Lilian walked into the arena the next Monday, her head held high as she noticed the wary glances a few of the guys were giving her. The bruise under her eye had finally started to fade, leaving a yellowish green tint to her skin… nothing a little bit of concealer couldn't fix for tonight.

Smiling, she walked up to JR, something that she did every week for the last however many years.

"Hey, JR," she said, accepting the warm hug the Oklahoman offered.

"Hey, Lilian," he greeted. "Jesus, what happened to your eye?"

"I, uh, kinda in a fight last Monday. In a bar."

"Ooh… so how's the other girl?"

"I don't know. I don't remember much. But from what I understand, I got my ass kicked," Lilian said with a sheepish grin.

JR chuckled. "So she was big?"

Lilian nodded. "Oh yes, that I remember."

"Were you completely drunk or something? Why would you get into a fight with someone at a bar?"

She bit her lip, looking down. "Uhm, yeah, I was actually."

"Oh," he said quickly. "I'm sorry, Lilian, I didn't mean to. I was really just joking."

"No, it's fine. I just had a really bad night last week."

"It seems so. If you want to talk about it, you know I'll listen," he said with a kind smile.

"Thanks… I appreciate it," Lilian sincerely replied. "But it seems like things are back on track, thankfully."

"Everything's going okay with you and Dwayne?" Seeing the shocked look on her face, he laughed. "Lilian, it's the hottest thing around here since Paul started dating Stephanie."

Lilian giggled, shaking her head. "Oh, the company rumor mill. I love it. But yes, JR, we're okay. I was a little freaked out about the fact that we were in a few magazines, but I think I'm okay now. It's just a part of being with one of the most famous men in Hollywood."

JR shook his head, lowering his gaze as he murmured, "My little girl's growing up."

Lilian smiled, patting the older man's arm. "Is there a diva meeting today?"

"Yeah… four o'clock."

"Great. Thank you, JR. I'll see you later, okay?"

"Alright, you take care."

Lilian walked away, feeling happy and carefree. But of course that kind of emotion never lasts long. She groaned when she saw the man in front of her. "What do you want now?" she asked bitterly. While she enjoyed her little meeting with JR every week, Lilian didn't want these weekly meetings with Coach to happen.

Coach stepped closer, a sly grin spreading across his face. "Nothing, I'm allowed to walk in these halls too you know."

She narrowed her eyes, scoffing. "Whatever, I need to go. I don't have time for you."

She moved to walk away, only to roll her eyes when Coach said, "You know… I've been reading up on you, Lilian, and I must say that your life seems to be very interesting."

"Yeah?" Lilian asked cautiously, not taking the bait totally. "How so?"

"Seems like you're quite the hellraiser when it comes to bars," Coach said with a smirk.

With that, he thrust a tabloid in Lilian's face. Snatching the paper from him, she scanned the paper, rolling her eyes when she saw the headline.

"WWE Diva Involved in Barroom Brawl," Lilian read aloud, laughing at the picture of Maria and Trish holding her up as they left the bar. Seeing the confused look on Coach's face, she shoved the paper back in his chest. "Certainly not my finest hour, but it's okay."

With that, she walked away, leaving a stunned Coach holding the paper in the middle of the hallway.

When Lilian finally walked backstage after the show, she was extremely surprised to see Dwayne there. Grinning, she walked over to him.

"Hey, what are you doing here?"

He pouted. "Well fine, that's the last time I try to surprise you!"

She giggled and they began walking off down the hall. "I am pleasantly surprised to see you!" To prove her point, she stood on her tiptoes, kissing him softly.

"Much better," he said after slowly opening his eyes.

"So, what are you doing here?" Lilian asked again as they set off down the hall, interlacing her fingers through his.

"I thought I'd take the love of my life out to dinner," Dwayne said with a shrug.

"Oh, yeah?" Lilian asked. "And where do you plan on taking her?"

"I don't know. When I find Trish, I'll ask her."

"You ass," Lilian scolded, nudging him with her elbow.

"Oh, I'm just kidding," Dwayne said with a laugh, wrapping a muscular arm across her shoulders and hugging her to him. "Where do you want to go?"

"I don't care," Lilian replied. "I hear there's a few good bars in Ohio…"

"Sorry, I don't feel like fighting biker chicks off with sticks tonight. You'll have to pick somewhere else."

Lilian frowned. "Damn, I really wanted a beer!"

He chuckled and they stopped as they neared the women's locker room. "Go get your stuff and think about what you want, okay?"

She smiled. "Okay."

His grip on her hand lingered until she was too far out of his reach. Lilian pushed open the door and she could've sworn she saw a look of sadness flicker across his face.

Moments later, she exited the women's locker room, handing Dwayne her things when he gestured for her to hand them to her. "Well, I talked to the girls."

"Uh oh… girl talk?"

"Not this time," Lilian replied, again taking his hand in hers. "They told me about this great all night diner about two miles from here."

"Okay," Dwayne agreed. "Sounds good."

They walked silently yet contentedly to her rental car, Dwayne hesitating before opening her door for her. "Look, Lil, are you sure you're okay going out in public with me… there will probably be fans from the show there."

She slid into her seat, grabbing her seat belt. "I couldn't care less. Besides, they all know our history."

He smiled and quickly put her things in the trunk before heading around to the driver's seat. "You're not ashamed of me, are you?"

"Of course not, and if it'll make you feel better, we can just have sex on the table. How's that for public display of affection?"

"Hmm, only if there aren't any crumbs," he joked, pulling out of the parking lot.

She laughed, placing her hand on his thigh. "Your old pal, Coach, he found another tabloid with me in it, from last Monday."

"Was that the one with Maria and Trish dragging you out of the bar?"

"That'd be the one."

"Nice," Dwayne commented. He glanced at Lilian, frowning as he asked, "Coach isn't giving you problems, is he?"

"No, calm down Zorro," Lilian replied. "I think I can handle that scrawny little weasel."

Dwayne laughed, shaking his head. "So did you read the article?"

"No," Lilian scoffed, waving a hand in the air. "I decided that if I don't let it show that it pisses me off, then maybe it will just go away. They can be interested in like, Katie Couric or someone."

"It was stupid," he commented.

"Ught!" She playfully swatted his thigh. "I can't believe you read it, you traitor."

"Aw, now Lily, that hurts!"

Before she could respond, they arrived at the diner and went inside. Just as he predicted quite a few fans were there. A lot of girls were shocked to see The Rock and practically fell over in their mad dash for him.

Lilian watched as he signed autographs and posed for pictures. She was relieved when they'd finished their meal and got out of there.

"That was sweet of you, D, to sign all of those and take all of those pictures."

"Well, you had quite a few fans yourself, Ms. Garcia," Dwayne replied, standing in front of Lilian and placing his hands on the car behind her.

"Yeah," Lilian smirked, tracing a finger along his defined chest as she leaned against the car. "The ones who weren't shoving their cameras to me to take a picture of you and them."

Dwayne smiled, placing the keys on the roof of the car and putting his hands on her small hips. "Well, can I just point out that you're the sexiest photographer I've ever seen?"

"You have a comeback for everything, don't you?" Lilian asked with a slight laugh.

"But of course," Dwayne replied, leaning down and kissing her gently.

She closed her eyes, enjoying the sensation of his lips capturing hers. However, a movement to their left caught her attention, and she hastily broke the kiss. "What's wrong?" Dwayne asked, startled at the sudden change.

"There's someone photographing us," Lilian hissed.

She heard a faint growling sound in the back of his throat. Dwayne turned just as a camera flashed in his face.

"What do you think you're doing?" he asked the photographer.

"Exercising my rights," he replied, shoving a press badge into Dwayne's face.

The Rock knocked it away. "I don't give a damn what your rights are. You won't be posting that picture anywhere, or you will be hearing from my lawyer."

"Isn't he a little busy with your divorce?"

Jaw clenched, he raised his fist. Lilian quickly ran forward, grabbing his wrist. "Let it go, D, he isn't worth it."

"Yeah, listen to the home wrecker," the man said, smirking as he put his camera and badge into his pocket.

The photographer wasn't prepared, however, for the fist to connect with his face. The photographer's head snapped back, and he was swung around by his t-shirt, forced up against the side of the car. "Hey, you can't do this!" he managed, only to have Dwayne's hand wrap around his throat.

"Don't you EVER say that about her again. You don't know her, and you never will!" Dwayne hissed.

"D… come on. Let him go," Lilian said calmly, pulling on his arm gently. "He isn't worth it."

With one last disgusted glare, Dwayne let go of the man, shoving him aside. "Get out of here. And don't ever let me see you near us again."

"You'll be hearing from my lawyer," the man sputtered.

Lilian turned and shot the man a look before continuing to push Dwayne to the car.

"I can't believe some people!" he yelled once they were safely inside.

"D, c'mon, can we just go back to the hotel? I don't want to dwell on this all night."

He turned to look at her, noticing the upset look on her face. "Okay, I'm sorry, Lil. I really am. I just...wow."

"I know," she said, frowning and placing her hand on his bicep. "I know, it happens D."

Dwayne shook his head, taking in the timid look on her face as he started the car. "I'm really sorry, Lilian. He just upset me when he made that comment about you."

"It's okay, D. Really. I wanted to slug him too."

Dwayne laughed slightly, covering her hand with his. "I just… he went too far."

"I know." Seeing the look on her face, he frowned slightly. Even though she said it was okay, there was something… different there.

"Lil… I didn't scare you, did I?"

She bit her lip, afraid to answer.

"Lilian..."

"Well, I don't know, you just snapped. I've never seen you act like that, not even in the ring."

He pulled the car into a free space in the hotel parking area. Turning the car off, he covered his face with his hands. "God...Lil, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to scare you."

"No," she said meekly, but he didn't hear her as he jumped out of the car.

"Damn it," he muttered to himself.

Lilian quietly got out of the car. "Dwayne, I didn't mean to upset you. I'm fine, really."

Whirling around, he kissed her squarely on the lips, backing her into the car. Her eyes widened slightly as her back hit the car, but she soon closed them, kissing him back with passion.

He broke off the kiss, breathing hard. "Do you trust me, Lilian?" he asked huskily, his dark eyes searching her light ones.

"With my life," Lilian answered evenly.

"And you know that I would never hurt you, right?"

"Of course," she replied without hesitation.

"Good," Dwayne replied. "So can we forget that little altercation?"

"Absolutely," Lilian said softly.

"Good." With that, his lips were again pressed against her lips, this time with not as much pressure.

This time, she smiled and gladly kissed him back, enjoying the feeling of his fingers running through her hair. When he broke the kiss, she felt very satisfied and happy.

"Are you ready to go inside now?" she joked.

"Well, I'm always up for more," he replied, laughing.

"I'll bet you are."

They walked inside the hotel and headed up to their room. Once they both changed, they sat on the bed, Dwayne holding his arms out for Lilian.

"So other than Coach, has anybody given you a hard time about the articles?"

She shrugged and bit her lip. "Some of the fans know. It's not many, or if it is, they don't make a big deal out of it. The first week though they started a 'You screwed Rocky' chant."

Dwayne swallowed at this, holding the little blonde tightly. "I'm sorry," he said softly, kissing her forehead.

"You have nothing to be sorry about, Dwayne," she said firmly. "I think we both know that we're going to hear it from the fans, whether it's when we're in public or I'm doing Raw. But you know what?"

"What?" Dwayne asked, kissing her forehead.

"I don't really care."

Dwayne nodded, using one of his broad hands to gently massage her shoulders. "Then I don't care either," he finally whispered.

End Chapter 10