Disclaimer: I own the OCs, WWE is owned by Vince McMahon.
Chapter Seven: Your Body's Aching for a Breath
Friday
Jeff laid down on his bed, staring up at the ceiling. He was at his new house he recently built, due to the burning down of his last one. That fire, he'd lost everything. Now he was feeling as if he was going to lose everything again, if he didn't pick up that phone and ask to speak to Trish. If he didn't speak to his daughter who didn't even know he was her dad. He wondered if he would ever get the chance to tell her…and if he did, what her reaction would be. Somehow he wondered if maybe she was better off without him. Trish did fine raising her for five years. Did she need her father? Did she need him?
His cell phone, on the bedside table, rang again. But he couldn't get it, it hurt to move. Yesterday after leaving Matt's house he had got onto his motocross bike and crashed. The incident was crazy, and now he was feeling the aftereffects. His phone finally stopped ringing. But he knew it'd ring again. His brother was probably the one calling. Or his dad, he wouldn't be surprised if the older Hardy brother had filled his father in. Lately he was the last to know everything. It sucks, he thought. And it hurts.
"Jeff?" he heard someone call his name from downstairs. The voice, he instantly recognized. It was his dad.
Jeff didn't respond because there was a knock on his door less than three minutes later.
"Come in, dad."
The door opened and Gilbert Hardy walked into the room. He took one look at his son and inwardly cringed. "What happened to you?" he walked over to his son's bed and took a seat.
Jeff had various scrapes, cuts and bruises on his face and arms from the crash. There was more damage done, but he was sure his father couldn't see that as it was covered by his clothing. "Crashed my bike."
"I see. Something on your mind son?"
"Does it seem that way?" he looked at his father to see his father looking at him, his eyes filled with concern.
"Matt told me you left his house upset and he hasn't spoke to you since. Tried to call a few times, couldn't get in touch." His father let that information sink in before speaking again. "I wanted to see if you were alright. I was worried."
Jeff raised an eyebrow, surprised that his father didn't know about Lacey. He was sure Matt would've told him. "Why?"
That surprised Gilbert, but he didn't let it show. "Why was I worried?"
"Yeah. I'm 31. I can take care of myself."
Gilbert chuckled. "Yes you can, but I'm still you're father. I'll always worry."
"Is that what it's like?" he noticed his father looked confused so he spoke again. "Being a father? Worrying, constantly?"
"It's more than that, son. I can't even begin to put it into words. You'll know how it feels when the time is right."
The room became silent as Jeff began to think about what his father said. "What if the time is now?"
Gilbert raised an eyebrow, slightly taken back. "You want to have a kid?"
Jeff shrugged, which he instantly regret as he flinched a bit in pain. "I don't have a choice."
His father gasped a little. "You got a woman pregnant?"
He nodded. Years ago, but still he did. "It was years ago."
"I'm not following."
"Trish came for Amy's show." He explained. "Well, she didn't come alone. She came with a daughter. Lacey. She's…dad, if you just see her." He sighed, and against his will water filled his eyes, but he'd never let them fall. "She's my daughter."
"Now wait just a minute. Do you have proof?" He asked in a stern voice, trying to digest the information.
"Trish told me, but I kind of already knew at first glance. Just looking at her you can tell, dad. She's lights up a room, she's so innocent and beautiful. How can I create someone like her?" he asked thoughtfully. "I'm such a screw up, but she's the one thing I did right. And I don't even know anything about her."
"You're not a screw up, Jeff." His dad told him, standing up from the bed. "What did I tell you about thinking like that?" his dad, didn't wait for his answer, walking to the door.
"Where are you going?" Jeff asked his dad, questionably.
"To see Lacey." He replied nonchalantly, as if it were an everyday thing. Jeff said nothing and his father stood there just looking at his son. "Well?"
"Huh?" Jeff questioned.
"You coming or are you going to lie there all day?"
"I'll be there later." Truth was, he probably couldn't even get up if he wanted to.
"Alright. See you, son. Love you."
"Love you too dad." His dad shut the door and before long he heard the house door shut too. Once again, he was all alone.
----
Trish sat down on the stool in Matt's kitchen. Amy and Matt were drinking coffee across from her.
"So, tonight." Trish spoke. "I don't think I can go to your show. I need a babysitter." She explained.
"What? Nooo, Trish! That was the whole point in coming out here, to see me play. Now you can't just bail like that." Disappointment shown in Amy's eyes as she sat her cup of coffee down on the table.
Trish sighed, a frown upon her face. "There will be other shows, Amy. I'm sorry, but I can't leave Lacey alone."
"Shannon can watch her." Matt suggested, Amy and Trish snapped their heads to him as a 'what the fuck' expression appeared on both women's faces.
"I don't think so." Trish shook her head as she spoke. "I don't want her to come back to me with ten tattoos."
Matt smiled at her. "Cut him some slack, he's responsible."
"No way, sorry. Just can't see it."
"I can't believe you even suggested him." Amy told Matt, pushing his shoulder lightly.
The oldest Hardy brother shrugged. "My dad?"
Trish eyes widened. "Oh my God. He's going to kill me."
"Huh? Why?"
"Hello, his first grandchild and I kept him from her. Let's add him to the list of people who has the name Trish on their hit list."
"Come on Trish, my dad is not going to hate you."
"Or murder you." Amy added, then replied quickly after, "Or hire someone to murder you."
"How reassuring." Trish looked down at her watch, it was almost twelve, about time to make Lacey's lunch and then have her take her nap. She stood from her seat. "So, do you have anything I can cook for a little girl about five?" she asked Matt.
"Does she like peanut butter and jelly?"
Trish shook her head, going to the frig and finding it near empty. "Allergic to nuts and she doesn't like jelly." She turned around to them. "Matt, you need to go shopping."
Amy's eyes lit up. "We should go!"
"Amy, I can't. I have to make lunch for Lace."
"I can take her to get some McDonald's." Matt offered the two girls.
"Yes, yay!" Amy grinned excitedly.
Trish rolled her eyes at her friend's eagerness. "Fine, let's go." Amy began to bounce excitedly out the kitchen door, grabbing Trish's arm, dragging her along. "Remember, allergic to nuts!" she yelled before they were gone from the room.
Matt put his cup into the sink before leaving the room and seeing Trish talking to Lacey by the closet as she put on her coat.
"You be good for Matt, he's going to take you to get some lunch." Trish went into her purse to look for something. "Amy and I are going to the store, is there anything you want?"
"Somethin' yummy, mommy." She grinned at her mother.
"Of course, ladybug. Be good for Matt, okay?"
"Kay." Lacey was twirling the end of her hair.
"Ready?" Amy asked Trish, who was still fishing in her purse for something. Finally she found it and walked to Matt, giving it to him.
He took the object and raised an eyebrow. "EpiPen."
"I told you, she's allergic to nuts." Trish told him. "And it's an EpiPen Jr." She stuck her tongue out at him. "Make sure you have it at all times."
"Alright, I will." He told her, and she kissed his cheek.
"I'm trusting you with my life." She told him, looking over to her daughter who was hugging Amy goodbye. She already knew in the day of knowing Amy that Lacey had grown attached to the woman.
Once Amy and Lacey broke the hug, Trish kneeled down. "Got a hug to spare for your mommy?"
The little girl nodded and leaped into her mothers arms. Trish hugged her daughter tightly, before breaking the hug and kissing her forehead. "I love you, ladybug."
"Love you too mommy."
Trish stood up and looked to Amy. "I'm ready."
"Let's go then, bye Matt, bye Lace."
"Bye!" she waved, as Trish ruffled her daughter's hair, causing her to make a funny face.
Once the girls left Matt looked at Lacey who was smiling goofily back at him. "So, you wanna go get food and bond?"
Lacey's goofy smile disappeared and was replaced with one of confusion. "Eh?"
Matt chuckled. "Bond, you know. Get to know each other better."
She shrugged. "Kay." Matt went into the closet to grab his and Lacey's jacket. He handed Lacey's her's and put his on.
The door opened and Amy walked in with the girl's car seat. "She'll need this." She set it down and waved to Lacey, before leaving the house again.
Matt watched the blonde carefully as she put on her jacket. She had put in her right arm correctly, but the jacket became twisted in the back and the left arm was put on inside out. She wrinkled her brow in concentration before trying to take off the jacket, which was hard for her. Amusement shown in Matt's eyes. Lacey stopped and looked up at him. "I think," she licked her lips. "I need help." She popped her 'p'.
"I think you do too." He bent down and took off the girl's jacket and then put it on the correct way.
"Thanks." She told him with a small smile. "Where are we going?"
"McDonald's okay?"
She nodded. "Yeah."
"Alright then." Matt replied, he felt into his pockets to make sure he had his car keys, which he did. He walked to the door with Lacey by his side, he grabbed the car seat and opened the door. Lacey walked out first as Matt set the car seat down to lock up.
Matt pulled the key out the hole when he heard Lacey gasps. "There's an old person staring at us." She spoke, latching her arms around Matt's leg. Matt looked down at her and then looked to where she was staring.
A smile flashed upon his face as he noticed the 'old person' as Lacey put it, leaning against their pickup truck watching the two.
"That's just my dad." Matt explained to the little girl.
Her grip loosened on Matt's leg and she looked up at him. "You sure?"
Matt laughed. "Positive, he's nice and friendly." Lacey removed her arms around Matt's leg and shyly waved to Gilbert. The old man smiled and waved back.
"He is nice!" she exclaimed excitedly.
Matt nodded, "Let's go meet him." He spoke grabbing the car seat and walking towards his dad, with Lacey skipping behind.
The dark haired man set the car seat down again and embraced his dad. Lacey bit her bottom lip and looked down shyly.
"Dad, this is--."
"Lacey." Gilbert finished for him, Lacey looked up at the sound of her name from an unfamiliar voice and smiled cutely.
----
A/n: This chapter was kind of boring, but I like it. Thanks for the reviews last chapter. Hope you enjoy this one.
