The night Seth won the title, he went out to celebrate with his new found allies in the authority but somehow it all felt tame and almost worthless without Erica. He tried pushing the thought of her aside, faking smiles and laughters for a couple of hours, but the need grew too strong and he stepped outside to be alone. Without thinking he pulled out his phone and called her. He just had to hear her voice.
"Hello?" She asked sleepily.
"Don't hang up," he begged.
"Seth?" She asked.
"Please, just two minutes. I just need to talk to you," he said.
"Hold on," she said.
He could hear her move around and he figured she was getting out of bed. He knew she was travelling with Dean and Roman so she probably didn't want to wake them up. He heard the sound of a balcany door opening and then her voice returned in his ear.
"What is it?" She sighed.
"It's not how I pictured winning the big one would be like. You were supposed to be here celebrating with me," he said.
"You only got yourself to blame," she said.
"Please, babe, I love you. Just come home. We can work it out," he said.
She sighed and leaned over the railing, looking down at the street below.
"It's too late for that," she said.
"Are you really gonna tell me you don't love me anymore?" He asked.
She turned around and looked through the window. Dean was standing up, watching her through the darkness. Without a doubt he knew who was on the phone, yet he hadn't stormed out there to pry the phone from her hand and scream at Seth. She locked eyes with Dean and he slowly started moving towards the balcony door. It was in that moment she knew for sure.
"Yes," she answered. "I don't love you anymore."
Dean raised his eyebrows as he opened the door at the same time as her words fell.
"You're lying," Seth raised his voice.
"No, Seth, I don't love you anymore. I don't hate you either. Frankly, I just don't care about you anymore. So go and do whatever you feel you have to do and at least try to be happy along the way," she said.
"How am I supposed to do that without you?" He asked sadly.
"That's up to you to figure out," she said and hung up.
She reached for Dean and he stepped over to her and wrapped his arms around her.
"Seth?" He asked, even though he already knew the answer.
"Yeah," she answered. "He's not happy tonight."
"Serves him right," he said.
"Be nice," she said.
"When it comes to him, never," he chuckled. "And I did hear you say you don't love him anymore."
He leaned out and looked at her with a little sideways smile on his face.
"I love you," she blurted out before she could stop himself.
"What?" His eyes widened.
"Fuck, too soon!" She sneered at herself. "Stupid girl! Stupid, stupid, stupid!"
"Hey, stop," he laughed.
He grabbed her hands and forced them behind her back, holding her close so she couldn't move while his eyes caught hers again.
"It's not too soon. You caught me by surprise but that's not a bad thing," he smiled and leaned in to peck her lips. "I love you too, kitten."
"You do?" She asked surprised.
"Mmm," he hummed as he captured her lips in a deep kiss.
Dean wasted no time in telling Seth he was coming for the title next night. He had allowed Seth one night to celebrate, one night that Seth hadn't truly enjoyed which amused Dean greatly. The second Seth was inside the ring, Dean came storming down and threw himself at Seth. The two men brawled until Kane and J&J Security came running in to drag Seth out of the ring to safety.
"Yeah, you better run, boy!" Dean shouted. "I'm coming for you! I'm coming for that title!"
"You'll never get this!" Seth shouted as he held the title up.
"Watch me!" Dean shouted. "One shot, Seth. Give me one shot and I'll take it from you."
"Don't do it, Seth," Kane warned.
"Please, daddy, can Seth come out and play?" Dean mocked. "Are you too fucking chicken to face your former brother, Seth?"
"One shot, Dean!" Seth shouted. "One shot and the world will know who the better man is!"
Dean grinned widely. That was all he needed. One shot. He knew he had it in him to take the title off Seth.
"Cage match!" Dean demanded.
"What?" Seth asked.
"Cage match!" Dean repeated. "Don't need any of your little friends to interfere."
"Don't do it, boss," one of the J's said.
Dean hadn't taken the time to figure out which J was which and honestly he didn't care either. They were just a bump in the road he needed to get over to get to Seth.
"Cage match!" He shouted a third time.
"Fuck it!" Seth growled before shouting back. "You're on!"