Pulling into his parents driveway, they both smiled as Gabe ran out and waited for them on the front lawn, a big smile on his face. They got off and he ran to his mom, hugging her tight.
"Hi my baby", she said, before kissing the top of his head.
"I missed you mom", he said softly to her.
"Me too Gabe", she said.
He let her go long enough to hug his dad too.
"Did you give her, her birthday gift?", he whispered to his dad.
"I did", he whispered back to his son.
"It was beautiful baby, thank you. You and daddy did a good job", Valentina said.
Gabriel smiled and took his mom's hand.
"Come on, come on, we have a surprise for you", he said.
Roman followed behind them with the bags. Getting inside his parents stood around the cake they had made for her.
"Is this for me?", Valentina asked.
Gabriel nodded.
"Grandma helped me make it for you", he said.
"Thank you so much sweetie", Val said.
She hugged her mother in law and thanked her. After singing happy birthday, she cut the cake and they enjoyed a piece with their son. Roman hated himself more now, he could have been doing this with them while Gabriel was growing up. He watched as his parents laughed at Gabriel, he had chocolate all around his mouth and nose.
His parents, they missed their grandbaby as an infant, never got to hold him, spoil him. It made him sick to his stomach. The one thing his mom had asked him for and she missed most of it. He set his spoon down and leaned back in his seat.
"You ok?", Val asked, squeezing his hand.
He shook his head no. Even if they decided to give each other space, she could still care for him.
"What's…", before she could finish, he stood and walked out back.
She sighed and had a feeling she knew what was bothering him. His mom did too.
"Let me talk to him", she said standing.
Val watched her walk out back and to her son. She stood and walked over to their bags and pulled out a photo album of Gabriel. She also brought them extra copies of the pictures that they might want.
Thinking about it, she should have sent them pictures even if Roman didn't like it. They deserved to see what their grandson looked like when he was a baby.
Roman crossed his arms over his chest. He felt a soft, warm hand on his arm and he smiled down at his mom.
"I've apologized to Val, but I've never apologized to you and dad. I kept Val away from you, Gabriel, the one thing you asked from us and I kept them away. You missed so much of his life and I'm sorry", he said, tears welling up in his eyes.
She cupped his face.
"We have him now, yes I would have liked to have held him and spoil him. Hold him, but it's not like he's your last, who knows maybe down the line you and Val will have more. Your dad and I sure hope so", she said.
He chuckled as she wiped his tears.
"How did it go with Val?", she asked.
"Good, then bad, then good again", he said.
She looked confused.
"She held a lot back, then her friends took her out for drinks and well, she told me how she felt. Oh boy did she tell me", he said.
His mom smiled.
"And she hit you?", she asked.
"Yeah, she told you?", he asked.
She shook her head no.
"You have a cut and a light bruise, I didn't see it before, but close up, I can tell", she said.
"She needed too", he said.
"I know. If I was her, I would have punched you", she said.
He laughed softly.
"That's what Dean said. Also, we decided to give each other more space. She needs it. She remembers more now and needs time to process. Her anger is also keeping me at a distance, which I completely understand", he said.
"I don't like the new space, but I get it. So does this mean you'll be moving to San Diego for the time being?", she asked.
He nodded.
"I've been looking online and found a few places. As soon as I settle on one, I'm moving out of this one and packing up our things", he said.
"Well, if you need help with that, let me know. I know it's hard with your schedules", she said.
"I will mom", he said.
"Let's get back to the family", she said.
They walked back in. Val had a photo album set out and Sika was looking through the photos.
"Look Patricia, baby photos", he said excited.
She sat beside him and they flipped through it together. Smiling and laughing softly.
"I also brought copies of the photos for you two", she said.
"Thank you so much Val", his mom said.
Roman walked over to his wife and set his arms over his chest. He wanted to wrap them around his wife, but resisted. It was killing him.
"Thank you", he whispered.
Gabriel sat on his grandpa's lap as they kept going through the photos. He looked at his watch.
"Hey we have to get to the performance center or we'll be late", he said, grabbing his keys.
She nodded.
"Gabe", she called.
He looked at his parents.
"Buddy, let's go to the performance center. We need to talk about a few things", Roman said to his son.
He nodded and jumped off of his grandpa's lap. Sika was confused till Roman saw his mom lean over and whisper something to him. He looked at the couple and nodded sadly.
"Do I have to go?", Gabriel asked, once he reached his dad.
Roman bent down to his son's level.
"Yes", he said.
"We are going to change before we go. Go and sit with grandma and grandpa", Val said.
Gabriel nodded. Roman made his way upstairs. Val looked at her son with his grandparents before pulling out her phone and snapping a picture of them. Saving it to print it out later. She needed more pictures of them together.
Making her way to the room. Roman removed his clothes and she bit her lip. His muscles flexed with every move he made. He looked over to see her watching him. He smiled.
"We can work out before we go", Roman suggested.
He licked his lips. He laughed softly at her blush.
"We said we would wait and I want to keep to that. I was just kidding", he said.
"I know", she said softly.
She walked over to him, kissing him softly before going over to her bag and pulling out her workout clothes.
She walked into the bathroom. He sighed. He wasn't going to force her to do anything. Every move she made was on her term. When she touched him, kissed him, or made any decision on their relationship was all her. He owed her that and more.
They had only been dating two weeks now, but Roman already knew she was the love of his life. He slid into the ring after she finished training with Liv.
"What are you doing?", she asked as she watched him.
"I thought we could train together, I promise I won't hurt you", he said, winking at her.
"Oh really?", she asked, placing her hands on her hips.
He shrugged.
"Kick his ass Val", Dean said from outside the ring.
He tried to clothesline her but she ducked under his arm. He turned only for her to superkick him. He lost his balance, but caught himself.
He chuckled and shook his head.
"You got me there", he said.
She shrugged. He ran at her again, she tried to duck under him again but he grabbed her and put her up for a Samoan drop. He sat up and smirked.
"My money is still on Val", Seth said.
Roman stood and Val followed. Sami and Kevin walked over to stand beside Dean and Seth.
"Man, she's hot", Kevin said.
Dean glared at him.
"She's spoken for", he growled.
"By you?", he asked.
"No, my buddy in the ring", Dean said.
Kevin chuckled before putting his attention back on what was happening in the ring.
"Get him Val", Carmella shouted.
Roman grabbed her again and suplexed her. He stood, only for her to stand quicker and hit him with the backstabber.
"Get him girl", Sara shouted.
"Headscissor", Paige shouted.
Val did it and Roman pointed at Paige.
"No, helping", he said between breaths.
"Tap?", Val asked.
"Over my dead body, besides, I like being between your thighs", he said.
Val rolled her eyes, hearing the chuckles from everyone watching.
"Come on big man", Seth shouted.
"Are you seriously telling me this tiny woman can make you tap?", Cesaro said.
"Tap or pass out", Valentina said.
Roman lifted up onto his knees before standing slowly. He lifted Val up and powerbombed her.
"Ready to give up, baby?", he asked, smiling down at her.
"Never", she said.
He let her stand. AJ mouth 'Black Widow' to her and she nodded. From the corner of her eye, she noticed him coming at her. She turned and jumped at him, doing the Black Widow. She could hear AJ cheering.
"Yes, try getting out of that Roman", AJ said.
Roman couldn't move.
"Tap", Val said.
"Only in the bedroom sweet cheeks", he said.
The guys all chuckled. She pulled his arm back harder and he groaned.
"Tap or you aren't getting any tonight", she said.
The women laughed.
"Man, tap, if I were you I'd tap", Seth said.
Roman growled, trying his hardest to get out of it. He sighed and finally tapped. The women cheered and Val let go. He stood and stretched.
She kissed his chin and he smiled.
"Threatening me with sex and we haven't even done it yet", he whispered.
She winked.