"Whatcha doing?" Seth kicked the hotel closed, balancing a take out bag and a six pack of beer in his hands.

"Watching tape," she sat crossed legged on their bed, her laptop open in front of her and a notebook between her legs. "Lot of homework to do,"

"You work too hard," he smiled at her, opening a bottle and handed it to her.

"This tournament is a big deal,"

"I know," he crawled in behind her, his hands finding her tense shoulders, "I'm proud of you, baby."

"Mmm-"

"But take a break," he whispered in her ear, kneading her shoulders.

"Thirty minutes."

"I only need fifteen," he teased, scooting her back into his body as she melted under his touch. "You wanna eat?"

"No," she giggled.

"Alright," he pressed his lips to her neck and watched her lean forward to hit play on the next video. He pulled her back by her waist, "oh no you don't."

"I need to-Pete Dunne-"

"What do you need to know? He's a psychopath with no regard for anyone's safety. Or for his own, for that matter."

"You know him?"

"I only spent a little bit of time abroad, but yeah I knew him, Neville, Noam. They were all kids at the time, but, they all made it."

"So what's he like?"

"Out of his mind. Look, he's an open book, you won't have to try very hard to get what you want out of him. Just be careful, okay?"

"Okay," she nuzzled against his beard. "What's for dinner?"

"Perogis from the street vendor."

"Living on the edge tonight," she kissed his cheek, closing the laptop as she got up.

"If I get food poisoning I'll make sure they know it was your fault."

That night he drifted off instantly, but her mind was still a mess of UK tournament. His chest was rising and falling easy under her head and she tried to put it all out of her mind and just enjoy having him there next to her. He groaned above her.

"Mmm oh fuck-"

She chuckled to herself, it wasn't every night she caught him in the middle of a blissful little dream.

"Ohh just like that baby…"

Charly bit her lip and snuck her hands between his muscular thighs, squeezing lightly. Might as well give him something to dream about. She rubbed up and down his leg.

"Mmm-oh yeah. So good…so good…oh Steph…"

She halted her hand, looking up at his face. His eyes were closed, his mouth gapping.

"Ohh god-"

Her heart plummeted. He shifted his hips, moaning in his sleep. Seth murmured her name again and unthinking, Charly pulled her leg back and kicked his shin.

"Huh-uh-huh?" he jolted awake and she sheepishly pulled her leg back.

"Hmm?" she put on an innocent face. "You okay?"

"Mmm-yeah"

"Hmm."

"Was uh, was I talking in my sleep?"

"I don't know, were you?"

"Char," he sighed.

She rolled out of the bed, running her hand through her hair and heading for the bathroom.

"Charly!" he called after her, "it was just a dream-"

She didn't respond, just turned on the sink and filled the glass next to it. He followed her, leaning up against the doorway in his boxers, looking at her with those big brown eyes.

"Char, I promise, I'm not sleeping with her. Dreams are funny."

"I didn't say you were."

"You were thinking about it."

"Yeah well," she met his eye in the mirror, "so were you."

"Charly, it's just desire,"

She scoffed and he sighed.

"Don't give me that. Am I the only guy you ever want to see naked anymore? Don't flatter me, Caruso, that's bullshit."

"Not like that."

"Oh no? Not about Noam? Or, I don't know, Finn?"

Share glared at him and poured the rest of the glass down the sink. He smirked.

"Yeah, I know your type."

"Okay but I don't have sex dreams about them while laying next to another man."

"It doesn't mean anything. She doesn't mean anything. You gotta trust me about that."

Charly sighed, "yeah, I guess."

"You guess?"

"Don't expect too much," she breezed past him, shutting the light off as she went, leaving him in the dark.

"I love you," he called over his shoulder.

XXX

Charly stretched out on the couch in his locker room a few days later, in Vienna. Not every arena bothered with these VIP rooms, but when they did it was good to be dating the Champ. She liked the quiet moments away from the craziness to collect her thoughts and plan her interviews. The water was running in the bathroom, Seth's usual pre-match shower, and it was soothing just to listen to him humming off-key.

The door opened and he stepped out, a towel wrapped around his waist and another rubbing his hair. He jumped slightly as he saw her sitting there.

"Oh! Didn't hear you come in…"

"Was I interrupting something?"

"Char,"

"Never mind," she looked down at her notes and then back to him, "it's okay right?"

"You being in here? Of course, you know that."

"It's nice. Quite," she scribbled a note on the side of her interview prep. "Good view,"

He grinned, "Yeah?" his knees straddled her, pushing her back onto the couch. His lips met hers, warm and wet.

She giggled, pushing him off by his bare chest, "Seth!"

Tossing his towel to the side, Seth pushed himself against her, her tight skirt hiking up in the process. He pressed his lips to her neck, kissing up and down as she moved underneath him. The teasing was getting to her quickly, she ran her hands up and down his shoulders as she kissed back, the hair on his body was still damp. He started grinding his hips against her and she let out a yelp, looking back towards the door of the locker room.

"No one has swipe access but us," he whispered in her ear before nipping at it. "And I think you need this, so relax."

She gave into his kiss, letting her body go limp and just enjoy it. It wasn't easy for her, to give up control like that, to let him have all of her. But as he moved his body up and down, letting her taste his skin, making her want him, she didn't mind it. He gave her neck another sloppy kiss and she let out a long moan, her eyes screwed shut.

And then the door flung open.

"Seth we need to ta-oh!" Stephanie half closed the door, looking away, "sorry, didn't mean to interrupt."

He groaned, pulling himself up off of her. "Okay, almost no one has swipe access but us."

"We need to talk, Seth," Stephanie repeated.

"Can I put on pants first?" he grumbled, wrapping the towel around his waist again. Charly straightened her skirt and blouse uncomfortably.

"Please."

"What's this about, Stephanie?" he asked as he pulled up his ring tights.

"Business," she responded simply.

"Alright," he crossed his arms and leaned against the table. Stephanie glanced at Charly and gave Seth a look. He shook his head, "anything you have to say to me you can say in front of her."

"I think we should speak privately, Seth," she sent him another knowing look.

He sighed, "I'll come find you later, okay?"

"Oh, uh, sure," Charly glanced back at him as she made for the door, "I'll see you after."

"Okay. I love you."

"Yeah, you too,"

The door closed behind her, leaving the two of them alone in his locker room. She tried to push away the image of Stephanie on the couch with him, running her hands over his skin. Why would he give into her that easily? Was it always like that, and Charly just refused to see it? Was it really just desire and nothing more?

She was in a fog as she made her way to the preshow desk, her thoughts eating her up. When someone tapped her on the shoulder, she nearly jumped out of her skin.

"Whoa! Sorry, I didn't mean to startle you," Hunter smiled kindly.

"No, that's, that's okay. I was just caught up."

"You alright?"

"Yeah! Of course, just...thinking about something."

"Well, any chance you've seen Stephanie?" he raised an eyebrow at her.

"Stephanie? Uh no, I mean, yeah, I saw her a bit ago. At catering."

"Catering? When was that?"

"Don't remember," her heart was beating out of her chest, did he know? "Sorry, Hunter."

He smiled slyly, "That's something else."

"What is?"

"After all he puts you through, you're standing here lying for him. Stephanie doesn't exactly mingle in catering, Charly."

"I..."

"It's alright. Love's like that, huh? Thanks for your help, I know where she is," he turned and began to walk off, but paused and looked back at her, "you coming?"

XXX

"Let me guess," Stephanie took a seat on the couch, casually moving her hair to one side, "trying to prove your fidelity?"

"What do you want, Steph?"

"It's cute, you bending over backward to earn her trust."

"What do you want, Steph?"

She smirked, "what makes you think I want something? Maybe this is a social visit."

"Well I can't be having social visits with you anymore,"

"So I've heard," she leaned back, "but my husband doesn't tell me what I can and can't do."

"I'm not interested in being a part of your rebellion."

"You shouldn't let him bully you like that,"

"Oh, so you're on my side now?" It was his turn to smirk.

"Maybe you don't feel like it, but I'm always on your side."

"That's bullshit, Steph, and you know it. You were never gonna pick me over him-"

"Did you expect me to?"

"This is old news. I don't care anymore. If H wants me to stay away from you, then that's what I'll do."

"To keep Charly around."

He scoffed, "you know, you're starting to sound just the tiniest bit jealous, buttercup."

She rolled her eyes, "buttercup."

"You used to like it when I called you that," he said softly, finding himself smiling at the memory.

"Frankly Seth, I liked what you were doing while you called me that."

"Yeah? When I was behind you, whispering sweet little words into your ear?"

Now she was blushing, "yeah that was pretty alright,"

"Is that what you think about? When he's giving you the same old boring shit over and over?"

Her face contorted, "so that's how it's gonna be, huh?"

"Think I don't know a set-up when I see one?"

"I'm not here to set you up, I don't like Hunter's threat any more than you do."

"Why?"

"Because," she sighed, "I don't want this to go away."

"This? This is anything."

"Don't bullshit yourself, Seth," she laughed. "You might be going home to her every night, but you've never stopped this dance with me."

"And you're married, Steph, you go home to him and three little kids. The hell are you doing still in it?"

"Yeah well, marriage is hard, you'd know that if you made it that far."

"Ouch."

"And dancing around you," she shrugged, "I like it."

"You need it. That's what this about huh?"

"What and you want to give it up? You love this dance, you love giving me a hard time, you love that you know how to push my buttons,"

"And I'm damn good at it."

"So why let it go?"

"Why let it go? Steph," he shook his head, " because I'm in love with Charly and I'm not gonna let your damn husband take her away from me."

"You used to say the same thing about me."

"There it is again. You're jealous,"

"You've been jealous since the day we met." She leaned forward, "you've always wanted me all to yourself."

"But that's not what you're offering here…" he knitted his brow, "is it?"

"What if it is?" she asked coyly, an eyebrow raised.

"It's not."

"But what if it was? What would you do?"

His stomach twisted in a knot. "Why?"

"I'm just curious. Would you? Walk away?"

"Fuck, Steph, this is so like you," he paced up and down the room. "You don't give a shit about me," his blood was boiling, steam pouring from his ears, "you don't want me, you don't want to be with me, you just wanna fuck this up for me because that's the heartless bi-"

"Watch yourself, Rollins," she shot up, "I came in here to offer you a way out of your arrangement with Hunter."

"You came in here to fuck with my head," he said through gritted teeth. They were starting to shout, he knew it was dangerous, but he didn't care.

"If this is fucking with your head then maybe you're not as committed to your relationship as you think."

"What is this to you? What sick, cruel game are you playing? What do you even want Steph?"

"I told you what I wanted," she spat.

"No, you want to control, you want me to want you so badly I'd give up everything else. This isn't about me, this isn't about us, it's about you. It's always about you. And you know what?" he could feel the pressure behind his eyes, forcing himself not to break down as his voice raised, "there was a time, there was a part of me that believed maybe you really cared- maybe even that you actually loved me…but that's bullshit just like everything else, isn't it? You don't care about anyone but you, so just fucking leave-" he flung the door open, just to find Hunter and Charly standing on the other side.

"Well well well," Hunter crossed his arms and smirked, but Charly, she looked defeated.

"How long have you been there?"

"Long enough," he said smugly, pushing his way into the room, "isn't that right, Charly?"

She looked at Seth with that look, those kind eyes dejected, struggling to understand. But she didn't say anything, finding a place on the wall next to the door and leaning her head against it. Stephanie stepped in.

"Hunter, calm down, this isn't-"

"Oh, I am plenty clam, babe. You know how much I love being right. Just couldn't stay away from each other, could you?"

"We were just talking about-" Seth tried to explain, but the point was moot.

"I know exactly what you were talking about, Seth. And so does Charly, doesn't she?" he turned towards her and she just shook her head, speechless.

"So why the hell are you sending her away for what Steph and I do, huh? You hate me, fine, don't punish her for it."

"You really that stupid?" Hunter laughed, his eyes glimmering, "I was never going to move her from Raw."

"You're not?" Seth felt a weight lift from his chest.

"Of course not! God, I wouldn't give up one of our best backstage talents over you," he laughed again. "But now I know exactly how far you're willing to go, what you're willing to do, just to have my wife around,"

His stomach twisted again, realizing how he'd been played.

"and so does she," Hunter looked over to Charly, "so good luck."

With that, he turned for the door and Stephanie hurried after him. The door slammed close. He looked over to Charly, her eyes trained on him. She slipped down the wall, falling down to the floor like her knees couldn't hold her anymore.

"Char-" he went over and sat next to her, his knees to his chest. "That wasn't-"

"Don't tell me what it wasn't," she whispered, not looking at him.

"It was a set-up."

"And you fell for it,"

"I was telling her to get out,"

"Because you realized she was never going to love you the way you love her." She scoffed, "I can't believe I was this stupid."

"You're not stupid, you're not listening to me. I didn't do anything Char,"

"You lied," her head turned towards him suddenly, he hated it when she raised her voice to him. It meant she was hurt, deeply, deeply hurt. "You told me you were over it, that it was just desire, it didn't mean anything."

"It doesn't," he gritted his teeth. "It's just ancient history-"

"You miss her," she shook her head.

"I-" he sighed, "I just miss…pieces of what it was…"

"So you still want her." She blinked tears out of her eyes. "Do you even want to be with me?"

"Yes, Char, yes I-" he gulped, "this is shit timing, but-"

"But what?"

"I got an offer on the house."

"What?"

"My house. I can sell it, finally get out of that place. I just need to find somewhere to live and it's done."

"What does that have to do with anything?"

"I, uh, I thought maybe…I mean, you have the room, we could…"

"You're not serious," she stood up shaking her head, "you're not taking this moment to ask me to move in with you."

"The timing is bad, I know," he said, getting to his feet too. "But it's what I want,"

She ran her hands through her hair, shaking her head, "we are not doing this right now."

"I know I know, but I'm crunched for time, they're anxious and I need to be able to accept it when I get home-"

"Well I don't know if you and me will even be together when we get home!" she spewed, her eyes welling with tears.

His heart dropped into his stomach, "baby,"

She didn't give him a chance, turning on her heels and slamming the door behind her. He ran his hands through his hair, how on earth did he manage to fuck this up this badly?