A/N: Thank you all so much for the reviews of the first chapter. I was honestly contemplating either leaving this as a one-shot or taking it down altogether, but I decided not to. As such, I'm not sure I will follow the original challenge, but I did come up with an idea that I think I'll enjoy, so I hope that you'll enjoy it too, and hopefully you'll leave a review, thanks! :)

Day 10

"So he's coming over?"

Stephanie threw her legs over the side of the leather chair she was sitting in, facing the backyard. "Yeah, he said he was coming over to get his things," Stephanie answered. "I packed up some of the things for him, put them in some boxes so it makes it easier."

Her friend, Marcie, gave a short laugh, "I'm surprised you didn't dump all his things on the lawn and make him pick it all up."

Stephanie had to laugh at that. Once upon a time, that was exactly what she would have done. "No, I mean, I thought about it, but that was days ago."

"Oh, so you're in the…what stage of grief? The denial part?"

"No, I think I've gone straight to acceptance," Stephanie told her. "I mean, it's not like I hate him. I don't hate him. I mean, I don't think I ever could hate him, you know what I mean."

"So you're just hoping it'll be a booty call when he comes over?"

"I'm not, why must you go there?"

"Um, because Chris is hot. Would you mind if I date him?" Marcie joked. "I would just give up the husband for a shot at that."

"Shut up, and no, you can't have him," Stephanie told him. "I'm not mad at him, I mean, I am because it didn't have to be like this, but I have to take responsibility for what this is as well. It wasn't just his fault that things went this way. I mean, yes, he's leaving me for a band, but I'm letting him go, you know."

"Stephanie Marie McMahon, stop being logical for once in your goddamned life," Marcie told her with exasperation. "You are giving the rest of the world a bad name when you don't even take two weeks to be absolutely pissed off."

"What the hell am I supposed to do? Sit here and eat tub after tub of ice cream, pining away for him? He's not dead, Marc, and I'm not going to act like he will be out of my life forever. We can still be friends after an appropriate amount of time has passed."

"And then you go and ruin the illusion of perfection," Marcie sighed dramatically. "There is no chance in hell you and Chris will ever be friends, not a damn chance. You guys were together for too long. If he gets a girlfriend, you are going to be seeing red, and the same goes for him."

"It's going to happen eventually, I mean, I'm going to get out on the scene again eventually, but that is definitely not one of the parts of the breakup I'm at yet. I don't know when I will be ready for that, but it will happen, and it'll happen for him as well."

"Probably already has," Marcie muttered, "what with the stupid band thing?"

"You don't know him like I know him," Stephanie said, but her voice hitched at the very end. She hadn't thought about that. Chris was an impulsive person, sometimes he did things without thought. She knew she had no more claim on him, that their relationship was over and done with, but she hoped he hadn't immediately gone out and banged a chick…or two…or three. Oh God, she was not going to let her mind wander there.

But he was going on tour, where he had fans of the female persuasion, and she knew some of these fans fancied they could get Chris into bed with a little bit of heavy coaxing. She'd seen it firsthand too many times when she would go to various gigs with Chris. And she didn't even go to all of his shows! Who knew the crowds, hordes really, of women that had been there when she hadn't been.

Stephanie stood proudly backstage, watching Chris perform with his band. He sounded incredible, and she couldn't help but notice he kept glancing in her direction. Every time he did, she threw him a smile, even though she knew he probably wouldn't see it. She knew it though, could feel the pride surging through her body and hopefully right into his. She knew Chris would succeed with this because he succeeded at everything, but that didn't stop her pride for a moment.

After the encore, he came backstage and lifted her into his arms, spinning her around, "How amazing were we?"

"So amazing, the crowd was loving it," she looked down at him, leaning down slightly to capture his lips, tasting the sweat gathered there from the hot lights, but she didn't care.

"I know, they were eating it all up," he put her down, but didn't let go of her. "I have to go sign some autographs and stuff, but do you want to come with me or…you could probably take a taxi to the hotel if you really, really wanted to." He said the last part in such a way that told her he really wanted her to stay.

"I'll stay, you big dummy," she laughed, "You could just say, 'Stephanie, I would like you to stay.'"

"I know, but it's more fun when it seems like you came up with the idea by yourself."

"Chris, come on, lines are forming," Rich stuck his head backstage, "What did you think, Steph?"

"Killer as always," she grinned. She pushed Chris towards the stage, "Go, I'll follow in a second, make it seem like I'm not really here with you. I'll hold back since I don't want the masses mobbing me."

He chuckled, running his thumb along her jaw before leaning forward to press a kiss to her lips. "I'll see you out there, Slick."

Chris jogged off towards the stage, and Stephanie waited a few minutes before she stepped out into the club where Chris was hanging out with some fans and signing everything he could reach towards. They were having a meet and greet after the show this evening, and they were supposed to be set up at a table, but they were having a difficult time getting there.

"God, he is so hot." Stephanie looked over and saw a couple of girls standing there, about to get in line to talk to Chris presumably. Well, she shouldn't presume, Fozzy was filled with good-looking guys.

"You're telling me, when he's wrestling, you can pretty much see everything," the other girl giggled. Okay, so they were talking about Chris. She should have figured. This happened so much of the time. She smirked to herself, wondering what creative way Chris would turn them down. Sometimes he would actually make them think they had a shot before he'd shoot them down, but he always shot them down.

"I wonder if he would be willing, I mean, guy on the road, you know, it's gotta be hard to travel so much, he'd probably need a release," she laughed, biting her lip.

Stephanie decided this time she wasn't going to let Chris be the one to turn him down. She walked right up to Chris, where he'd just sat down to sign autographs, grabbed his chin, leaning his face up and kissing him deeply. She pulled away and Chris's eyes widened before a silly grin spread across his face.

"Wow," Chris said. "What was that for?"

"Just claiming what's mine."

"Damn, well…claim away…"

"I'm just kidding," Marcie told her.

Stephanie heard a key in the door and then click of the unlock. "He's here, Marc, I've got to go."

"Okay, tell me how it goes, okay. You'll be fine, by the way. Everything happens for a reason, so whatever happened or happens between you two, you'll somehow get through it, whatever it is."

Stephanie had never been one for inspirational words or quotes of motivation. It wasn't her style. She thought for herself, and as such, didn't feel like she needed pep talks. She politely said thank you and ended the call without much fanfare. She swung her legs to the floor and stood up. She was in a pair of sweats and a t-shirt. Chris was no longer her boyfriend, she didn't have to impress him, not that she did it when they were together. He'd seen her at her worst so she didn't need to dress up. Some of her friends told her she should wear a new dress, get her hair done, manicure, pedicure, the works, anything to make him regret what he'd given up, but that wasn't how she played.

"Steph?" Chris called out into the house, and it was like old times, and for just a moment, she could believe that Chris had just returned home and that things weren't different.

"In here!" she shouted back and he's in there a moment later. She doesn't expect him to look different and he doesn't. He walked over to her and looked like he was going to hug her, but then thinks better of it. She gives a short laugh, "I don't bite, you know."

"I know," he said, then hugged her anyways. "How are you doing?"

"I'm okay, you?"

"I'm okay."

They're both lying and they know it, but they're each trying to ease the other's wounded soul. She knows him so well, too well actually, and she kind of wishes she didn't. She nodded her head at him a little, at a loss for anything to say really, and he does the same. They both just stood there, scuffing their feet a little bit. Maybe this wouldn't be such a clean break after all. It's only been ten days though, ten out of however many they are granted, so they just have to power through until it isn't so bad anymore.

"I packed up some of your things so you wouldn't have to do it all," Stephanie said, walking past him as she went upstairs and into one of the spare bedrooms they used when friends came over. She opened the door to reveal a few boxes sitting on the bed, most of them half full. "It's really only clothes and things. I know that you're going to have to come back for the office stuff."

"Yeah," he said, thinking about how much of a chore that was going to be. "I can just, uh, leave that for now. The good thing about business nowadays is that it can be done anywhere. The clothes are really what I needed."

"I figured," she said. "I didn't know what else you might want to take, but unless it's clearly mine, like my underwear or something, you can take whatever you want."

"You sure, because I was really thinking about taking the vacuum," he joked.

She laughed, "Okay, fine, it's not like the housekeeper doesn't bring one of her own when she comes to clean. Hey, uh, speaking of mundane things like vacuums, where are you staying? I mean, I'm not trying to snoop, unless you're staying with some woman, then I'm going to have to kill you right now."

"Nope, I'm not staying with another woman. Other women haven't existed in my realm for so long, I'm not even sure I know what to do with one that isn't brunette, gray-eyed, and kind of bitchy."

"And here I thought the break-up was amicable," she told him.

She could tell he wants to say something, but he changed his mind, "I'm staying at a hotel nearby for right now. I'm actually looking for a place in a couple different places."

"Such as?"

"Why do you want to know, you planning on tracking me down or something?" he asked her playfully, nudging her as he rooted through the boxes, seeing what she did and didn't pack in them.

"I'm just curious."

"I was thinking Florida again, but then I was also thinking California, you know, what with all the stuff I have going on."

He doesn't say the stuff about the band, knowing it's a sore subject, but it still hangs there. She fights off the bitterness rising in her throat, putting a forced smile on her face instead. It's easier that way, to just ignore it, he's doing it, she can do it too. "Well, um, I guess I'll lave you to it. I've actually got to go to the store, so you can have some peace and quiet while you, uh, pack."

"Thanks, Stephanie," he said, giving her a brief look before going back to his packing.

He's not there when she returns.