hgj ::: Smackdown arena - Manchester, Vermont :::

Shane walked through the hallway of the Smackdown arena, nodding and waving to all of the wrestlers, but his mind was only on one. Shane had gotten Linda and Vince to agree to put their problems aside for one night so for once in their lives the McMahon family would have a normal Christmas... so now it was time to go to part "b" of Shane's plan. Part "b" of his plan would be inviting Test to spend Christmas with them but also not letting Stephanie know that Test was coming. Sure it was lying to her, but if things worked out the way he had planned Stephanie would be thanking him, not hating him.

"Hey Shane," Test said walking past Shane, Test's mind was jumbled up with thoughts of Stephanie; Test had seen how Stephanie was now, and he was falling in love with that girl all over again, this Stephanie was even sweeter then the old one and not so naive. This Stephanie was radiating with inner beauty, and as much as her friendship with Chris Benoit made him jealous... it almost made him smile. Two people who hated each other before were suddenly becoming the best of friends, and word was going around that Stephanie had given Benoit a autographed oilers hockey puck for Christmas, it was a sweet Christmas gift... not the most expensive thing but full of sentimental meaning... Stephanie was unlike anything he had ever seen. One day she had been the spoiled little brat he despised and now she was the girl he was too shy to go and talk to. Test was no shy, it just wasn't who he was, but whenever he was around Stephanie, he got shy.

Shane turned his head when he saw Test walk past him, Shane shook his head and ran after Test. "Yo wait up!"

Test stopped walking and turned around and gave Shane a smile. "What's up Shane?"

Shane bent over, catching his breath, it had been quite a run to catch up with Test, obviously Test had something on his mind, and Shane just bet it was Stephanie. "I'm glad I met you, everybody seems to be leaving after tonight to go off wherever they are going to spend Christmas."

Test nodded. "Yeah actually Jericho already left to go back home for Christmas."

"So why are you still here?" Shane asked, trying to small talk before asking the big question.

"I got a hardcore match with Hunter tonight." Test said, frowning.

He had gotten the news just 10 minutes ago, Regal had come to his locker-room and informed him that he had a hardcore match against Hunter. Test should have been ready to see this sort of thing from Hunter, everybody knew Hunter was a sore loser.

"He what?" Shane's voice squeaked with surprise, Shane hadn't been expecting that. "That bastard, why can't he just leave things be? Benoit already threatened Hunter to stop harassing Stephanie, but Hunter won't leave her alone. He won't let her grow as a person, I would attack him myself but..." Shane was cut off by Test.

"Stephanie wouldn't appreciate that, and plus if you attacked Hunter, you would be stooping down to his level. Hunter can't accept that Stephanie isn't his anymore, hey I know where the man is coming from, I felt the same way when she left me and married Hunter behind my back. It's not easy falling in love, because once you do, you are opening your heart up to pain, and love takes your heart to the unknown." Test said, sighing.

Shane listened to Test's words intently, Test's words had so much truth behind them. "If me attacking him would be bringing myself down to his level, then why are you?" Shane raised his eyebrows up in questioning.

"It's a match, and I'm a wrestler... and no good wrestler would turn down a match with The Game." Test replied nonchalantly and serious.

Shane smirked. "And it doesn't hurt matters that you get to beat the hell out of the guy who took Stephanie away from you in the first place." Shane ran his hands through his hair.

Test rolled his eyes. "My hardcore match has nothing to do with Stephanie," Test stopped, shaking his head. "Weren't we talking about Christmas?"

Shane laughed. "Changing the subject. Yeah we were, so where are you going for Christmas?"

Test shrugged. "Didn't really have anywhere planned."

Shane shook his head. "Then you are cordially invited to spend Christmas with the McMahon family. My mom and dad are putting their problems aside for one day, so why don't you join us?"

Test bit down on his bottom lip, thinking about the offer Shane was giving him. "Well what does Stephanie feel about this? I don't want to make her feel uncomfortable or something."

Shane smiled. "She is excited, she wants you to come over for Christmas."

Test's eyes got a shocked look in them. "She does? Really?"

Shane nodded, trying to contain the smile that was threatening to dance itself across his face. "Totally. It would really disappoint her if you didn't show up."

Test thought for a second, finally nodding. "Yeah sure, why not? Tell Stephanie I'll come."

"Will do." Shane said, nodding. "I got to go now, tell Steph, you know the drill."

Test nodded. "Same here, I mean I have to go get ready for my hardcore match..."

Shane cut Test off. "Hey don't make Hunter scare you off, or intimidate you from hanging with Stephanie okay?"

Test got a weird look on his face but nodded. "Like he could ever do that."

"I'll hold you to your word." Shane replied.

"You do that, see ya." Test smirked and walked off.

Shane waited until Test was all the way out of his view, before exploding into a big grin. His plan was getting along perfectly, Test had agreed to spend Christmas with them, now all he had to was to sit back and watch his plan bring Stephanie and Test back together...

"I am TOO good." Shane said to himself, walking off, whistling a tune.

::: Benoit's locker-room :::

"I can't believe this!" Stephanie's voice exploded as she paced back and forth in Chris Benoit's locker-room.

"Calm down Stephanie," Benoit said calmly trying to calm down his friend. "Just calm down."

"How can I?!" Stephanie hissed, turning to face Benoit. "Andrew has to fight Hunter tonight in a hardcore match! Hunter is doing this to punish me, he wants me to feel pain because I left him, and he has succeeded in doing so. I have tried my very best to be friendly and nice, but that has gotten me nowhere. Hunter is being a calice jerk to me, so why not just go back to him, at least Andrew wouldn't get hurt anymore."

Benoit jumped up from his spot on the couch, and gave Stephanie a stern look. "No don't you even think about that, if you do... Hunter wins. He's doing this to get a rise out of you and hopefully intimidate Test into staying away from you, Hunter is a jerk and you can't let him rule your life forever. You have totally changed, you did a 180 on your personality, and people are starting to warm up to you, you can't just give up, just when you started to make a life for yourself, a good life." Benoit replied, trying to keep Stephanie from going back to Hunter.

"But what good is this life if Hunter is always around to ruin it? He will NEVER stop! He's like a predator!" Stephanie screamed, throwing her hands in the air.

"But eventually the attacker becomes the attacked. You're giving what he wants, by giving up, you're letting him win the game, the game he thinks he is so damn good at." Benoit said, anger starting to well up in his body.

Stephanie sighed. "Well he is the game, and he is that damn good." Stephanie said, rolling her eyes.

Benoit smirked, but instantly wiped it off. "Tell me you're not going back to him."

Stephanie was silent for a while but then shook her head. "No, I'm not going back to him. But I just wish Hunter wasn't be so calice and cruel about this whole thing, if he would just let me go, things would be so more simple."

Benoit nodded. "You can beat him at his stupid games, don't let him get to you."

Stephanie frowned. "But he's going to kill Andrew!"

"No he won't." Benoit said, with a dangerous edge to his voice. "He knows better."

Stephanie shot Benoit a look. "Is there something you want to tell me?"

Benoit shook his head, sitting back down, determined that Stephanie wasn't leaving. If Stephanie wasn't in his locker-room right now he would be fuming; He had warned Hunter to back off, and this felt like Hunter was spitting in his face or something. Benoit didn't like when people ridiculed him or thought that he wasn't serious, and that night when he had warned Hunter to leave Stephanie alone, he had been DEAD serious. Benoit hadn't told Stephanie that he warned Hunter, he didn't want to worry her, actually all he wanted to do was ease her confusion and pain, which was caused by Hunter.

"Well I am going to go." Stephanie said walking to the door. "I'll talk to you later?" Stephanie asked.

Benoit looked up and nodded. "Sure thing Stephanie."

Stephanie smiled. "Later." Stephanie walked out of Benoit's locker-room.

Once Stephanie left Benoit let the dangerous look dance in his eyes. "Hunter Hearst Helmsley is getting the crippler crossface, it may not be tonight and it may not be tomorrow... but he is going to get it, and he is going to feel regret he didn't listen to me." Benoit said to himself.

::: Outside of the arena:::

Stephanie took in a deep breath of the breezy wind of Manchester, Vermont. It wasn't snowing anymore, and for that Stephanie was grateful, right now she needed to be outside, and not in the Smackdown arena. Stephanie could hardly believe Regal had done this, allowed a hardcore match between Test and Hunter, when he fully knew what was going on, and that it would prove to be a very emotional thing to her. Stephanie would have to remember to talk to her dad about this... she wouldn't be whining, just stating her opinion... her very angered opinion.

Stephanie pulled her hair into a pony-tail, so her long brown hair was no longer in her eyes, it was starting to get on her nerves, like everything else. "Argh!" Stephanie screamed, letting some of her stress out.

"Bad day?" Kurt Angle asked, walking up next to Stephanie.

Stephanie turned around, a little surprised Kurt was talking to her. Kurt hadn't talked to her since she got back to the WWF and she was about to give up on the chance that she would ever get him to talk to her, not that she really blamed him. "You could say that." Stephanie muttered.

Kurt nodded, and rubbed his hands together. "Care to share?"

"Do you even want to hear?" Stephanie asked, truthfully.

"Wouldn't ask if I didn't want to know." Kurt said, smiling.

Stephanie smiled, leaning against the concrete wall outside of the arena, her shoulder brushing against Kurt's. Stephanie turned to Kurt and stared at him and then sighed. "Hunter challenged Andrew to a hardcore match and Regal agreed to it. I can't believe Regal did this, knowing how personal Andrew and Hunter were for me, especially with me filing for divorce from Hunter."

Kurt stared at Stephanie shocked. "You're really divorcing Hunter?"

Stephanie nodded. "Yeah all I have to do is sign the papers, I wanted to do them after Christmas, I wanted to make things less harder on Hunter."

Kurt sighed. "Unlike what he is doing to you."

Stephanie nodded sadly. "You were right. You knew Hunter was bad for me, you told me, and I snapped at you. I have been trying for weeks to talk to you, but you wouldn't answer any of my calls, and when I got back you totally avoided me." Stephanie frowned.

Kurt shook his head. "Well you have no idea how much of a jerk a guy can be when he has his pride hurt. But I've seen a whole new you Stephanie, you came back with your held up high and a smile on your face, and you just wowed me."

Stephanie smiled. "I wowed you?"

Kurt nodded. "Totally. I've seen how everyone reacts to you now, they're not scared to talk to you anymore, because now you're not out to destroy people. I've seen how people who totally hated you before become your closest friends..."

Stephanie smiled. "Like Benoit?"

Kurt nodded, smiling. "Yeah like Benoit. This new you... I like her."

Stephanie bit down on her bottom lip. "I like her too."

Kurt smiled. "That's good, don't let Hunter's stupid little games chase her off. Right now things may seem really hard with Hunter intentionally trying to hurt you, but believe me if you hold on tight and deny Hunter to affect you, you'll get through it. Good things come to people who wait, it may be a long wait, but believe me you'll reach the end of that wait and you'll be glad you didn't give up and I bet a certain blonde will be waiting for you." Kurt winked, grinning.

Stephanie smiled, she closed off the space between her and Kurt and hugged him. "Thanks."

Kurt smiled once they pulled apart. "It was no problem, I would love to stay and hang out with you, but I got to go pack."

Stephanie nodded. "Going home for Christmas?"

Kurt shook his head. "Not exactly, I'm going to Canada with Christian and Edge to spend Christmas with them. I thought I would try something new this year, plus it will just be the three of us, and that sounds fun instead of my 3 generations of family." Kurt grinned.

Stephanie laughed. "Well spending Christmas with Edge and Christian sounds... well exciting."

"It's always with them, so see you when we all get back." Kurt hugged Stephanie once more, before he left.

Stephanie watched Kurt run over to where Edge and Christian were stuffing their bags into the trunk of their rental car, she smirked to herself. Maybe Kurt was right, things seemed to be getting better... she had gained a friend and confidant in Benoit, her and Test were speaking to each other, and now she had just got Kurt back to being her friend... if she could just get past Hunter's games, she might be able to get what she wanted, what she's always wanted... a life. A life that was hers and not someone else's... she wanted to have what Kurt had with Christian and Edge... they could joke around with each other without worrying that someone could be lurking in the background trying to ruin it. Stephanie wanted her life to be full of HER memories, HER friends... she wanted a life that belonged to her, she wanted to be able to say that the life she was living was HER's.

But as long as Hunter kept bothering her, she didn't have that life yet...

::: Vince's Office :::

"So what do I owe this pleasure Linda?" Vince said sarcastically, as he poured himself a cup of coffee.

Vince had no idea why Linda was here, she had called and said that she needed to talk to him, and he had agreed and here they were... Linda sitting in front of him, her hands folded into her lap and a straight look on her face. Vince and Linda NEVER talked, unless it was arguing... but Vince had tried to restrain their arguing to a minimum because of Stephanie. He didn't want Stephanie to endure anymore torture then she was already getting from Hunter, and plus they had promised to stop trying to bite each other's heads off until after Christmas, for the sake of Stephanie.

"I just thought we should talk, since we will be spending this Christmas together." Linda said, with a annoyed tone in her voice.

Linda wasn't really up to spending Christmas with the man that had broken her heart and treated her awful, but Shane had used 'The Stephanie Card' so she had no choice. Shane had pointed out to her, that Stephanie needed to be spending Christmas with her whole family, she would have sounded like a cynical person and a lousy mom if she had declined Shane's suggestion.

"Not my choice Linda." Vince said, taking a drink of his black coffee.

"Never the less, we need to be on communicating terms if we are to put our problems aside and plan a normal Christmas for Shane and Stephanie." Linda pointed out.

Vince sighed. "I guess so, we wouldn't even be in this situation if Shane hadn't played the Stephanie card."

"Yeah, it looks like Shane knows how to get us to agree to something." Linda said, sighing as well.

"Well he knows for a fact that I would do anything to make Stephanie happy, she is my baby girl, I would do anything in my power to make her satisfied." Vince said, drinking some more coffee.

Linda rolled her eyes. "I hope you know that I care for her too."

"Never said you didn't." Vince replied dully.

"But you implied that she isn't as important to me then she is to you." Linda raised her voice.

"Well you don't see me making her life like hell and suing you for half of your money, do you?" Vince asked, with a glare in his eyes.

Linda laughed bitterly. "It's a world record, it only took you five minutes to make things about you."

Vince rolled his eyes. "Sure whatever Linda, you stay out of my way and I will do the same for you."

Linda groaned. "I came here to talk to you about Shane and Stephanie, not argue with you."

"Well if that is so, talk." Vince leaned back in his chair.

Linda sighed. "Well whose mansion are we having Christmas at? Mine or yours? I thought we might as well have it at yours, since Stephanie is more used to yours then mine, and Shane frankly doesn't care where it takes place, he just cares that it does take place."

Vince pursed his lips. "Mine sounds fine, you'll be bringing Shane, I can assume?"

"Yes I will, and I can assume that Stephanie will already be at the mansion before me and Shane arrive?" Linda asked.

"Yes she will, and what shall we do about this whole Andrew thing?" Vince asked, raising his eyebrow.

"Well Shane seems to be playing matchmaker, he thinks that if Andrew and Stephanie are in the same mansion that sparks will fly between them." Linda said, pushing herself up.

"I guess we will just have to see, leaving are we?" Vince asked, getting up as well.

"Yes, I'm going to go talk to Shane, and by the way did you hear about the Andrew and Hunter hardcore match that will be happening in about 10 minutes?" Linda asked, turning to leave, but keeping her eyes on Vince.

"What?" Vince's voice took a turn and gained a surprised tone to it. "I had no idea! Regal will hear from me."

Linda nodded. "Well see you at Christmas."

"Yes, at Christmas, goodbye Linda." Vince said, showing Linda to the door.

"Bye Vince." Linda walked out the door, sighing a big sigh of relief once she was halfway down the hall.

::: In the hallway :::

Stephanie rushed down the hallway of the Smackdown arena, her mind set on stopping this hardcore match between Test and Hunter. She had been watching in on the tv screen in her locker-room, and it had been horrible... Hunter had hit Test in the ribs with the sledgehammer and then he had thrown Test through a table. Stephanie couldn't just sit back and let Hunter brutalize Test that way....

"Ow!" Stephanie squealed as her body plowed into a male's body, throwing them both down to the ground.

"Ouch." The surprised southern voice of Jeff Hardy replied, as he pushed himself up slowly. "Are you okay?" Jeff asked, offering a hand to help Stephanie up.

"Oh thanks." Stephanie let Jeff pull her up, once she had gained her composure, she dusted off her pants, and smiled at Jeff. "Yeah, I am. Sorry about that, I guess I wasn't watching where I was going. I have a lot of stuff on my mind, sorry again for bumping into you like that."

Jeff shook his head, smiling. "Nah, it's okay..."

"Yeah it is, he's the one who's always bumping into people..." Matt said, smirking walking over with Lita.

"Yeah, he injures more people outside of the ring then inside the ring." Lita said, laughing.

"Shut up you two!" Jeff snapped. "So where were you going so fast?" Jeff asked.

Stephanie smiled at the playful bickering going on between Lita, Jeff and Matt. She had been a little surprised that Jeff had talked to her, and so nicely but she didn't dare say something that would cause them to stop talking to her, no she liked that they were being nice to her.

"Oh, I was going to the ring, to stop that horrible hardcore match between Andrew and Hunter. Hunter is taking things too far!" Stephanie exclaimed, remembering why she had been so angry before.

Lita nodded. "We were watching on our tv, Test is getting a beating of his lifetime."

Stephanie frowned. "That is why I decided to go out there and stop it."

Matt knitted his eyebrows. "Are you so sure that is a wise thing to do? You could get hurt out there."

Jeff nodded. "Yeah, Hunter seems to be attacking anything that gets in his way."

Stephanie shook her head. "I'll have to take the chance, I can't let Hunter hurt Andrew in that way. It would be stupid and cowardly if I just sat back and let Hunter kill Andrew."

Lita bit her lip but then nodded. "I would do the same for Matt and Jeff, I already have... good luck Steph."

Stephanie smiled. "Thanks, I'll need it." Stephanie waved and ran off, heading towards the ring.

Matt and Jeff looked over at Lita, and raised up their eyebrows in questioning about Stephanie. Matt had seen a difference in Stephanie as Jeff had, but they both wanted to know what Lita thought.

"She's cool." Lita said smiling, and walked back into their locker-room.

::: Test/Triple H hardcore match :::

Stephanie ran down the titantron ignoring the roaring of the crowd; There were mixed emotions coming from the fans from Stephanie's appearance at the match, some were happy, and some not. But Stephanie paid no attention to them, right now all that mattered to her was stopping this match.

"Stop!" Stephanie screamed, sliding into the ring.

"Stephanie, get out of the ring!" Test said weakly but firmly, pushing himself up.

What in the world was she doing here? She was going to get herself hurt, and that was the last thing he wanted to happen to Stephanie, and especially right before Christmas, a Christmas he would be spending with her.

"No!" Stephanie exclaimed firmly. "I want you to stop this Hunter!" Stephanie faced Hunter, who had lowered his sledgehammer, she planted her hands on her hips.

Hunter laughed. "Are you telling me what to do princess Stephanie? You think you own me? Because last time I checked, I was a free man, and if your old man can't rule me anymore, you sure as hell can't."

Stephanie would have usually flinched at Hunter's harsh words, but she was NOT backing down. "In fact I am telling you what to do, and if you know what's good for you, you will stop this match, before I have to get my dad involved!" Stephanie raised her voice.

Hunter laughed again. "Oh sicking daddy on me?"

Stephanie nodded. "I will, and don't you dare talk to me in that tone, have a little respect!"

Hunter smirked. "Respect? How could I respect a slut like you?"

Stephanie felt tears prick at her eyes, once she heard the cruel word Hunter had called her, she was speechless, she couldn't find her vocal cords.

Hunter grinned. "What Stephanie? I thought you knew, I thought the whole world knew that you were a slut. What you thought you could just come back and dress like a nice girl and make friends with Benoit and Jericho and that suddenly didn't make you one? Please, you will always be one, you can never change that."

Stephanie choked back the tears, she raised her hand and let it connect against Hunter's skin as she slapped him with all her might. Her hand made a loud cracking sound, and the place where she hit Hunter was red from the slap. Stephanie stumbled back, realizing what she did. Oh god Hunter looked so pissed.

Hunter brought his hand up to his face, his eyes were in shock, had Stephanie just hit him? The slap had taken him by surprise and it had hurt like hell as well, she had hit him as hard as she could, and what a slap that had been. Hunter watched Stephanie stumble back, he started walk closer to her.

Test recovered from his shock that Stephanie had slapped Hunter, Test pulled Stephanie behind him, to protect her from Hunter, who looked mighty pissed. "Don't you dare touch her!" Test warned.

Hunter grabbed a metal chair and hit Test in the face with it, getting a scream out of Stephanie. Hunter watched Test fall to the ground, Hunter began hitting Test in the chest over and over with the chair, he looked up and saw the teary look in Stephanie's eyes, he smirked and continued the pain on Test.

"Stop!" Stephanie screamed, pushing Hunter away and kneeling down next to Test. "Andrew? Oh god Andrew..."

Hunter regained his composure and raised the chair, looking evilly at Stephanie, who was trying to shake Andrew awake. Hunter pushed back his hair with one hand, and aimed the chair for Stephanie.

Stephanie looked up and saw the evil and cold look in Hunter's eyes, Stephanie scrambled up, dodging the first swing of the chair. Stephanie stumbled into the ring post corner, and brought her hands up as Hunter walked up to her, still holding on to the chair. "No Hunter! Please!"

Hunter shook his head and went to hit Stephanie with the chair but turned around when he felt someone grab the chair away from him. Hunter stumbled back as Lita kicked him in the face, he went to do something but Matt gave him the twist of fate, and then to continue his pain, Jeff got on the turnbuckle and did his finishing move, the swanton bomb on Hunter.

"Hey you okay?" Lita asked, as she pulled Stephanie up, Lita glanced over at Matt who was helping Test up. "Ssh it's okay, you're safe now."

Stephanie had a look of fear on her face, she looked up at Lita and now Jeff who had made his way over to her. "He was going to hit me..."

Lita nodded. "Believe me, I know how it feels."

Jeff nodded too. "Been there, we are just glad we could get to him before he hurt you. We saw on our tv that Hunter attacked Test with the chair, so we just guessed that he would hit you next, so we ran out here to help you."

Stephanie went to say something but turned when she heard Benoit's theme music come, she watched him run down the titantron and slide into the ring, she went to ask him what he was doing here, but she already knew.

Benoit leaned down next to Hunter and positioned Hunter's body and performed the crippler crossface on him, making it as painful as he could. "I warned you!" Benoit hissed as he let go of Hunter's body when the refs came running up.

::: Mountain Mike's :::

Shane stared at the big screen television screen in the crowded pizza place, with shock in his eyes. Shane felt the horror being replaced by anger... how dare Hunter try to attack his sister? Shane understood about Hunter attacking Test, but Hunter had no right even coming that close to hurting Stephanie.

"That asshole..." Shane muttered, his voice cracking with emotion.

Linda nodded, shocked as well at how close Stephanie had been to getting hurt by Hunter. Linda had seen the dangerous look in Hunter's eyes, and she had nearly left the pizza place Shane had taken her to, so she could get to Stephanie, but she knew she would never reach Stephanie in time and plus Shane had been frozen in place.

Shane watched Benoit walk over to Stephanie who was already being comforted by Jeff Hardy and Lita, Shane watched Chris ask Stephanie if she was okay, well he guessed that was what he was asking her, he couldn't hear the words. Shane let his eyes bounce over to where Matt was checking on Test who seemed to be out of it still.

"I'm going to kill him." Shane muttered.

NEXT IN TAINTED:

It's 2 days before Christmas and things in the WWF are heating up...

Shane is out for revenge for what Triple H tried to do to Stephanie on Smackdown.

Test is frantic when he sees a tape of what almost happened to Stephanie on Smackdown while he had been passed out from the chair shot from Triple H.

Lita and Stephanie have some girl bonding time.

Vince talks to Regal.