Hello, lovely readers!

I know… I know… I'm sorry… I'm a bad writer. I haven't updated this story in forever and I know that's pretty bad of me. I'm so sorry, I really am, guys. Life happened, shit happened, and then I lost the entire storyline I had planned for this little fan-fiction. Like, the entire damn storyline! So I've had to completely reassess it and continue on as best as I can. I've plotted it again, remembering some of the major plot points and adding things here and there where I can. And now it's sorted and I have a plot again!

But I swear this story is coming back. It will still be on the part time basis I spoke about last time, but I will NOT be leaving it 7 bloody months before my next update! It will only be a matter of weeks.

I'm not sure if anyone is even reading this story anymore or if anyone is still interested in it, but here's an update anyway. So sorry, folks. Let's get this story back on track!

DancingGirl0 – Protective Roman is the best!

Angelsdee327 – Thank you so much for the support! But we're back now

Raquel the writer – Thank you!

Tantoune – I love when Roman comes in as the hero. Thank you as always for your ongoing support

Wolviegurl – He sure did. Roman was a badass

Tomieharley – Jack is a major thing that plays on her mind. Its her fear of him that holds her back. In her mind he's not around her anymore so why try to bring him back up?

Ambrose-kohli-girl – He's a total gentleman, always looking out for Amy as best as he can

KaylsDaughterOfHades – Their relationship is a slowburn but it is all starting to slowly come together. I have some really nice Roman and Amy moments planned for upcoming chapters. Thank you as always for the support. It's always appreciated.

Dawnie-7 – Exactly. Within the situation, we wouldn't have seen Roman save the day. The bond is growing stronger and stronger between them, but also with the other boys too. They all wanna look after her and this is really showing.

This chapter is named after 'Morning After Dark' by Timbaland

Amelia Butler's Point Of View

When I awoke the next morning, I instantly wanted to fall right back to sleep again. The sunlight was searingly bright as it seeped into the bedroom through a small gap in the curtains. I groaned, lifting the duvet over my head until it was dark again, wanting the mattress below to swallow me up and never let me out. The space beside me in the big bed was cold and empty, and I was grateful to be alone in that moment.

The perfect word to describe me that morning was embarrassed.

Deeply deeply embarrassed.

I was not pleased with my behaviour at the bar last night, not pleased at all. I'd wanted it to be a fun night, a pleasant night, a night where I could chill, hang out, and have a damn good time. It was supposed to be my night with the girls, a time to socialise and let loose.

But what had I done instead?

Panicked, freaked out, and made Roman come all the way out fetch me and bring me back like I was some stupid 6 year old who was afraid to be away from her mommy.

Real cool, Amy. Real cool.

I closed my eyes, hating how last night had played out. I must have seemed so stupid and pathetic, acting the way I had. I mean, what was there to be afraid of? Really?

It was a freakin' night club. I was out with women who would take care of me. I was in a place where no harm could come to me, because if it did then there would have been 6 or 7 female wrestlers to have my back. I had no reason to freak out like I did or need to be brought home in such a way.

And yet I still had.

I'd still panicked, I'd still been close to tears, and Roman still had to come fetch me.

I thought I'd be fine, I thought I could get through the night with no problems. But obviously I couldn't. I'd begun the evening so excited and optimistic. It was a night of freedom, and I hadn't been out like that in so long that it was well overdue. I'd gone to nightclubs all the time in my college days. It was supposed to be fun.

But it certainly hadn't ended that way.

I felt insanely embarrassed. Like I'd made a total fool of myself, not only in front of Roman, but in front of the women I'd just left with no word.

I just wanted to stay under this duvet forever, cocooned in the warmth and the dark, where no one could find me and no one could question my feelings or ask what was up.

Because right now my feelings fucking sucked. And it was for one reason. One reason that was even more embarrassing to me that my actions. It was the one reason why I felt so foolish and pathetic that morning.

Even now, even though I was far gone from him, even though he no longer had any control over me or my life… Jack was still getting to me.

I hadn't seen him in close to a week, I was done with him, I was miles and miles away from him. Yet it was him that made me act like I had. It was our past and our history that was making me feel this way. I just wanted him gone, I wanted him out of my mind and memory.

I wanted it all to be officially done with. I fucking hated that even now he affected me after so much had changed in my life. It fucking sucked, not only for the things he did, but for the fact I stayed with him for so long.

I hated him… I hated him… I HATED HIM!

I sighed, pulling back the covers from my head, looking up at the white ceiling above me, willing the tears away.

I really did hate him. For everything he'd done to me, for everything he was still doing to me, for everything he'd said to me, for keeping him around for so long. He was a pathetic piece of shit that never deserved my time or my love. I needed him to go, to disappear, for me to never remember him again.

And as I stroked my cheeks where the bruises he'd given me had once been, I knew I was in the best place to do that.

I was surrounded by people who saw the best in me. I was surrounded by people who cared for me. I was surrounded by people that, despite the time of night, they would come to a club and bring me home. I was surrounded by people who gave a damn, something I'd never had with Jack.

I'd been told several times that my presence would help Roman, but I now fully realised that The Shield's presence would help me. They would help me forget, they would help me get over my past, and they would treat me how I deserved to be treated.

They were all my friends, and that was the most important thing in getting over all of this.

A gentle knock from the door broke me from my musings, making me sit upright.

"Yeah?" I called out, trying to pat down my blatant bed hair.

"Can I come in?" sounded Roman's voice, muffled by the door.

"Of course," I replied, pulling the duvet over my body, making sure I was warm and properly covered.

The door-handle turned, Roman nudging it open with his shoulder. To my surprise he entered the room with his back to me before he soon turned, revealing a tray in his hand. He kicked the door closed and walked towards me, delicious smells suddenly filling the room.

"I figured you could use this stuff this morning," he said, carefully placing the tray down onto my lap. Upon it was a large cup of steaming coffee, a glass of orange juice, and a plate of eggs, bacon, sausage and toast.

I looked down at the food in confusion before looking back to Roman as he sat at the foot of the bed.

"What's all this for?" I asked him curiously. It certainly hadn't expected the arrival of breakfast in bed.

"Well you had a rough night," he explained to me. "So I figured I could at least make your morning a little better."

My heart started to swell at his words, a warm feeling filling my stomach at his kindness.

"Roman, this is wonderful, thank you," I smiled up at him, taking the knife and fork in my hand, tucking right into the food.

Fuck, this is good…

The food was delicious, the eggs perfectly cooked, the toast coloured to just how I liked it, the sausage and bacon melting on my tongue, tasting fantastic.

"Damn this is amazing," I said. "Did you make this?"

"Most of it," he said. "Dean did the coffee, but the food is all me."

"Shit, this is some of the best food I've ever had," I smiled, my mouth full, placing even more food on my fork. I didn't care if I looked like a greedy gluten, I just wanted more of this. "With cooking skills like this, you're gonna make an amazing husband to a lucky woman some day."

He chuckled lightly. "I like to think so."

"It's delicious," I said, tucking into more, inhaling half the plate before I even breathed. I never realised how hungry I was until I put the food in my mouth. But I couldn't get enough of it.

"How are you this morning?" he asked me as I put the cutlery down to take a sip of my coffee.

"I'm okay," I said confidently, cradling the warm mug in my hands. "Much better than I was last night anyway."

"Yeah, last night was a bit unexpected," he said in honesty.

"For both of us," I added.

"What exactly happened?" he asked me softly. "You seemed so excited to go when we spoke about it in the afternoon."

"I was," I said to him. "I couldn't wait. But something in my head just clicked last night and I freaked out. I don't know if it was the noise, the crowds, the fact I was in a strange place. But I just panicked. I felt uncomfortable and anxious and I just wanted to leave."

"It is the first time you've been out on your own without one of us guys with you," Roman noted.

"But it's been less than a week since I met you all," I said sadly. "And I've been fine up to now. I've never had this problem. I shouldn't be acting like this, but then last night happened. And to think I gave you that whole speech about how I was a grown ass woman and that I could handle myself."

I looked down at my mug, staring at the brown liquid within, feeling like some pathetic girl who couldn't go anywhere without having her hand held. I wasn't like this. I was head strong, I was independent, I never usually had to rely on anyone. But damn, this Jack shit had really affected me big time. And it was all only catching up with me now.

"You can handle yourself and you are very self sufficient," Roman argued. "Trust me, I've dealt with your stubbornness a lot over the past few days. You're not a push over." I couldn't help smirking as he spoke about me. "Last night was just… a blip, a bump in the road. It happens to all of us."

"I guess," I said. "I just felt embarrassed having to call you like that."

"Well if you hadn't have called me, I wouldn't have been there to stop that prick stealing my phone, would I?"

"I suppose."

"And you would have stayed at that club worrying and panicking and perhaps making yourself even worse, wouldn't you?"

"Maybe."

"So don't sweat it," he smiled warmly. "I honestly didn't mind coming to get you, and it made you feel better having me there. Don't feel embarrassed, Amy. Please."

"Maybe you're right."

"Besides, I admitted to you a few days ago that I haven't gone near a woman in over a year! Now that's damn sight more embarrassing than panicking in a club. If I can tell you that, don't worry about what happened."

I finished up my coffee, put it on the tray and placed it on the floor at my bedside.

"How do you always know the best things to say?" I smiled in amusement as I looked up at the tall Samoan.

"I just got a way with words," he said, shrugging in amusement. "It's a gift."

"Thanks, Roman," I said in earnest. And I couldn't resist myself. I took the brave and bold decision to crawl across the bed and embrace my friend in a hug. Nothing sordid, just a genuine, friendly, and thankful hug. The grin remained on my face as I felt him hug me back, his large and muscular arms encircling my tiny body, wrapping me up and pulling me towards him.

He felt warm, inviting and loving as he stroked my hair and rubbed my back. A far cry from what Jack had ever been to me. This showed real care, real friendship, that Roman worried about me. Things were already getting better for me after only a single conversation.

"Any time, baby girl," he replied, eventually pulling away and getting to his feet. "Now if you're done with breakfast, there's three people out there who want to see how you are."

"I haven't worried them too much, have I?" I asked in concern, getting out of the bed and sliding my slippers onto my feet.

"Not too much," Roman said, reaching to pick up my tray. "But they still want to make sure you're okay."

We walked over to the bedroom door and stepped out, entering the main area of the hotel room, three pairs of eager eyes looking at me the second I walked through the doorway. I was instantly embraced in a hug as Renee rushed towards me, holding me tightly, Seth and Dean looking at me with sympathetic smiles.

"Are you okay?" Renee asked me as she pulled back to look at my face.

"I'm fine. Honestly," I assured her.

"What happened last night?" she asked in concern as she led me over to the sofa, Roman going to the kitchen area to dispose of my things. "I tried looking for you and calling for you. I just couldn't find you anywhere."

"I don't know," I said as I took a seat, feeling rather guilty for worrying the woman like that. "I just… freaked out a little. The noise, the crowds… it wasn't for me. I tried calling you too, stupid phone signal."

"I'm sorry I got split from you like that," Renee said.

"I'm sorry I worried you," I told her. "I really didn't mean to."

"But you're okay now?" Seth asked me.

"I'm fine," I smiled at them all. "Fresh day, fresh start, right?"

"Good attitude," Seth laughed.

"Agreed," said Dean. "Besides, if last night hadn't have happened, then Superman here wouldn't have been able to swoop in and save the poor lady like he did."

"Dean…" Roman muttered in warning.

"What?" he said, reclining back on the sofa, his hands behind his head as we relaxed. "I'm just saying, it was a nice opportunity for you to flex those muscles of yours and make the poor women swoon off her feet with a bit of macho-ness. Bet you both liked that, huh?"

"I swear to god, Ambrose," Roman said, launching forward, Dean running off in laughter at his teasing, Seth just shaking his head as Roman chased him.

I couldn't help but smile at the playfulness of these men, of these friends, these… brothers.

All three of them and Renee too. They were wonderful people, kind and giving. They'd taken me under their wing instantly, and even though my time with them was limited, they had welcomed me like an old friend.

Yes. With these guys at my side, maybe I really could start moving forward and on from Jack.

Maybe things could start to finally look up.

Again, a huge thanks to DancingGirl0, angelsdee327, Raquel the writer, Tantoune, wolviegurl, tomieharley, Ambrose-kohli-girl, KaylsDaughterOfHades and Dawnie-7 for reviewing the last chapter.