"Christopher!" A voice shrieked. "Congratulations!"

Chris turned around, grinning. There were only two people in this world who could get away with that and the other had already arrived at the party. He greeted Lydia and Christain with a big smile. "Wasn't sure you were coming."

"Had to find a baby sitter. Naturally, everyone wants to be *here* so it took a while." sighed Christain. "So we called reception, got someone through them. Congratulations, that was a good match. Holly never had a chance."

"Thanks man." Chris grinned. Lydia grinned back mischievously. "Have you got it here?"

Laughing, he unbuttoned the last few buttons of his shirt and lifted the hem. Lydia's face broke into a huge smile at the sight of the Intercontinental Belt around her friend's waist. "Can I touch it?"

"LYD!" exclaimed Christain looking slightly embarrassed. Chris laughed. "Was she this bad with the Light Heavyweight Belt?"

"She was worse. I hate to think what's gonna happen when Edge and I get the tag belts." Came a slightly amused reply. Lydia grinned at her boyfriend and kissed him on the cheek. "I have plans for those belts."

"OK, just stop the conversation right there!" Chris begged, holding his hands up in surrender. Lydia's eyes lit up. "Can I wear it?"

"Wear what?"

"The belt!" Lydia replied impatiently.

"Lydia!" Christain was horrified. "No, you cannot. Now leave the nice man alone and go hassle someone else."

"Fine." She pouted then her eyes lit up. "Oh there's Jesse! I gotta go say hi."

She bounced off as Christain shook his head. "I never knew that a night without the kids would make so much difference. I really should let her loose more often."

"Any regrets?" Chris asked thoughtfully. Christain laughed. "Sometimes, I'd like it to go back to just me and Lyd, running wild and free. But then the way that Jason's face lights up when I walk into the room, or when Lydia and I are watching a tape from Raw or Smackdown and Lucilla will point at the TV and say 'Da!' It's just amazing. And I mean, let's face it - I'm not getting any younger."

"Thanks." Chris rolled his eyes. "I'm older than you are remember?"

"Yeah. But Lydia and I have been together for the better part of six years now. I'm glad we've finally got something to show for it."

"What about a ring?"

Christain laughed. "You haven't heard Lydia's thoughts on marriage? No, a ring would not be a good idea."

"She doesn't want you to make an honest woman of her? Strange." Chris shook his head. "I'm not one to talk. There's only one woman I've ever considered marriage to, and she's currently wearing the ring and surname of someone else."

"Who's wearing what?" asked Edge as he and Integra joined the others. He grinned at his brother. "By the way, you may want to keep an eye on your woman."

"What's she done now?" asked Christain, his voice a combination of amusement, exasperation and worry. Integra laughed. "She's drinking with APA. As if that's not entertaining enough, somehow, Lydia, APA, the Kat, Jeffery and Terri are playing strip poker."

"But Lydia can't play poker to save her life..." Realisation dawned him. "Oh SHIT!"

Edge and Integra managed to wait until Christain was out of earshot before bursting into laughter. Chris just looked bemused. Edge elbowed him. "What's wrong?"

"I don't know." he sighed. "I just can't get used to it."

In confusion, followed his gaze. Stephanie and Hunter. Integra hugged him. "It must be hard."

"You have no idea." He looked wistful for a second, then grinned. "However, let us put our woes of yesterday behind us, for tonight we party!"

"Well said." nodded Integra. "Where's the bar?"

~~~~

Stephanie laughed at Billy and Jesse's antics. There'd been a slight disagreement over whose turn it was to buy the next round and they were settling it with a round of arm wrestling. Hunter smiled as he watched her and impulsively put his arm around her waist. "Are you enjoying yourself?"

"For the most part." She replied with a smile. Hunter smiled back. "How are things with Lydia and Integra?"

"Could be better. I tried to tell them what was really happening, but no dice. Lydia's still speaking to me, but doesn't want to know various bits and pieces and Integra's just yelling at me to -" She stopped abruptly. "Well, it's not the best situation I've ever been in."

"You'll get through it." Hunter reassured her. "And we'll help you get through it. The rest of the guys don't know the full story, just that they're not to ask questions and watch our backs."

"It must be great to have that kind of unconditional friendship." said Stephanie wistfully. Hunter nodded. "It is. There's a bond that runs right through DX, from Shawn to X-Pac and includes everyone in between."

"Even Chyna?" Stephanie asked innocently, looking over at where the amazon woman was sitting talking to the Rock. Hunter followed her look as Chris joined them. He said something to Chyna, who smiled, nodded and excused herself. With a friendly arm around her waist, Chris led Chyna onto the dance floor.

Stephanie's stomach felt like lead. She suddenly realised that despite everything that had happened between them, she'd always hoped that there could be some kind of reunion. Especially now, that some progress was being made with the Moroes. It came as shock to also realise that Chris had no idea what was going on, and that as far as he was concerned, he was a free man.

Although, according to Lydia, he'd been defending her against the others. Saying that Stephanie had her reasons and that everyone should just respect it. It suddenly occurred to her how deeply she must have hurt him, and much more he was going to be hurt when she and Hunter won custody of Christina. Oh hell.

She looked back at Hunter and saw that he was also looking at Chris and Chyna on the dancefloor. His jaw was set and there was a look in his eyes that Stephanie couldn't quite identify.

"Hunter?" she said softly, placing a hand lightly on his arm. He jolted in his seat and looked at her blankly for a second. "Steph?"

He shook himself and sighed. "Sorry. Zoned out for a second there. But in answer to your question, yes the DX bond does include Chyna, no matter how much she'd rather deny it."