Joe and I had just checked in to our room that we were staying in for Brie and Bryan's wedding. I was practically bouncing off the walls with excitement because I just love weddings. It was even more exciting because Braniel are two of my best friends and I'm so happy that they found happiness in each other.

And I helped plan the damn thing.

"Calm down, Lex. We still have a day and a half before the actual ceremony." Joe laughed, taking the garment bags that had our wedding wear in them and hanging them on the bathroom door. I watched as he turned around, surveying our surroundings some more while nodding his approval of a couple things. Looked like the dresser but could've been the artwork hanging above it, but I wasn't sure. Joe was a man of mystery to me some times.

"It's gonna be a long day and a half for you, babe." I teased, sitting down on the bed and watching him examine our room. "What are you looking for?"

"Just counting how many surfaces in here we can have sex on before we have to start getting really creative."

"I am so glad that WrestleMania season is over. Joe can finally relax for a bit without worrying too much about the upcoming shows. It's gonna be nice, really nice."

"You're so bad." I laughed, laying back on the bed just in time for him to fall on top of me. "Hi."

"Hello." He purred, gently pushing my hair away from my face. "Come here often, babygirl?"

"Only when I can see a beautiful Samoan man on top of me."

"This beautiful Samoan man can make you feel real good, if you know what I mean." He suggested, wagging his eyebrows before leaning in to peck my lips. I giggled and let him kiss me a few more times before I squirmed away from him. Out of nowhere I just wasn't feeling well and I couldn't explain it. "Babe?"

"I suddenly just got nauseous. Nothing against you or anything, but holy shit that was weird." I spoke softly, placing a hand on my stomach in an attempt to quell the queasiness. Drake used to do that for me when we were younger and it always made me feel better, but now it just wasn't working. Joe seemed to get a different idea of my hand going to my stomach, and smiled a bit before placing his hand over mine on my stomach.

"Do you think that maybe you could be expecting the first of our football team?"

"Its a possibility, since we haven't exactly been safe since my birth control implant got removed and I kept forgetting my appointments to get the new one." I mumbled, not wanting to be pregnant. I needed to win the Diva's title at least once before I retired. Just once. "But, lets not get our hopes up too high, alright? It could just be a stomach bug."

"You're right."

"Aren't I always?"

"You're not afraid to tell RoRo that you love him, right?" Ariane asked and I looked over at her in confusion. Who the fuck is RoRo and who the fuck is he to me.

"Who?" I asked just before I remembered Joe's ring name was Roman. I knew that she and Joe weren't exactly friends by any sense of the word and probably just assumed that it was better to give him "cute" nicknames based on his ring name rather than his real name. I appreciated it, but it wasn't really necessary. I could care less. "Oh, Joe. I'm not afraid to tell him that I love him now that we've been together for what feels like forever."

"But you once were?"

"I was terrified to admit love for anybody that wasn't family to me. Still am."

"When did he tell you that he loved you?"

"When he asked me to move in with him. His main argument for why we should take the step was because he loved me and wanted a future with me." I informed, hoping that I wasn't revealing too much about our relationship. But Joe has told his father about our sex life so I think I'm doing alright.

"How long did it take you to tell him that you loved him and be confident in it?"

"The day after we moved in to our apartment was when I first told him, I think it was maybe a couple months after our anniversary." I reminisced on the moment, smiling when I remembered the way Joe smiled at me that day. It was so magical. "What's this about?"

"I haven't told Vinnie that I love him yet. He knows I do, but I'm just scared to say it out loud."

"Ah." I nodded, looking around for my boyfriend. I needed to make sure Joe knew how much I loved him once I saw him. "Some people just can't voice things like that and, being honest, its not something that needs to voiced often. Its in how you show your love that truly matters."

"You think so"

"I do."

"It's the big day! I'm so excited for Brie and Bryan right now, its almost like this is my own wedding."

I was in tears the moment I watched Brie walk down the isle from my seat beside Joe. He, being the good boyfriend that he was, held my hand and handed me a tissue from the pack of kleenex he had in his pocket for me. Before the proceedings started he turned me to face him and wiped at my eyes with a smile before we faced the front again.

I fought really hard to keep my composure during the wedding, holding Joe's hand tightly in mine while dabbing at my eyes in the other to ensure that my makeup didn't get too running and awful. Every now and then Nikki and I would lock eyes and have quiet conversations, her eyes would go to Joe and mine would dart to John in a silent warning to just talk to the damn man before she lost him. He was a good guy and absolutely perfect for her, and I'd hate to see her lose him over something petty that had happened in her past.

After they said their vows, cut the cake, and everyone made their speeches, I had to excuse myself to the restroom to ensure that I didn't look too bad. I had lost my shit during Bryan's vows, the minute he started crying was when my dam broke and it was a downward spiral since then, therefore I had to ensure that I looked alright enough for pictures. I was joined shortly by Trinity, who had been sent in by Joe because I didn't take my emergency tears make up kit that I had in his pocket. She then helped with my makeup and we took a bathroom selfie before heading out just in time to watch their first ance as husband and wife.

It wasn't long before Joe had gotten me to dance with him, and I laid my head on his shoulder as we swayed together. It was a perfect moment, me dancing with my man and smiling at Nicole as she danced with John. Joe was whispering sweet things into my ear as we danced, but one particular thing caught my interest.

"I can't wait until I can give all this to you."

"What do you mean?" I asked, looking up at him with interest as we continued to dance. The smile on my face stayed, though, because he was smiling down at me and leaning in close. I never got the answer to that question, just a whisper of his love for me as the song ended and he asked me to go outside with him. I didn't like the smile on Brie's face. It was that "I know something you don't" smile, and I hated that smile. What the hell did she know that I didn't?

"So now I'm confused. What the fuck is going on?"

"So, I bet you're wondering why we're out here?" He asked and I nodded, smiling up at him while I fought the urge to touch my hair. He was nervous which was making me nervous because the only thing I can think of is him proposing and that's something that I was more than ready for but not sure that I wanted right now. I mean, we were at a wedding already and I didn't want Brie or Bryan to feel like we were trying to steal their spotlight or anything like that.

"Just a little." I admitted with a laugh, loving the way he stroked my face gently. "What's up?"

"I think you already have an idea."

"I really need to hear you say it, though." I smiled, leaning into his touch while glancing to see that all of our close friends were watching us from afar. I liked that they were trying to give us privacy while invading it at the same time and I couldn't help but laugh when Trinity had to scold Jon over something. "I love them."

"And they love you. You're already family to us," I couldn't help but gasp when he dug into his pocket while getting down on one knee. "And I would be more than just honored if you'd make me the happiest man alive and become my wife?"

"Oh my god, Joe." I whispered, feeling him take my left hand in his and gently start stroking it with his thumb as he opened the box with his right hand. "For real?"

"For real." He confirmed for me, knowing that I needed a moment to process it all.

"God, yes. Of course!"

It was when he stood and hugged each other that everyone started clapping and I was in tears as we kissed. Once we separated he put the ring on my finger and I kissed him again, I was just in absolute awe.

Next Season on Total Divas:

I was in the bathroom when I heard Joe groaning in pain. He had been toughing something out all day during signings and such, but he wouldn't tell me exactly what was wrong and I was worried as hell.

"Gwen call an ambulance!"

"What!?"

"How could he not tell me that he was dealing with a damn hernia!? I thought we were supposed to be open with each other?"

"You want to get all pissy with me when I hurt my ankle but you won't tell me about something fucking serious like a hernia?"

"You're still upset about that?" The fact that he could be so nonchalant about this made me so angry. Like, seriously? He'd have a fucking heart attack if it was me in his shoes.

"We're just so angry at each other these days. I know its hard because he's at home and I'm not, but he's always so mad at everything and I just don't have the patience to deal with him being an asshole when I come home from the road." I told Nattie and Ariane, running my hand through my hair as I set down my Diva's title that I had just won back from AJ Lee in a No DQ match.

"Are you guys at least having sex?" Ariane asked, to which I shook my head. I wasn't even going to bother with telling them that I've been sleeping in the guest room when I've been home.

"Where are you going?" Joe asked as I dragged my bag to the front door. I couldn't handle it anymore. I grew up in a hostile environment, I didn't need it when I was living with the man who supposedly loved me more than anything.

"To your parents for the night. Then I'm going to Orlando to stay with my brother."

"What?"

"Its fucking over, Joe! I can't fucking deal with you and your shit right now." I spoke, tears in my eyes as I walked away from Joe and the apartment we had made our home together. "Here's a news flash, the world doesn't revolve around you. I know you got hurt and I'm fucking sorry about it, but you need to realize that there are two in a relationship- not just you."

"You know I love you, Gwen." Joe spoke softly, keeping his voice low because we were at work and he didn't want to cause a scene. He was only here for the Slammys and I was in contract negotiations. Now wasn't the time for either of us to cause a scene. "Baby come home."

"I'm not talking to you about this at work, Joesph." I mumbled, trying to step around him. He caught my arm though, making me stay with him for the meantime. "Joe, I'm serious."

"I know. I am too."

A/N: This marks the end of this season of Behind the Ropes, but there will be a season 2! Links to Gwen's wedding outfit and the engagement ring are posted on my profile. Season 2 is going to be posted in a slightly different format, but will still follow Gwen and Joe as well as a Jon Good/OC couple.

But I just want to thank everyone who favorited, followed, and reviewed this story, since it was my first ever story on here. It truly means so much to me.