Chapter 7

They were half way through the store when Roman's cell phone rang. His brow knit as he glanced at the screen. "It's my dad."

"Pops," Roman answered as Lexi picked up at box with the words Belly Bud's written on the outside.

"No, everything is fine. According to the doctor, Lexi and the baby are both doing great."

Half listening, she flipped over the box and began to read. Play prenatal music or the recorded voices of loved ones to the womb...

"Of course we're still coming for dinner," Roman replied. "Why?"

Plugs into any standard digital music player or sound device and are easily transportable, she continued to read.

"Okay, we'll finish up here and head over early then. See you in a few." Roman pressed the off button on his phone. "Dad wants us to come over early. Apparently he has a surprise waiting for us." Roman attention drifted to the box. "What's that?"

"Belly Buds," Lexi replied as she handed him the box. "I can play the baby music in utero."

"Wow." Roman arched a brow. "That's cool. We could get him or her started early on Parkway Drive."

Lexi rolled her eyes. "I was thinking more along the lines of Brahms and Chopin."

Roman wrinkled his nose, then grinned. "So...you want it?"

Lexi returned his smile. "Kinda."

He leaned in and pressed a kiss to her temple. "Then toss it in the cart with the other stuff and let's head for the check out."

They ended up in line behind a pregnant woman and her two boys who appeared to be around the ages of seven and five. The older boy eyed Roman, then leaned over to his younger brother and whispered in his ear.

Amused, Lexi watched their exchange. "I think you've been recognized," she whispered.

"I think you might be right," he replied, then made a point to smile at the boys.

"Take your hair out of the ponytail," she suggested. "I bet, you'll make their day."

Roman chuckled, reached up and tugged the hair tie loose. His long dark curls tumbled free and Lexi watched as the boys eyes widened in awe. "You are Roman Reigns," the older boy pointed.

"Mommy. Mommy," the younger boy tugged on his mother's shirt. "That's Roman Reigns."

The woman looked down at her son, then up at Lexi and Roman. "Jesse," she scolded the older boy. "Don't point. That's not nice."

"It's okay, ma'am," Roman replied. "I'm sure it's not every day the boys see a professional wrestler while they're running errands with their mother."

"See," the older boy said. "I told you he was Roman Reigns." Wide eyed, he cocked his head to the side and glanced between Roman and Lexi. "And you're Lexi Hart," the boy finally said. He turned to look at his mom. "She's a WWE Diva, mom." He turned back to them. "What are you guys doing in a baby store?" He peered over the top of their cart and it was everything Lexi could do not to break out into a huge grin.

He lifted his head and stared up at at Lexi with curious eyes. "Are you guys going to have a baby or something?"

"Jesse," the mother scolded. "Don't be rude."

Lexi exchanged a grin with Roman, then nodded. "It's quite all right, Mrs?"

"Adamson. Marlene Adamson." she replied.

"Mrs. Adamson." Lexi extended her hand. "As if you haven't figured it out already, I'm Lexi Hart and this is my fiance Roman Reigns." Lexi looked down at the boy she now knew was named Jesse. "And to answer your question, yes, Roman and I are going to have a baby." It felt awesome to be able to say the words.

"So you're not going to wrestle anymore?" the younger boy named Jason asked.

Lexi shook her head. "Not for awhile."

The boy named Jesse's eyes widened and he looked back at his mother. "Can you take a picture with me and Roman?"

Marlene looked sheepish. "I don't think…"

"We can do that," Roman cut her off. "I really don't mind."

His response caused the boys to bounce with excitement. "Please, please, please..mom."

She let out a long sigh. "Well, okay, but after we check out."

When Lexi and Roman finished checking out they found Marlene and the boys waiting near the coin operated kiddie car just inside the exit.

"You're sure about this?" Marlene asked.

Roman grinned. "Absolutely."

Marlene took pictures of Lexi, Roman and the boys on both her phone and Lexi's, then another of just Roman and the boys. "Wow." Jesse glowed as he looked at the picture on the screen. "My friends are going to be so jealous. I guess coming to the baby store was a good thing after all."

"Coming to the baby store is always a good thing," Roman added and Lexi watched with some amusement as both boys noses scrunch in disgust.

"I'm guessing you don't like the baby store?" Lexi grinned.

Jesse shook his head. "It wouldn't be bad, but mom is having a girl this time." His stuck out a tongue to help emphasis his unhappiness. "So we have to buy all girly things...yuck."

"Yeah," Jason echoed his brother's actions. "Yuck."

Roman knelt between the boys. "Now why is having a sister such a bad thing?"

Jesse looked shocked by Roman's question. "Are you kidding? Who wants to have a baby sister?"

"Yeah," Jason said. "She'll just get into our stuff and slow us down."

"Oh, but you know what?" Roman asked as he pulled the boys close and lowered his voice in a conspiratorial whisper. "There's also a lots of good things about having a sister."

"Like what?" Jesse asked.

"Like, you won't have to share a room or your toys."

"True," Jesse appeared to consider Roman's statement.

"And that makes you the big brother," Roman said to Jason. "Which means you'll be in charge and you'll have to look out for her and protect her. Having a little sister could be pretty awesome."

"I suppose," Jesse replied slowly, then after a moment nodded. "Yeah, I see what you mean."

"Good." Roman patted the boys on the shoulders and stood. "Now I hate to break this up, but Lexi and I have to get going." He held out a hand to Jesse, shook, then repeated the action with Jason. "It was nice meeting you boys."

Marlene grinned as she turned to Lexi. "Thank you both for being so nice to my boys. I think you made their week."

A few minutes later Lexi slid into the passenger seat and grinned. "That was fun."

Roman returned her smile. "It was."

"And you were fantastic with those boys." She laced her fingers through his. "You're going to be a really great dad."

He lifted her hand and pressed a kiss to her palm. "And you're going to be a great mom. Now it's time to see what this surprise is that my father has for us."

Feeling centered and amazingly happy for the first time in weeks, Lexi turned up the music and leaned back to enjoy the ride.

They'd only gone a few miles in companionable silence when Roman suddenly turned down the music. "So are you going to tell me what happened between you and Eva Marie on Tuesday or do I have to hunt down Tamina and ask her?"

Lexi turned her head to look at him. "How did you know I had a fight with Eva Marie?"

"Jay told me," Roman replied and made a left at the light. "He said he was going to intervene, but decided not to, since Tamina was there and appeared to have you under control." He glanced over at her. "So what happened?"

Lexi shook her head. "It's really stupid."

"Probably," Roman agreed. "Especially if Eva is involved, but it bothered you enough for you to put your hands on her."

"Yeah," Lexi agreed, "In the moment I was pretty angry, but Tamina was right, Eva isn't worth my effort or concern."

Roman simply arched a brow and Lexi rolled her eyes at him.

"We've had this conversation. Don't roll your eyes at your Dom, sweetheart," he warned.

"Right now, you're not my Dom. You're my fiance," she shot back and earned yet another look from him.

"Oh fine." She folded her arms. Sometimes she really hated his dominant personality. "Eva thinks I got pregnant with the sole purpose of trapping you into marrying me. She called me pathetic and sad and said that while I'm home getting fat and ugly she'd be sure to step in to take care of your every need."

"Wow, what a bitch," Roman replied. "I can understand why you were ready to punch her. She's garnering a pretty good reputation for being a troublemaker."

"Yeah," Lexi replied. "But hitting her really wouldn't have accomplished anything, except to maybe make me feel better. I know she was just trying to get to me. So why give her the satisfaction?"

"I'm glad you realized that fact." He reached across, took her hand in his and squeezed. "I also hope you know she doesn't have a snowballs chance in hell with me, right?"

Lexi smiled as she nodded. "I trust you. I know you won't cheat."

"Damn right, I won't. I have no reason to when I have everything I need sitting right here next to me."