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*WrestleMania X-7, April 1, 2001*
Lita wrung her hands nervously as she waited in a remote corner of the hallway.
She worried... The truth was, she worried for all of them - Matt and Jeff, the Dudleys, who were also friends... Even for Christian, though she knew he didn't give a damn about her. But most importantly, she was worried about Edge. In the few months they'd been together, he had become her best friend, and the love of her life.
The redhead turned her head to her left as she suddenly heard someone approaching. She let out a breath. It was him. He was all ready, all right, already dressed in his purple wrestling tights and his boots.
"Hey," he whispered, the small smile disappearing from his handsome face as he caught the expression of vast worry on her beautiful face. "Li...?" He reached out and down, his large hand raising her head so that their gazes met.
"Just... be careful out there, Edge," she whispered, her hazel eyes slightly misty. She could barely even voice the fear she felt - the perhaps not so irrational fear that he might get hurt during his match.
"Hey," he replied softly, his heart in his eyes as he gazed down at her. God, this woman made him feel all sorts of things he never would have thought possible. "I've been in a TLC match before... I'll be okay."
"Promise?"
The tall blond man nodded.
"Of course, honey."
She sighed and moved forward, her arms coming up and wrapping around his neck as he pulled her against him, his own arms going to encircle her waist. She felt so good in his arms, and smelled so good. She was wearing an extra sexy outfit specially for the match as well - a pink mesh top over a black bra and a hot pink pair of tight pants with black tiger stripes on them, her matching black thong peeking up from the waistband. If there'd been time, Edge would have wanted to take her - possibly even right here in the hallway.
"I love you, Edge..." she breathed, her face pressed into his long blond hair, as though the golden silk was protecting her.
"I love you, too, Lita." The Canadian raised his hands up the sides of her body to cup her warm face, then dipped his head to tenderly capture her lips. He allowed his tongue to dominate her wonderful, warm mouth, a soft gasp escaping him as she responded in kind.
After a long moment, the redheaded diva pulled back to look up into his face.
"Look... I just wanted to let you know," she spoke. "I'll be running out there at some point, but-" She paused at the slightly alarmed look on his face. "-I have to lend Matt and Jeff a hand, so please don't take it the wrong way."
The tall blond nodded.
"I understand... But Lita... Damn it, if you get hurt out there-"
"I *won't*," she said. "And if I do anything to *you*, I swear, I'll be gentle." A small smile curved her lovely lips as she met his green eyes.
Edge chuckled.
"Well, hey... you always *were* gentle with *me* with your hurricanrana."
She swatted playfully at him, then briefly rested her head against his muscled chest.
"I'm gonna keep an eye out on you while you're out there later," he swore, and she looked up sharply. "I don't care... When all is said and done, *I'm* responsible for keeping you safe," he whispered, pointing at himself. "We may be secret to everyone but Steph, but *I'm* your boyfriend, and damn it... if anyone out there does a damn thing to hurt you - even if it's Christian or Rhyno... Well, by God, I'll make sure they *pay* for it."
Lita smiled brilliantly, her hazel eyes sparkling as she gazed up into his determined face.
"You're so sweet." With that, she reached up to pull his head down to hers, silencing him with another passionate kiss.
Neither one of them realized they were being watched.
*
The match was going pretty smoothly - aside from the fact that he'd just been the recipient of a Dudley Dawg. Edge became distinctly aware of the fact that Rhyno had suddenly entered the ring to join in the fracas. The burly, dark-haired man made quick work of Matt Hardy, goring him into a table in one corner, then grabbed the tall blond man, placing him on the ladder.
Edge began slowly climbing... He had to make it to the belts - he *had* to. He was barely aware of the suddenly cheering emitting from the crowd, not even bothering to turn his head as he was so focused on his goal. That was when he felt the back of his tights being grabbed - and, to his surprise, he saw his girlfriend.
Lita made sure to be extra careful and gentle as she knocked the tall blond man head-first into the ladder he'd been climbing. She felt pretty damn bad about doing so, but damn it, she had no choice. She *had* to do it to save face. But she couldn't really think about that right at the moment, as there was mass chaos taking place.
The redhead let out a squeal as she was suddenly lifted up high at the hands of Rhyno, fright coursing through her at what the Manbeast might have in mind. However, just as quickly, Spike came back to clock the huge man downstairs, saving her in the process. Lita landed on her feet and ran to the turnbuckle, where she took Rhyno down with a hurricanrana. From there, she slid out of the ring, concern on her face as she chanced a glance at Edge. The youngest Dudley smashed Rhyno in the head with a chair, the Manbeast careening into the ladder upon which Edge had started re-climbing. The ladder and the blond man went crashing down, the Canadian getting hooked up in the top rop.
Lita couldn't stand it and felt a burst of anger - maybe it was irrational, as Spike's actions against Edge had been inadvertent - and climbed back into the ring, grabbing a chair. The second the Dudley turned, she smashed him over the head, the small man falling out of the ring with the impact. The redhead then tore off her mesh top and started yelling at him, thankful that the arena was loud to the point that probably no one - including everyone in this match - could hear her, as she was telling him off for hurting her boyfriend. As she turned around, she was met with a 3D from Spike's older brothers.
Edge growled as he stood up. He'd still been down as he'd witnessed the damn Dudleys
attacking Lita. That did not sit well with him at all, and he'd be damned if he allowed
them to get away with it. Grabbing the chair the diva had used a moment earlier, he slammed
the steel directly onto D'Von's back. Following that, he tossed the chair at Bubba Ray and
was gleefully satisfied when Christian came in and smashed the big man with another chair.
That taken care of, Edge again turned his focus on the reason they were here - to win back
their Tag Team titles...