Rating: M
Summary: Stephanie disappears after that disastrous 11 Feb 02 RAW and returns ten months later...and she�s not alone.
Type of fic: Story
Author�s notes: Okay, this idea ultimately came from my father when he basically said to me (regarding the events at the end of 11 February 2002 RAW), �They should put Steph out to pasture for nine months, and bring her back with Hunter�s baby�. Well, that, and my muses just wanted some Hunter-torture. Italicised paragraphs are flashbacks. (They might not show up in the posts, so I�ll let you guys know when it�s a flashback part, or if there�s a flashback part.)
***
Part Ten Stephanie tried to keep the smile on her face as the door opened to reveal her mother.
Linda stared at her in shock. �Stephanie?�
�Hi, Mom.� She was stunned at the strength in her mother�s hug, but Stephanie held her just as fiercely. �I�ve missed you, Mom.�
�My little girl,� Linda murmured, pulling away and caressing Stephanie�s face. �My long lost little girl has come home.�
�I�m sorry I didn�t keep in touch, Mom, but I have-�
�It�s okay, baby, it�s okay. I�m just so happy to see you again.�
Stephanie tried to keep her emotions from overwhelming her as she gazed back at the much-missed face. �I have so much to tell you, Mom.�
�I know, sweetheart, and I promise to listen to you this time.�
She was surprised. �What are you talking about? You always listened to me.�
Linda shook her head sadly. �No, sweetie. Not always, and not as much as I should have. I�m your mother, and I should have been listening when you were crying out for help. But I wasn�t, and I�ve been paying for my mistake for the past eleven months.�
Stephanie grabbed her mother�s shoulders firmly. �No, Mom. I was never the daughter that you could be proud of. It wasn�t your fault.�
�But-�
�Mom, please, it�s okay,� she interrupted. With obvious reluctance, Linda nodded. Stephanie smiled. �I promise, we�ll talk more about this soon, but I only came to share some good news with you. Well, I hope that you will think it�s good news.�
�Stephanie, seeing you is more than enough good news. And, from what I�ve seen, your daughter is beautiful.�
�Well, I have more news. It�s about-�
�Shawn.� Linda smiled knowingly at her.
Stephanie stared at her mother in surprise. �How did you know?�
�I have been watching RAW and SmackDown, Steph. In a way, I think I�ve always known.�
�What do you mean?�
�You don�t think I looked out for my little girl when she went on the road? I noticed the friendship between the two of you, even when your father refused to acknowledge it. As the years passed, I saw the way the two of you always looked at each other.�
Stephanie smiled at the memory. �And then I went to college, and he��
�He went after the older, experienced woman,� Linda finished.
She looked at her mother with renewed respect and admiration. �You did notice.�
�But I stopped.�
Stephanie reached over and squeezed Linda�s hand. �No, you just got a little busy. We all did.� She suddenly realised that the two of them were still standing just outside the house. �Mom, I can�t stay long. I have-�
A look of panic crossed Linda�s face. �No! Steph, you can�t leave again.�
�It�s okay, Mom. Really,� she assured. �I won�t be going anywhere. I just wanted to stop by and invite you to my wedding.�
The panic was quickly replaced by joy. �Wedding?�
Stephanie nodded with a smile. �Shawn and I are getting married tomorrow, and I would like to have you there. Shane and his scatterbrained wife will also be there, and I mean that affectionately.�
�I�ll be there, Steph. I wouldn�t miss it for anything in the world.�
�I know.�
�And what about�your father?�
Stephanie�s heart sank. �I don�t�I mean, I�m not sure��
�Whatever you want, sweetheart, I will support you.�
�What do you think, Mom?�
�I think that tomorrow is your day, yours and Shawn�s. And you know your father, he�ll do something to turn things around and make it about himself.�
Stephanie nodded, not at all shocked at her mother�s words. In fact she was surprised that, after all these years, Linda still managed to put up with Vince�s every whim and still be sane.
�Thanks, Mom.�
*
They had decided to hold the small, private wedding in Torrie and Tajiri�s brilliantly landscaped and spacious Japanese garden, inviting only close friends and family. Stephanie was dressed beautifully in a simple, spaghetti-strapped ivory silk dress that flowed in a straight cut to her white sandalled feet. Her hair was loosely piled atop her head, a few loose wavy strands framing her lightly made up face. She looked glowingly happy, as did Shawn, who looked handsome in his traditional tuxedo.
�That was the most beautiful, most perfect wedding I have ever seen,� Torrie said, clapping hard as the new Mr and Mrs Shawn Michaels kissed again.
�Until we finally get to yours,� Edge teased, also clapping hard.
�Which will be soon, I promise,� Tajiri piped up, wrapping an arm around Torrie�s waist.
�Come on, let�s go greet the newly-weds,� Edge suggested quickly, saving his friend from having to make another excuse. The couple had been engaged for close to a year, but they had yet to marry due to Tajiri�s strict parents, and which had Torrie constantly worried. However, what Torrie didn�t know was Tajiri�s plans for a surprise wedding, and his determination to start the next year as a married man - with or without his parents� blessing.
Fortunately, because of the small number of guests, none of them had to wait long to receive the newly-weds.
�Congratulations,� Torrie gushed, hugging Stephanie tightly. �I�ve been looking forward to this day for so long.�
�Well, I�m glad one of us was,� Stephanie laughed. �Thank you so much for having always been there for me.�
�For us,� Shawn added as he kissed the blonde on the cheek.
�It�s been our pleasure,� Tajiri answered as he gave Stephanie a big hug.
�Hey, Superman,� Stephanie greeted Edge.
He gazed down at her radiant face, and felt a small tug at his heart. He smiled gently. �You look beautiful, Stephanie. And congratulations.�
She reached up and wrapped her arms around his neck, hugging him tightly. �Thank you.�
Edge savoured the moment, but soon disentangled himself when he felt Shawn�s eyes on him - and when he was reminded by how long he had held on by a sharp tap on the shoulder. �Sorry.�
Stephanie smiled, shaking her head slightly. �Don�t be.�
�Dude, you�re holding everyone up,� Christian teased from behind him.
Edge finally turned his attention to the groom. He grinned. �Congratulations, Shawn.�
Shawn pulled him in for a quick hug. �Thanks, Edge. And don�t worry, I�ll look after her.�
Edge was truly happy for the couple, and he pushed his own feelings aside. �I know you will.�
end part ten.
