She whimpered slightly as two arms engulfed her, crushing her body against his. Karlee let out no sound and didn't even hug him back. Dean was ecstatic beyond imagination. Relief washed over his whole entire body as he finally knew the truth, But could him and Karlee get back to normal now?

"I suppose you just want everything just to click back into place now?" Karlee asked with no emotion in her voice as she continued to stare at a space on the floor. Dean drew back, his hands now firmly set on her shoulders.

"No, I don't want it to actually." Karlee blinked, a little taken aback by his answer as he he shifted her focus to his face. Did this mean he didn't want her any more. She knew they had agreed to space but now the kid problem was sorted, were they just meant to get back to their old life. Dean caught on to her reaction and smirked, seeing it was a negative one and decided with an explanation.

"The way you reacted to all this made me question how we feel about each other. I know I love you but do you feel the same?" Karlee found herself nodding before anything could stop her. Of course she loved him. She had opened her mind and body to him and she had never put so much trust in someone before. He had protected her, keeping her safe but pushing her boundaries at the same time to broaden her views and self belief. He may have calmed down on the passionate, daring side of himself but that didn't mean she didn't love him any more. She loved him with her entire being and there was no way in hell she could ever achieve that feeling with someone else.

"Well, maybe you do love me but I think we need a little break to decide what what we both want. And you need to figure out who you are. You changed almost automatically when this mess started and I don't want that Karlee to be a shield she puts up when she's scared. I want you to find yourself." She looked down and saw both his hands were holding onto hers. He had seen her begin to relax in their relationship and let her guard down. Even just by what she wore and how she presented herself was more calm and relaxed. He had even gone down with her, finding even his on screen character was starting to chill down. But he seemed to be stuck in a rut rut while she fired back up again. Maybe it was because he thought Karlee didn't love him enough to try and bring that spark back that he didn't want to risk scaring her away. He wanted to bring his Mox out of the dust jacket and feel himself.

"We have a storyline together and we live together, do you want to see if I can get out of that and find somewhere else to stay." Karlee's voice trembled slightly and that, even Dean knew, was a sure sign that Karlee would probably start crying, not that she did it a lot.

"No." Dean replied rather abruptly. The authority in his voice made Karlee's heart skip an awful loud leap.

"We need to sort of stay friends and keep work separate, and no, I don't want you to move out. Just give me the bed." That she could deal with- except the bed.

"Em no. It's my bed so I'm sleeping in it." She countered, pulling her hands away. Dean let out a throaty laugh.

"I don't object to sharing sweetheart." Karlee knitted her eyebrows together in frustration as she stood up, Dean beating her to the punch and leaving before she got the chance.

xXx

She had rallied the troops and now most of the Divas were all waiting to hear the results of the DNA test. It was like a shitty episode of Jerry Springer, just more swearing and a lil bit more aggressive. Karlee felt slightly smug as she entered the changing rooms again. She had got a chance to get ready in Deans locker room as they both didn't want another backstage fight. They had been silent, going over storyline ideas and nothing else. Nothing about their relationship was mentioned and it was sort of nice that they didn't feel pressured to do anything. They were due to cut a promo that night and whatever happened after that happened. Dean and Karlee had both been given full control over their own story lines and it meant they could set up matches basically whenever they wanted. She strutted into the room full of her friends and even Kaitlyn was there to close out her contract. She was wearing her spiked louboutins with plain black skinny trousers that bunched up at the left side and a black waistcoat that hugged her curves perfectly, accentuating her breast that were covered in a red satin bra which showed just a little. She had a little stomach on yahoo but nothing to dangerous. Her hair was plaited into a side fishtail and her make up was heavy and dark and she had to admit, she felt sexy. Alice followed after her asking for advice since tonight was her début against Rosa Mendes. She was dressed in a black tutu and a black crop top with sparkly long sleeves. She looked gorgeous and Karlee was jealous of her small body shape. Dammit.

"So... You don't seem calm enough to say it isn't his but you look pissed off enough that it might be. Ooh. Is is actually quite thrilling." Karlee shot her a look that said 'really?' And they just walked in.

"Well lovelies, it isn't his kid and that's probably just because there isn't even a child in the picture." AJ and all the girls looked dumbfounded. Nikki dropped her blusher brush and catapulted over the sofa to be seated with the other girls, now suddenly interested.

"What, Megan never was even pregnant? It was all a big set up?" Nikki asked, applying her lipstick in the mirror. Karlee nodded.

"Why does she still have a job then? Surely that's enough to get rid of her?" Brie asked, Karlee shook her head, constantly asking herself the same question. Brie was quite in the know about firing people from the WWE as Daniel had just been given his ultimatum, the belts or his wife's job.

"Contracts iron clad. All they can do is suspend her and fine her. But I need her back because I want a chance to kick her ass."

"Your not the only one. She tried to make a pass at Punk and I swear to god if I hadn't said something she would have molested him on the spot." That raised the aggressive atmosphere a little amongst the group.

"Guys, I really want to thank you for everything you've done for me this past few weeks. It means a lot." She let herself genuinely smile for the first time in weeks. Nikki called a group hug and they all ran forwards and piled onto Karlee who shrieked and fell onto the sofa under the weight of Nikki, AJ, Brie, Nattie, Paige, Alice and Naomi.

"Guys, I would prefer it if I could have Karlee Alice for our segment." Deans voice made Karlee cringe as the divas all pied back onto the feet, muttering obscenities and threats at Dean for good measure. He smirked at them with the cheesiest smile ever and let Karlee leave the room first before slowly shutting the door behind him. He could have sworn he saw Karlee smile. But he didn't want to bet on it.

"So what's the plan?" Karlee asked as she walked beside him, feeling almost timid as he sleeked alongside her. He shrugged, bored of having to go over his promos. He spoke from the deepest darks of his heart when he went on a graceful rant. He couldn't plan what he was going to say.

"For fuck sakes Dean, don't ignore me!" She shouted, standing in front of him with her legs in line with her shoulders and her palms planted on her hips. Dean tried to keep his focus on being angry but the skin peeking out from beneath that bra was just too much. He licked his lips and Karlee felt a shudder run down her spine so she stuck out her chest a little more. Just to entice. She wanted to make him snap, to grab her and lock them both away in a cupboard to do the dirty. And all Dean could think about was he should be ignoring her more often,

"Little lady, you have two seconds to move out of the way before I move you myself. We have an audience to speak to." Yet she didn't move. Karlee stayed rooted to the spot, a warm feeling spreading through her stomach as she watched Dean move nervously from foot to foot. He was smirking yet looked serious at the same time. It was them Dean realized what she was trying to do. She was trying to provoke him, to make him take her on the spot. Well he wasn't giving in and if she wanted to play that game, so would he multiplied by ten. He stepped forward and bent down to her ear, his breath tickling her sensitive skin. He watched her shudder as his fingertips ran down her arms slowly and gripped her waist. Her breath hitched as his grip tightened. Just as Karlee was about to put her arms up onto his luscious shoulders, he picked her up and turned around, dumping her onto a production cart.

"I did say to get out of my way." She glowered at him as he walked away chuckling to himself. Now she was all hot. And bothered. Not a good thing when you were just away to stand in a ring.

xXx

"So you see ladies and gentlemen, here's the thing. I'm a champion and you aren't. Ninety percent of that locker room aren't champions and you know what, apart from my girl, I hope it stays that way. This here, this US title is just the start. I will fight my way to the top if it is the last thing I do, and so will Karlee, difference is, she's been there before and she's coming back to get what's hers." The sound of club music filled the air and Karlee turned on her heel, only to groan. Sofia filled the stage with her bouncy personality and her belt.

"I do apologise for interrupting but I couldn't help. It stand backstage and listen to you two rabble on about something that's not going to happen-"

"No Sofia, you know what's not going to happen? You aren't keeping that belt and even if it isn't me that takes it away, I will proudly stand in the corner of anyone willing to try. You are nothing but an evil bitch and if you weren't standing up there, I'd beat your little ass into next year." Sofia let out a laugh, a horrible screechy laugh.

"See, but you wouldn't do that, because we all know as soon as you step anywhere near me, Deans going to hold you back and save you from getting you ass beat." Karlee growled and stepped out from beneath the ropes.

"I would offer you a match but we both know there is already a divas match. And the opponent just happens to be your little friend. How sweet!" Karlee knew she was right, if she started a fight, it would only cut the time on the match that Alice was due to début in. So she stayed back.

"Wait, what's that I hear in my headset?!" Sofia was mocking Karlee, she didn't even have a headset on. She was up to something.

"Well guys, it doesn't sound like any divas match is happening tonight. You see Karlee, I spoke to Alice a few minutes ago and she says she's feeling... A little under the weather." Karlee squinted at Sofia, wondering what she was trying to say. Alice had been looking forward to her début match ever since they had first met so why she would say she wasn't feeling great was beyond her. And why would she say that to Sofia to all people. She felt Dean at her back a hand on her lower back to show her that he was there if need be.

"Stop talking in riddles Sofia, what have you said or done to Alice?" Sofia faked shocked reaction and t made Karlee grit her teeth together in annoyance.

"How could you ever think I would do something to upset your dear friend! Why I think you should ask her what's wrong yourself!" Sofia ran on her heels backstage and left Karlee seething in the ring. The crowd started to get confused and even Dean was asking what was going on. Then their questions were answered because what came out from behind the stage shocked Karlee to the core. Wade Barrett and Cesaro were either side of a limp and lifeless Alice, who was being dragged onto the stage with her feet dragging behind her. Her head bobbed to the side and her hair was all a mess, suggesting this was a cat fight turned nasty. Karlee could see blood but only a little. Dean held her back as she started screaming, throwing her arms and legs everywhere.

"You take one step up here and I will have these two slam her through the stage. You see Karlee, when you took the man I loved I knew how to get you back. You are extremely lucky we never hurt Kaitlyn so we made up for it with Alice." Sofia stepped in front of Alice blocking everyone view.

"So you see, no matter what obstacles you throw at me, I will skip around them and-" She stopped as she felt the weight of Barrett crash into her. Roman Reings had appeared from the back and slammed into both men, gracefully managing to catch Alice from their grip and call for EMT's. Karlee took it as her opportunity to get to Sofia. Dean let her go and she jumped from the ropes and marched her way towards Sofia with a deathly glare. A quick glance at Alice and a wink assured her she was fine and she knew herself she would check on her as soon as she could. A few steps and she was now standing at where Sofia was trying to get up, a slightly dazed focus making her struggle. Karlee wound her fingers into her hair and helped her up, grabbing her microphone.

"One thing you do not do is threaten me Sofia and secondly, If you ever EVER go near Alice or anyone I care about again, I will plant my foot up your ass and rip your hair from your head. Got it?" Sofia snarled at her retching herself away from Karlee's grasp.

"And since you ever so kindly decided to take Alice out of her début, I guess poor Rosa needs an opponent..." The crowd cheered as a grin spread onto Karlee's face. They knew exactly what she wanted and they knew it would happen.

"I want her in the ring. Now."

xXx

Sooo... Slightly longer chapter since I took a while to update. I've decided the last story in the 'Protecting Them' series will not be this story. It will be in fact an Alice one. Get your ideas sent in early!

Love you all so much and thanks for the lovely reviews! They are amazing! Amanda Xo