Chapter 26

"This place is junk," Teddie's mother frowned as the family drove up the old farm's driveway. "Just look at that old house falling down over there."

Teddie chuckled. "That's what I thought at first. But it's got three, well four, houses altogether on the property and they're all in pretty good shape inside—save for the one you're looking at. Plus the barn is in very good shape and there's a dressage arena out back. It looks like it's about 10 years old so it's overgrown, but it is fenced."

"What are we doing here anyway?" Tommy Jr, the youngest, complained.

"Well, this is the deal," Teddie's father, Thomas, explained. "Your grandmother left you all a small amount of money when she died a few months ago. Now, your mother and I don't think that the majority of you kids aren't mature enough to invest it wisely yet. So when your sister found this parcel of land dirt cheap, we decided that it would be a good idea to take a look. If you invest in land now, around here in five years the value of it will practically double and then triple in another five years. So when you guys are on your own, you're free to do whatever you want with your portion – sell it off or live there. I know your sisters, Cassie and Teddie, aren't planning on going anywhere for quite some time and they are very interested in having a place for the future."

Ten-year-old Tommy rolled his eyes. "Whatever."

Teddie's prediction proved to be accurate. While the hundred acre lot practically looked like a junkyard from the road and the outside of the houses were weatherbeaten and water stained, the interior of the three structures proved to be in fair condition. Only the 200-year-old plantation home was beyond repair.

The family decided to think it over. Although at this point in her career Teddie was not spending very much time in her home state, she was glad to know that she would be getting a chance to stay close to her family even as they grew older and started their own lives.

Saturday's house show was being held outdoors, in a large baseball stadium about two miles out of town. Teddie's family had decided to attend a cross-county schooling with the horses nearby, so that they would be able to come meet her around the end of the show. Teddie hoped they would arrive early and be able to watch a couple of the matches...she had told them to ring her cell phone in that case. The house show was not quite sold out and Teddie knew that in such cases Mr. McMahon allowed family members of the staff dibs on the extra tickets.

Upon arriving at the stadium, Teddie was happy to discover that she would solely be working as a photographer during the show. The golden southern sunshine and a cool breeze swept over the ring. Five minutes before the show was scheduled to start, Teddie ran backstage to grab a monopod for her camera and, quite literally, ran into the broad chest of Finlay.

"Excuse me," Teddie laughed. The beautiful weather outside and the past few days spent with her family had put her in high spirits...she felt on top of the world.

Finlay looked down at her with an amused affectionate smile, refusing to step aside.

Teddie shoved him playfully, but found it didn't do much to move him.

"Okay, whatever—I didn't really need a tripod," She joked. She added, on a more serious note, "I did want to say, though, that my family might be around tonight so don't—don't do anything stupid."

"That all depends on how you define 'stupid'," Finlay replied.

"Well, whatever," Teddie shrugged. "My mom can be kind of a bear, though, and she's your elder if only by a year so I'd be on my guard if I were you."

Finlay just shook his head, still smiling.

"Do you have a match tonight?" Teddie asked, noticing that he was dressed in his wrestling gear.

He nodded. "Aye—Matt Hardy."

"Well good luck," Teddie said. She frowned momentarily as she observed CM Punk passing. He glanced over at her, but said nothing. Teddie shrugged it off. She would try patching things up again with him later.

"How is your knee?" Teddie asked Finlay. When she'd last seen him on Tuesday, it had still been wrapped up and supported by a brace.

"A little sore, a little stiff, but mending."

"That's good to hear," Teddie said. She hesitated, "I tore my meniscus a couple years ago and even after I finally had surgery it never healed quite right. It used to really bother me until I started taking glucosamine daily. Now it's ok."

"You never told me you had a knee injury."

"You never told me you did either," Teddie quipped. "I was just smart enough to figure it out for myself."

"How did you do that?"

"Hurt myself? Horseback riding." Teddie shrugged. "Can I get my tripod now?"

"No," Finlay said, only half joking as he blocked her path.

"I see," Teddie shrugged. Standing on her tiptoes, she planted a quick kiss on his cheek. "Can I pass, please?"

He squinted, but stepped aside for her.

"You're the devil," he said as she slipped by him.

"Don't I know it!" Teddie said, throwing him in an Edge-like horns salute over her shoulder. She fetched her monopod from it's corner and brandished it threateningly.

"Move big man," she teased Hornswoggle, who had come to stand by his father's side. "I have my own stick now!"

Hornswoggle cocked his head and pointed at the monopod.

"It's a one-legged tripod," Teddie explained, "Less work for me, but still versatile and easy to tote around."

"And you—don't you bother," Teddie gave Finlay a warning look, "My stick is bigger than your stick!"

Finlay held up his hands and backed away. "Come on Hornswoggle."

"Adios," Teddie chirped cheerily before dodging outside.

CM Punk and Cryme Tyme were facing off against Trevor Murdoch, Lance Cade, and Kenny Dykstra from Smackdown. Punk and Cryme Tyme pulled a fast victory over the former tag team champions and Dykstra, but Punk was still refusing to acknowledge Teddie's presence. A little saddened, Teddie was determined not to let this put a damper on her day.

After their quick victory, JTG slid out of the ring and ran up to Teddie. He quickly took the camera out of her hands and rolled back into the ring to take some quick shots of the losers. Lance Cade angrily shouted at him and waved his arms, but came to a quick halt when Shad stepped into his path. JTG held the camera up in the air, "Hey man—this ain't mine! I'd love to crack it over your head, but I just can't."

"Go ahead—I got insurance!" Teddie shouted, drawing laughter from the crowd. Punk glanced at her then, but without a smile. Undeterred, Teddie offered him a smile of her own and shrugged.

She was suddenly aware that her cell phone was vibrating in the pocket of her jeans. She ducked down behind the security wall and answered. "Yeah?"

"Did you say you had some free tickets for us?" Teddie's father chuckled on the other end of the line. "Your sister and brothers wanted to come see this."

Teddie couldn't help the smile that spread over her face. "Yeah," she said. "Just give them your name at the ticket booth."

"Ok. Man! It's loud in there!" Thomas exclaimed as Cryme Tyme's music blasted into the open air.

"Always is," Teddie smiled. "Mom?"

"She's back with the horses," Thomas confirmed. "But everyone else is here with me."

"You're at the top...but there's still a pretty good view from there," Teddie said.

"Okay, we'll see you later," Thomas said.

Teddie flipped her phone shut. Cryme Tyme was leading the crowd in their chant when Teddie noticed her family slipping into the row at the top of the stadium.

"We make that money, money! Yeah yeah! We make that money money—"

The crowd finished. "Yeah yeah!"

As Cryme Tyme made their triumphant exit, Teddie gave her family a thumbs up. Matthias quickly gave her one back, but Tommy sulked on the end. Teddie shrugged. The ten-year-old boy was going through a stage where he thought he was cooler than everyone else—she knew in time he would get over it.

Finlay's theme suddenly blared throughout the arena. Teddie's jaw nearly dropped open when she recognized the music as his very first theme—and that to which he had debuted against Matt Hardy in 2006. It was an even stronger twist to the tune he was using nowadays, and Teddie personally thought it had a much more powerful effect.

Finlay walked strongly down the entrance ramp without even a limp and quickly entered the ring, even as Matt signaled for a microphone.

"Finlay—you were disqualified in your first match against me a couple years ago," Matt reminded him.

Finlay nodded matter-a-factly even as Hornswoggle slipped under the ring. "I was."

"So you know that you and I have no love lost for each other. But tonight, let's try to keep this clean," Matt said.

Finlay raised his eyebrows and glanced over at Teddie, his expression saying, Is he serious?

Teddie shrugged.

"No shillelaghs to the skull, ok man?"

Finlay shrugged.

"It doesn't matter that I personally don't think you can win without using the shillelagh."

Finlay raised his eyebrows. "Oh yeah?" He stepped forward so he was eyeball to eyeball with Matt.

"No...tricks..." Matt enunciated clearly. He tossed the microphone aside and the referee signaled for the bell.

Finlay shoved Matt backwards into the corner and slapped him roughly across the face, showing his disrespect for the number one contender for the United States Championship. Matt retaliated by kicking Finlay in the midsection, sending the Irishman staggering back a few steps. Matt immediately dove for Finlay's legs, but Finlay countered by dropping to his knees and pressing Matt's shoulders to the canvas. Matt quickly rolled out of the hold and jumped back to his feet.

Finlay held out a hand to Matt as if he were going to attempt a headlock, with Matt's attention on his hand, he suddenly kicked him hard across the chest.

Matt staggered back a few steps and Finlay capitalized with a clothesline, sending Matt over the top rope and onto the floor below. As Finlay rolled out of the ring after Matt, Hornswoggle poked his head out from underneath the ring. Matt, struggling to regain his whereabouts turned to look. The distraction cost him for Finlay gave him another boot to the jaw and then attempted to hoist Matt back into the ring.

Matt managed to get back to his feet as Finlay was rolling back into the ring however and with a running drop kick to the shoulder sent the Irishman face first into the rubber mat outside the ring.

Matt quickly rolled out of the ring himself to take care of business. He pulled Finlay to his feet and smashed his head into the side of the ring multiple times. As Finlay fell back onto the floor groaning in pain, Hornswoggle walked around the corner of the ring juggling four tennis balls. Matt stopped, wondering what his next move should be and trying to determine if Hornswoggle was any threat.

Again, Hornswoggle's distraction cost him and Finlay was able to get to his feet and charge Hardy, sending his lower back crashing into the steel steps. It was Hardy's turn to writhe in pain now, as Finlay hefted him back into the ring.

Now with the clear upper hand in the match Finlay sent Hardy to the corner with a hard Irish whip. As he charged for a clothesline however, Matt was able to kick out, catching Finlay in the jaw.

Finlay staggered back and dropped to one knee as Matt scaled the top rope and shouted, bringing cheers from the crowd. He then went for the swanton bomb, but Finlay quickly ducked out of the way, leaving Matt to land hard on his already hurting lower back. Matt cried out in pain, kicking his feet and grabbing at his back.

Finlay went for the cover, but Matt rolled his shoulder out at two.

Finlay dragged Matt to his feet, and sent him back back first into the corner again with a shoulder to the gut. He continued to ram Matt with his shoulder until the referee reached the three count.

Finlay backed off, raising his hands in the air. This gave Matt a window of opportunity and he took Finlay off his feet with a hard clothesline.

Finlay was rising to his feet when Matt went on the offensive again with a kick to the ribs. When Matt closed in for another kick, however, Finlay was quick enough to catch his foot. Grabbing the other boot, he pulled Matt's feet close to his body and sat down, sending Matt face forward and over the top rope to the floor once again.

Finlay quickly went outside the ring to capitalize but was surprised by a hard fist by Hardy who ducked back into the ring. Matt held his hands up in the air, rapidly opening and closing them, signaling Finlay to bring it on. As Finlay rose and began to climb back into the ring, Matt ran and attempted another running drop kick to the face. To his surprise, however, Finlay pulled out the ring skirt and Matt ended up straddling it. Taking advantage of the low blow, Finlay pulled Matt back into the ring and made the cover. Again, a two count.

Finlay looked slightly frustrated. He rose and glanced over his shoulder to make sure Teddie and Hornswoggle were staying out of the way. Matt took advantage as best he could of the situation, with a hard kick to Finlay's injured knee. Finlay dropped to the canvas, writhing and moaning in pain. It was at this point in the match that Teddie noticed Hornswoggle poking his head out from under the ring. Hornswoggle pointed to her and then put a finger to his lips before ducking back underneath. Teddie shook her head, not quite understanding.

Matt made the cover, but Finlay managed to roll a shoulder out at two. Matt then went for the side effect—and got it. He then went for the cover again. But then he noticed Hornswoggle climbing up the steel steps with the shillelagh.

At the same time, Teddie realized what Hornswoggle was expecting of her. She made a move to climb into the ring just in sight of the referee. He was immediately distracted by her presence, waving his arms and reprimanding her. Teddie proceeded to back into the corner, her hands held high, but not completely exiting the ring.

Matt abandoned the cover and went to grab the shillelagh from Hornswoggle. The little fellow dove between Matt's legs however and slid directly in front of Finlay.

Finlay seized the weapon and for Matt there was a shillelagh to the skull. Hornswoggle and Teddie quickly slipped out of the ring and Finlay made the pin, securing the three count.

Hornswoggle jumped back into the ring and raised his father's hand high before handing him a microphone. Teddie laughed at the little guy's enthusiasm. Finlay rose to his feet and bent over Matt who was clutching at the back of his head.

"Sorry Matt," he shrugged apologetically before tossing the microphone to the referee who fumbled but caught it.

As Hornswoggle danced a jig around Finlay, Finlay motioned for Teddie to enter the ring. She shook her head at first, but obliged when he gave her the look.

He raised her and Hornswoggle's hands in victory and rested his arm casually around her shoulders as Hornswoggle did another roundabout jig. Teddie quickly shrugged it off and gave the crowd a Vulcan salute before attempting to roll out of the ring. Finlay caught her arm however and pointed at her once more before releasing her. The crowd laughed as Hornswoggle began to juggle his tennis balls beside them. He then threw the balls to the crowd before he and his father made their way back up the entrance ramp and Teddie resumed her position ringside.

She could feel her family's eyes on her, but for a fleeting moment she didn't care. She was still high from being in front of a crowd and from being part of the Irish team.

I had fun writing this chapter! This is my first time "making up" a match, so I hope it flowed alright and was believable. :)

Again, thanks everyone for your wonderful reviews! They are so encouraging and really make my day!!

Shout Outs:

XinnLajgin: Well as soon as things look predictable, they turn themselves around...as we shall see in the next chapter ;) Raise hell, eh? I guess I qualify three times over then! Lol...I have a natural affinity for conflict!

Inday: They do seem to get along pretty well! But the story's not over yet!

68 stones from a broken heart: LOL...a reality show eh? Perhaps! Punk will come around...he's not purposefully being a shithead (guys just don't seem to realize when they are), he's just a little hurt is all.

JCJF.lover: Cena will get better soon! Shannon and Izzie seem to have the least controversial relationship, don't they?

SBMFanatic: I think Jeff's supposed to come back like June 20th? Don't quote me on that, but that's the rumor I heard. :)

Takersgurl25: Well personally, if I were in Teddie's position I would have the exact same stance as her. I think Punk is genuinely attracted to her, but not the same extent that Finlay is and he's perhaps not ready to have a family...especially when the child is not his own (in my experience guys can be weird about those kinds of things). And hey—I'm just 20 and I don't think Finlay's too bad looking! ;)

Hatter-Zombie: Well, according to Wikipedia Shannon was married to someone named Crystal, but they divorced in 2005. I don't think I've seen that Youtube video, lol. Sounds crazy! Glad you're starting to like Finlay!

Westfan: Yeah, I guess sometimes a past bad relationship can cause you to be almost too critical...Teddie seems to be getting along with Finlay so far, but like I said the story is far from over!

Sweeney Todds Pirate Lady: Well, honestly? I'm rooting for Finlay too. :) But Teddie seems to have a mind of her own...so I guess we're just going to have to wait and see! ;D

JeffHardyFan02: Oops! Sorry – I sometimes tend to write a little too fast...about a chapter a day! Jeff really needs to come back soon! All his fans are going crazy without him! Punk and Teddie do seem to have the same kind of spunk...so we will have just to see!