Located in the Bang Rak district of Bangkok, Thailand, the Assumption Cathedral is the principle Roman Catholic church of the nation of Thailand. It was completed in the year 1821, during the reign of King Rama II.

 They say that one man's meat is another man's poison. So, would it be fair to also assume that one man's dream is another's nightmare? I would think so, especially if you take into account the mood one Sin of Wrath aka Rage had fallen into after he was informed of how the entirety of the Seven Deadly Sins stable would be spending the remaining time in California until they had to be on the coast to board the Royal Monarch cruise liner for the big venture for Sin City Wrestling's "Summer XXXTreme" extravaganza.

You see there was a place that the mere mentioning of would cause Despayre to go on forever about in wanting to visit. It was a place of nature and amusement, but until now, they had been unable to set up a proper time to make the journey. But, seeing as how they were touring the California area until it was time for the cruise, this seemed like as good a time as any. Besides, how often does Despayre get a desire in his head and his heart that doesn't get fulfilled? As Gabriel and Fantasia would often chide Synn about in good natured fun, 'what Despayre wants... Despayre gets.'

And in this case, Rage himself seemed entirely opposed to the idea -- at least until he learned that he wouldn't be the only one there with Despayre. The misadventure he suffered through at the Las Vegas zoo only too recently burned it's way into his memory and he had little desire to have history repeat itself. Especially at a place that was famous for its killer whales and a special giant squid exhibit. So having the extra hands to keep Despayre under control (ha!) was a welcome relief, but he was unsure even up to the point where their respective cars had pulled into the gargantuan parking lot just outside of the theme park.

The place that had Rage constantly questioning the wisdom of this little adventure?



The Royal Monarch was an impressive sight at the bay where passengers were slowly starting to board. Wrestlers, staff and crew of Sin City Wrestling, along with all the fans lucky enough to have purchased their tickets in time for this once-in-a-lifetime event, were all boarding with their luggage and preparing for a luxurious span of seven plus days of fun in the sun and a wrestling super card, with a few stops in between.

Two taxis pulled into the dock drop off area and the doors started to open and out climbed the members of the Seven Deadly Sins. A third cab was also there, carrying the large amount of luggage that the other two was unable to fit in its trunks. Workers from the cruise ship hurried over and they started to unload the luggage and transfer it to the ship where it would be taken to the respective rooms.

Everyone was dressed casually for the first day of the trip. Yes, even Synn was seen wearing a comfortable muscle shirt that showed off his tanned, muscular upper body and shorts with a pair of sandals on his feet. Quote the contrast to his usual dark form of attire.

They all started to heard forward towards the ship, and the curious sight of Despayre being guided carefully with Synn's hands covering his eyes so as he would be unable to see.

"Are we really going to be on a ship?" Despayre called out.

Gabriel answered, "Well Despy, what did you think I meant when I said we were going cruising?"

"I thought we were going to pick up chicks!"

Everyone, yes even Rage, got a laugh out of that little bit of Despayre Logic 101, when the little guy asked again, "Why couldn't Theresa come with us?"

Synn said, "Because someone had to watch your cat, Joshua. Plus Theresa said she doesn't like water."

"That's not true!" Despayre protested. "She goes in the pool with us sometimes!"

Fantasia said, "There's a far cry of difference between a swimming pool and the ocean, Despy."

"Okay, fine." Despayre grudging conceded. Yes, the house keeper still intimidated him very much so, but he had grown quite attached to her as well, as he did to her. "So what's this big surprise? Hm? What?"

"Patience, Joshua." Synn said as he steered him through the crowd and towards the ship. "With any luck, it'll be just a moment longer."

The others watched and waited, the knotted feeling of anticipation deep in their stomachs. Last night at the hotel, Despayre had been distracted with a Looney Tunes marathon on the TV in his room and Synn used the time to fill everybody in on the talk he had with Gabriel, and the decision he had made. They weren't sure they understood or believed what they were told, given everything that led up to this, but they would be there for him -- and especially for Despayre.

Without question.

"Ready, Joshua?" Synn said as he stopped, and thus so did the others.

"Uh huh!" Despayre nodded and Synn removed his hand from his eyes.

Despayre blinked and looked ahead when he gasped at who was standing at the dock, waiting for him.

<img src=http://gigisaffronever.files.wordpress.com/2011/03/kirstie-alley.gif>

"Mom!"

 Into the Void had been a big success and the high felt by many of the Sin City Wrestling superstars and Bombshells continued on, even after Mark Ward and Christian Underwood thanked everyone for attending, congratulated the stars on a show well done, and the Earl Wilson Stadium emptied into the night.

The vast majority of those wrestling stars then saw fit to take part in the time honored tradition of gathering at a local bar or nightclub to celebrate and mingle with their peers and the fans who knew where the sports entertainment social gathering would be occurring.

In this case, Gabriel of the Seven Deadly Sins managed to get the Luxor management to reserve the famed Aurora nightclub for he and everyone else in the SCW who wished to attend and bring the evening to a close with friends, fans and a bottle of Jack thrown in for good measure.

The Aurora, located just beyond the reservations desk of the Luxor lobby, had it's name coined by the most unique overhead lightning displays, set to mimic the Aurora Borealis or Northern lights.

Staff and star alike sat at the tables, booths and around the bar, drinking and talking as various fans moved about to ask for autographs and pictures while the stars swapped stories with one another over the evening' events. Several fans of the female persuasion (aka ring rats) moved about and stuck to their intended target's sides for the night, hoping for an invitation to return to their hotel.

The music gave the entire place a relaxed atmosphere for everyone there, and Gabriel was one of those stars standing at the bar with his back turned to the bar while he spoke with Bo Dreamwolf who had a young woman of Asian descent on his arm, and the two lovely SCW reporters, Pussy Willow and Rocky Mountains both with glasses of wine in their own hands. They all laughed merrily at a story Gabriel had just finished telling them when Despayre (and yes, Angel) came running up.

Gabriel turned to his little buddy who was still wearing his tag team title belt backwards around his waist. He said, "Despy! Where've you been hiding all night?"

Despayre looked back over his shoulder and seemed to relax before he turned to Gabriel and answered, "Well first I had to lose this really weird girl who kept trying to follow me since we got here! e was dressed all like those funny girls in those clubs you and Shane go to."

Gabriel smirked and looked to Bo and then Pussy Willow and Rocky, knowing that his 'little buddy' had caught the attentions of a ring rat.

Despayre continued, "But then I had to keep Synn distracted until you got here. Did you bring them?"

"Mm hm. I brought `em." Gabriel answered and he leaned back on the bar and picked up a couple of department store boxes, one long and narrow, the other medium sized. Both were adorned with a wrap-around ribbon. Despayre made 'grabby hands' at them and was alive with excitement as he took them from Gabriel.

"Who are those for?" Pussy asked. "Got a girlfriend we don't know about Despy?"

Despayre made a face, closing his eyes tightly and sticking his tongue out with an audible "BLAH!" and he turned and scurried off.

Bo looked at Gabriel and asked, "What was that about?"

Gabriel winked, "Just a little something he asked me to help him with. Something a certain someone won't be expecting."

Despayre maneuvered through the crowd in the Aurora, bobbing and weaving between groups and avoiding the random females who tried to engage him until he came upon a booth against the far wall where only one person was seated in a relaxed posture. Synn, a glass of whiskey in his hand, almost started as Despayre jumped over the back of the booth and landed right beside him.

"Joshua!" Synn exclaimed. "Christ you almost made me..." He looked down and saw the two boxes in Despayre's hands being offered to him with outstretched hands. "... And what have we here?"

"It's a surprise!" Despayre beamed as he shook the boxes lightly, urging Synn to take them.

Synn frowned in confusion as he slowly reached up and took them in hand, looking at Despayre and he asked, "A surprise... for me?"

Despayre nodded eagerly, "Open them!"

"Alright." Synn said, setting his glass of whiskey down on the oval table that dominated the booth and he took first the long, flat box and undid the ribbon around it. Popping off the lid, he lifted a neck tie from it. The tie was a deep, red color and would match Synn's more traditional all-black attire perfectly. Synn looked at Despayre and lifted an eyebrow.

"Do you like it?" Despayre smiled. "Gabriel helped me pick it out."

"It's very nice."

"Open the other one! Hurry! Angel's all a quiver!"

Synn looked down at the second box and he pulled the ribbon from it and when he lifted the lid from it, he stared for a moment at the contents. Despayre watched with eager eyes as Synn lifted from the box a baseball cap with the logo "World's Best Dad" on the front.

"I picked that out myself!" Despayre said proudly. "Okay, maybe Angel helped ... a little bit."

Despayre grabbed the cap from Synn's hands and before Synn could utter a protest, Despayre fit it snugly on top of his scalp. Despayre then leaned back and put a forefinger to his lips and closed an eye, inspecting.

"Hm." he mused. "Maybe I should have gotten a larger size. Your head is kinda big."

"No." Synn smiled as he started to reach up to remove the cap, but seeing the proud smile on Despayre's face, he lowered his hands, thinking not to disappoint the young man. "It's fine. But what's the occasion to give me such nice gifts?"

Despayre blinked and he shook his head slightly before saying, "You mean, you don't know?"

Synn shook his head and Despayre rolled his eyes and gave him a faux sigh of exasperation. He said, "Read the card, silly! Be right back! Angel wants a Cherry Coke!"

Despayre jumped up and hurried off over toward the bar, Synn's eyes watching him every step of the way. He watched as Despayre said something to the bartender and only then did he himself turn back and notice the card at the bottom of the second box. Synn picked it out and slid his thumb along the seal, splitting it open. He pulled a colorful greeting card from the envelope and gave it a once over. On the front there was a big teddy bear (of course) holding 'paws' with a smaller one. He flipped it open and the inside was blank, save for some crude, child-like lettering. Despayre's hand writing.

It simply read,
"Happy Father's Day.
Love Joshua and Angel"

 "Oh for God's sake! How many times are you going to make me repeat myself!?"

Rage bellowed from where he sat in the dining room of Synn and Despayre's large, Las Vegas estate. Synn had gone out for a good part of the day to conduct some business, and Gabriel was busy preparing a show at the Luxor (for which Despayre had front row seats of course!) and he would not be visiting that day. Shane and Fantasia were in England so Shane, a native of London, could properly celebrate the Queen's diamond jubilee. That left Rage himself in the house with Despayre who had thought of the perfect way that he and Rage could pass the time until Synn returned home and Gabriel's show that evening.

The zoo of course! Despite all the time he had now called Las Vegas his home, Despayre had not had the opportunity to visit the local zoo. Truth be told, he didn't even know Las Vegas had a zoo until Rage made the mistake of mentioning it in passing. Since then, Despayre had been pestering everyone who would listen to take him to see all the animals and exhibits but thus far, his efforts had been resisted. There seemed to be a funny rumor going about this little 'family' that things just seemed to happen when Despayre was taken -- well, anywhere.

Who else but Despayre would get lost wandering Buckingham Palace and end up having tea with the Queen of England herself?

The point is, it would seem our little Despayre had developed for himself a bit of a reputation for causing things to happen. Some might call it bad luck. Others might call it mischief. Well, whatever you might call it, Rage wanted to be no part of the end result of whatever might happen.

Despayre, however, was positively enthused about the prospects of this little adventure, and he was not giving up so easily. His gray eyes were alight with excitement, and he seemed unable to stand still before Rage as he bobbed on his toes and the soles of his feet, and he kept slapping his palms together in the front of his waist.

"Alright, let's settle this right here and now!" Rage said as he set his glass of water untouched back down onto the table. He had been trying to get some lunch to eat in peace but Despayre was being somewhat uncooperative in that plan. "Is Synn in the house?"

"Nope!" Despayre answered, shaking his head vigorously in the negative.

Rage nodded, tapping a forefinger on the table. "Right. How about Gabriel? Is Gabriel in this house?"

Despayre looked upwards through his eyebrows and then shook his head. "Uh uh!"

"Right!" Rage smirked and nodded, satisfied. He leaned back and rested his large arm along the back of his chair. He said, "So... who's in charge?"

Despayre beamed and said without hesitating, "Theresa!"

Without another word, Despayre turned around and trotted off, leaving a confused Rage in his wake. Theresa? Rage frowned and lowered his arm from the back of the chair when he caught sight of the woman herself from out of the corner of his eye. He turned his head and Synn's house keeper held out a picnic basket toward him.

She said, in her thick, Spanish accent, "I packed a lunch for you and Joshua to take to the zoo."

Rage stared at her and snarled, "Take his side why doncha?" And he grabbed the picnic basket and practically leapt from his chair and stormed out.

---

"Despy! Wait up!"

Rage yelled for the little guy as the moment Rage handed over the cash to the woman at the zoo's ticket office, Despayre (and Angel of course!) practically bowled him over diving through the gate and raced into the zoo's court yard.

"Despy!" Rage snatched the tickets the woman in the booth held out for him and ran in through the gates, almost sending a family of five toppling over in his midst. Rage came through the gate and stooped short as the object of his pursuit had stopped in the center of the court yard where a gathering of hedges trimmed into the shapes of many of the zoo's animal exhibits were fashioned into something of a maze. Each path would lead to the respective animals and more and Despayre himself seemed spoiled for choices. His head was bent almost completely back gazing up at the signs over the hedge paths and he spun in a slow circle, trying to see everything at once.

He looked down with eyes filled to the brim with animal loving wonder and he asked as Rage approached, "What shall we see first?"

"I don't care." Rage reprimanded him and he shook a finger. "Just so long as you don't..."

"Flamingos!" Despayre cried and he took off down a path and Rage finished to empty air...

"...run off again."

---

"Can he sit on your shoulders?"

"What!? No! Angel isn't...!"

"But you're taller than I am!"

"So?? I am not putting Angel...!"

"But Angel wants to see too!"

The heated debate was drawing more stares than the animals themselves and Rage grumbled inaudibly. he'd learned not to speak aloud too often when in these moods because he'd almost single handily filled Despayre's curse jar more than once. That or it was the tail end of the debate and the fact that Rage was now holding the teddy bear companion of Despayre's on his wide shoulder. Despayre was satisfied, wearing a wide smile as he stood at the railing and watched through the bars as the lioness wandered across her habitat, with three small cubs trailing after her.

*****

It certainly helped going to the zoo with a man the size of Rage...

This exhibit was crafted to look like a large pond amidst several tropical trees and plants. A crafted waterfall of miniature stature was built on the far side and water trickled down the uneven rocks and into the body of water at it's base where a flock of pink flamingos mingled with their species and ate as the zoo keeper tossed their meal toward them while standing in the water.

Despayre loved pink flamingos. They were such a soft, pretty color and he enjoyed watching the way they pranced or stood on a single leg in the water. Or he would enjoy it if he could see them. He whimpered softly as he stood on his tip-toes but at his diminutive height, it did him little good as he stood behind several people who had gotten to the flamingo exhibit first and were selfishly monopolizing it with little care to those behind them. Despayre turned toward Rage and stared helplessly at the big man with those sad, puppy dog eyes and nothing need be said.

"Alright, coming through!" Rage barked and he walked forward and acted as a plow, forcing a parting of the sea of people. Many of them hissed in disdain and protested, their cameras flashing against their intended shots until finally Rage stood at the knee-high rail and Despayre trotted up behind him, all smiles.

Several of the people frowned and murmured beneath their breath but none of them dared speak openly to the rather large, mean looking individual as he and the smaller fellow with the teddy bear took their turn to watch the flamingos.

"Happy?" Rage asked.

Despayre nodded vigorously. "Uh huh!"

*****

"Now this is a bit more my style!"

Rage said as he wandered in the dark corridor of the Reptile House. There were several panes of glass and behind each one was a reptile of some form, be it a lizard or a snake.

"I don't like these things." Despayre said softly as he shook his head and stood almost in the center of the 'house' and shook his head.

"Aw c'mon!" Rage said. "It's not that bad! C'mere! Look at this."

He grabbed the reluctant Despayre by the arm and pulled him towards one glass panel in particular where inside, a large anaconda was in the process of swallowing some animal as it's meal. Despayre turned around and made a face.

"Blah!" He gagged with eyes closed and his tongue out.

*****

At a small court yard, the touring pair (or trio when you count Angel -- you should always count Angel!), sat at a table under a patio umbrella to shield them from the hot rays of the sun overhead. Despayre was hurriedly trying to put away his ice cream cone and hot dog while Rage was wolfing down a large-sized BBQ chicken sandwich. Angel was seated with a sandwich of his own on a plate in front of him, but the teddy bear was obviously still excited about being at the zoo because his food was still untouched.

Despayre had a map of the zoo unfolded on the table in front of him and Rage craned his neck to glance at the lay out.

Rage asked, "So what are we seeing next?"

Despayre leaned over and smiled, "Oo! Giraffes! We can feed the giraffes! They're right by the elephants and we can see them all together."

The little guy paused and looked at Angel and frowned, "Angel's getting tired of all this walking."

Rage paused, about to take the finishing bite of his snack and stared at first the bear, then at Despayre. Rage shook his head and said, "I'm not carrying him again Despy."

Despayre rolled his eyes, "You don't have to!" He said with exasperation. "See?" He pointed across the food court. Rage turned to see what the big deal was and he closed his eyes and turned back away.

"Oh for the love of..."

Moments later Rage walked behind Despayre who was happily pushing Angel in one of the strollers that could be rented from the zoo for small toddlers. They passed a middle aged couple who stopped and stared at the odd sight, and Rage turned and growled at them,

"What's the matter!? His teddy bear's tired of walking!"

Rage continued on, and now so did the couple.

*****

The day moved on slowly, and even Rage seemed to be enjoying himself (albeit begrudgingly) as he watched Despayre hand the dollar to the zoo staff member who in turn, placed a few pellets in the palm of his hand. Despayre walked up to the edge of the rail and held out his hand and the giraffe moved in closer and with a lap of it's long tongue, it slurped the treats up. Despayre laughed in delight and unbeknownst to him, Rage caught a quick snapshot of it for Synn.

*****

Despayre was all smiles as he watched the handler of the elephants down in the dry pit spray the one young elephant with the hose and it happily trumpeted as it cooled off and took its bath.

"Despy." Rage spoke up and Despayre had to tear his gaze away from an older elephant who was no rubbing its large backside against a post to scratch an itch.

"Hm?"

Rage said, "We're going to have to get going soon. Gabriel's show starts in a couple of hours."

"Oh! Okay." Despayre nodded. he turned to rage and asked, "Can we go see the gorillas first?"

Rage sighed. he had hoped drawing Despayre's attentions to Gabriel's show tonight would bring an end to the trip to the zoo, but what was a few more minutes? He shrugged, "Sure, why no....? Despy! Slow down!" And Rage took off after Despayre toward the gorilla exhibit.

*****

"I'm surprised we're the only ones in here. Wonder why?"

"Prolly because this one's closed today."

Rage blinked and looked down at Despayre who had his face pressed up against the glass. Rage looked around and saw a sign posted outside of the door that said this exhibit was indeed closed today because of a move of one of it's occupants. Rage turned to Despayre and was about to ask how he walked in to a locked exhibit.... but the answer seemed too easy.

Locks didn't seem to be much of a barrier when it came to Despayre.

The silverback gorilla made it's way through the brush of it's 'realm', walking on its feet with its knuckles down against the grass. This exhibit was incredibly large and elaborately done to resemble the gorilla's native jungle habitat. It was the only one of its kind in this exhibit, as the other of its species had just arrived at a zoo in Tokyo for breeding purposes. The gorilla wandered over towards the glass window pane which just happened to be close to a small 'pond' and it sat down against a small rocky outcropping crafted into the side of the wall.

"Wow he looks like King Kong!" Despayre said and he rapped his knuckles on the glass, which caught the gorilla's attention. It turned its head and looked at the two men staring through the glass at him and it snuffed and turned it's head away and stared off back into the trees.

"Hello! Rude!" Despayre scowled and watched as the gorilla got up and wandered over towards some bushes. Despayre looked at Rage and he said, "I don't know why Shane keeps calling you a big ape. you're nowhere near as rude as that lug!"

Despayre turned back to keep an eye on the gorilla. Rage frowned and looked down to respond to that little bit of opinion when a loud shriek escaped Despayre and startled even the big man.

"What!?" Rage said, looking around for whatever it was that had startled Despayre. "What is it!?"

Despayre was silently screaming, his mouth open wide and eyes showing stark fear. He pointed at the glass and Rage looked in and saw the gorilla walking across the terrain with a tanned teddy bear in its large paw.

Oh crap...

"Angel!" Despayre cried. "He has Angel!"

Angel? "How the fu... hel...heck did Angel get in...?" Rage stopped before he finished the question as that bear had about as bad a habit of getting into places as Despayre did himself.

Despayre turned to Rage and his face had lost what little color it had and there was panic in his voice as he cried, "Save him! You gotta save him!"

"I'll get someone..." Rage started to say but Despayre cried,

"No! It'll be too late! He'll hurt Angel!"

"Despy what the hell do you want me to...!?"

"PLeeease!" Despayre cried, the tears now flowing freely and Rage knew something had to be done and fast before the kid had a complete melt down. That teddy bear was the one thing that acted as an anchor to Despayre's already fragile mind and if something happened to it...

Rage looked at the glass, then at the door that led into the exhibit....

"Shit...." Rage growled and he headed for the door with Despayre attached to his arm. He grasped the door handle and tried it but it was locked firmly. Rage looked at Despayre and arched an eyebrow. "Can you....?"

It took no time at all. Call it inspiration to save his friend that helped Despayre along. The locked door was no more and Rage was about to open it and slip through, hopefully just long enough to nab the bear and get the hell out. Rage grabbed Despayre's hand and pried him loose and set him in place in front of the glass. "Stay there!" And he moved toward the door.

***

Despayre leaned against the glass, his face flushed with the fear that 'King Kong' would bring harm to his plush little pal. He swallowed hard as he watched Rage part some plants in the scenery and step through into the open area. The gorilla sensed the new arrival as well and it looked up from where it sat. The animal's body tensed at the male intruder to its own territory. It dropped the teddy bear to the turf...

"Angel!" Despayre called out and banged his small fist against the glass as the gorilla lurched up on its feet and knuckles to watch Rage.

Rage was no fool. Bad ass as he was, this was a gorilla we're talking about! He held a hand up and said as calmly as he could, "Alright Kong, I just want the bear. Then I'll haul ass outta here and let you be."

"Swear jar!"

Rage looked toward the glass incredulously and he said, "Seriously!? Even know and what I'm doing!?"

The gorilla stood up as straight as it could and bellowed a challenge and Rage cursed openly, "Shit!"

Despayre  watched from his side of the glass and he suddenly stood upright and clapped his hands in excitement, "That's it Rage! Defend Angels honor! Give King Kong there what for!"

**THUNK!**

Rage flew across the exhibit and smacked hard against the glass and hit the ground, causing a small cloud of dirt to sail upward. Despayre leaned down against the glass with a serious expression on his face.

He said, "You are not going to take that, are you?"

Rage just leaned up on one elbow and stared hard at Despayre before he returned his glance away toward where the gorilla was, the only thing between him and the teddy bear. With an audible growl, Rage pushed himself up and charged.

Despayre jumped up and down and started a Shane McMahon boxing dance, shouting, "That's it! Defend Angel's honor! You got him! You got..."

**THUNK!**

And Rage hit the glass again and crashed right back down into his previous spot. Despayre looked down and shook his head.

"Oh Rage..." He said and clucked his tongue at the big man.

"Oh give me a damn break!" Rage snarled. "It took a dozen airplanes to wipe out King Kong!"

Rage pushed himself back up and started off at the gorilla and he balled up his fists.

"Alright!" Rage said. "Now I'm warmed up!"

"Hooray!" Despayre yelled and Rage charged! "Kick him in the crackers Rage!"

"STOP HANGING OUT WITH SHANE!!" Rage yelled.

Rage was forced back and he reared his fist and charged the gorilla and swung!

"MOTHER FU...!!!"

Despayre waved his hand and called out, "Oh don't be such a baby! If it hurts you then it hurt him!"

The sounds of a hard scuffle and the gorilla roaring could be heard as Despayre bobbed and weaved, watching. He called out, "That's it Rage! You got him right where he wants you! Give him a shot to the bojangles!"

Suddenly there was a high pitched scream and Despayre's eyes opened wide. The little guy then scowled and pointed, "Hey stop stealing my ideas! That was for Rage! Not you!"

Despayre cringed and then frowned and turned away, covering his eyes, "I can't watch! oh hi Angel... ANGEL!?"

Despayre uncovered his eyes and at his right was his teddy bear companion 'standing' upright and watching through the glass as well while Rage wrestled a gorilla to try and get....? Despayre scooped his friend up and appeared momentarily confused until he noticed a photo emblem on the right side of the glass and he leaned over to inspect it...

"Well whaddya know!?" He exclaimed. "The gorilla has a teddy bear all of his own. That was the gorilla's teddy bear!" He held Angel up close and rubbed noses with it. "You're safe! Look Rage! Angel's safe!" he held the bear up high as Rage came crashing back against the ground.

Rage said, "I'm glad ONE of us i-..." He suddenly gets dragged away! "SONOFA...!"

---

"Well, well. Just look at you."

Nothing could be seen save for the darkness. Nothing could be heard except for the soft, echoing clicks of footsteps against the solid foundation.

"In case you might be wondering, you are not speaking to Despayre. I would hope you're not under the assumption that this is Angel, either. You see, Despayre is not that fond of strangers, and by his own admission, he dislikes speaking in public. As for Angel, well, that little fella seems only to like to talk to Despayre."

A red spotlight turned on and cast the face of Synn within it's inflamed illumination. He had that familiar smile on his handsome face that had been known to forebode trouble for those that were in his direct path.

"That's why you have to deal with me, and I get to address the two of you."

"Aleksei..."

He chuckled softly before he turned aside and stepped out of the spotlight and walked into the void.

"My. My. My. How far you've come in such a short amount of time Mister Koji. I have to admit that I am impressed, and if you choose to ask those whom know me, they would tell you that I do not impress all that easily. In the short time that you've been here, you've made a number of people sit up and take notice. Not so easy a thing to do in such a competitive field, especially given your rookie status. You've acquired a number of victories over some impressive talent. The losses that you've went through, you have not allowed to affect you. I like that about you. You take a loss, and allow it to strengthen your resolve. It makes you want to understand what it was that you did wrong so that you might try harder and gain the victory the next time you are out there."

The red light switched on over a lone, black chair and Synn turned his back to it and had a seat. It could now be seen he was wearing his usual 'business' attire of a full black suit but without a tie. He kicked a foot up over his bended knee. he placed his elbow on the edge of the chair and rested his chin on his fingertips.

"As I recall, it wasn't too long ago that you had another 'golden' opportunity when you were the third man in the Roulette triple threat with Casey and Prime Time. Now Matthew and Casey made a big stink of that little addition, and I'm certain they considered you something of a third wheel to their equation, but you didn't let that bother you. No, no."

He shook his finger at the camera.

"You went out there, uncaring whether or not they wanted you in that match. You had your mind instead on where it should have been; the championship and how to take it off of Kennedy's waist and put it on your own. A shame, really, that Casey walked away with the title that night. If I must be honest, I admit I was rather rooting for you. You have a very promising future in this business. I just have one small question..."

Synn frowned.

"What in Hell were you thinking, involving yourself with a parasite such as Weapon-X?"

He shook his head in mock disgust.

"I would have thought better of you than to place yourself in such a predicament. Have you even paid much attention to this man, as well as his wife, and the spotlight they seem to prefer putting themselves in? They would have the world to believe them as saints, when truth be told they appear to be little more than hypocrites who are only out for themselves. They see a person who is on the verge of stardom and popularity, and find a way to take advantage of them to inflate their already over-inflated status. They tried it with Despayre, if you will recall. They wanted to use his innocence and popularity with the fans to cement their standing here in Sin City Wrestling. they wanted to make an impact, and attempted the use of my son to do it."

Synn tilted his head to the side.

"You can understand why that would be a sore spot for me, but we can focus on your partner at a later time."

He held his hands out toward the camera.

"This time is for you Aleksei, and what you hope to achieve in this Tag Team Championship match. Status. Glory. The all-consuming drive to be accepted and prove yourself. In short, pride."

Synn smiled and lowered his hands, clasping them in his lap.

"Something I can relate to, I assure you. The problem is, you let it blind you when it came time to channel it. You let it cause a mistake when it should have driven you forward onto the path to success. You answered the challenge laid out by Gabriel and Despayre, but in your haste you took the first person to accept your request for a tag team partner."

Synn raised his eyebrows and appeared 'almost' sympathetic.

"Unfortunately, that mistake is going to cost you the win you so desire. Weapon-X might be your partner for this match, but deep down he is looking out only for himself. You, Aleksei, are a means to an end where he and his wife are concerned. They are no longer heralded as the World Tag team Champions, so their status has been diminished. They knew that they could not challenge the champions as a male/female combination, so where have they gone? To you. As much as I profess respect for you, Aleksei, it will not stop me from speaking the truth. And the truth is, you have a viper in your corner that will strike when your back is turned and the opportunity presents itself. Your first partnership with Weapon-X should wisely be your last. It's not as if you will actually accomplish anything in Las Vegas. Gabriel and Despayre will walk in as the champions, and will leave the same. Their first loss as a team will not be by your hands."

Synn uncrossed his ankle from his bended knee and placed both feet on the floor. he leaned forward in the chair and glared toward the camera.

"I hope you can understand that, Weapon-X. I hope you can appreciate the fact that after all of this time, after all of the lies and accusations against me and my family, that you finally have the chance to step up and face Sinful Obsession. No more lies. No more trash talking about denying medications or supposedly gaining access to Despayre's medical records. You have finally got to act the part of a man, and face the man you claimed as a victim, and the man who you accused of victimizing him."

Synn smiled.

"How different will it be for you, Weapon-X, not having your wife to hide behind? To not have a microphone in your hand to spew your venom? But instead being inside of the ring, facing the very targets you inflicted such angst against? To summarize the impact you've made since you first showed your face in Sin City Wrestling; whine. Bitch. Complain. Use. Abuse."

His eyebrows rose and he smiled, tilting his head back ever so slightly in contemplation.

"Ahhh. You could finally be coming to an understanding where we are concerned, true? Hopefully you finally know that in Gabriel and Despayre, you have two minds that can not be corrupted by your talentless attempts at kissing ass. You are simply out of your element. While you still have some of the fans in your corner, you are no longer anywhere near as popular as you once were. perhaps the people are starting to see you for what you are; frauds. After all..."

He shrugged.

"Where there is smoke, there is fire, and there have been a number of things said about you. Now normally I try to ignore idle gossip because it spreads like a common disease, but then again, you yourself are something of a disease all unto yourself. As I told your unaware partner, you are as a parasite. A bacteria that latches itself onto the first available host for the sole purpose of survival. One might even say that you've used that bride of yours in the same manner, but then again, you two do seem to be cut of the same mold. It is going to be such a pleasure once you find yourself with no more excuses, and no explanations as to your impending loss -- other than you simply were not man enough to back up your foul bile. I almost feel sorry for you. Almost. You are about to be dissected by a very upset young man. Despayre adores Gabriel. One might even say he has a form of ... hero worship, in his heart for him. And you went and tried to poison him against the man he loves like a brother. Oh X, how I would hate to be you when that bell rings, and the caged animal is unleashed."

Synn leaned back in the chair and as his final words were spoken, the light faded to non-existence.

"Better men than you have tried taking what does not belong to you. None have succeeded."

---

Synn sat in his office, having arrived home just forty minutes ago. He spent some time perusing the newspaper and wishing he had scheduled the day to put Gabriel and Despayre through another training regime. He knew that his men were confident. Why shouldn't they be? They have been unbeaten as a tag team combination since their first match in the AWA well over two years ago. A record that still holds. It was a reason he himself was confident that the pair would continue on with their success and walk out of "Into the Void" still the SCW Tag team Champions. They had to. Gabriel and Despayre had waited too long for their chance at the title and worked much too hard to just let it go on their first defense.

Especially against a makeshift combination like Weapon-X and Aleksei. Synn had little to say about Aleksei. Little that was negative at the very least. Weapon-X on the other hand... oh he had plenty to say about that man given all of the headaches he had caused the Sins as of late, along with that wife of his. The startling accusations they had confronted both Gabriel and himself with, and violating Despayre's privacy by snooping around in his medical records. That reason alone was enough to make Synn want his team to force a reckoning against this so-called 'do gooder'.

Aleksei wanted this badly enough. He had proven himself in the singles ranks and if he could carry such success over toward the tag team division as well? And X had already proven himself through the years as a bona fide tag team perfectionist. Yet his record stood with his wife as his partner -- not Aleksei. Yet the facts could not be denied. Weapon-X was formidable in tag team competition, and if he could bond with Aleksei as he had done with his wife, it would make for perhaps one of the Sins' most challenging matches to date.

Synn decided then and there as he finished typing an email and prepared to turn the desk top off. He hoped Gabriel was well enough recovered from his illness he suffered from earlier in the week. He hoped Despayre didn't stay up too late or try to stay over at the Luxor this time around. Because both men were going right back into the gym in the morning. He was taking no chances.

There was a knock on his closed office door and without a word, the knob turned and the door opened. Theresa, his housekeeper, peeked her head inside and she looked concerned for some reason.

"Mister Synn." She said. "There's someone at the door for you."

Synn glanced up and rubbed his temple with his fingers, attempting to massage away the growing headache he felt was only beginning. He said, "Tell them to go away, Theresa. I'm a little..."

"It's Margaret." Theresa interrupted, and the reason she seemed concerned was now all too clear.

"Excuse me?"

Theresa opened the door wider and placed her hands before her ample waistline. "It's Margaret." She said. "Joshua's..."

"I know who she is." Synn growled as he stood up from his desk and came towards the door. "What the fuck is she doing here???"

Synn went right past Theresa who hurriedly moved aside to give him space, and Synn practically stormed through the halls of his house until he came toward the foyer between his living room and the front door. The door was closed and he turned toward the living room and there she was, standing by the fireplace and looking over the framed photographs resting on the mantle.

"What the hell are you doing here?" Synn asked as he walked past the frame of the living room door and cautiously approaching her as if she were poison.

Margaret turned around and she said, "Hello to you as well." Her face was almost stoic, devoid of emotion save for the trace of annoyance twitching at her eyes and lips.

"Answer the question." Synn demanded.

She sighed and shrugged her arms. She shook her head as if she could not understand why this man felt such hostility toward her and she answered, "Fine. Joshua invited me. To see that friend of his and his magic act."

"Gabriel." Synn pointed out. "His name is Gabriel."

"Gabriel." Margaret repeated. "He invited me to see Gabriel..."

"Sorry." Synn cut her off. "The show is sold out. Our table is booked. Had I known he invited you..."

Margaret cut him off this time, "You probably wouldn't have arranged for me to be able to attend."

"Not probably." Synn assured her. "Definitely." He took another step toward her and continued, "I am tired of this game between us, Margaret. I allowed it to go on at first for Joshua's sake, but I am starting to believe I am indulging the boy a bit too much. Especially when you are concerned."

"What are you saying?" She asked with a frown on her face.

Synn answered simply by stretching out his arm and pointing toward the door, "I am saying that I want you to walk out that door, and not come back. Your last time seeing Joshua, was the last time."

"Synn," She protested. "I came all the way from Vancouver...!"

He cut her off, "Then you should really be racking up your frequent flyer miles! Your travel issues are none of my concern, just as Joshua is none of yours!"

"He is my son!"

"Not any longer!" Synn bellowed. "I am done with indulging your selfish little fantasy that you are still welcome in his life! I am finished with your little act, pretending that you are not the same selfish BITCH that abandoned him to a torment of Hell in Broodmoore!"

Margaret's eyes started watering as she placed her fingertips to her breast and she pleaded, "Synn! I didn't...!"

"SHUT UP!" He roared and she visibly flinched. He paused, eyes closed, and took a deep breath in an attempt to soothe the raging beats that was his temper. After a moment, he opened his eyes and exhaled slowly through his nose. "Get out. Now. And don't ever look back."

"You can't keep me from seeing him, Synn."

"Really?" Synn raised his eyebrows and almost -- almost smiled. "Is that what you think?" He folded his arms over his chest and asked, "Exactly how hard do you think it would it be for me to go to a judge, show him the papers that you signed at Broodmoore, the evidence of his abuse at their hands, and get a restraining order placed against you?"

"A restraining order!?" Margaret almost shrieked. "I am his mother!"

"Not any more!" Synn bellowed in return. He poked a finger at his own chest. "Me! I am his father! I am his mother! You!" He pointed right in her face. "You are nothing, no longer!"

Margaret slapped his hand from her face and stuck her own finger in his.

"You listen to me you sorry ass bastard!" She seethed. "You will not do this to me!"

"We're home!"

The cheerful voice ended the argument abruptly and Despayre skipped in, all smiles, with an arm load of zoo souvenirs. rage followed, not looking in as good a mood as his shirt was torn and he had bruises all over his arms and face, and he walked with a slight limp.

Synn looked him over and frowned, "What the hell happened to you?"

"I don't want to talk about it!" Rage answered.

Despayre smiled, "He beat up a gorilla at the zoo!"

Margaret looked from rage to Synn and asked in disbelief, "Is he serious?"

"Somehow I would assume so." Synn answered despite his animosity and Despayre's face suddenly lit up.

"Mom!"

He dropped his armload, save for Angel, and ran to her when Synn reached out and grabbed him around the chest and reeled him back before Margaret could take him into her arms. Despayre blinked, caught completely off guard and not understanding what was happening. Rage himself looked surprised.

Synn looked at Despayre and tilted his head toward his mother, indicating her as he asked, "You mind explaining this?"

"What?" Despayre asked, suddenly unsure of himself. "Did i do something wrong?"

Synn asked, "Why did you invite her down here again?"

"Because she's my mom." It seemed a simple enough answer, and Despayre figured that was all the answer he needed to give.

Synn just stared at him, and after a few unnerving moments, Despayre started to fidget and grow uncomfortable.

"Go upstairs."

"Huh?" Despayre frowned, now really not understanding what was happening.

"You heard me." Synn said, pointing toward the stairs that led to the house's second floor. "Go. Now."

"But mom is..." Despayre started to say when Synn exploded.

"NOW!"

Everyone flinched from the outburst; even Rage, but nobody more so than Despayre himself. He almost cowered and stepped back away from Synn, his face suddenly wavering on borderline fright. From the very day Synn rescued him from the 'bad place', he had never -- never -- so much as raised his voice to him. He didn't understand why. He didn't like it. He looked at his mom briefly, then at Rage and Theresa who had stepped into the hall.

That innocent feeling, the one every child would understand welled up in the pit of his stomach. Despayre's face fell and the tears started to flow as he ran past them all and dashed up the stairs.

Synn turned to Margaret and said, "Well. I hope you're happy."

"Me?" Margaret placed her hand against her own breast. "I'm not the one who just screamed at that boy like a lunat..."

"Do NOT finish that sentence!" Synn held a finger up, then pointed toward the door. "You will leave, now. Whether it be the easy way, or the hard way. Make your choice."

"Are you threatening me now?" Margaret asked, hands on her hips. "What will you actually hit me?"

"No." Synn answered, shaking his head. "Surprising as it is to admit, despite my hatred towards you, I would never allow myself or any man to put a hand to the mother of my son. But... there are two women in this house, possibly three..." he glanced back towards his housekeeper. "...that would gladly do the job for me."

It seemed to become a stand off. Margaret stared at him, unsure of herself or whether she should believe him and the promises of what he would do. She slowly shook her head.

"Please..." She choked back the starting tell-tale sign of losing control of her emotions. "Don't do this..."

Theresa then stepped forward and said, "The door?"

Synn turned his back on the woman as a defeated Margaret had little choice but to follow Theresa to the front door. He heard the door open, and then shut. He kept silent, his eyes closed, and he heard the footsteps of Theresa, and then Rage, leave the room. Only then did he open his eyes and he turned around and was startled to see Despayre at the top of the stairs.

He was startled by the expression on the young man's face.

Despayre hissed, "I HATE you!"

 Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada - 1996

"Now come on. Stop fidgeting." His grandma Victoria said with a gentle smile while she kneeled in front of her three year old grandson.

It would seem that even sixteen years ago when he was just a mere toddler, Joshua had little liking to being dressed up in anything other than something that he himself considered comfortable. He liked t-shirts with cartoon animals on them and loose jeans and the like. Sometimes his mom and grandma 'indulged' him by letting him send all day on Saturday running around in his pajamas if his grandpa wasn't taking him outside to play on the grounds of their home. But he did not like this stiff dress suit his grandma was busily tucking him into. His fidgeting did not stop, however, at her insistence. He bit into the piece of taffy his mother had given him as a treat and shifted his arms away from the side, pulling the dress jacket from Victoria's fingers. She exhaled lightly as she looked at her grandson while he gave his full on attention to the candy in his small fingers.

"Joshua." She said lightly and he stopped mid-bite to look at his grandma and he cracked a smile that showed he was missing one of his two front teeth and he waved his fingers gently at her. She closed her eyes and snorted gently through her nose, finding amusement in the simplest of the boy's actions, mannerisms and facial expressions. He was a blessing on her family, one view she shared with her daughter, Margaret, but not her husband.

James was a strict disciplinarian, a powerful judge in the city court system, and nothing short of domineering. He hated the young American who got their daughter pregnant with a passion that scared her, and at times she could tell he wanted to take it out on his grandson who he would often refer to as "that little bastard" behind the child's back, but never to his face. It was not an indulgence she herself would tolerate. Strong as James was in reputation and personality, even he could take things only so far when it came to the harsh treatments he dished out on his family.

Joshua needed a strong, male role model in his life. The only one who fit that bill was his grandpa, her husband. Not an easy position to be in when he considered the child virtually an abomination  on their good standing in their community. Never mind the fact their neighbors adored the child, inviting him to parties and the like every chance that came up. Just getting James to spend any kind of time with Joshua was a virtual miracle unto itself. And Joshua seemed oblivious to the negativity that leaked from his grandpa's being. Quite the contrary, Joshua would often turn a blind eye to this and he instead looked at the older man with a loving eye.

Victoria set her hands on the knees of her dress slacks and Joshua snapped the hard taffy in another bite and just watched her as she shook a forefinger at him, and she said, "Now please Joshua, I need you to be still so I can finish getting you ready." And she shifted aside a fraction so she could pick up the small tie that rested on the edge of the chair's seat and she held it up toward the boy who took a hasty step back.

"What's that?" He asked with wide eyes, taking his wonderment from his grandma to the garment and back again. No, even way back when there was something about a tie that made this young one uncomfortable with a mere glance.

"It's alright." His Grandma Victoria assured him, or attempted to. "It's just a neck tie. It'll make you look like a handsome little gentleman."

Mmph!" He whimpered as she started to put the tie around his neck and under his collar. He started to whine and fidget all over again when a rough edged voice spoke up.

"Stop that."

The steel edged tone made the boy look up as his Grandpa James entered the room in his own suit and tie, his eyes boring holes right toward the child. He reached to a coat rack and picked up his dress jacket, not even looking at the child who was watching him with adoration in his sparkling gray eyes.

"Let your grandmother finish getting you ready." He said with a tone to his voice that said he would brook no argument or childish displays of rebellion. "And do not give her any more trouble."

Joshua swallowed the taffy he hastily chewed and called after his grandpa who left the room and headed for the front door, scooping a set of car keys up from a dish on a counter. "Are you coming with us Grandpa?"

"No." Was all the man said as he opened the door and stepped outside, allowing it to shut behind him with a sharp crack.

Victoria used the distraction to her advantage, finishing getting Joshua's tie done up and straightened while the boy's eyes never left the direction his grandpa exited. She placed her fingertips on his soft cheek and turned his head to look at her and she smiled as best she could under the uncomfortable treatment showed him by James. How a grandfather could treat his special grandson like he was virtually non-existent was beyond her scope.

She fixed the lapels of his dress jacket and said, "Your Grandpa has to work tonight."

"Oh." Was the simple response. "Why do I hafta go?"

"Why? Sweety, it's Mother's Day." She looked his hair over and could not help but marvel at how it glistened in it's sleek, black color. She fished a comb from the confines of her purse and she started to run it through the boy's hair as he clenched his eyes shut tightly and whimpered audibly. It was safe to do so now that Grandpa stepped out. She continued, "You remember that present you helped me pick out for your mommy?"

He nodded as she tucked the comb away and she slowly stood up, the evidence of age showing itself in the stiffness of her knees. She brushed her hand on his shoulder, touching him up and she smiled, "Well we're going to give it to her tonight when we go out to dinner."

"Why doesn't mommy make dinner? I like her cooking."

Victoria smiled and said, "Well you can tell her that yourself. make her feel a little bit extra special, but on Mother's Day she doesn't have to do something like that. It's all about her."

"Oh." Was spoken again in the simplest way. He then looked up at her and shrugged, "So why don't you cook dinner?"

The persistent questions from the mind of a child.

"Joshua, I'm your mommy's mommy." Was his Grandma's answer. "So Mother's day is special for me too. Okay?"

He nodded and reached up to take her hand as she led him from the front living room and into the hall where Margaret was just descending the staircase. Margaret stood in front of the two and twirled around to show off the dress she had selected for the evening.

"Well?" She asked in a playful tone. "How do I look?"

She was answered by her three year old holding out his hand palm down and giving it a 'wave'.

"Oh, thanks." Margaret laughed as she picked him up and planted a peck on the boy's cheek as he grimaced while his grandma led them from the hall and to the front door to celebrate Mother's Day properly.

Yes, this was just a short few years before the car accident that robbed this child of a potential future as a man that many might consider 'normal'.

---

Vancouver, British Columbia - 1998

The ambulance lights flashed as the scream of the sirens alerted every vehicle to abandon their spot on the road and pull over so they could pass.

"For God's sake, there's a kid in here!" The police officer shouted as he stared into the shattered remains of the passenger side window of the `92 Ford Escort.

The vehicle had been slammed into by a large truck that inadvertently blew a red light and crashed into the car owned by Margaret Young, sending it into a tail spin where it slammed uncontrollably into the side of an apartment building alongside the city street. The paramedics would have easy access to the driver, but the child's door was pinned against the building and dented in such a fashion that they would be unable to even open it. The female driver was barely alert, but the boy was totally unresponsive. His head had slammed violently against the hard glass of the passenger side door, splitting his small forehead open and rendering him totally unconscious. He simply hung there in his seat belt.

Her own forehead bleeding and a nasty welt developing on the temple, Margaret forced herself to come to and ease her head aside to look at the small form beside her. Her sharp cry made the officers and paramedics all the more determined.

"Joshy!" Margaret screamed. "JOSHY!!"

---

Las Vegas, NV - May 13

Synn sat in the leather chair in his study, silently brooding to himself. His eyes stared down at the flickering lights on his computer screen but he paid the video of a match between Nick Jones and a man by the name of "Predator" Rix Usher no mind. He knew that he should be using whatever spare time he had to further scout the three men who would be the opposition for Gabriel and Despayre, as well as the former Sin City Wrestling Roulette Champion, but this was evidence that there were indeed times when the mind simply did not go where it was intended. Small wonder given what day it was, and what he had found his household in the grips of preparing for.

He was not happy that Gabriel wouldn't be there to help get them through this. Gabriel was quickly becoming the backbone of this group, whereas Despayre was the heart. Sometimes Synn wondered if the time came for him to step down from his position as the herald of the Seven Sins, that the perfect 'heir' to the proverbial throne would indeed be the magician; the man who was both family as well as friend.

Times had changed drastically these past few years. Changed him, to be more precise. There was a time where Synn kept everyone at arm's length, the better to protect him against the betrayals of the past. There were a select few whom he would deign to call 'friend', and one was still at his side; 'Sxxxy' Shane Boswell. The other could be heard on the weekly broadcasts of 'Climax Control', namely Jason Adams. Synn used to manage the pair and serve as their bodyguard before he even fashioned one of the more controversial stables in the history of professional wrestling. Then Bad Medicine had split. Shane became the Sin of pride, and Jason struck out on his own.

That was then.

When Synn discovered a long hidden secret kept well from his attention for years, something inside of him had changed. His views on the corruptions of the world around him had not changed, nor had the beliefs in the blissful effects of the sinful freedoms. He was still a man whom many referred to as a loose cannon, one who might snap at any given moment with the temper he had made well known. But there was one now whom he simply could not address negatively, someone who he could not say the simplest of words to; no.

No, something deeper inside of him changed and gave way to release. And it was only lately that he gave way to a disturbing fear of loss.

********************

"Come on Despy!" Fantasia scolded as she made her umpteenth attempt to slip the tie around Despayre's neck before he whined and started to struggle to bat it away.

Diminutive as she was in stature, she was roughly the same height that he himself was, so when she stared at him, they met eye-to-eye. He flinched openly and averted his gaze and she huffed.

"Despy." She said and she was 'gifted' by his looking up just over his eyebrows. "This whole thing was your idea, remember?"

He nodded, but said nothing.

She went on, "Then you need to stop this and let me finish getting you ready. You want to look nice, don't you?"

Despayre mused to himself in contemplation, looking aside from the corner of his eyes. Biting his bottom lip, he yielded and nodded.

"Well then stand still and let me get this on you." She said and he frowned and a whimper escaped him. She continued, "I'm not Shane, sweety. I'm not going to chase you everywhere and wrestle you down to get this tie on you."

"Are you trying to make him struggle and depressed?" The voice came from behind her and she turned around just enough to spot the object of her affections, Shane, standing in the frame of the door. He was dressed to kill, as per usual, in a cream colored dress shirt and matching slacks. It went along well with her own pearl-white cocktail dress.

She reprimanded the handsome man, saying, "Where have you been?"

"Out picking up that bottle of wine for Theresa to serve at dinner." He answered. "Took me a little longer than I expected."

"I could have used your help getting Despy ready."

Shane smirked, "Yeah that's why it took me so long. Figured it was your turn."

Fantasia frowned and turned back to try and finish and Despayre lifted a hand to casually point in Shane's direction, asking, "Hey how come he's not gotta wear one?"

Fantasia answered, "It's your dinner Despy, not his." She cast one more glance over her shoulder before finishing the tie and Shane took his leave. She turned back around and straightened the accessory and smiled, "There. Pretty as a picture."

********************

"Synn, do you need anything?"

Synn looked up to spot his faithful housekeeper Theresa standing in the frame of his office door. Her eyes gave off a silent hint of concern but he shook his head in the negative, answering, "No, thank you Theresa. I'm fine." He looked back to the computer screen for a moment, then up as the housekeeper had almost shut the door behind her.

"Theresa?"

She turned around and pushed the door open. She said nothing, just stood there and watched him. Waiting.

He asked, "How is Joshua? Is he almost ready?"

She nodded, "Si. Fantasia is getting him ready. Having a good deal of difficulty doing so too. How about you?"

"What about me?"

"Are you ready?" She asked, her eyebrows rising almost to her hairline.

"No." Was the simple and honest answer. "I don't think I am. Or will be." He shook his head and growled almost inaudibly. "I don't know how he talked me into this."

"Simple." Shane said as he stepped inside of the room. "He asked, gave you those puppy dog eyes he perfected, and you caved." Shane paused beside Theresa and snaked an arm around her waist for a light squeeze. "Heya babe."

"Fresh tart." Theresa rolled her eyes and turned and walked out of the room, shutting the door behind her. The silence left in her wake was deafening. the tension grew thick as Shane simply stared at Synn and his light hearted manner was virtually extinguished. His face hardened as he said nothing.

He didn't have long to wait as Synn finally reached over and turned the desktop off and exhaled sharply. He leaned his elbow onto the arm rest of the chair and set his chin on his clenched fist. "If you have something to say, Shane, then please do so."

"Well the first thing I want to say is you can fucking look at me when I say something to you."

The words were calm, but the acidic tone behind them bit into Synn like a blade crafted of the coldest ice. He brought his head up and turned his head to face Shane and his eyes flashed in anger and he spoke, "Excuse me?"

"Apology not accepted." Shane quipped as he walked over to the front of the desk and stood there, refusing to take the seat opposite of the man he now looked down on. "Oh and you can lay off that intimidation bit with your frowning and angry eyes routine. I've known you for over ten years, so drop it."

Synn had been expecting this. Ever since he had argued so heatedly with Margaret and spilled the proverbial beans, there was no going back and containing the secrets again of Pandora's Box. "Just say what it is that you want to say." Synn said. "Get it over with."

"Fine!" Shane snarled and he reached over the desk and in blinding force, cuffed Synn hard upside of the head, almost sending him tumbling to the side. Synn jumped to his feet, knocking his chair back against his office wall and the two men glared at one another. Synn's temper flared to an all-time high at the audacity, but Shane was his equal in height, weight and experience. Shane stood there, and stared. Whereas Synn stood in anger, Shane felt a sense of betrayal.

Before Synn could even respond to the insulting blow to the side of the head, Shane cut him off by asking, "Why?" he shook his head. "Why the hell didn't you tell anyone?"

Synn fumed. He could not believe Shane went so far as to physically strike him, but a part of him felt the man had a point, and a right to feel as angry as he did. Shane reacted to Synn's silence by reaching to take another shot but Synn brought up his right arm to block it and both men simply stared hard at one another.

Shane nodded, "Good. For a second there, I thought I had lost you. I mean for the past couple of years you've been playing the role of a god damn coward so it's nice to see you still have a fucking set!"

Synn's eyebrows rose and he said, "Coward?"

"Coward." Shane confirmed. "I can't think of any other reason why you wouldn't tell us. I hear Gabriel found out by accident, but you still kept it from the rest of us! Fantasia and I have known you for years! God damn man! You turned this rag tag group of yours into a family! Granted, a dysfunctional family, but a family none the less! And one thing I learned in my life is you don't keep secrets from family!"

Synn said, "Maybe I didn't think you needed to know."

Shane shook his head and took a step back. "Maybe not. maybe we didn't." He said. "In the end, that was your decision. I tried to get Gabriel to open up because I might be pretty but I'm not stupid. I knew there was something going on. Fantasia and I could both feel things weren't the same. There was a ...."

"Tension?" Synn finished his thought and Shane nodded and held a hand out to indicate he was correct.

"Tension. Yes." Shane said. He shook his head and held his hands out. "What did you think was going to happen, man? Did you think we'd make fun of you for having a past we weren't aware you were capable of? Did you think we'd make jokes or put you down?"

Synn shook his head. "No."

"Then why?" Shane asked, truly wanting to know. "And don't give me that bullshit about thinking we didn't need to know! All of this has been threatening everything we've built over the past decade! If you had just been open and honest..."

"Not one of my finer qualities."

Shane nodded, "Yeah, no shit! We all knew there was a reason behind why you rescued Despy from that hell hole. we all knew there was some kind of connection, but we didn't know it extended this far. We didn't know that he was..."

Synn tucked his hands in his pockets and finished, "My son."

Shane looked down at the desk and glanced up, nodding. "Yeah." he shook his head and a smirk of amusement and annoyance broke out on his face. "God, it feels weird to even say it aloud. That kid has grown on all of us, but anyone could see he had an effect on you most of all. And now that I think about it, maybe that's why you kept it a secret. maybe you didn't want anyone to think you've changed when it's been so damn obvious you have."

"No." Synn shook his head and Shane tilted his head to the size inquisitively.

"No?" He asked. "You haven't changed?"

"No. It's not why I kept it under wraps."

"Well then, indulge me." Shane folded his arms over his chest. "Why? Even if you didn't tell us, why didn't you tell Despy?"

Synn answered, "Because of the lies his grandfather and most likely, his mother, fed him every chance they got. They gave him reasons why I wasn't around. Told him I wanted nothing to do with him, and I imagine a whole slew of colorful tales of fancy to poison a child's mind against his father."

Shane shook his head, "And did it work? No." Shane lowered his arms. "From what Gabriel told me, the kid ran right up and hugged you."

"Perhaps it was a moment of weakness." Synn tried to reason. "The surprise of the revelation." He shrugged. "He's been somewhat withdrawn since then anyway. Not as close as he was."

"You think he's processing all of this?"

"Perhaps." Synn shrugged. "Or he's remembering the lies he was told and it's starting to make him see me differently than he did in that moment."

"You don't give him much credit, do you?" Shane frowned. "He might be remembering these things. He might even be trying to process everything that's happened since he found out. But..." Shane's change in tone made Synn look at him. "...but he is smart enough to remember everything you've done for him since you took him out of that hospital. He's not stupid, Synn."

Synn said, "I never thought he was."

"Well then give him a little bit more credit you arse!" Shane's voice rose. "Its been painfully clear that kid loved you before he ever even knew you were his dad! You're not going to lose him!"

The look on Synn's face spoke volumes and screamed to Shane he had touched the raw nerve he had been looking for. Shane nodded.

"I know that's what you've been most worried about man, but face facts. You've given him a home when he'd otherwise have none. That woman was never going to take him out of that hospital."

"He doesn't know that Shane." Synn said. "A part of his mind repressed the memory that she was the one who placed him there and left him."

"And that's why you're letting him do this today." Shane finished. "You're so worried that he'll want to leave you for her that you gave in where she's concerned..."

Synn held a hand up and shook his head, "I... I just didn't know what else to do when he told me that he wanted to do this today."

Shane said, "You could have said no and spared us all having to be around the bitch and saved us a world of pain."

Synn smirked and looked around, "I don't think I'd ever know how to say 'no' to that boy."

"Clearly." Shane smiled in return. A moment later the doorbell rang and both men looked toward the office door where they could hear Despayre tearing down the hallway and shouting at the top of his lungs...

"SHE'S HERE! ANGEL! SYNN! EVERYBODY! SHE'S HERE!"

"You ready?" Shane looked to Synn who shook his head, an expression of pure misery on his face.

"No."

********************

Despayre ran down the stairs so fast he almost lost his sense of balance and tumbled the rest of the way but caught himself. Theresa almost made it to the door first but Despayre called out, "Let me! Let me!"

Theresa yielded and stepped back and Despayre grabbed the door handle and jerked it wide open and smiled widely at the woman who stood there.

"Mom!" He ran into her arms and cried out, "Happy Mother's Day!"

---

"I have to admit surprise that this match was signed as it was. yet it is fitting to see the champions in the main event of any program. it is the spot reserved for the best of the best, and Gabriel and Despayre most certainly fit that bill."

"Under most circumstances Sinful Obsession would have been paired with Rage in a six-man tag team match, but I won't complain. I can see and understand why the prodigy of Austin Parker, Bo Dreamwolf, was assigned to be the third man on our team. The reason and fault would lie at the feet of our esteemed Heavyweight Champion, Nick Jones. Now Nick, I have watched you from afar for a number of years. I'm sure you remember our mutual time together in GXW where we both reigned with gold around our waists. It is nice to see that some things haven't changed. You still seem to attract gold wherever you go, and that ego of yours has done nothing short of inflate itself to epic proportions."

"I admit, I admire that. Your arrogance has carried you well inside of that ring and over the years. You wouldn't be where you are today if you weren't capable of handling yourself when the chips were down. You obviously don't need that back up that you surround yourself with, but hey. I admit there's nothing wrong with having a bit of an insurance policy -- just in case. I've had that myself many a time, when I thought someone would be stupid enough to interject himself into my affairs. So I am certain that you'll understand if I decide to even the playing field a bit and have Rage, Shane and Fantasia accompany me to the ring to cheer our side on. I mean, after all... why should you have Tony and Big B and Diana. Oh, and for the record... I like your cousin. A very well mannered man for the company he seems to keep on your side. Despayre likes him as well. A shame he has such a bloodline that taints who he could be."

"Nick, the fact you're the top man here in Sin City Wrestling won't make things any easier on you in this match. So please don't make any false assumptions otherwise. If anything, I'd dare say you were teetering on the edge of a cliff, ready to fall off and impale yourself on the jagged forms below. If you'll pardon my honesty, you wouldn't even BE the champion if a certain backstage occurrence hadn't happened, so I look forward to seeing just what will happen when the former champion meets the current. I look forward to seeing how you react when you find yourself in the ring with a little man who you see as a dangerous threat. Don't think I ever misjudged your feelings towards Despayre. call them what you will, but you have two very viable threats to your existence that will be chomping at the bit to get their hands on you -- not counting Bo. Everything stands against you this time Mister Jones. I would dare say even your own partners. Not a position i would wish on my dearest of enemies."

"Speaking of your partners, I had wondered if anyone would sink so low in maturity to focus on a childish game of name calling. Johnny Brown, how you disappoint me. Douchespayre? Gaybriel? Is that seriously the best that you can come up with to voice yourself in such a business? It's no wonder you've made it no higher than mid-card at best thus far in your career. Poking such ill mannered puns at two men who are clearly your betters both inside of the ring, as well as out. Making Native American jokes at a man that I dare say could and will wrestle circles around you. You can say the Sins being the Tag team Champions doesn't impress you, Johnny, but deep down your blood boils with the taint of jealousy because they have made it to a pinnacle you have yet to... they're champions! Tag teams, singles -- it doesn't matter. They've both done it whereas you have not! Gabriel was even the first heavyweight champion, and you have absolutely no chance at matching that accomplishment. So talk bad. Make your silly puns all you like. It'll just make you look even more foolish when you find yourself flat on your back, staring up into the lights for the inevitable count of three."

"I suppose i should ask the Convict, Bobby Cage -- what in Hell did you ever do to deserve being teamed up with two jokers such as Nick Jones and the so-called True Brit? I see you have a credible win-loss record... one of the very best I might add in this promotion. You deserve a chance at the main event level, but paired with two fools such as these? I don't know how you managed to piss off Ward and Underwood, but you obviously did something to rub them the wrong way. well, take it all in stride, Cage. Make the most of this opportunity while you have the chance. Even when your side falls by the wayside in loss, be secure in the knowledge it was through no fault of your own. You're a talented fighter, but you simply drew the short straws when it came to partners."

"Play it smart Cage. Cut your losses and stay in the backstage area. I'd hate for you to experience the fallout of what Jones and Brown are about to suffer the brunt of."