Chapter 15
Mission Accomplished
Inside Stephanie McMahon's office, things were not going well as Paul and Big Show could not maintain their composure. The possible reinstatement of Brock Lesnar petrified them. Melanie got up and silenced the chaos.
"ENOUGH!" She yelled. "As of Armageddon, Brock Lesnar's suspension will be lifted." Paul Heyman began to stammer as Melanie stormed out of the room.
"Hello?" The voice said over the phone. Melanie took a deep breath
"Hi Brock. It's Melanie. I just wanted to talk to you."
"Oh? Hi Mel. Good to hear form you." He said bitterly. Melanie groaned.
"Brock I'm really sorry. Really. I never meant to leave you hanging. I just, I just need time ok?" She said twirling the phone cord. No response.
"By the way, I got your suspension lifted. As of this Sunday at Armageddon, you can come back." She said grinning. Brock erupted on the other end of the phone.
"Wow. How did you do it Mel? Was there a lot of fighting? Who did you have to threaten?" He said jokingly. Melanie laughed.
"I just asserted my powers as co GM and I got through to Stephanie! You should have seen the looks on Heyman and Show's face." After that, they agreed to meet at the arena just before the pay per view.
"I don't know Brock, this deal just seems too good to be true." Melanie said with concern. It was the last PPV of 2002, Armageddon. Melanie was drinking a hot cup of coffee, while Brock was too edgy to eat or drink anything.
"How do you know that Kurt's gonna give you a title shot if you help him tonight?" She asked. Brock shrugged.
"How do you know he's not going to? I may never get this opportunity again." Brock said confidently. Melanie took another sip. Why was she drinking hot coffee when they were in Fort Lauderdale Florida?
The TV monitor turned on simultaneously through out the backstage area. A video clip of Brock's match at Survivor Series in New York began to play. Paul Heyman grabbed the ref out of the ring. Brock turned his head away from the monitor. He couldn't bear to watch the same footage over and over again.
"I just don't want an encore of Survivor Series Mel." Brock whispered. Melanie found herself feeling sorry for him. He lost his manager, his title. And through out all of this, when he needed her the most, she rejected him. She was going to make up for it.
"Let's go. We're gonna make an impact tonight… together." Melanie said smirking.
There was no sign of Lesnar as Kurt's match began. The WWE champion began to manhandle Angle, nearly finishing him with a sidewalk slam and bone crushing bear hugs until Kurt mounted the offense from the top rope, hitting a tornado DDT. Angle clinched the Ankle lock, but the struggling giant's kick out sent Angle crashing into the referee. Moments after Big Show choke slammed Angle onto the canvas, Brock Lesnar came in. The Ft. Lauderdale crowd erupted as Brock hit the F-5 on Big Show, and then left the ring as Kurt crawled on top of Show and the official recovered.
ONE…TWO…THREE!
With Lesnar's help, Kurt Angle captured the WWE Championship for the third time.
"Oh my God Brock! That was amazing!" Melanie shouted with excitement. "You completely man-handled Show! An F-5…BOOM! Right in the middle of the ring!" Brock laughed as Melanie simulated the expression on Paul's face as Brock elevated the 500-pound monster for an F-5. Melanie sat back down next to Brock. He was going to become champion again and she would help him do that. They could spend the Holiday season together in peace.
"You've gotta come spend Christmas with me Mel. My mom makes an awesome dinner, enough to fill a small army. She'd love to meet you." Brock said smiling.
"Sure, sounds like fun. I'll be there on Christmas eve around noon."
The snow had just begun falling when Melanie arrived at Brock's home in Webster South Dakota. There were acres and acres of farmland surrounding the cozy home where his parents live and where he grew up. Melanie got out of her car and wrapped her coat closer around her body. It never got this cold in New Jersey. At least not usually. She looked into the window where a Christmas tree stood.
Melanie couldn't remember the last Christmas she had with her entire family. There were pictures, videotapes, but no memories of her own. This was the first time she was going to spend the holidays with a family since then. Just as she was about to knock, Brock opened the door.
"Hey! About time you made it. Crazy snow huh? Come on in! Merry Christmas!" Brock said cheerfully. Melanie had never seen him so optimistic before. She stepped inside and felt a rush of warmth surround her body, and wrap around her. The fragrance of chicken, turkey, ham, and pie made Melanie breathe in. There were kids running up and sown the stairs chasing after each other.
"Those are my cousins." Brock pointed out. "Some are even neighbors. That one is one of my friends kids." He said pointing out a young girl sitting in the corner with a doll cradled in her arms. " Doesn't talk much. My bud and his wife died in a car accident. My parents are taking care of her until social services can find a home for Kristen."
Melanie looked at the little girl again. She had a red skirt on and a white blouse with her blonde hair up in a ponytail. She just stared out the window, as if she was waiting for someone.
"Come on, I'll introduce you to my parents." Brock said leading Melanie into the living room where all the guests were sitting around the fireplace, watching TV. A man about half the size of Brock stood up and walked toward them.
"Is this the girl you been talkin' about Brock?" The man asked. Brock nodded and the man shook Melanie's hand.
"Yeah dad, this is my manager, Melanie Halliwell." Brock said proudly. "She's also the Co- General Manager of Smackdown." His father gave a short laugh.
"Well, aren't you the prettiest little lady." He said. Melanie blushed a little. "Better than that little whore you brought in earlier this year, what was her name?" Brock sighed.
"Dad, shush!" Brock said. "That's not important." His father shrugged.
"You're right, what's important now is that you found yourself a little sweetheart." Brock shook his head.
"Dad, she's not my girlfriend." He said. His face was turning red as a woman appeared from behind the kitchen table.
"Oh, I couldn't help over hearing! I'm Stephanie Brock's mother and I suppose you've already met his father Richard." She said pleasantly, as she came over and gave Melanie a hug.
"Come on in! It's freezing out there. Here let me take your coat. You can sit in the living room with the rest of the family." Melanie shook her head.
"Actually, if it's ok with you, I'd like to help out in the kitchen. I always did when I was little, and I wouldn't feel right if I didn't help." She said. Brock's mother smiled even more brightly and turned toward Brock.
"You've got one heck of a catch Brock! You finally brought home a nice woman for yourself." Brock was about to object, but his mother interrupted him. "She's helpful and beautiful! Oh I can't wait until the whole family meets you." She said dragging her into the kitchen. Richard led Brock into the living room where the whole family was.
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