Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters or the real people, Vince McMahon and the WWE do.

After Jericho walked out of the room, his face turned from a smile to a scowl. How could she have done that to him? He didn't want a match with Edge next week, what kind of reward was that? He had been nice enough to give up his match for Vengeance, nice enough to give up his main event, and his reward was a match on SmackDown. This was so unfair. But that wasn't what was weighing on his mind. He could deal with that later, and he would, something else entirely was bothering him.

Jericho walked back to his dressing room, and sat down on one the benches. He sat there for a while thinking about what had just transpired. While he was staring off into space, Kurt walked into his dressing room.

"Hey I just saw what Steph did for you, that was pretty nice of her," Kurt said.

"Yeah, whatever Kurt."

"What's the matter, I thought you wanted to face Edge?"

"Well, yeah, I did, I mean I do, but it's just I was thinking about things."

"Well, I guess that's my cue to go," Kurt said before he left.

Jericho sat there thinking for a few more minutes, and then put a determined look on his face. He got up from where he was sitting, and walked back to Stephanie's dressing room. He didn't bother to knock, but walked in unannounced.

"What do you think you're doing barging into my dressing room?" Stephanie said angrily.

"Why wouldn't you hug me?" Jericho asked, with just as much anger in his voice.

"That's what you came in here to ask?" Stephanie asked confused.

"Yeah, that's exactly what I wanted to ask. I don't have cooties Steph, and I thought we were friends."

"We are friends."

"Really, well then why are you acting as if I have the plague or something? Who was the one to help you when your husband turned you away? It was me, and who saved you from the Pedigree time and time again? That was me Steph, or have you forgotten?" Jericho said getting more and more angry with every word.

"And just how did you help me when we were in that Triple Threat match, huh Jericho? I got pinned and I had to leave, do YOU remember that?"

"Stephanie, I apologized time and time again for that, and you accepted my apology, I thought we moved past that."

"Did we, it hurt you know, it hurt to have to leave the ring....and to leave you," Stephanie's voice trailed off.

"What?" Jericho asked, his voice dripping with confusion, "What do you mean it hurt to leave me?"

"Jericho are you really that dense, did you not see the signs I was sending you?"

"Signs, what signs?"

"Ugh, men, Jericho the reason I partnered with you wasn't because I wanted to get back at Hunter," Jericho gave her a look, "Ok, that was part of the reason, but not the entire reason. I liked you Chris, ok, I liked you, I wanted to be with you, when I gave you that robe and you went to hug me, I was so hoping that you would kiss me, but you never made any move on me, so I figured you didn't want me."

"Not want you? What man on Earth wouldn't want you? Stephanie, I thought the only reason you wanted to be my partner was to get back at Hunter, I didn't know you had feelings for me, maybe if I had known, things would be different...but that still doesn't explain why you refused my hug."

"I didn't want to fall for you all over again, and you rejecting me. I'm just getting over a divorce, and I knew if I let myself fall back into a partnership with you then I would be stuck in slump. I can't do it Chris, I can't be around you, but not with you."

"Well then, how about we move forward," Jericho said as he moved closer to her.

"What do you mean?" Stephanie asked as she eyed him.

"I mean this."

And with that, Jericho took Stephanie into his arms and gave her a hug. She closed her eyes, and reveled in his touch. She felt like she was finally where she should be. It had only taken five months, but she was finally in the arms of Chris Jericho.

"I missed you, you know," Jericho whispered into her ear.

"I know. I missed you too," Stephanie whispered back.

"Welcome back."

"Thanks."

They pulled away from the hug, and Jericho's lips seized Stephanie's. They kissed for a long moment. They both pulled away at the same time, and Stephanie's lips turned up into a small smile.

"I guess this changes things," she said.

"I guess it does."

"Good. And I'll never turn away from one of your hugs again."

"You better not."