Wow, I cannot believe how far this story has gone. Admittedly when I started, I worried that I wouldn't be able to actually create a good story. All the reviewers are motivators, and you keep me wanting to go at it with putting more work in. God bless you, and I'm happy to be posting the 10th chapter in "Fate with a stranger" Enjoy and thanks a million!

"Breathe, Hunter, breathe..."

Paul stormed down the hallway, knocking everything and everyone out of his way. Who cares about Stephanie. He didn't have to put up with this shit, nor did he have to care about anything she said. He kicked a barrel of towels angrily, before slinging a chair into the wall. He felt himself crumble, embarrassed that he let anyone get him this way. Hell, he had a whole fiancee. So what was so damn special to him about Stephanie? Soft tears burned his eyes as he threw the mirror, wanting to burn the entire arena down. A soft creak of the door brought him down from the hell he felt inside, as he wiped his face, studying the figure.

"Mark?"

Mark Calaway, great. Just who he needed to see at this moment to lecture him. Paul swiped his hand angrily while hiding his face, wanting Mark to just leave. Mark instead chuckled, throwing a stray towel at Hunter for him to dry his tears.

"She's got you good, boy."

Hunter stared at him for awhile, reading his expression. He sighed softly, turning towards Mark with a nonchalant expression.

"Don't know what you're talking about Taker, nor do I care. I've just had a rough night. Don't think you know everything involving myself more than I do, Jack." Mark stretched softly, his soft hazel eyes studying the younger gent in front of him. There had always been a code with the boys, and Hunter broke that. It was a simple code that most men knew when employed with the WWF, and that was one thing that could have you out of a job in an instant.

"Never fall in love with the Boss's daughter."

Taker studied Hunter, wondering if he'd stop the dumb act, or come clean about matters. It was clear that Hunter would continue the charade, so Taker took no time in giving it to him straight.

"I feel no sympathy for you. You're with one woman, in love with another, and just lost. But.. I will say in all fairness, you're human."

Hunter stared at the wall as he sighed tiredly. The jig was up. Most people with eyes could always see his longing gaze at Stephanie, and he had let his attractions get the best of him. Taker handed Hunter the towel, before focusing his eyes back to Hunter's disposition.

"You've got two choices, Paul. Let one go, or let the other go. There's no inbetween with this. You either be a man and face it, or you let karma do it for you. I'll always be your boy. But I will never bullshit you, you got that? Good luck, Stephanie's a good girl. But you have to fix things with Joanie, she deserves atleast that."

Hunter closed his eyes as he listened to Taker make his exit. Fuck, was he caught up more than ever. He had never experienced such feelings like this, and he had never been in a predicament to this extent. He fixed himself up before fetching his luggage, wanting nothing but to be at hotel at this moment. As he rolled his luggage outside of the locker room, he felt a soft kiss on the lips.

Joanie had found him, and she was eager as ever to spend the night with him. "Hunter, baby, I've been looking all over for you. I've got a special night planned. Me, you, and the boys, all together at the casino. How does that sound?"

Hunter mustered a soft smile, but he couldn't focus on anything Joanie was talking about at the moment. Stephanie had a hold on him. Hell, even with that simple kiss, he wished it was Stephanie. And he knew he was the biggest asshole in the world for it. "Joan, not tonight, okay? I just need to rest. Had a very stressful day, alright?"

Joanie shrugged softly, kissing him once more as he groaned, closing his eyes to erase the thoughts that were trying to make their way in. Joanie had her arms around his neck, and he felt her body heat radiating off of him. "That's fine by me, Hunter. But maybe that can leave room for us both tonight, hm? I haven't had the pleasure of laying with you in quite some time, mister." Hunter had had enough at this point. He couldn't even be remotely turned on by Joanie's gestures, and he felt as if they were only little pieces of karma sent to eat at him for the mess he caused. He removed Joanie's hands before sighing deeply, studying her surprised expression.

"Not tonight, I told you that. I-I'm just not in the mood to be bothered, Joan. Okay? I'm sorry." Joanie felt all of her built up rage come to a boiling point. She was fed up with being pushed away for reasons beyond her comprehension. All she wanted was love, and Hunter hadn't given her any of it in quite some time. "What is your fucking deal, Hunter? You don't return calls, you don't kiss, you don't make love to me, you just don't give a damn! What am I even doing here if you can't pay attention to me? Is your attention somewhere else, what? Because it isn't with me by any means."

Hunter sighed as he watched Joanie's face drop. He never cleared that question from her mind away. Usually if someone has something worth defending, they speak up about it, but Hunter's eyes told the whole story. Joanie felt her face flush, as her eyes welled up. She couldn't find the exact words to say, but she knew in her heart what needed to be said.

"Who is it, Paul..."

Her words didn't even come out as a question. It was a statement, moreso, and she didn't have the strength to ask it again. Hunter sighed, feeling like complete trash as he watched Joanie cry softly from his silence. His hand raised to touch her back, but he knew it would have no meaning. "Joanie, we hadn't been on good terms for awhile now. Hell, I felt as if we both forced it at times to convince ourselves that we were happy. We aren't. I'm not happy. The last thing I wanted to do was hurt you, but I can't control what I feel for this person."

His mind raced back to the hotel as he thought of Stephanie asking him about what he wanted in life. He had never had someone actually pick his brain like that. He thought about the first time he approached Stephanie, watching her admire the lake quietly, writing in her journal. Something about her drove him absolutely insane, and it wasn't something he couldn't force.

Joanie dried her eyes before lifting her luggage, not making eye contact with Hunter. "You can find somewhere else to sleep tonight. I don't need you near me anymore." Hunter felt his face burn as Joanie walked away, her body becoming nothing but a distant shadow.

He deserved that, he knew it. But he couldn't help but to feel as if God was telling him something. He studied the dark parking garage before walking quietly, trying to drown the thoughts of today from his mind, and moreso his heart. He jumped softly as a figure appeared beside him, causing him to forget every sad moment he had faced that day. Her eyes were red from crying, signalizing that she heard every word that was exchanged by Paul and Joanie. He cleared his throat, starting to speak, before she cut him off.

"Paul, just get in the car, okay?"

Hunter sighed softly, before loading his luggage inside of the trunk. She got out of the car to help, and he couldn't help but to find even that simple gesture irresistible. He watched as she made her way back inside of the car, and he followed suit. Her hand went to her ear, doing that oh so familiar swipe of her hair when she was near him. He had to give it to her, she was tougher than her beautiful outside exterior gave her credit for, and it was the very same reason he couldn't quit her. Their eyes fell onto eachother's as he sighed, happy to just be done with the disaster of a day.

"I'll go wherever you take me, Steph."