Disclaimer: I do not own anything related to the WWE or its superstars. The only thing I own is my original character. This is a complete work of fiction.


Keeper

Chapter 45


Two Months later…

It had been two whole months since I'd signed with TNA and life was going pretty damn good. My reception had been a warm one in the company from the other wrestlers and surprisingly the fans. I'd also discovered that my MMA in ring style was incredibly successful for me in the ring. In fact this Sunday I had a title shot for the Knockout Championship. It was an opportunity that I never thought would come my way. I actually had a shot. In some weird way I was carrying on a legacy.

Unfortunately, the pay per view wasn't the only even happening this week. This week was also Hunter's birthday. I loved birthdays…I loved Hunter like a brother…but this would be the first time I'd be face to face with the entire family since I signed with TNA. I'd seen my mom of course and I'd talked to Steph and Hunter but with our schedules it was hard to arrange a visit. Papa had yet to speak to me and that stung so unbelievably badly.

As I pulled in to the McMansion's driveway, I felt a wave of nerves wash over me. I parked my rental and took a deep breath before stepping out. I walked up to the door and rang the doorbell. Within a few seconds the door flew open and Linda appeared. A big smile crossed her lips.

"Kennedy! I'm so glad you made it!" she cooed giving me a hug.

"Did you think I wouldn't?"

"Well…I don't know. I know things with your Papa are tense still. I didn't know if that would deter you or not."

"It's Hunter's birthday dinner! I wasn't going to miss it. Besides, I needed to grab some stuff out of my house here in town anyways."

"I still think you should hold onto that house. Just in case. You might decide to move back."

"Mom! It's a little late for that. It's been sold….well, I haven't closed on it yet but it's happening."

"So you officially don't live here anymore?" she asked sadly.

"Not quite. I bought a tiny little, one bedroom condo for the occasional visits to see you guys. I have no need for such a huge house here when I'm rarely here."

"I know, I know. I just miss seeing my baby whenever I want!"

"I know, Mom."

"Look who's here!" Steph squealed as she gave me a big, squeezey, hug. "I'm so glad you came. Come on in the dining room! Dinner is going to be served soon!" She grabbed onto my arm and yanked me in the direction.


We sat down at the large, long dinning room table. Papa sat stoically at the head of the table. He was quiet as he made eye contact with me. I tried not to let his lack of affection towards me shake me. Luckily there were plenty of friendly faces in the room including Sheamus.

"Happy Birthday, Hunter!" I said happily to the Birthday boy.

"Thanks, Kid!"

"Feeling any older?" I teased.

"Not even a little!"

"Just wait, I'm sure it'll come!" He chuckled a little bit.

"I sure as hell hope not! How have you been, Kid? It's been awhile…"

"I've been pretty great."

"She's been better than great! Tell them about work, Kennedy?" Sheamus interjected. I shot Sheamus a look that best personified the feeling of "really?".

"What's happening at work?" Stephanie asked curiously. Evidently she'd missed the last episode of Impact.

"Well, I uh…I'm participating on the Pay-per-view card this Sunday," I said meekly. Suddenly being the center of attention was making me a little nervous.

"That's wonderful, Sweetheart!" My mother beamed proudly. " Who are you facing?"

"Gail Kim…for the Knockout's championship." I saw Papa's eyes go wide. I couldn't tell if he was proud or pissed.

"Not too shabby for only being in the company two months eh?" Sheamus chuckled.

"Not bad at all! Congrats Kid! We'll all be pulling for you!" Hunter said with enthusiasm.

"Thank you."

"Vince, isn't this great?" My mother said trying to goad him into participating in the conversation. Everybody looked over at the patriarch a bit nervously. A stubborn frown covered his face.

"I guess."

"You guess?" she snapped. "You guess? Your Daughter is challenging for a championship on Pay-Per-View and all you have to say is I guess?"

"I love my children but I refuse to blindly support decisions they make. Quite frankly, I don't support this little experiment or rebellion or whatever it is that she is currently trying to accomplish. TNA is second rate…McMahons are not second rate!"

"Vincent Kennedy McMahon! I cannot believe y-" Linda started before I swiftly cut her off.

"Mom, stop. You don't have to do this. I'm an adult," I said softly.

"Alright."

"Why are you being so unbelievably stubborn about this? Why can't you just support me in what I choose to do?" I asked my Papa sadly.

"Because you left damn it! You left our company, the company that generations of McMahon's have worked to build. I don't condone you going to the competition."

"You fired me from my position, Papa! What was I supposed to do? Go work in corporate like a little drone you control. I loved being on the road. I wasn't going back to being an office monkey full time."

"You're doing this because you are throwing a tantrum because you didn't get what you wanted. Yeah, you got fired. You fucked up and had to face the consequences. I think you're being a little dramatic."

"You firing me was the first time since I came to live with you that I felt like I didn't belong. I didn't feel like I had a family! I sure as hell didn't feel like a McMahon!" I growled angrily.

"You didn't feel apart of the family? I've fired Stephanie and Shane a million times! It's practically a rite of passage in this damn family!"

"All I wanted was to make you proud. I've worked day in and day out for your company for years and you practically spit in my face that night by firing me. If you thought I was going to just sit in corporate and wait for you to move me from position to position like a fucking puppet as you fucking pleased, you were sorely mistaken. I'm an adult. I'm successful and I do not need you or your company to stand tall. I do it all on my own," I said standing up. I looked over at Hunter. "Now if you'll all excuse me I need to be going. I have a match to prepare for. Happy Birthday, Hunter. Sorry I couldn't stay longer."

With that I left, leaving a room full of people in shock.


Saturday

With the pay per view quickly approaching, I was eagerly trying to prepare. I was getting one final workout in with Bully Ray. He'd been so helpful through these two months. It wasn't easy getting acclimated to a career like wrestling.

"Are you sure you're alright, Kennedy?" He asked concerned as I completely failed at my last set of hang cleans.

"Yeah, I'm fine."

"I call bullshit on that. Somethin' is definitely bothering you. Usually you are all focus, today you are all dazed and confused. So what's up?"

"Nothing."

"Does it have something to do with your visit home? Because when I saw you two days ago, you were fine," he replied, putting a hand on my shoulder.

"I got into a fight with my Papa," I finally said glumly. I felt my lip begin to quiver.

"Aww Darlin', I didn't mean to upset you!"

"It's not you. It was sweet of you to care enough in the first place! I'm just...i'm just having a hard time with this Papa stuff. We've never fought like this before."

"I know how hard being in a fight your Pops, I feel for you. I'm guessing he's still not please with you working here for Dixie?"

"In a nutshell, yes. I wasnt even going to bring up the match at all. I had planned on going to dinner and keeping my mouth shut. But then Sheamus brought it up on front of everybody. I get why he did it. He wanted everybody, my father included, to know that I was finding success. While he meant well, it caused this whole fiasco!"

"Fiasco? What the hell happened?"

"Just got into a bit of a yell fest with Papa and then I stormed out of a room full of dinner guests! It was pretty mortifying," I said with a half-hearted chuckle.

"Atta girl! I'm proud of you for standing up for yourself. Your Pops is a tough man who is even tougher to please! From my experience with him I can tell you that what you did was for the best. You stood up for yourself and made your voice heard. He respects people who have the balls to stand up to a man as powerful as him," he assured me, giving my shoulder a squeeze.

"You better be right, Bully!"

"Oh I know I am. So no worries! Besides, you have other things to be worrying about right now."

"Like what exactly?"

"Your title match with Gail tomorrow!"

" Shit! Yeah, I need to get my shit together!"

"No kidding. If you don't get your head on straight tomorrow you are going to find yourself flat on that ass of yours while Gail walks out of there champion!" He warned playfully.

"Yeah, yeah, I know!"

"Good now get your ass back over to the bar and do those hang clean right! That last set was pitiful!"

"Sir, yes, Sir!" I called out loudly with a sarcastic salute.

"Smart ass!"


Later that Night

The airport was eerily calm as I made my way to the terminal. It all felt so anti-climatic...I mean I was going to challenging for the title tomorrow. I was on the verge of accomplishing something huge and yet it didn't feel huge at all.

"Flight 321 is now boarding!" the stewardess cheered enthusiastically. I rose to my feet and pulled my ticket out of my pocket. I wheeled my carry on over to get in line and waited patiently as the line began to grow smaller and smaller ahead of me. Finally, I'd reached the front. "Hi!"

"Hi!" I said handing her the ticket.

"You are just going to love Chicago!"

"Yeah, I'm sure I will..." She handed me the ticket and I headed down the tunnel to board. As I took my seat, memories of my last Chicago visit filled my mind...right before 'The Best in the World' dropped off of the face of the earth. This was basically the last thing I needed before a big match, when all I needed was to fucking concentrate. It was going to be a long flight...


I hope you all are enjoying Keeper so far and will keep reading to see what shenanigans Kennedy gets into on the road! I also want to thank you so much for the support for this story and my writing in general. You guys are the best. Feel free to message or review me your opinions and comments! Constructive feedback is always appreciated