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"Can I sit with you?" Carter felt a hand brush her shoulder and she looked up to see Lana standing next to her.

"No, no blondes allowed," Carter smiled.

"Well it's not natural…"

"Oh well then join me!"

Lana shared a smiled with her as she took the seat next to her at the table.

Carter was passing some time backstage at Raw in catering. She had wanted to hunt down some tea, she was feeling herself start to develop a cold and just wanted some comfort, and was mindlessly relaxing and simultaneously shopping on her phone.

"How are you?" Lana asked.

"I've been better but I'm good. I think I'm getting sick," Carter frowned.

"I don't think I want to sit here anymore…." She teased her.

"That's fair. Seth will barely kiss me so you know…I'm used to the rejection."

"That's brutal."

"Yeah a little bit, especially since I babysat him while he was hurt this week, but I'm shoe shopping so I'll get over it and he can enjoy losing some more room in the closet."

Lana motioned for her phone and Carter slid it over to her so she could look at her selections.

"Thank you again for sending us that champagne this weekend, by the way. That was super sweet of you."

"It was my engagement gift to you. Stop thanking me. How was the weekend?"

"It was good. It was really good. I'm glad we got to have some 'us' time. We get time together at home but I don't know...we always have other stuff going on; the dogs, the academy, house plans. So being able to have 36 hours to do just-"

Carter paused for a moment as Charlotte and Sasha approached the table and Lana motioned for them join them. Carter quietly watched them take a seat, particularly Sasha, and then passed warm smiles to her two fellow coworkers.

"Sorry if we interrupted," Charlotte said.

"No you're fine," Carter responded, "join the party."

"Carter was telling me about her trip to Chicago this weekend," Lana added.

"I saw your pictures! That dress was incredible," Charlotte said.

"Thank you. We never really got to celebrate our engagement just between shows and our other projects so since he had a full weekend off we decided to celebrate. I figured I would try to make it special and remind him what he's getting," she mocked a hair flip.

"It sucks that his weekend off had to be because he was hurt," Charlotte said.

"How is he?" Sasha asked.

"He's good; he's fine. He got cleared but I don't think he's actually wrestling tonight."

"You don't know what he's doing?"

"We don't usually talk about it. I know what I know from the match list and what I have to do but I don't know…I like knowing as little as possible about the outcomes of his stuff. It's just more fun that way; for me, at least."

"I get it; you can watch him as a fan," Charlotte said.

"Yeah, something like that."

"I wish I could do that," Lana smiled.

"You're part of the story," Charlotte laughed.

"Right but that doesn't mean I always like knowing!"

"I think I would want to know," Sasha chimed in. "I think I would want to take some interest in what's going on in his storyline."

Carter cast a look at Lana and Lana returned the same look. Carter had told her about her feelings that Sasha wasn't a big fan of her.

Lana jumped into the conversation with a question about the trip that week and deterred the conversation away from Carter and Seth. Carter mainly listened, adding a few comments about being excited to be out on the road with all of them. It was a good conversation; it was nice to have some girl talk. She was so accustomed to history between her, Renee, Brie and Nikki that it was taking some time for her to warm up to the 'new' girls, but she was trying. She knew it was good to have the friendships and she was already starting to love her connection with Lana.

Her phone vibrated on the table and she glanced down at it.

Where you at, woman?

She rolled her eyes slightly. God love Seth but he was a brat sometimes. He knew she hated that.

She replied: Catering w/the girls, bro

Come to the backstage entrance please. You need to meet someone.

She sighed and glanced up at the table. "I'm being beckoned so I guess I will see you all later."

She gave them a parting smile as the said goodbye and she grabbed her cup of tea to leave. It only took her a few minutes to navigate the halls to the backstage entrance to find her beckoning fiancé.

She spotted him, the back of him, and immediately recognized the three men he was standing with.

He didn't realize she was approaching them and she slid her hand along his back, getting his attention.

"Here she is," he said, looking at her. "Your presence was requested."

"Really?" she asked. She gave him a surprised look and then looked at his three companions.

"Yeah, we didn't believe he really managed to get you to date him. You're way out of his league you know?"

Carter laughed and shook her head, "well bless your heart for saying that. I do know, actually."

Seth gave her a hurt look and she smiled at him.

She extended her hand to introduce herself despite not needing any introductions to them. Josh Reddick, Justin Turner and JP Howell played for the LA Dodgers and she was very aware of who they were.

"I'm Carter, welcome to RAW and it's nice to meet you."

Josh shook her hand first, since he was the one that had spoken to her, followed by the other two.

"He told us you're a baseball girl," Justin said.

"I am. It was my first love."

"What team?"

"Atlanta," she shrugged. The three reacted with feigned disgust like she expected them to and she laughed. "I'm sorry, I can't help it. I was raised that way."

"Well we can't all make good decisions with our lives," JP said.

"At least I'm not a St. Louis fan like this one," she pointed at Seth.

"Yeah how does that work?"

"We don't talk about it," Seth answered. "We don't like any of the same teams so we just agreed to disagree and there is a 'no shit talking' agreement in place."

"He'll eventually come over to my side though," Carter smiled, giving him a nudge.

"Well we brought him a jersey in the hopes of swaying him our way for the playoffs….we would've brought you one if we had known…"

"Nah it's fine," she waved them off, "I'll steal his."

Seth shrugged, "that's what you always do…"

They stood and talked for several more minutes before taking the customary pictures and sending the three off to their seats before the show started. Carter took the jersey from Seth and held it up.

"It'll be a little big but it'll do…" she gave him a teasing look.

"You know all three of them are madly in love with you now? You're a charmer."

"It's easy to be charming in the presence of professional baseball players."

Seth gave her a blank look and raised his eyebrows at her.

"What? Babe…really?" She asked, tilting her head and frowning at him. She pouted slightly and stepped forward to wrap her arms around his waist. "Don't be jealous."

"I'm not jealous; I don't get jealous."

"Whatever you say…"

He brushed her hair away from her face and ran his knuckles along her cheek and then felt her cheeks. "How are you feeling?"

"I'm alright," she shrugged, "I'm not great but I've felt worse. I'm just stuffy and I just really hate not being able to breathe."

"This is why you don't run outside at 5am when it's forty degrees."

"I hate treadmills," she frowned, "I get so bored. I just have to layer up better. I'm used to Florida weather."

"Or you can just do crossfit with me," he smiled.

"I've been considering it."

"I would kiss you right now if you weren't sick and germy."

Carter scoffed, "exactly how long is this going to last? I was the world's best nurse for you, you know?"

"You know I've just been teasing you, don't you? I'm not worried about getting a cold."

"What the hell, Colbs," she playfully pushed him. "That's mean. That's really mean."

He laughed and pulled her close, hugging her tightly.

"I'm sorry, I couldn't resist it. I promise I will make you all the tea you want and snuggle you until you're tired of me. I'm sorry you don't feel well, sunshine."

She leaned against his chest, enjoying the feeling of his hands rubbing her arms, and sighed contentedly.

"Thank you. You're still a jerk but thank you."

He chuckled, "I deserve that."

"You'll snuggle me all night?" she pulled back and looked up at him.

"Yes and even on the plane tomorrow. You're cute with your little red nose," he kissed the tip of her nose.

"Ugh, I'm going to have to go visit the makeup girls. I always look like Rudolph when this happens."

"I like it."

She half rolled her eyes and smiled warmly at him, "you're far too sweet to me, babe. I love you for that."

"That's my job," he kissed her temple and hugged her again. "I will get us room service when we're done tonight and I'll make you a hot bath and I'll fuss all over you, ok?"

"Ok."

"I love you," he said softly and kissed her and then kissed her forehead.

"Mm, I don't want to work tonight. I just want to stay with you."

"At least you get to interview me tonight."

"Oh, I know. Lucky me. I always feel a little goofy having to interview you. You're cutting a promo and I'm standing there trying to be professional and in my head I'm thinking 'he looks so damn good with his hair down and I love his little accent and I'd like to mount him right now'"

"Baby, you can't tell me you want to mount me out in the open backstage."

She shrugged and he shook his head, laughing. He caught sight of an approaching Roman Reigns and nodded at his friend. Carter turned to look at whoever Seth was acknowledging and smiled.

"Hi Roman," Carter greeted him, getting a hug and a kiss on the cheek.

"I hear you're coming on the road with us this week," he said.

"I am! Finally."

"You're stealing my roommate from me."

"You're more than welcome to share a room with us," Carter grinned at him. "I swear we won't keep you awake."

Roman made a disgusted face and shook his head, "I love you, C, but that's gonna be a hard pass. We're close," he motioned at Seth, "but we ain't that close."

"Hey don't say I didn't offer," she shrugged and winked at Roman and then turned to Seth. "I'm going to go to makeup. I'll see you soon."

He kissed her softly and watched with a small smile on his face as she hurried off toward the catering area.

Roman looked at him with an amused look on his face.

"What?" Seth asked.

Roman shook his head, "nothing, man. She really is the better half."

"That's the second fucking time today someone has said something like that. What the fuck."

"We're just keeping you honest," Roman chuckled. "How're the ribs? You all patched up?"

"I'm still a little sore but I had an active weekend," Seth shrugged.

"Stop; I do not need to know that much info about you and Carter. She's like a little sister."

"I didn't say anything," Seth defended, laughing slightly to himself. "We have a date for the wedding…"

"I never thought I would see the day we would be having a conversation about your wedding. I know you were engaged before but you didn't talk about that one."

"This is different," he replied.

"Well, we'll have to have a bachelor party for you."

"No."

"Oh yes, we are," Roman laughed. "You won't be able to get out of it. With all the shit that has gone down with all us over the last couple of years….payback is a bitch, my man."

"Just don't get me suspended, bro."

"That's cold."

"Add it to the list of things I deserve payback for."

"When is the date?"

"Right after Wrestlemania."

Roman chuckled, "oh we'll be in Orlando the week before? Even better."

"No," Seth shook his head. "Fuck off. I'm leaving now."

He could hear Roman laugh as he walked away from him. He didn't even want to think about what kind of plans Roman and Dean, and any of the other guys he had known for years, could come up with for him. At the moment he just wanted to find whichever one of the doctors was working that night, find out what Carter could take that wouldn't get her in trouble, and focus on the show ahead of him.

Seth was standing in the middle of their hotel room, watching Carter look through her bag and listening to her sniffle every three seconds.

"Carps…maybe you shouldn't go this week. You can just go back home and sleep."

"Shut up, I'm fine," she grumbled. She stood up and turned to him, clothes in hand, "I don't even feel bad I'm just irritated."

"You're miserable," he retorted.

She frowned at him, "I'm miserable because I can't breathe. I just have to pant through my mouth like a rabid dog."

He tried to bite back a laugh.

"You're ridiculous."

"I know you said you would fuss all over me and I'm perfectly okay with that but you don't have to worry also, ok? There's a difference." He sighed; opening is arms for her as she rested her hands on either side of him. "I'm going to take a steaming hot shower and then I'm going to snuggle all over you like a cat."

"You can't be a cute cat and a rabid dog at the same time. Pick one."

"There's my guy," she smiled, patting his face.

"I'm going to order food. What do you want?"

"I'm not really hungry, honestly. I just want some tea."

"Did you eat today? Like recently?"

"I had lunch."

"Then I'm getting you something to eat," he kissed her cheek, "deal with it, sunshine."

"I'll just have some of yours."

"No, now go shower."

She made a face at him and stalked away to the bathroom. The hot water hitting her skin felt amazing and it didn't take long for her to relax, letting the water wet down her hair and pour over her. She took a moment to just stand under the stream and she smiled as she started to feel her head clearing. She knew it wouldn't last but god bless the steam for that moment.

She was warm and clean and she was already feeling less frustrated and irritated than she had throughout the afternoon and night.

Seth was sitting on the small couch in the room, feet propped up in front of him, and he watched her cross the room to her bag; her hair wrapped up in a towel, hot pink athletic shorts and a faded grey Johnny Cash t-shirt. He had to take a moment to appreciate the sight or her.

"That was a long ass shower," he said.

"It felt so good, though," she smiled, pulling the towel off of her head and letting her hair fall down over her shoulder.

"You look like you feel better."

"I do; for now."

He motioned to the desk behind her and she turned to look at the covered room service trays. She cast a frown at him and then smiled at the grilled cheese sandwich and small bowl of tomato soup he had ordered.

"Yeah, I know. I did good," he said.

"Thank you. Let me do something with my hair and then I promise I will eat."

"And here," he got up from the couch and grabbed his jeans he had worn that night at RAW, handing her the packet of tablets he had stashed in his pocket.

"What's this?" she asked.

"For this," he poked the tip of her nose. "They're from doc so they're fine. They'll probably knock you out though so…if you're gonna hang out with me for a bit then I would wait."

"Thank you, baby," she smiled sweetly, welcoming his kiss on her forehead. "You're a good nurse."

Carter had her legs and feet draped over his lap, enjoying her hot cup of tea, and the feeling of his hands resting on her legs. His eyes were on the TV and they cut over to her, catching her looking at him.

"What?" he asked.

"You're hot," she replied.

"You're loopy," he grinned at her.

"Little bit," she held up her thumb and pointer finger with a small space between them. "I think I'm going to do some ring announcing at the shows this week."

"I heard. It's going to be a little weird to come down the ramp and see you in the ring."

"It'll be fun. Sasha still doesn't like me."

"Carter," he cut her a look, "I still think you're imagining this."

"I know you do but…" she paused and sighed. "I don't know she was with me and Charlotte and Lana earlier and acted really offended that I don't know everything about what you're doing any given night. I told them I just like being able to watch you as a fan. That's just how we operate."

"You should stop worrying about it. She's shy; she probably just has to warm up to you. I doubt it's you."

Carter frowned at him and licked her lips, taking a sip of her tea and turning her gaze to the TV. She was slightly frustrated that he was dismissing her but she was starting to feel the sinus medicine kick in and didn't feel like pursuing it at the moment.

"I told Roman we set a date and he mentioned a bachelor party," Seth said after a few minutes of silence.

Carter looked at him, "really?"

"Yeah," he gave her a look that told her he felt the same way she was reacting to the news.

"No offense, pumpkin, but I don't see you as the bachelor party type. You're idea would be like…5 really intense WODs in a row and a fancy latte."

"Thank you for making me sound like the lamest person in the world."

"You aren't lame; you just aren't a partier. I would love to experience you and all of the guys in a strip club though. Please let me tag along for that."

"Carter."

"If the boys want to do something for you then let them do something. Go to a game or something. Go celebrate before I lock you down for life. Go head bang like you're 15 again."

"Are you going to do something?" He asked, rubbing her legs nonchalantly.

"I haven't talked about it but knowing the group of girls I call friends we'll have 5 different bachelorette extravaganzas," she shrugged. "You know Nikki is going to make it an event. We'll probably end up going to the beach or an island or something and having TV crews tag along. Everyone else has."

"Take me with you," he pouted.

Carter laughed as his light touch grazed her knee and she pulled her leg away slightly, "that tickles. And I'll gladly take you with me. You and John and Bryan and Dean and Rusev can go do man things and I'll go get into full on Brie mode since she's pregnant and can't. I'll meet you back at our room."

"I would enjoy the sound of that a lot more if I hadn't been watching you sniffle and blow your nose all night."

"In sickness and in health, bruh," she gave him a teasing grin.

"Yeah I haven't said those vows yet," he replied, watching her yawn. "Come on."

She smiled, setting her cup aside, and shifted how she was sitting so she could lay her head in his lap. He brushed some of the small hairs that had fallen out of her braid away from her face and rubbed her arm. She settled into his touch and closed her eyes, ready to let the sleep take over.

He started chuckling; causing her head to move and she opened her eyes. "Why are you laughing?"

"Do you really think about mounting me when you have to work with me?"

"Sometimes," she replied, smiling. "You really are very sexy with your hair down. At least until it gets all fluffy."

She rolled onto her back so she could look up at him.

He caressed her face, running his thumb along her cheek bones.

"Your nose is still red."

Her hand shot up to cover her nose and she pouted.

"Stop, it's cute."

He moved her hand away, returning his hand to her face.

She closed her eyes again, settling back into him and sighed softly.

"Thank you for taking care of me."

"That's my job. Go to sleep, sunshine."

She may have already been asleep, she didn't respond to him. He looked down at her, sleeping, with a small smile on her lips. He could feel his heart flutter slightly. He still had moments where he had to remind himself that it was all real; that they were there, together. They had come a long way since their first real conversation. He had no doubts she had made him a better person but he loved picking up on her changes, too. She was more confident and happier and finally seemed to have found her place.

He smiled and reached over to the lamp beside them to turn off the light.

Carter wasn't entirely sure if she was dreaming or if she was awake but she was positive she wasn't on the small couch anymore. She snuggled into the pillow and then opened her eyes, blinking several times. She just wanted to close them again.

"Colbs?"

She felt his hand slip around her waist and a kiss on her shoulder.

"You ok?" he asked quietly.

"Yeah, just making sure you were here." She found his hand in the dark and linked her fingers with his as he pulled her closer to him.

"I'm here, babe. Go back to sleep."

"I love you."

"I love you too."