A/N: Hi guys…thanks so much for your awesome reviews and for sending positive vibes. They are so much appreciated and thoughtful.
To my hater who said I should have explained the relationship between Dean and Sarah…read chapter two since you didn't bother to even read the story. Thanks.
Surprised no one picked up the end of the last chapter…hmmm….
Anyhoo, enjoy this next chapter as it is almost to the end. (don't cry…lol…)
6 weeks later:
Roman and Grace, (as she now prefers to be called since her nickname gives her nightmares), have been getting use to each other as father and daughter again. The first couple of weeks were rough but Roman, with the help of her therapist and Nattie, have been patient with her. Roman makes sure that the judge's orders are followed to the T. He enrolled her into an online homeschool program to complete out her year she needs to finish. So far, she's been getting straight A's. Roman has also provided the list of names of people that would be in their lives. So far, everyone has been approved, even Dean because of Sarah, even though Judge already approved that day in court, he wanted a written proof that it was okay. The mother's rights have been stripped and both her and Seth have left town and away from the scandal that has ruined their reputation. All is all, while life isn't perfect, its gotten better each day.
She clings to him and for a while, wouldn't let anyone near her except him. But after a couple of weeks of loving her and caring for her, she started to slowly come around and started to be more open to both her father and therapist. When at home, they play board games, computer games, card games, read books, just anything to help her get some sort of normalcy in her life. Bath time is strictly for her only. Roman would run a bath for her. Once he was done with the water, he called her in the bathroom, tell her her bath is ready, and then leave to give her privacy. She is 7 years old and wanted her to know that he was there for her, but wanted her to be independent as well. While she is in her baths, he would go to her room and set out her night clothes on the bed and then leave to go downstairs to clean up the kitchen. Once he gets done with the dishes and the cleaning, Grace comes down with a brush so that Roman could brush her hair. It was their nightly thing after she is done. After that, then she takes him by the hand and leads him upstairs for bedtime story. He even tucks her in and kisses her forehead and says, 'I love you'. Then he leaves the closet light on with the door barely opened and then her bedroom door is left open so that he could hear her if she has her bad dreams.
There was also reports that Triple H was found hung in the bathroom stall of the jail and was ruled a suicide. Two days before he was to be put on trial. But Roman knew the truth though. He knew that no one would ever find out the truth behind his death. It was dealt with and his little girl will never have to see or hear from him again. He made sure of that. Money very well spent and the best part? Untraceable. He was happy that he knew people that could do that job and do the job very well. That was one less thing he didn't have to worry about in this lifetime.
Now, 6 weeks later, they are set in a comfortable routine and taking it day by day.
"Daddy!" Grace yells as Roman gets out of his truck to pick her up from Nattie's. Judge granted permission to keep Grace at Nattie's when Roman has to work. He has been do grateful for her and for what she has done for his daughter. He knows that he owes her big time for taking care of his daughter. This was his way of thanking her by letting her still be her "nanny" so to speak. Also helps with Grace's recovery as she still in a familiar setting.
"Hey babygirl!" he responded as he picks up the energetic girl in his arms. Despite everything, she always gave him a big hug and a kiss on the forehead. She knows that her daddy would never hurt her so she knows she is safe. "How was your day?" he asked as he carried her over to the front porch where Nattie was sitting and watching the two interact.
"It was good! Ms. Nattie and I made cookies and I got to play on her trampoline with Jessie!"
"Oh, that's awesome babygirl! What kind of cookies did you make?" Roman went to sit down with Grace in his lap as Nattie smiles at them.
Grace giggled as she responded, "Chocolate peanut butter cookies!" she was covering her face in a funny way.
"Oooooo, my favorite! And you made them?"
Grace shakes her head yes, "I did cause I knew you liked them!"
Roman doesn't remember telling Grace his favorite so he asked. "And how, babygirl, did you know that!"
Grace huffs dramatically and puts her hands on her hips, "Cause of Sarah, DUH! She told me you use to eat them all the time at their house!"
Roman had forgotten about that and his heart broke a little at that memory. But he quickly hid it and smiled at his little girl. "Well, Miss Sarah is right! Why don't you put some in a bag for me to take home, huh?"
Grace looks at Nattie, "Is that okay Miss. Nattie? May I do that for my daddy?" she asked politely before jumping down from Roman's lap.
"You may Grace. Be careful and have Tyson help you with the bagging the cookies so you don't get hurt, okay? They may still be a bit warm." Nattie said as Grace gets down walks over to her. She smiles at her, "Thank you Miss Nattie," she says as she runs inside screaming playfully, "TYSON?"
Both Roman and Nattie laughs as Grace runs into the house, leaving both of them alone for a bit. After a few moments, Roman clears his throat as Nattie watches him. "so, umm, Sarah told Grace my favorite cookie, huh?" Roman looked down as he asked her, it was kinda uncomfortable as he still doesn't know where he stands with her. He doesn't know her, but he doesn't want to be any problems either.
Nattie knows about the fight between Dean and Roman. She knows its because of Grace and how she was kept from him for a bit. She loves Dean since he was younger and living with her, but she also has a soft spot for Roman as well. She leans forward and takes Roman's hand into hers, making Roman look up at her. "Roman, this isn't about the cookies, is it? You miss him, don't you?" it wasn't' a question, but more of a statement rather.
Roman closes his eyes, sighs and opens them back up and looks at Nattie once again. "I do miss him Nattie, but I can't get past the fact that he kept this from me." He shakily spoke, trying not to break down. "He knew for a long time where she was and not once told me. It's something that hurts deep down. To know that the one person I found myself caring for again, basically lied to me when I would cry to him about her. All that time, he knew…he knew…."
He finally broke down as Nattie got up and got on her knees in front of him and put her arms around him to console him. She rubbed his back gently and rocked him softly. "Roman, baby boy, he didn't do this to hurt you. He did it because he loves you. He couldn't tell you because it was part of an ongoing investigation at that time. He wasn't allowed to tell you in fear the whole operation would have blown up. It wasn't easy for him to keep her from you."
Roman stood back in the chair as Nattie got up and sat down, pulling her chair closer to him. Again, she took his hands into hers and squeezed them. "You have to understand Roman, he would call me every night and tell me how badly he wanted to tell you. I had to remind him that we were so close to reuniting you with her, but we had to make sure the police had all the evidence. Once we arrested them, then we had set in motion a reunion party and that is when he was gonna bring her to you. But, alas, that didn't happen as you found out the way you did."
Roman sighs big as he takes one of his hands and rubs his face and eyes. "Dean loves you Roman, he loves you so much that he was willing to bring your little girl home to you once everything cleared. Please don't hate him."
"I don't hate him Nattie, but it's too late to fix anything. We haven't spoken in weeks, not sure he even wants to after how I went off on him." He said softly, "I know that Sarah and Grace are still friends and we see each other at work when we need to, but that is as far as it goes. I know I said some awful things to him that I can't take back." His heart was still broken over the fact that he lost Dean, even though Dean was doing what he thought was right. If he was honest with himself, he found himself looking at his phone, at his number, at the last text he got from him. How many times he texted him, but erased it before he could send it. If he was honest with himself, he could even say that he loves him, but love doesn't hurt, and he hurt him badly.
Nattie puts her hand to his face and gently caresses it. "It's never too late to fix a problem, especially with the one you love. Go to him, talk to him. Work it out. You deserve to be happy Roman, and so does Dean. He would always tell me he found his pot of gold when he found you that night on the streets. No matter what, you always had his heart, even though you don't think so, you do."
"But what if I hurt him again Nattie? Huh?"
"But you won't. Too much time has past and life is too short to be denied happiness, Roman. Go to him and talk to him. I promise that the situation will come out the way it is suppose to. True love will always prevail in the end." She says with a smile that would light up a room. That smile is what made Roman smile a bit, but still the sadness in his eyes. He knows she is right though. If anything, he needs to talk to Dean and get through this problem. He has his little girl back, now he needs to find a way to get Dean back into his life. "Thank you" he said as he got up to hug her. "You're welcome" she responded as she hugged back. They pull apart as Grace comes back out with the bag of cookies she made with Nattie. She hugs Nattie and then both Grace and Roman heads to the house.
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Dean was sitting in the den on his laptop doing some work for Jericho. He needed to make sure that all of his clients paid on time so that his employees go their money. Sarah was upstairs playing with her dolls so it left time for him to have quiet time from work.
Just as he finishes up, he closes some of the windows down and sees a pic of him and Roman that Sarah took before they went on their first date. He smiles sadly as he stares at it. Both were happy and smiling. Like nothing could tear them apart.
Boy, was he wrong.
After the blowup and Roman getting his little girl back, he sent a text of congrats to him and that he was never gonna bother him again. And that he was sorry for everything. And that he was sorry that Roman hated him….
Roman texted back that he didn't hate him and that he was sorry for saying that. Dean still kept that text as a reminder that Roman doesn't hate him, but doesn't want him either.
Dean rubs his eyes to keep the tears from falling. He never thought that falling for love with someone would hurt this much. And he has, fallen for him…hard. And now he doesn't want nothing to do with him. When he sees him at work, it hurts him to see him laughing with Sami. It hurts to see him having lunch with Jericho and Sami. It hurts to see him so close, but yet so far.
What he wouldn't do to just talk to Roman again. To hold him again. To kiss him again. To even make love to him. The last two months have been so hard on him. Yes, he would jerk off to the image of Roman, but that is not enough. But at the same time, it has to be. He hasn't even looked at anyone else since Roman. He feels that he will be single forever. That he doesn't deserve to be happy and loved. Yes, he has Sarah and that is his world, but his little girl needs her own life with her own friends. He loves her with all his heart, but a part of his heart is missing and only Roman can fill that up.
"It's too late now…" he mumbles to himself. "It's too late to fix it…need to move on…forget love…" he said sadly as he turns off the computer screen and shuts the laptop. He then puts his phone in his pocket.
He sighs as he gets up and stretches out his muscles. He knows that dinner is close and needs to get Sarah ready to eat. He starts for the door when he phone in his pocket goes off. He stops, grumbles at whomever it could have been that texted him, pulls out his phone and opens the messages. His eyes goes wide at the person who texted him.
Roman- Are you busy tomorrow? Can we talk?
Soooooooooooooo….whatcha think? Where does this leave Roman and Dean? Do the have a chance?
Leave a review if you would like. I love reading them! Again, thanks for the overwhelming support from the last chapter.