A/N: Guyssssss…have you seen the Fatherhood PSA ad with Roman and his daughter? Cuteness overload! Wait till that girl grows up, he's gonna be Superman-punching boys left and right, lol.

Big thank you to the awesome Bharm, ChelleLew, justkimmy, too much drama 1225, Ortongirl1993, wwefanatic365, broguekicking, clarembees, nikki1335, Shield316, CFierce116, IRENELOVE83, DeeMarie426, AyannaCosta, benova13, princessreigns, Tammy and Olivia Reigns for reviewing!

Enjoy!

"Let's go Knights! Let's go Knights!" Mia chanted, bouncing up and down in the back seat of Joe's Range Rover as it drove to T.K.'s basketball game. She and Sasha were decked in Mason Hill's colors of red and grey. There was a big red 'T' painted on Mia's right cheek and a grey 'K' on her left cheek. Even Joe had on a red t-shirt in a show of solidarity. This was an important game for T.K. and Sasha was nervous, as she always was before every game day.

"Don't worry, Mama. T.K.'s gonna kill it," Mia assured her mother.

Joe laughed at Sasha's anxious features as he turned the steering wheel. "You remind me of my dad when I was playing football in high school. On game day he'd tell me to be calm and focused but there he was sweatin' bullets as he's talking to me. It was hilarious. He was more nervous than I was."

"I know how he feels right now, that's for sure," said Sasha, "There's going to be scouts there. They better notice Ty, he's worked so hard. Oh, I hope he doesn't get hurt."

The corner of his mouth curved with amusement. "Chill out, Sash. T.K.'s going to be fine. Right, Mia?" he asked, meeting her eyes through the rearview mirror.

"Right!" she cheered, ever confident of her big brother's abilities. Deep down, Joe had his fingers crossed. He was taking Sasha out to dinner tonight and would rather have her in a good mood, considering after tonight he wasn't seeing her for another week.

The opposing school's gym was packed in a sea of yellow and blue, drowning out Mason Hill's grey and red. Sasha and Mia cheered and clapped as the Knights came out, with Joe joining in as T.K. brought up the rear, the teen's game face on. The game was neck and neck the entire way through. Sasha found herself anxiously clutching Joe's arm for most of it. It all came down to the final seconds, with the scoreboard showing the Knights down by just a point. Sasha's heart leapt in her throat when T.K. was fouled hard and fell down onto the hardwood floor, awarding him two free throws. If he got those throws, the Knights were going to the semifinals. A parent sitting beside her had pointed out the scouts. Those fools better be paying attention, she thought.

There was a tense silence as he made the first free throw, just like she'd seen him do so many times before. The second free throw was even more nerve wracking. He shot the ball and it was in the air for what seemed like a lifetime. It rattled around the blue rim and then went through the net. The grey and red in the gymnasium exploded. The Knights had won, with T.K. announced as the MVP of the game with thirty-three points and sixteen rebounds.

It was half an hour before T.K. was able to escape the post-match locker room celebrations. With his gym bag on his shoulder, he emerged from the school and found his mom and sister standing by a black Range Rover with Joe. T.K. had been surprised to see him in the stands. He definitely didn't expect him to be here, at a high school game of all places.

One of T.K.'s teammates, Steve, pulled him aside. "Dude, ain't that Roman Reigns with your mom?" he asked, two other teammates eyeing him expectantly.

"Yeah," he replied, his chest puffing out slightly at the look of awe on his friends' faces. He'd shown them the photos he'd taken with the Shield members but with Joe there in the flesh, T.K. knew he automatically became cooler in their eyes.

"Yeah, you told us you met him but we didn't know you actually knew him! Is he's your mom's boyfriend?"

His pride fizzled out. "No." He knew his mom and Joe were spending more and more time together but he had never heard her call him her boyfriend, not even to Aunt Pam. He wouldn't jump the gun and ruin it for her.

"Come on man. Introduce us," said Steve, already dragging him forwards before he could respond. Seeing T.K. coming up to them, Joe pointed him out to Sasha. Instantly she went over to him, hugging him tightly. "Baby, you were amazing! I'm so proud of you."

T.K. smiled proudly, squeezing Mia's shoulders. "Thanks Ma."

"Hi, Miss Morgan," Steve said distractedly, and Sasha rolled her eyes good-naturedly as he and his friends stumbled over themselves to get to Joe. A couple of other people were staring at the Samoan but made no move to approach him. "Groupies," she chuckled.

After his friends were gone, armed with personalized Roman Reigns selfies, T.K. turned back to Joe, gesturing towards Sasha and Mia underneath him. "You brought them here?" he asked. Joe nodded, and T.K. smiled. "Thanks, man. And thank you for coming to watch the game, that's really cool of you."

Joe looked down, slightly surprised when he saw the teenager's hand extended towards him. Hesitating for just a second, he took it, shaking it firmly. The big man figured this was as close to an approval as he was ever going to get from the teenager. "No worries. I'm glad I got to see such a great game. So how are you celebrating?"

"The Coach is taking us all out, and afterwards I'm spending the night at my teammate's place. And speaking of which," T.K. checked his watch, "I gotta get going, we all have to get on the bus right now." He smiled down at his sister as Sasha ruffled his hair. "Don't forget to call me once you're at Steve's place, you hear me?" she said.

"I will. Have fun at Courtney's sleepover, Baby Pie." T.K. said to Mia. He kissed her cheek, then his mom's, and with one last grateful glance at Joe, he rushed off to join his jubilating teammates. Sasha watched him go, her heart swelling with pride for her boy.

If looks could kill, the waiter would be long dead thanks to Joe's angry glares. He'd brought them their orders already, so why the hell he was still lurking around their private dining room? The Samoan trailed the guy's eyes like a hawk as they fell once again upon Sasha, who sat next to Joe reading text messages on her phone. The white dress she wore displayed her knees and legs enticingly. Still, either the punk had balls the size of grapefruits or he just wasn't a smart man. "Did you need something?" Joe finally spoke up, his tone deep and threatening as he rolled his shoulders menacingly.

Even when seated, the waiter could see just how intimidating the Samoan was. "No sir. Enjoy your meal," he said, scurrying out of the room.

Sasha set her phone down. "Were you growling at him just now?" She smirked at Joe as he continued to stare at the door, his teeth bared and with the meanest side-eye she'd ever seen. "And you're shoulder-flexing. You only do that when you're pissed."

"I'm not pissed. I just don't appreciate the way he been starin' at you the whole damn night," he grumbled.

"Aww, is someone jealous?" she teased.

"Of him? Not a chance."

"Sure you are," she said simply, staring at him as she bit her lip. "I like that you are."

At the sight of her lip in her mouth, Joe was instantly transported back to a couple of days ago; the two of them writhing around in her bed and that innocent-looking mouth doing salacious things to his body. Clearing his throat, he shifted in his seat.

Sasha took absent-minded bites of her dinner, lost in thought. "So Ty seemed happy to see you today," she commented.

"He did?"

She shrugged. "It looked that way. He seems to be warming up to you."

"That's always a good thing, right?" Joe quipped, earning a short laugh from the mother of two. "It is. It's just...Tyson doesn't really get close to people and I don't blame him," she said quietly. "He don't need nobody runnin' in and out of his life. He doesn't deserve that. He deserves stability."

At that statement, Joe met her eyes. "Is it his life or yours you're talking about?" he inquired. "Who are you really tryna protect? Him? Or you?"

Honestly, she had never quite looked at it that way but now that she thought about it, she knew her answer. "Both," she admitted.

It was the answer he expected. "Fair enough. I can't speak for all the other guys in your past but I meant it when I said I would never hurt or disrespect you or your children. Besides, Pam vowed to kick my ass if I did."

Sasha burst out laughing. "And she'd do it too. I seen her whoop guys twice her size before."

"Yeah, I think she's more intimidating than some guys I've faced in the ring. I can tell you and her are really close," Joe observed.

The mother of two nodded. "We are. I lived with her for fifteen years, from when I was eleven years old. I never knew my father, and after my mother passed away in a car accident I moved in with Pam, and her mom basically raised me as her second daughter. We're more than just best friends. We're sisters. Her mother was my mother. She took care of me during my pregnancy with T.K. and helped me find a job after he was born. She and Pam saved my life. I don't know where I'd be right now if it wasn't for them."

"Do you still keep in touch with her? Pam's mom I mean."

Sasha lowered her eyes. "She passed away ten years ago. Breast cancer."

He grimaced. "I'm sorry."

"So am I. She was a great woman. The best. I miss her every day. Pam looks just like her." Growing adverse to the gloomy topic, she switched over to a happier one. "What time is your flight tomorrow?"

"Nine. Colby's coming to pick me up." Joe paused, noting the look on her face. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing." She sighed heavily. The gloom hadn't left. "I just wish you didn't have to leave so often."

At the sincerity of her words, his gaze softened. "Me too. But it's what I signed up for. It's what I've wanted all my life; to make it big in the WWE. It's just what it is." He paused, a little smirk spreading over his gorgeous features. "Do you miss me when I'm gone?"

Feeling her face warm, she glanced back down at her unfinished dinner. "Yes," she confessed."You being away makes me think about you. A lot."

She probably didn't realize it, but her shyness turned him the heck on. "Don't blush, baby girl. I like that you think about me," he stated. "I think about you too. All the time." When she looked back at him, he tucked his finger underneath her chin, keeping his eyes on her. He kissed her tenderly, a low groan vibrating within his chest when she returned his kiss without hesitation. Their arms wound around each other, and the silence in the private dining room was soon punctuated with smacking lips and hands smoothing over skin and fabric, their food momentarily forgotten about.

"Stay with me tonight." Joe's voice was husky in her ear. "Mia's at her sleepover, and T.K.'s with his boys, right?"

Her lips met his again. "Right."

"Which means you'll be in an empty apartment." His hand snuck up her thigh. "Come home with me. We could have a sleepover of our own," he suggested with a wiggle of his eyebrows, causing Sasha to giggle and smack his shoulder. He kissed her again. "I want to hold you in my arms tonight. Spend the night with me."

She would do whatever he asked if he kept kissing her like this. "Okay."

They were in his bed a couple of hours later, spooning under the covers, their legs tangled together. Sasha sighed contentedly as Joe's lips wrapped dutifully around hers. His solid frame pressed up against her, his arms were wrapped securely around her, and Sasha felt safe, protected in his embrace. She couldn't begin to explain how much he had done for her in in such a short period of time. Words couldn't describe how wonderful he made her feel, physically and emotionally. Thanks to him, she felt things she never thought she would experience with another man again – sexy, wanted, appreciated. With him, she wasn't just a mother, but a woman with needs and wants and desires that craved to be satisfied. Joe did that and more, and she didn't want him to stop.

"I could make out with you all night," she whispered against his lips, "I love the way you kiss me."

"Can't help myself, baby girl. Your lips are so soft," he purred. He kissed her again, slowly rolling his tongue inside her mouth and smiling when she groaned in response. He caressed her skin, heated from their recent bout of lovemaking, and his other arm was underneath her body, his hand gently kneading the soft flesh of her breast. Her body was so warm and soft and intoxicating, and all he wanted was to remain close to her like this. He hated that he had to get up in the morning and leave her once again. It got harder and harder each time he had to. He loved going to work and performing for the WWE fans, but now he had a reason to come home. This beautiful woman in his arms was it, and he didn't want it to slip away. He wanted this to be a constant in his life and he wanted her to know that. "I don't want this thing between us to end, Sasha," he said, "I want to leave tomorrow and know that this isn't over. I don't want this to stop." His voice was soft and serious, letting her know that he meant every word he was saying.

Turning so she laid on her side, Sasha reached up to thread her fingers through his sweat-dampened hair. "And what is 'this' exactly?" She tried to keep the hope out of her voice.

Holding her tighter, he kissed her lips again. "It's us, baby. It's me and you." He'd been thinking about it for a while and had come to the conclusion that this was what he wanted. He could only hope that she wanted it as well. "I want you. I want us to be together. Me as your man, you as my girl," he whispered, nuzzling her hair with his nose and inhaling the coconut scent. "We belong together, baby girl. I truly believe that. Tell me you feel the same. Tell me you want to be with me."

The look in his grey eyes as they bored into hers was so intense and so serious and honest, that she couldn't hold back her own feelings any longer. "I do," she said confidently, as he maneuvered himself back on top of her. "I want you too, Joe. I wanna be with you." And right there and then, everything changed for her. She had put herself out there, exposing herself for him to protect her or destroy her if he wanted to. But either way, she could tell that the ride up until that moment would be incredible.

She didn't know if she had his heart yet, but she was damn sure that Joe Anoa'i was staking a big - and rather successful - claim for hers.

A/N: Fluff galore, I know. Maybe it's just me, but why do I feel like both of them are already 'there'? Do you think so too? #theLword