Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.

Alexis sighed a breath of relief and flung herself backwards onto her bed. She smiled to herself as she stared at the patterns on her ceiling. She was graduating college today after eight long years of law school. She knew this moment would come and she was ready to face life and it's many challenges as she became a lawyer in a very successful firm.

She peered upward as she heard the familiar sound of her old door creaking. She met the eyes of her mother's loving eyes and smiled. Her mother was proud of her and she knew it. Her and her father had only told her every day since she was accepted into law school. Her mother made her way over to her bed and took a seat beside of her.

"Ken will be here soon, but I wanted to give you something from your father and me. You know how proud of you we are of you, Lexi and we wanted to give you something special for your big day," her mother said, smiling down at her graduating daughter, as she held out a small box.

She took the white box from her mother and smiled at her. She fumbled with the tape concealing the box, never taking her eyes from her mothers. She continued to smile as she removed the small, square cotton strip from inside and removed a key ring with one key. She looked at her mother and smiled.

"Mom, is this for...," she started, a smile spreading further across her face.

"Why don't you go outside and look," her mother said, standing up and opening the door. Lexi stood and stared at her mother for a moment before flying down the stairs and opening the huge Victorian door. She gasped when she looked into the three-car garage.

There sat her dream car - a red 2007 Mitsubishi Eclipse. She squealed with delight before running over and collapsing upon her mother with gigantic hugs.

"Thank you! Thank you! Thank you," she screamed.

"I take it you like it," her mother replied, hugging her daughter in return.

"Of course, I do. This is the best present yet, Mom. Thank you," Lexi said, breaking from her mother and wiping a couple stray tears.

"You worked so hard for this. It's the least your father and I could do, sweetie," he mother replied.

Lexi skipped over to the vehicle and ran her fore finger smoothly down the side.

"So, Her Hotness finally got a car to match the personality," came a voice from behind her. She turned and saw her best friend, Ken Kennedy.

"That's right! What are you doing, stranger," she said, enveloping him in a hug.

"Came over to see if my favorite girl could give me a ride to her graduation," he said, smirking.

"Wait! I thought you had to miss it because you had a house show somewhere," she said, confused.

"Nope, they let me miss it because I told them that my best girl was graduating college and Vince gave me the go-ahead to attend it. Surprise," he said.

"Really? Oh, thank you, Kenny," she said, squealing all over again.

"So, is my surprise better," he asked, laughing.

"Don't get too full of yourself, you cocky bastard," she said, tapping him in the ribs.

"Ouch! Watch it," he said, rubbing his side. "You know, I do get beat up enough on the road!"

"Oh, shut up and get in," she said, opening the driver's side door and sliding in. She smoothed her hands over the steering wheel as he slid in beside her.

"Where we going," he asked.

"Well, I can't go anywhere right yet. I have to get ready for graduation, silly," she said.

"So, we got in the car for what reason then," he asked.

"Just to sit in it," she replied, checking out the CD player and the controls.

"Well, go get ready. I'll meet you back here in about an hour," he said, opening the door again. She slid out of her new car and walked towards the front. Ken followed her and smiled.

"Nice headlights," he said, smirking.

"Very funny. Go get ready," she said, smacking him playfully.

"Alright, alright. I'm going," he said, waving to her as he exited out the back door of the garage. She smiled to herself and touched the car once more before heading upstairs to fix her hair and make-up.

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________

"Shit, I've gotta hurry," Lexi said, rushing around trying to find her other sling back.

"Looking for this," said a voice from the door way. She looked up and smiled seeing her father holding up her silver strap heel.

"Daddy! I thought you were gonna be late," she said, grabbing the shoe and placing a kiss on his cheek.

"Now would I miss the big day for anything," he asked, giving his daughter a warm smile.

"You better not," she replied, shaking her shoe in his direction.

"So, how did you like the...," he started before Lexi smiled brightly and cut him off.

"My car?!?! I love it, Daddy! Thank you," she said, hugging him again.

"I knew you would. Why don't you and Ken go in your new car and mom and I will meet you at the school," he asked.

"Alright. Remember, it starts at 8:00," she said.

"I remember. Finish getting ready and I'll see you downstairs," he said, turning around and walking down the hallway.

Lexi finished applying her make-up and flew down the stairs. She grabbed her purse and cell phone before planting a kiss on her mother and father's cheeks.

"I'll see you guys there," she said, heading for the door.

"Not so fast," her mother yelled, grabbing the digital camera.

"Oh, come on Mom! I'm gonna be late," she said.

"No, Lex! I need some pictures of you with your parents! Now it isn't gonna kill you," her mother said, handing the camera to Ken, who had just walked through the door.

They situated themselves in front of their family crest as Ken snapped a few pictures.

"Am I ready now," Lexi asked impatiently.

"I need a couple of you and Ken and then you can leave," her mother said, taking the camera from Ken. Ken grabbed her waist as they posed for a few more still shots.

"Ready now," she asked.

"Yeah, you can go now. We'll see you there," her father said, as she headed out the door.

"Love you guys," she yelled as she made her way to her new car.

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"Where are they," she asked, as she paced outside the walk way.

She had called them just 25 minutes earlier to remind them to bring her cap and gown. She had forgot them on her way out and knew the drive from her parents house to the school was only a 5 minute drive. It was now nearly 8:00 and she was beginning to worry as her parents were never late for anything, especially something so huge.

"They'll be here, sweetie. Just calm down," Ken said, rubbing her shoulder trying to reassure her.

She continued to pace the sidewalk, peering out into the street hoping her parents car would pull in at any minute. She heard the band beginning to play and was conflicted whether to go inside and join the rest of her classmates or remain outside and wait for her parents.

She had decided to go inside when she heard sirens in the distance. For some reason, her blood turned cold and she lost her footing. Ken caught her and glared into her eyes.

"Are you alright," he asked.

"Ye-yeah," she managed to get out.

She broke from the hold and glared into the street as she saw 2 police cruisers speed into the college campus and come to a screeching halt in front of her and Ken.

"Do you know an Alexis Barrows," the female officer asked.

"Um, yeah. That's me," she replied, feeling shaky all over again.

"You're gonna have to come with me, Miss," she replied, opening the back of the police car.

"May I ask what this is about," Lexi asked.

"I'll tell you more once we get moving. Right now, I'm gonna have to ask you to come with me," she stated again.

"Can my friend come along or am I in trouble," Alexis asked, walking towards the car.

"No, Miss, you're not in trouble. If you insist, he may come," she said, ushering them both inside the car.

That night was the longest, coldest and saddest night of her life. On the way to her college graduation, her parents were side-swipped by a tractor-trailer and were careened off the road, both perishing instantly. Lexi was in a state of shock, not knowing where to go and where to turn to. She had no siblings - the closest thing she had to a brother or sister was Ken, who would be leaving her in two days. He had to travel to Dallas, Texas for an appearance on Raw. While he was still sidelined from an injury, he was asked to attend the show. After he left, she wasn't sure what she would or who to turn to. She felt cold, desperate, empty.

For the first time in her life, she mostly felt alone.