I got a feeling. That tonight's gonna be a good night. That tonight's gonna be a good night. That tonight's gonna be a good, good night….

To say that Stephanie's 30th birthday party had the makings of the party of the year, was probably the understatement of the century.

Even though it was barely seven o'clock when their group arrived, the party looked to be already underway with people—both in and out of the company—-scattered throughout every inch of the backyard, most of them seeming content with either a drink in their hands, from the open bar which the group had passed stepping out into the back yard, or appetizers, which were being served by waiters and waitresses who were mingling with guests throughout the party.

"Don't mind if I do," Matt happily commented, before taking a puff pastry from one of the approaching waiters; moaning his delight after popping one in his mouth, "I almost forgot how much I loved the McMahons parties….and the free food that comes with it."

After rolling his eyes at the younger man and Jeff who took two more pastry puffs from the platter, and joking to the offering waiter that he was watching his waistline, Chris continued to scan the people who were spread out around him; searching for one person in particular.

"Hey, there's the birthday girl. Let's go say hello."

Following Amy's gaze, Chris found himself becoming instantly tongue-tied as his eyes landed on Stephanie.

Surrounded by both Shane and a group of men that Chris couldn't recall seeing before, the older male had to admit the younger woman looked amazing.

Gone was her normally straightened hair and conservative business attire. Instead, she had allowed her naturally free-flowing curls to come out to play and accentuated the look with a red strapless dress that clung to each and every one of her curves.

Something tells me I'm going to need a cold shower before the nights over.

"You're drooling," Trish sing-songed low enough so that she couldn't be heard by those around them, but loud enough that Chris could hear her over the upbeat dance music that flowed through the air as they bobbed and weaved throughout the yard to get to the brunette.

"Shut up," Chris commented, before turning his attention towards Shane who, upon seeing them approaching the group, excitedly began handing out introductions. Afterwards, following it up with: "I'm glad you guys could make it on such short notice. I fly out first thing in the morning, but I couldn't leave without celebrating my baby sister's 30th birthday in style. What do you guys think?"

Before anyone else could exclaim that the party looked to be a success, Matt interjected that the party was great, but it would be even better if he could get the recipe to those pastry puffs.

"I'll see what I can do," Shane laughed, before signaling to a passing waitress, asking if he could get another gin and tonic and a round of shots, "Anyone else want anything?"

After everyone had put in their drink order, Chris was surprised when Stephanie, who had a second ago been in deep conversation with Amy, and who he now knew as Shane's fraternity brothers, Scott and Steve, called his attention, asking if she could have a word with him.

Ignoring Shane's school-boy ooh, somebodies in trouble, chide, Stephanie waited until Chris had nodded his head in agreement, before making her way across the yard, with him following closely behind in tow—to the bemusement of their friends around them.

Waiting until they were out of hearing range from everyone, Stephanie stopped in her tracks and turned around with a slightly hesitant look on her face, "So, before my brother makes each of us take an insane amount of shots tonight, I just want to make sure that you and I are okay….I know the last time we saw one another, we weren't really—"

"Dressed?" Chris joked, noticing her nervousness, and wanting to put her at ease. Unfortunately, the blush that soon came across Stephanie's face, told him, he may have done the complete opposite, "Yes, we are fine. More than fine. It was one night between two people who had way too much to drink….we can just consider it our little secret, Princess."

After studying his face to see if Chris was being serious or not, as if a weight had suddenly been lifted off her shoulders, Stephanie let out a huge sigh before letting a grateful smile show on her face. "Thanks for understanding….with everything that's been going on these last few months, I'm really just trying to avoid being the topic of locker room gossip again, and even though I don't think you'd ever do that to me, we all know how rumors get started…"

Yep, by Divas and the Dudleyz

With that thought in mind, Chris reassured Stephanie that she had nothing to worry about and then suggested that they get back to her birthday party before people started noticing the birthday girl was missing in action.

And cause lord knows I could use a drink right now.

—-

Three hours later

This is the rhythm of the night. The night, oh yeah. The rhythm of the night. This is the rhythm of my life.

"Chug, chug, chug, chug…"

Watching on from the balcony as her brother and his friends took shot after shot, Stephanie had to wince as she imagined the hang-over they were going to experience come tomorrow morning.

And he wanted me to match him drink for drink tonight…? No, thank you.

"Um, shouldn't you be outside right now drinking with the rest of your party…? I mean, it is your birthday party, after all."

Recognizing the voice caused Stephanie to slightly smirk to herself, before turning around, locking eyes with the smiling Jericho, who surprisingly looked to be nursing the same beer she had seen him grab over an hour ago, "But is it really though…?

"I mean, the majority of the guests here are mostly my brother's friends, and unlike him, I'd rather spend a quiet evening at home surrounded by a small group of friends on my birthday versus in the middle of the dance floor taking shot after shot with my fraternity brothers….No, I think tonight was just an excuse for him to have a daddy's night off while he hung out with his guy friends under the disguise of it being my birthday party. Smart move."

While chuckling at this comment, Chris made a move to step further out onto the balcony, leaning his back against the rail of it, two feet away from Stephanie, "I meant to ask before…where are the kids, anyway? I know there's no way that they could be sleeping through all this noise."

"No way in hell," Stephanie joked, before moving her gaze away from her brother, who upon catching her eye, signaled to his cup as if to ask if she wanted another drink, "Their actually not here right now. They're staying at my mom and dads for the night, and then I'll go and get them in the morning after I drop Shane off at the airport. I'm taking them to the Quassy Amusement Park afterward—hence why I don't want to drink too much tonight. They're a ball of energy even when I'm not nursing a hangover. I can't imagine how they are when I am nursing one."

"I can imagine," Chris mused, before taking a small sip from his now lukewarm beer, grimacing at the taste as he swallowed it, and shrugging his shoulders while replying, "Well, if you need someone to tag along to help, just let me know…..I haven't been to a theme park in years."

Really?

Surprised that the older man would volunteer to spend one of his off days hanging out with her and her 9-year-old niece and nephew at an amusement park caused Stephanie to raise both eyebrows in surprise; an action which caused Jerico to chuckle before saying, "What can I say…? I love the kids."

After chuckling slightly, Stephanie reached out her hand to shake Chris's, while outwardly exclaiming:

"Well then, I guess it's a date."