Titles: Sometimes it's Easier (10)
Rating: PG-13, or K+
Content: Angsting
Disclaimer: Don't own, don't sue.
Summary: Sequel to Unrequited. Can Randy help Lita get her life back?

Randy's flight to Chicago wasn't a comfortable one, even though he enjoyed the luxury of business class. He could guess what the conversation would be about back in peasant class, bitching and moaning about him, his attitude, what he'd done to Hardy, everything. And no doubt, Hardy would be at the centre, egging them on. If only theu knew.

It would come out soon enough, at the meeting the next morning most likely: Randy Orton, how the mighty fall. Given his recent attitude Randy knew that he couldn't expect much sympathy; didn't deserve it. He'd been stupid, he knew that, and he would pay for it in the worst way. Hardy though, he got off scot free, and it didn't seem fair. Randy couldn't even rationalise that he had Lita and Matt never would again, because he couldn't be entirely sure that she would want to stay with him after this. He knew what Matt's irrational and impulsive behaviour had done to her during their relationship, and here he was behaving in the same way. He wouldn't blame her if she walked away.

He didn't know what he'd do if she did though. It didn't bear thinking about.

He sat in the arrivals lounge, waiting. Her flight should have just landed, as the last time he checked it was due in on time. Over and over in his head he ran through what he'd say, how he'd tell her, when he'd tell her. The whole issue of their relationship now being public knowledge didn't seem so bad now, at least not to him. He knew that it would be foremost on her mind though, but wondered how he was going to support her when it felt like his whole world had crashed around him.

When he saw her, the mix of emotions within him was almost painful. She looked so pale, so tired, so beautiful. Cena, stood next to her, made her already slim frame look almost frail. Once Randy caught her eye, her face brightened, she dropped her bags and ran over to him. The moment his arms wrapped around her he cursed himself for having been so stupid, for risking this. He didn't say anything, just held her tightly.

Cena followed her over, carrying her bags as well as his own. He was good friends with Randy, and had got to know Lita quite well through the program they'd worked together. He knew they were good for each other, it was obvious when you saw them together. Not wanting to intrude, but wanting to get to the hotel as soon as possible, he coughed. Randy looked over and forced a smile.

"Sorry man, thanks for the help," Randy's voice was low, and Cena could tell there was something wrong.

"Yeah, thanks for looking after me," Lita looked up and smiled, "I appreciate it."

"Any time Red. Orton, we'll talk tomorrow, yeah?"

"Yeah man."

Randy held Lita for a little longer, then reluctantly picked up their bags and made to leave. They needed to be alone, and needed to talk.

Lita could tell something was wrong, something beyond what Matt had done. Randy was quiet: he seemed nervous and worried about something. Strangely, she felt like the news recently revealed by Matt had unburdened her a little: she was still concerned and dreading what the fans would say at the next show, but she felt almost free for once, as Matt no longer held anything over her. Sure, the fans could, and would, be cruel, but if she could just remember that they were just words, she'd be ok.

Randy, she was worried about. Something had happened.

"Tell me," she whispered, sitting down on the bed and motioning for him to sit next to her, "tell me what's happened."

"I'm sorry."

"Why? What's happened? Randy?" She was more than worried now. She turned and forced him to look straight at her, "what is it Randy?"

"I'm not gonna win the title, and after Wrestlemania I'm suspended for sixty days." He looked away, knowing that if he saw disappointment in her eyes it would hurt worse than any punishment Vince McMahon could think up.

"Why?"

He hated that, hated the sadness in her voice, hated even more that it was because of him. "I've been avoiding Hardy, trying to keep away from him, keeping away from everyone… today I couldn't, and I attacked him in the hotel lobby. Now because of how I've been acting everyone thinks I'm a prick and Hardy's won."

"Shit."

"I'm sorry… I was just so angry… I haven't been thinking straight. Rey says I've played right into his hands… he said that Hardy was trying to provoke me, and it's worked. Now I've messed up my career and he's won, and I could lose you because I'm so stupid and then he really would have won," he stood up and walked over to the window, staring out at the Chicago skyline, lost in his own feelings.

He hardly heard her whispered words but he felt her arms around him, her head resting on his back. Slowly, his mind came back to the here and now and he listened to what she was saying.

"I'm not gonna pretend I'm not disappointed, because I am, but I understand, and I'm going nowhere sweetheart, not now, not after everything we've already been through," her voice was low but soothing, and he wanted desperately to believe what she was saying. The hurt behind her words cut deep though.

Slowly, reluctantly he turned around to face her. She looked up at him, biting her lip, one half of her wanting to scream at him in frustration, the other wanting to kiss him and make everything right.

"Scream at me. Tell me I'm an idiot, tell me how much I've hurt you and messed everything up, don't be afraid of me, don't be afraid of how I'll react, just say it," Randy never wanted her to be scared of him, never wanted her to be worried about telling him something, or scared of pulling him up when he'd done something wrong.

"I don't need to tell you, do I?" She realised now that was what was different about Randy. He knew what effect his behaviour would have on her. Maybe not at the time, but afterwards he knew. And he worried. He cared. He cared more about her than himself, and that gave her a sense of peace that she had never felt before. "Nothing I could say would make you feel any worse than you already do. You understand me, so you know why I'm hurt. I don't need to punish you, you're doing that yourself."

He nodded, "if I could go back, and change what I've done…"

"You can't. Just… we can't change things, we both know that." She sat down again and ran her fingers through her hair in frustration. "We need to stop letting him dictate how we feel, how we act, and what we do. He's only affecting us because we let him."

"You're right," Randy could see that now, and his heart leapt because Lita sounded like the old Lita, the spirited girl he had always known she was.

"So we deal with your suspension, and then see what happens, OK?"

"OK." He knelt in front of her and kissed her. Suddenly it felt like a weight had been lifted. Paradoxically, what had started as one of the worst days of his life was finishing as one of the better days. Being suspended would give him a chance for a fresh start. It would give both of them that chance.