(A/N: This chapter is a time skip that happens a couple weeks before Rhea's NXT Women's Championship match against Shayna Baszler. But also includes said title match. Hope you enjoy.)

Over the next month or two, Rhea and I tore up the competition. Of course I won a spot on the NXT Survivor Series team as did Rhea. But at NXT Takeover: War Games. Only Rhea participated in the event as captain of Team Ripley which didn't bother me as I was proud of her.

After a victorious showing at Survivor Series by NXT Women's Survivor Series team, things went back to normal as I was preparing for a push with Keith Lee for the NXT Tag Team Championships.
Of course Rhea and I spent Thanksgiving together as we had nowhere to go to celebrate the holiday, however we both tried our best to make the Thanksgiving holiday special.
The following Tuesday was the one Shayna, Jessamyn and Marina would never forget.

Performance Center, Dec. 3, 2019. Orlando, Florida.
Rhea and I were at the Performance Center getting some last minute practice and workouts in. Survivor Series happened a week and a half ago. Rhea and I were getting her ready for her title shot at the NXT Women's Championship on the eighteenth. And I was proud of her for pestering the Champion so much that it was inevitable for her to get the shot she deserves. But as we were leaving the PC. I patted my jacket pocket and said, "Oh I think I left my keys back in the locker room. I'll be right back."
"Okay, hurry though." She grinned as I hurried back into the PC and grabbed my keys as they were hanging on a hook in the locker I used. When I was near the door to leave the PC again, I saw Shayna, Jessamyn, and Marina beating up Rhea who was down. Shayna and her cronies got in their car and tried to drive off only the car wouldn't go forward. Jessamyn looked out the back window and saw me and the look on my face was less than friendly.
"Uhh, Shayna. You may want to take your foot off the gas. Because if you don't your just going to make him madder."
Shayna looked in her rearview and noticed me. She immediately took her foot off the gas, making the back wheels stop moving. I set the back end down on the ground and walked to the front and with one well placed fist hammered the hood once and the engine stalled. Shayna, Jessamyn and Marina were freaking the fuck out. I looked to Rhea who was starting to move around. I looked back at Shayna and company. Then reached under the driver's side door and power lifted the car over onto its roof. I approached Rhea and helped her up. She smiled as she looked at me.
"You alright, Rhea?" I asked. She nodded. And I helped her to our car and she buckled up and I was about to get in myself.
Until Shayna yelled, "You better hope that freak is by your side tomorrow night Rhea. Cause you won't be able to walk out of Full Sail arena after I get done with you."
I slammed the driver's side door and approached the car that Shayna, Jessamyn and Marina were trapped in. And gripped the top of her window which had some broken glass in it and folded her door in half and ripped it off and tossed it aside. Got on my knees and said, "You listen to me very carefully. You do anything to hurt Rhea before your title match against her. I'll bend and twist you so much a pretzel will look good. Now I may be a freak, I may be able to lift 500+ lbs. But if you ever jump or attack Rhea again before the title match she has with you. You and I are gonna go for a ride and I'll show you parts of Orlando you've never seen before. You get me." She nodded. "That goes for all of you."
I got up and walked back to my car, got in started the car and drove off leaving the wreck and its owner and friends, right where they were.

When we got to our apartment, I parked in the parking lot of our apartment building, and got out and helped Rhea out of the car and into our home. I helped her up the stairs to her room.
I sat her gently on the bed and she smiled at me as I helped her take off her shirt leaving her in her sports bra and helped her into bed. She seethed as I gently moved her legs onto the bed and pulled the blanket over her. I then went to her bathroom and got her some water and some ibuprofen for the pain. I returned to her side and she sat up and gave her the water and the ibuprofen. She took them and drank the water and handed me back the glass. "Thank you." She grinned.
"No problem, Demi." I smiled as she adjusted herself further down the bed and laid down, her head resting on her pillow and she pulled the blanket back over her body. "Now you get some rest. Okay. You need to be at your best or at least 70-80% tomorrow night." I said as she swatted my arm with a giggle.
"What happened to Shayna and company?" She asked.
"I caught up to them and told them that if they were to attack you again, they'd live to regret it." I told her.
"And they believed you I trust." She slid her right hand over mine and gently squeezed it.
"Yes. I mean would you believe me?" I asked.
"Well when I initially met you in NXT UK. I would have said no. But after I saw you rip the locker room door off its hinges with your bare hands. I would say yes."
"Alright then. Well, goodnight and sleep well Demi."
"You too, Daniel." She smiled as I headed to my room.

The following night on NXT, I was to go against Bobby Fish. Of the Undisputed Era. And Rhea was to do a promo and get a little revenge on Dakota Kai for turning her back on Team Ripley at War Games with the help of Mia Yim. I was in the main event and Rhea was scheduled to do her promo at the top of the second hour. I watched her promo with Dakota Kai and Mia Yim from our locker room as I prepped for my match against Bobby Fish. When I was nearly done with getting ready for the my match. I heard a commotion coming from the monitor, when I looked, I found Rhea being ambushed Shayna and friends. I ran out to the ring and all three cleared the ringside area as I checked on Rhea. The look I sported on my face spoke volumes as to how much trouble they were in. But for now I was more concerned about my friend. I helped her to the trainers office and Mia Yim came in a moment later.
"She okay, Daniel." She asked.
"Yeah, she is. Some bruises across her collarbone and a couple under her arms. And she'll have to stay in bed tomorrow. And depending on if she feels up to it. We'll go to the gym tomorrow night or Friday morning." I said.
"Rhea. Is he always like this?" Mia asked her.
"Yeah. He's very protective of me." Rhea smiled.
"He must..." A tech came up and let me know that my match was next. I nodded.
"Gotta go. See you after Rhea." I left the room and headed to the gorilla.
"Sorry about that Mia. You were saying." Rhea said as she stood up and led Mia to our locker room.
"I was saying, that he must be to wreck Shayna's car after she and her friends jumping you outside the Performance Center last night." Mia told her.
"What do you mean?" She asked.
"Keith has a friend that came across this on the security cameras." Mia played a video of me lifting Shayna's cars rear end up to keep her from going anywhere, then watched as I walked to the front and slammed a fist down on the engine making it stall and stop, then walk to Shayna's side of the car and powerlift it over and onto its roof. After a few minutes, the video showed another angle as I pulled and folded the car door and ripped it off.
"Has anyone seen this aside from you, Keith and his buddy?" Rhea asked.
"I think its just us four who know about it." Mia told her.
"Its the Imperium locker room all over again." Rhea said.
"I heard about that. Scared a lot of people with what he did. Right?"
Rhea just nodded.

'The Creature locks in The Everglades Clutch on Bobby Fish and Bobby taps out.' Mauro Ranallo said as I raised my arms in victory, then made my way to the back and was met by Hunter.
"Hunter. What's going on?" I asked.
He just looked at me and pulled a security cam video of me turning Shayna's car into junk. When it was over he said, "Now I understand as to how close you and Rhea are. But this isn't going to fly here. So. I'm going to suspend you for a week. And take the cost of the damages to Shayna's car out of your paycheck. However, Rhea will still have her title match against Baszler on the eighteenth as scheduled. But I don't want to see you next Wednesday. I don't want to see you until the night of Rhea's title match. That clear?" Hunter asked.
I nodded, and as he walked away, I calmly walked to me and Rhea's locker room nearly punchinganythingor anyone that was in reach. But somehow I was able to keep my composure.

When I reached our locker room. Rhea could tell I was upset about something. Mia took the opportunity to leave.
"What happened,Daniel?" She asked.
"I've been suspended for a week. And if that's not bad enough." I put a dent in one of the locker to my right. Caving in the side of it. "Hunter told me that the damage to Shayna's car will be taken out of my pay." I punched a locker to my left, twice not only caving in the side and but in effect destroying it with just two punches.
"Ohh, I swear. Rhonda, Shayna and their friends get special treatment from Hunter and Vince. And I'm sick of it just like you are. It's funny how when Rhonda is no longer here, supposedly ti start a family. Shayna and friends still get special treatment. I'm tired of playing second fiddle to Shayna and her friends." Rhea vented and ranted. "You know. I think I'll take next Wednesday off. So I can keep an eye on you so you don't do anything stupid." She giggled.
We headed home to our apartment and walked in. We also ordered pizza and spent the rest of the night just talking about what we were going to do for the next week and a half.

Over the next few days Rhea and went to the gym, walked along the beach, went to the Performance Center, we even looked around for an actual home. We found one that was just within our budget and went to look at it. And the place had a nice pool and we looked around and decided which room would be the gym, study, etc.

We bought the home and went back to the apartment and packed all our stuff and moving everything we owned into our new home.

On my suspension day, we unpacked our things that were still in boxes. When we finished unpacking. I cooked my family's eight layer lasagna. Which I only cooked for special occasions. And Rhea knew that. Even when we were in NXT UK. I decided to cook it as a way to celebrate the fact we had a new home.

While eating the lasagna. Rhea started, "So. Mia showed me the video of what happened after I was jumped at the Performance Center." I know what you did. And even though I should be angry at you. For getting involved in my business. I always remember how you would move heaven and earth to make sure I was okay and safe. You always were there when I was sick or injured.i remember one Halloween me, you and Toni went out drinking. The next morning I woke up to no Toni as you told her to take a cab home and sleep the booze out of her system," She grinned. "And you sleeping in the chair next to my bed in my room in our flat. And I must have watched you for a couple hours before you woke up yourself." I grinned as she continued, "I asked you why you watched over me. You remember what you said?"
"I said, 'That I've lost friends to alcohol poisoning. And I was making sure I didn't lose another one to it.' Because you and Toni really got plastered by one a.m. that night." I smiled as I finished my plate.
"Ha, ha. You have amazed me since the day we met, Daniel." She finished her plate and put it on top of mine and I took our plates to the kitchen, then just stood in the doorway leading into the kitchen from the dining room. "I've uh. Been thinking about changing something between us."
"And that is?" I asked.
"Before I tell you. I want to know something?" I signaled for her to continue. "How do you feel about me, I don't want any bullshit, no usual answers, just the truth."
I knew that she would ask this eventually as I had grown quite fond of Rhea as more than a friend. So I told her the truth. "Demi. Over the last couple years in the UK and months here in the States. I have enjoyed our friendship. But uh. I want to be more than friends. I didn't realize how much until I turned Shayna's car to scrap with my bare hands. I kept telling myself I did it because you are my friend. But looking back now. I realize that I did it. Because I love you. I, ha. I have been up and down about how I feel about you from the day we met to now. And only one thing was very apparent. No matter how I sliced it." She grinned as I said again, "I love you, Demi Bennett."
"Well, I love you too, Daniel Boyce. You have always been there for me. When I lost the NXT UK Women's Championship, to coming here and settling into a new brand well the same black and gold just a different country." We both laughed at her comment. "But, I think if I didn't have my best friend with me. I probably would have been jumped by Shayna and company earlier."
"Maybe, maybe not." I said.
"Bottom line, I want to change our relationship status in a big way. So I was thinking of us starting a boyfriend/girlfriend relationship now and come out after my title match next Wednesday." She suggested.
"You know. That sounds like a great idea." I walked over to her as she stood up. "So. Demi Bennett. Will you be my girlfriend?"
"Yes." Rhea replied as I wrapped my arms around her waist as she wrapped hers around my neck.
"Good." I smiled as I leaned down and kissed her. "Ohhh, you have no idea how long I've wanted to do that."
"Well, we only have to worry about a few house shows between now and next week." She ran a hand through my hair at the back of my head. Which made both of us smile.
"There's one thing I want to do. But I think it can wait." I smiled devilishly
"If I'm reading the smile on your face correctly. I'm going to enjoy the surprise you have in mind." She kissed me once more. "Come on. Let's go to our room." She led me upstairs to the master bedroom and we took turns changing into our sleepwear. Then got in bed and I held her close to me as we fell asleep.

On December 18, 2019. The night that Rhe had worked so hard for was finally here. We went to the Performance Center and went through a few practice runs and some weight training. Once noon arrived we headed home, changed into some casuals, repacked our arena bags and had a quick lunch at a sandwich shop. Then went to Full Sail arena for NXT. I was scheduled to team with Keith Lee against Bobby Fish and Kyle O'Reilly. And Rhea was scheduled for her NXT Women's Championship match against Shayna Baszler.

We were in our locker room and I was close to finished on getting ready for my match and I put on my swamp moss green trench coat and looked to Rhea. Who was shaking like a leaf. "Hey, your going to be amazing tonight."
"How do you know?" She asked.
"Let's call it, boyfriend intuition." She giggled at that.
"Okay." She kissed me and got ready for her match. Then after putting on her spike and chain vest. Came up to me and wrapped her arms around my waist from behind, "Thanks, baby." She kissed my cheek.
"No problem, Demi." I smiled as did she.

It was time for my tag match with Keith and we waited for our cue to head to the ring. When his music hit he headed out first then my music hit and I headed to the ring myself.

35 minutes into the match, Keith Lee was dealing with Kyle on the outside as I was taking Bobby apart inside the ring. I picked him up and performed Creature Feature on Bobby and pinned him for the three count. We celebrated as the rest of Undisputed Era came down to the ring making us make tracks to the stage. Keith looked at me and smiled as I looked to him and smiled as well.

When I reached the back, I was met by Rhea whose match was right after me and Keith's. Shayna and her friends headed out first and after a moment or two Rhea's music hit she headed out to raucous cheers from the crowd.

45 minutes into the match, Rhea and Shayna were worn to near whispers. Rhea knocked down Jessamyn and Marina. Then was knocked out of the ring herself. Shayna tried to climb out of the ring only for her legs to be pulled out from under her by Rhea. Rhea got on the apron and did a rolling cannon ball off the apron and took out Jessamyn and Marina but Shayna was able to move out of the way at the last second and delivered a knee to Rhea's face then as Rhea tried to get up usinf the steel steps, Shayna who was on the apron, stomped on Rhea's left arm making her scream from the pain.
Shayna got off the apron, picked up Rhea and tossed her into the ring. And got in herself but as she stood up, Rhea performed a dropkick to Baszler which knocked her down but also knocked down the referee. Rhea took the opportunity and performed Riptide and went for the cover only the ref was down. Jessamyn threw a chair into the ring as both Rhea and Shayna were standing and Rhea kicked Shayna in the gut and tried to pick up the chair oy for Shayna to stomp on the chair and deliver a DDT on Rhea and go for a pin as the ref started to come to only for Rhea to kick out at the count of two.

I was watching on the monitor at the gorilla anxious and worried about Rhea. When Shayna locked in the Kirifuda Clutch on Rhea.

On the second arm lift, Rhea grabbed the refs shirt and pulled him close scaring the referee as she sat up and rolled backwards breaking the hold, grabbed both Shayna's arms and start repeated stomps to her face then executed her submission The Prism on Shayna. Only Shayna twisted herself onto her back and pushed Rhea into the corner with her legs and after she got up, she lifted Rhea up onto the top turnbuckle, climbed to the top second rope in front of Rhea and tried to bad mouth her only to get a headbutt from Rhea which caused Shayna to hunch over and Rhea prepped and performed an Avalanche Riptide on Baszler and got the three count.
Rhea pounded her fists repeatedly on the canvas and I was one of the first ones to Storm the ring and celebrate with her.
'You were right, baby.' She smiled as I kissed her. Then the roster and the crowd also stormed the ring lifting Rhea up as they chanted her name.

After the show, and everyone went home. Rhea was still in awe of the fact that she won after earning her place and her shot. "How does it feel to finally be NXT Women's Champion?" I asked.
She smiled and said, "It feels good. And what's even better is that I have someone to share in the joy of my title win."
I put my folded up moss green jacket in my arena bag and slung it over my shoulder and looked to Rhea. "Well, let's go home."

We were barely to our car when Kayla came up with camera crew and asked Rhea how it feels to win the NXT Women's Championship. She told them it feels great and that she was happy to put Shayna in her place. When a question came up about me and her sharing a kiss came up she smiled and said that she would get back to her on that. She got in and I started the car and drove home.

Once we got home, I parked in the garage, we got out, grabbed our arena bags and headed inside the house as we closed the garage door.
We put our bags on the sofa and she draped the NXT Women's Championship over the back of the sofa. I cooked a simple meal. Potatoes and country gravy nothing more. Once we were done. I cleared the table and helped Rhea to the bedroom after we grabbed her title and once inside our room. I slid my arms around her waist from behind then gently glided my hands over her shoulders and down her arms as she was wearing a tank top. She smiled as I leaned in and kissed the nape of her neck.
"You ready for your surprise?" I asked.
"You have no idea she replied.
I laughed and smiled as I leaned down as she draped her title over the back of a chair near the bed. She wrapped her right arm around my neck and pulled me in for a deeper kiss. I was quickly stripping my clothes off as fast as I could, even undoing my jeans and letting them drop to the floor. She broke the kiss long enough to pull off her tank top up and over her head as I kicked my jeans away and pulled down my boxers and kicking them away as well. Rhea made short work of her jeans and bra. But she left her panties on as she sat on the bed and laid back on the bed as I kneeled between her legs and she parted them and I grinned as I licked at her pussy lips through her panties and even rubbed a finger over them in between licks. Soon I pulled them to the side and licked her folds and she moaned as my tongue slid over her clit. I slid two fingers into her pussy and started moving them in and out as I sucked, flicked and ever so gently bit her clit. She bucked wildly as I moved my fingers in and out of her pussy. Then I removed my fingers and I engulfed her entire pussy with my mouth, inserting my tongue between her very wet crease. She moaned out my name, told me to not stop, I soon could feel her inner walls tightening around my tongue and not long after she cried out, "I'm cumming, baby, aaahhhhhh!" and she did she came har in my mouth and I grinned after I popped my mouth off her pussy and she tasted so sweet. She breathed nice and deep as I kissed a path up her stomach, her chest only stopping long enough to lick and suck on her right breasts nipple as I squeezed and fondled her left breast along with pinching, twisting and pulling her nipple until it was hard, I then started to lick suck on her left breast and do the same thing I did to her left breast to her right.
After a moment or two I continued to kiss a path up to her neck and lips. She kissed me with so much heat and passion that I was certain that the sheets blankets would catch fire. She rolled us over which made her be on top and me on the bottom. "Enjoying your surprise so far?" I asked.
"Oh yeah." She gently gripped my hard cock and jerked a few times before licking the underside of my shaft and soon took my entire length into her mouth and down her throat. Bobbing her head up and down on it. I moaned and groaned in pleasure as she continued her oral assault on my cock. This went on for a few more minutes until she popped her mouth off my cock and looked up at me. "Damn this is a big dick and I want to feel it in my pussy baby." She climbed on the bed and pulled me a little further onto it before she straddled me and slowly lowered herself onto my shaft. She was so tight that I nearly blew my load into her early. She smiled as she started slowly bouncing on my length. Which didn't last long as she quickly found rhythm and rode me to her hearts content.

Two and forty-five minutes later...
I was plowing into Rhea in Doggystyle position and she was screaming as she was quickly approaching her twelfth orgasm of the night and I was right on her heels with my eighth.
I reached up her back and gripped her hair in a fist and she giggled as she said, "Yeah, that's right, pull on my hair baby. Oh god, don't stop, don't stop, I'm gonna cum baby."
"I'm gonna cum too, Demi." I growled.
"Please, please cum with me baby, please." I started thrusting faster and faster into her and as soon we both came together. Her juices covering my dick as I emptied my balls deep into her pussy. Both of us, caked in layers of sweat, sucking in deep breaths as we tried to slow our heart rates, and a mile wide grin on both our faces. I leaned over her and kissed her neck. She giggled as she turned her head to the left and I kissed her cheek. Then she kissed mine. "Damn, baby. You are an amazing lover. I don't know why we waited so long to do this." I pulled her upright and wrapped my right arm around her chest.
"Neither do I, Demi honey." She smiled as she and I shared another deep passionate kiss. I pulled out of Rhea and she moaned as I did so as she collapsed on the bed and rolled onto her back. I collapsed next to her on her left side.
"I love you, Daniel." She grinned as I pulled her in close to me and kissed her.
"I love you more, Demi." She kissed me, then I reached to the floor and pulled a blanket from the floor as Rhea picked up a pillow and put it under our heads as I covered us with the blanket. I smiled as I reached out and turned off the light. "Goodnight, my Nightmare."
"Goodnight, my Creature." We grinned as we fell fast asleep in each other's arms.