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 Four
(flashback)
He wasn�t surprised to see her. �Stephanie.�
�Hi, Shawn.�
Shawn had mixed feelings about seeing her in person, and he hesitated before taking a step back and opening the door for her.
�Thank you,� she whispered, her head down as she walked past him.
Shawn closed the door. He turned and watched her quietly for a moment. She had both arms wrapped around herself, shivering from the unusually cold night. He resisted the urge to offer her something for warmth, and instead turned his back on her as he tiredly made his way towards the kitchen.
�I, uh, didn�t think you�d actually see me,� Stephanie said, following him.
�Well, it�s a little hard to ignore you when you just show up at three o�clock in the morning and bang on my front door,� he replied coldly, even as he filled up the kettle with water for coffee.
�I�m sorry,� she apologised, sounding genuine.
Shawn faced her. �What are you doing here, Steph?�
She looked up at him, and for the first time he could see her face clearly. Her eyes were red and puffy, her mascara running down her cheeks, her heavy make up all irrevocably messed up. She looked�ugly.
She turned away. �I didn�t know where else to go.�
�So you came to me?�
�Shawn-�
�What do you want from me, Steph?� he interrupted grimly. �Sympathy? Condolences? Understanding? Your loving husband not quite the man you thought he was? What is it, Stephanie? The great McMahon Princess not happy with that humiliating dumping on national television last night?�
She shook her head. �No. I needed a friend.�
He softened slightly. �Not easy to have any of those when you�re an unfeeling bitch, is it?�
Stephanie hung her head, covering her face with both hands. A sob escaped her as her body began to tremble visibly. �I never wanted to hurt you, Shawn,� she cried, her voice muffled. �I�m sorry. I�m so sorry.�
Shawn gazed at the broken woman before him, and felt his heart break. He had always hated seeing her in distress. Finally, he walked towards her and wrapped her gently in his arms, holding her.
�It�ll be okay,� he promised her.
(end flashback)
*
�Are you sure you�re ready for this?� Shawn asked her, glancing at her worriedly before turning back to the road.
�I�m going to be just fine,� Stephanie looked over at him. �I�m not going to let Hunter scare me away.�
�Steph, you�re a new Mom now. I just think that you should be having some time off. Maternity leave, you know?�
She rolled her eyes. �So it�s okay for the guys to wrestle just days after a concussion, but it�s not okay for me to return a month after giving birth?�
�I�m just worried about you,� Shawn insisted. �Hunter is going to be beyond pissed at what happened on RAW, and everyone is going to want answers.�
�Hunter losing that Title was not my fault,� she argued.
�I know, I know. I�m just�I�m worried, okay? We both know how bad Hunter�s temper can get,� he reminded her.
Stephanie felt her stomach do a slow somersault as she remembered the rages her ex-husband used to fly into. They had scared her, especially when the two of them had been alone and Hunter would throw anything and everything that he could get his hands on.
She placed a hand on Shawn�s arm. �If necessary, I have Edge, Spike and Tajiri. Even Torrie. And now I have you.�
He glanced at her, smiling. �You�ll always have me.�
*
Transcript: SmackDown - 19 December 2002
�
Lilian Garcia Stephanie�where do I start? We saw at the end of RAW that you had a baby!
Stephanie McMahon I did. I mean, I do have a baby. She�s a beautiful little girl.
Lilian Garcia The question on everyone�s mind is, where did she come from?
Stephanie McMahon Really, Lilian, don�t tell me you know nothing about the birds and the bees.
Lilian Garcia I meant, is she yours?
Stephanie McMahon Yes, Cassidy McMahon is my baby.
Lilian Garcia And the father?
Stephanie McMahon Wouldn�t you like to know?
Lilian Garcia Everyone would!
Stephanie McMahon Well�
Lilian Garcia You�re not going to tell us?
Stephanie McMahon Maybe another time.
Lilian Garcia But-
Stephanie McMahon Patience is a virtue, Lilian.
�
end part four.
