8th May

"Where the hell is she?" Hunter paced around the locker room angrily. "If she’s not going to show up, then she could at least let me know somehow so I can at least come up with a reason for why she’s not here."

"I’m sorry." Tori said quietly. Hunter sighed. "It’s not your fault Tor. I should have told her. It must’ve been horrible for her to find out like that."

"It would have been." Replied Tori thoughtfully. "Sable and I didn't have it easy growing up. We learnt how to take care of ourselves, in different ways. That which cannot kill us only makes us stronger right? Sable may be my sister, but that doesn't mean I like her. She's manipulative and doesn't give a damn about her actions and how they affect others."

"Tell me about it." He replied dryly. "Remember who's arm she debuted on? Hall tired of her within days and there was a large celebration the night Mero took her off our hands."

"I don't blame you one little bit." She laughed. "But there's one important thing that you and Stephanie seem to be forgetting. I am not my sister. We chose different paths. I got where I am on my own, not by fucking and sucking my way in. Even the relationships I've been in since I got here have been based on emotions. I doubt Sable even has a heart."

"Yeah, this business seems to be one for raising heartless people all right." Hunter agreed. "Where the hell - oh! Integra!"

"What about Integra?" Tori was confused by the sudden change of topic. Hunter grabbed his cell phone. "Chances are that Stephanie's been with the 'Wakefields' since the BBQ. I can read Teg better than I can read Lydia. Hey Teg how are you? Have a good weekend?"

"Yeah, we all headed back to the Casa for quiet and relaxing family weekend." Integra replied. He held back a laugh, doubting that anything involving the Cages and Lydia would be quiet and relaxing. "So what's up Hunter?"

"So if you were at the Casa all weekend, then you haven't seen or heard from Stephanie?" He asked, already knowing the answer.

"She's not with you?" Integra sounded concerned. Hunter shook his head, casting a worried look at Tori, who mouthed 'I'll find the boys and get looking' before leaving the locker room.

"Hunter?" Integra's voice repeated. "Do you know where she is?"

He suddenly realized that since they were on the phone, not face to face, there was no way Integra would have seen him shake his head. "Sorry Teg. No, she's not with me. No, I don't know where she is. Haven't seen or heard from her since Saturday."

"We'll find her Hunter." She reassured him. "She's got to be in the building somewhere."

"It's not where she is that worries me." He muttered. "It's who she could be with."

~~~~

Stephanie hurried through the halls of the arena, feeling nervous. She knew she was running late and that Hunter would probably be pissed at her, especially after the way she'd walked off on Saturday. That was why she'd timed her arrival like this - so that there was just enough time for her to catch up with the other. That way, she didn't have to face DX. She still felt too raw. She pushed open the door slowly. The locker room was empty, except for Lydia, who was standing in the middle of the room with Jason on her hip. The youngster saw Stephanie and held his arms out to her. "Stephy!"

Lydia spun around, relief obvious in her face. "Thank Christ! Where have you been? Hunter's been worried sick."

"Well that would explain why he didn't bother calling all weekend."

"If he had, would you have answered?" asked Lydia with a raised eyebrow. "I don't know what happened on Saturday, but I do know this. Hunter has been frantic. For the past half an hour, he's had everyone searching the building. When he sees you, he won't be angry that you've been missing, he'll be grateful that you're okay."

"Where is he?" Stephanie felt guilty that she hadn't bothered to let Hunter know that she was okay. It was a simple courtesy they'd paid each other since the earliest days of their marriage - to let each other know where they were going, who they were with and what they were doing. It was also so that certain people couldn't play one off against the other.

"Gorilla position." Lydia replied quickly. "Better hurry."

Steph rushed to the curtain, where the others were waiting nervously. Hunter hugged her tightly. "Thank God you're okay."

"I'm sorry." She hugged him back. "I never meant to -"

"Oh Steph, there you are." Vince strolled over. "I was wondering where you'd gotten to. Everyone ready?"

Without waiting for an answer, he headed out onto the stage. Dutifully Steph went out after him, followed by the rest of DX.

~~~~

Chris looked up as the door to his locker room opened and Lydia and Integra came in. They settled on the couch and grinned at him. "Hey."

"What the hell are you two doing here? Where are the kids? Where are your men?"

"The kids are with the men, the men are talking to…" Integra frowned for a second, trying to remember. "…someone."

"And we're here because as much as your behavior lately has made me want to bitchslap you till your head fell off, you're still my friend and I love ya."

"Right." Chris didn't know how to answer that one. "Thanks.. I think."

"No problem." How was your weekend?"

Chris looked at her suspiciously. "Not bad. Flew home after Smackdown and visited my family. Flew back Sunday and had supper with Linda after Heat."

"Linda?" They chorused in surprise. Chris nodded. "She's absolutely shattered with recent events. The family was her life and now that they've all turned on her, she's heartbroken."

He glanced at the monitor again and stood up. Integra looked confused. "Where are you going? You don't have a match yet."

"I'm going to get me a match." He replied patronizingly. "And crash a party while I'm at it."

~~~~

Stephanie groaned silently as the countdown clock started. Hunter squeezed her hand as the rest of DX moved to stand around her protectively. The message was loud and clear, to Stephanie at least. No matter what went down between them in private, in public they would have her back. And she was intensely grateful for it.

"Welcome to Raw is Jericho! Vance McMahon, allow me to apologize for last Thursday. Every week, Shane is referred to by the fans by a name that rhymes with wussy and Steph is a dirty, bottom feeding, trash bag ho."

Chris paused and let the roar of the crowd rush over him. This was what it was all about. No matter what his friends thought of him, no matter how he felt, this was the highlight of his week. The chance to come out here and tell Stephanie exactly what he thought of her on international television. He caught sight of Vince and asked himself why he shouldn't get a few cheap shots in for Linda as well. When no answer came, he lifted the microphone back to his mouth.

"Even Big Mac, who is head of one of the biggest empires in the world…" Chris paused, watching as Vince's attention snapped towards him. "You are a multi-billionaire, but you did it to make up for the fact that you have a very small penis! But that's okay because it's not your fault"

All through the backstage area, people dropped drinks, stopped in mid sentence or just stared at the monitor in shock. Integra covered her face with her hands. "He's gonna get fired."

"I thought they were saying 'Shane goes both ways.' That's what it sounded like." Murmured Lydia. Integra glared at her. "Aren't you at all concerned about this?"

"Oh he won't get fired if he hasn't already. Besides, I doubt that 'Gross disrespect to the boss' is a valid reason for firing someone in this business." Lydia shrugged, glancing back at the monitor. "Jericho is going to wish he was dangling from Vince's trunk? That's mental image that's gonna send me into therapy."

"Chris has a title match against…" Integra trailed off as she and Lydia looked at each other, the same thought in both their minds. Lydia shook her head as Teg leapt to her feet. "Where the hell is she? That girl has some explaining to do."

~~~

"I know it's none of my business," stated Hunter as they made their way back to their locker room. "But where were you? It's just that Lyd and Teg were at the Casa and Modina called me on Saturday night so I knew you weren't with her -"

"STEPHANIE! What the hell were you thinking?"

Startled Stephanie and Hunter turned around to see Integra storming towards them, Lydia trying to catch up. "Uh, hi. What's up?"

"What the hell were you thinking?" Teg continued, ignoring her friend. Hunter looked around. "Um, maybe we should take this inside."

"Good idea." Muttered Lydia as she pushed her friend into the dressing room. Integra crossed her arms. "So what's the story?"

"Depends on which story you want to hear." Stephanie replied coolly. She assumed that her friends were annoyed about the impromptu title match that Vince had made for Chris. "If this is about the IC Title match -"

"Forget the business!" snapped Integra. "You remember where the Casa is right? And how to get there?"

"From the city centre? Bus number 43, stop number 8, third left, second right, fifth house on the left." Stephanie replied, surprising everyone present, including herself. She blinked in surprise. 'Whoa.' Lydia coughed in surprise. "We'll take that as a yes."

"So why didn't you come to us on Saturday?" persisted Integra. "You know you're always welcome."

"Hang on - How'd you two find out about Saturday anyway?" asked Hunter.

"Modina called." Lydia made herself comfortable on the couch. "She'd asked us to drop something off at the Yellow Submarine for her. Oh, Teg, lookie who's on the monitor!"

Integra spun around, her scowl deepening as she saw Kurt Angle on the screen. Against his better judgement, Hunter turned the sound up.

"I am honoured the McMahon-Helmsley Regime has picked your Olympic Hero to take the Intercontinental Title from Y2J tonight, And on a personal note, I am privileged to defend the honour of Stephanie McMahon-Helmsley. Chris Jericho, when you insult Stephanie McMahon-Helmsley, you insult everything that is good and pure in society today. And. That. Is. True."

Lydia put a hand over her mouth to stop from laughing at the look of pure disgust on Integra's face as her best friend swiveled back to Stephanie. "He's such a weasel! I don't know how you can stand to be around him for five minutes, let alone an entire weekend."

Hunter's jaw dropped. "You were with Kurt Angle?"

"Maybe?" Stephanie replied, wincing slightly. "I was angry and upset! I didn't know where else to go!"

"The Casa!" shouted the other three in unison. Lydia and Integra withdrew from the argument when they saw the look on Hunters face. He sighed. "That's where I thought you'd gone. Other wise I would've called or started looking sooner. Just… why Angle?"

Stephanie winced at the tone of Hunter's voice. "A couple of weeks ago, not long after all the shit with Jericho started - well, started on TV, Angle and I were casually talking. He told me that if I ever needed a friend, then he would be there for me."

"And what exactly did he want in return? And have you given it to him?" Hunter asked coldly. Stephanie looked horrified. "What the hell are you implying? Do you think I'm screwing Kurt?"

"Nothing in this business comes without repayment." He narrowed his eyes at Stephanie. "So what's going on? I am your husband after all, it may not be your conventional marriage, but I'd prefer to have some warning so that I don't look like a complete idiot when someone informs my wife is having an affair -"

His tirade was cut short by the open handed slap across the face that knocked his head backwards and him see silver spots. When his vision cleared he saw Stephanie standing in front of him, shaking with anger. "I am not sleeping with Kurt. And I am not staying here."

"Uh Steph?" Lydia cleared her throat hesitantly. "Can I kinda stick my nose in where it's probably not wanted?"

"You actually ask before doing it now?" Stephanie snapped. Lydia held up her hands. "Not often. And I don't plan to do it in the future. But Teg has an idea. Take the floor, sister in law dearest."

She pushed forward Integra, who looked incredibly nervous. "Rumors are flying like monkeys. I just think it would be best if you guys kept up the united front on TV. I don't know, just do something that shows DX is still a team. Make sure you leave the arena together, then Hunter can do whatever he wants and Stephanie can come see us and explain herself."

Hunter and Stephanie glared at them. Integra shrugged. "Only trying to help."

"Look, could you guys leave us alone for now? I'll come and see you before the end of the show." asked Stephanie, voice trembling. Integra nodded and hugged her friend tightly. "Tis okay Steph."

Stephanie nodded as Integra gave Hunter a stern look. "I've said it before, I'll say it again -"

"You don't need to Teg." He answered tersely. "Believe me, I already know. It won't happen."

"I'd say it already has." She told him quietly. A look passed between them, and then Integra was grabbing Lydia by the wrist and practically dragging her out of the room, muttering something about tormenting Chris. Stephanie looked at Hunter. "What the hell was that about?"

"Steph, why don't you answer a question for once instead of asking it?" Hunter was riled up again. "So why did Kurt extend the hand of friendship?"

"He didn't ask for anything in return Hunter!" shouted Stephanie. "Not one thing. He just offered his friendship if I ever need it. That's so damned rare around here! And from what I can tell, there's no ulterior motives -"

"Are you blind?" shouted Hunter angrily. "Of course he has an ulterior motive! Don't be so naive to think that Kurt Angle only has pure motives?"

"Then tell me, my all knowing and all wise husband, tell me - " Stephanie's voice was an ugly mixture of sarcasm and fury. "What is so repulsive about me that someone would automatically want something from me in return?"

"First of all, the only repulsive thing about you is the way you're acting right now. Secondly, look at who you are Steph! You're the owner's daughter. You're the one they'll kiss up to when they want something."

"They way you did?" She asked coldly. He shook his head at her. "Don't turn this back on me. You knew what the terms were, you agreed to them."

"I did not agree to being drugged and married in a Las Vegas drive through chapel!" She shrieked. "That was not part of the deal!"

"No, the deal was that you'd get that punk fiancée of yours to do that favor for me!" Hunter brought his temper under control with a struggle. "But circumstances surrounding this marriage aren't what we're discussing. We're discussing Kurt Angle's ulterior motives for wanting your friendship."

"You know what?" Stephanie asked suddenly. "I'm tired of the bullshit. Just tell me why Kurt's being so friendly and then you can tell me why you're acting like a fucking caveman about it!"

"I can't believe you don't see it!" He exclaimed. "Your friends do."

"Integra and Lydia?" Stephanie was shocked. "You've discussed this with my friends?"

"Not exactly…" Hunter squirmed uncomfortably. "Remember when we were out at a bar about 2 weeks ago? You, me, Jesse, Pac, Tori, Lyd, Teg, Edge and Christian? Christian made a comment about Kurt that night and Lydia and Integra agreed with him."

"Well what did Christian say?" asked Stephanie impatiently. Hunter looked at her. "You really don't see it do you?"

"See what?" demanded Stephanie. Hunter sighed. "Stephanie. Kurt Angle's in love with you."

~~~

"So how's your hand Steph?" asked Jesse with a smirk. "You slapped Jericho pretty hard out there."

"A little sore." She grinned. "And he deserved it."

"You don't have to convince us!" Jesse slung an arm around Stephanie's shoulder. "So dancing queen, where are we going tonight?"

"I'm going to hang out with Lydia and Integra. Have a nice girlie night without our men and without the kids." Stephanie shot Hunter a look that dared him to correct her. In the silence that had followed Hunter's announcement regarding Kurt's feelings for Stephanie, Shane had burst into the room, full of ideas on how to make the rest night hell for Jericho. There'd be two more title defenses, with Hunter as the troubleshooting referee. 'Nobody talks to my wife like that and gets away with it.' He'd said quietly to Shane. Stephanie thought it was time remind Hunter that their 'marriage' was nothing more than mutually beneficial business arrangement.

During the trip back to the hotel, Stephanie sat in a thoughtful silence, while the rest of them gloated over the success Raw had been for the Faction. The 'boys' as Jesse and X-pac had become known, only knew that Stephanie had run away several years earlier and had a brief romance with Jericho that had ended badly. Tori knew slightly more, having heard a few sordid details from her older sister. None of the three knew about the daughter Stephanie had borne, then lost, then found, then lost for good and that was the way she liked it.

They arrived at the hotel without incident. Stephanie said goodnight to the others, intending to head straight up to her friends, but while she was waiting for the lift, Tori caught up with her. "Stephanie, I'm really sorry about what happened the other day. I never meant -"

"Look, Tori, this really isn't something I want to discuss right now." Stephanie replied without looking at her DX teammate. "Actually I don't want ever to have to talk about it."

"Well one day, we're gonna sit down and thrash this out. Yeah, my sister is a bitch. She's a manipulative scheming whore. She doesn't give a fuck about anyone but herself."

"Your sister ruined my life Tori." Steph answered coldly.

"I know. And I'm sorry for that. But there's nothing I can do about it." Tori paused. "As I said to Hunter before the show tonight, I am not my sister."

"But you are her sister. And Hunter knew that."

"Yeah, he shoulda told you. But he wanted to protect you from being hurt any more than you already have .He really cares about you Stephanie." Tori smiled grimly. "I won't take up anymore of your time, since you clearly don't want to hear anything else I have to say. Before I go, I'll just say this - go easy on Hunter. He honestly believed that he was doing the right thing in not telling you. Secondly, if you were judged by the behavior of your family, what would people think of you?"

Without waiting for a reply Tori turned and walked off, leaving the stunned Stephanie to escape into the elevator.

~~~~

"Tori said that?" Integra sounded mildly impressed. "Wow, she's pretty wise at times."

Lydia glared at her. "Not the point! I wanna know what the hell the story with Kurt is!"

"Do we have to?"

"YES!"

Stephanie laughed. It was good to know that no matter how many times her world got ripped apart, then put back together, Integra and Lydia never changed. They'd argued like this the very first day Stephanie had met them, all those years ago. Back then, they were just three young women whose boyfriends all had a common goal. Now, four and a half years later, Lydia was a mother, Integra was a wife and Stephanie was… well, technically, both.

She took a deep breath. "A few weeks ago, not long after Chris started with the public insults. Kurt came to me, said that if I ever needed a friend, then he was here for me. Since then, we've talked backstage during most shows and on the phone several times."

"Oh Stephanie, how could you?" moaned Integra. "The man's a weasel."

"He's not so bad." Steph defended her friend. "He's a little naive, but he's very sweet and he's got a good heart. And it's nice to have someone to just hang out with who's not, you know -"

"Unable to take sides cause of the past?" asked Lydia gently. Stephanie nodded. "I love you guys. I love Edge and Christian. But there's too much history between us. And DX have been great, but I know that if Hunter said 'Forget her' they'd drop me like a bad habit. And it doesn't help that Tori is Sable's sister."

"She's what?" cried Lydia and Integra in unison. Stephanie nodded. "I found out on Saturday. Hunter knew, the whole time and didn't tell me. I was pretty upset, so I left. I needed… I didn't want to talk about it; I didn't want to think about it. That's why I didn't come to you guys. There's only one person I felt comfortable going to."

"Kurt."

"What really annoys me is what - " Stephanie glared at her friends. "Who told Hunter that Kurt's in love with me?"

"I never said he was in love with you." Lydia got in quickly. "What I said to Hunter was that it looked as though he had some rivalry for your affections."

"I don't believe this!" cried Stephanie. "Is the concept of platonic friendship dead?"

"Not at all." Integra replied calmly. "But Steph, if you could see the way he looks at you. And all that stuff about defending your honor. It would've been incredibly romantic if it had been anyone but Kurt."

"Teg.."

"You can do so much better than him!" Her friend insisted.

"Who can do better than who?" Edge stuck his head in the door. "Steph, Hunter's here. He wants to talk to you, said it can't wait. He looks really nervous too."

Stephanie looked at her friends in confusion and stood up. After a few seconds, Hunter came in. "Lyd, Teg, can you give us a few minutes?"

Lydia looked set to argue, but Integra dragged her out of the room before she could say anything. Hunter shut the door behind them. Steph put her hands on her hips. "What the hell is going on?"

"I realised something about 10 minutes ago." He said slowly. "And it seemed kinda important that I share it with you immediately. Now I'm not so sure…"

"Hunter, I haven't spent any decent quality time with these two in around a month. If you're going to interrupt my night to tell me you've had a revelation, you'd damned well better tell me what it was." Stephanie looked at him. "Now fess up."

"Okay. I was thinking about the argument we had tonight, and how you accused me of being a caveman. Then I started wondering why I'd reacted like that and came up with the fact that I was hurt by the fact that you went to Angle…" He paused, dropping his gaze. "And that I was jealous."

"Jealous?" repeated Steph in shock.

"Steph… " He chewed on his bottom lip for a minute. "I'm falling in love with you."