About an hour later, Vince and Linda arrived at the McMahon estate, it was
late in the afternoon and the partially cloudy sky was getting dark. There
was snow all around on this cold winter afternoon. The chauffer opened the
door for them and they made their way inside. Linda took off her jacket as
Vince stepped forward into the quiet house.
"Hello, anybody home?" His voice echoed down the hall.
"Daddy?" The small voice was heard in another room. Far off, Stephanie poked her head out of the den to see her parents at the door. "Mom, dad!" She ran over
"Oh Stephanie!" Linda smiled and hugged her. "Oh my little girl. How are you?"
"I'm alright." Steph turned to her dad. "Hi daddy."
"Hey there Steph." Vince held her tightly for comfort. He looked up to see Shane approaching. "Ah Shane my boy, here you are."
"Hey dad, mom." Shane smiled.
Vince took off his coat and hung it next to Linda's as the chauffer closed the door and went to park the car outside. The four of them walked down the hall and made their way into the den. Marissa was sitting on the sofa, watching Joey and Shannon play. It had gotten colder so they had lit the fire, it was filled with large crackling flames. Stephanie entered the room first, Shane and her parents following slowly behind. Steph crouched down and picked up Joey and turned to her parents.
"Mom, dad, this is Joey."
"Aw." Linda smiled. "He's so cute! Oh Steph, he's adorable!"
"Thanks mom." Stephanie blushed and Linda held the baby.
"Well now." Vince looked at him with a grin. "He looks just like his old man now doesn't he."
"Vince." Linda muttered and jabbed his ribs with her elbow.
"Oh." Vince bit his lower lip and looked over at Stephanie, her eyes glued to the floor. "I'm sorry honey."
"No, no." Stephanie tried not to talk shakily. "It's ok, really."
Linda handed the baby back to her, "I'm glad we were finally able to meet our grandson."
"Yes Joey." Stephanie smiled to her young son. "This is grandma and grandpa."
"Uh ut?" Joey asked curiously.
Steph smiled to herself, "He doesn't talk much yet, but we're expecting his first word soon." She sat down on the sofa with him, next to Marissa and Shannon. "He's standing up a lot but he likes to walk more than crawl."
"Either he's lazy or a quick quitter." Vince joked as he and Linda sat down on the other sofa next to Shane.
"Daddy." Stephanie laughed and Vince smiled, happy to see his daughter in light heart.
"So, what do we have planed for today?" Shane asked his mom.
"Well, I don't really know. It's kinda cold out, maybe we could all just stay in the den and talk, that way we can get caught up on things."
"I'm gonna have to leave tomorrow though." Stephanie said.
Everyone turned to her and Linda spoke up, "But it's Christmas Eve!"
"Don't worry, I won't be leaving until the late afternoon. I just, have to take care of some things." She spoke quietly.
"I understand." Linda nodded.
"Thanks mom, I'm sorry." Steph sighed. "I just don't want to ruin the holidays for everyone."
"Stephanie." Linda's voice made her look up. "You aren't running the holidays for us, don't blame yourself for what's been happening."
"I know, it's just that I."
"Steph." Vince cut her off. "The guys back at Raw felt the same was as you did, but I'll tell you the same thing that I told them. It wasn't your fault, you couldn't have done anything different to prevent this. Chris brought it down on himself, so don't think that you're to blame because you're not, Chris did this alone."
"I know that dad, but, it.. it's just so hard." Steph sighed.
"I know it is honey, but don't worry, time will go on and you'll feel better about it, I promise you."
"Thanks dad." Steph sniffed.
"Uh mu?" Joey looked up at his mom, sensing her feelings.
"Oh Joey, it's ok." She smiled and bounced him. He jabbered and giggled.
And so they all spoke until it was late at night, getting to know about current events and talking about old times. Shane had moved to New York so he could work on a branch of the WWE down there that was working more into the production area. They also had a chain in LA but Shane chose New York to be closer to family. As he was telling them about what was going on at the company lately, Stephanie began to wonder, now that Chris was gone, she would be alone in Florida, her family would be up in the northeast while she'd be done in the southeast. Sure, Christian and a bunch of the superstars lived down there, but without Chris, it didn't feel like family anymore. She began to contemplate moving back up to the New England area.
"Oh, ya." Shane stood up and stretched. "Well it's late, I think maybe we should go to bed."
"Yea, Shannon passed out hours ago." Marissa looked down at her sleeping daughter.
"Yea, I should probably put Joey to bed too." Stephanie smiled at her son, bouncing up and down and crawling around the couch.
"He's just like a cat, curious and nocturnal." Marissa laughed.
"Well, I'm feeling tired myself." Stephanie stood up. "I'll see you guys in the morning."
"Good night." Everyone said at the same time. The chauffer led Stephanie upstairs to her room.
"Well then, I guess it's about that time." Vince stood up, and Linda followed his lead.
"Yea. Night guys." Shane smiled as Marissa stood up with their baby. And everyone went to their rooms to go to bed.
The next morning.
Stephanie was the last to get up. Since Joey had gone to bed late, he didn't wake up Stephanie in the middle of the night. It was about nine when they woke up. Steph tied her robe and went downstairs to the kitchen. Shane was in there making a sandwich.
"Well, rise and shine. About time you got up."
"Yea, I'm just tired from the flight and all."
"Not dressed yet are we."
"No, I'm getting something for Joey while I take a shower."
"Oh alright then, sounds good to me."
Stephanie got a bottle of milk and warmed it up, then took it to Joey. He played with it and occasionally drank some while Stephanie got ready in the bathroom. After the got dressed and changed Joey, she and her son came downstairs to find Marissa and Shane in the living room, watching their baby.
"Hey guys." Steph smiled and they looked over at her. "Where's are parents Shane?"
"I think they're in the front."
"Ok."
Steph set Joey down the play with Shannon, then went to the door. Outside, Vince and Linda were on the porch swing talking as they looked out at the front. The paved street led from the gate to the door and back again, making a circle of gray cement. In the middle was a ten foot circle of grass with a water fountain. Stephanie smiled as she looked at it and didn't realize that she sighed out loud. Her parents herd and turned.
"Stephanie." Linda was shocked.
"Are you alright?" Vince asked.
"Yea." She sighed and looked away. "It's just that, the fountain brings back a lot of memories."
"Yea." Vince smiled as he looked at it. "I remember every summer when you and Shane were kids, you would play for hours in that thing. Then you'd hook up the hose and spray each other like a sprinkler."
"Oh and then you'd run for the house all wet but I would stop you every time and give you a towel to dry off first." Linda added. "You both were so determined to one day run inside all wet and mess up the carpet, but you never did."
"Yea." Stephanie laughed. "Shane and I both hated that red carpet you got for the front hall." She sighed again. "I remember the last time I came here. It was after Chris and I got married. You wanted us to stand in front of the fountain for a picture. Chris had been eager ever since he saw it to push me in it, and of course we were in our wedding attire. Finally dad took the picture, or so we thought, and Chris pushed me in. It turned out that the flash didn't go off so you had to take the picture again. I still remember Chris laughing and I got out all angry, and that was our wedding picture."
After that, then she chased him and yelled at him but he ran, she wanted to push him into the water and ruin his cloths this time. But Chris was fast, and instead of her shoving him in, he dove in and got himself wet on purpose. Stephanie just pouted, folding her arms as Chris and everyone watching laughed.
"Oh excuse me, Miss Stephanie?" They turned to the voice of the chauffer. "The car has your bags ready for when you want to leave for the airport."
"Thank you." Steph nodded and looked over at her parents.
"Oh Steph, are you sure you don't want to stay?" Linda asked.
"No, I'm sure. I just have to get back, that's all."
"Will you come again sometime soon though? Our family as a whole just isn't anything without you." Vince said.
"I will dad." Steph replied. She went into the house and got Joey and her carry on. "See you all later then." Everyone watched her leave and waved on the porch, Marissa waved Shannon's hand for her.
Stephanie got to the airport and got her things on the plane. As she sat in the seat, she held Joey over to the window so he could look out. The plane took off into the air. Stephanie closed her eyes to think to herself. She remembered what her dad had said to her before she left, 'our family as a whole just isn't anything without you'. And that reminded her of Chris. Was her family anything now with him gone? Hours later, the plane arrived. She got a taxi to get her and Joey home. After getting all the things into her house, she set Joey down for a nap on a recliner. She got the mail and set it a small brown table next to the phone. She went to walk off but stopped, the red light was blinking, she had a message. She pushed the button to play it, it was from Christian's wife.
"Hey Steph, how are you? You're at your parent's estate right now aren't you? I just wanted to call you and let you know that you're in my thoughts and prayers. I'm so sorry about what happened with Chris and all. I hope things work out alright for you because I worry. You're like family to us Steph, and I don't want you to forget that you have friends like us."
Stephanie sighed and wiped a tear from her eye. She looked over at the tree that Christian's wife had given them. Under it were presents for her and Joey from people and from Chris. Stephanie only saw one gift with Chris's name on it, the others didn't give him one because of his untimely death. She sniffed and walked over, picking it up. It was a small box and she opened the lid off of it. Inside was what looked to be a necklace, but it was really a replica of Inuyasha's collar. She set it down next to Joey and sighed.
"Dudy?" Stephanie froze and looked up, turning around to see Joey awake holding the collar. "Dudy." He said again and looked up at her. Daddy, his first word!
"Yes Joey, that's right." She smiled. "Daddy." She only hoped Chris had heard it.
"Hello, anybody home?" His voice echoed down the hall.
"Daddy?" The small voice was heard in another room. Far off, Stephanie poked her head out of the den to see her parents at the door. "Mom, dad!" She ran over
"Oh Stephanie!" Linda smiled and hugged her. "Oh my little girl. How are you?"
"I'm alright." Steph turned to her dad. "Hi daddy."
"Hey there Steph." Vince held her tightly for comfort. He looked up to see Shane approaching. "Ah Shane my boy, here you are."
"Hey dad, mom." Shane smiled.
Vince took off his coat and hung it next to Linda's as the chauffer closed the door and went to park the car outside. The four of them walked down the hall and made their way into the den. Marissa was sitting on the sofa, watching Joey and Shannon play. It had gotten colder so they had lit the fire, it was filled with large crackling flames. Stephanie entered the room first, Shane and her parents following slowly behind. Steph crouched down and picked up Joey and turned to her parents.
"Mom, dad, this is Joey."
"Aw." Linda smiled. "He's so cute! Oh Steph, he's adorable!"
"Thanks mom." Stephanie blushed and Linda held the baby.
"Well now." Vince looked at him with a grin. "He looks just like his old man now doesn't he."
"Vince." Linda muttered and jabbed his ribs with her elbow.
"Oh." Vince bit his lower lip and looked over at Stephanie, her eyes glued to the floor. "I'm sorry honey."
"No, no." Stephanie tried not to talk shakily. "It's ok, really."
Linda handed the baby back to her, "I'm glad we were finally able to meet our grandson."
"Yes Joey." Stephanie smiled to her young son. "This is grandma and grandpa."
"Uh ut?" Joey asked curiously.
Steph smiled to herself, "He doesn't talk much yet, but we're expecting his first word soon." She sat down on the sofa with him, next to Marissa and Shannon. "He's standing up a lot but he likes to walk more than crawl."
"Either he's lazy or a quick quitter." Vince joked as he and Linda sat down on the other sofa next to Shane.
"Daddy." Stephanie laughed and Vince smiled, happy to see his daughter in light heart.
"So, what do we have planed for today?" Shane asked his mom.
"Well, I don't really know. It's kinda cold out, maybe we could all just stay in the den and talk, that way we can get caught up on things."
"I'm gonna have to leave tomorrow though." Stephanie said.
Everyone turned to her and Linda spoke up, "But it's Christmas Eve!"
"Don't worry, I won't be leaving until the late afternoon. I just, have to take care of some things." She spoke quietly.
"I understand." Linda nodded.
"Thanks mom, I'm sorry." Steph sighed. "I just don't want to ruin the holidays for everyone."
"Stephanie." Linda's voice made her look up. "You aren't running the holidays for us, don't blame yourself for what's been happening."
"I know, it's just that I."
"Steph." Vince cut her off. "The guys back at Raw felt the same was as you did, but I'll tell you the same thing that I told them. It wasn't your fault, you couldn't have done anything different to prevent this. Chris brought it down on himself, so don't think that you're to blame because you're not, Chris did this alone."
"I know that dad, but, it.. it's just so hard." Steph sighed.
"I know it is honey, but don't worry, time will go on and you'll feel better about it, I promise you."
"Thanks dad." Steph sniffed.
"Uh mu?" Joey looked up at his mom, sensing her feelings.
"Oh Joey, it's ok." She smiled and bounced him. He jabbered and giggled.
And so they all spoke until it was late at night, getting to know about current events and talking about old times. Shane had moved to New York so he could work on a branch of the WWE down there that was working more into the production area. They also had a chain in LA but Shane chose New York to be closer to family. As he was telling them about what was going on at the company lately, Stephanie began to wonder, now that Chris was gone, she would be alone in Florida, her family would be up in the northeast while she'd be done in the southeast. Sure, Christian and a bunch of the superstars lived down there, but without Chris, it didn't feel like family anymore. She began to contemplate moving back up to the New England area.
"Oh, ya." Shane stood up and stretched. "Well it's late, I think maybe we should go to bed."
"Yea, Shannon passed out hours ago." Marissa looked down at her sleeping daughter.
"Yea, I should probably put Joey to bed too." Stephanie smiled at her son, bouncing up and down and crawling around the couch.
"He's just like a cat, curious and nocturnal." Marissa laughed.
"Well, I'm feeling tired myself." Stephanie stood up. "I'll see you guys in the morning."
"Good night." Everyone said at the same time. The chauffer led Stephanie upstairs to her room.
"Well then, I guess it's about that time." Vince stood up, and Linda followed his lead.
"Yea. Night guys." Shane smiled as Marissa stood up with their baby. And everyone went to their rooms to go to bed.
The next morning.
Stephanie was the last to get up. Since Joey had gone to bed late, he didn't wake up Stephanie in the middle of the night. It was about nine when they woke up. Steph tied her robe and went downstairs to the kitchen. Shane was in there making a sandwich.
"Well, rise and shine. About time you got up."
"Yea, I'm just tired from the flight and all."
"Not dressed yet are we."
"No, I'm getting something for Joey while I take a shower."
"Oh alright then, sounds good to me."
Stephanie got a bottle of milk and warmed it up, then took it to Joey. He played with it and occasionally drank some while Stephanie got ready in the bathroom. After the got dressed and changed Joey, she and her son came downstairs to find Marissa and Shane in the living room, watching their baby.
"Hey guys." Steph smiled and they looked over at her. "Where's are parents Shane?"
"I think they're in the front."
"Ok."
Steph set Joey down the play with Shannon, then went to the door. Outside, Vince and Linda were on the porch swing talking as they looked out at the front. The paved street led from the gate to the door and back again, making a circle of gray cement. In the middle was a ten foot circle of grass with a water fountain. Stephanie smiled as she looked at it and didn't realize that she sighed out loud. Her parents herd and turned.
"Stephanie." Linda was shocked.
"Are you alright?" Vince asked.
"Yea." She sighed and looked away. "It's just that, the fountain brings back a lot of memories."
"Yea." Vince smiled as he looked at it. "I remember every summer when you and Shane were kids, you would play for hours in that thing. Then you'd hook up the hose and spray each other like a sprinkler."
"Oh and then you'd run for the house all wet but I would stop you every time and give you a towel to dry off first." Linda added. "You both were so determined to one day run inside all wet and mess up the carpet, but you never did."
"Yea." Stephanie laughed. "Shane and I both hated that red carpet you got for the front hall." She sighed again. "I remember the last time I came here. It was after Chris and I got married. You wanted us to stand in front of the fountain for a picture. Chris had been eager ever since he saw it to push me in it, and of course we were in our wedding attire. Finally dad took the picture, or so we thought, and Chris pushed me in. It turned out that the flash didn't go off so you had to take the picture again. I still remember Chris laughing and I got out all angry, and that was our wedding picture."
After that, then she chased him and yelled at him but he ran, she wanted to push him into the water and ruin his cloths this time. But Chris was fast, and instead of her shoving him in, he dove in and got himself wet on purpose. Stephanie just pouted, folding her arms as Chris and everyone watching laughed.
"Oh excuse me, Miss Stephanie?" They turned to the voice of the chauffer. "The car has your bags ready for when you want to leave for the airport."
"Thank you." Steph nodded and looked over at her parents.
"Oh Steph, are you sure you don't want to stay?" Linda asked.
"No, I'm sure. I just have to get back, that's all."
"Will you come again sometime soon though? Our family as a whole just isn't anything without you." Vince said.
"I will dad." Steph replied. She went into the house and got Joey and her carry on. "See you all later then." Everyone watched her leave and waved on the porch, Marissa waved Shannon's hand for her.
Stephanie got to the airport and got her things on the plane. As she sat in the seat, she held Joey over to the window so he could look out. The plane took off into the air. Stephanie closed her eyes to think to herself. She remembered what her dad had said to her before she left, 'our family as a whole just isn't anything without you'. And that reminded her of Chris. Was her family anything now with him gone? Hours later, the plane arrived. She got a taxi to get her and Joey home. After getting all the things into her house, she set Joey down for a nap on a recliner. She got the mail and set it a small brown table next to the phone. She went to walk off but stopped, the red light was blinking, she had a message. She pushed the button to play it, it was from Christian's wife.
"Hey Steph, how are you? You're at your parent's estate right now aren't you? I just wanted to call you and let you know that you're in my thoughts and prayers. I'm so sorry about what happened with Chris and all. I hope things work out alright for you because I worry. You're like family to us Steph, and I don't want you to forget that you have friends like us."
Stephanie sighed and wiped a tear from her eye. She looked over at the tree that Christian's wife had given them. Under it were presents for her and Joey from people and from Chris. Stephanie only saw one gift with Chris's name on it, the others didn't give him one because of his untimely death. She sniffed and walked over, picking it up. It was a small box and she opened the lid off of it. Inside was what looked to be a necklace, but it was really a replica of Inuyasha's collar. She set it down next to Joey and sighed.
"Dudy?" Stephanie froze and looked up, turning around to see Joey awake holding the collar. "Dudy." He said again and looked up at her. Daddy, his first word!
"Yes Joey, that's right." She smiled. "Daddy." She only hoped Chris had heard it.
