A/N: Thanks for your patience in waiting, I was exhausted last night after the show. It was a pretty good time (best part? Why seeing Jericho live of course, and looking delicious), although I did find that I pretty much root for all the people that everyone else hates, and then I get drowned out when everyone is cheering for other people. Oh well, I'll go down loving Kurt and Jericho over Hogan and Cena.

Enjoy the chapter. :)

"Ooh, it's hot outside, feel the windows."

"I'm not feeling the windows Stephanie," Kurt said from the front seat. He looked in the backseat to where Stephanie was sitting. "I know it's hot, we passed by a big sign that said the temperature."

"I'm just saying," Stephanie said. "And while we're on the subject of…stuff, why am I stuck in the backseat while you and Chris are in the front seat."

"Because I am driving," Chris answered, "And Kurt is my navigator, and you are just sitting back there."

"I think that I could be your navigator if you would let me," Stephanie said petulantly, folding her arms and leaning back against the seat. "I should get to sit in the front seat."

"Stephanie, Kurt is bigger than you are, and he needs more room, you are smaller and you can fit in the backseat," Chris told her.

"Fine," she said, "Are we almost there?"

"Yeah, we're like ten minutes away," Kurt said as he looked at his directions and then up at a passing road sign. "So do you guys know if Christian or Trish is going to be at the show tonight?"

"I don't think so," Stephanie said, "On both counts. Trish told me that she's back in Canada for a while, you know to think. And Christian didn't want to come if Trish wasn't going to be here."

"He said that he just didn't feel right about it," Chris added. "I guess I feel his point, maybe, I don't really know. I mean, if I were on SmackDown, I would want to be at Raw regardless."

"Yeah, but I'm always at Raw," Stephanie said, "Trish isn't here tonight, and I'm sorry, but we dealt with a moping Christian for the entire weekend and I just need one break."

"You would think that he would come to help Lita or something," Kurt said, as Chris pulled into the arena. "Just to make sure she was ok. I know he had that whole plan with Stephanie about her."

"It wasn't so much a plan as it was just trying to help her. After what Kane did to her last week even I'm a little bit worried about her. But don't you even dare tell her I said that. But I just don't like the whole threatening thing. Kane is one scary guy," Stephanie said.

"I can't believe you admitted to being concerned about Lita," Chris said. "This is definitely a first."

"Oh be quiet," Stephanie said from her backseat. "I probably wouldn't be so concerned if I was in the front seat. But nope, I got the shaft and had to sit back here like a little kid."

"You ARE the youngest one in the car," Chris said.

"Yeah, because you two are old, old, old," Stephanie said, sticking her tongue out. "I'm with two old men."

"You might want to watch your words Stephanie," Kurt said, trying to be menacing. "We're two very big wrestlers, and we might not take too kindly to being called old."

"And what are you going to do old man? Hit me with your cane or throw your dentures at me?" Stephanie challenged.

"Them's fighting words little missy," Chris said jokingly.

Stephanie loved this. She loved that Kurt and Chris were both with her. They truly were like the Three Musketeers. She had been archiving some various tapes that Chris had laying around and seen some old stuff and she was surprised at just how often Chris and Kurt had partnered up, it was quite a few times by her own count. But they were all such good friends that this was just like old times and she felt so happy to be here…even if she was stuck in the backseat.

"Oh yeah, like you'd fight your wife," Stephanie said to him. "You wouldn't dare fight me, and I'm not scared of the two of you. When it comes down to it, you know that I can kick your ass."

"I'd like to see that happen," Kurt said as Chris parked the car. The three of them got out of the car and started walking towards the arena, Stephanie shoving both of them around as they laughed.

"Well, I'm going to go check the schedule with Bischoff really quick," Stephanie said, "He did the schedule tonight, but I just want to make sure he didn't do anything stupid with it. I don't see how he could've screwed it up, but whatever, it's a holiday, we always expect nobody to be watching on a holiday."

"Nice way of thinking Steph," Kurt said.

"I know," Stephanie responded, then kissed Chris. "See you later boys."

She walked off ahead and Chris stared at her a moment before Kurt nudged him and rolled his eyes. It wasn't his fault that his wife was wearing a nice pair of jeans that made him almost drool. Sometimes he just stared at her and wondered how the hell he had ended up with someone like Stephanie. She was obviously different from any other women he had dated because none of them had been in the wrestling business and none of them had fathers that could buy whatever they wanted.

"She's gorgeous, what can I say?" Chris finally said.

"Yeah, I know she's gorgeous."

"Don't stare at my wife!"

"I wasn't staring at your wife!" Kurt argued. "Although I used to stare. And that kiss we shared, man, that was some good stuff."

"Look, you can't say that! You're my best friend and she's my wife, that's creepy. And it just plain grosses me out," Chris said, hitting Kurt in the shoulder.

Kurt rubbed his shoulder. "God, you get mean when you're threatened."

"Like I'd really be scared that you would steal my wife away," Chris scoffed. "She loves me and not you, you were never more than a friend to her."

"Yeah, that's true, but damn, she is such a good kisser."

"Are you looking for a fight?"

"Yeah, that's what I'm looking for," Kurt said seriously. "I want to fight you Jericho, I hate your guts and I hope you die."

"Now say that like you mean it," Chris said with a laugh. "So we get more Hogan tonight, yawn, yawn. It's like the guy doesn't know what to quit. Of course, Vince is letting him plug his show on Carlito's Cabana. Isn't that the stupidest name in the world."

"Yeah, I mean, Cabana, Highlight Reel, how can the two compare."

"That's exactly what I'm saying," Chris said, shrugging. "And he gets Hogan, ooh, woop-de-doo, we've beaten up on Hogan…remember that man? That was awesome, and we were posing in the ring with him, good times."

"Oh yeah," Kurt nodded, "That was awesome and didn't we kick Hunter's ass too?"

"Hell yeah we did, we ruled…and we suddenly sound like Edge and Christian back in the day," Chris said, starting to freak himself out.

"Remember when we cut Edge's hair!" Kurt said happily. "That was one of the funniest moments ever. He wasn't even expecting it and we brought out those scissors and snip snip, poor Edge lost a chunk of his greasy hair."

"Wow, that's pretty catty for you Kurt," Chris said. "Edge deserves it though, for what he said about Stephanie, and what he did to Christian, and now Lita, all of it, he deserves all of it, and to think I called him a friend."

"Well let's get back to the ancient Hogan. I've seen clips of his show and it's not even about him, it's about his daughter, Brooke. I guess the people over at vh1 know where the real money is."

"Yeah, Hogan needs to just stay away, I mean, I hope that someday I know when to quit."

"Even though you'll probably still be around," Kurt added.

"Behind the scenes, not parading around with feather boas like I'm some drag queen."

Kurt shook his head as they actually entered the arena. It had been sweltering hot outside, not as bad as some places they had been, but it was a hundred degrees and that was hot enough for some people. Luckily Chris had dressed pretty sensibly in a tank top, though the jeans had not been the best idea, but he was going to be indoors for most of the evening. Besides, Stephanie had told him looked hot and if his wife liked it, he liked it.

"I'm going to go put my stuff in my locker room," Kurt said, "I'll catch up with you later."

"Yeah, or you'd have to walk back to the hotel," Chris said. He spotted Lita up ahead and decided he would play Christian's role for tonight and make sure that she was alright. She had had a tough night last week, with Kane's threats and he wondered why Edge would make her come when she was in danger. If Stephanie was in danger, Chris would at least ask her to stay home for her own safety. Stephanie would then scoff at him and ignore him, but the sentiment would be there.

Lita spotted him a few seconds later and smiled, "Hey Chris."

"Hey Lita, I was just wondering how you were…and why the hell you were all alone."

"I don't know, maybe I want Kane to snatch me away," Lita said cryptically. "But thanks for asking. I guess I should be afraid, and I am, after last week, but then…well, I won't get into it here."

"Ok," Chris said, even though he could take a wild guess at what it was. "I know that Christian was kind of looking out for you."

"He doesn't have a reason to, I'm very happy with Edge," Lita lied. She just wanted to be left alone. She could deal with Edge, she could deal with all the crap that he dealt her, she would just need the time to deal with it. Nobody was giving her any time. "He's definitely better looking than Kane."

"Yeah, I think anything in nature is better looking than Kane," Chris joked. "I was just wondering how you were doing though, with everything."

"I'm good, I'm fine, and I'm just…I'm hanging out," Lita said, "But thanks for asking."

"Ok then," Chris said, finding he had nothing else to say. "Well, have a really great evening then, I guess."

"I will, don't worry," Lita said, waving at him.

Chris just stood there perplexed before walking away. If she said she was fine, then she was at least doing ok, or she would look more miserable than she was looking at the moment. But he didn't dwell on it as he went to find out what he was doing that evening, which meant he got to go see his favorite person in the world.

Stephanie had approved of everything pertaining to the show even though she still thought this Diva Search thing was a joke and was pointless. But that was her father's doing and she had no say in it whatsoever. She didn't hate Christy and she was pretty good at what she did, not great, but ok, and the odds of them getting at least someone ok a second time around was probably as likely as getting struck by lightning. She wondered what Chris was doing right now. Maybe still talking to Kurt or something.

Kurt was actually in his dressing room, putting on his wrestling tights just in case he had a match. He liked to be prepared if the occasion arose. And if it didn't arise, maybe he would just have to challenge Hogan to a match. He just plain didn't like Hogan, and thought he was way past his prime. Kurt was in his prime and one of the best wrestlers in the company and he shouldn't have to take a backseat to Hulk Hogan.

Stephanie was actually about to go see Hogan and tell him what they had planned for him for Carlito's Cabana. Her father and Hogan were on good terms again so if Hogan wanted some place to show his new show, her father was sure to agree. Hogan still brought in people to see him, and he was still popular and whatever was good for the show was good for her. She could still remember being a little girl and seeing all the hoopla that went around Hogan, she had been amazed at him then. That little girl was still amazed, but she was wrapped in a twenty-something's body.

"Mr. Hogan," Stephanie said as she walked into his personal room.

"Stephanie, how many times do I have to tell you to call me Hulk?" he said to her.

Stephanie blushed. She had always called him Mr. Hogan when she was talking to him and it was just a habit that she had never gotten rid of. "Sorry, you know that I can't help but call you that."

"You've been calling me that for over 20 years," he said, "I think it's time we were on a first-name basis, don't you think?"

"Nah, what's the fun in that?" Stephanie joked. "Well, the Cabana is the first thing we have up tonight, so be ready once the show starts. I'm not too familiar with Carlito's interviews, he's new here and everything. I have that clip that was sent to us from the show and I was hoping that you could incorporate it since that's the primary reason that you're here and I think that's pretty much it, you know what to do when you get out there and the fans will love you."

"Thanks Stephanie, and you sound so business-like, it amazes me sometimes that I knew you when you were just a kid."

"Yeah, well, times change," Stephanie told him.

"I don't think I've been around here in the past several months, I never got to congratulate you on your wedding."

"Oh, don't bother," Stephanie said. "I mean, I appreciate it, but yeah, it's not a big deal."

"Ok," he laughed. "Well thanks for letting me be on your show. Your dad tells me that you're the one in charge."

"I think that's what he lets me think," Stephanie said. "Although I get the feeling that he's still lurking behind the scenes. Well, good luck with later Mr. Hogan, and I'm sure everything is going to be great."

Stephanie left then, always feeling like little kid when she was around him. Maybe because he brought out the little kid in her, she could never tell. Now she would have to go and feel like a woman again, which meant seeing one man and one man alone, and that was her husband. All he had planned for tonight was a Highlight Reel which meant he didn't have to change, which meant she could just stare at him for a while. Chris had the incredible ability to look good in whatever he wore, and tonight he was looking awesome.

"So you're my new boss," another voice piped in, a loud, booming voice.

Stephanie turned and saw Big Show standing there. She remembered a time when he had frightened her. There was one time he had her pinned against a wall and he had actually smelled her and then she had had to fight him and he had lifted her with one hand. She didn't remember who saved her that night, but it was probably Kurt. She did remember how Chris wanted to kill him for touching her like he had.

"Big Show," Stephanie said politely, trying to smooth things over if they needed smoothing. "Welcome to Raw, I'm sure you'll be able to make an impact."

"Yeah, I think I will," Big Show said and she knew that he was supposedly nice again, but she still felt uncomfortable around him, his size doing nothing to assure her that he had any good intentions whatsoever.

"Well, that's good, we can always use impact players on Raw, lots of talent around here," she said, making idle chit-chat with him and hoping that anyone she knew would come along so that she could end this awkward conversation. Luckily, the person she loved the most did happen upon her.

"Hey, I've been looking for you baby," Chris said as he went and wrapped his arm around Stephanie's waist and kissed her cheek. "What am I doing tonight?"

"Highlight Reel with John Cena."

"Again?" Chris asked with a groan. "Talk about your boring. I have nothing I want to say to that guy, nothing at all. So you know what that means right?"

"No, I have no idea what that means actually," Stephanie answered him.

"It means I get to talk about my favorite subject in the entire universe, the most wonderful thing in the world. Someone that I love and adore and treasure above anybody else, someone that I see everyday and think to myself, wow, you are one lucky man Jericho."

"What? You can't go out there and talk about me," Stephanie said.

"Huh? I wasn't talking about you, I was talking about myself," Chris said, then noticed that Big Show was there, which was weird because Big Show was a huge man, and he didn't exactly fade into any background, unless the background was like a submarine or something like that. But once again, Stephanie blinded him to anything else. "Oh, hey man, welcome to the show."

"Thanks," Big Show said, "I better go."

"See ya," Chris said. "What was that about?"

"Don't ask," Stephanie said, groaning. "Just awkward and stunted conversation…now what's this about you loving yourself more than me? I thought you were supposed to love me above anyone else, I AM your wife."

"Well, I always learned that you have to love yourself before you could love others, and baby, I'm just loving myself so that I can continue to love you," he said, kissing her nose. Stephanie rolled her eyes at his lame answer, but let it slide since she wanted to go prepare for the show.

"Fine, love yourself and go out there and talk about yourself and your accomplishments, it's not like I haven't heard about every single one of them already."

"Hey remember when I won my first major title?"

"Yeah, I was there, I helped you win it," Stephanie said. "Even though that was not my intention as I wanted Rocky to win it because I was cheering for him and then he had the audacity to pull me in the ring by my hair."

"No, not that time, the time when it got taken away from me."

"Oh, that time, well it was a fast count," Stephanie said walking away teasingly. She glanced back at him, "You deserved to have it taken away."

"Are you kidding me? Who the hell are you?"

"Stephanie McMahon," she answered. "And you know that was a fast count and yet you took that belt, and it was stricken from the record anyways so it never happened, poof it's gone."

"Except we all know the truth, I won that title. It's your fault it got taken away."

Stephanie looked taken aback. "MY fault? Why whatever do you mean? It couldn't have been my fault, I did nothing to get it taken away from you. That was all Earl, he was the one who reversed the decision. I had nothing to do with it."

"Oh come here you," Chris said, chasing after her and picking her up, throwing her over his shoulder. "I'll show you how much involvement you had."

"Put me down! I have to go work," Stephanie giggled as her hair flew all over the place as Chris walked down the hallway. She didn't know why she thought of Hunter in that moment, maybe because Hunter had been part of the reason the decision had been reversed, maybe it just popped into her brain, but she realized that Hunter wasn't here tonight, and again she would get an uninterrupted night of freedom from her ex.

She didn't realize that Chris had walked her all the way down to her table until he sat her down in her chair. She looked up gratefully and he sat down next to her, propping his feet up on the table. He only had the Highlight Reel tonight so he had nothing to do. He could just sit here and help Stephanie whenever the moment arose.

That was exactly what happened when the show started up. Carlito's Cabana was first and Stephanie and Chris watched and were a little skeeved that Hogan would let his sixteen year old daughter go out with a twenty-two year old. It wasn't so much the age difference, although it was kind of significant, as much as it was the guy was freely talking about his sex life with the father of the girl he wanted to date. Obviously the kid didn't know boundaries. Then Carlito took it a step too far and said he wanted to nail Brooke, which set off Hogan.

Kurt had been backstage and had just been waiting for a moment to pop in there. He despised Hogan, and this would be the perfect opportunity to get underneath his skin. He had just showed a big weakness. He was an overprotective father and Kurt could definitely use that. He went out there, being ignored by Chris and Stephanie, who were busy and didn't notice him until he was already out there and talking.

He wanted to sting Hogan and he did, once again bringing up his daughter. Kurt and Carlito were getting the best of Hogan when that ass Michaels came out to help the fallen icon. Kurt was content to leave it at that, knowing that he had at least gotten under Hogan's skin and gotten a few good shots in on him. He just hated Hogan so damn much that he could never resist beating up on him.

"Just like old times," Chris said when Kurt walked backstage. "I'm insulted that I wasn't invited to the party."

"Oh, you were welcome to come…and let me predict the future while I'm at it," Kurt said, pretending to think real hard. "Michaels is going to go whining to Bischoff to get a match for later tonight so he can THINK he's going to beat me and then I'll show him who is really the man around here."

"I think you're right," Stephanie responded.

"I'm going to hang out with you guys for a while," Kurt said, sitting down. "So how are things going so far?"

"Ok, and please tell me that you wouldn't really want to tap Brooke Hogan," Stephanie said as she glanced at Kurt.

"No way, there are lines Stephanie. I just love getting under Grandpa's skin. He's so easy to rile up. And talking about his daughter was better than talking about how stupid it is to walk around with feather boas."

"I would tap his daughter," Chris said, as Stephanie glared at him. "I'm kidding, geez, when Kurt makes a joke, everyone is like, ha, Kurt was kidding, I make one joke and it's like, crucify him!"

"I think either scenario is disgusting," Stephanie said.

"If I were like twenty, then yeah, maybe, but I'm almost thirty-five, and I'm married, I need someone mature."

"And yet you married Stephanie," Kurt joked, giving Chris a high five.

"You know, if I weren't working right now, I'd kick your ass and then let Hogan kick your ass," Stephanie said. "I'm definitely more mature than the two of you. You two are like children when you're together and I feel like your baby-sitter."

"We're buddies," Chris said in a high-pitched voice. "You're my best friend Kurt."

"You're MY best friend Chris," Kurt said in return. Stephanie just groaned and put her headphones back on.

Later on that evening, Chris went out for his Highlight Reel, having talked over with Stephanie what he had in mind for the show. She had approved of course and he was happy to be talking about himself. He loved talking about himself and proceeded to do so even as Cena came out. The thing that really bugged him about Cena was that he seemed to not respect him, and Chris demanded respect from everyone. He hated not being respected.

Then Cena started to go too far as he started denouncing Chris and everything that he accomplished. Chris stood there and took it and took in every word that he said. He listened as Cena said that Chris could take all of his accomplishments and that they meant nothing without the belt. Chris had to admit that he did want that belt, he wanted to be champion again, no matter how hard he tried not to think about it, and no matter how many promises he made to Stephanie to not be in a funk again.

He listened as Cena called him cheap and an asshole though Chris didn't really understand the cheap part since what Cena was saying didn't logistically make sense. A person could be cheap yes, as in they were cheap and didn't like to spend money, but in the context that Cena was saying it, it was like he was trying to think of an antonym for real and that was cheap. In fact, cheap is not the antonym for real, cheap could be an antonym for eccentric maybe, but certainly not

Now if maybe Cena was saying that what Chris was doing was CHEAPENING (see how it changes meaning) his image and the people's perception of him, that would've made more sense, but just so say cheap, it didn't really make sense in the context in which Cena was insulting him, but sometimes Cena didn't seem to make sense, although now all the people in the audience were cheering for Cena and booing him (not ALL people were though, it's just the people who like Chris and don't like Cena were few and far between and not sitting close enough actually be heard…and were surrounded by Cena fans, which is very frustrating).

Chris took it though, he took the fans booing him and he took Cena insulting him and he took everything that he said because what would it matter anyways. So he liked to talk about himself, that was who he was, and it wasn't like John Cena was the most modest man in the world. He had had a specially made title belt made, in what could only be described as an act of vainness and if you delved deeper into it, maybe an act of superiority, being too good for the other belt, the "designated" title belt. Maybe if Chris had thought of these things, he would've said it, but he didn't, instead he was waiting for the other shoe to drop.

He didn't know why he expected it, but he expected Cena to bring up Stephanie and that would've been the last straw. Chris could take insults, he had gone his entire career taking criticisms and insults. If he didn't have a good match, people were jumping on his back telling him that he sucked, if he said something about someone, they would ask why he would say such a thing. But if they said one word against his wife, then he would pummel them and make them regret the day.

So Chris stopped him before he could go too far and mention the one thing in this world that Chris did not brag about and did not crow about. He slapped him and then the fight broke out. Chris hit him, and then Cena hit him and then Chris decided it just wasn't worth it anymore. A bunch of referees came down and escorted him out of the ring, even as he wanted to go back for some more, but he didn't, he let himself be taken backstage by this time he was fuming. He was just pissed off. It was this feeling that prevented him from seeing the person behind him. Oh, but Cena would sure see her when he walked backstage.

Before Cena could even think, Stephanie was charging at him like a bull going after a red cape. She was about to tackle Cena to the ground when two strong arms grabbed her from behind. She struggled blindly, trying to get at the bastard. Her face felt like it was on fire she was so angry.

"You bastard!" Stephanie yelled. "There aren't enough bad words in the universe for me to say to you, who the hell do you think you are!"

"Whoa, whoa, whoa, hold up," Cena said. "I wasn't talking to you out there."

"Yeah, but you were talking about my husband you jackass, what do you think that's going to do to me, make me feel all warm and fuzzy inside?" Stephanie retorted, then turned to Kurt who was holding her back. "I'm not going to charge him Kurt, I promise."

Kurt reluctantly let go of her and he honestly thought that she was going to bolt at Cena and tackle him and honestly kick his ass. Stephanie was pissed, and when Stephanie was pissed, her eyes went ablaze with a certain fire. There was certainly a fire in her eyes at the moment. She always looked different when she was mad, and for some reason, it struck Kurt that she was just beautiful when she was angry and so in control.

"So you called my husband cheap, you called his accomplishments cheap?" Stephanie said, taking a few menacing steps towards Cena. Even Cena had to gulp a little bit at her face. She did have power around here and her name was the marquee of the company.

"Yeah, I did," Cena said, gaining his bearings back. "I don't care if he wants to toot his own horn. I go out there for those fans, and that's real and the way they love me is real. Your husband just does it because he feels obligated. It ain't used to be that way."

"Do you know how hard my husband has worked?" Stephanie said. Chris was just watching her talk, almost like an out-of-body experience. "They told him that he was too small. In WCW, he never even got a whiff of the World Title hunt. He was denied this and denied that, and you know what, he had to claw his way to the top. He had to live in crappy hotel rooms and small apartments to get where he is, to be as successful as he is, and you have the balls to go out there and say that he's cheap, that his image is somehow tarnished because he likes to talk about himself. Well, I can see how you don't like to talk about yourself since you can't even see yourself. That IS how it goes, right Cena? You can't see me, that's your motto or something right, that's how you 'keep it real,' or however you want to say it, even though all I see is a cheap poseur trying to dress and be like the big boys. You go out and you wrestle for the next fifteen years, and then you come and talk to my husband about what it means to be cheap. You're just lucky that I'm in a good mood tonight or else I would be a lot bitchier than I'm being right now."

"Well of course he's at the top, he married you, didn't he? I guess that would be the easiest way to the top, and the easiest way to get where he's been right?" Cena said and that was probably the last place that he should've gone.

Stephanie sucked at her teeth a little. "Kurt, you're going to want to hold me back again."

Kurt quickly went over and wrapped his arms around Stephanie's waist. "You know, you never figure you're going to be in a moment like this."

"You're being really calm Stephanie," Kurt said.

"I know, it's amazing huh when all I want to do right now is take a pair of tweezers and pull out every single inch of body hair that Cena has one by one just to torture him. But no, I'm above that," Stephanie said. "I'm above all of that."

"You are."

"I'll say this once John Cena and you better remember it or else. You can insult me, go ahead, people have been doing it for a long time. I've been called everything in the book, a whore, a slut, a bitch, everything. I've been called a filthy, dirty, disgusting, brutal, bottom-feeding trash bag tramposaurus rex. But you cannot and will not insult my marriage and my husband's or my motives for getting married. There is NO way that you know any of the circumstances, and you better get the hell out of here before you find out why I asked Kurt to go back to holding me."

"Yo, you all whack," Cena said before leaving.

Chris was quiet the rest of the night and it didn't take a rocket scientist to figure out. He didn't even say anything as Kurt complained about his loss the entire way back to the hotel, although he and Stephanie did have a debate as to why Michaels had given Hogan the Sweet Chin Music. Kurt did laugh about it and wish he was there to see it. They parted ways and Stephanie led Chris up to their suite. He walked in and wordlessly got ready for bed and climbed in. Stephanie followed suit and got into bed with him, snuggling up against his side. They didn't speak and Stephanie just listened to his heartbeat.

"Is what he said true?" Chris asked finally.

"Is what true?" she replied.

"Am I cheap, am I a sell-out?" Chris asked.

"God no," Stephanie said, lifting her head to look him in the eyes. "Chris, look at me. You've done so much, and you should be SO proud of yourself, and I mean that. Remember how you were always saying when you were a kid that you either wanted to be a wrestler or a rock star, sweetie, you get to do both, you get to do anything you want because you have so many doors open for you, and you should be proud of what you accomplished."

"But I mean…I do want the belt…am I really nothing without it?"

"You're not Hunter, if that's what you mean," Stephanie said. "Cena has no basis for calling you nothing without the belt. That's Hunter territory, I like to think you've done pretty well for yourself since you lost the belt. You've released albums and been on television, and you've wrestled great, you got married, all of these things are something you should be happy about…and you did it all without the belt. Hunter goes crazy over the belt, you're nothing like him."

"Maybe I subconsciously married you to get power and get the belt, maybe that's how desperate I am," Chris suggested.

"I hardly think you would've put up with me for almost three years if you really didn't like me," Stephanie said. "I'm not the easiest person to deal with."

"That's true," Chris said. "I just can't help but think of what he said. That I was cheap, that I was a sell-out, an asshole, that I was nothing. I mean, it hurt to hear those things."

"Because they're lies, all of them…lies. Chris, I love you so much, and I can't imagine my life without you. I know you, I know you like the back of my hand, and you are nothing like what he says. No man that only thinks of himself and only wants success and money and fame and a belt and ignores other people would spend tons of money on jewelry for his wife. No man who is selfish and egotistical would switch shows for a woman he had been dating for a week. No man would come up with a stupid plan that involved kissing his best friend's girlfriend just to get his own girlfriend her job back, without having a lot of heart. No man would help people he used to be friends with, or tolerate Christian coming over every single night, or Kurt's Olympic stories, or my inane bitching, or my father's and brother's threats if you hurt me, without being some kind of spectacular human being. No man who swallowed a world of insults and let a lonely girl be his business partner just to get back at her scummy ex-husband only thinks of himself."

"Actually with that last one, I kind of just wanted to use you to keep my belt," Chris said.

"What I'm saying Chris Jericho is…you are much more than what Cena says of you. He wants to say you're cheap, I think he was cheap for taking pot shots at you by only knowing the person that you project yourself as out there. I never expected you to come out and want to be my business partner Jericho, because I only knew the outside you, the one you projected. Once I got to know the man you were, I found someone…incredible."

"How do you do that Stephanie?" Chris asked.

"Do what? Talk a lot? It's in the McMahon blood I think," she said with a smile, kissing him gently.

"No, not that."

"What then?"

"How do you always know the right thing to say? How do you just…how can you figure out what I need to hear before I know that I need to hear it?"

"Some people would call that love," Stephanie said, kissing him again as she ran her hand down his face. "Some people would say that you just know a person so well that you can think for them and know them."

"What do you think?"

"Oh, what do I think?"

"Yeah, what do you think?"

"Oh, I'm just taking wild guesses and luckily they've been right so far," she joked. "Honestly though…I know what to say because I know what is the truth. Ask any of our friends Chris, ask any of them, and they will all tell you the same thing. They may not include the love part, but generally, I think it'll all be the same."

"I'm a lucky man, I mean, I have this hot wife and she's smart too, and business savvy."

"Ooh, now this is a subject I like to talk about," she said excitedly, "Me!"

"Yeah, my wife is gorgeous, and she was gorgeous tonight."

"Oops, you better stop Chris, you're starting to sound cheap again by crowing about what a great wife you have, and the last thing I want is to be doused with a big, ole' helping of cheap sauce."

Their laughter echoed throughout the room that evening.