A Light In the Dark
Chapter 7

"I can't believe you offered him a spot in the business without talking it over with any of us... Or Rebecca, for that matter!"

Vince watched as Stephanie paced around the living room of the McMahon mansion in Greenwich, Connecticut. She had been complaining to Vince for ages that Shawn needed to be on the road with the WWE again, yet now that he offered Shawn a spot as Randy's manager and Shawn actually accepted it without coming up with excuses, she was throwing a shit fit.

"I don't understand what has you so upset about it..."

Stephanie stopped in her tracks and whirled around to face her father. "You didn't consult anyone! You just went ahead and did it on your own!"

"Listen... You asked me to offer Shawn a role in the WWE. I took it upon myself to ask him if he wanted to be Randy's manager. Why is that such a problem?"

Stephanie stared at Vince for awhile, then sighed and looked down at the floor. "I'm afraid he's going to snap and hurt someone... Or hurt himself... You know how unpredictable he is when he's unstable."

"I think he'll be fine, Steph. I mean... It's Shawn. He's under control. And having Orton around him all the time will make it easier."

Stephanie scoffed. "Shawn isn't 'under control,' dad. He's one tiny push from losing his mind."

"I disagree."

"Don't you remember how he acted a couple of months ago when we still had him hanging around backstage?! He went absolutely insane and punched Randy in the face! We can't endanger everyone like that... It's not good for anyone."

"Steph... Shawn isn't a danger to anyone."

"Did you not hear anything I just said..?"

"I heard you, Stephanie. I just think Randy will be able to contain Shawn now."

"That certainly hasn't worked in the past..."

"Listen... I just think this is a good idea, okay? I think it's what we all need... Some type of normalcy."

Stephanie took a deep breath. "Having Shawn around won't bring Shane back."

"I'm well aware of that, Stephanie. I just think that Shawn needs to be back here."

Stephanie sighed again, then looked Vince in the eyes. "There's something I have to tell you, actually..."

"About?"

"Paul."

Vince cringed at the mention of Paul's name. "Mmhmm?"

"I got a letter from him."

"...Oh?"

"Yeah... I figured I'd tell you... Ya know..?"

"Are you planning on writing him back?"

"No. I can't. Not after what he did."

"Any news from the lawyer?"

"Well... That's what Paul's letter was about... He was informed of what I was planning on doing and he was asking me not to go through with it because he loves Aurora and, apparently, he still loves me... But he said he would learn to understand and accept my choices if I still decide to go through with it. I'm going to tell my lawyer that I'm not giving up and, in turn, he'll tell Paul's lawyer that I still want to go through with it. I need to protect my kids from the bastard that killed my brother, no matter how much a lack of a father figure might hurt them later in life."

Vince sighed. "Steph... Someone else might come along..."

"I doubt that, daddy. I loved Paul with all my heart. What he did really hurt me. I don't think I'll ever be able to open myself up like that ever again."

"What about Randy?"

Stephanie looked shocked. "What about Randy?!"

"Ask Randy to help you out with the kids. I'm sure he'll be more than happy to-"

"I don't see Randy like that."

"You didn't see Paul in that way, either!"

Stephanie huffed in annoyance. "I just... I mean... I don't think that's possible after everything we've been through."

"How would you know unless you asked?"

"Aren't men supposed to make the first move..?"

Vince scoffed. "It's the twenty-first century, Stephanie. Live a little."

Stephanie raised an amused eyebrow at her father. "I can't believe you just said that."

"You were leaving me no choice." Vince stated, a sly smirk pulling at his features.

Stephanie sighed again. "I don't want to seem like the desperate little sister... Who just so happens to be a single mother."

Vince waved her off. "You aren't desperate... You're just... I don't know. You're unsure, I guess."

"Aurora and Liam need a father figure in their life, dad. I'm not sure Randy is..."

"I think Randy is perfectly capable-"

"What is Randy perfectly capable of?"

Stephanie and Vince turned and saw Randy standing in the middle of the living room, looking at them curiously. They glanced at one another, then looked back at Randy.

"I think you're perfectly capable of controlling Shawn while he's back on the road with us." Vince stated.

Randy raised an eyebrow, then chuckled. "Vince, I've known you long enough to know when you're bluffing..."

"I'm being perfectly honest, Randy. I know that you can help Shawn with the... Ahem... Recent development... You know how to keep him calm, which is more than I can do... Now, anyway. I used to be able to control him. Now... I don't think he respects many people."

"I don't think you get it, Vince... It's not that he doesn't respect people... It's just... He lost the ability to feel. I'm sure you'd be a bit fucked in the head if your best friend... Ya know..."

"You don't have to cut it short because I'm here, Randy." Stephanie stated.

"I'm not, Steph. I can't stand repeating what he did," Randy paused for a moment, suddenly feeling a little awkward. "So, yeah... How are the kids?"

"They're fine... Wanna see Liam?"

"Yeah, sure."

"Great. Be back in a few." Stephanie stated and left the living room.

Randy rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly, then turned to look at Vince. "How are things going with jailbird?"

Vince groaned. "He's trying to change her mind about the divorce."

Randy quirked an eyebrow. "How do you know?"

"He wrote her a letter."

"Oh... Well... That's awkward."

"Yeah... So... What brings you to Greenwich?"

"Well... I wanted to talk to you."

"About the Shawn thing?"

"Yeah. I mean. That was awfully sudden... And I'm not sure if it's that great of an idea."

"I know. Don't get me wrong, Randy... I want Shawn back to the way he was, and the only way I know how to do that is to offer him some kind of role backstage because that's what normal is to him. It was extremely sudden, and for that, I apologize... I just... I don't know... I want him to be around. I feel like that might... Clear things up for him."

Randy sighed. "I understand, Vince... I just feel like you don't know what you're getting into. Shawn can be violent when he freaks out. I don't want him snapping and taking it out on some kid sitting ringside."

"I'm sure that won't happen, Randy. He has more self control than that."

"I know he does, Vince... But you don't know how bad he can snap until it happens."

"Is that the only reason why you disagree with my decision?"

"...He's unpredictable... That has me concerned."

"I'm sure he'll be better now, Orton."

"There's no point arguing this with you..."

"I've been told I'm a very stubborn man." Vince replied.

"If he does something that hurts someone, you'll know you were wrong."

"If that time comes, I'll be glad to admit to it... Is there something else you wanted, Orton?"

"Well, there-"

Before Randy was able to finish his sentence, Stephanie arrived in the living room with Liam in her arms. She walked straight up to Randy and gave him the child without a single word, then walked over to the couch and sat down. Vince watched as Randy sat next to his daughter and the two started chit chatting about how adorable Liam was and how sweet he looked when he was sleeping. He raised an eyebrow as he watched the two, silently wondering if it was something Shane would have approved of.

Vince couldn't tell if he imagined it, but he swore he caught a whiff of Shane's cologne.

Oh, yeah. Definitely something his son would have approved of... And he'd be lying if he said he didn't think it was a good idea.