Author's Note - Sorry for the delay with my updates. Grad school and work keep me really busy. Thank you to everyone who is reading and reviewing this story. I hope you continue to enjoy it.
Disclaimer - I only own my OC Elise. I am in no way affiliated with AEW.
All the Same
Elise and Kenny had been working on the house for the last two weeks. They had painted several rooms, purchased new patio furniture, built a stone fire pit, and furnished the guest house in the backyard.
Elise had decided that she was going to work on painting the guest bathroom after she finished breakfast. She was plating the pancakes she had made when Kenny came downstairs.
"That smells delicious." He said, taking the plate she held out to him.
"Hope you enjoy them." She made herself a plate.
The duo sat at the kitchen island and ate their breakfast. As they ate they talked about their plans for the day.
"I was planning on painting the bathroom." Elise said, before taking a bite of her pancake.
"That's fine, but we'll have to go to the hardware store. We need to get some more paint for the master and some more brushes."
"We can do that after breakfast."
"Okay, you can drive." He said.
"What?" Elise asked, wide-eyed.
Kenny had taken her the week before to get her permit. So far she had only driven his car in the parking lot.
"You can drive." He repeated as he took his plate to the sink. "The hardware store is close and it will be good practice."
"Kenny - I don't know if that's a good idea."
"You'll do fine." He said reassuringly. "I'm going to go get ready." He didn't wait for her to respond before darting up the stairs to change.
She sighed and took care of her plate before following him upstairs to get ready.
Forty-five minutes later Elise was seated behind the wheel of Kenny's car and he was in the passenger seat. She slowly backed out of the driveway, feeling anxious.
"Don't be nervous Elise." Kenny said reassuringly. "You can do this."
Elise nodded, taking a deep breath. She drove down the road and turned out onto the major street. She turned the wheel with shaking hands. She knew she needed to learn to drive, but the inability to predict what other drivers would do left her feeling extremely anxious.
Elise drove five miles under the speed limit down the busy street. A frustrated driver behind her blew the horn, causing her to jump.
"He's just being a dickhead. Ignore him. You're fine." Kenny said patiently.
She nodded, "thank you for being patient with me."
They approached a stop light. The light was red. She came to a stop and waited for the light to change. As the light changed she slowly started to take her needed turn when another car barreled up to the light. Panicked, Elise hit the breaks.
"He's stopping." Kenny said, "You have the right of way, go."
Elise nodded nervously and completed her turn.
"You can't stop in the middle of the road, okay?"
"I'm sorry." She felt the hot prick of tears at her eyes. She was mortified. "I'm so stupid."
"You're not stupid. No one got hurt and everything's okay. Just remember for next time, okay?"
She nodded.
They arrived at the hardware store five minutes later with no further complications. Elise parked in an empty spot and got out of the car. Kenny got out of the passenger's seat and closed the door.
"I'm sorry Kenny." She walked over and held out the keys to him.
"Don't be sorry. You should drive home." He pushed the car keys away but she shook her head.
"I think I've had enough for today."
He frowned, but accepted the keys. She adjusted her purse strap on her shoulder as she walked alongside him toward the store.
"Look. The SPCA is here. Maybe we should check it out?" Kenny suggested. He knew how much Elise loved animals and hoped seeing the cats and dogs would cheer her up.
"Sure." She nodded, smiling slightly. They walked over to the stand. There were a few cages set up and different items you could buy.
"Awwe" Elise crouched down to check out a grey tabby cat in one of the cages. The cat approached the edge of the cage and rubbed it's head against her finger when she stuck it through the cage.
"He's adorable." Kenny watched Elise play with the cat. She wiggled her finger in the cage, allowing the cat to bite and swat at it. She giggled when the cat grabbed her finger and nibbled it gently.
"He definitely is." Elise agreed. She pulled her finger away and stood up to her full height. She got out her wallet and gave a 20 dollar donation to the girl at the table. "We should get in there and get our supplies. We have a lot of work to do."
"Sure, you go ahead. I'll catch up. I want to make a donation too."
"Alright." Elise shrugged and headed into the store.
Kenny smiled as he approached the SCPA employee, glancing at the door to the hardware store one last time to make sure that Elise was out of earshot.
"I think we have everything we need for now." Elise said, carrying a large paper bag and a gallon of paint toward Kenny's car.
"Almost everything." He corrected, unlocking the car doors. He opened the backseat and sat the two gallons of paint he was carrying on the floor behind the driver's seat. Elise opened the other door and sat her bag and gallon of paint behind the passenger seat.
"What did we forget?" Elise asked. She mulled over the tasks they planned to accomplish and what supplies they would need. She couldn't think of anything else they needed.
"You go ahead and get in. I'll go get it." He said.
"Are you sure?"
"Absolutely."
She got in the passenger seat while Kenny headed back toward the store. She watched him from her spot in the car, surprised to see him veer off toward the SPCA table. She frowned as she watched him converse with the girl. She grabbed the gray tabby cat out of the cage and carefully handed the cat over to Kenny. Kenny said something to the woman before walking back toward the car, holding the cat tightly against his chest.
Elise smiled as he approached the car.
When he opened the driver's side door she leaned over to talk to him, "You didn't?" She inquired, smiling brightly.
Kenny responded by handing her the cat. She took the cat, placing him on her lap while Kenny got in the car. Kenny closed his door and smiled at her. "You should have seen the smile on your face when I was carrying that cat over. I was hoping you would be happy."
"Happy?" Elise scoffed, "I'm ecstatic. I can't believe you adopted him." Elise pet the cat.
Kenny started the car, "You've always wanted a cat and you two really hit it off. How could I not?"
Elise smiled and leaned over, kissing him on the cheek. "Thank you Kenny. You're so sweet."
3 days later.
Kenny parked the car in the driveway and cut the engine. Elise reached over and squeezed his hand lightly. "I know this is a lot. Thank you for doing this for me."
Kenny smiled and nodded, "You're welcome. Hopefully they don't hate me. I would hate for you to move out. I'm kind of enjoying our little routine."
"Kind of?" Elise raised an eyebrow, earning a chuckle from Kenny. "You just like having someone there to cook."
"Yea, you got me all figured out." He joked. He laughed when Elise lightly smacked him on the arm.
Elise rolled her eyes and opened the passenger side door, "Are you ready for this?"
Kenny nodded and opened the driver's side door. He stepped out onto the black top and waited for Elise while she got out of the car.
Elise smoothed her gray, pleated mini-skirt before shutting the door and walking around the front of the car to stand beside Kenny. She had decided to pair the skirt with a cropped black sweater and black boots. She laced her arm through Kenny's and the duo walked up to the front porch.
Elise knocked on the door. They only waited a minute before the door swung open. Elise's mother stood on the other side of the door. She was shorter than Elise, but shared her dark hair and eyes. She smiled gleefully and flung her arms around her daughter.
"I am so happy you are home!" Her mother's tone was joyous. "You should have come home to see us right away though!" Her mother attempted to look scornful as she took a step back.
"I'm sorry, mom." Elise conceded.
Kenny got the impression that Elise's mother was someone you didn't argue with.
"Mom, this is Kenny. Kenny my mom." Elise motioned between them.
"It's a pleasure to meet you ma'am." Kenny smiled.
The older woman appraised him, "So you're the one my daughter is living with?"
"Mom!" Elise's cheeks turned scarlet. She obviously hadn't expected her mother to be so blunt.
"Well, yes. I asked your daughter if she wanted to be roommates - seeing we would be working for the same promotion."
"Did I hear my little girl's voice?" A male voice sounded from the living room. A moment later Elise's father joined the group in the foyer.
"There's my little princess!" He hugged Elise before turning his attention to Kenny, as if he was noticing him for the first time. "And who's this?"
"This is Kenny, daddy."
"Kenny, huh?" Her dad looked him up and down, remaining silent for a moment. Kenny glanced at Elise nervously, but she was smiling.
"Good to meet you," Mr. Kar held out his hand to Kenny. Kenny shook his hand. "You better be treating my little girl well."
"Daddy." Elise sighed in exasperation.
Kenny nodded his head, "Absolutely, sir. Your daughter is amazing and deserves nothing less."
Elise's mother frowned slightly. Elise glanced at Kenny, surprised by how forthcoming he was being.
"I thought you said you two weren't dating?" Elise's mother asked.
"Well, at that time we weren't dating."
"I still say it is wrong for you to be living under the same roof with a man." Her mother frowned.
"Mom, it's 2019. You need to get with the times."
Mrs. Kar frowned, but didn't respond.
"Why don't you help your mother get dinner on the table and Kenny and I can get better acquainted."
Elise nodded and followed her mom to the kitchen. Kenny followed Mr. Kar to the dining room, hoping he could make it through the dinner without making a fool of himself.
It was 10:30 when they arrived back at their house. Elise unlocked the door and led the way inside, hanging up her purse on a coat rack beside the door.
"That went well." She said with a smile. She sat down in one of the oversized armchairs in the living room and began to unzip her boots.
"Luckily." Kenny replied, relieved. "I was worried they'd hate me."
"Aweee, how could anyone hate you?" Elise teased.
"Seriously, a lot of parents hate guys that date their daughters for no reason." He flopped down on the couch. He raked his fingers through his hair. "Especially when we are living together so quickly."
Elise got up from her spot on the chair and walked over to the couch. She sat down beside him, tucking her feet underneath her. "Kenny, don't stress out okay. You're wonderful and my parents liked you a lot. Thank you for meeting them for me. I know it was stressful for you." She wrapped her arms around his midsection in a tight embrace.
He smiled and wrapped an arm around her pulling her into his side. "You're welcome."
"Why don't you relax and play your game. I'm going to change real quick. . ."
He nodded, "Okay."
Elise got up and went upstairs to change. She changed into a silk pajama set that consisted of a pink top with black lace and black and white striped shorts with black lace. She clipped up her hair and slid on her pink fuzzy bathrobe. She grabbed her novel off of the nightstand beside her bed before heading back downstairs.
Kenny was already playing his video game when she reached the bottom of the stairs. Her new cat, whom she decided to call Perseus (Percy for short) trotted behind her. She smiled at how focused Kenny was on the game. She went to the kitchen and grabbed them both a drink before heading back to the living room. She waited for him to pause the game before crossing in front of the TV. She plopped down on the couch beside him. She sat both drinks down before leaning against the opposite arm of the couch, with her feet up on the couch between them, and opening her novel. Percy jumped up and settled on the back of the couch, stretching out and closing his eyes.
Kenny thanked her for the drink before turning his game back on. She nodded, even though he wasn't looking at her, and continued to read her book.
After a few minutes Kenny paused the game again, "Elise?"
"Yea?" She asked without looking up from her book.
"Can we talk for a minute?"
Elise nodded. She finished up her sentence and slid her bookmark back into place. She closed the book and sat it down on her lap. "Everything okay?"
"Yea, I mean… It's just meeting your significant other's parents is usually a big deal and -"
"It's not a big deal for us Kenny, promise."
"I know you're not making a big deal of it. I just wanted to talk about our relationship."
Elise nodded, waiting for him to continue.
"I was just - " He paused, like he was looking for the right words, "I was just hoping we could take things slow. It's been awhile since I've dated anyone."
Elise smiled. She shifted her position on the couch so she was once again sitting beside him with her legs outstretched beside her. "Kenny, don't overthink things, okay. I am fine with going slow. I'm just happy to be spending time with you. I am willing to wait as long as you need. Okay?"
Kenny smiled, "Thank you"
She gave him a quick peck on the cheek, "Now, enjoy your game, okay?"
He nodded and unpaused his game. She smiled, opened her book, and began to read again.
Elise and Kenny had been working on the finishing touches in the guest bathroom. They had decided to take a break beside the pool. Kenny was sitting in one of the chairs they had set up while Elise was sitting on the end of the pool with her feet dangling in the water.
"What do you think about having a little get together here after the next pay per view?" Kenny asked.
Elise thought for a minute. "I don't know. I mean I guess if you really want too. Usually everyone just hangs out at the venue."
"Well I mean, we have put so much work into the place, and it looks so nice. It might be nice to just have everyone come over, have some food, and chat."
"If that's what you want then sure. I don't see why not."
"Are you sure? I don't want you to be uncomfortable. This is your house too."
Elise smiled at how thoughtful he was being. How could she tell him no? He was just proud of the house. There probably wouldn't even be that many people. Almost everyone would want to get home.
"Of course. I'm sure it will be fun."
Elise had just gotten out of a hot bath. She knew Kenny planned on playing some games with Xavier and a few other wrestlers, so she decided to take a bath and then curl up in bed with a good book. She put on a silky pink pajama short set. Both the tank top and shorts were decorated with black hearts. She slipped on her pink fuzzy slippers and headed toward the kitchen to grab a cup of tea before settling in to read.
She didn't pay a bit of attention to her surroundings as she descended the stairs. She wasn't surprised to hear Kenny talking. Figuring he was just talking through his headset, she went to the sink and filled up a cup to put in the microwave.
"Hey there toots."
Elise jumped and spun around, eyes wide.
Jon Moxley chuckled at her startled expression. He walked over and stood beside her, leaning against the granite counter top.
"What are you doing here?" Elise asked, slowly regaining her composure. She stuck her mug in the microwave and set it for two minutes.
"Came over to talk to Kenny about our feud." He shrugged. "Wasn't expecting to see you. Kenny said you had plans."
"Well, I came down to get a cup of tea. I didn't realize we would have company or I would have put on something more presentable."
Jon shrugged again, "I'm not complaining." He stood up to his full height and smirked, giving her a once over.
Elise's cheeks burned under his intense gaze. She jumped when the microwave went off and quickly turned around to grab her mug. "I'll just get my tea and go upstairs." She said as she grabbed a tea bag out of the cupboard.
Jon smiled at her flustered actions, "Take your time, dollface. It's nice to see you." There was something seductive about his tone and she could feel him watching her as she prepared her tea.
Elise didn't respond. A wave of unease washed over her as she grabbed the half and half out of the refrigerator.
"Sorry to keep you waiting Jon." Kenny emerged from the office, and Elise fought the urge to let out a sigh of relief. "Oh hey Elise. I thought you were still upstairs."
"I decided to come down and get a cup of tea. I'll be out of your boys' hair in just a minute." Elise added some sugar to her tea.
"I told her she wasn't bothering anyone." Jon said, his tone was more casual with Kenny in the room.
"Yea, you can hang out if you want Elise?" Kenny offered. "We're just doing work stuff."
"That's alright. I have a date with my book. You boys have fun." Elise headed for the stairs.
"Enjoy your book." Kenny smiled sweetly.
"Yea, see you later toots." Jon smirked from his spot behind Kenny.
She forced a smile before scurrying upstairs. Kenny was going to get an earful once Jon was gone. Damn him for not letting her know that company was coming over.