Stephanie sat there sullenly, a dull smile on her face. She listened as her mother gushed about the wedding and all the preparations that had to be made. Her father would input something every now and then, but would eventually go back to talking to Hunter about the business or something. She took a sip of champagne, letting the bubbly liquid flow through her, comforting her.

She was bored. Not just with this dinner, but with her life as well. She had been engaged to Hunter for two months now. They had set a date. She was going to be Mrs. Hunter Helmsley in approximately five months. Five short months and she would be forever connected to the man that sat at her right. She looked over at him, studying his profile and watching him talk. He glanced over at her briefly, smiling and then grabbing her free hand to hold in his before he went back to talking with her father.

His hand was so cold; she almost shook him off. But she didn't, and let his touch linger. She tried to appear interested in the arrangements her mother was making, but she was just so tired of hearing about this damn wedding. She was beginning to regret ever saying yes to Hunter, hell if she was honest, she was regretting it now, and had been since the moment that she said yes. But what else could she do? She couldn't lose Hunter too, not now, not when she was so alone.

If Chris were still her friend, he would've talked her out of it. He would've told her that she was an idiot for even considering marrying that overgrown lump that she loved. She would've laughed and teased, and then she would've seen that he was right and gotten her way out of the situation like she did to many other situations. Except, Chris wasn't there, Chris was off somewhere, with his...friends.

She missed him, God, she hated thinking that, she hated the feeling that his absence left in her heart. They hadn't talked since their last blow- out, and she made no attempt to. He had made it loud and clear to her that he hated her and wanted nothing to do with her. That wasn't why she had stopped trying to talk to him though. She had seen the look in his eyes as he looked at her.

It was filled with contempt.

He loathed her, and she didn't even know why. What could she have possibly done to make him hate her so much? She had racked her brain a million times, spent many a sleepless night trying to think of something, one small thing that she may have done to deserve his bitterness towards her. She continuously came up with nothing; nothing to make him hate her with the fire of a thousand suns. Yet he did.

"So Stephanie, what kind of flowers do you want?" Linda asked.

Stephanie almost yawned, "I don't know Mom, whatever's nice."

"I think lilies would be beautiful don't you think?"

"Lilies are nice," she nodded, "I like that."

"Great," she smiled, "I can't tell you enough how happy I am for you."

Stephanie forced a smile on her face, "Me too. So happy."

"I'm so glad that you two are getting married," Vince interrupted, "My little girl getting married."

Hunter smirked, "I like to think she made a good choice."

"The best choice," she told him, squeezing his hand.

Hunter smiled at her. The transformation she had undergone once Chris was out of the picture was incredible. She was kind, sweet, and attentive to him now, and he couldn't ask for anything more. He was so happy he had gotten in on that plan and had ousted that bastard Jericho from his and Stephanie's life. It was about time he came first in her life.

He leaned over to kiss her and Stephanie let him kiss her, though she wasn't as involved in it as he was. She pulled away as he smiled against her lips, giving her one more small kiss before pulling away completely. She gave him a strained smile and then took her champagne glass and took another sip, loving that comforting feeling of the alcohol slipping down her throat.

"I think we should have a toast," Vince said as everyone raised their glasses, though Stephanie's was considerably lower than everyone else's, "To Stephanie and Hunter, for a long and happy marriage!"

"Here, here," Hunter said.

They all clinked glasses and Stephanie brought up her half-empty glass to her lips and drank from the glass. She downed the rest of the champagne in one gulp, almost slamming the glass down in frustration. She managed not to, and set her glass down gently, a waiter over immediately to refill her empty glass. Thank God for good service, she thought to herself.

"We sent out the invitations today," Hunter told Vince and Linda, "That way everyone has enough time to know not to schedule anything on our wedding day."

"Smart idea," Linda said.

"Yeah, we thought so," Stephanie said, taking more sips from her champagne.

"You ok?" Hunter whispered to her as Linda and Vince were talking about the invitations.

"Yup," she said, "Why wouldn't I be ok?"

"No reason, you just don't look happy to be here," he told her.

"Well, it would've been nice if you had asked me before making plans for dinner with my mom and dad," she said to him.

"I thought you would want to."

"You still could've asked."

"That's not the point, I just wanted you to ask instead of just assume that I wouldn't have plans or something," she answered testily.

"What plans? Who would you even go out with?"

She got a hurt look on her face and Hunter immediately chastised himself for being so glib with her. He caressed her cheek softly, apology in his eyes. Stephanie was reminded again, that he was the only one she had now and kissed him soundly on the mouth.

"I'm glad you made plans," she told him, "Better than sitting at home right?"

"Right."

Chris walked into his house, Christian, Edge and Dawn Marie close on his heels. They had just gotten back from dinner and were going over to Chris's to have a beer and watch a movie. Edge, Christian, and Dawn walked into the living room, going to look through Chris's DVD collection and find something to watch. Chris had told them he'd be there in a minute, he just wanted to check his mail.

He leafed through the bills and junk mail until he saw a thin, white envelope that had fancy calligraphy writing on the front of it. He set the rest of his mail down and took the envelope. He fingered it for a second, wondering what it could hold inside. He opened it up and immediately wished he had pitched it in the trash.

It was an invitation to the nuptials of one Hunter Hearst Helmsley to Stephanie Marie McMahon. He scoffed as her read the invitation. The wedding from hell, that was what was going to be going down with those two. It sure as hell wouldn't be a joyous occasion, not with those two involved. This would be one wedding he would not be attending. Not even the promise of seeing Stephanie get out of his life for good would be worth sitting through this bullshit.

He was about to toss the envelope and invitation when he saw a slip of white binder paper peeking out of the envelope. He didn't want to look, but the curiosity got to him and he set the invitation down as he took the envelope only and took the piece of paper out. It was folded a few times and he opened it to look at the writing clearly.

Chris,

I don't expect you to come. I don't even know if I want you to come. Just stay out of my life from now on. I have Hunter, and he loves me. He never betrayed me like you did, you asshole. He never took advantage of me like you did. I don't know what the fuck I did to you, but if you fucking think for a second I'll pine after you, you've got another fucking thing coming to you. You may have gotten to see my body once, but if you think that you'll see it again, you're sorely mistaken. Fuck off Chris Jericho, stay out of my fucking life, and when I kiss Hunter after we're married, I'll be sure to mouth a hearty 'fuck you' to wherever you happen to be. So Chris, my final revenge to you, my final crescendo will be to marry the one man you hate with a passion.

Fucked you once, won't fuck you twice, have a miserable life asshole,

Stephanie

Chris crumpled up the note angrily and threw it across the room, letting it hit the wall and fall to the floor. That fucking bitch! He took her wedding invitation and ripped it into a million pieces, letting them fall to the floor absently. He hated her! He hated her so much he practically had to swallow the hatred as it rose to a fever pitch in his throat.

"Chris, are you ok?" Dawn asked as she saw him, fists clenched and face red.

He turned to her, and almost snapped at her, but managed to contain himself, "Yeah, I'm fine."

"You look upset."

"No, not upset, just dandy," he lied.

"Ok," she said, unconvinced, but letting the subject drop, "What happened in here? There's all this paper on the ground."

She bent down to help him pick it up, but he stopped her, "Don't worry about it, I'll take care of it later."

"Are you sure, it's a mess?"

"Trust me, it's something I should take care of myself," he assured her.

"Ok," she complied as he led her into the other room. She glanced back at the fallen shreds of paper and wondered just what had made Chris so angry.

Stephanie stumbled into her house, Hunter on her trail, picking up all the things that were dropping from her purse, which she was currently holding upside down. One too many champagnes had aided her into the state she was now. She tripped and fell into the foyer and laughed as she sat on her ass, looking up at Hunter.

"Ok Steph, baby, let's get you upstairs," Hunter said, holding out his hand to her.

"I'll sleep here," she told him, curling up on the ground.

"I don't think that's the best idea babe," Hunter told her, setting her things down on a side table.

"Are you going to stay with me tonight?" she asked.

"Yeah, I'll stay, I don't think you should be here alone."

"Yay!" she screamed, clapping her hands, "It'll be like a sleepover!"

He laughed, "Yeah, or practice for when we're married."

"Who're you marrying?" she asked innocently.

"You."

"Oh," she said, then furrowed her brow, "You never asked."

Yeah, she was thoroughly drunk, Hunter thought to himself. He really should have monitored her alcohol intake, but he couldn't be her babysitter all the time. He went over to her and lifted her up, taking her in his arms. Her head lolled around, then came to rest on her shoulder lazily.

"I did ask Steph."

"Oh, and I said yes?"

"Yup."

"That's nice," she said as he ascended the stairs, "You seem nice."

"Well thanks."

He took her into her bedroom and laid her on the bed. He started to take off her shoes and then her clothes. He wasn't about to take advantage of her right now, so he just changed her into her pajamas, with no protest coming from Stephanie. He changed himself and then got in bed with her.

"Ooh, you're strong," she giggled, "And who said you could undress me?"

"I did."

"Oh," she giggled, "Hunter?"

"You remember my name," he said lightly.

She pouted and he looked at her, wondering what was on her mind. Her mood had turned kind of downtrodden and she buried her head in her pillow, then pulled the covers over herself. It seemed like she was building up her defenses or something. Hunter tucked some hair behind her ear and stared at her.

"What is it Steph?"

She had tears in her eyes, "Why does he hate me?"

"I don't hate you."

"Not you," she said, slapping his chest lightly, "Chris. Why does he hate me?"

Hunter frowned, he didn't want to be talking about Chris, and he snapped, "Because he thinks you're a bitch."

"I'm not a bitch."

"I know you're not, but that bastard couldn't see the truth if it hit him in the head with a steel chair."

She laughed, "Yeah, he's an ass!"

"Yeah," Hunter smirked, "And you don't need him anymore."

"No, I don't!" she yelled, "I don't need you Chris, I don't need you!"

"That's right Steph, you just keep on thinking that."