"You should have seen it on Saturday night." Stephanie told Hunter laughing. "Jesse and 'Pac were insulting Edge and Christian, just being morons nothing serious, and next thing, the four of them are facing off. The Hardyz are trying to hold them back, Tori and I are trying to stop the other two, punches are about to be thrown, then Edge's and Jesse's phones ring, at exactly the same time. So they look at each other, then answer them. Guess who it was?"

"I hate to think." murmured Hunter, enjoying the animated way Stephanie was recounting the tale.

"Integra and Lydia. Teg had a gut feeling that her man was in some kind of trouble and Lydia was ringing Jesse to tell him to watch out for Edge and Christian. Can you believe it?" Steph looked amazed. Hunter grinned, imagining it. "So did they fight?"

"Are you kidding? Jesse's too scared of losing his 'party partner.' Not that Lydia parties much nowdays, but just between you and me, I think Integra scares him."

"Well Pac's afraid of her." He commented as a tech guy stuck his head in the door. "Show's starting folks."

"Thanks." Stephanie replied, immediately slipping into 'McMahon-Helmsley' mode and dismissing the tech guy with a regal wave of her hand. She grinned at Hunter. "Better turn the TV."

"I don't have the remote." He looked confused. Steph glared at him. "Not now Hunter."

"I'm not joking!"

"Oh hell!" They started a frantic hunt for the remote, Hunter found it and turned it on. Together, they stared at the screen in shock as Chris Jericho proceeded to insult Stephanie in a way that very few people have been insulted on national television before.

Regaining his senses, Hunter started to leave the room. He was half way out the door when something occured to him. Spinning around he grabbed Stephanie's wrist. "Listen to me. Be careful. Normally I'd leave you back here cause there is no doubt in my mind that he's plotting something. I'll go out there and kick the shit through him, but I need to know I've got your support on this. If at any stage you want me to stop, let me know and I will. Deal?"

"Fuck Jericho." Stephanie replied coldly, glancing back at the monitor as they left the room. "Just don't kill him in front of the cameras. Too many witnesses."

"I called her a bargain basement slut!" Chris Jericho paused as the crowd went wild. Stephanie and Hunter were waiting behind the curtain, waiting for the best time to interrupt. Stephanie felt her heart sink as she heard Chris's next words. "And I also called her the filthiest, dirtiest, most disgustingly skankiest, brutal, bottom feeding, trashbag ho I have ever, eeeeever seen in my life! So, Trips, bring down that miserable, slimeball pig that is Stephanie McMahon-Helmsley, if you must."

"Let's do this."

They headed down the ramp, Hunter going straight after Chris who slid out of the ring, still holding the mic. Stephanie wanted to wrench it off him and stick it straight up his -

"Uh uh, Trips," Chris jeered smugly. "You want to truly defend your wife's honour? How about putting that title on the line? That is, if you really think that she's worth defending in the first place."

Don't do it Hunter. thought Stephanie urgently. You won't beat him, not when he's in this kinda mood. Hunter and Chris were both looking at her intently, but with two completely different facial expressions. Chris's face was a twisted mask of bitterness, rage, hatred and at least a dozen other emotions. It stunned her, she couldn't look away. With a triumphant smirk, Chris turned his attention to Hunter.

"I'll be leaving with that belt Helmsley." He said quietly, eyeing the WWF Championship as Earl Hebner came out. His gaze flicked over Stephanie. "It's the only thing of value that you've got."

Backstage, Edge, Integra, Christian, Lydia and Modina were watching the monitor in varying degrees of shock. The brothers seemed more suprised by the viciousness in their friends voice than anything else. Modina was shocked, unable to believe what was happening and muttering to herself. "When did it get this bad? Why is he doing this?"

Lydia sitting on the couch in a ball, knees up under her chin, arms wrapped around her legs. Aside from a string of words that would make a sailor blush, she'd been silent for once, but was watching the screen intently and there was something in her face that made everyone wary. In a role reversal, Integra, the less confrontational of the duo, was pacing like a caged tiger and shooting evil glares at the monitor.

Suddenly a shriek went up from both Lydia and Integra. "Chris won!"

"Helmsley won't let him keep it." Mo informed them. "Look at him.. he's livid. And he's got the power to take it away."

"Besides, Earl fast counted." added Edge. Lyd and Teg shot him identical glares, alerting him to just how unimpressed with the situation his wife and her best friend were. He shrugged and held his nephew up so they were nose to nose. "I think Mommy and Auntie Teg aren't too happy with Uncle Edge right now."

Christian was about to say something but another string of curses from Lydia stopped him. "What's Hunter doing?"

"He's demanding that the match be stricken from the record books and that Chris gives the belt back." Mo answered for Lydia, who had turned an interesting shade of purple and was having a little difficulty forming coherent words. After a few seconds she screeched "GODAMNIT! DON'T GIVE THE BELT BACK! YOU WON IT FAIR AND SQUARE!"

"Not quite." Christian pointed out, checking to make sure the yelling hadn't woken up Lucilla. Integra glared at him, hands on her hips. "A mere technicality. Chris deserves to keep that belt and you know it!"

"Under any other circumstances, I'd agree with you." Mo said quietly. "But what he was saying to Stephanie? She doesn't deserve that."

The joy they'd felt at seeing Chris win the WWF Championship faded as they recalled the events that lead up to it.

"I'd love to know what brought that on." Lyd murmured thoughtfully. Mo avoiding looking at Lydia and watching Edge playing with Jason. "I'm going to wait for Stephanie and make sure she's okay."

"I'll join you in a few minutes." Integra replied. Her eyes narrowed. "I want to talk to Jericho first."

"Well now's your chance." called Mo as she headed out of the room. "He's on his way back here now."

Chris was feeling pretty damned smug. Not only had he gotten the chance to tell Stephanie exactly what he thought of her right now - on international television no less - he'd been, for a few brief moments, the WWF Champion. He wasn't too surprised that Helmsley had used his power to strike the match from the record books and take the Title back. Despite having the belt taken away from him, Chris Jericho knew that he had been victorious. He'd gotten Helmsley worked up into a frenzy simply by insulting Stephanie. It was clear to him that Helmsley was developing feelings for his 'wife' and Chris planned to use that to his advantage.

He pushed open the door of the locker room and leaned against the doorframe, watching his friends for a minute. Chris knew himself well enough to know that after the success of tonight, he'd probably do it again... and push things so far that Stephanie and Hunter would become the faces and he'd become the heel. When that happened, Chris knew he'd need Edge, Integra, Christian and Lydia to lean on.

Lydia caught sight of him first. She froze for a second, then continued strapping Lucilla into the double stroller. The toddler saw Chris and started wiggling to get free, holding her arms out towards him, who stepped towards her. "Hey munchkin."

"Don't encourage her." Lydia snapped. She kissed Christian on the cheek. "I'll see you later okay honey?"

Christian nodded, waving goodbye to the twins. Lydia roughly pushed past Chris and left without another word. He looked after her in confusion, then back at the others. Christian was giving the nights card a little more attention than necessary while Integra just looked at him. After what felt like forever, she came over and hugged him. "Congratulations on winning the match."

"Thanks Teg." Chris replied, grateful that someone had finally broken the silence. "I wasn't exactly expecting to keep the belt but -"

He was cut off abruptly by a forceful slap across the face. His hand went to his cheek as he stared at Integra in shock. "What the hell was that for?"

"I can't believe you even have to ask that!" Integra glared at him with her hands on her hips. Chris looked over her shoulder at Edge. "Wanna tell me what the hell has got your wife so worked up?"

"I'm staying out of this buddy." Edge replied uneasily. He looked at Christian. "I think we should probably leave."

Christian nodded. Before leaving he paused and put his hand on Chris's shoulder. "We should probably talk later."

"Go easy on him baby." Edge kissed Integra on the cheek. "Remember, he's simply a mere male."

"Teg, what's going on?" Chris asked once team E and C had left. He was genuinely confused. She kept glaring at him. "You really don't know do you?"

"No! If I did then I wouldn't have asked!"

"You're a moron! Do you really think Stephanie is going give a damn about you if you speak about her like that?"

"Oh yeah, I'm sure she really cares about me!" Chris snapped back. "She's getting all chummy with DX now and what the hell is going on with her and Helmsley? I thought the marriage was simply a business arrangement and suddenly they're joined at the hip!"

"A bit jealous are we?" Integra replied mockingly.

"Yes!"

"And that's why you were out there tonight, calling her worse names than you ever called Modina and the other girls?"

"Yes damnit! I hate the idea that she's getting over everything so quickly!" He ran a hand through his hair as the realisation came to him. "I hate the idea that she's forgetting me. So I'm gonna remind her that I'm still around... whatever way I can."

"Oh for God's sake Chris, Stephanie gave birth to your child! She carried your baby around for nine months. She has been to Hell and back, for various reasons which all link back to you! And for some stupid reason, she still loves you!" Shouted Teg angrily. "Doesn't that mean anything to you?"

"Do you know that means to me Teg? It means that Stephanie has been through more misery in her life than any person deserves to. All because of me! How the fuck do you think that makes me feel?"

"Then let her be happy with Hunter! I know you don't want to hear this, but he does care about her a lot. I'm not saying you didn't, but he will take care of her. And he'll protect her from any crap the rest of her family pulls."

"The way I couldn't?" Chris asked bitterly. "Damnit Teg, everything bad that has happened to Stephanie in the past four years is my fault! Don't you get that? It's because of me! I'm going to live with that guilt for the rest of my fucking life!"

"Which is going to be a lot shorter than it should be if you don't cut out the crap!" Teg took a deep breath. "Just don't Chris. Why make her suffer more than she already has?"

"Call me whatever the hell you want." Teg could see bitterness, hatred, anger, despair, jealousy and even some self loathing in her friends face. "But I love Steph. Even now, I still love her. And as bratty as this may sound, if I have to be miserable because of her for the rest of my life, then she's going to be miserable because of me."

~~~

"How dare he?" shrieked Stephanie angrily, pacing around the hotel room after Raw. "How fucking dare he?"

Hunter placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. He hated seeing Stephanie so distressed, especially because of that asshole. He wasn't sure of many things now days, but one thing he knew for certain was that Jericho sure has hell didn't deserve Stephanie's love. "Steph, I'm sure he didn't mean -"

"He meant it! He meant every single freaking word!"

"Look, I just meant that when guys get jealous, they lose sight of all reason." Hunter replied, having no idea how prophetic his words were. "All that matters is getting under her skin and -"

"Hunter, you don't know Chris. He knew exactly what he was saying out there. He -"

"I cannot believe you're defending him!"

"I'm not defending him! I'm just letting you know this isn't over by a long shot." Stephanie defended herself. "Do you know why he won the first match and lost the second?"

"Do enlighten me." He sounded slightly sarcastic.

"Because he was focused when he challenged you. He knew what he wanted, he anticipated your reaction, he had the upper hand." She explained. "By the time the second match rolled around, you had time to channel your anger. I doubt anyone could have beaten you out there tonight. Meanwhile, he'd lost it. Something had happened between the two matches to make him lose focus."

"Like what?" Hunter asked curiously. Stephanie shrugged. Together, they turned to the three women who'd been watching the entire exchange. "Well?"

"It's obvious. Somethin," Modina looked pointedly at Integra and Lydia, wincing as Jason grabbed a fistful of hair. "Broke his concentration. My guess is that somethin he expected to happen, didn't happen, y'know?"

"Like keeping the belt?" Hunter guessed. Lydia and Integra exchanged looks. "Not exactly."

"More like someone Chris thought would take his side took your side instead." Mo suggested. Stephanie raised an eyebrow at Lydia. "Alright Tweedledum, what did you do?"

"She started it!" Lydia pointed at Integra. Hunter laughed. "Yeah right."

"Seriously! She did!" Lydia sulked. "Just because I made Terri cry once -"

"You didn't just make her cry Lyd." Steph informed her. "She was ready to quit. What did you do?"

"Just made a few half-idle threats telling her that if she so much as looked at Edge the wrong way again, then she'd be lucky to ever leave a hospital and it would be a miricle if she didn't need home help if she ever did leave hospital." Teg grinned at her friend. Lydia shifted uncomfortably. "Yeah well, she's last person I'd want to have as a sister in law."

"So what happened with Jericho?" Hunter turned the conversation back to the original topic. Watching Stephanie, Integra recounted what had occurred once Chris Jericho had gotten back to the locker room. She left out what he'd said about guilt - she didn't want Steph to feel any worse and it was doubtful Hunter would have appreciated hearing it.

As Stephanie was mulling over what her friend had said, Lydia spoke up. "He caught up with me just before the match with APA and asked what was going on."

"What did you tell him?"

"That I thought I knew him pretty well, but judging by his behavior tonight, I didn't know him at all. I don't like the person he was being and quite honestly the sight of him made me feel sick." Lydia's voice was uncharacteristically quiet. Just as it hadn't been easy for Integra to confront Chris angrily, it hadn't been easy for Lydia to keep calm and not say something that would destroy their friendship in a spectacular display of temper. Stephanie understood what a deep sense of loyalty the 'Wakefield's' had to their friends and knew it must gave cost them dearly. "Thank you, both of you. It means a lot to me, it really does."

"Oh wait till you hear how Lydia ended the conversation." Tori and X-Pac came into the hotel room without knocking. Tori grinned. "I must say, it took a lot of self control not to laugh and give myself away."

"Eavesdropping again Tor?" Stephanie teased. She was still unaware of the fact that Tori and Sable were sisters. Hunter had talked about it with Mo and they'd decided that it was better that Steph didn't know. Modina explained the situation to Tori, who was more than willing to keep her relationship to Sable a secret. Tori shrugged. "You learn the most interesting things."

"So then what happened?" asked Hunter. Lydia grinned wickedly. "He started to talk, then I told him that I'd love to stay and chat, but I had to go and discuss Einstein's Theory of Relativity with Trish."

Everyon in the room started laughing, knowing how Lydia felt about Trish Stratus. Integra jumped to her defence. "She's not a bad person."

"I'm sure she isn't." Lydia grinned at her best friend. "But everytime I go near her I feel my IQ drop 50 points."

"But it's impossible to have an IQ in the negative range." Integra replied. Lyd sneered at her, then started laughing as Lucilla started wailing. "You don't like it when Auntie Teg is mean to Mommy do you?"

"Feedin time at the zoo methinks." Modina laughed, then winced as Jason joined in the crying. Stephanie groaned. "Definitely time for you to go."

"Yeah yeah." Lydia rolled her eyes as Integra hugged Stephanie tightly. "Take care of yourself alright? And you take care of her as well Hunter."

"You know I will Lyd." Hunter smiled at Stephanie, who blushed a little. Lyd rolled her eyes again. "I'm going before I throw up. Steph, you know I'm here for you. Helmsley - hit Jericho for me will ya?"

"Consider it done." He shook his head laughing. Amid a chorus of goodbyes, Integra, Lydia and the twins left. Tori looked at Steph. "Those two really care about you."

"I can't believe they're taking my side in this." Stephanie shook her head. "It's going to be hard on them."

"But it's goin to be harder on you honey." Modina stretched lazily. "And considerin what the majority of the roster thinks of ya right now, then I think I can safely say you're gonna need all the friends you can get."