Two days later, sitting out on Mark's front porch, back at the ranch. The breeze gently tossing my hair as I was enjoying the sunshine. Hearing some foot steps as Tritan plopped his butt on the ground, "Whatcha doing?" He asked as he looked to AJ. Leaning against his side as he wrapped an arm around her gently. "Just sitting here, enjoying our time off together. Why do we ask?" Tritan chuckles gently. "Just wondering. You've been different since the talk with your father a couple of nights ago..." Sighing as I slipped out from under his arm, "We had a long talk that's all." Tritan lifted a brow, "We have to join Dave on the road again in three days. We've got all that time to talk about it, if you like." Shaking my head as I chuckle, "It won't take that long Tri. I'm not long winded like my father."
Tritan chuckling as he turned a bit on the stairs, leaning his back against the banister, "What's on your mind AJ... You've never held back from me before." Nodding my head as I look through the screen door, seeing Mark wasn't around. Turning my attention back to Tritan, "Well we had a long talk to clear the air of many things that needed to be touched upon..." Tritan lifts a brow, "Don't tell me he laid into you again..." Shaking my head, "No we actually had a real adult conversation Tritan. He apologized for being a stubborn dick head to me all this time. He promised he'd try and treat me better, you know like his daughter." Nodding his head, "That sounds like a start...." Nodding my head as I sigh a bit, "Yea it is..." Tritan looks to AJ with concern, "What's wrong AJ?" Looking to Tritan, "He actually told me in his words, that he was proud of what I've become Tritan. A successful manager for you and Personal Assistant to Mark." Tritan's eyes went wide as saucers. "Are you kidding?"
Shaking my head, "That was my same expression when I heard the words come from him." Tritan chuckles, "Sorry but that is a surprise." Nodding my head, "Even though he can be tough to talk to or handle. Might not find the right words at the right moment, he can surprise you at the right time with the right words, when you least expect it. He loves shock value I swear..." Tritan lifts up a hand, patting his buddy's shoulder. "But I love him no matter what Tri. He is after all my father. He's just way over protective and I don't blame him. After all the crap I put him through for being stupid.." Lowering his hand from AJ's shoulder, "You are not stupid AJ. Like Mark has told me, we all make mistakes, as long as we learn from them." Chuckling, "The wise ole deadman, as my dad puts it... You know where the bruises on my dad came from?" Tritan lifts a brow, "I can only imagine.. Is that why Mark is laid up?" Nodding my head, "They got into a brawl.."
Tritan shakes his head, "I sometimes don't understands the guys sometimes." "Neither do I Tri.. Neither do I. I try not too sometimes, saves headaches." Tritan busts up laughing, "So true!" Chuckling as I hear a grunt, "I heard that!" Mark commented from inside in the kitchen. "Sorry grumpy bear. Didn't know you were up." I commented as I looked inside. Mark came up into view inside the screen door. "Made a mends with your dad?" He questioned. Nodding my head a bit, "Yea you could say that. Things are going to take time to become more stable between us, but it's a start." Mark smiles gently, "Good to hear. You two come inside for a moment. I've got something to show you."
Tritan and AJ both climbed to their feet, Tritan opening the screen door, holding it for AJ. "Ladies first.." Chuckling, "Thanks but you should of went first..." Tritan's jaw dropped, "That's not cool AJ!" Giggling as we both headed inside to join Mark in the living room. Chuckling as we both stopped as we saw Dave, Jeff, Matt and a few of the guys from the company sitting in the living room. "What's this about?" Tritan questioned. "Don't tell me we're in trouble for something..." AJ added. Mark shook his head as he stood off to the side a bit. "No you're not in trouble. The guys and myself wanted to get together with the two of you, before you two head back on the road with Dave and the guys."
"What is it?" Tritan questioned hesitantly. Dave cleared his throat, "For starters before the boys left here, Jose, Chancey and Tony all came to Mark and myself and confessed what happen that night in the barn with the guns..." Tritan and AJ looked to one another, out of the corners of their eyes, then back to Dave. "Don't worry neither one of you are in trouble." Mark added. Tritan sighs as he looks to Mark and Dave, "I was going to tell you both what happen that night, but I didn't want the others to think I was narking on them..." "What happen that night Tritan?" Mark questioned. "I thought you knew what happen?" AJ questioned. "We would like to hear it from you two." Layfield commented as he stepped into the doorway of the kitchen that connects to the living room.
"Dad.." Nodding his head as he was dressed in blue jeans and a dark blue t-shirt tucked into them, sporting his black cowboy boots. "What happen that night you two?" Dave asked. Tritan sighs as he looks to everybody. "A challenged was laid out, so we planned on meeting in the old barn. Chancey stole the six shooter from Mark's display case and I took the bullets from a open box in the basement. We were setting up for a game of Russian Roulette. Hank picked up the six shooter, getting ready to start, then AJ came crashing through the barn side wall. I reached up and took the shooter out of Hank's hand, took the bullet out as everybody had their attention towards the noise. I placed everything in the hay, like we never used them..."
"When I went through the barn wall by mistake, Jose and Hank pulled their own hand guns that they had hidden in their boots and started shooting. That's how I was hit once in the back.." AJ continued as Tritan placed a hand upon AJ's shoulder as he continued on telling what happen. Turning his attention back to the guys, "Then Jose and Hank pointed their guns at one another.
I went to see how AJ was, then I saw Jose pulling his trigger. I.. I tried to stop him but I was too late. He'd shot Hank in the head... I chased him around the barn as I had tripped and gotten lost in the dark, after he shot the light out. That's when I heard two more shots, then silence before Dave and Mark came in and lit a light. That's when I heard everything being said between the two of them."
Mark sighs a bit, "Tony's story is the same as yours. The other two weren't. Jose and Chancey are in jail serving a sentence for murder and thefted. Tony is going to be a witness in the trial, once it comes up in court."
Tritan sighs as he looks away, "I'm sorry I screwed up and AJ got hurt cause of my stupidy.." "I don't blame you son for any of that. You tried to help her not hurt her." Layfield commented, "For that I'm grateful. You kept my little girl alive.." Tritan nods his head once. "Alright now that we have that cleared up. We brought you both in here for one big reason." Dave commented as both Hardys got up and walked out of the room for a moment.
AJ and Tritan looked at one another, then back to the group. "We've got something for you both." Mark commented as both Hardys came walking back into the room carrying something in their hands, wrapped in gift wrapping paper. Laying it gently on the coffee table, stepping away. "Go ahead you two.. Open it.." Dave said. Tritan and AJ stepped up hesitantly looking at it. "Go ahead you two, it's not gonna bite you." Layfield joked. Both Tritan and AJ, knelt down beside the table, both unwrapping it together.
As they tore the paper away, their gift came more into view. Under the paper was a piece of cardboard, covering something, they could tell it was something in a good size frame. AJ reached around, carefully untying the twine that kept the cardboard in their view. "Come on AJ work quicker." Tritan joked "I'm going I'm going." She gruffed as the string finally came undone. Slowly they both got the string out of their way, then pulled the cardboard away. A framed photo was revealed to them both. Slowly AJ took a side, Tritan the other. Bringing it more into their view. Both their eyes took in the photo.
It was a picture of the two of them together the night Tritan won his IC title, first title ever in his young career. Tritan had his arm draped over AJ's shoulder, both had the titles in their hands, holding it up to the camera. Along the sides where two other photos. Along the side beside Tritan's side of the picture was a picture of his father, Chris Benoit. A picture of him and Eddie in the ring at WrestleMania when Chris won the big title that night. On AJ's side of the frame was a picture of her father, holding one of the major title with Mark in the same photo with him, from his Acolyte days. When he first one of the big titles. Two other pictures of their fathers were underneath and on top, so they were in a row, along the side of the big photo and the appropriate side.
Mark, Dave and Layfield stepped up and looked to Tritan and AJ as they were busily looking at the whole thing. AJ narrows her eyes to a small plaque under their photo. "What's this?" She questioned. Tritan lifted a brow as he read it out loud, "Tritan Benoit and AJ Layfield. 'Next Generations.'" AJ and Tritan looked to the trio. "I.. I don't know what to say.." Tritan started to say. "We all got together that same night you won your title Tritan. Chose the pictures and got it mounted for you two." Dave explained. "The plaque was your father's idea AJ." Mark added. AJ looked to her father, "You had a hand in this?" Layfield nodded his head, "Sure did. As it states that what you and Tritan are.. The next generations to follow myself and Chris' foot steps in the company and proudly I might add."
Looking to Tritan, "What do you think now Tritan.. You got your wish didn't you?" Tritan nodded his head once, "Very true AJ. I did.. Didn't I?" AJ patted his shoulder as Mark and Dave took the gift, placing it on the couch gently. AJ and Tritan went through the group giving thanks as everybody filed into the kitchen for refreshments and a cook out. Standing before the gift, Tritan sighs gently, "Wish you were really here dad. You'd be real proud of me, just like the guys are. I promise to you this Next Generation will not let you down." With that Tritan walked off, after laying his IC title belt upon the couch, right in front of the photo, before going to join the cook out, out in the backyard.
END