*** Sorry it took so long to update this one. But I'll put up four chapters so they will almost all be up. ***

Stephanie walked quickly down the hallways of the arena. She groaned as she remembered her discussion with Shane a few days earlier. She had been quite enthusiastic about stick Jericho in a hardcore match against RVD.

She ran into Tazz and she stopped. "Hey Tazz."

"Mrs. McMahon-Helmsley," Tazz said deferentially.

Stephanie wrinkled her nose. When had people started calling her Mrs. McMahon-Helmsley? She wanted to be more like a colleague than an employer. "It's Stephanie."

"Okay Stephanie," Tazz said. "How can I help you?"

"Have you seen RVD?" Stephanie asked.

"Oh yeah," Tazz said. "He just got done gloating about how he's going to teach Jericho a lesson for you. He should be heading to the backstage area."

"Thanks Tazz," Stephanie said as she started walking again.

"RVD!" Stephanie exclaimed when she finally saw him. "Can I talk to you a second."

"Sure," Rob said, coming over to her.

"I need you to do me a favor," Stephanie said. "But you can't tell anyone."

"What?" Rob asked.

"Take it easy on Jericho," Stephanie said.

"You're kidding right?" Rob asked.

"No," Stephanie said. "Don't ask me why. It's really hard to explain. I just don't want him hurt."

"So you want me to throw the match?" RVD asked.

"No," Stephanie said. "I just don't want you to go all out like you do with Jeff Hardy. If you win, you win. But please don't kill him."

"I can't believe you are serious," RVD marveled.

"Trust me," Stephanie said. "No one is more surprised than me."

"I'll do my best," Rob said. "There's the man of the hour."

Stephanie looked over her shoulder to see Jericho walking to the backstage area. She thought about smiling at him, but thought better of it. He caught her eyes and raised a brow. Stephanie just shrugged.

"Good luck Rob," Stephanie said.

"Thanks," Rob said. "I won't tell anyone."

"You're the best," Stephanie said, smiling as she walked away.

*

"Where's the extra beer Mom?" Stephanie asked Linda McMahon.

"In the garage," Linda answered. "Has your father stopped by?"

"Not yet Mom," Stephanie said. "He'll be by."

"Thanks for helping so much Steph," Linda said. She stopped her daughter before she walked to the garage. "It's good to have you at home again."

"Thanks," Stephanie said. "I know I've been a major bitch. I can't promise that won't change, but I'll try to remember that I love you when I decide who I'm going to be a bitch to."

Linda smiled, "I guess I can't ask for more than that."

"I'll go get some beer," Stephanie said. "With this crowd it will go fast."

"Is Shane coming?" Linda asked.

"I asked him not to," Stephanie said. "I think we should try to keep this party as friendly as possible."

"So why are you here?" Linda asked. "I mean, no offense, but the WWF stars hate you as much as they hate Shane."

"None taken," Stephanie said. "Can I tell you a secret?"

"Of course you can," Linda said.

"I've realized that the person I love isn't exactly my best friend," Stephanie said.

"So you realized you're in love with Jericho?" Linda asked.

"How did you know?" Stephanie asked.

"Mother's intuition," Linda answered. "And how you were always trying to get his attention."

"Is that what I was doing?" Stephanie asked wryly. "I thought I was trying to make him miserable."

"Only because he wasn't in love with you too," Linda answered. "Don't worry, when he gets to know the Stephanie I know he won't be able to keep from loving you."

Stephanie hugged her mother. "Thanks Mom."

"I'm just glad Hunter is making the divorce easy," Linda said.

"Hunter's a good guy," Stephanie said. "I was with him for all the wrong reasons, but I have a friend for life in him."

"Good," Linda said. "You go get that beer."

An hour later, the back yard of the McMahon estate was filled with wrestlers and other WWF personnel clad in bathing suits and summer wear. Stephanie hadn't yet headed out to the patio. She was trying to decide if she was making a mistake by going out there in a bikini, sarong, and no make-up. Okay, very minimal make-up.

Stephanie sighed as she slipped on her favorite sandals. "Mom said he'd fall in love with your real self Stephanie," she told her reflection. "This is the real you."

Stephanie floated down the stairs that led into the kitchen. "Hey Matt, hey Jeff."

"Stephanie," Matt said.

"How are you doing?" Jeff asked.

"I'm great," Stephanie said, grinning. "Where's your beer?"

"You want to drug it?" Matt asked warily.

"No," Stephanie said. "It's a party...aren't you always supposed to have a beer in hand?"

"We aren't DX," Jeff said dryly.

"Point taken," Stephanie said. "They usually do get plastered. You know what my secret was when I was with them?"

"What?" Matt asked.

"I get one can of beer and sip on it during the whole party," Stephanie said. "And just let them think I'm keeping up with them. By the time the party is over they are so plastered they wouldn't even be able to tell if I'm sober or not."

"Smart," Jeff said.

"I always thought so," Stephanie said. "I don't really like the taste of beer. It's about all I can do to drink one."

"So what do you like to drink?" Matt asked.

"Diet Coke," Stephanie said. "Not too big on the booze. I did the whole drinking thing in college. I like wine every now and then but...I don't know, I like to feel in control."

"I could've told you that," Jeff said.

"What are we doing talking in here?" Stephanie said, shaking her head. "This is a pool party and my mom spent a good amount of time planning it."

"Well," Matt said, "You lead the way outside."

Stephanie walked in between Matt and Jeff outside to the party. "So do you two know who's here?"

"Well, the Hollys, Spike, Molly, Show, Billy, and Angle are all here," Jeff said. "And of course Lita and Trish."

"How are you and Trish doing?" Stephanie asked.

She could've sworn Jeff blushed. "We're fine."

"That's great," Stephanie said. "Everyone deserves to be happy. Unless it's with my married father."

Jeff and Matt chuckled. "What are you doing?" an angry Lita asked Matt.

"I'm just talking Lita," Matt said. "You don't need to freak out."

"You're talking to the enemy," Lita pointed out. "She wants to put us out of business."

"Lita, that's all for show," Stephanie said. "If there was no WWF, there would be no competition for The Alliance. Competition breeds quality."

"I'm not hearing this," Lita said.

"If you don't want to believe it," Stephanie said. "That's fine."

"I don't believe it," Lita stated.

"Okay," Stephanie said, smiling. "Well, this is a party anyways. Who cares about business?"

"That's your cue to drop the argument," Matt whispered to Lita.

Lita glared up at Matt and stalked away. "Oh Matt," Stephanie sighed. "I didn't mean to cause a fight between you and Lita.'

"It's okay Stephanie," Matt said. "We fight all the time. But the making up is fun."

Stephanie laughed. A loud voice brought her attention to the back door. "Let the party begin," Jericho called out. He was standing next to Vince.

Stephanie stiffened her shoulders and said, "I'll talk to you guys later. Enjoy the party."

Stephanie walked over to her father and to Jericho. Her pulse quickened as she neared the man she knew she was meant to be with. "Hi Jericho. Hi Dad."

Jericho looked at her in shock, "Stephanie, what are you doing here?"

"I live here," Stephanie said. "I moved in this past week."

"Why?" Vince asked.

"Hunter and I are getting a divorce," Stephanie said. "How are you two doing?"

"Fine," Jericho said, looking at Stephanie strangely.

"What?" Stephanie asked. "Do I have something on my face or something?"

"No," Jericho said. "I'm going to go get a beer. You want one Vance?"

"No thanks Chris," Vince said.

"Stephanie?" Jericho asked.

Stephanie looked at Jericho in shock this time. "Would you mind getting me a Diet Coke?"

"Sure thing," Jericho said.

"So how are you Daddy?" Stephanie asked as Jericho walked away.

"Like you care," Vince said.

"Of course I care," Stephanie said. "You're still my family."

"I'm fine Stephanie," Vince said.

"Look Dad," Stephanie said. "We may be on opposite sides of the field in business but I love you."

Vince sighed, "I love you too Stephanie. But so much has happened."

"Can we try to be a family again?" Stephanie asked. "We may be dysfunctional, but we are a family."

"I guess we can try," Vince said. "But no promises."

"Thanks Daddy," Stephanie said, hugging her father.

"Sorry to interrupt your moment," Jericho said, "but here's your soda."

Stephanie turned to Jericho and accepted the cold can. "Thanks Jericho."

"No problem," Jericho said.

"Well," Stephanie said. "I'm going to go mingle. Daddy, why don't you go talk to Mom? She's been asking if I thought you would come all day long."

"Really?" Vince asked.

"Really," Stephanie assured him.

Jericho watched Vince walk towards Linda. "That was really nice of you."

"I can be nice upon occasion," Stephanie said.

"I never thought I'd be able to agree with you," Jericho said.

"I have tons of surprises in me," Stephanie said. She began walking away and then said over her shoulder, "Enjoy the party Chris."