Author's Note: I wrote this in 2001 as a birthday fic for Jeff Hardy (the professional wrestler). Little did I know that I'd continue to write Jeff Hardy birthday fics for years to come. I've decided to publish them here for all to enjoy. "Maria" in the story is not the professional wrestler Maria, she was an original character I created before the Diva Maria ever showed up on TV. Be warned that it's a song fic and all of the stories in the series are song fics based on Dixie Chicks songs. I edited it before uploading so it's not as horrible as it was originally. Be gentle if you decide to review. :)

You Were Mine (2001)

"Happy Birthday, baby," Maria whispered as she kissed her fingers and placed them on the picture frame. She had taken out all of their wedding pictures and spread them across her bed. They were so happy for five long years but all those happy memories faded with the arrival of Kalli. At first, Maria didn't want to believe this "Kalli" person was real. She only started accepting it when Jeff had moved out to be with her, leaving Maria alone with their two children.

The previous night, Maria had yet another nightmare, one of the nightmares where you cry in your dream and cry in real life. She had woken up, yelling out Jeff's name, tears running down her cheeks.

She heard her two children run into the bedroom and she quickly placed the picture down, wiping her tears and turning to them. "All ready to see daddy?" she asked with as cheerful a voice as possible.

"Yes, ma'am!" Michelle, her oldest, exclaimed. This would be her father's first birthday where they all weren't together. "Why can't you stay?" the four-year-old asked, remembering that her mother has said it would be just the kids and daddy all day.

"Kalli's going to be there, sweetie. Besides, mommy isn't allowed to stay." This was the hardest part of her divorce, explaining to her children that their father had found someone else and loved that someone else now, not mommy.

"Oh, all right," Michelle said, dismissing the subject at hand and walking out of the room.

"Happy birthday daddy?" her youngest, Allen, asked. Maria picked up her two-year-old son and gave a nod.

"Yes, sweetie, and you get to spend all day with daddy."

"Yay!" came an enthusiastic yell from the toddler who was excited at the thought of daddy-time. Giving him an extra squeeze, Maria brought her baby downstairs.

"Michelle, get daddy's present on the kitchen table and let's go!" Maria called to her daughter, who soon came bounding into the front hall with Jeff's present in her hands. Maria reached into the closet with one hand, still holding Allen, and fished out their jackets. She set Allen down and handed Michelle her jacket, the little girl always insisting on doing it herself since she was a 'big girl' now. When everyone was ready, and Maria got the car keys, they headed outside. She secured everyone in the car seats and began their hour ride to Jeff's new home. As they got closer to Jeff's home she began talking to her children. "Be good for daddy. Be nice to Kalli. Don't eat too much birthday cake..." her voice faded as she reached his house. As she pulled into the driveway he came out the front door. 'Great, he won't even let me see them inside,' she thought.

She stopped the car and got out, opening Allen's door and taking him out of his car seat. Michelle, the brilliant four-year-old that she was, took off her own restraints and ran towards Jeff once outside of the car.

"Daddy!" she yelled as he scooped her up and hugged her. There was no denying that Jeff loved his children unconditionally.

"Well hello little Miss Michelle," came the southern drawl Maria has committed to memory many, many years ago.

"Daddy! Daddy!" came Allen's cries as Maria set him down and he ran towards his father. Jeff laughed and the little boy's excitement and picked him up as well. Maria came closer to them, smiling slightly.

"Happy birthday, Jeff," she said softly as he looked at her.

"Thank you," he replied, putting the kids down. "Go on inside," he told them as he took a step closer to Maria. "Wanna come inside, too?"

"No, I should be going. I haven't had a day alone in a while," she answered.

"All right." He watched her, seeing right through her façade.

"Just remember, Allen's allergic to peanuts. Michelle shouldn't have too much sugar, she gets really hyper," Maria began to ramble.

"I know, Ria," he replied gently.

"Sorry."

"No problem. You sure you don't wanna stay for a while? Kalli won't be home for a few hours." Her name made Maria shudder.

"No, I'm fine. When should I pick them up?"

"I'll drop them off around nine. Ok?"

"Sure." She turned and walked towards the car without another word. Jeff waited until the car was down the street before he went inside with his kids.

The day was spent playing. They opened birthday presents, sang "Happy Birthday," and ate cake, and soon it was time for them to go home. The kids fell asleep on the way back to Maria's house. Jeff pulled up the driveway and shut the car off. He silently got out of the car and woke Michelle. She sleepily got out of the car and started towards the house. Jeff got Allen out of his car seat, careful not to wake him as he walked towards the front door. He rang the bell and Maria soon answered, picking up her sleepy daughter.

"Hey," she said softly. "They weren't a handful, I hope."

"Not at all."

"C'mon in. Let's bring them upstairs."

Maria and Jeff brought the children upstairs, Michelle having fallen asleep in her mother's arms. The parents changed them into their pajamas, working together like a nightly ritual and tucking them into their beds. The two slipped back downstairs.

"Do you want coffee or something?" Maria asked, making her way to the kitchen.

"That'd be nice," Jeff replied, following her.

Maria made a pot of coffee, not speaking as the pot brewed, and they both sat at the table once it was done.

"So, what have you been doing with yourself?" Jeff asked, finally breaking the silence.

"Taking care of the kids. Cooking, cleaning, driving Michelle to school, signing divorce papers. The usual."

His eyes narrowed. "Don't make this harder than it has to be, Ria."

"Harder? It's already killing me, Jeff, it can't get any harder. She has no right to take you away like this. For so damn long you were mine! Five long, happy years! We were happy!" The desperation in her voice couldn't be missed.

"Obviously I wasn't..."

"I wake up crying at night, Jeff. I dream about what we had and I miss it so much. I scream out your name every single night."

"Ria, stop, please."

"Our love wasn't blind. What we had was so special. I have two great reasons that we should be together. He's two and she's four and you know they adore you! How can I tell them you don't love mommy anymore?"

"Ria, I'm sorry. I am. But, it's over. You can do so much better than me."

"I don't want to do better, Jeff. I want you."

Jeff stood. "I'm sorry."

"I remember when you were mine, Jeff. The nights of making love. Snuggling as we watched TV. When we found out I was pregnant with Michelle. When Allen was born."

"Please, Maria," he was begging now.

"I'll forget any of this happened, Jeff. I'll forget you walking out on us. Just, please, come back to stay."

"I can't. I love Kalli."

"And you didn't love me."

Jeff sighed. "I should go. Thanks for letting them come by today."

Maria looked down at her hands as she sat at the table. She couldn't find a reason to let go. So what? He found a new love. Kalli was what his dreams were made of, not her. Not Ria. But, she couldn't find a reason to hang on. She was willing to forget everything that had happened in the last six months. To her, life was not worth living without him. Jeff silently left the house, going back home. Maria would have to get used to being alone. There was no one else she wanted. No one would ever fill the shoes Jeff Hardy had filled for all those years. She closed her eyes, remembering when he was hers.