Where in the hell is Lexi? Flanked by Dean and Seth, Roman stormed down the arena's concrete halls, his concern running in overdrive. As the days grew closer for the big Shield breakup, he could tell she was growing more and more distraught. He'd tried on several occasions to get her to talk, to convince her to let him confront management. She'd refused and instead of pushing the issue further and ending up in a fight, he'd let the subject drop.
That was until after they'd finished their latest meeting with creative. She'd looked so overwrought when they were through that he'd pushed her to talk. Her answer was that she needed to take a walk to clear her head, and when she came back they'd talk. Only an hour later she hadn't returned and he'd grown concerned.
"Have you seen Lexi," Seth asked Alicia Fox as they passed. Alicia only shook her head before turning back to talk with Aksana.
"She has to be around here," Dean said, then waved a hand at Randy Orton. "Hey, you seen Lexi?"
Orton arched a brow and frowned. "No, why?"
Dean shook his head. "Never mind."
Eva Marie stepped directly into their path, forcing Roman to stop short or run over the young Diva. Frustrated and more than a little irritated at the interruption, he raked a hand through his hair. "What do you want, Eva?"
"You looking for someone," she asked as she cocked her head to the side.
"Lexi," Roman replied as he fought back his urge to yell. He really didn't have time for the likes of Eva.
Eva looked up at him from beneath fake lashes. "Why do you want Lexi, Roman?" She lifted a hand, stroked it along his arm. "Someone as handsome and strong as you deserves to have a trophy on his arm." She shot him a small, mischievous smile. "I could be that trophy. I could give you anything you want."
Behind him he could hear Dean and Seth snickering and barely held back the need to turn and clobber them both. Instead he focused his irritation on the source. "You," Roman said as he used his finger and thumb to pluck her hand off him. "Have nothing I want. Now get the hell out of my way."
Apparently, now having her ego sufficiently bruised, Eva stepped out of the way. "If you change your mind," she offered.
"I won't,"Roman shot back over his shoulder and was treated to Seth and Dean chuckling response. "I should clock both of you," he growled.
"Yeah, but you won't," Seth declared.
"And why is that?"
"Because you need us to help you find Lexi," Dean replied.
Roman rolled his eyes. "Let's check catering."
They'd gone several feet in tense silence when Seth finally spoke again. "You know, I'm sure wherever Lexi is, she's fine."
Roman ignored Seth's attempt to soothe his fears and continued toward catering. Maybe she'd gotten caught up with Amber, Zoe or Nattie and was gossiping over a cup of coffee. It had better be decaf. His little spitfire had a severe caffeine addiction that, now with her being pregnant, continued to be a source of contention between them. She never was much of a soda drinker, but her love of coffee ran deep and was a constant test of wills between them.
"Come on, Rome," Dean began. "She's not gonna do anything stupid."
"Define stupid," Roman growled as he reached for the door to catering. As far as he was concerned she'd been overtaxing herself for weeks. Ever since she'd learned about that damn storyline her sleep had become sporadic and fitful that left her looking exhausted and him worried out of his mind.
More than once he'd expressed his concern for her health and she'd all but flat out refused to listen to him when he'd ordered her to slow down. Damn that independent streak of hers. When they'd first met, he'd found her independence intriguing, almost charming. Now he just wanted to bend her over his knee and beat her ass until it drained from her.
He stepped into catering, stopped and scanned the large room. His gaze landed on her sitting at a table off to the right with her back to him. She was talking to...what the fuck?
"Is that who I think it is?" Dean asked, even as Roman growled and took a step forward. Seth stepped into his path. "Whoa, wait a minute, big man."
"Why should I?"
"Because you really need to take a minute and look at her before you do or say something you'll regret," Seth argued.
Roman turned his attention from Seth back to Lexi and studied her.
"See how she's sitting turned to the side so her body is point away from him with her arms folded?" Seth pointed out. "She's letting him know that he needs to keep his distance. That touching her is off limits. maybe even that she still harbors anger toward him."
Dean nodded. "And the expression on her face tells me that while she's not entirely happy to be having the conversation he hasn't seriously upset her either."
Roman watched, considering their words and her actions as he thought about the situation. As far as he knew, she'd never actually confronted Edge about what happened. Hell, from what Bret told him, she never spoke to Edge again after she'd found him with Lita. As much as he didn't like seeing her talking to the slime, maybe the conversation they were now having needed to happen. Maybe if it did, she'd could finally put that part of her life behind her and move on.
After several long minutes of back and forth between Lexi and Edge, some of it slightly heated, she finally smiled at the man then stood. Edge followed and started to pull her into a hug. Roman's fingers curled into fists and he had to resist the urge to intervene. Only instead of hugging him, Lexi took a full step back, out of his reach. She extended a hand to shake and Roman's anger drained away. That's my girl!
She shook Edge's hand, then turned away, took two steps and stopped abruptly. Awareness prickled along Roman's skin. Something was wrong. Even as she lifted a hand to her head and began to sway he bolted toward her in a dead run. She took a step back, apparently in attempt to stay on her feet. The move failed as her knees buckled. Her arms went out, grasping for purchase and sending a folding chair toppling over as she crumbled to the ground.
"Lexi!" Roman shouted as he leaped over a chair that was in the way.
Edge had managed to catch her before her head hit the floor. "Move," Roman roared as he dropped to his knees and pulled her into his arms. "Sweetheart," he murmured as he gathered her close.
"Fucking move," Dean yelled and gave Edge a quick shove out of the way as Seth also dropped to his knees and shouted for someone to find Doctor Amman.
"I-I'm okay." Lexi lifted a shaky hand to her head.
"Like hell you are," Roman growled.
"No," she struggled against him, trying to sit up. "I'm fine."
"Lay still, God Damn it," he snapped.
His outburst didn't appear to phase her as she turned her head to look at him, her eyes glassy and unfocused. "Roman, I'm okay. I'm, just a little dizzy."
But he knew she wasn't okay. Her skin was pale and clammy and whether she knew it or not she was shaking. "Just lay still," he whispered as his fear coursed through him. What in the hell was wrong with her and was the baby okay?