This is my last update for the weekend! My brother is getting married and I'll be busy for the weekend. Also looks like Punk maybe on a bit of a break, which makes me sad. AEW owns all of their talents, I own Jessica. There will be a lot of time jumps this chapter, a lot takes place at the shows. We start this chapter with Jessica. Enjoy!

"It's good protection." I said, not meeting his gaze.

"Yeah?" He asked, clearly not believing me. "From who?" I had to get out of this situation and said the only thing I could think of.

"From you." I whispered.

I swear I watched his heart break in his eyes. I didn't want to say it, but it was the only way he'd stay away.

"From…me?" He asked. "You really feel that way?"

"Yes, now I have to go Phil." I said quickly, pushing past him. I opened the door to find Wardlow.

"I'm not even going to tell Max what I saw." He said. I smiled sadly thanking him quietly. We began to walk towards Max's locker room to pack up for the night. I couldn't wait to change and head back to the hotel. Tomorrow I'd fly to my apartment in New York, far from Phil, Chris, and Max. We all piled into Max's limo and headed to the hotel.

"Next show, your room will be on the same floor as mine." Max told me, "I have to keep an eye on you." I said nothing, just stared out the window. Once we pulled up I instantly got out and headed to my room. I let out a sigh of relief when I heard the door close. I got ready for bed quickly and laid down. I turned the TV on and curled into a comfy ball. I knew I wouldn't sleep again but I was content just laying there. Hours went by and a knock came at the door.

"I swear if that's Max…" I said softly. I didn't move, I was not getting up for shit. The knocking continued. For fucks sake…I got up and threw open the door ready to tell Max to shove it. Instead I found Phil, slightly red eyed.

"I don't believe you." He said.

"Phil you can't be here."

"I don't care, I'm tired of tiptoeing around you."

"No, someone could see…" I started. Its bad enough Max had one thing against us, I didn't need him to get another.

"Who the hell is going to see?" Phil asked getting louder, "Its 3am!"

"Shut up!" I hissed.

"Make me." He challenged back. I grabbed his arm and pulled him in shutting the door behind him.

"What do you want from me?" I asked him.

"The truth."

"I gave it to you." I said.

"No you didn't. I refuse to believe that you think Max can protect you, especially from me. I would never…" I cut him off.

"Never what Phil? Hurt me? You did that." I watched the pain flash across his eyes. It was silent.

"If you'd give me a chance…" he started again.

"Why? Why should I give you a chance? Is it because you're divorced now? I should just let you back in?" I asked angrily.

"You don't know the whole story…" he tried again.

"You're right Phil, I don't know the whole story. All I know is you left me, you pushed me out of your life. We were supposed to get married, be each others support system for life. Instead of leaning on me, you decided I was part of the problem. Somehow April was the solution for what ever was happening. She got my wedding, she got my life…she got to be what was meant for me…what was meant for us! And now that you've left her you want me to hear you out? You ruined me!" I yelled. He stayed silent.

"You know I had to go on anti-depressants. My family thought I was mentally broken. I couldn't be left on my own, I had to move in with Chris and his family. So to answer your question again, I do need protection from you, I need to be kept far away from you! I came back from the abyss once, but I don't think it will happen twice."

"I'm sorry." He said quietly, "I'll be sorry for the rest of my life…but I won't ever stop trying to make it up to you." He turned as a tear fell from his eyes and headed for the door. I wanted to stop him but I couldn't. He looked at me one last time and left my room. I turned back to my bed and crawled back in. I knew for sure I'd be up all night.

~The Next Day~

I groggily made it through the airport and on to the plane. I sat down in my seat, relieved to be leaving my problems in the state. Slowly I felt my body relax as I knew in a few hours I'd be home. Just as I pulled out my headphones someone sat next to me and spoke.

"You look like shit."

"24 hours of emotional abuse will do that to a person, Max." Out of everyone on my flight he was next to me. I forgot the little fuck lived on the island.

"Oh you think this is emotional abuse? Because I think this is worse." He held up the phone to flash the kiss again.

"It was one kiss, it meant nothing." I said looking away.

"If that's the case, let's tweet before we take off." My head whipped back.

"Don't." I said, my voice low.

"But I thought it didn't mean anything?" He asked innocently. I stayed silent.

"Just remember, Jessica…he left you like he left everyone else. You didn't matter enough to keep around." Max sneered. I winced, his words piercing my soul.

"My situation was different Max you know that."

"Not really, you loved him…we all loved him…but he didn't love us enough." He said.

"You know it sounds like you're in love with him." I said. He glared at me.

"You just lost your last bit of peace on this plane." He said. He was right… the entire flight he talked my ear off. I literally got the full life of Maxwell Jacob Friedman. I thought my head was going to explode by the time we landed at JFK. He even followed me to baggage claim. I finally lost him when we went out to catch cabs. I finally exhaled as mine headed to the city and his the island. I finally got to my apartment in Tribeca. As the doorman welcomed me back he let me know there was a delivery at the front desk for me.

I walked in and once I saw the desk I already knew what it was. I rolled my eyes and approached the woman behind the desk.

"Hi, I was told there was a delivery for Jessica Irvine." The woman smiled at me.

"Oh yes, these roses are actually for you. They are so beautiful, I've been staring at them." She said, still smiling. I forced a smile.

"Yes, they really are." I forced out.

"Whoever sent them must really love you." She said dreamily as I read the card.

"I won't stop, ever. Love, Phil." How the hell did he get my address?

"Oh yeah. Really loved." I said sarcastically. I was tempted to leave them behind but I picked up the flowers and headed toward the elevator. I got into my apartment and began to unpack, leaving the flowers on the counter. Just as I finished putting my suitcase in the closet my phone began to ring.

"Hello?" I answered.

"You broke him." Renee said.

"To be fair, he broke me first." I said, knowing who she was talking about Phil.

"I don't know what's worse…you joining MJF or you yelling at him as he tried to apologize."

"First off, you're starting to sound very one-sided."

"Jessica, he was crying when he called me."

"Good." I said.

"Not nice." I rolled my eyes.

"You got the flowers?" She continued.

"Yes, I'm assuming I have you to thank of why he knows where I live?" I asked.

"Why can't you just be appreciative of the fact that you got really nice roses and not wonder about how he got them to you?" She countered.

"I don't know Renee. On one hand I want to strangle him and the other is dying to kiss him again."

"I vote for kiss him again." We both laughed.

"Can you explain this MJF thing to me?" She asked.

"I can and I can't." I said.

"Are you really doing it for protection against Phil?"

"Renee, you can't tell him. Before I say anything promise me you won't."

"You're not protecting yourself from him are you?"

"Renee!"

"Fine, I promise!"

"Max has something on Phil and I. I can't say what, but I can't let it become public knowledge." I told her.

Oh my god, you're protecting Phil."

"And myself!" I added.

"You have to tell him." She told me.

"I can't…Max has eyes on me everywhere. If he gets wind that Phil knows, it's game over." I said.

"You have to say something to him."

"Like what?"

"Maybe thank him for the flowers…drop the hostility. Maybe you can start to work together…both of you can break some necks and emotional walls." She said, I sighed.

"Send me his number." I said defeated.

"YAY!" And with that she hung up and texted me his number. I took a deep breath and typed.

"Thank you for the roses. They're beautiful." He answered in a second.

"Just like you, I'm glad you like them."

Are Phil and Jessica finally moving to a better place? How are they going to get around MJF and his plans to torture Phil?