Part 4
Dear Mrs. Martin,
We are very sorry to inform you of the passing of your husband, Andrew "Test" Martin. He did not garner a hero's death on the battlefield, but died honorably, nonetheless, after suffering from an attack of the chicken pox.
Sincerely,
General Mark "Undertaker" Calloway
~
Stephanie reread the letter in bitterness, somehow becoming angry at her dead husband, not that he was ever a real husband to her. Three days after their wedding he had gone off to fight for the WWE, and she had not seen him since. Not that she wanted to see him, he was no more in her mind after his death, than he was during his life. The only feeling she had towards him was a bitter hate, for now she was a widow, and with that title so went her life.
She was no longer allowed to go to any of the shows that she had so passionately loved, but instead was stuck at home, watching as life passed her. Oh, and the dreadful, horrible black clothes that she was forced to wear because of her husband's passing. That was the worst of all. She detested wearing all black, and she hated her husband for dying and making her wear such ugly clothes. How she longed to wear the hot pink and other flashy clothes that she was accustomed to.
Suddenly she spotted a bright red leather cap that she used to wear before she had become a widow. Oh how becoming would it look on her now, and how she longed to wear it. She walked over and picked it up, studied it for a moment, and put it on her head. She did indeed look beautiful in it, and was lavishing in her beauty when her brother Shane spotted her.
"Stephanie, what do you think you're doing, you're in mourning for your husband, you can't wear colors."
"I don't care Shane, I want to wear them. I hate this stupid black. It makes me look like I'm seventy years old," Stephanie said in a whiny voice.
"It doesn't matter Steph, you have to wear that stuff, especially cause we're so rich, and we have to set an example."
"But I hate it! I hate it! I hate it! I HATE IT!!!" Stephanie said in anger.
She ran over to her poster bed and threw herself down on it, crying angry tears. She hated the fact that her life as she knew it was over. Her mother, Linda, happened by and saw Stephanie bawling her eyes out. She rushed over to comfort her.
"Oh Stephanie, sweetie, what's the matter?" Linda asked compassionately.
"Mother, I hate being a widow, it's not fair that I can't go to any shows, or wear colors, I know you must think I'm horrible for saying that, but it's the truth,"
"I don't think you're horrible Stephanie, you just want to be and act young because you are young. Maybe what you need is to go someplace, visit someone. You can go to Toronto."
"What would I do in Toronto?" Stephanie asked dryly.
"Well how about Tampa then, there's a lot of things you can do there. You can stay with Lita, and her Aunt Mae Young. Would you like that?"
Stephanie thought about it for a moment. If she was staying in Tampa with Lita, then she would be there if Hunter were to come home, and if they were there together, perhaps she could convince him that they belonged with each other.
"Yes, Tampa does sound like a breath of fresh air, I would love to go there."
"Ok, I'll go make the necessary arrangements," And with that Linda left.
Meanwhile, Shane had been listening in on this whole conversation, and he knew exactly what Stephanie was up to. She may have been able to fool everyone else in her life, but he knew her all too well, and he wasn't afraid to tell her so either.
"I know exactly why you want to go to Tampa, Stephanie, you want to go because you know if HHH should get a leave that he'll come home, and there you'll be, waiting for him," Shane said knowingly.
"Shut up Shane, I don't need to be lectured by you," Stephanie said before she flounced out of the room.
~Tampa~
Stephanie stood in one of the locker rooms, looking eagerly around at the surroundings that she loved so much. So far her time in Tampa had been uneventful, with Stephanie mostly staying at home with Lita and Aunt Mae, who liked her liquor a little too much. The only time she really went out anymore was to go to the hospital, where she helped as a nurse, a job she hated with a vengeance. And she was still in that dreadful mourning clothing.
But today she had gotten a break. There had been a show, Smackdown, tonight, and two of the writers had taken ill, and were unable to attend. Stephanie saw the opening she was looking for, and volunteered to go and help out with the production aspects of the show. At first Aunt Mae vehemently opposed the idea, but Lita had eased her mind, and said that Stephanie was simply going to help out.
But now as she stood in the locker room at the actual show, Stephanie knew that the real reason she had come tonight was to once again be around the hustle and bustle of a show, to feel the energy of everybody as they prepared. Of course now the shows had been depleted down to old veterans, and injured superstars, since everyone capable of fighting was fighting. But there was still that magic that she felt every time she came to a show, and she loved it with a passion. She wanted to go out there and valet someone to the ring, or cut a promo, or even go out there and have a match. She wanted to do everything except help with production.
Stephanie walked to the gorilla and was talking with some of the production staff when a meeting was announced by the trainer. Everyone walked to one of the larger rooms and gathered around to hear what he had to say.
"I have wonderful news everybody. The WWE has won another victory, and we're marching onward to defeat the enemy camp, WCW."
At this news everyone cheered, and started congratulating everyone else. Everyone except Stephanie. As a widow, she was practically destitute, no one came to talk to her anymore. Not that she really cared about the war, to her it was nothing more than an inconvenience. She realized that the head of talent relations, Jim Ross, was talking and she focused her attention on him.
"I'd like to announce that we have a special guest here tonight, and it is our great honor to have him here with us. Please welcome Chris Jericho!"
Stephanie turned surprised eyes to the door, and there he was, Chris Jericho, the man who had heard her passionate declaration of love for Hunter. She had heard that he was a great importer who got supplies to the troops, and it had shocked her to hear that he was such an important person. But still, he knew of her shame, and she nervously looked around for the nearest exit before Chris Jericho spotted her.
Jericho hadn't even wanted to be here tonight. And yet he felt compelled to come, and now he knew why. That lovely lady he had seen during the last big show was there. She had caught his eye at the Raw he had attended right before the war began. She seemed different from all the rest of the divas, and he found out why later on, when she had shown such passion in her declaration of love. He had been intrigued by her, and now he would get to be enamored by her once again.
He walked quickly over to her, laughing to himself when he realized she was trying to get away from him. He finally cornered her in one of the hallways.
"Well, well, well, what do we have here, a woman or an ad for a mortuary?" he asked snidely.
"You have some gall coming up to me Mr. Jericho. If you had any brains you'd know that I never want to lay eyes on you again."
"Mr. Jericho, man, you make me sound like I'm my dad or something, call me Chris or just Jericho if you want. And as for never wanting to see me again, it's ok, I'll keep your little secret about HHH all to myself."
"Oh, I hate you, you have the nerve to actually talk to me, after everything, you are such an ass, you know that!"
"Oh, I know, I'm been told that quite a few times," Jericho said laughing. Stephanie was about to slap him when Lita walked up to them.
"Oh, you must be Mr. Jericho, I'm really glad I got the chance to meet you, I never got to say hello at the Raw that you were here for."
"That's nice of you to remember me Mrs. Helmsley." At the mention of that name Stephanie cringed.
"Steph, did you meet Mr. Jericho at that Raw?"
Before Stephanie could answer Jericho interjected, "Just for a sec, Mrs. Martin was really upset about something," Jericho said with a smirk.
Just then an injured Chris Benoit came walking up to the small group. He was carrying a basket in his good hand, the other one being heavily wrapped up.
"Hi, we're asking everyone to contribute their jewelry or valuables for the war."
"Can't you see we're in mourning, you idiot, we don't have anything to give," Stephanie said angrily.
"Wait, hold on, here you can have this," Lita took off her wedding ring, "If this helps Hunter more by me not having it, then I'd rather let it go."
"Wait, here you can have mine too," Stephanie said while taking off her own ring.
"That was a very nice gesture, Mrs. Helmsley," Jericho said, "And a nice gesture for you too Mrs. Martin, I know just how much it meant to you," he finished with a smirk.
"Lita, I wanted to ask you something," J.R. said as he walked up to them, "If you'll excuse us for a moment," and with that the two of them walked away.
"Has anyone ever told you, you don't look good in black?" Jericho said with a laugh.
"Oh shut up, you know I'm in mourning, I have to wear this."
"No you don't, it's idiotic of you to pretend to mourn for someone you didn't love, and I like the phony gesture of giving up your precious wedding ring. I'm sure you were just itching to take that off your finger."
"You don't know anything about me, what gives you the right to come up to me, and talk to me as if you know exactly who I am?"
"The fact that I was witness to your little outburst of love for one Hunter Hearst Helmsley."
"Would you stop bringing that up, it was in the past, and that's where it should stay!"
"But something tells me you still harbor feelings for the man in question, am I right?"
"Ugh, I can't stand you, I hope you know that," Stephanie said as she stomped away angrily, leaving a chuckling Jericho behind.
An announcement came over the speakers in the back, telling everyone there was another meeting to be held in five minutes. Again people gathered into the large room, anxious to hear the latest announcement that was to be made.
"We've come up with a new way to raise money, and I wanted to address it here. Gentlemen, if you want the lady of your choice to accompany you to the ring, you must bid for her!" J.R. told the group, as a dull roar went over the crowd as they processed the news.
"20 dollars for Molly Holly," called out Spike Dudley.
"30 dollars for Jacqueline," called out Faarooq and Bradshaw.
"Come on, that's all your willing to spend for such beautiful women?" J.R. asked the crowd.
"1,000 dollars for Ms. Stephanie Martin," Jericho spoke up, as the crowd quieted down in shocked silence.
Stephanie stood in surprise from hearing her name, which promptly turned to shock when she realized whom the voice belonged to.
"Excuse me Mr. Jericho?" J.R. said.
"I said 1,000 dollars for Ms. Stephanie Martin."
"She's in mourning Jericho, but I'm sure one of the other divas-"
"I said Ms. Stephanie Martin."
"She will not consider it."
"Oh yes, I will," came Stephanie's answer. Here was her chance to go out there, to be in front of the crowd again, and there was no chance in hell she was going to pass up the opportunity. She walked briskly over to Jericho, and joined him by his side, as the group began to dissipate to get ready for the show.
"You kind of shocked everybody by agreeing to go out with me."
"I don't care what they think, I'm Stephanie McMahon damn it, and I'll do as I damn well please."
"Well, I know I'll get my money's worth."
"If you think that this goes beyond valet duties, then you're severely delusional."
"And here I was trying to see if you really were a filthy, dirty, disgusting, brutal, skanky, bottom-feeding, trash bag ho."
"Nothing you say is going to bother me Mr. Jericho, not as long as I get to go out there, and show the world that I'm still around."
~After Jericho's match~
"Wow, you were really great out there, I'm thinking I should have you as my valet more often," Jericho told the smiling Stephanie.
"I don't think that my reputation could stand it," Stephanie said sarcastically.
"Please, like it was glowing to begin with," he just as sarcastically replied.
"What do you want from me Mr. Jericho?" Stephanie looking at him with curiosity, wondering why he had so determinedly wanted her to be his valet.
"I want you to some day say to me what I heard you say to HHH, 'I love you,'" he said with a smirk.
"Well, rest assured, that's something that will never come out of my mouth, and if it does, may hell freeze over," Stephanie said with a smirk.
"We'll see.we'll see."
Dear Mrs. Martin,
We are very sorry to inform you of the passing of your husband, Andrew "Test" Martin. He did not garner a hero's death on the battlefield, but died honorably, nonetheless, after suffering from an attack of the chicken pox.
Sincerely,
General Mark "Undertaker" Calloway
~
Stephanie reread the letter in bitterness, somehow becoming angry at her dead husband, not that he was ever a real husband to her. Three days after their wedding he had gone off to fight for the WWE, and she had not seen him since. Not that she wanted to see him, he was no more in her mind after his death, than he was during his life. The only feeling she had towards him was a bitter hate, for now she was a widow, and with that title so went her life.
She was no longer allowed to go to any of the shows that she had so passionately loved, but instead was stuck at home, watching as life passed her. Oh, and the dreadful, horrible black clothes that she was forced to wear because of her husband's passing. That was the worst of all. She detested wearing all black, and she hated her husband for dying and making her wear such ugly clothes. How she longed to wear the hot pink and other flashy clothes that she was accustomed to.
Suddenly she spotted a bright red leather cap that she used to wear before she had become a widow. Oh how becoming would it look on her now, and how she longed to wear it. She walked over and picked it up, studied it for a moment, and put it on her head. She did indeed look beautiful in it, and was lavishing in her beauty when her brother Shane spotted her.
"Stephanie, what do you think you're doing, you're in mourning for your husband, you can't wear colors."
"I don't care Shane, I want to wear them. I hate this stupid black. It makes me look like I'm seventy years old," Stephanie said in a whiny voice.
"It doesn't matter Steph, you have to wear that stuff, especially cause we're so rich, and we have to set an example."
"But I hate it! I hate it! I hate it! I HATE IT!!!" Stephanie said in anger.
She ran over to her poster bed and threw herself down on it, crying angry tears. She hated the fact that her life as she knew it was over. Her mother, Linda, happened by and saw Stephanie bawling her eyes out. She rushed over to comfort her.
"Oh Stephanie, sweetie, what's the matter?" Linda asked compassionately.
"Mother, I hate being a widow, it's not fair that I can't go to any shows, or wear colors, I know you must think I'm horrible for saying that, but it's the truth,"
"I don't think you're horrible Stephanie, you just want to be and act young because you are young. Maybe what you need is to go someplace, visit someone. You can go to Toronto."
"What would I do in Toronto?" Stephanie asked dryly.
"Well how about Tampa then, there's a lot of things you can do there. You can stay with Lita, and her Aunt Mae Young. Would you like that?"
Stephanie thought about it for a moment. If she was staying in Tampa with Lita, then she would be there if Hunter were to come home, and if they were there together, perhaps she could convince him that they belonged with each other.
"Yes, Tampa does sound like a breath of fresh air, I would love to go there."
"Ok, I'll go make the necessary arrangements," And with that Linda left.
Meanwhile, Shane had been listening in on this whole conversation, and he knew exactly what Stephanie was up to. She may have been able to fool everyone else in her life, but he knew her all too well, and he wasn't afraid to tell her so either.
"I know exactly why you want to go to Tampa, Stephanie, you want to go because you know if HHH should get a leave that he'll come home, and there you'll be, waiting for him," Shane said knowingly.
"Shut up Shane, I don't need to be lectured by you," Stephanie said before she flounced out of the room.
~Tampa~
Stephanie stood in one of the locker rooms, looking eagerly around at the surroundings that she loved so much. So far her time in Tampa had been uneventful, with Stephanie mostly staying at home with Lita and Aunt Mae, who liked her liquor a little too much. The only time she really went out anymore was to go to the hospital, where she helped as a nurse, a job she hated with a vengeance. And she was still in that dreadful mourning clothing.
But today she had gotten a break. There had been a show, Smackdown, tonight, and two of the writers had taken ill, and were unable to attend. Stephanie saw the opening she was looking for, and volunteered to go and help out with the production aspects of the show. At first Aunt Mae vehemently opposed the idea, but Lita had eased her mind, and said that Stephanie was simply going to help out.
But now as she stood in the locker room at the actual show, Stephanie knew that the real reason she had come tonight was to once again be around the hustle and bustle of a show, to feel the energy of everybody as they prepared. Of course now the shows had been depleted down to old veterans, and injured superstars, since everyone capable of fighting was fighting. But there was still that magic that she felt every time she came to a show, and she loved it with a passion. She wanted to go out there and valet someone to the ring, or cut a promo, or even go out there and have a match. She wanted to do everything except help with production.
Stephanie walked to the gorilla and was talking with some of the production staff when a meeting was announced by the trainer. Everyone walked to one of the larger rooms and gathered around to hear what he had to say.
"I have wonderful news everybody. The WWE has won another victory, and we're marching onward to defeat the enemy camp, WCW."
At this news everyone cheered, and started congratulating everyone else. Everyone except Stephanie. As a widow, she was practically destitute, no one came to talk to her anymore. Not that she really cared about the war, to her it was nothing more than an inconvenience. She realized that the head of talent relations, Jim Ross, was talking and she focused her attention on him.
"I'd like to announce that we have a special guest here tonight, and it is our great honor to have him here with us. Please welcome Chris Jericho!"
Stephanie turned surprised eyes to the door, and there he was, Chris Jericho, the man who had heard her passionate declaration of love for Hunter. She had heard that he was a great importer who got supplies to the troops, and it had shocked her to hear that he was such an important person. But still, he knew of her shame, and she nervously looked around for the nearest exit before Chris Jericho spotted her.
Jericho hadn't even wanted to be here tonight. And yet he felt compelled to come, and now he knew why. That lovely lady he had seen during the last big show was there. She had caught his eye at the Raw he had attended right before the war began. She seemed different from all the rest of the divas, and he found out why later on, when she had shown such passion in her declaration of love. He had been intrigued by her, and now he would get to be enamored by her once again.
He walked quickly over to her, laughing to himself when he realized she was trying to get away from him. He finally cornered her in one of the hallways.
"Well, well, well, what do we have here, a woman or an ad for a mortuary?" he asked snidely.
"You have some gall coming up to me Mr. Jericho. If you had any brains you'd know that I never want to lay eyes on you again."
"Mr. Jericho, man, you make me sound like I'm my dad or something, call me Chris or just Jericho if you want. And as for never wanting to see me again, it's ok, I'll keep your little secret about HHH all to myself."
"Oh, I hate you, you have the nerve to actually talk to me, after everything, you are such an ass, you know that!"
"Oh, I know, I'm been told that quite a few times," Jericho said laughing. Stephanie was about to slap him when Lita walked up to them.
"Oh, you must be Mr. Jericho, I'm really glad I got the chance to meet you, I never got to say hello at the Raw that you were here for."
"That's nice of you to remember me Mrs. Helmsley." At the mention of that name Stephanie cringed.
"Steph, did you meet Mr. Jericho at that Raw?"
Before Stephanie could answer Jericho interjected, "Just for a sec, Mrs. Martin was really upset about something," Jericho said with a smirk.
Just then an injured Chris Benoit came walking up to the small group. He was carrying a basket in his good hand, the other one being heavily wrapped up.
"Hi, we're asking everyone to contribute their jewelry or valuables for the war."
"Can't you see we're in mourning, you idiot, we don't have anything to give," Stephanie said angrily.
"Wait, hold on, here you can have this," Lita took off her wedding ring, "If this helps Hunter more by me not having it, then I'd rather let it go."
"Wait, here you can have mine too," Stephanie said while taking off her own ring.
"That was a very nice gesture, Mrs. Helmsley," Jericho said, "And a nice gesture for you too Mrs. Martin, I know just how much it meant to you," he finished with a smirk.
"Lita, I wanted to ask you something," J.R. said as he walked up to them, "If you'll excuse us for a moment," and with that the two of them walked away.
"Has anyone ever told you, you don't look good in black?" Jericho said with a laugh.
"Oh shut up, you know I'm in mourning, I have to wear this."
"No you don't, it's idiotic of you to pretend to mourn for someone you didn't love, and I like the phony gesture of giving up your precious wedding ring. I'm sure you were just itching to take that off your finger."
"You don't know anything about me, what gives you the right to come up to me, and talk to me as if you know exactly who I am?"
"The fact that I was witness to your little outburst of love for one Hunter Hearst Helmsley."
"Would you stop bringing that up, it was in the past, and that's where it should stay!"
"But something tells me you still harbor feelings for the man in question, am I right?"
"Ugh, I can't stand you, I hope you know that," Stephanie said as she stomped away angrily, leaving a chuckling Jericho behind.
An announcement came over the speakers in the back, telling everyone there was another meeting to be held in five minutes. Again people gathered into the large room, anxious to hear the latest announcement that was to be made.
"We've come up with a new way to raise money, and I wanted to address it here. Gentlemen, if you want the lady of your choice to accompany you to the ring, you must bid for her!" J.R. told the group, as a dull roar went over the crowd as they processed the news.
"20 dollars for Molly Holly," called out Spike Dudley.
"30 dollars for Jacqueline," called out Faarooq and Bradshaw.
"Come on, that's all your willing to spend for such beautiful women?" J.R. asked the crowd.
"1,000 dollars for Ms. Stephanie Martin," Jericho spoke up, as the crowd quieted down in shocked silence.
Stephanie stood in surprise from hearing her name, which promptly turned to shock when she realized whom the voice belonged to.
"Excuse me Mr. Jericho?" J.R. said.
"I said 1,000 dollars for Ms. Stephanie Martin."
"She's in mourning Jericho, but I'm sure one of the other divas-"
"I said Ms. Stephanie Martin."
"She will not consider it."
"Oh yes, I will," came Stephanie's answer. Here was her chance to go out there, to be in front of the crowd again, and there was no chance in hell she was going to pass up the opportunity. She walked briskly over to Jericho, and joined him by his side, as the group began to dissipate to get ready for the show.
"You kind of shocked everybody by agreeing to go out with me."
"I don't care what they think, I'm Stephanie McMahon damn it, and I'll do as I damn well please."
"Well, I know I'll get my money's worth."
"If you think that this goes beyond valet duties, then you're severely delusional."
"And here I was trying to see if you really were a filthy, dirty, disgusting, brutal, skanky, bottom-feeding, trash bag ho."
"Nothing you say is going to bother me Mr. Jericho, not as long as I get to go out there, and show the world that I'm still around."
~After Jericho's match~
"Wow, you were really great out there, I'm thinking I should have you as my valet more often," Jericho told the smiling Stephanie.
"I don't think that my reputation could stand it," Stephanie said sarcastically.
"Please, like it was glowing to begin with," he just as sarcastically replied.
"What do you want from me Mr. Jericho?" Stephanie looking at him with curiosity, wondering why he had so determinedly wanted her to be his valet.
"I want you to some day say to me what I heard you say to HHH, 'I love you,'" he said with a smirk.
"Well, rest assured, that's something that will never come out of my mouth, and if it does, may hell freeze over," Stephanie said with a smirk.
"We'll see.we'll see."