Twelve

There was nothing to do but drink while Roman was busy with his father. A week had passed since Mr Reigns had been hospitalised.

Roman had been rushing back and forth between the hospital, the hotel and home. He always looked exhausted and Dean's heart went out to him.

"I love Jack Daniel's," the blue eyed rock star said, raising his bottle and passing it to Seth.

"Even more than Roman?" Corey asked.

"Heck no."

"What time is he coming over?"

"He should be here anytime soon."

Corey and Seth stood up. "Guess it's back to the prison for us," Seth joked. "See you tomorrow."

Alone in the room, Dean waited patiently for his boyfriend. It was crazy. Almost a year and he still had butterflies in his stomach when he saw Roman and goosebumps just hearing his name come out from his lips.

When the bell rang, he ran to the door in excitement. "You're here!" he sang as he threw his arms around the handsome Samoan man.

Roman's warm smile was absent from his face.

Something was wrong.

"What happened?" he asked as he led Roman in, closing the door.

"My dad's only got a month left," his boyfriend revealed unhappily. "I don't know what to think. He seems weak and he's eating little. The doctor wants to put him on a liquid diet because he's not meeting his nutritional needs."

Dean rubbed his back slowly to comfort him. "I'm sorry, Roman."

"He's still upset with me. Refuses to acknowledge me despite my efforts."

"But he knows we've "broken up", right?"

"One of my sisters spotted us yesterday when we were out at The Fish House last night."

Dean felt terrible. Roman could not even go out for a meal without being told on.

"What do I do, Dean?"

"I guess I can always return back home first and wait for you."

Roman's cellphone rang and he excused himself to answer it in the bathroom. Dean paced nervously in the room, hoping it wasn't a bad news.

His boyfriend came out a moment later with a blank look.

"What happened now?" Dean enquired.

"My dad wants to see you tomorrow," Roman informed him.

"That's… that's good, right?"

"I'm not sure."

Dean hated hospitals.

Even more, he hated visiting people who didn't want his presence around. Mr Reigns' eyes were on the television in his room without giving any indication that he had seen Dean.

"Don't think I've called you here as a truce," the man said just as Dean tapped on his Soundcloud app. "I'm here to ask you nicely to break up with my son."

The Steel Hounds lead singer stood up. "No. I won't do it."

"You realise every minute you're with him, you're hurting his relationship with me."

"That's entirely on you. What do you have against us being together aside from our ethnic differences?"

"That's just it. You mean to tell me you can't do it for a dying man?"

Dean froze. No. This was wrong. Breaking up with Roman would hurt him badly.

"Then it's on you," Mr Reigns continued, "a father and son not reconciling till the last day. But we all can't have what we want, can we? I hope you're happy having that knowledge-"

Oh no. Dean would not be blackmailed or manipulated into anything. "I promised Roman that I wouldn't leave him and I'm sticking to it. So try again."

"That's selfish of you."

"I am selfish. When it comes to your son, I have to be. He's my heart, my blood and my passion. I wouldn't expect you to understand. Besides, you're one to talk. You're selfishly threatening your son to leave me."

"He'll come to his senses. Just you wait and see. I bet he didn't tell you that he's out with Manu now, did he?"

No, Roman hadn't but he was probably worried about how this meeting would go so it likely slipped his mind.

"Face it, Dino. You're replaceable. A barely year old relationship against a twenty year old friendship? No prizes for where you stand. By the end of their meeting, Roman will be breaking up with you."

Dean squared his shoulders. "You underestimate how Roman and I feel about one another. I suggest you walk the other direction. Save your threats for someone who will believe you."

Mr Reigns pressed the call button and when the nurse came in, he started to feign a groan. "I'm feel weak. My heart…"

The auburn haired rock star's jaw dropped.

"Please ask him to leave the room. He-"

"Sir," the nurse said. "I'm going to have to ask you to leave."

"But-" Dean started. "He-"

"Please."

He glared at Mr Reigns before he stormed out of the room.

"That's a tough situation to be in," Manu empathised as the two men drank Hawaiian Roast French Roast coffee at Bad Ass Coffee.

Roman stirred his cup of coffee. "I'm not sure what to do. If he weren't dying, I'd tell him off. But he is and that's what makes it so complicated. You should have seen the way they stared at me when Angie revealed that she saw us together."

"Would it help if I talked to him?"

"You do realise that he's hoping we both date, right?"

His longtime friend laughed. "That ship sailed a long time ago. Dating one another would be like dating your own flesh and blood."

"He doesn't get it though."

"Well, he can be quite set in his ways of thinking-"

Roman's cellphone rang interrupted his friend's words. "Excuse me." He pressed the green button. "Hello?"

"Roman?" Rosey's voice echoed. "Dad's blood pressure spiked a while ago after his conversation with Dean."

Why was Roman not surprised? "Is he okay now?"

"Everything seems stabilized."

"I'll be down soon." He ended the call and shook his head at Manu. "More drama."

Manu grinned. "Don't tell me he pulled a fast one on your brother."

"On the nurses too as well."

"You know, Roman. I think I have the solution to this."

Roman smiled. "I look forward to hearing it. But first, I have a bone to pick with someone."

A war torn Dean sat on his hotel bed, feeling numb. Roman's father was a stubborn man and who would probably remain so until the end. Why bother fighting? It was back to square one: as long as they were together, Roman would be caught in the middle and Dean only wanted to make things easier for his boyfriend.

He wondered if the hospital called Roman to inform him of the drama earlier. His boyfriend would probably be disappointed in him, making a terminally ill man upset.

He started to strum on Dixie before singing:

We both lie silently still
in the dead of the night
Although we both lie close together
We feel miles apart inside

Was it something I said or something I did
Did the words not come out right
Though I tried not to hurt you
Though I tried
But I guess that's why they say

Every rose has its thorn
Just like every night has its dawn
Just like every cowboy sings his sad, sad song
Every rose has its thorn
Yeah it does

"Hey."

He stopped strumming, not wanting to turn around. Dean didn't want to hear Roman telling him it was over.

He wasn't sure if he was ready to let him go yet.

He wasn't sure if he'd ever be ready.

But for the sake of his boyfriend's peace of mind...

"Why are your bags packed?" Roman enquired.

He remained silent.

"Dean-"

"Don't, Roman," he interjected. "Don't say it. Just leave the same way you came into my life… quietly."

"What?" His boyfriend knelt down in front of him. "I'm not sure what you were told but chances are it's wrong. I promised you before that I wouldn't go anywhere unless it's by your side and I meant it."

"But your dad said-"

"Yeah I gave him an earful for that.

"You can't keep fighting for us, Roman. That's not how relationships work. Relationships are supposed to be happy. To constantly justify why we're together is just wrong."

"Dean..." His boyfriend said warningly.

"I think it'd be better if we parted ways."

"Don't, Dean. Don't give up. Don't let them win."

"I'm not letting anyone win. I know how it feels to lose family. I never had one but you do. Relationships can come and go, Roman but families are for life. Maybe someday down the road, when things get better for you, we can be together again. But for now, it'd be best for you to take care of home."

"No!"

"Roman-"

"I don't care. I'll lose the lot of them. I can't lose you. I won't!"

"You're not losing me, Roman. It's more of a see you later than see you, really."

"I know you, Dean. If you walk away now, I don't even want to know what will become of you. You'll be drinking and who knows what else-"

"Stop worrying about me. Worry about your dad first."

Roman shook his head. "I'm taking my things and we're leaving for home."

"Don't do this, Roman. You'll regret it and I don't want you to resent me when the time comes-"

"I'll resent you for breaking up with me. For insinuating that you're nothing more to me than a relationship. You're my family, Dean. You've treated me like family since the day we met. Don't you dare think I'll be okay with you walking away from me because I won't."

There was a knock on the door. Roman's friend, Manu, stuck his head in. "Bad timing?"

"No," Roman replied. "Perfect timing actually."

Manu walked in with a huge grin. "Aaah Dean, right? We finally meet formally. I'm Manu."

Dean gave him a smile he always reserved for reporters during press conferences. "Hi."

"Roman talks about you all the time."

"Manu and I are going to pretend to date," Roman explained. "Of course there won't be anything physical except holding hands."

"Yep. And you have nothing to worry. I've got a boyfriend who's on his way here just so that all parties are aware of what's going on."

Dean didn't know what to think. Jason Jordan had a boyfriend and it still didn't stop him from developing feelings for Roman. On the other hand, they had twenty over years to hook up but they hadn't.

Roman seemed more mad that Dean wanted to give in rather than to stay and aggravate the situation.

Manu's boyfriend was a bodyguard that Dean had recognise from Steel Hounds' first tour. "Amoka?" Dean said.

The power house built raven haired man smiled warmly at Dean. "Dean!" He squeezed the auburn haired rock star immediately in a bear hug. "Oh my! Look at you! I can't believe you're here!"

"You're cutting off my air circulation!" Dean panted.

"Wait," Manu said. "You two know one another?"

"Of course," Amoka boomed, finally letting go. "I used to be his band's bodyguard when they first started. How are the guys?"

"They're out enjoying the beach life," Dean filled him in, wheezing.

"Small world dating Roman. Ha! But I'm happy. Roman's a great guy and you're one of the most down to earth person I know-"

"I think the time apart has done things to your head. I'm hardly down to earth."

Roman squeezed his hand. "Stop lying, Dean."

"Right," Manu announced. "Just so we're all clear, we're here to discuss how to eh… keep your relationship under the radar."

"Hell, I'm in," Amoka said. "Especially since I know it's Dean."

"Well obviously Roman and I are in too. Dean?"

Dean still had reservations about the whole thing. This whole thing could backfire on them with lasting repercussions.

Again Jason Jordan entered his mind. What if this Manu guy was the same? Run, his mind screamed at him. Take it on the run. Go on tour and it'll be a party everyday: booze, booze, booze.

"I'm not letting you go, Dean," Roman repeated again. "I won't allow you to let me go. So just nod your head and agree."

"Wait," Amoka spoke up. "Let you go?" He looked at Dean. "Dean, I've seen you do a lot of crazy things… a lot more than you probably told Roman here but if you walk away, that's the craziest thing you've ever done. Don't let some discrimination make you throw in the towel."

Roman grinned. "What are some of those crazy things he's done?"

"I'll let you know when he's not around."

"Oh no you don't," Dean commented. "What happens on tour stays on tour."

The three men laughed. The auburn haired rock star scowled. Roman cleared his throat. "Can you guys give us five minutes alone?"

"Sure," Manu agreed. "We'll be in the living room."

Once they were alone, Roman gave him a look. "You know that song you love to sing me a lot?"

Dean couldn't help but grin. "Patience?"

"No. I Live My Life For You. You told me that the words were borrowed but the sentiment was yours. I believe that the opening lines were something about how I'm everything to you and how you couldn't see the two of us apart. So why you're insistent on us parting ways I'll never understand. I told you that you're more of a family to me than my real ones. I will defend and protect us no matter how long and I won't stop. I hope you'll do the same. Besides," his boyfriend added with a small smile, "You wouldn't have lasted that long without me even if we did part ways."

The scruffy rock star stared at him. "Because I can't live without you."

"Then why are you even suggesting that we do? There's nothing we can't do as long as we're together."

"You're quoting the song."

"Well, it's grown on me."

"Fine, Roman. You win."

His boyfriend kissed him softly. "No, Dean. We both won."

All four men had lunch at a small cafe by the beach, a place Manu and him used to frequent back in the day. Roman gave the menu a quick read through.

"Hook me up with some coconut," he announced.

Dean was licking his lips. "Lobster roll for me and a tequila with mint."

The Samoan man contemplated telling his boyfriend to hold the drink but considering that Dean had come all the way from home…

"So how did you two meet?" Amoka asked.

"In the coffeehouse I'm working at. He was in there with a hangover so he ordered a pot of coffee…"

"You took his order?"

"I did. And we got around to talking and he gave me his number to stay in touch."

Dean grinned. "Which you didn't. I had to turn up there again to bring you out to dinner."

"Well I didn't know what to expect. A rock star gave me, an ordinary Joe, his number. What was I supposed to do?"

"You're anything but ordinary."

Roman leaned over and kissed him. "Thank you."

"You two are cute," Manu commented.

Their food was delivered shortly and conversations switched to life in Pensacola and Dean's life on the road.

"I rocked and rolled all night and partied every day," Dean concluded.

"Do you miss it?" Manu asked.

"...No."

Roman knew he was lying about that.

Amoka pushed his plate aside. "You should hear his voice. He sounds amazing."

Suddenly Pat, owner of the cafe, came. "I saw your sister coming this way, Roman."

"Thanks, Pat," he thanked the old man. He turned to his boyfriend. "Babe, you have to go."

Dean looked upset but stood up anyway. "Yeah, sure."

"I'll see you in the hotel," he shouted as Dean started to walk down the path.

Manu must have noticed a difference. "Is something wrong, Roman?" he asked as he sat beside him.

"I have no idea. I'll talk to him later." When his sister reached his side, she seemed visibly upset. "Angel, what is it?" he asked.

"It's Dad…"

Dean downed his Jack Daniel's while Seth was boasting of his escapades with two girls he met on the beach in his hotel room.

"You should have seen them," he said. "They were hot."

"I'm sure they were," he agreed.

Corey burst out laughing. "He wanted a third but she snubbed him."

Seth was not pleased. "Hey if we were on the road, I'd be banging more than two."

Dean grinned. "Same."

"Until you met Roman. Now you can't even get your dick to stand for another man."

"Of course I can."

"A thousand dollars says you can't!"

"Ha! I can and I'll prove it! Challenge accepted!"

Corey was on his feet immediately. "Dean…" he cautioned. "Think of Roman."

"Pfft…" Seth scoffed. "Thinking of Roman will kill his game. Face it. He's been whipped."

Dean growled. "I'm not whipped. Do you even know what that means?" His cellphone rang then and he answered it. "Hey."

"Dean?" It was Roman; he sounded like he had been crying.

"Yeah?"

"He's gone… my dad's gone."

A/N ...yeah. Thank you ALL for the favorites, follows and reviews. Shoutout to ill Mind of Fanfics - thank you for the love. Adrianna, I know how you love this too so I dedicate this chapter to you.