#jey seek

[roseunspindle]

i was reincarnated as the villainess in an otome game but the boys love me anyway

[mirrorcatcreditcard]

For those of you who need a reference or wanna see others in the fandom, here's this thing I wrote for reference when starting the series; I'll update it as I continue reading.

MC - Mystia Aren - kind and sensible but very plot centered

Maid - Melo - probably an imposter or trans, closest w/ MC

Chef - Lyas - seems iffy but his obsession is only letting Mystia eat the food he makes, used to manage the country's money

Gardener - Forest - is low-key confirmed by the butler to have corpses in the flower beds, maintains a large garden all by himself and has time for a side hobby, former soldier from a neighboring country

Coachman - Sol - fucked up but he's a cutie so it's fine

Head maid - Liza -

Butler - Luke - observant and self aware, very polite and kind to Mystia

Head butler - Steve - former secretary for a count, imposter

Gatekeeper - Thomas - crossdresses, loves fashion and design, potentially trans

Gatekeeper - Brahm - good with ropes

Assistant chefs - Keeno & Keenan - twins,

Aren's private doctor - Lansdeigh -

Fiancee - Raid Nocter - Alice caused him to snap from sane and unstable to full yandere, willing to kill others and isolate Mystia

Childhood friend - Eric (Eri) Hein - fucked up and would admit to it, has threatened/gotten rid of multiple people in the school, calls Mystia his "mistress" and pretends to be her servant, reacting badly to her constant rejection

Teacher - Jey Seek - when he meets her: 18 in the novel but 15 in the manga, delusional to the power of ten, thinks they're lovers

Misunderstanding turned indebted - Robert Weiss - originally thought she was a saint then jumped a hoop and thought she was a bitch is now willing to do anything to make up for his trashy behavior

Original FL - Alice Hartspearl - probably crazy but only shows polite fangirl behaviors so far

Burn victim woman - Feena Main - she wants Mystia as sister-in-law and is manipulating her world, especially her brother, stalker/info gathering tendencies

Janitor - Ali - yandere from a distance, has no plans of marrying Mystia but takes out the trash when needed

Claus Centric - I simp for him ngl. He's a manipulative lil shit who has stated god fucked up when making him. He likes to see others' struggles and dislikes how "boring" the MC is, calls her "useless scum", sadistic but doesn't get off on it, only character besides parents who do not harbor yandere interests to my knowledge. Seems more sane than he is because everyone else around him is worse.

[usomads]

There's No Going Back // Jey Uso x Reader

**Author's Note: Hiiiii, this is my first ever fic writing so go easy on me 🤭 but if you like this feel free to give me some more suggestions too! Happy reading!**

Plot -> Y/N catches her boyfriend of three years in their shared bed with someone else. When she goes to her best friend Josh’s to gather her thoughts and seek some consolation, she learns that’s not the only thing she’s going to find when she walks in the door…

Pairings -> Jey Uso x Fem!Reader (Y/N) Warnings -> Cheating (made up BF name), Cursing, Hickies, Oral Sex (Fem!Receiving), Fingering, Unprotected P in V, Creampie, Minors DNI

Word Count -> 3.4k

Nothing seemed to be going right for Y/N today. It started by her spilling hot coffee on her shirt at 6am, making her atrociously late to her morning meetings at work, followed by her getting written up for said tardiness, then being swamped with paperwork all day. She had yet to eat or drink anything (except for the other half of the coffee she didn’t spill on herself) and she. was. EXHAUSTED. All Y/N wanted to do was relax on her couch with her boyfriend Ben, whom she’d been dating coming up on four years in December, and let everything that transpired today slip from her mind as she laid in her man’s arms. That was not to be though, as the minute she turned the lock to enter her 2 bedroom apartment they shared she immediately sensed something was wrong. The scent in the air was different; she knew she hadn’t gotten any new candles or air fresheners lately so that wasn’t it. Perfume, she thought as she started assembling the pieces together, and it’s not mine. 

Y/N looked around the apartment. There was no sign of anyone here, no trace of another woman. She relaxed partially, still keeping the thought in the back of her mind, but feeling eased because she didn't see any evidence of an affair in her space. But she didn’t need to see it to confirm it, she heard it. A moan. Coming from the bedroom.

“Fuck Ben, I’m so close.” 

She stopped dead in her tracks, the blood in her veins had turned ice cold. No, there was no way, right? Ben wouldn’t throw away three years of our relationship like this. He’d never do that to her, he loved her. Right? This had to be a dream, right? 

Her feet moved before her mind understood what was happening. Y/N was walking on autopilot, directly to the room where she heard the female voice come from. She knew she didn’t need to see it, she had heard enough to confirm her suspicions already. But before she knew it she was standing in front of her bedroom door, and sure enough she was hearing everything she needed to let her know that this wasn’t a dream. Echoing noises of skin slapping, faint moans and groans, and whimpering rang through Y/N’s ear’s, but that didn’t stop her from twisting the knob on the door and silently cracking it open. She saw the unthinkable; Ben, her long-time boyfriend, had a random woman bent over the bed, their bed, and was fucking her in ways that were meant for Y/N and Y/N only. And the sight of it made her want to throw up.

Y/N couldn’t remember when she left the entryway to her bedroom. She couldn’t remember running out of the apartment and into her car. Hell, she couldn’t even remember sitting in standstill traffic on I-285. But she did do all of those things, because here she sat parked in front of her best friend Josh’s house. 

Josh, who she met years ago at a networking event in collaboration with her company and the WWE, was her go-to person. After that event, they quickly became the best of friends. They’d spend every chance they could together when he wasn’t on the road wrestling for hundreds of thousands of people, much to the disapproval of Ben. Ben never liked how much time Y/N wanted to spend with Josh when he was home, and he sure as hell hated how close the two were. Ben had started many fights with Y/N about Josh over the years and each time she assured him that there was never anything happening between the two; she had always shown Ben she was loyal to him and him only. And look how that turned out.

Before she knew it she was on Josh’s doorstep, the fall air in Atlanta feeling colder than usual to her, as she pressed the button on the Ring doorbell. It felt like hours of her standing there but only a couple minutes later and Josh was answering the door. He was shirtless, with basketball shorts loosely hanging around his waist. His hair was wet, like he had just freshly showered, and he smelled richly of his body wash and aftershave.

“Hey mamas, why didn’t you ca-,” he stopped mid-sentence. Josh knew the woman standing before him for 6 years, he knew everything about her. He knew when she was happy, when she was sad, when she was angry. And he definitely knew something was wrong now. But before he could ask further, she broke down in front of him.

“Ben, he.. I..” Y/N couldn’t even form the words to say it out loud, sniffling and letting out sobs trying to tell him what had happened, but Josh quickly figured it out and ushered her to the couch in his living room. He left her for a moment to grab her a water from the fridge, but immediately came back and sat next to her while she tried to describe the events that just unfolded. 

“I saw it,” she cried, “at first I thought-, at first I thought that m-maybe I was just h-hearing things. B-but he was f-fucking someone else. I-in our b-bed.” Josh opened his arms to her and she nestled her face in the crook of his neck, letting out loud sobs while he listened and embraced her. She doesn’t deserve this, he thought, she doesn’t deserve any of this.

Josh continued consoling Y/N and cooing reassuring words in her ear while she let out sobs against him. Josh had plans tonight to relax and unwind during one of the rare longer periods of time he had off, but now? Y/N was his number 1 priority and he was going to be here all night if he had to, just to make sure she was okay. Josh’s heart shattered hearing her cry over a man who 1. he never cared much for to begin with, and 2.  had broken his best friend’s heart. Josh wasn’t blind to the clear disdain Ben had shown him over the years, but he knew why he hated him so much. Ben saw what Y/N didn’t, that Josh was madly in love with her. Ben was afraid that Josh would try to take Y/N away from him, and if Ben hadn’t been in the picture he might’ve. But none of that mattered now; what mattered was being the person, the friend that Y/N desperately needed to be there for her. 

Lost in his own thoughts, Josh didn’t notice that Y/N had stopped crying and was lifting her head from the crook of his neck. She sniffled, and wiped her cheeks from the tears that coated them.

“Thank you, J. For letting me sabotage your evening and being here for me. I needed that.”

“Baby, you didn’t sabotage nothin’. I had no plans tonight. You know I’ll always be here for you. Always.” That pet name always makes her stomach do somersaults, but after the events of this evening she wasn’t able to react with a blush or a soft smile like she usually does.

“I just don’t understand why,” she vented, “why would he throw away our entire relationship like that? Like, did I do something wrong? Was it me? Was I not good enough for him?” “Y/N-”

“No, Josh, I don’t wanna hear any of that ‘you’re too good for him’ and ‘it’s his fault’ bullshit right now. Three years, Josh, three whole years I was with him, and he decides to fuck some random bitch in our bed all of a sudden? It had to have been me, there’s no way he-”

Her sentence was cut short by the feeling of Josh’s lips on hers. Maybe it was her emotions guiding her, but Y/N instinctively moved her lips in sync with his. Something about the way Josh’s lips felt against her own felt natural, normal even. She knew she shouldn’t be doing this, they were friends after all and friends don’t kiss each other like this, but she couldn’t will herself to pull away. What felt like hours of the two sharing this intimate moment together lasted mere minutes, as Josh pulled away quickly realizing what he had just done.

“Y/N, I-i’m so sorry… I wasn’t thinking right, I- I shouldn’t have done that. But hearing you talk down on yourself like that just… I couldn’t take it. You’re just so incredible and I-” It was his turn to be cut off now, by Y/N giving him a swift kiss to stop his train of thought. Y/N’s lips hovered over his for a brief moment, daring Josh to close the distance between the two again. She watched his face show how much he was trying to control himself and giggled for the first time that night, her cheeks once rosy from her tears now turning color over the two’s moment they shared, and finally spoke up. 

“Don’t be sorry, J. If I'm being honest I kinda enjoyed it, and if I’m being more honest…” She leaned impossibly closer to him now, her lips brushing his as she whispered, “I wanna do it again.” That was all Josh needed to hear for him to crash his lips into hers, this time more desperate than before. He craved her, he needed her, and he wanted her to feel it too. His tongue brushed her bottom lip begging for entrance, causing her to smile into the kiss and denying him access. He was not going to let her tease him like this though, taking her bottom lip between his teeth and giving it a tug. The slight pain and mix of pleasure earned a gasp from Y/N, giving Josh an opportunity for him to slide his tongue inside as they battled for dominance. He used this distraction to pull her into his lap, Y/N now straddling his waist, as they continued to explore each other's mouths and bodies. Y/N’s hands were tugging on the ends of his mullet, earning low groans from him while his hand traveled from her waist to her ass and kneading it with his hands as she began to grind into him at a torturous pace. Josh was getting rapidly hard underneath her, and he could feel through the thin material of her dress pants rubbing on him that she was getting turned on as well. Sensing that they were enveloped in the heat of the moment Joshua pulled away, his hands still resting firmly on her ass while hers were still entangled in his hair. “Are you sure about this, Y/N? Because if we do this…”

“What, there’s no going back? We’re past that point now. I want this, I want you, I need you. Please, Josh, I want you to touch me.”

Josh sat up almost too fast, earning a gasp from Y/N and making her giggle into his neck as he lifted the two of them up and carried her to his bedroom. He gently laid her on his bed and crawled on top of her, kissing her softly before trailing his lips down her jaw and to her neck. He licked and sucked on the sensitive skin before finding the spot just below her right ear, where her soft moans she had before began growing louder. He had found her sweet spot, and he was going to make sure he marked it as his. Josh alternated between sucking and biting on the sensitive area until a bruise began forming at the surface. Admiring his work he nipped at Y/N’s ear and began whispering sweet nothings to her. Josh’s words and the feeling of his breath on her neck sent chills down her spine, and even more, her core to grow wetter by the second. She inadvertently bucked her hips at this, causing her to brush his hardening cock through his shorts.

“Relax mamas, Imma take good care of you,” he hissed, “just wanna admire you first.” Y/N lets out a breathy moan at this, while trying to fight every urge within her to not flip them over and take him right now. Sensing how needy she is for him Josh removes her shirt and unclasps her bra, leaving him in awe of the topless woman before him. Y/N, feeling his intense gaze on her, tries to cover herself with her arms but Josh immediately pins them above her head. “Never ever cover yourself in front of me, you understand baby? You’re too beautiful to hide yourself like that.” Y/N tries to nod in response but is immediately stopped by Josh wrapping his lips around her nipple, sucking and biting on it as Y/N throws her head back and tangles her fingers in his hair yet again. He alternates between each one, giving the same amount of attention to both and making Y/N’s head spin with pleasure. Josh is taking his time with her, and she is enjoying every second. He then trails kisses down her abdomen and makes his way to where she needs him most, wasting no time in removing her bottoms and coming face to face with Y/N’s pretty pussy glistening before him, because of him. “Oh poor baby, you’re soaked. Who made you this wet, hmm?” Y/N moans in response, and Josh lightly smacks her thigh. “Answer me, baby. Who did this?” Josh teases, knowing damn well he’s the reason why, but wanting it to come straight from Y/N’s mouth. “Y-you did, Josh. Please baby, do someth- oh fuck,” Y/N’s pleas are cut short by Josh licking a stripe through her folds, collecting some of her wetness on his tongue. “Mmm.. you taste so sweet, baby, you wanna try?” Josh trails two fingers along her pussy, gathering more of her juices before reaching them to her. Y/N doesn’t hesitate to wrap her lips around his fingers and suck her juices off of them, moaning around them as she does so. Josh groans as her cheeks hollow around his digits, feeling his cock harden at the imagination of her mouth around him. He focuses on her clit and continues to guide his tongue in ways Y/N has never experienced before, feeling that feeling in her stomach growing stronger with each flick of his tongue. She frees his fingers from her mouth and starts chanting his praises, as if she were worshiping the way he’s eating her pussy. His name falls from her lips like he’s her god, and her reaction to him only fuels him more. He inserts his tongue into her pussy, fucking her with his tongue and driving her wild. 

“Josh, please, don’t stop baby- oh fuck,” she whines as he adds a finger with his tongue and speeds up his movements, tongue and finger fucking her at a torturous yet unrelenting pace. Her pussy clenches around him, he knows she’s close, and he’s not stopping until his face is drenched in her cum. With his free hand he takes his thumb and rubs circles into her clit, the sensation causing her to arch her back off of the mattress and her thighs to tighten around his head. Before she can warn him the pressure in her stomach explodes, her vision turns white, and she’s shaking and moaning his name as she cums violently around his tongue. Josh had never seen a sight more beautiful than the way Y/N’s body reacts as she’s completely letting go. He wanted to capture that moment in his mind forever, and he wanted to do it again and again. Y/N slowly regained herself, catching her breath and beginning to relax her muscles while Josh licked every last drop of her up like his life depended on it. She shuddered at this, still sensitive from his work on her. After he was sure he had gotten every single drop of Y/N’s essence cleaned up, he proceeded to remove his shorts exposing his long, hard cock. Y/N admired the man before her in all of his glory, instinctively licking her lips as she attempted to sit up and return the favor. “Not tonight, mamas,” Josh cooed, “Tonight’s all about you. Gonna show you how much I love you, baby.” With this his lips found hers, but this time it was different. Something had changed between the two. This was no longer desperation, it was passion. Love. Josh used this moment of kissing her to tease her with his cock, rubbing himself along her pussy, before stopping at her entrance. They broke the kiss; foreheads touching, breathless, and staring longingly into each other's eyes. “No turning back now, right?” “Never,” Y/N whispered as he eased himself into her. The feeling of him stretching her pussy as he slipped inside, the way her walls fluttered and tightened around him and he pushed himself deeper, was unlike anything Josh or Y/N had ever felt before. It’s like they were made for each other, how he fit so perfectly inside of her was something you could only dream of. A series of moans were sung by them both as Josh’s cock completely bottomed out inside of her. After giving them both a second to adjust, he slowly eased his way in and out. Pulling out enough to leave just the tip inside, then all the way back in. Over, and over, and over, and over. Y/N’s hands traveled to Josh’s back and began digging her nails into skin as she threw her head back in ecstasy. Josh’s face found the crook of her neck and peppered kisses along the skin as he continued to make love to her.

“Fuck Y/N, so tight f’me. Feels so good wrapped around me, baby.” His thrusts picked up tempo, but not too fast. Josh wanted to savor this moment; he wanted to live in this feeling of him stretching her out forever, but he also knew it was taking everything he had to hold in his urge to cum on the spot. But his need for her to cum around him right as he was emptying himself into her motivated him into holding on just a little bit longer. He bucked his hips up into her sharply and Y/N arched her back and moaned his name loudly as her nails dragged down his back. Knowing he had now found her spot, he wasted no time in hitting it with every single thrust. Y/N could barely contain herself- she was a mess underneath him. She couldn't utter anything other than Josh’s name, and hearing it only drew him closer to the edge along with her. “I never want to hear you doubt yourself ever again mamas, you understand me?” He grunted in her ear, “You deserve the world baby, and I’m gonna give it to you. You’re mine now, understand?” “Fuck yes, I’m yours baby. I’m yours. Josh, I-” 

“I know, I know, I’m close too princess. Cum with me, I gotchu.”

Y/N lets go more viciously than the last, and the tightening of her pussy as she cums around him is enough to have Josh moaning her name in her ear as he fills her with his cum, still moving his hips as he fucks his seed into her. Y/N is still riding the high of her orgasm, whimpering with every thrust he makes. On his way down from his, he slows his movements inside her and rests his forehead against hers. They’re both dripping in sweat, but none of that matters as they lock eyes and catch their breath. It’s silent, but a comfortable silence. 

Josh pulls out of her and Y/N sighs, feeling empty without him inside of her as he lies down next to her and pulls her into his arms and both close their eyes. Whatever fallout happens from the events of today will have to wait until tomorrow, right now all that matters is them. Both realize the gravity of this moment, both know their friendship just changed forever, and both know that there’s no going back now.

And that’s perfectly okay with them.

[von2dutch]

Sugar baby | Jey Uso

Chapter Five

Synopsis: Sex is not a big deal. ...You can have a no-strings-attached arrangement with someone you don’t care about.

Pairing: Jey Uso x Black Female reader | word count: 3.1k | Warning: smut, toxic behavior, protected sex | 18+ ONLY

Hey my loves! This is part five to three series near the end and I just want to say I thank you all so much for reading and enjoying it. God bless 🤎.

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Last night I cried, tossed and turned

Woke up with dry eyes

My mind was racing, feet were pacing

Lord, help me, please tell me what I have gotten into

Ran my three miles to clear my mind

As the hauntingly emotional notes of "Emotional Rollercoaster" by Vivian Green filled the air, Dakota huddled in the bathtub, her legs pulled close to her chest, sobbing uncontrollably as tears of despair streamed down her cheeks.

It had been a full five weeks since the incident, and her mental state had steadily deteriorated. The world appeared devoid of vibrancy in her perception, leaving her submerged in an unrelenting state of anguish and hopelessness.

Dakota had fled back to her hometown, Chicago, to seek refuge with her grandmother. She couldn't bear the thought of staying in her apartment where Jey could easily find her, and the mere sight of him filled her with anger and resentment. The distance from Jey also served as an escape from the constant barrage of calls and texts from Joshua, whom she had tried in vain to cut off all contact with. Despite her efforts, Joshua's persistent attempts to reach her were like a relentless wave, always finding a way to push through her defenses. She hated him.

Dakota's mental state was in shambles, and the online exposure of her private pictures had left her feeling humiliated and defeated. The once confident and radiant woman had succumbed to a deep depression, her self-image shattered into a million pieces. She felt violated and hopeless, unable to shake off the shame and judgment that now weighed heavily on her soul.

Depression had slithered into the depths of Dakota's being and settled in, refusing to be shaken. She embraced its cold embrace, isolating herself from the world around her, turning even her closest friend Jasmine away. The only person who had access to her was her grandmother, who provided a safe haven for her to retreat to. Anger mingled with her depression, fueling a bitter and resentful fire within her. She was overwhelmed by her emotions, struggling to breathe under the weight of her emotional turmoil.

The only thing she wondered was why? The one person she thought loved her so much and respected her put her private images online to possibly sent to someone to hurt her. She couldn’t bear to believe but it was true in her mind. Jey the one person who cherished her with so much love and affection crushed her in the most gut wrenching way possible. She couldn’t understand how someone who hurt her so bad she still loved someone she wanted to hate so bad she still loved so deeply.

Yesterday, I told myself I was gonna be okay

Gonna start a new day, be truly happy

I was gonna take control of me

But eventually reality hit me mentally, physically, emotionally

And I opened my eyes and realized

As Dakota sat still in her bathtub, her knees tucked up against her chest. The cold, porcelain surface felt like a sharp contrast to the numbness that had settled over her soul. Her eyes were red and puffy from countless tears shed in sorrow and heartbreak. The warmth of the water that enveloped her body was the only comfort she could find in a world that seemed to have turned against her. Naked and vulnerable, she stared listlessly into the water, a silent testament to her emotional turmoil.

"Just why?" echoed through the bathroom as Dakota sobbed, tears streaming down her face without an end in sight. The pain and betrayal she felt were etched onto her features as she repeated the question, her voice cracking with anguish. She couldn't understand what could have possibly driven Jey to hurt her in such a devastating way. The thought of him sharing her intimate pictures online felt like a knife twisting in her heart, shredding whatever trust and love she had left.

Just why?

Before Dakota could do anything else Jasmine stormed into the bathroom, her eyes wide with fear and determination. She found Dakota sitting in the bathtub, her body curled up with her knees against her chest. "Dakota stop!" Jasmine shouted, her voice a mix of desperation and firmness. "You're not going to do this to yourself." As she knelt down beside the tub, she grabbed Dakota's trembling hands, her grip firm but gentle. "I’m not letting you go down this path again Kota stop please.”

“Jas just leave me alone.” Dakota sniffed , keeping her eyes on the wall infront of her not daring to look Jasmine in her eyes.

Jasmine's words sliced through the air, sharp and demanding. "No, you're my best friend, Dakota. Do you honestly think I'm going to let you drown yourself?" The tone of her voice was filled with determination and concern, leaving no room for argument. She stood there, her eyes blazing with a mix of anger and worry, refusing to let Dakota give in to her despair.

Jasmine's tone was firm and resolute, her eyes fixed on Dakota with a mixture of urgency and determination. "Dakota, get out of this tub now," she commanded. "Or so God help me, I'll drag your ass out of there myself." The threat was clear, and there was no room for negotiation. Jasmine was not going to let her friend give in to her despair.

Jasmine knew all too well the depths of despair that Dakota had sunken into before. She had witnessed her friend's struggles through various trials and tribulations, but nothing quite compared to the time when Dakota lost her mother. Losing the only parent she had left Dakota feeling shattered and alone, like a ship lost at sea with no one to cling to for comfort. Jasmine understood the weight of that loss and the toll it had taken on her friend's delicate mental state.

Jasmine finally convinced Dakota to get out of the tub, wrapping her in a large, fluffy towel. She led Dakota towards her bedroom, sitting her down on the edge of the bed. "You need to snap out of this," Jasmine said firmly, her voice filled with a mixture of anger and concern. "You can't keep punishing yourself like this."

“Jasmine what the fuck else am I supposed to do huh? My life is over I don’t want to be here I love someone that fucked me over so what else should I be happy about to stay here.”

“Dakota stop that shit! You have many reason why you deserve to be here not only because of me but because of everyone that loves and cares about you think about your grandma, think about your passion for fashion but most importantly your self.”

Jasmine's words hung in the air, the weight of her truth impossible for Dakota to ignore. "Stop punishing yourself for things you can't control," she implored. "Me and you both know Jey hadn’t done that Kota that man loves you and I’ve seen it with my own eyes he loves you.” The conviction in her voice was palpable, as if trying to shake Dakota out of her despair and make her see the truth of the situation.

Dakota turned to face Jasmine, her eyes flashing with a mix of disbelief and anger. "You're taking his side now?" she accused, her voice trembling with emotion. Her hands clenched the towel tightly around her body, as if trying to shield herself from the world.

Jasmine met Dakota's gaze, her own expression resolute. "No, I'm not taking his side," she replied, her tone steady. "But I won't watch you drown in this cycle of self-blame and despair."

“Dakota I just think you’re taking this too far without hearing him out.”

“Hear him out for what Jasmine! What could he fucking possibly say oh he’s sorry?.” Dakota laughed historically as she found it funny in a dark way. “Sorry huh? Fuck him I don’t give a damn what he has to say I’m done.”

Jasmine flinched at the venom in Dakota's voice, her heart aching for her friend. "I'm not asking you to forgive him," she reiterated, her tone gentle.

Dakota's laughter echoed through the room, a harsh, bitter sound. "Sorry? As if that could fix any fucking thing," she mocked, her voice filled with hurt and anger. "I don't give a damn about his apologizes or explanations. I'm done, done with him."

“Kota just hear hi— no Fuck you jasmine.” Dakota shouted startling her grandmother that was next door to her room. Dakota walked closer to Jasmine staring into her eyes.

“Fuck me?”

“Yes! You.”

“Dakota you’ve lost your fucking mind! I’ve been your best friend for years and the one time I try to tell you that you’re taking things too fucking far it’s fuck me?.” Jasmine snapped her tone hissed and groaned in disbelief as she took a step back.

Dakota's voice rose, filled with raw emotion and unchecked anger, as she yelled, tears streaming down her face. "Oh, well let me guess, you feel companionship for him, huh?" Her voice trembled with pain and frustration. "Well good for fucking you! You and him, him and you, you and fucking him can go to hell!" The words spilled out like venom, pouring out of her like a torrent of suppressed emotions finally unleashed.

The anger in Dakota's voice was palpable as she faced off against Jasmine. "You and everyone else picked him over me!" she yelled, her eyes burning with betrayal. "The one person you've known all your fucking life!"

Jasmine flinched, the hurt and shock visible on her face as Dakota's words hit her like a gut punch. "Dakota, please, just listen..." she tried to interject, but Dakota wasn't done.

The weight of betrayal and hurt was evident in Dakota's voice as she stood in the middle of the room, her cheeks stained with tears. "No!" she cried out, her arm shaking as she gestured emphatically. "Why, Jasmine? Why did he do that to me?"

Jasmine's heart ached, seeing her best friend in such a devastated state. She stepped closer, her own eyes filled with tears. "I-I don't know, Kota," she stammered, her voice choked with emotion.

Jasmine wrapped her arms around Dakota, pulling her into a tight embrace. She rocked her back and forth on the bed, offering comfort and support. The air around them was thick with sadness and grief as Dakota's shoulders shook with silent sobs, her emotions completely frayed and raw.

She was a wreck.

Jasmine held onto Dakota tightly, her arms wrapped around her like a lifeline. The two friends sat silently on the bed, the room enveloped in a heavy silence punctuated only by Dakota's occasional sniffles.

Jasmine finally spoke, her voice soft and gentle. "I know it's tough," she murmured, her hand stroking Dakota's hair soothingly. "But you'll get through this, Kota. I promise."

Dakota sniffed, her voice cracking as she looked up at Jasmine. "How?" she whispered. "How can I trust anyone again after what he did?"

“By putting your trust in god Kota, all we can do is pray.”

A Grandmother’s love

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Dakota.Valentine • 50 mins ago

“So are you gonna hide here forever?”

“Huh?” Dakota said as she turned to look away from the tv towards her grandmother as she sat on the couch watching The Wayne brothers.

“I said are you going to hide here forever babygirl?” She asked once more as she stared at Dakota waiting for an answer.

“Well yeah if that’s what it takes.” Dakota shrugged unsure of her answer but confident with it. If this what it took for peace of mind then so be it.

"Suga, running away won't fix your problems," she said again, her voice tinged with a hint of disappointment. "And thinking it'll bring you peace of mind is only going to make things worse."

Dakota's grandmother's words cut through the air, her tone laced with a mixture of love and sternness. She fixed Dakota with a knowing gaze, her eyes reflecting years of wisdom and experience.

Dakota shifted uncomfortably on the couch, feeling the weight of her grandmother's words. She knew she couldn't hide forever, but admitting it was another thing altogether.

Dakota's grandmother continued, her gaze unwavering. "Baby, you may think you're in control by running away, but you're not. You're just digging yourself a deeper hole."

Just then, Dakota's phone buzzed with an incoming call from an unknown number. She rolled her eyes, assuming it was Jasmine trying to reach her.

"Answer it, suga," she urged. "Might be important."

Without much choice, Dakota reached for her phone and hesitantly answered the call. As soon as she answered, the familiar voice on the other end confirmed her suspicions.

"Ko baby," Jey's voice echoed through the receiver, soft and strained.

Dakota's heartbeat quickened, the mix of anger and pain flooding back in an instant. She froze, her mind racing as she held the phone to her ear.

She froze for a moment, her emotions swirling within her. Hearing Jey's voice stirred up a mix of anger and pain that threatened to break her resolve. But then, with a clenched jaw, she mustered all her willpower and pressed the hang-up button, cutting off the call abruptly.

Dakota dropped her phone onto the couch, shaking her head. "He can forget about it," she muttered through gritted teeth. "I'm not falling for his apologies this time."

Her Grandma watched her with a mix of sadness and understanding. She knew the pain and anger were eating away at Dakota, but she also understood that sometimes tough love was necessary.

"Honey, hanging up on him like that won't solve anything," she said gently. "You need to confront this head-on, not run away from it."

Dakota rolled her eyes again, frustration boiling up within her. "It's easy for you to say, Nanny," she retorted, her voice slightly raised. "You're not the one who got betrayed and hurt."

Grandma took a deep breath, her patience visibly wearing thin but her love for Dakota unwavering. "Exactly," she said firmly. "That's why I see this situation more clearly than you do. You're too blinded by your anger to see the truth."

Dakota huffed, her eyes narrowing defiantly. "And what truth is that, huh?" she challenged, her voice dripping with skepticism. "That he really didn't leak those pictures of me online? That he's completely innocent and blameless in all this?"

Grandma regarded her granddaughter with a steely gaze, refusing to back down. "Yes," she said simply. "That's exactly what I believe. You're just too stubborn to consider the possibility."

Dakota scoffed, her frustration mounting. "And how can you possibly believe that? He's the only one who had those pictures, Grandma. It's like you're just blindly trusting him!"

Grandma shook her head, her voice tinged with a mix of disappointment and annoyance. "No, sugar, I'm not blindly trusting him," she corrected. "I'm giving him the benefit of the doubt, something you refuse to do."

Grandma took a deep breath, her tone softened as she recalled the memories. "Girl, don't you remember how he was there for you during your hardest moments?" she reminded Dakota, her voice tinged with nostalgia.

"He helped pay for your mama's funeral, without a second thought. And remember how you called me after you got into a relationship with him? I could hear the excitement in your voice, honey. You were happier than I'd ever heard you."

Grandma's eyes searched Dakota's face, hoping to see some flicker of realization. "And let's not forget about the support he gave you whenever you needed it," she continued, her voice steady. "He was there for you through it all."

Dakota's expression remained defiant, her anger still clouding her judgment. But a tiny crack in her wall of rage appeared, as if Grandma's words had momentarily weakened her defenses.

Her grandma only wanted the best for her but she could tell Dakota’s anger got in the way of that no matter how much pull she tried to ease the situation nothing worked.

He was the love of her granddaughters life she had never seen her so blossomed with love till she met him and now everything was broken to glass that she thought maybe she could fix.

Grandma pounced on that sign of vulnerability, hoping to keep pushing forward. "Baby girl," she said, her tone gentle but firm. "You've always been a fighter, yes, but you also have a good heart. Deep down, you know he didn't do this to hurt you."

Dakota paused, her expression conflicted. There was a hint of uncertainty in her eyes, as if Grandma's words were starting to break through the thick wall of anger she had built around her heart.

Grandma pressed on, sensing that she was getting to her. "Just think about it, darlin'," she pleaded. "Why would he help you through everything if he didn't truly care for you? Why pay for your mama's funeral if his intentions were malicious?"

Dakota's resolve wavered, her shoulders slumping slightly as Grandma's words echoed in her mind.

Grandma leaned forward on the couch, her gaze steady. "You're a smart girl, Dakota," she said firmly. "You know the answers to those questions. But you're just too angry to accept them."

Dakota's eyes darted away, a mixture of anger and uncertainty swirling within her. "But the pictures..." she protested weakly.

Grandma shook her head, gently shutting down Dakota's protest. "Those pictures don't prove anything, darlin'," she said, her voice soft yet firm. "They could have come from anywhere. You're just assuming the worst without even talking to him about it."

Dakota fidgeted on the couch, her defenses weakening more by the minute.

Grandma placed a comforting hand on Dakota's knee, offering a gentle touch. "Baby girl, you have to confront this head-on," she urged. "Instead of running away, you need to talk to him and get to the truth. Only then can you move forward and find some peace."

Dakota chewed on her lip, her expression conflicted. She knew Grandma had a point, but her stubbornness and anger held her back from admitting it. She just wanted to forget him but she couldn’t because she loved him dispite her anger towards him.

Grandma softened her tone even further, trying to appeal to Dakota's emotions. "Think about it, sugar," she pleaded. "You two have been through too much to throw it all away over a misunderstanding. You owe it to yourself to at least talk to him and figure out what really happened."

Dakota's gaze dropped to the floor, her shoulders slumping even further. The fire in her eyes was starting to dim, replaced by a hint of acceptance.

Grandma could sense that Dakota was starting to crack, and she cautiously continued. "And let's not forget that communication is key in any relationship," she said gently. "You can't just shut him out without giving him a chance to explain."

Dakota let out a sigh, her eyes still fixed on the floor. She was visibly struggling with her emotions, the anger and betrayal warring with rationality in her mind.

Grandma noticed the struggle within Dakota and seized the opportunity to push a little further. "You don't even have to forgive him right away," she reassured her. "But give him a chance to explain himself, at least."

Dakota's eyes flickered up for a moment, her guard slowly dropping. She still held onto her anger, but there was a hint of curiosity as well.

Grandma saw the flicker of curiosity in Dakota's gaze and used it to her advantage. "Isn't that what you want, sugar?" she asked gently. "To know the truth? To finally have an answer?"

Dakota's resistance wavered even more, her expression conflicted. She wanted answers, but she was terrified of being hurt again.

That was all she wanted was the answers but could she handle it? Could she handle being also wrong to run away from her problems rather than face them and learn the truth.

Grandma leaned closer to her Dakota , her eyes filled with empathy and understanding. "Listen, darlin', I know you're scared," she admitted. "You've been through a lot, and it's natural to want to protect yourself from getting hurt again. But sometimes, to truly move on and find peace, you have to face your fears and take the risk."

Dakota swallowed hard, her eyes still downcast. Her mind was racing with conflicting thoughts and emotions.

Grandma reached out and took Dakota's hand in hers, giving it a gentle squeeze. "I'm not asking you to forget what happened," she said softly. "But give Joshua a fair chance to explain himself. At least listen to what he has to say."

Dakota's grip tightened on her grandmother's hand, but her expression was still conflicted. She knew her grandmother was right, but the scars of betrayal ran deep.

Could she forgive him ?

▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃

2.am

As the night grew darker, a soft knocking echoed through the quiet house. Dakota’s Grandma stirred, casting a brief glance at the clock—2:00 AM. She slowly rose from her bed, a mix of curiosity and concern coursing through her.

Approaching the door, she fumbled with the lock before slowly opening it. Standing there, silhouetted against the dim lighting, was Jey. His eyes were heavy with fatigue and determination.

"Can I come in?" Jey asked quietly, his voice gravelly. She regarded him with a mixture of surprise and concern before nodding and stepping aside.

Joshua entered the house, his movements clumsy in his late-night stupor. They made their way to the living room, the tension between them palpable.

He took a late night flight to Chicago the minute he found out where Dakota was hiding at from jasmine. He wasn’t going to risk anything to speak to her no matter how tireless he was from a match he had earlier on in the night he was still going to fight his way to her.

"Is she here?" Jey asked, his gaze darting around the room, searching for Dakota.

Jey's eyes were visibly red and puffy, evidence of the tears he'd shed. His mullet was disheveled, and his usual confident demeanor seemed to have crumbled. He looked weary and vulnerable, as if he'd been carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders.

As he spoke, his voice wavered slightly. "Is Dakota here?" he asked once more,, his gaze searching the room for any sign of her.

She nodded, her expression softened by the sight of his weary appearance. "She's in her room," she replied quietly. "Probably not asleep, though. She's been restless since that incident."

Jey's shoulders slumped at the mention of the incident, guilt etched across his face. He ran a hand through his disheveled hair, attempting to compose himself.

His heart twisted at the sound of her pain and animosity, each word she spoke like a knife twisting deep into his chest. The idea that he had caused her pain, that he had hurt her to the point of her hating him, cut through him like a hot blade.

The realization that he had caused so much harm stung deeply, and Jey felt a wave of guilt and self-loathing wash over him. He wanted to scream at himself, to beat himself up for being so careless with someone he cared for so deeply.

She was his beautiful bloom tree that made him bloom.

As Jey ran his hand through his hair, the movement revealed his signature mullet, now with the distinctive red tips at the ends. The stark contrast against the muted light of the room only seemed to emphasize the weariness in his expression.

Grandma's gaze stayed on Jey, her maternal instincts stirred by the sight of his disheveled state. "You look like you've been through the wringer, honey," she observed, her voice laced with concern.

Josh let out a weary sigh, his shoulders slumping further as if the weight of the world was pressing upon him. "I have," he admitted softly, his eyes fixed on the floor.

Dakota slowly stepped out of her room, her eyes still heavy with sleep. She rubbing her eyes, her hair disheveled and a blanket draped over her shoulders.

"Nanny, who was at the..." her voice trailed off as she noticed Jey standing there. Her guard immediately went up, and her expression hardened. "What the fuck are you doing here?”

“Dakota!” Her grandmother shouted out at her with a glare for her language.

“Sorry nanny.” Dakota sighed trying to contain her anger which held high.

Jey looked up as Dakota appeared, his heart skipping a beat at the sight of her. He swallowed hard, mustering the courage to speak. "I needed to talk to you," he said quietly. "Please, just hear me out."

Dakota's eyes narrowed, her walls firmly in place. She wrapped the blanket tighter around herself, a futile attempt to fortify her defenses.

Josh took a tentative step toward her, his movements slow and measured. "Can we talk in private?" he asked softly.

Dakota hesitated, her gaze flickering between her grandmother's retreating form and Jey. After a moment, she relented, her resistance cracking slightly. "Fine," she said grudgingly, gesturing toward her room. "But make it quick."

Jey followed Dakota into her room, the door closing softly behind him. The room was dimly lit, the only source of light coming from a small bedside lamp.

Dakota leaned against the wall, her arms crossed defensively. A tense silence hung in the air, the tension between them palpable.

Jey stood awkwardly in the middle of the room, his hands shoved into his pockets. He glanced around, his gaze lingering on the photographs and trinkets that adorned her walls and shelves—reminders of happier times between them.

He took a deep breath, steeling himself before finally looking at her. "I know you're angry," he began quietly. "And I don't blame you."

Jey took a slow step forward, closing the distance between them a fraction. "I didn't leak those pictures," he said firmly, his voice tinged with desperation.

Dakota's gaze flickered up to meet his, her eyes cold. She didn't respond, but her expression remained guarded and skeptical.

Jey could see the skepticism in her eyes and felt desperation well up within him. He took another step forward, his voice growing more insistent.

"I swear to you, Dakota, I would never do no shit like that to hurt you," he pleaded, his voice cracking slightly. "I love you. I would never betray you like that and you know that.”

Jey's eyes were pleading, his expression filled with a mixture of sadness and determination. "Please," he said softly, his voice filled with vulnerability. "Please believe me. I didn't do this."

Dakota's expression wavered, the wall she had built around her heart cracking ever so slightly. She wanted to believe him, but the pain of betrayal weighed heavily on her heart.

Joshua took a final step toward her, closing the gap between them completely. He gently reached out, placing a tentative hand on her arm.

"I swear, Dakota," he repeated, his voice barely above a whisper. "I would never do anything to hurt you.."

Dakota's gaze flicked up to meet his, her walls slowly crumbling under the weight of his earnestness.

Josh’s grip on her arm tightened slightly, his thumb tracing gentle circles on her skin. He stepped even closer, closing the remaining gap between their bodies.

"Please," he pleaded, his eyes searching hers. "I need you to believe me. I love you. You're the most important person in my life, and I would never intentionally hurt you like that ko.”

Dakota's expression softened, her defenses slipping further. A hint of doubt and confusion warred with her anger.

Jey's expression hardened as he locked eyes with her. "You hate me, huh?" he said quietly, his voice laced with resignation.

Dakota nodded, crossing her arms defiantly. "Yeah, I do, I really fucking do.” she replied, her voice cold and distant. "And nothing you say is going to change that."

Jey let out a frustrated sigh, his eyes narrowing as he observed her stubborn expression. "You don't believe me," he stated, his voice tinged with anger.

Dakota shrugged, unfazed. "Damn right, I don't," she retorted, her gaze flickering away from him.

Jey felt a surge of irritation, his frustration mounting. He took a step closer, closing the space between them again.

"Why the fuck you gotta be so damn stubborn Dakota?” he asked, his voice raising slightly. "Why can't you even consider the possibility that I could be telling the fucking truth?.”

Dakota's eyes flared with defiance, her stubbornness refusing to waver. "Because it's easier for me to hate you than to believe in you," she shot back, her voice laced with bitterness.

Jey's anger flared at her response, his jaw clenching. "Nah it’s just easier to believe I did it then to believe I didn’t ," he snapped, his gaze burning into hers.

"Is it, though?" Dakota retorted, her eyes narrowing. "Or is it easier for you to blame me for being stubborn than to accept that you played a role in all this?"

Jey clenched his fists, his patience wearing thin. "Played a role in what? I ain’t did shit Dakota," he growled. "I didn't do anything wrong."

"You think so?" Dakota scoffed, her voice filled with skepticism. "You really think you didn't do anything wrong at all?"

Josh’s irritation boiled over, his voice rising to a near-yell. "Fuck Dakota, I already told you I didn't leak that shit!”

“But you just can’t fucking seem to get that through your damn head can you?” Josh replied but he stopped in his tracks as he saw red roses sitting on her nightstand with a card written on it big and bold. “Joe Anoaʻi.”

"Joe," he muttered under his breath, his expression darkening with jealousy. “You can accept gifts from him but not me right?”

“Josh it shouldn’t even matter we ar— It should fucking matter Dakota!” Joshua shouted startling Dakota as he stared at her with almost darken eyes.

His shout echoed through the room, its intensity shocking even to him. His eyes, usually filled with warmth, now seemed almost dark as he locked gazes with Dakota.

He had grown weary of waiting patiently, feeling drained not only by his efforts but also by the fact that she could hold conversations with Joe, while she seemed unable to do the same with him.

“It doesn’t matter though because we aren’t to fucking gether!”

“So what you fucking with my cousin now? Is that what it is.” He asked, he could see the anger and frustration building within him as he walked back and forth, each step punctuated by his clenched fists. The tension in the room was palpable as he tried to keep his emotions in check.

“No! But that’s the problem you get to assuming things without knowing the fucking truth.” She shot back.

“I fucking hate you.”

Joshua came to an abrupt halt as if everything else around him vanished in that moment, fixating on the single word "hate." He made his way towards Dakota, his gaze fixed on her, and his features softened. "You don’t mean that ko.”

“No I do.” Dakota's response cut through the air like cold ice water. She pivoted on her heel, deliberately turning her back on him, refusing to spare him even a single glance.

“I know you’re mad at me right now but Dakota me and you both know you don’t m— NO I do mean it I mean it so fucking much I hate you!”

“Everyday I wish I hadn’t met you but I did and I have to live and regret it so yes I do hate you matter fact you can leave.” Dakota said once more as the tears she so desperately didn’t want to drop did.

“Aight I’ll go…but before I leave I want you to know ko that even though you hate me I still love you and never will stop loving you.” Joshua said as tears filed his eyes he walked towards the bedroom door walking his footsteps becoming faint the more he walked away.

Hate is a powerful emotion, and when it emerges between people who love each other, it can feel like a natural part of the relationship. No matter how strong the love may seem, true colors are bound to show eventually. It's important to ask yourself.

Is hate a strong word for you?.

To be continued…..

So this is the end of chapter five! I hope you all enjoyed it.

Y’all I’ve been so busy watching interview with the vampire and all I can say is girl it’s crazy but so good! So far Claudia is my favorite. I kinda of used one of the scenes from I think season two with Claudia and Louis arguing about amand.

AND most importantly I want to thank you all for getting me to 6k followers! I appreciate it so much!!!! 🫶🏾

Feel free to drop any opinions on the characters or chapter and a till next time. God bless🎀

[acute-crashout-jeyuso]

Between the Ropes.. a Jey Uso x Rhea Ripley fanfic.

Chapter 33: True Meaning…

7:37 PM

The sun was starting to set, barely peeking over the clouds, just before Rhea made her way to the hospital to visit Jey. The crisp air of the Pensacola late afternoon swirled around her as she stepped onto the porch, seeking a moment of calm before the overwhelming anxiety of seeing Jey in the ICU again. As she walked out, she spotted Jaciyah sitting on the porch steps, his back leaning against the wooden rail, lost in the music playing through his AirPods.

Rhea hesitated for a second, watching him. They hadn’t really spoken since that movie night in September, when she had handed him a pack of Jolly Ranchers, trying to bridge the gap between them. Both had been unsure of how to navigate the complexities of this new dynamic. But Takecia urged her to sit down beside him today and that’s what she was determined to do.

Jaciyah, sensing her presence, removed one of his AirPods and glanced at her, acknowledging her quietly before pulling out the other one. The two sat in silence for a few moments, letting the gentle breeze dance around them.

Then, unexpectedly, Jaciyah broke the silence. “Did it hurt?”

Rhea turned to him, confused by his question. “What do you mean?”

He kept his eyes forward, staring off at the distance, his voice soft but serious. “Did it hurt when you tried to kill yourself?”

The question hit her like a ton of bricks. She wasn’t sure how to respond, caught off guard by the weight of the moment. Rhea felt her breath catch in her throat, unsure if she could give Jey’s eldest son the answer he deserved, or if she even knew how to explain it in a way that made sense.

She looked down at her hands, fiddling with the chain around her neck that Jey had given her. Finally, after what felt like an eternity, she said softly, “I wasn’t in the right headspace.”

Jaciyah didn’t respond immediately. He took a deep breath, clearly thinking about what she had said before adding, “God says it’s a sin to do that.”

Rhea’s chest tightened at his words. She sighed, unsure of how to tread in this conversation but knowing it was important.

“I think… maybe God sent an angel to me,” she said quietly, looking up at the sky as if Julie would make her presence once more. “To tell me that my life isn’t over yet. I don’t know how else to explain it. I felt like I was drowning, and in that moment, nothing made sense. But something, or someone, pulled me back.”

Jaciyah shifted beside her, and Rhea felt the weight of his gaze on her. “I’ve never seen my dad that sad before.”

His words cut through her like a knife. Jey—her Jey—had been devastated, and she had caused that pain. It was something she could never take back, no matter how much she wanted to.

“I scared a lot of people,” Rhea admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. “Your dad… my family, Jon, Trinity… you, too. And I’m sorry for that. I never meant to hurt anyone.”

The silence between them thickened, but in that quiet space, there was a mutual understanding. Jaciyah was just a kid—still trying to make sense of a complicated adult world, just as she was trying to find her own way in it.

“I’m glad you didn’t die,” Jaciyah said softly, after a beat. His words were simple, but they carried the weight of a boy who had seen too much, who had watched his father break, and who was now standing at the crossroads of understanding how fragile life really was.

Rhea turned to him and gave a small, sad smile. “Me too.”

For the first time in what felt like forever, there was a sense of connection between them, however fleeting.

—

Later on, Rhea rolled up to the Wendy’s drive-thru window, thanking the lady as she grabbed her food. It wasn’t her favorite fast food, but it would hold her over for the long night ahead. She tossed the bag onto the passenger seat and headed toward the hospital, where she knew she’d be spending an evening by Jey’s side.

Parking in the overnight visitor lot, Rhea slung her backpack over her shoulder, making sure her laptop was inside along with a few essentials. She carefully grabbed her food and made her way through the hospital, taking the familiar path up to the third-floor ICU.

Once she reached Jey’s room, she nudged the door open, her eyes instantly landing on him. The constant beeps of the monitors were the only sign of life in the quiet room. Setting her things down on the tray beside the bed, she leaned in and gently kissed Jey’s lips, her fingers brushing his cheek.

“Good evening babe..” she whispered, her voice soft but full of affection.

Rhea sat down in the chair beside the bed, feeling the weight of the day lift off her shoulders as she settled in for the night. She opened her backpack, pulling out her laptop. Navigating through her downloads list, she settled on on Jey’s favorites—Harlem Nights.

She positioned the laptop on the tray so both she and Jey could “watch” together, even if he wasn’t able to respond. It was something she’d figured to try—acting as if nothing had changed, as if he were awake and they were just enjoying each other’s company like always.

Rhea unwrapped her food, the scent of Wendy’s fries filling the room as she took her first bite. A smile tugged at her lips as the movie began. Every time something funny happened on screen, she found herself laughing out loud, glancing at Jey as if waiting for him to laugh along with her.

“She really said go ahead and shoot me in my pinkie toe,” she said between bites, her heart aching for a response she knew wouldn’t come—at least not yet.

But she stayed hopeful, enjoying the movie as if they were both there together, just like old times.

After finishing her meal, Rhea crumpled the wrappers into a ball and tossed them into the trash bin by the door. The smell of Wendy’s lingered in the air, but she didn’t mind; it had given her some comfort for the moment. Now, her eyes fell on Jey, still lying in the hospital bed, his chest rising and falling, she found herself focusing on more and more lately. Her gaze landed on the silver bracelet Jon had placed on his wrist and the ula fala draped across his chest, placed by Joe. These symbols, small yet so significant, reminded her of the deep roots he had within his family and how much everyone was fighting to bring him back to them.

She leaned down, brushing her lips against his, just for a second longer this time. It was a soft, lingering kiss. “I wish you would just wake up…” she whispered, barely able to hold back the tremble in her voice.

Her thumb gently traced the edge of his tattooed arm, feeling the warmth beneath his skin. It was hard to believe that under all the stillness, all the silence, he was still there, fighting. Rhea let out a sigh, leaning her head down onto his stomach. She could feel the faint rise and fall of his abdomen as he breathed, the only reassurance she had that he was still with her, though locked away in some other world. It wasn’t enough. She wanted more than the rise and fall, more than the steady beep of the machines. She wanted him—his voice, his laugh, his presence.

She closed her eyes, listening to the sound of his breathing. The weight of the day started pressing down on her, exhaustion creeping into her limbs. How long had she been here, in this waiting game? The days blurred together. She didn’t know anymore.

Just as she was about to drift off into a light sleep, something shifted beneath her. A faint pressure pushed against her head, and her eyes flew open. Had she imagined it? She wasn’t sure, but then it happened again—a slight movement, as if he were trying to speak.

“Why do you always have to wake me up?”

Rhea’s heart stopped, her breath catching in her throat as her head snapped up. Her wide, startled eyes locked onto Jey’s face, searching for confirmation that she hadn’t just imagined the voice. His eyelids were half-open now, and his lips, curved into a familiar, lazy grin, sent a shock of disbelief straight through her.

“Jey?” Her voice cracked, barely above a whisper, as if she was afraid saying his name would shatter this moment, would make him disappear back into that unresponsive state.

He blinked slowly, his eyes hazy but clearly focused on her, his grin widening despite the effort it took him. “Why do you always have to wake me up?” he repeated, his voice a low rasp, but there was that teasing edge in it—the one that used to drive her crazy.

Rhea’s eyes welled with tears before she could even process it. “Oh my God,” she whispered, her hands trembling as she reached for him, as if to make sure he was real, to make sure this wasn’t some cruel dream playing tricks on her tired mind. Her fingertips brushed against his face, feeling the rough stubble that had grown during his time here. He was really here.

She couldn’t hold herself back any longer. In a rush of emotion, she threw herself at him, wrapping her arms around him tightly, burying her face into his neck. The smell of antiseptic and hospital linens faded beneath the scent of his skin, and that was all she needed right now—him.

“I missed you so much,” she sobbed, the words muffled against his shoulder.

“Babe… my arm…” Jey’s voice came out in a pained groan, the sound snapping her out of her emotional trance.

“Oh shit!” Rhea immediately released him, her hands hovering as if unsure where to touch him now. “I’m sorry! I’m so sorry,” she babbled, wiping her tears away with the back of her hand, her face flushed with embarrassment.

Jey winced, but there was still that little smirk on his lips, even as he shifted uncomfortably in the bed. “Always so extra, huh?” he muttered, his voice still raspy, but it held that same playful tone he always had with her.

Rhea, still overwhelmed with emotion, let out a breathy laugh. “Well, excuse me for being happy you’re awake,” she retorted, trying to compose herself but failing miserably as fresh tears slipped down her cheeks.

Jey raised his hand—the one without the IV—and weakly wiped away a tear that had escaped down her cheek. His fingers were slow and shaky, but the gesture was enough to make her melt all over again.

“Stop crying, girl,” he said softly. “I’m still here.”

Rhea sniffed, holding his hand against her cheek. “I know, I know… I just… I thought I’d lost you.”

He chuckled weakly. “Nah, I’m not going anywhere. Can’t leave my little button nose all alone, can I?”

Rhea grinned, choking on a laugh as she leaned in closer to him. “You better not,” she whispered, pressing her forehead to his. “Because I’m not letting you out of my sight again.”

They stayed like that for a moment, forehead to forehead, Jey’s slow breaths mixing with Rhea’s. It was as if the world outside the hospital room had stopped for them, just for this one precious moment where nothing else mattered but the fact that he was awake, alive, and still hers.

“I love you,” she whispered, her voice soft but filled with all the emotion she’d been holding back for so long.

Jey’s eyes flickered with warmth, and he gave her the tiniest nod. “Love you too, babe,” he murmured, his voice low and sincere. Then, with a small, tired grin, he added, “Now… when can we go home?” Jey asked.

“Easy there babe. Let me call for the nurse.” Rhea replied.

After some time the nurses finished checking all his vitals, satisfied with the readings. They began the orders to remove his medical aids, carefully unhooking him from the machines that had been a constant presence during his time in the ICU. Jey shifted slightly, the freedom feeling odd yet refreshing.

Rhea pulled out her phone, a grin spreading across her face. “We have to let the cavalry know you’re awake!”

Jey chuckled lightly, the sound a little raspy but full of life. “I can only imagine the chaos that’s about to ensue.”

“Hey, do I look good?” Jey asked, glancing at Rhea with a teasing smirk.

Rhea rolled her eyes, unable to suppress a laugh. “Really? You’re in a hospital bed, Jey. I don’t have the water bottle to make your hair sleek like you usually do.”

“Just asking for a friend,” he replied, laughing softly, wincing a little as he shifted his position.

Rhea raised her phone and pressed record. “Say something for the fans, Uce,” she urged, her excitement bubbling over.

Jey took a breath, puffing out his chest slightly, and grinned into the camera. “Nothing could keep Uce down!” he proclaimed, his voice gaining strength.

The two of them shared a laugh, and Rhea leaned in to plant a quick kiss on his cheek. “Perfect!” she exclaimed, stopping the recording.

She pressed send to a group message titled “The Family” that included Joe, Jon, Trinity, Joseph, Solofa, Galina, Almia, and Takecia.

The Family:

• Rhea: [Video of Jey] “Look who’s awake! 🥳❤️”

• Joe: “Let’s go! Uce is back! 🙌🔥”

• Jon: “Hell yes! I knew you’d pull through, brother!”

• Trinity: “So happy for you, Jey! Can’t wait to see you!”

• Joseph: “Yessss! Party at the Uso house?”

• Solofa: “You’re a warrior, Jey! We love you son!”

• Galina: “Can’t wait to celebrate! 😍”

• Almia: “Yay! So relieved!”

• Takecia: “I’m already on my way with the kids!”

Rhea smiled at the responses flooding in before she sent the same video to another group chat titled “Squad” for her their friends.

Group Chat: Squad

• Rhea: [Video of Jey] “My papi is awake! ���💖”

• Damian: “Let’s go! The party starts now! 🍾”

• Kayden: “Yes! I’m so glad to hear this! We need to celebrate!”

• Finn: “Count me in for the welcome back bash!”

• Liv: “OMG! This is amazing news! Love you both! 😘”

• Dom: “He’s coming back to steal the spotlight! Get ready!”

• Cody: “Jey, you’re a legend! Can’t wait to see you back in action!”

A few moments later, Rhea’s phone started buzzing like crazy, notifications popping up almost faster than she could read them.

“Wow, they really want to make sure you feel the love,” Rhea chuckled, glancing at Jey, who was beaming at all the messages.

“Seems like I’ll need to have a lot of visitors,” Jey said, still looking a bit dazed but undeniably happy. “Is there even room for all of them in this room?”

Rhea shook her head with a laugh. “Not unless we clear out the medical equipment! But you know they’ll find a way.”

As the excitement buzzed around them, Jey felt a warmth in his chest—an overwhelming sense of belonging and love that wrapped around him like a blanket.

Rhea smiled at him, unable to hide her joy. “Welcome back love,” she said softly, her heart swelling at the sight of him awake and laughing.

“Feels good to be back,” Jey replied, and with a glance at Rhea, he knew he was exactly where he was meant to be.

—

November 7th, 2024 8:19 AM

The next morning came with a mixture of relief and uncertainty. After waiting, the hospital finally discharged Jey with strict instructions. He was to take at least 3 to 6 months off for rehab and attend physical therapy twice a week. Walking out of the hospital, Rhea and Jey were arm in arm. Rhea had brought him a comfortable oversized shirt and sweats, complete with sneakers she knew he’d appreciate.

The sun outside the hospital was blinding after being indoors for so long, and Jey squinted, adjusting to the light. As they made their way to the parking lot, they spotted a police car parked nearby. Leaning against the side of the vehicle was a detective from the Pensacola Police Department, watching them closely.

“Guess they ain’t wasting any time,” Jey muttered, his voice still scratchy but stronger.

Rhea squeezed his hand. “Let’s see what they need.”

The detective, a stern-looking woman with sharp eyes and a badge reading “Detective Harper,” approached. “Mr. Fatu, Ms. Bennett,” she said, nodding to Rhea using her legal name, “I’m Detective Harper. We need to get a statement from you, Mr. Fatu. Could you come down to the station?”

Jey sighed and nodded. “Let’s get this over with.”

Rhea instinctively moved closer to Jey, her arm still looped through his. “I’m going in with him,” she stated, her tone protective.

Detective Harper held up a hand. “I understand your concern, Ms. Bennett, but when we arrive at the Police Station, we need to take his statement separately. It’s just procedure. We don’t want any claims of wrongdoing in the process.”

Rhea bristled, not liking the idea of being apart from Jey, especially after everything they’d been through. “Fine,” she muttered, her grip on his arm loosening.

Jey shot her a reassuring look. “It’s alright, babe. We’ll handle it.”

The detective led them to her police car, and soon they arrived at the station. As they stepped inside, Rhea tried to stick by Jey’s side, but the officers directed him into a interrogation room

Rhea stopped at the door of the waiting room and glanced back at Jey, concern written all over her face. “You good?”

“Yeah,” Jey responded, his voice low but steady. “We got this.”

And with that, they were separated, bracing for whatever was about to come.

—

Jey sat in the cold, hard chair, his shoulder aching beneath the bandages, his mind heavy with the memories of that night. The detective across from him, a stern man with tired eyes, sat with a notepad and pen, ready to hear every detail. Jey took a deep breath, leaning forward slightly as he began to recount the night everything went sideways.

“We were in the bathtub, me and Rhea—uh, Demi,” Jey started, using Rhea’s legal name like he knew he had to. “We were just relaxing, trying to unwind. That’s when I heard it. Loud bangs. At first, I thought maybe it was nothing, but… I don’t know. I felt something in my gut. I knew something wasn’t right.”

The detective gave a slight nod, encouraging him to go on.

“I told Rhea to stay put, but she wouldn’t listen. We both got out of the tub, threw on some robes, and went to the living room. The front door was there, and I didn’t think—I just went to open it.”

He paused, shaking his head. “Should’ve checked the peephole. But I didn’t. Soon as I opened it, the door slammed in my face, busted my nose. I fell forward, and that’s when I heard the yelling. It took me a second, but I realized Rhea was screaming, saying it was Matt—her ex-husband, Matthew Addams.”

Jey’s fists clenched at the memory, and the detective scribbled something down in his notepad.

“I heard Rhea call 911. I could hear her voice, but then, there was this other noise. A scream. I didn’t know what was happening, but I got up, pushed through the pain, and grabbed the nearest thing—a white vase.”

Jey could feel the tension in his chest rising as he relived the moment. “I was ready to crack him with it. But then… then Rhea said he had a gun. She told me to put it down.”

The detective’s eyes narrowed. “Did you see the gun?”

Jey hesitated, then shook his head. “Not at first. I didn’t see it until later.”

The detective nodded and motioned for Jey to continue.

“Matt was yelling at her, asking if the miscarriage was his… or mine,” Jey said, his voice tight with the memory. That was the moment everything froze, the moment that left a permanent mark in his mind.

The detective cut him off. “Why would he ask that?”

Jey sighed, running a hand through his hair. He knew he had to come clean, there was no hiding the truth now. “Because… because Matt’s being charged with assaulting Rhea back in September. That’s what caused her to lose the baby.”

The detective looked down at his notepad. “And why would Matt ask about the miscarriage?”

Jey’s jaw clenched. “Because… because Rhea and I were having an affair.”

The detective’s pen stopped for a moment, but Jey could feel the weight of the question hanging between them. Finally, the detective asked, “Tell me about this affair.”

Jey nodded, exhaling slowly. “It started back in February. Rhea, she was still with Matt, but… we got close. We stopped for a bit in April when she was trying to make things work with him. But in July, when she came back, it started up again. And it’s been going on ever since.”

The detective raised an eyebrow. “Did Matt know?”

“Rhea told me he didn’t. Said he never suspected anything.” Jey replied.

The detective leaned forward slightly, his voice dropping to a more personal tone. “And were you the only one she was intimate with?”

Jey stiffened at the question, but he nodded. “Yeah. Rhea told me I was the only one. If she was still fucking Matt, she would’ve told me.”

The detective’s expression softened slightly, but he apologized nonetheless. “I’m sorry for being intrusive, but… are you sure of that?”

Jey swallowed hard. “She’s my fiancée, man. If she was doing something like that, I’d know. She’d tell me.”

The detective seemed to accept that, nodding again before gesturing for Jey to continue. “Go on. What happened next?”

Jey took another deep breath. “Matt pushed her towards me, gun still in his hand. He pointed it at both of us, right at our faces. He was yelling something—something about us burning in hell. That’s when he pulled the trigger.”

Jey’s voice faltered as he remembered the blast, the sharp, burning pain that followed. “That’s when I got hit. After that… I don’t remember anything.”

The detective sat back in his chair, jotting down the final notes as Jey leaned back, feeling the exhaustion wash over him. It was out in the open now, the truth of what happened that night.

—

Jey was led out of the station, the weight of the conversation with the detective still heavy on his mind. As soon as he stepped outside, he spotted Rhea waiting for him, her eyes lighting up the moment she saw him. She offered him a soft smile, though her own exhaustion was evident in her face.

“I ordered us an Uber back to the hospital parking lot for the car,” Rhea said, her voice calm and reassuring.

Jey nodded, forcing himself to push aside the lingering thoughts. That detective’s question kept replaying in his mind—why would he even ask if Rhea was still being intimate with Matt? He hated that it even made him wonder. He knew Rhea, he trusted her, but the seed of doubt was there now, gnawing at the back of his mind.

They both slid into the Uber, and Jey clenched his jaw, doing his best to seem cool and collected. He didn’t want to cause a scene, not after everything they’d been through. As the car weaved through the streets of Pensacola, Jey found himself glancing at Rhea, searching her face for any sign that might answer the question spinning in his mind. But there was nothing—just the woman he loved, tired and supportive, sitting beside him.

Finally, they made it to the hospital parking lot. Rhea climbed into the driver’s seat of her Jeep, and Jey sank into the passenger seat with a heavy sigh. He stared out the window as she drove, trying to shake the nagging feeling. Before long, they arrived at Jon and Trinity’s house, which had become their temporary refuge until their own place was no longer marked off as a crime scene.

As they pulled into the driveway, everyone came out to greet him. Jon, Trinity, Joe and Galina, Joseph and Almia and his kids rushed out to welcome him back. Takecia had seen him last night but due to her job being demanding now that she was a single mom, had went back to San Francisco, allowing her and Jey’s kids to stay with Jey. Their smiles warmed his heart, and he managed to crack a smile of his own. "I'm happy to be home," Jey said, his voice a little breathless. "But man, I'm winded from today."

Jon exchanged a look with their dad, Solofa, who stood nearby with concern etched on his face. “Is it the meds?” Jon asked.

Jey nodded. “Yeah, probably. Feels like they’re hitting me harder than I thought.”

“It’s okay to rest a bit more dad.” Jaciyah said.

“Yeah just an hour… can you all give me an hour?” Jey asked and everyone agreed.

Rhea stepped in, her voice gentle but firm. “I’ll get him into bed.”

Jey appreciated her stepping in, and together they made their way inside, toward the guest room. The sheets had been freshly washed since Joseph and Almia were about to head home in a few hours, but for now, the space was his.

Jey sat down heavily on the bed, feeling the exhaustion in every muscle. His arm, still in the sling, throbbed slightly, and Rhea helped him ease out of his jacket. Her touch was careful, knowing exactly where his injuries were most sensitive.

As he lay back, feeling the comfort of the bed beneath him, his eyes flickered to Rhea’s face again. That question wouldn’t go away.

As Jey was against the pillows, he tried to get his arm in the sling comfortable, but to no avail. He glanced over at Rhea, who was tucking the covers around him with a gentle, almost mechanical precision. The room was quiet, the distant sound of his family in the living room barely filtering through the walls. But that detective’s question was still gnawing at him, and he couldn’t shake it.

Jey shifted slightly, his mind racing. He had to ask her. He’d asked her before, sure, but this time… this time it felt different. It wasn’t just suspicion anymore, it was doubt. And he hated feeling like this.

“Rhea,” he said softly, watching her as she pulled away from the bed to turn off the light.

“Yeah?” she replied, turning back to him with a soft smile.

Jey hesitated, licking his lips before taking a deep breath. “Were you… were you still sleeping with Matt while we were together?”

Rhea froze, her hand still on the light switch. Her smile faded almost instantly, and the color drained from her face. She stood there for a moment, her body rigid, before slowly lowering her hand. She walked over to the bed and sat next to Jey.

“Jey, I—” she started, her voice wavering.

Jey’s eyes narrowed, the exhaustion from the day not enough to suppress the tension growing inside him. “I’m asking you straight up, Rhea. I need to know. Were you still with him when you and me were together?”

Rhea looked away, her eyes glassy as she bit down on her lip. Jey could see the conflict in her face, the way her chest heaved slightly as she struggled to find the words.

“You told me no before,” Jey pressed. “You said I was the only one.”

Rhea’s shoulders began to tremble, and Jey could see the cracks forming in her composure. Her hands shook as she clutched them together, her knuckles turning white.

“I— I didn’t want to hurt you,” she whispered, her voice breaking. “I didn’t—”

“Didn’t what, Rhea?” Jey’s voice grew sharper, his frustration bubbling to the surface. “Didn’t want to hurt me, or didn’t want me to know the truth?”

Tears started streaming down her cheeks as she crumpled, her body sagging as if the weight of her guilt was finally too much to bear. “Yes, Jey,” she choked out, her voice barely a whisper. “I did. I was still with him… while I was with you.”

Jey’s heart sank, a cold wave washing over him. He stared at her, unable to speak for a moment as the truth hit him like a punch to the gut. All this time, he’d believed her. He’d trusted her.

“Why?” he asked, his voice quieter now, almost heartbroken.

Rhea collapsed into the bed, her hands covering her face as she sobbed. “I didn’t know how to leave him. I thought… I thought I could just pretend like it wasn’t happening. I thought I could make it work with you, that I could move on and leave him behind. But I couldn’t. I was scared, Jey. I was scared of him. And I was scared of losing you.”

Jey’s chest tightened as he listened to her, the hurt and betrayal swirling in his mind. He didn’t know what to say, what to feel. All he knew was that the woman he loved had lied to him—had kept a piece of herself hidden from him all this time.

“Why didn’t you just tell me?” he asked, his voice thick with emotion. “Why lie to me?”

Rhea wiped her tears away, her eyes red and swollen as she looked at him with a broken expression. “Because I didn’t want to lose you,” she whispered. “And now… I’m so scared I already have.”

Jey sat there, staring at Rhea as she cried next to him. Her words echoed in his mind—I didn’t want to lose you. But all he could think about was how she’d already lost him the moment she chose to lie. It wasn’t just the affair anymore; it was the trust she had shattered.

He ran a hand over his face, feeling the tightness in his chest growing with every passing second. He wanted to be angry. He wanted to yell, to scream, to release the hurt that was bubbling up inside him. But all he could do was sit there, frozen in place, as everything sank in.

“So, you were scared,” Jey said quietly, his voice almost hollow. “But you were still sleeping with him. Even after we started… everything.”

Rhea nodded slowly, her head hanging low. “Yes,” she admitted. “But not because I loved him. I didn’t love him anymore, Jey. I swear. I just—” She cut herself off, trying to control her sobs. “I didn’t know how to leave.”

“Rhea,” Jey started, his voice thick with frustration and exhaustion, “you should’ve told me the truth. You could’ve come to me. We could’ve dealt with it together. But now, how am I supposed to trust you when you kept that from me?”

Rhea’s tears flowed harder, her hands trembling as she wiped at her face. “I know,” she whispered. “I know I should have told you. I just… I was afraid, Jey. Afraid of losing you. Our sex turned into love making so quickly when I came back and then it’s like I just forgot that we were in an affair. I’m so sorry.”

Jey let out a long, shaky breath, his heart aching. He wanted to believe her—he wanted to believe that she was sorry, that she regretted it all. But the pain was still too fresh, the wound still too raw.

“What do we do now?” he asked, his voice barely audible. He wasn’t sure if he was asking her or himself. Could they move past this? Could they rebuild what had been broken?

Rhea looked up at him, her eyes filled with desperation. “I’ll do anything,” she said, her voice trembling. “Anything to make this right. Just please… don’t leave me, Jey. I can’t lose you. Not now.”

Jey shook his head, his emotions warring inside him. “I don’t know, Rhea. I don’t know if I can just forget this. I love you, but… this hurts. It hurts so damn much.”

Rhea stood up, moving closer to the bed, reaching for his hand. “I know, baby. I know. And I’ll spend the rest of my life making it up to you if you let me. Just… give me a chance.”

Jey closed his eyes, feeling the weight of everything crushing down on him. He didn’t know what to do. All he knew was that he still loved her, and that made everything right… right?

Jey felt his heart shatter a little more as the words hung in the air. “I think we need a break,” he said, the weight of the statement settling heavily on his chest. He tried to mask the turmoil behind his eyes, but Rhea could see through it. She didn’t respond, her silence filling the room with a tension that felt suffocating.

Instead, Rhea slowly got to her feet, her gaze dropping to the floor as she began to gather her things. Jey watched her move, every action a reminder of the love they had built and the fragile state it was in now. She walked over to the closet, her hands trembling as she pulled out a small suitcase.

“I’ll be at a hotel until…” she started, but her voice trailed off. The words hung unspoken, a silent acknowledgment that she didn’t know how long this break would last.

Jey felt a desperate urge to reach out, to tell her to stay. He wanted to scream that he loved her, that they could work through this, but the words caught in his throat. Instead, he sat there, a silent observer as she quietly packed her essentials—a few outfits, toiletries, and a couple of personal items that seemed to hold the weight of their shared memories.

His heart raced as he fought with himself, the conflict raging inside him like a storm. He should have been begging her to stay, pleading for her to reconsider. But the hurt was too fresh, and he wasn’t sure if he could handle seeing her every day knowing what he now knew.

Jey forced himself to breathe steadily, trying to make sense of everything. He could still hear her quiet sobs, the sound haunting him as she zipped up the suitcase and glanced at him one last time.

“I’ll text you when I’m settled,” Rhea said softly, her voice thick with emotion.

Jey nodded, feeling the distance between them grow wider with each passing second. He wanted to say something—anything—but the words refused to come. Instead, he watched helplessly as she picked up her bag and moved toward the door.

As Rhea opened it, a gust of air rushed in, carrying with it the finality of their situation. “Rhea..” Jey called out, but the words felt weak, fading as quickly as they were spoken. “It’s just a break..”

She paused, glancing back at him with a mix of hope and sorrow, but then she steeled herself and stepped through the doorway, leaving him in silence.

Jey sank back into the bed, the reality of what he had just done crashing over him like a tidal wave. What the hell did I just do?

He felt as if he had thrown away the most important thing in his life, and now he was left alone with his thoughts and the haunting echoes of their love. He had wanted to protect himself, to shield his heart from further pain, but now all he felt was an emptiness that threatened to consume him.

The room felt colder without her warmth, and he was left grappling with regret, confusion, and a longing for the comfort of her presence. Jey buried his face in his hands, wondering if he had made a terrible mistake. Would this break mean the end of everything they had fought for? Or would it be the catalyst they needed to truly heal?

—

ONE. MONTH. LATER.

December 8th, 2024. 9:19 PM

A month had slipped by since Jey had uttered those fateful words that fractured everything they had built together. Rhea sat in her small weekly unit in Pensacola, a space that felt both foreign and suffocating. The walls around her felt like they were closing in, reminders of a life once filled with laughter and love, now haunted by uncertainty.

Weekly doctor’s appointments had become routine, each visit a reminder of the brain injury that still shadowed her. The doctors spoke in measured tones, offering her reassurance, but Rhea struggled to hear their words over the turmoil in her mind. Her progress was slow, but she pushed herself to attend therapy sessions, believing that maybe—just maybe—she could reclaim the woman she used to be.

The trial against Matt had been pushed back, leaving her with a sense of helplessness as she awaited justice. His charges had escalated, with the DA adding an Attempted Murder charge, the weight of his actions against Jey looming over them like a storm cloud. And as the days rolled on, Trinity and Jon made it their mission to check in on her frequently. They were worried, and Rhea could see it in their eyes.

“You need to be with him, Rhea,” Trinity insisted one evening a week ago, her voice filled with an urgency that struck a chord in Rhea’s heart. “You can’t keep doing this to yourselves.”

Rhea felt torn, her heart yearning for Jey while her mind echoed the doubts and fears that had driven them apart. “It’s not that simple,” she replied, her voice barely above a whisper.

Jon chimed in, “You both need each other. Whatever happened, you can work through it. Jey’s not the same without you.”

But Rhea’s silence spoke volumes. She had grown accustomed to just doing what needed to be done, to moving through her days in a haze. She focused on her workouts, pushing her body to its limits, believing that if she could become physically stronger, maybe she could heal emotionally. She saw her therapist weekly, but even those sessions felt like a chore, a reminder of the gaping void left by Jey’s absence.

Thanksgiving was especially hard, since she still couldn’t travel, she had decided she was going to make her own dinner. When she found herself picking out the smallest turkey she could find, single servings of sides, a slice of pumpkin pie, she almost broke down while paying for the food. Her family was across the world, Jey’s family was here, it felt almost… unfair. However, after she cooked her own meal, and ate turkey sandwiches for the next few days; she accepted the fact that she was just existing.

Meanwhile, Jey was grappling with his own demons. He had told everyone that Rhea needed to take time for herself due to a family emergency, a convenient lie that shielded him from the truth and the inevitable questions that followed. But deep down, he knew the reality was far more complicated.

When confronted by Jon, Joe, and Joseph that same evening, the truth spilled out like a broken dam. “What really happened, Jey?” Jon pressed, arms crossed, concern etched on his face.

With a heavy heart, Jey shared the details—the argument, the hurtful words, the overwhelming sense of betrayal. “I just thought… I thought it was for the best,” he muttered, his voice strained.

“You made a big mistake, man,” Joe said softly, shaking his head. “You have to fix this.”

“You guys are suspose to be on my side…” Jey snapped, frustration boiling over. But as he glanced at their concerned faces, he realized they were right. He felt the irony of the situation sink in. “If Rhea and Matt had stopped being intimate after they got married, wouldn’t that raise some flags?” Jon’s words echoed in his mind.

“Yeah? Wouldn’t she have to explain why all of sudden she wants to stop having sex with her freshly married husband?” Joe added.

And just like that, Jey was forced to confront a painful truth—maybe he had made a mistake. But pride was a hell of a thing, a bullshit thing, and it prevented him from reaching out. Each night, he found himself crying into his pillow, the weight of his decisions crashing down on him. The emptiness of their home without Rhea felt suffocating.

After two weeks apart, the police finally allowed him to return to their house, the memories of love and laughter replaced by shadows of sorrow. Every day that passed felt like another piece of him was lost to the void, the absence of Rhea gnawing at his insides.

Despite the pain of separation, there was one thing neither of them had been able to part with—their jewelry. Rhea wore Jey’s chain and the one he had gifted her for her birthday, feeling its weight against her chest as a reminder of the love they had shared. She also kept her matching permanent bracelet, engraved with his full name, a token of their bond. The necklace he had given her, containing their miscarried baby’s ashes, hung delicately, its presence both a comfort and a reminder of their loss. And her engagement ring, which also held a portion of their baby’s ashes, was a constant source of warmth, a symbol of the commitment that still lingered between them, even if they had been unable to face it.

As Jey sat alone in their bedroom, the silence pressed in on him. He picked up some of Rhea’s clothing from the bed, clutching it in his hands. The fabric felt foreign yet familiar, the scent of her lingering on the material, a bittersweet reminder of the love they had once celebrated. “What have I done?” he whispered to himself, the words tasting bitter in his mouth. He could hear Rhea’s… no. His and Rhea’s dogs running around in the house and he heard the cat tree fall once more.. Fucking Storm..

Rhea, on the other hand, lay in bed that night, staring at the ceiling as the memories washed over her. The weight of the jewelry against her skin was a comforting reminder of what they once had. She closed her eyes, wishing she could turn back time, wishing she could find a way to reach him again.

But for now, they were both trapped in their own silence, desperately yearning for a connection that felt just out of reach.

Rhea remained in that position, but her mind was elsewhere. She grabbed her phone and went to the TikTok app to take her mind off things for a bit. As she scrolled through her phone, the screen lit up with an incoming call from Damian. She hesitated for a moment before answering.

“Hey, Rhea. How are you doing?” Damian’s voice was warm and familiar, cutting through the solitude that had settled over her.

“I’m just here,” Rhea replied, trying to sound nonchalant. “You know, same old.”

Damian let out a sigh. “I think you should just talk to Jey.”

Rhea’s heart twisted at the mention of his name. “If he wanted to be with me, he would come back on his own.”

“Rhea…” he said, his tone softening. “You have no idea what Jey went through when you were in that coma.”

“Don’t use it against me, Damian,” she shot back, her voice sharper than intended.

“I am, and I’m gonna,” he replied, his persistence evident.

Rhea sighed again, feeling the weight of the world pressing down on her. She glanced at the clock; the minutes dragged on like hours. “What do you want me to do? Just sit here and wait?”

“Actually, I’ve got a little surprise for you,” he said, diverting the conversation. “I ordered you something on DoorDash. Just got the alert that it’s been delivered.”

“Damian, you didn’t have to—” she began, but her words trailed off as she felt a flicker of curiosity. “What did you get me?”

“Just go check,” he urged, and Rhea rolled her eyes playfully before getting up from the couch.

As she opened the door, she was met with a brown bag on her doorstep. Confused but intrigued, she grabbed it and returned to the living room, placing it on the mini table. With a quick tear, she opened the bag, spilling its contents onto the table.

“It’s just a bag of KitKats, some chips, and beef jerky,” Rhea stated, her eyebrows knitted together in confusion.

“Move the KitKats,” Damian instructed, his tone teasing.

Rhea complied, pushing the chocolate aside, and gasped. Beneath the candies lay a small, skinny box that could easily be mistaken for a mascara box.

“What the hell is this?” she asked, her curiosity piqued.

“Pee on it and then FaceTime me the results,” he said nonchalantly.

Rhea laughed, shaking her head in disbelief. “There’s no way I could be pregnant, Damian.”

“I knew you were pregnant the first time. I feel it this time,” he said, his voice earnest.

Rolling her eyes, Rhea picked up the box and read the instructions. “This is ridiculous,” she muttered under her breath.

“Hey, I’ve heard you have sex with Jey. Hearing you pee is a cakewalk,” he teased, and Rhea couldn’t help but chuckle.

“Thanks for that mental image,” she replied sarcastically. “Okay, I’ll be right back.” She balanced the phone on her shoulder and headed to the bathroom.

Once inside, she closed the door and set the phone down on the counter, Damian’s contact picture still visible. “It’s weird having you on the phone while I pee,” she said, trying to focus.

“Just don’t drop the phone in the toilet,” he laughed.

Rhea rolled her eyes again but couldn’t suppress a smile. She finished her business, carefully capping the stick and placing it on the counter. After flushing the toilet and washing her hands, she pressed the FaceTime button, watching as Damian’s face appeared on her screen.

“This is stupid,” she said, shaking her head.

“$500 bucks bet on it,” he replied, his expression serious.

“Deal,” she said, feeling a mix of excitement and trepidation. “How much longer?”

“About 30 seconds,” she replied, glancing at the timer on the stick. “But there’s no way I could be pregnant.”

Damian raised an eyebrow. “We’ll see about that.”

Rhea leaned against the bathroom counter, her heart racing. The anticipation hung heavy in the air, mingling with her anxiety and curiosity. As the seconds ticked by, she couldn’t help but wonder what the results would reveal. Would her life take yet another unexpected turn?

As Rhea held the pregnancy test, the words “holy shit” escaped her lips in a stunned whisper. The results were undeniably clear, and the realization sent her heart racing. She held up the stick for Damian to see, and his face broke into a big ass smile, radiating pure joy. “I guess you are $500 richer..”

“I told you I would be here for you no matter what! Now go and tell Jey,” he urged, his excitement infectious.

With a nod, Rhea felt a surge of determination but also an undercurrent of anxiety. She took a deep breath, trying to steady her racing heart as Damian hung up.

Rhea opened her contacts, locating Jey’s name. Her thumb hovered over the screen as she saw his location displayed at their house. She looked up at the ceiling, speaking to the universe, or maybe just to herself. “Listen, I know I did some fucked-up shit by not telling Jey, but I swear if Jey takes me back, can you lay off all of this chaos? Because I already have a brain injury from a stupid ass mistake that I made. I think we are due for some happiness.”

The thought of finally finding that happiness ignited a flicker of hope within her. She quickly changed into a pair of sweatpants and a jacket, slipping on her Vans before heading out the door.

As she drove, every bump in the road seemed to echo her anxiety. Memories of laughter and warmth mixed with pain and regret replayed in her mind—every moment that had led her to this very point.

Finally, she arrived at the house, her heart pounding with anticipation. But as she approached the front door, she noticed something had changed. The door had been replaced, and a new Ring security camera glinted above her. Figures. Jey wanted his security and privacy now, that’s what happens when you almost lose your life.

Taking a deep breath, she rang the doorbell and waited, her stomach churning with a mix of nerves and excitement. After a few moments, she heard the unmistakable sound of multiple locks unlocking, and then Jey opened the door.

He smiled, but neither of them said anything at first. The silence hung between them, charged with unspoken words and emotions that had built up over the past month.

“Hey,” he finally said, his voice low and inviting.

“Hey,” Rhea replied, her heart racing as she stepped inside, crossing the threshold into the warmth of their shared space. She walked into the house and he closed the door, locking it instantly.

Just like the last time they had been together, that magnetic pull was still there. It was as if no time had passed at all, the invisible thread that had drawn them together in the first place never dissipating, never fading.

Rhea looked up into Jey’s eyes, and before she could think, he closed the distance between them. His lips crashed against hers in a passionate kiss that took her breath away. She melted into him, wrapping her arms around his neck, feeling the familiar comfort of his presence wash over her.

Even though Jey winced slightly from the pain in his right shoulder, he lifted her effortlessly, and she instinctively wrapped her legs around his waist. The world outside faded away as he carried her toward the couch, their connection reigniting the spark that had once burned so brightly between them.

“God, I missed you,” he murmured against her lips, his voice filled with longing and relief.

“I missed you too,” Rhea admitted, her heart soaring as he set her down gently on the couch. They stayed locked in each other’s gaze, the chemistry between them palpable.

“Things have changed,” she started, but Jey interrupted her.

“Let’s not talk about the past right now,” he said, brushing his fingers through her hair. “Just let me make love to you..”

Rhea nodded, understanding the unspoken agreement. In that moment, they didn’t need to discuss the chaos that had surrounded them. All that mattered was the two of them, together again, feeling the weight of their shared love.

Jey leaned in again, capturing her lips in another kiss that sent butterflies fluttering in her stomach. She felt alive, ignited by the connection they shared.

“Rhea,” he murmured against her lips, “I need to know… are you okay? Really okay?”

“I am now,” she whispered, her eyes shining with sincerity.

Their foreheads rested against each other, both savoring the moment. Outside, the world continued on, but inside, in their little bubble, everything felt perfect. Together, they would navigate the challenges ahead, and for the first time in a long time, Rhea felt hopeful about the future.

As their lips met once more, the kiss deepened, igniting a wildfire of emotions that had been simmering beneath the surface for far too long. It was a dance of longing and relief, their bodies pressing closer as if they were two pieces of a puzzle finally fitting together. Every ounce of love, regret, and desire poured into that kiss, each brush of their lips speaking volumes.

Jey's hands roamed Rhea's back, fingers tracing her spine as she clung to him, wanting to dissolve into him completely. She felt a surge of warmth radiate from him, and the world outside faded away, leaving only the two of them and the unyielding connection they shared. Rhea moaned softly, feeling a rush of tears as they poured out their pent-up feelings, the relief of being together after everything washing over them like a gentle tide.

After what felt like an eternity, they finally pulled back, breathless and wide-eyed, their foreheads resting against each other. The room was filled with a charged silence, the air thick with unspoken words. They stared at each other, searching for answers in each other's eyes.

Jey brushed his fingers through her hair, tucking a stray strand behind her ear. "I love you," he said softly, his voice steady but filled with emotion.

Rhea's heart skipped a beat at his words.

She could see the sincerity etched on his face, the weight of their shared experiences reflected in his eyes. "I love you too," she whispered, her voice trembling with vulnerability.

A soft smile spread across Jey's face, lighting up his features. "I could never really leave you..”

Rhea felt a rush of warmth envelop her, a mixture of joy and relief flooding her senses.

"I thought I lost you. I was scared... scared of losing everything," she admitted, her voice so afraid of still saying everything.

"You didn't lose me," Jey replied firmly, his grip on her tightening. "I've been here, fighting my own demons, just like you. We're staying in this together now."

Their eyes locked, and for a moment, the world around them disappeared completely.

The weight of their past seemed to lift, replaced by the promise of a brighter future.

"You gonna’ be my wife Rhea.. you are the ocean and I’m a fish.. I can’t fucking leave you at all… you leave and I die without you..” Jey said while keeping his eyes on her. Rhea looked away for a moment and looked back at him, her heart racing. "Can I show you something?”

Jey nodded, his expression serious yet soft. Rhea bit her lip and she closed her eyes, her face contorted with worry. Jey felt her hand reach into her sweatpants, she pulled out something and Jey didn’t freak out. Not like the first time in Portland. She showed the pregnancy test to Jey and he took it and saw the word, ‘Pregnant’. Jey smiled softly. He set the pregnancy test on the coffee table and turned back to look at her.

"I promise. Whatever it takes, we'll face it together."

As they leaned in once more, the kiss resumed, this time filled with a sense of hope and renewal. Rhea felt as though they were both being reborn in that moment, the barriers that had once held them back crumbling away. It was more than just a physical connection; it was a reaffirmation of their love, a promise of commitment that they were both ready to embrace.

With every kiss, every touch, Rhea knew they were building a new foundation, one that was stronger and more resilient than before. They would navigate whatever chaos lay ahead, hand in hand, heart in heart. Rhea kicked off her shoes and Jey reached to pull down her sweatpants and she was able to finish shrugging them off. Jey yearned for her skin, the feeling her, he had missed her so much.

Now.. for the first time in a long time, he was going to make love to the mother of his future children. Jey sucked on Rhea’s neck so passionately as he put a hand underneath her shirt to feel her breasts. Rhea moaned as Jey sucked passionately on her neck and Rhea’s nails pierced into his back. They were determined, they needed each other, needed to prove to each other that they still wanted each other. Jey finally pulled back, satisfied with the mark he left on her neck, Jey moved down and pushed up her shirt as his lips connected with her nipple. Rhea licked her palm and she stuck her hand down in her thong and rubbed her pussy. She spread her legs more as she felt Jey and his… manhood.

As Jey sucked on her breast, an urgent voice was produced from Rhea, “Please fuck me..” Jey smiled. “Tell me what you need..” Jey commanded. “Make love to me..” Rhea said softly, correcting herself.

Jey quickly pulled his briefs down just a bit and both of them were so engrossed in the moment when they both heard a throat clearing

“Maybe I should go home to Trinity..”

Rhea and Jey peaked over the sofa as Jon stood there, his eyes widened and in shock.

“Ugh… actually… I’m a bit …” Jey wanted to say exposed but the he was afraid of what Jon would say. Jon quickly covered his eyes with one hand and used the free hand to walk his way to the door, with a swift exit Jon left.

“Imma be honest… I forgot Jon was here..” Jey admitted.

“We will deal with this after just fuck me right now.” Rhea demanded and Jey nodded ever so quickly, he kissed her again and he reached to pull his dick out of his briefs, the two kissed passionately as Jey thrusted into her, “Ahhh.. oh..ohhh oh fuck..” Rhea cried against Jey’s lips as she held on to Jey.

“I fucking.. missed you .. so fucking much..” Jey said in between groans as he kept thrusting into Rhea, with every thrust it was more powerful. Rhea moaned every time Jey hit the end of her.

“How are you so… tight?” Jey asked as he was struggling to keep up his pace.

“I only rubbed myself all this month..” she said while giving him a snarky grin.

“Bad girl..” He groaned and he used a free hand to cup her cheek and Rhea kissed his thumb. She then stuck out her tongue to lick his thumb and then she wrapped her mouth around it. She loved to tease Jey. Jey pulled her close as he thrusted deeper, “Baby don’t drag it on.. hurry and cum..” Rhea said.

“Ride me real quick..” Jey said and Rhea nodded. He pulled her up using his good arm and Rhea adjusted herself on him to make sure she was comfortable. Rhea rose up and down, gravitating her hips to find Jey’s sweet spot. After a very few moments, Jey soon found hisself reaching his climax and Rhea could feel him.

Then it happened, Jey came. Now it wasn’t as passionate but to Rhea, the discomfort she had experienced was now relieved. Rhea kissed him softly as she slowly got up from him. Afterward, Rhea lay back against the couch, her chest rising and falling as she tried to catch her breath. The tension between her and Jey, from their long separation, had melted away in the heat of the moment. Both Jey and Rhea pulled on their underwear and fixed themselves.

Jey sat up slightly, his eyes focused on her with a bit of curiosity. “Why’d you tell me to hurry up, babe?” he asked, his tone light but laced with concern.

Rhea hesitated, not wanting to ruin the moment. She felt her body tense slightly, but she sighed and decided to be honest. “I felt some… discomfort,” she admitted, her voice soft.

Jey’s brow furrowed, and he immediately shifted closer to her, his hand resting gently on her thigh. “Was I going too hard?” he asked, his voice laced with genuine worry.

She gave a small, embarrassed smile. “Yeah, a little,” she replied. “But don’t read too much into it. It’s just… it’s been a month since we last did anything.”

Jey nodded, his expression softening as he leaned in and kissed her tenderly. “I get it,” he said, reassuring her with his touch. “But you used to like it when I went deep,” he teased, trying to bring a playful smile back to her face.

Rhea chuckled, nudging him lightly. “Don’t push your luck, Uce.”

Jey grinned, satisfied with her response. He kissed her again, a softer, more intimate kiss this time. When he pulled back, he seemed to be contemplating something for a moment before he stood up and grabbed his briefs. Rhea adjusted her bra and she fixed her underwear.

“Wanna see something?” Jey asked with a mischievous glint in his eyes.

Rhea arched a brow in curiosity while sitting up. “What is it?”

Jey didn’t answer directly. Instead, he reached out his hand for her, and she took it, following him through the house. He led her down the hall to the third guest bedroom, which doubled as Jeyce’s room whenever he stayed with them.

Jey pushed open the door, revealing a surprise. In the corner of the room sat a 61-key electric piano. It gleamed under the soft light, simple yet beautiful. Rhea’s eyes widened, surprised. “When did you get this?”

Jey smiled as he walked over to the piano, running his hand across the keys. “Jeyce wanted to learn how to play, so I got it for him.”

Rhea stepped closer, her fingers brushing lightly against the sleek surface. “I didn’t know you could play.”

Jey chuckled, pulling out the bench and sitting down. “One of my hidden talents,” he admitted, flashing her a grin.

Rhea’s eyes lit up. “Play something for me.”

Jey’s smile grew as he reached for a music book stashed on the side of the piano. He flipped through the pages for a moment before landing on a song he knew well. With a quick glance at Rhea, he positioned his hands on the keys and began to play.

As the soft melody filled the room, Rhea felt her heart skip a beat. It took her a moment to recognize the song, but once she did, it hit her like a wave of nostalgia. It was “Young and Beautiful” by Lana Del Rey, the same song Jey had sung to her when she woke from her coma.

The song echoed in her memory, bringing her back to that fragile, intimate moment between them when she had opened her eyes and found him beside her, singing softly through the haze of her recovery. It was a reminder of how far they had come, and how much they had been through together.

Rhea stood still, frozen in her tracks as she watched Jey play. His fingers moved gracefully across the keys, the sound of the piano filling the room with emotion. She felt tears well up in her eyes, but she didn’t fight them. This was them—this was their love, raw and unspoken, shared through moments like these.

Jey finished the song, his fingers gently pressing the last note as he looked up at her, his eyes searching hers. Rhea stepped closer, sitting beside him on the piano bench, her heart swelling with love for the man beside her.

“You’re full of surprises, aren’t you?” she whispered, her voice thick with emotion.

Jey smiled softly, his hand finding hers. “Only for you, button nose..” he said, squeezing her hand gently.

In that quiet room, with the lingering notes of the piano still hanging in the air, they sat in silence, simply existing in the comfort of each other’s presence. There was still so much left unspoken between them, but in that moment, it didn’t matter. This was enough.

—

The next day, as Rhea and Jey were on their way back from picking up Rhea’s clothes from her rental, Jey’s eyes caught sight of a Christmas tree farm they hadn’t noticed before. Without a word, he turned the wheel and pulled into the lot.

Rhea looked up from her phone, confused. “What are we doing here?” she asked, her brows furrowing as she took in the rows of trees, glowing lights, and a few families wandering about.

Jey gave her a grin. “Since the last two holidays have been shit for us,” he said, his voice firm with a hint of playfulness, “we’re going all out on Christmas this year.”

Rhea’s surprise quickly turned into a soft smile. There was something in the way Jey was trying, trying for them, trying for this moment. “You’re really serious about this?”

“Dead serious,” Jey said, pulling his jacket tighter around himself as he opened the door to step out.

Rhea chuckled and followed his lead, slipping her phone into her pocket and pulling on her jacket. She exited the jeep and joined Jey as they made their way towards the entrance, the Pensacola weather nipping at their skin. She shivered slightly as Jey draped an arm around her shoulders, pulling her closer as they walked side by side.

The moment they reached the farm’s entrance, a friendly-looking tree salesman approached them with a wide smile. “How are y’all doing today?” he asked, his eyes quickly recognizing the famous couple in front of him.

“We’re okay,” Jey said, returning the smile. Rhea nodded in agreement beside him.

The salesman glanced between them, his grin widening. “What kind of tree are you folks lookin’ for?”

Rhea looked up at Jey with a playful twinkle in her eye. “I’ve always wanted a big one. A really big one.”

Jey chuckled, his hand rubbing her back gently. “Yeah, we’re thinking something huge,” he agreed.

The salesman’s face lit up. “Only the best for the best wrestlers there are, huh?”

Jey and Rhea couldn’t help but smile at that. It was strange sometimes to realize how recognizable they were, but in moments like this, it felt nice.

The salesman motioned for them to follow him, leading them deeper into the rows of trees. “I think I’ve got just the one for y’all.”

They followed him past dozens of trees, some large, some small, but nothing that really caught their eye. Then, he stopped in front of one particularly massive tree. It stood about twelve feet tall and had a full, round shape with thick branches, perfect for holding lights and ornaments. It was full of character—imposing, yet somehow cozy.

Jey and Rhea both stared at the tree in awe.

Rhea was the first to break the silence. “That’s the one,” she said, her voice almost reverent.

Jey nodded, a grin spreading across his face. “Yeah, that’s it.”

The salesman smiled, clearly pleased with their reaction. “Good choice. You want me to strap it on your jeep?”

“How much for the tree and strapping it?” Jey asked, reaching for his wallet, knowing how massive the tree was and how it might be a hassle to handle.

The salesman waved him off with a laugh. “Nonsense! Anything for you, Mr. Uso. Consider it on the house.”

Jey chuckled as he put his wallet away. “Thanks, man. I appreciate it.”

Rhea smiled and she saw the QR code for Donations, she quickly captured on her phone and as the link to her to the site, she made $300 donation to the tree farm.

As they watched the salesman and his crew carefully lift the tree and start tying it down on the top of the jeep, Rhea looked up at Jey. There was a warmth in her chest, a comfort she hadn’t felt in months. “I guess this is our thing now, huh? Going all out for Christmas.”

Jey looked down at her and smiled. “Yeah, this is our thing. We need this.”

Rhea leaned into him, feeling a little bit of hope rekindle. This was a new beginning for them, or at least a step in the right direction.

—

Jon and Trinity sat in their car, engine idling, as they waited outside of Jey and Rhea’s house. The crisp air carried the hint of the season, and they could see their breath as they chatted quietly. Jon checked his phone, glancing at the time before turning to Trinity.

“You think we should tell them tonight?” Trinity asked, her voice filled with excitement, yet tempered by the weight of the moment. “It feels like the right time.”

Jon nodded. “Yeah, it’s only fair. They’ve been through a lot. Plus, they should be the first to know.”

Just as he spoke, the familiar sight of Rhea’s jeep pulling into the driveway brought a smile to both of their faces. But that smile quickly turned into disbelief as Jon caught sight of the massive tree strapped to the top of the vehicle.

“What the fuck?” Jon muttered under his breath, eyes widening at the sight of the enormous, bent Christmas tree practically swallowing the jeep.

Trinity sighed, shaking her head with a smirk. “Ugh, you and Jey are your own breed, I swear. Only y’all would do something this extra.”

As Jey and Rhea hopped out of the jeep, they approached Jon and Trinity with grins on their faces. Jey stretched his good arm, clearly pleased with their haul. “What’s up, Uce’?” Jey called, clearly amused by his brother’s reaction.

Jon pointed at the tree with disbelief still etched on his face. “Bruh, what did you do? Did you cut that thing down yourself?”

Rhea laughed, slipping her arm around Jey. “I always wanted a big tree, and well… we got one.”

Jey raised his eyebrow at her playfully. “She ain’t lyin’.”

Trinity stepped out of the car, shaking her head. “Y’all are something else. I’m guessing you need help getting this monster inside?”

Jey nodded, rubbing his shoulder. “Yeah, I ain’t lifting this beast with this bum arm.”

Jon rolled his eyes but smiled. “Alright, let’s do this.” He walked over to the jeep and immediately started helping Jey with the ropes holding the tree down.

Rhea unlocked the front door and swung it open as wide as it would go, making space for the enormous tree. “You guys got this, right?” she teased, stepping aside as Jon and Jey began maneuvering the massive tree toward the house.

Trinity stood by the door, directing them as they struggled to fit the tree inside without knocking over anything in the hallway. Rhea quickly moved the small hallway table out of the way, clearing as much space as possible. The sound of grunting and shuffling filled the house as Jon and Jey pushed the tree through the entryway, finally positioning it against the far wall where they had planned to place it.

As they stepped back, Rhea’s face lit up with joy. “It’s perfect!” she exclaimed, clapping her hands together.

Trinity, ever the realist, eyed the top of the tree, then looked at Rhea with a raised eyebrow. “Rhea… it’s bent. Like really bent.”

Jon and Jey exchanged glances, following her gaze to the top of the tree. Sure enough, the last four feet of the tree were completely bent against the ceiling, making it look a little… lopsided.

Jey let out a laugh, nudging Rhea. “Babe… did you know it was gonna do that?”

Rhea smiled sheepishly, her eyes sparkling with mischief. “Yup. I knew it was gonna bend.”

Jey tilted his head, folding his arms as he tried to figure her out. “So, uh… why exactly did you want a bent tree?”

Rhea’s grin grew wider as she looked at all of them. “It looks like the Whoville tree from The Grinch!”

As they stood around admiring their crooked Christmas tree, Jey stepped over to Rhea, wrapping his good arm around her waist. “This year… we’re doing it big.”

After Rhea finished explaining her love for the bent Christmas tree, comparing it to the Whoville tree from The Grinch, she turned to Trinity with a mischievous smile. “We need decorations! And I’m thinking… the full-on Grinch theme of course!”

Trinity raised an eyebrow, but her smile grew wide. “Of course you’d want a Grinch tree. That fits way too perfectly.”

Rhea grinned back. “Come on, we’re doing this! You’re coming with me to Hobby Lobby, right?”

Trinity shook her head playfully. “Yeah, okay. I need some stuff for my tree anyway. But don’t expect me to get all Grinch-y.”

The two of them grabbed their jackets, and with a final wave to Jon and Jey, headed out the door. Jey exchanged a glance with Jon as they left.

Jon raised an eyebrow. “You good?”

Jey chuckled, already anticipating Jon avoiding the couch after yesterday’s close call. “Yeah, help me out, and don’t even think about touching this couch.”

Jon laughed, shaking his head as he helped Jey adjust his position. “Yeah, man, not trying to get your babies on me..” The two brothers laughed.

With Rhea and Trinity on their mission to deck the halls, Jey and Jon finally settled into the living room. Jey leaned back, gingerly adjusting his shoulder, while Jon stretched out on the love seat.

“Think they’re really gonna pull off this Grinch Christmas thing?” Jon asked, his eyes drifting to the massive, crooked tree in the corner.

Jey smirked, looking over at the tree. “Man, Rhea’s determined. If she wants a Grinch Christmas, we’re getting a Grinch Christmas.”

Jon chuckled, shaking his head. “Well, I’m ready for it. I can tell this is gonna be one for the books.”

Jey nodded, a softer smile forming as he stared at the tree. “Yeah, it’s been a while since I’ve seen her this happy. It feels good.”

Jon leaned back, studying his brother for a moment. He wanted to tell Jey about the good news he and Trinity had, but it didn’t feel like the right time. They’d wait—maybe after the holidays. Right now, Jey and Rhea needed this lighthearted moment to themselves.

At Hobby Lobby, Rhea was practically buzzing with excitement as she pulled into the parking lot. “I’m loving everything,” she said, already imagining how the tree would look. “The tree should be green, red, and a little chaotic.”

Trinity laughed as they grabbed a cart and walked inside. “You’re really embracing the Whoville look, huh?”

Rhea smirked. “Of course! Go big or go home, right?”

As they wandered through the aisles, Rhea tossed everything Grinch-related into the cart—green garlands, ornaments with Grinch faces, and even a fuzzy green tree skirt. Trinity browsed the more traditional decorations, shaking her head at Rhea’s selections but smiling the whole time.

“I swear, your tree is going to look insane,” Trinity said, holding up a red and white ornament for her own tree.

Rhea nodded proudly. “That’s the goal. I want this Christmas to be unforgettable. After everything we’ve been through this year… we deserve something fun.”

Trinity’s smile softened, appreciating how much this meant to Rhea. “You do deserve it. You and Jey both. I’m just so glad you guys are back together…”

As they continued shopping, Trinity thought about the news she and Jon were keeping from Jey and Rhea. She’d wanted to share it, but now didn’t feel like the right time. Rhea was so focused on creating this perfect Christmas, and Trinity didn’t want to shift the focus away from that—at least, not yet.

“So, what are you going for with your tree?” Rhea asked, snapping Trinity out of her thoughts.

“Something simple. Red and white, I think. Not as… out there as yours,” Trinity said with a grin.

Rhea laughed, holding up a Grinch head ornament. “Yeah, well, I’ve got the ‘out there’ part covered.”

They both laughed as they piled more decorations into the cart. As they checked out, Rhea’s excitement was contagious, and Trinity couldn’t help but feel grateful to be a part of this moment. For now, the joy of the holidays was all that mattered. And once they returned home, they’d help turn Rhea’s Grinch vision into reality.

—

“It’s perfect!” Rhea exclaimed as Jon placed the final Grinch ornament at the very top of the towering, bent tree, carefully balancing himself on the ladder. Her eyes sparkled as she stepped back to take in the full view of her masterpiece.

Trinity and Jey stood nearby, both a little astonished by how fully the Grinch theme had come to life. The tree, decorated with an explosion of green, red, and whimsical, chaotic ornaments, looked like it had been pulled straight out of Whoville. From the fuzzy green ornanments to the mischievous Grinch faces scattered throughout, the holiday spirit was alive in a way only Rhea could have imagined.

Jey chuckled, shaking his head in disbelief but admiring Rhea’s joy. He moved closer to her, slipping his good arm around her waist. “Whatever you want, babe,” he said, his voice soft but full of affection as he kissed her temple. He couldn’t help but smile seeing her so genuinely happy after everything they’d been through.

Trinity nodded in agreement, though she was still taken aback by the Grinch overload. “I gotta admit, I didn’t think this would work, but you pulled it off.”

Jon climbed down the ladder, wiping his hands on his jeans. “Yeah, I wasn’t sure about that bent tree, but now… it kinda works,” he said, grinning.

Rhea beamed with pride, stepping forward to adjust one of the ornaments. “See? I told you it would look like the tree from The Grinch. I wanted something different, something memorable.”

Jey leaned down, his lips brushing her ear as he whispered, “You always make things memorable.” His words carried a deeper meaning, but Rhea only smiled and leaned into his side.

—

Trinity carefully served hot cocoa into four individual mugs, setting a little bowl of chocolate chips, chocolate mints, and marshmallows on the tray. She brought it over to the coffee table where Rhea, Jon, and Jey sat, watching Monday Night Raw. The Intercontinental Championship tournament flashed across the screen, a reminder of how Jey had to step down due to the shooting.

Rhea, snuggled up to Jey, sprinkled chocolate mints and a few marshmallows into her mug while sipping the warm drink. Jon and Trinity exchanged whispers, their voices too quiet to be overheard, and shared knowing glances.

Jey finally glanced at them, raising an eyebrow. “What’s on your mind, Uce’?”

Trinity smiled, placing a kiss on Jon’s cheek before turning to the group. “We’ve got some good news,” she said, her eyes sparkling.

Rhea, curious, set her mug down and leaned in. “Good news?”

With a proud smile, Trinity blurted, “I’m having a little Uce!”

The room lit up as Rhea screamed in excitement, jumping up to hug Trinity. “Oh my god, that’s incredible!” she exclaimed, squeezing her tightly. Jey, smiling wide, nodded toward Jon, clasping his shoulder in congratulations.

But before the moment could fully sink in, Rhea turned to Jey, eyes wide with excitement. “We are too,” she said, her voice breathless.

Trinity and Jon froze, their smiles turning into stunned expressions. “What?” Trinity asked, her eyes flicking between Rhea and Jey.

Rhea quickly jumped up from the couch and darted into the bedroom. In seconds, she was back, clutching a pregnancy test in her hand. She held it out for Jon and Trinity to see, her eyes glowing with excitement.

Jon blinked, speechless for a moment, before a huge grin spread across his face. Trinity’s hand shot to her mouth, tears welling up in her eyes as she looked at the positive test. “No way,” she whispered, her voice shaky with emotion. “Rhea, oh my god!”

Jey wrapped his arm around Rhea, pulling her close as he smiled at Jon and Trinity. The joy was palpable, filling the room with an overwhelming sense of happiness and hope for the future.

Now, both couples were celebrating a new chapter together—a double dose of good news, as two babies were on the way.

Author’s Note: I decided to give you guys a break and give you a happy chapter! But not for long:) I’m so happy for the all the feedback I’ve recieved in the previous chapters and I love each and every one of you! But hey man! I didn’t think I’d have Trinity and Rhea pregnant at the same time! But will it last… lol jk… or am I… am I not ? 😂😂😂🤦🏻‍♀️🤦🏻‍♀️🩷

[sillyteecup]

The Wrong Way

Roman Reigns x black!o.c

Jey Uso x black!o.c

Chapter 3

Warnings:

18+

Strong language

Slut shaming

Taglist: @wrestlingprincess80 @nbanenefrmdao @vebner37 @theninthwonder @tshepisho @lensilver @trentybenty @empressdede @queen-shadow22 @becauseimher @jstarr86

A.N: I would like to apologize to anyone who was expecting Main event Jey Uso. No pookies, this is 2021 Jey, or as I like to call him, "crashout Jey"🤭. Anyway, a delightful bunch our characters are yes? I honestly can't wait to get them to fully interact so we can see where this shit storm is going😭😭. Anyway here's chapter 3 of The Wrong Way. I hope you like it. Enjoy.❤️

The journey to Lori's new pris-home was long and silent. The Wiseman had arranged for her and her maidens to be seated in their own section of the jet with Sami for supervision. He said it was by the order of the Tribal Chief, which was a pleasant surprise to Loreal. However she still wasn't sold on the family.

Her maidens however were elated. Although they had not directly interacted with or even seen the Bloodline outside of Sami and the Wiseman, the closeness in proximity to the family was enough to spike their excitement levels. That paired with the opportunity to fly private with their Mistress. Previously When Lori and her family traveled, Lord Byron would have the Maidens fly commercial and in separate seats. No one understood why, and when Lori would protest he would be dismissive. So naturally, their current arrangement brought them joy.

While the maidens drank cocktails and shared hushed theories of how the palace would look, Lori sat opposite Sami in silence. His jaw often twitched as though he wanted to say something to her, but he never did. While he was slightly more relaxed away from the Tribal Chief, he was still on edge. Fidgeting with his rings and shifting relentlessly in his seat. All of the sudden movement was starting to annoy Lori.

"Sir-" she began, only to be interrupted by Sami.

"Sami. Just, Sami is fine, Miss Loreal," he said nervously with his hand up.

"That doesn't seem very inappropriate," Lori pointed out with an arched eyebrow.

"Well, Sir isn't exactly my title so calling me by name is as appropriate as it gets," Sami explained with a shrug.

Lori tilted her head as a look of confusion washed upon her features. "You are part of the most powerful family in the world, and you do not have a title?" she inquired.

Sami nodded before replying, "Well yes. But also no," he said vaguely.

"I don't follow," Lori said, folding her hands over her lap.

"I am a part of the Bloodline don't get me wrong. But I wasn't born into it, therefore no title. Well, unless you take, 'Honorary Uce' into account, but otherwise no title. Just good ole' Sami," Sami rambled, finishing his explanation with a nervous chuckle.

"Ah, I see. Honorary Uce Sami is quite the mouthful, but so is Miss Loreal. So you will call me Lori," Lori said jokingly to try and ease Sami's nerves.

"Lori," he sounded out slowly, as if testing it on his tongue. "I could work with that. Just not around the Tribal Chief," he added, his anxiety seeming to spike at the thought of Tribal Chief Roman.

"I'm sure he would not mind. At least until after the wedding," Lori shrugged, but Sami shook his head.

"Oh he would. He's very big on the title thing. Says it has to do with showing respect and humility," Sami explained.

"I don't think he'd care too much about showing me respect, I am after all an outsider. On top of that I am damaged. No one respects a damaged woman. They only seek to humble her," Lori said dryly, earning a soft small from Sami.

"I respect you, Lori," Sami said softly.

Lori's eyes softened. "Sami, while I appreciate the sentiment, you do not know me. You have no reason to respect me."

"Actually, I do have a reason. A couple actually," Sami stated, confidence slowly oozing into his tone making Lori smirk playfully.

"And praytell Sami, what are they?" she asked him.

Lori's smile grew at Sami's grin. His posture had slowly started to relax throught their conversation, and judging form his demeanor, he seemed very friendly. A stark difference from the family that took him in.

"Well, you're head strong, you're confident and you're kind. Well, at least kind to me and your maidens," Sami listed, counting his points with his fingers.

In a weird way, Sami reminded Lori of her mother. Although Azalea and her daughter hardly spoke, whenever they did, Lady Azalea always made sure to encourage and reassure Loreal. Lady Azalea would tell her that she was beautiful, intelligent, confident and kind. She would also remind Loreal not to let anyone take advantage of her kindness. Thus, her hot headed nature and occasionally cold demeanor.

"Thank you Sami. It might not mean much, but you have my respect as well," Lori replied softly.

She could've sworn she had just seen a tear roll down her new asset's eye.   

➽──────────────❥

Roman exited the jet, followed by his cousins. His hands rubbed at his temples as a headache had begun to set in from Jey's incessant complaining, paired with Jimmy's snarky rebuttals. He already tried his hardest to limit his time with the twins due to the constant bickering, always preferring Solo's quiet company above them. But if there was one thing he loathed, it was traveling with the twins because that meant he had to listen to every grating word.

Alas, however, the trip was over and he could finally get rid of them.

"It just feels so fucking disrespectful, you know? Of all the bitches yall could've picked, it had to be the one that's been around every street across the seas! I'm a prince man! I deserve better!" Jey complained for what was probably the 90th time since they had left the Moore house.

Roman had taken it with silence as he, to some extent understood his cousin's frustration. He knew that Jey felt undermined by the choice for his fiancé, and that he felt like a second-class citizen. However, Roman was not the one who chose Miss Loreal Moore, Rikishi, Jey's father was. And the last thing Roman wanted to do was involve himself in the affairs of a father and his son. Even if it was simply a power move.

Also, aside from her unfortunate status, Miss Loreal Moore was actually a good pick. Lord Byron held quite a lot of political influence across the seas and according to the file Lord Byron had sent to Paul, she was highly intelligent, she had a leadership streak, and she was incredibly ambitious. All of that was enough of a sell as it was, but it was at the meeting where she truly caught Roman's attention. Her defiance, to Roman, was a sign of strength.

Roman liked strong women.

Miss Loreal Moore was not a pushover, and that was a quality that she would need most in being part of and dealing with his family.

However, most of all, she was astoundingly beautiful.

Roman had hardly found himself in positions where he was taken by a woman's appearance. Apart from Nadine, he barely even noticed the women around him, but Loreal was a different story. Her piercing brown eyes, her glossy, plump, two-toned lips, her the stud on the left side of her wide nose and her deep, brown skin that seemed to glimmer in any atmosphere. That, paired with her breathtakingly curvy figure made it a mission for Roman not to stare at Miss Loreal Moore throught the meeting.

Miss Loreal Moore was going to be his cousin's wife in about a month. His thoughts on her looks were then thrown to the back his mind. They did not matter.

"I know you not talking, Mr 'I fuck every bitch that breathes in my direction'," Jimmy commented from his brother's side.

"Man, this is not the fucking time to be joking and shit! This is my fucking life we're talking about and I'm supposed to spend the rest of it with a ho?" Jey hissed, making Roman's temper flare up.

Clearly Jey was struggling to understand that this wasn't about him anymore. That this was a sacrifice he had to make for the family to prosper and maintain their power. Roman only hoped that Jey wouldn't fuck the engagement up, otherwise he would have to punish his cousin, and the last thing he ever wanted to do was hurt the man he considered his right hand man.

Jimmy waved him off before saying, "Man I don't see no difference. You a ho, she a ho-hell yall are perfect for each other if you ask me," Jimmy snickered.

"Well then it's a good thing nobody fucking asked you."

"Enough!" Roman grunted, immediately shutting his cousins up. He could've sworn he saw Solo's lips twitch into a grateful smile. But it was gone as soon as it appeared. Jimmy pressed his lips together in a thin line while Jey downright scowled. Roman sensed that his cousin had long passed the stage of dissatisfaction. He was angry, but he knew not to direct it at the wrong person.

"I understand. I understand that you don't like the fact that you're marrying a damaged woman. But you had your opportunity to choose a good woman for yourself," Roman started as he began to get in Jey's face.

"You had the chance to get you a fresh one, but you fucked up by deciding to fuck around with every whore that smiled at you. So if you wanna complain about the quality of woman your father found you, take that shit up with him, but never forget the chance you had to prevent that shit," Roman stated as he poked Jey in the chest to emphasize his point.

He then leaned in to whisper in his cousin's ear, "It's not about you anymore Uce. Get that through your thick fucking skull! This is about our family! This is about what's best for all of us," his tone was menacing as he reminded his cousin of the situation.

He stepped back to see Jey still scowling, but nodding in understanding. That was good. All Roman needed was for him to understand.

"You can still do your shit on the side, I'm sure she won't give a fuck anyway," Roman suggested. His short encounter with Miss Loreal Moore, although short, showed him that the regard she would show for his cousin was low.

As much as Jey knew about her reputation, Roman theorized she likely did not care in the slightest as she barely wanted to marry him in the first place. The only thing Roman worried about was her willingness to actually be a part of his family. That was a huge factor to take into consideration. One Roman would do everything in his power to sway in his favour.

"Yo Uce, your ho may be a ho, but she a mighty fine ho for sure," Jimmy said with a snicker.

Roman's eyes snapped to the open jet that had just landed. There she was, gracefully making her way down the stairs, wearing what seemed like her usual, disinterested, yet mildly irritated expression. Right behind her were her four servants, or maidens as her father had called them. The young women, each with eager smiles on their faces made their way down with their mistress's luggage and their own. Finally Sami stepped out holding another one of her bags. A gesture she rewarded with a kind smile that shocked Roman.

And angered him.

Roman watched in an unexplainable annoyance as Miss Loreal Moore conversated with Sami as she and her travel party made their way to him and his cousins. While the sight of her laughing at his jokes seemed to piss him off, the sound of her laughter did something to him. Something akin to casting an enchantment. However, it was washed away as soon as it was chanted. This was not the time.

"Miss Loreal Moore, I should hope that your flight was comfortable," Paul said as she approached.

Her happy expression quickly turned neutral, as if she had just remembered her situation all over again.

"It was. Thank you," she said curtly, her now scrutinizing gaze cutting through Roman's family and Paul in one clean swoop.

Paul, as though he had felt the slits of her irises like a blade to his skin, cleared his throat nervously before speaking again. "Well then, I'm sure the long journey has left you and your maidens in need of some rest. Tomorrow will be quite the long day," Paul said with a nervous chuckle.

Miss Loreal Moore's features never wavered from the stony expression she wore. Roman could feel her sizing him and his cousins up. He almost smirked at how shamelessly she glared.

"I agree Wiseman. But I must ask, will my fiancé be accompanying me to the palace?" she questioned, finally shifting her gaze to him. The bitterness in her tone was subtle, but still noticeable to Roman's ear.

Paul looked taken aback, not expecting her question as she seemed to not want any part in their marriage. Then it clicked in Roman's mind, she didn't know that Jey wouldn't be staying at the palace during their engagement. He then shot a glare to Sami who he had told to clue her in on what would happen next. Sami shrunk beneath the sharp glare.

"Oh, Miss Loreal, that's not-traditional we don't-" Paul began to sputter, being cut off by Roman's low tone, but gentle.

"Is that what you want, Miss Loreal?" Roman asked, attempting to gauge her reasoning.

She shrugged in response, saying, "Well we are to be married. It would only make sense for us to acquaint ourselves with one another."

Roman nodded then flashed a charming smile. "Then that's gonna happen," he said.

The moment Paul and the women were out of ear shot, Roman's gaze morphed into a deadly glare. "If you fuck this up, there will be some very dire consequences," he warned in a cold, low tone.

"Wiseman, please lead Miss Loreal Moore and her ladies to the car. Jey will catch up in a second," Roman requested, turning to face an irritated Jey.

Jey nodded silently, prompting Roman to release him. Jey ran to catch up with Paul and the ladies, while Roman turned around and headed to his own car followed by Sami and his remaining cousins. He contemplated having a little 'talk' with Sami, but decided against it.

If Miss Loreal Moore trusted Sami, then Roman would use that to gain her trust as well.

[afterdarkprincess]

✨💘Tay's Fic Masterlist 💘✨

Sami Zayn & Jey Uso

Aftershocks Rating: Explicit Word Count: 14,595 Summary: Sami and Jey dealing with the aftermath of Tribal Combat at SummerSlam Masterpost Pretty in Pink- Aftershocks side story Rating: Explicit Word Count: 2,570 Summary: On a brief vacation from shows, Sami comes home to find his boyfriend all dressed up and waiting for him. Post

The Devil's in the Details (But You Got a Friend in Me) Rating: Explicit Word Count: 33,090 (currently) Summary: Royal Rumble AU- Sami gets injured at the Rumble and never betrays Roman. Friends to Lovers through SummerSlam Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5 Part 6 Sweet Like Justice Rating: Gen Word Count: 660 Summary: Backstage at Crown Jewel, Jey and Sami hatch a plan to subvert the Judgement Day Post

A Moment Backstage Rating: Gen Word Count: 1,027 Summary: Sami and Jey share an interaction backstage before the Tag Title Rematch (set during Nov 13th 2023 Monday Night Raw) Post

Ruin(ed) Rating: Explicit Word Count: 729 Summary: Watching from backstage as Rhea flirts with Jey, Sami gets possessive and pulls Jey into the closest closet Post

Beauty Rating: Mature Word Count: 356 Summary: Sami Zayn reflects on the most beautiful thing he's ever seen Post

Did you touch yourself to the thought of me? Rating: Explicit Word Count: 1051 Summary:Sami finds out just how long Jey had been thinking about the two of them together. Post am I allowed to cry? Rating: Explicit Word Count: 1,556 Summary: Sami reflects on his relationship with Jey and the visions of Jey he sees in his head. Post

fuck it if i can't have him Rating: Mature Word Count: 1,514 Summary: Jey reflects on the choices he's made since the Royal Rumble and his feelings for Sami Post

I love you (it's ruining my life) Rating: Explicit Word Count: 4,372 Summary: Sami and Jey realize they're in the same hotel and meet up for a late night discussion. Post

fear Rating: Mature Word Count: 1,326 Summary: Seeing the carnage backstage, Jey fears for Sami's safety Post

you like that? Rating: Explicit Word Count: 1,058 Summary: Jey tells Sami all the things he'll do for him once he becomes double champ Post

CM Punk/Drew McIntyre

i won't be denied by you (the animal inside of you) Rating: Explicit Word Count: 932 Summary: Drew McIntyre is obsessed with CM Punk. Haunted by CM Punk. Possessed by him. Post

Winner Take All Rating: Explicit Word Count: 1,778 Summary: After their encounters on the April 29th Monday Night RAW, Drew McIntyre finds CM Punk backstage. Alone. Post

Acts of Contrition Rating: Explicit Word Count: 2,581 Summary: Drew kidnaps CM Punk and cleanses him of his many sins Post

A Piece of You Rating: Explicit Word Count: 1,208 Summary: Drew gets exactly what he wants when he shows up to Smackdown- a piece of CM Punk Post

Unfinished Business Rating: Explicit Word Count: 2,930 Summary: Drew hears Punk's remarks to Cathy after Bash in Berlin and seeks him out in his hotel room. Post

Seth Rollins & Roman Reigns & Jon Moxley

tangled up with you all night (burning it down) Rating: Explicit Word Count: 3,720 Summary: Shield Era 2012 Seth has an encounter with 2023's Jon Moxley and Tribal Chief. Sexytimes ensue. Post

Seth Rollins & Jon Moxley

all you ever did was wreck me (yeah you wreck me) Rating: Explicit Word Count: 3,278 Summary: Newly returned Dean Ambrose has a press event at the WWE Performance Center and World Heavyweight Champion Seth Rollins is among those there to greet him. They find one another in a practice room long after everyone else has gone home and things escalate quickly. Post

mine Rating: Explicit Word Count: 2,083 Summary: Dean Ambrose pays Seth Rollins a visit after Smackdown 3/29/24 to remind Seth who he belongs to. Post

The Bloodline- Roman & Sami

ours Rating: Explicit Word Count: 4,990 Summary: After WarGames, Roman decides what Sami Zayn's place is in the bloodline, a willing hole for them to use. Post

Roman's Pet Rating: Explicit Word Count: 859 Summary: Roman's pet Sami serves the Tribal Chief and earns his reward Post

Cody Rhodes & Randy Orton

Unwrapping Rating: Teen Word Count: 1,289 Summary: After a long day of pressers and events, Cody returns home to Randy, who knows exactly how to take care of him. Post

Bret Hart & Shawn Micheals

between comfort and chaos Rating: Mature Word Count: 510 Summary: Shawn examines the feelings that have been growing between himself and Bret. Post

Solo Sikoa & Sami Zayn

Leather & Lace Rating: Explicit Word Count: 2,009 Summary: Solo Sikoa finds himself as the new Tribal Chief. The Tribal Chief gets what the Tribal Chief wants. Solo Sikoa wants Sami Zayn. Post

Sami & Jey & Cody Rhodes

Can't Keep My Hands to Myself Rating: Explicit Word Count: 6,053 Summary: Things get a little heated in the bus after the Fastlane Press Conference, Sami facetimes his boyfriend to get in on the action. Part 1 Part 2

Jey Uso & Cody Rhodes

you can be rough, I can take it Rating: Explicit Word Count: 1,108 Summary: Set after Fastlane 2023 press conference- Cody and Jey fall into bed together after winning the undisputed tag team championships. Post

Jey Uso & Sami Zayn & Cody Rhodes & Seth Rollins

all's fair in love and war Rating: Explicit Word Count: 4,413 Summary: Aftermath of November 20th Monday Night Raw- Jey panics at hearing Randy Orton's name out of Cody's mouth. He's lost the advantage and feels less secure than ever in his position on their team, but Sami, Cody, and Seth are there to support and spoil him. Part 1 Part 2

LA Knight & JD McDonagh

nothing safe is worth the drive (and I will follow you home) Rating: Gen/Teen Word Count: 1,305 Summary: LA Knight waits and watches and worries as JD fights in the Wargames match and comforts him afterwards. Post

Seth Rollins & Jey Uso

dont worry, I'll be gentle Rating: Explicit Word Count: 331 Summary: Seth ties up Jey for some playtime Post

Jey Uso x Reader

can you feel how much I want you? Rating: Mature Word Count: 774 Summary: You've had one of the best nights of your life at the Royal Rumble, and you go out with the rest of the locker room to celebrate and run into your best friend Jey after a few drinks. Post

[anthropologyruinseverything]

One-Shot Roman Reigns

Untitled off shoot of a longer fic I am working on

🚨SMUT MINORS DNI 18+ only plz

1.75k words - Roman Reigns x Indigenous American FMC - Established D/s relationship/embarrassment/free-use/prompt exercise

I could barely contain my excitement as we filed into the conference room for the big merchandise meeting. Knowing Roman found the art interesting but the numbers talk insufferable I had planned this little stunt specifically for what I knew would be an exceptionally long and boring one. His shoulders were wound up tight already and his leg bouncing.

A week ago I’d removed my the simple purple bracelet I’d worn non-stop for a year. The free-use bracelet I had started to feel he took for granted. Politely, sweetly, I’d rebuffed any other attempts of his to come onto me with our safe word, which meant hard stop and no questions, and so he’d been left very frustrated but unable to do much about it. I never used our safe word and suddenly I was using it daily. His gentle questions answered with “I’m fine really, just not in the mood” or “It’s not you, I’m just really tired” and I knew he was close to bursting.

Memories of why I was doing this had kept me strong all week. I’d been on a call with costumes when he’d insisted on sex, embarrassing me on a professional call when I’d been unable to contain a shout. The giggle from Jamie on the other end of the line haunted me.

It wasn’t the only time he’d taken advantage of our agreement and I knew it wouldn’t be that last and that was okay. I just felt like we could use some boundaries and these seemed like a fun way to get my point across.

The roots of seeking revenge took hold and so I’d planned to do everything in my power to embarrass him in some way that would match up.

Mister Tribal Chief, Head of the Table, Big Uce could stand to be taken down just a single peg from time to time.

Digging into my bag I fired off the photos I took earlier along with a video and the words “hope your phones on silent”. Next I sent the app for the vibrating underwear I was wearing. He couldn’t control it but he could see what was happening on a live chart. I waited, watching as he settled in the chair next to me and fished his phone out before the meeting got started.

Roman’s tanned face went from his normal golden to deep red in a matter of seconds, even his ears turned pink. I could be a brat for sure, but I was shy and typically submissive, not one to do something so rash as take *those* kinds of photos, shots of my wet center and naked breasts. Not one to send a video of me orgasming with the toy he’d tortured me with so many times.

And in them all I was wearing the bracelet. Waiting for him to look up I tugged the long sleeves I was wearing to my elbows, exposing my wrist. Realization I had been wearing it all day dawned on his face and his mouth fell open ever so slightly. I made sure to glance away quickly, acting as if nothing was happening, as if I wasn’t nearing another one right now. Thanks to him I’d developed quite the poker face in our year together.

“Roman, you good?” Paul Levesque asked. He snapped his mouth shut but couldn’t hide the blush.

“Yep. Fine.”

My phone dinged.

*WTF*

I ignored it.

Again. *What are you doing? This isn’t funny.*

It was a struggle not to laugh as I heard him shifting urgently in his seat.

“S’matter with you dawg?” Jey threw him a dirty look from his other side. “Be’in annoyin’ as hell right now.”

“Sorry.” But he shifted again, earning a disgruntled sound from his cousin.

His phone buzzed letting him know I was peaking and I squeezed my pen a little tighter before turning the setting back down as if I were shooting off any old text. I looked over at him sideways.

“You feeling okay? You look a little flushed.”

If looks could kill I’d be dead. Making a face at him I held my hands up like I’d done nothing wrong and went back to doodling. Paul cleared his throat from the front of the room.

“Roman? If you’re alright we can get started?”

Again he flushed bright red and nodded. “Course. M’fine, just hot.”

Jimmy snorted from the end of the table. “Yeah, and bothered. Like a teenager over there Uce.”

Roman shot him a death glare as everyone chuckled softly. Never before had he been the butt of the joke and everyone in the room seemed to be enjoying his distress.

Without hesitation I fired off another video.

I’d been playing this game all week, he just didn’t know it. In this one I wore one of his tshirts, making it obvious I’d taken it while he was in the shower one night. In this one I rode a pillow and toyed with my breasts, something he loved watching me do when he had me wound up and desperate but wouldn’t allow me to touch myself with my hands.

*Coyote.*

I didn’t answer or look his way, just watched the slides as Paul talked.

*This isn’t funny. What the hell?*

Instead of answering him I sent yet another video, this on from even earlier in the week. Making it very clear that while I’d denied him all week I had enjoyed myself various ways while he was busy but close. His knee jerked and the table jumped at the video of me in shower, using the water stream to pleasure myself. Again something else he loved to do.

“What are you watching? Care to share?” Paul Heyman sounded mildly annoyed, he’d nearly lost his coffee when Roman had bumped the table.

The dark haired man beside me slammed the phone down on the table, hard enough I was worried he cracked the screen. “No. Look, it’s nothing.”

But it clearly wasn’t nothing. Again his phone buzzed as I adjusted my underwear. It looked like he might cry.

I relished it, wishing I could take a picture.

“Bet it’s porn.”

Everyone stilled before bursting into laughter, except Roman who buried his face in his hands. Sometimes Solo had the best things to say and he’d gotten much bolder about giving his older relation a hard time.

Once the laughter subsided the meeting moved forward, moving rather quickly. Roman was agreeable, clearly in a hurry.

“I think that sums it up-“

“Great.” Pushing himself up the tall Samoan grabbed my arm and hauled me to my feet in front on him in one smooth motion. “See ya later.”

“Uh-hey! My bag-“

“Somebody’ll grab it.” He never missed a step, pushing me out of the room ahead of him. Stumbling into the hallway he kept a tight grip on my shoulder. “Closet, now.”

With some strange stoke of luck the first supply closet we came across was unlocked. Various boxes of what appeared to be holiday decor lined old metal shelves in a room dimly lit by a single bulb. It was musty and cramped and kinky.

I loved it.

Loved how feral he looked as he locked the door behind us.

“You’ve been *such* a bad girl Coyote.” His voice was like a dagger cloaked in velvet. Letting his hair down he approached, his eyes were focused but wild. “It’s time to pay.”

Putting on the bracelet meant he could do what he wanted, when he wanted, and where he wanted, only to stop if I pulled out the safeword.

“Strip and get to your knees.”

I shivered, moving quickly to do as he commanded and speaking the words I’d been train to. “Yes chief.”

He circled me in the enclosed space, tugging off his own tshirt. “You wanna behave like a little slut? Like a *dirty* pet?”

My whole body clenched in want. At first it had bothered me that I liked his dirty talk but now I embraced the rush of feelings it brought. Shame swept me yet my nipples tingled in anticipation.

Falling to his knees behind me he shoved me forward with one hand between my shoulder blades. “Then I’m gonna fuck you like one.”

Shoving his pants down just enough to free his cock he waisted no time slamming into me to the hilt. His big hands clutched my hips with bruising force as he pounded away with abandon. Glancing back over my shoulder I was rewarded with a gorgeous sight, his hair loose around his shoulders, face flushed and sweaty, warm brown eyes clouded with lust.

I loved it when I made him lose control.

Normally such a calm and cool and confident Dom he was lost to his passions now and I was falling quickly as well. All week I’d missed being stretched by his huge dick and now that I had it I was teetering on the edge of oblivion.

“Not letting you outta bed for a week.” Roman was panting, grunting loudly like he didn’t care if anyone could hear.

It made my walls clench tighter around him. The slapping sounds of our flesh were lewd and delicious at the same time, the jolt of his hips slamming into me aided in the pleasure.

Wrenching my head back he leaned over me, pressing his lips to my ear. “Who owns this pussy Coyote? Who owns you baby?”

“You do!”

“And who am I?”

“My chief! Oh, Roman!”

“Coyote, ah fuck!”

If they hadn’t heard him before surely someone heard his shout now.

I fell apart beneath him, pulling him with me, my clenching walls greedily took all the cum he had to offer. It was incredible, feeling his cock pulsing deep within me as we lay there panting.

“Gonna use you as a cock warmer all night you brat.” Roman nuzzled my neck and nipped at my ear.

“Tie you up and torture you with those damn toys. What the fuck were you thinking?”

I shrugged. “Sometimes it feels like you don’t respect me. I was embarrassed on that phone call and so I wanted to give you a taste of your own medicine for once.”

He looked incredulous. “Course I respect you.”

“Okay, well how about we agree not to embarrass each other in a work setting again?”

He chuckled and squeezed me tightly around the middle. “Deal. But you gotta have mercy. A whole week? What’s a guy done to deserve that?”

I slapped his shoulder and we laughed. There would be another round in the closet before be finally collected himself enough to get us back to the bus.

True to his word I didn’t leave the bed for a week.

[cavinginhisfvce]

All Things Borrowed | Jey Uso x Rhea Ripley

full disclosure: this is a fic i wrote a while ago, and posted, i just edited it to be jhea bc the theme of it felt so fitting.

Rhea knows it's selfish. She knows it's not fair to feel the way she does. She shouldn't feel like she's living on borrowed love from her boyfriend, especially not when Jey is always so willing to give Rhea the affection he knows the Australian craves.

It's selfish to take all that Jey offers, his joy, his fears, his love, and in return store those moments for when, if, that trust in Rhea suddenly vanishes, instead of giving the same. 

It's not fair of Rhea to store the love for a later date, a day where the love has suddenly stopped flowing and she's scrambling for some semblance of things being okay. Things being right.

If Jey knew Rhea was just counting down the days until the demise of their relationship, would he still bother with her? Or would he make all of Rhea’s worst dreams come true and feed her to the proverbial wolves?

Wrapped up tightly in Jey’s embrace, Rhea can't help but feel reminded that all love is borrowed love; no matter who the love comes from.

Whether it be family or others, others like Dominik, the woman is all too familiar with what it feels like to watch the reservoir of familial and romantic love run so dry the sight of the person makes you feel sick to your stomach.

Rhea’s love for Dominik, for example, burned so bright, and felt reciprocated in ways that blinded her to who her Latino Heat was becoming until it was too late, and Rhea had become a person Dominik held little to no love for.

Rhea in turn, watched with her own eyes as the love Dominik had for her ceased to exist, at least in a healthy sense. His obsession with her remains the same.

She doesn't think she can live through a pain like that again, even if the love differs from her relationship with Dom, even if Dom went too far with his love and it cost Rhea everything.

 Seeing the way Dominik has completely done away with her and seems better for it, hurts; but the feeling pales in comparison to the mere thought that Jey could be done with her, she can't imagine who she'd become if Jey decided Rhea wasn't worth the hassle. If he decided the panic attacks, and nightmares were too much to tackle, because let's face it, Rhea’s a handful. She knows this, and Jey, bless his heart, tries so hard with her, but he truthfully doesn't have to. 

Rhea knows if she shares these feelings with her boyfriend, the elder will reassure her. She knows Jey will take her in his arms and pepper her face in sweet kisses whilst he whispers all the reasons he loves Rhea more than she could ever know, Jey has done as much for less. 

But, there's the possibility Jey could do the exact opposite, maybe Jey just needed an out and Rhea opening up would be just that. Maybe in the same breath Rhea confesses her knowledge of living on borrowed love, Jey will pack his bags and leave Rhea’s life forever. 

The likelihood seems much higher now than it did before, especially with the stolen glances from Sami and Jey, the looks they think Rhea doesn't notice. She does. She notices the lingering touches, and that Jey will seek out Sami at work, long before he finds his actual partner.

Even in her muddled mess of a mind, Rhea knows she's being irrational, because just that morning Jey had woken her up by carding skilled fingers through her hair, nosing happily at the girl’s cheek until the latter stirred awake.

And yet, the possibility still exists. 

There could come a day when Jey is no longer the glue holding Rhea together, but the hammer that shatters her fully. It'd be too easy with all the cracks in the Australian’s foundation, because they're just that. Cracks in her foundation, difficult to patch up and make whole without running the risk of destroying it completely. 

Rhea isn't sure she'd survive that. So, she stays shut. What Jey doesn't know, won't be able to hurt Rhea.

If Sami and Jey are truly falling in with one another, then Rhea will pretend nothing has changed, because losing Jey? It's not an option. 

She’ll live on borrowed love for however long, if it means Jey stays with her.

[joannasteez]

WIP WEDNESDAY!

thanks for the tag! @harmshake a little lumberjack!roman i’ve been slowly chippin away at, i have no clue when this will be ready to post but i dont know, maybe its worth a share of what i have so far

his beer is cold. wet glass slipping against his skin. a crisp hoppy taste on his tongue that settles till his belly excites with warm. the ache in his hands seeking a temporary remedy, holding to the chill of the bottle. thick fingers working with a diligent memory of axes and chainsaws. an all day affair thats old and tedious. the smell of walnut and oak and maple, chips of fly away wood and the hard sun. a good cold beer after a hard day was a must. mandatory. so friday's meant a beer plus two extra. but never four because jey always overdid shit and he had to be the dad of the group. had to take care of baby boy jey. and sometimes seth. and sometimes dean. because dean loved to play and fuck around, car keys jingling between the saucy slip of his fingers, feigning the mind of a sober man and the reckless lust of a drunk one. cackling and teary eyed, because panic about roman's face was just so fucking funny.

lucy's is a town bar. built dead center and extremely assessable. and lucy's has everything. karaoke for jimmy & jey, darts for seth and solo, pool for dean, and nice comfy worn leather booths for roman. his favorite booth on the far left side of lucy's, tucked up against the wall. equidistant from the bathroom set behind the karaoke stage and the bar. where his quiet half sleepy eyes could roam and observe. a little people watching as he sips the gold-ish brew. nibbling at almost soggy nachos and pulling loose the tight knot holding his hair. oak wood from day labor soaking through the inky thickness of it. listening to dean and seth complain about management. because if they weren't at work, they were off the clock rambling and ranting about work. a cyclic state of affairs that started and ended the same way.

first seth. that half snarly little grimace. hair rolled up in a top bun. voice raspy and raw.

"...because how the fuck are you never actually in office and thee greatest-most idiotic micro manager ever, he needs to pick a damn struggle...

and then dean. his finger running to scratch against his auburn beard. just as pissed. words slightly slurred.

"...and then had the absolute gaul to tell me how to do my job. that piece of shit prick never held an axe or a chainsaw in his damn life. goddamn third generation wood chippin dick..."

and roman laughs. his eyes wrinkling. sipping and chewing and falling into the recurrence of every friday night.

"...and his little assistant, who he's totally nailing by the way, i hear her screeching like a damn banshee whenever he's actually in office, had the nerve... the unmitigated nerve to send around a birthday card asking for small donations and to write him a message..."

and dean cackles. gasps from disbelief and leans into roman's shoulder. his forehead banging lightly into the wood of the table. empty beer bottles rattling from his show of contempt.

"...boys i swear, i promise the two of you, they both can get an expedited shipment of my fat cock to suck dry if they think i'm putting two of my very hard earned dollars into a target card for his birthday. his pops should've kept him swimmin in his balls..."

roman smiles. his eyes roaming about lucy's. towards the peace of the bar. his favorite little bartender hard at work. smiling and mixing away.

and here comes the turning over into the second bit of his friday night cyclic affair. a from afar trailing of the eyes, sneaky bouts of admiration sweetened by the beer fizzling his blood. and God do you look sweet. a friendly toothy little smile that piques his curiosity. plush lips, round eyes and fanning lashes that leave you looking delicate. he's unsure though, it could be the beer, the droning of the bar and the exhaustion in his shoulders. tight and soldering to his bones. it all could be feeding his mild delusions. making you look more angelic than you could be, a projection of dreams born from some long avoided longing. and when you finally commit yourself to seeking out the source of such an ardent sensation only the eyes of another can give, you meet him. a glass in your hand and curiosity about your face. so clearly in bartender mode. gauging patron based needs, before the inevitable look away. your lips bitten and a smile threatening to break.

but it never becomes anything more than this tit for tat of a moment. lingering eyes and unspoken things.  something threatening to edge the course of friendly and cautious. your smile seeming to only do him a favor. a courtesy. because he probably wasn't the first man to have such a silent high school adjacent crush on his local bartender and he for sure wouldn't be the last. and no one will ever hear him say it but roman isn't too keen on rejection. he rather live with your cautious little smiles. a short tuck away into his back pocket as he sips at his beer. he'll add it to store away for later, when he's alone with silence and the beginnings of bedtime fantasies.

no pressure tags: @kill-the-artiste @thesamoanqueen and anyone else who’d like to participate!

[acute-crashout-jeyuso]

Possession: a Jey Uso x Rhea Ripley x Jimmy Uso fanfic.

Chapter 5: make you see...

The dim cabin lights on the red-eye flight from Canada to Manhattan cast a soft glow over Rhea and Jimmy as they sat side by side, surrounded by the quiet hum of the plane’s engine. Neither had slept much since boarding, and there was a stillness between them that neither knew how to break. It was a shared silence, filled with the weight of unspoken thoughts and emotions they hadn’t dared to touch on yet.

Rhea glanced at Jimmy, catching his gaze as he looked out the window. She hesitated for a moment before speaking, her voice barely above a whisper. “Are you sure I made the right choice?”

Jimmy turned his head, meeting her eyes with a steady, unwavering look. “Yes,” he replied, his tone firm. But then he shook his head slightly, a hint of a smirk playing at the corner of his mouth. “But I’m not gonna sit here and lecture you about choosing your career over your boyfriend, Rhea. That’s your call to make.”

Rhea nodded, but the slight tightening of her jaw betrayed her internal conflict. The silence stretched between them again, this time thicker, as if the air itself held the weight of all they hadn’t addressed. Neither of them had spoken about what had happened last night—the way he’d held her, the closeness, the lines that had blurred in ways they couldn’t take back. It felt like they’d crossed into uncharted territory, a place where feelings and intentions tangled messily with the roles they were meant to play.

Rhea felt a pang of guilt gnawing at her. She was supposed to feel ashamed, maybe even remorseful, for asking her boyfriend’s twin brother to hold her while he was half-dressed, for seeking comfort in a place where she wasn’t supposed to. Some people would probably say that kind of intimacy was enough to label as cheating. But for Rhea, the situation didn’t fit neatly into those boxes. She wasn’t sure what to feel, or even what was right anymore.

Jimmy broke the silence, his voice low but confident. “I’m not gonna lie,” he said, glancing at her with a small, knowing grin, “we did give the crowd what they wanted.”

Rhea couldn’t help but smile softly in return, but the smile faded as she sighed, her eyes drifting away. “But… at what cost?”

Without a word, Jimmy reached over, placing his hand on hers. It was a simple gesture, but one that grounded her, gave her a moment of calm amidst the storm swirling inside her mind. His thumb traced gentle circles over her knuckles, offering her a silent strength.

“Look,” he said, his tone tender but resolute, “whatever you decide, I’m here. If you go to Hunter and tell him to take these belts off us, I’m good with it. If you go and tell him that Mami wants to turn on her Samoan Heat,” he gave a slight chuckle, “I’m okay with that too. Whatever you wanna do, I’ll back you up. I’m in this for you, Rhea. Not just the storyline, not just the titles—you.”

Rhea swallowed, feeling the sincerity in his words reach somewhere deep inside her. She hadn’t realized how much she needed to hear that, to know that she wasn’t navigating this alone. Jimmy wasn’t just a partner in the ring; he was standing by her side in a way she hadn’t expected, in a way that felt dangerously close to something real.

For a moment, she didn’t respond, just allowed herself to absorb the comfort of his hand on hers, the unspoken promise in his gaze. Maybe things were complicated, maybe they were messy, but in that moment, she felt a strange peace she hadn’t felt in a long time.

“Thank you, Jimmy,” she finally whispered, her voice barely audible above the hum of the plane. “For everything.”

Jimmy gave her hand a gentle squeeze, a silent reassurance that he wasn’t going anywhere. They might be walking a tightrope, blurring the lines between their personal and professional lives, but he was there, every step of the way.

As they both settled back, each lost in their own thoughts, Rhea knew that whatever came next, she’d have to confront the consequences head-on. But for now, with Jimmy’s hand in hers and a strange sense of calm settling over her, she allowed herself to just be.

—

November 24th, 2024 1:42 AM

Jimmy pushed open the door to their hotel room, his movements slow and heavy from the night's grueling schedule. Rhea followed closely behind, just as drained. Neither spoke as they placed their bags on the couch, their eyes immediately drawn to the lone bed in the room. This time, it wasn't an oversight by the booking team. This time, it was intentional.

The silence was thick, filled with unspoken thoughts and emotions neither of them dared to voice. Rhea let out a soft sigh as she began to peel off her hoodie and sweats, leaving her in a simple black tank top and shorts. She glanced at Jimmy, who mirrored her actions, stripping down to his T-shirt and boxers.

Her steps were slow and deliberate as she closed the small gap between them. She looked up at him, her eyes filled with a vulnerability she rarely allowed herself to show. "Can you just hold me?" she asked, her voice emitting raw energy.

Jimmy's heart clenched at her words. He reached out, running a hand gently through her hair, his fingers lingering as he fought the growing urge inside him. His possessiveness over her was undeniable, but he pushed it down, knowing this moment wasn't about him.

"Of course," he said softly, his voice steady despite the storm within him.

They climbed into bed together, the weight of the world seemingly lifted as Jimmy wrapped his arms around her. His hold was firm yet comforting, his body warm against hers. Rhea melted into his embrace, her head resting on his chest as the steady rhythm of his heartbeat filled her ears.

For a while, neither of them spoke. The silence was almost comforting, but beneath it lay a tension neither could ignore. Finally, Jimmy broke the quiet.

"Rhea," he murmured, his voice low but filled with emotion.

She lifted her head to meet his gaze, her heart skipping a beat at the intensity in his eyes.

"I need to kiss you," he said, his voice raw and unfiltered. "I needed to for so long."

Rhea's breath hitched, her mind racing. She was torn-torn between her loyalty to Jey and the undeniable connection she felt with Jimmy. They were brothers, twins, and yet, here she was, caught in the middle. The weight of it all threatened to crush her, but in that moment, she allowed herself to be honest.

"Just this once," she whispered, her voice trembling.

Jimmy didn't hesitate. He gently pulled her on top of him, his hands finding their way to her hips as he brought her closer. The moment their lips met, it was like everything else faded away—no Jey, no pressure, no expectations. Just them.

The kiss started soft, almost tentative, but it quickly deepened as days of unspoken desire and bottled-up emotions poured out.

Jimmy's hands roamed over her body, his touch both possessive and reverent. Every caress, every movement, spoke of the longing he had kept hidden.

Rhea's hands found their way to his chest, her fingers tracing the outlines of his muscles. She pulled back slightly, her breathing ragged as she looked down at him.

But Jimmy wasn't ready to let her go. "No," he said, his voice husky with need. "I need more."

He cupped her face, pulling her back down as his lips captured hers once again. The kiss was hungry, desperate, and filled with a passion neither of them could deny.

In that moment, the lines blurred. It wasn't about betrayal or loyalty. It was about two people seeking solace in each other, finding comfort in the midst of their turmoil.

She pulled back to break the kiss fully. Rhea’s chest rose and fell as she tried to steady her breathing. She looked away, her mind racing, trying to piece together the tangled mess of emotions swirling inside her. “We… have to stop,” she said softly, her voice barely above a whisper.

Jimmy’s jaw tightened, his eyes narrowing slightly. “You don’t feel the same way, do you?”

Rhea’s gaze snapped back to his, searching for something—clarity, understanding, maybe even absolution—but all she found was the weight of his emotions bearing down on her. She hesitated, her hands trembling slightly as she pushed herself off him and sat up on the edge of the bed.

“It’s not fair,” she said, her voice breaking. “Not to Jey, and not to you.”

Jimmy sat up behind her, the bed creaking under his weight. His tone was firm but tinged with frustration. “Fair? Rhea, I could give you more than Jey ever could.”

Rhea closed her eyes, the words hitting her like a punch to the gut. “It’s not like that, Jimmy,” she said, her voice wavering. “I just… I love Jey.”

Jimmy’s laugh was low, almost bitter. “Love?” he asked, leaning in slightly. “Who are you trying to convince? Me or yourself?”

Rhea froze, his words slicing through her like a blade. She turned her head slightly, her eyes meeting his. There was no denying the truth in his question.

Jimmy leaned closer, his voice softening but losing none of its intensity. “I see the way you look at me, Rhea. The way you lean on me. You might love Jey, but there’s something between us that you can’t ignore.”

Her lips parted, but no words came out. She wanted to deny it, to push him away, to protect the fragile line she was walking. But deep down, she knew Jimmy was right. There was something there—something she couldn’t fully explain, let alone control.

“I don’t want to hurt anyone,” she whispered, her voice cracking under the weight of her guilt.

Jimmy reached out, gently turning her face toward him. His touch was warm, steady, and far too comforting. “You’re not the only one carrying that weight,” he said. “But you need to be honest—with Jey, with me, and with yourself.”

Rhea’s eyes filled with tears, and for a moment, the room was silent, save for the sound of their breathing. She felt like she was standing on the edge of a cliff, unsure whether to step back or take the plunge.

Jimmy let his hand fall, giving her the space to process. “I’ll be here, Rhea,” he said quietly. “No matter what you decide. But don’t lie to yourself just to keep the peace.”

Rhea nodded slowly, her throat tight with unspoken words. The weight of her choices loomed over her, and she knew that whatever came next, nothing would ever be the same.

— 4:58 AM

Jimmy sat up against the headboard, his arms crossed as he watched Rhea sleep beside him. The soft glow of the city lights filtered through the curtains, casting a faint shimmer over her peaceful face. She looked so calm, so vulnerable, her features softened in a way he rarely saw.

But inside, Jimmy’s mind was a storm.

He couldn’t shake the gnawing thought: She still wants Jey.

It didn’t make sense to him. Not after everything they’d been through, not after the chemistry they shared, the connection they couldn’t deny. How could she still cling to someone who wasn’t here, who had left her feeling so lost and alone?

Jimmy didn’t want to lose her—not to Jey, not to anyone.

His gaze hardened, determination settling in his chest. He needed to do something. Something that would prove, once and for all, that he was the one she should be with.

As the clock ticked quietly in the background, Jimmy made up his mind. He wasn’t going to let Jey win without a fight.

Rhea stirred slightly in her sleep, murmuring softly, but she didn’t wake. Jimmy reached out, gently brushing a strand of hair from her face, his touch lingering for a moment longer than necessary.

“I’ll make you see, Rhea,” he whispered, his voice low and resolute.

—

Flashback: June 16th, 2023

Hunter sat across from the Bloodline faction, his gaze intense but calculated. Roman Reigns, Jimmy Uso, Jey Uso, and Solo Sikoa were all present, each of them wondering what decisions Hunter had in mind.

Hunter exhaled, a slow sigh, as he prepared to speak. “Alright, fellas,” he began, “I’ve been watching you all, and I’ve made my decision. I’ve been looking at who could branch out and carry their own weight as a singles competitor… and I’m choosing you, Jimmy.

The room fell silent for a moment. Jimmy blinked, momentarily caught off guard. He’d been waiting for this, but now that it was happening, it felt surreal. He slowly nodded, keeping his composure.

Hunter continued, turning to Jey. “Jey, tonight, you’re going to leave the Bloodline. You’ll kick Roman with a superkick, and after that, you’re out. You’ll go a different direction.”

Jey raised an eyebrow, but his expression remained calm. “I’m listening.”

Hunter leaned back in his chair, eyes narrowing slightly as he addressed Jey. “You’re going to team up with Rhea. She’s been losing some momentum since she left Judgment Day, and I think the two of you could do something special to dominate in the Mixed Tag division. You’ve already got great chemistry, and I’m sure you can help each other rise. Make her a bigger star, Jey.”

Jey smiled, a genuine one this time, and reached across the table to shake Hunter’s hand. “Thank you, Hunter. I’ve been needing time with my girl. This is exactly what I’ve been wanting.”

Hunter nodded in approval. “I’m glad we’re on the same page.”

Turning his gaze to Jimmy, Hunter shifted his tone slightly. “Jimmy, you’ll stay with Roman. You’ll take Jey’s spot as the Right Hand Man. I’m going to push you hard and make sure you get the recognition you deserve. I’m putting a belt on you, Jimmy. It’s your time.”

Jimmy managed a smile, though it felt more forced than genuine. He nodded, silently accepting his fate, but inside, something stirred. He knew this wasn’t just a professional opportunity—this was his chance to carve out a path that didn’t rely on Roman, that didn’t rely on the Bloodline.

Hunter stood, signaling the end of the meeting. “Alright, that’s all for now. Let’s get to work.”

The faction began to disperse, but Jimmy lingered for a moment, his eyes locked on Jey in the distance. He watched as Jey walked alongside Roman, discussing their next steps, while Jimmy felt a strange mix of frustration and determination welling up inside him.

Jey’s going to leave the Bloodline for Rhea? Jimmy thought, He’s going to go off and do his own thing with her?

His jaw clenched as his thoughts spiraled. I’ve been stuck in this damn Bloodline for too long.

For months, ever since Jey had started dating Rhea, all he ever heard from Jey was talk about heading over to RAW and dominating that brand, making his mark with her by his side. Jey’s obsession with Rhea was undeniable, and to Jimmy, it was becoming unbearable.

But here’s the thing: Jey wasn’t supposed to be with Rhea. Jimmy wanted to be with Rhea.

Jimmy had known it from the beginning. He’d told Roman how he felt, how he saw something special in Rhea, how they could be great together. But Roman shut him down, telling him that Rhea actually had feelings for Jey. At first, Jimmy didn’t believe it—he dismissed it, thinking Roman was just being protective of his family.

Then, one day, it happened. Rhea and Jey walked into the locker room together, hand in hand, and Jey casually introduced her to everyone as his new girlfriend.

In that moment, everything shifted for Jimmy. It felt like a punch to the gut. Rhea, the one he had quietly admired for months, had chosen his twin brother. He was furious. Betrayed.

The rage simmered inside him as he watched Jey interact with Rhea, always the center of attention. Jimmy hated seeing them together. But it wasn’t just jealousy—it was something darker, more personal. He couldn’t stand that Jey had what he wanted, that Jey had her.

As much as he tried to push it down, Jimmy couldn’t ignore it any longer.

He despised Jey.

He could make Rhea’s career soar. He could build her up the way Jey never could.

It should’ve been me with her, Jimmy thought, staring across the room at Jey’s back. And now it’s time to show everyone, especially Roman, that I can do this on my own.

—

Jimmy sat back on the couch, his phone in hand, scrolling aimlessly through social media. The locker room was filled with the usual buzz of conversation and movement, but all Jimmy could hear was Jey’s voice.

Jey was leaning against the wall, his phone pressed to his ear, and a wide grin spread across his face. “I’m just so happy, babe,” Jey said, his voice warm. “We’re finally gonna get to do something together. We could create something amazing!”

Jimmy clenched his jaw, the familiar sting of jealousy bubbling up. He kept his eyes on his phone, pretending to be disinterested, but his mind was focused solely on Jey’s conversation. He didn’t need to hear the other side to know it was Rhea on the line.

“Yeah, I can’t wait,” Jey continued, his voice dripping with excitement. “It’s gonna be us against the world.”

Jimmy rolled his eyes silently, the bitterness nearly spilling over.

Roman, sitting nearby, caught the subtle shift in Jimmy’s demeanor. He watched his cousin for a moment before finally speaking. “Jey, Solo, step outside for a bit,” Roman said, his tone calm but firm.

Jey, still on the phone, nodded. “Alright, babe, I gotta go. I’ll call you later,” he said, ending the call. He gave Jimmy a quick nod as he and Solo headed out the door.

The room fell quiet as the door clicked shut. Roman shifted, moving to sit next to Jimmy. He didn’t say anything at first, just leaned forward, elbows resting on his knees, his hands clasped together.

Finally, Roman broke the silence. “Let it go,” he said, his voice low but commanding.

Jimmy’s eyes flicked up from his phone, narrowing as he met Roman’s gaze. His face was stoic, but his eyes were filled with an unspoken fury.

“If looks could kill…” Roman muttered, shaking his head slightly. “I know what’s going on in your head, Jimmy. I’ve seen it for months.”

Jimmy didn’t respond immediately, his grip tightening on his phone.

Roman sighed, leaning back against the couch. “Look, I get it. You think you’re owed something—think it should’ve been you with her. But that’s not how it played out. And it’s not gonna change now.”

Jimmy’s jaw clenched, his silence speaking volumes.

“You’re about to get everything you’ve ever wanted,” Roman continued. “Singles run, titles, your own spotlight. But if you keep letting this thing with Jey and Rhea eat at you, it’s gonna destroy you.”

Jimmy finally spoke, his voice low and cold. “You don’t know what it’s like, Joe.”

Roman raised an eyebrow, but Jimmy pressed on.

“I’ve been second to Jey my whole life. And now, even when I get my chance, I gotta watch him have her. Like he’s the only one who can have everything,” Jimmy said, his voice tight with barely contained anger.

Roman studied him for a moment before leaning in closer. “You think you’re the only one who’s had to swallow his pride? The only one who’s had to sacrifice? This business is about making tough choices, Jimmy. You can’t have it all.”

Jimmy’s glare didn’t waver, but Roman’s words hit harder than he wanted to admit.

“Let it go,” Roman said again, his voice a little softer this time. “Focus on what’s in front of you. Don’t let your feelings for Rhea ruin everything you’ve worked for.”

Jimmy didn’t reply, his mind a storm of conflicting emotions. He knew Roman was right, but the bitterness wasn’t something he could just switch off.

Roman stood, patting Jimmy on the shoulder. “Think about it,” he said before walking toward the door, leaving Jimmy alone with his thoughts.

As the door shut behind Roman, Jimmy leaned forward, his elbows on his knees, his head in his hands.

Let it go? he thought bitterly.

Easier said than done.

—

February 23, 2024

Jimmy paced the small office, his face a mask of frustration and disbelief. His voice was raised, the tension in the room palpable. “What do you mean I’m losing the title?” he demanded, his hands gesturing wildly. “You just put it on me, and now you want to take it off?”

Hunter sat behind his desk, calm but firm. “Jimmy, calm down,” he said, his tone steady. “You know this is just business.”

Jimmy slammed his hands on the edge of the desk, leaning in closer. “Business? I’ve been busting my ass, making this work, and now you’re stripping it away?”

Hunter sighed, leaning back in his chair. “Look, Jimmy, this isn’t about you not performing or not doing a good job. You’ve been great. But we’re taking the Bloodline in a new direction.”

Jimmy crossed his arms, his jaw tight. “New direction? What the hell does that even mean?”

Hunter laced his fingers together, his gaze unwavering. “We’re stripping everything away from the Bloodline. Roman’s losing the Universal Championship to Cody at WrestleMania. Your Heavyweight Championship is going to Damian Priest, and Solo’s Intercontinental belt is going to L.A. Knight.”

Jimmy’s eyes widened in shock. “You’re dismantling us completely?”

Hunter nodded. “It’s time for a reset. Roman’s going to take some much-needed time off after Mania. We’ll revive the Bloodline later in the year, but with a new focus and dynamic.”

Jimmy clenched his fists, trying to process the information. “And what about me?” he asked, his voice quieter but no less intense.

Hunter leaned forward. “The week after WrestleMania, Solo’s going to turn on you. He’ll take you out in a big angle. We’ll write you off TV for a while to sell it.”

Jimmy’s brows furrowed. “How long?”

Hunter hesitated for a moment. “We’re looking at October or November for your return. Maybe sooner, depending on how things play out and if we need you back earlier.”

Jimmy shook his head, taking a step back. “You’re sidelining me for half a year?”

Hunter’s expression softened slightly. “Jimmy, I know it’s not what you want to hear. But trust me, this is setting the stage for something bigger. When you come back, it’ll be impactful. You’ll be part of the Bloodline revival, and we’ll have big plans for you.”

Jimmy let out a bitter laugh, running a hand over his face. “Yeah, big plans. Right.”

Hunter stood, walking around the desk to stand in front of Jimmy. “Look, I get it. This is hard. But you’ve got to trust the process. We’re not burying you, Jimmy. We’re building to something.”

Jimmy didn’t respond, his mind racing with frustration and doubt.

Hunter placed a hand on Jimmy’s shoulder. “Take the time off to recharge. When you come back, we’ll make sure it’s worth it.”

Jimmy nodded slowly, though his expression remained tense. “Yeah,” he muttered. “We’ll see.”

As Jimmy turned and left the office, his mind was a whirlwind of anger and uncertainty. He couldn’t shake the feeling that this was more than just business—it felt personal. And he wasn’t sure he could just let it go.

Clarifications: Jimmy is single! Some events have happened in this fanfic and have been tweaked. Rhea has no friends, her family was the Judgement Day but I will go into detail on why they are not friends anymore later..

[samijey]

It's quite nice to see Jey be the one to seek out Sami backstage and be supportive when he's struggling after how many times Sami did it for him in the past (Monday Night RAW 16/10/2023)

[void-detective]

Tribal Chief - Solosami/Zakoa fic ☝️

[[GIF NOT MINE! ALL DIVIDERS MADE BY CAFEKITSUNES]]

Warnings: family drama, mentions of samijey, angst (Sami is torn between Jey and Solo), past relationships, first kiss, and hurt comfort.

Word count: 2,468

Authors note: uhm, because of the lack of any content? I thought their dynamic was always cute and now with Solo as tribal chief I'm even more curious to explore it.

Summary: After an intense confrontation with Jey leaves Sami reeling, he seeks out to play his ever present peacemaker role. And meeting Solo again in his new tribal chief role brings up unresolved and old emotions for both parties.

“Well Sami, you wouldn't understand. ‘Cause you're not family, uce.”

Those words stung worse than any hit he had ever taken, like a knife had been dug directly into his heart. It burned his soul and brought a downcasted feeling to his very being like Jey had spit on everything the two of them had created. Just months ago they were teaming with each other to face common threats. The weight lifted from their shoulders with the departure of Roman and Sami had proudly watched the color return to Jey's face as he flourished without his cousin.

It had positively elated Sami like no other watching him holding aloft his first singles championship after defeating Bron. He remembered how enthusiastically he had embraced and eagerly calmed down Jey from the overwhelming emotions of winning. He remembered holding him and getting lost in joy seeing the light on his eyes. Jey was happy.

And so was he.

But as Roman and Jimmy slowly began to make their way back into the picture it almost felt like a switch had been pulled in Jey. To Sami he had a hunch that even with months away from Roman there was a part of Jey who still lurked with those old right hand man tendencies. The aggression, the hatred, the compliance, and the cruelty that Roman had groomed. All of it was still there even under the fact Jey had gotten away.

Perhaps he was being a bit quick to pin the blame but he wouldn't be all to surprised if Jimmy's presence and influence was already weaseling its way back into Jey's mind. He knew his twin was temperamental and sometimes didn't always think with his head before doing things, but even more so now it seemed the older Uso’s hostility had gotten worse. Could you blame him for not trusting Sami after he betrayed Roman? It was only fair it seemed like he had spit on the family that he had been let into.

A part of him believed that perhaps Jimmy may never understand the full layers of trauma inflicted on him and Jey by staying in Roman's presence. A part of him wished he could see under the armor and hoped a part of Jimmy knew everything Roman had done was wrong even if he was to hard headed to see it now.

But now after fretting his very well intentioned worry to Jey over the situation he was instead met with aggression and hostility where there had been none for months. And it had scared him into silence even staring as he saw the flicker of regret linger on those hazel eyes before he was left reeling. His relationship with Jey since leaving the Bloodline had really been up in a debate due to his friendship (fragile) with Kevin and Jey's independence now trying to solidify his singles career. They had been on and off dating? If you could call what they did dating due to their schedules and now the current family situation that had been boiling since Bad Blood.

They had always been super affectionate whether it being hugs or kisses. He knew Jey was still recovering just as he was from Roman's hold so they had been taking it slow and when Jey had requested he needed time he had respectfully agreed. Both of them in stress for different reasons but reasons all the same with people they cared about.

However what he couldn't wrap his head around was Jimmy and Roman spewing and hammering the idea that Solo was the worst. The more or less lesser of evil as Sami saw it. He wasn't stupid or blinded by his past with Roman nor as much as he loved Jey would he allow it to cloud his judgment. He knew Solo was far from being worse than the treatment that everyone in the Bloodline had received by the hands of the OTC. Solo never used his power to manipulate, he didn't rule through fear for his Bloodline, he didn't cheat much, never gaslighting, and he never treated anyone with less respect than he expected to himself. Yet he was the bad guy here.

Sami and Solo had been close in the original Bloodline during his time teaming and becoming close with the rest of the men. He had always known Solo as the quiet guy only ever being the one to carry out the dirty work. Though he knew Solo was destined for greatness the moment he came to NXT. He remembered how delighted he was just to see the smallest quirk of his lips from his silly quips or jokes and how excited he had become when Solo called him, ‘his dawg.’ If anything to Sami he knew somewhere in that cold demeanor that Solo cared maybe even had loved him as family too.

But now standing backstage aimlessly walking he felt lost in what to do in the midst of what seemed like the reforming of the original Bloodline. It all felt surreal and to him he was frustrated, so frustrated. He was afraid even for Jimmy because for the past few SmackDown’s and PLE’s Roman had shown no changes let alone uttered the word ‘i’m sorry’ to either Jimmy or Jey. He wanted to shake sense into the younger twin because he saw how unapologetic Roman remained on not being any different then the man that had caused so much heartache.

The man who drove away his own family.

Sami was so lost in his own turmoil and mind that he hadn't processed the fact someone was calling his name till now. He slowed his pace and blinked back the raging storm in his mind as he turned to gaze behind himself and frowned. And to his surprise there was the man himself, someone he hadn't talked to since he had betrayed the Bloodline.

Solo.

To his surprise it wasn't an aggressive or hostile approach like his brothers and cousin, it was open and relaxed. His stance comfortable and radiating a confidence Sami had never seen in his time as the enforcer. It was pleasing to see how much Sikoa had grown into his own as the new Tribal Chief and even more so to see him free of the position that he and previously the Uso's had believed was holding him back.

“Solo, hey man.” Zayn chuckled feeling a bit awkward at first as he ran a hand over the neck of his neck and gave an apologetic smile as he shifted to his feet. “Listen, about Roman and the betrayal I-” He had began feeling the need to bury the hatchet and give an apology that was needed or so he felt was. But to his surprise he was cut short by Solo holding up a finger to quiet him as he shook his head.

“No Sami, that's not necessary.” Solo started with a monotone tone that wasn't rude, just a bit firm in the way he said it. He raised a hand to rub his jaw as he stepped forward and gazed up towards Sami with a serious look. “I don't care about what you did, I understand.” He added calmly and gave a half smile as he lowered his hand back to his side.

Sami felt a bit of relief tug on his heart but his nerves still danced at the sight of the Tongans and especially from the intense almost feral stare down from the Samoan Werewolf, Jacob Fatu. He was still wary about Solo's new Bloodline despite the non aggressive (mostly) way they handled themselves and the unfamiliarity of the cousins Solo had brought in.

Solo, having caught on to the unease and slight fidget under the gaze of his Bloodline, gave a short chuckle. He turned his head and gave a small gesture to Jacob who lessened his murderous stare and opted to look on readily. “Hey, don't let them intimidate you, Sam. They are harmless and they're with me.” He reassured him holding a hand in a dirt of placating gesture. “These are my cousins, Tama Tonga and Tonga Loa.” He stepped slightly to the side and gestured a hand out.

Tama nodded his head in response and grinned widely as he kept his hands folded in front of himself while his brother Tonga simply nodded. The pair of them a famous tag team Sami has heard of a few times from NJPW and from Cody from time to time. They were mostly quiet and just there it seemed, so unlike the energy he had felt from Jimmy and Jey constant almost bubby energy. They were calm and focused nothing to out of note except the odd growling and sounds Tama occasionally gave out.

“And this.” Solo smiled proudly and placed a hand on Jacob's shoulder as he looked at Sami. “Is Jacob, he's my enforcer and another one of my cousins.” He nodded and patted the tense man with a proud look.

Jacob flipped his dreads out his face almost too aggressively and gave a small grunt of acknowledgement as he stood there. Seemingly always on edge or ready for a fight as he moved his leg slightly restlessly at his side as he eyed the Canadian with an underlying suspension but made no comment.

Sami still felt no more relaxed but in all honesty he trusted Solo’s judgment and that proud smile almost made him want to grin too. It seemed so foreign to watch the stoic former enforcer smile and joke so freely like his brothers. It made Sami wonder if Solo had been keeping a part of himself hidden under the leadership of Roman just to keep up appearances. Though now seeing him so relaxed and happy made him feel the same amount of pride as he had for Jey. At least some more good had come out of his betrayal.

“Yeah well I'm so glad to see you coming into your own Solo. You deserved everything, especially being tribal chief.” Sami smiled earnestly with a heartfelt tone as he gestured towards the ula fala Solo now adorned. “My tribal chief.” He added a bit cheekily as he grinned a bit, feeling his heart race at the way Sikoa seemed to perk up and puff up proudly from the acknowledgement.

Solo nodded in approval and looked to both sides of him, getting a nod from both Tongans as he gave a genuine laugh. “See! It's not hard but everyone seems to think it's impossible. Still acknowledging Roman like he ain't done anything wrong.” He scoffed and shook his head feeling frustrated with people still hating him despite him not doing anything to be hateable in his eyes.

“I feel like I'm in a crazy dream when I heard the others act like you had set the plague or something compared to Roman.” Sami nodded along feeling like he was finally heard as he expressed his frustrations to the younger sibling. His eyes still wary and his tone tired as he sighed, rubbing his temples just shaking his head. “I dunno Solo, Jey is acting all hostile again and Jimmy acts like I'm still the worst..and I just..” He sighed letting his shoulders slump in defeat as he resigned himself to the idea that Jey might just fall back into old habits.

Solo seeing this had softened and sighed as he nodded along with a disappointed yet knowing look in his eyes. His gaze sympathetic as he stepped forward and placed his hands on Sami's shoulders gently but firmly. “You are family to me Sam, my dawg…everything.” He empathized, squeezing his shoulders and ducked his gaze trying to catch Sami's eyes. “I want you in my Bloodline Sami, I know tensions are high and you want to be with Jey when this is all said and done but we both know Roman ain't no different then when you left.”

The sincerity in his tone and words caught him by surprise and he felt the hurt get a bit of balm soothed by the blonde as he was speaking. His logical side screamed to agree and let things play out but still his heart was he might betray Jey worse and drive him more into Roman by joining Sikoa. Though a deeper more pained side of himself reared its head and he felt anger and frustration from the stress bubbling dangerously.

Was this the right call?

Sami ultimately felt his resolve waver and his emotions washed over him as his eyes locked with the intense yet soft gaze of Solo. His heart torn but knowing that he'd only hurt himself more by letting himself be lured back into Roman's Bloodline. The actions to both to Kevin and Jey, three years of trauma and torment. He loved Jey but he was tired and the family drama felt like a weight he couldn't escape even now.

His own body worked accordingly almost on autopilot as he leaned forward and hugged Solo feeling a sense of comfort wash over his battered soul feeling the tight yet real hug given by the new tribal chief. It was full of more love and meaning than Reigns had ever tried to give in the past. Was he really evil? He felt his body melt slightly as he closed his eyes, giving a shaky sigh as he frowned, feeling Solo's gloved fingers thread through his ginger locks.

The warm and firmness of the bigger Samoan was grounding and he felt his stress slowly melting as the ghost of a shiver run up his back when Solo's breath fanned over his ear. His words soft spoken comfort and reassurance as he gazed over Sami's shoulder to share a silent message to the other members of his Bloodline.

Zayn hadn't even registered what was happening till he felt tentative yet gentle fingers running in his beard and cupping his cheeks with the smooth gloves. His eyes flicking to meet the stoic gaze that was Solo and for a moment his heart skipped and he swallowed thickly as the other man leaned forward and ghosted a tentative kiss to his lips before pulling back. It almost seemed fearful and hesitant as if expecting rejection but softening seeing none. Solo was much more soft and affectionate then Sami had expected especially since in their time in the Bloodline there wasn't a lot of tension at least he hadn't felt it unless he never noticed Sikoa’s attraction.

It was wrong but…

It felt nice.

But unnoticed by the group there was a figure standing at the corner of the hallway staring on at the interaction. Their hand tightening into the temple of pink ‘yeet’ glasses making them creak under the pressure till they turned and stalked off silently down the other way.

[miru-has-thoughts]

Not Jimmy and Jey playing hide and seek

[imabillyami]

7. & 42. Samijey 💕

Hi lovely anon! Thanks so much for sending these! I had so much fun writing them! 💕

I was originally gonna go for a more plot driven fic, but then I started writing and somehow ended up with a matching set of character (relationship) study type of fics from both POV’s instead - “Silent Fury” (Sami’s POV) & “Savior” (Jey’s POV).

I hope you don’t mind and still enjoy them! Set roughly somewhere between EC 2023 and WM39. We're handwaving the timeline a bit.

(Seeing as they belong together, I'm posting both of them here.)

-> Mini fic challenge (Still accepting prompts! Send me a number and a ship/character and see what happens.) 

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Silent Fury (Sami’s POV, 862 words, PG, pre-slash) 

Despite what everybody around him claimed to know, there had been absolutely nothing easy about leaving the Bloodline. 

Not with how much brotherly love and genuine friendship he’d felt towards Solo and Jimmy. 

Not with how much he used to in equal measure look up to, respect and fear Roman. 

Not with how fond he’d grown of Paul and his smarmy weaseling ways and his at times invaluable advice. 

And especially not with how tits over ass in love he’d found himself with Jey. 

He genuinely had no intention of ever leaving the Bloodline behind the way he did, despite seeing the writing on the wall for a while, until he swung that chair at Roman’s back. But once he did, he couldn’t find it in himself to regret it. 

Not even when it meant destroying what he’d built for himself for months and months. 

Not when it meant turning on his found family. 

Most of that had been an illusion anyway if the recent weeks had been any indication. 

In that moment - the one that changed the trajectory of his life in ways he still couldn’t fully wrap his head around - he simply couldn’t bear the thought of spending even one more minute stuck under Roman’s thumb, playing his cruel games, letting himself be used like a puppet on strings. 

So despite how it all went down, he had no regrets when it came to himself. 

The way he’d betrayed Jey though? The way he’d left him behind? That part was still eating him alive. 

He’d had an inkling about where their relationship was headed before all of this happened, his feelings for Jey growing stronger by the minute and Jey not shy about his own feelings towards him either. Not that they’d ever really said it out loud. But Sami thought it had been heavily implied at least. He could be wrong though. 

And that’s just the thing - where others would’ve long since given up and moved on, writing it off as a failed relationship, an ‘it simply wasn’t meant to be’, he wasn’t gonna let Jey go this easily. Romantic or platonic love, chance or no chance, he’d seen the betrayal and the hurt in Jey’s eyes at the Rumble and he couldn’t ever let him down like that again. Not when there was still hope. 

Jey had refused to attack him alongside his brothers. He’d left. Disappeared. Gone radio silent on his entire family, hell even his own twin, for weeks. One didn’t have to be a genius to know what that meant. 

The night Jey chose his family over him, honestly,  it shouldn’t have been a surprise. Roman had threatened Jimmy, after all. And there was nobody in this world Jey would ever love as much as his twin. 

So really, it shouldn’t have come as a surprise to him that after a fierce hug - one that still played on a constant loop in his head - Jey had given him a proper ass whooping. 

And yet here he was, still completely thrown off his game by Jey’s obvious choice. A choice that should have been a clean cut if there ever was one. 

Except it wasn’t. 

Yes, his heart was aching at the mere sight of the Uso, but the familiar longing and the insistent pull were still there. 

Call him foolish or delusional, but he had no intention of giving up on Jey anytime soon. 

And so he kept seeking him out every single week, stubbornly trying to drill the words into Jey’s head, trying to get him to understand, trying to help him break free. 

And every single week he kept watching in silent fury when his words seemed to have the exact opposite effect. 

Instead of breaking free, Jey threw himself deeper into the arms of his family, willingly submitting to Roman’s mind games, his now borderline obsessive obedience to his cousin stronger than ever before. 

Sami was pissed off at the situation as a whole. He was just about done with Roman. The urge to add a sequel to the chair incident at the Rumble was truly overwhelming. 

But even more than that, more than anything else, he was furious with himself and the fact that he couldn’t seem to do anything right anymore when it came to Jey. It honestly felt like he just kept making things worse. 

The fact that they were now pitted against each other for WrestleMania sure didn’t help. 

As time went by their promos kept growing more and more hostile and antagonistic, heated and emotional in a way he could’ve never anticipated, and more often than not they ended with fists flying everywhere. 

Still, violence and hostility be damned, week after week he kept approaching Jey the second he was alone - much to his own tag partner and best friend’s bewilderment and annoyance - cause he still had hope. 

They’d had a genuine connection before and something like that didn’t just go away, did it? It still had to be there for Jey as much as it was for him.

He believed in Jey. He always would. And he’d be damned if he ever gave up on him.

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Savior (Jey’s POV, 620 words, PG, pre-slash) 

Jey didn’t fucking know what Sami’s problem was. 

If there were a way to Google ‘How do you move on from your mortal enemy turned potential love of your life after he betrayed your family, left you high and dry and then had the nerve to come back to tell you he believed in you? Add that he likely has no clue about the love of your life part. Oh, you also kicked him in the face and gave him a beatdown after almost leaving your family behind to be with him.’ Jey would’ve done that ages ago.

But there seemed to be no handy solution to his very unique problem and so Jey was left fumbling while trying to figure out how to deal with this shit by himself. 

It didn’t help that Sami didn’t seem to ever get the fucking memo and stay out of his way. 

No, instead he kept running after Jey like a forlorn puppy biting and gnawing at his ankles, constantly trying to get into his head and under his skin. Constantly telling him he’s better than he actually is and that there was an easy way out of his situation. Like he had any damn clue. 

And the worst part? 

It worked. 

Jey knew Sami was his savior about as much as he himself was an innocent damsel in distress. Which was not at all. 

But still. 

As much as he kept pretending to be indifferent to them, Sami’s words rang loud and clear inside his head and settled heavily on his conscience. They resonated with him against his will, they made his heart beat faster (though that might’ve actually just been Sami’s presence in general) and he had no fucking idea know how to make it stop.

And the words? They actually gave him the most fucking dangerous thing there was: hope. 

Hope that there’s a way out from under Roman’s reign of terror without his brothers getting hurt in the process. 

Hope that he gets to stand on his own two feet again one day. 

Hope that once he gets there, Sami would actually be waiting for him.

Hope that the whole ‘love of his life part’ isn’t the one-sided fantasy he thinks it is. 

It was a major fucking inconvenience that Sami was so good with his words. That they made Jey wanna give in and say ‘fuck it’. Like that was actually a thing he’d be able to do. 

He’d let himself hope before. 

He’d hoped to provide for their family. 

He’d hoped to become Roman’s equal. 

He’d hoped there was still a shred of compassion and humanity left in his cousin. 

And when Sami had wormed his way into his stupid heart, he’d learned about a new kind of hope altogether. 

The hope that someone would be willing to step up and step in and share the burden of his family with him and they’d stay despite the mess they found themself in. 

It had been a childish dream. And see where that had left him. 

Heartbroken and feeling like a fool. 

He absolutely couldn’t allow himself to fall for Sami’s white knight routine all over again, no matter how genuine it felt.

At least that’s what his head kept shouting at him. 

His heart, however? 

That was a different story entirely. 

And he didn’t know how much longer he would be able to deny it, to lie through his teeth, to hurl hateful words and throw punches at Sami when all he wanted to do was whisper sweet nothings and use his hands to caress him instead. 

So no, Sami sure as hell wasn’t his savior, but he could very well prove to be his final downfall.

[acknowledge-reigns]

TW// Mention of 9/11

TF is wrong with the IWC??! I've been extremely inactive (my wedding is coming up this weekend!! 💖👰🏾‍♀️)

But I just had to pop in and point out that wrestling is NEVER that serious, to say this foul ass shit especially when the 23rd anniversary is in TWO DAYS. People like Zelina Vega who lost her father that day are still out here hurting. Y'all need to seek help deadass.

And a side note, if you agree with some bullshit like this about Jey, yet have Roman as your pfp I would like you to know Joe would fucking hate you. That is all.

Sending love and light to Zelina and her family as well as everyone else effected to this day. Never forget.