Deceit

Part: 8/?
Rating: PG-13
Spoilers: Takes place from RAW 2/4/02 & beyond.

Disclaimer: I do not own anybody. Every character/person belongs to the WWE and Vince McMahon. This story takes part during the 'WWF', so any indication of WWF instead of WWE is intentional. Parts of this chapter are taken from Smackdown! 2/7/02. Some of the parts have been altered to fit with the story.

Feedback: Crave it.

Distribution: Please ask me.

Summary: Stephanie, despite being honest about her pregnancy, fibs about something very closely linked to the pregnancy.

Chapter 8- Turmoil

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Stephanie McMahon

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Stephanie sat in the 'McMahon-Helmsley' locker room, alone, watching the television screen. Triple H had just gone out for his match and footage of what had gone on throughout the show concerning her pregnancy was being aired again. Anger bubbled inside her as the doctor's appointment she shared with her husband was shown again.

Stephanie didn't know if she was furious at the production team for taping a private appointment and airing it for the whole nation to see or at herself for sitting at that appointment, continuing on with a lie.

At the appointment the excitement on her face was true. Any lies and deceits were pushed behind in her mind as she held that sonogram her baby…her first child. But the lies all returned when she looked to her side. When she looked to her husband. Stephanie was disappointed in herself for letting Hunter think that the picture he was holding, the one that had kept him in one of the happiest moods he had ever been since they were married, was of his child. 

Watching her husband's enthusiasm and listening to the several best wishes passed on to her from practically everyone in the industry, Stephanie grew more and more anxious. Random thoughts and questions flowed through her head.

Was she going to let Hunter think the child was his throughout her pregnancy? But he was bound to know that he wasn't the father once the baby was born, right? Could she really pull off this charade much longer? Could her life be crappier?

Stephanie's gaze then fell upon the television screen, as the match between her husband and two people who she had very close relations with in the past began. Stephanie laughed bitterly to herself, realising the irony in the match.

She winced when her husband was beat down, but found herself cringe when her husband struck Chris Jericho.

The match soon ended and Stephanie found herself making her way down to the ring. Partly to check up on her husband and…partly to be close to Chris Jericho.

Ever since she had reappeared in the WWF, she realised that the two of them rarely saw each other. When she entered a room, Jericho left. When she saw him talking to someone, she avoided him. No comments, no looks, no scoffs were shared.

Stephanie knelt down to her husband and asked him how he was. He irritably snapped at her through irregular breaths, telling her to go away and return to the back.

" Hunter, you're hurt. Is it your back?" She asked as she stroked it.

" Steph…" Triple H began, but slipped into unconsciousness for a slight moment.

" Hunter?"

Suddenly, Stephanie heard loud roars erupt from within the crowd. It was definitely an 'uh-oh' omen. Stephanie turned around slowly to notice Jericho standing threateningly over her. She didn't know what he was doing and she didn't know what to say.

Was he going to hit her? Put her in the Walls? Would he do that to a pregnant woman? To a former lover?

Stephanie slinked to the corner of the ring, clutching her stomach protectively. Tears welled up in her eyes as she looked at the anger dwelling in Chris' eyes.

" I-I'm pregnant, Jericho. P-please. P-please not to my baby." She stammered. Chris continued to move forward.

" Jericho, man…" Kurt stated from the other side of the ring. The Canadian ignored his friend's plead and moved nearer to the petrified brunette.

" P-please don't hurt me C-Chris. The baby. Chris, please not to…" She took a slight look around and then inaudibly whispered.

" Our baby."

The Billion Dollar Princess' statement was only heard by the one man it was intended for. And that man stood frozen in the ring for the next few seconds.

The annoyance that was present in his eyes moments ago was overcome with shock and well…more shock.

Just when he thought his voice and any feeling in his body returned. Just when he was about to reply to the jolting words that Stephanie had just mouthed to him…a steel chair knocked him out.

Stephanie's face changed to horror for a second as she watched Chris Jericho fall to the mat. Her gaze fell to her husband, standing proudly behind Jericho with a steel chair. Stephanie froze, unable to process what had just happened.

In the next few moments, things became more blurred. She saw Chris crawl to a corner of the ring and struggle to sit up. He looked at Steph, just as Hunter leaned in placed a kiss on her lips.

Not knowing what she felt, or what was going on…Stephanie kissed him back. As the couple parted lips, Stephanie shot a glance at Jericho who displayed nothing other than hurt in his eyes.

All of a sudden the weight of her husband fell full force on her. She opened her eyes and realised that her husband had just been pushed into her and she was on the mat…an annoyed, yet content Kurt Angle moving up the ramp with a grin. Triple H quickly got off her and helped her up.

" Are you okay, Steph? Is everything okay? Did the baby…" The questions came flooding at her. Stephanie realised in that moment how much Hunter really cared for the child.

" I-I'm okay. Everything's okay." She mouthed as Triple H pulled her back for a hug and kiss. 

" E-everything's okay." She repeated as a few tears spilled from her eyes as she once again looked at the father of her child…who remained frozen in the corner of the ring, staring at her.

Inside she knew that was far from the truth.

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