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

Batista Addicts & Esha Napoleon- Thanks for the reviews!

Maria POV

I walked into Zoe's room later and she seemed a little happier. I just hugged her as we sat down on the balcony.

"Are you ok?" I asked her and she nodded.

"I am for now." She said and I smiled.

"How are you?" she asked me.

"I am so happy with your brother." I said and she smiled.

We just sat there and talked. I was glad that she was happy, but I was worried what would happen if and when John isn't around anymore. I knew it would come down to Dave or John dying before this was over.

We were sitting there when Chris (Sabin) came into the room and we both stood up.

"Zoe, come with me." He told her and she hugged me before she followed him.

Dave POV

I needed to talk to Zoe and I needed to apologize. I had never felt bad because I had yelled at someone, but she was different. I waited until Chris brought her to me and she just looked at me.

"Let's walk in the garden." I told her and she reluctantly took my arm.

We walked out there and sat beside the fountain. She was looking up at the stars and I just watched her for a minute. She was so beautiful and I just wanted her to like me.

"I am sorry about earlier." I whispered and she just looked at me.

"Why?" she asked me.

"Because, I am letting the wrong things control me. I am not thinking about the empire and that isn't good to do as a emperor." I said and she just smiled at me.

"I am glad that you are learning that." She said.

"What are you going to do with John?" she asked me after a few minutes.

"He is going to fight as a gladiator. He can't be set free because he ran from the army." I said and she nodded. I knew she didn't like the answer, but she was going to accept it.

"What do you see in the stars?" I asked her.

"Freedom." She said and I nodded.

"What do you see?" she asked me.

"Beauty." I said and she looked at me.

"I do have a soft side" I told her and she just smiled.

"I know, but I don't think that many other people do." She said and I knew that she was right.

"Are you happy with Punk?" I asked her.

"I will be." She said and I nodded.

"What do you want, Dave?" she asked me and I was shocked.

"What do you mean?" I asked her.

"What do you want? What would make you happy?" she asked me and I sighed.

"I want a family, I want there to never be another assassin to come after me, I want no more wars, and I want…" I was saying.

"What?" she asked me.

"I want to be liked." I whispered and she just hugged me

"People will like you if you remember that you aren't the only person in the empire." She said and I cracked a smile.

"Thanks, Zoe." I told her and she smiled at me.

We talked a little longer and I walked her back to her room. I knew that she was the one person who could help me be the person I wanted to be. I just had to get more time with her and I knew that I would have to talk to Punk.

John POV

I was so glad that I was still alive and that I had seen Zoe. I still loved her more than anything in the world. I was laying down when my door opened and Punk walked in. I sat up and he motioned for me to follow him. We walked to where he was living and we sat down.

"I know you still love her." He said and I nodded.

"You need to stay alive, because Dave isn't going to go easy on you." he said and I sighed.

"I know, but I will never be a free man." I said.

"You might be; if you keep winning then I might buy you from Mick." Punk told me and I nodded. I knew that Mick would never let me be free.

"You are facing Kofi, one of the best gladiators, tomorrow." He told me and I nodded.

"You are doing it right, the crowd can hold your freedom." He told me and I nodded.

"I heard that Zoe is promised to you; can you promise to take care of her?" I asked him and he nodded.

"I can, but I also know that I will never replace you." he told me and I smiled.

I went back to my cell and fell asleep. I hoped that tomorrow wouldn't be my last day on this world.

Zoe POV

The next day was much the same as yesterday; I got up and went to the games. I was sitting with Dave and Maria since Paul and Evan were in the senate. I knew that they would be here for John's fight.

The morning fights went by fast and I was nervous because I didn't want John to die. I knew that Dave could tell something was wrong. I hugged Maria, Paul, and Evan before they went to their areas to sit.

"Are you alright?" Dave asked me.

"I don't want him to die." I whispered to him and he looked at me with sad eyes.

"I am sorry, Zoe." He said.

"You are the emperor, can you not stop it?" I asked him.

"I am, but no, he ran from the army. He would be killed anyways." He said and I was so sad. I just sighed as the games started. Kofi came out first and then John.

The fight wasn't a long one because John wounded Kofi. The crowd was chanting "kill" and Dave gave thumbs down. I watched as John just walked away. The crowd was now chanting "John the Merciful." I just smiled, but then I look at a not so happy Dave.

"Ric, take me down there!" Dave barked and I just stood there.

I was taken by Eric (Young) to the school where Punk was. I knew that it wasn't good if I was not even in the arena. I walked into Punk's area and sat on the sofa; Punk sat with me and pulled me close to him.

John POV

The guards surrounded me and I knew that Dave was coming to talk. I waited and Dave appeared a minute later; Ric was right beside him.

"Why aren't you dead?" he asked me.

"Because, I don't want to die, yet." I told him and he was so mad at me.

"You can't have her anymore." He told me and I smiled.

"Apparently you don't get her either." I said and he was furious.

"I guess I will have to kill you myself." He told me and I nodded.

"I can't wait." I said and I knew that I was getting underneath Dave's skin.

"Since I can't take it out on you; I guess I will take it out on her." He said and I paled. I didn't want Zoe getting hurt; she didn't deserve it.

"No." I growled.

"You don't tell an emperor no, but don't worry you will be dead soon enough." he said and I lunged at him. I was struck down immediately and Dave just walked away. The crowd was booing when I got hit and they cheered when I stood up so I knew that I had won part of them. I just hoped that it really meant something.

Zoe POV

I was with Punk and we were kissing; I felt a connection to him. We were kissing when I was pulled off of him by Eric and dragged back to the palace.

"Dave wants you." he said and pushed me towards the door.

I glared at Eric before slowly walking into his room. I found Dave sitting on his bed and he wasn't happy.

"You are going to accompany me to the feast tonight; get ready." He said and I was taken away.

Jeff helped me to get ready and I was taken back to Dave. I knew that the Egyptians were still in town so that might be what this feast was about, but I wasn't sure. The Egyptians weren't at the feast; it was just some the senate members, Paul, Maria, and myself.

We walked into garden where the feast was set up at and we all began to eat. I was picking at my food because I wasn't very hungry. I was talking with Maria when Dave stood up to address everyone.

"I wanted to give some entertainment tonight. We saw a great fight today in the Coliseum, but tonight we have a better one. I hope that you will enjoy." Dave said and I looked at Paul. He shrugged because he was as clueless as I was about what was going on. Punk walked in and sat beside me.

"I am sorry, Zoe." He whispered and I saw John, tied to a beam, being whipped and moving slowly as he walked into the garden. I gasped and Punk wrapped an arm around me. I could see Paul holding Maria and he was mad.

I watched as John was untied and thrown a sword. I watched as Dave picked up a sword and they were going to fight. I didn't want to see this, so I buried my head into Punk's shoulder. Dave must have seen me and didn't like it.

"Pick her up, she is going to see this." He told one of his guards.

Matt (Morgan) walked over and pulled me up. He held me with my back to him and I wouldn't look up. I didn't want to see it so Matt handed me to Mike (the Miz) and Mike held me. Matt grabbed my hair and made me watch the fight. I had tears streaming down my face. Paul was holding Punk back from getting to me. The senators were torn between helping me and watching Dave fight John.

I watched helplessly as John tried his hardest to fight back. I knew that Dave had tried to even the score and he had wounded John. I was struggling and I would have bruises from where Mike was holding me; my head hurt from having my hair pulled on. I watched and lost all ability to breathe as I saw Dave run John through with a sword. My world collapsed as he killed him and I lost it. I was screaming and struggling as John (Morrison) walked over and hit me in the head and everything went black.

Paul POV

I was so livid at Dave that he had just killed Zoe's love of her life in front of her. I wanted to rip him apart myself and I hated that he was not even sorry for it. I was holing Punk back because of how they were treating Zoe, Maria was crying, and Dave seemed proud of himself.

I walked over and picked Zoe up from Mike and carried her away. I was so mad at Dave and I felt bad because she had to see it. I carried her to her room and Maria followed me. I knew that Paul was livid about what had happened.

I gently sat on the bed as I helped Zoe's lifeless body. I was holding her and Jeff immediately started to help me. Maria was sitting beside me and we were stunned by Dave's actions.

A/N: Please review