Story Title: Breathe (Sequel to Addiction.)
Characters: Vince McMahon, Jeff Hardy, Stephanie McMahon (In Story she is known as Stephanie Hardy), Matt Hardy, Lita, Ronda(owns herself ), Rose Parker(owned by me), Shane McMahon, Linda McMahon, Edge, Mighty Molly(or Nora Greenwald), Desire Parker. Anyone else I didn't mention hasn't appeared in my outline.
Story notes: This story picks up directly after the Wedding. During this time Rose has revealed that she and Vince married before Linda and Vince did and she and her daughter are entitled to the McMahon fortune and stocks. Stephanie has sued Rose for Slander and Libel when Rose went on "Good Morning America" and Announced that she was the wife of Vincent K. McMahon and her daughter should have the last name. No one has met this daughter yet. She also mentioned a few of the McMahon secrets that were not denied. This story begins right at the end of Stephanie and Jeff's Honeymoon in France.
"Hey baby where ya going?" Jeff wrapped his arms around his wife and pulled her to his chest. When they returned to the courthouse she'd been jumpy around him and quiet. He was beginning to wonder if she knew what he did to Shane just outside the courthouse. He realized she was trembling. "What's wrong?" She sniffled and he turned her around to face him. Cupping her cheek with one hand he leaned in and kissed her. She looked at him wide eyed and then a resounding smack came from him. She was on the receiving end and tumbled to the floor. He stood above her and smirked at her bleeding lip and nose.
"Get up." He told her she stayed right where she was. Her fingers touched her nose briefly feeling the mixture of blood and tears. "GET UP!" He moved towards her and she struggled to get up but her body was weighed down. She screamed.
"Wake up!" Jeff shook his wife who was tossing and turning next to him. She was whimpering loudly and moaning his name out in fear. Then she screamed.
"WAKE UP!" He yelled to her and she sat up straight in bed gasping for air. He cradled her in his arms when she began to cry. She looked up at him and the tears subsided. She scurried away from him and picked up her shoes. Her frightened eyes never left his. She backed away slowly from him her t-shirt and his boxers showed dimly in the streetlights that shone through the hotel room.
"Steph….are you ok?" He rolled out of bed and began to walk towards her. She'd reached the door and swung it open. Her eyes were wild with fear when she turned and ran from him down the hall as fast as she could. He ran out of the room and into the hallway. "STEPHANIE!"
She didn't hear him she just kept running as fast as her legs would carry her. She reached the elevators and pushed the button diving in when the door opened she heard his heavy foot steps pounding the hall. The doors closed and she could see him just as they did so. She curled up in a ball in the elevator breathing hard. Was it all a dream? She touched her nose and only felt moisture from her tears. No blood. She leaned her head against the wall. Why did she run from him if it was a dream she shouldn't have been afraid right? Standing up she pushed a button. She needed her mother..her real mother.
"Hey Matt!" Jeff muttered into the phone when his brother called from Cameron on his week off with Lita. He frowned while sitting on the bed catching his breath. He couldn't believe that Stephanie had done what she'd done. Something was definitely wrong and it had to do with him.
"Jeff you alright bro?" Matt asked. Lita walked into the room looking concerned. She pulled her hair into a messy bun. Her white tank top and her red and white sleep pants clung to her tightly. She slid into bed and laid her head on his lap. His fingers brushed her cheek softly as he waited with baited breath to hear from his little brother.
"Something's wrong with Steph." He stated rubbing his temples with his black painted nails. He loved Stephanie so much and yet he couldn't figure out why she ran away from him in terror.
"What do you mean?" Matt asked him.
"She ran out on me maybe ten fifteen minutes ago!" Jeff exploded. "She was crying and whimpering when we were laying in bed. Yeah Matt she was asleep! You honestly think I'd do something like that?!"
"Jeff I ain't accusing you of anything!" Matt raised his voice and Puddles , one of their dogs, padded into the room. The golden retriever hopped up on the bed and laid in between the two. Matt gruffed and plastered a smile on his face while rubbing the dog behind the ears.
"She started moaning my name and then she started screaming!" Jeff mumbled an obscenity at his brother over the phone for having his head in the gutter. Jeff continued. "I started shaking her gently and told her to wake up and then she stopped when I held her. Suddenly she looks at me and then grabs her shoes and bolts out the door after looking at me in utter terror. I tried to follow her and she ran into the elevator like a bolt of lightning. It was really freaky man!"
"She probably went to see Linda isn't she in the same hotel as y'all?" Matt asked and stifled a laugh when the dog jumped on Lita and began licking her face wildly. "Well then wait until morning if she isn't back then call Linda after that I don't know what you should do but I guess Linda would know."
"Alright ALRIGHT!" Jeff calmed himself a bit. "I'll get some sleep! Bye!"
"Mommy please open up!" Stephanie banged on her mother's door frantically. She still hysterical. She felt like she was suffocating. Linda opened the door in only her night gown and a slippers. She looked anxiously at her daughter right before she collapsed in her arms. Linda helped her in and got her seated on the bed. Stephanie hugged her knees to her chest her tears had dried and left clear streaks on her tanned face.
"What's wrong Stephanie?" Linda asked her daughter. She rushed to the small kitchen area and began making some tea. Walking back into the room she sighed. Her daughter seemed to be in a daze. Stephanie looked terrified for her life. She saw no bruises on her and decided that Jeff hadn't hit her or anything. A loud whistle from the kitchen made her turn abruptly and walk to the teapot. Turning off the eye she poured them both a cup of lemon tea. She walked back to her daughter's near prostrate form and handed her a cup. Just like when she was 15 years old and suffered her first heart break. Just like then Stephanie took a sip and tried to hide a scowl.
"What's wrong sweetie?" She wrapped her free arm around Stephanie's shoulders and Stephanie leaned into the motherly embrace. "Did something happen with Jeff?"
"….Yes…" Linda blanched at the answer hesitant to ask the next question in fear of the answer that would come.
"Did he.." Linda and an abrupt shaking of the head from Stephanie stopped her. She sighed in relief. "What happened?"
"We were asleep and I was having this dream…this horrible dream…" Her eyes began to pool with water. "And In the dream he hit me and I was so terrified He began shaking me and I woke up I guess. But I ran… I ran from my husband and I don't know why." Stephanie wiped her eyes only to have another trail of tears fall. She looked at her mother and Linda hugged her tightly.
"Maybe that's why he's cheating on me…" Stephanie muttered bitterly. "I'm just a crazy bitch who can't put down a drug to save her life."
"Jeff's what?!" Linda looked at her in confusion. "With who?"
"Ronda Johnson." Stephanie shook her head disdainfully. "I couldn't believe it myself."
"You mean the girl he's planning your vacation with?" Linda looked at Stephanie who turned to her with confused eyes.
"You mean he's not cheating on me?" Stephanie looked down into her tea and let a breath of relief out. She smiled at her mother and then the smile broke out into a grin. "Wow…a vacation.. guess I was just paranoid."
"No…It's in your instincts I guess." Linda placed her hand on her daughter's knee and stood up her expression darkening. "Always been imbedded in mine."
"What do you mean?" Stephanie sat crosslegged on the bed a curious expression stole her face. She in fact knew little about her mother and father's relationship. Linda turned to her and a sad smile crept up.
"My own sister…" Linda tugged on the blind's to look out over the city. "She did this..she put me through hell."
"I found out about her and your father." Linda recalled the event coming back to her in a nostalgic sense. "She didn't stop she kept going at him and then she disappeared after you and your sister were born. But she did come back."
"Mom…." Stephanie reached out to her mother in obvious pain. Linda shook her head.
"She came back as your nanny." Linda scoffed. "I didn't see it! I should have known it was my sister the entire time. But when she still persued him he didn't go near her. I didn't even care to pick up on it."
"Mom it's not your fault." Stephanie set the tea down, stood, and hugged her mother not letting go when the salty tears touched her shoulder. She quietly hopped this wouldn't happen with Jeff and her. She loved him so much and couldn't bear to have history repeat itself. She wondered if he was still her husband and if she was still his wife.
**Next Morning**
Jeff walked down the hallway in a fresh pair of baggy jeans and a "Live the Moment" t-shirt. He carried with him some of Stephanie's stuff in a bag. He hoped his brother was right that she'd be at Linda's room. Something shook him. What if Matt was wrong what if Stephanie had run off into the night. Sort of like she did all those months ago. When he thought she was dead. A tight feeling formed in his chest when he reached the door. "Please let her be here.." He raised his hand and knocked.
"Just a minute!" He could head Linda ruffling around to get to the door. He shifted his weight from one foot to the other awkwardly. The door opened and Linda smiled at him.
"C'mere son."
"Linda I need to know is Stephanie…" He stopped as Linda led him into the room and didn't see a sleeping Stephanie on the bed or in the chair or even on the floor. He let out a groan of frusteration. "Here?"
"Jeff?" Stephanie stood from the bathroom behind him in a towel. Her hair was damp and clung loosely to her shoulders. Her brown eyes lit up at the sight of him. Jeff dropped the bag and rushed to her swallowing her up in his arms for a hug. She laughed a bit and ran her fingers through his long hair. Jeff set her down on her feet and she wrapped her arms around him. He kissed the top of her brown head and rested his chin in the exact same spot. Linda stood there approvingly. A loud whistle came from the kitchen and Linda turned to get the teapot.
"Stephanie…thank God you're alright." He looked down at her. "I'm sorry what ever I did I'm…" Stephanie put a finger to his lips.
"You didn't do anything.. I had this crazy dream about you and I know it wasn't true but I guess I got a little confused. I'm really sorry…I shouldn't have run from you like that." She kissed him on the lips just as Linda walked back in with a tray of three cups of tea. She grinned and began to walk back into the kitchen.
"Mom?" Jeff looked at Linda who stopped in her tracks.
"Yes!?" Linda's voice held something that he hadn't heard in the past days. A lightness and giddy sound. She looked at him.
"I'd really enjoy some tea." Stephanie looked at her husband in mock horror. She'd told him more than a while ago how her mother's tea tasted. Jeff looked at her and smiled a lopsided grin. "Something's you just can't pass up."
Stephanie shook her head and turned around looking at the front door that had a crack in it. She pushed it shut and shivered. Things definitely weren't over yet. Not by a long shot.
Characters: Vince McMahon, Jeff Hardy, Stephanie McMahon (In Story she is known as Stephanie Hardy), Matt Hardy, Lita, Ronda(owns herself ), Rose Parker(owned by me), Shane McMahon, Linda McMahon, Edge, Mighty Molly(or Nora Greenwald), Desire Parker. Anyone else I didn't mention hasn't appeared in my outline.
Story notes: This story picks up directly after the Wedding. During this time Rose has revealed that she and Vince married before Linda and Vince did and she and her daughter are entitled to the McMahon fortune and stocks. Stephanie has sued Rose for Slander and Libel when Rose went on "Good Morning America" and Announced that she was the wife of Vincent K. McMahon and her daughter should have the last name. No one has met this daughter yet. She also mentioned a few of the McMahon secrets that were not denied. This story begins right at the end of Stephanie and Jeff's Honeymoon in France.
"Hey baby where ya going?" Jeff wrapped his arms around his wife and pulled her to his chest. When they returned to the courthouse she'd been jumpy around him and quiet. He was beginning to wonder if she knew what he did to Shane just outside the courthouse. He realized she was trembling. "What's wrong?" She sniffled and he turned her around to face him. Cupping her cheek with one hand he leaned in and kissed her. She looked at him wide eyed and then a resounding smack came from him. She was on the receiving end and tumbled to the floor. He stood above her and smirked at her bleeding lip and nose.
"Get up." He told her she stayed right where she was. Her fingers touched her nose briefly feeling the mixture of blood and tears. "GET UP!" He moved towards her and she struggled to get up but her body was weighed down. She screamed.
"Wake up!" Jeff shook his wife who was tossing and turning next to him. She was whimpering loudly and moaning his name out in fear. Then she screamed.
"WAKE UP!" He yelled to her and she sat up straight in bed gasping for air. He cradled her in his arms when she began to cry. She looked up at him and the tears subsided. She scurried away from him and picked up her shoes. Her frightened eyes never left his. She backed away slowly from him her t-shirt and his boxers showed dimly in the streetlights that shone through the hotel room.
"Steph….are you ok?" He rolled out of bed and began to walk towards her. She'd reached the door and swung it open. Her eyes were wild with fear when she turned and ran from him down the hall as fast as she could. He ran out of the room and into the hallway. "STEPHANIE!"
She didn't hear him she just kept running as fast as her legs would carry her. She reached the elevators and pushed the button diving in when the door opened she heard his heavy foot steps pounding the hall. The doors closed and she could see him just as they did so. She curled up in a ball in the elevator breathing hard. Was it all a dream? She touched her nose and only felt moisture from her tears. No blood. She leaned her head against the wall. Why did she run from him if it was a dream she shouldn't have been afraid right? Standing up she pushed a button. She needed her mother..her real mother.
"Hey Matt!" Jeff muttered into the phone when his brother called from Cameron on his week off with Lita. He frowned while sitting on the bed catching his breath. He couldn't believe that Stephanie had done what she'd done. Something was definitely wrong and it had to do with him.
"Jeff you alright bro?" Matt asked. Lita walked into the room looking concerned. She pulled her hair into a messy bun. Her white tank top and her red and white sleep pants clung to her tightly. She slid into bed and laid her head on his lap. His fingers brushed her cheek softly as he waited with baited breath to hear from his little brother.
"Something's wrong with Steph." He stated rubbing his temples with his black painted nails. He loved Stephanie so much and yet he couldn't figure out why she ran away from him in terror.
"What do you mean?" Matt asked him.
"She ran out on me maybe ten fifteen minutes ago!" Jeff exploded. "She was crying and whimpering when we were laying in bed. Yeah Matt she was asleep! You honestly think I'd do something like that?!"
"Jeff I ain't accusing you of anything!" Matt raised his voice and Puddles , one of their dogs, padded into the room. The golden retriever hopped up on the bed and laid in between the two. Matt gruffed and plastered a smile on his face while rubbing the dog behind the ears.
"She started moaning my name and then she started screaming!" Jeff mumbled an obscenity at his brother over the phone for having his head in the gutter. Jeff continued. "I started shaking her gently and told her to wake up and then she stopped when I held her. Suddenly she looks at me and then grabs her shoes and bolts out the door after looking at me in utter terror. I tried to follow her and she ran into the elevator like a bolt of lightning. It was really freaky man!"
"She probably went to see Linda isn't she in the same hotel as y'all?" Matt asked and stifled a laugh when the dog jumped on Lita and began licking her face wildly. "Well then wait until morning if she isn't back then call Linda after that I don't know what you should do but I guess Linda would know."
"Alright ALRIGHT!" Jeff calmed himself a bit. "I'll get some sleep! Bye!"
"Mommy please open up!" Stephanie banged on her mother's door frantically. She still hysterical. She felt like she was suffocating. Linda opened the door in only her night gown and a slippers. She looked anxiously at her daughter right before she collapsed in her arms. Linda helped her in and got her seated on the bed. Stephanie hugged her knees to her chest her tears had dried and left clear streaks on her tanned face.
"What's wrong Stephanie?" Linda asked her daughter. She rushed to the small kitchen area and began making some tea. Walking back into the room she sighed. Her daughter seemed to be in a daze. Stephanie looked terrified for her life. She saw no bruises on her and decided that Jeff hadn't hit her or anything. A loud whistle from the kitchen made her turn abruptly and walk to the teapot. Turning off the eye she poured them both a cup of lemon tea. She walked back to her daughter's near prostrate form and handed her a cup. Just like when she was 15 years old and suffered her first heart break. Just like then Stephanie took a sip and tried to hide a scowl.
"What's wrong sweetie?" She wrapped her free arm around Stephanie's shoulders and Stephanie leaned into the motherly embrace. "Did something happen with Jeff?"
"….Yes…" Linda blanched at the answer hesitant to ask the next question in fear of the answer that would come.
"Did he.." Linda and an abrupt shaking of the head from Stephanie stopped her. She sighed in relief. "What happened?"
"We were asleep and I was having this dream…this horrible dream…" Her eyes began to pool with water. "And In the dream he hit me and I was so terrified He began shaking me and I woke up I guess. But I ran… I ran from my husband and I don't know why." Stephanie wiped her eyes only to have another trail of tears fall. She looked at her mother and Linda hugged her tightly.
"Maybe that's why he's cheating on me…" Stephanie muttered bitterly. "I'm just a crazy bitch who can't put down a drug to save her life."
"Jeff's what?!" Linda looked at her in confusion. "With who?"
"Ronda Johnson." Stephanie shook her head disdainfully. "I couldn't believe it myself."
"You mean the girl he's planning your vacation with?" Linda looked at Stephanie who turned to her with confused eyes.
"You mean he's not cheating on me?" Stephanie looked down into her tea and let a breath of relief out. She smiled at her mother and then the smile broke out into a grin. "Wow…a vacation.. guess I was just paranoid."
"No…It's in your instincts I guess." Linda placed her hand on her daughter's knee and stood up her expression darkening. "Always been imbedded in mine."
"What do you mean?" Stephanie sat crosslegged on the bed a curious expression stole her face. She in fact knew little about her mother and father's relationship. Linda turned to her and a sad smile crept up.
"My own sister…" Linda tugged on the blind's to look out over the city. "She did this..she put me through hell."
"I found out about her and your father." Linda recalled the event coming back to her in a nostalgic sense. "She didn't stop she kept going at him and then she disappeared after you and your sister were born. But she did come back."
"Mom…." Stephanie reached out to her mother in obvious pain. Linda shook her head.
"She came back as your nanny." Linda scoffed. "I didn't see it! I should have known it was my sister the entire time. But when she still persued him he didn't go near her. I didn't even care to pick up on it."
"Mom it's not your fault." Stephanie set the tea down, stood, and hugged her mother not letting go when the salty tears touched her shoulder. She quietly hopped this wouldn't happen with Jeff and her. She loved him so much and couldn't bear to have history repeat itself. She wondered if he was still her husband and if she was still his wife.
**Next Morning**
Jeff walked down the hallway in a fresh pair of baggy jeans and a "Live the Moment" t-shirt. He carried with him some of Stephanie's stuff in a bag. He hoped his brother was right that she'd be at Linda's room. Something shook him. What if Matt was wrong what if Stephanie had run off into the night. Sort of like she did all those months ago. When he thought she was dead. A tight feeling formed in his chest when he reached the door. "Please let her be here.." He raised his hand and knocked.
"Just a minute!" He could head Linda ruffling around to get to the door. He shifted his weight from one foot to the other awkwardly. The door opened and Linda smiled at him.
"C'mere son."
"Linda I need to know is Stephanie…" He stopped as Linda led him into the room and didn't see a sleeping Stephanie on the bed or in the chair or even on the floor. He let out a groan of frusteration. "Here?"
"Jeff?" Stephanie stood from the bathroom behind him in a towel. Her hair was damp and clung loosely to her shoulders. Her brown eyes lit up at the sight of him. Jeff dropped the bag and rushed to her swallowing her up in his arms for a hug. She laughed a bit and ran her fingers through his long hair. Jeff set her down on her feet and she wrapped her arms around him. He kissed the top of her brown head and rested his chin in the exact same spot. Linda stood there approvingly. A loud whistle came from the kitchen and Linda turned to get the teapot.
"Stephanie…thank God you're alright." He looked down at her. "I'm sorry what ever I did I'm…" Stephanie put a finger to his lips.
"You didn't do anything.. I had this crazy dream about you and I know it wasn't true but I guess I got a little confused. I'm really sorry…I shouldn't have run from you like that." She kissed him on the lips just as Linda walked back in with a tray of three cups of tea. She grinned and began to walk back into the kitchen.
"Mom?" Jeff looked at Linda who stopped in her tracks.
"Yes!?" Linda's voice held something that he hadn't heard in the past days. A lightness and giddy sound. She looked at him.
"I'd really enjoy some tea." Stephanie looked at her husband in mock horror. She'd told him more than a while ago how her mother's tea tasted. Jeff looked at her and smiled a lopsided grin. "Something's you just can't pass up."
Stephanie shook her head and turned around looking at the front door that had a crack in it. She pushed it shut and shivered. Things definitely weren't over yet. Not by a long shot.
