TITLE: Decisions (#1 in The Road Back Series)

AUTHOR: Kelly Rowe

DISCLAIMER: The WWF and all characters belong to the almighty Vince McMahon and the WWF/E.

RATING: PG-13 (swearing).

SUMMARY: Stephanie's POV on her dismissal from the WWF and her plot to return.

TIMELINE: Stephanie/Hunter divorce.

DISTRIBUTION: You want you can have it; just tell me where you put it.

I sit here in my now modest living room night after night and watch it over and over again. I watch Hunter, the man I once loved with every part of my being, pin me in the centre of the ring... 1, 2, 3... and see him wave goodbye with that damn satisfied smirk on his face. Then I get to witness humiliation at my own hands, when I grabbed onto the ring. Only I know that I wasn't doing it out of patheticness, that I was praying that my daddy would come rescue me from the bad man just like he'd always done. That he'd pull me into his arms and rock me, telling me that everything was alright and that I hadn't really just been drummed out of my birthright, the company I love more than anything by my soon to be ex-husband. But daddy didn't come and I was dragged away from the WWF, kicking and screaming.

Since then I have been obsessed with returning, somehow. I call my dad everyday and when he's sick of talking about my latest scheme he passes me off to mommy dearest. The same mommy dearest who tells me that this whole situation is my own fault. That it's all my own doing, that I am almost broke, unemployed and addicted to daytime TV. I say it's her fault if she and whoever sent her that damn tape had minded their own business, I wouldn't be stuck in hell right now. I wouldn't have to watch that rat bastard Hunter swan around Raw and Smackdown like he's hotter than shit. The first thing I am going to do when I return is to wipe that smug expression of the asshole's face. I think snapping the wires holding his quad together should accomplish that. Then he won't be that damn good... he'll be that damn crippled.

I check my watch and see that it's almost time for Smackdown and switch over for it. I am both interested and depressed about this show. Interested because I get to see my daddy make Hunter's existence a misery and depressed because it's the last Smackdown before Backlash, the first Pay Per View I've missed in awhile. As I watch Hunter attack Hogan an idea springs to mind and I think I've finally found my way back.

Look out everyone, Stephanie McMahon is coming home.

I call daddy's cell phone and when he answers I ask for Hulk Hogan's number. I know he's curious as to why I want this, but I don't have time to explain what I'm up too. All I know is that I have to strike while the iron is hot and get to Hogan while his anger at Hunter is fresh or my plan won't work. I nervously wait for him to answer and when he does my mouth goes dry.

"Hello."

I take a deep breath and launch in.

"Mr Hogan," I say trying to be professional. "You may not remember me. I'm Vince's daughter Stephanie."

There's a pause while he wonders what I want.

"I remember you" he says reluctantly. "What can I do for you?"

"I have a business proposition..."

He cuts me off.

"I saw how your business partnership with Jericho went. Why are you after me?"

I could lie, but I choose to tell the truth. Okay, if I'm honest I know he'll guess my real reason and decide to come of looking honest and not a cheap liar.

"I want to destroy Hunter" is all I say.

"And you're not looking for a way back into the WWF?" he asks suspiciously.

"That's a fringe benefit."

I hear him sigh and I know what's coming.

"I'm sorry Stephanie, but if I'm going to win... It's gonna be on my own."

I'm disappointed but I'm not about to give up.

"That's fine," I lie, "If you change your mind, daddy has my number."

"Bye."

I hang up and start to plot the next stage of my attack. Because I will be back in the WWE and I will make everyone pay for making me leave, especially Hunter... and Jericho.

The End