Chapter 9

Amber sat in the corner of the Diva's locker room and glanced at the door for what felt like the hundredth time. Lexi was due back today and Amber couldn't wait to see her and the baby. She hadn't talked to Lexi since before the storyline happened and could really use some support from her best friend.

She could have called Lexi, but she hadn't wanted to burden Lexi with her problems. Especially with Lexi working so hard to make her come back. Still, these past few weeks had been difficult without her best friend to lean on. It was especially hard this last week with the wound of her and Seth's breakup still so fresh. She'd come back after her meeting with Alan and Dean to find Seth packed and gone and a note on her suitcase.

When she Dean and Zoe reached their next destination she'd asked about her own room. She hadn't wanted to assume Seth would want to see share a hotel room. Only the hotel was booked full. Just when she thought she'd have no place to sleep Kaitlyn had been kind enough to share her hotel room.

Poor Kaitlyn had ended up playing the part of surrogate best friend. She'd ended up listening to Amber cry on more than one occasion over the last seven days. Still, her feelings meant nothing in the grand scheme. No matter how much she wanted to go crawling back to Seth and beg his forgiveness - and every time she saw him she wanted to - she'd have to remind herself that love simply didn't fit into the plan right now. He was better off without her.

Yes, he was hurting right now. So was she, but it had hurt her more to see what she'd been doing to him when they were together. At least this way he would eventually move on and at some point his pain would end. Staying with him would have kept ripping that scab open every time she had to play her part. More than anything, it saddened her that she'd caused him so much pain. Wounding him was never her intention.

Despite her pain, it really was better this way. She was free to work the storyline and pursue her career without worrying about Seth trying to do something that could jeopardize her future. In turn, he was free to find someone else to love. She swallowed hard at that thought, turned to fumble inside her bag while she fought back a fresh batch of tears.

"Oh my God," Nattie's squeal had Amber jerking her attention toward the front of the locker room.

"Oh how cute is she," Brie's voice carried over the sudden ooh's and aah's that filled the room.

Lexi stood within the sea of Diva's and Amber noted that she'd changed her hair back to her mahogany corkscrews instead of the black straight hair she'd worn as part of The Shield. It was just another confirmation that the good ole days were indeed behind them.

She held Alea in her arms, the baby wide eyed as she looked from one woman to the next. Amber had seen Lexi and Alea just a little over a month ago and it amazed her how much the baby had grown in such a short amount of time. Her dark hair, the same color as Roman's, was starting to grow in nicely. Her wide expressive eyes also leaned more toward Roman, but her lips were definitely all Lexi.

It seemed like it was only yesterday that she was watching Lexi fight to bring that beautiful little girl into the world. Watching Alea take her first breath had been one of the most exhilarating moments Amber ever experienced. She'd even had the opportunity to hold the infant when she was just minutes old and Amber had dreamed about the day when she would be holding her and Seth's child.

Funny, she mused, how much life could change in such a short period of time. For several minutes Amber sat back, watching as Lexi talked and joked with Nattie, then Brie and Nikki, then it was Naomi's turn with the baby. Lexi looked so happy and seemed to be basking in the glow of her return. Amber glanced down and considered the situation. The last thing she wanted was to ruin Lexi's return with her own problems. Maybe it would be better if she waited to talk to Lexi until later. Knowing she wouldn't be able to keep her issues to herself if Lexi asked, Amber stood and slowly began to inch her way toward the door.

She could sneak out right now and catch up to Lexi later. Maybe she'd even wait a few days until Lexi was completely settled back in. Then maybe she'd have time to talk. Amber stopped at the door, glanced back and smiled as Lexi passed Alea to Nattie then received a welcome back hug from Kaitlyn. No way would she ruin Lexi's day. She let the door close behind her as she stepped out into the hallway. Her problems could definitely wait.

Seth sat on the tour bus floor, with his back against the couch while Alea sat propped up between his legs playing. "I hadn't meant to push the issue," he sighed. "Well, maybe I had. I just don't know anymore. The only thing I really know is when I forced her hand she chose her career." He stroked a gentle hand over Alea's head and marveled at how much the baby had grown in such a short amount of time. "She told me she was sorry and walked out."

Lexi, pulled a bag of cheddar cheese from the refrigerator, ripped it open and began layering it across the casserole dish. "And you haven't talked to her since?"

Seth shook his head as he handed Alea one of her squishy blocks. She took the toy and promptly brought it to her mouth. "There wasn't anything left to say. She's made her decision and it's not me."

"I don't believe that," Lexi replied as she wiped her hands, then popped the casserole into the oven. She tossed the empty cheese bag in the trash, then walked around the small kitchen island over to where Seth sat.

Seth studied her for a moment as she crouched in front of him to hand Alea a block that tumbled out of her reach. The woman looked amazing for having given birth just four and a half months earlier. Roman said she'd given herself a six month deadline for returning to the ring. Coming back now meant she'd beaten that deadline by a solid six weeks.

Lexi eased back into one of the empty chairs. "There's no doubt in my mind that Amber still loves you."

"That's what I told him," Roman said, emerging from their bedroom, his hair still damp from the shower. "But he won't listen to me."

Seth watched with some amazement as Alea turned her head in the direction of Roman's voice, dropped her block and lifted her arms at him. Roman's face slid into a soft smile filled with love as he reached down and scooped up his daughter. Seth felt a small pang of envy as he watched his best friend with his baby girl.

He knew how hard Roman and Lexi had fought to bring baby Alea into the world and he'd never begrudge his friend even a little for what he had. Still, it didn't mean he wasn't just a little jealous. He wanted Roman's life. He wanted the wife, the baby and the career. Only he wanted it with Amber. Of course now that dream would remain just that...a dream.

Roman planted a raspberry on Alea's belly, making her giggle, then he crossed to sit in the other empty chair. For a moment Seth simply stared at his best friend. The many faces of Roman Reigns he mused as he remembered how Roman had speared not one, but both of their last opponents, leaving them flattened in the ring.

"You know," Lexi began, pulling Seth's attention back to her. "I briefly saw Amber earlier today in the Diva's locker room. I wanted to talk to her, but of course the girls were all over Alea and by the time I could break away, she'd slipped out."

"She left without saying even saying hello?" Roman arched a brow.

Lexi nodded. "I'd thought it was odd too, at the time, but dismissed it when Kaitlyn showed up wanting to hold Alea." She glanced between Seth and Roman. "Maybe I can catch up with her tomorrow at the gym."

"And say what?" Seth asked as he pushed up to sit on the couch. "I appreciate you wanting to help, but she's made up her mind."

Lexi pushed up from the chair, crossed over and sat down next to Seth. She placed a hand on his knee as she looked at him. "I know you're worried, but don't lose faith. We'll figure out a way to get her through this and get her back."

Seth patted her hand as he glanced over at Roman and noted how Alea was now sleeping on his shoulder. God he wanted that. "What can you do?" he asked Lexi.

She shrugged. "I'm not sure yet, but the first thing I'm going to do is talk to her. You know sometimes a situation requires a more objective third party in order for a missed opportunity to be uncovered."