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Chris Benoit was in his locker room, preparing for his evening's match and whistling cheerfully while he did so.

As he laced up his boots, he reflected over all of the events of the previous night.  He couldn't believe it - him, an uncle.

Despite the way it had all happened, the Crippler couldn't help but think that everything that had happened in the last little while and a much longer time ago was all for the best.

He'd grown up as an only child, and he'd always wanted a brother or sister - and he'd mentioned so numerous times to his parents as a child.  And every year, his wishes had gone unanswered, and he'd never gotten the sibling he'd wanted.  He'd eventually forgotten all about his childhood wish as he'd grown into an adult, but the surprise he'd felt nearly ten years earlier, when Amy had contacted him, had been something else.

After geting over the normal initial shock over the fact that his dad had had an extramarital affair that had led to the birth of a child, he'd been delighted to learn he had a half-sister.  There was nearly an eight-year age difference between them - she was his baby sister - and the bond they'd found together, after so many years apart, after so many years of being strangers, was special - and strong.

Chris was often amazed by the fact that they had ended up in the same exact career.  However, he couldn't take credit for the redhead's decision to become a professional wrestler, as she'd declared an interest in doing so when she was fifteen, a full three years before they'd known of one another's existence.  He guessed it was just one of those special bonds siblings share - even when they are estranged.

Benoit was still smiling as he heard a knock on the door.  He looked up and called, "Come in!"

He rose to his feet when the door opened and saw Stephanie standing there.  Her hands were clasped together in front of her demurely, her long brown hair cascading in shiny ringlets over her shoulders.  She wore a black linen suit in a very feminine cut over a crisp white blouse that made her look very business-like, but to Benoit, she also possessed a fresh-faced beauty he found so appealing.

"Hi, Stephanie."

"Hi, Chris," she said softly, even a little shyly, and her large blue eyes seemed to sparkle a bit, a soft, small smile on her lovely face.  She unclasped her hands so she could gesture to him with the right one.  "I just wanted to wish you luck in your match tonight."

"Thank you," he said as he smiled at her.  "That means a lot coming from you..."  He would be facing Eddy Guerrero, always a tough and terrific competitor.

"You're welcome."  The brunette gave him a shy little half-smile, tucking a lock of long hair behind one ear as she cocked her head slightly to her left.  She started to turn around, albeit reluctantly, to duck back out the door, but the Crippler's voice stopped her.

"Stephanie?"

When she turned back to fully face him again, Chris continued, posing the question he'd been wanting to ask her all day.

"How about, when RAW is through for the night, we go to dinner?"

Stephanie smiled, her eyes shifting to her left a little bashfully before quickly focusing on his blue ones again.  Her pretty face blossomed as the smile became a grin.

"Yes, I'd like that."

"Wonderful."  Benoit smiled warmly at her.  After a beat, he spoke again.  "And one more thing..."

The brunette gazed at him softly, expectantly.

"Thank you for being there for Amy - for being a good friend and listening to her - and for just being there for her.  She really needed someone...And I'm glad that someone was you."  He meant it in more than one way.  If it hadn't been for the brunette helping out his sister when she'd needed her the most, Chris wasn't sure he would be feeling the way he was currently feeling.  He was looking at Stephanie McMahon in a whole new light - not as his boss, but as a woman.  And not merely as a woman - he'd always noticed how truly beautiful she was - but as someone he could very easily fall for.

And, to Benoit, it seemed as though she was already holding onto his heart by her dainty fingertips.