Chapter 17: Deck the Halls Part I

Riley and Brian returned to the hotel around one o' clock that morning, both cold and tired for spending hours in the broken down rental. When the snowstorm calmed a little, Riley was able to reach Matt at the hotel and he drove to pick them up.

When Riley hadn't shown up after the show Matt took to the road looking for Riley. He had talked to Kaitlyn and had looked at headquarters but they were locking up. Matt had convinced Jeff not to stay at the hotel incase she made it back ahead of them. One thing was for sure, Matt owed Amy, Chris, and John big for keeping an eye on Jeff and making sure he didn't do anything extraordinarily stupid. Anything to keep Jeff distracted from the thought of Riley being kidnapped by some psycho ax murderer and buried in a snow-covered ravine.

"Don't worry about your rental Brian, we'll find someone to tow it in the morning," Matt said as he looked in the rear-view mirror to see the young superstar look out of the back window as his car got smaller and smaller into the distance.

"If they can find it in the morning," Brian sighed.

Riley managed a giggle as she leaned against the window. Matt shook his head in slight amusement as drove away from the snow covered vehicle and down the nearly deserted stretch of highway. The snow was picking up again and the temperature was now falling as they moved southbound down the highway. She repositioned herself so she rested comfortably in the seat and stared at the illuminated clock on the dash.

"After midnight," she thought as another minute died away. "Oh well, I'll be able to sleep in today". She turned her attention once again to the snow falling outside of her window. The holidays were getting closer and closer. There was only a week left before Christmas, her favorite time of year. She loved spending Christmas with her family and her friends with the bright lights and decorations, Christmas carols and gifts to be shared. It was the one time of year where she had always been happiest. Her father's spirits always seemed to change for the better during the holidays. He had always said the Riley had received her love for holidays from her mother. That sentiment made her feel happy and connected to not just her mother but to her father as well because her father saw certain parts of her mother in Riley and she felt that he loved her for it no matter how strained their relationship had become over the years.

There were traditions that she had created with every person in her immediate family and friends over the years that she cherished dearly. Before her father died, Riley, A.J. and their father would exchange their smallest gifts for one another at midnight Christmas Day. The most memorable gift she received from her brother was a pair of socks the said 'best friend' and 'worst enemy'. It was special because it was hilarious and had so much truth to it at the same time. From her father she received a gold bracelet that had once belonged to her mother. That was perhaps the most precious gift that had been given to her because on the inside of the bracelet were the names "Katherine", "Mark", "Alexander-James" and finally "RyLynn". It was her constant reminder, her physical connection.

She and A.J. had begun to take snowmobiles for rides on Christmas day and she would go caroling with Angie, Ashley, Lauren, and Harmony though she couldn't sing for her life. Her relationship with Matt and Jeff was a little different. There was no way that every year was the same as the last. Jeff had managed to find some way to surprise Riley year after year.

Christmas Day 2001 –

Riley had woken up before dawn to go for a run to clear her head. She walked up the long drive to her father's house just as the sun began to peer over the clearing of redwoods. It had been four months after her father had died and according the will, both Riley and A.J. were to take possession of the house until one of them moved out. In her opinion it had been working out great. They had lived together their whole lives so what could another year or two hurt? Riley entered the house through the living room entrance and looked for the keys to her bike. However, they weren't on the coffee table where she could have sworn she had left them the night before. Riley then proceeded to check the kitchen, her bedroom, the porch, the den and even her father's old office though she hadn't been inside of it since before he had died.

Throughout her search she also noticed that her brother was missing as well. She had searched every nook and cranny of the house and she still could not find the keys to her bike. This led her to the conclusion that A.J. had perhaps taken her bike. Riley was instantly fuming.

"Once I get my hands on him I'm going to..." Riley didn't have a chance to finish the sentence before she heard the phone ring. Riley stormed off to the kitchen to answer it.

"Hello?" Riley asked while checking the kitchen again for her keys.

"Merry Christmas!" Jeff yelled making Riley laugh. "Merry Christmas to you Jeff. Did you finally get my present?"

"I sure did. It finally caught up with me in San Francisco. You've got to love Fed-Ex," he laughed. Riley missed hearing his laugh and seeing him. She was almost tempted to cry.

"I miss you Jeff," she said out of the blue. She could hear him stop laughing and sigh. "I miss you too Ry," he said with a tone of sadness in his voice. There was a short but deafening pause on both ends before Jeff chimed back in.

"Did you get MY present yet?"

Riley knitted her eyebrows together in confusion. "Um, no I didn't get your present yet Jeff."

Jeff's tone changed slightly, "Hmm, what time is it there?"

Riley looked at her watch, "um it's about seven o'clock here. The sun has just come up".

"Well, in that case it should be making its way to you pretty soon. I hope you enjoy it." Riley shook her head and smiled, "I'm sure I will Jeff." At that moment her doorbell rang. "I have to go Jeff, my doorbell is ringing but I'll talk to you soon."

"Aw, do you have to?" Jeff half whined before he let out a big yawn. "Okay, okay. I think I should try and grab a few more hours of sleep anyways. I'll call you again later when we make it to the next city okay?"

"Okay Jeff. I'll talk to you soon. Love ya." Jeff returned the good-bye and Riley sighed before she hung up.

The doorbell impatiently rang again for what must have been the fifth time. Riley hurriedly walked to the back door and opened it. Her brother stood in front of her and she suddenly remembered the missing keys. "Alex Carter, you..." again she was interrupted by Alex grabbing her wrist and leading her down the porch stairs to the garage. "I know your keys are missing and there is a good reason for that Riley. Just shut your mouth and your eyes until I say when". Riley shot A.J. a dirty look before doing as she was told. She wondered when Jeff's gift would be arriving.

A.J. let go of Riley's hand and she heard the buzzer go off for the garage door opening. "Okay Lynn, you can open your eyes now". Riley was in shock at what she saw before her. Her bike was wrapped in a red ribbon. It was now a beautiful midnight blue seemingly black color with her name spray painted in beautiful light blues on the side. She was speechless.

"Jeff had me have it detailed for you after I told him about the minor scuff you were in a few weeks ago. It runs so wonderfully." There was a card attached to the bow that was, Riley could assume by the handwriting, from Jeff. 'Couldn't think of much to give you this year, and I'm sorry I can't have you. All my love, Jeff'. Riley sighed, smiled a little and made her way back to the house.

They drove an hour back to the hotel and stopping by the nearest Krispy Kreme as a peace offering and compensation for the three.

"I thought we'd never get back to the hotel," Brian said as he, Matt, and Riley entered the elevator.

Riley nodded sleepily in agreement as she adjusted to the warmer temperature of the building, shivering in her long sweater and Brian's heavy jacket. By midnight, the temperature had dropped from a bitter fifty degrees to twenty-five degrees Fahrenheit and Riley had forgotten her jacket in Tyler's rental. But overall she couldn't complain because she had gotten her interview despite the circumstances that led to it.

The trio reached the twenty-eighth floor and walked down the long hallway. The whole floor was populated with WWE superstars and other employees and it was surprisingly quiet. They suspected that everyone had turned in for the night and that they were the last ones awake. Brian's room was only four doors down from Matt and Jeff's room and two from Riley's. Riley thanked Brian for his help that night and she went with Matt to his room to check on Jeff. Matt slid the key card into the slot and the door opened to reveal Jeff sleeping on one of the twin beds, John asleep in a chair, and Amy reclined on the other bed with remote in hand.

"Hey guys, glad you're back," Amy whispered changing her position to a sitting position and continued to flip through television channels.

"It would be in your best interest to keep quiet though. Jeff finally wore himself out, along with Mr. Cena. And I finally got the television to myself. Are those doughnuts?"

Amy grabbed the box of glazed doughnuts from the older Hardy and sat down at the table. Matt could have sworn the something, or someone was missing. Then he realized he had commissioned three people to "baby-sit" his younger brother. Where was Chris?

John had begun to snore, and Amy was on her way to polishing of her second doughnut. The scene in Riley's opinion was all too comical.

"Um, Ames...where's the self proclaimed 'King of Bling-bling?'" Matt asked referring to the absence of Irvine.

Amy licked her fingers free of the icing and pointed toward the closet. "Things got a little, well, let's say out of hand and we had to shove him in there for safe keeping."

"If anything I would have thought you'd put Jeff in the closet?" Matt said as he sat on the available bed.

"Well, it was either let Jeff roam free and eventually exhaust himself or have to listen to Chris and not get a moment's peace. I think we made the right choice," Amy motioned to the scene of Jeff on the bed and the silence that had fallen over the room.

"Good point," Matt said.

Suddenly they heard a thump coming from the closet. Riley nearly screamed but she heard the muffled phrase "get me the heck out of here assclowns". Riley opened the door to the closet only to have Chris tumble out and fall on top of her. There was a sickening thud as Riley broke his fall.

"Ouch, I don't think I can feel my legs. Chris get your big, SELF off of me!" Riley whined as she tried to recover from her fall.

"RyLynn, how are YOU doing today?" Chris asked as he observed who had been gracious enough to break his fall still in his position on top of Riley.

"Chris get OFF of me!" Riley said still squirming to get up.

"Aw come on Riley, it's not everyday that you have such a dead sexy beast land on top of you is it?" Chris asked smirking ear to ear.

Riley's eyes widened and then narrowed at the man now pinning her arms over her head. She was unable to move her arms in offense so she decided to play along. "Well what I see in front of me isn't sexy but it sure is a beast and it'll be dead and mounted on my wall if you don't get off of me!"

Chris quickly jumped off of Riley and hid behind a laughing Amy. "Will someone help me up please?"

Matt sidestepped around Amy and Chris and offered Riley his hand. She took it and climbed to her feet. She looked over to the bed closest to the window where Jeff still lay sleeping.

"I could have sworn he would have woken up considering the noise we've been making." She looked at her watch once again and sighed. "It's quarter to two ya'll. I'm going to call it a night".

Amy nodded in agreement, "yeah guys I agree. We need to get some sleep before breakfast. Come on Jerky, help me to get Johnny boy here back to your room." They both nudged John who was still sleeping in the chair. "Come on junior, let's get a move on," John opened his eyes slightly and mumbled something incoherently before rising to his feet and sleepily walking to the door.

"I have a feeling you don't want to wake up Kaitlyn so I can room with Tyler and you can room here," Matt offered as the door shut behind the other guests. Riley nodded and gave Matt a hug.

"Thanks for everything Matt," she said as they parted.

Matt nodded in response. "No problem, I'll see you in," Matt checked his watch, "a few hours I guess".

Matt left the room and Riley let out a slight yawn and addressed the sleeping Jeff. "Well I guess I'd better get some sleep in considering you're such an early bird."

Riley turned out the light and got settled into her bed. She closed her eyes but soon found that she was unable to sleep. Her thoughts kept getting in between herself and even the slightest bit of sleep. She thought back to the events of the last day.

Who in the heck was Miss Shay talking to on the phone and what did she mean that she'd "have what she wanted"? She looked over to the still sleeping Jeff and resolved to stick closer to him than usual to keep Shay away. Riley's intuition told her that whatever Shay was plotting wasn't a good thing and she might try to hurt Jeff in the process. And whomever she was talking to had some ties to Riley and Jeff as well, or at least that was what it sounded like. And how did she miss Jeff's phone call? Usually, she would be able to hear her cell ringing even if it was deep inside of her carrier bag. Nothing was making sense anymore. She smelled a rat, or perhaps maybe more than one, but whatever it was she was going to get to the bottom of this mess. She wouuldn't even worry about what had happened that night, and resolved that she wouldn't tell Jeff either

Riley looked at the glowing digital clock on the nightstand and noted that the time was now half past three. She was definitely going to pay for her thought-provoked insomnia in the morning in so many different ways. She contemplated writing an apology note to everyone she was sure to meet in the morning and perhaps buy a fruit basket or two to atone for her guaranteed grouchiness. Riley laughed a little and closed her eyes and started to count backwards from one hundred. By the time she hit forty, Riley was out cold and dreaming as the snow continued to fall.

AN:/ Almost done with the reuploading of the story and I'm in the process of writing another chapter to this and my other story Darling Nikki which I'm quite proud of smile

Love,

Iccess