Chapter 1 – Here Comes Goodbye

"Hey did y'all hear Roman's back."

Lizette dropped her eyeliner as soon as she heard Naomi's words echo through in the Diva's locker room.

Friday - September 19th

Lisette smiled softly as she looked down when her blackberry when it chimed at her. -Missed you in my bed last night sweetheart.

She giggled softly as she texted back. -Did you make it to Nashville ok babe?

She did love to hear that chime on her phone. -Yes babygirl, I will see you when you get here on Sunday for the PPV. Do I get you if I win my match?

She chuckled loudly before she quickly responded. –Absolutely :-) See you Sunday! Love you babe!

- Come find me when you get here Sunday. Love you too babygirl.

Saturday – September 20th

"I'm sorry WHAT?!" Lizette asked as she looked at WWE Senior Director of Talent Relations; Mark Carrano like he grew three heads.

Mark sighed heavily. He knew Lizette was not awake yet; so waking her up by pounding on her hotel room door at 6 AM was probably the stupidest thing he could've done but when he'd gotten the call from Hunter about Roman he had to tell her. "I know it's too early to comprehend anything, but Hunter called about 20 minutes ago and said Roman was rushed to the hospital in Nashville for Hernia surgery. Apparently it came out again and wouldn't go back in and caused him a monumental amount of pain; you know big man can take a lot of pain but this time it was too much."

"I uh…" Lizette couldn't think properly over everything that was going through her mind. "Do they know how he's doing yet?" She asked as she backed back into her room and Mark followed her closing the door so they could talk in private.

"No WWE has a couple of executives there now but Hunter and Stephanie are on their way there now on the company jet and they have a red eye plane ticket at the airport waiting for you. I'm supposed to collect you and get you there ASAP." Mark informed her as he watched her collecting things around the room and pushing them into her suitcase.

"Can you give me about thirty minutes to get changed and finish up packing and I'll be ready to go?" Lizette asked softly. She watched as Mark nodded before he walked out of her hotel room. She got changed and threw everything into her suitcase and backpack as she grabbed everything and stepped out into the hotel hallway where Mark was patiently waiting. He took her suitcase as they headed down the hallway.

The plane ride to Nashville felt like it took forever even if it was a redeye flight. She stayed on social media for the whole flight to see if they would release anything new about Roman's surgery, but nothing came out. "I can't believe how fast this hit the media."

Mark nodded sitting next to her on the plane. "Those fangirls they camp outside the hotels when they find out where the superstars are and naturally an ambulance was called so sirens and lights led the way to the side entrance and they watched as he climbed into the back and was taken away. I'm sure every fangirl nurse has already posted half naked or full frontal shots of him unconscious or under anesthesia; which we'll only have to clean up later."

"Did anyone call Roman's parents?" Lizette asked softly.

"Yea, the first question out of Sika's mouth was had you been called. Hunter said no they were sending me to personally take care of you." Mark chuckled. "It's nice to see you get along with his folks. I didn't get along with my in laws for years."

"Sika and Patty are probably the nicest people I've ever met as far as my boyfriend's parents go. They immediately opened their home and family to me the minute Roman introduced us; celebrating holidays and birthdays I wouldn't have it any other way the last two years has been so wonderful…as cheesy as that sounds. I dated so many losers my entire life; who knew getting the perfect job with the WWE would bring me an amazing man as well."

"Oh now your just romanticizing it. I'm sure you're going to force him into watching that stupid Fifty Shades of Grey movie and make him wear a ball gag when you're home." Mark chuckled out as Lizette blushed and laughed.

"I haven't even read the books, but I'd heard enough rumors and tidbits to know I'm not going to let some dude tie me up and spank me like a 3 year old unless he wants to carry his teeth around in his pocket rather than his mouth for the rest of his life." Lizette stated honestly. "Hey Mark…thanks for coming with me."

Mark chuckled once again. "No problem."

Nashville Tennessee

Lizette sat in the OR Waiting Room with Sika and Patricia; Mark joined Stephanie and Hunter in the hallway as they talked about what to do with the PPV the following night on Sunday.

"Did you get to talk with him last night Liz?" Patricia asked softly.

"We sent a couple of text messages back and forth but he was busy with the house show so I didn't want to bother him. When we are on separate schedules it is hard to just drop everything for a phone call." Lizette explained.

Sika reached over and patted her hands. "He's a good boy. He's strong he can handle this. He's needed this surgery for a while and kept putting it off."

Patricia shook her head negatively. "He should've had it done while he was still in FCW than it wouldn't be so severe." She chastised; knowing her baby boy was being stubborn and putting it off.

"He never wanted to talk about how bad the pain was some nights. Especially after the Payback pay pre view when they beat him like a redheaded step child without his vest or undershirt on. It was just as bad the next night when they had Seth crack him across the back with a chair. Your son is stubborn if he's anything else." Lizette chuckled softly as she pointed it out.

"He gets that from his father." Patricia pointed out.

"Oh damn if he does woman. He gets it from you. Hell you were pregnant and in labor with Matt trying to tell me it was just a little indigestion. Yea right…and then her water broke and she tried to tell me she peed." Sika grumbled with a chuckle.

"SIKA! Stop it." She laughed with him. "Don't listen to that old fool. I would've said anything at the time the pain was terrible. That's what I get for wanting to be a mother."

Three heads snapped up as they looked over as the door to the waiting room opened and a doctor walked in; closing the door behind him once Mark, Stephanie and Hunter walked into the room as well.

"I'm Dr. Alexander Walker. I was treating Mr. Reigns the minute he came into the ER. He came in with inguinal hernia. A very painful one at that. Apparently the hole in the abdominal wall was allowing his small intestines to slip out and for whatever reason last night they slipped out and went down and wrapped around his testicles. Once we got him on the operating table we got everything re-situated inside of him and covered it with a wire mesh so it's never going to bother him again. He's really very luck, he could've honestly died had he waited any longer to come to the ER."

Hunter stood with his arm around Stephanie's waist. "Doc what are we looking at recovery time wise?"

Dr. Walker sighed heavily. "Normally it would be anywhere from 4 to 6 weeks, but because of the severity of the hernia anywhere from 9 to 10 weeks maybe more depending on how fast he heals. But that's completely up to Mr. Reigns' body and his home based physician and the doctor's in WWE of course."

"Can we go see him?" Patricia asked.

"Absolutely; just be sure to keep the noise down to a minimum. All the patients in the ward are recovering from surgery." Dr. Walker explained.

Patricia looked at Lizette before she took her hands in her own. "Go see him sweetie. If I know my baby boy; he's going to want to see you first. Stay with him the rest of the night and we'll get some sleep and come see him bright and early tomorrow morning."

"He's your son." Lizette chewed her bottom lip. "Are you sure? I can wait and see him tomorrow." She tried to reason but both Sika and Patricia shook their heads authoritatively. She couldn't help the chuckle as she hugged Patty and kissed the top of Sika's head.

Lizette continued to chew her bottom lip as she made her way down the hallway and into Roman's hospital room. She swallowed hard as she saw him hooked up to the machines. The hospital gown looked as if it were too small for him and she almost giggled at the surgical stockings that were on his feet and legs to keep him from getting blood clots after the surgery. His long raven hair was in a low tail over his right shoulder and he had a pillow across his stomach.

She quietly walked over as she leaned over and kissed his forehead softly while combing her fingers through the top of his head. Her left hand came up and rubbed his gown covered chest gently just trying to let him know she was there and he wasn't alone anymore. "I'm here baby I'm not going anywhere." She softly whispered to him.

Lizette smiled softly when his left hand came up in his groggy anesthetic filled sleep and grabbed her hand and held it against his chest. She could feel the steady thumping of his heart against the back of her hand. She was grateful when a nurse came in and brought her a chair. She leaned back and slowly fell asleep.

"Babygirl…" Roman murmured as he tightened his grip on her hand.

Lizette's eyes snapped open as she jumped up. "Oh my God do you need anything?" She looked at Roman and saw his sleepy grey eye open and looking at her.

Roman shook his head negatively. "No I'm good. What are you doing here?" He asked curiously.

"Roman you had major surgery…" She glanced at her watch; it was around 7 am. "Yesterday…Why wouldn't I be here?"

"Baby you've got a match tonight you shouldn't be here. You should be getting ready. You should be getting prepared." Roman stated honestly.

"Roman nothing is more important to me right now than you." Lizette said before she leaned over the side of the hospital bed and laid her head on his chest; hearing his heart beat was enough for her. She felt him kiss the top of her head.

"I'm fine. I knew I was going to have to have this stupid surgery eventually. I was just hoping it wasn't going to be during my push. I suppose I'm majorly screwed now as far as my fight for the title goes." Roman suspected even though he hadn't spoken with Hunter yet. He imagined he would be getting the visit any minute now. "Anyways, I'm not going to let you jeopardize your career for me. So you get your ass to the hotel and get some proper sleep before the event tonight."

Lizette shook her head. "They cancelled the Diva's matches for tonight, Monday and Tuesday told everyone the airports from Canada to the states were shut down because of the weather."

Roman shook his head. "Do not let Hunter do that to you guys Lizette. It will fuck up your careers."

"Not for three measly day's babe. I want to make sure you get home safely and that you are well looked after before I can even think straight and attempt to concentrate without you around for the 9 to 10 weeks you will be missing from our life on the road. It's going to be a struggle but my days off will be spent with you." Lizette stated in a final tone.

"No, as of right now my career is suspended because of this bullshit surgery. Get your ass on that phone and fight Hunter for your match. I fucked up my push by waiting to get this stupid Hernia fixed. I refuse for you to do the same just so you can play nurse maid to me. My mom and sisters will take care of me; hell I'm sure my mom is already looking into a nurse for me at my house. Just focus on your career for Christ sake." Roman was pushing her away and he couldn't understand why.

And neither could she.

"Why are you pushing me away Roman? We've been together for two years; where else would I be when you need me the most? I'm not going to just walk out and leave you here by yourself. I don't care if your parents are here or not." Lizette stated matter of factly.

"Get out Lizette."

"W-What?" She stuttered as her eyes widened.

"I'm not going to have you pity me because I'm losing my push. Get the hell out. I can take care of myself. I don't need you to lick my wounds or fluff my pillows I can do all of this myself. I don't need my parents. I don't need anybody to feel sorry for me. Most of all, I don't need you. I will heal and come back on my own."

The second he told her he didn't need her he knew…he knew it was the biggest mistake and he could feel the goodbye coming.

She could already feel the tears burning the back of her eyes as she stared at Roman. "I-I don't understand. It's not pity I feel for you. It's love. When you love someone; you do anything to be there for them - anything to make them feel like they aren't alone."

Roman scoffed loudly. "But I am alone. You're not lying in a hospital bed next to me after getting your gut cut open. You're not missing your push; you don't have to give up your career to heal after major surgery. I am; it's me I have to go through all of this with people feeling sorry for me and going through the physical therapy will be even worse seeing the sorrow on people's faces when they know I lost everything because of something I couldn't control."

"Well you can't control everything in life Roman; as much as you'd like to - you can't. Shit happens whether you like it or not. And no one pities you. Actually one person is pitying you right now…and that's YOU! You're sitting here picking a fight with me so I'll leave and you can deal with the emotional bullshit alone. But you're not going to be alone. You're parents and sisters and brother and physical therapist and doctors are all going to be behind you. I just don't understand why I can't be here to help support you too." Lizette stated in a low voice as she felt the tears slip down her cheeks as she tried wiping them away. "I love you so much and I just want to be here for you."

"It doesn't matter right now. Just get the fuck out." Roman growled.

She didn't move. She couldn't. She felt like her feet were glued to the floor as tears poured like a waterfall.

"GET OUT! I SAID GET THE FUCK OUT NOW!"

Lizette jumped at the way his voice growled at her.

"Goodbye Roman."

Roman watched as she walked out of the hospital room. He already knew he'd made the biggest mistake of his life; but at that point there was no going after her.

Lizette was pulled back from her memories as she looked in the mirror and noticed her black eyeliner was running; following her tears down the path of her cheeks.

He was back…he was really back.