A/N: So I think I come with good news seeing as I am finally done with this rather hectic semester in college – I am free to constantly update once more my story. So expect updates weekly as it was earlier during the Spring. I'm pretty excited to keep writing this story and I'm all the more happy at the reception its receiving from you guys. It puts a smile to my face (as sick as it may be) how you guys are just enjoying the maddening love story between Dean and Charlotte. I just as always wish to give a special thank you to those whom favourited and followed the story and all the more a special thank you to those whom reviewed - RollinsInTheDean, angelsdee327, ThatGirl54, HalloweenBarbie, xSamiliciousx, UntilNeverDawns, Guest, and HumanSpectre for your reviews. As the internet would say, you guys are the real MVPS. Anyways, enough blabbering away. Let me just attack you guys some more at the feels. Everything has been unwinding like crazy these couple of weeks with The Shield and it has gotten the creative juices flowing. So I hope you guys enjoy.

I owe nothing that corresponds with the WWE – except for Charlotte. She's my sole creation.

VIII: Trying & Tenderness

TWO WEEKS LATER

Orlando, Florida

She woke up coated in sweat, her heart feeling as though it was soon to pop right out of her chest. She didn't know what it was – was it that haunting dream for nine years? The auburn coloured dog that rested on her lap and she often blessed with affection as she would stroke its head and watch it grin in pure joy. It bothered her that this dream was so often within her night cycle and she couldn't understand why they became all the more vivacious whenever thunders boomed right outside her window and she would clutch onto her pillow for dear life. Thunder… Shit, she can't even remember why she fears thunder so much. She hates many things – thunder and the inability to remember the things she seem to feel some type of way towards to.

The dog that would rest on her lap or she would rest on its rather large frame as the two would faithfully watch; let it be Monday Night Raw or even Extreme Championship Wrestling. That warm, cotton-like memory always tickled her insides – and ruptured them at the same time. Charlotte stood up from her bed in the hotel room. It has been about two weeks working with the World Wrestling Entertainment company and her life has felt all the more strenuous but joyful. Working with The Shield has proven to be rather prosperous alongside the Machines which run the company.

She's come to terms with each member of The Shield and their personalities. Seth Rollins has become her work out partner for morning sessions. He's a bit hard to handle in the sense that his patience (although maintains perseverance) once it's done, it's done. Roman Reigns on the other hand holds a big heart – a sense of humour and this big brother complex she can't put a finger on. The two consider her as "Momma Shield". For she's in charge of them – to make sure their careers flourish within the wrestling entertainment business. Charlotte never misses a match they have on the FCW/NXT grounds – she makes sure to stand by even when they are training or working out to see how they could improve themselves. She would give them lines and would want them to pitch them right back at her – in character and all.

So maybe it did make sense that she in a way is like Momma Shield. But it had this whole Metal Gear Solid kind of thing going on and all Charlotte could childishly think is I hope they don't kill me like Big Boss. She chuckled for every time she finds herself thinking that she couldn't help but doing so. She cleared her throat as she leaned by the window – wrapping her arms around her frame that is covered in a silk robe. Florida was always covered in rain – and the echo of thunder almost made her jump right out of her socks.

Thunder…

Dean Ambrose. Instantly he came into mind – and how his eyes would simply glare into her organic being with much disgust and an indescribable pained expression that almost makes her want to cry. No, to comb back those wild auburn locks and reveal the treachery that are his blues to make sure the look he is giving her is true. For some reason – although it bothers her and its something she finds herself thinking about before closing her eyes – she didn't blame him for looking at her like that. Even if she doesn't know him – she just knew that sentiment was right. There was nothing wrong in believing he was right to hate her.

Hate…

That was the conclusion she came with. Maybe he doesn't like someone from higher ups trying to 'improve his character'. Charlotte thought that Dean Ambrose didn't differentiate much from Jonathan Good. She found them to be almost the same person – except that Jonathan Good is a bit more to himself – away from it all and the manic behaviours no longer evident as they are when he is Dean Ambrose – whom is deemed to be the wild car of the soon to be stable. She couldn't figure him out. A part of her felt the need to try and get close to Dean Ambrose – but she couldn't. The other part didn't want to. And ever since she's been working with the likes of the soon to be The Shield – the dreams of the auburn coloured dog became all the prominent.

Charlotte only sighed as she slipped on her sandals and began to walk down the cool empty passages of the hotel room where her and the men she is working with find themselves resting until the touring process begins and they are on the road. She found herself being showered with praises as they seem to approve of her management with the stable. Often the likes of Triple H or others within the company would come to the NXT training grounds to take hold of what is happening with Seth Rollins, Dean Ambrose and Roman Reigns to their own hands. Of course, not everything would be perfect towards the machines – but what she gets she takes.

The corridors – even the main hall were empty and she found herself coming outside to the parking lot where she could dig into the pockets of her silk robe and pulled out the metal case which she quickly snapped open to reveal eight perfectly fitted cigarettes. Although she had a smoker rooms – nothing felt better than being able to lean outside against the prickly brick walls of the hotel and stare up at the ominous skies that are slowly being washed away with the light of the sun. This was the earliest Charlotte found herself awake – and a part of her appreciated it because this is when people normally wipe the cold off their eyes and start their days right.

Maybe she could too?

She heard a shuffling not far from her right and with little to none hesitation she glanced towards the direction the sound came from. Her lips slightly parted as she came to notice who it was. She withdrew in a sharp drag as her greens crashed into those oceanic treacherous waves. She felt her throat grow in knots and the cancerous smog was tapping out for it had no way out. She began to cough as she realized little by little the distance between the two was no longer prevalent as he now stood before her.

His breathing was heavy and the way the cigarette dangled off the corner of his lips made her feel a bit more intimidated. Yet at home. The image of the auburn dog crossed her mind once more. Her ring finger began to burn. She felt as though she had the hives with no addiction she could put her mind to. Dean Ambrose combed through his wild tendrils as he only chuckled.

"So nothing. Not a damn thing?" His question was rather enigmatic. She couldn't understand what he meant by it. And Dean simply felt his chest rise little by little quicker and heavier. She didn't remember him. But he could see everything about her just like nine years ago. This was the Charlotte he loved – the Charlotte he tossed into the boulevard of nothingness into the corners of his heart and she doesn't even remember him. She never remembered him. Even when he was there – by side her. She didn't remember who he was. Who Jonathan Good was. What the fuck was Jon Moxley – what the fuck was he to her. Or how they even met…

This wave of emotions that has crashed over him and absorbed the little bit of sanity he had left has taken over him for the past two weeks. Ever since her name was brought up in conversation before he even saw her – he knew it was her. What other Charlotte would even take the responsibility of managing superstars in the professional wrestling ring? He knew it was all her. Dean noted the way her temples throbbed for she was in deep thought. The way her nose slightly twitched for she felt slightly intimidated but her gaze never parted from his. Although she could probably be shitting her panties right before him – she kept her head high and a part of him felt proud of that for that. But the look in her eyes –that emptiness – that pained numbing expression she bared when they were nothing but teenagers that had nothing but each other. It was Charlotte and Jonathan versus the World and its Order.

From her revealed legs that were covered in goose bumps due to this morning breeze at the crack of the sun rising – his eyes went up and focused on the soft pink matter – her blushing lips. He felt himself grow colder. Angrier by the passing seconds. Her hands bore not only the ring that he gave her – but the one that binds her to her so called fucking fiancée known as Hayden Park. The same son of a bitch who ruined her then in their youth and has brought forth nothing but pains in her present.

"Nothing? What do you mean…?" Her words trembled. He knew she was getting farther and farther away from him because of his erratic behavioural notions ever since she appeared in the locker room. Regardless of Seth and Roman telling him to try and be nice to her – Dean never listened. And whenever they would ask why he was the way he was towards her; because when it comes to wrestling rats aka the groupies – he has no problem being the charming Ambrose that with the greatest of ease manages to fuck whatever pussy is tossed his direction. But to Charlotte he was the best asshole in the world.

"Shit Charlotte, you make a dog out of me I swear." Her head throbbed a little harder than the norm as she felt herself being pushed into some sort of flashback that was nothing but darkness. Instead found herself snapping back into reality as she felt the cigarette fall right out of the corner of her lips. She noted Dean taking that annoying part of her bangs and he tucked it right behind her ear before she noticed the corner of his lips twitch. The once cold eyes warmed themselves up and clouded up in nothing but pain.

Charlotte felt shattered. She couldn't understand anything that just happened right now. Dean, no, Jonathan only shook his head, taking one last drag of his cigarette before the fingertips that rested behind her ear trailed against her jawline. She felt as though her skin was about to burn right off and crumble into a beautiful form of ashes. She couldn't understand anything. Why did he touch her? Why couldn't she shove his hand away?

When was she ever touched so… tenderly?

"I tried. I've tried back then, what is the point of me trying now…?"

The sun has risen and she found herself stunned – left at lack of words in the parking lot of their hotel as no longer Dean Ambrose was before her. But the feeling of his fingertips gliding right off her flesh and the goose bumps that trailed right afterwards began a poignant piece of her life that brought forth some sort of unknown familiarity. Dean on the other hand couldn't understand why he did what he did. But he knew damn well it is because he would forever be her Stray Dog – the Stray Dog that found a home because of her. That understood what a good home cooked meal, what it was like to be taken care or to take care of someone just because they were scared of thunder. The texture of his skin brought him back into the reality he didn't really want to face but didn't mind chuckling in recognition.

Charlotte placed her hand against jawline and noted how for once the annoying strands of hair actually remained tucked right behind her ear. He knew exactly how to place them. Charlotte who ran up to her room found herself pressed against her door as she began to laugh out of nothing but delirium as tears began to cascade down her eyes. She couldn't understand why she was crying. Why she was in so much pain. Why everything felt as though it was falling apart yet ironically if you were to rewind the footage it was all coming into place.

Her headache was just as prominent as the memory of the auburn dog. She remembered something about it now. It was a stray and she took it in. A stray dog. The stray dog that would lick her cheek whenever the thunders boomed right outside the window of her home. Her supposed home when in reality - the stray dog was where she found home.

LATER THAT DAY

"Where the hell is Momma Shield at?"

Seth Rollins came out of the gym with hands behind his head and black/blond coloured tresses sticking to his skin due to excrete of sweat. Roman only chuckled seeing as he's not accustomed to the nickname yet but he realizes how much it fits. Dean on the other hand didn't care much (or so he tried to convinced himself that he didn't) where Charlotte was. His demeanor held no expression as then the three began to head back to their locker rooms. It was odd that she wasn't there to watch each one of them train for normally she's to open her mouth and bark orders as to how many sets each one of the members should do.

"Eh. I think I remember her telling me she got a call from her fiancée telling her to pick him up at the airport. Apparently the guy has never been to Orlando so he doesn't know his way around."

Roman rolled his eyes – for of course just like the two other members of the soon to be Shield would do so. Each one of them managed to come to an agreement after watching Charlotte argue every single day since she's touched feet on Orlando through her phone. Since the four of them constantly spend time together throughout the day – the men get to see something that doesn't quiet land right within their stomachs. They didn't like him. This so called Hayden Park – and they don't even know him. Seth cleared his throat as he glanced towards Dean whose once dull gaze darkened itself into an all the more menacing one. He couldn't hold back the growl that managed to escape the ends of his throat. There, Roman and Seth noted that something was up with Dean in regards to Charlotte as then when they reached the locker rooms they stood right before Dean Ambrose whom held a look of frustration.

He couldn't help but be more aggressive when removing his shirt and even looking for his towel. Or when he was unpacking wrestling gear. He couldn't help but realize that as much he wanted to fight off that he didn't care about Charlotte – his feeling of concern and madness was innate. "Jon you can't hide it from us anymore…" Both Seth and Roman stated at the same time as they finally managed to corner the wild card. Dean on the other hand sighed in desperation as he was wanting to blow off steam by freshening up in the shower.

"What the fuck are you both talking about now?"

"Charlotte bro. You know her don't you? From back then? Or some shit because the way you get when she's around and when she isn't is completely fucking obvious."

Dean tried to push past both of them but the powerhouse that is Roman Reigns easily blocked his way. Good cop bad cop. Clearly, Roman was the bad cop. He was a bit more aggressive with his approach. And Dean felt as though his hands were taped to the interrogation table and he had no way out.

"There's no point in hiding it. Me and Colby have been talking about it since she started working with us. You're not the same guy Jon. You're going crazy with all this pent up hostility you have towards Charlotte."

"You two know nothing. So stop trying to butt your fuckin' nose where it doesn't fuckin' belong." Again he tried to push past them but this time Seth pushed Dean into the corner.

"This is what we need to stop fucking doing Jon. We are brothers now. We are no longer going to be working partners or any of that crap. We are going to debut on national television as a fucking stable that Charlotte has been making sure develops into something that is nothing but golden. She's making sure to tune us into nothing but successful fucking monsters and your hostility will make her leave sooner or later. And as much you want to admit it or not – you don't want that shit to happen because I bet if she's not around you'll go fucking crazy."

The world was spinning. Dean had no way out. He wanted to throw up and realized in the end what he was going to gag from his insides was going to be the truth. Seth had a point, as much as he wanted to suck his teeth about the reality – it was that. They are brothers now. Not friends, co-workers. Brothers in arms. Starting a movement of this suppose justice. Dean only chuckled as he found himself sliding down against the corner of the wall. Roman lowered his arms as the two slightly stepped back to give him some space to breathe. Throughout the months of working with the likes of Dean Ambrose – although he's deemed crazy – the two (Seth and Roman) managed to find some sort of comfort within his madness. He was able to express what the two wouldn't even dare open their mouth about.

And them? They've been there for his lowest moments. Especially whenever it rains in Orlando and the skies cry out in agony. Dean was always shrouded in nothing but anguish whenever the thunder boomed because he knew somewhere out in the states – Charlotte was shriveling in her sleep. Whimpering like a little puppy without its guardian.

Dean sighed. He had no choice. Teammates are supposed to count on one another. They are supposed to be able to trust each other not only with their bodies in that ring – but in realities for in the world of professional wrestling – it's hard to find friends like Seth Rollins and Roman Reigns.

"Charlotte... I've known her since I was a fuckin' teenager in high school..." He started before both of them sat down on the floor in some sort of triangular shape by side their friend.

"Wait, you're sure that's the same girl Jon? How can you tell?"

"I know her. I know its her. That girl man. She's the reason I can honestly admit I am here today."

"Wait, since fucking highschool? That is insane! She looks like she got money leaking right out of her fucking ass. Red bottom shoes? Please."

"Her parents are fuckin' rich. I met her because she found me around her home - left for dead to sort of say. After that we became close."

This time Roman opened his mouth. "She doesn't remember you?" Dean felt his chest tighten. He had to pull through with this. " She lost her memories in a car accident she had on her way to New York City. That was nine years ago. Her parents never liked me - especially since I was so close to their precious child. Especially since I costed her relationship at the time and even now - Hayden Park." Both Roman and Seth looked at each other for a mild second and back at Dean. Focused - trying to figure their friend out a little more than they knew him. Dean never revealed much about his intimate past. If anything all they knew about him were the issues he faced when he was wrestling in Puerto Rico as Jon Moxley and the substance abuse. But about his origin? There was nothing for them to know about. So this, this simple story about Charlotte and Jonathan Good had their ears perked up. It was unbelievable - but they bore through the details. Making sure to understand. Because regardless of what he was saying - they didn't.

"Wait... What? This is a little bit too much Jon. You're just giving us some basic fucking summary. You got in the middle of her and her then boyfriend who is now her god damn fiancee?" Dean only nodded his head.

"He treated her like shit. I'm sure that hasn't changed. Her parents after the car accident only filled her mind with their manipulative wishes. They never mentioned me. They gave her nothing but bullshit information of herself that in the end made me lose her. Believe it or not - that girl right there could be the only shit I ever loved in my life more than professional wrestling. She was the reason I became Jon Moxley. She's the reason I never died in the gritty-ness of Cincinnati."

Loved.

Dean found himself choking up. He no longer could speak as he stood up and instead of freshening up like he wanted to - he stepped out of the locker room and began to walk aimlessly in the backstage arena of NXT. He rubbed both his thumb and index fingers trying to marinate the essence of her skin into his own and felt himself only losing it all the more. He didn't see why he deserved this unbearable torture. However he found himself wanting to break it all the more as he saw Charlotte once more against a wall by the snack machines and that familiar - repulsive expression of the man known as Hayden Park whom through gritted teeth and controlled volume spew his venom towards Charlotte.

He couldn't help but turn his back and walk the opposite direction. Regardless of how much his insides cried out for him to go protect her - defend her like he always did. And it was like the first time he saw Hayden shove Charlotte into the dirt of her lawn. He didn't do anything at that moment and he found himself biting his bottom lip until he withdrew blood. She doesn't remember him.

Why should he bother? For fucks sake, he knew how wrong he was with that simple, idiotic thought.

He shook his head. He growled as he saw nothing but black and her pained eyes through the veil of darkness and ran back. The Stray Dog could never leave his owner behind.

"Oh, she may be weary
Young girls they do get weary
Wearing that same old shaggy dress, yeah yeah
But when she gets weary
Try a little tenderness, yeah yeah

You know she's waiting
Just anticipating
For things that she'll never, never, never, never possess, yeah yeah
But while she's there waiting, without them
Try a little tenderness (that's all you gotta do)" - Otis Redding.