Focus on the Family

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Off Camera

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Happiness, joy, and sheer comfort are the emotions that I feel right now.  Perhaps I shouldn’t be feeling this way.  After all, Supreme Championship Wrestling has been a mixed bag for my family lately.  My daughter did become United States Champion, and immediately after that she was attacked by Regan Street, not to mention the craziness she has to deal with regarding her twin, my other child Kimberly Williams.

Then there’s my sister, Kayla Jones.  Together we are The Sisterhood and we are two time SCW World Tag Team Champions.  I wanted to make that three time champions but then Fatal Fortunes drew Ravyn Taylor as Kayla’s tag team partner, not me.  And then, on this most recent edition of Breakdown, Kayla and Ravyn failed to become SCW World Tag Team Champions.  That should bother me, but it brings a small sense of satisfaction.

And that’s not all.  While my family may not be doing so great right about now, I have been riding a wave of momentum.  At Fatal Fortunes I defeated the reigning Television Champion Jake Starr and a former World Champion Rachel Foxx.  Then later on another edition of Breakdown I defeated Samantha Raine, an old rival of mine from my days in GDW where she reigned as GDW World Champion.

Many people think that I have my groove back.  Many suggest that the dominant Angelica Jones of old has returned to form and that I could take SCW by storm.  Who knows?  They may be correct.  I must have opened someone’s eyes, because I now find myself scheduled to face Christy Matthews, a former Adrenaline Champion, in the next SCW Television Title eliminator.

Yes, if I just keep my winning streak alive, I could be well on my way to becoming SCW Television Champion.  And that is quite the reason to be pleased with myself.  But if I were to say that my professional wrestling success is the only reason that I’m happy and content with myself and my life right now, well, I’d be lying.

Brilliant gold and orange hues bled like fire in the east over the rivers and beyond the city of Boston, Massachusetts. The first slither of the sun peeked over the skyline in a radiant, white form. Gradually it raised, a defined circle in a vibrant backdrop. The rivers were liquid gold and silver.  As the sun fully revealed itself it seemed to swell, loosing its focus and spreading in contrast to my contracting pupils.  I exhaled with relief as I sat up in bed.  I turned my head to look out the window, the source of the beautiful rays of sunlight.  This morning’s sunrise was a breathtaking display of radiant colors. Bright streaks of red, pink, and orange slowly overcame the dark blue and purple of the twilight sky. The sky resembled a prism; all the colors blended perfectly into each other. The sun itself was just peeking out of the horizon, and its brilliant rays already shined brightly and began to warm the air.

Eventually I manage to pull myself out of bed.  I walk over to the full length mirror and take appraisal of myself.  I like what I see; a beautiful redhead decked out in a green ruffled steel boned lace corset.  The suspenders of the garter are attached to sheer black stockings.

“Good morning, beautiful.”

I turn around and spot the other reason why I’ve been so happy these days; my girlfriend, Aphrodite Noel, still lying on the bed.

This beautiful woman has also been the cause of a great deal of tension within the family.  Kayla may claim she’s giving her a chance but she doesn’t trust her one bit.  My daughters have all remained silent on the issue, but if they did agree with their aunt Kayla, then who can really blame them?  Aphrodite was once a vicious rival of mine inside of the squared circle.

I admit, they have just cause for concern.  I just don’t care.  Aphrodite was there for me when I needed someone to talk to, to cry to, to unleash my emotions to.  She listened to me and comforted me in my time of need after my wife, Lindsey Carter, went missing.

Kayla wasn’t there for me.  My daughters weren’t there for me.  Aphrodite was there for me.

Aphrodite slowly rises up off of the bed and walks over to me.  It is then that we embrace in a tight hug.  Quickly our lips lock and we kiss passionately.  After breaking the kiss she winks at me.

“How long have you been awake?”

“Not long.  I literally just got up.”

“We could go back,” she motions to the bed “if you want.”

I admit, it is tempting.  Quite honestly, it’s hard to resist.  Finally, I nod my head.

“Yes, let’s.”

I take her by her hand and we go together back towards the bed.  I lie back down first and Aphrodite follows suit.

“What’s on your mind, Angel?”

“hmmm?” I ask, absentmindedly.

“Don’t play innocent with me, Angel.” She says with a mocking note of sternness in her voice. “I know you all too well.  You have something on your mind.”

She reaches over and runs a hand through my long red hair. “So please, share.”

I roll over and gaze deep into her eyes. “Just thinking about you, that’s all.  I’m thinking about how lucky I am to have you.”

“If only that were true.” Aphrodite says with a sigh. “But how can you be thinking just about me when I know your family situation is in a bit of turmoil right now?”

Not this again.  I sigh out of frustration and roll over so that I’m no longer facing Aphrodite. “It isn’t a big deal, Aphrodite.  Honestly, it isn’t.  Don’t worry about it.”

“Don’t worry about it?”  Aphrodite sits straight up in bed, I catch a glimpse of this out of the corner of my eye but I remain lying down. “Angelica, I told you from the start that I never intended to come between you and your family.  Now if I am the cause the cause of any problems between you and your sister, then I want to know.”

“It isn’t that simple.”

“Then make it simple.”

I realize now that there is no avoiding this subject.  I sit up in bed and turn my head to face Aphrodite’s, gazing deep into her eyes.

“If Kayla has any problems with you, well that’s on her.  Whatever problems she may have with you will not affect the way I feel about you.  But you are right…” I pause to collect my thoughts and Aphrodite uses that time to place a comforting hand on my shoulder “…you are right, Kayla and I have been growing further and further apart recently.”

“I don’t want to be the cause of that, Angelica.”

I shake my head. “You’re not the reason why we’ve been growing apart.  It’s just life.”

I chuckle lightly. “I guess it just hit us later than others, but really, it’s just life.  I thought my life had ended when our mother died and then our father separated us and abandoned us.  I spent my teenage years thinking I would never see my sister again.”

Aphrodite nods her head as if a light bulb went off. “I can see that the reunion of you two much later in life was a treat.”

A smile finally cross my lips even as tears form in my eyes. “Yeah, it was great.  I was thrilled to see her but I secretly blamed myself for losing her the first time.”

“Nonsense,” Aphrodite scoffs “your father did that to you.”

“My mind knew that but my heart told me otherwise and I listened to my heart.  Point is, I had lost her once and I refuse to lose her again.”

“How did your sister feel about this?”

I shrug my shoulders. “I never asked her.   But I believe she probably felt the same way I did, because we were inseparable after that.  It’s why we always stuck together in the wrestling business.  It’s why any of our singles endeavors in Supreme Championship Wrestling never lasted long.  We wanted to stick together.”

I get up off of the bed and walk over to the window.  The sunlight creates a beautiful scenery as I look out at the Boston skyline.

“I can’t pinpoint a time when it started but we began to grow more distant.  Even when we won the SCW World Tag Team Championships for a second time, as great as that was, as wonderful an accomplishment as that was, I somehow felt that it would be the last time The Sisterhood would ever be SCW World Tag Team Champions.”

By this time Aphrodite has joined me by the window.  She wraps her arms around me from behind in an embrace.

“Again, it’s nonsense.  You and Kayla deserve another title shot.  I could understand your concerns if Kayla and Ravyn had been successful but they were not.  This opens the door for you and Kayla to go for the gold again.”

“Maybe, but would we just be delaying the inevitable?  Besides, would we really get a tag title shot?  I mean, Kayla isn’t the only one with more pressing matters to deal with.”

“What do you,” Aphrodite pauses as she suddenly realizes what I’m talking about “oh right, your Television Title Eliminator against Christy Matthews.”

I nod my head. “That’s right, and what’s more is that I want this win.  I want it badly.”

“Of course you do, you are a professional athlete and a competitor.”

“It goes beyond that,” I respond, shaking my head, “because I haven’t felt this good about myself, this confident in my abilities, in a very long time.  I beat Jake Starr, Rachel Foxx, and Samantha Raine.  I’ve been on a roll lately and I know that I can defeat Christy Matthews.  And even better than that, I know I can become SCW Television Champion.  And I don’t need Kayla’s help.  I can do this on my own.”

“And does Kayla feel the same way?”

“Honestly…I don’t know.  I mean, I know she wanted to become SCW World Tag Team Champions with Ravyn, and yet she still offered to give up her title shot if it would make me happy.”

“She was willing to give up her title shot for you?” Aphrodite arches her brow. “Surprising.  It definitely shows that she cares about you.”

“Yes, but I think she was just trying to appease me.” I sigh deeply. “I think she is having similar thoughts and feelings that I’m having, but she was just trying to make me feel better.  The Sisterhood has been growing apart for quite some time now.  Kayla has had a shot at the tag titles with a different partner and now I very well could become the SCW Television Champion, if I can first get through Christy Matthews.”

Aphrodite gently turns me around so that I’m facing her.  “Angelica, listen to me…just because you and your sister are no longer tag team partners, doesn’t mean you are growing apart.”

“You’re right,” I respond, nodding my head “and if it were just Kayla, then I wouldn’t be this concerned, but it isn’t just her.  My children…”

The tears that have been welling up flow freely now.  Aphrodite embraces me as I cry on her shoulder.  I have four daughters, the oldest two are the twins, Marie and Kimberly.  My middle child is Jessica.  And my youngest, just entering her teenage years, little Kelly, who was named after my mother.  Aphrodite gently pats me on the back in an attempt to comfort me.

“What is it, what’s wrong?”

I look up into her eyes as I struggle to find the words. “…my children, they…they’re growing apart from me.  And it’s my fault…”

“I refuse to believe that.” Aphrodite remarks, shaking her head. “You and Marie seem to have an excellent relationship.”

I nod my head. “Yes, right now we do, but how long will that last?  I can already see the disappointment in Marie’s eyes.  She’s disappointed in me because I haven’t given her twin sister Kimberly a fair chance to redeem herself and rejoin the family.  I’ve practically blacklisted Kimberly and soon, Marie’s loyalty to her sister will lead her to blacklisting me.  I just know it.  And Jessica…”

I wipe some tears from my eyes “…Jessica has long since been disappointed in me, both me and her father.  She rarely maintains any communication with anyone now outside of her sisters or her husband.  All I have left is little Kelly…I hope don’t screw that one up…”

“I’ve watched you deal with your children, Angelica,” a warm smile spreads across Aphrodite’s face “and I can honestly say that you are a wonderful mother.”

I sigh. “I don’t feel like one.”

“But you are,” Aphrodite insists, “and I get it, we all make mistakes sometimes.  Perhaps you’ve made a mistake with Kimberly…”

“I’m just not sure I can trust her.” I remark, interrupting Aphrodite. “She’s mentally unhinged and has tried to harm me before.”

“Correct me if I’m wrong, but didn’t you spend time in a mental institution?”

Guilt swarms over me.  She’s right.  I spent time in a mental institution after killing Marie’s father.  I nod my head.

“Yeah, I did.”

“And didn’t the Jones family welcome you back with open arms?”

“Yes, yes they did.”

“So…” her voice trails off, a smile forms on her face “…what’s wrong with giving Kimberly a chance?”

A thousand thoughts are swirling through my head.  She’s right, of course.  It would be hypocritical of me not to give her a chance.  But it’d be…

“Difficult.”

“Hmmm?” Aphrodite asks with an arched brow.

“It’ll be difficult, but you’re right, I need to give her a fair chance.”

“It will be difficult, but the right thing never is easy.” Aphrodite takes me by the hand and squeezes it tightly. “But I’ll be here to help you.”

I smile warmly.  Then I kiss her on the cheek. “Thanks, Aphrodite.  Your support means everything to me.”

“Not a problem, that’s what I’m here for.  But now that we have dealt with this,” she motions back to the bed, “why don’t we go back to finishing what we started?”

I grin knowingly. “My pleasure.”

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On Camera

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Fatal Fortunes didn’t turn out to be all that fatal after all.  As a matter of fact, Fatal Fortune turned out to be the night that I got my career back on the right path.  That night I overcame the challenge of two individuals, one of which was a reigning champion and the other was a former SCW World Champion.   But the Fatal Fortunes edition of Breakdown wouldn’t be the end of my winning streak.  I went on to defeat Samantha Raine, a woman I’ve known all too well during our days competing for GDW.

What Fatal Fortunes ultimately did was serve as a reminder to the SCW universe that I was The Golden Goddess, the dominant Angelica Jones, long before I ever tag teamed with my sister Kayla as The Sisterhood.  Before Kayla and I won two tag team championships in this great company, I was a legend in my own right, and while I have yet to win singles gold in Supreme Championship Wrestling, my record as a performer here is unquestioningly good.  In back to back years I made the semi-finals of the SCW Shot of Adrenaline Tournament.  You don’t get that far for two straight years by being a slouch in the singles division.

Yet I allowed others to pass me by because I was content with just teaming with my sister.  I was content with being a member of The Sisterhood and going after the SCW World Tag Team Championship.

Now don’t get me wrong, I still have those tag team titles in sight, as I’m sure Kayla does as well, but what Fatal Fortunes  as well as my matches thereafter proved is that I don’t just still have what it takes to get the job done as a singles competitor but I’ve improved.

That’s what you need to understand, Christy.  We’ve tangled before and you beat me. So you definitely have my respect and I know based upon how you operate inside of that squared circle not to put anything past you.  You will do anything to win. You will break any rule and take any shortcut.

Good, because I not only know every dirty trick in the book, but I wrote a good chunk of that book myself.  I’m prepared for anything you can throw at me.  But more importantly than knowing what you’re capable of and knowing what to expect from you, I know that you are the only person right now standing between me and another shot at the SCW Television Championship.

I had my first opportunity back when Ace Marshall held the belt and I was so close to winning it.  I would argue that had it not been a triple threat match, had it just been one on one,  I would’ve beaten him for the title.

But that’s in the past and I’ve learned from my mistakes.  I’ve used what I learned then as well as what I learned from losing to you, Christy, I used those lessons to grow as a competitor and as an athlete, and now I am better prepared to take you down.

I’ve been here for three damn years and all I have to say for myself is two reigns as an SCW World Tag Team Champion.  Now most would be happy with that…

…but I’m NOT most people!  I am used to being feared, I am used to people being intimidated by me!  I am used to success.  Thirteen times across multiple companies I’ve held world championships.  I thought my career was over but I was convinced to come out of retirement and join the ranks of SCW and what have I done since?

Absolutely nothing!

It eats away at my heart and my soul that I have been unable to take that next step and win singles gold.  It’s been boiling up inside for a damn long time.  I’ve been able to contain it by teaming with Kayla, winning tag team gold, but now that The Sisterhood has been temporarily sidelined…

…I have no reason to hold back!

I am angry, Christy, but I’m not going to let that anger distract me.  I’m going to let it fuel me and I’m going to let it keep me focused on the task at hand, and that task is defeating you on Breakdown and moving on to challenge for the SCW Television Championship.

You’re not going to get in my way.