A/N: I don't own anyone in WWE or TNA.

Esha Napoleon and Batista Addicts- thank you for the reviews.

Zoe POV

I was sitting on a sofa and looking out the window. I didn't want to go tonight, but I had too since I was told by Dave, himself, that he wanted to see me tonight. I knew that every other Roman girl would kill to be in my place. I didn't care and only wanted love from a dead person. I knew that I was doing it for Paul and Maria since they deserved happiness.

"Someone so pretty shouldn't look so unhappy." A person said and I turned to see Evan. I just smiled at him as he sat beside me.

"Hi, Evan." I said and hugged him.

"Hi, Zoe, I know that you are unhappy." He said and I nodded.

"Is it that obvious?" I asked him and he gave me a sympathetic smile.

"I can't tell you what to do, but I can offer you my arm to walk in on." He said and I smiled. Evan was my best friend and I had known him and his brother, Punk, since we were little.

"Thanks, Evan." I told him and hugged him.

I stood up with Evan and we went to join Paul in the courtyard. They both knew that I did not want to go, but I wasn't going for me; I was going for Paul.

Maria POV

Zoe, Evan, and Paul arrived a little early so that I could see Zoe. I was so glad when I saw her and I smiled when I saw her holding onto Evan. I knew that he liked her and they would make a very cute couple, but she wouldn't realize it because she didn't find herself pretty or attractive. She thought that all her friends and family deserved the best and she wasn't the best for anyone. She just never saw what she was after John left her; she still didn't know that he wasn't dead.

"What is she doing with him?" Dave growled at us that were standing on the balcony.

"They are friends, she is been friends of our family since we were younger." Punk said as he walked up by Dave. They had recently become closer friends since Dave wanted certain people turned into gladiators for punishment and Punk ran the Gladiator school. I was always leery of Punk because he always seemed to have an ulterior motive for everything.

I knew that Dave was not in a good mood and apparently Zoe walking in with Evan had not helped it at all. I was just glad that Paul was there although I knew I wouldn't get to spend much time with him.

"Zoe." I said as I walked over to her and hugged her. She just smiled at me and I hugged Paul as well. I was so glad that I got to at least see him.

"Is he in a bad mood?" he whispered to me and I nodded to him. I could tell he wasn't happy about that and no one else was either.

I turned to see Zoe greeting Dave and he just smiled at her like nothing was wrong.

Zoe POV

I greeted Dave and he smiled at me. He immediately held out his arm and I took it. I had to look happy and I had to look like I really cared. I walked with Dave into the banquet area, Maria was escorted by Paul and everyone looked so happy to see us. I knew that the gossip would be flying tomorrow that my family was trying to gain the throne since we each we holding onto a member of the royal family.

The feast started and the celebration was for the Egyptians who were leaving tomorrow. I was glad when the feast started because it meant that Maria and I could sit in the corner and talk. The men were drinking and having fun with the servants, while the women could talk amongst themselves.

"Are you ok?" Maria asked me and I nodded.

"I take it Dave wasn't happy when I walked in with Evan?" I asked her, because I had seen the look on his face and she nodded.

"He wasn't happy at all. He and Punk have been getting closer as friends since he is starting to take out his opposition." Maria told me and I nodded. I knew Punk, because he was brothers with Evan, and we had never really gotten along. Punk always thought he was better than everyone and that he could have any girl he wanted. We didn't get along too well, but I was nice for Evan.

"Let go out to the gardens." Maria said and I nodded. We got up and walked out there, because it was much nicer than being inside and it gave us a place to talk without being heard. We always had to be careful about what we said because a lot of people in Rome were willing to turn people into Dave for money. He was bribing people and we hated it; because we couldn't talk anywhere and didn't know who to trust.

Dave POV

I looked over to see Maria and Zoe gone; I was not happy about this. I walked over to Paul and motioned for him to follow me into another room.

"We have an issue." I told him and he looked at me.

"What is it?" he asked me.

"I don't think your sister understands that I want her in the palace and she keeps running off. I understand it from Maria, but your sister should know better if she ever wants to be in the palace." He said and I knew what he meant, but I also knew that she was Maria's best friend.

"Dave, I know what you mean, but she is Maria's best friend. She is going to go with Maria when Maria asks her too, they are girls and they like to talk. They are going to disappear and talk or do girl things. You cannot get mad at them for doing what is in their nature. Maria needs a friend, Dave, don't take Zoe from her or you won't get Zoe." He told me; I didn't like his answer even though he was right.

"Fine, I guess I have to give Maria some happiness as long as it doesn't interfere with mine. I did need to talk to you about her. I will make you a trade; you may have Maria, if I can have Zoe." I told Paul.

"Give me one night." He told me and I nodded. I liked Zoe and I wanted her to move into the palace with us. Maria would have her friend and her lover; and I would have a bargaining chip to give to Punk. I did like Zoe, but I didn't want Zoe. She was beautiful and perfect, but she had a will and I didn't care for that. I knew that Punk liked her, but Evan kept him away from her. I was going to help him out, get the games I wanted to see, the opposition stopped, and be remember in history for so much more.

Paul POV

I was happy to have Maria, but I had to tell Zoe what was going on. I needed to tell her, because she wasn't mine to just give up. I hated to be put in this situation, but Dave was going to do whatever he could to get her anyways.

I finally slipped away from the feast to see Maria and Zoe sitting on the fountain with the servants nearby in case they needed anything. I just smiled at the sight of them laughing and having fun. I was standing in the door way when Dave walked up and I knew that they were going to be summoned.

"Maria." Dave said and they both looked at him. They got up and walked into the hallway where they were.

"Paul was asking for you." he told Maria and I just played along.

"I just wanted to talk to you." I told her and she smiled. We walked off leaving Zoe and Dave standing there.

"Walk with me." I heard him say as they walked off.

"You didn't want to talk." Maria said and I smiled.

"You know your brother too well." I told her and she nodded.

"I have news." I told her and she looked at me.

"I can have you, but Dave wants Zoe in return." I told her and she looked down. We both knew Zoe wasn't going to be happy.

"I am going to talk to her about it tonight." I told her and gave her a soft kiss.

"We can't be mad if she says no." Maria told me and I nodded. I knew that she was right.

Zoe POV

I was walking with Dave through the gardens. I was holding onto his arm and just looking at the sky.

"Are you enjoying yourself?" he asked me and I smiled.

"Yes, sir." I told him and he smiled at me.

"You are my sister closest friend, aren't you?" he asked me.

"I think so." I told him and he nodded.

"Will you come to the games tomorrow?" he asked me.

"I will." I told him and he smiled at me.

"You are beautiful." He said and I smiled at him. I was glad he at least knew how to compliment me.

I walked around the gardens with him and we could see gladiators filing into the school for the games tomorrow.

"I hope that the games are good tomorrow or people will start to lose more than just their money." He said and I hated when he talked like that.

"Are you ever nice?" I asked him and then realized what I had said. He reached back and slapped me very hard across the face. I fell over and just sat there; I knew I had messed up.

I was just sitting there when he leaned down next to me.

"I like you, I am glad that you are Maria's friend, but when I can finally get my hands on you; I will break you." he growled at me and I nodded.

"Chris, take her home." He said to Chris (Sabin) and walked a few feet before turning around again.

"I will see you tomorrow at the games." He said and I nodded, again.

"Come on, Zoe." Chris said and helped me stand up. I was dizzy from the hit and I hurt.

Chris helped me get home and I just laid down. I was laying there when Paul, Evan, and Randy came into the house.

"Zoe, are you ok?" Evan asked me and I sat up. I was glad to see Randy, since he was in the senate with my brother.

"What happened?" Paul asked.

"I forgot my place." I told them and looked down.

"So he beat you?" Randy asked, surprised.

"He is Caesar; he can do whatever." I told them and walked onto the balcony.

I heard Paul tell them goodnight and he walked out there with me.

"Zoe, we gotta talk." He said and I looked at him. I knew something had been said and I knew I wasn't going to like it.

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