You Should See The Look On Your Face

-May 18, 2014; Birmingham, England-

Their flight from Innsbruck had left at just after seven in the morning and had stopped in Frankfurt before getting into Birmingham Airport around half past ten. When they were boarding the plane, Tessa looked at Nikki enviously as they passed her and John in First Class. She had never flown in anything other than Economy Class as justifying so much money for a plane ticket had never been something she could do.

She did much the same when Nikki and John were taken to the hotel in a nice town car while everyone was herded onto a Coach.

On the way to the hotel, Tessa received a text message from Nikki saying that lunch was scheduled for half past twelve which gave them enough time for a quick workout and time to shower and get ready for their lunch. She shared the text message with Brie as they joked about the lavish lifestyle Nikki was getting to live.

"Did you speak to Bryan this morning?" Tessa asked Brie who responded with a nod. "How is he?"

"He's doing fantastic," Brie said with a forced smile. "The surgery was a total success and that's all we could really hope for."

"How are you?" Tessa questioned, noting that Brie wasn't as happy as she was pretending to be.

"I wish I didn't have to leave him. I don't feel like a good wife, you know? Leaving him so soon after surgery... It doesn't feel like I've done the right thing."

"You have," Tessa said, patting the back of Brie's hand. "You just got married and you're buying a house so unfortunately money is really important to you both right now."

"I suppose I just have to be happy that he's always had a real wrestler's mind when it comes to that."

Tessa laughed – she knew all too well about Bryan's frugal nature. More than a few road trips had involved arguments about where to eat or where to stay because he was adamant on saving as much money as he possibly could whereas Tessa wanted to eat something that tasted good and sleep somewhere comfortable.

"Tell him that he can splurge on a haircut, though," Tessa said seriously, "because the whole hippy look is weirding me out. I spent so much time with Bryan 'Buzzcut' Danielson that the long haired thing... I don't think it works."

Brie laughed, "I'm going to make sure he keeps it then."

Tessa and Rami had returned from the gym with less than an hour until they were to meet Nikki, Brie and John in the hotel lobby. Tessa was more than a little concerned that she didn't have enough time to get ready.

"Just have a five minute shower and you'll be fine," Rami suggested and Tessa stared at him incredulously. "I know you've never had a shower that lasted less than half an hour but it is possible."

It was a slight exaggeration, on average Tessa's showers lasted fifteen to twenty minutes, but that didn't change the fact that she seriously did not believe that five minutes was giving her enough time to wash her hair and the sweat from the rest of her body.

She huffed as she walked into the bathroom and shut the door because Rami was laughing at how she was acting. Most days Tessa was a pleasure to be around – she didn't act precious or as if she was better than anybody else – but he had spent enough time with her to know that she definitely had days where she acted like a proper Diva.

Ten minutes later Tessa walked out of the bathroom wearing a bathrobe and Rami walked in. His shower lasted less than five minutes and when he walked into the room with a towel around his waist, Tessa had barely been able to pull her underwear on underneath her robe.

"See, five minutes," Rami said with a cheeky smile. Tessa said nothing, just walked back into the bathroom and started to dry her hair. He appeared in the doorframe and she turned off the hairdryer, "Come on, T. You've got plenty of time. Lighten up a little. It's just lunch."

"This isn't 'just lunch', though," Tessa sighed. "This is lunch with the face of the company at some swanky restaurant that I can only afford to eat at when he pays for it. This is lunch with Nikki Bella who is going to wear a really nice Hervé Léger dress and Brie Bella who shops at Op Shops but you'd never be able to tell because she always looks so fantastic. This is lunch-"

"With your friends," Rami cut her off. "I know that you've done this before so you need to relax."

Tessa sighed at him, knowing that he was right. This was how she felt whenever she went out for these sorts of lunches but usually she and Bryan were able to feel out of place together.

Despite her panicking, Tessa was able to be ready with a few minutes to spare. Her hair was done, her make-up was done and she was dressed – except that she couldn't do up the zip on the back of her dress.

"My zip's stuck... Do you think you could...?" Tessa trailed off as she turned around, holding her hair over her shoulder. "Just don't rip at it-"

"I know, T," Rami laughed, pushing off the bed, "I've done this before."

"Thank you for coming to lunch," Tessa sighed when Rami's fingers brushed her back as he tried to free the zip.

"My pleasure," he replied, taking care not to ruin the dress. "This is a pretty dress."

"It was really expensive," she explained in a sad voice. "I've been splurging and it's gotten really bad – when am I ever going to wear it again?"

"It was worth however much you paid for it, I promise."

Tessa smiled at him gratefully before picking up her handbag and asking him if he was ready to go. He nodded, taking his pageboy cap off the table as he walked towards her. She laughed to herself, unable to believe that he was still wearing one after such a long time.

Downstairs they were greeted by the twins, John and the announcement that they would be walking to the restaurant – the fresh air would do them good, Brie said while Nikki rolled her eyes. Tessa wasn't going to complain. After being in airplanes and coaches for the past few days, the idea of walking sounded heavenly.

They walked out of the hotel and onto the street, letting John guide them to the restaurant. It was such a natural position for Tessa that she lifted her left hand and held onto Rami's upper arm as they walked.

"This city's really pretty," Tessa commented dreamily, her head darting around so that she could take in everything. "After being around nothing but skyscrapers for so long... This is really nice."

"Do you think you could live here?" Nikki asked over her shoulder. "It's a bit old school for me, I think."

"Yeah, of course it is," Brie chided, "Miss Fresno. I could definitely live here."

"I think I could live just about anywhere," Tessa said happily, unconsciously leaning into Rami as she sighed.

The restaurant was exactly as Tessa had expected and it didn't quite fit the area. The lavish front stood out like a sore thumb amongst the old buildings of Birmingham and the inside was no different. The difference was a little jarring but something about the juxtaposition felt right to Tessa.

She squeezed Rami's arm to get his attention and raised both her eyebrows when he looked at her. The nod she received proved that she had been correct in telling him that the only reason she could afford to eat there was because John Cena was going to pay for it.

"Booking for Cena?"

"Right this way," the maitre d' said with a hugely fake smile as she led them towards a table at the back of the restaurant.

Tessa, though still feeling out of place, smiled as she sat down. If she were to be completely honest, it was all something she could get used to. If she was forced into the life of a socialite she wouldn't exactly be complaining. Nikki seemed to be enjoying it, anyway.

"I'm going to have to borrow that dress, too," Brie commented, pointing at Tessa's dress. Tessa looked down at the beading over her chest before looking back up with a nod – sharing clothes was very much part of the usual routine for the Divas. "So, Rami, now that I have you here I hope you know that I have a million and one questions about Bryan."

"They don't stop," Tessa laughed. It was the truth. Though Brie had already known many of the stories Tessa told her about Bryan, both were expecting Rami to have many more incriminating tales. He did not disappoint.

In the few years that Tessa had been apart from them – some even from when she was still in the States – Bryan had been pivotal in some pranks and general shenanigans that had everyone in stiches as they waited for their food.

Somehow – Tessa was still trying to wrap her head around it long after they left the restaurant – the conversation had been turned towards their sex lives and for the most part Tessa was just sitting their politely trying not to raise her eyebrow to high at some of things being said, until Nikki brought her right into it.

"Tessa, you were so right about the mask thing."

She felt the colour rush down her face as she realised what Nikki was referring to. The colour returned almost instantly, turning her what could only be the deepest possible shade of crimson.

"Nikki!" Tessa shrieked, unable to believe that she had brought that up. "None of this is a conversation to be had over lunch, let alone something you bring up when-" he's right there.

Rami's hand shot to his mouth as he tried to cover a laugh but everyone else at the table at noticed – John joined him.

"What?" Nikki asked innocently. "Like he doesn't know about it. He was there. He was the one wearing the luchador mask."

The men continued to laugh – Brie joining them as Tessa's cheeks managed to get even redder – while Nikki smiled innocently and repeatedly shrugged off Tessa's discomfort.

"Oh my God," Tessa sighed, hiding her face behind her hands. "I'm sorry."

If he hadn't noticed the way she tilted her head slightly in his direction, Rami wouldn't have known the apology was directed at him. He took a few deep breaths to calm his laughter; the smile never left his face. "Why, T? I promise you that this story has been told more than a few times before."

Tessa whined, "Like that's supposed to make me feel better."

"It's really not that bad that you have to stop talking to me, T."

"Who did you tell? What if Jimmy heard?"

Rami cleared his throat, "He definitely knows about it."

Tessa sighed dejectedly and her shoulders slumped. "You told my brother about our sex life? Rami!"

"No," Rami said quickly, knowing Tessa's expression all too well. "Please don't cry about this, habibti, okay? It's nothing. It was so long ago that they've all forgotten by now."

"What? You think that Colt Cabana has forgotten about it? You think that Hero forgot about it? Do you really think that that's not something Chuck Taylor is keeping at the forefront of his memory ready to bring it up whenever he feels like it? I know all of those guys a lot better than anyone seems to think I do."

She hadn't stopped pacing the floor of their hotel room since they returned from lunch and it was slowly driving Rami insane. He finally stood up and moved into her path, holding her upper arms as he looked directly into her eyes.

"They won't say anything because – just like Nikki – they all decided to try it themselves."

"It's really embarrassing," Tessa muttered, looking away from his face and into his chest. "I have a hard enough time dealing with people thinking about me in anyway, let alone – God – everybody knowing exact details."

"If it makes you feel any better I was sure to tell them that you were – and for the record, still are – the best sex I ever had."

Tessa stopped breathing at that moment and didn't again until her chest started to hurt. She didn't need them to be talking about their past sex-life and she definitely did not need to hear him say that.

"I mean, sure, it wasn't exactly like that at first, but practice makes perfect."

She pushed her hand against his chest and playfully pushed him away as she turned her head. It was the response he had been hoping to elicit – a return to playful, smiling, Tessa.

"You're unbelievable," she said quietly, a slight laugh evident in her voice.

"I am that good, aren't I?"

Tessa swatted at his hands as he grabbed at her hips and started to pull her backwards. It didn't seem to be a thought out process in his mind, more a natural reaction, but he was soon pulling her back directly into his chest and nuzzling his face into her neck as he wrapped his arms around her waist.

She didn't even think about moving away.

a/n: I'm chewing through my mobile data to bring you this update. I was going to wait until Saturday when I get to go home for 24 hours (I'm house sitting in the middle of nowhere with no internet connection) but in light of recent Rollins-related developments... I wanted to say that I'm feeling a little bit psychic and even more uncomfortable than usual about this story's content.

That being said, thanks as always for the reviews and I really, really hope that you enjoyed this chapter!