{A/N: Scott = Colt Cabana}

"So what are you going to do, Phil? Are you going to stay with him?" Scott asked taking a sip of his water.

"I don't even know. My brain's screaming at me to leave him, & to do it for good this time. But my heart loves him so much. I just don't understand, Scott; we were doing so well for such a long time. & it's like he just snapped!" Phil explained as he absent mindedly twirled his wrists.

"Well, if you ask me, I think that you should just go ahead & get a divorce. I mean, why stay & let things get seemingly good only for them to get bad again? I don't see you being happy living a life like that, little bear."

"I know, but it's still a hard thing to decide. Like, I want to be with him, & love him; but then at the same time, I'm afraid of just being miserable all of the time. Or even spending some of the time looking over my shoulder because I don't know when he'll snap."

Phil sighed & sat back into his chair. He'd been staying with Scott for two months now & he had yet to call, or talk to Jeff. Whenever he saw Jeff in the ring, or backstage, he kept is expression as neutral as possible. He didn't want anyone reading the hurt, & confusion, that he really felt inside of him. He could see that Jeff was hurting, too. He just wasn't his bubbly self as he normally was with the other guys. Normally Jeff would go out to the bars with the guys after the shows, but ever since Phil left; Jeff would just hit the showers & head back to his hotel.

It hurt Phil to see Jeff this way. It was times like that when he realized how much Jeff really did love him. He just wished that Jeff wouldn't act out the way that he did. Phil sighed as he thought about Jeff, fresh tears falling from his eyes. Scott noticed & cradled his good friend. Scott hated seeing Phil this way, & knowing how much he loved Jeff, secretly hoped that things would turn for the better... in Phil's favor.

-Meanwhile-

Jeff was a emotional wreck. He missed Phillip so much. But at the same time, he figured that it would be in Phil's best interest if he just laid low for a while. Any kind of peer pressure that he could use to persuade Phil back into his arms could possibly push his little princess further away from him. But this time he'd really done it, he wasn't even sure if Phil would even call him at some point to where they could maybe work things out.

He sighed & got ready to head to the gym. Finding a lone treadmill in the corner, plugged his earphones into his ears & flipped his ipod on. Once he found the perfect setting, he closed his eyes & began jogging. As soon as he closed his eyes, the image of Phil's elegant face showed upon his eyelids.

Well cross my heart and hope to
I'm lyin' just to keep you here
So reckless, oh (so reckless)
so thoughtless (so thoughtless),
so jealous
I could care less
Cross my heart and hope to
I'm lyin' just to keep you here
(so reckless)
Well I'll keep you here
(so thoughtless)
I...
(I could care less)

Well cross my heart and hope to...
I'm lyin' just to keep you here
I'll keep you here
I'll keep you here

Jeff's eyes opened, realizing that tears began to fall. He quickly wiped them away & continued on the tread. When his legs started to feel a little less than sturdy he pulled himself away from the machine & headed for the showers. Letting the warmth run down his skin for a few moments, he quickly lathered up & got out to dress himself. No sooner than he'd stepped out the stall, his movements were halted.

******

Jeff stared blankly into olive colored eyes. The same eyes that failed in attempt to shy away from the emerald green ones. There was an awkward silence between the two, the only sounds being each others nervously erratic breathing. Without even thinking Jeff walked over to Phil & hugged him. The younger man's body was so warm against his, & how he missed having him so close. Reluctantly, Phil hugged Jeff back, allowing his head to rest on the rainbow-haired warrior's shoulder.

"I miss you so much..." Jeff whispered, rubbing Phil's back.

Phil said nothing, he simply sank further into Jeff's embrace. He had to admit that he missed the way Jeff cradled him. It had been so long since he'd been around Jeff, not that he even expected to run in to him at the gym. Part of him was glad that he did, while the other part raised an eyebrow.

"I'm guessing you didn't expect to see me?" Jeff asked pulling away from Phil.

"No..." Phil whispered looking down to the ground.

Jeff gave a faint smile & began to get dressed. He grabbed his bag, heading toward the door. But before he made it, he turned around & walked back over to Phil; capturing his mouth with his own. Phil gasped in shock, but kissed Jeff back willingly. 'His lips are seem so much softer.' As quick as the kiss began, it ended. Jeff ran his thumb over Phil's cheek, kissing it lightly before he left the gym locker room. Phil reached a hand to his face, caressing the spot Jeff had touched. He sat down on the nearby bench for a few minutes, contemplating what had just happened, before he stepped into the showers himself.

*******

"So did he say anything when he saw you?" Matt asked, shoving another slice of pizza into his mouth.

"No, not really. I mean, I asked if he thought that he might see me today & he said 'no.' But that was all," Jeff sighed, taking a swig of his water.

"But you kissed him?"

"Yea, I couldn't help it. I miss that boy like crazy... like fucking crazy. But I know Phil needs his time, & I'm willing to wait for him until he's ready to confront me."

"That's probably what's best. You don't want to do anything drastic to where he'd just want to be through with you completely. You two are like the cutest couple ever, I wouldn't want to see that happen to you guys. He'll come around eventually, Jeff. But you, you have to change the evil streak inside of you."

"I know but--"

"There are no 'but's' Jeff. If you want to keep Phil, then you have to stop being overly protective & possessive of him. It's okay to be a little bit that way, but you need to realize that the kid ain't no kind of property; he's your husband."

Jeff looked down at the table as he thought about his brother's words. Matt, & Phil, were both right; Phil was not a piece of property. & that's basically what Jeff has been treating him as. It was just a shame that it took Phil's leaving him a second time for him to finally get it through his head. He was quickly shaken out of his thoughts by a knock at the door.

"I'll get it, bro," Matt stood & headed towards the door, opening it.

"Hey, Matt..."

"Hey, Phil..."