Mackenzie was standing backstage at a show, trying to hear Fergal over the raucous noise in the gym. She wasn't sure she had heard him right. She was pretty sure she had heard something about him heading to Japan in a few weeks. That's was impossible. NXT barely did houseshows outside of Florida. Much less in a different country.

"Fergal, I can't hear you baby. I'll call you back after the show tonight. I love you." She practically screamed into the phone. Her tag partner for the night was signaling her to end the call. She must've been on the phone longer than she realized. Her match couldn't be up next.

As she ended the call, she realized she had spent 20 minutes trying to hear her boyfriend. Twenty useless minutes. She hadn't been able to hear him clearly. Who knew a couple hundred people could be so loud? Okay, mostly it was because the acoustics in the gymnasium weren't the best. Every noise was echoed. The ring microphone was too loud and the sounds of people running the ropes sounded like a herd of buffalo stampeding.

She had had a mild headache at the start of the show, now it was full blown cranial assault. She just wanted her match to be over so she could collect her pay and head back on the road. She had four more shows this week before she could head home. After two solid weeks on the road, her clean clothes had disappeared and her dirty clothes had multiplied.

She was sick of living inside of a tiny car. The joy she had once felt driving all night to get to the next town felt like a burden. She knew she was reaching a breaking point. The only problem was she wasn't sure if it was because she was missing Fergal or if it was time to change up things.

Perhaps a change of scenery. She had worked the same circuit for years. Maybe she should branch out and see if she could work some new territories. She was stuck in a rut. Perhaps working up north or even out west on the coast would renew her love for this life. Because she knew she would never be able to give it up. It was in her blood. She was an addict. Nothing would give her the same high as lacing up a pair of wrestling boots and stepping through those ropes.

Waiting for her cue, she ran through the curtain to her music. She worked the match, feeding off the fans energy, and felt exhilarated once the match was over. It didn't even matter that she had lost. It was matches like this that reminded her why she had fallen in love with wrestling. Everything had come together. Fans had gone crazy when she had taken a crazy bump from the top rope.

She thanked her fellow wrestlers once they were backstage. Congratulating them on their win. They had certainly earned the push they were receiving currently. She was so proud to see her friends succeeding in this business. But she knew even after such an awesome night, that her time here was running out.

Instead of heading out immediately as she had planned, she went to find Tony Franco. He was the owner of GlamSlam Women's Wrestling. He had treated her well and he deserved to know her intentions up front.

"MK, what can I do for you?"

Tony was such a character that Mackenzie couldn't help but smile. He dressed like Brother Love but without the red face. His voice reminded her of Paul Heyman. Just this side of annoying. But he was one of her closest friends in this business.

"Tony, I think we both know what's going on. I think my time in GlamSlam is winding down. I need to break away from this area. Spread my wings and see what is out there for me."

Tony honestly looked shocked by her revelation. He had never once considered, other than when MK had gone for a tryout with WWE, that she would one day leave him. They had been business associates for so long that he couldn't even remember the number of years.

Mackenzie felt bad as she saw Tony's reaction but she knew it was time. She couldn't stay here much longer. But she would never leave him hanging. She would stay until she found her opportunity elsewhere. And then she would work a farewell tour. Give back to the fans who had been loyal to her for more years than she deserved.

"I'm shocked MK. Is there anything I can say to get you to stay. I'll give you a bonus. Give you a bigger percent of the gate. Gift you a share of the company."

"Tony, how long have you known me? This isn't a cheap trick to get more money out of you. You've always do me good. Paid me more than I was worth those first few years when I stunk worse than a shit house during a heat wave."

"MK, please. No need to be vulgar. So this is it then."

"No. I will work my scheduled dates. Plus, I just decided this tonight. I haven't even checked around to see if anyone is interested in a 30-year-old female wrestler who couldn't hack it with the big one."

"Don't ever say that again. Whether or not WWE ever signs you, you are one of the best wrestlers, male or female, I have ever known. It's been a privilege to have worked with you."

After a long, hard, emotional hug, Mackenzie grabbed her gear and headed to her car. She was due in Birmingham tomorrow and she was sitting in the parking lot of a local high school in Columbia, SC currently. It was gonna be a long night of driving.

After dealing with her GPS, she pulled her cell phone out. She really wanted to talk to Fergal. There was no way she had heard him right. Japan? That was insane. He was probably talking about the main roster. They did tours like that occasionally. He was probably missing his days in Japan upon hearing the news.

"Good evening Magnolia. How was your match?"

"Hey Fergal. I have the worst headache. They really need to figure out how the whole acoustical problem here. Otherwise, my match was great. I took a crazy bump off the top turnbuckle. It didn't really help the headache but it was a great payoff. Of course, it would've been better had I won."

"So, did you hear my news earlier? I could barely hear you."

"I couldn't make it out. What did you say? Because I heard something about going to Japan in a few weeks. But that is crazy. I can't believe NXT would be traveling to Japan. They rarely ever tour outside of Florida."

"Well, it's not really NXT. It's a special in Japan. Beast in the East. But yeah, I'll be heading over there. I'm challenging Kevin for the NXT championship. At Sumo Hall in Tokyo."

"Sumo Hall? The same Sumo Hall you wrestled in for 8 years. Wow, that is so surreal. Wait, tell me the truth. Did you tell me before you talked to Karl and Tama?"

Fergal laughed on the other end of the phone. His girlfriend knew him so well. He had tried to call Karl and Tama earlier but their phones had gone straight to voicemail. So technically he had told her first.

"They don't know yet. WWE hasn't released any news about it. I'll wait 'til tomorrow sometime and call them. I'm thinking they are flying home from New Japan in a few days. So if I miss them, I'll wait 'til they get stateside."

Mackenzie couldn't contain her smile. She knew Fergal hadn't intended to tell her first. She should be a little jealous of Karl and Tama. But honestly, they had known him far longer than she had been dating him. So if he instinctively called them first when he had exciting news, who was to blame them.

She usually called her sister about everything. It was still a knee jerk reaction. It didn't mean they didn't love one another; it was just instinct. One day down the road, hopefully, it would become second nature to call each other first about everything though.

"So, do you think you can get away for a few days anytime soon?"

"Probably not, the schedule is really tight. I have shows all over the place. In fact, I have four more this week. Then I'll be off three days. Three beautiful days. The amount of laundry I have to do is astronomical."

"What about the end of June, beginning of July?"

Mackenzie tried to flip through her mental calendar. Not recalling any shows right off the top of her head.

"I'm not sure. I don't remember having any shows but I'll have to check my calendar to be sure."

"Well, if you are free, black out the last week of June and first week of July. I want you to go to Japan with me."

Mackenzie's jaw dropped. Her boyfriend wanted to take her to a very significant place to him. To what was considered his second home for eight years of his life. She felt like crying, shouting, and possibly fist pumping the air all at the same time.

"Oh my gosh, Fergal. I would love to go to Japan with you. I'll make sure those dates are blacked out. Are you sure? I mean, this is a really big thing. It's almost the same as meeting your family."

"Uhhh. Speaking of family, my mum and da will be there as well. At least for the big show. They don't really care to do the whole tour thing. So they'll get there a couple days early and leave the day after the show."

Mackenzie couldn't breathe. Her heart was beating superfast.

"Are you seriously telling me that I'll be meeting your mom and dad as well as all of your Japanese friends? That's a lot to lay on me at one time."

Fergal bite his lip. He should've waited a few days before dropping the last bomb on her. He just prayed she still wanted to go. He had been trying to arrange a way for his parents to meet her. But with their screwy schedules, it hadn't been possible.

Now, he had the perfect opportunity to introduce her to the two most important people in his life in a place that would always hold a special place in his heart. It couldn't possibly be written better unless it was happening in Ireland.

"Magnolia, you still there? "

"I'm here. Give me a couple days to process all this. I mean it was pretty significant that you wanted to take me to Japan. But I mean, meeting your parents, that is huge. I have a feeling you haven't exactly made a habit out of taking women home to meet the family. So this is the biggest sign of your love and a commitment to our relationship."

"But you love me. I know you love me. So what is the problem?"

"I didn't say there was a problem. I do love you. But my brain can't quite catch up. I just need to take a couple days. That's all I am asking. I still want to go. I just have to make sure that I am ready for the meet the parents stage."

"You are so bloody frustrating. Fine, you can have your couple days Then I am telling my mum and da. They'll be so happy to finally get to meet you."

"Ugh Fergal… what exactly have you told them about me? I mean, you can't just let me go in blind. I don't want to make an idiot of myself."

Fergal busted out laughing. "I'll tell you in a couple days."

Mackenzie silently swore. He had such a twisted sense of humor.

"You bastard."