RAW arena – 8:21 PM – Parking lot
"Hello?" she answered her phone as she turned off her car.
"Where did you park?"
"By the VIP entrance. Why?"
"Good. You and Shawn come in these doors. I'm waiting."
"Did you talk to Jeff?"
"Yeah, and I can tell he's not happy."
"You mean he's disappointed in me," she said with a slight raise of her eyebrows. She ushered Shawn out of the back seat, taking his hand as they scurried their way across the busy parking lot.
"He's just disappointed in what happened." He lowered his phone from his ear, as she did with her own, when the two approached him. "And he still loves you."
"Well, thank you, Dr. Love, but I think it's going to take more than 'I love you baby, be with me' to fix this now." She ducked a bit as she walked under the arch of Christian's arm and the opened door, pushing Shawn behind her, effectively sandwiching him between her and Christian. She caught the stares of a few fans shoving their way through the packed crowd in a roped-off area.
Once escorting them to a secluded area, he waved them to a set of oversized black leather couches. Before he could sit with Vivian, Shawn squeezed his middle.
"Uncle Jay!"
"Well, hello to you too," he said, hugging the little boy in return. "Did you watch Summer Slam last night?"
"I sure did! I saw you fight!"
Christian led the boy to sit on the couch between him and his mother. "Did you see your da – "
Vivian cleared her throat loudly, stopping him from completing his question. A figure walking into the cove averted their attention. She stood immediately at seeing who it was.
"Matt!" She accepted the hug he offered, seeing his eyes light up as she pulled away from his embrace. "It's been too long."
"Yeah, it has been. Listen, Jeff will be in a few minutes. He'll be so happy to see you." He smiled at her, waving at Christian as he walked off.
"Why did they come around this way?"
"I told Matt that I would meet you here, knowing he wouldn't fail to tell Jeff."
"Great," she huffed, plopping back down on the couch. "He's going to go out of his way to see me and hate me all over again."
"Viv, I don't think he ever hated you."
"Jeff Hardy, mom?" the little voice said, bringing her from the depth of her thinking.
"The one and only," she said, smiling and tapping his nose with a manicured finger. She leaned back into the couch cushion, waiting for the doomed moments with Jeff to arrive. "So what do I say?" she asked after several minutes of silence. She crossed her legs, popping her gum as she looked to Christian for an answer.
"How about you at least say hi this time."
The voice that came from off to the side behind her startled her. She nearly jumped off the couch, almost backing up into her son.
"I'll take him backstage," Christian offered, taking Shawn's hand and guiding him through the black canvas curtains.
"Your nephew looks happy to be here tonight," Jeff said calmly as he crossed one arm over to the other. In his hand he held a Hardy jersey which Vivian was staring at. "I got this for you." He passed the jersey to her. "And this for him." In the hand that was crossed over, was a signed Hardy baseball cap.
"Thanks," she breathed out, taking the hat from him. "He'll love it." She fingered the signature lightly before tossing both items onto the couch. "Jeff, I – "
"Why did you agree to have Christian let you in? So you could just taunt me again?"
"No," she said slowly. "I thought it would be good if Shawn finally met you on a personal level. I know he's seen you around before, but he needs more."
"Why? He's your nephew. Do his parents agree with you taking their son to every wrestling event that passes through?"
She looked down at the vibrant lime green painted toes. "Well, one of them does."
"And the other?" he asked, tilting his head towards her, not wanting to play cute with her.
She looked up at him now, bright hazel eyes nearly giving in to the tears that threatened to flow at any second. When she lowered her head again, the anger he felt deep inside melted away as the soft shake of her shoulders told him the tears had won. He pulled her close to him, and she immediately molded into him like she always did. Without even realizing it, his hand was gently stroking her long, dark loosely curled hair. Her scent drawing him in faster than anything else he could imagine, he buried his head into the soft nook between her shoulder and neck.
"I swear, I didn't mean for this to happen," she cried softly on his chest.
"What?" he asked, his brows furrowing. "What do you mean?"
She lifted her head, her mouth parted to start explaining, but before she could speak a word, Christian came back through the curtain, Shawn hand-in-hand right beside him.
"They're looking for you in Creative, Jeff."
Jeff looked over at Christian, and his eyes trailed over the square-faced little boy. His bright hazel green eyes looking up at him like he really knew him. His brown hair had a layer of dark blond streaking the top. He looked so familiar to Jeff, it was almost uncanny. As he continued to look at the five year old, he hardly noticed Christian cross over to Vivian.
"Come with me," Christian said to Vivian. "I'll take you to catering and you can get some food."
She nodded, mumbling something in agreement as she furiously wiped tears from her face. She saw the worried look on her son's face, but assured him she was fine, then presented him with the baseball cap, which he promptly placed on his head. The three of them left out of the curtain, leaving Jeff slightly confused as to what Vivian meant. He stood there for a few moments, contemplating, then dismissed his thoughts as he headed for the conference room of the Creativity department.
RAW arena - 10:25 PM - Hardy's locker room
"I bought tickets for nothing."
"I thought you talked to Christian?" Jeff asked as he pulled on a sleeveless wrestling shirt.
"I did, but I bought the tickets beforehand."
"Ah," he said at her explanation. "Don't worry about it. I'll give you back the money. Besides, if you two still want to sit first row, you can go out there any time you'd like."
"You next?" Vivian asked with a slight smile.
"Yeah, our segment is next. Are you going to watch? Or do you just want to stay back here and wait for me... ?" he asked, trailing off as he tried to ignore the beautiful face looking at him. He was trying so hard to contain himself, and not to drag her off into an empty room to have his way with her... like they used to. "Wait for me?" The question escaped his lips again as she turned to Shawn.
"What do you want to do, sweetie? Wait back here, or go watch?" The twinkle in her eye sent a wide smile across the boy's face.
"Let's go watch," he giggled, quickly placing his chubby hands over his mouth.
Vivian winked at him, then held out her hand for him to hold. "Alright," she said. "Do you have to use the bathroom?" At the shake of his head, they proceeded to walk past Jeff. "Be safe and thanks."
Jeff grabbed her arm before she could pass him all the way. Before he could stop himself, he placed a soft kiss on her lips. She stiffened up but didn't pull away, and couldn't help but love Jeff's smile.
"Come back after the match?"
She nodded as she caressed the side of his face. "I'll be waiting for you."
Jeff Hardy vs. Edge - 10:58 PM - Ringside seats
"He's winning, mommy!"
Vivian winced as Jeff dove off the top turnbuckle, flipping in mid-air, and landing the Swanton Bomb perfectly onto Edge. She grabbed Shawn's hand as the referee counted the three pin. The announcer could barely begin to state that Jeff was the winner before the crowd became ten times louder, cheering for Jeff. His music started bumping in the arena when Vivian scooped up Shawn, holding his head into her shoulder as they made their way backstage.
Christian stood in the hallway in his wrestling tights, a white towel slung over his shoulder.
"Hey," he said, spotting them from where he leaned against the wall. "Enjoy the match?"
"Yeah!" Shawn answered before Vivian could place him down on the floor. He reached out for Christian, his mother happily giving the squirming little boy over to the wrestler. "Jeff Hardy won!"
Vivian turned from the overly-happy sight, seeing Jeff limp through the stage curtains and down the steps. She walked up to him, holding out her hand, while the other went to her eyes to wipe away a tear.
"What?" Jeff said in a quiet voice. "I'm fine."
"I hate that you get so hurt."
A soft rumble came from his chest as he spoke. "You always worried about me. And I've always been fine." He looked down at Vivian's sides. "Where's Shawn?"
Her voice still tight with emotion, she motioned over to where the boy in question was hiked up on Christian's hip. Shawn happily clapped his hands as the show came to an end. Before Vivian could gather strength in her legs to walk, Jeff strode over to the duo and took Shawn from Christian. She could barely make out what Jeff said to Christian, but he nodded at Jeff and walked off down the hallway opposite of them.
"Jay's leaving?" she asked as Jeff and Shawn came back to her.
"Yeah," Jeff answered as he patted the tired little boy's head. "Listen, if you're not opposed to it, I'd like to come over. Spend some time with you and Shawn while I can." At her reluctance, he added, "If you don't mind."
"No," she said, placing a hand on her forehead. "No, I don't mind at all."
"Good, let me just grab my bag." When she reached for Shawn, he turned the boy away from her. "No, I got him. You go. Meet me around out back."
She quietly agreed, and watched the two turn the corner towards Jeff's locker room. Standing there a minute, she closed her eyes and took a deep breath in.
"Isn't that a nice little reunion?" a deep voice hissed out. "When were you going to tell him, Viv?"
She faced the hateful voice. "You're not a part of it. Mind your business."
"Oh, honey, I am, believe me." He swung a white towel over his shoulder. "Because if it weren't for you, none of us would have to had to lie to a man about his son."
"He's my son too, Adam." She glowered at him, her eyes becoming snake-like slits.
"Yeah, and you seemed to have played that card all too well. You have me and Jay lying about it. You even have his own brother harboring your secret. And all because you're scared he'll find out you spread your legs - "
"Hey! Shawn is his, okay?" she interrupted, her voice a hushed tone slightly above a whisper. "You're the one to talk after you did what you did to Matt. I didn't judge you then, so don't judge me now." Turning on her heel, she started to walk down the hallway towards an exit when his grating voice spoke again.
"I bet you didn't tell your Hardy boy that you were in love with Jay, did ya? That you two had a fling, did ya? You can try and hide it all you want, Viv, but it was obvious to anyone who saw you two."
Vivian hesitated for a moment before pressing her lips together, exhaling deeply, and continued to walk along, ignoring Edge's accusations.
RAW arena - 11:59 PM - Parking lot
"What took you so long?" Jeff asked, placing the sleeping little boy into the booster chair in the back seat of Vivian's car.
"Nothing," she said quickly. "Where's your car?"
"I came with Matt, and he left a while ago." He buckled Shawn in snugly, then opened the front passenger door. "What do you mean by nothing?"
She sighed, sliding into her seat and quietly shutting her door. "Nothing means nothing. You gonna get in?"
He nodded his head once, climbing into the seat and shutting his door. "After being with you for seven years, I think I know your tone better than you realize, and that nothing definitely means something. Did you talk to someone?"
She didn't speak, leaving Jeff's question lingering in the air as she smoothly wound around the parking lot. They were pulling up into the driveway to her house before she opened her mouth again.
"If you can get him out of the car without waking him up, I'd appreciate it." She quickly turned off the car, popping the trunk as she did, and just as quickly, she got out of the car to grab Jeff's bag from the trunk. Jeff could barely nod his head in agreement as she carried his duffel bag to the front door, but he was shortly behind her, a sleeping Shawn in his arms. The cool, crisp air of the house hit his lungs, easing his nerves from the unanswered question still between them.
"Where's he staying?"
"His room is down the hall, second on the right."
"He has a room here?"
She nodded, pulling Jeff's bag into the den. She looked down, refusing to look at him as he walked carefully down the hallway, disappearing into Shawn's bedroom. Vivian was sitting at the kitchen table, staring out of the windows. The water slapped onto the nighttime sands, and gently rolled back to join the rest of the ocean. She loved this view. Loved this kitchen, and when Jeff first saw her looking out onto the beach like she was now, he couldn't tell her no. Back then, a smile was plastered to her face, but now a sullen, worried look overpowered any smile she could have.
"Are you going to tell me what's bothering you?" he asked her, sitting across from her at the cherry wood table. "Or do I have to get it out of you?"
She gave him a falsified smile. "You always knew what to do to make me smile, Jeff. It's one of the reasons why I absolutely loved you." Her sad eyes turned back to the shoreline.
"Did I stop making you laugh?"
"No," she answered, not looking at him.
"Were you ever unhappy with me?"
"Never."
He hesitated before taking a breath. "Did you stop loving me?"
The same sad eyes that stared out into the night waters became tender with emotions as she looked over at him, trying her best to give a genuine smile. "I still love you, Jeff."
His head dropped into his hands, his voice breaking as he spoke. "So then what happened that you would leave me?" At her silence, he looked up at her, his fingers rubbing over his facial hair. "What happened? Was it someone else?"
"Sort of."
"What do you mean sort of? Damn it, Viv! I want some answers!" He successfully fought the urge to slam a large hand on the table, but tightened back his lips. "You know you were the only person who ever had all of my trust. With everything. With my career, with my money, my love." He looked up at her. "With my whole life. And all you did was throw it back at me."
"I did not, Jeff. It's not as simple - "
"Then what was it? Huh? Being Mrs. Hardy was too much for you?"
"That is not fair. I never once regretted marrying you. And it wasn't someone else like how you're thinking. I was always faithful to you."
"Really?" he challenged. "Not what I heard." He leaned back in the chair and crossed his arms over his chest.
"Is that what you're making this about? A few little rumors, which by the way, Randy had his eye on me since he was knee-high to a grasshopper. That was ten years ago he had a crush on me. He was a kid. Do you honestly think I'd look his way?"
"So now you're going to make this about Orton? I find it funny you'd say that right away. Feeling a little guilty?"
"I didn't have an affair with him!" she spat out, slapping her hand on the table. "I'm sorry you don't believe me, but I'm telling you the truth. I have never wanted to be with anyone else but you." She also crossed her arms underneath her ample breasts making Jeff's eyes target over to them. She narrowed her eyes as she once more looked back out to the beach, and spoke through tight lips. "Now, are we going to argue all night? Because if that's the case, I'd rather just go to bed."
"No," he said, sighing heavily. "I didn't ask to come here to argue with you. I wanted to talk to you. About Shawn."
Her eyes became round as she looked at him. "What about him?"
"I couldn't help but think earlier how much he looks like you. I know he's just your nephew, but he could be your son." A wide smile spread across his face as he thought of the little boy's bright face. "How old is Angie now?"
The question of her sister's age rattled her. Truth be told, she hadn't thought of Angie's age in ration to Shawn's, and she cursed herself silently. "She's twenty-two."
"With a five year old? Man, no wonder she depends on you so much. She still in school?"
Vivian swallowed hard, nodding her head, knowing all too well that her sister hadn't even attended college after graduating high school. She'd gone straight for a certification in nursing.
"In Florida?"
This time, she shook her head. "Up in Jersey."
"New Jersey? And she comes back down here for Shawn?"
"Yeah, she visits sometimes." She trailed off, feeling herself turn red. She felt like he was almost connecting the dots. "He starts school in a few days."
"Back up in Jersey?"
"No," she shyly said. "Here."
"Why does he stay with you so much? Does she ever have him?"
"Jeff, what's your point? She's up there, and we're down here. It's worked for years now." She stood from the table before he could say anything else. He stretched out his arms over the table top as she walked over to the refrigerator, hastily opening it and pulling out deli meats.
"Did you not eat at the show tonight?" he asked, standing.
"I did," she answered in short. "But that was hours ago."
"It was a few hours ago," he corrected as he stood behind her, watching as she put some roast beef on a slice of potato bread. "Are you pregnant?"
She nearly choked on her food, spinning around to face him. "Have you gone mad? It's a midnight snack, Jeff, not a pregnancy test."
"Have you ever thought of having kids?" he asked as she turned back around to the counter.
"Of course I have. I did marry a man. And I had intentions of having many kids with him one day. But," she paused as she turned back to him, a slice of bread folded in half with turkey meat on it. "He wanted to believe in everyone but me, and now I'm not sure if I'll ever have my husband back." She baited him to open his mouth by slightly parting hers. His bite nearly took the whole mini-sandwich, leaving just a bit at the end, which Vivian promptly finished.
"I did not," he said between chews, "believe everyone else. You basically forced me to believe in what I thought was to be true."
"Oh, I forced you?" she scoffed, putting away the deli meat and cleaning off the counter top. "Please, Jeff, no one can force you to do anything."
"No, not just anyone," he confirmed, wiping his mouth. "But you could."
"Could not. I wanted you to come see me when I was - " She froze up, realizing what she was going to say.
"When you were what?" he asked, noticing her tense up.
"When I wanted you to come here. I wanted you to come stay with me again. After we had split for a few months. I asked Jay if he could ask you to come back, and - " She thought of that day Christian had come to visit her while they both had been signed to the same wrestling promotion once more.