Waterford Christmastime
New Years Day
Waterford, Ireland
The brisk New Year’s air bit gently at Bella’s cheeks as she stood on the balcony of the rented cottage in Waterford, Ireland. Below her, the green countryside stretched far and wide, kissed with frost and glimmering in the soft winter sunlight. She wrapped her cardigan tighter around herself, her thoughts swirling as she gazed out at the view.
It was New Year’s Day, and also her and Malachi’s fourth wedding anniversary. She should’ve felt happy, she thought—grateful for her family, this time away, and the quiet moments with Mal and their daughter. But despite her best efforts, the sting of her loss to Aleesha still gnawed at her. She had fought tooth and nail to earn the SCW Bombshell Internet Championship, only to have it slip from her grasp after just one defense.
The creak of the balcony door pulled her from her thoughts. She turned to see Malachi stepping out, their daughter Máire perched on his hip, bundled up in a little sweater and hat. Her giggle carried through the still air, and Bella couldn’t help but smile as Mal approached.
“Thought I’d find you out here,” Mal said, his breath visible in the cold air. “Figured you’d need a minute to yourself.”
Bella sighed, running a hand through her hair. “It’s not exactly how I imagined starting the new year—or our anniversary, for that matter.”
Mal shifted Máire onto his other hip and reached out to tilt Bella’s chin up gently so she met his gaze. “You’re allowed to be upset, Bells. But you can’t let this eat you alive. You’ll get your chance again. And when you do, you’ll prove to everyone that you’re more than worthy of holding that title.”
She leaned into his touch, letting the warmth of his hand chase away some of the chill. “I just… I can’t help feeling like I let people down. You, Máire, my mom, my friends, the fans. Everyone who believed in me.”
“Bells, stop,” Mal said firmly but softly. “You didn’t let anyone down. Least of all me or Máire. You gave everything you had in that ring—like you always do. And yeah, maybe it didn’t go your way this time. But you’ve come back from worse. You’ll come back from this, too.”
Máire wriggled in Mal’s arms, reaching out toward Bella with a small squeal. Bella smiled as she took her daughter, holding her close. “You think so, huh, little one?”
Máire babbled in response, her tiny hands clutching at Bella’s sweater. Mal chuckled, slipping an arm around Bella’s waist. “She’s your biggest fan, you know. And so am I. You’re not starting this year at the bottom, Bella. You’re starting it with a clean slate—and you’re going to make the most of it.”
Bella nodded, her resolve beginning to harden. She looked down at her daughter, then back out at the rolling hills of Waterford. “You’re right,” she said quietly. “This trip was supposed to help me reset. And it has. I can’t change what happened, but I can change what comes next. This year, I’m getting that championship back—and this time, I’m not letting go of it.”
As if on cue, Mal’s phone buzzed in his pocket. He fished it out and glanced at the screen before handing it to Bella. “It's the realtor office.”
“On New Years Day?” Bella’s eyebrows lifted in surprise, but she quickly swiped to answer. “Hello?”
“Hi, Mrs. O’Connell,” the realtor said cheerfully. “This is Jerri, Mrs. Ortegua’s assistant. She asked me to reach out to you as soon as I could. She knows you’re out of the country, but she wanted to let you know that the house that she had discussed with you just became available. It’s on a beautiful piece of land, perfect for a growing family—and according to Brenda, it’s everything you were looking for.”
Bella’s breath caught for a moment. She turned to Mal, who was already smiling as if he knew exactly what the realtor had said. “That’s… amazing. Can we arrange a time to see it as soon as we’re back?”
“Absolutely. I’ll make sure it’s ready for a visit when you return,” the assistant confirmed before hanging up.
Bella stared at the phone for a moment, a small smile tugging at her lips. “Maybe this is a sign,” she said, looking up at Mal.
“Could be,” he replied, wrapping an arm around her shoulders. “A new year, a new start—and maybe a new home.”
She glanced down at Máire, who had begun to doze off against her chest. “And maybe… a sign that it’s time to let go of what’s behind me and focus on what’s ahead.”
Mal kissed her temple, his voice soft. “That’s my girl.”
As the three of them stood there, wrapped in each other’s warmth, Bella felt the weight on her chest begin to lift. She still had a long road ahead of her, but for the first time in weeks, she felt ready to walk it.
This year will be different. She will make it different.
---
Fast Forward to Earlier this Week
Just outside of New York City
“Bella, Mal! It’s wonderful to see you!”
Brenda Ortegua, a silver haired firecracker of a realtor that came highly recommended on the personal word of her grandfather, had called out to them from the huge wrap around front porch. The moment that Malachi and Bella had stepped out of the car, Brenda turned on her charm with the whitest teeth smile that she could muster.
The couple would give her a quick wave, as Bella would pull her bag from the back and glanced over at Mal as he opened the back door to their car to retrieve Máire from her car seat. “That woman has the whitest smile.”
“I can already tell she’s gonna be big on trying to sell us this house.” Mal mumbled as he unlatched Máire from her seat, “Are you sure you wanna do this, Bells?”
“We looked over those pictures of this house a thousand times when we were in Waterford.” she simply shrugged. “I wouldn’t mind getting a closer look at things, besides if we walk in there and aren’t feeling it...then it’s not for us.”
“You were looking at those pictures a thousand times, I already could see that brain going off and my wallet feeling a little lighter with all the renovation ideas you had as you did.” Mal laughed as Máire slid out of her seat and right to him.
“Only a few small things....”
Mal stops and gives her that look.
“FINE! More than a few things, but if I walk in here and...”
“Oh Bella, there is nothing that you need to worry about.” Brenda quickly chimes in as they approach the steps, “I know looks can be deceiving, especially in picture form nowadays but what do you think so far?”
Bella and Mal both looked around at the gorgeous land, currently snow covered and gorgeous, and in the middle of it a fairly large 3 storied home with a huge wrap around porch. “So far it’s fantastic, Brenda.”
“Well you said you wanted something with some land, it sits on 6 acres, which yes I know is a lot but at least 3 of those acres are forested.” Brenda smiled at them both as they climbed the small set of stairs. Brenda motions towards the door, “Of course the house itself is what we are really here to see, so why don’t we head inside?”
Once inside, Mal let Máire down but kept a hold of her little hand. Brenda started in on the amount of rooms (6), bathrooms (4). They toured the huge kitchen that was something out of a dream that Bella would see in one of her favorite Home Makeover magazines. She snapped a quick picture and just had to send it to not just Alanah but to Carter to make them jealous. During the tour upstairs, Máire let go of her daddy’s hand and made a bee-line to a particular room, giggle away and running around and spinning in circles.
“I think someone has picked her room.” Mal let out with a laugh as he went to scoop her up and spin her around a few times to a fit of giggles from the little girl.
Bella stands there and watches it for a bit before Brenda nudges her, “I’ve been holding out one of the best surprises yet just for you. You wanna see it?”
“Yeah, for sure!”
The curiosity peaked, Bella follows her back down the stairs and through the living room which is huge with a fireplace. Bella’s imagination was just flowing already with what she was seeing. But what came next...
“So, one of the reasons I held on for you to see this is house...I had a wonderful chat with your grandfather and...” As Brenda led Bella through the living room and opened the double doors, she stepped aside with a knowing smile. Bella's eyes widened in shock, her breath catching in her throat.
The room before her was massive, with floor-to-ceiling built-in shelves lining the walls, currently empty but brimming with possibility. A ladder on a rail was tucked neatly in one corner, waiting to glide along the shelves. Tall windows let in streams of natural light, and in the center of the room, a cozy alcove with a window seat beckoned for someone to curl up with a book.
Bella stepped inside slowly, her fingers brushing over the wooden shelves. “Is this... a library?” she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
Brenda beamed. “Your grandfather mentioned it’s always been your dream to have your own library. When I saw this house, I knew it was meant for you.”
Bella turned around to see Mal, who was holding Máire as she reached for the shelves in wonder. Her husband grinned knowingly. “You’re already picturing it, aren’t you?”
Bella nodded, tears prickling her eyes. She turned back to Brenda with a smile that lit up her entire face. “I’m sold.”
---
An Empty Gym
New York City
January 2025
The camera opens on Bella Madison standing in the center of a dimly lit gym. The faint hum of fluorescent lights buzzes overhead, and the echoes of her footsteps bounce off the walls. She’s dressed in black leggings and a tank top, her hair pulled back into a messy ponytail. Her fists are taped, and a pair of boxing gloves hangs around her neck.
She paces slowly, a sense of purpose in her every step.
“Fresh start. Clean slate. Reset. Those are the buzzwords flying around right now, aren’t they? A new year, a new chapter, a new chance to rewrite the story. And while it’s all nice in theory, we both know that life doesn’t just hand you a fresh start—you have to fight for it.
“For me, 2024 was a war. I clawed my way to the SCW Bombshell Internet Championship, only to have it ripped out of my hands faster than I could blink. And you know what? That loss stung. It hurt. It made me question everything—whether I was good enough, whether I deserved to be in this business at all.
“But here’s the thing about pain: it either breaks you, or it makes you stronger. And me? I refuse to break.”
She stops pacing and turns to face the camera directly. Her voice softens, but her words carry weight.
“Bobbie Dahl. You’re the first name on my calendar for 2025. And honestly? I couldn’t ask for a better opponent to kick off the year. We’ve been through it, haven’t we? There was a time when we couldn’t stand the sight of each other. But now? Now, there’s respect. I see you, Bobbie. I see your fire, your determination. I see you hungry for gold again, ready to bulldoze through anyone in your way.
“But here’s the thing—you’re stepping into the ring with someone who’s just as hungry. Someone who’s been knocked down, beaten, and doubted but refuses to stay down. I’ve been through hell and back to get to this point, and I’m not about to let anyone, not even someone I respect, stand in my way.”
Bella steps toward a heavy bag hanging in the corner, her hand lightly brushing the worn leather.
“This isn’t just a match for me. It’s a declaration. It’s me telling the world that I’m not done, that I’m still here, and that I’m better than ever. You see, Bobbie, you and I? We’re hitting the reset button together. But for me, this isn’t just about starting over—it’s about hitting the gas pedal and never letting up.
“You want gold? So do I. You want to prove yourself? So do I. But only one of us is going to walk out of Climax Control with the momentum to make this year ours. And as much as I like you, Bobbie, as much as I respect you, I’m not here to play nice. I’m here to win.”
She slides the gloves off her neck and slips them onto her hands, tightening the straps. Her voice grows more intense as she punches the bag once, the sound echoing in the empty gym.
“Bobbie, I know what you bring to the table. I know you’re as tough as they come. But you’d better believe I’m bringing everything I have and then some. Because for me, this isn’t just about winning—it’s about redemption. It’s about proving that I’m not just someone who gets a taste of success and fades away.
“When that bell rings, it’s not personal. It’s business. And business means doing whatever it takes to get the job done. I’m stepping into that ring with a fire I haven’t felt in a long time. And when the dust settles, only one of us is going to be standing tall.
She delivers a few more punches to the bag, each one harder than the last, before turning back to the camera. Her eyes are sharp, her voice steady.
“This is my year, Bobbie. My time to reclaim what’s mine. And if that means going through you to get there, then so be it. Respect or not, I’m not holding back.
“So bring your best, because I sure as hell am. Let’s see whose fresh start burns brighter.”
With one final punch, Bella steps back, breathing heavily as the camera fades to black.
