Dean and Lauren headed to his truck, when he stopped for a moment. "Thank you for making an excuse to leave; I didn't want to have to explain about why don't feel comfortable being the center of attention." Lauren stopped with him.

"You don't need to thank me; I care about you, so I would do anything for you. So…where should we go?" She smiled. She wanted to say so much more; she just wasn't sure he would want to hear it. She saw her first love secretly drowning in past; and all she wanted to do was throw the life preserver out to him.

"Well, I know a little dive bar downtown; or maybe your place?" Dean looked at her for her thoughts. Part of him suggested her place because he wanted to feel her again and remember what that was like. The other part of him wanted to go there so they could talk; he needed to talk, he needed to share that dark side of him that he hid so carefully from everyone. The dark side only she would understand.

"Let me show you my place; I don't feel like drinking tonight. You drive and I'll give you directions. Dean; I want to talk to you, like we did years ago. Let's pick up some food somewhere and just talk all night until we both fall asleep." She smiled. "Can we do that?"

Dean smiled back at her, "yeah, we can do that; I think I'd like that. I remember what that was like. I've missed you." They stopped and picked up a pizza and Lauren directed him to her penthouse. She entered her security code into the keypad at the front door and let them into the building. She greeted the security guard sitting behind his desk. They headed for the elevator and she used her key to access her floor. "Wow! A lot of security in this place huh?" Dean was amazed; he thought his alarm system in Las Vegas was high tech security, this put it that to shame.

"It's the reason I decided on this building. What I do for a living now; it's better than hooking, but there are still dangers involved. There's always someone looking to be at the top of the mountain; or looking to get a piece of the pie, so to speak. It's just a different breed of predator; they aren't the Anton's, they are bigger and more powerful. So I protect myself as much as I can." She answered as they arrived at her floor; she owned the entire floor and it was incredibly well decorated and furnished. "So this is my home, welcome." She grinned.

"This is…Wow Lauren. It suits you though; when I think of you, this is the kind of place you belong. I never felt you belonged where you were. I guess that's how you must have felt tonight when you saw me in the ring huh?" Dean looked at her.

"I suppose it is; I knew you loved wrestling and you wanted to do it. So when I saw you doing it tonight and being with such a big promotion. You do belong there, Dean. Dean you are talented; you worked hard. You deserve this! After the auction; I came back here and 'Googled' you." Lauren laughed. "Can you believe that you are on Google? I was looking at pictures of you. Do you realize that when you're with a fan and taking a picture; that you look like you are trying really hard to look happy? I mean you do this grin and thumbs up; but it never quite reaches your eyes. When you're doing a photo shoot for wrestling though; all that joy is there." Lauren sat down and motioned him over to the couch.

"It's just weird; having people come up to you and think they know you. Then there are times when it feels really good. We just did our big 'Tribute to the Troops' show; we got to go and meet the soldiers and their families. At one point; I was helping this one family put their Christmas tree onto their car and tie it down. I didn't feel awkward doing that; I felt like myself, comfortable. I knew how much it meant to them for us to be there. It made me feel good. When people walk up to me in an airport; I guess I just worry that when they come up to me; I won't be what they want or expect me to be. I don't want to disappoint anyone." Jon sat down next to her.

"Dean; I would imagine that the fans are just happy they even get to have a picture taken with you, they are your fans. Short of telling them to fuck off; I don't think you could disappoint them. Besides; Dean Ambrose is just an exaggerated version of Jon Good, the guy I grew up with. They would think you were just tired or something, if that doesn't work; think of their pictures as being wrestling related. Technically it is; if you didn't have fans, you wouldn't have wrestling. You could always show them the side of you I know; that caring, softer side." Lauren replied.

Dean leaned in towards Lauren and kissed her slowly, as if he was trying to memorize every inch of her mouth. Lauren returned the kiss; remembering the last time they had kissed.

11 years ago

Lauren had managed to sneak away from the place Anton referred to as his 'place'. It was a filthy, run-down apartment in an abandoned building. It's where he had the girls who didn't have a place to stay live. It allowed him to keep a closer eye on them; he kept a guard down in the hallway, so none of them could get to the stairway unless Anton sent for one of them to work. Lauren had figured out that the window nearest her room didn't shut completely and it was right near the fire escape, just a quick walk on a ledge to get there. She had gotten good at doing it; then she could go down the fire escape and walk a block over to Jon's apartment building. They could spend a little time together before anyone knew she was missing. Jon knew to meet her in one of the empty apartments they had discovered wasn't locked up. It wasn't anything special; but he had managed to take some towels from the gym without them knowing they were gone and a blanket from his bedroom. She slipped into the apartment and smiled when she saw Jon there. She ran to him and they hugged each other tightly. Jon lifted her face up; though she tried to keep it down. "Lauren, where did you get that black eye?" Jon was pretty sure he knew; but he was angry and wanted to know for sure.

"It was the same 'john' from last time; at least it's just a black eye this time and not another broken jaw." Lauren shrugged. "It's not a big deal. Anton offered me some coke so it wouldn't hurt as much."

"You didn't take it did you?" Jon kept hugging her.

"No. Never; I would never take drugs, we've talked about this before. I don't want to get hooked." Lauren looked up at him. "Let's not talk about this anymore; how was the gym today?" Her face brightened up.

"It was good; learned some new stuff today, they say I'm picking things up quickly. I don't know if I agree; sometimes there is stuff that is really hard, but I love it Lauren. Sometime, they are going to decide I'm ready and I can go to one of the independent circuits; we'll get out of this place." Jon kissed her; he always loved kissing Lauren. Jon loved Lauren period; there was nothing he wanted more than to get them both out of hell and be with her all the time.

Lauren loved Jon; but she had seen what happened to girls who had tried to leave and Anton found them. He would bring them back and let all his men take turns with them. Lauren had seen him stab one girl to death. She knew there was no way out; but she let Jon talk about it anyways, because the thought was nice. She wished it could be the way he had described it. She just kissed him back, loving the fact that he was always so gentle with her. He kissed her neck and shoulder. Lauren reached up and lifted up his t-shirt over his head. Soon they were under the blanket on the towels, taking comfort in each other's bodies.

Lauren wrapped her arms around Dean's neck and could almost believe that things had turned out just as he had always said they would. He was the only man she knew who had ever not treated her like a hooker. When she started escorting; it was less obvious, the men were businessmen, politicians and others who could afford the high cost. They treated Lauren well, many of them gave her very nice things; but at the end of the day they still expected to get what they wanted in the bedroom and leave happy. Now that she was running the service; they treated her with a lot more respect, after all she now knew their secrets and could easily start telling them. Still, Dean was the only one who had never treated her like anything other than a girlfriend; or at least a friend with benefits. As they kissed he slid her towards him, resting her legs in his lap. He leaned over her and deepened their kiss. She could have easily have gotten lost in this; but something occurred to her. "Dean…wait!" She put her hand on his chest and gently pushed him away. He looked down at her confused. "I didn't pay all that money expecting you to sleep with me. That's not what this is about."

"Lauren, you spent a lot of…" She cut him off.

"You are Not a whore Dean! I spent the money because I had it to spend and it was going to an excellent children's charity; and you are my friend. I never expected that you would sleep with me. If you want to sleep with me fine; but I did not buy you for sex!" Lauren looked at him horrified.