Early November 1999
"So what do you think of your dresses?" Stephanie asked Lydia and Integra for the thousandth time. Integra nodded. "Yes! Now stop asking."
"Mine makes my hips look like that of a mother of barely infant twins." Lydia grumbled, glaring at Christain. Edge rolled his eyes. "That's because you *are* the mother of barely infant twins Lyd!"
"I'm joking, I love my dress, it makes my ass look great and I will get this one into a tux if it kills me." She grinned at Stephanie. Christain elbowed Edge. "So when are you gonna make an honest woman of Integra?"
"When are you gonna make an honest woman out of Lydia?" countered Edge defensively. "At least Integra's got a ring."
"Did it ever occur to you that maybe she doesn't want to get married?" Christain asked. Test snorted inelegantly. "Rubbish! Of course she does! Especially now you've got two kids."
"Actually, no, I don't." interjected Lydia. Stephanie looked at her in surprise. "Are you crazy?"
"She most defiantly is, but I don't think that has anything to do with it." Edge grinned at Lydia, who head butted his arm, spilling her coffee in the process. She swatted him playfully. "Now look what you made me do."
"Uh oh." laughed Christain. "You never come between Lydia and her coffee."
On the other side of the room, Hunter watched the group with a smirk. Stephanie had no idea what she was getting herself into. Test was a nice kid, but he was not what Stephanie needed, especially if she was getting married to escape her family. Whereever the power was, Test wouldn't be too far away. He was certain the reason the young Canadian was marrying the former 'Lioness' was because of the benefits he would get as Vinnie Mac's son in law. Too bad Hunter had thought of it first... and more importantly, had some information that he was sure Stephanie would double cross her entire family to get her hands on.
The Hardys joined the group at their table. Matt sat down, as Jeff said something to Lydia and that young lady got up and left with him, taking one of her kids with her. Judging by the smirk on her face, Hunter predicted that she was planning on dying the lunatic’s hair.
Next Edge and Integra left, probably to check up on the conspicuously absent Chris Jericho. It had not escaped Helmsley's notice that the Ayatollah had been avoided Stephanie and Test as much as humanly possible. Christain and Matt were the next to leave, Christain pushing the other twin around. Matt was explaining something to Christain, who looked thoroughly bored.
That left the lovebirds. They talked quietly and while Test did seem to adore Stephanie, Hunter doubted that he loved her. He was also certain that Steph did care about Test, but didn't love her fiancee. ~What's she escaping from?~ he asked himself. After a while, Test kissed Stephanie on cheek and left. Hunter grinned. Show Time.
Stephanie glanced up as a shadow fell across the table. She sighed. "What do you want Helmsley?"
He smoothly slid into the seat recently vacated by Test. "I want to talk to you. It's important."
"I doubt it." Stephanie stood up to leave. Hunter leaned forwards. "You can help me with something. I can help you with something."
"What the hell would you be able to help me with?" Her voice was scornful. Hunter repressed a sigh of frustration. "Just trust me on this ok?"
"Trust you?" Stephanie glared at Hunter in disbelief. "You are the last person on Earth I would trust."
"What if I had proof?" He asked gently. He pulled an envelope out of a pocket inside his jacket and placed it on the table. "Take a look at this. I wouldn't recommend showing your fiancee either. If you want to discuss this further, you know where to find me."
He walked off before Stephanie could say anything. Hands trembling, she opened the envelope and pulled out the contents. There were some pictures of a little girl. She was about three and a half, long dark blonde hair, blue eyes and an adorable smile.
There were also some documents. Stephanie felt her heart stop as she read the adoption papers for one Daisy Jane Moroe, who had been born into this world as Christina Rose McMahon-Jericho.