Title: Ride Of Your Life
Author: Adrian Jade
Summary: One day you wake up and realize that everything you thought mattered to you doesn't. John Cena has a girlfriend who he thinks he loves and a best friend who he knows he will always love. What happens when on a random pit stop to a Walmart they find something that could change all of their lives. John needs to choose where his heart belongs.
Disclaimer: I own all the people that you don't recognize. Everyone else own themselves and their characters belong to the WWE.
Chapter 13: With You
Ashley had been up since 5:30 making everything presentable for when Shane arrived. She had even stopped by one of the early opening florists to pick up some exotic flowers to use as a centerpiece. The kitchen smelled of many different foods. Ashley wasn't sure what to cook so she made a little bit of everything. It was about 8:30 when Keegan walked into the kitchen holding a pajama clad Phinnigan.
"What's going on?" he asked.
"Nothing really we are just having a guest for breakfast" she replied putting a plate of scrambled eggs on the table.
"What's with all the food?" Keegan asked popping a grape into his mouth.
"I would appreciate if you would not molest my fruit salad" Ashley said "it's not often that we have guests with us for breakfast so why not go all out"
"Who's coming over?" Keegan gave his sister a look.
"If you must know Shane McMahon"
Keegan's blue eyes twinkled with amusement, he knew that Ashley had once had a crush on Shane and it would bring him so much pleasure to taunt her about it for a while.
"Sleeping with the boss's son … well that's one way to get a raise" Keegan couldn't stop himself from saying.
"First of all please put a shirt on and second please don't embarrass me while he is here" she begged her younger brother.
"Fine whatever" Keegan went to his room and came back out wearing a dark blue wife beater. Much to Ashley's annoyance he remained in his pajama pants and bare feet.
"Gee, Keegan you clean up so well" Ashley rolled her eyes.
He brushed his surfer hair out of his face and shot her a smile. All she could do was shake her head because Keegan had always been the one to test her limits. But she loved him none the less. She still remembered when he was a little baby, now he was 5'9 with a set of washboard abs and a charming smile.
There was a knock on the door, Ashley looked at Keegan pleading with him not to do anything that would embarrass her.
"I'll get it" he said in a sing song voice as he handed Phinnigan to her.
"Shane … it's always good to see you" Keegan said loud enough for Ashley to hear.
Keegan led Shane into the kitchen. Shane gave Ashley a warm smile the moment he saw her. Ashley swore she could feel butterflies in her stomach already.
"Good morning Ashley" Shane said "I picked this up on my way over, I figured it was too early for champagne so I settled for sparkling apple cider"
"Oh Ashley loves cider … don't you big sis" Keegan said.
Ashley shot Keegan a look that said she would kill him in his sleep if he didn't stop. He ignored her and had a seat at the table.
"Wow look how big Phin got" Shane said stepping closer to Ashley and the baby.
"Phin can you say hi to Shane"
Phinnigan decided to be shy at that very moment. He hid his face in the crook of his mother's neck.
"Give him about 10 minutes Shane and he'll be talking your ear off" Ashley assured him.
Ashley placed Phinnigan in his highchair and placed some scrambled eggs and half of a pancake on his tray. She also handed him his baby spoon and left him to eat his meal. He picked up his spoon and managed to get some egg into his mouth. Ashley had a seat next to Shane.
"I hope everyone enjoys all the food" she said helping herself to some of the fruit salad.
"I don't think I have ever seen so much food" Shane said amazed looking around at all the food Ashley had prepared. There was three different kinds of eggs, muffins, bagels and toast, pancakes, French toast, bacon, hash browns, Belgium waffles with a homemade strawberry sauce, fruit salad and oatmeal for Phinnigan.
"What can I say I like to cook" Ashley said smiling shyly.
"Hey we're not complaining right Shane" Keegan said taking another bite of his Belgium waffle.
"Believe me I haven't had a good home cooked meal in some time so anytime I get to eat real food I'm not going to complain"
"Anything I can do to help" their eyes met for a moment.
But it didn't last long because Phinnigan felt like he wanted to be the center of attention, he took his spoon and flicked some of his eggs at Shane. He began to laugh right after he threw it.
"Phinnigan William Joshua … you know better than to do that" Ashley scolded the toddler.
"I'm so sorry Shane" she apologized profusely.
Shane just laughed and wiped the egg off with his napkin "It's cool Ashley don't worry about it I have two boys so things like this aren't out of the ordinary for me"
"He still knows better and he's going to be punished as soon as breakfast is over"
"Please don't punish him on my account"
"Yeah Ash I mean he's just a baby he doesn't know better" Keegan added "besides like Shane said he has two boys"
Ashley just shook her head. Shane took her hand in his and rubbed the top of it with his thumb.
"Don't be mad at him" he said softly to her.
"I'm not … he just knows better than to behave like that at the table"
"You have to admit it was funny and man does that kid have awesome aim he hit me right in the face" Ashley cracked a smile.
Keegan watched his sister interact with Shane and couldn't help but think they were really cute together. Lord knows his sister could use a good man in her life and it seemed that Shane could be that man. Keegan took Phinnigan into his room to get him dressed and Ashley and Shane cleaned up.
"Breakfast was amazing" Shane said as he began the tedious task of drying dishes.
Ashley's kitchen radio was softly playing tunes while they worked. The song Breathe by Michelle Branch began to play. Ashley stopped what she was doing and turned to face Shane.
"Dance with me" she said.
"What … in your kitchen?" he asked.
"Yeah why not"
"Ok" he smiled taking her into his arms.
He spun her around and they both laughed. Keegan walked back into the room and watched as his sister and Shane made fools of themselves. He shook his head and smiled before leaving them to their privacy. They continued dancing for about another 10 minutes before going back to work on the dishes.
"You make me feel like a kid again Ash" Shane said
"And you Mr. McMahon make me feel whole once again" she admitted.
"What John did to you was horrible Ash" he said moving a stray piece of hair out of her face.
"How did you find out?" she asked.
"Randy told me right after you left … I wanted to call you then but I figured you needed time to process everything and then when I saw you last night I was just so happy to know you were ok"
"I survived" she replied "I'm not going to say I wasn't heartbroken because I was but I've learned to ignore the pain I feel for the sake of my son"
"You shouldn't feel pain at all" he said.
"Hey there Phinney" Ashley said taking notice to Phinnigan who had just walked into the room.
"Mama" he said motioning for her to pick him up.
She did walk over to him and pick him up. She then walked back over to Shane.
"Can you give Shane a high five?" she asked Phinnigan.
Shane held his hand out and Phinnigan gave him a high five.
"You have one hell of a swing little man" Shane massaged his palm a little.
"You should feel it when he gets mad and decides to punch you" Ashley said "I have never been a recipient but Keegan and Randy have a few times and they will tell you it kinda hurts"
"Like I always say boys will be boys"
"It's a beautiful morning … what do you say a little stroll along the shore line just the 3 of us" Ashley suggested.
"I'd like that"
"What about you baby?" Ashley asked kissing Phinnigan on his cheek. He smiled and stuck his fingers into his mouth.
"Keegan we're going out" she called to her brother.
"Ok have a good time" he called back to them.
"Shall we?" Shane asked extending his arm. Ashley happily took his arm and the two adults and the toddler walked out into the beautiful morning air. They all took off their shoes and walked barefoot in the surf. Both Ashley and Shane had a hold of one of Phinnigan's hands and were lightly swinging him by his arms as they walked.
"Phin really likes you" Ashley said.
"Well I really like him too … and his mom"
Ashley blushed a little "I like you too Shane"
"So what do you want to happen after today?" Shane asked.
The question caught her off guard, she hadn't really thought about what happened after today. She knew that Shane was asking her in a round about way if she would be interested in a relationship with him and the more she thought about it the more it appealed to her.
"I'm not sure … I know I want to see you again though"
"Well that's good because I want to see you again too"
"So it's a date then" she said.
"So would it be ok if I told the people at work that we are dating?" he asked trying to hide his excitement.
"Shane I would like nothing more than for you to tell the people we work with that we are dating" she responded.
"I know it's a little fast but … I don't know it just feels so right" Shane continued to ramble on, a habit which he had when he was either really excited or really nervous.
Ashley let go of Phinnigan's hand and placed both her hands on Shane's face and kissed him to shut him up.
He grinned back at her "You know you could have told me to stop talking"
"I could have but I thought kissing you would be more fun for me" she said and then she grabbed Phinnigan and took off running.
Shane just shook his head and chased after her. He was really going to like spending more time with her, he just knew it.