Title: "Only Hope" (11/?)
Author: twstofate aka Hayden
e-mail: twstofate@hotmail.com
Category: WWF long-fic
Disclaimer: All characters belong to the WWF
Distribution: Please ask first
Rating: PG-13, deals with death and relationships
Spoilers: RAW 2/18/2002
Summary: Tragedy befalls Matt and Team Xtreme and Lita finds comfort in someone unexpected.
A/N: Okay...this chapter will not be sad. It's probably going to be one of the three happiest chapters in the whole story!

*

September 2002

*

"You look beautiful," a soft voice said from the doorway.

Lita spun around in surprise. Her face quickly broke out in a bright grin. "You came!" she exclaimed as she went to hug her friend.

"I was invited to the wedding of two of the people I most like and admire," he said, "Of course I came."

"I'm really glad," Lita said, hugging him again. "Matt and I haven't heard much from you since the whole Alliance thing."

"I know," he said. "That's my fault. I knew you guys probably didn't care about what I had done but I needed to get away from wrestling for awhile."

"Do you miss it?" Lita asked.

"Yeah," he admitted. "But that part of my life is over."

"You should talk to Vince," Lita said. "He would welcome you back."

"After betraying him and the WWF?" he asked. "I don't think so. I meant to call Matt after I heard about what happened. But I couldn't."

"He'll be glad to see you," Lita said. "He understands well what it's like to want to get away, I promise."

"Okay," he said. He looked more closely at Lita. "I see a different kind of congratulations are in order. How far along are you?"

"Six months," Lita said, beaming up at her friend. They both turned at a knock at the door to her bedroom. The door opened and Kurt peeked in.

"They are ready when you are," Kurt said to Lita, barely noticing the other person in the room. He grinned at her. She was wearing a sleeveless light blue dress. The fabric was airy and he could tell it would swirl around her ankles when she walked. Her hair was all curled and piled atop her head. She was wearing Roman-style sandals. "You look great."

"Thanks Kurt," Lita said.

"What the hell is he doing here?" Lita's friend asked, his voice low and dangerous.

"Hey, Kurt's my friend too," Lita said quickly, putting a restraining hand on her friend's arm. "He's been wonderful these past few months."

"Hey man," Kurt said, stepping into the room farther. "I know that you have every reason to hate me. I put you out of business and all."

"You sure did," Shane McMahon said lowly.

"I thought I had to," Kurt said. "I thought it would be better for everyone."

"Except me," Shane said.

"Even you," Kurt said. "At least this way, your family has some chance at eventually reconciling."

"Maybe," Shane said.

"Truce?" Kurt asked, offering his hand to shake Shane's.

Shane looked over at Lita and saw the hopeful look on his face. "Truce," he agreed, shaking Kurt's hand.

"Stephanie is here," Lita said to Shane. "I'm sure she would like to see you."

"What's Steph doing here?" Shane asked in shock.

"She's Jericho's date," Lita said. "You had better go get a seat. We are ready to get this show on the road."

"Yes ma'am," Shane said. He looked over at Kurt. "You coming?"

"Um, no," Kurt said shyly.

"He's walking me down the aisle," Lita said.

"I see," Shane said. "Things sure have changed."

"Don't disappear after the ceremony," Lita said.

"I won't," Shane said. He kissed her lightly on the cheek before leaving the room.

"You ready for this?" Kurt asked his friend as he offered her his arm.

"I think so," Lita said, nodding at Kurt. "Thanks for walking me down the aisle Kurt."

"Hey, don't mention it," Kurt said. "It's an honor."

*

Matt stood at the end of the aisle in a suit that was a light khaki color. He and Lita had decided to have a non-traditional wedding, since their wedding was not even close to traditional. Jeff stood next to Matt in a grey suit, looking uncharacteristically solemn.

Jeff smiled at Trish as she walked down the aisle before Lita and Kurt. She smiled shyly at her boyfriend. Matt's smile brightened as he heard "The Wedding March" start playing on the piano on his porch.

Lita had decided she wanted the wedding outside because all of the leaves were just starting to change colors. She looked around and decided she had made a good choice. It was definitely a day she would never forget.

She and Kurt walked down the aisle slowly. Her eyes caught with Matt's and she beamed at him. Everyone agreed they had never seen Lita look so beautiful.

"Who gives this woman away?" the preacher asked, when Lita and Kurt reached Matt.

"I do," Kurt answered, giving Lita's hand to Matt.

The ceremony started and all of the fifty or so people present listened intently. "Matt and Lita have decided to write their own vows," the preacher announced. "Matt, would you like to start?"

"Lita," Matt said. "I knew from the moment I first held you in my arms that you were special. You may not have been aware it was me carrying you, you may have just been concentrating on getting away from Essa. But I knew from that moment that your fate and mine was intertwined. We've been through a lot. Luckily the good times outweigh the bad. When I look at you now I know what it's like to know peace and love. You've given me what only you could give me. I love you forever and always."

"Lita?" the preacher asked after Matt finished.

"You've always shocked me Matt Hardy," Lita said. "From that first kiss, you shocked me. And luckily it hasn't stopped. You make my life interesting and full. I look at you and see the man who took my heart and made it his own. I wouldn't be me without you and I will never forget you and all you've given me. I love you and I always will."

Lita and Matt exchanged rings. "You may now kiss the bride," the preacher said.

Matt and Lita's lips met in a soft kiss. "I love you," Matt whispered.

"I love you too," Lita said.

*

"So what are you up to?" Shane asked, coming to stand next to Kurt.

"What are you talking about?" Kurt asked, looking over at Shane. He had been friends with Shane once-upon-a-time. He knew Shane was a decent guy but he had turned against him, probably to help Vince. He forgot why he had done it. It wasn't important anymore.

"I mean you and the Hardys," Shane said. "You seem quite at home here."

"Do you have a problem with that?" Kurt asked.

"I have a problem with people who pretend to be what they are not," Shane said. "And I would hate to see the Hardys get hurt because they made a mistake in trusting you."

"I would hate to see that too," Kurt said. "Because Matt, Jeff, and Lita are the best friends I have."

"How did that happen?" Shane asked.

"Strange circumstances make strange friends," Kurt shrugged. "Jeff's my trainer."

"For what?" Shane asked.

"The Olympics," Kurt answered. "I'm Lita's Lamaze partner. I wouldn't have done that if I didn't consider all of them friends."

"Lamaze?" Shane asked. "Are you living here."

"He lives with me," Jeff said, coming over with Trish.

"Wow," Shane said. "Well, if you've really changed, then I'm glad. Everyone needs as many friends as they can get."

"You okay?" Jeff asked after Shane walked away. "It looked like he was grilling you."

"He's was looking out for you guys," Kurt said. He looked over at the dance floor that had been set up on the lawn. "Did you ever think you would see that?"

Jeff and Trish looked to see Jericho with Stephanie in his arms. Her head was on his shoulder as they danced to a love song.

"Yeah," Jeff and Trish answered together.

"Me too," Kurt admitted. "It's nice to see what's supposed to happen does happen every now and then."

"Like that?" Trish asked as she pointed to another couple.

Despite her rather large belly, Matt and Lita looked perfect together as they danced.

*

A/N: I had to have a totally sappy chapter in here. I thought this was a good way to do it! Please review! I'll love you forever, I promise!