"You fucking bitch!"

"John, please, no-"

Her words were cut off when John's foot connected with her ribs. He had just thrown her down on the ground in a drunken rage. Lilian gasped in pain, reaching out to try to crawl away from John. However, John stepped on Lilian's outstretched hand, causing her to cry out in pain.

"Please, stop!" she cried out as she cradled her hand to her stomach. John didn't respond; rather, he grabbed Lilian by the shirt and slammed her into the wall. Their wedding picture fell to the ground, shattering into a million pieces.

"Look what you did, you stupid BITCH!" John yelled, slapping his wife across the jaw. "You see what you did!" Lilian didn't respond as John slammed her against the wall and hit her again, yelling, "ANSWER ME!"

"I didn't do anything, John," Lilian pleaded, fighting back tears as John threw her to the ground, kicking her in the stomach over and over again.

Lilian sat up with a start, sweat rolling down her forehead as she cradled her hand to her stomach. She gasped, trying to control her breathing as she flexed her hand. It was strange, but it almost felt as it did when John had broken her hand a year ago by stepping on it in the middle of a major fight.

"Lil? You okay, doll?"

She took a deep breath, mustering a small smile for Rob, who was gazing up at her, sleepy. "It's okay. I just had a bad dream."

"Oh… are you okay?"

"Yeah, Rob, I'm fine. Go ahead and go back to sleep."

Lilian stood up, walking slowly to sit in the overstuffed chair that overlooked the city. It was weird, but her stomach and chest hurt too. Not to mention the headache that seemed to have overtaken her. With a small sigh, Lilian settled down into the chair, staring out into the city lights.

"What was your dream about?" Lilian jumped when Rob spoke up a few minutes later. Lilian closed her eyes, tilting her head to the air. "It's okay if you don't want to talk, but remember, I'm here if you need to talk," Rob added.

Lilian took a deep breath, crossing her arms and folding her knees up to her chest. "John… used to get really drunk and beat the shit out of me. I just relived one of those moments in a nightmare of mine."

"What happened?"

"I honestly don't remember, Rob," Lilian replied, running a hand over her face. "All I remember is that Rob called me a fucking bitch, threw me down, then kicked me, stomped on my hand, and slapped me around. I passed out and woke up in the hospital with a concussion, two broken ribs and a broken wrist."

"How come the hospital didn't do anything?"

"Apparently, John told them that I was attacked while jogging and I was too scared he was going to hurt me if I told the police."

Rob and Lilian were silent for a few moments, before Rob spoke up quietly. "Come on over and come back to bed. I'll hold you until you go to sleep."

"You can't protect me from my dreams, Rob," Lilian said quietly.

"I can protect you from everything else, Lilian," Rob replied softly, patting the bed next to him.

With another soft sigh, Lilian stood up, walking over to the bed and laying down next to Rob. She allowed him to wrap his arms around her gently, holding her closely.

"It's going to be okay, Lilian. I'll make sure of that," Rob whispered.

"Thank you," Lilian replied, closing her eyes.

But sleep was a long way coming for Lilian.

"Hey, girl!" Trish said with a giggle as she met up with Lilian at the elevator.

"How can you be so fucking chipper the morning after drinking so much, Patricia, when I didn't even have one?" Lilian grumbled good-naturedly, rubbing a hand over her face.

"Oh, it's easy. Especially if you try what Bubba and I did last-"

"I don't want to know anymore, Trish!" Lilian said with a grin, covering her ears.

"You're no fun," Trish said, nudging Lilian with her elbow. "So, what are your plans today?"

"I don't know, Trish. You?"

"Well, there's a salon around the corner. I wanted to get a pedicure and a trim. You want to come?"

"You know, I think I will come with you," Lilian said. "I want to go blonde again. I've been thinking about it for awhile."

"Sweet!" Trish said, throwing her arms around Lilian, not noticing when the brunette tensed up slightly. "It'll be a girl's day out!"

The two ate breakfast quickly, meeting up with Rob and Bubba before they left to let them know they were going to have a girl's day out before the house show that night. Lita and Shawn came down later, both looking slightly hung over and sheepish.

"Please tell me I didn't make an ass out of myself last night," Lita said with a moan, staring glumly at the cup of black coffee Shawn set in front of her.

"Nah, that was Trish's job," Lilian replied.

"Ha ha, very funny," Trish said, grinning as she punched her friend lightly on the shoulder. "Hey, Li, Lil and I are having a girl's day out thingy. You in?"

"You know it," Lita answered. "I think I'll get a facial. Hopefully it'll help get rid of my headache."

"I have another way of getting rid of it," Shawn whispered, grinning when Lita turned as red as her hair.

"On that note, we're leaving," Lita proclaimed, standing up and grabbing Lilian and Trish's hands. "Come on, before these knuckleheads decide they want to come with us."

"Aw, come on, I was thinking of dying my hair purple," Rob said dryly, patting the ponytail hanging loosely at the nape of his neck.

The five others laughed, and Lilian replied, "Don't even think of it! I think Stephanie would kill you."

"Nah, I wouldn't do that," Rob said with a grin. "Have fun, ladies."

Lita and Shawn kissed, then Bubba and Trish. Lilian tried not to look at Rob as they did this. "Bye, Rob," she said shyly, walking behind Trish and Lita as they left.

Rob watched almost wistfully as Lilian left, then glanced over at Shawn and Bubba, who were both grinning mischievously. "Don't even go there, guys," Rob warned, paying his bill and leaving a tip before standing up to leave.

Shawn and Bubba watched as Rob left, looking almost lost as he tried to decide which way to go.

"He's got it bad," Bubba claimed to Shawn as soon as Rob was out of sight.

"Oh, yeah," Shawn replied slyly. "I know."