Stephanie sat in an uncomfortable seat at the airport, watching all the reunions. Edge & Integra had just caught up with Test, Vanessa and a lonely looking Christain. She hadn't realised how much she was used to seeing him with Lydia and the twins. She wanted to call out to them and ask about their holidays, but she knew that the others wouldn't exactly make her feel welcome.

"Hunter still not here?" a voice said in her ear. Steph jumped and spun around. "Jesus Jesse! You scared the hell out of me."

"Sorry Stephanie." he apologised sincerely, taking a seat next to her. "Still adjusting to life as the WWF's most hated woman huh?"

"I can't believe how much I miss them already. I came very close to calling Integra on Christmas Night, I wanted to know how the twins enjoyed their first Christmas. Then I remembered the look in her eyes... and I couldn't do it. I was too scared." Stephanie said slowly. Jesse frowned. "Did she yell at you or threaten you or anything?"

"No." Steph shook her head. "She didn't do or say anything. That's what frightened me so much. Lydia, I know exactly how to deal with.. give her a few weeks.. maybe months to calm down then I'll grovel.. or talk you into putting a good word for me. But with Teg... I just don't know."

He patted her shoulder sympathetically. "I'm sorry you're going through such a tough time. But you'll adjust and I'm sure whatever your getting out of this is worth it."

"She gets me. Isn't that enough?" Another voice joined in. Stephanie turned around with a smile. "Yeah. Sure."

"Not having second thoughts are you?" Hunter asked perceptively. She laughed. "Nope. I'm past second thoughts. I'm up to around 300th second thoughts. But, to have and to hold etc etc etc let's get out of here."

Jesse snickered as Hunter turned to Stephanie and said quietly "I called my lawyers during the week. They said they'd call me back today or tomorrow. But tonight, we have some business to deal with."

"What should we do about the IC belt?" She asked. Hunter shrugged. "I've been thinking about that. I'd like to see Chyna keep it, but I got a rather nasty phone call from her on Christmas Day. What do you think?"

"Personally, I'd like Chris to have it, but he's not exactly my favourite person either." Stephanie sighed. The intensity in his eyes and emotion in his voice at their last meeting, just after Armageddon had haunted her dreams ever since. Hunter sighed. "Well, as the only present representative of the McMahon family, you can figure it out."

"Thank you so much darling husband." She replied sarcastically. She glanced quickly over to where the others were talking animatedly and shivered. "Can we go now?"

"We gotta wait for X-Pac." Jesse said. Hunter hit himself on the forehead. "Pac said he'd meet us at the hotel. Where the hell is Billy?"

"With his woman again. He's gonna catch up with us at the arena."

"Who is this mysterious woman of his?" Hunter sounded irritable. "You'd think he could at least tell us who she is."

"So X-Pac's gonna meet us at the hotel and Billy's with some woman, so there's no reason to hang around here?" Stephanie asked. Hunter put an arm around her waist. "On one condition."

"What?"

"We have to walk past that lot. Keep your head up, ignore them and stay at my side no matter what they say. That goes for you two Jess. Ignore them, especially that bitch Vanessa. Steph, your a DX woman now and that means one hell of a thick skin. Can you handle it?"

"Don't have a choice now do I?" She grinned at him. He squeezed her waist. "That's my girl. Let's roll."

Heard pounding, Stephanie shouldered her carry bag and walked towards the exit. Out of the corner of her eye, Vanessa saw her coming. "Incoming."

"At what speed?" Christain asked quietly. She judged the distance. "If we leave now, we can get out of here. Unless anyone specifically wants to confront her?"

The comment was directed at Integra, who shook her head. "Not here. Not now. Let's go."

Vanessa linked her arm through Test’s and Edge squeezed Integra's hand. "It's okay honey."

She looked up at him with a sad smile and shook her head. "No. It's not."

Hunter watched the group ahead of them. "Slow down a bit. You too Jess. Give them a chance to get out of here ahead of us, then you won't have to face them."

"I've gotta face them sooner or later." Stephanie replied quietly, watching the others leave. She shook herself and smiled ruefully at Hunter. "Oh well, one door closes another opens. Tonight, we have business to deal with."

~~~~~

"Co IC Champ?" Chris exploded when he met the others in the parking lot after the show. "What the fuck is she playing at?"

"You tell me and we'll both know." replied Edge. Integra rubbed his back and rested her head on his shoulder. "It's ok baby."

"No, it's not!" he exclaimed. "The four of us have stuck with her through everything and this is how she thanks us?"

Christain regarded him bemusedly. "You sound like Lydia."

"You say it like it's a bad thing?" Edge raised an eyebrow. Chris sighed. "I'm actually glad Lydia's not here to see this."

"Oh Lydia saw it." Integra informed him. "She's not happy either. She kept asking what the hell Stephanie was doing."

Christain sighed. "She's making a point."

"And what point would that be?" Edge asked his little brother bitterly as the small group headed towards their cars. He shrugged. "No idea. I just don't want to believe she's doing this for her own amusement."

"It's for Helmsley's amusement." Integra spoke up. Chris looked at her in surprise. "Of course. There's more to this than meets the eye. She's gotta be getting something out of this - something good. And let's look back over the past couple of weeks. They've messed with all of us. She's telling us that the past doesn't matter any more. That we don't matter anymore."

Mulling this over, they continued to their cars, passing a black limo. Chris looked at it in disgust. "Think it's theirs?"

"Smash a window and find out." Suggested Edge bitterly. Integra patted him on the back. "Still angry baby?"

"Just a little."

"Wouldn't have anything to do with the fact that you and Mattles lost would it?" teased Christain. Edge and Integra glared at him. "Shut up ok? Just shut up."

Hunter and Stephanie could hear them talking inside the limo. Stephanie looked distressed. "We probably shouldn't have done it."

"Probably not, but it was damned funny." Hunter looked at Steph and sighed. "I got a message from my lawyers. They want us to go in and see them on Friday."

"Thank you." Stephanie hugged him tightly. "Thank you so much."

"Just fulfilling my side of our marriage."

"Business deal." Stephanie looked at the ring on her finger. "It's just a business deal remember?"

She glanced sadly out the window again and suddenly Hunter realised. Treating their agreement like a real marriage would look better in front of the lawyers, among others. But that was it. As far as Stephanie was concerned it was strictly business. It wasn't just because of the way she obviously still felt about Jericho or even Test. It was because it was easier to justify her actions to her friends... and herself.