TITLE: The End Is The Beginning Is The End (6/10) R
AUTHOR: Bellerophon
EMAIL:bellerophon_666@hotmail.com
RATING: R
CATEGORY: WWE
DISTRIBUTION: Anyone who wants, just let me know. Can be found on fanfiction.net.
DISCLAIMER: I don't own them but I really wish I did.
SUMMARY: Matt finds out a little secret and leaves Jeff and Lita only to discover something else that could tear them apart forever.
TO STEP FORWARDS
"Are you still trying to call Chris Jericho?"
Jeff looked up to see Lita wander into their kitchen. She opened the fridge and brought out some pre-prepared snacks. Jeff pulled a face at watching her eat cottage cheese on cucumber. "Yeah, I'm about to give him another try. I cannot believe you eat that."
Lita responded by taking another bite of the weird concoction. "I'm pregnant. That's my excuse."
Putting the phone down, Jeff knelt down before Lita and put his ear to her swollen abdomen. "You certainly are." Jeff closed his eyes and felt Lita run her hands trough his hair. "I have to keep trying. No one else knows how to get in contact with Matt or they won't tell me."
Lita didn't say anything, just kept stroking Jeff's hair.
"I can't explain it, Li," Jeff wrapped his arms around her. "I don't know why but I just feel like we're running out of time. I feel like we need to talk to Matt now." He hugged Lita for a little longer before standing up and picking up the phone again.
The cucumber and cottage cheese were put back in the fridge and Lita went wandering back out of the kitchen. Jeff looked after her and sighed. Sometimes, it seemed like Lita didn't want to find Matt. Shaking his head, he dialled Jericho's number again.
This time someone answered.
"I don't want my long distance service changed! Take me off your damn list, you've called me three times already!"
Jeff raised his eyebrows and cleared his throat. "Uh, Chris, it's Jeff Hardy."
"Oh..." There was a small pause before Chris Jericho began speaking. "Hey, Jeff. Sorry 'bout that. Uh...how's Lita?"
"Good. She's eating really gross food but I'm told that's normal," Jeff answered, wondering if it would be rude to cut straight to the chase. "Look, Chris, not to be rude or anything but do you know where Matt's living these days?"
Chris coughed and stalled for time while he thought. "Why would I know where he is?"
"I called around and some guys said you two were getting to be friends."
"Oh yeah? What guys?" Chris decided to try rambling as an attempt to get Jeff off the line so he could call Matt. "I haven't really talked to anyone at work lately. It's been pretty hectic and I'm not in any alliances or anything so...plus most people aren't talking to me at the moment anyway. Like I said, who were you talking to because spreading information like that is really rude...or something. Anyway, I was talking to Vince last week and..."
"Chris, please?" Jeff interrupted him. "I know something's going on. I know something's wrong with Matt."
Chris sighed. Matt hadn't said anything about Jeff or contact details. And it was just Chris's humble opinion but he thought it was about time the two siblings reconciled. He had talked to Stephanie last night and she said that she thought Matt wanted to talk to Jeff too.
"Matt's living by himself, most of the time." Chris frowned. "Except half the time she'll be over there with him."
Jeff frowned. "What the hell are you talking about? Who will he be with?" There was an unusually jealous or bitter tinge to Jericho's voice then.
Chris cleared his throat. "Uh...not important. Just forget I said anything, Junior."
Shaking his head, Jeff ignored it, "So what's the address?"
"Man, I'm going out on a limb here because I know you two have issues that need to be sorted, so don't go domestic violence on me, okay?" Chris tried to convince himself he was doing the right thing. Matt and Jeff really did need to talk. And he knew there wouldn't be much more time to do it.
"Scout's honour. Where's Matt?"
"You would've been a crappy scout, Jeff." Chris sighed. "He's living in North Carolina, probably about an hour and a half, two hour drive from you. It's a house outside a town called Pickering."
"Thanks, Jericho. This...well, it means a lot to me." Jeff cleared his throat. "So...what's the address?"
\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\
The sun was dappled across the ceiling. Sometimes, if you watched long enough, you could see pictures in the shapes. Matt knew this because he had been staring at the ceiling for about an hour. It was too nice and comfortable just lying in bed. The sun was warm, he was good and sleepy and Stephanie was also cuddled into his arms.
It had been a few weeks since he left the WWF for good. He still watched it when he got the chance. It was a chance to keep an eye on Jericho and Stephanie seemed to get a kick out of seeing him get beaten up. At least, that's why she said she watched it.
It had been hard for Stephanie and Matt knew she and Chris had developed some sort of weird friendship over the past weeks. They chatted and insulted each other over the phone and Stephanie kept Chris up to date on...things.
Ever since she left Triple H, Stephanie had been living with Matt. Which was just one reason of many that explained why they were in bed together.
It was one of those mornings where he just couldn't believe what was going to happen to him over the next month and a bit. It was inconceivable when the world felt so perfectly at ease. Normally Matt had one of those damn headaches or was feeling like he was about to puke his guts out. But this morning he was perfectly at ease. The only thing spoiling it was the ever constant feeling about Jeff and Lita.
Matt knew he had to talk to his brother and ex-girlfriend. He had to resolve this before...he had to speak to Jeff and Lita and apologise. He had to see Lita pregnant and glowing. He had to...well, he had to do a lot of things.
He had to do them soon, too.
Matt stroked Stephanie's arm, searching for the reassurance of soft, warm human contact. He still forgot sometimes how fragile and little Stephanie was in reality. Even now, her attitude and personality made her seem larger than she really was.
She stirred and yawned, waking up. Wrapping her arms closer around him, Stephanie snuggled into his chest. "Why didn't you wake me up? It's late."
"Who cares how late it is? Do we have anywhere to be? Anyway, you looked too comfy." Matt smiled. "I was afraid you'd hurt me if I woke you up like I usually do."
Stephanie snorted in a most unladylike way, "Yeah, well, if you waking me up didn't involve tickling, maybe I wouldn't have to hurt you." She smirked up at him. "But if you ever want to wake me up another way..."
Matt squeezed her and stayed silent.
"I, air quote, talked to Chris last night before you came home. I meant to tell you about it when you got back but I fell asleep."
Matt smiled. He'd gone for a twilight walk and came home to find Stephanie sleeping half on the bed, half on the floor. "I'm guessing this talk involved some bitching, some yelling, some snipes and possibly some crying?"
"Well, I did hear some sniffling from his end of the line..." Stephanie laughed. "No, surprisingly, it wasn't too vicious this time."
Matt smiled. "You know that Chris has a thing for you?"
An incredulous look came flying back at him. "You're talking about Chris Jericho, aren't you? The guy still says hello to me by saying 'Hey, your Skankiness, busy on the street corners last night?' I seriously doubt there's any *thing* there."
"But you wouldn't mind if he did have certain intentions towards you." Matt stated.
Stephanie blushed and hid her face in his chest. "I don't know what you're talking about," came the muffled reply.
Matt chuckled. "Sure thing."
"You know, even for me and my life, it is seriously weird for the guy I'm in bed to be talking about putting me together with another guy. Although I'm sure the thought had crossed Hunter's mind." Stephanie pulled a face. "Stupid caveman."
"I don't think it's weird. It's not like we're, you know, girlfriend-boyfriend. No insult to you, Steph, but I think of you as a friend."
Stephanie eyed Matt cheekily. "A friend with benefits?"
"You got it, sweet cheeks." Matt laughed and kissed the top of Stephanie's head. They laid together in companionable silence. Matt smiled as he thought of how odd his friendship with Stephanie was. She had looked after him ever since the whole Alliance thing and when that was ended, she kept looking after him. At first, it was probably a way of putting distance between herself, Triple H and their broken down marriage. But after a while, it became more. Somehow along the way, they ended up sleeping with each other.
And now Stephanie was living with him after leaving Triple H. She had walked out with a few suitcases and turned up at his doorstep. Matt had been so happy she finally left Triple H. The guy was a total loser, plus Stephanie suspected he was cheating on her with his physio-therapist. It was cool having someone else in the house with him now.
It was nice that both of them knew they were only friends though. Matt could just tell Stephanie and Chris had feelings for each other, even though neither of them would really admit it. And Matt knew he wasn't going to fall in love with anyone. It would hurt to much saying goodbye already.
Stephanie groaned when they heard a knock on the front door. Matt was going to unwrap himself from the sheets to answer it when she pushed his hands down. "You stay put. I don't want you moving one inch."
Matt scowled, only half joking. "I'm not an invalid, Steph. I am still capable of walking around."
"I know that," Stephanie smirked. "It's just that I just got you into the most comfortable pillow position and it'd would really be a bother if I got back into bed and realised I had to mould you all over again."
"I aim to please." Matt folded his arms under his head and relaxed. Stephanie stood out of the bed and wrapped a dressing gown around herself. She winked at Matt and left the room.
He closed his eyes and let his thoughts drift. Matt thought he heard voices downstairs but he couldn't be bothered trying to listen and pick up what was being said. The morning sun was keeping him lazy and drowsy. He felt himself falling into a light sleep.
Matt heard the door open after a while and spoke without opening his eyes. "Hurry up and get back in bed, Steph. I want my bed-warmer back."
He heard the sound of a throat being cleared. "Uh...Matt, you have a visitor."
Matt opened his eyes and they went wide in shock when he saw who was standing next to Stephanie in the doorway. "Holy fuck," he whispered. This was something he was in no way prepared for.
Jeff gave Matt a weak smile and entered the room. "Hey, Matt."
"Matt, I'll be downstairs if you want anything." Stephanie left the room, closing the door behind her.
Jeff was the first to speak. "We...we need to talk."
Matt nodded slowly. "Yeah, we do."
The two brothers stared at each other as the silence stretched out.
************
