It had been a week since Dean and Roman had approached him about The Raven, at first he was mad at them but he realized they were only concerned for his well being. All week he had thought about what they had told him, he wanted to ask The Raven but how did he bring up the subject without offending her. He needed to have answers before he allowed himself to get closer to her. All week, he pretty much avoided her trying to decide if he should pursue the feelings he had for her or walk away before he got hurt. However, Seth was never one to just walk away, especially when he wanted something. His career was a perfect example, he did not let the fact that his mentor lived in Chicago, which was almost 3 hour trip one way from Davenport, deter his desire to become a wrestler. Instead, he figured out a way to get a car and hold a part-time job to pay for gas to make the trip daily, so he could get the training he needed to become a wrestler and on top of it finish high school.

He had to be realistic though, was it just lust he felt for her or was it something more. The first time he met her, he had the overwhelming desire to kiss her, the need to touch her. She had affected him so much that he even forgot all about Elizabeth. He remembered the guilt he had at almost stepping out on his girlfriend, but in that moment in his locker room all he felt was his need and desire for The Raven. He often wondered if it would have stopped at a kiss, if they had not been interrupted. Seth thought maybe it was just his nervousness over the big match that night that had cause him to react the way he did. However, almost 3 years later when he debut in the WWE and he saw her again that same strong need, desire was still there.

In the past 3 weeks, he had spent time with her, he discovered they had a lot in common. One they were both wrestlers and they both loved to push their bodies to the limit. She was also eager and willing to learn different moves and exercises that would help perfect her skills, which he was the same way. When they would go out for breakfast, he learned they had the same taste in music and they both loved action movies. He felt at ease in her company and she didn't go all crazy over his looks like many women did, she saw him the person and he liked that.

What had bothered him the most about what Dean and Roman had said was her relationship with Randy Orton and her various one night stands. What if he pursued a relationship with her, could he trust her to be faithful? From what he could see, she was not partying, or spoke of anyone special in her life. When they would go for their early morning workouts, she looked rest and full of energy not someone who was partying and drinking the night away or having sex all night. Whatever her reasons for her behavior, he could see she was not doing it now. How could he hold that against her? After all, he had been doing the same thing after another failed relationship. It was as if he had to improve something to himself, having all those one night stands showed him that women did desire him.

Maybe he could speak to her before the show started, he had an hour. Who was he kidding he wanted her not just her body, but her. He pulled out his cell phone and sent her a text.

Hello, Raven. How r u?

A minute later he received a reply, Hello, Stranger. I am good thx. How R U?

Good thx. Sorry about that been busy. What r u up to?

I am in the cafeteria with Kane having a snack before the show starts. U?

Seth frown at that response, that was another thing he needed to find out about. What exactly was her relationship with Kane. They traveled together and shared the same room, but was that all or was there something more. He didn't want to think she was with Kane but he needed to know. Nothing much. Can I join u?

Sure :)

Be there in a few :)

The Raven was surprised to receive a text from Seth, it seemed lately he had been avoiding her. When she text him, he would reply with short answers. She missed her workouts with him, if she were honest with herself she just missed him. Less than five minutes later, she looked up and saw Seth walking toward her. He looked good in his Shield uniform with his hair pulled back in a ponytail.

He smiled at her and she smiled back, when he was close enough she greeted him, "Hi"

"Hello, where's Kane?" He asked as he looked around and took the seat in front of her.

"He had some things to do before the show started. So, what have you been up to?" They made small talk for awhile enjoying each others company. Seth decide to finally just bite the bullet and ask her, he had so many questions and the only person who could answer them was her. "Raven, you know when we workout I see how strong you are and how talented you are." Seth said sincerely.

The Raven simply stared at him and said, "Thank you, Seth." This was leading to something and she wasn't sure she was going to like it much. "I was wondering, why are you a valet to Kane and not a contender for the Diva's Title?" He asked plainly. The Raven sat back in her chair and looked at him for a moment. She decided she did not need this shit and stood up to leave. But Seth was determine to get some answers, he grab her by her wrist. "Raven?"

"This is why you have been avoiding me isn't?" It was more of a statement than a question.

The Raven could see the guilt in his eyes and jerk her wrist out of his grasp. "You have judged me already, so what difference does it make what I say?"

Seth stood up and blocked her escape, "I have not judged you Raven. If I had I wouldn't be asking you."

"But it is why you have been avoiding me?"

Seth nodded his head yes, he could instantly see the anger in her hazel eyes, the green in them getting darker. She again tried to leave but again Seth blocked her. "Raven, I have been hearing a lot of horrible things about you and I figured I needed to hear it from you. You are my friend and I am asking because I want to understand. If roles were reverse wouldn't you be curious?"

The Raven looked up at Seth, she could lose herself in his big, sweet, dark, brown eyes, she did not see malice or judgment but a pleading look. The Raven sat back down and rested her arms on the table. Once she was seated, Seth followed her lead. She had a need to explain herself because she really liked him and his opinion of her mattered to her. "Its my punishment for being defiant."

"What do you mean?", he asked inquiringly

"When I started with the WWE, I really didn't understand how it all worked by the time I kinda got a clue. I had burnt to many bridges and it was too late to just say "I am sorry". I often wish Ben Humphrey had come with me, he was my coach and mentor, if he had my experience here would have been a lot different. I was constantly butting heads with management, especially about my storylines. I absolutely refused to allow them to use my family history to increase their ratings. I couldn't put my family through that, well what's left of them anyway."

Seth wondered about her family, he could see the wistful look that came across her face at the mention of them. "They started to knit pick at everything and I refused to budge. They wanted me to wear more revealing clothes out to the ring, I refused. They wanted me to wear little next to nothing on photo shoots, I refused. But what really pissed off management and Stephanie McMahon was my refusal to lose the Diva's Title to someone who I considered inferior. I pretty much told them that without thinking how arrogant and insulting it was to the other Divas and those that hadn't made their minds up about me, definitely hated me after that. The matches I was assigned were not staged, all of them real. Night after night, I beat all my opponents, I showed no mercy and humiliated some of them with how quickly I won. I wanted to proved to Stephanie McMahon, I deserved to be the Diva's Champion. Of course this only had the opposite effect, she took it as a challenge to her authority. She couldn't get rid of me so easily, because when I signed my contract with the WWE. I took some stipulations out and added some of my own to insure I had some control of my career. You see I as studying to be a lawyer before I became a wrestler." Wow something else he wanted to find out more about.

"Plus, I had the support of the fans. When I was sidelined with an injury for a month, Stephanie saw her opportunity and stripped me of my title. When I returned from my injury, I was made valet to Kane, putting me on the men's side. Away from the women's division and any chance of getting the Diva's Title back. Now, I am just bidding my time waiting for my contract to end, which will be in another year." When The Raven was done, she sat back in her chair with her arms crossed, waiting for his response.

Seth took a moment to absorb everything The Raven had just told him. She didn't sugar coat her actions but took responsibility for her shortcomings. He could understand how overwhelming being a newbie in the WWE could be, at least he had Dean and Roman to lean on, she had no one. He had worked himself up the ranks and learned how this business worked, where as she was thrusted into it and stumbled along the way to understand the business she was now apart of. He admired how quickly she rose to the top and the length of time she was able to hold the Championship Title. "Thank you for being honest with me."

"I see no reason to lie." The Raven was surprised, she was expecting him to be disgusted by her actions and leave.

"If you could apologize now, would you?", he inquired, interested in her response.

"Yes, but only for how I said it, not what I said. I am not a vicious person Seth. I did not mean to hurt their feelings by being so blunt. I could have been more tactful."

Seth grinned, after everything she had been through and experienced, she was still stubborn.

"So, are we friends then?", asked The Raven with hope in her voice.

"Of course, we're friends.", for now he thought.