"Is he back yet?" asked Micah. Stephanie rolled her eyes. "No. And before you ask, no, that is not his car coming up the driveway."

"How can you be so calm about this?" Micah stood up and paced around the room. Stephanie remained sprawled in the beanbag. "It's too hot. It's just Mars and his friend. It's too hot. How can you get so excited anyway? It's not like Mars hasn't brought friends home before. What would Cliff say if he knew you were hot for some other guy?"

"He'll get over it." shrugged Micah, opening the sliding door out to the balcony. "I busted him drooling over one of his sister's cheerleader friends a few weeks ago. I don't mean subtly either, I mean open mouthed, eyes wide, with that 'So do you want anything or are you just browsing?' look on his face he when we go shopping. You know, the one where he obviously wants something, but isn't going to say so. I think I'm entitled to check out this friend of Mars' if I want to."

"Micah, with every thing else you have here, why don't you have a pool?" Stephanie replied grumpily. Micah froze and looked at her. "Um... didn't I tell you?"

"Tell me what?" Stephanie looked at her friend suspiciously. Micah smiled innocently. "Mom and Dad got a pool put in."

"Then why the hell aren't we in it?"

~~~~

"I'm telling you now, my little sister will probably be all over you like rash." Mars warned Hunter as they pulled into the driveway. Hunter laughed. "Is that little Micah or the horrible Tawny?"

"Little Micah. Tawny shouldn't bother you too much. She seems to spend most of her time getting ready for and recovering from nights out with that guy I told you about, Rodney." Mars shook his head and stopped the car. Hunter turned and looked at him. "I've told you this before and I'm going to tell you again. You might be the oldest, but you are not responsible for your sisters. Tawny chose her own path and it had nothing to do with you."

Mars parked the car and turned off the ignition. "Yeah I know. It's just... oh you wouldn't understand, you're an only child."

"And you've currently got three teenage girls under your wing." Hunter held up a hand as Mars started to protest. "I know, Tawny and Micah are your sisters and Stephanie is Micah's best friend, but from the way you talk about her, I'd say you care about her like a little sister. Either that or you've got a crush on her."

Mars ignored the last comment and got out of the car. "Are you ready?"

"To meet the insane Williams family?" Hunter jumped over the car door. "Hell no. But I'm here now and my father told me he didn't want to see me for at least a month, so I can't go home and I can't think of anyone else who'll take me in, so I guess I'm stuck here."

Mars hit Hunter lightly on the arm. "Come on. Micah and Steph are probably up in Micah's room bitching about the heat."

"Micah! Steph! Where are you?" called Mars as the duo made their way into the house. "Paulita! Have you seen the girls?"

"Oh, Master Marsyas." Paulita, their housekeeper came out of the kitchen wiping her hands on her apron. "Miss Tawny had an argument with your mother and left in her car about half an hour ago. Misses Micah and Stephanie are out in the pool house."

"Thanks. Paulita, this is my friend Hunter. Helmsley, this is Paulita. She makes the best chocolate chip cookies in the world." Mars introduced them. They shook hands and Paulita smiled at Hunter. "Do you like spaghetti carbanara? I'm making some for dinner tonight."

"Sounds delicious." He reassured her. Mars grinned at him. "Well you're about to meet two of the most irritating, yet adorable teenage girls on the face of the earth. This is your last chance to back out."

~~~

"Marco." called Steph, keeping her eyes tightly shut.

"Polo!" replied Micah, moving away as soon as the word had left her mouth. Steph moved slowly towards where she thought her friend was. Micah ducked under the water as Steph lunged forwards. She came up at the other end, about to tease her friend when she caught sight of the two figures on the side of the pool. "Mars!"

"Hey kiddo."

"Hey Mars." Stephanie turned to the direction of the voices. "Hey you look really good like this."

"Open your eyes Steph." Mars rolled his eyes as Hunter tried not to laugh. Steph opened her eyes. "Argh!"

"Very funny." He jumped back as Micah climbed out of the pool. "Come on. Give me a hug."

"You're dripping wet."

"Exactly!" She exclaimed. Stephanie was trying to get out of the pool, but was laughing too hard and kept slipping back into the water. Hunter noticed and moved over to where she was trying to climb out. "Need a hand?"

"Please?" She replied, without looking up. Still laughing Steph hoisted herself out of the water again, and Hunter moved forwards and grasped her around the waist, lifting her out of the pool. His hands are so gentle, but his arms seem so strong!

Once on solid ground, Stephanie grabbed her towel and wrapped it around her waist before looking up into the most incredible blue eyes she'd ever seen. Mars stepped forwards to introduce them, but Micah placed a warning hand on his arm, recognizing the look on her friends face.

"Stephanie McMahon. It's a pleasure to meet you." She introduced herself with a smile. Hunter return the smile and shook her hand. "Hunter Hearst Heslmey. The pleasure is all mine."