Firstly, thanks to everyone who has read, reviewed, favourited these little one-shots - I really appreciate it. Secondly, you can all thank LetItReign for planting this plot seed in my mind. All I hope is that it lives up to expectations.

I originally planned to write this all from Alexia's POV for a change, but then decided to split it into two - the first half by Alexia, the second by Roman. And I've conveniently split into two chapters as well in case you need a break halfway through. We're going on a roller-coaster, my friends.

WARNING: Smut, language

DISCLAIMER: I own Alexia and my thoughts

Enjoy x

Always been a warrior
From back when i remember
Now we stand together
Always been a warrior
Baby, here or never
Wanting this forever
Fire In Your Eyes, Chase & Status

Alexia's POV

The first thing I feel is his warm breath on my neck. I'm curled into the pillows, hair strewn across my face and my, or rather his, shirt ridden up to just under my breasts. His arm is over my hip, his hand splayed over my stomach as he breathes easily against me. This is why I miss him so much when he's away. This is why I'm beyond grateful to have spent the last week with him, over the moon to share his bed, his life, his space.

The last few months have been... Well, they haven't been easy to say the least. The push, the time away from home, the reactions, the criticisms. His voice on the phone has been a bittersweet mixture of excitement and weariness. His texts short and not exactly sweet at times. His anxiety seeps through into every aspect of his life and whilst I do my best not to take it personally, it's hard to separate work and life sometimes. The times we have spent together have been plagued by short tempers and petty arguments. And although the making up is as sweet as it could ever be, there have been times where I've wished that it was all just a little simpler. But every time that feeling has crept up on me, I've pushed it away. I'm here for him, no matter what. I've been through the last year with him. I've watched him have to publicly separate himself from one his best friends and although when the cameras are off, things are as they have always been, there is still a tingling of tension.

I run my hand over his, sliding my fingers against calloused skin. This is why the last week has meant so much. To just be with him is enough for me. But to be with him in the build up to the biggest moment of his career is an honour. A year ago, he was just a figure on a screen. Today, I'm curled against him, overwhelmed with pride. I wrap my hand around his and pull it away from my stomach and up to my mouth. I press my lips lightly against the tip of each finger.

Roman shifts behind me, his body moving instinctively closer. Before this reunion, it had been almost three weeks since we'd last seen each other, let alone shared a bed for a whole night. He flew back for less than 24 hours and my body was raw for days from our antics. I slept in our sex sheets for almost a week before I caved and swapped his scent for laundry powder. So when we tumbled into bed four days ago, the first night was spent fighting over the duvet, each of us used to being spread-eagled across the entire mattress.

The shirt rides higher on my back and I can feel his heated skin press against my exposed flesh. I tug at his hand, moving his arm around my chest until I'm cocooned in his embrace. I run my fingers lazily over his arm. He groans and I smile into the pillow.

"What time is it?" he grunts into my neck.

"Still early." I let go of his arm and reach to brush the hair from my face. I twist in his arms to face him, taking in his closed eyes and dishevelled tied back hair. But he's far from dozing; his arms locking behind me, pulling me tightly against him as he eases his leg between mine.

He murmurs in approval as I press my hands against his bare chest, a groan escaping as I scrape my nails over his taut skin. "Good job I don't go in the ring topless anymore."

I giggle, envisaging the light scratch marks I constantly leave on his lower back. "You shouldn't tease."

"Can't help it, Sexy Lexi..."

I let out a low moan as he whispers his pet name for me. The way his tongue wraps around the L always leaves me slightly breathless. He likes to mumble it when he's between my thighs and the movement from his tongue is always my undoing.

His leg pushes between mine with more determination and I let him, shifting my top leg over his. Large hands caress my shoulders, plucking at the shirt.

"Did I give you permission to get dressed?" Grey eyes finally meet mine, along with a cocked eyebrow. I feel my cheeks heating as I shake my head.

"I was cold," I offer as an excuse. But it's not the truth and he knows it. When you're apart for so long, you cling to anything that reminds you of the other. And I'm a total sap and have developed a habit of sneaking his worn shirts into my pyjama collection. It's a habit that's hard to break, even when I've got him right next to me. I still crave his scent, need his essence wrapped around my entire being.

Roman slides his hands up under the material, his fingers digging into my shoulders so he can pull me down to grind against his thigh. I gasp at the contact and then groan. I might be wearing his shirt, but that's all. I catch his eye and I know he can feel my wetness too. One hand starts to work it's way south, to hook under my leg so he can slide his fingers against my slit.

"Fuck, Lex..."

I squeak in response, my hands gripping his forearms as he flicks across my clit once, twice. And then I let out a very un-lady like grunt as a thick finger pushes into me. But I might as well have let out a porn-star moan, the way his eyes darken. His tongue darts across his lips before his mouth crashes against mine. His finger slowly pumps in and out of me, his thumb refusing to leave my clit. I can feel his dick jabbing at my stomach and I try to move my hands so I can touch him, but they're trapped. His body is tight against mine, full of resistance that's only matched by his determination to get me off.

And I love him for it. I whisper it against his mouth when he pulls away for a second. His lips twitch for a second and then he growls it back at me. I roll my hips in response, wanting more, always wanting more. He relents, pushing a second finger inside me, stretching me for him and only him. I push down, feeling his fingers fill me to the hilt. He scissors them briefly and I flinch, moaning into his mouth. His thumb continues to roll over my clit and I can feel myself tensing around his fingers as I climb closer to my release.

He pulls away from my mouth, pressing his forehead against mine, his grey eyes holding my gaze as I whimper.

"You're close, aren't you Lexi?" he whispers, his breath hot and heavy against my face. I can't even form a response, I can barely nod in reply. "Good girl. You like my fingers deep in you?"

I groan, my eyes fluttering shut as he curls both fingers forward.

"Look at me Lexi..." My breath catches in the back of my throat as I force my eyes open. "I want to see you cum. You look so beautiful when you do, Lexi."

I can feel his hand cupping the back of my head, his fingers tangled in my bed hair as he holds me to him. His fingers curl again and I jerk at the sensation, my mind clouding as his thumb bears down on my clit harder than before. His grey eyes pierce mine as my vision starts to blur.

All I can feel is his fingers. All I can see are those eyes. All I can smell is him. All I can hear his voice, coaxing me through my climax.

"That's it, Lexi. Fuck, baby. Squeeze my fingers, go on... Cum for me."

A strangled scream escapes my mouth and my eyes squeeze shut as my body spasms uncontrollably. His lips brush against mine as I tumble from my high. His fingers slide from me and he eases my leg from his waist, his hand staying on my hip, squeezing it as I loll against him. I sneak my hands up to cup his face as he kisses me, sliding my fingers back through his hair. He murmurs in appreciation as I graze my nails against his scalp.

"Y'know, it's still early..." I whisper. I can still feel him hard and ready against my stomach. I drop one hand from his hand and push it between our bodies. But before I'm even within touching distance, he pulls away from me.

"Lex... No."

I mock-frown.

"Not this morning. Not today."

He rolls onto his back, his arm still around my shoulders. He pulls me against his side, but I prop myself up to look down at him. "Are you sure?"

Roman's arm slides around my waist, rolling against me so his head nestles against my stomach. "Need everything I got for tonight."

I ease the band from his hair, so I can run my fingers though it's full length. "I know."

"Or is this way of telling me you're not quite satisfied..." he teases and I slap his shoulder playfully.

"You know I can never get enough."

He chuckles, his head nudging my shirt higher so he can kiss bare skin. "That's my girl."

We lie in silence. I know tonight is going to be tough in more ways than one. The crowd, the opponent, the potential for so much to go wrong. I'm nervous. More nervous than I've ever been. I haven't asked what's gone on behind closed doors. I don't want to know, I fear for what's in store, no matter how rehearsed. I fret over mis-placements, missed spots, clumsy moves. But I have to put my faith in him and others. All I can do is just be here, be his rock until it's over.

He presses his mouth against my stomach one last time before he eases away. "I gotta get to the gym."

"Do you want me to meet you afterwards?"

He nods, distracted as he unearths a pair of shorts from his suitcase. I lean back against the pillows for a moment, watching him dress. When he disappears into the bathroom, I follow. He stands in front of the mirror brushing his teeth. I trail my hand over his shoulders as I pass, grinning over my shoulder when he taps my ass in return. Opening the shower door, I turn on the water and then step back to strip. I can feel his eyes on me as I drop his shirt to the floor.

"Sure you don't want to join me?" I wink.

He leans forward, spits and rinses his mouth. "Don't tempt me."

"Wouldn't dream of it."

I go to step into the shower, but he wraps his arms around my waist and pulls me against him. "Tonight."

"Tonight." I echo, breathing in his minty breath as he leans down to kiss me.

I lean back in the chair and flip my phone in my hand. I'm in my usual pre-show spot; a table in the canteen, this one up against the far wall, out of the way. Although this isn't my first time backstage at a show, it's certainly the one with the most pressured environment. I dodged past technicians, producers, writers, Divas, other Superstars in the warren of corridors, everyone on a mission, with some place to be. The usual backstage atmosphere, only heightened to a level I hadn't previously witnessed.

Roman text me a few hours after he went to gym to say that he'd have to meet me here instead. He'd been called into a meeting with the production team last minute. I shrugged it off – if there's one thing I'm used to by now, is that things don't always go to plan. Delayed flights, cancelled flights, last minute PR appearance all add up and make you quite a forgiving person. Not that it wasn't frustrating at first. Not that they came with their fair share of bitterness. Until I was the one standing at the airport, fighting to keep it together as I watched flight after flight get cancelled. Three days together, cut down to none in one go – both of us stuck on different sides of the country, nothing either of us could do. I realised how helpless he must have felt all the times before and there I was, making the same phone call he'd made countless times before. Although my call came with extra tears and wailing as I waited for a cab back to my apartment. I could almost hear his shrug on the other end of the phone as he told me these things happen and hey, we still had next week...

The times where it all just clicks into place? Fuck, those times are the best. When he manages to get an earlier flight and is there waiting for me on the couch when I get in from work. Or the one time he wasn't due back till late morning but I woke up to find him crawling into bed next to me at 4am. I smile wistfully, remembering when I got to do the surprising for once, knocking on his hotel door for once, watching his eyes light up as I tugged open my coat to reveal nothing beneath it. My love for surprises has grown. My spontaneity levels increased. My need, my lust, my love for him trebled.

A hand cuffs me around the shoulder and I snap out of my daydreaming to see Dean looming over me.

"Sup Lex," he greets me, sliding into the seat next to me and pulling me into his arms for a quick hug.

"Hey, charmer. What's up?"

He shrugs as she settles back in the chair. "Killing time. You seen Reigns? He said you were coming in together? Don't tell me he's deserted you already."

"Nope. He got called in for a last minute meeting, so I made my own way here."

"You should've come found me, I'd have shown you around."

If there's one thing I've learnt about Dean over the last year is that despite the rough exterior and the playboy ways, he's probably the best friend anyone could ask for. In turn, that friendship has been extended to me. Over the last few months, Roman has been called into many meetings before and after shows. Hence my secluded canteen spot. But the minute Dean cottoned on to this, he was there to keep me company.

"You don't have to babysit me, I'm sure you have better things to be doing, especially on a day like today."

"Humour me." He gives me his wide-eyed stare and I laugh. "Have you been out there yet?" He nods towards the door, to the corridor that undoubtedly leads to another that will finally lead out to the ramp and centre stage.

I shake my head. "No, I was going to lat-"

I barely finish my statement when he's up and tugging me to my feet. "C'mon. You gotta see it before it fills up."

I follow Dean through the corridors, listening to him as he talks animatedly about his match tonight. I'm not sure if he could sense my nervousness earlier, but if he did, he's doing a pretty good job of trying to distract me. He glances over his shoulder at me as we round a corner and suddenly the space around us opens up and I'm starting up at thousands of empty seats and the clear blue sky.

"Pretty cool, huh?" he grins.

"Yeah." I gulp. It's bigger than I imagined and I can't even begin to fathom the scene that's going to greet everyone who walks down the ramp later.

We make our way towards the ring and as we near I see Roman deep in conversation with one of the production team. He leans against easily against the barricade, arms crossed over his chest, nodding slowly. Every so often he gestures towards the ring and then listens as the other man responds to his question. As we approach he glances up and catches my eye. I offer him a small smile and hang back as he finishes up his conversation.

"Hey, man." He fist bumps Dean before he slings his arm around my shoulder and pulls me against him. I look up and let his lips brush over mine. "Hey, you okay?"

I nod, sliding my arms around his waist and squeezing gently. "Yeah, you?"

He doesn't answer me. Instead he turns back to Dean. "Good luck tonight."

"You too, bro. See you later, Lex."

Roman's hand finds mine as he leads me away from the ring. I reach over to rub his arm through his sweatshirt and something inside me starts to flash in warning as I feel the unexpected tension in his arm.

"Did your meeting go okay?" I venture as we head back inside. He doesn't answer me once again. We press our backs against the wall as technicians roll large cases past us and I chance a look up at him. The easy expression from outside has disappeared, replaced with pursed lips and a furrowed brow. I squeeze his hand, but he continues to stare stoically into the distance.

"What's with the silent treatment, big guy?" I fight to keep the annoyance out of my voice, but the way his jaw clenches makes me think I didn't try hard enough.

"There's been a change of plan," he says as we start to walk again.

"I told you. I – "

"You've said. You don't want to know."

Now it's my turn to purse my lips. I haven't wanted to know the details, not because I'm not interested, but because I don't want to worry. And he knows that. We've talked about this plenty of times over the last few weeks. Ever since he started preparing in fact.

"I've told you why," I say slowly.

He shakes his head. "I need to talk to you about it."

"Why?"

We round a corner, coming to a dead end. "It's not going to be pretty."

"No shit." I crack a smile, trying to lighten the tense mood. But I falter when I see he isn't smiling. He leans back against the wall, fists in his pockets as he keeps his gaze away from my face. "Fine. What is the change in plan?"

"I... It was always going to be a brutal match. I knew that."

"I know." I reach out and run my hand over his arm again. "Look, I know it's going to be a fucked up match. But I'm prepared for that. And whatever happens, I'll be here."

"That's the thing... Lex..." He scuffs the toe of his sneaker along the floor. "However prepared you are for this, I just... I just don't think you're going to like what you'll see."

"Ro, c'mon, I've seen you in plenty of matches." I've been ringside, backstage, watched him on TV religiously since the last summer. I've winced my way through many a match before. How is tonight going to be any different?

"Not like this one."

"If you don't want me out at ringside, then just say it."

He looks up, finally meeting my eyes. His grey orbs are glistening at the edges and realisation slowly creeps over me.

"You... You don't want me to watch at all?"

"Lex, don't be mad. I just think –"

"Think what, Roman?" I take a step back.

"I just think it would be best."

"What would be best? Go on, say it."

"Lex, don't be like this." He steps towards me and I skirt out of his reach.

"No, I have every right to be like this. You asked me to come out here. You said that you wanted me by your side every step of the way. Isn't that what I've done for the past six months? I've been here, for you. I've watched you work so fucking hard for this and now that we're here, you don't want to share it with me?"

"Share what, Alexia?" he snorts. "I'm not going to fucking win. What is there to share?"

I blink, tears stinging my eyes. "You think I'm just here for the glory? Are you even listening to yourself right now?"

"I'm going to have the shit kicked out of me. You want to watch that, go ahead, be my guest," he growls. "I just thought I'd save you from that sadistic little experience."

"Oh, so now I'm taking pleasure out of this? Christ, Roman. What's gotten into you?"

"Into me? Oh, I'm sorry is the fact that I'm about to humiliated after talking myself up for the last three months not supposed to take it's fucking toll? You want to share in that?"

"I want to share everything with you!" My voice echoes off the walls and I take a shaky breath in the deafening silence that follows.

Roman's voice is low, steady, prepared. "Please, Lex. I'm asking you do this one thing for me."

I press my lips shut, not trusting myself to speak. Not because I'm worried about what I'll say, but because I can feel myself shaking, my eyes burning from tears that are threatening to fall. I know the minute I say something, I'm going to crack. And I refuse to crack.

"Talk to me, Lex. I know this isn't ideal and trust me, this isn't what I wanted to happen. I've been going back and forth all week on this, trying to work out what the right thing to do is. And after this meeting, I know that I really don't want you to be here when all hell breaks loose. Is that too much to ask?"

Yes.

"Lex, please." He reaches forward, his fingers brushing over my hand. I let him for a second and then step away. His eyes soften, his expression shifting from frustration to pleading. "C'mon..."

I swallow and beg myself to keep it together. "If you didn't want me here distracting you, then you shouldn't have asked me to come here. At all."

"It's not about distraction."

"Yeah, then what is it about? Because that's the way it looks to me. I'm a distraction and you're being told to keep me out the way. That's the truth, isn't it?"

"No," he starts. But I've had enough.

"Fine. I'll go. Mission accomplished. Distraction gone." I move past him, dodging his hands.

"Fuck. Lex, come back." I can hear his footsteps behind me, quick and heavy. His fingers flutter around my wrist for a second and then he grabs hold.

"Let go of me, Roman. I'm going. You don't want me here, so I'll go back to the hotel. Hell, shall I just pack and leave the state too?"

His grip tightens and I pull hard against him. "No, don't... That's not what I meant."

"Ro, you're hurting me!" My voice finally cracks and I can feel tears spill down my cheeks. My hand finally slides from his grip and I stumble back, rubbing my wrist.

"Lex, I'm sorry." He backs away, holding his hands up in apology, his face awash with concern.

"For what? Hurting my wrist or my feelings?" His face starts to crumple, but I'm too angry to care. The knife is in and I'm too busy twisting it to care about anything else. "Go have your stupid match. Go get the shit kicked out of you. You don't want me here, fine. But I'm done giving a crap about what happens to you."

The bitterness hangs in the air and I want to kick myself. But it's too late. His face has darkened, his mouth clamped shut. I open my mouth to apologise, but he's already turned on his heel and stalked away. My sorry is barely a whisper.