A/N: Hope you all enjoy this chapter, it's a turning point....you'll just have to read the whole thing to know if that's a good or bad thing. Also please review, I'd like to know what you all think.

Disclaimer: I own nothing but my own imagination and that created this.

Chapter 14

Aurora was five weeks old now. Five weeks and the amount of time he had seen his little girl, well he could count them on one hand. She was getting bigger each day and the only proof he had of that was pictures. He looked at them every chance he got, like right at this moment, and he couldn't help let his finger gently run across her face. He closed his eyes and imagined how soft her skin would feel under his fingertips, how he would memorise every curve but it was getting harder each and every time, because the photo was cold, Aurora was never going to be that.

He craved to hold her in his arms, and then maybe he could find some zest for life again because as it stood he was a pitiful excuse for a man, had been since he put his car in drive and drove away from the hospital. But he couldn't go back and change it now, what was done was done and there was no use wishing things were different, he realised now that life didn't work like that, there was no happy ending in this story.

Taking one last moment, he looked at the photo again and then with a sigh, he let it fall into his desk drawer which he closed with a heavy heart and as he turned the key locking away the photos he locked away his memories. He had to stop spending endless hours just staring and wishing - it was time to realise, no matter how much he tied to keep it at bay, Aurora might be his by blood but she'd never be his to keep. No, Paul had that honour and he cursed that asshole for having what he so desperately wanted.

He could feign ignorance and move on with his family, pretend it didn't tear his heart to pieces every time he heard someone comment how Paul, Stephanie and their little baby girl were such the perfect family. Because he knew perfect and it did not include Paul in any such way, Paul was just the parasite invading his life, taking his place and living the life he was meant to.

Life wasn't fair, he mused darkly to himself as he pushed himself up and out of the chair that had become more of a home, a solitude even to him than any place in this house. Wearily he ventured outside his office and started the routine he had grown into. A terse conversation with Jessica about nothing important, moving to the coffee pot to drink stale coffee that he would stare into for minutes reminding himself how dark and lonely his life had become and then he'd fall onto the sofa and hit the remote and pretend to watch.

It was only when he heard the trampling of feet headed his way, that'd he'd actually manage to crack a smile across his tired face and it was only when a mass of blonde swept onto his lap that he let out a laugh.

He loved his son; he was his only shining light.

"Daddy!" Ash's voice rang out.

"Hey buddy," Chris spoke ruffling Ash's blonde hair. "What did you get up to today?"

"Look," Ash beamed as he pulled out a picture from his backpack. "It's me and you!"

Smiling Chris admired the drawing and chuckled. "What's that we're holding?"

"That's the tag team belts daddy, we'll be the bestest team ever." Ash announced proudly.

"You think so huh, kiddo?"

"We know the Walls of Jericho," Ash told Chris seriously. "We can never lose."

"I love it." Chris told him, pulling him into a hug and he fleetingly thought of how he would never see pictures Aurora drew because she would be drawing a different daddy.

"Daddy?" Ash whispered quietly.

"Yeah Ash?"

"Why are you so sad?" Ash asked him pulling back slightly.

"I'm not champ, you're here what more could I possible want?" Chris denied pushing all thoughts of Aurora and Stephanie out of his mind, this was his son, his last shinning light in the enclosing darkness, and he had to be strong.

"You are daddy," Ash told him reaching out with his hands and touching the corners of Chris's mouth. "You never smile anymore," he continued making Chris's mouth curve up and then pulled back his hands and watched as Chris's fake smile fell. "I don't like it when you don't smile daddy."

"I'm sorry Ash, daddy just has things on his mind."

"Important things?"

"Yeah kiddo, they're very important."

"Well you should fix them," Ash told him, nodding. "Mrs Anderson is always saying that if we leave things till the last minute then we're going to fall behind and you can't fall behind daddy because you might never catch up." He finished before hopping up off Chris's lap and out of the room leaving Chris alone.

Ash was right, he had to fix this – no matter what the outcome would turn out to be. Standing he headed back towards his office, after closing the door behind him he sat on his desk chair and found himself in a staring match with the telephone on his desk, which he realised was a stupid thing, inanimate objected tended to win these type of thing. So taking a deep breath he reached forward and lifted the receiver to his ear and dialled the numbers that he had dialled so many times before, but unlike the other times he didn't hang up and let the phone on the other end ring.

He didn't care if Paul answered, if he did it'd be one step closer to getting this all out into the open, it'd be one step closer to him getting his life back. He could see it now, Stephanie and him watching Ash playing with Aurora, maybe he'd teach her how to walk and after she took that first step by herself, Ash could play the part of the proud big brother. He could see years down the line where Stephanie and he were older and all they could hear would be the chaos of arguments surrounding them.

"Mom she stole my can of soda!"

"Dad that is such a lie, I mean does it have his name on it?"

"You have to be daddy's little angel don't you? Always sucking up to him!"

"You're just jealous Ash and you know mom always takes your side!"

"Mom only takes my side because it's always your fault!"

"Well dad only takes mine because it's yours! So there!"

Did it seem deranged of him, that he actually dreamed about times like that? If so, he couldn't care less he just wanted his family.

The ringing stopped then and he closed his eyes and savoured her voice before finally whispering a, "Hi."

"Chris?" Was Stephanie's surprised whisper at the other end of the line.

"I think I'm crazy for doing this, but I have to." Chris spoke his mind a jumble of thoughts.

"Chris what are you talking about?" Stephanie wondered and even though he couldn't see her he knew she had to be frowning, if he was any other person right at this moment he would be doing much the same, because he knew he was making no sense and he had broken the number one rule for them, 'No matter what we don't call each other, we both know what happens when we talk, it just won't work.'

"I have to fix it, I have to make it right," Chris breathed out with a steely resolve. "I have to at least try no matter how it turns out."

"Fix what Chris?" Stephanie wondered more confused than what she was seconds ago.

"Us." Chris whispered like it was the most obvious thing in thee world. "We have to fix each other Stephanie or else we're just going to be some sort of hollow façade of who we used to be. We need to be a family, I need to be around my daughter. I need to." He continued and finished helplessly.

"Chris…" Stephanie began but trailed off at a loss of what to say. They had had this conversation before and it never ended well.

"No Stephanie listen!" Chris begged. "We have to, we have to! Please we have to, I can't not be in her life and pretend she's not mine. It's too hard."

"Chris," Stephanie started forlornly. "How would it work? You have a wife Chris and you have a son."

"I don't care about Jessica ok?" Chris told her heatedly. "I do in some way, she gave me a son and I can't hate her for that, but I don't love her, I'm not in love with her. Our marriage ended the second I realised I was in love with you. And I am Stephanie, it was like I was made for you and that must mean something, it has to. Don't you see that without you and our daughter in a sorry excuse for a man?"

"I love you, you know I do." Stephanie told him. "But your son…"

"He can come with me, he would love Aurora, he would Stephanie I know he would. He would be the best big brother in the world and I know he would love you, how can anyone not love you?"

"Chris...we can't do this." Stephanie whispered.

"Give me one reason why not Stephanie, one damn reason." Chris demanded.

"Because..." Stephanie breathed out hating the next words that left her mouth. "...I don't want to."

"Oh..." was Chris's subdued reply.

"I'm sorry Chris, it's just..."

"No, no I get it I do...I just...Steph I can't do this." Chris whispered brokenly. "If I can't be in her life all the time then...then I don't want to be in it at all. It hurts too much."

"Chris what are you saying?"

"I can't do it. I just can't be around anymore." Chris spoke quietly. "I can't see both of you with him and pretend that it doesn't kill me inside. There's no way I can watch my little girl be raised by another man and I cannot see the woman I love in another mans arms. I guess what I'm saying is that this is it Stephanie...this is the end. It has to be if I'm ever going to have a chance at a life. I might not be happy, but I might forget?" he wondered weakly. "Forgetting can work. Forgetting you, not so much I don't think it'll ever happen, but maybe I can forget Aurora, maybe over time I can forget what her face looks like and how she had that baby scent and who knows maybe one day I can forget the feel of her hand wrapped around my finger...someday, I'm sure of it." He finished his throat tight and he was almost certain his eyes were stinging because he was holding back tears. He knew he was lying, he'd never forget his little girl but maybe if he made Stephanie believe it she wouldn't feel so bad.

"Chris..."

"No, Stephanie I have to let go. I have to let go of you and Aurora and wrestling, it's what's best. I guess I just wanted you, me and Aurora and Ash to be a family...but I get it, I can't have it, I'm not meant to be in this happily ever after."

"Chris..." Stephanie whispered again. "I'm just..." she continued, but Chris cut her off.

"Goodbye Stephanie. Tell Aurora I love her one last time." And then he hung up. Hearing the click of the call ending drained the life from him and he let his arm fall lifelessly on top of his desk. He sat for a second and realised that that was it he'd let go and wasn't letting go meant to feel good? He didn't he felt dead inside, and he guessed that was true to his actions.

Bowing his head he finally let the tears fall.

"...I'm scared..." Stephanie had whispered to the dial tone hoping to catch Chris before he hung up but she hadn't been fast enough and now her life was skewed at best.

Hanging up the telephone she walked over to Aurora who was sleeping in her carry-cot blissfully unaware of the mess Stephanie had just made to their lives. Taking a seat next to her daughter, she reached out a shaky hand and smoothed it across Aurora's head. "I'm sorry baby girl." She whispered brokenly. "So very sorry."

She knew from the very moment she found out that she was pregnant that this was not the best situation to be in, but then again when was having a baby to a man who wasn't your husband considered a good situation? She had it planned out, she would let Paul think that he was the father and everyone else...including Chris and she should have stuck to that, she really should have stuck with that. If she had then maybe Chris's life wouldn't be as messy as her own. She would have been the only one to know the truth and she was a McMahon, she could have handled that, she wouldn't have broken. But she had to see him, had to hear his voice break when he congratulate her and she had to tell him.

She should have left with him that night and never looked back, it was only now she realised how foolish she had been to ask him to turn back. She had ruined it then and by telling him that she didn't want to do it earlier, she had again caused her own misery. She couldn't see a way out of it now. It was the end of the line, she might as well raise a glass and toast to the ruins of her life.

It could have been good with Chris, she had imagined it plenty of time but wishful thinking wasn't going to get her anywhere. Now she had to deal with the fact that she had left her daughter without a father. Yes, there was Paul but he was hardly a father, he was a stranger to Aurora, she cried every time he got near. Maybe that meant that she knew who her real father was.

What had she done?

She could have done this, she could have left Paul and she could have made a family with Ash and Chris, why had she told him that she didn't want to? Why had she been so stupid.

Wasn't she accusing Chris of the very same thing that she was doing? If Chris left Jessica he would be breaking the stable home that they had built for Ash, it would change everything that he would know. But without Chris, Stephanie was denying the same thing for her daughter – she would be letting her grow up with a man, who no matter what would never love her as much as her father did. She had been so stupid, she realised that now, but she couldn't fix it. She couldn't fix it like Chris had wanted to...it was over, because she had been to slow and idiotic to realise that it could work.

Running a hand down her face she let out a tired sigh and if her life couldn't get any worse Paul appeared in her line of sight and she barely held back a groan of annoyance. She did not want him to be here right now, she couldn't handle his monotone droning. She just wanted to take Aurora in her arms and disappear somewhere, where her life wasn't crumbling around her, falling to the ground, picking up speed as it neared.

"Have you seen my weight belt?" Paul asked her distractedly and Stephanie was glad for the distraction because even Paul in his ignorance could tell that something was wrong. "I need it because I want to lift some weights and the last thing I need is another injury."

"I haven't seen it."

"Are you sure?" he questioned moving into the kitchen to see if he could find it in there and it took all of Stephanie's power not to snap at him. Was this going to be her daily life?

"I'm sure." She called out to him. Take her and get out. He's not going to miss us. That was such a good idea and it wasn't like he would miss them, the only thing Paul missed was someone focusing solely on him. She could just walk out...it would be so simple. Aurora's dipper bag was right next to the carry-cot, it had everything she needed. All she had to do was put it over her shoulder and lift Aurora out and carry her to the car.

Just as she was about to stand and do just that, Paul emerged from the kitchen, weight belt in hand. "Found it." He let her know with an oblivious smile. "It was under my gym bag. I think I can lift about 300 lbs today, 10 lbs more than usual. I've been pushing myself to be the best because I want the belt back Stephanie." He droned on. "We should set up a meeting with your dad, maybe you can talk him into letting me have another run with the belt. After all I am the best in the company, there's no one I can't out wrestle, it's only fair."

Oh my God, this was going to be their life. Every time he lost the title he'd have her talk to her father so he could have another title run and she wouldn't question it. She'd have to listen to him talk about being the best and beating everyone to show that he was the best and she'd always know that he wasn't the best, he would never be, but she couldn't say anything because he was her husband and she had to support him.

"I can't do this." Stephanie whispered.

"You can't talk to him?" Paul wondered. "Okay, it doesn't need to be today, but make an appointment this week because I want to start a new storyline I think the one I'm in is stale, it's not putting me to the top of the ladder fast enough."

"I really cannot do this."

"Sure you can, and I was thinking why don't you come back and we'll start up the romance angle again and we can battle your dad and brother like we did in the start. It'll be great." He rambled on smiling at her and then as if he just realised that she was in the room he noticed Aurora. "Don't worry about the kid though, we'll figure something out with her. Maybe a nanny that can stay here with her. What's your mom up to? Can Linda watch her? I actually think the nanny idea is for the best. Tell you what I'll look up some agencies online and get the numbers and give them some calls and see when the best time for them to com-" Paul carried on before Stephanie cut him off.

"God, would you shut up! Just shut your mouth." Stephanie demanded.

"I only want our daughter to be looked after."

"No you don't, you don't know her. Paul you've held her like a total of three times since she's been home. You don't care about her, you just hope she doesn't get in the way of your damn wrestling career." Stephanie ranted rightfully. "Let's face it, let's be honest with ourselves, your wrestling career is all you care about it sure as hell isn't me and it is not Aurora."

"Stephanie what are you talking about of course I care." Paul replied looking confused. "I think maybe you should have a lay down, rest or something because obviously you're not yourself and when I come back from the gym we can talk more, discuss what we're going to do with Aurora and when you're coming back on screen." He reasoned before walking over to his bag.

"I won't be here when you come back." Stephanie let him know calmly and took perverse pleasure in noting how her words caused him to freeze.

"Don't be stupid Stephanie."

"I'm not anymore, I'm going to fix it." She repeated Chris's earlier words.

"Fix what? You're not making any sense. Okay, really we'll talk about this when I come back."

"Paul I really won't be here when you come back. I'm leaving you." Stephanie told him and she had to admit that finally saying those words felt incredibly good.

Laughing Paul looked at her like she was crazy. "You're leaving me?" he mocked. "I'll like to see you try, you leave me Stephanie and I'll take our daughter off of you and you'll never see her. Don't test me."

"You'll never take her, no one would let you." Stephanie told him.

"Give me one good reason why not."

And with a smile Stephanie gave her reason. "She's not yours."