"Your company is my sweet escape,
my hideaway safe from this world"
◁Georgy▷

●●●

"Guess where we're going Winnie!" I smiled as I drove with him in the passenger seat. He was adorable with his doggie seatbelt that just melted my heart.

It always freaked me out, the love I had for Winston and how it felt like he truly was our baby. He was my best friend when Joe wasn't there and was probably the only one who knew me as much as my Joe did. He was my therapist when dad was away even though all I would get was a whine or doggy kisses in return.

I parallel parked the car as we finally reached the airport to pick up Joe. I had flown home immediately after Smackdown even though Jon had wanted me to fly out to Vegas with him. I knew he wasn't much of a talker about things besides their life so he wouldn't tell Brie about my emotional breakdown. And I also didn't want to go there all emotional when she was pregnant.

Was I nervous to see Joe? Yes, especially when he didn't even know we were picking him up. Colby sort of got the hint that there was tension between us and let me know when they would be landing since all the Raw superstars would be in Pensacola for the live event.

"There's daddy!" I screamed out as I saw him exit and move towards Colby, to the Uber I assumed, but he pointed over to our Range Rover which caused Joe to focus on it and frown.

He soon opened the door after setting his luggage in the back and his smile brightened as Winston moved towards him.

"Hey Bella!" Colby waved from behind him and I smiled, waving in return. "I'll see you guys back at the house"

"The key is underneath the dog ornament!" I called out and he chuckled but moved on to his Uber as Joe got inside. He made sure Winston was on his lap before he leaned towards me and kissed my lips.

"Didn't think I would be getting kisses from you" I mumbled into his lips as I tugged on his chin.

He kissed me again before sitting back, "My unconditional love for you doesn't take a backseat cause I'm upset"

"Really? Cause I'm pretty sure this time last year that unconditional love led to us ignoring each other" I shrugged as I pulled off and he pinched my thigh through the hole in my jeans.

"Why didn't you give Colby a lift?" He questioned as he focused on Winston and me on the road. He didn't seem as tense as I expected him to be but I knew him well enough to know I had to dig to get him to speak.

"Because I don't really want company while we're talking" I mumbled and he simply nodded and continued playing with Winston in his lap, who was all too happy to have his dad back.

"Didn't you have an appearance in New York today?" He questioned again and I simply nodded but he didn't ask any further.

I tried to watch him in the corner of my eye as we drove closer to the destination and knew he realized where we were heading.

"Pensacola beach?" He smirked and I smiled as I found parking easily thanks to it being a week day.

"I know you haven't been here in awhile" I sighed and leaned back and tucked his tiny strands of hair back that would never stay in place.

"I ain't dressed for the beach though" He glanced over his attire as he wore a jeans and black t-shirt.

"Neither am I. We could go skinny dipping though" I winked and he chuckled loudly.

"In broad daylight?"

"So its not an immediate no then?" I smirked but smiled as he took my hand in his and kissed it before opening his door and getting out.

I sighed quietly as I mentally prepared myself to be the vulnerable woman I always was with him. I don't know, it was weird, the more intimate we were the harder I found to confess things to him.

Of course my gentleman husband opened my door while I had just been stalling. I moved out and he immediately wrapped his arm around me and placed a kiss on my forehead and I groaned into his chest before moving back as he closed my door.

I held his hand as we made our way onto the beach. "So where do I begin?"

"Why does it sound like you have a whole lot to tell me? Should I be worried?" He laughed a bit.

"Well if you still want to have your way with me when we get home I think we're good."

"With Colby being a cock block I doubt that will be possible" He rolled his eyes but then smirked which caused me to giggle and jump up to place a brief kiss on his sweet lips that I loved.

"Urgh" I moaned. "I forgot the blanket"

"I will go and get it. Run wild, Winnie!" He screamed out as he set Winston down before jogging up. I admired his behind in the jeans before I chased after Winston. The nice thing about it being a week day also meant that there wouldn't be anyone disturbing us.

"You found a spot" I heard him and he set the blanket down while I stared out at the ocean.

I took my seat beside him which caused Winston to join us and I focused on him before staring into Joe's eyes. "I guess I should be happy he didn't straight up grab you and kiss you or anything."

"I didn't know that he was going to come out in my defense" I sighed as he didn't waste any time in getting to what needed to be discussed.

"I know, I know you and I saw your face. I don't know what to do here, Nicole, its your job and I understand you agreed to it cause Vince can be pushy. I have had my fair share of just going along with whatever they chose to shove at me. But how is this okay?"

I pouted as he stared at me, not knowing what to say to him. I always liked being with someone who was in the business because it meant they understood me more. But times like these I wished I wasn't because then I could just shrug my ex off and completely move on.

"I don't want it to be but what I can do? I was telling Jon on Tuesday that sometimes I just wish I hadn't returned because even though I would be home more. At least I would just be dealing with the heartache of only seeing you once a week." I shrugged as I hated that I had broken down in front of Jon but it all just felt like it was too much. Why did I have to constantly defend the security of my relationship every time I saw my ex?

"I don't wish that for a second because I see that glow in your eye when you walk down that ramp. I see all those women wearing Fearless Nikki because you inspire them and I know you're back where you belong. Its why I was grateful that what we had was a pregnancy scare cause I don't want that to disappear from your life again. The last time I took that decision away from you and I never want you to feel like your life isn't in your hands again" He shook his head and placed his hand on mine.

"Its just been so hard. At first it was difficult because I felt a sense of not belonging without Brie by my side and just not having you there. But once we were on the same page with Vince not being in your head I was so happy again. And then just when I got settled John came in and I constantly feel like I have to be on guard and I hate feeling like that. I don't want to tell you this because I know you'd feel guilty because we are separated. I just hate that I have to deal with him there without you" I shrugged and glanced away feeling the tears fall and his hand like a reflex held my cheek and pushed them away.

"Its not because I feel any real emotion because of him because he is irrelevant. I just feel so weak and powerless because he has Vince in the palm of his hand and its like he enjoys the fact that he can subtly suggest shit. And I think the scariest thing is that I'm not Fearless without you by my side. I think it a lot and I know it, out in the ring I'm okay wrestling my ass off but when they take those jabs at my personal life it fucking hurts so much"

His jaw clenched even though he focused ahead at Winston running up and down towards the waves and running towards us as soon as it came too near, "I know it does, you don't have to say it because I see how your face changes and the hurt in your eyes. And I know you try to protect me from it because you don't want to add to the guilt but in the end I feel it anyway. I don't want to not be with you and its okay if you breakdown and tell me how much you miss me. I don't want you feeling like you're cornered into being on guard cause of him."

"When he came out I went off on him because I knew you would see it and it just annoys me. Sometimes I just wanna fucking scream I'm married to Roman Reigns so I don't fucking need you. I used to be so happy that people adored me with him but now its just draining having to deal with the judgement. Is it too much to ask that they just care about who truly makes me happy?" I whispered and rest my head on his shoulder.

I felt a gentle kiss on my forehead as he squeezed my hand in his, "People get these ideas and they just run with it. Its why I'm not so social media focused and I hate that you have to keep up with the brand and have to see the negativity so much"

"I don't know what I'm going to do cause even if I agreed to do it. I can't pretend to be happy with him, team with him, be with him when the man I love is on another brand. Its just sick..." I shook my head not wanting to think about all the crazy ideas Vince had for us.

"We'll figure it out, we always do." He moved my head back and kissed me deeply. I immediately returned it and moved onto his lap and felt his hands grab my behind.

I always wondered after sharing with Joe why I avoided it when he would always make me feel comforted and better than anyone else could.

I nudged my nose over his, "I wish I didn't cry every fucking time I pour my soul out to you"

"Then how am I supposed to know you mean it?" He teased but held me closer as Winston laid down beside us having had enough of his game with the sea. "You're so beautiful."

"You're so fuckable" I blurted out and playfully narrowed my eyes.

"All a man wants to hear" he smirked. "It hurts to miss you too. But one day it won't and this is just our journey to get to a place where it doesn't. It seems like it isn't but its still fresh. We went years being side by side and its going to take time to get used to the routine. We just need to focus on the excitement and not the longing."

"Easy for you to say, your ex is an angel" I mumbled.

"Clearly I chose wisely" he chuckled.

"The shade" I giggled. "I love you so much. I guess at this point we should just hope Vince has a heart I mean he loves you so I will just get into his head without John."

"If you don't have this odd storyline then what is there?"

I wished I could say there was something. But Nattie and I were done and she had beaten me, "Nothing I guess but I would rather have that than this. Like you said, we'll figure it out"

◈◈◈

"Did you tell her?" I heard Joe as I walked back into the locker room, allowing the boys to change while I went to visit some of my girls.

"Tell me what?" I questioned as I took a seat on Joe's lap while he sat beside Colby.

"I have no idea" he chuckled and I narrowed my eyes at him as if he hadn't wanted me to know he shouldn't have hinted towards it.

"Spill, Lopez!" I shoved his shoulder.

"Charlotte and I are official. I am officially no longer a brooding single man" He shrugged.

"Aw I'm so happy for you!" I leaned over and pulled him into a brief hug. "She's so sweet and I know you guys are such a good fit"

"Thank you. I honestly thought you'd come in here knowing already" he smiled.

"Oh I didn't see her. But good on you, and you're lucky cause you are both on Raw too"

I was genuinely happy for him and for Charlotte who had been pining after him last year. I understood Renee's reasoning to move on but I didn't want Colby to be stuck in the past. He deserved his own love story even if he had envisioned it with someone else before.

In our business it was easy to rule out love, especially after a break up because our lives were so hectic. But besides the fans and lighting up other people's lives we needed to be reminded of our worth when those fans turned against you or weren't there anymore.

"Convenient it is. She's amazing and her dad approves so I'm really happy. I haven't felt this excited about someone since Renee and it feels good." He rambled.

"Well I'm proof that you can move on and have a successful relationship even after failing at previous ones in this company" I shrugged and briefly glanced at Joe.

"Yeah you two are definitely goals in life."  

◈◈◈

I smiled as we were watching the live event from the gorilla. I loved live events because everything was less chaotic and there was no McMahon family and well you got some freedom with things.

"Great match!" I high fived Colby as he came backstage and Charlotte handed him a towel. "Cute couple alert!"

Charlotte laughed, "Only while your husband isn't here."

I rolled my eyes as I waited for Joe to step through the curtain but saw him being handed a mic. Colby grabbed some water while Charlotte sat down beside me again as he thanked the crowd, only he didn't end there.

"So I don't know if ya'll tuned into Smackdown this past week but I sure did. And what I realized is that John Cena thinks he can run out on Smackdown and play hero for my girl? Nah man, he thinks cause I'm on Raw I ain't going to see it. But I saw it and Dear John my woman doesn't need an ex running down a few years too late if you ask me.."

"Is this planned?" I heard Charlotte and slowly shook my head as I certainly didn't know anything about it.

"I think the poster triggered it" Colby breath behind us.

"What poster?"

"When I was out there someone had a 'Cena's taking Nikki Back' poster. Some idiot looking for attention from Joe and its clearly working" Colby shrugged and I groaned.

"I think since he got back into a regular beat and won the champion and all that. He seems to think he can just get back to where it all was years ago. But that's where Cena has got it all wrong, and just because I'm on Raw it doesn't change any of the facts. The facts are that Nikki doesn't want anything to do with you, so you can stop with your little lost puppy routine. And another fact is that the woman you're pining after is a married woman and my wife is backstage. Nikki, come on out here!"

"Fuck" And of course I was wearing his merch tee as I made my way down the ramp.

The crowd roared as they clearly were not expecting me with me being on Smackdown but I wasn't going to leave Joe calling me out. I put on a smile as I walked down the ramp while he rolled out of the ring.

As soon as he reached me he pulled me into a hug which I returned before staring up at him. He held a smirk, the same smirk he held years before when he had first fought against John backstage because of me. I leaned up and briefly kissed him, "I love you."

I knew both of us would probably be in trouble once Vince realized what had happened. But staring into his brown eyes while the crowd cheered after he had announced me as his wife was what I would focus on for now...