The man sat at the bar staring at the shot glass in front of him. His body already well on it's way to numb, he picked up the glass and without thinking put it to his lips and tilting his head back let the warm liquid burn it's way down his throat. Looking up Scott signaled the bartender for another and promised the little voice inside of his head that there wouldn't be many more that night.

When the shot was set in front of him, Scott stared down into the clear liquid and wondered how he'd gotten back to this place. "I know what I'm doing," he said to himself. "It ain't like before." Fortunately there was no little voice in his head calling him a liar. He knew though that it was only a matter of time before that thin and fragile thread of control broke and slipped through his fingers.

The Lone Wolf… again. Somehow he always ended up back all on his own.

After a couple more shots, Scott got up and left the bar. Walking down the sidewalk towards his townhouse, he sighed deeply and wondered why he suddenly wished his head wasn't so foggy when earlier all he'd prayed for was the comfort numbness brought. Stopping in the middle of the sidewalk Scott looked ahead of him and saw what appeared to be a small child screaming his head off. Stopping he blinked wondering if he'd drank more than he thought, but when he did a mental check of his senses and realized everything seemed to be in decent working condition Scott took off running… cause that meant the child was real.

Reaching him Scott guessed the toddler wasn't more than two, but thought that would be stretching it. It was hard to judge his age though as he was dressed in baggy clothes and covered in grime and grit. Taking the hysterical little one in his arms Scott rocked him back and forth making soothing noises trying to calm him down. The baby would have none of it however and screamed continuously until Scott realized he was pointing into a nearby alley.

It occurred to Scott that a child this small could never survive on the streets alone for any length of time, let alone the amount of time it took to build up the great amount of filth on his body. Wondering if there was going to be a mother in the alley injured, Scott let the baby lead him until he spotted further down the alley two men. Both were quite naked and one quite small in stature appearing not to be happy about his circumstances from the struggle he was putting up.

Scott took off running as his natural protective instincts kicked into high gear and was almost upon the pair when he realized that he couldn't do anything with the baby in his arms. Looking around he spotted a deep windowsill high off the ground and rushing over put the baby in it to sit. "Stay there bambino," Scott ordered and turning his head studied the situation.

He could hear the whimpers coming from the boy and still had the feeling he wasn't what you would call a willing participant. Looking closely he could just make out what appeared to be his arm twisted in what had to be a painful position. "Hey!" He shouted startling the men who hadn't known he was there.

"PLEASE," the smaller man shouted but was cuffed in the head making it bounce off a nearby wall effectively shutting him up before he could finish.

"This ain't no business of yours," The larger man sneered, but Scott chose to ignore him and eased forward. He was almost on them when he smelt the stench of booze coming from the man and thanks to a nearby light caught the wild expression in his eyes guessing he was high as well.

"Jus' leave the boy alone Chico," Scott warned. "An I won't have to hurt you."

"GET OUTTA HERE!" The drunken man yelled and Scott sighed knowing he was going to have to take desperate measures.

"Help me please," the boy whimpered and a lock of long curly hair fell forward catching Scott's eye.

"Donchou worry bambino," Scott soothed. "Scott'll take care of everything."

Before the drunk knew what was up Scott lunged forward and pulled the man out of the boy who tumbled to the ground. Easily Scott threw the drunk into a nearby wall grunting happily when he heard his head hit with a crunch knocking him out. Kneeling down Scott felt for a pulse and sighing thankfully when he felt it stood kicking the man in the gut once before moving to the small boy.

As he approached the crouching little man Scott smiled softly hoping to ease his fears. "Shh bambino. You're ok. Scotty's gonna take care of ya." In the dim light Scott could just make out the tears flowing down the boy's cheeks and also notice the way he was protectively cradling his arm.

"I know you," the boy said softly hiccuping through his tears. "You're a wrestler."

Scott smiled happy for once for his fame. "Yeah, bambino, I am."

He watched as the boy's eyes grew wide with recognition. "YOU'RE SCOTT HALL!"

"Hey yo," Scott said grinning as he saw the boy's genuine joy in his eyes. "Whachou doin out here all alone bambino?"

The boys lowered and his lip poked out and quivered before he answered. "Trying to keep 'em from taking my baby from me."

Scott's breath caught and turned his head slightly towards the direction where the baby was perched now quietly. Looking back at the boy Scott frowned. "Baby you cain't raise a baby out here."

"YOU AIN'T TAKIN HIM!" the boy screamed and Scott shushed him soothingly.

"Never bambino," Scott said softly and quickly made a decision. "I was just thinkin that you could come with me."

"With you… where?" The boy asked suspiciously. "I ain't a whore!"

"NO baby!" Scott assured. "I don't mean like that. We don't do nothin' cept if you want it." Pausing Scott frowned wondering at this boy's age. "How old are you anyway?"

"22," the boy said puffing out his chest and Scott smiled at his bravado. Standing he extended a hand and waited patiently for the boy to take it. When his legs gave upon standing Scott quickly picked him up and frowned when he felt his ribs through his shirt. The boy momentarily struggled until he remembered that he was safe with this man then relaxed into his body laying his head on his shoulder. Walking down the alley Scott stopped in front of the window and smiled when the baby leapt into his arms.

"Pop pop pop," the baby babbled and reaching out grabbed the young man's hair.

"Hey Shann," he said softly and kissed the baby's fist making Scott smile.

"Shann short for somethin?" Scott asked and the boy nodded against his chest.

"Shannon," he said smiling when the baby squealed hearing his name.

"And your name would be?" Scott prompted gently when the boy didn't immediately offer it.

"Sean but everyone calls me Michael," Michael offered and Scott smiled.

"Well Sean but everyone calls me Michael, have you ever been to Florida?" Scott asked. The boy's head came off his shoulder and his eyes grew huge.

"CAN WE GO SEE MICKEY?!" HE asked excitedly and Scott laughed as the baby squealed and clapped happily.

"We can do anything you want bambino," Scott said softly as they reached his townhouse. "We're here baby."

Michael squirmed down but kept hold of Scott's arm for support as they entered the building. The nightman raised an eyebrow in question at the sight of the two with him. "You don't see nothin, Charlie," Scott warned giving the much smaller man his bad guy look that he gave opponents in the ring and grunted satisfied when Charlie backed up several steps.

"I don't see nothin, Mr. Hall," Charlie assured and Scott nodded. "I'm going back to Florida in the morning and won't be around for awhile. Let 'em know for me huh?"

"Sure thing Mr. Hall," Charlie said nodding as he caught the elevator for the tenant sighing with relief as it shut them in and leaving him safely in the lobby once more.

Scott stepped off the elevator into what was actually a penthouse apartment and smiled as Michael's eyes grew wide as he looked around the room. "WOOOOOOOOOOOW," Michael said in awe. "You must be RICH!"

Scott chuckled and nodded. "I got a coupla bucks." When Shannon squealed and clapped Scott looked at him and shook his head. "Bambino you need a bath."

"I can do it," Michael said coming over to the pair and Scott smiled down at him shaking his head.

Handing baby Shannon to his father Scott said, "Make sure you bathe yourself too."

Giggling the happy papa took Shannon and headed in the direction Scott had said the bathroom was. Sitting down Scott picked up the phone and automatically dialed not even realizing what he'd done until he heard the familiar voice on the other end.

"Scotty?" Kevin asked and Scott jumped then smiled.

"Hey Chico," Scott greeted. "How's the leg?"

"Ahh you know," Kevin answered without really answering.

"Yeah I hear ya," Scott said. "I miss you." From the gasp on the other end Scott guessed the statement had been unexpected and sighing softly realized he'd been an ass. "I fucked up Kev. God I miss you so fucking bad. I love you so much… I just…"

"I know," Kevin said softly. "You couldn't breathe. You had to know you could survive on you own."

"I don't wanna no more Kev," Scott said childishly and Kevin tried to refrain from jumping up with joy.

"You know where I am," Kevin said happily and Scott grinned. Hearing splashes and giggles coming from the bathroom he paused and wondered how to tell Kevin about his new babies.

"I'm coming home," Scott said confidently. "But I ain't coming alone."

"What you pick up some young hottie?" Kevin joked but paused when Scott didn't answer. He listened without speaking to Scott's story about his night's adventures including the bar he started out in and was thankful when the familiar panic didn't come. When Scott got to the end of his tale Kevin's only question was, "Did you get hurt?"

"No Big Man I'm fine," Scott assured him quietly. "I'm coming home tomorrow and bringing The Kid and his bambino with me."

"The Kid huh?" Kevin asked surprised Scott would give that particular term of endearment to someone other than their friend Sean Waltman.

"Err yeah," Scott said blushing. "I guess he reminds me of him. I mean he's built like Sean just… smaller. He has Sean's long black curls, but the eyes. Shit Kev you should see 'em. They blow even HBK's outta the water. These big blue eyes look up at ya and fuck…"

"You sound like you are in love with him baby," Kevin observed quietly as he settled more comfortably on his bed.

"Maybe I am," Scott admitted then realizing what Kevin meant quickly cleared things up. "Not like that… but well I wanna take care of him ya know? And the baby fuck. He's the most adorable little thing. I put him down when he got here so The Kid could take him to the bathroom and his little chubby legs were going a mile a minute." Scott smiled as he heard Kevin laugh softly.

"Can we keep 'em Kev?" Scott pleaded. "They need someone. They need family. I mean… I know that Mikey's 22 an adult, but God Kev."

"If Michael's ok with it then we'll do it," Kevin said knowing he would happily agree to anything at this point with Scotty coming home to him.

"Thanks Big Man!" Scott cried happily then spotting the wet bar across the room had a thought. "Kev we got any booze in the house?"

Kevin frowned trying to remember. "Might be some beer in the fridge from the last time Paul and the others were here. Why?"

Before Scott could answer Shannon came running across the room butt naked and squealing. "COTTY COTTY COTTY COTTY!"

Laughing Scott got up and picking him up swung him in a circle. Looking around he saw Michael standing in the doorway wearing one of Kevin's old shirts that had been left there after some long ago trip. "Get rid of it will ya?" Scott asked remembering Kevin. "I ain't drinking anymore. I gotta go Kev. See ya tomorrow."

As Kevin hung up the phone he stared into space for several long moments then getting up hobbled to the kitchen smiling. For years he'd heard Scott say time and again that he was quitting… that he wasn't drinking anymore. Every time he knew it was a lie, but this time…

As he dug the beer out of the fridge Kevin grunted happily opening it and pouring it down the sink. "Maybe these Kids have finally given him the reason he needed." As he hobbled back to bed he wondered how everyone else was gonna take their new family.

Go on to read The Arrival