After dinner, the guys had dropped the girls off at Valentina's apartment. Knowing Roman wasn't going to be there with her, he had asked the girls to keep an eye on her. He wasn't allowed near her right now, but they were.
Val looked beside her at the once again empty spot. She hated kicking him out, but apart of her was saying that he deserved it. She tried to picture his face, but all that came up was Kevin. She shook her head and cried. Why couldn't she rid herself of him? Why did she have to remember now?
She stood and ran to her bathroom, washing her face with cold water. She took a few deep breaths before calling her therapist. She told Val to come in the afternoon to see her. Val agreed. She walked out into the living room. Brie was in the kitchen.
"Hey, I made some coffee", Brie said.
Val walked over and poured herself a cup.
"Want to talk about what happened between you and Roman?", Brie asked.
Valentina sat down at the table with her. She twirled her cup and sniffled.
"One second you two were happy and back together and the next, its over", Brie said.
"Its not over, I just need, I need a second to breathe", Val said, she started crying and shaking.
Brie didn't know if she could comfort Val. Val was glad she didn't try to, she would have just pushed her away.
"Because of Kevin or both?", Brie asked.
"Both", Val said softly.
Brie nodded.
"After he kicked me out, in my head I thought I deserved it, because I didn't know what happened between me and Kevin. I kept telling myself that it was my fault, I hurt him.", Val said, looking into her cup.
"But now that you remember", Brie said softly.
"I really want to hurt him. I want to make both of them feel the way that I felt. It feels like I have this huge weight on my shoulders, like I'm drowning", Val said.
Brie reached over, her hand hovering over Valentina's hand. Val noticed and nodded. Brie set her hand down on her friend's. Paige had walked in and was leaning against the wall, listening closely.
"Is that why you kicked out Roman?", Brie asked.
Val nodded.
"I saw the hurt when I told him to leave, it wasn't my pain, but it was hurt", Val said.
"But trying to get back at him, isn't healthy either", Paige said.
"I know. I don't want revenge, I just want room to think, to process", Val said.
Paige and Brie nodded.
"And I wouldn't mind a little groveling", Val mumbled.
Her friends laughed softly.
"A little groveling never hurt anyone", Paige said.
"Are you going home?", Dean asked.
"I can't face my son after this. We promised him that we would come home together and showing up without Valentina. I wouldn't know what to tell him", Roman said.
"You could try the truth. It doesn't have to be the whole truth", Seth said.
Roman nodded and paced.
"I don't know what to do", he sighed.
"What about talking to that therapist of yours? You know the one helping you guys", Dean said.
Roman nodded.
"Yeah, she could help", he said.
He didn't know why he didn't think of her sooner. He grabbed his phone and called her.
"I some how knew I would get a call from you as well Mr. Reigns", she said.
"Did my wife, call you?", he asked.
"She did", she said.
Roman didn't know if this woman would help them both now or if her focus should be entirely on Valentina. He wanted her focus on Val.
"I was going to call you Mr. Reigns. She's coming in to see me today in the afternoon. Please stop by if you are still in town. I would like to speak to you both first before we start an official session", she said.
"Ok", he said.
"Don't worry, just by looking at you two, I know your marriage can be saved. There is still very much a lot of love there", she said.
He smiled.
"I hope you're right", he said.
"I'll see you in the afternoon", she said.
After Paige and Brie left. Val took a shower, till she started getting flashes of what happened. Every time she closed her damn eyes.
"Where's your key card?", he asked.
This didn't feel like Roman.
"Your key card Val", he repeated.
She tried to tell him it was in her wallet, but she couldn't get the word out. Every time she tried, it sounded slurred. He opened her wallet and took out the key card. Swiping it before carrying her in. He laid her down on the bed and she felt boneless. She wanted to sit up, but couldn't find the strength.
"What's going on?", she was able to get out.
"Everything is ok. I am going to take care of you", he whispered.
"The room is spinning Roman", she mumbled.
She felt the bed move and something on top of her. She tried to open her eyes, but still everything was spinning.
"Roman, I feel so dizzy", she mumbled.
"Just keep your eyes closed. It will go away. I will make you feel better, I promise", he whispered.
"Baby", she whispered.
She felt him smile against her neck. His hands rough, finding their way under her shirt and squeezing her breasts.
"Roman, baby", she tried to tell him.
"It will be ok", he whispered, before biting down gently on her shoulder and removing her bra.
When had he taken her shirt off. Feeling his warm fingers near the button on her jeans.
Val opened her eyes and sat down in the shower. She rocked herself and cried. How could she have not seen it? He touched her, every inch of her. She stood and grabbed the small towel she was wiping her body with. Rubbing it on every inch of her body till her skin was red.
She wanted to take any remains of him off her, but no matter how hard she scrubbed, the memories kept flashing in her mind. She didn't want to feel like this anymore. She wanted to forget again. She wanted Roman to be the only man who ever touched her.
What did she do to deserve this? Was it something she wore? Something she said to make him think that this was ok to do? Did he regret it at all? Did he feel disgusted with himself the way that she felt right now?
Roman had gotten to the therapist a few minutes early. He wanted to have a few minutes to speak to her before Valentina got here.
"So, what is it that you wanted to talk about?", she asked.
"What can I do to help her? She kicked me out of her apartment and asked for space, but I'm afraid for her. I'm afraid she won't forgive me.", he said.
She nodded. He told her what he had said to Valentina after he found out. He cried, remembering the look on his wife's face. She was falling apart and he slammed the door in her face.
"I don't know what to do", he cried.
"She needs time to process everything. She won't be alone Mr. Reigns, I will be here for her. I am the type of therapist that likes to check up on her clients daily. Whether it be on the phone or in person", she said.
Roman nodded.
"As for helping you fix this with your wife, marriage counseling is the best option. Airing out any held in feelings and regrets. This is your opportunity to confess, express, and understanding each other.", she said.
He nodded.
"No matter how much you know she's not going to want to hear what you have to say or she might say something you don't want to hear. It will be hard and a long road ahead. You two work together, find time to sit down and ask about her day, what she's feeling, and if you feel like you have too, apologize.", she said.
He nodded.
"Won't ever stop apologizing", he said.
"You acknowledge that you messed up, that's good", she said.
"I didn't mess up, I fucked up", he chuckled.
She smiled. Someone knocked and she stood to answer the door. Val walked in and froze when she saw Roman. She looked confused.
"Please sit Valentina", she said.
Val sat down on the same couch as Roman. She wrung her hands.
"I asked you both here because I feel like not only can I help you Valentina, I can help save you marriage. If that is something that you both want", she said.
"Its something I want", Roman said.
Val glanced at him before looking at her therapist. She nodded.
"I do, I want to fix this", she said.
"Then lets get started. Tell me everything between you and Roman", the therapist said.
Valentina looked at Roman.
"Go ahead", he said softly.
She told her everything on her end, even how he had made her feel.
"I felt betrayed. I felt alone. He would always tell me how he knew me better than anyone and then suddenly some man he barely knows calls him and tells him he slept with me and he believes him. Just like that", Val said.
Roman scooted closer to the edge of the couch.
"Correction, he sent me photos. She was naked, my mind just got ahead of itself. I was the only man to ever touch her or see her naked, then he's telling me he has proof and sends me those photos. Any human being would think that what he said was true.", he defended.
"He sent you photos?", Val asked.
Roman looked at her and he nodded.
"He called me yes, but I laughed it off. I knew she would never do that to me. He said he had proof and then hung up. A few seconds later I'm getting these texts from him with naked pictures of her. She was hugging her pillow, but she was naked.", Roman said.
The therapist was nodding.
"I'm not using that as an excuse for my actions and my words. I regret everything I said and did to you Val. I am going to have to look at you for the rest of our lives and see the pain I caused. It makes me feel like shit, because I should have listened to you.", he said.
Valentina wiped her tears.
"Are you taking in what he's saying to you Valentina?", the therapist asked.
Val nodded, keeping her hands in her lap.
"But I am not ready to take you back into my life. I am not ready to take anyone back into my life. Why can't you understand that? Stop forcing it", Val yelled at him.
He looked hurt before looking down at his feet.
"I realize we have son and he wants us back together, but I don't know how to stop feeling the way that I am feeling.", Val said.
The therapist nodded.
"You've been holding them down for so long, you just need room to go through all of them and breathe", she said.
"Thank you, you get it, he doesn't", Val said.
"I get it Val, I really do. I'm just afraid", Roman said, his own tears falling.
"Of what?", Val yelled.
"Of losing you for good. Of you not being able to forgive me. Hell, I can't even forgive me", he said, he stood and paced.
His hands on his hips.
"I have already forgiven you. I just. Need. Space", she said calmly.
He looked at her.
"Maybe this space would be good for the both of you. Roman, it seems you need time to process your feelings as well. You not being able to forgive yourself is a sign of that.", she said.
"I don't think I'll ever be able to until I know that she's ok. I hurt her and knowing that she's like this because of me, I just can't", he said, before sitting back down.
"Its not because of you", Val said, her shaky hand reached over to his.
She hesitated before setting it on top of his. He exhaled.
"Apart of it is Val, and you know it", he said softly.
"No. I was angry at you, but knowing that he sent you photos, it changes things. If Eva would have sent me photos of you, naked and claiming she slept with you, I would have gone off on you too. I would have walked out", she said.
"Cheating isn't the easiest thing to handle, especially when you love someone as much as you two love each other", the therapist said.
Val moved closer to Roman.
"Add on my Samoan temper, not a good combination or her Latina temper", Roman chuckled.
Val smiled softly.
"I think we've had enough for today. I would like to set up another appointment with the both of you. We've only gone through half the issue", she said.
"Yeah, Eva 'I open my legs to married men' Marie is the second", Val said, rolling her eyes.
Roman sighed, he knew that talk was coming. The therapist nodded. Once they said goodbye and set up another appointment for Wednesday on their day off. They walked out together.
"So, I'm heading out tonight, for Monday night Raw. When will you head out?", he asked softly.
"Tomorrow morning, early", she said, looking down at her hands.
"So, I'll see you at the arena", he said.
She nodded.
"I'm sorry Tina, I love you", he said softly.
He closed the space between them. He noticed she stiffened up at his closeness. Gently kissing the top of her head.
"I will never let anyone hurt you again, including me", he whispered, before leaving her side.
She watched him walk back to his rental before driving off. She wiped the tears and went home.