. The only thing Selena loved about her appearance more than her dress was her hair. She had it perfectly done for tonight, painstakingly braiding and re-braiding it three times (yes, this one she had counted) if so much as one hair was out of alignment. A large hairpin of a snowflake sat comfortably in the right side of her hair, just behind and above her ear, and her braid had a few smaller pins placed there as well. It truly was no contest – her hair would always be the one thing she loved over every material thing she bought or was given... regardless of comparable worth...

I suppose... she thought for a moment. It's same with the United States title and the World title.

She sighed a little, only a bit of sadness in the exhale. She was still angry, on some level, over what Bree had done to her in their last match – but after nearly two weeks of being here, being home, she had just felt frustrated. Bree didn't get it – didn't understand what Selena was doing. She was just laughing and mocking Selena on Twitter, acting 'unafraid' about facing Selena in a roofed cage match again. And while others seemed to agree with Bree, like Sienna and those in Beauty Network – those that didn't weren't making nearly as much noise as them.

That needs to change... Selena decided in thought. But not now...too happy to be so depressed-

That was it. It finally dawned on Snow Queen how she could be in such good spirits tonight. It was because, despite everything, she was happy. Seeing the laughing and smiling children made her happy. Seeing her wife, hours ago, playing with them (for the Snow Queen's castle was only stop number 1 on the neighbourhood trail) before sending the first batch on ahead – the final stop being Santa's workshop.

Her only wish to make things better was an understandable one – that her Elsianna could be there with the other children.

As if sensing her thoughts, Oberon gave a quiet, yet high-pitched whine, regaining Selena's attention. “You wish she was here too, huh, boy?” she asked, earning a few panting sounds from the dog. “I know.” Selena smiled a little sadly. “I've been imaging it on and off all night. She's stop her first, probably one of the first of many to get a photo with me. She'd sing and dance with Deanna as they had hot chocolate...”

Turning her head, Selena took in her 'castle throne room' that was station number 1 for the trial. It was a simple gazebo decorated with crystal sugars hanging from the ceiling, fake snow lying the inside and her thrown, a lavish, blue-painted throne chair that reminded Selena of something from the Tudors era. Still, it suited 'The Snow Queen' she thought.

“And while I sat there on the throne and met the children who came later, she'd rush off with Deanna and meet Frosty, the penguins – all people in costume – don't tell her, okay?”

Oberon barked his agreement, earning a pat on the head.

“Then, she'd meet Santa – tell him what she wants for Christmas and come right back here to me. So I could spend time with her and David.”
“Arf?”
“Amiliah is too young for this, boy. You know that. She needs to stay inside where it is warm.”

With a shake of her head, Selena watched the last of the children in the clearing head down the trail. One, a young girl, close to Elsianna's age, Selena gathered, stopped in her tracks before tugging on the hand she held – that of her mother's. Because of the distance from the, Selena could not hear what the little girl was asking, but she definitely understood the body language, especially in this case, for she had seen most of the night.

The mother/daughter pair hesitantly approached the white-haired woman, who smiled and waved at them.

“Hello, Mrs.-” the woman, dark-skinned and wearing a red jacket caught herself as she spied the blue and white sign (complete with 'icicles' painted and placed over it) that read 'Snow Queen's Castle'. “Snow Queen.” she corrected quickly, “she-” the woman continued, indicated her daughter, who looked very much like a miniature version of her mother, except she had a pink, puff coat and her pink toque almost went all the way down past her eyes. “She was wondering if she could pet your wolf...”

Slowly, Selena gazed at Oberon, who, upon hearing – and recognizing – the word 'pet' perked right up. “I think he'd love that.” Selena replied, nodding her head in approval as well.

“Go ahead, darling.” the woman encouraged to her child, but the pink-wearing girl was slow, hesitant as she stepped closer to the pair of dog and queen.
“He's not going to bite me, is he?” she asked, concern in her voice.
“Of course not, sweetheart.” Selena assured. “He loves children. He's a big softie.”

To illustrate her point, Selena, keeping her knelt position, beside Oberon, reached out to scratch him behind his ears, earning a content, purr-like sound from him.

Slowly, building her courage, the child reached out an ungloved hand, moving a slow step at a time, until her hand was touch the top of the husky's white head. Ears perking up, Oberon recognized one thing and one thing only now.

SOMEONE NEW IS PETTING ME!

Immediately, the dog licked and nuzzled the new hand, earning a series of laughs from the child, who found the dog's tongue to be quite ticklish against her palm. The whole scene, like others before tonight, brought a smile to Selena's face, making her miss the first few clicks of the camera as the mother, using her phone, took some quick shots. The third however, gained Selena's attention.

“What's your name?” she asked the child.
“Rosalyn.” the girl answered.
“Rosalyn.” Selena tried. She wasn't a fan of the name but then again, who was she to judge? “Rosalyn, can you look over there?”

Carefully, the Snow Queen of the neighbourhood pointed towards Rosalyn's mother, who waved at the pair as the child turned around to face her. “Can we give her a smile?” Selena asked, but it seemed that Oberon had a better idea.

Before Rosalyn's mother could take another picture, the husky pup had turned his head and began licking Rosalyn's cheek like he had Selena's. Immediately, the child burst out into giggles, as did Selena as she witnessed the whole scene. The clicking transformed into a patter of clicks before the mother, delightedly, skipped over to her daughter, taking her hand and gracing Selena with a bright smile. 

“Thank you so much, Mrs. Frost.” she whispered low so Rosalyn couldn't hear her.
“You're very welcome, Mrs. Cagney.” Selena smiled. “I'd offer some hot chocolate, but the last group drank what was left.”
“That's alright.” Mrs. Cagney – Kyra – smiled. “She'll be too busy looking for Santa.”

Understanding, Selena nodded her head as Kyra took Rosalyn's hand and ushered them off down the trail, clearly aware that the event would be ending at 10pm. After all, 'the children needed to be asleep for Santa' – committee's words, not Selena's. The young woman watched the mother/daughter pair go before suddenly clapping her hands and rubbing them.

“Well, boy...” she smiled, finally showing her tiredness. “I think that wraps things up on our end. First seen, first to go sort of thing, right?”

Oberon, surprisingly, wasn't entirely listening. Instead, his head was tilting back and forth as he looked down, towards the opposite direction the trail was going. Past Selena's gazebo and towards the 'undecorated' section of the path – for Selena, it was her shortcut to her house because it was only a quarter of the way around the area as opposed to three-quarters if she had gone the 'trail that lead to the North Pole'.

“What, boy?” she asked her pet. “See a squirrel?”

On his feet, the white husky moved and darted around, as if suddenly very interested in the spot just beyond the trees, barking towards it as he fought a bit against his leash.

“Wow...you're suddenly enthusiastic.” Selena observed before her head jerked back to stare at the dog. “Wait... please don't tell me its a rabbit!”.

Despite the woman's questions, however, the husky pup would not be denied, leaping with his head jerking back to try and get the collar off, veering left and right, testing and re-testing the leash's limits. For a moment, the poor thing was moving so much and so forcibly against the confines that Selena feared he was going to inadvertently hurt himself.

“Alright! Alright!” she acquiesced, shuffling over to her dog's side. Reaching old both pale hands, she had to pull and push her hands to and fro as she tried to get a hold of the pup. “Hold still.” she ordered before her slender fingers clasped the latch that kept the cord to his collar. With a short pull and twist, it was undone and before the Snow Queen could utter a word, Oberon sprinted towards the dark side of the woods, barking as he ran.

“Don't eat it!” ordered Selena. “You'll get sick!”

She doubted Oberon would hear or even understand her but, he was young – and, again, like she was the one to talk about putting harmful substances in her body. 

Hypocrite, much?

Selena ignored the voice much more easily than previous times, her good mood refusing to diminish. Still, the sound of someone screaming in alarm – coming from the darker side of the woods Oberon had disappeared from – that was something Selena could not ignore. 

“Hey!” she called out, putting on a burst of speed across the snow-covered grounds as she rushed into the woods after Oberon. Almost immediately, she could hear the sounds of her dog – a mixture of barks and high-pitched hums coming from nearby, combined with... laughter? Laughter as in 'ha ha ha'? Selena refused to question it further, choosing haste over logic as she followed the sounds through the woods until she spotted the white of Oberon's fur, the medium-sized pup on top of...someone?

“OBERON!” Selena ordered. “No! Down boy!” she began to say she rushed to his side. She could barely make out the hoodie-wearing person Oberon was pounced on. But as she pulled the dog off, repeatedly giving her apologies for her dog's behaviour, she heard something.

A set of coughs – the kind that she had heard every night she had been home here. And, even in the dim light of the undecorated woods, she could still see well-enough ion the dark to recognize the design of hoodie the person was wearing. After all, it was her favourite, snowflake embroidered hoodie.

Kneeling down, Selena reached forward towards the person on the ground until she could feel the familiar fabrics of the hoodie's hood. Swiftly, Selena pushed the hoodie back, and a sea of white flowed from underneath, framing the soft features of the young face that gazed up at the Snow Queen with knowing shame.

“Hi mommy.” the child coughed.
“El....Elsi...Elsianna?!” Selena asked in disbelief. To say that the former world champion was not stunned and mortified at the sight of her pneumonia-stricken daughter outside in the damn cold, wearing little but her pyjama bottoms and Selena's favourite hoodie would be completely untrue. In fact, the mother had to blink her eyes several times and give her head a good shake in order to register that what she was seeing was, in fact, real. But as Oberon bounded back near Elsianna in order to lick the young girl's face – the animal, clearly, not giving a damn about catching whatever it was Elsianna had – reality seemed to catch up to the older woman.

And for a moment, she had to decide whether she should be angry or terrified with her daughter. Not so much 'which one she would use', but rather, which one should she use first! Luckily, for Elsianna, love and concern won out, and Selena quickly scooped her oldest into her arms.

“What were you thinking, young lady?! You're not supposed to leave your room!” she stated angrily as she walked further into the woodsy trail. “You're lucky you didn't catch your death of cold!”

“But mommy-” the child tried. “I wanted to see-”
“Elsa!” Selena sharply interrupted. “We told you not to do something, didn't we?!”

The child, at first said nothing, merely curling into a slightly smaller human ball as she lay in her mother's arms. “Didn't we?” Selena asked, though her tone was far more demanding and commanding.

“Yes...” muttered the young girl.
“And what did you do?”
“I snuck out...” Elsianna half-whispered and half-cried in shame.

That part surprised Selena. “How...how did you sneak out?”
“While Ms. Gerda was asleep on the big blue chair.” the child admitted honestly.

If reaching home and getting Elsianna inside a warm environment had not been the priority at that moment, Selena would have had quite a few follow-up questions. But as she continued walking around the quarter-long short path, her home now a stone's throw, she pushed such thoughts to the back of her mind as she rushed up the stairs, Oberon following close behind. Quickly, she rushed up the stairs and made a right, going down the hall a short distance until the platinum-blonde was standing in the bathroom. 

Quickly, the woman placed her child down, giving her a simple order. “Out of those clothes.”
“What?” 
“You heard me.” Selena's voice booked no room for argument as she reached into the section of the tub to turn on the water, ensuring it was a very warm temperature. “Into the tub, young lady.” ordered the Snow Queen. “Can't believe you sneaked out!”

“But...I knew where you were...” the white-haired six-year-old tried, only to be interrupted.
“And what if you had gotten lost in the dark, Elsianna? Hmmm? Or worse? What if someone had taken you?”

It was not Selena's intention to truly frighten her daughter, but at the moment, the panic, anxiety and fear gripping her own heart could not be contained. All she could see were those two scenarios:

Elsianna getting lost, coughing fit after coughing fit as her sickness got worse in the cold.
Elsianna getting picked up by a stranger – kidnapped like she had been with Malcolm Scythe and her biological father, Ryan Scythe.

Why? she asked herself and to any of the gods that could hear her thoughts. Today had been... had been good. The first good day I had since she was sick... why did you have to take that from me? Why did you have the one good day out all the other bad ones? Couldn't you have taken one bad day and left me this?

Her frame shuddered as the emotional tears wracked her frame. She heard sniffling behind her and turned to see her daughter standing there, her clothes in a pile on the floor. Gently, Selena picked the young girl up under her arms, placing her in the warm bathtub. 

“You hate me.” the child sniffed and Selena could see tears falling from her baby's eyes. Had anyone else said such a thing to her, the Snow Queen would have responded in her cold sarcasm. But Elsianna was not just anyone. She wouldn't understand such a thing.

“Elsa.” Selena whispered, her tone sharp. “Do you not understand why I am upset?”
“Because I'm near you... and you don't want to be sick like me.”
Her answer almost made Selena laugh. Almost. “Sweetheart – do you remember when the evil men took you away from me?”

Slowly, her small frame mostly submerged in the soapy, warm tub (save for her neck and head), the child looked up and nodded.

“And I thought I would never see you again?”
Another nod.
“And you thought you were being taken away from me forever?”

No nod came this time, but despite that, Selena knew the child understood what was being said. “Imagine that right now. I have hated... hated... that I can't be near you. I've fought so hard to change that but...” her voice trailed off for a moment.

“I'm sorry, mommy.” the child whispered guiltily. “I just wanted to see you and Santa.”

It was all Selena could do to nod her understanding as she cleaned her daughter, ensuring the child's hands and feet were warm and cleaned. With that done, the platinum-blonde gathered her daughter out of the tub, dried her off and wrapped the towel around her small frame. “Do you have any clean pyjamas?”

The six-year-old shook her head. “Mom forgot to do laundry today.” came the answer.
Slowly, Selena nodded, mentally cursing herself. She'd have to apologize to Deanna later for not asking her if she need any help. “Get into your bed. I'll take care of it.”

Keeping the towel wrapped around her, Elsianna scampered out of the bathroom and into her own room. Selena, meanwhile, made her way down the stairs, and into the family room. The room was still lit up with a few nightlights in order to see around the room, but but the large, blue chairs lay the old woman – the family baby sitter.

With a sigh, Selena quietly walked over to the shorter, rounder woman, gently shaking her shoulder to rouse her. “Gerda? Gerda?”

The elderly woman snapped awake rather quickly, taking in her surroundings before her eyes settled on the woman standing near her. “Oh, I'm so sorry, dearie. I must have dozed off for wee spell.”

“That's alright.” Selena lied – choosing not to burden her neighbour and friend. “I just got home myself. Why don't you head home, okay? I'll watch the children best as I can.”

“Alright.” Gerda nodded, pushing herself out of the chair and heading out the door. She was gone a minute or so later. Undeterred now, Selena quickly made her way downstairs, reaching the laundry room half a minute later. Fortunately, she found a clean pair of Elsianna's pyjama bottoms in the dryer. Sadly, there was no doubt. 

Better than nothing... Selena thought as she rushed back upstairs, but as she reached the top of the stairs at the bedroom floor, and stood between Elsianna's door and David's bedroom – she was suddenly shocked by a sudden realization.

Like I said before: came the teasing voice from the hotel room. My snow child would never have gotten sick...

Oh... and my snow child would have never gotten ME sick...

Selena rushed into her own bedroom, too alarmed to go anywhere else. She had been so scared of Elsianna being out in the cold, and then the idea of her sneaking out of the house – Selena never knew her daughter was even capable of that! - that she had forgotten the initial orders the doctor had given. Orders to stay away from Elsianna! 

Now? Not only had Selena crossed that line – she was practically dancing on the other side.

What if I have it? her mind raced. What if I'm a carrier? What if I give to David or Amiliah or-

“Mommy?”

The voice came calling out from Elsianna's room, causing the Snow Queen to spin around in surprise, her jerkish movements accidentally knocking over a wooden box of keepsakes that were on her own nightstand.  With a quiet curse, Selena bent down to pick up the box, seeing most of its contents, treasures and mementos from her life. Items such as ticket stubs from her first date with Deanna, a stuffed penguin no bigger than her hand that her father had gotten her when she was a child, one of Elsianna's first drawings for Selena when the pair had first met at the Pilgrim Springs Orphange in Anchorage...

But her hands stopped as she saw the small, golden item shining in the little light that was in the room and coming in through the windows via the holiday nights. Slowly, her nimble fingers picked the item up, holding it up to the moonlight and Christmas light glow.

She recognized the item almost immediately, feeling the wave of memories, of thoughts, that had plagued her the past month.

Maybe you just stopped believing...
I don't think I'm strong enough to change it back...
Oh Selena, you already are me... you just haven't realized it yet...
They all deserve better than me...

And it was then that Selena knew what she had to do... what she should have done from the very beginning...


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

December 29th, 2018
6:29am AKST
Nome, Alaska


The sound of a dog barking barged in on Selena's senses, breaking through her dreams to slowly bring her back to the land of the living. “Not now, Oberon.” Selena waved her hand away. “I'll take you for a walk later.” she promised before settling down in the cold earth that was covered only by the thin sheet of her sleeping tent.

And it was that realization that made the young woman have another realization. Oberon isn't here – he's in Manhattan...

Selena's sapphire eyes shot open and her head jerked up just in time to see the shadowy silhouette as it grew and shifted against her tent. Despite its shape changing of sorts, Selena instantly recognized the four legs it walked on and a frame so similar to her husky pup, Oberon.

Oh shit... Selena thought over and over again. Slowly, as slow as possible, the platinum-blonde reached into her pocket, pulling out the leather sheath and knife Liam had given her when she had started this trek a few days ago. From there, she did not make a move nor a sound, and as she saw the wolf reach up and tent shift as it pressed a paw into the material, her heart leapt into her throat.

Don't run...Don't yell or scream... she thought, trying to convince herself not to be a coward. However, the more and more she tried to be the protector and be brave – the more afraid she got.

Why the hell are you afraid? came the voice so achingly familiar to her own. Remember a week ago? When they said you couldn't be near our daughter? Or when Evangelina DeWinter said you couldn't be married to Deanna because it was an 'abomination'? But a big dog shows up and you'd rather be curled up in your sleeping bag like a cocoon?

“This is different.” Selena whispered. “This is an actual predator-”
I'M AN ACTUAL PREDATOR! roared the voice. YOU'RE AN ACTUAL PREDATOR! You tamed one of these things to be your friend!

Selena's eyes widened at the memory... how could she have forgotten? Oberon had not been the first 'wolf-like' pet she had raised and befriended – no, earlier in her life, she – or, Nome-Selena – had tamed an Alaskan wolf, naming the puppy Titania, becoming a sort of... part-time pet for the Snow Queen as she grew up in the hell of Nome.

So why are you sticking around, hiding in a tent?! What are you, Bree-

Snap.

That was the sound of the last nerve going off in Selena's head. She had come to Nome, Alaska, her hometown, to face her problems and her fears, not to be mocked by them! And certainly not to be compared to that bitter, pathetic toad that called herself the 'rightful' United States Champion!!

Gripping the knife angrily, the Snow Queen ran towards her tent 'opening', yelling at the top of her lungs as she unzipped the opening and tumbled out, rushing out and around the field, looking for the wolf that had dared to spook her.

“Where are ya?!” she bellowed out, turning around just in time to see the wolf – grey fur, small for its species – staring up at her with a look of utter confusion. “What?!” she asked, standing before the animal. “Do I look yummy to you?” she tilted her head, holding the knife in front of the wolf. “Two choices. That way.” she pointed behind the wolf. “or through me.” she then pointed the knife to herself. “Your call, but guess what-”

The wolf never guessed what. Instead, it merely turned around and ran away, going up the hill until it was a good distance from Selena. “Ye...Yeah!” Selena yelled to it in surprise. “Keep running!”

She probably looked lame to anyone that saw the whole scenario unfold, but-

“I did it...” she whispered, unable to stop the feeling of pride within herself. “I was scared and I stood up to what was scaring me... just like you did...”

No... I would have tracked it down and skinned it for its pelts.

“That's unfair and against some of the gaming laws in-” the Snow Queen's statement dropped as she gazed back at the hell the wolf had disappeared from, except now, he was back... and not alone. For beside him were four more wolves, all of them gray, but with various tints of colors in their fur as well.

Quietly, Selena gulped, afraid that she had just angered a whole pack of wolves. Even 'Nome-Selena' had never handled that. And yet, as the wolves stood on the hill, none of them made a move, only watching Selena as she stood in place on the snowy hills, and what felt like an eternity for her, was mere seconds as the male alpha of the pack, lowering his head, moved on down the mountain range, his pack following him away from Selena.

Okay, now I'm impressed... the voice in her head chimed. I never had to deal with a pack of wolves before...

This time, however, Selena had felt no elation. No sense of pride. True, she had done something worth bragging about but she had no desire in showing it off. Rather, as she saw the wolves that were following the one that had bothered her in the first place – or bothered her tent, at least – she saw a few pups running up from behind, one of the wolves nuzzling and snuggling them trying to urge them to keep up with the rest of the pack...

Home...
Love... 
Family...
There was once a time I must have had them, too.
Home, Love, Family, 
I will never be complete 
Until I find you...


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

December 25th, 2018
12:08 am EST
Manhattan, New York.

Deanna quickened her pace back home as she saw the winding driveway draw nearer. Was she worried? More than she cared to admit. Where was Selena? Where was Oberon? The redhead had dropped by to collect them both after the neighbourhood Christmas event had officially concluded, only to find neither of them there. Phone calls to Selena's cell had not work and none of the committee of the neighbourhood, event overseerers or the set take-down team , had seen anything. 

That left just one option. Home.

Reaching the door, Deanna opened it. Immediately, all she saw was the odd light-bulb in each room. “Selena?” she whispered, carefully making her way up the stairs. “Selena?” she tried again, in front of her bedroom, followed by David's, followed by-

“Selena?” she tried, but she dared getting an answer.
“In here...” came the soft voice, causing Deanna throw her head back and groan as she walked into Elsianna's bedroom. Reaching into her pocket, the redhead pulled out her phone to turn on the flashlight.

Before her eyes lay her wife, Selena, in track pants and a black, baggy t-shirt, their beautiful daughter, Elsianna, sound asleep in her mommy's arms.

“I think I might be infected or, at least a carrier now.” Selena stated.
“What are you-” Deanna tried to ask, even if she found the sight to be beautiful.
“She sneaked out of the house and came to the Christmas event to find us. I had to get her out of the cold. By the time I realized what I had done, it was pretty much too late.” she admitted. “And when she couldn't sleep, I figured I couldn't do much worse. I'm...I'm sorry...”

Reaching up with a smile, Deanna caressed her wife's fingers (one of the hands that held Elsianna snugly). “What do we do know?”
“I know.” Selena sighed. “I'm leaving early in the morning.”
“Morning – Selena, you're leaving on Christmas day?

Slowly, Selena nodded, this time with no apology in her voice. “I won't be able to keep away from them if I stay.” she cast her glance at her daughter.
“Where will you go?” Deanna asked.
“The only place I can go to get my head on straight for...what's next for us.”

The implications of that 'what's next for us' was not lost on Deanna: 2nd honeymoon at the castle, addiction therapy, potentially Selena quitting SCW...

But there was only one question that Deanna didn't know, yet as she saw her wife lying on the bed, the redhead spied the golden nugget hanging around her beloved's neck.

And thus, all her questions were answered.

“Will...will you be alright up there?” she asked. “All by yourself?”
Slowly, Selena nodded. “I have to be.” she teased. “Otherwise I'm just going to get my butt kicked in that cage. And if...” she paused, not wanting to say the next set of words. “If this is really going to be my last...”

There was a pause before the Snow Queen continued. “I need to be someplace in my head where I give her everything I've got. Otherwise, I'll never be able to walk away...”

For a moment, Deanna watched the pair – mother and daughter – as they lay on the bed, Elsianna as quiet as possible given her state, clearly asleep. “Tomorrow?” she repeated quietly.

Selena nodded. “I've already got it worked out.” she stated. “I'll return after the pay-per-view.”
“What about-”
“You only need to tell me where to go.” whispered the older woman. “Here or the castle...it's up to you...”

A decision the redhead knew she'd need time to make. With a sigh, she nodded her head to Selena. “I'll go pack your bag.” she whispered before quietly leaving the room.

Along with her daughter again, Selena reached down to gently kiss her daughter's crown.

“Mommy?” whispered the child. “Do you really need to go?”

Selena stiffened, wishing her daughter had been asleep and unable to hear what had been said. “I'm afraid so, sweetheart. I don't want to get anyone sick, and... I need to get ready for a big fight...”
“But...what about Christmas...”
Selena's smiled at her daughter, though Elsa couldn't see it. “It's Christmas now.” she whispered, turning her daughter to allow her to see the clock. “See?” she smiled before kissing her daughter's forehead.

“Merry Christmas, mommy.” she said.
Selena only hesitated for a moment before indulging her daughter. “Merry Christmas, snowflake.”
“Can...can you do me one last thing until I fall asleep?” she asked.

In the dark, Selena nodded, squeezing her daughter in her arms affectionately.

“Please... sing me the lullaby...” asked Elsianna...

“Of course, my love.” Selena whispered before singing the soft tune to her daughter, never letting go until she was certain her daughter was asleep. Only then, did she slip off the bed and towards the door. And she was one foot out the door before she heard one last message – a beautiful message from Elsianna...”

“Happy birthday, mommy...”


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

December 31st, 2018
7:58pm AKST
Nome, Alaska


The cave loomed before Selena, and despite it being years since she had seen or stepped foot inside, it looked exactly the same as it had those years ago. 

Well, how much can a bunch of rock change? It's rock.

Turning her head, Selena finally saw her – her younger Nome-self standing before her, dressed somewhat similar to the Snow Queen. 

“I get the feeling that you're not going to be too cooperative with me.” Selena stated with a shake of her head.
Her past-self-ghost smirked. If it was going to be easy, you wouldn't have had to be here, would you? Or walked close to thirty miles, or camped in the mountain, or face down a wolf.

With a sigh, Selena shook her head as she stared into the entrance of the cave. “Well, we've got a few weeks...”
Might as well get started. her ghost-self stated, starting to walk into the cave. The apparition stopped, however, as 'she' realized Selena was not moving. Turning around, it spied that Selena looking at her phone clock – as if she was waiting.

Hey! Crazy, Miner's Daughter? mocked the spectre, only to earn a raised hand by Selena.
“One second.” she replied and watched as the clock, finally struck:

December 31st, 2018
8:00pm AKST
Nome, Alaska

And

January 1st, 2019
12:00am EST
Manhattan, New York 

With a smile, Selena tapped her phone before turning it off and stuffing it in her pocket. With a deep breath and head tilted towards the sky, Selena whispered a single message to her gods.

“Happy birthday, daughter.” 

Before she stepped forward, following her 'past-self' into her father's cave...

One step at a time! One hope, then another!
Who knows where this road may go? 
Back to who I was! On to find my future!
Things my heart still needs to know.
Yes, let this be a sign! Let this road be mine!
Let it lead me to my past
And bring me home...
At last!

[SnowQueenSCW]

The camera opens up to the STAPLES center in Los Angeles, California, the home for tonight's SCW Pay-Per-View: Making Things Right. With the very power and stability of SCW on the line – it's ownership for the next four weeks a reward for a certain family member, and the championship matches themselves – to say that here... tonight...in this city – the very destiny of SCW may be forever changed! 

But as the camera settles in on the scene, one thing stands out. The ominous structure placed around the ring made of metal and chains. The top, a roofed dome. A structure in the same class as the Thunderdome, the Elimination Chamber, and the Tactical Warfare matches. Where rules are thrown out, and survival is the only thing that matters.

And as the camera focuses in on the structure, through it, it captures sight of a single woman sitting in the middle of the ring inside the cage. The arctic blue and white lights highlight her white hair, braided in its iconic style, as well as her attire. A light-blue long coat, tied around with a sash with matching heel boots and a white, undershirt of lace-design. Covering shoulders, sash, hem and boots are beautiful snowflake designs, leaving no doubt who this woman is.
 
I've always loved telling a good story. The woman says as she looks around the dreaded structure. The idea of a plot – a beginning, a middle, and an end. A strong structure, much like this cage, to guide the viewer along. Give them something to witness, to understand...

To believe in...

Leaning back to rest her palms on the mat behind her, the Snow Queen, Selena Frost, looks up to very top of the structure. It feels right that this would be the end, one way or another. she speaks calmly. Retribution 2017 – I feel that is where this all began for us, Bree. You and Mason, running roughshod in SCW, piledriving superstars without a care. Trying to ruin careers because why? You weren't getting what you wanted, am I right? Seems that little has changed since then – since you claim that everything you are and everything you do is some sort of 'payback' for SCW screwing with you. 

Though I have to wonder – is it because you screwed with SCW first? I mean... you did put Sienna Swann in the hospital, right? Remember? That's what caused me to step up and join forces with Kelcey Wallace - to hold you accountable. And while you managed to sneak in and steal a victory thanks to my mistake, what followed was a story that...well, never seemed to reach a conclusion. Not a definitive one, anyway.

The Snow Queen shrugs.

Still, here we are now. Back where it all began two years ago, soon to be locked in this structure of hell. And while I chose to take some time away from SCW to make myself ready – to harden my resolve and my spirit - to be prepared for this barbaric structure - you decided to sit in your comfy library in the lap of luxury, eating, I imagine, bonbons? Selena turns her head to the camera. I'm not making this up for color, True-Believers. This was her last promo. Sitting in her comfy, pampered home and showing off her materialistic treasures. Whole 'lap of luxury' deal. 

And I have to admit, Bree, it painted a great picture of you. Sure did. You have a lot of nice stuff. No denying that.I certainly wouldn't want to go up against you in an edition of “Lifestyles of the Rich and Fabulous” or “Better Homes and Gardens” - though I might get extra points in the pool department. A sly smile breaks across the Snow Queen's face. But here's the thing, dear. I'm not going against you for some spot on a magazine or some photoshoot. I am fighting you in this structure – this 'cave' of cold metal! But you want me to be ashamed of having to go to the cold depths of my home - of my past - to be ready for that?

Bree, the fact that you felt you didn't have to do anything to prepare for this just shows more about you than it does about me. For you? It shows your ignorance and your arrogance. It shows just how little you understand this structure. How little you comprehend this kind of match. This isn't something that you can just stroll in and be fine. You can't 'settle' for anything in these matches. These cage matches – they take years off your career! Whether you win or lose!

I went away, Bree, because I know that. I know what that's like. I've been in about half a dozen cage matches like this in my career. I've won, I've lost, I've had bones fractured and buckled. I've walked out of some and I've been carried out in others. So, if I'M going somewhere to prepare for this encounter – then maybe you should have stopped scoffing and dismissing it and actually considered why!

With swift movement, Selena is on her feet, walking around the ring as she dusts her hands off. Or is the 'great fire' merely a mindless machine?

Yes, I thought that was a fun little analogy for you, Bree. A tad overused and cliche – I mean, 'fire melts cold and snow', clever. - but I guess if it serves you well. And, I'll be honest, you really do have a pretty fireplace, with the dark gray slate and - was that mahogany? Selena shakes her head.

Still, I can't help but wonder, Bree. If you're this fire in your fireplace, who is it that's keeping your mahogany and your gray slate so clean? Are you dusting it? And what about firewood? A non-electrical fire, a REAL fire, which you claim you are, requires actual fuel. Do you fuel that fire, Bree? Do you go out, chop down some trees and use them for fuel? Or do you just flash some cash and buy the cheap stuff and say “good enough”? Or, do you just hire someone to do all that work for you? You know, like you hired the Network to protect you from hungry and deserving superstars?

I'm sorry, I'm just trying to better understand your logic. Are you the one maintaining the shine, the fuel, and the look? Or is it Scott Burnside that does it while you take credit for 'looking good'? You know – like you did with me and just earlier this week with Aaron Blackbourne. I mean, perhaps I'm overstepping, Bree, but having to cheat in order to beat me, that's one thing, but having to cheat to beat Aaron? That just makes me smile and gives me hope for that young man! Because if you can't beat him on your own – the 'fire that burns all' that can't burn Aaron Blackbourne cleanly – then that man must, indeed be part of the future along with Owen Cruze!

A shrug comes from Selena as she steps around the ring.

That is a future I can get behind – superstars like that, like Kennedy, not being seduced by the easy path. People that don't take the shortcuts, but rather stand their ground because they value what they fight for. These are the people that take the risks and take the chances – not hide behind their managers or their buddies. See, you call me a hypocrite by claiming you 'settled' for the United States title, while I hold it in high regard. I'll put it to you this way, Bree, so maybe it can make more sense.

You say you will do 'anything to stay the United States Champion'. But I can tell you one thing you won't do: respect the first three letters on that title.

Selena gestures towards the camera. You've got the belt, Bree, and I know you're watching. Right at the top there – what do those letters say? 'S-C-W'. Do you even remember what those letters stand for? It's 'Supreme Championship Wrestling'. That's this company's name. That's this company's standard. And no matter how much Katya D. wants to drag it through the mud with her politics and favouritism, this company has survived for fifteen years at the top of the game by upholding that standard. 

You? You don't. You settle on the path of least resistance. You settle on handed victories and cheap tricks. You settle on whatever gets you the biggest paycheck for the least amount of work. That, my dear, is how you settle for the United States Championship, while I value it. You say you 'saved it' from Jason Helms? Yeah, before you, Regan Street was holding it for damn near a year, beating people like me over and over again. And I don't just mean 'beating them', I mean she was putting a hurting on them that made her 'the champion' to beat. I may not like her or the way she does things, but you want to talk about someone that raised the bar for that United States title, just look back two champions before you. You're not even halfway there and you can't seem to get past me without someone helping you out.

Gracefully, Selena takes a middle rope in her hands and swing-slides between them, landing outside the ring to run her hand along the cold metal of the cage.

But you think that you can wear that title, slap on some new ring gear, get yourself a fancy new theme song to come out to and that's the same thing? That that's good enough? Sorry, Bree, but you are very much wrong. 

Just like you're wrong about this match. Yes, you beat me. I acknowledged that. I acknowledged that you got your win and the history books will say that Bree Lancaster pinned Selena Frost. You think I can't accept that? You think I can't accept the actual loss?

Bree, if I wanted to get back at you for the loss, then this match would be a hell of a lot different. I could have banned your Classifer. I could have put Scott Burnside in a sharkcage suspended above the ring. I could have handcuffed you... a sly smirk graces Selena's lips. Or, if I really wanted to, I could have simply said that, if you lose to me, you don't get another title match in SCW ever again – pull a CHBK vs. Jason Zero since people are talking about them a lot lately.

Imagine that Bree. No tag-title rematch. No third or fourth chance to get the World title. Nothing. If I wanted revenge against you, Bree, that's all I would have to do.

Selena shakes her head. But this is NOT about revenge. This is NOT about me unable to accept a loss. This whole match is me unable to accept a standard – your standard. You say that I am proud and that “pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall”, right? Well how about this one? “Better to be lowly in spirit along with the oppressed than to share plunder with the proud. Whoever gives heed to instruction prospers, and blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord.”?

Selena eyes narrow. Sounds familiar, Bree? It should, because that's Proverbs chapter 16, verses 19 and 20, the ones that came right after the one you picked. You're right, Bree, I'm not religious in the way you define religion. But even I know how to work a phone. So, I find it interesting that you'd use such a quote about pride, when the very next two after it say that those that see themselves as students prosper and those that remain humble are better off...

So... with that in mind and going back to you, how does that work for us with me in my cave and you in your lavish library and expensive fireplace telling the world you're perfect and we should 'envy you', Bree? Selena shakes her head. 

I am grateful for all that I have been blessed with. It is because I am grateful for what SCW has done for me and given me that I stand by it. That I fight for its vision – the vision of its creator, Mr. O. D., and the desire of the True-Believers and the SCW Universe. 

Am I proud? You better believe I am proud. I want everything I do to mean something. I want everything I say to mean something. I want to inspire people to go for their dreams. To work hard to achieve them. To not settle for shortcuts and 'what works' like you do. I want SCW to be proud of me. I want these people- Selena gestures to the empty seats in the arena. Those people that will fill the seats and those watching from around the world – I want them to be proud of me, Bree. I want- 

Selena pauses for a moment to rest her forehead against the cold metal of the steel against her skin.

I...I want my family to be proud of me. My wife, my children – I don't want asterisks attached to every accolade and every defence. I don't want every match I have tainted just so I can win and 'get ahead'. I want to be standing in this ring, United States title in my hand and for the whole world to either point at me and agree, unanimously “That's OUR United States Champion” or for them to put their hands over their hearts and scream those magic words...

'We Believe...We Believe...'

Slowly, her head still against the steel, the Snow Queen shakes her head back and forth.

This match was not conceived by pettiness or revenge and not even entirely by my pride, Bree. It was love. Love for this business. Love for SCW's standard and love for what that title should and needs to stand for. 

And that's the thing, Bree. That's the reality that you either don't acknowledge, or have fooled yourself into believing that it's not there. Nobody in SCW believes that you are the rightful champion. Nobody in the crew, nobody on the board, nobody in the audience and none of the great people at home believe in you as the United States Champion. 

And for you to take the title that I've wanted for two years – a title that I promised myself that I would one day acquire – a title that was the true benchmark in my mind of single-competition success back in 2016. The single promise in my career that I've yet to keep – for you to take that title and make all these people not believe in it or its champion?

That is all going to change tonight!

With fury, Selena slams her hand against the steel of the cage before turning and pacing around the outside of the ring, the camera following her.

You see, Bree, you may think that I'm not going to get a single thing out of this. That you're not 'going to lift a finger to help me'. A coy smile comes across Selena's face. But you are wrong, Bree. You are going to give me exactly what I want. You know why? Because I'm not giving you a choice.

You said in your cozy little nook that you were prepared to 'beat me into the ground', right? Selena stops, leaning towards the camera. Good.

That's actually better than good, Bree. That is exactly what I want. Because, I didn't pick a single thing in this match to appease you. Every detail I picked was meant to take away your excuses. Meant to take away your tricks and your cheats until all that is left is you and me. No Scott. No Sienna. No Network. Just us.

And you're facing someone far more dangerous than you realize, Bree. Because, as I made it clear, this has become my last chance. This has become the last opportunity I will have for the title – for my dream – to come true. Remember that moment, Bree? That moment I had you in the armbar? The one you, for sure, were going to get out of but 'didn't have to'? Well, whether that is true or not is on your conscious, but now, imagine that where... I don't have to let go when you reach the ropes. Imagine that now, I either have to win or die trying.

Carefully, Selena hops up to sit on the ring apron, clasping her hands together. Do you get it, Bree? Is it sinking in yet? You are going to be facing me at my most dangerous. Backed into a literal corner with options just like my world in Nome. Adapt or perish. You, Bree Lancaster, will get me, Selena Frost, at the highest level that I can go, hell, I'd say beyond that. And if all you're going to do is quote scripture from your phone and do your mental gymnastics, then, believe me, Bree, I am going to bulldoze right over you and I'm not even going to look back when I do it.

The Snow Queen shakes her head. I want you to try and stop me, Bree. I want you to try and beat me into the ground. Give me all you have, Bree! Because you're going to have to to keep me down! To make me give up! You're going to have to dig deeper than you ever have before – to that place you've hidden with your shortcuts and freebies – to that desperation you've buried under Scott's praises and attitude. To that 'kill or be killed' mentality that you've softened by paying for extra security to guard you!

Owen Cruze – the future of SCW, I swear – he told me during our match a few months ago that, when I'm not facing someone I hate, I lose a bit of my edge. When I'm not defending SCW, I lose a bit of that killer instinct. I can assure you, Bree, I went to Nome to get that killer instinct back. Selena looks down at her hands, pale and yet beautiful. I can still feel the cold in my veins, in my bones – even in a place as hot as L.A! And I have no shame in admitting I hate the kind of champion you are.

Selena clenches her fists together tightly. Tonight, I will show you what a true champion – not an inferior one as you claimed I was – looks like. I will show you what supreme wrestling, what supreme heart looks like – and you can bring your 'polished' fire and try and burn down the blizzard and cold in my veins and the fire in my heart, Bree – but no matter what you do – you will give SCW what they deserve!

An undisputed United States Champion!

Because if I can't be that champion, Bree – then you had better believe that I am going to make them believe that you are!

A wondrous smile breaks across Selena's lips.

Tonight... this cage is my father's cave. That gold you carry is my father's gold. And I am the blizzard within. You won't have your fireplace, or your comfy chair or your books, Bree. All you'll have are two choices for this story's ending...

Selena slides off the apron to stand in front of the camera. Either burn through me and prove us all wrong and be our United States Champion...

Lifting her foot, Selena instantly stamps it down – a sign of her greatest strength.

Or be stamped out by a greater one... Believe it!

The camera fades on the Snow Queen as she smiles into the camera.

[HardyGirl]

OOC: Gotta love when you finally get to write a scene that's been planned out for at least 4 months. Promo filmed Sunday morning sometime before the show. Enjoy and good luck!
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Making Things Right #3