CHAPTER 12

"Melina, I will never talk to you again if you don't stop!" Lily shrieked. \

Her best friend had come to visit for the weekend. Which had made Dad grin because Melina spent the entire time outside in a bikini, soaking up the sun. Currently they were both in their swimsuits, supposed to be washing down the old pick-up they'd gone mudding in but…

"That's it!" She snatched up the hose and sprayed Mel down.

Melina squealed, jumping away and grabbing the suds bucket at the same time, hurling the soapy water at Lily in return. "It's not my fault you don't know how to wash a truck!" She waited until Lily was close enough to pour the rest of the water on Lily's head.

"No! I just did my hair!" Lily groaned, quickly running for a towel and rubbed her hair briskly. "You wench." She had spent all morning putting her hair into tiny braids with faux rubies, having added black streaks to the blond. "I'm glad you're here, Mel." She said after a few minutes, adjusting her orange bottoms and sighed; chewing on a fingernail. She was really tempted to ask about 'Taker but that would lead to a door she didn't need to open. "How's John?"

"He's fine, missing you I think." Melina shrugged, dropping down on the grass alongside Lily. She yawned, stretching and then frowned when a car pulled into the driveway. "Who is-"

"JEFF!"

Jeff groaned when Lily came flying at him, catching her and groaned again. Now he was soaked. Though he was grinning as he spun her around in circles.

Melina was smiling so damn hard her face was hurting.

Lily planted a quick kiss on his cheek before squirming away; laughing when she seen he was wet now too. "I thought you went back on the road?" She asked, pushing a small tendril of hair behind her ear impatiently, just happy to see him. why he had stayed away for a month was beyond her, especially when she knew he had spent time with Matt and a few of his friends. It stung just a bit that he hadn't wanted to see her, his twin.

"No, I got a few more weeks off so Vince can build on my comeback." Jeff snorted, not impressed with Vince's current ideas. "Damn, but I missed you Lil!" He hugged her tightly again.

"Uh Jeff, you look like you pissed yourself." Melina called out.

"Huh?"

"Yeah you do, how'd that happen?"

"Liliana, another package from your secret admirer." Gilbert called from the back porch, waving at Jeff.

Lily frowned. "Throw it away!" She had been receiving odd ball things like chokers and perfumes lately.

"Betcha it's from that boy in town…"

"Throw it away dad!"

"No wait, dad!" Jeff hurried over to take the package, examining the silver and green box with a raised eyebrow. "This looks like something expensive…" He tore it open without waiting for his twin to grant her permission –which she wouldn't have anyway- only to blink at the black velvet box.

By this time, Melina had gotten up and ambled her overly curious ass over.

"WOW!"

"Oh my God, are those real diamonds?"

It was a beautiful silver bracelet with tiny pendants of diamonds and emeralds dangling from it. Attached was a note.

"Well," Melina prodded impatiently. "Read it."

"To my beautiful Lily."

"That's it?"

"That's it."

Gilbert snorted.

Jeff cocked his head to the side as he regarded his twin, smirking slightly. "Someone loves my other half."

Reluctantly, Lily looked at it; took the note and frowned. She had a sneaking suspicion who it was sending her shit but since she couldn't prove it, she wasn't saying a word. Silently, she took the box and wrappings, carried them over to the trash can and threw everything away.

"Last week she got some kinda foreign perfume, guess what she did with that?"

"I used it as an insecticide."

Jeff cleared his throat and shot Melina a warning look when she opened her mouth to protest the blaspheming of diamonds. Keeping his own trap shut, he walked over to Lily and pulled her in for another hug, kissing the top of her head. "Forget about it." He said softly. Then just to change the subject, he flashed Melina a smile. "So what are you doing here, gorgeous?"

"I'm on a mini vacation away from David."

"What'd he do this time?"

"Oh nothing much, just decided he was going to screw around with Barbie."

Jeff's jaw dropped.

Giggling, Lily leaned back into him. "You haven't heard the best part yet! They didn't KNOW she caught them going at it until she started snapping pictures." She paused for Melina to finish explaining, a grin on her face.

"I blew them up into posters and hung them EVERYWHERE in the building the next night."

Jeff dropped, laughing his ass off.

Melina was smirking like a Cheshire cat. "That'll teach him to cheat on me."

"Oh man, I miss the best shit when I'm off road. Please tell me you have a video."

At this point, Gilbert had excused himself to go back into the house.

Giggling wickedly, Melina pointed to the house. "It's of the reactions to the posters, we've watched it at least a dozen times." She laughed outright when Jeff flew inside.

"Oh great… he's never going to stop watching that." Lily groaned, rolling her eyes as Mel linked their arms together; slowly following him into the house.

"Go get dressed you two, running round here like…" Gilbert said when they came in, trailing off and turned his attention back to his football game.

"He means you, Mel Mel."

"Awww what's the matter, Gilly?" Melina cooed, walking over to kiss his head. "I'm not putting any clothes on. I'm comfy."

"Fine, you don't put clothes on and I'll be carting your ass upstairs to my old bedroom."

Gilbert shot Jeff a look. "Like hell you will, boy."

"Fine, I'll take her to Mattie's."

Melina looked at Jeff, amusement written all over her face. "Why Jeff Hardy, I do believe you want me."

"What man in their right mind wouldn't?"

Jeff and Melina, that was… an odd couple. Leaving them to their flirting, Lily headed upstairs to change. She could hear her dad both laughing and scolding downstairs while the pair bantered back and forth, rolling her eyes. Melina as her sister-in-law, hmmm… Maybe she'd have to help play matchmaker.

She changed into jeans and a tank top, freezing when she heard a door slam and ran to the window. Laughter escaped her as she watched Jeff and Melina dive into his corvette and peel out of there.

Which left her alone with the grumpy dad. She listened to him as she did supper dishes, having a feeling Jeff and Mel wouldn't be back for awhile, if ever. "Face it daddy, I'm the good one of the bunch." She teased, putting away the last dish.

Of course he didn't know about her and 'Taker, and he never would.

"Yeah, I reckon you are." Gil sighed, shaking his head.

"I'm going for a walk, I'll be back shortly." She kissed his cheek and headed out before he could start on again about Jeff. Jeff was definitely going to be getting an earful from the old man when he came back. She should probably video tape it…

***

He watched her from a distance, sitting astride his Harley. God she looked beautiful, the gems in her hair catching and reflecting the late afternoon sunshine; her golden skin begging him to reach out and… He missed her. He also had seen what she did to his gift, which had damn near shred him.

She wanted nothing to do with him but he had to try. He had made the mistake of letting her go. Well, no he hadn't let her go, he had forced her away.

Damn it.

Mark loved her. How it happened or even why, he wasn't sure, but he did.

Rarely did he regret something. But after she had walked out that door, he knew he'd been wrong. She had admitted her wrong doings and he had punished her in the most vile way a man could a woman. He had raped her.

Mark had to close his eyes, not that it stopped the memories from assaulting him. Her tear streaked face. Pained, luminescent green eyes staring at him; loving him even though he had forced her. Her rapid breaths as she struggled not to scream.

His own mind was his worst enemy.

***

Lily enjoyed the feel of the grass skimming her bare feet as she walked the boundaries of the yard, her mind straying back to that damn bracelet. If she was right on her assumption, he had a lot of fucking nerve. He was the one to push her away, called her his possession. She had to close her eyes, willing the tears not to come as she remembered that horrid day.

Her head snapped up, goose bumps suddenly forming on her arms and rubbed them; looking around. Now she was making herself paranoid. Moving at a slow, leisurely pace; she headed back towards the house. She wasn't scared of anything, especially when there was nothing there to-

Her green eyes narrowed, staring down the road.

What the hell?

"Daddy, bring me your binocs." From this far away, it looked like a damn horse or something. Maybe a cow. She accepted the binoculars with a mumbled thanks, adjusted the scope and looked.

"Liliana?" Gilbert frowned, watching her pale under her tan.

"Nothing, it's nothing." She muttered, storming into the house.

Fuck him!

He could send her shit, WATCH HER, but didn't have the BALLS to actually bring his ass TO her? Not that she cared anyways.

Or at least that's what she kept telling herself.

***

Later that night when everyone was asleep, Mark entered through the unlocked front door. Apparently Mr. Hardy didn't believe in security systems, then again, he probably never had a reason too considering they lived out in the middle of nowhere.

Quiet as a mouse, he crept up the stairs, easily locating Lily's room. Her door was marked with a giant butterfly with her initials etched into it. Cute.

He pushed open the door and just stared at her. She was in a pure white nightgown, looking light an angel in the silvery moonlight. Closing the door silently behind him, he filled the void between himself and the bed and just stood over her.

When her eyes started fluttering, he moved fast enough to press a hand to her mouth before she could scream.

Lily was wide awake in seconds, staring into those glittering eyes that haunted her in her dreams. She brought her hands up, slapping both sides of his face; angry tears making their appearance. She didn't think he was mad, no, she thought he was keeping her quiet just so he could have a chance to say whatever it was apparently on his mind.

Screw him!

She then boxed his ears, hoping he knew his diamond and emerald bracelet were now garbage.

Mark didn't move though that had hurt like a bitch. Instead he replaced his hand with his lips, letting actions speak for him. He felt her hitting him repeatedly and just deepened the kiss, keeping her silent so daddy didn't come in with a damn shotgun.

When she started melting against him, Mark pulled away, both of her hands now locked in one of his; pressed between them. "If you scream, I'll keep kissing you." He threatened in a whisper.

Which tempted her to start screaming.

Lily licked her now tender lips, keeping quiet. Sleeping with the man who had done his best to shred her into pieces –emotionally of course- wasn't up there on her top ten list of smart things to do. "If you've come to apologize and tell me how much you love me, I won't believe a word you say." She warned in a whisper of her own.

"Yes, you will." Mark countered, confident that she still loved him, even if he didn't deserve it. He might not deserve her, but he would have her again. His lips traveled down her jaw line then to her neck. "You're my everything, Lily." He murmured huskily. "All I do is think about you. You're in my every waking thought, my every dream and the last prayer I say at night."

He was going to make her cry. Lily almost hated him, feeling her heart constricting.

"I want you with me. I know I hurt you and you'll never know how much I wish I could go back and change what I did. I more than love you, Liliana Hardy. I'm IN love with you." Mark pressed his forehead against hers, sighing softly. "I'm in love with you and I can't live without you."

Lily opened her mouth to say something only to find the words lost in another one of his mind destroying kisses, forgetting her train of thought completely.

"When you're ready, you'll know how to find me."

She recovered in time to sit up and watch him disappear out her bedroom door like a thief in the night, pressing a hand over her racing heart.