Hunter looked at his watch as he cut the engine when he pulled into a parking spot back at the arena, he had ten minutes to get to Stephanie's office so he could talk to her. Pulling his keys from the engine he reached to grab the bag of food and the tray that the drinks were in from the floor and placed them on the passenger seat before he opened his door and climbed out and then reaching back in to get the food and drink. Once the car was secured he headed inside the arena and straight for Stephanie's office.

Sat in her office chair she had her eyes closed and her head in her hands just wishing the day could end so she could go back to the hotel and crawl into her bed and pretend this just wasn't happening. She was brought out of her thoughts by a knock at the door.

Arriving at Stephanie's office he noticed that her head was in her hands so he knocked gently on the door and stood waiting to be allowed in.

Her head flew up when she heard the knocking and she wiped at her face seeing Hunter stood there, "come in."

Watching as she wiped her face he was concerned but he stepped inside anyway, "is now a good time?"

Nodding her head she stood up and smoothed down her skirt before she looked at her watch, "I said one o'clock and although it is a little earlier than one it is okay."

Placing the tray of drinks on the desk he took out an iced drink and put it in front of her, "I got you an Iced Caffe Americano because you did like it but I'm not sure if you still do or not but thought I would try my luck."

Shocked she silently picked the drink up and took a sip, it was exactly how she took it, "thank you. It is still my favourite and you remembered how I took it too."

Shrugging his shoulders he tried to play it off like it was nothing, "I just had a vague memory of it as you used to drink it all of the time. I also got you a roast chicken roll with lettuce and tomato and a thin drizzle of mustard."

Her mouth fell open in shock, this had been the last thing she had expected when they had arranged the meeting and she had told him to bring food, "you didn't have to go to all of this effort."

"It was no effort, I needed the fresh air and I just happened to pass the stores when I was out and about."

Nodding her head she didn't really believe him. Taking a seat back at her desk she waited as he pulled her sandwich from the bag and put it in front of her. As she opened the sandwich she looked up at him, "what did you want to talk to me about?"

Losing most of his bottle he took his sandwich and sat down, "why don't we eat and then talk?"

Shrugging her shoulders she picked her sandwich up, "whatever you want but we don't have all afternoon."

"I know, don't worry."

Silence fell over them as they both ate their sandwiches.

As soon as she finished her sandwich Stephanie screwed the paper into a ball and tossed it back into the bag before she picked up her drink and started to sip it as she waited for him to finish.

Finishing his sandwich he neatly folded the paper up before he placed it in the bag. Picking up his drink he had a nice long drink before he placed the drink down and turned to look at her with a serious expression on his face, "thank you for meeting with me, I really appreciate you taking the time to talk to me."

Setting her drink on the desk she crossed her arms over her chest, "can we just get down to business please?"

Feeling incredibly nervous about what he was about to say he wiped his sweaty palms in his jeans, "umm so I wanted to discuss why we broke up."

Before he could continue she put her hand up to stop him, "if you want to discuss this then may I please suggest you shut the door, I do not want everybody knowing my business."

Getting up from his seat he went over to the door and shut it firmly, "I'm sorry." Turning back to her he sat down, "so can we discuss it now?"

Frowning she pressed her lips together before she reluctantly nodded, "okay. The second you insult me you are out of the door faster than she can say door."

Putting his hands up in defence he shook his head, "I'm not here to insult you, I am here to say I'm sorry."

Her eyes widened and she looked at him strangely, "the great Hunter Hearst Helmsley knows what the word sorry is? I am impressed."

Rolling his eyes he just wanted to gag her, "can you please let me finish without jumping in? If you keep talking you'll never know what I want to say to you."

Groaning in frustration she liked jumping in because it meant she could avoid what he was saying by making light of it and making jokes and not taking it seriously, "fine then, I will shut up and you can speak and then you can get out."

"Thank you . . . I think." Running his hands over his hair he took a deep breath before he expelled it slowly, "I wanted to say sorry for everything that happened towards the end of our marriage. I'm sorry that I took you for granted when I was injured and then when I came back I completely ignored you. I want to apologise for the way I treated you when we split up and I know you didn't deserve it. I understand why you did what you did because I wasn't paying you any attention and was entirely focussed on my career and for that I am sorry. If I could go back in time I would change it all, I would have treated you better and I wouldn't have reacted as badly as I did when I found out that you lied about being pregnant. If I could go back in time I would go back to the night where I found out you lied about being pregnant and I wouldn't have humiliated you like I did in front of the world, I would have found you, sat you down and talked to you about it and tried to work it out. My biggest regret in life is what I did to you that night and for the following few months and these past four years."

She had listened to everything he had said and she just had one question, "why are you so certain I lied about being pregnant?"

Confused he looked at her oddly, "I saw the video, I saw that the 'Doctor' was an actor you hired so that is how I'm so certain."

Not willing or able to listen to this any more she pointed to the door and forcefully said, "get. Out!"

Not entirely sure what had caused the sudden anger he got up from his seat satisfied that he had told her everything he wanted her to know, "okay, if that is what you want." Walking towards the door he suddenly stopped and looked back at her realising that there was something he hadn't said and if he had any hope of achieving his dream he needed to say it now because he wasn't sure if she would ever give him the time of day for him to say it in the future, "Stephanie I love you and I want you back."

Her eyes widened and her mouth dropped open at the revelation but she wordlessly pointed again at the door to force him to leave.

Taking the hint he nodded his head before he walked out of her office and shut the door firmly behind him leaning his back gently against it thinking about what he had said. It was the first time in a long time that they had had a civil conversation and it was the first time ever that he had opened up to her so much and been so honest but despite that it still felt like he had made no progress. Sighing heavily he pushed himself off of the door and walked back to the locker room quite dejected.

Once Hunter had left Stephanie allowed his words to sink in, he still loved her and wanted her back. Unable to take it she slid from her chair to the floor and hid beneath her desk as the tears started to fall.