Hello, I hope everyone had a safe and fun New Years. I know I did. I wish everyone a great 2015 and whatever resolutions you have set for yourself I wish you the best in reaching them.

The Raven knocked on the locker room door of the Shield, she wanted to wish Seth luck on his match tonight. It was something they always did but it was getting closer to his match and Seth still had not come to see her so she decided to go to him.

"Hey Rave", Dean said with a smirk, as he opened the door and stepped aside so she could enter. Seth was sitting on the sofa with Maya between him and Roman. The moment Roman saw her, he wrapped his arms protectively around Maya and dragged her on to his lap. Maya squealed in delight. "Maya I don't want you near Seth, you might get a beat down for being too close to him." Roman laughingly said.

The Raven's cheeks burned with embarrassment. She could hear Dean laughing behind her. Seth had a big grin on his face, while Roman and Maya were covering their smiles with their hands. "You told them!" The Raven stood in front of Seth with her hands on her hips, glaring at him.

"Oh come on sweetheart. I just wanted them to know how you wouldn't let anyone touch what is yours.", he beamed with pride as he leaned forward to grabbed her by the hips. She knocked his hands away but he grabbed for her again this time pulling her onto his lap and giving her a peck on the lips. He could see that she was still annoyed with him, she had her arms crossed in front of her and her face turned the other way. So, he kissed and nibbled her on the neck a couple of times and rubbed her back until he felt her relax, her looking at him again and her arms around his neck.

"Hey Rave, if some bitch did that to Roman believe me I would have beaten her ass to.", Maya said as she kissed her fiancé.

"I really didn't get a chance to beat her since Seth pulled me away before I could do any damage."

"Damn Seth! You're no fun, you should have let her at least get a punch or two. I mean its hot to see women fight over you.", Dean said.

The Raven rolled her eyes, she didn't know how Rene put up with Dean. Suddenly there was a knock on the door and a crew member peeked in. "Guys, we need to go, your match is on in 15."

"Ok we're coming", replied Dean.

Seth gave The Raven another quick peck on the lips before he stood up and placed her on her feet. "I will see you after the show." He hugged her then left the room.

"So you are sure about this Kane?" asked Hunter.

"Yes Hunter. After every show, he showers and changes and then he comes to the locker room to pick her up. She even waits for him sometimes depending on how long he takes and they both go to the hotel together. Its their routine.", said Kane reassuringly.

"Good I need to speak to Seth tonight but alone, so I will need you to distract The Raven. Give me at least 20 minutes, if you can longer." Hunter hated that it had to come to this, he had wished Evolution had beaten the Shield at Extreme Rules, but it didn't happen. The Authority had too many enemies and he had to make it a more even plane, after all that is what is good for business. He had to keep a balance between good and evil, if there were more of one group then there would be no good storylines. For entertainment purposes, there had to evil for the good to triumph, for the fans to stay interested and not get bored. It was time to put plan B into effect, especially if Evolution lost to the Shield again at Payback.

"Don't worry about it, I will take care of The Raven."

"Good", Hunter said as he padded Kane on the arm and walked away.

Seth was knocking on the door of the Authority locker room, when no one answered he tried the door. It opened and he called out her name, when he still didn't get a response he walked into the room. He was surprised to find Hunter there. "I am sorry. I was looking for The Raven.", Seth nervously said, he felt uncomfortable due to the rivalry currently between Evolution and the Shield.

"That's ok. They are all gone but I was actually waiting for you.", Hunter said mysteriously. He was wearing a gray suit with black shoes and light blue dress shirt. He was sitting on the sofa with his legs crossed with one arm resting on the sofa and the other in his lap, he didn't seem to have a care in the world.

"Me, you mean WE, I will go get Dean and Roman." Seth turned around to leave, but Hunter's words stopped him. "No Seth, just you. I am here to make you an offer that will impact your future here in the WWE and hopefully bring you closer to your goals." Hunter said seriously.

Seth turned around to look at Hunter, "Why would you do that Hunter? Why me?"

"Because we are losing and I can't have that, it is not good for business. I chose to make this offer to you Seth, because you have been in this business longer than your Shield brothers, you understand it and you can separate personal feelings from business." Hunter stood up and approach Seth. "There are 4 kinds of superstars at the very bottom are the ones that have really have no impact, they are there because we sometimes need fillers for our matches and they are on the verge of being released from their contracts. The third group of superstars are the ones that teeter between good and bad depending on how the fans are feeling for them. They are good but not great and we, meaning management, wait for that spark of greatness to come out to move them on to the next level. Now these next two groups I consider to be the most powerful and influential in the WWE, I call them good and evil. And right now I am on the verge of having too many superstars in the good group, especially if the Shield beats Evolution at Payback."

"And this is your argument to have me, help you, have the Shield lose to Evolution at Payback." Seth alleged, he was uneasy with this conversation and had a feeling there was more to it, but he did not want to voice it.

Hunter chuckled, "So you want me to spell it out ok then. The Shield has been going strong in the WWE for two years now and you have done everything a group of your kind can do, so you can one either repeat the cycle and hope the fans don't lose interest or two move on to your on individual careers with your popularity from the Shield as your push. Dean and Roman will probably fall into the good group and you will probably be in the third group. However, I have another option for you."

Seth knew what Hunter was saying was true but it still hurt to hear it. He worked hard and spent a lot of time in the gym perfecting his technique. He spent hours improving his microphone skills but it wasn't enough. It didn't phase Seth that Dean and Roman were more popular with the fans, he was happy for them, he did not want all that attention. But it did bother him that it was going to keep him from reaching his goal of becoming WWE World Heavyweight Champion. He was talented and skilled but he did not have the support of the fans they way Dean and Roman did. In some of the other wrestling companies, he was over shadowed at times by other wrestlers even though he had soundly beat them. It was his talent and skill that made him the champion but it not be the case with the WWE. "Let me guess you want me to join the Authority."

"Yes. I want you to be part of the evil group. What the WWE really needs is a bad guy to make things interesting and exciting. People don't realize, it is harder to be evil than good because you have to be twice as better than your opponents in the ring and able to out smart them. You have proven that you can Seth with things you have done in the Shield. You are more dynamic in the ring and have more tricks up your sleeve than Dean and Roman, you are exciting to watch. Despite all this you are underrated and unappreciated by the fans. You are the future of the WWE but not as the good guy, the roll I offer you is the bad guy. Think of all the havoc you will reek on the WWE and the superstars scrambling to undo what you have done, think of the fun you will have Seth. Also, one of the perks to being part of the evil group are the many opportunities you will get to obtain WWE World Heavyweight Championship. From your own experiences, you know what I am saying is true." Hunter felt this conversation was going great, he really did want Seth as part of the Authority and looked forward to guiding him.

"And what do you expect me to do for this opportunity?" His instincts were telling him that Hunter was not finished but was saving the best for last so to speak.

"If the Shield wins at Payback then on Monday Night Raw the following night I want you to betray the Shield. I want the shock value not just from the fans but from Dean and Roman too. You are not to tell anyone, especially them and if this gets back to me then the offer is off the table. I will never approach you again or make another offer, so I suggest you think about it carefully. I will expect your answer in two weeks." Hunter was finished, he had to leave before The Raven came looking for Seth.

"What if we lose at Payback?", Seth asked.

"Then the offer is voided but I better be convinced that you didn't warn them or again your career will be short.", Hunter looked Seth in the eyes showing him, he was deadly serious. Hunter then walked to the door, he was about to leave, when he said, "An another thing, you are not to tell your girlfriend. The least amount of people that know the less likely it will get out."

"You mean she doesn't know?" Seth felt relieved, he was getting upset thinking she had set him up for this exchange without warning him.

"Are you kidding? She was forced to be part of the Authority. Only recently we have noticed her being more cooperative, I think you are responsible for that so thanks.", he said as he left the room.

Not soon after Hunter left that he heard The Raven call out his name. He walked out to the hallway. "There you are I have been looking everywhere for you. Kane kept saying he saw you outside but I should have known better and waited for you here." The Raven glanced at Seth, he seemed bothered. "You're not mad are you?"

"No I am just tired. Lets get back to the hotel, I need to rest." Seth was overwhelmed by what Hunter had said and he truly felt tired. He had a decision to make, actually it was more like he didn't have a choice. If he said no he was pretty much kissing his career good-bye. If he said yes, he was possibly ending his friendship with Dean and Roman. He might even lose his girlfriend, he thought as he looked at her walking by his side to their car. He reached out to hold her hand and intertwined their fingers, she turned and smiled at him and moved her body closer.

2 Weeks Later

The Raven was sitting on the work bench watching Seth go through his routine of bicep curls and presses, he was standing in front of the mirror making sure he had the right stance or so it seemed. She was confused by Seth's weird behavior, they hadn't had sex in 2 weeks. Even when she tried to initiate it, he would say he was tired and wanted to rest. At first, The Raven thought maybe Seth was trying to find some way of breaking up with her, maybe he was getting tired of all the issues she was creating for him. Especially the situation with his sister, she knew how close Seth was with his family, he was not use to the hostility she often faced with her own. However, she changed her mind when she noticed he started holding her tighter whether it was just to give her a hug or hold her hand or even in bed while they slept, as if he was afraid to lose her. Also, he seemed very preoccupied, gone was his easy going manner. He wasn't smiling as much or cracking jokes, he was far too quiet. It looked as if he was struggling with some moral dilemma and it bothered and hurt her feelings that he wouldn't confide in her. She did not tell him this because whatever it was, was already weighing heavily on him and she did not want to add to the pressure.

As The Raven continued to watch him, he appeared completely zoned out and deep in thought. His brows crunched together in a frown and his chocolate brown eyes usually with a spark of enthusiasm and passion, were vacant and staring at nothing in particular.

The Raven walked up behind Seth and stood inches from him, watching the sweat trickle down his back muscles, as they moved with each rep he did, he didn't seem to notice she was there, which only reinforced her belief that something was plaguing his mind. She tried to be patient hoping that would encourage him to open up to her, maybe it was time to force the issue instead.

Seth jumped little as he felt arms going around his waist and a face pressing against his spine. His thoughts of what he should do left him as he realized the arms belong to The Raven. She kissed the tattoos of the Chinese characters in the middle of his back. Seth lowered his arms to his sides and closed his eyes enjoying The Raven's lips against his skin and her body firmly pressed against his back.

"Raven, what are doing?", Seth asked with husky voice.

"What's wrong Seth?", The Raven asked in a gentle but concerned voice.

"Nothing is wrong."

The Raven released her hold on him and walked around, so that she stood right in front of him, she again put her arms around his waist and held him tight against her. Seth did nothing but watch her movements, she lifted her chin so that she was staring into his troubled brown eyes. Seth was hypnotized by her plump red lips, he wanted to kiss her but stopped when she began to speak again. "Don't lie to me Seth Rollins. I can always tell when something is bothering you. These past 2 weeks you haven't seemed yourself. Please tell me what it is, if I have done something wrong I am sorry. Please tell me so I can fix it or help you.", she pleaded with him, her large hazel eyes looking at him angelically and a pout on her full lips.

He could feel his barriers breaking down. Seth felt terrible, he didn't mean to make her worry or to think she had done something wrong. He was so consumed by the offer that he didn't realize how his behavior was affecting her. He had to tell her, he couldn't hold this in anymore. He needed someone to confide in and he hated keeping this from her. He knew he could trust her and didn't care anymore if somehow Hunter found out. "Not here Raven, when we get back to the hotel or someplace more private."

"Well, I am ready to go now." She was a little nervous by his response, what could it possibly be that he needed privacy.

"Give me 10 more minutes to warm down and then we will head out."

"Ok, but.." The Raven stopped as she realize she was creating a scene, in the corner of her eyes, she noticed the people in the gym had stopped what they were doing and were now staring at Seth and her.

Seth dropped a weight and caressed her cheek. "But what?" The Raven looked back at Seth, he didn't seem to mind or didn't care they were creating a scene. "Can I have a kiss first?"

A smile spread across Seth's face, as he lowered his head toward her and captured her lips in soft passionate kiss. When the kiss ended she pressed her forehead to his, she closed her eyes and held him close. She was worried about what he had to say but did not show it. "I will be at the treadmills." Seth nodded his head as The Raven walked away. He sighed deeply not looking forward to the conversation they were doing to have once they returned to the hotel.