Chapter 8 – Breath Of Life

Sunday January 25

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Royal Rumble

Grey eyes blinked at the ceiling. Ever since Roman had spoken with Lizette about her cancer he hadn't been sleeping much. He felt like the world's biggest jackass. Actually he felt like the scum of the fuckin Earth. He couldn't have foreseen Lizette having health issues when he decided to break things off with her until he could get back on the roster after his Hernia surgery. But then again he should've never let his brain get in the way of his thinking; in the way of his heart and soul – in the way of her because she had his heart

Roman loved Lizette more than anything in the world; he'd even admitted to his own parents he wanted to marry her and start a family with her, but he knew after breaking things off between them that chance could possibly be slim to none now.

He sat his big body up and threw his legs over the edge of the hotel bed. Jesus Christ it was only 2 AM. Granted he had to be up in a couple of hours for media; those couple of hours would play hell on him and wear him down fast.

Tonight was the Royal Rumble PPV. He was excited because Vince and Hunter had already decided to give him the push and have him win the main event that would send him to the WrestleMania main event against Brock Lesnar. He would be working closely with Paul Heyman who was Brock's mouth piece. Paul had been friends of his family since he was 14; Roman's family had raised Heyman in the wrestling business. Roman looked at him as if he were an uncle.

His mind had already gone back to Lizette. He'd promised her he was going to tell her why he did what he did the day after his surgery and he was going to make it up to her if it took him the rest of his life. He had to gain back her trust and love; even though he knew she still loved him and she shouldn't not with the way he had behaved. He was still semi surprised his family was still talking to him after what he'd done. They never questioned why he'd done it.

The only people who knew were Dean and his cousins Jimmy and Jey. They understood why and still thought he was crazy but when you have to have emergency surgery on any part of your body it's scary as hell and your insecurities float to the surface.

Amora sat in Make-up and hair as Linda was poofing out her hair and then curling the ends. She looked over and watched as Helena was doing Lizette's make-up.

"Sooo, how are you doing?" Amora asked.

"I'm tired and cold all the time and keep having nose bleeds BUT other than that I'm doing just peachy." Lizette pulled a fake smile towards Amora.

"Liar..." Amora sighed heavily. "I don't know why you insist on lying to me. Want to tell me how you're really doing now?" Her dark violet eyes took in her friend's appearance. "You've not been sleeping again. You miss Roman. How have you guys been doing since the talk?"

"Sometimes my mind just sort of won't shut off at night. Some of the nurses at the hospital say it's a side effect of the chemo but so are the nose bleeds and being cold all the time." Lizette closed her eyes as Helena moved to her eye shadow. "Roman promised he was going to make it up to me and said he will tell me why he did what he did, but I think the waiting will kill me. And yes I do miss Roman. We talked on the phone more after 'the talk' than we have for the last two years of dating."

Amora snickered. "That's just because for the two years you were dating you two were inseparable; you two had no needs for phones because you were always together. I'd be more worried about you if you didn't miss him at least a little." Amora blinked slowly before she looked up at Lizette again. "I have to admit I'm mildly curious why Mr. Reigns did break things off between the two of you. I'm warning you right now if I don't think it's a good enough excuse I'm kicking him in the dick."

"If I think it's a bullshit excuse; you'll have to stand in line." Lizette smirked.

"Well damn look at you. When did you get all violent; I thought I was the violent one out of the two of us?" Amora stated with a chuckle.

"No chance either of you are more violent than me."

Amora and Lizette turned and watched as Jillian walked into the hair and make-up station with her hands firmly planted on her hips. "I already pre-warned Dean that if his 'bro' had some chicken shit lame ass excuse for breaking our best friends heart I was going to tie his hair around his neck and choke him to death with it. And don't think I can't; it's long enough now."

Amora was mid-drink with her water and ended up spraying, laughing and coughing half a mouth full of water. Lizette couldn't help as she started laughing as she passed a small hand towel to Amora so she could clean herself up. "Spray much?" Lizette laughed out.

"No only when I have to." Amora laughed hard as she wiped her mouth. "I love the way your mind works Jilli. We should really plot Roman's demise together. I have a feeling his excuse is going to be filled with holes and bullshit."

Jillian nodded. "Absolutely…" She quirked a dark eyebrow up. "Maybe we could shave his head and then shove his hair down his throat to really give him something to choke on."

"HEY! Please try not to maim the man I'm in love with until after I get an explanation." Lizette begged as she laughed at her two friends. She needed the comedy it helped her deal with everything else.

Amora smirked. "I was thinking we could pour hot wax all over his…"

"That's it! I'm out of here. You two are evil, EVIL wenches. You are no longer allowed to sit by yourselves together anymore." Lizette shook her head with a chuckle. "Speaking of Roman. I'm going to go wish him good luck. You two behave yourselves until the PPV is over."

Amora and Jillian watched as Lizette left the room before they went back to plotting Roman's ruin.

Lizette walked down the hallway on her way towards Roman's locker room she knew he was sharing with Dean and the twins Jimmy and Jey.

"'Well well, it's the most beautiful Diva on the WWE roster." A deep voice stated.

Lizette smiled as she turned and saw her brother standing in the doorway of his own locker room. "Bray, I missed you." She automatically went into his open arms as she felt his arms encircle her and hold her to him tightly.

"Missed you too little sister." Bray smiled down softly as he kissed the top of his sister head. "How are you feeling darlin'? Momma and pop are awfully worried about you."

"I'm doing okay." She stated softly before snuggling further into her older brothers embrace. "Roman and I finally talked about the cancer."

"How did he take it?" Bray asked curiously.

"I'm sure he's kicking himself, but he's taking it about as well as can be expected. Amora and Jillian are down in hair and Make-up if you'd like to go down and help plan his maiming and death with them."

Bray pulled back as he smoothed his beard down. "Hmmm that's a thought. I knew I liked those two spit fires for a reason." He smirked. "I know you still love him so I won't plan anything yet that might hurt him, but he should watch himself; Luke and Erik didn't take too kindly to him hurting you the way he did. You know they look at you as if you were their little sister as well and even though we are not a faction anymore; you know I'm still as close as ever to them."

"I know and I'm always grateful for their big brotherness." She laughed softly.

"Darlin' I don't think big brotherness is a word exactly." Bray pointed out with a smirk and a glint in his bright crystal blues.

"Well I deem it a word now. So hence forth big brotherness is a word and should be used as such and in the most appropriate places in sentences." Lizette stated with finality to her voice before she laughed out loud.

"Yes ma'am." Bray loved seeing his little sister laugh; even when it seemed like her life was in shambles she always found a reason to laugh. He leaned down and kissed her forehead. "Go on about your business and remember to call your lonely big brotherness when you've got a few seconds to spare."

Lizette smiled and nodded as she continued down the hall.

Bray watched her go and hoped she found all the happiness and love she deserved in the big Samoan so he didn't have to kill him.

Lizette came to a stop in front of Roman's locker room and could hear the guys talking and laughing behind the closed door. She chewed her bottom lip and wondered if she should even bother him at this point. She should just leave him alone until he was good and ready to talk to her about everything, but something in side of her told her to at least wish him good luck. Even thought she knew she didn't have to.

Against the fans, Vince and Hunter had already decided Roman was going to get his push and win the Rumble. The fans for some reason couldn't get behind Roman and it was disheartening for her to hear them boo him on a nightly basis. She couldn't understand what had happened for the 3 months he'd been out.

The fans had been on the Roman Reigns high before his Hernia surgery and now suddenly only his TRUE fans still cheered him. The fans in the WWE were fickle and she could understand that. Clearly 3 months was too long for him to have been gone and still be allowed to receive his push. They were going to have to get over it because he was getting it whether they approved or not.

Amora walked back to her dressing room and felt like she was being watched. Her dark violet eyes looked around the empty hallway in search of whoever was giving her the heebie jeebies. The hair on the back of her neck was standing up and she had goose bumps breaking out all over her body. It was times like these she wished Baron was on the main roster; he'd be here soon enough she always told herself.

Amora continued to her dressing room to get ready for her match, but didn't see the wild eyes watching her.

The dirty smirk that crossed his face practically gave away what he wanted to do to her. But first…first he had to get Baron Corbin out of the way and then he could make his move on Amora; the deadman's daughter would be his and there was nothing anyone could or would do about it.

"WHAT?!" Jimmy exclaimed. "What do you MEAN she has cancer?" He asked as he looked at his twin Jey and then over to Dean, before his eyes landed back on his cousin.

Roman nodded. "I found out a couple of weeks ago. My sisters, brother and parents have been keeping it from me. Apparently she found out after I broke up with her."

Dean chuckled. "That would explain why Jillian is threatening to choke you out with your own hair if she finds your reason for breaking up with Lizette lame. I'm just warning ya now bro. She isn't kidding. I walked by hair and Make-up earlier and heard her and Amora plotting your slow and painful death. I wouldn't find myself alone with those two for a while. At least not until you get back on Lizzy's good side."

Roman nodded as they bumped fists. "I heard that. I'm sure they both want a piece of me."

"Yea and I can almost bet which pieces they want to cut off and beat you with." Jey snickered.

Roman's eyes widened before he shook his head with a chuckled as Jimmy slapped his twin in the back of the head. "Don't say it out loud fool if the girls are around; we don't need to be giving them any ideas." Jimmy chastised his twin.

A knock on the door brought the four gentlemen to silence as Jey stood and opened the door. "Hey yo cuz it's for you."

Three pairs of eyes watched as Lizette walked into the room.

She was taken aback as Dean, Jimmy and Jey all excused themselves and left pulling the door closed behind them. "Something I said?" She inquired.

Roman shook his head as he stood up. "No Lizzy, come sit down; come relax." He sat down again and patted the empty couch cushion next to him. "What can I do for you sweetheart?" He asked softly; hoping she didn't get upset for the term of endearment.

Lizette smiled as she walked over and plopped down next to him on the couch in the locker room before she rearranged herself and sat on her feet. "Well two things actually. I wanted to come say good luck for tonight." She could tell he was about to say something when she shook her head. "I know you slated to win and everything tonight, but I wanted to say good luck anyways."

"Well thank you, even though it's not necessary." Roman had his body slightly turned towards Lizette to open himself up to her. His right arm was stretched out along the back of the couch as he leg his thumb brush across her t-shirt covered shoulder. She had on a Bad News Barrett t-shirt with dark washed skinny jeans and sneakers which would probably turn into heelless knee high suede boots. Roman watched as she leaned her cheek against his hand. She was always a touchy person. She loved being touched as a form of affection and she loved touching back.

"You look beautiful tonight Lizzy." Roman stated honestly as her jade orbs locked with his. He watched as her right hand came up and slid under his hand. "Jesus your hand is like ice woman."

Lizette couldn't help laughing. "Sorry it's a side effect of the chemo. I'm always cold. You're Georgia Tech sweat shirt has been keeping me company."

"Keep it as long as you like. I know how much you like wearing it." Roman stated softly. "What was the second thing you needed?" He asked curiously.

"I just wanted to make sure you are doing okay. Ya know since we had the big C talk." She stated regarding the cancer conversation. "We've been talking on the phone a lot, but it was mostly about your surgery and physical therapy and our weird families."

"You're the one who is sick and you wanna make sure I'm doing okay?" Roman could feel his heart clench in his chest. She was sick going through chemotherapy and she was concerned about him. Roman hadn't cried since he was a child but right now he wanted to. He wanted to cry for the way he'd treated Lizette and he wanted to cry for being left out of the loop about Lizette's cancer, but most importantly he wanted to cry for Lizette; she was the most beautiful human being in the world and she did not deserve any of this happening to her.

Roman took a few calming breaths. "I'm doing fine sweetheart." It was almost the truth.

Wade would be facing Nick Nemeth who wrestled under the ring name Dolph Ziggler for the Intercontinental Championship along with the veteran Rob Van Dam who really should've retired from the sport a while back, but no one was saying anything because he was in still 'good' shape. He would've been in better shape had he laid off the pot.

Wade and Lizette walked out last since Wade was the current champion. When he got to the step by the ring he kissed the back of Lizette's hand and laid the championship over her shoulder and got in the ring.

It was really just a lot of back and forth on all three of the wrestler's parts. The title wasn't switching hands during this PPV and probably wouldn't until WrestleMania weekend. Lizette walked over and sat next to Jerry Lawler as they started talking quietly so his microphone wouldn't pick up their conversation.

Before anyone could stop it; the fight in the ring spilled out onto the floor. Lizette's jade eyes looked up and widened as she watched Rob back flip off the top turnbuckle and crash hard into Wade and Nick who in-turn crashed into her and knocked her over in the metal fold up chair.

Lizette felt a surge of pain zip through the back of her head before the black spots began to fill her vision as the darkness slipped in.