Tears in the Rain

Disclaimer: Vince owns the personas, people own themselves.. I own pocket lint and the story idea.

Spoilers: Nope… it's A/U.

Rating: PG-13 for now

Summary: A high school reunion answers questions and stirs up countless memories. .

Characters: Lita, Trish, Victoria, Dawn, Lillian, Stacy; Jeff Hardy, John Cena, Batista, Randy, Chris Jericho, Tyson Tomko, Triple H and Christian. Many others will also be making an appearance, but, my main characters are the ones previously listed.

Notes: Writing style will be a mix of flashbacks and present time (as it pertains to the story).. I'm basing the school off of a real school, the block scheduling thing is based off of something that was offered at my high school but since the school in the story is made up, well.. Lets say this is how I would envision an ideal school.. I don't know if it'll make much of a difference, or how many people are going to care, but I'm changing Trish's nationality to Italian/Greek. And I know, it's another A/U but I love these types of stories because I can blissfully ignore whatever I want.

-x-x-x-

All those moments

Will be lost in time

Like tears in the rain

Roy Batty- Blade Runner

-x-x-x-

Trish Stratus sighed heavily as she walked into the airport terminal.. Had it really been that long since she had come home? The pretty blonde knew it hadn't been her fault really…she couldn't help the fact that she had to do residency in another state.. Or that she had chosen to go to college in another state. But had it really been that long since she had returned to her hometown? Trish knew that at least three of her childhood friends had stuck around and that they had all attended the same college. She knew that Jeff Hardy was currently an art teacher at one of the high schools, while Stacy Keibler was a dance instructor. Trish also knew that Lita Dumas was also teaching at one of the high schools.. Though at the moment, the blonde woman couldn't recall what subject. Speaking of Lita, the redhead was supposed to be meeting her at the airport as Trish was staying with the aforementioned woman for the weekend. Biting her lower lip, Trish glanced around…hoping to catch sight of her friend.

"Trish!" A man called out from nearby, "Trish…hey! Over here!" Glancing to the woman at his side, he raised an eyebrow, "Think she'll remember me?"

Lita Dumas rolled her eyes, "How could anyone forget you, Jeff? I've tried…many, many, many times." She grinned innocently when he glared, the redhead focusing her efforts on getting Trish's attention. "Patricia Anne!"

"Li?" Trish stated more to herself, the blonde woman squinting before she spotted the pair. "Li!" She grinned broadly, making her way over to the two. "How are you?"

Jeff shook his head, "Now that is no way to greet two people that knew you in diapers.." He held out his arms, embracing her close before she had the chance to react. "That is how you greet us."

Trish rolled her eyes as she returned the hug. "I'll keep that in mind," she told him seriously, the blonde then moving to hug the redhead. "So, back to my question.. How are you?"

"Eh.." Lita shrugged, "could be better…could be worse. The students I have this year…I don't know, there's just something about them."

Trish smoothed back her hair, the three soon heading for the baggage claim. "What are you teaching again?"

"Two periods of Drama, two periods of Humanities and one creative writing class," Lita replied with a slight sigh. "It's honors students for the most part, so I know these kids are capable of doing the work but some of them.."

Trish rolled her eyes good naturedly, "I'm sure our teachers said that same about is, Li." Smirking slightly, she added: "Speaking of .. I can't believe the two of you are teaching.. I recall both of you complaining so much about being stuck at that school."

Jeff shrugged, "I guess it's just different when you're behind the desk or whatever."

Lita snorted, "That's because you don't have to teach a class where you're supposed to have a co-teacher."

The blonde woman raised an eyebrow, "Is there a shortage or something?"

Lita nodded, "The Humanities class is supposed to be part of a block, I'm covering the Literature part of it but it's a group of us.. Teaching the same group of students, related topics…that sort of thing. We have the math, science and foreign language covered.. It's history where we're lacking."

Trish grimaced, "That doesn't sound very fun.. Why isn't the district doing anything about it?"

"They've tried," Jeff answered for the redhead, "but teachers are in such shortage right now.. And I'm guessing the year round school deal isn't appealing to a lot of people. But enough about us.. How is your residency going?"

"I have a few months left," she paused as they reached the baggage claim, "and after that I have one more course then I write my dissertation." She shook her head, "I shouldn't have taken that year off.."

"Which bags are yours?" Jeff sent her a questioning look, the green eyed male already heading towards the claim. "And don't even think about arguing with me."

Trish rolled her eyes, "Black with a red floral print on the front." Hazel eyes turned to the redhead, "how do you two manage?"

"I'm not sure sometimes," Lita replied with a smirk. "Being step-siblings might have something to do with it though."

Trish giggled, "I still can't figure out who was happier at the wedding.. Your mom and his dad.. Or you, Matt and Jeff."

Lita shrugged, "I'd say we were pretty even. Oooh! But, speaking of weddings.."

"I know!" Trish sighed happily, "I can't believe it took them this long to walk down the aisle though. Have they set a date yet?"

Lita shook her head, "Not yet.. They just announced it a few days ago so.. I'm not really sure. I think Lil is waiting for the custody battle to be over with."

Trish frowned, "I don't see why she married that jerk in the first place.. But, I guess things worked out for her and Dave in the end so.."

"What about you?" Lita inclined her head, a curious glint in her hazel orbs. "Dating, engaged, married, divorced… not looking?"

"Not looking," the blonde woman grimaced, "I really don't have the time right now, Li."

The redhead nodded, "And believe me when I say.. I completely understand." Lita paused, preparing to say more when Jeff re-appeared with Trish's suitcase in tow. "So, how long are ya staying?"

"Tonight and tomorrow night of course.." the blonde tried to take the suitcase but to no avail ."Then I figured through Tuesday.. I'm in residence at a private practice, apparently they don't need me until Thursday so.."

"Cool," Jeff grinned broadly as the three made their way out of the airport, "Li is cooking tonight and tomorrow we don't have to worry since--"

Trish and Lita nodded in unison, the three falling silent as they trekked through the parking garage to find the car.

-x-x-x-

Tomorrow night, as the three knew, was the start of a two day high school reunion.. Why the planning committee had called for two days instead of one, they weren't quite sure.. But they had and that was the main reason why Trish found herself back home in Waynesboro, Virginia. Come to think of it, that was the only reason she had returned home.. Her family had re-located Florida not long after she had graduated from high school…and as of now, the only people that Trish really knew in her hometown were the two people she was with and Stacy. Not that she and Stacy had really been the best of friends in high school, but she was still someone she had known. Now that she thought of it, she and the long legged blonde woman had been rivals throughout middle school and high school. But, that had been mostly Stacy's doing…the taller woman instigating their apparent rivalry when she decided that Trish's then boyfriend was the 'perfect man'. Their parents had thought they were all too young to be concerned with dating at the time…but that hadn't stopped Trish or Stacy.

"Hey Li.." Trish began as the car pulled away from the parking garage, "do you talk to Stacy Keibler at all?"

The redhead snorted from the passengers seat, "Trish.. I rarely talked to her in high school, middle school or elementary school for that matter.. Why would now be any different?"

The blonde rolled her eyes, "Oh I don't know… maybe because we're supposedly adults now? And aside from that, you've kept in better touch with people than me."

"I haven't kept in touch with everyone," Lita protested in an instant, "just a few people." Shrugging she added: "Lillian has kept in better touch with everyone."

Trish shook her head, "So who have you been keeping in touch with?"

"You of course," the redhead frowned thoughtfully, "Lillian, Dawn.. Vikki, Chris and Christian. Lillian also keeps me informed about Dave." Quirking a smile she added: "Ya know, the old reliable mix of freaks, tomboys, jock, mother hen and popular girls like you and Dawn." An eyebrow raised, "Which I gotta wonder.. How is it that I stayed in better touch with your cousin?"

"Because my mom and her mom hate each other," Trish stated bluntly. "Remember.. Twin sisters.. Always competing against each other." She sent a sly look to her friend, "Speaking of family.."

Lita groaned, "Tell me he won't be there.." at Trish's steady gaze, the redhead buried her face in her hands. "You mean to tell me.. The very bane of my existence is going to be at the reunion?"

Trish rolled her eyes, "Well he did go to the same high school.. And the same middle school, elementary school.." An arm crept forwards, she resting a hand on her friend's shoulder. "Come on, Li, it won't be that bad.. I mean, it's been what…ten years?"

Lita snorted, "You don't get it.. All he ever did was tease me and pick on me…it was like he made it his life goal or something from the moment he moved to Waynesboro."

"Li.. He was four." Trish raised an eyebrow when the redhead shot her a look, "all guys are stupid from about the age of four to the age of forty."

"Hey!" Jeff spoke up indignantly, "that's not very nice."

Trish shook her head, "Most guys then? And I know you won't argue with me about that, Jeff.. Most of the guys we grew up with were idiots." Glancing back to Lita, she continued: "And yes, that includes my cousin.. I'm not trying to make excuses for him because I know how much of a jerk he was to you."

"Even if that is the case," Jeff piped up before Trish or Lita could say a word, "no one was worse than Hunter.. He was an equal opportunity bully."

"See?" Trish nodded her agreement, "Hunter was the worst.. He even picked on his friends."

"Whatever," Lita swept her hair from her face, "that still doesn't mean I have to look forward to this reunion, does it?"

Trish shrugged, "I don't think a lot of us are.. I mean, it's been ten years since most of us have seen each other.. And in that time, I'd like to think that most of us have grown up." She sat back, threading a hand through her blonde locks. "But, I think what we're all scared of is that we've failed or something."

Lita glanced back to her friend, "You aren't a failure Trish. You set out to achieve something and you did it." She paused, as if to say more when the house came into view. "Well, here we are.. Home sweet home."

The blonde woman blinked, "I remember that tree being a lot bigger.." she waited until Jeff had parked the car in the driveway. "And I remember this house being a lot bigger."

Lita smiled faintly, unbuckling her seatbelt as soon as the car was parked. "I guess we remember things the way we want to.." She exited the car, hair tossed over her shoulder. "Everything is still the same though.. Same house, same tree in the front yard, same pond and the same--"

"Tree house?" Trish finished with a hopeful smile, "you didn't take down the tree house did you?"

"No way, no how." Jeff informed her, the suitcase already in hand. "Like Li said, everything is the same…for the most part. Outside hasn't changed all that much, but me and Li did re-decorate a little."

Trish smiled fully, "Well I'm glad the outside hasn't changed…I love this house." Hazel eyes seemed to drink in the sight before her.. The classic Queen Anne style house held many memories for the blonde woman. "I really love this house.."

Lita rolled her eyes good naturedly, "That's because it's just like the house you grew up in." The redhead nodded down the street, "last I knew.. Your house was being used as a bed and breakfast."

"Well," the blonde woman wrinkled her nose, "that's what happens when the family moves.. But, that's not the main reason why I love this house."

Jeff quirked an eyebrow, "So why do you love this house?"

Trish smiled, "Because I spent just as much time here as I did at home."

Lita nodded slowly, "Between the sleepovers, countless nights spent studying or working on projects…"

"Crying over broken hearts and bitching about stupid boys," Trish finished wryly. "Yeah.. For me, Vikki, Dawn and Lillian.. This was our second home."

The redhead linked arms with her, "Then lets go inside…catch up a bit more while Jeff makes dinner. Vikki said she'd try to stop by for lunch tomorrow.. And I think Lillian, Tyson and Dave are coming up from D.C later tonight." She grinned then, "and they're staying at the bed and breakfast down the street."

"Do I still have 'my' old room?"

Lita grinned, the two finally walking up the stairs to enter the house; Jeff having set Trish's suitcase in foyer. Perhaps her old house had been sold and was no longer being lived in by members of her family.. But the house she was standing in now…childhood home and current home of Lita Dumas…this was also her home. And having Jeff and Lita there, would just make the upcoming reunion a little bit easier to deal with…because, just like Lita, there were many things that Trish wasn't looking forward to. But, she was here now.. And it would just be pointless to go back to the airport at this point. Even if she wasn't looking forward to it…the time had come for the ten year high school reunion. Something that scared her, worried her and also made her wonder about what everyone else had been up to.