A/N : Well, it's here - after much revision, please find below Chapter 17! I did notice a few new usernames in terms of readers, followers and commenters on this story and honestly, I'm blown away. That a story that is set 17 years ago can still attract new readers...Honestly you guys, thank you so so much! Your reviews mean the world to me!

As always, I hope you enjoy and please, leave any feedback you might have. Much love x

"If you'd told me a few months ago that I would be sitting here with you…" Lita's words caught in her throat and she shook her head, feeling foolish at her words. Instead, she raised the champagne flute to her lips and took a long sip, struggling to hide her smile when she was offered the bottle for a top up. "Okay, just a little. I want to be able to walk when we go down to the ring, later."

Hunter grinned, filling her glass to the very top before leaning back and stretching languidly along his own seat. "I'll be honest, I didn't think it would work, either," he admitted. Over the past few weeks, Lita had thought a lot on how she'd come to be a part of this little faction, how Randy had described her as 'a different kind of gold' the night she'd lost her job. She hadn't known it back then, of course, hadn't thought for a minute she'd been what he was talking about and she'd been so wrapped up in her own problems that she'd never bothered to find out. "You and I," he continued, waggling a finger between them. "We're different people."

"You can say that again," Lita said, though there was no malice in her words.

"I thought you'd have snapped by now. The minute you worked it all out, I thought for sure you'd be gone," Hunter's eyes flickered to the glass window, looking down at the ring where Lita thought La Resistance may have been. Her own gaze never wavered, eyes boring into the World Heavyweight Champion as she placed her glass on the table between them. "You have worked it out, right?"

And just like that, Lita's sense of camaraderie and familiarity she'd felt the previous night disappeared, seemingly dreamlike. Watching the corners of Hunter's lips twitch in amusement, Lita pursed her own. How could she have been so stupid, to fall into that false sense of security? It was the belt, she told herself – it had blindsided her. He was still a fucking asshole, even if they had come to an agreement of sorts. In fact, as of late, she'd found herself actually enjoying his company. Right down to the snarky comments he threw her way on occasion. It felt almost like a friendship. Crossing and uncrossing her legs demurely, she raised an eyebrow. "You mean have I worked out how I came to be your manager?" she asked, her voice even. "I didn't have to. Randy told me."

She'd hoped to shock him, but instead he let out a low chuckle, draining his glass of the expensive champagne as she watched. "I thought as much," he replied with a shrug. "The kid's got no patience, see? All the balls and none of the brains. I suppose that's why you're still here."

"What are you talking about?" Lita snapped impatiently.

"You and him. You think I didn't see that shit earlier?" A scathing laugh left Hunter and he poured himself another glass. "You said it yourself – you know why you're here."

Heat coloured her cheeks and Lita shook her head. Perhaps it was the fact that she was on her fourth glass of champagne, though she didn't think it was. "It's not like that," she said, though her eyes could not meet Hunter's. She could feel him, though, staring at her, waiting for her to respond and she reached for her glass, taking another sip before she felt steady enough to speak. "I don't know what your deal is, Hunter, but I'm telling you now – whatever you think you know…you don't. Randy and I…We're not even friends. Am I grateful that he got me my job back? Of course I am. But it's nothing more than that. The fact that he treats me like an actual human being… well, it's a bonus. But that's where it ends. Got it Hunter?"

Hunter grinned, leaning across the table to offer her another top up. "Loud and clear," he said. Allowing him to refill her glass – though it hardly needed it – Lita watched him, brow furrowing as he held up a hand in defence. "Loud and clear."

It was stupid – so stupid! – especially after her conversation with Hunter, but while Dave, Ric and Randy had taken part in their match, she and Hunter had polished off a second bottle of champagne and, by the time it had come to join them in the ring, Lita's head had been awash with bubbles. She had maintained her cool walking down the ramp – though she had to admit, in heels it was a lot harder than it looked and she made a mental note that maybe (just maybe) Stacy deserved more credit than she had previously given her – and she'd had no problems getting up the steel steps. She'd accepted Ric's offer to hold down the ropes so that she didn't show the cameras an eyeful of her goodies and she'd taken her place as Women's Champion, right beside Randy. And that's when it had hit her. It wasn't that she felt dizzy, per se, but it had been a long time since she'd drank that much and there was a slight swaying motion as she tried to focus herself on Hunter's words.

While the World Heavyweight Champion rambled on, spitting pure venom into the mic as he bragged about the gold Evolution held and how nothing – especially not Shawn Michaels – could stop them, Lita tried to remain steady and hoped that she didn't bring any attention to herself. That was the last thing she needed. She had just about got herself together – or at least, enough that she looked like she was listening when her face appeared on the titantron – when she felt the hand against her back, reassuring and more steady than she had any hopes of feeling in that moment. She should have moved out of his grasp – what would Hunter think? What would the fans think? – but she couldn't. Instead, she leaned back slightly, resting her weight against his arm.

It was the alcohol that made her do it, of course. It had absolutely nothing to do with the warmth he brought with him, or that strange feeling that settled in her stomach when his thumb moved slightly against the fabric of her dress. Just the alcohol. Things seemed to move in slow motion for those few minutes while Hunter and Ric spoke, while the fans boos became a low hum in the background, and all Lita could think about was the five points where Randy's fingers rested on her hip. She was shocked abruptly back to reality when he moved his arm, reaching to take her hand as Hunter grabbed the other, the five of them standing, united, their hands raised in victory.

Once the lights had dimmed and the cameras switched off, Evolution slipped from the ring, heading back up the ramp to raucous booing and, as they made it through the curtain, Ric let out a loud 'woo'. "I don't know who came up with that, but whatever you two were doing out there – keep it up," he said, grinning toothily at Randy and Lita. "Did you hear the crowd's reaction? They wanted to skin you alive."

For a second, Lita wanted to protest, but her words didn't quite make it to her lips on time and Hunter beat her to it, chuckling as he strode on ahead. "Loud and clear, eh, Lita?" His words echoed down the corridor.

"So, you and Hunter enjoyed yourself," Randy said, sounding amused as they followed the World Heavyweight Champion. It wasn't a question.

"I don't drink champagne." Lita shook her head. Again, it hadn't been enough to get her drunk but the diva was acutely aware of the effort it had taken to say those words clearly.

"Clearly not," Dave spoke up from beside them. "You sure you can get back to the sky box alright on your own?" Lita blinked at him. Why would she be on her own? It took her longer than it should have to realise that he, Ric and Randy all had to go shower after their match and, just for a second, she contemplated asking if she could just stay in the locker room. I won't peek, she thought childishly. But instead she nodded her head and, clapping Randy on the back, Dave headed turned in the corridor and headed back down towards the showers.

"I'll be fine – I'm not even drunk. Just tipsy. I swear," her words sounded more convincing than she'd expected and, though he raised an eyebrow in disbelief, Randy accepted them and headed down the corridor after Dave and Ric. Lita stood where she was, watching him, allowing herself to take in the slope of his shoulders, the curve of his back. God, she thought, what was she doing?

Shaking her head, she took a deep breath. Champagne clearly didn't agree with her; it had her behaving like some…some… Her thoughts trailed off, remembering the way she'd looked at him when she'd said she would choose him over Jeff. She'd been sober then.

Jeff!

The word snapped her back to reality and her head felt clearer than it had done since Hunter had popped the cork on that first bottle of champagne. Dragging her bottom lip through her teeth, she hovered in the hallway. The guys would have told her off for hanging around, alone, where anyone could attack and perhaps her previous run ins with Matt and Kane and even Goldberg should have told her to pick up the pace but still she dithered. The stairs to the sky box began at the end of the long corridor but if she were just to turn left, it would only be a couple of minutes before she reached the locker rooms, the communal area where – she hoped – Jeff would be. Swaying slightly as she weighed up her options, Lita swallowed. No one had to know…Hunter would assume she was still with the guys, the guys would assume she was with Hunter…

Her mind was made up and Lita took off to her left, moving as quickly as she could in her heels. This doesn't mean anything. They know he's my friend. It's not like I'm… It hadn't occurred to her that she wasn't worried for her own safety or about what Jeff would think. Her primary concern had been that of Evolution. As she wound through the corridor, she heard the voices grow louder, the large room set aside for catering drawing nearer and with it, a bubble of anxiety rose within her. It was difficult to work out which voice belonged to whom, though Shawn's was certainly audible, booming above the rest. Shawn's voice had once been a comfort but now, it only complicated things and as she drew level with the open door, it took her a few seconds to steel herself, her heart hammering and the blood rushing in her ear.

As expected, Jeff was inside, standing with a whole host of people she had once thought of as acquaintances, if not friends. Shawn and Booker T noticed her first as she stepped into the doorway, and instantly she regretted her decision to come. Within a heartbeat, Booker was in front of her, demanding to know what she was doing there. Had Triple H sent her? Was that it? And she could only shake her head. "I…I came to see Jeff," she said quietly, barely able to look the former WCW Champion in the eye. The champagne aftertaste lingered in her mouth, the faux confidence it had given her as she'd strutted down the ramp long gone now, and she prayed she wouldn't be sick. Not here. "I came to see you." She corrected herself, forcing her eyes in Jeff's direction.

She could see the suspicion in Shawn's eyes as he watched her and she held her hands up in defence. "This isn't a trap or anything. This whole corridor – it's empty," she explained. "Evolution, they're not here. It's just me. I just…"

Please don't turn me away. Please don't turn me away.

She wasn't sure she could face the humiliation if he refused to speak to her and she waited, silently, at the door, Booker still blocking her entry.

"Okay," Jeff replied, his voice quiet and calm as always. "We can talk."

"Privately?" Lita asked, hoping this wasn't too much. When he raised his shoulders in a shrug, she sighed with relief, heading back out into the corridor where he followed.

"Well?" he asked, his coldness not entirely unexpected though she couldn't deny that it stung.

"I just wanted to see if you'd spoken to Bischoff. To see if you'd signed your contract. That's all."

"Well, I did," he replied and Lita struggled to hide the huge grin threatening to break across her face. "And then I came into catering and saw you and Orton in the ring." Jeff had always had a way with words – economical, Matt had called it. Why use a hundred when you can say it in ten?

"I know that it probably didn't look good but…" What could she say? That it wasn't what it looked like? She'd said as much last night but already the excuse was wearing thin. "I'd been drinking and –"

"I don't know who you are anymore, Lita," Jeff said, his face blank as he took her in. "The way you're acting, the things you're saying – hell, even the way you're dressed. You're a mess."

The words felt like a slap to her face and she recoiled. "I—" No words would come and she stared, blinking back tears as Jeff continued.

"I thought I could make sense of all of this – that I just had to see it for myself – but I was wrong. I can't. Honestly I – I can't even look at you." A hitching breath was all the response he got and Jeff ran a hand through his hair. "I think it's best we just stay out of each other's way, Lita. I don't… I can't deal with this. Just go. They'll be waiting on you."

Truthfully, she'd known this would be the outcome, but the alcohol had emboldened her, told her that there was a tiny chance that things might be okay, only to embarrass her at the last minute. Jeff didn't wait for an answer as he said "Goodbye, Lita." And headed back indoors and Lita was glad of it. Almost the second he was out of sight, the tears began and she rushed from the catering area, terrified to be seen.

Her vision blurred with warm tears and she dragged a hand across her eyes, smudging the dark makeup across her cheek. It wasn't supposed to be like this, she thought, the image of Jeff staring at her. Was he disgusted? Angry? She couldn't tell. But she was so focused on his face that the effort and concentration her heels required was lost and the redhead lost her footing, sprawling to the ground. Pain ripped through her foot, though she barely seemed to notice as she pulled herself into a seated position and leaned against the wall. The heel of her shoe was snapped, her makeup a mess across her face and the straps of her dress falling from her shoulders. You're a mess. Jeff's words repeated in her mind and she heard, rather than felt, a sob escape her as tears began to fall.

A mess.

And that was exactly how Randy, Ric and Dave had found her, sobs wracking her body as she cried on the floor of the Giant Centre. And as Randy crouched down in front of her, Dave and Ric panicking and looking around for who had caused such obvious distress, she couldn't help but think Jeff had been right. He didn't know who she was anymore. But truthfully, neither did she.