It had been a year after Al had asked her to marry him, and they had no intention to rush the
wedding, for they both knew that this was a big step for the both of them. They had done a lot in
that time, for instance they both had a lot of memories in the houses they lived in, For Linda
that was the house her and Vince shared a lot of good times and for Al, well he raised Jade in
that home, and that was the first house that he and Emily had bought.
"We'll build a new one, a new life and new memories will be made there" he said the one day
as they sat on a park bench near the lake.
"Where?" Linda asked at his sudden excitement to build a new home.
" Years ago I inherited twelve acres of land when my grandfather passed away. Its been unused
for years. Its in the country, not many house around, the only lights are from the moon and stars
We could have horses, cows, chicken, goats, whatever we want. and its only about twenty minutes
from titan"
Linda pondered this for a moment, a smile came across her face, "It would be nice to get away
from it all"
They built a house, well actually now it was a home for it was a new beginning for Al and Linda.
Also during this time Jade was given a full scholarship to the Arts instituate,in which was a bit
of a problem.
"Its in New York" Al not minding the tone of his voice for he was a bit irritated.
"Yeah, but dad its an awesome school, I'm not going to pass on it" Jade argued back.
"What happened to West Point, what happened to majoring in Criminal Justice?" he yelled
"Oh hell, that was all you. Just because you went there doesn't mean I want to, and criminal
justice is so not for me. I can't believe you haven't even taken notice to the awards I won
for photography and computer arts," she said walking off.
"We are not done here" Al yelled. He was in such a mood, he didn't hear Linda return from
her three day trip to L.A.
"Your done now" she said entering the room and putting her bags down. He had now developed
a major headache and he so need to sit down. He sat in his recliner and rubbed his temples.
It was about two minutes later, Linda came over and sat on the arm of the chair. " Here, take
these, Its motrin, you can stop looking at them something illegal"
Al took the Motrin and in one swift movement pulled her down onto his lap. "How was your trip?"
"We can talk about my trip later, right now, we need to discuss the problem your having with
Jade"
"There is no problem" he answered, Linda laughed "No problem, you were yelling when i walked
in the door, and you've given yourself such a headache you can barely stand up"
Al sighed and shook his head "She wants to go to school in new York"
Linda jumped with excitement, "She was accepted to the art institute?"
Al stood up, but got dizzy and had to sit down, "you knew" he asked
"I had some of the photographers at titan help her with her portfolio" she smiled
"so you were in on this whole deal" he said irritated.
"Al sweetie, I know you had big planed for her, but those were your planes and dreams not hers,
have you seen some of the work she has done. Its unbelievable. This is what she wants to do, you
really can't deny her of this. I won't let you. and besides New York is not far from here, Steph
lives in New York, and sh'd take good care of Jade"
Al sighed this was a losing battle "I don't doubt that for one minute, its I don't know, I
always wanted what's best for her"
"This is what's best, she knows what's best for her, she's not little anymore, come I'll get you
Something to eat" She said
Al stood up, and even though he was still a bit dizzy, he tried to walk through it, But he got
real light headed and dropped to his knees. "Al"She yelled as flashes of Vince ran
through her mind. She knelt down beside him. "Everything's fine" he said reassuring her that he
was OK. Why hadn't she noticed that his face was still red and she assumed the sweating was from
him yelling and being upset.
"Al, sweetie what's wrong?" she asked, "I'm fine" he said getting up and leaning against a wall.
"No, your not" She put her hand to his head, "Your developing a fever, Al how long have you been
sick?" she asked concerned about his health.
"umm" he closed his eyes and once again started to fall, luckily for him Linda was there or he
would have cracked his head off the table."I'm fine" he said, she wasn't sure who he trying to
convince of that.
If Jade hadn't been home, Linda would have never been able to get him up the stairs. It only
took about twenty minutes to get to the bedroom. Jade went to get doctor Kepler who lived
about two miles down the road.
" You never did tell how your trip was?" He said as Linda loosened his tie and took it off him.
"You have bad timing when it comes to wanting to talk about a trip" Linda said, she was still
shocked that he had gone to work. "I can't believe, you went to work in this condition" she said
unsnapping the suspenders from his pants."You know you work too much" she smiled
Al smiled and took her hand which was unbuttoning his sweat soaked shirt."Thank you for being
here, and you better watch out for something I didn't eat is about to come back up" he said before
darting to the bathroom, once again he was lucky that the clostest bathroom was right there in
the room or other wise there would be a mess to clean up. And I doubt neither Linda or Jade was
up to that job. Well, by the time Jade returned with Dr. Kepler, Al was in a pair of gym shorts
and a shirt that was already soaked with sweat. Linda had changed into wind pants and a hoodie
and was applying a wet rag to his head, as he laid on the floor near the bathroom.
"He looks bad" Jade said looking down upon her father, "Actually" she said with a laugh "He
reminds me of one of those animals you want to kick, just to see if its alive" She laughed
"But I won't kick ya, all though I want to, won't let me go to New York" she said mumbling
the last part to herself.
"You can go, but we'll talk later" he said in a hoarse voice. Linda smiled as she rubbed his
head, as Dr. Kepler took pulse and his temperature.
"Yeah, well it won't be today, or tomorrow, it might be the end of the week" Dr. Kepler said
searching his bag. "You are not to leave this room, you need to stay in bed and rest for the
week or otherwise you'll get worse" Kepler said. "Then I'll be leaving, last thing I want is
what you have" Jade said leaving the room.
Well, for five days, Linda worked from the house and slept in the guest room, last thing she needed
was to get sick, Linda sat in the guest room on the bed reading, when the phone rang,
she quickly grabbed it, "Hello" she answered.
"hey Mom" Steph said from the other line.
"Hey Steph, What's up?" Linda asked. "Nothing, I just got in from Nevada and I'm at Shane's now,
How's Al? Getting well I hope"
"Al's getting better, whatever it was he had hit him hard, But he's so stubborn, he would not ask
for help when it was obvious he needed it."
Steph laughed, " I think he just didn't want you to feel as though you had to be there for his
every need"
Linda smiled she knew Steph was right, "But his fever did break and he is able to keep some food
down, so he should be back to normal in a day or two."
"That's great, Well I'm gonna run, do you want me to bring you anything" Steph asked.
"No, Steph, we're good, I'll talk to ya tomorrow" Linda said.
She hung up the phone and continued reading, she really wasn't paying much attention, so she
never heard the door open, and she didn't see Al walk in. He was still wet from the shower he
took and had cleaned up, as you can guess he hadn't shaved in five days and well he looked as
though he lived out in the woods. Anyway she finally realized his presence when he jumped down
next to her,"What are you doing up?" She asked, "I've been up for about an hour now" He said
wrapping his arms around her, "that I can see" She said rubbing his arms.
"So what are you reading" He asked.
They spent the rest of the night that way, she explained the book, from that point she just
laid there in his arms, not reading, not talking, just taking in the moment.
All was going well, that is up until they actually met Travis. Now when Jade said she was going
out all those nights Al assumed it was with her friends, never did he expect to meet Travis.
In Al's mind Travis was no one he had to worry about, Jade had only mentioned his name once and
that was when he had driven Steph and Jade to Shane's house that night where they were both a
little tipsy.
Al and Linda had gone out to dinner, Jade wasn't home, they figured they'd be back before she was
Where they wrong, Jade and Travis decided to stay in and watch a movie, But it seems they found
other things to do, now they hadn't fully sealed the deal there on the couch, but if Al and Linda
walked in fifteen minutes later, they would have walked in on a whole lot more.
"I can't believe this, your grounded, I can't even explain how grounded you are, and who was that
Better not be someone you net tonight, hell it better not be someone you met last week" He yelled
Jade looked to Linda for help, But Linda put her hands up as if though to say her father was right.
"Don't look for help, who was he?" Al yelled again. Jade took two steps back "Travis" she said.
It took Al a minute to realize who Travis was "I'm going to kill him, and I'm going to kill you,
up until then go to your room, don't argue don't say anything"
Jade opened her mouth as if to say something "No, don't talk" Al said cutting her off.
"So what now" Linda asked, Al paced back and forth still very pissed off. "She's convent and
becoming a nun is what I want to do, but I can't do that, because I know its just the nature of
things for me to just, oh damn, why are some things so hard?"
Linda laughed "Its the way of life, but besides that you did know that she and Travis had been
seeing each other since the day she returned, I'm not saying what went on here was right"
Al stopped pacing "Of course I didn't know, do you honestly think she would tell me something like
that" he sighed "every since she turned sixteen, it seems all we do is argue with each other"
"Al that is nothing different from any other parent, Steph would tell me she hated me, I knew it
wasn't true, its just kids growing up"
Well Al had to accept that Jade was indeed an adult, They had a long discussion about everything,
and eventually he had learned to somewhat like Travis.
Linda smiled and looked out the window, she was staying at Shane's house with Marissa and Steph,
As Paul and Shane was with Al at their house.
"It has been one hell of a year" Steph said as she sat next to her mother, "You can say that"
Marissa said joining her.
"How about the giant surprise party, how great was that" Steph said, "Yeah who would have guessed
that their birthday was two days apart" Marissa said.
"That was one big party, I've never seen so many people have so much fun" Linda laughed "I still
can't believe that all of you went up there with guitar and sang coppa cabana, that's a memory"
Marissa and Steph laughed "Oh that was the brainstorm of Shane and Jade" Marissa said, "you had
to see the two of them trying to figure out the notes for the guitar, at one point she was ready
to smack him over the head with it, I've never seen two people who act as though their five"
Linda laughed, "Then you weren't around, when Steph and Jade were dropping water balloons out the
window at titan"
"Wait a second, wasn't you and Al, who came after us with super soakers" Steph said "also, you
never did tell what big planes you and Al had for your birthday"
Linda smiled "I'll tell ya when you get older"
The three of them laughed.
"Al sit down, your making me nervous and I'm already married" Shane said freaking. Al smiled
"I'm just nervous, yet excited"
"Yeah well you two had some journey together" Paul said
"But it was all worth it, and will be. to tell ya the truth, she helped me get through a lot more
than I wished to"
"Ohh, Like Travis, I don't really like him" Shane said. Al laughed, "Shane I never really did
thank you"
"For what?" Shane asked. "You really have been the big brother to Jade" Al said.
"He's very protective of Steph and Jade, ah hell Shane even tried to kill me once " Paul said.
"Any ways Thank you for watching over her, I know she thinks highly of you" Al said
"Anytime" Shane answered.
The loud bass of music let them know that Jade was there. She entered through the kitchen where
all three men where standing around. "Please don't let me stop your fun, looks like too much for
me to handle, bunch of fun lovin guys here" she said with her usual attitude of sarcasm.
"Yeah, I knew you can't handle fun like this" Shane said. "Right, You need to get a life" she
quickly replied. "I'm married I don't need a life anymore" Shane laughed.
"Why don't ya'll play the x box, its hooked up and Shane guess what I have for it, I have
the new Raw game, so maybe here's your chance to actually win" Jade laughed.
"hahaha, yeah, not funny, that was just cold" Shane said looking serious.
"Ah, I'm not sorry, so sit on that, but for the reason I'm here, I was sent here by Marissa,
Shane you retard you forgot your shoes" Jade said throwing them at him.
"Whoa, your in a mood today?" Al said "I'm just tired and I need a nap before I got, so I'm gonna
go" Jade said getting ready to leave.
"Lets not be out all night, big day tomorrow" Al smiled.
Jade smiled "Hey,Tommorow is your day, and Travis and I are going to see a movie, that's it."
"all right, I'll talk to ya later, but do me a favor, come here" Al walked into his office, and
from the desk drawer pulled a jewelry box with ribbon wrapped around it, "You know who to give
this to?" he asked "No I don't can you explain to me who, cause for the last year I've had my
head up my ass" Jade said before turning and leaving.
"You really need that nap" Al called out to her. "Yeah I know" he heard her yell back.
Al smiled and moved on.
Night came by quickly, and now Linda, Steph and Marissa where sitting around watching movies,
they would prepare for tomorrow but that had already been done, In fact they went over the
checklist like five or six times. "An American President I've seen this one already"
Marissa protested, "As have I, but its a good one and we'll watch it again"
"Actually, Steph, I just saw this the other night" Linda said, "No way, Mom this is our movie,
your supposed to call and tell its on" Steph said.
"Its wasn't on, Al went out and rented it" Linda smiled.
"All right fine, We'll watch this, Riding in Cars with Boys, it just came out" Steph said putting
the tape in, "I've already seen this" Jade said walking in and sitting down between Marissa and
Linda. "I thought you were going out with Travis" Linda asked.
"I don't feel like it" Jade said. "Well, that would be a first" Linda smiled
"Yes it is, But besides that I have a delivery for you" Jade handed the box to Linda.
She open the box, and somehow like it was timed the phone rang,"Hello" Linda answered
"So I was sitting here and i thought I would call to see how your night was going" Al said from
the other line. Linda smiled as she walked into the other room. Of course Steph and Marissa ran
towards the kitchen to pick the phone to listen in on the conversation.
"Its not the same without you, and the pearls are beyond beautiful"
"Well there is nothing more beautiful than you" Al smiled
"I really wish I was home with you"
"There is no other place I rather be then with you and by this time tomorrow, it'll be you and
me" Al said.
"And tomorrow couldn't come sooner" She smiled.
"No, it can't, and Now I hope your not having to much fun without me" He smiled, he could tell she
was smiling just by the tone of her voice.
"We're just sittin here talking and Steph decided we should watch a movie"
"What are ya watching" he asked. "We were going to watch An American president" Linda laughed.
"We never did see how the movie ended" Al laughed "I'm sure we could watch it again" Linda said
"If your there with me, I don't think we'll ever see the ending" Al laughed.
"I don't think I can ever watch that movie again" Steph whispered to Marissa
"So what are dumb and dumber up to" Linda asked
"wow, did she get that right"Marissa whispered to Steph as they listened.
"Well last I knew they were playing the X box, but now from the sound of things I think, they're
beating each other"
"I hope Paul whips Shane's ass" Marissa giggled
"I Really can't wait for tomorrow" Linda said
"Neither can I, and I'll let you go now, I love you" Al said
"Love you too, sweet dreams"
"Only if your in them" Al said
"Ooooohhhh"Steph and Marissa said at the same time forgetting about the phone.
Al Laughed "So I'll see you tommorow,Maybe we could do dinner,movie,get married"
"Night sweetie "Linda laughed as she hung up the phone and went back into the living room, Steph
and Marissa tried to play it off as though they had sat there and did nothing.
"You to are so unbelievably sad" Linda said, she noticed Jade had fallen asleep.
"You are such a loser, you all three of them over there talking about how sweet you are and how
come we aren't like you, you totally suck" Shane said when Al entered the room.
"I can't believe you two have nothing better to do then listen in on a phone conversation like a
couple of house wives" Al laughed heading towards the stairs.
"You still suck" Shane said.
"Well,I'm going up stairs, have a nice night" Al said leaving.
"Good night Al, or can I call you Albert" Paul said mocking him.
"Albert, now that's a suckie name, But my name is Alexander" he laughed.
"why don't people call you Alex then?" Shane asked
"I'll tell ya what, You guys can call me Alex" he said leaving.
"You still suck" Paul yelled up after him.
Linda finished up her tea and was sitting in the kitchen, Steph had gone to bed. Marissa walked
in and sat down. "Tomorrow is a big day" Marissa said.
"Oh that it is, But I'm not nervous. Cause I know its a new beginning"
"Al is an unbelievable guy. we all love him" Marissa said.
"You know I can sit here and I see a lot of Vince in him. In some ways their so a like, but then
I can sit tell you how different they are. I'm really lucky. I never thought I would find someone
else. But look how that turned out. Out of no where, I meet such a great man. But don't get me
wrong he's not perfect, he always put everyone else before himself and he's such a country fan"
Linda smiled.
"Well, Its late, and tomorrow is your day, so you might want to get some sleep" Marissa said
leaving to go up stairs. Linda was on her way up the stairs when something caught her attention,
there it was, it was the picture she had taken a few months before he passed on. It was a picture
of Vince and Shane in the ring, actually the picture was taken for a magazine shoot.
Linda smiled, a feeling came over her in which she knew he was watching over her and he had sent
her Al. "It was you and I from the beggining,the best of friends, the perfect team. But what do
you do when that team breaks apart. Vince, I'll always love you, Meeting Al wasn't an accident,
its for the best."
The clock was ticking, it was almost time. Shane walked in through the front door, he looked
almost as bad as Al did. It looked as though Al had been up all night, Shane hugged Al. They
arrived at The church, it was filled from front to back and there people outside, even though
she didn't have an on screen role, she had a huge fan base. Al walked up aisle and saw the whole
WWF team. He took a seat in the front next to Steph and Paul, she immediately hugged him and
began to cry. Jade was seated next to him. A bell rang and everyone stood up, the casket carrying
Linda was brought to the front of the church. Al closed his eyes, his jaw clinched as tears built
up in his eyes. She never made it to the wedding, a drunk driver killed her and her driver.
It wasn't fair, he loved her so much, there was nothing, nothing he wouldn't do for her, and why
does this happen, what did she do to cause this?
Everyone had left the church and was on there way to the cemetery. Al stood alone in the middle
of the church, he was pissed, he had finally found what was missing in his life and it was taken
away to damn soon. "Why would you do this to me" he stood there looking at the cross. "I have
done nothing wrong and neither has she and yet you take her away from the world, from her kids,
from me" a hand on his shoulder cause him to turn, Shane and Stephanie stood there.
That was the end for him, he went through life as though it had no more meaning. He never dated,
he never went out actually. Jade came home from school every weekend. She did what she could to
make him happy but it did no good. It was true, she did complete him, she was what his life was
missing and to take her away so suddenly, well I guess you could say it killed him.
Not physically but in an emotional sense. Stephanie stopped by to visit him, as did Shane and
Marissa, after all they were still basically a family.
It was a rainy day, Al was feeling horribly depressed, and felt as though he really did not want
to go on with life anymore. He stood in the cemetery, rain pouring down, he didn't care how wet
he got, or if he got sick. He stood his ground, the rain dripped in his eyes, it didn't matter
he could barely see out of the tears that were already there. In the background underneath the
umbrella stood Shane and Jade, watching, but neither of them had the heart to go and try to pull
him away before he said what had to be said.
"One year today, it would have been real special. I really miss you, I thought after all we
survived through it would have been you and me in the long run, But I guess angels don't last
forever. In a way your back where you belong, with Vince. He was so lucky to have known you and
to have been with you, I'm sure he knew how lucky of a man he was, to have someone as great as
you standing at his side" AL sighed "You and I had a lot of good times, and I'll always remember
them, I just wish you were here so that why we'd have many more. Damn I loved you and God knows
I would do anything to bring you to me. I just wish I had one more chance to tell you, how much
I really did love you"
Jade walked over to her father and put her arm around him,"Come dad, lets go home," They walked
away, Shane stood his ground looking at the gravestone that read, "Linda E. McMahon "and then
he looked to the right "Vincent K. McMahon"
"They're a team, always together" Shane sadly smiled as he walked into the fog.
wedding, for they both knew that this was a big step for the both of them. They had done a lot in
that time, for instance they both had a lot of memories in the houses they lived in, For Linda
that was the house her and Vince shared a lot of good times and for Al, well he raised Jade in
that home, and that was the first house that he and Emily had bought.
"We'll build a new one, a new life and new memories will be made there" he said the one day
as they sat on a park bench near the lake.
"Where?" Linda asked at his sudden excitement to build a new home.
" Years ago I inherited twelve acres of land when my grandfather passed away. Its been unused
for years. Its in the country, not many house around, the only lights are from the moon and stars
We could have horses, cows, chicken, goats, whatever we want. and its only about twenty minutes
from titan"
Linda pondered this for a moment, a smile came across her face, "It would be nice to get away
from it all"
They built a house, well actually now it was a home for it was a new beginning for Al and Linda.
Also during this time Jade was given a full scholarship to the Arts instituate,in which was a bit
of a problem.
"Its in New York" Al not minding the tone of his voice for he was a bit irritated.
"Yeah, but dad its an awesome school, I'm not going to pass on it" Jade argued back.
"What happened to West Point, what happened to majoring in Criminal Justice?" he yelled
"Oh hell, that was all you. Just because you went there doesn't mean I want to, and criminal
justice is so not for me. I can't believe you haven't even taken notice to the awards I won
for photography and computer arts," she said walking off.
"We are not done here" Al yelled. He was in such a mood, he didn't hear Linda return from
her three day trip to L.A.
"Your done now" she said entering the room and putting her bags down. He had now developed
a major headache and he so need to sit down. He sat in his recliner and rubbed his temples.
It was about two minutes later, Linda came over and sat on the arm of the chair. " Here, take
these, Its motrin, you can stop looking at them something illegal"
Al took the Motrin and in one swift movement pulled her down onto his lap. "How was your trip?"
"We can talk about my trip later, right now, we need to discuss the problem your having with
Jade"
"There is no problem" he answered, Linda laughed "No problem, you were yelling when i walked
in the door, and you've given yourself such a headache you can barely stand up"
Al sighed and shook his head "She wants to go to school in new York"
Linda jumped with excitement, "She was accepted to the art institute?"
Al stood up, but got dizzy and had to sit down, "you knew" he asked
"I had some of the photographers at titan help her with her portfolio" she smiled
"so you were in on this whole deal" he said irritated.
"Al sweetie, I know you had big planed for her, but those were your planes and dreams not hers,
have you seen some of the work she has done. Its unbelievable. This is what she wants to do, you
really can't deny her of this. I won't let you. and besides New York is not far from here, Steph
lives in New York, and sh'd take good care of Jade"
Al sighed this was a losing battle "I don't doubt that for one minute, its I don't know, I
always wanted what's best for her"
"This is what's best, she knows what's best for her, she's not little anymore, come I'll get you
Something to eat" She said
Al stood up, and even though he was still a bit dizzy, he tried to walk through it, But he got
real light headed and dropped to his knees. "Al"She yelled as flashes of Vince ran
through her mind. She knelt down beside him. "Everything's fine" he said reassuring her that he
was OK. Why hadn't she noticed that his face was still red and she assumed the sweating was from
him yelling and being upset.
"Al, sweetie what's wrong?" she asked, "I'm fine" he said getting up and leaning against a wall.
"No, your not" She put her hand to his head, "Your developing a fever, Al how long have you been
sick?" she asked concerned about his health.
"umm" he closed his eyes and once again started to fall, luckily for him Linda was there or he
would have cracked his head off the table."I'm fine" he said, she wasn't sure who he trying to
convince of that.
If Jade hadn't been home, Linda would have never been able to get him up the stairs. It only
took about twenty minutes to get to the bedroom. Jade went to get doctor Kepler who lived
about two miles down the road.
" You never did tell how your trip was?" He said as Linda loosened his tie and took it off him.
"You have bad timing when it comes to wanting to talk about a trip" Linda said, she was still
shocked that he had gone to work. "I can't believe, you went to work in this condition" she said
unsnapping the suspenders from his pants."You know you work too much" she smiled
Al smiled and took her hand which was unbuttoning his sweat soaked shirt."Thank you for being
here, and you better watch out for something I didn't eat is about to come back up" he said before
darting to the bathroom, once again he was lucky that the clostest bathroom was right there in
the room or other wise there would be a mess to clean up. And I doubt neither Linda or Jade was
up to that job. Well, by the time Jade returned with Dr. Kepler, Al was in a pair of gym shorts
and a shirt that was already soaked with sweat. Linda had changed into wind pants and a hoodie
and was applying a wet rag to his head, as he laid on the floor near the bathroom.
"He looks bad" Jade said looking down upon her father, "Actually" she said with a laugh "He
reminds me of one of those animals you want to kick, just to see if its alive" She laughed
"But I won't kick ya, all though I want to, won't let me go to New York" she said mumbling
the last part to herself.
"You can go, but we'll talk later" he said in a hoarse voice. Linda smiled as she rubbed his
head, as Dr. Kepler took pulse and his temperature.
"Yeah, well it won't be today, or tomorrow, it might be the end of the week" Dr. Kepler said
searching his bag. "You are not to leave this room, you need to stay in bed and rest for the
week or otherwise you'll get worse" Kepler said. "Then I'll be leaving, last thing I want is
what you have" Jade said leaving the room.
Well, for five days, Linda worked from the house and slept in the guest room, last thing she needed
was to get sick, Linda sat in the guest room on the bed reading, when the phone rang,
she quickly grabbed it, "Hello" she answered.
"hey Mom" Steph said from the other line.
"Hey Steph, What's up?" Linda asked. "Nothing, I just got in from Nevada and I'm at Shane's now,
How's Al? Getting well I hope"
"Al's getting better, whatever it was he had hit him hard, But he's so stubborn, he would not ask
for help when it was obvious he needed it."
Steph laughed, " I think he just didn't want you to feel as though you had to be there for his
every need"
Linda smiled she knew Steph was right, "But his fever did break and he is able to keep some food
down, so he should be back to normal in a day or two."
"That's great, Well I'm gonna run, do you want me to bring you anything" Steph asked.
"No, Steph, we're good, I'll talk to ya tomorrow" Linda said.
She hung up the phone and continued reading, she really wasn't paying much attention, so she
never heard the door open, and she didn't see Al walk in. He was still wet from the shower he
took and had cleaned up, as you can guess he hadn't shaved in five days and well he looked as
though he lived out in the woods. Anyway she finally realized his presence when he jumped down
next to her,"What are you doing up?" She asked, "I've been up for about an hour now" He said
wrapping his arms around her, "that I can see" She said rubbing his arms.
"So what are you reading" He asked.
They spent the rest of the night that way, she explained the book, from that point she just
laid there in his arms, not reading, not talking, just taking in the moment.
All was going well, that is up until they actually met Travis. Now when Jade said she was going
out all those nights Al assumed it was with her friends, never did he expect to meet Travis.
In Al's mind Travis was no one he had to worry about, Jade had only mentioned his name once and
that was when he had driven Steph and Jade to Shane's house that night where they were both a
little tipsy.
Al and Linda had gone out to dinner, Jade wasn't home, they figured they'd be back before she was
Where they wrong, Jade and Travis decided to stay in and watch a movie, But it seems they found
other things to do, now they hadn't fully sealed the deal there on the couch, but if Al and Linda
walked in fifteen minutes later, they would have walked in on a whole lot more.
"I can't believe this, your grounded, I can't even explain how grounded you are, and who was that
Better not be someone you net tonight, hell it better not be someone you met last week" He yelled
Jade looked to Linda for help, But Linda put her hands up as if though to say her father was right.
"Don't look for help, who was he?" Al yelled again. Jade took two steps back "Travis" she said.
It took Al a minute to realize who Travis was "I'm going to kill him, and I'm going to kill you,
up until then go to your room, don't argue don't say anything"
Jade opened her mouth as if to say something "No, don't talk" Al said cutting her off.
"So what now" Linda asked, Al paced back and forth still very pissed off. "She's convent and
becoming a nun is what I want to do, but I can't do that, because I know its just the nature of
things for me to just, oh damn, why are some things so hard?"
Linda laughed "Its the way of life, but besides that you did know that she and Travis had been
seeing each other since the day she returned, I'm not saying what went on here was right"
Al stopped pacing "Of course I didn't know, do you honestly think she would tell me something like
that" he sighed "every since she turned sixteen, it seems all we do is argue with each other"
"Al that is nothing different from any other parent, Steph would tell me she hated me, I knew it
wasn't true, its just kids growing up"
Well Al had to accept that Jade was indeed an adult, They had a long discussion about everything,
and eventually he had learned to somewhat like Travis.
Linda smiled and looked out the window, she was staying at Shane's house with Marissa and Steph,
As Paul and Shane was with Al at their house.
"It has been one hell of a year" Steph said as she sat next to her mother, "You can say that"
Marissa said joining her.
"How about the giant surprise party, how great was that" Steph said, "Yeah who would have guessed
that their birthday was two days apart" Marissa said.
"That was one big party, I've never seen so many people have so much fun" Linda laughed "I still
can't believe that all of you went up there with guitar and sang coppa cabana, that's a memory"
Marissa and Steph laughed "Oh that was the brainstorm of Shane and Jade" Marissa said, "you had
to see the two of them trying to figure out the notes for the guitar, at one point she was ready
to smack him over the head with it, I've never seen two people who act as though their five"
Linda laughed, "Then you weren't around, when Steph and Jade were dropping water balloons out the
window at titan"
"Wait a second, wasn't you and Al, who came after us with super soakers" Steph said "also, you
never did tell what big planes you and Al had for your birthday"
Linda smiled "I'll tell ya when you get older"
The three of them laughed.
"Al sit down, your making me nervous and I'm already married" Shane said freaking. Al smiled
"I'm just nervous, yet excited"
"Yeah well you two had some journey together" Paul said
"But it was all worth it, and will be. to tell ya the truth, she helped me get through a lot more
than I wished to"
"Ohh, Like Travis, I don't really like him" Shane said. Al laughed, "Shane I never really did
thank you"
"For what?" Shane asked. "You really have been the big brother to Jade" Al said.
"He's very protective of Steph and Jade, ah hell Shane even tried to kill me once " Paul said.
"Any ways Thank you for watching over her, I know she thinks highly of you" Al said
"Anytime" Shane answered.
The loud bass of music let them know that Jade was there. She entered through the kitchen where
all three men where standing around. "Please don't let me stop your fun, looks like too much for
me to handle, bunch of fun lovin guys here" she said with her usual attitude of sarcasm.
"Yeah, I knew you can't handle fun like this" Shane said. "Right, You need to get a life" she
quickly replied. "I'm married I don't need a life anymore" Shane laughed.
"Why don't ya'll play the x box, its hooked up and Shane guess what I have for it, I have
the new Raw game, so maybe here's your chance to actually win" Jade laughed.
"hahaha, yeah, not funny, that was just cold" Shane said looking serious.
"Ah, I'm not sorry, so sit on that, but for the reason I'm here, I was sent here by Marissa,
Shane you retard you forgot your shoes" Jade said throwing them at him.
"Whoa, your in a mood today?" Al said "I'm just tired and I need a nap before I got, so I'm gonna
go" Jade said getting ready to leave.
"Lets not be out all night, big day tomorrow" Al smiled.
Jade smiled "Hey,Tommorow is your day, and Travis and I are going to see a movie, that's it."
"all right, I'll talk to ya later, but do me a favor, come here" Al walked into his office, and
from the desk drawer pulled a jewelry box with ribbon wrapped around it, "You know who to give
this to?" he asked "No I don't can you explain to me who, cause for the last year I've had my
head up my ass" Jade said before turning and leaving.
"You really need that nap" Al called out to her. "Yeah I know" he heard her yell back.
Al smiled and moved on.
Night came by quickly, and now Linda, Steph and Marissa where sitting around watching movies,
they would prepare for tomorrow but that had already been done, In fact they went over the
checklist like five or six times. "An American President I've seen this one already"
Marissa protested, "As have I, but its a good one and we'll watch it again"
"Actually, Steph, I just saw this the other night" Linda said, "No way, Mom this is our movie,
your supposed to call and tell its on" Steph said.
"Its wasn't on, Al went out and rented it" Linda smiled.
"All right fine, We'll watch this, Riding in Cars with Boys, it just came out" Steph said putting
the tape in, "I've already seen this" Jade said walking in and sitting down between Marissa and
Linda. "I thought you were going out with Travis" Linda asked.
"I don't feel like it" Jade said. "Well, that would be a first" Linda smiled
"Yes it is, But besides that I have a delivery for you" Jade handed the box to Linda.
She open the box, and somehow like it was timed the phone rang,"Hello" Linda answered
"So I was sitting here and i thought I would call to see how your night was going" Al said from
the other line. Linda smiled as she walked into the other room. Of course Steph and Marissa ran
towards the kitchen to pick the phone to listen in on the conversation.
"Its not the same without you, and the pearls are beyond beautiful"
"Well there is nothing more beautiful than you" Al smiled
"I really wish I was home with you"
"There is no other place I rather be then with you and by this time tomorrow, it'll be you and
me" Al said.
"And tomorrow couldn't come sooner" She smiled.
"No, it can't, and Now I hope your not having to much fun without me" He smiled, he could tell she
was smiling just by the tone of her voice.
"We're just sittin here talking and Steph decided we should watch a movie"
"What are ya watching" he asked. "We were going to watch An American president" Linda laughed.
"We never did see how the movie ended" Al laughed "I'm sure we could watch it again" Linda said
"If your there with me, I don't think we'll ever see the ending" Al laughed.
"I don't think I can ever watch that movie again" Steph whispered to Marissa
"So what are dumb and dumber up to" Linda asked
"wow, did she get that right"Marissa whispered to Steph as they listened.
"Well last I knew they were playing the X box, but now from the sound of things I think, they're
beating each other"
"I hope Paul whips Shane's ass" Marissa giggled
"I Really can't wait for tomorrow" Linda said
"Neither can I, and I'll let you go now, I love you" Al said
"Love you too, sweet dreams"
"Only if your in them" Al said
"Ooooohhhh"Steph and Marissa said at the same time forgetting about the phone.
Al Laughed "So I'll see you tommorow,Maybe we could do dinner,movie,get married"
"Night sweetie "Linda laughed as she hung up the phone and went back into the living room, Steph
and Marissa tried to play it off as though they had sat there and did nothing.
"You to are so unbelievably sad" Linda said, she noticed Jade had fallen asleep.
"You are such a loser, you all three of them over there talking about how sweet you are and how
come we aren't like you, you totally suck" Shane said when Al entered the room.
"I can't believe you two have nothing better to do then listen in on a phone conversation like a
couple of house wives" Al laughed heading towards the stairs.
"You still suck" Shane said.
"Well,I'm going up stairs, have a nice night" Al said leaving.
"Good night Al, or can I call you Albert" Paul said mocking him.
"Albert, now that's a suckie name, But my name is Alexander" he laughed.
"why don't people call you Alex then?" Shane asked
"I'll tell ya what, You guys can call me Alex" he said leaving.
"You still suck" Paul yelled up after him.
Linda finished up her tea and was sitting in the kitchen, Steph had gone to bed. Marissa walked
in and sat down. "Tomorrow is a big day" Marissa said.
"Oh that it is, But I'm not nervous. Cause I know its a new beginning"
"Al is an unbelievable guy. we all love him" Marissa said.
"You know I can sit here and I see a lot of Vince in him. In some ways their so a like, but then
I can sit tell you how different they are. I'm really lucky. I never thought I would find someone
else. But look how that turned out. Out of no where, I meet such a great man. But don't get me
wrong he's not perfect, he always put everyone else before himself and he's such a country fan"
Linda smiled.
"Well, Its late, and tomorrow is your day, so you might want to get some sleep" Marissa said
leaving to go up stairs. Linda was on her way up the stairs when something caught her attention,
there it was, it was the picture she had taken a few months before he passed on. It was a picture
of Vince and Shane in the ring, actually the picture was taken for a magazine shoot.
Linda smiled, a feeling came over her in which she knew he was watching over her and he had sent
her Al. "It was you and I from the beggining,the best of friends, the perfect team. But what do
you do when that team breaks apart. Vince, I'll always love you, Meeting Al wasn't an accident,
its for the best."
The clock was ticking, it was almost time. Shane walked in through the front door, he looked
almost as bad as Al did. It looked as though Al had been up all night, Shane hugged Al. They
arrived at The church, it was filled from front to back and there people outside, even though
she didn't have an on screen role, she had a huge fan base. Al walked up aisle and saw the whole
WWF team. He took a seat in the front next to Steph and Paul, she immediately hugged him and
began to cry. Jade was seated next to him. A bell rang and everyone stood up, the casket carrying
Linda was brought to the front of the church. Al closed his eyes, his jaw clinched as tears built
up in his eyes. She never made it to the wedding, a drunk driver killed her and her driver.
It wasn't fair, he loved her so much, there was nothing, nothing he wouldn't do for her, and why
does this happen, what did she do to cause this?
Everyone had left the church and was on there way to the cemetery. Al stood alone in the middle
of the church, he was pissed, he had finally found what was missing in his life and it was taken
away to damn soon. "Why would you do this to me" he stood there looking at the cross. "I have
done nothing wrong and neither has she and yet you take her away from the world, from her kids,
from me" a hand on his shoulder cause him to turn, Shane and Stephanie stood there.
That was the end for him, he went through life as though it had no more meaning. He never dated,
he never went out actually. Jade came home from school every weekend. She did what she could to
make him happy but it did no good. It was true, she did complete him, she was what his life was
missing and to take her away so suddenly, well I guess you could say it killed him.
Not physically but in an emotional sense. Stephanie stopped by to visit him, as did Shane and
Marissa, after all they were still basically a family.
It was a rainy day, Al was feeling horribly depressed, and felt as though he really did not want
to go on with life anymore. He stood in the cemetery, rain pouring down, he didn't care how wet
he got, or if he got sick. He stood his ground, the rain dripped in his eyes, it didn't matter
he could barely see out of the tears that were already there. In the background underneath the
umbrella stood Shane and Jade, watching, but neither of them had the heart to go and try to pull
him away before he said what had to be said.
"One year today, it would have been real special. I really miss you, I thought after all we
survived through it would have been you and me in the long run, But I guess angels don't last
forever. In a way your back where you belong, with Vince. He was so lucky to have known you and
to have been with you, I'm sure he knew how lucky of a man he was, to have someone as great as
you standing at his side" AL sighed "You and I had a lot of good times, and I'll always remember
them, I just wish you were here so that why we'd have many more. Damn I loved you and God knows
I would do anything to bring you to me. I just wish I had one more chance to tell you, how much
I really did love you"
Jade walked over to her father and put her arm around him,"Come dad, lets go home," They walked
away, Shane stood his ground looking at the gravestone that read, "Linda E. McMahon "and then
he looked to the right "Vincent K. McMahon"
"They're a team, always together" Shane sadly smiled as he walked into the fog.