Chapter Fifty-Nine
House Guests
Vee entered her house with a sigh. She couldn't take this anymore. Triple H was still following her, still recording her. She could deal with that in itself, but the moments he was present for was bothering her. She couldn't be with her boyfriend without everyone watching. She felt violated. What she couldn't understand, was how he knew where she was all the time. He couldn't get anywhere near the property, Matt had it wired. How was he getting to her?
Matt came up behind her and put his arm round her shoulders.
M-"Everything ok babe?" Matt asked as he saw the far away look in her eyes.
V-"Just tired." Vee answered looking at her watch. It was late. Their flight had been delayed and the drive from the airport had seemed so long. It was midnight and she was exhausted. Plus the Dramamine for the flight had her pretty drowsy.
M-" Alright. Let's go to bed then." He said picking up their bags and heading upstairs. Jeff yelled goodnight from down the hall as Vee disappeared into her and Matt's room calling after him. Vee wordlessly started stripping her clothes and climbed into bed naked - she couldn't be bothered with PJs tonight, besides, Matt never did. She stared at a spot on the ceiling as Matt moved around the room, getting ready for bed and shedding his clothes before climbing in beside her. He looked at her, she looked sad. He climbed over her and looked down at her. Vee was forced to look at him as he hovered above her.
V-"Hey." She whispered forcing a small smile. Matt leaned in and kissed her gently.
M-"Still thinking about your dad?" He asked as he pulled back. He was leaning all his weight on his arms, that rested either side of her head.
V-"No." She said as she shook her head slightly.
M-"Triple H?" Matt asked already knowing the answer. Vee's gaze shifted down and he knew immediately that he was right. "We'll deal with him babe." Vee nodded and looked back up at him. Matt leaned down and kissed her again. This time Vee deepened the kiss. When they pulled apart for air and Matt went to work on her neck and down her collarbone, Vee smiled. This was exactly what she needed - a distraction. Suddenly however, a picture of the video Triple H had put on the titan-tron of the two in their room, doing exactly what they were about to now, flashed in her mind. She brought her hands up to push Matt away from her. Matt pulled back and looked at her. "What? What's wrong?" Vee shook her head.
V-"I can't do this. What if he's watching again?" Matt groaned and rolled off her. He took her hand and looked at her, his head beside hers on the pillow.
M-"I know you're freaked and for good reason. But I promise you, he's not here. He's not taping you now." Vee looked at him unconvinced.
V-"We thought he wasn't here before. Somehow he's getting in here and I'm not going to let him put more footage of us up for the world to see." Matt looked away from her, his face showing deep thought. She was right. Somehow he was getting in and there was no way he was getting on the property. So how was he seeing her? Matt swung his legs around to sit on the edge of the bed. He pulled his boxer shorts on and looked around the room. Vee watched him. "I'm sorry Matt. Don't be mad." He looked at her, his expression softening. She thought he was mad at her. He wasn't. He was determined to find out how the hell bitch tits was still watching his girlfriend.
M-"I'm not mad at you Vee. I'm just wondering how the hell he is still taping you… He's got to have a camera set up somewhere in the house." It dawned on him. That was how Triple H knew where they were at all times. He was watching them from inside the house. Vee pulled the sheet against her and sat up.
V-"Shit… He was in the house ages ago Matt. God only knows what he's seen if he's had a camera in here the entire time." Matt grabbed Vee's bath robe from the bathroom and handed it to her. She quickly pulled it on and tied it tight. She stood up and started scanning the room with her eyes. "So where do we start looking?" Matt shook his head.
M-"I don't know." Matt's eye suddenly caught something on the TV unit. He walked towards it and noticed a book sitting on the shelf he didn't recognise. "Baby? Do you have a book called 'Lie Down in Darkness' by William Styron?" Vee turned and looked at him confused.
V-"No. Why?" Matt looked at the book, more specifically the o in 'down'. It was glass. Matt followed where it pointed. Directly at their bed. Matt picked up the book gently as Vee headed over to him. He opened it gently and sure enough it was hollowed out and inside was a tiny camera.
M-"Because I just found the camera." Matt stated as he pulled the camera out of the book and handed it to Vee. Vee looked at it before dropping it on the floor and grabbing the book from Matt's hands. With great force, she brought the book down on the camera, smashing it. Matt looked at her and saw her visibly relax. "Feel better?" He asked. Vee looked up at him with a grin.
V-"Much." She stated happily. "Doesn't mean much though" she stated as the sadness washed over her again. "There still could be more." Matt nodded.
M-"In the morning we'll pack and I'll call in some security guys to go through the house with a fine tooth comb and get everything. We'll go stay at Tye's or something." Vee nodded.
V-"Oh wait. No we can't stay at Tye's. Damien's still staying there. There's not enough room." Matt thought for a moment. "I'm not staying at Elle's . I love her dearly, but the girl's into some weird shit and my uncle's there. Don't need that thank you." Matt nodded remembering that god awful day he'd walked in on them. Elle's place was out of the question. "I know somewhere." Vee said as she walked back over to the bed. She dropped her robe on the floor and climbed into bed. Sleep was the priority right now. They'd worry about the rest tomorrow.
The taxi pulled up outside the ranch and Vee looked at the house in trepidation. Now that she was there, she wasn't sure she should be. It felt strange. She looked towards the door and her breath caught when it was opened to reveal Taker waiting for them. They'd called ahead and told them everything and he'd immediately agreed to let them stay. He walked out the door and helped them with the bags as Vee payed the driver. Taker lead the trio into the house and down the hall to their rooms. He directed Jeff to one and lead Matt and Vee further down the hall to the spare room.
T-"I'd prefer it if you had separate rooms, but somehow I don't think that would last long even if I tried it." Taker said looking at Vee who crossed her arms over her chest and nodded at him. Damn straight. Taker nodded solemnly and opened the door to the spare room. He lead them inside and placed their bags at the foot of the bed.
V-"Dad. What did you do with my room?" Taker looked away. He didn't think this was going to go over too well.
T-"Well it was the bedroom closest to us, so…." Taker trailed off and Vee's eyes widened.
V-"You let Sarah turn it into a nursery for the baby." Vee stated more than asked. At Taker's small nod she continued. "She better not have thrown out any of my stuff." Vee warned. Taker shook his head.
T-"No. It's in boxes in the closet in Jack's room." Vee nodded. Jeff was staying in Jack's room. "Well, Vee you can show Matt and Jeff around. I'll be in the gym if you need me." Vee nodded at her father as he turned to leave the room. He started closing the door behind him but stopped and left it ajar. Vee rolled her eyes at him and walked over to close the door completely. Vee sighed as she walked over to the bed and sat down beside Matt.
V-"This feels weird." Matt put his arm around her shoulders.
M-"Being here?" Vee nodded.
V-"I haven't been here since I was six. Not just that though. It's not my house anymore. It's hers." Vee referred to Sarah. She shook her head at the thought.
M-"It'll be ok. Now show me around this place." Vee smiled and stood. She held the door open for Matt and followed him out the door. They'd managed to miss Sarah when they arrived. She was at the store buying diapers for the baby or something. Vee hadn't really been paying attention when her father explained her absence. All Vee knew was that the woman wouldn't be home for an hour. And she was ecstatic at the thought.
When Sarah came home, she heard laughter and happy squeals coming from outside. She walked over to the doors leading out to the porch, the baby on her hip, and smiled when she saw Vee, Matt and Jeff mucking around by the pool. Matt had thrown Vee over his shoulder and was threatening to throw her in the pool. Vee laughed as she rapped her fists on his bare back feigning resistance. Jeff was already in the pool cheering Matt on. Sarah had just missed Jeff be pushed in by Vee. She opened the door to walk out just as Matt dumped Vee in the water. She came up from the water with a pout.
V-"You could have at least let me take my shorts off first." Vee said as she climbed out of the pool in her bikini and denim shorts - now soaked. She stripped them off and pushed Matt into the water, trying to look innocent when he came up. Hearing the door Vee turned towards the house and saw Sarah walking towards them, with the baby. Vee sighed and looked at Matt who now looked worried. He was fearing a confrontation.
S-"Hi Vee. How are you?" Sarah greeted cheerily. Vee looked at her with a sick expression on her face.
V-"Hey." She replied. Vee looked at the baby. This was the first time she'd seen her. Ok, she had to admit she was cute. And it wasn't like it was the kids fault that she was born into this twisted family.
S-"Hi Matt, Jeff." Sarah acknowledged before looking back at Vee. "Want to hold her?" She asked when she saw that Vee was looking at the baby. Vee looked up at Sarah and shook her head cautiously.
V-"I don't think that would be a very good…" Vee wasn't able to finish. Sarah thrust the baby into Vee's arms.
S-"It'll be fine." Sarah said as she pulled back. Vee looked at the baby, before sitting her on her hip. She wasn't sure how she was supposed to feel about this. "She likes you" Sarah said as the little tyke smiled up at Vee. It was weird. Here she was holding her sister when she was old enough to be the kids mum. It was just too weird. She couldn't help but smile at her as she looked up at her though. She was awfully cute. Thank god she looked like Vee. Taker came outside and smiled when he saw Vixen holding the baby, a smile gracing her features.
T-"My girls." He called as he approached. Vee glared at him and handed the baby back to Sarah.
V-"Don't do that." Vee said to her father as she stepped into the pool. The smile dropped from Taker's face. This week was not going to be easy.
The afternoon went by quietly. Meaning no one talked to each other. Matt, Jeff and Vee kept to themselves and so did Taker and Sara. That of course meant there was a very awkward dinner to be had by all but at least there wasn't any fighting. No, that wouldn't start until the morning.
Taker was sitting in the family room, reading the paper and having a cup of coffee when he saw Vee exit the bathroom out of the corner of his eye in only a towel. Thinking nothing of it he continued to read his paper, until about 1 minute later when Matt left the same bathroom with a towel around his waist.
T-"Oh hell no." Taker announced standing up and heading to Vee and Matt's bedroom. By the time he got there Matt had already disappeared into the room, closing the door behind him. Taker tried the door but it was locked. He started banging on the door with both fists and screaming for Vee to open the door before he knocked it down. He made such a racket he woke Jeff, Sarah and the Baby, who could now be heard screaming from down the hall. However none of this stopped Taker tirade. He continued beating the hell out of the door until it swung open and a not happy looking Vee was standing on the other side in her bathrobe. She looked up at Taker, one hand on her hip, with a scowl.
V-"What the hell is all the noise about?" Vee asked pissed.
T-"Don't you dare take that tone of voice with me young lady. I saw the two of you come out of the bathroom and there is no way the two of you are doing that under my roof. I won't allow it." Vee wanted to laugh. Wasn't this argument a little late? She felt like she was 17 and her father had caught her boyfriend under the bed or something. It was almost comical.
V-"Is this conversation really necessary?" Vee asked completely cool as Taker fumed.
T-"I may not be able to stop you in your own home, but in mine I sure as hell won't have him putting his hands on my little girl. No chance in Hell." Vee looked up at him and down the hall where Jeff and Sara were standing listening in on the fight. She stepped out of the room, pulling the door closed behind her and walking towards the other end of the house. Taker followed. "Don't walk away from Vixen." Vee continued walking, straight out of the house, toward the gym, Taker still following. When they got to the gym, Vixen stepped inside and waited for her father to join her. She closed the door behind them and locked it.
V-"I wasn't walking away from you, I was walking away from everyone else. If we're going to have this argument. I'm not doing it in front of everyone." Taker looked at her. He'd never seen her so calm during an argument.
T-"Nothing you say is going to change my mind Vixen. I won't have it in this house." Vee just looked at him and nodded.
V-"Fine. We won't have sex in your house, easily done. But there's something much more serious here." Taker looked at her confused. "oh don't give me that look. You have to get over this. Matt is not going anywhere." Taker didn't look happy.
T-"What are you asking of me Vixen?" Vee looked up at her father.
V-"I'm asking you to give him a break. I'm not asking you to love him, just be civil. I swear, you give me hell about Sara but you don't even try with Matt. I'm trying with her. For you, I try. Can't you do the same for me?" Vee asked with frustration etched across her face.
T-"I'll never love the man who's corrupting my baby girl." Vee nodded.
V-"That's alright. But I do love him. Please try… for me." Taker looked at her and caved. He nodded slowly and Vee smiled. "Thank you. I think you'll like him if you just give him a chance. You liked him before." Taker nodded.
T-"It's not about that Vixen. I did like, I still kinda do. I just don't like him touching you. No father does like it. You're my daughter Vixen. My baby. I can't stand to think that someone is touching you like that." Vixen nodded.
V-"I get it dad. But most father's don't put their daughter's boyfriend in the hospital. I've forgiven a lot. Forgive him for a lot less." Taker nodded.
T-"Ok. I'll try… For you, I'll try." Vee nodded.
V-"Thank you." Vee smiled at her father before heading out of the gym and back into the house to get dressed. Taker stood shaking his head. He really didn't mind this Hardy kid, it was just as he said, Vee is his baby and he'll always want to protect her from men.
The Next Day
Sara awoke and headed into the kitchen. She peeked around the door when she heard voices in there. She saw Vixen, Matt and Taker standing at the bench making breakfast together and they were all laughing. Jeff sat at the table watching them with a smile on his face. They were getting along, they were actually getting along. And more surprisingly, really well. Like they'd all been friends for years. They were getting themselves into such a mess as they made pancakes. Vee was mixing the batter, while Matt and Taker both tried flipping them. Hence the cause of laughter as neither were yet to flip one properly. There was the odd pancake on the ceiling which would soon fall and land dangerously close to Vee, who would then threaten who ever flipped it with a cooking utensil.
Sara smiled at the scene that greeted her. It was nice to see. So she turned and headed back to the bedroom. She wasn't an idiot. She knew Vixen hated her. And she knew her presence there would change the mood greatly. She also knew that everyone in that room needed it to be just as it was. So she went back to the bedroom. She showered and got dressed before checking on the baby. And when they were all sitting down to breakfast finally. Then she entered and to her surprise the mood didn't change drastically. Vixen even continued to smile. But it was then that she realised. Vee was just pretending she wasn't there.
The next morning Vixen woke and felt for Matt. But he wasn't there. She got up and tip toed down the hall to Jeff's room. She peeked in but the room was empty. She continued on to the family room, the kitchen and the porch. But the house was empty. She headed back into the kitchen for a cup of coffee before heading into the family room again. She sat down on the sofa and noticed the small piece of paper on the coffee table. Picking it up she read the note.
Vee and Sara,
Gone to the driving range, will be back soon.
Mark, Matt and Jeff.
Vee smiled. They were getting along, really getting along, and she was loving every second of it. Vee grabbed the remote, switching on the TV and quickly turning the volume down as not to wake Sara, and settled on the sofa to watch cartoons. She smiled brightly when she found the smurfs. She was really going to enjoy having some alone time in the house. She sipped her coffee and smiled at vanity smurf. The Smurfs were classic.
Vee all of sudden felt someone's eyes on her. She turned and saw Sara leaning up against the wall. She had a small shy smile on her face and Vee knew she wasn't getting out of this conversation. She sighed and sat up straighter.
Sara sat down on the sofa opposite Vee. She looked at her step daughter intently. She wanted Vee to like her. She knew she probably couldn't get her to love her but she wanted it. She liked Vee, she even loved Vee. Sara had a sneaking suspicion there was more to this girl than she wanted you to believe. Vee looked from the television screen to Sara.
V-"What?" Vee asked exasperated. She so did not like being watched these days, ever since Triple H's infatuation with her.
S-"Can we talk?" Vee rolled her eyes.
V-"I'd rather kill myself." Sara flinched at the harshness in her voice.
S-"Please?" She asked softly. Vee sighed and acquiesced. She waved her hand at Sara to begin. "I just want to know why you hate me so much." Vee looked at her deeply.
V-"What makes you think I think enough of you to hate you?" Sara lowered her head.
S-"We're family Vixen." Vixen swung her legs over and sat up, leaning against her knees she looked at her father's wife.
V-"No. No we aren't. You are my father's wife. You are not my family." Vixen spat out at her. Her words venomous. Sara lowered her head.
S-"You don't have to love me. Hell you don't have to like me. But please, don't you think I deserve a little more respect than to be treated like this?" Vee raised her eyebrows. She really didn't want her to answer that. "If nothing else, than for your father. You love him, and I love him. Can't we get along for him?" Vee lowered her head.
V-"I'll think about it." She said absently. Sara sighed and looked at her lap. The door opened and the boys entered the house. Taker walked into the room and smiled.
T-"Ah two of my three favourite women." He smiled as he looked at them both, but the smile quickly left his face. Sara was looking miserable and Vee had a hard look directed at the TV. "What's going on?" Neither women answered him. Matt and Jeff stood behind him confused. Taker turned towards them. "You guys want to ride the quad-bikes?" Matt and Jeff looked at each other than back at Taker and snatched the keys from his hand. They bolted from the room and Taker turned back to the girls. He looked between them, you could cut the tension in the room with a knife.
S-"I'm going to go check on the baby." Sara said and left the room. Vee looked up at her father.
V-"Go ahead. Blame me." Taker just looked at her. "Go on. I know you want to."
T-"I want to know what the hell is going on. Why the hell do you hate her so much?" Vee stared at him and stood. She looked him dead in the eye.
V-"What makes her so damn special? Huh. What makes her so special that you want to play the good little husband and father with her?" Taker's eyes softened and he sighed.
T-"baby girl. I'm not playing anything. I love her, that's what's so special. I love her and I love you. It doesn't change anything."
V-"it changes everything." Vee yelled. "You love her and your new daughter enough to be a good husband but you didn't love mum and I enough." She yelled taking a step closer to him. "You weren't there. I was the one who heard mum cry every night without fail. Jack had to comfort her as she cried. Crying because you were out screwing anything with legs. You didn't love us enough."
T-"Baby girl that's not it."
V-"Bull shit. It is. You didn't love us, simple as that. And if you think I'm going to be the perfect little step daughter and love the woman who proved to me exactly what I always knew, you've got another thing coming." Taker leaned forward and grabbed Vee by the arms.
T-"Listen to me. This has nothing to do with how I love you and Jack or your mother. I was the bad guy."
V-"You're damn right you were the bad guy and you're still the bad guy. You think mum still talks to you because she wants to? Hell no. You broke her heart and it's still broken. So is mine. And you think Jack doesn't return your calls because he's too busy. You've never even met his wife." She looked at him. Taker shook her lightly, she wasn't letting him explain, and the truth in her words was killing him.
T-"Vixen, you are not getting it. I love you, your brother, I love your mom. I love the three of you more than I've ever loved anything."
V-"really? How about Sara?"
T-"More than anyone." He stressed. "I fucked up. I know that. But I couldn't fix it. I fucked up royally and I lost the only people that mattered to me. I lost you, your mother and your brother. I loved you three more than I could ever explain. It had nothing to do with how much I loved you all. It was me. My stupid mistakes. I was weak. And I payed for it every day since. I still pay for it." Vee pulled her arms out of his grasp and turned away from him.
V-"Why are you strong enough for her?" She asked still looking away from him. Taker walked up behind her.
T-"Because I don't want to hurt anyone else I love. I learn from my mistakes." He reached forward and placed a hand on her shoulder. After a long pause he asked the question he'd been dying to ask for years now. "Why hasn't your mom re-married?"
V-"Because you were supposed to be her happily ever after... her heart's still broken." Taker cringed, he was still breaking her heart, 17 years later and he was still hurting her.
T-"I'm sorry Vee. I'm so sorry." Vee turned to face him and looked up at him. She nodded once and turned to leave.
V-"I'm going to see the boys."
T-"Vee?... Have you spoken to your brother?" Vee looked at him and nodded.
V-"Every Wednesday." She said, the hurt still evident on her face.
T-"Can I talk to him next time?" Vee shrugged and left the room. She looked to her right when she reached the door way and saw Sara leaning against the wall. She'd heard everything. Vee turned away and walked out the door. Sara entered the living room and saw Taker sitting on the sofa, leaning his head against his hands. She sat down beside him.
S-"Are you ok?" She asked softly. He looked up at her and nodded his head once. "So is it true? Are you still in love with your ex-wife?" Taker looked up at her.
T-"She's the mother of my children. I'll always love her, but in a completely different way to the way I love you." Sara nodded once.
S-"But Jack's not your son Mark." He looked at her then with a murderous glint in his eyes.
T-"He may not be my blood, but I raised that boy since he was a baby. I am his dad." Sara nodded. Mark and Vee's mother Sharon, had met and fallen in love when Jack was only 1. They married when he was 3 and Mark was the only father Jack had ever known. "I screwed things up with them Sara. I won't do it again." Sara smiled and hugged him.
Outside
Vee walked out and watched the boys riding the quad-bikes. Matt noticed her and rode up beside her. He smiled at her and winked.
M-"So, baby, you want a ride?" He asked in his best impersonation of a biker. Vee smiled softly and shook her head. The grin left Matt's face as he looked at her. "What happened?" He asked softly, Vee only shook her head at him. Matt's arm snaked out and wrapped around her waist. He pulled her down into his lap. Vee played with a button on his shirt, not wanting to meet his eyes. Matt placed his hand under her chin and nudged her face higher. She was forced to look at him and he saw the light shine of unshed tears in her eyes. "What'd he do?" Matt asked trying to keep his anger under control. Vee shrugged her shoulders.
V-"Nothing. Just an argument." Matt nodded.
M-"About what?"
V-"Something we should have talked about a long time ago." Matt watched her as she continued to play with his button.
M-"Did you sort it out?" He already knew the answer, he just felt he should ask. Vee shook her head and leaned against his shoulder. Matt wrapped his arms around her back, rubbing his hand up and down her spine rhythmically. He looked up and saw Taker standing at the door, watching them. Matt looked away. He didn't know everything that had happened in their past, but whatever it was it still continued to hurt Vee and Taker, and somehow he knew this was only the beginning.
A day past and Vee and Taker barely talked to each other. The tension between the two had only grown since their argument and it didn't appear to be going anywhere anytime soon. Vee called Jack early, needing to talk to him and Taker walked in on her on her cell. Taker stood out of the way and listened as she talked to, who Taker assumed, was her brother.
V-"No... He won't, I'm telling you... I don't think that's a very good idea... Fine, but I warned you... Alright, I'll talk to you later... Fine, I'll catch you later... Bye." Vee hung up the phone and walked to her bedroom as Taker watched from the door way.
Vee, Matt and Jeff were watching a movie in the living room, while Taker and Sara were bathing the baby when they heard a car horn beep outside. Vee sighed and stood from the sofa. She walked over to the window and watched as a familiar car pulled up outside. Taker walked out of the bathroom and opened the front door. He stood in the doorway as the car came to a stop directly in front of the house, only a few feet away. He could see into the windows and saw two little kids, the eldest no more than 4 the youngest no older than 2, sitting in the back. There was a woman passenger and the driver, a young man of about 28, shut off the engine and stepped out of the car. He leaned against it for a moment before smiling and moving to step towards the house. Taker took the front two steps in one stride and called out.
T-"Stop. What do you think you're doing?" The smile faded from the young man's face and Vee appeared in the doorway, a solemn expression marring her features. "Who are you?" The man just looked at him blankly. "Look I don't know who the hell you are but get off my property NOW!" He yelled. The young man shook his head and looked past Taker to Vee for a moment, before getting in the car and starting the engine. As the car slowly started to pull away, Vee spoke.
V-"I told him, you wouldn't recognise him." Realisation dawned as Taker looked toward the car. The eldest of the kids was looking out the back windshield at him, a tiny hand pressed against the glass. That was Jack.
Vee sat in her bedroom looking out the window, her cell phone in her hand. She knew Jack would pull over soon and call. He'd driven all the way from Florida. He wouldn't drive all the way back without calling her first. Her phone started buzzing and she quickly answered it.
V-"Jack?" She answered quickly.
J-"Yeah munchkin, it's me." Vee sighed relieved.
V-"I'm so sorry Jack."
J-"You warned me. I should have taken your word for it." Vee frowned. She didn't want him to have to go through this.
V-"Come back. He's beating himself up over it. Which he should be. But come back. Please." On the other end Jack was silent, considering it.
J-"If I do. What will have changed. He knows it's me now. But all that crap still exists between us. It's no going anywhere."
V-"I know. Look how long it took Dad and I to get our relationship back on track and it's still rocky, but if you don't try, it'll never be good. I know you want to be."
J-"I can't forgive him Vee."
V-"I know. I still haven't and he knows that. But I need him and I think you do too." Jack sighed. He really didn't want to be at war with his dad. But he'd never forgive him for what he did to his mother.
J-"Alright. I'll come back. But I'm not promising anything. We're going to drop our stuff off at the hotel first."
V-"Ok. I'll see you soon?"
J-"Yeah, you will. I came this far I guess."
V-"I'm so sorry Jack." Jack nodded on his end.
J-"I know munchkin. I know." Jack hung up the phone and continued down the road to the hotel. He'd give his father a second chance. But that was it.
Vee left her bedroom and headed out to the porch where she knew Taker would be. Taker turned when he heard the door open and close. He looked at Vee, sorrow etched across his face.
V-"He's coming back." Vee said. She felt a little bad for him but more so for Jack.
T-"He is?" Taker seemed so hopeful. Vee nodded.
V-"But he won't keep coming back. So you have to fix this and quick." Taker nodded. Vee turned to go back inside but her father's voice stopped her.
T-"Vee. Thank you. I know it was you that got him here in the first place, and you who got him to come back." Vee nodded and headed back inside.
When Jack arrived Taker looked at him in awe. Sharon had sent him photos over the years, but they couldn't prepare him for what Jack had grown into. He was a really handsome young man. A great husband and father, and a great brother. He'd missed out on so much. The first thing he said, was a whispered apology. Jack nodded and followed him into the house. They sat on the porch, out the back, and they talked. In the living room Matt and Jeff played with Kate and Nick while Kim gushed over the baby. Vee on the other hand watched her brother and her father from the kitchen window. Sara came into the room and stood beside her. She looked out the window at father and son and smiled as Taker ran his finger across photos of the kids Jack was showing him.
Vee looked at Sara and realised she had to explain things to her. She'd been so harsh to her in the past. It was time.
V-"I don't hate you." Sara looked at her and nodded. After hearing Vee's argument with Taker a few days earlier, she now had a clearer understanding of Vee's attitude towards her.
S-"I know. You're just angry. It's not fair." Vee nodded.
V-"It should have been my mum." Sara nodded.
S-"Yeah, it should have been. But it's me. And I'm sorry it didn't work out for you Vee. But I really want us to get along. I really like you. I just want a chance." Vee stood silent for a moment before nodding and turning to head into the living room. Vee leant against the doorframe looking into the living room. She smiled as she watched Jeff and Matt playing with Nick and Kate. It was adorable. The kids were jumping all over them laughing happily as Jeff counted to three and the kids celebrated their pinfall victory of the Hardy Boyz. Vee laughed as their little arms were held up in victory. Kim sat on the sofa blowing raspberries on the baby's stomach as she giggled happily. Her little legs kicking madly. Matt looked up and saw Vee in the doorway smiling.
M-"Hey babe. Everything alright?" Vee nodded with a smile and moved to sit down on the sofa next to Kim.
V-"They're talking. They're not killing each other, so I take that as a good sign." She laughed. Kim placed her hand over Vee's and gave her a small smile. Kim knew everything. Jack had told her a long time ago. Since then she'd been very supportive. She knew when to push Jack and when to leave him be, and Vee had a sneaking suspicion it was her perfect timing that led Jack here in the first place. Everyone looked up when Taker and Jack entered the room. Jack bent down and picked up Kate.
J-"Katie honey, this is your pop." Kate shied away slightly and looked at him from under her eyelashes. Her pop was kinda scary. He was really tall, even taller than her daddy and he had funny green arms. They were drawings, kinda like her auntie Vee's but not as pretty. Taker reached out and ran his finger across her cheek.
T-"Hey there cutie." He spoke softly and Kate looked up at him properly. Maybe he wasn't so bad. "Can I have a cuddle?" He asked holding his arms open. Kate looked at her daddy, who nodded and leant forward allowing Taker to take her into his arms. He hugged her tightly, running his hand up and down her back. He looked at Jack and mouthed 'thank you'. Jack nodded and held his hand out for Nick to take.
J-"This is Nick." Jack introduced and Taker looked down at his grandson, his granddaughter still in his arms. Taker held his hand out to shake Nick's. Nick reached for his pop's hand wearily. When Taker shook his hand gently he smiled up at him.
T-"Hi there big man. You're almost as big as your daddy." Nick smiled the biggest smile he could muster and Taker laughed. They were adorable kids. Jack looked to Kim, who sat up and headed over to him. She looked up at Taker with a smile.
K-"I'm Kim. It's nice to finally meet you." Taker nodded.
T-"I'm glad I could." He said softly. He still hadn't put Kate down. He couldn't bring himself too. "Where are you staying?" Taker asked looking at Jack.
J-"Not far." Taker nodded.
T-"Good. Thank you Jack, for coming." Jack nodded and smiled softly. Vee watched the entire exchange from her seat on the sofa. She never thought she'd actually see this day. But now that it was here, right before her eyes, she felt apart of her release, like she'd been holding something deep inside that she couldn't shed. The pain that came from having a divided family lessened as they took their first steps in uniting.
TBC…
Stay tuned for more in the next chapter of An Amazonian
