Tainted Chapter 10: I don't want to spend one more Christmas without you, a wrestling fanfic

jhjkjkl ::: Grocery Store - Greenwich, Connecticut :::

This is the time of year, that we learn to give
And the greatest gift is learning to forgive.
We will have the best time we ever knew
If you forgive me and I forgive you

I don't want to light a fire
Unless it will warm your heart
I'm playin no holiday songs
I need you to sing your part
And baby if I could have just one wish come true
I don't wanna spend one more Christmas without you

It's so hard to believe
We're staring at the end
When all we think about is starting up again
Whatever we lost, when we were apart
We'll find it all alone in the dark

I don't wanna light a fire
Unless it will warm your heart
I'm playin no holiday songs
I need you to sing your part
And baby if I could have just one wish come true
I don't wanna spend one more Christmas without you

There's nothing more that I want from you
Then to lie here together
And stay here forever with you
There's no one I ever knew
That I wanted to spend Christmas with, more than you....

- NSync "I don't wanna spend one more Christmas without you"

"Eggnog?" Shane asked as him and Stephanie walked through the large grocery store, Shane's eyes were focused on the grocery list Stephanie had made up before they had left, Shane narrowed his eyes at the occasional I hate Andrew! scribbling.

"Check." Stephanie said, throwing in 4 cartons of egg nog in the shopping cart, Shane was pushing.

"You hate Andrew?" Shane questioned as he grabbed a bag of marshmallows for Linda's famous candy yams.

"At the moment, yes I do." Stephanie grabbed some whip cream and turned to Shane. "And don't you dare ask why." Stephanie threw the whip cream in the shopping cart and grabbed the grocery list from Shane.

Shane sighed, watching Stephanie gather the rest of the items on the grocery list. Him and Stephanie had been to the grocery store by Linda and Vince, once Linda realized that they were fresh out of egg nog and Stephanie had decided to make a grocery list for what they needed as well. Shane crossed his arms across his chest as he tried his best to find out why Stephanie suddenly hated Andrew. A few days ago Stephanie had actually been thinking about how it would be for her and Andrew to be back together, and now she hated him? It just didn't make sense, Shane didn't work this hard, to let everything go drain, at least not without a fight.

"What happened?" Shane asked, walking closer to Stephanie.

Stephanie looked up from the box of cheesecake mix she was looking at, she gave Shane a look before throwing the box in the shopping cart. "I told you I didn't want to talk about it."

"No, you said don't ask me why, I'm not... I'm asking you what happened?" Shane said pointing out the difference between what Stephanie told him not to ask and what he really asked, sure he was being demanding, but he had worked so hard and put his own butt on the line to get Stephanie and Andrew where they were, and he wasn't ready to give up on them quite yet.

"I told him that I loved him, and he didn't say it back, he just kept asking me why I came out in the ring on Smackdown, lecturing me like I'm a little kid." Stephanie grabbed some strawberries, she then crumpled up the grocery list. "We're ready to go, we got everything we needed, meet you at the front."

Stephanie grabbed the shopping cart and walk up to the cash register, leaving Shane behind. Shane brought his hand up to his forehead, running it down his face, while he groaned. "Oh this Christmas isn't going to be complicated..." Shane muttered sarcastically to himself as he chased after Stephanie.

::: The McMahon Home - Greenwich, Connecticut :::

"He didn't say he loved me back, so that obviously means he doesn't right?" Stephanie asked, arching her eyebrows up as she watched Linda start to cook her favorite desert, the chocolate mousse pie.

Linda looked away from the pie, and shook her head no at her daughter's question. "Not usually, maybe he didn't know you felt the same way, so when you told him, he was shocked?"

Stephanie shrugged and continued to stir the cheesecake mix. "I just don't know, I'm glad it's just family tonight. The last thing I need tonight, is a surprise."

Linda looked down, trying to hide the look on her face... if it was surprises Stephanie didn't want, then she was NOT going to have a good Christmas tonight.

"So basically he stuck his foot so far up his mouth, Stephanie has declared that she hates him, which is bad for me, REAL bad! Andrew is supposed to be here in an hour, and Stephanie hates him." Shane exclaimed in a low tone, as to not get the attention of Stephanie, who was in the kitchen with Linda.

"So in other words, you're a dead man when your sister finds out what you have been plotting behind her back. Because I know Stephanie does NOT like secrets kept from her." Vince took a sip of his egg nog. "You're a dead man." Vince chuckled.

Shane rolled his eyes. "You're such a support dad. Steph won't kill me, she loves me..."

"Then why do you sound so uncertain?" Vince looked at Shane, his eyes with a questioning look in them.

"Basically because I know that she will kill me. What was I supposed to do? There was no way Stephanie and Andrew would have been to admit their true feelings for each other, on their own! Those two are so scared of what the other is thinking, that they are never going to admit that they still love each other, so I decided to take it into my own hands." Shane threw his hands up in the air.

"Even though your intentions were completely good, you're still a dead man." Vince pointed out.

Shane groaned. "I know, god do I know! She shouldn't be wanting to kill me, she should be wanting to thank me. If they had avoided each other like planned, then everything would have worked out tonight. Andrew would show up, the sparks would go flying... the kiss under the mistletoe, perfection... but then Andrew had to ruin it, by, well being him!"

Vince smirked. Shane had really thought this through, too bad he would end up being busted and getting killed by Stephanie. McMahon Christmases always went the same, it starts out normal, but end up completely dysfunctional, it wouldn't be a McMahon Christmas, if some disaster didn't happen.

"Well let's enjoy this normal Christmas, before it goes dysfunctional." Vince replied, picking up a book.

"The candy yams are done." Stephanie said, putting them on the counter beside the cheesecake. "And so is the cheescake, how is the turkey coming along?"

"Done." Linda replied turing off the oven. "Well it seems that everything is ready, now all we have to do is wait for our guest."

"What guest? I thought it was just going to be us tonight." Stephanie looked over at Linda questiongly.

Linda looked away from the turkey and stared at Stephanie who had a questioning look on her face; Linda shook her head, she probably doesn't know, Linda thought to herself. Shane had told her that he was setting this whole thing up, he had invited Andrew over to spend Christmas with them, and then they would start talking, he somehow guide them over to the mistletoe, and then they would kiss. Linda, when Shane had first told her the plan, thought it was cute... she had always loved Stephanie with Andrew, when Stephanie was with Andrew Stephanie seemed so happy, and that was all Linda ever wanted for Stephanie, for her daughter to be happy. Linda would never understand how her daughter was so deciteful and devious and then sweet and caring, it was as if Stephanie had a split personality... she had seen a little bit of difference in Stephanie, but she hadn't seen that much, because she wasn't around Stephanie all the time, but she had heard only what the other wrestlers told her, which was Stephanie was a new person, and Linda believed every word of what she heard.

"Your brother said he might invite someone, but I don't know if he is coming or not." Linda said, smiling. It was true, Shane had invited someone, Linda just made sure she didn't say the person was Andrew Martin.

Stephanie nodded. "Oh okay, well I'm going to go hang out with dad and Shane okay?" Stephanie asked.

Linda nodded and watched Stephanie walk out of the kitchen. Linda's eyes softened when she heard the faint voices of Stephanie and Vince; Linda hadn't been ready for this, when she had agreed to spend Christmas here, she hadn't been ready to feel the wave of old emotions wash over her just when she heard Vince and Stephanie talk, it was like all the years she spent with her family, before everything went bad.

Linda walked over to the kitchen door and opened it a crack, she peeked through the whole and smiled at what she saw; Vince sitting in his chair talking with Stephanie and Shane who were sitting on the big couch next to each other... Stephanie had a smile on her face as her and Shane joked about something, that only seemed to be funny to them, like a joke no one else in this world would be able to get, just a joke between them, a joke they could say was "their joke".

Linda smiled; They were once a family... a great family. Shane and Stephanie were the visions of perfection in Linda's eyes, both about the same in height, both smart and beautiful. Vince had been the perfect husband, he was dedicated to his work, but always found the time to make sure he there for his children, although he treated Stepanie a bit more special, but a great father.

They were once a family and from what Linda could see from her hiding spot behind the door... they still were a family.

::: Right outside the McMahon home :::

Andrew zipped his coat up as he stared at the door of the McMahon mansion, he stared at the mansion with a look in his eyes, this place seemed to get bigger every year. Andrew visited the mansion every year for the annual WWF New Years Eve party, but no matter how many times he came here, the place always seemed to be getting bigger. Or maybe it was just his imagination playing games on him; Andrew brought his fist up to knock on the door, he let out a deep sigh once his fist came in contact with the wooden door.

"Come on..." Andrew said to himself as he rubbed his hands together. He was 45 minutes late, he had to take a detour because of the snow storm and then his car had broke down just a few miles before Vince's mansion.

To make a long story short, he was not having a good day. Andrew had almost decided not to come to Vince's to spend Christmas with them, but in the end he knew he had to talk to Stephanie. He had to set things straight, Chtistmas was about forgiving, starting all over again... and he just hoped he would be able to do that with Stephanie.

"Yeah? Oh shit Andrew..." Shane said, his face paling, his voice trailing off. "What are you doing here?"

Andrew rolled his eyes at Shane. "Sorry I'm late, there was this huge snow storm on the highway and then my car broke down a few miles into Greenwich, are you going to invite me in or not?"

Shane hestitated but then nodded letting Andrew in, it wasn't like he could say no you can't come in because my sister doesn't know that you are supposed to be here. "Sure, there is just something you should know..."

::: Inside the McMahon home :::

Vince looked up from Stephanie and groaned once he saw Andrew walk in, he had actually thought Andrew wasn't going to show up, Vince had actually thought there was a chance that this Christmas may be actually normal.

"What is it daddy?" Stephanie asked, looking away from Vince, her eyes widened when she saw Andrew standing next to Shane, why was he here? Stephanie glanced over at Shane who had a look of guilt on his face, Stephanie shook her head ... they had been set up.

Shane looked away from his hands and looked at Stephanie, he forced a smile directed at Stephanie, in which she didn't return. Shane shook his head, he had just got busted; Shane ran his hands over his face.

Andrew looked at the surprise painted on Stephanie's face and then he looked over at Shane who was rubbing his hands over his face. Andrew sighed, finally realizing why Stephanie had come to his locker-room to give him his Christmas present early... Shane had set them up.

"Dinner's done." Linda said, putting the turkey down on the table, she looked up and saw the looks on the faces of Andrew, Shane and Stephanie, which did not look good. "Everyone please sit down." Linda said, not giving anybody any time to argue.

"I can't believe you Shane!" Stephanie hissed into Shane's ear as she passed the mashed potatoes to Vince. "You set me up!"

"Well not exactly," Shane said quietly. "I was just trying to..." Shane's voice trailed off, he was trying to find the perfect way to explain this without upsetting Stephanie further.

"You were trying to do what? Destroy my life?" Stephanie questioned as she took a bite of her turkey, so she wouldn't cause any attention towards her and Shane.

"No, exactly the opposite. You and Andrew obviously still care for each other and I was just trying to make you two see that. Both you and Andrew are stubborn, so I thought if I got you two together on the holiday of forgiveness and love, that you two would see that you don't have to pretend you guys don't love each other anymore. I thought I was helping you, but I was just being an idiot." Shane turned away from Stepanie and concentrated on his food, this Christmas was NOT going well.

Stephanie stared at Shane, the angry look in her eyes gone, could Shane be right? Maybe her and Andrew were just too damn stubborn to see that they needed each other... Stephanie had told him she loved him, but then she had ran off before he could reply, afraid of what his response would have been. Maybe if she had stayed, she would have heard that Andrew still loved her, or maybe not... but she would never know, unless she asked him tonight.

"Look," Andrew stood up, pushing himself away from his chair. "I'm sorry I came, I didn't know that Shane had planned this whole thing, because if I have, I would have never came. Actually I just came here, to give this to Stephanie and apologize to her, for not saying it sooner." Andrew but the rectangular velvet box on the table, he cast Stephanie a look before heading out of the house.

Stephanie reached over the table slowly and grabbed the box, she could feel Shane, Vince and Linda's eyes on her, she brought the box to her; She opened the box, her eyes got wide when she saw the locket lying neatly in the box. She pulled the locket out and brought it up to her eyes so she could see it, it was a heart locket on a gold chain, Stephanie turned the locket over and smiled softly when she saw the engraved words:

I love you Stephanie McMahon
-Andrew Martin

Stephanie opened the locket open and on both sides of the locket were pictures of her and Andrew; Stephanie held the locket in her hands as she jumped up from the table.

"I got to---" Stephanie started to say but was cut off by Linda.

"Go get him honey." Linda said softly, smiling sweetly at Stephanie.

Stephanie nodded and ran to the edge of her door and opened it.

"Andrew!" Stephanie said, grabbing Andrew's attention, who was on the other side of the door, when Stephanie opened it up.

Andrew smiled at Stephanie. "I forgot my coat in there, I wouldn't usually worry about a stupid coat, but it's freezing out here and I don't have another coat and I..."

"Shut up Andew." Stephanie said. "Mistletoe."

Andrew opened his mouth to ask Stephanie what she was talking about but then he looked up and saw the mistletoe hanging above Stephanie's head. "Oh look, well you know, we don't have to."

Stephanie shook her head. "Kiss me."

Andrew nodded and closed off the personal space between him and Stephanie, he brushed his lips softly against Stephanie's. Stephanie wrapped her arms around Andrew's neck, pulling him closer, not ever wanting the kiss to end, the kiss was slow and passionate and so much full of love, Stephanie couldn't get enough of it.

"That was wow..." Stephanie said, once her and Andrew pulled apart. "Andrew?"

Andrew looked at Stephanie, his eyes glazed over in a hazed state, he hadn't kissed someone like that since Stephanie left him, and he couldn't believe that he had lived 2 years without being able to feel this way. "Yeah?"

"I don't want to spend one more Christmas without you." Stephanie said pulling Andrew back into the house.