It had been a long nine months for Stephanie. She had gotten into the routine of being General Manager. If she was honest with herself, she was bored to tears. This job was so monotonous. Every day it was the same, make sure everything was ok, make sure everything went off without a hitch. It was terribly boring.

That wasn't the only thing that weighed on her mind. She missed someone. She had been missing someone for the past year. And it had been nine long months since she had even talked to him. They had gone to the other show, persuaded by their best friend, and she had been left alone.

And that person was her ex-husband. It still pained her to say those words. She had never meant to hurt him, never meant to make him feel like he hated her. She was just so scared of losing him that she had done something out of desperation, but that deception had caught up with her and now she was paying the ultimate price. She was living without the other half of her soul, and that hurt more than any pain she had ever felt.

"Hey Steph," Kurt said, walking up to her in the hallway.

"Kurt, hi," she said, trying to wipe the frown off her face.

"You doing alright?"

"I'm fine," she said, smiling a little.

"You looked like you were off in space for a second there."

"I was just thinking."

"Oh Steph," Kurt said, taking her into his arms.

Stephanie let herself cry then. Kurt was her only friend it seemed, and she knew she could confide in him. And she had, she had confessed all her feelings, feelings towards Hunter, towards her job, towards everything.

"I'm ok Kurt."

"No, you're not Steph. You're torturing yourself sweetie."

"I'm not crying about that."

"Sure you aren't, Steph, why don't you just tell him."

She pulled away and wiped her eyes, "I can't tell him."

"And why not?"

"Because he hates me, and he wouldn't want to hear it."

"You can't presume to know that."

"Yes I do."

"Sweetie, this has been eating you up inside, and it's going to continue to eat you up until you come face to face with him."

"But I can't," she protested.

"Why not?"

"I'm scared," she whispered.

Kurt kissed the top of her head affectionately, "Scared of what sweetie?"

"That he hates me, that he never wants to talk to me again...that he's moved on."

"I'm sure he hasn't."

"Oh come on, remember that time when Chris walked into Hunter's locker room to talk to him and he was with those two women in the shower," Stephanie said, another torrent of tears sliding down her face.

"Shh, I'm sure he was just trying to look macho for everyone."

"Sure, you don't have to try to make me feel better Kurt."

"I'm just telling you the truth. Talk to him, it'll make you feel better."

"But we're on different shows."

"Well, why don't you ask Chris to ask Hunter if he wants to talk to you?"

"Why Chris?" Stephanie asked, looking up.

"Well, you're friends with him, and he's on Raw, and he's been getting friendly with Hunter."

Stephanie sniffled a little, "Yeah, he has, hasn't he?"

"Do you want me to ask him?"

"No, if it's gonna happen Kurt, it's gonna have to happen in its own time."

"You sure sweetie?"

"I'm sure."

"Ok, but if you ever need to talk, don't hesitate to come find me ok sweetie?"

"Ok," she said, wiping her eyes.

Kurt hugged her one more time before leaving. Stephanie sighed and walked into her office. She got her things and got into the limo awaiting her. Luckily the show was near her house, so she got to go home.

She walked inside and was reminded once again of how lonely it was without Hunter around. The whole house had just changed after he left. None of his weights were lying around, his magazines, nothing. Everything had changed, it was so empty.

She threw her keys on the kitchen table and walked upstairs, exhausted from her work that day. She went straight upstairs and into her closet to change. She put on some pajamas and then went to brush her teeth and take her makeup off. As soon as she was done she climbed into the big bed.

She stared up at the ceiling thinking about times past. She fondly remembered when Hunter would be on the other side of the bed, making her laugh as they fell asleep, or holding her when she had a bad day and needed a shoulder to cry on. She felt her eyes tear up as she thought about it.

She sat up and grabbed a photo album from the drawer on her nightstand. She opened it up and smiled softly as she gazed at the multitude of pictures that grazed every page. There were pictures of her and Hunter all over the world, having fun, smiling, laughing, being in love. How much she wanted to go back to those days. Days that were gone forever now.

She closed the album, her tears flowing freely again. She laid down and curled up in a little ball. Why had she screwed everything up? Why couldn't she have been more rational? She cried herself to sleep thinking about these questions.

Days passed, and then weeks, and Stephanie still went on like her life was fine. But it was far from fine, she was feeling horrible. She would see Hunter on Raw, being champion, being happy, and her heart ached. She just wanted him back, but knew that it was too late.

Finally the next PPV rolled around and Stephanie found herself in the same building as him. She hoped she didn't run into him, she didn't know if she'd be able to control herself if she did. And she didn't want to know what his response would be.

She was so intent on not running into Hunter, she walked aimlessly around until she stopped, realizing what she had been doing. She looked around and found herself right outside of Hunter's dressing room. Damn, how had she found herself here? Of all the places she could've ended up, and she was here. Maybe this was a sign of some sort. Maybe she should knock. Before she knew what she was doing, she had already knocked.

She got nervous and started to walk away, how could she have had the gall to do that? Sure, she was a McMahon and McMahon's were fearless, but doing something like this, it terrified her. Little did she know that someone had opened that dressing room door.

"If it isn't my favorite Princess," a voice said.

Stephanie stopped in her tracks, but didn't turn around, "Please tell me he's not there."

"He's not here yet."

She sighed in relief and turned around, "Where is he?"

"Hell if I know, nor do I care."

"Good, I'm glad you don't know."

"Why were you knocking on his door anyways?" he asked, looking at her with a smirk.

"None of your business assclown."

"Ooh, that one hurt Stephanie."

"Good, I'm going now."

"Why don't you just talk to him Stephanie, you know it wouldn't be that hard."

"Easy for you to say."

"Hey, I buried the hatchet with the guy, and we had a tough history."

"Yeah, but you weren't married to him and then broke his heart after you told him you were pregnant."

"Touché."

"I'm getting out of here before he gets--"

"Before who gets where?" a gruff voice said.

Stephanie winced at Chris, who had that look in his eyes like Stephanie was in some deep shit. She took a deep breath as Chris smirked in her direction and went inside the dressing room and closed the door. She didn't want to turn around but did it anyways.

"Hunter," she said quietly.

"Stephanie," he said, with a twinge of malice in his voice.

"Um, I'm sorry, I was just going."

"Why were you near my dressing room?"

"Talking to Chris," she said, getting defensive, "Is it a crime for me to talk to my friends?"

"Frankly I don't care who you talk to Stephanie," Hunter said.

"Good, cause the same goes for me."

"Fine."

"Fine!" she yelled.

"Are you going to let me pass?" Hunter said, gesturing to her standing in his way.

"Oh, sorry," she mumbled and moved out of his way, her back up against the wall.

Hunter walked past her then looked back, "You're looking good Steph."

She smiled, "You think so?"

"Yeah, you do."

"Thanks."

"No problem," he said, starting to turn the knob of his dressing room.

"Hunter," she called out.

"Yeah?" he asked, turning back around.

"I'm sorry."

"For what?" he asked confused.

"For everything I put you through. I realized I never apologized for anything I did to you, and that's not fair to you."

Hunter smiled genuinely at her, "Thanks Steph, I really needed to hear that."

"You're welcome, you needed to know anyways."

Hunter turned to open the door, "Bye Steph."

"That's not all I have to say," she blurted out.

He turned to her once again, "Was there something else."

She took a deep breath, "I still love you."

"Excuse me?" he asked, his mouth agape.

"I still love you," she whispered, "I don't think I ever stopped."

"God Stephanie, that's a lot to drop on me, you know."

"I'm sorry," she said, rushing off, not giving him a chance to answer her.

She practically ran back to her office and went inside quickly. She walked over to her desk and sat down heavily in the big leather chair. How could she have just told him like that? Was she stupid or something? He didn't want to hear that, and now she had poured her heart out to him and she was so embarrassed.

She was so engrossed in her thoughts that she didn't even bother to turn on the television to watch the show. She knew that she should watch it, but couldn't bring herself to leave her position at the desk. Suddenly there was a knock on the door.

"Come in," she called, figuring it was Kurt.

The person came in and she saw that it was Hunter, and she quickly looked down, her cheeks burning in embarrassment. What was he doing here? Was he going to embarrass her more? Why couldn't he just leave her alone, to wallow in her self despair.

"Steph?"

"What?"

"You ran off," he stated.

"I know."

"And you didn't give me a chance to respond."

"Sorry," she mumbled.

He came inside more, closing the door behind him. He walked over to her desk and pulled the chair out from behind it. He kneeled next to her chair and turned it so she was facing him. Stephanie was too embarrassed to look up.

"Did you mean what you said?" he asked quietly.

She nodded mutely.

"You didn't have to run away you know."

"I didn't want to stay and hear what you had to say."

"But what if it was good news?"

Stephanie scoffed, "I doubt that."

Hunter tilted her face up make eye contact, "It would've been, had you stayed."

"Huh?"

He leaned in and kissed her softly, "You should've stayed."

Stephanie kept her eyes closed, fearing that when she opened them she would wake up from this dream. But then she felt Hunter's lips on hers again and she kissed back feverishly. He pulled away a second time and she dared open her eyes to see his hazel eyes gazing back at her.

"Why'd you do that?" she asked.

"Come on Stephanie, don't tell me you got stupid while we were apart?" he joked.

"No, but...you hate me."

"I don't hate you, I never did. I was more hurt than angry."

"So?"

"So?"

"You still love me?"

"Of course I do, you're not that easy to get over Steph."

"So where do we go from here?" she asked.

"Wherever the hell we want, we are the most dominant couple aren't we?"

To be continued...if you tell me you want it continued.