Dean had been appointed with one particular task by his loving girlfriend, and that task was talking to Roman about painting with him. He would've painted everything himself, but CJ didn't want him doing it on his own and he wasn't going to let her help. Her inhaling paint fumes was bad for the baby so she wasn't allowed to do anything other than ordering the paint they picked out online and telling the delivery guy where to put it. If she did anything else, which he doubted she would, he'd give her a serious talking to about it. But he loved her and her independence, even if it was annoying as hell.
He didn't really like how he had to practically jump through hoops to be alone with Roman in the same room, but if that's how stuff had to be then so be it. He was doing this more for CJ's sake than for his, because he really didn't mind painting everything she wanted painted on his own. She certainly wasn't going to be inhaling paint fumes and she didn't want him to exert himself, so his pride was taking one for the team when he knocked twice on Roman's locker room door before letting himself in.
The Samoan only glanced up from his wrist tape, not needing to look at the blonde for long to see that he was fidgeting and uncomfortable about something. But he knew that asking Dean about what was going through his head would be about as successful as telling a bird not to shit on your car, so he kept quiet and tried his best not to make Dean feel more uncomfortable. Neither had much time to just waste like this because they both had matches later, but Roman knew that Dean knew this. He just needed a moment to sort it all out.
"I need to ask a favor of you." Dean started, running his hand through his hair. "Well- I guess it's me and 'Stina, 'cause she's concerned about me stressing myself out and I won't let her near paint."
"You're painting your apartments?" Roman asked, hoping that he decoded Dean correctly. If not he knew that Dean would further explain, but he hoped that Dean wouldn't have to further elaborate. Dean Ambrose did not like to repeat himself and Roman knew that too well. He'd experienced plenty of aggravated sighs and rushed repetitions from the blonde because he wasn't tuning in at the moment.
"Our house."
"You two bought a house?"
"Why does everybody always sound so surprised?" Dean asked, throwing his hands in the air. "Heyman looked at me like I grew two heads when I gave him our address."
"You and CJ aren't exactly the 'happy homemaker' types of people, but I can't wait to see the place."
"So you don't have a problem with helping me paint?" He could tell that Dean had a problem with asking for help like this, and he wasn't going to make him feel any worse about it.
"Of course not." Roman spoke with a smile, standing and patting Dean's shoulder. "I'll do anything within my power to help you out. This week?"
"If you're free."
"I am now." The Samoan assured, his smile widening when Dean smiled at him. Roman really only saw Dean smile at work when they were talking about the baby or his relationship with CJ, and that was really rare because Dean and CJ wanted their baby to be a well kept secret so they wouldn't be bombarded about it. They weren't ashamed of being expectant parents, but they were trying to protect their baby. Roman also knew that Dean was afraid to act like he was happy because he didn't want his source of happiness stripped from him, so brooding all the time was his only protection. "Uncle Roman will always make time for his niece."
"Thanks, man. I really appreciate everything you've done for me and CJ."
"You two are family to me, Dean. I don't use that word lightly, either." Roman wanted to add a bitchy comment about Seth, but knew damn well that Dean didn't want to hear his name more than he already had to after how badly he reacted to the vanished twin. So he held that comment back, watching as Dean shifted nervously. Ever since Seth passed their brotherhood off as a "business partnership" so casually, Dean had been really awkward when it came to the word family. It was like the word scared him, even though he and CJ were starting their family.
"I know, and I really appreciate it." Dean spoke quietly, kicking at the floor and looking down at their boots. "The baby shower is in a couple weeks and she wants you to be there, too. Heyman and Lesnar already RSVP'd and Adam will be there so it's not like we'll be surrounded by vaginas. It actually might be a sausage fest for being a chick event."
"Dean look at me." Roman demanded, keeping his tone even and gently guiding Deans face up for eye contact. "I know what Seth did is still hurting you, and that's okay because I'm still hurting too. You don't need to get all quiet whenever people mention family. I'm not going anywhere."
"That's what you say but you'll leave, too. You'll leave and she'll leave and take Olivia with her. All because I'm fucking unstable." Dean rambled, pushing away from Roman and sitting on the floor. When the Samoan took a step forward, Dean scooted himself into the corner and kicked a leg out in an attempt to stop him from coming closer. "They all leave, Roman. It's why Seth left."
"That's bullshit and you know it." Roman argued, kneeling down and grabbing hold of both of Dean's legs so he couldn't kick at him while he came closer. "I'm either going to straddle your ass or you're going to get the hell up so we can finish this."
When Dean made no attempt to move Roman's made good on his word and straddled Dean's thighs. His hands cupped the blonde's cheeks to force eye contact and the Samoan frowned when he saw the tears welling in Dean's eyes. Roman knew too well how many times Dean had been screwed over and abandoned, and just the thought of it happening to him again had Dean terrified.
"You listen and you listen good, alright? If CJ wanted nothing to do with you, she wouldn't be in that house. She probably wouldn't be talking to you either." Roman reasoned, keeping his eyes locked on Dean's and stroking away the tears that fell. "You have your unstable moments but that woman keeps you grounded."
"You think so?"
"I know so. That woman makes you so fucking happy, and I didn't think that was possible." He spoke softly, pushing Dean's hair back. "You're my brother. My mother asks about you on a weekly basis, Ambrose, so you need to stop freaking out. Just because we're not together twenty-four-seven doesn't mean that our bond is broken."
"But CJ-"
"Isn't going to leave you." Roman cut him off, pinching Dean's lips between his thumb and index finger. "She loves you, Dean. You pulled one of the biggest dick moves in history and she still took your ass back. Not just for the baby or because of Seth, but because she loves you."
Not able to use his mouth for anything right now, Dean only nodded. Roman's words were slowly sinking in and Dean truly believed that he was right about his fears. But Roman stayed on him, grey eyes locked on his blue ones while they wordlessly communicated. Dean gave another slow nod and Roman nodded back, gaze questioning until Dean nodded back. It was then that Roman gave a small smile, gently kissing Dean's forehead.
"Does CJ know about these fears of yours?" Roman asked as he stood, holding his hands out to the blonde. Dean placed his taped hands in Roman's accepting the assistance until he was on his feet and then he pulled the Samoan into a hug. Roman only pat Dean's back, one hand going to Dean's hair as he held onto his friend. It was made clear that Dean was avoiding this question and Roman wasn't going to push. Dean needed him to be a rock right now and rocks didn't pry.
"You're all I've got on the road, Roman. I don't mean to unload on you, but the loneliness gets to me."
"I know it does, Dean. But you don't have to be alone, just travel with me."
"I'm annoying as all hell in the car."
"I've missed our car adventures, to be honest." Roman admitted, smiling when Dean stepped back to look at him in shock. "What do you say?"
"I'm in."
Thank you to TaijiaK, Sammie94, angelsdee327, UntilNeverDawns, ChelleLew, Katara Melody Cullen, and Sarcastic Nightmare for reviewing the last chapter!