Joplin Chapter Three Authors Note: This takes place a year in the future! Jeff is back with the WWE. Takes place in NC and everybody lives in Cameron **=Flashback * = Location

Shannon looked over at the man a pissed expression on his face. "I know I'm one of your kid's godparents that are why I'm here." Shannon told him his anger rising at the man, "You walked out on your family, and I came over to make sure that "YOUR" family was alright. Jeff and I got a call at 3 am from Trent saying that he couldn't find you and Momma was crying. We came over and took care of "your" family as usual, you have missed some of the most important moments in Trent and Breydan's lives cause your trasping around with your damned whore. Don't you see you've got the world waiting here for you? God I would do anything to be in your shoes. You have four beautiful kids a gorgeous girlfriend and you treat them like crap," Shannon said exploding at Shane forgetting about the woman in his lap. "Hell the way you act you'd think you only had 2 kids, Matt and Nero. Hell I bet you doesn't know that Trent thought that his FATHER was me or Jeff. You totally forget about Breydan half the time. So don't accuse me of doing anything you that you haven't done unless it's loving your girlfriend and your kids, cause I'm guilty of that, and only that." Shannon screamed before he felt a weight being lifted off of his lap. Within a flash Jo was inside the house pushing around their friends, Shane glared at his friend after watching his ex-lover flee into the house. "How the hell do I know that Trent isn't yours" Shane shot back at he man, "it's a known fact that she always had a thing for you. And everyone knows you have a thing for her. What would've stopped you two?" Shane accused harshly.

Shannon looked over at the man an amazed look on his face. "I can't believe you can even say a thing like that, you for a fact as well as everyone else here that you're the only person she has ever been with. But you know what; I would be in pure fuckin heaven if that little boy was mine. SO go ahead and think that she cheated on you, ya fuckin Hypocrite." Shannon screamed at the man getting in his face.

"STOP IT" a voice came from the back of the group. The group parted to see Trent standing with Matt and Nero, tears running down his face, " SSSTOP FIGHIN" the little boy screamed running into Jeff's legs, trying to find comfort. , Jeff sighed giving both men dirty looks.

"Listen to the three year old guys," Jeff said sweeping the boy into his arms. Jeff sat down on the couch holding the boy as he cried. Shannon, quietly made his way over to the couch sitting next to Jeff, "Matty, Nero Please come over here, " Shannon said patting the seat next to him, the boys stood for a second unsure of what to do before making their way towards the couch, Shannon gave the boys a sad smile,

"boys I'm really sorry that you just saw what happened and that you saw me and your daddy fighting, I didn't mean for you to hear anything I said," Shannon told the boys brushing a tear off of Trent's face, "Your daddy loves all of you a lot and I love all of you bunches and bunches, and the last thing either of us wanted to do was hurt you boys, I'm really sorry if we scared you or made you sad, me and daddy didn't mean to." Shannon told each of the boys. "Can you guys forgive me and Daddy?" Shannon asked glancing at Shane still standing in the doorway. Matt and Nero both gave slow nods before hugging Shannon and making their way over to Shane. Shannon glanced over at Trent, who was still huddled into Jeff, "hey buddy can you forgive us?" Shannon asked gently looking the boy in the eyes, "No," the little boy sqeaked out huddling into Jeff. Shannon's face drastically dropped as he gave a slow nod, "that's OK, buddy, I understand and I still love you," Shannon told the boy before getting off the couch, " I'm going to check on the baby," Shannon muttered walking out of the room. Matt let out the breath he had been holding, making his way over towards Shane pushing him out the door.

--Meanwhile in the Living Room—

Amy glanced at Trish who quickly nodded; Amy cleared her throat getting the attention of the little boys, "Hey boys do guys want to go to the park?" Amy asked as a smile spread across Matt and Nero's faces,

"YEAH!" came the excited response from the little boys, Amy smiled taking Matt's hand, while Nero dragged Trish down the hall. Jeff looked around the now empty room.

"Trent buddy do you want to go the park and sit w/ Aunt Amy and Auntie Trish?" Jeff asked the boy. Trent gave a low no and cling tighter to Jeff. Jeff gave a sigh and stood up making is way into the boy's room. Jeff sat the boy down on his bed. "I'm going to tuck you in and I want you to take a nap, I'm just going to be downstairs and Uncle Shannon is in the nursery, if you need us," Jeff told him tucking him into the bed.

Trent snuggled into the covers, "I wuv you Uncle Jeffy," the three year old told him drifting into dreamland.

Jeff stepped out of the room leaning against the wall, listening to Shannon talking to the baby in the nursery.

Breydan, I think I really screwed up this time, I mean now your momma knows how I feel about her. I think I could have very well just ruined our friendship...

--Outside—

Matt maneuvered Shane over to the patio furniture, watching as Shane sat in the chair opposite from the swing. Matt watched as Shane reached for the pack of cigarettes, "I didn't even know she started smoking again," Shane told him his fingers gliding around the box. Matt watched closely as his friend tried to keep it together. Matt sat quietly waiting for Shane to start.

"She gave me her blessing," Shane said in a low voice as if he did want to admit it.

Matt glanced over, "What for?" he asked not wanting to pry.

"To be with Teagan," Shane said pulling a cigarette out of the pack reaching for the lighter. "Weren't expecting that were ya?" Shane asked lighting up. Matt gave him a freaked out expression. Shane gave a nod, reaching into his cargo pocket he pulled out the note, handing it to Matt. Matt slowly reached out his hand accepting the note. His eyes scanning over the note, taking in the shaky hand writing. Matt let out a low whistle looking back over at Shane.

"I guess you got what you wanted." Matt told his friend unsure of what to say. Shane's eyes dropped to the ground. "This is what you wanted right?" Matt asked the man.

"No" Shane told him, as if not wanting to admit it.

"Why the hell did you cheat on Jo then?" Matt asked his friend more confused then ever.

"I don't know, I mean it just happened and I couldn't stop. I mean at first Teagan was just a friend like Amy or Trish ya know. A then one night something just changed I don't know what it was but there was like this kind of light that I can't explain but I was just drawn to here. I mean she's so different form Jo in everyway. O dunno I mean she made me work, she refused to let me slack off, and she doesn't put up with my shit." Shane told Matt dragging off his cigarette.

Matt stared at the man like he was crazy, "Shane you're totally forgetting that Jo was beat when she disagreed with her father, that she saw her mother shot in front of her over another woman, Jo will never be like that. Especially, when you make it so that she can't trust you." Matt told the man as if it was common knowledge.

"Do you think that Shannon will be a good father?" Shane asked eyes focused on the clouds.

=2 months later= * Cameron Municipal Courthouse *

The judge sat at his podium in from of the small courtroom. His eyes scanning the petitions, "In the matter of Mr. Gregory Helms vs. Ms. Joplin Hensley, over the matter of custody of Matthew Helms, Evan Helms, Trent Helms and Breydan Helms, I grant full custody to Mr. Gregory Helms. This matter is now closed." The judge spoke hitting the gavel against its pedestal. JO simply nodded making her way of the courtroom, with her lawyer following. Shane gave an appreciative nod to the judge before exiting the court. Jo said goodbye to her Lawyer before making her way out to her Celica. Shane gave a low sigh watching as the mother of his children sat behind the wheel of her car crying her heart out. He felt a hand on his shoulder turning around he saw matt looking sad.

" You've sunk low Helms, extremely low.: he said restrainng himself from punching his friend, " You just took away her whole life," Matt told the man pushing past him.