Disclaimer: This is a work of fiction most of the characters are fictitious, except of course Tyler Black/ Seth Rollins. I am not affiliated with WWE or the characters mentioned. The character I created purely from scratch is The Raven.

From the Author: I have watched the WWE since I was a kid, but the moment I saw Seth Rollins OMG I fell in love. He is one of the most gifted wrestlers I have seen. You can see his love and dedication to the sport. I hope you enjoy the story if you don't that's ok :ppp

Mid-May 2009, New York, New York

"So, will you be joining us on the road?", asked Ben Humphrey, he was fifty years old and the owner of Humphrey Wrestling School. Ben loved the wrestling industry, it was not an easy business to be a part of, which is the reason he never let an opportunity pass him by. Right now, in front of him stood the one person he believed in the most, he was certain that if she would just take the profession more seriously she could become one of the greatest female champions of all time. He had worked in the industry for about 32 years now and never had he seen anymore with as much raw talented as Raven. Her ability to gage a crowd and draw them in to the match, her skill at reading and predicting her opponents' plan of attack but most importantly her resourcefulness at counter acting attacks and getting out of submission holds, were the makings of a great wrestler. She was a natural, a bit raw but with practice she could become a formidable opponent. She had the whole package the talent, the looks, the charisma and the moves to become a dominate force in the industry. However, she had her heart set on becoming a lawyer, instead of a performer.

Raven sighs and rolled her eyes at Ben's question, he never lets anything go. "Look Ben becoming a wrestler is not my thing. I have already been accepted at Berkeley, they are one of the best Law Schools in California."

Raven Duran was 20 years old, 5'7 and weighed about 145 pounds. She had long, jet, black, hair, which is how her mother chose her name, her face was oval shaped with full red lips and large hazel eyes. She had flawless, olive skin. Even without make-up she was a knock out, thought Ben. She had an hourglass figure, broad shoulders and long legs.

"Raven, I can't believe you are going back home." Ben said with disappointment in his gravelly voice.

"I need to get back, my family is there and my grandfather has not been feeling well."

"I understand Raven, I just hate to see someone with your skill and passion for the sport not to reach their full potential. I wouldn't be so dam persistent, but you have to realize how talented you are and believe me you will make an impact. I have never seen anyone with your discipline and ability. The level that you are at would have taken any other wrestler years to achieve and you have done it in less than three." Ben grabbed Raven by the shoulders with his pleading eyes, he looked directly into her hazel ones. "Raven, you are a natural. I am not bullshitting you kid. Please seriously consider my offer and give me your answer tomorrow morning." Ben immediately released his hold on her and turned to walk back into the building, not giving her a chance to respond.

Raven again sighed deeply, then turned around and put her helmet on and got on her bike, it was an old Harley given to her by Uncle Anton. Another thing I have to make a decision about, to stress over, she thought. She felt like the weight of the world was on her shoulders, so many decisions to make about her future. She started up the bike and revved the engine before taking off toward her dorm room. When she was younger things were so much clearer. Her future, her dreams mapped out before her, all she had to do was follow the path, but lately she has been questioning the path she had been destined to follow since childhood. Recently, she had been feeling empty and unmotivated, she didn't know what she wanted anymore or who she was to become for the first time in her 20 years on earth, she felt lost and unsure about everything. She just wanted to get back to her dorm room and hide under the covers and block out the world.

After finally reaching her dorm room, she changed and put on a pair of shorts and a baggy shirt. It was just a little after 9 pm on Friday, mid-May. Classes at Columbia University had ended and most students were packing to return home for the summer. Raven laid in bed and pulled the covers over her head. She could hear the activity of her neighbors packing or getting ready to go out for their final night in New York City. Graduation was to be held this weekend for those who finished, which she had with a degree in Political Science and a minor Linguistics. Raven's family would not be able to attended, they were currently dealing with her grandfather's condition. He was 75 years-old and dying of prostate cancer. She would be flying back on Monday to be with him and to most likely say her final good-byes. She felt tears run down her cheeks, her breathing became shallow and her chest tighten as she thought of her grandfather. She took deep breathes to try to control her emotions. She was tired of those closest to her dying. She knew that eventually everyone must die but why did it have to happen frequently to those she loved.

She curled her body into a fetal position and closed her eyes tightly, blocking out the memory of her sickly grandfather, trying to replace it with a happier time, when he was in better health. When her whole family was in better spirits.

Raven was the youngest of 5 children born to Carlos Duran and Bernadette Paquin. Carlos immigrated to the United States from the City of Mexico when he was 13 years-old with his family. He was determined that he would have a better life, he knew education would help him, as a result he did his best in school. When it came time for college, he decided to attend San Francisco State University, his major was Political Science and eventually finished their law program to become a lawyer. It was at the University that he met his future wife, Bernadette Paquin. Bernadette was also an immigrant, her family emigrated from France, when she was 15 years-old. She was a Music Major at San Francisco State University. When they met for the first time it was instant attraction, they started dating and 3 years later they were married. Carlos took an intern job with a very prominent law firm in San Francisco and Bernadette taught music classes at a near by middle school. Soon their family started to grow and so did Carlos's career, he was praised for his dedication and his ability to win cases, which helped him to become a partner at his firm. Soon, he was able to afford the lifestyle he had dreamed of has a child. He had four beautiful sons (Maximiliano, John, Apollo, Alexander) and one daughter (Raven).

Raven missed the warmth and closeness of her family. She remembered the many holidays and outings they shared, such as Christmas, trips to the lake, Knott's Berry Farm and so on. There was always a fun time to be had and her brothers were always joking and playing around with each other. Since, Raven was the youngest and the only daughter, she was given the most attention. Of her four bothers, Raven was closest to Apollo. Whenever any of her brothers would pick on her or tease her too much, Apollo always made them stop. He would help her with her homework, let her sleep with him when she was scared, read stories to her and the list went on of what Apollo would do for his little sister or as he often called her "My Little Raven". It never bothered him to have his little sister with him where ever he went or to take care of her when his parents were busy. They were very close and it was very rare not to see one without the other.

Carlos was proud of his family and thanked God for his blessings, especially in finding such a beautiful wife, who shared the same aspirations. He loved all of his children and expected the best from them. He insistent all of them play some kind of sport because he believed it built character and he wanted them to be career oriented so they could have a good life, like he did. He was happy when his daughter, at a very young age, decided that she wanted to become a lawyer, like him but instead of being a corporate lawyer, she wanted to be a defensive lawyer. Someone who would fight and help those that couldn't.

Bernadette had always wanted a big family and was happy that Carlos did too. She loved him so much and considered herself lucky to have him in her life. Her other great love was music, which she enjoyed teaching her children how to play various musical instruments. She loved all of her children, especially her youngest and only daughter. She adored her sons but there were certain things you could only do with a daughter. Bernadette took great pleasure in dressing Raven in pretty dresses and styling her hair in the latest fashions. Raven loved her mother and wanted to please her, so she did her best to be the proper young lady her mother wanted her to be, but she would have preferred to just wear a pair of jeans and a t-shirt and play with her brothers.

All of this changed on September 11th, 2001, Raven's birthday was the following day. She would be turning thirteen years-old. Her father's law firm sent him to Boston, Massachusetts on business. He decided to take his wife so they could have a mini honeymoon, since they were never able to afford one and once the children came it was impossible. Bernadette did not want to go because soon the rest of her children would be leaving to college and starting their own lives like her oldest sons Max and John. She still missed them so much and she knew the others would soon follow and she wanted to enjoy them as much as she could. Carlos, however, insisted she go with him. Bernadette loved him so much she could deny him nothing. Carlos had finished his business early and they were enjoying their time in Boston but Bernadette started to feel guilty because they were scheduled to return home on September 13th, which meant they would miss their daughter's 13th birthday. Carlos and Bernadette had always been there for their children's birthday, so they decided to cut their trip short and return two days earlier so they could celebrate Raven's birthday, which was the 12th of September. Since it was a last minute decision, they could only get a flight from Boston to Los Angeles then to San Francisco, if they wanted to surprise Raven for her birthday. They didn't tell the children their change of plans, just Carlos's father since he was taking care of the them and Bernadette's brother Anton so he could pick them up from the airport, but it would never happen.

Raven remembered getting home that day from school, it was a shock about the planes crashing into the Twin Towers. Some of the kids at school were so sick and afraid they went home early but not Raven, her father wouldn't have liked that, he expected more from her. As she walked up to her house she saw John's and Max's cars parked outside. A smile suddenly appeared on her face, she missed her big brothers and couldn't wait to see them. As she dashed into the house she found her four sibling in the living room, as well as her aunt, uncle, other family members and friends. Her smile suddenly disappeared as she realized they all seemed sad and were crying. It was Apollo who came forward and bend down on one knee, he was 6'1 and Raven was only 5 feet, this allowed him to be at her eye level. Raven was suddenly filled with apprehension, she could see his eyes were red from crying. "Wh-at's w-rong?," Raven whispered. Apollo suddenly engulfed her in a bear hug and whispered in her ear "they are gone". "What do you mean they are gone!" yelled Raven as fear started to take over her. Apollo pulled back to look at Raven in the eyes with his arms still wrapped around her, " Mom and Dad were on one of the planes that crashed into the Twin Towers.", said Apollo in very flat, toneless voice. "No!" screamed Raven. Apollo once again engulfed her in a bear hug. Raven wanted to break from his hold and yell at him, hit him for playing such a horrible joke on her. But Raven knew he was not joking, he wouldn't, not about something like this. After awhile, Raven stopped struggling and began to return his hug and tears started to stain her cheeks and sobs rack her body as Apollo's words began to sink in. They were all orphans now.

Raven was under her covers crying. This September would make it seven years since her parents death and it still hurt like hell. She was rubbing her left interior forearm with her right hand, she could feel the many scars from her years of cutting: long ones, short ones, deep ones, thin ones, diagonal ones, straight ones. Right now, she desperately wanted to find something to cut herself with so she could feel a different kind of pain, instead of the painful, unbearable loss of her parents. She had promised her grandfather she would stop, when he caught her one day in the bathroom cutting herself. The next day, her grandfather, concerned for her well being, took her to a school counselor, who then recommended a therapist. Months of therapy helped her get the urge under control, but days like this made her want to revert back to her old ways.

Raven threw the covers off herself and immediately put on some sweats, t-shirt and tennis shoes. It was midnight but she had to do something to get these emotions under control, so a long run sounded good to her. Once outside she continued to think of her now broken family. Her brothers, John and Apollo decided to join the military to help fight the war in Afghanistan. They needed and wanted justice for their parents senseless death. John was the first to come home from the war but not the way any of them expected. His body was buried in the local veteran cemetery. Raven was fifteen years-old, she dealt with her brother's death by continuing to go to therapy and dedicating herself to school and soccer. She did so well in school she ended up graduating a year early and was accepted at Colombia University in New York with a scholarship to play soccer. During this time she also started to fear Apollo would be next and she would constantly write him letters telling him she loved him, to be safe and to please come home soon. Apollo finally did come home in June of 2006, he was buried next to his brother John. Raven was crushed.

Raven picked up her pace more, she started to feel her legs getting tired, her side being to hurt and her lunges straining for air but she kept running. She went home that summer and spent most of her time crying and visiting her brothers' gravesites. Raven's grandfather worried about her, he feared that she would do something to hurt herself, so he kept a watchful eye on her, as did her uncle. The only thing that brought Raven any happiness was finding out that Apollo's girlfriend Andrea was 7 months pregnant with his son. At least, she would have a piece of him. She also, had the gold octagon pendent he gave her the last time she saw him, she remembered he would always wore it. He told her to wear it and remember that he loved her and that he would be back soon.

As Raven was approaching her building, she reached up to touch the pendant on her chest. She finally halted in front of her building, she was heaving, trying to catch her breathe. Enough was enough, she screamed in her head. She would stop feeling sorry for herself, she was going home and starting law school in the fall at Berkeley University and become the lawyer her father wanted her to be. She made her decision and that was that, but why did she feel so empty? Once back in her dorm room, Raven changed back into her previous clothes and plopped down onto the bed and willed herself to sleep.