Chapter 36

"Wait, you want me to spend Christmas with you in Pensacola with Roman, Nyla and their families?" Had Dean lost his mind? They were supposed to be just friends! "I-I don't think that's a good idea…"

Dean anticipated this argument and took a bite out of his Chinese takeout. Minneapolis surprisingly had amazing Chinese food. "And why not? So you'd rather sulk in Vegas by yourself for the 5 days off instead of being with the man you've lusted after since the day we met," He paused with a cheeky grin, which followed up with being shown his IQ by Macaria. "And your new best friend?"

"I did NOT lust after you!" Macaria narrowed her eyes at him, tempted to toss her Chinese food in his face.

"Sure you did! Remember, you crawled on the bed, took your top off and began unraveling that luscious hair of yours…" Dean reminded her, remembering that night very vividly. He often thought about it ever since she had to call it quits with him.

"Stop it, Ambrose." She ordered, looking down at her food and when she looked up, he was right there, invading her space. They were each on their own beds, keeping a friendly distance and fighting temptation. "Dean…"

Her soft whimpering of his name lit his blood on fire and Dean knew it was a mistake to come over here to her bed. "You're right, this is hard. It's hard not being with you. It's hard not to pin you to this bed and fuck you senseless right now and claim you in every possible way I can think of. It's hard not to kiss you and touch you and feel you writhe and melt against me, to taste you." His lips hovered over hers, but didn't touch them, his hands resting on her jean covered thighs. "It's hard for me to control myself around you, Macaria. But it's even harder for me to watch you spiral because of depression and I won't let that happen to you. You WILL spend Christmas with me in Pensacola with our friends and their families. I'm not giving you a choice because I'd rather spend the holidays with you as friends than not at all."

One kiss. A kiss wouldn't hurt anything. Nobody had to know about it except them. She knew Stephanie and the WWE weren't in town yet. Macaria leaned forward to press her lips against his and met his finger, her shoulders drooping a little. Dean promised not to let her screw this up and he meant it, but he was also torturing her by keeping her close.

"Get back on your own bed then and stop tempting me." Macaria ordered, pushing him away none too gently and scooted back to lean back against the headboard.

Chuckling, Dean held his hands up and backed up, knowing he'd probably pushed her too far and ached to have her in his arms. At least she was in the same room as him and he could protect her, even for one night. They couldn't continue sharing rooms like they used to, not without being caught by the Authority. Dean knew Stephanie had spies EVERYWHERE when the WWE was in town. He plopped back down on his own bed, grabbing another slice of pizza and flicked the television on to give them some kind of distraction from each other.

"Wanna watch a movie?"

"Yeah, let me go change really fast."

A few minutes later, she walked out of the bathroom in cotton shorts and a tank top, her usual sleepwear besides long nightshirts. A nightshirt, with Dean in the same room as her, wasn't feasible. Macaria let out a loud yawn and could feel her body beginning to shut down. No sleep over 24 hours straight…she was beyond exhausted and needed her strength to deal with Seth Rollins. Anyone else who wanted to try screw with her, actually. Sinking down on the bed, Macaria was out within 10 minutes into the movie Dean picked, dead to the world. Dean looked over at her and stood up to pull the blanket over her, brushing some of her honey blonde tresses away from her face. She didn't move an inch. Not able to help himself, Dean leaned down to brush his lips against hers lightly, just to feel the softness. She didn't move again. Dean was pretty sure if he blew a foghorn in her ear, she would not awaken. Not even a tornado, hurricane or any type of natural disaster would do the trick either. Looking back at his lonely bed and then down at her, Dean knew this would probably backfire on him, but he couldn't sleep without her in his arms.

"Fuck." He cursed, looking down at himself and decided some shower time was needed before he attempted this.

An hour later, feeling marginally better, Dean pulled on boxer/briefs with pajama pants and slid into bed to pull Macaria in his arms. Holding her felt amazing and his eyes closed, burying his nose in her hair. Dean kept his hands away from her intimate areas, his chest molding against her back as he spooned against her and closed his eyes to breathe her intoxicating scent in.

In minutes, he was out like a light.

After a layover stop, Neela, June and Benjamin arrived at Roman's two-story house around 8 PM. Nyla was out the door instantly with Roman hot on her trail and caught her daughter running into her arms. She lifted her up, cradling Neela's head in her hand and tried not to start crying, needing to be strong for her daughter. Roman smiled, staying back a little to watch mother and daughter reunite. He couldn't imagine how hard it was for Nyla not to see Neela all the time, due to their strenuous traveling schedule. A single Mom providing for her daughter and her parents…Roman admired her tenacity and bravery to do something like that. Not every woman could do what Nyla did on a daily basis, much less put up with everything the Authority and Seth had done to her. He still didn't have all the details and, honestly, Roman was fine with it. He didn't need to know them and refused to badger or coax it out of Nyla. If and when she wanted to talk about everything, he would be there and it was as simple as that.

June cried while Benjamin held her close, both also staying back until Neela rose her head from her mother's neck. "Nyla, please tell us what's going on." She begged her daughter, not understanding why they couldn't spend Christmas at home this year.

"Let's get you guys inside and settled in. Then I'll tell you what's going on. But first…" Nyla turned, with Neela still in her arms, to face Roman and gestured him over. "I'd like you all to meet someone. Mom, Dad, Nee Nee, this is Roman Reigns. Roman, this is my family. My Mom June, my Dad Benjamin, and my daughter."

Roman stepped forward, seeing how intimidated the parents were and went for them first, extending his hand to Benjamin. "It's really nice to finally meet you. Nyla has told me a lot about you guys." His voice was low, friendly and warm, making sure to watch his strength with the older man.

It was obvious Roman was a wrestler. Another wrestler…June wasn't happy about this, but she managed to keep a straight face. Roman turned to her, extending his hand and she reluctantly took it, shaking it briefly. Nyla expected her mother to be standoffish with Roman, especially since her daughter had been knocked up by a wrestler at the very beginning of her career. If it hadn't been for her parents watching and raising Neela, while she was on the road, Nyla would be working at a crappy 9-to-5 job right now, barely making ends meet. They were her true heroes.

"Thanks." June swept past the large Samoan with a frown. "Let's get inside. She's hungry and tired. Then we're having a long talk, Nyla."

Nyla swallowed hard, recognizing that tone of voice from her mother and nodded, carting Neela into the house with them and Roman following.

"You're not gonna introduce me to your new boyfriend?" Neela sounded somewhat hurt, not realizing how agitated her grandmother was.

"Neela, you need to eat and then get to bed. It's close to your bedtime, sweetheart." June ordered, taking control of the situation and grabbed her granddaughter's hand, after Nyla set her down on her feet. "I can use the kitchen, right?"

"Y-Yeah…"

"Good, come along, Neela."

Nyla rubbed the back of her neck and looked up at Roman, tears welling in her eyes. "I'm sorry…"

"Don't apologize. I realize this isn't easy for them and it'll take time to get used to being here. It's for the best…and I'll get your Mom and Dad to warm up to me." Meeting his own family would help tremendously, he hoped. "Go spend time with them. I'm gonna walk the parameter and call Dean to see if he convinced Macaria to come here for Christmas. Need a headcount for my Mom."

"Okay." Nyla leaned up on her tiptoes and brushed her lips softly against his. "Thank you again for everything."

Roman nodded, stroking her cheek with the back of his hand for a few seconds and walked outside, his cell phone already in hand.

"What do you think you're doing with that wrestler, Nyla Elizabeth Miller?!" June demanded as soon as her daughter walked into the kitchen, shaking her head in disappointment. Ben had taken Neela up to her room to settle her in while June warmed up some food she found in the fridge. "Do you remember what happened the last time you shacked up with one of THEM, young lady?! You told me you'd never do it again and here you are doing it!"

Nyla swallowed hard, lowering her eyes to the floor. Her mother was upset and had every right to be. Hell, Nyla had no idea what she was doing anymore and her mother would tan her hide if she found out she allowed a man to rape her repeatedly for the past almost 6 months.

"I know, Mom…"

"So then why are you doing it? They are no good! They are snakes in the grass and, I swear, if you get knocked up again, I won't be watching the brat!" June spat viciously, not caring if she hurt her daughter right now with her words. "You really need to decide what's more important in this world, Nyla. Your daughter or this job. You can't do both anymore and you know it. You think he's gonna be there for you? You think he'll support you the way we have?! Your father and I have sacrificed EVERYTHING for you and Neela, so the least you can do is be responsible and not shack up with another deadbeat wrestler!"

This was the last thing Nyla needed to deal with right now. She recalled a similar conversation they had back when she got pregnant by Randy Orton. All Nyla had told her parents was she'd had a few flings with a wrestler and wound up pregnant by him. Nyla didn't need them knowing one of the top veterans in the WWE today was the father of her child. Her mother begged and pleaded with her to go after him for child support, but Nyla refused.

"I know you have, Mom…" Her voice was small and quiet, clasping her hands in front of her. "Roman is different…"

June scoffed, rolling her eyes and had to gain control of her temper, closing her eyes to breathe in and out. "Nyla, you know I love Neela with all my heart. I love you too and I'm only trying to look out for you." Benjamin probably wasn't happy with their daughter either. "I'm just…I'm tired and frustrated and cranky. I had to be ripped out of my home, right before Christmas, and you still haven't told me why."

"Okay, I'll tell you everything, Mom."

Listening intently, June's eyes grew wider and wider with each word that came out of Nyla's mouth, her hand covering her own. What the HELL kind of company did her daughter get wrapped up in?! Her boss's daughter was threatening her family, her own daughter?! June had to sit down, feeling lightheaded and Nyla stood up to retrieve a glass of water for her.

"So that's why you've been keeping us hidden away. You bought us that cabin to keep us secluded." All the pieces were falling into place and June didn't know what to think or how to feel, tears stinging her eyes. "You were protecting us…"

Nyla nodded, rolling her lips together and already knew what Stephanie would do now that she'd defied them. "Stephanie is going to tell Randy about Neela. I have a battle ahead of me and I really could use all the support I can get. Roman IS different. You may not see it now, but…he's nothing like Randy. And we haven't slept together, so you can choose to believe that or not. I have no reason to lie to you, Mom. You're here for your own protector, all of you, and Roman's family knows Vince and Linda McMahon very well. As soon as this is all over, I plan on taking Neela on the road with me a lot more for her breaks in school. Summer, fall, winter, spring – all of them. You guys have done enough for me and I love you for it. I'll never be able to repay you for everything you've done. But I'm not choosing my job over her or vice versa, not anymore. I'm taking an extended vacation, I have plenty of time saved up and I'm spending at least the next two weeks with you guys for Christmas and New Year's. I will ALWAYS choose my daughter over anyone and anything in this world. Because she IS my life."

"And I'd never ask her to choose her daughter over me either, Mrs. Miller." Roman's deep voice resonated through the kitchen as he stepped up to the table they sat at, a gentle smile on his face. "Dean and Macaria will be here for Christmas."

"Dean and Macaria?" June questioned, looking at her daughter and tried not to feel embarrassed by the tongue lashing this man had probably overheard her giving Nyla.

Had Roman overheard the whole thing? If that was the case…he knew who Neela's father was. They could deal with that later when they were alone, but right now, she was busy talking to her mother. "That's good. And yeah, Dean is a good friend of Roman's and a wrestler. Macaria works for the company too as a photographer. She just started recently after doing some freelance work."

"Oh." June didn't know how what to say to all of that, trying to process the load her daughter just dropped on her. "I'm gonna go get Neela, so she can eat." She walked out, leaving them alone.

Randy Orton was Neela's father. Roman didn't know how to feel about that, half of him enraged and the other half wondering what Nyla saw in the piss ant in the first place. Randy was disrespectful and did NOT have a care in the world for the company. He only cared about lining his pockets with cash and Roman wanted to beat the arrogance out of him.

"Roman…"

He held his hand up. "You don't need to say anything. I know why you didn't tell me, but I'm glad I know now. And if he comes after you and Neela, I'll fuck his world up. He won't touch either one of you." Stepping up to her, Roman could see the trepidation in her eyes and eased it by softly kissing her, showing her he wasn't angry. "Are you okay? I kinda overheard what your Mom said…"

"She's just worried about me. She loves me so much and she just doesn't want me making another mistake like I did with Randy. I get it. She was harsh about it, but I understand and I can't argue against anything she said." Nyla felt his arms wrap around her and enjoyed the warmth and comfort from him, needing it. "She'll warm up to you. Just give her time."

"I got all the time in the world, baby girl." Roman assured her, kissing the top of her head and wouldn't leave her just because her mother didn't approve of them.

Before the Miller family left Pensacola, Florida, Roman vowed to gain both June and Benjamin's approval.