ChapterThree
Part One
09 April 2005
'It's me. I need…I need your help.'
Hunter's eyes travelled to the little boy clutching at Stephanie's leg. Despite having been wishing for this day for the past three years, despite looking very tired and unhealthy, the memory of what she had done to him all those years ago suddenly resurfaced.
His hardened himself, almost on instinct. 'And you came to me?'
A flicker of pain came over her face, but it was quickly replaced with acceptance. 'I understand,' she said softly. She bent down and picked up the little boy, who was frowning slightly up at him.
Hunter watched as she turned her back on him. As she began to walk away, the boy tightened his hold around her back. Stephanie cried out in pain, and actually stumbled a step.
Before he knew what he was doing, Hunter hurried towards her and took the boy from her. He looked into her face, and was surprised to see her crying. She had covered her face with her hands, but he could hear her sobs and see her frail body shaking. He was unnerved to see her so…uncomposed.
He set the boy down on the ground, and placed a hand gently on her back. Stephanie flinched from his touch, hissing as if he'd burnt her. Or if he'd touched something painful.
'Steph?' he asked softly, a frown beginning to form on his face. Hunter didn't want to be thinking what he was thinking, but he was compelled.
When she didn't reply, he gently picked up the bottom end of her shirt and lifted it. Stephanie's back was covered with ugly bruises, and ugly red welts were crisscrossing over the bruises. Some of them looked as if they were at least a few days old, already beginning to fade. But most were obviously fresh, just beginning to darken.
Hunter felt his heart drop, and a feeling of nausea began in the pit of his stomach. 'Oh god…Steph…'
*
'Who did that to you?' Hunter demanded, pacing angrily in front of her. 'If I ever-'
Stephanie shook her head as she felt Colby's hand tightening around hers. 'Hunter, it's okay.'
'That's just it!' he cried out, whirling to face her. 'It's not okay! How dare they lay one finger on you!'
His reaction to her appearance at his doorstep was not a surprise. But this, now? Stephanie was stunned. It was completely unexpected. 'Hunter, please.'
She saw him clench both fists tightly beside his leg, then he took a deep breath and faced her. He had a look of anguish on his face. 'How could anyone ever do that to you?'
'I need your help,' she asked again, keeping her voice as even as she could. 'I need your help, Hunter. Please.'
Hunter nodded, kneeling in front of her. 'Anything, Steph. Anything you want.'
'I need…I need a place to stay. Just for a little while.'
A small smile came over his face. 'Welcome home, Stephanie.'
Stephanie felt her heart expand at the sight of such a cherished smile. She felt tears begin to form again, and she smiled back at him. It was only small, but it was genuine. 'Thank you.'
'So, where is your stuff?'
She tightened her arm around Colby, pulling him closer to her. 'This is it. Me, and my son.'
*
10 April 2005
Hunter couldn't stop staring at the little boy. Colby Christopher Jericho. Stephanie's son. Stephanie and Jericho's son. Every now and then, whenever Colby turned to a certain angle, it hit Hunter how much the boy looked like his father.
'Mr Hunter,' he was saying, smiling up at him. 'I want to thank you for buying me so many stuff.'
He smiled back, reaching over and smoothing the boy's unruly blond hair back, loving his accent. He had offered to take Colby shopping for some clothes, seeing as they had left Australia with only their identification. Stephanie, although understandably reluctant, had finally agreed, though with promises to pay him back.
Hunter, having insisted that she stay at home and rest, was now having lunch with the boy. His car was already full of shopping bags. He had been surprised at how much fun he was having, buying everything that Colby had shown the slightest interest in. Clothes, shoes, toys, books.
'I was happy to do it,' he smiled.
Colby suddenly turned serious. 'And I want to thank you for letting us into your house.'
Hunter was surprised at the precocity of the boy. 'I'm not sure if your Mom ever told you, but it's also her house.'
'It is?'
He nodded. 'It is. She was the one who picked it out, as a matter of fact.' He hesitated. 'What has your Mom told you about me?'
Colby took a sip of his Coke before answering. 'Mom said that you were her friend.'
As intelligent as the boy obviously was, he was still only three years old. Hunter wouldn't expect him to understand all about his previous relationship, and marriage, to Stephanie. He smiled at him again. 'That's right. She was my bestfriend, from a long time ago.'
Four years was a long time.
*
For what seemed like the hundredth time that day, Stephanie put down the receiver back on its cradle before she had even started to dial the number. She had gone through a million different speeches on the plane ride over, yet none of them seemed right. Every time she picked up the phone, her mind went blank.
'Just do it,' she commanded herself sternly. 'She's your mother. Just call her.'
Stephanie picked it up one again, tightening her hold on the receiver least she put it down again. Breathing hard, her heart racing, she quickly dialled the number, surprised she could still remember it after all this time.
One ring. Two rings. Three. Four. There was no one home. Five rings. Si-
'Hello?' an extremely familiar, and sorely missed, voice answered, sounding tired.
Stephanie's throat closed up, and she almost choked. No words came out.
'Hello?' Linda repeated. 'Is anyone there? If this is another prank call, I've got-'
'Mom!' she finally burst out, her emotions getting the better of her as she started to cry.
There was a moment of silence on the other end. Then, 'Stephanie?'
She nodded, pressing the phone hard against her ear. 'I need you,' she sobbed. 'I need you, Mom.'
'Oh, my baby,' Linda breathed out, sounding as if she too had started to cry. 'My poor baby…just tell me where you are, okay? I'll be there as soon as I can.'
'I'm back home,' Stephanie said, the words having the most amazing effect on her. It felt like a great weight had been lifted from her chest. 'I'm finally back home, Mom.'
'At…at Hunter's?'
She nodded again, closing her eyes as a sudden feeling of relief washed over her. 'I'm home.'
*
Linda McMahon couldn't believe the physical change in her daughter. She couldn't stop touching her thin face, and pushing back her now short, blonde hair. To make herself believe that her little baby girl was really, and finally, in front of her again.
'I said no,' Stephanie repeated firmly. However long she may have been gone and through whatever may have happened to her, the McMahon stubbornness seemed to have not deteriorated.
'Steph, honey, he's your father,' Linda pleaded. Vince had not been at home when she had received the call, and she had not found the time to let him know. In fact, Linda was surprised she had managed to get to Hunter's place in one piece at all. It had taken her ninety minutes to drive the usually two hour trip. But those ninety minutes felt like it had been stretched to eternity.
'I don't care, Mom,' Stephanie said, shaking her head. 'Besides, I don't have a father.'
Linda sighed softly. It hurt her that her family was fighting. Still, she was more than happy to see Stephanie back in America again. But she looked so tortured. There was so much pain in her eyes, and all Linda wanted to do was get rid of it.
'Alright, have it your way,' she finally gave in. She pushed back the errant blonde stray that kept falling over Stephanie's eyes. 'And where is my grandson?'
A true smile lit up Stephanie's face, reminding Linda of the little girl who used to wake up early on Christmas mornings and run around the house waking everyone else up as well.
'He's the most amazing boy, Mom,' Stephanie said. 'He's so smart, and so adorable.' Her smile turned sad. 'He looks so much like Chris…'
Just then, the two of them heard the front door open, and Stephanie hastily stood up, suddenly tense. Linda watched her in surprise, and was shocked to find a look of fear crossing her daughter's face. Then, she visibly relaxed, her shoulders dropping.
'It's not him,' Stephanie whispered. 'Not anymore.'
'Mommy, I'm back!' a boy's voice called out from the entrance hall.
Linda looked eagerly towards the voice, and was delighted to see a small boy of about three run into the room and straight into Stephanie's arms. Stephanie lifted her son easily, the look of torment momentarily gone from her face, replaced by one of great joy. From the angle that Linda could see him from, the boy looked like a miniature version of Chris Jericho.
Colby Christopher Jericho.
No wonder Stephanie had named him partly after his father.
'How's my Prince Charming?' Stephanie asked her son, smoothing back his blonde hair.
Colby smiled happily. 'Great! Mr Helmsley bought me lots of things!'
Linda couldn't help but grin at the boy's delightful and clear Australian accent. Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed Hunter walk into the room, arms laded with packages. She turned, and was touched to see him looking at mother and son with obvious affection in his eyes. Shane had told her that Hunter still loved Stephanie, but Linda had never fully believed him. Until now.
'He did, did he? Did you remember to say thank you?'
Colby nodded. 'Yes, and we had lunch together as well. Maccas!'
'Uh, Maccas?' Linda asked, and when Stephanie and Colby looked at her, she was surprised to realise she had asked it out loud.
'McDonalds, Mom,' Stephanie explained. 'It's an Australian term, apparently.'
Colby grinned favourably at Linda. He was so adorably cute. 'Hi!'
Linda stood, facing him. 'Hi, there, Colby.'
'Sweetie, I want you to meet someone very special,' Stephanie said, smiling at her. 'Colby, this is my mother, Linda McMahon, your grandma.'
A small frown came over the boy's face, as if he was trying to process this new piece of information. 'My nanna?'
Stephanie nodded. 'That's right.'
He smiled again, looking back at Linda. 'It's nice to meet you, Nanna Linda.'
Linda was happily surprised when he reached out and gave her a hug around her neck. She looked at him in awe as it suddenly started to sink in. Her grandson.
Stephanie's son.