DISCLAIMER: As much as it breaks my heart to admit it, I do not own anyone or anything connected to Vince McMahon and his awesomeness. I can only claim property rights of OC.

***A/N -- Here ya go -- an early Easter present just for you!!!! Hope you enjoy***

Hannah was almost too excited to sit still. Excitement coursed through her like a river. She couldn't wait for the limo to arrive to the Dodge Theater. She couldn't wait to be free of the confines car. The trip from the hotel seemed to drag by. Randy and Claire were snuggled together and it took all of her will power not to stare. It was just so shocking to see Randy this way. She was so used to the super-macho asshole. He was usually barking orders and expecting them to be followed. Seeing him so relaxed as he stroked a finger down Claire's arm seemed so out of character. It was almost more than Hannah could take in. After what seemed like an eternity, the limo came to a smooth stop. A moment later the door opened and Randy slid from the dark interior. He helped Claire from the limo and then turned to assist Hannah. He offered an arm to each of them with a smile. His blue eyes quickly scanned the crowd near the door for any sign of Ted. He hadn't answered his cell the last ten times Randy called him. Curious if something was wrong, Randy paused just outside the door. He plastered a smile on his face and turned to wave at some of the fans closest to him. Finally, he spotted Ted standing just outside the door. Waiting until they were close, Randy motioned for Claire and Hannah to proceed him into the building.

Once the girls were far enough ahead of him, he stopped beside Ted and kept his voice low, "I thought you were meeting us at the hotel." Randy turned his back to Claire in an attempt to keep from being overheard.

"That's what I've been trying to tell you." Ted kept his voice low. He had tried unsuccessfully tried for the last two days to get Randy alone long enough to tell him. Their schedules had been so chaotic that he hadn't have enough time to think, much less force Randy to give him five minutes. Hell, Randy had barely left Claire's side long enough to do the things the company demanded of them. Short of writing a letter to him on the hotel stationary, Ted was fresh out of ideas.

"Tell me what?" Randy resisted the urge to glance over his shoulder.

"Hannah turned me down. She said she had a date." Ted kept his voice low and his eyes locked on Randy's face.

"What?"

Ted winced at the sharp tone of Randy's voice, "When I asked her, she said she already had a date."

"Who?"

Ted shrugged in answer. He had been unable to get that particular bit of information out of her. Hannah was charming little mystery that definitely played things close to the vest. He had spent an unknown amount of time trying to figure out which of the locker room bachelors would have been ballsy enough to ask her for a date.

"You're crazy if you think I'm going to let her go running around with one of the punks on the roster!"

Ted glared at Randy in a silent plea to quiet down. The last thing they needed was to draw even more attention.

"Randy, listen, I tried to tell you. You haven't had five extra minutes for me to tell you..."

"I'll be damn..."

Ted realized his tirade was being ignored at the same time Randy's jaw dropped open. He turned on his heel to see what had caused Randy's reaction and felt the same thing happen to him, "Holy shit."

Stephen Farrelly found himself standing straighter the moment he had spotted Hannah emerging from limo. He could barely take his eyes from her. Her petite frame was artfully draped in a pale lavender paisley print. Her slender arms were bare to the cool night. Her short, dark hair framed her face, calling attention to her deep, wide-set eyes. She was enchantingly beautiful and he was proud to have her on his arm. He watched as she took Randy's arm and was lead toward the building. Randy paused a moment and spoke with Ted DiBiase. Hannah and Claire were standing off to the side and as soon as she saw him, she quickly moved towards him. He took a step forward and held his hands out to her. stopping just in front of him, she placed her hands in his. He quickly kissed her cheek before tucking her hand into the crook of his arm. He glanced over to where Randy and Ted stood before turning to lead her inside. The moment Randy's eyes locked on them, their conversation stopped. He just stared at them as they passed and went into the building. Randy stared at the retreating back of the Irishman. He wasn't sure what in hell was going on, but he was going to enjoy sitting back and watching the fireworks. Maybe Ted not getting involved would work in his favor. He hadn't thought about the fact that Cody would be pissed at Ted for invading his territory. Right now they couldn't afford to have any more infighting. Having someone completely outside of their group pursuing Hannah would seem more like a real threat. During the entire ceremony Randy was tempted to turn his chair and watch what was happening between Hannah and Stephen. The few times he had manged to glance over his shoulder, all he could see was Stephen's arm carefully draped over the back of Hannah's chair. She was leaning slightly into him but otherwise they were keeping a respectable distance. It was a small victory but his instincts told him that this was going to work out very well.

Hannah could not believe her eyes. Everywhere she looked, she saw the most elite members of the WWE. She couldn't keep track of everyone. She knew she was in the presence of greatness. She was both awed and amazed. It was amazing to see one of her dreams finally come true. Granted, it wasn't the dream that had her walking down the aisle but it was still something she could mark off her Bucket List. Stephen was proving to be a most attentive date. He kept his hands neatly folded; at least he had until he'd settled an arm on the back of her chair. The stunning part was, she really didn't mind him being just a little bit forward. He treated her like a lady; which was more than she could say for some people. They were slowly making their way out of the building when Stephen glanced at her, "I don't suppose ya would allow me escort ya to the party?"

Hannah's steps slowed as she looked at him. She wasn't sure she had heard him correctly; she was pretty sure he had just asked her to go to the after party. It was a surprise, to say the least. She had assumed that she would have to go back to the Oasis and wait for Claire to finish playing Cinderella. The after party was almost as exclusive as the ceremony. Why the hell should she go back to the silent hotel room when she could be out having fun? She smiled and tucked her hand into the crook of his arm, "I think that is a fabulous idea."

If Hannah had thought the ceremony was a sight to behold, she was left totally speechless by the lavish party at the Hyatt Hotel. The room was draped in shimmering layers of fabric and she could not count the number of candles that flickered. Circular tables, covered in crisp white table clothes, surrounded the dance floor. She felt as if she was enclosed in a glittering snowflake. Stephen pulled two glasses of champagne from a passing waiter and handed one to her. Accepting it with a smile, Hannah let him lead her out onto the large balcony. The balcony was just as lavishly decorated as the interior. Another collection of round tables stood silent witness to the festivities. Hannah expected Stephen to lead them to a table, instead he lead her over to the railing. He looked at her before turning to look out over the city. She turned as well, and looked out over the glittering lights of the city. The moment felt suddenly awkward. She didn't have a great deal of experience dealing with men and she damn sure didn't know a lot about men like Stephen. His size alone was enough to make her cautious. However, she saw nothing of the usual aggressiveness that helped carve his name in the history books. Surprisingly, he was very gentle with her and cautious. She got the impression that he was very aware of his size and strength. Hannah had to give him credit for that.

Stephen turned slightly to face her, his champagne glass held tightly in his fingers, "I was beginnin' to think ya weren't going to call."

Sheepishly, Hannah looked away. Until Cody had rejected her, she had absolutely no intention of ever dialing that number. It wasn't until she and Claire had gone shopping that she had begun to think of the possibility. Experience had taught her that tears really didn't make things better. And there was only so much crying a girl could do. Finally, she had gotten herself under control and called him. "I wasn't sure what to say."

Stephen arched a brow as he silently studied Hannah. "I'm glad ya did."

Hannah looked up at him, her hazel eyes locking with his green ones. She wasn't sure what exactly he meant, "Are you?"

Stephen nodded and set his glass down on the edge, "Verra glad. You're an unusual woman."

Her soft laughter moved over him like a caress, "Is that a good thing?"

"I wan' to get to know ya." Hannah didn't miss the way his voice dropped ever so slightly. She wasn't completely sure but she was beginning to think he was coming onto her. And she wasn't sure that she minded. A little attention could work wonders for a girl who had faced the kind of rejection Cody had shown her.

Stephen reached for her hand and lightly grasped her fingers, "It's a verra good thing."

It was very difficult for Hannah to keep looking in his eyes. "It's better if we take things one at a time."

Stephen smiled and nodded slightly. If he was a betting man, he would put money on Hannah not having a lot of experience with men. If she wanted to go slowly, he didn't mind at all. There was something to be said for starting an old fashioned relationship. "Tell me about yerself."

Looking out over the city, Hannah wondered just how much she really needed to tell. Better she give the abridged version, "I'm from Los Angeles. Lived there until I was 17. My Mom took a new job and we had to move across country."

Stephen nodded in sympathy. He knew what it was like to leave everything you held close to your heart. It had been the most difficult thing he had ever done, but it had been well worth it.

"I always wanted to work for this company. From the time I was old enough to walk, Mom would take me to shows when they were close enough to drive to. I grew up wanting to be a part of this." Hannah made a small motion toward the building and the crowd gathered inside.

It was amazing to hear that they had so much in common after all. Stephen had worked every day of his life, for a long as he could remember, just to get where he was. He had paid his dues and worked his ass off to have the life he did. It was just as amazing to think that Hannah was just starting on the road that he knew all too well. He had to respect her for that. There weren't many people that were brave enough to go after their dreams. Half of his family had declared him insane for wanting to move nearly half way around the world. It was with a great sense of pride that he was able to prove them all wrong.

"Ya have a lot to look forward to." He took a small step forward as he reached for her other hand. It was then she noticed he had wonderful hands; strong and capable with long, almost elegant fingers. They were a compliment to the soft, lilting voice he was using. It made her think of the possibilities.

Forcing herself to meet his gaze, Hannah felt her breath catch. His light green eyes were looking at her in a way that made her feel suddenly exposed. It was like he was looking into the depths of her. A small shiver passed over her as she realized she could feel the warmth of his skin. She knew he was going to kiss her. She watched in fascination as he leaned down from his great height. Nervously his tongue darted out to lick his bottom lip. He let go of one of her hands before sliding his arm around the curve of her back. Her back arched slightly as he pulled her into his embrace. Hannah was startled by the soft pressure of his lips. They were warm and incredibly soft. He kept the pressure light until Hannah's lips parted and allowed him access. She could taste the champagne in the depths of his mouth and it made her a little excited. Her hands moved to rest against his chest as she returned his gentle caress, her tongue tangling with his. He groaned softly in the back of his throat before slowly pulling away. He leaned his forehead against hers for a moment. Unblinking, Hannah stared up at him, her eyes locked on his lips, Man, can he kiss or what? The perfection of the moment was disturbed by someone calling Stephen's name. Hannah blinked slowly, unable to tear her eyes away from him. Stephen turned to see Matt Korklan standing in the doorway, waving him over.

Stephen shot Matt a heated glance before looking back at Hannah, "Wait for me."

Hannah nodded in agreement and watched as Stephen went inside. She swallowed hard, feeling the sting in her suddenly parched throat. What is wrong with you? Hannah asked herself as the door firmly closed behind him. She felt as if her skin were on fire and knew she was blushing from head to toe. She hadn't realized Stephen was so . . . intense. Never in a million years had she expected to feel the flicker of desire. But here she was, trying to calm herself enough to catch her breath. It was hard, though. Stephen was saying all of the things that she'd wanted to hear for so long. He was full of old world charm and grace. He treated her with a gentleness that made her feel like a woman. It was a feeling she could get used to. Pressing the cool, champagne glass against her cheek, Hannah tried to calm the sudden pounding of her heart. What was she going to do? She was so torn! Stephen was an absolute dream but no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't help but feel like she was betraying Stephen. As wonderful as he was, she still wished it was Cody. She would give anything to have Cody be the one to make her feel this waterfall of emotion. Too bad that was never going to happen. Taking in a deep breath, Hannah looked out over the city.

Cody clutched his phone in his hand as he looked for the nearest exit. He needed to send Ted a text and tell him to find somewhere else to crash for the night. Things were going too well between him and Barbie. He had every expectation that the night would end in a tangle of sheets and sweaty limbs. Finally, he spotted the door that led out onto the balcony. He was already typing the text as he stepped outside. Hannah turned, her face carefully arranged into a smile. She froze in place, realizing it was not Stephen but Cody that had come outside. She quickly collected her composure and stood as straight as possible. Pausing a few feet away from the door, Cody quickly hit the send button and looked up. The first thing that crossed his line of vision was pair of strappy silver heels. His gaze moved upward, following the line of a simple gown, over softly rounded hips and up, even higher. He sucked in a quick breath as his gaze moved over the swell of pair of perfectly sized breasts and into the wide set hazel of the last person he wanted to see. He felt like he had been punched in the gut. She was so damn beautiful standing there, the moonlight playing off the bare curve of her shoulders. Cody swallowed hard once and then again as he tried to form a coherent thought. They stood facing each other, the few feet between them seeming more like miles.

"You look . . . nice." Cody winced at how absolutely lame he sounded. Nice was so not the word he was thinking. Fuckable was more like it. He couldn't stop himself from wondering what she was wearing under that dress.

Hannah stared at Cody, "Not too bad for a 'Nobody'."

Cody winced. He'd never stopped to think that Hannah had actually overheard him. He hadn't mean to say it. It had just sorta happened. "Are you having a good time?" Sliding his hand into his pocket, he hoped Hannah wouldn't notice the sudden bulge behind his fly.

She nodded slightly, her gaze never leaving his face. Thank you, God.

"Are you alone?" Cody glanced around, trying to figure out if he had to worry about a jealous date beating him senseless.

Hannah continued staring at him but did not reply.

"So. Yeah. Right. I'm glad you decided to come."

Hannah laughed softly as she crossed her arms over her chest. Cody tried to ignore the way that simple motion pushed her breasts higher, the rounded globes peaking out at him.

"Is there something you wanted to say to me?" Hannah arched a brow, hoping Cody would take the hint that she expected him to apologize.

Cody looked at Hannah and wished he had the balls to say what he was thinking. God, any other man on the planet would take advantage of this moment. But would he? Probably not.

He shook his head slowly. He didn't miss Hannah's sigh of relief as the door opened one more time. She smiled at whoever was joining them and Cody felt the urge to punch something.

Hannah moved toward the building, passing close enough to him that her arm brushed his. He felt the heat of her body through his shirt. She paused a moment beside him and flicked a heated look at him. She looked at Stephen who was glaring daggers at them before looking back at Cody. "Eat your heart out, Rhodes." She said in a deceptively soft voice.

He turned in time to see Stephen wrap a protective arm around Hannah and guide her into the building. A hot, burning rage took root in him. Nobody, but nobody, was going to make a fool of him.

*** A/N – Are those fireworks we just saw? I do believe they were! Please review ***