Disclaimer: I only own Ava.
A/N: A HUGE thank you to everyone who is keeping up with the story. I love you all! An update is what you get for being awesome! Enjoy. Review.
Her eyes skipped around the space, taking in the flurry of activity around them. Everywhere people seemed to be moving about, hurrying off to see if lights were bright enough and if microphones were working. Producers walked by, speaking to various wrestlers, going over the promos for the night. Scripts were being looked over and certain areas were tweaked out for later spots.
"How are you feeling?"
"I'm fine." Ava shrugged, following him through the arena halls. "Excited to be here."
"You'll be up here before you know it." Roman assured her. "Just a few more months."
"We'll see what happens after the baby is born." She said as they stopped in front of the locker room.
"Do you not want to come back after you have the baby? It's all you've been talking about since you found out you were pregnant. You're still working backstage at NXT. I just assumed you planned on getting back into the ring post birth."
"Not directly after the baby is born." Ava laughed, cupping the side of his face. "It's just going to take time until I heal up from having the baby. There's going to be some time until my maternity leave expires. I'm going to need to get back into shape and work off the ring rust. It's going to take time before I can even get back to working NXT matches."
"I just know how much this means to you."
"I know. I believe there has been more than enough talk about it between us." She smiled. "Later on down the line, I'll be back in the ring. Maybe, once the baby is slightly older."
"We have my parents."
"It's our baby. We can't expect them to always watch the baby so we can go on as if the baby isn't alive."
"That's not what I meant." He laughed, pushing the door open and stepped aside to let her walk in. "I just meant that we have them to help out as well."
Ava set her purse down and sat on the bench. "We'll take the days as they come."
She couldn't help but be curious as to why he was so interested in her returning to wrestling now. He always knew she was going to be back, but worked at avoiding the subject whenever he could. Knowing Roman was worried about her possibly never coming back threw her for a loop. Sometimes it seemed as if he didn't want her back in the ring.
"There's no need for us to rush."
"Any other time I wouldn't be worried or over thinking what is going to happen. I just want to make sure that we have everything planned just to avoid any surprises. I can't help but worry when you're here alone and I'm on the road."
"Surprises are going to be coming left and right. We can't be be prepared at every single turn." Ava sighed. "We just have to deal with life as it comes. I mean, we, of all people, should know about being surprised."
Roman couldn't help but laugh. "Fine. Fine. No need for us to always be ready."
"Roman!" Seth called, entering their locker room. "Ring is finally free."
"Wasn't aware there was a wait." He smirked, looking at Seth. "Give me a couple of minutes."
"There's a lot to work on in the match tonight." Seth shrugged. "Ava! You made it!"
"You're finally not too far from home for me see your match." She said, struggling to get to her feet. "Fucking bench is too low to the ground. Of course I'm going to be here to see you guys wrestle."
"You've seen us on wrestle."
"Not live on Raw." She reminded him, finally getting to her feet. "Thanks for the help guys. I wasn't struggling at all."
"I'm just distracted by how big your stomach has gotten." Seth said, looking at her belly. "You weren't like that when I saw you last week."
"I'm carrying a person in my uterus." Ava glared at him. "It's going to happen."
"Sorry-I didn't mean to..." His voice trailed off and he looked to Roman for help.
"Just turn around and walk away." The Samoan laughed. "We'll be out in a minute."
Alone again, Ava turned to face Roman. "Are you really going to laugh it off?"
"He didn't mean anything by it and you know it, baby." Roman rested her hands on his hips. "Men are just amused that women's bodies can do that and they can still function normally. It's a part of life no man will get to experience and he was just amazed."
"You're right. You're right. I'm just being a nut."
"I love you regardless."
Ten minutes later, she was sitting in a seat just behind the barricade, watching as they plotted out their match for later on. She couldn't help but smile as she watched them work. They all seemed at ease and in place, the exact way that she felt whenever she was in a wrestling building. Sitting there watching them made her miss it and want to come back right away, but at the same time, she felt hollow. Like there was something missing.
"What's on your mind, pretty lady?" Dean asked, sitting on the barricade.
"I miss this." Ava responded, nodding towards the ring. "I miss being in the ring and getting ready for matches like that."
"You'll get back there eventually." He shrugged. "Just take care of yourself and the baby."
"Just watching you guys have fun and being here gives me a weird vibe. Aside from when you guys are home, I really don't see anyone else that much. It's work and then home alone. I've never thought of it until now, but it just sucks being alone."
Dean's eyebrows scrunched up as he thought about what she said. "Have you talked to Roman about any of this?"
Ava looked at him and said smiled. "I haven't talked to him."
"Tell him right away."
Ava parted her lips to start responding, but was quickly interrupted by Seth and Roman.
"What are you two talking about over here?" Seth asked, leaning his arms on the barricade. "Something we should know about?"
"I'm not talking to you until you get me peanut butter cups." Ava shrugged.
"One comment." He muttered, straightening himself up. "One comment that I'll never live down."
"Where are you going?" Dean asked.
"To get her peanut butter cups." Seth said.
"Didn't we talk about this?" Roman asked when Seth left.
"Yes, but I'm really craving peanut butter cups." She said. "I'll feel bad about it later and probably make him cookies."
"Well, as interesting as this is, I'm going to head backstage." Dean hopped off the barricade. "I'll see you guys later. Ava, enjoy your chocolate."
Roman hopped over the barricade and sat down next to her. He wrapped his arm around her shoulders and pulled her closer to him.
"Everything all right?"
"Just fine." She replied, resting her head on his shoulder. "Actually. I change my mind. There is something I need to talk to you about."
"Shoot."
"Not here." Ava sighed. "Later on when we're alone. There's too much going on around here for you to focus on just us."
"Do you really have to go?" She whispered, her arms wrapped around him and her cheek pressed against his chest. "I really want you to go back home with me, so we can be alone and I can have my way with you."
He laughed before placing a kiss on top of her head and gently squeezing her to him. "Mmm, I wish I could, baby. Believe me, that sounds a helluva lot more tempting than being on a plane for three hours and then sitting in a car with Dean and Seth for an hour or so. It's especially going to be gruesome since Seth might be whining about you sending him out for peanut butter cups."
"He'll live." She pulled away from him, shrugging with one shoulder. "I love Seth, but I'm not concerned about him right now."
"Oh?" Roman asked, raising an eyebrow. "What are you concerned about?"
Ava broke away from him completely and gestured toward the row of seats. "Let's sit for a minute before you have to go."
"Okay." He answered, unsure of what was coming next.
They sat down side by side and stared out at the large crowd fluttering through the airport. Some people were leaving, heading to someone unknown destination for one reason or another. Others were there to see off loved ones, while some were arriving to welcome them back. All around them there seemed to be people getting together, making this newfound loneliness in Ava grow even larger.
"What's on your mind?" Roman asked, taking her hand in his.
"My feelings aren't very often communicated. I'll tell you things as much as I can and then the rest I keep bottled up inside or I just choose to ignore them. My reasoning is that I think they'll go away, especially if I keep busy."
Roman remained silent as he waited for her to continue.
"Earlier today while I was watching you and the boys practice in the ring, I saw how much fun you guys were all having. Everything seemed right in the world for you guys. Just watching all of you interact with each other filled me a sense of loneliness. Yes, I'm at work and I see everyone and then it's over. Everyone is busy and I'm exhausted. It didn't dawn on me until today just how alone I am when I'm done working. I don't like that feeling. I don't like going home and knowing there isn't going to be anyone there."
Removing his hand from hers, he moved his hand underneath her chin and gently turned her head towards his. A smile formed on his lips as he just nodded his head, knowing that now was a good time for him to ask her. After weeks of trying to find the perfect moment, it had presented itself to him.
"I feel the exact same way." Roman admitted. "I want to come home to you and the baby. Knowing that I'd have you there when I get home would be the greatest feeling in the world."
"We're going to do this?"
"Do you know what is that we're doing?"
He wanted to be entirely sure that she knew what they were getting into. That they were taking the next step into their, otherwise, short relationship. Living together was huge, but moving in together just as they were starting a family, was massive.
"I want us to move in together." Ava whispered. "I want you to come home to me and I want to be able walk inside the house and know that you'll be there. Not have you come home at some odd hour of the night and wait to see you the next day, but to be able to see you that very same day."
"That's what is going to happen." He was relieved. "My next day off we'll start moving you into my house."
Ava smiled at the thought and leaned in to press her lips to his. "Looking forward to it already."
"I don't think you understand how happy you've made me. I've been racking my brains for weeks trying to talk to you about this." Roman told her, taking her hand in his again. "I love that this is happening."
"Me too." Ava smiled, squeezing his hand.
Roman kissed her one more time and then rose to his feet. "I hate to do this now, but I've really got to get going. I'll call you when we land in Dallas."
"Please, do." Ava replied, hugging him. "I love you."
"Love you, too." He kissed her once more and then walked off.
Ava watched him until he disappeared from her line of view. Wiping away a stray tear, she rested her hands on her stomach. "Don't be upset, baby." She whispered. "Daddy will be home again before we know it."
A/N: Soooo...what did you think?