Chapter 26
This is dedicated to anyone who has ever reviewed this story, or sent me an encouraging PM.
Lita and Edge left the area as soon as his match was over. When they got back to their hotel room Lita tossed her gear bag into a chair and carefully set her leather costume wings in a corner. Hello Ebay, she thought. As Edge headed for the bathroom, Lita belly-flopped onto the bed, sighing in contentment. "I hope you're not down for the night," Edge called from the bathroom. "Jericho and some other guys wanted to go out drinking tonight. I want you to come." Lita made a face into the blankets so he couldn't see her. She heaved a deep sigh and said, "That sounds fun, like always. But my head iskilling me. Those stupid contacts really messed with my vision." Edge emerged from the bathroom, his arms crossed over his chest, as he wore an expression of distinct disappointment. She sat up slightly, looking at him through half closed eyes. His expression softened as he moved to sit on the bed by her. She squinted at him, feigning pain. He took her head in his hands and peered at her. "You look like you don't feel good babe." He stroked her cheeks with his thumbs. Lita closed her eyes and pretended to like it, though she wished he would just go and leave her the hell alone.
He pressed a kiss to her forehead and said, "I hope you don't mind if I head out with the guys. You stay here and rest. Okay?" She nodded, relieved that she wouldn't have to come up with some other reason to get away from him tonight. He got up, and she pulled the covers over head. She listened to the sounds of him changing clothes, and closed her eyes. She replayed her earlier encounter with Kane in her head. She touched her lips, remembering the way he kissed her. A shiver ran up her spine, recalling the memory of his hands roaming her back. She felt her face break into a devilish grin that she simply couldn't repress. She wrapped her arms around herself, missing the feel of his strong arms holding her.
After a few minutes, she felt Edge's hand on her arm. "Okay babe, I'm leaving. Not sure when I'll be back. Just stay in bed and think about our wedding in 13 days!" She cringed, grateful that he couldn't see her expression. "Thanks Edge," she said weakly, "go have fun with the guys." She felt him rise off the bed, then heard him grab his keys off the dresser before heading out the door, pausing only to turn off the lights. Once the door closed behind him, Lita remained in bed. She didn't want him to return unexpectedly and catch her going out.
After a few minutes, she pushed away the covers and climbed from the bed. She looked out the window, making sure Edge's rental wasn't still in the lot. She sighed in relief when she saw it was gone. She flipped the lights back on and got ready, changing into a pair of khaki cargo pants, her sneakers and a plain red tank top. She glanced at her phone and saw she needed to hurry if she was going to make her meeting. She paused only to apply some eyeliner and mascara before slipping on her favorite hoodie. She left the hotel and set off on foot. Thankfully her hotel wasn't far from the area, or the place Kane asked her to meet him.
She walked down the sidewalk, hands thrust in her pockets. She could already see the tall sign for the 7-11 a few blocks off. She quickened her steps, her heart beating just a touch faster as she thought of Kane. As she neared the location, she could see his SUV parked in front of the store. She had the urge to run the rest of the way, but kept her body in check so she didn't draw any unnecessary attention to herself. She suddenly felt guilty. Well Lita, here we are again, she thought.Lying to your boyfriend and sneaking out to see your lover. I really am a slut sometimes.She shook her head as she tried to hold such thoughts at bay.
When she has almost reached the vehicle, the driver's door sung open and he climbed out. He opened his arms to her, and Lita couldn't help the silly grin that covered her face as she fell against him, pressing her face against his chest as he embraced her. They didn't stay like that for too long before he ushered her over to the passenger side. Once they were both inside, he took her hand in his and squeezed it gently. "So has demonic Lita been banished back to the realm she came from?" She playfully rolled her eyes at him. "Yeah, but you should be careful. I still have the teeth." He laughed. "I'll be sure to remember that." She caught his gaze and felt a knot of excitement form in her stomach. His mismatched blue eyes radiated warmth, and Lita felt herself blush. As he started the car and pulled out into the roadway, he said, "I wanted to talk, but I thought it might go better if we both weren't fantasizing about dinner the whole time." He gestured to the backseat, where a bag of takeout containers sat on the floor. "I approve," Lita said. "It smells amazing."
As they drove, he said, "You really did look beautiful out there. I don't think anyone expected that level of creativity tonight," he said, meeting her eyes for a moment. Lita smirked. "I knew that 'slutty librarian' wouldn't cut it this year. Of all the stupid 'matches' I have to do, I think this one was just Vince McMahon reminding me that to the fans, I'm just a walking, talking pair of breasts." She could hear a small rumble of laughter in Kane's chest. He was smiling as he said, "You are much more than a pair of walking, talking breasts. You also have an amazing ass." She knew he was playing with her, but she feigned outrage, smacking his forearm. "You would know all about being an ass, wouldn't you?" she shot back. He smiled and said, "You're probably right."
He pulled the vehicle into a parking lot at the entrance of what looked like a large community park. There were wide open spaces dotted with large trees, the various paved paths illuminated with streetlamps. At this hour, it seemed totally abandoned, which made it perfect for some private time. Kane picked up the food and they climbed out of the SUV. As they headed into the park, he asked, "So who do you go up against next?" Lita signed. "Melina. No stipulations, so it shouldn't be too bad."
He lead her to a large tree a little ways off. They sat down together at its base. Lita stretched out her legs as Kane unpacked the food. He handed her a bottle of blue Gatorade, and she teased him, "Still a fan of the blue one, huh?" He twisted the lid off his own bottle and said, "You are too, if I remember correctly." He smiled at her and she felt her pulse quicken. She adored his smiles. When he wasn't playing a caricature of himself on television, his smiles were relaxed and natural. Lita doubted that many people would get to see this side of him. She wished she could be responsible for more smiles than heartache, for once in their rocky relationship.
She had to look away, focusing on the box he handed her, which turned out to be full of vegetarian pad thai. They were silent for a little while as they both dug into their meals. Lita felt more at peace now than she had in a good long while. Even though her impending wedding hung around her neck like a noose, she was finally able to relax in this moment with Kane. After a little while, Kane set aside his container and Lita steeled herself for the conversation to come.
"So, it's 13 days to go," he said, trying to sound casual, but mostly failing.
A lump formed in Lita's throat. "Believe me, I know."
He reached between them and took her hand in his. "I can help you, Lita. I'm sure there is some way to stop the wedding without him knowing it was me." She could hear how adamant he was in his voice, but she knew the situation was hopeless. "He'll know. He's not stupid. You won't be able to get away with ruining two weddings." She couldn't help but laugh when she thought about Kane's head popping out of the ring during the climax of the first wedding. "It doesn't have to be like that. There's plenty I can do before the wedding even starts. It doesn't need to get to that point." He was looking at her intently, his eyes pleading for her to accept his help. She squeezed his hand, but shook her head. "I think I decided a while back that this was the safest way to go. If I marry Edge, he'll stick by me and protect me as long as I need to win these matches and take back the Women's title."
Kane's brow furrowed as he said, "But why do you need his protection?" The disappointment in his voice hurt her. She turned to face him, trying to keep from hurting him. "Kane, please, please don't think of it like that." He looked at her skeptically. "If Edge is busy protecting me, he'll be too busy to hurt me. . . I suppose I need Edge to protect me from Edge." She hated herself for saying it. They both knew that Edge's ego wouldn't be able to accept Lita's departure. He'd do anything, including ending her career, to get revenge. Vince McMahon had really fucked her over by adding the stipulation of loosing her job if she lost a match. Before that, Kane probably had a good chance of stealing her away from Edge, and protecting her until Edge's rage wore out. Now, the timeline was so strict, and every match so important, they just couldn't take that chance.
Kane was silent, but Lita could feel the emotions welling up that he refused to give voice to. They'd already had this fight. Neither one had the will to go through it again. Hating that talk of Edge was ruining what had started as a very relaxing night, Lita stood up and lowered herself into Kane's lap. He drew his knees up behind her, to support her back as she threw her arms around him. He visibly relaxed under her touch. She gently ran her hands over the short hair as he reached underneath her hoodie to massage her back. She delighted in his touch and kissed him. He smiled at her and she felt her heart clutch. She looked deep into his eyes and said, "I need you to promise me that you won't do anything to mess with the wedding. I can handle it. I just can't spend the whole day worrying about you. I need to be able to trust you. And I need you to trust me."
His expression clearly showed his displeasure at the situation, but he said, "I promise." She pressed closer to him as she sighed, "Thank you." Neither spoke for several moments as he held her. As much as he despised not being in control, he forced himself to trust her. His promise touched Lita deeply, considering all they'd been through together. Trust seemed like something rare and precious. She hardly felt deserving of it. Flashes of terrible things she'd done and said in the past flew through her mind. Kane sensed the sadness in her and it hurt him. He bent his head to hers and pressed a kiss against her hair. Before he knew what he was doing, he whispered "I love you" in her ear.
A shiver pulsed through her body. She pulled back to look at him, as if she didn't believe he actually just said that. Kane cursed inside his head. He hadn't meant to do that. He wasn't sure what had come over him. He looked at her warily, unsure how she was going to respond. Lita was surprised. She didn't hear that much anymore, except when Edge was looking for sex. She was hurt by the way Kane was looking at her. She gave him a sad smile, trying to put him at ease. "You're tenacious," she said. "Most guys would have given up on me by now." His eyebrows lifted, his eyes feigning annoyance. "Do I really count as most guys?"
"Sure, she said playfully. She put her finger on her cheek, pantomiming that she was thinking really hard. "You're the fifth, no wait, the sixth Big Red Monster I know." He was trying to look angry, but he kept cracking a smile, ruining the effect. She grinned. "But I've got to by your favorite one, right?" She cocked her head, as if she had to think about it. "Hey now," he said in mock indignation. "Say I'm the favorite. Say it," he commanded, tickling her thighs. She shrieked and tried to squirm away, but he held onto her tight. She couldn't help the laughter that poured out as he tickled her, demanding an answer. "Okay," she managed to gasp, "Okay, you're the favorite." He stopped tickling her and wrapped his arms around her. She was still laughing, her eyes crinkling in adorable way he loved. He kissed her, savoring the happiness that radiated from her.
She moaned in delight, pressing tightly against his chest to deepen the kiss. Part of him was hurt that she hadn't responded in kind to his declaration of love. But he forced himself to be content with the fact that she was here, with him now, despite the potential danger. After several blissful moments, she ended the kiss. They regarded one another thoughtfully."I wish everything could be this simple. You and me, and nothing else matters, she said. " He gently butted his head against hers.
From somewhere between their bodies, Lita's phone suddenly began blaring Metalingus. She flinched, amazed at Edge's stellar timing. Kane visibly bristled, but he told her to go ahead and answer it. God forbid Edge starts to suspect something. She took a deep breath and answered the phone, trying to sound like she'd just woken up. "Hey babe," Edge said, sounding cheerful, "I just wanted to check up on you. How are you feeling?" "I was sleeping," she said, praying that he wasn't back in the hotel, standing over an empty bed. "Sure," he said, "How's your head?" "Still hurts," she said softly. "Okay, well go back to sleep. We were going to head back soon. Everyone's really tired for some reason." "Okay," Lita murmured as they said their goodbyes. She ended the call and sighed. "He's going to come back soon. We should probably get back." Kane's jaw was set in anger, but he nodded.
Lita climbed from his lap. They cleaned up their garbage and headed back to his SUV. Lita had a hard lump in her throat. The prospect of leading a double life until her title shot was deeply unappealing.
Kane drove her back to her hotel, parking in the lot next door. To her relief, she didn't see Edge's car back in the lot. Lita pushed aside her anger and looked at Kane. "I really enjoyed that, thank you," she said, smiling at him,. He reached out and tangled his hand in her hair, drawing her in for a kiss. She eagerly obliged him. When they broke apart, he said, "I want you to come to me if you change your mind about this wedding business. I will be here for you, whenever you need." She nodded, touched by the sincerity in his voice. "I know," she said, giving him one last smile before climbing out of the vehicle and heading back to her hotel.
Once back in her room, she quickly undressed, folding her clothes and putting them back in her suitcase as if she'd never worn them. She crawled back in bed and fell asleep quickly. She had no recollection of Edge arriving back that night, but when she woke, he was curled up beside her, his arm thrown possessively over her waist.
Las Vegas, Nevada
Edge clutched her hand tightly as they walked along Las Vegas Boulevard, passing a variety of tourist traps and pawn shops. In the distance, Lita could see a squat white building, with a large sign thrust skyward, showing a pair of wedding bells that had The Little White Chapel written over them. "So this is where the actual wedding will be," Edge said excitedly, glancing down at Lita. She tried to keep a neutral, if not happy expression on her face. She was thankful that her sunglasses hid the expression in her eyes. His pace quickened as they neared the building. He pointed towards the left side of the building, "See, they even have drive-thru service, if you are so inclined. Remember when Hunter took Steph through one of those? Remember babe?" She attempted to smile, but it came out more of a grimace. Yet another reminder of another failed WWE marriage, Lita thought bitterly.
They eventually reached the parking lot of the chapel. Edge had a wide grin on his face. "So me and the guys will meet you and Maria here at 7:30 for the wedding." He squeezed her hand tightly. Lita felt a painful squeeze in her chest in response. "After the ceremony, I've booked a private room at a lounge so we can have dinner with our friends. Then they'll shove off so we can get to the fun part of the night." He waggled his eyebrows at her. Suppressing a shudder, she managed to smile back at him. In the parking lot, she could see there were groups arriving and heading inside. She saw no less than three different women in wedding dresses go in. I didn't realize 2:00 in the afternoon was a hot time for weddings, she thought. They stood there for a few more moments as Edge looked wistfully at the chapel and Lita wished she could fly right back home.
Finally Edge said, "Okay. Let's head back to our hotels. I want you to be good and rested for tonight." The pair started their walk back to their respective hotels. In a somewhat misguided idea of propriety, Edge had insisted they have different hotels before the wedding. He had revealed that he'd booked a suite at Caesar's Palace for the wedding night during their last house show. He held her hand tightly as they walked back, mercifully in silence. Lita didn't trust herself to show the kind of excitement and happiness Edge expected from his future bride. She felt like she was locked into a roller coaster of Edge's design. No matter how hard she screamed, she couldn't stop it.
Eventually they reached the Mariott where Lita was staying with Maria. She headed towards the door immediately, but he pulled her back into a hug. "Just think," he murmured happily, "This is our last day as single people. Tomorrow, none of our past mistakes matter." She made herself hug him back. When he released her, she headed quickly into the lobby. She made a beeline for the elevators. As she waited for the car to descend, she saw Edge watching her through the window. He stood with his hands thrust into his pockets, his head cocked back just so. His lips were curved in a slight smile as his wavy blonde hair brushed his shoulders. He certainly looks like a handsome Prince Charming, she thought. But she knew better. A moment later the elevator arrived, and Lita stepped inside.
She didn't relax until the doors had shut and the elevator started to rise. How the hell am I going to get through this wedding? Christ, how am I going to be able to pull off being married to this asshole?She was a pretty good actress, but she severely doubted she'd be able to pull off that particular act.
When she opened the door to her room, she saw Maria steaming the wedding gown as it hung over the closet door. "Hey," Maria said softly, looking her over as she tried to gauge Lita's emotional level. "Hey," Lita replied, tossing her purse on the bed she had claimed. Maria had obviously been busy since her arrival. Maria's bed was laid out with the shoes they would wear, both of their makeup bags, various accessories and Lita's veil. Maria's own dress was laying over the back of a chair, waiting for its turn with the steamer. "So is this place close?" Maria asked. Lita nodded. "So close Edge probably didn't need to hire a limo to drive us. But he gets whatever the hell he wants, and nobody can get in the way of that." She couldn't keep the bitterness out of her voice. Maria pursed her lips as she finished steaming Lita's gown. Once she was satisfied the gown was ready, she put the steamer away and went to sit by her friend.
Maria had decided to keep her hair the same red as Lita's, at least for the time being. They could have been sisters, sitting side by side. She took Maria's hand and held it tightly. "Thank you for being here. I know it is probably the last thing you want to do, but it means a lot to me." Maria nudged her playfully with her shoulder. The recent redhead smiled and said, "You're like the big sister I never had. I'll do anything for you. As long as you promise not to break my nose like you did Torrie Wilson's." Lita had forgotten about that. They both dissolved into laughter. "I promise," she said, giving Maria's nose a tweak.
Feeling a little bit better, Lita laid back, stretching across the bedspread. Maria grabbed her cell phone from her bag and checked the time. "We have six hours until the wedding. We should probably start getting ready by 5:30." "Well then, I'm going down to the pool. Do you want to come?" Lita asked. Maria shook her head. "No, I've got to do my dress, then I want a nap." She watched Lita pull a bikini from one of her bags. "Just make sure you get back in time so you can wash the chlorine out of your hair." Lita wanted to roll her eyes, but she suppressed the urge. She's just trying to help, she had to remind herself.
As Lita retreated to the bathroom to change, Maria hung up her own dress and began to steam the wrinkles out of it. She made short work of it, and was done by the time Lita emerged from the bathroom, wearing her bikini under a blue tunic. She tossed a few of the hotel towel over her arm and retrieved her room key from where she'd tossed it earlier. Maria crawled into bed, stretching out under the coverlet. "This feels so good! I can never sleep on planes," she sighed. A moment later she added "Not unless I have a lot of liquor." Lita smiled at her as she headed for the door. "Don't forget to set an alarm, if you're going to sleep," she reminded Maria. "Yep," the younger redhead replied as Lita headed out the door. Maria picked up her cell phone and set an alarm to wake her up in time to get dressed.
Once the door closed and the sound of Lita's footsteps faded down the hall, Maria pulled up her phone's messenger and sent a text.
Are you in Vegas yet?
She put the phone down and closed her eyes, not knowing how long it might to take to get a response. She had just started to doze off when she got a reply message.
No. Took a late flight. Don't want to be there for it.
Did Lita tell you to stay away?
Not in so many words. She wants me to trust her.
Do you trust her?
It took several minutes to get a response.
I love her. I trust her. But she'd been through a lot of fucked up weddings. I'm worried.
I'm worried too. :-(
She put the phone down again and smiled to herself. Aww. . . He said he loves her. I wish I could find someone to love me like that. . . Her thoughts began to drift as she descended into sleep. The last conscious thoughts she had were of a certain Rainbow Haired Warrior.
Her alarm went off at 5:30 When she climbed out of bed, she discovered that Lita had already returned, and showered too. "Hey sleepyhead," Lita said. "You were so out of it when I got back, so I just let you sleep." Maria yawned and stretched. "Thanks. I'm going to wash up, then we'll do your hair." As Maria headed into the bathroom, Lita sat down at the room's desk and began running a towel through her wet hair. She caught a glimpse of herself in the room's mirror. She paused to study her reflection. She looked tired. Not body tired, but soul tired. "Remind me why I'm doing this again," she said to nobody in particular.
Because Edge is a psycho who couldn't handle you refusing him. Because you need the little prick in check if you're going to beat Trish for the Women's Championship. Lita closed her eyes as she turned the situation over in her mind. Is it even worth it? You'd really marry a psycho you don't love just for a shot at the title? Does the title even matter? Is it the redemption I want? Redemption in the eyes of the fans. . . the roster. . . myself? Kane's face suddenly swam into her mind's eye. The look on his face as she told him she didn't want him interfering with the wedding. The way his eyes pleaded to help her, as his lips told her that he would respect her wishes.
"Got dammit," Lita muttered, trying to force his pained expression from her mind. If she kept thinking about Kane, she wouldn't be able to go through with this wedding. In an effort to distract herself, she began pulling out toiletries and hair implements. As she plugged in a few different curling irons, the room's phone rang. "Hello," she answered. "Yes ma'am, this is the front desk. There has just been a delivery of some flowers for you. Would you like us to deliver them to your room?" She gave her assent and went back to her preparations. A few minutes later, a bellboy wheeled in a cart that contained her wedding flowers. There were two bouquets, one for her, and one for Maria. Lita's was made of 18 deep red roses with their stems wrapped in a wide navy blue ribbon. Maria's was half the size, done in white roses instead of red. There was also a container of fresh gardenia blossoms for Maria's hair, and some small white roses for Lita's hair.
As Maria emerged from the bathroom, her eyes lit up as she saw the flowers. "Oh, how pretty," she cried, moving to run her fingers over some of the blooms. "Let's go ahead and get you ready," she said after a moment. "We'll save the dress for last." Resigned to her fate, she sat down in front of the mirror and let Maria get to work on her hair. Maria proved to be an expert with the curling iron. In what seemed like no time flat, Lita had a headfull of soft, loose curls. Maria then pinned it back, so it would flow mostly down her back. She then carefully added some of the small white roses in a cluster on the side, using pearl tipped pins to keep everything in place. After a copious amount of hairspray, she carefully added Lita's veil behind the flowers, arranging it to fall back and over the cascade of her hair.
Lita felt like her heart was being squeezed as she began to look more and more like the bride she truly dreaded being. Once upon a time, I swore I would never do this again. . . After her hair was done, Maria handed Lita her makeup case so she could start her own hair. As Maria moved the curling iron through her own tresses, Lita started her makeup. By the time she was done with her makeup, Maria had curled her hair, then pulled it gently back into a loose bun secured with more of the pearl tipped pins. She tucked a few of the fragrant gardenia blossoms in the side of the bun, completing the look. "You look really pretty like that," Lita said, trying to keep her voice happy. Maria looked pleased, but said, "Oh well, nobody's supposed to be looking at me today anyway." As Maria did her own makeup, Lita slid out of her robe and put on her underwear. She opted for a pair of lacy shorts style panties that flattered her rear, and a pretty strapless bra that had corset lacing in the front, extending down her ribcage a bit lower than most bras. She pulled a simple white garter up her right thigh and began putting on her jewelry.
Lita sipped a bottle of water, wishing it was tequila, as Maria quickly dressed. Lita took in Maria's completed outfit, and she was impressed. Maria had sewn the gown herself, and it definitely had a pin-up girl style to it. It was navy blue satin, with a sweetheart neckline and a halter strap. It hugged her torso beautifully, before flaring into a knee-lenght skirt. A pair of matching strappy heels completed the outfit. Lita pulled something from her bag and called Maria over. "Here," she said, handing Maria a small velvet box. Maria's eyes were wide in surprise as she took the box and opened it. Inside were a pair of pearl teardrop earrings and a matching pendant. When she had purchased the set for herself, on Edge's dime, of course, she had impulsively purchased a second set for Maria. "I know it is traditional to get the bridesmaids gifts, and I hadn't gotten you anything yet, so I thought you'd like these." Maria's eyes had tears in them as she sat down by Lita and threw her arms around her.
Lita couldn't look at Maria's teary eyes, she felt tears of her own welling up. All she could say was, "Thank you for sticking with me through this. I know it is a messed up situation, and once upon a time, I thought I could handle it-" Maria clutched her hands and said, "I'm here for you, Lita. And I'm not the only one." They sat together in silence for a moment, Maria wishing she could somehow transfer her strength to Lita. "Okay," Lita said, pulling back. "We need to stop if we don't want to both have to redo our makeup." Maria managed a weak smile before she got up to get Lita's gown. Lita had already put on her shoes as Maria carried her gown over. She carefully stepped into it as Maria fastened the buttons up the back. When she was done, Maria stepped back, taking in the finished picture. "Oh, Lita," was all she could manage before her face scrunched up in pain and the tears began to fall in earnest. "No don't-" Lita started, but was quickly overcome. She fell back onto the bed as tears coursed down her cheeks. Through her tears, Maria thrust a tissue into Lita's hands so that they wouldn't stain her dress.
Lita felt like such a fool. Why had she ever thought this was a good idea? The room phone rang, jarring them to their senses. Maria answered. A moment later she hung up and said, "The limo is downstairs." Lita dried her tears and Maria started throwing makeup into her bag to repair the damage they'd just done. Lita's specially packed overnight bag already sat by the door. After Maria finished stuffing her own bag, she slung Lita's bag over her shoulder and picked her bouquet. "Ready?" Lita sighed. "As much as I will be," she said, standing to pick up her own bouquet. Together they headed downstairs, where a gleaming white limo sat just outside the lobby.
Lita's stomach was in absolute knots as they climbed inside and headed out. There was a bottle of Jim Bean in the limo's little bar, and Lita insisted Maria pour her a glass with three fingers worth. Maria watched with wide eyes as Lita downed it in a couple of gulps. Feeling her waning strength somewhat fortified, she accepted the tube of mascara and her powder compact from Maria to repair her tear damaged makeup. By the time Maria finished her own repairs, they arrived at the chapel. The parking lot was much more crowded than it was earlier. The limo pulled up to the covered walkway to let them out. Several groups of people milled about and several shouted compliments or congratulations to Lita as she passed. She managed a smile in response. Inside they were greeted by the chapel's concierge, a thin, balding man wearing a tuxedo.
"Welcome, ladies. May I have the name of your party?" "It's under Edge," Maria said. The man made a note in a ledger and said, "It looks like the rest of your party has not arrived yet, but you're a bit early. Please feel free to make yourselves comfortable in our lounge, or browse our collection of customizable souvenirs. We also offer a full service bar for your enjoyment." Lita immediately took a step towards the bar, when Maria blocked her path and steered her into the lounge. Lita pouted for a moment as she sat down on a semi-comfortable couch against the wall. Maria occupied an overstuffed armchair next to her. Lita toyed with her bouquet as she watched the people around her. There were a couple dozen people there, mostly couples, but a few family members seemed to be there too. Some of the couples were dressed in gowns and tuxes, and some wore jeans and sneakers. All of them looked happy. She sighed and tried to work on her expression. Edge couldn't see her sitting here like a storm cloud. She perked up as much as she could, managing a pleasant expression. It was only 7:20. Not much longer to wait til this was done and over.
7:30 rolled around as several other couples came and went, the chapel's three different ceremony rooms in constant use.
By 7:50, Maria had a worried expression as she clutched her bouquet, checking her phone every few minutes.
By 8:10, Lita's stomach was in knots again. A strange mixture of anxiousness, anger and annoyance tore through her. She checked her phone. No messages. Nothing to explain why her fiancé was 40 minutes late for his own damned wedding.
By 8:30, Lita slipped her phone back into her bag. She'd called Edge, Jericho and Christian a half dozen times,each. Maria was now texting furiously trying to find someone who knew what the hell was going on. Lita silently asked herself why she even cared. Wouldn't it be fucking fantastic if Edge never showed?A shiver ran down her back as she subconsciously answered her own question. A vision passed before her eyes of Kane, her vengeful lover, finding the groom to be and his groomsman, beating them all senseless to prevent the wedding. This thought both thrilled and terrified her at the same time. She felt her skin prick into gooseflesh as her mind flashed through a hundred different scenarios of what may be keeping Edge: car crash, Kane with a baseball bat, fire in the hotel, Kane with a folding chair, traffic jam, Kane committing vehicular homicide. . .
By 8:45, even the tension got to Maria, who headed to the bar, returning with a vodka on the rocks for Lita, with a Cuba Libre for herself. The drink helped to calm Lita. Her nerves were causing her to get jumpy. She flinched every time the doors opened, and it wasn't Edge that walked inside.
Both of them nearly jumped out of their skins as Lita's phone suddenly burst into song at 9:07. She fumbled to answer the call, but managed to get it before it went to voicemail. Edge's voice burst out at her before she could say anything. "Lita! Lita are you there?" "Yes, yes. I'm here. Edge, what in the he-" she started, but he cut her off.
"Listen, are you safe? Are you okay?" Edge demanded. Her stomach felt like it was crawling into her throat as she confirmed they were both okay. What the hell was going on? He sounds scared to death. "Lita, I'm sorry I couldn't call you earlier, but we're in the hospital." A jolt of fear shot through Lita. "Hospital? What the fuck is going on?" she cried. She could imagine Edge running his free hand through his hair like he usually did when he was upset. "Christian's been attacked. We found him in the stairwell of our hotel. Someone worked him over real good. He got the living shit beat out of him. He may have a skull fracture and some broken ribs. They're still running tests." he said.
Lita felt dizzy as she tried to process what he was telling her. "Which hospital are you at? We're coming to you," she said. "No," Edge practically shrieked. "We don't know if someone is going to come after you too. I want you to go back to your hotel with Maria. Don't go to Caesar's and don't be alone. Jericho and I are going to stay with Christian. I'll come and get you when he gets released." Neither of them said anything for a long moment. Finally Edge spoke again, "Promise me you won't be alone. Keep Maria with you and stay in your room with the door locked." After a short pause, he sounded a bit calmer as he said, "I don't want you to worry about the wedding. We can reschedule. I can't wait to see you in that expesive-ass dress. Okay?" All she could manage to say was, "Okay."
Edge said, "I love you. Stay safe." He hung up without waiting for her response. She lowered the phone, not quite believing what had happened. Maria stood beside her, practically shaking with curiosity. "What did he say? What happened?" Lita gave her a synopsis of what Edge told her. Maria's eyes went wide as saucers. "Call the limo guy, we need to get out of here," Lita said. As Maria dug through her bag for the limo's driver's card, Lita opened her phone's contacts list and pulled up the one labeled as Lucas' Work Phone. She sent a text.
I need to know where you are right now.
As Maria called the driver, Lita clutched her phone, anxiously waiting for a response. C'mon Kane. . . Give me something to go on. Tell me it wasn't you. Promise me it wasn't you. . .
She was so focused on her phone that she missed the limo arriving back to the entrance 15 minutes later. Maria had to pull her up by the elbow, leading her out to the limo.
It couldn't be Kane, she thought. He wouldn't do something like this. . .Of course he would. This is exactly the kind of thing he'd do. . . He promised that he would let me handle this situation. . . He'd lied to me before.
Lita's mind was a firestorm of thoughts and emotions swirling so fast that it was impossible to focus on just one. Once inside the limo was back on the road, Maria scooted to her side and grasped her hand. Maria's eyes were fearful as she asked meekly, "Do you think someone will come after us too?"
Someone? Someone. SOMEONE!
Rage washed over Lita, obliterating any other emotion she had. She knew exactly which someone would be willing to beat a man senseless to stop a wedding. She wanted to scream at the younger Diva, but somehow managed to bite her tongue. "You and I both know exactly who did this," she hissed. Maria pulled out her cell phone and reread her earlier text conversation. She tried to work out what was happening in her head. Someone isn't telling the truth, she thought. Lita was fuming by the time the limo pulled back into their hotel. After they had climbed out and the driver pulled away, Maria picked up their bags and turned to head inside. Lita stood rooted to the spot outside as she made a decision. Maria looked back, confused. She started to ask, "Lita, are you-"
"Where is he?" Lita snapped. Maria started to ask who she meant, but Lita demanded again, "You know who I mean! Where is he? Which hotel, Maria?" Maria's lower lip trembled just a bit as she fumbled through her bag, looking for her phone. She finally found it and tapped through a few different screens before saying, "He's at the Wingate off Sands Ave." "Take me," Lita demanded. Maria didn't dare argue with her. She pointed to her rental, parked a little ways off in the lot. Lita stormed straight for it. Maria followed as quickly as she could, while sending a warning text.
I don't know where you are, but Lita's headed for your hotel. She's pissed.
They tossed their bags in the trunk and climbed in. They rode in silence. Maria could feel anger coming off Lita in waves. In her mind, Lita fumed. How dare he do this! He said he trusted me. He said he would let me handle this. God damn him. Fuck him! I can't believe this. . .
They arrived to the hotel in less than 10 minutes. Maria pulled up to the entrance and Lita sprang out. She didn't bother to wait for Maria as she headed into the lobby. She ignored the curious looks of the people in the lobby as she stormed into an elevator and stabbed the button for the fifth floor. Her reflection glared at her from a mirror as the elevator rose. She glanced down and realized with surprise that she still clutched her bouquet. After a moment the elevator stopped and the doors opened. She headed down the hallway marked for rooms 501-551. When she got to Room 519, she started slamming the door with her fist.
"Goddammit Kane, get your ass out here!" she cried, not caring if she woke up every other guest on the floor. She heard movement inside a moment before the door swung open. The room was pitch dark, and she couldn't see inside for a moment. Then Kane stepped into the light of the hallway. He looked like he had just woken up. All he wore was a pair of striped pajama pants. His bloodshot eyes squinted at her as he gruffly asked, "Shouldn't you be at your honeymoon, Mrs. Rated R?"
Unholy rage took control of Lita. She lashed out at him, slamming her bouquet into his chest. The arrangement exploded in a shower of red rose petals. She tossed the broken stems down the hallway as she set upon him with her fists. He stumbled back before regaining his footing and grabbing her around the shoulders. He drug her inside and slammed the door behind her. Off-balance in her dress and heels, she fell back against the door. Kane had moved off in the darkness. A second later, a lamp across the room clicked on. His face wore an expression that was a curious combination of anger and slight amusement.
Lita moved towards him. She was so angry she could barely speak. "You said you would let me handle this, and I actually believed you! How could you? I trusted you!" She found her anger suddenly transforming to feelings of betrayal and grief. "I trusted you," she moaned, slumping against the door as her anger-fueled strength abandoned her. Kane rushed to her, pulling her into his arms. Even though she was full of hurt and anger, she let him hold her, sagging into his embrace. The anger in his eyes was replaced by concern. "Lita, I have no idea what is going on. My flight got in at 7:50. I went to bed as soon as I got here. Can you please explain what the hell is wrong?" She could hear the concern and confusion in his voice. Her knees went out from under her, but he held on tight and didn't let her fall. He moved her towards the bed, sitting down and pulling her into his lap. "Tell me," he pleaded, beyond worried.
"Someone jumped Christian and put him in the hospital. Edge is scared shitless." Lita explained. "When I found out, I was so sure," she trailed off, looking up into his face. He now understood why he'd been attacked with flowers. She blamed him for the attack. He said, "Lita, when you told me to stay away, that is exactly what I did. I got a late flight on purpose, so I would miss the wedding. So I could pretend it wasn't happening."
Sweet relief swept through Lita. She didn't doubt him in the slightest. She let go of a shuddering breath and he pulled her closer, pressing a kiss to her cheek. She twined her arms around his neck, feeling so safe and protected in his arms it was almost dizzying. Before either of them knew what was happening, she lifted her lips to his and kissed him eagerly. He pulled her into his chest as the kiss quickly intensified. He stole Lita's breath as his tongue brushed hers, earning him a delicious moan. She broke away, reaching for the back of her gown. She fumbled, the buttons far too small and numerous for her to shed the gown with anything resembling speed. He pulled her off his laps and turned her, working the buttons himself, delighting in each inch of skin he revealed. After a moment she was finally able to step free from the gown. She climbed back into his lap, straddling him. He kissed her, burying his fingers in the softness of her hair. She reached up and tore the veil away, sending the roses and pins flying. Once her hair hung free, she slid her hands between their bodies to the bulge in his pants.
When he felt her caress him, a moment of clarity burst in through his pleasure. "Are you sure this is what you want?" he asked. Lita continued to touch him as she gazed into his mismatched eyes. "I think everything in the universe is trying to tell me this is exactly where I should be tonight."
That was enough of an answer for Kane, who kissed her deeply, luxuriating in the feel of her body and the snow white undergarments she still wore. He briefly thought that part of him should feel bad, ravishing the woman who should have just married his worst enemy. But then he felt Lita's hands tugging at the waistband of his pants, and that thought flew away.
Holding onto her with one arm, he stood long enough to discard his one piece of clothing. He sat back down on the edge of the bed again, pulling her hips closer to his. She moaned her delight at the feel of him under her. His kisses were deep and intense, Lita felt her head spinning in the best possible way as desire coiled in her core. His unclasped her bra and threw it aside before reaching for her panties. Not wanting to let her go, even for another moment, he seized the lacy fabric in both hands and ripped them off her. Lita gave a delighted cry in response to his savagery. Her insides clenched painfully with desire as he discarded the remaining fabric and began to stroke her. She wrapped her arms around his neck as his fingers roamed heated flesh, allowing him to see the desire in her eyes. She saw the same reflected back in his.
When he removed his fingers she whined in protest, until she felt the tip of his erection pressing against her. Her mouth went dry in anticipation. He hesitated before entering her, pausing to kiss her deeply. His voice was a little shaky as he said, "I love you, Lita. I still mean that. I love you more than I ever thought possible." He watched her face crumple as he spoke. There were tears in her eyes as she kissed him deeply, arching into the embrace with her whole body. When she broke away, she cried, "Are we crazy? This is crazy, right?" For a moment he was afraid that he'd upset her. He pressed his lips against her cheek and said softly, "Its okay, I'm sorry." She shook her head, pulling away slightly. He saw tears in her eyes, which frightened him half to death. He feared that he'd pushed her too far. He should have known not to push his luck when she didn't respond to his first 'I love you.'
Lita hastily wiped the tears out of her eyes and gave Kane a reassuring smile. "I love to hear you say that," she said softly. She leaned forward and gave him a gentle kiss. "I love you," she said, almost shyly. There were no words to describe the sweet sensation that washed over Kane. He couldn't help the big grin that spread over his face. Lita started laughing as happy tears began to flow. He kissed her again, easing himself into body at the same moment. He would never forget the sweet sound she made as he entered her.
He took advantage of their position and let her set the rhythm. She pushed him back down onto the bed as she rode him. They both wore the silliest grins possible. "I love you," she said again and he sat up to take her back into his arms. She clung to him as he whispered in her ear again, "I love you, Lita."
Meanwhile, three blonde Canadians sit in a strip club, somewhere in Las Vegas.
Edge rolled the mostly empty bottle of beer in his hands, his mind working in overdrive. He had come here with his best friends with the intention of getting totally shit-faced, but he wasn't feeling the urge so strongly now. Christian sat next to him, making eyes at the buxom bartender as he finished his own beer. Edge elbowed him in the ribs. "Hey man," he said sourly. "I thought we were here to commiserate about dating low-down whores, not trying to pick up new ones." Christian leaned away from the bar, putting up his hands in an expression of innocence. "No offense, bro. Commiserate away." Next too him, Jericho pushed away his empty glass and suggested, "How about another round of shots?" Christian slapped the bar and proclaimed it an excellent idea. Edge thought about it for a moment. The rage that had been building ever since he found out about her secret was almost greater than his desire to drink.
He wanted her to pay. God, he wanted her screaming for mercy that he would never give. He wanted her to suffer in a way that she hasn't ever felt before. But the Ultimate Opportunist in him knew that the payoff would be all the sweeter if her postponed it for a little bit. So he went ahead and paid an obscene amount of money for a wedding dress that would never be used. He had lied about Caesar's Palace, but she'd never know that. He considered every penny he had spent as an investment in his plan for revenge.
When he didn't to the offer of shots, his friends looked at him like he was crazy. "I don't know if I'm feeling it right now." "Fuck that," Christian shouted. "Bartender! Three more shots of Jose Cuervo!" Edge shook his head, laughing. "One of these days, you two are going to be the death of me." After a moment the shots arrived and they each picked up a glass. Christian punched his brother in the shoulder. "I've already been fake-attacked and put in the fake-hospital. The least you can do is pay me back by getting drunk with me." "Okay, okay," Edge playfully huffed, raising his glass for a toast. The others joined him as Jericho cried, "This is for every two-timing aaaand three-timing whore who has ever graced the WWE roster!" In unison they drained their shots and slammed the glasses back down on the bar. As the alcohol burned its way down, Christian said, "So what I want to know is why you want to wait so long to get her back. Why not do it now and save the time. "Because," Edge said, running his hands through his hair, "I want to hurt her bad. I want to take her down so hard that she won't be able to recover. If we just wait a little longer, our position will be all the sweeter."
Jericho shook his head in disbelief. "Man, I should have known something was up when we were doing that hospital visit in Germany. You told me to watch her back over there, and I tried. She was soooo okay with being alone with him. I should have suspected something." Edge reached over and clapped his friend on the back. "It isn't your fault," he insisted. "I should have known better than to get involved with a serial cheater in the first place. If she wasn't such a good fuck, I wouldn't have put up with her shit for nearly as long." Christian smirked, "The things men do for pussy. . ." They all broke down into laughter. Captain Charisma got up from his seat and turned to face the main floor of the strip club. "Speaking of pussy," he intoned, gesturing to the strippers parading the floor. "Pick one, Edge. I'll buy you a lap dance."
Edge turned, a grinning. He surveyed the women, but none of them stood out to him. His thoughts were consumed by a certain redhead. "Well?" Jericho asked. Edge stroked his chin and said, "Aw shit. I don't care. You pick one." Christian smirked at him and examined the options. "How about that one?" he asked, pointing to a girl with curly red hair a little ways off.
Edge rolled his eyes. "Anything but a redhead."