Disclaimer: I don't own any of the people portrayed in this story, as much as I would love to, I sadly don't.
A/N There are two writers to this story, one of us will be taking care of everything that has to do with Randy's life and POV, and the other one will be doing Jeff's life and POV. If you want to know us more you can follow us on twitter.
Meghan who is taking care of Randy's side : XxWondercakeXx
And me, Sabrina, who is doing Jeff's side: xxBattleBirdxx
Enjoy!
Jeff Nero Hardy walked through the back halls of the arena smiling and waving at his fellow WWE stars as they passed. Everyone around him was shuffling to get things done before the show kicked off, but luckily he was closing the whole thing out tonight so he currently couldn't give a damn what needed to be done.
Walking into his assigned dressing room, rolling his suitcase behind him. He already wore his ring gear, which consisted of a black wife beater and big black cargo pants, all that needed to be done now was his signature face paint.
Sitting down in front of the mirror Jeff pulled his mid-length purple and black hair into a pony tail on the top of his head and looked at his face paint options. Sitting in front of him were about 80 different colors of paint that he brought with him to every match.
After about 20 minutes of staring he gave up, closing his eyes and picking three random colors. Opening them back up and looking at the tubes in his hand he saw a dark grey, electric blue, and neon green. He could definitely work with that.
Jeff sighed as he began his paint, talking to himself, "Why can't the only thing I have to ever worry about be baby oil? Why in the ever loving fuck did I have to do face paint as my signature? I should just rub myself down like Orton." Jeff cringed at just the name. He hated Randall Orton with a fiery passion ever since Orton had punted his brother in the head. While his loving older brother Matt Hardy couldn't give a flying fuck at this point what had happened in the past, Jeff still couldn't get the image of his brothers head meeting Randy Orton's oversized foot.
Shaking off the memory, and smiling at the thought of his amazing 30 foot swanton that night, Jeff resumed working on his paint. After about 30 minutes of concentrated artistry Jeff was finally happy with his work. He admired the way the blue blended with the green in the mirror, but his stomach decided that he had had enough time to look at his masterpiece.
"Shit I'm starving." Jeff said to no one, rubbing his stomach. Catering was just down the hall and he still had plenty of time to eat, so might as well get some of that food while he could. Jeff grabbed the paint colors he had used, knowing at least some of it was going to rub off between now and show time, he walked out of the room. Walking down the hallway and into the makeshift cafeteria that catering had set up Jeff was about to get in line for food when something small and bright caught his eye. Turning, he saw a small girl with blond pig tails looking around the room full of adults, a look of confusion on her face. Jeff looked to see if some adult was with her, or getting her food, but no on in the room seemed to even know the girl was there. Looking back at her Jeff felt a little ping in his chest. She looked a bit older than Ruby, but her cute face and blond hair reminded him of his precious daughter Ruby.
Sighing, Jeff skipped the line for food and walked over to her. Kneeling down behind her before tapping her on the shoulder.
"Hey," He said "Are you lost?" The girl turned around to face him and realization hit Jeff. There, looking him in the face, was Randy Orton's daughter Alanna.
"Hi." She said. Her eyes lit up when they moved over his face. "I like your paint." She said, pointing at his face.
"Thank you." Jeff smiled. Then suddenly, looking at her little face, Jeff had an idea. Perhaps the best idea he had ever had. "Would you like me to paint your face like mine? I have my paints here." He held out his hand, showing her the little tubes of color. She clapped and giggled.
"Can you do it just like yours? I wanna be like you." Oh, if only Randy had been here to hear that one, his head would have exploded. Randy was going to be so pissed Jeff was just giddy with excitement.
"Alright, come sit over here and we can get your face paint done." Jeff led her to a chair in the corner of the busy room. "Do you want something to eat?" He asked, fatherly instinct kicking in, making sure she wasn't in need of anything.
"Uh huh." She nodded, pigtails wiggling. "Chicken tenders." She said.
"Alright, wait right here and I will grab you something to eat"
Jeff ran over to the food table, grabbing chicken tenders, potato skins, and any other finger food he could find on the table, including a mini chocolate muffin on the dessert table. Returning to Alanna, who sat in the chair swinging her feet, Jeff sat the plate on the table.
"Alright, here's some food. Munch on this while I get the paint set up." Jeff said, setting down an extra paper plate he got to put his paint on. Squeezing the colors out on the white plate he mixed and matched the colors to the ones on his face with a plastic knife from the catering table.
"Ok, here we go. You gotta hold really still, ok?" Jeff said looking at the girl who's cheeks protruded with food.
"MMMKayy." She said as she tried to swallow her food, not even finishing chewing. Jeff couldn't help but smile. This girl may share blood with the man he hated, but she was so adorable and reminded him so much of his Ruby he just couldn't help it.
Dipping his finger in the paint Jeff began to paint her small face, trying to get as close to his own face paint as possible. After about 15 minutes of painting and laughing at the girls random comments and conversation starters Jeff was finished and admired his devious work. He had forgotten that he was even doing this to piss Randy off, he had just done it to please the small girl in front of him.
"Holy shit, dude, what did you do?!" Jeff turned to the voice, which belonged to his longtime friend CM Punk.
"Oh, hey Punk." Jeff smiled.
"Really? That's all you have to say right now? Randy is gonna fucking kill you." Pun said looking at the happy girl, who was showing off her face paint.
"Punk! Langauge!" Jeff exclaimed. He didn't like it when people cussed in front of his daughter and reacted on instinct, whether Alanna was his or not.
Punk just looked at him. "Really?"
Jeff just shrugged.
"Alanna, do you wanna go see your daddy? His match is almost over." Punk said, leaning to the girl, who had now moved on to eating the chocolate muffin.
"Yea!" She hopped down from her chair. Alanna turned to Jeff, "Come on Mister Jeff, show daddy what you did with your paint and my face." She smiled.
"I need to get ready for my match sweet heart, but I'm sure your daddy will know that I painted your face. None of these other guys are any good as art." Alanna giggle and Jeff smiled down at her. "Have fun darlin'." Jeff patted her on the head and walked off, hearing Punk mutter something about Jeff being a "dumb son of a bitch" under his breath.
Jeff got some of that food he wanted and ate quickly. Walking back down the hallway towards his dressing room, hoping to do a few last minute touch ups on his face paint. After he re-did some of his face paint it was time to go wait in gorilla for his match. Going towards the gorilla for his Jeff saw a pissed looking Orton talking to CM Punk and a happy face painted Alanna in between them. Jeff couldn't help but smile as he walked by.
Though the happiness didn't last long as a certain oversized asshole came up to him.
"What the hell did you think you were doing Hardy?! Don't ever touch my daughter again, Understand?!" Randy yelled and shoved Jeff.
"Dude, what's your problem?" Jeff knew Randy would be mad, but he didn't think he would be this mad. Usually Randall's anger at Jeff happened silently or in the ring, but not in the open like this.
"My problem is that I don't want some drugged out junkie alone with my daughter!" Randy yelled. Jeff couldn't help the pang of anger he felt. Drugs were something that Jeff hadn't touched since he found out he was going to be a father. Ruby was his life and he wasn't going to mess that up, especially not now. Ruby only had one parent now and that was him. Jeff's wife died a year ago, hit by a drunk driver. So Jeff also couldn't help the hurt when Randy mentioned his former drug problem. But he couldn't show his anger or his pain, he just needed to keep strong with his attitude.
"Whatever man. Maybe next time leave her with someone more capable…say maybe the state." Jeff knew the words pissed Randy off the moment that he was being tackled to the ground by a giant and had a fist in his face. Perhaps he should have chosen his words more wisely. Randy pulled himself off of Jeff.
Jeff got up, brushed himself off and got up, sending a cocky smile Orton's way before heading out to his match with Alberto Del Rio, which he won of course, not wanting to let that over egotistical maniac win.
Afterwards he went through the after match motions of greeting his beloved fans, commenting on his win, and packing his thinks. He ran out to his bus and hopping on, wanting to get to the hotel as quickly as possible. Once there he checked into his room and jumped on his bed. It was 11:30, but he knew Ruby would still be awake.
Picking up his cell phone he called his brother Matt, who picked up after just two rings.
"Good lord man I thought you would never call. She's refusing to go to bed until you do the thing." Matt frantic and tired voice came.
Jeff smiled. "Put her on."
After a few short moments a small voice came on the phone. "Hi, daddy." Jeff smiled at the sound of his daughters voice.
"Hi, baby girl. Are you giving Uncle Matt hell for me?"
"Yeah, I jump on his back when he not looking just like you said. And then I give him the spear." She said proudly.
"That's my girl." He laughed as he heard Matt in the background yelling about how he knew this whole thing had been a conspiracy. "Ok, I'm gonna do it, but them you have to go to bed for Uncle Matt ok?"
"Ok daddy." She said happily.
Jeff sighed and began to sing Ruby her favorite song.
"Stars shining bright above you
Night breezes seems to whisper 'I love you'
Birds singing in the sycamore trees
Dream a little dream of me
Say mighty- night and kiss me
Just hold me tight and tell me you'll miss me
While I'm alone and blue as can be
Dream a little dream of me
Stars fading but I linger on dear
Still craving your kiss
I'm longing to linger till dawn dear
Just say this
Sweet dreams till sunbeams find you
Sweet dreams that leave all worries behind you
But in your dreams whatever they be
Dream a little dream of me
Stars fading but I linger on dear
Still craving your kiss
I'm longing to linger toll dawn dear
Just saying this
Sweet dreams, till sunbeams find you
Gotta keep dreaming leave all your worries behind you
But in your dreams whatever they be
You gotta make a promise, promise to me
You'll dream a little dream of me."
Jeff finished out the song and heard some rustling at the other end, then his brothers voice.
"She's out, bro. That shit works like a charm."
Jeff smiled. "It's the song. She loves it for some reason."
"Talk to you tomorrow? You gotta be tired after that match I saw" Matt said.
"Yeah, we really gotta talk tomorrow. I got some shit to tell you about. Night."
"Night." Matt said.
Jeff hung up the phone, going to sleep easily.