Deceit
Part:
11/11
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. Some parts and quotes from this chapter are taken from RAW 2/11/02. However, some are additional and totally fictional parts.
Feedback: Please? I love it, wouldn't write this if it weren't for you guys!
A/N Hey guys! Here's the final chapter. It ran a little longer than I expected, but I hope it was still a good read. Hope you enjoyed this whole fic as much as I've enjoyed writing it for you. Thanks for all the wonderful feedback!! :D
Chapter 11- The Wedding
Stephanie McMahon
Stephanie stood and listened to her father. They had rehearsed the scene where they made up, beforehand and Stephanie imitated all her emotions and speech.
Stephanie was glad that she was able to show everyone in the WWF that she and her father had actually reconciled. For the past few months, to everyone, Stephanie McMahon wasn't Daddy's little girl or related to Vince anymore. She was just Triple H's wife, but now to everyone she would be both.
As Vince talked about her being Daddy's little girl, Stephanie couldn't help but fear the upcoming moments. In a few minutes, she would renew her wedding vows. An act which would not only declare to the fans that Hunter and her were actually in love and planned on having a wonderfully long married life, but an act which would also finalise her lie. Stephanie knew that she couldn't renew her vows with Hunter with him believing that child was his. She didn't want to start a new era of marriage, a new era of the McMahon-Helmsleys, with a lie. She didn't want to repair their relationship on the basis of a lie.
Did she even want to repair their relationship again?
Midst through her thoughts, Howard Finkle interrupted her and her dad. Vince brushed him off, as the camera cut to another portion of the show. Stephanie still remained in her thoughts…or more like in her doubts.
Once Hunter had told her it was time for both of them to return to the WWF, their home, a few weeks back…Stephanie only had one plan. One plan she wanted to execute upon her return.
Avoid Chris Jericho.
If she saw him again, if she was near him again…she knew she'd feel…actually she didn't know what she felt for that man. He was everything she hated. But, beneath that she felt something very deep for him. She knew she didn't just hate him; she liked him…a lot.
Now she was in the worst position she could have possibly put herself. Over the years in the WWF, she had never put herself in a bigger mess than she had now. Not only was she deceiving her husband, but she was also obtaining strong feelings for another man.
Stephanie walked into the bridal suite, ready to change. If someone saw her now they wouldn't have believed it was her wedding if it wasn't for the dress. They would've just seen a woman in obvious turmoil.
The youngest McMahon was torn between her husband, a man who had pulled her out of her shell, had loved her, protected her and a man who she…
Stephanie touched up her lipstick and sighed looking into the mirror.
She was torn between her husband and a man who she loved.
~*~*~*~
Chris Jericho
The four wrestlers sat in silence in Chris Jericho's locker room. The Undisputed Champion's best friends looked at their friend with concern. Chris sat on the couch, with his hands clenched together in deep thought.
Edge was about to utter something, but was held back by Kurt.
" Dude, this is awkward. What's going on?" Edge whispered to Kurt.
" Just sit!" Kurt ordered, in a loud whisper.
" If I wanted to sit in silence, I'd have gone to your locker room first!" Edge retorted. Jericho looked up at the two who had started bickering in low voices with a raised eyebrow. Christian attempted to soothe the fight down, but ended up joining in. A small smile was produced on his face for a moment. He was glad that no matter what hell he was going through, his friends would be by his side.
" Guys! Hey! I don't really need you here. You can leave if you want to." Jericho stated. The three looked up at him, embarrassment covered their faces.
" Jericho, we're not going to leave you. We know that you're hurting…we're all here for you." Angle said as he walked towards Chris.
" Really?" Chris asked.
" Yeah man. If you need us for anything, you know that all you have to do is ask. If you wanna talk…we'll listen." Kurt proclaimed.
" You should have really given that pep talk to Tweedledum and Tweedledee." Jericho snorted as he indicated the door. Kurt turned just in time to glimpse blonde hair escaping from the room.
" Wimps." Kurt muttered as he plopped down next to Chris. Chris smirked, glad that he was able to get Stephanie off his mind for a second.
No wait…now she was back in there.
The two occasional tag-team partners sat in silence for a while. Kurt then turned to his friend to say something, but was cut off.
" Save it Kurt. I don't want to hear anything about me and Stephanie." Jericho declared.
" Well, I wasn't going to say anything about you and Stephanie." Kurt replied.
" What did you want to say then?"
" That Triple H and Stephanie's wedding's about to begin…what are you planning on doing?" Kurt asked uncomfortably.
" I dunno…soak in my misery I guess." Chris replied.
" Chris, I think you should watch the wedding." Kurt said quietly.
" What!? You're insane Angle! Why would I voluntarily want to watch the woman I love marry someone else?" Jericho exclaimed.
" For starters…she's already married to him." Kurt began.
" Well, she's confirming that then. She's showing everyone else that she's taken…that she loves someone else. She's showing everyone."
" That's why 'everyone' should watch the wedding, because if 'everyone' doesn't…they'll never be able to get past this." Kurt responded, making air quotes.
" You have screwed up logic, y'know Angle?"
" I'll have you know that I'm highly intelligent. It's part of the Olympic package and part of my three Is. Integrity …" Kurt began.
" Fine! I'll watch it…just to have you shut up Kirk!" Chris exclaimed as he flicked on the television to see the altar and set-up.
~*~*~*~
Triple H
Hunter paced outside the gorilla, which would lead to the ramp and then the ring, which were now the aisle and the altar.
Assorted feelings ran through him.
What was supposed to be one of the greatest days of his life, had taken a drastic turn a few moments ago.
What was he going to do?
" Hey man, you're up. Good luck." One of the technicians said to him with a smile. Triple H forced a smile on his face. He was one of the toughest S.O.Bs on the roster…he couldn't let the millions of fans out there see his vulnerable and wounded side.
He took a deep breath and walked down the aisle to his music and to a thunderous greeting.
" This is going to be hell." He muttered. He nodded at the minister as he walked into the ring.
What was he going to do?
Music started playing as Stephanie walked down the aisle on the arm of her father, Vince McMahon. Triple H glanced at his wife with a huge smile, this one not false. She looked beautiful. She always did.
This was so hard. He loved his gorgeous wife a lot… but he knew.
He knew what he had to do.
~*~*~*~
Stephanie McMahon
Stephanie walked down to the ring on Vince's arm, her smile almost identical to Triple H's. Both hid their true feelings underneath the faux-smiles.
Vince let go of Stephanie's arm and she made her way to her position next to Triple H.
" Do the right thing, sweetie." Vince whispered to her before she left. Stephanie faltered at her dad's statement as she made her way to her husband.
What did he mean by that?
Hunter grinned at her and she smiled back at him. She turned to look around at the arena full of fans as they chanted 'What!' between each of the minister's words and then to J.R and The King, who had 'uh-oh' faces.
Something wasn't right.
The wedding singers then began to sing and Stephanie suddenly felt incredibly uneasy. As she recited her vows, Stephanie realised how weird it was that she fell right into the mic role. She was jittery…some of her words she felt weren't totally true, yet she pulled it off.
It was Triple H's turn next and she suddenly heard fans get more rowdy and interested in the ceremony.
Something wasn't right.
This wasn't right.
~*~*~*~
Triple H
" God-uh. That was so beautiful, Steph. I'm overwhelmed, really and you know I too want to stand here in front of the world and tell you how I feel about you. Tell you how I felt about you since the moment I saw you and tell you how I feel about you right now. You see Steph, we've been together for a little over two years and sure, we've had our ups and our downs, but despite all of that, last week when you told me that I was gonna be a father, it was the greatest moment in my life. The emotion that I felt was unbelievable and since that day, I've looked at you in a different way. When I look at you, I see you not just as my loving wife, but I see you as the mother of my child. When your wife is pregnant, you love her more." Triple H started, as he turned to the fans to speak to them. The words had come out…he wasn't lying when he recited any of them. He was ecstatic when he heard about the baby…and he had loved his wife more.
Stephanie, behind the false exterior she showed, gulped. Triple H then turned back to look at his wife, his mouth on the mic. Stephanie looked under her husband's gaze and leaned in towards her mic.
" H-hunter, I-I can't…" She began but was cut off from her husband.
" Standing here tonight, I see you in a different light Steph. I don't see you as my loving wife or the mother of my child, but I see you for what you truly are…but I can't find the words to explain. However, I do think this wedding present I received earlier in the form of a video package, does. I'd like everyone to avert your attention to the Titantron to see what my wife really is. Steph, you're really going to get a kick out of this." Triple H remarked sarcastically and began to laugh slightly. Anything to cover the anguish he was feeling.
~*~*~*~
Stephanie McMahon" H-Hunter, I've got to talk to you. I can't…" Stephanie quickly started as she ignored the screen, figuring it was just a tribute to her over the years. She tried to persuade her husband to listen to her.
Suddenly, familiar voices and conversations spread through the arena. Stephanie slowly turned to the screen. Her mouth gaped open as she realised what footage was being aired to the world, to the arena, to the locker room…to her husband.
It was footage of her and Chris Jericho.
The compilation of clips started with parts of the conversation she had with him post-Survivor Series match and then the kiss. And after that footage, that she herself didn't know of, aired.
From what seemed like a hotel lobby security camera, there was a slight distorted clip of Stephanie in Jericho's arms being carried through the lobby. Several security cameras and images later, it eventually led up to the two entering the hotel room. Another shot was taken of them leaving the room at separate times in the morning.
Stephanie turned midst through the clips in fear and shock, as some fans chanted "Slut" and others sat in silence, to her husband. He wasn't looking at the screen directly, but he wasn't looking at her. Tears began to stream from her face.
More footage of the incident in the parking lot that led up to the kiss from the RAW the next day aired. The footage was obviously taken from the security cameras outside the arena.
" Oh no…" J.R. muttered.
Then the video ended with the conversation that Stephanie had just shared with Chris Jericho.
" So you're going to continue telling Trips that baby's his?"
" No. I-I don't know what to tell him yet, but I will."
" Do you want me to tell him? Tell him that child is mine."
It was those lines that rang out in the arena that told each and everyone present and on television screens around the world that Triple H was not the father of the baby.
Chris Jericho was.
Every lie and secret Stephanie had kept hidden was unfolded to everyone in one video package.
'Uh-ohs', 'you're screwed', 'slut', 'bullshit' and various other chants arouse from the crowd, but Stephanie remained mute as tears fell down her eyes.
Triple H, however, had surpassed the mute and shock stage. Now he was purely irate.
" I said that when your wife is pregnant you love her more. Actually, y'know what Steph? A man would love his wife more when she's pregnant…if that child was yours!" Triple H shouted. Stephanie trembled as Triple H went ballistic as he spat words out to her.
" Hunter, I w-was going to tell you." She stammered through sobs.
" What? When? After 9 months? Did you want this so badly that you would lie and use my emotions against me? Did you want this so bad that you would keep living a lie, have me believe that I was going to father a child…when actually Jericho's the father!!!" Triple H hollered.
" N-no, I-I…" Stephanie stammered.
" Steph, I have done some pretty bad things in my life. I admit it…I'm an asshole, but even I would not go this low. You know that through our ups and downs…I've never been unfaithful to you." The incensed expression on his face was replaced with a heartbroken one.
" I know, Hunter. I'm sorry…I-I really. I do love you, Hunter."
" Bullshit!" The fans shouted. Stephanie ignored them, her eyes focused on her husband who now looked at her, with a dejected look.
~*~*~*~
Triple H
He didn't know what he was feeling…he was torn between several emotions. Anger, pain, confusion…
" I really do love you, Hunter." Stephanie repeated.
" Steph, I don't care if you love me now or you loved me when you screwed Jericho…but this…this was the last straw. You deceived me, you hurt me…it's…" Triple H began.
" Hunter…are you…" She trailed off, realising what he was going to say. The two shared an intense, silent moment. Triple H then put on a look of determination.
" You know as well as I do, Steph. It's over. We're through." He declared. He knew that it was the end, and he knew he didn't want it to be. Stephanie looked at him for a long moment before she replied.
" I know." Stephanie cried. He didn't expect her sudden agreement…he didn't want her sudden agreement. Hunter then slowly, regrettably, made his way out of the ring, past her.
" I'm sorry, Hunter. This wasn't supposed to happen. I love you…it's just. Chris and I…it was…" She began and then her tone slipped down into a broken whisper.
" I think I love him too." Hunter winced at her words. Her response left any part of him that wasn't already shattered, broken.
" You should have whatever makes you happy…and that's obviously not me." With that Triple H pulled off his wedding finger and placed it in her hands.
The ring band shook in Stephanie's trembling hands, as Hunter left the ring.
" Did you see that J.R? Triple H gave Stephanie his wedding ring back." The King exclaimed.
" You heard what Triple H said. The McMahon-Helmsleys are through." J.R. responded.
~*~*~*~
Chris Jericho
Chris couldn't believe it. Under Kurt's orders he had regretfully watched the wedding. When Stephanie recited her vows, when he heard her declare her love to Triple H…he had gotten up to leave. But his milk-drinking friend had pulled him down and forced him to watch.
" Chris, you're going to see this a lot more of this after tonight. You have to get past this."
So he had. He had watched everything play out and he was still in shock.
The moment the footage started airing, his expression was identical to Stephanie's.
Horror.
It wasn't the footage exactly that aroused the reaction from Chris, but it was due to the fact that everyone everywhere was watching this with him.
" Gosh, Jericho. You two didn't waste any time did you." Kurt remarked as they watched him carry her to the hotel room. Midst through the video was when Edge and Christian ran into the locker room, followed closely by Lita.
" Stephanie! And you! S-she's the she! " They shrieked together, upon their entrance. Jericho nodded with his eyes still focused on the picture. His expression still conveyed shock.
" Hunter's going to kill him." Christian muttered to Kurt.
" How come you didn't tell me?" Lita demanded from her boyfriend, Kurt.
" No one was meant to know." Chris mumbled.
" From all the tonguing…I think it's safe to say they know now." Edge responded. Kurt and Lita whacked him simultaneously for his 'insensitivity.'
" No one was meant to know." Chris repeated, still in shock.
And now, a few moments later, the four remained in similar positions. Chris remained frozen in front of the television and the others pressed Kurt for answers in whispers.
" I'm going out there." Jericho suddenly spoke.
" What?" Edge and Christian said concurrently.
" I hate that word." Kurt groaned from behind them. Lita rolled her eyes at her new boyfriend's comment and added.
" Chris, I don't think that's a good idea."
" Look at her guys…I think she needs me out there."
" You're an ass clown y'know that? Triple H just left the ring; he's probably still lurking around there. I-if he sees you…" Edge began.
" He'll kill me. I got it. But…" Jericho protested.
" Stephanie is leaving the ring." Christian noted. All the occupants of the Undisputed Champion's locker room then turned to look at a broken Stephanie leave the ring on the arm of her father.
" S-she looks hurt."
" Well her marriage just broke up and her affair was shown to the whole world. Figures."
" Chris, maybe now isn't the time to…"
" I have to see how she is." Chris interrupted his friends' worries and remarks and ran out of the locker room.
" Watch out for the sledgehammer!" Kurt shouted from behind him.
~*~*~*~
Triple H
As he had walked through those curtains to backstage, several wrestlers came up to him showing their sorrow over the situation. Triple H was too pissed to acknowledge any of them. For all he knew…everyone had already known about the affair and were hiding it from him.
" Hey man, sorry about that. You know if I had known it was those two, I would have told you." The Rock remarked. Triple H brushed him off with a nod.
The only thing that was processing in his head was thoughts and images of his Stephanie with another man. Kissing another man. Sleeping with another man.
All he thought of was how his Stephanie had been with Chris Jericho.
And now she wasn't his Stephanie anymore.
" Hey man. Now's probably not the best time to be here." A cool, collected voice spoke. Triple H looked up to see Rob Van Dam hold back someone…someone with blonde hair.
Hunter growled as he realised who RVD was restraining.
" Let him go." Hunter bit out. Rob and Jericho looked at Triple H in surprise. RVD shrugged and took a step to the side, away from Jericho.
Suddenly, wrestlers gathered. Anxiously awaiting the confrontation between the two men.
" Hey, Trips…I-I didn't mean to…" Chris began awkwardly.
" Shut up!" Triple H bellowed. Chris' eyes narrowed in anger, but he brushed it off. He knew that Triple H was allowed to be pissed off at him, so he reluctantly stood quiet.
The two egotistical wrestlers glared at each other.
Triple H had no idea what he was going to do. He was right in front of the man that his wife had an affair with, had a child with…
Triple H clenched and unclenched his fists at the thought that the child, who he believed had been the highlight of his life for a long time, wasn't truly his but Jericho's.
" Hunter, don't do anything you'll regret." Ric Flair spoke from the side.
" Kick his ass, Hunter." Came the response from the wrestler who was going to meet Jericho in the ring that following Sunday: Stone Cold Steve Austin.
" Hey man, don't listen to baldy…he's just worried that I'm going to beat him on Sunday. Listen to Flair…he's actually making some sense." Jericho protested.
" This is between us, Jericho." Triple H threatened as he moved closer to Jericho.
" Fight! Fight!" Chants rang out amongst the wrestlers.
" We're not going to fight, guys." Chris spoke and then he turned to Hunter. " Are we?"
" I'm going to make you cough blood up for the next month!" Hunter bit out acidly. Jericho grimaced at the thought and began to back away from Triple H.
" Seriously, man. Think rationally. What happened between me and Steph…we didn't mean for it to happen. If I wanted to piss you off, I can think of a lot of other things to do to you. But I didn't want to piss you off. I didn't mean to sleep with Stephanie…your umm…wife. It just happened. We were drunk and it happened, but…I'll be honest, it meant more to me then just sex."
'Ooohs' and 'Whoas' echoed amongs the ever growing crowd of wrestlers.
" Dude, you're trying to calm the man down." RVD interjected in a whisper.
" Jericho, I so want to kick your ass." Triple H exclaimed, as he neared Jericho.
" You know we've never seen eye to eye, Hunter. But, I understand the hell you must be going through. I personally know that Stephanie is a hard person to get over." Chris stammered. Triple H took a hold of Jericho's collar and gritted his teeth, anger bubbling more within him.
" Take a shot at me, if it helps." Jericho stated. Triple H faltered at the Canadian's answer. He wasn't expecting Jericho to let him hit him so easily.
" Hunter!" A shriek suddenly rang out as Stephanie pushed through the crowd of wrestlers to them. She ran over to the men and put her hand on Triple H's fist.
" Hunter, let him go. I'm the one that's hurt you. Not Chris." She stated. Triple H looked at his to-be-ex-wife's pleading eyes. He paused for a moment, his gaze fixated on Stephanie. He then let go of Jericho and retreated his fist.
~*~*~*~
Chris Jericho
Chris watched the intense stare between the former couple. He glanced at Triple H and noticed something he had never really seen in his eyes on-screen before.
Love for Stephanie.
" Do I pay you people to stand around? No! So, anyone who wants to have a job tomorrow, better start moving their ass!" Vince McMahon shouted to the herd of nosy wrestlers, interrupting Jericho's thoughts. The wrestlers all quickly scrambled out of the small area, whilst whispering amongst each other.
" Great. Just when it was getting interesting." Stacy mumbled.
" Ten bucks on Triple H." The Rock proclaimed.
" Twenty on Jericho." Booker T joined in.
" You people are asses." The Undertaker muttered as he walked off.
Jealousy passed through Chris as he realised that Triple H wasn't always using Stephanie to get to the top. He had loved her too. He still did, from the looks he was giving her now.
Vince looked back and forth between the group of wrestlers and the love triangle. He then walked over to them.
" I want you to talk this out. You three are very important to my company and if you don't sort this out then I'll unfortunately have to take other measures to sort this out." Vince demanded.
Chris looked up at his child's grandfather and nodded in agreement to his threat. Vince then made his way to the exit. He paused at a box thing and picked up a videocassette from it, he then shot Chris a look before leaving.
In that one look it was clear to Chris that the tape that Vince held in his hands was the one with Stephanie and Chris's affair. It suddenly dawned on Y2J.
Vince McMahon had compiled the tape that had been sent to Hunter with his whole affair.
Jericho understood that Vince was trying to take a burden off his daughter's shoulders. A huge burden. And this was the way he had done it, and for that Chris was thankful to his boss.
~*~*~*~
Triple H
" Hunter…" Stephanie began, but the irate wrestler cut her off.
" Save it Steph. I don't give a crap about what Vince says. I'm out of here." Triple H said as he made his way to the exit.
" Hunter, please. I don't want you to hate me." Stephanie objected as she held Triple H's arm back.
" I don't…that's why it hurts more." Triple H declared. His response caused Stephanie to let go of his arm, in shock. Triple H then walked a few steps away and then stopped.
He slowly looked down and then put his hand in his pocket and took something out.
Triple H turned around and walked back to the couple.
" I guess this is yours now…c-congratulations." Hunter said painfully. He handed the sonogram of what was believed to him was his child to Chris Jericho. Jericho looked baffled at Trip's act.
" I will beat the shit out of you, Jericho. Don't think I won't. But not now…but when I do it'll be for the title." Chris shrugged as Triple H walked off.
" Bye Hunter." Stephanie meekly whispered.
~*~*~*~
Stephanie McMahon
Stephanie stood rooted in her spot for a few minutes.
She had just said farewell to her husband…now he was just one of the wrestlers.
Stephanie processed the night's events and thought of how everything was tied together. The preparations for the wedding, the conversation with Jericho, the horror that was her wedding and the break up of her two-year marriage replayed continuously in her mind.
" Steph?" Chris' voice broke Stephanie out of her daze. She turned to look at the Undisputed Champ.
" So this is our baby, huh?" Jericho asked as he looked down at the sonogram in his hands. Stephanie smiled at him.
" Yeah. That's our baby."
" Wow, she's…he's…it's…umm…" Chris stammered. His eyebrows knitted as he examined the picture.
" You can't find the baby can you?" Stephanie asked with a grin, looking at his expression.
" Totally and utterly lost." He responded. Stephanie chuckled and walked up to him. She stood next to him and leaned over to point at the sonogram.
" That's our baby right there." She indicated to a little blob.
" Wow, that dot's really our baby."
" Yeah and in a few months it'll be bigger and we'll know if it's a girl or a boy."
" Wow." Y2J repeated. His eyes fixated on the black and white lines. Stephanie looked up at him with a warm smile.
" You'll be there, right? When I have my next ultrasound."
" Of course. I'm here for you throughout this pregnancy." He replied as he smiled down at her.
" So you'll be my slave?"
" What ever you want, master." Stephanie paused and then planted a kiss on Chris's lips.
" Here's to parenthood."
~*~*~*~
Finis~*~*~*~