Eddie gazed out the window of the small dimly lit Cafe where he took Sabrina for lunch it was early afternoon and the sun was casting a warm glow on the streets outside it all just seemed so peaceful, even the noise of the world faded to the background.
Eddie smiled at Sabrina watching her as she stirred her cup of tea across from him. Her eyes scanning the room until they met his. Her relaxed demeanor a stark contrast to the intensity he usually carried with him.
She looked so cute in her light Christmas sweater. Casual yet elegant at the same time. He smiled at her and she smiled back. She just made everything seem so easy.
“It's almost here you know.” she said “Your big championship match. It's all you been talking about for weeks and in less than a month it will be here.”
“I know…” said Eddie with a sigh “And it's going to come faster than we realize. Honestly I'm starting to feel the pressure because it's not just another match this match could change everything.”
He could see her studying him. She never truly understood the wrestling business but she always supported him and she never judged him.
“You've faced big matches before Eddie.” said Sabrina, “And you fought harder than most people could ever imagine. This shouldn't be any different then when you ended the legendary reign of Peter Vaughn.”
“I know I know.” Eddie said stirring his own coffee, “But it's Finn, and for all of the skill of Peter Vaughn, he also faced defeat at the hands of Finn Whelan.”
“And if memory serves me correctly, you have pinned Finn Whelan. One of the few that's been able to do that, the first in a year.” Sabrina reminded him.
“The only one.” said Eddie “But still, Finn Whelan is no regular opponent. He's been the king for a long time. Beating him is not just about winning the championship it's about proving something to myself.”
“Well first of all don't let Victoria hear you calling him a king.” said Sabrina with a sly grin. “But you have people behind you. Your coach, he believes in you. Your friend Cleo, she believes in you, even Victoria believes in you. I bet even somewhere in that black heart of his your cousin Alexander believes in you a bit. You put in the work and you've earned this just remember there's always been more to you than just the championship.”
“I know.” said Eddie, “And I get it I do but if I don't win then what? What's left for Eddie Lyons? because my focus has been on becoming world champion and being the man on top.”
“Don't forget about your Mixed Tag Team Championships.” Sabrina reminded him.
“Trust me I haven't.” said Eddie, “And Victoria wouldn't allow it even if I wanted to. I fully intend to give Finn a preview of what's to come for him on December 22nd.”
“I know you will.” said Sabrina, "You've proven that you are one of the best in the company. I don't know much about them wrestling stuff, but I enjoy watching you and I'm learning. But you have to understand you're fighting for so much more now.”
Eddie cocked his head and raised an eyebrow. That felt a little weird. What was she talking about?
“What do you mean?” he asked her
Sabrina hesitated momentarily and he could tell she was mulling over her words as if choosing them correctly then she exhaled and looked him in the eyes.
“You should know that sometimes there are things bigger than championships, and you need to know something.” she said “Something that's going to change everything.“
A sudden sense of anticipation creeped up his spine and Eddie could feel his heart skip a beat. With one more heavy sigh Sabrina's lips curled into a small smile.
“Eddie, I'm pregnant.” she said.
He felt like he was hitting the face by a thunderclap. His breath getting caught in his chest. He heard the words but it was hard to fully process them. Did she say pregnant?
“Pregnant?” he said “Are you serious?”
Sabrina nodded that adorable smile ever faltering off her face.
“I'm serious.” she said “We're going to be parents, Eddie Lyons. You're going to have a little lion cub.”
As the clarity set in and the shock settled down he can feel something else rising, a new sense of purpose, a new fire igniting within him. All the concern he carried about Championship, about facing Finn, suddenly felt lighter because now he had a new reason. A reason beyond the ring.
“Wow…” Eddie said “I just …wow.. I'm.. I'm.. I'm going to be a father.”
“You're going to be a great father.” said, Sabrina, "It's going to change everything for us but in a good way.”
“And I'm going to do everything I can for you.” said Eddie, “For us, for our….family.”
“I know.” said Sabrina “You've always been a fighter and now you just have more to fight for.”
Eddie knew what he had to do now. As his body filled with determination he knew winning the World Championship wasn't just for him it was for the future it was for the family that he and Sabrina were going to start to grow for the next generation of the Lyons family.
“I'm going to make this count.“ said Eddie his voice filled with a newfound purpose. “It's time to fight harder than I ever have before. I'm going to start by retaining the tag championships with Victoria and then I'm going to finish the job and take Finns World Championship.”
He reached across the table and clasped Sabrina's hands in his as they leaned across the table for a kiss.
As he sat back in the chair he could feel his mind finally clearing up and he felt more focused than he had his entire SCW career. It wasn't just about being the world champion anymore, he had a bigger purpose now and wasn't going to let anything or anyone stand in his way.
_________
The cameras open as Eddie sits on the dirt and grass at the edge of a lake. The light from the sun shimmers on the surface of the water casting a natural light across Eddie as if soaking him in it.
Just seen itself is very tranquil but the energy around Eddie is anything but passive his hands clenched and his jaw set as he looks into the reflection of the sky on the water.
“Finn, you and I are set on a collision course.” said Eddie, “Everybody knows it mixed tag singles match it doesn't matter this is about more than championships now. You've been walking around with that world heavyweight championship like it's some sort of proof you're untouchable but here's the thing. Everything comes to an end and every king falls and when the dust settles there will be someone else that rises and takes their place.”
Eddie pauses gazing at the relaxing nature of the lake in front of him.
“You know I've been thinking a lot lately.” said Eddie. “About what drives people like us. About what pushes us to keep going in this business or everything is on the line every single night. I used to think it was just about proving I was the best, shutting up any doubters, silencing any critics and etching my name into history.”
He pauses for a moment not really able to contain the smile forming on his face.
“I got some news recently.” said Eddie smile almost glued on his face. “I'm going to be a dad Finn, a father and you know what that means for me?”
“It means everything I do from here on out is not just for me anymore.” Eddie continued. “It's not just about the championships, legacy or proving I belong on top. It's about family and giving my kid a future they can be proud of and showing them how to fight for something bigger than themselves.”
He takes in a deep breath as he continues
“Every time I step in that ring now I'm not just fighting for me I'm fighting for Sabrina for our future and for the life we're going to bring into this world.” he said, “I will be honest I respect the hell out of you Finn. But I'm not going to back down for anything. You're going to get a little preview of December 22nd come Climax Control we retain our Mixed Tag Team Championships.”
Eddie pauses again casually overlooking the lake.
“You've been the measuring stick, the standard bearer for a long time, a champion that thrives on being untouchable." said Eddie “And honestly I get it, you are the World Heavyweight Champion and that tells the world that you're the best and nobody is stronger, better or smarter than you.”
Eddie shrugs casually.
“But that doesn't make you invincible." said Eddie, “And I already proved that once when we won those mixed championships from you. You and Kayla can try to take them from Victoria and all you want but you won't and I will walk into December 22nd with all the momentum."
And he looks up slightly allowing the sunlight to cast over his face.
“You had your moment in the sun Finn.” said Eddie “But now it's my turn, my time to show the world that Eddie Lyons can be the guy, he can lead the company and Eddie Lyons can be a World Heavyweight Champion. It's time for a change in the guard anyway wouldn't you say?"
Eddie gives the camera a little grin.
"My light, my fire.” said Eddie “It doesn't get extinguished by pressure in fact it thrives on it. So to our challengers for the Mixed Tag Team titles I hope you're ready to bring the best because anything else won't cut it. Finn, you keep that World Championship polished for me because the clock is ticking the countdown is on and you'll come to find out that even the strongest wolf can't outrun the light.”
Eddie keeps his intense eyes on the camera looking more confident and determined than we've ever seen him before a new purpose, a new father, and soon a new World Heavyweight Champion, soon a new dual champion, and soon the new standard bearer of Sin City Wrestling.
“Unbreakable” Eddie Lyons
__________
The happy couple walked into The Lyons Den arm in arm, smiles beaming on both their faces after Sabrina's announcement. Eddie couldn't wait to tell all his cohorts back at the school big news.
He looked at Sabrina and just thought she was so beautiful and a thought came to him that he was going to have to buy a ring now. They had only been together a few months but she was having his baby and he felt it was the right thing to do besides he really did love Sabrina and was truly looking forward to their future together.
Hand in hand, smiles never faltering from either of their faces, they walked into the main room and almost instantly were interrupted by a familiar voice. Victoria Lyons.
“There you are Eddie!” she said, marching up to him. “I've been looking for you, you do realize we are defending our tag championships for the first time and we absolutely cannot lose.”
“Oh sorry Vicks.” said Eddie, "It's just something happened. Don't worry about it though, it's not going to make me lose any focus on the match, in fact I think I'm feeling a lot more motivated now.”
Victoria raised an eyebrow and looked at Eddie and Sabrina who couldn't seem to stop smiling at each other.
“Eddie what are you talking about?” she asked.
Eddie and Sabrina looked at each other with a smile and Eddie turned back to Victoria.
“Well you see.” Eddie began “I guess I should just be straight about it it's going to be a new addition to the family because Sabrina is pregnant.”
Has she smiled back at Victoria he knows she wasn't exactly smiling in fact she looked annoyed.
“Everything okay Victoria? I thought you'd be excited about it new addition to our family.” he said.
“You have to have a baby now?” said Victoria “At the height of our careers? You realize that a baby is just going to mess everything up and get in the way of us being mixed tag team champions?"
“Seriously Victoria?” said Eddie with a frown “You can't just be happy? You have to make this about our careers? You have to try to make this into something about you?"
“It's about us.” said Victoria. "We need to stay focused on our championships right now and you need to be focused on your world championship match, a baby is just going to complicate things.”
“It won't.” said Eddie “And we've got a while before the baby's actually here. Trust me I'm more than focused right now on both of my big upcoming matches, yes that includes our mixed tag title defense.”
“You damn well better “ said Victoria glaring over at Sabrina. "She better not mess this up for us. Are you sure she's even pregnant she might be lying to you Eddie.”
“I missed my cycle.” said Sabrina, “And I did five different home tests that all came up positive. We see my doctor in a few weeks to confirm for sure but all the signs point in that direction.”
“So you don't even know for sure yet.” said Victoria with a relieved sigh,"Perhaps you're not even pregnant at all.”
“I know I am..” said Sabrina “And you as a fellow female know what I'm talking about. We know our bodies and we know when something's off about them. I have a baby inside me Victoria and you're just going to have to accept that.”
"But it's going to mess everything up!" Victoria said with a whine in her voice, "And everything's going so well for for us. Just had to mess it all up didn't you Sabrina?"
“Hey!” Eddie shouted stepping in between them, “Don't you talk to her like that we didn't do this on purpose it just happened. Nobody's to blame and in case you forgotten, that baby inside her is your family too Victoria.”
“I'm just concerned that it's going to take career focus from you. I want you to win that world championship I want to be champions for a while. After nine months when that baby's here I still want to be champions and I want you to be a champion too.” said Victoria.
“You think I don't?” said Eddie “I want to be a champion when my baby arrives I want to be a positive example for that child and I want them to see me as as a champion when they come into this world.”
“Then just make sure she doesn't distract you“ said Victoria still glaring over at Sabrina
“We will be fine.” said Eddie. "Yes, I'm going to have to go to her doctor's appointments and the mommy daddy baby classes or whatever but it will be fine.”
Victoria scoffed.
“If you say so but I'm keeping an eye on her.” said Victoria.
“You're going to leave her alone.” said Eddie. "Our careers are our careers my personal life is my personal life.”
It seem to show the two couldn't stop arguing about this back and forth Eddie simply insisting that Victoria mind her business about it and that it would be okay and Victoria continuing to worry about the pregnancy being a distraction for Eddie it was enough that finally Coach Keevee Kaiser heard some commotion and had made his way over.
“Hey what's going on with you two?" he said “What's with this arguing? 'I told you you're supposed to be a team do I need to get Cleo to put you guys in check right now?”
“This one went and decided to have a baby.” said Victoria pointing at Eddie, “It's going to ruin everything about our tag team.”
Coach Kaiser raised an eyebrow.
“Wait…. what?” he said looking over at Eddie “Is this true man?”
“Well it was supposed to be our announcement..” Eddie said giving a side eye to Victoria, “But yeah, Sabrina and I are going to be having a baby next year.”
“Wow hey congratulations man!” said Coach Kaiser giving Eddie and Sabrina a hug much to Victoria's chagrin.
“But what about our tag team!” Victoria continued to complain.
“Victoria enough!!!!” coach Kaiser said sternly “These two have just got some of the happiest news of their life. You don't need to be so negative about it. Do you really think Eddie's going to just ignore the team because of the baby? No he isn't you guys are going to be fine.”
“That's what I keep trying to tell her.” said Eddie.
"You have to try to understand her concern though." said coach Kaiser. “Do you remember why I left the business? Because my daughter was about to be born but that was a decision I made. I had already had a career by that point. Yours is still beginning. I know you're not going to stop now. But being a father is going to be a big responsibility and you really have to be prepared to juggle a lot and you will have to make some sacrifices. Honestly Erin never got to see me wrestle, and it would have been kind of cool if she got to see her father in his heyday but all she has are tapes now. You have a chance to allow your kid to see your career grow.”
“Yeah I know.” said Eddie “I can do it this. It's all very unexpected, but I got this. A lot of things are changing for Eddie Lyons right now and they're all changing for the better 2025 is going to be my year.”
“No.” they heard Victoria say “It's going to be our year. It's going to be the year of the Lyons family….congratulations guys.”
“Thanks Victoria..” said Eddie “So how about we go and get ready to defend our tag titles.”
“Now that sounds good to me.” said Victoria.
“Join us?” said Eddie to his coach.
“Yeah I guess I could coach you through some drills.“ said Coach Kaiser
With everyone seemingly getting along now for the moment Coach Kaiser took his students to a nearby ring and they began running through some training drills while Sabrina sat by relaxed to watch as her boyfriend trained and got ready for the biggest month of his career.
_______
The cameras opened as the late afternoon sun shone through the window of The Lyons Den bathing the ring behind Eddie in a golden light, mixed tag championship slung over his shoulder.
Behind him in a shadowy corner Victoria could be seen on camera leaning back against the wall with both of her championships on her shoulders.
Eddie's vibrant almost golden aura was counterbalanced by Victoria's darker more enigmatic aura but together they embodied balance, a force of light and dark that had made them successful and brought them the Mixed Tag Team Championships.
“Wolves of Gheimhridh.” Eddie started with a steady tone. “This match has been building for a long time and you've made it clear you want them back but unfortunately for you to that's not going to happen not this time not as long as they remain with The Lyons Den.”
Victoria smiled slyly at Eddie before locking eyes with the camera.
“You think you're predators do you? Wolves on the hunt bearing their teeth ready to strike. But the thing about predators is they can also become prey and when you step into the ring with the bigger predator that's exactly what the two of you are going to be.” she said.
“The thing about the two of us.” said Eddie “Is maybe we don't always get along but we know how to work together when it matters we're all about breaking expectations and making this our domain now. As cunning and methodical as the two of you are that won't be able to save you anymore because your star is faltering and the new stars are rising.”
“And don't you think for a second this isn't personal Finn.” said Victoria, “You especially want to use this match to send a message to Eddie to mess with his momentum heading into your world championship match later in the month.”
“Oh Finn can try.” said Eddie with a smirk “He can do everything he's got but I won't slow down for him or anybody. This is the culmination of all my hard work, blood, sweat and tears.I'm going to take everything from Finn Whelan and leave him with nothing.”
In the shadows Victoria folded her arms.
“Let's not underestimate them though Eddie.” said Victoria, “Kayla and Finn work seamlessly together and have a pack mentality. Kayla's quite unpredictable and slippery and Finn is relentless and has a knack for getting in people's heads.”
“You're not wrong.” said Eddie his expression becoming more serious. “But Finn is always so busy wanted to be the alpha that he forgets to adapt, and as good as Kayla is she leans on him far too much when things get too tough. They're a great team no doubt, but they don't balance each other the way we do.”
Victoria smile could be seen peeking through the shadows from her dark little corner.
“That's why we have the edge over you Wolves.” said Victoria, “Eddie brings the fire, energy, and optimism and I bring the precision, the control and the focus. That's something the two of you don't know how to counter.”
“But don't think that we're pretending we don't know who the two of you are." Eddie said. "We know you're not just any team. You're one of the most dominant forces this division has ever seen. You held these belts for a long time. You beat team after team after team proving your dominance as champions. The Wolves of Gheimhridh truly hunted down anyone who stepped in their path.”
“Everyone.” Victoria interjected with a sly smirk “Except us, and now here you are trying to reclaim what you think belongs to you.”
“But here's the thing Finn and Kayla.” said Eddie. "They don't belong to you anymore. You had your run, you set the standard, but that era is over. We're the champions now and we're not going anywhere.”
"You know technically we're the undefeated mixed tag team champions." said Victoria. “In fact we are undefeated as a tag team, unlike the two of you.“
“I mean yeah I guess technically you're right.” said Eddie, “But I think that's getting a little ahead of ourselves. Either way we know the two of you. Finn you're filled by pride and the need to prove that you're the best and Kayla you're the brains behind the operation. The strategist. Together you're dangerous no doubt You've proven that but we've also proved that we're more than ready for whatever you can bring.”
“You've faced teams who underestimated you.“ said Victoria “Teams who thought they could outsmart or overpower you. But that's not us, we're the team that beat you, we're the ones that took your throne and we're the ones that will stop you from reclaiming it.”
Eddie gave a nod back to Victoria.
“You know Victoria, some would call your words arrogance but if you ask me I call them confidence.” He said, “The voice of someone who knows what it takes to stay at the top. So bring us everything you've got Finn and Kayla because when that bell rings and the dust settles, our hands are going to be the ones raised, our belts shining, and you? You'll be left scrambling to find whatever excuse you can make for failing to recapture the championships.”
Victoria stepped forward and Eddie moved up from his position as the two met to stand side by side.
“You had your time, Wolves.” said Victoria “But this is our era now, and we intend to keep it that way.”
“The winds of change are blowing.” said Eddie, “And The Lyons Den will ride them straight to the top. We're going to defend these belts and I'm going to defeat Finn on December 22nd. We are The Lyons Den and we are the new standard bearers of SCW.”
“Hear us roar.” they said in unison as they held their mixed tag titles out to the camera as the scene slowly faded out to black.
