"Hey Lita? Are you about ready for dinner? I'm starving." Matt was smiling as he poked his head into the women's locker room but the smile immediately fell as a woman shrieked.

"GET OUT OF HERE!" He heard the blonde growl as she streaked toward the showers.

"Sorry!" He yelled even as he ducked out. "Is…Is Lita in there?"

"Matt?" He relaxed a bit when the redhead walked out into the hallway. "I think you just gave Tori a heart attack." She was smiling. "Nice job."

"Yeah well…" He muttered and scratched the back of his head. "You're usually the only one in there this early."

"And I'd still want you to knock." She chuckled. Matt shrugged and ran his finger down her cheek.

"Regardless, are you hungry? I was going over to catering and I thought you might want to join me." Lita shrugged but leaned into his touch just a bit.

"I could eat."

"Well great." He said and offered her his arm. "Shall we?" The redhead laughed as she took it.

"Lead the way."

The two of them veritably skipped down the hallway and made the turn toward catering laughing hysterically the whole way. Matt told her about his upcoming match with Rhyno as they went. Lita was competing in a battle royal for the number one contender's spot that night and Matt assured her there was no such thing as competition when she was involved. The redhead couldn't help but smile.

It was so much like old times! Lita kept waiting for signs of the other Matt. She had herself prepped for the other shoe to drop but the more time she allowed herself with him, the more she thought her fears were unfounded. He'd even started seeing a therapist to deal with his anger. She'd been trying to get him to do that for years! She couldn't help but wonder if this was a step in the right direction. Maybe it was, maybe it wasn't but she did know that she was enjoying herself with him again and judging from the goofy grin plastered all over his face, the feeling was mutual.

"Lita?" An all too familiar voice shook them out of their revelry as they headed toward the catering room door. Lita felt Matt stiffen beside her.

"Hey Kane. How's Robin?" The redhead asked even as her cheeks heated. The big man was staring a hole in Matt Hardy.

"She's good. She's very good in fact." His focus never changed. "Can I talk to you for a minute." Kane's eyes flickered. "In private."

"Sure." Lita breathed. The word didn't come out anywhere near as aloof as she'd hoped it would. "I'll meet you inside alright?" She finished turning to Matt.

"Sure thing Leets." Matt's voice was as calm and collected as she'd wanted hers to be. "I'll see you inside." The redhead nodded somewhat distractedly and glanced over to watch him leave.

Once they were alone, Kane ushered her around a corner toward a less crowded corridor.

"What the hell are you doing with him?" The big man growled once they were alone. Lita felt her face heat. Part of her was embarrassed. But for what? So she had been walking with Matt Hardy. What was the big deal? It's not like they'd run off and gotten married or anything.

"We were walking to catering together."

"Arm in arm? Lita, what are you doing?" The redhead had been poised to start yelling but the sheer concern in his voice stopped her in her tracks.

"I'm not being stupid Kane. Don't worry."

"How is being in the same room with him not stupid?" He asked as he crossed his arms over his broad chest. Lita sighed and shook her head.

"I'm allowed to talk to him. That's all I'm doing."

"You don't need to talk to him. He hurt you. He'll do it again and when he does, I'm going to do something he'll regret." Kane's voice was starting to fill with rage as he spoke.

"Look, you're not my father Kane. If I want to talk to Matt, I'm allowed. I'm a full grown adult. I don't need your permission. I'll handle Matt. Lord knows I know how." She snapped and immediately regretted it. Kane looked like she'd just kicked his dog. The redhead closed her eyes and counted to ten before opening them again. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to yell at you but I know what I'm doing." She lied. "I just have to make sure that there's none of my Matt in there." Kane opened his mouth to protest but Lita held up a hand for silence. "I've just got to be sure. Alright?"

Reluctantly, Kane nodded. There wasn't much else he could do. She'd been his only friend for a long time and she'd never given him a reason to distrust her.

"Lita, be careful. I don't trust him. To be honest, I don't want him around you but it's not my call. You do what you've got to do but if he pulls anymore bullshit with me, I'm not going to hold back." Now it was Kane's turn to count to ten. "And if he pulls anymore with you…"

"I know Kane. Thank you." Lita said and wrapped her arms around the big man's middle. Kane sighed heavily and hugged her back.

"As long as we're clear." He chuckled as she pulled away. "Go eat. I've got some things to do before my match."

"Alright. I'll catch you later on tonight. If you talk to Robin tell her I'm counting the days until she comes back. This place is suddenly very boring with no one to talk to." Lita grinned and disappeared back around the corner.

"What am I? Chopped liver?" He called after her, suddenly playfully offended. She didn't answer but the big man was almost positive he could hear her laughing.