The Raven was attractive, Elena thought, she couldn't believe she was a wrestler like Colby. She was very nice and polite, she even brought her a bottle of wine for dinner. She seemed nerves because of how tightly she held her son's hand. Elena could tell how important she was to Colby, because he had called earlier asking her and his siblings not to ask questions about her family that he would explain later. He was already so protective of her. She just hoped that this girl did not hurt him like Danielle and Elizabeth. She wanted grandchildren and so far none of her children had given her any, she had hope that soon her daughter would since she would be getting married.
Seth's mom was fifty years, she had dark thick brown curly hair like his. The Raven could see were Seth got his big brown eyes and long lashes. She was 5'4 with fair skin and a slender built. She was a pretty woman. When they arrived she had finished cooking dinner and ushered everyone to the table to eat.
Paul and his girlfriend, Teresa and her fiancé, Roger, Seth and The Raven and his mom sat around the table eating and talking. Elena was telling stories of when Seth was younger, which had The Raven laughing.
"Oh my god, Seth you were a little devil." She chuckled.
Seth blushed and laughed, "Well I was practicing for my future career."
"Raven did you always want to be a wrestler, like Colby?", Elena asked curiously. It had been a long time since Colby had brought someone home for her to meet. She had known about Elizabeth and met her once when she visited Colby, but he did not bring her home with him.
"No, a friend introduced me to it in college and I just got hooked.", she replied.
"Oh and what college were you attending? What were you studying?"
"I attended Columbia in New York and I graduated with a bachelor's in Political Science. I was studying to be a lawyer."
"Wow your parents must have been disappointed when you decided to be a wrestler. What did they say, when you told them?", Teresa asked not caring about what Colby had said about her parents. She was curious.
The Raven looked at Teresa not sure how to answer the question without being a downer. She really did not want to start talking about her parents.
Elena gave her daughter a stern look. She could see how uneasy The Raven was with the question and decided to change the subject. "So how long have you two been going out?"
Seth looked over at The Raven and smiled. "About four months now, it will be anyway at the end of the month." She returned his smile, she couldn't believe they had been together that long.
"Speaking about the end of the month, will you be coming home for your birthday?" Paul asked.
"No, I will not be able to we have Smackdown, Payback and then Monday Night Raw back to back. The Shield and I will be busy. We are going to be part of some big matches, so we have to practice." He wished some of the events didn't always fall on important dates but it could not be helped.
"Dad wants to do something for you tomorrow for your birthday with some of your friends and family. He figured you might be busy for your birthday."
"Your birthday is the 28th, right Seth?", The Raven asked, she still had time to get him something, but what?
"Why does she keep calling you Seth? Colby", Teresa asked with indifference.
"I am right here you can ask me you know?" The Raven said as courteous as she could, she refused to be treated as if she didn't exist.
Seth gave his sister a look that said don't start shit. Teresa rolled her eyes and looked at The Raven. "Why do you keep calling him Seth?"
"Because when we first met I knew him as Tyler Black and Then Seth Rollins. It was later I found out his actual name is Colby Lopez, but I asked him what he wanted me to call him, he said Seth was fine." The Raven said in civil voice and gave her a forced smile. Well at least his brother and mother seemed to like her, she thought.
"It can be confusing with all his names but he will always be Colby to me." Elena lovingly said to her youngest son, as she went up to him and pinch him on the cheek.
"Ahh mom", he moaned with embarrassment, as his cheeks turned a shade red. The Raven couldn't help but smile as she help his mother clear the table.
The next day
Seth's father Joseph and his stepmother Gabrielle were very welcoming and friendly. Seth introduced The Raven to some of his friends from high school and family members from his father's side. The weather was finally warming up, so they were in the backyard with music playing. Joseph had finished cooking all the meet and was cleaning up the barbeque, while Gabrielle went around like a good hostess seeing if anyone needed something to drink or wanted more food.
"Would you like something else to drink?", Gabrielle asked.
"No, I am fine thanks." She raised her can of soda to show she had a drink.
"You know you are a lot pretty in person than on the T.V."
"Thank you." The Raven blushed at the complement.
"Joseph and I watch the wrestling all the time. He likes to see Colby wrestle."
"Yes, I do especially live. We will be going to Payback to see The Shield and Evolution battle it out." Joseph said excitedly as he put his arm around his wife's shoulders. "Why aren't you over there with him, instead of standing here all by yourself?"
"Guys tend to act differently when women are not around.", The Raven said a matter a factly.
"So true", Gabrielle giggled.
"So, I figured I would let him catch up with his friends.", she said as she watched him from a distance.
Seth was having a good time catching up with his friends. He turned around to see where The Raven had went, he could see her talking to his father and stepmother. He made eye contact with her and smiled, she returned his smile. He was glad she was having a good time and that his sister was behaving herself. He didn't want the tension from yesterday to be repeated. He turned back to his friends, when she suddenly appeared.
Danielle was glad to see Colby, he was more handsome than ever. She had regretted her actions those many years ago, she didn't think anything would have come from his wrestling. However, he had become a success after all, if she had been more patient and waited things would have worked out. But, his constant absence left her feeling lonely and she couldn't help wanting companionship. If only he had not caught her.
"Hello Colby. How have you been?", she asked sweetly as she approached him and stopped in front of him. The friends he was talking to made an excuse and left.
Seth was surprised to see Danielle, they had not spoken since the day he caught her cheating on him. The usual anger he felt when he thought of what happen wasn't there anymore, maybe because he had The Raven now. "What the hell are you doing here?", he asked upset by her presences.
"Is that anyway to talk to an old friend?" She was undeterred by his response as she smiled up at him and started to stroke his bicep, she remembered he use to like it when she did that.
"Stop that, I am here with someone and she will not like you doing that", he said with disdain as he knocked her hand away. Hell I don't like you doing that, he thought but he didn't want to cause a scene.
"I have missed you, Colby.", she said with as much charm as she could muster.
"What lover boy isn't satisfying you anymore?", he said with disgust.
Danielle pouted at Seth, "It was a mistake. I didn't mean it."
"I don't give a damn, I want you to leave now.", he could feel his temper starting to rise.
This was not going how she had planned it. She knew he would be mad but had hoped he would forgive, after all she was his first true love and they had been together for 8 years. She needed to remind him of the feelings they once shared. In desperation, she grabbed him by the sides of his head and using his hair, pulled him in close and started to kiss him.
Seth put his hands on her shoulders trying to pull her away, when suddenly...
The Raven was chatting with Seth's father and stepmother when she noticed a woman talking to Seth, she was standing too close to him. The Raven felt knots in her stomach. The woman was beautiful with fair skin, long black hair that went to her waist and pretty blue eyes. The Raven stopped mid-sentence and glared at the woman that was now smiling up at Seth and stroking his bicep with her fingertips. Never had The Raven felt such possessiveness and rage as she watched that bitch touch him the way only she should. Her only consolation was that Seth knocked her hand away.
"Raven what's wrong?", asked Joseph concerned by her sudden change of mood. They were talking when she fell silent and her face filled with anger and her hands balled into fist at her sides.
"Who's that woman talking to Seth?", she asked in a steely voice.
Joseph turned around to see who she was talking about, oh shit he thought. What the hell was she doing here? He turned back to The Raven clearing his throat, "That's huh humm Danielle."
The Raven stepped forward but Joseph blocked her, "Raven don't do anything foolish."
"You mean like that", she said through gritted teeth. Joseph turned to see that Danielle was now kissing Colby. The Raven pushed past Joseph and marched up to Danielle and grabbed her by back of her head, getting most of her hair and yanking her away from Seth, throwing her to the ground.
Danielle screamed in surprise and pain at being handled so roughly. She looked up to see The Raven towering over her with her fists at her sides. Danielle was livid because Seth was rejecting her and then this bitch pulling her away from him. Danielle rubbed the back of her head, not fully understanding the danger she was in. "Who the fuck are you?", she yelled at The Raven.
"I am his girlfriend you bitch. Who the fuck do you think you are?", she yelled back trying to contain her rage.
Danielle smirk and dusted herself off as she stood up. "I am his first girlfriend. I am his first love. I am the one he will ALWAYS LOVE.", she shouted with scorn. If she could not have Colby back then she would make his life hell. Why should everything be so damn easy for him?
"Oh really, well I am the one that is going to kick YOUR ASS!", The Raven roared as she seized her by the front of her shirt. Danielle finally realized the threat in front of her and her stupidity at taunting The Raven. Her eyes opened wide in fear as she tried to get away from The Raven.
Seth was momentarily shocked, he had never had two women fighting over him. He could not believe the shit Danielle was saying to her. He had never seen The Raven quite so angry, from behind he could see her body rigid and stiff with rage. Her voice cold and unfeeling. Seth realized what she was about to do and grabbed her before she could really hurt Danielle.
Just as she was about to land her punch, she felt someone from behind grip her wrist in a iron hold and strong arm go around her waist. Suddenly, she was lifted off the ground, she struggled to break free. She turn to see that it was Seth. "Let me go Seth! Damn it!", she yelled and struggled against him. But Seth kept his hold firmly on her as he dragged her kicking and screaming across the yard to the side of the house.
He released her and she spun around and tried to push past him. He could see her face consumed with rage. He then grabbed her and slammed her up against the side of the house. The Raven began to hit Seth in the chest and face. "So you are defending her now? You bastard! Is she the one you really want? IS SHE?!" He should be helping her not stopping her, unless of course Danielle's words were true that he loves her still, The Raven thought.
"Will you calm down damn it! Raven!", he shouted as he grab her by the arms and tried shaking some sense into her but she continued to fight him. He slammed her one more time against the wall with a little more force taking her breathe away. He hated to do it but she was so enraged and he didn't know what else to do. She abruptly stopped struggling against him, she felt deflated and hurt because he didn't want her. After months of battling with her emotions and opening herself up to Seth, he didn't want her. He still loved Danielle.
Seth had her pinned to the wall with his body and his hands had her wrist pressed against the wall, he looked into her eyes and could see the rage was now replaced with hurt and disappointment. Her eyes were brimming with tears. "Raven", he whispered gently. His hold on her loosened as he tried to kiss her but she turned her face to the side. "You still love her don't you? She's the one you want isn't she?", she said in a soft painful voice.
He let go of one of her wrist and turned her face to look at him. "Raven, why the fuck would I want her after everything she put me through? When I have you now." He could not believe she thought he still wanted Danielle.
"Then why were you protecting her?!", she shouted in his face with an accusing voice.
"I was not protecting her, I was trying to stop you from going to jail. Raven you are a hellva lot stronger than her and you could have easily put her in the hospital with one punch. I don't give a fuck about that but I don't want you taken from me. Plus I know you would have regretted it later. You are not the type to hurt someone like that." , he replied as he pleaded with her to see reason.
The Raven felt shame for her behavior and lowered her head as tears started to roll down her cheeks. When she started to sob, Seth released her from the wall and hugged her. She buried her face in the curve of his neck and whispered between sobs, "I am sorry Seth. I didn't mean to hit you. I ju-st, I I just never felt jealous before and I was so mad. When I saw her kiss you, I thought maybe you changed your mind and wanted her instead."
Seth smiled at her confession and held her tighter. It made him feel good to know she would fight so fiercely for him because it was how he would for her. "Look at me," when she met his eyes, he continued, "remember what we promised each other if we got bored, wanted someone else or changed our minds we would tell the other. I haven't changed my mind. Have you?"
She shook her head no, wiping her tears away with the back of her hand. He kissed her gently on the forehead and then her lips. He put an arm around her shoulders and started to steer her to the front of the house.
"Where are you going?" She was emotionally drained and hung on to Seth's waist as they walked.
"We are going home." Seth said as he open the car door for her.
"Colby!", Joseph called out. He was concerned when they had not returned, so he went to see if everything was alright. "Is everything ok?"
"Yeah, we are just leaving. We are going back to our place." He closed the car door once The Raven was settled and he walked around to the driver's side. "Dad, why was she here?"
"I don't know son. I never would have invited her here, not after what she did to you."
"I invited her." It was Teresa that answered as she approached the two men.
"Why would you do that knowing I had The Raven with me?" Seth was annoyed with his sister.
"I didn't think things between you and her were serious. I mean ever since Danielle, you really haven't had a steady girlfriend. I just thought maybe you two could fix things. After all, you two really loved each other." She wanted her brother and best friend together again, especially for her upcoming nuptials. After what had happened, Danielle had explained what a big mistake it had been and that she still loved Colby. Surely their love was strong enough to overcome one indiscretion.
"That was before, I caught her sleeping with someone else in our bed. Before, she told me that I cared more about my career than her." Seth was now angry with his sister.
"But she has a career now to keep her busy and-"
"Enough! I can't believe you are defending her to me. You are my sister, you should be on my side not hers." Seth was angry and hurt that his sister was defending that woman to him after what she did.
"But Colby you two were so good together.", his sister insisted.
"Teresa, Stop! You saw how much she hurt your brother. You owe him and The Raven an apology." Joseph couldn't believe Teresa expected Colby to forgive Danielle after her betrayal.
"But Dad-", Teresa could not understand why her father was ganging up on her to, she was only trying to help them reconcile.
"The Raven is my girlfriend now and if you can't respect that don't expect me at your wedding.", he said, furious with his sister's meddling. He slammed the car door and seconds later spun off.
"Colby! Colby wait!", his sister screamed.