So I had a particular day in mind for when everything would finally blow up horribly. This chapter throws that off actually. But with all the fighting it didn't make sense, plot-wise for them not to have this convo already. The "disaster" chapter doesn't have to be on a holiday, I suppose. LOL.

Hunter didn't give up hope that Stephanie would stop being pissed at him. Not until he heard the water get turned on, followed by her pulling the shower curtain.

He sighed heavily, deciding that he also needed a shower. A damn cold one, since she'd literally left him to fend for himself. He wasn't a fool, though. He knew good and well that the only reason she'd chosen to shower at that precise moment was because she was as turned on as he was. Because she was a female, obviously she didn't have the same glaring signs that he did. But he knew her and her body well enough to come to that conclusion. It made him a bit less annoyed to know that she was suffering right along with him.

He padded into the hallway and grabbed towels from the linen closet before continuing to the bathroom.

Hunter washed up quickly, and then just allowed the cold water to do its job and soothe him. To calm down, he also made himself think of the unsexiest thing he could. He thought back to the old affair between Mark Henry and Mae Young. The whole thing was comically disgusting and culminated in Mae Young giving birth to a hand of all things. Hunter shuddered at the memories, but they'd done what he intended. He switched off the water and walked back to his bedroom with a towel wrapped around his waist.

In their master bathroom, Stephanie was trying to keep her crying from being audible. The shower made that a bit easier because it was drowning her out. She just didn't understand what was going on in her marriage. Every time they seemed to make progress, they regressed. It was beginning to frustrate the hell out of her. She just wanted their relationship to be filled with love and happiness. Obviously, the love hadn't gone anywhere. But the happiness was beginning to waver. She just couldn't understand how all this damage had been done in no more than a week.

Which made her wonder if something had been wrong for much longer than that, and she'd simply been blind to it.

Hunter turned his head at the sound of the door opening. Stephanie appeared, running her hand through her hair. She was wearing a tank top and boyshorts. His brow furrowed with his scrutiny, noting that her eyes were puffy and red. "Steph?"

Stephanie looked over to the bed and was halfway shocked to see him propped up against the pillows wearing a pair of boxers. "Just leave me alone, Hunter," she said softly. Her bare feet relished in the feel of the plush carpet as she made her way to the bed. Hunter had already turned down the covers, so she just climbed on in.

"Can we talk?"

"I don't want to talk. I want to sleep." To emphasize her point, she turned on her side and yanked the sheet over her body, all the way up to her chin.

Hunter leaned over and peeled the sheet back so he could see her better. Her sad, yet infuriated blue eyes narrowed at him but she stayed silent. "Steph, I can't fix it if you don't tell me what's wrong."

Stephanie huffed out a breath and moved to sit up. "That's just it, Hunter!" She exclaimed, slapping a hand against her pillow. "I don't know exactly what needs fixing. We just…keep having these misunderstandings and arguments. And-and I don't understand you and you don't understand me. But at least I was trying. It feels like you're not trying to get me anymore. And I don't know, I got a little fed up, I guess."

Hunter's eyebrows rose and he snorted. "Misunderstandings? You kicked me out of our house just a few days ago. That wasn't a damn misunderstanding, it was a decision. Things haven't been right with us ever since."

Stephanie put both hands in her hair and tugged. Yet again, they'd gone back to this extremely unlikely scenario. "Howard is your identical twin. I thought he was you," she explained for what felt like the hundredth time. "Hunter, barring that old Trish Stratus thing, I never entertained the idea that you would cheat on me." She lowered her voice considerably because she was being sincere. "Doesn't that count for something? Doesn't it matter that he literally shares the same DNA as you and we had no idea he existed?"

Hunter scratched underneath his chin and shrugged. "Of course it does. I'm just saying."

"What are you saying exactly?"

Because he still didn't have a complete explanation for how he personally felt, he would go with the most obvious. He hadn't pinpointed what was going on in his heart. But his mind had easily figured out when things started going to shit. "Steph, ever since that whole thing happened, things have been different between us."

"So you're saying it's totally and completely my fault that this – whatever the hell this is, is happening?"

Hunter shrugged again. "Didn't say that."

"Say what you do mean, then."

"You've been acting really strange ever since we found out about Howard."

"I've been," Stephanie muttered softly, in amazement. "Strange," she said absently. That's the conclusion Hunter had drawn? That she'd been behaving out of sorts ever since his no-good twin showed up? Maybe that was somewhat true, but it was only in response to the way Hunter was behaving since the guy showed up.

"Yeah. I don't know. I don't know exactly what's been going on with you but that's when it started."

"Hunter who's the one that takes care of you when you're sick or hurt, huh? I've carried and given birth to not one, not two but three of your children and you've even talked me into having another. I have literally devoted almost ten years of my life trying to keep you happy and give you what you need and want from me."

Hunter sighed. It wasn't like he hadn't done the same for her. Physically speaking, he wasn't able to have kids because he was a male. But he did his best at helping out and taking care of them and his wife. "Steph, I appreciate all of it. I really do. But I've dedicated my life to you also, so what is your point?"

"My point, Hunter…is that as soon as your brother came blowing into our lives, he's been in your ear spouting off his woman-hating bullshit advice and opinions. Clearly, you're soaking the shit up because I've heard you quote the guy dozens of times in the last few days. You seem to be treating me with less respect and less appreciation and I don't like it one damn bit."

Hunter looked down and rubbed at his forehead, feeling the beginnings of a dull headache. "You're so fucking off base, Stephanie."

"You can't tell me how the hell I feel. Only I can do that…and I'm telling you now. I feel that very soon you're just gonna start seeing me as some sort of damn trophy or sex object. And I really feel like Howard's company and opinions have started to mean more to you than mine."

His hazel eyes snapped back to her and he laughed incredulously. "That's it, right there! You're jealous," he uttered in shock. "You're jealous of my brother."

"Have you not listened to a word I just said?

Hunter nodded. "I've listened to everything. And that's really your whole problem. Isn't it? You can't stand that he's around and taking up some of my time."

"You're right. I can't stand that he's around, but not for the reasons you think."

Hunter gestured that the floor was all hers.

It was now or never. She could continue to withhold the entirety of her dislike for Howard…and see Hunter's smug expression because he'd believe she was jealous. Or she could lay it all out there and deal with whatever happened as a result.

"I think he's a horrible influence on you, will be a horrible influence on the kids if they were to spend time with him. And to top it off I don't really think he plans to stick around. Hunter he doesn't even talk to the parents that raised him, he treats women like they're disposable…ties don't seem to be his thing. I honestly think he's just here to vacation and party, not to become a part of your family. And in the meantime you're going to let him wreck our marriage."

Hunter bit down on his lip. He wasn't sure what he felt at the moment. He was angry that Stephanie could think of his brother in such a way. He was angry that in her mind, he was being warped by Howard. And he was undoubtedly starting to feel sad that her comments suggested that he wasn't worth getting to know or something. "You're wrong," he said simply.

Because she could see that he was mulling the idea over and not liking it one bit, she reached her hand out to his cheek. She ran her fingers down to his chin and pulled him over for a peck on the lips. "I hope I am."

Instead of replying to her, Hunter got comfortable in the bed. He scooted away a couple of inches and punched his pillow just because he felt like it and needed an outlet of some kind. Getting into a debate or argument with Stephanie over a situation no one could be sure of, was not going to be that outlet. He pulled the covers up and closed his eyes.

Stephanie watched him and his body language carefully. She sighed and rubbed the back of her neck, unsure of what she should do. Hell, she wasn't even sure if telling him had been the proper course of action. Now he was stonewalling her. And if he didn't believe her, he was just going to think she was crazy and jealous. Either way, he was going to resent her for what she said. But she just couldn't keep it to herself any longer. Not when Hunter was totally misconstruing things and making her out to be the bad guy. With a shake of her head she reached over and tapped the light on the nightstand. With the exception of the soft glow being cast by the skylight, they were left in darkness in more ways than one.

As she began to let herself drift to sleep, she wondered if their relationship would ever be light again.

Changing the rating to mature when I post the next chapter. So for those of you not "following" the fic, make sure to change the default search rating from "K-T" to include "M" so that it shows up for you :-D