"Bump" Bock called out with a grin as I winced in pain. Cursing under my breath, I felt the familiar sting—something that never seemed to get easier. It had been two months since I'd last been in the ring, and I was finally back, facing none other than Brock himself. I needed a change of pace, so I packed up and joined Brock, who was on his way to discuss his upcoming SummerSlam return—a perfect chance to surprise my husband and escape the confines of home.

Mark's POV-

Mark watched his daughter in the ring, moving with a mix of strength and vulnerability. It had been a grueling year, but seeing her now, he couldn't help but feel a deep gratitude towards Brock Lesnar. Brock's support had been instrumental in her recovery. She was looking healthier, her weight and muscle mass returning, and Mark couldn't deny that Brock had played a crucial role in her progress.

As he observed her, "Do you trust her to be back in the ring?" he turned to Paul spitting tobacco into a cup and watching intently.

"No, I don't trust her completely," he admitted Paul's face fell slightly, revealing his concern. "But I trust her determination. She's going to come back stronger. She has a lot of work ahead, but she's on the right path. She needs to return when she's ready, not before." he stressed watching paul's face almost as if he was trying to gauge where she was at, what did they have planned?

Sam's POV

"Lesnar, can I steal my wife for a moment?" Jon's voice cut through my training session with Brock. I slid out of the ring and into Jon's arms, feeling an overwhelming sense of comfort and safety as I nestled against his chest.

"She's all yours," Brock said with a nod, moving past us. "Good job in there, kid."

I smiled up at Jon, feeling a mix of relief and excitement. "Hi," kissing him softly.

"Hey," he replied, his lips curving into a warm smile. "I've got a bit of time for lunch. Want to join me?"

I nodded, taking his hand as we made our way up the ramp. We found a cozy diner nearby. Jon was on a tight schedule, but I didn't mind. I nestled next to him in a booth, resting my head on his shoulder.

"So, how are you feeling being back around everyone?" Jon asked as we perused the menu.

I hesitated. "It's...going. I miss traveling with you, but being around so many people is overwhelming right now." I bit my lip, trying to find the right words. "I love being with you every day again. I just need to take things slowly. I'm considering taking some time off, and I don't want to rush back into everything."

Jon nodded, understanding. "They'll want you back soon, won't they?"

"Yes," I replied quietly, knowing it was true. As the waitress brought our drinks, I was grateful for the break in conversation. I didn't want Jon to think I was stepping away from work because of him. I just needed a pause to figure out where I was headed.

"What's going on in that pretty head of yours?" Jon asked after the waitress left.

I sighed. "I don't know if I want to come back at all, Jon."

Jon's response was calm and reassuring. "That's okay, babe. Do you have something else in mind, or are you just taking some time for yourself?"

I was surprised by his relaxed response. "I just need some time. I've been through so much, and I'm trying to concvience myself it's okay to take a step back." Jon brought my hand to his lips kissing the back of it "of course its okay, take whatever time you need." so simple, so Jon like.

Our conversation shifted to lighter topics as we finished lunch. Hand in hand, we returned to the arena, Jon heading off to work Raw while I planned to catch up with my dad.

"What a year, huh?" I joked Jon shaking his head with a snort "yea tell me about it."

"It's funny because until all of this happened, I couldn't really pinpoint it. Remember when I hurt my shoulder?" He nodded, staying silent. "And we stayed up until like four in the morning, talking? I promised myself I'd never fall in love again, but it was four a.m., we were completely sober, laughing way too hard about something totally dumb. I felt happy. I felt safe with you, for the first time in a long time, and that was the moment, Jonathan Good, I knew it. I was screwed."

Jon smirked, leaning against the wall and nodding. Covering his mouth, he smiled at me with that adorable boyish grin I loved so much. "Uh, I was telling you a story about Colby running through the halls in nothing but a shower curtain." I smiled, tucking my hair behind my ear. "I know," I whispered, looking down.

Jon sighed, taking my hand. "Sam, you know the hardest thing I've ever had to do was watch you go through this and not be able to do a damn thing to fix it for you." I stood quietly, allowing him to talk. "I felt like I lost you, like I wouldn't have you back. Feeling like I was losing you changed me. I've been quiet, quick-tempered—" I had heard the stories but wasn't sure if they were true, about locker room arguments and stiff moves in the ring. "I avoid my friends because I don't want their concern. I don't deserve it, honestly. I didn't go through what you did."

I frowned, reaching out to caress his cheek. He sighed, closing his eyes and leaning into my touch. "But you did, Jon. You went through something too, and you weren't able to process any of it because I was such a mess. But I'm getting stronger, honey. I can handle it. Just unleash on me. Let me help you. I just feel like you haven't even tried to touch me, and at first, that was appreciated, but as time has gone on and I've gone through treatment, I've tried. And you just push me away like you don't want me like that anymore."

"No, fuck no! Jesus Christ! Samantha, I want nothing more than to get back to our room and make love to you right now. I just didn't know how to approach it without triggering you." I blew out a breath. "Well, Mr. Good, just try, and I'll let you know if it's too much for me," I said, leaning up to kiss his lips.

No One's POV

Mark stood back, watching his daughter talk to her husband. It had been a tough year for them. He couldn't help but root for the two of them, though he'd never admit it out loud to his son-in-law. He liked the kid; he was a good guy and good for his daughter.

"What are you doing, Papa Bear?" Michelle's voice broke his stare. Wrapping his arm around her, he held her close to his side as she leaned her head against his chest. "Just keeping an eye on her." She kept him strong during this year of putting his daughter back together. He didn't know if he would have made it through without her by his side, on top of dealing with his own issues.

"I'm rooting for them," Michelle commented, making Mark look down at her with a puzzled expression. "Honey, she's a character that authors spend years writing books about, and he's the type of boy that people have been singing about for generations." Grinning at her husband, her romantic side taking over, she said, "And the combination of the two of them together is a romantic masterpiece. Come on, leave them be." She pulled on her husband's hand, giving her stepdaughter and her husband some much-needed privacy.

Later That Night

Jon and I were lying in bed, watching TV. My legs were draped over his lap, my head resting on his shoulder as he absentmindedly ran his fingers up and down my arm.

"I have an idea," he said, breaking our comfortable silence. Looking towards him, I remained quiet, waiting for him to continue. "I miss you, like this, in bed next to me. I'm trying to be strong so you don't have more to worry about, but I do. I miss you. Your next therapy appointment is in what, two weeks?" I nodded. "Let's do a trial run. Two weeks, and if it's too much, you go home, and we'll figure things out. If it's not too much, you go home, do your therapy, take a week to be home, and then come back out. We can just take it step by step."

Biting my lip, I felt a lot of pressure lift off of me, and I got to stay with Jon. "I like it," I laughed as he grinned and kissed me multiple times back to back. "I take it you're happy?" I laughed.

Jon cupped my face. "I miss you so fucking much. Yes, I'm happy, darlin'." Leaning up, I kissed him, suddenly desiring to be as close to him as possible. Placing my hands on his chest, he gently deepened the kiss.

It's been months since the incident, and I craved my husband more than ever. However, a fear held me back from giving in to the desire I felt for him. While the healing process was ongoing, Jon gently laid me down on my back. Gentle—that's how I would describe our intimate interactions now. I had been working through my feelings with a counselor and had begun to feel more at ease with my own body, even more than before the rape happened. Jon had been patient, offering a listening ear and respecting my boundaries. Our conversations had become more honest and tender.

Closing my eyes, I enjoyed his kisses across my collarbone. "Mmm, Jon." 'How are you feeling?' he asked softly. Opening my eyes to look at him, I took a deep breath. "I've been thinking a lot about us and how much I miss being close to you. I crave this with you, honey. I want you. I need to feel this connection with you. I'm still working through things, but I want us to be connected again."

Jon nodded, his eyes filled with love and reassurance. "We'll take it one step at a time. I'm here for you, no matter what." I nodded, knowing Jon was in it for the long run—good, bad, or ugly. I just prayed the bad and ugly times would be behind us so we could start building a beautiful, happy life full of love and peace.

Jon's touch was slow and deliberate, a reminder that he was attuned to my comfort and boundaries. Feeling Jon's lips on me in a tender kiss, one more about reassurance and connection than anything else, was a small but significant step toward rediscovering our intimacy.

"I'm not glass, Jon. I know I was a mess, but like I said, I'm strong now." Suddenly, while we stared at each other, I couldn't take it anymore. I wanted more of him. I wanted him. I realized in this moment it was him—this feeling of emptiness inside my soul, what was missing from my life—it was him.

I wanted more than stolen looks across a room at each other. I wanted more than a brush of arms that sent fire down my spine into my gut. I wanted to taste his lips against mine again, his neck, his cheeks. I wanted to taste all of him all over again as if it were the first time. I wanted to run my fingers through his uncontrollably messy hair while the feeling of love rushed through the core of my body. I wanted to pull him in and never let him go again.

"Kiss me," he whispered, and that was all it took. I leaned in and kissed him like every fiber of my being was dying and he was the antidote. Oh, did I feel it run through my veins, because suddenly, with one kiss, I was happy. I was alive again. Nothing felt like it was missing anymore. I felt like I was home, and I was never leaving home again. As his other arm wrapped around my waist, pulling me closer to him, he pulled away, placing his forehead on mine as I breathed out hard, nodding my consent. "Make love to me," I requested. "I want to take our time." Kissing me again, that's exactly what he did.

Afterward, as we lay together, tangled in each other, my head on Jon's chest, my hand placed gently on his stomach as he traced gentle circles over my lower back, I felt a sense of relief. It felt like we turned a page on this chapter. Though the journey was far from over, the renewed sense of closeness and understanding between us was a testament to our love and resilience.

"I love you," Jon whispered in my ear as I fought my heavy eyes, tiredness taking over me. "I love you," I faintly replied, feeling Jon kiss the side of my head as I drifted off to sleep.

The Next Morning

I felt his arm around my waist as my eyes slowly started to open. I peeked open my eyes to look at my phone—eleven-thirty. I hadn't slept this long since it all happened. Hell, I barely slept at all.

I felt him stir from behind me, nuzzling his face further into my neck. I closed my eyes, taking in his touch. God, how I missed his touch. I sighed, starting to sit up. "Don't, don't get up. Don't make this moment go away," he mumbled against my neck. I closed my eyes and thats how we spent the morning laying naked in each others arms, taking each other in.

A/N I know its a short update, thanks to all who is still reading this, please read and review!