damnFireworks - A thousand sorry's for the long awaited update. In all honesty... I don't know what I was doing with this chapter... maybe you can tell me in the reviews? lol

Chapter 8 – Listen

Brie decided to wander out in the garden on her own. For the first time since she woke up in this new world; she felt calm. She touched each leaf delicately as she walked past sighing in content.

She hummed a nice melody admiring each new plant she came across. Glancing up she saw Nikki walking in her direction.

"About time you got up." Brie called out with a smile.

The tired Bella scratched the back of her head. "Dean came to my room last night." Nikki admitted stopping in front of her sister.

They stared at each other for a moment. Acknowledging how special this moment was. Despite reuniting a few days ago, this was the first time they were alone talking to each other.

Brie immediately launched at her sister for a hug.

Nikki wasn't prepared and was bundled tight in Brie's embrace. She smiled letting herself relax in the comfort of her sister's arms.

"Two thousand or so years and you'd think we'd be better at hugs." Nikki joked.

Brie laughed letting her go.

"You'd think but I swear it's just you. I'm a great hugger."

Nikki placed her hand on top of Brie's head. "You have no idea how much I've missed you."

The softer Bella tilted her head down trying to fight a giddy smile. Finally pushing her hand off her head, Brie circled her arm around her sister's and began to walk. "So let's catch up on lost time. What have you been doing these last years?"

"A lot but let's go have tea. I'm starving" Nikki pouted.

"Deal."

Roman was on his way to Alexa's lab when he caught Dean walking out of his room.

"Hey man."

Dean stopped holding out his fist. Roman looked down and smiled, matching the familiar gesture.

"Believe in the Shield." The Stoic Samoan nodded his head.

"Nikki showed me some of our matches last night." Ambrose said returning his hand by his side.

"She did now?" Roman said with a coy grin.

"What? What's that look for?" Dean questioned the grin on the taller man's face.

"Nothing." The Samoan brute chuckled. He found it very amusing how riled up his former tag partner was getting. It definitely brought back good memories from their earlier days when Dean tried to hide his feelings for the fearless Bella. Although Ambrose would protest otherwise, he was absolutely useless and thankfully Nikki did something about it or else he couldn't watch his poor buddy go through the madness of burying his feelings once more.

"You're still grinning."

"Nah, it's nothing."

Ambrose narrowed his eyes. He wasn't sure if his old tag team partner was joking or if there was another vital moment of his life he neglected to share once again but he decided to let this one slide.

"Where are you going?"

"I'm heading over to catch up with Alexa." Roman tilted his head in the direction he was heading.

"Shit, is she making you do more tests?"

"Hell no. I was just thinking about how you and Brie disappeared. You know? It just doesn't make sense that you two would be missing whilst everyone is here in the lab right?"

Ambrose shrugged his shoulders. "I wouldn't know but surely this place has something on that."

"Right. Well you can come or-"

"I'm definitely following you." Ambrose affirmed.

Both men stepped into the glittery diva's laboratory yet she was nowhere in sight.

"Guess she's not here. Should we go?" Dean asked but Roman shook his head.

Just on cue Alexa walked in with a new gadget in her hands.

"Hey guys." She beamed. "Are you wanting to run the endurance circuit again?" She giggled.

"I will shoot a plasma beam at that course and happily watch it burn to the ground" Dean warned.

Giggling at the lunatic fringe, she hopped on her tip toes and patted him on the head. "An eye for an eye makes the world go blind. Luckily, I wear glasses." She grinned setting both feet back down.

"So what can I help you two with?" She turned to place the object onto her desk. The annoyed expression on her face hidden as she began to disassemble the gadget into its various parts.

"I was wondering if you've stumbled across anything new about how Dean and Brie went missing." Roman spoke up.

Alexa let out a breath. "I'm sorry I haven't. I know this is incredibly frustrating but I searched all the archives with a fine tooth comb and there's nothing. I can search over again?" She said glancing over her shoulder.

Roman nodded. "Thanks Alexa"

"No problem." She smiled. "Anything to help."

Both superstars left her alone to conduct her research.

"Help you burn in hell" she scoffed under her breath.

What they didn't know was she was working on a personal weapon.

"So basically you're a florist who just travels from sector to sector according to the season of plants?" Nikki furrowed her eyebrows at her sister.

"Well, yeah? Sort of. I mean, Dean and I arrived in Torval six months ago. It's definitely not their season yet but he was always travelling there. It just made sense to move there. Now we know it was cause of his weird link with Roman. I'll probably sell everything and move to another sector."

"It's weird how you ended up doing something you joked about in the past."

"I know right? Me and plants." Brie smiled pouring rose tea for her sister. "I never thought you would be a miner. How'd that happen?"

"Alexa originally planned on making me a sector manager selling property but I don't know? I didn't want to try and pick up where I left off you know?"

"Yeah I get you. I was just lucky I guess? Lan Hotah was the person who found Dean and I." Brie told her sister with a smile. "I don't think we would have survived if he hadn't taken us in." She took a sip of her freshly brewed rose tea. "He reminded me of Pop Pop"

Nikki had a small smile. "I'll have to thank Lan for looking after you guys."

Brie let out a small laugh. "He thinks you're a nutcase."

"What? He hasn't even met me?"

"I told him we were complete opposites, which at the time was true. I don't know about now though. It seems we've both changed over these years."

"You think I'm different?"

"Well there's the obvious? You're smarter now." Brie teased.

"Excuse you. I was always the smart one out of the two of us."

"That is not true. Remember that time when you, me and JJ were driving to go see dad and we drove past Holly Sugar and you were like… What do they do at Holly Sugar… Do they make sugar?"

"I was obviously joking! I knew it was a sugar factory!" Nikki tried her best to bite back a laugh but it was no use. Her laugh was infectious that Brie couldn't help but giggle herself.

"You're laughing! See! That's just proves you didn't!"

"I knew they made sugar. I was just testing you! If JJ were here he'd back me up." Nikki stated.

Both sisters were too busy laughing and reminiscing about their old life that they were unaware of Roman and Dean coming up behind them.

"What's so funny?" Roman chuckled.

"Oh, it's nothing. Just catching up that's all." Brie smiled up at him. "What did Alexa say?"

"She didn't have anything new but she's going to try and have a look through everything again." He kissed the top of her head.

"So does that mean we're staying longer?" Brie asked.

"Yeah, if that's okay with you?"

"I really need to take care of my plants at the shop."

"Breezy. Send me the instructions. I'll take care of it. I'm leaving to go back to Surkon anyway. Shuttle is in another hour."

"Thank you!"

Nikki stood from her seat.

"Wait." Dean quickly stopped the fearless diva. "I mean. Why don't I go with you? My car is already here and you don't have to take the shuttle."

"You don't have to Dean."

"I know but its Torval and you'll need a hand with those plants."

Ambrose waited for her answer. He knew she could handle Brie's shop on her own but something in his gut told him he should stay with her. Nikki felt all eyes on her but she was very focused on Dean. She didn't have to think long about the offer.

Stepping past him she smiled.

"Alright. I'm gonna go get my stuff. I'll meet you at your car in 10."

"Yeah- okay. Cool." He watched her leave.

Roman whistled catching Dean's attention.

"She won't admit it but she wants to drive your car." Roman winked.

Dean smirked. "I'll see you two later." He waved goodbye leaving the happy couple on their own.

Roman sat down in the empty chair and motioned for his earth goddess to join him on his lap. Brie blissfully obliged. She loved being in his arms. They sat in silence as his fingers toyed with her brunette braid. She turned to him, flashing a radiant smile giving Roman her undivided attention.

"Did I tell you that you look beautiful today?" He told her.

"No." She giggled.

"You're beautiful."

Her cheeks flushed a rosemary pink. Pressing her lips to his ever so softly; her forehead touched his. Bundled in an intimate moment, his crystal blue eyes with streaks of silver became lost in her own loving gaze.

"Marry me" he murmured.

"What?" Brie blurted out.

"I said Marry Me."

Roman had never been so sure of anything in his life. And if this harsh future had ever taught him anything, it was that you need to hold onto things that you love. Keep them close and never let them go.

"Yeah" he smiled. "What do you say Brie? Will you be my bride?"

Brie's feelings were akin to shock. Her mind overwhelmed by his sheer boldness to make her his only one but the thought unnerved her for some reason. She desperately racked her brain for a rational response. She hit back with the first thing that popped into her head.

"Roman, we've only been back together for two days?"

"So?"

"So don't you think we're rushing too fast?"

"I don't see myself being with anyone but you Brie. I've wanted this for a very long time and I didn't ask you back then but I'm asking you now. Brie, marry me."

It made the hippie diva feel ridiculously happy to hear Roman say that but at the same time her heart felt uncertainty and his vulnerability deserved her honesty.

"I don't know Ro. I don't feel right about this. It's not that I don't love you… I just have a bad feeling."

"So that's a no."

She let out a heavy sigh.

"Please don't hate me. I just can't. I'm sorry" she removed herself from his lap but he hung onto her hand.

"Wait."

Roman was a little hurt from being turned down but there was no way he was going to let her feel guilty about it. He was willing to wait for however long Brie needed to say yes.

"I could never hate you." He stood and his body called to hers wanting to be closer.

"I'm too in love with you." He assured her. "I can wait."

"Really?"

He nodded his head. "I know we'll get married someday. Just not now."

Nikki found Dean leaning against the front hood of his car. Standing with her duffle bag she admired the beast of a vehicle.

"What year is it?" She spoke up catching his attention.

"1969 Chevrolet Camaro"

She nodded her head. He saw her eyes sparkle.

"You wanna drive?"

"Can I?" Nikki asked excitement.

"If you want" Dean shrugged with a smile.

"For real? You're not joking with me?"

"There's only one condition though." Dean stated. "You have to answer all my questions with the truth."

Nikki had a coy look in her eye. "Okay. But what's said in the car stays in the car."

"Deal."

The Lunatic Fringe threw her the keys and they both jumped into his vintage hybrid hover car. The embedded Driver ID system kick started immediately as Nikki sat in the driver's seat.

SOPHIA READING DRIVER PERSONNEL.

"You named your car Sophia?" Nikki looked over at Dean with a bit of a smirk.

"Yeah, Why?"

"Nothing, I just like the name that's all."

"Why?"

"Is why the only question you're gonna ask me the whole entire trip?"

"We had a deal."

Nikki smiled. "Fine. It's the only name you liked."

They looked at each other briefly. Nikki shrugged it off as no big deal but Dean wasn't so sure. He had to find out.

"Were we… You know?" Scratching the back of his head because he wasn't so sure how to ask without sounding awkward. "Trying?"

"Huh? Trying? OH! No! No. It was just a funny conversation that came up when I dragged you along to my friend's baby shower. I mean we were pretty high on our careers at the time; I don't think we were quite like Brie and Roman. Settling down and stuff."

Dean just nodded looking down at his knees. He didn't know how to react to her comment. He wasn't used to feeling so helpless. He felt like a burden.

Sensing his doubt Nikki reached out and pinched his cheek.

"Ow? What was that for?"

She shrugged her shoulders at him. Then she began laughing and it reminded him of the night they spent together. Ever since that night, he just felt a crushing sense of relief. It soothed him. Giving in to her laughter, he began to laugh as well.

The automated voice called for the brunette diva's attention.

SOPHIA REGISTERING - NIKKI BELLA - ACCESSING RETINAL DATA FOR IDENTIFICATION.

Calming herself down, she focused her eyes forward and a purple beam scanned her eyes. Once completed, Nikki would be able to drive Dean's car whenever she wants because her driver profile was in its system. If it wasn't, the car would not move and you would have to get the owner to add your profile or go through the lengthy process of hacking into the system and quite honestly; it'd have to be the most amazing car you'd ever seen to be worth a hack job; otherwise most cars weren't worth the hassle of stealing.

SCAN COMPLETE - AWAITING INSTRUCTION.

Waving her hand over the steering wheel, the holographic menu appeared and she enabled the ignition.

Hands firmly on the leather upholstered steering wheel. Her eyes lit up in surprise as she watched it digitise its design. Sleek black with accents of crimson red on the inside rim.

"Steering wheel customizes to the driver? I'll have to muck around with that tech to change the whole interior"

Dean smirked seeing Nikki's enthusiasm as she revved the engine.

"Let's see what Sophia's got." She beamed.

Alexa continued working on her new weapon. Welding each component together, she couldn't help but think about the times where everything was good. She was a strong diva, everybody loved her and she was fiercely in love with Roman Reigns.

Then everything changed.

Forcing herself to take a step back from the table. She took a deep breath reassuring herself that this was the right thing to do. She deserved to get the justice she was owed. She squashed all those flooding memories to a dark abyss inside of her.

A flashing light beamed on her comm. Alexa rolled her eyes before answering the call.

"You're late Greene"

"Apologies. Shall I use the secret entrance or-"

"Secret. Make sure you're not seen. I'll meet you there in five."

The sparkly scientist made the last adjustments to her man-made explosive.

It was a smooth ride so far and Dean was surprisingly quiet than she anticipated. She thought he would have put her under interrogation.

Not a fan of silence, she took the initiative to break it.

"Is my driving that bad you can't say anything?"

Dean chuckled at Nikki's words. "It's alright."

She punched him in his shoulder. "I'm an excellent driver thank you very much. Sophia, tell him."

COLLECTING DRIVER PERSONNEL DATA - NIKKI BELLA - OVERALL ACCURACY 98.3%

"Compare to Dean Ambrose" Nikki smirked at him.

COLLECTING DRIVER PERSONNEL DATA - NIKKI BELLA - OVERALL ACCURACY 98.3% - DEAN AMBROSE - OVERALL ACCURACY 98.7% - CROSS EXAMINING OVERALL ACCURACY - -0.4% OF A DIFFERENCE.

"-0.4? Okay no way he's a better driver than me."

"Did I mention Soph can't lie?" Dean grinned.

"Yeah? Does she tell you that you're a bad singer too?"

"I don't sing." The former superstar corrected.

"Oh really? Sophia, playback last trip where Dean was singing in the car-"

"Override! Abandon last command!" He shouted.

INITIATING LOG 2148

Dean's voice played across the speakers. She couldn't quite make out the words but it was definitely him singing.

"You're such a liar" Nikki laughed at him and out of instinct he went to poke her in the side of her stomach.

"Oh my god. Don't. I'm ticklish" she squirmed trying to manoeuvre her body as far as she could from him.

Difficult in a confined space. Her eyes kept switching focus between him and the road.

"Fine but only if you admit I'm a better driver than you."

"No." She retorted.

He pretended to poke her and she instantly jumped up.

"Alright! You're a better driver!" She screwed her face at him. "Jackass."

Shaking his head in amusement, he had no idea how he captured this girl in the past but they said history has a habit of repeating itself. Dean hated the thought of being cliché but if they became a couple again then he'd sign up to be cliché for the rest of his life.

"How did we end up dating? Cause you seem a little out of my league."

Nikki laughed. "Is that your way of telling me that I'm pretty?"

"Beautiful." He corrected her.

Her cheeks went bright red. She tried her best to fight the giddy sensation but it couldn't be helped.

While he was waiting for an answer he felt this sudden urge to tuck a piece of her hair behind her ear. When his fingers brushed against her face, he expected her to jerk away but when she didn't, he continued with the action.

Nikki recognized it for what it was in the past. A common gesture of affection but it almost felt foreign to her.

"Um. I got sick of waiting for you to ask me out so I beat you to the punch." She admitted and he felt the awkwardness in the way she said it.

She was uncomfortable.

Looking at him with open honest eyes. "There's a love between us but things have changed." Her tone soft and gentle.

Dean listened to her talk. He wasn't sure if she was telling him because of the bond they had many years ago or if she was just bound by promise and over sharing by accident.

"I don't know what to tell you about us Dean? I can answer all the questions you have but there's too much history and I don't know what your thoughts were back then?"

"What are you saying exactly?"

"I guess I'm breaking up with the past you because I want to get to know the Dean that's with me now."

A proud Alexa entered her underground lab holding her new explosive device. The latest in her new collection of weapons to test over the next few weeks.

"Alexa-"

The evil spitfire scientist hushed the android for silence. "Quiet! Do you hear that?" Alexa grinned. "That's the sound of revenge. It's silent. Cold. Calculating and I have been waiting patiently to get what I want."

Greene remained still listening to Alexa as she held up her new weapon.

"I want you to rig this to Brie's flower shop in Torval. I want that place to burn to the ground."

"Isn't Nikki and Dean going to stop by her shop over the next few days?"

"And?"

"Nikki could get hurt-"

"Nikki could get hurt" Alexa whined in attempt to mock Greene's soft behaviour.

"I know this will be difficult for you to understand Greene, but Alexa Bliss doesn't care about Nikki Bella. Or Dean Ambrose or Roman Reigns and especially not that hippie air-head Brie Bella."

"But Nikki hasn't done anything to you"

"No but I don't care. I'll make them all pay for the time I wasted trapped only to stare at the white padded walls that surrounded me" She gritted her teeth in anger. Haunting ice-blue eyes glared straight at Greene. "Be a good robot Greene or it's you that will suffer in the end."

"Understood." The android took the new explosive device and left the lab.