This story was inspired by the song Distance by: Christina Perri

I hope you enjoyed it and I hope you're ready for the next adventure.

Thanx to everyone who read, reviewed or just lurked. It's all very much appreciated.

~Maxine

Chapter 20 - Distance

-Sunday Royal Rumble 2015-

It had been a year and nine months since WrestleMania 2013. A lot had happened since that night as well. The guys in the Shield had stayed together until after WrestleMania 2014 then they were split to start their own singles careers.

Sophia Rollins stood back stage as she watched her husband out technical wrestle Antonio Cesaro. As far as technical wrestlers go Antonio was definitely one of the VERY best. Towards the end of Seth's stint in the Shield they started calling him the Architect; with good reason. Seth had speed and agility on his side he was thinking 5 moves ahead of anyone else in the ring and it showed.

"So how proud of him are you right now?" Gen asked as she stood back stage waiting for the last couple of matches.

Sophia smiled softly. "He deserves this win. How excited are you for Roman's win?"

Gen smiled as she nodded. "I couldn't be happier. No one deserves it more than him."

The girls attention was pulled back to the monitor as the bell was rung signaling the end of the match.

"Here is your winner and NEW United States Champion Seth Rollins."

Seth flipped his shoulder length two toned hair out of his face and raised his title in the air.

Sophia smiled as they raised Seth's hand. "That my champion."

"You champion; my best friend." Gen giggled out.

Roman was standing in gorilla position as he embraced one of his best friends. "I'm proud of you bro! I was glad to see they were finally giving you the US belt. You worked your ass off for it."

"Thanks man. I'll see you after the rumble." Seth stated after accepting his hug and hair ruffling Roman as ways gave him.

Roman nodded. "You bet your ass you will. You better go check on that wife of yours; someone gave her indigestion." Roman chuckled out as he watched a smile spread across his bro's face before he turned and jogged off to find his wife no doubt.

Roman stretched out his body as he warmed up his muscles. Once the Shield had been disbanded, Seth went back to wrestling in his trunks and was a famous babyface for the WWE. Dean started wrestling in holy jeans and was back to wearing his black leather jacket to the ring and made quite the career for being a heel; Roman stuck with the black cargo pants but ditched the tactic vest and undershirt. Shirtless was a lot easier to do. Roman had been a heel for a while, but lately the writers were talking about turning him babyface.

"Hey big man." A familiar voice stated from behind Roman.

Roman turned and chuckled at Dean standing behind him with the WWE Championship around his waist. "What's up bro?" Roman asked as they bumped fists.

"Nothing man. I just saw Gen; she said they are finally having you win the rumble so you can take the World Heavyweight strap from Orton." Dean stated.

Roman nodded. "Yea he's finally decide he wants to retire this year; after that motorcycle accident last year here he almost lost his fuckin arm, he finally decided to call it quits. His ex-wife moved out to California and he's going to find a place out there and get reacquainted with his daughter. He doesn't want to miss anymore of her life. I'm kind of surprised he didn't go sooner; especially after the accident." Roman said truthfully.

"Yea but Orton was always a dick to every newbie in the company because he didn't want to job or play his part and help build up the new talent. Good riddance to him. Those cheap shots he took at you at TLC last month were bullshit and I was waiting for Gen to lose her shit and whoop Randall's ass." Dean chuckled out.

Roman joined in the laugh. "Yea, she doesn't tend to get over protective. Remember last year when Dave beat me out of winning the Rumble and he came by and was all 'better luck next time jr' and patted my shoulder? She ripped him a new asshole for talking down to me. She was so pissed off."

Dean couldn't stop laughing. "I've never seen a guy cower like that before it was great. He's just as big as you and his shoulders slumped and his tail tucked between his legs as he started backing away from her. She straight up told him if he didn't have any better respect for the people in the company who kept it going after he bailed like a fuckin baby then maybe he shouldn't have come back. Man, Hunter stood there the whole time laughing."

Roman chuckled harder. "Bro, it wasn't just Hunter, it was everyone; all of us stood there as she berated someone 3 times her size. I mean I'm married to the woman and even her stink eye can make me flinch but I'm not stupid enough to do or say anything disrespectful to anyone in the business past or present. If you remember Dave didn't renew his four month contract after that and went back to Japan."

"Yea where his tattoo aped ass belongs." Dean added with a snort. "Good luck bro." Dean held his fist out as Roman bumped it.

"Tell my wife we're celebrating tonight." Roman stated as his grey eyes went to the ring as he waited for his cue into the Rumble at slot 5. It was going to be a long grueling 30 man beat down but he was ready for it as he taped up his wrists with the black medical tape; gone were his Velcro wrist wraps with his other Shield paraphernalia.

Genevieve was sitting on the equipment trunk next to Sophia; Seth had showered and joined them as he walked up and kissed his wife's 6 month pregnant belly. "Hi baby boy. 3 more months little man." He caressed her belly through the t-shirt she wore.

"Excuse me, Mr. Rollins; your wife is up here." Sophia stated as she tugged on the bun at the nape of his neck.

Seth's chocolate eyes looked up at her ocean blues. "My Apologies Mrs. Rollins. I had to greet my son." He straightened up as he leaned down and caught her lips in a sweet kiss.

"Hey! Hey! That's how you go that one. No fraternizing in front of my daughter." Gen scolded.

Seth chuckled as he felt a kick from inside his wife's belly. He looked down. "I know son, we want you out as much as you want out." Seth looked at Gen. "How did Roman wait for a whole 9 months without going crazy?" He moved over and looked at his God daughter who was fast asleep on Gen's left shoulder in her jean overalls, baby blue t-shirt and baby blue shoes. He softly kissed her raven curl filled head at 6 months she had the most amazing curls that matched her father's when his hair was wet.

Gen giggled. "Believe me it wasn't without difficult. Roman would sit there with his head in my lap and talk Samoan to her trying to encourage her to hurry up and grow faster so he could hold her." Gen looked down and watched as her daughters jade eyes slowly fluttered open. "Uh Oh, Uncle Seth I think someone heard your voice and cut nap time short."

Seth smiled softly as he felt his heart melt when those jade eyes locked onto his. "Oh young lady do not look at me like that. You already know whatever you want you get." Seth reached over and carefully took his God daughter from his best friend and gently cradled the small girl against his chest.

Gen looked over at Sophia. "Oh yea, he's definitely ready."

A few months after Gen and Roman had been married they were graced with the happiest news of Gen being pregnant. At first she was scared that history would repeat itself, but Roman quickly disbursed any doubts or fears she had. He would be by her side every step; 24/7 if he had to. He wouldn't let anything derail their plans for the family they were ready to build together. They waited to find out what the sex of the baby was until the C-section she had to have because the baby was in the breach position and wasn't turning; Alyssa Marie Reigns came into the world at 5lbs, 4 ounces and 22 inches long. She was small because of Genevieve but tall because of Roman and neither one could wait to have another one.

Gen was broken out of her thoughts as Roman's entrance music blared through the speakers and he charged down to the ring. It was going to be a long match, but in the end it would be fully worth it. Gen looked over and watched as Seth was moving back and forth all dramatically he had Alyssa's tiny hand wrapped around his thumb and her head resting against his t-shirt covered muscular chest. "Seth, what are you doing with my daughter?"

Sophia laughed. "He's dancing with her."

"How can you tell?" Gen asked as she raised an eye brow at her friend.

"He's being too dramatic about it. He does that when he's being silly." Sophia admitted.

"Exactly, you two just watch the match and let me enjoy dancing with my God daughter." Seth stated before sticking his tongue out at both women.

Their eyes all glued to the monitor.

"Bro you better not drop my God daughter." A raspy voice warned.

Alyssa was growing up with a few sets of God parents. Holly and Dean, Seth and Sophia and of course Phil and Alexis were in the mix as well. The four couples were nothing but family to each other; a large extended family.

Seth knew that voice. "Piss off Ambrose…" Seth stated with a smirk as he continued to dance with Alyssa in his arms. He looked down and all he really did was succeed in rocking her back to sleep.

Everyone looked over as Holly and Dean walked up. Dean's match had been earlier in the program so he was freshly showered…and so was Holly. They really couldn't keep their hands off each other.

After living together for a year, Dean finally had enough and asked her to marry him. She accepted with tears in her eyes once again. She was completely amazed by the man who had some so far in his personal and professional life.

Dean walked up and held out his hands. "Hand her over." He crooked his finger at Seth. "C'mon bro, once Roman is done I'm sure they will be heading to the hotel and I won't get to see her till tomorrow." Seth reluctantly handed over Alyssa gently who was sound asleep.

"Jesus she sleeps just like Roman, a tornado could rip through the house and he wouldn't budge. Last time you guys passed her around 15 times and she never moved." Gen giggled softly.

"Uh correction she moved she shit her diaper in Deans arms and then had to be immediately changed when she leaked on him." Holly reminded Gen.

"Leaked? Are you kidding me? Leaked?" Dean asked exaggeratedly. "She freakin exploded. I thought we were passing a dairy farm for Christ sake."

Seth chuckled as he patted Dean on the back. "Take it all in stride my friend. If you and Holly ever have kids, they will do more than leak on you."

"Leak…Whatever…" Dean scoffed. "You know on second thought here babe, you take her. She doesn't seem to LEAK on the girls." Dean handed a sleeping Alyssa over to Holly who was laughing as he was passing the buck; he leaned over and kissed the top of her head. He couldn't help the baby smell that came from her there was something about it that stirred something inside of him; he didn't know what it was, but he would definitely have to talk to Holly about it.

"Are you guys talking shit about my God daughter again?" Alexis asked as she and Phil walked up hand in hand and kissed the sleeping 6 month old on her cheek.

Sophia rubbed her belly as her son kicked her again. "So how does it feel to be retired you two?" She asked as she moved around a little to get more comfortable. She looked down when Seth slid a chair over and put her feet in his lap and began rubbing her feet and ankles. "Dear lord that feels wonderful."

Phil chuckled as he pulled his wife closer. "It feels good on both ends. We will have more time for us and we've got plenty of money. Vince said he was thinking of opening another training center in Chicago and asked if we would like to train the new recruits. So it would be a full time job without the traveling, but we'd be able to stay in the same ring and be home at the same time."

Alexis nodded. "I hate the whole retirement status, but training some little shits the way they should be trained and not completely half ass at NXT would be nice. I'd train them the way my brothers trained me and Phil. Plus were going to look into adoption; Phil already has us a couple of appointments starting on Tuesday afternoon because Raw tomorrow night is our big send-off."

"I can't believe you guys won't be traveling with us anymore." Holly stated as she felt Dean's chin propped on her shoulder; she knew he was staring at Alyssa. She wondered if he thought of having kids; she would definitely have to talk to him about that later. They were getting married in 3 weeks and whatever their future had laid out for them, they needed to discuss a few topics.

Alexis shook her head. "Please I don't know HOW Genevieve was traveling with you lot when she was 8 months pregnant on that damn 'Shield' bus." She chuckled.

Gen laughed. "I slept a lot."

The Shield might not have been together anymore but they never stopped traveling together. Once Gen had the baby and Sophie found out she was pregnant. Each couple got their own travel busses. Phil made sure to hook them up with the right companies and drivers.

It was the only way to travel as a WWE employee; Superstar or otherwise.

"You're winner of the 2015 Royal Rumble is Roman Reigns."

Genevieve smiled as she once again held Alyssa in her arms. She looked down at her beautiful daughter. "Daddy did it babygirl. His whole life is about to change."

It didn't take Roman long as he showered with the speed of sound and dressed in his jeans and t-shirt and pulled his long hair back into a loose bun at the nape of his neck. As soon as he rounded the corner his friends all quietly cheered and greeted him. As Roman walked up to Gen and smiled softly and cupped his cheek. "I'm so proud of you baby. Now you just have to make it to WrestleMania and kick some Viper ass and take what is rightfully yours."

Roman chuckled softly. He would be nothing without her by his side. He heard a soft noise as he looked down and the same jade eyes he fell in love with were born into his daughter. He watched as she yawned and he smiled big. "Hey babygirl…Do you know what daddy did tonight?" He asked softly and watched as she kicked her legs and moved her arms cooing at him. His deep voice was soothing to her and she like her mother was his entire world.

Genevieve handed over Alyssa to her husband. 'Why don't you tell her; I'm sure she would enjoy it."

Roman kissed Gen as he cradled Alyssa in his right arm against his chest before taking Gen's hand and led them to their bus. "Well daddy was in a huge square ring tonight and there were 29 other monsters; there was no way out except over the top rope and it was so scary babygirl but I knew I had to fight them off so they wouldn't get you or mommy…" Gen giggle as she shook her head.

They kept their distance from each other for a bit, but in the end they all learned that distance wasn't what they needed.

It was each other.

The End.