Helloooo!

Thanks to all of you for the positive feedback so far. I'm glad you all accompany me during this journey with Seth and Maxine, and of course I can't let go of Roman&Karo as well as Dean&Shannon with their babies! haha

Keep these reviews coming, you know how much they mean to me :) It always encourages me to keep going and it's good to see how you feel about certain things.

Now enjoy & review! :)

...

Chapter 2: Loss or gain?

"Maxine?" Seth asked when she remained silent, the expression on her face unreadable. "Don't you have anything to say?"

She just stared into his eyes, glaring daggers at him, not sure what to say. She was expecting him to ask one day, thinking that he would have done it way earlier, but now here they were and she had no idea how to tell him without breaking his heart.

"Look, it's not that easy..." she started hesitantly but stopped when Seth scoffed at her.

"Oh yes, it's that easy. It's a simple question which can be answered with yes or no. Are you interested in me or not?" he countered, his heart heavy in his chest when he realized that he was really about to be rejected once again.

Maxine took a deep breath and closed her eyes tightly for a brief moment. She liked him, very much, and that's why it hurt her even more to do this to him now.

"Well, okay, if you wanna do it that way, then no, I'm not interested in you," she said brutally honest, although deep down she knew she lied, swallowing hard when she noticed the sad and devastated look in his eyes. "I enjoy spending time with you, Seth. That's not the question. It's just that...it doesn't work, okay? We can't be together. Which doesn't mean that we can't see each other anymore and..."

"Yes, it does mean we can't see each other anymore because I simply don't want to. Thanks for leading me on all these months. I can't believe you're such a heartless..." he said through gritted teeth before she cut him off.

"Don't say anything you might regret," she warned, getting up from her office chair and making her way over to the door, holding it open for him. "You'd better get going now. I really don't wanna be on bad terms with you. So I guess we just stop right here and end this conversation."

Seth couldn't believe that this was happening. All his fears and worries had been confirmed. She didn't want him. He had given her his heart and she had ripped it out of his chest and stomped on it over and over again. But maybe he couldn't even blame her. He had never really made a move on her. How was she supposed to know he liked her that way?

He stood up and was about to exit her office before stopping right in front of her, his chocolate brown eyes looking deep into her light green ones, hoping to see some kind of affection in them but there was none. Nothing at all.

"Goodbye Seth," she said quietly, her voice almost a whisper.

But Seth didn't even want to reply. That she broke eye contact with him almost immediately was sign enough for him to know that she didn't even have the guts to face him anymore.

He was disappointed in her. All these months she had been acting like he meant something to her. Whatever that was, but she definitely did. And now she brushed him off just like that?

He didn't know if it was coincidence or not but the moment she had closed the door behind him, his cell phone rang. And who was the one calling him? Right, it was Karo.

"Hey," he said curtly, not really in the mood to talk to anyone at the moment, not even to her.

"Hi Sethie...how's it? Listen, you won't believe who's releasing a new record this year," she replied happily and he could literally imagine the huge smile on her face. Too bad he couldn't join her happiness right now.

"Who?" he asked, just because he was polite and didn't want to hurt her feelings by sounding like he could care less.

"Uhm...are you okay, Seth? You sound a little...annoyed," she dared to say, not remembering the last time he was that pissed off with her and she honestly didn't even have an idea why he was in the first place now.

"Look, don't get me wrong, but I'm quite pissed at the moment," he admitted, rubbing his tired eyes with his free hand. "I'm having a bad day."

"Do you wanna talk about it?" she immediately asked, not liking the sound of this at all.

Seth took a deep breath and contemplated if he should really talk to her about it or not. She was his best friend after all but it had been a while since they last had such an intimate conversation. But maybe he needed somebody to talk to about all of this. He knew she wouldn't judge him and he could trust her unconditionally.

"I've just been in Maxine's office," he started, looking around to see if somebody was in earshot and sighing in relief when he seemed to be alone.

"Have you talked to her about...you know...the two of you?" she asked cautiously, sensing that something must be terribly wrong but she wouldn't push him.

"I have," he breathed heavily, entering an empty locker room quickly and closing the door behind him to have some privacy. "She doesn't want me, Karo."

Karo couldn't help but gasp, her heart breaking for her best friend when she realized that he once again had been rejected by a woman he dearly liked.

"Oh God, I'm so sorry, Seth. But why? I mean...she seemed to enjoy spending time with you and all. I don't understand," she answered, sitting down on her couch in shock before running a shaky hand through her long blond hair.

"She said it doesn't work out. But now that I think about it...she didn't even give me a plausible reason. She simply said she likes being with me but that it doesn't work...that she's not interested in me. But why would she say that? It doesn't make sense," he mused, not sure if he was explaining this to Karo or rather himself.

"Was her reasoning convincing at all? I mean, I trust you know how to read body language, right? Do you think she really meant it?" she asked, trying to figure out if Maxine was just playing mind games or if she was serious about this.

She didn't know this woman, not having had the chance to meet her just yet which was a shame considering that she was so close to Seth's heart. Maybe she could assess the situation better if she knew her but right now she could only trust her female instincts.

"I honestly don't know. She appeared to be very cold-hearted and I don't even know why. I've never seen her like that before. It's like she was someone else," he replied, not sure if he wanted to scream out of anger or cry his eyes out because he was so hurt.

"You have no idea how sorry I am. I wish there was anything I could do but I'm too far away. Maybe give her some space for the next few days. Don't call, don't text. Retreat. Maybe then she will realise how much she needs you in her life," she tried to convince him, little Leni whimpering in the background slightly. "I'm sorry, Sethie, but I've gotta go. Leni is hungry and I'm not yet the perfect mommy who can do two things at the same time."

"You're a perfect mommy, don't ever doubt that," he said, a small smile forming on his face when the picture of her little baby popped into his mind. "Take care of your princess. I'll be fine."

"I'm sorry...really...call me whenever you need me, ok? I'll be here for you, no matter when. I love you, Seth. Keep your head up, ok?" she said, sighing heavily when she once again realized that there was nothing she could do for him.

"I love you too, sweetheart. I'll give you a call later, ok? Give Leni a kiss from me," he answered before hanging up the phone shortly afterwards.

He was happy for being able to get all of this off of his chest but he would lie if he said he felt better. He still felt horrible, heartbroken even. But he couldn't even cry. There were no tears to be shed when there was so much anger he felt deep inside.

Maybe it would be a good idea to just go out for a run, even if it was just around the block a few times. He knew he would have to face a few fans if he did, aware of the fact that the ring rats must already be there, waiting for a chance to get into their favourite wrestler's pants and maybe he could use this to his advantage. No Rollins, get your act together. This is not who you are anymore, he thought to himself.

It was easy to revert to old behaviour patterns but he knew that this wasn't the way he should comfort himself. Just because he had been hurt didn't mean he could hurt others just as much.

He quickly made his way out of the empty locker room to get back to his own so that he could change clothes. He sighed when he looked at his championship belt, the thought of him losing it soon never leaving his mind. He was hoping to move things forward with Maxine upon losing it, praying that spending more time with her would finally lead to them being a thing. But it seemed that this wasn't something she was looking forward to.

God, his life was a mess. Everyone around him was happy. Everyone was getting married or having babies, but here he was...alone, single, hopeless.

...

He quickly put on some boxer shorts when he came out of the shower only to hear the ringing of his cell phone shortly afterwards. He didn't expect somebody to call, hopefully it was Karo because he sure as hell would not pick up the phone if it was Maxine. But to his surprise it was neither one of them but someone he would never have thought would call him deliberately.

"Hey Roman, how's it?" he asked, confusion written all over his face when his Samoan friend appeared on his phone screen.

"Hi Seth, it's all good. Just a little tired. My daughter thinks it's fun to keep us awake at night," he joked, even raising a smile out of his friend. "Do you have a few minutes? I need to talk to you about something."

Seth frowned but nodded, at first not realizing that Roman couldn't see it but quickly replying when he finally did. "Sure, yeah, I'm not up until the main event tonight."

"Great...so...uhm...listen, Karo told me what happened earlier," he started, hoping that he wouldn't be mad at his wife for spilling the beans but when he didn't react, he knew that this probably wasn't the case. "First of all, I'm sorry that this happened. I was really hoping that for once you would find happiness. But Seth, don't give up on her just yet. I know I've met Maxine only a couple of times and clearly I don't know her well enough to judge her, but I think there is more behind this than just a simple 'it doesn't work out'."

Seth was absolutely perplexed. Did Roman really just call to talk to him about his heartache? About a thing such as love? He couldn't believe it.

"Well...uh...I don't know. I'm really at the end of my rope, to be honest. Here I was, thinking that she would like me but once again I was wrong. I'm sick of getting my heart broken but maybe I shouldn't even tell you that," he said truthfully, not sure if Roman was the right person he should talk to after it was Karo who had broken his heart first without really wanting it.

"Look, I'm your friend, Seth. I'm ready to finally forget what happened in the past and I agree that you deserve happiness after...you know...going through hell. And that's why I'm calling you. I know Karo probably told you to let it go for now. But I don't think you should. I somehow have the feeling she likes you. It was the look in her eye that told me so when we met the first time after you took the title from me," he replied, sitting down on a sun-lounger in their garden with his daughter laying on his naked chest, her head covered in a white, flower-printed bonnet while wearing a tiny little pink summer dress to complete her outfit.

"Well, apparently we were all wrong when we thought she liked me because obviously she doesn't," Seth scoffed, mentally slapping himself for barking at Roman when he should be thankful that his friend was trying to help.

"She does, Seth. My god, do you really give up that easily? I know you better than that. You know what this is? This is about her thinking she isn't or shouldn't be a part of the roster. Do you remember telling me that she said she didn't want to come to the party 'cause she somehow felt she shouldn't be there? That she didn't belong there? Have you ever thought about her being afraid to take that next step?" Roman asked, trying to open Seth's eyes, and hoping that his assumptions were right.

"You lost me, Reigns. I don't get what the one thing has to do with the other," he replied, flopping down on the couch in his locker room and leaning back with his eyes closed tightly.

"She works for the McMahon's, right?" Roman simply asked.

"We all do, Ro," Seth said as a matter of fact, not understanding where his friend was going with that.

"She works closer with them. She's working for the Authority if you wanna see it like that. Maybe she's afraid to date one of us. Maybe she thinks that if she does, Steph or Hunter would be pissed. You know that all these suit-wearing assholes think they're better than us...that it's not a good thing to hang out with us. Maybe this is what she had been told. Maybe she thinks it's for the best not to get attached to you before she's...," he explained but was quickly cut off by his friend.

"You think she's ashamed of me?" he almost yelled, his eyes wide open now.

"I didn't say that, for god's sake. Why would I? We're equal, brother," he sighed, grimacing slightly when he felt that his daughter was drooling on his chest. "She's still new in the business. And I just think she's afraid. I could be totally wrong but this is how I see it."

"And what do you think I should do?" Seth wondered, thinking about his friend's words and realizing that he might be right in the end.

"Don't give up that easily. Go get her. Find out in which hotel room she's staying. Go there after RAW and kiss the living shit outta her. What more can she do but kick your ass?" Roman retorted, smiling when Leni stretched and yawned, his hand soothing her by running it over her little back softly.

"You think I should kiss her? Isn't that a little...pushy?" he asked, not sure if this was such a good idea.

"Go for it, man. And if she kisses you back, then you have the answer you've been looking for. Now go and get ready for your match. I wanna see you kick ass," Roman replied and with that simply hung up.

Seth looked at his phone confused, not believing that he was indeed having this conversation with Roman. But maybe he was right. It was strange to see Maxine act like that. This wasn't her dumping him. It was somebody she was trying to be. Why the hell would she suddenly react like that?

He closed his eyes tightly once again, thinking about Roman's suggestion once more before he decided he would go for it. He had nothing to lose, considering that he had lost it all already. He would find out where she was staying, and then he would simply kiss her. He could only hope that instead of getting bitch-slapped, she would hopefully kiss him back.

...

"Why is your chest wet, you dirty bastard?" Dean asked out of nowhere, startling his Samoan friend so much that he winced.

"Dude, how about you don't sneak up on me like that again?" he huffed, patting his little girl's back gently who was just as startled by her daddy cringing as he was by Dean's sudden appearance.

"You know he will never change, don't you?" Shannon said with a chuckle, leaning down to plant a kiss on Roman's cheek. "Hey big man...how is your little princess doing today?"

As Dean was holding Dylan this time, Shannon could kneel down next to Roman and caress Leni's cheek, smiling when the little girl opened her big blue eyes to look directly into hers.

"These blue eyes will be the death of me one day. It's the same with Dylan. Whenever he wakes me in the middle of the night and I'm fucking mad at him, he opens those eyes and I'm melting," Shannon admitted, giggling when her son sneezed as if he understood what she was saying.

"My son is a clever boy. Always waking up mommy to suck on her tits. Lucky little man," Dean said teasingly, tickling his son softly before kissing his cheek lovingly.

"Will you ever stop talking about sex, Dean? God...," Shannon groaned, straightening up again before sitting on one of the empty sun-loungers next to Roman.

"What? I bet Roman gets to suck on Karo's, right dude?" he asked while sitting down next to Shannon, holding Dylan close to him to let him feel the warmth of his body.

"No, he doesn't. He's just as unlucky as you are," Karo said with a chuckle, entering the garden and placing a kiss on both Roman and Leni's forehead. "I would love to buy you a vibrator but I'm not sure you would know how to use it."

"These bitches and their fucking toys..." Dean mumbled, getting slapped by both Shannon and Karo.

"You once told me to use my hands, so why don't you use yours now? But don't do it next to me in the bed, okay?" Shannon asked, directing her question to Dean but winking at Karo.

"You told her?" Roman asked shocked, looking at Karo wide-eyed.

"Uhm...what? Huh? What are you talking about?" she asked, acting all innocent but she knew that he immediately understood what Shannon had been referring to.

"As if you would care if I get off next to you. Have done it plenty of times already," Dean huffed, repositioning the cap on his son's head so that his eyes were protected from the sun. "Now shut up and help me get this off of him."

It was a hot day in Pensacola and the tiny little leather jacket Dylan was wearing was not appropriate to the outside temperatures.

"Don't you have the same jacket as well?" Roman asked Dean, chuckling when his friend frantically nodded his head.

"Yep, same brand, same model. He's just as cool as his daddy," Dean said happily, holding his son up in the air only to catch him again safely. Once, twice...

"Dean, don't keep..." Shannon started but her boyfriend wouldn't listen.

Three times, four times...

"Dean, you really shouldn't..." she tried once again, but he still wouldn't stop.

"Now that's fun, isn't it little man?" Dean joked with his son. But his laughter soon stopped when Dylan decided to throw up all over his daddy's face, emptying his stomach until nothing more was left inside.

"Now that's YOUR son," Shannon said mockingly, looking at Karo desperately who immediately understood and left to get some tissues.

"No, that's YOUR son," Dean replied angrily.

Yes, Dylan definitely was an Ambrose.

...

Seth was somehow able to find out in which room Maxine was staying. He had been thinking about this situation ever since ending the conversation with Roman right before RAW earlier that day. He tried to feel as self-confident as possibly, but the truth was that he was anything but that. He was afraid. She had rejected him once and he didn't want to feel that way again. This was his last chance and he had to use it.

Room 583

"Okay Seth, it's now or never. You can do it. You can do it, man," he mumbled to himself, trying to convince himself but it didn't really make things easier for him.

Maybe Roman was right with his theory, but maybe he was totally wrong.

He didn't know if it would hurt him to know that she was afraid to be seen with him in public. Did she think she was in a higher position than him? Is that what she was feeling deep inside? But he didn't think she was that kind of person. Yes, maybe she had been told not to get involved with one of the wrestlers but could he even blame her? Wasn't it understandable that she wanted to keep her job? Too afraid that people might make her life a living hell?

He should stop thinking about that. He didn't know for sure. Maybe she really wasn't interested in him. Or maybe all of this had a completely different reason. He needed to find out. And he would find out now.

He took a deep breath and closed his eyes tightly for a second, his heart beating fast in his chest.

Knock knock knock

He had really done it. He had really knocked on her door. He was getting more and more nervous with each second passing by. Was she even there? Or was she still out? Maybe in the arena? Or even having drinks with friends...or another man?

He couldn't even finish his train of thought when suddenly the door in front of him was opened hastily. They both seemed to be surprised by the other person's presence, staring at each other without saying a word. Maxine would have never believed to see him again that quickly, and although it shocked her, she couldn't say that she wasn't happy he decided to come by.

She was conflicted when it came to Seth. She was afraid of falling in love with him. She had heard many stories of him sleeping around, fucking countless ring rats. And that was something she didn't want or need in her life. Only one of a few reasons why she had rejected him earlier that day.

"Seth, what are you doing here?" she asked dumbfounded, slightly embarrassed when she realized that he was checking her out while she was dressed in black sweatpants and an old band shirt.

"Maxine...I...uhm...," he stuttered, not really sure what he was there for. Of course he wanted to kiss her but that was easier said than done.

She watched him intently, waiting for him to find the right words but it seemed that he was struggling. He was adorable standing there in front of her like a lost puppy. But she needed to remind herself that he was out of question.

"Seth?" she once again asked when he kept staring at her.

He licked his suddenly very dry lips and took a deep breath. He knew he wouldn't find the right things to say. He would shoot himself in the foot if he kept going like this. And if he didn't want to chase her away any longer, then he had to take things into his own hands now.

He very slowly moved closer to her, his eyes never leaving hers. He could tell that she was confused. Her shallow breathing gave it away. But he wouldn't back down now. He could only hope that she wanted this as much as he did.

When he couldn't get any closer, he stopped. He now looked back and forth between her eyes and lips, swallowing hard when she licked them herself.

"Seth...," she whispered, involuntarily holding her breath when his lips were only mere inches away from hers.

She watched how he raised his right hand, burying it in her auburn waist long hair while his left one cupped her cheek. She could feel his breath on her skin, sending chills up and down her spine. She was rendered speechless.

"Shh, don't say anything right now...," he whispered back, once again getting lost in her beautiful green eyes before closing his now.

After what felt like an eternity, he finally closed the distance between them, gently pressing his lips onto hers, a moan almost escaping his lips. Hers were so soft, so unbelievably soft. He could get lost in this very moment. He enjoyed feeling her body close to his, her lips onto his. He wanted the world to stop moving.

Until now she didn't react but he didn't really care. He cherished this moment too much to think about the consequences. But he knew he couldn't stand there like this forever. He needed to take that next step, he needed to see if she wanted this as well.

He kissed her lips sweetly, pressing his onto hers again before very softly and almost cowardly licking her bottom lip. He could feel how she gasped, not sure if this was a good or a bad sign. Would she finally give in or had he lost it all for good now?