Ok so there's some triggers in here for starters...if you know that anything pertaining to rape will trigger you then PLEASE skip this chapter. If child rape/endangerment is going to trigger you then PLEASE skip this chapter. IT is NOT graphic but I wanted to make sure everyone knew ahead of time what to expect! Until the next chapter..enjoy!

"Tell me what they mean, every single word. With everything that's happened over the past six years..." Shane turned to look at the red head behind him, not missing the the bright eyes and pale face. "I have a right to know Sadie."

"I belong to you...I give you all of me. This body will forever be yours as does everything inside and out." Sadie said softly, surprised at the words coming from Shane. "He said them to you six years ago?"

"And I repeated them, trying to figure out what they meant while trying my best not to cum before him." At her look of surprise, Shane sighed as he sat down next to her. "The night of my parents party, I spent it with him...Allen...the whole night. I woke up alone, hungover, and confused but I knew someone had been there, someone important. Now I find out it was him and that he was with Wellington this whole time. The same fucking bastard I saved him from that night, he left the country with the next fucking morning?!"

"I did not know all of this, I was unaware that this was the reason he had left."

"He said he left because of me but how am I supposed to believe that? We'd seen each other for months before that night. Then he disappears somewhere in Japan with Shinsuke and you find him with Wellington." Shane sighed as he laid back against the couch. "Tell me how to fix this, how do I get past the anger of him leaving me for that bastard."

"I do not believe he left you for Wellington." Sadie sighed as she looked up at Shane. "His father was not a good man, especially when he was drunk. There would be times when Allen would come to the house covered in bruises. Face bleeding, hand prints on his arms and neck." Sadie sucked in a soft breath as she shook her head. "His father was abusing him. After our mothers died, Allen stopped being allowed to come over and play. My father disagreed with the decision and tried to get Allen to tell the fanmi what was happening to him."

"He refused because it was his father." Shane shook his head as he leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. "What does that have to do with me though, why me Sadie?"

"Do you love him?"

"Yes." The answer was immediate and precise, Shane looking over his shoulder to make sure she didn't doubt him. "That's not something you have to worry about. I'm not leaving him, I just...I need some time and space to think. This is all..."

"A lot to take in, I understand. Do not punish him for his fears though, if I had known I would have been able to help explain things sooner. I do not believe he left you for Wellington however. That salo is a trè move moun (very bad man) and would have done anything to get Allen."

"I should have remembered though. How the fuck do you forget something so important?! My first time with a man and I fucking forgot it." Shane sighed as he leaned back. "When we tried to resign them we were turned down. When Juls told me you knew Allen..."

"Was that the only reason Shane?"

"No, damnit it wasn't and you know it wasn't." Shane turned to glare at Sadie. Sighing before turning away, Shane ran a hand over his face. "Tell me what happened."

"His father has made him scared of anyone who says they love him. It took us years to convince him the fanmi hadn't abandoned him, that his father kept us away from him." Sadie gave Shane a sad smile, brushing her hair back from her face. "His father had hurt him and he used to have nightmares about it. He was with us almost two years before we found out why he chose to sleep alone. After that, Andres always made sure Allen had his own bed."

Shane shook his head, trying to reconcile the image of the man he knew to the one being described to him. "He loves to cuddle. There's not a night we spend together that he doesn't..." Shane broke off, face heating as he realized they hadn't shared the same bed for almost a month. "He's like an octopus when he's sleep."

"It took a while but surprisingly it was Clayton who helped him. We would wake in the morning looking for him and he would be in Allen's room, curled up in bed beside him. I tried to break him of the habit but he insisted Allen was the only one who could protect him at night."

"And he wouldn't deny a child anything." Shane said softly. He could imagine A.J with a younger Clay curled up next to him. "Is that why they are so close?"

"Part of it, they helped each other, I think. Clay hated sleeping in his room, he said there were monsters that only his uncle could defeat. It worried me at first but Allen...he seemed to flourish from Clay's trust and dependency."

"He wanted to take care of someone." Shane said in an hushed voice.

"He had been taking care of his father, despite what was done to him, Allen made sure his father was never hungry and the house was clean. Uncle Matthew loved his son but went to far with his attention. Allen was a child when it started and didn't deserve to be put through any of it. If I could have saved him sooner..."

Shane covered Sadie's hands with his. "You were still a child yourself Sadie." He sighed as he thought about how long they've known each other. "Do you remember how I'd met you guys at one of our shows? Faith had just started sleeping with dad and you and Juls had come to put a stop to it. That was the first time I met Bray and Harper too. We were all young back then, if I had known him then I swear I would have been no help for him. I was such an asshole and he would have...I-I would have..." Shane shook his head as he tried to forget how things used to be. "He wouldn't have been safe with me back then."

"Sometimes, our old habits are not as bad as we have been led to believe." Sadie squeezed the hands holding hers. "He meant well, I am sure but he still has his share of demons. Just as you had to divorce your past he will need to do the same with his."

Shane frowned at the statement but decided to worry about it later. Shaking his head, he pressed a kiss against Sadie's fingers. "You know if it weren't for you two..."

"You would have been better off?"

Shane chuckled as he leaned back against the couch. "Sadie, does he really..." Unable to finish the question, Shane glanced over at Sadie then turned away with a small frown. "If this is just some type of..."

"He loves you, do not doubt that. He may not show it always but once given, you have it for life."

Shane nodded, thinking about the last time he'd been alone with A.J. "Maybe we need to talk, it's been almost a month and the most we've seen of each other has been at work or in passing."

"Work has been pressing and you did have the two weeks with the children."

"Which you insisted on! I swear the boys wanted to stay with you guys just for the shear pleasure of hearing Bray and Juls' stories." Shane grinned as he thought back to their visit. "Amber seemed to enjoy herself, you think? I mean Allen never said if she were unhappy or..."

"If butterfly were unhappy you would have known. She is much like her father in that aspect. She is very vocal about her feelings, something that is encouraged by us all." Sadie smiled as she watched the wistful look on Shane's face. "You miss her?"

"I miss them both." Shane said softly, eyes closing as his heart skipped a beat. "We took the kids to the beach and she built this sand castle with the boys. Dom and Ash were so excited that she wanted to join them they forgot she was a girl." He chuckled as he thought about how good the day had been. Turning to look at Sadie, Shane frowned. "Juls is going to kill me for being here so long."

"If she doesn't I will."

Shane's head snapped around at the voice, stomach fluttering at the sight of the brunette standing in the doorway. "Allen?"

"Where the hell have you been? I understand you're upset with me, seriously, but a month Shane? We fucking work together! How is it you're able to avoid me for a whole month!" Looking from Shane to Sadie and back, A.J tried to ignore the small curl of jealousy at how close they were sitting. "Do you, uh, h-have you changed..."

"No, I haven't changed my mind. I just needed some time to deal with this that's all." Shane watched as A.J slowly walked into the room. He would admit that his thoughts weren't completely on the conversation anymore. Not when the man in front of him was dressed in shorts, sandals, and a tank top. "I mean I just remembered that our first time was when we were both drunk and at my parents house then you left me and ended up with Wellington."

"Shane..."

Shane cut him off by holding up his hand. "Let me finish, ok? I don't know why you left or ended up with him I don't even know how, all I know is that I should have remembered it sooner and you should have told me everything about him." He sighed as he stood in front of A.J. "I saved you from him once and you ended up with him. I keep saving you from this man but he has yet to let you go. Why, why hasn't he left you alone yet? Why does he keep trying to take you from me?" Studying the pale face in front of him, Shane tried to let his anger cool in the silence. Then a thought popped in his head. "Did you say the words to him too, is that why he's so determined..."

"No, damnit! I'd never say them to him, I've only said them to you! Once said, you can't repeat them to any one else, that's how it works. You say the words to your soulmate and that's it." A.J held the dark gaze watching him. "I love you, ok? There's nothing and no one that can change that. What happened probably should have never happened like it did but..." He broke off as he tried to control the erratic roll of his emotions. Staring up at Shane, A.J took a deep breath. "It happened...it happened and I can't change it or take it back. You said you love me first, Shane, you said..."

"I said a lot first Allen! That's just it, I've said a lot first but for some reason we are still going through the same circle! This bastard will not let you go and I won't let him have you so you need to figure out what needs to be done to break this spell or what the fuck ever you have on him! I told you a long time ago I am a possessive asshole and I don't share shit with anyone especially not you. You fucking belong to me. Whether I'm pissed off or happy, you are mine not his." Shane didn't touch A.J., aware that Sadie was still in the room, sitting behind him. He knew to touch the brunette would result in one of two scenarios. One, they would end up beating the hell out of each other then fucking until they were both exhausted and happy again or two. They would end up having angry make up sex which would last for hours with nothing between them being resolved. Or...Shane could go with a third option. He could keep his distance from A.J until the tournament with Wellington. Straightening his shoulders as he stiffened his spine, Shane tried to ignore the soft sigh from behind him. "Don't do that, Sadie."

"I know you're angry but do not hold onto your anger if it is not justified. He loves you just as much as you love him."

A.J watched as Shane turned red with his anger. "Look, I should have told you as soon as I remembered but I swear, I thought you knew Shane. I wouldn't have ignored something that important between us! When I realized who you were I tried to put some space between us. I swear I did but..." A.J broke off at the dark look on Shane's face. "I wasn't...I-I wasn't trying to trap you o-or hold you to anything Shane, I-I never thought..."

"You should have said something, christ I've wanted you since the first day I saw you and it's turned me inside out! Do you even understand what it's like for me to fall for you? I felt like I was betraying so many people, wanting someone I thought was a dream. My marriage was already over but..." Shane felt a small hand on his back, turning to glance at Sadie over his shoulder. "I love you, Allen, more than I could have ever thought possible and it scares me." Turning back to the man in front of him, Shane sighed. "I don't want to lose you but I need sometime to get all the pieces to the puzzle. I still don't fully understand why you left that night. What did..."

"My dad...he would..." A.J broke off, running a sweaty hand across his stomach. He never thought he'd have to talk about his father and not to Shane of all people. Glancing at Sadie, he could see the support and love in her eyes and sucked in a quick breath as he turned back to Shane. "There would be nights when I would wake up and he would..." A.J swallowed as he hesitated. When he felt fingers close around his wrist, he glanced down. "Sadie..."

"He must hear it from you or it will mean nothing."

"Hear what, if it's what your father did to you..." Shane frowned as he glanced between the pair. "Allen, Sadie."

"I would wake up and he'd be laying next to me. At first it wasn't, uh, like that...b-but then it changed and he would stay the night...after." Letting out a rough breath, A.J ran a hand through his hair. "For years after that I couldn't sleep with anyone next to me. And then you come along and I spend the entire night with you and I panicked Shane! I panicked because there's only one person I've ever been able to sleep next to other than you and he was only three when I finally felt comfortable!"

"That I can understand, what I can't understand is how the fuck you ended up with the asshole I threw out for you! How, how is it possible for your sister and brother to find you with the one person you were least expected to be with?! You left me and turned to him?"

"No! Jesus Shane listen to me ok? I didn't leave you and run to Wells! I got into some trouble a-and I couldn't just call home. Not after how I left and he offered me a way out! It wasn't a perfect solution or the right decision but Shin and I didn't starve and we were always able to work."

"Only when you were not covered in bruises."

A.J looked up to see Shinsuke standing behind him. "You can't tell him, Shin you don't understand..."

"Tell me what?"

A.J jerked at the hard tone, turning to look at Shane. Shaking his head, he looked away from the dark, angry gaze.

Turning to Shinsuke, Shane frowned. "Tell me what Shinsuke."

"Wellington had someone start the fight Allen was involved in and conveniently stepped in to help. He made promises that were never kept but would remind Allen of the debt he owed. He was beaten and forced to endure Wellington's physical and sexual abuse as a way to repay a debt that had been paid long before Andres and Sadie arrived."

Shane could feel his temper flaring as he turned to look at A.J. "Did you enjoy it or were you really..."

"Fuck you Shane! Who the fuck enjoys being forced to endure a lashing with a whip?! Would you enjoy being someone's punching bag until they and their friends cum all over you?! What in the hell makes you think I'd enjoy that shit?!"

Shane stared at the red faced man and frowned. Shaking his head he paused at the soft voice behind him.

"He is not her, do not punish him for what she did."

Shane felt his hands clench as he tried to focus on the soft words. "It drove me insane trying to remember what happened. I thought I'd gotten drunk and just passed out in one of the guest rooms. I eventually convinced myself it was all a dream until the words started repeating in my head!" Taking a deep breath, Shane stepped back from A.J. "The tournament is in three months..."

"Shane, no, that's..."

Shane cut of the protest with an angry sound. "I love you but in three months the tournament will be held. Until then we will follow the rules as they are. If Sadie chooses the three months sanction we will accept the decision." He watched as A.J paled, eyes bright as he remained silent. "I love you but this situation has come to the point that it requires a different type of handling. I've dealt with men like him before, I know how to get my point across. All I need you to do is focus on work and stay the fuck out of trouble."

"Three months is a long time Shane. What, umm, what do you plan on doing if you need to...you know." A.J motioned toward Shane, making sure to hold his gaze as he spoke. "You're not...a-are you..."

Shane tried to ignore the hot wave of need that washed over him. Taking a deep breath before answering, he knew it would be difficult to keep his distance. Knew that if he were to have any type of sanity, they were going to need to reach some type of arrangement. "No, I plan to make sure that won't be something I'll have to worry about." Shane planned to keep himself occupied to the point that he wouldn't have the time to do anything else. He did pray, however that Sadie did not choose the three month waiting period. Looking at the brunette in front of him, Shane would admit that he wasn't sure if he would be able to last that long. "The decision is up to Sadie, until then I'll stay at a hotel or..."

"No, damnit Shane! Christ, if you can't stand to be around me then I'll stay with Dre or Clayton, they have the space. I mean, hell if Sadie and Juls don't mind I'll stay there but you don't have to get a fucking hotel!" A.J looked from Shane to Sadie then back. "Just, stay at the house, I'll find a place to go while..."

"We still have the apartment's in New York and Atlanta." Shane could feel a shiver of worry move down his spine. He wasn't a fan of A.J not being close in the event something happened. "Or, uh, maybe we can both stay out at the house. There's enough space that we won't be in the other's way." Shane looked at the pale face, stomach clenching at how bright A.J.'s eyes were. The usually laughing gaze was filled with fear. "It's not that I don't want to be near you, I just can't trust myself around you alone." He watched a look of confused excitement cross A.J.'s face, making him want to kiss the small O of his mouth. "Surprise?"

"I..." A.J blinked up at Shane, trying to find a response to his comment. Shaking his head, he watched as Shane slowly moved forward. "You'll, uh, you'll stay in the guest room?" He knew Shane probably wouldn't sleep in the master suite but as long as he was at the house, that's all A.J cared about.

"No, I'll sleep in the spare bedroom in our suite." Shane knew he should probably have Chris or Dre stay with A.J but he wasn't sure who he could and couldn't trust anymore. The only way for him to make sure nothing happened was if he stayed. Despite the little voice in his head whispering it was a bad idea, Shane ignored it in favor of the smile he was given by A.J.

A.J blinked at Shane, surprised he'd pick the spare room in their suite. "Yeah, uh, ok, so, uh, so you'll be at the house then?"A.J was aware that at some point Sadie and Shinsuke had left the suite. There were no barriers between them, the silence in the room telling as A.J watched Shane closely. He searched Shane's face, looking for some sign of what he was feeling. It wasn't until he took a breath did he notice it, a light flush had bloomed across Shane's skin. His eyes were dilated and his breathing had changed. "How much longer are you going to make us wait." He asked softly. "Are you going to make us suffer for three months?" A.J wasn't surprised to see Shane struggle with his desire. They'd been doing this song and dance since Shane started remembering what happened six years ago. Each time they had a chance to be alone, Shane ran and A.J was left feeling as if he'd had a bucket of cold water dumped over him. "Please, I know you're mad at me Shane but jesus, please don't..."

Shane grabbed A.J before he could think of a reason not to. He was angry, confused, and missed A.J desperately. "I'm sorry, I don't know what or how it happened but I am sorry for not remembering sooner. If I had known..."

"You would have come after me?" A.J chuckled as Shane pulled them together. "Don't apologize, you didn't know and I should have..." He groaned as Shane kissed him. Wrapping his arms around Shane's waist, he pulled at the dark material covering Shane's skin from his hands. He gasped in pleasure when Shane's hands slid under his shorts and over his ass.

"You're not..." Shane broke off as the feel of A.J.'s skin. "I'm still upset Allen." Shane's voice was soft as he pressed his face against A.J.'s neck. "You ended up with the one person I tried to protect you from once. If I do this again..."

"I'm not going back Shane, not when I have you." A.J held Shane close, letting out a soft sigh. Things weren't resolved between them but they were at least talking and for that A.J would be grateful. Not wanting to press his luck but curious either way, he asked Shane again about his plans for the night.

"I don't know Allen, god please, honey stop talking and let me show you how much I've missed you." Shane groaned against A.J.'s lips. He knew he'd hate himself for his lack of resolve in the morning but right now...right now he wanted the panting man writhing against him. "Allen?"

"N-not here, this is..." A.J broke off as Shane bit him, shaking with the desire to give Shane what he wanted. "C-come to my room...tonight, anything you want...swear it...Shane, wait, we..."

Shane shivered as he turned A.J and pressed him against the couch, his hips pressed against the back of A.J.'s thighs. "If you cum all over Sadie's couch, she'll be very upset." Running his hands over A.J.'s hips, Shane pulled his shorts down. "Why do you always insist on running around commando?"

"I was...w-when Sadie text I was in the shower." A.J panted as Shane ran his hands over his now bare hips. He couldn't hold in the moan that rose in his throat as Shane's hands spread his cheeks. "Shane, wha..."

"You said you showered, so you should be clean." Shane whispered as he stared at the small, puckered hole in front of him. A hot rush of pleasure moved over Shane as he watched it flutter in excitement. "If you're clean then that means I can..."

A.J let out a hiss of pleasure as Shane's tongue pressed against his hole. Biting back the sound that rose in his throat, A.J gripped the top of the couch as his hips pressed back. "Sweet mother of..." He broke off as Shane spread his legs wider, groaning when he went back to licking A.J.'s hole. Head dropping forward, A.J panted as pleasure made his blood thicken. "Shane, ngh, please...a month..." Hands curving into the back of the couch, A.J pressed his hips back, silently begging for more. When Shane forced his hips still, he couldn't help the whine that left him when he moved back.

"No lube here, gonna need you to fix that." Shane panted, watching the moving hips in front of him. Jaw clenching tight, he gave A.J a hard slap on the ass, watching as he jerked forward with a moan. "Allen, need you to do something about the lack of lube."

A.J nodded, blinking to focus his thoughts on what Shane was saying. When Shane switched their positions, A.J knelt down in front of Shane and grinned. "Are you going to punish me tonight Shane?" He watched as already dark eyes darkened further. "Are you going to spank me until I cum or are you going to fuck me into the bed?"

Shane shivered at the images seething through his head. He's never had these thoughts about anyone before and it scared him. But as much as it scared him...it turned him on as well. Running his hands through A.J.'s hair, Shane sucked in a quick breath at the gust of cool air across the tip of his cock. "You're going to make us wait?" He ignored the original questions, unsure what would happen once they were at the house.

"No." A.J said softly, moving between Shane's thighs, he leaned forward and took Shane's erect member into his mouth. Sliding his tongue down and around him, A.J shivered at the sound that left Shane.

Shane arched, his back curving away from the couch as pleasure shot up his spine. Fingers tightening in A.J.'s hair, Shane fought back the urge to thrust up, panting as hot hands moved between his legs. The mix of anger and lust burning through him made him shudder as A.J pulled back with a lewd pop. Watching him with half lidded, lust filled eyes, Shane pulled A.J up and over him, adjusting him until he was over his lap. "No time to go slow, need you to..." Shane broke off as A.J.'s hand wrapped around him. "Allen, we..." Shane's hands tightened on A.J.'s hips, groaning low as he was slowly enveloped by the hot body above him. "N-no time, honey...w-we..." Shane stopped as A.J rocked back and forth. He shivered at the slow pace, hands sliding up and around to A.J.'s back.

"We have time...we have..." A.J groaned as Shane thrust up, forcing A.J to hold on to him or fall on the floor. "Jesus, trying to get me on the floor?"

"Later." Shane panted, mind focused on the tight, hot hole wrapped around him. He moved with A.J., hands tightening their hold as Shane moaned low in his throat. He knew A.J wasn't going to last much longer, could feel it in the way his hips stuttered in their movements. "Want to wait?"

A.J shook his head as he held on to Shane, head thrown back as pleasure raced along his nerves. "Later?"

Shane nodded as his vision blurred. "Brunch." Shane groaned, holding A.J close as he tightened around Shane. He watched A.J fall apart faster then usual, the tan face flushed with pleasure as Shane held him close. Running his hands over A.J.'s back, Shane shivered as he sat up, changing the angle for them both. "And everything in between."

A.J grinned as he kissed Shane. "Stop talking, I'm about to cum and you're making plans?"

"You can cum sweetheart, the sooner you do the sooner..." Shane broke off as A.J went stiff against him. "The sooner we can go again." He watched as A.J came between them, body shaking as his orgasm raced through him. "I will always love you Allen."

A.J held Shane tight as he came, running a shaky, sweaty hand up and down his back. He didn't say anything until their breathing had some what returned to normal. "I love you too Shane." He whispered against Shane's temple, closing his eyes as strong arms tightened around him. Things were far from being resolved between them, his past making itself known in a brutal way. A.J knew he had a lot to explain to Shane, a lot of things he needed to account for but as long as Shane wasn't leaving him...

"If you never believe anything else, believe I will always love you, no matter what."

A.J nodded as Shane moved beneath him, throat closing over the words that wanted to come out. They still had a month over seas, which meant he and Shane still wouldn't be sharing a room. Running trembling hands over Shane's back and shoulder's, A.J wondered where Shane was planning to stay until they got home. "Shane?"

Shane sighed as he leaned back, holding A.J close. "Mhmm." He hummed softly, eyes drifting close in exhaustion. He hadn't slept well since the memories and with A.J pressed against him, he was content.

"Will you, uh, do, umm, do you want to stay the night with me? You don't have to obviously but..."

"I hadn't planned on staying anywhere else." Shane shifted under A.J., slowly sliding out of him as he moved to get comfortable. "Besides, Sadie and Juls are going to kill us if they find us in here like this."

"Juls won't care but Sai will. She'll say this isn't our room so we don't have the right to fuck in it." A.J chuckled at Shane's grin, slowly easing off of his lap and to his feet. Swaying unsteadily, A.J gave Shane a shy smile when he helped steady him. "Guess I'm more tired than I'd originally thought."

Yawning, Shane stretched, watching A.J with hooded eyes as he straightened his clothes. "We need a nap then something to eat. We'll talk after." Shane started in surprise to feel a cool towel cleaning off the mess on his stomach and groin area. "Allen, you don't..."

"I know I don't but I want to." A.J said softly, giving Shane a quick grin once he'd finished. "Now get dressed, if Sadie comes in and sees you like this I'm putting all the blame on you."

Shane let out a quick shout of laughter as he straightened his clothes. "She would never believe it of me." Shane reached for A.J before he could move away. "This doesn't mean I'm ok with how things happened for either of us. But I need you with me Allen, and if you're not ready..."

"I'm ready Shane, trust me I'm ready. I'll tell you anything you want to know as long as you're not leaving."

Shane grinned as he looked down at the upturned face. "I keep telling you I'm a jealous, possessive asshole and have no intentions of leaving you or letting Wellington have you again. You belong to me Allen, understand?"

A.J shivered as he stared up at Shane, nodding in answer to his question. "Maybe, uh we could take a nap later? I mean I'm up for..."

Shane leaned down and kissed A.J., smiling at the moan that left him. Pulling back, he waited until A.J opened his eyes. "We'll wait till we get back to the room then decide." Shane held back a yawn as they headed to the door. Picking up his phone and keys, he sent Sadie a text letting her know where they would be. Turning to the man next to him, Shane gave him a smile in answer to his question. Shane would admit that he was still angry about A.J ending up with Wellington, more so out of possessive jealousy than anything else. When A.J.'s hand slid into his, interlacing their fingers, Shane felt his face heat in surprised pleasure. "This is a first."

A.J gave Shane a shy grin as he pulled him down the hall. "Why hide it, everyone knows and it makes me feel better being able to touch you." Pressing the button on the elevator, he waited for the cab to stop. "It also lets me know that I haven't completely lost you."

Shane pulled A.J to him just as the elevator doors opened. Ignoring the other occupants for the moment, Shane shook his head with a small chuckle. "You never cease to amaze me."

"And you will never cease to amaze us. If you two are going to do whatever it is you're doing then do it in a room not in public for all to see."

Looking up in surprise, Shane turned to see his sister and brother-in-law watching them in surprise. Sighing in agitation, Shane shook his head as he led A.J onto the elevator. "Don't start Stephanie, I'm not in the best of moods and if you insist on a fight..."

"Not a fight, just asking for some type of discretion."

"I don't have to if I'm not out in public and walking down a hallway together is not offensive." Shane tried to ignore the look she gave him, watching as A.J moved as far behind him as possible. "Allen?" Shane turned to him, a frown of concern curving his lips down. "What is it?"

"This is part of why I left the first time, so you wouldn't have to be subjected to this because of me."

Shane grinned as he wrapped an arm around A.J.'s waist. "I don't care what they think as long as you mean it when you say you love me that's all that matters."

A.J nodded as he glanced around Shane to look at his sister and her husband. He's clashed with them before but this time would be different. He wasn't going to let them take Shane from him. Not if he had anything to say about it.

"Stop worrying about them, no matter what happens..."

"You will always love me."

Shane nodded before leaning down and giving A.J a gentle kiss. "Come on, this is our floor." He pulled A.J behind him as they left the elevator, a smile curving his lips. He knew what his sister would do now and was prepared for the resulting fallout. Until then, he would continue doing his work and enjoying his time in London.