A/N: I don't own anyone in WWE or TNA.

Batista Addicts & Esha Napoleon- thanks for the reviews.

Zoe POV

I was livid because no one had the guts to tell me the truth. I was hurt because they were trying to spare my feelings or keep me from holding out hope.

"Just leave." I told Maria.

"But, Zoe, we did it cause we love you." she said and I glared at her.

"Go." I said and Maria sighed. She knew it wasn't worth talking to me right now and finally left. I was sitting on the floor and Jeff walked over to me; he sat down beside me and wrapped his arm around me.

"Did you know?" I asked him and he shook his head no. I was glad that at least one other person didn't know. I just sat there and cried as Jeff held onto me; I was glad that my servant was also one of my friends.

Jeff POV

I hated to see Zoe upset and I was also a little mad at her family for lying to her about John. I knew that she was now hurt more because she was lied to about him. She cried herself to sleep and I carefully placed her in her bed. I was sitting on the balcony when the door opened; I went to see who it was. I was greeted by Chris (Sabin) and Eric (Young), who were looking for Zoe because Dave needed her.

"She is sleeping." I told them and they nodded.

"Wake her up." Chris told me and I sighed. I knew that saying 'no' wasn't an option, so I carefully woke her up.

"Come on." Eric said to her and grabbed her arm. She trudged away and I knew that it wasn't going to be a good conversation between her and Dave.

Dave POV

I had asked Eric and Chris to get Zoe and bring her to me. I knew that I needed to talk to her about what had happened. Chris and Eric came in dragging her and I felt bad because I knew that she was having a horrible day and they were asses to her. They dropped her on the floor and walked out, shutting the doors behind them.

I walked over and offered her my hand, but she just sat there. I knew that she wasn't happy and I was going to overlook her attitude. I also was trying to be like Ric had told me to be since I needed to be the good guy and not the monster.

"Zoe, please get up." I told her and she just looked at me. She had tear stained cheeks, red eyes, and was pale. She finally stood up and just stared at the floor. I walked over, picked her up, and carried her to the bench on the balcony. I sat down and just held her in my lap. She was unresponsive and stiff towards me.

"I wanted to talk to you about …" I was saying.

"About what? That you tried to kill the love of my life, have everyone lie about it, then try to get me as the queen, and have to find out that you 'loyal' generals lied to you a few years ago? I found out plenty." She told me and she was standing there glaring at me.

"So, you found out that he was a traitor?" I asked her.

"Traitor? He isn't a traitor because he told you the truth. The empire was built on the idea that we were going to allow things like that. I know that the army is different, but all because he questioned you about your father gets him killed?" she asked me and I was getting mad.

"He told me that I murdered my father, I wasn't going to stand for that." I told her and she just looked at me.

"Did you kill him?" she asked me and I couldn't take it anymore. I backhanded her right across the face and she fell over.

"You do not question the emperor." I told her as I stood over her. I pulled her off the balcony and into the room. I picked her up and made her look at me; she was trying not to cry.

"He will be dead soon enough, then you can really mourn him." I told her and she just sank back to the floor. I knew I wasn't being how Ric had told me to be, but she was making me very mad.

I got Eric to take her back to her room. I just sank down in a chair in my room and sighed.

"You are winning points with her now." Ric said as he walked in.

"She was questioning me about my father." I told him and he just looked at me.

"Well, she is allowed. You just acted like she expected you too." He told me and I nodded.

"What are we going to do about John?" I asked him.

"We are going to bring in our best gladiators to fight him tomorrow. He will fight Show and he won't walk out of the arena, alive." Ric said and I nodded.

Paul POV

I was with Maria and we were both worried about Zoe. I decided to go see her; so I went to her room. She turned to look at me when I walked in and I was shocked because she had a large red mark across her face.

"What happened?" I asked her and she just looked back at the city.

"Zoe, I am sorry, I shouldn't have lied." I told her and she looked at me.

"Make it up to me, by letting me see him." She said and I looked at her. I knew it was a bad idea, but I knew that she at least deserved to see him one more time. Punk had said he would sneak her in if he could spend time with her. I told her this and she agreed; she wanted to see John again.

We waited until Dave and Ric were asleep and I went with her to the gladiator school. Punk met us at the gate and let us in without anyone seeing us.

"Thank you." I told Punk and Zoe hugged him.

He led us to John's cell and Zoe slipped in, while I sat nearby with Punk.

John POV

I was sitting in my cell when I heard the lock open and someone walk inside. I looked up to see a cloaked person and figured that Dave had sent someone to kill me.

"Just hurry." I said and the person walked closer. They removed their hood and I was looking a Zoe. She still looked as beautiful as she did the last time I had laid eyes on her. I thought I was dream, until she kissed me.

"What are you doing here? Won't Dave kill you?" I asked her.

"I don't care what I risked I had to see you." she said and I just kissed her.

I spent the next hour showing her how much I still loved her and how much I missed her. I didn't know if I would ever see her again, so I wanted her to know that I would always love her. She had to leave when the morning started to arrive; I didn't want to see her go, but I didn't want her to get hurt.

Zoe POV

Paul and I snuck back into the palace and I was so glad that I had seen John. I loved him with everything I had and I wanted nothing more than to be able to be with him again. I was glad that I got to spend time with him, but it would never be enough.

I fell asleep happy for the first time in a long time and couldn't wait to see John fight in the arena. I knew that every time he could be killed, but at least it meant seeing him. I didn't sleep a lot, but I got up the next day as if nothing happened. I knew that I had made an agreement to be with Phil since I was able to see John. I didn't feel bad about myself for agreeing to it because I got to see my love.

Dave POV

I got to the games and Zoe was going to sit with me today. I wanted her to see John die at the hands of my best gladiator. We came in and sat down next to me and I could see a faint bruise from where I had slapped her. I did feel bad, but I hated being called a liar.

The games were ready to start and Zoe wasn't talking to me. I just watched as Big Show walked out and saluted me; Zoe stood up and walked to the balcony when John came out. He tapped his heart with two fingers when he saw her and I was annoyed.

"It's been arranged, he is dying today." I said and she just looked at me.

The fighting began and the tigers came out. I could see Zoe worry about John as they were fighting. I was not worried because I knew that John was going to die. I just watched in disbelief as John killed a tiger and Big Show. Zoe just turned and smiled to me as she started to walk by; I grabbed her arm and pulled her into my lap.

"You know, he will die. I will kill him myself if I have too." I told her.

"Who will rule once he kills you?" she asked me and I tightened my grip on her arm.

"You need to understand that you're mine and not his anymore. You will do well to remember that; you will be with Punk tonight." I told her.

Punk POV

Zoe went home with me that afternoon because Dave was tired of her. I was glad he was tired of her because she owed me something for sneaking her in to see John. I spent the afternoon showing her what it was like to be loved and she wasn't complaining. I knew that she had been with John, but I knew that in the end she was going to be mine.

She was taken back to the palace and I was left at the school. I felt bad for John since he was at Dave's mercy, but I knew that he had a slim chance for survival.

A/N: Please review