"Stephanie would you like some more wine?"

Stephanie cleared her head and came out of her dream world with her mother's question. She stared at her blankly, not quite sure what she said but knowing that she said something. Linda looked at her daughter curiously. She had been acting strangely all night. Something was definitely up with her.

"Are you OK" she asked with concern and narrowed her eyes at Stephanie's nod. She knew her daughter too well. She was lying but she'd get it out of her later.

"I'm fine mom, really," she smiled at her mother reassuringly.

Linda held the wine bottle towards her. "More wine?"

Stephanie nodded her head and took a sip when her mother stopped pouring. "Mmmm. This is good," she remarked, trying to make small talk. Her head wasn't fully there. Instead it was still back in that locker room earlier today. Paul's face was moving closer and closer. She could feel his breath on her face.

"Stephanie!"

For the second time in a few minutes, her mother's voice broke her reverie and she stared at her with narrowed eyes. She glanced at her dad who was busy chatting with Shane and Marissa about something before looking back at her mother. Linda leaned across the table and Stephanie followed suit.

"You want to tell me what's up with you? You've been drifting in and out of dream land all night. And don't tell me you're fine because I know you're not" she said in the way that only a mother can.

Stephanie stared at the table and shook her head. "It's nothing mom. I swear. Today was just really hectic, that's all." She gave her best smile and was relieved to see her mother's face soften.

"I just worry you know. Being at the top of this company isn't easy. If it's too much, just say and we can lighten the work load. There are plenty of people that would be willing to step up." Linda said softly as she reached across and patted Stephanie's hand. She frowned when she felt the smooth, cold surface hit her fingers. Looking down, she noticed that Stephanie still had her wedding ring on from the show. She looked back at her and smiled. "Today must have been hectic. You've forgotten to take your wedding ring off!" She exclaimed lifting Stephanie's hand into the air then setting it back down. "How is your 'husband' by the way?" she asked innocently.

Stephanie stared at her absolutely horrified. She couldn't answer questions about Paul and what the hell with the wedding ring! How could she forget to take it off? She stared at the shiny gold band, then lifted her head and was met with four curious faces staring back. Trust the rest of her family to choose now to join into their conversation.

"Yeah, Stephanie. How is Paul? I hope he's looking forward to this program with Taker. It should be just as good as his feud with Steve," Vince piped in happily until he noticed the almost deer-caught-in-the-headlights-expression on his daughter's face. He frowned and looked at his wife then back at Stephanie. "Steph are you alright?"

Stephanie could feel the walls of the restaurant closing in on her. Her mother, father, Shane and Marissa were all staring at her. The gold band on her finger felt like it was burning into her and she could still see the heart breaking look on Paul's face as she walked away from him earlier today. "I'm fine OK! Would you all stop asking what's wrong. There's nothing wrong because I'm fine," she snapped. She stood and headed straight for the door, needing to get some fresh air and needing to get away from all these damn questions.

The rest of the McMahon family stared at each other in shock. It wasn't like Stephanie to just snap like that. It usually took a lot to get to her. Vince made a move to go after her when Marissa stopped him.

"I'll go. Maybe she needs some girl talk," she smiled sympathetically at him and headed towards the door. She walked outside and saw Stephanie leaning against the wall with her eyes closed. She probably didn't know she was doing it, but her right hand was wrapped around her left one, subconsciously protecting the ring on her finger. The ring she had yet to take off. Marissa smiled sadly. She knew what this was about. She approached her sister in law and placed a comforting hand on her shoulder.

Stephanie's eyes opened slowly and she nodded at Marissa. They had always got along well. Shane had been dating her since forever and they really were like sisters. "I'm fine, Rissa."

"Don't try to play me, Stephanie. Something's obviously got you like this, or rather someone," she stated and deadpanned when Stephanie looked at her with a slightly shocked expression on her face. "Come on, Steph. I know this is about Paul. Spill it," she coaxed. When she got no reply she bumped her shoulder and tried again. "Stephanie," she said in a sing song voice which caused a brief smile to appear on the other woman's face.

"OK you're right! Happy now?" she replied in a huff.

Marissa laughed and bumped her shoulder. "Steph come on. It's me. You know you can tell me. What happened?"

Stephanie sighed heavily as she pulled the ring from her finger. She stared at it for a second before putting it inside her pocket and looking at Marissa. "We almost kissed today," she admitted.

"What!?" Marissa was genuinely shocked. She knew Stephanie had been devastated when they were told to break it off. She wasn't that close to Paul and didn't know him all that well but Shane had told her that he'd taken it pretty badly too. She never guessed that they would go against Vince though. Even if she didn't know Paul personally, she knew enough to know that Paul respected Vince and vice versa. Vince had nothing but good things to say about Paul and he was discussed over the dinner table many times.

"I know, Riss. I can't believe it almost happened. And you know what? The only reason it didn't is because the camera crew broke it up. God what the hell am I doing?" Her hand ran over her face as she sighed.

Marissa's heart went out to her. She knew that they hadn't told each other those three little words when they were together but there was no doubt in her mind that Stephanie was in love with him. And for Paul to risk kissing her at the arena spoke volumes. He had to feel the same way otherwise he'd be crazy to just be fooling around like that. "Did you want it to happen?"

The answer was so quiet she almost didn't hear it. She looked at her and this time, she heard the answer.

"Yes," Stephanie managed to get out. She was in serious danger of breaking down here. She'd already spilled too many tears over this whole situation and was determined not to spill any more. She looked at her sister in law in desperate need of advice. "What am I going to do? I can't stop thinking about him. I thought I'd get over it but I don't think I can. And then that had to happen today. Tempting me. I don't know what to do. I miss him so much but my dad....." she broke off, not able to continue.

"Have you tried dating anybody else? Maybe the only way to move on is to actually move on. I know this guy, Oscar. He's a really sweet guy. Maybe you two could go out sometime?" suggested Marissa. The only way to get her mind off of Paul was if she distanced herself from him.

"I don't know. I don't think I'm ready for that yet," Stephanie replied hesitantly. The thought of trying to date again didn't seem appealing at all. Especially when her heart belonged to another.

"Steph, you have to try something. If you keep going on like this then you're going to be miserable. You have to try and get over him and if it's not happening on its own then you have to make it happen. You never know it might be fun," she smiled reassuringly and pulled out her cell phone.

Stephanie was gazing out at the busy street and when she turned around her face fell. "Marissa!" she called angrily.

Marissa swatted her hand away as she talked on the phone. "Hi Oscar, its Marissa here. I'm doing great, what about you? That's great. Listen, do you remember my sister in law? I was telling you about her the other day? Yes, Stephanie. Well she told me that she'd love to go out with you some time. Sure I'll give you her number and you can sort it out. It's 555-4967. You get that? OK great. Good luck! Bye!" She hung up the phone and laughed at the mortified expression on Stephanie's face.

"I CANNOT BELIEVE YOU JUST DID THAT!" Stephanie exclaimed, causing a few people who were walking by to turn and stare at them oddly.

"Steph....."

"OH MY GOD!"

"Calm down will you? It's just a date for Christ sakes!" Marissa couldn't stop the laughter. Stephanie's expression was priceless. Yeah, it wasn't the nicest thing to do but if she ever wanted to get over Paul then she figured a good kick in the right direction would do no harm. Stephanie was still staring at her in shock. Marissa copied her expression and without meaning to, Stephanie chuckled. That was all it took to send both women into fits of laughter. After a minute or two, they calmed down and Stephanie pulled Marissa into a hug.

"Thanks, Rissa. You don't know how much I needed that laugh. Maybe you're right," she said as they broke apart.

"I am right. Now come, let's head back in before Shane eats all the desert." Marissa pulled on her arm and they headed back inside. As they sat back down at the table, Stephanie reassured her family that she was fine. Maybe Marissa was right. Maybe going on a date with somebody other than Paul would help get her mind off him and maybe it would help her finally move on. She smiled at that thought and tucked into her hot fudge cake. But as the hot desert warmed her mouth with it's wonderful flavour, she wondered if anybody would ever be able to warm her heart in the same way as the man she simply couldn't have always managed to do.