Old Alliances, New Feuds

Author: PaulenaK
Email: toukalah@hotmail.com
Rating: PG
Disclaimer: Everything WWE belongs to Vince McMahon.
Feedback: Is loved and appreciated.
Summary: Can Lita and Jericho really join forces?
Author’s Note: In the aftermath of Jericho and Christian’s Canadian dollar bet.

**

Prologue

**

He slowly pulled at the tape that was wrapped around his wrist, his eyes cold and distant, his jaw set in a hard line and his composure grim as the same thoughts played over and over in his mind.

No more would he lay it all on the line for a woman, no more would he allow his – He chuckled derisively – so called heart - If one could call what was left of his a heart! - dictate his words, his feelings or his actions.

‘He’ was gonna pay.

‘He’ was gonna pay big time.

And when the debt had been paid in full by his former best friend, it would be her turn to pay, her turn to suffer… her turn to bleed.

‘And bleed she will!’ He silently promised himself.

Only then will he be able to look at the man who stared back at him in the mirror. Only then would he be able to put to rest all that had been done to him by the man he had trusted most in this world and the woman he had given up everything for.

*Knock Knock*

“Go away!”

*Door opens*

“I said go-“

“Hey Jericho…” Came a voice he thought he would never hear again. “… long time no see.”

**

Part One

**

“Who the hell let you back into the building?”

“Now, is that any way to greet someone who is here to help?”

He clamped his teeth together to stop the grinding ‘that’ look on her face caused.

“Shit yeah.”

Her response was to grin, that half lopsided grin he remembered and that only aggravated him more.

“What the hell do you want!” He barked when she remained silent.

“To help.” She said simply.

“Well I don’t want or need your help so you can just turn your skanky ass around and trot the hell out of here.”

Stephanie shook her head and his brows met in the middle when she said a little too loudly.

“I told you this wouldn’t work!” Before moving away from the door to pull it open. “He’s as thick headed now as he was on Smack Down.” She said to the open doorway. She turned to look back at him over her shoulder, her eyes giving him the once over before again addressing whoever it was outside his locker room door.

“Steph…” Came a gruff and somewhat laughing voice. “You promised to be nice.”

“And saying my ass is skanky is being nice?” She countered her hands going to her hips.

“Edge…” Jericho said glimpsing the tall Canadian over Stephanie’s shoulders.

Edge grinned.

“Hey buddy,”

Jericho scowled.

“I’m not your buddy.”

“Told you he’s being an ass.” Stephanie said her tone sarcastic.

“Look, Jericho,” Edge said ignoring her comment. “We saw what happened, in fact we predicted this happening a few weeks back the way Trish kept playing you. It was just pathetic man.”

Jericho started throwing things into his bag as Edge continued.

“It shouldn’t have happened-“

“Damn straight it shouldn’t have happened.” Chris snapped. “A lot of things shouldn’t have happened, but they did. Guess you were right hey Steph, what goes around comes around?”

Stephanie shifted uneasily knowing all to well Chris was referring to her confessing her feelings for him one drunken night oh so long ago only to have him throw them back in her face.

“We are not here to rehash your past with Stephanie,” Edge said surprising Jericho by moving to her side and taking her hand in his. “Times change, people move on.” He continued and Chris’s brows rose at the fondness in which the other man looked upon the youngest McMahon.

“I guess they do,” Chris replied getting to his feet.

“We want to help Chris.” Stephanie said taking a step towards him.

“Why? What’s in it for you?”

“Nothing,” Edge answered with a shrug. “Just doing a friend a favour.”

“I’m not your friend.”

“I didn’t say ‘You’ were the ‘Friend’ in question.”

Jericho stared at them through slanted eyes.

“We all have one bone or another to pick with those two.” Edge continued. “By helping you we all get a little bit of what’s owed us.”

“I want them to pay.” Jericho ground out more to himself then to them. “I want to beat Christian to within an inch of his life.” He shot Edge a look then. “Even if he is your brother. And Trish? I want her to know what it’s like to have her heart wrenched out and stomped on.”

“See,” Edge said stepping forward. “… we’ve found common ground already. Now will you let us help?”

Jericho stared at them both for a minute before nodding. He picked up his bag and walked to the door and then at the last minute turned back to face them.

“Thanks.”

Edge nodded in silent acceptance, but Stephanie ruined the moment when she blurted.

“Don’t thank us, thank Lita.”

**

Part Two

**

“Oops. He’s not supposed to know that is he?”

Edge shot Stephanie a stern look as Chris stepped back inside the room and shut the door.

“Lita?” he said with a raised brow. “What does she have to do with this?”

Edge sighed caught between a promise to a friend and Chris’s determination to see him break that promise.

“If we are going to work together,” Chris continued staring at both of them in turn. “…There has to be no secrets between us, ‘all’ of us.” He stressed meeting Stephanie’s gaze.

“She’s ‘that’ friend we mentioned earlier.” Stephanie said ignoring Edge’s pointed looks her way. “She wants to help.”

“Lita wants to help me.” Chris said his tone incredulous.

Both Edge and Stephanie nodded.

“Let me remind you two that Lita was part of that Canadian dollar bet as well as Trish, she may not hate me as much as she hates Christian, but she still hates me.”

“Trust would be a better word.” Came a voice through the slightly ajar door.

Chris stepped away from it and pulled it open all the way.

“I don’t ‘trust’ you Jericho, big difference.” Lita said leaning against the door jamb. “We can’t talk here, I was on my way out when I saw coach skulking around outside the locker room, and little did he or I for that matter know it’d be ‘your’ locker room. He’s probably running back to Bischoff as we speak.”

“Ass.” Jericho muttered under his breath as Lita stepped all the way into the room and closed the door behind her.

“Eric is not something we need to be worrying about,” she said turning back to face them her gaze burning a hole through Chris before turning to Stephanie. “Right?”

Stephanie nodded excitedly.

“Come next week, Edge and I will both be apart of the Raw Roster, so being here tonight is all about checking out the talent.”

Chris rolled his eyes and clapped.

“Well done Princess, takes a lot to ask daddy.”

Her smile faded right quick.

“You are such an ass.” She hissed.

“Come on you two, we’re not in the school yard.” Lita said pulling the door open to check the hallway. “Okay, you two go first and we’ll meet up in my hotel room in an hour. Room two-eight-eight.”

“Got it.” Edge said taking Stephanie by the hand and tugging her towards the door.

“And then there were two,” Chris said when Lita had closed the door again after the couples exit.

“Don’t go getting any ideas.” Lita said keeping her hand on the door knob.”

“Don’t worry. Taking up where Christian left off is not my style.” He knew his words hurt by the way her shoulders stiffened but he couldn’t seem to help himself.

“Nothing happened between Christian and I.” She hissed through clenched teeth.

“So you say.” He scoffed.

Lita rolled her eyes and pulled the door open again. “Remember room two-eight-eight in an hour.”

“Wait.” Chris said reaching out to grab her arm before she could slip through the doorway. “Why?”

“Why what?” she said sending him a look over her shoulder.

“Why are ‘you’ of all people wanting to help me?”

All the hardness left her expression then and he couldn’t believe how different it made her look. All the confidence and forcefulness of the Lita he knew now was gone leaving only the fiercely loyal Lita he remembered from her Team Extreme days. He felt her fingers wrap around his for a minute before she let go.

“Because I know how you feel.” She stated simply. “It’s ironic I should be helping you really… seeing as you are as much responsible for ‘my’ hurt as the other three.”

He turned away not able to meet her gaze.

“Not nice is it?” She added.

“It sucks.” He said in all honesty before looking up.

She sent him a half hearted smile and turned to leave again.

“Will it ever stop?” He asked halting her exit again.

He saw her shoulders go up in a shrug although she didn’t turn to face him.

“It hasn’t for me.” She replied her tone a mere whisper.

He watched her as she walked quickly down the hallway and out the exit doors that lead to the car park and not once did she look back.

**

Part Three

**

Lita pulled into the hotel car park her head bopping to the tune blaring from her car radio.

“Before I let you go awaaaaaay yeah…” She kept on singing even though she had already pulled into a parking space and the ignition was now off.

“We’re home baby.” She said leaning over to nuzzle Mason awake as he lay curled up on the passenger’s seat. He yawned and lapped up the attention Lita lavished on him before springing up in the seat with his ears perking up and his little wet nose sniffing the air.

“Well, okay, so we’re not exactly home, but this is our home for tonight.”

Opening her door she got out and walked around to the trunk to get her bag.

“What is it baby?” She called hearing Mason growl as she closed the trunk and walked around to the passenger door. Her eyes darted around the dark car park for a minute before pulling open the door.

“Come on, lets go inside.” She cooed opening the little carry bag that was reserved only for him. “In yah get.” She prompted lowering the bag so he could climb inside.

“Aw, how sweet.” came a voice she recognised way before the last word had left his lips. A voice she loved and yet despised at the same time.

“What do you want Matt?” She said adjusting the strap of her bag on her shoulder now that it held the added weight of Mason.

“Lita, Lita, Lita…” He said lifting his hand to tug at a lock of hair that had escaped from behind her ear. “…such an angry tone, is that any way to speak to the love of your life?”

“Leave me alone.” She all but growled moving to push passed him only to feel the bite of his fingers pinch into her upper arm.

“You know…” He said his tone harsh. “…If you had of paid as much attention to me when we were together as you do to that little flea you call a dog we might still be together now.”

“I highly doubt that, not now I know how much of an ass you really are.” She retorted trying to wince as his fingers tightened on her arm. “Let me-“

Her words halted in her throat as a shadow loomed up behind Matt and after a very sickening ‘thwack!’ Matt fell forward on to her, pinning her to her car before sliding to the ground.

It didn’t take a brain surgeon to realise what had happened, but once she saw who her rescuer was she started wishing Matt still had his wits about him as her eyes rose and met those of the big red machine.

“Hello Lita.” He said not moving other then to lower the two by four he held in his hands.

“Kane.” she whispered, her own finger nails now digging into her palms as she clutched her bag to her side. For the past few weeks he had been stalking her, at the arena’s, at the hotel’s, during her matches… as if having Matt, Trish and Christian to contend with wasn’t enough. The only difference was she could handle whatever those three threw at her, had developed a thick outer shell where they were concerned and knew they wouldn’t be able to hurt her anymore then they already had, but with Kane she was walking with a blind fold. She didn’t know what his motives or what was going on inside his head, other then what he himself had told her, told the world actually and that was that he wanted her.

“I want an answer Lita.” He said through a forced smile. “And it better be the right one.”

She opened her mouth to reply and then her eyes dropped to Matt as he started to stir on the ground at her feet, a small trickle of blood flowed down the side of his head as he tried to lift it so he could stare up at her. The look he gave her was as if he thought she had been the one to clobber him over the head before his eyes rolled to the back of his head and he passed out again. Her hand came up to shield her eyes as a car turned into the car park, it’s head lights flicking over them as it neared before coming to a stop. The car’s window went down on the driver’s side and Jericho’s head popped out.

“Picking on the guys again Lita?” He said with a cocked brow. Her reaction was much what he expected when she automatically sent him the bird and then stalked off towards the hotel. He didn’t know why he had said that, it was like once he opened his mouth an entirely different person spoke through him. So much for there little truce of sorts earlier tonight now that he had reawakened all her animosity towards him.

Jericho watched her until she had disappeared inside before turning back to the two men and only seeing one - Matt, who was still out cold on the ground. Chris looked around the car park for Kane, but the big man had gone.

Stepping out of his car and locking it he went down on his knees in front of Matt.

“I know I’m gonna regret this…” he said to the still unconscious man. “…But up yah get.” He added hooking his arms under Matt’s to pull him to his feet.

“Lita.” Matt whispered his head lolling to the side, but Chris paid him no heed, merely dragged him up and through the hotel doors only to deposit him once inside in a chair and after leaving instructions with the desk clerk as to what was to be done about Matt he left the other man at the mercy of the hotel staff and made his way up to his room.

**

Part Four

**

“Will you stop, someone might see.”

“I don’t care I’m ready to shout it from the roof tops.”

She pushed her hips into his and smiled when he groaned, his head dropping so that his teeth could nip at the bare skin of her shoulder.

“Yes, I can feel how ready you are,” she practically purred loving the feel of his lips against her skin.

“I hate that we have separate rooms.” He said lifting his head to grin down at her suggestively.

“It’s only for a little while… no one knows about us yet… and Hunter-“

“Divorced you.” He cut in. “You owe him nothing and certainly not an explanation about us. I love you Steph… more then anything and I know you love me. That’s all that matters.”

“I do love you Edge, but for now at least can we do this my way?”

He seemed about to protest again and she stilled that protest with her lips.

“Please, for me…” she whispered.

He looked down at her and sighed, he knew he would give in to her - he always gave in to her and probably always would. No one, not even Lita knew of the friendship that had formed between them when he was out with a broken neck. Now of course she knew they were more then friends, but only he and Stephanie knew how deep it really went.

It was about 8 months into his injury and he had passed the critical stage of the healing process and it was after a check up with a specialist that he found himself with nothing to do, so on impulse he had left his car in the surgery parking lot and started walking. He had never been one for window shopping, but that’s what he found himself doing and it was through one of those windows that he spotted Stephanie McMahon.

He had been surprised at first and had to have a second look at the name of the shop to make sure he wasn’t seeing things.

Expensive boutiques and jewellery stores, French restaurants and Deli’s – that’s what came to his mind when he thought of Stephanie McMahon – not that he thought of her often, in fact he hadn’t thought of her at all until now. Tandy’s Ice Cream Palor was the last place he expected to see the daughter of Vince McMahon.

She was sitting in a booth all alone with the biggest chocolate fudge sundae he had ever seen sitting on the table in front of her. And she was just staring at it – spoon in hand. He didn’t know why he had gone in, but he did. He also sat down across from her. He expected a smile, a ‘hello’, or even a ‘what the hell do you want?’, but what he got was a blank look, a sniffle and then she had burst into tears right there in front of him and every other ice cream lover seated in that pallor.

Forty-five minutes and two sundaes later he learned the cause of her tears - Divorce papers. Not nice he knew since Alanna had had him served with the same a few months after his injury.

Stephanie had opened up to him about her marriage or rather the end of it and that even though she knew this day would come, actually being served with the divorce papers had hurt – big time. In the hours that followed she had talked to him and he had listened even found himself opening up to her as well about his failed marriage and also about his dreams of returning to the squared circle. In that one day he had talked to her more then in all his time within the WWE.

And there talks had continued the next day and the next day and the next until there friendship had become something more, at least for him, she had needed a little convincing and he had been more then willing to do that convincing. And now here they were dry humping in the hallway outside her hotel room.

“You better go in,” he whispered hoarsely beside her ear. “Before I forget that we’re doing this your way.”

She smiled and leaned up to give him one last lingering kiss.

“Thankyou, now go shower cause you stink and I’ll see you later in Lita’s room.” She turned, opened the door and closed it behind her leaving him sighing heavily out in the hallway.

**

Stephanie watched Edge enter the elevator through her partially open hotel room door before pulling it open fully after the elevator doors had slid closed. She had about an hour to do what she needed to do before she was expected in Lita’s room.

“You can do this,” she whispered to herself before turning to walk in the opposite direction to the elevators, where she knew the door to the stairway was when she collided with someone coming in the other direction. An apology quickly formed in her head but it didn’t make it passed her lips when she saw who it was.

“Well, well, well,,, so the rumours are true.”

Stephanie’s eyes widened and she inadvertently took a step back, something she regretted knowing he would take it as a show of fear. And judging by the confident grin on his face and the way he rocked back and forth on the balls of his feet, he did.

“Don’t think little girl that begging daddy for a spot on Raw is going to get you any closer to my position as General Manager. It will never happen, do you hear me?”

“Loud and clear Eric,” she replied straightening her back to give her a few extra inches in height. “But I’ve got bigger fish to fry before I start working on you.”

“Yeah right, like who?” he snorted. “I’m as big as they come.”

“Are you sure about that?”

He arched a brow as she continued.

“Just remember which one of us was born a McMahon,” And with that she pushed passed him and continued down the hall.

It wasn’t until she had fled through the door marked ‘Stairs’ and ran down two flights that she actually allowed herself to stop and catch her breath.

“It had to happen sooner or later,” she said to herself before continuing the rest of the way down.

**

“Hey buddy, come on in.”

Jericho walked across the threshold and into the brightly lit room that was Lita’s. He hadn’t seen her since the car park episode so he didn’t know if she was s till in a bad mood or not, but Edge seemed chipper enough when he had opened the door.

“lita’s in the bathroom and we’re still waiting on Stephanie, so make yourself at home.”

Chris sat on one of the two arm chairs the room provided and waited for Edge to join him, which the other man did after fetching a couple of beers from the mini bar.

“Drink?” he offered holding one of the bottles out to Jericho.

“Yeah,” he replied. “Thanks.”

“Not a problem buddy.”

Chris took a drink of his beer.

“Do you think,” he began, “…that we could have more of the ‘Chris’ and less of the ‘buddy’?”

Edge grinned.

“Yeah sure…” he replied raising his bottle to his lips and adding, “… buddy.” Before taking a swallow.

Chris’s eyes narrowed, but he didn’t say anymore as the bathroom door opened and Lita appeared.

“Steph not her yet?” she asked sitting down across from Jericho in the only other single chair in the room giving Edge a wink when he settled on the two seater.

“Not yet,” he replied picking up a sofa cushion and flinging it her way.

She chuckled playfully before her eyes settled on Jericho and her smile died.

He didn’t deserve her pity she knew, but he also didn’t deserve what Trish and Christian had done to him, just like she didn’t deserve what Matt had don’t to her – or Christian for that matter. Matt dumping her she could’ve handled considering how far apart they had grown since they’d been assigned to different rosters and even her little stint with Christian she would have gotten over in time, but the betrayal would always be there just the same and she was sure that Jericho felt the same way, if not worse – after all he had actually fallen in love with Trish. At least she could be thankful for not airing her feelings for Christian on the international screen. Those she had kept to herself.

“So,” she said getting up from her chair only to sit down again in that funny way girls do with there legs tucked under them. “Here we are.”

“Yep,” he replied placing his beer on the small table between them. “Here we are.”

“Maybe I should go see what’s keeping Steph,” Edge began, but a knock at the door stalled his efforts of getting up off the two seater… for all of three seconds. Chris had never seen anyone move so fast, Edge was at the door faster then he could turn his head!

“Are you okay?” they heard Edge ask as soon as they door was opened and Jericho was surprised for a second time in the span of a few minutes when Lita joined Edge at the door and returned a few seconds later with Stephanie in tow. And it was like he wasn’t even there because as soon as that knock sounded on the door everyone simply forgot about him, but once he saw Stephanie he could see why. Her eyes were red and puffy and she looked far from the whiny, spoilt, bratty, ‘I’m-better-than-you’ girl he had known in the past.

“I’m fine, I’m fine,” she was saying to a concerned Lita and a very
concerned Edge. “I’m just tired that’s all.”

“Maybe we should leave this little get together for another night.”

“No, no, I’m fine really. We’re all here… lets just stick to the plan, okay?”

Chris noticed she looked at Lita when she said the last and after a
thoughtful minute of silence the red head nodded in agreement. He watched as Lita returned to the chair across from him and wasn’t surprised this time when Edge took the spot she had just vacated beside Stephanie.

“So,” Lita began receiving a grateful smile from Stephanie. “We all know why we’re here - question is what are we going to do about it.”

**

Part Five

**

“Beat them to a bloody pulp – that’s your plan?”

“Works for me.”

“Me too.”

“Hey for once I’m actually gonna agree with these two dorks.”

“Hey!” Both Jericho and Edge exclaimed in unison.

Stephanie stared at the two men in turn before her eyes went back to the red head.

“I can’t believe you’re siding with them.”

Lita shrugged.

“I’d rather be making Matt or Christian bleed, but going after Trish is just as good – that’s not gonna be a problem for you is it?” She added shooting Chris a side long glance. “After all you fell for her.”

Chris lowered his eyes and Lita shook her head at him feeling anything but pity for the man right now. He dug his own grave just like she did and now he had to lie in it… just like she did.

‘Nah-ah, pity is the last thing I feel for you Chris Jericho.’ She thought and focused again on Stephanie as the other woman spoke.

“And you reckon Eric is gonna go for this?”

“Why wouldn’t he?” Jericho answered with a question of his own. “He knows how much I want Christian and Trish to pay.”

“And no ones going to question my challenging Matt, I’m nearly returned to the ring and looing to find my place on the contender ship ladder.” Edge added.

“And we all know Eric wouldn’t dare turn down a match between Trish and myself. Frankly it’s just not good for business.”

“Wow,” Stephanie sighed. “You guys have really thought this through haven’t you?”

“Not really,” Jericho said getting to his feet his body was starting to feel the effects of tonight and after sitting in the same position for the passed two hours he leisurely stretched and tried to work out the kinks in his shoulders. “Just seemed the logical path to take – a path we all seemed to agree on.”

“Okay,” Stephanie conceded. “I won’t say another word – except…” She paused as a round of groans came from her companions and grinned. “Except, when are we going to clear it with Eric.”

“Tomorrow at the arena soon enough?” Lita suggested looking to them all for confirmation as she continued. “Good. It would probably be best not to be seen together outside the arena.”

Lita’s words were said to everyone, but Jericho had a strange feeling that her words were meant specifically for him and seeing as she, Stephanie and Edge were already pretty chummy only heightened that feeling. He swallowed the retort that rose in his throat but he couldn’t stop himself from saying in parting as he walked to the door.

“Just try to stay away from dark car parks and we won’t have to.”

And then he was pulling the door open and closing it behind him.

**

“Let me get this straight,” Eric Bischoff said as he stood behind ‘his’ desk in ‘his’ General Managers office. “You want a match with Matt Hardy…”

Edge nodded once his steely gaze not leaving that of his GM’s.

“And you,” Eric continued pointing at Jericho. “You want a match with Christian.”

Chris didn’t warrant the other mans words with an answer, the ass-clown knew very well he wanted that match. But Eric wasn’t finished there and he actually smiled this time as he faced Lita. “And lastly – you want a match with Trish.”

It was then that his eyes fell on Stephanie who stood behind the three wrestlers and Edge had to fight the urge not to reach out and pull her to him.

“I suppose this is you’re doing?” Eric was saying now his eyes looking with disgust over the youngest McMahon.

“Excuse me?”

“Oh don’t play ‘little miss innocent’ with me Stephanie, that ship sailed a long time ago.”

“Do I get my match or not.” Edge rasped out his fingers itching to wrap themselves around Bischoff’s neck.

“Well, I don’t know,” Eric replied rocking back on the balls of his feet. “What’s in it for me if you do?”

“How about your job.”

Eric chuckled as he turned to Lita.

“Honey,” He began. “…my job isn’t on the line here.”

“No, but with all the piss poor matches you been dealing out where only the members of Evolution come out on top – you have to wonder what Vince thinks about all this.”

“Now look here little girl-“ He barked making his way around the desk to glare down at her - He had obviously forgotten who else was in the room, but it only took one step forward on Jericho’s part to remind him and have him scurrying back to the other side of his desk.

“Didn’t know you four were so… friendly.” He said straightening his jacket which had come askew in his mad dash.

“We’re not,” LIta answered for them all. “We just all happened to be here at the same time.”

“Yeah sure,” He said looking at them all in turn while the wheels inside his head started to turn. The little bitch had been right in saying Evolution were out on top in every match they were involved in, not that that was his fault, Hunter was a very disagreeable man who always got what he wanted no matter who he had to run over in order to achieve it – Him included. But Vince McMahon wouldn’t look at it that way and he would inevitably pay with his job if Vince had a mind to fire him like he did with the Smack Down GM – Kurt Angle. And it wasn’t as if they were asking to take down Evolution so his ass was spared there. In his mind he didn’t need anymore convincing.

“Okay, you all got your matches,” And then he remembered Stephanie standing behind the others and added, “On one condition. Stephanie accompanies you all down to the ring. No Stephanie at ringside – No match.”

“But-“

“No Stephanie at ringside – No Match.” Eric repeated cutting Lita’s protest short. The youngest McMahon paled visibly and Edge inched closer to her, but she pulled away knowing Eric would only find some way to get at her through Edge or vice versa if he found out they were involved. And god Hunter… she felt Edge’s hand latch on to hers then and he held fast refusing to let go of hers even with there audience, but this time she didn’t even try too. He was right, it was time she stopped living in the past and started living in the present. Her hand instinctively went to her belly and she knew she still couldn’t be at ringside – not yet. Not until she was sure… but her mouth wouldn’t move to voice her concerns and soon Edge was leading her out of Eric’s office.

“I’ll have the contracts drawn up,” Eric said before the door closed behind the group. “Oh and Edge… don’t go far – your match is tonight.”

**

Part Six

**

When they had left Eric’s office Chris didn’t miss the fact that Lita offered a smile and a wave Edge and Stephanie’s way as they moved off, but totally ignored him altogether. What was it going to take to get her to realise that he was on her side? Granted he may not have been there long, but he was there now damn it!

It was then he realised that he was now standing alone out side of the now closed General Managers office door and he chuckled to himself. “Gee, no one says goodbye anymore.” He grumbled moving down the hall. He was about to round a corner when someone came barrelling into him, his arms went out immediately to steady the other person, his brows drawing together when he saw it was Stephanie – her hand clamped firmly across her mouth and with an
‘I’m-gonna-throw-up’ expression he had seen many a times upon her face. An expression that if circumstances had been different would have been directed at him.

He didn’t know why he did what he did next. He didn’t even like her, but open a door he did and “Quick in here,” he did say before promptly pushing her through. She didn’t protest which had to be a first – instead she rushed across the room to the bathroom not even looking back once to see if he was following. It was only after emptying the contents of her stomach into the toilet bowl that she heard the tap run and knew he was still with her.

“Here.” He said kneeling beside her and pushing a wet towel into her hands. As she held the cool towel to her mouth she heard him close the lid to the toilet and then a flush.

“Thank you.” She whispered keeping her head down so she wouldn’t have to meet his gaze.

“Don’t worry about it,” He replied and she waited hoping he would leave, but he didn’t. He perched himself on the edge of the basin and looked down at her. “Are you okay?” he asked.

She sent him a half hearted smile and shrugged. “Yeah, I’ll be fine for now.”

“Do you want me to go get Ed-“

“No!” She cried her eyes wide as she stared up at him. “I mean… he’s getting ready for his match against Matt…”

Chris stared at her for a moment and watched the play of emotions cross her face before he nodded slowly.

“He doesn’t know does he?”

“W… what?”

“How far along are you?”

“Chris, I’m not-“

“Yes you are Stephanie. I’m not as clueless as I look. I know a pregnant woman when she nearly bowls me over trying to make it to a bathroom.”

“God!” she exclaimed her head falling into her hands. “Please don’t say anything.”

He shrugged again. “It’s none of my business, but you know you can’t hide something like this forever.” He added and slowly counted to ten and waited for her to respond. When she didn’t he sighed. Why didn’t he just do what his head was telling him to do and walk away? “Is Edge the father?” He asked instead.

“What?” She cried her expression contorting into one he recognised as annoyance. “Of course Edge is the father.”

“Then he should know. He has a right to know and shit Steph you can’t go down to ringside in your condition.”

“I know that, but you head Eric, if I don’t you all don’t get your matches.”

“So we’ll just find another way to get them.”

“No, you don’t understand. Edge has been waiting along time to get back into the ring. This is his dream.”

“But I’m sure-“

“And I’m sure,” she cut in again, “That as long as I don’t interfere in the matches and stick to the outside of the ring everything will be okay. Edge’s match is next so I better clean up and meet him at the curtain”

Chris knew she was going about this the wrong way, but when it came to the youngest McMahon what else was new? She would do what she wanted anyway regardless of what he or anyone else for that matter said.

“Okay,” he said not meeting her eyes. “It’s your call.”

“Yes, it is.” she snapped.

“I’ll leave you to it then.” He said pushing off the basin and heading to the door.

“Chris,” she said before he could pass through it. “Thanks.”

As he left the room and again started down the hallway he knew he couldn’t just turn a blind eye to what he had just found out, but he also couldn’t go to the other man involved and tell him what he knew. Although everything in him was telling him he should. What he could do though was try at least to make sure Stephanie didn’t get hurt when she accompanied them all to the ring. His mind made up he changed direction and made his way to the curtain.

**

‘…and the challenger, being accompanied to the ring by Stephanie McMahon – from Toronto, Canada – Edge!’

“Hey, Hunter man, I think you better come and have a look at this.” Randy said moving from the couch to turn up the volume on the TV. Hunter turned a casual gaze to where his young protégé indicated and shrugged indifferently as the face of his ex wife came into view.

“So Steph’s found her way back into daddy’s good books. Nothing to do with me.”

“Nothing to do with you, man she’s your ex wife!” Randy exclaimed obviously forgetting to whom he was talking too.

“I don’t need reminding what she is.” he barked snapping Randy’s gaze away from the monitor and up to his.

“I didn’t mean… that is…”

“Spit it out,” Hunter said when the younger man’s words trailed off.

“Well… you still wear your wedding ring.”

“So,”

“What the kid’s trying to say is that you may have divorced her, but really champ once you’ve put your mark on something – it’s yours for life.”

Well, Ric did have a point, Hunter mused, but he doubted very much that that was what Randy was getting at and then he saw who it was Stephanie had escorted to the ring and didn’t miss the knowing grin creep up onto the younger man’s expression and flat out refused to believe that what he was feeling now towards what he had just witnessed was jealousy. He was way over Stephanie McMahon and had a string of girl friends to prove it.

“So she’s shacking up with that Canadian’s lanky arse – again it’s no business of mine. She would probably do his career some good after all her time with me she’d now an expert at outside ring interference.”

“Yeah, well she’s not doing much to help him now, is she?” Randy continued to scoff as Edge went sailing over the top rope cutesy of Matt Hardy. “In fact she looks quite comfortable sitting there next to Lilian Garcia. She didn’t even get up to check if he was alright.”

In two steps Hunter had reached the monitor and deftly flicked the off switch. “Enough traipsing down memory lane…” There was a hard edge to his voice as he stared at young Randy. “…we got matches to prepare for.” And with that he turned and left the room.

**

“Guess you’ve been out of the ring too long old man.” Matt Hardy called down to Edge from inside the ring.

Edge growled as he slowly pulled himself to his feet. He hadn’t landed a solid move since he entered the ring and he’d be lying if he didn’t admit to thinking that maybe his dufus opponent was right, but then he caught sight of Stephanie sitting outside the ring by Lilian and she was smiling at him, her eyes willing him, daring him even to get up and do what he’d been saying all these months. She believed in him, he knew that and that was all he needed to get him back on his feet and back into the ring.

Matt Hardy came straight at him, but he was ready for him this time ducking under the other man’s out stretched arm and using his momentum off the ropes to fly back at him. Matt hit the ring floor hard and Edge could feel the rush of what it meant to be back in the ring flow through his veins.

The other man came at him again and they traded a few blows before Edge had him backed up in a corner and got up onto the middle rope and with the crowd backing him with there vocal counting every time his fist connected with Matt’s face he knew he had come home. He jumped back with a big grin on his face and turned to the crowd, his eyes taking in the sold out arena and even spotting a few ‘Edge Head’ signs. He sent a grin Stephanie’s way before getting into position for the Sphere.

Matt staggered to his feet and shook his head trying to get back in the game, but by then it was too late as Edge barrelled into him shoulder first knocking the air from his lungs and sending his lunch back up his throat.

The grin was back on Edge’s face as he rolled the other man over for the pin and a few moments later the referee was raising his arm in victory.

**

“Cocky son of a bitch,” Hunter grumbled as he made his way to the curtain. “Fancy suggesting that ‘I’ wasn’t over Stephanie, if I weren’t over her I wouldn’t have divorced her billion dollar ass-“

“Talking to yourself Trips? What’s wrong, couldn’t find anyone else to listen to you?”

Hunter’s nostril’s flared as he glared down his nose at the smaller man.

“Just keep walking Jericho,” he said through clenched teeth not even realising that it was he who had been walking and Jericho had been at a stand still leaning casually against a wall.

“Well, I would, but you see I’m quite happy where I am, in fact I may stay here all night.”

It was at that moment the curtain was pulled back and a staggering Matt Hardy passed through them aided by the referee and then the curtain was pulled back a second time and the smiling faces and Edge and Stephanie were seen. Chris quirked a cocky brow as the man next to him seemed to try and disappear behind him and a cheeky look came over his face as he followed Hunter’s gaze to the couple. “So…” he began his eyes going from Hunter to the celebrating couple and then back again. “Why is it that you’re here again?”

**

Part Seven

**

“Lita… oh Liiiiiiita….”

The paper cup she had been holding in her hand slipped through her fingers spilling its contents to the cold concrete floor at her feet before she turned to face the man whose eerie call still kept her up at night. But instead of meeting the sadistic gaze of the Big Red Machine her gaze fell upon the little blond Canadian who used to be her friend before it fell upon the small cassette player the blond held in her hands.

“Pretty nifty trick huh?” the blond grinned. “It’s amazing what you get for a smile these days. I’ll have to stop by the sound crew’s trailer and thank them personally.”

Lita took a deep breath and waited for her pulse to return to normal before moving to pass the little blond. She kept telling her herself in two weeks you’re ass is mine, which was how long she had to wait for her match against Trish. The last thing she needed was something like this to get stipulations added to it.

“You know I never figured you for a quitter.”

Trish’s voice was more like a drum beating through her ears then the light giddy school girl tone that it was.

“But then again…” she continued. “I never figured you for a slut either.”

Lita rounded on her and took the two steps needed to bring her mere
centimetres from the other woman.

“Okay, you got something to say – say it to my face.”

“Christian is with me now got it.” Trish spat not backing down an inch. “You weren’t woman enough for him just like Chris wasn’t man enough for me.”

She could feel her hand make a fist at her side and the urge to plant that fist right in Trish’s glossy lips was so great she could almost feel it connecting as the scene played out in her mind.

“Did you think Christian wouldn’t tell me how you would throw yourself at him,” She said shaking her head as her eyes travelled over Lita’s form. “How you would beg him to make love to you. He told me everything because he loves me so much he wanted me to hear it from him first. That’s what two people in love do, they confide in one another. Something neither you nor Chris provided.”

Lita’s gaze didn’t waver, her hands didn’t unclench and her hatred not only for the woman in front of her, but also for the man she had shacked up with grew tenfold. Forget Trish, she thought not feeling how her nails dug into her palms – She wanted Christian! How dare he twist and turn everything that had happened between them. He had claimed to be her friend when she was in desperate need of one after what Matt had done to her. But it hadn’t
happened how he had told Trish. She had been in a vulnerable state ever since Matt’s return to raw and he had used her state of mind against her. So much so that at one time she had indeed thought herself in love with him and stupidly believed he loved her back. Until he got what he wanted. After there one night together she hardly saw him at all and he stopped coming to her rescue. She had no idea when he had started seeing Trish or even if he had been seeing her all along. All she knew was both she and Chris Jericho
had been screwed over pretty bad by the two.

“Nothing to say for yourself Lita?” trish asked breaking into the red heads thoughts. “Has Kane got your tongue?” she chuckled at her own joke and took a step back. “Face it Lita, you’re a loser at love and in 2 weeks you’re going to be a loser in the ring too.”

“Right that’s it.” Lita grumbled taking a step forward only to stop when over Trish’s shoulder she saw Christian rounding the corner and stepped around the little blond instead. Trish’s smile died on her lips as Lita stalked straight up to Christian pulled her arm back and rammed the palm of her hand right into his nose.

“That’s for everything you ‘didn’t’ say!” she exclaimed as he reeled back. And then she lifted her knee and brought it up between his legs. “And that’s for everything you did.”

Through all this she had been expecting Trish to attack from behind and when that didn’t happen she turned back around to see Trish had gone and in her place stood Kane.

“Hi Lita,” he said the corners of his mouth starting to lift. “I’ve been looking for you.”

She took a step backwards and then another and another until the back of her feet hit up against Christian where he still lay holding his genitals. Trish hovered over him. So that’s where she had disappeared to Lita thought. And she had missed it. But who could blame her when Kane was looking at her like she was a tasty morsel on his dinner plate and Trish maybe all tough and that when facing her, but Lita figured she scampered behind Christian more for protection then for his well being.

She looked from Kane to Christian who was just getting to his feet and then at Trish and then back to kane again. She could make a run for it, she mused, but how far would she get? Not very far her mind told her.

“You shouldn’t have done that Lita,” Christian said taking a step towards her. “Now I’m gonna enjoy returning the favour.”

“And I’m gonna enjoy wat-“ Trish piped in from behind but the rest of her sentence was stopped by the sight of Kane’s large hand around her boy friends throat as he lifted Christian square off the ground before bringing him down just as fast.

“You freak!” Trish screamed as she watched Christian squirm in obvious pain on the floor before she took off down the hall.

Lita could only stare as Kane kneeled down and pulled Christian up by his shirt front. “Now I’m only gonna say this once,” he breathed into Christian’s face. “No one… and I mean no one lays a hand on Lita – but me.” She swallowed his words not exactly bringing her comfort and then a steel chair swung through the air and the only sound that broke through the air was a sick ‘thwack!’

“Lita… Lita!”

Her eyes snapped up to see Jericho at her side, his hand still clutching the steel chair. “Are you okay?” he asked.

She nodded.

He turned back to look down at Christian who was trying to squirm his way out from under the now unconscious Kane and then he grabbed her hand. “Come on, let’s get out of here.”

**

Part Eight

**

“Well, here we are.”

She smiled and tugged on the waist band of his jeans until his thighs met hers. “Yep, here we are…” She replied catching a glimpse of his pearly grin before her lips rose to capture his in a light feathery kiss.

“Wow,” He whispered against her lips. “I certainly hope that’s not my kiss goodnight.”

“No it’s not,” She whispered back her voice just as breathless as his. “Your kiss goodnight awaits you inside.”

His grin brightened. “Wishes do come true.”

Stephanie turned in his arms and leaned back against him as she fished in her bag for her room card. “You think we did the right thing by leaving Lita at the arena all alone?”

“Yeah, she can handle herself.” He replied his head lowering to her
shoulder. “And you know she wouldn’t have stayed herself if she didn’t think it were safe.” He began to nibble gently at her shoulder again before adding, “Besides Chris is there.”

She rolled her eyes at his words before swiping her card. “Now why don’t those words comfort me?”

He chuckled, his arms not moving from around her waist as they stepped over the threshold as one the sound of there mingled laughter coming to a stop as the door closed behind them.

Then out of the shadows of the hallway stepped the grisly form of Hunter Hurst Helmsley his expression a mask of fury and hate and from his clenched fingers fell what was left of the single red rose he had brought as a ‘welcome back’ gift for his ex wife, it’s crumpled petals, now blood smeared thorns and broken stem landing in a tangled mess at his feet.

**

“Are you okay?”

“Fine.”

Chris looked across the interior of his car to the woman seated next to him in the passenger seat and not for the first time too. She however had yet to look at him once. Her head was turned away from him, her gaze on the lights they passed in this busy city street of New York, her hands though were clasped tightly in her lap and for a moment he saw them shake proving that she was not ‘fine’ as she had just stated.

“You sure?”

“I said I was so drop it.”

His eyes went back to the road and before too long they were back at the hotel.

“I’ll walk you to your room.” He called after her as she hurried to the hotel entrance. He tossed the car keys to the valet and jogged after her.

“There’s no need.” Was her reply.

“No, I don’t suppose there is,” He said following her to the elevator. “But I’ll walk you there anyway.”

They rode the elevator in companionable silence. She on one side of the elevator and him on the other. There eyes locked and held.

“I’m sorry,” She said after a few moments.

“For what?” He asked.

“For being a bitch… and for what happened with you and Trish.”

He shrugged. “I’m sorry about Christian.”

She waved her hand in the air and blew a burst of air up through her lips. “Don’t be, I’m not. I knew what Christian was like. I guess my need for a friend at that time clouded my judgement.”

The elevator came to a stop and they both stepped out.

“I’m sorry about that too,” He said falling into step beside her. “About the whole Matt thing and how it all went down on my Highlight Reel.”

“Forget it, I have.” She replied stopping at her room door and pulling out her room card. Some how he got the feeling she was lying and he knew he ought to just shut up and leave things as they were, but at the best of times he found he had no control over his mouth. Well, okay ‘most’ of the time.

“I knew,” He went on and watched as her hand stilled on its way to the card lock. “I knew what Matt had planned.”

“I said forget it.” Her tone was hard again, her hand continuing on with its task of opening the door. “The past is exactly that – Past. It’s a place I don’t like to visit. What’s done is done.”

Her room door opened and she stepped across the threshold.

“Lita,” He said before she could close the door on him. “I could help with more then just making Matt, Christian and Trish pay. I could help with Kane too.”

She stared at him for what seemed like a life time her eyes scrutinizing his face and then finally she shook her head. “No.” She said her eyes not wavering from his. “I don’t think you can.”

“You’re not alone in this Lita, you don’t have to be the strong one here.”

“Yes I do.” She countered fiercely. “It’s this strength that gets me up out of bed every morning. It’s this strength that gets me through house show after house show. I can’t let them see me break don’t you understand that?”

“Lita-“

“No!” She ground out her voice rising a notch. “I won’t be the victim in this and I certainly won’t be an excuse for you to start a feud with Kane. I don’t need a knight in shining armour.”

“Then what do you need? Tell me – What does Lita need?”

There was no hesitation in her voice as she replied, “I just need you to hold up your part of the plan. Nothing more and nothing less.”

He wanted to respond, he wanted to tell her that it didn’t have to be so black and white. He wanted to tell her that she had an ally in him and that there ’friendship’ if that’s what it was didn’t have to end with her match with Trish, but the words wouldn’t come and all he could do was stand there with a partially open mouth as she closed the door.

He stood there for a few minutes willing his hands not to beat the door down so he could say all he hadn’t been able to say before. Damn it annoyed him that she could so easily refuse his help. It annoyed him that Kane was not leaving her alone. It annoyed him that she thought she could handle Kane on her own. But mostly it annoyed him that she still treated him like an outsider.

The more he thought about it though the more it seemed to all boil down to trust. She had trusted Matt, she had trusted Trish and she had trusted Christian. All of whom were once aligned with him in some way or another.

Trust. He thought as he started back down the hallway. It all boiled down to trust.

**

Part Nine

**

"You ready Princess?"

Stephanie rolled her eyes and tried to keep the scowl the
term `Princess' always brought to her expression off of her face.

"Must you call me that?"

"No." Jericho replied easily. "But old habits die hard. I could call you trash bag ho if you'd rather."

Her scowl showed through.

Chris grinned, turned and barely got out of the way in time as two
medic officers rushed passed them followed closely behind by Josh
Mathews and a camera crew.

"What's the rush junior?" Chris asked stopping one of the crew
members.

"Something went down inside the men's locker room." The other man
replied but his words were lost on Chris as Lita came rushing around the corner and straight into him. He caught her easily and steadied them both before she took a step back her arms coming up to encircle her mid section almost as if she were protecting herself from him. Her face was white and she looked more then a little distressed as she looked passed him to Stephanie.

"It's Edge," She said breathlessly. "I just saw the play back on
screen inside the divas locker room. Evolution jumped him."

"Edge…" Stephanie whispered having to lean on the wall for support
when her knees threatened to give out. "I have to go to him."

"You can't, you have to be at ringside for Jericho's match." Lita was quick to remind the brunette.

"But he's hurt…" She said her hand instinctively going to her belly.

"I'll go to him." Lita suggested. "Call me after the match and I'll
tell you which hospital we're at." Lita said giving Stephanie's hand a squeeze. "Please Steph, we have to stick to the plan. One down, two to go – remember?"

Chris was amazed at how quickly the youngest McMahon took control of her emotions. The big crocodile tears that had threatened to fall moments before now receded although her hands continued to shake her expression was one of steely resolve.

"I remember," She said shooting the red head a half smile. "Look
after my man for me."

Lita responded with a nod before taking off in the same way the medic officers, Josh Mathews and the camera crew had gone.

"He'll be alright," Chris said wanting to lighten the mood a little
but not wanting to use his usual snarkiness in case he offended
rather then comforted.

She sent him a tiny smile and he sighed a sigh of relief. It had
worked.

"Guess we should get going hey, it's nearly show time."

"Yeah…" Chris said pushing off the wall he'd been leaning on to
follow her. "Listen Steph, I don't need to tell you-"

"Not to interfere?" She cut in finishing his sentence.

He nodded. "No matter what happens I don't want you getting in that
ring. Is that clear?"

It was her turn to nod, but he grabbed still needed confirming so he grabbed her arm to pull her back to look at him.

"I said is that clear?"

He didn't miss the fact that her bottom lip trembled and he silently cursed himself for forgetting that she had just found out that her boyfriend had been jumped by her ex and his merry band of men in trunks, sheesh she had to be a jumble of emotions inside that cool, calm exterior. He eased up on the hold he had on her arm and moved back a little.

"Sorry…" He said looking to her hand that was slowly rubbing tiny
circles on her belly.

"No, I'm sorry," She began inhaling deeply. "I promise I won't get in the ring."

He smiled happy with her answer and again they started out down the
hallway towards the curtain.

**

Part Ten

**

‘Damn it Jericho get with it.’

Chris used the used to pull himself up.

‘This is not me,’ He continued to tell himself. ‘I can’t be huffing and puffing. For god’s sake it’s only Christian!’

His eyes fastened on the smiling blond he had at one time figured himself in love with currently strutting around ringside.

“Crap.” He muttered turning away from the sight of her before he gave way to the bile that started to churn in his belly only to find himself on the ring floor again after being caught with a clothesline.

He felt Christian cover him, heard the crowd count along with the referee and pushed up with all his might to end the count at two and immediately rolled onto his stomach as soon as Christian’s weight was removed from on top of him.

“You’ve lost it old man,” Christian jeered down at him. “You couldn’t cut it with Trish and now you can’t cut it in the ring. It’s time to go home and await your entry into the WWE’s hall of fame.”

That last comment if nothing else had Jericho forcing himself up unaided this time, his eyes catching a glimpse of Stephanie on the outside of the ring thankful that she had actually listened for once and was staying well out of the action before focusing once more on his opponent.

“You’re right Junior,” He said with a new found vigour. “I am the oldest one standing in this ring and I will be inducted into the hall of fame at some time on the future of that you can bank money on, but you Christian, you aren’t even in the running and since we’re being all honest and shit I may as well go the whole hog in predicting that you never will be in the running – Ever!”

Christian didn’t bother with an answer, at least not a verbal one. Instead he charged with open claws and a guttural growl that made him look more comical then charismatic.

The two men locked horns in the middle of the ring, Jericho getting the upper hand with a well placed kick to the other man’s knee. Christian’s legs buckled and Jericho grinned as he watched the other man crumple before following up with a running drop kick. Christian’s head snapped back at the contact and his body slumped backwards giving Jericho the option of flipping him over and putting him in the Walls of Jericho – An option he took with ease.

He sat back into his move finally feeling as if his once best friend and once tag team partner was finally getting what he deserved.

At the corner of his eye he could see Trish jumping up and down frantically in an effort to help Christian battle out of his hold. He even saw her pick up a steel chair and move towards the ring and knew that if Christian didn’t tap out in the next few seconds it would be his head Trish would be introducing that steel chair too, but that time never came and turning his head a little he was why.

Stephanie it seemed had somehow intercepted Trish and the steel chair she had carried and was now sitting on said steel chair with Trish’s body wedged beneath its legs. The sight of Trish squirming beneath it like a fish out of water made him want to laugh, but that Stephanie had been the one to get Trish in that position even after he had specifically told her not to interfere had him tightening his hold on Christian. The other man’s cries or the fact that he was frantically tapping the ring floor with both hands did
nothing to dislodge the his train his thought and that was that Stephanie had just done what Stephanie always did when someone gave her an order – The opposite!

‘Where was that girl when god handed out ears?” He muttered only then realising that the bell was being perpetually rung and the referee was at his side screaming at him that the match was over and trying to break the hold he still had on Christian.

He released the hold and backed into a corner to catch his breath and chuckled when he saw Stephanie get up and hold the steel chair like a base ball bat – it’s target Trish, but that’s all she did obviously it was more to threaten in case the little blond bimbo got it in her head to attack now that she was free.

“Well Lita,” He whispered to himself at the same time beckoning Stephanie to join him in the ring as Christian aided by Trish made there exit. “Think you could trust me a little now?”

**

Part Eleven

**

“I thought I told you not to interfere?”

“Inside the ring,” Stephanie reminded him. “You didn’t say anything about outside.” She grinned her little ‘Are you proud’ grin, which he considered may have worked on Edge but didn’t pull the same weight with him.

Unlocking his rental car he opened the passenger door and motioned for her to get in. She hesitated and her gaze went over her shoulder as if she were expecting someone to be there and which Chris responded to with, “Well how else do you expect to get to the hospital Princess? Fairy dust?”

Stephanie’s shoulders straightened and she bit down hard on her bottom lip to keep the cutting come back her tongue threatened to let loose when she realised he was right – She did indeed have no other means of getting to the hospital, of getting to Edge.

“I should call Lita-“

“Already done.” Chris lied. “Now get in.”

He didn’t want her to call, he didn’t want her to ask any more questions, he just wanted to get to the hospital. The hospital was good. The hospital was where Lita was. Not waiting for her to get in he walked to the driver’s door, got behind the wheel and turned on the ignition only to tap his fingers impatiently on the steering wheel as Stephanie had another bout of thinking.

“Come on Princess, gee it should be illegal to think as much as you do.”

“Okay, okay,” She muttered and got in the car.

He drove in silence, his thoughts obviously else where as he manoeuvred the car through the traffic. Stephanie found herself wondering ‘where’ as she stole little glances at his profile out the corner of her eyes. ‘Damn, he really does have a big chin.’ He turned then and caught her watching him.

“You need to tell him you know.” He said his gaze going back to the road ahead of them.

“I can’t, not yet. I still have to accompany Lita down for her match.”

“I’ll accompany Lita.”

“But Eric said-“

“Screw what Eric said!” Chris said bringing the car to a stop and Stephanie was surprised to see that they had already arrived at the hospital. He turned to her. “Have you forgotten who you are?”

Her brow furrowed.

“You’re Stephanie McMahon, the only daughter of Vince and Linda McMahon. Who do you think they will side with on this – The current General Manager of Raw or there ‘pregnant’ daughter.”

‘My god!’ She thought her expression turning to one of wonder. ‘He’s right – Again! How could I be so clueless?’ This time last year she wouldn’t have thought it possible, her father yet again was caught with his pants down and having had enough her mom had demanded a divorce. Thankfully it didn’t get that far though, her father having seen the light after her mother had not only moved out of the family mansion, but moved states! He had chased her, begged her forgiveness and then brought her back to where she belonged. It was all so romantic and her father had stayed true to all the promises he made and not strayed again. They were like a couple of teenagers now and she remembered Shane calling her one time to tell her that there ‘oh so proper parents’ were caught ‘necking’ in an arena broom closet!

She turned to Chris and smiled suddenly seeing him in a new light. And she liked it. She liked him – Or this version of him anyway. Maybe they could be friends after all despite there past.

Chris now stood by her car door, which he’d opened and was now waiting for her to get out.

“Thank you.” She said once they were eye level. He shrugged and leaned down to lock the car, but she grabbed his arm before he could move off towards the hospital entrance. “I really mean it Chris,” She said wanting him to believe her. “Thank you.”

He smiled then and together they walked through the hospital entrance.

**

 “He has a minor concussion and a few bruises,” Lita explained once Stephanie and Chris joined her in Edge’s hospital room, Stephanie at once going to Edge’s bed side, while Chris chose to linger by the door. “He’ll have to stay over night though, just routine stuff.”

“I was hoping he’d be awake,” Stephanie said reaching out her hand and laying it on top of Edge’s.

“He was,” Lita chuckled, “But they had to give him something to settle him down after he woke to find himself here and you still at the arena unprotected.”

Stephanie turned to Chris, but his head lowered so she couldn’t see his expression.

“I wasn’t unprotected,” She said for his benefit and smiled when he lifted his head to meet her gaze. Lita flushed realising how she must have sounded and an apology quickly formed on her tongue.

“I didn’t mean-“ She began, but Chris just waved her attempted apology off although why he had no idea, this may have been the opening he’d been waiting for to finding his way back into a friendship with her instead of this awkwardness that usually permeated the air when they were in each others breathing space. He mentally kicked himself when her gaze went back to Edge and he knew he had just missed that window fate had so generously thrown his way and wondered when the next one would arise. Soon he hoped.

They stayed until a nurse came and told them they would all have to leave. Chris asked to have a private word with her and the two exited the room leaving Lita and Stephanie alone with Edge.

“You two seem chummy,” Lita said once the door had closed.

“I wouldn’t say chummy, but I believe a new era has opened up regarding the long standing Stephanie McMahon Vs Chris Jericho Feud.”

Lita lowered her gaze to her hands.

“I know you still don’t trust him Li,” Stephanie said quietly. “But I believe he really is trying.” The door opened then and Chris came back in carrying a fold out single bed. “What’s this?” Stephanie asked of the nurse who followed after Jericho.

“What does it look like Princess? It’s a bed.”

Stephanie’s hands went to her hips. “I know what it is Chris, but why is it here?”

He unfolded it and made sure the legs were secure before the nurse dropped a pillow at the top and a blanket at the foot of it. “Well if you’d rather sleep on the floor I could always take it back out again-“

“What? Stop. Jericho!” Flustered Stephanie’s words came out in a rush and it was a smiling nurse that came to her rescue.

“Mr Jericho here and I have come to an arrangement.”

Lita’s brows furrowed.

Stephanie’s rose.

“The bed is for you Miss McMahon, that is if you’d like to stay at your man’s bed side.”

Stephanie’s face lit up like a Christmas tree and she hugged the nurse and then Chris in her excitement laughing when Chris grumbled something about ‘Stephanie germs’.

“And what’s your part in the deal?” Lita couldn’t help but ask. Chris blushed now and again it was the nurse who answered.

“He’s gonna strip.”

**

Part Twelve

**

“Strip?” Lita chuckled as she and Chris walked through the hospital car park. She arched a brow, cocked her head to the side and chuckled again.

“It’s for a good cause!” He exclaimed and not for the first time since the nurse had so graciously spilled the beans.

“Yeah, I heard you the first time.” She continued to chuckle. “But since you brought it up how would volunteering to strip at a hen’s night constitute as a ‘good cause’?”

Would he ever stop blushing? He thought feeling the heat rise up the back of his neck to flood his cheeks. He stepped into character and imagined he was facing a roaring WWE crowd rather then one lone red head. His eyes rolled heavenward.

“Lita, Lita, Lita…” He began. “That infamous ball and chain will be fastened to her ankle the next day and the key given to the sorry sanctimonious son of a bitch who popped the big question. This is her last night of freedom, her last big night to run a muck and what better way to do that then to watch this sexy beast you see standing before you now – Strip.”

Lita’s other brow rose to meet its partner.

“Hell, it’ll be the high light of her life,” He continued. “Not to mention that exempting my gorgeous self, it’s going to be a ladies night only.”

“Ah… I see now.” She was smiling he noted, an actual true smile. And it was because of something he had said!

They reached his rental car and he turned his back to her so he could unlock it.

“Thank you.” He heard her say from behind him.

He kept his back to her and asked, “For what?”

“I know that regardless of all you just said, it was Edge and Stephanie you were thinking of when you agreed.”

Oh no… blushing again.

“Did you happen to see my match tonight?” He asked licking the tip of his finger to rub at a spot on the windscreen. Her reflection in the glass showed that she was smiling again. And his smile grew.

“Yes. Yes I did.” She replied. “Congratulations.”

His smile turned into a grin and he finally turned to face her pulling the passenger door open as he did so, but paused when she didn’t readily move towards it. “What’s the matter?” He asked. She smiled again only this time he sensed it was forced. “Lita?”

“Nothing’s the matter,” She replied although he guessed by the way she was rubbing the palms of her hands up and down the front of her jeans that something was indeed wrong. “I just don’t feel like going back to the hotel yet, I might take a walk.” She continued.

“I’ll-“

“Alone.” She quickly cut in. “I… I have a few things to think over.”

He eyed her, his expression stony.

“I’ll be okay… really.”

Chris could only watch her as she started to walk away and continued to watch her as she crossed the street and was swallowed up by the busy night life. ‘A few things to think over,’ had been her words, but he knew the real reason she didn’t want to get into his rental car with him. Lita still didn’t trust him.

**

He blew on his hands to warm them, his breath rising up in a misty cloud around his face. He should be in a nice warm bed with a naughty girls legs wrapped around his waist. Yeah, that sounded a whole lot better then where he was now. Whose brainy idea was it for them to be out at god knew what hour in a hotel car park doing nothing but freeze there butt cheeks to icicles? Oh yeah, that’s right - He sneered in remembrance and blew on his cupped palms again - There esteemed leader.

“Esteemed? Pfft! More like pussy whipped.” He grumbled pushing himself off the wall he was leaning against only to move back again when his actions brought his form into the light.

“Stay down.” Came a shallow hiss from a few feet away.

“This has to be him.” Came another voice from a bit further up this time. “He’s alone.”
That voice continued as the car they had been waiting for pulled into the car park and then to a stop, the engine shutting off a few moments later.

“Maybe Hunter got it wrong this time.” Randy said following Dave and Ric’s actions as they stood to there full height.

“Wrong or not,” Dave replied starting towards the man climbing out of the driver’s seat. “We take him out.”

**

Part Thirteen

**

His head still running rampant with thoughts of a certain red head he wasn’t fully prepared for what awaited him as he got out of his rental car. Her image as she’d walked away from him still so vivid upon his minds eye, so alive that it wasn’t until a closed fist was mere centimetres from his face that the first sparks of alarm started to push through.

After that he didn’t notice much else other than the pain of multiple jabs to his face, chest and stomach. The one thing streaming through his mind was still Lita though, only this time he was thanking her mistrust of him for steering her away from accepting his offer of a ride back to the hotel.

**

She walked along the noisy city street mentally kicking herself for not giving in to what her mind was telling her and accepting Chris’s ride. God it was only a ride! She kept repeating to herself. She rubbed the palms of her hands together to try and generate some heat into her frozen digits. Yep. She was definitely regretting that decision now.

It was a busy night out with traffic zooming passed her and late night pedestrians in there thick heavy coats with the collars up to ward off the nights chill from the back of there necks and there hands - unlike hers - had to be gloriously warm within deep pockets or gloves.

Or you had to do was smile and say ‘Why yes thank you Chris, I would really appreciate a ride back to the hotel.’

But did she? No! And the result was frozen hands, cheeks and feet.

“Damn open toed sandals.” She muttered. Once again her pride and lack of trust had reared its ugly head and now she was suffering for it.

Stephanie was at ease with Chris tonight, she mused, yet of anyone should harbour signs of mistrust towards the ‘King of Bling-Bling’ it would be her given there not so friendly past, but mistrust seemed the furthers thing from her friends mind tonight in that regard.

And Chris had promised to strip in exchange for Stephanie to stay the night with Edge so that in itself should have warmed her to him, but the fact of the matter was it didn’t.

She was thankful yes, relieved yes, and extremely grateful for all he had done thus far, but she couldn’t get passed his part in Matt’s public humiliation of her or for that matter the fact that he and Christian had made that stupid ‘I-can-bed-her-first’ bet with she and Trish in the role of ‘Her’. And you know if she thought about it more… over the years she could come up with dozens upon dozens of things Chris Jericho had done or tried to do in order to one up her or those she cared about.

She approached the hotel now, her eyes inadvertently taking note of Chris’s rental car parked in the car park.

No. She had been right to refuse his offer. Her match against Trish was happening this week on Raw and after that she’d go back to ignoring him. Yep, she was sure that that’s exactly what she would do when all this was over - And then her eyes fell to a form slouched against the wall behind Chris’s rental and all her former thoughts fled, only to be replaced with one thing - Recognition.


**

Part Fourteen

**

“Chris!”

In seconds she was down on her knees, her hands immediately reaching, feeling, searching for any injuries before moving up to cup his cheeks.

His lip was cut, his left eye swollen and God only knew how the rest of him was holding up beneath his clothes. He groaned, his forehead becoming a trail of lines as he sucked in a breath only to expel it in a series of rugged coughs and splutters.

“Shit Chris.”

For a moment she was at a loss as what to do. Her fingers pushed blonde clumps of hair back from his face.

“Ambulance,” She muttered as she continued to watch him. “Duh Lita, he’s hurt. Call a frigging ambulance.” But as she reached for her mobile Chris’s hand snaked out and took a hold of her wrist. Pain etched its way onto his face as he slowly shook his head.

“No… ambulance.” He all but croaked.

His keys lay at his side and they jingled as she scooped them up.

“I’ll drive you then.” She stated, but  his hold tightened at her wrist.

“No… hospital.”

“Damn it Chris!” She exploded in obvious frustration. “You’re hurt-”

“I’ll be alright in a little while.”

“Yeah… and I’ll grow a penis.”

A ghost of a smile shimmered on his lips at her words and that only made her madder still. Shaking her head she leaned forward and worked her arm under his shoulder.

“Come on, let’s get you up.”

Sweat beaded on his brow and ran down as he complied and though he tried not to he couldn’t help how his body leaned heavily onto hers.

“I’m sorry.” he said as they inched there way to the elevator.

“Don’t apologise.”

“Why not?”

“Because I might just kill you myself.”

He’s grinning, she thought as she pressed the up arrow on the elevators control panel. She didn’t turn her head to see if she was right in her assumption though, she only knew that she was.

**

“You should have waited for me to open the door for you.” Stephanie exclaimed rushing around the hood of the car to the passenger side where Edge was gingerly straightening after stepping out onto the pavement.

“I’m okay Steph. You know I love you, but sheesh woman all your fussing is driving me seriously crazy.”

She giggled at his stern look and grabbed his arm.

“I’ll make a deal with you. You promise to rest and not go after Evolution - at least not yet - and don’t try denying it, I know you want to. And I’ll quit with all the fussing… or try too.”

“Sold.” Edge said manoeuvring her into his arms with one well timed tug on hers. “Let’s kiss on it.”

“But of course,” She smiled turning her face up to his. She sighed into his kiss, sighed when he deepened it and then sighed again when he drew back.

“Mmm… you keep kissing me like that and rest is the last thing I’m gonna wanna do.”

“I’d be worried if you weren’t a little frisky after being stuck in a hospital bed for three days. How did one night in hospital turn into three anyway?” She sent him a totally innocent look knowing too well that she had been the cause of his lengthened hospital stay. She had insisted on Doc Youngblood flying in personally to check him over and then on his orders made sure Edge kept to his bed for another day more.

“The nurse not letting you give me a sponge didn’t help none either.”

She looked up at him though slightly lowered lashes.

“Well there’s no nurse now…”

“What the hell are we standing here for then, lets go up to your room.”

Like a man on a mission Edge took Stephanie by the hand and led her into the hotel and through the lobby to the elevator.

“Can we check on Lita first?” Stephanie asked as they stepped into the elevator. “She hasn’t been answering her mobile or her room phone.”

For the first time since arriving at there hotel Edge looked concerned.

“Why didn’t you tell me before?”

“Because you’d worry that’s why and you know how Lita is with her mobile, she probably just forgot to put it on its charger.”

Edge chuckled as there elevator ride ended and they stepped out and started down the hallway.

“Maybe we should check on Chris too.” He suggested as Stephanie rapped on Lita’s door.

Stephanie opened her mouth to respond only to shut it again when the door opened to reveal a half naked and very rumpled Chris Jericho.


**

Part Fifteen

**

“Well, this saves us a trip.” Giggled Stephanie.

“It’s certainly a first for me.” Edge added his eyes two huge circles.

Chris had been in the process of rubbing the sleep from his eyes as he’d opened the door and once his brain cells was alert enough to focus on the two forms opposite him, his face brightened.

“Hey, you’re out.” He grinned.

Edge’s look quickly filled with concern again.

“Where’s Lita.”

“Oh…” Chris moved out of the doorway and motioned behind him. “…in the shower.”

That response caused two sets of eye brows to quirk.

“So… you gonna leave us to stand out here or what?” Stephanie asked still grinning from ear to ear.

“Unless you’re a vampire and need an invite - No.” He replied starting his trek back across the room to the bed.

Only then did Edge and Stephanie notice how slow Chris’s steps were and then how carefully he lowered himself to the bed, seeming to sigh once his shoulders and head were resting against the pillows.

“What happened to you?” Stephanie said not one to beat around the bush.

Chris rolled his eyes and then winced at the action.

“I thought a slight discolouring under my eye and this scabbed over cut on my lip said it all, Princess.” He replied.

“Did Lita do it?” She continued.

“I wish.” The woman in question asked from behind them. They all looked to see Lita casually leaning against the now open bathroom door. They hadn’t even heard it open. “…but the credit fall’s at someone else’s feet, not mine.”

“Oh shame.” Stephanie said in mock understanding.

“Hey!” Chris exclaimed from the bed looking to the other man in the room for support and seeing none. Edge grinned right along with the other two.

“How you feeling?” Lita asked.

“Good.”

“Sore.” came the simultaneous replies from both Chris and Edge.

“Oh good.” Lita replied sharing a look with Stephanie. “Youse had breakfast yet?”

“No. We came straight here from the hospital.” The youngest McMahon replied licking her lips and rubbing her belly at the thought of food. “I could really go for some pancakes right about now.”

“Mmm… me too. Call room service. Jericho’s shout.” Lita said and walked back into the bathroom.

“On it.” Stephanie said reaching for the phone and chuckled at Chris’s mumblings of it being his shout for the passed three days.

“Three days?” Edge said obviously picking up on Chris’s mumblings as well. “That’s how long you’ve been here?”

Chris nodded.

“What happened to you?” Edge continued.

“Got jumped when I got back here after the hospital.”

“By who?”

“The bloody Tooth Fairy for all I know.”

“My god. Was Lita hurt?” Stephanie asked after finishing her call down to room service.

“Lita wasn’t there,” The red head replied returning from the bathroom. “I found him keeled over in the car park.”

“You didn’t come back to the hotel together?”

Lita shook her head.

“I felt like walking.” She said.

“It’s a good thing too.” Chris added from the bed.

“What’s on your mind big guy,” Lita said patting Edge on the arm as she moved to the end of the bed where she sat down at Chris’s feet and crossed her legs. “You got ‘think’ face.”

“It’s a bit of a coincidence doncha think? Me one week. Chris the next.”

“You thinking it was Evolution that jumped me?” Chris asked.

Edge shrugged.

“Wouldn’t surprise me if it was?” He replied.

“But why? There’s nothing in it for them, neither of youse hold a title.” Stephanie said and swallowed when Lita, Edge and Chris all sent a glare her way. “…Yet.” She added.

“WE do have something in common.” Lita said tongue in cheek. “Something that Evolution or Hunter at least had at one time.”

Stephanie swallowed again.

“Can’t think what that might be.” She said even though she feared she knew exactly what that something was - Her.


**

Part Sixteen

**

“But I haven’t seen or even talked to Hunter since I’ve been back.”

“But he’s seen you.” Chris said tossing his napkin on the table where it landed amongst the remains of there shared pancake breakfast.

“It’d be hard not to see her since she walked both you and Edge down to the ring.” Lita said lifting her can to chug down the Pepsi she had found in the mini fridge.

Stephanie made a face.

“How can you drink that this early in the morning?”

“Just open the, tilt and swallow.” the red head replied with a grin and then proceeded to show her friend as she opened, tilted and swallowed.

“I don’t just mean on the idiot box.” Chris went on bringing there previous topic back into focus. “The night you walked Edge down to the ring Hunter was sniffing around at the gorilla.”

“He was?” Stephanie looked surprised and apologetic all at once. “It’s my fault then you both got hurt.”

“Hey,” Edge stroked a hand down her hair. “It’s not your fault.”

“No it’s not.” Lita agreed.

“There’s no way in hell your gonna be walking Lita down to ringside.” Chris said looking right at Stephanie, his mind on a whole different wave length to that of the others.

Lita cocked a brow.

“Excuse me?”

“Simple math Li,” He replied. “Steph walks you down to the ring, Hunter see’ and then pow! You’re getting jumped by Evolution.”

“Please,” Lita rolled her eyes. “Since Steph is very fond of the grass on the other side of the fence I doubt I have anything to worry about.”

Edge snickered but Chris paid him no heed.

“I don’t care. Stephanie is not walking  you to the ring and that’s final.”

Lita’s eyes narrowed.

“Bischoff’s stipulation remember?” She reminded him.

“Screw Bischoff and screw his stipulation. I’ll be walking you down to ringside and once Stephanie talks to her father there’s gonna be nothing Bischoff can do about-”

All the colour rushed from Stephanie’s face and it was that that stopped Chris from finishing his verbal spiel. His eyes darted to Edge and he found himself on the receiving end of a very intense and very steely glare.

“What are you talking about?” He said and then turned to Stephanie. “What is he talking about?”

Sheepish now Chris lowered his head.

“I guess you haven’t told him yet.”

Stephanie paid no attention to Chris or his words. Her eyes remained on Edge.

“Told me what?” he demanded. “What the hell’s going on Steph?”

“Hey, hey… just calm down.” Lita said to Edge noting Stephanie’s agitated hands which twisted and then untwisted in the hem of her shirt front.

He’s mad. Stephanie thought. Hunter had been mad. Mad as hell. Hunter had claimed the baby wasn’t his when she’d told him she was pregnant during there marriage. Hunter had called her a slut and many other things.

Would Edge be the same?

By the way he was looking at her now he obviously had the mad part down pat. Maybe he would think the same as Hunter she thought when she caught the look he shot Chris.

Silently she realised history was about to repeat itself. There was nothing left to do. She had to tell him, but she didn’t have to stay and listen to him humiliate her before he walked out of her life. She’d do the walking first.

Getting to her feet, her back straight and her chin protruding out stubbornly she faced him, faced them all and said, “I’m pregnant.”


**

Part Seventeen

**

Stephanie hadn’t even taken two steps towards the door before she felt herself being scooped up and brought back within the shocked and not so shocked circle of her friends. Her eyes darted anywhere but at the man who held her not wanting to see the disgust she knew had to be in his eyes. Just like it had been in Hunter’s So it came as no surprise when Edge lowered himself into a chair with her positioned in his lap.

“Your going to have a baby?” She heard him all but whisper into her hair.

She chanced a look at him now and saw not one trace of the disgust she had expected in his gaze. Instead she saw wonder, pride, hope and above all love.

“You’re not mad?”

The hint of a frown marred his brow but it didn’t stay there long.

“Of course I’m not mad you crazy woman. Whatever put that silly notion in your head?”

She lowered her eyes now totally ashamed of what she had allowed her mind and her fears to dictate.

“Hunter.” She confessed. “When I told him the same six months into our marriage he flipped. He didn’t want a family straight away. He wanted his career.”

Edge hugged her closer and she felt his lips in her hair again.

“Tell me.” He prompted.

“He got his wish.” She replied brokenly. “A month later I miscarried.”

**

Chris smiled as he watched the couple across the room and just managed to slash his hand across his cheek to erase that stray tear that found its way down his cheek, but not before Lita saw it.

At first she’d been surprised at what had leaked from his big fat mouth and then she’d been angry, but as the scene between Edge and Stephanie unfolded she couldn’t help but feel pleased.

She smiled.

“Well done Chris.”

His eyes went to heaven and he raised his arms as if to praise the lord above.

“It’s a day of miracles.” He proclaimed.

Lita’s smiled sparked into a grin.

“How do you reckon that?” She asked.

He smiled that cheeky Jericho smile and then sent her a wink.

“Mommy and Daddy over there of course.“ He replied smiling that cheeky Jericho smile he had down pat and then sent her a wink. “And you just called me Chris.”

Lita brought her hand up to study her fingernails and then shot down his smile just as easily as it appeared when she said rather candidly.

“I could call you Jackass if you’d rather.”

**

“It’s not too late for you to go back and wait in the limo.”

“Don’t you listen to your mother.” Edge said addressing her belly rather then her face. “Your father is no wuss.”

Stephanie chuckled. Had been chuckling the whole way over here from there hotel at the man she loved more than anything in the world have a heart to heart with his child growing in her belly.

“You’re really sweet you know that?” She said pausing at the front door of the McMahon mansion.

“Yeah, I know that.” He said leaning down to give her a quick kiss before he lifted a hand to the door bell. And then as an after thought leaned down even further to whisper - “She means sweet in a manly sense.” - to her belly.


**

Part Eighteen

**

“By that twenty-four carat sparkle in your eye I’m guessing it’s safe to assume Vince overrode Bischoff’s stipulation.”

Stephanie’s grin was so bright it put Edge’s one to shame.

“It’s unbelievable isn’t it?” At Chris’s frown she rolled her eyes and added, “Not daddy over ruling Bischoff, please, if I had a dollar for every time that happened. What’s unbelievable is that I came away from our little meeting once again in my role of Daddy’s Little Princess.” She grinned again. “I thought daddy hated me after the whole divorce thing with Hunter, but it turns out he’s been missing me like crazy. He’s seriously ticked off at Hunter who led me to believe that my family hated me. And both Daddy and Mom are pleased about the baby. Ain’t life grand!” She grinned again causing Chris to wince.

“Shit Steph, you keep grinning like that and I’m gonna need to see an optometrist.”

“Oh poo!” She replied slapping Chris playfully on the arm. “Point is you get to accompany Lita.”

“Don’t take this the wrong way Steph, but that’s all I wanted to know.”

**

“How about after you kick Trish’s arse we go and get a drink, just the two of us.”

Chris knew he was probably doing what he did best and wedging not only his feet but both of hers as well in the great gaping hole above his chin that served as a mouth.

“Can’t be done.” Lita replied not missing a beat.

She smiled catching the flush that tinted his cheeks out the corner of her eye. “You already have a somewhere to be after my match or have you forgotten?”

By the way his brow furrowed in confusion it was plain to see he had.

“Does a promised strip tease ring any bells?” She added.

Chris’s brows panned out and then his eyes grew huge.

“That’s tonight?” He exclaimed in mock horror.

“Yep.” Lita happily confirmed. “Steph and I got dibs on front seats.”

If Chris’s eyes were huge before they were gargantuan now!

“You and Steph… but what about Edge?”

“I’m sure we can find him a front row seat as well.”

She grinned.

He groaned.

“I didn’t mean it like that!”

“Oh?” She sent him a wink. “My mistake.”

His jaw dropped now.

“You winked at me.”

“Yep. I did. Got a problem with that?”

Instead of waiting for his reply Lita jumped on the spot a couple of times and then headed out the door.

A silly grin broke out on Chris’s face as he followed in her wake.

“No. I don’t suppose I do.”

**

Her eyes narrowed as they zoomed in on the other woman awaiting her presence in the middle of the squared circle.

Pay back was here, she told herself. Pay back was now. She heard nothing. Saw nothing, but her opponent. And with that as her guide she sprung up on to the apron, slipped through the ropes and lunged fists raised.

Lita faintly heard the bell sound, distantly caught Chris’s encouragement from outside the ring as well as his former best friend Christian’s verbal abuse towards her, the referee, the crowd and surprise-surprise Trish herself. The sound of the crowd chanting her name even made it’s way into her harried mind, but she focused on one thing and one thing alone - the sound of knuckles cracking against bone.

God, pay pack was a thing of beauty!


**

Part Nineteen

**

Lita flopped herself down on a bench in the locker room Stephanie had reserved solely her and Jericho with a smug grin of satisfaction on her face. Her knuckles ached a bit, but boy it had been worth it.

“Happy with yourself arent you?” Chris said walking through the doorway a few minutes later holding two bottles of water. He tossed one to her before dropping down on the bench next to her.

“A win always make me happy.” She replied. She unscrewed the cap on the bottle and took a long swallow. “How did you feel when my fist slammed into Trish’s face?”

Chris smiled in remembrance.

“Bloody wonderful.” He chuckled. “I thought Chioda was gonna disqualify you.”

“So did I for a minute there.”

“Wonder why he didn’t?”

“Hey, who cares? We got the win didn’t we?”

“You got the win.” he reminded her nudging her shoulder with his.

She turned to look at him with one brow quirked and then shook her head.

“Nah. It was a team effort. Has been right from the start. First with Edge and Matt, then You and Christian. And now me and Trish.”

She smiled then. Not the cautious smile she’d send his way now and then, but the same smile she used on Stephanie and Edge. Her friendly smile. Her accepting smile.

“We did it.” She continued.

Yes, he mused. They had done it. Question was where did they go from here? He knew where he wanted to go, but after all that had happened would Lita want the same thing? Breathing deep he  held it a beat before exhaling it slowly and then slapped his knee as if to say ‘Right. That’s it.’

The thought to protest didn’t have time to enter her head as Chris cupped her cheeks and leaned forward smoothly catching her lips with his.

“Well, well, well…”

Both Lita and Chris sprang back. Lita knocking her head on an open locker door and Chris going one better and jumping so far back he ended up on the floor.

Stephanie stood in the circle of Edge’s arms at the door, both wore innocent expressions.

“Hope we’re not interrupting.”

**

“Do I really have to do this?” Chris asked as edge pulled up at the address they’d been given.

“A promise is a promise.” Stephanie answered.

“Her last day of freedom remember?” Lita added.

Chris caught Edge’s eye in the rear view mirror.

“Hey don’t look at me. I was concussed when the alleged promise was made.”

“There’s no way I can get out of this is there.”

Lita hopped out of the car and jogged around to the other side to open the door for Chris.

“Oh there’s probably a way you could get out of it if you thought on it long enough.”

Chris quirked a brow when Lita took hold of his hand and started to tug him up the front path to the door. Edge and Stephanie he noticed flanked him on either side.

“You’re not going to let me think on it are you?”

Lita turned back with a grin.

“Hope you’re wearing your best jock strap.”


**

Part Twenty

**

This was all Lita’s fault.

If she hadn’t of looked so worried as she stood in Edge’s hospital room that night he wouldn’t of followed that damn nurse out and made that damn deal. He brushed aside the fact that it’d actually been Stephanie in the role of worrier, he can’t deny now that it’d been Lita and Lita alone that he’d been thinking on when he had done what he did.

Truth was he wanted her to like him again. Wanted her to forget all that had gone on that passed year and just … like him.

Now he knew that was just the start of it and now he knew he wouldn’t be able to just stop at ‘like’.

Sure she didn’t look thought him as she had before, sure there was a cheeky twinkle in her eyes when she flashed her grin in his direction, she he wasn’t just ‘Jericho’ now he was ‘Chris’, but all that wasn’t enough. He wanted more. And maybe this little show tonight would give him the opportunity to tell… or should that be ‘show’ Lita how much more he wanted.

Slowly, surely the side of his mouth kicked up.

**

“You reckon we should go in there and hurry his arse up?”

The question was said just as the lights dimmed and the first chords of ‘Reef’s - Lay Your Hands’ floated through the room.

“Guess not.” Stephanie added with a grin as excited cheers and wolf whistles drowned out the sound of the music.

Lita’s smile widened as Chris appeared in the doorway in his checkerboard pants and unbuttoned silver glitter shirt.

“Hmm… always thought he looked hot in those pants.”

“Stephanie! Edge is standing right across the room.”

“Which is why I’m up front with you getting ready to ogle another man.” She said with a cheeky grin. “It’s gonna drive him insane- Oh look Chris-” But she didn’t get to finish as she was unceremoniously plucked from her chair and hauled out of the room in the arms of her man. And by the huge knowing grin that followed her surprised squeal it was obvious she hadn’t minded one bit.

She turned back fully prepared to cheer and whistle along with every other female there to watch Chris take his gear off only to find herself up close and very personal with his checkerboard encrusted crotch.

An inquiring brow quirked up as she raised her eyes to his. He merely smiled and her eyes went the size of saucers as his checkerboard crotch began to rotate and the sound of Chris’s deep rich voice sang along with ‘Gary Stringer’.

“Oh place your hands…” - His hands roamed down his chest and then out to circle his nipples - “…On my hope…” - he let his finger tips flick over the tight nubs before allowing his hands to move lower and then lower still, where they deftly undid the clasp of his pants mere centimetres from Lita’s face.

She was in shock. Gob smacked even as his crotch started pulsating . It was like she was the only woman in the room. That this dance he was doing was solely for her.

“Run your fingers through my soul…” - She never thought anything could make her blush, but she blushed now. Right to the tips of her toes as his fingers disappeared inside his pants. But she didn’t turn her head. She didn’t lower her gaze. She was fully focused on him. On Chris. And man-o-man a mouth watering sight it was.

All too soon it came to an end. And she only came to that realisation when Chris’s checkerboard pants hit her square in the face. She snapped out of it quick enough to see two tight and very grab-able buttocks saunter out of the room. And only then did she remember that she wasn’t alone.

Mouth still open she looked around the room to see one woman fanning herself. Another had an ice cube and was at present sliding it over her flushed cheeks.

“I need oxygen…”

Lita turned in her seat and recognised the nurse who had made the deal with Chris the night Edge had been taken to hospital sitting in the seat directly behind her.

“…And you get to see that everyday…” She added.

“Well…” Lita replied with a chuckle. “I don’t get to see ‘that’ exactly. I’m guessing you see more butt in your workplace than I do.”

The nurse grinned.

“Not butts like that. The WWE wouldn’t happen to be short a medic-aide would they?”

Lita laughed outright now.

“You never know your luck.”

Adoring screams erupted as Chris entered the room again, this time fully clothed. He made a bee-line straight to her, made there goodbyes to there host and promptly pulled Lita from the room, where once outside he slammed her up against the wall and mashed his mouth to hers. His hands held her head still as his tongue pushed passed her teeth in a kiss that was hot, demanding and that totally knocked Lita’s socks off. When he pulled away it was only so they could both suck in some badly needed air.

“Sorry.” He managed to get out once his heart beat was back to an even tempo. “I just couldn’t wait anymore. I told myself I would. I told myself you still needed more time, just patience has never been my strong point and I… are you cold?” he asked when he felt her trembling.

She shook her head.

“You’re not you know… scared of me are you? Cos you know I would never hurt you. I know I have in the past, but I was a heel then. It was my job to be a bastard-”

“Chris.” She cut in looping her arms around his neck. “Has anyone ever told you, you talk too much?”

“Well yeah… in fact-” But that’s as far as he got. Lita’s mouth zoomed in and put his to a much better use.

Her news of Evolution’s break up with Randy and Batista getting shipped to Smack Down could wait. Everything she mused, could wait.


**

End

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