A/N : Just when you think you can predict what direction this story is going in,I go off and run the other way,lol.
Raw : 24-12-2001.
The day before Christmas and Valerie was visiting Jeff and Lita in the hospital.Valerie went to see Lita first and she talked to her for a long time.Valerie apologized for what her father had done but Lita made it perfectly clear that it wasn't her fault.
"You cannot be held responsible for your father's actions Val,he's the one who did this to us,not you" Lita said, holding Valerie's trembling hand.
"But I wasn't there to stop him" Valerie argued.
"You wouldn't have been able to stop him,he would have found some low way of obstructing you like he did on Smackdown.It wasn't your fault,it will never be your fault" Lita said.
Valerie nodded but she wasn't convinced.
"How's Matt doing?" Valerie asked softly.
"He's doing alright,he'll be back on his feet in no time at all" Lita said reassuringly.
"I sure hope so" Valerie said.
"Oh sister golden hair" Lita said.
Lita spread her arms and Valerie gratefully accepted the hug,she needed a hug more than ever.After saying goodbye to Lita,Valerie went to see Jeff who was on another floor.She came in with a broad smile on her face but when she saw he was asleep her smile faded.He looked so vulnerable as he lay there sleeping.Tears filled Valerie's eyes and she cursed her father for doing this to her Jeff.
Valerie walked to the bed and sat down on the chair.She watched him sleep for a while,not wanting to wake him up.Jeff woke up not long after,he looked at her and smiled.
"Hey there gorgeous" he said.
Valerie smiled,tears glistening in her eyes.
"Hey handsome" she whispered.
She sat on the side of his bed and stroked his face.
"How are you feeling?" she asked,trying hard not to cry.
Jeff looked at Valerie and noticed the unshed tears in her eyes.He stroked her cheek with his thumb and that did it for Valerie.She burst into tears and cried on his chest.He put both his arms around her and held her close.
"I'm okay,you don't need to cry" Jeff soothed.
"I'm sorry,I'm so so sorry" Valerie sobbed.
Jeff gently grabbed her shoulders and turned her to face him.
"Sorry for what?" he asked.
"For all of this" she sobbed,not able to calm down.
"This isn't your fault…" Jeff stated softly.
"Yes it is" Valerie hiccuped.
"No it's not" Jeff said.
"But…" Valerie started.
"Please,let me finish" Jeff said gently.
Valerie nodded and listened.
"My vendetta is with your father not with you.You were there for me from the start,you gave me more love than I could ever have dreamed of,I've got nothing to resent you for,nothing" Jeff said firmly.
Valerie swallowed hard and looked Jeff in the eyes.
"You're my everything" Jeff said.
Valerie smiled a little when she heard him say that.
"Your father hates me,that's a fact and we'll probably be fighting forever but I don't want that to disrupt your relationship with him" Jeff continued.
"You're not disrupting anything,I choose to hate him" Valerie said,wiping at her face.
"You don't hate him,you're upset with him but you don't hate him" Jeff said.
"It sure feels like I do" Valerie whispered.
"I know baby" Jeff said.
"I don't want anything to do with him" Valerie said firmly.
"Are you happy with the way things are between the two of you?" Jeff asked.
"No but it's not my fault that they are what they are" Valerie said.
"I'm not saying it is,I know it isn't but he is your father" Jeff said.
"Jeff,you don't understand.When I saw him throw you off that stage,my world collapsed and he didn't even care.He just stood there watching.And than he threw Lita,one of the best friends I have,off as well and he still didn't care.He still just stood there.He doesn't care about how I feel Jeff,he doesn't care" Valerie said,rekindling her tears.
Valerie cried and Jeff hugged her tightly.
"Sssh,it's okay" Jeff soothed while stroking her hair.
"How could he not care?" Valerie said sobbing.
"He cares,he's acting like he doesn't but he does" Jeff said.
Valerie calmed down a little.She lift her head of Jeff's chest and looked him in the eyes.
"How do you know that?" Valerie asked.
"I can tell by the way he looks at you.There's love in his eyes when he does" Jeff said.
"Some love if it includes throwing your daughter's boyfriend off a stage" Valerie said wiping her eyes again.
"Talk to him Valerie,find out what he's feeling,what he's thinking"
Valerie sighed and said:
"You can be so damn reasonable sometimes"
Jeff smiled and stroked Valerie's cheek.
"You have a good influence on me" Jeff said.
"Really?" Valerie said blushing.
Jeff pulled Valerie closer and kissed her deeply and passionately.
"Really" Jeff murmured into her mouth.
Valerie giggled and broke the kiss.She sighed again and said:
"Maybe you're right,maybe I should talk to him.What better day to it than the day before Christmas"
Jeff threw Valerie a loving smile and nodded.When Valerie left the hospital she felt alot better.She knew it wouldn't last,she still had to talk to her father.She wouldn't like it but she'd do it.
Later that night Valerie was at the arena,sitting in her dressingroom watching her monitor.There was going to be a Christmas party in Ric's lockerroom and Valerie had already decided she would be there.She didn't like the idea of celebrating Christmas without Jeff but she didn't feel like being alone either.After she sat there for a while someone knocked on the door.
"Who is it?" Valerie asked.
"It's me Edge"
"Oh,come in Edge" Valerie said.
The door opened and a radiant Edge strolled in.He flashed her a broad smile and said:
"Hey dudette,ready for our Christmas party?"
"Yep" Valerie answered,smiling.
Valerie glanced at the monitor and chuckled.
"Looks like Vince is having a Christmas party as well"
Edge looked at the screen and grinned.
"His party is totally going to reek.Unlike our party" Edge said.
"Amen to that" Valerie said,getting up and walking to Edge.
"Shall we?" Edge asked.
"We shall" Valerie said.
Valerie and Edge walked through the hall together on their way to the Ric Flair's lockerroom.The party started not long after and Valerie had a ball.The Big Show still scared her stiff but she had to laugh when the Big Show did Ric Flair's strut.They had a Tajiri Claus and a ms Torrie Claus.Valerie had a great time talking to Torrie, unlike popular opinion,Torrie was very intelligent and pleasant to talk to.
Edge and Albert were trying to make Kane a bit merrier,putting an ornament on him and some bows.Kane made it perfectly clear that he didn't like it so Valerie came up to him and put her arms around his waist.
"Merry Christmas uncle Kane"
Kane chuckled and ruffled Valerie's hair.
"Merry Christmas munchkin"
Edge and Albert couldn't believe it.They went through all that trouble to make Kane merrier and all Valerie had to do was smile at him.Valerie looked up at Kane and smiled.
"Be merrier my uncle" Valerie said in a snooty voice.
Kane tickled Valerie and she giggled.In the mean time everyone was getting the Big Show to do impressions. Valerie looked in his direction and felt her uncle giving her shoulder a gentle squeeze.Kane knew Valerie was scared of the Big Show but he was there and she had nothing to worry about.Valerie smiled up at him and Kane smiled back.Debra also came in and told everyone that Steve Austin would be joining them shortly.
A little later Big Show and Albert were wearing Kane masks as Austin burst in with coolers of beer.Valerie had to fight to suppress a snort.Austin sat down on Tajiri Claus' lap and Torrie giggled.Her giggles were so sincere that Valerie couldn't help but laugh also.
Austin asked for a case of beer,a fifth of Crown Royal,a shot at Booker-T,another shot at Booker-T,more beer, a shot at the Undisputed Championship,more beer,a deer rifle and another middle finger so he could flip more people off.
Valerie looked a little sad as she sipped her drink so Edge and Albert took to cheering her up.Edge put his arm around Valerie.
"Hey,cheer up dudette,it's Christmas" Edge said with a smile.
They surrounded her with Christmas decorations and Valerie chuckled but she still didn't feel right.
"Yeah it's Christmas,Christmas without Jeff" Valerie replied.
Kane kneeled down in front of his niece and playfully stroked her chin with his fist.
"Be merrier my niece" Kane said.
Valerie laughed and hugged her uncle.
"I guess I had that coming to me" she said,chuckling.
"I guess you did" Kane said.
Kane got up and smiled at Valerie.He turned around when he heard someone say something.
"Hey leave that bottle alone" Kane growled.
He stalked to the other side of the room leaving Valerie,Albert and Edge sitting and standing there.Albert suddenly shoved a box under Valerie's nose.Valerie laughed and looked up at Albert.
"Is this even for me or did you just find it somewhere?" Valerie asked Albert,giggling.
"I…bought it for you.Unwrap it" Albert said.
Valerie unwrapped it while laughing and when she saw what it was she laughed even harder.She held it up and the entire room burst into laughter.Hairgrowth for men.Albert snatched it out of Valerie's hand.
"I could use this" Albert said,causing more rounds of laughter to circle the room.
He opened the box and went to the other side of the room with it leaving Edge and Valerie.There was an uneasy silence between the two and Valerie had to do something about it.
"Albert is really a good guy" Valerie remarked.
"Yeah he is" Edge said.
Valerie nodded and the silence returned.Torrie had left the room to face Stacy Keibler in an eggnog match. Torrie won much to Valerie's amusement.Poor Stacy,not.Once that match was over Valerie noticed Edge was looking at her.That shade in his eyes had returned and it kinda worried Valerie,she didn't feel the same but she didn't wanna stomp all over his feelings by telling him either.Valerie looked around and saw what she needed. She turned to Edge.
"How about a game of don't lose your head?" she asked Edge,excitedly.
"Sure" Edge said beaming.
Valerie pulled out the game and they set it up on a table.Before they knew it Jacqueline and Trish had joined in. Good,Valerie thought,maybe two beautiful ladies will get his mind off me.
Tazz had joined Flair's party after not liking Vince's and complimented Tajiri Claus.Valerie didn't quite catch the rest of what he said but apparently it was reason enough for Austin to suggest a Santa vs Santa match. Austin than pulled out the guitar and started singing Christmas Carrols.Even Kane got in on the guitar action. Valerie turned back to the game when it was her turn and much to her chagrin Edge was watching her,not Jacqueline or Trish.
Valerie got up and told them to excuse her for a moment.She walked out of the room and Kane noticed her leave.He decided to follow her when Edge came up to him.
"Hey Kane man,do you know what's up with Valerie?" Edge asked.
"I don't think anything's up with her but I do think maybe she needs a bit more space" Kane said,leaving Edge to think about that.
"Space.Right,I can give her that" Edge muttered.
Kane walked out of the room and when he came into the hall he saw Valerie talking to Taker.
"I need to talk to you" Valerie said.
Taker nodded but didn't say anything.
"I'll come to your dressingroom after the show" Valerie said,walking away before Taker could say anything else.
Kane walked to Taker and stood next to him.
"She's going to give you another chance,although I don't see why" Kane said.
Taker still didn't say anything.
"I hope you don't blow it again" Kane said,walking back to the party.
"So do I bro,so do I" Taker whispered.
In the mean time Valerie was sitting outside in the cold,thinking real hard about several things.Her impending confrontation with her father,her relationship with Jeff,her friendship with Edge.Edge's affection had also brought back her doubts about her friendship with RVD.
"I'm in love with Jeff,I know I am" she whispered.
Than why were things so damn confusing.She sat there thinking until she felt someone wrapping a coat around her.She whirled around and saw a concerned pair of eyes staring back at her.
A/N : Cliffhanger I think,please read and review.