TITLE: Second
Chances
AUTHOR: Dannette [ UniqueFandoms@aol.com
]
RATING: PG-13
SUMMARY: On Christmas Eve,
Stephanie gets a glimpse of what her life could have been if she had made
different choices in her life. Inspired by 'The Family Man'. AU
story.
DISCLAIMER: I do not
own Stephanie McMahon, Andrew Martin (Test) or whoever decides to
pop up in this story; They belong to the WWF and Vince McMahon ---- Unfortunately
in my case, I do not own Shane McMahon (Sad I know.)
SPECIAL DEDICATIONS:
To Grace and all the other Andrew/Stephanie fans out there!!
~*~
"Hey Paul." Stephanie said walking
up to Paul Heyman.
Paul looked up from his script. "Hello
Stephanie, how are you?"
Stephanie smiled at Paul, doing a
shrugging motion with her shoulders. Stephanie tugged at one of her pig-tails
as she tried to come up with something to say to Paul; She had been waiting
for Andrew to show up, but he got stuck in a conference meeting with Jim
Ross, and Vince so Stephanie had started to walk around and when she saw
Paul she had the hugest urge to go talk to him.
"Was there something you wanted to
ask me?" Paul asked, raising his eyebrow at the youngest McMahon.
"Actually there was. Are you satisfied
where you are now in the company?" Stephanie asked, bringing her hands
behind her back.
Paul shrugged. "Yeah, I guess. I
mean I never really thought about it, why?" Paul questioned, suddenly interested
as what made Stephanie bring up this sort of conversation.
"Well don't you see yourself walking
away from the WWF and your job as an announcer to be something greater?
I mean you have the potential to be something so much greater, more extreme
then an announcer. You have a great mind Paul, devious and brilliant. And
a mind like yours is being wasted in the job occupation you have right
now; The WWF are taking advantage of you ... " Stephanie stopped when she
saw Andrew approaching. "Just take that in mind, and remember, you can
be so much more."
Paul watched Stephanie wave and walk
off and right up to Andrew; Paul's eyes sparkled as the two lover's embraced
and left. Paul had known Stephanie McMahon for a long time, and he was
indeed intimidated by the young woman. She was only 24 years old and already
a big mark in the WWF; She was daddy's little girl but she was so much
more ... she was the other half to Andrew Martin, she was Shane McMahon's
little sister, the co-owner of the WWF, and she was the most pleasant young
girl you could ever meet ... Paul had known that the day he met her, she
had shined with so much beauty and knowledge, he had instantly been intimidated
by the girl. Paul shook his head and picked his script back up and walked
off, smirking to himself.
~*~
"How about this?" Stephanie pointed
out a dress to Trish, in which Trish winkled her nose at, indication that
it was a definite no.
Trish walked into the clothes store
with Stephanie, she smiled and picked up a short red dress. "Look at this."
Trish showed Stephanie the dress.
Stephanie laughed taking the dress
Stephanie put it back where Trish picked it up from. "Uh I don't think
so Trish. For one I don't have the figure and plus that is something you
would
wear not me."
Trish raised her eyebrow. "For one,
you have an excellent figure my dear and second ... what did that mean?
I happen to like my taste in clothing, I think they have spice."
"Too much spice." Stephanie replied,
grinning. "Oh look at this everybody, Trish Stratus is getting offended
... it's a first." Stephanie said passing the other clothes.
Trish followed after Stephanie. "I
never
get offended my dear, just because you don't have the guts to wear
I wear doesn't mean you got to trash my clothing. But hey it's probably
good you wear all the girl next door clothes, 'cause if you wore anything
else, you might give poor Andrew a heart attack, since he's only seen you
in your girl next door role." Trish replied, grabbing a shirt that was
low-cut.
Stephanie arched her eyebrow. "I
hope you know I can dress like you if I wanted to, I just choose not to.
I am --- " Stephanie mid sentence, she dropped the tanktop she was looking
at when she saw her.
Her would be Lisa. Stephanie could
hear in the background Trish asking her what was wrong, but all Stephanie
could concentrate on was Lisa ... what was she doing here? Stephanie stumbled
back when Lisa stared at her, Stephanie bumped into a rack of clothes and
sent them flying. "Oh crap!" Stephanie muttered, trying to pick up the
clothes.
"Stephanie, are you okay?" Trish
asked, bending down next to Stephanie, she shot Stephanie a concerned look
as she helped Stephanie pick up the clothes.
"Um fine, sorry I just blacked out
... hey try this shirt on? It would look great on you." Stephanie said,
handing Trish a black low-cut shirt that had the word : 'naughty' on it.
"Uh, okay." Trish took the shirt
and pushed herself up. "Be back." Trish replied, walking into the dressing
room.
Once Trish was out of sight, Stephanie
ran over to Lisa and threw her a look. "What are you doing here Lisa?"
Lisa looked at Stephanie from behind
the counter. "Hey Stephanie, isn't this store great?" Lisa asked, smiling
as she looked around the store.
Stephanie shook her head. "You're
not taking me, I won't let you."
Lisa stared at Stephanie sadly. "Stephanie,
you don't really have a choice in the matter. I told you in the beginning,
that this was a glimpse, a glimpse of what your life could be like if you
made different choices in your life. But glimpses don't last forever, they
just last as long as they need to, as long as it takes to learn what you
are supposed to learn, in which you did. You realized that you need friends,
family and love ... but that lesson is over Stephanie and you have to go
now. This isn't your real life, you got a whole life back in your regular
world, you don't belong here."
"I do belong here! This is my life!
What happens when I leave? Is Andrew, Megan and Chris still in this world?"
Stephanie asked, frantically.
"Once you leave, this world leaves
with you. This world was created on the fact that you didn't turn on your
father and family at Armageddon and sided with Hunter, but when I send
you back, I send you back to the reality, the reality of a world you created
for yourself when you turned on your father. You return to ECW ... WECW.
And everything about your life before is there, as if it never changed."
Lisa replied.
"Well then, can't you send me back
to 1999, to Armageddon, so I can change what I did?" Stephanie asked, hopefully.
Lisa shook her head. "It doesn't
work that way Stephanie, you got your chance to see life, I can't give
you a chance to change life. This is your life, the roads you chose have
led you to the WECW, have helped you reconcile with your brother. Even
though you don't have the husband, best friend, and children ... you have
a pretty good life back there, and maybe you can even begin to start the
beginning of your new life."
"Okay you were right, this rocks
Stephanie." Trish smiled and then turned to Lisa. "How much?"
Lisa smiled. "10 dollars."
Trish took out her wallet and put
$ 11.50 on the counter and watched Lisa put the shirt in the bag
and hand it Trish along with her receipt. "Thank you for shopping at Claire's
clothes and accessories, please come again." Lisa said cheerfully.
"Didn't you want anything?" Trish
asked Stephanie.
"Uh, no ... let's go." Stephanie
muttered walking out of the store with Trish by her side.
~*~
Stephanie walked over to Chris's
crib, she smiled sadly and dropped a kiss on top of Chris's forehead; Then
Stephanie walked over to Megan's bed, she kneeled in front of Megan and
smiled sadly and kissed her on the cheek, which made Megan stir in her
sleep.
"Mommy?" Megan said, in a sleepy
tone, her eyes barely open.
"Go to sleep honey." Stephanie said,
rubbing Megan's back knowing that is what usually put Megan to sleep. Stephanie
choked back tears as she watched Megan fall into a deep slumber.
"Bye guys." Stephanie said, as she
walked out of the room.
---
Stephanie walked over to the bed
where Andrew was reading a book, Stephanie smiled sadly ... knowing that
this was the last time she would see him like this. Tomorrow she would
be back in her old life, where Andrew Martin hated her with a passion.
"Andrew?"
Andrew looked up when he heard the
voice of Stephanie, he smiled instantly. "Yeah honey?"
Stephanie sat down on the bed next
to Andrew, and took his hand. "Promise me something?"
Andrew stared at Stephanie, but finally
nodded. "Sure babe, anything. What's wrong?"
Stephanie brought her finger up to
Andrew's lips, cutting him off. "Promise you'll remember me exactly like
this, promise me Andrew, I need you to."
Andrew stared at Stephanie concerned.
"Okay ... are you sure nothing is wrong."
"I need you to tell me, tell me you
promise to remember me exactly like this." Stephanie said.
"I promise I will remember you exactly
this way." Andrew replied, his eyes soft with concern.
"Promise me again." Stephanie said,
holding back the tears.
"I promise I will remember you like
this ... exactly like this." Andrew said, his voice low and hushed.
"Thank you." Stephanie hugged Andrew,
and despite his questions of concern, she held on to him, and didn't say
a word.
~*~
"Shane? You awake?" Stephanie asked,
walking into the living room. She watched Shane's sleeping form, he was
sprawled out on the couch, the book he had been reading was on the floor,
and his hand was draped over the edge of couch, his fingertips barely grazing
the carpet.
"Hmmm ... now I am." Shane said,
pushing himself up. He let out a loud yawn, he shook his head and stared
up at Stephanie. "What's wrong?" Shane asked, once he saw the look on Stephanie's
face.
"I have to go." Stephanie said, her
eyes held a sad look in them.
"Wha --- how long are you going for?"
Shane asked, standing up.
"Forever, I have to go home now Shane."
Stephanie replied, the tears finally pricking at her blue eyes.
Shane shook his head. "Wait, you
can't leave ... I need you here, Andrew, Megan and Chris need you here.
You just can't leave .. how are we supposed to live without you here?"
Stephanie sighed. "You will, don't
worry. But I don't have a choice in this Shane, this was just a glimpse,
and now the glimpse is gone, and I have to go home ... home to where my
real brother is." Stephanie replied, letting the tears finally escape her
eyes.
Shane hugged Stephanie. "I don't
want you to go."
Stephanie hugged Shane back. "I don't
want to go either, but I have to. This isn't where I really live, I have
a whole world back home, that is where I belong. I have my own Shane, and
he needs me. Despite how he says he doesn't need anybody, he needs me.
We're a team, and without each other we're lost ... but I will never forget
you or everybody here." Stephanie replied.
Everything after that was a blur.
There was more talk, more tears ... and somewhere along the night they
had both fallen asleep.
~*~
"Stephanie, wake up!" Shane said,
as he walked into the Stephanie's large penthouse hotel room.
"Shane?" Stephanie asked tiredly,
she opened her eyes and noticed she was back in her hotel room, she looked
over at Shane who had a look of concern and anger on his face.
"Yeah me, you know your brother?
The co-owner of WECW? Speaking of WECW, we're supposed to be already on
our way to a conference meeting, you know to welcome the new staff of WECW
and such?" Shane asked.
"Is it Christmas Eve?" Stephanie
asked, getting up. She ran in her closet and grabbed some clothes and changed
in the bathroom.
"Yeah, who cares? Come on let's go
... " Shane started but stopped when he saw Stephanie run out of the bathroom
and put on her shoes.
"I can't Shane." Stephanie said,
as she pulled her hair in a pony-tail.
"What do you mean you can't?" Shane
asked, staring at Stephanie.
"I have something to do, look one
day you'll understand. Just go to the meeting and do what we were both
going to do, but just do it on your own. You can do this, I need you to
do this." Stephanie said, pulling on a jacket, she turned and stared at
Shane.
"What ... now slow the hell down
for just a second here! What is more important then the business?" Shane
asked, confused.
"Please just trust me on this ...
will you do this for me?" Stephanie asked, almost pleading.
Shane nodded. "Yeah okay, you so
owe
me big time sis." Shane replied walking out of the hotel room.
Stephanie shut the hotel room door
and ran up to Shane and hugged him. "Thank you."
Shane watched Stephanie run off,
he smirked to himself. "No problem sis."
~*~
Stephanie walked up to the restraunt
she knew that she was going to be at. Stephanie pulled her hair out of
the pony-tail and straightened her hair down, she walked into the restraunt
and saw Trish sitting at a booth alone, eating her lunch, with a disinterested
look on her face. Stephanie sighed and walked over to the book, she took
in a deep breath and let out a cough getting Trish's attention.
Trish looked up when she heard someone
cough, Trish widened her eyes a bit when she saw Stephanie standing in
front of her booth, then to cover up her initial shock, Trish rolled her
eyes and then glared at Stephanie. "What do you want Stephanie?"
Stephanie bit on her bottom lip nervously.
"Listen Trish, I know our past has been an incredibly rocky one ... and
I know that we hate each other --- " Stephanie started but was cut off
by Trish.
"No shit. Look Stephanie, if you
came here to remind me how much we hate each other --- no need. I already
know, so you can leave me alone to my food, thank you very much." Trish
replied.
Stephanie shook her head. "No I didn't
come here to remind you how much we hate each other, which by the way ...
why do we hate each other Trish? Have you ever really thought about it?
The real reason we truly and honestly hate each other?" Stephanie asked,
slowly.
Trish thought for a second and nodded.
"Vince."
"Ding dong, give the woman a prize."
Stephanie replied, smiling a bit. "The only real reason we hate each other
is because of my father, which by the way if you have noticed ... he is
not a problem anymore. So why do we still hate each other?" Stephanie asked,
arching her eyebrow up.
Trish sighed and moved over to let
Stephanie sit down. "I --- well I never really thought about it. All I
know is that we hate each other, I have never really tried to examine why."
Stephanie sat down. "We don't hate
each other, we just make ourselves think so. Look, if you can make up with
Lita, can't you make up with me? I want to put all our past behind us,
and try to be friends. I think we can be real good friends, if we just
make the past ... the past."
Trish smiled. "You want to be my
friend?" Trish asked, staring at Stephanie.
"Yes I do." Stephanie replied. "Only
if you want to be my friend as well."
Trish smiled again. "Waiter!" Trish
called the waiter over. "Can you bring my friend a menu so she can
order? Thanks." Trish turned to Stephanie. "I think that answers your question."
~*~
~*~
I pretend I'm glad you went away
These four walls closin' more
every day
And I'm dying inside
And nobody knows it but me
Why didn't I say
The things that needed to be
said
How could I let my angel get
away
Now my world is just a tumblin'
down
I can say it so clearly
But you're nowhere around
The nights are lonely, the days
are so sad
And I just keep thinkin' about
The love that we had
And I'm missin' you
And nobody knows it but me
I carry a smile when I'm broken
in two
And I'm nobody without someone
like you
I'm tremblin' inisde and nobody
knows it but me
I lie awake it's a quarter past
three
I'm screamin' at night as if
I thought
You'd hear me
Yeah my heart is callin' you
And nobody knows it but me
How blue can I get
You could ask my heart
But like a jigsaw puzzle it's
been torn all apart
A million words couldn't say
just how I feel
A million years from now you
know
I'll be lovin' you still
The nights are lonely, the days
are so sad
And I just keep thinkin' about
The love that we had
And I'm missin' you
And nobody knows it but me
Tomorrow mornin' I'm hittin' the
dusty road
Gonna find you wherever, ever
you might go
I'm gonna unload my heart and
hope you come back to me
Said when the nights are lonely
...
The nights are lonely, the days
are so sad
And I just keep thinkin' about
The love that we had
And I'm missin' you
And nobody knows it but me
~*~
Stephanie walked down the WWF hallways,
desperately trying to find him. So far Stephanie had made friends with
Lita, Trish and even The Hardy Boyz, and now she had to see him, to make
him see that she still loved him, Stephanie needed to make him see that
she never stopped and that she never loved Hunter. Stephanie needed, for
once in her life, to make the right choice ... instead of always choosing
the wrong choice, the wrong path.
No she couldn't do that twice, Lisa
had let her stare into a glimpse of what her life could be like, and Stephanie
wasn't going to screw up this chance, no she wasn't going to screw up another
chance to make things right.
"Andrew!" Stephanie screamed after
him, once she saw him.
Andrew turned around when he heard
someone call his name, Andrew rolled his eyes when he saw Stephanie. "What
do you want Stephanie?" Andrew said, in the most anger filled tone.
"To talk to you." Stephanie said,
in a calm tone.
"Well I don't want to talk to you."
Andrew said, about to turn and leave.
Stephanie grabbed Andrew's arm. "Please
can you at least --- " Stephanie started but was cut off quickly by Andrew.
"No! I don't owe you crap Stephanie,
especially a few minutes of my time so you can talk to me. There is nothing
we can talk about, we haven't had anything to talk about for two years,
and I was glad that we weren't talking, so why don't you just go skipping
along to WECW, and leave me the hell alone." Andrew replied, pulling his
arm away from Stephanie's grasp.
"Please!" Stephanie screamed loudly,
her words laced in desperation.
Andrew stopped in his tracks when
he heard the desperation in Stephanie's voice, Andrew slowly turned around
and stared at Stephanie. "You got a minute." Andrew said quickly.
Stephanie nodded. "Have you ever
thought about how life, our life, would have been altered if I had never
turned on my dad and joined sides with Hunter at Armaggedon?"
Andrew groaned. "This is what I get
for actually thinking that you wanted to have a conversation that wasn't
about you torturing me. I'm the only one to blame, Stephanie McMahon will
never change." Andrew muttered turning to leave.
"I'm serious Andrew! Have you ever
thought about it ... " Stephanie started but was cut off by Andrew.
"Yeah I used to okay!" Andrew screamed,
turning to face Stephanie. "But I don't anymore! Why are you doing this?
Are you trying to torture me? I loved you, I loved you a lot and for that
you broke my heart but I moved on. Sure it was hard at first, seeing you
walk around with Hunter with that evil smirk on your face, but I learned
that you're not the same girl I fell in love with."
Stephanie took in a deep breath.
"Andrew, I love you ... "
Andrew shook his head. "Don't you
dare play that game with me, because I don't believe a word that is coming
out of your mouth. You love me? Please. If you ever loved me, you
wouldn't have left me ... you wouldn't have married Hunter behind my back
... you wouldn't have stabbed me in the heart countless times."
"I was angry Andrew! I needed revenge,
so I turned my back on you, love and everything else I have ever known
to get that revenge. You think I'm proud of myself for that? Because I'm
not. But someone taught me that when you have a chance to fix something,
you should." Stephanie replied.
Andrew threw his hands up in the
air aggravated. "There is nothing here that needs fixing. I loved you,
you ditched me ... I hurt for a long time, but then I moved on. Closure
Steph, I have it. You don't need to be all sympathetic for me ... I moved
on." Andrew sighed and finally walked away.
"I mean have you ever thought about
how our life would be like? I can see it so clearly ... " Stephanie screamed
after Andrew.
Andrew stopped walking again, his
back remained to Stephanie, but he stopped walking.
"I can it so clearly Andrew, you
should see it ... it's beautiful." Stephanie replied, watching Andrew.
Andrew turned around and stared into
Stephanie's blue eyes, Andrew didn't move a inch, he just continued to
stare at Stephanie.
"We're married and we live in this
beautiful house. Four bedroom house, it's a big beautiful white house.
Actually it's a funny story, we had just gotten back from our honeymoon
in Hawaii, and we were trying to go to Trish's new place and we got lost,
but then I made you stop the car because I saw this beautiful house. It
was perfect, and I had begged for you to get it, I told you that the house
would be our perfect home. I wanted to paint it blue but you suckered me
into a backrub if I let you paint the house white, which I did, because
your back rubs are heaven. You painted the whole thing yourself because
Jeff, Matt, and Shane are usually no help, you nearly fell off the ladder
and broke your neck when you were painting the house but you regained your
composure before you fell." Stephanie smiled and laughed.
Andrew's eyes softened as he listened
to Stephanie.
"We have two kids, Megan and Chris.
Megan is just so beautiful, she just amazes you with her beauty and brilliance;
She shines in everything she does. She looks exactly like me, from head
to toe, especially her blue eyes; You love her eyes the most because you
say, that when you look into Megan's eyes, you can see me shining in them.
Then there's Chris, he looks like you, he's just learning to walk and he
does not give up, no matter how many times he falls on his butt
or hits his head. He doesn't say much, considering he's a baby, but we
know that when he grows up he is going to be the most brilliant person
in the world." Stephanie replied, smiling.
Andrew tilted his head, not saying
a word, just listening.
"I'm best friends with Trish and
Lita, amazing I know. Or is the word weird? Trish is one of the smartest
people I know, there was a time when I was doubting our marriage and Trish,
she made me realize I belong with you, that I wouldn't want to be anywhere
else. Despite that I still am the billion dollar princess we live a normal
life, we make sacrifices ... sacrifices that we are more then willing to
take. I clean and cook, can you even picture that? While cleaning or feeding
Chris, I sing along to songs ... every morning I can be sure that you will
be there to wish me good morning, and if you're not ... there's always
a note full of love. That is the sort of life we would live if you gave
me the chance ... to make ammends for walking out on you. I am so incredibly
sorry Andrew ... please just have lunch with me, that's all I ask and maybe
we can take it from there?" Stephanie asked.
Andrew took in a deep breath and
then nodded. "Yeah, lunch sounds good ... and we'll take it from there."
Andrew replied, straightening his jacket and motioned for Stephanie to
follow him.
~*~
Lisa watched in the background as
Andrew and Stephanie sat at a table, eating lunch as they talked ... Lisa
smiled as she watched Andrew and Stephanie laugh over something. She watched
closely as the two continued to laugh over something Lisa couldn't hear,
she didn't need to hear the words, all she had to do was see how sincere
the smile on Andrew's face was, and the twinkle in Stephanie's eyes were.
"Have fun having your second chance."
Lisa mumbled before disappearing, sastified with the rekindle of a romance
that should have never ended in the first place, and if all went well,
went according to the plan; Stephanie McMahon and Andrew Martin would never
be apart again.
