A few hours later, and Stu and Rhonda were landing in Tampa. He picked up his car and drove them to the WWE doctor's office at FCW because he didn't have time to drop her off first. When Dr. Thompson saw him, he sent him for another MRI and referred him to a surgeon, just in case. They went to the open MRI suite and Rhonda waited for him until they were finished. When he was done, they grabbed lunch and waited for his appointment with the orthopedic surgeon. He hoped by then, the results would be back.

Rhonda could tell he was really worried, but it was clear he didn't want to talk about it, so she sat with him and talked about everything but wrestling while they ate. He asked her exactly what it happened with the manager, so she recounted the story for him. He started laughing, not believing that she said that to her boss. "I must say that it really surprised me. I just didn't see you losing your temper like that. But I like it."

"Well, there are lots of things about me that would probably surprise you. I'm not as timid as I might appear sometimes. I am just attracted to dominate men. Especially when they are as sexy as you."

Stu smiled at her and knew he was going to enjoy getting to know her better. He was glad that he didn't let her walk out of his life. He wasn't happy with Victoria, and when he found out about her cheating on him with John Cena, it really hurt his ego. Just a few days with Rhonda and he was already feeling better about himself. He couldn't understand why she would want to hurt him like that. If she didn't want to be with him anymore, he didn't know why she didn't just say so. He felt blessed that Rhonda came into his life when she did. "Thank you, love. You really make me feel like I am the sexiest man alive when you look at me."

"That's because you are." When she looked at him, she saw vulnerability in his eyes that she hadn't noticed before. She wanted him to open up to her, but she wouldn't push it. She would just be there for him when he was ready to talk.

Stu paid for their lunch and drove to the surgeon's office. When he was called back, he asked Rhonda to go back with him. She nodded and followed him into the exam room. She stood next to the table he was sitting on and held his hand while they waited for the doctor. She could feel his palm sweating and she brushed the curls back from his eyes. "No matter what Stu, you're going to be okay. I'll be right here."

"Cheers. I just wish you didn't have to see me like this."

"I know, but I don't think any less of you for admitting you're in pain. Please don't try and be strong for me or hide your feelings. That is not the way to start out a relationship."

"You're right. I won't."

The doctor came in and introduced himself. "Hello, Mr. Bennett, I am Dr. Burks. I just got through looking at your MRI and I'm afraid I have a bit of bad news for you. It looks like you have torn all of ligaments in your elbow. You will definitely have to have surgery to repair them. How soon would you want to have it done?"

"Damn it. I knew it was bad when it happened. I felt it. If I have to have surgery, I want to do it as soon as possible."

"I believe we have an opening for tomorrow if that suits you."

"Yes, absolutely. What time?"

"It's in the afternoon but I will have my nurse double check and get all the paperwork done and make all the arrangements. I will make and incision and go in and fix the tears and clean up the damaged tissue. Do you have any questions for me?"

"How long will it last? And how long will I be out of the ring? When will I be able to start rehab?"

"The surgery will last between two and three hours, depending on how much cleaning up I have to do. You will probably be out of the ring at least six months, but you will be able to start rehab in a couple of weeks. We will know more once the surgery is done. And a lot of it will depend on you."

"Well, I will work hard because I don't want to be out of action that long. Okay, I'm ready. I'll sign whatever you need me to. I just want to get this over with."

"Alright, I will get Jodi in here and let her go over some things with you." He stood up and shook Stu's hand "I will see you tomorrow."

He walked out of the room and they waited for his nurse to come back in. Rhonda was worried about him, but didn't think it would do any good to say anything. She was sure he was worried enough already. A few minutes later, the nurse returned with a stack of paperwork.

"Okay, Mr. Bennett, I just need to go over these consents with you. The doctor went over the procedure with you, correct?"

"Yes, he did."

"Good. So what I have is the consent for the operation, for anesthesia, and for blood products."

"What? You think I am going to have to have blood?"

"No, it's just standard procedure. We make everyone sign it just in case. What these both say is that the risks and benefits have been explained to you and you understand them. Also, this is a checklist of what we need done before you have surgery. You will need to show up at the hospital early enough to have the lab tests and x-rays done beforehand. Also, you can't have anything to eat or drink after midnight. I have scheduled you for 1 PM tomorrow afternoon. Make sure you don't have any jewelry on and bring someone to drive you home. We can't let you drive after anesthesia." She handed him the paperwork to sign and handed him a copy of the preoperative checklist.

He signed his papers and handed them back to her. "Do you have any questions?"

"No, I guess I don't."

"Okay, then I guess I will see you tomorrow."

"You will be there?"

"Yes. I am his surgery nurse, his assistant. The other nurse you saw only works in the office."

Stu nodded in understanding and got off the table. "I see. Thank you."

She replied, "you're welcome. Make sure you get some rest tonight." She walked out of the room, and they followed. Then made their way back to the car and Stu drove them to his house. He was fairly quiet and she knew he had a lot on his mind. She hoped that later she could get him to talk. It was a lot for him to process at once. When they pulled up, she was impressed by his home that he shared with Stephen and Drew. "Welcome home, love."

Rhonda beamed and leaned up to kiss him. "Thank you." They got the bags out of the trunk with Rhonda insisting on helping. "I'm not going to let you hurt yourself worse. I am capable of carrying my bags. Stop being so stubborn."

He had to admit he liked the fiery side of her, so he just smiled and relented. They went inside and he showed her to what was now their room. "Stu, just to be sure, Ste and Drew are okay with this, right?"

"Of course they are. I think it will be nice for all of us to have a woman around anyway. Maybe it will make them not be such slobs" he said, chuckling.

He went to cleaning out some of his drawers and making room in his closet for her things. "We will figure out where to put it in your bathroom stuff later. We have two bathrooms, so I guess Drew and Ste can share the front one and we can share this one."

She agreed and started unpacking. She was glad he was making her feel so welcome. She wouldn't have admitted it, but she was worried that she wouldn't feel at home. She felt like she was glowing because he was making such a grand effort for her. She told him, since it was their first real night together, she wanted to make them dinner.

Stu laughed and she shot him a look. "Why are you laughing? I am a good cook."

"No baby, I'm not laughing at that. I'm laughing because is probably nothing in there to cook. We're gone a lot, so we usually don't have a lot of groceries. I would never laugh at you wanting to do something for me like that." He put his arm around her and kissed her head. "I think that is very sweet of you."

"I just want it to be special, so why don't we go grocery shopping? What sounds good to you?"

"Whatever you would like to make for us love."

"Okay, maybe I will get some divine inspiration at the store. Let's go."

He drove into the market a few blocks from the house. When they were in the meat section, Stu saw some seasoned chicken breasts and told her that sounded good. So they also bought lots of other things to stock up the fridge and pantry. Since he was going to be home and so was she, they decided they had better have some real food in the house. After spending over an hour in the store, they made it back and got everything put up. Rhonda started dinner and sat down on the couch next to Stu. He put his good arm around her and she laid her head on his chest.

"This is nice. I am very happy you're here, Rhonda."

"Me too. Oh hell!"

"What's the matter?" Stu asked her worriedly.

"Well, I think I probably better call my family and let him know where the hell I am before they start to worry. I'm surprised they haven't called me yet." She picked up her phone and called her sister, but she didn't answer, so she called her mother. After her mother chewed her out for shacking up with a man she didn't know very well, she finally hung up the phone.

Stu couldn't help but listen and said she was right beside him and he asked her, "your mum doesn't seem very pleased with your decision."

"No, she's not, but that's okay. It's not her life. It's mine. And this is right where I want to be."

Stu felt a smile come to his face. He pulled her closer to him and lowered his lips to hers. He kissed her tenderly and stroked her cheek. His long fingers slipped into her hair and he felt her pressing her breasts against his chest. She climbed into his lap and started grinding her pelvis against his growing bulge. Things were starting to heat up and she heard the timer go off. She groaned in objection, but knew she had to get up. "Damn it. I have got to go check dinner." She pecked his lips and told him "don't go anywhere, sexy."

"Don't worry, I'm not going anywhere with this hard-on you have given me."

She smiled and headed into the kitchen before she changed her mind. She wanted to say to hell with dinner, but she wanted her first night with him in that house to be perfect. She finished preparing supper and she called Stu to the table. "Everything looks perfect Rhonda. Thank you. We don't eat many meals in his house, especially home-cooked ones."

"You're welcome, and that will change now that I'm here." They sat down to eat and Stu complimented her cooking skills. He told her he couldn't even make toast without burning it and she giggled at him. Later that night, after everything was put away, they took their shower together and got into bed, naked.

He told her he wanted to start their time together the right way, and make love in their bed. "There is nothing I want more than that right now Stu." She leaned against his chest and rubbed her nipples against his smooth skin. She kissed his lips and licked his ear and down his neck. She traced circles around his nipples, telling him she wanted to please him. His body was aching for her; his cock already feeling hard enough to drill for oil. He quietly moaned as he felt her hands slowly stroking the head of his manhood. He told her there was a condom in the drawer, so she took it and rolled it on. She climbed on top of him and lowered her body slowly, engulfing his thick shaft. She was certain she would never get used to having his big dick inside her. As she started to roll her hips, his eyes rolled back in his head. He loved how slick she was and how tight she could squeeze his cock. She slowly made love to him, wanting to draw out their pleasure. She slanted over his body, changing the angle that he was penetrating her and made them both cry out.

She wanted him calling her name, so she picked up the pace, grinding her hips down roughly against his. He was bucking against her, thrusting harder up into her. She arched her back and felt her whole body release as she saw light explode behind her eyes. He saw her give in to rapture and he let go as well. His hips surged upwards and slammed into her. He groaned and slumped back into the bed. She lay down on his chest and wrapped her arms around him. It was a few minutes later before she was able to move off of him.

He caught his breath and finally spoke "you are amazing, woman. Thanks for that."

"Mmmm hmmm. You're welcome. Goodnight baby." She nestled close to him and they were both soon asleep with their bodies intertwined.