Disclaimer: I own nothing associated with the WWE.

Author's Note: Hey! Sorry about the lyrics in the last chapter at the end… Oh, well. I'm hoping this one works out better, lol. Anyway, wasn't that last chapter sad? I can already say, this one's not gonna' be much better, lol. I mean, nothing super, super happy's going to happen, or anything. But, anyway, thank you so much to - .I .Dream .of .Hardyz.-, Cheryl24, Gralem (for an earlier chapter!), xOallisonqtOx, Expect-the-Unexpected75, and elliexhardy for your awesome reviews that are completely inspiring! I hope you guys like this chapter, though it is pretty tear jerking too…

Warning: Kind of a touchy subject.

Chapter 10- Remember Me

Performed By: Josh Groban

"When you cried I'd wipe away all of your tears

When you'd scream I'd fight away all of your fears

And I've held your hand through all of these years

But you still have all of me…"

Beth slowly wandered through the "Imagi-Nation," looking up at the paintings that surrounded her as though she was in a daze. She remembered Jeff doing every one of these works since she had been there with him, and sorrow bloomed inside of her when she could almost hear him telling her that she had been the inspiration for each one when he had asked her to marry him.

But, she found that walking through this place wasn't helping her in the way she had hoped it would. This was Jeff's special place where he would go to escape from the problems of the world around him, to forget about everything. She had hoped that would happen with her if she came here too, but with the constant reminders of him around her, she found that it was almost more difficult to deal with his death.

"Beth."

At the quiet sound of her name, Beth quickly turned around and saw that Jeff was standing behind her, leaning back against one of his paintings in honor of Jack, their beloved dog that had been killed in the house fire. "Jeffro?" she asked hesitantly taking a cautious step toward him. She desperately wanted him to be there with her, alive, but she also didn't want to get her hopes up too high only to have them be crushed again by cold, hard reality.

Jeff nodded as he stepped away from the painting and walked slowly toward her. "Yes, Beth," he answered kindly. "I'm here."

Tears immediately fell from Beth's eyes as she ran the rest of the distance separating them, sobbing as she clung to Jeff tightly when he wrapped his arms securely around her. He felt real enough, and the warmth of his body sheltered her from the winter's chill.

But at the same time, pain erupted inside of her. She had the terrible feeling that this would be the last time that she would ever be wrapped in his arms again.

"These wounds won't seem to heal

This pain is just too real

There's just too much that time cannot erase…"

"Matt… told me you were…" Beth had a hard time getting the last word out, so she gave up, knowing that her tears got the message across for her.

Jeff sighed, placing his hand beneath her chin and gently tilting her face up so she would look him in the eye. "I never really left you, Beth," he told her, lightly running his thumb over her tear-stained cheek. "I'm still here with you, even if you can't see me."

Beth took a deep breath, a few more tears rolling down her cheeks as she stared into his stunning green eyes. So, it was true. Jeff was really gone…

"I'm so tired of being here

Suppressed by my childish fears

And if you have to leave

I wish that you would just leave

Because your presence still lingers here

And it won't leave me alone…"

"Please don't leave me," Beth begged as sobs shook her body once more. "I don't want you to go… I don't think I could make it on my own…"

"Beth, you will never be alone," Jeff muttered, sorrow crossing his face as he pulled her close and kissed her head. "Though you can't see me, I will still walk beside you. When you fall, I will still catch you. When you cry, I will still wipe away your tears. When you scream, I will still protect you from your fears. When you need me, I will still be there for you. When you feel alone, I will still love you. That will never change, Beth."

These words were comforting to her, and Beth sighed as she looked up at Jeff again. At that moment, she realized just how deep their connection actually was. Their bond was so strong that even death couldn't sever it, their love being one that transcended the gap between life and the world beyond. This revelation filled her with a sense of peace.

Then, she closed her eyes and leaned forward, meeting Jeff's lips in an intense kiss. She longed to feel their softness one last time, to feel the completeness their gentleness provided since she would never do so again.

"You used to captivate me

By your resonating light

But now I'm bound by the life you left behind

Your face, it haunts my once pleasant dreams

Your voice, it chased away all the sanity in me…"

When they slowly and reluctantly broke the kiss, Beth smiled slightly as she looked up at him with excitement. "There's something I need to tell you, Jeffro," she said.

Jeff raised a curious eyebrow. "Oh? And what would that be?" he asked.

Beth was beaming now as she laughed a little, taking Jeff's hand and placing it gently on her stomach. "I'm pregnant," she answered in nearly a whisper as a thin line of tears formed in her eyes. "You're going to be a father."

Shock was clearly written on Jeff's face as he stared at his hand resting on her stomach. Though she wasn't visibly showing yet, he could almost feel the life that was forming inside of her. "A father…" he muttered as if he was testing out the word, laughing a little when she nodded in confirmation. "Beth, that… that's wonderful…"

"Are you happy?" That was the most important thing to Beth as she looked at his face intently. If he wasn't, then it probably wasn't worth having the child.

As if he felt her reluctance, Jeff raised his gaze to hers. "Yes," he told her simply, the joy he felt from this news radiating from his eyes. "Nothing would make me happier, Beth."

Beth felt a smile spread across her own face, feeling a tremendous amount of relief spread through her. She would have this child, she knew, since it would make the most important person in her life happy. "I just wish you could be here with me," she said longingly. "With us." She put emphasis on the last word as she looked down at his hand still resting on her stomach.

Jeff leaned forward and gently kissed her forehead. "I know, but remember that I will never really leave you," he replied as he reluctantly pulled his hand away. "Stay strong, and take care of our child. I love you, Beth."

Something about his last statement caused her to panic, and Beth reached out and grabbed his hand when he took a couple of steps away from her. "No, Jeff. Please don't go!" she cried, feeling tears beginning to rise to her eyes again. "I need you…"

"I'll never be far away, Beth," Jeff assured her as he kissed her fingers and released her hand. "You'll know where to find me whenever you need me." Then, he leaned back against he painting of Jack where she had first seen him, and he was gone.

Beth's shoulders shook as a sob escaped from her, and she placed her hands on her stomach in an almost protective way. Even though she wanted to believe that Jeff was still with her, it was hard to see when he wasn't there beside her. That strange feeling of emptiness was still there…

But then, she gasped when she felt a sudden but gentle warmth surround her, a voice she knew well echoing clearly and quietly in her mind.

"I love you, Beth."

"I love you too, Jeffro," Beth whispered as she glanced up at the sky above her. "I love you too…"

"I've tried so hard to tell myself that you're gone

And though you're still with me

I've been alone all along…"

Beth gasped quietly as she quickly opened her eyes, seeing that she was lying on the couch in the living room as the morning light flooded in through the window. Damn, it had only been a dream. But it had seemed so real… She could have sworn she actually felt him hold her, felt his lips against hers, felt his hand rest on her stomach…

How she had desperately hoped that Jeff had actually been with her, that the ice hadn't claimed his life. She prayed that it had all been some terrible dream and that the next time she opened her eyes, Jeff would be beside her like he always was and had promised her he always would be. But, she knew that wouldn't happen now. Jeff wasn't going to be coming back.

Then, Beth slowly raised her head when she heard a low voice talking quietly, and she saw that Matt was standing in the kitchen with his back to her. After a moment of intense listening, she heard that he was talking to his father. Telling him about what had happened to Jeff, no doubt. How Matt was able to hold himself together so well when the most important person in his life had just been taken away from him was incredible. She was trying to be strong like him, she really was, but it just wasn't as easy for her to deal with. Not to mention, it was a bit harder when her emotions were all haywire due to her pregnancy.

She sighed as she laid her head back down, not able to get that dream out of her mind. For a moment, Beth thought that she might have been losing her mind. She had talked to Jeff, felt his arms around her, felt him kiss her. But yet, none of it had actually happened. She lightly ran her finger over her bottom lip where Jeff's had lingered. That felt so real also. But, he hadn't been there, and she knew it was only going to grow more painful the more she imagined he was.

"You'll know where to find me whenever you need me…"

Beth's eyes narrowed with confusion as she thought about this statement. It almost felt like Jeff had been telling her something, but she also knew that was impossible. The conversation with him had only been a dream, after all. But yet, some unknown and unexplainable force was drawing her to the "Imagi-Nation." It was a pull she couldn't ignore.

She cautiously raised her head, seeing that Matt was still facing away from her as he continued to talk to his father in hushed tones since he still thought she was sleeping, and she slowly got to her feet so she wouldn't catch his attention before hurrying across the living room without trying to make too much noise. Lucas looked up at her from where he was lying on the floor, but Beth held up her hand.

"Stay," she whispered so hopefully Matt wouldn't hear her. "Stay, Lucas."

Lucas still stared at her curiously, but fortunately, he remained where he was.

Beth inwardly sighed as she slipped her shoes on. The long-sleeved shirt she was wearing was relatively lightweight, but she knew that she didn't want to risk making noise by getting her coat out of the closet. She didn't want Matt to know what she was doing since she knew he wouldn't let her do this. She was going to have to deal with the cold, but she also knew that she didn't mind. It would be worth it if she could just provide closure for Jeff's death.

Glancing back just to make sure that Matt was still distracted, Beth opened the front door as quietly as she could and stepped out into the cold morning air, shutting it again behind her.

Matt sighed as he ended the call on his cell phone and put it back in his pocket, leaning heavily on the counter. Telling his father about his youngest son's death had been the most difficult thing he ever had to do. He suddenly understood what he had gone through explaining their mother's passing to him and Jeff…

But what surprised him the most was how calm his father had taken the news. He had expected to hear some sort of grief in his voice, but his tone had completely level and sturdy, containing no emotion. It had been almost unnerving. But, he also knew that his father was older than he was and was able to handle the tragedy in a way that he would probably never understand until he reached that age. And even still, it was probably just a mask to cover what he was truly feeling. He never had been one to visibly show his emotions.

Then, Matt turned on the sink and splashed some water on his face before grabbing a can of Monster out of the refrigerator. He was still half-expecting Jeff to come down the stairs any minute with a broad smile on his face before he started making coffee for him and Beth. But that wasn't going to happen, he knew. Jeff wasn't there, and he never would be again.

But one thing that he definitely agreed with his father about was the matter of Beth's safety. He hadn't seen the face of the man who had taken his brother's life, but the important thing was that he was still out there. He didn't want to risk leaving Beth home by herself when he couldn't be there with that man still possibly lurking around on the property. So, he would take his father's advice and get a gun for her to protect herself if she had to. The closest place he could do this was in Southern Pines, and knowing that she was uncomfortable in shops like that, he would drop Beth off at Gas Chamber Ink to stay with Shannon since he said she could whenever she wanted to while he took care of everything else.

Rubbing the sleep out of his eyes since he hadn't gotten as much sleep as Beth had, Matt slowly turned to look over his shoulder when he heard light, quiet footsteps, and he watched as Lucas entered the kitchen with one ear turned down- the typical sign that something was wrong. "What's up, Buddy?" he asked.

Lucas whined up at him before he turned and hurried back out of the kitchen before sitting by the couch. Matt narrowed his eyes as he set his energy drink down before following him out into the living room, starting to feel nervous. Was something wrong with Beth? "Britt?" the older Hardy said cautiously as he approached the couch, and his eyes widened in horror at what he saw.

Beth was gone.

"Britt!" Matt called, looking around as he started to walk toward the stairs. Where could she have gone? She had to still be somewhere in the house… "Britt!"

But then, Matt stopped when he heard Lucas whine again, and he saw that he was sitting in front of the door as he scratched at it. The older Hardy felt his stomach drop. Beth really wouldn't have gone out in the cold and with the threat of his brother's killer still looming around, would she? He quickly walked over to Lucas, seeing that her shoes were gone. Sighing with worry, Matt opened the closet to grab his spare coat, and he saw with surprise that Beth's coat was still there. Panic blossomed inside of him. If she was outside without it, she would freeze…

Wondering why Beth would do something like this but not really caring at the moment, Matt hurriedly zipped up his coat and grabbed hers before he rushed outside, hoping that he would be able to find her in time.

"Remember

I will still be here

As long as you hold me

In your memory

Remember

When your dreams have ended

Time can be transcended

Just remember me…"

Beth shivered as she slowly wandered through the "Imagi-Nation," looking up at the paintings that surrounded her before the motocross track as though she was in a daze. She remembered Jeff doing every one of these works since she had been there with him, and sorrow bloomed inside of her when she could almost hear him telling her that she had been the inspiration for each one when he had asked her to marry him.

This had been Jeff's sanctuary, his place of refuge to get away from the rest of the world. It was his own personal world inside his mind. Was it really a surprise that she didn't feel the same way about this place? It seemed different now, almost emptier since it creator was dead. Why was she even here? What did she expect to find? Jeff himself? Of course there would be nothing here. Jeff was gone, no matter how much she hoped otherwise, even though he was still alive here in this place through all that he had created.

"I am the one star that keeps burning

So brightly

It is the last light

To fade into the rising sun

I'm with you whenever you tell

My story

For I am all I've done…"

Beth sighed as she stopped in front of the portrait of Jack that Jeff had done recently, knowing that this was the place he had appeared to her in her dream. Did she expect the same to happen now? Her heart longed for it, but her mind told her that it wasn't possible. Jeff would not be coming back.

Then, her eyes narrowed in confusion when she spotted something black out of the corner of her eye. Beth turned to see what had caught her attention, and she gasped when she saw that it was a scarf wrapped around the tree beside the painting. She slowly wandered over and hesitantly reached out, slowly untying it with trembling fingers. It was damp and torn in some places, but Beth recognized it instantly.

It was Jeff's scarf.

Suddenly, a cold gust of wind rushed past her, and Beth whimpered quietly as she wrapped her arms tightly around her, shivering violently. She was absolutely freezing. But something else she noticed was that she could have sworn she heard her name being said quietly on the wind.

"Beth…"

"I am the one voice in the cold wind

That whispers

And if you listen

You'll hear me call across the sky

As long as I still can reach out

And touch you

Then I will never die…"

Beth slowly sat in the snow, wrapping the scar around her neck tightly. Though it was damp, she found that it still warmed her slightly as Jeff's subtle scent surrounded her. As her body continued to tremble from the coldness around her, she wondered if Matt would eventually find her here. But the real question that rose in her mind was did she want Matt to find her? It was so tempting to just stay where she was and let the coldness take her, just as it had taken Jeff. At least she would be with him again…

"Beth…"

That voice that whispered her name… she desperately wanted to follow it. It was comforting to her. Beth sighed as she closed her eyes and leaned back against the tree, trying to ignore her shivering as she waited patiently for the numbness to begin to take effect.

"Remember

I'll never leave you

If you will only

Remember me…"

"Beth…"

She smiled slightly when she thought she heard her name again. I'm coming, Jeff…

"Beth…"

"Britt!"

At the sudden, anxious sound of her name, Beth slowly opened her eyes and watched as Matt knelt down in front of her. There was panic in his dark eyes as he looked down at her pale face, and he instantly wrapped her jacket around her tightly. She had to admit, the warmth felt good.

"Damn it, Britt, what do you think you're doing out here?" he demanded, brushing some hair out of her eyes. "You'll freeze to death!"

"I… I do-don't care…" Beth stuttered through chattering teeth as she shivered, wrapping her coat tighter around her. She was scared to realize that was the truth.

Matt looked alarmed at her response, but then, his face darkened in sorrow. "I know you don't really care about yourself right now, Britt," he muttered, taking her hand in his, "but what about your baby? Don't you care about that life? Doesn't it deserve a chance to live?"

Beth looked up at Matt for a long moment in shock. The baby… Of course she cared about the baby. That was her whole life now… Then, she ran her other hand through her hair as she began to sob. She hadn't had any intention of taking her own life, but she still couldn't believe how selfish she had been for that one moment… "I… I'm so so-sorry, Matt…"

The older Hardy sighed as he pulled the trembling Beth close to him for a moment as she cried. "Let's go home, Britt," he whispered gently. Beth slowly nodded through her sobs, and Matt carefully lifted her into his arms as he began to walk in the direction of the house, leaving the world Jeff had created behind them.

"Remember

When your dreams have ended

Time can be transcended

I live forever

Remember me…"

Author's Note: All right, so there's that one. The first section (which contains the song "My Immortal" by Evanescence) was actually based on personal experience involving someone close to me who has passed. But anyway, poor Beth. Let's hope that things work out for them. Thanks for reading! Your reviews are much appreciated. Thank you!