Author's Note: Hello everyone! I really can't believe it's been a year since I've actually updated this story, and wow I feel really bad for realizing how long I've made everyone wait for an update on this story. I went on a Fanfiction hiatus for quite a while due to a very busy schedule and a lack of interest in continuing to write, but with the devastating news of Wade Barrett's departure from the WWE (although I'm glad he's finally free of the evils of the creative team) I was inspired to finish this Fanfic, which I started a very long time ago. Because it's been more than a year since I actually updated anything, there may be some inconsistencies that I haven't caught, but if there are do let me know and I will make the necessary edits! I'd also like to add that not everything that happens in this setting is consistent to that of the real life WWE. This is a pretty major chapter if you're still following this story, so I hope y'all enjoy this one!

P.S. There will only be a few more chapters left!

"Have dinner with me, love, just one dinner; I promise I'll pay. After that, if you really hated it and don't ever want to speak to me again, I promise I will leave you alone. Come on, love, take a chance."

She supposed it wouldn't hurt to have a free dinner anyway.

But Katona could hardly believe the offer that had been presented to her. Who would have thought that the steely-natured, generally cold-hearted Wade Barrett could be brought down to his knees by his affections for a woman like her? Who would have thought that she'd be out on a date again with another fellow Superstar, when months ago, she'd sworn off all men regardless of her feelings? Katona felt a nervous tingle as she adjusted her earrings.

She reflected on the advice that Paige shared with her after she'd shared the news with her fellow Brit.

"It's not like you've never been on a date before," Paige remarked, after a rather frazzled Katona informed her of her decision.

"But I'm not the same silly girl that I was five years ago, Paige. I don't give a care about petty things like whether I'm attractive enough to the guys here or how my hair looks today," said Katona, undoing her elbow guards and gloves. She'd just come off from an unfortunate loss to Emma, for her mind was preoccupied with her decision to say yes to Wade.

"This sounds cheesy and typical, but I'd say to just be yourself and have a good time," Paige tried to help.

"I'd probably have a better time catsitting for Nattie instead," Katona sarcastically remarked.

"Yeah, but the only thing you'll get out of that is a massive hairball," laughed Paige, "you're going to get more out of this date with Wade Barrett."

Katona hated to admit it; she definitely had feelings for Wade. But she couldn't let those emotions get in the way of her wrestling career and her reputation among her coworkers and fans. Though cliché, Paige's advice was perhaps the best that she could use for tonight's date. Just as she breathed out a sigh, she heard a knock on the door. Smoothing the front of her outfit, she quickly checked her hair and make-up in the mirror before standing up from the vanity.

Wade Barrett had been standing outside the door of Katona's hotel room for what felt like forever. He absolutely hated that he had to admit it; he was nervous as hell. He rubbed his sweaty palms together, nearly pricking himself with the single red rose he'd purchased earlier today from the florist. He never thought that he'd be here right now, anxiously waiting to take the most beautiful woman in the WWE (in his opinion) out on an expensive dinner at a restaurant he'd specially picked for the night. He could have been at the bar with Sheamus and his other friends at the pub near the hotel, clanking beer-filled mugs and swearing like drunken sailors. But tonight was a special night for him. Tonight he would find out how Katona really felt about him.

He recalled the congratulations that he'd received from Sheamus two nights ago, after he'd finished a match against Dolph Ziggler. It also happened to be the same night that the lovely Katona agreed to a candlelight dinner with him. He definitely remembered the congratulatory smack on the shoulder and cheers from his Irish coworker. Barrett should have felt like he'd accomplished something, but he didn't. For the first time in a very long time, he was feeling anxious before a date with a woman. Although he wasn't really a ladies' man, Wade knew that many women would be exhilarated upon hearing his panty-dropping accent. His chiseled, masculine features and deep, commanding voice was a turn-on for many admirers. But his date tonight had been anything but easy to charm.

Barrett knew that Katona had had walls built around her since turning villainous and aligning herself with the Sisters of Destruction. Tonight, however, he was prepared to break them down and storm right into her heart.

"Love, it's me," Barrett called through the door after knocking.

"Coming," he heard her soft voice echo, then the shuffling of footsteps and the clicking of high heels getting louder as she approached the door. Wade's heart thumped rapidly in apprehension. The minute his date was revealed to him, Wade lost the ability to breathe for a moment.

The audience watching the clip from the arena burst into cheers and whistles as the camera panned over Katona's figure. Katona was wearing a black, bodycon dress that hugged her feminine curves and ended just a few inches above her knee, showing off her toned, shapely legs. The deep V neckline showcased just the right amount of cleavage, and the slightly thin straps of the dress met at the back by the gold zipper. Her makeup was smoky and sexy, making her blue eyes even more mesmerizing than before and her lips soft and pouty. Her caramel curls were swept to one side and done in a simple half-up hairdo. A few gold bangles on her wrist, gold chandelier earrings, and strappy black wedges completed the look. It had been quite a while since the WWE Universe had seen Katona looking so feminine. She looked hot, and Barrett couldn't have agreed more.

Katona bit her bottom lip in slight embarrassment; perhaps she'd overdressed for the occasion, or maybe she wasn't used to dressing up for a date in a long time. Nevertheless, from the way that Wade had his jaw dropped in awe, she knew that was unashamedly checking her out. Something within her made her proud that was able to make the strong, intimidating Wade Barrett weak to his knees, and she couldn't help but let out a chuckle.

"Perhaps I should change since this seems to be too much," Katona joked. The instant change in his expression made her burst out in laughter.

"I might change my mind on this date if you dare to do that, love," replied Barrett, "you look absolutely ravishing tonight."

"Don't jump to conclusions, Wade, you know that I don't intend to go that far tonight," Katona remarked, raising her eyebrow suspiciously at him, "the only reason why I agreed to join you tonight was so that we could put this drama behind us once and for all."

"For someone who thinks so, you seem to have put a lot of effort into looking so beautiful, love," Wade murmured huskily, making Katona blush. He smirked when he noticed her biting her lip once again to hide her smile. "Before we go, I have something for you." He showed her the rose that he'd nearly forgotten. Katona gasped softly while the WWE Universe watching cheered once again.

"You really are making an effort to impress me tonight." It had taken all of Katona's strength to hold back her overwhelming emotions as she took the rose from his hand.

"Believe me, love, I think you'll be even more impressed with where I've planned for us to dine at tonight," Barrett announced, extending his elbow for Katona to link her arm around. As the couple walked towards the elevators, the camera caught the last clip of Katona stroking the rose's petals softly and trying to hide her smile.

To say that Katona was impressed was an understatement. Wade had played nearly every gentleman card possible to make her feel like a princess, from pulling out her chair for her to opening the car door and holding her hand while she stepped out. The place he'd chosen for tonight's date turned out to be a small, newly-opened French bistro with some of the most amazing food she'd had in a long time, boasting an impressive wine list and ingredients freshly flown in from France. Shocked and amazed at the same time, Katona wasn't exactly sure where this side of Wade had come from, but she silently admitted that she really didn't mind it.

The night had started off rather awkwardly, with mostly small talk between them. Katona had interestingly noted that while Wade appeared to be confident and smug when he first picked her up at the hotel, he became rather nervous and unusually flustered when they were seated at their table. She, however, was rather surprised at how quickly the awkwardness between them disappeared, and eventually she found herself having an amazing time with Wade. She hadn't had an intelligent conversation with a man on a date in a very long time.

Wade hadn't realized how much fun it was to be on a date with the caramel-haired beauty. Initially he was nervous, for he was worried about messing up and failing to impress her, but by the end of the night they'd shared many laughs and intellectual discussion. He was also rather surprised at how quickly Katona had warmed up to him, and by the end of the night when they'd left the restaurant and went to get ice cream for dessert, her head was leaning against his shoulder.

"I had a wonderful time, love," Wade murmured huskily to his date. They were sitting on a bench in the park, hand in hand, with Katona's head rested on his shoulder.

"I did too," Katona admitted, blushing slightly, "I didn't expect you to be such a romantic."

"You don't know until you try it," chuckled Wade, "love, if I may ask, what do you think?"

"Think about what?"

"About me, of course."

Katona paused for a moment. How did she really feel about Wade Barrett? She certainly wasn't in love with him, but he'd been nothing but a gentleman to her from the day that they first met, yet there were times that the stubborn, cocky exterior that she couldn't stand showed. It drove her crazy and she loved it.

But it also frightened her.

"Thank you for tonight, Wade; everything was amazing."

"You didn't answer my question, love."

Katona breathed in a sigh and carefully contemplated her words. Part of her was screaming for her to break free from his embrace and run away from all this mushy, romantic crap that she swore to never go back to after her breakup with John Morrison. But the other part of her squashed it all, wanting her to jump into his arms and snog him senseless. There was this lurking desire for him within her, but at the same time, she knew that they'd known each other for a long time and feared that a romantic relationship would ruin their preexisting friendship.

"You drive me crazy," Katona couldn't help but bite her lip, hiding her grin.

"Is that a good thing, love?" Wade held her closer to his side and tilted her chin towards him so that she was staring into his eyes. He swore he felt his heart pummel several beats faster when her sapphire orbs twinkled. Wade Barrett hadn't gone soft for her.

"Perhaps."

Dammit, he was falling in love with her.