NOTE FROM THE AUTHOR: This story completely blindsided me! It was a plot bunny I had no intention of turning into a story, but it kept bothering me until I gave in. Keep in mind that this is NOT the sequel to Untitled Lita Story. It's a completely different story that answers the question, "What if Matt defeated Kane at Summerslam 2004?" The chapters are songs with "Time" in the title.
This is gonna be part kayfabe, part real. In it, Lita and Trish are off-camera friends and kayfabe enemies. Christian goes by Jay in this one as well and he's married to my OC and is friends (off-camera) with Matt.
DISCLAIMERS: I don't own anyone (except my OC). Commentary from JR and Jerry "The King" Lawler is courtesy of Summerslam 2004 and WWE Monday Night RAW.
Precious Time
Chapter One—Precious Time
Summerslam, Toronto Ontario
8/15/04
"I can't think of anyone else at Summerslam with a more vested interest in the outcome of the match on a personal level than this young woman," Jim Ross said as Lita marched down the aisle towards the ring to watch the "Death Do Us Part" match.
Jerry Lawler, JR's colleague, nodded as Lita climbed into the ring and acknowledged the crowd. "She looks very confident, JR. Hey! I think she's showing. She looks pregnant!"
JR brought the viewers up to speed. "Lita is carrying Kane's child. The contract was signed," he said, just as Matt's music started up, and lights flashed. Lillian Garcia made the necessary introductions.
As Lita watched Matt headed down the aisle to ringside, she noticed that he was averting his eyes. She tried to move around in an attempt to make eye contact with him. When he refused to meet her gaze, Lita felt her heart sink. He hadn't talked to her, or returned any of her phone calls, in the days following the contract signing. It was almost like she didn't exist anymore in his eyes. It had been an emotionally excruciating week. If not for Jay and Anna and Trish providing support, she would not have been able to endure as well as she had.
Of course he doesn't want to look at you! said the voice in Lita's head as she climbed out of the ring. Can you blame him! You really thought sleeping with a monster would save your relationship? You never thought that there was an ulterior motive? You brought this all on yourself!
You dumb bitch!
"Matt!" Lita shouted, hoping that there'd be an off-chance that he would acknowledge her. No luck. "Matt! I love you!"
A sigh escaped Lita's lips as she thought back to the predicament she'd put herself in:
Lita and Matt reunited after Matt attacked Kane in an attempt to prevent him from harming Lita during a mixed tag team match. Undeterred, Kane attempted to seduce Lita. However, Kane's idea of 'seduction' included stalking and attacking Matt, kidnapping Lita and tying her up in a rat-infested basement. When that was unsuccessful, Kane began taking out all of Matt's opponents and demanded that Lita sleep with him in exchange for him leaving her and Matt alone. Lita refused, and the attacks escalated, as Kane targeted Matt for his assaults. Finally, after Kane attempted to break Matt's neck with a folding chair in the center of the ring, Lita relented.
It was a disastrous mistake. Kane had no intentions of leaving Lita alone. He had always craved, but never had, a normal life - but realized that there was one that he COULD have, which was offspring. So he coerced Lita into sleeping with him, taking steps to ensure that she WOULD get pregnant.
And when Lita became pregnant, it sealed her fate.
Matt had been overjoyed with the idea of becoming a father, and he jumped at the chance to start a family with the woman he loved. He'd even go so far as to buy an engagement ring and planned to propose to Lita on national TV. However, in the middle of his proposal, Kane interrupted him, claiming to be the father of Lita's child, and that Lita had slept with Kane in an attempt to keep Matt safe. Matt was devastated, and Lita knew she had nobody to blame but herself.
Two months later, it was revealed that Kane was, in fact, the father, and it seemed like the rift between Matt and Lita had grown wider.
Matt and Kane feuded for several months, leading to the "Till Death Do Us Part" match at Summerslam, with the stipulation that if Matt won the match, Kane would be banned from any physicality with Matt, Lita or Lita's baby. If Kane won, then Lita had agreed to marry Kane. Lita, confident that Matt would defeat the Big Red Machine (he had beaten the seven-foot tall monster before!) signed the contract along with Kane and Matt.
Perhaps the rift between Matt and Lita would never be healed, but at least if Matt won, the Big Red Machine would no longer be part of their respective lives. It was a cold comfort, of course, but the alternative was so much worse.
"I can't even speculate what could be going through the mind of Matt Hardy right now as he enters the ring," JR sighed. "He hasn't even glanced at Lita."
"This is better than Days Of Our Lives or As The World Turns!" Lawler gushed. "This is like a sordid soap opera, except it's for real, JR. Look at Lita!"
"I admire Lita from the standpoint that she told Matt...He was the first to know," JR continued, as Kane lumbered down the aisle to his pyro display. "Matt wanted to believe that he was the father, but it was Kane's child she was carrying."
Kane leered down at Lita as he climbed into the ring. "What kind of father would this repulsive human being make? " JR spat.
"What do you mean?" Lawler asked as Matt glared at his nemesis. "He just wants to be normal!"
JR shook his head. "I think it's too late for that."
"The question now is, what kind of husband would he make? Could you see Kane-" Lawler's question was cut short as Matt charged the ring and took the fight to his nemesis.
"Matt Hardy has a no disqualification victory over Kane," JR pointed out. "But the stakes here are so much higher than any match that Kane or Matt, in my estimation, have ever competed in, at a Summerslam, or any other event."
Lawler nodded. "Oh, yeah. the stakes are incredibly high for both of these men. But how high are the stakes for Lita?"
JR didn't need to reply to that; the answer was obvious. "Matt Hardy takes Kane down and goes for the cover...a two-count, and the first near fall for Matt Hardy. Matt's gotta use every bit of athleticism and quickness that he can muster to get that elusive three-count on Kane."
"Matt started off this thing like he's a man on a mission, JR, and that mission is, he wants to dispose of Kane and put that ring on the finger of Lita-look out!"
"Matt Hardy with a legdrop off the second rope," JR continued. "This could be it here-those shots to the head, a cover-and Kane able to power out. Kane nearly seven feet tall, and 320 or 330 pounds."
"And he's the man who impregnated Lita!" Lawler chimed in as Lita applauded and cheered Matt on.
JR continued his commentary. "Matt Hardy being set up on that top turnbuckle, and again, Matt can't let this match slow down. He has to quicken the pace at every opportunity-OH! What a tornado DDT! That could be it right there! The leg hook-and Kane still too strong here in the early going of this match tonight."
Determined, Matt threw a few roundhouse rights to stagger Kane into a corner. "This is very un-Kane like to see him this slow to start," observed Lawler.
"I know it's hard, King, and it may be impossible—OOH!" JR flinched. "Omigod! Matt Hardy walked right into the right hand uppercut!"
Matt dropped to the canvas like a sack of potatoes. Lita flinched as she looked on, anxiously clutching her hair.
"That could do it, JR!" Lawler exclaimed. "One punch could do it!" He glanced over at a distressed-looking Lita. "Lita better not get too excited. You know, she's in a...a delicate condition."
JR shook his head. I feel that she should not be out here, quite frankly. But I understand her motives. She wants to support Matt."
Lawler couldn't help himself. "Does she have morning sickness?"
~~~TIME~~~
Meanwhile, in the VIP lounge…
"Did he really have to go there, Jay?" Anna Reso asked in disgust as she and her husband sat on a cushy gray couch watching the show on closed circuit TV. Tyson Tomko had gone to get the two of them some refreshments, and Trish was getting ready for her Diva Dodgeball match, which about to be taped so that it could be played later in the broadcast. "That was so crass!"
Jay shook his head. "Unfortunately, he did. You have to remember, Anna. He's the king of crass." He noticed the ashen look on his young wife's face. "Are you doing okay? You look kinda sickly."
"I'm just thinking about what would happen if Kane won the match instead of Matt," Anna told her husband. "I already promised Lita I'd be her matron of honor, but being one at a wedding with Kane as the groom—" At that moment Jay pulled his young wife close and put his arms around her.
"Let's not think about that right now, okay?" Jay kissed the top of his wife's head.
"It's hard not to," Anna admitted. "But regardless, I'm still gonna help Lita and the baby." She turned to her husband. "And you're gonna help too, right?" she said, the expression her face leaving no room for argument.
Jay knew better than to argue with his wife. "Of course, Babe."
The two of them snuggled up and watched the in comfortable but worried silence. Finally, Anna spoke. "You think Matt's gonna wanna make things work with Lita if he wins this match?"
"You want the warm fuzzy answer?"
"I'd rather hear the truth."
"Honestly, Babe. I don't know." Jay sat up as the door to the lounge swung open. Tyson stepped into the room carrying a tray full of beers (non-alcoholic for Anna) and a couple of soft pretzels. "Thanks, Dude."
Tyson plunked the tray down on the table in front of the young marrieds. "You guys could have opened the door for me."
"You could have knocked," Jay fired back.
"You could have knocked," Tyson snorted mockingly, as he divvied up the goodies. "Here. Blue Moon for you, Jay. Non-alcoholic for the missus."
Anna smiled. "Thanks, Tyson. Which one's which?"
"Yours has the umbrella on the orange slice. You collect the umbrellas, right?
"Actually, it's the Hawaiian slipper charms, but thanks." Anna had started collecting Hawaiian slipper charms during her and Jay's honeymoon on Hawaii's Big Island two months ago. In fact, her favorite souvenir was being worn around her neck at the moment, a white gold and diamond slipper that Jay helped her pick out at one of the jewelry shops on Kona's main drag.
Tyson flopped down in the chair and a half adjacent to the couple. "How's the match going?"
"It's slowed down," Jay answered, giving Anna the orange slice off his cup of beer. "If Matt doesn't get it in gear, it'll be All Kane All The Time, and he'll wind up a grease spot on the canvas."
Anna shuddered. "Then Lita's gonna have to marry the freak."
"She wants to be Lita's matron of honor," Jay explained.
"But if Matt wins, you may not be the matron of honor," Tyson reached over and grabbed a soft pretzel. He bit, chewed and swallowed, and asked, "How do you know if they're gonna get married? When was the last time you talked to him?"
"Last week, right after the contract signing," Jay said, sipping on his beer. "Told him if there was anything Anna and I could do for him that we'd be there. He just grunted and left. Since then, he's stuck to himself. Hasn't returned our calls or anything."
Anna sighed. "The alternative to Matt beating Kane is..." shaking her head, she took a sip of her near-beer. "I don't wanna think about it."
"Anna, you don't wanna think about that right now," Jay cautioned his young wife. "You're getting all wound up. The match hasn't ended yet."
Anna climbed off the couch, pretzel in one hand, near-beer in the other. "No offense to Lita or Matt, but I don't think I can watch the rest of this match. I'm gonna go see Trish before her dodgeball game, maybe give her a pep talk or something," she gave Jay a peck on the cheek and said, "I'll be back."
Tyson turned to Jay once Anna had left the lounge. "So, who do you want to see win this one?"
Jay sighed. "I don't know. I mean, Matt's my best friend next to Adam, so of course I'm gonna cheer him on. And he's Anna's surrogate big brother. And you know how close she is with Lita. But this situation is...you can't describe it without using the word cluster."
Tyson chimed in, "You could call it a trainwreck." He took a huge sip from his own beer and said wisely, "Sometimes the only thing you can do is pray that the right thing happens."
Jay turned back to watch the action. "In this case, you may be right."
~~~TIME~~~
The action continued in the ring. "Kane choking Matt Hardy," JR continued, ignoring Lawler's tasteless morning sickness comment. He shuddered at the sight of the Big Red Machine leering over at Lita. "Kane had better not be careful to not get disqualified. Remember, the winner of this match has the honor of marrying Lita."
Lawler continued, undaunted. "Speaking of morning sickness, JR, how sick would Lita be every morning if she had to wake up next to Kane as her husband?"
JR cringed. "That is a frightening thought, as Kane tangled Matt up in the corner. "Kane hammers away with those big right hands."
"Looks like the tide's turning, JR," Lawler sighed.
"This match, as we said," stated JR, as Kane choked Matt with a big boot, "Is now at a pace that Kane likes, and the heavy artillery, the high impact stuff from the Big Red Machine."
Kane leered down at the woman who, if everything played out right, would become his property to do with as he saw fit. "You're mine, Lita."
Lita narrowed her eyes. "I'm not gonna marry you Kane!" she snarled. "No! NO!"
"Kane's intimidating Lita with that sadistic smile," Lawler commented. "He's the type that'll put her in her place!"
Snarling, Kane charges Matt, but Matt managed to duck out of the way, and Kane wound up sprawled on the arena floor as the fans shouted. Matt glared down at the arena floor, almost making a point to not look at Lita.
"Kane's gotta win the match before he starts planning for a wedding," JR shot back, as Matt got his second wind. "And Matt Hardy with a crossbody over the top rope! Matt now taking every chance he can. He will take every chance he can. Matt Hardy has got to win this match, or else Lita is obligated-OH! A Twist Of Fate on the outside! Kane is down!"
Cat quick, Matt slid back into the ring and got in the referee's face. "Start the 10-count! Come on!"
"He could get counted out here, JR!" shouted Lawler, referring to the sprawled out Kane.
"King, If that happens, Matt Hardy is the winner!"
Stay down! Dammit, Kane! STAY DOWN! Lita couldn't take her eyes off the Big Red Machine as he struggled to his feet. It didn't matter what Matt threw at him. Kane wouldn't give up. The referee got to the count of nine before Kane lumbered back into the ring, a wicked grin flicking across his face like a switchblade being opened.
I'm not gonna let him do this! I'm not gonna let him win!
In an angry panic, Lita dashed to the timekeeper's table. Leaning over, she reached over Lillian Garcia and grabbed the timekeeper's bell.
"Wait a minute!" exclaimed JR. "What's Lita doing?"
Lawler watched the scene unfold and shouted, "Lita! You're not supposed to be lifting heavy objects."
"King! She grabbed the ring bell!"
"She's really desperate, JR!"
"Wouldn't you be?"
This may not be enough to beat him! Lita thought, as she rushed back to the ring, bell in hand. But maybe it will give Matt some time.
Matt, I know you may not love me anymore, but I still love you! And I know you're doing this for me, even though you don't want to admit it.
I just hope you're willing to look this way.
Sliding the bell under the ring ropes, Lita shouted and whistled to get Matt's attention. "Matt! Matt! Look down! Look over here!"
Finally, Matt glanced over in Lita's direction and saw the bell. He walked over and picked it up, still not looking at Lita.
"Maybe Kane would be an okay husband," Lawler mused, as Lita climbed up onto the ring apron and shouted at the referee.
"Lita distracting the referee—OH!" JR's commentary was interrupted as Matt clobbered Kane with the bell. The big monster dropped to the mat, dazed. "Right between the eyes! And that should do it!" he continued, as Matt shouted at the referee. "The ring bell right between the eyes of Kane! Matt Hardy getting the ref's attention-this is gonna be it here-NO! Two-count!"
The crowd shouted as Lita shook her head in disbelief.
"JR, Kane saved himself by putting his foot on the ropes!" gasped Lawler, as Matt staggered to his feet.
"King, I've never seen Kane use the ropes as an out before, and he did that time."
Lawler shrugged. "What do you expect? He got bashed in the head with that metal bell. Good grief!"
"You hear that on the replay, King? That was the wood base of that bell on a cranium," explained JR, as Matt climbed to the top rope. "Now Matt Hardy has a great opportunity to put Kane away here."
Like a cat, Matt balanced carefully and watched his nemesis struggle to his feet, preparing to pounce.
"Kane is having trouble standing!" JR continued, as Matt leaped off the turnbuckle. However, Kane grabbed him by the neck and tries a chokeslam. "Oh! come on here!" Luckily, the grip wasn't as strong as Kane wanted, as Matt broke out of Kane's grip and threw a couple of right hooks. "Matt fighting out of it!"
"You better fight, Matt!" Lawler exclaimed, as Matt tried for another Twist Of Fate. "You better fight for your married life!" Matt's offense was cut short as Kane tossed him into the ropes. Matt bounced off and ran right into a big boot that knocked him to the canvas.
A horrified squeak escaped Lita as she cringed and hid her face.
JR shook his head. "That size 18 boot right between the eyes of Matt Hardy. Kane taking him down."
"Look at Lita," Lawler chimed in. "The realization is starting to set on Lita."
"The Big Red Machine is taking a chance here!" JR continued as Kane climbed to the top rope. Just as he was poised to strike, Matt knocked Kane onto the turnbuckle, crotching him as the crowd roared loudly. Kane shouted in pain as Matt slugged him in the jaw. "Kane may have paid the ultimate price here!"
"Be careful, Matt!" Lawler warned, as Matt climbed up onto the ropes in preparation for a tornado DDT. "Kane may want more babies! He's not gonna stop at just one!"
JR continued to call the action. "Matt climbing up-he has to take advantage here. Quickly, if not sooner! Trying to set Kane up for another DDT—No! No!" Kane grinned sickly and grabbed Matt around the neck.
Frantically, Matt struggled to break free from Kane's grip as Kane tried to climb up onto the top turnbuckle. Matt realized, in horror, Kane's intentions. A chokeslam from this height would completely smash him to pieces.
"No! No!" shouted JR, as Kane laughed. "Don't tell me he's gonna try for a chokeslam-"
As she stared at the frightening scene in front of her, Lita realized that she'd had enough. She'd been a victim for far too long, and she was gonna do whatever it took to save her future, or at least go down swinging. "Hey, Kane!" she shouted. The Big Red Machine glanced down. "I hope you suffer premature pyro for the rest of your life, you Big Red Freak!"
Kane glared at her. "You little bitch! I'm gonna-"
It was the distraction Matt needed. In his moment of distraction, Kane had loosened his grip on Matt's throat, giving Matt just enough slack to grab Kane's head and bite him in the nose. Kane shouted, and Matt wriggled down to get a proper foot hold. It was now or never. If he didn't execute this properly, he was doomed.
"Lita just said something," JR exclaimed. "Kane looks over- OH! Matt-I think-"
"He just bit Kane, JR!" Lawler couldn't believe what he'd just seen.
Shouting, Matt sprung backwards, twisted himself around and brought his nemesis to the mat hard. "Now, JR! Now he's got it!"
JR could barely contain himself. "Tornado DDT! Cover him, Matt!" he shouted. Matt crawled on top of a dazed Kane. "One...two...HE DID IT! "
"JR, Omigod! He beat Kane!"
"The Big Red Machine just got shut down!" JR shouted in joy, as Lita glanced up at the ceiling. Gratitude and relief was painted across her face.
Lawler pointed to the ring. "Look at Lita!"
"A look of joy and relief on Lita's face. And Kane sits up in shock!"
"I don't think Kane planned on this JR! He signed that contract last week, and now he's gonna have to abide by it!" Lawler added, as Matt crawled to his feet and the ref raised his arm in victory. Lillian Garcia announced him as the winner.
Kane shook his head in disbelief as he managed to get to his feet. Almost instantly, the referee got into his face.
"The referee ordering Kane out of the ring," JR explained, as the Big Red Machine slid out of the ring in a daze. "Kane is now barred from any physicality with either Matt or Lita. And by extension, that also means that he's barred from any contact with Lita's baby."
The defeated monster looked over at Lita. A tense moment passed as Lita wrapped her arms protectively around her belly and glared coldly at him. Kane stared at her, looked down at her belly...and then to everyone's surprise, bowed his head and lumbered off, his shoulders slumped in defeat.
Lawler shook his head. "That's not fair, JR!"
"Maybe not," JR pointed out. "But Kane signed that contract willingly, along with Matt and Lita. Now he must fulfill his end of the deal. And now, Matt Hardy has won the right to marry Lita. But the big question now is, does he really want to?"
Lita watched Matt celebrate his victory, her heart heavy. Now that the match was over, it was time to deal with the fallout. She had to know where she and Matt stood. Would he take her back? Would he want nothing more to do with her? Would he be willing to start a family and try to make things work, knowing full well that he wasn't her baby's father? There was only one way to know.
Cautiously, Lita stepped into the ring and carefully, slowly, approached the man who had just fought for her.
"And finally," JR said, as Matt turned to face Lita. "Matt is looking right at her."
Their eyes locked, the tension almost unbearable.
"JR," Lawler ventured, cautiously. "I don't think he wants to marry her. I mean Lita's pregnant with another man's baby."
"Matt and Lita can wed if they so choose now, King. But the emotional baggage now may be too great for them to overcome. Lita now standing right in front of Matt in the center of the ring. Words are being exchanged now..."
~~~TIME~~~
Lita took a deep breath, her arms wrapping protectively around the unborn baby in her belly, and began to cry softly. "I know you told me to stay away from you, but there's one thing I need to tell you."
Matt tilted his head to listen to Lita, the expression on his face unreadable. "I'm such a horrible person! I made such a huge mistake. If I hadn't slept with Kane, none of this would be happening."
Finally, Matt spoke, his words soft. "You could have gone to somebody in authority to stop him-"
Lita shook her head. "Bitchoff doesn't care! You know how feels about me, what makes you think that he would done something?" A pause. "Matt, I couldn't stand seeing Kane hurt you like he did. He said he wouldn't stop hurting you if I didn't do what he'd asked me to. It...He just backed me into such a corner. I didn't want to, but I was so desperate. He was gonna destroy you, and I just wanted it to go away!"
Matt shook his head and paced the ring. Lita followed him. "I wasn't in my right mind, Matt! After everything you and I have been through, the thought of losing you after all of it, I just...God, I was so stupid! I know you probably hate me, and I deserve it. But I just wanted you to be safe."
JR sighed. "Maybe the only thing that will come out of this is that Kane will never harm Matt or Lita ever again. Matt's safe, Lita's safe, Lita's baby is safe, and...maybe that's all the good that's come out of this drama."
Lawler frowned. "JR, you could be right. Lita...wow, you can almost feel the pain she's in."
Tears flowed from Lita's eyes. "Kane's never gonna hurt us anymore, but maybe that's all that'll happen now. Matt, I love you to death. I'll never stop loving you. But I also love my baby. And I'm gonna have my baby. With or without you."
"But getting back to what you said a moment ago, King," JR continued, as Matt stared at Lita, and Lita stared down at her shoes. "Matt Hardy is not the biological father of Lita's baby. Is he willing to take on the responsibility of being a parent when he knows that the baby belongs to someone else? And Kane turns back to gaze at Matt and Lita one last time, and he's slouched over in defeat as he walks away."
Lawler's voice was soft and sad. "And speaking of walking away, JR..."
Lita blinked back tears as she turned away from Matt and trudged towards the edge of the ring. Her expression was a study of heartache as she parted the ropes for herself and slowly stepped through and stepped out onto the arena floor. She approached the ramp towards the backstage and lingered for a moment. Seeing Matt with his back turned broke Lita's heart all over again.
JR couldn't help but feel compassion for the young woman who trudged down the aisle with a heavy heart. "Oh, Lita. You can't help but feel for her. She was forced into such a difficult situation to begin with."
Lawler chose his next words carefully. "JR, I have to say this, and I know that quite a few people may be angry with me for saying it. But Lita made her bed, and now it's time for her to lay in it. And I honestly can't blame Matt Hardy for wanting to wash his hands of this whole mess."
JR nodded sadly. "You may be right, King. Looking at Matt and Lita right now, I don't think he wants anything to do with her any more…"
~~~TIME~~~
Anna came back into the lounge (having finished her pretzel and near beer) in time to see Lita step out of the ring and trudge up the aisle. "I guess Matt won?" she asked softly, sidling up to her husband.
Jay reached up and wrapped an arm around his wife's waist, pulling her close. "He did. And I think he's made his intentions clear. Poor Lita."
Anna nodded and sniffled. There were unshed tears that prickled her eyes and threatened to fall.
Tyson snarled at the screen. "Prick."
"Does he not fucking know that he's gonna have to deal with us?" spat Jay as Anna gently removed herself from her husband's embrace and stepped back. "Does he not fucking care!" Springing to his feet, he tossed his empty beer cup and the carrying tray at the TV screen and kicked the table over. "I'm gonna kick his ass!"
"Hope you don't mind me playing Devil's Advocate," Tyson ventured carefully. "But that's someone else's baby she's carrying—"
"Doesn't matter! I'm pissed not just for Lita, but for my wife! Lita's her best friend, you hurt Lita, you hurt Anna, and you hurt me!" With an angry snarl, he charged for the door, yanked it open and charged out into the hall.
"Jay, wait!" Anna followed after him. "You just got back! Don't do anything you're gonna regret-"
"Go back to the lounge, Anna! I don't want you getting hurt-!"
"GUYS! WAIT! JAY, DON'T GO OUT THERE YET!" Tyson shouted as he stepped out of the lounge. "You gotta see what's going on…"
~~~TIME~~~
"Lita! Don't go, Lita! Come back."
Halfway down the aisle, Lita hesitated and glanced over her shoulder. Matt was at the edge of the ring, beckoning her. Did I just hear him call my name?
"Come back, Lita! I'm sorry."
Cautiously, Lita turned and walked hesitantly back to the ring. Her apprehension was clear for all to see as she stepped carefully through the ropes and approached Matt.
"Matt's asking Lita to come back!" JR said. "And I think I hear them talking."
Lawler grinned in excitement. "Let's listen in!"
In the ring, Matt lay his hands gently on Lita's shoulders. His voice was thick with emotion. "I know I seemed really cold and distant to you, but it wasn't because I wanted nothing more to do with you. I was just getting everything in order. That's why I didn't return your calls."
Lita tilted her head and studied Matt quizzically.
Matt continued. "I was so busy. There's so much I had to do. Not just for you, but for the baby, and for me." He paused. "For us. That baby shouldn't have to suffer because of who the father is. I don't care who your baby's father is. Because I want to be the daddy. And it's not just your baby anymore. It's our baby. I wanna spend the rest of my life with you and our baby."
"Am I hearing things, JR?" Lawler wondered.
Matt gazed into Lita's eyes. "You asked me to make a decision a while back. And Lita...I wanna be with you, more than anything else in this world. I want you, and I want the baby…" With that, he placed a hand gently onto Lita's belly, and then took Lita's hands in his. "I want all of us to be together. I want us to be a family."
Lita dared to smile. "Matt! That's all I want. You made me the happiest-" Before she could finish her sentence, Matt takes Lita's face in his hands and kissed her.
The crowd was on their feet.
In the VIP lounge, Anna shrieked in joy and threw her arms around Jay. Tyson applauded and whistled. Even Trish managed to slip away from the dodgeball room to celebrate and pump her fist in triumph.
Jay nodded and smiled. "I'm still gonna kick his ass."
"Oh, look at this!" JR shouted back at ringside. "What a standup guy!"
Lawler shrugged. "Did I hear him correctly, JR? That it's his baby AND Lita's?"
JR couldn't stop smiling. "I think so, King! And Matt's asking the ring announcer for a microphone. It's been a roller coaster ride of emotions so far tonight. I think we heard Matt Hardy that he doesn't care who the biological father of Lita's baby is, because he wants to be the daddy. And that look on Lita's face just speaks volumes."
Matt composed himself before he started. "Lita, I loved you then. I love you now, and I'll never stop loving you."
"It's breathless anticipation, folks!" JR exclaimed.
Slowly, Matt got down on one knee and fumbled around in the pocket of his pants until he found what he was looking for. He pulled out the tiny red velvet box and opened it.
Lita gasped as she saw the wide gold band with the twinkling, pear-shaped diamond. She recognized it as the ring he'd proposed to her with at the beginning of their ordeal.
"He's been hanging onto that for quite a while!" JR pointed out to the viewing audience.
"I didn't realize how big that rock was, JR! I'd have to go into hock up to my eyeballs to afford a ring like that. How'd he manage to keep that from falling out of his pants pocket?"
"Does that bring back some bad memories for you, King?"
"Not for me, no."
Gently, Matt took Lita by the hand and gazed up at her.
"So, Lita...Lita...Will you marry me?"
Lita was rendered speechless with joy. This was the moment that she and Matt had fought so hard for. It symbolized the end of all the heartache, pain and horror they'd endured for so many months. It was the beginning of the Happily Ever After they both deserved.
As she gazed down at Matt's handsome, hopeful face, Lita found herself crying too hard to answer, but she smiled and nodded emphatically.
Matt smiled. "So I guess that's a yes?" Lita nodded, and that's all Matt needed. He stood up and slipped the ring on Lita's finger. The audience erupted into huge cheers; any louder and they would have blown the roof off of the arena.
"Everyone in the Air Canada Centre is on their feet!" shouted JR, as Matt and Lita embraced in the center of the ring, and Matt lifted his fiancée gently up off the canvas. "And if I'm not seeing things, there's people crying in the stands!"
"This is like Love Story, JR," Lawler chuckled. "if you like that kind of mush!"
"King, I love it!" JR exclaimed, as Matt raised Lita's arm, and then lifted Lita up onto his shoulders.
"I haven't seen such a display of emotions in years, JR!" Lawler beamed.
JR continued his happy commentary. "Lita perched on Matt Hardy's shoulders! King, it takes a special kind of man to step up like Matt Hardy just did. I have nothing but respect and admiration for him. And I think it's safe to say that the nightmare for him and Lita is finally over."
"JR, when do you think their wedding's gonna take place?"
"I don't know, King?"
"JR, what do you think Lita's gonna wear to the wedding? She can't wear white."
JR shook his head. "I think it's a little too early to speculate, King. I think those two need some time for themselves first."
Gently, Matt set Lita down and parted the ring ropes for her to step through. "This is their time now," JR continued as Lita stepped out onto the arena floor and waited for Matt to step down. They embraced again, and then Matt put his hand on Lita's belly. "Handle her carefully, Matt!"
Lawler couldn't resist. "Maybe she can wear bright red."
JR shook his head in mild disgust as the happily engaged couple made their way backstage. "I don't think we should be thinking about a wedding. We should be thinking about the rest of tonight's lineup..."
NOTE FROM THE AUTHOR: WOW! Matt could have handled things just a little differently, no? Happy to see Matt and Lita together again (at least in this story!) but Jay's probably gonna kick Matt's ass for freaking everyone out (his wife especially) like he did.
Just for the record, Anna is Anna Hollenbeck, my recovering alcoholic OC who is friends with the Core Group. Her story is on my ff dot net profile. I'll explain how she and Jay got together and got married in later chapters. Yes, this is gonna be a multi-chapter work. Chapter title is from the song Precious Time from Pat Benatar.
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