Disclaimer: I own not

Spoilers: Pffft, no. A/U all the way.

Eventual Pairings: Lita/Christian, Trish/Edge, Victoria/Hunter, Dawn/Jericho … mentions of and appearances by many, many others.

Summary: All is fair in love, business and coveted corner offices.

Notes: If you've read Strictly Business, this is kind of like that story, but not entirely like that one. This one will have differences, of course.

-x-X-x-

Despite the somewhat awkward start to the work day for everyone at Lee Corp., working alongside the four from Kings Inc. wasn't as bad as they had thought it would be. Naturally it took some compromising but all things considered, it wasn't that bad. At the very least, the work day was far more productive than usual, the crowning accomplishment being that all of the legal paperwork was set. That in turn freed up the remainder of the day for the two corporate lawyers to discuss non-work related matters like Adriana's ballet recital that evening. Amy had somewhat reluctantly given her ex-husband directions to her home; the two then agreeing to head over to the dance school together. The redheaded woman hoped beyond anything that her younger brother wouldn't forget to pick up Derek from hockey practice that afternoon. Amy had just gotten home, after making a stop at the dry cleaners to pick up Derek's suit and her dress for the night, when her brother arrived with Derek.

Jeff smiled apologetically at his older sister, "tell Adriana I'm sorry that I can't make it … I want to go, sis, believe me I do but this is my big chance."

Amy ran a hand through her hair, "I understand Jeff and good luck. I hope this art gallery doesn't let you down like the last one did." Giving her brother a hug, she stepped back inside the house. "Der, do your homework and then take a shower. Your suit is upstairs, hanging on the front of your closet."

The blonde pre-teen rolled his eyes a little, "dad's gonna be there, right?"

Amy nodded shortly, sparing a glance towards her son; a splitting image of his father. "He's going to meet us here and we'll head up to the dance school together."

With that, Derek was headed upstairs to his room, Amy heading upstairs shortly afterwards to take a shower. She had just finished drying her hair when she heard the doorbell ringing, Amy cursing her luck as she tied the belt of her bathrobe a little bit tighter.

"You're early," she said first, the redhead then stepping back so Jay could enter the house, hazel eyes taking in his appearance. "And your tie is crooked."

"I left the hotel early just in case I got lost," he explained as he followed her, blue eyes roaming freely over her form. "Would you rather I wait outside so you can get dressed?"

Amy rolled her eyes, "don't be ridiculous Jay, it won't take me that long to get dressed … and besides, Derek should be downstairs soon enough, if you'd like he can give you a tour of the house." She reached past him to close the front door, still standing in front of him. "You wear a tie to work and yet," she paused to untie the tie, "you manage to get it crooked?"

Jay arched an eyebrow, an amused smirk on his face as she fussed with his tie. "I was in a rush because I didn't want to be late. The last time I saw Adriana dance was when she first started ballet lessons, you know."

Amy nodded and then took a step back, "I know," she gestured to the living room, "do you want something to drink while you're waiting?"

Jay shook his head as he sat down on the couch, "no thank you, I'm good for now."

Amy opened her mouth to say something, only to stop short when they locked gazes; the redhead quickly excusing herself from the room. And while she was getting dressed, Derek came downstairs; the two waiting in the living room instead of taking a house tour.

Jay watched her as she descended the stairs, "that dress looks really familiar."

Amy quirked a lopsided smile, "well they always say, the little black dress never goes out of style. It's not the exact same dress, but it's pretty similar to the original one."

"You wore that for my parent's anniversary party," he spoke as if no time had passed at all, "and you had on this one pair of diamond earrings, even though you had once said you would never wear diamonds."

"I think we should get going now," she finally tore her gaze away from him, "parking can be really unpredictable in that area."

Derek sent a questioning look towards his mother, "can we visit Uncle Jeff's studio after the recital?"

Amy arched an eyebrow, waiting for the two to exit ahead of her so she could lock the door. "That all depends on how late it is, plus we have to find somewhere that's still open so we can eat. And not to mention that your father still needs to head back to the hotel at a reasonable time."

Derek blinked, "so why can't dad just stay with us tonight? We have guest rooms…"

Amy shook her head, "Derek Michael, if I didn't know any better than I would say that you and Adriana switched places overnight."

Jay tried his hardest to keep a straight face, "is Jeff still painting or has he moved on to something else?"

"Sculpting mostly, but he still paints when he gets inspired," Amy unlocked the passengers side doors, "he has a meeting tonight with one of the local galleries about a possible showing, otherwise he would be here with us."

"So can dad stay with us tonight?"

Amy gripped the steering wheel a little bit tighter than she had intended; "we'll figure it all out later, Derek. It all depends on how late the recital runs, how busy the restaurants are…" Her expression softened slightly as she caught her son's dejected look, "I know we haven't spent that much time together as a family since you two were younger but—"

"Your mom and I are really busy with work this week, kiddo."

"Fine…"

Jay exchanged a sideways look with Amy and then glanced back to his son, "if you and Adri want to plan on attending a game or something when you're in New York next week, I can get the tickets as soon as I get back."

Amy couldn't help but smile as Derek's expression instantly changed, despite how tough he wanted to seem all of the time … he was still a child. Granted, he and Adriana were going to be thirteen on their next birthday but still…

Jay coughed into his hand, "you might want to step on the gas, Ames. We've been stuck at this stop sign for the past few minutes now."

She smiled sheepishly and then eased the vehicle into the main traffic, "sorry about that … I was just thinking. I can't believe Adri and Der are going to be thirteen soon."

"Mom, don't start…"

"I'm sorry honey, but it's just hard for me to believe that you and Adri aren't climbing trees and making messes like you used to."

"Well it's like Uncle Jeff always says, it's not like you can't have more kids. You aren't an old hag or anything like that."

Jay burst out laughing, "Your brother actually called you an old hag?"

Amy smiled wryly, "after my last birthday party, yes he did. But that was only because someone questioned if I was Adriana's older sister. I'm not sure who was more embarrassed that night … me or Adri." A beat passed, "provided that traffic isn't too bad, we should be at the dance studio in fifteen minutes."

Jay nodded and then glanced out of the window, "are they putting on a full production or it just small scenes or something like that?"

"The younger students are just doing a small demonstration and Adriana's age group is putting on act three from Swan Lake—"

"Just like they do every year."

"And this year, Adriana got picked to dance the part of Odette/Odile. She's really excited about it and really nervous of course." Amy frowned suddenly, "shit … I forgot to pick up flowers for her."

Instinctively, Jay reached out a hand to rest on her arm. "Ames, calm down. We'll just stop somewhere quick. You said we already have tickets, so we don't have to worry about that and if the younger kids are dancing first, then we don't have to worry about missing Adri's performance."

Amy half shrugged as they continued towards the dance school, "well still … I had meant to pick them up after I stopped at the dry cleaners, but it completely slipped my mind."

"Mom, it's like dad just said … we can just stop at the one florist, get the flowers and Adri won't know the difference. Besides, I really don't want to sit through that entire stupid recital."

"Derek, you really shouldn't call the recital stupid."

"And you shouldn't swear in front of the children."

"It slipped and it's not like I swear in front of them all the time."

"And it's not like you don't swear in front of me and Adri, dad. Like that one time when you hit your head? Mom, you really should have heard him … he always said that he couldn't speak French but—"

"I think that's quite enough, Derek Michael."

The redhead snickered at that, Amy soon stopping the car near the florist so she could get the necessary bouquet for Adriana. Well, technically it had been Jay who had stopped into the florist; the redhead surprised when he had returned to the car with the right flowers in hand. And as predicted, they'd arrived to the dance school with some time to spare … granted, they'd had to wait until the younger students had finished their demonstration before they could go inside the auditorium; Amy, Jay and Derek finding their seats near the front.

Amy smiled proudly, "I can't believe my little girl finally gets to dance as Odette." She sniffled suddenly and then started searching through her purse…

"Here," Jay passed her a travel sized packet of Kleenex, "it'll save you the trouble."

"How did you know?" She questioned as she took the Kleenex, opening it and removing one.

"Because I know you, that's why."

She didn't reply to that, simply dabbing at the corners of her eyes as the lights in the auditorium started to dim.

"I remember when Adri started ballet lessons."

"She was pretty close to quitting them this year and swimming as well, I think all of the school work, rehearsals, practices and travelling was really starting to stress her out."

Jay opened his mouth to reply to that, only to stop short when he was shushed by an elderly woman sitting behind them. The auditorium remained silent as the act from Swan Lake began, the only glitch in the performance coming when the sound system had issues; the audience granted a temporary intermission whilst they got that all sorted out. And once the recital was over, Adriana met them backstage accepting the flowers and hugs from her family.

"Mom, can we go to the CPK tonight?"

"What's the CPK?"

Derek licked his lips in anticipation, "it's the California Pizza Kitchen, dad, seriously they have the best pizza in the world."

Amy sighed, "And other dining options for those of us who are sick of eating pizza. It's kind of like that one place we used to go to in Toronto."

Jay smirked slightly, "the one place that practically became our second home after you got pregnant because you were always craving pizza?"

"One and the same," Amy confirmed with a slight smirk of her own, "so, if we're going to go there we should get going now … especially if Derek still wants to visit Jeff tonight, assuming he's at the studio."

Adriana giggled, "Uncle Jeff practically lives at his studio, mom … but why wasn't he here tonight?"

Amy smiled, "he had a meeting with one of the local galleries about a possible show. Otherwise I'm sure he wouldn't have missed your recital for the world, sweetheart. You danced wonderfully tonight."

Adriana grinned and then grabbed her brother's arm, practically pulling her twin to the parking lot so they could leave for the California Pizza Kitchen. And as they headed towards there, Amy realised that at least one good thing would come from the company merger … the travel time for her twins would be significantly less; the redhead then remembering that once she and Stephanie returned from New York, they would be right back on the road … only this time Shane and Jay would be accompanying them so they could scout out potential locations for the new corporate offices.

"Ames?" Jay questioned as their meal started to finish, "do you want that last piece of pizza?"

"No, it's okay…" Amy reached her hand back, "you can have it, and I'm fine really. I should probably be watching my diet anyway."

Adriana snorted, "Jeeze mom, you sound like Madame Justine sometimes."

Jay arched an eyebrow, "you really don't need to worry at all Ames and between the two of us, I should be watching my diet."

Amy shook her head, "you don't have a thing to worry about, Jay." Face flushing slightly, she smiled. "Not that I've really looked or anything, just saying…"

"Still, if you want the last piece, then you can take the last piece."

"Too late," Adriana said and then gestured to her brother, "Derek, you're such a pig."

"I'm a growing boy," her twin retorted through a mouthful of pizza; Adriana rolling her eyes in reply.

Amy directed a look towards Jay, "and that, sunshine, he gets from you."

Jay grinned at her, "I won't deny that, muffin."

Adriana blinked at her parents; Derek staring at them slack jawed.

"Both of you, it's not polite to stare … and Derek, how many times have I told you not to chew with your mouth open?"

No sooner had the words left Amy's mouth did all four of them share a laugh. Granted, it had started with Amy and Jay and then quickly spread to Adriana and Derek … the four all but resembling a happy family instead of the real picture. And once they were all ready to leave, Derek and Adriana opted out on visiting their Uncle Jeff at the studio, instead requesting that they head to Santa Monica pier since it still wasn't too late and because it wasn't a school night. Despite the fact that she and Adriana did have to leave for Cancun tomorrow, Amy had agreed easily enough to the request from the twins; the day ending far from what she ever would have expected.