Deep breath in.

Deep breath out.

In.

Out.

The breathing exercises that she was doing with Seth were driving CJ nuts. She wasn't giving birth for another eight months, why were they practicing breathing? Another question on her mind was why were they practicing breathing exercises with some Sounds of the Rainforest bullshit playing in the background? If he was aiming for relaxing, he was going the absolute wrong direction. But she wasn't going to tell him that, since she didn't want to upset him before they went out to dinner with his parents.

"Put your diaphragm in it, babe."

"I'd rather put my diaphragm into other things." CJ muttered, rubbing her stomach. "When are you going to tell your parents that I'm pregnant?"

"Soon."

"Soon as in before it gets obvious or soon as in when I'm about to pop?"

"Damnit, CJ, soon means soon." Seth snapped, irritating the blonde sitting across from him in the backyard. "Babe, I'm-"

"Don't apologize, I'm being pushy and I'm sorry." CJ said softly, standing up and heading inside, giving Seth's head a gentle pat on the way in. He wasn't sure if she was pissed or sad, and he didn't know what to do about it. He hated not knowing how she was feeling, since half the time she probably didn't know what she was feeling or understand why she felt what she did. It was one of the few things that made their relationship hard, because he always knew what he was feeling and she never did. It was something that made him wonder how she'd deal with their kids when she was on an emotionally off day. Would she make it work or shut down? Hopefully the former but the latter was always an option that loomed over his head.

"What do you want for lunch?" CJ called and he shrugged, laying back in the grass.

"You're cooking?"

"I can." She stated, and Seth decided that he should go cuddle his woman and make his apology known.

"Don't ruin your appetite for tonight, sweetheart." He warned, smile playing on his lips as he made his way into the house and headed for the kitchen where he saw CJ leaning against the counter and looking at her phone.

"I don't really want to go." CJ said quietly, looking up at Seth as she set her phone down. She really didn't like the crestfallen look on his face, but she had to do what was best for her. "You should have a night with your family and food is starting to nauseate me so it might be best that I don't go."

"Babe, I don't want to just leave you here."

"How different would that be from when you're on tour?" CJ asked, not meaning to sound so bitter. But in all actuality, she was bitter. She didn't know why she didn't want Seth to feel bad, but she really didn't want Seth to feel bad about working or spending time with his family.

"I guess it wouldn't be any different." Seth mumbled, gently kicking at the counter. He really hoped that this was just a badly placed mood swing and that she really wasn't upset over him having to work or going to dinner with his family. "I wish I understood what you were upset about, babe."

"I wish you'd stop treating me like I'm fragile just because I'm pregnant!" CJ snapped, smacking the counter in frustration. "I get the whole 'precious cargo' thing, I do, but I'm capable of doing things on my own."

"I just don't think I'd feel right leaving you alone like this."

"Like what? I'm perfectly healthy, and you had no problem leaving me back in January when my ribs were broken."

"I spent the night with you!" Seth argued, not meaning to raise his voice but CJ was pushing his buttons with her false history.

"Bullshit! You were gone before I woke up and your side of the bed was ice cold." She debated and Seth groaned loudly as he made his way around to trap her against the sink before she tried walking away from him. "Just leave me alone, Seth."

"No, I'm going to make this right and figure out what the hell is going on with you. We were just fine last night and this morning, so I know it's not because you talked to Dean. Is it your hormones or something else?"

"Seth-"

"CJ, we can't have a healthy relationship if we keep letting shit slide. Talk to me, babe. Tell me how to make it better."

"You can't just expect to make everything better, Seth. Some things can't be made better."

"Maybe so, but they can be adjusted to make life better." Seth reasoned, delicately cupping net cheeks in his hands to endure that they made eyes contact. "I want to help you make those adjustments, babe, but I can't help if you don't tell me what's wrong."

"I'm scared, Seth."

"Scared of what? My mom?"

"There's that, but I'm terrified that I'll be a bad mother." That's wasn't the full story but, until CJ knew what was going on in her head, all he needed was the very basics. "This is all so hard on me, because Heyman is going to be disappointed in me, management is going to be pissed that I'm not coming back, and I don't even want to get myself started on the fans."

"Fuck all of them and their opinions. Even my mom. What matters right now is us and Dean, since he's stepping up. We're going to be fine." Seth assured, pulling her into a hug. He felt her tears begin to soak into his shirt and rubbed her back soothingly with one hand, the other cradled the back of her head and kept it in place while he periodically kissed the top of her head. "I'm scared about being a bad parent, too."

"You are?"

"Damn right I am. In case you've forgotten, this is also my first rodeo." He spoke softly, offering a smile when she pulled back to look up at him. "I'm honestly terrified. I don't even know how to hold a baby, add in feeding and changing a diaper? Fuck me."

"I can teach you."

"See? You're already one step ahead." Seth praised, grinning when she smiled. "No more tears, babe, and please don't ever be afraid to talk to me about stuff that bothers you. Okay?"

"Okay. I'm-"

"If you say sorry, I swear to god, I'll spank you."

"Sorry." CJ mumbled and Seth smirked, carefully throwing her over his shoulder and carrying her up the stairs.

"I do believe that I warned you."

Once Dean got home to Vegas the first thing he did was go to sleep. He had to admit that he slept better knowing that CJ didn't totally hate him and wanted him in their child's life. He just didn't understand how exactly he'd be there for her while she was pregnant now that she lived with Seth.

Things to consider. Dean thought to himself as he swung his still denim clad legs over the side of the bed, cold bare feet hitting the sun-warmed hardwood soundlessly. Sleeping in his jeans wasn't something he did often, but it wasn't uncomfortable so he really didn't mind being dog tired and just taking his socks and shirt off before falling asleep. He knew that CJ would've had a problem with it, had she been there, and it made him look back at the empty side of his bed and wish that she was there; checking her texts and scrolling through her Twitter and Instagram feeds before asking him what he wanted to eat.

Sadly, he didn't have her there with him and was all alone in his apartment. So he ignored the screaming pain in his back that came from the buildup of so many botched moves and dives through the ropes and stood, feeling things in his back pop into place while he stretched a bit before making his way into his bathroom in search of his bottle of over-the-counter pain killers.

Looking at himself in the mirror, Dean couldn't help but grimace at how tired and miserable he looked. His hair was always a mess, bags beneath his eyes, and it seemed as though a frown was permanently on his face. He could blame work all he wanted, but he knew it was because he lost his woman. He opened the cabinet, grateful to not have to look at his reflection any longer, and grabbed the lone bottle in the cabinet. The bottle gave him some shit when he tried opening it the first time, but it wasn't long before he shook the two liquid gels into his hand and quickly swallowed them, filling up the cheap plastic cup with water from the tap to wash then down with. It'd be a while before they kicked in, but he'd come to terms with the fact that he did this to himself. Did he regret any of it? Never.

He remembered Roman suggesting that he get a massage while they were in Europe, and dismissing the idea because all he wanted was CJ's hands working his muscles. She had only done it a couple times, but he didn't want anybody else but her straddling his back and touching him. He missed her way too much, and every day he fought the urge to call her. But today, now that he knew that she didn't hate him, just might be the day that he called because he missed her.

He made his way out to the kitchen, scratching along the waistband of his briefs on his way. He had added an autographed picture of her in her gear with her championship to his wall, and it hung there proudly. He spent a lot of time sitting on his couch and drunkenly rambling apologies to her picture, sometimes he just stared at her and remembered all the times he got to peel her gear off of her body and pleasure her in the confines of their hotel rooms. Of course recalling those memories led to an erection that he had to take care of; most times he went to his bedroom but others he just sat on the couch and went for it. He could probably never tell her about that, and he knew that before the next time she came to his apartment, he'd have to take that picture off his wall and stash it somewhere so he didn't look like he was obsessed with her.

"What am I going to eat?" Dean asked himself, opening the fridge even though he knew that the only things in it were a six pack of beer and the sixteen ounce bottle of strawberry milk that he bought from a vending machine in the airport. "How did I not finish this?" He mumbled to himself, pulling the bottle of milk out of the fridge and opening the drawer where he kept his takeout menus and found one for the Thai place three blocks away that he and CJ ate at when she went to Vegas with him that one time.

"You'll be alright without me, babe?" Seth asked, looking back at CJ as he pulled his shirt over his head. She only stared at him as she ran a brush through her hair, holding the duvet over her chest. "I'll take that as a yes."

"Don't worry about me all night, Sethie. Have fun with your family and I'll be here when you get home." She assured, smiling when he sat down beside her on the bed.

"Will you still be naked?"

"I don't like walking around the house naked, so probably not." Seth pouted and she pecked his lips. "But when you get home you can get me naked again."

"Fuck, yes." He moaned, pressing his lips to hers and forcing his tongue into her mouth before she pushed him away. "Babe-"

"You're going to get all worked up and you don't have the time to take care of it." CJ reasoned, keeping her finger on his lips to silence him. "When you get home, I'm all yours."

"Can I ask you something, babe?"

"Anything within reason." She mumbled, unsure of anything he could ask that would make his face turn all serious.

"How are things going to work with you, me, and Dean?" Seth asked, watching as she set her bush to the side and place her hand on his.

"What do you mean?"

"If Bray is wrong, and it's only Dean's baby, what are we going to do?" Seth reworded his question, turning his hand over so he could hold onto her smaller hand. "I don't want to lose you, CJ, but I can't keep you away from Dean."

"Seth, I'm with you and I love you."

"But you also love him. I can see it in your eyes that you do." Seth commented and CJ dropped her head, unable to look him in the eyes. "It's nothing to be ashamed of, CJ. I understand. We're two totally different guys and together we're everything you need. I need to know what you want, though, because I'm not giving you up."

"Can we talk about this later, Seth?" She asked quietly, not expecting to ever have this conversation Seth and not having any idea what to say to him. She didn't want to upset him, but she just didn't have an answer.

"Of course. I know I kind of blindsided you with that, and I'm sorry, I just-"

"Sethie, it's fine, don't apologize. I'll mull it over while you're out. What do you think we should do?"

"I don't know how much Dean would like this, since it gets cold in Iowa, but maybe he could come live here with us so he can be with you and his baby, because I don't want you to leave."

"That's really generous of you, Seth."

"If it'll make you happy, I'll do it." He assured with a smile, kissing her forehead before checking his phone for the time. "I gotta go. Don't be afraid to call or text if you need anything, okay?"

"Okay. I love you, Seth."

"I love you, too, CJ." He murmured, pressing his lips to hers before kissing her cheek. "See you in a couple hours."

"I'll be here." She mumbled as she laid down on her side, pulling the duvet up to her chin. Seth kissed her head one last time before patting her side and heading out.

I miss him already. CJ thought to herself when she heard the front door close downstairs. Kevin had jumped up to join her on the bed and she smiled, reaching for her phone on the nightstand. She had only one text and that was from Dean.

'Do you have time to talk?'

Thank you to UntilNeverDawns, ArtisticLullaby, Sarcastic Nightmare, angelsdee327, Shel Grissom, TaijiaK, and Guest for reviewing the last chapter!