"A real man has nothing to hide.
He will tell you the truth about
whatever you want to know"

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RAW AFTER TLC 2014

I stared down at Fandango's body after spearing him before he could even utter a word and then stared ahead with a smile.

Why? Because I was back.

I spotted the mic he had lying further out in the ring and walked over to it while the supportive chants filled my ears at my official return. I was about to speak when I was cut off by Big Show's music blaring out.

"Show, I'm telling you right now. You come down to this ring and imma hit you in the mouth."

Of course he didn't listen and made his way down the ramp talking trash but as soon as he stepped up I delivered a Superman Punch which sent him down.

I was expecting more but he backed down. I guess after I took him out last night he had wanted to take revenge but definitely not on my first night back...

He ignored me and walked up while I didn't bother looking for a mic and instead celebrated my return like I planned to, stepping onto the ropes and raising my hands high up. I stared over the thousands in front of me and felt the familiar home feeling, I had been gone for a bit not as long as most but no one could describe the feeling of getting an amazing welcome back.

I had been a bit concerned about how they would react to me coming back but clearly my absence had definitely made them grow fonder.

I heard the "Roman Reigns" chants continue as I opened the curtain with a smile which brightened even more than I knew it could at the sight of my number one fan, after Joelle, waiting for me clapping.

I wanted to hug her but she immediately hooked me in and rested her head on my shoulder so that we walked the hallway, feeling like old times. I had opened the show which meant that luckily my brotha was probably still sleeping at the hotel before rushing his ass over. So Nicole and I had sometime alone.

"So was Jojo excited that daddy returned on her birthday?"

I nodded with a smile seeing Nicole first thing as I walked backstage after spending most of the commercial interacting with the fans not being able to make it falter at all. Being away so long definitely allowed me to miss the loudness of the support they offered. Most of the time at least.

I had been able to spend half of Jojo's birthday with her, with me only showing up at the arena for the main event last night. While I didn't really want to do it on her birthday, when you get the call you just get your ass up. My angel was used to it by now, I had simply been thankful for the time at home to sort out my life and allow Jojo to get used to Mommy and Daddy being apart as I settled into my new house.

Nicole had already gone back to the hotel with Brie last night so I wasn't surprised to find her waiting for me backstage after I knocked Fandango out back in the ring and scared Show away. I hadn't told anyone about my return so it was safe to say I would be expecting an earful from my brotha who had been like my wife calling me everyday because he missed me.

I simply saw it as him having an excuse to cosy up to Brie more, so in a way my injury helped him out, hopefully.

"Brie was so mad at me because I spilt wine all over the covers in our hotel room when I saw you make your way out of nowhere." She smiled, her brown eyes briefly meeting mine before she stared ahead and shook her head at the visual I guess. I could only imagine the annoyance Brie showed towards her.

I had raced out when The Authority came to Seth's aid and helped John secure a victory over him. I figured Nicole would enjoy that part especially, I knew she liked when we worked together as it reassured her that I approved of John. While we had been in a bit of a feud close to my injury time with him being champion at the time, that was over now. I wasn't sure what Vince had planned for me yet but I trusted him so I would simply wait for him to call me up for a meeting with creative.

Nicole had been through a lot in her relationship with Nick and unfortunately with me not being up on the main roster at the time I couldn't be there for her like I had been since I did. It didn't stop her from flying down to my house with Galina trying to give her advice when we both knew she didn't deserve him toying with her though.

So needless to say I naturally felt uneasy about John due to me having become protective over her. But I never showed it so I wasn't sure what she was concerned about as I would tolerate him for her as long as he made her happy for the most part.

"I'm sorry I didn't tell you guys but I really wanted you to be surprised. I was expecting a hug as soon as I got backstage though.." I nudged her a bit to mess with her but I guess she didn't realize it.

"I didn't know. I'm sorry Joe!"

I felt her arms wrap around me and my fingertips held her arm as I chuckled while she tried hugging me completely, my broad upper body preventing it.

"Quit playing baby girl and let me give you a proper hug" I kissed her forehead before she giggled and let go and she was soon in my arms again with them forcing her as close to me as possible having missed her too fucking much.

While we hadn't failed in keeping touch, nothing compared to holding her in my arms and with her being champion she hadn't had much time to fly out to see me either. Which I was happy for because she would have most likely showed up at the house that was now Galina's and not find me there. So I would savour it for as long as I could even with a few officials shaking their heads at us with a smile.

"I don't know how you don't stink" She blurted out and I rolled my eyes.

"This has been our routine for quite sometime, I'm pretty sure we're immune to each other's funk." I smirked knowing she would be offended.

"Joseph Leati Anoa'i! Did you just say I stink?" She hit my chest with my arms still wrapped around her.

"Did you just try and lecture me by saying my names in the wrong order Stephanie Nicole Garcia-Colace?"

She rolled her eyes and smiled up at me.

"You're firstly Joe to me so that's... Whatever" she shook her head becoming frustrated.

"Which way?" I chuckled as I lift her off her feet and she glanced back.

"Right and down the hallway, you'll see my name" she smiled as she focused on me again and then wrapped her arms around me, burying her face in my neck.

"I missed this" she whispered against my skin as I walked down the hallway.

I missed you too.

I pushed open the door and she kissed my cheek before I set her down and we moved into the locker room. I smiled as I saw the title hanging in the corner.

"Your own locker room huh?" I smirked and glanced around the rest of the room.

"I am champion. I managed to sneak us some donuts from the makeup crew before I went to the gorilla. When I came up to them with a big innocent smile it didn't fool them, especially with your music blasting through the arena" She rolled her eyes as she bent down and revealed a small box.

"The cafeteria trying to keep us in shape again?" I smiled, tempted to hug her again but deciding against it and she nodded. I was about to reach for one when I saw the door opening in the corner of my eye.

"Nico.."

I glanced behind me and saw John enter the room.

His eyes falling on me and then her, I was about to shake his hand when he shook his head.

"Should have known this would be your first stop" He sighed.

I chuckled as that should have been obvious since Dean wasn't in the building, "have to see my best friend"

I heard silence beside me and saw Nicole closing the donut box and by that I knew something was up.

"Yeah well maybe you should believe that's all she'll ever be.." He shrugged eyeing me up and down.

"John, not now." I finally heard Nicole even though her voice was soft.

"Not now what?" I frowned between them sensing that something had happened concerning me.

"Don't think I don't know you tried to fucking steal my shine last night." He chuckled and I glanced at Nicole but she simply turned away and packed her stuff in her gym bag so I turned to him.

"What'd you just say?"

"I'm the main event and I'm about to get Rollins. But no you have to come and get your revenge over some shit that happened last year, its old news." He scoffed setting his cap on a shelf.

"John!" I heard Nicole behind me but I moved towards him instead because he clearly had something on his mind. Even though last night he didn't seem to mind.

While I had kept most of my interactions with John professional, which hadn't been difficult due to him hardly being available. It was clear he didn't like that while he was away Nicole was with me. I wasn't sure what the problem was when I had never crossed any boundaries. And having been with Galina for nearly ten years before we ended things I knew how I wouldn't want some other guy to be.

"About to get Rollins? You were getting your ass kicked, which I saved, and made room for you to win by getting rid of his slaves. So don't come up in here while I'm celebrating my come back with Nicole with this petty shit. You're the face of the company so you should know I didn't go out there willingly, I'm here to do a job so I do it."

He chuckled and shook his head again but I ignored him, I might have been on a high since the ring but he was pissing me off.

" Yes I have beef with Colby but my perfect return sure as hell wouldn't including saving your ungrateful ass. I'm sorry if you feel intimidated to share the same ring with me?" I cocked my eyebrow, I had kept all my thoughts to myself ever since I came up when she started dating him.

I had seen Nicole hurting many times due to her family trying to steer her away from him. And even though at times I agreed with them I didn't want her to not feel like she could confide in me.
But now he was accusing me of shit when all I had ever been was a friend to Nicole..

"Intimidated? By what? Like you said I am the face and I have no intention of getting into childish shit with you. But I just need you to stop trying to take everything from me. You see you might have stolen the night by returning but Nicole is mine. Whether I'm gone most of the time, she goes home with me."

"John, what are you talking about? Can you please stop?" Nicole pleaded while I was sure he had raised his stupid thoughts to Nicole many times.

I had known her before he even saw her relevant to his fucking life.

Even though I felt anger I knew her voice and she seemed annoyed by what he was saying and the last thing I needed was conflict on my first night back.

"If he didn't have a woman at home I'm sure he would be stealing you from me."

Was he fucking serious?

"Don't fucking bring Galina into this. I never want to hear her mentioned out of your mouth cause you have no fucking leg to stand on. I don't have to steal anything from you."

I shook my head actually surprised at this guy acting so high and mighty in front of everyone but confronting me.

I should have been mad at that but I was mad not only because he implied I would cheat on Galina with them still believing we were together. But questioning our relationship meant he clearly didn't trust Nicole either. When she had done so much to meet his standards, just to have him in her life.

"All she sees is a little brother in you. She feels sorry for your ass because you're on the road alone, without your daughter!"

"Joe, do.."

I nodded feeling the anger slowly filling me as he fucking pushed me.

"No, she sees a man who is far better than you can ever be! A man who has all the things you aren't willing to give her. A woman with a ring on her finger and a beautiful daughter at that but no, you're too fucking selfish to give my best friend what she deserves out of life. Don't come up in here and pull this shit on me when you're fucking insecure and jealous because you know I'm more fucking man than you'll ever be. If we were in a different position I might have had Nicole because clearly I would have given her everything her heart desires. Unlike your ass I don't think of my fucking self"

"Nicole knows what she walked into. I have always been straight with her. I have nothing to be jealous of, why would I? You knocked up your girl in college to trap her into staying with you because we know you weren't all this back then. Nicole wouldn't have spared you a second glance if she had seen you back then."

I chuckled a bit feeling like I was back in high school where I had never even had bullshit like this.

"You better shut your mouth, bitch. Because you are fucking pushing me and out of respect of you being the man that she loves. I'm not fucking punching your ass for mentioning the people I love in your mouth along with the shit coming out along with it! You don't fucking know shit about me!"

"How about I make it easy for you, kid?"

"John!" I heard Nicole as soon as his fist collided with my face and I immediately launched at him. All restraints gone while I tried to be civil he clearly had been wanting a piece of me for quite sometime.

I immediately delivered several shots to his gut and felt him tip me over and try and punch me again but I kneed him in the gut again ignoring Nicole's screams because he fucking deserved it.

"You'll never get her!" He screamed out gripping my hair but I elbowed his side.

"You fucking should be lucky to have her!" I spat as I rolled onto him getting ready to deliver a punch.

"Joe, fucking stop now!" She screeched and I glanced back but it cost me as he punched me again.

"I'm fucking done with you two!"

I shoved him off and stood up.

"John, go now please!"

He glared between us and slammed the door open before heading out.

I smirked as I wiped my lip having gotten more hits on his fucking ass.

"Get that smirk off your face Joe" she shook her head as she closed the door.

I sighed as I glanced in the mirror and licked the little blood off my lips, then tied my hair. Happy I was done for the night.

"You are sacrificing your life for that man. And for what? So he can accuse me of shit and get mad at you for being with anyone else but him? Is that who you want to be with, the guy who tries to control you when he doesn't give you what you need out of life?" I spat as I had been perfectly happy until he walked in.

"Joe, I know he was a bit weird tonight. But you know he is a good man" She simply said as she took some wipes from her suitcase and pulled me to the bench.

I heard his music filling the arena and I guessed it was good I had kept my hits away from his fucking face. I could tell she was still upset and I didn't like how our moods had shifted.

"Not to you. Sure he treats you right but he is selfish." I stated not meaning to but I was annoyed and I had told him to his face so there was no point in not mentioning it then.

"I don't need this from you Joe. You know how my family has been. I really don't need this" She shook her head and pushed my head back so she could erase all blood traces.

"Then I'll leave then, because all the fucking shit he said you are apologizing for. Why? He's a grown ass man coming in here talking about Gee and Jojo with fucking hate. That's my fucking family and he's talking shit about them and my life" I shrugged wanting to get up but felt her stop me and then sat on my left leg, resting her head against mine.

"Just understand cause you don't! I don't have the perfect fairytale like you!" She whispered loudly and I sighed hearing the shakiness in her voice.

"Not everything is perfect Nicole."

"I know but you were right. You have everything I want and he doesn't like it. You have Galina who you intend on marrying, you have Jojo; this beautiful little girl who just lights up your life and has so much love to give Coco when she sees me. I just wish John wanted the things you want and I don't want you being pissed cause he doesn't either. But I just want you to see it how he does.."

She trailed her fingers back and forth over my back and took my hand which had been resting on my right leg.

"Soon you'll be married and have a ring on this finger. " She traced her finger over it and the familiar guilt filled me due to me keeping something from her when we had always been open books to one another.

She sighed and focused on me, " I don't think he is really intimidated by you. Its just who you are, many people believe John Cena is the perfect guy with his All American looks and his charm and good nature. But deep down he knows he isn't completely perfect even though he tries to be. And you don't even try to be but you are Joe, you are everything he is but in a Samoan package and well better. He's just a guy with an ego, he knows you would never want me more than what we are. We both know, but its a defense."

"For what?" Was all I managed to say as she tried calming me by defending him.

"Like you said you have everything that he isn't willing to give me and me spending all this time with you. He is afraid I'll start bringing it up more.." She mumbled glancing away knowing it had happened many times when her friends back home either became engaged or were starting a family.

"So you have to tread lightly. Nicole you aren't truly happy, you and I both know that. I don't doubt that you love him, you love with everything in you. That I know, but sometimes you have to make sacrifices so you get what you want in life. That's what he is doing, he had a wife and saw that she was maybe holding him back from reaching the heights he wants to. With you its perfect for the life he wants. He has you in the business he loves, living the lifestyle you are and if he marries you and you fall pregnant then what? You're at home, away from him. He has to deal with a kid after trying to put smiles on so many? He is only thinking of himself, Nicole. "

I had been holding in so many thoughts out of fear of hurting my best friend by her thinking I despised him. I didn't, he was a good guy. When it came to Nicole though I didn't like his ways at all.

" Well I hate being alone Joe. If I give John up who will there be for me? I'm always here. I'm thirty-one years old and I'm constantly travelling, who will I be meeting? Its so clear that all the guys I fall for within this company just end up not being the right fit. But John is almost there, I can hope for him to change his mind. If not, I told you I'll accept it. I know I'll never be alone because I have you, but I don't have you the way I have him. You have Galina, I need someone else to make me happy too. "