Reigns had been crying all night, his heart heavy at the thought of losing his family. He could see the mangled mess his cousin turned out to be. He hated the thought of the pain that isolation would cause. These were the people Roman had known his entire life. These were the family that pitched in to put together a fund to support him when it seemed he could not care for himself. It grieved him to the very marrow to think of losing them, and because it hurt his love, it grieved Sheamus too.

Sika decided to call Reigns back in the morning. He would let his son get some rest.

Rest was the last thing on Reign's mind, though. He cried himself to sleep that night, as Sheamus attempted to console him. The two awoke wearily to hear the phone ring. Reigns pounced on it as he saw it was his father.

"Hello?"

...

"Yessir."

...

"Of course, sir."

Reigns pushed a button on the phone, thinking it was the end button, and dropped the phone onto the nightstand with a grieved wail, Sheamus was there in an instant, comforting him. Words failed him as Reigns whispered, "I'm going to lose them all now."

Sheamus gave a despondent groan, wiping the tears from his eyes. "Ah know, love. Ah'm sorry."

Sika hung up the phone himself, feeling as if he were spying on them. He called everyone together and waited for his guests to arrive.

After a few moments, Reigns sat up and headed to the bathroom as if he were preparing to meet a firing squad. he pulled out plain black pants and a plain white shirt. Sheamus switched the white shirt with a silver silk one, one that draped over his muscles much better, choosing for himself a green shirt, black vest and black pants.

"What happened to my white shirt?" Reigns asked.

"The silver fits you better. It looks better on you." Sheamus held out the shirt. "Please?"

Reigns had wanted to wear the traditional funeral dress, and Sheamus knew that was what he was doing. Reigns sighed and put it on. it really did drape nicely across his muscles. Sheamus rolled his sleeves and put on his vest, parting his hair and brushing it before adding the cap. The two headed out, ready to face the music.

AN: Why, yes, I did rip the upcoming line off from a very popular book. Maybe if those that claimed to believe in said book were more accepting, they would be a few steps closer to actually being like the Author.

Just my two cents.

*shrugs*

Sheamus and Reigns headed over to Sika's house, and Reigs felt his heart fall at the number of cars that had gathered around. Surely his entire family was there now. There was no holiday to speak of, so he knew they must be there for his own disowning. Sheamus patted him on the shoulder reassuringly, a gesture that Sika did not miss as Sheamus and Reigns came striding towards him. he gestured for them to follow, into a room with a long table, and several men, the heads of other families, and their brothers, sons, and cousins. Sika started the meeting.

"I called you all here today so my son and I could speak to you. Son?" Sika yielded the floor to Reigns.

Reigns took his father's addressing him as son to be a good sign. "In the course of my career in the company that employed my father, i have met a man, and have fallen in love. I have decided to marry this man, as he has decided to marry me. I don't ask our acceptance, as this is not a public event, i only wish introduce him to you and respectfully invite you to the wedding."

Several murmurs rippled across the table, and Reigns gestured to Sheamus, who stood and nodded at them, cap in hand.

"Everyone, this is my fiancee, Sheamus O'Shaughnessey."

The men seemed to look to Sika to see what he thought. Sika walked over and put a hand on Roman's tribal tatoo. "This is my beloved son. In whom I am well pleased. There will be no persecution assigned to my son for his choices. If you wish to attend the wedding, do so, but if not, don't." a few confused murmurs rattled about before one man was brave enough to ask what everyone else was thinking.

"What makes him any different from the cousin?"

"The cousin lacked respect, and wished to command me to accept him and his companion, for whom he felt nothing at all. My son respected me, and showed me honor in asking my permission before surprising me before the families. He is also not coming out, so the wedding, will be a private event. I assume this Sheamus will be a welcome addition. Surely the fact that he laid down his life for my son is enough for me to accept him. It should be enough for you as well. "

One of the men stood and appeared to be walking away from the table, but was actually walking over to Sheamus, to shake his hand. A few of the men murmured, "You saved my brother, you are my brother." and Reigns couldn't help the grin that tugged at the corner of his mouth. He had never been happier.

Sheamus spent the day with the rest of the family outside, in the shade, until the sun set, then out in the yard tousling with Roman's cousins. it was refreshing to face so many naturally strong men and not have to really pull his punches. Roman stood nearby watching carefully before chuckling and diving in himself.

The day ended and the families headed back to their homes. Sheamus and Reigns headed back to the hotel after getting everyone's addresses for when they set the date. They arrived in only the best of spirits, and as soon as Sheamus walked through the door, Reigns pounced on him again, in a more sexual manner. Within a few minutes, both men has stripped away the slightly rumpled clothing they wore and were on the bed, hands roaming all over.