Hi Guys...well after lots of setting up the background info for you were finally getting to the beginnings of this story. My orinigal idea was to start this story at this chapter but I thought it would be too confusing. I like to explain little details so everythings ties together and makes sense. Thanks for all the reviews, I hope you like this chapter. I'd like to introduce to you a couple o potential Stephanie pairings...enjoy!


The day after arriving in Chicago was the day of Monday Night Raw. It was scheduled to be Stephanie McMahon's return and wrestling debut for the WWE. Shane was already at the arena as were most of the other wrestlers, all preparing and planning for the show. However Stephanie was running a little late. She was at her hotel in the meeting room, being told by her lawyers and investigators that they couldn't trace HHH. He was in hiding in Canada, away from her and away from her divorce papers.

Stephanie banged her elbows on the table and put her head in her hands. "Look guys, this is getting beyond a joke. I told you where he is, he's at that whores house!"

"But, with all due respect Ms McMahon, we have been to Miss Stratigias' home and have found no evidence of Paul living there. Until we can confirm an address we cannot begin legal proceedings."

Stephanie sighed. She was hoping to get her divorce underway before she got back into the ring. By putting herself in the spotlight she was scared of being vulnerable to Hunter. By bringing the business back into her life would she be bringing him back into it too?

Steph got back to her room and sat down on her bed. Over the last couple of years she had changed so much. She would go out and party and be the beautiful wife to Hunter. She would dazzle the crowd with her tight little numbers and curves to spare. Now she looked at herself in her bedroom mirror. Stephanie saw the 'new' her, complete with muscles rather than unnecessary curves (during a training session Steph had taken one bump a little wrongly, which then lead her to having a breast reduction!). Steph's clothes were awful, why did she always dress like a well behaved 40-something mom?

Steph stood up and thought to herself as she looked in the mirror. 'What the hell am I wearing? Jogging bottoms and a T-shirt! Wait a minute….didn't this T-Shirt belong to Shane when he was 18? My God I need to change!'

Stephanie practically ran to her suitcase, but then held herself back from throwing her clothes everywhere…she was supposed to be leaving for the arena in 20 minutes. She thought through every single item of clothing she brought with her, until she remembered a certain dress she had picked up in case she had any special occasions. She found the dress and threw it on, then went to the bathroom. She didn't have time to do anything special with her hair, so she pulled it back into a tight plait, then put on a light layer of make-up. She didn't want to annoy the hair/make-up people when she got there. She put her jogging bottoms and a sports bra into a separate bag, then went over to Ella. She had 3 mins to spare.

Ella was good as gold. Whenever Ella and her mother were alone, Stephanie felt that they were almost one person. Ella would sleep or play with toys, Steph sometimes thought that she would one day forget Ella was there in the room with her. It was only at times like this when Ella and Steph were truly themselves…when they were in the public eye they would always play up. Steph put on her shades, grabbed her bags and Ella and left for the car park.

They arrived at the busy arena. Steph got out of the car, grabbed her gear then headed through the backstage entrance. As soon as the doors slammed shut behind her, Ella began to cry.

Steph rushed through the tight corridors trying to find a larger space to settle her stuff down. Eventually she found a lobby-like area where certain backstage rooms came together. With no tables around Stephanie dropped her bags and then sat Ella on the floor. A few people looked at her strangely before they realised who it was.

Chris Jericho had just finished an interview with the local newspaper and shut the door behind him when he was surprised to hear a baby crying. Curious to see where the noise had come from he walked a few steps around the corner to see the source.

'It can't be? Stephanie McMahon?'

Stephanie was sat on the floor in a knee length black halter neck dress and black boots bent over the small child on the floor. Stephanie was pulling funny faces and smiling at Ella whilst bouncing from side-to-side waving her fingers around, acting like a clown. It was working and Ella was quietening down. When Ella's cry almost stopped, Steph scooped her off of the floor and cradled her protectively in her arms, kissing her forehead. Chris could barely believe his eyes. This whole scene to him was so…unrealistic.

Chris walked towards her slowly, slightly tilting his head when he noticed Steph's skirt accidently hitched up over her thigh. He made his way through the whispering crowd ad held his hand out to her. She looked up and there eyes met.

"Chris Jericho!" she stated, then gave him a heart-melting smile.

"Mrs Leve…" he paused, "Miss McMahon, would you like a hand up off that dirty floor?"

Holding Ella in one arm she took Chris' hand with the other. After she stood up she used the same arm to throw around Chris' neck in a half-hug.

"I can't remember the last time I saw you." Chris said.

"Likewise. Guess I lost your new number."

They were friends…but obviously not that close friends.

"Everyone is going to be so shocked to see you. Are you writing again or are…hey, you look a lot different!" Chris had just noticed Stephanie's biceps.

"Well I've been working out."

"Oh…are you here to see Shane?"

She thought about telling him the truth, but thought it would be even more fun to surprise him. The only wrestlers that knew about her return were Stacy and the other divas. Well Stacy was supposed to be the only one to know, but Steph asked her to spread it round to the other girls. After all, she didn't want any sudden meetings with Trish Stratus.

She raised her eyebrow at him. "I guess you could say that."

He looked confused, just the way she had planned it. Then he looked at Ella, who was making gurgling noises to herself.

"Chris…this is Ella."

"She's beautiful. She looks just like her mother."

She shook her head at him. "Ohhh Chris, what would your wife say? Look I gotta go because I've only just got here. We'll catch up later."

"Cool. Good to see you back Steph."

Steph picked up her things and carried on her journey around backstage. She came to a door and looked through the window. She was on the 1st floor by the main arena. She went in and walked down the steps of the seating area, then peered over the balcony to look down onto the ring. Her breath was taken away.

"Long time no see," she said to herself.

She looked down to see the ring surrounded by people. Most of them were stage crew but a few of them were wrestlers. In the middle of the ring were Bubba Ray Dudley and some unknown wrestler setting out there match. Stood leaning on the edge of the ring were D-Von, Kane, Batista, Randy Orton and Victoria. There were a few small groups of wrestlers as well. They all looked so happy and yet so serious, it was that wrestling working environment that Steph missed the most. She looked down at what once used to be her family. Would these people accept them as one of them and not there boss?

The small groups were oblivious to the Stephanie. She stayed there for about 10 mins before, coincidentally, Stacy Keibler noticed her.

"Oh thank God she's here, I was starting to panic!"

Stacy waved crazily at Steph to get her attention, Steph gave her a half-hearted wave back. Then Steph noticed the girls who were with Stacy, who had peered up to see what all the fuss was about…a few make-up girls, Sara Callaway and Trish Stratus. Steph couldn't help herself, her eyes fixated themselves on Trish. Steph expected her blood to boil and her teeth to lock together with anger, but instead she felt nothing. She was looking down at the women who had taken her husband away from her and she felt empty. Steph, so confused within herself, turned away from Trish' glare.

Stacy turned her attention from Steph to Trish, it was at that moment that all the rumours she had heard became the truth.

Stacy smiled at the group of girls. "Hey girls, I gotta go, if you see Test, would you tell him I love him and I'll see him later."

Stacy left the group and hurried up to find Stephanie. Trish just ignored her, sat staring, deep in her thoughts.

Batista, who had also noticed Stacy's waving, looked up to see what was causing the commotion. Then he saw her, his first big crush within the business…his mentor's wife, Stephanie. He had only met her a few times and once travelled with her, but he had found her fascinating. She was older than him but he still thought she was incredibly beautiful. When he had known her, he had also known about Hunter's behaviour when she wasn't around. Memories of a conflict within him began to resurface.

'How the hell am I gonna concentrate on Wrestlemania with you here?'


Well? What did you think? I hope you liked it! Let me know your comments and what you'd like to see happen with the story...expect another update in a few days!