Disclaimer: I don't own nor have I ever claimed to own any of the WWE or TNA stars in this fic.

Author's Note: This is inspired by Chris Jericho's imminent return. I hope you all enjoy it and the many pairings and musi that sprung from my head as I was writing. If you have livejournal shoot over to my profile and add my writing journal as a friend, which is under the name rabidtazwrites. Everything I write gets put there first.


Chris Jericho generally didn't get nervous. He hadn't been nervous when he'd gone to Mexico, or when he'd first started wrestling in Japan. He hadn't even been nervous when he'd first come to the WWE and heard the Y2J clock count down to zero before he was supposed to walk out and interrupt Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson. He'd been all over recently, doing book signings everywhere without knowing if his book would do well without WWE backing or not, yet it had, a New York Times Best Seller in fact. But now, as he made his way from the underground parking garage into the arena for the first time in two years he was not only nervous but completely and utterly terrified. It wasn't that he thought the fans would reject him, or be disappointed to see him. He was more worried about the reaction of the boys in the back, in the locker room. Would they react well to him when he had basically turned his back on them in the past?

Taking a deep breath Chris reached out and rested his hand on the door handle for a moment, as though he were waiting for it to open on its own. He'd regretted not contacting anyone, but when he was burnt out on the business he was burnt out. Keeping his sanity had meant distancing himself from every facet of the business no matter what; Chris hadn't really been thinking about what it would cost him in relationships with people who he cared genuinely about.

"You're kind of in the way, standing where you are Chris," The melodic husky voice of Shawn Michaels said from behind him. "Regretting your decision?" He questioned, not even waiting for the younger wrestler to turn around.

Chris pivoted, opening the door for Shawn he followed him in, unable to stop himself from smiling at the legend. Something about Shawn's honesty always managed to make him smile or laugh, despite the fact that sometimes he didn't have anything nice to say. "I'm not regretting my decision per se, I'm just regretting the way I ended certain business here." He walked alongside Shawn, hands shoved into the pockets of his well worn jeans.

Shawn nodded slowly, "I'm sure anyone who really cares, and knows you well will understand why you felt the need to cut them out of your life for a little while," His voice was smoother now as it always was when he was about to impart some nugget of wisdom. "You aren't the only person to get burnt out in this business, hell you're considered lucky if all you have to do when you burn out is not see people for a little while. If there are people who don't understand that what you did was for your own mental health they aren't worth your effort, or your time. And most likely they don't belong in this business either because then when they burn out they'll end up getting in some trouble."

"And you Shawn?" Chris asked, turning his head to glance at the other man. "Do you forgive me for ignoring your e-mails and calls?" He tilted his head to the side.

Smiling Shawn reached over and clapped him on the shoulder, "Look at it this way," He told him. "I didn't have to listen to your insane ramblings at two am when you got some idea for a match that you just had to share with someone."

Chris laughed and looped his arm around Shawn's shoulders pulling him in close he playfully dropped a kiss on Shawn's temple, affectionate as always. "Well I'm back now Shawn, and it's your job, as the gossip queen of all three shows to let me know what's been going on in this little world of ours," He smirked knowing the older man couldn't resist spreading the word about anything, good or bad.

"Okay then, Mr. New York Times Best Seller, let's adjourn to my locker room and we can have a long talk about what you've been missing since your left. Lucky for you, no one who shares it with me will be here for awhile," Shawn led him down the hallway and pushed open a door, gesturing for him to follow.

Smiling happily Chris dropped down on the couch, "Start with the people you regularly hang out with and move on out," He suggested, tapping his index finger on his chin.

"Hunter is still happily pretending to be married to Stephanie McMahon and helping her take care of their baby girl. Kevin and Scott are back together in TNA, the Kid is wrestling around the country but is clean while doing it which is a big accomplishment. David is still one of the most hated men in the locker room merely because he's shy," Shawn ticked off named on his fingers. "Mark is still mooning after a certain someone, it's to the point of being somewhat disgusting."

Chris nodded, smiling when he heard about Hunter and Steph's baby, the grin only widening when Shawn mentioned Kevin and Scott as well as Sean. "So what about you Shawn? Who are you with nowadays?" He arched an eyebrow, studying the superstar.

"I don't think you've ever met him, but you do know me too well Chris. I've been with this person for almost six months or so, despite the brand extension," Shawn smiled, and Chris' expression lightened, his friend before he'd left had seemed almost ready to break down, the grueling schedule had been something Shawn had never gotten used to.

"Riight, so who is he?" Chris asked, eager to know who could make the Heartstopper's eyes look so filled with happiness.

"Me," A soft voice replied from the doorway, a smile lighting the darkhaired man's face when Chris swiveled around to look at him. His hair, almost black it was such a dark brown was nearly shoulder length, his face looking tired. His dark eyes that Chris had never seen not filled with solemnity on television were bright and lively as he made his way to sit beside Shawn, moving automatically into the legend's side as though gravity itself dictated he'd be there.

"Hi Shawn," He ghosted his lips across Shawn's, the metal of his lip ring scraping across the older man's bottom lip. He didn't seem like one for public displays of affection, but Chris was clearly a cross friend. Turning back to Chris he extended a tattooed hand and smiled crookedly, "Nice to meet you finally Chris. My name is Phil," He greeted.

Chris shook his hand quickly, looking back and forth between the two of them his eyes were almost comically wide as he studied their mannerisms, Shawn's hand now gently massaging Phil's inner thigh in a touch that wasn't sexual, but somewhat soothing. "You're dating CM Punk?" He couldn't help but sputter out. The WWE most certainly was a different place from when he'd left. He scrabbled in his memory and was able to vaguely recall CM teaming with DX at one point, but because he hadn't been in contact with Shawn, or anyone at the time hadn't known there'd been anything more to it other than a storyline.

"Really Chris, he likes to go by just Phil when he's not in the ring," Shawn smirked, unable to find some kind of amusement from his friend's complete and utter shock.

Phil curled slightly, resting his feet on the table in front of them his head lowered to Shawn's shoulder as he peered over at Chris, his dark eyes no longer holding any emotion at all. "Do you have a problem with me?" His voice was level, and despite his position Chris had no doubt in his mind that Shawn and Phil's relationship was an equal partnership. It wasn't something he'd ever seen Shawn have for that matter.

Chris shook his head hastily, protests already spilling from his lips. "No I have no problem with you, from what I've heard you're a very nice guy. A very nice guy with upstanding morals and such, made better by your lifestyle. I just never expected Shawn to end up with someone like you, to be honest I always thought he would end up with one of the Kliq." He nearly smacked himself on the forehead, for some reason when he was nervous it was quite hard for him to not babble.

Shawn chuckled, the sound noticeably causing a reaction in both men, Phil smiled and Chris visibly relaxed. "It's alright Chris, you're not the only one surprised by this, Hunter was about ready to have a heart attack or something when he found out. Then Kevin grilled poor Phil for about a half hour before it was deemed okay for me to date Phil by everyone."

Studying Phil and the look of adoration on his face Chris' smile widened, it wasn't the adoration of a fan, it was the adoration of a lover, and soul mate. "I'm happy for you in that case; if you can stick around through one of Kevin's sessions then it must be love." He leaned over Shawn to pat Phil on the shoulder lightly, and dropped a kiss on the Heartbreak Kid's face.

"And what about your love life Chris?" Shawn asked, turning the tables on his friend he couldn't help but be amused when Chris' face immediately adopted a look of horror. "Have you talked to him yet?"

Chris sighed, running his hand through his hair, not for the first time missing its former length. "No I haven't, not since I said goodbye…" He trailed off. Although his lover hadn't been in WWE when Chris had left he'd still be quite hurt by Chris not discussing it with him first. "I tried calling him for a little while, but he really just didn't want to talk to me. How is he doing anyway?" He averted his eyes from Shawn's.

"Better than he was, he's got a good network of people willing to help him out now, willing to cover his back," Shawn responded, feeling uncomfortable as he could practically feel several different emotions radiating off of Chris. "I'm sure he'd be happy to see you," He told him.

Scoffing Chris shook his head, "I think it would be healthier for both of us if I didn't see him, or at least didn't seek him out, I don't want to screw up his life if he's doing well. I already did enough of that for both of us, no point in trying to turn back time."

"He really is doing better," Phil piped up, obviously having been informed of the goings on of Chris' life before he'd left the business for two years. "I room with him sometimes, and he's really got his life on track. Of course it helps that he's too polite to do drugs in front of someone whose straight edge, and that the wellness policy is firmer now."

Relief flooded Chris at the mention of drug use, or at least a diminished drug use from his former lover. "I'm glad to hear that. I never understood why he felt the need to do that in the first place," He went to speak again only to be interrupted by a knock on the door, one of Vince's assistants poking her head in the door.

"Mr. Irvine, Vince would like to speak with you," She told him politely before ducking back out of the room.

Shawn smiled kindly at him, "Well it seems like we'll finish this conversation another time Chris, and believe me we will be talking more about this," He shook his fist mockingly at the younger wrestler and winked slyly.

Chris stood up and smiled at both men, "I'm really happy for you Shawn," He avoided the subject at hand and made his way out of the dressing room. As he walked down the hall he kept his eyes on the floor, his mind whirling with thoughts he couldn't control, until he bumped into someone and stepped back. His eyes widened as he saw who he'd run into, "I'm sorry for running into you, wasn't watching where I was going."

"Always with your head in the clouds," Jeff Hardy smiled at him, the expression almost hesitant, purple locks of hair falling into his eyes. "Or are you planning out your next book?" There was a slight sting to his words, his eyes hooded and not showing any emotion.

Managing a feeble smile Chris shook his head, "Trying to plan my promo for tonight, while on my way to meet up with Vince." He explained needlessly, it had been awhile since he'd had to explain himself to anyone, much less Jeff but here he found himself doing it again. "It's really good to see you again Jeff. You look great, the new piercing…and the tan." He could remember lying in the sun with Jeff curled against his side…He reached out without thinking.

"I'm sure it is good to see me again, I really wish I could say the same," The typically gentle Southerner's tone was caustic now as Jeff stepped back away from Chris' almost touch. "I have to go rehearse for my match tonight, I hope you'll understand if I don't stand around mooning after you like everyone else has been." He took another step, hazel eyes now filled with fire. "I'm sure you understand, I wouldn't want to interrupt your life or anything." He turned and continued down the hallway.

Chris watched him go, feeling pained. Maybe his return wouldn't be the best thing after all, at least not in some people's eyes. He sighed, wishing for days when instead of a glare he'd receive a bright and loving smile from that beautiful face.

A door a little ways down the hall opened and heavy footsteps made their way towards Chris, a hand falling onto his shoulder. "Is everything okay Chris?" He turned to look up into Vince McMahon's smiling eyes and managed a weak nod, wishing he felt as confident as he acted.