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Summary: Five years after a plane crash leaves Jeff Hardy presumed dead, his fiancée is ready to move on, to a new life with her autistic son. But what happens when her life is turned upside down with a blast from her not so distant past and she is forced to reevaluate everything she thought she knew?
Authors Notes: I appreciate every bit of attention this fiction gets. It means a lot to me and I just wanted to let you know all again just how much. Thank you and I hope I can continue to bring you all along on my little journey.
The people were gone; the food put away. All that remained of the day that was before them was the flowers that lined the hallway and living room. If there had been a joyous occasion in the house at the moment you would be hard pressed to find it now.
All that remained was the prodigal son and a whole lot of confused and hurt people.
Matt wanted to be happy that his brother was alive; that he hadn't perished in the accident that had claimed so many all those years ago. But he couldn't. Not when it had come at such an imperfect time.
He paced the kitchen,watching Gil and Jeff sitting together at the table, neither one speaking. Just getting the lay of the land. He wanted to yell at them; to scream at them and make his younger brother talk. To tell him just where the hell he had been all these years and why he chosen his own brothers wedding day to make his appearance.
Matt knew it was wrong to feel this way but he just wanted answers.
He hoped Mariska was having an easier time with JJ and all the questions that he might have. He didn't envy her job at the moment but if they didn't talk soon he was going to go and be with the both of them. He needed to make sure JJ knew this new event didn't change anything. JJ was his son, whether it was by blood or not.
"I know how this looks." Jeff said then. Finally saying something for the first time since he had objected to the wedding at the last second.
"It looks like my son survived a horrible plane crash and finally came home where he belongs. Thats what it looks like to me."
"No Dad." Matt said interrupting the both of them. "Thats not what it looks like and you know it." His daddy could believe this was a gift from God but Matt knew better. This was more then that and he damn well wanted an explanation.
"Matthew Moore Hardy! You bite your tongue right now young man!" Gil said, standing his ground as the Hardy patriarch. They had just found Jeff again after years of thinking he was dead. They had to focus on that miracle now and not Matt's wounded ego.
"Sorry Daddy but it's been five years of hell for all of us. I want to be happy that he's back as much as you do but I can't."
Gil looked about to say something more but Jeff did the only thing in that moment he could do and he put his hand up quickly to stop the man, his father from speaking.
"No please don't okay? He's right about all of it. It has been five years and I never once called or got in touch. But if you give me a minute I'd like to tell you why."
"I don't know about you Daddy but I'm all ears." Matt said, trying his best to keep his anger in check. This was after all his brother and no matter what, he was alive. He knew he needed to be more thankful for that. It was just so damn hard to be when his entire world had taken a nosedive since.
Gil just nodded his head in silence. He wanted to be thankful for the gift he had been given in Jeff returning to them the way he had now but he did understand where his elder son was coming from.
"Until about a week ago I was AJ Foster. I was making a home in Atlanta Georgia. I started having dreams, memories I suppose and in one of my dreams I was being referred to as Jeff Hardy. I did some research and found out about the both of you."
Gil was the first to speak once he was sure that Jeff was done. "So until that point you had no memory of what happened to you or your family and friends here?"
Jeff nodded his head, looking from Matt to his father and back again. Looking for signs of understanding. He knew how all of this must sound but there was nothing but truth to all of it. He just had to make them see that.
"That's right. I booked a flight out here knowing that I needed to see you all for myself. I need to remember my life before the accident and part of that is remembering my family. Right now and even before now I always felt like a part of me was missing."
Before anyone could speak up they heard the footsteps on the floor behind them, someone having entered the kitchen at the timing of Jeff's latest confession.
"The piece you were missing was here all along Jeff. The part you're missing is your heart. Your son, Jeff Junior."