A/N: This chapter is based around the song "I've Been Loving You Too Long" by Otis Redding.

To read the original version with song lyrics go to: bitter-solemnity. com /fics /Moments.php (just get rid of the spaces).

Summary: Ok, we're skipping ahead in time now. It's eight years later, and Stephanie and Jericho have three kids now. The oldest being Gwynn who was in the last chapter. She's seven now. Then there's their second daughter Aurora, or Rory, who's five. Finally there's the baby of the family, Chris Jr., who's a year old. Ok, that about sets it up for this chapter. And if you do get confused or anything, I'm really sorry.

Stephanie sighed as she got the kid's breakfast ready. She would be sending Gwynn and Rory to school soon, and she had to make sure she got their breakfast. She was pouring some cereal when she started to think about the last few years.

It seemed that her and Jericho were in some sort of weird, mundane cycle the last year. She couldn't explain it, but she just felt like their relationship was empty. It scared her somewhat, she still loved him, she just felt like their relationship was stagnant.

Jericho came down the stairs, a rare day off from work. He had retired from ring action a couple years ago, but he was still a big part of the production. He was now the Commissioner for WWE, working directly under Vince, who was still running the company, though Stephanie and Shane had been slowly taking over the business aspect. Stephanie and Shane had set up a Florida branch of Titan, and she ran it, while Shane ran the Connecticut headquarters.

He looked to Stephanie standing by the window making breakfast, and so help him, he still thought she was as beautiful as the first day that he had realized he had feelings for her. Recently she had seemed kind of distant, but he figured that her mind was elsewhere with all the work that had to be done. He didn't blame her for being a little bit on the edgy side. She was a very busy woman, mother and businesswoman.

Jericho walked over to her, leaned over and kissed her on the cheek. She turned to him and smiled at him. He thought the smile looked a bit strained, but he ignored it.

"What're you doing?" he asked.

"Just making the girl's breakfast before I take them to school," she told him, going to get the milk out of the fridge.

"You want any help?"

"No, that's ok," she said turning back to him.

"You sure?"

"Yes!" she said snapping at him, "Sorry, I'm just not in a good mood today."

"I'm sorry, how bout I drive them to school?" he asked giving her a grin.

"Sure," she said trying to smile back, but finding it very difficult for some reason. Just then their two daughters came down.

"Hey little girls, guess who's taking you to school today?" Jericho said walking over to the table.

"You, Daddy," Gwynn answered, giving him a look he knew all too well, since he saw it on Stephanie all the time.

"You just have to ruin everything, don't you," he said leaning down to kiss her on the head.

Stephanie left the three of them, and walked upstairs to her son's room. He would just be waking up, and she wanted to get him before he started crying. She walked into the nursery, and saw Chris Jr. standing in his crib. She went over to pick him up.

"Hey there, Chrissy baby, were you waiting for Mommy," she said as she held him in her arms. Every time she looked at him, he reminded her of Jericho, he looked so much like his father.

As she was walking down the hallway she caught sight of her wedding picture. She stood for a moment and stared at it. She had been so happy that day, so in love. She couldn't help but feel that she wasn't the same person that was in that picture, that somehow she just didn't feel the same way she did then.

Jericho came running up the stairs, and stopped when he saw her. He came over and stood next to her, both of them looking at the picture.

"That was the best day of my life," he whispered into her ear. Stephanie jumped and turned to him, not even noticing he had come upstairs.

"Huh? What did you say?"

"I said that was the best day of my life," he said grinning at her, before leaning in to kiss Stephanie.

"Yeah, me too," she said to him.

"Well, I'm going to go drive the girls, I'll be back in a bit."

"Ok," she told him, as he ran back down the stairs. She stared at the picture again and sighed. Looking back, it didn't seem like it was the best day of her life anymore. She didn't know what to think.

Jericho couldn't help but think about Stephanie as he drove Gwynn and Rory to school. She seemed sad lately. He didn't know what the cause was, but he wanted to find out. He hated the thought of her being upset, and he wanted to help her in any way that he could. He pulled up to the school.

"Bye Daddy," Rory said. Jericho smiled at her.

"Bye sweetie."

"See you later Daddy," Gwynn said before hopping out of the car. He couldn't help but think of how much they were like Stephanie. He didn't know how he handled three of them, but he loved them all. He grinned as he drove off.

Jericho walked into the house in search of Stephanie. He looked around for a while, finally finding her in the living room, sitting on the couch playing with their son. They were playing peek-a-boo, and Jericho snuck up behind Stephanie and put his hands over her eyes.

"Guess who?"

"Um, I don't know, why don't you enlighten me," she deadpanned.

"You're no fun Stephy," he said as he looked down at her. He walked around and sat on the couch next to the both of them. He took Chris Jr. in his arms.

"Did the girls get to school on time?"

"Yeah...Stephy, has something been bothering you?" Stephanie was taken aback for a moment.

"What makes you say that?"

"Well, you've just seemed sad or something, I just wanted to know if you were ok."

"Yeah, I'm fine, really," she replied forcing a smile on her face. If he knew the real reason, she didn't know how he would react.

"So how about you stay home today, and we can have some quality time together," he said smiling suggestively at her, before tucking a strand of hair behind her ear.

"As much as I'd love that, really, I can't, I really have to go to the office," Stephanie told him, even though she knew she really didn't need to go to the office. She just felt like she couldn't stay there alone with him.

"Ok, I guess," he said pouting, "I guess I'll just stay here and have a father-son kind of day," he finished with a chuckle.

"Sounds like fun," Stephanie said getting up so she could go upstairs and get ready.

"Hey wait a second," he said pulling her arm. She looked back at him. He pulled her down to him, and kissed her, "I love you."

"I love you too," she said half-heartedly.

Stephanie sat behind her desk, trying to work, but her mind kept wandering to Jericho. She felt like she needed some space between them. Her feelings for him just didn't seem to be what they once were. It was like she wasn't in love with him anymore. That thought seemed so foreign to her, she had been in love with him for over nine years.

She did love him, but it wasn't like how she used to love him. It was hard to explain her feelings, all of them jumbling in her brain, confusing her even more. Could it be that she didn't love Jericho anymore? When had this happened?

She knew that she still loved him when Chris Jr. was born, but since then she could barely stand to be with him for a long period of time. Her life had become an endless cycle. There was no excitement, no thrill to her life anymore. She wished she had a word to describe it, but words escaped her.

She looked to the pictures that adorned her desk. There were so many happy faces in those pictures. So many smiles, and laughter, and bright eyes. She wondered where those times had gone. And she wondered if they ever would come back again.

Stephanie lay in bed that night, unable to sleep. She could feel Jericho's presence so close to her, and instead of the safety and comfort it used to give her, it gave her nothing. She turned over and looked at him. She couldn't stay in this relationship anymore. It was too confusing, and she needed a break. She needed a break from Jericho.

Something deep inside was trying to tell her this was wrong, that this was a huge mistake, but she pushed that thought out of her mind. She needed to leave him, at least for a while. She had to sort out her feelings, she needed space. She resolved to tell him tomorrow. She slowly caressed his face with her hand as a tear slipped down her cheek.

She turned back around, more tears spilling down her face. She knew this was the right thing to do, for both of them. She didn't know how Jericho felt personally, but she knew how she felt, and it was time to leave.

She cried herself to sleep, dreading what the new day would bring.

Stephanie woke up, and turned over in bed, hoping to find Jericho there, but the other side was empty. She sat up and looked around to see if he was still in the room. He wasn't. She got up and went downstairs, only to find Jericho and their kids all watching Saturday morning cartoons, and laughing hysterically. Rory was the first one to spot her.

"Mommy, come watch with us," Rory said, smiling her sweet little smile at her.

"Maybe later darling, Mommy needs to talk to Daddy for a second," Stephanie told her. Jericho turned his head towards her, and carefully set Chris Jr. next to Gwynn on the couch. He got up and followed Stephanie into the kitchen.

"Hey babe, what's up?" he asked smiling at her. She could feel the tears already starting to form.

"Chris, we need to talk." Jericho saw the tears forming and walked over to her. He put his hands on her shoulders and squeezed them gently.

"What's the matter Stephy?"

"I have to go Chris," she said looking up at him. Jericho looked at her bewildered.

"Go where, do you have to take a business trip?"

"No Chris, I have to go, as in away from here...away from you."

"Wh-what do you mean away from me," Jericho asked his voice wavering as he began to understand what Stephanie was saying. He took a step back away from her.

"I can't be around you anymore Chris, I'm just so confused about my feelings right now, and I need to get away."

"Are you leaving me?" Jericho asked, tears beginning to form in his own eyes. He couldn't understand why Stephanie would leave him.

"Yes," she said freely crying now. Jericho's eyes filled with tears, and he was trying his hardest not to start crying.

"Why? Why are you doing this?" Jericho asked, desperate to understand why the woman he loved with his whole being would leave him.

"I don't really know Chris, I just know I have to go."

"But I love you Stephanie," Jericho said pleadingly, wanting her to stay, to not abandon him.

"That's the thing Chris, I'm not sure I love you back anymore," she said looking him in the eye. Jericho's tears spilled over, and he couldn't help but cry.

Jericho stood in the airport, saying goodbye to his wife and kids. Stephanie had decided to go back to Connecticut, and she was going to take the kids with her. Jericho still traveled with the company so he couldn't be with them at all times. So now he had to say goodbye to them for a while.

"Why aren't you coming with us Daddy?" Rory asked innocently as he crouched down to talk to her.

"Because I have things that I have to do, and Mommy is going to take care of you."

"But I want you to come with us!" Rory said, her little voice raising. She threw herself at Jericho, wrapping her little arms around him. Jericho hugged her back tightly.

"I know cutie, I know, but I'll come and visit all the time, you won't even notice I'm gone," he told her. She pulled away and went to stand next to Stephanie. Jericho turned to his oldest daughter.

"Now, you be good," he said winking at her.

"Daddy, I'm a Princess, we're always good," she replied winking back at him. He couldn't help but think that she was too smart for her seven years. He hugged her tightly, knowing he would miss her cute banter. He stood up, and looked to Chris Jr. who was being held by Stephanie.

"Bye-bye big guy," he said, letting Chris Jr. grab his finger as he kissed him on the forehead.

"Da-da," was all Chris Jr. could manage to say. Jericho smiled then turned to Stephanie. He looked into her eyes, which had tears in them. That had become a normal occurrence over the past week or so. He ran his hand gently down her cheek.

"Goodbye Stephanie," he told her, looking at her sadly.

"Goodbye Chris," she said back, a tear rolling down her cheek, he wiped it away affectionately, then pulled his hand back. She grabbed Rory's hand with her free one, and the four of them walked up into the terminal.

Jericho watched as his family walked away from him. He felt them take a piece of them with him. He watched until he couldn't see them anymore, then walked away quietly.

Stephanie sat looking out the window of the plane, watching as the clouds passed by. She sighed and looked at her three kids, all of whom had fallen asleep. So now she was alone with her thoughts.

It had been a lot harder to leave Chris then she thought it would be. Every time she looked into his face, she felt a feeling of guilt rise up inside her. She knew that she had hurt him deeply, and that had been the last thing she had wanted.

She also still had that nagging feeling that she was making the wrong decision. It would pop up at the oddest times. But she knew this was the best thing for them. It was best for all of them.

Jericho drove home quietly, not even bothering to turn the radio on. He thought about what had happened in the past week or so. His wife had left him, and his life was shattered. He couldn't help but remember the look in her eyes as he said goodbye. He knew there was still something there. But obviously Stephanie didn't believe that anymore.

He walked into the house, the feeling of emptiness washing over him. It wasn't their house anymore, it was just his now. He wandered from room to room aimlessly, not really paying attention to anything. He ended up in the living room staring at a picture of him and Stephanie from when they were married. It was right after they had cut the cake, and they both had icing all over their faces, as they were laughing at each other. They looked so incredibly happy, and his heart started to ache.

He grabbed the picture, and threw it across the room where the frame shattered into a million pieces. He didn't bother to go pick it up, leaving it lying haphazardly on the ground. Instead, Jericho sank to the ground, tears falling down his face.

Stephanie looked down at the papers again, making sure they were all in order. They seemed to be, and she signed the last page, probably the last time she would ever sign the name: Stephanie McMahon-Irvine. She looked down at her signature, thinking about what she had just done. She had signed away eight years of marriage, just like that and it was over.

She passed them to her lawyer, and he took them, telling her that they would courier them over to Jericho as soon as possible. She smiled and nodded as the man left her office. A month ago she was married, and now, well, now she wasn't. Her smile faded, and she hoped Jericho would understand her decision.

"I'm sorry Chris," she whispered to no one but herself.

Jericho heard the doorbell ring and went to answer it. It was an official messenger from Stephanie's lawyer, serving him with divorce papers. He signed for them, and brought the papers inside. He walked to the kitchen and set them down on the table, staring dumbly at them. His whole body had gone numb the moment he had taken the papers.

He cautiously opened the envelope, and pulled out a stack of papers. He carefully looked over them, making sure what he was reading was right. He turned to the last page and saw her signature, bold just like her. She was divorcing him.

So this was it, this was the end. It was all so anti-climactic. Something that had started so strong, had ended like this. It just didn't seem fair in a way. He took a pen from one of the drawers and walked back to the table. He took a deep breath and signed where it was called for him to sign. As he finished the last page he sighed deeply.

That was it. For all intents and purposes, he wasn't married anymore. He had really, truly lost her. She had slipped out of his grasp as quietly as she had slipped in.

"I hope you're happy Stephy," Chris whispered to the air, hoping she received the message.

A/N: Ok, I know that was really sad, but just remember, it all ends happily.