Chapter 17

Roman felt a hundred pounds lighter as he walked back to the infirmary. Now that Lexi was out of the crosshairs, no matter what stupid idea they came up with for The Shield's demise he had no doubt they'd all play along without complaint.

Now he'd just have to contend with Lexi's wrath for facing down Hunter and Stephanie. He grinned at that thought. Right now she wasn't in any position to be getting angry with him for much of anything. Of course that wouldn't stop her from making a fuss. That was okay though. If she made a fuss, then it would mean she was feeling better. He'd take her being argumentative and defiant over complacent any day.

He turned the corner and stopped at the sight of Edge standing outside the infirmary door with Dean blocking his path. Irritation skimmed the edges of his mind as he stalked toward them. What in the hell did he want? The moment Edge spotted Roman he pushed off the wall and walked toward him. "There you are."

"Here I am," Roman replied even as he worked to reel in his anger.

Edge looked from Roman to Dean. "I tried to go in and see how Lexi was doing, but your guard dog here wouldn't let me pass. Would you mind calling him off, please?"

Roman stepped up so he and Dean stood shoulder to shoulder, then turned his bland gaze back to Edge. "Why should I?"

Edge sighed. "Look. Whatever your feelings are toward me, it doesn't change the fact that I'm concern about Lexi."

Roman arched a brow. "Really? Now you're concerned about her well being?" Roman exchanged an amused look with Dean before looking back at Edge. Then the smile he wore faded. "You wrecked her life and left her feeling as if she was half a woman. You disappear for nearly four years and now that she's finally put her life back together you come waltzing back in and try to destroy it again by reopening old wounds. You have a lot of fucking nerve."

Edge scrubbed his hands over his face. "I know you think I'm scum," he replied. Roman arched a brow, but otherwise remained silent as Edge continued. "And you'd be right. What I did to her is unforgivable. Thankfully, Lexi is a pretty incredible woman and somehow, even after everything that's happened, she's managed to find it in her heart to forgive me."

He pointed to Roman. "I'd bet her generous attitude has everything to do with you."

Curious by Edge's statement Roman cocked his head and asked. "Why?"

"Because you've managed to show her that not all men do what I did. You've been there for her, helping her deal with the mess I created. You've been able to reach through her pain and help her find herself again." Roman noted a sadness in the Edge's eyes as he spoke and despite wanting to hate the man, a small sliver of compassion found it's way to the surface. "She loves you," Edge continued. "When I spoke with her earlier I could see the joy in her eyes, the glow in her face, the way she said your name with such reverence and passion. There's no doubt in my mind that her heart belongs to you."

"Does that bother you?" Roman asked, more out of curiosity than for any other real reason.

"Maybe some," Edge admitted has he tucked his hands in his pockets. "But I'm also extremely happy for her. She's a great woman and deserves to be happy. I'm really glad she's been able to find that happiness with you."

Roman knew admitting such a thing took guts and a certain amount of humility and as much as he didn't want to, he respected Edge for being able to man up to him. He relaxed his stance, slid a sideways glance to Dean and nodded toward the door.

Taking the hint, Dean shot Edge a sneer then turned and slipped back into the room.

"Your pal there doesn't like me," Edge observed.

"Yeah, you're not a real popular person among our group," Roman admitted. "He thinks the world of Lexi and he doesn't like seeing her hurt anymore than I do."

Edge nodded. "Fair enough. So," he leveled a look at Roman. "Is Lexi and the baby okay?"

Roman nodded. "The baby is good and Lexi will be fine with a little rest."

"Good luck with that," Edge grinned. "She's a strong minded handful."

Roman broke into a smile. "Don't I know it." He extended a hand. "Hey, and I owe you a thanks for catching her earlier. You probably prevented her from being hurt a lot worse."

Edge accepted Roman's hand. "Any time." He paused a moment and Roman noted a quick flash of sadness in the man's eyes. "Take care of her," Edge finally said after a moment.

Roman nodded. "I intend to."

It was well after ten when Roman walked onto the tour bus. Their match had gone well, with him and Dean once again exchanging glares and tension at the end. He still wasn't thrilled with the idea of breaking up The Shield. It felt too soon, as if they were leaving unfinished business on the table, but he was trusting that management knew what they were doing. Hell, that's all he could really do anyway. He nodded to Amber who closed the book she was reading and pushed up from her seat. "How is she?"

"Resting," Amber replied and scooped up her coat. "She wasn't happy when I scolded her for making her own dinner and sent her back to bed." Amber smirked. "I mean I know it was only soup and a sandwich, but it was the principle of the issue."

"And she actually went back to bed?" Roman arched a curious brow.

Amber grinned. "She argued with me to start, but when I threatened to come find you, She relented. She went grumbling, but she did go back to bed."

Roman chuckled. "Nice work."

"Thanks." She nodded toward the door. "Seth waiting for me inside the arena?"

Roman nodded. "He said to meet them near the loading docks."

She stepped into Roman's path, gave him a quick hug, then headed for the door. He waited until she closed the door before he turned to look toward the bedroom and noted the quiet. Seth and Dean had made arrangements for them and the girls to stay a a hotel for the night. At least for this night, he was thankful for the space. His brow knit at the silence. Was Lexi was sleeping.

He stepped into the bedroom doorway and stopped. With her long dark hair loose and cascading down her shoulders, Lexi lay propped up on the bed, headphones on and Belly Buds over her exposed baby bump. Her eyes were closed, but he noted the ever so slight nod of her head. She wasn't sleeping, but he was just glad to see her resting.

Gently, so as not to scare her, he eased down on the edge of the bed. Her eyes fluttered open and an instant smile tipped her lips. "Hey." She pulled off her headphones. "How did it go?"

"Good," Roman nodded, "How you feeling?"

"Better," she replied. "I hate the idea of laying around and doing nothing, but I have to admit I do feel better."

Unable to avoid the temptation, he slid a hand over her baby bump. "How's little one doing?"

Lexi's smile turned soft as her gaze followed his hand to her belly. "Good I suppose. It's kinda hard to tell."

"Can you feel it moving yet?" he asked even as he wondered just what would it feel like to have another person inside you?

She nodded. "A little bit here and there." Her mouth thinned slightly. "I wish you could feel it."

He leaned forward and took her mouth in a soft kiss. "Me too." Then he stretched out across the bed and rested his head in what was left of her lap. "You know," he began as he took her hand in his and idly played with her fingers. "You scared ten years off my life today."

"I'm sorry," she replied. "I didn't even realize I was running myself down."

"That's because you're so damn stubborn," Roman replied.

She nearly giggled. "Look who's talking."

He smiled now. "Yes, but I'm not growing another person inside me." he replied.

"True." She leaned back and rested her head against the headboard For a moment they rested in companionable silence before he finally spoke again.

"I talked to Edge earlier," he said as he laced his fingers with hers.

"Oh? And he walked away in one piece?"

He thought about the conversation he'd had with her ex, remembering what he'd said about Lexi. "Yeah. After he caught you and prevented you from whacking your head, I thought it was only fair he keep all his limbs." He turned his head and looked up at her, noted the healthy color of her complexion and how the dark circles under her eyes didn't appear quite so prominent. "You know...I got the distinct impression that he still cares about you."

She nodded. "I got the same impression when I spoke with him earlier today." She nearly grimaced. "I actually found myself feeling bad for him."

"Why?"

"Because, while he might still care about me, my heart belongs to you now and it always will."

Roman shifted, pressed a soft kiss to her belly, then another up her mid section, then another between her breasts. He had this sudden insane urge to show her just how much he loved her. He mouthed a seductive trail along her breast bone and she sighed before she spoke again. "I realized something, when I was talking with him earlier today."

"What's that," Roman whispered against her jaw. He needed to stop. She wasn't in any condition for him to be coercing her for sex. But after everything that happened today, he was experiencing an overwhelming urge to reclaim what was his.

"I didn't feel anything," she replied, then gasped. "Unlike right now," she murmured. "God, Roman."

He grinned against her neck. "Nothing?"

"Nothing." She turned her head toward him, her mouth searching for his.

He nibbled along her bottom lip. "No regrets?"

Now it was her turn to grin as her arms wrapped around him. "None. I looked at him and thought of you." She nipped at his jaw. "Only you."

He groaned. "God, Lexi. I want you so bad right now," he admitted as he moved to suck on her earlobe.

"I'm yours Roman. Take me."

"But you're supposed to be de-stressing and relaxing."

"I can't think of a better way to de-stress," she replied as her nimble fingers gathered up his t-shirt. "And that after sex feeling is damn relaxing."

He paused just long enough to grin down at her. "Sweetheart, sometimes I really like the way you think."