A/N: Hey! I figured I may as well post this chapter today, since I had it ready to go. How about the good news, huh? Jericho's finally bringing Stephanie onto his podcast, and I'm thrilled to see them together, but not so thrilled about the way the WWE is going about it. I don't quite understand why it's getting pushed to the B-show. I see no reason it couldn't have been aired on the Network directly following Raw next week, and if not, Jericho may as well have interviewed her in private and posted it on PodcastOne. Those are just my thoughts, because it seems like they're getting a little shafted, but either way, I'll be watching. It may even spur on a fic idea or two, you never know. Enjoy the chapter and watch the podcast next week (obviously!).
"I guess they finally made up," Linda murmured, arching her left brow.
"It would seem so," Vince replied, coming up behind her to watch.
The curtain lay snagged in the air, caught on her prying forefinger as she peered out into her backyard, surveying the scene set out before her. Leaving not a patch of vegetation unscathed, the edge of Graham's toy sword jabbed at clusters of hanging foliage, of which he was warned away from multiple times by Stephanie. A landscaper worked on the home and could easily have the plants and trees back in tip-top shape, but she preferred not allowing her son to destroy the wonderful scenery to begin with. So she scolded him over and again, in between sharing steamy kisses with her husband.
Arguing was bitter, but making up was delightfully sweet, and they had made up again and again and again. She had lost count of how many times Chris had sent her to climax, but she was thinking it must have reached dozens, each time hitting a peak she hadn't thought possible to come upon. Chris knew, without a need for words, exactly what her body craved, and he delivered on every occasion. With his arms circled around her waist, blocking her in, her hands had fallen to rest on his cheeks, and she pressed her eyes shut and fell away as he poked at her tongue with his own.
And that was what he had with Stephanie that made their relationship so special. No matter how angry he made her, how many tears she may have shed due to his actions, she always came back to him. An invisible needle and thread had joined their souls, and a pair they would remain for all of eternity. They held each other's hearts, with no plans in the works to return such prizes, so she would stay his, as he would hers. Astounding, it was, that a kiss was enough to relay all of that information, without either person having to speak.
A resounding smack marked the point where their lips parted, and her eyes softened as she gazed up at him, rubbing the back of his head, at precisely the same spot where his hairline faded into his neck. The rise and fall of her chest comforted him, as she breathed against his body. Never breaking eye contact, her free hand dropped onto his right pectoral, and a soft smile worked itself into her lips. "I wish we could be together like this every day. Just us and the kids."
"Me too."
Then, almost shyly, she swept one foot through the grass and added, "It was also nice making up. I'm glad we're not at each other's throats anymore."
Chris gaped at her. "That's it? It was only nice making up all those times?"
"You know what I mean," she sighed.
"You're right, I do," he laughed, kissing her forehead. "You realize we weren't using extra protection, right? So if your birth control shot fails, say hello to baby number three."
"Oh God, are you already back on that again?"
"Speaking of 'Oh God', I made you say that tons of times this past week, didn't I?" he smirked, his cocky attitude back in full effect. "There was one time in there where you had the hugest screaming orgasm ever, and I literally was convinced that someone who lives near us would overhear that crazy, bloodcurdling scream and call the cops. It's a good thing the kids were out of the house with my dad and Amy. That would have been an awkward one to explain."
"Whatever," she shot back, rolling her eyes. "Don't try to act like I'm the only one who gets off on you. When I was working my magic, you weren't exactly quiet, either."
"That's because your mouth does amazing tricks," Chris admitted. "I should make nightly blowjobs a requirement for you. Can't get into bed until you give me one." Stephanie's mouth dropped clear open and she brought her hand up, leaving it suspended in air as she contemplated whether or not a love tap was in order. Always one step ahead, Chris snatched her wrist and positioned it below his face, pressing a kiss there. When he moved her arm away, his eyes expanded and he wore a pout. "Did I say something wrong?"
"You're such an ass," she grumbled. He fell against her chest laughing, and she joined in soon enough, rubbing a warm oval into his back. Over the course of their antics, Graham came running up, raising his sword high and poised to slash any object in sight. Jutting her finger out, Stephanie put on her best serious face. "Don't you dare, Grammy. You're gonna be in big trouble."
"I didn't even do nothin'," Graham responded.
Slipping the previously extended finger behind her ear, she leaned in close. "I'm sorry, you didn't do what?"
Knowing exactly what she was getting at, Graham laughed and corrected his mistake. "I didn't do anything."
"That's more like it. If you're headed to The Prime School, you've got to start acting the part," she said. "I know you're smart and you have an above average grasp on grammar, but you've got to display it when you speak."
And there it was; the catalyst for all the pain and heartache she and Chris had endured over the past week. Graham's future hung in the balance, and the joint decision had been made by Chris and Stephanie to allow him the final say. What better person to have their pick of schools than the little boy who would be required to attend every day? Graham should be able to decide whether he wanted to bid his friends farewell for a greater focus on academics, or whether he was content playing it safe. That didn't mean they couldn't nudge him in the right direction, should he make the selection they were less fond of.
Slipping his hands into the back pockets of her jeans, Chris reeled Stephanie in for a final kiss, nibbling softly on her bottom lip before pulling completely away. He clapped his hands and directed Graham to grab his toy. "Time to head inside. We need to have a talk with you, Graham."
"Am I in trouble?"
"No, baby, not at all," Stephanie filled in. When Graham began walking alongside her to the patio door, she slipped her arm around his shoulders. "Daddy and I want to discuss school, since the summer is coming to an end and we need to have you registered at your new middle school soon."
"Oh," he said. Running ahead, Graham was first to make it indoors, where Fiona slept peacefully just beyond sight, atop a bed of pillows in her portable playpen. Oh, how she despised that apparatus, but whenever nap time rolled around, she grew sleepy enough that she didn't so much discriminate when finding a spot to rest. Waiting inside was a plate of hot chicken nuggets and sweet potato fries, which Linda had prepared thoughtfully for Graham, since she knew they were his favorites.
"Wash your hands before you eat," Stephanie ordered, taking a heavy seat in the first chair she laid eyes on. Graham had gotten used to hearing those words, so he didn't put up much of a fight as he disappeared into the half-bathroom down an adjacent hallway. Coming up behind Stephanie, Chris stopped to massage the kinks out of her tired shoulders, and she closed her eyes and sighed. "That feels incredible."
"You're too tense."
"Am not."
"Are too," he shot back. "Your shoulders are practically up to your ears. I don't think you even remember the meaning of the word 'relax'."
"Oh yeah, Mr. King of Relaxation?" she replied. "How do you suppose I get rid of all my stress? Should I lock you in our room once in a while, or should I try sticking some duct tape over your mouth so you can't talk?"
"Ouch," he cringed. "So you're basically saying that I'm the root of all your stress?"
"Always," she cemented, tipping her head back to wink. "Just kidding, lover."
"Yeah, sure, now that you've already ripped me to shreds."
"You two are so funny," Linda interjected. For Chris and Stephanie, she'd had her chef prepare crispy chicken salads for them the day before, a favorite of theirs. Linda had refrigerated the meals overnight, and she had pulled them out at the start of lunchtime, sliding one in front of Stephanie and the other beside her, where Chris would presumably sit. "There's your food. Your father and I already ate, so we're good to go."
"Speaking of Dad, where is he?" Stephanie wondered.
Almost as if on cue, he entered the room with a drowsy Fiona, only partially alert after her nap. Her face was scrunched up, because she was hungry and about to make a scream for it, and one of her hands was curled around Vince's forefinger. His back was stiff and rigid, and he walked painfully slowly with her, making for an amusing scene. Chris was first to snicker, and when Stephanie heard it, it was all over for both of them as they went into all out hysterics.
There was a special quality in knowing Vince at work as a tough, all-business employer, then seeing his timid form with his granddaughter in his arms. He couldn't have looked more out of place or uncomfortable if he tried, which, of course, had nothing to do with a lack of love for Fiona. He'd just never learned to ease into holding her, always afraid he might drop her or mess up somehow, but, nonetheless, Chris and Stephanie loved poking fun at him for it. Graham had run back in from washing his hands and his eyes darted all around as he searched for a clue as to what was so darn funny.
"What happened?" he asked.
"Nothing," Stephanie said, her giggles finally coming to a close. "We're just watching Papa Vince with Fiona. He still hasn't gotten used to holding her, so it looks a little funny."
"I don't want to hurt her," Vince explained, still moving at a snail's pace. "She's so tiny."
"You won't hurt her. She's a tough cookie," Chris relayed. He lowered into his seat and removed the top from his salad, thanking Linda when she supplied him two separate containers of honey mustard dressing. He passed one over to Stephanie, but she wasn't paying attention, her eyes still locked on Fiona's grumpy face. Her distraction was convenient, because he could skip the hand washing without her ever noticing.
"Dad, you have to get her to the table and feed her. I'll heat her bottle, because I can tell just by looking at her that she's going to start crying for it soon. She eats at this time every day, but Chris would know better than me," she supplied, rising from her seat to grab the bottles she had refrigerated upon their arrival. "He's the one who gets her up from her naps every day and feeds her while I'm at work." She kissed his cheek as she passed by. "He's such an excellent daddy."
"And you're an excellent mommy," Chris made sure to add. Sometimes, Stephanie forgot that fact, and he had to take it upon himself to remind her. Graham took a seat across the table, speaking out in agreement with his daddy.
"Yup, she's the best mommy ever, and I love it whenever she will read with me at night, or tuck me into bed, or make me dinner, or play with me, or watch movies with me. I love doin' that stuff with you too, Daddy, but I always really wanted a mommy, so I love havin' one now," Graham said. Contrary to what Stephanie might think, especially after she had been so uncertain about her parenting skills, Chris hadn't coached Graham to supply those compliments.
When Chris sent her a grin, he found Stephanie's eyes shiny with tears as she bit down on her bottom lip to keep from crying. If anyone could make her emotional with sweet words, it was Graham. She held Fiona's bottle under the warm water stream from the sink, but still blew Graham a kiss with her free hand. "You may not know this, but I always wanted a son, Graham, so I love having you, too. You're the best thing that's ever happened to me. You, Daddy, and Fiona."
She shut the water off and shook the bottle well, handing it off to Vince, who received the gift just in the nick of time, as Fiona had let out her first wail. He prodded her lips apart with the bottle and she latched onto the nipple, sucking and slurping to get to her milk. Chris laughed and caught her foot as Vince strolled by, rubbing the sole, as Vince circled around to his chair. Once everyone was settled and had gotten to take a few bites of their food, Chris set his fork down, glancing around the table. He clapped his hands twice to garner everyone's attention.
"Big talk coming," he warned. "So, Graham, with the summer coming to an end, there's a lot of stuff that needs to be sorted. Mommy and I are taking care of the big stuff, but there's one thing in particular we need you to decide on."
"What is it?" Graham asked, one hand planted firmly on the table.
"We need to know where you want to go to school in August so we can get you signed up. The Prime School has offered for you to attend, and if you want to do that, we have to schedule a meeting and go talk to them before the school year starts. If not, I guess your other option would be Somerset Middle School, since that's the nearest public school. Aside from that, there are other private schools, but I don't see why you'd pick any of those when you've already been chosen for the best one."
"Quit leading him," Stephanie directed. "We said we'd let him choose."
"Yeah, we are. I didn't mean to pick for him or anything. I was just making a point, that's all."
"What do you want, Grammy?" Stephanie asked. She peeked in on Vince and Fiona to make sure they were doing well and was pleased to find they had settled in quite nicely. Linda caught Stephanie's eye and smiled. "Would you like to give The Prime School a try, or would you rather stay in public school?"
He swirled his chicken nugget around in a circle of barbecue sauce and chomped down on the upper half, brow furrowing as he concentrated long and hard. By the time he finished the food in his mouth, he had an answer for them. "I think The Prime School could be good, 'cause a lot of the work at my old school was really easy, so it might be better if I go to a school that would give me, like, a little bit harder stuff. But I still don't want to not see all my friends, so I would like Somerset better."
"I understand that, I really do, but hear me out," Stephanie said, taking a break from the chicken strip she had been in the process of slicing with knife and fork. "Your friends will always be a part of your life. Daddy and I can drive you over to see them at any time on weekends, and you'll have an opportunity to make a whole new group of friends at The Prime School. You'll have double the friends."
"Oh," Graham answered. "Kinda like how I have double the mommies, 'cause I got you and Mommy Carly."
"Exactly, that's how it would be," she nodded. "You would still see Nathan and Malachi and everyone else you're close to, but you would also have another group of friends you would see through the week when you're in class. I don't mean to push you in either direction, but I wanted to remind you of that. We'll always put in the extra effort for you to see your friends, and you'll still meet up with them at karate and all that jazz, okay?"
"Okay," he said. Graham gave his nuggets a break, running his tongue over his top row of teeth as he dropped his chin into his hand. Then, he used the other hand to aid in propping his chin, and grim determination settled over his face. "Will you guys really let me pick all by myself?"
Chris glanced at Stephanie and received a solid nod. "Yes," he answered. "We will."
"Then I think I wanna go to...um...I want you to sign me up for The Prime School."
"Oh my gosh!" Stephanie shrieked, shooting up like a bullet from her seat. She slapped a hand over her mouth and rushed around the table, kneeling at Graham's side and pulling him into a hug. "I was so not expecting that! I thought you were going to pick Somerset. Oh, I'm so proud of you, Grammy. So, so, so proud!" Then, she explained herself. "I would have been proud either way, but this is going to be such a positive change for you, especially after high school, when it comes time to apply for colleges. This is a giant stepping stone to reaching bigger goals."
Catching Chris's eye over Stephanie's shoulder, Graham smirked. "I made Mommy real happy, Dad."
"You sure did. Nice going," Chris praised. He left his seat in an attempt to get at Graham, but Stephanie wasn't letting go anytime soon, so he settled for patting the top of Graham's head. "I'm very proud of you, too, bud. I wanted this for you, and I'm glad you're putting your education first. Not many people your age would do that, but it's good that you're ready to try something new. You're not going to be losing any old friends. You'll just be gaining new ones."
"Yep," Graham said. He shifted and frowned a tad. "Mom, you're makin' it hard to breathe."
"Sorry," she replied sheepishly, pulling away from him. "I get a little overenthusiastic sometimes."
"Congratulations, honey," Linda piped up. She reached for Graham's hand from across the table, but he did her one better and left his seat, slipping his arms around her neck and pulling her in for a hug. Before leaving her, Graham kissed her cheek for good measure, reveling in the pat on the back he received from Vince.
"Congrats, pal. You'll be working for me in no time at all," Vince deduced, finally able to split his attention between Fiona and another person. The longer he held her, the more the tension in his muscles flitted away. "We're all proud of you for being accepted, and we'll be waiting patiently for you to tell us all how your first day goes."
"Okay, I will," Graham promised, returning to his seat.
Stephanie had rounded the table and reoccupied her chair, but she refused to take her eyes off Graham, folding her arms and beaming at him from across the table. He caught her eye, and she mouthed the words 'I love you', which made him blush a little, but he mouthed them right back. Suddenly, the stifling air in the kitchen wasn't enough, so Stephanie excused herself, exiting into the backyard she had just come from. Naturally, being the caring husband he was, Chris was soon to follow, wanting to make sure she was okay.
He found Stephanie hunched over near the garden, knees bent and back pressed against the house, both hands covering her face. Her back rose and fell with each of her deep breaths, and Chris lowered right beside her, kissing the top of her head and rubbing up and down the length of her forearm. "What is it? Did something happen?" She shook her head but failed to expand. "Are you just emotional over Graham's choice?"
Upon dropping her hands, Stephanie revealed a flushed face and glassy eyes holding onto unspent tears, and, somehow, Chris knew even without knowing. Stephanie wasn't a mystery to him, and he understood, but she explained anyhow. "It's just that I was looking at him and thinking back to how far he's come since I first met him. Do you know how many kids there are in this country right now who are capable of attending that school right alongside him, but they can't, because they don't have access to the same money and resources that Graham does? It's heartbreaking to think that if Trish and I would have chosen a different coffee shop to go to that night, we wouldn't have met you, and Graham might not be having this opportunity right now."
"I get it, but you can't save the whole world."
"I can sure as hell try," she argued. "I can make things better, even if I can't fix everyone's problems. I can't believe Grammy almost didn't have this chance. I just...I love him so much, and the thought of the life you and he might have led...it's so hard to even think about."
"Then don't think about it. Push it out of your mind the way I do."
"I don't want to. It deserves attention."
"For what purpose?" Chris proposed.
"Because no problem in the world ever got fixed by ignoring it."
"What do you want to do?"
"Maybe I could start, like, a scholarship fund or something," she said, searching his eyes. She needed to see something in them, and when she noticed the pride swelling from within, that powered the confidence necessary to continue. "It could be in Graham's name, and we could require an essay written by a student who's less fortunate than others. We would have to come up with a household income bracket that the child's family would need to fall within, and we could have the kid write an essay about why they deserve the chance to go to The Prime School, or any accredited private school in the entire country."
"So, hypothetically speaking, it would be open to all kids in the US, and not only kids who live here in Connecticut?"
"Well, I would have to think about it, but my first instinct would be to make it available to any child in the US whose family falls within the specified income bracket. I want someone who never would have had the chance to attend a great school otherwise, so I was thinking the family's annual income should be between $20,000 and $35,000 or something. I don't know, we can work out the specifics with time, but those are just the main thoughts off the top of my head," Stephanie explained. "If I could open it up to kids in Canada, I would, but I don't know how that would work since I'm not a citizen there."
"No, but I am," Chris pointed out. "So maybe I can come in handy and help out with starting one in Canada, too."
"This is all happening so fast," she said, fanning her face. Chris smiled and grasped her hand, pulling her to a standing position and taking her in his arms. She lay her head on his chest, and he drew on her back with his fingertips. "I'm so happy for Graham and so excited that he chose The Prime School all on his own. It's like even though he knew he wanted to stay with his friends, he's mature enough to know he needs to be challenged more. I couldn't be more proud of that little boy. He's such a joy to me."
"Me too," Chris mumbled into her hair, closing his eyes. "I hope you end up starting the scholarship. It could be a really good thing for somebody out there. Somebody like Graham."
"I think so, too. It's my way of giving back and changing someone else's life."
"Thank you for changing mine, only in all the best ways possible."
She snaked her arms around his neck, grinning against his chest. "The pleasure's all mine."
