Chapter 4: Going Forward

Seth woke up well before he rightfully wanted to and just laid there staring up at the ceiling. He'd been tossing and turning all night long thinking about Sasha and the explanation that he owed her. He tried to work through his own feelings and was having trouble admitting to himself that he was catching feelings for Sasha. He should've known something like this was going to happen when they started doing this almost a year and a half ago. Sasha was beyond different from any other girl he'd laid eyes on. Not many could keep his attention for very long nowadays but every day she always found a way to spice things up between them. It was fun being around her and she made him forget about the many worries of the world when they were together. She was his companion at the top of the mountain. He couldn't imagine a day without her in it. If he didn't find a way to fix this between them, then he'd be up a creek.

Getting up he reached over to the bedside table and grabbed his phone off the charger. It was about 4:30 and he figured that she'd be sleep but he sent her a text to get ready and meet him downstairs in 30 minutes. Regardless of whether or not she showed he was going to get ready anyway. Throwing off the sheets he pulled his aching body off the bed, grabbed his clothes, and went to take a quick shower. By 4:50 he was grabbing his car keys, wallet, phone, headphones, and heading downstairs. On the elevator ride down his fingers started sweating, he felt himself starting to shake, and his heart was beginning to beat extremely fast. To calm himself down he put his headphones in and picked a playlist to listen to. Ironically, the song that came on was "Drown," by BMTH. How fitting he thought as he got off the elevator and grabbed a seat in the hotel lobby. Now all he had to do was play the waiting game. Although, he told Sasha to meet him in thirty minutes he wasn't going to leave that spot until it was time to check out and head to the next city. Closing his eyes he let the music fill his mind and the words touch his soul. He didn't know how long he stayed that way until he felt a soft hand land on his shoulder. He jolted out of the chair and all but tripped over the table in front of him.

"Shit." He mumbled as he yanked his headphones out of his ears.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to startle you."

He froze at the voice that came from behind him. Taking a deep breath he slowly turned around and stood face to face to the person who he thought for sure would never come.

"It's okay. I didn't think you were coming."

"I almost didn't. You certainly know how to destroy a woman's beauty sleep." She with a small smirk on her face.

"Ha, sorry about that. I couldn't sleep. I needed to get out what I needed to say before I bitched out."

"Ah the great Seth Rollins bitching out. Now that's something I'd pay good money to see."

"I'm sure you'd enjoy that. Shit I'm sure the whole entire universe would enjoy that at this point."

"I don't know about the whole universe but I certainly know I would. So what is it that you wanted me to get up at the ass crack of dawn for?"

Looking at her, he walked around the couch to stand in front of her.

"Will you come with me?"

"Where?"

"There's a park not too far away from here and I thought that would be the best place for me to tell you how I feel. Plus I'm getting a bit stir crazy right now."

Instead of verbally answering him, she grabbed his large, strong hand in hers and headed out of the hotel. He squeezed her hand as she dragged him to his car. How she knew where it was that was anybody's guess but he didn't mind.

Arriving at his car on the third floor of the parking garage, he unlocked the doors and helped her in before hopping in the driver's side and speeding off into the early morning. Out of habit he placed his right hand on her thigh and drove with just his left hand. When he realized what he was doing he went to pull it off when she placed her hand on top of his, allowing him to keep it there. Using his peripheral vision, he saw a smile come across her face. She had such a breathtaking smile it would render anyone speechless.

"Care to tell me what that smile is about?"

"No not really I don't want to ruin the moment."

"Does it involve me at least?"

"Rollins, it's always got to be about you doesn't it?" she laughed

"If I'm being honest. Yeah pretty much." He shrugged with a smirk on his face.

"Ugh you're such a pain in the ass."

"Wow Sasha tell me how you really feel."

"You know I always do."

Arriving at the park, he quickly whipped into one of many empty parking spots. There were some cars scattered around and the highway was right up the street so they weren't completely secluded. He really didn't feel like having to fight off creepers that early in the morning. Turning off the engine he hopped out of the car and went to open her car door.

"Take a walk with me?" he asked with his hand out

Grabbing his hand she got out the car and shut the door behind her. She heard the doors lock as they started walking across the grass and headed towards the walking path. It was such a beautiful peace between them. From the birds chirping, the rush of the pond in the middle of the park, and the sun rising in the distance, it was such a breathtaking sight to witness.

"So Rollins, I'm not getting any older. What do you have to tell me?"

"You were always one for getting straight to the point."

"That's why I'm the boss. Plus if you have plans of breaking my heart on this beautiful morning I'd rather you hurry up and get it over with."

"I don't have plans to break your heart. Well at least I hope not."

"Geez, real vote of hope you just gave me there."

"Gah, sorry I'm not really good with my words."

"I've noticed that but in this current situation I would really like you to try."

She let go of his hand and stopped in front of him so that they were face to face in the middle of the walking path. That really didn't help him find his words any better. It really only made things worse because he totally forgot everything he had planned on saying during the car ride over there. Well he guessed it was time he spoke from the heart.

"So I thought about everything you said last night. Especially what you want from me. You're right I am known for jumping from hot pieces of ass and I'm really not in the mindset to do relationships."

"Seth…"

"Wait a minute, let me finish. After really thinking about this "thing," we've been doing for about a year and a half I came to the realization that you've changed a lot of things for me. If I'm willing to try a relationship with anybody right now it would be with you. I know that I don't have the best track record but if you're willing to work with me on this I will do my best to give you the relationship that you're looking for. I'm willing to give you my heart if you'll take it."

Seth looked into her eyes searching for any indication that she digested anything that he said. He started to get a sick feeling in the deep pit of his stomach thinking that he really blew his chance both last night and this morning. Starting to stress out in this forever moment of silence he pulled his hair out of its bun and tangled his hands in his hair.

"Sasha, any words would really work right now."

"I'm sorry I just wasn't prepared for anything that you said. I set myself up for the absolute worse that I didn't have a comeback for any of that."

"Anything would work at this point I'm internally freaking out right now. Tell me to go to hell or something I can't take this silence."

"Go to hell."

"Thank you. Wait what?"

"You told me to tell you to go to hell so I did."

"Okay I take it back anything but that."

"Fine. I really appreciate everything that you said and I can tell that it came from that black heart of yours but Seth how do I know that in a month or two that you won't just flake on me. I'm not here for wasting time. It's all or nothing and I need to be completely sure that I'm not about to put my complete heart into something and you'll just trample on it when you get bored."

"One thing I can tell you for sure is that you could never bore me. That's what I've grown to appreciate about you is that whether intentional or not you always find ways to spice things up between us. If we make this official or not I need you in my life. I realized that you've made my world a bearable place to be in. I can't imagine not having you in it in some capacity."

"How come it took you this long?"

"Honestly, because nobody has ever made me think about it before. Things just happened and it either worked or it didn't. I've never had to look at the substance of a relationship before."

"I'm not saying this will be easy but working together I think this could work. Plus a little side note you break my heart I'm sure the entire locker room will kick your ass starting with Tamina and Naomi."

"Oh that I'm sure of." He laughed

"Can I kiss you now?"

"You know you never have to ask that sweetheart."

Together they stepped up to each other. Seth bent his tall frame down and met his lips with Sasha's. He could feel the sun rising as they melted into the kiss. He ran his tongue over her lips asking for permission to enter which she granted. He deepened the kiss by grabbing her by her waist and bringing her into him. The feeling of her small frame against him made his body burn with passion. The only word to describe how he felt was "mine." Not "mine," in a possessive way but "mine," in he wanted to protect her but be one with her at the same time. He was hers and she was his. They were a team, in this together and whatever battles they went through, they would endure and become stronger because of them.