The bedroom was coated in darkness. Moonlight cast shadows of tree limbs on the wall. MiraBeth glanced out the window and saw clouds floating across the sky. What woke me up? She fluffed her pillow and rolled over. She closed her eyes and prepared to drift off to sleep. MiraBeth's eyes popped open at a distant creaking sound. Her body froze in place as she listened. Was that inside the house? Like a board creaking underneath a foot? Waiting a moment, she heard it again. Moving stealthily, MiraBeth retrieved her just-cleaned service weapon. She checked to make sure it was loaded with a round in the chamber and put her back against the wall. Listening at the door, she could make out the quiet rumble of someone mumbling and another person answering. Who the hell is in my house? MiraBeth tiptoed out of her bedroom and down the hall, keeping her back against the wall and her firearm in front of her in position to fire at the trespassers inside her house.
"Seth, you have got to stay quiet." Roman whispered as he set his bags by the dining room table. "You stay in the living room and I will let Mira know you are here before morning."
Seth set his bags down near a large chair just inside the living room entryway. He whispered, "How am I supposed to fit on a sofa? Really, Rome?"
"Quit complaining and be happy you are here, Photo Boy." Roman whispered.
Seth's quiet chuckle died out. "Did you hear something?" he whispered.
"Like what?" Roman whispered.
"Are you sure MiraBeth is sleeping?" Seth asked.
"Of course she is. It's 3:15 in the morning."
MiraBeth froze feet from the end of the hall. "Are you sure MiraBeth is sleeping?" one of the voices asked. The other whispery deep voice sounded familiar but over her pounding heart she couldn't place it. "Of course she is. It's 3:15 in the morning." MiraBeth took a deep breath and removed the safety from her weapon.
"Freeze! Hands up! Identify yourself!" MiraBeth shouted, holding the gun steady on Seth.
Roman swallowed hard and raised both of his hands. This was NOT how he envisioned seeing his girlfriend again. Seth was frozen in place, leaning over his bag. "Mira! Mira! It's me. It's Roman. Please don't shoot, baby." Roman identified himself while shaking both hands over his head.
"Roman? Who is…" Disbelief crept into MiraBeth's voice.
"It's me. It's me, baby. Roman and Seth. Seth had to come with me. It's a long story. I promise, I will explain it all just, please, put the gun down." Roman remained in place as he identified the man who had yet to move or speak.
"Seth Rollins?"
"Yes. Seth Rollins." Roman said.
MiraBeth lowered her weapon and reactivated the safety. "Oh, thank god." Seth straightened up before dropping to the floor. Roman stepped over him and wrapped MiraBeth in a huge embrace. "Don't mind me." muttered the shaking heap behind them.
"You scared me." Roman admitted into her hair.
"You?! You?! I heard noises out here in the middle of the night. Who the hell breaks into a cop's house?" MiraBeth nearly shrieked. Roman carefully encircled the wrist of the hand holding the gun and held it away from her body. "I nearly shot you both! I hear you two talking about whether I was up or not and thought…"
"Oh, crap." The couple turned and looked at the man now lying prone on the floor.
"Stop your whining. I can take care of myself." MiraBeth muttered. "And I didn't shoot you. You're fine." Pulling away from Roman she turned and headed back to her room to put her weapon away.
Roman looked down at Seth and realized his friend had an "issue" that required a change of pants and mopping the floor. "Dude!"
"Dude nothing! Your girlfriend pulled a gun on us! She had me at gunpoint and you haven't even told her yet." Seth ended on an intense whisper, rolling to his knees and then nearly running down the hall where he hoped to find the bathroom and the shower.
Roman headed for the kitchen to grab paper towels and the trash can. He returned to find MiraBeth holding a bottle of cleaner. "Told me what?" Roman looked at her with a raised eyebrow. "Told me what Roman? Start talking. Now."
Thank you all for the feedback that you have been giving for this story. Whether you like the chapter or there is something you wish were different, I appreciate each and every review that you send. If you take the time to read this story then I am doing something right. If you take the time to let me know your feelings, then some chord must have been struck and I would like to continue to write in that manner you enjoy. Feedback is the other half of the dialogue between the author and the reader!