Happy Sunday evening! Hope you all enjoy the update! I just want to give you a little disclaimer that I'm having surgery on Wednesday so it may be a little while before I can get another update to you :(

in the meantime I did post the first part to the prequel for this story so check that out and let me know what you think!

Happy reading! And thank you for reading!

"Hey Carter!" Lana called for Carter as she was walking past the makeup chairs set up backstage at the live event in Chile.

It was their second night in Chile and Carter was ready to spend her night in the ring playing the role of ring announcer. It had been a good trip so far. She was excited; ready to try something new and ready to watch Seth do what he does best up close and personal.

"Ma'am?" Carter responded, stopping in her tracks and pulling her attention away from her cell phone to focus on the blonde. She looked around quickly with her eyes, taking note of Sasha sitting in the opposing chair, getting her hair done, and the two women that were working with them while they were overseas.

"Have you seen Seth yet?" Lana asked.

"No," Carter frowned, "I've talked to him but I haven't seen him yet. He went to work out with Cesaro. I'm sure he'll be around here soon."

"Boo," Lana returned her pout. "He's okay though?"

"Yeah he's fine. I think he was more pissed off than anything really. I got to hear a whole rant about it."

"What happened?" Lindsey asked, glancing over at Carter.

"He had an autograph signing earlier today at a mall and it got a little crazy; the fans got crazy. He ended up having to book it out of there after only like 10 minutes. They pretty much surrounded him and they had shit security. Apparently they ended up looting the store after he left…I googled about it," she smiled.

"Damn, that's kind of scary."

"Yeah it is. He said he was fine though he was just really irritated about the security and craziness of all of it."

"I'm surprised you weren't there with him," Sasha said from her chair.

Carter glanced over at her.

"Yeah I usually try and go with him when he has some kind of appearance but I had some other stuff to do this morning…I wish I had been there."

"He would've freaked out if you had been in the middle of all of it," Lana interjected.

"Yeah he would have," Carter shrugged. "At least everything is okay, though. Bless him, he just can't win lately."

Carter's phone started ringing in her hand and she looked down at her screen before answering.

"Hey babe," she smiled, turning her back to the girls.

"Are you at the arena?" he asked.

"Yeah I'm down here with the girls."

"Down here? Like makeup?"

"Yeah do you want me to come to you? Where are you?"

"Nope, stay put. Love you."

Carter shook her slightly as she heard the phone call end. He always did keep it short and sweet.

She turned back to the girls, "well I was told to stay put."

"Carter, let me see your ring, I haven't gotten to look at it yet," Lindsey said, stepping away from Lana and reaching out for Carter's hand.

It only took a few moments for Carter to realize why Seth had told her to 'stay put'; he apparently was close by when he called her. She felt his hand on the small of her back before she even realized he had walked up to them. Without even thinking about the fact she was standing in front of mixed company, she turned to him and locked her arms around his neck, hugging him and kissing him simultaneously.

He gave her a slightly amused look as she pulled back from him. "Well that was a hell of a hello," he said quietly and quickly kissed her cheek.

"I'm just happy to see you. I'm glad you're okay and you're in one piece."

"I'm one hundred percent fine, sunshine." He smiled at her and then looked at the group of women next to them, dropping his hand to link his fingers with hers. "Are you down here showing off your hardware?"

"I asked to see it," Lindsey piped in. "You did a good job."

"Thank you. I had a little help from a Bella so I can't take all of the credit."

"I picked out my own ring," Lana said, peering around Lindsey at them, "so you were a step ahead of my husband."

"Are you waiting for a chair?" Seth looked at Carter.

"No, I was just visiting."

"I'm stealing you away then. Ladies, it was good to see you, I'll see you later tonight."

Carter shrugged at the group and laughed slightly as Seth tugged on her hand, pulling her with him.

They watched as he draped an arm around her shoulder as they walked off down the hallway and he kissed her head.

There was a short silence and Lana snickered to herself.

"I have a feeling I know what they're headed to do..." She teased.

Lindsey swatted at her and shook her head. "Stop it."

Lana gave her a wide eyed, innocent look and she shrugged, a smirk on her face, "I'm just saying."

Sasha gave Lana and quiet, assessing look from her chair across from her and Lana just shrugged again.

"Are we ordering food or no?" Seth asked Carter, raising his eyebrows in question and looking up at her. She had just gotten out of the shower and was crossing their hotel room to her bag.

It was later that evening, after the show, and they were settling in for their hand full of hours in their hotel before they were due to report for the airport. There was a part of Carter that almost felt like it pointless to try and snooze for their four hours that they had, but she was at least going to relax.

"You can order food. I'm not hungry. Yes I ate dinner," she glanced at him over her shoulder. "Not all of us are blessed enough to eat like you do and still have abs."

"If you do crossfit you can," he mumbled, looking at the room service menu. "I just really want some French fries, to be honest."

"I'll go with you when we get home," she replied.

"Seriously?"

"Yeah I figured it's about time I at least tried it." She pulled the towel from her hair and turned to him, "you have to run with me though."

"I'm out."

"Babe! Come on, make a trade with me. One week; we work out with each other."

"You know I don't run. I fucking hate it."

"I'll get in the ring with you, too."

He sighed and cut his eyes at her, scowling, "Fine; one week."

Carter grinned, taking the few steps to where he was sitting on the bed, leaning against the headboard. He still had his jeans on from that night.

She extended her hand to him, "shake on it and make it an official deal."

He grabbed her hand and pulled her down onto his lap, getting a laugh from her. "I'd rather kiss on it."

She kissed him, resting her hands on his chest, and smiled softly at him.

"I'm glad you got to come with us this time. This is a lot nicer than missed phone calls and FaceTime and texts."

"It is. I miss the pups, though. I'm sorry I wasn't with you today," she frowned slightly.

"It's fine. I'm glad you weren't there." He ran his fingers through her damp hair and then brushed it back over her shoulder. "I would've freaked out for a moment. You had your own stuff to do anyways."

Carter nodded, looking at him, enjoying the feeling of his fingers against her still warm from her shower skin.

"How was your conference call anyways? I don't think I asked about it yet."

"It was really good," her face lit up. "I'm excited. I'm so happy that I get to do something at home and I get to share it with Lana and all my old hockey contacts. It's going to be good. I'm glad that we got approval for it."

That morning she has been on a conference call with Lana and the Nashville Predators. They were teaming up to host a gala in Nashville to raise funds for the children's hospital on behalf of the team and, thanks to the two women, the WWE.

"I'm not excited about the whole black tie affair thing but I'm excited for you," he smiled.

"I'll take it. You'll look damn good in a suit, though."

"You looked damn good tonight."

"You've told me that like ten times already but I don't hate hearing that." She leaned over to kiss him and stood up from his lap, trekking back into the bathroom to wrangle her wet hair. "It was pretty cool to come down the ramp and be in the ring. I never get to do that."

"It's even cooler when you have your own theme music and you have an actual match," he gave her a cheesy grin when she stepped out of the bathroom and shot him a look. "Don't look at me like that."

"We've talked about this, cupcake."

"I was told that I had to leave it out of our bedroom. This isn't our bedroom."

"While we're here it is."

"That's a technicality...and that wasn't the deal. So...let's talk about it."

"You're a real pain the ass sometimes, you know that?" She questioned, glancing at the door when she heard a knock. She gave him a curious look and he shrugged in return.

"At least I know that isn't Renee..." He said.

Carter crossed over to the door and peeped through the hole. It was Lana.

"Hey," Carter said, opening the door. "Is everything okay?"

"Yeah, it's great. I came to see if I could steal you away for a few minutes. I need some girl chat..."

"Yeah, let me put my shoes back on. You can come in. I promise he's still decent."

"Five minutes later and you would've been out of luck," Seth chimed in from the room.

"Don't listen to him, he's mostly just worried about French fries and making me get in the ring right now," Carter said as Lana crossed by her into the room. Carter let the door shut and followed her friend to retrieve her running shoes.

"I promise I only need her for like 30 minutes," Lana gave him shrug.

"It's fine, I'm used to this. I know I take a back seat to you girls when we aren't at home. I know my place."

Carter scowled at him and then looked at Lana, "do you see what I have to deal with?"

"He really piles on the guilt doesn't he?" Lana teased.

"He's lucky he's so good looking, really."

"I'm still sitting right here and I can hear you," he countered, "and to be fair, Lana has spent more time with you today than I have so..."

"Yeah but you got to have her for a locker room quickie earlier today so who is the real winner?" Lana said, laughing slightly.

Seth's mouth dropped open slightly and Carter bit her lower lip, trying to hold back her laugh.

"That is a fair argument. Point made. You win," Seth shook his head.

Carter crossed over to him to kiss him and smile down at him, "I'll be back. Enjoy your food."

"Mhmm, you two behave. Love you."

"Good night, Seth," Lana smiled, following Carter to the door.

Carter gave Lana a slightly embarrassed glance as they stepped into the hallway. "How did you know?"

"Please, I've been around this business just as long as you have and I know men. I could tell the second he pulled you away where his mind was at. How was it?" Lana nudged her.

Carter shook her head, "it's a double edged sword really. I hate it because it's a locker room in a random arena and if I think about it too much it grosses me out a little bit but it's also really exciting and I mean...I'm never going to turn that down, ever. Look at him. I'm going to enjoy it while we aren't an old, tired, married couple and before we have kids and a normal life and we're too tired to want each other anymore."

"I already feel like an old, tired, married couple sometimes," Lana said.

"Same," Carter chuckled. "So anyways, what's going on? Why do you need a chat?"

"Well I know we have to be at the airport super early but I wanted to go ahead and talk to you tonight," they stopped at the elevator as Lana reached for the down button. "I had a talk with Sasha tonight, during Seth's match..."

"How did that happen?"

"We were watching it backstage and she saw him sit on the rope to let you out of the ring and she made a face and I just...asked her about it. I don't know if she didn't think I wouldn't say anything to you or if she just doesn't care."

"So she does hate me?" Carter asked.

"Hate is a little strong but yeah, she isn't a fan of you. She had a very wrong impression of you...but- I tried to set her straight a little bit. I don't know if it helped and I may have made it worse but I thought you should know."

Carter made a face and sighed, "well thank you. I appreciate it. You didn't have to do that."

"You're my friend. I did have to."

"So girl chat is actually you telling me what she said and what you told her and then me dissecting everything, yeah?"

"Yes, exactly, but with a glass of wine," Lana smiled. "Might as well try and make it a little enjoyable."

"I don't hate it."

Carter came back to the hotel room, quiet, letting the door close behind her again and crossing the room to her bag. Her head was busy and she kind of just wanted to sit down and focus on something and not stress over the conversation she and Lana had just had in the hotel lobby.

"Well hi…" Seth said, watching her sit down by her bag without speaking to him.

"Hey," she muttered.

He gave her a confused look and set his book to the side, crossing his arms and staring at her for a few minutes.

"How was girl talk time?"

"It was great," she replied in the same tone, not looking up at him.

He watched her start to remove her clothes from her bag and start to refold them; seemingly reorganizing everything.

"You wanna do my bag while you're at it?" he teased.

Carter shook her hair out of her face and glanced over at him before turning her attention back to her task.

"Okay, what's wrong?" he asked.

"I don't really want to talk about it, Colbs. Not right now at least."

He was quiet for a few minutes and he sighed to himself biting the inside of his lip. "Okay."

He reached for the remote to turn on the TV, needing some kind of sound in the room and trying not to watch her. She stopped for a few moments and watched as he flipped through channels.

"Did you get your room service?" she asked.

"Yeah, there are some fries left if you want them."

She shook her head, "thank you, I'm good."

"Carter, seriously, what's wrong? You walked out of here in a good mood all happy and laughing and now you're Eeyore. What the hell did you two talk about? Is it something about your event?"

She pulled her legs up to her chest, wrapping her arms around her knees and watched the TV for a moment.

"It's just the same shit, different day, different people," she replied.

"Meaning what?"

"Meaning..." she made a frustrated noise and sighed, shaking her head. "Lana and Sasha had a talk about me during your match tonight."

"Carter…"

"No, don't- don't dismiss me this time because this is a fact. This isn't me imagining things and being insecure. This is a legit conversation that was had."

"And?"

"And I was right, she doesn't like me." She moved to finish refilling the clothes she still had out of her bag.

"What possible reason does she have to not like you?"

"Well for one she's buddies with your ex-girlfriend who is still feeding people the idea that I caused the problems between you two. Not that anyone has bothered to ask me about it. You know since you and I didn't even discuss Zahra until she had already moved out of your house and I would have never done anything like that."

"They were friends before she got fired," he said softly.

"They're still friends."

"Is that all?"

"No, essentially I've just used you to advance my career and I don't really care about the business and I just want to be on TV and get knocked up and I'll ruin your career by trapping you and pulling you away from wrestling. You know because I guess I held a gun to your head and made you propose to me." She looked up at him, "I mean I definitely don't care about the business- at all. Why else would I bother to learn anything about the business side of it or be at black and brave with you all the time and learning how to actually wrestle. I clearly care about your career even less."

Seth just looked at her silently. He wasn't even entirely sure how to respond to her. She was heated, that was evident, and he wasn't one hundred percent sure there wasn't a part of her that was mad at him. She had been trying to talk to him about Sasha for weeks.

"How does that even become a thing? Because I don't know everything about every match you have? I didn't realize that was such a big sin. I'd like to know if her husband knows every detail about everything she does."

"Do you want me to talk to her?"

"No, you weren't worried about it two days ago or two weeks ago so you don't need to worry about it now."

"Wow," he blinked a couple of times and licked his lips. "Really?"

Carter locked eyes with him and sighed to herself. "I'm sorry. I don't…I don't need to take this out on you. I shouldn't have said that. You didn't listen to me, though, Colby and you should have done that and I'm not telling you all of this now because I need you to fix it or I want you to fix it, I'm telling you this because I should be able to vent to you. I should be able to talk to you if something hurts me or makes me mad or whatever and not have to feel like you don't care."

Seth sat up on the edge of the bed. "I do care, Carter. I'm sorry if I made you feel like I didn't care."

She frowned at him.

"I am. I truly mean that."

"Thank you," she mumbled, looking back at her bag.

"I know things are easier for me than it is for you. I've been around longer and what you do everyday and what I do everyday is vastly different. I can be an asshole and nobody gives a damn and I know you can't do that. I know you have to be 'on' all the time and charming and just…you."

"Yeah and I know; the people who matter know the truth and understand us and me and all of that. I get that. That doesn't mean it doesn't hurt or make me mad or annoy me. It kind of fucking sucks, to be honest."

"You can't let it get to you, baby."

"Are you telling me that I need to toughen up?"

"No, not exactly. You know my favorite thing about you is how damn caring you are. I need that. I'm sure you've noticed but sometimes I'm kind of a dick."

Carter cracked a small smile.

"But I don't know…you're going to have to pick and choose the battles. I know you were hurt by Paige because you two were friends but you and Sasha aren't and if she's decided she's not going to like you that may just have to be how it is. You just have to go out there and fuck it, Carps. You're the non-wrestling face of RAW and you're beautiful and you're caring and loyal and kind and you're damn good at your job and the people that matter do know that. So fuck it."

Carter sighed and looked up at him. She was tired and honestly knew she shouldn't be stressing about the opinions of others but it was hard to shake off sometimes. She could read the mixed look of concern and sadness on his face.

"This is new territory for both of us, you know?" he added.

"I know," she replied. She pushed her bag away and pushed herself off the floor, crossing over to him to stand in front of him. He looked up at her as she cupped his face; his dark eyes searching her face and the roughness of his beard scratching her palms. "Thank you."

"I'm not sure what you're thanking me for. I'm pretty certain I stirred all of this up."

"Maybe next time we're in the ring together at a show you should pretend like I'm JoJo. Although it was very sweet of you to hold the ropes for me."

"I was trying to be a gentleman," he shrugged slightly.

Carter scratched his beard and smiled at him.

"I should have listened to you better than I did. I'm sorry. I do care. I care about everything that happens with you and…I know that should have been me talking to Sasha and not Lana."

"Lana is very fierce."

"I know I've been slapped by her before."

"Have you been slapped by all the women in the WWE?"

"Not you," he grinned.

"There is still a whole lot of time ahead of us for that to happen…"

"Woof," he made a face. "How about no to that?"

He grabbed her waist and pulled her closer to him. She dipped her head to kiss him. It was a short, sweet kiss and she pulled back to pull away but he kept his hold on her.

"I was bracing myself for you to be pissed at me. I hate it when you're mad at me."

"I…wasn't mad at you but I was really irritated that you kind of blew me off; before this, before tonight. I should've said something sooner, probably, but you had me all warm and cozy and drugged the other night and I was too sleepy to say anything."

"Oh so it's my fault? I see."

"It's always your fault, Colby. You should have learned this by now."

"I am not a fan of this at all. I know I messed up but come on…"

Carter chuckled, linking her arms around his neck. "You have to start listening better. Not hearing me but listening to me; you've done this since we first started talking regularly and I've been complacent about it."

"I don't know how to listen, I never have," he said. He slipped his hands under the hem of her shirt, causing her to squirm slightly as his fingers brushed her sides.

"Stop that, I'm trying to have a serious talk with you," she tried to hold back a laugh.

"What does it tickle?" he gave her a mischievous look.

Her eyes fluttered shut when he lifted her shirt and she felt the warmth of his lips against her stomach. Damn him.

"Colby Daniel Lopez, I mean it."

"I have to start listening better. I promise I will," he looked up at her. "I promise."

"You know you can't always try and distract me by seducing me."

"It was worth a shot."

She smiled, running her fingers through his loose hair. "I love you."

"You just want to be on TV and have babies and spend my hard earned paycheck…"

"Shut up. You ass," she laughed as he pulled her down on to the bed with him. She snuggled up next to him, looking at him. She could see sleepiness in his eyes. "You should take a nap. We still have a couple hours to kill."

"Will you nap with me?"

"I'll snuggle with you," she smiled softly.

"I'll take it." He nuzzled her nose with his and kissed her softly. "Are you ok now?"

"Yeah I'm good."

"I know I'm not one of your girls and I know there are some things I just don't 'get' but please don't ever think that I don't care. I love you. You're the most important thing to me. Kick me in the ribs and make me listen to you if you have to, ok?"

"I'll avada kedavra the shit out of you," she laughed. She caressed his face and kissed his forehead, "thank you."