"I'm gonna earn you again Roman." Roman thought about that sentence for the last week and a half. Dean stood on front of his porch, told him that it was over between him and Renee and then told him he was going to earn him again. Not win, but earn. Roman didn't know how he truly felt about Dean declaring that he was going to get him back. On the one hand, he was truly happy with Cody. There was never any conflict in their relationship and Cody made him happy... but on the other hand... thinking about Dean or even being with Dean still sent shivers up Roman's spine. He didn't know if giving Dean another chance was the right thing to do...

And he didn't want to get to hurt again.

Roman sighed to himself as he rolled over in bed. He turned to see Cody sleeping peacefully on the other side. Roman looked at his beautiful sleeping features then held onto him gently, making Cody the smaller spoon. Cody hands held onto him on instinct alone and it made Roman smile. Cody made him feel safe, and happy, contented and loved. How could he still be thinking about a guy who left him while he was at work in the middle of the day? How could he still feel anything anymore for Dean Ambrose? The answer wasn't found in the air, but lied in Roman's heart. He fell for Dean harder than he fell for any other guy. He knew he loved him just six months into their relationship and that hasn't changed, despite the years past, months apart and week of distance. Roman wanted to get rid of Dean's love, no.. he needed to get rid of it. At least that's what he told himself he wanted. But how could he get rid of something that was a part of him? How could he get rid of something that was in his veins, that he felt in his soul?

How could he make Dean's love go away?

Roman tried to close his eyes so he could sleep, he had tons of meetings scheduled for tomorrow with tons of couples so he needed to be refreshed for all of them. He snuggled into Cody and was just about to close his eyes when his phone bleeped to life. Roman heard the jingle, signifying that he had a text message. He was hesitant to answer it at first but something told him to just check to see if it was important. He reached for his iPhone off his nightstand then looked at the message. It was from Dean. Roman's heart started to pound as he unlocked his phone to read it.

Look outside your front door. xoxo -Dean.

Roman didn't know why his heart started to flutter as he read the message over and over again. He got up, making sure not to wake Cody and walked down his stairs quietly. He opened his front porch and stood there, looking around for what Dean was talking about. There was nothing there. Roman thought that maybe this was a rouse to get him away from Cody when suddenly he felt a small flake hit him on his nose. It was snowing. The first snow so far. Roman started to smile, and suddenly he received another text.

First snow. You always did like the winter, Ro. Remember? 101 fever, in our pj's outside your apartment. I thought you'd like the memory. -Dean.

Roman read the text message while a blush stained his cheeks. He loved the winter. He remembered It like it was yesterday. He dragged Dean downstairs at 3 of clock in the morning in nothing but their pj's to play in the snow like children. They had a snow fight then both got sick the next day with fevers of 101. They took care of each other, nursing each other back to health. Roman let the first snow hit his black locks gently. He touched his wet face and decided to text Dean back.

Dean... this is beautiful. Thank you. - Roman. He looked up at the dark sky and let the snow hit his face for a couple more seconds before he came back inside. Roman was wet all over, soaked from his hair to his pj's, but it didn't matter. He cherished every single moment. Moments like that, that he missed in the years past because he was always too busy, or too numb to experience them. Now, it was like everything was happening all over again. All thanks to Dean.

Roman sat down near his front porch and watched the snow fall. He took it all in, but not before reading Dean's last text message.

Snow fight soon? I'll bring the pjs? -Dean.

Roman laughed, "Anytime, Dean." was his answer.

Dean finally decided to go home after staying at Seth's for so long. He wanted to make sure Renee had moved everything out of the house and thankfully when he got back in, none of her stuff was there. He walked through the home, looking everywhere for any traces of her but there were none. It was like... she never existed. He walked up the stairs towards their old room and saw it empty. Save for his stuff. Dean was ready to just shower and get to work when he saw a letter addressed to him on the nightstand. Dean sat down on the bed and felt it dip as he opened the envelope and began to read it.

Dear Dean,

I'm writing you because I know you don't want to hear from me physically. You've either sat down to read this or ripped it up and I hope it's the former because I do have a lot to say. I knew something was up when I met you. You were kind of moody, and everyone in my life told me to stay away but I couldn't. You were special to me in your own way. In reality, what others may not have realized is that I had found my soul mate. A guy just like me in every way, except one. You never sought out to hurt me. But I sought out to hurt you. I faked that baby because I knew there was nothing else going to keep you here. You've always loved him; I get that now. But you have to understand that I'll always love you. I'm sorry for hurting you, and ruining us. I'm sorry for lying and ruining your chances with him. I hope that one day you can forgive me, until then, I just hope that you end up happy.

I'm sorry, again,

Renee.

Dean read the letter about two more times before he placed it in his dresser drawer. He and Renee both made mistakes, and even though it would take a while for Dean to actually forgive her, he was happy that she apologized. His heart broken even more when she told him she wasn't pregnant, but after reading that letter Dean felt a weight lifted off his shoulders. Dean smiled, then went into his closet to get something to change into when he saw his memory box full of his and Roman's pictures laying there, with a note that read. "I never really burned them. -Renee." Dean's smile grew as he picked up the box and brought it to his bed. He tossed everything on the king sized bed then started to go through them. They all were there, even the pictures from Seth's costume party. Dean searched through them until he found one of his favorites. It was he and Roman at the beach in Florida. They went to go visit Roman's extended family and Jimmy, one of Roman's cousin's had got a snap shot of Dean and Roman kissing on the sand.

"Ro.." Dean's heart did little flips in his chest as he thought about Roman. Last night, Dean made a bold move by texting Roman in the middle of the night. But he was happy Roman responded. They reminisced about a very sweet moment in their relationship and for once, Dean felt whole again. It was a long feat, getting Roman back from Cody who had his claws in Roman good, but Dean had claws of his own and he definitely wasn't giving Roman up without a fight.

Dean smiled at the picture then picked up his phone to send Roman a text.

Roses are red, violets may be blue, but I want hot chocolate and ice skating with you. I just created a bad poem to ask you out. So now you have to come with me. But I don'the want you to answer right away. If you want to come, I'll be there at Hailey's rink, Friday 8pm. If not, I'll have to go ice skating myself. I hope to see you Ro. - Dean.

Roman was having lunch with Seth when he got the text message. Seth watched Roman blush and smile wider than he's ever seen him smile before. Roman's been down lately, letting Seth know that he felt caught between two separate scenarios with the same people. Scenario one with Cody, where there's spark and happiness but no flame, no fire. And scenario two with Dean, where there is everything, love, flames, sparks. But still there was angry, and trust issues. It was nice to actually see Roman smile for once, it kind of made Seth wonder which man had the power to do that... Dean or Cody.

"Did Cody send you a dick pic or something?" Seth asked as he chewed on his club sandwich. "I haven't seen you smile like that in such a long time."

"Umm. no." Roman put his phone down so he could eat his panini. "It was Dean umm... he asked me to go to the ice skating rink with him on Friday."

"Ah." Seth nodded, he figured it was Dean. Roman lied to himself a lot and told himself that he couldn't love Dean anymore but Seth knew better. Just the way he smiled by a simple text message proved that Roman still loved him. Seth just wished he had something like that with Randy. "So is it... like a date?" He asked him.

"I don't know... he didn't specify." Roman shrugged, "Doesn't matter because I'm not going." Roman said as he finished the rest of his panini.

"Roman!" Seth yelled at him, taking some bread and tossing it at his face. Roman's mouth dropped as Seth threw bread at him. He picked up a piece himself and tossed it back at his friend. Seth laughed and picked up the piece, popping it in his mouth. "You should go!" Seth said more seriously now.

"Why?" Roman asked back. "So Dean and I can fight? So we can argue? I don't want that..."

"Who says that's gonna happen?" Seth said back, "You never know, it could be a good time and I think that it'll be good for the both of you. You've been dancing over your feelings for each other for a while now. Go, and see if that spark you feel around him is still there, go and see if this is still real, or if it's just some fantasy you both concocted after years of not being together. Go, and have fun!"

Roman smiled at his best friend, even though everything in Roman was telling him not to go, his heart was screaming for him to give it a chance. "Okay fine." Roman tossed his hands in the air. "I'll go. I just hope I don't regret it."

"I have a feeling you won't." Seth smiled.

"Let's stop talking about me for one sec, tell how are things with you and Randy?" Roman was actually dying to change the subject. "Are they going good?"

"Yeah..." Seth said with a small sigh afterwards, "They're going okay… I guess." He just shrugged. Roman kind of caught on to Seth's mood and he wondered what was wrong. Things were going so well for Seth and Randy; Roman didn't think there were any problems between the couple. But from the looks of it, Seth had something on his mind.

"Talk to me… are things really okay?" Roman asked, reaching over the table to hold onto Seth's hand.

Seth held onto the hand Roman offered him and smiled somberly, "Things are going great, honestly. It just that… Randy is sort of a jealous person? Like really jealous. I didn't notice it before but now? It's at extremes. Last night at the supermarket he told a guy to get the fuck away from me, even though the guy was just trying to help me find the produce section. And at Starbucks this morning, he got mad at me for smiling at the barista. I knew he had jealousy issues but.. this side of him sort of came out of nowhere and honestly? It scares me. I don't want to be with a guy who can't handle being in public with me because he wants me all to himself. I love Randy… But if this doesn't stop, I'm going to have to break up with him." Seth gave Roman all of his truth and after he was finished Roman pulled his chair over to he was next to him.

"Hey…" Roman lifted Seth's head up by his chin then softly caressed it with his thumb. Seth smiled at Roman softly, trying not to let the tears fall from his sad brown eyes. "I know that jealous can be a relationship killer, but I also know that Randy loves you. He lost you to me once, and I think he just might be a little protective of you because if that. I know that it's not a very positive trait in a partner but I don't want you to give up on Randy just because of it. He does love you, Seth and that's something worth fighting for." Seth blushed and nodded at Roman after he finished speaking, his gray eyed ex-boyfriend was right. He shouldn't just give up on Randy just because he was a little jealous.

Everything was going to be fine.

"Thank you Rome, for being the voice of reason yet again." Seth took his hand and entwined it with his own then put it near his heart, Roman smiled at him, then brought Seth in for a big hug.

"It's gonna be alright." Roman whispered into his hair. "Trust me okay?"

As Seth nodded and the boys pulled apart with a laugh, neither of them seemed to look across the street where a saddened Randy Orton stood and watched the exchange.

It was Friday night, 7:55 pm. Dean was standing near the lodge kiosk at the skating rink, sipping on some hot chocolate. He watched the minutes tick by on his watch, then watched the door, hoping that Roman would show up. He's made so many mistakes with him, leaving, and with the Renee drama that couldn't blame Roman if he decided not to come. He looked over and watched as the couples skated together on the rink, laughing together and smiling. Dean looked down at is watch, it was 8pm, he already knew Roman wasn't coming.

"Hey." Dean heard a familiar voice say from behind him. He turned around and saw Roman standing there in his trench coat, beanie and gloves. Dean stood up, smiling softly at him.

"I didn't think you'd come…" Dean said to him honestly.

"I almost didn't." Roman said back, "But a friend of mine told me I should give it a chance." Roman watched Dean smile, and it made him smile too. "Just one thing, no talk about Cody, Renee or anything else that has to do with them. Agree?"

"Agreed." Dean held out his hand for Roman to take and Roman took it gently. They both brought ice skates then Roman followed Dean onto the rink. They held hands as they skated slowly on the ice together, floating gently in the middle. Roman was never a good skater so he always held onto Dean whenever they went skating together. Dean never really minded, he liked that Roman looked to him for protection.

"Don't let go of me!" Roman warned Dean as the blond brought them closer to the middle. Dean laughed as he slowly loosened his grasp on Roman, making his ex nervous. Roman yelled at Dean to not let go in the most precious voice Dean's ever heard him use. He laughed and told him that he definitely wouldn't let go… only to do the opposite; he let go of Roman completely and Roman automatically fell on the ice ass first. Dean laughed out loud at Roman skating around him to tease him. The Samoan man would have his revenge though because as soon as Dean got closer he kicked him off his feet, causing Dean to fall down next to him. Roman mocked him now and Dean laughed as they both sat of the ice together. Their asses were getting soaked with ice but neither man cared at the moment. There was some hair sticking to Dean's face so Roman gently pushed it away, causing Dean to smile. Their eyes were permanently locked as they helped each other up, then walked off back to the lodge section together.

"My ass is soaked." Dean laughed as he sipped a small hot chocolate.

"Good, that's what you get for letting go of me, asshole." Roman sipped his own hot chocolate then stuck his tongue out at Dean playfully.

"I'm sorry it was just so much fun seeing you squirm around then fall." Dean was smiling, and so was Roman. They kept giving each other certain looks, as they made small talk about ice skating, and work. After they were done drying off it was back to the rink, where they skated together and laughed together for over an hour and this time… Dean didn't let go. Once they had enough of skating for the night, Dean decided to walk Roman to his car.

"So…" Dean said as they both stood in front of Roman's range rover.

"So?" Roman said back, looking at Dean.

"I hope you had a good time tonight and… I hope we can do it again soon." Dean spoke shyly, but with an underlying confidence. Roman smiled, and looked down trying to hide his obvious blush.

"You make it sound like it's a first date, Dean." Roman giggled, "I've seen you burp and fart at the same time in your underwear while watching cartoons. I think we're way past that stage."

Dean laughed with a nod then smiled, "Yeah I guess we are I just, didn't know what else to say." He admitted embarrassed.

"How about goodnight?" Roman said back with a smile.

"Heh, yeah, that's okay I guess. Good night, Ro."

"Goodnight Dean." Roman said back. He was about to get in his car when Dean's voice stopped him.

"I forgot something…" Dean said softly. Before Roman could ask him what exactly he was talking Dean leaned over to give Roman a soft, chaste kiss. Roman didn't get a chance to push him away, because it was over as soon as it began, "That's a much better way to say goodnight." Dean gave off a cocky smile while his thumb caressed Roman's bottom lip. Roman opened his mouth to say something but he couldn't find the words. Dean smirked at him then pulled away, winking at Roman before he walked off into the night.

Roman was driving home after a nice night with Dean, still thinking about the kiss Dean left on his lips. It was small, short and sweet but it still have Roman that funny spark he never felt with any other guy. He had so much fun with Dean tonight, skating together and just talking like they used too gave Roman formidable memories. Dean was everything he's ever wanted in a guy, attractive, sweet, attentive, smart, sexy as hell and caring. But the wall around Roman's heart didn't know if he was ready to let Dean in again. He hurt Roman too many times and Roman didn't want to seem like an idiot if he just went back to him despite everything. And of course there was Cody. Roman couldn't imagine hurting him either, Cody was a good man. Who deserved the entire world.

When Roman got home he was greeted by Cody's presence on his couch. Cody was wearing one of Roman's sweaters, curled up under a blanket, watching a movie. Roman took off his outerwear then walked over to his boyfriend. Cody smiled at him and lifted the blanket, so Roman could snuggle up with him. They laid down together and Cody kissed the side of his face, and wrap an arm around him.

"You're home super late." Cody said as he looked down at Roman. "Did something happen to make you busy at work?"

"Yeah." Roman lied to him, "I'm sorry I didn't call, I got caught up."

"Well at least you came home." Cody said back with a smile. They looked at each other before Cody gave Roman a chaste kiss, then went back to watching the movie. Roman touched his lips, and in the moment all he thought about was Dean, and the way he kissed him earlier that night. He held Cody tight against him and tried to fight the memory of Dean kissing him away... even though he knew now..

he probably never could.

A/N: I figured I owed it to myself to finish this, and since it's not much more left.. I said why not? lol Let's finish it together. Think Seth is right in his concerns about Randy? Will Roman ever forgive Dean? Just a few more chapters left! - Melle