Prologue: How It All Began

A/N: Welcome old and new readers to the first prequel story of Fallen Angel Restored! If you haven't read that story already, you don't have to go and read it. You can if you want to. If you have, here's the prologue. Chapter one will be up shortly after, hopefully. Let me know your thoughts so I can keep improving my writing. Without further adieu, here is You Saved Me From The Darkness (Part One of the Piece By Piece series). Disclaimer: I own nothing but my story and ideas. I'm just a WWEFanGirl!

This is Roman Reigns. The Big Dog, the oldest brother, the Powerhouse. The muscle and man with reason behind the Shield, but that's in the future. Today, he was the new guy in this neighborhood. Well, one of them at least. (The other new kid lived about two doors down.) He had famous parents and relatives in the wrestling business, a talent in football, the ability to charm just about any girl (or guy, if they were into that), and the looks to pull off anything. He had wavy ravenette black hair, stormy grey eyes, beautiful tan skin, and tribal tattoos galore. He was almost six foot and still growing, only being a sophomore this coming school year. He had played football the last few years, planning on playing in the NFL, bulking up and having a strong build, but he was not in any way a dumb jock. His father and uncle, Sika and Afa, aka WWE's the Wild Samoans, had requested a few days off to help the family move in and settle. Roman's mother, Patricia was also there.

Roman Reigns was his name at school. At home, he was Leati Joseph Anoa'i, Joe for short. His birthday was May 25th and his hometown was Pensacola, Florida. His family descended from the Samoan Islands. They'd moved because his father's job had become more demanding, with his big push in the company and all, and their home was closer to where he'd be working. Sure, matches were wrestled all over the place, but most would only be a few states away instead of halfway across the country. He had a girlfriend, Galina Becker, who had also recently moved here because her parents had jobs here now. She was beautiful, smart, and already had her life planned out. A life planned out with Roman. He wanted so badly to text her and tell her he would see her soon. Just jump into her arms and never let go Before he could unlock his phone, however, his father called for his help.

"Joe! Help your uncle carry in some of the furniture! Stop texting Galina like some lovesick pup!" Roman groaned. He did enough weightlifting and working out during football season as it is. Though it wouldn't be difficult moving all the beds and dressers and upholstery, it would be a nuisance. "And while you're at it, help your mother stock things in the kitchen!"

"C'mon, Papa, just pick one already! I can't do both!" he shouted in reply. His uncle Afa slapped him upside the head playfully.

"Now now. Just help us both and he'll get off your back. At least make it look like you're helping. That's how I fooled him back in the day. *winks*" Roman smiled and took the other end of the loveseat he was carrying in. As soon as he was out of anyone else's sight, he retreated to his room and pulled out his phone. We're moving in today and we're just around the corner. I'll c u soon baby.

She immediately texted back: It's good to hear from u. I'll c u school next week, right?

School?! We just got here.

The system is different than back home. I was surprised to hear it too. All u really need is a backpack, some pencils, and some paper. Maybe folders and a few binders. Meet me out front the first day?

Wouldn't have it any other way.

"Joe! Are you up there texting? I thought I told you to go help with moving everything? Do I have to teach you another lesson?!" His father didn't sound angry, he just wasn't that kind of guy. He was calm, laid back, was the voice of reason. But, teach him a lesson meant showing and locking in a painful wrestling move on him that would leave him gasping in pain and tapping out in the middle of a room full of people. In favor of being able to walk later, he texted Galina a quick goodbye. Got caught. We'll have to catch up l8tr. Love u.

Love u 2. Don't die befor again! :*

Wouldn't dream of it. :3 He pocketed his phone and ran downstairs, grabbing random food and shoving it into cabinets and the fridge just before Sika made his way into the kitchen. "That's more like it," he said with a smile.

"Give the boy a break. He's not used to moving around and adjusting like we are. Give him some time to say hi to everyone and settle down," his mother told her husband.

"He can socialize and relax when we've finished unpacking."

"Sika… Let. Him. Settle. Down. First." She put unnecessary force behind those words, making his father flinch and back away slightly. Afa chuckled.

"Your father may be older and meaner, but your mother is a firebrand!"

"You can say that again," Roman replied quietly before slipping out the front door and taking in his new neighborhood. Two doors down on the left was the other new kid. He had an unorthodox look about him, Gothic clothes and a streak in his hair, but seemed nice enough. The other new boy waved and flashed a friendly smile. He returned the gesture. Across the street from the new boy's house was a rather ramshackle home that caught his attention. In the upper left window sat a rough looking boy with messy brown hair and an angry glare. He would avoid him if that look said anything (it screamed: danger, potential bad boy punk, setting off alarm bells in his head), but for now, he was going to go give his girlfriend a surprise visit.

He headed down the street towards Galina's house, looking for the oak swing set on the front porch and the house with blue windows. He spotted it after a few more minutes of walking, the second house on the right, and made a beeline to the front door. He checked himself over to make sure he looked somewhat presentable. New tennis shoes, ironed jeans, a Chicago Bears T-shirt, hair tied back in a bun. Yep, he was good. He knocked the rhythm of the first line in his favorite rock song before ringing the doorbell. He heard thundering footsteps and the telltale giggles of his girlfriend before the front door was thrown open and she leaped at him. She was no average girl, she wasn't one to swoon over a guy or be super cheesy in a relationship. Most girls would jump into their boyfriend's arms squealing. Galina, though she wasn't a jock, picked Roman up and swung him in a circle. No one would ever suspect this could even be possible if they judged based on appearance.

"I take it you got out alive?" she asked him. He chuckled and kissed her cheek.

"Uncle Afa saved me with another distraction."

"One day, you're going to mess up horribly, and he won't be there to save you. When that day comes, I'll cry read the eulogy at your funeral." She snickered at the face he was making. A mix of fake hurt and surprise was shown.

"I thought you loved me! How could you just act like you don't care?" he asked in an overly dramatic and upset voice. "At least you didn't say you'd laugh. That would've just been harsh."

"Maybe I'll just have to say that next time then." She let go of him and walked back into her house. Before he could take the first step, however, a couch cushion collided with his face. He looked up and saw the mischievous glint in her eyes, seeing past her false innocent smile. She beckoned him in laughing, and he ran after her, a pillow in hand aimed at her back. If it was a war she wanted, it was a war she'd get.

"You won't get away with this, baby!"

XxX

This is Seth Rollins. The Architect, the baby brother, the two toned one. He was the brains and the flashy one behind the Shield. Today, he was the other new guy in the neighborhood. He had chocolate brown eyes, long straight black hair, one side partially dyed blonde, a lean figure, and would be labeled as one of those "pretty boys". His family was of Armenian descent, a small border country in the Middle East. He was into heavy metal and rock bands, loved skinny jeans for some reason, and was a major nerd. Forget a video game or comic store, just go to Seth Rollins' house. Being a major nerd also meant being a straight A honor student. That did not mean being in all the clubs people considered lame or for nerds and smart kids. He was also a wrestling fanatic, seeing a few locals hit the ropes and being instantly hooked. He also loved the Chicago Bears, hoping to play for them one day. Everything about him to the outside world screamed strange. The stranger thing was the fact that he was bisexual. Oh, how the teasing and bullying had been. His step-father, Shane, who he referred to as his actual dad, had been willing to listen and accept, understanding, but his mom? Their relationship hasn't been the same since. It wasn't too different, but it was never the same.

Seth Rollins was his school name. At home, he's Colby Lopez. His birthday is May 28th and his hometown is Davenport, Iowa. His old house was cramped and falling apart, and his dad had promised to save up enough money to buy a bigger, better one. His mom worked with his dad at some law firm place, so they were gone for most of the day. His mom took the all day position while his dad vied for one that was just during the day. He had spent more time with his dad ever since his mom's big promotion a few years back. She was hardly ever home these days, sometimes sleeping at her office. It hurt, but you got used to it after about four and a half years. Moving so often meant not having a lot of friends. The long distance friends he did have, like April "AJ" Mendez and Phil "CM Punk" Brooks, kept in contact when they could. They'd gotten quiet as of late. He'd moved where he knew no one, knew nothing about the town, and had no idea how the people were or how they would react to him. If this place was like everywhere else he'd lived, then not good. He'd once again be labeled faggot, freak, but he didn't care. He'd move soon enough and they'd forget about him.

Seth jumped when he felt a hand on his shoulder. He turned to see his dad, eyes weary, but happy, looking at him. "Do you think you'll like this town, bud?" Seth laughed softly and sadly.

"I severely doubt it. It's probably just like every other town we've been in."

"Well, we lived in the last one for almost a year. It's something, right?" His son sighed. With his mom being away so much and Seth's problems at school on top of the troubles at work, his dad tried his absolute hardest to make his son the happiest boy alive. He spent time with him, helped him with school work, went to all his school functions, taught him everything he knew, took him out to places. His father had no time to himself, and he liked it that way. He was always disappointed in himself for not being the best father he could be. It hurt Seth that his dad thought that way. "I'm sorry, son. I tried to keep the job back in Indiana, but your mom wanted to work here."

"You never have to apologize for anything, dad. I know you try your best. That's all I ask for. I'm grateful… And I love you for it." He gave his dad a long hug, glad they had such a strong bond.

"Whelp, we should probably get these last few boxes unpacked before we call it quits. *picks up a box labeled bathroom* Do you still wanna go for that drive around the city? We can go to that video game store that's a couple of blocks away," he said in a sing song voice. Seth clapped a hand over his mouth to conceal his quivering smile.

" 'Course we can. But if we get a new game while we're there, I call first dibs." He watched his dad chuckle and disappear upstairs as he ran to the car to pick up the last box for his room. Once outside, he saw the other new kid on the street, Joseph Anoa'i if he heard his dad right. He was tall, dark, handsome- No! He'd just seen the guy. He berated his train of thought as Mr. Tall, Dark, and Handsome (Ugh! Get a grip!) looked over. Seth grinned and waved, hoping they could be formally introduced later. He waved back and headed down the opposite side of the street. He probably had friends down here. Hopefully, the Anoa'i kid could be his friend, too. He would need all the familiar faces he could get come next week.

His dad had bought all the school supplies Seth thought he needed upon arriving in town. Soon after, they bought dinner (a few of the local seafood joint's take home meals) and food to stock their new kitchen. Now, Seth was in the process of baking a sort of Welcome to the Neighborhood pie for Mr. Tall, Dar- the other new guy's family. You couldn't go wrong with the family recipe apple pie, right? His father came back down stairs and smiled warmly at his son. Always so considerate and caring towards others. He could be stubborn to those he was close to, him being a prime example, but that wasn't necessarily a bad thing. Especially in heartwarming moments like this. If only his wife could be here to see their loving son… He pushed those thoughts out of his mind, not wanting to dampen the mood. "That pie smells delicious. I'm glad you got your mother's cooking skills and not mine!" he exclaimed. He could cook the simple things, like a cake, cookies, eggs, pancakes. A pie was out of his skill range, as were many other things. Looks like Seth was cooking dinner from now on.

Seeing as how the pie had another half hour left to bake, he asked his dad something that'd been bothering him. "Hey, dad, who's the boy across the street?" While greeting his gorgeous new neighbor, Jesus, now is not the time to hit on guys!, he'd noticed a boy sitting in the upstairs window across the street. He looked about his age. He didn't look very friendly, though. Neither did the house. The dusty windows, worn brick exterior, and scratched up door made it look like a quickly made haunted house on Halloween. The only decent looking thing was the car, which looked almost brand new. It was a sleek black Chevy Camaro. It looked like the newest model. He hesitated to answer that question, having met the young man's mother earlier today.

"That's Jonathan Good. He's lived here for the past four years with his mom, Angie. I met the young woman. They had a rough life back in Cincinnati, Ohio. The husband was… let's just say he was bad news. He did horrible things to his family. She left with Jonathan when he was about eight and tries to live a clean life. She can't really hold a job since she's always immediately associated with her husband. She says she's got a boyfriend she's trying to settle down with, but he won't have it. She just wants her son to have a father figure. We talked earlier and she was saying how living around other teenage boys would be a good influence on him. Try and make friends with him if you can…"

"Wow. He does not have an apple pie life. No pun intended, by the way. *his dad snickers* He does look a bit sketchy though, dad. I know it's because of his past, but he could at least try to seem nice."

" *scoffs*You're one to judge. Remember when people thought that way about you? Don't give him a hard time. If he needs to try to seem nice, you need to as well. Who knows, you might have something in common."

"Maybe… So, how about hitting up that video game store?"

"Heh, just let me grab the keys. We'll go in a few. And don't let that pie burn!"

XxX

This is Dean Ambrose. The Lunatic Fringe, the second oldest, the wild child. He was the madman, unpredictable mouthpiece behind the Shield. Today, he was the melancholy kid next door. He'd actually managed to fall asleep to fall asleep without his insomnia kicking in, and then a moving truck interrupts his somewhat peaceful slumber. He didn't have dreams, no, never dreams. All he had was nightmares. If that asshole of a dad hadn't scarred him for life, he wouldn't be the mess of a 15 year old boy that he was. He couldn't get the man out of his mind though. His reflection was a constant reminder of him, as was his bad attitude and mindset. He was nearing six foot with messy light brown curls, sparkling deep blue eyes, a lean, but muscled build, and a look that could send grown men running for the hills. His mom used to call him Harry Potter because he had her eyes, but was exactly like his dad, looks and behavior wise.

Dean Ambrose was his school name. His name is Jonathan Good, Jon for short. His birthday is December 7th and his hometown is Cincinnati, Ohio. His mom was unemployed because his screw up of a dad had ruined her future just by knowing her. She had talked to a friend in town who had found a local bartender spot open at a place that wasn't too shady. Dean had a job at a mechanic's shop on the weekends that helped his mom pay the bills. It's the reason his car looked brand new. That Camaro was his baby. He always snagged a few of the new parts every time his shop got a shipment, always upgrading his car to be better and faster. Next door wasn't his only new neighbor. The guy a few houses down from him was too. In fact, that's the house the moving truck hauled things to in the middle of the night! At least the pretty boy and his dad were kind enough to just drive all their junk here.

"Jon, sweetheart?" a soft spoken voice asked. The troubled teen looked up from his spot on the windowsill to see his mother smiling nervously at him. She had reddish brown shoulder length, and the same piercing blue eyes as her son. Freckles lightly covered her face, which revealed laugh lines when she smiled. Her son had a few inches on her, but that didn't make her any less fierce. Don't let her kind, innocent looks fool you. "Are you feeling okay?"

"Mama," he greeted, somewhat deep, raspy voice echoing in his room. He got up and wrapped his arms around her, smiling as she pressed a soft kiss to the top of his head. Her tortured son put on that tough guy façade around others. He was nothing but a teddy bear around her. "Do I have to go to school next week?"

" *sigh* I know you hate going, but I don't want you to end up in the same situation as me. I want you to have a good life. Run off and get a job, meet the perfect guy-"

"Or girl."

"Heh, you know you like boys better. Don't pretend you don't," she said with a smile. She had spotted the signs of her son being bisexual so long ago, it was almost funny. "Get married, have a family, settle down, be so rich you can send your poor old mom checks in the mail. *winks*" He chuckled softly and let her go. He knew his mom was trying. He knew that none of this was her fault, that she did what she could and then some. He tried to take as much pressure off of her as possible. He'd learned at a young age that it was every man for himself out in the real world. Just you and the small, very small, circle of close knit, life long best friends you could trust no matter what. He would be rich one day. He'd wrestle on sports entertainment's grandest stage in front of the entire world. He'd win his match, bring home the gold, and make his mother proud. He'd show up all those snarky, bitchy, know it all motherfuckers that told him he wasn't worth a rat's ass. And he'd take care of his mom.

"When I'm rich enough, I'mma get you outta here, mom. I promise, I won't let anything happen to you. And if something does, those sons of bitches'll pay."

"Jon, it's my job to keep you safe. You know I can handle myself…"

"What about when you get older and you can't? What happens then?"

"We'll cross that bridge when we get there. Now, *pats his head, much to his dismay* how about dinner?" His face lit up at the mention of food. He hadn't eaten in almost two days. That's just how bad it was right now. Sometimes she brought in loads of cash, enough to pay a few bills and get some groceries. Other times, they depended on Dean's tiny income, which was usually enough to pay the rest and then some. Just barely. "It's not much, but it'll do, right?" She'd set aside a bowl of some sort of vegetable soup and a sandwich from a nearby diner for each of them. Dean considered that a lot of food, and that's saying something.

"It's perfect. It's plenty." He ran to his seat and looked up to his mom expectantly. She took the seat across from him and clasped her hands in prayer. He had picked up his spoon and froze when he saw his mom. It had been years…

"I know you don't believe," she started, knowing religion was a touchy subject for her son, "but I do. Just… *shakily takes his hand in hers* At least this once." He nodded and closed his eyes. In no way did he believe in God. If there was a God, where was he when his dad did all those horrible things to them? When his mother struggled to get a job and they had to live on the streets? When his dad and mom's boyfriends forced him to sell drugs and cigarettes to pay the bills when he went out and bought booze? But his mother's words from all those years ago rang clearly through his ears, being one of the only times she'd ever snapped at him.

"Look, whether you like it or not, we're in this predicament. You're lucky to be alive! You know who's responsible for that? God is! If it wasn't for him, we wouldn't be here right now. If it wasn't for him, *gently caresses his tearstained cheek* I wouldn't have you…" An eight and a half year old Dean Ambrose sat crying on a park bench in his mother's lap. She never snapped at him, never got mad. He was scared to death he'd done something wrong. His fear disappeared when she stroked his cheek and her voice turned gentle again. "I can't always be there to protect you. I can't always be the gentle mom you know. Until we settle down in a home, you have to learn to be tough, to stand up for yourself. We're survivors. You'll see terrible things, things a child shouldn't know. You'll see me in a dark, dark place. But we'll get through it. My faith and beliefs have gotten me this far. One day, it'll be the only thing keeping you going…"

Now, sitting at the table eating a rare dinner, he began to wonder if her words had truth to them. She never lied to him, she wouldn't start now. He still had his doubts, but he'd not dwell on the thoughts. "And just so you're not completely alone next week," she mumbled, interrupting his thoughts, "the boy across the street's name is Colby. I met his father, a sweet young men the both of them. The boy who moved in farther down the street's name is Joseph. Just so you won't be lonely. Try to be nice, even if people aren't nice back. And please try not to be in any more fights this year. I think the only reason your principal hasn't kicked you out is because I'm so pretty to look at…"

"There's no doubt about that," Dean chuckled.

"And Roy and I have talked again and he's agreed to try and live with us and see how things work out."

"I don't like him," he quickly cleared up his statement after the look his mother gave him. "What I mean is, he's nice, he has a job, he cares, but he doesn't seem different from the others. One day, he's gonna lose it and he's gonna hurt you. I won't let that happen, not again. If he's anything like dad-"

"I know you don't like him, but give him a chance."

"But I've got that gut feeling! You know I'm right, I always am-"

"Jon, let's just finish dinner. After that, you can go relax or take a walk outside. Maybe you could greet your new neighbors." He sighed and continued eating. Roy, her boyfriend of two years, was who she thought "the one" was. She was so sure this time. He'd been the longest boyfriend she'd had. Dean still didn't like it. Nevertheless, he finished his food and went upstairs after giving his mom a quick kiss on the cheek. She was conflicted, wishing she could solve all the problems her son was having. It'd never happen, so she took care of him the best she could and tried to live another day.

XxX

This was how it all began. Three very different boys coming from three very different homes and families. One day, they'd be reunited and become the Hounds of Justice, The Shield. They'd dominate the wrestling world, become the closest of friends, and something more, and then they'd come back to this town and reminisce about all that had happened. Sure, they'd have their differences and such in the future, but they'd always find their way back to each other. They would break apart, only to come back together stronger than before. If you told the boys their fate now, they'd call you crazy, laugh in your face. They'd never imagine their future ending up the way it did. That's a tale for another time. For now, they had to focus on surviving high school.

Closing A/N: Well, that's the prologue. I tried to write the same amount for each of the boys, but I may have written a bit more for Dean (curse my fangirling ways!). Got caught up in the moment. Don't know where the religion bit came from… Maybe me reading my bible that morning? Anyway, chapter one will be soon, but before you read it, are there any thoughts? Reviews and feedback are appreciated! :)