Stephanie lazily stretched her tired limbs. She reached into the darkness, expecting to find her husband sleeping soundly beside her but her hand met nothing. She sat up and glanced around the room, looking for her absent husband and still found nothing. Chucking the covers off her body, she stood and was just about to check the bathroom when she heard his gentle voice over the baby monitor. She smiled to herself. He was obviously in their daughter's room and was having a semi-conversation with himself considering their ten week old baby couldn't talk yet. She pulled on her robe and made her way down their spacious hall and stopped at the open door to her daughter's room. The sight before her made her heart melt and she felt a huge swell of emotion rush through her body. She leaned against the doorframe, content to just stand there and watch her husband interact with their child. He was lying on the soft carpeted floor with a cushion tucked under his head. Aurora lay sprawled across his chest, her tiny fingers playing with his hair as she babbled and cooed every now and then at whatever her father said. Paul's hand ran up and down her tiny back in a soothing manner and he gently bounced her up and down with the other. He was telling her all about the WWE.
"You could be absolutely anything you know. Ring announcer, time keeper, valet, camera person. Head of creative just like your mommy...head of media just like your uncle, or, the best WWE superstar ever. That's right, EVER! Just like your daddy. I'd probably cry like you do when you don't get fed on time if I ever saw you in a wrestling ring.
Stephanie chuckled silently at his little speech. He probably wasn't aware of it, but he really was lying on the floor talking to himself.
"But you don't have to be a part of the family business if you don't want. Your mom and I, well, we won't force you. Your grandpa on the other hand, now that's a different story. But I'll just beat him up if he tries anything so you don't need to worry. He'll probably be senile by that stage anyway. Hell, he already is! Don't you tell anybody I said that though, you hear? You'll get your daddy in trouble."
This time, she couldn't hold in her laughter and her soft chuckle echoed across the room. He turned his head and a smile graced his features when he saw her standing there.
"Well now, Aurora. Look whose come to see us. It's mommy." He lifted his hand from Aurora's back and motioned for Stephanie to join them. As she got closer, she realised that her daughter's little eyes were closed and that she had fallen asleep. She got down on the floor and lay down beside them, resting her head on the pillow next to him.
"I hate to tell you this but I think you've put her to sleep with your dull and boring conversation." She let out a chuckle when she felt his elbow nudge her arm.
"If you're just going to come here and insult us then you can leave," he huffed.
"I'm not insulting the both of you. Just you baby," she said, reaching up to stroke the soft hair that was growing very quickly on her daughter's head. "I could never insult our little girl. She's too perfect." She felt his warm breath on her cheek as he turned his head to face her.
"And I'm not?"
She too turned her head and their noses were practically rubbing together when she answered. "Nobody's perfect," she smirked, expecting a smart remark in return but it never came.
"Except you." His whispered voice and the sincerity of his words brought a gentle smile to her face and she moved her head closer to his, kissing him softly. "And our little girl of course," he said as they pulled away.
"Of course," she nodded in agreement.
"I still don't get a mention?" he asked, a pretend incredulous look on his face.
"Alright! You're perfect too! We're all perfect! Happy now?"
"Awww, thanks babe!" he grinned, giving her a quick peck on the lips. "Think we can put her back in her crib?"
Stephanie gave Aurora a slight nudge to make sure she was in a deep enough sleep to be moved to her crib. "Yeah. I'll get up and then lift her OK? Saves you trying to stand up without waking her," she said, shifting her head off the pillow and getting to her feet. She reached down and gently lifted her tiny daughter into her arms, pressing a kiss to her head before placing her inside her crib. Paul joined her and pulled the little blanket up around her small frame. Both parents stood for a minute, checking to see if their daughter was fully asleep before leaving and heading back to their own room.
Stephanie just about walked through the door when she felt him press up against her, his lips on her neck. She closed her eyes and sighed, tilting her head to the side and gasped when he began to kiss and suck at her sweet spot. His left hand was inching up her stomach and further, to her breast which he squeezed softly through the silky material of her pyjama top. She turned her head and sought out his lips, kissing him eagerly. His hand moved back to her waist and he spun her around, kissing her back, letting his tongue steal into her mouth. She moaned as they broke apart and his lips moved back to her neck.
"If this was all a ploy to get me to have sex with you...you could have just asked," she breathed as his lips made a burning trail up to her ear.
"It wasn't but...if you want to put it that way..."He pulled away from her ear and looked into her eyes. "Will you have sex with me?" he asked with that cheeky smile on his face.
She chucked at his goofy expression and pulled him towards the bed, pushing him onto it and straddling his lap. She felt his hardness pressing against her through their clothing and tingled of pleasure shot throughout her body. She leaned down and kissed him hard, her hands running up and down his firm, bare chest. She pulled at his bottom lip as she broke their kiss.
"Does this answer your question?" she asked with a wicked twinkle in her eye.
"No. I think I need a little more...description," he answered with the same twinkle in his.
She smirked at his answer and began a trail of kisses down his chest toward his abdomen. When she reached his naval, she stopped and asked him again. "How about this?"
"It's close but, I'm still not quite getting it," he teased.
She moved her hands to his hips and slowly pulled his boxer briefs down his legs. "What about now," she whispered seductively, moving in for the kill as his heavy groan filled the room.
The glow of the animated characters on the television screen and the sound of their squeaky voices filled the living room. Stephanie sat next to her daughter on the sofa. She was currently engrossed in her favourite movie and hadn't uttered a word for quite some time now. Stephanie smiled and absently stroked her soft golden strands. She was always like this whenever they played "her" movie as she referred to it. They had watched the damn thing so many times now that she was able to say the lines along with the characters. Even the sudden ringing of the telephone couldn't pry her eyes from the screen and she continued to watch on as Stephanie reached over her and lifted the phone.
"Hello?"
"Hi there. I was wondering if I could speak to a Mrs. Stephanie McMahon please?" said the voice over the phone but Stephanie knew exactly who it was and a gentle smile came across her face.
"I'm sorry sir. Stephanie McMahon doesn't live here. Stephanie Levesque on the other hand..." she trailed off, playing along with his little game.
"Right answer. I was just checking. Being married to a McMahon can give a guy an inferiority complex at times in case you didn't know." Her laughter brought a smile to his face and he sighed as he plopped down on the bed in his hotel room, his weary body finally able to rest. At least until morning anyway.
"I didn't know actually. I'll have to remember that the next time you're walking around here telling all of us how brilliant you are," she teased, twirling a strand of hair around her finger. She closed her eyes, letting the sound of his voice wash over her. She missed him so much. He had been gone for just over two weeks now on the recent European Tour and she was missing him badly, as was Aurora.
"Well I am that damn good baby!"
"Where's this inferiority complex we were talking about?"
"It comes and goes."
"Sure it does," she said, happy that he called. Even if she couldn't see him, just hearing his voice was enough for now. "I miss you," she whispered, unable to hold back her feelings any longer.
He sighed and rubbed at his face. He was missing her like crazy. And his daughter too. This was probably the longest they'd been apart from each other as Vince decided to lengthen the duration of the overseas tours to bring in more money. They both agreed that it wasn't fair to drag Aurora all over Europe at such a young age and therefore Paul went alone while his girl's stayed at home. "I miss you too," he said sincerely, meaning every word. He was desperate to get home and see them.
"At least you're coming home tomorrow. I couldn't take it if you were gone any longer than that."
"Me neither babe. I'm tired and I'm sore and in need of some serious TLC." He'd actually taken quite a stiff chair shot to the back and it had been killing him for a week now. Every time he took a bump on his back, which was quite a lot, he had been in agony. He really wasn't looking forward to the long, trans-Atlantic flight home. Only thing good about it was that it was taking him home.
"I think I could help you with that," she answered with a slight smile which was marred with her concern. "You are OK though? I mean you aren't hurt or anything like that?"
"I took a bad shot to the back the other night. It's starting to go away now so you don't need to worry," he half lied. It wasn't as bad as it had been the first few days even if it still did hurt like hell. No point in worrying her any more than he had to.
"Are you sure you're OK?" she asked again, a slight frown on her face. She didn't like him being injured period but she hated it even more when he was so far away and she couldn't see him or do anything about it. "I hate it that you're so far away from me and in pain."
"I'm fine babe, really. Besides I'll be home tomorrow and you can fuss over me all you want. In fact, your constant fussing over me when I'm hurt will be very welcome this time."
"Good. Constant fussing it is."
"Where's my little princess? What's she up to?" he asked, wondering what his daughter was up to. He hadn't heard her in the background or anything. Usually when he called, she would figure out who was on the phone and grab it off her mother and talk to him or beg and plead until she was given the phone.
"She's watching 'her' movie. That's probably why she hasn't asked about you. She hasn't taken her eyes off the TV ever since it came on," she explained.
"Oh. That's OK. My inferiority complex was coming back there."
"Thought your baby girl didn't want to talk to you, did you baby?" she asked with a cheeky grin on her face.
"Yes I did! Anyways, can I talk to her?
"I don't know if she'll want to, I mean, that would involve looking away from the TV screen," she said, knowing that it would wind him up.
"What! Of course she'll want to! I'm way more important than some stupid movie! Put her on the phone." He heard her laughter and made him laugh too. She lived to tease him. Same could be said for him though. His thoughts were interrupted by the excited squeal of his daughter.
"Daddy!"
"Hey there princess!"
"When are you coming home daddy? I miss you," she huffed, her bottom lip jutting out. Stephanie saw her expression and laughed. She looked exactly like her father when she did that face.
"I'm coming home tomorrow and I can't wait to see you." Just hearing her little voice brought a huge smile to his face. He missed his little girl.
"Did you buy me presents?" she asked innocently causing both her parents to laugh.
He chuckled down the phone as her answered her. "Of course I did."
"Yay!" she squealed excitedly, turning to her mother. "Mommy!" she called, "Daddy bought me presents!"
"You have to wait until tomorrow to find out what they are though."
"That's OK daddy. I just want you to come home," she said softly.
"Hey, listen. Daddy will be home tomorrow OK? Now, you go finish watching your movie and be good for mommy. I love you and I'll see you tomorrow alright?"
"OK daddy. I love you too. Night night!" She passed the phone back to Stephanie and cuddled into her side, turning her attention back to her movie.
"Told you she'd want to talk to me," he boasted.
"You keep talking about this inferiority complex but I'm just not getting it."
"I told you, it comes and goes! Anyway babe, I'm gonna let you go. You need to get her to sleep or you'll be up half the night watching movies."
"Tell me about it. Anyway, you take care of your back. I don't want you getting hurt even more than you already are."
"I'm fine Steph. Get some rest. I'll see you tomorrow at the pay- per-view OK? I love you."
"I love you too baby. See you tomorrow." She listened as he hung up the phone before doing the same and throwing her phone onto the sofa next to her. She couldn't wait until he got home tomorrow. One week was bad enough. Two was just unbearable and more than that was just downright wrong. Pulling Aurora close, she cuddled her daughter and thought about her husband who was thousands of miles away. He should have been there beside them. Sighing slightly, she decided to just relax and wait it out. In her mind, tomorrow couldn't come quick enough.