title:

title: Justify My Love
author: Tempest
email: tempest@thatbitch.com
disclaimer:
I don't own anyone recognizable from the WWFE. Vince owns them, of course. I don't own the rights to the song 'Justify My Love'.
author notes: This fic is dedicated to Sassy Lil Scorpio. Thanks for helping get this this couple together, chica bonita! Basically, Madonna made the song first. Vita and Ashanti remade it. It's the exact same song except at the end of this one Ashanti says 'Murder'. And I used that version for that particular line. It fits the theme of the story, foreshadowing what might or might not come. This is a Romeo/Juliet forbidden love type story that takes place during Invasion. All characters are in character. The rest of the lyrics will come with the last chapter! :D enjoy.
*denotes thought*
//denotes lyrics//

Lyrics from "Justify My Love" by Vita f/Ashanti - The Fast and The Furious Soundtrack

* * * * *

1.

//I wanna kiss you in Paris
I wanna hold your hand in Rome//

Lita wasn't sure how this all started. Yes, she was. It all started when Matt and Jeff fought Sean and Chuck in a tag team match up. She had accompanied Matt and Jeff to the ring as she almost always did. She did her usual wooing of the crowd. What made this match any different from the hundreds of other matches they had been in? She took her place outside the ring as Chuck Palumbo and Sean O'Haire made their way to the ring. She had only seen them a few times in person. It was never very long, just a glance as they walked out to the ring or past her in the hallway. They held their heads high, even as the crowd booed them. They climbed into the ring, and the match soon was underway.

It was during that match that something about Sean sparked something in her. She stood dutifully beside the ring yelling out words of encouragment for Matt and Jeff. She pounded the apron in support. She couldn't keep her eyes off of him, though. No matter how hard she cheered for Matt and Jeff, a little part of her also cheered for Sean. He was so powerful in her eyes. Every move emphasized his strength and gracefullness. She shook her head to clear the thoughts that were trying to infiltrate her head. She wasn't here to support Sean; she was here to support Matt and Jeff. Things took an ugly turn as Jeff and Chuck began to battle outside the ring. Matt was taking a beating at the hands of Sean O'Haire.

She heard the crowd start chanting her name. She knew she should get into the ring and help her boyfriend, but she stayed glued in place. She tried to will herself to help him, but she was mesmerized by Sean. He cast a distrustful glance her way. She backed away from the ring. She couldn't get into the ring. She didn't know why, but she couldn't. She then did the only thing she could, she ran to the otherside of the ring and helped Jeff out. She silently scolded herself for being so weak. She was so angry with herself by the time she made it to the otherside of the ring, she had to blink back her bitter tears. Was this how Essa felt when he so viciously attacked her? Jeff was lying motionless on the floor. Chuck was approaching him. She kicked Chuck in the leg. He spun around to face her. She kicked him in the stomach as Jeff got up groggily.

While Chuck was doubled over, she encircled her right arm around hs neck. She threw the 'Hardy Gunz' and took Chuck down with the twist of fate. Jeff then climbed the top rope and did the swanton bomb onto Chuck. Lita looked back into the ring just as Sean rolled Matt up. She slid into the ring, but she was too late. Sean pinned Matt for the three count. Sean rolled out the ring as Jeff slid in. Sean helped his partner up the ramp glancing back one final time. Lita sat motionless on her knees. Matt was up and stomping around the ring. Lita stood up and put a comforting arm around him. He didn't shake it off, but the look he gave her chilled her blood over. She wasn't sure how he had lost, but she was sure of one thing, she was in serious trouble.

//I wanna run naked in a rainstorm
Make love in a train cross-country//

He helped Chuck up the ramp, not not before looking back at her one last time. He had been watching her throughout the match. He had nearly missed a tag as he watched her pound the side of the mat, cheering the Hardy's on. "C'mon Matt." He had heard her cry many times during the match. He knew that she and Matt were a couple. He had seen them many times occupying a corner. He hadn't really noticed her then. He just dismissed her as another enemy. While he was fighting Matt, he had looked over at her. The crowd had started to chant her name, he had to be certain she wasn't about to attack him. He was surprised to see her still standing beside the ring. He thought he had even see her back up a little when he looked at her. He couldn't be sure though. When he looked up again, she had disappeared.

When they got back into the locker room, they were met with cheers and pats on the back. They had won one for the alliance. Sean started to change as his mind stayed focused on Lita. Why hadn't she helped Matt? Why had she chose to help the other Hardy instead? She could have easily helped Matt win that match. It didn't matter. All that mattered was they had won. They would definitely want a rematch. He could tell from the way Matt looked. He also could tell from the way that Matt had stared at Lita, there was more there going on than what the people saw. He shrugged it off and quickly changed his clothes. He couldn't wait to get back to his hotel room and take a hot shower.

After his shower, he fell into his bed with the towel still wrapped around his waist. There was no need to be modest, he shared a room with no one. He was exhausted. His eyelids drooped lower and lower. He finally let sleep overtake him. In his dreams, he saw Lita. He was awaken from his dreams by frantic knocking on the door. He got up grumpily and opened the door just wide enough to peek behind it. He gasped as he saw a bloodied Lita. He quickly opened the door, and she fell into his arms. He thought her heard her say, "Help me please", but when he looked at the collasped girl in his arms he wasnt sure if she said anything at all. He brought her into the room and laid her listless body onto the bed. He quickly walked back to the door and peeked out. He was relieved to find the hallway still empty. He closed the door softly.

He turned back to Lita who was sobbing. Had Matt done this to her? He could tell from looking at them earlier that they had a little relationship problem, but he hadn't expected this. How many times had he hit her before? Was this the first time? Or one of many? Her body shook violently as her sobs became louder. He walked over to the bed and sat by her. He put a hand on her back. Another wave of questions bombarded his thoughts. How had she found him? Was Matt looking for her? How could Matt even call himself a man?

//You put this in me
So now what, so now what?//

"Lita, Did Matt do this to you?" Sean asked hoping she would say no.

"Yes,. he did." she replied, but it came out more sounding like "Yesh, 'e 'id"

"We've got to get you to the hospital." Sean said.

"NO." Lita said vehemently.

He could tell from the look in her eyes, she wasn't budging. He sighed.

"Well, come into the bathroom and we'll put something on those cuts." He said suddenly becoming self concious because of the towel that was still clad to his waist.

He led her into the bathroom. He slammed the toilet shut and told Lita to sit. Then he told her he'd be right back. He walked back into the room and threw on some boxers and a pair of jeans.

"Why did he do this?" Sean asked when he got back into the bathroom.

He wet a wash cloth and started to clean Lita's wounds. She flinched at every touch. He touched her jaw gingerly noting the swelling. He hoped Matt was real proud of himself beating Lita up like that.

"He said I caused him the match tonight. I could have helped him, but I didn't. He said he lost because of me." She said in the same mushmouth manner.

She grimaced a little. He wasn't going to ask her anymore questions it looked like it pained her to talk. He finished cleaning her wounds. She never looked up at him. She kept her eyes casted downwards. When he was done he led her back into the room and told her to lay down in his bed. He would sleep on the floor. She started to protest, but he gave her a stern look. She crawled into the bed and soon was fast asleep. He spent the better part of the night fuming at Matt. He had a good mind to find him and kick his ass. How was she suppose to show her face? The questions would rise. He grabbed a pillow off his bed and laid on the floor still contemplating Lita's fate. When he woke up the next morning, he found Lita curled up next to him. She was breathing softly and evenly. She looked so vulnerable in her sleep. She was shivering. He pulled the blanket off the bed and draped it over the two of them. Then he fell back asleep.

//Wanting, needing, waiting
For you to justify my love//

When she had walked backstage with Matt and Jeff, she had expected the worse. Matt didn't say anything to her as they gathered their things together to leave. Jeff didn't say anything, but he had silently thanked Lita for helping him. Lita knew that Jeff was aware of some of the abuse Lita took at the hands of Matt, but he felt it wasn't his place to say anything. Lita followed Matt miserably as they left the dressing room. He grabbed her arm and yanked her to catch up with him. She wanted to complain, but she didn't want to give him yet another reason to hit her. She tried to fight back tears as they got back into the hotel. He pushed her into the room and slammed the door shut. She jumped from the forcefullness of it.

He grabbed her hair and turned him around to look at him. She heard him start yelling at her about costing him the match. Suddenly, it wasn't Matt in front of her anymore. It was Essa. She could never win. She always got the worst of everything. All her life, she just wanted to be someone.She closed her eyes and let the tears slide down her cheeks. She opened eyes back up. She could no longer hear what Matt was saying. She was in her safety zone. He began to slap her and push her around. Then he slammed her face into a mirror, and she passed out. When she woke up she was in agony. She tried to stand, but she was extreme dizzy. She brought her hand to her face, blood was pouring from open wounds.

She steadied herself on the bathroom sink. She walked slowly back into the room, afraid Matt was there waiting for her. She nearly started crying again when she saw that he was gone. She walked out the room, and started banging on doors. No one came out. Where was everyone? She kept banging on doors. A door opened, it was Scotty.

"Scotty, you've got to help me. "

Scotty looked scared and repulsed at the same time. He quickly shut the door saying he couldn't help her, Matt might kill him. Lita felt like breaking down. She kept walking up the empty hallway. Would anyone help her? Were they all afraid of him? She finally stopped at another door. If no one answered or they refused to help her, she didn't know what she was going to do. She knocked on the door, relief washed over her as it opened. Sean peeked around the door at her, the swung the door open. She could tell from the look in his eyes that he was going to help her. She fell into his arms not caring who saw. Sean O'Haire, a member of the alliance, was her knight in shining armor

//Hoping, praying
For you to justify my love//

That was how it all started. After that night Matt beat her up, Sean became her ally, then her friend, and now her lover. She started to depend on him more than anyone else. She didn't break things off with Matt, yet. She was trying to figure out exactly how to go about doing that. She knew no matter how she told him, he was going to get angry. What she was really scared of was being kicked out of Team Extreme. This was all she knew, how was she suppose to cope without Matt and Jeff. Sean was being overly patient with her. He didn't push her. He understood. She was reluctant to cross over to the alliance because the WWF has been all she has ever known, and it was all she loved. She wouldn't betray her team for anything. The same thing applied to Sean, but they respected one another's opinion.

With them, it wasn't about the WWF vs. The Alliance. It wasn't about who was better. There was no test of pride between them. When they were together they forgot all about the fued. They became lost in each other. She loved to run her fingers through his spiky hair. There were so many things about him that she loved. She loved how he smiled in his sleep, how he sang when he was in the shower, and how his eyes darken when he was in deep thought. He wondered if he noticed little things like that about her? He probably did. She would have to remember to ask him next time they were together. It wasn't just about sex with them. They shared something deep, and although she hadn't told him yet, she loved him. No matter how horrific that night was Matt beat her up, she was glad for it everyday.

Matt didn't even apologize for what he had done. When she left Sean's room, she hid in the room she shared with Matt. She had told him to tell everyone she was sick. She didn't want anyone to see her looking that way. She was embarrassed because she wasn't strong to leave him. She didn't want everyone to cluck their tongues at her and tell her she ought to be smart enough to leave. They didn't understand what she was going through. She didn't want to answer any questions that might be posed. She didn't want to explain what was going on she only wanted it to stop. When Matt left, he grunted and walked out the door without even asking her if she was okay. He had hardly looked at her. *Probably couldn't handle looking at his sins.* Lita concluded.

When Matt came back to the room later that night, Lita was gone. She had stole away to Sean's room. She had made sure that no one saw her. She wanted to tell him how grateful she was that he had helped her when others had turned her down. Scotty wasn't the only person who had chosen to be blind. This had happened plenty of times before, and her own friends chose not to see it, telling her she must have done something to deserve it. Everyone thought Matt was so innocent, and she was the whore. Matt was a good boy who dated a wicked girl in their eyes. She was corrupt. Matt was always the victim in their eyes. Everything he did could be justified with a 'Why would he do that for no reason?' It didn't matter if he had a reason or not. It was wrong. He didn't even question where she was when she did finally come back.

//I want to know you
Not like that//

He didn't know what it was about her that made him love her. Ever since that faithful night, he took it upon himself to try and right all the wrongs. She had told him about how Essa had treated her like shit, now Matt. Matt saved her from one abusive relationship, only to get her involved in another. He had been infuriated with Matt that night. He wanted to go make him hurt like Lita did, but that would only result in making things worse for her. So he did the next best thing, he became her friend. She would tell him everything. She told him about the first time Matt hit her. It had been over something as silly as who ate his m&m's. He blamed Lita, but it turned out to be his brother.

Then things took a turn one night. She was an emotional wreck. She was sitting in his room crying and pouring her heart out about what Matt had done. A person wouldn't know by his calm demeanor that he was such an asshole. Matt had dirty ways about him. Everyone thought that he was so innocent. Lita had even told him, her own friends didn't believe her most of the time. They thought she deserved it or was doing it to herself. "Why would I do this to myself?" She sobbed that night. He couldn't believe these people called themselves her friends. He did the only thing he knew to do then. He held her. He rocked back and forth with her rubbing her hair gently assuring her it was going to be alright. He wasn't sure himself if it was really going to be alright.

She had looked up at him with so much anguish in her eyes. Tears were still running down her face. He had wiped the tears from her eyes. Then he didn't know what made him do it. One minute he was thinking, 'I wish I could kiss her.' The next minute he was, and she didn't stop him either. He savored their kiss as he pulled away.

"What happens next?" She asked.

He shrugged then kissed her again.

//I don't wanna be your mother
I don't wanna be your sister either//

They had that rematch with the Hardy's when Lita got better. He guessed Matt wanted her to prove herself to him. They had walked out first this time. When the Hardy's and Lita walked out. He noticed how less enthused she seemed, but she was still simply breathtaking to him. Her eyes seemed to plead with him. He knew what he had to do. He was going to have to lose the match for her sake. He only put half his heart into the match, the other half was with Lita. He glanced at Lita throughout the match but not as much as he wanted. He didn't want to draw attention to him and Lita. Deja Vu set in as the crowd started to chant her name. Chuck and Jeff were fighting outside the ring. He looked over at her. She seemed reluctant to interfere.

He knocked Matt down. Then started to taunt her. At first she looked confused. Then understanding lit in her eyes. Matt turned Sean to face him. He hit sean with a couple of right hands as Lita climbed the rope. The crowd went into a frenzy. He turned around. Lita jumped from the ropes. She took Sean down with a hurricana. She climbed up the ropes again. She flashed the Hardy Gunz then moonsaulted off the top rope. Chuck started to climb into the ring. Lita ran at him and knocked him back down with a baseball slide. Matt then ripped his shirt off to the delight of the female fans. He picked Sean up, encircled his arm around Sean's neck, did the Hardy Gunz, and took Sean out with the twist of fate. He then pinned him to get the win. Lita slid into the ring. Matt kissed her happily. That hurt Sean more than the match he just went through.

//I just wanna be your lover
I wanna be your baby
Kiss me, that's right, kiss me//

That night when the 'met up', she assured him that kiss had meant nothing to her. She hadn't even expected it. Right now, Matt was out celebrating with Jeff. There was no telling where they were, neither did she particularly care. She was just glad he was gone, and she could spend time with Sean. He asked her did she worry about getting caught. She said no. She wished she would get caught, she hated having to hide their relationship. Wasn't she afraid that once everyone found out they would hate her? Once again she said no. He was the only person that she cared about. They didn't care about her. They thought she beat herself. Why should she care if they found out?

He wasn't sure how he felt about his team finding out. He would never turn his back on them, but he wouldn't turn his back on her either. He knew how much he was suppose to despise the WWF, but how could he despise something that had given him Lita? He could actually see himself marrying her, having kids with her, growing old with her. When was the last time he had felt like that for any woman? He couldn't even remember the last time, and he wasn't even that old. He want to prove his love to her, and he would.

//Yearning, burning
For you to justify my love//