For the Love of Her
Characters: HHH, Shawn Michaels, Stephanie, Randy Orton, Adam Copeland, Amy Dumas, Rebecca, Shane, OC's (more may be added as the story goes along)
Setting: Scotland before the uprising
Summery: HHH is the son of a minor English earl who finds out that he is not who he believed. Totally AU.
Prologue
September 1725
Fifteen year Hunter Hurst-Helmsley stood in the dark study in front of the massive oak desk that held his father's papers.
"Look at me when I speak to you!" roared the Earl of Browder.
Hunter flinched at the venom in his father's voice but was not surprised. He could not recall a time when the earl had spoke to him with anything in his voice other that contempt. He looked up to see the strap in the earl's hand. The infraction that he was being called on the carpet for was minor, a small dalliance with the new downstairs maid. They hadn't moved beyond a few kisses and she had only let him touch her on the outside of her bodice, but he had held hope that she would soon let him proceed much further. But instead they had been caught by his father when Hunter was sure that the old man was not at home. The maid had been fired without reference or time to pack what few things she owned. He had been sent to his room like a small child who had thrown a tantrum until he had been sent for. It did not merit such a punishment but Hunter knew that he was going to receive it just the same.
Later that night
"Why does he hate me?" Hunter asked as his mother treated the open wounds that were left after his punishment.
Katherine Hurst-Helmsley winced when Hunter moaned as she cleaned his back. "I can't tell you why he is the way he is. There are some things that you are not yet old enough to understand. When you are older things will be clearer."
"I am old enough now. You do not think that I know what he is? What he does to you? He is a monster. Mother, I know that he beats you. Why are we here if he does not love us? Why keep us around if he can't stand to be in the same room? Can't we stay in at Browder Hall since father spends most of his time here in London anyway?" Hunter wanted to know. He knew his mother loved him as sure as he was sure that his sire did not. He also understood that she did not have the luxury of leaving. He had overheard her ask the earl some of those exact same questions. The only answer she ever received was no. No, she was not leaving him to do God knows what where he can't see what she may be up to. No, she was not taking the boy away to be around people he did no approve of. No, she had no hope of escape.
"I'm not sure that this is the time to have this discussion. If your father knew that I was here tending to you…well you know what will happen. I have been away from my room for a long time. If I am not back in there soon not only will I have to suffer the consequences, so shall you. I can't stand to see you beaten anymore tonight. After your he has gone to tend to his affairs tomorrow, we will have a talk and I will tell you what you need to know."
With that Katherine left Hunter. Unable to sleep because of the pain he lay awake all night wondering what his mother had to say.