The Next Day. Monday after Wrestlemania.
Shane had taken the boys down to the car with Linda as they were flying back to New York this morning. Karen said her good byes to them before he took them down stairs. She was now picking up their room and cleaning up the trash she couldn't help but laugh when she noticed a couple granola bar and fruit snack wrappers hidden under Kenyon's pillow.
"Kenyon James." She giggled as she tossed the wrappers in the trash. Karen couldn't stop thinking about what Roman had told her last night and him asking her on this road trip. She couldn't not tell her husband so last night after the boys went to bed. She was open and honest with Shane about Roman asking her on the trip. Shane flat out said no she didn't need to go. Karen tried to explain that it was more for Dean than Roman. She finished cleaning up and then went into the other part of their room and was getting her clothes out for the day.
"Are the boys still upset they had to leave?" Karen asked glancing Shane's way as he came into the room.
"Yeah they wanted to stay the next few days. But I told them their mom wanted them home today. Not sure why it made a difference but she insisted. I did tell them we would do something fun with them the next time they are over." He stated.
"Of course." Karen said as Shane was now texting on his phone. "Are you still mad about what we talked about last night?"
"I am not happy at all No. What man goes after another mans wife?" Shane growled.
"I knew by telling you, you would make it a big thing." Karen said.
"I am glad you told me. It is a big thing." He said. "You're my wife and Roman Reigns needs to understand that."
"I think he was just hurt and upset about the match. I don't think he really knew what he was saying." Karen said.
"Never the less you aren't going to Alabama with him." Shane stated.
"Not even to see my friend?" Karen asked. "You know how hard it was for you dealing with that staph infection. Dean is going through that now and he just has his mom because his sister couldn't take any more time off work."
"Look I feel for Dean I really do and if you want to go see him then next week sometime we can go together. But you are not riding with Roman alone to see him. Karen I don't want you alone with Roman at all." Shane stated.
Karen sighed as she glanced at her husband. This was a side of him she had never seen before this was like heel Shane from TV not the sweet kind understanding man she had married.
"OK Shane. I love you and respect you enough to do what you asked." She said.
"Thank you sweet heart." He said pulling her into a hug. "I love you so much."
"I love you too. You have my heart McMahon." She smiled looking up at him.
"You know we have the room to our selves and we don't need to be at the arena for another several hours." Shane grinned nibbling at her neck.
"That is true wonder what we can do?" She giggled feeling Shane's hand smack her ass.
"Oh I have an idea." He grinned picking her up and carrying her over to the bed.
Monday Night Raw.
"When I got to the Super Dome, everything felt off." Roman said standing in the middle of the ring.
Shane and Karen were watching the show backstage standing behind Vince and Paul who were sitting at the production table wearing their head sets. Shane grabbed his wife's hand and held it in his.
"The way people looked at me, the whispers behind my back. But the thing that eats me up the most is the fact that Vince McMahon well all the McMahon's. None of them could look me in the eye or say anything to me to smarten me up. So I don't know what's going on but I do know this. Brock Lesnar is a hell of a businessman. Because on Wednesday word got out, he was going back to UFC. And then today, WWE announces that he's signed a new contract. And apparently I have another match with him in a steel cage that I had no clue about until I found out on the internet."
Karen looked at Shane then glanced at Paul and Vince who were focusing on the screen.
"Shane is that true?"
"Yes. It just happened so fast today we didn't have time to tell him before it went on line." Shane explained.
"So I don't know what the plan is here. I don't know what they're scheming up I don't know what the story is behind this, but I do know this. If they continue to put me in matches with Brock Lesnar, the story will end with me becoming Universal Champion." Roman stated.
Karen watched the screen trying to make sense about where this was all going when Samoa Joe came out to address Roman. Telling him that there was no conspiracy and he couldn't get the job done. After his steel cage match at The Greatest Royal Rumble well he would be waiting for him at Backlash.
"So Roman is facing Brock in a few weeks in Saudi Arabia and then Samoa Joe a few weeks later?" Karen asked.
"That's the plan darling." Vince said looking back at his daughter in law.
Karen nodded but didn't say anything. When Roman and Joe headed backstage after their segment. Roman glanced over at the production area and he saw Shane's arm around Karen. He rolled his eyes when he saw Shane kiss her cheek.
"So that is how it is?" Roman said coming up to Vince and Paul.
"Roman we can talk about this later." Vince said.
"All you had to do was tell me. But instead you avoided me all damn day and I had to find out on the damn internet." Roman said.
"Roman I think you need to calm down." Shane stated.
"I wasn't talking to you Shane!" Roman growled.
"Things just got busy and we were going to tell you. But it will be a great match for the network." Vince stated.
"Yeah fine." Roman said as he looked at Karen. "Karen can I please talk to you?" He asked her.
"She's right here Roman. Talk." Shane said.
"Again I wasn't talking to you. Karen please can we talk alone?" Roman asked.
"Yes Roman let's go talk." Karen said walking towards.
"Karen?" Shane said annoyed.
"Shane sweetie it's fine. I will be less than 10 minutes." She said as walked with Roman to his locker room. Shane wasn't happy and Paul could tell.
"What the hell is that about?"
"Roman apparently still has feelings for my wife." Shane growled out.
"Is that why the reason for the steel cage match?" Paul asked.
Shane didn't say anything as Paul glanced down at Vince. Who didn't say anything he just had a grin appear on his face.
Roman and Karen went into his locker room.
"Roman how's your head?" She asked looking at the stitches.
"Just fine. Baby girl please tell me you didn't know anything about this?" Roman said.
"About your match? I had no idea you saying it in the ring was the first I heard about it." Karen said.
Roman nodded. "Sorry it was just shady. Please tell me you are coming with me to see Ambrose." He said as he took a couple steps forward moving closer to her.
She bit her lip and looked down at the floor. "I'm sorry Roman I can't."
"Can't or wont?" He asked.
"I guess both. Roman you know I care about you but I love Shane I married him. Going with you on this road trip wouldn't be fair to him. It wouldn't be appropriate for me to do that."
He shook his head and looked at her. "You told Shane and he said no and you are just gonna do what he says?"
"I did tell him you asked yes. But I decided that it wouldn't be a good idea all on my own. I feel like if I go with you. You would get the wrong idea about what is going on with us. Roman I care about you so much and I am so grateful to you because of you I met my husband and I have this amazing life. I also have a great friend in you. That is what you are Roman a friend. I am not saying this to hurt you I am saying this so you understand that there is nothing but friendship between us." She explained looking at him.
"The first time I saw you …" Roman started to say moving a little closer to her. "You were wearing a gray sweater like dress with this black boots. You're hair was up in this cute little mess bun kind of like it is now. You came in with your students and you caught my eye. I knew I had to take chance. I was so glad I did. Our first date was one of the best ones I'd ever been on. Pizza and ice skating with the snow coming down it was perfect. When I kissed you that night I just knew you were something special. I was falling for you." He told her.
"Roman..." Karen said softly.
"Please I have to say this. I keep going back to that when we were happy. We were happy right? I mean I did make you happy?" He asked.
"You made me so happy Roman. You are the one that started to bring me out of my shell." She said.
"I knew when Tayla told me she was pregnant things would change with us. But I never thought you would leave me and run to Shane McMahon of all people." Roman said shaking his head.
Karen felt horrible in this moment. "I never meant for it to go down like that. I never expected to fall in love with Shane or him to fall in love with me. It just kind of happened after you told me."
"I keep replaying this over and over in my head. Trying to figure out where I went wrong. I told you at Dean's I get that wasn't the best place to tell you but you just walked away. You didn't even really want to hear me out."
"I needed time Roman. That was hard for me it broke my heart to hear that you had this connection with your ex and I just wasn't sure how to process that."
Roman nodded hearing her words. "I got that and I know me punching Shane wasn't a good idea but he had his arm around you. I was jealous. Hell I still am. I get suspended and when I come back you tell me you are dating Shane McMahon. A dude 15 years older not to mention he was divorced with three kids. I couldn't and still can't wrap my head around that. I understood when you told me that you didn't want to be a third wheel. But how is being with Shane different than if we would have stayed together?"
"That's a fair question and I told you before I don't really have an answer. The only one I can give is that his divorce was final a year or so before we even met and his boys are older. I didn't have to watch him and Marissa bond over a pregnancy or watch her give birth from the side line. I know it makes no sense and again I am not saying this to hurt you in any way. I opened up to him in a way I never did with you. I know that wasn't fair to you but that is what connected me and Shane." Karen said.
"I am trying to get it. I know you're married and I tried to move on but clearly Tayla isn't the woman for me. She doesn't make me feel the way you do. I tried to distance myself from you. I try not to think about you. But I can't escape you baby girl." Roman said as he touched her face with his hand. "Please just take a chance and come with me to see Dean. Shane maybe your husband but he doesn't own you." He said leaning in to kiss her but she stepped away moving her head.
"I can't Roman I am sorry. I know I hurt you and I never meant to do that believe me that is the last thing I ever wanted. At the time I thought I was doing the right thing by stepping aside and letting you be a family with Tayla and your son. I never would have imagined that Shane and I would fall in love and get married. I didn't see that coming. I will always care about you Roman. But I am sorry I can't go with you. That wouldn't be fair to you or my husband. I'm sorry Roman. Give Dean my best and I will call him in a few days." She said opening the door and walking out of the room.
"Damn it." Roman growled in that low voice as he kicked the folding chair that was in front of him.
"Finally there you are brown eyes. Everything alright?" Shane asked kissing her lips softly.
"Yeah everything will be fine." She said forcing a smile still thinking about all Roman had said to her.
"How about we get the hell out of here. Have a late dinner just you and me." Shane said
"Sounds perfect."
Shane smiled and pulled her into another kiss.
Thank you Jessica619, Wolfgirl2013, Jenna, espeon44, jjd022980, Phoebe Nicole and Lily for your lovely comments and reviews. I love reading the your comments and reviews on this story so thank you so much.
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Sorry for any mistakes you may find in this chapter. I do my best when editing but I tend to miss things.