Chapter Twenty Three: Life Moves On
Jeff's POV
It had been nine months since Nick died. Matt and Reby got married almost four months after he had died at a ceremony on the Hardy Compound. Both Taylor and I had dropped and picked up our titles at least twice since we went back to work. But now I was a nervous wreck.
In just a few short hours, Amy and I would be getting married. Trish, from WWE, was her Maid of Honor, and Taylor was one of her bridesmaids. Matt was my best man. I knew the day was coming for months, but now I was a nervous wreck. Until Amy, I'd never really had relationships that worked long term. I loved her more than anything but my daughters, but I was wishing we could just elope and call the rest of it off.
Matt was fixing my tie. I hated ties. I had brushed my hair and tied it back, it was a bright red, the color Amy had chosen for the wedding. Taylor and I had both dyed our hair that color. I was feeling stuffy in my suit.
"Jeff, breathe."
"I am breathing. I'd be dead if I wasn't."
"You fought to be with her. Why are you so scared now?"
"What if the girls don't want a step-mother? What if everything changes with us after this? We're happy the way things are now."
"One, Ruby and Taylor look at Amy as their mother, not step-mother. Two, the only thing that's gonna change after this is her last name, really. You'll still be happy."
"How are you so sure?"
"She's been helping you raise your teenaged daughter for over two years. She's been helping you raise Ruby for over a year. If that didn't send her packing, a ring and change of last name won't be a big deal. She's already part of the family."
"I guess you're right."
"I know I'm right. Now come on. We need to get you to the altar."
A chill ran down my spine. I ignored it. As soon as we stepped out of Matt's room, Reby started snapping pictures. She insisted she wanted to be the photographer/videographer for the wedding, so we agreed. Matt got me down to the altar, and my knees felt weak. I wasn't sure how I was going to make it through the rest of the night. Then the music started and the room went away.
First I saw little Ruby, who was the flower girl. My focus was completely on my little girl. Then I saw the bridesmaids and groomsmen. Taylor was being escorted by James. Again, my focus was on how beautiful my daughter was. Finally, the music changed and everyone got to their feet. The bride was coming.
My breath caught and there was nothing and nobody in the room but me and Amy. Her white dress with red trim looked absolutely stunning on her. As she made her way towards me, nothing else mattered to me. I stared into her beautiful eyes for the duration of the ceremony, hearing just enough to know to say my vows and I do. And then it was all over. We were Mr. and Mrs. Jeff Hardy. I couldn't believe I got through it.
When we were introduced at the reception, I had the DJ play a brand new song I'd written just for Amy for our first dance as a married couple. She didn't know. It was the only thing I could give her that I hadn't given her yet. She already had my heart.
"Is this you?" she asked as we started dancing.
"Yes, this is my gift to you, a song about how much you mean to me."
"I love it, Jeff!"
She kissed me as we continued dancing. She stayed quiet and listened to the music for the rest of the dance. Her head on my shoulder made me happier than I thought I could be. Everything in that moment was perfect. We were surrounded by family and friends as we became one.
Taylor's POV
When Dad and Amy finally sat down, I was nervous to go to them. I didn't know what to get them for their wedding, so I decided to do something really out of the box. Now, I needed to bring it to them, before the morning. When the crowd around them finally cleared as people went to dance, I forced myself over to them.
"Hey, Dad, Amy, congratulations!"
"Thanks, Taylor," Amy said as she reached over and hugged me.
"Thanks, Sweetheart," Dad said as he pulled me to him and kissed my head. "Is there something you needed? You look nervous."
"Kinda," I said.
"What is it?" Dad asked.
"I didn't know what to get you guys for your wedding, so I got this," I said handing them the papers. "I know you can't do it uncontested with Ruby, but if Amy's gonna be part of the family, why not really make her part of the family?"
Dad and Amy looked over the papers. I could see the shock register on their faces. Amy looked at me with a mix of happiness and caution.
"Are you sure, Taylor?" she asked me.
"Yes."
"Taylor," Dad said. "These are adoption papers. This would legally make Amy your mother. You're almost eighteen. Are you sure?"
"She's been my mother for more than two years. I'm sure."
They pulled me into a tight hug, both of them laughing happily. I knew I'd made the right choice.
"Why bring this to us tonight?" Dad asked.
"Well you warned me not to go forging legal documents again," I started and both Dad and Amy laughed, remembering how I changed my last name to Hardy, "and I know you guys are leaving for your honeymoon in South America tomorrow. I figured if you two signed where you need to, I could file the paperwork before I leave to go on the UK tour while you're gone. I already talked to a lawyer, since nobody on Mama's side of the family is alive to contest, if both of you sign, it will take a few weeks, but you'll get the official documentation in the mail stating it's done. No need to go to court."
Dad took the pen I had and signed the papers. Then he handed them and the pen to Amy who did the same. They gave everything back to me.
"This is the best gift you could've given us, Taylor," Amy said.
"I'm glad it made you both happy."
"You almost always make both of us happy, Taylor," Dad said. "Now go have fun."
I kissed them both on the cheek before I went to Uncle Matt.
"Can you hold these for me until after the reception, Uncle Matt?"
"What are these, Tay?"
"I didn't know what to get Dad and Amy as a wedding present. So I thought about it. Amy's been a better mother to me in two years than Mama was in my entire life. I got paperwork for Dad and Amy to sign so she could legally adopt me. Now that she's his wife, they signed off on those, and I'll legally be both of their daughter."
"You really love her, don't you?"
"Yeah, I do, Uncle Matt. She's done so much for me."
"I know. I'm glad she's been here for you. And I'm glad she makes Jeff happy. I've never seen him so happy and nervous about something as he was today. He was worried you and Ruby would turn on Amy because she was your step-mother. I'm sure this just changed his mind."
"I guess so."
"I'll give them back to you later."
"Thanks, Uncle Matt."
Jeff's POV
The reception flew by, I couldn't focus on anything but Amy. The following morning, we finished packing the last of the things we would need to go stay at her beach house for the next three weeks. Dad agreed that Beth could stay with Ruby, but it had to be under his roof and she wasn't allowed to take her anywhere without him. Getting a chance to spend three whole weeks with Ruby, Beth agreed. Taylor wasn't home when I first got up, but she got home as I was finishing breakfast.
"Where were you?"
"I filed the papers this morning. I figured there was no reason to hold onto them."
"Are you sure you're okay driving me and Amy and then dropping Ruby at you grandfather's house?"
"Yeah. It's fine. I don't want to leave her crying with Granddaddy, so I'll bring her with me. One of you can sit in the back with her and then I'll bring her back to Cameron, grab her things, which I'm leaving by the door here, and drop her off. The car to pick me up to go to the airport should be here by three, so I'll have enough time to come back, make sure I have everything, and go."
"And you'll text me when you get to Scotland?"
"Yes, Dad. Even though I'm pretty sure you'll be preoccupied with other things."
"Alright. I should make sure Ruby's stuff is all packed."
"Let me know when you guys are ready to go. I put Ruby's car seat in my car earlier this morning."
"Thanks, Tay."
I left her in the kitchen and went into Ruby's room. I grabbed her bag and made sure all of her favorite toys were packed. Then I went into her closet and made sure that all of her favorite clothes were packed. I grabbed her schoolbag, since she was in kindergarten, making sure everything she would need for school was in there. Satisfied I had thought of everything, I pulled her favorite blanket off of her bed and put it in her bag.
From there I went to see Amy. She was closing our suitcases. I helped her and she kissed me for it. She looked beautiful, even in casual clothes. I ran my hand through her loose hair, and it was still weird for me to see the wedding band there. She noticed.
"It's weird for me, too, Jeff. Having the rings is gonna take time to get used to."
"But nothing else has really changed, other than us going away without the girls."
"No, everything else is the same."
"So we'll be okay, right?"
She kissed me deeply.
"We'll be more than okay. We'll be a family. Now let's go, so we don't get stuck in traffic."
We went outside and called Taylor and Ruby. They came into the living room and Taylor helped Ruby get her coat on while Amy and I got ready to go. She carried Ruby to the car and then helped me with mine and Amy's luggage. Then we were on the road to Raleigh to catch a flight to our honeymoon.
Taylor's POV
When I landed in Scotland, James insisted we had to check into a hotel and then go to a pub. I wasn't really a drinker, but I had a lot of fun hanging out with him, so I didn't argue. While he was getting our drinks, I texted Dad, like I had promised to let him know that I was safe in Scotland.
James and I had picked a table towards the back so people would leave us alone. While he was gone, I heard arguing. I couldn't understand the guy that well, but I not only understood the woman, but I knew her. It was Taryn Terrell, another one of the Knockouts. I tried to stay out of it, but then I heard someone get hit and I decided enough was enough.
Getting to the table, I realized that Taryn had hit a guy who was a lot bigger than him and looked like she was gonna do it again. The guy, who I didn't know, looked like he could break her in two, but he wasn't even trying to fight her. Before she could hit him again, I grabbed her arm.
"What the hell, Taylor?" she asked, pissed off.
"That's what I want to know, Taryn. Who the hell is this guy and why do you keep trying to hit him?"
"His name is Drew and he's weak, that's why!"
"He doesn't look very weak, Darlin'. He looks like he was raised with good enough manners not to go hitting women. Maybe you should leave him the hell alone."
"He's my ex-husband, stay the hell out of it!"
She grabbed my hair with her free hand. I twisted the hand I had behind her back, and dropped onto my knee, ramming her back and spine into my knee when I brought her down. I pushed her off of my leg.
"He looks like he just wants to have a drink in peace, Taryn. And if he was raised not to hit a girl, that was your luck, but I don't like people hitting people who won't fight back. Leave him alone, or then next thing I do is gonna be worse than a backbreaker."
"You'll be sorry, Taylor. We have a match tomorrow night. I'll make you pay!"
"Looking forward to the match. Good luck trying to make me pay, Taryn."
She got pissed off and stormed out of the pub in a huff.
"Thanks, Lass. Name's Drew Galloway. She's right, she was my mistake of an ex-wife. Maybe ya shouldn'ta gotten involved if ya work with her."
"I'm not afraid of Taryn Terrell. Are you okay? I could hear her hit you halfway across the pub."
"I'm fine. I'm a wrestler. Been hit harder. So you wrestle with TNA?"
"Yeah, I'm here for their UK tour. I'm here at this pub with Rockstar Spud. Do you wanna join us?"
"Only if ya let me buy ya a drink for helping me out."
"Coke. I don't really drink. Besides, I'm only seventeen."
"And ya wrestle professionally in the States?"
"Since I was sixteen. Before that, I was a ring announcer for almost a year while I finished high school."
"How'd ya get involved with TNA?"
"My mama died a little over two years ago when I was fifteen. When she did, a lawyer had to track down my dad that I'd never met. It turned out my dad is Jeff Hardy. So, little by little, after I recovered from the accident that killed Mama, I got involved with the company."
James came over with the drinks.
"Drew! Fancy meeting you here. I wasn't expecting you to be here," James said.
"I was just talking to ya friend Taylor. She's an interesting girl," Drew said before turning back to me. "I'm sorry about ya Ma. My own Ma died a few years ago. Not an easy thing to go through. But when you talk to your Da and Uncle Matt, tell them Drew said hello."
"You know them?"
"Yeah. Was there for ya Da's last night at WWE and wrestled ya Uncle a bit before he left. Both talented men."
"That's cool," I said, twirling the straw in my drink as Spud downed his. "Do you mind if I ask why Taryn was starting with you?"
"That's a loaded question. Taryn's always liked ta mistake the fact tha I was raised not ta raise a hand ta a woman as a weakness. It caused trouble for her few years back, so now, whenever she sees me, she causes trouble with me."
"I'm glad I stopped her, then."
James almost spit out his drink.
"You got between Taryn and Drew, Madam?"
"Yeah. She hit him and was gonna do it again if somebody didn't stop her."
"She's gonna be pissed. She'll try to go off script tomorrow at the event. You must be careful around her."
"Spud here is right about her. Taryn's always been a bit unstable. Be careful tomorrow in the ring."
"Don't worry about me. I'm tougher than I look."
My phone started to ring. It was Uncle Matt.
"Excuse me guys, it's my uncle. I need to take this."
I walked outside the pub and answered.
"Hey, Uncle Matt. What's up?"
"Taylor, did anything happen in the thirty seconds you've been in Scotland that you want to talk about?"
"What are you talking about?"
"I just got a text from Mark. Jamie is worried because Taryn is flipping out threatening revenge on you. What happened?"
"James and I went to a pub after we checked in…"
"You're out drinking?"
"Soda. He's drinking alcohol. I told him I'll stick to coke. Anyway, while he was getting the drinks I heard arguing, but I could only understand the girl and it was Taryn. I heard someone get hit so I went over to see what the hell was going on. She was about to hit the guy again. I stopped her. When I asked her what the hell, she said he was weak. When I said he looked like he wanted to be left alone, she said it was her ex-husband. She grabbed me by my hair so I twisted her arm behind her and hit her with a backbreaker. She threatened me for our match for tomorrow, but she left. By the way, Drew said to tel you and Dad hi."
"You're with Drew? And you got between him and Taryn?"
"Yeah, so?"
"Things got so bad between them, the cops had to be called and a restraining order was issued."
"Wait, he hit her?"
"No. She hit him. The restraining order was against her. That's ultimately why they got divorced and she got fired from the WWE. She's been trouble for him ever since."
"But he still won't hit her back. Somebody needs to stand up to her. She's like Addison."
"Darlin' Addison was all talk. Taryn is violent."
"I'll be careful, Uncle Matt. Just keep this to yourself until after my match at least? I'll text you after the match and let you know how it went. Then you can decide whether or not to tell Dad?"
"Fine, but only until after the match."
"Thanks. I should go back inside. I'll talk to you later. I love you."
"I love you too, Darlin'."
I hung up and went inside.
"What was that all about, Taylor?" James asked.
"Taryn went ranting to some of the Knockouts. Jamie told Mark who texted Uncle Matt. He's worried. I told him I'll be fine, and convinced him to at least keep this from Dad until after the match tomorrow night."
"I'm sorry ya in the middle of this, Taylor," Drew said.
"I made my choice. You didn't make me do anything," I started before thinking of an idea. "Would you consider coming to the event tomorrow? If nothing else, your presence might distract her."
"Or it could send her inta a frenzy," Drew replied.
"Either way, she'll be sloppy."
"I'll think about it," Drew said finally.
"I'll have a ticket waiting for you at the door just in case."
"Madam, maybe we should head out. In case she comes back."
"Fine," I said to James before turning to Drew and telling him where we were staying. "Feel free to come by or something if you want to hang out. This is my first time in Scotland."
"Maybe I'll do that before ya leave for your next city."
James and I left and spent the next day getting ready for my match against Taryn.
At the arena the following day, I was dressed and ready to go. Jamie came in to check on me.
"Are you sure you're up to this match? Taryn was off the walls nuts yesterday."
"I'm fine, Jamie. I'm ready for my match. I'm not worried about her. There's not much she can do to me. I can take her."
"Why did you get in the middle?"
"One I didn't know she was a spouse beater, but two, I'm not the kind of person to stand by and let someone who won't defend themselves get hit. I had no idea what I was walking in on. When she pulled my hair, I hit back. That's all there was to it."
"Just be careful with her. They've been divorced for years, but she still views him as hers."
"I will. Thanks for the advice."
At that point, I was told it was time to go for my match. I left Jamie in the dressing room and made my way to the stage. Taryn was already in the ring. I peeked out and saw Drew in the crowd. I had gotten him a front row seat to the event. He was wearing a hat to try to cover up his identity. My music started and I started making my way to the ring.
I left the Knockouts belt outside before I even slid in. I knew Taryn was gonna be nuts still. She didn't disappoint. Immediately, she tried to hit me with a clothesline. I hit her with a Superkick. While she was down, I hit her with an enzuguri kick to the back of the head. I covered her and she kicked out at two. I picked her up into a backrack and then powerbombed her to the mat. I went up on the turnbuckle and hit her with a 450 splash and covered her again. She kicked out at two. While the ref turned around she poked me in the eyes.
While I still couldn't see, she hit me with a snap suplex. My breath was knocked out of me. My eyes were watering. She tried to roll me up. I kicked out at one and got back to my feet. I heard up on the turnbuckle, so when she went for a diving crossbody, I moved out of the way, leaving her to land on her chest, breathless. It gave me a minute to get my vision clear.
When my vision cleared, Taryn was still on the mat. I did a standing moonsault onto her, then climbed the turnbuckle and hit her with the Swanton Bomb. Somehow, she stumbled to her feet, where I hit her with the Twist of Fate and covered her. She didn't get back up. I won.
They brought me my championship belt. While they were holding my hand up in victory, she had rolled out of the ring and found Drew. She was screaming in his face. I dropped my belt, ran up the turn buckles and hit her with Whisper in the Wind. Getting up, I stood over her.
"Back the hell off of him! You're pathetic! He doesn't want you!"
She got up and tried to spear me into the barricade, but I stepped aside and she went head first into the barricade, knocking herself out. I could tell he was trying not to, but Drew was smirking. I gave him a hug.
"Thanks for coming."
"It was worth it!"
Officials came and dragged Taryn to the back. I grabbed my championship title, made my way around the ring one more time with the fans, and then made my way backstage. Taryn left me alone about Drew after that.
Jeff's POV
Amy and I couldn't wait to get back to Cameron. We both missed the girls so much. Matt met us at the airport and filled us in on what happened with Ruby. He said we'd have to wait another week to find out how Taylor's UK tour went. I knew he was hiding something, but I wasn't in the mood to push it.
We got to Dad's house and Ruby was there coloring with Beth. She looked happy. She hadn't seen her mother much since the custody battle.
"Hi Beth," I said.
"Hi, Jeff."
"DADDY! AMY!" Ruby shouted as she jumped up and ran at us. "I missed you!"
"We missed you too, Darlin'." I told her as I snuggled her.
I handed Ruby to Amy. I looked at Beth and signaled for her to follow me outside. A few steps after I went out the back door, Beth followed.
"How was your honeymoon?"
"Do you really want to know?"
"I don't know, Jeff. I'm trying to be civil here."
"I'm sorry. We had a good time. Did you have a good time with Ruby?"
"Yeah. I really missed her, Jeff."
"I'm sure you did."
"Please let me have her back."
"After you attacked Taylor? I don't trust you not to turn violent on Ruby, Beth. And the judge agreed with me."
"Please don't keep her away from me forever."
"That's why I wanted to talk to you out here."
"What?"
"If you were to move closer to Cameron, maybe we could work something out where you could spend some time with Ruby. Maybe not overnights, but you'd get to see her. What do you think about that?"
"You mean like you'd let me keep her for a weekend day or something like that?"
"Or maybe even pick her up from school and spend the afternoon with her. How does that sound?"
"It sounds great, but I need to figure out how I would work that out with my job, Jeff."
"Well, I knew this isn't something that would happen in a day, so when you have an answer, let me know. I want to trust you again, Beth. But you need to show me that I can."
"I understand," she said as she turned away to go back inside to Ruby, knowing her time was up for now. "Looking at you now, leaving you was the biggest mistake I ever made, Jeff."
She went back inside. After a minute, I followed her in. I went straight to Amy, who had given Ruby to Beth so she could say good-bye.
"Is everything okay?" she asked me.
"She's gonna think about what we discussed."
"That's great! It will be better for Ruby if she gets to spend some time with her mother."
"I just wish I still trusted her."
"You have every reason not to. She has to earn that back, Jeff."
"You're right," I said as I kissed her. "Let's start packing Ruby's things up while they have their last few minutes together."
Taylor's POV
Gracie, who had moved to England six months after Nick died, dropped me at the airport to go back home. She came to some of the shows we did while we were in the UK and I got to meet her fiancé. She almost seemed like the Gracie that I knew before her parents had died. It was good to see that. On the trip home, I fell asleep on Mark, who made sure I was sitting with him.
"Monkey, wake up!" he said, shaking me.
"What?" I groaned.
"This is your stop," he said to me.
"Remind me why you flew to Raleigh-Durham instead of the airport closer to where you live?"
"To make sure you didn't have any trouble with anyone on the flight home. Besides, you slept most of the way here, so what're you complaining for, Monkey?"
"Thanks, Mark."
I got up and grabbed my carry-on and started heading off the plane. I went to baggage claim and got my things. When I got to passenger pick-up, I nearly screamed when I saw Dad's car. I hurried over, tossed my things in and jumped into the passenger seat.
"Hey, Dad! I missed you!"
"I missed you, too, Darlin'."
"Did you and Amy have a good time?"
"Yeah, but we both missed you and Ruby."
"I missed both of you, too."
"So why don't you tell me what my brother wouldn't tell me about your trip. He said if I wanted to know what happened while you were away I'd have to wait until you got back to find out."
I knew it would happen, I just didn't expect it before we even got out of the airport. I took a deep breath and explained what happened with Taryn. Then I told Dad I saw Gracie and she was engaged. I knew Dad and Amy both missed her as much as I knew she knew she was always welcomed at the Hardy Compound. By the time we got to Cameron, I pretty much told him everything. At least everything I was ready to talk about that anyone really knew about.
"So you got into a brawl with Taryn?"
"Not exactly, I only twisted her arm and hit her with the backbreaker because she pulled my hair. I was only holding her arm to keep her from hitting Drew before that. He says hi by the way."
"Didn't you know about the two of them?"
"Actually, no, I didn't. Nobody ever told me about that. I just heard her flipping out on some guy and then heard someone get hit. That's why I went over and saw she was about to hit him again and he was gonna let her, so I stopped her."
"I'm sorry nobody ever told you about that."
"Not a big deal. I taught her a lesson during our match. After the match she went after him, I hit her with Whisper in the Wind and when she went to spear me into the barricade, I moved so she'd spear it herself."
"Just be careful with her."
"I will."
"The adoption papers came back, its official. Amy is legally your mother."
"That's awesome!"
"I might be letting Beth have visitation with Ruby."
"Why?"
"Because Ruby misses her mother and Beth misses Ruby. It will be limited, no overnights, but I want to try to let her back into Ruby's life at least a little."
"Are you sure it's safe?"
"I hope I'm right."
"If you're wrong?"
"She'll never see Ruby again."
"I hope Ruby doesn't get hurt, Dad."
"Me too, Darlin'."
We got home and I went right to put my things in my room. Ruby was in bed already, I'd have to wait until the morning to see her. It was better that way. I needed to talk to my parents alone.
"Guys, I wanna talk to you," I said entering the living room.
"What is it, Taylor?" Amy asked me.
"I wanna talk to you about college."
"What about it?" Dad asked.
"I don't wanna go yet."
"Taylor, I thought you'd go part-time after taking a year off?" Dad asked.
"That's what I thought, but I'm realizing, I don't want to go now. I'm not saying I'll never go, but I just don't want to do it now."
"Why?" Amy asked.
"Most people go to college to prepare for their careers. I have the career I want right now. It's taking off as we speak. It was one thing to see it here around the States, but going to the UK and seeing the crowd reaction I got there, it was like a drug to me. I'm not ready to cut back on it."
"What will you do when you can't wrestle, Taylor?" Dad asked.
"I'll work on that while I do. Figure out where I want my life to go while I'm still wrestling so I can make a plan to get there when I can't wrestle anymore. But right now, I'm only seventeen and I have a career most wrestlers can only dream of in their mid-twenties. I feel like this is where I need to be right now."
"Jeff, it sounds like she's given this thought."
"Yeah, it does. I don't think she just decided to not go to college."
"I'm not deciding not to ever go to college. I just don't know when I'm gonna go yet. I wanna see where this wrestling adventure takes me first. I want to experience life. Then I'll see what I want to do with the rest of it."
"Taylor, can you give your father and me a few minutes to talk?" Amy asked.
"Sure," I said as I walked back upstairs to unpack my bags.
Jeff's POV
"You've trusted her judgment since you met her, do you now?" Amy asked me.
"I do, it's just hard to let go of the idea that she was about to go off to an Ivy league college and she's giving it up for wrestling."
"Do you think she'd be happy if you insisted that she go to the college and get her degree, putting her career off for at least four years? You started wrestling at sixteen. You would've done anything to be in her position at her age."
"I know, that's why I'm not surprised she made this decision. I just wish that she could do both without compromising either."
"It doesn't work that way. You know it."
"You're right."
"She has a good head on her shoulders. You've made sure of that. Look at everything she's been through since you've met her. And look at how much stronger she's become for it. You should be proud of her for knowing what she wants and talking to you about getting it."
I kissed Amy.
"You're right. But you're just as responsible for the person she's become. That's why she wanted you to adopt her and make it official."
"I'm still in shock that she wanted that. I didn't expect it."
"Why not? She loves you."
"I didn't realize she looked at me like that. It was a nice surprise," Amy said smiling. "Now stop trying to distract from what we need to decide. Will you agree to let her continue wrestling full-time?"
"Do you really think we should?"
"Yes, I do. She's good. She loves what she's doing. It's in her blood. Let her ride it out. She a smart kid, if she realizes it's time to change things up she'll figure out what her next step will be."
"Then I'll do it."
"Good, now let's go tell her the good news," Amy said, standing up and pulling me off the couch.
We went upstairs to Taylor's room. She was putting her dirty clothes into her hamper. I knocked on the doorframe. She sat down at her desk.
"We've made a decision," I said.
"Well?" she asked.
"Your father and I agree that it's better to let you follow your dreams. When you're ready to do something other than wrestle, we're both confident you'll plan for that ahead of time," Amy said.
"Really?" Taylor asked excited.
"Really, Darlin'."
"Thank you Mom and Dad!" she said as she jumped into mine and Amy's arms.
It was the first time she had called Amy Mom. Amy looked down at her with pride. When she looked at me, there were tears of joy in her eyes. The two of us held her for a few minutes before we let her go. When we did, she kissed both of us on our cheeks and went back to her luggage.
Amy and I went back downstairs. She was still in shock.
"Is this what it was like the first time she called you Dad?"
"Out of nowhere and leaving you stunned?"
She nodded.
"Yeah."
"She called me Mom, Jeff."
"I told you she loves you like one."
"It's different to hear her call me Mom than to hear you say it."
"I know."
I pulled her to me and kissed her like she did to me the night Taylor called me Dad the first time.
Taylor's POV
It had been a month since I came back from the UK. Drew and I had kept in touch, we had become friends after I kept Taryn away from him. Now, I was facing the biggest challenge of my life. I was about to bring a family friend to introduce him to my parents as my boyfriend. We'd been together for a little over three months. It was my longest relationship ever.
"You sure they're not gonna kill me, Taylor?" my boyfriend asked me.
"I won't let them."
"How are you gonna stop Jeff Hardy and Lita?"
"Don't you trust my skills?"
"Yes. But I know what they can do, too."
"Relax. Dad can smell fear," I said teasing him.
We got to the house and I knew Mom and Dad were in the backyard with Ruby. I led him around the house. When we got in view of my parents, they stopped what they were doing and stared.
"What's he doing here?" Dad asked.
"Dad, you know Michael. We needed to talk to you," I said.
"Taylor, why is DJ Z here?" Mom asked.
"Can we sit down while Ruby is playing over there?"
My parents sat down and then Michael and I followed suit.
"What's going on here, Taylor?" Dad asked.
"We wanted to talk to the two of you," I said.
"About what, Taylor?" Mom asked.
"Something I've been hiding from the two of you. Something that nobody really knew except Michael."
"What?" Dad asked, losing his patience.
"Dad, Michael is my boyfriend."
"WHAT?!" Dad exploded.
Ruby looked up at that moment. Mom went to go distract her.
"He's my boyfriend," I repeated.
"Why would you think its okay to date someone who's more than ten years older than you?" Dad asked me, before turning on Michael. "And what makes you think its okay to take advantage of my seventeen year old daughter?"
"Wait a minute, Jeff. I never took advantage of Taylor! We're dating, but we've never slept together. She's made it clear, she's not ready, and I don't want to push it."
"Then what do you do with her if you're not trying to pressure her into sex?"
"DAD!" I shouted. "Stop it! We came here today because we didn't want to hide this anymore. We've been dating since before the wedding. When we go out, we hang out, go to clubs, he shows me how to use the DJ equipment, I've taught him how to paint, we go to the movies, different things. And as for me dating someone so much older than me, we just really got along, so when he asked me out, I didn't think anything of it and said yes. I didn't think about how old he was, just that we had fun together."
"Taylor, you're really dating him?" Dad said.
"Yes, for just over three months. I wasn't going to tell you then because of the wedding. Then I was out of the country. And the last few weeks I've been finalizing my contract to stay at TNA. So, I wanted to tell you the truth now."
"You swear to me the two of you have never had sex?"
"Dad, I've never slept with Michael. He was telling the truth when I told him I'm not ready. I told you before, I don't do drugs, I don't smoke, I don't drink, and I don't sleep around. I didn't lie to you."
"Have you dated any of the other wrestlers I know?"
"No. Michael is my first boyfriend since Collin. I needed time to see where my life was going, not to see how many guys I could date."
Dad started to calm down.
"If you hurt her…"
"I doubt they'd ever find the body on all the property your family owns here. Don't worry, I'm not planning on hurting her. We just clicked and really like spending time with each other, Jeff. She's amazing."
"I know she's amazing. She's my daughter, which you better keep in mind before you mistreat her."
"I will, Jeff."
He turned to me.
"I can't talk you out of this?"
"No. My life has taken off, Dad. I've got a great career going, an awesome boyfriend who is sweet and funny, and a great family for the first time in my life. I'm smiling more, finding that I dwell on past pain less. My life has turned over a new leaf. I don't want to change that."
"Then I guess I'm happy for you… As long as you're happy with him."
She hugged me.
"Thanks, Daddy."
Mom came over with Ruby after that and told her that Michael was going to be spending a lot of time with me, like she did with Dad. Ruby just said Michael's hair stuck up in funny ways. We all laughed.
Telling Mom and Dad about Michael was the final thing I needed to do to have my life be open to my parents. With the secret out, Dad and I were able to focus on our careers going forward. Michael and I were able to be open about our relationship.
As the days and months went by, my career had its ups and downs. Through it all, I had my family and Michael at my side. It was what I had always wanted and needed in my life. Mama was right, it would be over her dead body that I would get to know Dad. In the end, I'm relieved it happened anyway. If it happened, I wouldn't have turned out to be the person I turned out to be.