Disclaimer: I own no person, place or thing mentioned. Title inspired by the song of the same name by Pat Benatar.
Spoilers: None..schedule follows with the WWE calendar on WWE.com
Chapter Summary: Second to last day on the cruise.
Notes: see the Story Recap for applicable notes and sorry for skipping over things like this..but I had a few other ideas floating around, not related to this story that I had to get down. So, after working on that..I went back to this. Look for those pieces to be uploaded soon..anywho, thank you to anyone who has reviewed. :)
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7:45 a.m. Thursday April 29, 2004, Atlantis Resort, Bahamas
Lita and Stacy were just finishing up an early morning jog. With the photographer and cameraman following them around most of their waking hours..and with the guys around when the camerman and photographer weren't following them; it was this little window of time that they had to themselves. Monday's incidents..both within the Evolution locker room and otherwise, had gone un-discussed. For whatever reasons, neither Lita or Hunter brought up the arguments, the reconciliations or the red heads imprompteau arrival during Matt's match with Kane. Instead of mulling over the issues, they stuck with their schedule in the Bahamas..which turned out to be like the previous weeks trip to Hawaii. Photo shoots and filming sessions, planned activities..blah blah blah. After they finished up their final filming session today, it was back to the road for the Friday house show. Hunter had taken the liberty of scheduling an early morning flight, so they could soak up the nightlife on their final day in the Bahamas. And despite the fact that this sun-kissed detour had been nothing short of spectacular; neither diva could wait to be back on the road.
"Well" Lita slowed her pace to a walk, glancing sideways to the blonde. "One more day and we return to the 'normal' life" She shook her head, re-adjusting her pony-tail. "And let me just say this for the record..I do not want to see another 'crystal clear ocean' or 'white sand beach'. I just want to see smog, tall buildings and crowded sidewalks."
Stacy laughed at her friend, releasing her hair from it's pony tail. "Well at least you aren't running from..how did Hunter put it?" She dropped her voice a few pitches..scrunching up her face slightly. "That pyscho path that's stalking you"
"You heard that?" Lita smirked as they turned, heading back for the hotel. "And don't even try and tell me you wouldn't be running."
"That's why Randy went in the halls" Stacy raked a hand through her hair. "He was too worried that even if Kane didn't catch up with you..Hunter'd do something to you."
Lita scoffed. "Oh please..a low blow will take care of any threat. On the same side or not" She rolled her eyes as they reached a bench. "At least Hunter cares..I think." She frowned as she propped her leg on the bench, stretching out her muscles.
"Randy likes to claim that Hunter does care" Stacy shrugged as she mirroed the red heads actions. "And that he was shocked that Hunter did what he did, but he was even more shocked that Hunter managed to maintain as much control as he did."
"That was control?" Lita shook her head, bending forwards. "I seriously think that instead of one of these vacations..we all need to take some anger management classes."
"Drug them first, then drop them off" Stacy smirked, before she switched the conversation over. "How did it go with Matt?"
Lita bit her lip in thought as she brought her leg down, repeating the action with her right. "I think we've come to some sort of understanding..about why he did what he did two weeks ago, and why he did what he did on Monday."
"That's good" Stacy brought her feet together, stretching her arms overhead. "I just have one quick question for you."
"Go for it" Lita focused her attention on the tip of her running shoe.
"Just hypothetically speaking mind you. But if Team X-Treme were to be re-formed.." Stacy paused a moment to gauge the red heads reactions. "Would you go back?"
Lita blinked as she brought her leg down, "Where did that question come from?" She eyed the blonde in a questioning manner as she stretched her arms.
Stacy half shrugged, shaking out her arms. "Well it's just..seeing Jeff at ringside, the way Matt re-acted" She glanced to the side as they started back to the hotel. "It appears that three of you still have an affect on each other's actions."
"Always will I suppose" Lita shrugged as they walked back. "We worked together for so long..before we got in the WWE, we all live pretty close to each other" She reached back, shaking her hair loose from it's ponytail. "But would I go back?"
Stacy watched as the red heads face went from one of clarity to one of uttter confusion. "Well?"
"Wouldn't know unless it did happen" Lita stated rather bluntly before she clarified things
slightly. "I can't make a choice based on what if's. Yeah I know, Team X-Treme was all about Live for the Moment..but Evolution? It's about being the best and doing whatever it takes to stay the best..going with what works, making as little changes as possible or as situations dictate." She shrugged to the blonde as they walked into the elevator. "Two different ways of thinking, but both effective..however" She leaned back against the rail. "Right now, I need to go with what works, not with what I know..and at this point in time? That's Evolution." Sh quirked a smile to her friend as they stepped off the elevator. "Anyway..I need a shower. See you in a few"
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10:00 a.m. Predator Lagoon
Stacy, Lita, Randy, Dave and Ric looked on in amusement as Hunter went face to face with a shark. Well really they were seperated by the glass walls, but it was still amusing. They had been to the other marine life exhibit nearby and later would be exploring another. Between the marine life, they were off to the Mayan Tower for the resort's water slides. Since the weather man had called for scattered thunderstorms throughout the day, outdoor activites were staggered..in hopes that they wouldn't be caught in the storm. And, as the fellow members of Evolution trekked forward; Lita lingered behind. Her fingertips toyed with the chain about her neck as she eyed the sharks and stingrays swimming above her. This past Monday, Kane had reduced her to nothing but prey..but here, surrounded by these deep sea predators..Lita felt at home. Kane may have had the advantage on Monday, but when it all boiled down to it, Evolution was the pack of predators on RAW. Stacy was a predator in the sense that she had the assets to really drive people wild. Randy..well, the self proclaimed legend was just cocky enough to believe that he could maim anyone and usually backed it up. Ric was the type that, if he couldn't beat you physically..he'd outsmart you. And then capitalize on the slightest mistake. Hunter and Dave were the same in the sense that they used physical strength to intimidate and destroy..but they were also different. While Dave would mostly rely on brute strength..Hunter would rely on his environment or to be more specific; elements he brought into the environment. And as for herself? Lita wasn't quite sure if she was really a predator or if she was prey. But, wherever she did fit in..the red head had no time to figure it out as Hunter was back tracking the halls. He shook his head, removing his sunglasses as he approached the diva. And now, with everyone in tow; the cameraman lead the way to the Mayan Temple.
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12:00 p.m. Lazy River Ride
"Can we stay here?" Randy cushioned his head on the back of his inner tube. "I'm serious..float my meals down this way, build a few bathrooms along the way..but can we stay here?"
"You are such a dork" Lita dipped her foot in the water, flinging it upwards to send a small stream of water over the young champ. "Would be nice, but I know you'd get sick of it..you'd get all pruny from the water and wrinkly from the sun."
Randy frowned thoughtfully. "Didn't think of it that way." He shrugged, dipping his hand in the water to splash the red head. "Then I want one of these at my house."
"Keep dreamin' small fry" Hunter smirked from behind the two. "And would you two watch it? You're getting me soaked"
"Oh heaven forbid you should get soaked on a water ride" Lita rolled her eyes "What's the rest of the schedule for today?"
Hunter raised a brow "You're asking me now? After it's mid-day?" He rolled his eyes right back. "You really are a pain in the ass..you know that right?"
"We're going back to one of the marine exhibits for an hour." Dave interjected before Hunter and Lita could start bickering. "Then free time at Hunter's request.before we have our last filming segment at 5:00. Night's free but we have to be on the plane by 6:00 tomorrow morning."
"Thank you dear" Hunter smirked over to Dave. "Happy now..you little brat?" He turned his attention back to Lita as the tubes reached the stairs.
Lita opened her mouth to retort, but bit it back. "So..there are no more of these little vacations next week, right?"
"Correct" Dave took her hand in his as they walked up the stairs. "Just the studio shots and house show on Sunday, RAW in Phoenix."
"There's also a house show on Saturday" Randy looked to the two, Stacy at his side. "After that show we leave for Lake Havasu..look over the footage for the enterance video. It'll debut on RAW in Phoenix."
"We're also going to be getting the final footage for the DVD" Hunter reminded as he joined the couples. "Wednesday we need to go over the raw footage..decide what stays and what goes."
Ric sent a look to the champ. "Why not Tuesday? If we have all the footage"
"Wednesday was the first available time in NYC" Hunter shrugged, slipping his sunglasses back on. "So we go Wednesday."
"Hey Li" Stacy glanced to her other side. "We're still on for New Orleans, Thursday..right?"
"Yup" Lita grinned in confirmation. "Dawn, John and Torrie are going to join us, at least until the house show Friday. Then they have to be in Charlotte"
"Sounds like a plan then" Stacy slipped her shades on. "When I talked to Torrie..it sure sounded like she could use a little time off."
"Well at least that lunatic Big Show isn't running around" Lita grimaced as they made their way to the marine exhibit. "Going with the lesser of two evils..I'd rather have to deal with Kane than with Big Show."
Dave raised a brow, releasing her hand to bring his arm around her waist. "I'd rather you didn't deal with either."
"Well it's just hypothetically speaking" Lita shrugged, wrapping an arm around his waist. "Show's on SmackDown anyway"
"Hypothetically speaking or not" Hunter sent a look to the red head. "Either one is more trouble than it's worth. Just make sure you actually listen to what I have to say about you walking around the backstage alone." He frowned slightly "And everything will be fine."
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4:30 p.m.
With Hunter and Ric off at the casino, Randy and Stacy at the movie theatre; Dave and Lita wandered around the resort. First, some time to enjoy the pedal boats..then to the pool. Now, with another hour to go before their free time was over, they settled at one of the beaches just as the storm clouds started to roll in.
"Another island paradise" Lita plopped down in the sand. "Another week passed."
He let out a small laugh, sitting behind her. "The Evolution lifestyle too bland for you?" He stretched his legs out, wrapping his arms around her.
"I wouldn't exactly say that" She shrugged, leaning back in his arms. "I mean, it's nice bein' able to see all this stuff..but it's the same song and dance."
"That might be true" He rested his chin on her shoulder, smirking when she shot him a look of disbelief. "Okay so it is true..but it's fun."
"Having your life scheduled out to the exact minute?" She snorted. "Not exactly my idea of fun."
"Then what would you do if you weren't traveling with Evolution?"
"I don't know" She shrugged, resting her hands over his. "I never thought about it..just did it. I mean, I've got the shelter, I used to do a lot of volunteer work" She chewed on her lower lip in thought. "And well..when one of your best friends is Jeff Hardy, there's always room for excitement."
"So start doing that again" He glanced upwards as the clouds blocked out the sun. "We aren't doing any more of these trips for a good while, volunteer someplace."
She nodded. "I could do that..there was this one place I used to volunteer. Working with little kids." She closed her eyes, taking a breath as the calmer winds started. "That was a lot of fun and quite possibly the most rewarding thing I've done."
"Did that with an inner city center" He returned his attention to the choppy waves in the distance. "And Sunday School..I volunteered one weekend to take over the class."
"Really now?" She trained her gaze on the waves, cupping his cheek with her hand. "If I started this volunteer work again, would you be interested? I brought it up with Stace once, working with kids on the days between RAW and house shows. She knows of a place in Baltimore that would be perfect and all I'd have to do is stay with her once in awhile."
"If you can get Randy in on it" He shrugged as a few drops started to fall. "Count me in."
"I'll let Stace handle that" She wrinkled her nose as the skies started to open. "Something tells me she'd have better luck convincing him than I would."
He shook his head, relenting his grasp as it started to rain heavier. "I think now would be a good time to get inside."
"What for?" She stood, reaching out her arms. "It's only rain."
"And lightening" He watched in amusement as she turned in circles. "And thunder..that does make a difference"
"Oh big deal" She stopped in her circle, tossing her head back. "It's still just rain..not like it's a hurricane or somethin'."
"All the same" He scooped her up in his arms. "We have to be back at the hotel in fifteen minutes. I don't think this filming segment calls for the two of us to be drenched."
She stuck out her tounge, bringing her arms around his neck. "Spoil sport"
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Following the final filming segment at the resort's spa, the collective of Evolution settled in for a lengthy dinner. Everything ranging from the enterance video, to the dvd and the card for the house show was covered. After that, Stacy and Lita discussed the volunteer work..Stacy promising she'd get Randy to come along with them. And once dinner was done, Hunter and Ric returned to the casino. Stacy, Lita, Randy and Dave however, went off to the resort's nightclub. With the rest of the night to enjoy, the four danced away to the hip-hop, techno and salsa. By the time they returned to the hotel suites..a slightly tipsy Randy was now in on the volunteer plans. Stacy re-assured Lita she'd handle the arrangements for their volunteer work and with this final night behind them, Lita and Dave settled in. Tomorrow it was back to the road, back to the house shows and back to all of the insanity that went along with it.
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Author speaking: One more update to go before the trade. And, while I had originally intended for it to be with just two diva's..it won't be. It'll still involve two diva's, but not the two I had in mind when I started writing. Anyhow, just have some patience and a little faith (or the other way around if you'd like) and we'll get along just fine :)