*** I'm SO sorry this chapter has taken so long. I was feeling uninspired.
This story has completely changed from it's original intended storyline
and I'm kind of just going with the flow. But it wasn't flowing. I'll try
to work faster from now on, but no promises. ***
*
"Hi," she said softly.
"Hi," he returned, sitting in the chair across the table from her. He knew the look in her pretty eyes well. He knew he didn't want to hear what she was going to say.
"We have to talk," she said, looking down at her hands. They were on top of the table, folded together.
"I know," he said, nodding his head in agreement.
"I don't think it's going to work," she said.
"But I love you," he exclaimed. "I've loved you forever."
"Have you really?" she asked. "Or did you just want it to be love."
"I…what are you talking about?" he asked.
"For so long I just wanted to be in love with you," she said. "Because when I looked at you I could see all of the affection in your eyes. But I can't pretend anymore."
"Pretend?" he asked, feeling his heart fall to pieces.
"I don't love you," she said firmly. "I'm not really sure that I ever did."
"What are you talking about?" he asked, his face so crestfallen that it nearly broke her heart. "We're so perfect for each other."
"It would seem that way to someone from the outside looking in," she said, nodding her head. "But we aren't really."
"It's your damn cousin and his slut of a wife," he said in disgust.
"Excuse me?" Lita asked, her eyes filling with anger.
"Ever since those two decided to fall in love you've gone all romantic and you've forgotten about the real world," Matt said.
"Which real world is this?" Lita asked.
"The one where you and I work," he said, his voice becoming gentler.
"Is this the same real world where you kissed me and helped to tear me out of a relationship I was really quite happy in?" Lita asked.
"So it all comes back to Shane?" Matt sighed.
"Yeah," Lita said, nodding her head. "It does all come back to Shane."
"Why?" Matt asked.
"Because I knew that I loved him," Lita said. "I know that what I had with Shane was real, that he didn't just try to convince me that we would work."
"I didn't just convince you," Matt protested.
"No, but I let myself believe what you believed," Lita said. "I never stopped to think about what I really believed. That's my fault Matt."
"Why did you leave Shane if you were so sure you loved him?" Matt asked.
"For the same reason I convinced myself that I should love you," Lita said. "Because Shane and I didn't make sense in the so-called real world and you and I did."
"And did Shane help you come to this realization?" Matt asked.
"Shane doesn't know I've come to this realization," Lita replied. "I did call him, I explained to him why I chose you and not him. Everything else I left out."
"Lita," Matt said softly. "I know things have been rough."
"Matt," Lita sighed. "This has been a long time coming. We aren't happy together anymore. For awhile it was fun because we were friends and lovers. Now we never talk and we are rarely together. And I don't miss it."
"You're really serious?" Matt asked.
"I really am," Lita said, nodding her head.
"Are you going back to Shane?" Matt asked.
"If he'll take me back," Lita said honestly.
*
"Shaners," Stephanie said, hugging her brother as he walked into her home.
"Don't you look beautiful?" Shane asked.
"I look fat," Stephanie said, matter-of-factly.
"You look gorgeous," Shane assured her. "And what are those marvelous smells?"
"Just a little bit of homemade food," Stephanie said, taking Shane with her into the kitchen.
Shane laughed as Chris looked dubiously at a soufflé in front of him. "You sure it won't fall Stephanie?"
"Did you make it?" Shane asked.
"No," Chris said. "My kitchen skills amount to coffee, hot chocolate, and grilled cheese."
"Steph?" Shane asked.
"You know I'm a goddess in the kitchen," Stephanie said airily, "but I do not have the patience to make that."
"Out of my way," Lita exclaimed as she ran to the oven to take out a pan containing four Cornish game hens.
"Lita?" Shane asked in shock.
Lita looked up from the pan she held in her hands and grinned at Shane. "Hey."
"You cooked all of this?" Shane asked.
"It's a thank you to Stephanie and Chris for helping me work out my life and giving me a couch to crash on," Lita said.
"Life? Couch?" Shane asked.
"It'll all become clear later," Chris assured him. "Why don't we just enjoy the food for now?"
Shane nodded mutely as Stephanie and Jericho steered him towards the dining room.
*
"So, I broke up with Matt," Lita said as she sat on the patio next to Shane.
"Really?" Shane asked. They had talked a little over a week earlier. Lita had explained to him why she had broken up with him, but she had given no indication to him that her relationship with Matt was nearly over.
"Yeah," Lita said. "I just didn't love him."
"Poor guy," Shane said. "I know what it feels like to wake up and realize you aren't loved."
"But I always loved you Shane," Lita said softly.
"What?" Shane asked, whipping his head toward her.
"I was an idiot to think that just because we came from different planets, hell different solar systems," Lita said. "That it meant I shouldn't love you. I was an idiot."
"But…why?" Shane asked.
"Why what?" Lita asked.
"Why now?" Shane asked.
"Because I can't pretend anymore that I don't love you," Lita said.
"God Lita," Shane sighed, running a hair through his short hair. "This is a lot to dump on me."
"I know," Lita said sympathetically. "And I wish there was another way."
"No, it's okay," Shane said.
"And I'm willing to give you time and space before you have to make any kind of decision," Lita said. "I don't want to pressure you."
"Pressure me to what?" Shane asked.
"To love me again," Lita said.
"Lita, I've always loved you," Shane said softly. "Love hasn't been the problem."
"What's been the problem?" Lita asked.
"It would be really hard to entrust my heart to you again," Shane said. "I would never know when you would decide we were too different again."
"Wouldn't happen," Lita said.
"How can I be sure?" Shane asked.
"Because I believe in promises," Lita said, getting off of the chair she was sitting in and kneeling in front of Shane's chair. "I need you to bear with me here, I'm new to this going after what you really want. It's really hard to take pages out of Chris' book."
"What are you doing?" Shane asked.
"If you'll have me," Lita said, taking a deep breath. "I would like for you to be my husband?"
"Husband?" Shane asked in shock.
"Yeah," Lita said. "I want to show the world that regardless of what they think, I believe you and I belong together."
"But marriage?" Shane asked. "We haven't been together in forever."
"Do you think we wouldn't still work together?" Lita asked.
"No, it's just…what about Matt?" Shane asked.
"Matt knows how I feel," Lita said. "He'll be shocked. But he'll fall in love someday."
"I don't know what to say," Shane said. "You said you weren't going to pressure me."
"But you said you still loved me," Lita said. "And all is still fair in love and war."
"And is this love or war?" Shane asked, laughter in his eyes.
"You tell me," Lita said.
Shane closed his eyes for a moment. He opened them and leaned forward and captured Lita's mouth with his. He had only intended to kiss her softly, but he almost instantly pulled her into his arms. Their tongues tangled in a fiery combat.
"God Shane," Lita said breathlessly when they pulled apart. "I love you so much."
"I love you too," Shane said.
"Is that a yes?" Lita asked.
"It's a yes," Shane said, smiling down at the woman in his arms.
*
"Yes!" Stephanie exclaimed from the kitchen sink.
"What?" Chris asked, looking up from the newspaper laid out in front of him.
"Nothing," Stephanie said innocently, rinsing out a glass.
"Were you spying on them again?" Chris asked.
"They were kissing Chris!" Stephanie exclaimed. "It's so magical and romantic!"
"Steph," Chris said affectionately. "Let them have their moment."
"I will, but I'm so happy for them," Stephanie said.
"I am too," Chris said. "I'm happy for everyone who finds love."
Stephanie smiled at her husband. She hoped she would find love with him. And soon.
*
"Hi," she said softly.
"Hi," he returned, sitting in the chair across the table from her. He knew the look in her pretty eyes well. He knew he didn't want to hear what she was going to say.
"We have to talk," she said, looking down at her hands. They were on top of the table, folded together.
"I know," he said, nodding his head in agreement.
"I don't think it's going to work," she said.
"But I love you," he exclaimed. "I've loved you forever."
"Have you really?" she asked. "Or did you just want it to be love."
"I…what are you talking about?" he asked.
"For so long I just wanted to be in love with you," she said. "Because when I looked at you I could see all of the affection in your eyes. But I can't pretend anymore."
"Pretend?" he asked, feeling his heart fall to pieces.
"I don't love you," she said firmly. "I'm not really sure that I ever did."
"What are you talking about?" he asked, his face so crestfallen that it nearly broke her heart. "We're so perfect for each other."
"It would seem that way to someone from the outside looking in," she said, nodding her head. "But we aren't really."
"It's your damn cousin and his slut of a wife," he said in disgust.
"Excuse me?" Lita asked, her eyes filling with anger.
"Ever since those two decided to fall in love you've gone all romantic and you've forgotten about the real world," Matt said.
"Which real world is this?" Lita asked.
"The one where you and I work," he said, his voice becoming gentler.
"Is this the same real world where you kissed me and helped to tear me out of a relationship I was really quite happy in?" Lita asked.
"So it all comes back to Shane?" Matt sighed.
"Yeah," Lita said, nodding her head. "It does all come back to Shane."
"Why?" Matt asked.
"Because I knew that I loved him," Lita said. "I know that what I had with Shane was real, that he didn't just try to convince me that we would work."
"I didn't just convince you," Matt protested.
"No, but I let myself believe what you believed," Lita said. "I never stopped to think about what I really believed. That's my fault Matt."
"Why did you leave Shane if you were so sure you loved him?" Matt asked.
"For the same reason I convinced myself that I should love you," Lita said. "Because Shane and I didn't make sense in the so-called real world and you and I did."
"And did Shane help you come to this realization?" Matt asked.
"Shane doesn't know I've come to this realization," Lita replied. "I did call him, I explained to him why I chose you and not him. Everything else I left out."
"Lita," Matt said softly. "I know things have been rough."
"Matt," Lita sighed. "This has been a long time coming. We aren't happy together anymore. For awhile it was fun because we were friends and lovers. Now we never talk and we are rarely together. And I don't miss it."
"You're really serious?" Matt asked.
"I really am," Lita said, nodding her head.
"Are you going back to Shane?" Matt asked.
"If he'll take me back," Lita said honestly.
*
"Shaners," Stephanie said, hugging her brother as he walked into her home.
"Don't you look beautiful?" Shane asked.
"I look fat," Stephanie said, matter-of-factly.
"You look gorgeous," Shane assured her. "And what are those marvelous smells?"
"Just a little bit of homemade food," Stephanie said, taking Shane with her into the kitchen.
Shane laughed as Chris looked dubiously at a soufflé in front of him. "You sure it won't fall Stephanie?"
"Did you make it?" Shane asked.
"No," Chris said. "My kitchen skills amount to coffee, hot chocolate, and grilled cheese."
"Steph?" Shane asked.
"You know I'm a goddess in the kitchen," Stephanie said airily, "but I do not have the patience to make that."
"Out of my way," Lita exclaimed as she ran to the oven to take out a pan containing four Cornish game hens.
"Lita?" Shane asked in shock.
Lita looked up from the pan she held in her hands and grinned at Shane. "Hey."
"You cooked all of this?" Shane asked.
"It's a thank you to Stephanie and Chris for helping me work out my life and giving me a couch to crash on," Lita said.
"Life? Couch?" Shane asked.
"It'll all become clear later," Chris assured him. "Why don't we just enjoy the food for now?"
Shane nodded mutely as Stephanie and Jericho steered him towards the dining room.
*
"So, I broke up with Matt," Lita said as she sat on the patio next to Shane.
"Really?" Shane asked. They had talked a little over a week earlier. Lita had explained to him why she had broken up with him, but she had given no indication to him that her relationship with Matt was nearly over.
"Yeah," Lita said. "I just didn't love him."
"Poor guy," Shane said. "I know what it feels like to wake up and realize you aren't loved."
"But I always loved you Shane," Lita said softly.
"What?" Shane asked, whipping his head toward her.
"I was an idiot to think that just because we came from different planets, hell different solar systems," Lita said. "That it meant I shouldn't love you. I was an idiot."
"But…why?" Shane asked.
"Why what?" Lita asked.
"Why now?" Shane asked.
"Because I can't pretend anymore that I don't love you," Lita said.
"God Lita," Shane sighed, running a hair through his short hair. "This is a lot to dump on me."
"I know," Lita said sympathetically. "And I wish there was another way."
"No, it's okay," Shane said.
"And I'm willing to give you time and space before you have to make any kind of decision," Lita said. "I don't want to pressure you."
"Pressure me to what?" Shane asked.
"To love me again," Lita said.
"Lita, I've always loved you," Shane said softly. "Love hasn't been the problem."
"What's been the problem?" Lita asked.
"It would be really hard to entrust my heart to you again," Shane said. "I would never know when you would decide we were too different again."
"Wouldn't happen," Lita said.
"How can I be sure?" Shane asked.
"Because I believe in promises," Lita said, getting off of the chair she was sitting in and kneeling in front of Shane's chair. "I need you to bear with me here, I'm new to this going after what you really want. It's really hard to take pages out of Chris' book."
"What are you doing?" Shane asked.
"If you'll have me," Lita said, taking a deep breath. "I would like for you to be my husband?"
"Husband?" Shane asked in shock.
"Yeah," Lita said. "I want to show the world that regardless of what they think, I believe you and I belong together."
"But marriage?" Shane asked. "We haven't been together in forever."
"Do you think we wouldn't still work together?" Lita asked.
"No, it's just…what about Matt?" Shane asked.
"Matt knows how I feel," Lita said. "He'll be shocked. But he'll fall in love someday."
"I don't know what to say," Shane said. "You said you weren't going to pressure me."
"But you said you still loved me," Lita said. "And all is still fair in love and war."
"And is this love or war?" Shane asked, laughter in his eyes.
"You tell me," Lita said.
Shane closed his eyes for a moment. He opened them and leaned forward and captured Lita's mouth with his. He had only intended to kiss her softly, but he almost instantly pulled her into his arms. Their tongues tangled in a fiery combat.
"God Shane," Lita said breathlessly when they pulled apart. "I love you so much."
"I love you too," Shane said.
"Is that a yes?" Lita asked.
"It's a yes," Shane said, smiling down at the woman in his arms.
*
"Yes!" Stephanie exclaimed from the kitchen sink.
"What?" Chris asked, looking up from the newspaper laid out in front of him.
"Nothing," Stephanie said innocently, rinsing out a glass.
"Were you spying on them again?" Chris asked.
"They were kissing Chris!" Stephanie exclaimed. "It's so magical and romantic!"
"Steph," Chris said affectionately. "Let them have their moment."
"I will, but I'm so happy for them," Stephanie said.
"I am too," Chris said. "I'm happy for everyone who finds love."
Stephanie smiled at her husband. She hoped she would find love with him. And soon.