"Where the hell have you been?" Hunter looked up from the magazine as Lita walked into the room, carrying ten different bags. "And how many outfits did you buy?"

"We're in Hollywood babe." She replied, dumping the bags on the floor. "Besides, I need something original and sexy that makes me stand out in the crowd to wear to the wedding."

"No matter what you wear doll, you'll look sexy and stand out in the crowd." He reassured her. "And I thought we decided not to go to the wedding?"

"No, you decided you weren't going to the wedding. I decided wild horses wouldn't be able to keep me away." Lita reminded him. "I do understand where you're coming from baby, I really do. But she's also one of my friends and I'd like to see her settle down and get hitched."

Hunter stood up and wrapped his arms around Lita's waist. "Hon, we've talked about this. I -"

"I know." She kissed him on the cheek. "Remember, legally I'm running around with a married man. A fact that Jeff never fails to mention by the way."

"I'd marry you if I could." He sighed. "But I haven't seen or heard any thing of Stephanie since... well, it's been a year now. Not even her family knows anything. I mean, things weren't great between us the last couple of months, but I did love her and some closure would be nice."

"None of this bothers me. I really don't care that technically your a married man and that we haven't seen or heard from your wife in a year. I really don't care." Lita took Hunter's face gently in her hands. "But I don't like it, because I know it's something that bothers you."

"You're so sweet." He lifted her against him and kissed her. "I can't imagine any other woman putting up with some of the shit I've put you through as far as she goes."

"Well you put up with an equal amount of shit from me about Matthew." Lita reminded him. "Hmm.. if you keep that up then this conversation is going to come to an abrupt end."

"Maybe we should continue it in the bedroom?" Hunter suggested with a smirk, not stopping. She nodded, burying her face in his neck as he carried her towards their bedroom.

~~~

"Are you crazy?" Stephanie shrieked, staring at Shawn in disbelief. "I'm not going!"

"The invitation is for both of us." He pointed out calmly. "Don't shout, you'll wake Charita up. Then we'll never get her back to sleep."

Stephanie automatically fell silent, one ear listening for the sounds of her daughter stirring. After a minute she spoke again. "I can't go."

"Chyna wants you there." Shawn replied calmly. Off her skeptic look. "She wouldn't have invited you otherwise. It's her wedding. She wouldn't invite someone she didn't want there. I bet you the next packet of diapers that X-Pac didn't get an invite."

"Bet on." She answered. "There's no way she wouldn't invite him. And I'm still not going."

"Why?" He challenged. "Give me one good reason."

"Who'll baby sit Char for me?" Steph was certain she had a winner on this one. Shawn smiled. "There's a baby sitting service at the hotel where the reception is."

"I am not leaving my baby girl with a total stranger!" Stephanie was outraged. He rolled his eyes. "Stephanie, you smother that girl sometimes. You've got to let her be a kid. Otherwise she'll end up a pampered spoiled selfish little princess."

"Just like her mother right?" Stephanie's voice was ice cold.

"I didn't say that!" Shawn defended himself. "I love Char, you know that. I couldn't love her more if she was my own daughter. But -"

"She isn't yours Shawn." Steph sounded bitter. "One day her father will find out and demand to spend time with her. You've got no legal claim to her, despite everything."

"That's another discussion for another time Stephanie." He snapped. "But since you mentioned it, is that the reason you won't go to the wedding? Because he might be there?"

"We have a nice set up here. Why would I want to ruin that?" Her voice held a note of hopelessness. "Besides, Hunter will be there and I know when he and I get face to face there's gonna be a scene of some kind. Especially if I'm there with his best friend."

"Maybe not." Shawn shrugged. "I've heard that he's mellowed a fair bit lately. And you've definitely mellowed the past six months."

They looked at each other. It had been weird for Stephanie at first, living with her estranged husbands best friend. They'd had numerous discussions about it, with Shawn always saying that Stephanie had been part of DX and anyone who had ever been a DX member were always welcome under his roof, from Hunter to Tori. He kept in sporadic contact with nearly everyone and in regular contact with Chyna, who came to visit for a few days every months.

Shawn had worried that the old tension between Stephanie and Chyna would still exist and cause problems. Stephanie had worried that Chyna would run and tell Hunter that his estranged wife was sharing a house with his best friend or worse, that she was actually pregnant. But Chyna had sworn that she would keep Stephanie's whereabouts a secret and the two had in fact become very good friends.

It was Chyna who'd first realized that there was more between Shawn and Stephanie than just a good friendship. It had been Chyna who'd first realized who Charita's father was and it had been Chyna who'd broken the news to Stephanie that Hunter had moved on and found himself someone new. It hadn't bothered Steph, it had been a long time since she had loved Hunter and was happy for him that he'd found someone else.

What bothered her however, was her own hesitation to send Hunter divorce papers. There was no reason to remain married to him - they were both in relationships with others and one look at Charita confirmed that Hunter wasn't her father. So why didn't she feel ready to divorce him yet? Both Shawn and Chyna had pointed out that she could just go to a lawyer and send Hunter the papers. Steph didn't even have to see him if she didn't want to. Stephanie didn't know how to explain to them that was what she was afraid of - she needed the closure that could only be achieved by seeing him again. She just happened to be terrified of the idea.