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 Five
Hunter glared at the TV screen, infuriated and�could it be? Jealous? Of Edge? It was almost laughable!
However, his hands clenched into tight fists as he watched Stephanie and Edge walking down the hallway, the baby babbling contentedly in Edge�s arms. Big smiles on both their faces.
Hunter narrowed his eyes as he watched the happy scene slowly fade into the SmackDown logo. Is Edge the father of Stephanie�s baby? No, he couldn�t be. Stephanie and Edge hated each other. Didn�t they?
He swore. It was time to get answers, and it was time for a little revenge. There was no way Hunter was going to let Edge get away with interfering in business that wasn�t his own.
*
�Don�t worry, I�ve got my camera always on hand,� Edge assured Stephanie. �Don�t want to miss any of those big firsts!�
Stephanie laughed. �You�d better not, especially-�
�Well, well, if it isn�t the happy couple,� a sarcastic voice interjected from behind.
Edge held Cassidy closer to him as he and Stephanie whirled around to face Triple H. He glared at the other man. �What do you want?�
�So, how long, Steph?� Triple H asked, ignoring Edge. �How long were you and pretty boy here-�
�Don�t even start, Hunter,� Stephanie cut off, her voice steady as she took a step forward.
Edge�s anger was quickly replaced by concern. He gently grabbed Stephanie�s right arm and pulled her back. �Steph, don�t-�
�This has nothing to do with you, Edge!� Triple H interrupted furiously. �Just like Monday night had nothing to do with you, and just like my and Stephanie�s business have absolutely nothing to do with you!�
Edge stared hard at Triple H. �Yeah? Well, I�m making it my business.�
�Edge�� Stephanie started. This time it was her turn to tug on his arm.
However, it wasn�t his friend that stopped him, it was Cassidy. The baby had started wriggling against his chest, and Edge loosened his hold on her, reigning in his anger towards the other man.
�I�m sorry, doll,� he whispered, looking down at the beautiful little face. Cassidy gurgled happily up at him.
Edge turned his back on Triple H, and silently urged Stephanie to do the same. Fortunately, she followed his lead and the two of them walked away.
�Steph, I can�t believe you were ever married to that man,� he said to her once they were at a safe enough distance. He knew that not even Triple H would dare attack him with Cassidy in his arms.
�I was a bitch back then, remember,� she reminded him, a note of bitterness in her tone. �Back then, Hunter and I suited each other perfectly.�
Edge and Stephanie had become close friends after Triple H�s injury, and he had grown to learn that there were two sides to the young McMahon. The unpleasant, bitchy on-screen side, and the sweet, girl-next-door side. Sometimes he had a hard time deciding which side he liked better. He found out that once you got on the good side of Unpleasant-Stephanie, she could still be a good friend.
He glanced over at her and grinned. �You can say that again!�
Stephanie smacked him on the arm.
*
�Hoping to impress Stephanie tonight?� Triple H taunted Edge as the two of them circled each other warily in the ring. The referee signalled for the bell to start the match.
Edge smirked at the other man. �Jealous?�
Triple H�s eyes narrowed at him. �Over that little slut? I don�t think so!�
Edge was suddenly defensive. �She never cheated on you!�
�So she says. If I were you I�d think twice before sleeping with her again!�
Furious at the other man�s callous words, Edge lunged towards Triple H, but was easily sidestepped. He stumbled forward, then felt a painful elbow at the back of his head. He knew that Triple H was stronger than him, so he had to use his wits. He had to concentrate hard if he wanted to beat the so-called Game.
Unfortunately, Edge had a sinking feeling that Triple H wasn�t going to be playing fair. Not when it came to Stephanie.
*
Stephanie watched the screen in horror, her hand coming up to cover her mouth. �Oh, god�no��
She felt Shawn squeeze her other hand. �Hunter has gone insane,� he muttered beside her.
Guilt weighed heavily on Stephanie. She knew that the reason Hunter had demanded a match that night against Edge was because of her. �What match?� she asked herself bitterly. It seemed like all Hunter wanted to do was hurt Edge. Only minutes into the match, her ex-husband had jumped to the outside of the ring to grab a steel chair.
Stephanie jumped up, and without a word raced past Torrie and Tajiri, who were playing with Cassidy. She managed to dodge the Rock but had to roughly push aside Matthew Hardy, who fell into a painful looking heap against sharp edged technical equipment.
The cheers of the fans at her arrival didn�t slow her down as she ran down the ramp and slid into the ring. Fortunately, Hunter had his back to her, the now bent and warped steel chair raised high above his head. Without thinking, Stephanie reached up and pulled it out of his hands.
Hunter whirled around, rage twisting his features. �You! You were sleeping with Edge?!� he screamed at her.
Hunter�s temper. The one she had always been afraid of.
Stephanie gripped the chair tightly, staring back at him with wide eyes. Her heart was pounding loudly, but she refused to be intimidated by him.
�Don�t think I won�t use this,� she warned him, raising the steel chair slightly.
Hunter moved faster than she expected, and she suddenly found herself being pushed hard against the ropes, the steel chair knocked aside and his hand on her throat. He moved his face just inches from hers. Stephanie�s fear increased. She thought of Cassidy.
�You were sleeping with Edge while we were married?� he asked harshly, his grip around her neck tightening slightly.
�No,� she choked out, shaking her head as much as she could.
The shrieks of the fans suddenly filled her ears, but she ignored it. Stephanie tried concentrating on getting more oxygen into her lungs. Hunter was going to kill her. She could see it in his eyes. The rage that consumed him.
�Don�t lie to-�
Hunter suddenly slammed into her, and she felt the ropes burn across her back. She cried out in pain even as she was gulping in air, the strangled noise she made sounding alien. Hunter was slumped heavily against her, but was quickly pulled away.
Stephanie looked up gratefully at her saviour�and was stunned.
*
Transcript:
SmackDown - 19 December 2002
�
On screen Shawn Michaels is tending to Stephanie McMahon. Triple H is lying motionless in the middle of the ring. Edge is shakily trying to get back to his feet.
Jim Ross Ohmygod, King! It�s Michaels! Shawn Michaels!
Jerry �the King� Lawler What�s he doing here? Vince told all of us that Michaels was never going to be seen in the WWF ever again!
Jim Ross Shawn Michaels has just saved Stephanie McMahon from her ex-husband! What does this mean? What is going on around here?
Jerry �the King� Lawler I�ll tell you this for nothing, JR, come Monday night on RAW there is going to be questions!
Jim Ross I totally agree with you, King! Many questions! I can�t believe this�Shawn Michaels is back in the WWF!
End show
End transcript
*
end part five.
