"So, I can see you again?" asked Donald Walden, a guy Madison had gone out with a few times over the past month. She wasn't ready to bring him around Amber yet. He was a successful stockbroker she'd shown a house to two months ago. Donald was sweet, romantic, and downright hot! He had short black hair and sky blue eyes that you could get lost in if you weren't careful.
"Sure. I'll call you" Madison said walking up the steps to her house.
"Is your daughter home tonight?" Donald asked wiping snow off his coat.
"No, she left a few hours ago to go over to my parents for the weekend" Madison said as Donald leaned over towards her face.
"Can I come in for a little while?" Donald whispered against her ear.
"Donald" Madison giggled.
"Come on, you know you want to do it" he grumbled huskily in her ear.
"Well...I think you may be right about..." she said in a silky voice as her front door swung open and they were staring at Jeff with a bottle of beer in his hand. He was wearing a pair of red, white and black plaid flannel pajama pants and a white and black bandanna was tied around his head. His tanned chest and rippled stomach caught Madison's gaze for a few seconds and then the hip dents caused her to lose track of everything she was saying.
"Glad you finally made it home" Jeff sighed. "I've been waiting on you for over three hours. I had to make myself comfortable" he said innocently. "Who's the suit?" he asked pointing at Donald.
"My date! How did you get in?" Madison demanded.
"Oh, my daughter let me in. I mean, our daughter" he smiled at the reaction on Donald's face. "Oh, by the way I'm her husband" Jeff said extending his hand but Donald stared at it instead. "We like to play these little games where we go out with other people and then bring them back home" Jeff teased sipping on his beer.
"He's lying! Donald I'm sorry about him being here. Jeff, go home! I'll call you later," Madison yelled at him
"See, this is the part where we have a huge fight to make you think there's actually a chance for you two but as soon as you leave there'll be some hot make up sex. Imagine how loud we can be with the kid away for the weekend" Jeff whistled shaking his head.
"Shut up! He's lying!" Madison shouted trying to cover up Jeff's mouth but he ducked away from her.
"See? This is the part where she let's you think there's a chance for you two" Jeff laughed. Madison tried to push him back into the house but he grabbed her around the waist and threw her over his shoulder. "Sorry man but this is where your date ends. My wife and I need to get this little game started so..." Jeff said closing the door in his face with his foot and locked it as Madison screamed for him to put her down.
"Are you crazy?" Madison shouted as Jeff dumped her on the sofa.
"Whoo! That was fun" Jeff said finishing his beer.
"Why did you do that? I really liked him!" Madison whined throwing her purse on the table and standing up.
"We need to talk," he said grabbing his shirt and jeans off the loveseat. "By the way, I took my clothes off right before I opened the door. I felt like we didn't need any interruptions tonight. Amber was nice enough to let me sit here and wait for you. I looked through a few photo albums and took a few pictures of my daughter if you don't mind" he said patting his pants pocket.
"What do you want to talk about?" Madison said taking off her coat and tossing it over the back of the chair. Jeff eyed her body in the tiny black cocktail dress she was wearing.
"Why you never told me that I had a daughter?" Jeff said towering over her 5'7 frame.
"I didn't want to interfere in your life. Be honest, if I'd have told you that night at the movies that I thought I was pregnant too you'd have thought I was grasping at straws to keep you" Madison said staring into his green eyes.
"Well, I may have been suspicious but I'd have made you take a test. I knew I was the only one you were with so I would have eventually believed you" Jeff replied.
"I took a test the morning you left and I wanted to tell you but after Stacy announced her pregnancy I was crushed. I'd imagined you'd be happy and that we'd have gotten married after high school. I never anticipated on my mother taking out my bathroom trashcan the next day and finding the pregnancy test and then the letter from you saying we'd had sex. They were so disappointed in me" Madison said covering her face as she remembered the embarrassment she felt as her parents asked her personal questions about her sex life with Jeff.
"Madison, I heard you were sent away for being sexually active with me but I never guessed you were pregnant. I thought about trying to find you so many times but I got scared everytime I got near Charlotte. Every time I wrestled in Charlotte I wondered if you were out in the crowd watching me. I'm sorry I hurt you but that gave you no right to lie and deceive me all of these years!" Jeff fussed raising his voice at her.
"Lie and deceive? I just never got in touch with you. You're the one who moved on and never looked back!" Madison argued. "Then you come here and mess up my date! I liked Donald! I should be angry, not you!"
"What? Lying and deceiving begets anger!" Jeff screamed at her.
"Don't yell at me! I can't talk to you when you're yelling at me! Look, let's just get some rest and meet up tomorrow to talk calmly" Madison suggested.
"I'm not going to let you get off that easy" Jeff laughed.
"I'm not trying to"
"Amber is short for Ambrosia. You knew if I heard her real name I'd have figured out she was my daughter, right?"
"Yea, you're a real genius Jeff" Madison snorted.
"If she was blonde I'd have known instantly. Her eyes and nose is a perfect match to me" Jeff frowned.
"Yea, pretty much" Madison agreed.
"I want to get to know my daughter Maddy" Jeff said through sad eyes. "She's almost an adult and I know nothing about her. Help me get to know her. You owe me that much" Jeff swore under his breath.
"Okay, but we have to keep her and Justin apart. That would be incest Jeff" Madison cringed.
"No it wouldn't" Jeff said shaking his head.
"What do you mean?"
"Nero isn't my blood son. Stacy lied. I had a blood test done and he wasn't my son but I'd married her and started to love him already. Randy Orton is his father. He didn't want anything to do with Stacy after he got what he wanted. She knew I was responsible" Jeff sighed sitting on the arm of the loveseat.
"So she lied and broke us up and it wasn't even your baby?" Madison said angrily.
"It appears so. You had my child and never said a word. So in the end I'm still played for a fool" Jeff hissed.
"Don't say that! I wanted to hurt you but if I'd have known you weren't his father I'd have told you about Amber but Adam said he was your son"
"Only Matt, Dad, Nero and Amy knows the truth" Jeff told her in a quiet voice. "Come here" he said reaching out for her.
"Why?" Madison asked nervously taking a step back.
"Just come here" Jeff chuckled holding out his hand. She walked over to him and took his hand. He ran his hands over hers slowly. "You have the softest hands," he said in a low tone before raising her hands to his lips and kissing them softly. He stood up and looked into her eyes.
"Why are you doing this?" Madison groaned.
"I want to see if it's still there for us" he whispered.
"It's not"
"Prove it" he challenged as he brushed her lips lightly. He pulled away and stared at her face, as her eyes remained closed for a few seconds. He ran his fingers through her black hair and kissed her again, this time with more urgency. Madison placed her hand on his chest and tried to push him away but they struggled against one another until he broke the kiss.
"I'll call you when Amber is back home. Lock the bottom lock on your way out. Goodnight Jeff" Madison said heading upstairs leaving Jeff standing there looking dazed. As soon as she got up to her room she closed the door and tried to breathe evenly. Her heart was racing as if she'd been in a marathon. "Cold shower" she mumbled as she got out of her clothes and took a twenty-minute shower. She stumbled out the bathroom a few minutes later in a navy T-shirt. She felt around in the dark for her bed and climbed in and lay there quietly in deep thought.
"It's still there" Jeff whispered in the dark. Madison jumped up in the bed and realized Jeff was sitting in the chair in the corner across from her. He stood up and walked across the carpet to the bed as the moonlight from the bay window illuminated his body. He climbed onto the bed and got under the cover as Madison tried to get from under the cover but he pulled her against him and rolled over on top of her.
"Can you get off of me?" she asked calmly as her heart raced erratically.
"Give me a kiss and I'll let you go" Jeff teased trying to kiss her but she kept turning her head. He grabbed her face between his hands and kissed her passionately. He pressed his warm body against hers as they groped one another. Jeff released himself from his flannel pajama pants and positioned himself between her legs.
"Stop" Madison moaned against his mouth as he pushed halfway into her causing her to gasp.
"I can't" Jeff groaned into her mouth as beads of sweat formed on his forehead as he slowly glided in and out of her wetness. He grabbed her right leg and repositioned himself so that he could slide deeper into her hot tightness. "Shit!" he mumbled as he closed his eyes as she moaned underneath him as her hands roamed up and down his back and cupped his buttocks. He trembled from her touch and grabbed her hands and intertwined his fingers between hers as they kissed one another fiercely until they came together.
"Oh my God! Jeff!" Madison screamed out as she grabbed at him trying to pull him closer to her as he pulled away from her and smiled widely. "I love you!" she shouted between convulsions.
"I know" Jeff laughed quietly pulling her into a tight hug as he kissed her shoulder until her orgasm subsided and she came back to her senses.
"I can't believe I just slept with you!" Madison muttered against his shoulder.
"I can. You still love me" Jeff bragged.
"How do you know I love you?"
"You just told me while you were in the throes of passion" Jeff teased.
"No I didn't!" Madison argued.
"You got a tape recorder?"
"A video camera, why?"
"We'll do it again and I'll get you on tape shouting out that you love me" he said looking her in the eye.
"Whatever!"
"Come on, get the camera and let me prove you wrong" Jeff chuckled pulling her nightshirt over her head. "You are still just as beautiful as I remember you," he said sitting up in the bed.
"You look good too" she blushed.
"Get the camera" he demanded.
"Fine!"
"Ooh a porn movie" Jeff said kissing her on the ear as she reached over in her nightstand drawer and pulled out a camera. She sat it on the nightstand and aimed it towards them as Jeff turned the lamp on. "Just so happen to have it in the nightstand huh?" he taunted. She pressed the record button as Jeff pulled her over to him for a quick kiss. "Let's get freaky" he moaned sucking her nipple.
Madison opened her eyes to the bright sun blinding her. She covered her face and realized that she must have been dreaming the night before. She turned over to see Jeff sleeping soundly. She stared at him for the longest time until he finally cracked a smile.
"Take a picture. It'll last longer" Jeff chuckled opening his eyes
"You devil! You were awake all this time?" Madison giggled.
"Yep! I've been up since noon"
"Noon?" Madison shouted glancing over at the clock. It was a little after one in the afternoon.
"Yes. I want to keep you next to me all day" he sighed snuggling against her.
"I was planning on Christmas shopping. Christmas is one week away" Madison groaned as Jeff kissed and sucked on her neck.
"Later. Come make me feel good" he whispered in a sweet boyish voice as he pulled her over on top of him and they began to make love. Twenty minutes later they were so into one another that Madison didn't hear the bumping going on downstairs. Jeff pulled away from her. "You hear something?"
"No" Madison breathed heavily as she continued grinding against Jeff.
"Maddy, someone's in the house," Jeff said in an alarmed tone just as Doris and Daniel Campbell walked into the bedroom.
"What the hell!" Daniel Campbell shouted as Madison grabbed the comforter and tried to cover herself as Jeff pulled her down against his chest.
"Mom and Dad, what are you two doing here?" Madison asked still struggling against Jeff as her mother had a look of rage on her face.
"Amber forgot her favorite boots. We brought her by the house to get them" answered Doris Campbell.
"As soon as our backs are turned you go and jump back into bed with this hoodlum! I swear you just keep going backwards!" shouted Mr. Campbell.
"With all due respect sir, we're thirty now. We can make our own decisions and not need your approval" Jeff replied calmly as Madison slid off of him and grabbed her nightshirt off the floor and put it on.
"I can't believe that you'd go sleep with the same guy who knocked you up at fifteen and then left you for someone else!" Mrs. Campbell said placing her hand on her hip and leaning against the wall.
"Mom, you thought Adam was Amber's father!" Madison argued.
"Are you crazy? I wasn't stupid. I knew that Jeff Hardy was Amber's father before she was even born. You were head over heels in love with him. You weren't running behind anyone but Jeff Hardy and I hated it" her mother seethed.
"Well, I suggest that you guys get over yourselves because I plan on seeing Madison anytime I want and to be a part of my daughters life" Jeff informed them as he placed his arm around Madison's shoulder and noticed Amber standing in the doorway staring at them in shock.
"Oh my God! I knew it! I knew you were hiding something big! I knew you were possibly my father but...why would you hide that Mom?" Amber asked sadly as Madison covered her face. "I hate all of you!" Amber screamed before turning and running out of the room.
"Look what you've done to our granddaughter!" shouted Mr. Campbell as they heard the front door slam.
"Can we talk about this another time? I need to go after my daughter!" Madison screamed at her meddling parents as she reached for a pair of sweats and put them on as Jeff slid into his flannel pants.
"I'll get my shirt downstairs and try to find her. She couldn't have gone too far," Jeff said hurrying out the room.
"Madison, how could you do this?" asked her mother.
"Mom, honestly don't go there with me!" Madison warned. "What is it about Jeff that's so bad?"
"He's weird! His music is that devil type music. He dresses odd too. He actually wore skirts years ago! How can he be a father to Amber? What will he do? Give her fashion tips? Trade skirts with her?" her father challenged.
"He deserves to have a chance to get to know her"
"Madison, if you choose to be with that man then you can't live in our house" her mother said flatly.
"Fine, I'll find a new place for Amber and I. You two can sell this house. Right about now, I don't give a fuck!" Madison said angrily heading out of her room to go find her daughter.
The Park
"You okay?" Jeff asked walking over to Amber as she sat in a swing in the park crying.
"No!" Amber shouted at him through tears.
"Hey, I don't blame you for being mad" Jeff laughed nervously as he sat in the swing next to Amber. "I just found out about you a few days ago. I was pretty pissed at your Mom and Adam"
"I see you forgave her pretty quickly," Amber said sarcastically.
"Yea, Maddy and I were like that. We never fought for long" Jeff chuckled.
"Except when it came to me. She left Cameron because of me. If you'd have made up with her even a year later we may have been a real family. That's all I've ever really wanted for us. I knew Adam wasn't my Dad. I felt it in my heart. He tried but we just didn't have that father/daughter connection. I looked nothing like him. His son looks like his clone. I guess you've noticed I favor you more than my Mom. I've been looking at pictures of you and Matt online. I found a few of you as a kid. I freaked out at the resemblance between us. I started thinking you were the only other guy that was in my Mom's life back then. When she freaked at the restaurant I kind of knew you were my father" Amber said wiping tears from her eyes.
"If I knew your mother was pregnant back then I would have married her" Jeff said honestly wiping the tears from Amber's eyes.
"You two may have ended up divorced and hating one another" Amber sniffled.
"No. I doubt it. I tried hating Madison for years but eventually I'd find myself lying in bed at night wondering if she was thinking about me. I still love her. After all of these years no one has been able to take your Mom's place in my heart. I'm ready to be a family with you and Madison" Jeff smiled.
"What about Justin?"
"He's my adopted son. He's not my blood son but I feel like he is" Jeff told her.
"So he and I aren't real siblings?" Amber asked.
"No"
"So we could date?" Amber asked.
"No! That would be weird" Jeff frowned. "Ambrosia, if it's okay with you, I'd like to get to know you better. Maybe we can hang out and learn about one another"
"I'd like that. Just as long as you don't call me Ambrosia," she said with a sour look on her face.
"Why not?" Jeff smiled.
"I hate that name. I swear I don't know what Mom was thinking when she named me that" Amber giggled.
"She was thinking about me. The first time your mother and I were together I lit a candle in my room. The scent was called Ambrosia" Jeff smiled.
"Together?" Amber said furrowing her eyebrow until she realized what he was referring to. "Oh, you mean really together for the first time!" she said covering her mouth.
"Yes. She liked the scent of that candle so much. I think that's where she got your name from and I think that's when we made you" Jeff grinned.
"Well, when you explain the meaning behind it, it actually seems romantic. I like my name so much better" Amber smiled as Madison walked across the park towards them.
"I'm glad your okay" Madison said placing her hand over her chest. She squatted down in front of Amber and touched her hands
"We were just discussing why she won't be able to date Nero, among other things" Jeff grinned winking at Amber.
"I still say we can date. It's not incest" Amber argued.
"We'll see" Madison said running her fingers through her hair. Her natural blond hair color was evident from her roots.
"I'm going to let my hair go back blonde. The black hair was a depression thing when great grandma Ginny died. I'm no longer depressed. I have other things I need to focus on like getting to know my father" Amber sighed pulling at her shoulder length hair.
"We can get it done this week" Madison nodded.
"I was telling Amber that I'm ready to be a family with the two of you. You two will have to accept Nero though," Jeff said.
"I can deal with that" Madison told him.
"Mom?"
"Yes baby?"
"Are we moving again?" Amber asked looking up at Madison.
"Yes, I'm going to find us another place to live" Madison nodded.
"I figured that" Amber sighed.
"We'll build a home and decorate it like we want" Madison promised.
"Hey, wait a minute! Don't I get a say in this?" Jeff asked.
"We'll still live in Cameron" Madison laughed trying not to shiver.
"Your damn right you will!" Jeff smiled grabbing her hand.
"So, are you two officially dating?" Amber frowned.
"Well..." Madison started.
"Yes" Jeff answered slowly eyeing Madison.
"I guess I'm okay with that since you've already sealed the deal with him. Twice!" Amber mumbled.
"Hey! I heard that" Jeff grinned. "Can I hug you?" he asked Amber. She looked reluctant at first and stood up.
"Yea, I guess" Amber said giving Jeff a hearty hug as snowflakes started to fall around them.
"I don't know about you two but I want to go home to the warmth of a roaring fireplace," Madison said as her teeth chattered.
"Home? Isn't grandma kicking us out?" Amber shivered.
"We'll stay there a few days until we find something better" Madison promised.
"I have a free room at my house" Jeff offered.
"We'd need two" Madison said.
"I was thinking you could bunk with me" Jeff muttered so Amber wouldn't hear.
"Ohhh!" Madison shook her head getting what he was saying.
"So, where are we going?" Amber asked walking ahead of them.
"You two are coming home," Jeff said.
"Home?" Amber asked arching her eyebrow.
"Yea, home" Jeff said following them down the sidewalk.
Twenty Minutes Later
"I can't believe you're just jumping up and moving in with this man! You don't know who he is now! Get to know him again first" Mrs. Campbell pleaded as Madison walked past her with her bags.
"Sweetheart, think about what will happen to Amber if you two don't work out. She doesn't know this man. She'll be crushed," Mr. Campbell said trying to get his daughter to listen.
"Daddy, I love him! I always have! I'm grown now, not fifteen! You two may have been able to keep us apart back then but now we're old enough to decide what's best for us" Madison said taking her bags to her car.
"Can you help me grandpa?" Amber asked struggling down the stairs with her suitcases.
"Amber honey, you're welcome to stay here or with us" Mrs. Campbell told her in a loving voice.
"I want to get to know my Dad. The best way to get to know him is to stay with him. If it doesn't work out I'll come stay with you guys" she laughed as Madison headed back up the stairs to her room. She went inside and realized Jeff wasn't in there. She went down the hall to her old bedroom and found him sitting on her bed.
"What are you doing?" she asked leaning against the doorjamb.
"Taking a trip down memory lane. Wanna join me?" he asked reaching his hand out for her. She came inside and closed and locked the door. "I found this letter I wrote to you. How cheesy was I? See you in the future? What was I thinking back then?" he scoffed.
"I don't know but I was really hurt"
"I see. The paper looks like it was balled up" Jeff grinned.
"Balled up, stepped on, thrown in the trash. You name it and I may have done it to that paper" Madison teased.
"I was thinking about the first time we made love and then the two nights I stayed here" Jeff said running his hand across the navy and hunter green comforter. "We pretended like we were married and did really grown up things. Remember? I left here on cloud nine. Then Stacy called and asked me to meet her at the park and dropped that bombshell on me a few hours after I left. I shouldn't have married her. I could have been a father to Nero and still been with you. I plan on making everything up to you, I promise. There will be no more secrets or games. From now on its honesty all the way for us" Jeff said pulling Madison down on the bed next to him.
"No more secrets" she agreed.
"Think we could get a quickie in for old times sake? I'm feeling a little nostalgic," Jeff said crawling up on the bed and patting the comforter waiting for her to join him. "All I need is ten minutes" he laughed.
"That's all?"
"Well, I won't make it a habit to be quick but..."
"Umm hmm. Shut up and kiss me" Madison lamented before pouncing on him.
Twenty Minutes Later
"Finally came up for air?" Mr. Campbell said as Jeff made his way down the stairs twenty minutes later.
"Yes sir" Jeff answered before grabbing a few bags and taking them out to his car. He came back inside and closed the door. "Amber, can you go help your Mom out? I need to talk to the in-laws" Jeff smiled.
"Okay" Amber chuckled heading up the stairs.
"In-laws?" the Campbell's mouthed to one another.
"Alright Mr. and Mrs. Campbell, let's talk seriously. Why don't you like me?' Jeff asked sitting on the arm of the chair.
"Where do I start?" Mrs. Campbell replied.
"You got our daughter pregnant and then married another girl you'd knocked up for one thing!" Mr. Campbell said angrily.
"That's understandable" Jeff agreed. "I married Stacy true, but I later found out that she'd lied to break up Madison and I. She knew I'd never have left Madison for her so she lied to get me back" Jeff explained. "While I nearly had a nervous breakdown from you two shipping Madison off to Charlotte, she never even told me that she was pregnant. My friend Adam hid that I had a kid for almost 15 years. He knew she was pregnant by me and never said a word. Can you imagine how hurt I was when my adopted son ended up dating my daughter? Amber will be fourteen soon and I know nothing about her likes or dislikes. I have a lot to learn and make up for. I'll never understand why you people hated me when I did nothing but love your daughter" Jeff said sadly.
"You weren't the type of boy we saw Madison with" answered Mrs. Campbell.
"You used Madison and walked away from her. You were always wrestling and being violent. You later started racing bikes. If you were with Madison she would have ended up on one of those bikes or in that car you crashed years ago. She could have ended up dead being with you. You were trash!" Mr. Campbell fussed.
"So in other words, I was too poor for your daughter? Me being not as fortunate as her made me violent and reckless?" Jeff questioned.
"That's pretty much it" Mrs. Campbell grunted.
"Well, I hate to burst your bubble but that violent wrestling stuff I did growing up made me a millionaire. Matter of fact, not meaning to brag but I'm worth more than you two put together. So, who do you think would be more able to take care of Madison and Amber for the rest of their lives?" Jeff asked smugly.
"I don't have to stand here and listen to this!" Mrs. Campbell huffed.
"No, you don't. Madison and I will get married and guess what? You two will be there with smiles on your faces. I'm going to make her happy or die trying. That I can promise you both. If you two decide not to accept us being a family with Amber and my son Nero then I have to warn you that you'll be barred from seeing any other children Madison and I make together, and trust me we've probably already made another baby. If not, we'll just have fun practicing" Jeff grinned deviously as he saw the annoyed looks on their faces.
"Madison knows about your plans to fill her up with babies?" Mr. Campbell inquired.
"No, but we discussed it years ago. We wanted two to three kids together. I just realized something. For years you two would see me around town and gloated at the fact that I wasn't in my kid's life. You knew Adam wasn't the father because when you looked at Amber you were looking at me" Jeff laughed. "So I'm just curious, how was it looking at your grandchild knowing she was part Hardy?"
"Ambrosia is a Campbell!" shouted Mrs. Campbell.
"Ambrosia Hardy. She was named after an ambrosia scented candle I lit the first time Madison and I made love. I think it was sweet of her to name her after such a special occasion. Don't you think so Mr. Campbell?" Jeff taunted.
"Look, the last thing I want to imagine is you and my daughter going at it" Mr. Campbell said raising his hand. "I'm tired of the fighting! If she wants to be with you then I won't interfere"
"Thank you sir" Jeff nodded.
"Daniel! How dare you go along with this travesty!" Mrs. Campbell shouted.
"Doris? Shut up! Let's go! Now!" he demanded, as she stood there with her mouth hanging open. She grabbed her purse and sashayed out to the car.
"I love your daughter. I want a chance to love my daughter too," Jeff said to Mr. Campbell.
"Good luck"
"You think I'll need it?" Jeff asked nervously.
"No. Doris will be in your face just to test you. In time she'll crack. She always does. I guess I'll be seeing you next week," Mr. Campbell said pulling his coat on.
"Next week?" Jeff asked.
"Christmas dinner at our house" he reminded him.
"Oh yea. See you then" Jeff said standing and walking over to the stairs as Mr. Campbell left out the front door. "Maddy!"
"What!" she shouted in an annoyed tone.
"I'm going to the house to straighten up. I'll see you guys later!" Jeff yelled.
"Okay!" they both said in unison.
"Love you" Jeff whispered looking upstairs. He broke into a grin realizing he was saying it to both of them and then he realized he had to fill Nero in on everything. He hoped he'd accept them living under the same roof with them. Things just had to work out.
Later That Evening
"Dad, what are you doing?" Nero laughed an hour later as Jeff rushed down the hall with boxes from the guestroom.
"Getting the room ready for Amber. I'm having new beds delivered tomorrow. I can't sleep in the same bed with Madison that I slept with other women in. That would be disrespectful," Jeff said pacing back and forth. "I still haven't decided on what color I'm painting her room" Jeff said throwing boxes into the garage.
"Dad, calm down!" Nero laughed grabbing Jeff by the shoulders.
"You're right, I'm overreacting huh?" Jeff asked getting hold of himself.
"Umm, yea. You're starting to freak me out. Besides, Madison called and said they were coming tomorrow morning so you could straighten the house up. I think it's kind of cool that Amber is your daughter. Weird, but cool"
"This thing you two have going on has to stop. I have to be able to trust you not to try anything with her. I can trust you right?" Jeff questioned.
"Dad, sex is the last thing on our minds. Amber is saving herself for marriage" Nero blushed.
"Good, let's keep it that way until you two are atleast 18" Jeff pointed at him. "Then again, so was Madison" Jeff muttered to himself remembering the moment he realized Madison was a virgin. "Having a kid in your teens is hard. Trust me!" Jeff said throwing a pair of overalls to Nero.
"What are these for?"
"I just decided to paint Amber's room. I still have that light purple paint in the garage. It would be better than the plain beige color the room is now," Jeff said heading to the garage.
"Dad, you are really trying to impress Madison and Amber huh?" Nero teased following Jeff to the garage and grabbing a can of paint.
"I have a lot to make up to Maddy. I have to go out on the road tomorrow for Raw. You'll have to entertain them for a few days. Christmas is next Tuesday. I haven't gotten Madison a gift yet" Jeff fretted.
"Anything you get her, she'll like" Nero smiled.
"I guess. She's not picky but Amber may be" Jeff nodded as Nero handed him a few paintbrushes.
"Yea and what about Christmas dinner with the Campbell's? Can I just go straight to Uncle Matt's?" Nero chuckled.
"Hell, I'd rather be at Matt's too" Jeff grumbled.
"We're staying two hours right?""One if I have anything to say about it" Jeff smiled as his cellphone rang. He quickly answered it. "Hey Matt. You busy? Well why don't you, Shane, and Shannon come over for awhile. I'm painting the guestroom but Nero and I should be through in an hour or so. It's about 6 now. Come by about 8. I'll see you guys soon" Jeff smiled and hung up the phone.
You're putting them on clean up duty aren't you?" Nero accused.
"Of course! I'll feed them and give them something to drink. They won't see it coming" Jeff grinned deviously.
Christmas Day
Madison handed Kevin the dressing she'd made for Christmas dinner as Amber took the pies up to the house.
"I see she went back blonde" Kevin grinned as his wife got their 3 month old son out of the carseat and covered him with a blanket. Kevin was a successful engineer. He'd made his millions making video games. He stood watching his wife carry their son into the house and smiled from ear to ear.
"You seem full of joy" Madison laughed.
"Yea, I am. I heard you and Jeff are back together. I actually stopped by and saw him last night. We had a few drinks and talked. I basically asked him what his intentions were with you and Amber" Kevin said sounding as if he were her big brother instead of her little brother.
"Where was I?" Madison wondered.
"Out with Amy and Trish. I think you all were picking up Trina and Crystal" Kevin said taking the pan of dressing from her.
"Oh yea. We all hung out at Tonia's getting a little drunk" Madison giggled.
"Well, Jeff seems to be sincere and sure about his feelings for you and Amber" Kevin said as a black BMW pulled up. Nero got out and walked up to the house as Amber stood in the door with Mrs. Campbell and invited him in. Stacy Keibler got out the car and walked towards Madison.
"I'll take this dressing on in the house for you" Kevin said eyeing Stacy's long legs in her short red dress.
"Tell Jeff I'll be in to rescue him in a minute" Madison chuckled.
"Okay" Kevin laughed heading into the house.
"Hello Madison" Stacy said walking up to her.
"Hi"
"I guess you won. I hear you and your daughter is living with Jeff and my son" Stacy said with contempt.
"Yes we are. Actually she's Jeff's daughter as well. I never told him I was pregnant because you had already dropped a baby on him. Only thing is that Amber is really his child" Madison told her.
"He's taking your word for it?"
"Yes he did but we all went and took blood tests a few days ago. Amber wanted documentation for her Christmas gift from Jeff. He's her father with an accuracy of 99.999%" Madison grinned.
"Hmm, I guess the best woman won then huh?" Stacy asked with an attitude.
"This was never a competition but even your lies couldn't keep Jeff and I apart forever" Madison said as Jeff came outside. He slowly walked over to the two women who appeared to be in the middle of an intense conversation.
"Babe, you coming in? It's freezing out here," Jeff said taking off his jacket and wrapping it around Madison's shoulder's.
"I'm coming" Madison said putting her arm around his waist.
"Merry Christmas Stacy" Jeff nodded at her.
"Same to you. I'll let you get her in the house. That dress is a little short and thin for this weather" Stacy said eyeing Madison's knee length crème colored dress.
"Hey, this is one of the gifts I gave her this morning. It's no shorter than that thin piece of material you're wearing" Jeff pointed out.
"True, her dress is pretty thin and short" Madison agreed.
"You're just jealous that I have long beautiful legs" Stacy fussed.
"I'm not short Stacy! Trust me, you have nothing I want" Madison laughed as Jeff kissed her on the lips right in front of Stacy.
"Whatever!" Stacy scoffed heading to her car and leaving.
"That was mean Jeff" Madison giggled.
"Ehh, she deserved it. Let's get through this visit with your parents. I got a new game from Kevin. I'm anxious to play it over at Matt's later. By the way, did I tell you how incredible you look in that dress?" Jeff said practically salivating.
"Yes, but you can tell me again" Madison flirted as her father stood in the doorway.
"You two plan on staying out here in the snow making out or coming inside?" Mr. Campbell chuckled.
"We'll be there in a minute" Jeff answered staring into Madison's eyes. "I can't wait to marry you"
"We agreed to do it next month. Be patient" Madison giggled as he playfully tickled her.
"Patience is one thing I don't have but for you I'll have to be. I just may have another gift for you" Jeff said arching his eyebrow.
"No more gifts!" Madison warned.
"Just one more but you'll get it tonight" he said pulling her up to the house.
Christmas Night
"You and my parents being civil to one another was amazing! Watching you and my Dad discuss sports and ideas for landscaping their yard was too cute. Then the news that Matt and Amy are having a baby just topped off the evening" Madison grinned standing out on the deck at Jeff's house staring off into the distance as Jeff stood behind her lighting white ambrosia scented candles.
"Yea, it's about time!" Jeff chuckled.
"Trish told me she and Jericho are tying the knot next year. Everyone is happy" Madison sighed pleasantly.
"Yea, it appears that way huh?" Jeff said walking up behind her. He grabbed her around the waist and kissed her on the ear.
"Amber likes you. She's in awe of you. That's a plus"
"Yea, I promised to take her fishing soon. Dad and Nero are going to go too. Wanna join us?"
"No, I'll stay home and wait to cook whatever you guys catch" Madison smiled.
"You know what?" Jeff asked turning her around to face him.
"What?"
"I have another gift for you" Jeff blushed.
"This beautiful crème colored dress, earrings, bracelet and shoes I'm wearing was enough" Madison laughed.
"I like to go overboard sometimes" Jeff said handing her a box. Madison opened it to find a pair of peach cheeky lace panties with the matching bra.
"Oh, okay" Madison giggled. "I guess since the kids are at Matt's for the night this is a hint to put these on?" Madison jeered.
"Umm, not yet" Jeff shook his head. "We've come a long way to get where we are tonight. Honestly, I never thought we'd find our way back to one another but I'm so glad that we did. I closed myself off to any real chance at love the day I found out you were sent away. I lay awake at night thinking about you for years. I remembered the way you sighed in your sleep, the way you looked into my eyes and made me want to melt. Just the idea of the way you touched me made my skin tingle. I'd close my eyes and could virtually feel the way your hair felt like silk against my skin, the intoxicating smell of your skin, and the taste of your lips. I willed you to call me or to come back to me so that I could be whole again. It took some years but you finally heard my cries. You brought along a big surprise with you in Amber. I feel as if I'm doubly blessed because I got you back and a daughter. She's a part of us, can you believe that?" Jeff sighed in disbelief. "Today was a wonderful day. I felt that it was only appropriate to end this night with love. So..." Jeff said pulling her close. "Look closer in the box" he whispered.
Madison looked at him strangely and pushed the panties and bra to the side in the box and realized there was a ring sitting in the box. She covered her mouth as Jeff picked up the ring and nervously grabbed her left hand. "Oh my God Jeff" Madison moaned as tears welled up in her eyes.
"I'm so nervous" Jeff trembled.
"Me too" Madison said as her heart hammered against her chest.
"Madison, I love you with all my heart" Jeff said in a shaky voice. He took a deep breath and exhaled. "Will you do me the honor of being my wife?" Jeff finally said as he wiped sweat from his right brow.
"Yes. I'll marry you baby" Madison breathed heavily.
"Thank God!" Jeff exhaled as he slid the ring onto her finger and kissed her. He pulled away a few seconds later and looked over his shoulder. "She said yes!" he shouted over his shoulder.
"Thank goodness!" Trish sighed walking out onto the deck in a burgundy bridesmaid dress with Jericho, Amy, and Matt close behind her.
"What are you guys doing here?" Madison asked in shock.
"We're here for your wedding" Amy answered adjusting her burgundy bridesmaid dress before handing Madison a bouquet of deep red and white roses.
"Huh?" Madison asked in confusion as her parents, Tonia, Crystal, Trina, Christian, Shannon, Shane, Amber and Nero walked out onto the deck dressed in their wedding attire.
"I got Reverend Jacobs here like you asked" Gilbert Hardy said pulling the reverend out onto the deck.
"I thought we were going to get married in a month" Madison asked Jeff.
"I had to think of a way to get you to take the blood test with Amber and I last week so..." Jeff shrugged.
"I can't believe you" Madison said sitting the box down on the deck and wiping tears from her eyes.
"Hey, you got my permission to marry her, so is there going to be a wedding tonight or what?" asked Mr. Campbell.
"There'd better be!" Kevin said walking out onto the deck with a video camera.
"Come on, let's do this!" Amber said anxiously standing next to them.
"Yea, let's make our family complete" Nero added.
"You heard them" Jeff laughed handing the wedding band to Matt to hold.
"You guys ready?" asked Reverend Jacobs.
"All my life" Jeff said staring into Madison's brown eyes. "You ready sweetheart?"
"I'm with you" Madison grinned grabbing his hands.
One Year Later
"Merry Christmas" Jeff whispered in Madison's ear. She yawned and stretched like a cat.
"Merry Christmas baby" she grinned placing a kiss on his cheek. He threw his arm around her waist as she stared at the Christmas tree lights as they blinked.
"You ready to head over to Matt's in a few hours? We still need to make an hour visit to your parents?" Jeff asked caressing her protruding belly. She was seven months pregnant and happy all the time. She fingered his platinum wedding band on his finger and smiled.
"I guess" Madison grinned turning over on the sofa to face him.
"Amber called. She says Amy, Trish, Trina, Crystal, Katie and Tonia are already in the kitchen cooking over at Matt's house. The guys are playing video games in the living room so I definitely have to get over there to beat all of them" Jeff said pulling her close.
"Mmm, I just want to stay here at home with you all day" Madison moaned.
"We could use the, "You're not feeling well" excuse again like we did for Thanksgiving" Jeff laughed fiddling with the sleeve of her light pink sweater.
"No, it's Christmas. We should make an appearance" Madison giggled as he nibbled on her neck. She rolled off the sofa and walked over to the slide door and opened it. She walked out onto the deck and let the cold air hit her in the face. She inhaled deeply and smiled as Jeff walked up behind her and wrapped his arms around her tightly.
"I love you Mrs. Hardy" Jeff murmured against her neck.
"I love you too"
"I think we may have a problem on our hands with Nero and Amber" Jeff groaned.
"I know. They're almost the age we were when we made love for the first time" Madison breathed heavily.
"You okay?" Jeff asked.
"Yes but he's kicking field goals in there" Madison winced as Jeff caressed her stomach feeling his son kicking.
"I can't wait to see him. Hold him and tell him how much I love him. I just hope Nero and Amber doesn't make us grandparents early"
"No, they want to go to college. I don't think they'll screw up. Nero and I had the talk" she laughed.
"So did Amber and I" Jeff said obviously amused at her talking to Nero about sex. "I don't know if I like being stuck playing bridge with your Mom through the week when I'm off. I mean I like her now but must I be tortured by being forced to hang with her and her old biddy friends for two hours? They leer at me as if I'm a piece of meat!" Jeff frowned.
"They're just admiring your hip dents" Madison giggled as he rolled his eyes up into the top of his head. "I'm heading on over to my parents to give them their gifts and then I'm going on over to Matt and Amy's to help them cook"
"Wait for me, I'll be just twenty minutes getting ready" Jeff said heading to the room.
"Hey! I'm already dressed. I just have to put on my shoes" Madison said putting her boots on and smoothing her black pants with her hands. "I sat out something for you to wear on the bed"
"How would I live without you?" Jeff asked walking over to kiss her softly on the lips. "You'll wait for me angel?" he begged.
"Yes! How can I refuse that beautiful face?" Madison groaned grabbing him by the chin and kissing him hungrily. "Hurry up and get dressed before I leave you" she said sitting down on the sofa.
Jeff stared at her a few seconds and a wide grin broke across his face. The vision of her in his home pregnant with his son made him get a warm tingly feeling all over. They were a real family now. He remembered the painting he'd started a few day ago, a family portrait. He was waiting for little Jeffrey to come so he could add him to the photo with himself, Madison, Nero, and Amber. He realized Madison was staring at him with a huge grin on her face. They were so in love and it just kept getting better. "See you in the future, Mrs. Hardy" Jeff grinned backing up into the room.
"I'll be waiting!" Madison shouted after him as he headed to take a shower. "Always" she whispered happily leaning back on the sofa with an uncontrollable grin on her face.