"I say you go to Henry's pad and have some fun with yourself." She spit the words out as if they were acid. "I have a shift to finish." She grabbed the last beer mug and placed it on her tray before spinning on her heel and attempting to walk away. Parker's hand shot out, grabbing her painfully by the elbow and causing her to drop the tray and the mugs to shatter into a million pieces. The sound brought a halt to the noise of the busy bar as heads turned to see what was going on.

"b*tch," Parker said through clenched teeth. "I said I wanted to have some fun. Maybe you didn't understand me." He pulled her to him and ground his arousal into her. "I want to f*ck and I want to f*ck you." She could smell his hot breath, soured by the beer he had been chugging all night.

Without thinking Gracie mule kicked him, connecting squarely with his groin. Parker doubled over in pain as she scurried away to grab the dustpan and broom to clean up the mess they had made. The patrons soon went back to their conversations and all was forgotten for the moment.

At 3AM, closing time, the bar had emptied and Gracie folded up her apron and tucked it under the bar before going to Henry for her pay. Without a word to her he handed her a wad of cash. She quickly counted it and glared at him. "I'm a hundred short," she said. He shrugged. "I have to pay rent Henry," she said raising her voice. "How can I pay rent without the extra hundred?"

"Not my problem," he said smirking. "Should've thought of that before you broke those mugs."

"Your brother made me break them," she yelled.

"Henry said no," Parker said from behind her. She spun to glare at him. Letting out a disgusted groan she tried to push past him, but he grabbed her. "You're not going anywhere," he said with a demented grin. "You want that hundred dollars? You gotta help ol' Parker out." He grabbed her and hoisted her tiny frame onto the bar. Gracie sat, frozen in place by fear. Parker pressed his lips to hers, bruising them with the force. His hands groped and squeezed her flesh painfully before he whipped her skirt up around her waist and yanked off her panties. Hot tears stung her eyes as she groped around the bar for something, anything, to beat him off of her with. "Henry," Parker panted. "Go lock up." Henry obeyed his brother and went to lock up. Parker turned his attention back to Gracie and tore open her blouse. Buttons went flying everywhere. He shoved her down and climbed on top of her.

Gracie lay there trembling as her hands still groped the bar for a weapon. Finally she felt the cool, smooth handle of the knife Henry had been using to slice lemons for drinks. She grasped it just as Parker started to undo his jeans. Without thinking she plunged the blade into his abdomen before he could assault her anymore. He let out a animalistic wail and fell off of the bar, causing the knife to imbed itself deeper into his flesh.

Gracie pulled her skirt down and covered her exposed chest with the tattered pieces of her blouse. She heard Henry come running, obviously having heard his brother's painfilled cry and managed to grab her purse and duck out of the bar before he could get to her.

She fumbled with her car keys and slid behind the wheel, starting it up and peeling out of her parking space. She needed to get as much distance between herself and Henry and Parker. For all she knew, she had left Parker to die in that bar. As much as she hated him, that thought still made a cold chill creep up her spine. She parked outside her apartment and ran in to pack her things. She knew that this would be the first place the police would look.

Tossing her bag in the back seat she slid behind the wheel and drove to the state line. She pulled into the first rest stop she could find and rested her head on the steering wheel. "You really f*cked things up this time Gracie," she mumbled. With a deep sigh she hauled herself out of the car and into a small diner. She sat down at the counter with a heavy sigh.

"What can I get you sugar," the waitress asked. Gracie looked up at her with bloodshot eyes. She had been driving all night and was exhausted beyond belief.

"I really could use some coffee, but I...um....I only have this much," she said pulling a dollar and some change out of her jeans pocket. Somewhere between home and the rest stop she had stopped to change into fresh clothes, tossing the tattered remains onto the side of the highway. It was then that she realized that she had dropped her pay in the bar.

"Tell ya what," the waitress said noting how tired she looked. "It's on the house. Can I get you anything to eat?"

"Just the cofee please," she said softly, glancing at the television set that was mounted in the corner of the diner. She gasped when she caught a glimpse of a police officer in the parking lot looking into her car.

"Here's your coffe sugar," the waitress said and noticed how nervous Gracie was seeing the cop walking into the diner. "Hey Earl," she said to the cop. "I think Lou was lookin' for ya. He's around back." The cop nodded and walked to the back of the diner away from Gracie. The waitress looked down at the timid girl before her and smiled warmly. "Got some problem with the law?" Gracie averted her eyes. "Go on," she said. "He'll be busy for the next hour or so. Give you a head start."

"Thank you," Gracie said and took a quick gulp of coffee and bolted for the door. She grabbed her bag from the backseat and tossed her keys into the trash before she jogged away from the diner and the cop.

"Shane hurry up," Marissa whined from the backseat of their car.

"Calm your nerves woman," he joked as he filled up the gas tank. He went in to pay the clerk leaving Marissa alone.

"Hey," Gracie said peeking in through the open window. "I don't normally do this, but um....the people I was riding with had a big blowout and I wound up in the middle and...well...now I'm out of a ride. I was wondering if I could get a ride with you." She tried her best to look pathetic, which wasn't that hard to do.

"Oh...um...well...."

"What's going on here," Shane asked from behind Gracie, causing her to jump a little.

"She was asking for a ride," Marissa said to Shane. "Her friends dumped her here."

"Rissa," Shane groaned. "You know my policy on hitchikers."

"Hey, it's no biggie," Gracie said. "I'll just keep looking."

Marissa gave Shane a look, causing him to groan. "Wait," Shane said. "We're going as far as Greenwich, Connecticut."

"That's good for me," Gracie said.

"All right," Shane sighed. "Hop in."

"Thank you," Gracie said smiling gratefully. "Thank you so much."

"I'm Marissa and the grumpy gus is Shane. We just got married," Marissa said smiling wide as she flashed her engagement ring and wedding band.

"I'm Gracie. Congratulations," Gracie said turning to look at Marissa. She noticed that Marissa's leg was in a cast. "Must have been some honeymoon," she joked pointing to the cast.

"Oh this," Marissa said with a laugh. "We went horseback riding and my horse threw me."

"That's cause you spooked it by yelling at me," Shane joked.

"Me! You were the one who made your horse buck and my horse just followed suit!"

"Oh I see. So it's all my fault then," Shane said turning around to pout at his bride. "That's how this marriage is going to work from now on?"

Gracie laughed at the love birds, but movement caught her eye and she face front to see a huge truck headed for them. "TRUCK!"

Shane faced front and spun the wheel just barely avoiding the truck. It blew past them, it's horn blaring. He had just about righted the car when he hit a deep pothole and the car spun out of control and into a ditch. The car instantly burst into flames and Gracie's world plunged into blackness.

"Excuse me," Vince said grabbing an ER nurse. "Our son," he said motioning to himself and Linda, who was staring blankly ahead as she followed Vince into the hospital. "Shane McMahon, was brought in with his wife. They were in a car accident we were told."

"Yes sir," the nurse said with a sympathetic look at them. "They were taken to the OR. You can go wait up there for the doctor to speak to you about their injuries. I'll call the nurse up there and let her know you're on your way up."

"Thank you," Vince said and took Linda's hand lovingly. "Come on dear." She continued to stare blankly as Vince led her to the elevator bank.

They had been sitting in the OR waiting room for over 3 hours when a petite, redheaded, female doctor came in looking very somber.

"Mr. and Mrs. McMahon?" Vince stood and nodded as Linda continued to just stare blankly. The shock of hearing that her only son was in an accident was clearly too much for her. "I'm afraid that I have good news and bad news." Linda let out a sob, knowing what the bad news was before the doctor even said it. "Shane's injuries were extensive. He had massive internal bleeding." Linda buried her head in Vince's side as he rubbed her back with one hand and his forehead with the other. "We did everything we could, but he lost too much blood." She hesitated before continuing. She always hated delivering this kind of news to grieving parents. "I'm sorry Mr. McMahon. We couldn't save him."

"Oh God," Linda exclaimed. "My baby!" Vince seemed to crumple into the seat next Linda as they clung to each other and cried for the loss of their only son.

"Wh-what's the good news," Vince asked, his voice pained.

"We were able to save your daughter-in-law," the doctor replied. "Her injuries were bad, but she didn't sustain as many internal injuries. She does have some minor burns on her hands and legs, but she's stable." Vince nodded sadly and held his wife tightly. "I'm so sorry," she said. "Marissa is being taken up to a room. Once she's settled I'll have a nurse get you when you can visit with her."

"Thank you," Vince said and buried his head into Linda's shoulder.

"My baby boy," Linda said as she began to sob again. "My only son is gone."

"Our only son is gone," Vince said grinding the tears out of his eyes. "We have to be strong for Marissa though." Linda looked up at him as if he was nuts. "I know our loss is worse than hers, but she just married him and now he's gone. She's going to be in pain, mentally and physically.

"You're right," Linda said pulling out a handkerchief to wipe her eyes. "Poor Marissa. That poor, poor girl."

Gracie's entire body was just one giant ache. She felt like she had taken on a Mack truck and the truck had won. Somewhere in the room she heard muffled voices. She forced her eyes open painfully and was greeted by the sight of a man and woman she had never met before. The woman's blue/gray eyes were bloodshot and swollen, as if from crying, and the man's expensive looking suit was wrinkled and he looked frazzled. They hadn't seen her open her eyes. The woman was sitting with the man in chairs, side by side, with her head buried in his chest. He was rubbing her back as he nuzzled her cheek with his nose and whispered in her ear. Gracie moved her head and pain radiated down her neck and into her back. She let out a soft whimper and the man and woman looked at her, eyes wide.

"She's awake," Linda said softly.

Vince nodded and sat forward. "Hello there," he said to Gracie, smiling kindly. "We're your in-laws. I'm Vince and this is Linda." He motioned towards Linda, who sat foward as tears filled her eyes again.

"You're so beautiful," Linda sobbed. "I can see why Shane was so in love with you, Marissa."

Gracie listened, trying to understand the words they spoke. Marissa? In-laws? Then it hit her. The car.....the couple....Shane....Marissa....newlyweds. It was all starting to make sense again. But how am I here and why do they think I'm Marissa? Gracie glanced around the room nervously.

"It's all right dear," Vince said soothingly, seeing how frightened she was. "You were in an accident. I'm afraid I have bad news." He glanced at Linda, who's tears were now spilling down her cheeks. "The car was totalled and....I'm afraid Shane didn't make it." Vince's throat tightened as he spoke the last part, the notion of his only son no longer living was finally sinking in for him.

Gracie opened her mouth to speak, but Linda placed a finger on her lips. "You need to rest your voice. Doctor said you injured your larynx in the accident.

Gracie sighed and nodded. This can't be good. They need to know that I'm not their daughter-in-law."

"Shane's told us so much about you," Vince said smiling. "He was crazy about you. He told us that you were an orphan...being in this accident must not make that any easier to deal with."

"You don't have to worry though," Linda said wiping her eyes. "We're your family now. Vince and I and Shane's sister, Stephanie. We'll be your family from now on. For now, get some rest."

Gracie smiled at them and nodded as she closed her eyes. This might not be so bad. I can avoid Parker and Henry and have people who care about me. This is going to be all right. Gracie fell into a deep slumber once again as Vince and Linda sat by her side.

Gracie's head began to pound once again as she slowly surfaced into consciousness. She lay in the hospital bed with her eyes closed and prayed for the pain to stop. With great effort she opened her eyes and forced them to focus. She saw a huge bouquet of brightly colored wild flowers sitting on the bedside table. She reached out, painfully, and touched the beautiful pink, purple and yellow petals.

"I'm so glad you like them," she heard Linda say and turned to look at the older woman. "Shane told us they were your favorite."

"Lin...Linda....I need to...."

"You need to rest your voice and please call me mom," Linda said smiling as she sat down on the bed next to Gracie. "I brought you a little something. I know that hospital food leaves a lot to be desired so I whipped up one of Shane's favorites. Hot chicken soup." Linda smiled and pulled out a container of soup, a bowl and a spoon. She poured the soup for Gracie and offered her a spoonful. "The doctor says that you can go home with us soon."

"Oh I couldn't possibly...."

"You can and you will," Linda said. "Shane would want it that way and Vince and I want to get to know our daughter-in-law."

"I'm not...."

"I know you're not used to a family, but don't you worry. We are family and we take care of our own. Now finish your soup." Gracie sighed and accepted the spoonful she was offered.

A few weeks later Gracie was almost completely healed, except for a broken arm, and Linda and Vince were bringing her home from the hospital. "Must feel good to be getting out of here huh," Vince asked smiling.

"Yeah," Gracie said smiling weakly.

"You'll like it in Greenwhich," Linda said smiling. "You'll get to meet your sister-in-law." Gracie faked and smile and sighed as they helped her into the backseat of the awaiting limo.

A half hour later they pulled up in front of a huge mansion and Gracie's jaw dropped. This wasn't a home, it was a museum! She had never seen such an extravagant looking house in all her life. She looked at Vince and Linda wide eyed. "Home sweet home," Vince said smiling as he climbed out and helped both women out.

"You live here," Gracie said in an amazed whisper.

"Only the best for the McMahon family," Vince said proudly.

"It pays to be the owner of a billion dollar corporation," Linda said smiling. Gracie continued to gawk at the house as they walked into the huge entryway. "Stephanie! Steph! We're home darling!"

They heard the muffled sounds of someone talking and then footsteps on the stairs. Soon a tall, brunette appeared at the top of the stairs. "You're home," Stephanie said smiling from ear to ear. "I was so worried about you guys when you were late." She bounced down the rest of the steps and hugged both her parents. "Is this Marissa?" Linda and Vince nodded and Stephanie looked at her new sister-in-law. "You're a little shorter than me, but I think we can still share clothes," she said smiling at Gracie. "I'm Stephanie. Shane's little sister," the last part was choked as tears welled up in her eyes. "Shane has told us so much about you that I feel I know you already." She eyed the woman from head to toe and then turned back to her parents.

"He's told me so much about all of you too," Gracie lied as she fingered the sculptures in the front hall.

"Stephanie why don't you show Marissa to her new room," Vince said smiling at the girls. Stephanie nodded and motioned toward Gracie to follow her.

Gracie gasped when she entered the room that was the size of her apartment. "This is it," Stephanie said proudly. "Daddy and Mom put a lot of work into preparing it for you."

"Preparing it for me," Gracie said as she gazed at the grogeous cherry wood furniture and huge canopy bed. "I don't get why they're being so wonderful to me."

"You don't get it do you," Stephanie asked sadly. Gracie shook her head. "They couldn't be there when Shane......The last time they saw Shane alive was when he came to visit over Christmas break."

"Oh how terrible," Gracie said. "That was almost 6 months ago."

"You're the closest thing they have to Shane now," Stephanie said wiping away some stray tears. "I'll leave you to rest. You must be tired from your trip." Gracie nodded and watched as Stephanie left.

"Mom," Stephanie said finding Linda in Vince's office filling out some paper work that she had been putting off for too long. Linda looked up at her youngest child and removed her reading glasses. "There's something strange about Marissa."

"Well, of course there is Stephanie," Linda sighed. "She just lost her husband, whom she had only been married to for less than 2 days and she herself was seriously injured in the accident that killed her husband. How do you want her to act?"

"Mom," Stephanie said sighing. "Think about it. Shane told us that she was about my height, with shoulder length straight black hair. This Marissa is at least three or four inches shorter than I am and she has short blonde hair."

"Maybe she dyed it for the wedding."

"They eloped," Stephanie murmured.

"Look," Linda said, getting annoyed at Stephanie's suspicions. "She's been through a lot. The woman up there has lost her husband and almost died. I think her sister-in-law can show her a little courtesy by not questioning everything about her that didn't match up to Shane's picture of her. Now please go. I have to get this done by five if I don't want a mess." Stephanie sighed and left the office.

Gracie lay on the huge bed and sighed. How was she going to convince the McMahons that she was Marissa? Vince and Linda would be easy to convince since they were grief stricken, but she could tell that Stephanie was already suspicious just by the way she looked at Gracie.

A soft tapping on the door brought her out of her thoughts. She glanced towards the open door and saw Vince standing there. He looked so much older than she had remembered.

"I was heading off and I was wondering if maybe you'd want to see where Shane used to work," Vince said.

"That'd be nice," Gracie said smiling and climbed out of bed. She followed Vince downstairs.

"Honey," Vince said to Linda as he got to the bottom of the stairs. "I'm taking Marissa to work to show her around. Maybe she'll want some things from Shane's office."

"Daddy I was going to clean out Shane's stuff," Stephanie said.

"Well, Marissa is his wife. I think she should do it," Vince replied.

"I just meant that Marissa shouldn't have to go through that," Stephanie said softly as she looked down at her hands. "It's bad enough I lost a brother. Marissa lost the man she vowed to love 'til death."

Gracie looked down at the floor as a small tear trickled down her cheek. "Maybe Stephanie should do it," she said softly. "I...I really don't think I can....not alone at least."

"Fine," Vince said placing a hand on Gracie's shoulder. "Stephanie. You can come and help Marissa." Stephanie nodded and followed them out of the house.

"I can't believe a grown man would collect so much junk," Stephanie said as she tossed another trinket into a cardboard box. "You want to keep this," she asked holding up a paperweight.

"I don't think so," Gracie said looking up from the photo album that she was looking through.

"It was one of Shane's most prized posessions. Mom gave it to him when he first started working here at Titan," Stephanie said fingering the paperweight. It was clear lucite with a photo of the McMahons in the center. "She never wanted him to forget that family came first." A tear streaked down Stephanie's cheek as she spoke.

"Stephanie I think you should keep it," Gracie said softly. Stephanie gave her a shocked look. "I understand how much it meant to Shane, but I think that you would appreciate the meaning of it better than I can. You're his blood after all."

Stephanie's lip began to quiver and she turned away from Gracie as the storm of tears overcame her. "I just miss him so much," she sobbed.

"Oh Steph," Gracie said, tears clouding her eyes as her heart broke for the younger woman. "I know," she said and pulled Stephanie into a hug. "I know you miss him. We all do."

"Shane always loved this family photo," Stephanie said choking on her tears. "He said we looked like a real family and not the family daddy portrays on TV." With that said Stephanie buried her head in Gracie's shoulder and sobbed uncontrollably.

They held onto each other and cried for a while before Vince entered the office. His eyes instantly began to tear when he saw his daughter and daughter-in-law holding onto each other and crying. "Girls," he said in a tight voice. "Maybe this wasn't such a good idea." He pulled them both into a huge bear hug and for the first time since he got the news, he allowed himself to cry for the loss of his only son.

"How did it go," Linda asked Vince when he and the girls walked into the house. Gracie and Stephanie kept their heads down and walked up to their rooms. Noticing this Linda looked to her husband for answers and realized that his eyes were puffy and bloodshot from crying. "Vince," she said rushing to his side. "What is it?"

"He's gone," Vince said softly. "My boy is gone." He sniffled and fought back the tears as Linda pulled him over to the couch and sat with his head in her lap. "It didn't hit me until I saw the girls cleaning out his stuff......I mean.....I keep wishing that this is all a nightmare.....that any minute now I'm going to wake up. I keep expecting to see him come through that door with his suitcases and dirty laundry from college."

"I know honey," Linda said being the strong one for a change. "Why don't you go take a hot bath and lay down for a while. Hmmm?"

Vince wiped his eyes and nodded sadly at his wife. "What would I do without you?" He gave a weak smile.

"I hope we never find out," Linda said kissing him softly before he got up and left the room.

Gracie flopped onto her bed face down and buried her head in a pillow. What had she gotten herself into? Sure, she thought that this would be a good oppurtunity to avoid Henry and Parker, but she had no idea how deep the McMahon's grief went. It was becoming more and more obvious that she had made the wrong choice.

She got up off the bed and took a deep breath as she decided to tell Linda the truth. She made her way down the stairs and spotted Linda sitting on the couch with her head in her hands. "Linda?" Linda stiffened and wiped her eyes. "Linda can I talk to you?"

"Of course Marissa," Linda said as the younger woman sat down next to her.

"It's just that....." She didn't get any further before Linda burst into tears again.

"I'm sorry," she said sniffling. "I just....I don't know.....I guess Vince and I are still pretty shaken up."

"Of course you are," Gracie said with a sigh. "You lost your oldest child. A parent should never have to bury a child."

"I can see why Shane loved you so much," Linda said with tears shining in her eyes as she stroked Gracie's cheek. "Now what did you want to talk to me about?"

"It's stupid really," Gracie said blushing. "I was just worried about getting lost in this big house. I think I'll be all right though." Linda smiled and nodded as the younger woman stood and walked back up the steps.

Gracie wandered up the stairs and back into her room. She knew that she had just made things worse by not telling Linda the truth, but the way that she had looked at Gracie....it was heartbreaking.....she saw nothing but grief and love in Linda's blue/gray eyes. No one had ever looked at her lovingly, not even her own mother. Maybe this would be the chance of a lifetime, to finally have the family she never had before.

"Hey Marissa," Stephanie said as she walked into her room and sat down at the foot of the bed. Gracie marked her place in her book and looked up at the younger woman with a smile. Stephanie and Gracie had really bonded since that day in Shane's office. "I was thinking of going to the mall tomorrow to do some shopping. Wanna come?"

"I'd like that," Gracie said smiling.

"Great," Stephanie said with a huge grin. "It's so cool to finally have a sister type girly in the house."

"I feel the exact same way," Gracie said with a laugh.

"I'll let you get back to reading then," Stephanie said standing up. "Be ready by noon." Gracie nodded and went back to her book.

"Linda what would you say if I told you I wanted Marissa to take over Shane's job," Vince asked. They were in bed and both were reading books.

"Are you sure Marissa is ready for that," Linda asked. "I mean it has only been a couple of months."

"Well, I need someone who can scout out new talent and she wouldn't be away at college half the year. I really could use the help."

"She wasn't raised in wrestling though Vince," Linda said. "What makes you think she could be a good scout?"

"She'll have the best teacher," Vince said smiling. "Me."

"Aren't we modest," Linda laughed. "Check with her first before you go putting her on the payroll. That's all I'm asking. Ok?" Vince nodded and gave her a kiss on the cheek.

At noon the girls left as did Vince who was going to Titan to go over some contracts, leavinging Linda alone in the house. The doorbell rang and Linda answered.

"Good afternoon ma'am," a delivery man said. "I have a couple of boxes for you to sign for."

"Who are they for," Linda asked.

The man looked at his clipboard and said, "It says a Marissa McMahon."

"Oh," Linda said. "Marissa isn't here at the moment, but I'll sign for them." Linda took the clipboard and signed. "I'll show you where to put the boxes," she said and directed him up the stairs and to Gracie's room.

"That skirt's gonna look awesome on ya Steph," Gracie said laughing as she and Stephanie entered the house. "Pink is so your color."

"Hey girls," Linda said meeting them halfway between the living room and the kitchen. "Marissa you got a few packages today. I signed for them and had the man leave them in your room." Gracie looked from Stephanie to Linda in confusion. Why would she get packages?

"They must be from your dorm room or something. From school," Stephanie said.

"Oh right," Gracie said. "My room mate must have boxed my stuff up and sent them. I'm gonna go check them."

"I'll come help," Stephanie said.

"No," Gracie said quickly, a little too quickly. "There might be some of Shane's stuff in there and.....well....I think you have been through enough Steph." Stephanie nodded as Gracie quickly left the room.

Locking her door behind her, Gracie ripped open the first of the three boxes and saw nothing but clothes. She rummaged through them to make sure nothing was stuffed in between the box and clothes.

She moved on to the second box and found piles of photos right on top. "Good thing Stephanie wasn't here when I opened this one," she mumbled. She pulled out all of the pictures and stashed them underneath her mattress. She finished rummaging and set the boxes on the floor and went back downstairs to join Stephanie and Linda.

Late that night Gracie lay in bed listening as the sounds of the house became nothing more than the foundation settling and the pipes giving an occassional clang. When she was sure everyone was asleep she crept out of bed and grabbed the stash of photos. She threw on her robe and stuck the pictures in the pocket before she crept down the stairs and out through the kitchen door in back of the house.

She crept barefoot through the lush green grass to the shed that the gardener used to keep his tools for tending to the lawn. She knew that he wouldn't be around for at least 2 more days and hopefully by then there wouldn't any evidence that she was a fake. She tossed the photos into the barrel that the gardener used to burn the clippings and threw some lighter fluid over them. She lit a match and watched as it made it's decent into the accellerant. The photos blazed up and began to curl as the paper charred.

"Rest in peace Marissa," Gracie said softly. Once she was sure the blaze was dying down she went back to the house and crept back to her room.

"Did anyone smell something burning during the night," Stephanie asked as the family ate breakfast. Gracie felt the color drain from her face.

"No," Vince and Linda said in unison. They all looked to Gracie who was now normal color again.

"I slept like a log," she lied. "I didn't smell anything." Stephanie shrugged and went back to eating her oatmeal.

"Marissa," Vince said breaking the silence that had fallen over the room. "I need to speak to you in private." Gracie stood and nodded as Vince led the way to his office. "I realize that this may come as a surprise, but I'd like you to take over Shane's job at Titan." Gracie stared at him in shock. Take over Shane's job?! She didn't even know what he had done as a job. "I think after a couple of days working with myself, Pat Patterson and Gerald Briscoe you'll pick up quickly and become just as good a scout as Shane was. What do you say?"

"This is all so sudden," Gracie said honestly.

"I understand," Vince replied. "Why don't you come with me to work today and I'll introduce you to some of the talent in our company? Then you can see what we look for and what your job will be like."

"All right," Gracie said.

"Good," Vince said smiling. "I'll tell the boys to be on their best behavior." Gracie gave Vince a weak smile and he picked up the phone on his desk. Gracie crept out of the office and ran into Stephanie, who was trying to hear what was happening.

"What'd Daddy want," she asked.

"He wants me to take over Shane's job," Gracie said.

"Oh," Stephanie said. "Well, we do need a talent scout that can go on the road and stuff. Daddy must really like you."

"Really?"

"I've wanted that job for years," Stephanie said smiling. "Congratualtions Marissa."

"Marissa these are my assistants and dear friends, Pat Patterson and Gerald Briscoe," Vince said as he introduced Gracie to them that afternoon.

"Vince said he had a new daughter-in-law," Patterson said.

"He neglected to mention what a beauty she was," Briscoe said smiling. Gracie blushed a deep crimson.

"Boys why don't you show Marissa around and introduce her to a couple of the boys. Let her see them doing a run through and get her acquainted with the wrestling world. Patterson and Briscoe nodded and motioned for Gracie to follow them.

"Check it out boys! New flesh," Shawn called to Hunter, Billy and Jesse. "This one's a hot little number. Hope she's my new eye candy." The other guys chuckled and eyed Gracie from head to toe. Since moving in with the McMahons she had started wearing more conservative clothing than what she normally wore. Today she had chosen a peach colored turtleneck sweater and a black ankle length skirt with a black flat heeled sandals. Her hair was up in a ponytail and some shorter hairs had fallen out to frame her face in curls.

"Boys this is Marissa, Shane's widow," Briscoe said to the DX group.

"I'm sorry," Shawn said looking ashamed at his antics. Hunter, Billy and Jesse all looked away, also ashamed.

"She's going to take Shane's place as the WWF's talent scout," Patterson said. "How's about you show her some of what she's supposed to be looking for in the talent?"

The men nodded and paired off to go through a sequence of moves as if they were practicing for a match.

"What did you think," Hunter asked breathlessly when he and Shawn had finished their run through.

"I think I need to learn the names of those moves, but they were well done," Gracie admitted.

"Your body slam needs a little work and your timing on clotheslines is a little off," Patterson replied, causing Hunter to frown. "Other than that I think you wowed the young lady." He ushered Gracie over to some seats to watch Billy and Jesse grapple.

Gracie leaned over and whispered, "I thought they did very well. Why didn't you tell them that?"

"You're new to this. A little bit of coaching from me, Gerry and Vince and you'll spot some off moves," Patterson said smiling at her. He looked up at the ring and clapped. "Good hustle Jesse!" Gracie sat back in her chair convinced that she was in way over her head.

After hours of watching what seemed to Gracie like senseless children's playfighting she managed to slip away from Briscoe and Patterson and find a soda machine. She was absolutely parched. She had just chosen her soda and was bending down to pick it up when someone bumped into her.

"I'm sorry miss," the man said not looking up at her at first. When he finally did she came face to face with the warm brown eyes of Mick Foley. "Oh my goodness! Little Gracie Parson! Is that really you?!"

"I'm sorry sir," Gracie said quickly. "I have no idea what you're talking about. My name is Marissa McMahon." She looked up at Mick hoping that he would buy the lie. "Shane's widow," she said when Mick showed no recognition of the name."

"It might have been some years since I last saw you, but I never forget a face. You're little Gracie Parson from down the block. Boy Colette used to babysit you all the time when we were dating."

"I'm very sorry sir," Gracie said trying not to panic. She had no clue that Mick Foley had joined the WWF since she last saw him. "You have me confused with someone else."

Seeing the fear at being recognized in Gracie's eyes Mick said softly, "Have you gotten yourself into some trouble?"

Gracie bit her lip and looked around to make sure no one was around. Seeing an open door she motioned for him to follow her. She peeked inside and seeing nothing but an empty room she ushered him inside and closed and locked the door behind them. "Yes," she said trying to fight the tears welling up in her eyes. "I'm in so much trouble Mr. Foley," she wailed.

"What kind of trouble," he asked.

"You know that when Colette was babysitting me.....well....my family was crumbling," she said. Mick nodded. "When I turned 18 I left home. I got odd jobs here and there, never really stayed in one place too long. I finally got a steady job working as a waitress in this sleazy little bar. Well, the boss' brother liked me.....a lot and.....one night.....he was drunk and he....um.....tried to rape me....right there on the bar." Mick flinched at the word and reached out and took her hand, urging her to go on. "I grabbed the first thing I could find," Gracie said through a sob. "I grabbed a knife and...."

"Is he dead," Mick asked in shock.

"I didn't stick around to see," she replied sniffling. "I got the hell out of there and bummed a ride with this couple. The couple turned out to be Shane and Marissa McMahon fresh from their honeymoon and on their way to see Shane's parents."

"What happened," Mick asked.

"We got into a bad accident.....it's still pretty fuzzy....I remember a truck and then that's it. All I know is I wake up in the hospital and Linda and Vince are calling me Marissa."

"And you just decided to play along, hoping they'd never find out," Mick asked. "I think you know better than that."

"I was scared to tell them....for the first time in my life I had a family, who cared about me," Gracie said. "No one has ever treated me as well as the McMahons do." She paused a moment and then said, "I went back to the hospital and inquired about Marissa's body......they told me it was charred beyond recognition. They couldn't even find dental records to identify her. They buried her in a potter's field a few days after the accident. They figured that she was just someone with no next of kin or anything." Mick squeezed his eyes shut at the details she just gave him. "I thought that if I told them....that I'd at least have a body for them to bury with Shane, but........I don't."

"It still doesn't make this whole charade right," Mick replied.

"I know that," Gracie said turning away from him. "It's killing me to lie to them, but if I tell them......What if Parker is dead? What if there's a warrant out for my arrest?"

"You should be grown up enough to handle that Gracie," Mick said. "You did the crime. You should face the consequences."

He turned to leave the room and she grabbed his wrist. "You can't tell them! Please don't tell them," she begged.

"It's not my place to tell them," he said pulling free of her grasp. "I will say this, don't expect me to lie along with you. Vince and Linda have always been good to me and my family and I will not be a party to this horrible deception. I have no doubt in my mind that they look at you and see their last link to their only son. It's not right Gracie and you know it." With that said he walked out of the room, leaving Gracie standing there battling with her conscience.

"Ready to go home," Vince asked when he found Gracie sitting alone on one of the costume crates. She nodded and followed him out of the arena. "This must all be overwhelming for you," he said trying to break the silence. She nodded and offered a weak smile as he opened the passenger side door and she got in. "You'll get used to it," he said before closing the door and climbing in the driver's side.

"Vince," Gracie said after a few moments of silence on the drive home. "I think that this was a mistake."

He glanced at her out of the corner of his eye. "Oh?"

"I mean...you and Linda and Stephanie have been so wonderful to me, but I don't think that it was a good idea for me to live with you."

"I don't understand," Vince said stopping at a red light and looking at her. "You have no idea how much you've helped us through the death of our son. How can that be a mistake?" She stared at him blankly, unable to reply. "You're just overwhelmed. You'll have a nice bath when we get home and then you'll feel better. All right?" She nodded numbly and turned to stare out the window. "You know Linda and I never really got the chance to talk to you about your loss. It must be horrible for you to not have anyone to talk to about losing Shane."

"I don't really want to talk about it right now," Gracie said looking at Vince with tears in her eyes. "When I need to talk I'll come to you and Linda first. I promise."

"All right," Vince said softly. "Relax. We'll be home soon."

Gracie lay in the tub of hot water that Stephanie had drawn for her. She thought that Gracie looked exhausted and decided to put her favorite lavender and chamomille bath salts in the water as well as a cap of unscented bubble bath. Gracie could not get Mick's words out of her mind and knew that she had to tell Vince and Linda soon before guilt drove her insane.

"Mom," Stephanie said as she entered the kitchen for breakfast the next morning. "Have you seen Marissa?"

"She went to Titan with your father," Linda said smiling. "She's been such a Godsend through all this." Stephanie smiled and nodded as she sat down and picked up a slice of toast.

"Rodney, Pete, Joey," Vince said to Shane's closest friends from college. "I am so glad that you could make the trip up from New York."

"It's great to be here," Joey said.

"Yeah," Pete replied.

"Vince," Gracie said. "Pat and Gerry need you to look these over and sign them. They're the guys who are medically cleared to return."

"And who is this lovely vision," Rodney said smiling at Gracie.

"Why you mean you went to school with Shane and never met his wife, Marissa?"

"Oh," Pete said covering for Rodney. "You look different since the accident Rissa."

"Yeah," Gracie said. "I'll leave these with you and get them later," she said to Vince and left before the three men could expose her.

"Excuse me Vince," Rodney said. "I need to go see a horse about a man." Vince smiled and nodded as he turned to the other two men and began talking about college.

Rodney found Gracie by the coffee pots. "Well, if it isn't the younger Mrs. McMahon," he said. She spun around, dropping the cup of coffee she was holding in surprise. "So Marissa how's life at the McMahon's treating you?"

"Just fine," she replied.

"You have no idea who I am do you?"

"Of course I do," Gracie replied. "You're....um....."

"What's wrong? The accident mess up your memory?"

"That must be it," Gracie said nervously.

"Listen lady," Rodney said getting just inches away from her face. "I don't know who you think you are, but you're not Marissa. Shane was like my brother and Marissa, like my sister-in-law. I don't know what sick game you're playing with the McMahons, but you better quit it before I expose you for the fake that you are."

"I'm trying to," Gracie said through tears.

"Try harder," he said through gritted teeth and stalked off.

"Linda," Vince called rushing into the house. "Linda!"

"What is it Vince," Linda called rushing down the stairs.

"Have you seen Marissa? She ran out of Titan without telling anyone. I'm afraid that seeing Pete, Joey and Rodney might have been too much for her."

"As far as I know she hasn't been home, but Stephanie and I were out all afternoon," Linda replied.

"She's gone," Stephanie said walking down the stairs with a dazed look on her face. She was holding a crumpled piece of stationery limply in her hand.

"What do you mean gone," Vince asked.

"Here," Stephanie said handing him the note.

Vince took the paper and read it out loud. "Dear Vince and Linda,

"I can no longer go on with charade. I am not the person you think I am. My name is not Marissa and I was never married to Shane. I know that you're all probably confused and I hope that as you continue to read this note things will become clearer. I am nothing more than a lonely down on her luck drifter who thought she had happened onto some luck when a young newlywed couple agreed to give her a ride as far as Greenwhich. I had no idea that on that fateful afternoon everything would change so drastically."

Linda let out a sob. Stephanie pulled her into a sob and motioned for Vince to continue.

"My name is Gracie Parson and I am from New York. When Shane and Marissa picked me up I was running away from my old life. I used to work in a hole in the wall bar where I was terrorized by my boss Henry and his dim witted brother Parker. One night, after my shift, Parker tried to rape me right on the bar. I felt around for anything I could find to get him off of me....the only problem was that I found a knife and used it."

"Oh my God," Linda said through a sob. "She killed him?"

Vince looked down at the note and continued, "I didn't stay to see what happened next. I took the coward's way out and ran. I ditched all my identification and my car and hitched a ride with Shane and Marissa at a rest stop just outide the Connecticut border. Not long after we started on the way to Greenwhich we were in the accident. When I awoke in the hospital I tried to tell you who I was, but I couldn't speak at first and then...I figured that posing as Marissa would be an easy way to avoid the consequences of my actions.

"I don't expect sympathy from you. Lord knows I've caused you more grief than anyone deserves. I just hope that you might someday come to forgive me. I know what I have done to you was horribly wrong and that no matter how much I apologize it will never be enough. That is why I have left for New York. I am going to face my punishment.

"I want you all to know that you guys are the closest I have come to a family in my life.

Gracie Parson."

Vince looked up at his wife and daughter, who were clinging to each other and crying. "I'm calling the police," he said gruffly.

"No," Linda said grabbing his hand. "She's going to face enough in New York. Please. Let's not do this."

"She posed as our daughter-in-law," He said. "She lived in our house."

"I know that," Linda said. "I'm well aware of what she's done. I also know that she genuinely liked us and that she feels horrible about what she's done." Vince scoffed. "Shane wouldn't want us to punish her," Linda said. Vince lowered his head. "He'd be understanding of her situation." Vince nodded and sighed.

"Fine. I won't press charges," he said.

"You made the right decision Daddy," Stephanie said and ran up to her room.

"Parson! You got a visitior," the prison guard called as she cuffed Gracie and led her to visitor's room.

Gracie sat down in front of the glass partition and blinked. She picked up the phone and said, "Linda?"

"Vince and Stephanie wanted to come, but...."

"You don't have to lie," Gracie said sadly. "Stephanie probably hates my guts and Vince....Vince probably wanted to add to my sentence."

"That he did," Linda said with a nervous chuckle. "Stephanie doesn't hate you...she's just hurt. You became like the sister she never had and then that was ripped away from her. She thought that was over when Shane was taken away from us."

"I can't apologize enough for this Linda," Gracie said. "I'm so sorry."

"I've already forgiven you," Linda said smiling warmly. "How long are you in for?"

"It would have only been a slap on the wrist if I hadn't run," she replied looking down at her dingy, orange, prison issued jumpsuit. "Parker didn't die. It was my word against his and Henry's at the trial. I'm in for at least 10 years."

"Oh Gracie," Linda said sadly. "Won't you get out for good behavior?"

"No," Gracie said sadly. "I ruined that when I ran away from the scene of the crime." Linda sighed. "Do me a favor and forget about me. My life has never been worth anything to anyone and meeting you, Vince and Stephanie shouldn't change that. Just move on with your lives." With that said she hung up the phone and walked over to the guard. Linda sighed sadly, staring after the young girl she had grown to care about and left the prison.