Just Like The Good Ol' Days
"Sorry to interrupt" Matt said "but I believe that we have some things to settle."
He looked at the shocked expression on both men's faces as he stood in the doorway and he could feel his heart beating in his throat. It was his time to prove himself and he was going to, one way or another.
"Matt," Kerry asked, "what are you doing here?"
He looked at the man incredulously before replying "honestly are you serious?"
Kerry looked at Junior who, Matt noticed, looked more confused than ever.
"Oh that's right," Kerry continued "you love her."
He could see a look of anger flash across Junior's face and he had a feeling it matched the one on his own. He immediately knew the game that Kerry was going to play.
"Kerry," he stated "you know what you are doing. I have to give you credit for that. That is old news, Kris and Junior are together and very much in love."
Kerry nodded momentarily before replying "yes, but that didn't stop you from getting in the way did it?"
"What are you talking about?" Matt asked.
Kerry smiled before responding "Oh, I think you know."
He could hear Pablo come up behind him and reply "I think this conversation needs to end now."
"But why," Kerry asked, "I think we are just getting started with helping Junior get reacquainted with his best friend."
Matt could see several emotions flash across Junior's face as he looked at the man standing in front of him.
"We were best friends," he heard Junior ask, "and you stole my girl?!"
The confusion in his voice only seemed to make Matt feel worse about the situation that they were all in. He had known the minute that he had seen the two of them standing there that Kerry would probably try something. But in all honesty, he was frustrated that even after all these years and everything they had been through, the two of them were still getting pitted against each other.
-
"I know things have been tense between us, but were friends right?"
He could feel the heat of her hand burning through his shoulder and he could feel himself slowly and numbly nodding his head. "Right," he answered.
-
"I want us to be together." She told him as she leaned in and kissed him. Those six words had changed everything.
-
His mother had kicked her out of Raintree and it had turned both of their worlds upside down. She came back eventually, but not for him but Wildfire. He had seen her face when she had found out that Junior had met someone knew, had seen the tears that she had cried. He knew then what he had always denied, that in some way she was still hung up on Junior.
-
When he had heard that Junior and Laura were getting married he had hoped that she would move on and come back to him. When she told him that it was hard for her, he had to admit to himself what he had always known.
-
"Matt, Junior and I are back together." He could feel the pain and anger rising inside of him and he had to hold himself back from doing something stupid.
"Well that's just great," he replied as he turned and walked away from them.
-
"I can't ride Flame this weekend because Junior and I are getting married."
He could feel his heart slowly being ripped out of his chest by her, how could she do this to him? As he got up and stormed out of the house, she followed. Chasing him she begged to be his friend, begged for a second chance.
-
"We love each other, nothing else matters." Junior had told him and he realized that as much as he wanted to deny it, he had lost her for good.
-
As images and conversations flittered through Matt's memory, he suddenly realized everything that their friendship had been through. He looked at the man in front of him, who had once been his best friend and his enemy, and he momentarily wondered if they would be able to get through this as well.
"Junior, we can talk about this later. This really is NOT a priority right now."
He could see a small smile flash on Kerry's face which was quickly changed to a frown as Junior nodded his head in agreement with him.
"Junior, come on, let's go."
"What about Kerry?" he heard Junior ask as he stood between the two men.
"The cops are on their way, he won't get far. How does another few years in the slammer sound?" Matt asked as he looked at Kerry in disgust.
Kerry seemed to sneer at him as he answered "I will be gone before they even arrive."
"I will stay here until the police come," Pablo replied "to make sure everything gets taken care of."
He nodded his head tiredly as he headed towards the door as Junior followed. Leading Junior back to the place they had tied up the horses he wondered if Kris had made it back to Raintree yet.
"So," Matt asked "you really lost your memory, huh?"
Junior quietly nodded his head and he momentarily wondered what he was thinking about.
"So were Kris and I really married?" he asked.
"Yes," Matt replied "and very much in love. Sickeningly so." He could hear a chuckle escape his mouth as he recalled how lovey the two of them had been.
"And you were OK with that?" Junior asked.
Matt looked at him momentarily before answering "not at first, but I got over it."
"Now what?" Junior asked.
Matt looked at him and smiled as he answered "Well now," he laughed "I am with your sister."
He could see Junior's nose wrinkle up and he could feel a smile slowly fall across his face.
As they hopped on the horses and slowly followed the trail, it seemed they fell into a natural pattern of talking and he couldn't help but hope that Junior's memory would return soon.
"Just like the good old days," he stated as he looked at Junior and smiled.
--
Kris woke to find a worried Jean and Dani huddling over her.
"Kris," Jean asked "are you OK?"
She could see the worry on both of their faces and she momentarily forgot the events of the night.
"I'm fine," she replied "are the boys back yet?"
She could see the worry increase on both of the faces in front of her.
"So, I will take that as a no." Kris stated.
She thought about the dream that she had just had and she marveled at how real and lifelike it had all seemed. She had made a promise to Junior that she would help him remember and she had promised herself the same. He was going to come back to her, no matter what.
She could hear sirens in the distance and she looked at Jean and Dani who seemed to shrug in response.
"Maybe," Dani stated "they are finally going after Kerry?"
As each of them nodded a silence seemed to settle over them and Kris couldn't help but notice that Jean had been keeping her in sight.
"Kris," Jean stated "thank god you are alright, because honestly I don't know what I would do without you; I was worried we had lost you."
Dani seemed to echo the sentiments and Kris was amazed at how, after all the time she had been away, that Raintree and Dani still felt like family.
She looked at Dani and a smile seemed to fill her face "I can't believe I used to hate you," she stated.
Dani looked at her and smiled before replying "I used to hate you too, but Kris we are family now."
As each of them hugged they could hear horses coming up the drive, diverting their attention to the darkened path that they were traveling.
She could see Matt through the darkness and another figure with him and instantly she knew. She could feel herself running towards them as they hopped off their horses and she could hear Dani and Jean let out gasps as Junior came into the light.
Ignoring everyone and everything around them she could feel her feet continue to move towards them at a rapid speed. They seemed to stop and stare at her and the look on both of their faces told her she really looked as bad as she felt.
Running steadily towards them, she flung herself into Juniors arms. Looking deep into his eyes, and without saying a word, they embraced in a hug which was quickly and steadily followed by a kiss. As she wrapped her arms around his head and deepened the kiss she could feel herself quickly loosing control.
She could hear Dani state "geesh guys, get a room," but she didn't care. As she pulled away from him gasping for air she could see a small smile on his face.
"What was that for and what do I have to do to have that happen again?" he asked teasingly.
She could feel her face becoming bright red as everyone laughed and she ducked her head into the crook of his neck slowly taking in his smell.
"I promise you," she whispered into his ear "no matter how long it takes I will help you remember."
She could see Jean, Matt, and Dani looking at her questioningly but she didn't care. As Junior's eyes met her she could see him nod in acknowledgement of what she had said. Reaching up she pulled his head back down into another kiss and could feel herself slowly melting into him.
