on October 27, 2024, 5:17 pm
Already deep in conversation, comfortably situation on the patio sofa sit Wisdom and Vanessa enjoying the day and one another’s company. A half-eaten charcuterie board sits on the table before them, the clink of glass echoes as another glug of wine is poured and burst of laughter bellows out as Vanessa holds her belly trying to contain herself.
(Vannessa): ……..I’m sorry!
Vanessa continues to laugh alongside Wisdom who can’t contain her own.
(Wisdom): Oh I know I was, but you know what…I wouldn’t change a thing.
(Vannessa): Those were the days…Geez…it seems so close and so far away at the same time.
(Wisdom): I know, I wish Buff were still around. For all the ups and downs we go through in our career, he was the one person there for me when I needed someone. When I came in, he was the first person to welcome me with open arms.
(Vannessa): I remember, everybody thought the two of you had a thing going, you were always hanging out together and riding on his motorcycle.
(Wisdom): People see what they want to see, you’d think they were watching an episode of Friends!
(Vannessa): They practically were, how many of us had shared a partner? Blush, I mean my god…she got with Thane after everything he did.
(Wisdom): And when Hans came along, you were all over that.
They both laugh, and Vanessa swipes her hand and Wisdom’s leg.
(Vannessa): Shut up! What do you want me to say, he’s a very attractive man and he carried himself well. There was just something about him, same as you and Butch.
Wisdom sips her wine, and grabs a strawberry from the board.
(Wisdom): Sort of, it was different with Butch ya know. I think just about every woman on the planet wanted him, but all he cared about was that championship belt. ICE rubbed up on him like a cat in heat…fuking cock-blocker.
(Vannessa): Oh be nice!
(Wisdom): I know, she’s……okay, that’s all in the past, but she was really on one back in the day, but I had to have him. From the moment we met, I just knew he was the one. You know what we went through. A “rocky road” doesn’t even begin to cover it, but all that crap, all the shit that happened to us brought us closer together and made us stronger.
(Vannessa): Oh I know, I saw every bit of it unfold. I remember when the two of you even had a match.
(Wisdom): That damn Parker pride, we’ll never forget that one. It’s not that I didn’t trust him, he begged me to trust him, but none of it made any sense at the time. I had to try and knock some sense into him.
(Vannessa): We all questioned what he was doing, but if we had known about his sister…I don’t know, maybe…
(Wisdom): Maybe I wouldn’t have been so bat-shit crazy about things, and let him handle his business…..yep!
Wisdom grabs a cracker with some brie and a grape on top, popping it in her mouth, takes a swig of wine and sighs.
(Wisdom): I look at this newer generation we have now and I guess not much has changed with relationships.
(Vannessa): That Michelle, she is such a delight…I love her. We sat and talked for hours when she visited a few months back. I’m so glad she and Sean got together. She’s the sweetest thing.
(Wisdom): Yeah, she is, and I think she and Sean are adorable together. She mellows him out, and I think he toughens her up a little. I think he really loves her but…
(Vannessa): But what? They’re totally adorable together.
(Wisdom): I don’t know, I just don’t want Sean to get hurt.
(Vannessa): I don’t think Michelle would ever…
(Wisdom): No, not that she’d intentionally do anything. I’d have to break her little legs…I just mean Sean’s been through a lot. She’s his first real, intimate relationship. I know he cares for her but she’s so timid and unsure at times. What if she gets cold feet? What if somewhere down the line they both want different things, or different people? I just don’t want him having this big, great love affair and it turning out to break his heart.
(Vannessa): It’s very old fashioned, the two of them. Just because they haven’t “played the field” doesn’t mean they won’t last. That’s all part of the love game, bliss, heartbreak, but it’s theirs to experience.
(Wisdom): I know, you’re right…I’m just a bit overprotective of my Parker men.
(Vannessa): You always have been, and luckily you’re a badass that can back it up.
A slightly dark shadow comes over Vanessa’s face and Wisdom picks up on it right away as she quiets, and her eyes shift away.
(Wisdom): Don’t you dare!
(Vannessa): What?
(Wisdom): You know what! You’re beating yourself up again over Erica’s bullshit! Van, your ring days are long, long behind you and you only got dragged into it briefly with a handful of training at that.
(Vannessa): I know, but you know how useless I felt. It just wasn’t fair, Hans carrying this burden all on his own. How was he supposed to deal with some lunatic woman? If she were a guy, he’d have beat her ass from the start, but he’s never had to deal with something like that before. What guy comes in the business and think his biggest rival is gonna be a woman?
This time that same dark shadow comes over Wisdom’s face.
(Vannessa): Don’t you dare!
(Wisdom): Touche!
(Vannessa): You know this isn’t you guys fault. You and Butch are owners Wisdom, I worked behind the scenes, I know the delicate balance you guys have to juggle and maintain. It’s like you just said about Michelle, you’re her boss…not her friend. Sometimes, you can’t be our friend and be the boss you need to be to make those hard calls.
(Wisdom): I appreciate that, but I’d be lying if I didn’t go home feeling like we let you guys down, we never want you to feel we’re deliberately choosing business over our friendship. I can’t tell you how much this keeps us up some nights.
(Vannessa): But you have to choose, I know that. The company wouldn’t exist if you didn’t. I know that, and deep-down Hans knows it.
(Wisdom): Does he? I feel like he’s on the verge of exploding sometimes, or just walking out.
(Vannessa): He does! I think there are things that upset him, but he trusts Butch, he trusts you. He’d have never come back and never stayed if he didn’t.
Wisdom sighs, taking another sip of her wine as Vanessa downs a bit of water, rubbing her belly again. They try and shift the conversation from heavy to light.
(Wisdom): Speaking of exploding, you’ve only got a few more months left.
Vanessa smiles looking down at her rounded belly.
(Vannessa): Just a few more, December will be here before you know it.
(Wisdom): It was the 13th right, your due date?
(Vannessa): Yeah, give or take…and you know I’m not superstitious but my Mom is adamant the baby comes early or I hold off as long as I can since it’s a Friday.
Wisdom chuckles a little.
(Wisdom): Trust me, none of that is going to matter when the baby is born. You should have seen Diana when Evina was born. Her first niece in the family and she didn’t care what day or time it was.
(Vannessa): I remember you telling me.
(Wisdom): It was a big moment for the family. Sarah and Jake don’t have their father, and Sean never got to know his father. Butch’s first child died when he was just 6 years old. It was really the first time in a long time that a Parker father was going to be in the picture.
(Vannessa): Oh that’s right! So that really made Evina’s birth extra special.
(Wisdom): Believe me it did, and you should have seen Butch. Great hulking man, with her itty-bitty body nestled on his chest both asleep on the couch. And he did the same with David, I can’t tell you how many times. They’re our treasures, just as your will be to you and Hans.
Vanessa is tearing up and dabs at her eyes, and Wisdom reaches out holding her hand.
(Vannessa): It’s just been so hard, ya know. I went through so much to get here. Hans, I don’t deserve him. I’ve never known a kinder, gentler, more understanding person in my life. All these years that I wasted with my own fears.
(Wisdom): Hey, you had your reasons. Vanessa after what you went through, all that bullshit with Thane, your life publicized on wrestling programming for all to see, nobody blames you…least of all Hans. You have to focus on the now, what’s important is that you two are having a baby now, in the right time and the right place for you.
(Vannessa): I know, that’s pretty much what he said too.
Vanessa dabs at her eyes again and smiles at Wisdom squeezing her hand in thanks.
(Vannessa): So….Road to Ruin…what do you guys have planned?
(Wisdom): Well, I think Butch is lining things up for a Press Conference, getting all the ducks in a row ya know.
(Vannessa): It’s a big show, I know a few matches I’ll be watching for various reasons.
(Wisdom): I know the main event for sure.
(Vannessa): There’s others….honestly, I hope Maniac goes full “Human Horror Reel” on Erica’s ass. Poor Matt didn’t deserve to have been put out of the business but she does. I know he can be all over the place, but once upon a time you know he was our friend.
(Wisdom): I know, I remember, but that was a long time ago Van!
(Vannessa): Yeah, but I’m just saying that deep down, he isn’t all bad. He’s done and been a lot of things, and his head may not be screwed on just right, but somewhere in there is that younger eager guy who just loved the business and wanted to be the best.
(Wisdom): Well…like I told Gayle King our Talen Relations Division still hasn’t heard from him and the offer for help is there when he wants it.
(Vannessa): He’s not the only one who needs help, that kooky professor you’ve got could use a dose of something.
(Wisdom): I think Hans has him covered, he gave him two doses of his fist that should last a while.
They laugh for a moment together.
(Vannessa): Unbelievable. Why Hans? Why does my baby attract all the nuts? Anyway, how’s Butch doing? He and Matthew ready to tear the house down? Show these newbies how it’s done?
(Wisdom): He’s fine. To be honest, I think this is very emotional for him. Matthew retiring…I don’t know. He hasn’t said anything, but I think it may have Butch thinking.
(Vannessa): You think he’s ready to retire?
(Wisdom): I don’t know if anyone is ever ready, but other than the Cody and Brandi crap he hasn’t mainstreamed the ring in almost 10 years, he’s on that anxiety med now and the usual old aches and pains from the ring….sometimes I think he’s keen to the idea and the next I’m not so sure. He’ll be downstairs in the gym hitting the bags like he was auditioning for a Rocky movie.
(Vannessa): Regardless, I think they’ll have an amazing match. Such a long friendship, and a lot of history between them. We’ve seen them plenty of times side by side, but this is really going to be a first.
(Wisdom): I just may be ringside for this one. I don’t think I can sit back there and watch this on the monitor, it’s too important.
(Vannessa): I don’t blame you. I’d be there for Hans if I could. When he comes home with that title…OMG let me tell you something…he didn’t see me, but I saw him in the baby’s room the other day measuring and putting a shelf up. It’s just about the size of a championship belt would take up right over where the crib is.
(Wisdom): No?
(Vannessa): I shit you not! He’s bringing that belt home come hell or high water and I think he means it to be the first thing our baby sees when it wakes up every morning and goes to sleep every night.
(Wisdom): Awwwww…that’s just so cute. I’m sure Sean won’t mind coming by to show it to the baby though.
Vanessa grabs a pillow and throws it at Wisdom and they laugh.
(Wisdom): Hey, I’m saying that as auntie. I can be as biased as I want with my auntie hat on. You should have seen him at Ring Master Van, it was like a part of him had died in that ring. He disappeared from the arena, bloody as you’ll ever see, got on some plane to Utah and walked god knows how many miles in the freezing night with next to nothing on.
(Vannessa): Thank God for Michelle, she really pulled him back from the brink huh?
(Wisdom): She did, and he’s done the same for her when she needed it. He’s got his focus now and as much respect as he has for Hans, and what little or none he has left for Stu-E…I just don’t see either beating him. Even if it had been the original Fatal-4-Way with Maniac, he’d be walking out with that belt.
(Vannessa): You know I wish him the best of luck, just ashamed he’ll have to wait his turn again after Hans.
Vanessa gives Wisdom a smile and wink as she giggles to herself.
(Wisdom): Well, like you said…it’s a big show, and honestly anything can happen. We almost didn’t have this damn Zoo Match after the crap Tobias pulled at Havoc.
(Vannessa): I saw, what the hell?
(Wisdom): I don’t know…now were dealing with all this PETA and animal group nonsense. Goddamn injunction, can you believe they got some judge to sign off on that?
(Vannessa): Seemed to work out, you guys got it overturned pretty quick.
(Wisdom): Barely, George and his team helped with that a bit and the fact that Tobias knowingly and willingly signed the contract on air after he attacked Wolfy is really what helped and I’m so glad he did. There’s no way he could have claimed he signed under duress or anything like that.
(Vannessa): Yeah, that would certainly do it. You guys also had been promoting the match since then, he can’t just back out like that, it’s not fair to the fans.
(Wisdom): No, but at least it all worked out in the end. Just have to deal with these damn organizations sticking their nose into things. Part of the condition for getting that overturned was us agreeing to them all being present to ensure the safety of the animals. Absolute lunacy!
(Vannessa): Mmmm…that reminds me. Lunatik being back in the fold was a surprise. How’s he doing?
(Wisdom): I’m sure he’s fine. He and Maniac picked right up where they left off.
(Vannessa): And how’s Jeremy? Hans mentioned that Matt had left him?
(Wisdom): I don’t think Matt left him, but I believe he did leave from what Sean mentioned. Love and War Vanessa, it brings out the best and worst in us all.
(Vannessa): Don’t we know it! I hope he’s doing alright, I really liked Jeremy, super talented, great potential, I think this whole thing with Matt just broke him.
(Wisdom): I don’t know, he and Hans seem close, leave it to him to somehow play the role of competitor, mentor and trainer all at the same time.
(Vannessa): That’s my man, can always count on my baby.
Wisdom looks over at the table and the remnants of the food they’ve devoured.
(Wisdom): If I eat any more, I’m gonna look as pregnant as you really are.
(Vannessa): Don’t worry about those scraps, I’ll finish that off later.
(Wisdom): Let me help you clean up at least before I hit the road.
(Vannessa): Now that I won’t protest to, its Maria’s day off!
Wisdom insists on cleaning up while Vanessa stays seated, putting the dishes away, packing up the rest of the food for the fridge and putting what’s needed in the trash. After a bit more chit chat as she got her things Vanessa walked her to the front door and they hug giving each other kisses on the cheek.
(Vannessa): I’m so glad you came over, we have to do this again, maybe a double date with the boys.
(Wisdom): I think they’d like that, we better get it in before you pop though, all bets are off after that girl, trust me!
They both laugh and hug again. Wisdom heads to her car blowing a kiss to Vanessa as she gets in and pulls out of the driveway towards the gate that opens and closes behind her. Vanessa looks out onto the quiet street, the sun shining, a warm breeze blows and the sound of wind chimes from one of the neighbors faintly rings in her ear. It had been a wonderful day, but she still locked the door and activated the security system once she closed the door, then went upstairs for a nap as the scene fades to black.
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