Chapter Twenty: Ten Months Later

Jeff's POV

I was sitting in the living room, very nervous, holding Ruby, who was now in my custody after a rough custody battle with Beth. Amy was at my side, glowing with excitement as we waited for Taylor to come down the stairs. All of a sudden, the doorbell rang and I groaned inwardly. I knew who was on the other side.

Amy went and answered the door. Coming into the living room, she came back with a wrestler that I'd known for a while now, Nick Massie, known to the world as Nick Jackson of the Young Bucks. He wasn't a bad guy, in general I had no real problem with him, except tonight. I had a problem with why he was in Cameron.

Taylor was just weeks from her high school graduation. She put a lot of work into school this school year, going to Union Pines part time and, after discussions with me, Amy, and Dixie, the rest of the time she studied with a tutor who traveled with TNA, especially after Christy had her baby. Taylor really stepped up for the company. Her tutor kept in touch with her teachers at Union Pines to find out what they were teaching on a week by week basis, what homework and other assignments they were giving, and they would even get the exams they were giving in class to give to Taylor. She did all of this while on the road working with TNA and kept her grades up.

I was brought out of my thoughts when Amy grabbed the camera and started taking pictures. Taylor was coming downstairs in an ankle length emerald green dress with spaghetti straps. Just like the night of her Sweet Sixteen, my breath caught. Her green hair, which matched her dress, was loose, done in curls. My little girl looked beautiful.

"Pretty sister," Ruby said, breaking the silence.

Taylor came over and took Ruby from me. The two had gotten close during the custody battle and even more after, when Ruby had to adjust to her new home. Taylor was a big help with the transition.

Amy took some pictures of Taylor and Ruby together before telling me to get into the picture with my two girls.

"Amy, give me the camera," Nick said.

"Why?" she asked.

"Because you belong in the family pictures. Go. I'll take a few shots for you," Nick said.

Nick took the camera from Amy. We stood on either side of Taylor who was still holding Ruby. He took a couple of shots before Amy pulled out of the shot.

"Now it's your turn, Nick. Let's go."

I wanted to grumble, but I kept it to myself. Taylor and Nick posed together. I knew there was nothing between them, but still, my daughter was about to go out for the night with someone who was nearly ten years older than her. I had a problem with that. One that I kept to myself because Amy told me she'd kick my ass if I ruined this night for Taylor.

Nick and Taylor posed for about fifteen pictures before Taylor said no more. Then she gave me, Amy, and Ruby hugs before walking out the front door with Nick.

Taylor's POV

Nick and I walked outside and I saw the limo.

"I didn't expect this, Nick."

"It's not every day I take a friend to their senior prom, so why not go all out?"

"Are you sure you're okay with this? Because you don't really have to go if you don't want to. We could find something in North Carolina to do. When Dad first found out that you were taking me what time did he tell you to have me home by?"

"The time the sun's up. He said if Ruby gets up for breakfast and you're not home he's gonna kick my ass."

"So that means we actually have until closer to eight. Ruby's like clockwork. She doesn't get out of bed until just before eight every morning."

"Nice. But we're going to your prom."

"Are you sure?"

"This isn't about your ex-boyfriend, is it, Taylor?"

"Collin? No. We're still really close friends. We didn't date that long before we realized that we were better as friends anyway. Our relationship and break-up weren't like normal teenagers."

"Then what is it?" Nick asked as we finally got into the limo.

"You and your brother Matt are known around here because of the matches you've done with OMEGA."

"And?"

"And there are some people in my high school who are attention-whores and they act like they're all nice and friendly around people who have any kind of fame. Especially certain cheerleaders. I've had trouble with some of them since the day I've met some of them. Telling me I'm a Texas psychopath unleashed in Cameron to my face and then acting all sugary sweet in front of Dad and Uncle Matt."

"So we invite them to a Superkick Party," Nick said with a huge smile on his babyface, referring to one of his and his brother's signature moves.

I couldn't help but laugh. I could imagine him superkicking people at the prom in his tux. It was my new happy thought.

"Oh, I forgot to give you this," Nick said, pulling a corsage from beside him.

He slid it over my wrist. It was a white corsage which was a nice contrast with everything else. I pulled out the boutonnière I had gotten him and pinned it to him.

The ride to prom was too fast. The driver opened the door for us and Nick got out first, offering me his hand. I had gotten so used to wearing heels that I didn't even wobble on the gravel.

We walked into the room and everyone started staring. I pulled Nick right to the table with Collin, which thanks to the fact that he chose Prom committee as his non-sport activity this year, he made sure we were sitting with him at my request. We sat down and he looked over at us.

"You're one of the Young Bucks," Collin said in awe.

"You don't miss anything, do you?" Nick replied sarcastically.

"I told you that I asked him to come with me, Collin."

"Yeah, but they travel all over the world. I didn't know he'd actually be able to take the time to come to a prom like this," he replied to me.

"Well, I made an exception for Taylor."

"Nick, this is Collin. He's one of the school football players and track stars. In the fall he's off to Penn State."

"This is the ex?"

"Yes, and one of my best friends in this tiny hell hole. He was the first friend I made here."

"Hi, I'm a huge fan," Collin said.

"I see that. So you're Taylor's best friend here?"

"We've been through a lot, yeah."

Just then, none other than Addison came up to the table with her band of merry moron cheerleaders.

"You're Nick Jackson! It was so nice when you've come here with the Hardy brothers to do fundraisers for our school. My name is Addison…"

I cut her off. I wasn't in the mood for her and I was done walking on eggshells with her.

"Addison, nobody cares about who you are or how far up someone's ass you're willing to shove your head to get near someone who's famous. Everyone knows your personality is as fake as your boobs and your nose, so save it. Can you go away? Nick and I were trying to have a good time."

Her face started turning red. Her friends couldn't help but laugh. Collin got up and walked away because he'd knew I was gonna snap and say something to her sooner or later. Nick found it hysterical.

"How dare you! Who do you think you are?"

"I think I'm the Texan psychopath whose had enough of your fake shit and is trying to have a good time with Nick here. I am a Hardy who will no longer keep her mouth shut like everyone else in Cameron has done for you your entire life. There are people who aren't going to put up with your shit, and you've just pushed the last button with one of them," I said as I stood up smiling, Nick standing up with me. "Do you wanna play with me, cheerleader? Because I am so tired of putting up with you."

"You are crazy!"

"You have no idea, darlin'. Now, do you want to keep disturbing me, bringing attention over here so that the chaperones come over here and intervene, in which case one or both of us get in trouble? In which case, if I get in trouble, you better watch your back because all bets are off, because there are only a few weeks to graduation anyway. Or, do you wanna walk away and let me have my prom night in peace?"

Addison stormed off. Nick hugged me as he kept laughing hysterically. We sat back down.

"I recorded all of that, by the way," he said to me.

"Why?"

"To show my brother. He's gonna find this as funny as I do."

We both had another good laugh about it. Collin came back over and we started having a good laugh because I finally put Addison in her place.

Jeff's POV

I had finally gotten Ruby to bed. She didn't want to go to sleep because she wanted to wait until Taylor came home. I told her she could see Taylor when she got up in the morning so she should go to sleep because the sooner she did, the sooner she could see Taylor. I was shocked when it worked.

Amy was sitting on the couch. I went into our room to get something. When I went back outside, I sat with her. She started leaning on her and all my tension went away.

"You don't have to worry about her going to the prom with Nick. He wouldn't do anything to her."

"I know. It's just she's my daughter and he's someone I wrestle. It's weird."

"Weirder than her dating you in storyline? Or her dating EC3 as part of the storyline for a while?"

"Okay, okay. I get your point. There have been weirder things to happen in this family," I said laughing.

We stayed silent for a little while before I got up from under Amy because I heard Ruby stir. When I came back, I found Amy going through a photo album she'd made of Taylor since she'd come home to Cameron. My heart melted as I remembered all of our ups and downs. Going in front of her I got down on one knee.

"Amy, I have a question for you."

She just looked at me, stunned.

"Will you marry me?" I asked her as I pulled the engagement ring I'd bought her out of my pocket.

Her shock overtook her for a minute because for once, Amy had no words. She shook her head yes. I slid the ring on her finger. I got up and kissed her.

"I love you, Jeffrey Hardy."

"I love you too, Amy Dumas."

Taylor's POV

Nick and I had a good time at the prom. We danced, hung out with Collin and a few of the other seniors there, took pictures, ate, and just relaxed. I was about to ask him if we could leave when they were about to announce the prom royalty. He said he wanted to stay to see if the fake cheerleader got it. I reluctantly agreed since he'd been such a good sport about all the other craziness.

I wasn't really paying attention until they actually started announcing the winners. Collin won prom king. That didn't surprise me, he'd been homecoming king too. When they announced the prom queen, I didn't register it.

"Taylor, it's you," Nick said to me.

I looked up on the stage and saw Addison glaring at me. That was when I knew it wasn't a joke. The senior class had just voted me prom queen. I got up and made my way to the stage, where they gave me the crown and flowers. Nick came up to the stage to take the flowers from me before going back to our table. Collin and I were told we had to have a dance together as the prom king and queen.

"How did this happen?" I asked him while we were dancing to the slow song.

"Honestly, I heard people talking around here after your blowup with Addison. I think that's why so many voted you as a write-in for prom queen. They like that you had the guts to do what pretty much nobody else in this town has done in her entire life, point out she's an asshole."

I started laughing.

"I'm probably leaving prom after this."

"Probably better. I'm sure Addison is gonna blow a fuse soon. She's been talking about being prom queen since she could talk."

"I don't care about her. This just isn't really my thing. Dad and Amy wanted me to come, you wanted me to come, so I decided to give it a try."

"Well, at least you can say you went to your senior prom," he said to me. "Have you decided about college yet?"

"I got into some of the top schools in the country. And I deferred Stanford for a year. I'm gonna focus on TNA for a year. I'm not sure I want to go to college right now. A wrestling career is something I can't do forever, but I can always go to college later. Dad said we can talk about it again in a few months."

The song ended and Nick came over to us.

"I got all of that on tape, including cheerleader Sue blowing a fuse on stage!"

"Can you get me a copy of that?" Collin asked.

"I'll get it to Taylor for you, man."

"Nick, can we go now?"

"Come on. I know a club we can go to," he said leading me to the table to get my things.

Jeff's POV

When Taylor found out about my proposal to Amy she was ecstatic and yelled at me for taking so long. I couldn't help at laugh at her reaction. I was also very relieved she wasn't mad that I had done it without talking to her.

A few weeks passed after the prom. Taylor finished her finals even with her still traveling with the company. She was traveling a little less since she was about to graduate, but she was still traveling.

The morning of Taylor's graduation came. Dad, Matt, Reby, Amy, and Ruby were waiting with me in the living room while Taylor got ready. It just so happened that her hair was blue, which was one of the school colors, but it was because TNA Creative had asked her to dye it blue the week before.

Taylor came downstairs, looking pale, wearing a white dress. She was holding her cap and gown on a hanger. Her long blue hair was loose around her shoulders.

"What's wrong, Darlin'?" I asked her.

"I feel like I'm gonna throw up," she replied.

"What's got you so nervous?" Amy asked. "You should be proud to be the top of your class."

Taylor explained what happened at the prom and why she really didn't want to have to get up in front of the senior class. This was another of those moments I didn't know whether to be proud or disappointed. Part of me was really proud of her for telling off that cheerleader who'd been a pain in her ass since the first day I'd dropped her at the school.

"Good for you!" Dad exclaimed when she finished explaining. "She had that coming!"

Taylor went over and hugged Dad.

"Never let anyone give you bullshit. You're a Hardy. We don't stand for that," he said to her.

When Dad let Taylor go, Ruby went over to her. Taylor scooped her up and snuggled her. Ruby started giggling as Taylor tickled her. When she stopped, Ruby gave Taylor a hug and a kiss. Taylor put her down.

We took some family pictures, with Reby getting shots of me, Taylor, Ruby, and Amy together. Then there were the shots with Dad, me, Matt, Ruby, and Taylor. We got some shots of just me and Taylor, Amy and Taylor, me and Amy with Taylor. Then we took some shots with Matt and Taylor, Dad and Taylor, and Matt, Taylor and Reby. Finally, Matt took shots of Amy, Taylor, Ruby, and Reby.

"Are you sure you're okay heading over to the school on your own?" I asked her.

"Yeah, Dad. You guys don't need to be there for a few hours. Plus, because of everything you guys have done for the school, they reserved seats for you so even if you guys showed up minutes before the ceremony started your seats are there."

"But you're driving on your own," Matt pointed out.

Taylor hadn't driven much on her own. She'd gotten her license and we knew she could do it, but we also knew sometimes she was uncomfortable doing it.

"Actually, I'm going to pick up Collin to drag him in early. He can sit and listen as they force me to rehearse my speech."

"Alright, but call me when you get to the school?" I said to her.

"No problem," she said as she hugged me.

Taylor gave everyone hugs and left. She hadn't eaten breakfast, but with how nervous she was none of us were going to push it.

Taylor's POV

The ceremony was dragging. I wanted to get the hell out of there and not have to go back. Arrangements had already been made to mail my diploma to Dad's house because we were leaving Cameron a few days after graduation and wouldn't be back for a few weeks. I had listened to other speeches and now they were about to call me up for my speech. When they did, I got up and walked to the podium from my seat on the stage.

"I want to thank the principal, teachers, and faculty at Union Pines for getting the senior class to this day. I would like to thank all the families, mothers, fathers, aunts, uncles, grandfathers, grandmothers, siblings, and those who are as good as blood who helped us to get here. You are the ones who helped all of us when we were at our worst and encouraged us when we were at our best.

"It is a real honor for me to be the class valedictorian, one I never expected. I've only been at Union Pines for a year and a half, having lived in San Antonio, Texas my entire life before that. Some of my classmates have truly been amazing and I will miss you when we all go our separate ways. In the short time I was here, I learned so much about small time life. I learned that you take care of your own and it has helped me to be able to be here today.

"Everyone has their theories on why I wound up here in the first place. My mother, Tamara Adams, a graduate of Union Pines herself died a year and a half ago in a car accident with me in the car. It was one of the hardest times in my life. I lost the only family I had left, until a man from a small town came to the hospital to bring me back home with him. It was a rough transition, but when I was cleared to leave the hospital, once the doctors were sure I healed enough from my injuries, I was released and after we buried my Mama, my father Jeff Hardy and I came back to Cameron.

"Starting at Union Pines, I tried to be invisible, but that lasted all of two seconds. On my first day here, my Uncle Matt came into the school to help me with my books and my secret was out. Still, I made some really good friends when I wasn't trying to. People here have been here through some of those really hard times and I can never thank them enough.

"Regardless, in the last year and a half, I have had ups and downs like any teenager would, both with my family as I got to know them and with the student body as I learned to fit into small town life. Things weren't perfect, but nothing ever is. Whether the senior class is all friends now or not doesn't matter. Regardless of how long we've been together, since elementary school, junior high school, or even sometime in the last four years, we've had experiences together that nobody can ever change or take away.

"So now, as we graduate, those of you who have been classmates for most of your lives especially are facing the biggest transition of your lives. No longer are you children being forced to school. Now you have choices. Many have chosen to go away to college. Some have chosen to put college off and get jobs. But now is the time where everything matters. We need to live our lives as if every day is our last. Throw caution to the wind. Don't be afraid of things. Believe me, you never know when your last day will come and you don't want any regrets.

"So to my fellow seniors, as we go away for school, to travel, to start jobs and careers, remember that your roots are here. If you need somewhere to focus you, Cameron is where you should come. Home is not only a place but it is the people and we are each other's home. Congratulations, Seniors!"

After the ceremony, I was shaking. I said good-bye to my friends because I wouldn't get to see them before they left for college with my travel schedule over the next few months. Then I followed my family home for the graduation party we were having with mine and Dad's co-workers.

Jeff's POV

A week after Taylor's graduation we were in Lincoln, Nebraska filming for TNA. Everything was going great. Christy was returning from maternity leave. She was anxious to be back on the road with us. Taylor had no problem backing away from the announcing because Dixie had other ideas for her, which she wasn't telling me about.

I was in the ring, talking to Bram, who my character had recently started feuding with again. All of a sudden, Havok, the current Knockouts Champion, came out. She looked at Bram. Something passed between them and she attacked me. Suddenly the crowd went wild.

Havok got knocked off of me. She started fighting with the person who knocked her off of me, but the girl had speed on her. When Havok was the victim of a Twist of Fate, I realized it was Taylor. With Havok laid out on the mat, Taylor went up the ropes for a Swanton. Bram went to knock her off the ropes. I got up and laid him out on the other side and went up the ropes. Taylor and I looked at each other and simultaneously Swantoned Bram and Havok.

We got up and stood together in the middle of the ring. My arm was around her shoulders. I was so proud of her. Bram and Havok, both pissed off and talking about revenge, rolled out of the ring and left together.

"KISS HER!"

"GET BACK TOGETHER!"

"YOU SHOULDN'T HAVE BROKEN UP!"

The crowd was chanting at us. They were going even more nuts for us than when Taylor first came down the ramp. Taylor went to the side of the ring and grabbed a mic from JB. I had no idea what she was going to say.

Taylor's POV

I was still trying to catch my breath when I returned to the center of the ring. I took a deep breath before bringing the mic up. Dad went and got a mic of his own, not sure what he should be doing.

"So, Jeff, it felt really good to do that, together, now didn't it?"

"Yeah, Darlin', it really did."

"Now we have something that we really should be telling the fans, now shouldn't we?"

Dad looked at me confused for a minute. Then he realized what he meant and looked at me with a question in his eyes. I nodded at him.

"You mean the truth about our relationship?"

"That would be what I'm talking about," I said to him before turning to the crowd. "Do you guys want to hear about that? The truth we've been hiding from you guys for almost a year?"

The fans went nuts.

"Well, Taylor and I do have a complicated relationship, especially when she first started here last year," Dad said.

"And there is a reason I've always been protective of Jeff here," I continued.

"YEAH! YOU LOVE EACH OTHER!" a fan shouted.

"I do love Taylor with all my heart," Dad said.

"And I love Jeff with all my heart," I said and the fans went nuts. "BUT… it's not what all of you think."

"WHAT?!" the fans shouted.

"There is a good reason Taylor and I would do anything for each other," Dad said.

My name flashed on the screens in the arena. Suddenly, Taylor Adams was changed to Taylor Hardy. The fans erupted.

"Jeffrey Nero Hardy is my FATHER! All those kisses on the cheek, the hugs, it was nothing more than love between father and daughter!"

"We kept Taylor's identity a secret so she could finish school in peace. Now that she's graduated, we've decided to tell you the truth," Dad said.

Kurt Angle's music started and he came onto the stage.

"That's a good move, Jeff, telling the truth about Taylor. Because you will be in Taylor's corner tonight, during her debut match against Havok!"

"You can't put her against Havok, Kurt!"

"It's done. As the Knockouts Champion she demanded a match against the announcer who attacked her. Don't worry, Jeff, it's an intergender tag match. Bram will be involved as well. Let's see how well this father/daughter team work together," Kurt said as he walked off the stage.

Jeff's POV

We walked out of the ring together and went straight to the dressing room.

"Did you know they were going to do this?" I asked Taylor.

"Yeah. Dixie talked to me about it while you were getting ready tonight. She's been talking to Al, Mark, Devon, Jamie, Lauren, Gail, Michael, and everyone else who's been training me. They all told her that I was ready for this. Since you had already agreed to let me wrestle after I graduated high school if the people who trained me said I was ready she didn't think it was a problem."

"Taylor, Havok is brutal," I said to her.

"Dad, don't worry about me so much. You've seen some of the stuff I've come back from. I don't think Havok will be able to do as much damage as the car accident did. I'll be fine."

I pulled her into a tight hug.

"Are you sure, Tay?"

"I'm sure, Dad. I'm actually kinda excited about this. Telling the fans they're stupid for thinking we're dating without saying it and now a chance to prove I can do more than talk while wearing those prissy dresses? I'm more than ready."

I sat her down.

"What are you wearing?"

"Well they wanted to dress me a little like the other Knockouts. I said no. So I'm gonna be dressing like you, kinda. They're letting me get away with leggings with one of your spandex shirts. I'm gonna be covered up. They agreed to it for now, but I have to meet with the design team after these shows to come up with my own look. I will definitely not be strutting around in short shorts and a glorified bra."

I hugged her again, proud of her for refusing to be objectified. I started brushing her hair out. One of the stage hands came to the door.

"Jeff, they need Taylor in hair and makeup."

"I'm doing her hair. We're good."

"Yes, Sir. I'll let them know."

"What are you gonna do with my hair because I don't want it loose."

"I'm braiding it."

"Do we have enough time?"

"You do now," Amy said entering the room. "He'll do half your head while I get the other side. I'm proud of you for the way you handled that out there, Taylor. I think you'll do even better when you get in the ring tonight."

"Thanks, Amy."

"Jeff, don't worry about her so much. She's been trained by so many people around here I think she can pull just about any trick out of her bag and nobody would expect it. More than likely all anyone is gonna expect is gonna be stuff you and Matt can do. Don't forget The Wolves, The Dudleys, Ken, EC3, Gail, The Beautiful People, Madison Rayne, Al Snow, and so many others have helped to train her. She's ready."

"I know, but she's still only 16."

"I'm okay, Dad. Really," Taylor said as we continued to braid her hair.

It took about half an hour to braid her hair. She ran to get her makeup touched up and came back with the ring attire they were letting her use for now. By the time she got back I was ready to go. She got dressed and sat down with me and Amy.

"So just give me the rundown on the rules of this match," Taylor said.

"Well, in this promotion an intergender tag match means that unless you tag me in, if Havok tags in Bram, you have to fight him. Other than that, it's the same rules as any singles matches."

"What do you mean in this promotion?" Taylor asked.

"What your dad means is, nowadays, in the WWE if there is an intergender tag match if the guy tags in his female partner, the other guy automatically has to tag in his partner. Same thing if the girl takes in their male partner. They're not allowed to fight each other. When I was wrestling they allowed it, but now anymore. The girls now are more about their looks then wrestling," Amy said.

Taylor was quiet for a minute.

"You okay, Darlin'?"

"Yeah. Just thinking about all of this. I'm good though," she said.

A stage hand came to the door and told us it was time to go.

Taylor's POV

Dad and I entered to his song "Time and Fate." We got a huge pop from the fans. When we both got into the ring we went up onto the ropes. I flipped off of them and the crowd got even louder.

Bram and Havok entered next. They got massive heat from the fans. When they reached the edge of the ring, Havok took off her gas mask and dropped that and the title belt to the ground. They both slid in and came right for me and Dad.

Havok came right for me and shoved me into the turnbuckle. It knocked the breath out of me. She grinned at me as she got ready to hit me.

"Welcome to the big leagues, little girl," she said to me.

"Bite me, freak," I said as I slid beneath her and came up behind her.

I kicked her in her lower back and it made her fall to her knees. The bell rang and I looked around. Dad and Bram were outside the ring. Havok and I were the legal men in the match. In the second I turned around, Havok got back to her feet. She shoved me across the ring. I hit the ring and came back at her with a cross body, which knocked her off her feet again. I ran up the ropes and did a 450 splash onto her before covering her. She kicked out at two.

Havok grabbed me by my hair to keep me from getting away from her. She lifted me over her head and went to the ropes by where the steel steps where. Throwing me down, she expected me to slam down and get hurt. I twisted mid-air so I landed on my feet and the fans gave me a huge pop. When she came over to the ropes I kicked her in her head. Propelling myself over her, I turned her around and hit her with the Twist of Fate.

As I was about to cover her again, Bram came and kicked me in the back, getting major heat from the fans. He held me up while Havok beat on me. It took me a minute but I finally got out of his grip, putting both arms straight up and sliding into a split. When Havok, who had already started swinging at me, made contact, she knocked Bram to his knees instead.

I kicked Havok in her knees, taking them out from underneath her. I hit her with Whisper in the Wind and covered her again. She kicked out at two. I saw Dad was back on the apron and tagged him in. He jumped onto the ropes and Swantoned Havok and covered her. She wouldn't have kicked out, but Bram got up and kicked Dad in the side of the head.

Tired as I was, I jumped back in and tapped Bram on the shoulder. When he turned around, I was already on the ropes and I hit him with a Moonsault. I went back to the apron. Dad tagged me back in. We both went up on the ropes. And just like earlier, we both Swantoned simultaneously. I covered Havok. She didn't kick out in time.

Bram started going nuts. He leveled Dad and came at me. I hit him with a Hurricanrana. He got back up. I hit him with a Superkick like the Young Bucks had taught me and he took longer to get up. I saw Havok was starting to get up. I helped Dad from the ring and Earl Hebner raised our hands in victory as we made our way up the ramp and they threw their fit in the ring. We left the stage to a huge pop from the fans.