SUBTITLE:BREAKING CHARACTER

CHAPTER 19

The ride back to the hotel was tense to say the least. Robin sat in the middle of Derrick and Olivia and nobody said a word. As the cab driver pulled up to the main entrance of the hotel, Derrick quickly paid the driver and hopped out. Olivia and Robin got out of the other side and gave each other a look of concern.

"Hey guys. I'm gonna head up to my room and freshen up until it's time to meet the guys." Olivia wanted to get away from this awkwardness as soon as possible. Besides, she knew it was in Robin's best interest to explain EVERYTHING to him before Dean said anything else at her birthday dinner.

Robin and Derrick had a quiet elevator ride to their room until they closed the door and Derrick exploded.

"What the hell is going on between you and Dean? You and Roman?" He was so upset he could barely form complete sentences.

"Derrick calm down!" Robin tried to think of how to explain this to Derrick.

"Why don't you tell me who Dean really is to you?" Robin sat on the bed and prepared to be brutally honest with Derrick.

"Ok. I met Dean at an autograph signing that Liv and I went to last year. We hit it off and things started out casual, but we eventually got a little more serious. In the midst of our relationship, I made a bad decision and got involved with Roman Reigns." Derrick had a look of total disbelief on his face. "I realized I didn't want to risk hurting Dean and I told Roman I wanted to call things off. He didn't. He tried to blackmail me and Dean found out and kicked his ass. Dean and I decided to see other people and that brings us to the present." Robin hoped Derrick didn't have any other questions.

"You fucked Roman Reigns too?" Derrick held his head in his hands as he sat on the bed next to Robin.

"Yes. I'm not proud of it, but yes." Robin started to cry because she really did like Derrick and for the second time in months, this whole situation was making her feel like scum. "If you don't want to come to my dinner, that's fine. I completely understand." Derrick stood and paced the floor before stopping in front of Robin.

"Look baby, we've all got a past. I just wish you would've told me."

"I didn't know how." Robin looked Derrick in the eyes and saw how compassionate he was. It made her like him even more.

"I want you to be able to talk to me, baby…about anything!" He brushed her hair out of her face and kissed her. "I wouldn't miss your birthday dinner! Besides, I don't want Dean thinking he scared me off!" Robin playfully hit him on the shoulder as she stood to hug him. Derrick appealed to her more vulnerable side. It was nice to talk to a man who knew how to show his sensitive side sometimes.

About an hour and a half later, Robin and Derrick went downstairs to the hotel bar to find a group of wrestlers along with Liv at the bar. There were balloons and streamers decorating the bar and she felt special that Dean went through all of this trouble for her.

"Thanks for coming out to celebrate my birthday everybody!" Robin hugged and greeted everyone in the group until she came to Roman. She hadn't said a word to him since July after their confrontation.

"Happy Birthday, Robin." Roman bent down to hug Robin, but was blocked by Derrick. Roman just threw his hands up in surrender. Robin was furious that he showed up for her dinner. She knew that Dean and Roman were back on speaking terms, but she didn't think Roman would test the waters with her on her birthday. Seeing Derrick block Roman's hug made Dean laugh so hard that he almost spit out his drink.

"Oh shit, Tweety! Your boy's got balls!" Dean's voice carried throughout the bar, but Derrick didn't seem amused at all. Seth tried to diffuse the situation by directing Robin and Derrick's attention to the other side of the bar where Damien Sandow, and Cesaro were waiting to wish her a happy birthday. Seth's cool went right out the window when he saw Wade and Sheamus walk into the bar. Olivia's knees went weak as Wade kept his eyes on her the entire time as he walked over to the group.

"Happy Birthday, Robin!" Wade bent down to give Robin a kiss on the cheek and the flowers he had gotten for her. His gaze turned back to Liv. Seth played it cool because Liv wasn't technically his girl, but he wasn't fond of Wade showing up out of nowhere jeopardizing his time with her. "Hey Livy." Wade's voice softened as he addressed Liv. Sheamus kept an eye on Seth as Dean and Roman kept an eye on Sheamus. Noticing the succession of death stares, Robin felt it was her duty to try and calm everybody down.

"Hey guys! Why don't we all take our seats and order some drinks?" The tension seemed to dispel as Wade and Sheamus were forced to pull chairs up to the far end of the table away from Seth and Liv. Dean being Dean sat right across from Robin and Derrick.

Everyone enjoyed their meals and most of the group stayed in the bar after it closed to hang out. Seth was whispering in Liv's ear and Wade's face turned red with anger. Sheamus kept patting his shoulder to keep him calm.

"Hey Robin, do you have any other plans for your birthday?" Sheamus guzzled his beer as he attempted to ease the tension still keeping an eye on Wade who was still staring at Liv.

"Umm, yeah Derrick is planning a romantic getaway, but he won't give me any details!" Derrick kissed Robin's hand and Dean rolled his eyes making Roman laugh.

"I love surprising her. Nothing but the best for you, baby." Derrick kissed Robin on the cheek and Dean sighed, but it was covered up by Wade talking.

"I know that feeling. Nothing like whisking her away for a surprise weekend in Miami. Remember that Livy? Wade got louder and louder. "Or just waking her up by kissing every inch of her body."

"Well maybe you weren't doing it right and that's why she had to come to me!" Seth blurted out his feelings. He had heard enough and shot up from the table scaring Olivia. She tried to pull him back down and Sheamus pulled Wade out into the lobby. Even in the midst of all the commotion, Dean's eyes stayed on Robin.

"Hey Derrick if you're looking for someplace to take Tweety, we'll be in New England next week for Raw. I could get you guys some tickets." Dean had a few too many shots by this time and everything he said sounded like he was being an asshole even if he wasn't.

"Thanks Dean, but I had something a little more romantic than wrestling in mind." Dean sat up in his chair giving Derrick a sarcastic look in response to his comment. Seth and Roman knew that look on his face all too well.

"What do you mean? Tweety is a true blue wrestling fan. That's the kinda shit she likes. You just don't know her well enough yet." Dean laughed as he looked around the table. Robin was furious at his comment even though it had some truth to it.

"Oh I know she's a wrestling fan." Derrick laughed as he looked at Robin. "But, I do know her well enough to know she likes just a little romance mixed in with her sports." Derrick kissed Robin's hand again. "Maybe if you knew that about her she wouldn't have to make up what she was missing from you with Roman over here!"

"Oh Shit!" Seth sprung up from the table in anticipation of Dean lunging forward to break Derrick's neck, but it didn't happen. Dean laughed nervously and looked at Robin who had tears streaming down her face. Feeling all eyes on her, she quickly got up and ran to the bathroom and Olivia followed. Dean stood up slowly and signaled to the waitress to bring the check. Roman sat looking at the floor before getting up to leave the bar without saying a word.

"Look Stretch, the only reason I'm not cracking your fucking skull right now is because it would ruin Tweety's birthday even more than you already have with that stupid ass comment." Dean counted off the money to give to the waitress and sent her on her way. "You think you know her because you fucked her a few times?! You don't know shit about my Tweety! Yes, she's mine!" Seth held Dean back as he started to get louder and louder attracting the attention of the bar staff.

"She might have been yours at one time, but that's about to change." Derrick stood up to flex the extra 4 inches of height he had over Dean.

"Ok, dude. I don't know you, but it's in your best interest to go." Seth tried to warn Derrick. Dean was exhibiting a lot of restraint for Robin's sake, but Seth knew that restraint could run out very quickly. Just as it seemed things were going to get heated, Robin and Olivia came out of the bathroom. Dean's attention went straight to Robin, but Derrick continued to stare at Dean.

"Tweety are you okay?" Robin looked at Dean and burst into tears again. Dean clenched his jaw and wanted to punch Derrick right in the face for ruining Robin's party. Olivia must've seen Dean getting ready to lunge for Derrick because she put her hand on his chest and shook her head "no".

Robin walked out of the bar without saying a word to anybody.

"Umm, I'm gonna take her back to my room." Olivia gathered hers and Robin's purses and gave Seth a light kiss on the cheek. She had tears in her eyes too. She looked out into the lobby and saw Wade still standing there with Sheamus. Seth followed her eyes and was getting ready to leave with her. "No, you stay here with Dean. Please don't let him kill Derrick. Things are bad enough." Seth shook his head in agreement as he watched Liv walk out to Robin and get swarmed by Wade and Sheamus.

"Come on, Dean. Let's go." Seth got in between Dean and Derrick.

"See you around, punk." Dean had a strange smile on his face that kinda scared Derrick. Derrick was starting to sober up and reflect on how much of a mistake the past several minutes were.

He was the last person standing at the table and his heart starting racing when he saw Roman pacing outside in the lobby.

"Great!" Derrick said to himself as he picked up the flowers Wade gave to Robin and headed up to their room to spend the night alone. He was prepared for whatever Roman was going to say, but nothing could prepare him to deal with how much he intentionally hurt Robin all because he was trying to "one up" Dean.