Title: The Road Less Traveled (28/?)
Author: Esquirella
Rating: R (for violence in some chapters.)
Disclaimer: I own the Rio character and have written other stories with her. I own all non WWE characters. But I do not own the wrestlers. (Unfortunately. They are so cute!)
Synopsis: In this chapter: Matt wants to be friends? Jeff confronts Shannon and issues a challenge. Rio faces her true feelings for Shannon.
Distribution: Just in case anyone's interested in it, please ask me first. More than likely, I will agree.
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AUTHOR'S NOTE: I swear, I'm working on Rio's first stories. You want to see how this one ends, don't you? Please bear with me.
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Rio stood outside Matt's hotel room wondering if she shouldn't just walk away. Jeff had first asked her to call his brother but then he said she might as well visit Matt instead since she was in the same town. Jeff also made her promise not to tell Shannon where she was going because he might not like that she was meeting with someone who had so vehemently disliked her a short time ago. But Rio suspected the younger Hardy knew that Shannon would have wanted to be there when she spoke to Matt. She also knew that Jeff was very unhappy about her relationship with his best friend. The only question was why. She looked up at the door again and knocked. It opened quickly revealing her determined looking dark haired nemesis. He stepped back and gestured her into his room closing the door behind him.
"Amy jus' lef' a little while ago," he said leaning back against the door and studying her carefully. "We got some time."
"This will take long then?" Rio asked. Matt shrugged. She wondered briefly if he was blocking the exit to keep her from fleeing. That would not make sense though as she promised Jeff she would hear his brother out. She thought Matt knew she would never break her word. "Are you afraid I will run from you?"
His eyes seemed to be trying to pierce through her glasses for a moment. "I dunno," he said at last. "We haven' been frien's long."
"We are friends?"
"Mos' definitely, Miss Rio," he smirked, making her suddenly uncomfortable. "Wha's yo' name, anyway?"
"Why does everyone ask me that?" she snorted. "No matter what it used to be, I go by 'Rio' now. That is all."
"Yo' real name is yo' real identity," Matt said gently. "Tha's th' girl I wanna uncova."
"She is dead," Rio replied, beginning to become annoyed. "'Rio' is all that remains of her."
"I don' think so," he said thoughtfully. "Bu' we'll leave it at that . . . fo' now."
"I am beginning to hate that phrase."
Matt smirked again, making Rio feel extremely uneasy.
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Shannon paced his hotel room floor wondering where his new girlfriend was. The show had ended a while ago and he was hoping she'd be there when he got back. She'd left her jacket and gear bag, though, so he knew she intended to see him again. This made him feel somewhat more relaxed about the situation. But he would only be truly happy when she removed her mask. He resolved to remain patient with her, as he knew that was the only way to earn her trust.
Looking down at the gear bag, Shannon felt an almost overwhelming urge to pick through its contents for any clues about her. He knew she would feel betrayed if he did so, however, so he left it where it lay and turned on the television. He was trying to engross himself in a mystery when he heard a tap on the door. Smiling he got up and opened it, only to look up into Jeff's glowering face.
"We gotta talk, li'l bro."
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Matt kept his body planted in front of the door barring any retreat Rio might be planning. He thought it wouldn't take her long to decide this was too uncomfortable and she should remove herself from his room. Jeff warned him that she was very evasive and didn't welcome probing into her past. And that was exactly what Matt planned to do: probe. He watched her move about the room like a skittish colt, always moving never making eye contact. This wasn't going to be easy, he decided.
"Why dontcha 'ave a seat?" he suggested, motioning to the bed nearest him. She looked at him briefly then at the bed. For a short stretch of time he thought she would refuse, but finally she walked over to it and sat down. He pulled the chair over from the desk and placed it in front of her, still effectively blocking her exit. He sat down on it and leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees and folding his hands.
"This looks like it is to be a serious conversation," she said ominously.
"It is," he nodded. "Bu' not a bad one."
She lifted one shoulder slightly and waited for him to continue.
"I wanna kno' mo' 'boutcha," he started. "I misjudged ya when we first met."
"You did not."
"I did," he said, locking eyes with her and maintaining the gaze. Jeff had told him that if he did this she would be less likely to look away from him. He waited for her to answer him.
"There is nothing about me I wish to discuss," she said evenly. "I try to forget my past, not relive it."
"Tha's no' always good t' do."
"What about you?" Rio asked, surprising him. "Tell me about your life and maybe then I will tell you something about mine."
"Wha's t' tell? I'll answa anythin' ya ask me."
She suddenly looked uneasy, as if she hadn't expected him to call her bluff. She must still think I hate her, he thought ruefully.
"Le's start wit' significant othas," he prodded. "Amy an' I are serious. How 'bout you an' Shannon?"
"Jeff has told you about that?"
Matt nodded slowly, careful to maintain eye contact. She seemed to tense up more the longer he did so, which he took as a good sign. Getting into her head meant getting under her skin, and Matt was glad Jeff had given him several pointers on how to do so.
"I do not know why Shannon is pursuing me," she sighed, looking down at her hands in shame. "I have told him not to and I did not intend for last night to happen."
Matt knew she was attempting to apologize to him for getting together with Shannon, believing that he blamed her for what had happened and he experienced more guilt pangs for what he'd done to her to make her feel this dejected. He reached out one hand and tipped her silver face back up to look at him again.
"I don' blame ya fo' what happened las' night," he said as gently as he could. "'E's been afta you since the Indy sho'. I don' think there's anythin' we coulda done t' stop 'im."
She looked somewhat surprised at his kind tone. "But you know it is dangerous for us to be together."
Matt nodded, still holding her chin. "Bu' not because yo' gonna 'urt 'im." She adopted a very confused look now waiting for him to continue. "I'm afraid 'e's gonna 'urt you, 'oweva unintentionally."
"Shannon will not hurt me," Rio said emphatically, not making any attempt to move out of Matt's hold. He knew she would have no trouble overpowering him if she chose to do so, but he felt confident that she would not fight him if she didn't feel physically threatened. He wondered why he hadn't noticed this about her before. "He has assured me himself that he will not do so."
"When yo' in th' ring, ya need t' concentrate only on yo' opponent, correct?" he asked, finally putting his hand down. She nodded at him. "Can ya still do that?"
"When I am in the ring everything else ceases to exist except that man across from me," she said sadly. "I find it hard not to concentrate on the fight as the urge to do violence overtakes me." She paused and looked down again. Matt immediately pulled her face back up to him. "It is why you are right about what I am."
"No, Rio, i's not," he said with a conviction he hadn't known he had for her. "Yo' not like I thought. Ya don' belong there t' begin with."
"I do."
"Ya don't!" he said grimacing. "An' I'm sorry I helped put tha' thought in yo' head."
"It was there long before I met you, Matt Hardy."
"Well it doesn' belong there," he answered pulling his hand away once more. "I'm jus' worried Shannon's gonna sidetrack ya from whatcha gotta do t' defend yo'self."
"He is distracting, is he not?" she laughed causing Matt to smile with her. He found that he liked it when she laughed and had a feeling she didn't do so often. Perhaps Shannon wasn't a bad influence after all.
"You gonna keep seein' 'im then?"
"What choice do I have?" she asked honestly. "He will not release me anyway."
"An' ya care fo' 'im too much t' jus' leave 'im, huh?"
Her mouth dropped and she quickly looked away again. This time Matt waited for her to look back up before continuing. It took some time though, as she was clearly shy about the subject and flabbergasted that Matt had perceived the truth so easily. When she looked up again he smiled at her.
"I's okay, ya kno'," he said. "'E is oneovakind."
She gave him a small smile.
"An' I think 'e might be good fo' ya, too."
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"Go ahead, Jeff," Shannon said through gritted teeth. "Hit me!"
Jeff couldn't believe it was coming to this. Shannon was his best friend. They'd been through everything together growing up. Everything. They'd always sworn they'd be there for each other no matter what.
"I'm no' hittin' ya, Shanny," he said closing the door behind him. "I jus' wanna talk."
"Ya flew all this way jus'ta talk?" Shannon asked incredulously. "I don' buy it. Where's Drew, anyway? I thought 'e'd be here witchew, holdin' me down."
"I lef' 'im outta this, seein' as he wantsa kill ya."
"It won' maker any less MINE!"
"Tha's debatable," Jeff returned. "But yo' still my brotha an' I cain' let 'im 'urtcha."
"So yo' fixin' ta do it yo'self?"
"Nope," he said. "That'll maker leave me, too."
"Nice t' kno' yo' priorities are in orda."
Jeff regarded his friend with a mixture of rage and sadness. He hadn't known how he came to feel so much for Rio that it overshadowed his friendship. But he couldn't let Shannon have her without a fight of some sort, though not a physical one.
"Ya knew I care fo' 'er, Shanny," he said. "'Ow couldja do it t' me?"
"Do it t' YOU?" Shannon returned more furious than before. "'Ow couldja do it t' ME?!"
Jeff shook his head to clear it, confused. He couldn't understand why his friend was suddenly so enraged.
"Come again?"
"Ya kno' I love 'er, Jeff," Shannon snorted. "Ya knew it befo' I did."
"I figured ya had a crush, Shannon," Jeff yelled. "Ya knew I really love 'er."
"Yo' in love ev'ryday, bro," he answered Jeff. "From th' cute stewardess who gives ya an extra pillow on th' plane t' th' lady paramedic who checks ya out afta th' sho'! Yo' romantic attention span is shorter than my pinkie."
"This is DIFFERENT!"
"I, on th' otha hand," Shannon went on undaunted, "neva fall wit'outa reason. Rio's tha' reason, Jeff. I cain' giver up."
"Neitha can I."
"She knows she belongs t' me," Shannon warned darkly. "She won' leave me fo' you."
"We'll see."
Shannon balled his hands into fists and scowled at Jeff. The Hardy Boy no longer cared if he was risking his little brother. After all, Shannon appeared to stop caring about their friendship. This was going to be a battle and Rio was the prize.
"I won' letcha near 'er."
"If ya try an' stop me, we'll both lose 'er."
"Yo' right," Shannon's face turned instantly from a mask of rage to a look of serenity. "Bu' then, she'd neva letcha touch 'er now that' she's mine."
"What're you talkin' 'bout now?" Jeff furrowed his brow, perplexed at this new train of thought.
"One thin' I kno' about MY baby," Shannon said grinning like a Cheshire cat, "is that when she mates, i's a permanent thin'."
Jeff suddenly knew what the phrase 'seeing red' meant. He clenched his hands at his sides to keep from hitting Shannon scared the younger man was right. Stalking to the door he looked over at his friend before opening it. "I guess we're gonna see 'bout that." He slammed the door behind him.
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"One otha thin' befo' ya go," Matt said as he and Rio stood.
"What is that?" She looked at him expectantly still surprised her meeting with him had gone so well.
"Jeff's gonna be a bit ova problem."
"Jeff," Rio asked. "What about him?"
"I think 'e thinks 'e's in love witchew."
"What?!" She was shocked. "What makes you believe this?"
""E flew off th' handle when 'e found out," Matt said shrugging. "'E called me right away. I suspect 'e wan'ed us t' meet face t' face fo' mo' than one reason."
"What do you think his reasons were?" she asked with a foreboding feeling.
Matt held up a hand ticking off one finger. "One, so tha' we git along, 'cause 'e thinks we'll be spendin' time t'getha at some point."
Rio raised an eyebrow but said nothing.
"An' two," Matt raised another finger, "'e's probally downstairs yelling at Shan right now."
Rio raised a matching eyebrow to the first, reaching for the door. Matt grasped her hand. "'E won' 'urt 'im, Rio," Matt told her gently. "An' Shan can take care o' 'imself."
"I should not come between any of you," she gasped. "This is all wrong."
Matt shook his head in sympathy. "Ya cain' leave Shan ova this, sweetheart."
Rio stared at him in disbelief at the endearment. He just smiled back at her innocently.
"You enjoy confusing me, do you not?"
"Love th' hell outta it," Matt said smoothly. "But I also mean it. Shanny can handle Jeff, an' if ya leave 'im now they'll neva git their friendship back. Plus, you cain' go on wit'out 'im now. Ya love 'im, Rio. Ya neva woulda let 'im near ya if ya didn'."
"Do you think Jeff would like it if he heard you trying to convince me to stay with Shannon?"
"Mos' definitely not," Matt agreed. "But if I thought you were meant fo' Jeff, I'd 'ave said so. Ya love Shannon. Shannon loves you. Wha's th' problem?"
"The problem is that I am an extremely dangerous fighter in a violent world," she said exasperated. "I have also had an imperfect track record when it comes to the people I love, Matt. They end up dead." She shuddered.
Surprising her yet again, Matt pulled her into an embrace and stroked her golden hair. "Tha's not true. An' ya kno' Shan'll say th' same."
"Nothing can happen to him, Matt," she whispered. "I could not bear it if anything did."
"Shh, girlie," he said. "I's gonna be okay. I'll make sure nothin' happens t' 'im."
Rio sniffled and pulled back to look up at him. "Why are you being so nice to me?"
Matt smiled again and rubbed her neck before stepping back. "Because yo' worth it."
She cocked her head to the side and sighed. "Thank you, Matt."
"Keep in touch."
"I will," she said and walked though the door, closing it softly behind her. She stepped down the hall and found herself in Jeff's path.
"Hey, baby," he said smiling.
Rio was suddenly wary of him and didn't like the feeling. This man had been such a good friend to her that she hated to have anything ruin it. She hoped he didn't do something to make her want to distance herself from him.
"Hello, Jeff. What are you doing here?"
"I came t' make sure yo' okay," he said approaching her and pulling her into his arms. She stood there stiffly at first and then hugged him back.
"I keep telling you I am fine."
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He looked down into her eyes penetratingly, trying to assess her reaction to his presence. She seemed to be nervous around him now. Damned Shannon.
"I jus' wan'ed t' make sure," he said reassuringly. "Yo' vera important t' me."
Rio nodded as she tried to pull free from him. He wouldn't let her, though. Instead he bent his head and gently touched her lips with his own. The kiss was one he would give a female relative, as he didn't want to scare her off and a romantic kiss right now would do that. He also knew Andrew would be pissed if he found out Jeff was making a move on her. He wasn't sure what the large Canadian felt for Rio, but protective was definitely one of the emotions.
"Jeff," she breathed. "Please . . ."
"Please what, baby?"
"Please do not make me choose between you and Shannon," she pleaded.
As disappointed as he was with that, Jeff knew he couldn't expect miracles overnight. He would have to work on her slowly. That was okay with him, though. She was definitely worth the wait.
"I won' make ya choose," he said, squeezing her one more time before releasing her. "I jus' wanna make sure yo' okay an' still my frien'."
"Always," she smiled.
"Good," he said relieved. He went to move down the hall to Matt's room. "I'll check in wit' Matt befo' I go. Call me later."
She nodded and waved at him.
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Shannon pounced on Rio as she walked through the door.
"Where've ya been?" he asked as he clutched her close.
"Matt wanted to speak with me."
He thought he was going to explode but kept himself calm as he spoke with her. "Matt?"
"Yes," she said. "He wanted to apologize in person for our past conversations and let me know that he knew about us."
"What about it?" Shannon watched her very carefully for any sign that the elder Harder had been trying to coerce her into leaving him. Jeff had probably put Matt up to this.
"He thinks you are good for me and that I should not let anything get in the way of our relationship."
Shannon was astonished to hear that. Matt was backing him up against Jeff's wishes and told Rio to boot. Apparently Matt meant it when he said Shannon was his baby brother now. He was pleased as hell about it, too. He'd always idolized Matt when he was a kid.
"Ya weren' plannin' on tryin' t' leave me, were ya?"
Rio shook her head and clung back to him, burying her face in his chest. "No, Shannon. I know we are together now."
Shannon grinned widely and closed his arms around her.
Author: Esquirella
Rating: R (for violence in some chapters.)
Disclaimer: I own the Rio character and have written other stories with her. I own all non WWE characters. But I do not own the wrestlers. (Unfortunately. They are so cute!)
Synopsis: In this chapter: Matt wants to be friends? Jeff confronts Shannon and issues a challenge. Rio faces her true feelings for Shannon.
Distribution: Just in case anyone's interested in it, please ask me first. More than likely, I will agree.
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AUTHOR'S NOTE: I swear, I'm working on Rio's first stories. You want to see how this one ends, don't you? Please bear with me.
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Rio stood outside Matt's hotel room wondering if she shouldn't just walk away. Jeff had first asked her to call his brother but then he said she might as well visit Matt instead since she was in the same town. Jeff also made her promise not to tell Shannon where she was going because he might not like that she was meeting with someone who had so vehemently disliked her a short time ago. But Rio suspected the younger Hardy knew that Shannon would have wanted to be there when she spoke to Matt. She also knew that Jeff was very unhappy about her relationship with his best friend. The only question was why. She looked up at the door again and knocked. It opened quickly revealing her determined looking dark haired nemesis. He stepped back and gestured her into his room closing the door behind him.
"Amy jus' lef' a little while ago," he said leaning back against the door and studying her carefully. "We got some time."
"This will take long then?" Rio asked. Matt shrugged. She wondered briefly if he was blocking the exit to keep her from fleeing. That would not make sense though as she promised Jeff she would hear his brother out. She thought Matt knew she would never break her word. "Are you afraid I will run from you?"
His eyes seemed to be trying to pierce through her glasses for a moment. "I dunno," he said at last. "We haven' been frien's long."
"We are friends?"
"Mos' definitely, Miss Rio," he smirked, making her suddenly uncomfortable. "Wha's yo' name, anyway?"
"Why does everyone ask me that?" she snorted. "No matter what it used to be, I go by 'Rio' now. That is all."
"Yo' real name is yo' real identity," Matt said gently. "Tha's th' girl I wanna uncova."
"She is dead," Rio replied, beginning to become annoyed. "'Rio' is all that remains of her."
"I don' think so," he said thoughtfully. "Bu' we'll leave it at that . . . fo' now."
"I am beginning to hate that phrase."
Matt smirked again, making Rio feel extremely uneasy.
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Shannon paced his hotel room floor wondering where his new girlfriend was. The show had ended a while ago and he was hoping she'd be there when he got back. She'd left her jacket and gear bag, though, so he knew she intended to see him again. This made him feel somewhat more relaxed about the situation. But he would only be truly happy when she removed her mask. He resolved to remain patient with her, as he knew that was the only way to earn her trust.
Looking down at the gear bag, Shannon felt an almost overwhelming urge to pick through its contents for any clues about her. He knew she would feel betrayed if he did so, however, so he left it where it lay and turned on the television. He was trying to engross himself in a mystery when he heard a tap on the door. Smiling he got up and opened it, only to look up into Jeff's glowering face.
"We gotta talk, li'l bro."
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Matt kept his body planted in front of the door barring any retreat Rio might be planning. He thought it wouldn't take her long to decide this was too uncomfortable and she should remove herself from his room. Jeff warned him that she was very evasive and didn't welcome probing into her past. And that was exactly what Matt planned to do: probe. He watched her move about the room like a skittish colt, always moving never making eye contact. This wasn't going to be easy, he decided.
"Why dontcha 'ave a seat?" he suggested, motioning to the bed nearest him. She looked at him briefly then at the bed. For a short stretch of time he thought she would refuse, but finally she walked over to it and sat down. He pulled the chair over from the desk and placed it in front of her, still effectively blocking her exit. He sat down on it and leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees and folding his hands.
"This looks like it is to be a serious conversation," she said ominously.
"It is," he nodded. "Bu' not a bad one."
She lifted one shoulder slightly and waited for him to continue.
"I wanna kno' mo' 'boutcha," he started. "I misjudged ya when we first met."
"You did not."
"I did," he said, locking eyes with her and maintaining the gaze. Jeff had told him that if he did this she would be less likely to look away from him. He waited for her to answer him.
"There is nothing about me I wish to discuss," she said evenly. "I try to forget my past, not relive it."
"Tha's no' always good t' do."
"What about you?" Rio asked, surprising him. "Tell me about your life and maybe then I will tell you something about mine."
"Wha's t' tell? I'll answa anythin' ya ask me."
She suddenly looked uneasy, as if she hadn't expected him to call her bluff. She must still think I hate her, he thought ruefully.
"Le's start wit' significant othas," he prodded. "Amy an' I are serious. How 'bout you an' Shannon?"
"Jeff has told you about that?"
Matt nodded slowly, careful to maintain eye contact. She seemed to tense up more the longer he did so, which he took as a good sign. Getting into her head meant getting under her skin, and Matt was glad Jeff had given him several pointers on how to do so.
"I do not know why Shannon is pursuing me," she sighed, looking down at her hands in shame. "I have told him not to and I did not intend for last night to happen."
Matt knew she was attempting to apologize to him for getting together with Shannon, believing that he blamed her for what had happened and he experienced more guilt pangs for what he'd done to her to make her feel this dejected. He reached out one hand and tipped her silver face back up to look at him again.
"I don' blame ya fo' what happened las' night," he said as gently as he could. "'E's been afta you since the Indy sho'. I don' think there's anythin' we coulda done t' stop 'im."
She looked somewhat surprised at his kind tone. "But you know it is dangerous for us to be together."
Matt nodded, still holding her chin. "Bu' not because yo' gonna 'urt 'im." She adopted a very confused look now waiting for him to continue. "I'm afraid 'e's gonna 'urt you, 'oweva unintentionally."
"Shannon will not hurt me," Rio said emphatically, not making any attempt to move out of Matt's hold. He knew she would have no trouble overpowering him if she chose to do so, but he felt confident that she would not fight him if she didn't feel physically threatened. He wondered why he hadn't noticed this about her before. "He has assured me himself that he will not do so."
"When yo' in th' ring, ya need t' concentrate only on yo' opponent, correct?" he asked, finally putting his hand down. She nodded at him. "Can ya still do that?"
"When I am in the ring everything else ceases to exist except that man across from me," she said sadly. "I find it hard not to concentrate on the fight as the urge to do violence overtakes me." She paused and looked down again. Matt immediately pulled her face back up to him. "It is why you are right about what I am."
"No, Rio, i's not," he said with a conviction he hadn't known he had for her. "Yo' not like I thought. Ya don' belong there t' begin with."
"I do."
"Ya don't!" he said grimacing. "An' I'm sorry I helped put tha' thought in yo' head."
"It was there long before I met you, Matt Hardy."
"Well it doesn' belong there," he answered pulling his hand away once more. "I'm jus' worried Shannon's gonna sidetrack ya from whatcha gotta do t' defend yo'self."
"He is distracting, is he not?" she laughed causing Matt to smile with her. He found that he liked it when she laughed and had a feeling she didn't do so often. Perhaps Shannon wasn't a bad influence after all.
"You gonna keep seein' 'im then?"
"What choice do I have?" she asked honestly. "He will not release me anyway."
"An' ya care fo' 'im too much t' jus' leave 'im, huh?"
Her mouth dropped and she quickly looked away again. This time Matt waited for her to look back up before continuing. It took some time though, as she was clearly shy about the subject and flabbergasted that Matt had perceived the truth so easily. When she looked up again he smiled at her.
"I's okay, ya kno'," he said. "'E is oneovakind."
She gave him a small smile.
"An' I think 'e might be good fo' ya, too."
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"Go ahead, Jeff," Shannon said through gritted teeth. "Hit me!"
Jeff couldn't believe it was coming to this. Shannon was his best friend. They'd been through everything together growing up. Everything. They'd always sworn they'd be there for each other no matter what.
"I'm no' hittin' ya, Shanny," he said closing the door behind him. "I jus' wanna talk."
"Ya flew all this way jus'ta talk?" Shannon asked incredulously. "I don' buy it. Where's Drew, anyway? I thought 'e'd be here witchew, holdin' me down."
"I lef' 'im outta this, seein' as he wantsa kill ya."
"It won' maker any less MINE!"
"Tha's debatable," Jeff returned. "But yo' still my brotha an' I cain' let 'im 'urtcha."
"So yo' fixin' ta do it yo'self?"
"Nope," he said. "That'll maker leave me, too."
"Nice t' kno' yo' priorities are in orda."
Jeff regarded his friend with a mixture of rage and sadness. He hadn't known how he came to feel so much for Rio that it overshadowed his friendship. But he couldn't let Shannon have her without a fight of some sort, though not a physical one.
"Ya knew I care fo' 'er, Shanny," he said. "'Ow couldja do it t' me?"
"Do it t' YOU?" Shannon returned more furious than before. "'Ow couldja do it t' ME?!"
Jeff shook his head to clear it, confused. He couldn't understand why his friend was suddenly so enraged.
"Come again?"
"Ya kno' I love 'er, Jeff," Shannon snorted. "Ya knew it befo' I did."
"I figured ya had a crush, Shannon," Jeff yelled. "Ya knew I really love 'er."
"Yo' in love ev'ryday, bro," he answered Jeff. "From th' cute stewardess who gives ya an extra pillow on th' plane t' th' lady paramedic who checks ya out afta th' sho'! Yo' romantic attention span is shorter than my pinkie."
"This is DIFFERENT!"
"I, on th' otha hand," Shannon went on undaunted, "neva fall wit'outa reason. Rio's tha' reason, Jeff. I cain' giver up."
"Neitha can I."
"She knows she belongs t' me," Shannon warned darkly. "She won' leave me fo' you."
"We'll see."
Shannon balled his hands into fists and scowled at Jeff. The Hardy Boy no longer cared if he was risking his little brother. After all, Shannon appeared to stop caring about their friendship. This was going to be a battle and Rio was the prize.
"I won' letcha near 'er."
"If ya try an' stop me, we'll both lose 'er."
"Yo' right," Shannon's face turned instantly from a mask of rage to a look of serenity. "Bu' then, she'd neva letcha touch 'er now that' she's mine."
"What're you talkin' 'bout now?" Jeff furrowed his brow, perplexed at this new train of thought.
"One thin' I kno' about MY baby," Shannon said grinning like a Cheshire cat, "is that when she mates, i's a permanent thin'."
Jeff suddenly knew what the phrase 'seeing red' meant. He clenched his hands at his sides to keep from hitting Shannon scared the younger man was right. Stalking to the door he looked over at his friend before opening it. "I guess we're gonna see 'bout that." He slammed the door behind him.
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"One otha thin' befo' ya go," Matt said as he and Rio stood.
"What is that?" She looked at him expectantly still surprised her meeting with him had gone so well.
"Jeff's gonna be a bit ova problem."
"Jeff," Rio asked. "What about him?"
"I think 'e thinks 'e's in love witchew."
"What?!" She was shocked. "What makes you believe this?"
""E flew off th' handle when 'e found out," Matt said shrugging. "'E called me right away. I suspect 'e wan'ed us t' meet face t' face fo' mo' than one reason."
"What do you think his reasons were?" she asked with a foreboding feeling.
Matt held up a hand ticking off one finger. "One, so tha' we git along, 'cause 'e thinks we'll be spendin' time t'getha at some point."
Rio raised an eyebrow but said nothing.
"An' two," Matt raised another finger, "'e's probally downstairs yelling at Shan right now."
Rio raised a matching eyebrow to the first, reaching for the door. Matt grasped her hand. "'E won' 'urt 'im, Rio," Matt told her gently. "An' Shan can take care o' 'imself."
"I should not come between any of you," she gasped. "This is all wrong."
Matt shook his head in sympathy. "Ya cain' leave Shan ova this, sweetheart."
Rio stared at him in disbelief at the endearment. He just smiled back at her innocently.
"You enjoy confusing me, do you not?"
"Love th' hell outta it," Matt said smoothly. "But I also mean it. Shanny can handle Jeff, an' if ya leave 'im now they'll neva git their friendship back. Plus, you cain' go on wit'out 'im now. Ya love 'im, Rio. Ya neva woulda let 'im near ya if ya didn'."
"Do you think Jeff would like it if he heard you trying to convince me to stay with Shannon?"
"Mos' definitely not," Matt agreed. "But if I thought you were meant fo' Jeff, I'd 'ave said so. Ya love Shannon. Shannon loves you. Wha's th' problem?"
"The problem is that I am an extremely dangerous fighter in a violent world," she said exasperated. "I have also had an imperfect track record when it comes to the people I love, Matt. They end up dead." She shuddered.
Surprising her yet again, Matt pulled her into an embrace and stroked her golden hair. "Tha's not true. An' ya kno' Shan'll say th' same."
"Nothing can happen to him, Matt," she whispered. "I could not bear it if anything did."
"Shh, girlie," he said. "I's gonna be okay. I'll make sure nothin' happens t' 'im."
Rio sniffled and pulled back to look up at him. "Why are you being so nice to me?"
Matt smiled again and rubbed her neck before stepping back. "Because yo' worth it."
She cocked her head to the side and sighed. "Thank you, Matt."
"Keep in touch."
"I will," she said and walked though the door, closing it softly behind her. She stepped down the hall and found herself in Jeff's path.
"Hey, baby," he said smiling.
Rio was suddenly wary of him and didn't like the feeling. This man had been such a good friend to her that she hated to have anything ruin it. She hoped he didn't do something to make her want to distance herself from him.
"Hello, Jeff. What are you doing here?"
"I came t' make sure yo' okay," he said approaching her and pulling her into his arms. She stood there stiffly at first and then hugged him back.
"I keep telling you I am fine."
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He looked down into her eyes penetratingly, trying to assess her reaction to his presence. She seemed to be nervous around him now. Damned Shannon.
"I jus' wan'ed t' make sure," he said reassuringly. "Yo' vera important t' me."
Rio nodded as she tried to pull free from him. He wouldn't let her, though. Instead he bent his head and gently touched her lips with his own. The kiss was one he would give a female relative, as he didn't want to scare her off and a romantic kiss right now would do that. He also knew Andrew would be pissed if he found out Jeff was making a move on her. He wasn't sure what the large Canadian felt for Rio, but protective was definitely one of the emotions.
"Jeff," she breathed. "Please . . ."
"Please what, baby?"
"Please do not make me choose between you and Shannon," she pleaded.
As disappointed as he was with that, Jeff knew he couldn't expect miracles overnight. He would have to work on her slowly. That was okay with him, though. She was definitely worth the wait.
"I won' make ya choose," he said, squeezing her one more time before releasing her. "I jus' wanna make sure yo' okay an' still my frien'."
"Always," she smiled.
"Good," he said relieved. He went to move down the hall to Matt's room. "I'll check in wit' Matt befo' I go. Call me later."
She nodded and waved at him.
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Shannon pounced on Rio as she walked through the door.
"Where've ya been?" he asked as he clutched her close.
"Matt wanted to speak with me."
He thought he was going to explode but kept himself calm as he spoke with her. "Matt?"
"Yes," she said. "He wanted to apologize in person for our past conversations and let me know that he knew about us."
"What about it?" Shannon watched her very carefully for any sign that the elder Harder had been trying to coerce her into leaving him. Jeff had probably put Matt up to this.
"He thinks you are good for me and that I should not let anything get in the way of our relationship."
Shannon was astonished to hear that. Matt was backing him up against Jeff's wishes and told Rio to boot. Apparently Matt meant it when he said Shannon was his baby brother now. He was pleased as hell about it, too. He'd always idolized Matt when he was a kid.
"Ya weren' plannin' on tryin' t' leave me, were ya?"
Rio shook her head and clung back to him, burying her face in his chest. "No, Shannon. I know we are together now."
Shannon grinned widely and closed his arms around her.