In This Together

Disclaimer: I own nothing that you recognize.. Title inspired by the song, We're In This Together by Nine Inch Nails

Rating: M, for language and violence

Spoilers: Vengeance 2006, specifically Edge vs. RVD

Pairings: Lita/Cena (eventually), Victoria/Hunter, probable Lilian/Shawn

Summary: She never expected to need someone who was supposed to hate her..

Notes: nothing new to add at this time.

-x-x-x-

While John had taken his shower, Lita had called Lilian...both to check in with the blonde woman and to confirm any plans for a breakfast meeting. In typical Lilian fashion, the blonde woman had first confirmed breakfast plans, following it up with a slew of questions that Lita refused to answer. As her friend, the RAW ring announcer didn't press the issue. Instead, saving the questions for another time...perhaps a more private time or a time when the redheaded diva felt more comfortable. Of course, all of Lilian's careful prodding was almost wasted when Victoria decided to grab the phone...the same string of questions escaping her mouth. And in typical Lita fashion, at least recently, the redhead kept quiet...avoiding any type of response save from a simple 'I don't want to talk about it'.. Perhaps it was Lilian's influence, or perhaps Victoria seemed to realize that now was just not the time...the older woman eventually biding her friend farewell...but not before she garnered a promise of a girl's night. And, while that prospect may have scared Lita before, it brought a smile to her face as she settled on the bed...one leg curling beneath her slim frame. She had missed her friends.. Lilian's mothering mode, Victoria's good natured bantering, Hunter's sense of humor, Shawn's uncanny need to play big brother to them all.. Admittedly, yes, Lita knew they made quite the odd bunch but...somehow, that eclectic mix of personalities worked. There was a delicate balance between them all, the guys learning to read the various shifts in moods rather quickly, while the divas learned to let their guard down.. They all knew when to push and when to step back, they understood the difference between being a shoulder to cry on and a sounding board...in short, though Lita had never really thought about it this way before, they were a family.. A very odd family, the type that put the fun in dysfunctional...but a family none the less. And as much as the redhead cherished her privacy, as much as she just wanted to be left alone...she needed them. At another point in time, that admission would have bothered her, it may have meant a dent in the walls that she had built around herself. But instead of bothering her, instead of feeling vulnerable.. Lita felt a sense of peace wash over her.. The diva's inner musings continued in the elevator, a comfortable silence between the pair as they made their way downstairs to meet up with Lilian, Victoria, Shawn and Hunter.

Maybe needing people wasn't as bad as she had originally thought.

True enough, she had issues with trusting people...the diva fighting to hold back a smile as she recalled the first time she and Hunter had clashed.. And that had been true in both the literal and figurative sense of the word. When she had started in the WWE, then the WWF, she hadn't been more than a blip on the blonde man's radar. For a time, they had been content to ignore one another...up until a point anyway.. But after that, their interaction had been minimal, and it had been easier for them both. And then...things had started to change. When Hunter formed Evolution, he had actually sought her out backstage, discussed the promo with her before it even hit the creative team. Certainly, Lita had been apprehensive about it.. Victoria had strongly urged against it while Lilian had told her to trust her gut feeling.. And either on good faith or temporary insanity, the redhead had agreed.. That, of all things, had marked the turning point in her relationship with the blonde man...and had also put him in a new light with the diva trio. Lilian had been the most accepting of Hunter's sudden change, mostly because of Shawn's influence...the man known as the Show Stopper deciding that Hunter was suitable enough. Victoria had been the least accepting, but that had changed after one fiasco involving rental car mix-ups and overbooking on a flight. Long story short, Lilian, Lita and Victoria had ended up sharing a mini-van with Evolution.. Victoria and Hunter had argued non-stop about who was going to drive, the correct route to take, whether or not they were going to stop at this particular rest area or keep driving... Randy Orton, at one point, had suggested they just pull the vehicle over so they could fuck and get it over with. Needless to say, the trip had been nerve wrecking for all occupants, but, it had also lead to a friendship of sorts...and a little bit more where Hunter and Victoria were concerned.. A smile coming to her face as she and John exited the elevator.. Lita almost instantly wrapped into a hug by Shawn.

The redhead raised an eyebrow, pulling back enough to peer at the blonde man. "I thought this was supposed to be a subtle friendship?"

Hunter scoffed, "screw being subtle.. If someone has a problem with it? They can take it up with me."

Victoria rolled her eyes, "violence isn't always the answer...sure, sometimes it does make things easier to deal with but.."

Shawn shook his head at the two, pulling Lita closer to him. "I've missed you, little girl."

"I've missed you to Shawn," the diva rested her head on his shoulder, "but...we've gone over this before. I'm not little and I'm more than just a girl."

The blonde man grinned, giving her ponytail a playful tug. "You'll always be my little girl."

Lita rolled her eyes good naturedly, leaving her friend's embrace to stand with Lilian and Victoria. "Alright...dad. And now that we have the sentiments out of the way...can we eat?"

Victoria blinked, linking arms with the redhead, dropping a comment as the divas lead the way. "Wow.. I think Hunter's influence is really starting to rub off on you."

While the diva trio went on ahead, the guys stayed back for a bit.. John finding himself on the receiving end of two scrutinizing gazes.. The normally outspoken and verbal wrestler shifting uncomfortably as Shawn and Hunter exchanged a look. Sure, the dark haired wrestler figured they weren't angry with him or anything like that.. But that didn't mean that he felt entirely at ease with the two blonde men.. Especially when one of those blonde men knew how to use a sledgehammer like it was an extension of his being. After a long moment of silence, however, Shawn merely smiled, indicating with a simple motion of his hand that they should get a move on.. Hunter, on the other hand, clapped a hand over John's shoulder...the younger man suddenly getting the feeling of being grilled by an over-protective father or brother.. And in a manner of speaking, that assesment wouldn't have been far from the truth. But, for whatever reasons, Hunter said nothing.. the West Newbury native figuring that the speech would come at a later time...or not at all.

"What took you two so long?" Victoria sent a curious look between Hunter and John, shaking her head after a moment. "Oh...let me guess.. Hunter's in his ultra protective, bordering on psychotic mode?" She rolled her eyes, not bothering to wait for any type of confirmation. "Sweetie.. I've said this before, that only works when the guy you're trying to intimidate? Actually falls for it."

Lilian cleared her throat, "anyway.." she turned her attention to the redhead, "is tonight okay? To meet with me and Vicki?"

Lita nodded after a moments pause, "that should be okay... my flight isn't leaving until tomorrow afternoon anyway so--"

"Do you want to head over to my place?" The dark haired diva sent the redhead an imploring look, setting the menu down. "I mean, we could hit the store...stock up on junk food, order pizza...watch chick flicks.."

"And give each other make-overs?" Lita suggested with the slightest hint of a smile, "because we both know...we're such girly girls."

Victoria stuck out her tongue, her expression soon waxing serious. "I know it breeches on your whole.. I need space issue, but.. it's been awhile."

"Too long," Lilian put in quietly, the blonde woman looking like she wanted to say more but.. "especially since our last girls night got ruined."

Hunter held up his hands in mock defense, "we were feeling left out, alright? And besides, it's not like we completely ruined it."

Victoria snorted in disbelief, "you must be getting senial in your old age.. Do I really need to remind you of the disaster that was that night? Or maybe you need visual evidence."

"It wasn't a total disaster," the Game retorted instantly, "it was more like a mini disaster." He waited a beat before adding: "and it wasn't entirely my fault, alright? Orton had a hand in it too."

Lita arched an eyebrow, "but you can't place all of the blame on Randy... it was your idea to our girls night, even after we requested that you stay away."

John sent the three a curious look, "Orton was involved? That's just askin' for trouble there.. But, y'all did make a mistake by tellin' them to stay away."

The redhead turned her attention to the dark haired wrestler, "and just how did we make a mistake?"

"Simple, you tell someone to stay away...they're just gonna get that much more curious 'bout something.." He sent a pointed look to the redhead, "they're gonna want to know what's goin' on. Call it bein' nosy or call it human nature...but that's how it works."

"I guess," Lita seemingly conceded the point, tucking a few errant strands of hair behind her ear. "And when that does happen, when people get their answers..."

"They either come back for more or leave the situation alone," Hunter supplied with a grin. "Which is why, if you ladies decide to have one of your 'girly nights'.. Shawn and I are inviting ourselves over."

Victoria waved it off nonchalantly, "I'll just lock the door."

Lilian arched an eyebrow at her friend, "honey.. You just gave him a key...and a spare garage door opener." She held up a hand when the older woman opened her mouth to argue. "And no, we can't have it at my place because Shawn already lives there."

Lita glanced between Lilian and Shawn, "when did this happen?"

The blonde woman nearly blushed, "about three weeks ago.. I called you but.. I kept getting your voicemail."

The redhead nodded slowly, "I see.." She offered the pair a smile, "my belated congratulations then." Hazel eyes slid back to Hunter, "and I guess we'll be seeing you and Shawn tomorrow night."

Shawn nodded easily, "which means we'll stay away tonight.. But, only on one condition."

Lita inclined her head curiously, "and that would be?"

The Heartbreak Kid gestured between himself and Hunter, "you hang out with us during RAW."

The redhead agreed to that one condition, thankful that she had a safe spot to stay during RAW...and that her life was slowly piecing itself back together.