Author Notes: Please read and reviews and let me know if I am on the right track with this one please. I am having trouble deciding which way to take it because this stupid betrayal is making me totally nuts. (I WANT THEM TO BE TOGETHER!!!!!) If you think that they shouldn't be let me know but give me a good reason. This story goes out to SpyElf and RavensEnigma who out I wouldn't even have been hooked on Raven or the Gathering. Or America's Most Wanted Wildcat Chris Harris or Cowboy James Storm. And hope that everyone likes what he or she is reading.

Chapter Two

Lost Faith

*After what they had done to Raven, Julio and Punk should have raced it the hell out of the Asylum but they didn't. For that fact they just couldn't even though they knew that they should have. So instead they stood back just behind the curtain watching him. Watching him sitting there crying. Crying they knew for a lost destiny. One destiny that should have been his long ago. But they knew that he was crying even more so for the betrayal and lost love. This shouldn't have bothered them because it was after all what they had done to him. But it was bothering them and it would have been easy enough for anyone to tell. Anyone could have seen it just in the way that CM was clinging to Julio hand like he was a young child losing a parent with his heart breaking into pieces. Or who would have seen the tears making tracks down Julio face as a look of hopelessness settled over him. But no one seen this because they had concealed themselves into a spot that was well hidden from the world. Or at least so they though because there was one person watching them from his own hidden spot. They had chosen this spot so that they could watch but not be seen by any one who would tell. They both knew that they did what they had to do but that didn't stop it from hurting. Slowly Punk could watch Raven crushed form no longer. So he turns his sobbing body into Julio who grips him tightly trying to comfort him any way he can. Julio opens his mouth to try and say words of comfort but shuts it when none will come. For what do you say to one love that will comfort him about totally crushing another love? Even if you had no choice but to do what you did. So all he could do was hold Punk, Raven's littlest baby bird closely hoping that someday the pain would go away before it consumed him. He hoped that his own pain would go away soon too. While Punk has his head buried into Julio's chest he knows that this was the hardest thing that either one of them have ever had to do. He also knows that in so many ways this will just be the beginning of bad things to come. He believes given the choices that Julio and him where given that they did what they had to do. Making it none the easier but leaving them with no other choice. They had to protect their Birdman the only way they could. Their Birdman which now because of those choices given would be theirs "Nevermore". He was really starting to hate that phase. Just the thoughts had him crying even harder against Julio who was crying himself deep in his own thoughts. Both men knew that now all they could do was what they were told and hope that it was all for the best. That for now all they could do was to watch Raven when they could from a far. Julio gently leans down and kisses CM gently on the top of his head comforting him while drawing him in even tighter against his chest. All Julio could do now was to stand here and wait, watching and hoping that one of Ravens friends would take over caring for him now where Punk and he could not. For if no one did then they both knew that it wouldn't be long before Raven would be back to old ways and dark vises to help him forget the pain of their betrayal. Back to consumer him once more completely this time. Then it would be the end of him and this baby bird in his arms because there is no way with as emotional as CM is that he could watch Raven self-destruct. Not when they were the cause of it. And he knew in his heart that if he lost Punk on top of Raven then there would be nothing left for him. So all he could hope was that someone would take care of Raven. This way if someone did then his job would be to keep Punk from breaking down and losing it completely because times ahead did not look good for any of them. This wasn't supposed to be how they went into the holidays they had made their plans but now all he could do was watch and wait. Julio who was deep in his own thoughts almost doesn't notice that Wildcat Chris Harris and Cowboy James Storm along with Erik Watts make their way down to the cage. He sees that they don't enter the cage but grab a few chairs to sit down at cage side and to wait. He realizes that with everything that has happened tonight and with Ravens temper that that was the smartest thing they could have done on their parts. Julio knows that these men will take care of their love for at least tonight and most likely longer. He gently lifts Punk's face up till he is looking into his eyes. He sees that Punk is still crying and he has cried so much that his eyes are swollen and he is exhausted. He leans down and softly kisses him lips. Punk kisses Julio back with a need to be loved and to love. After a second Julio pulls back and turns Punk around so that he sees that the AMW and Erik Watts are at ringside watching over Raven. Punk nods all right and then gently pulls away from Julio walking just slightly closer looking intensely at Raven. He is shaking badly by this time so Julio walks up behind him and turns him around and back into his chest. This way CM can not watch some one else do the job that him and Julio have been doing now for over a year since Raven took them in. Watching Raven and helping him to stay on track had been their job and Julio understood that this was going to be hard to watch someone else do. Especially with the love they felt for the Birdman. He gently tugs on Punk to get him headed out of their hiding spot. Punk tries to pull back but Julio won't let him goes and starts to lead him down to the Raven's Lair. He has to get his and Punk's things and then get them out of there before Raven comes back down to the Lair. He knows that neither him nor Punk is ready or able to deal with Raven right now or the feeling that they are having. They walk down the back hallway toward a room that just this evening was home to the three of them and their love for each other. They are both unaware of the fact that they are being watched and followed since leaving their hiding place and passing his not noticing him. Julio is so lost in thought that he almost doesn't hear the whimper that comes from Punk as they near the Lair. As Punk reaches a hand out for the doorknob he jumps back as if it has bitten him. Julio sees the fear and confusion on his face and the way he is now shaking even worst. He has a look that says he is ready to turn and run. Julio places his arm around Punk's waist tightening his grip on him. He then reaches out and grabs the doorknob as a feeling of doom washes over him. Punk senses this and reaches out placing his own hand over Julio's giving him comfort. They open the door and slowly enter leaving the door open wide as if they are afraid of getting locked in. Julio let go of Punk leaving him to stand in the middle of the room. He starts to quickly grab their stuff and is just throwing it into their bags. He figures the faster that they get out of there the better. While he is doing this he is unaware that Punk has gone over to Ravens locker and is carefully packing all of Raven's things up for him. Something that he has done since Raven has taken him under his wings. Punk has always teased Raven about his sloppy packing and one day Raven told him if he didn't like how he did it then he could do it for him. Ever since Punk has done just that. Julio comes out of their bathroom and sees Punk doing this and slowly walks over to him. Punk looks up with a lost and bewilder look on his face. After a moment he tries to smile but starts to cry instead. Julio pulls him in and starts to cry himself. Both are unaware of the fact that they are still being watched. They both do know that they have to get the hell out of there and now. Julio hands Punk his cross that he always has on except in the ring. He always said that he would be a lost soul without it. That it was this cross that helped him be able to have the strength to be straightedge. It was in the bathroom hanging from the mirror with Julio's choker that has a raven hanging from it. This has been his good luck charm ever since Raven gave it to him a few weeks after taking him in. So Julio had grabbed them both because he knew that they would need them if they were going to make it through this. He reaches down and grabs their bags from where he had sat them then turns and watches Punk. He is holding his cross up looking at it as if it has all the answers that Punk needed. He is so lost and confused that it shows across his face. After a few more seconds he walks over to the wastebasket and drops his cross into it. He then stands there looking down at it. Julio walks over to him and taking his choker from his neck puts it on CM who reaches up lightly touching the raven on it. CM then turns and walks out of the room without looking back. Julio starts to cry and follows him out closing the door as he leaves. He then heads out to the parking lot where he finds Punk shaking so bad he can't even get into the car. Julio helps him in and then throws their bags into the trunk before getting in behind the wheel. Punk is leaning over and puts his head on Julio's shoulder. He almost asleep in his seat before Julio even starts the car. Julio quickly kisses him on the head and then starts to car. Julio knows that he is going to be in for the fight of his life not to let Punk get lost without Raven there for him because he is so much like Raven that he could be lost so easily. He also knows that Punk has lost his faith completely which isn't going to help. And now some how he has to get all their stuff out of the apartment that they shared with Raven before he get there plus get then an hotel room. Both men have left the Asylum without saying a word since their betrayal of Raven. *

Author Notes: Please Review. Must have to figure out if good or bad. Please. Raven muse must have them to keep him happy. The happier he is the more that I get written.

Thanks,

Cat Lea

Ravensgurl41@aol.com