The drive to Elvis's L.A. home is a blur, the city whirling past you. Your lost in thought- you've never been in the spotlight like this before, the whole ordeal leaving you nervous and overwhelmed.

You trust Elvis, though. You can't seem to put your finger on it, but you find a comfort in the older man that you haven't received anywhere else. Just the thought of being around him calms you.

"I think we're here, Y/N." Candice rests a hand on your shoulder. You look up just as the car moves into a gated area, a looming house greeting you up the driveway.

There are reporter's and paparazzi standing just outside of the gate, all trying to get a glimpse of you. It's terrifying.

God, you think, how does Elvis stand this?

Speaking of the man, he's standing at the front of the house, waiting. This makes your chest flutter, tapping your fingers against the handle of the door.

You barely wait for the car to come to a complete stop before you hop out, racing up the steps to get to him.

Elvis greets you with open arms.

"I'm sorry about this, darlin'." He says, lips against your hair. You shake your head.

"Don't apologize. It's not your fault, Elvis."

The thought of him beating himself up over something so silly breaks your heart.

"We'll fix it, it'll all blow over." You tell him, trying to sound confident. Celebrities get into scandalous relationships all the time, right?

How bad could this be?

Candice and you are led into the house, immediately amazed by the decor.

Candice loops her arms around yours.

"This is insane!" She hisses, and you can't help but agree.

The interior of the home is a classic white with dark carpets, high ceilings and a luxurious staircase in the center of the room. It leaves you speechless.

Elvis takes you both into the dining area and you're met with two men sitting at a grand table.

You immediately recognize one of the men as Elvis's father, Vernon standing up to greet you.

"It's good to meet ya, Y/N." The man offers his hand and you shake it, smiling.

"It's nice to meet you as well, Mr. Presley. I wish it were under different circumstances."

Vernon nods, offering his hand to Candice.

The other man at the table makes no move towards you. He sits with his hand on a cane, hat low on his head. He has a sour look on his face.

"So this is the mysterious girl you ran off with." He remarks, an accent you can't place heavy in his voice.

"Y/N, this is my promoter Colonel Parker." Elvis introduces you, gesturing towards the old man.

Candice straightens beside you.

The vibe of this man leaves you both uneasy, amd you look at Elvis out of the corner of your eye.

Elvis looks a bit nervous himself, but he moves to pull out chairs for both you and Candice.

Colonel Parker eyes Candice.

"And this young lady would be?"

You stare the man down.

"This is my friend Candice, she'll be here with me for moral support." You explain briskly.

Colonel Parker gives you a tight lipped smile.

"Alright then, we'll begin."

He turns towards Elvis, chair creaking slightly.

"You've got yourself in some hot water, my boy."

Elvis doesn't look away from the Colonel, but his hands can't seem to keep still. His fingers tap against his knee, leg bouncing.

You reach out and place a hand over his, and he grabs it with a squeeze.

"I'm a grown man, Colonel. Goin' out with a pretty lady ain't no thing."

The Colonel grips his cane with both hands.

"Sure, it's nothing for a normal man, but you are Elvis Presley." He grunts as he stands, circling to the head of the table.

He reminds you of a vulture with his bald head and eerie disposition.

"You have an image to uphold, an image that if tarnished loses not only me money, but you as well."

Elvis rubs a thumb across the top of your hand.

"Plenty of celebrities have wives and girlfriends, I'm no different."

You have a sense that Elvis doesn't speak out against the Colonel often, with how nervous he sounds. You give his hand a squeeze, silently encouraging him to go on.

"You've just gotten out of a marriage, my boy. A short live one perhaps, but a marriage nonetheless." Parker leans over the table a bit, face dark.

"Don't let this," he gestures between you and Elvis. "get in the way of the bigger picture."

You shift your gaze to Vernon, whose carefully not looking at either men. The table seems to be of great interest to him.

This ignite's something in you, an anger you didn't know you were capable of. If Elvis's own father won't stick up for him, then who will?

"Mr. Parker-" you begin, but you're quickly cut off.

"Colonel Parker, young lady." He corrects you, and Candice snorts from beside you.

You clear your throat.

"Colonel Parker, Elvis is a grown man. I think he's more than capable of making his own decisions."

You feel Elvis's eyes on you, and you turn to see him staring with a wide, unreadable expression.

The Colonel looks taken aback by your boldness. His mouth opens and closes for a moment, and you have to hold back a laugh as you compare him to a fish out of water.

Finally, Vernon speaks up.

"Colonel, she has a point." Everyone turns to him, and he gets a sheepish look on his face.

"I- I mean, my son's had relationships before and nothing bad ever came of 'em, what harm can this little lady here do?"

This makes a flash of warmth glow in your chest for the older man.

"Now you listen to me," The Colonel points a gnarled finger at Vernon. "I gave you this position and I can easily take it away. A woman is a distraction, a hindrance to everything we-" he gestures to Elvis. "have created."

You've had enough, and it seems that Elvis has too because before you know what's happening he's standing to his full height.

"Colonel, I won't have you talkin' about a lady like that. Not in my house."

His voice is so stern that it makes you jump a little, Candice reaching to grip you other hand.

"You've helped me get this far, and I'm grateful, but this is my life, my career we're talkin' about."

Elvis steps closer to the old man, and in this moment you see how truly small the Colonel is compared to Elvis.

A man cowering before his creation.

"If you're gonna hold me back and blame the people around me for your mistakes, well," Elvis quirks his lip in a near snarl. "I think it's about time you packed your bags."

Vernon stands as well, looking uncertainly between his son and the Colonel.

The Colonel seems taken aback, but after a moment he lowers his head and sighs.

"She's gotten her claws sunk into you already, my boy."

Candice laughs, clear and cruel.

"Don't you speak about Y/N like that. If Elvis wants to be with her, he should go ahead and do it. You ain't his daddy."

You send her a grateful smile.

The Colonel is silent for a moment. Then, slowly, he raises his head.

"It appears I'm outnumbered." The old man hobbles forward and Elvis steps aside.

"You're making a mistake, boy. A grave mistake." The Colonel points a shaky hand toward Elvis, and you move to stand beside him.

"Greater men than you have thrown their careers away for a whore, and you are no different."

This sets Elvis off.

"If you don't get out of my house I swear to God and my mama-" you grip his arm, stopping Elvis.

Vernon moves to the Colonel, roughly grabbing the old man's arm.

"You've disrespected my son's guest enough, Parker. It's time for you to go." A few men from Elvis's entourage poke their heads in from the hall, moving to help kick the Colonel out of the house.

Once he's out of sight, all you can hear is the slam of the door and Elvis's heavy breathing. You've never seen him this angry.

It almost frightens you.

Your hand is still gripping his arm, and you press your body to his side.

"Elvis," he looks down, eyes wild. "Elvis it's alright now."

He takes a deep breath, all but falling into one of the dining chairs. He's got his head in his hands, and you hesitantly crouch in front of him, moving Elvis's hands away from his face.

Your mind reels and you can't help but ask:

"Has he been treating you like that this whole time?"

Elvis's big, blue eyes gaze into yours. In this moment he looks all the world like a lost little boy and you want nothing more than to take him in your arms and keep him there, keep him safe.

He nods.

"At first it was fine, just thought he knew what he was doin'," Elvis looks down at the ground. "He just kept gettin' worse as time went on. The Colonel had a hand in Priscilla leavin'."

This shocks you, but you try not to show it.

"Thought the same thing about her, how she was a waste of time and a distraction." Elvis chuckles but there's no humor in the sound. "Like a fool I believed him."

When Elvis looks back up at you, it's with so much emotion it takes your breath away. He takes both of your hands in his own.

"It's not gonna be like that anymore, Y/N. Not with you." He looks nervous.

"Nobody's ever stood up for me like that before. I don't know how to explain all a the things goin' on in my head, but I know I've done a lot of things wrong in my life."

"Elvis-" you start, but he stops you.

"Lemme finish, mama. I gotta tell you now or I might not get the courage to later. You make me feel like I'm finally doing something right in my life."

Elvis's eyes are shining, and you feel a lump forming in your throat.

"Nothing, not nobody, is gonna keep me from you. You're an angel, my angel."

You let out a sweet, soft sigh. Tears threaten to spill from your eyes.

Before he can see a tear slip down your cheek, you lean in to kiss him.

Elvis meets you halfway, lips soft and comforting against your own.

The two of you break apart, foreheads pressed together.

"EP?"

Somebody knocks on the doorway, shaking you and Elvis from your private world.

Elvis moves to wipe his eyes.

"Yeah?"

"The old man's off the property, we're gonna run his stuff down to him in a few hours. Anything you need?"

Elvis looks back at you.

"Nah, I think I've got everything I need right here."