"Make yourself at home "Make yourself at home." Shane said as him and Stephanie walked into his summer cabin, Shane took off his coat and threw it on the couch.

Stephanie shut the wooden door behind her; she dropped her black duffel bag in front of the door, as she made her way into the living room. If she wasn't in such a horrible mood because of how things went between her and Kurt, she would find it funny that Shane still came here for the summer. When they had been little kids Vince and Linda had always brought them to this cabin, and now here they were 20 something years later and Shane was still going to the same cabin. "I intend to." Stephanie said, as she walked into the furnished kitchen. Stephanie looked around the cabin; it had a feel to... a homey feel to it. She had always loved this place when she had been a little girl, her and Shane would spend hours sitting in front of the fireplace telling each other stories of the future that they would make up on the top of their heads while Vince read a book and Linda cooked.

Shane shook his head at his sister's odd behavior, in the car she had been quiet as a mouse and now she was miss observe everything. "Marissa will be sorry she missed you, she went home for the summer, her father has come down with an illness and she had to fly home right away."

Stephanie tore herself away from all of her thoughts and smiled sadly at Shane. "Oh that is horrible, I hope everything will turn out okay."

Shane nodded. "They always do in her family, it's our family that tends to not get better." Shane walked into the kitchen, brushing past Stephanie slightly as he made his way over to the cream colored refrigerator, he grabbed a can of Pepsi and popped the top open.

"True, our family is quite different from everybody else." Stephanie commented, as she grabbed a can of Pepsi as well, she popped the top open and took a sip. "We stab each other in the back, lie to one another... it's just one whole scandal after another in the McMahon family."

Shane looked at Stephanie intently, hearing the truth in Stephanie's sarcasm. It was horrible in their family; their family hurt each other day after day and felt no remorse afterwards. That was how the McMahon family worked, they hurt each other and didn't offer no apology afterwards, because remorse wasn't something that they felt. Shane hadn't been able to feel remorse towards anything until recently, but now he felt more remorse then he thought he could bear; He felt remorse for not reaching out to Stephanie sooner, he felt remorse for letting the distance tear them apart, he felt remorse for not being the older brother he was born to be. But most of all he felt remorse for letting himself believe the lies Stephanie told him, all the times he had called her over the phone and swore he had heard her crying and when she said it was nothing... he felt remorse for believing it. He felt remorse for letting himself think that the makeup and the screeching was who Stephanie was... Stephanie wasn't the screeching princess in the ring, Stephanie was just Stephanie. She had a feel to her, there was just something about her.

"You can go change in your bed clothes or whatever in the bathroom, it's pretty late, the drive took longer then I had expected it to." Shane pointed towards the bathroom.

"I know where the bathroom is Shane, I used to come here in the summer too you know?" Stephanie walked over and grabbed her black duffel bag.

"I thought you would have forgotten," Shane said quietly, he hadn't really expected to say the words, he was just thinking them.

Stephanie turned around, once she heard Shane's soft voice, she was already halfway to the bathroom when Shane's voice entered her head. "How could I forget?" Stephanie asked, her voice just as quiet as Shane's had been.

Shane shook his head, taking a sip of his soda. "You and Hunter go to a lot of places, real expensive and fancy places, why would a stupid cabin be planted in your memory?" Shane closed his eyes.

"It's not stupid, I spent my life here..." Stephanie sighed and walked into the bathroom leaving Shane alone in the living room of the cabin.

::: Raw Is War Arena – Tulsa, Oklahoma :::

Test paced back and forth in his locker-room, his long blonde hair slicked back in a ponytail, his eyebrows knitted in concentration. He was already in his ring gear, but his mind was nowhere ready for the match he would have to fight tonight. Tonight Test was going to have to fight Albert in a table match; it was declared Vince had it in for him. Vince fully knew the history between Albert and Test and he knew that this would bring up bad memories, and Test knew for a fact that was why Vince was doing it.

Albert had at one time been Test's friend... but that was before he had betrayed him. Test had never seen the betrayal coming, but of course he never did see the betrayals coming. First it had been Stephanie, and then once he thought he was in the cool zone, safe from any surprises, he had gotten the shit beat out of him by Albert and Trish's betrayal followed shortly behind Albert's.

Test was sick of this... why was he the one that always got hurt by the people he cared about? Test had never asked to be the target of everybody's betrayals, but somehow he was...

"You're up Test." A crewman said, walking past Test's room.

Test nodded, grabbing his black tanktop, he slipped it over his head as he walked out the door and towards the ring. He didn't want to fight Albert tonight but that didn't mean he wouldn't... and WHEN he won tonight, he would have to make a mental note to throw it in Vince's face.

::: Hunter's Locker-room :::

Hunter paced in his locker-room, his eyes with a determined look in them, he had just gotten the news from Vince that Test was matched up to be in a table match against Albert.

This was the perfect time to prove to Vince that he was mature enough to continue be the man that would make Stephanie happy. Vince wanted the war between him and Test to stop before Stephanie could come back, and tonight would be the first step to stop the war. Hunter didn't like Test, but to get Stephanie back he would have to make some sacrifices... plus what Test had said to him had freaked him out.

Was Stephanie going to leave him?

God Hunter couldn't even begin to imagine his life without Stephanie. Hunter, despite what everybody said about him had fallen for Stephanie McMahon. So in a way Hunter was exactly like Test, both of them loved her, hell both of them still love her... now it was just up to which one she would choose.

Hunter had a feeling that he wouldn't be the one walking away with Stephanie. Hunter had the horrible feeling that Test's feelings for Stephanie weren't totally one sided. Was Test right? Was Hunter just the revenge guy? Was Test the guy she loved? Was Test the guy she stills loves?

"Shit," Hunter hissed out underneath his breath, he picked up his jacket and ran out of his locker-room, his plan was already late in happening already.

::: Back at the cabin :::

Shane looked up when he heard footsteps coming out of the bathroom, but what he saw took his breath away. It was Stephanie, but without all the makeup. She was wearing a football jersey shirt and sweatpants, her brown hair was in a ponytail... she looked stunning, she finally looked like his little sister.

"What do I look awful?" Stephanie asked looking down at her clothes. "Not Armani I know but we're in the middle of the forest in a cabin we haven't been to since we were 16, so I thought fancy lingerie was a big no since you're my brother and all." Stephanie smiled, walking over to where Shane was; she sat down next to him.

"Well thank you for the consideration, I would feel a little uncomfortable." Shane smirked, turning to her. "You look beautiful."

Stephanie blushed, playing with a loose strand of her hair, which had fallen out of her ponytail. "Thanks for whisking me off and bringing me here, it's just what I needed. Things are so bad lately, the Hunter and Test thing and then what happened between me and Kurt..."

"Which was?" Shane asked, smiling.

"Kurt came to me, telling me how Hunter was all bad for me and how I deserved better and I turned on him. I think I really hurt his feelings, he told me when I got back not even to bother calling him. Not being friends with Kurt feels bad, Kurt has been my best friend when I needed one... he brings a lot of sanity in my life, even though at one time he had tried to break my marriage apart. Kurt is my best friend, and I think I lost him... because of Hunter." Stephanie frowned.

"Is Hunter worth it Steph? I mean is he really worth it? Losing Kurt as your friend seems to really bother you, and Hunter wouldn't even care..." Shane stopped.

"He probably wouldn't. Hunter doesn't like me hanging out with Kurt, he says Kurt is all bad for me." Stephanie rolled her eyes.

"How about the other way around Steph? I hate to say this, but I agree with Kurt. Hunter is wrong for you, he always has been, I know you wanted revenge on me and dad, but that revenge has happened... you don't have to stay with Hunter." Shane looked into Stephanie's eyes, locking into her brown eyes.

Stephanie sighed. "Because if I leave Hunter, I'll be kicked out of the family."

Shane shook his head. "Is that why you have stuck with Hunter for so long? Steph, dad loves you more then life, he would never do that to you."

"But he did it to you." Stephanie pointed out.

"He doesn't love me the way he loves you. Steph you are daddy's little girl, he adores the ground you walk on. Dad always wanted a girl; he just got me first. Everything you have ever done dad supported you in, I was just the son that he occasionally talked to." Shane smiled sadly.

"Dad loves you." Stephanie grabbed Shane's hand. "I love you."

Shane smiled; the sad look was off of his face. "I love you too Stephanie, that is why I am trying to make you see that you have to make a choice. Whatever choice you make I will be right by you... but I just want you to make the right one."

Stephanie nodded. "I will."

::: Raw Is War – Test VS. Albert – Table Match :::

Test laid on his back, trying to catch his breath; he had forgotten how strong Albert really was, and the fact that X-Pac and Justin Credible were sneaking moves in when the ref wasn't looking, was not helping matters at all. Test did NOT want to lose to Albert, after everything that they had been through, Test wanted to come out on top, but he doubted that he would... Albert was just too damn strong for him.

"It looks like Test is going to lose this match..." JR's voice paraded in Test's ear.

Usually Test would be pissed off to hear something like that, but right now all he could think about was the pain. He had gotten the bronco buster by X-Pac, a german suplex by Justin Credible, and a body slam off of the top turnbuckle by Albert.

"This does not look good for Test. This has been a hectic week for Test. First his war with Big Show and then his war with Triple H... and Stephanie's injury seems to have affected him as well." Michael Cole replied, speaking into his headset.

Test groaned as he felt himself being lifted by Albert, this was it... he was going through a table... this was going to hurt like hell. Test squirmed a bit, hoping that he would be able to counter the move, but Albert's hold on him was too strong. He was going through that wooden table one way or the other... there was no way out of this.

"Albert is setting Test up for the slam through the table... it looks like this is the end..." JR said warily.

Test felt himself being lifted up even higher, damn it Albert was going to make this as torturous as possible.

"Oh wait! What the –-- Triple H is running towards the ring!" Michael Cole said shocked.

Hunter slid into the ring and kicked Albert in the face, making Albert drop Test. Hunter kicked Albert in the face one more time, making Albert fall to the mat floor, Hunter set Albert up for the pedigree, once he did the move Hunter slid back out of the ring, attacking X-Pac and Justin Credible.

Test pushed himself up, he took a deep breath and picked up Albert; He hoisted Albert in the air and threw him through the table, winning the match.

"I can't believe this! Test was going to go through that table but Triple H interfered in the match, costing Albert the lose, and Test the win!" JR exclaimed.

"What is going on? What was Triple H thinking?" Michael Cole shook his head.

Test rolled out of the ring once the bell rung indicating that Test had won the match; Test looked over at Triple H who was making his way over. "What the hell was that?!" Test exclaimed as him and Triple H ran backstage.

"I helped you win the match." Hunter stated.

"Yeah I know, but why?" Test turned to Hunter, raising his eyebrow.

"Because I don't want to lose Steph." Hunter said before walking away.

::: Vince's Office :::

Vince stared at the image of his soon to be ex-wife, still shocked that she was standing in his office. "So Linda, what the hell do you want? To make more demands on how to run my company? Or how to raise my daughter? Because I already got that from Shane, and I don't need to hear it twice."

Linda shook her head. "Hear me out Vince, because that young woman you call your daughter, just happens to be my daughter as well. She used to love me; she used to be proud to call me her mother, until you made her choose. Vince... you made my daughter choose sides..."

Vince shook his head. "And she chose me."

"Of course she did Vince, you're her father, her favorite parent, she's your baby girl. Who else would she have chosen? Me? Please. Hell would have frozen over before she chose me over you. But one thing will always be certain, I love that girl to death, and I always will." Linda planted her hands on her hips, giving Vince a look.

"I love Stephanie too, I always have." Vince stood up.

"Then treat her right, she is going to make a decision and Vince stand by her no matter what choice she makes." Linda shook her head and left Vince's office before he could say anything in response.

It had taken a lot of guts on her part to even go to Vince and demand something of him, Vince had broken her heart and her spirit at one time. But there was one thing more important then what happened between her and Vince in the past and that was their daughter. THEIR daughter... Linda smiled, as much as she hated Vince... they did make two wonderful things... Shane and Stephanie. Shane and Stephanie were the only things that would ever keep Linda and Vince tied together no matter what, Shane and Stephanie were the reason they stayed together so long.

::: Back at the cabin :::

Shane threw in another log on the fire; he looked at the flames for a second, a little mesmerized by it for a few seconds. "I love the fire." Shane muttered.

Stephanie looked up from the notebook she was writing, and smirked. "You always have, I always thought you would grow up to be a pyromaniac."

Shane turned around laughing. "What are you writing?" Shane asked walking back over to Stephanie.

Stephanie scooted over so Shane could sit down next to her. "A letter."

"To who?" Shane asked, once he sat down next to Stephanie.

"To Hunter and Andrew. I think first off I need to write what I am feeling before I actually tell them, letters are easy, they don't have to see your emotions in a letter, all they have to do is read the words." Stephanie looked down at the paper.

"Have you written anything yet?" Shane looked over Stephanie's shoulder.

"No, it's hard. I mean how do you write a letter that is two years overdue?" Stephanie looked at Shane, looking for an answer.

"The best way you can. I'll leave you alone to write your letter." Shane pushed himself up; he kissed Stephanie on the forehead before disappearing into the back room of the cabin.

Stephanie watched Shane go to the back room of the cabin, she watched the spot that he was for a few seconds before adverting her eyes back down to her notebook, she knew she had to do this but writing what she wanted to say to the two men in her life felt so hard to do.

Stephanie picked up the pencil again, determined to write this letter, she HAD to. Stephanie couldn't hide behind the lies anymore, she needed the truth to come out, and even if that meant being kicked out of the family... at least she would have Shane by her side no matter what. "I'll write Hunter's first." Stephanie muttered.

::: Hunter's hotel room :::

Hunter walked up to the clerk, and smiled at him. "Do I have any calls or mail?"

The clerk behind the desk looked up nodding. "In fact you do Mr. Helmsley, a letter from Stephanie McMahon, your wife."

Hunter smiled instantly when the clerk told him he had a letter from Stephanie, but what he didn't understand was how it got here. Stephanie was at least a day away in postage wise, unless Shane had driven all the way here just to deliver the letter, and if so why didn't Shane stick around? "Thanks." Hunter said absentmindedly as he walked away with the letter in his hand; he didn't like the feeling he was getting from the letter.

Hunter pushed the hotel door open and walked into his hotel, shutting the door behind him, he looked down at the face of the letter. He stared at the name she put on as the returning address:

Stephanie McMahon

She had used her maiden name, without the "Helmsley" added to the end of it, she never did that anymore. Something was up, and Hunter could feel it, he was getting a really bad feeling about this letter. Why had Shane come all this way to give him a letter? And why not give it to him in person? Hunter sighed, and opened up the letter, he took the letter out and began reading it:

Dear Hunter,

Hey it's Steph, but you probably already guessed that by now. You're probably asking yourself why... or how this letter got to you and so fast. I had Shane drive to the hotel I knew you were at, so you would get this letter immediately, so that is how it got to you so fast, but for the why question....

Hunter, lately I have been thinking.... Thinking about the reason why I married you, I know what that reason is... I needed revenge. I needed revenge on my father and my brother for the stuff they put me through, I needed that revenge so badly, and you were the only person I could get that revenge with. I left everything that was going to be my perfect life and I ran away with you...

It's been one hell of a ride Hunter Hearst Helmsley. But like all fun and exciting rides, they must come to an end, and then you have to face the reality that it was just a ride...

Hunter, for two long years I have stayed by your side doing what you asked me to do with no questions asked. I was your supporter when you needed it, I was your sidekick in crime when your buddies weren't there for you, and I was the bitch when you needed me to be that. I betrayed my family so many times because it was what you wanted, but I'm sick of it, sick of it all Hunter.

I'm not the desperate woman that came to you begging for your help, I'm not the lost little girl anymore, I'm not the backstabber I once was.

I have grown, especially in this past week... and that injury on Smackdown has made me see everything crystal clear.

Hunter you are a terrific man, you really are, you're just not the man that is perfect for me. I need someone who I can be myself with; I need to be with someone who doesn't freak out when I want to hang out with Kurt Angle. I need to be with someone who can see that I'm not just a McMahon... but that I am Stephanie.

Stephanie. That one word symbolizes me.

I'm strong, I'm beautiful, and I'm a fighter.

I'm not a princess, I'm not a bitch, and I'm NOT a slut.

Nor have I ever been a "slut", that word is such a crude thing to say, the most horrible thing you can call a female and I know that you have never thought of me that way, but when I'm with you that is what I am.

I may have lost my best friend because of you, would you care? Have you ever? You've isolated me Hunter, and now it's my time to breathe. It's time for me to start thinking for me... it's over Hunter.

I know that this is the right decision, even if it does hurt you. You can't make me love you... I love you Hunter, just not the way you love me, the way you want me to love you. I love you as my best friend... of course after Kurt; you are my friend Hunter. You stood by me when everybody else hated me, even when I was having problems with my dad, you were there. I appreciate the time we had with each other; it will be two years I will never forget.

This would the part where I said I wasted two years of my life being married to you, but I haven't wasted anything. Because those two years were everything to me, you made me into someone Hunter, and for that I will always remember you as the man that showed me who I was.

Goodbye Hunter.

Love,
Stephanie McMahon

P.S. Call me when you need a friend, I'll be there.

Hunter stared at the letter in shock, he had just lost Stephanie, he had just lost the woman he loved.

::: Test's hotel room :::

Test walked up the clerk behind the desk; he smiled warmly at the middle-aged man. "Hey Arnold, do I have any mail?" Test pushed the hair out of his eyes.

Arnold looked up and smiled at Test, Arnold grabbed a letter and looked at it for a few seconds, Arnold had got to know Test in the past two years, and he knew that this letter would mean something to Test. "Hey Test, yeah actually you do have a letter, from Stephanie."

Test's eyes widened a bit in shock and stayed that way for a few seconds, before actually grabbing the letter from Arnold. "Stephanie?" Test asked confused.

"Yes, Shane McMahon came by earlier and dropped it off with a letter also for Hunter. Shane seemed in a hurry but he said for me to tell you to read that letter, and that the contents of that letter was very urgent."

Test frowned. "So it's from Shane."

Arnold instantly recognized the disappointment in Test's voice. "No from Stephanie, Shane was just dropping it off, Mr. Helmsley picked his up about 10 minutes ago."

Test nodded, holding the letter, it was probably just a stupid letter saying that Stephanie never loved him. "Thanks, I'll go put this in the trash can right away."

Arnold reached for Test's arm, grabbing his attention. "Shane said it was VERY urgent for you to read that letter, you might as well check it out."

Test shrugged. "Yeah fine, talk to you later Arnold." Test walked off.

Test swiped his key card opening his hotel room up; he shut the door behind him, throwing the letter on his bed. Test walked into the bathroom peeling out of his tight shirt, and kicking his black boots off; Test grabbed a t-shirt and some sweats and changed into them.

It had been a long day, after he had beat Albert in the table match with a little help from Hunter, he had a run in with Trish, and the two exchanged a few insults... him calling her a slut, and her slapping the hell out of him before stalking off in her high heeled boots... probably going to find Steve Blackman. After the Trish incident Test had run into Kane and The Undertaker and made the mistake of brining up Sara, which seemed to infuriate both of the tall men, he had to hightail it out of the arena before the two extremely tall brothers kicked his ass. He had then went to get some dinner and bumped into Linda and Mick Foley, who had chatted his ear off, and then after dinner he had finally gotten to the hotel to find out he had a letter from Stephanie waiting for him.

"Let's see what dear little Steph had to say." Test muttered as he walked out of the bathroom and over to his bed, where the letter still was. Test picked up the letter, turning it over in his hands, examining it. "Here goes nothing..." Test opened the envelope and pulled the letter out, devouring the text of the letter:

Dear Andrew,

I know I am the last one you ever expected to write you a letter, but saying the things that are in my heart are easier on a piece of paper then in person.

There are so many unspoken words between us, so many things that should have been done that weren't. So many "I'm sorry's" that you never got from me. There were so many times that we called each other names, instead of actually saying what needed to be said.

Let's see; let me start with an explanation. I know you think you know why I left you at the altar, but you need to hear the whole truth from me... you deserve that much.

My father and my brother put me through hell, I was so innocent back then and everybody in the WWF thought they could take advantage of me because of that. My father enlisted me into all of his conflict with Steve and Shane literally handed me over to The Undertaker without a second thought. Back then Mark was so scary, I was just a scared young woman who was being forced to marry a man that I didn't love, Mark had scared me so bad... and all I wanted was to be with you and not in the middle of a black wedding ritual... when Steve came and saved me, it was like I was seeing an angel... haha Stone Cold Steve Austin a angel... I know it's hilarious. But he was to me, he saved me when I needed a savior the most, but even though he saved me, the nightmare wasn't over.

Night after night, I had nightmares of what happened, I was so scared, and as much as I wanted to tell you... I couldn't find it in my heart to. It wasn't because I didn't trust you, or that I didn't love you... maybe I never told you about my nightmares, because I loved you too much to make you see what happened.

My need to get revenge on Shane and daddy became overbearing; all I can think about was getting revenge because they hurt me so badly. So when you were out of town doing a signing, I went to Hunter. He was hanging out with X-Pac and Chyna, it was when Hunter was with Chyna, and I asked if I could speak with him. Hunter and I went to his locker-room so we could be alone and I asked him if he could help me get revenge on my dad and Shane. Hunter instantly agreed and we came up with the plan of us getting married, knowing that it would hurt dad and Shane in the worst way. Hunter was so devious from the beginning, he knew everything to do and how to do it, and I just followed along.

My need for revenge was so powerful that I couldn't see anything past it, to get what I wanted I had to look past love, I had to let you go. It hurt me like crazy Andrew, it really did, but I was in a bad place back then, like I said revenge was all that mattered.

I know I hurt you and I'm sorry, I'm sorry that you had to feel pain because of what I did, you never deserved to be hurt. I never planned to hurt you, but in the end I did, didn't I? Because you loved me, and I stabbed you in the back.

Two years have passed since my fatal decision, and now I am faced with another...

You and Hunter... you two are probably the hardest choices I will ever have to make. Because you two... both of you... have been such an influence on me, and in the best ways. But I can't keep going on like this, it's draining the age out of me... it's killing me...

Shane says I need to make a choice, and he's completely right. I can't keep prolonging my choice, hoping that I won't have to make one...

Life isn't that easy... it's hard and it's everyday, but I know I can do it, I know now that I am capable of doing something on my own.

See Hunter changed me, he made me see the person who I was to be... and forever will be... but you Andrew Martin, completed me. You came in my life and filled that void, that empty space inside of me... you made me open my heart up to love.

You probably never knew this... but I LOVE you Andrew, I always have, and yes always will. See years can go by and we may never see each other again after you read this letter, but my love for you will always be true. It will never go away, because some loves NEVER go away, even though sometimes you pray for them to so you can go on with your life... but the real type of loves stay around forever.

For the first time in my life, I am seeing things for what they really are...

I am NOT a slut. I never was, was I? You hear it so many times, you start to believe it...

Am I slut Andrew? Please you are the only that can tell me. I need to hear your voice tell me that you think that I am worthy of your attention... please I need to know that I'm not who everybody thinks I am...

Andrew, upon reading this letter, you may hate me or love me, whatever choice you make is up to you...

I've already made my choice... my heart belongs to you.

Love,
Stephanie McMahon

Test stared down at the letter he had just finished reading, his eyes with a soft look in them. Had Stephanie really wrote this? Was he really reading this letter? A letter with so much emotion and beauty in it, that it made him want to call her up and tell her how much he loved her?

He never knew that Stephanie McMahon felt all those things, and that she could write them down. He had expected a letter saying how Hunter rocked her world, and she didn't ever want him near her again... but instead he got a letter that had so much raw emotion that it was almost unbearable to read without breaking down.

If all the WWF fans read this letter, they would regret what they said about Stephanie...

Hell, he regretted what he said about Stephanie... but what was he going to do about it now?

NEXT IN THE TAINTED SERIES: Stephanie returns to the WWF to find out her two letters affected more then Andrew and Hunter.

Stephanie tries to make amends for how she treated Kurt.

Vince stands by his daughter.

Stephanie makes some new friends.