xxx

Matt Hardy inhales deeply, exhaled, and sighed. It was his first night on Raw in a hell of a long time, and he was pumped.

"This is great, Jeff." Matt turned to his brother, Jeff Hardy, who sat in a chair in the corner, "I feel alive here, y'know? Like there's this energy here that just electrifies me!"

Jeff nodded.

"I dunno--maybe it's cause the crowd is bigger, of cause we're live! I don't know, but it's amazing!"

Jeff nodded.

Matt was literally jumping up and down with pure excitement, "God, this feeling...I can't shake it. What do you think it is, Jeff?"

Jeff nodded.

"Oh, c'mon, you've gotta have some idea."

Jeff nodded.

"Jeff?"

Jeff nodded.

"JEFF!"

"Huh?" Jeff looked up, snatching the earbuds out of his ears, "Did you say something? My music was turned way up, man."

Matt stared, "Oh, never mind." He sat down on the couch, laying his tag belt across his lap and gazing at it. There truly was energy, he could feel it And despite Jeff's calm demeanor, Matt knew his brother felt it too.

"Alright, I'm back." Autumn pushed the door open with her shoulder, her hands full with coffee and a paper bag. "I'm tired of doing your dirty work." She smirked, "Here's your plain coffee."

"Thanks, babe." Matt took the cup from her.

"Jeff, you're donut." She waved the bag in front of his face in case he had his music on and couldn't hear. For once, he didn't.

"See, I always forget to check and see if he's lucid." Matt shrugged, "I always end up having a thirty minute conversation with a statue."

Jeff rolled his eyes as he bit into his donut, "Thanks, A." He mumbled, brushing away a few stray crumbs that fell onto his black shirt.

Autumn took a seat on the couch at the opposite end of Matt, sipping her cappuchino, "So, what's the match tonight?" She asked casually.

Matt swallowed a sip of coffee, "Cade and Murdoch. It's a non-title match."

"That'll be easy." She laughed, "I mean, they're ok, but not even close to being a challenge for you guys."

"Who is?" Matt smirked. Autumn rolled her eyes.

"When someone praises you, Matt, you're not supposed to praise yourself in return."

"Why not?"

"Oh, Lord." She scoffed and blew on her drink to cool it. Matt smiled. he only did that kind of thing because he knew it annoyed her. She hated when he got cocky, and he thought it was so funny to watch her get mad.

"Oh man!" Jeff exclaimed suddenly, "I knew I should've ordered two."

Rolling her eyes, Autumn stood up, "I'll go get you another one."

Jeff gave her a cheeky grin, "Thank you."

She walked out the door, and Jeff turned to face Matt, "Why do you do that?"

Matt looked up, "Do what?"

"Try to piss her off like that." Jeff shook his head, "I don't understand. If you like a chick, why do you try to make her mad?"

"Honestly?" Matt smiled softly, his dimples showing, "She's cute when she's angry."

xxx

How a catering area could be out of donuts, she didn't know, but Autumn would have to face Jeff empty handed.

Making her way back to the dressing room, she recognized a few familiar faces, but most of the people she saw she'd never met. Another thing she noticed was there were too many "Divas" who shot her nasty looks, and probably couldn't even spell WWE.

Too busy mentally making fun of them to watch where she was going, she bumped into one of the few divas who could kick her ass.

"Oh, crap, I'm so sorry!"

Melony turned, eyebrow raised, looking Autumn up and down, "Oh great, just what I need. Another anorexic looking, wannabe Diva who doesn't know the difference between a vertical suplex and Vertical Horizon."

Autumn's eyes widened, her fists clenching at her sides, "Excuse me? I was brought here from OVW and..."

Melony held up a hand, "Did I ask for your life story?" She scoffed, "Just watch where the hell you're going and stay out of my way."

Autumn couldn't help it. Before she had the chance to think about it, she'd slapped Melony in the face so hard it almost knocked her to the ground.

Smiling with satisfaction, Autumn turned around to leave. A huge mistake on her part, seeing as how Melony was already in battle mode. She shoved Autumn in the back with a force so hard it sent her reeling to the ground, her face connecting with the floor. Before Melony had a chance to go any further, Autumn was back on her feet and literally jumped on her. The other Divas could do nothing but watch as the fight progressed. No one had tried to stop it, or gone for help.

"Hey!" Jeff Hardy called, running to the scene, "Autumn, stop it!" He grabbed her by the arms and pulled her off, her legs kicking, hitting him in the knees.

"Put me down!" She screeched.

Jeff literally set her aside, blocking her with his arms to keep her from attacking again, "Calm down, Autumn!"

She merely glared, and Jeff turned to face Melony, unsure of whether to apologize or not, "Look, um..."

"Save it, Hardy!" Mel snapped, smiling satisfactorily at the sight of Autumn's bloody nose, "Just keep your bitch on a leash from now on."

Jeff waited until she'd left before turning to face Autumn, "Matt's gonna kick your ass."

She shook her head, wiping blood from her lips and chin, "Great. That'll top off my night perfectly."

xxx

"Dammit, Matt, what the hell was I supposed to do?! She started it!"

"Are you really gonna use that excuse? 'She started it'? I don't care who started it! You finish it in the ring!"

Jeff sat on the couch, listening to the verbal tennis match, a small smirk on his lips. Matt always had to play parent to either Jeff or Autumn, for the sake of his job and theirs.

"I don't know which skank it was, Matt, what does it matter?"

"Cause you're apologizin' to her!"

"I thought you didn't take any shit, Matt, what the hell happened?"

Jeff leaned back, his mind wandering. He hadn't recognized the Diva had been Autumn was fighting with, either. WWE had brought in so many new people, and usually fired them before Jeff even realized they worked there.

But he had to admit, this chick had balls. Passion, too. In the few seconds their gazes locked, he saw fire in her grey-blue eyes. He admired that in almost anyone.

He couldn't lie to himself, though--she was also fucking hot.

Snapping himself out of his daze, Jeff looked up to see that Matt and Autumn's argument was still going on. He'd tuned it out and forgot about it until then.

Glancing at his watch(the one Matt bought him so he'd be on time), Jeff stood up and cleared his throat, "Thank ya'll can put this on hold?"

"What?!" Both of them snapped, glaring at him. Jeff stared at them, his eyebrow arched, "Well, hate to interrupt, but...it's time for our match."

xxx

After Matt reminded Jeff to hold back a little on his "thrust dance" and not get carried away(again), The Hardys and Autumn made their way out to the ring.

After their salute to the fans, the flaunting of belts, and their valet in their corner, The Hardys were ready for action.

So you can imagine the disappointment(and confusion) when Jonathan Coachman's music hit.