They'd tuckered themselves out throughout the night, knowing that the next town was close and there was no need to rush. There were much worse reasons to be up that late, anyway. When they eventually collapsed onto the bed, exhausted, he smiled at her and closed his eyes. She slipped out of the bed, collecting his shirt from the floor.

"You want pj's?" she asked over her shoulder as she found a pair of shorts from her bag.

"You kidding?" he responded, "I'm still burning." He leaned his head back, pulling the sheet up low on his waist, "you're a furnace."

"Well I'm freezing," she laughed from the bathroom as she washed her hands.

"You're always freezing," he murmured sleepily.

She crawled back in with him and nuzzled against his neck.

"I love you," she said. It was the first time she'd said it first and she could hear him smiling as he responded.

"I love you too."

She woke hours later to a knock at the door, and grumbled.

"It's your room," Seth reminded her, "you get it."

"Fiiiine," she rolled out and sleepily opened up the door. "Oh, hey…"

"Sash where you been? I've been calling you!" Xavier stood in the hallway, Jey Uso and Roman on his sides with his equipment.

"Oh, sorry I overslept, today's the-"

"Yeah you said we could use your room to film the finals of the tourney, c'mon we're wasting daylight," the three of them pushed into her room excitedly before she could protest.

She cringed as they stopped in their tracks seeing Seth in her bed.

"Oh shit!" Seth jumped and scrambled with the sheet, pulling it up higher with his eyes wide.

Xaiver looked from him back to Sasha, "of course."

"Guys let's just keep this civil…" Sasha tried.

"I think Seth can go back to his own room."

Seth sighed, "I don't have one."

Xavier laughed and rolled his eyes and Seth quickly tried to clean things up.

"Okay, okay, you guys drop the equipment here. Go downstairs, get some coffee, and we'll make ourselves…decent."

Sasha looked at him sympathetically, and then back to Xavier. He sighed and nodded, putting the Xbox down.

"Your usual?" he asked Sasha.

"Yeah…thanks."

"No problem," he shot one last dirty look at Seth before the three of them left the room.

Sasha riffled through her bag for clothes and Seth watched her before chuckling.

"I don't think I'm getting a coffee."

"I'm sorry, I thought things were getting better."

"It's not on you," he came up behind her, his hands around her waist and kissed her neck.

"Don't get too excited,"

"Me? Never."

She slipped into her exercise clothes to sneak in an hour at the gym before they left for Manhattan.

"Help me with the bed," she said, grabbing one corner of the sheets that Seth had thrown off of himself.

He took the other side and folded it neatly back into place when a knock came at the door. Seth sent her a glance but didn't ask her to get it, opening up to Xavier, Jey, and Roman carrying in their coffee. Roman handed him a hot black coffee and shrugged as Xavier hardly looked at him. She couldn't really blame him for how he was treating Seth, she'd done just about the same to the last girl he'd been with, a cute PH.D candidate who had no clue what his life really entailed. Cold shoulders were par for the course. Xavier handed her latte to her before he set up.

"We can pull that chair over," he told the guys, nodding to the desk as he plugged in the Xbox.

"I'll can sit on the bed," Roman offered, plopping down next to Sasha.

"Good," said Jey, "cause I am not sitting on those two's love nest."

"Yeah I'm with you," Xavier called over his shoulder as he set up the camera and positioned the TV.

"Well then I guess you can stand," Seth shrugged and sipped his coffee. Xavier didn't respond.

Roman tried to break the awkward silence, laughing, "I've seen worse with them."

"Oh my god," Sasha got up and helped Xavier with his camera.

"Oh c'mon baby girl, are we not laughing about that yet?" He was laughing and looked over at Seth who burst out laughing.

"Wait, what?" asked Jey.

"Alright," Roman said, "Sorry Sasha, this is happening. So when those two were sneaking around…"

She rolled her eyes and tried not to pay attention to them. In a low voice, she leaned into Xavier's ear and asked, "would it kill you to be a little more friendly?"

"I promised you civil, not friendly,"

"Woods…"

"Ask your boyfriend. I will when he will."

XXX

They filmed the episode of Up Up Down Down, Seth and Xavier pretending to be chill for the camera. Roman came out victorious and Seth shook his hand, telling the camera that he was passing the crown.

"Obviously, I couldn't compete this year because it's just unfair to everyone else."

"Obviously," Roman rolled his eyes.

"Alright that is it guys," Said Xavier, "we have a NEW Madden Champion of the Wooooorld. Roman Reigns! Follow your boy…" He finished the closer and turned off the camera. "Thanks for letting us use your room, Sash,"

"Anytime Woodsy," she responded, helping him pack up.

"We'll see you guys tonight," Jey nodded as they walked out.

"I'll catch up with you guys," said Roman, letting the door close behind the two of them. He took the chair and sat on it backwards, leaning in and looking at the two of them. "So why didn't either of you tell me this was back on?"

Seth laughed and finished his coffee, "we figured it would get around."

"Well it seems to be working. You two are shit at keeping secrets."

"It's not a secret, Roman," Sasha said, "we just don't wanna make a big deal about it."

"It is a big deal. Sasha, you realize how long he's been pining over you?"

"Alright, alright," Seth interjected, "do we really need to talk about how pathetic I am?"

"Not pathetic," she kissed his cheek, "cute."

"You've wanted this for months. I'm happy for you," Roman said earnestly. "For both of you."

XXX

At Madison Square Garden, Sasha paced back and forth in the women's locker room. She wasn't sure why she was so nervous, but there she was. The door opened and Bayley walked in, smiling.

"Hey dude," she said, putting her bag down on the bench. She looked up at Sasha's face. "What's with you?"

"I'm back with Rollins," she blurted out.

"Oh!" said Bayley, surprised. "Okay."

"Yeah I um…I thought you'd wanna hear it from me."

"Why do you look like you just told me you're dating my ex?" Bayley laughed, "You know that feud over him was fake, right?"

Sasha giggled but took a deep sigh and said, "I know he's made a lot of mistakes and that he's not exactly prince charming but… I wanna give him another chance. I know you guys don't love him…"

"I don't have to, you do."

She blushed and nodded.

"I'm not mad…did you think I'd be mad?"

"Maybe a little."

"Sash, c'mon. I am on call 24/7 if he need an ass kicking, and other than that, I'm here for you."

"I love you," she laughed, giving Bayley a side hug.

"Have you told Charlotte?"

"She figured it out."

"Typical."

"Roman found out and was a little salty we didn't tell him."

"Ha, so what, is he-"

"Oh don't," she laughed and rolled her eyes, standing up to pick out her gear.

"Your boooooyfriend."

"I hate you."

"Is that a yes?"

"Yeah, he's my boyfriend. Happy?"

"As long as you are."

"New subject please? Excited for Mania?" They had worked Bayley in a parallel feud with Charlotte over the last month before Sasha's clean loss meant she could get back into the title conversation.

"My first one," Bayley grinned, "and I'm competing for the Raw Women's Championship, what are our lives right now?"

"Crazy. Utterly batshit crazy."

A while later, Seth was watching the opener on a monitor by himself. Things were still tense from the incident this morning, so he steered clear of the New Day boys.

"Hey bestie," a voice behind him came, he turned to see Bayley walking up and smiled.

"Hey bestie! How's it going," he asked, going along with the joke even though they'd retired it long ago.

"Pretty good, I love MSG."

"Yeah me too, I wish I could be out there in the crowd."

"I feel ya…so um I hear-"

"You heard Sasha took me back."

"Yeah,"

"I had a feeling that's what this was about," he crossed his arms and chuckled. "Is this my official warning?"

"Don't be silly, Seth. Look I love Sasha like she's my blood and flesh sister, all I want is for her to be happy," she smiled, "I see her around you, it doesn't take a lot of deduction to figure out how she feels about you."

"And I feel the same, really, I do."

"That's all that matters to me,"

"Good," he nodded.

"Oh but Seth?"

"Yeah…" he said nervously.

"If you break her heart again, I will break you in half," she was still smiling, "and don't think I can't because trust me, I'm capable of it."

"Anyone ever tell you that you're like…really scary?"

"Aw sweet talk won't get you out of this. We clear?"

"Yeah we're clear."

"Bye bestie," she said with a smirk, walking away.

XXX

"I'm home," he called into the hotel room the next night after drinks with Kevin and Sami.

"Home? She giggled, brushing her teeth in the bathroom while the shower ran.

"I'm hotel?" he laughed, leaning against the doorway and watching her, standing there in just a towel. "You can't take a shower right now."

"Why?"

"Cause I called dibs."

"No you didn't-"

"Dibs."

She rolled her eyes, "I know what you're doing."

"It's alright, if you're tired or,"

"I'm not," she leaned against the counter and flipped her hair to one side. "Just thought you would give me the common courtesy of a little foreplay."

"Foreplay?" he asked, his voice thick, and unbuckled his belt slowly. Her eyes met it and she bit her lip. "Maybe I should tease you a little bit?"

He pulled his shirt up over his head, watching as her eyes hungrily washed over him. Moving closer, he pinned her against the counter, guiding her hands to the zipper of his jeans. She was pulling at it feverishly and he let her at first. But once she started tugging down, he stopped her.

"Nah nah, if you want these down, I want something in return," he slipped his fingers under her towel, pulling it down every so little. He raised an eyebrow, "Do we have an understanding?"

She stuck her chest out and pulled him in by the hair to a deep, long kiss. Tugging down both his jeans and his boxers, she nipped at him lightly and he groaned, pushing against her.

"Get in there," she commanded.

He smiled against her lips and pulled the towel down, letting it pool on the floor. His hands wandered over her body, pulling her into the shower. She giggled, running her hands through his hair.

"We haven't done this in a while," she whispered as he hoisted her up against the shower wall, pushing in carefully.

"That's a mighty shame." He smirked and let her wrap her legs around his waist. "You good?"

"Oh I'm fantastic," she moaned.

XXX

He lay on the bed as she finished her shower, her actual shower. She'd kicked him out after they'd finished so she could actually wash her hair. Running his hands through his hair, he grinned and let out a deep sigh.

"What time do you need to be up?" she asked, coming back out of the bedroom in the towel again.

"Ughhh Philly's about 2 hours? 7:30 probably."

"You've got promotional stuff to do?"

"So much. We should be on the road by like 9:30 and I need a run."

"Can I come?" She pulled his shirt over her head.

"Oh my run?" he looked over at her, surprised.

"It's okay if you like the alone time, you know, to think."

"I mean…yeah I do but… I can still think with you running next to me."

"You always kick my ass when I train with you. I could use it."

"Someone might see us…"

"I don't care about that."

"Alright. 8:00, Central Park?"

"You're on."

He rolled over and smiled as she turned off the light. When she crawled into the bed, he pulled her into his arms and thought that he might never be as happy as he was in that moment.

In the morning, he watched as she braided her hair in the mirror. Her Tapout athletic clothes tight to her body.

"I'll be done in a sec,"

"Take your time," he said, his eyes grazing over her sports bra.

"Hey, do you care about someone seeing us?"

"Nah, of course not. But having the world in your business isn't easy… why, you bailing?"

"Actually," she tied off the braid and smiled. "I thought maybe we'd give them something to talk about."

"Oh yeah?" he raised an eyebrow.

She walked over to her duffle and pulled a tshirt over her head. He couldn't help but grin as she turned around in his "Seth Freaking Rollins" shirt.

"You're one devious chick Sash,"

"Are we going? We're behind schedule."

"Yeah yeah,"

He followed her out of the hotel and across the street. Central Park wasn't far from them, when they got to the beginning of the trail, he popped in his earbuds and let the world melt away from him. They jogged along the path, her running to his right, and every so often she looked over and smiled. He liked that, getting to spend time with her, no-pressure. It wasn't like relationships were easy. But this stuff, watching Netflix with her in bed and running side by side, that felt so natural.

A few people recognized them, he was used to that during runs. Fans usually weren't fast enough to keep up with him, but sometimes he'd catch someone taking a picture with their phones. It was just part of being in a big city. Honestly, he was just glad TMZ hadn't caught up to him yet. There was one "reporter," if that's what they were called, who must've been a fan as a kid because he was constantly chasing wrestlers down when they were in New York or LA.

Nodding to him after making a loop, Sasha pulled her earbuds out. He did the same and smiled at her.

"You good?"

"Yeah, don't wanna exhaust myself, I have a match tonight."

"Works for me," he led the way back to hotel. "Who are you facing tonight?"

"Summer I think." She sighed, she was definitely disappointed she wouldn't be fighting for the title at Mania. "But Nia's gonna interrupt after the match and beat me up so that's good."

"It's good to get beaten up?" he laughed.

"Oh shut up," she laughed, "it'll get me into Mania, it's good."

"I know it's harder for you guys."

She shrugged, "there just aren't that many spots, you know?"

"But you've got one." They stopped at Seth's rental car, he retrieved her handbag from the trunk and handed it to her, "I'll drive."

"You spoil me," she smirked, climbing into the passenger seat.

"Don't you forget it."

He could see her watching him out of the corner of his eye as they crossed the George Washington Bridge back to New Jersey. Eventually, he sighed.

"What?" he asked.

"Hmm? Nothing."

"You look like you wanna say something."

"Me? Nope…no…"

"C'mon, out with it."

"What are you not telling me?" she asked with a sly smile. Damn she was good.

"Sasha baby, I tell you everything."

"Uh huh."

He glanced over at her knowing smirk. "Everything I'm allowed to tell you."

"There it is."

"I would if I could, really. I'd love to talk to you about it."

"Oh c'mon! I won't tell anyone."

"You better not," he sighed. "Especially Hunter or anyone else who would kick my ass over it."

"Just tell me!"

"Finn's returning, it's gonna be a triple threat."

"What?" she jumped up straight in her seat. "I thought his injury was worse than they thought."

"It was, 180-degree tear, he should've been out close to a year," he glanced over and smiled, "but he's back."

"Wow. Oh my god, do you think Becky knows?"

"You better not tell her."

"I didn't say I was gonna tell her, I just wonder if she knows."

"She will after tonight. They're starting to tease it."

"Really?"

"Just barely. But yeah." He smiled, "you excited?"

"Yeah I'm excited!"

"Well I better not catch you looking too much."

"What's too much?" she teased.

"I'm not answering that."

Sasha laughed at looked out the window on the highway. After a moment she looked back at his smirking face.

"What now?"

"How'd you figure that out?"

"I know you. I know your tells."

"Yeah you do."

"Keeps you in line," she teased, winking.

He sighed, "purposing to you is gonna be a nightmare, isn't it?"

She paused for a moment, surprised at his forwardness. Clearing her throat she said, "Damn right."