Distribution: Ask and you shall recieve

Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters you recognize.

Notes: Written in response to yet another challenge in the livejournal community 'litafics', lol. This was suppose to be a one shot like the others but muses demanded otherwise so this will be a three parter. Angsty yet happy, you'll see when it's finished. I hope you all like it.

-X-

Chapter 1- Do you really have to go?

Sometimes you don't realize how much you truly care about something until it's about to slip through your fingers. That's exactly what John Cena was realizing as he watched a certain redhead dance with Shawn Michaels out back in Lilian's South Carolina home. The blonde haired Latina had told everyone about the surprise good bye party she was going to throw for the redhead. Although Lita had vocally stated she didn't want one thrown, she had been extremely surprised when she had arrived to what she thought was going to be a final girl's only night. Needless to say everyone was sad that the fiery redhead was leaving just as they had been sadden when Trish had left a couple months before.

The West Newbury native shook his head and continued to watch the redhead from the patio. Carlito stepped forward now to dance with the soon departing woman.

"The parties almost over you know. Are you ever going to get your ass up and ask her to dance?" An all too familiar voice asked from behind him.

John shrugged his shoulders, "I don't know man. I don't want her to leave."

Edge smiled sadly as he stepped up beside the younger man, "None of us want her to leave, but it's her choice. It's not like she'll be gone forever. She might come back."

The young man ducked his head and lifted his hat up slightly to scratch his head. "Might bein' the keyword there bro. I was sad when Trish left but honestly I think Imma be more sad when Red leaves. I've worked with her for so long...it's gonna be hard."

The pair sat in silence, both watching as Lita laughed as Carlito dripped her and wagged his eyebrows. John couldn't help but frowned. He didn't know why he was so scared to just go up to her and ask for one simple dance before she'd be gone. Maybe it had something to do with the feelings he had been trying so hard to not let out knowing that something like this was going to happen.

"You act like it's going to be forever." Edge's voice broke into his thoughts once again. "She's still going to be living in Atlanta. You'd be able to visit her."

John sighed and stuck his hands into his pocket. "It ain't gonna be the same." He said softly before he turned and walked back into the house, unaware of the hazel eyes that were watching him leave.

-X-

The party boomed for another two hours, only a few people lingering in the now extremely messy house of Lilian Garcia. The blonde ring announcer hurried about with the help Victoria and Lita, cleaning the living room. John, Randy, Edge and Dave set to the task of restoring the back yard to its former glory.

John quietly helped Edge put one of the long tables over the other and tried to move away when the task had been complete. Edge's hand on his shoulder stopped him from going any further.

"Have you talked to her yet?" The Canadian asked.

John shook his head, "No. I...I don't think I will. I ain't good wit' all that emotional crap."

The blonde sighed; "You should at least say good bye. Wish her luck or something. You can't just be here and not say anything to her."

"Yeah man, she's going to think you came here more for the food then for her." Randy made his presence known as he stepped forward to the pair.

"She knows I wouldn't do that." John answered.

"But it might look that way to her. You didn't say more then a sentence to her. Eugene said more to her then you."

He sighed; "Ok I'll..."

"John?" The object of the conversation asked from behind the trio.

John slowly turned around to face her. Lita was leaning against the doorframe watching them. Her arms were crossed over her chest with hazel eyes focusing on the trio standing in the shadows of the night.

"Yeah Li?"

"Can we talk?" She asked, nodding her head toward the front door.

"Uh...sure."

John stuffed his hands into his pockets and stumbled forward a bit when Dave pushed him for taking to long. Lita tried not to laugh as he straightened himself and glared at the large wrestler. The pair walked silently toward the front door ignoring the curious glances from the others. Lita waved off their looks as the two walked out of the house.

It was a lot chiller in the front then it had been when they were standing in the back yard; then again the back yard did have the little heat provided from the lights. Lita shivered as she and John walked silently down the sidewalk. Neither wanted to speak before the other. The redhead sighed deeply and stole a glance at the normally talkative wrestler, his head was down and his hands were still stuffed instead his jean pockets. She looked straight ahead and unconsciously wrapped her arms around herself.

"Why have you been avoiding me all night?" She asked, finally breaking the dead silence that was once between them.

The West Newbury native sighed, not taking his eyes from the ground. "I haven't been avoidin' ya."

Lita chuckled somewhat bitterly. "Yes you have. You've been watching me all night, but when I so much as got near you always disappeared. Why? I thought we were friends."

"We are friends Lita..."

"Then why..."

She was cut short as he looked up at her, taking a breath. For the first time ever she saw his normally cheerful blue eyes sad. So sad that it made her want to cry.

"Do you really hafta go?" He asked suddenly.

Lita blinked as she stopped walking to look at the taller wrestler. For a moment she forgot what it was that he was referring to. A sad smile appeared on her face and she clasped her hands behind her back.

"I have to go."

He shook his head. "No ya don't. Ya can stay. It ain't goin' to be the same without ya."

Lita sighed sadly, shifting her attention to the night sky. It sure was pretty this evening. The stars were shining brightly.

"I can't stay with the company right now John. I need to rediscover myself. I'm going to be doing more things with my band and...You won't even know I'm gone."

"Yes I will." John stated and moved to stand in front of her. He brought his hand up to shift her attention back to him a little surprised to she tears shining in her eyes. "Who's gonna laugh at my corny jokes? Who's gonna make sure I don't kill Orton for some stupid trick he plays?"

Lita lightly pushed his hand away from her face. "You'll have Lil and Vicki. Melina laughs at your corny jokes to."

John smiled slightly, "You weren't suppose to agree that they were corny." He met her hazel eyes and sighed as he reached up to wipe away the one tear that slid down her cheek. "I'm going to miss you Li. No matter what you say, it ain't gonna be the same."

"John don't do this." Lita said softly.

"Don't do what?" He brushed the pad of his thumb against her cheek. The soon to be former diva's eyes fluttered shut at the soothing contact.

"Don't do that. You're making this harder then what it's supposed to be." She whispered not opening her eyes. "This should just be a simple goodbye."

"Why isn't it?" He asked and took a step closer. The diva not answering his question right away.

"I wasn't supposed to fall for you." She said suddenly, hazel eyes opening to look up into sad blue. "You weren't supposed to make me feel this. I was supposed to walk away and not feel horrible about it. You're making that impossible for me to do."

"I'm not doing a damn thing." John said softly, drawing her closer.

The tears prickled at the woman's eyes once again. "Yes you are. You're doing it now, just by talking to me. Just for being here." Tears slowly spilled from her hazel eyes. "And...And I just can't do this John."

John's heart broke to see the redhead he'd grown to care for so much cry and remembered Edge's earlier words to him and repeated them, "You're acting like it's going to be forever."

Lita laughed bitterly, her hand reaching up to wipe at the tears. "It might as well be. You're going to forget all about me. Remember I know how the WWE is, you rarely have time for yourself. Let alone time to come and visit me. So this is goodbye John."

"Friends' never say goodbye Li."

"We have to." Lita said.

John stroked her cheek and pulled her against him before she had the chance to back away. Lita met his eyes through her own tearful gaze. Before she knew it his lips met hers in and earth shattering kiss. The hot tears spilling out from the corners of her eyes with even more force. She clenched to him as she returned the kiss. The seconds ticked by before they finally parted. Lita smiled sadly up at him, her small hand touching his cheek.

"I love you, John. But this is goodbye."

Before he could say anything in return, the redhead detached herself from his hold and run back towards Lilian's home without so much a glance back. John watched her retreating form, having a sinking feeling that when he returned to the blonde's house Lita would be no where in sight. He sighed and looked up at the night sky, whispering in the wind.

"I love you too Lita."