Four

Seth was giving the look he reserved when he was disappointed in him.

Roman was not going to let it spoil his mood though; Dean had agreed to date him and it was enough for him to smile like a dork to anyone who chatted with him. He cast a quick glance and found Dean sitting with his mother and father at a table at the furthest corner.

"Your eyes never leave him alone for more than five minutes."

Seth was frowning at him now.

"Seth, cut me some slack," he said. "It's my birthday."

"Fine. We'll continue this discussion tomorrow."

"Thank you. I mean for this party and all. I appreciate it, Seth. I appreciate Rusev and you. You know that."

Seth smiled. "We appreciate you too, you big carebear."

The two friends embraced before Rusev made a loud noise and joined in the embrace now a group hug. "You haven't eaten a thing," his Bulgarian friend complained. "Come try the Bacheofe. It's delicious."

Roman followed him to the buffet table and poured himself some soup. He wondered if Dean had eaten anything yet. He looked at Dean again; there was no plate in front of him.

"You really like this guy, huh?" Rusev observed. "I noticed you glancing his way a lot this evening."

"Rusev-"

"I'm happy for you, Roman. I was worried that no one would catch your eye. We all want you to be happy again."

"Ummm he's just my personal assistant."

"Oh? Why don't you ask him out if you're attracted to him?"

Roman bit his lip. He wanted to tell Rusev so badly but he had to respect Dean's want for privacy. "Maybe I will. Maybe I won't."

"There's nothing wrong with asking him out, Roman. It's just a date. Hey! I have an idea!"

His Bulgarian friend started to stalk for Dean's table.

Uh oh.

This can't be good.

Roman rushed after him but unfortunately Rusev reached first. "Hi, Dean," he greeted. "How are you? Good? That's great. I was just asking Roman to hang out with my wife, Lana and me… well more of a double date but he doesn't have a boyfriend. I was wondering if you wanted to join us as well since assume you guys are good friends."

Good friends wasn't exactly the word but Roman wasn't going to correct his friend. Dean looked like a deer caught in a headlight and Roman felt obligated to intervene on his behalf. "Rusev, I'm sure-"

"Nonsense." Rusev waved him off. "Dean, you're free tomorrow right?"

"Uh… yeah," Dean stammered.

"That's great then. Roman and you can join us for a dinner at Cosmo Bistro at seven."

"S-S-Sure."

"See you tomorrow."

Roman gave Dean an apologetic look before Rusev pulled him away. "See," his friend said out of most of the guests' earshots. "Done. I hope you both hit it off… romantically, of course."

"I… uh… appreciate the gesture, Rusev," he replied. "I just hope Dean is comfortable with the whole thing."

"Of course he would be. I hope us going to Cosmo isn't going to be uncomfortable for you though. I mean you haven't been there since… you know."

For a moment, Roman felt an unbearable wave of sadness washed over him. Xavier and him used to triple date with Rusev and Lana and Seth and Sasha there often. This would be the first time he would dine at the Eastern European bistro in three years.

"It'll be fine."

He hoped.


Dean sank back into the passenger seat of Roman's car as he started to drive out of the parking lot of the park.

"Do you want to listen to some music?" Roman asked.

"Sure," he agreed. Music would be a welcome distraction from the awkward scene in the restaurant just now.

Roman turned on the radio with his right hand before concentrating back on the road.

I've got nowhere left to hide, it looks like love has finally found me

In my life there's been heartache and pain

I don't know if I can face it again

Can't stop now, I've traveled so far, to change this lonely life

I want to know what love is, I want you to show me

Dean groaned slightly audible, making Roman look at him with a curious look. "You don't like rock songs?"

"No, I love rock songs," he admitted.

"But you don't like rock ballads?"

"Yeah. I mean love songs I guess." He didn't want to add how he did not believe love could happen to him.

"Would you like me to change the station?"

"Please?"

Roman smiled and pressed the next station.

You're trying hard not to show it, (baby)

But baby, baby I know it

You've lost that lovin' feelin'

Whoa, that lovin' feelin'

You've lost that lovin' feelin'

Now it's gone...gone...gone...woah

"Roman, maybe you should switch off the radio."

The Samoan man chuckled and switched it off. "Did you eat anything?" he asked.

"No. I wasn't hungry."

"You mean you weren't comfortable."

"I think you're a mind reader," Dean said.

Roman laughed. "I'd be more rich if I had that ability."

"Yeah you could win the lottery with that kind of ability." He drummed his fingers nervously. "Uh Roman… can I ask you something?"

"Sure."

"When you say us, you mean us dating seriously, right?"

Roman gave him a quick look. "Yeah," he replied with a smile. "That's the plan."

"Oh okay."

"What did you think I meant?"

"I'm not sure. I mean I thought you meant something laidback."

"I don't do casual dating Dean. When I see someone I'm interested in, I go for it. You have nothing to worry about. I'm not going to go on multiple dates. It'll be just you and me, okay?"

He wondered if that was how he got his late boyfriend. Roman was confident and he knew what he wanted. That was admirable. "Okay."

"When we get home, I'm going to make you an omelette because that's the only thing I know how to cook. Or we could order you some take out."

"No, Roman. It's fine. A mug of hot chocolate should suffice."

"Dean, I'm not about to let you go to bed with an empty stomach."

"Glass of milk?"

"Dean…"

"Okay. I'll eat the omelette."

Roman was smiling and Dean found the corners of his mouth lifting too.

When they reached home, the auburn haired man tried to escape to his room but Roman practically dragged him to the kitchen and made him sit down on one of the bar stools by the island counter.

The Samoan man whipped up the omelette within two minutes and as Dean promised, he ate it to a happy Roman's content.

He wanted to wash the plate but Roman made him put it into the sink, kissing him softly no sooner than he had done that.

This would take a while to get used to.

He ran his hand through the long raven locks of the man who was holding him tight now.

"Happy birthday," Dean wished him once more, still in awe that he was now dating this achingly beautiful man.

Roman was grinning. "Thank you. I did have a happy birthday."


Roman was putting away gifts given to him into his chest of drawers once Dean and him had exchanged good night.

Most of the gifts were sport jerseys and wrestling t-shirts. He ran out of space in the first three drawers so he had to use the last drawer where Xavier and him usually kept clothes they didn't wear often.

Upon opening it, he rearranged the clothes in it. He did not have the heart to give Xavier's clothes away to charity yet. Most of the ones in the wardrobe were already packed in boxes but the ones in the chest remained there untouched.

He found a box with the word "Roman" engraved on it at the bottom of Xavier's Marvel Comic t-shirts pile. Weird. He never thought that'd they kept items like these here. Opening it, he found nestled on a silver cloth a Clifton 10059 watch with brown leather straps. There was a piece of paper sticking out from the bottom of the cloth.

His heart pounded as he unfolded the paper.

This could not be what he thought it was.

Hi babe,

I thought it was okay now for you to find this. I hope you're opening this box on your 30th and not a year or two earlier. You wanted to buy this but you never had the time because you were always so worried about me.

So I snuck out while you were running errands and went to the nearest Macy's to get you this.

I also hope you had a good birthday. Knowing Seth and Rusev, you'd probably be celebrating in some European restaurant.

You're 30 and that's a huge milestone to cross. Whatever you're doing now, I hope you're happy.

I also hope you've found someone who will love you for the beautiful soul that you are. You have so much love to give, Roman. I know you'll find someone who'll be just as beautiful as you.

When you look at the stars, always know that I am looking down at you too.

I love you and miss you always.

Xavier

Roman wiped the stray of tears that were on his cheeks. Xavier was here with him today on his birthday just fifteen minutes before it ended.

"I love you and miss you too," he said as he sniffled. "Always."


Roman had been quiet all morning and Dean couldn't help but wonder if it was because of something he had done. He watched the former champion stir his coffee absentmindedly at the dining table.

Maybe he didn't like the pancakes he had made. Dean knew he had a tendency to go overboard with chocolate chips. "Roman?"

Roman shook his head and looked at him. "Yeah?"

"Are the pancakes okay?"

"Oh yeah they are. I'm sorry. They taste great."

"So what time are we going to work?"

"It's Sunday, Dean."

Dean smiled. "We don't go to work on Sunday?"

"You don't go to work on Sundays," Roman replied with a small smile. "I have to, though."

"So when are your days off?"

"I don't have any. I usually take a break during the end of June which is next month. Just a couple of weeks off."

"Don't you think you should have Sundays off too?"

Roman grinned. "I'll have to let Seth know because Sundays are his days off too. I rely on him to run the place in my absence. But I'll give him a head's up to know that I'm planning to take next Sunday off."

"I guess I'll go out." It'd be weird to stay in the house without Roman.

"It's your house too, Dean. You can use the pool or the movie room."

"Wait… what movie room?"

"I have a movie room and a gaming room. I'll show you where it is before I head off."

Dean did the dishes while Roman got ready for work.

Something was on his mind and Dean was curious to know what it was. But he didn't know how to ask him without second guessing himself.

He walked to his room, intending to read one of the books he had borrowed from the library when he got a glimpse of Roman walking out of the bathroom in the master bedroom with just a white towel wrapped around his waist and beads of water on his muscular toned body.

There was a tribal tattoo sleeve on his right arm which to the auburn haired man looked like a symbol of strength.

Dean gulped and headed to his room before Roman caught sight of him ogling at him.

Roman was hot. He didn't even have any brain cells left to form articulate words to describe the man's impressive physique but damn it, he should have been a model and not a boxer. Until today, all Dean had seen him in were three quarter sleeved t-shirts.

He groaned. He did not need to be turned on by the sight of a shirtless Roman.

Reaching for the Management and Organisation book, he flipped to the contents page. He tried to concentrate - honestly he did - but his mind kept wandering back to Roman in that towel.

"Dean?" he heard Roman calling out.

He shut his book and put it on the bedside table. "Yeah?" he said as he walked out of the room.

Roman was dressed in a black short sleeved t-shirt and black cargo pants. He was also wearing a watch with brown leather straps. "I'm ready," he said. "Come on. Let me show you where the gaming and movie rooms are."

Dean followed behind him as Roman brought him to the third floor.

The first room when they climbed the staircase was the movie room and the second one on the right was the gaming room.

The movie room had a sixty inch flat screen TV with a huge variety of DVDs on display to choose from. The chairs in the room were installed on the ground, similar to those in a cinema.

The gaming room had six PCs arranged neatly with swivels chairs. Dean also spotted a X Box and Playstation in front of another big TV with games neatly arranged on shelves. There were frames of posters of what Dean guessed were certain gaming characters.

"To be honest, I haven't been in here since Xavier died; we used to play games here a lot. But don't worry, I have cleaners come in to do the dusting and what not so you won't be breathing in dust," Roman smiled.

"S okay," Dean replied. "I'm not really a gamer. But he looked like he was one."

"He was. Our favorite game was Call of Duty." Roman sighed. "Well, I've got to go. Knock yourself out. I left a set of house keys and some money for you in the drawer of your bedside table while you were doing the dishes."

"We have dinner tonight with Rusev and his wife."

"Yeah. Ummm a long sleeve t-shirt and black pants should be okay," Roman replied. "I have a spare shirt and pants at my office that I'll wear."

They walked downstairs together.

"Have a great day," Dean mumbled. He was always bad at goodbyes.

Roman leaned forward and kissed him. "I will. Remember, this is your home too. I'll pick you up at six thirty."

"Sure."

Roman closed the door shut behind him and Dean leaned against it.

What was he supposed to do again?


Roman entered the gym and greeted several members who were near the drinking fountain. He opened his office and sat down on his chair, switching on the computer.

His eyes fell on a framed picture of Xavier and him standing in front of the Colosseum as he waited for his computer to load. Xavier was smiling while Roman was kissing him on his cheek, his eyes on the camera.

He remembered that day like it was yesterday.

A good part of his day was spent replying emails from suppliers and enquiries from potential members.

Once he had cleared his paperwork, he caught up on his filing until it was time for lunch. He wondered how Dean's day was going. Roman felt bad for leaving him alone at home.

Just when he was about to leave, in strolled Ettore Langston or E as both Xavier and him affectionately called him. E was one of Xavier's best friends and was there with Roman to help receive guests during the wake.

"E!" he greeted him. "You didn't tell me you were coming over."

He laughed. "I swear I'm getting old. I thought your birthday was today until I checked Facebook and saw the notification." He pulled Roman into a hug. "Happy belated birthday, Roman."

"Thank you. I was just heading out for lunch."

"Were you? Well, I'm just in time." They were about to leave before Big E passed him a paper bag he was holding. "This is for you."

"You shouldn't have, man."

"Actually there's three gifts inside. Two of it are from Kofi and me. The other one is from Xavier."

His heart felt a pang. How much had Xavier planned for his birthday? "Another one?"

"So you found the watch," E said with a cracked voice. "You have no idea how Kofi and I kept hoping you wouldn't find it before your thirtieth."

Roman laughed. "Yeah well… it's a good thing I didn't, huh?"

"Thirty is a milestone. He wanted to make it special for you since you know, he knew he couldn't be here to celebrate it with you." E patted him. "I'll grab us some take out. You look at the gifts, okay?"

"Yeah," Roman replied. He was in no condition to walk after receiving these. "Ummm some meatball marinara sandwich from Subway for me, thanks."

"Sure thing." E was about to walk out when he turned around. "Meatball marinara? You always order Classic Tuna."

"How did you know that?"

"Because Xavier used to say it all the time to us - when he bought take out for you sometimes - that it was the only sandwich you would eat."

"Guess I want to try something different."

And E smiled. "I can appreciate that," he replied before he left.

Roman dug into the paper bag and took out two gift vouchers for Under Armour and a French Press coffee machine with a small card attached to it.

For all those times you complained that my coffee tasted like water. Cheers! X

P.S I'd like to see you make a better one.

Roman laughed tearfully when he read that.

It was true; he had always complained about Xavier's coffee. Now he'd do anything to taste it again.

"I'll try, baby," he said. "And I'll tell you all about it when I see you again."


Dean actually spent half the day reading on management and organisation while drinking cans of Coke.

Roman seemed organised so Dean didn't have to worry much; he merely had to upkeep it. But he knew he had to get a diary to keep track of Roman's appointments and meetings if he had any. He glanced at the clock.

Maybe he could head downtown to the bookstore to find one.

After changing into a black hoodie and denim jeans, Dean grabbed the money and set of keys from the drawer with a note attached to it of a security password to key in to enter the house. He put those in his pocket.

Once he was satisfied with how he locked, he walked out a fair distance before he could find the main road where he took a bus.

The Bookworm Corner Bookstore had a wide range of diaries to choose from. A daily planner would help him be able to write down in detail what he needed to do while a weekly one would give him a view of how the week would be. In the end, he chose the daily one.

Happy with his purchase, Dean left the bookstore and decided to head back.

"Ambrose?"

Dean had just left the store when he found Seth outside walking with a few shopping bags that looked suspiciously like women's clothing brands. "You shop at Victoria's Secret, Rollins?" he asked.

Seth huffed. "These are for my girlfriend."

"Could have fooled me."

"Listen here, Ambrose. You're not fooling me with your goody two shoes image the way you're fooling Roman. I'm watching you."

"I know that. Everytime I turn around, you're always giving me the evil eye. And I'm not fooling anyone, Rollins. Maybe if you actually took the time to get to know me, you'd see I'm more than an ex-convict."

"You keep living in that fantasy where Roman loves you because he'll never love you. You're nothing like Xavier, Ambrose. He was a kind, smart and wonderful human being. You're just a nuisance to society. Give trouble to Roman and you'll have to go through me."

He glared at Dean before he stalked off towards the open spaced parking lot.

The auburn haired suddenly didn't feel like going out for dinner.

Especially after what Seth had been said to him… Dean didn't know if Rusev and Lana would accept him.

After all, he did not need another comparison to Roman's late boyfriend to think any lower of himself that he already had.

A/N I hope you liked this chapter. Lots of feels in it. Thank you for your kind words, the favorites and follows. Chapter 5 will be up soon! :-)