It was dark that was the first thoughts that reached Chris's mind as he came to. His last thought when he'd fallen had been of anger but now he was more scared then anything. He moved slowly checking himself for injuries he didn't feel any at the moment. He reached up slowly with one shaky hand and touched his face. He realized he needed to open his eyes. He slowly did and blinked in the dizzying bright light that filtered down through the trees. He slowly sat up and pushed his hair out of his face. He looked around slowly his head throbbed. He spotted the raft a few feet away lying upside down. He looked around again and started getting worried. "Stephanie!" He called slowly pulling himself to his feet. "PRINCESS!!"

She appeared and stared at him. "What? Oh your awake about time?" She said.

He blinked. "Your--your okay?" He asked.

She nodded and kneeled down. "Are you?" She asked.

He nodded and winced and held his head. "Ow, what the hell happened?" He asked.

"We fell off a cliff." She responded calmly.

He stared at her eyes wide he blinked slowly. "What?"

She laughed. "I tripped knocked into you and then we fell off a cliff," She said leaning against a tree trunk. Her face, which had been dirty, now sported a reddish scrap.

He nodded slowly and smiled. "Are you okay?" He asked checking her over for further injury then her cheek.

She nodded and looked down. "Yeah, I'm fine honest Chris I am." She said smiling softly.

He smoothed her hair back and smiled at her softly. "You sure your okay?"

She nodded again. "You hungry I made some food." She said smiling and standing up.

"Oh, yummy more Salty meat!" He said laughing.

She chuckled and shook her head. "You're a jerk you know that." She said coolly.

He sighed. "Sorry, Steph didn't mean it." He said walking towards her. She backed up. "Come on its not just Salty Meat this time. I added some berries to it."

He blinked and looked at her furrowing his brow. "Berries?" He questioned nervously.

"Yep, there great sweet and ripe, and they taste great!" She said smiling brightly.

"What kind of berries?" Came Chris's next question.

She looked over her shoulder at him. "What do you take me for a simpleton?" She asked but continued on not giving a Chris to make some smart remark about intelligence. "There Blackberries."

"I wasn't calling you a simpleton, I just wanted to be sure you weren't going to poison us." He said.

She shot an icy look at him leaned over picked something up off a piece of bark and tossed it at him. It landed with a splat on his chest and he looked down at it and picked the berry from his shirt. He looked it over sniffed it then ate it. It sure looked and tasted like a blackberry. He'd guessed he would just have to trust her judgment on this one. "Alright, lets eat Princess."

She smirked and sat down and began stirring the now Red and brown mix in the pan over the fire.

------------------------

Vince was pacing in his office. It was the best he could do right now his mind was in such turmoil. His precious baby daughter was lost somewhere in the woods up in Canada. He didn't even know if she were alive or not. She could be alive, and suffering in pain, dying with no one to comfort her. Well, no one but Chris Jericho which wasn't his best of options either. He glanced up as the door to his office opened and Hunter stepped in. He watched his future father and law pace a few more times then finally cleared his throat. "You wanted to see me sir?"

Vince looked at the man who he thought was the best thing that had ever come into Stephanie's life. The story line had turned into a real life romance and the two were set to marry in the spring. He didn't see behind the concern that was being faked so perfectly by the man he was ready to call son as soon as he and his princess got married.

"Yes, have a seat Hunter." He said calmly finally speaking.

Hunter took the seat his mind on things such as how he would run the company once Vince stepped down. How the show would become solely about him. And only those he deemed worthy would get the pushes. He fought hard to keep the pompous smirk from his lips and looked at Vince. "What is it sir? Have they found Stephanie?" He asked.

Ah Stephanie he had her wrapped around his finger. It was a pity they couldn't have gotten married before she had gone off to Canada. Oh, well that was the fish that he'd been handed he'd have to deal with it stride.

Vince shook his head. "No, They haven't found her yet." He said. "They're going to send a search party out today to search the path the plane took." He said slowly finally he took a seat in his chair.

He silently studied Hunter. He'd come from an upper class family well to do which surprised him when people like him wanted to become wrestlers. He'd known a few others's who'd come through his company and never really amounted to much. Hunter hadn't been one of them he'd actually made something of himself.

He could see that on a day-to-day basis he was well liked by his fellow employees. There were a few who'd said he wasn't the best of men but Vince figured it was just bitter words for Hunter had never said a bitter thing about him. Hunter leaned back in the chair looking meticulous as always. "I'm sure they'll find Stephanie soon Vince, I've done nothing but worry about her sense I heard the news." He said softly blinking rapidly as if fighting tears.

Vince nodded slowly and looked out the window. "I'll tell you if anything comes up Hunter." He said and then fell silent staring out the window dismissing Hunter.

Hunter stood up and sighed. "I'll see you Later Vince, Linda said something about us all going out to dinner tonight?" He asked smoothly.

Vince looked up then nodded. "Yes, she thinks we should all be close in this time of trouble." He said sadly.

Hunter nodded sympathetically. "Yes, I agree."

Vince nodded. "Then I'll see you tonight for dinner."

Hunter nodded and turned and left. He stalked down the hallway slamming into someone and knocking them on their ass. "Watch was your going!" He snarled down at the person then stalked off.

Jeff sighed and rubbed his ass. "Yeah, why don't you watch were your going ya big monkey?" He mumbled and stood up.

-----------------------

They were on the move again Stephanie had made a make shift bandage for the cut on Chris forehead out of the bottom of her shirt she was wearing. They had crawled up out of the little valley they had landed in only to realize that they had left the raft down below. So unlike the first time they'd gone down they climbed down. Got the raft then paused in thought.

"Fuck!" Chris suddenly snapped.

Stephanie jumped and looked up at him. "What?" She asked.

"We can climb out but not with the raft." He responded.

"Why not?"

"Because its to steep."

"Oh, then why don't we see if it gets less steep further up?"

"That might work."

"Duh,"

"Bite me princess!"

"Okay!"

"OW!" Chris rubbed his arm hard. "What you do that for?"

"You said bite me!"

"I did no such thing!"

"You did if I had a tape recorder I'd prove it, you said and I quote Bite me Princess."

"So?"

"So, I bit you!"

"Very funny, come on lets get going." He stated and picked up his end of the raft.

Stephanie sighed and picked up her end and the two of them headed down through the valley. "Its kind of nice down here." She said. "Less bugs."

"Its because were lower down were the air is cooler." He responded.

"Oh," She shrugged. "Well, I didn't know that."

"Well, we learn something new everyday don't we princess?"

"Yeah, I suppose we do." She finally responded as they made there way through the woods.

After a good couple of hours Chris finally stopped and set the raft down. "God, were never going to get out of this damn place." He snapped.

"Well," Stephanie said slowly. "Weren't we sort of heading that way?" She pointed out into the valley away from the cliff face.

Chris looked were she was pointing. It was true they had been heading that way but he'd hoped to find a higher point to start from but anything worked he supposed. "Yeah, I guess we were." He said not quite ready to admit she was right.

"So, why don't we head that way?" She asked.

He sighed and nodded. "I suppose we could." He stated. "Come on,"

She nodded and the two of them continued on in silence. She started humming to herself.

He stopped setting down the raft and looked at her. "Were you just humming what I think you were humming?" He asked.

"Maybe," She said grinning.

"You were humming my theme song,"

"So,"

"It's my theme song and you hate me."

"Its catchy!" She responded laughing. "Now, Come on Chrissie before it gets to dark and we can't see bugger all."

He blinked. "You just said bugger all." He let out a laugh and nodded. "Come on Princess lets hit the trail."

"Happy trails to you." She smirked.

"Fuck you."

"When and were?"

"Go to hell I'm engaged!"

"To a Neanderthal!"

"He's very sweet!"

"Only because he's thinking about your money!"

"Like hell he is!"

"Wish I could prove it Princess."

"Bear!"

"I am not!"

"No, Chris..BEAR!"

Chris whirled around and stared in disbelief at the huge brown bear moving slowly through the woods just to there left. "Don't make a sound." He whispered.

"I won't." She whimpered clinging to him.

He held her close protectively as the bear lumbered slowly closer. He didn't know what to do. He didn't have any weapons of the sort to protect him and Steph from a bear. "When I say to Steph run." He whispered.

She nodded not saying a word he could feel her slender frame shaking in terror. He watched the bear as it inched it seemed closer to them by the second. It paused and sniffed at a tree and then shot up onto its hind legs, which made it taller then even Mark Callaway and started ripping its huge claws through the tree's barks.

"Stephanie." Chris whispered.

"Yeah," She responded.

"Run!" He snapped.

They turned from the bear and ran for all they were worth.

-----------------------------

Jeff Hardy made his way meanderingly through the hallways bored out of his mind. He needed some entertainment and soon. He turned a corner and heard someone talking. He slipped up to the door to be a spy.

"Yeah, the old man thinks I actually love his daughter." A male voice said with a laugh.

"Awwww, I say good riddance to Stephanie." A woman's voice responded.

At those words Jeff's heart broke. He recognized the woman's voice to be Trish Stratus. He blinked back his tears and fought to figure out who the man she was talking to was.

"Yeah, once they realize there princess isn't coming back, and their number one guy is gone to." The man laughed. "They'll have to make me number one they won't have a choice."

"Oh, Hunter..emm you're so smart." She said laughing softly.

"Trips" Jeff whispered anger flaring up. With out thinking he pulled his Cell phone out and hit record. He didn't know how well it would record through a door but he could try.

"Yeah, and what's even funnier the old man, won't even know I sabotaged the plane." He chuckled. "Oh, don't look at me that way Trish babe." He said.

"What did you do?"

"I paid one of the mechanics to throw a proverbial wrench into the works. He said with a laugh.

Jeff lost it at this point shaking with rage he turned off the phone and shoved it back into his coat pocket. He turned to go and slammed right into the last person he wanted to see. Shawn Michaels his idol really but he looked pissed.

"Hunter doesn't like being spied on Hardy." He snapped.

"Uh, I didn't hear anything." He stammered out hoping Shawn would just let him go.

Shawn shook his head and shoved the younger man through the door into Hunter's dressing room. Trish jumped up looking shocked. "Jeff! Its not what it looks like!"

Jeff's heart broke then there was nothing left he just looked away from the woman he thought he had loved. "Fuck you Trish." He snarled.

Shawn shook his head and shoved Jeff hard. "Found him outside your door spying Hunter."

Hunter stood up and looked down at Jeff. "Oh, Really now." He looked over and Trish. "Why don't you run along babe, me and Jeff here need to have a man to man talk."

Trish nodded and kissed Hunter deeply. "See you tonight babe."

Hunter watched her go and smirked. "Sorry, I just had to take her Hardy." He smirked then glared. "Shawn why don't you go watch the door."

Jeff had to think fast. "Are you going to beat me up Hunter?" He asked quickly.

"Maybe," he said coldly looking down at the young smaller man.

"Can I make a request?" He begged.

"I suppose."

Jeff quickly took off his leather jacket. "Um, Shawn could you go give this to Matt just tell him you found it in the stands or something?"

"Its just a coat Jeff," He snapped. "Yeah, its leather kind of expensive."

Shawn rolled his eyes. "Yeah, fine I'll go give it to your brother." He snapped and stalked out.

Jeff turned and looked at Hunter. "Well, go ahead." He said taking a deep breath and closing his eyes.

The first blow would of knocked him off his feet if Hunter hadn't grabbed the front of his shirt.

------------------------------

They ran till they couldn't run any further and finally the two of them took a seat on a log breathing heavily.

"You think it followed us?"

"I don't know."

"Are we going the right way anymore?"

"I don't know?"

"Do you know anything?"

"Yes,"

"What?"

"You're annoying the hell out of me Princess."

"Well, excuse me!"

"You're excused."

"So, now what?"

"I don't know."

"Arg!!" She snarled and stood up. "Your impossible Chris Jericho!"

"Yeah, I know."

"Finally you know something!"

He just started laughing falling backwards off the rock. "Oh, Jeeze princess you are sooo funny!"

"What's so funny Christopher?" She asked getting aggravated.

"The look on your face." He said holding his hand out.

"Oh do you need help up?"

"That would be nice." He responded smiling innocently.

She sighed and grabbed his hand and started to pull him up. With a single strong yank he yanked her down on top of him. "What are you doing?"

He smiled softly and then pointed. "Look, in the tree."

She slowly turned her head and looked. Sprawled on a low branch was a huge Yellow cat. "What is it?" She asked.

"Mountain lion." He responded.

"Thought they lived in the mountains?" She asked.

"Yeah, were do you think we are Princess?" He asked.

" A forest." She responded brightly.

He slapped his forehead and winced. "OW!"

She looked worried. "Are you okay?" She said sitting up.

He closed his eyes realizing right were she had set herself. "Emmm..hmmm."

She blinked looked down her eyes went wide and she jumped up. "Your disgusting!" She nearly shrilled.

He opened his eyes and winced at the bright light. "What! You're the one who sat there!"

"And you get turned on by it!"

"I'm a healthy male of the age ground 18 to 40 anyone would of got turned on by that!"

"Fuck you!"

"Well, aren't we colorful!"

"Screw you!"

"Uh huh!"

"Fucktard!"

"What grade are we in now?"

"Just shut up Chris!"

"Shutting up now." He said seeing how upset he was making her.

She sighed and looked at him. "Come on lets go." She said. "I'm tired and I just want to get home."

He nodded and stood up he looked over to where the big cat had been and it was gone. "Nice to know there not all dead." He said more to himself then her.

"What's not all dead?" She asked.

"The big cats of North America." He responded.

"Were in Canada." She pointed out.

"I know but its still North America." He said smiling a little.

"Oh," she said. "We lost the raft."

"Yeah, I noticed."

"Now what?"

"I honestly don't know Princess, I just don't know."

-----------------------------

Vince, Linda, and Shane were all sitting around a table when Hunter arrived. "Sorry I'm late." He said softly.

"Its alright Hunter were not upset, just glad you could be here." Linda said softly.

The reason Hunter was late was still lying on the floor of the empty dressing room. He'd taught the nosy little fucker a lesson. No one spied on him and got away with it. He smiled at Linda. "How are you holding up?" He asked softly.

She smiled sadly. "Oh, I've been better." She said.

"I'm sure Stephanie is fine, she a strong woman no missing plane would chase her away." He said.

Linda nodded in agreement. "I know I know, I just can't help but worry, that's my baby out there in the woods." She said.

"With Chris Jericho!" Shane said.

Hunter nodded. "I wouldn't trust that blond as far as I could throw him."

Shane nodded in agreement. "I told Dad not to hire him, that he was nothing but trouble from the get go."

Vince sighed and shook his head. "Chris had been very good for the company. With Dwayne out making his movies and Steve being an uncertainty in the company in general we needed a strong front man."

"Hunter is a better choice then Chris." Shane snapped.

Hunter shook his head. "We shouldn't be arguing at a time like this." Another of the McMahon's wrapped around his little finger.

"Hunter's right." Linda said. "Lets just be nice tonight Shane, Vince."

The two men nodded in agreement and they all fell silent as they ate their meals. Linda smiled softly at Hunter.

----------------------------

Matt couldn't find Jeff, Shawn had come by two hours ago with Jeff's leather jacket said he'd found it in the stands. God he hoped Jeff hadn't wandered off again. They had a plane to catch in less then three hours.

He sighed as he walked down the hallway. He paused as he noticed a door slightly open. He looked around and walked over. Wouldn't it be just like Jeff to sneak into one of the plusher dressing rooms to take a nap? He sighed and pushed the door the rest of the way open and almost cried out in horror.

Curled in a ball in the corner was Jeff. He wasn't move hell Matt couldn't tell if his baby brother was breathing. He dropped the jacket on the floor and rushed to Jeff checking for a pulse when he found it he sighed a shaky sigh of relief. He slowly pulled Jeff from the corner and checked him over.

His face was the worse it looked like his right arm might be broken. There was so much blood. He leaned Jeff against the wall and stood up. He hurried into the hallway. "SOMEBODY HELP!" He screamed. "HELP!"

He went back into the room hoping to get Jeff to come around. "Jeff," he whispered smoothing his brother's blood caked hair. "Jeffro?" He said again softly.

Jeff just lay still his eyes shut tight blocking out the world that had done this to him.

"Come on Jeff wake up, who did this to you." He said softly then looking towards the door he heard someone walking down the hall. "HELP! Please god HELP!" He screamed.

The footsteps stopped and then the door opened. "Fuck?" Said Mark Callaway coming into the room.

"I don't know I found him like this." Matt whispered cradling his baby brother.

Mark nodded. "I'll go get some EMT's." He said then hurried out of the room.

--------------------------------

Chris sat down and looked at Stephanie she looked so worried. "It'll be okay Steph, we have food, and look Water to now." He said. "I'll start building a raft tomorrow."

She nodded and sat next to him and looked at the ground. "I'm so tired Chris."

"I know Princess your not used to this kind of life." He said rubbing her back gently.

She smiled at him. "Thanks for understand." She whispered.

"Not to hard to do that." He said smiling back.

"Your not that big of an ass." She pointed out.

"Yeah, but I can be one can't I?" He asked.

"Biggest one I've ever met!" She said with a laugh and a smile.

He chuckled and shook his head. "We should get some rest."

She nodded in agreement then cocked her head looking upwards. "What's that?" She asked.

He looked up to and watched the small shapes fluttering back and forth across the quickly darkening sky. "Bats." He finally responded.

"Really?" She said watching the small creatures.

He nodded. "Yep,"

She rested her head on his shoulder and watched the small creatures. "There so tiny." She finally whispered.

"Yeah, that how most of them go about life unnoticed." He said.

When she didn't answer he looked down and saw she'd fallen asleep. He smiled and held her close and closed his own eyes trying to get a bit of rest on his own.

--------------------

TBC…

A/N: I didn't really like this chapter I couldn't find a good place to end. That and setting up Hunter as an Ass was harder then I thought it would be. But, I guess now that I've done it, it works. Yes, I know I've said straight out I'm a Jeff Lita Shipper but I refuse to let Lita be anywhere near Hunter let alone be a heal. So I had it that Jeff was dating Trish. Hence why he was so heartbroken to realize it was Trish in there. Hopefully I can get more written soon but until then enjoy this chapter.

Peace,

this life and the Next.

Amaroqwolf (This message brought to you by the Imagi-nation—I'm a victim, are you? (Quote the Raven—Nevermore.)