A/N: EEEEEK, OMG I'm soo so sorry I forgot! I was so busy over the holidays and then had a lot to catch up on at work, but here like I promised, belatedly, but I promise you this... I will have this fic done this year, lol! One chap left after this...!
"Well it looks like you're all better." Stephanie McMahon smiled as she took the thermometer out of Chris Jericho's mouth.
"Yeah." Chris smirked, he was standing at Stephanie's door. "What do you carry that thing around with you? I mean, I KNOW you like sticking things it guys mouths…"
"Please Chris." Stephanie laughed as she grabbed her purse. "It's rectal."
"Uh…" Chris's jaw dropped.
Stephanie closed the door and turned after locking it, looking Chris up and down as she took a finger and lifted his chin shut, "Um, Chris, yeah… again about the molar work thing…"
"Ut!" Chris gulped and went to growl but then stopped and smirked with a sigh.
"Look, what are you doing here anyway?" Steph lifted her purse strap over her shoulder.
"I want to repay you for all of the help you gave me to recover these past few days."
"Chris, I don't think sex is a reward here."
"HEY!" Chris stopped and spoke civily towards her. "No, I was going to say if you needed help with anything…"
"Well the house is clean, I've only got one last chore to do."
"Can I help you with that?"
"Sure, if you insist. But it can get kinda ugly."
"Looking at you Stephanie, nothing can be uglier." Chris smirked.
"I think your mirror would disagree." Stephanie shrugged and walked towards her car.
"Oh, that was nice comeback." Chris spoke sarcastically as he walked after her. Steph started the car as soon as Chris got in. "So, where are we going anyway…?"
"Christmas shopping."
"WHAT?" Chris choked on his gum and swallowed it. "On the Friday before…? Are you insane?"
"Yes. Seatbelts."
"Uh oh." Chris gulped a she clicked it in.
"And here we go." Steph revved the car and sped off. "WOOHOO!"
The roads were packed like freeways, it took over ten minutes in a parking lot to try and find a spot. The final sales were going on huge, people with huge boxes and bags filled the sidewalks and the malls as the retail employees dreaded their job choice.
"There's a spot!" Chris pointed, but another person pulled in.
"Wait I see one…!" Stephanie went forward but another car slipped in quickly and took it. "Damn!" She hit the wheel angrily.
"Oh that's it." Chris grabbed the wheel and pulled into a handicapped spot. He got out of the car and started to walk off with a limp in his leg.
Stephanie turned off the car and ran after him, "Chris, no we can't do that…!"
"Why not…?" Chris smirked at her.
Stephanie smiled, "Well, I guess you ARE handicapped in SOME way…"
Chris stopped and turned, "What the hell does that mean…?"
"Oh nothing." Steph walked past him. "If you can't figure it out, maybe you really ARE handicapped."
"Uh…" Chris was shocked at the comeback, but then ran after her. "You really are mad you know, insane in the membrane, coming here last minute."
"I know."
"The thrill of Black Friday is enough for me, but shopping the day before Christmas is NUTSO COOCOO!"
"I know."
"Well, at least these sales are good." Chris looked around the stands in the stores, the floor filled with people and carts. "Good luck finding anything though."
"I know."
"What do you mean you know?"
"I know."
"You do this every year huh…. well, I just hope your credit cards are ready."
"I know."
"Are you even listening to me?"
"I know."
"STOP IGNORING ME!"
"I know."
Chris stopped and thought, "….. Stephanie McMahon sucks."
"No she doesn't."
"CRAP!"
"Yes you are."
"Why you…!" Chris went after her, pounding a fist into his hand.
"Whoa, did you just see that…?" Big Show stopped, holding armfuls of bags.
"What?" Christian asked, looking over a box.
"No, my mind must be playing tricks on me. I could've sworn I just saw Chris Jericho and Stephanie McMahon."
"What, shopping, together…?" Christian laughed. "Show my man… you've had a little too much of that eggnog."
After maxing our her credit cards on expensive gifts on everyone she knew… wait scratch that, after FINDING all of the above, and waiting forever in lines worthy of a bathroom at an arena, Chris had to carry the bags and boxes out of the store behind Stephanie as she led him to her car.
"Well, this was some ordeal." Chris panted as he stuffed everything into her trunk.
"Yup. Oh, careful." Stephanie went to help him, she didn't want anything to break. "There." It fit in and she closed the trunk. They all got in and cruised back home.
Chris stared forward blinking and thinking, then turned to Stephanie, "You know, this may sound crazy, but I actually had a good time."
"Yeah, I did too… thinking for a second that I had it with you is even more crazy."
"I know!" Chris laughed and Stephanie chuckled as well. They arrived at her house and Chris helped take everything into her house.
"You didn't have to go all this much out of your way you know."
"Yeah, but I wanted to." Chris smiled. Stephanie smirked warmly back up at him. They stared at each other for a moment, then Chris cleared his throat. "So, where's the paper?"
"The what?"
Chris stood up and turned, "You know, the gift wrap."
"Oh you don't have to, I can take care of it myself no problem."
"Are you sure?"
"Chris, you've done enough help thanks." Stephanie opened the closet and went to reach but it was on the top shelf. She sighed, "Hey Chris, could you…"
"Sure you want my help?" Chris asked and Steph leered at him. Chris walked over and grabbed them for her, "Here."
"Thanks." She took them. She sat on the floor as she cut and tapped the paper and ribbons on the boxes and Chris topped them with a bow. "You know, I've been thinking all week, and something strange has dawned on me, you know?"
"I think I do, I know where you're going with this cause I've realized it too. I dunno why, I mean, with you… why…"
"I'm being so nice to you, and…"
"Why you're being so nice to me…"
They both stopped and looked at each other and Steph smiled, "Maybe I'm catching your flu."
"Yeah." Chris laughed. They both laughed and looked around. "Well that's done, now your tree looks complete." Chris stopped himself. "No, wait."
"Huh?" Steph watched as he ran out the door and to his house, then rushed back in.
"Here." He put something at the top of the tree.
"OH." Stephanie's eyes shook, it was beautiful. "A star…."
"Yeah, now it's complete." Chris smiled proudly.
"Oh Chris it's beautiful, thank you." She hugged him, then stopped and realized what she was doing. Chris blinked, he couldn't believe it too… he was hugging… HER! "Sorry." She went to let go but Chris didn't let her go back.
"No, it's alright." He said quietly.
"Hey, look at that." Stephanie looked up.
Chris followed her gaze, "Oh, mistletoe. How ironic." He smirked then looked back down at her.
"Uh, well, but it's… you know… you."
"I know, I'm not much into a holiday tradition of kissing a sess pool."
"Shut up and kiss me." Stephanie leaned in slowly, as did Chris, and they shared something magical on that cool winters day in Florida. "Wow…"
"Yeah…" Chris drew back, that was amazing. "So… how does that dental work feel?"
"Oh shut up!" Stephanie laughed, she couldn't believe he just said that. Chris laughed too. They stopped and looked deep into each other's eyes. "Merry Christmas Chris."
"Merry Christmas Steph." Chris turned to go, then stopped. "Hey, you know, since you're new in the area, some of us get together on the holiday, and, you're welcome to join our family you know."
"Aw, well thank you Chris." Stephanie beamed thankfully.
"So, I guess I'll see you then."
"Alright." Stephanie smiled and Chris left, closing the door behind her.
Stephanie sat down on the couch next to Dot. She didn't understand, whenever she's around him she gets a feeling in her stomach, and it makes her so angry and hesitant, but today, in fact all this week, her stomach has felt…. Calm.
Neither of them would have ever thought to think to admit something this crazy, but, not only did they share one hot kiss, but they were having fun with each other… they were putting up with each other on Christmas… they were…. in love.