Hunter sighed as he started to prepare dinner, he had given Stephanie another call before he began and again she had rejected his call, he was starting to lose all hope of hearing from her again.

He was just finishing off the preparation for his dinner when his cell phone beeped, he was hopeful of some sort of good news but he wasn't counting on it. As he picked up his phone and read the text he had some hope but he knew Stephanie and knew that she could tell people what they wanted to hear so he would wait and see how this played out but for now he needed to reply to Linda:

Thank you for talking to her, I will wait for her call.

Putting his phone back down on the top he started to cook his dinner and just waited.

Stephanie was nervous as she sat down on the couch and picked up the phone to call Hunter but as she found his number she lost her bottle and threw her phone down beside her unable to go through with it.

After half an hour of watching mindless TV she managed to pluck up the courage to call him and just talk to him and see where they could go.

He was just sitting down with his dinner when his phone started to ring. Almost reluctantly he picked it up worried about who it was. As he looked at the screen and saw Stephanie's name he was hopeful so he answered the call as he dropped his fork to his plate, "hi."

Hearing his voice her heart caught in her throat as it was so soft, the kind of soft she had only ever heard him use with her when they were together but she heard him dropping cutlery, "am I interrupting your dinner?"

Pushing his plate away he sat back in his chair, "no it's okay, I don't mind because I can always warm it up later or something. What can I do for you."

Crossing her legs she chewed down on her lip, "so I should probably apologise for avoiding your calls all day."

"It's okay Stephanie, you're probably busy with Mikey so you know it's understandable."

Sighing she wished he wouldn't be so understandable, "can you not be so nice about it please?"

He couldn't stop himself from laughing at her, he had never been told that he was being too nice before, "I'm sorry? I'm trying to be understanding because you have a young son and you are running the entire WWE so you have a lot on your plate and I understand that probably dating me or anyone is bottom of your priority list and I understand it okay? I could try to be pushy about it and shit but it won't help you."

Running her fingers through her hair she didn't know what to say, "you're serious aren't you? You actually really are willing to play things at my speed and aren't going to push for anything will you?"

"No, never. Steph I already told you that I love you and I want you back but I understand that right now is a really shitty time for you because you're so busy so if you want me to back off and we try again when your Dad is better then that's okay."

Surprising even herself by what she said next she blurted out, "no! I don't want that."

Not even sure what was going on with her now he was trying not to think too much into it but she was giving him mixed singles, "in the nicest way possible you're giving me mixed singles right now. You don't want me to back you off and leave you alone for a few weeks or months or whatever but you won't answer my texts or calls."

"I'm sorry. I was ignoring your calls and texts because I was frightened and confused. My Mom came over tonight and talked some sense into me and told me that I couldn't mess you around."

Grateful to Linda but confused by what she had decided he pulled his plate closer again and used his free hand to cut the food up, "let me make this easy for us both. Why don't you tell me what you want from me?"

Biting down on her lip she crossed her fingers and hoped for the best, "I want to date you, I want us to go out together as regularly as possible and see how things go between us and see if it will work. The only thing I do ask though is that you don't tell anyone that you're dating me and you don't say anything to Mikey about us. He's only young and I don't want him to get confused by thinking you'll be around all of the time if it won't actually work long term between us. There is no problem with you hanging out with him at the arenas if you still want to because to him it's the WWE and you work there so he doesn't expect to see you away from there."

It almost sounded too good to be true for him, if it was that simple why hadn't she just told him that at the weekend or on Monday instead of ignoring him? He appreciated what she had to say and he had listened to her, "is that it? I mean that in the nicest way possible because most of that I was going to do anyway because I don't want anyone to know about us either because I know they'll think the worst of me and I don't want you to feel under pressure from them that I may be using you for whatever. I wouldn't tell Mikey about us either if I'm honest, he is your son and you know him best so you know what is good and right for him so it is none of my business to stick my nose in and try and tell you differently. I will try my best to be respectful and discreet around him."

Smiling softly she was incredibly relieved that he was so understanding, "for real?"

Laughing he nodded his head, "for real. I'll try to be more obnoxious if you'd prefer."

She couldn't help but laugh at that, "no it's okay, I like you as you are thanks. So do you still want to like date me?"

"I would love to continue dating you. When are you free next?"

Chuckling at the way he put it she shifted on the couch ready to get up and get herself something to drink, "I don't know, I've got to find out when my parents can watch Mikey for me. What day isn't good for you? I could find out tomorrow what day they're free that they can watch him and text you if that works for you?"

Anything that was good for her worked for him, "that's fine with me. I'm free tomorrow and Friday but I then fly out Saturday morning for the house shows but next week I have all week off after the TV tapings so you know, whatever works."

Smiling softly she made a quick note, "okay cool. I'll talk to my parents tomorrow and text you. Thank you for being so understanding Hunter, it means a lot."

"My pleasure, it's nice to know what's going on and where I stand and to know that I didn't piss you off. I look forward to hearing from you but have a good evening."

"I will, thank you. Enjoy your dinner and I'm sorry if it is cold."

Unable to stop himself he blurted out, "even if it is this was worth it. Bye Steph."

"Bye Hunter."

Hanging up the phone he went back to his dinner and it didn't even matter to him that it was practically cold now.

When she hung up her cell phone Stephanie tossed it onto the coffee table before she got up and went into the kitchen to get a glass of wine before she went back to the couch and took a seat to enjoy the rest of her evening.