Chapter 5

When they all made it back to the locker room, Seth eased her down onto the bench. "Honey, what did you mean when you said you know what you need to do now."

She glanced from Seth to Dean and Roman, then back. "I mean I know that I can't fight The Authority and it's time I step up and play along."

Seth arched a brow at her statement. Considering the circumstances, it actually seemed logical. So why had she looked so heartbroken when he found her? She lifted a hand to his cheek, pulling him from his thoughts. "You're not going to like some of the things they're asking me to do." The pain he'd seen earlier returned to her eyes and his heart cracked a little.

He'd do damn near anything to make that pain go away. "It's okay. I'm a big boy. I can handle it."

"I hope so," she replied before leaning in to kiss him. "Because I don't want to lose you."

"You're not going to lose me," he promised. If anything he was afraid of losing her, of watching her spiral out of control and not be able to stop it. "No matter what takes place in this storyline I know I have your heart and you need to know that you have mine."

When she pulled back there were tears in her eyes. "I do know that, but sometimes I worry."

He stroked the hair out of her face. "I know you do, baby, but please don't worry to the point of making yourself sick. It's just a challenge for us to overcome and when we do, we'll be stronger for it, okay?"

She nodded. "Okay, but no matter what happens, I want you to know that I love you," she whispered. "I'll always love you."

"I love you too, baby." He pulled her against him. "You'll see, everything is going to be all right."

It was late in the afternoon on Monday as Seth paced the tiny locker room he and Roman now shared alone. Under managements new orders for the storyline Amber had been relegated back to the Diva's locker room while Dean had his own space.

Dressed in their new black and grey gear with the logo R&R on the tee shirt, Roman sat with his elbows resting on his knees, watching. "Dude, would you relax?"

"How in the hell can I relax when I haven't seen Amber since early this morning?" He lifted his hands in the air. "Knowing what she was facing tonight she didn't sleep at all. She only picked at her breakfast." He shook his head. "She's exhausted and distraught and I'm scared shitless."

"You need to have some faith in her," Roman countered. "She might surprise you."

Seth started to reply when a soft knock on the door had him looking up instead. Zoe peered around the door. "I'm sorry to interrupt."

Seth shook his head. "No it's fine. What's up, Zoe?"

She stepped into the room and angled a thumb back toward the door. "Amber just showed up in Dean's locker room in preparation for tonight's show and well..." She nodded toward the door. I think you guys need to see for yourself."

"Why?" Seth asked even as he headed for the door. "Is it bad?"

Zoe shook her head. "Not necessarily bad, but definitely different."

What in the hell did that mean?

With Roman on his heels, Seth followed Zoe to Dean's locker room. She pushed open the door, ushered them inside and Seth stopped dead in his tracks. "Amber?" What in the hell happened to his girl?

She was still dressed in Shield black, but instead of her normal camo attire she now wore a skimpy black sequined dress that if was any shorter would reveal her assets to the world. At least he hoped it was a dress since there were only straps crossing her back to hold the fabric in place. She turned toward him, her long legs wobbly in the thigh high black heeled boots. Her eyes widened. "Seth? What are you doing in here? If management finds you here."

"I don't give a shit about management right now." He reached out to touch her hair. "What did you do?" Her beautiful blond locks were gone, replaced with a nearly bleach blonde white color that was streaked with red and black and tipped in solid black along the ends. She wore striking makeup, her lips were blood red while her eyes were covered bold shades of blue and black. Where in the hell did his Amber go?

Her smile faltered just a little as she glanced at Dean then back to Seth. "Management said they had enough blond Divas so I talked Kaitlyn into taking me to a local hairdresser." She paused, her frown deepening. "You don't like it?"

He'll no he didn't like it. He wanted her blond hair back. The hair that made her his Amber and not some Goth looking freak. "It's not that I don't like it," he lied. "It's just a shock."

Slowly her smile returned. "Management likes it. They think it could be the basis for a whole new persona for me. That's the reason for the dress and boots. We're trying out my look tonight." She glanced at Dean again and smiled. "Dean said he liked it."

Seth shot Dean a death look only to receive a shrug as a response. Resolved to the situation for now he conceded. "No, baby. It's great," he finally said, the words sour on his tongue.

Her eyes lit with joy. "You really think so?"

"I do." He pulled her to him. He didn't. He really didn't, but it was something he'd just have to get used to.