WARNING: These last few chapters may contain mild slash between Michael Cole and Tazz. Please do not be offended by this! PS Hope you are enjoying the story so far, it get's better trust me (although that can't be hard I know!!!)

It was midday on Christmas Eve and in Vince's house everyone was busy getting ready for that night's festivities.

"What time is everyone due to arrive?" Shelton asked Shawn.
"I think about 5 o'clock. You'll have to check with Vince thought"
Shelton walked over to a swearing Vince.
"Umm what's wrong Mr McMahon?" Shelton asked. He'd learned in his life time that if people were stressed out it was always a good idea to give them their proper title.
"Steve bloody Austin that's who! He was meant to be supplying the drinks and be here with them over 2 hours ago"
"I'm sure his on his way Sir, maybe got caught up in the Christmas Traffic, you know what it's like!" Shelton joked. "When are the guest's arriving"
Vince looked at his watch. "About 5 hours time, dammit!"

Shelton said a quick thanks and went to join in the dress rehearsal. Mean while, in the kitchen, a mini crisis erupted.

"By God Jerry, I told you that the BBQ sauce didn't want to be that thick"
"I'm sorry JR, geez calm down"
"Calm down? CALM DOWN? I find that nearly impossibly when someone doesn't cook my Grandma's BBQ sauce to perfection and some person from the B Team commentators keeps buzzing round us like flies, nicking our food GODDAMMIT"
"I'm hungry, I can't help it!" Tazz replied before stuffing his 50th sausage roll in his mouth!

At that point, Michael Cole came looking for his comrade and dragged him away to sort out the decorations.

"Tazz, we have to get this done so that we can get ourselves smartened up for later!" Cole reasoned.
"What's the point in that though? We'll only mess each other up later!" Tazz said half heartedly.
"Look playa's, it's less than 5 hours till the party starts. We can't afford to waste time so please, leave the handy pandy for later, yes"
"OK Mr. Long!" Cole said disappointedly.

Triple H was outside talking to his wife Stephanie. Shawn told him that he could take a break as Shawn, Steph and Hunter had been working flat out since half past eight getting the set and costumes prepared.

"Randy had better turn up soon!" Hunter said worriedly.
"What's going on with him anyway?" Stephanie asked equally as worried.
"If you really want to know....."

Back inside, Vince was coming to the end of his tether as the man with the beer finally turned up.....

"Finally, what took you so long?" Vince asked. He had worn out of anger and taken it out on everyone else before hand.
"Collecting someone"
"Before Vince could ask who, Randy Orton walked in looking pale and with drawn. Stacy went over and hugged him just as Stephanie and Triple H walked back into the room. "Hey how are you man?" Hunter asked patting Randy's back.
"Ok"
"Good well lets carry on now that the main star is here!" Shawn shouted across the room.

The hours passed quickly and before everyone knew it, Chris Jericho and his band Fozzy started setting up their equipment. John Cena was practising his rap before Randy got back. Where's Randy I hear you cry? Up stairs in the bathroom, crying softly to himself. Rob Van Dam walked up the stairs.

"Anyone in their?" RVD asked, while knocking on the door.
"Yeah I'll be out in a minute!" Randy replied before flushing the toilet.
"I wasn't rushing you man it's just the girls have congregated the downstairs toilets!" RVD shouted as a tear stained Randy walked out of the bathroom.
"What's the matter man?" RVD asked worriedly.
"Nothing, no it doesn't matter"
"I think it does because you're crying. I know you well enough to know that you never cry unless some thing has really bothered you man. What's going on"
"Ok, ok but promise me that you won't tell anyone about this yeah"
"Of coarse, so what's going on"
"Today is the anniversary of my girlfriend's death." Randy admitted, sitting against the wall. "Maria her name was. She has legs longer than Stacy's, kissable brown, chocolate eyes and hair to match it with tanned skin. She was breathtakingly beautiful"
"What happened?" Rob asked, sitting next to the youngest World Heavyweight Champion of all time. "We were in the last year at high school. For Christmas, her Dad had brought her a car. Well, we went out on Christmas Eve, she was eager to give her car a test drive. We got pretty drunk and"
"And what"
"She crashed the car into a brick wall. The car was a wreck. She'd taken her seat belt off to adjust the wind mirror, she didn't have the longest arms, and she lost control of the car. We got sent to the hospital but she'd died instantly. If only"
"If only what?" Rob spoke up. "Life is filled with if only's and what if's. What's important is that you learn from your mistakes and try and get on with life." Rob said while hugging Randy.
"If only she was still here! She would have loved to have seen me hold the World Heavyweight Championship high"
"She did see it, she just wasn't on earth to see you accomplish everything that you'd ever wanted. She was looking down on you, smiling and knowing that someday, hopefully not soon, that she'd be able to congratulate you in person and tell you how proud she is of you"
"She was the one. I go to her grave every year on this day, to tell her how much I miss her." Randy's voice began cracking up again. Rob held Randy closer and felt the salty tears tumble onto his shirt. He didn't mind. Randy was one of his best friends and he didn't want Randy to be upset.
"Is that why you were so upset this morning?" RVD asked gently.
"Yes. I'll never, ever meet anyone like her again"
"Maybe not exactly like her but someone that you love as much as her. She wouldn't want you to live in the past. She'd want you to move on in life and be happy"
The two men stood up and let go of each other.
"Rob"
"Yes Randy"
"Thanks man"
"For what"
"Being such a good mate"
"No sweat. Know go out there and perform for Maria tonight!"

Sorry this chapter had to be so depressing! The final chapter-I promise- has more of a sense of Christmas cheer to it!