"Are you two seriously house hunting?! I never would have thought things had gotten that far between you two?!"
A.J. grinned as he adjusted the air, they were in a rental Jeep today and after a week of house hunting and working, they hoped this house was the one. "What do you mean gotten this far? It's not like it was supposed to be a one night thing Chris?"
"Yeah I know but damn Allen, getting a house together is a big step. That's him practically telling you he loves you!"
A.J. stiffened in his seat, a frown curving his lips down. "No it's not Chris. Shane is doing this because of what Wells did not..."
"What the actual fuck? Allen are you blind, I mean come on?! Seth bought me a house for our first anniversary, for our second he bought me a car, the third he cooked for me. If that's not his way of showing his love then him saying it is."
"Shane hasn't said it though Chris so it can't be, n-not on Shane's end." A.J. could feel his stomach fluttering as he glanced out the window. He knew how he felt about Shane however. He always wanted him around, needed to be near him. It scared him to think that he cared so much for someone and they...
"Allen?!"
A.J. blinked at the sound of Chris' voice. "But I love him Chris. He may not love me but he wants me and right now that's better than not having anything." Voice soft, A.J. let out a ragged sigh.
"I keep telling you Shane loves you, just because he hasn't said it doesn't mean he doesn't feel it. Look at everything he's done so far, well other than the proposition."
A.J. chuckled softly, knowing Chris was right. "I'm just stressed over this shit with Wellington and moving, god I hate moving!" He smiled at Chris' chuckle. "Anyway, you and Seth have plans today?"
"Yeah, he's supposed to be heading out with RAW to Charlotte but he's going to catch a red eye. Judas tour starts tomorrow and he wants to be at the first show."
A.J. nodded as he listened to Chris describe the tour and what cities they would be visiting. "Hey, you'll be in some of the same cities as us, maybe I can come out and catch a show?"
Let me know which one and I'll have tickets and passes waiting for you."
"Ok." A.J. grinned as he watched Shane walk out of the store carrying three bags. "He said a couple of snacks not a whole fridge of food."
"I keep telling you what to expect and you just won't listen. For the love of god would you just tell him you love him? Make both of you happy, love sick idiots."
"What ever Chris." A.J. could feel his face heating at the grin on Shane's face. He loved that smile, Shane looked so much more relaxed. "Hey, I'll call you once we get back, need to check on Shin."
"Let me know how he's doing will you? He said something about his right arm bothering him."
A.J. frowned, Shin hadn't said anything to him about it and he wondered why. "Yeah, ok, I'll ask him. Talk to you later Chris." A.J. disconnected the call just as Shane opened the back door of the Jeep. "I could have sworn you said snacks Shane, this looks like you're planning on a cook out."
Shane grinned as he set the three bags in the seat and closed the door. Opening the drivers door and getting in, he turned to look at A.J. "Well they had everything we like so I figured we couldn't go wrong if I got one or two of everything."
A.J. blinked at Shane, turning to look at the bags in the back. "They, umm, th-they had..."
"Yes they did and I got you four because I know how you are." Shane started the Jeep, turning to give A.J. a quick grin. "Ready to check out this house?"
A.J. nodded, returning Shane's grin. "We hope this is the one for us." Glancing back out the window, he jumped when his phone sounded with a message. Frowning at the unknown number, he looked up at the road then back to his phone. Sighing, he opened the message, paling at the video that popped up. He tried to hide the sharp sound that rose in his throat, hoping Shane hadn't heard him.
"Allen?" Shane glanced over at A.J. then back to the road. Frowning, he looked over at the brunette again, confused at how pale he was. "Honey what is it?"
"Shin and I...there is no way." A.J. pressed the play button and felt his stomach clench as his voice filled the cabin. "I-I thought..." He looked over at Shane, desperate to understand what was happening. "Shane?"
"Let me see." Shane pulled over and took the phone from A.J. Glancing down at the screen he frowned as he listened to the video. He could feel his anger rising as the video continued. "This is one of them?"
"S-shin and I burned them, all of them! There isn't supposed to be..." Looking down at his phone, A.J. turned away from the video. "That was the night he carved my initials..."
"How did he get your fucking number and why would he send you this?" Shane stopped the video and closed the phone. "We'll get you another phone, this one has probably been hacked." Shane watched the pale face in front of him. "Allen, honey what is it?"
"He's trying to take everything from me." A.J. whispered. He opened the door of the jeep, undoing his seat belt and jumping out. Wellington was going to cost him Shane and everything he's worked for. He started in surprise to feel Shane's hands at his waist.
"Stop, ok look at me Allen." Shane could see the fear in A.J.'s eyes and hated Wellington even more. "I am not leaving you, especially not over a fucking video of them raping you. Christ, what the fuck does he think this will do? Turn me away from you? Or..." Shane could see it as bright, ocean blue eyes lifted to his. "He thinks you would do anything to keep what you have?"
"I can't lose you Shane, ok? I-I may not be perfect but I know I need you and if that means I have to sacrifice something to keep you then I will! Even if it's me, myself I will do that! Don't you get it, I can't just walk away from you now, there was a time when I could! When I was able to just let you go and not look back but I can't now! I can't and even though I know I should, I can't." A.J. looked up at Shane, Chris' words echoing in his head.
Shane held A.J.'s face between his hands. "Allen Jones if you do not listen to me right now." Shane leaned forward and gave him a quick kiss. "I keep telling you I am not giving you up. There is no way in hell I'd let you go knowing he is after you. There is nothing that I will accept that can separate us, and the fact that I need you more than anything or anyone means a lot. I am not letting you go, Wellington can not fucking have you so stop thinking what ever it is you're thinking." Shane pulled A.J. closer, watching as he started to relax. "We'll go get you a new phone and number, so don't worry. I've got some people looking into a few things and this can be added to their list."
A.J. stared up at Shane, hands clenched in his henley. How did things get this far, how had he been able to even last this long with Shane. "I won't lose you, after everything I've been through I can't."
Shane grinned down at A.J. as he led him back to the Jeep. "We're getting a house together, I would think you'd have figured out that I'm very serious about you."
He loves you, how can you say he doesn't and he's getting you a house?!
A.J. let Shane help him back in the Jeep, watching as he redid his seat belt before going around to the other side. "Shane..."
"We'll worry about it later, we have snacks and a house to go look at. What do you say that for now we focus on those two things?"
I love you, god I love you so much. A.J. nodded, the words sticking in his throat. Now wasn't the right time to tell Shane how he felt so he watched as the Jeep was restarted and Shane pulled back onto the road. He reached for the hand on Shane's thigh, threading their fingers together. Shane wouldn't lie to him, A.J. was pretty sure of that. He kept saying he needed him, that he wasn't giving A.J. up. If Shane were serious about them staying together...
"I won't let him hurt you, Allen, trust me, I will do whatever I need to in order to protect you." Shane tightened his fingers around the ones holding his. "No matter what I have to do, understand?" Shane glanced over at the silent man, could see the questions and worries running through his head. "Honey, I need you to trust me, if you can't..."
"I trust you, probably more than I should but I trust you." A.J. cut him off. He could see the worry on Shane's face, felt the anger in him as his hand tightened around A.J.'s. "How much farther to the house?"
"Right up the road actually, we've been on the property for almost twenty minutes." Shane gave him a wink and a grin. "It's about ten acres of land, has a lake in the back, a barn, a horse stable, and a house that's surrounded by trees and that's something we've been looking for."
A.J. blinked at Shane in surprise. "What, Shane why do we need that much space? Seriously, who would we have..."
"You were asking about the club a while back. Everyone has a place where they can host a gathering..." Shane sighed, as he glanced over at A.J.
"Everyone except you." A.J. finished softly. "Well, let's go see what you've set your heart on." He grinned at Shane's huff of laughter. "I mean ten damn acres Shane?! What the fuck do you guys do for us to need that much land?"
"Well that's part of it, the other part is the screaming." Shane felt a slow grin curve his lips at A.J.'s sudden silence. "Allen?"
"Wh-what screaming?" A.J. tried to hide his reaction. He had a feeling Shane was making fun of him. "Did something happen and I not know about it?"
"No, honey, just..." Shane sighed as he followed the path leading up to the house. "You tend to scream during sex and I'm not to fond of people hearing you." Shane felt a small swell of pride as A.J. struggled to hide his response. "I mean seriously, I love it but I don't want or need anyone else knowing what you sound like when I'm inside of you."
"You do that shit on fucking purpose." A.J. couldn't help how breathless he sounded. Shane was turning him on just by talking. Taking a deep breath, A.J. turned to the window. "You're a real asshole, you know that? What if there's...a realtor, Shane i-is that..." A.J. straightened in his seat, looking at the bright, candy apple red Cadillac. He felt his pulse race as a tall, dark haired man stepped out of the car. "Dre."
"I told him what we were looking for instead of going to a realtor. They weren't really listening to us just looking for a commission." Shane squeezed A.J.'s hand, chuckling at the excitement on his face. "Who else would know what you want as well as you?"
A.J. grinned at Shane, his earlier mood forgotten as he waited for Shane to park the Jeep. "So you called Dre or Sadie called Dre?"
"I called, well, I had Clay get in touch with him. He's a hard man to reach." Shane parked the Jeep and watched as A.J. opened the door. When he paused, Shane gave him a questioning look. "Allen?"
"You won't be mad?" Wellington had always been jealous of his relationship with Dre and Shinsuke. They had been close and Wellington couldn't compete with that. "I mean, it's Dre and I don't want you to think.."
"Honey, go enjoy your time with Dre, look around and when you're done come find me and we'll talk." Shane pulled A.J. to him, giving him a quick kiss. "Make sure to check out the lake, I think there's a small cabin out there."
A.J. nodded, eyes wide as Shane moved back. "You're sure, Dre and I have been known to be in our own world sometimes."
Shane grinned, I've got some other places to look through and I've seen what this one has to offer. I like it...a lot." Opening the door, Shane stepped out, giving Dre a wave. "He's a little shy today!"
"Shy for what now? We've known each other since we were timoun(kids)."
A.J. grinned up at the tall, muscular man now standing in front of him. "Shut the hell up Dre. You know what Shane's talking about." Sadie's baby brother, Andres Javier DuBois stood six foot two, weighed almost two ten and always greeted people with a smile. "Where the fuck have you been?" He glared up at the tan face.
"Workin' zanmi m(my friend), you know me. I have to keep moving."
A.J. grinned as his friend threw an arm around his shoulders. Looking back at Shane, he paused. "You're sure you don't..."
"Go, look around and tell me what you think. Like I said, I like it here. I can see us here but that's only going to work if you do too."
A.J. felt his face heating as he gave Shane a searching look. He'd only ever seen that expression once before on Shane's face. "Ok, we'll be back then." And that had been years ago when they had first met at NXT. A.J. gave him a small wave as he and Dre walked up the path.
"You know, he's really crazy about you, Jones."
A.J. didn't look up at Dre, he couldn't knowing his friend would see the truth. "Yeah, well, I've been hearing that a lot lately."
"Don't believe it?"
A.J. could see his friend shake his head. "You know why Dre. Look at him, I mean come on I'm just not..." He broke off at the dark look from his friend.
"You love him but you're gonna make him pay for that salo's(bastards) mistakes?"
"No! Damnit that's not what this is, ok? Jesus Dre, I didn't ask Shane to do any...of...this, this is the house?" A.J. looked up at the two story building in front of them. "This can't be the house Dre, look at this place, do you see how big it is?"
"Don't like it?"
Shaking his head, A.J. stared up at the dark red brick and grinned. "This is...Shane told you?"
"Yeah, he wanted to be sure what you wanted was put first. All the space was for him, the club can't be to close to the house but the rest..."
"Is all for me." A.J. walked up the steps leading to the porch. "All the way around?"
"Yeah."
A.J. looked around the porch, turning a full circle until he caught Dre's bright gray gaze. "What's wrong?"
"You tell him about pitit fi ou(your daughter) yet? He does have the right to know if you two are moving in together."
A.J. frowned at his friend, stomach fluttering as he turned away from him. "No but you're right I need to tell him. Just worried about how she'll react to me living with someone not her mother." A.J. started at the hand on his shoulder, sighing as he looked up at Dre. "I'm going to love this house aren't I?"
"Fré(brother), you're going to love every single inch of this place, trust me. I thought about you and ti fi ti bebe(baby girl) when I got the call. He made sure to tell me what you wanted though, said everyone else was focused on him and it made him uncomfortable."
A.J. nodded as they walked through the first floor. "This Living room and kitchen are huge and the study is cool but why is there a bedroom on the first floor?"
"Master bedroom? I have no idea, want to knock some walls down?"
A.J. chuckled as they headed upstairs. "We don't own the house yet Dre, jesus how..." A.J. opened the door to the first room on his right and paused. "Wow this would be great for a workout room o-or an office."
"Yeah or your game room. Come on let me show you the rooms for his boys and ti fi ti bebe. You're going to love the space and lighting from the windows."
A.J. grinned as he backed out of the room. "How many rooms are up here, four right?" At Dre's nod, A.J. followed him silently to the first bedroom. "This would be for the boys?"
"Hmm, take a look and tell me. Shane was surprised at the space in the room."
A.J. gave him a curious look but walked into the room and stopped. "This is a bedroom?" He looked around the space. "He has two boys, they would enjoy this." Was he getting ahead of himself seeing them here with the kids? "What about the room for Amber?"
"Follow me."
A.J. looked around the wide sky blue room. "They would really love being here with Shane." Turning the light off and closing the door, A.J. glanced at the bathroom as they passed it. "There's an extra bathroom up here?"
"I think so but I think Shane was talking about converting it into something else."
A.J. nodded as he walked into the room next to the bathroom. "Wow, Amber would love this room." It was a softer blue of the other room but more windows. "I mean really Dre, she would love this room."
"Then it's time you tell him about her, don't you think?"
"Dre..." A.J. didn't want to have this conversation with his friend. "Please, not right now." He felt his stomach churning as he thought about his daughter. He loved her desperately and wouldn't do anything that would put her in harms way. "You know how I am about her meeting anyone from my life. I can't take the risk of her being hurt."
"He would want a little girl, talks about his sons with pride but he would enjoy having a daughter. Give him a chance Jones. If you love him like you say, give him the chance to show you."
A.J. sighed as he looked out the window. "He's still outside?" He watched as Shane paced around the Jeep, talking on his cell. "He tell you about Wells showing up at the apartment?"
"Yeah, part of his reason on finding a place. Said it had to be safe enough for you and his kids."
"I-if I tell him about Amber, he could leave me. I haven't been exactly honest about having a daughter." A.J. watched as Shane's head fell back with his laughter. "I love him Dre, I can't lose him now."
"And you won't, trust in your heart this time. He doesn't seem like he wishes you harm, but if you do not feel safe with him..."
"I'm safer with him than without him. I shouldn't need him like this Dre, not after the shit with Wells but I do." A.J. moved closer to the window, watching as Shane looked up towards him. "This is our house and maybe you're right. Maybe I should give him the benefit of the doubt." Pressing a hand against the glass, he gave Shane a small smile, heart giving an extra beat at the one that curved Shane's lips. "Maybe they would be just as good for each other as they are for me."
"When I say he loves you, he loves you Jones. Look at this house, he called me of all people to help him find a place where you would be safe. There is no other way to show your love for someone other than protecting what you have."
"He's protecting his heart." A.J. pressed closer to the glass, watching as Shane frowned before closing the door of the Jeep. "He's trying to make sure he doesn't..."
"He's trying to make sure he doesn't lose you Jones, give the man a chance. He's not like all the other ti gason moun rich(rich boys) you used to date."
A.J. watched as Shane headed towards the house, his gaze holding the dark one until he disappeared from view. "Wellington is going to do everything he can to take Shane from me Dre."
"Then you trust in those who love you to take care of you. He can help us in this if you will allow him to."
"Hey guys, everything ok?"
A.J. turned at the sound of Shane's voice, stomach fluttering as he glanced at his best friend. "No, just, uh, just there's something I need to tell you and I'm not sure how you're going to take it."
Shane frowned as he studied the man in front of him. "Honey, I keep telling you there's nothing you can say or do to make me leave you."
"I have a daughter, she's, um, s-she's about six now?" Shaking his head, A.J. looked away from Shane, not wanting to see his face. "Her name is Amber Jessica Jones. She lives with her mother back in North Carolina but, umm, I-I do see her. Not often but I do get to spend time with her."
"A daughter?" Shane blinked in surprise, his mind stuttering at the news. "A little girl about six?"
A.J. looked up at the awe in Shane's voice, confused by the look on his face. "Yeah with curls and blue eyes a-and the most beautiful laugh."
"Do you have a picture? She has your eyes I bet, jesus I'm in trouble if she has your eyes. I can't resist yours so I know..." Shane broke of at the picture that appeared before him. He glanced up at Dre with a grin. "Thanks." Looking at the picture, Shane sucked in a quick breath. "She looks so much like you." Two pairs of bright ocean blue eyes stared back at him, father and daughter having posed for the quick photo. The matching smile on their faces showed they were close and that Allen loved his daughter very much. "Her birthday..."
"Is tattooed on my left wrist." A.J. watched Shane's face as he studied the picture. He waited for some type of reaction. Some sign showing him what Shane was thinking. It wasn't until Shane looked at him, dark gaze focused on him, did A.J. take a step back from him. "Sh-shane?" He stumbled backwards, aware that Dre had left after showing Shane the pic. Sucking in a quick breath, A.J. moved around Shane and headed to the last bedroom. He wasn't sure if Shane followed him or not but he needed to leave the room.
Turning the door knob, A.J. pushed the door in and froze. "How..."
"I was hoping you'd fall in love with the house before anything else."
A.J. whipped around in surprise. "What..."
"The house honey, I already signed the paperwork all that's needed is your signature." Shane gave him a small grin as A.J. stared at him in surprise. "This would be a great place for the kids. I was thinking of the boys but maybe Amber could come out as well."
"You're not leaving me." A.J. looked at Shane, watched as he slowly walked into the room. A.J. felt a shiver move down his spine as he slowly backed away from Shane. "Dre's still here Shane."
"I don't fucking care, if I want you, you know I'll have you." Shane shut the door behind him, turning the lock. "Three kids in the house and I'll still want you. We'll sound proof the room downstairs and let them have the rooms upstairs. I won't be denied my time with you. It's the only thing I have that keeps me sane right now." Shane watched as A.J. backed up towards the bed in the middle of the room. "Say yes honey, say yes and then we can go forward from here."
A.J. felt his face heating as he listened to Shane. Their kids... "A-all three of them?" At Shane's nod, A.J. stopped moving, the backs of his legs brushing the bed. "The bedroom downstairs would be ours?"
"Yes, unless you want to do something different." Shane watched the excited flush spreading over A.J.'s skin. "We've been all over the place lately and we deserve a chance to sit down and relax. I can see us here honey, seriously. Plus a little girl would humanize all of us men, keep us in order." Shane grinned as A.J. chuckled softly. "God she looks like you, I'll never be able to let either of you go."
A.J.'s gaze snapped up to Shane's. What if everyone was right, what if Shane really did love him? Maybe he was just being to stubborn in holding onto his fears. Pulling Shane closer, A.J. looked up at him. "She's a lot like me, which means she's going to want to hold onto you for as long as possible." Voice breathless, A.J. ran his hands over Shane's chest. A small grin curving his lips as he watched Shane closely. "If that's not a problem, we both may want to hold on to you for a very long time." He sucked in a quick breath before Shane kissed him. Shivering, A.J. slid his arms around Shane's shoulder's, holding on to Shane as he was picked up and carried to the bed.
Groaning as Shane slowly undressed him, A.J. decided that maybe this time taking the chance wouldn't be so bad. This time, he'd gotten things right when it came to Shane Brandon McMahon.