"I ate entirely too much." Alanna laughed as they walked out of the carnival they'd went to, her carrying this huge and very loudly colored hot pink and black striped zebra, him carrying a football under his arm."So did I, Alanna." Roman said as he added, "That was impressive, had no idea you could throw like that."

"Yeah, well I'm impressed about you with that sledgehammer game. I don't think I know anybody who can make the thing go all the way to the top like that. HHH should seriously watch out for you if you ever get pissed and there's a sledgehammer nearby." Alanna giggled as she blushed and then said quickly, "Sorry.. I just blurt things out."

"Alanna, you don't have to apologize for anything. I wish you wouldn't." Roman said as he stopped them walking, looked at her intently and took a deep breath before adding, "I'm not Grant. Nothing you do or say is going to make me so damn angry I hurt you."

"I know, but.." Alanna said quietly, as she studied him a moment. Was he leaning in closer? This entire day had been one of her best ones by far and those were few and far too many in between, especially with Grant lurking in the shadows. Her mind went back to the doctors office that morning, how Roman's face looked when he'd watched the sonogram machine. She thought about how when she'd gotten freaked out a little on the rollercoaster an hour ago he'd pulled her against him and his lips casually found the top of her head. She also thought about how she felt safer and happier when she was with him as opposed to alone.

Everything in her was screaming at her to make some kind of a move before she lost him, even his friendship to a less damaged girl, but she was just too damn scared. She wanted to kiss him right now, and it wasn't just the horomones that came with her being pregnant currently.

It was only a small way she could show him that she felt something for him.

Roman noticed the odd look in her eye and he was about to panic a little, thinking maybe he'd just pushed it too far, or something, but then to his surprise, she moved a little bit closer, carefully, as she also cautiously leaned against him and muttered, "You have cotton candy on your nose." before swiping her finger across the bridge of his nose, then licking it, winking playfully. But when she didn't immediately move away from him, the urge to kiss her came and this time, he decided that he wasn't going to try and stop it.

Maybe it was too soon, maybe he was about to really screw things up, but he just didn't care. He was desperate to find some way to show her he liked her and he wanted her to be with him.

He wanted to take care of her, he wanted to be able to tell her he'd fallen for her, without worrying about how it'd freak her out.

He pulled her against him and crashed his lips onto hers, smirking a little when she grabbed his shirt and started to really kiss back.. The kiss broke, and neither of them really said anything, Alanna stood there a moment, quietly processing everything that'd happened since she'd met Roman Reigns, and that kiss just now, what she wished and hoped it meant.

Roman took a deep breath and then said calmly, "You okay?" as he searched her face for a sign he hadn't just really inexplicably screwed up everything between them because if he had, it'd drive him crazy.

"Yeah, just.." Alanna started as she tried to process things and then finally asked, "Roman?"

"Yeah?"

"Just now.. how long have you been wanting to do that? Or was it just sort of a spontaneous thing?" Alanna asked carefully, biting her lip as she waited on him to answer, hoping he said he wanted to, he hadn't just done it on a whim.

"Actually, for a while now, Alanna.." Roman said as he asked, "Why? Did you not want me to?"

"No, trust me, I wanted you to.. But I just.. I wanted to myself and I was.. I was scared, okay? I didn't want to mess up us being friends and make everything awkward or rush you into something, all things considered."

"None of that really matters, Alanna. And if this goes back to Grant, let me deal with that bastard." he said as he looked at her and smiled. Inside, he was cheering about having not messed things up, having done that just now. He didn't know what his doing that, kissing her would lead to, but he knew he'd be patient and wait on her to be ready to completely cross the line from being friends to being an item, emotions wise. He understood that she had a lot to deal with, and she'd been through a lot.

"I'll try." Alanna promised as she let herself lean against him a little more then asked, "You're not regretting it, are you?"

"No. Hell no." Roman said firmly as he put his arms around her and then said "if I were going to regret it, Alanna, do you really think I'd have done it?"

"No, I don't think you would have." Alanna said as they walked towards her car, her sliding the keys across the roof to Roman who raised a brow and asked, "I thought you didn't let anyone else drive your car but you?"

Alanna gave him a slightly softer smirk and shrugging said "I trust you not to kill me." as she got in, buckled herself in and waited on him to get in, texting her sister quickly .

AJ read Alanna's text as she sat in the makeup chair and shot up like a cannon, making the makeup girl glare at her as she said "Sorry, it's my sister.. I think she might just be okay again finally.." as she rapidly texted back, "Well? Did you kiss back? Was he a good kisser? he better not hurt you."

Alanna read her sister's text and answered "Yes. I did and oh my god yes, he was. And sis, I'm not too sure right now, but I just have this feeling that if he ever hurts me, it won't be intentionally." as she bit her lip, slid her phone into the pocket of jacket and looked over at Roman who asked, "AJ?"

"Yeah. She's bugging me because I've been gone all day, again and she's antsy about seeing a sonogram. She still thinks it's going to be a girl." ALanna said as she smiled and casually rested her hand beneath Roman's hand on the console, falling silent, processing what had happned just now.

Her cell phone rang again and her eyes darkened in anger as she saw that it was Grant's number calling. She hit ignore and then said tensely, "And just when I think everything might be alright.. Grant calls."

Roman growled and then said "I'll deal with that bastard, Alanna. Nothing's gonna happen to you if I can help it." as he squeezed her slightly shaking hand and drove them back to the hotel. Once they'd gotten to the hotel, and he'd checked into is room, Alanna walked in with him and he asked, "So.. Do you wanna watch something on tv?"

"Actually, yeah.. AJ texted me and said that she and Dolph are 'busy' so I'd really rather just stay down here until it's okay to go up.." Alanna muttered as she snuggled against him a little more. The kiss had been a good icebreaker, and she felt like maybe she could at least try a little harder, let her guard down.

Maybe this time, things wouldn't fall completely apart on her. Even though she knew Grant wasn't completely gone yet, she just had this feeling that Roman wouldn't stop until he was. And that she was safer with Roman than she was going against this alone..

The rest they could figure out together as it came. She smiled to herself as she looked up and leaned in, lightly kissing him. "I had fun today."

"So did I." Roman said as he pulled her onto his lap and then said "Hey.. I think the little guy just kicked."

Alanna winced a little and then said "he did. hurry.. Do you want to feel?" as she grabbed his hand, let him feel the kick and said "He's gonna be a kicker I think.. Or a soccer player." while Roman laughed then shrugged.


NOTES:

Okay, guys, I just feel that Roman is the way to go with this one, a reviewer pointed out the astounding lack of love for my gorgeous Samoan on the archives, so yeah.. Roman will be paired with Alanna. Thanks go to KIRRAA for the suggestion. Glad you told me that, because you're right. Roman hardly ever gets the girl in the stories!

That being said, I thank every single person who's added the story to alerts, reviewed and the like. you're all amazing, and you're the reason I keep writing, you really and truly are.

Oh and a note.. This chapter is not a continuation of the last one. It might seem like it, but it's a different day, different doctors visit, probably about a month later. :) I don't want to confuse anyone.