The Bonehead and the Brain: The Man Comes Around
Becky Lynch returns to help DX save NXT and Bianca Belair tells Seth Rollins another secret
about Roman and Sasha that drives a wedge between Seth and the Shield.
Chapter Twelve – Daddy Mac
The Enigmatic Hotel, Manhattan, New York City, NY, 2pm EST
Seth Rollins walked around the impressive hotel created by Steph and Jeff Hardy and remained hopeful that the place he married Sasha Banks would be the same place he would save Stephanie's marriage. The hotel walls were a work of art, a fusion of Jeff's radical style and Stephanie's conservative class. In art form it worked, it was getting their marriage to look like the hotel art that was more challenging for the Prayer Warrior.
"Man its hot in here," Seth said pulling out his t shirt collar and he took off his beanie and shook his hair loose. Women suddenly came up to him thinking he was Roman Reigns.
"Oh, its just Roman's lil' brother," one of the women said and she was clearly disappointed that Seth wasn't the Big Dog.
"Sorry Roman's in LA," Seth said and the women smelt the air. "Here we go," Seth said knowing that his hair was about to change their attitude.
"Your hair, it smells amazing!" the women said to him and they started to press on him backing him up to the elevators. Seth smiled trying to maintain some dignity but it was pretty hard to do that when a gang of young women were inhaling his aromatic black locks. "Your hair smells like Heaven!"
"Seth, what's going on?" came the voice of Stephanie McMahon and the women continued to fawn over Seth's hair.
"Just a little fan appreciation, guys please stop," Seth said calmly as the women continued to press on him.
"I gotta know where you do your hair, do they make your hair product for women?" one of the women asked him while raking through his curls indulgently.
Stephanie's maternal instincts kicked in and she quickly separated the women from Seth. "Okay ladies that's enough. Seth tell them what product you use and let's go," Stephanie said but Seth shrugged.
"I'm sorry ladies but you can't buy it," Seth said and the women looked sad.
"But it's the most beautiful thing I've ever smelled, please tell us what it is!" one of the women asked Seth.
"Okay I'll tell you what it is: it's Jesus," Seth said and the women looked at Seth like he was crazy.
"Jesus?!" they said mockingly and they held their stomachs laughing. "Are you a Jesus freak or something?!"
"Man that Crossfit Jesus thing has really gone to your head Seth Rollins. Next time you come to New York bring your big brother with you, he's so much cooler than you are," another woman said and they started a "Roman Reigns!" chant on their way out of the Enigmatic Hotel.
Seth blew a sigh of relief when they left and Stephanie leaned in to smell his hair as they took the elevator to the Executive Suite.
"Your hair really does smell amazing but I don't think you want to tell your fan base that you got your hair product from the Son of God," Stephanie McMahon said wearily.
"But I did, he appeared to Bianca Belair in LA and told her to give it to me," Seth said and Stephanie shook her head.
"This is why I don't hang out with ATM anymore; those three will turn a normal, hot guy like you into a Bible-reading nut job, like Shawn. Do you really think your fans are going to believe that Jesus made a hair product just for you?" Stephanie said in disbelief.
"Yes I do, plus they weren't my fans they were Roman's fans. I'd rather be a witness for Jesus then get some random women excited," Seth said and Stephanie cackled at Seth's comment.
"Getting random women excited is all you and the Shield did back in the day Seth, why try to fix what ain't broken? Jesus ruins everything, just look at Shawn? He used to be so cool, now he's a God-loving loser. Are you really going to follow in his footsteps? He's going to be out of a job soon and God doesn't think too highly of the unemployed. Why do you think he recruited the disciples to do all his work for him while he was out walking on water?" Stephanie said and Seth frowned at her.
"I think you're taking the Bible out of context but I didn't come to your hotel to talk about my faith in Jesus Christ, I came to talk to you about your marriage," Seth said as Stephanie opened the door to her Executive Suite.
"That's interesting Seth because I actually wanted to talk to you about your marriage too. How is Sasha doing? She's only got a few more months to go right?" Stephanie said opening up the huge bay window next to a desk and two chairs.
"She's great, she's healthy and happy and the baby should be here around Wrestlemania time," Seth replied looking around the stylish hotel room. "Did you decorate this room?"
"Actually I did, it is one of the few suites that I styled. The majority of this hotel was designed by Jeff," Stephanie said sitting on one of the chairs by the window, "but back to my question about Sasha, is it true that she had sex with Roman Reigns?"
Seth expected Stephanie to ask him about Roman's affair with Sasha but he wasn't going to talk about it. Stephanie was not going to criticise his marriage but he was certainly going to talk about hers.
"Stephanie I'm not here to justify my wife's dispute with Charlotte Flair over a storyline, a storyline that's clearly working that's why you're asking me about something Charlotte said in the heat of it. Let's just pretend that we're not in the wrestling business anymore," Seth said sitting opposite Steph whose hair was as long and straight as it was the last time he saw her. "Steph I'm concerned about your marriage. This thing with Charlotte Flair is a problem but not because of Sasha but because you seem to be losing sight of what's really important. Why are you taking up sides with Charlotte Flair when you should be taking up sides with your own family?"
Stephanie furrowed her brow, "What are you talking about Seth? Charlotte Flair is my family. I've known the Flairs for years and your wife crossed the line,"
"My wife's pregnant she can't even walk in a straight line," Seth replied. "but that's enough about Sasha, I don't want to talk about Sasha, why aren't you talking about Beth?"
"Elizabeth?" Stephanie said and her face tightened at the mention of her daughter, "I can't talk about any of my children because Hunter and Shawn have poisoned them against me. Now you're doing the same thing but I don't blame you, you're just a symptom of years and years of DX foolishness. Elizabeth would still be at home if it wasn't for DX making me out to be the villain all the time, all I want is what is rightfully mine Seth,"
Seth shook his head, "There you go again, you're talking about yourself and your legacy and what DX have taken from you but you haven't asked me how Beth's doing. Your daughter is terrified of you; she thinks you and Jeff are monsters, what kind of legacy is that? Why aren't you more concerned about her coming back home?"
"My daughter is a casualty of war, just like Aurora was. Aurora chose her father over me years ago and I've never rebuilt that relationship and that's fine because I have the upper hand," Stephanie said.
"What upper hand?" Seth asked.
"The upper hand of being a McMahon. For years Shawn and Hunter, with ATM's help, have done nothing but play the victim and to Hell with the dastardly McMahon family right? Elizabeth doesn't have to live with me and her father, she can do whatever the Hell she wants just like her step-sister. All that matters is that when those two ungrateful b***** grow up to have families of their own, they have a legacy to pass onto their children. That won't be coming from DX, it'll be coming from me. It might be painful Seth but those children of mine will realise that I was the victim and DX are the villains. So I don't talk to them for a few years, so what? In the end, I will be the hero and you, ATM, Shawn and Hunter will all be out of my hair, once and for all,"
Seth looked up at the high baroque ceiling, showing the elegance of a French colonial townhouse, clearly inspired by Steph's home in North Carolina with Jeff. "So do you prefer living in North Carolina with Jeff or do you miss living in Connecticut with Hunter?" Seth asked her and Steph looked out of the window, her face immediately changing expression. Seth had touched a nerve by mentioning Connecticut. Steph hadn't been to Connecticut since DX took over the WWE. "Is that why you're working with the Flairs, is it because of your love for North Carolina?"
Stephanie sighed gently and she rubbed her leg to keep herself composed as Seth continued to tug at her heart strings, "Home is very important to me Seth but I only realised that just now. The home I built with Hunter was one of the happiest times in my life. Together we built our own empire, a sub-empire that was bolstered by my father's might McMahon dynasty. When Chyna came back into Hunter's life that all fell down and my hopes of a McMahon-Helmsley empire was dashed to pieces. My home was no longer a fantasy, it was a nightmare. I don't want to go into everything I'm sure Hunter can fill you in over all the free time he's going to have soon, I will say that my home with Jeff is different,"
Stephanie stood to her feet and walked over to the coffee machine, her power suit perfectly fitted to her imposing frame. Seth noticed that her shoes were hurting her feet, which of course meant that they were new. Stephanie had been out shopping and she only did that when she was scheming something up. Her hair had been freshly straightened, the Billion Dollar Princess was up to no good. When she returned to the table with a fresh cup of coffee she clicked her newly manicured nails against the cup trying to compose herself.
"How is it different?" Seth asked her taking his chair from where it was and he sat down right next to her. The smell of his hair took over from the aromatic Kenya roast and all Stephanie could smell was love and happiness. She smiled bashfully and started to talk about Jeff Hardy.
"My home with Jeff is so rustic. The mahogany wood panels, the bold art work on the walls and the huge forest out front where the girls used to play, it's so different from what I had with Hunter in Connecticut, but both Hunter and Jeff have a wild side to them," Stephanie said and Seth nodded.
"What do you like the most about your home in North Carolina?" Seth asked her resting his elbow on the table and leaning on one side.
"I love my oven," Stephanie gushed. "Its this old-fashioned wood oven that I cook with whenever we're out of New York and Florida. I love it so much, when I was out of wrestling for what I thought was forever, I used to spend all my time in the kitchen making dinner for the girls and for Jeff. I'd come up with new recipes and Jeff would make me kitchen sets from scratch. He made all the glasses, cups, cutlery and it was the most beautiful time in my life. I was the happiest I've ever been,"
"And that was because Jeff was such a great husband right?" Seth asked and Stephanie nodded.
"I love Jeff Hardy and my home in North Carolina, marrying Jeff made me a better person, I was a mess when I left Hunter. I know everyone including you thinks that I still love Hunter and that I want to get back with him but I don't want to get back with Hunter," Stephanie said and she looked at Seth with an ice cold glare, "I want to destroy Hunter,"
The executive suite suddenly iced over but Seth remained calm. He knew Stephanie's temperament could disable the most composed human being but it was not more than a feint whisper to him. The cold air now circulating through the room caused icicles to form on the walls and floor but Seth was just as hot as he was down in the foyer. Stephanie suddenly relented and the cold temperature dissipated.
"Instead of destroying Hunter, why don't you remember why you were so happy back in North Carolina when you first married Jeff?" Seth asked her and Stephanie looked at him like he wasn't human.
"What's your problem why aren't you freezing over?!" Stephanie blared at him.
"Because my marriage is hot and yours is ice cold. Your weather spell has no effect on me Steph, I suggest you quit trying to use your magic on me and listen to what I'm telling you. If you don't listen to me you're going to miss out on true happiness and an amazing marriage, I don't want that to happen. Just between us, I still kind of like you Steph. You were always so good to me back in the day, now give me the chance to be good to you, just listen to me. Focus on Jeff and forget about Hunter, you can't destroy what you did not create," Seth said and Steph clenched her jaw.
"I created Hunter, even his freakin name is my father's IP! My family's legacy cannot die in the hands of a Degenerate!" Stephanie screamed and Seth stroked the side of her face gently.
"You won't lose your father's legacy by building a new one, why are you so afraid of disappointing your father? Vince McMahon loved you so much, there's nothing you can do to change how much he loved you. All your dad would want if he was here right now is for you to be happy, being Mrs Jeff Hardy makes you happy. So be happy and forget about DX," Seth said softly, his warm hands penetrating Steph's hard exterior and revealing the sweet daddy's girl from Connecticut that was locked up tight on the inside, wondering where her daddy was.
"How are you doing that?" Stephanie asked Seth touching his hand.
"It's not me, its Jesus," Seth replied and Stephanie remained in that sweet place for the rest of the day.
Madison Square Garden
When Jeff Hardy joined them for lunch he didn't even recognize Stephanie. Jeff told Seth it was like he was with the woman he married all those years ago. Seth counselled them both and by the time the show was about to start at MSG, Steph and Jeff had drawn up a peace treaty with DX and promised not to injure the Degenerate Duo anymore. Seth got it in writing and he took it to DX who hugged him gratefully, though their minds were a little distracted when Seth arrived at the legendary arena.
"Are you guys okay?" Seth asked them and DX nodded.
"Yeah we're fine, go get ready for your match and thanks for getting through to my ex-wife," Hunter told Seth who eyed them both suspiciously before heading to the men's locker room.
Hunter turned to Shawn, "What are we going to do about Becky Lynch?" he asked HBK. "There's no way we can re-sign her and expect the locker room to be okay with it,"
"Well we can't let Stephanie get her hands on her either, this peace treaty is too fresh to assume things are really okay between us now, she could be making a deal with the Man right now!" Shawn said and Hunter nodded.
"Okay let's talk to Austin and find out what he knows. If Becky's interested in getting back into the wrestling game we have got to get to her before Stephanie does. Seth may have gotten this peace treaty signed but when it comes to business, peace quickly turns to war when the McMahons are involved," Hunter said and he went to call Austin while Shawn went to check on the locker room to find out if they'd heard anything about Becky Lynch coming back to work.