Note: Here's a chapter of fluffy goodness before next chapter when I'm gonna time skip a little bit and some drama is really going to start. I felt like Stephanie being in college is perfect for keeping their relationship a secret, so I want to skip ahead a little to a point where drama can really begin to happen. I hope you enjoy this chapter!

The remainder of 1994 seemed to pass by in a blur. Mark didn't tell Stephanie about the night at the strip club, not because he thought she'd be mad but because he thought it was irrelevant. The important thing was that he realized that he loved her, not that he had told her that either.

He had the perfect opportunity to tell her when she was home for Christmas break and one night they were in Mark's hotel room after a show, cuddled up to one another in bed watching an old movie that Stephanie had raved about for a solid twenty minutes when they were showering together. Mark even thought to himself 'this is the time to say it'. But, he didn't. They sat in peaceful silence watching the movie and Stephanie drifted off to sleep sometime before the ending, but after the climax.

He thought he would have another perfect opportunity during that break but he was wrong. Every night they met up he was tired but wanting her. She would come over, have sex, try to finish a movie, but inevitably fall asleep halfway through.

And just as quickly as Stephanie's break had came, it ended. Before they knew it, they were having a repeat of their previous goodbyes with Stephanie fighting back tears in Mark's hotel room early in the morning. Mark didn't think that saying goodbye was a good time to say that he loved her.

So she was off again to college and Mark was on the road, traveling more in 1995 as WWE branched out and captured an even larger audience. He stayed with Will occasionally when they were farther from the Northeast and Will always asked about Stephanie. Mark had taken to tormenting his friend by revealing way too much information to him in some sort of quasi effort to get him to stop asking, but it only seemed to momentarily deter Will until their next venture.

Shawn still hadn't said anything to anyone nor did he plan to, not that Mark even knew. He treated Shawn the same as before, completely oblivious to the huge secret the Heartbreak Kid held.

Before Mark even knew it, March had flown by and it was the beginning of April. Amidst his minor crisis over turning thirty and mulling over what this meant for him, Stephanie had thrown an offer at him that made him really consider where their relationship is going.

"So, I'm not coming home for Easter break in a couple weeks" she stated bluntly then added on "At least...that's what my dad thinks."

"What do ya mean?"

"Well, so, uh..." she stumbled over her words "I was thinking that instead of coming home for Easter break that maybe I could come with you to Texas for Easter and maybe, uh...meet your parents?"

"Meet my folks?"

"Yeah."

Mark knew he loved Stephanie and that she was like his other half, this wasn't something he questioned anymore. But, he had never really stopped to think about their relationship. It was such a strange relationship with a number of restrictions that most relationships didn't have so he was used to taking things day by day. He hadn't really considered what would happen in the long term. He never thought of what would happen if they were together for ten years, then what? He knew introducing her to his family would be a big step, a step in the direction of a solid long term relationship that had a real future, something Mark always hoped for with Stephanie but was mildly uncertain about.

"Yeah, I'd like if ya met my folks. We'll sort out all the details in the next few days."

Stephanie squealed over the phone and Mark couldn't help but smile, he hoped this was a step towards a future together. He didn't want their lives to only be filled with memories of sex in hotel rooms, however nice that sex was.

Soon enough it was April 14th and both Mark and Stephanie were on flights heading to Houston, Texas. Separate flights, of course. They were planning to meet up at the airport and from their, find Mark's parents who had volunteered to pick them up. Mark's mom had squealed almost as loudly as Stephanie over the phone when Mark told her that he was bringing a girl home.

When Mark spotted Stephanie in the airport he couldn't wipe the smile off his face and he wanted desperately to hold her hand or wrap his arm around her, but he couldn't really do that in public. Meeting up in public was risky enough as is.

"Oh my gosh, are you the Undertaker?" Stephanie sarcastically fawned over him as she got close.

"The one and only ma'am" Mark played along.

"I watch you on TV and I just think you're the best! Can you show me some moves?" she kept up her fake fan-girl impression.

Mark lowered his voice as they walked "I'll show ya some moves later tonight, princess."

Stephanie shot him a devious look and Mark smirked back. Everything felt right. Now he just hoped that his parents didn't note the eleven year age gap or catch onto the fact that Stephanie is his boss's daughter.

As soon as they rounded the corner, Mark spotted his parents instantly. His mom's face lit up and she came rushing over the give Mark a hug before turning to Stephanie.

"Oh look how beautiful you are! So nice to finally meet you!" his mom embraced Stephanie in perhaps an even bigger hug than the one Mark had received.

His dad was following close behind and gave his youngest son a quick hug before introducing himself to Stephanie and giving her a hug as well.

"Hi, Frank Calaway. Great to meet ya."

"Oh goodness! I didn't even introduce myself!" his mom stuck out her hand "Cathy Calaway! Feel free to call me Cat if you'd like!"

"It's great to meet you both. Thank you so much for having me for Easter" Stephanie thanked them and smiled.

"Oh, we like her Mark" Cathy loudly whispered to Mark "Now let's get a move on! All your brothers are already at the house waitin'."

His mom wasn't kidding when she said that all his brothers were there waiting. As soon as they walked in they received an onslaught of hugs for Stephanie and headlocks for Mark. Paul, David, and Tim were all sort of out of the loop but Mike already knew a great deal about Stephanie. Mark and Mike had always been close. Tim was the oldest at 45, then Paul at 43, then David at 39. Followed by a bit of a gap then Mike at 32 and of course, Mark, the youngest at 30. His three oldest brothers all were married with kids, who were all currently outside enjoying the weather, and Mike was married but without any kids.

Once things settled down, it was Paul who asked the question they were all wondering (with the exception of Mike, of course).

"So, how old are ya Stephanie?" he asked.

Mark knew this moment was coming and wanted to step in and say something to defend Stephanie's age before she even had a chance to speak, but being the person that she was, she spoke up.

"I'm eighteen, turning nineteen this year." she said clearly so there was no confusion "But Mark and I had known each other for years beforehand."

Mark caught the disgusted look on Tim's wife's face. He never really liked Melinda anyway.

"You'd known each others for years beforehand? Mark, wanna explain to me what you were doin' knowin' a young girl?" David inquired, and Mark had to admit it was a fair question.

"Well, the thing is, she's my boss's daughter." Mark informed them "So, I'd known her for years before any of this even started."

Mike and his wife, Bridget, smirked. They already knew all of this and found the reaction from Mark's other brothers quite amusing.

"Man." was all Paul managed to say.

It was clear that Tim didn't approve of this relationship in the least, nor did his wife. Paul was trying to process it all and David looked like he was about to join camp Tim and give their relationship a thumbs down. It was the first time Mark had experienced such a disapproval of their relationship and the whole ordeal made him quite uncomfortable, so he couldn't imagine how Stephanie was feeling.

His parents hadn't really reacted at all, which was truly surprising. Mark assumed it was because at this point they were just happy that Mark was bringing a girl home.

"Well, Mark's never brought a girl home before so you must mean a lot to him." Cathy intervened "Now why don't ya'll go get unpacked and supper will be all set in an hour."

"Your room is adorable."

"Adorable? Try manly."

"I'm sticking with adorable." Stephanie explored Mark's childhood bedroom, looking at all his sports paraphernalia and opening drawers to check out what was inside.

Mark set their suitcases down on his bed "I hope they didn't make ya feel weird."

"Who? Your brothers?"

"Yeah, Tim and David can be a little judgmental. Paul's just a doofus who always comes to love everyone."

"I thought they were fine. It makes sense that they thought it was weird. I mean, on paper it's weird but I think once they see us together more it won't be so weird."

Mark smiled "Ya know, this why I keep you around. Because when you're not actin' like a spoiled princess, you're pretty alright."

"I'm pretty alright?" Stephanie smirked as she wrapped her arms around him and bit at her lip "Just alright?"

"Maybe better than alright." Mark leaned down to kiss her and got to for about five seconds until Mike burst into his room.

"Hey!" Mike called out as he walked in, followed by Bridget.

Unlike Will, Mike had no shame in interrupting Mark. He didn't feel embarrassed or as if he was interrupting something, it was just a habit that he had grown accustomed to since they were kids: barging into Mark's room unannounced.

"Ya haven't learned to knock I see."

"Nah." Mike brushed off Mark's comment "So, ignore anythin' Tim says. His bitch wife said that she thinks it's wrong and insisted that Tim talk to ya about it."

"How're Paul and David takin' it?"

"Paul doesn't care anymore. He went outside to check on the kids and I think he may have forgotten all about it, who knows. And David is being a little pussy like always and just agreein' with whatever Tim thinks, so basically agreein' with whatever Melinda thinks."

"And mom and dad?"

"Oh mom totally loves Steph. I dunno about dad, he's so hard to read. Best I can tell, he doesn't care. You're finally bringin' a girl home so he doesn't give a damn. Now get your asses downstairs before the grits mom made get eaten up."

During dinner, Stephanie tried to take it all in. She tried to listen more than she spoke, which was quite the challenge for her because did she ever love to talk. But getting to know Mark's family was important to her, so she shut her mouth and only spoke when she was asked a question. She was asked a lot of questions, though. Mainly by Mark's mom who seemed to be constantly gushing over her and Stephanie wasn't sure if Cathy just liked her or if it was because she was the first girl Mark had brought home.

She waited until later that night, after Mark had given her a tour around the outside of the house and they were sitting on a bench in Cathy's garden, to ask him.

"Do you think your mom really likes me?"

"My mom seems to love you."

"Is it because I'm the first girl you've brought home or because of me?

"Not that ya need a bigger ego, but I think it's just because of you. She doesn't like Tim's wife, Melinda and she's indifferent about David's wife. She likes Paul's wife but I think that's only because her name is Kathy with a K. Other than sayin' her name, I've never heard her speak much to her. So, before you, she's only really had Bridget to talk to because us guys get talkin' about things that don't interest her." Mark paused "And who wouldn't like ya? You're smart, funny, gorgeous, easy to talk to..."

"Go on" Stephanie jokingly requested.

"A little spoiled brat" Mark continued, laughing.

They sat for awhile in silence as the sun set and stars began to fill the sky. Mark couldn't imagine his life without Stephanie. Without her sassy comments at every turn, without her undying determination, without her contagious larger than life grin when she was happy.

He rested his hand on top of hers, thankful that he brought her here.

It didn't take long for Stephanie to rest her head against his shoulder and drift off to sleep. After sitting like that in comfort for a few more minutes, Mark scooped her up off the bench and into his arms, taking her upstairs for bed.

He laid her as close to the wall as he could so he could fit in his twin sized bed alongside her. As he tried to shuffle in, turning to his side to try to get more comfortable, he heard a small giggle from Stephanie.

"And might I ask what's so funny?"

She turned over "You, a six foot ten man, trying to fit into this, a twin size bed. How can you not see the comedic value?"

He gave her a look before pulling her on top of him "There. Now I fit."

She gently pushed some loose strands of hair out of his face before bending down to softly press her lips against his. As she slowly deepened the kiss, Mark's hands traced their way up to her hips, holding her firmly in place.

She reached down to the hem of her shirt to pull it up slightly before Mark got impatient and pulled it all the way off her. She sat up, revealing a nearly see-through black bra. His hands moved up to her waist.

"Hey Mark!"

Yet again, his stupid older brother had to barge in, unannounced.

Stephanie scrambled off Mark, her cheeks burning red after being walked in on by Mark's brother. Mark could've sworn that he may have even been a little red in the cheeks himself, but mostly he was just annoyed.

"Uh. It's not that important. Goodnight!" Mike left just as quickly as he had entered.

It took a few moments but when Stephanie started laughing, Mark couldn't help but laugh too. Eventually, they got back on track and Stephanie insisted that Mark be on top citing not wanting someone else to walk in to see her riding him. He didn't need convincing for her one condition.

They both got up far too early the next morning and when the clock said 6:08a.m. Mark couldn't pretend to be tired anymore and Stephanie got up right along with him. They both crept down to the kitchen and Stephanie mumbled something about pancakes and coffee.

It was that simple.

Mark got out a big bowl for mixing the batter and a pan while Stephanie got to work on the coffee. They moved around one another in perfect cohesion, fitting together like a puzzle. They both anticipated what the other would need before they even knew it.

It was a sight to behold considering they hadn't ever cooked together before. But just watching them one would assume they had been together for years, making their breakfasts together everyday.

They were focused as well, only aware of their task at hand and each other. They didn't even notice Cathy standing in the doorway watching them.

Later that day, Cathy asked Stephanie to help her with her gardening and wanting to gain the approval of Mark's mom, Stephanie agreed.

As Cathy sat back, wiping sweat from her forehead she looked at Stephanie who was working away at evenly distributing the mulch around the garden.

"You're a good little gardener. Have you ever done it before?" Cathy inquired.

"No, never before" Stephanie shrugged her shoulders.

"Well, you should consider takin' it up" there was a few moments of silence before Cathy spoke up again "I saw you and Mark this mornin' in the kitchen."

Stephanie almost didn't know how to respond to that, she wasn't sure where Cathy was going with this "Yeah, we got up pretty early so we decided to make pancakes and coffee."

"No, I mean I saw you and Mark" Cathy stood up and walked over to Stephanie "Frank and I have been married for forty seven years and I banned him from bein' in my kitchen while I make anythin' forty six and a half years ago."

Stephanie giggled "And why's that?"

"Because he gets in my way. He just can't read me and has no clue what I need or what I'm lookin' for. Not only that, but he stands in the worst spots and I wish I could count the amount of times I ran into that man" she shook her head recollecting all the times she had "I love Frank but he and I are two very different people who happen to work because we love each other so much."

"I can tell that you two love each other."

"Not like I can tell you and Mark love each other, though." Cathy reached down and picked up a small gardening trough "It's rare to find your soulmate in life and I couldn't be happier that my youngest son found his."

Stephanie had toyed with the idea of Mark being her soulmate in her mind countless nights in the past. She had chalked it up to her being captivated by the idea of a fairytale romance and told herself that fairytales aren't real. But now, she was considering that maybe the parameters of their relationship wasn't a fairytale so that their love could be.

Mike was right when he told Mark that Tim was going to talk to him. Sure enough was Stephanie was outside with his mom gardening, Tim asked to speak to Mark for a moment, in private.

They sat in the den, Tim acting formal as ever. Mark always wondered how it was possible for Tim to end up as a snooty banker with the upbringing he had.

"Mark, I'm going to put this bluntly" Tim sighed "You need to break up with Stephanie. It's not a normal relationship, she's a teenager and you're thirty."

Mark chuckled. He thought it was funny that Tim didn't think that Mark had even considered their age difference to be an issue. As if Mark hadn't spent over a year mulling over his feelings for Stephanie, living in denial for so long. As if he didn't consider any repercussions of this relationship. As if this was some fling that they could both just brush off.

"I don't find this funny. Honestly, this whole relationship is an embarrassment to our family!"

"I do. Timmy, I don't give a shit what you think. When have I ever?" Mark rolled his eyes and got up to leave.

"God damnit, Mark! Get your head out of your ass and get back to reality, when this little fling ends, which it inevitably will, it's not gonna blow up in her face, it's gonna blow up in yours!"

Mark gritted his teeth but didn't feel that Tim's outburst even deserved a response.

As if he didn't realize that if this went south, they'd both be fucked.

Mark spent the remainder of the night and part of the next morning in a snappy mood. While Stephanie was on cloud nine and trying to get even closer to Mark, he just wanted space. He loved Stephanie so much and that wasn't the problem, he just needed to breath and realize that from the moment he kissed her he was fucked, this wasn't new information.

He continued to be particularly grumpy and ornery through Easter morning and after breakfast as the kids were starting their Easter egg hunt, and Stephanie was dragged along by David's daughter Vanessa who had taken a liking to her, Cathy had pulled Mark aside.

"What's got ya in a funk?" she asked.

"Nothin', just want some space to work it out and I'll be fine. Nothin' else can be done." he replied, avoiding eye contact.

"Mark William Calaway. Ya best tell me what's wrong."

"Tim had a little talk with me yesterday, to tell me to not date Stephanie. It was all stuff I'd already thought about but sometimes it just gets to me." Mark couldn't help but blab to his mom "When I'm with Stephanie I don't think about any of the bad things that could come of this because I can't imagine that anythin' bad could come outta what we have. But then sometimes I'm reminded that there's a reason we keep our relationship a secret."

"Well, ya gotta make it work."

Mark chuckled "Is that your definitive answer?"

"Yep." Cathy smirked "Ya can't throw away your soulmate, Mark. God only gave ya one so no matter what happens, ya have to fight for her."

Later that night Mark told Stephanie why he was being such an ass and Stephanie rolled her eyes, shoved his shoulder, and kissed him. She hated when he was an standoffish ass, but appreciated that he finally owned up to it, even though he assured her that she shouldn't expect that to happen too often.

They had slow but passionate sex immediately following, Stephanie was at the point of whimpering and trembling when she finally came and Mark followed shortly after.

Mark held her especially close that evening, noting every inch of her body that curved against him. When he heard her breathing slow down and steady he tucked her hair behind her ear.

"I love you." he whispered, hoping she was completely asleep so that she didn't hear it.

She wasn't. And she did.

Saying goodbyes on Easter Monday was more difficult that Mark thought. He felt an even greater rift between himself and Tim but on the other hand, he felt even closer to his mom.

They said their goodbyes to everyone and hugs went all around, even Melinda hugged Stephanie goodbye.

"Now, ya'll have a safe flight home and please feel free to call anytime" Cathy looked at Stephanie "Either of ya."

Mark and Stephanie embraced Cathy one last time before heading out to the taxi that was waiting for them.

The drive to the airport felt too short and they readied to say goodbye as Stephanie would board the flight for Boston and Mark would board the flight for New York.

"I hate this part." Stephanie pouted.

"We won't have to do this forever."

"Three more years we're gonna have to do this, Mark."

"Do ya know how fast three years is gonna go by?"

"Painfully slowly?"

"No" Mark shook his head as she laughed "It's gonna fly. Before ya know it you're gonna have a degree and be graduated and..."

He didn't know what to say because he hadn't really considered what would happen after Stephanie graduated from college. He was so busy thinking of the now that he didn't think about what happens when Stephanie gets a job and is expected to have a serious boyfriend, and move in, and get married, and have kids? Then what? Were they supposed to just reveal that surprise, they've been keeping this secret for years and what? Expect everything to be okay?

"And we'll be together. And we'll be fine." she calmed his thoughts, at least momentarily.

The call for her flight to board came over the intercom and her eyes instantly filled with tears. Mark first wondered if this would get easier back in September, but now it was April and it certainly wasn't getting any easier.

"I'll call you tonight" Mark assured her.

"Okay, I'll be looking forward to it" Stephanie wiped her eyes and shot him a quick smile "You know, I heard what you said last night."

"And?"

"And I heard it..."

"Well, I meant it."

Stephanie knew they could make it through the next three years. And the next. And the next. And the next.

Mark knew it too.